Mary MacLaren went to boarding school at the tender age of 6 years old. She went to the Victoria Square Convent of Mercy. She stayed there on and off until she was 16 when she returned to Bruce Rock to the family farm. It seems very young to be sent off to boarding school.

She was an excellent student.

In 1934 she sat the Junior Certificate and gained 9 subjects. English, History, Geography, Mathematics A, Biology (Botany), Drawing, Commercial Methods and Book-Keeping, Shorthand at 80 words a minute and Typewriting. Her results were published in the West Australian Newspaper – as it did for many years since.

Amongst her papers I found the History Exam and the Commercial Methods and Book -keeping exam. Also a copy of the newspaper that contained her result.