A MUSE FOR THE STURT WEEKEND 2026
FOREWORD: With the revival of the STURTweekend it seems that it is time for a timely muse on STURT's beginings and its purposefulness.
For whatever intuitive and deeply personal reason in 1941 Winifred West embarked upon social experiment devised and designed to meet the educational needs of local Mittagong children by providing further education in crafts, music, and drama. She is said to have harboured a concern in regard to local children's Primary School education alondside a need to provide creative outlets for adults.
In 1938 Winifred West retired at 60 as the headmistress of Frensham School and in January 1939 Frensham School sustained roughly £12,000 in damage – roughly $1.3 Million AUD$ in modern purchasing power. Notably Frensham lost its new junior school building.
War broke out in Europe September 1939 and Australia sent its first major overseas army force to the Middle East in early 1940.
Backgrounded by all this STURT nonetheless rose Phoenix like from the ashes in 1941 albeit that Japan was yet to bomb Pearl Harbour in December. Here we might pause to consider what it might be that drives change agents like Winifred West.
Somewhat seredipitiously we might pause to consider another European change change agent Joseph Beuys.
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