Mandevillian
JUNE 2018
VOLUME. 33
NO. 1
Contents LEADERSHIP 02
SOCIAL JUSTICE 26
SPORT 40
Premier’s VCE Awards
06
Guest Speaker Dr Susan Alberti
AFLW Rookie Thrives
CURRICULUM
10
MUSIC 34
ACHIEVEMENTS 44
NASA: A Return Mission
10
Cello Masterclass
GirlSail
45
RATHFARNHAM
20
PERFORMING ARTS 38
COMMUNITY
48
Forging Early Interests in STEM
22
The Crescent Theatre
Sapphire Dinner
50
Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak 10 Mandeville Crescent Toorak Victoria Australia +61 3 9823 8100 www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au
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Designer & Editor
Printer
Ms Tailem Tynan Communications Coordinator
DMC Group
Key Contributors
Mrs Melindy Green Mrs Robyn Stapley
Dr Susan Stevens Principal Ms Michelle McCarty Director of Mission & Leadership Mrs Judy Reid Director of Development Ms Annette Rinaudo Development Officer – Operations
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Editorial Team
Photography Ms Tailem Tynan Julieanne Perara Photography National Photography Happy Medium Jordan Matter (Cover Image) LoretoToorak
LoretoToorakAlumnae
LoretoToorak
LoretoToorak
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PRINCIPAL’S
Welcome It was with enthusiasm and optimism that the Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak students of 2018 walked through the gates on the first day of school this year, appropriately looking forward to all that both the day, and the term ahead would bring. Looking beautiful in the Loreto blue, the students quickly found their way to new classrooms, met their teachers, and commenced the work of being a student. When you read the pages of this Mandevillian, once more you will be reminded of the depth and breadth of experiences a student of the 21st century encounters. Embracing scholarship with a strong work ethic is important for every year level, from the earliest of years. Our students are engaged, involved and contributing members of the school community. In this way they follow in the footsteps of our foundress Mary Ward, who accepted and embraced the challenges of being involved in society, as a woman, and as a Catholic. Today it is true to say that the curriculum happens both inside and outside the classroom. Reports of music concerts, plays, theatre, sports, overseas pilgrimages and study tours, science school, aviation achievements, lectures and the like, are integral parts of the curriculum landscape. I invite you to enjoy the read.
DR SUSAN STEVENS PRINCIPAL
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Leadership
VCE Results CL ASS OF 2017
It is with pride that we present the outstanding academic results of the Loreto Toorak Class of 2017. We also congratulate our Dux of School, Annie Yu, who achieved an ATAR of 99.9.
Median ATAR
88.25
The Class of 2017 achieved 12 perfect study scores across 9 subjects and celebrates an outstanding median ATAR of 88.25. We are extremely proud to have 7% of our students who achieved an ATAR above 99.00. More than 45% of the cohort achieved an ATAR of 90.00 or above, and impressively, for 74% of our students to be in the top 20% of the state is an exceptional result, of which we are all so proud. The whole school community joins in congratulating our students and their dedicated and inspirational teachers, who have contributed to their academic journey throughout their years at Loreto Toorak. The Class of 2017 are well on their way and there is no doubt that they will contribute to a better world in some significant way in the future. We wish them well. Above (L-R): Margaret Zhou, BrontĂŤ Robinson, Melis Gezer, Annie Yu, Chloe Goutallier, Catherine Ives, Amelia Grossi, Talia Braue (Absent)
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Perfect Study Scores of
50
% of Study Scores
40+
12
(across 9 subjects)
27%
Dux of School
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Our Dux of School Assembly was a wonderful occasion where we congratulated the Class of 2017 and honoured our Dux of School, Annie Yu (ATAR 99.9), duces of individual subjects, students who received perfect scores, and other prize winners and high achievers. Consistently, our students work hard to gain their fine results and to maintain the high standard of academic excellence for which we are known. An except of Annie’s address is presented below. As I look back on my school experience, I feel extremely proud and grateful to have been brought into this warm and loving family called Loreto. It was only five and a half years ago that my family came to Australia from China. As a newcomer with a non-English speaking background, I was overwhelmed by the foreign environment, the contrasting lifestyle, and the cultural differences, not to mention the language barrier.
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Where did my motivation come from? I believe it came from a strong desire to pursue my dreams. I urge you to set your own goals and dreams and work towards them. I remember that I used to sit at the back of the class, trying to understand the words coming out of the teacher’s mouth. I remember copying and pasting paragraphs and paragraphs from textbooks into Google Translate, attempting to comprehend the meaning of those small letters. I experienced the awkwardness of having to smile at someone, pretending that I understood what they said, when I had absolutely no idea what they just told me, and the nervousness of having to practice my sentence over and over before saying it out loud. However, fortunately, these discomforts were soon taken over by something else, a gradual sense of belonging to our school; through the excitement of winning the Spirit Award as a proud Mornanian, the gratitude of receiving heart-warming emails and hand written cards from teachers and the joyfulness of being supported and encouraged by friends. It is through all the opportunities and assistance that I was given that I was able to transform into the confident young lady standing before you today - knowing that my school has not only given me the strength of character to pursue my dreams, but also the values of justice, freedom, sincerity, verity and felicity, which will underpin each step I make in the future.
My childhood and secondary schooling was full of music, and it was through all the practising, the performing and the wonderfully challenging yet exceedingly rewarding and inspiring musical environment here, that I learnt the important lessons of discipline and perseverance while always striving for my personal best. To the current Year 12s; your final year of school is going to be a challenging yet exciting one. During my last year, I was constantly asked the same question; where did my motivation come from? I believe it came from a strong desire to pursue my dreams. I urge you to set your own goals and dreams and work towards them. Yes, VCE is a competition, but it is not a competition based on how smart you are. Instead, it is a competition between you and yourself. It is a marathon, whoever keeps going to the end is the winner - so you will all win! VCE is just one part of your educational journey, not the end. While your focus may be on the final score, ultimately, the greatest reward is the knowledge and the experience you have gained along the way. ANNIE YU DUX OF SCHOOL
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Academic Highlights
7%
27%
45%
74%
(top 1% of state)
(top 5% of state)
(top 10% of state)
(top 20% of state)
Legal Studies Physical Education Psychology Studio Arts
Margaret Zhou Eleanor Brown, Lauren Grant (Year 11), Madeleine Harpur Brontë Robinson Chloe Burke
ATAR of 95+
ATAR of 99+
ATAR of 90+
ATAR of 80+
Perfect Scores Ancient History Biology Business Management Chemistry Further Mathematics
Samantha Holt (Year 11) Sylvia Sherborne (Year 11) Melis Gezer Brontë Robinson Molly Jensen, Margaret Zhou
Below: Recipients of a Perfect Study Score of 50 Back (L-R): Brontë Robinson, Molly Jensen, Melis Gezer, Eleanor Brown, Chloe Burke, Madeleine Harpur Front (L-R): Margaret Zhou, Samantha Holt, Lauren Grant, Sylvia Sherborne
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Tertiary Pathways
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Of the 109 students in the Class of 2017, 98% of the cohort received either their first, second or third preferences, compared with 90% in 2017 and 85% in 2015. The consistent growth in the percentage of our students attending Victoria’s two most prestigious and popular universities, the University of Melbourne and Monash University, has been maintained. It is the successful destination of 67% of the cohort. With their innovative courses and focus on real world experiences and the digital world, RMIT and Swinburne University are also increasing in popularity with our students.
In recent years, students’ interest in Business courses in single and double degrees has continued its upward trajectory, contributed to by the ongoing conversation of the importance of enterprising, problem solving, negotiation and selfmanagement skills. A recent trend over the last five years has seen a strengthening in the percentages of our girls choosing STEM related fields of study compared with the previous five years, with around one third selecting courses in this area.
Institutions ACU
5%
Deakin
3%
Latrobe
2%
Melbourne
37%
Monash
30%
Private Institutions
2%
RMIT
13%
Swinburne
6%
Victoria (TAFE)
2%
Areas of Study Architecture/Building
6%
Arts/Humanities
27%
Business
25%
Creative
11%
Education
1%
Health
6%
IT
2%
Law
5%
STEM
18%
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Premier’s VCE Awards
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BEST SCHOL ARS IN THE STATE
Presented on Tuesday 15 May 2018 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the 2017 Premier’s VCE Awards recognises students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education. With a record number of awards received for the Class of 2017, Loreto Toorak is, proudly, the Top Independent Girls’ School in the state (excluding VCE VET subjects).
Top All-Round VCE High Achievers The prestigious Top All-Round VCE High Achievers award is presented to students who have achieved study scores of 46 or higher in at least five VCE studies in the most recent academic year and the previous years. We congratulate the following students who have been presented with a Top All-Round VCE High Achievers Award: Brontë Robinson Annie Yu Below: Top All-Round VCE High Achievers and Premier’s VCE Awards recipients (L-R): Margaret Zhou, Chloe Burke, Brontë Robinson, Samantha Jensen (Deputy Principal - Studies), Samantha Holt, Molly Jensen, Louisa Pedley, Annie Yu
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Premier’s VCE Awards Each year, individual Graded Assessment scores are used to determine the top group of students for each VCE study award. The number of study awards in each study is based on the number of enrolments in that study. We congratulate the following students who have been presented with a Premier’s VCE Award in their respective subjects: Chloe Burke - Studio Arts Samantha Holt - Ancient History Molly Jensen - Further Mathematics Louisa Pedley - Australian Politics Brontë Robinson - Psychology Margaret Zhou - Legal Studies
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INTRODUCING OUR
Captains of School Lauren Grant
Meg Taranto
What is important to you about being Captain of School?
What is important to you about being Captain of School?
That I have the opportunity to teach younger students the values that I feel are an important part of what it means to be a Loreto girl. I strongly believe in having an approachable presence which the girls can look up to and relate to.
I love coming to school, so I want to share this love with everyone in the school community. I know that school can be a really difficult thing, and so helping others find personal joy in their learning lives is a way I can show my gratitude each day for receiving this position.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about developing friendships in every situation. I believe that being welcoming is one of the greatest gifts you can give and the power of friendship is something that has the ability to change an environment.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about learning and about love and I try to bring both into each day. I believe these two forces, when practised in conjunction, are the key to a compassionate existence.
What is the most valuable lesson your Loreto education has taught you?
What are your favourite books that define you or have shaped you as a person?
The greatest lesson that I have learnt is the power of attitude. I am strongly passionate about understanding that your attitude has the power to change and improve every situation depending on how you channel it. I credit this lesson to my initial study of Positive Education and then applying it to all aspects of work that I have done, particularly through rowing and my own academic studies.
Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke This book transcended time for me, and felt like a personal roadmap to the life I want to lead.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
My Anthology of Romantic Poetry I bought this in a Darwin bookshop on the way back from Ramingining with Lauren! I studied Romanticism for the first time in Year 10 Literature as Film, and it both moved and fascinated me. Reading this poetry is like dreaming.
I am proud of the work that I have put into my studies and co-curricular commitments which have shaped me into a well rounded person. I am grateful for all the opportunities that the school has offered that has given me the chance to succeed. I am particularly proud of the effort I have put into rowing as I am very passionate about the sport. I now feel that I have the time management skills and ability to juggle lots of tasks which is a useful skill, especially throughout this year.
What is the most valuable lesson your Loreto education has taught you?
How can we live the value of Justice in the school context?
How can we live the value of Justice in the school context?
This concept is something that Meg and I really wish to work on this year. We have spoken to the girls about how we can all bring justice into our lives, simply by looking at small acts of kindness and being the best version of yourself. Justice can be channelled through treating all people with equal respect.
Lauren and I both agree that living justly day to day means bringing the value to even the smallest of exchanges and using our power of influence to bring positivity and kindness to interactions with each other, as a school community, the world beyond the school and the natural world.
Because social justice has been a huge part of my Loreto education, the most valuable thing I have learned is the power of education itself; particularly the power of educated women on a universal level. My education is something that I am most grateful for in life, it has helped me to be open, analytical and constantly inspired.
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THE LORETO YEAR OF
Justice
This year is the Loreto Year of Justice. This is one of our core Loreto values to which we feel a strong connection; just as Mary Ward recognised in her time, we also see many cases of injustice in our world at local, national and global levels and as young, educated people, we know there is much we can do to bring about positive change. In order to turn our ideas surrounding justice into actions, we have devised the school theme for this year, alongside our fellow Councillors. Our school theme for justice in 2018 is… ‘With open hearts, we welcome all to the table’ We speak a lot in our school community about the importance of having right relationships; for us right relationships are at the heart of justice. Right relationships are built upon showing respect towards other people, different groups and even to our natural world. Mary Ward talked about the necessity of bearing a strong heart in order to create such right relationships; a heart that is transformed by love, open to change and welcoming of every new interaction.
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With open hearts we welcome all to the table. This idea of welcome and inclusion, also part of right relationships, feeds into the image of the table which is associated with a sentiment of gathering, be it for a meal or an executive meeting, where people of power sit and make decisions that influence the world. This table brings to mind images of Mary Ward’s Open Circle of Friends, a powerful symbol of inclusion. Today, the universal need for such inclusion is seen in our ongoing pursuit of equality, where all the world’s people are represented and given a seat at the table. Our Loreto education, inspired by the Loreto sisters as instigators of change and doers of justice, also encourages us to ensure that we, as powerful women, are able to take our seat at this table too. This theme resonates with us because we see each word as a diving off point to encourage us not to be passive in the face of injustice. We very much look forward to working with you all throughout the year to give this theme life and meaning, but until then, we encourage you all to think about how you personally connect with justice and what this theme means to you in bringing it about, whatever your year level or place in our school. It is with pride that we say, the Loreto Year of Justice is already off to a wonderful start.
LAUREN GRANT & MEG TARANTO CAPTAINS OF SCHOOL
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Justice Prayer
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Creator God, source of all life, We marvel at the beauty and excellence within everything you have created. In our difference, you made us and love us. Through our search to seek and understand the message of your son Jesus, we open ourselves to belong to the Kingdom of God. Free our minds to recognise the needs of the world, locally and globally. Give us the wisdom and the conviction to realise that through right relationships with you and each other, we have the power to bring about a more just world. May we give generously and willingly, without expecting anything in return, as we challenge all that leads to injustice. We pray that our God who liberates, empowers and motivates, will be with us as we work for justice with the gifts of humility and compassion. Enable us to be disciples of your love and peace. Following the example of Mary Ward, assist us in being ‘seekers of truth and doers of justice’. Hear our prayer which we ask in Jesus name. Amen
This annual meeting allows our student leaders to gain a deeper understanding of the Loreto value for the forthcoming year, share ideas and learn from each other and form a network that will support their leadership roles.
