THE CONNECTION J U N E 2 019 ISSUE
Inside this issue P R I N C I P A L' S R E P O R T PSA PRESIDENT'S REPORT SCHOOL HOUSE MORNING TEAS PA S T S T U D EN T S O N S TAG E VALE COVER STORY TOWNSVILLE FLOODS WELCOME BACK LUNCH VICKI WILSON TRAINING LIVING IN HOPE WELCOME TO THE WORLD ROW I N G R E S U LT S LIONS YOUTH OF THE YE AR REUNION WEEKEND
The Connection cathedral.qld.edu.au
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PRINCIPAL IAN GAMACK
NEW SPORTS PRECINCT
Principal’s Report The 2019 school year began with some of the best rain that Townsville and North Queensland have received in many years, and there were many positive comments heard about the breaking of the 11 year drought out in Western Queensland. Unfortunately that excitement was very short lived as the rain continued to fall for nearly two weeks. Falls of more than one metre over a 10 day period were common for many of North Queensland’s Shires, and this combined with the opening of the Townsville dam spillway on the 7th day of heavy rain wreaked havoc across the homes and properties of many of our school families. The School Lagoon reached its highest level since the “Night of Noah”, but none of our buildings had water f lowing through them. At one point the glass of our Centenary project was barely visible, but fortunately the water eventually receded and our Centenary platform was intact. Even though the lagoon overf lowing was our biggest concern throughout the f lood, it was rain that came through our rooves that has caused the most damage. Severe mould, ruined carpets and furniture, damaged instruments and equipment, as well as the rooves and ceilings themselves will all need to be replaced. Fortunately the school is well insured and we are expecting costs of well over $2 million to be spent on the school over the next 12 months. In the midst of all this rain, the school’s new Sports Precinct project was reaching its final stages. The $3.4 million project consists of eight new courts, four of them replacing the old courts and four of them sitting on the “Greet Property”, which was purchased by the school five years ago. A spectacularly impressive
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roofing structure covers two of the courts and will provide shade, along with huge 5.4m fans, for the classes on these two courts. These courts will be used for netball (8), basketball (4), tennis (8), volleyball (2), and futsal (2) and we are very pleased to have such a wonderful facility for our students to learn, play and train in. Students used these courts for the first time in Week 1 of Term 2 and all were impressed by the quality and useability of this new resource for the school. Stage Two of the Sports Precinct will be built in three to five years’ time and will comprise a new eight lane pool and change rooms for use by our students. Former students will know that Mrs Toni Lanphier has retired after a long and illustrious career at The Cathedral School. She worked part time throughout Term 1 of this year to assist with the handover to her replacement of the very important Registrar position. It is my great pleasure to formally introduce the new REGISTR AR Registrar, Mrs Jane Passmore (pictured right), JANE PA SSMORE to our St. Anne’s Old Girls and Cathedral School Past Students. Jane will sit as School Liaison Officer on the Past Student Association and I know she is looking forward to meeting many more Old Girls and Past Students at the 102nd Reunion Weekend in July. IAN GAMACK
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PRINCIPAL
Past Students’ Association
President's Report
The February f lood provided a devastating start to the school year. The destruction spread inland devastating rural areas in Richmond, Julia Creek and Cloncurry - with hundreds of thousands of stock losses and countless properties damaged. My heartfelt sympathies go out to all current and past families who have experienced hardship due to the f looding. Although our 135 Boarders returned to school ready to commence the year, shortly following their arrival, school was cancelled and students were confined to the School grounds for the following seven days. The resilience shown by all Boarders and Staff was remarkable. The Rock Centre got a great work out with many hours of dance, sports and bin ball. The school suffered damage as a result of the torrential rain that Townsville received and repair works continue across the campus. The end of 2018 saw the Past Students Vs. Current Students Touch Football and Netball competition. The passion and enthusiasm from both teams is a reminder of The Cathedral School spirit and a great show of good sportsmanship. The Past Students took out both the touch and the netball trophy. The end of 2018 was another milestone