A class at Queen Victoria Girls' College. Photo: J. Ashton And it was then that the memorable incident occurred. Mrs Taua, as President of the organising committee, and Mrs Hoeft, one of the early scholars, took the platform and explained that they wished sections of the cake to be taken back to the various districts from which the old girls had come, so that other girls from those districts who had not attended the celebrations could gather round the cake and be told of the Jubilee weekend in Auckland. The bottom section of the cake was cut into four sections, one each for north, south, east and west, and four delegates accepted the sections to take them to those areas. Dorothy Flavell (Kaeo) at work in the dressmaking room. Photo: J. Ashton Four Third Formers of Queen Victoria Girls' College wearing the new summer uniforms designed, cut and sewn at the School by the senior students. Left to right: Judith Harawene (Bay of Islands), Beverly Everett (Devonport), Constance Herewini (Awanui), Tina Haig (Tokomaru Bay). Photo: J. Ashton On receiving the cake each delegate sang a pao appropriate to the occasion, and spoke enthusiastically in promising to gather other old girls from their home districts round the cake. The Headmistress, Miss Berridge, received a section of the cake on behalf of the Trustees, and called upon a group of ‘my old girls’ to sing a suitable action song. Then prefects received the top tier of the cake on behalf of the school, the school singing in return. One of the most popular people who attended the Jubilee was the veteran former Headmistress, Miss M. Brereton. The only living former headmistress, Miss Brereton was at the school from 1920 to 1934, and again for a year in 1942. Miss Brereton received a thunderous ovation from the old girls. During her two terms over 400 girls passed through the school. In nostalgic mood on the rainy Saturday afternoon during the Jubilee, Miss Brereton fondly recalled that Queen Victoria was always a very happy place. ‘It's still the same, I think,’ she said, ‘It's the Maori nature.’ (Continued on page 58)