T
I
2018
J
E
The LSAC Student Leadership Conference took place in late 2017, involving the incoming School Captains from Loreto schools around Australia.
U
S
C
LSAC Student Leadership Conference
lTo r e t o OOrak
The conference took place at Loreto Toorak and Loreto Ballarat. Sr Libby Rogerson ibvm provided an engaging and inspiring opening session and various other staff and speakers worked with the girls across the weekend, particularly assisting the leaders in their creation of the Justice Prayer for 2018. Our own Captains of School, Lauren Grant and Meg Taranto, loved spending time with their fellow Loreto leaders, forming close connections and drawing encouragement for their leadership of our school in the Loreto Year of Justice. Above: School Captains from Loreto schools around Australia Kirribilli: Isabella Bath, Laura Ferguson Normanhurst: Clodagh Bray, Yvette Crouch, Jessica Drummond, Sophie Stanley Ballarat: Elizabeth Clarke, Ruby Treweek Marryatville: Imogen Hall, Tara Rossetto, Madeline Whenan Coorparoo: Abigail Clark, Victoria Lopez Vaquero Toorak: Lauren Grant, Meg Taranto Right: 2018 Justice Poster Design by Olivia Sferrazza (Year 12)
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Curriculum NASA:
A RETURN MISSION
Junior Space Program Our arrival in Huntsville, Alabama and the US Space and Rocket Centre was the start of our space program experience. We learnt about the rich history behind space exploration in the town of the first rocket-launch centre and mission control of the Space Race of the 1950s. Enthusiastic about the hands-on opportunity to test the training simulators, we experienced a space mission to Mars and the International Space Station and a chair that simulated the effect of gravity on the moon; and even our dorms and showers were designed like those used by astronauts. The first week of our trip showed us the hard work and intelligence that laid the foundations of the moon landing and modern space exploration. After leaving Huntsville for Houston, the second half of our trip comprised immersion in museums, workshops and the NASA Johnson Space Centre, including a guided tour of its facilities and current projects. I was most excited about the plan to send people to Mars and the development of a robot to prepare the planet for habitation. Other highlights of our visit were shark dissections, an NBA game between the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz and a visit to Rice University. We also enjoyed meeting girls from other states, creating interesting and memorable friendships. The Space Program offered valuable life skills that made an impact in developing each girl to reach their full potential. In being a group of young women, receiving such hands-on exposure in both academic and intrapersonal aspects, brought about much empowerment. We are incredibly grateful to the program coordinators and mentors, Ms Claire Haughey, and the school for coordinating our trip. I recommend this program to all students to learn more about science applications and pathways, and to extend students outside their comfort zones. Left: Isabelle Duggan (Year 8)
ALESSANDRA NEGLINE YEAR 10
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Senior Space Program
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On the Senior Space Program in December 2017 we engaged in activities to enhance our knowledge in STEM areas. We were inspired by presentations from astronauts, visits to exclusive NASA sites, seeing space rockets and where astronauts train for their missions. Some of the astronauts had visited the International Space Station and have qualified to participate in the Mars One recolonisation program. A highlight was our time at the NASA Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, taking part in a competition to plan a $600 million mission to Mars. During the program, we had the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes at the AD Astra Rocket Company, one of the competitors in the Space Race to Mars. We were also fortunate to hear amazing speakers who demonstrated the importance of hard work and motivation. They showed us that we can accomplish our goals and literally reach for the stars. We experienced a mission control simulation at the George Observatory where we successfully launched and landed a rocket on the Moon. We thrived on our visited to the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab where we saw astronauts train to go into space’s gravity, and at the Christopher C Kraft Jr Mission Control Centre; known by their call-sign as ‘Houston’, the centre that communicated with Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins in their moon landing. In order to understand the astronauts’ experience of the closest neutral gravity to space, we also participated in scuba-diving; which was one of my favourite highlights from the trip.
This trip was an enlightening experience as I discovered that my career interest in international law is practiced at NASA. This helped me to understand that I don’t need to be an engineer, or a maths or science expert to work in a dynamic, innovative and forward thinking organisation. Above (L-R): Chloe Lochhead (Year 9) and Olivia Budkiewicz (Year 9)
AMELIA DUNN & NADÉGE STUDENY YEAR 11
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Soaring into Aviation
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LEADING THE WAY IN STEM INNOVATIONS
The Loreto Toorak Aviation Program seeks to challenge our students to discover what they are truly capable of in an environment far removed from our classrooms. Since the program’s inception in 2013, the aim has been to show girls that they can achieve success in any field they choose. Loreto Toorak has facilitated the journey of 12 students in flight training at Moorabbin Airport, remarkably with all twelve achieving solo flights, nine obtaining their Recreational Pilot’s Licence, and two obtaining their Private Pilot’s Licence. In 2017, one of the program’s graduates, Eliza Lincoln-Price, entered an Aviation degree at Swinburne University, closely followed in 2018 with Isabelle Maher becoming the first graduate to be accepted into the Australian Defence Force Academy’s flight training program.
Isabelle Maher Going into Year 9, many of my friends already had their VCE subjects and dream university courses planned. I felt as though I went into Year 9 knowing that I didn’t like olives but that I loved dogs, which didn’t help me much! Seeing my older sister’s involvement in the program, I was instantly drawn in. As soon as I began flying, I knew it was something that I wanted to do forever and I started looking into my options in how I could make this a reality. An excursion to the RAAF Base in Newcastle opened my eyes to all of the opportunities that I had not even considered in the field of aviation, and it was the first moment that I had seriously contemplated a future career in the industry. After completing my Recreational Pilot’s Licence training, I knew that I wanted to follow aviation as a career path and I submitted my application for the Australian Defence Force Academy. I am so grateful to the school, both for challenging women in such diverse areas and for the offering me an Aviation scholarship and facilitating this incredible opportunity.
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As soon as I began flying, I knew it was something that I wanted to do forever. After a rigorous application process, and nearly being denied a place based on my height, I begun my initial training as an Officer Cadet in the Air Force, with a job as a pilot waiting for me at the end of my studies. The lesson that this has taught me is that with effort and determination, life will reward you with opportunities that you never thought you could achieve. ISABELLE MAHER CLASS OF 2017
Eliza Lincoln-Price The Loreto Toorak Aviation program gave me the opportunity to cement my love for the aviation industry. Aiming to build an interest in aviation in young women, the program inspires the growth of females in a very male dominant flying world. We were introduced to the program as an elective in Year 10, with a solid theory base before we even got near a plane. However, this foundation of knowledge was crucial before we stepped foot in an aircraft. Early areas we covered included aviation history, radio communications, knowledge of aerodynamics, engine functions and electronics, understanding of meteorological situations, navigation, wind velocity and altimetry. I am confident the aviation program set me up extremely well for my aviation studies and I continue to use the skills I was taught at school each day in my work.
Needless to say, in Year 11 we all looked forward to Wednesday afternoons spent at Moorabbin Airport going out and spreading our wings. It was such an exciting moment when one of us got to experience our first solo flight and take to the skies all on our own. The support from everyone in the class was always unbelievable. The outcome of this program was setting me up with a good foundation in aviation to put me one step ahead in my continuing studies. Currently I am in my second year of a Bachelor of Aviation and a Graduate Certificate of Piloting at Swinburne University and Oxford Aviation Academy. I am looking forward to the possibilities of working with airlines such as Qantas Link and Virgin Australia, thanks to both Loreto Toorak and Swinburne Aviation. The final dream for me has always been rural and corporate flying where I can be face to face with the most challenging parts of the career.
ELIZA LINCOLN-PRICE CLASS OF 2016
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It was such an exciting moment when one of us got to experience our first solo flight and take to the skies all on our own. The support from everyone in the class was always unbelievable. Mandevillian JUNE 2018
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VCE Art Tour
In December 2017, the incoming Year 12 Art, Studio Arts and Visual Communication Design (VCD) students visited Hobart on the inaugural VCE Art Tour. The intention was to immerse us in all that the city had to offer artistically, with the hope that we would be inspired towards developing ideas and considering imaginative possibilities for our own creative pursuits this year. Our first stop was Hobart’s waterfront and we were charmed by the picturesque pastel buildings reflecting the history of the city. To our delight we visited one of Hobart’s oldest buildings, an original jam manufacturing factory, now the School of Creative Arts. We received a tour which soon found us all very comfortable in the homely art space. Our tour explored the numerous studios, printing rooms and student spaces; the array of creative rooms silently convincing us that we could consider moving to Hobart once completing Year 12 to pursue all our artistic desires. We enjoyed a variety of practical drawing exercises designed to inspire our imagination (pictured below), and participated in a lecture addressing how 20th and 21st century artists generated ideas for their artworks. On Friday night we enjoyed a scenic tour along the waterfront; Hobart’s typical forecast of rain on full display during our walk to Salamanca Place. Although we entered the Handmark Gallery drenched, the rain didn’t stop us from admiring the
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array of exquisite artwork on show. Artist Alyce Bailey provided a personal recount about what inspired the development of her highly creative and personal interpretations of animals in her eloquent paintings. Saturday was the highlight of the Art Tour, visiting two of Hobart’s main tourist destinations, the Salamanca Market and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA, pictured above). As soon as we stepped foot on the grounds of MONA I felt overwhelmed being in such an incredible place that holds some of Australia’s greatest works of art and architecture. With picturesque views of the iconic Derwent River, the setting was quintessentially Australian. The spiral building located on the magnificent lawn took us right down to the heart where all the works of art were on display. My personal favourites were from the gallery’s own collection; Brett Whiteley’s The Naked Studio and India by Ryan McGinley. They were both pieces that instantly took my breath away. It was also a highlight to see David Walsh, the owner and inspiration behind MONA, strolling through the gallery and happy to talk to some of the students from our group; something I am sure that we will never forget. The flight home left me reminiscing about the amazing artworks and creative spaces we had the opportunity to explore, planting many seeds of inspiration that I plan on taking into my art studies in this year. STEPHANIE REID YEAR 12
Visiting Guest Photographers
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Rob Lindblade
Rob spoke to our students about his journey as a photographer, with his interest sparking in school where he captured many school events in 35mm film.
Year 12 Studio Arts students were excited to welcome Rob Lindblade, a Melbourne based commercial photographer who concentrates on corporate, events, professional sports and lifestyle industries, in particular with the expanding demand for drone photography.
Engaging with his specialty area, Rob took our students to St Michael’s Green, demonstrating the capabilities and functionality of his drone and allowing the girls hands-on experience with the technology to capture amazing, birds-eye images of our school. www.roblindbladephotography.com
Jordan Matter Students were filled with enthusiasm at the arrival of New York based professional photographer Jordan Matter, renowned for his YouTube phenomenon, the 10 Minute Photo Challenge. After Jordan’s energetic, crowd-pumping arrival, he engaged in an insightful and animated discussion about his photographic style, career inspiration, top worldwide photographic locations and his favourite subject matter; dancers. Calling out one of our own promising talents, Sophie Kennedy (Year 9, pictured left), the girls witnessed Jordan’s unique photography skills during an initial shoot with Sophie and special guests, the Rybka twins. In an unprecedented first for Jordan, the girls were fortunate to experience a live 10 Minute Photo Challenge around the school grounds, visiting Winifred Square, the Library, St Michael’s Green and the Barry Sports Centre, followed by the highlight in the closing seconds; a firebird leap into the pool! We hope the girls were left inspired to explore new ways of creating and perceiving Media and Art. Currently with over 4.5 million views, Jordan’s 10 Minute Photo Challenge at Loreto Toorak can be viewed at the following link: https://bit.ly/2qkOy68
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L ANGUAGE TOUR
Malaysia
Setiap dua tiga tahun, siswa-siswa bahasa Indonesia diberi kesempatan untuk mengunjungi Malaysia untuk memperlancar bahasa Indonesia mereka dan mengalami budaya Melayu.
carnival, which they had prepared for with extreme determination and diligence. SMSS also hosted a culture night, in which many of the students presented traditional dances from their cultures. Much to the excitement of our Malay friends, we presented three songs of our own and were invited to try out some Malaysian cultural dance moves, becoming immersed in the Malay traditions, and feeling very much a part of their school.
Next we visited Kuching in Borneo, where we were given a tour around the city whilst learning about the historical ethnic groups that can still be found on this island. Bako National Park saw us trekking through the jungle seeing a variety of flora and fauna close at hand, including proboscis monkeys, snakes and bush pigs, amongst other native animals.
Every two or three years, Indonesian students are given the opportunity to visit Malaysia to improve their Indonesian language and experience Malay culture.
Following Bako, we headed to Mongkos, a small and remote village near the Indonesian border. Struck by how happy all the locals were despite the lack of resources in the village, we were able to learn about rural life and the hardships they face, and were also invited to take part in a cultural show taking place in the traditional longhouse. Damai was our last destination, where we enjoyed sunsets on the beach, visits to the Sarawak Cultural Village and a cruise to see the river dolphins and fireflies.
In March, an excited group of Loreto Toorak students headed to the airport, bound for Malaysia. Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur, we visited many landmarks including the Petronas Towers, the Kuala Lumpur Tower, Sultan’s Palace, Royal Selangor and the Batu Caves. We were also given the opportunity to try batik painting and cooking of some traditional Malay dishes. As imagined, we were also very excited to try out our bargaining skills and converse with the local sellers in some of the markets.
This trip was a truly memorable experience for all the students, becoming more confident in speaking Indonesian, extending our vocabulary and becoming more aware of other cultures and traditions.
