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Foundation News
PASSING THE
Outgoing Chair of the MLC Foundation, Marjorie Nicholas OAM (Thompson 1956) has recently stepped down from the role, passing the baton to current parent, Claire Rogers.
Pictured clockwise from main image: (L-R) Claire Rogers and Marjorie Nicholas OAM (Thompson 1956); Marjorie and Hilton Nicholas with then-Principal David Loader on land purchased for Marshmead in 1990; speaking at the Millennium Appeal Launch in 1999; (L-R) Then-Chair of the MLC Board Tony Peake, Marjorie Nicholas OAM (Thompson 1956), Thanushi Peiris (2017), Alisa Camplin-Warner OAM (1992), Kate Dunwoody (2017) and Principal, Diana Vernon at the 2017 Foundation Dinner; Marjorie speaks at the official opening of the Nicholas Learning Centre in 2019.
INTRODUCING OUR NEW CHAIR OF THE MLC FOUNDATION
A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION
An inspirational philanthropist, loyal donor and bequestor, Marjorie Nicholas OAM (Thompson 1956) has contributed in an extraordinary way to MLC, and over many decades. Beyond her leadership of the MLC Foundation, she has served as an MLC Board member and driven several significant fundraising efforts, both as Chair of the MLC Development Committee in the 1980s and by leading the Campaign for Excellence in the 1990s.
As a boarder in the 1950s, Marjorie enjoyed the vast array of opportunities on offer at MLC, recalling the learning environment as “challenging and inspiring”. Both Marjorie’s daughters attended MLC, as have two of her granddaughters. “Through their experience I have seen how learning and teaching at MLC has evolved,” Marjorie says. “Yet what has remained constant is the importance of community philanthropy to the College’s success. The power and generosity of our community enables MLC to remain at the forefront of girls’ education, to provide state-of-theart learning environments for students and to redevelop facilities including MLC Marshmead and MLC Kindle.”
At the March meeting of the MLC Foundation, Principal Diana Vernon paid tribute to Marjorie, also noting her late husband, Hilton Nicholas AM OBE, and the transformational contributions of the Nicholas family over many decades. We welcome current parent, Claire Rogers, as the incoming Chair of the MLC Foundation. Claire is a globally experienced strategic executive with expertise in finance, education, and aid and development organisations. Formerly CEO of World Vision Australia and Head of Digital Banking at ANZ, Claire is an accomplished fundraiser.
“I am passionate about championing women and girls the world over to achieve their potential, whatever their start in life. I am delighted to now be leading the Foundation and facilitating MLC’s giving programs,” says Claire.
NEWS
INSPIRED BY AN MLC EDUCATION
Alex Ryan (2009) always knew her career would be one of purpose and meaningful impact, even when she wasn’t sure of the finer details.
As a recipient of a Dr Wood Scholarship, Alex found the opportunity and inspiration she needed to steer her towards the notfor-profit sector.
The scholarship win was a proud moment for Alex’s family, especially her grandmother, mother and two aunts, who had all attended MLC.
“My grandmother was part of the generation who were MLC students while Dr Wood was Principal. She spoke very fondly about his values and his legacy at the school,” Alex says. “The Dr Wood Scholarship has a real focus on being well-rounded,” she reflects. “As well as pursuing broad interests, there was an emphasis on leadership, community service and extending the qualities of fairness, equality and treating people as you want to be treated.”
Alex embraced every aspect of her MLC education. A keen humanities student, she enjoyed passionate debates and classroom discussions. She says MLC Banksia and MLC Marshmead were memorable highlights, as well as the friendships borne of these shared experiences.
Graduating in 2009, Alex took a gap year that started in the MLC Library and ended with charity field work in the Solomon Islands. In between, she squeezed in a stint as a camp counsellor in the US, before exploring Canada, the UK, France and Italy. Alex completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne and the University of Edinburgh, majoring in history and politics. She worked with Make-a-Wish and World Vision, before accepting her current role managing income diversification for Movember, a global organisation that has raised more than a billion dollars for men’s health. She also sits on the board of Camp Cooinda, a summer camp program for children.
Pictured above: Alex Ryan (2009).
Alex recognises the generosity of donors who helped make her Dr Wood Scholarship possible.
“I am incredibly grateful to those who made my MLC education a reality. The wide range of opportunities and the broad outlook MLC fostered are what set me on the path to doing a job I love while serving others.”
Pictured above: (L-R) Margaret Mannes (Raufer 1958) with MLC Associate Director of Advancement, Maria Mercuri.
UPHOLDING A PRECIOUS LEGACY
MLC holds special and vivid memories for Margaret Mannes (Raufer 1958), who was a boarder at the College from the age of just ten.
“As an only child, it was a huge decision for my parents to send me to board at MLC. But ultimately, they wanted me to experience what MLC provided – an excellent education, founded on strong Christian values,” says Margaret, who boarded from 1953 to 1957 and was a day student in 1958, her final year.
“In 1953 I was the youngest boarder at MLC. This came with certain privileges, such as blowing out the candles on the cake on Boarders’ Birthday Night and presenting the Principal, Dr Wood, with flowers on his birthday,” she recalls.
Margaret loved the camaraderie in the MLC Boarding House and values the enduring friendships that were forged through shared experiences. She recalls Principal, Dr Wood as a prominent figure in students’ daily lives.
“As boarders, we knew Dr Wood well and he had an immense influence on us. He was inspiring, with tremendous energy, compassionate but also strict when he needed to be. He had a twinkle in his eye and a whimsical sense of humour.” “Importantly, Dr Wood was ahead of his time in the way that he valued and promoted girls’ education.”
Margaret’s decision to leave a bequest to MLC in her Will reflects her desire to see Dr Wood’s legacy sustained. “I have been donating to MLC for many years and it felt like a natural progression to leave a bequest in my Will to support the Dr Wood Scholarship fund. I hope the scholarship, which upholds the values that Dr Wood inspired, continues for many generations to come. It provides an incredible opportunity for girls who may otherwise not be able to attend MLC.”
Since her school days, Margaret has retained a lifelong association with MLC. She served on the Old Collegians’ Club Council for eight years, holding the position of President in the early 2000s. She also served on MLC’s Board of Directors. She recognises the important role that philanthropy plays in the success of a school like MLC.
“When people think of philanthropy, they think of large endowments. But the simple definition of philanthropy is ‘the desire to promote the welfare of others.’ Gifts don’t need to be large – every contribution counts.”
If you would like further information about leaving a bequest in your Will please contact: Maria Mercuri, Associate Director, Advancement on +61 3 9274 6308 or email: bequests@mlc.vic.edu.au MLC
1 JUNE 2021
We are excited to announce that on Tuesday 1 June, the College will hold its first ever 24-hour online Giving Day with the entire community. Our aim is to raise funds for Principal’s Means-Tested Scholarships, supporting equity and diversity and creating opportunities for more young women who otherwise would not have access to an MLC education.
Watch the clock ‘count down’ on the MLC online giving page charidy.com/mlc until our Giving Day goes live at 8 am EST on Tuesday 1 June. If you are not able to participate online, please complete the gift form included with this magazine and return it to the Advancement team in the enclosed reply-paid envelope. All gifts over $2 to scholarships are tax-deductible.
THANK YOU to our generous donors who have already agreed to be ‘matching donors’ – effectively doubling your gifts on the day!
