Lois Angus' 90th Birthday!

Girton has a special knack for nurturing strong connections amongst its community.  This was evident when in June of 2022, Girton welcomed back former Drama teacher, Ms Lois Angus who has steadfastly held her time at Girton and her students, close to her heart.

In honour of Lois’ milestone 90th Birthday, Lois was invited back to Girton to help celebrate in theatrical style.  Lois was honoured at a Junior School assembly with a touching speech about Lois’ legacy from Head of Junior School, Mr Don Thompson and former mentee and current Head of Drama, Mrs Mandy Ellison.  Lois was regaled with a musical item from Girton Junior School Choir and a sneak preview from the Senior School Production ‘Strictly Ballroom’. 

Lois has had an extensive and memorable career as a talented and popular Drama teacher and is a well known and respected director in Bendigo with a long list of productions under her belt in local theatre. 

The effervescent and unstoppable Lois had just settled into retirement when she offered her teaching expertise to Girton’s newly appointed Headmaster, Mr Clayton Jones in its foundation year in 1993. Lois’ reputation preceded her and Girton needed a Drama teacher, it was a done deal instantly, and was not to be the first time that Girton was to entice Lois out of retirement to teach. 

Lois worked for Girton Grammar School from 1993-2002, with a short time of retirement in 1997.  She taught Drama from Preparatory to Year 12, was a Frew House Tutor and worked on School Productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Romeo and Juliet, Mayhem in Marseilles, Aladdin, Death of a Salesman and My Fair Lady. 

Mandy Ellison said during her speech, “Lois is a teacher who has always had the ability to build trust, provide challenges, praise and persuade young learners to go on the drama journey with her. And achieve excellence.

“For Lois, a play is not just entertainment. She loves Drama because it is such a valuable and effective form of communication. Live theatre can change people. Can change thinking. Can offer new perspectives.

“Her professionalism, inclusiveness and ability to get her actors to dig deeper into the meaning of the play, the story and their own character. She is firm, but playful, direct and insightful. And most of all, she cares. She cares deeply about her family, her friends, her students and anyone she meets and strikes a conversation with. Lois likes to hear other people’s stories. She has a generous spirit, open heart and steadfast loyalty to her convictions. 

“Lois forged a pathway and always created new steps, never constrained by boundaries and allowing others to follow in her footsteps, to continue the journey onward. 

“The legacy Lois left has continued to thrive.”