Following Kuala Lumpur, we headed to Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor (SMSS); a boarding school just outside Kuala Lumpur. Greeted excitedly by our Malaysian buddies, the students at this school quickly became friends as they practised their English and we practised our Indonesian conversation. Here we had the privilege of watching the Malaysian students participate in their interhouse sports
Left: Beach walks in Damai
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We thank Mr Matthew Eddy for his organisation of the trip, and Ms Lisa Hoang and Mrs Catherine Maimone Crowhurst for their help with our Indonesian skills and for immersing us into the Malaysian and Indonesian culture. Above: With our new friends at Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor Boarding School
CHARLOTTE NEENAN YEAR 11
L ANGUAGE TOUR
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Italy
All’inizio delle vacanze di Pasqua ventisei ragazze di Year 10 e Year 11 e quattro professoresse sono partite per il viaggio in Italia. Abbiamo visitato tanti bei posti e tante città; tra cui Roma, Assisi, Siena, Firenze, La Spezia e Porto Venere e le cittadine delle Cinque Terrre, Monterosso e Vernazza, Lago di Garda e la villa romana a Sirmione, Mantova, Verona, Bologna e Venezia. Abbiamo visto tantissimi monumenti storici come il Panteon ed il Colosseo a Roma e abbiamo visitato le famose gallerie d’arte nei musei del Vaticano e negli Uffizi. In ogni città abbiamo gustato i piatti tipici e a Mantova abbiamo partecipato a una lezione di cucina dove abbiamo preparato i tortelli di zucca e il dolce tipico, la sbrisolona. In gruppi abbiamo esplorato le varie città dove abbiamo fatto lo shopping in italiano! Al Liceo Virgilio a Mantova abbiamo frequentato le lezioni in italiano e abbiamo lavorato sui nostri progetti con gli studenti del Virgilio. Nel pomeriggio gli studenti ci hanno mostrato la loro storica città di Mantova; è stato molto divertente.
At the beginning of the Easter break, 26 girls from Years 10 and 11, along with four staff, departed for the Language Tour to Italy. We visited many beautiful places and many cities; among them Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, La Spezia and Porto Venere and the little towns of the Cinque Terre, Monterosso and Vernazza, Lago di Garda and the Roman villa in Sirmione, Mantova, Verona, Bologna and Venice. We saw many historical monuments such as the Pantheon and the Colosseum in Rome and we visited the famous art galleries in the Vatican museums and the Uffizi. In each city we savoured famous dishes and in Mantua we participated in a cooking lesson
where we prepared pumpkin filled tortelli and a typical desert, the sbrisolona. In groups we explored various cities where we went shopping using our Italian. At the Liceo Virgilio high school in Mantua we attended classes in Italian and worked on our projects with the Italian students from Virgilio. In the afternoon the students showed us around their historical city of Mantua which was lots of fun. The highlights of the trip were seeing Siena and Florence; Siena’s uniquely shaped Piazza del Campo where the famous Palio is held was amazing. It was fascinating to learn about the traditional event which takes place twice a year and seeing the flags of the Contrade spread around the city made us understand how much the event means to the Sienese. It was lovely to explore Siena and see the beauty of this historical town. Florence was a special city that will forever stay with us; filled with breathtaking art not only in the Uffizi Galleries but also wherever we walked. Florence was stylish in every aspect and soon became our favourite place for all things artistic and creative from Michelangelo’s David in the Academia to Gucci designs in the Gucci Galleries and finding a bargain at the San Lorenzo market or exploring the unique fashions. Another special moment was participating in a cooking class on a 15th century farm near Mantua where we learnt to cook traditional Mantuan cuisine. A highlight of our time in Mantua was time spent at Il Virgilio, a prestigious high school where we enjoyed meeting the students. We worked on projects together, learnt about each other’s cultures and took part in their morning classes. We were also given a tour of the historic school and the beautiful centro storico of Mantua. Our Italian Language Tour was the trip of a lifetime. We had the best time ever and we are looking forward to going back to Italy one day. We are very grateful to have had this opportunity and we thank Mrs Caterina Chng, Ms Samantha Jensen, Ms Michelle McCarty, Ms Marina Pretto and Dr Susan Stevens for accompanying us around Italy. Left: Wearing the masks we created at a mask making workshop at our Carnevale Dinner on our last night in Venice Above: St Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday in the Vatican
CARLA FERA & SARAH DAVIS YEAR 11
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YEAR 10 EXCHANGE
Mary Ward Connect In this, the 10th year of the Mary Ward Connect program, our Year 10 students both visited and welcomed visitors from Loreto Kirribilli in Sydney and Loreto Marryatville in Adelaide. The following is a collection of reflections from some of our students who were fortunate to be a part of the program. Grace Jackson “Mary Ward Connect was an experience I will never forget. Our group of eight travelled to Loreto Kirribilli and lived with our host families who were all very kind and helpful. Throughout the four days we went on a tour of the school, visited the sights of Sydney, walked across the Harbour Bridge, went out for dinner together and went to the famous Manly Beach for a swim after school. It was a very fun experience. Learning about other Loreto schools around the country was an interesting experience and all travellers felt at home with the wonderful facilities and caring students of Loreto Kirribilli.”
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The bond between all Loreto schools is what truly makes us all one family. – Erin Shackcloth Emma Yan “Mary Ward Connect is definitely a program that all students would love to partake in. Experiencing school life at Loreto Marryatville was very interesting, especially seeing the differences between their school life compared to Loreto Toorak school life. We enjoyed sightseeing, visiting the zoo, the botanical gardens, Adelaide oval, the art gallery, the city and the West Lake sunrise was incredible. I felt so welcomed at Marryatville with such nice teachers and girls from Adelaide and Sydney. Being a part of Mary Ward Connect is something I am extremely grateful for.” Tess Kelliher “I am so grateful for the opportunity to take part in the Mary Ward Connect program. My host sister, Annabelle, and her family were lovely, and we had so much fun exploring Sydney with all of the Loreto students, and experiencing a day in the life of a Loreto Kirribilli girl. I found many differences between our schools from the moment we walked inside their school gate, but when I was sitting in their Chapel, I remember thinking how similar it was to Loreto Toorak.” Anne See “I had a great time on Mary Ward Connect in Marryatville and enjoyed being paired with girls who had similar interests to me.” Kate Byrne “Mary Ward Connect was an experience I will never forget. It was so exciting to be able to experience life in another Loreto school, in a completely new city. It really gave me an idea of how big the Loreto community really is and how much we all have in common. I strongly encourage students to put themselves forward for this experience as I found it so enjoyable and meaningful.”
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Mary Ward Connect was a truly unique experience and the connection it fostered between fellow Loreto girls around Australia is like no other. – Lauren Silke Lauren Silke “We were fortunate to spend four days at Loreto Kirribilli, with breathtaking views of the harbour, and our amazing host sisters, who, by the end of the week, we felt inclined to smuggle back in our suitcases. We travelled to school with our host sisters and other students from Loreto Marryatville who had also travelled to Sydney, with several girls catching the
ferry. We enjoyed a tour of the school and were mesmerised by their prestigious glass elevator, which offered 360 degree views of the harbour. Mary Ward Connect was a truly unique experience and the connection it fostered between fellow Loreto girls around Australia is like no other.” Erin Shackcloth “When we arrived at Loreto Marryatville we were greeted by the familiar smiling faces of our Loreto sisters as well as fellow travellers from Loreto Kirribilli. In my opinion, the defining quality of a Loreto girl is our mutual love and respect for our school and its values. Both Toorak, Kirribilli and Marryatville girls alike spoke fondly of the time spent at their schools and of the incredible opportunities a Loreto education offers. I am very grateful to have been a part of Mary Ward Connect and I urge girls in younger years to take part as the friendships made with Loreto girls from around Australia were incredible and the bond between all Loreto schools is what truly makes us all one family.” Opposite: Outside the Sydney Opera House with host students from Loreto Kirribilli with Loreto Toorak travellers; Back (L-R): Tess Kelliher, Grace Jackson, Analise Vourvahakis Front (L-R): Mia Lucas, Lauren Silke, Brigitte Gleeson Above: Visiting students from Loreto Marryatville and Loreto Kirribilli along with Loreto Toorak Year 10 host students Alyssa Betts, Charlotte Blazevic, Anneka Davys, Elenoire Faiola, Lucy Gallagher, Eliza Green, Madeleine Hooker, Mackenzie Howard, Elise Kenny, Bridget McFarlane, Eleanor McFarlane, Alessandra Negline, Elizabeth Prosser, Alexandra Rapkins, Anika Stary, Millicent Walker.
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Rathfarnham “My Parents Taught Me How to Lose...” I have really enjoyed watching the winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. I felt the athletes triumph when they were victorious, and the tragic disappointment when they faced defeat. Like many Australians I was impressed watching David Morris’ incredible poise and composure after being eliminated from the men’s aerials finals. He took the decision with civility and dignity. In subsequent interviews he was both humble and considered; a true credit to his parents, his country and himself. In one interview, David mentioned the hard work and preparation that he had undertaken over the years to get to this point of the competition. He appreciated the level of subjectivity in judging the sport and that the final decision was to be accepted. Many commentators said that it was unfair and that he had been ‘robbed’. David refused to buy into this debate. Instead he used the experience to reflect on his hard work and preparation to get to the Olympics, with acceptance that he had done his best and offered congratulations to his fellow competitors.
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In our Positive Education program, we look at dealing with disappointment and failure and learning how to put this outcome in perspective... David also shared his reflections on his upbringing, saying that his parents taught him how to lose. This is an interesting concept. In our Positive Education program, we look at dealing with disappointment and failure. Learning how to put this outcome in perspective and using a variety of strategies to manage the situation. Perhaps David Morris’ parents were well ahead of their time, before the Positive Psychology movement, in teaching their young son that in life things do not always turn out as we would like or plan. Certainly in a competitive environment, like sport, one needs to take the wins and the losses. With his words and actions David Morris has taught many Australians the valuable lesson on how to lose. CATHERINE MAIMONE CROWHURST DIRECTOR OF RATHFARNHAM AND ELC
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Cocurricular Diversity
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EXPLORING OUR RATHFARNHAM CLUBS The spread and diversity of the Rathfarnham Club program is both exciting and challenging. Students have the opportunity to participate in a range of club activities that entertain a wide spectrum of interests, gifts and talents, as well as engaging with students with similar interests in other year levels.
Reading Clubs
Swimming Club
Year 5 Book Club on Monday lunchtime run by Library staff.
Open to all students in Years 3-6 who would like to develop their confidence and ability in swimming. Hosted in the Barry Centre Swimming Pool on Friday mornings, sessions focus on technique including instruction in diving, swimming strokes and relay change overs.
Years 1 & 2 Riveting Reads on Wednesday lunchtime in collaboration with Year 8 Voice and Speech students. Years 1 & 2 Junior Activity Club reading and activity program on Friday lunchtime in collaboration with Year 6 Learning Leaders. Coding Club These sessions give the girls the opportunity to develop their coding skills using a variety of resources such as iPad apps, software and board games. Students are also invited to explore our many exciting robots including the Bee Bots, Dash and Dot, and Sphero robots, although programming our humanoid robot, Nao, is by far the most popular challenge! Running Club Open to all students in Years 3-6 who would like to start their day with some fun and physical activity. Hosted on Tuesday mornings at Orrong Romanis Reserve, sessions are designed to encourage the girls to work on their running technique, pacing and endurance. Chess Club
Philosophy Club Exploring philosophical questions through engaging and relevant children’s literature to encourage deep thinking and curiosity through rich discussion. Stretch and Chill Club Provides an opportunity for students to engage in the health and fitness benefits of yoga. Art Club In collaboration with the Year 6 Arts Leaders, Art staff collaborate on exciting ideas for each week’s activity, including still-life drawing, en plain air drawing (the act of painting outdoors), mindfulness colouring, 3D drawing and figurative drawing. Below (L-R): Chess Club, Running Club, Coding Club
Girls learn how to play Chess each week and participate in interschool Chess competitions during the year.
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FORGING EARLY INTERESTS IN STEM
Years 1 & 2 Construction
The acronym STEM refers to these not as standalone subjects, but rather as adopting new ways of thinking, with inquiry-based approaches to teaching and learning. STEM learning requires critical thinking, engaging and relevant learning experiences and perseverance, or grit, to explore the many and varied solutions to a problem. In March, the Years 1 and 2 students participated in the Late Stay program, with a vibrant and exciting variety of activities related to the theme of construction. Earlier in the day, the girls extended themselves in an incursion where, in small working groups, students constructed and then raced billy carts. Other activities that challenged the students included making 3D models of tools, the construction of Lego towers and bridges, obstacle courses, puzzles and problem solving. The Year 2 students wrote reviews about the billy cart incursion which captured the excitement of the day:
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Beatriz Jerusalem “It was really cool that we got to make, design and ride billy carts and make our own inventions. My favourite part was racing wooden billy carts on the basketball court. I think my parents would love this experience. I wonder how fast I can push my dad around in a billy cart?” Amelia Andronaco “I think this was the best. I liked racing in the billy carts. They were lots of different colours like blue, purple, orange, red and green. I would have liked if we could design our own billy carts. I really wanted to have more time. I think my whole family should do this but my mum and my dad might scream a little bit. I am pretty sure I would rate it five.” Claudia Grant “I had a wonderful incursion today because I got to ride billy carts. We did some designing, inventing, and a competition to make a billy cart. Billy cart racing was my favourite because I went really fast and I got to experience what a billy cart was and how it worked. I would have liked if there was an engine.”
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Maya Buckley
Claudia Cunningham
“This was fantastic! My favourite station was racing in the billy carts. I think that all of the schools in the world should do this. I would rate it five. I think my brother and dad would love doing the racing too.”
“Today me and my class had a billy cart incursion. It was so much fun. My favourite thing was to be pushed in the billy carts. But my most favourite thing was to race in them. It would have been better though if I was in my costume. I would recommend this for my baby brother if he was a bit older because he loves to build.”
Olivia Murphy “I loved racing in the billy carts. It was amazing and fun. I also liked building a skateboard. I think everyone would too.”