for the Class of 2018, becoming the newest members of the Past Students’ Association. At the Valedictory Day Service, students were welcomed by Toni Lanphier and myself and presented with their graduation badge. It’s an honour to present our PSA badge to each graduate. The Past Students’ Association welcomed back the Class of 2018 for the ‘Back to School BBQ’. The event gets bigger and better every year, with about 30 past students attending. It is always lovely to hear about our Past Students post Year 12. The Interhouse Swimming Carnivals were held in March and the PSA once again presented the House Spirit Trophies; Bede House won the trophy for Junior school, Langton House for Middle School and Chatham House for Senior School. The 2019 Reunion Weekend will be on from 26 to 28 July and is shaping up to be another great weekend. After a very successful Foundation Day cocktail party last year we will bring back this event for 2019. See the back page for full details of the Reunion Weekend and to book your place at events. In April the school launched a new website and it looks very smart and simple to navigate. We have a new Past Students section, so if you want to update your details or read the Connection Magazine click here http://www. cathedral.qld.edu.au/past-students-association
TOM PORTER WITH PA ST STUDENTS
part of her duties she is the School Liaison to the PSA Committee. Jane has taken the new position in her stride. I am looking forward to working with Jane for many years to come. The school is touring at rural towns in 2019, visiting various country shows and community events around Queensland. I am fortunate enough to be attending the Clermont Show. If you’re at any of the towns we will be visiting, please come and say hello and let us know what you are up to now. We are working on keeping the Facebook Page more active and we need your help to make this happen. If you have a story or photos you would like to share please send me an email and I will share it on our Facebook Page. After a challenging start to 2019, I hope everyone in our School Community, past and present, can take some time for themselves and their families. I look forward to the remainder of 2019 and hearing from past students. Please don’t hesitate to email me at thomas.porter@cathedral.qld.edu.au TOM PORTER, PSA PRESIDENT
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CL ASS OF 2007
In January we welcomed Jane Passmore as the school’s new Registrar and as
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School House Morning Teas This year The Cathedral School introduced House Morning Teas. Over the course of four weeks, students from Kindy to Year 12 came together on the Function Lawn in their House Sport Uniform. During morning tea, House Captains delivered a brief address and lead the House in a war cry, before students devoured their House themed cake.
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S E E PA S T S T U D E N T S O N T H E S TA G E
in TheatreiNQ DNA
TheatreiNQ, Townsville’s only professional theatre company, have a reputation for developing diverse, high quality productions. This year, the company features four actors with strong ties to The Cathedral School. Harlee Timms (2016), Megan Heferen and Laura Pastega (2018) and Jano Garcia Navas (currently in Year 12) are all members of The Bridge training program and star in TheatreiNQ’s upcoming production, DNA. They share their thoughts and dreams with The Connection. DNA features The Bridge Project - how are you feeling about t he show? JANO: DNA is great! Having no other professionals from the company on the stage does put a lot of expectation and responsibility on our shoulders, but the show is getting better each day. Terri and the other Bridge crew members have been working tirelessly for weeks, contributing more and more to the show, developing this creative, clever and entertaining performance. HARLEE: DNA uses such unique storytelling and humour, and being a black comedy I really think people of all ages will connect with it. DNA may features teens, but really it's about all of us and how we resort to our most basic nature, our DNA, in times of crisis. As a regional centre, Townsville is lucky to have its own professional theatre troupe. What about the company might come as a surprise to audiences? HARLEE: Last year, during Comedy of Errors, someone asked us about our incredible set and where we had 'bought' it from. So it may come as a surprise that everything you see on stage is something we create ourselves. We have an incredible team of talented people and that doesn't just mean who you see on stage. No matter our role, we all work together to build and paint every set, stitch every costume, set every light, run the bar and put out the bins.
