Presbyterian Ladies’ College MELBOURNE
No. 109 May 2020
Contents
Principal
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Note from the Editor
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Senior School
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Junior School 11
Early Learning Centre 22
Old Collegians
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ON THE COVER Lauren Williams and Ria Singh with students at Neno Girls Secondary School, Neno Trip 2019. Photographer: Jenni Williams
www.plc.vic.edu.au
1. Deputy Principal Anne-Marie Williams, Principal Cheryl Penberthy, Deputy Principal Lisa Saffin 2. L to R: Leila Sturt, Tash Tien, Britney Pham, Principal, Kim Lowe, Bridget Lee, Nikki Hamilton 3. Kim Lowe (Stevens 1978) speaking at the PLC Foundation Day Assembly
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Stepping into Leadership in 2020
Welcome to 2020
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This year PLC Melbourne proudly celebrates the 145th anniversary of its foundation on 15 February 1875 in East Melbourne with 60 eager pupils. We celebrated this special milestone at our annual Foundation Day Assembly by hearing our inspiring guest speaker, Old Collegian Kim Lowe (Stevens 1978), speak about ‘Partnerships for Protection’, a conservation organisation she has co-founded, to protect one of the world’s most important and threatened rainforests in North Sumatra. As I listened to her passionate and balanced talk, I thought how gratified the pioneering generations of our College, would be to know that current students and Old Collegians still care so much about others and our natural world. They show courage and compassion in stepping out of their comfort zones and using their world-class education to make their school, communities and the world a better place. This year has already been very challenging for Australians and their families who endured the catastrophic bushfires of earlier this year and our College community has worked hard together to raise money to support people and wildlife affected by these devastating events. The funds raised from our much-loved Twilight Picnic in February were donated to the bushfire effort. We thank our wonderful PLC community and staff for their tireless work to make this year’s picnic, with its birthday theme, a very special celebration for the thousands who enjoyed the Norman Oval festivities. The College year began, as always, with great excitement as all students prepared for the traditional House Concerts which unite girls across all forms in a huge creative exercise. Girls new to the College really love the opportunity to make friends across the years as they work in their House groups to produce superb original performances. When I have the pleasure to chat to Old Collegians, they often recall these dynamic concerts as the highlights of their school years. PLC is a rich learning community and not only in the classrooms and laboratories. Music, art, debating, social service, drama, outdoor camps, specialist clubs and physical education have always been regarded as important aspects of the student experience at PLC. This is where invaluable, informal learning takes place and students develop special qualities and life-long skills. A PLC education has always been holistic and this has resulted in PLC graduates over the many decades being well equipped to face the many challenges of their respective worlds. Mrs Elizabeth Ward, our visionary Principal from 1998–2006, was particularly passionate about the development of the whole student and oversaw the expansion of co-curricular activities. She was instrumental, with other Principals of girls’ schools, in the establishment, twenty years ago of Girls’ Sport Victoria. This year we celebrate PLC’s founding membership of this highly successful organisation which provides a huge range of fun and competitive weekly sporting activities, competitions and sports carnivals during the year. Participation in sport teaches co-operation, determination, persistence and resilience, all vital soft skills in today’s world.
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For our 2020 Sports Captain, Jordyn Oatley, participation in GSV has been a major part of her school experience and has brought her lots of good friends in different year levels and the chance to choose from 15 different sports each term. As she says, ‘I would probably never have played water polo, AFL, soccer, or completed a triathlon if these sports weren’t available to me at school. Many of my closest friends now, were the teammates I have played sports with over the years. I also used to love getting to know the older students who did cross-country and athletics and looking up to them with awe at their amazing talents. GSV is for everyone, you don’t have to be good. I play AFL and you should see my kicking skills!’. Old Collegian Cat Phillips (2009), now an Australian Rules footballer, certainly has high-order kicking skills! She too was highly involved in GSV sport during her time at PLC. At school, she loved the fun and challenge of trying new sports and enjoyed connecting with other enthusiastic and likeminded friends. She played waterpolo, softball, netball and did athletics. In January this year, Cat was named an inaugural co-captain for the St Kilda Football Club AFLW team. She has maintained her hard-working attitude and enthusiasm for playing sport alongside the demands of her career as a mechanical engineer. Students who do many extracurricular activities at school, learn at a young age how to balance competing demands and how to perform under pressure, invaluable skills as they step out into adult life. Many other Old Collegians have been given a life-long love for physical activity and sport through their sporting involvement at PLC and many have achieved hard-won and cherished places at the highest levels of international competition.
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The funds raised from our much-loved Twilight Picnic in February were donated to the bushfire effort. PLC has always enjoyed celebrating the achievements of its present and past students and while some of this year’s planned special 145th anniversary events have at this stage been disrupted by COVID-19, I am sure that there will be many further opportunities to enjoy being together. With the recent and very serious Coronavirus outbreak, our staff and students are again showing the resilience, flexibility and generosity which are such enduring PLC values. Throughout all the challenging periods in our national history, the whole PLC College community have united and supported each other. Throughout the Great Depression, times of war, influenza epidemics, polio outbreaks, economic recessions, fires, floods and droughts, contagious diseases and security concerns, PLC has endured through the severe challenges of local, national and global life. This is a very challenging time for our whole school community as we work together, remaining connected and strong, to do what is best for our girls. I thank each one of you for your generous support and encouragement as PLC moves forward into another important period of its long and proud history. Cheryl Penberthy Principal
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Stepping Out – Note from the Editor
1. Fiona McKenzie interviews panel members at the OCA luncheon 2. Jordyn has represented PLC at the GSV Championship Cross Country Carnival every year since Year 7 3. Jordyn Oatley, 2020 Sports Captain 4. President Ailsa Wilson, Shona MacInnes and Cat Phillips at the OCA Spring luncheon last year 5. and 6. Friends and families enjoying the Twilight Picnic in February
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When we first sat down to discuss a theme for the first PLC In Print for 2020, we were reflecting on the qualities of PLC students who are always prepared to step out and take on new challenges, travel to new places, take their place on stage or behind, and be confident to step out and be themselves. I admired the ELC students leading the dance steps at the Twilight Picnic and primary students preparing to step into Ms Penberthy’s office with their cue cards ready to discuss their assembly ideas. I was impressed by senior girls stepping out as conductors, utilising skills they were unaware they possessed, as they led their house music ensembles in impromptu hallway rehearsals. In parallel to observing the students, I was experiencing my first month of a new school and a new leadership role; stepping out into the PLC community to meet staff, students and their parents, and to be part of a new leadership team to set the direction for the future of the College. Stepping out has taken on a whole new meaning in the weeks since that discussion. We have moved quickly to step into new territory, a school without the laughter of the girls in the corridors but rather “zooming in” through a distance learning model. The girls have readily adapted to new ways of learning with positivity and a strong spirit of working together. It has been a stepping out experience for everyone - staff, students, parents and the whole school community. Whilst our footprints have been much closer to home, we have stepped out to help others with needs greater than our own and stepped into new ways of connecting with friends and family. We have all had to take on new challenges, and take our places on stage or behind, to ensure the health and safety of those around us. This is an unexpected opportunity for our PLC girls to develop skills in readiness to step out to be young women who can be confident to take on new challenges in any circumstances, and ensure they are prepared to be leaders who set direction for the future. We hope you enjoy the first edition of PLC in Print for 2020, and appreciate stepping out into PLC in Virtual Print for the next edition which will serve as a sustainable development for the future of this publication. Lisa Saffin Deputy Principal – Curriculum, Learning and Administration
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The 2020 House Concerts were inspired by retro arcade games.