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St Peter’s
EARLY LEARNING CENTRE 2018 has seen many changes to St Peter’s Early Learning Centre. Whilst a new group of eager children has joined us, ready for a life long journey of learning, there has been a change of guard with our staffing too. After almost 12 years as Head of St Peter’s ELC, Miss Kylie McLennan left us at the end of 2017. Kylie is currently enjoying her time on her family property and getting to know a different language – not one of early childhood education, but of all things country. After a year as the 3 Year Old Kindergarten Teacher last year, I have taken on the role as Head of St Peter’s ELC. This new position has been one that I have enjoyed as our year has begun, in a settled and calm manner. Whilst there are challenges and new languages of leadership for me to learn, I am confident the challenge is worth accepting. As I finish my Masters in Educational Leadership this year, I am sure to learn a few more insightful tips. We welcome back Mrs Candice Fitzpatrick from maternity leave this year as Associate Teacher alongside Mrs Anne Marie
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Kemp and Ms Natalie Hayne. Our new kindergarten children have settled in through consistent routine and the building of new relationships between our educators, their families and the children. Mrs Allison Leeds has moved to the Pre Prep program, with new addition, Ms Hannah Mountford as Teacher. The children have returned back into their learning program with familiar peers and have engaged whole heartedly with their new teacher. Miss Anna Mae Smith also returns to St Peter’s ELC, in a newly established role as our Out of Hours Care Coordinator. The children and staff have enjoyed this planned program and the fun of a smaller group of an afternoon with a continued focus on the children and their needs. Some afternoons are spent outdoors enjoying the sunshine and taking care of any extra energy the children are still eager to expel, while others a lot quieter, with a stroll to the library or following on from experiences within the programs and interests inside. Ms Anna Munari continues to extend the children’s learning beyond their programs, with specialist time focusing on the early literacy skills, gross motor experiences, musically and creatively.
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Our educators are all passionate about early childhood education and the time they spend with each one of our children each day. Our educators are lucky to ‘play’ alongside the children every day. As a focus of mental health and the ability to stay connected and switched on in the work place, Roderick Gilkey and Clint Kilts have published papers and reviews on the importance for all adults to work hard at play. The origin of the word ‘play’ is telling: it is derived from the old English word “plegian”, which means to exercise. Play is often defined in terms of individual or group imaginative activity that promotes discovery and learning, or social activity that promotes what psychologist Daniel Goleman would call emotional and social intelligence. Play refers to activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation. In both senses it is closely tied to pleasure and strongly associated with the brain’s reward system. This may explain why the ELC children are forever smiling – as are their educators, guiding the children’s learning through play. When was the last time you worked hard at play?
We continue to hold residency at Loreto Toorak for 2018, as work continues on the parish of St Peter’s. Our ELC classes are taking advantage of every opportunity as well as space, whilst on this site. Our Pre Prep children extended their knowledge of mini beasts in Term 1, making their way to the science rooms in the senior school and learning from Mr Eric Friedman. The ‘Magic Tree’ is an adventurous space, allowing for natural and imaginative play. The children develop their gross motor skills as well as learning to act courageously as they manoeuvre over the vines, roots and leaves. The library is a favourite spot for the children, learning to be quiet and engage with the surrounds as they begin developing their early literacy skills. Whilst the weather was warm and sunny during Term 1, the Pre Prep children enjoyed their lunches outside, with a regular picnic on St Michael’s Green. Joining the Rathfarnham girls for a dance was a highlight for many.
KATHLEEN BROHIER HEAD OF ST PETER’S ELC
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Social Justice INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
#PressForProgress Women have, of late, been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The power imbalance in so many work places, where sexual harassment and abuse are part of the culture and sexual favours the requirement for keeping your job, were highlighted in the #MeToo campaign, an unprecedented global movement for women’s rights and justice. Closer to home the Australian Parliament was recently described as a “hyper–masculine” environment with the Prime Minister noting the imbalance in a place where “most of the bosses are men”. This was borne out in recent days when Julie Bishop, Deputy Leader, was overlooked for the role of Acting-Prime Minister and the very competent, Deputy Leader of the Nationals, Bridget McKenzie, was not even considered as a candidate for the leadership because she is a Senator. It is no surprise, then that the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Press For Progress. The absolute need for progress is a focus in the 2017 World Economic Forum Report on the Global Gender Gap which estimates that gender parity is 200 years away! Not to be daunted the IWD campaign urges us to develop a gender parity mindset which challenges stereotypes and biases, forging a positive visibility for women. Next week the Commission on the Status of Women will have thousands of very visible women descend on the UN to discuss Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls. Poverty and lack of opportunity is what drives young women, particularly rural women, across Asia to leave their homes, families and countries to find work as domestics in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East. Australia is not immune from this desperate search for work. A recent Four Corners program revealed the torture, psychological abuse and exploitation of female domestic workers in various embassies in Canberra. Domestic workers, in many parts of the world, are totally without protection as they take up positions where there are no laws regarding working conditions, rates of pay or hours of work. While such legislation does exist in Australia it is not only the embassies which exploit their workers, there is much evidence of mistreatment and under payment in cleaning companies, restaurants and convenience stores.
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Unfortunately, it is impossible to come to International Women’s Day without a reference to domestic violence. UN Woman, referring to recent research, noted that of all the women victims of homicide in 2012 almost half were killed by intimate or family members and women who have experienced violence are more likely to suffer depression, have abortions, acquire HIV and be homeless. In Australia a woman dies every week at the hands of a partner or former partner. If we are to make progress attention must be paid to the education of men and boys and
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This International Women’s Day is an invitation to put all our efforts into working for the recognition of women’s rights, talents and achievements – we owe it to our girls. to the treatment and rehabilitation of male sex and violence offenders, particularly first time offenders. #PressforProgress is an invitation to place gender imbalance under the spotlight and alert ourselves and others to the many ways women are exploited, ignored, violated and regarded as a second class species. This International Women’s Day is an invitation to put all our efforts into working for the recognition of women’s rights, talents and achievements – we owe it to our girls. SR LIBBY ROGERSON IBVM COORDINATOR LORETO JPIC
Published for www.loreto.org.au on 8 March 2018 More Information: www.metoomvmt.org www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/ facts-and-figures www.internationalwomensday.com/PressforProgress www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-gender-gap-report-2017
IWD Guest Speaker – Dr Susan Alberti AC Passionate, driven and ambitious, Dr Susan Alberti AC has forged paths in areas traditionally dominated by men. Susan embodies a tenacity, fervour and wit beguiling to her years. Students, parents and staff were privileged to listen to Susan give the Address at the 2018 International Women’s Day breakfast; the first event in the Speaker Series for this year. Dr Alberti’s passionate advocacy for women was inspiring for our girls as they heard the story of her dynamic professional leadership alongside the profound resilience demanded of her in the face of tragic personal circumstances. Susan maintains the position as the co-founder and Managing Director of a large building company, DANSU Group, which she and her late husband Angelo established over forty years ago.
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Alongside this role, Susan developed a passion for medical research when her only child, Danielle, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the 1980s, shortly before her death from compilations with the disease. The Chairman of the Susan Alberti Medical Research Foundation, Susan’s work in this field has assisted in raising millions of dollars for diabetes research and her drive towards a cure has resulted in her being recognised internationally for her effort. Originating from a fervent love of the sport in her teenage years, despite being told at 15 that it was time to “hang up her boots”, Susan has also been instrumental in the formation of our Australian Women’s Football League, as well as the success of the Western Bulldogs Football Club. “What a remarkable woman who, despite significant personal tragedy, digs deep into her reserves and finds energy to give more of herself to others than focussing on her own situation”, noted Sally Jovanovic, a school parent.
(L-R): Captain of School, Lauren Grant; Ellie-Grace Mooney (Year 12); Dr Susan Alberti AC; Principal, Dr Susan Stevens; Captain of School, Meg Taranto
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A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR YEAR 11
Vietnam Pilgrimage
In the 13th year that Loreto Toorak has been offering Year 11 students the opportunity to make the annual pilgrimage to Vietnam, this challenging journey of self-discovery has become a rite of passage for students as they make the significant transition into Year 12, as leaders of their school community. Meg Taranto shares some of her personal reflections of the Vietnam Pilgrimage of 2017.
What have been the highlights of the pilgrimage for you? Like many, I found the time spent at the Thi Nghe Children’s Centre to be a highlight of the pilgrimage. This time was some of the most emotionally charged of my entire life and carried with it a great deal of pain as I connected to the people I spent time with. However, ultimately, I see my time spent there as a happy story, powered by people who have worked hard in their lives to extend rights to the people who are the most vulnerable in society. I loved spending time with the kids, who allowed me to be so playful with them and whom I began to miss as soon as we left the centre on our last day there. The moment to moment discovery of our time in Vietnam was so exciting for me and ultimately the whole experience further deepened my sense of gratitude. I am so grateful to go to a school that gave so many of its senior girls the opportunity to partake in such a challenging, but totally incredible experience. When I was very young, I used to say to my parents, “I can’t believe I’m real” and the wonder and awe that I found in the Vietnam Pilgrimage brought back the feelings that went with this sentiment. What did you learn about yourself during the pilgrimage? About others in the group? A sense of self truth. I am not quite sure where it came from, within the pilgrimage but I found that at the pilgrimage’s conclusion, a renewed connection to the value of truth and my
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own personal truth had consolidated in me. Perhaps it was the rawness of the emotional extremes, experienced in each day that did this, perhaps something else, but this pilgrimage no doubt has made me a more sincere person, and a person who now sees that truth, if one decides to honour it, is a way of life. The pilgrimage showed me that I am a person who can be truthful, and who can honour my own sense of sincerity, something which I know will influence the leader I am in Year 12 and the person I am in wider life. What difference do you think this pilgrimage will make in your life when you return home into next year and the future? I think that Vietnam has taught me to favour simplicity in many facets of life, after spending time in a country filled with people who seem to grow joy from the simplest things. The gratitude that Vietnam gave me, for my life’s blessings means that I know when I return home my appreciation of the precious things and people that I have in my life will deepen. I also think that Vietnam made me a better communicator, given that we had to learn quickly, how to communicate with people who do not necessarily respond to words and talking, in Vietnamese let alone English. The understanding I gained about the power of open and positive body language, humour and human touch was extraordinary.
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It taught me that you cannot change the past, and you will never know to what degree you will change the future, but single moments, in the present, are yours... Can you describe one person you met or worked with this week that has had an impact on you and why? In my final session at the Thi Nghe Children’s Centre, I met a baby boy who was evidently in a great deal of pain. It was so difficult to witness; the realisation that his crying was not just from discomfort, but a person whose body and mind was racked with pain. His crying was unceasing, and I was told from people in other groups that he did not stop crying in their sessions either, which made me very emotional, to think that this day I was with him, was not just a bad day but a constant reality. I asked the carers if I could hold him. They got him out or his restraints and let me hold him, which in itself was very difficult given how tense his tiny form was in resistance to his pain. It took some time to get him to feel comfortable in my arms and I was worried that I was hurting him more than I was helping him. I held him for a long time, taking him outside the room to watch the rain come down and the tops of the trees from the balcony outside his room. I rocked him, walked with him, talked to him and sang to him and all the while he cried.
After quite some time, he gradually stopped crying. From this point, I tried to sustain this quiet placidness for as long as I could. It was amazing to see how that when he stopped crying he became so much younger in my arms, how even for a tiny baby, sorrow really aged him. This was a very formative moment and taught me perhaps the most significant lesson that I learned in Vietnam; that you cannot change the past, and you will never know to what degree you will change the future, but single moments, in the present, are yours, and you can bring whatever you want to them. It tangibly made me realise that it is up to each individual to bring positivity and humour, love, joy and kindness to the moment and that it is always in our power to do so. Also, if you can’t change the circumstances of the moment, you can choose the way you react to them, and that in this capacity, a person always has scores of power. What have you learned about belonging to the work of Loreto and the world wide Loreto community from this pilgrimage? I have learnt that there is an incredible sense of deeply personal belonging to be found, when one realises the breadth of the community they belong to as a Loreto girl, given that it is a community that spans across time and evidently, as our time in Vietnam proved, nations. To be a part of a network that has pioneered the education and the liberation of women is such a blessing and a powerful knowledge to carry in my heart as I live my life beyond school. This experience has showed me that there are friends I will make in unexpected places because of a mutual tie to this community, and this is something that is very beautiful to think about. Opposite: Year 11 Pilgrims and staff at the Thi Nghe Children’s Centre Above: Lisa Bertoncello (left) and Bridget Linge (right) engaging with children at the Can Thanh Special School
MEG TARANTO YEAR 11 PILGRIM, 2017
For more information or to donate, please go to www.loretovietnam.org The Vietnam Pilgrimage centres on time spent in schools and projects primarily supported by Loreto Vietnam. Loreto Vietnam was established by Sr Trish Franklin ibvm in 1997. It is administered now by Ms Joam Fisher and a team of staff.
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WORKING WITH MWIA IN INDIA
St Omer Scholarship
The St Omer Scholarship and bursaries were awarded by Loreto Toorak to students from the Class of 2015 to support their volunteer placements with MWIA. Elizabeth Papapetrou, Maggie Dunn, Nicola Kuiper, Sarah Guy and Emilie Guy have all completed placements in India in 2017/2018.
Maggie, Nicola and I had the privilege of living and teaching at a disadvantaged Loreto school in Panighatta, India, for six weeks during January and February in 2018. Loreto Panighatta School is situated one hour from the nearest city, Bagdogra, and is surrounded by the beautiful nearby tea plantations. Established with the intention of educating the children of tea-picking families who live below the poverty line, Loreto Panighatta receives many volunteers each year from a number of organisations who assist in teaching a variety of subjects. The school, with the support of the incredibly committed staff and Loreto sisters, is thriving and in true Loreto spirit, going above and beyond to meet the needs of the community to provide all its students with the best chance of a bright future.
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The school is thriving and in true Loreto spirit, going above and beyond to meet the needs of the community to provide all its students with the best chance of a bright future.
Teaching English, Maths and especially Physics to students with often very limited English in a class of 70 students, was a very challenging, yet extraordinarily rewarding experience. We learnt a lot about ourselves and our capabilities in dealing with the challenges of a classroom and were able to refine our teaching methods and approaches to suit our students as we became more familiar with what strategies worked best in this unique teaching environment.
At the end of the week we returned to Panighatta, and spent our time preparing and teaching English, Maths and Physics classes once again. Each morning as we crossed the field to the classrooms we would be greeted by a chorus of “hi ma’am” and “good morning ma’am” and would end up with at least six kids trailing off each arm, and little kindergarten kids running laps around us.
