Lucis Magazine, Spring/Summer 2022

MLC School’s goal for each girl when she graduates is to be:

Compassionate to herself, interacting with others with kindness and celebrating diversity

Courageous in her pursuits, expressing herself honestly and with integrity to live a life with purpose

– Capable of navigating change, showing leadership in adapting to the multiple paths that her future will take

– Connected to the legacy of MLC School, using it to inspire her to be an agent of change in her world

EDITORIAL

Michele Dunn Barbara Hoffman PHOTOGRAPHERS

Nicole Anderson Hanh Bayes

Wendy Chung Barbara Hoffman

Tracy Mock

MLC School community

SOCIAL MEDIA

Office Hours

MLC

MLC

NEW IMMERSION

Apology

We

RED EARTH IMMERSION

celebrate the achievement of women across

the

biographies that

the last issue of

from the PRINCIPAL

The Uniting Church set the platform for Indigenous Recognition and Reconciliation many years ago. Ensuring that MLC School has a sound, well considered approach to both issues has been a high priority for me and this issue of LUCIS canvasses some steps we have and are taking towards greater insight and understanding.

Much work has been done through staff development around cultural awareness over the last few years. I am pleased that we have recently formed a committee, comprised of staff and students, which will drive the School’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Our reimagined Immersive Learning program aims to provide context around our ‘sense of place’ and I am confident that the progressions built into this program will provide students with a mature understanding of our heritage and its importance in shaping modern Australia.

With the easing of COVID restrictions, opportunities for performance and creative display have returned. The loss of these over recent years seemed to dull the beating heart of the School as they are central to our offering and play a key role not just in the lives of our students, but for their families. Co-curricular activities enrich the palette of every girls’ experience, they extend and stretch them, provide opportunities for exploration and achievement (and yes, sometimes failures) – but all contribute to the character of the young women, who eventually graduate from MLC School.

While on the topic of leaving – this too is a theme of this issue. We farewell the Class of 2022, a group of wonderful young women, who are well prepared to make their own mark on the world, as they travel a new path beyond school.

In recent days we have also farewelled two significant staff members.

Neil Scotney, Head of Senior School for four and a half years, moved to a promotion as Deputy Head (Pastoral) at Newington College at the start of Term 3. I am grateful for his invaluable contribution to the School in his time here. His passion for student wellbeing and positive relationships with students and parents will be fondly remembered.

At the end of Term 3, we farewelled Frances Booth, Deputy Principal, who has been appointed Principal at Korowa Anglican Girls’ School in Melbourne. Frances has been key in helping to shape MLC School for five years and is a most trusted colleague. The community at Korowa are fortunate to have gained her keen strategic and administrative skills, but especially her passion for education and the care she demonstrates for students, parents, and staff.

Both Neil and Frances devoted themselves to the School, we are extremely grateful to have benefited from their wisdom and dedication.

I was particularly thrilled to welcome back Old Girls and see the full calendar of events return. I enjoy learning of their achievements in their careers and in their lives in general. The anecdotes of their days at school seem to be always filled with great affection, even when the stories were about the challenges that they faced.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of LUCIS as much as I have.

THE JOURNEY TO Reconciliation

Head of Learning and Teaching, Linda Emms describes how MLC School is empowering staff and students as part of the School’s move towards greater Reconciliation.

MLC School is committed to developing in our community an authentic understanding of the histories and cultures of our First Nations peoples and fostering positive relationships with the broader community while strengthening the working relationships within our existing community members.

Our journey began with a focused professional learning program to broaden staff knowledge and give them the confidence to teach our students about the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As staff we placed ourselves back in the role of learner and with the guidance of Ros Thomas from AISNSW and Tim Lennon our Director of Indigenous Education, have examined the imperative for us to engage in dialogue as a community to support the oldest living culture in the world and ensure their voices are heard.

Parallel with the development of our staff, this term saw the launch of the Year 8 Immersion program, A Sense of Place, which focuses on the connection to country both here in Sydney and in regional NSW. Central to this program is the opportunity for our students to engage with Elders to develop an authentic understanding of the different perspectives and ways of thinking and knowing. It is an important part of the learning journey for our students to understand the history of our nation through the eyes of the traditional owners of the lands on which we live, work and care for our families.

For two groups of students in Year 10 and Year 11 there has also been the opportunity to immerse themselves in community through the Red Earth Immersion program. Travelling to the Northern Territory during the Term 2 holiday break, students experienced life in the homelands led by the Elders. This included learning from Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM on her Country. There can be no more authentic way to develop in our students their understanding of First Nations peoples. For these students the real-world implications of concepts studied in History became abundantly clear.

Our commitment to partnership is being brought to life as we formulate the MLC School Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The committee comprises teachers, students, parents, and members of our local community. Using the materials provided through The Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education platform we seek to build relationships, respect, and opportunities in the classroom, around the School and with the community. Narragunnawali (pronounced narra-gunna-wally) is a word from the language of the Ngunnawal people. The word means alive, wellbeing, coming together and peace.

Ref: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/ narragunnawali/

NEW IMMERSION PROGRAM underway

MLC School’s Immersion Program is a fundamental aspect of student life and learning. With the benefit of a two-year hiatus, the structure of the program and its overall educational emphasis has been refocused to bring the experiences into a contemporary context, aligned with the current curriculum, MLC School’s learning dispositions and values.

The Year 8 unit was the first to be unveiled at the start of Term 3. Known as ‘Sense of Place’, this unit uses integrated curriculum design to explore the importance of country to the Aboriginal community, as well as building an understanding of the impacts of colonisation. This Immersive Learning Unit was developed as a part of the Professional Learning Community pilot, led by Director of Experiential Pedagogy, Blake Fatouros, in 2019, which consisted of staff members Sarah Tynan (Deputy Head of Senior School – Wellbeing), Sally Marks (Head of Department – DART), and Jenna Skepper (Dance Coordinator).

According to Blake, “As a team, we shaped the unit’s structure and developed the learning outcomes. This unit then went through a process of consultation with members of the Aboriginal community.”

In 2022, the unit was brought to life by a team of staff who collaborated on and developed content together with the various learning activities. The staff involved in the development of the unit included:

• Sarah Jauncey – Immersive Learning Coordinator

• Tim Lennon – Director of Indigenous Education

• Esther Maling – Round Square and Cadet Coordinator

• Christopher Highman – Head of Mooramoora House

• Camille Softley – DART teacher

• David Posker-Hill – Head of DepartmentHistory and Religious Education

• Kerrie Backhouse - Librarian

The team also work collaboratively with people and organisations listed below and we acknowledge:

• Stephen Rutter From the Scale Institute

• Rhiannon Auld from Terri Janke & Company

• Tribal Warrior

• Aunty Deb Lennis

“We must also give credit to Helene Schmit for all the hard work she put in as Immersive Learning Coordinator in Term 4 2021 and Term 1 2022. It's also an outstanding effort that Sarah Jauncy could so seamlessly into the role to finalise logistics, troubleshoot arising issues and contribute to the learning programs,’ said Blake.

The new Immersive Learning Units will be progressively launched for students in Year 7 to Year 10, with the full suite of programs fully embedded by the end of 2025. These units will foster cross-curricular learning, allowing MLC School girls to apply their knowledge and understanding to real world contexts as well as allowing them to be shaped by the experiences they have, and the people with whom they interact. The program will involve local, regional and international experiences.

‘that there is more to us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.’ – Dr Kurt Hahn

Year 8’s Unforgettable Experience | By Jordan Vo

Year 8 Immersion truly was a once-ina-lifetime experience! Immersion was full of museum visits, cultural tours, and opportunities to immerse in the history of Australia, as well as the culture and history of Australia’s First People, the Aboriginal people.

Before I begin this article, I would like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which our Immersion took place, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the Wangal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which MLC School resides, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

Over a course of five days, Year 8 travelled in three bus and activity groups to various locations – Bathurst, Orange, Wagga Wagga, and Canberra. I was part of Bus 3, so this piece will document the Immersion experience in the order which Bus 3 experienced it in. On the buses, plenty of movies were watched, games played, and songs sung, but the most exciting events happened as we hopped off of the vehicles.

In Bathurst and Orange, Year 8 went on a variety of adventures. Participating in a smoking ceremony, hearing traditional stories, enjoying a cultural tour with Uncle Gerald, tasting bush tucker such as native herb cookies, exploring a dark cave, and visiting the Orange Regional Museum and Gallery were a few enjoyable activities we were able to experience during the Bathurst/ Orange part of the trip.

Certainly, none of us could believe the benefits of some native herbs and berries, such as river mint, a plant which heals mosquito bites, aids headaches, and fixes small cuts! Another memory, which stands out, was when we learnt that there was a special word in the Wiradjuri language for the sound of running water. This was quite a beautiful thing to know and learn. More than anything, the importance of viewing Aboriginal culture as a living culture, and not something from the past, was emphasised to us.

After four and a half hours on the bus, we arrived in Wagga Wagga, with a day packed full of activities ahead. We partook in two main tours – one with Uncle James and one with Uncle Mark. We walked around parts of Wagga Wagga as Uncle James told us the cultural significance and history behind different places and items, such as a mural, the Murray River, or even just a small garden.

With Uncle Mark, we travelled to various natural locations, and learnt the importance of listening to nature. The flowering of certain berries could signalise an early spring, the flight of birds the daily weather forecast. It was awe-inspiring to see the deep connection the Aboriginal people have to the land; the way they can read nature’s signs and symbols, which we would usually overlook.

Next up on the agenda was Canberra! After another few hours on the bus, we arrived at Canberra, where we visited various museums and historical sites. One of those places was Old Parliament House. It was amazing to see the replicas of offices and furniture, and it was even more amazing to hear the rich stories behind each room. Despite being a bit late, we were still able to make the most of our visit before departing to the National Museum of Australia.

At the museum, we were able to view a most stellar exhibit, titled Connections. The exhibit featured large panels on the walls, floor, and all around; on those panels, Aboriginal artworks, sayings, and photography were depicted. Light, colour, and sound washed over Year 8, as we sat and enjoyed the vivid display. Connections was about much more than just pretty sights and pleasing sounds, however; the exhibit demonstrated the connection Aboriginal people have to their country – not just the land, but also to the sky and to the water.

The next day was our last day and our cohort was determined not to waste it. For Bus 3, we spent the late morning learning to build our own fires with tinder and kindling, before we cooked damper over the flames. Watching the lump of white dough turn into a delicious cone of golden-brown bread, over a fire we had built ourselves, was extremely rewarding, and the taste of the damper even more so! Afterwards, we drove to Canberra, and despite a light drizzle, had an enjoyable walk among a range of landmarks, including commemorative plaques and a line of international flags.