refugees coming to Australia and talking to people in the audience about how much it moved them I realised how powerful the theatre really was and that I wanted to keep bringing these stories to people for the rest of my life. You all worked together in shows at Cathedral, but is it different now? LAURA: There’s definitely a higher level or maturity between us all now. We had to learn very quickly how to balance having fun, with work and it’s something that we are still working on- but we’re improving! MEGAN: I think the main difference is that this isn’t a high school production. TheatreiNQ have a reputation for producing high quality and professional productions - we have all had to step up to meet those expectations. You get to work with industry professionals all the time and there must be some actors who really make an impact. What lessons have you learnt from them? MEGAN: Just how much hard work goes into every aspect of these productions. HARLEE: Physical control and discipline is one of the major differences between professional and amateur theatre. It's so important to be fully engaged and active every second you're on stage and that's something the senior members of the company have completely mastered. BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW
Can you pinpoint the moment when you decided that you were going to pursue acting as your career pathway? LAURA: It was 2014 and I played a character called Jill in Beauty is a Beast. It was the first time I ever made the audience laugh –that was when I found my passion for theatre. JANO: In Year 7, we put together a big show at school. The teachers directed it and assign roles. I was given a big role as Frank Sinatra and we performed on the school’s soccer field. I felt great, I felt accomplished. I felt like I was in a dream! From that night on I received nothing but encouragement from family, friends and even from some strangers in the audience. MEGAN: The desire to go into acting kind of just amassed over time until it became one of the only things I wanted to do. HARLEE: The moment I decided I wanted to pursue acting was during the show Displaced in 2016. It was a WW2 story about
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VA LE
Annie Tucker Kelly
I was so saddened to hear recently of the death of a past Cathedral student – Annie Tucker Kelly. Annie and I both started at the school in the same year, she as the new principal’s daughter, and me as a rookie teacher straight out of university. When Annie arrived in one of my classes, she was such a joy to teach and we connected over a love of learning about people, places and history. Our connection was still there when she passed away.
Anne Elise Tucker came to St Anne’s in 1979, a year before it became The Cathedral School. Her father Neil had become the school’s first lay Principal following the departure of the Sisters. She was a day student from Year 4 to Year 11, and a member of More House. She participated actively in sport and drama, and outside school, as an equestrienne. She made many friends during her years at Cathedral and many of them were her friends for life. After Cathedral, Annie attended Barker College in Sydney for Senior School, and in her final year received the Woodburn Bowl for distinguished studies in the Humanities and was runner up to Dux. She was active in hockey, cricket, athletics, debating and drama, and a school Prefect in Year 12. Annie’s HSC results were outstanding, and she was in the group of highest achievers across the whole state in several subjects. After school, she attended UNSW, graduating in Arts and Law, punctuating her studies in 1992 by working sundry jobs and backpacking the entire South American continent for 11 months, learning Spanish in Guatemala. This came in handy in her final months when she went back to Mexico for treatment. She
found praying in Spanish easier.
Annie’s professional life was largely spent in Community Law in Sydney and Melbourne, working particularly with migrant women, families and children, preparing cases and presenting to courts. She was an advocate latterly for community legal funding to both Victorian and Australian governments and chosen to speak at Old Parliament House. She also worked as a presentation and negotiation coach in Sydney, aptly with an organisation named ‘Talkforce’, and as a Yoga instructor in her own studio in Melbourne. Annie married Dean Kelly in 1999, and together they had three children, Ellora (17), Devereaux (Dex,14) and Alaitz (Itzy,12). After Sydney she lived in Singapore and Melbourne. She was a deeply committed passionate mother, participating in her children’s multiple sports and community organisations. Annie passed away from breast cancer on February 2, 2019 surrounded by people from her village – family, cousins, aunties, parents. Annie was only 48 years when she died but she was a high impact individual. She had more energy than a few suns, was a force of nature, a warrior queen, a partner in substance and an amazing storyteller. We remember Annie for being fearless, courageous, passionate, fiery, sweet, full of zeal. We also remember her megawatt smile. Annie loved fiercely and was loved fiercely. Those who knew her were all enriched by her and we were blessed to have her in our lives. My sympathy is extended to all members of Annie’s family and her many friends. JUDY NEWMAN
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S TA FF MEMBER , 197 9 – 2012
Nancy Armati
Nancy Armati, a much loved and respected member of the school community for almost 40 years, passed away in November last year. We extend condolences to her family and close friends, and reflect here on her contributions to the school.
