The Penrhosian No. 77 by Penrhos College

We respectfully acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation as the traditional owners of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to elders past, present and future. Together, we acknowledge the contributions of Aboriginal Australians and nonAboriginal Australians to the education of all children and people in this country we all live in and share together – Australia.

Contents

No. 77

Winter 2022

From the Principal

Winter reflections

Congratulations to the Class of 2021

Life as a boarder: Molly Greaves

The importance of trust and communication

A boarding parent's perspective: Prema Sexton

Connecting Penrhos to the wider world

From the Penrhos Foundation President

'Mission Possible' for our Penrhosians

What's on

Penrhos Full Circle: turning a traditional school psychology on its head

Photo gallery: Penrhos College events

COVER PHOTO

TEAM

Celebrating 70 years of Penrhos College

Editor Rowan Courts Design Abbie Hunt Contributors and Photographers Kalea Haran, Paula Barrow, Caroline Jenkins, Merilyn Orchard, Grace Hirte, Sasha Haanappel, Louise Forrest

From the Principal Kalea Haran Principal

he year is 1952 – globally, we see King George VI sadly pass away and be succeeded by his twenty-seven-year-old daughter, now our Queen Elizabeth II. The iconic musical film ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ premiers in New York and the world’s first passenger jet is produced in the UK. In Australia, the Prime minister is Robert Menzies. A little behind other Commonwealth countries, we still don’t have televisions yet. Significantly, this is also the year Penrhos College was born in Angelo Street, South Perth, Western Australia! As an infant, it was named MLC South Perth, to be christened Penrhos in 1963. In the year we were born, Mrs Margaret Way - an accountant - sat with the new College Council as they discussed the school they were to open and the challenge they faced in finding someone to take on the role of first Penrhos Principal. Mrs Way later described the moment her inner voice spoke to her ‘well, you could… come on, you could speak up… you could do something.’ She took a deep breath, rose to her feet, and put herself forward through her bravery in standing up and speaking out, she became Penrhos’ first Principal.

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Mrs Way demonstrated her courage and conviction by stepping forward when no one else did, and she went on to progress the Council’s shared vision for the new College with confidence and determination despite very limited means at the time. Throughout her tenure, Mrs Way demonstrated the school’s motto, ‘Per Ardua Ad Alta’ (‘Strive for the Heights’) – she initiated the Penrhos spirit which so strongly thrives today, and she set the standard for our future. The characteristics Mrs Way showed in the 1950s are as relevant today as ever, and I am committed to dedicate my best endeavours in continuing her legacy. My vision, as seventh Principal, is to steward a College environment in which our students believe they can create a future without boundaries. In the same way that Mrs Way did not adhere to the convention or tradition of her time - she was willing to take on a challenge and embrace a new adventure - I will continue to challenge the status quo and stretch boundaries to ensure the best possible opportunities for our graduates.

As Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her platinum jubilee, our 70th platinum year is the perfect time for us to proudly reflect on who we are and what we stand for as a College; to sincerely thank the Penrhos community for all we have collectively achieved over the last seven decades; and to look forward to a future in which we continue to be a force for positive change in girls’ education. 2022 started unexpectedly. We should have kicked off the year with huge 70th celebration gatherings, parties and events. However, we were instead forced to wait patiently as we negotiated the implications of COVID-19. Thankfully, our community’s resilience and perseverance allowed us to adapt, maintain and even grow our strong sense of belonging as we reinvented in new and unprecedented ways. At the same time, we have been working hard on developing our new strategic plan, which is now ready to launch for 2023. I am sincerely grateful to all those students, staff, parents, alumni and Council members who have dedicated their time to contribute. Strategic planning, in our 70th year, is significant; we think about

what makes Penrhos, well Penrhos; we ask ourselves what our strengths are, what we can build on and what makes us unique. We ask ourselves where we want to be in the next three years. The strength that continually shines through for me is ‘belonging’ - the way in which our community supports each other, celebrates tradition and values the lifelong and enduring connections that are made here. Also, I never fail to be impressed with the adventurous Penrhosian spirit, our sense of fun and our commitment to do good in the world. We nurture these attributes through growing curiosity and joy, through developing a real sense of happiness, warmth and optimism in both learning and community spirit; I am eternally inspired by Penrhosians’ support for one another and in the way they unite to help others. I look forward to the rest of 2022 in our 70th year of celebration and joy. I thank our community - past and present - for making Penrhos the fantastic College it is today, and I look forward to moving confidently into the next chapter of our amazing story.

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 In receiving these results, we reflect on the 108 individual success stories which contribute to the overall outcome the remarkable stories of each one of our 108 graduates’ attainment. 2021 was a remarkable year for Penrhos College, placing fifth on the ATAR League Table.

2021 ATAR LEAGUE TABLE

nd HIGHEST

PERFORMING GIRLS' SCHOOL

Our girls demonstrated incredible commitment, courage, grit and ambition - they should be very proud of all the effort they put in to achieve their academic 'personal bests' throughout their senior secondary years of schooling, especially in Year 12.

2021 WACE RESULTS PENRHOS MEDIAN ATAR STATE MEDIAN ATAR

th IN

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

2021 ATAR PATHWAY 84 STUDENTS

2 30 4 26 24 6

students awarded General Exhibition Top 50 students in Western Australia

students achieved ATAR scores of 95.00+

students awarded Subject Certificates of Excellence Top 0.5% of students based on their examination score

Penrhos was only one of 17 schools in Western Australia to achieve

90.65 81.65

100% GRADUATION

2021 ATAR ACHIEVEMENT

30 13 20 13 4 4

95.00+

students

90.00 - 94.99

students

80.00 - 89.99

students

70.00 - 79.99

students

students awarded Certificates of Merit

60.00 - 69.99

students

students awarded Certificates of Distinction

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60.00<

students

Performance of the Year 12 students with an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) who applied for university entrance. This data is sourced from the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) 2022 University Admissions Qualification Register.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET) PATHWAY

24 % 95 %

students studied the VET pathway

graduation of VET students

RANKED IN WA’S TOP EIGHT COURSES

Congratulations to the following Class of 2021 graduates who attained a place on the Principal’s List for achieving an ATAR of 95 or higher: Cassandra Baron

Anabel Melang

Priya Bhasin

Abigail Moorhouse

Alyssa Gottardo

Kaitlin Otley

Megan Grayden

Natasha Paul

Brigitte Gredziuk

Olivia Penney

Eva Hajigabriel

Katherine Qiu

Sophie Harvey-Lissienko

Anya Rajan

Aleta Houden

Monique Rossi

Alexandra Huxtable

Tayla Sedgwick

Harriet Jones

Sarah Shipman

GEOGRAPHY

Nahyun Kim

Aimee Soudure

MODERN HISTORY

Lauretta Lee

Golshid Tarom

Hai Ning Leow

Madison Pei Xuen Tong

Jessica Mahar

Emily Wallace

Kate Marquis

Chantelle Wheatley

CHEMISTRY DRAMA ENGLISH

In 2021, Penrhos ranked among the top schools in WA in eight courses, based on the percentage of students whose marks were in the top 15% of all students state-wide.

PRINCIPAL’S LIST

FRENCH: SECOND LANGUAGE

PHYSICS POLITICS AND LAW

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The importance of trust and communication Dr Victoria Kelleher Head of Secondary School Communication can both solve, and cause problems. It is the way we represent ourselves, make requests, share how we feel about the world and others. I believe it is one of the most important intangible assets we have as human beings. Communication in an educational setting has never been more important. Several research studies recognise the important role that a strong positive bond, between homes and schools, plays in the development and education of our children. The theories put forward have been supported and reaffirmed; they clearly show how good relationships and communications, between school and home, can lead to academic achievement for students. Furthermore, research on effective schools - those where students are learning and achieving consistently shows these schools also have strong and positive school-home relationships. I firmly believe that parent and community engagement in education depends on strong, trusting relationships. Part of developing such relationships is building a bridge between home and school cultures, recognising the importance of getting to know family and community needs and strengths, and focusing closely on communication in developing a strong school culture based on trust. This is one of my key goals to help develop here at Penrhos College. Educational communities cannot endure without trust - trust between teachers and administrators, among teachers, and between parents and staff. Trust is not easily defined, but it involves an individual’s willingness to be vulnerable to another person based on the confidence that the person is reliable, honest, and open. Trust makes people feel confident and eager to be part of something, with a shared purpose and a willingness to depend on each other. The key to building a true sense of trust throughout our community is by maintaining our inextricable human connection. That connection is something we can make possible through our relationships.

