Matron-Housekeeper

In late 1956, the University of Melbourne advertised for a ‘Matron-Housekeeper’ for the soon-to-open International House. A flat was being built, ‘most meals’ would be provided and the starting salary of £600-£750 would be ‘according to experience’ (“Advertising,” 1956).

The arrival of the first Matron, Mrs S. G. Berriman, was reported in Melbourne’s Herald newspaper on its ‘Page for women’. ¹ Pictured arranging flowers for the common room, Mrs Berriman was described as experienced, ‘friendly’ and ‘full of praise for the contemporary building’ (“Their matron moves in,” 1957). As the promised flat was still under construction, the new Matron was staying in one of the student rooms.

Mrs Berriman resigned at the end of 1957 (International House Council, 1957). She was followed by Mrs Glen (given names unknown), Flora Macraild and Jeanette (Jean) Miller (International House Council, 1958, 1959a, 1959b, 1960).

One possible reason for the staff turnover was the Matron’s heavy workload during IH’s first years. Reports provided by the Warden to the International House Council record that the matron cared for sick residents; dealt with broken tables and beds; provided heaters, radios and kettles; replaced lost keys; arranged for pictures to be hung; showed residents how to use the washing machine; planned the menu (and at times also cooked and waited on tables); fielded complaints and dealt with ‘disorderliness’ (Jones, 1958) among some of the residents.

[The Matron] is always ready if necessary to roll up her sleeves and cook or scrub herself.

Brian Jones, Warden, 1958

At a meeting of the International House Council in November 1958, the Warden Brian Jones acknowledged the difficult circumstances of the Matron’s work: ‘[Mrs Glen] has had formidable staff problems, but has dealt with them with good humour and good sense, and she is always ready if necessary to roll up her sleeves and cook or scrub herself. The thing that she probably finds imposes the greatest strain upon her is a certain tendency to disorderliness and inconsiderate indiscipline among a small section of the students’ (Jones, 1958).

I should like … to pay a special tribute to the Matron who has done a magnificent job under impossible conditions.

Sam Dimmick, Warden, 1962

The Matron’s workload increased even more during building works in 1961. Warden Sam Dimmick reported to the International House Council: ‘I should like at this stage of my report to pay a special tribute to the Matron who has done a magnificent job under impossible conditions. It is grossly unfair to expect staff to work under these conditions.’ (Dimmick, 1962).

The Matron has not sufficient time to continually supervise gardeners, cleaners, kitchen staff, etc. as well as performing her other duties.

Sam Dimmick, Warden, 1967

Recognising the Matron’s increasing workload, in 1964 the International House Council decided to appoint a part-time Assistant Matron (International House Council, 1964). But with the number of residents increasing and the site itself expanding, it was becoming clear that a greater re-organisation of roles would be needed (Dimmick, 1967).

At present the Matron and Assistant Matron are responsible for catering, the cleaning of the House, conferences, linen, keys, general maintenance (which includes repairs to the fabric of the House, repairs to furniture etc.) general oversight of the gardens, checking of accounts and numerous other tasks which it is difficult to list.

“Domestic administration,” 1967

A report in 1967 noted that the Matron and Assistant Matron had so many duties that it was ‘difficult to list’ them all (“Domestic administration,” 1967). The Matron often had to cook, as well as undertake maintenance which saw her ‘crawling around boilers, into drainage pits and down into the service tunnel’ (“Domestic administration,” 1967).

The Council resolved to appoint an Executive Officer and a House Superintendent to undertake the many tasks previously dealt with by the Matron and Assistant Matron (Executive and Finance Committee, 1967). While the role of Matron had gone, the Matrons’ contributions to establishing International House remained.

References

Advertising (1956, November 7). The Argus, p. 17. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page6562782

Dimmick, S. (1962, March 1). Warden’s Report No. 1, International House Council Minutes, 13 March 1962. International House Archives.

Dimmick, S. (1967, March). Warden’s Report No. 1, International House Council Meeting No. 1, 13 April 1967. International House Archives.

Domestic administration (1967). Report to International House Council, International House Council Meeting No. 4, 1 December 1967. International House Archives.

Executive and Finance Committee (1967, September 8). Meeting No. 6, Minutes of International House Council Meeting No. 4. International House Archives.

International House Council (1957, October 30). Minutes of Meeting No. 7. International House Archives.

International House Council (1958, March 27). Minutes of Meeting No. 1. International House Archives.

International House Council (1959a, May 27). Minutes of Meeting No. 2. International House Archives.

International House Council (1959b, June 17). Minutes of Meeting No. 3. International House Archives.

International House Council (1960, November 18). Minutes of Meeting No. 10. International House Archives.

International House Council (1964, December 14). Minutes of Meeting No. 4. International House Archives.

Jones, B. (1958, November 19). Warden’s report, International House Council minutes. International House Archives.

Their matron moves in (1958, January 29). Herald (Melbourne).