House Concerts
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Late in January, each House randomly selected an envelope containing a picture of a retro arcade game. The captains were encouraged to research the origins and objectives of their arcade game and think laterally about their topic in order to create a narrative. Their interpretations were diverse and imaginative and included symbolic use of the elements of their respective games throughout their plays in dance, props, costumes and backdrops.
LEVEN ROSSLYN ATHOLL BALMORAL STIRLING GLAMIS
From Etris with Joy Halley’s Comet No Man is an Island Level Up or Level Out Leaping to Conclusions The Drive
The performances were a culmination of hard work and a co-operative effort by the students over three weeks. The backdrop, choreography, costumes, characterisation and direction, lighting, music, props, singing and sound were all devised by the students. The girls did an outstanding job. The results were sensational.
Congratulations to Glamis, winners of the 2020 House Concerts
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Tours It is said, to have another language is to possess a second soul. – Charlemagne 2019 PLC French Trip On 7th December 2019 12 PLC students accompanied by two staff, Madame Payne and Madame Fourquet took off from Melbourne airport to a very exciting destination for us all: France. For the students, France was the dream destination after many years of studying French. Finally, they were going to put in practice all they had learnt in class: the verbs, vocabulary and expressions in an authentic way. They would experience the food, school, French family life and hopefully the well-known French “Joie de vivre”! Our first cultural experience was the very infamous “French transport strikes”, trains were scarce, there was no Metro and it was very strange for some of us to wait in the train station of Montparnasse for a few hours hoping the only train running would not be cancelled, with very few people around us and no trains on the platforms. We were very fortunate to be able to get to our final destination and meet our host families without too much trouble. Life in France could start! Students attended school the next day after our arrival and had to manage jetlag, discovering a new school, new friends, new families and on top of that speaking in French the whole day. The first week was fun, challenging and exhilarating at the same time. Students were spread out in two regions: Aquitaine and Brittany in the west of France and they all were in different towns. It was truly a full immersion experience. After two weeks at school, Christmas holidays arrived. Many students travelled to different cities and regions, from Strasbourg, Lyon, Paris to the tiny island of Houat in Brittany. By then, we had all adjusted to our lives in France, speaking or
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1. Kshipra Baidya Year 12 in front of the Eiffel Tower. 2. Kriphra Vaidya Year 12 and friends. 3. Maella Teel Year 12 in Strasbourg. 4. PLC German students standing in front of the Fortress in Salzburgburg
understanding French was becoming easier, everyone could relax and fully enjoy the holidays. Food was the main theme of the holidays, as lunches and dinners seemed to merge into one big feast. Students tasted regional dishes, plenty of seafood, foie gras and of course the traditional Christmas Log cake. Food also became the main subject of our conversations when Madame Fourquet and I caught up with students on the phone. They had been converted to the French way of thinking. Food had become the centre of their lives.
After the holidays, students had one more week at school before going home. Although we all looked forward to going home and enjoying the summer, leaving behind the lovely host families and new friends we had made was difficult. Students came back to Australia feeling empowered, confident and ready to explore the world further. Estelle Payne Head of French
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A language is not just words. It’s a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is. It’s all embodied in a language. – Noam Chomsky
If you respect a language and culture, it shows in your work. – A R Rahman
Learning a foreign language, and the culture that goes with it, is one of the most useful things we can do to broaden the empathy, imaginative sympathy and cultural outlook of children.
To speak a language is to take on a world, a culture. – Frantz Fanon
– Michael Gove
If culture were a house, then language would be the key to the front door to all the rooms inside. – Khaled Housseini
I hear and forget, I see and remember, I do and understand. – Confucius
2019 German Exchange Trip Language and cultural understanding are closely interlinked. Students at PLC are guided to reflect on a country’s unique identity and cultural traditions as they interact in a foreign language in the classroom. Language learning provides a window into different ways of thinking and doing, and thereby broadens a student’s view of the world. Our Exchange Program at PLC offers students the opportunity to practise their language skills and experience another culture first hand. On 8 December last year, 9 enthusiastic German students, Frau Ursula Wehrer and I set off on an adventure to Austria and Germany with these two goals in mind. Although apprehensive, students were excited to be making a reciprocal visit to their German exchange sisters, who had visited PLC for almost 6 weeks in Term 3 2019. To be on the other side of the globe within 24 hours and to step out into the fresh, cold air of Vienna is a surreal welcome to Europe for our students. A day’s tour to some of the city’s landmarks and a walk through the grounds of the famous Schönbrunn Palace gave students an insight into Austrian history and the grandeur of its architecture.