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There are several reasons for developing and establishing a partnership between school, family and community. However, in the context of Secondary School, the reason for this relationship is even more important. Consider the proverb “It takes a whole village to raise a child” – it clearly and simply underlines our entire community’s responsibility in helping raise happy, strong, empowered young women. It serves as a reminder to us all that education is a partnership of trusting relationships. We must work together to achieve the very best for our girls. Adolescence is a period where our children develop their identities through exploration of their environment and in the context of the influences of significant others, both of which are particularly important during identity formation in adolescence. A healthy identity is developed when an adolescent feels comfortable with who they are and with their role in society. As our children navigate the social, emotional and cognitive challenges of adolescence, we no longer need a whole village sometimes we need a metropolis! We must be of service to each other and engage together as members of this amazing Penrhos community in support of our girls. We know, through adolescent neuroscience, that the delayed development of the prefrontal cortex and the frontal lobe can impact the regulation of emotions and decision making. Teenage responses are driven with more gut reactions, which is why they tend to offer more impulsive behavioural responses. These are typically the ‘slamming door’ responses with the bonus ‘you’re ruining my life’ responses thrown in. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that changes the most during teenage years, and this doesn’t mature until we are in our early twenties. The cerebellum is often linked to the coordination of our cognitive and thinking process. The ability to smooth out all the different intellectual processes to navigate the complicated social life of a teenager and get through intact, is also the function of the cerebellum.

When my three children went through their teenage years, I often found myself asking the same question “when did my once sweet child morph into a lazy, moody, argumentative one?”. Throughout my youngest daughter’s teenage years, I was repeatedly glad of the deep pile carpet that slowed down the slamming door. Unfortunately, it did little to muffle her cries of how I was, yet again, ruining her life. “This is her frontal lobe speaking, not her” became a daily mantra of mine! While I was going through this interesting stage of my daughter’s adolescence, I came across the book “Stumbling on Happiness” by psychologist Daniel Gilbert. In it, Gilbert describes what scientists have discovered about the uniquely human ability to imagine a future and predict what will make us happy. About two thirds of the way through, I came across a graph which should be labelled ‘the most terrifying graph for all parents of teenagers!’ The graph is made up of four independent studies which show a precipitous drop of marital satisfaction, which is closely aligned with broader happiness; this peaks during the teenage years and does not rise again until the first child goes off to college. I truly hope the participants of Study 3 had their village to support them!

Each one of us can agree that our lives are dramatically better because of our children; but, in the maelstrom of the teenage years, knowing we are not alone is a great comfort! We encourage our children to speak out, take chances and innovate; we must create cultures where they feel safe and supported when they do. Developing and maintaining trust takes frequent interactions to demonstrate that students’ best interests are at our very heart; open, honest, and respectful communication, and an understanding and acceptance of communication differences. Trust does not require our students to change who they are; it requires them to be who they are. This first semester has gone so quickly. Penrhos is an exciting place to work. The joy and enthusiasm our students bring to the College every day is remarkable. A day in the life of Penrhos is filled with learning, music, drama, dance, sport, service and so much more. Penrhos is a special community where a sense of trust and connection prevails, and our girls learn so much from the many opportunities provided. My introduction to Penrhos College has been overwhelmingly supportive and positive. Thank you to each person who has made my first semester here such a memorable and enjoyable one. I feel privileged to have been selected as the Head of Secondary School, and I look forward with excitement to what the future might hold, and the strong and trusting relationships we will continue to build.

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Connecting Penrhos to the wider world Paul McCarthy Director of Operations and Co-Curricular It seems the world we are now living in is beyond anything we could have imagined! Humans are social beings, nature intended us to be part of a community but the COVID-19 pandemic has required us to reinvent the way we connect with one other. In these times of global instability and fragility, it’s crucial we confront these challenges together. Take one of the Round Square IDEALS:

Some of the schools and bodies working together across the last two years include: Renaissance International School – Saigon, Vietnam Calgary French and International School – Canada Chadwick School – Los Angeles, USA St Philip’s College – Alice Springs, Australia Round Square Wellbeing Collaboration – Canada Round Square Environmental Conference – Canada

This IDEAL aims to support students in seeking out, discovering and embracing similarities and differences between cultures and nationalities, in ways that promote meaningful and lasting understanding and respect. Over the last two years, whilst our state borders were closed, cutting off physical connections beyond small local groups, Penrhosians found ways to turn separation into strength. We have extended the reach of our College community across the globe via a range of national and international collaboration initiatives through the International Round Square Schools Network. Students can participate in any of the opportunities that spark their interest, whilst connecting with eager, likeminded peers around the world. By embracing rapidly advancing technologies across varied time-zones, we are positively crushing the notion that learning only happens during daylight hours, inside the four walls of a classroom!

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Our 2021 College Captain, Goly Tarom was recently a guest panellist amongst other female student leaders at the Rodean School Girls’ Leadership Summit in South Africa, where she spoke on the ‘leadership challenges of our time.’ This virtual event was a prime example of how easy it is to connect with likeminded youth and engage with different cultures and perspectives across the globe. Our Year 10 and 11 students connected with Belgrano Day School in Argentina, engaging in exciting conversation around the topic of Artificial Intelligence; and some of our bright Year 5 and 6 students virtually joined forces with their counterparts at Newcastle Grammar School to discuss Our Responsible Legacy i.e. how we can make practical changes towards a better future for our planet.

Even when our face-to-face collaborations are once again possible, we will continue to grow international opportunities like these as regular offerings within our Round Square proposition.

"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."

Troubling times can sometimes lead us to fall into disconnect – but, as a community, we have turned recent unprecedented challenges into chances for us to learn, grow and further develop our international networks. Being unable to buy a ticket to fly abroad hasn’t hindered our opportunities – instead, it has prompted us to think more laterally, to broaden our horizons and to find ways to keep forging our global trails across new creative platforms.

Kurt Hahn, German Philosopher, Educator and Round Square Founder.

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'Mission Possible' for our Penrhosians Penrhos College’s annual ‘World’s Greatest Shave’ event was a record-breaker this year, generating more than $71,000 for the Leukemia Foundation’s 'Mission Possible' fundraiser in what was a major boost on the College’s previous record of $33,000. Our 31 Secondary School volunteers were sponsored to shave, cut or colour their hair for what has become an important highlight in the College’s Community Service calendar, with Community Service Captain Emily Lassam, and fellow Year 12 Danielle Soe, leading the charge as the top two fundraisers. "The Greatest Shave has always been a part of our lives at Penrhos. I have been inspired watching the girls in the Margaret Way Courtyard each year, doing something that has a genuine impact", explained Danielle. Danielle grew her hair in preparation for cutting off her ponytails for the cause, while Emily shaved her head. Emily attributes her success in personally raising $26,580 to the supportive network around her. ‘I shared the fundraising link with my friends and family, who then shared it with their friends, workplaces and business contacts,’ said Emily, ‘I could not have done it without them’. Emily said the Leukemia Foundation’s

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vital work towards finding a cure was a major motivator for her. Danielle was excited to discover the various uses for donated hair. "I only learned this year that hair which is too short to be used for wigs is turned into compost, or into floating booms to absorb oil spills at sea, which is amazing". In line with health guidelines in place at the time, the event (which is typically held in the Margaret Way Courtyard) was instead live-streamed from the Rixon Theatre so that families, friends and classmates could be involved in the big day, no matter where in the world they were. Parents of participants were invited to come along, with some even stepping up to help make the first chop! Among the parents present was Rebecca Guthrie, mum to our only Year 11 student involved, Eloise. Rebecca said Eloise had been considering it for some time. "Like so many others, we have a connection to someone who has passed from blood cancer," said Rebecca, "so it was a very personal decision for Eloise to get involved". Having had long hair for most of her life, Eloise’s commitment to cut it off was a big one and born of her strong desire to support such a worthwhile cause.

2022 participating students Name Year Group

Nike Gozali, mum to Year 8 participant Chelsea Pereira, said the World’s Greatest Shave had been something Chelsea had always wanted to be part of. "Chelsea’s older brother, who is at Wesley College, has done this for three years now, and I think this helped inspire her involvement", said Nike. The parents were all very proud of their girls’ involvement. Serene De Gruchy’s father, Steve, said events like this help show girls the positive contribution they can make to society in lots of different ways. After shaving the long locks she’d had for most of her life, Serene said she felt good about participating, while fellow shaver, Caitlyn Kealley, said it was great to support the cause, and that her head felt a little cooler!

