Where Are They Now?

Maddie Brown (2004)

Maddie loved her time as a student of Loreto Toorak and in particular, many of the co-curricular activities alongside the academics. Along with Maths, Drama was Maddie’s favourite subject and being able to perform in the PAF and other productions were definitely highlights of her time. The Division 1 GSV Waterpolo win in Year 12 also sticks out in her mind. Following her time at school, Maddie undertook a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Geology, and continuing on to submit her thesis on paleoclimates. In her career, Maddie has travelled to Vancouver, Canada on exchange and completed fieldwork across many regions in Victoria. Currently, Maddie is working on her PhD, researching how vegetation stabilises foredunes on beaches, and how this will change with sea-level rise. Her work has taken her to Dunedin, New Zealand, where she is based for the next few years whilst completing fieldwork on Stewart Island and her PhD. Highlights of her career so far include the opportunity to participate in the CAPSTAN program during her undergraduate degree, where 20 young scientists had berth on a voyage on board the CSIRO RV Investigator. Maddie and her travel companions journeyed from Hobart to Fremantle across 10 days exploring aspects and methods of marine science and how to effectively communicate their science to the public. Maddie is nervous but excited about the forthcoming work on her PhD which will see her investigate how climate research will continue to be a forefront in society and explore how scientists can work together towards solutions for the issues we all will continue to face. In her spare time, Maddie can be seen playing Waterpolo and enjoying karaoke nights. Maddie attests that her Loreto Toorak education filled her with the confidence and tenacity to pursue research, even when questioned because of her gender. The confidence instilled in her assists her every day to be curious and to build upon current knowledge and improve it for the future.

Virginia Farley (1973)

Virginia looks back on her time at school with fond memories and is honoured to be part of the lineage of the Farley family and Loreto history, dating back to the 1920s, with two of her aunties joining the Loreto Order. Virginia and her family lived on a rural property near Heathcote in Central Victoria. The youngest of six, Virginia started boarding at the age of 12. She remembers her boarding group and the wonderful friendships and memories. She especially remembers Sr Jennifer Collins with her delightful sense of humour and the other nuns as being wonderful mentors.

After completing school, Virginia commenced a nursing career at St Vincent’s Hospital, following in the footsteps of her mother and two older sisters, Gabrielle and Rosemarie. Whilst nursing, she was encouraged to enrol in an art class, a long time passion. Virginia retired from nursing after 30 years, having built up her experience and love of painting, winning several art awards and hosting exhibitions. One of her career highlights was being selected as a finalist in the 2011 Inglis Equine Art Competition. She and her husband David flew to Sydney to meet Gai Waterhouse at Randwick Racecourse.

Virginia now lives on a sheep and cropping property in Western Victoria with her husband. She has loved returning to the land and being surrounded and inspired by the animals, as she goes on her daily walks with the dogs. She believes that sheep, like people, have personalities, which she loves to capture on canvas with explosive colour. Last year Virginia and David visited South Africa which had a huge effect on her, as she fell in love with the animals, which took her art in a new direction.

In her spare time, Virginia enjoys tennis, rowing, music, yoga, gardening, farming and family and the occasional live show in Melbourne. Virginia believes her Loreto Toorak education is one of the most valuable experiences of her life, with a high standard of education, values and wonderful friendships. She realises how fortunate and privileged she is for the wonderful opportunity which has brought such fantastic memories.

Frances Grimes (O'Neill, 1978)

Fran remembers the commute from Sandringham to Toorak every day as formative in the friendships made. Her involvement in athletics and netball occupied her lunchtimes. Fran enjoyed the Stranger Camps (come as strangers, leave as friends) and appreciated teachers such as Sr Deirdre Rofe, Mother Beatrice who honed her writing skills, Sr Elizabeth Donnan who patiently taught her Mathematics and Physics and Mrs Neill who inspired her love of anatomy.

After leaving school, Fran studied Medicine at Monash University and was invited back to be on the Loreto Advisory Board. She also spoke to Year 12 students at retreats and seminars about her strong faith and where God was leading her in life. In 1997 Fran was working as a doctor in Westgate Baptist Community and was also part of the church leadership, and later at Foster Medical Centre as a General Practitioner.

In 2010 Fran spent a year discerning a call to ordained ministry, becoming a deacon in 2012 then an Anglican priest in 2014. She worked as a non-stipendiary minister in the Foster/Corner Inlet Parish with particular care for Fish Creek Union Church; an interdenominational church. Since 2017 she has taken on the role as Priest in Charge at Korumburra Poowong Parish, commissioned by Bishop (now Archbishop) Kay Goldsworthy. During this COVID-19 time, she has been preparing services online, managing Zoom Parish Council meetings, and distributing music to keep their young families connected. Being part of Fish Creek Union Church has been a highlight of Fran’s career. Baptisms and funerals are also a great honour. Another Parish highlight is the establishment of a community meal service in partnership with St Vinnies and Neighbourhood House to provide food and friendship for the isolated.

Fran enjoys spending time in the garden and the beach at Waratah Bay. When considering the value of her Loreto Toorak education, Fran quotes Mary Ward: “Women in time to come will do much.” Through the intelligent thoughtfulness and purposeful, generous, compassionate living and values taught, she has always considered that being the best that God created her to be is all that she can hope for.

Emily Petricola (1998)

Emily feels incredibly lucky to have attended Loreto Toorak, learning life lessons and feeling empowered to be a strong female with a voice. She was elected House Sports Captain of Ward and was involved in the Rowing program, which helped shape her into the woman that she would become, teaching her skills in teamwork, leadership, organisation, time management and the value of hard work.

After leaving school, Emily completed a BA, majoring in English and Politics, returning to university many years later to complete a Masters of Teaching (Secondary). She worked as a teacher at a British International School in the UAE for three years, before returning to Australia.

When Emily was 27 years old she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After many years of not being able to exercise due to complications of increased core temperature from the disease, a friend, Australian Olympic Rowing representative Matthew Ryan, introduced her to a WattBike, and she started training while keeping her temperature under control. In 2015, Matt then encouraged her to investigate competitive racing as a para-cyclist, and suggested she aim for the Tokyo Games.

Emily began competing locally and within two years had been selected to her first international team. She broke the world record in her first international Individual Pursuit race at the Para Cycling Track World Championships in Rio in 2018 and took home a silver (Individual Pursuit) and a bronze (Individual Time Trial). In 2019 she beat her world record and collected gold (Individual Pursuit) and bronze (Scratch Race) at the Track World Championships, before being selected to her first Road World Championship team and winning gold in the Time Trial in Emmen, Netherlands. Earlier this year she travelled to Milton in Canada where she picked up three gold medals in the Individual Pursuit, the Scratch Race and the Omnium events.

Emily is currently based in Adelaide at the High-Performance headquarters for Cycling Australia, preparing for the Para Cycling Road World Championships in Belgium, and, she hopes, the Paralympics in Tokyo. In the rare moments when she is not on her bike, Emily loves to read.