4 minute read
Staying Connected
Notes from a Pandemic
WE ASKED SEVERAL OF OUR ALUMNAE TO REFLECT ON THE PAST TWO YEARS AND WERE DELIGHTED TO HEAR OF THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS THEY’VE BEEN MAKING IN THEIR DIFFERENT FIELDS. WE THANK THEM FOR SHARING THESE INSIGHTS WHICH PROVED A DELIGHTFUL WAY TO CONNECT FROM AFAR. VISIT THE NEWS PAGE ON THE NORMO NETWORK TO READ THEIR ‘NOTES FROM A PANDEMIC’ IN FULL!
Isabella Greenhalgh (‘20)
Studying a combined B. of Science and B. of Laws at the University of Sydney
Sadly, on the last day of my Semester 1 exams, the announcement was made that Sydney would be going into lockdown. This ultimately meant the end of oncampus university for this year. It has certainly been challenging to do Zoom tutorials and lectures for such an extended period, but I think the hardest part was the loss of the social element that is such an important part of the university experience. Despite this, there have been positives; it has been easier to pace the online work for myself, and virtual events like trivia have been a fun experience. I’ll certainly never forget the unique experiences of 2021. Dr Hanneke Chudleigh (‘99)
BSc (Med) MBBS (Hons) FRACGP Dip Paeds
A Loreto education taught me the importance of service and contributing to society. I wanted my children to be able to reflect in fifty years and know I used my skills and knowledge to help in the pandemic. I started working as a General Practitioner at the vaccination hubs at two major Sydney Hospitals.
Every day I am rewarded knowing that I am providing protection to an individual, a family and the wider population. As I look around at my colleagues and at health and community leaders, I am proud to be serving alongside them in this pandemic.
Isobel Cahill (‘14)
Founder and florist at La Petite Fleuriste
Photo: Clancy Paine
COVID-19 gave me the time to think about how I wanted to put more effort into my floristry, so I started selling a few bunches of cotton to buyers in Sydney. I called my business La Petite Fleuriste as a nod to the five years I spent in France as a teenager with my family. This year has been a big one for La Petite Fleuriste. I’ve hosted workshops and created floral designs for weddings as well as made hundreds of bouquets to be delivered all around the local area. I am also studying nursing full time through Charles Sturt University and working casually at the Dubbo Base Hospital. There is a lot of juggling, but I have been so grateful that during the latest lockdowns, I have been living in Central West NSW. I love living on a farm and feel like I’m in a COVID free bubble! Cathy Sertori (‘84)
Head of Patient Advocacy & Affordability Director at AstraZeneca
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare, and cancer is no exception. Consultation with a Global Patient Advisory Board raised that an advocacy campaign was needed to address the challenges associated with COVID-19 and cancer care. We collaborated with patient advocacy leaders and patients to co-design the concept of “New Normal, Same Cancer.” The Conversation Series was the evolution of the campaign, launching in December 2020. In this powerful video series, people with cancer, their carers, and healthcare professionals talk openly about their experiences and share the calls to action that every Australian should hear.
Alumnae Year Group Challenge
We are thrilled to announce that the Class of 1983 are the winners of our inaugural Alumnae Year Group Challenge, having raised $5,140! The Year Group Challenge was posed by the Year 12 Student Bursary Committee of the Class of 2021 in support of our Bursary Program which provides a Loreto education to families in necessitous circumstances.
Overall, 36 year groups took part, with 27 year groups reaching the $1,000 target. A special thank you to the Ex-Students’ Association for their generosity in providing $27,000 in matched funding. This means that, with your help, we raised a grand total of $76,692 for bursaries for current and future Loreto girls.
Class of 1975
We would like to acknowledge the Class of 1975 for not only raising $1,800, but also for pledging to support an Indigenous student for the six years of their education. This is an incredible example of a how a small number of alumnae, contributing a relatively small amount each year for six years, can offer a student the monumental gift of an education. If you would like to discuss how you can ‘pay a Loreto Normanhurst education forward,’ please contact Liane Giuliano at
lgiuliano@loretonh.nsw.edu.au.
Normo Network
Early this year, we were thrilled to bring you the Normo Network, an interactive online platform for our community of alumnae and former parents.
Features of the Normo Network include a News section, a Reunions and Events calendar, a Shop with LN merchandise, groups to join, messaging and connecting functions, a Business Directory to promote your business, mentoring and volunteering opportunities, and a Giving page for donations to our Bursary Program or Building Fund. Users can also ‘share’ their own news stories or submit photos and memories from their time at Loreto. We love hearing from our community, so this function is our favourite!
We encourage alumnae to register for the Normo Network. While some areas of the website are exclusive to logged-in users, we invite all members of our community to explore the Normo Network at