Our main destinations in the first week were the contrasting cities of Salzburg and Berlin. We spent 3 days and nights in each of these spectacular places. While in Salzburg, the students loved the magical atmosphere of the Christmas markets, the extraordinary Hohensalzburg fortress set on top of a mount in the centre of the city, Mozart’s birthplace, and walking through the many enchanting narrow streets. Students were also absorbed by the city of Berlin. Visits to the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Dome, the Jewish Holocaust Memorial, the remains of the Berlin Wall, the Wall museum and the House at Checkpoint Charlie gave them an understanding of the city’s incredibly complex history and its diverse and thriving community today. For teachers who accompany students on these exchange trips, it is a privilege to see students’ excitement when they recognise cultural features previously researched in class, as well as their fascination when discovering other cultural traditions different from their own. Trying out German food specialities was a priority! Pretzels, sausages, meat dishes, potato dishes, sauerkraut, chocolate and the many cakes were popular discussion topics. At the end of the first week, students headed to Gevelsberg, Mainz or Münster for a 4.5 week stay with their host family. They attended school, enjoyed a festive Christmas and 2 weeks of school holiday.
While on an exchange trip, students learn by genuine cultural and language immersion. Not only do they gain increased confidence when speaking the German language, but also in what have been termed “struggle skills”. A language learner is put in situations with which she is not familiar. One’s innate desire to cope creates the motivation and necessity to learn. The more a student engages with the culture and Interacts with others in the foreign language, the greater the language learning experience. In short, what she puts into it, is what she will get out of it. Saloni Kandalkar in the Year 12 German class described her exchange experience in the following way: “On the German Exchange I learnt how to be more independent and how to solve problems on my own. I also learnt so much about the history and culture of Germany that you can only learn by being immersed in the culture and that you wouldn’t be able to experience in a classroom. I would really recommend going on a language exchange”. If you are considering whether to participate in a language exchange in the future, you will discover it to be one of the best and most useful things you will do in your life. Not only will you speak a language, you will also take on a world, a culture. Sarah Buckman Head of LOTE and Head of German
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Tours And for me, seeing the impact of this life changing experience on our PLC girls makes each and every trip absolutely worthwhile.
Neno trip 2019
1. Cultural dance afternoon at Neno.
Another trip to Malawi – my 5th, but the first for most on our team of 20 students and 4 PLC staff. I don’t say that as if – here I go again, but as someone who is thrilled to return again and again to Malawi. You see it’s the people who we meet that make this trip such a unique one. Life in Malawi is simple but vibrant. Even though the people have less, they give more of themselves as they greet and welcome us. Life doesn’t quite make sense when you are there – you feel more alive, challenged, energized, connected, younger, and no matter what your age, you want to make the most of this experience. And often this means doing things that are out of your comfort zone.
At Neno Girls School – we are greeted warmly – old friends come and envelope me in their arms. Jane (that’s what they call me) they call from across the yard. And with the biggest smiles. It’s not because I’m anything special, but because they like people and are generous with their welcome. Watching as our PLC girls are swallowed up in a sea of Neno girls is a wonderful experience and to see the smiles on both, and the friendships that are made over the week is heartwarming. Even the toughest of PLC students finds leaving Neno at the end of the week an emotional experience. It is always a privilege to see the girls flourish during their time at Neno.
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The staff at Neno are very appreciative of all that PLC donates and has provided over the years. And, we are grateful for the meals and care we are given. Whether it’s Alfred the cook, Edwin the vice head teacher or Roderick who works on the grounds, they all do their job with pride. Esther (head teacher) very ably leads them all and the recent success of school results has been due to their hard work. The remainder of the trip – travelling around Southern Malawi is a time to enjoy each other’s company and see sights that most Malawians don’t get to enjoy. Majete Safari Park – hot and dry and the perfect place to spot zebras, giraffes, hippos and elephants in the wild. Satemwa tea plantation – green and lush and a chance to taste and see one of Malawi’s biggest exports. Mount Mulanje – a strenuous
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bushwalk is rewarded with a swim in an icy cold mountain pool. Exhilarating for all. Fishermen’s Rest – an organization and accommodation designed for groups such as ours. We were taken to a local village and learnt how to make a simple brick stove for people to use in their homes. I would highly recommend a trip to Malawi if you are adventurous and love to travel. As is custom, we have our farewell dinner with Moses as our host and speeches from students and staff. Moses shares his appreciation and invites the girls to come back again one day. We know we will always be welcomed warmly again. And for me, seeing the impact of this life changing experience on our PLC girls makes each and every trip absolutely worthwhile. Jenni Williams School Nurse and Neno Co-ordinator.
2. Neno and PLC netball teams combine. 3. PLC girls hard at work in the village. 4. Neno students studying outdoors during a spare period.