Maddie Marshall

Alexa Kelly

Diba Almassi

Matilda Killham

Asha Audeyev

Isabelle Siddall

Jayda Barnes

Chelsea Pereira

Jesslyn Inkiriwang

Lucy Jenkins

Imogen Knight

Serene de Gruchy

Caitlyn Kealley

Jane McCawley

Eloise Guthrie

Amelia Hayes

Dannielle Soe

Alexia Zammit

Ella Major

Sophie Trainer

Sasha Rimington

Bella Critch

Lily Lock-Hall

Tara Walter

Mikaela de Kok

Andrea Koh

Aimee Lee

Emily Lassam

Neve Paulin

Lilah Di Noto

Catherine Shan

Nine of our participants were also daughters of our alumni. Well done to the girls (and proud mums), including: Maddie Marshall (Tanya Brooks, 1991), Matilda Killham (Cassie Killham, nee Alp, 1998),

Penrhos College has a strong ethos of service to others, and Community Service is an integral part of our students’ learning journey. The experience of being involved in service for others enables girls to develop their spirit of giving and social participation, to grow their appreciation of human need, and to enhance their understanding of the individual self and others in the context of the wider community.

Lucy Jenkins (Caroline Jenkins, née Windsor, 1991), Alexia Zammit (Rhodita Zammit, née Marsell, 1988), Ella Major (Judy Baldock, 1988), Bella Critch (Jen Critch, née Edwards, 1995), Lily Lock-Hall (Samantha Lock, 1986), Mikaela de Kok (Michelle de Kok, née Giardina, 1996) and Emily Lassam (Helen Lassam, née Woodley Page, 1991), and to grandaughters Imogen Knight (Sherryl Gamble, née Brown, 1967) and Eloise Guthrie (Gail Harrison, née Caldwell, 1967).

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Penrhos Full Circle: turning a traditional school psychology model on its head Tracy Hart College Psychologist I would wager that mental health has never had a higher profile. Wellbeing awareness campaigns are all around us, wellbeing in schools is everywhere, and the multimillion-dollar wellness industry is realising a consistent increase in profit. All this, and yet our young people are still suffering. Approximately one in four young Australians will experience a common mental health problem (anxiety, depression, substance abuse) in any given year, with girls being particularly vulnerable. In spite of all the research, awareness campaigns, school programs and interventions, there are clearly still some big pieces of the puzzle missing. Here is a theory. We have complicated things. Our minds are problem-solving machines. Combined with access to information, we are hungry to learn more about what we can do. We want to know all the tips and tricks to solve our problems. When we experience difficulties, we want to know how to get rid of them; when we experience troubling feelings - like sadness, worry, anger - we want to get rid of them; and we want to offer our children the knowledge and resources to fix things too.

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So, we look to research to find out what works; there is supporting evidence for all the tried and tested strategies we know of and practice. We strive to eat well, sleep and exercise. We teach our children and young people about their emotions and social skills. We focus on strengths and look for meaning in what we do. We teach our young people about their brains, and we support the practices of mindfulness and gratitude. We arm them with as much knowledge and awareness as we can. And that is a good thing, right? Of course, it is. But maybe it’s just the icing on the cake. What about the basic ingredients? As humans, we are all wired for connection. Schools can provide a safe place in which to develop friendships, social skills and networks. Relationships with teachers and the broader school community provide a safe environment in which children and young people can grow and develop. Everyone knows that finding other adults as mentors for young people is important - but we should not forget that parents have a superpower that no-one can replace.

So, what if we were to put more resource into supporting our parents; arming them with the skills and understanding they need to support wellbeing, right from the very beginning? What if we developed parents’ confidence to tune in to their child’s emotions; to talk with young people about how they feel; to sit with big ugly emotions, and respond to anxiety, worry and being overwhelmed. What if we could assist parents in finding helpful strategies for dealing with social media, for talking about sex, relationships, pornography and body awareness. What if we could support them in building strong connections as well as in setting boundaries and mapping out consequences, for young people in this ever-more complex world? Full Circle psychologists do just this.

“Supportive family relationships, including honest and open communication with parents and adults is critical”. Our work at Penrhos further aligns with the 2022 joint call from psychology academics across the country to make evidence-based supports for parents more widely available. Maybe the mental health and wellbeing puzzle is not as complicated as we think. To learn more about the Full Circle program and upcoming sessions with Tracy Hart, please head to penrhos.wa.edu.au.

The 2021 Commissioner for Children and Young People’s report 'Exploring the decline in wellbeing for Australian girls', highlights the number one protective factor we can employ as follows:

* Data collated by Mental Health First Aid Australia www.mhfa.com.au ** Commissioner for Children and Young People WA 2021, Exploring the decline in wellbeing for Australian girls. Commissioner for Children and Young People WA. *** Policies are needed to increase the reach and impact of evidence-based parenting supports: a call for a population-based approach to supporting parents, children, and families. Doyle, Frances L., et al.

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Winter reflections Paul Whitfield Chaplain Like a mirror bears our resemblance, humanity represents God. Even when humanity stumbles and our rule over creation and relationships with each other seem cursed, we’re told we still bear God’s image. This renders each human being as priceless - God esteems each one of us highly and expects us to treat others as we would our maker Himself. In the ancient world, people believed that some individuals bore God’s image. The Egyptian Pharoah Ramses II declared himself “the image of God”. In Jesus’ day, coins proclaimed the Emperor Tiberius’ father Augustus was divine. In contrast, the Bible claims that each individual is made in God’s image and each one of us is therefore of equal and measureless value.

Your child ignores you in public or a peer makes a joke at your expense – we all experience times when we feel disrespected. At these moments, we may well ask “If you won’t respect me, why should I respect you?” The Bible’s answer to this question takes us right back to the beginning. In the very first chapter, we hear God say,

“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

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As this idea of equality in God’s image spread through the Roman world, it brought with it positive social change. Christians collected unwanted infants who had been discarded by their parents and raised them as their own; during epidemics, believers risked their lives to care for the sick; wealthy converts showed they were serious about their faith by setting their slaves free. Jesus’ followers emancipated slaves by purchasing them at the marketplace and even raided slave ships to liberate the prisoners. Sadly, Christians failed to eradicate slavery and the Bible was even used to justify the enslavement of African people in America. But still then, forced to read the Bible in secret, captive people heard messages of hope confirming what they suspected – that slavery was wrong and that God would judge their oppressors. As former slave Frederick Douglas wrote,

“I love the pure, peaceable and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding… hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason… for calling the religion of this land Christianity.” The British politician William Wilberforce reached the same conclusion a generation earlier. In understanding from the Bible that every slave was a woman and a sister or a man and a brother, Wilberforce argued that those who bear God’s image cannot be commodified. For 20 years he persevered against those who claimed slavery was an economic necessity, until finally the British parliament banned the slave trade and eventually outlawed slavery. Today, slavery continues - most commonly in an economic form. While the proportion and number of people living in extreme poverty has fallen in modern times, there are still hundreds of millions trapped in its cycle. Those of us with abundance have a precious opportunity.

It’s a joy to find a community committed to respect at Penrhos – I see it practised here every day. I’ve found students embracing a diversity of interests and gifts; I’ve seen money and awareness raised for important charities and for those affected by illness. Even our current Winter Appeal is distributing excess clothes from our cupboards to those in need - from service learning to addressing reconciliation, there’s a lot to celebrate.

The Bible claims, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD”. In fact, Christian teachers right back to the fourth century have argued that the poor have an inherent claim on the goods of the rich. According to Basil of Caesarea, “The bread you store belongs to the hungry. The clothes you accumulate belong to the naked.” Historically, out of such understanding grew notions of natural rights - such as the right to a fair trial, self-preservation, self-defense, property and the necessities of life.

But there’s always room for growth. If we believe each individual bears God’s image and is of priceless worth, then we owe it to them to treat them like we would our maker - even when their actions don’t warrant such respect. According to the Bible, when someone is rude, or impatient, or unfair it doesn’t change their value. If we remember this in the moment that we feel disrespected, it has the power to transform our response – and, in responding with respect regardless, we can together change our world for the better.

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Life as a boarder: Molly Greaves Molly Greaves Year 12 boarder Why did your parents decide to send you to Penrhos? Perth holds many more opportunities than my hometown of Dunsborough. In discovering the location of Penrhos College and all the facilities on offer, we knew it was the place to be. I’ve always been determined to improve and develop my hockey skills - we knew I needed to go to Perth for this, and we could see Penrhos College would be the perfect place to help support me. It had a great reputation in the boarding community so, when I had the opportunity to attend, I took it! How did you feel when you first came to Penrhos? When I first arrived, I could tell straight away how comfortable the girls were just being themselves.

It was clear the teachers were all extremely supportive and caring towards the students, so I felt immediately secure and very excited to experience everything Penrhos had to offer.

