NGHS EULOGIES & OBITUARIES

JOAN MORTON COBB nee ELVIN. 17.11.1937 – 02.03.2021

Newcastle Girls’ High School 1950-1954 – School Captain 1954.

Joan Cobb…. We first knew as Joan Elvin – a much loved, very respected School Captain of Newcastle Girls’ High School in 1954.

That was the year the Queen came to Newcastle & our School was chosen, to have our Captain present flowers to the Queen, on behalf of all the School children from Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

What an honour!

Joan, in a well-practised & low curtesy, presented the bouquet and the Queen shook Joan’s hand.

Photos from that day and in our Nobby’s, NGHS School magazine and in our published school’s histories, is a photo of this memorable day. It was in the newspapers and the TV news that evening.

The Queen asked Joan to indicate where were her “School mates” and she gestured to where a large group of usually very subdued and well behaved young ladies were just about beside themselves, that they were noticed by the Queen. Hands raised and waving – Joan knew and could hear them, in that packed stadium, letting the Queen know, where exactly, were Joan’s school friends.

She became a member of our Ex- Students’ Union many decades ago. She served and took her turn more than once as President and Secretary and was always there with her considered opinion and wisdom to guide us. She rewrote our Constitution and her thoroughness and attention to detail in that document, gave us the proper model for us to conduct all our duties and responsibilities.

During some of my visits to Joan of latter days, I asked her about some of her appointments – the schools she been sent to as she graduated as a Primary Teacher from Newcastle Teachers College. Her 1st appointment was to Cabramatta West, where she remained for 3 years. Back to Newcastle then to Wallsend Primary and then in 1964, as Teacher Librarian & History teacher at our old school.

She and husband Bruce were overseas, in London for a few years. Joan, whilst there, working in a large and noted Library, embarked part time, upon an intensive course in Church embroidery at the London School of Embroidery. Her skills in needlework are noted.

Her embroidery surpasses skilful & extraordinary, as we have seen and are attested by the members of her Newcastle Embroiderer’s Guild. Her Church embroidery, surpassing excellent, was valued and desired in Church circles for embellishment to Church and Altar cloths and to the gowns and surplices for the clergy. Apart from cotton and silk threads, she worked in metal threads of gold and silver and all colours available. Her embroidered works were works of art.

Back home again and Joan became a teacher and tutor to trained teachers who wished to transition to become Teacher-Librarians.

In this post and in her role as teacher and teacher- Librarian, her fellow workers speak glowingly of her talent and commitment . A former student of our school, who became a high school teacher, speaks of Joan as “The Best Teacher I ever knew”.

The Ex-Students commissioned a most handsome glass and polished wood cabinet, housed on the premises of our old school.

This is the repository for our many collectable treasures, our memorabilia, to preserve part of the history and traditions from our fine old school. Joan, with us, would attend to the cabinet, the housekeeping and cleaning of it and it’s contents and to add to the collection as objects came to hand – school magazines from 1930 onwards, debating and sporting cups & trophies and so forth.

Joan said on one such occasion amid whatever else we were doing,

“Oh, I know what else we could put in the cabinet…. my school glove!!” …

…. Note …..“glove”…. singular.

She went on to say THAT ALL IMPORTANT right-handed glove that had shaken the hand of Queen Elizabeth had been saved and kept by her Mum and she would put it in the cabinet… and there it is today.
The glove that shook the hand of our Queen.

Thank you Joan.

Joan, with her school friends from the 1954 Leaving Year, attended every Ex- Students’ annual reunion, except for the years when she was overseas.

With Joan’s passing, our ex-Students have lost a dear friend and a long term, long time, valued member of our Committee. Her friends from her 1954 Leaving year at school will have a seat vacant at their table at this year’s reunion.

We have indeed been privileged and honoured to have had her in our lives.

Joan was liked, but more importantly loved and respected by us and all who knew her.