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Congratulations to the Class of 2019
We would like to congratulate all girls in the Class of 2019 who worked so hard and contributed so much across all areas of school life. We are proud of every student: the strength and depth of their leadership, their service to others, and their enthusiastic involvement have been remarkable. The continued amazing academic successes of the girls in Year 12 2019 ensured they had the best chance of entry to their preferred course. Beyond ATARs and study scores, as affirming though they are, what we value most is the extraordinary way each individual has enriched our PLC community. The young women of the Class of 2019 are undoubtedly the leaders of tomorrow and it was a privilege to have been an integral part of their lives during these formative years. The students deserve our sincere congratulations and we wish all of our girls the best for their future endeavours. We look forward to welcoming them back as Old Collegians and will follow their various pathways with great interest. Cheryl Penberthy Principal
164 girls completed Year 12 in 2019
6 girls achieved an ATAR of 99.95
99.5+
The Median ATAR for the Class of 2019 was 94.88
18.9% achieved an ATAR
of 99.5+ placing them in the top .5% in Australia 68.04 111.96 309.6
99+
22% achieved an ATAR
of 99+ placing them in the top 1% in Australia 68.04 111.96 309.6
98+
31.1% achieved an ATAR of 98+ placing them in the top 2% in Australia
95+
49.4% achieved an ATAR
90+
70.1% achieved an ATAR
of 95+ placing them in the top 5% in Australia
68.04 18.9 18.9% achieved a notional ATAR of 99.5+ placing them in the top .5 111.96 31.1 31.1% achieved a notional ATAR of 98+ placing them309.6 in the top86% 2% 86% achieved a notional ATAR of 80+ placing them in the top 20%
of 90+ placing them in the top 10% in Australia
18.9% achieved a notional ATAR of 99.5+ placing them in the top .5 31.1% achieved a notional ATAR of 98+ placing them in the top 2% 86% achieved a notional ATAR of 80+ placing them in the top 20%
80+
86% achieved an ATAR
of 80+ placing them in the top 20% in Australia
Celebrating our Duces Eleanor Chamberlain, Kethmi Gamage, Imashi Iddawela, Dhara Seneviratne, Victoria Streeton-Cook, Jacqueline Tse
68.04 111.96 309.6
18.9 31.1 86%
68.04 111.96 309.6
18.9 31.1 86%
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Junior School Stepping Out of our Comfort Zone – Stepping Forward in our Learning It has not just been members of our PLC community, but citizens all over the world, who have been forced to step out of their comfort zone during the 2020 global pandemic. When our Strategic Plan was written, I’m not sure our Principal and Chairman of Council anticipated that one particular statement would be so relevant to our lives today. ‘Our scholars will need to be young women who not only gain knowledge, but also develop the skills that come from applying emotional and social intelligences to problem solve situations, as they navigate the potentials of the 21st century VUCA environment (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous)’. Yes, we are all definitely out of our comfort zone and in a VUCA environment at the moment, but I am extremely heartened by the way our staff, students and parents have supported each other so positively to navigate this difficult time. I’m so very proud of our girls who are rising to the challenges they face and are achieving the aim of our Strategic Plan when it states, they will “not only gain knowledge but will also develop skills that will allow them to cope in our ever-changing world”. So, for students and staff, what are some of those skills that will allow them to cope in our ever-changing world? What have we learnt from our recent experience? The parents’ survey responses indicated that their daughters have developed some valuable skills such as showing initiative, independence, self-motivation, resilience and organisation. Parents also reported how pleased they were to see their daughters adapt to and embrace a new mode of learning while remaining focused and motivated.
Similarly, the staff survey indicated how our teachers have been flexibly applying their newly-acquired technological skills to student learning. It has been pleasing to see the teamwork and collaboration amongst the staff as they continually support each other through the challenges of distance learning. Staff have also expressed how proud they are of the students for being so diligent, flexible and adaptable in learning new skills despite the challenges. The world has certainly changed rapidly in recent times and this trend will continue in the future, although hopefully not as intensely as it has in 2020. Nevertheless, our students will need to continue to develop the skills that enable them to adapt. The experience for our girls as they have stepped out of their comfort zone this year will help them realise that real-life situations do not always go as expected. There is not always just one correct answer to a problem and they will often need to make intelligent choices. To be successful in the future they must be willing to be creative and be open to different ideas and ways of doing things. In conclusion, I am reminded by Maria in the Sound of Music that the face-to-face contact with students, staff and parents is certainly one of my favourite things! When the dog bites, when the bee stings or when you’re feeling sad, try to think of your favourite things and maybe, just maybe, you won’t feel so bad. Mr John Law Head of Junior School
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Hop, Step, FLY! ‘Look at me!’ cried the young child from the top of the tree. As a parent hearing this cry, you quickly assess the risks and respond. We have all heard stories where the child climbs up but then can’t get down, or worse falls and hurts themselves. But is it so bad? Do we ‘keep tabs’ on our children too much in their formative years? Should we be letting them climb and fall? What is our role in developing ‘risk taking’? We live in a culture that often protects children from risk, but is that always healthy or helpful? Or should we actually be looking at what we mean by ‘taking risks’, especially in learning and then think carefully about how that applies to our young children and adolescents.
STEP
How does Risk Taking benefit children? Taking risks helps to develop children’s confidence socially, emotionally and physically. We should start to distinguish between calculated risks and ‘risky behaviour’ which is more dangerous. Our young children need us to question them, provide clear guidelines and provide an environment where they can experiment HOP and develop their ability to take risks. I’m The Merriam – Webster dictionary sure we can all remember a time in our defines risk taking ‘as the act or fact of childhood where we took a risk and the doing something that involves danger or exhilaration we felt. Children should learn risk in order to achieve a goal’ while the how to self-regulate. “Have I climbed high Collins dictionary states ‘the practice of enough in this tree?” or “Should I do a taking action which might have undesirable back flip from this bar?” Allowing children consequences.’ appropriate independence sends the The ACECQA (Australian Children’s message that “I trust you.” Education and Care Quality Association) As teachers and parents, we need to emphatically states, ‘It is important that foster challenge, creativity and play which educators are critically reflecting on takes us out of our comfort zone. That is true the potential benefits of taking risks for risk taking. We should ask ourselves, ‘What children’s agency, learning and wellbeing. is the worst thing that could happen?’ and Are these risks appropriate to scaffold skills ‘What is the best thing that could happen?’ and development? Are children getting As adults we often base our answer or the opportunity to assess risk and make decision on our own fears. Sometimes this decisions about what is an appropriate risk? limits our children’s experiences. Set up Tim Gill, one of the UK’s leading the learning experience so that the risks thinkers on childhood, visited Australia are small, sequential and calculated. For recently to present his views on ‘rewilding example, we don’t just put our child onto a children’ and ‘creating play connect’. In his 2-wheel bike and expect them to ride. There Risk and Resilience Article for Reflections is a progression. First, they sit and push magazine, Tim outlines the importance of along with their legs, then there may be a assessing what children are learning from tricycle or 2-wheel bike with training wheels. their experiences, identifying the risks and It is only after the child has mastered each weighing up the benefits for children’s phase of these skills that they move onto development and learning. He believes that the next level of challenge to master. All the most children are capable of assessing while you, as a parent, are watching and and managing risk, and this can be seen monitoring, calculating the risk. in their competence and confidence when attempting a risky activity.’
