LIFELONG FRIE NDS
DIOCESAN OLD GIRLS’ LEAGUE COMMITTEE CONTACT DETAILS
Time for a
Email oldgirls@diocesan.school.nz for all enquiries.
REFRESH For Old Girls who have not yet crossed paths with me, I am the relatively new President of the Diocesan Alumnae Association, having swapped roles with the indefatigable Jenny Spillane. I have three girls at Dio, but those of you who are still engaged with the School won’t have seen much of me of late thanks to COVID-related lockdowns forcing the cancellation of some of our key events and activities. Now, however, despite our sadness at not being able to host the 2021 Grad Ball or the replacement function that Emma Cleary and Tania Fairgray invested dozens of hours pulling together, it’s business as usual. Except for things being a little different. A funny thing happened when we last hosted morning tea for senior Old Girls in the School Hall. While serving coffee, I said something about the Old Girls’ League and one of our esteemed guests said to me: “So you know, I do not consider myself old and I am not a girl. I’m a woman.” I pondered this. It was relevant to a broader conversation within our committee a little earlier. We do coordinate and fund numerous events that are integral to the diverse and impressive cohort of people who’ve been through or are at Dio (as every girl now joins us when she walks in the gate as a student). We have no intention of changing anything we currently do that’s integral to our legacy remit. But we can and should be doing more. We have a legion of mentors, role models, inspirational figures, and wonderful women who want to give current Dio
students a hand; or give graduates or those exploring a career change an opportunity; or simply share some of their life lessons. We are working with the School and Angela Coe’s excellent team of alumnae supporters to put some useful structure around this and explore how to maximise the vast array of connections we have.
PRESIDENT Penny Tucker (Macdonald) M. 021 256 0454 TREASURER Felicity Buche (Olson) P. 09 521 8387 SECRETARY Tania Fairgray (Railley) P. 09 529 1736 FELLOWSHIP SECRETARY Emma Cleary (Dillon) P. 09 522 9564 COMMITTEE Sarah Couillault (Willis) Annabel French (Smaill) Jenny Spillane
So, we’ve changed our name to the Diocesan Alumnae Association. I hope you approve. If not, you’ll have ample opportunity to vote us off the island at the next AGM at Founders’ Day. At that meeting you can also have a say on a new constitution that we hope will reflect how we set about respecting our legacy obligations while building greater relevance – especially for our younger members. To anyone interested, we’ll circulate more detailed information regarding all of this as the meeting draws nearer. As always, if you have any particular views, I welcome perspectives, regardless of what they look like. Equally, if you have a good idea about something we should be thinking about, don’t be a stranger. Something we’re currently coordinating is the replacement of all the House chapel banners. I would let you know what’s happening prior to the Founders’ Day unveiling of these eight works of art, but I cannot. That’s because we outsourced the entire process to the current House leaders. These banners are theirs to define and determine. They are working with renowned artist and fabric whisperer Elizabeth Jenkins to create banners that articulate how they see their Houses. Each one takes over
Sheryl Tan Lena Saad Rachael Brand Dio Today Editor, League pages Deirdre Coleman E. d.g@slingshot.co.nz Diocesan School Old Girls’ League PO Box 28-382, Remuera, Auckland 1541
100 hours for Elizabeth to make, and the level of detail is astonishing. I can tell you that each one contains a secret message in a hand-stitched rose. We’ll all have to wait until Founders’ Day to learn what that message will say. Do keep an eye on the events we’ve circulated in the calendar. Please fill in the Stay Connected form, which the School can email you if you have not done so. Until then, do accept best wishes and warm regards from myself and the incredible women I am lucky enough to work with on the Dio Alumnae Association Committee. Ut Serviamus Penny Tucker Diocesan Alumnae Association President DIO TODAY
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