Film Screening Madge & Bibs: Adelaide's Revolution in Girls' Education

As part of South Australia's History Festival 2026, the Friends of the Library present Madge & Bibs and the Advancing Girls - a film screening of Rob George’s enthralling documentary which explores the ground-breaking contribution of Madeline Rees George (Madge) and her younger sister Marian (Bibs). Under Madge’s leadership, the Advanced School for Girls was the first state high school to introduce the academic subjects that would allow women to qualify for university entry.

Most of the early female graduates of the University of Adelaide were former Advanced School students and they played influential roles in medicine, education and the successful push for voting rights for women. The school played a significant role in women gaining the right to vote in 1894.

Please join us for the film screening of this documentary film. Madge and Bibs were Rob’s great, great aunts, and he used this rich family archive to write his film.

Biography - about Rob George

Rob George is a graduate of Adelaide University with a diverse body of work in film, television, and the stage. For 50 years he has been a writer, director and producer at Prospect Productions and has a keen interest in Adelaide’s past. He has premiered two documentaries at past SA History Festivals.

When Rob was growing up, his father was a bank manager, so the family moved around a lot. They always took with them an old box which had a pile of family letters from around 1870 to 1875 and some diaries. Madge and Bibs were Rob’s great, great aunts, and he used this rich family archive to write his film.

Doors open at 6 pm, event starts at 6.30 pm. Enjoy a complimentary glass of Coriole wine before the film, followed by a discussion with the film-maker.

The Friends of the Library welcome students, staff, alumni and community members to this event.