COVID 19 Distance Learning and Risk Taking. All students at PLC have experienced Distance Learning for the first time this term. It has been a sharp learning curve and it has provided many challenges but also many new learning opportunities. Risk taking behaviour online can bring its own dangers and so the role of the parent and teacher is imperative for this leaning experience to be a positive one. The staff at PLC have embraced distance learning but it has involved significant risk taking on their behalf. Not only have they had to learn new technological skills but the way they teach has been completely changed. Staff have been asked to take risks in order to achieve a goal. Throughout the distance learning environment, they have modelled risk taking to their students in a way that could not have been done in face-to-face in the classroom.
FLY! Next time you hear the cry from the top of tree “Look at me” you might consider those two questions: ‘What is the worst thing that could happen?’ and ‘What is the best thing that could happen?’ Then think about teaching them what to look for in a good tree to climb. Set up an environment where risk taking is safe and part of learning. Prue Petsinis Deputy Head of Junior School
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Little Preps taking big steps in and out of the classroom Beginning school is such a big milestone. The girls are filled with great anticipation at what their Prep year will have in store and such excitement at finally being a big school girl. This year, like no other, our Prep girls have had to step out of the classroom familiarity they grew accustomed to in Term 1, and step into the world of online remote learning. In such a short time, these little girls have proven to be resilient, enthusiastic and adaptable learners. They have certainly embraced this new challenge, and despite their young age, have shown us that stepping out of the familiar and into the unknown does bring with it, great joy. Carmen Lang, Charmaine Kenner and Clare Conlon. Prep Teachers
School at home You won’t believe how much school has changed since the start of Term 2! Firstly, our home is our classroom. When my classmates, my classroom teacher, Mrs Ginaylo and me meet, we are on Zoom! We do our homework and send it up through Seesaw. It is always fun to see the replies on Seesaw. I like the things that my classmates and Mrs Ginaylo shares. Secondly, I can do tasks that I usually don’t get to do at school. I can do things such as cooking with my mum, badminton with dad, Lego, fruit picking in the backyard, trampolining, cat chasing and gardening. Finally, we have two sessions a day instead of three. That is because in between sessions, we do our homework on Seesaw. The session times are 9:30am and 1:30pm. Now you know how much school has changed since the start of Term 2. Victoria 2C
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1. Elliana Prep A. 2. Aishi Prep A. 3. Amelia Prep A.
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What it’s like to have school at home School is getting a bit unusual now so this is the order things go during the term. Firstly, we sometimes wake up later than 7am because now school starts at 9:30am. We also don’t have to dress in our school uniform anymore and sometimes I wear my PE uniform. Secondly, we start our online learning on a meeting app called Zoom. There are some instructions to get in. We have to type in our meeting ID first. Type our names in so the teacher knows who we all are. If the host is already logged in, a black screen will appear saying, “Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.” If the host is not logged in but you are, there will be a sign saying: “Waiting for host to start the meeting”. When we are all in, we start our roll call. If your name is called by the host to say good morning or afternoon, you unmute yourself by clicking on a button with a microphone picture. Finally, school work is all on an app called ‘Seesaw’. Some girls use ‘Google Classroom’. For Seesaw students, class activities are placed in the same group. If you tap on a button that says ‘Activities’, you will find activities ready for you. You must read or listen to the instructions carefully and if it says you need to respond, you click the response button. When you finish the activity, you submit by clicking the green tick. We are all used to online learning now and hopefully school will get back to normal soon. Stella 2C
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Building an Ant Farm Bridget and Ebony set up an ant farm with around 20 ants from the same colony and have been keenly watching them organise and reorganise their new environment. They have also been creating ‘ant food’ recipes in the kitchen from nocook “ant salads” to baked “ant pudding”, which combines the insects’ favourite sweet treats. A week later these ants were released back into their original habitat. Bridget 3C and Ebony 2C
Year 4 – Master My Emotions Distance Learning in Year 4 has meant stepping out of our comfort zone in many ways. The students have been engaging in daily G.E.M. journal activities as well as weekly Bounce Back lessons to help them discover new ways to manage their emotions and the different ways of learning. The Year 4 students took time to reflect on these processes and would like to share this with you:
Distance learning has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone by learning how to manage learning by myself and making sure I hand everything in on time. An example of when I had to master my emotions during distance learning was when I had lots of work to do but I had to stay calm as I worked through it.
Distance learning has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone by learning how to learn in a new way without having Mrs. Roche in the room to help me. I have also learned that I need to have lots of breaks. An example of when I had to master my emotions during distance learning was when I still had work to complete but it was almost the end of the day. I did the breathing procedure I learned from the G.E.M. journal and calmed down. This helped me to finish my work on time.
Distance learning has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone by making me more confident in many ways such as working more independently. An example of when I had to master my emotions during distance learning was when I could not find information on my marine animal but kept trying until I got all the information I needed. I got really stressed but I knew I had to keep trying and when I did it I was extremely happy.
