8 minute read
CGS STAFF NEWS
SUE DONOGHOE LIFE MEMBER OF ROWING ACT
At the Rowing ACT 2021 AGM, Sue Donoghoe was recognised for her service and dedication to Rowing in the ACT and was conferred Life Membership.
We are incredibly proud of Sue and grateful for the work she continues to do with CGS and the Rowing ACT community.
Sue demonstrates great love, passion and professionalism in Outdoor Education; she also has a rich history in Rowing, from her rowing career to inspiring and instilling her passion for Rowing in others.
Here is a summary of Sue’s accomplishments in the sport. However, it’s worth noting that dot points of teams represented and coached never tell the story of how remarkable a person’s contribution has been.
– Tobi Wehr-Candler, Head of Rowing
1991 –1994
Sue was the founding coach in 1991 of the Canberra Girls Grammar School Rowing Club. She coached girls from beginner to national junior schoolgirls standard, taking the first squad of Canberra Girls Grammar School rowers to the National Championships in 1994.
1994 –1997, 1999 – 2000
VOLUNTEER ROWING COACH, ACT ACADEMY OF SPORT
Personally coached 19 junior and senior women in the Academy’s girls rowing ‘Talent Search’ programme. Under Sue’s coaching, four of these women were selected to represent Australia.
1996 – 2000
VOLUNTEER ROWING COACH, ACT ROWING ASSOCIATION
Sue coached the ACT Women’s Youth Eight at the National Championships every year from 1996 to 2000. She also coached the eight in 2001 when working as a professional coach.
1998
INTERNATIONAL COACHING, SILVER MEDAL AT THE WORLD JUNIOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE WOMEN’S DOUBLE SCULLS
Sue coached the two athletes in that crew since the day they began in the sport, and she led them from beginners to international medallists within two years. She was one of the only coaches within the Academy’s programme to consistently take the extra time away from her paid work to drive athletes and equipment to interstate camps and regattas.
2000
AWARDED THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MEDAL FOR ‘COMMITMENT AND SERVICE TO THE SPORT, PARTICULARLY WITH JUNIORS’
2004
AWARDED AN OAM ‘SERVICE TO SPORT, PARTICULARLY ROWING AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, COACH AND COMPETITOR, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION’
2005 – 2021
VOLUNTEER ROWING COACH, CANBERRA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Sue coached students at CGS for over 15 years, including 2020 Olympic Bronze Medallist Caleb Antill (CGS alumni).
AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATION
» Australian Under 23 Rowing Team competitor,
Trans-Tasman Test Series 1983
» Australian Rowing Team competitor, World
Championships, Milan 1988
» Australian Rowing Team coach, World Junior Championships, Ottensheim 1998 (silver)
STATE AND TERRITORY REPRESENTATION
» ACT Team, Interstate Regatta
» 1979 WL4+ emergency, 1980 WL4+
» 1981 WL4- (bronze), 1996 WL4-
WY8+ COACH
» 1997 WL4-, 1998 WL4-
» 1999 WY8+ coach, 2001 WY8+
» 2002 W8+
» NSW State Team , Interstate Regatta, 1995 WL4 (gold)
CGS STAFF FAREWELLS
AT THE END OF 2021 WE FAREWELLED A NUMBER OF STAFF INCLUDING THESE LONG-SERVING & SENIOR COLLEGUES
CHRISTY MURRAY
Christy has worked at CGS for 21 years. She began her teaching career at the CGS Early Learning Centre, under the direction of Norma Edwards, where she built many long-lasting friendships with families and staff. Her passion for Early Childhood Learning took her on a study tour to the Reggio Emilia region in Italy. On her return, she became an advocate for The Reggio Philosophy in CGS Early Learning. Christy’s kind, generous and welcoming nature has been appreciated by all who have worked with her. She has been a driving force behind ‘loose parts play’ in the ELC and Southside, sharing her creative talents and love of nature through craft, bushwalks and indigenous learning. In 2014, Christy was a recipient of a NEiTA award for National Excellence in Teaching. Christy and her husband Johnno have raised three daughters. Their middle daughter Anna was involved in the planning and landscaping of the outdoor area at the Northside Campus. For the last few years, Christy has supported the Southside Teaching staff as a Learning Assistant. Here, she has shared her vast experience with the children and staff, working on literacy support, classroom learning and providing a positive and warm environment focusing on inclusivity. Christy’s knowledge, dedication and friendship will be greatly missed by all who have enjoyed working with her. We wish her the very best for 2022 as she welcomes three new grandbabies into the family.
