From The Archives - Nola Barber

Nola Barber

Passing through Aspendale, I noticed that renovations to the kinder had taken place. Those who are local to that area are aware that the kinder is named after Nola Barber.

Nola Barber nee Griffiths, was a former mayor of the city of Chelsea. In fact, she was the first woman to have that role and was the first female councilor in 1948. In 1951, she and another woman councilor formed the “Australian Local Government Women’s Association, … to encourage women to become involved in municipal government.” 1  

She was instrumental in the opening of Chelsea’s first library and in many other local services such as Meals on Wheels, senior citizens centres and the local life-saving club, where her interest extended to teaching swimming as a volunteer.

Nola started school at Kilbreda one hundred years ago in 1917, when it was known as St Brigid’s High School or the Brigidine Convent. While she probably appears in the main photo of the 1917 group, I couldn’t tell you which one she is!  Her Principal was Mother Berchmans Foley and she would have attended class in what is now the Conference Room (the former Coffee Palace dining room). Nola would not have worn a particular uniform, but simply a navy or black tunic and white blouse. Our distinctive green, red and cream uniform was adopted in the early 30s.

1 http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/article/113.htm 

Damian Smith 

Archives