Afterwards, it was time to go home. With a mixture of wistfulness, sadness, relief and excitement, Year 8 boarded the buses to return to MLC School. Thank you so much to the teachers and parents who made Year 8 Immersion a reality. I am sure we will never forget the fun and learning of this week away.

RED EARTH

Immersion

Claire White (PDHPE teacher and Head of Year 7) and Fiona Pow (English teacher and Head of Year 10) accompanied separate groups of Year 10 and Year 11 students on the Red Earth Immersion trip to Arnhem Land in the June-July break.

Here they share their own experiences and the impact the trip had on them and the changes they observed in the students.

It’s hard for us to put into words the impact of the Red Earth Immersion, both for us personally, and on how we saw the students respond to the trip. It was a remarkable trip in many ways – the lands we stayed on, the

communities that made us feel so welcome and the learning we developed through being immersed in Indigenous culture. Prior to the trip, we both felt out of our depth when it came to our understanding of Indigenous culture. Whilst we both teach Indigenous perspectives as part of the curriculum, it’s not something either of us felt we knew deeply enough. We feel very lucky that we were able to learn from Elders at Bigedi, Menggen and Nauiyu, and although we have so many more questions, our confidence in our understanding has skyrocketed through this experience.

A highlight for the June trip was spending time with Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, an inspirational woman and Elder of the Nauiyi community, who was the first fully qualified teacher in the Northern Territory. Miriam-Rose was the 2021 Senior Australian of the Year and is a renowned artist. She has a passion and true calling for the education of the families in Nauiyu and she strives to build a healthy,

strong and socially connected community. Our students yearned to spend as much time with her as possible to hear her stories, knowledge, her hopes for the future and the role they could play in that.

One thing that really stuck with us was the Indigenous connection to the land. For the communities we stayed at, the land they live on is more than just their home. It is their way of life, their connection to their ancestors and their source of sustenance. What at first looked like a regular bush landscape, turned out to be a deeply spiritual place as we learnt of the generations that have lived on the land and the spirits of the ancestors that surrounded us. Being officially welcomed onto both Wardaman and Malak Malak country with a water blessing unique to each region, was an incredibly special experience.

Rev Sally Yabsley-Bell, fellow teacher Shirley Green and the two of us were so proud of how our students responded during the Immersion. With each day their reflections became richer and more profound. The students formed genuine relationships with members of their communities and engaged with the spirit of the Immersion wholeheartedly. Listening to some students have conversations with Elders over the campfire about their experience of the Stolen Generation and the racism they had encountered showed the respect and maturity of the girls. Our students were challenged physically, emotionally and spiritually throughout the trip and we saw genuine growth and reflection from all our students.

UCA

Reconciliation

For many years the Uniting Church In Australia has been a leading voice in Reconciliation, Reverend Sally YabsleyBell recounts some of that history of leadership.

The Uniting Church In Australia (UCA) is committed to Reconciliation and building better understanding and truth telling into its relationship with Australia’s First Nations Peoples.

“The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC or Congress) – First Peoples, nurtured and sustained by God before the invasion, are celebrated at the very heart of what it means to be the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA).

First Peoples’ sovereignty is affirmed, First Peoples have a voice in the decision-making of our Church and are empowered to live out their right to self-determination.

As First and Second Peoples of the Uniting Church, we are bound together in covenantal relationship, walking together, creating socially just and culturally safe relationships, listening and learning from one another.”

These paragraphs are from the beginning of the Uniting Church Assembly’s Covenant Action Plan that was endorsed at our most recent assembly in February 2021 and again in May 2022. The Uniting Church in Australia is continually working with the Members of the UAICC to support and walk together with them to build a future of which we can all be proud.

In 1982 at Crystal Creek, a place just north of Townsville, First Nations Peoples came together. There were Christian leaders from across Australia as well as some Māori leaders from Aotearoa. They determined to start a ‘Black Congress’ – a First Peoples movement within the Uniting Church in Australia.

Later in 1982 the Uniting Church’s Third National Assembly Meeting, resolved to stand together in solidarity and not to celebrate the Australian Bicentennial in 1988 unless there was a significant change for First Nations Peoples in the advancement of land rights and justice.

In 1983, First Nations Peoples came together again and formed the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC). Rev Charles Harris (dec) was the leader with Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra his deputy.

Charles spoke of holistic evangelism. By this he meant both arms of the cross. One, the vertical arm, was pointing to God – signifying they would preach the good news of Jesus Christ. The second, the horizontal arm symbolised outstretched arms to embrace a hurting community in love, to seek justice for First Nations Peoples and to care for their physical needs.

The UCA has continually walked with its First Peoples, changing the way we inform the Church and make decisions, to ensure all people are included in a way that is valuable, and comfortable to all its members. We have not always gotten things right and the Uniting Church seeks to correct and better its processes and policies where possible, to be as inclusive of all people as we can, while being brave in our truth telling of our, at times, painful history.

In 2014, for the first time, the Church was called to a Week of Prayer and Fasting. A Destiny Together, a prayer vigil on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra, brought together hundreds from across the nation. Thousands more joined in prayer vigils in their homes and towns throughout the week, crying out to God for justice for First Nations Peoples, and, particularly about the injustices of the so-called Northern Territory Intervention.

At the 14th Assembly in 2015, the World Council of Churches ‘Statement on the Doctrine of Discovery’ was affirmed. This ‘Statement’ repudiates the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ and its devastating affects upon Indigenous Peoples. The ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ has its origins in papal decrees from 1100s, and established a spiritual, political, and legal justification for colonisation and seizure of land not inhabited by Christians. In Australia, land was ‘empty’ and deemed uninhabited until the arrival of colonisers and could be claimed under the Crown.

In a show of moral leadership for all the nation, the 15th Assembly in 2018 affirmed First Peoples as Sovereign. This meeting also endorsed the Statement from the Heart (2017) with its asks for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, Treaty negotiations and Truth telling. Thus, the Assembly Covenant

In the image, Rev Sally is wearing a red stole.

“This one has the title “walking together”. I chose it because of its beautiful symbolism. We wear red in the season of Pentecost. It symbolises the Holy Spirit being with us here on earth. The UCA states in the preamble to its constitution, the Holy Spirit was with the First People before the colonisers landed, in their culture in the land and with the people, this statement embodies our commitment to working with our first people as people of God.”

Action plan was developed and endorsed at the following assembly. Our very own Rev Viniana Ravetali was present at the assembly.

I am proud of the work the UCA is doing in this space and know we still have a long way to go. I am also proud of the work MLC School is doing in this area and of the Reconciliation Action Group we are forming with staff and students to write our Reconciliation Action Plan for the School. We are committed to deepening our understanding of the role the School can play in Truth Telling and walking together with our country’s First Peoples.

SHINING A LIGHT on our stories

Illuminate, MLC School’s annual festival of Art, Design and Technology, was celebrated at the end of Term 2.

Through stalls, games and displays, this event offered the chance to interactively display artwork made by MLC School students from Pre-Kindergarten through Year 12.

The theme of Illuminate 2022 was “shine a light on your stories and the stories of others”. Students were encouraged to use a variety of art mediums, from textiles to photography to pottery to express their own stories as well as the stories of others.

On the night there were intricate interplays of lights throughout the Senior Centre to highlight the artworks.

Artworks included an 11-hole putt-putt golf course designed by each Senior School House. The evening also featured performances by dance groups, string quartets and singers.

The evening was the culmination of MLC School's inaugural Winter Arts Festival, three weeks of celebration of music, drama and the creative arts. The chance to share the joy of these activities with the community is an intrinsic part of the life of the School.

RESILIENT & COURAGEOUS Little Women ’ s themes still relevant

The classic story of Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott in 1868, was brought to life for the Senior Years’ drama performance as part of the Winter Arts Festival.

suffering and hardship in the 1860s.

“As we too, are emerging from a devastating event, it seemed appropriate to explore what we can learn of resilience and courage from a group of young women who are attempting to build their lives and face the future with optimism.”

The stunning staging, lighting and costuming was a feast for the eyes and bore all the hallmarks of a professional production.

set design reflected lacemaking, a common domestic activity which was central to women’s lives at the time. All set pieces were made of cotton spools and threads to reference the tapestry of life and the intertwined relationships of the characters.

As Lisa continued, “The DDE Department is grounded in a philosophy of performancebased education. That is, young people learning experientially – by doing.

is a viable and valuable learning tool and a means for all students to discover who they are, by being able to express themselves either as actors, designers or crew.”

The show was the culmination of hours of rehearsals. Audiences were so keen to return to the theatre, as soon as ticket sales opened, the show quickly sold out.

RESOUNDING

The ReSounding Voices concert marked a long-awaited return to the big stage for the School’s musicians. In the magnificent Town Hall, the concert was a joyous celebration of the diversity of our community, featuring traditional Indigenous sounds and pieces in different languages.

The program aimed to bring people together and took the audience on a journey through music from a range of cultural backgrounds and traversed classical music to jazz and contemporary styles. Taiko, choir, strings, wind, piano and percussion all took their place as the range of Senior ensembles and orchestras featured. A solo piece by Hannah Kang (Year 11) on the magnificent Town Hall organ, sent chills down the spines of all those in the hall.

GREAT TO BE BACK

VOICES

CONCERTS MUSIC

Junior

JUNIOR SCHOOL

GET YOUR GROOVE ON!

What better way to honour World Music Day than with a performance at one of Sydney’s top live music venues? In June, 50 MLC School jazz players from Year 4 to Year 12 performed at Camelot Lounge, in Marrickville, to a sell-out crowd of family and friends.

Soaking up the intimacy of the venue, the audience danced, clapped and sang along to a variety of musical genres, including rock, R&B, jazz classics and current hits.

FINDING ALICE

Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s much loved Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, a host of iconic characters and themes came to life when MLC School’s Dance Showcase returned to the stage with the original production, Finding Alice.

According to Dance Coordinator, Jenna Skepper, “It has always been our philosophy as a School-based program to pursue dance as a communicative art form. Encouraging our students to look beyond the aesthetics of generic codified dance, to promote critical thinking and non-verbal communication skills.

“The exploration of movement in our program is used as a platform for communication, storytelling and expression of themes and issues. As such, throughout the development of this year’s production, our students have been encouraged to contribute to the thematic narrative, using their own perspectives to guide their interpretation of performance elements.