– Jennifer Ings
CAROL JAVES
Carol Javes has been at Canberra Grammar School for 20 years, beginning her tenure as a teacher-librarian before teaching Mathematics. The care and dedication that Carol has showed as Head of Student House towards every Burgmann House student were incredible. Every student knew that they would be supported and cared for deeply by her as their Head of House. Carol has always been generous in sharing her resources and ideas with fellow Heads of Student House, as well as an incredibly dedicated teacher with the most impressive work ethic. You can always count on her to have every lesson meticulously planned, her classes to be models of focus and learning, and an excellent role model to students on a personal level.
In recent years, Carol developed a love of rowing and was regularly down at the rowing shed at 5:30am on school days and weekends. She has been a fantastic friend and colleague who will leave a lasting legacy in both Burgmann House and Canberra Grammar School.
Carol’s significant achievements include:
• After being appointed in April 2001 as Teacher Librarian, she was made
Assistant Head of Education Technology the same year
• 2004 Won the inaugural Fred Mould Award for service to students
• 2003 Acting Assistant Head of Garran House in Term 2 and Term 3
• 2005 Appointed as Head of House - Burgmann House
• 2007 nominated by Australia school Library Association ACT for Australian teacher-librarian of the year award; and
• 2008 assistant director to the director of teaching and learning – Education Technology.
Krista Hooke concluded 15 years of service to CGS at the end of 2021. She began her time here as a German teacher and often returned to German teaching, especially in her final years at the School. Krista was equally committed to teaching Religion and Values Education, and thus she wandered – as former colleague Bill Maude once said – from one Holy Roman Empire to the other. In 2011, Krista founded the School’s Alternate Reality Club, which continues to be a very popular club space for students from all year levels, where they can find a place to share their interest in all things geeky. Krista also enjoyed her work as a Tutor in Garnsey and Sheaffe Houses, and then most recently in Middleton House. Her passion for getting to know her students and her commitment as a Tutor was appreciated by those in her care. Krista’s association with the School has spanned three decades and has been enjoyable and rewarding for her. Her two sons also attended the School, and her daughter worked for a period in the IT Department and in Boarding. Krista’s welcoming smile, the friendliness in her voice that embraced all around her, and her passion for teaching and learning will ensure her an abiding place in our hearts and memories.
– Janet O’Dell-Teys, Bill Maude, Sarah Payne
MATT PURCELL
Matt Purcell worked at CGS for 14 years, and before his time as a staff member, he was a student at CGS for 14 years, graduating in the class of 2001. He was a tutor in Edwards for nine years and ran Orienteering as Co-curricular activity.
When Matt Purcell announced his departure from CGS, it sent devastating shockwaves throughout the community. He was instrumental in the development of the famous Code Cadets programme. An extraordinary number of students have benefitted from this programme, although it started as a small project of only around 15 students. He was an excellent Head of Digital Innovation, leading technology initiatives within the School and being an exceptional Head of Department.
Matt Purcell worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of several high-profile events, with his expertise and ability to aid student development. These include live streaming of events, drone camera footage, captaincy voting and anything that required his expertise using a variation of technology. Matt has always strived to excel and has been at the forefront of new technological developments. Several examples include a feature on the news for the HoloLens project, Amazon Web Services and Cybersecurity Competitions, where students excelled against industry professionals. Matt Purcell is well known for his organisation of Silicon Valley trips, where students gain invaluable experience speaking to big tech companies.
His time at Canberra Grammar School has been invaluable, and we wish him the best of luck at Amazon, where we expect him to perform equally as well.
– Matthew Pham, Arnold Choi
FIONA FENTON
Fiona Fenton, our long-time stalwart of Co-curricular administration, chose to retire following on from her long service leave earlier this year.
Fiona, a Geologist, joined the School in 2006. As a technical field worker, she had many stories about working in PNG and arduous field trips, all excellent grounding for the high-stressed world of school administration.
In the past 14 years, she has worked with four different Directors, survived three Heads of School, suffered a significant office move and helped countless individuals in her support of all things Co-curricular. Always one to roll up her sleeves, she was pretty happy to act as a driver, trophy retriever, assembly organiser, graphic designer, editor, logistics expert and problem solver.
Fiona loved being involved with staff and supporting their sports and activities. She was a passionate supporter of the Performing Arts and Music programmes at the School and loved working with students and making their days a little brighter. She cherished the diversity of opportunities and daily challenges that often surfaced in the role and did well to sustain her passionate energy for many valuable years of service.
She will be missed, but we wish her well in exploring life and adventures beyond CGS.