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We learnt a lot about ourselves and our capabilities in dealing with the challenges of a classroom and what strategies worked best in this unique teaching environment. We were extremely moved at the end of our time in India when out students showered us with thank you cards and insisted they take us to the market stalls in town to buy us a thank you present! Every sister, teacher and student was so warm, welcoming and optimistic. We loved every second of our first two weeks in Panighatta. We spent our third week with the Loreto sisters in Darjeeling. at the beautiful old school up in the hills, Loreto Convent Darjeeling. From there we visited a small rural Loreto primary school in Lolay. A four hour drive on bumpy roads was a luxury compared to the full day trek the sisters used to make up the mountain every time they visited the project there. Located right on the side of the mountain, any balls kicked too high at lunchtime would go right over the side, never to be found again. Also in Lolay is a small medical dispensary which provides locals with immunisations, first aid and assistance with childbirth. As in Panighatta, we were so warmly welcomed by the sisters in both Darjeeling and Lolay, and we can’t express enough gratitude for the wonderful experiences.
Our experience in India was an absolute joy comprised of teaching, playing football with the children, going on picnics with the teachers and cooking Indian dinners with the Loreto sisters. We have always been told that Loreto is an incredibly vast community but we could never have truly understood the beauty of the Loreto community until we arrived in India and were instantly welcomed as part of an international Loreto family.
ELIZABETH PAPAPETROU, MAGGIE DUNN & NICOLA KUIPER CLASS OF 2015
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Women of the World
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MARY WARD INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA
Libby Rogerson ibvm
Imelda Poole ibvm
Co-founder House of Welcome, Australia
Founder and President of RENATE, Albania
For more than 30 years Libby has worked with and advocated for refugees and asylum seekers. In 2003, when asylum seekers were summarily released from Villawood Detention Centre, Libby, and a group of religious women, with the help of the NSW Ecumenical Council and the Franciscan Fathers established the House of Welcome which now provides English classes, counselling, case work, referral, preparation for work and accommodation for asylum seekers.
Loreto Sister Imelda Poole is President of the Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation (RENATE) which was founded in 2009. RENATE is a European network of religious and lay co-workers who are committed to work together in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation across 27 European countries.
Orla Treacy ibvm
in their primary day school. Earlier this year the Loreto Girls Secondary School recently graduated 29 girls, believed to be the largest class of girls to graduate in South Sudan since the country gained independence in 2011.
Founder and Principal of Loreto Rumbek, South Sudan Loreto Sister Orla Treacy is Principal of Loreto Rumbek which opened its doors in 2008 and has since grown to support 251 resident Senior students and more than 600 boys and girls
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In 2017, Sr Orla was awarded the Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian award for her work in South Sudan.
Diaan Stuart & Natalie Houlihan ibvm
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Local Coordinators of the Loreto Preschool and Community Centre, Timor-Leste Responding to a request from the local community in Gariuai, the Loreto sisters have built a Preschool and Community Development Centre. This project wouldn’t have been possible without the committed support from a number of Loreto sisters who have made Timor-Leste their home over the years, and in particular, to Sisters Diaan Stuart, Natalie Houlihan, Margie Bourke and Francine Roberts. This work now continues with Sister Ai Thien Nguyen who is the Director of the Preschool.
Elizabeth Donnan ibvm Founder Teacher Training and Community School Projects, Zambia Over the past 11 years Loreto Sister Elizabeth Donnan has worked tirelessly to advance education in Zambia. She has supported more than 20 community schools to build classrooms, sink boreholes and supplied desks, chairs and other educational resources required. Through Sr Elizabeth’s initiative and support by MWIA, almost 70 teachers have received training to teach in their local communities.
To find out more about MWIA or to donate securely online please visit www.mwia.org.au MWIA is the Australian and international development organisation of the Loreto sisters. They strive to make a difference in the areas of education, community development, human rights, social justice, and the empowerment or women and children.
Information republished with permission from Loreto Ministries Limited Australia and South East Asia and MWIA.
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Music News Our Loreto Toorak music year has already seen many wonderful performances and hard work in classes and rehearsals from our musicians, and there is much more to come in the months ahead.
Diamond Luncheons Once again our musicians provided beautiful music for the past pupils who attended the Diamond Luncheons, held on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 February. Our thanks go to Olivia Spyrou (Year 8), Serena Su (Year 10) and Matilda Vickers-Willis (Year 12) who performed in the Chapel of Christ the King to most appreciative audiences of Loreto Toorak past pupils.
Harvest Picnic Our musicians entertained school families and visitors to the Parents’ Association Harvest Picnic on Sunday 25 March. Senior contemporary vocal students, the Toni Matha Wind Band, Percussion Ensemble, Clarinet and Flute Ensembles, the Flute Quintet and Stage Band provided a great selection of music to an appreciative audience.
Oak Parlour Recital The Oak Parlour Recital tradition continues at Loreto Toorak with a recital held each term. The Term 1 Recital on Thursday 22 March, hosted by School Music Captain Sylvia Sherborne, featured performances from Years 7-12 students on piano and voice, as well as brass, woodwind and string instruments.
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Cello Masterclass We welcomed Yelian He, an award winning Chinese-Australian cellist to take a masterclass with our cello students on Monday 26 March. Yelian has performed in many world class venues and festivals including the Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Melbourne Recital Hall and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has also worked with a number of Australian Orchestras including the Sydney Symphony and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Our girls thoroughly enjoyed working with Yelian and learnt much from his teaching. On a Loreto ‘note’, Yelian’s sister Ye Hua He is a past pupil of Loreto Toorak from the Class of 2011; she is an accomplished musician and is fondly remembered especially for her exceptional piano playing. Ye Hua was School Pianist in 2011. Opposite Above: Sophia Hannebery (Year 6) performs for students at the Rathfarnham Recitals Opposite Below (L-R): Brianna Dooley (Year 11) and Jiayi (Angela) Yin (Year 5) playing under the guidance of Yelian He at the Cello Masterclass Left: Stage Band perform at the Harvest Picnic Below: Loreto Symphony Orchestra Workshop under the tutelage of Amanda Rowarth
Rathfarnham Recitals Rathfarnham Recitals are held each term and numbers participating continue to grow. Held in two venues in Rathfarnham, over 50 girls performed at the Term 1 Recitals in March. These recitals give our younger musicians the opportunity to perform to their peers and teachers; and they play an important role in developing our girls’ performance awareness and experience.
Loreto Symphony Orchestra Workshop The Loreto Symphony Orchestra held it’s annual workshop on Sunday 22 April with guest presenter, Ms Amanda Rowarth, Director of Music at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. The workshop provided valuable tutorial time, followed by a full orchestral rehearsal led by Ms Rowarth.
Forthcoming Events Singers Soirée
Thursday 21 June 2018 Crescent Theatre 5.00pm (Years 5 & 6), 6.00pm (Years 7-12)
P-12 Annual Music Concert
Tuesday 31 July 2018 Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne 7.00pm
Showcase Concert
Tuesday 18 September 2018 Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre 7.30pm
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Year 3 Strings Program Year 5 Brass and Woodwind Program Our beginner Strings, Brass and Woodwind programs, which take place in Semester 1, give our Rathfarnham students a valuable and important introduction to the playing of instruments from the brass, woodwind and strings families.
Group lessons are held each week and students are taught the basic skills of instrumental playing. In Term 2, ensemble rehearsal lessons are scheduled which allow the students to experience the joy and fun of playing in a group. These programs continue to foster a love of music through instrumental practice and performance, and so many of the girls continue learning after these programs have concluded. They become highly involved in the musical life of Loreto Toorak, with many continuing with their instrument until the end of Year 12.
Paris Cat Jazz Club Hot on the heels of the Performing Arts Festival, our contemporary musicians presented a fantastic performance evening, Loreto@The Loft, at the Paris Cat Jazz Club. One of Melbourne’s finest dedicated live jazz venues, the The Paris Cat Jazz Club is committed to featuring the city’s best jazz and are always on a pursuit to discover the next generation of Australian jazz artists. Loreto@The Loft was as a result of our Loreto Unplugged program, launched in 2017 as a performance initiative to support our contemporary musicians; performers and writers of original songs, or performances of songs by modern contemporary music artists. Weekly rehearsals, with tutoring, took place on Wednesday at lunchtime. We congratulate and thank our performers on the evening, and we look forward to more exciting performance happenings from this emerging area of our music program. Above: Daniella Esposito (Year 12) performs at the Paris Cat Jazz Club Left Above: Year 3 students playing as part of the Year 3 Strings Program Left Below: Year 5 students playing French Horn as part of the Year 5 Brass and Woodwind Program
MARY O’DRISCOLL DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
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VOCAL MASTERCL ASS WITH GUEST ARTISTS
The Idea of North On Wednesday 18 April, The Idea of North, an ARIA award winning a cappella group, visited Loreto Toorak and our singers from Years 7-12 had the opportunity to hear this group perform and then to work with them in a vocal masterclass. The Idea of North perform a range of repertoire and have produced many award winning recordings and albums. The girls engaged energetically in the workshop and enjoyed the practical exercises and techniques the group shared. Particularly exciting was the Michael Jackson inspired medley overlaying four individual vocal parts. The group led the girls in learning and experiencing the way they layer their sound. Of particular fascination was the vocal percussion stylings of Kaichiro Kitamura, surely the world’s foremost human beat box. Kaichiro demonstrated how he does what he does, in what appears to be an effortless, but in fact, highly technical talent. He demonstrated and led the girls in creating the sound of a snare drum and a high hat cymbal, then combined and layered the sounds in ways that seemed impossible. It was a fantastic workshop for both the students and staff attending.
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Performing Arts News
Performing Arts Festival The PAF is a very significant Loreto tradition and a wonderful demonstration of the Loreto sense of cooperation, community and team building. We congratulate the entire senior student body on a wonderful performance, held on Wednesday 21 February 2018 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. We were so proud of their effort, collaboration, teamwork and the felicitous spirit in which all students performed. We recognise and thank our Head of Productions, Miss Katie Rose Smith; Director of Music, Miss Mary O’Driscoll; Head of Visual Arts, Ms Sandra Jane; and all staff who contributed to supporting the Performing Arts Festival. Similarly, we pay tribute to our student House Leaders who worked to lead their Houses in preparing the productions for performance.
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Results Overall Winner: Mulhall Production: Barry and Mornane Choreography: Mornane Design: Ward and Mulhall Drama: Mulhall Instrumental: Mulhall Choral: Mornane and Mulhall Above: Winning house, Mulhall, presents Mulhall Takes Egypt
OPENING NIGHT
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The Crescent Theatre The Crescent Theatre opened to gracious applause last month and has already delighted all who have experienced the outstanding acoustics and innovative design. Loreto Toorak is invested in redesigning and redeveloping our learning spaces to enhance teaching outcomes and student engagement. It is essential that teaching environments today utilise new technology and flexible classrooms to accommodate different styles of learning to create a more dynamic, accessible and technology-rich environment. It has been with great excitement that we have recently moved into this new Arts precinct, and already we have enjoyed stunning performances in our new space including our Rathfarnham Ensembles Concert, the Year 12 Play Cosi and the Years 7 & 8 Voice and Speech Presentation Evening. There will be many more opportunities to join our audience in the forthcoming months. The following is an excerpt from Dr Susan Stevens’ opening speech on Wednesday 20 April 2018.
We praise all who have been involved in the creation and completion of the Crescent Theatre. The steering of design by Architectus, also responsible for our global award winning educational facility, the Mandeville Centre, is to be admired and applauded. The project team gathered by and around Vaughan Constructions to deliver something of this quality to us were truly wonderful to work with. We thank the Property Committee of Peter Higgins, Carlo Vaccari, Bede Noonan, John Lincoln, Anthony Appolini, Tim Rowler and Seamus Scorgie who devoted their time and expertise to ensure the continuous and exciting upgrades and improvements to our fine school. Similarly, we thank our Board Chair, Gerard Dalbosco, for steering the Investment and Finance Committees to ensure the necessary funding and to allow the progress of projects such as these within our campus. With the stunning acoustics of the Crescent Theatre, it was a treat for all of us to hear our inaugural guest artists, the internationally renowned a cappella group, The Idea of North. Today we see the compete transformation of this building; a ‘metamorphoses’ has occurred. For in the beginning, there was Mary Ward. In her care, and over many centuries now, there were many buds, which blossomed and flourished, grew tall and strong, made a beautiful forest and contributed to the world around them. Our students change and grow, and our job as educators is the privilege of walking that path with them.
Already we can see the impact that exciting new spaces have in stimulating new ideas . We congratulate and thank our Head of Productions, Miss Katie Rose Smith; conceiver, producer and director this evening. Including elements from the creative and performing arts, her idea of Metamorphoses was born. We also acknowledge staff members Mrs Jane Stuart, Head of Strings; Ms Pamela Raines, Harp Teacher; Ms Sandra Jane, Head of Visual Arts and Ms Adrienne Chisolm, Theatre Design Assistant, along with David Franzke (sound), Tom Willis (lighting), Daniella Esposito (video), Meg Taranto (text), Dr Chloe Wilson (poetry) and Monique Marani (assistant director). One last recognition is appropriate. In tonight’s audience are two long term supporters of our School, former staff member Lesley Gillespie and her husband Roger. About two years ago Lesley and Roger attended the Mary Ward Justice Lecture, held in the old former Auditorium where we now sit. It is, even now, a bit hard to remember what was here before, but if you can recall the space, you will also recall that the sound system was not the best. At the conclusion of the evening, Roger, all appreciation for the wonderful guest speaker that we had, relayed to me that it would have been better if he could hear it clearly. With that, he wrote the school a donation, with the attached words, “Susan, please fix up that Auditorium.” Roger – thank you for complaining on that occasion, and for really kick starting this project with your generosity!
