Kate Edger

Kate Milligan Edger was born on the 6th January 1857 in Berkshire, England, to Louisa Harwood and Samuel Edgar. She was was the fourth child in a family of four girls and one boy. Her family immigrated to Auckland, New Zealand in 1862 onboard the Matilda Wattenbach, when she was just 5 years old. 

At the time there was no secondary education for girls in Auckland. So Kate and her sister's early education was received from their father, graduate of the University of London, and supporter of woman's equal rights. Kate was academically talented and with the support of her father she was placed in the top class of boys at the Auckland College and Grammar School. Being the only female.

Kate applied for a scholarship to The University of New Zealand, writing to the chancellor;  'I am a candidate for one of the Mathematical Scholarships of the University of New Zealand to be awarded at the Examination in May. My age is within the specified limits, and I have received instruction privately and also in Latin and Mathematics at the Auckland College Evening Classes.' She decided to omit any mention of her gender, applying as K. Edger. Due to her good grades she was accepted, and went on to be awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Latin. She was the first woman in the British Empire to earn this degree. A thousand people attended her graduation in Auckland, where she was presented with a white camellia flower, for her "achievement and excellence". The camellia is seen in the photo on the right.

A few months after graduation Kate got her first teaching job at Christchurch Girls' High School. And then went on, at only 26, to become the founding principal for Nelson College for Girls, with the hopes of running a well rounded, first class, education for girls. As well as being the principal she taught Grammar, literature, Latin, physical science, geography, singing and mathematics. And then on top of that, she helped prepare some of the senior girls for university scholarships. 

On her 33rd birthday Kate married William Evans, with the intention on continuing at Nelson Girls. But she resigned a few months later, when she became pregnant. Ending her seven years as the first principal. This child was the first of her three sons. But Kate's career didn't end there. Now Kate Evans, she became involved with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union which was leading the campaign for women's rights.  Kate spoke on behalf of the cause and the positive impacts on society this would bring.

After winning the vote, Kate and her family moved to Wellington in 1893, running a small private school for girls, out of the family's home in Mount Victoria. This school was named Dehra Doon. The school ran for girls in the morning and taught adult students in the evening. She was also a founding member of Wellington’s Society for the Protection of Women and Children, and did much work for them. After her husband's death on 6 November 1921, Kate Evans, lived in Wellington until she moved to live with her second son, Elwyn, in Dunedin. She then travelled to Nelson to attend the golden jubilee of Nelson College for Girls, speaking in an assembly. And was awarded the King's Silver Jubilee Medal, shortly before her death on the 6th May 1935. 

Kate Edger was the first woman in New Zealand to gain a university degree, and with her journey, she has played a significant role in setting up a proper, better, education for girls.