I think I believed from the very beginning that being at Penrhos would have a positive impact on me. What did you find most challenging or difficult in your first few weeks? As I only joined Penrhos in Year 11, I was not only dealing with the big move to Perth and into the Boarding House, but also with the huge jump into ATAR. It was challenging to experience such significant changes all at once, but the exceptional support of the College staff and boarding community helped me through it. How often do you travel home to spend time with your family? Originally, when I started at Penrhos College, I planned to travel home every weekend - it’s only a three-hour trip, so that would have been possible. However, I quickly found my weekends packed with so many activities and sports that I didn’t want to miss out! These days, I go home for holidays and mid-term breaks to see my family and my friends from down south.

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Does your family come to visit you here at the Boarding House? Always! My mum and dad make the trip up every fortnight to see me and watch my hockey games. As I only see them once a fortnight, our time together is always very special, and I really enjoy their visits. I also love returning home in the breaks and getting to spend quality time with them.

What are the benefits of being a boarding student at Penrhos? The boarders are very much connected as their own special group. Whether it’s sitting together in the Margaret Way Courtyard or at designated tables at College events, you always know there will be a spot for you. What has your highlight been while boarding at Penrhos? I was always assured that if I chose to make the Boarding House my second home, I’d meet some of the most amazing friends. This was true, but it’s a lot more than that. We have gone through so much together – I feel the relationships I’ve built are not just friendships, but a sisterhood!

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A boarding parent's perspective Prema Sexton Mother of Grace Sexton (Year 11 boarder)

On Monday 28 January 2019, time stood still. Grace left our family farm in Cuballing and set off to begin her greatest adventure yet: Grace was heading off to boarding school. We packed the car full to the roof and squeezed into our seats for the journey to Perth. It was the strangest of days for me; one of the happiest, but also one of the most heart-wrenching. While we were saying goodbye to local friends and connections, we were also on the way to fulfilling our hopes and dreams for Grace. I think the anticipation of exciting opportunities and growth went some way at least to balancing out our fears. Belonging to the Penrhos community was something we had always strived for as a family, we always dreamt of Grace being able to access a range of subjects and innovative learning environments, and Penrhos had an outstanding reputation in the boarding community, so we were thrilled when Grace secured her place at the College. We knew she would have all kinds of opportunities to grow, to thrive and to become a strong young woman; we knew she would experience a wide range of academic and sporting offerings, and we knew she would be welcomed into a diverse and vibrant community that celebrates individual successes and strengths.

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As a mother, I felt for a long time that the days I had to farewell Grace would not get easier. The first term we spent apart consisted of long-awaited visits ending with long, tearful drives back to Perth. There were late-night phone calls, more tears, and those inevitable moments filled with guilt and wondering as we asked ourselves ‘have we done the right thing?’ Fast forward to 2022 and it all seems so distant - those hard moments seem so insignificant now. With the positive support of everyone at the Penrhos Boarding House, my ‘mummy blues’ quickly calmed as I learned to step back and appreciate all the ‘growing up’ our daughter was doing how much she was enjoying it! It was important to us that Grace would feel part of a bigger boarding ‘family’ while also having her own personal space. The design of the Boarding House definitely helped with this over the years, with the College’s focus on independence really shining out for us. Our daughter was encouraged to stand on her own two feet and, in doing so, she found the confidence to start making some great decisions and find new networks for herself. The connections Grace made with fellow boarders, day students and across the wider community are what helped her continue to transition so well from our

regional community to Perth. Our family was made to feel welcome by other boarding families at social events, and we have very much valued the strong, supportive network of other mums, upon which we have depended for helpful advice or a kind, listening ear. I frequently had a revolving door of boarding ‘sisters’, who returned home with Grace during long weekends, and we enjoyed getting to know new friends from all over WA. The joy and laughter these young women brought when they came to stay was incredible - and Grace was fortunate to also be invited to visit some of her friends during breaks too. She treasures these special memories and I know they will be priceless to her in future life. The friendships Grace forged also extended to many day girls - so many exceptional families treated our daughter as one of their own, ferrying her around to sporting training and events in football, rowing and hockey. With their assistance, Grace was able to access these co-curricular opportunities and for this we have been so very thankful. In return, we have enjoyed bringing some ‘city kids’ back to the farm to teach them to drive, ride a motorbike, sort piglets and help with harvesting. Grace has always loved connecting with others; she thrives when she can assist and support those around her. The modelling and guidance she received at Penrhos - from both older and younger students, from staff and across the wider community - has been nothing short of phenomenal. I know Grace’s connections will continue to grow beyond the school gates and will serve her well in what promises to be her successful future. Grace’s younger brother has since begun his own boarding adventure at Penrhos’ brother school, Wesley College. I am so grateful for the positive experience we had with Grace, there is no doubt the experience helped make his start smoother; it’s so nice that she can now even give him an encouraging wave at combined College events. Time no longer stands still for us; instead, it rushes by far too quickly. Despite our best efforts to slow the pace and enjoy the ride, the end of Grace’s school journey is fast approaching. Impending graduation events and milestones will be met with tears of pure joy and pride in our achievements as a family and wider College community. Our daughter’s heart is bigger, braver and stronger because of her boarding experience at Penrhos, and so is mine.

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From the Penrhos Foundation President Chris Gee Foundation President Meet the Board 2022 Board members Chris Gee President Sally Audeyev Vice President Alistair Baron Secretary Kay Kelly Treasurer Bruce Broadbent Helen Jones Kay Lee Molly Delaney Simon Woods Representatives from the College who sit on the Foundation Board: Kalea Haran Principal Stephen Cooper Director, Finance and Administration Paula Barrow Director, Marketing and Development Sarah Woods / Jaimi Rumbold Development Coordinator Karen Ambrose Board Secretary

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This is Penrhos’ platinum year – our 70th anniversary. Our Annual Giving campaign to commemorate this special occasion asks each family and member of our alumni to please donate $70 (or any multiple thereof) towards our Red Dragon bursaries, so that we may give more girls the opportunity to access the wonderful learning environment Penrhos offers. The Foundation will match each donation towards our target of $50,000. At this half way point in the year, I am delighted to let you know that we are half way towards achieving our target – our current total stands at $27,821 and 35 members of our community have contributed. Imagine if just 10% of our 10,000 alumni and 10% of our current parent community were to donate $70 this year, then let’s add 10% of our wider network of former staff, grandparents and friends. We would raise more than $100,000! Some other like schools and Colleges have a long history of giving – particularly, for many boys’ schools, philanthropy is very well established. Giving is in the very fabric of boys’ alumni networks and yet the same tradition does not exist in girls’ schools. Perhaps this disparity dates back to the days when girls’ education was not valued as highly, when girls’ careers were not prioritised and when the positive impact our daughters can make in the world was not recognised, supported and celebrated as it is today. Other, longer-established girls’ schools are ahead of us in growing their cultures of philanthropy – our journey at Penrhos is in its relative infancy; it is steady and committed; with the support

of our generous community, there is no doubt we will continue to grow our participation year on year until our whole community – and especially our students – reaps the rewards of an established culture of giving. Philanthropy, drawn from Ancient Greek philos and anthrõpos, translates as a love of humanity or mankind - it means to benefit people you do not know. This is the ethos or culture the Foundation is seeking to establish at Penrhos. Over the last few years, we have worked hard to raise our profile as an active force for good, a positive change-maker – the Foundation is both a fundraiser and a funder; it protects and invests a core fund that safeguards the future financial sustainability of the College – but its role reaches far beyond the stewardship of funds and firmly into the sphere of community engagement. We recognise that we need to nurture our community, to consistently engage with our alumni, parents, grandparents and friends so that our community aspires to then give back to Penrhos, in what ultimately becomes a virtuous cycle of giving. We need to earn, and continue to earn, the ‘right to ask’. My own experience as Foundation President suggests there is some lack of understanding around the need to give – our parents tend to think “I’ve already paid my school fees, so why should I?” But philanthropic giving is not just about supporting your child’s education; it is about investing in other people’s children and the students of the future. School fees support our daily operations, our day-to-day programs and operating expenses; they allow us to provide strong co-curricular activities. Just 70% of our running costs are covered by tuition and boarding fees. Our Foundation funds go above and beyond routine costs, and we must continue to grow these funds to sustain the required growth. Without Foundation support, the College would not be able to build, reinvigorate or develop our facilities to nearly the same extent. We would not be able to participate in and develop as many exciting new experiences and we would not be able to offer educational opportunities to those aspiring young women who cannot afford them through our Red Dragon bursaries. Helping Hand In raising the profile of the Foundation as a funder and facilitator, we have so far funded a whole range of projects based on ideas submitted by staff and students via the Helping Hand initiative. We have supported our Ngala Maya student performances, we have connected

with our Kobeelya alumni around supporting their centenary celebrations this year, we have provided the College with a pizza oven (known as the ‘Penrhos Pizza Hut’) and we funded an 8-week wellness program for our boarders. For staff, we are proud to help support the Penrhos 70-Year Staff Reunion in celebration of our platinum year. Each year, the Foundation will make $100,000 available to fund selected student and staff projects – if you have an idea that would benefit the College, please email Jaimi Rumbold, Development Coordinator on rumboj@penrhos.wa.edu.au or fill in the form on the Penrhos website. The flow of ideas is steadily increasing, and I look forward to sharing news of selected and delivered projects in my next piece. Thanks to our donors There are three main arms of philanthropy: bequests, donations and capital works. In giving to the Foundation and to the College, you contribute to a shared legacy. The Penrhos College Foundation sincerely thanks the following donors, who have generously given since the last issue of the Penrhosian in December 2021. J. Allen S. Audeyev J. Balfe P. Best C. Burton G. Cacho H. Carr S. Cheung E. Chu C. Cutinha D & T. Cutts L. Dawe M. Delaney H. Dowzall M. Dunstan N. Freeman