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Sport News
Rowing The Loreto Toorak Rowing Squad had a very successful 2017/18 season with 152 rowers across training over several months. With regattas throughout Term 1, our Rowers had many opportunities to work together as a cohort and display grit in the face of challenge on and off the water. The commitment and dedication to their sport and their crew epitomises what our rowing program is about and embodies the key strengths and characteristics we promote and value. Our Junior program continued to excel, with over 100 girls continuing on with the Development program. At Year 9 we entered 12 crews into the Head of Schoolgirls’ Regatta, and at Year 10 we entered 10 crews, consisting of both Quads and Fours. This year in our Senior program we were fortunate to row a Single Sculler, First, Second, Third and Fourth Eight. An enormous total of 27 crews. The Head of the Schoolgirls’ Regatta was held in March on the Barwon River in Geelong and was an accumulation of many months of training and preparation. The Fourth Eight were the first crew to progress straight through to the A Final, all other crews progressing to Repechages. The Juniors began to display their dominance in their heats with 9 out of 12 Year 9 crews placing first, and 8 out of 10 Year 10 crews placing first, leaving the crews in a strong position moving into the finals. The whole event displayed a strong show of Loreto spirit with many parents and rowers chanting from the banks of the Barwon River. The supporters tent was again a spectacle in itself, led strongly by the committee with the support of Vice President Sarah Curtis and President Stephen Rosengren.
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Despite the best efforts of the Head of Schoolgirls’ Committee and Rowing Victoria, lightning and gale force winds on the day of the finals caused the Head of Schoolgirls’ Regatta to be abandoned for 2018. Despite being unable to race most finals, Loreto Toorak was placed to be one of the best performing schools, with 22 out of 27 crews set to make appearances in the A Finals. Based on these results, our Year 10 Eight and Open First Eight qualified and travelled to the National Rowing Championships in Penrith, NSW. The athletes were able to work together in their individual crews and as a team, absorbing all that the international regatta had to offer and producing fantastic results. Our First Eight competed strongly making the A Final, and finishing seventh in a tight race. The Year 10 Eight had an outstanding week, moving straight into the A Final from their heat. After a brave and courageous race in the A Final, the girls crossed the line in first place, becoming Australian National Champions in the U/17 Schoolgirls’ Eight. This is an outstanding achievement and highlights the strength and dedication of the team. This, the Loreto Year of Justice, reinforces the values we learn through our sport of being accepting of ourselves and others in being trusting of the processes of life and allowing the opportunity to experience greatness; something we have seen time and time again from all of the girls throughout the season. We look forward to you all making the 2018/2019 season as memorable and successful as this one has been. Above: U/17 Schoolgirls’ Eight National Champions Back (L-R): Jack Steel (Coach), Katerina Bitzios, Amy Quinlan, Anneka Davys, Mia Caffry, Sophie O’Connell, Tom Lincoln (Coach). Front (L-R): Mila Hoffman (Cox), Alexandra Desmond, Mia O’Callaghan, Natalie Catalfamo
TEAGAN BOUGHTON & MARTIN FRANCIS HEADS OF ROWING
Loreto Royal Club
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ROWING COMMUNIT Y GROUP It was with great excitement that Loreto Toorak hosted the inaugural Loreto Royal Club cocktail party on Tuesday 6 March 2018. The Royal Club, referring to our signature Loreto blue boats in which we row, is open to all parents of past rowers and all past rowers who have left the School over 10 years or more.
The cocktail party, which henceforth will take place each year two weeks prior to the Head of Schoolgirls’ Regatta, was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the involvement, contribution and support given by so many over the last decades, since the beginnings of our program. Rowing presidents, committee members, rowers, captains, donors of boats, supporters, trailer drivers, regatta managers and sausage turners were all present and were regaled with memories shared by Rob Zahara, one of the pillars of Loreto Toorak Rowing for most of the formative years of the program.
Our guests were also fortunate to hear from Dr Alice McNamara (2003), past Vice Captain of School and valuable member of the Senior First Quad who won their event at the Head of Schoolgirls’ Regatta, creating history as the first Division 1 winners from Loreto Toorak. Alice continued with rowing following her education at Loreto Toorak whilst also completing both a Bachelor of Commerce/Science and a Bachelor of Medicine. The evening concluded with a toast given by past Captain of Rowing, Megan Dwyer (1985), to the 2018 Head of Schoolgirls’ crew, resplendent in their new Sports Blazer.
Below (L-R): Senior First Eight in the new Sports Blazer; Camilla Baxter, Lauren Grant, Tallulah Frigo, Amelia Warwick, Nicholas Edwards (Coach), Emily Francis, Emily Mack, Eliza Doble, Annie Trainor, Jessica Canning (Cox)
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AFLW Rookie Thrives An accomplished sportswoman throughout her time at Loreto Toorak, we are inordinately proud of Aisling Utri (Class of 2016) as she forges new pathways for a whole generation of sportswomen in her role with the AFL Women’s League. We are also fortunate to have Aisling currently lending her time and expertise in coaching our GSV Hockey and AFL teams. The following is an excerpt from the article published in The Age, 3 March 2018, by Anthony Colangelo
After an intense training session, not to mention a full day at work, Western Bulldogs vice-captain Hannah Scott is on the Whitten Oval pitch helping hockey convert Aisling Utri improve her kicking. Scott is a beautiful kicker and is often the genesis of her side’s attack from defence. Instead of jumping into an ice bath to start recovery and get home to sleep, Scott takes the time to teach Utri, one-on-one, how to improve at the most important aspect of the Bulldogs’ rise to the top of the AFLW ladder precise kicking. “It means a lot that the girls will do that. I love that fundamental skills have been a focus] because I haven’t needed to start from scratch doing skills on my own” Utri said. While the coaches laid the framework for improving the fundamentals, it’s the players who have had to put in the work. “It’s repetition,” Utri said. “I try and kick a lot, just because I am not very good at it. Kick, kick and kick.” Utri, 19, has thrived in this environment. She is an elite hockey player at the Victorian Institute of Sport and is, therefore, at the physical level required.
GSV Triathlon
“It was really weird [getting called by an AFLW club],” Utri said. “The first time I got called by the Bulldogs I had just walked off the track from hockey training... I thought it was a joke. I was a Bulldogs supporter and it’s ended up working out which has been a bit of a surprise.” The Loreto Toorak graduate ranks sixth at the club for effective kicks and seventh for disposals - no mean feat on an extremely talented list. “It’s like getting 30 new sisters,” she said. “The girls have been good at getting to know me and how I work, they know how to calm me down or stop me getting too frustrated at myself.
Triathlon once again proved to be an exciting sport, with over 100 students from Years 7-12 training three times per week, including a fun and challenging beach session on Tuesday afternoons. On Sunday 4 March 2018, the girls competed in the GSV Triathlon at Elwood Beach in both team and individual events. Excitingly, Loreto Toorak placed first in the Schools Division for the competition organisers. Congratulations to the following students who finished in the top three in their category across all the GSV Schools in the Triathlon. Overall Loreto Toorak finished in second place. Senior (400m/10km/4km) 1st 2nd
Tegan Burns (Year 11) Emily Belcher (Year 11), Tereza Ljubicic (Year 11)
Intermediate (200m/10km/2km) 1st 2nd
Alexandra Desmond (Year 10) Piper Duane (Year 10), Anneka Davys (Year 10), Sophie O’Connell (Year 10)
Junior (200m/10km/2km) 2nd 3rd
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Eliza Dougherty (Year 8), Lauren McGarry (Year 7), Bridget Hill (Year 7) Lara Burns (Year 8)
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GSV Swimming & Diving Our swimmers and divers have achieved some outstanding results over the course of the season. At the Preliminary Carnival, Loreto Toorak was the champion team for swimming and placed second for diving. A highlight was winning the Junior Age Groups for both swimming and diving. This ensured our teams qualified for the Championship Division 1 Carnival, where they competed against the top
eight GSV Schools; our swim team finished in third position and diving in fifth. Following on from these events, individual students qualified for the GSV Finals Night, where Loreto Toorak finished with the most medals on the tally with 21 medals overall: Gold – 10, Silver – 5, Bronze – 6. Finally, the swim team competed in the Victorian All Schools Swimming Relays, where Loreto Toorak placed fourth and achieved five medals. Above: Preliminary C Swimming and Diving Championship Team
JENNA WARD HEAD OF SPORT
Rathfarnham Swimming A team of 37 students took to the water at the Armadale District Swimming Carnival and it was evident that their training and preparation had paid off. Loreto Toorak achieved first place overall and were crowned champions with many records broken. From these fantastic performances, 13 individuals progressed through to the Division Swimming Carnival and, once again, Loreto Toorak experienced success. All of our relay teams won their races which saw them progress through to both the Regional and then the State Finals. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate the following girls (pictured right) for winning the State Finals relays. 9/10 Years, 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay Sophie Jacka, Sophie Elstoft, Zara Baré, Helena Shi 11 Years, 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay Alice Evans, Sophie Leishman, Catherine Boyle, Olivia Hope 12/13 Years, 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay Annabelle Bamford, Hannah Saadie, Jemma Potts, Clare Tuckwell 12/13 Years, Medley Relay Hannah Saadie, Annabelle Bamford, Jemma Potts, Alice Evans WHITNEY BESELER RATHFARNHAM PE & SPORT COORDINATOR
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Achievements Kiera Robinson & Mercedes Purcell
Charlotte Conroy
Katie Leishman
We congratulate Kiera and Mercedes (Year 10) who received the People’s Choice Award at the National Australia Indonesia Language Awards (NAILA). Addressing the topic ‘Our Origins’, the girls worked together to produce a wonderfully engaging presentation about the origins of their family names.
We congratulate Charlotte Conroy (Year 11) and her horse Hedge who competed at the Boneo World Cup Showjumping, winning the Youth Olympic Qualifiers. Since retiring from the track, Hedge has been very successful in his new showjumping career. Charlotte has now qualified for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and awaits her hopeful selection.
We are proud to celebrate Katie Leishman (Year 8) who represented School Sport Victoria (SSV) and Team Vic in the 12 years and under girls hockey team at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in December 2017, placing fourth overall. We congratulate Katie on being selected and playing in such a high level event.
Macy Pegoli
Ellen Williams
Olivia Lefoe
Congratulations to Macy Pegoli (Year 11) who placed sixth overall in the Gymnastics Australian Classic.
Congratulations to Ellen Williams (Year 8) who was selected to represent Victoria in the Under 15 girls cricket Metro side. The team, sponsored by Cricket Victoria, flew to Adelaide to compete in the National Championships in January where the team placed fifth overall. Ellen’s highlight was bowling five wickets for 28 runs – an outstanding effort.
We congratulate Olivia Lefoe (Year 9) who qualified for five events in the Australian Commonwealth Games Trials.
Macy competed in the highest level of Gymnastics in Australia, the Women’s Senior International Division. An outstanding achievement.
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Olivia competed in the 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley. An amazing achievement for a young swimmer. Go Olivia Go!
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Serena Su
GirlSail
Ciara Utri
We applaud Serena Su (Year 10) who successfully achieved her AMusA (Associate of Music Performance Diploma) on cello in 2017.
On Friday 2 March, six girls competed in the GirlSail event in Mount Eliza. The girls sailed extremely well in beautiful sunny conditions with light winds. We congratulate Sarah Gleeson (Year 12), Angelique Gleeson (Year 8), George Aulich (Year 10), Claudia McMahon (Year 7), Jade Telford (Year 9) and Hayley Archer (Year 7).
We congratulate Ciara Utri (Year 11) who was selected in the U18 Victorian Hockey team to play at the Australian Championships in Launceston in March.
Annabella Merakis and Anushka Tiwari
Grace Darcy
Our sincerest congratulations are extended to Serena on this wonderful performance result.
Jaime Lampard We congratulate Jaime Lampard (Year 7) who represented Edge Australia in the Aloha GymFest in Oahu, Hawaii. In an incredible effort, Jaime placed overall second and was crowned the 2018 National 7 Aloha GymFest Bars Champion. Throughout 2018, Jaime will be aiming towards competing in the Victorian and Australian Championships.
We congratulate Annabella Merakis (Year 9) and Anushka Tiwari (Year 11) who performed in the Victorian Opera’s production of Norman Lindsay’s The Magic Pudding at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne. Annabella (bottom left) and Anushka (middle left) are pictured here with the leading cast.
Ciara personally scored two goals across the championships and helped her Victorian team to achieve fourth place across all the states and territories. Well done Ciara.
We congratulate Grace Darcy (Year 7) who competed in the Junior Australian Grasscourt Championships, held in Adelaide, achieving eleventh in her singles match and fourth in her doubles match Training up to six days per week, this achievement is a great reward for Grace’s efforts and an honour to be selected amongst the top 32 players in Australia for her age group.
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Achievements Vivienne Johnson
Eliza Matthews
Olivia Di Cocco
We applaud Vivienne Johnson (Year 11) who was awarded the Stan Churchus Trophy from the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club for her outstanding performance in club events, and her enthusiasm, dedication and positive demeanour. A rising tennis star, Vivienne won both her junior singles and mixed doubles matches at the recent Club Championships.
We congratulate Eliza Matthews (Year 8) who recently competed at the Senior Victorian Championship Finals in Level 7 Gymnastics.
Donated by Miss Nerida Sullivan in memory of her mother, we congratulate Olivia Di Cocco (Year 11) as the 2017 recipient the Dorothy Sullivan Memorial Music Prize.
Lara Burns
Sophie Giannaros
Christina McArthur
Congratulations to Lara Burns (Year 8) who competed in the Cobram Labour Day Tennis Tournament.
Loreto Toorak warmly congratulates Sophie Giannaros (Year 12, 2017) who has been shortlisted in Top Class by the VCAA in the 2017 VCE Season of Excellence.
The Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize awards excellence in photography. We congratulate finalist Christina McArthur (Year 10) and semi-finalists Indi Japp (Year 9), Daniella Camuglia, Anneka Davys, Mackenzie Howard (Year 10), Mollie Dodd, Anna Japp, Grace Murphy, Samantha Purssey, Naedene Rodrigues (Year 11), Daniella Esposito and Stephanie Reid (Year 12).
Lara won the Under 14 Singles and Doubles, and also won the B Grade Singles in the Open Age category. An amazing effort, well done Lara.
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Eliza placed first all around and first on bars. An amazing achievement for her dedication and effort in her early morning training sessions. Well done Eliza.
Sophie received her shortlist nomination for her work in Theatre Studies.
Dorothy was inspirational in her love of music and in fostering the learning and enjoyment of music in her family and her local community.
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Annabelle Bamford
Beatrice Drake
Georgia Bevan
We congratulate Annabelle Bamford (Year 6), who qualified for the Victorian Junior Talent ID Squad.
