Machiko Ohkawa
attended queenwood 1958-1959
“The friendships I formed at Queenwood have lasted a lifetime with more than 65 years of connection.”
Machiko and her sister Michiko were the first Japanese students to attend Queenwood.
My sister Michiko and I were the first Japanese students to attend Queenwood, arriving in 1958 under the leadership of Miss Rennie and Miss Medway. It was a cultural shock for a nine-year-old at the time, but the kindness of the teachers and classmates made it one of the happiest and most rewarding experiences of my school life.
Though our time in Sydney was cut short by the loss of our father, the friendships I formed at Queenwood have lasted a lifetime with more than 65 years of connection with Julia Selby, Jenny Lang (Sinclair), and Jill Gardner. We even once welcomed Miss Medway to Tokyo and hosted her for lunch at the Imperial Hotel.
Today, I still treasure those memories deeply. I hope to one day bring my grandchildren to Sydney to show them Mosman, Queenwood, and the beautiful country and people that helped shape my early years.
