Matron Marion Collinge (staff 1923–37) was known to the boarders as ‘Chook’ because she kept a run of hens. She was always kind to the boarders, especially to the youngest ones, reading to them on Sunday evenings. A somewhat officious woman when dealing with her colleagues, no-one was in any doubt as to who was in charge. Alfred Mellor recorded the story that she asked the builders to move Laycock House to the east so it would not obscure the headmaster’s view of the garden from his study window. This was done but its relocation partly inhibited the proper widening of the oval. School Council seemed extraordinarily tolerant of her high-handed decision making until, in 1930, she purchased a washing machine for the boarding house without consultation or permission. As it cost £40, her actions prompted a special meeting of School Council. Her intentions had been good: as the Great Depression began to bite, she wished to save money on the outsourcing of laundry, so purchased the washing machine with her own funds with the intention of recouping the cost from her housekeeping budget at five shillings a week. Harold Steele defended her unstinting hard work and loyalty to Carey. School Council asked her to place future requests in writing.

Marion Collinge retired in term 1, 1937, following several years of ill health. ‘Carey without Miss Collinge will seem something of an anomaly’, remarked the Baptist newspaper. Her reliable and devoted service was missed, especially by Harold Steele. He struggled at first to find a suitable replacement.