Nancy Armati (nee Brazier) was a student at St Anne’s for one year, 1941. It was intended that she complete her education at the school but the bombing of Pearl Harbour meant that the Army and Airforce took over Townsville boarding schools. She did not go with the school when they were evacuated to Ravenswood, and finished her education in Brisbane. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland, she joined the staff of the school in 1952. Nancy first taught French, Mathematics and History at the city campus and then at Mundingburra. She shared Sister Lois’s energy and knew they would overcome the doubters when they moved from civilization to the ‘bush’. Conditions were tough though in the early years at the new campus – no laundry, a bird cage for typing classes,
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primary classes in the breeze way, armies of vicious ants and torrents when it rained! Nancy was appointed Senior Mistress in 1967 and her diplomacy and charm helped the sisters through the years and she was the member of staff most responsible for the school’s smooth transition to lay control. In 1985 she took on the position of Registrar and worked with new parents and students of the school as well as taking responsibility for marketing, past students and publications. When she retired in 1990 Nancy said that being part of one school for so long was a special privilege. She had seen and survived all sorts of crises – from a constant shortage of funds to war, cyclone and fire. Nancy was known for calmly dealing with what occurred and in fact used these changes to stimulate and revitalize the school. Mrs Armati was considered to be a gentle, thoughtful, patient person who related well to her students both in and out of the classroom. When the courtyard of the school was refurbished in 2001, such was the high esteem in which she and her contribution to the school were held, it was named the Nancy Armati Quadrangle in her honour.
C O O E E I T ’ S T I M E T O B O O K YO U R T I C K E T ’ S T O T H E ...
e s a c w o h S 2019 MUSIC
‘ M A D E I N A U S T R A L I A’ 6PM – BBQ 7PM – MUSIC SHOWCASE THE ROCK CENTRE TICKETS WILL G O FA S T E R THAN A POSSUM UP A GUM TREE!
F R I D AY 7 J U N E • B O O K N O W T R Y B O O K I N G . C O M / B B S Z E
COVER STORY - CL A SS OF 1961
Dawn Pendreigh
Dawn Stuart (nee Pendreigh) attended St Annes during the 1960’s and has more recently returned to her old stomping ground as part of her ‘Grandmother duties’ to Owen (Year 3) and Hugo (Year 1). Dawn shares with us her time at St Annes and the delight she encountered when her Grandsons enrolled at The Cathedral School of St Annes & St James.
Almost six decades ago, I became a day student at St Annes, as it was known then. Sister Lois, an Anglican Nun, was the Headmistress. As I recall, she was an imposing figure in her robes however was very much loved and respected by the students, I remember her fondly. I had attended West End State School Co-Ed, a large Primary State School at the time. Upon arriving at St Annes, the differences were immediately noticeable, none more so than the calm environment and reduced noise that came from less students. I remember the names of all of my teachers. History - Miss Tuffley, English - Mrs Bourke, Speech and Drama, Mrs Armarti - Maths 1 and 2, Miss Armstrong - French, Bookkeeping, Mrs Rollands - Typing, Shorthand. Typing and Shorthand were the subjects I expanded upon and was the primary focus in my working life. These subjects were considered Commercial Course. The Subject choices were relevant to the era, however the foundations for lessons are not what they are now. Our assignments, everyday lessons and exams were all handwritten, except typing classes of course. I lived in Stagpole Street, West End and rode my bike to school, which was a sweltering experience in my 60 denier stockings. Soon after I caught two buses in each direction, which was a welcome change.
I loved the uniform but thought it was heavy and hot for the Townsville summers. Thick stockings were worn every day, with the exception of Sports Days. The uniform was a Tan Colour and fell to a respectable length and in Winter we could wear a beret. Today, I am relieved to see my Grandsons uniforms are still very smart but breathable and more appropriate to the climate. The Boarding component of St Annes was huge in the 60’s with girls attending from properties all over the North and West and all the way down South to Mackay and small regional coastal towns. At the time, farming, cattle grazing and cane farming was thriving. A new chapter began when the school became co-ed and in turn named The Cathedral School of St Annes and St James. I have seen the school evolve and grow in numbers and facilities. I am blessed to still be part of this amazing school community and enjoy taking part in my grandmotherly duties. To think as a teenager at St Annes, an all-girls school, that six decades on my grandsons would be attending the same school.