“Students have reflected on the key lessons of Carroll’s characters and how they have contributed to the liberation of Alice, as a universal representative of today’s youth solving the puzzle of finding their unique identity and place in society. The overarching concept of Finding Alice this year allowed students to access their unique voice through the performance and composition of dance,

from Year 9 to Year 12 Elective dance and the Year 3 to Year 12 Co-curricular program, supported by the Year 11 and Year 12 VET Entertainment team which managed the backstage operations. There were also performances from the Wakakirri Junior and Senior School entries for 2022 titled ‘What Makes a Superhero?’ and ‘Guernica’. In a heartfelt tribute, dancers from the graduating years of 2020 and 2021 were invited to participate, given their opportunity to perform had been curtailed by COVID restrictions.

FAREWELL

The final week of term was a mixture of sadness and joy as the the School farewelled the Class of 2022.

There was the Battle of the Bands, House farewells, the Final Assembly, the Paver Ceremony, the Valedictory Service and Assembly and, of course, the Valedictory Dinner.

There were tears and plenty of laughter. Students shared their love for MLC School, gave thanks for the opportunities they had been afforded, and showed their appreciation for the staff and how much they value the support of their peers and parents.

As these young women leave us, we are confident they will continue to ‘walk as daughters of the light’ and we look forward to sharing in their journey as Old Girls.

An inside look at

THE FRIENDLY GAMES

Take a sneak peek inside the Birmingham Commonwealth Games through the eyes of Old Girl, Breanna Scott (2019) who was a member of Australia’s Silver medal winning Womens’ Artistic Gymnastics team and from a journalist, Old Girl, Amanda Shalala (2003), who covered the Games for ABC Sport.

Breanna Scott (2019)

Breanna made history as the first NSW athlete in 20 years to qualify a Commonwealth Games position in Women’s Artistic. We caught up with Breanna as she was enjoying a break after the Games: Being selected for and competing at the Commonwealth Games has been such an amazing experience for me. I’ve been training six days a week for three to five hours a day as long as I can remember, and it feels really

good knowing that all that hard work has finally paid off.

The main selection event for the Games was this year’s National Championships where I managed a Top 5 finish all around, helping my selection for the team in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics.

Living in the Village was exciting and one of the best parts of the whole experience. Being able to meet all different athletes

from a variety of different sports, it was different from anything else I’ve experienced before.

As this was my first major international event, it is amazing to walk away with a Silver Medal with my team. After being in a training camp for three weeks prior to the Games, we really came together as a team and supported each other every step of the way, so it really meant a lot to all of us to get that team Silver medal.

Being at school, especially during Year 11 and Year 12, balancing my studies, training hours and competitions was quite challenging, however MLC School was extremely supportive and accommodating with anything I needed. I ended up completing Year 12 over two years, which allowed me to focus fully on both school and training.

I’m back in the gym training for my next goal later this year, which is being selected for

the World Championships team where I can hopefully build on my experience from the Commonwealth Games.

Amanda Shalala (2003 )

Amanda covered the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as a digital sports journalist for ABC Sport. Her main role was writing stories for the ABC website, as well as some radio coverage. Amanda has generously written about her time at the Games:

“The ‘Friendly Games’ spirit was well and truly alive in Birmingham for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career.

There was a positive, uplifting mood throughout the city, as fans packed all venues, turning out in force for the big-ticket items like athletics and swimming, as well as the smaller sports like weightlifting and table tennis.

There were countless highlights across the competition, it’s so hard for me to narrow it down!

From an Australian perspective, Oliver Hoare’s extraordinary win in the men’s 1500m was spectacular to witness, while gymnast Georgia Godwin was one of Australia’s breakout stars of the Games, and Madi de Rozario continued to build her legacy as one of our great para athletes.

The roar of the crowd to will Scotland’s Eilish McColgan to victory in the women’s 10,000m was spine tingling, as was the ferocious home crowd support for England’s Emily Campbell who won weightlifting gold.

There were also some really special moments that were bigger than sport – like watching Scotland’s para powerlifter Micky Yule claim a bronze medal with his young daughter

watching on. His story was especially touching as 12 years earlier he’d been injured while serving in Afghanistan and was flown to Birmingham in a coma. So for him to return to the city and have such a triumphant moment with his daughter by his side, was absolutely beautiful.

And to see competitors from some of the smallest countries and territories in the world have a chance to compete on this stage, and to see how much it meant to them, was especially heart-warming.

I absolutely loved every second of the Commonwealth Games and it was just another affirmation that I have the greatest job in the world!”

See all of Amanda’s stories here: https://www. abc.net.au/news/amanda-shalala/6553684

Amanda covering the Womens T20 CricketBreanna Scott (far left) with her silver medal winning team mates

Smooth sailing FOR CAITLIN

Caitlin Hartnett (Year 12) recently spent two weeks in Barcelona, Spain to compete at the 29er World Championships for Sailing.

The 2022 World Championships were the largest to be held with 250 boats competing

As Caitlin said, “Stella, my crew member and I, sailed in the open ocean of the Mediterranean Sea out of a small beach town called El Balis.

“The Australian team had one week of training to get used to the weather and conditions in Europe, which are vastly different to sailing in Sydney Harbour. Then there was one week of racing. The six days of racing were split into three days of qualifying and three days of finals.

"It’s no surprise to say that competing at Worlds was difficult! Not just because of the sheer size of the competition, but also the strength of the athletes competing. The popularity of sailing in Europe certainly means the standard is very high.

The Opening Ceremony saw 500 children from around the world march down the streets of Barcelona – it was an amazing honour to be celebrated in such a way.

During the qualifying round, the competition was split into six random fleets of 40 boats.

“We performed well during the qualifying round, averaging a Top 10 place in each race. The final round was then split into gold fleet, silver fleet, bronze fleet, fuchsia, emerald and pearl. despite our good results and best efforts, it wasn’t enough when placed against the tough competition.

“We missed out on qualifying for the gold fleet by just 5 points, which was disappointing and goes to show how competitive we need to be to match it with the European teams. Still, qualifying for silver fleet, was a huge achievement.

“Overall, we finished 58th from the fleet of 250! Best of all, we learnt so much from our two weeks in a completely different environment and know how hard you need to compete to be successful.

“Through attending Worlds, I’ve had the first taste of the European Circuit, which is a circuit of sailing competitions scattered around Europe during the months of summer, and I am excited to take on the rest of the circuit in the future.

“The next major event is the Youth World Championships. Australia sends the best all girl team and all boy team to represent the country. After the experience in Barcelona and all we learnt in that arena, we have our sights firmly set on being selected to compete for Australia in January next year!"

CONSENT

A vital student led initiative

JADE DI GIROLAMO, ANNA GOUGH, JASMINE STAVROS, ELIZABETH WILKIE AND DORIS YANG / FUTURE LEADERS FOR GENDER EQUALITY TEAM

In late 2020 Chanel Contos, a Kambala graduate, called on young people to come forward with their stories and allegations of sexual assault and demand better consent education in schools.

After thousands of young people came forward, Jack Jacobs, the Newington College Head Prefect at the time, started the ‘Future Leaders for Gender Equality’ project involving a range of high schools, both co-ed and single sex, from across Sydney. This group allowed students to offer insightful perspectives on issues around gender equality, which we feel passionate about as young people. A group of MLC School students from Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 attended meetings that consisted of scenario training, guest speakers and brainstorming with our mentors which allowed us to come up with our own school initiative, Consent Day.

Consent Day was planned by the MLC School Future Leaders for Gender Equality team made up of Year 11 and Year 12 students alongside the Student Leadership team and volunteers from the Senior Years. We worked with students across Year groups to identify the areas where they wanted more information, education or training and began producing the Consent Day plans and activities. As a group, we identified key areas where MLC School students lacked an extensive understanding or

wanted more information around consent and toxic or unhealthy relationships. From this, the day was developed with the intention that all MLC School students would receive a complete but age-appropriate education in gender equality, consent education, as well as healthy friendships and relationships while working with the varying knowledge levels found within and across Year groups. We worked with staff and students through focus groups to create a series of introductory questions, scenarios and situations for each Year group to start conversation and discussion.

Consent Day was hosted on Wednesday 22 June during the last week of Term 2 and saw all students in Year 7 to Year 12 participate across the day. Students were divided into their Year groups with each group receiving an informative presentation from Elephant Ed, a consent-based education company, about the laws of consent and what factors affect consent within NSW. Students were then divided into Luminary groups with a Year 11 or Year 12 student leader to discuss the presentation, approach any questions they might have and consider some scenarios in which consent is relevant. The day saw students actively participating in discussions with their peers, whilst feeling comfortable and safe in having these conversations. Each group had conversations around situations where consent is relevant,

how to manage an unhealthy friendship or relationship and where support can be found within MLC School and the community. The day received an overarchingly positive response from many students who learnt something new or were able to ask a question they had always wondered about, comfortable speaking within a group or posing their opinions. For the student leaders it was an incredible opportunity to engage with the School community and work with younger students in building important mentoring connections and leadership skills.

The goal of Consent Day was to develop a comprehensive understanding of MLC School students and their own understanding of consent and healthy relationships; as well as providing students the opportunity to ask questions and expand their own knowledge around these issues. From this day, the Gender Equality team is working with staff and leaders to further embed these discussions in the school environment and the pastoral care program. As a team our goal is for every MLC School student to have the education they need around consent and healthy relationships to be able to manage their lives as teenagers and into adulthood. Consent Day was an incredible opportunity to work with students on their interests and needs to further this goal over the coming years.

Postscript: As part of the program, School staff have also undergone a workshop session with Elephant Ed. Elephant Ed is a leading sexuality education provider to hundreds of schools around Australia. Elephant Ed’s workshops are evidence-based, age-appropriate and mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. Elephant Ed is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider.

THERE'S STILL NOTHING LIKE A GOOD BOOK

MLC School acquired its first fiction library in 1887 only a year after the School was founded. Although the collection was small it was a testament to the value the School placed on the importance of literature and reading.

This advocacy of reading continues today. The MLC School Library, with a fiction collection of more than 20,000 diverse and eclectic resources, continues to embrace the challenge to foster and motivate students to become lifelong lovers of reading for pleasure.

In 1922 the Old Girls Union donated 69 pounds to establish a Reference Library to sit alongside the fiction library. This was quite revolutionary, so much so that an article was published in a Sydney newspaper which extolled the forwardthinking virtues of MLC School. To this day MLC School is still regarded as forward thinking and revolutionary. Whilst the fiction book collection continues to grow, the non-fiction collection has evolved into a more predominately digital format, no less important, however.

