At the end of George Eliot’s Middlemarch, the narrator reminds us that “the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts.” On Saturday, we witnessed the truth of this at PLC Sydney.

In the early 1960s, Ann Flood became the College’s first Aboriginal student, arriving from the small town of Hillston at just 14 years of age. At the time, she could not have known the significance of that moment. Yet her journey has proven to be deeply influential – her presence and achievements have been “incalculably diffusive,” touching many lives and now shaping the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls at PLC Sydney.

To honour her legacy, the College has opened a dedicated room for our Djurumin Gals, named after Aunty Ann Flood.
Aunty Ann Flood has gone on to become a leader in Aboriginal Education, working in several universities across Australia. Speaking at the opening of the room, she reflected that while her time at PLC Sydney was culturally challenging, it also gave her the tools to pursue her life’s work.

Now, with a room in her name, our First Nations students will be able to walk in her footsteps, knowing that their journeys will be supported by her example and her story.

At PLC Sydney, we often speak of legacy – of the ways ex-students pave the way for future generations, “making the world a better place and life a worthier thing.” Until now, we did not have a dedicated sense of legacy for our Aboriginal students.

Aunty Ann Flood has changed that. By returning to the College, meeting with our current First Nations girls, and embracing them as their Aunty, she has created a living legacy. The new room stands as a symbol of her enduring impact – a gathering place where our Aboriginal girls can find strength, connection, and inspiration for their own futures.

The story of Aunty Ann Flood reminds us that legacy is not always found in grand gestures, but in the quiet, faithful lives that change the world for those who follow.