BiographyReverend Ronald Archibald William Woodgate (1913–2007) was a Methodist minister, educator, and missionary who served as Principal of Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC), Kew, from 1967 to 1978.
Woodgate’s career combined religious leadership with a strong commitment to education. Ordained in the Methodist Church, he worked both in Australia and overseas as a missionary and theologian before taking up senior school leadership roles. His broad experience in ministry and education reflected the long-standing tradition at MLC of appointing Methodist ministers as principals during the twentieth century.
Appointed Principal in 1967, Woodgate led MLC during a period of social and educational change. His tenure followed that of Rev. Dr Harold A. Wood and preceded the appointment of David Loader, the school’s first lay principal. Woodgate's leadership formed part of a transitional era in which MLC was moving toward a more modern, inclusive, and increasingly independent educational identity.
Beyond his role at MLC, Woodgate is remembered as a devoted family man and respected church figure. His life’s work in theology, missionary service, and education left a lasting contribution to both the Methodist Church and the development of girls’ education in Australia.
He died on 6 September 2007, aged 94, leaving a legacy as both a religious leader and an educator who guided MLC through a significant stage in its history.Date of Birth1913Date of Death2007MLC ConnectionPrincipal, 1967-1978