The students of 1887 would certainly find the Library in 2022 a very different place. It is no longer a place of quiet, rather, our Library has transformed into a community hub; a place that delivers opportunities for lifelong learning; a place for social interaction and a place that fosters a love of literature. Visiting our Library, you will observe a truly dynamic and vibrant space. During wide reading sessions our students are passionately discussing books and authors and encouraging each other to read, staff are promoting new and old ‘must reads’ and students are lounging in bean bags, totally immersed in their current choice of material.

Elsewhere in the Library there are classes learning the means to become information literate, developing skills to locate, critically analyse and evaluate information for research tasks.

During non-class times the Library becomes that “community hub” with students engaged in stimulating discussions, collaborative activities, solo pursuits and academic work.

Fast forward another 40 years and who knows what the MLC School Library will look like. However, students of the future can rest assured that the MLC School Library will remain a student-centred facility that has an integral role in the academic and cultural life of the School and one which passionately advocates for the power of reading.

Head of Library Services, Louise Piggott compares the library of 1887 with the one of today, and, though some things have changed, a passion for reading transcends time.

Thank you for your generous support

MLC School would like to recognise and thank all members of the School community who generously donate to the School.

Almost 400 donors gave financially to the School during the 2021/2022 financial year. Thank you for your generosity. You have contributed to providing an exceptional education and learning environment for the girls at MLC School, now and in the future.

This list includes those who have given to the School Building Fund through the fee statements or by choice; those who have given to the MLC School Scholarship Fund and those who have simply reached out and offered gifts to be used at our discretion. Thank you also to those who prefer to give in an anonymous capacity (57 additional donors).

Catherine and Robert Dugan

Kyrstie Dunn and Grant Ryan

Michele Dunn

Holly and Mark Eggers

Nectaris and Elia Eliades

Beth Ellen Susan Evans and Mark Tkocz

Ever Fang and Janelle Lyu Wei Fang and Christina Wang Susan and Anthony Farah

Roslyn Farrar and Laird Stuart Abernethy

Marissa Feletti and Peter Zuccolotto

Alejandra Flanagan

Judith and Hamish Flett

Lai Heng Foong and Roberto Spina Heleen Fourie

Shilpa and Vidyadhar Gaikaiwari Ying Gan and Xiaodong Pan Jane Gao and Tong Zhao Sanmei Joyce Gao and Yue Qun Huang Ying Ge and Willis Woo Katie and Scott Girard Soccorsa ‘Maria’ Giuliano Rose and Jeffrey Goodridge

Names and Surnames

coupled alphabetical first name printed

Vanessa and Neil Ackland Chaitanya and Rao Akula Suha Al Haj Moh’d and Ashraf Yahia Leanne Alameddine and Yahya Bakir Michelle Allen and Damian Mullins Verjeen Alqus Hanna and Aiad Alsaad Jesmini Ambikapathy and Patrick Knowles

Shaesta Amin and Abdullah Omari Martyna Angell

Matthew Angell

Vanessa Aniag and Chi Tan Nguyen Jo Armstrong and Michelle Daley Sara Arthur and Giles Peach Shek Pang Louis Au Tania and Fred Audi Sarah and Mike Baker Virginia and Mike Balfour Greer Banyer (nee Howarth) and Jay Banyer

Ewa Baranowska and Tim Grannall Jacinta and Frederick Barnes Annette Beacher and Matthew Pagewood

Richard Beattie

Mary and Zoran Becvarovski Katrina and Stephen Begnell Azadeh Behruzi Khah and Ali Akbari Mariska and Campbell Benton

Ashwini and Yogesh Bhat Karen Birch and Stephen Docherty Cassandra and Simon Black Maria and Natalino Bongiorno Nicole Bradley and Russell Hodgkinson Monica Brian and William Patterson Karen and Craig Brown Kylie Bryden-Smith and Craig Beattie Jenny Buckley and Wayne Gentle Sarah and James Cable Xiaolin Cai and Shihong Weng Rong Cai and Mo Xia Yanzhu Cai and Shijia Zheng Coby and Joel Caine Gabrielle and Joshua Cardwell Yun Chai and Mike Liang Linda and Mays Chalak Polly Chan and James Wong Thuvaraja Chandrapavan and Prashan Ratnakumar

Michelle and Phillip Chantler Yifan Chen and Xian Sheng Meihan and Minghan Chen Yan Chen and Philip Gui Vicky Chen and Jack Jin Hau Chen and Charlie Koh Wei Chen and Gong Ou Yanhong Chen and Marcantonio Palazzolo

YuanYuan Chen and Jian Shen Xiao Chen and Xiaodong Zhao Yeung Cheng

Charmaine Cheung and Vincent Wang Young Cho and Young Sun Kang Nicole and Jordan Choo Lillian and Danny Chou Hayley and Louie Christoff David Coffey

Katrina Collett and James Diessl Julia Collins and Sean Parker Anne Connolly and Jonathan Green Ainslie and Andrew Constance Pornsakol and Adrian Coorey Dianne and Nick Cordato Aracelli Cortijo and Angus Trigg Samantha and Paul Cowling Diona Damian and Graham Read Jessica Dang and Andy Vu Kim Dao and Hoan Minh Nguyen Vanessa and Amitabha Das Kate and Mason Davies Sonia De Domeneghi and Diego Bigolin

Li Deng and Zijian Mark Han Andrew Devlin

Monica Dib-Notaras and William Notaras

Christine Diep and Hok Lam Christeen and Ritchie Djamhur Yvette Dobbie

Lexi and Adam Dodd Leidy Dominguez and Geiner Alarcon Sharon Dong and Daniel Chen Lina Du and Junqing Yang

Rebecca and George Gorman Elizabeth and Bill Gouganovski Bosa and Slavko Grbic Gail and David Green Cynthia Gu and Nuo Tang Alexander Guminski Na Guo and Xi Zhou Alice Guo

Dima Haddara Chmeisse and Bilal Chmeisse Sue and Andrew Hahn Sandy Halim and John Tanios

Fiona Halliday and Leisa Clissold John Hamey and Justin Madigan Xiao Yan Han and Kun Jian Cui Anne and Emad Hanna Linda and Donald Hannah

Qianqian Hao and Bing Bu Kevin Haran

Stephanie and Anthony Hatton Christine Henchman

Josephine and Ben Hendriks

Yuki Ho and Qiuyue Ou

Matthew Hodgson-Fopp and Greg Hodgson Tammy and Owen Hollands Maryanne Holm and Neal Gadsby Dora Hong and Andy Chiang Jane and Graham Hope Penelope Horvath and Maria Katsiaris Paul Howes

Carolyn Hoy and James Beaton Peirong Hu

Lauren Hutchins and Timothy Southwood Dianne and Andrew Hyland Duwong Hyun

Emma In der Maur and Andrew Johnston

Elizabeth and Edward Isabella Kiki Isidorou-Assassa and Adam Assassa

Carolyn Jameson

Susan and Mark Jeffery

Katharine Jeffreys and Timothy Shortus

Deborah Jenkins and Paul Sweeney Iris Ji and Benson Lee Xiuhua Ji and Dora Tang

Ziling Jian and Simon Feng Shufen Jiang and Zhuoshen Gao Yi Jiang and Zheng Shi

Hye Ok Jin and Kisung Ha Rui Jin and Ming Zhang Kelly and Adrian Johnstone Karen Joice and Neil Kenzler Jeehye Kang and Seung Buhm Choi Antony Karolis

Nirosha and Gopi Karunakaran Emma Keene and Marcia Likely Joanne Kershaw and Dean MacDonald Hermione Kidd and Rodney Jubelin Kelly Ji Hae Kim and Richard Kwon-II Chung

Hyunsil and Semin Kim Youngshil Kim Sue Kong and Paul Zlamal Melissa and Andrew Kristallis Sonja and Matthew Kritzler Michelle and Denny Krsnik Nidhi and Rohit Kumar Saampavi Kumariah and Zenith Lal Mariel and Christopher Kypreos Yoke Fun Lai and Kean Seen Chong Minh Lai and Thu Pham Betty Lakkis and Mike Lakkis Amanda Lampe and Frier Bentley Despina and Stephan Langella Jenny Lee Hazlewood and David Hazlewood

Vickie Li and Chris Hord Mike Li

Lanyue Li and Zhangying Xu Yun Li and Xiaofeng Zheng Ellen and Winston Liauw Hyeon Jung Sarah Lim and Terence Dempsey

Rebecca and Mike Lim Han and Arthur Lim Jolene Lim and Antonny Sugianto Jing Lin and Jinping Lin Minhui Liu and Shibasis Liang Jane Liu and Alejandra Liang Susan and Dongdong Lin Maggie Liu and Hao Zeng Anna Louise and Stephen Patrick Lonergan

Lucinda and Dominic Longcroft Joanne Louie-Johnsun and Anthony Vo

Weiwei Lu David Lucas

Catherine Luk and Tim Furlan

Niamh Lynn and Hoang Lynn-Black Sammie Ma and Tiewang Cao

Xinyu Ma and Jun Wang Candice and Allan Mackiewicz Kim Magee and Richard Walters Ambika Malvia and Vikram

Kotibhaskar

Anna and Matthew Mansfield

Xing Mao and Min Lu

Susana and Nuno Martins do Vale Hilda and Jamie McBrien

Frances and Mark McCowan Tanya and Jason McGovern Dee and Michael McGuire Robyn and Peter McLean Lynn McNally Kylie-Anne McNamara and Brian Andrews

Rosalind and Anthony McNamara Bettina Meiser and Ioane Lafoa'I Sophie Meyrick and Gerald Mair Gretel and Anthony Miller

Joanne Momsen and Simon Cathcart Chrissoula and Mario Monteleone Glen Morfoot

Baneesha and Abhishek Narang Gerelee Nasanjargal and Andrew Stewart

Nisserine and Jean Nassif Angela Neville and Janindra Warusavitarne Carol Nguyen and Max Pham Hoang Nguyen

NguyenKhanh Linh Thi Nguyen and Hai Pham Thi Nguyen and Son Van Jie Ni

Mariesa Nicholas and Rory Buck Grace Nicholas and Thomas Greenwood Nishani Nimalan and Nimalan Tharmapalan