Matilda 4A
Stepping out into a Whole New World Autumn leaves crunch under foot as the sun peeks through the trees and the chilly wind tickles my nose. Young children laugh joyfully in harmony with the bird’s song. Neighbours smile and wave to each other, their faces full of hope. Kids whizz by on scooters and bikes. Teddy bears peak out of windows as chalk rainbows brighten up the dull, grey footpath. Now that our lives have slowed down, there is so much more to notice about the world. Pippa Soo 5A
Chelsea 4A
Anisha 4C Distance learning has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone by trying to manage my time without the normal everyday school schedule. I don’t always have my teacher by my side but that helps me learn to do things by myself and helps me realise that I don’t always need help. An example of when I have to master my emotions during distance learning is when I’m trying to think of something to improve my work but can’t think of anything straight away, and I can become frustrated. So, I breathe in and out. Then I feel happy again and can carry on. Faye 4C
Distance learning has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone by letting me learn new things and realise I can do much more than I thought I could achieve. An example of when I had to master my emotions during distance learning was when I completed my work but couldn’t turn it in because of technology playing up and the deadline was very soon. I soon found a way to make the technology work and felt better immediately. Deepali 4B
Artwork by Pippa Soo 5A
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Year 5C collaborating on a Zoom confererence call
Emma Watson - Year 5 Short Plays Lights! Music! Action! I thoroughly enjoyed 5B’s play about Emma Watson in our Year 5 Short Plays for 2020. Just being up on the stage, it is such an exhilarating experience. Emma Watson was born on the 15th of April 1990 in Paris. She is a famous actress who has been in many successful movies. The famous ‘Harry Potter’ series where she played, Hermione Granger, ‘The Tale of Despereaux’, where she played Princess Pea, the 2017 live-action version of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, where she played Belle and more recently ‘Little Women’ where she played the character Meg March. Emma Watson is also a model and has modelled for Teen Vogue, Burberry and Lancôme. In July 2014 she was appointed as United Nations Woman Goodwill Ambassador and travelled all over the world giving speeches about child marriage and human equality. The Year 5 Plays were really exciting because of the brilliant music, stunning costumes and interesting stories we had to portray on stage. In my Emma Watson play, I especially enjoyed the Harry Potter auditions scene with J.K. Rowling. I acted out popular parts of the first ‘Harry Potter’ movie like the train carriage scene and the feather classroom scene. It was funny saying the famous line “It’s levio-sar not levi-o-sar!” One of the other scenes was the Harry Potter movie premiere where I had an
interview with my friend who was a reporter. In the last scene, I was a part of the United Nations, and said a speech about a campaign for human equality. I loved playing the part of Emma Watson. Like her, I love acting and hope to be an actor when I grow up. Emma is an influential woman because she is persistent. She was determined to finish her education even though she had many auditions and filming sessions. Through the Year 5 Plays process, I’ve learned that anyone can be anything. All you have to do is work hard and believe in yourself. Emma Watson is a great role model to many, especially me.
A Diamante poem by Year 5C during a Zoom Conference Roll Call Zoom! Chattering, brainstorming, Ecstatic, unique, virtual, Students, teacher, diversion, advice, Stimulating, technical, visual, Laughing, gathering, ‘Once in a lifetime experience!’ Year 5C
Iris Lim 5B
Unexpected Silence Mr Law welcomed me as I stepped out of the car. At first I was excited to be coming back to school, but now my feelings had changed. Although there were other students, I didn’t know any of them. I knew I would be reading at recess and lunchtime. School is eerily silent! Nobody else from Year 5 has come. Classrooms are empty. Lights are closed. The orange autumn leaves gracefully danced in the wind. School is silent. School is different. Isabelle Khoo 5C
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Pent-Up Pigs Mathematics At the Year Five level, for their first assignment in online/ remote Mathematics learning, our girls were asked to solve a problem known as ‘Pent-up Pigs.’ The girls were asked to produce multiple solutions to the problem of how to surround, in hay bales, some varied numbers of pigs each time, to enclose them completely, in different ways. This involved predictive forethought, many experimental diagrams, the submission of 20 correct diagrams and explanatory solutions to the problem at hand, in the form of a poster. One great example of what one student submitted is pictured here. The girls really enjoyed this activity, and it drew upon logical thinking, spatial awareness, tabulation and thoughtful assessment. Jennie Maxwell Junior School Maths Coordinator Poster by Sinasta Au 5A
Stepping Out During this time, musicians all around the world are ‘stepping out’ and thinking of new, innovative ways of collaborating, performing and teaching. Throughout the ages, we have seen the unifying power of music to heal, uplift and unify, but it has never been felt more acutely as now. Moreover, the synergy between the musician and technology has never been more apparent. It has been exciting to be a part of the wider community of musicians and music educators who are currently ‘stepping out’ and thinking of ways to harness technology to serve their artistic means. The challenge remains on how to deliver music in its purest form - without compromising on its fundamental integrity. We are getting closer. Ms Vikki Chan Junior School Music Coordinator
While staying at home throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, I discovered an app called ‘Acapella’. You can create fun and amazing performances. You can play different parts on different instruments and when you put it together, it sounds awesome! It has helped me play more frequently and now I have a better experience as a musician. I like using this app because not only is it easy to use, it is fun to play along with your own tunes. It also enables you to watch other people’s incredible performances. I like how they could create such an amazing sound with either their voice or their instruments. I think the app is helpful and gave me a chance to make some noise! Amelia 6D Staying at home can be a bit boring but online learning has really changed my term. Completing music theory work at home and taking a picture is simple. It can be a bit difficult to get a good view if you need to take a video of yourself playing your recorder. I think videoing yourself is very helpful because you can see yourself playing any wrong notes and check if you have a nice posture. When it’s time for my music lesson I can always see my lovely teachers and my friends through Zoom. I think there isn’t much difference between distance learning and face to face learning. I like using Seesaw because it is fun and easy to use, although on the first day I got really muddled up. But soon I got used to it. I love using the apps but I am also looking forward to sitting back in the classroom and singing songs with my class! Simone 3A
PLC i n P ri nt | M ay 2020
JS Library in Lockdown. At PLC, being in lockdown does not mean that our creativity is in lockdown. In fact, ‘when the going gets tough… the tough get going’… and our need to stay engaged and industrious becomes even more important. Our PLC girls, never ones to miss an opportunity, entered the ‘Better Read Kids; Mother’s Day’ drawing competition run by Better Read Than Dead, a well-known bookstore in New South Wales. Of course, the competition was overwhelmed with the response from the Junior School girls from PLC. I am very excited to announce that Katherine Lam and Zahra Walker were runners up in the competition and have had their work included in the publication put out by the bookstore. The competition organisers were most impressed by the ‘passion and talent of each artist’. They loved “the colour and the originality and ‘bookishness’ of each design”. The bookstore was so excited by the quality of the entries that they decided to send each person who entered the competition a voucher. Anne Walsh JS Teacher Librarian
You can view the publication on the following link. The competition details start on page 17. https://issuu.com/betterread/docs/mothers_day_reading_guide_2020_final
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Junior School Captains’ Reports Katherine Lam (Junior School Captain): Today, we are living in a very different world from what we are used to. The temptation would be to isolate ourselves, not just physically but also socially, and cocoon ourselves in fear from the outside, from the unknown. Instead, our school community has rallied together and stepped out of their usual routines to stay connected. From live streaming of assemblies and concerts to online zoom sessions in classrooms, we can show the flexibility to thrive in spite of the circumstances. As students, we are embracing this change by stepping out of our usual routines to record ourselves completing activities and posting our work online. Even more importantly, even though we are apart, we can show that as a community, we are in this together. Now, it is more important than ever for us to support each other. One day, we will all emerge from our chrysalises and have the freedom to fly together. Until then – let’s be brave enough to step outside of our comfort zone to embrace new ways of doing things. Let’s step outside of our way to be kind, be considerate and be thoughtful. Let’s step out to stay connected.
