Judith Gibson gave outstanding service to Caulfield Grammar School as School Archivist for nearly 20 years. In this role she provided strong support to the CGA in many important areas, including:
- Providing photographs and other archival material for inclusion in CGA publications and on the CGA Website.
- Providing regular archives reports for inclusion in the CGA e-newsletter.
- Providing photographs for the CGA’s weekly “Throwback Thursday” email to the CGA community.
- Supporting the CGA class reunion program by providing archives displays (physical and digital) relevant to class groups, more recently extending this to reunions organised for Shelford Alumnae.
- Supporting the CGA’s Golden Alumni Society reunion lunches, and the CGA Chapter lunches held before the Society was established, by providing archives displays and attending almost every one of these functions.
- Playing an active role in the planning and organisation of special reunion functions, such as the Shaw House Primary School Reunion in 2019.
- Playing an active role in planning, delivering and promoting School and CGA publications dealing with aspects of the School’s history.
- Supporting historical projects undertaken by the CGA’s affiliate groups, such as the centenary celebrations of the Caulfield Grammarians’ Football Club.
Before Judith’s appointment as School Archivist in 2006, the archives collection had been housed in the CGA Office and cared for by CGA staff and volunteers. One of her first tasks was to relocate the collection to the new Archives Centre in the Cripps Centre. This was a massive task which Judith handled with great care, and it gave her an early opportunity to work collaboratively with CGA staff and volunteers. All those who have worked with Judith since then, including CGA staff members, Committee members and affiliate representatives, can attest that she has always been willing to go above and beyond what might usually be expected. She has assisted with CGA projects requiring archival input, supported CGA reunions and events with relevant archival displays, suggested and helped action new projects and events, and responded in a very timely manner to queries and requests from members of the CGA community.
Judith’s early years as Archivist also coincided with Don Wirth’s last few years as the CGA’s volunteer Pictorial Archivist. They came to know each other well and worked together in the Archives from 2006 to around 2010, after which ill-health prevented Don from visiting the School regularly. It was therefore most fitting that Judith’s service to the School and the CGA was recognised with the Medal established in Don’s name, which she received at the October Golden Alumni Luncheon.