Sophie and James North Nancy Culqui Nuncevay and Wilder Pita Tunjar Brana and Boris Obradovic Marcia Olsson Abegail and Mike Pajarillo Shelley Pan and Li Yan Francene and Sandy Papamanuel Mona and Matthew Paterson Noriko and John Pearson Susan Pepperell Georgina and Luigi Petrolo Tam Pham and Huy Thai Sharleen and Phanh Phengsavath Karen Phung and Thien Duong Clothilde Pierre and Paul Elsibai Janelle Pitt and Nasser Alameddine

Carmelan Polce and Derek Kidley Claire Pope and Sam Garner

Sunila Prasad and Ramend Sharma Veronica Preda and James Jabbour

Kimberley Pressick-Kilborn and Jonathan Kilborn

Hong Quach and Lawrence Trieu Jan Quane

Tam Quinn and Anthony Coomes Jacinta and James Ross Ravens Marnie and Peter Reid Cherry Ren and Chengguo Che Shell and Mark Rettig Lara and Zane Rizoski Sarah Robertson and David MacKenzie Hayley Rose and Lon Rose Mahua and Jyotirmoy Roy Nesrin and Ali Saab Kathrin and Alexander Samad Suhanya Sananthanan and Sanan Thamotharampillai Alex Satchcroft Lily and Adrian See Shibasis Sengupta Sanjala and Sandeep Sharma Ning Shen and Peng Chen Mark Sherwin Sze Wang Shum and Rafel Czerniawski Jenny and Daniel Siluk Josie Simpson and Richard Hodges Mikeela and Tim Sinclair Alia Sindian and Hamzah Refai Golfo and George Sioutas Sharon and Law Sitou Corena Sloper and Andrew Cleland Katrina Smit-Eadie and Mike Eadie Caroline Snelling and Jack Hynes Alexandra Snelson and Anthony Fallick Yeon Sil Song and Seung Jae Yeon Maria Stefanopoulos and Paul Ioakimidis

Tira and Scott Storey Jane and John Sullivan Karina Malcolm Sumantri Jenny Sun and Zongyuan Qian Barbara and Brett Sutton Nicole Sweetman and Phillip Coxsedge Barnali and Swapnil Talekar Xiaomei Tan and Weiquan Mai Marc and Nicola Tan Rebecca Tang and Peidong Zheng Nina and Mike Tawadrous Alexandra Taylor and Richard Banks Yildiz and Joe Taylor Ruth Tetley and David Sutton Harpreet and Ajay Thind Linden Thorley and Nipu Jayatilleke Tian Tian and Qi Li

Michelle and Mark Toomey Karen Torry and Ken Overton Carolyn and Drew Townsend Mohammed Trad

Jasmine Tran and Chuong Nguyen

Jessica Tregeagle and Sudave Singh John and Joanne Tsaloukas

Belinda Tsun and David Andrew Floro Kacie Tulliani and Barry Savage Lissa and Peter Twomey

Glen Vandenhoek

Maria and Nick Vantas Helen and Nick Varkas

Neeru and Lokesh Varma Alexandra and Celi Varol

Adriana Varvarigos and Costa Varvarigos

Tatiana Voronina and Roman Ivannikova

Catherine Vu and Vinh Tran Michelle and Eric Wai

Kylie and Steven Walker Carol and Yao Wang Chenwen Wang and Zibo Zhou Christine and Harry Wang

Jing Wang

Jing Wang and Ximeng Su Min Wang and Weiping Ji Ye Wang and Yicheng Ni Waratah Education Foundation Kym and Brad Warner

Wendy Webb Helen and Malcolm Williams Karolina and Guy Williams Kylie Williams and Andrew Robinson Belinda and Stephen Winnall Vicki Wood and Andrew Rowles Jane and Darren Woodhouse Yanhua Wu and Feibiao Ji Barbara Wyn Taylor and Cris Townley Yi Xia and Ian Choy

TingTing Xiao and Peng Li Chengyi Xu and Ran Li Lu Xu and Jingjie Ye Hong Xue and Tian Ming Jin Yan Maoqing Cuina Yang and Min Yang

Dora Yao and Mark Reeve Siaw Vui Yap

Liu Ye Alan Ho Lan Yeung

Cecilia Yu and Gang Ge

Pingping Yu and Youmo Hu Ka Yan Yuen and Kian Yap Ng Jung Yun and Sam Koo Kang Wendy Yung and Jeremy Sun Joanne and Jan Zeilinga

Xi Zhang and Kwang Wei Ang Rong and Zheng Zhang

Luxi Zhang and Junjie Zhu

Jack Zhang

Yi Zhao

Rui Zhou and Shiwei Zhong

Yemei Zhou and Zhongsen Huang Bowen Zhu and Nan Ren

TWENTY years

OF ROUND SQUARE

AT MLC SCHOOL

In November 2002, MLC School became one of the first Australian girls’ schools to be accepted as a member of Round Square, joining first as a Regional member (now called Candidate-member), and then in 2006 the School was accepted as a Global member.

Round Square schools inspire their students to take on challenging, instructive experiences through which they can develop a global perspective on society and the environment, responsibility and care for humanity, commitment to principles, and the skills and confidence needed for effective service and leadership.

This year we celebrate 20 years of Round Square at MLC School.

Establishment of Round Square

Dr Kurt Hahn, a renowned educationalist, founded his first two schools, Schule Schloss Salem, Germany in 1920 and, after fleeing Nazi Germany, Gordonstoun, Scotland in 1934, on the principle of preparing students

for leadership and service. He wanted to establish schools that transcended conventional education and provided the students with opportunities that encourage personal growth and service to others.

Hahn's friendship with the parents of Jocelin Winthrop Young led to Winthrop Young’s attending both Salem and Gordonstoun schools. Winthrop Young later became the first headmaster of another ‘Hahnian’ school, Anavryta in Greece. It was Winthrop Young’s idea in 1962 to establish a permanent association of schools that shared Kurt Hahn's educational philosophy. In 1966, King Constantine of the Hellenes, a former pupil of Winthrop Young’s at Anavryta, chaired a meeting of the first seven schools that would form the association that would later be named Round Square after the iconic 17th century building1 at Gordonstoun where the first conference took place in 1967.

Round Square principles

Hahn believed that students could only really understand life by experiencing it in a variety of challenging ways. He also believed that the greatest thing anyone could learn was compassion. His idea was that by testing themselves, students would be able to develop their courage, generosity, imagination, principles and resolution. Ultimately, they would develop the skills and abilities to become compassionate leaders of the future.

Round Square schools share a commitment to character education and experiential learning built around six themes, the Round Square IDEALS: International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership and Service.

With over 200 schools in 50 countries, Round Square schools have many opportunities to collaborate with other schools across the network, ranging from conference participation, language learning, to cultural trips and exchanges.

The first year of Round Square at MLC School

From the outset, MLC School embraced the IDEALS of the Round Square schools. In 2003, the first full year of Round Square at MLC School, International Understanding was chosen as the pinnacle of Round Square activity.

In April 2003, a number of Year 11 students traveled to the Warrumbungles where they attended their first Regional Conference for Round Square, titled ‘In Search for the Meaning’. At this first Conference the students began to unpack the meaning of Round Square and came to the conclusion that MLC School’s philosophy and that of Round Square share many common principles.

Later in the first year, a delegation of Year 7 students attended the Junior Round Square Conference hosted by Mowbray College (Victoria). At this Conference students and staff from approximately 30 schools in Australia and New Zealand discovered that it is ‘Up to Us’ to make a difference.

A number of student exchanges occurred in that first year with students going to, and coming from: Ballarat Grammar (VIC), St. Philip’s College (Alice Springs), The York School (Canada), Stanford Lake College (South Africa), Kollegium Kalksburg (Austria) and Porta Westfalica Gymnasium (Germany). While on exchange to South Africa, two of our Year 10 girls represented MLC School at the International Round Square Conference.

A message in the 2003 Excelsior from the students who participated in a Round Square exchange or a Conference in that first year was that being part of Round Square was the ‘best time of their lives’ and they ‘encourage others who have the opportunity to participate in Round Square to do so’. This has been an enduring message from our Round Square girls for 20 years.

MLC School becomes at Global member of Round Square

In 2006, MLC School’s ceremony of acceptance as a Global Round Square school occurred at Round Square’s birth place in Gordonstoun, Scotland. This international membership was formal recognition that the philosophy and practices at MLC School aligned with Round Square’s IDEALS – which are: Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service.

The occasion also provided the School with validation of what we mean when we say ‘Dare to be more’. The theme of the 2006 Round Square Conference was taken from Gordonstoun’s motto: Plus et en vous –More is in you.

Preparing students not only for university but also for life by having them face it directly and experience it in ways that demand courage, generosity, imagination and resolution is a significant part of what we mean at MLC School when we say we ‘Dare to be more’. For MLC School students it will continue to mean finding the more within, continually raising aspirations, expectations and performance to meet fresh challenges.

At MLC School, the Round Square IDEALS and Discovery Framework are embedded in all aspects of School life and, through the School’s Round Square Student Committee, all girls have the opportunity to be involved. Students actively participate in exchange and Round Square conferences, and the process is underway to extend the Round Square approach into the Junior School.

Reflections from MLC School

Principal Barbara Stone (1990 – 2011): How and why did MLC School become a member of Round Square at Gordonstoun, Scotland, in 2002?

Strategic planning to support the best MLC School student experience possible, commenced at the start of my time at the School, and in 1993 we launched Transforming Learning. This was used as an indication of the School’s intent for every student and as the framework for our measure of success. By 1997, one of the new elements for Transforming Learning at MLC School had become World Citizenship.

MLC School’s process of becoming an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma School in 1999 was well-supported by the School Council, Australian and international schools, and enhanced by the stringent quality review by the IB Regional Office. Its unique elements required a global connection and emphasis for students and teachers on service as a world citizen.

The decision to seek membership to Round Square gave us another institutionally available dimension to enable the development of global spirit; access to authentic and worthwhile experiences for all students and teachers at MLC School to build leadership skills and a sense of themselves as world citizens with worldwide ideals.

In 2002, Round Square membership allowed us to make its IDEALS a part of daily school life for MLC School students. Local, Regional and International opportunities encouraged interested students to develop a deep sense of responsible leadership and deeper understanding of democratic practice.

2017

Reflections from Lynn Calluaud, MLC School’s Round Square Exchange Coordinator and Assistant Representative

Membership of Round Square is an honour and a privilege. To be true to what Round Square stands for, member schools need to deliver on the Round Square IDEALS.