Ovindee Amarasiri (Sports Captain): Our future at the moment is like a boat in treacherous seas, it is uncertain. However, because we are hunched up over our screens for everything, at this point being active is a necessity. The PE Department has been working tirelessly to make sure students are having fun whilst keeping active. The PE App has been an essential resource during these rocky times. Whether you are stepping out onto the imaginary dance floor with the Zumba or dribbling onto the pretend court with basketball dribbling and ball skills, you are keeping active. I know this time is like journeying beyond the stars, we don’t know
what is ahead but remember that going for a walk and just clearing your head before engrossing yourselves with your work can make all the difference. I hope you all embrace this new change to our normal lives and know that hopefully soon, life will get back to normal and that it is just a large wave looming up ahead.
Amelia Paynter (Hethersett Captain): Although we are not able to go to school at the moment, a lot of people have involved themselves in many activities to keep them active throughout this time at home. The PE staff have also been busily helping to encourage everyone to stay fit and healthy as we have not been doing our normal exercise by posting activities on the PE app. It is great to know that the girls have been enjoying this at home as they share pictures of themselves completing the activities. I hope that everyone will be safe and happy during this time at home and that you will keep your fitness up by staying active.
Zahra Walker (Koorinya Captain): We have been forced to “step out” of our normal school routine and for some, it has been tough to adjust to our “new normal” of distance learning. All the assignments we have to complete can cause stress. However, the PE department is helping us by providing fun activities we can do using the PE app. It is important to find some time in your day to engage in those activities as we can then get off our screen time to have fun while keeping fit. Most of this stress will be reduced and we can then start tackling the remainder of our work with a fresh mind. 1. Yiyi 3C. 2. Annaliese 1C. 3. Amyra 2A, construction. 4. Jesinta 1A, leaves and flower picture. 5. Charmaine 4C. 6. Emily PA, cushion. 7. Keshi 1C.
Olivia Hua (Woollahra Captain): Right now, we are facing one of the toughest times in the century. We are all in solitude and can’t wait for it to end, but in the meantime, we should grasp this opportunity to learn more and push ourselves to the limit. This is why, each week, the PE department strives to keep us fit and moving. You can find numerous activities you can try on the PE App such as dancing and fitness workouts. You can also go for jogs around your neighbourhood or badminton in the garden. The possibilities are truly endless! When you play sports, your brain releases a chemical that makes you happy. As a result, you will feel more content by the day! It is crucial that we stay healthy and joyful when we are at home. Like a famous quote by Helen Keller suggests, ‘Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.’
Elden Tan (Wyselaskie Captain): Staring at a screen all day can be boring and not that healthy for you but luckily the PE department is here to save us with some fun physical activities we can try. Normally in PE we engage in activities such as Teeball, hurdles, dodgeball and much more but the activities during online learning have been quite different with many fun new tasks to try such as completing a PE Health diary and learning new dance movements. This is encouraging all the girls to “step out” of their comfort zone to try something new.
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One day, we will all emerge from our chrysalises and have the freedom to fly together. ‘Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.’ – Helen Keller
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When you play sports, your brain releases a chemical that makes you happy. As a result, you will feel more content by the day!
Lolita Li and Alyssa Mark (Social Service Captains):
Shenny Thalagala and Yiren Liu (Art Captains):
Serena Wong and Jasmine Tran (French Captains):
We are all stuck at home with our family and no friends to talk with. All of you are probably desperate for life to return to normal but family time, especially during this pandemic, is just as important as spending time with your friends. You should have a day just with your family with no electronics. You could play board games, exercise or prepare a meal for your family. You can do lots of fun activities at home and still stay safe. Since we are all quarantined at home, we should all acknowledge how important our family is and spend some quality time with them.
When you hear the word Coronavirus, what do you think of? You probably think of staying at home, exceptional hygiene and the financial crisis. Yes, these are valid thoughts but as Junior School Art Captains, we find coronavirus isolation a perfect time to express art with flying colours. Being at home means you have more time to draw, paint and create with your family. Bonding has never been so life changing! It’s also the best time to vary your art styles and what you draw. Artists all around the world have been drawing how they feel about Covid-19, giving them new approaches and perspectives to their style. We can do this too in our own special way at home.
One of the activities for our French unit in Year 6 is writing letters to our pen pals in Paris, France. We have enjoyed receiving them in English and then writing back in French. This has made us step out of our comfort zones to write in a different language to another student from the other side of the world. It is tricky, but fun and exciting and at the same time, and it helps improve our French vocabulary. Furthermore, as French Captains, we are planning a Virtual French Reading Corner and we intend to read French books and sing simple French songs to the Junior Primary girls.
Zoe Oei and Alyssa Chan (Christian Education Captains): We are not allowed at school at the moment but Mrs Catchpoole still is teaching CE. As a substitute to CE Assemblies, she shares something called ‘CE Moments’ with us. Mrs Catchpoole said that CE Moments are something to start the day or end the day, so they are just there to brighten up your day - it is not work! They include a couple of songs, Bible readings and short video clips.
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Isabella Cheung and Evie Bernardi (Library Captains): Staying at home might feel boring and uneventful, but reading a great book is all you need to transform your dull and dreary days into adventurous, exciting times.
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Thinking in ART from the PLC Junior School Art Room! Term 2 has definitely enabled the talented PLC Junior School artists to think creatively and outside the box! Art is definitely in its element as important right now and we loved creating and being open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. Students posted images as well as thoughts while completing their online art activities. They have used a variety of digital platforms which allowed them to experience different mediums of expressing their artistic skills. Here are some snapshots of our creative endeavours for you to enjoy!