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Townsville Floods In the same week School started back for the year it shut for a week due to the devastating Townsville f loods. The Boarding students were limited to the confines of the school’s grounds, with the Boy Boarders having to take a bus around to Wentworth Avenue to get to the Dining Hall. No sooner had the rain eased in Townsville it started to hit Boarding families out West, with devastating impact. The Cathedral School’s affiliated Army Unit 1RAR, paid the boarders a visit to provide them with some much needed relief. Members from 1RAR arrived in six Protected Mobility Vehicles, better known as Bushmasters, and played carpark cricket, tug-owar and raced the Boarders in a relays. In addition to the fun and games, 10FSB’s Catering Company cooked lunch for the Boarders and Staff who worked around the clock during the f loods to ensure the Boarders were safe and entertained.
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Class of 2018 welcome back lunch The Class of 2018 attended their first Past Student Association Event on Wednesday 13 February when they returned to School for the Welcome Back BBQ. Stay in touch and all the best!
Vicki Wilson Training On 13 February, the Vicki Wilson Shield and UK Tour girls were lucky enough to receive a training session from one of the greatest players in the game of netball, Vicki Wilson. In our training session, we learnt many new skills in a variety of areas including; defending, attacking and leading. Everything that we learnt from Vicki has improved our game dramatically. She managed to teach us new drills whilst putting smiles on our faces and making us laugh. Personally, our favourite part of the training session was the warm up games that involved team work. They required trust and communication between players. One of the games was called Flinch. Two teams were lined up facing each other and the ball was passed from one side to the other. The aim was to catch the ball without the other players next to you f linching. Teams discovered different tactics to make multiple players on the opposing team f linch and
it was a fun way to begin the session. This opportunity was a once in a lifetime experience and the girls who were given the chance to spend time with her, were very appreciative as to how she improved and inf luenced their skills. Student coaches also had the pleasure of attending a Coaching Seminar with Vicki, on the 14 February. This involved learning different types of coaching methods and the fundamental skills of netball. She taught us how to make the most of training sessions and focused on creating a fun and enjoyable environment for the players. Her knowledge of the game was extremely beneficial for all the girls who attended. Vicki Wilson is an inspiring woman and her ability to not only successfully play netball, but also teach young players is to be highly commended. Thank you so much to Vicki for taking the time to provide some of the Cathedral netball players and coaches with this amazing experience.
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Living on
Hope
At the moment we are all living on hope. Looking to the next weather chart to come up and hoping that this time it will bring the rain. If we don’t have this hope, then what else do we have? They say the tough times don’t last forever, but after these tough and exhausting years in drought it seems like nobody told Mother Nature that. Sometimes it gets too much, sometimes it is too hard to think, to know, that you are trying so hard for this land to be productive. Especially when all you get in return is a fence knocked over by the strong wind that only had the illusion of rain, or how you found a leak in a precious tank that has been wasting water for over three days. It gets too much, when the cattle that are struggling to stand and the only life-saving thing we can provide them with is the hay and lick that we have been putting out for the last few months. Looking into the cattle’s eyes, knowing that they don’t understand why there is no feed and they are so weak, too weak to survive much longer and one way or another, we will have to say goodbye. I never knew that by just looking out your window, your heart could shatter. Even though it was nine years ago we were surrounded by knee high, green Buffel and Mitchell grass, we could remember it clearly. Hope and good health is what we have and we are so very fortunate to have that in our lives. But it is so difficult to understand that the only thing that is causing the devastation of many farmers and graziers, is something that won’t fall out of the sky. Then all our prayers were answered at once. The rain finally fell out of the sky and as much as we asked and dreamed for it. It just rained too much. I returned to boarding at The Cathedral School and started to go through all the important history books, afraid that my Grandparents’ house in Townsville was going to go under water. Listening to the TV and hearing all of the houses that had to be evacuated from f lash f looding. We also got news that all the roads were blocked from Townsville to home due to the rain Dad was back at our Station in Corefield and glad to see the water hitting the cracked dry ground. But he wasn’t that sure that the amount of rain coming was a good idea. I still can not understand that on the weather chart you were praying for just a dot but it was more than a speck of rain. It was more than any farmers and graziers ever wanted. I come into boarding and the conversation was about the devastation on the other properties. One of my friends lost everything except 10 cows. Some Boarder’s had water come into their houses. We are so lucky that we didn’t have that much damage to my home. Even though we have to renew all our fences and face the fact the cattle have died from the exhaustion and never to see green grass. Being here and listening to Mum and Dad’s broken-hearted voices, all I wanted to do was help. Mum and Dad had some old friends that rang them up for comfort and looking for help as the social Media of the Queensland’s f lood went viral. It is so humbling to have these amazing people in our lives. We are now getting back on track as green grass is finally coming though. With 83 poddy calves in the cattle yards feeding them so they grow strong, and their mothers watching over them from heaven. Even though it has rained, we are so very frightful of drought, scared that we will have to go though those years again.