Member schools are expected to review their commitment to Round Square on an annual basis and complete an affirmation document. The time commitment needed to successfully implement a Round Square program at a school is huge – it involves school meetings, activities and events, conferences, exchanges and

GAP years – but the benefits for students are immense. Students have returned from conferences more confident in their abilities which has encouraged them to take on leadership roles within the School, and from exchanges with insights into different societies and how they themselves can personally make a difference in the world. Parents have been astonished at the positive changes they have seen in their daughters through their involvement in Round Square.

The inaugural regional Heads and Reps conference was held at MLC School, and staff and students were quick to volunteer their skills and expertise to make the conference a success. This was also the case when MLC School hosted a Regional Round Square conference. Rainbow Week, the major fundraiser for Round Square, sees the School pull together. Students have made and sold cakes and handicrafts as well as organised and ran activities like the silent disco and the final dance party, living the Service component of the IDEALS.

Round Square Conferences are usually held during school holidays and teachers give up their time to accompany students to these conferences. A typical conference program, structured around the IDEALS, will see students taking part in adventure activities, service work and environmental conservation. The program also provides opportunities for students from different regions and countries to discuss regional and global issues in a student-led ‘baraza’2 or discussion group. Students return from Round Square conferences with a new energy for achieving their goals, and find that the friendships made with other students continue well past the conference itself.

Exchanges offer their own challenges and rewards. Students who went to France, Germany and Japan have improved their language skills exponentially. One student who went to Peru was on a local school camp when an earthquake hit. She came back with a very different sense of what was important in life and how she could help others.

Students who have been on exchange are trained to become exchange leaders who then look after incoming exchange students. They also interview those MLC School students wishing to go on exchanges and make recommendations that are valued as highly as those of the staff.

Opportunities for student leadership and service are an integral part of the IDEALS. MLC School offers many opportunities through Round Square for students to develop these skills across the School and beyond. An MLC School Year 11 student, initiated, developed and saw to fruition a service project to support an Indigenous school in the Utopia homeland, northeast of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The project culminated with 10 students and two teachers from MLC School working as teacher aides for a week at Arlparra High School, one of Australia’s most remote schools.

Round Square enables the whole of MLC School, staff and students, to work together to show how well we live the IDEALS.

Round Square at MLC School today

MLC School teacher, Esther Maling wears many hats; she is also the Cadet Coordinator and the Round Square Coordinator. She has these words to share on how the Round Square Discovery Framework is being embedded into MLC School experiential teaching and learning programs.

“In our early days of our Round Square membership, we met the Round Square IDEALS implicitly through a range of programs such as co-curricular programs, camp exchange overseas tours, clubs and societies.

In more recent times, by building on the work started by staff member and Old Girl, Caitlin White (2005) we are moving to working more explicitly with the IDEALS and the Round Square Discovery Framework 3 .

MLC School’s experiential pedagogy has been developed around the Round Square philosophy and is now the driving force behind all our teaching and learning programs that happen outside the classroom.

Through the new adventure program, we are getting the girls to understand what it means to be adventurous, along with delving into the Round Square character traits and values –equipping our students with skills to be Global Citizens. For example, this year we explored Sense of Responsibilities and Self-Awareness with our Year 7 students, and Tenacity and Teamwork with Year 9. We are making progress with extending the adventurous program to all students from Kindergarten to Year 9 in the coming years.

Our redesign of the immersive learning units embeds the character education aspects of Round Square into the teaching learning programs of each unit. The first of these is the Year 8 Indigenous ‘Sense of Place’ which is an integrating Aboriginal learning unit. Viewed through the IDEAL of Democracy and the Discovery of appreciation of diversity, and by encouraging inquisitiveness, inventiveness and communication, our students develop skills to explore multiple sources to complete research tasks and their final project.“

Reflections from Mounica Akula, 2022 Round Square Captain

I attended my first IDEALS Society meeting as an eager Year 8 student after I made my way through the co-curricular handbook looking to find an engaging way to spend Monday lunchtimes and make some more friends. By joining Round Square I achieved both those goals.

I also developed an awareness of the way Round Square is integrated into every aspect of my school life. All students at MLC School are immersed in the values of Round Square in everything we do; in our classrooms and co-curricular activities. This provides us with a multitude of platforms to develop character and essential skills.

Whether it be our inaugural State forum, which brought together students from NSW and ACT Round Square schools, to the 2021 Online International Conference, or our weekly lunchtime meetings, being a part of this community has presented me with many opportunities to broaden my perspective and connect with people I would never have otherwise had the chance to.

Through my engagement with Round Square at MLC School I have been challenged, pushed to think deeply about the world around me, and given access to an incredibly diverse network. From meeting incredible individuals who are pioneers in their fields, debating like-minded young people from around the world, to the students who I sat across from in the playground, the friendships and memories made through Round Square have been invaluable. Undoubtedly, my schooling experiences and perspectives have been greatly enriched by being part of Round Square.

Recent Round Square news at MLC School

Each of the five Round Square Regions is represented on the Round Square Board by a Regional Trustee, who is the current Head of a Round Square Global Member School within the Region.

In November 2020, MLC School Principal, Lisa Moloney, was elected the Round Square Regional Trustee for Australasia and East Asia, and since then has become Deputy Chair and head of the nominations committee.

FOOTNOTES

1. Designed by Sir Robert Gordon as an estate square to house the horses, carriages and equipment of his estate, the building’s circular design led it to become known as Round Square.

2. Baraza (a word used in East Africa) is a place where public meetings are held.

3. Round Square IDEALS – International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership and Service – are underpinned by twelve Discoveries that students explore on their learning journey: inquisitiveness, tenacity, courage, compassion, inventiveness, ability to solve problems, self-awareness, sense of responsibility, appreciation of diversity, commitment to sustainability, communication and team-working skills. Together these make up the Round Square Discovery Framework.

A POSTCARD FROM MLC SCHOOL

One of the ways that Round Square students from across the world stayed connected over the last few years was by developing a discussion forum known as ‘Postcards’.

Schools propose a topic of discussion and send a ‘postcard’ to invite others to engage in discussion via Zoom. Recently, MLC School students hosted a postcard on the topic of ‘Break the Bias’ and there was healthy participation from students from across the world.

Keiralyn Dao (Year 11) hosted the Postcard and reflects on the experience.

What is the key to a successful Postcard?

I found creating a comfortable environment improved student engagement and contributions. The main reason for success was the enthusiasm of the students!

What are your impressions of the overall discussion?

It was interesting to hear global views and cultural specific ways which gender bias is present. For example, I learnt from a Japanese student, the types of gender bias is within their school community. In the Japanese PE curriculum, boys do Judo (martial arts) while girls are only offered dancing. This international discussion emphasised the global prevalence of gender inequality.

Tell us a bit about the discussion.

I lead 15 girls, boys and teachers from six schools in Japan, India, and Australia. Each student walked away with knowing more about our own biases, and ways we can play our part in fighting casual bias. I will be meeting some students face to face in the UK for the Round Square International Conference!

Tiana Robinson (Year 9) was a participant in the Postcard.

‘The Postcard was pretty good at getting people engaged due to the stimulus, it encouraged people to think about what they see/hear and share their own stories.

I found the theme to be and incredibly important topic to discuss. It was important because people are often unaware of different experiences of different people around the world.

It was a really well put together and everyone was a bit nervous to start but people became more comfortable sharing and it was a really good discussion.

I had about eight people (not including me) in my group and pretty evenly split across genders. We had quite a few people from India and a few from Australia.

We came to a outcome where we all understood that schools seem to talk a lot about equality without acting on what they say. Another big thing we spoke about was opinions, we all spoke about how people don’t want people forming an opinion on them so a lot of people don’t say anything against bias. We all helped each other to work out how to call people out on bias.’

ALUMNAE AWARDS + BACK TO COLLEGE DINNER

Dr Joanna Howe (L) and her daughter with supporters at the Dinner

At the start of May (and just missing the previous issue of LUCIS deadline) the School honoured 12 extraordinary women with a 2022 MLC School Alumnae Award.

Each has demonstrated exceptional achievement in her chosen endeavour. These women come from a variety of fields –academia, sport, media, medicine, education. It is true to say they are united by a spirit of determination, a focus on making a difference, breaking barriers and making changes to improve the lives of others.

We are honoured to be able to call these women MLC School Old Girls and know that the community is proud of their contributions.

Be sure to read more about each winner’s accomplishments on the School’s website at https://www.mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au/ourcommunity/alumnae-awards/2022-alumnaeaward-recipients.

The recipients for 2022 are:

Jessica Ashwood (2011) – Young Alumnae Award for Sporting Achievement

Jessica defied the odds of severe scoliosis to represent Australia in Freestyle at two Olympic Games: London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, winning Silver at Rio in the women’s 4 x 200m relay. She held three national records, one of which (800m) only fell at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She was described by the Sydney Morning Herald as “a genuine once-in-ageneration talent”.

Professor Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich (Bosnic, 1987) –Alumnae Award for Academia and Professional Achievement

Sinthia is an

internationally recognised medical researcher and respiratory pharmacist. She is founder and Head of the Quality Use of Respiratory Medicines Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research at The University of Sydney and RPA. Sinthia is the author of therapeutic guidelines for airways diseases that are used worldwide.

Angela Catterns AM (1971) – Alumnae Award for Cultural Contribution

Angela is one of Australia’s most loved broadcasters and media personalities with a diverse career in film, television, podcast and radio, both nationally and internationally. She initiated the ABC 702 ‘Knit-In’ in collaboration with Wrap with Love and has been an ambassador and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Australia and The Public Education Foundation. In 2014, Angela was awarded an AM ‘for significant service to the broadcast media industry as a radio presenter, and to social welfare organisations’.

“I started at MLC School at the age of four – and learned pretty much everything I know there. How to read and write and spell. How to swim and dive and be part of a team. How to arrange flowers and sew a hem. How to be kind and generous. How to be cool, calm and collected. To love music and art and literature. And eventually, how to be a rebellious teenager.” – Angela Catterns

Dr Julia Chang Wan (1956) –Alumnae Award for Social Impact and Professional Achievement

Julia is a highly-regarded science educator in the USA who has received many awards and honours for her achievements in science education. She is also an active member of women’s rights advocacy groups, having been the President of National Organization for Women (NOW), Boston Chapter, and a National Board member of NOW.

Lucy Cormack (2009) – Young Alumnae Award for Professional Achievement

Lucy is an awardwinning Australian journalist with experience across all media platforms. She has worked at the SMH for over nine years and currently is the State political reporter. Previously she reported on crime, consumer affairs and environment. Lucy also regularly contributes to BBC Radio, ABC Radio and the Macquarie Radio Network on behalf of the SMH.

