8 minute read
Alumnae stories
Celebrating the diverse stories and achievements of our vibrant community of Old Collegians.
Marika Borlase (1985)
I have been an exhibiting artist since 1989. I can confidently credit my education at MLC for igniting my passion through art, education, and lifelong learning. My fondest memory is spending lunchtimes in the art room with the inspiring art teachers Mr Harrison and Ms Pash. You can see one of my paintings hanging in the Dr Wood Learning Centre. After leaving MLC, I went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Arts - Fine Arts at the VCA, University of Melbourne. In 1995, the National Gallery of Victoria purchased two of my artworks for their collection. That year, I also received an Anne and Gordon Samstag Award, University of South Australia that enabled me to travel to London to complete a Master of Arts at the University of the Arts, Chelsea. My art is now held in the University of the Arts’ collection. In London I also met my husband Justin and later returned to Australia to complete a Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne where I received a Dean’s Honours Award and Dwight Prize. From there I pursued a career in Visual Arts Education. I have taught all year levels with a focus on VCE.
Now in 2022 I am focusing on my visual arts practice; my artworks often appear in home magazines, architectural digests and are a favourite with Australian interior designers and stylists. I am well collected in Australia and overseas. I have also worked on commissions for the Wynne Casino, Macau, and other Australian private companies. A career highlight was a solo exhibition supported by the Royal Overseas’ League, Edinburgh which coincided with the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. I work from my studio surrounded by the Maroochy Botanical Gardens at home on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland with my husband and 12-year-old daughter Raphaella.
Tenille Chamclam (Adem 2000)
After graduating in the Class of 2000, I spent a gap year working and travelling where I met my now-husband Sombat. I went on to study a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University, being one of the first university cohorts to complete the balance of my studies online. I have very fond memories of my time at MLC and the opportunities it afforded me to pursue a range of interests in addition to academic studies across music, sport, language, drama and commercial cookery, of which many I still enjoy for leisure today! I am a Partner at Ernst and Young (EY) specialising in Cyber Technology Consulting, with portfolios across Federal and State Government focusing on the Education Sector and Financial Services. With over 15 years working in professional services organisations across Technology and Accountancy consulting, I am a graduate of the EY Global Accelerate Leadership Program. A highlight throughout my career has been mentoring women in technology, creating opportunities to increase the engagement and sustained success of women in the industry and, more recently, my work as a community program volunteer implementing STEAM initiatives for school-aged girls. I continuously seek to build a positive and inclusive culture both at work and through my involvement in my local community. A standout feature of my time at MLC was, and remains, the friendships made, and the networks established across the College. This has continued to develop since I returned to the College in 2021 as a parent to Jasmine, aged 13, who commenced in Year 7 last year. With two more daughters, Kiara aged 10, and Evie aged 6, planning to attend MLC in the years ahead, I’m thoroughly enjoying being back at MLC and seeing my girls carve out their own identities and make their mark on the world.
Deirdre Dowling (1989)
The MLC culture and attitude taught me to jump into anything that piqued my interest and give it a go. My fondest memories include hanging out in the music school, playing and singing in countless different ensembles, cheering for Berry at the inter-house swimming competitions, chilling with friends in the senior centre, and the chocolate donuts at the tuckshop. After leaving MLC, I started a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne. It was a matter of weeks before I realised I was spending more time in the music school than in the commerce department. So, I switched to a Bachelor of Music (viola) and graduated with Honours in 1994. During this time, I lived at Ormond College, where I participated in as many activities as possible including student council, various committees, with the highlight being the Ormond College Choir.
After university, I enjoyed life as a freelance musician in Melbourne and Sydney, performing a wide variety of musical styles from classical symphony orchestras and contemporary music ensembles, to recording soundtracks for TV and film and touring with local and visiting bands. But my heart was always drawn to baroque and classical music played on original instruments. So, with the help of Australia Council and Ian Potter Foundation grants, I moved to the Netherlands in 2001. Upon completion of a Master’s degree, I then moved to Paris, where I have been based ever since.
I now work with some of Europe’s foremost original instrument ensembles. I am principal viola of Collegium Vocale Gent (Belgium), Les Musiciens du Prince (Monaco), and the Dutch Bach Society (Netherlands), and am a member of Les Arts Florissants (France), Les Musiciens du Louvre (France), and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century (Netherlands). Since 2010 I have also been co-artistic director of an annual two-week baroque music festival in Switzerland, Musikdorf Ernen. While Covid shut down a lot of my work, 2020 still managed to provide some highlights including becoming a French citizen and starting an online MBA at Macquarie University. Now that musical life is back in full swing, the challenge is to combine the MBA with a full-time touring schedule.
Tara Fry (2005)
My name is Tara Fry and I’m a proud Ngemba and Ngiyampaa woman. I came to MLC as a boarder from Portland, a small rural town, and I found the experience very eye-opening. I loved partaking in the range of sports offered to us such as fencing and rowing. I quickly found that I had to study hard to earn good grades as the expectations and standard of teaching were high. I found this humbling, as at my previous school, I achieved great grades without working as hard. My time at MLC taught me to give things my all and to thrive. If I had not have received a scholarship to MLC, I may never have left that small country town, I would not have had the same opportunities and I wouldn’t be who or where I am today. After graduating, I worked in Government roles for over a decade. I did not pursue further tertiary study as I had not found my passion, choosing to instead focus on work and buying my first home, which I achieved at age 20. Since commencing my role as Treaty Traditional Owner Engagement Coordinator at Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, my passion has been ignited. My role is to get Gunditjmara people ready for Treaty negotiations with the Victorian government. I also coordinate a project that focuses on the rebuilding of Indigenous nations. I love my job as I get to give back to the Gunditjmara people, who kept me in touch with my culture while living off my own Country. It also allows me to walk in the footsteps of the strong, Aboriginal leaders I grew up around. However, my greatest achievement is my 5 year old son Oscar, he calls me a beautiful princess every day.
Michelle Li (2015)
My fondest memories from MLC include life drawing after school at the Art House, working in the darkroom developing photographs shot on film, learning about different paint mediums from the technicians, and working on folios and collages in the Fashion Studio. I did one year of the IB program, where TOK and CAS planted seeds that hugely impacted my life. Theory of Knowledge taught me to be curious and critical. Creativity, Action, and Service formed healthy habits and taught me to love and give back. I was born in 1997 in Naarm (Melbourne) but grew up in Beijing. After graduating from MLC, I trained as a fashion designer at RMIT University and did an exchange at Shih Chien University in Taipei. During my study I co-curated experimental performances in Naarm including ‘Tunnel of Delusion’ at Gallery 17 in 2021; ‘Say Goodbye to The Wind’ at Seaworks, 2019; and ‘Sleep Walking’ at Albert St Gallery in 2018. I also directed the opening dance performance at the ‘Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival: Angel energy independent Runway’, at the Abbotsford Convent, 2020. During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2021, I dedicated my time to Master’s studies at RMIT University for Fashion Design. My graduation collection ‘felt, dress’ earned me the 2021 Australian Fashion Foundation and American Australian Association Scholarship award and a place among the top 10 designers at the 2022 National Graduate Showcase at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival. These were showcased at the Capitol Theatre and Federation Square. I have travelled across China, Japan, Vietnam, Argentina, Brazil, Iceland, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and America. My inspiration comes from learning culture and observing my surroundings. My work has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar Australia, Love magazine, Fashion Journal magazine, Sukeban magazine, and JANE by the Grey Attic.