JESSICA WHITEHEAD
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YEAR 9 BOARDING STUDENT
Welcome to world
Reuben
Rowing Brooke Barden graduated from The Cathedral School in 2014. Since graduating her life has been pretty busy to say the least. She met a country boy named Cameron and together they bought a little property in 2017 just outside of Ingham. Cameron went on to propose to Brooke and they wed in 2018, making her Brooke Parkinson. Their most recent milestone is the arrival of their beautiful little baby boy, Reuben James Parkinson on 20 February 2019. “I’m still so grateful I got to attend The Cathedral School, I have so many momentous memories and beautiful friends. I send a big hello to Mr Carmen, Mr Williams and Mr Galletly.”
In Term 1 The Cathedral School sent six rowers to the Australian National Championship Regatta held at the Sydney International Rowing course in Penrith. This regatta is the culmination of years of rowing and the pinnacle of competition within Australia, with schools and clubs participating nation-wide. The squad consisted of Gordon Appelcryn, Ben Horsnell, Patrick Axford, Nicholas Pang, Jacob Pang and Bradley Graham. T H E B OY S H A D S O M E FA N TA S T I C R E S U LT S:
Gordon Appelcryn and Ben Horsnell came 2nd in the Under 17 Men's Double Scull and were awarded a SILVER medal! Patrick Axford & Jacob Pang came 8th in the Under 17 Men's Double Scull! Bradley Graham came 5th in the Under 19 Men's Double Scull! Gordon Appelcryn came 3rd in the Under 17 Men's Single Scull (A Final) and was awarded a bronze medal! Ben Horsnell came 4th in the Under 17 Men's Single Scull (A Final) Jacob Pang came 5th in the Under 17 Men's Single Scull (B Final)
Let us know if you have welcomed a bundle of joy recently by emailing marketing@cathedral.qld.edu.au
Lions Youth of the Year 2019 School Captain, Max Bainbridge won the Townsville Final of Lions Youth of the Year against a field of seven entrants from local high schools. He went on to compete in the North Queensland District final against entrants from Mackay to Cairns and won the Community Service Shield!
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Class of 1979
40 years
This is a shout out to any past student who was, or would have been (if you left school prior to Year 12), a Senior in 1979. Has it really been 40 years?
2019 Reunion
Weekend Friday 26 July, 2019
Class of 2014 - 5 Year Reunion 5.30pm to 6.30pm - Free event Cocktail Party by the Lagoon 6.30pm to 9pm - $20 per person This is a combined function for past and present members of the school community. Canapés will be served as The Cathedral School's Music Department serenades all in attendance. A cash bar will also be available.
Saturday 27 July, 2019 School Tour and Afternoon Tea 1.30pm - Free event Reunion Dinner 6pm for a 6.45pm start - $45 per person Canapes and a two course meal will be served and a cash bar will be available. Bus drop off to city hotels - $10 per person
Sunday 28 July, 2019 Church service at St James’ Cathedral Free event Reserve your place www.trybooking.com/YFSQ
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We are having a reunion at the school during the 2019 Foundation Day weekend 26 July – 28 July. All events and booking details can be found at the bottom of this page. We would love to see as many ‘Old Girls’ there as possible. Caren Connor (de Witte) is co-ordinating the reunion and can be contacted via email carenconnor7@gmail.com
Class of 2014
5 years
Students from the Class of 2014 are invited to a special reunion event before the main cocktail party kicks off. Between 5.30 and 6.30pm students can enjoy complimentary food and drinks for the hour.