Lucy has won an award at the Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism three times: in 2018 for ‘Young Journalist of the Year’, in 2021, for ‘Outstanding Court and Legal Affairs Reporting’ and in 2022 for ‘Outstanding Political Reporting’.

“MLC School gave me a drive and passion for learning, and a fierce ambition. As young girls it taught us to challenge boundaries to become proud confident women.” – Lucy Cormack

Kate Cornford (2001) – Young Alumnae Award for Professional Achievement and International Achievement

Kate has held an impressive range of appointments in wide-ranging, high-profile roles worldwide, including Counsellor to the Executive Director of the OECD and a senior policy adviser at the Office of the Prime Minister of the UK (No.10 Downing Street). She has established a global reputation in international relations and her many and varied achievements in the policy, legal and academic spheres are testament to her unending enthusiasm and energy.

Professor Ruth Corran (1989) –Alumnae Award for Academia

Ruth is the Department Chair - Computer Science, Mathematics & Science at the American University of Paris and is widely published in prestigious international journals. She graduated with a BSc from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours and the University Medal in Mathematics, and was awarded a PhD in Pure Mathematics in 2000.

“I know that my formative years at MLC School gave me the confidence to believe that girls and women need to be part of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines, are just as able as their male counterparts and take as much enjoyment in pursuing their studies and careers in STEM. This confidence has allowed me and so many of my MLC School peers to succeed in STEM careers.”

– Ruth Corran

Dr Joanna Howe (Mascarenhas, 2000) – Young Alumnae Award for Academia

Joanna is an Associate Professor in Law at the University of Adelaide with a PhD in Law from the University of Oxford where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. She is a leading expert on the legal regulation of temporary labour migration and the author of three seminal books. Joanna is frequently invited to present evidence to parliamentary inquiries and reviews into Australia’s temporary labour migration program.

Alumnae Award recipient, Val Packham (2nd from right) with her family

Associate Professor Kristi Jones (1984) – Alumnae Award for Professional Achievement

Kristi is dedicated to improving the lives of children through her pioneering work in paediatric genetics. At The Children’s Hospital she leads the Neuroscience Centre Clinical Trials Unit, and the Clinical Genetics Department. She is also a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney in the disciplines of both Genetics and Paediatrics.

Elizabeth (Liz) Kell (2001) – Young Alumnae Award for Sporting Achievement

Liz is a multi-award winning rower who represented Australia in Rowing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2006 she won the World Championships in the Double Scull, and Rowing Australia’s ‘Female Rower’ and ‘Crew of the Year’ awards. At the NSW Rowing Awards, Liz won the award for ‘NSW Oarswoman’ successively in 2005-6 and 2006-7.

Val Packham (Hedge, 1955) –Alumnae Award for Contribution to MLC School

Val has worked tirelessly for MLC School for decades. She joined the MLC School Old Girls’ Union immediately after leaving school and has been an active member for over 60 years. Val has served on many OGU committees with energy and distinction. Most recently she was the driving force behind the magnificent refurbishment of the MLC School Chapel.

Professor Ros Pesman AM (Cooper, 1954) – Alumnae Award for Academia and Professional Achievement

Ros is one of Australia’s most eminent historians, with an international reputation in the fields of academia and tertiary education leadership.

She was the first woman to be elected Chair of the Academic Board at the University of Sydney and was the first woman appointed to the Challis Chair in History. In 2012, Ros was awarded an AM for services to tertiary education through academic and administrative roles.

VALE

Lorna Howe (Trubody, 1936)

Lorna’s daughter, Judy Gardner, sent us this tribute to her beloved mother.

"Lorna and her older sister Rita Cameron (Trubody, 1927) both enjoyed their years at MLC School. Lorna made wonderful friendships at school and these Old Girls all remained very close throughout their lives, regularly meeting up for lunches and social events.

Lorna was a passionate MLC School Old Girl; she attended as many reunions as she could. Most recently, at the 2015 Sapphires’ Lunch, Lorna, as the oldest Old Girl present, cut the ceremonial cake with the youngest current student whose mother was an Old Girl. Laughter ensued when the youngest girl continued to carve herself a wedge of cake.

After leaving MLC School, Lorna completed a secretarial course and commenced work at the Western Electric Company where her sister was the Managing Director’s Assistant. Shortly after starting work, she met John Howe and they married in March 1942, when John was on leave from the army camp in Singleton.

During WWII, Lorna lived in Strathfield with her parents while John was deployed to New Guinea. After the War, Lorna and John and their two children moved to Lane Cove, then Northwood and finally to Wollstonecraft.

Lorna was always interested in charity work and assisted the Golden Years Committee to raise funds for the Old People Welfare Association. While working with the

Committee, she established ‘Old Peoples Week’ at the Sydney Town Hall which she then ran for a number of years. This experience inspired her to train as a Welfare Officer and she subsequently managed Senior Citizens Centres in the South Sydney region for many years before retiring.

Lorna was a wonderful sewer and could turn her hand and her sewing machine to make anything. She loved travelling and she and John travelled extensively. She also loved a project and playing bridge, and enjoyed investing in the share market and reading the business section of the Sydney Morning Herald. Lorna loved a party or gathering and meeting with interesting people; she had a love and interest in people of all ages. Lorna loved life and lived it to the fullest.

Mum passed away peacefully on 26 January 2022 aged 101 years.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with family being the most important part of her life. She will be greatly missed."

Nola Hewitt (Freeson, 1938)

Nola’s daughter, Susanne Stewart (Hewitt, 1977) called to let us know that her dear mother, Alice Nola (known as Nola) Hewitt (Freeson, 1938) passed away on 27 April 2022 at the age of 101.

For many years Nola was a regular attendee of the Sapphires’ Lunch, and for the last few she, as the oldest Old Girl present, was the cutter of the ceremonial cake.

During the planning for the 2014 Sapphires Lunch, we found out that the event fell on Nola’s birthday. While she was cutting the ceremonial cake, to her surprise and delight, all those present burst into the Happy Birthday song.

Lorna Howe

Nola Hewitt

June Ward (Thompson, 1943)

June’s family have informed us that June passed away at Cootamundra on 6 January 2022 at the age of 98.

Growing up in Kempsey, June was a Boarder at MLC School as was her mother Lillian Violet Thompson (Vivian, 1913) before her and later, her three daughters, Kerrie Sproull (Ward, 1964), Sandra Heffernan (Ward, 1967) and Robyn Long (Ward, 1968). Robyn was baptised by Rev Wallace Deane, the former Principal of MLC School who was Principal during June’s last year.

While June’s mother Lilian was boarding at the School, she had a weekend-stay with a Day Girl. That weekend they attended the church in Stanmore that the Newington Boarders frequented. It was there that Lillian caught the eye of a young Newington Boarder, Lindsay Thompson, the son of a grazier from Cootamundra. On Lindsay’s return from WWI service, they married and settled near Cootamundra. Lilian passed away in 1991 at the age of 97.

June married Keith Ward who, along with his three brothers, was a Boarder at Newington College. Both MLC School and Newington College featured prominently in both the Ward and Thompson families.

June made many lifelong friends from her MLC School days especially her dear friend June Comrie (Harvey 1943) from Kempsey, who passed away in 2021. This photo above shows the two Junes; Thompson on the left and Harvey on the right; sitting on the lawn in the School’s grounds.

June was a proud and loving mother and a treasured Nan, GranNan and Great GranNan.

Vivienne Wright (Butterworth, 1946)

We have heard the sad news that Vivienne Wright (Butterworth, 1946) died on 5 December 2021 at the age of 91.

Vivienne boarded at MLC School for her high school years. She was raised in Taree where her father had been Mayor. She married her husband Bruce in 1959 and settled with him in his hometown of Tuncurry.

After completing school, Vivienne studied physiotherapy and for many years she was Tuncurry’s only physiotherapist.

Vivienne is survived by her two daughters Louise and Mary-Jane.

After school, Suzanne completed a BA, DipEd and A.Mus.A. She later pursued post graduate studies in biology with a special interest in frogs. Suzanne was skillful on the violin and piano and was an alto in the Sydney University Musical Society. She was also a pilot.

Donald said Suzanne gave herself wholeheartedly to her family and was a friend to many.

Suzanne Scott-Orr (Harris, 1950)

Suzanne’s husband, Donald, contacted us to let us know that his “loving, loyal, wholesome, loved wife” Suzanne Scott-Orr (Harris, 1950) died on 13 January 2022 at the age of 87.

Suzanne was a Boarder at MLC School where she was the Junior Swimming Champion (1948–1949) and the Senior Swimming Champion (1950) as well as the Morramoora Senior Music Officer for 1948–1950.

Lizette McCallum (Stradbrook, 1952)

Lizette’s sisters Elaine Gribble (Stradbrook, 1949) and Dawn Justice (Stradbrook, 1957) have written this tribute to their much loved sister.

"We sadly wish to notify you that our beloved, dear sister Lizette passed away on 22 April 2022 at the age of 86. A beautiful mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother is at rest at last.

Lizette had been in a care facility for two years and was lovingly cared for by her dear daughter Lisa, three sons Greg, Mark and Matthew and her two sisters.

Lizette was widowed at age 36 when her much-loved husband, John McCallum, passed away suddenly at age 42. Lizette and John had met, a love at first sight moment, at Petersham Musical Society in 1953 and married in 1956. Their love of music and entertaining was very special and gave great joy to so many people. Lizette’s love of Musical Comedy stayed with her to the very end. (...continued next page)

Marilyn Dobson, Helen Richardson and Suzanne Harris sun baking on the roof of the ‘Hilma’ during the Class of 1950 excursion to South Molle Island in May 1950.

Lizette McCallum

June Thompson (1943) and June Harvey (1943) – lifelong friends.

Vivienne Wright

After John had passed away Lizette ‘soldiered on’, returning to full time work to support her young family. She provided them with an abundance of love and care and they grew to become fine adults who raised families of their own. At her ‘Celebration of Life’ held in May, amongst the many beautiful tributes spoken on that day, the ones spoken by four of her grandsons filled our hearts with joy as they related their memories of their fun, loving and caring Nana Zette.

In her late 50s Lizette became the National President of The Civilian Widows Association, a voluntary role that took her Australia-wide, speaking to CWA members. In this role Lizette eventually successfully sold the Petersham Headquarters of the CWA and set up a smaller office, thus freeing up funds for the many charities the Association supported. When the CWA finally closed, Lizette was on the Board of Directors appointed to oversee the substantial funds. The business skills she gained via the IPSA (Incorporated Phonographic Society Australia) Commercial Course Lizette studied at MLC School were an asset throughout her life.