C. Gee E. Goeree A. Gunawan K. Hall A. Hamilton S. Hampson C. Hannah J. Harris E. Hillard D & G. Izzard C. Jenkins H. Jones K. Kelly F. Kermode K. Lee R. Leuba

E. Lysle K. Marmion P. McLellan M. Pass K. Pilatti F. Richardson P. San Martin S. Tan C. Troy L & R. Uppill H. Van den Broeck J. Whitaker D. Wong R. Zammit

We remain committed to ensuring everyone has an option to give to Penrhos in a way that is individually meaningful, and we remain ever grateful to our generous community for your ongoing support. It only remains for me to thank my fellow Board members, and representatives of the College, for their time and expertise. I value their contributions greatly. I wish everyone a restful holiday and I look forward to what already promises to be a full and rewarding second semester.

THE PENRHOSIAN

WHAT'S ON

The Wizard of Oz Thursday 28 July, Friday 29 July, Saturday 30 July, plus matinee at 2pm on Saturday 30 July Time: 7pm | Rixon Theatre Tickets on sale Monday, 18 July at 9am This year the Penrhos College production is The Wizard of Oz, based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Our students and Drama department have been busily preparing for this spectacular event - with a number of show dates on offer, this dazzling piece of entertainment is definitely not to be missed!

The Wizard of Oz - Pre-Production Soirée

Field Days

Thursday, 28 July Time: 6 - 7pm As part of our opening night celebrations, we are inviting our alumni to join us for complimentary preshow drinks and canapes. Please note that tickets to this pre-show drinks event are strictly limited, reserved for members of our alumni and allocated on a first-come, first served basis. Please note that The Wizard of Oz production tickets must be booked separately.

Our Head of Boarding and College Admissions and Growth Manager attend Field Day events and host Regional Roadshows every year to meet future, present and past Penrhos families. We love heading inland to demystify the boarding transition process for prospective families and to ensure the right information is available.

Father Daughter Dinner Wednesday, 17 August Time: 6.30 – 11pm | Beaumonde on the Point The Penrhos College Foundation President, Chris Gee, together with the Foundation Board invites the Class of 2022 to the Father Daughter Dinner. Girls are advised to visit the Heads of Year office to place their names on the seating plan, once payment is complete.

Junior School Disco Friday, 5 August Time: 4.30 – 7pm | Junior School Courtyard and Hall Year 3 - 6 students are invited to a fun night of dancing at the Junior School Disco, supported by Friends of Penrhos. Meanwhile, parents are invited to enjoy refreshments in the Colwyn Centre from 5.30 - 7pm Tickets include food, drinks will be available via a cash bar.

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The following events will be held at various venues – please note no connection is needed with the College to attend, everyone is welcome and we would love to see you there! Karratha FeNaCING Festival Saturday, 30 July and Sunday, 31 July Mingenew Mid-West Expo Friday, 12 August Dowerin Field Days Wednesday, 24 August and Thursday, 25 August Newdegate Field Days Wednesday, 7 September and Thursday, 8 September Esperance Agricultural Show Friday, 14 October and Saturday, 15 October Katanning Agricultural Society Annual Show Saturday, 22 October

WHAT'S ON

Founders Day

Valedictory Events and Flower Day

Tuesday, 6 September Time: 11 - 2pm | Penrhos College Chapel Past students, staff and friends of Penrhos are warmly invited to join us to celebrate the founding of our College (originally MLC South Perth). This year's event will be particularly special, as we mark our 70year anniversary in acknowledging the College’s rich history and the significant contributions of those who forged it.

To celebrate our graduating class of 2022, the following traditional valedictory events will take place.

This very special service will include the presentation of alumni badges to daughters and granddaughters of Penrhos Old Girls.

Thank You Sundowner and Tuition Fee Raffle

Staff Reunion Saturday, 8 October Time: 6 - 10pm Past and present staff are invited to gather at the College to join us in celebrating our 70-year anniversary. Join us to reflect on fond memories and celebrate lasting friendships. This is a free event, with substantial drinks and canapes included.

Tuesday, 18 October | P Day Wednesday, 19 October | Student Council Assembly and Valedictory Service and Dinner Thursday, 20 October | Flower Day and Year 12 Prize Giving Ceremony

Friday, 11 November Time: 6pm | Colwyn Centre Penrhos College is sincerely grateful to everyone who generously offers their time, services and expertise in support of our programs and activities. Thank you for making Penrhos the wonderful and vibrant community that it is - please join us so we may thank you for your contribution. Partners welcome. To make this night extra special we will also draw the 2023 Tuition Fees Raffle, where one lucky family will win a $20,000 credit towards their 2023 school fees!

Kobeelya Garden Party

Picnic and Pictures

Monday, 10 October To mark our 70-year anniversary and the 100-year anniversary of our former sister school Kobeelya, all alumni are officially invited to a special afternoon in our beautiful gardens. The 70-year Garden Party will take place on the Boarders’ Lawn, and will include a surprise tribute to Kobeelya College in this their centenary year.

Friday, 18 November Time: 5.30 - 8pm | Junior School Oval In what is always a hugely popular event, we will once again show a free outdoor movie on the big screen at Penrhos. An ice-cream van and sausage sizzle will be on site, plus popcorn, lollies and drinks for purchase… or pack your own picnic.

Back to 1952 - 70 Year Anniversary Event

Christmas at the College

Saturday, 15 October Time: 7 - 11pm | Llew Woodford Function Centre We're taking you back to 1952 for this fun themed event celebrating the College's 70-year anniversary. Dress to impress for this evening of themed décor, entertainment and refreshments.

Friday, 2 December Join us for this exciting, inaugural event – it’s sure to be an afternoon of Christmas festivities like no other! Guests will be treated to musical performances by our talented student choirs and ensembles in the Rixon Theatre, followed by a sunset picnic in the Amphitheatre including live kids’ entertainment, food trucks and lots more!

To register for these events please head to penrhos.wa.edu.au/events

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Photo gallery: Penrhos College events

1 - 4 5 - 9

Year 12 Ball Swimming Carnival

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10 - 12 13 - 15

Cross Country Carnival Junior School Pyjama Day

18 19

16 - 18 19 - 20

World's Greatest Shave Mother's Day

21 - 22 23 - 27

Year 12 Halfway Day Amanda Young Fair

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Photo gallery: Penrhos College events

1 - 4 5 - 6 7 - 1

Year 12 Mother Daughter Dinner Head of the River send off Athletics Carnival

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11 - 13 14 - 16 17 - 19

Penrhos College Rowing Regatta Shakers and Stirrers National Boarding Week

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Biannual magazine for the Penrhos alumni community

Extraordinary Women… and a few good men In recognition of the members of our alumni who studied with us as boys (1952– early 1980s)

Contents

From the President of the Alumni Committee

From the Old Kobeelyans' Association President

Celebrating 70 years - where it all began

8 10

Kobeelya College celebrates 100 years

A Penrhos family tree with strong roots

Out and about

Class of 2012: 10 Year Reunion

Save the date

COVER PHOTO Judith Munns, our first 1952 student Photo by Abbie Hunt

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From the President of the Alumni Committee Helen Carr Alumni Committee President

OVID-19 has brought us a year like no other, but we tackled the challenges of lockdowns and restrictions in true Penrhosian style; with unwavering strength and determination. Our alumni have drawn upon newfound flexibility and creativity to bring our social events to fruition. 2022 is an especially significant year as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Penrhos College and the 100th anniversary of our former sister school, Kobeelya. With such rich histories, that began some 30 years apart, both College communities come together this year to commemorate their special milestones. This year ahead will be filled with festivities, tributes and events, providing us with opportunities to reflect and share memories together - we look forward to many more on the horizon.

