Obituary: Violet Wood

Obituary - By REBECCA WALSH

Principal of St Cuthbert's College from 1949 to
1968. Born in Scotland, 1908. Died in Auckland,
November 10, aged 92.

Violet Wood challenged her students to be the best they could be, and more.

The Scottish-born principal of St Cuthbert's College was a hard taskmaster who expected as much from her students and staff as she did from herself.

She could put the "fear of God" into those who misbehaved and did not make the most of their talents, but was a compassionate and caring mother figure to boarders, some as young as 5 and 6 years old.

Miss Wood immigrated to New Zealand soon after the Second World War.

A masters graduate of Glasgow University, with first class honours in French and Latin, she taught in Scotland, France and England.

She was a woman who was to become known for her honesty and directness.

On her arrival in New Zealand, in an article printed in the Herald on January 15, 1949, Miss Wood described the food aboard the ship Atlantis as appalling. "The fish offered to us was like gutta-percha. It bounced on the plates and was not fit to be eaten."

Miss Wood encouraged her students to be independent, to go to university, to enter the professions, rather than settling only for marriage and children.

She was scrupulously fair and not impressed by wealth or reputation, instead judging for herself an individual's integrity. Friends, former students and staff remember her wicked sense of humour and twinkling eyes.

During discussions about changing the summer uniform she suggested in her strong Scottish accent: "If you can design a uniform that meets with the girls' approval, that they will wear with pride, that is cool, that does not wear out in the back skirt, is accommodating to the fattest girls and the laziest mother, you will have my blessing to go ahead."

Many believe she played a major part in lifting the academic standards of the school during the 1950s.

Miss Wood lobbied the Department of Education for private-school teachers to be graded in the same way as state teachers so they could move freely between the two systems.

She fought for her staff to be paid salaries to match state ones to attract the best teachers. And when she could not find good female graduates she employed male teachers.

Miss Wood was keenly interested in politics and education. She learned to swim in her 60s, and enjoyed golf and bowls as well as a good game of bridge.

She died at Auckland Hospital after a short illness. About 200 old girls, former staff, board members and friends attended her funeral at the school chapel on Wednesday.