We would love to share with you two funny yet very moving moments we shared with our dear sister during one of our many visits with her in her care facility. Lizette had Alzheimer’s and Vascular dementia, but her love and ability to sing stayed with her until the very end. One day we were sitting with her and she had not said a word at all. As we held her hand, we started singing the MLC School song and right away Lizette began singing it in a VERY LOUD voice and word perfect all the way through!

The same day as we were trying to get her to sit more comfortably in the reclining chair we said to her “Come on Lizette one, two three” and out came this booming voice “One, two, three who are we? We are the girls from MLC!” An old war cry from our school sports carnival days and sung with such volume by dear Lizette! Such precious moments were few and far between but two in one day, wow! We felt very lucky.

At her moving ‘Celebration of Life’ everyone who was gathered there joined in singing ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘Que Sera Sera’, two of her favourites, and if we close our eyes now we can hear dear Lizette singing out loud as we walked down the hall to her room for a visit. RIP our darling ‘middle sister’ you are in our hearts forever."

Helen Elizabeth Wolfe (Benson, 1956)

Helen Wolfe (Benson, 1956) died on 20 November 2021 at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

Helen met her husband Tony while working at the same pharmaceutical company in Sydney and were engaged after only six weeks of dating. They married in August 1961 and were together until Tony’s death in 2002.

When their daughter was born a number of years into their marriage, Helen took on the role of stay-at-home mum with gusto. In the early 1970s her husband was offered a more senior and better paying position in the USA, and so she said goodbye to family and friends and embarked on a new adventure in New Jersey.

She stayed busy raising her daughter, but also spent a lot of time hosting foreign visitors who worked with Tony, doing everything she could to make their stay in NJ as comfortable as possible, including hosting dinners at their home. This was the start of the tradition of inviting stranded company people over for Thanksgiving dinner. It became such an enjoyable event that several people would schedule meetings in NJ during the holiday week just so they could be there to celebrate with the Wolfes. Tony and Helen threw fun and memorable parties, with great food and drink, and lots of good conversation and laughter.

Helen and Tony had only one child of their own, but were surrogate parents and role models to many who knew and loved them. Helen’s list of ‘daughters’ and ‘sons’ was long, and quite a few of them liked to call her ‘Mom’. She was a good source of sound advice, but also knew when someone just needed an ear to listen to their troubles. She will be sorely missed by all of those who sought her counsel and emotional support.

Helen Elizabeth Wolfe

After Tony’s death, Helen retired from her busy social life, spending more time with her daughter and close friends. In 2018 she became a grandmother and was in the delivery room when her granddaughter was born. She relished her role as ‘Nanny’ and ended up staying with her daughter as a live-in babysitter until her health deteriorated in August 2021.

Helen will always be remembered as a devoted wife and partner, a loving and kind mother, and a fun and funny grandmother, as well as a wonderful sister and friend. Her family is devastated by her passing, but hope that all who knew and loved her will remember her as a generous, smiling, bright and beautiful person who could put everyone at ease.

Lyn married David Bullock, an attorney, in 1973, at Union United Methodist Church in Washington. They had two children and in 1978 Lyn left the World Bank for full-time motherhood. Once her children were both in school, Lyn went back to work, holding positions in account management and education.

Lyn had a wide variety of accomplishments and interests outside of her work. She said she “grew up in an airplane”. Her father was a private pilot and she accompanied him as he flew volunteer flood relief missions. Later, she obtained her own pilot’s license while in Washington. She flew Cessna 172 airplanes with friends in a local aero club and was active in the Potomac Chapter of The Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots. She also performed volunteer service as a speaker for school aviation career seminars sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration, and as a coordinator for charity work.

Marina Hanna (2010)

Marie-Claire Selim (2010) sent us this tribute to her dear friend.

"In June 2022, we lost Marina Hanna in a tragic accident during her honeymoon.

Lynette Bullock

Lynette Bullock (Murrell, 1964)

Lynette’s husband David has written to us to let us know that his dear wife, Lyn Bullock (Murrell, 1964) had passed away unexpectedly on 25 March 2022 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Lyn grew up in Hillston, NSW, where her father owned and operated the local electric power station. Lyn enjoyed animals from the start; she had a joey, rescued by her father, as a pet while she was a child.

Lyn boarded at MLC School until her parents moved to Sydney. After finishing school, she attended the Conservatory of Music and Metropolitan College in Sydney and graduated with a Teacher’s Diploma in Music. After working as a legal secretary in Sydney, Lyn moved to the USA in 1971 and worked at the World Bank in Washington, DC, for several years. She continued her education by taking advanced courses in music and German at George Washington University as well as courses in French and Spanish while working at the World Bank.

After moving to Brentwood, Tennessee with her family in 1990, Lyn continued to pursue a variety of hobbies and interests. She played tennis and socialised with friends in a Birthday Club and the Red Hat Society. She eventually returned to the workforce, joining the front desk staff at Brentwood Veterinary Clinic which put her in daily contact with animals, which she loved. She also, with her family, owned, fostered, and rescued numerous dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and birds, all of whom became full family members. Not content with just that, Lyn also operated her own pet-sitting business.

Lyn then took on a new profession and challenge: licensed massage therapist. She had her own massage practice and worked for various health spas and a chiropractic practice until 2013, when she began experiencing more symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

As Lyn’s health declined from a combination of Parkinson’s and heart difficulties, she found solace in the dogs who made their homes with her family. In particular, Ruby, a pit bull mix who had been rescued in 2010, became Lyn’s constant companion. Ruby was with Lyn as she passed from this life.

Lyn is survived by her husband, her two children, and her five beloved grandchildren.

Marina started at MLC School in Kindergarten in 1998 and graduated in the Class of 2010.

Marina was a skilled tennis player. She competed for MLC School during Saturday sport from a young age and as a member of MLC School’s Tildesley Tennis team.

Marina will be missed by so many of her classmates. A joyful young woman, she had a bright laugh and a contagious sense of humour. Marina had the innate ability of connecting with any of her peers and putting a smile on anyone’s face.

We will miss you, our vibrant Marina."

The sincere condolences and love of the entire MLC School community go out to Marina’s parents, Souzy and Nabil, her brother Mark, her husband Robbie, and her all family and friends.

Marina Hanna on her wedding day

FUN & LAUGHTER WHEN BOARDERS RETURN

Much fun was had when Boarders from 1951 to 1975 returned for a Chapel Service and Lunch in late July. There were fond memories of the rules, the food and the antics that these Old Girls shared in the hours in the Boarding House. Many of those long-lasting friendships that started at school have stood the test of time.

Archivist, Barbara Hoffman’s display of uniforms, sports uniforms and dinner dresses sparked much conversation around when and where each were worn.

INTERGENERATIONAL HIGH TEA

Having been postponed for two years, the inaugural Intergenerational High Tea for Old Girls with links to current students was a most successful afternoon and one that is certain to be a regular fixture on the School’s event calendar.

REUNION SATURDAY

The campus was abuzz in May when more than 300 Old Girls returned for their reunions, many of which had been delayed by two years due to COVID. It was a thrill to welcome back former students from across the decades.

1980

FATHER'S DAY

Dads, granddads and the special men in the lives of MLC School students enjoyed the chance to share breakfast together to celebrate Father’s Day. Later that evening, in the Junior School, their industrious efforts transformed cardboard into monumental creations reflecting the medieval theme.

dates

Speech Day Year 3 to Year 12 T hursday 8 December 2022

Commencement Day

Start of Term for all new students and all Year 7 students

First day of School

Year 1 to Year 12

Friday 27 January 2023

Monday 30 January 2023

Pre-K 5-day and Mon–Wed programs Tuesday 31 January 2023

Kindergarten and Pre-K Wed–Fri program Wednesday 1 February 2023

Parent Welcome Evening Friday 10 February 2023

Academic Excellence Assembly Wednesday 15 February 2023

Sydney Opera House Concert Monday 22 May 2023

MLC School Giving Day Wednesday 7 June 2023

Old Girls Events

OGU AGM and General Meeting Wednesday 22 February 2023

Intergenerational High Tea Sunday 12 March 2023

Back to College Dinner and Alumnae Awards

Friday 5 May 2023

Reunion Saturday for Class of 2022 Saturday 6 May 2023

Class of 2013 10-year Reunion Saturday 6 May 2023

Class of 2003 20-year Reunion Saturday 6 May 2023

Class of 1993 30-year Reunion Saturday 6 May 2023

Class of 1983 40-year Reunion Saturday 6 May 2023

Class of 1973 50-year Reunion Saturday 6 May 2023

Sapphires Chapel Service and Lunch Tuesday 10 October 2023

2023 SCHOOL TOUR DATES

Tuesday 28 February 2023, 10.30am

Thursday 25 May 2023, 10.30am

To register for a tour visit mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or email enrol@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL AS TOUR DAYS REACH CAPACITY WEEKS BEFOREHAND

Take a virtual fly-through tour Visit https://mlcsyd.youtour.com.au/

Share your news!

We very much encourage and welcome your news and love to receive photos.

To get in touch, please contact Barbara Hoffman, MLC School Archivist, on 02 8741 3214, or email bhoffman@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au .

Letter to the EDITOR

We recently received an email from Nicole Lee (2002) who saw the IB article and wanted to share her story with us.

We are thrilled to hear from Nicole Lee, one of the first graduates from MLC School’s IB Diploma Programme, who wrote of her experience and where this has all taken her after school.

'I’m currently in the United States where I’m beginning a Masters of Fine Arts in poetry at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. My poetry has otherwise been published across the US, UK and Australia, and received fellowships from numerous US conferences. My first fulllength theatre production The Red Dust 红尘, produced by Marian St Theatre for Young People in collaboration with the Institute for Australian and Chinese Arts and Culture (IAC) at Western Sydney University and the Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS), is an interdisciplinary, intercultural and intergenerational show about ‘seeing through the red dust’, or kàn pò hóng chén 看破红尘, coming of age as a Chinese Australian teen, and climate change. The show is currently in rehearsal and will have its world premiere at Ku-ring-gai Town Hall in mid July.

The IB was a transformational period in my life. It encouraged me to set my sights internationally, and supported my interests in global cultures, world affairs, and critical thinking. My English literature classes with Ms. Reilly in particular stoked a deep love of international literature and my Theory of Knowledge classes with Mr. Wood inspired a life-long interest in interrogating the status quo. I would encourage any student interested in widening their horizons to consider studying the IB – mine were extended in every direction.'