Looking forward To mark the occasion of our 70th anniversary, we’re inviting our College community to give the gift of a Penrhos education to an aspirational student who would not otherwise be able to access it. We are appealing for donations of $70 (or more!) to contribute to our Red Dragon bursary fund, so we can give more girls the opportunity to experience the spirit of the Red Dragon and all Penrhos has to offer. The Red Dragon bursaries are awarded to students who demonstrate all-round good citizenship – girls who will flourish in Penrhos’ stimulating environment, but whose parents may be unable - for financial reasons - to consider Penrhos College for their daughter. To make a donation, please head to penrhos.wa.edu.au/giving.

The spirit of our alumni is stronger than ever – this is brought to life when multi-generational families (including sisters and brothers, parents and grandparents) come together to celebrate their shared educational legacy. We eagerly anticipate our hugely successful Shakers and Stirrers networking evening with the Old Wesley Collegians, set to be held on Friday, 24 June at The Windsor Hotel in South Perth. This annual event is always a great fun night and we hope to see some of our recent graduates there to carry the flag for our young alumni. Our 18-month Leavers’ Reunion is an opportunity for our youngest alumni to reconnect with friends and College staff – this year’s event is scheduled to take place on Friday, 2 September at The Windsor Hotel. We look forward to hearing where our graduates’ journeys beyond the College gates have taken them since leaving! Rehearsals for the 2022 production of The Wizard of Oz are well-underway, with students and staff busily preparing for what’s sure to be another stunning performance. All alumni are invited to the PreProduction Soirée on Thursday, 28 July for drinks with your alumni friends – come and enjoy a glass of bubbles with us before the show! This year, our annual Founders’ Day celebrations on Tuesday, 6 September will be extra significant as we will also be commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of Penrhos College (originally MLC South Perth). On this special day, the Penrhos community past and present - will come together to acknowledge our College’s rich history and those who forged it. This year also marks the 100-year anniversary of Kobeelya, a unique school in Katanning which operated as Kobeelya Church of England Girls’ School from 1922-1975 and Kobeelya Penrhos from 1976-1986. We value our shared history and special relationship with the Old Kobeelyans’ Association – made up of former students and staff of the school – and look forward to celebrating with Kobeelya both in Katanning and on campus here in Perth.

Vie w f r om t h e A lumn i Lookout

I’d like to most sincerely thank the members of our Alumni Committee, which has evolved immensely over recent years. We’ve welcomed seven new members this year and are grateful for their valuable contributions already. It is always refreshing to gain new perspectives from alumni, parents and recent College leavers - all are most welcome. 2022 Alumni Committee and their graduating years: President | Helen Carr

Class of 1995

Vice President | Caroline Jenkins

Class of 1991

Secretary | Natalie Freeman

Class of 1984

Treasurer | Amanda Gould

Class of 2012

Amanda Yaksich (Watson)

Class of 1976

Margot Michailides (Gardner)

Class of 1978

Avina Tarom

Class of 2021

Gina Cacho (Fowler)

Class of 1995

Maria Caraiscos (Hajigabriel)

Class of 1984

Loretta Dease

Class of 1961

Vicki Doherty

Class of 1970

Kate Guest

Class of 2002

Michelle de Kok (Giardina)

Class of 1996

Maddison Taylor-Gillett

Class of 2014

Leanne Caruso (Giardina)

Class of 1997

Grace Hirte

Class of 2018

Deborah Hirte (Strapp)

Class of 1990

Molly Delaney

Class of 2011

Sarah Klahn Jolley

Class of 1998

Claire Walshe (Rodoreda)

Class of 2005

Sue Hampson (Edwards)

Class of 1980

Although we haven’t let recent challenging times prevent us from staying connected, we look forward to fully resuming our face-toface meetings soon. If you’d like to help our Committee strive for the highest in every respect, please email us at alumni@penrhos. wa.edu.au for details of how you can get involved (all new ideas also welcome!).

EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN

From the Old Kobeelyans' Association President

YEARS

O F K O B E E LYA

Jill Clarke Old Kobeelyans' Association President 2022 is a very special and significant year for Kobeelya, as we celebrate the school’s 100-year anniversary. The centenary is an opportunity to honour and celebrate our rich history and the contributions made by those before us. As an Association, it is our passion and responsibility to uphold and nurture ongoing traditions and friendships between former Kobeelyans and Penrhos Kobeelyans. We consider the connection between our communities to be strengthened by our joint milestone celebrations, as Penrhos College marks its 70-year anniversary.

The iconic bell has always been a significant landmark in Kobeelya’s grounds - it has recently been renovated and relocated to the front of the Coach House Museum, home to the Kobeelya and Kobeelya Penrhos school collection. Thanks to a 2020 fundraising project, this important work was made possible and I am sincerely grateful to the contributions of generous sponsors. The bell has been silent since June 1986, when the school ‘closed its doors’ for the final time - it will be fantastic to hear it ring once more.

We look forward to Kobeelya’s 100 Centenary and Reunion in September, marked by a weekend filled with lunches, museum visits, walking tours of the grounds and the Centenary Dinner on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, a service will be held at St Michael and All Angels Chapel - led by Old Girl, Rev Marion Prowse (1963) - followed by breakfast, to round-out a wonderful weekend. Bookings are flooding in from across the country, with Old Girls planning to travel from interstate to attend in a welcome boost to our more local and regional turn-out.

We are looking forward to continuing celebrating our Centenary throughout the year, and we hope to see some familiar faces at our upcoming events – be sure to save the dates!

As happens at every significant reunion, the former Boarding Houses - Burbidge and St Anne's - will come to life once again as they fill with warm chatter, laughter and the sharing of fond memories between old friends. I recall the ‘out of bounds’ upstairs wooden floorboard creaking loudly if a student were to attempt sneaking into dinner late… we will see if anyone dares to brave the boards again, so many years later!

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2022

Dates Pink Lunch

Saturday, 30 July Zamia Café Kings Park

Working Bee

August, dates to be confirmed Kobeelya College

100th Centenary and Reunion

Saturday, 10 September – Sunday, 11 September Kobeelya College

OKA Annual General Meeting

Saturday, 10 September - 2.30pm Kobeelya College

Katanning Show

Friday, 21 October - Saturday, 22 October

Combined Independent Girls Schools (CIGS) Golf Day Monday, 10 October Cottesloe Golf Club

If you would like further information about any of the upcoming events, please contact Jill Clarke at okapresident1@gmail.com

elebrating 70 years - where it all began Merilyn Orchard Archivist

2022 marks the 70-year anniversary of Penrhos College. In this article, I would like to take you on a journey back in time, to learn how it all began… Before there was Penrhos College, there was Mends Street Hall. What is now known as the Old Mill Theatre was originally built in 1899 as a Mechanics’ Institute Hall – it was used for concerts, a library and billiards parlor. Over time, the Hall was acquired by the South Perth Council in 1913 and over the next 37 years used as a venue for a number of private schools for children living around South Perth. As part of my research, I referred to a book published in 1988 by Susan Clarke, Penrhos: Her Heritage, which traced a historical link from schools established at Mend Street Hall beginning with Miss Burnet's 1901 School right through to the founding of the Methodist Ladies' College, South Perth, in 1951, eventually becoming Penrhos College. The discovery of gold in Western Australia from 1885 saw an increase in activity around Perth and surrounding suburbs, with many new families moving into the South Perth area. Mends Street Hall was first used as a school in 1901, when Miss Burnet, a local teacher, set up a school for the local children. After a few years, Miss Burnet was ready to hand the responsibility 1

EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN

of the school to Miss Beatrice Orchard in 1904 who renamed the school to Neeamarra. Miss Orchard was not trained as a teacher but had a natural aptitude and great love for children, she ran the school from 1904 - 1912 for around 25 children. Unfortunately for Miss Orchard, a new teacher had arrived in South Perth, Miss Binsted, with a teaching degree from Oxford, which caused a shift from parents who decided to send their children to Miss Binsted. In 1912 Miss Binsted took over the school and it was renamed again, this time becoming South Perth High School. The school continued to run out of the Mends Street Hall from 1912 until 1918 with enrolments of 26 children in most years. Miss Agnes Cross was the next Principal and she renamed the College Raith Girls Grammar School with boys still remaining at the school. A small boarding house was established in the home of Mr and Mrs Gibbs, parents of May Gibbs one of Australia’s foremost children’s authors and illustrators, on Harvest Terrace. The Boarding House later moved to Professor Walter Murdoch, Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, home on Mill Point Road. Miss Cross left the school in 1922 due to family commitments in Melbourne. During the period of 1923 – 1933, the school remained known as Raith Girls’ Grammar School and four different Principals managed the school through this period. 3