Loreto Toorak warmly congratulates Beatrice Drake (Year 12, 2017) who has been shortlisted in Top Arts by the VCAA in the 2017 VCE Season of Excellence.
Congratulations to Georgia Bevan (Year 7, pictured below) and Jaime Lampard (Year 7) who qualified for the Victorian team and competed at the Australian Age Diving Nationals in Melbourne at MSAC.
Annabelle achieved this recognition through three ‘top five’ swim results at the Victorian Age State Championships in December 2017.
Beatrice received her shortlist nomination for her efforts in Studio Arts. Her artwork was displayed at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.
Both Georgia and Jamie competed in the 1m springboard, and Jamie also competed in the 3m springboard event.
Nicole Enriques
Miranda Delaney
Rong (Vivian) Jin
Loreto Toorak warmly congratulates Nicole Enriques (Year 12, 2017) who has been shortlisted in Top Design by the VCAA in the 2017 VCE Season of Excellence.
We applaud Miranda Delaney (Year 11, pictured above centre) who recently competed in the Victorian Gymnastics Championships and performed extremely well.
Nicole receives her shortlist nomination for her work in Visual Communication Design, with her artwork on display at the Melbourne Museum.
In a field of 25 Level 10 qualifiers, Miranda placed first on floor with a personal best score. She also placed third on beam. What a great effort.
Our congratulations to Rong (Vivian) Jin (Year 11, pictured above left) who participated in the Australian Youth Orchestra’s 2017 Young Symphonist’s Program. Vivian was one of only three flautists selected, along with 60 other musicians from around Australia. The orchestra rehearsed under the directorship of some of Australia’s most distinguished musicians.
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Community School Cocktail Party
Harvest Picnic
The beginning of the school year was celebrated in fine style at the annual School Cocktail Party held in the Mansion forecourt on Friday 16 February 2018.
Some slight uncertainty with the weather did not deter attendees at the Harvest Picnic and they were rewarded with very pleasant sunshine on the afternoon of Sunday 25 March 2018.
Parents, new and returning, gathered in record numbers to meet and greet and share news of their daughters.
This annual event was a stress-free way for families to get together on St Michael’s Green. There were numerous activities for the children including face painting and a disco. This year the Ninja Warrior course and Zorb Ball provided by Proactivity were highlights, with queues of excited youngsters waiting their turn to roll, jump, crawl, climb and hit the big red buzzer at the end. Swathes of bubbles drifted across the landscape from the colourful wands on offer and there was an overall air of festivity and fun.
Colourful year level flags were both practical gathering points and festive features as the large crowd spilled down the drive, once again displaying the strength of our school community. Guests were provided with many appetising finger food choices, prepared by CafĂŠ Mandeville and washed down with a selection of drinks. This was a relaxed way for parents to build relationships and strengthen support networks for the coming year and years ahead as they journey with their daughters through this vital phase in their development.
When all the activity led to hunger there were plenty of options available. Some families brought picnics, while others purchased from the food trucks and stalls. The cake stall and barbeque were again a great success and the new addition of ribs and chips was very popular. There were also ice creams, lollies, coffee and a bar, providing something for every taste. The Music Department contributed a wonderful soundscape with performances from soloists and ensembles. Many happy listeners tapped their feet and applauded enthusiastically. Thanks and congratulations to the music students and staff. We also thank the many volunteer parents and staff who ran stalls and assisted in so many ways to make this event such a success.
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Class of 2008 – 10 Years The past 10 years seemed to have flown by for the Class of 2008 as they gathered for their reunion in Mandeville Hall Mansion on Friday 4 May 2018. This especially large group of attendees reconnected, chattering and laughing as they toured the newer parts of the school before they continued their celebrations at another venue. 01 Preparatory, 1996 Back (L-R): Ashleigh Kubiak, Brighid Ginnane-Smith, Maddie Tostevin Front (L-R): Rebecca Howie, Lauren Fowler, Bella Hayes, Grace Campbell 02 Class of 2008 Nicola Bainbridge, Jessica Barrie (Stockdale), Rochelle Bevis, Ellie Bowden, Grace Campbell, Jessica Cheeseman, Georgina Cichy, Gab Coles, Kate Conlan, Michelle Coppolino, Caitlin Costello, Elisabeth Curtis, Lizzie Doyle, Marnie Dunn, Chloe Dwyer, Bethany England, Ellie Fabbri, Harriet Fell, Grace Fleming, Katie Forster, Lauren Fowler, Leah Frangou, Bec Gibbs, Brighid Ginnane-Smith, Elise Hanna, Alexandra Hassell, Kathleen Hayes, Bella Hayes, Annabelle Healey, Julia Healey, Emily Higgins, Rebecca Howie, Elizabeth Kelly, Renata Kopinski, Ashleigh Kubiak, Megan Lane, Katie Lovelock, Tegan Mand, Maeve Martyn, Kelly McCarthy, Esther McMahon, Jacqui Midgley, Emily Nash, Emily Noonan, Sarah Olle, Kate Pattison, Fiona Pearse, Nicole Pendrey, Georgina Richardson, Sophia Robinson, Caz Salter, Claire Saundry, Naomi Scully, Hannah Sheean (Banks), Sarah Simpson, Luisa Sirianni, Deanna Spanò, Katherine Spitalnic (Kouznetzova), Lisette Stevens, Bella Thomson, Maddie Tostevin, Sarah Trapani, Brianna Travers, Ella van der Merwe, Nicole Voss, Laura Voss, Veronica Waite, Lucy Waters, Georgie White
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Sapphire Dinner A large number of past pupils gathered in the Park Hyatt on Thursday 19 April 2018 for the annual Sapphire Dinner. This is a yearly opportunity for past pupils of all ages to meet, dine and be entertained while raising funds for the Give a Girl a Dream Fund. The event incorporated some nostalgia with the enthusiastic singing of Queen of Loreto and the Holiday Hymn, an inspiring address from Sarah Rey (1984) on ‘Justice in Unlikely Places’ and a musical interlude by past pupil and operatic soprano, Emilia Bertolini (2014), ably supported by associate artist, Director of Music, Miss Mary O’Driscoll. Guests wined and dined on an exquisite three-course menu while reminiscing over school days. They bought many raffle tickets hoping to win the magnificent sapphire earrings, once again generously donated by Julie Burke (1976) and her partner Greg Morris, of J A Morris Jewellers and created especially for the occasion.
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The tradition of the gift of a handcrafted ceramic plate continued with another private commission granted to Melbourne based ceramicist Lucile Sciallano. Inspired by her home in the south of France, the 2018 Sapphire Dinner plate features the use of a vivid blue and is titled The Milky Way.
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Loreto Ladies’ Luncheon Just before Mothers’ Day every year, ladies from across the Loreto Toorak community join together to lunch, connect and raise funds for school projects. With numbers nudging 500, this years’ gathering packed Leonda by the Yarra on Friday 11 May 2018. The noise level soared along with the enjoyment as the ladies savoured a two course lunch. Some treated themselves to French champagne and all shared a delightful afternoon. The Silent Auction and Raffle were both successful fundraising activities and we thank Convenor, Jacquie Blackwell and her team for another entertaining and profitable event.
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Diamond Luncheons This year, due to increasing numbers of past pupils attending this celebratory lunch, the annual Diamond Luncheon became two luncheons. The group was divided over two days with past pupils from Class of 1953 and earlier attending on Tuesday 27 February and those from Classes of 1954 to 1958 on Wednesday 28 February. This doubled the joyful and open-hearted welcome which always characterises this reunion with classmates and friends genuinely delighted to be together again. The groups were entertained by music students supported by Director of Music, Miss Mary O’Driscoll, and music teacher, Mrs Diana Wijaya. Year 6 students shared their highlights of life at Loreto Toorak with the attentive audience. The convivial chatter and laughter continued over lunch which was catered by our own Café Mandeville. We are always delighted to welcome some of our most senior past pupils to this most enjoyable event.
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02 Sr Marg Finlay ibvm (1955) and Coralie Robinson (Need, 1955) 03 Nancye Best (Donovan, 1938) 04 Margaret Wrigley (O’Grady, 1946) 05 Elizabeth Callanan (Healy, 1946) 06 Celia Lamprell (Russo, 1958), Kathy Sanders (Adair, 1958) and Geraldine Lazarus (1958) 07 Dianne Pook (Murphy, 1958), Margot Meldrum (Holt, 1958) and Margaret Doyle (1958) 08 Ann De Castella (Hall, 1949), Elizabeth Gaynor (Koerner, 1949) and Pat Burke (Campbell, 1949) 09 Dawne-Marie O’Farrell (1955), Anne Quay OAM (D’Arcy, 1955) and Anne Von Braun (Little, 1955) 10 Moya Turner (McCormack, 1956), Julianna O’Bryan (Adams, 1956), Denise Perera and Marguerite Gilligan (Gough, 1956) 11 Joy Curtis (Merlo, 1951) and Judy Walsh (Maher, 1951) 12 Judy Curtain (McNamara, 1950) and Marie Leonard (Clausen, 1950) 13 June McCann (Shelton, 1942), Jenny Carr (Montague, 1958) and Wilma McCoy (Jorgensen, 1943)
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Where Are They Now?
SR MARGARET FINLAY IBVM CLASS OF 1955
Commencing in 1949, Marg’s days at ‘Mandeville’ were very happy ones, also spending one year at Mary’s Mount as a boarder when her parents were travelling overseas. Along with her sister Libby, they were weekly boarders when they returned to Melbourne, remembering this to be the best of both worlds. Marg recalls her English classes with Sr Veronica Brady ibvm and her magical adventures into the world of poetry, Shakespeare, and wonderful novels that she would read aloud to the class. In the time when Sr Ruth Winship ibvm was the Mistress of Schools, Marg always wondered how Sr Ruth managed to do everything she had to do and sleep in their dormitory. She remembers Ruth as the ‘wise woman’, listening and responding with both love and challenge. When Marg left school, she commenced Occupational Therapy, meeting some great women who became lifelong friends. Upon graduation, she went to work at the Kew Cottages; an institution for people with intellectual disabilities. Marg credits this experience in planting the seed of the next path she would take; for in 1961 she entered the Loreto Novitiate in Normanhurst. Since that time, Marg has taught in several schools and colleges around Australia. In 1990 she became a member of the first Spiritual Formation Team in the CEO, Parramatta, working with the teachers across the Diocese and beyond, each aware of their own particular charisms and spirit. In 1997, Marg was relocated to live and work in Glenmore Park, a newly developing suburb south of Penrith, NSW, to develop the Catholic community, as there was no resident priest. For the past 16 years, Marg has lived in Perth working as the Catholic Chaplain within the women’s prisons. Soon to return to Melbourne, Marg looks forward to settling into a new stage of life, to spend time with her family and look around for where she can be of help along the way.
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HANNAH BURKE CLASS OF 2015
Hannah recollects the many happy memories of her time at Loreto Toorak that helped shape her as a person, particularly the Social Justice program, in offering opportunities to live and work the Loreto values. She recalls her Year 10 experience on the Ramingining Pilgrimage as her most significant, giving her a unique insight into a different way of life, and an authentic experience of engaging with our indigenous people. Now in her third year of a double degree at Monash University studying Engineering and Science, Hannah is specialising in Mechatronics; the integration of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, enabling her to work in the field of robotics. In 2017, Hannah was honoured with a Mechatronic Internship at the Australian Synchrotron; a particle accelerator which uses light to conduct scientific research. Noting that it was a challenging experience, but also that she felt she was given an opportunity to make a contribution to future scientific progress from an engineering perspective. Proudly, from this experience Hannah was offered a continued part-time role at the Synchrotron while studying full time. A highlight of Hannah’s time at University was being offered a position in the Engineering Leadership Program. From this, she has continued to develop leadership skills as well as forging friendships with like-minded people. Aside from her academic studies, one of Hannah’s main interests is music. She loves to attend music festivals and combines this passion with travel and the opportunity to explore regional towns. Looking ahead, Hannah hopes to look for opportunities to work abroad and is excited about the prospect of travelling whilst furthering her career. Hannah’s time at Loreto Toorak is reflected in the very fabric of who she is. She shares that she has many wonderful friends who are important in her life, and knows that she can always rely on these friendships. She also credits her Loreto education in helping her to contribute and ‘give back’ to others.
Where Are They Now?
CAROLINE SILK (WOODLEY) CLASS OF 1981
Caroline’s memories from ‘Mandeville Hall’ remain strong and bright in her mind. She remembers the terry towelling all-in-one sports uniforms, warm bottles of milk in the lunchroom, British bulldog on the asphalt, her favourite teacher Mrs Marron, causing chaos when they sang the Holiday Hymn and a group of friends who remain close today; some a 50 year friendship! Following school, Caroline studied a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University and spent 12 months backpacking through the US and Europe. Upon her return to Melbourne, Caroline applied for the AFA (Advertising Federation of Australia) Scholarship and joined DDB Needham, leading her down the path of Account Service and Client Management. She spent five years with the company and an ensuing five years with Samuelson Talbot, specialising in retail clients like Cadbury, Schweppes, Heinz and Cussons. After a period of maternity leave in raising her three boys and working part time in between, Caroline went back to University to study a Post Graduate in Nutrition and now helps women over the age of 40 lose weight and end their struggles with food and dieting. She is passionate about ensuring that her clients have the right mindset to help them achieve their goals. Caroline attests that one of her significant career achievements is successfully helping women drop their emotional baggage and beliefs that have been holding them back and find an inner strength to become healthier versions of themselves. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys being married to a Loreto boy, and still has her three ‘young men’ at home (say no more). She stands on various Xavier committees, including the OXFC, and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. Practising what she preaches, Caroline is a lover of great food, exercise and being healthy. Caroline was at ‘Mandeville’ for all of her school life and she has no doubt that a Loreto education has shaped how she has approached life. It gave her strength to believe in herself and that she could make a difference. “It will always be a part of who I am and what makes me, me.”
