Joan Montgomery AM OBE

Born in Melbourne in 1925, Joan attended Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC) and then graduated from the University of Melbourne with an Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education. Joan's early teaching was at Frensham School at Mittagong in NSW and at Tintern Church of England Girls Grammar School in Melbourne. She also taught in the United Kingdom for a short time.

Her first chance to take on a leadership role was at Clyde School at Woodend, where she was headmistress from 1960-68. From there she went to her alma mater PLC where she was principal from 1969-1985. Joan Montgomery also influenced the wider educational community, both in Victoria and nationally. She was President of the Association of Independent Girls' Schools of Victoria from 1978-80 and President of the national body from 1979-81. She was also a member of the National Council of Independent Schools of Australia at this time. Joan was also elected a Fellow of the Australian College of Education in 1971.

As an influential educator with a wealth of experience and knowledge, Joan was sought after by many schools as a member of their governing councils. The University of Melbourne and some of its residential colleges have also benefited from Joan's services. She was a council member of Ormond College and Medley Hall and was a member of several University committees. Other organisations or institutions to which Joan has contributed to as a board or committee member include, the Alfred Hospital, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, the Baker Institute, the Lyceum Club and the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee.

Joan is now retired yet remains a board member of The Daffyd Lewis Trust Scholarship Fund and The Order of the British Empire and Scholarship Fund. In recognition of her great contributions to Australian eduction, she was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1975 and made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1986.

Many of Joan's students speak warmly of her extraordinary ability to inspire them to 'reach for the stars'. She always encouraged girls to give their best, strive for excellence, acknowledge and accept responsibility and to develop assurance in their abilities both academically and as a contributing member of the community.