Miss Jill Hargrave who was an alumni of Neeamarra and South Perth High School, finished her education at Miss Parnell’s Girls’ High School and went on to complete her teacher training in 1923. Her love for teaching was so great that she set up St Chads, an infant school in her home for children up to the age of eight in 1926. However, the school quickly outgrew the space on her side veranda so Miss Hargrave successfully applied to continue using Mend Street Hall when Raith Girls Grammar School closed in 1933. The name Raith remained until 1935 when Miss Hargrave changed it to St Anne’s Kindergarten and Junior School. With a lack of opportunity for expansion at the Mends Street Hall, the Miss Hargrave asked her brother, architect Jack Hargrave, to help her locate land and build her a school. The new red brick building, built by Jack, was located at 13 – 15 Angelo Street, South Perth - it housed a large general hall, classrooms and kitchen. From accounts from staff and students the new location was opposite the Zoo where the sounds of the birds and animals amused the children. Visits from cheeky squirrels and peacocks looking for scraps after lunch were a daily occurrence. The school experienced harder times during World War II, with shortages of supplies and a general fear for safety, but staff always made St Anne’s a safe and happy place. By 1951, student numbers had grown to approximately 140; however, the future fell into doubt with Miss Hargrave deciding that she would step back from running the school due to family health issues. 4

In 1951, the Hargrave family approached the Methodist Church, who bought St Anne’s to be a sister school of Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) Claremont, it then opened as MLC South Perth in 1952 with Miss Jill Hargrave staying on in a teaching role. With a diminished pool of teaching candidates available due to the war, the school faced a problem with the appointment of a Principal. Mrs Margaret Way had been involved with St Anne’s as a parent, part of the sub-committee involved with the MLC purchase of St Anne’s and an alumni of MLC Claremont. She later became part of our history with her appointment as the first interim Principal. Mrs Way, who was a qualified accountant, initially agreed to take the Principal role to ‘hold the fort’ until a suitable candidate was found. She stayed on for close to 20 years, until she retired in 1971. She remains a significant part of the Penrhos history and an inspiration to current students and alumni. In the next chapter of our 70 year historical series we will look at the life of Mrs Margaret Way and the independent identity the school gained, with changes to the College’s location and name. To learn more about the rich history of Penrhos College, head to penrhos.wa.edu.au. Imagery: 1 St Anne's on Angelo Street, South Perth c. 1950s 2 Miss Jill Hargrave c. 1920s 3 Students at St Anne's Primary School at Mend Street Hall c. 1937 - 1938 * 4 St Anne's report card 5 Jill Hargrave in front yard of the Hargrave residence, South Perth c. 1950s * 6 Mend Street Hall (current) *Image source: City of South Perth Local History Collection

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FEATURE STORY

Kobeelya College celebrates 100 years Merilyn Orchard Archivist In December 2021, I took a drive down to Katanning with the aim of finding out more about Kobeelya, the school that I had read and heard so much about – I was very excited to have the opportunity to learn more about its historic connections with Penrhos. The unique relationship between the two schools was originally established in 1976, when Penrhos College began managing Kobeelya, which it continued to do for a full decade until Kobeelya closed in1986. This year, Kobeelya Girls’ School celebrates 100 years since first opening its doors in Katanning and, as I now know very well from my visit, it is obvious there is still much interest and love for this school in evidence in the area even 36 years after its closure. The foundational footprints of Kobeelya can be traced back to 1917 when, in the home of Reverend William Burbidge and Mrs Mary Eleanor Burbidge, a small group set out with the determined ambition to provide a wide and thorough education for the children of Katanning. The school they founded was formally registered with the Education Department in 1919 as Katanning Church of England Girls’ School. By 1921, the school had 21-day students, including 14 boarders, and was rapidly outgrowing its original home at the St Andrews Rectory. Kobeelya (an Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of rest’) was the name of the home of former Katanning MLA, Hon Frederick Henry Piesse – it was one of the area’s most significant buildings, with extensive grounds. In 1922, Kobeelya was bought by the Bunbury diocese of the Anglican Church for £5,000 with the purpose of moving the school and its boarding house to this location on Tuesday, 12 September 1922 with 22 students, 17 being boarding students.

years and again during WWII. A small number of boys were once again enrolled at Kobeelya during the Penrhos era, as day students. Students came mainly from the nearby regional farming areas as well as from Perth and areas to the north of WA. A small number of girls from Singapore, Malaysia and other overseas countries also received their schooling at Kobeelya. In 1976, after a few challenging years with enrolments, Kobeelya became part of Penrhos College, aiming to provide students with the opportunity to enjoy the best of both a ‘city’ and ‘country’ education. After struggling with declining enrolments in a time of economic recession, the difficult decision was made to eventually close the school 10 years later, in 1986. The Old Kobeelyans Association, founded in 1929, brings together a group of former students and staff (from both Kobeelya Church of England Girls’ School 1922 -1975 and later from Kobeelya Penrhos 1976 - 1986) whose aim it is to keep the Kobeelya story alive. Old Kobeelyans Association president Jill Clarke says the group is this year looking forward to celebrating both its unique history and the special friendships that were formed over the school’s 60 years. “We are fortunate to have so many Old Kobeelyans who are still very much connected to and passionate about our school - we are equally proud of our continuing connection with Penrhos College,” says Jill. Our Penrhos Principal, Kalea Haran, spent some time with Association members in 2021 and plans to revisit later this year for the centenary celebrations, further strengthening the links between the two schools.

Unlike other schools of the time, Kobeelya offered a unique educational opportunity for students, with a purposeful balance between academic, agricultural and physical activities. Horse riding was a special feature of Kobeelya and at one time there were as many as 40 horses stabled at the school.

“Our commitment is to keep the Kobeelya and Kobeelya Penrhos school history, friendships and connections alive,” says Kalea. “In 2021, we invited Kobeelyan alumni to register with Penrhos, giving them access to all the benefits available to our Penrhos alum. There is no doubt that we consider Old Kobeelyans to be part of our Penrhos family.”

Although mainly a boarding school for girls, a number of boys did attend the Kindergarten classes in the early

The Old Kobeelyans have been working hard on plans for their 100-year anniversary celebrations, including a

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FEATURE STORY

YEARS

O F K O B E E LY A reunion which will take place in Katanning on Saturday, 10 September 2022. Penrhos College will also host celebrations on campus in Perth.

“We love sharing the Kobeelya story with both former students and new visitors – our museum is open on Saturday afternoons between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.”

On my visit last year, I spent some time at the Kobeelya museum where I appreciated firsthand the amount of work that has been lovingly dedicated to preserving the stories and history of Kobeelya by the Old Kobeelyans Association. There are rooms filled with collections of artifacts and memorabilia from its rich history and a replica of an old boarding room; a candelabra which was presented to Kobeelya by the Year 12 Class of 1982 was among the items given to Penrhos when Kobeelya closed in 1986, and this is currently on display.

After seeing the museum for herself last year, our Penrhos Principal Kalea Haran also recommends a visit, and says she is looking forward to catching up with past Kobeelya students and staff later this year.

Jill explains the work of the Old Kobeelyans Association:

“For Penrhos, it’s our 70th birthday so we are a full 30 years behind the Kobeelya centenary. It is evident when walking through the grounds and speaking with students who attended Kobeelya throughout its 60-year history, that the uniqueness of their school experience continues to draw this community together for life.”

“We typically have at least three ‘working bees’ each year; on top of that, we are able to undertake refurbishment and restoration projects thanks to the generous support of our former students. For example, the old fluorescent lights in the former Coach House (now the museum) were replaced last year. The old school bell, which was once a distinctive landmark of the Kobeelya grounds, is also currently under restoration in preparation for our September celebrations.” Jill encourages visitors to Katanning to call in to the museum, which is located at the Coach House within the former school grounds.

“Despite the disruptions to our planned events in the first half of this year, we are very much looking forward to coming together to celebrate significant milestones in the histories of our Colleges later this year, both in Katanning and on campus here in Perth,” said Kalea.