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EMMA FORD (OGILVY) CLASS OF 1996
Emma is grateful for the values that Loreto has instilled and the opportunities that her education provided. The cycle of Loreto life continues with her eldest daughter commencing at Loreto Ballarat this year; the fifth generation of Loreto girls in her family. Starting in Year 5, Emma left the school in Year 7, returning in Year 10 after a three year relocation to the UK for her father’s work. The great-niece of Sr Ruth Winship ibvm, Emma remembers visiting the sisters after school, and was welcomed with open arms and scones with cream and jam! Also a passionate member of Mulhall house, Emma loved everything about the PAF. The friendships she formed in her years at Loreto are still her closest and she continues to treasure these. Emma met her ‘childhood sweetheart’ Rory Ford (OX, 1996) at the Christian Living Camp in 1995. They married in 2003, having two daughters, Evie and Mia. Following school, Emma commenced a business degree at Swinburne, but soon discovered it was not the perfect fit. She subsequently started and completed a beauty therapy course, following her goal to open her own business. In 2010, the family moved to Daylesford, and Emma became a part-owner of Endota Spa. At the same time, she was studying a TAE (Training and Assessment) and begun lecturing at Federation University in Ballarat. Emma enjoyed huge professional development during this time and great satisfaction from helping students realise their potential. After a few years in Daylesford, Emma relaunched her own salon, EKO Skin Care Spa, and now works with a team of seven. Emma’s Loreto education has taught her compassion, and the importance of fair dealings, honesty and persistence. With a firm belief instilled in her that women can achieve anything, Emma is so proud to be a mother of daughters and deems this, by far, to be her biggest achievement. “I just want them to know that with passion and hard work they can do whatever they put their mind to, and that they will always have a support team to help them to reach their potential.”
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Give a Girl a Dream In 2016 Loreto Toorak launched the Give a Girl a Dream Fund, with the aim to raise $20 million over the next decade to provide a Loreto education to those unable to benefit from all that the school offers.
Following in the footsteps of Mary Ward, who believed in the power of education in changing lives, so too do we believe that through the gift of education, “women in time to come will do much”. The Give a Girl a Dream campaign has replaced the Annual Giving Appeal, which has helped the School enormously in the past with funds for renovations and capital works. Instead, the new fund has been created to provide bursary support and relief, keeping two main aims in mind: to keep fees low for all families, and to maintain a broader demographic of students to have the opportunity to attend our School. As Principal Dr Susan Stevens remarked, “It is a priority for us that our comparative affordability continues; it is a priority that we can continue to be as diverse a school as possible; that we can continue to provide a range of sponsored places, bursaries and means-tested scholarships. This is our new focus. We wish to give a dream to girls who otherwise would not be able to afford a Loreto education.” All members of the Loreto community are being invited to contribute to the fund. “Working together, each doing a small part, our community will achieve much,” said Dr Stevens. “I ask for your advocacy in this – we need your help, to assist us in spreading the word about this project. We ask that you let your Loreto friends know about this dream of ours to provide ongoing bursary support for future students of Loreto Toorak”. All families and community members will soon be receiving details of the Give a Girl a Dream campaign in the post. Your generosity in supporting our campaign is appreciated immensely. To make a donation please visit our website: www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au/our-community/development/giving Or contact the Development Office +61 3 9823 8147 Left: Ambassador for the Give a Girl a Dream Campaign, Danielle Grant (2010)
Gift in Will Unless otherwise specified, all Bequests are directed to our bursary fund to help provide a Loreto education to girls who, without this financial support, would be unable to attend this wonderful school. It is the school’s vision that we remain accessible and inclusive. Please let us know if you have indeed provided for Loreto Toorak in your Will and we will ensure you remain informed on our progress towards this vision. In recognition of your support, you will be invited to be a part of the Silk Society, named in honour of the silk damask in the Reception Room of Mandeville Hall. Membership will ensure you are kept informed of achievements and activities of the students of Loreto Toorak and receive invitations to all important school events.
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For more information or to have a confidential discussion, please contact Louise McNamara, Development Officer Bequests and Endowments.
LOUISE MCNAMARA DEVELOPMENT OFFICER – BEQUESTS AND ENDOWMENTS louise.mcnamara@loretotoorak.vic.edu.au +61 3 9823 8149
Family News
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Births
Engagements
BARRETT, Claire (Ogilvy, 2001) and Andrew, Chloe Ava, born 27/01/18, sister for Ella, granddaughter for Prue Ogilvy (Winship, 1970)
STEVENS, Lisette (2008) to Justin Lipinski
BLOOD, Biddy (Cunningham, 1992) and Michael, Catherine Maree Blood born 25/01/18, sister for Molly, Eve, Rose and Jimmy CHANI, Natalie-Veronique (2005) and Ned Worsnop, Margaux-Veronique Worsnop, born 30/01/18, sister for Hunter, granddaughter for Bernadette Chani (Ellis, 1983) DOYLE, Annabel (2002) and Andrew Fin, Francesca Catherine Fin, born 14/12/17, sister for Louie, granddaughter for Angela O’Dwyer (staff member and past parent) DOYLE, Georgina (2002) and Nicholas James, Catherine Janet James, born 19/06/17, sister for Amelia, granddaughter for Angela O’Dwyer (staff member and past parent) GRIFFITHS, Philippa (Zahara, 1999) and Sam, Vivienne Zahara Griffiths, born 05/04/18, sister for Sophie JREISSATI, Sam (2005) and James Davaris, Anna Jane Jreissati-Davaris, born 23/01/18 LIJOVIĆ, Elizabeth (O’Day, 2000) and Dragutin, Amelia Mary Grace, born 22/10/17
Weddings RANDLES, Catherine (2007) to Dominic Prowse on 03/03/18 WELLER, Claire (2007) to Joshua Evans on 08/03/18
Honours GILL AM, Peter, father of Cathy (1990) and Angela (1994), grandfather to Maggie D’Amico (Year 7); for significant service to aged welfare, to the provision of pioneering palliative care programs, to medical education, and to the community NORMAN AM, Warwick, father of Emma (2003); for significant service to the maritime transport industry, particularly through the development of environmental risk management systems 01 William Dehane Lush 02 Margaux-Veronique Worsnop 03 Catherine Janet James with sister Amelia 04 Francesca Catherine Fin 05 Sophia Angelina Parker Rattray
NOLAN, Rebecca (2000) and Mark Lush, William Dehane Lush, born 29/01/18, brother for Harrison O’CONNOR, Virginia (Croagh, 1993) and Francis, Harriet Anastasia Mary O’Connor, born 18/10/17, sister for Isabelle, Anna, Rupert and Gerald O’NEILL, Susie (staff member) and Killian, Clara Niamh, born 05/05/18 POUND, Sarah (2005) and Tom Bachet, Lily Grace Bachet, born 09/06/17 RATTRAY, Chloe (Parker, 2005) and Peter, Sophia Angelina Parker Rattray, born 28/04/18 VERWEY, Kymm (Ermacora, 1993) and Ernest, Allegra Adriana, born 24/10/17
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Family News It is with sadness we advise that the following members of the Loreto Toorak community have passed away. Our sincere condolences to their families. AMOS, Patricia, 23/11/17, wife of Max, mother of Rosemary Abbott (staff member) and Desmond, mother-in-law of Alan BUCKLEY, Judith (Manning, 1953), 18/11/17, wife of John (dec), mother and mother-in-law of Michael and Lorna, David and Therese, Simon and Caren, James and Ali, sister of Gail Laurie (dec) (Manning, 1956) and Christine Fletcher (Manning, 1961) BURFORD, Susanne (Sue) 03/03/17, wife of Ken, mother of Dean, Georgia (1984), Nona (1986) and Simone (1989), President of Loreto Toorak Mothers’ Association (1984) BURKE, Margaret Monica (Margot) (1945), 09/03/18, sister of Thomas (dec), Janet (1947) and Sylvia (dec) (1951) CHIVERS, Sara (Clark, 2001), 28/01/18, daughter of Adrian and Helen, sister of Stephanie (2006) CHRISTIE, Donald Graeme, 19/02/18, husband of Patricia (dec), father and father-in-law of Don and Lucy, grandfather of Eliza (2012) and Amelia (2016) DEANY, Robert (Bob) Wilton, 23/09/17, husband of Joan, father of Jane (1978), Michael (dec) (Year 2, 1970) and Paul (Year 2, 1973) GUNNERSEN AM, Thorold Harvey (Thorry), 04/02/18, husband of Joanne (Moon, 1969), brother-in-law of Catherine (1965), Eleanor (1966) and Frances (1971) GUNTHER, Denise Alice, 27/01/18, wife of Bill, mother of Louise (1982), Andrew, Marcelle Goodwin (Gunther, 1987) and Paul HARRIS, Geoffrey Norman, 17/03/18, husband of Helen, father of Kate Hardwick (Harris, 1994), Sara (1995), Emily (1997) and Claire (1999), grandfather of Emilia Hardwick (Year 6) LARACY, Patricia, 05/06/17, wife of Paddy, mother of Erin, Cassandra Le Marshall (Laracy, 1994) and Gemma MURRAY, Judith (1952), 02/01/18, aunt of John Murray (dec), Sue Wilton and Helen Murray NOONAN, Paul Keane, 03/03/18, husband of Elizabeth, father of Tom, Amy (2005) and Emily (2008), uncle of Georgia Akkerman (Foley, 2001) and Jessica Foley (2003) NOWAK, Judith (Stewart, 1944), 30/06/17, wife of John (dec), mother of John, Mary, Michael, Mark, Jane, Peter, Rosanne, Thomas, Robert and Judith, sister of Barbara Stewart (dec) (1953) OLNEY, Patricia, 16/03/18, grandmother of Elizabeth (2009) and Meg (2013)
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O’SHEA, (Mary) Denise, 08/01/18, wife of Joseph, mother of Bernard (Year 1, 1967), Caroline Nattrass (O’Shea, 1982) and Felicity Kennedy (O’Shea, 1986), grandmother of Rebecca Kennedy (2016) and Connie Kennedy (Year 10) PARKER, Margaret Mary (1964,) 28/03/18, sister of Tony (Year 2, 1952), Steve (dec) (Year 2, 1953), Josephine (Jo) (1965), Chris (Year 2, 1957) and Liz (1972) REARDON, Michelle (1995), 21/09/17, daughter of Maeve and John, sister of Renee (1998) REID, Helen (Plunkett, 1946), 29/10/17, wife of Frank, mother of Anne Fenner (Reid, 1968), Peter (Year 2, 1960), Rosemary Davis (Reid, 1972), Margie Neeson (Reid, 1977) and Judy (1978) RYAN, (Eileen) Joan (Finn, 1941), 16/02/18, wife of Geoffrey (dec), mother of Michael SJ, Peter, Elisabeth Brett Young (Ryan, 1968), Timothy (Kindergarten, 1958), Andy (dec) (Year 2, 1963), Genevieve (1978) and David (Year 1, 1971), grandmother of Joanna Kilner (Ryan, 2005), sister of Paddy Finn (dec) (1938) SEARLE, Gwendoleyne (Moorrees, 1938), 21/02/18, mother of Howard, sister of Sebylla Moorrees (dec) (1945) SHARLAND, Betty (1942), 20/11/17 SKEHAN, Vere (1945), 11/01/18, sister of Des (dec) (Year 1, 1933) and Anne McNamara (Skehan, 1947), aunt of Marguerite Curran (Skehan, 1973), Annemaree Gasowski (dec) (McNamara, 1976), Angela Skehan (1978) and Elizabeth Dell (Skehan, 1980) WHEELER, Leonie Ann (McKernan, 1959), 23/07/17, wife of Mark, mother of Ree and David, Davie and Anna, Stevie and Vicki, Kels and Bilsta, Jen and Washie, Dan and Natty, sister of Diane Davison (McKernan, 1950) and Gen Gandolfo (McKernan, 1954) WINSHIP, William Alfred (Bill), 26/03/18, husband of Moya (Bowen, Loreto Normanhurst, 1944), father of Prue Ogilvy (Winship, 1970), Roe Maas (Winship, 1973), Sarah Perrett (Winship, 1976) and Kate McCulloch (Winship, 1980), grandfather of Emma Ford (Ogilvy, 1996) and Claire Barrett (Ogilvy, 2001), uncle of Mary Alexander (Sheahan, 1965), Helen Botham (Sheahan, 1968), Anne Marie Kemp (Schlesinger, 1966) and Jane Barrington (Schlesinger, 1971), brother of Sr Ruth Winship ibvm (dec) (1935), Claire Sheahan (dec) (Winship, Loreto Coorparoo, 1937), Celia Winship (dec) (Loreto Coorparoo, 1940)
Events & Reunions SATURDAY 23 JUNE
THURSDAY 2 AUGUST
SATURDAY 18 AUGUST
Opera in the Mansion
Chapel Classics – Hoang Pham
Loreto Ball
2018
FRIDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
Feast Day Mass
Harpsichord Recital
“ I A L O N E C A N 18 N O T CSEPTEMBER HANGE THE WORLD TUESDAY BUT I CAN CAST A STONE ACROSS
Showcase Concert
T H E WAT E R TO C R E AT E M A N Y R I P P L ES” MOTHER TERESA
— Background: Inky Blue Text: Silver Foil
WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER
SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER Loreto Ball 2018 /
MONDAY 10 DECEMBER
PPA & MWIA Annual Mass
Chapel Classics – Christmas Concert
Ripple Concept 02
Chapel Classics – Gaudeamus Singers
Date
Event
Time, Location
Friday 20 July 2018
Perth Reunion
5.00pm, TBC
Friday 3 August 2018
Class of 2013 – 5 Year Reunion
6.00pm, Mandeville Hall Mansion
Friday 24 August 2018
Class of 1998 – 20 Year Reunion
6.00pm, Mandeville Hall Mansion
Friday 31 August 2018
Class of 1968 – 50 Year Reunion
6.00pm, Mandeville Hall Mansion
Wednesday 5 September 2018
Class of 2017 – 1 Year Reunion
6.00pm, Mandeville Hall Mansion
Friday 14 September 2018
Class of 1988 – 30 Year Reunion
6.00pm, Mandeville Hall Mansion
Friday 9 November 2018
Class of 1978 – 40 Year Reunion
6.00pm, Mandeville Hall Mansion
For further information about any of these events, please contact the Development Office on 9823 8167 or visit our website at www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au
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10 Mandeville Crescent Toorak Victoria 3142 +61 3 9823 8100 admissions@loretotoorak.vic.edu.au www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au