For more information on both the Kobeelya centenary and Penrhos College 70th anniversary events, please visit penrhos.wa.edu.au. Illustration: Finlay Foster (Year 11 student)

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A Penrhos family tree with strong roots Judith Munns - née Strapp St Anne's College 1946 - 1952, Penrhos College 1952 - 1956

My first memory of Penrhos College was back in 1952. I was standing on the College veranda wearing the brand new green and white check uniform, waiting to catch a glimpse of our new Head Mistress. In true style, Mrs Way walked through the front gate wearing a bright orange dress and brown lace-up shoes.

always very high. It became compulsory to wear gloves and hats to school - straw hats in summer and berets in winter. For special occasions such as College Sunday, we wore white dresses, straw hats, brown lace-up shoes and lisle stockings. Mrs Way became my class teacher in Year 6, which was the last year of Junior School. In Secondary School she taught English, Maths, History and Literature to name but a few. Mrs Way was an extremely intelligent woman and we all looked up to her. I remember an instance in Secondary School where my classmates and I were scribbling on the blackboard before class. When Mrs Way walked into the room, there was silence… you could have heard a pin drop. She didn't yell at us as we scurried back to our seats, but calmly picked up the duster and cleaned the board. She then picked up a piece of chalk and wrote on the board “Where ignorance is bliss, folly is impertinent!”

The students eagerly lined up for a uniform inspection. If our shoes were not up to scratch, we were given a tin of brown nugget and told to polish them. After the inspection, we all marched into assembly and stood according to our factions (I was in Troy). This happened at every assembly, as Mrs Way’s uniform standards were

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In Year 10, our cohort only had 11 students, so nearly all my classes were combined with other years. During this period, we found many activities to keep us busy during lunch, including pulling onion grass from the front lawn. Each bundle of 20 earned us one house point. As Troy

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Captain I remember opening the lid of my desk and having to wade through bundles of onion grass to find my textbooks! I have so many wonderful memories of my days at Penrhos College… from playing sport in the grounds of Perth Zoo, learning to swim in the Swan River, and being Captain and Dux of the College in my final year. With this rich history and fond memories, it was an easy decision to send my own daughter, Erin Munns (1986) to Penrhos. Erin started Kindergarten at the College in 1974, which was the first year that Junior School students were educated at the Como grounds. In fact, it was so new that Erin’s classroom was a demountable building. Although the location of Penrhos had changed, the uniform she wore was the same as the one I wore in 1956. I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering my time in many ways; from working in the School Canteen to the Uniform Shop. I held various positions, such as President of the Old Girls Alumni Association in 1960, and my husband was also heavily involved, even coordinating the final major school fete. I was thrilled when my brother married an old girl, Susan Fuller (1965). Her death at a young age devastated our family. Susan’s wish was for her daughter to attend Penrhos College and continue her connection, so in 1985 Debbie Strapp (1990) joined our growing Penrhos family.

In Susan’s honour, a memorial book was placed in the Chapel, and to this day can still be found there. Members of the family were also thrilled to be at the commissioning of the Alumni Memorial Garden outside the Chapel, featuring a fountain in her name. It has been incredibly gratifying to watch both mine and Susan’s granddaughters continue the legacy of girls’ education at Penrhos College. Grace Hirte (2018), Millie Hirte (2022) and Imogen Lysle (2026) will all complete their schooling at Penrhos College, graduating as Veterans, just as my daughter Erin did. I was also recently delighted when Grace shared with me that she is continuing her connection with Penrhos as an intern with the College Marketing Department. The growing family tradition was strengthened when Debbie’s brother married a Penrhos Old Girl, Danielle Tasker (1992). Their eldest daughter, Luella Strapp (2025) joined the College in 2021 and they look forward to their other daughter, Ruby Strapp commencing in 2025. With so much history at the College, we are passionate about our Houses and any Inter-House competition sees family loyalty tossed aside. As the matriarch of the family, I will go on record saying without a doubt, Troy is number one! As I look to the future, I am excited about the opportunities Penrhos College offers my granddaughters and future family members. I truly believe that Penrhos inspires girls to become extraordinary women.

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Out and about Caitlin Gregory (Timms, 2007) married her beautiful husband, Jackson Gregory on Saturday, 4 December 2021 at Guildhall in North Fremantle.

Amanda Yaksich (1976), Andrew Yaksich, Georgia Yaksich (2013) and Sophie Yaksich (2013) recently competed as a family in the 2022 Rottnest Swim.

Her bridal party included two of her close friends, Anna Oliver (Roberts, 2007) and Georgia Brown (2007). Wedding guests also included fellow 2007 graduates Michelle Pez-Ipince, Ashlyn Crowe, Telisha Norrish (Pallot), Trigg McLeod (Mickle) and Alice-May Dunn.

Their team, which was one of only a few consisting of just family members, was featured on Channel 10 news ahead of their swim. Sophie, who the family regards as the team’s best swimmer, said she was very excited to do the swim with her family. The four have been planning their swim for a number of years, with Andrew’s experience in having previously completed the challenge helping with their preparations. Their team, named Yak Attack, participated in the Lavan Charity Challenge, placing 12th out of 34 in their category – what a fantastic result! Congratulations to ‘Yak Attack’ on their successful swim! Congratulations to Shubshri Kandiah (2012) who has recently been cast as Cinderella, in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical at the Regent Theatre.

Lauren Abrahams (2015) was recently admitted as a lawyer of the ACT Supreme Court. Lauren moved to Canberra six years ago and has been working towards this goal ever since. Congratulations, Lauren!

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The Marketing & Development Office invites alumni to contribute to The Penrhosian magazine by emailing news items to alumni@penrhos.wa.edu.au. We publish alumni submissions in good faith, in the spirit of sharing and celebrating good news.

Congratulations to Rachel Frazer (née Clarke, 2001) and Scott Frazer for welcoming their first child, Zach Grahman Frazer into the world in March this year.

Alexandra Helens (2006) has received a record number of applicants into the Autistic Internship Program that she runs, NeuroBHP. This program provides opportunities for interns to learn and work, adopting a different approach that is more inclusive for everyone. The program has been recently expanded to all divergent neurotypes - including (but not limited to) ADHD, Bipolar Disorder and OCD.

Congratulations to Author, Abbey Hindle (2013) who has recently published a cookbook titled ‘Covid Cooking’. Abbey designed and published this cookbook with proceeds going to mental health and wellbeing charity, Beyond Blue, to help more people find support avenues and coping mechanisms in times of isolation.

Congratulations to Sarah Jenkins (1979) for being named one of Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers in Capture Magazine’s recent competition. Sarah discovered her love of drone photography during lockdown, when she and her daughter Lucy bought a drone and used it to capture images inspired by the COVID-19 restrictions.

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Class of 2012: 10 Year Reunion Our Class of 2012 recently returned to campus for their 10-year reunion. The night was filled with laughter, reminiscing and lots of fun! The evening started with a tour of the College, the group had the opportunity to view some of the newer buildings, including the stateof-the-art Meg Melville Science Innovation Centre. Our Class of 2012 then made their way to the Colwyn Centre to open the time capsules that were buried in the Margaret Way Courtyard 10 years ago!

We invite you to connect with us and each other via our dedicated Penrhos alumni social media channels on LinkedIn and the Penrhos College Alumni Facebook page.

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Save the date

Field Days

Alumni reunions and events are a fantastic opportunity to rekindle old friendships, take a walk down memory lane and catch up with your Penrhos peers.

Please see below the dates for your diary in 2022 Pre-Production Soirée (prior to the opening night show of this year’s Production – The Wizard of Oz) Thursday, 28 July Penrhos College Class of 2002 - 20 Year Reunion Friday, 22 July Colwyn Centre, Penrhos College Class of 2020 — Leavers' Reunion Friday, 5 August The Windsor Hotel Class of 1992 — 30 Year Reunion Friday, 12 August Colwyn Centre, Penrhos College Founders' Day - Celebrating 70 Years Tuesday, 6 September Penrhos College

Please see below the dates for your diary in 2022 Karratha FeNaCING Festival Saturday, 30 July and Sunday, 31 July Mingenew Mid-West Expo Friday, 12 August Dowerin Field Days Wednesday, 24 August and Thursday, 25 August Newdegate Field Days Wednesday, 7 September and Thursday, 8 September Esperance Agricultural Show Friday, 14 October and Saturday, 15 October Katanning Agricultural Society Annual Show Saturday, 22 October

Kobeelya Garden Party Monday, 10 October Penrhos College Class of 1982 — 40 Year Reunion Saturday, 19 November Organised by Colette Nalder (Lange, 1982) Tickets to these events can be booked via penrhos.wa.edu.au/events – don’t miss out! Please send reunion enquiries to Caroline Jenkins at alumni@penrhos.wa.edu.au or (08) 9368 9539.

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The Penrhosian No. 77

Articles inside

A Penrhos family tree with strong roots

Kobeelya College celebrates 100 years

Celebrating 70 years - where it all began

A boarding parent's perspective

Life as a boarder: Molly Greaves

'Mission Possible' for our Penrhosians

Winter reflections

Connecting Penrhos to the wider world

Penrhos Full Circle: turning a traditional school psychology model on its head

From the Principal

The importance of trust and communication