Mia, Prep
Farah, Year 1
Grace M, Year 1
Victoria, Year 2 Nethaya, Year 2 Evelyn, Year 2
Stella, Year 2
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How do you know when a piece of art is finished? Ruby, Year 5 Esha, Year 3
I would know that a piece of artwork is finished because I think it looks just right BUT looking is not enough. Feeling or just comparing the artwork to what you had in mind also helps me know when a piece of artwork is finished. Vivienne, Year 4
What is an artist? An artist is somebody who is creative. Everyone is an artist. No artist is the same. They create artwork with their heart. It is creative. Art is something that everyone can do. An artist is logical and creative both at the same time. An artist’s creation can look funny, but if you look at it with your heart, it looks phenomenal and completely different. An artist is someone who is free; someone who is creative. Art is something that should be done with passion and love. Isabelle, Year 5
Are artists the same in every culture? An artist is someone who is creative, has an endless imagination, a gift to see the world’s tiniest detail and a person who doesn’t care what people say about their personality. I think that artists see the world differently, they have endless possibilities and their culture and personality is what represents them. EVERYONE’S AN ARTIST! Kekhya, Year 5
What do you think?
Sriya, Year 4
I think that all people in the world will have an artistic soul inside their heart and will all have a connection with art. Even though some people don’t realise it yet, God has given everyone a talent and many will realise soon that art is one of them. Jingwei, Year 5
Layla, Year 3
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“Leave footprints of love and kindness on every step of your journey.” A.A Milne
ELC Connections When a baby takes her first steps into the world she does so with a sense of curiosity, wonder and anticipation for what lies ahead. She explores and expands her horizons with each step and slowly but surely learns to stand on her own two feet as she makes her mark in the world. Stepping out into the world requires multiple layers of effort, learning, development, loving relationships, trial and error, persistence and a sense of wonder and curiosity for connection to the world beyond. The idea of ‘stepping out’ is a significant theme this year as children and families worldwide were asked to stay at home and be safe. In the spirit of staying connected, children and families became creative with the way they ‘stepped out’ and stayed in touch with the world outside. All over the world teddy bears were placed on window sills in people’s homes as a way of saying hello and sharing kindness and love to people outside. This was the same for the children of our ELC. At home many children had placed bears of comfort and joy on their window sills. “They brighten people’s days.” “We say hello from the windows.” “I saw bears in the windows and my bear has a rainbow on its’ tummy.” And so the provocation of an adventure began for the children and families of the ELC and beyond. The story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ was the catalyst for this wonderful adventure and helped introduce a PLC Bear Hunt to the whole PLC community. Staff in the Junior School, Senior School, Grounds Department and Admin were all invited to place a bear in their windows for the ELC children to find. Students in the Boarding House joined in and our youngest PLC children walked along the paths of our beautiful school grounds in search of bears everywhere!
Connections were made and established through the windows and open spaces of our school. Bears were found on tree tops, in the gardens, on large windows up above and in spaces that were familiar to children as part of their larger school community. Stepping out into the world during these challenging times brought joy, laughter, happiness and connection to our community. At home children shared their photos of their own bear hunts as they walked along their neighbourhood paths. Stepping out for us is a symbol of taking a chance, making connections and establishing oneself in the big wide world outside our homely comforts. Expanding horizons while keeping feet firmly on the ground, our youngest citizens explored a sense of wonder, curiosity and long lasting connections during their Bear Hunt adventure. As Winnie the Pooh said; “You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes” and “As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.” We hope this experience stays in the hearts and minds of our ELC children as they continue to step out into the big wide world, one step at a time. Katina Grammatoglou ELC Educational Leader
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First Foundation event for 2020
PLC Community PLC Foundation The first Foundation event for 2020 was also a historic one with the group celebrating the official opening of the College’s Year 12 Centre. On Thursday 30 January members, daughters and friends were the first to see and explore the new Centre, ahead of its offical student opening the following day. This celebration was the first time that the Foundation has hosted an official opening for a new facility at the College. The Foundation also unveiled its new membership badges that detail member’s different status levels. The group is now looking forward to celebrating the College’s founding at the 145th Anniversary Dinner scheduled for 8 August 2020.
New Foundation Members The PLC Foundation proudly welcomed the following individuals as new members to the group in 2019 and thanks them for their generous support.
Graduate Memberships ($2000) Roweena Boone Siobhan Chan Yan Lin Lee Natalie Liu
Foundation Memberships ($3000) Elspeth Arnold Barry Chan Diana Dai Yao Fu Sze Lin Foong & Simon Lam Shirley Halim-Harjono Zi Ying Huang Zi Ying Huang and Xiang Wu Mahesh Iddawella Jim Yuen Lau and Alison Wong Masao Kamiyama Alan Ku & Ben-Dang Ku Geoff & Mary-Anne Lane Lillian Li Jane Lin & Yan Zhang Si Ma and Ying Chen Daniel Ou Paramasawaami Paramasivam Srinivas Peddi Lisa Saffin Kate Sampson Fanglan (Nancy) She
Lady Adrienne Stewart Barry & Tina Thomson Nick & Hien Vo Baldi Trent Whiney & Megan Allum Wan Xu Nicholas Yap Yueyong Yin Lau Jim Yuen Grace Zhang Hua Zhang & Li Ping Ji Weihong Zheng
Foundation Associate Fellows ($6000) Sally Adams Jean Black Margaret Browning Crown Coaches Hao Lu & Kristy Pan Michael Zheng Queenie Zou
Foundation Fellow ($12,000) Michelle Liu
Foundation Governors ($25,000) Thomas Bartlett Constantinos Dandanis
To apply for membership of the PLC Foundation please contact the Development Office on development@plc.vic.edu.au The College is also recognising new Foundation Members with a complimentary named seat in the Performing Arts Centre, valued at $1,000.
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Above: Gwen Leong, Wendy Southward, Catherine Zeng, Hui-Ling Yeo, Vajra De Silva, April Lim, Dawn Clements, Ling Browne, Dhakshi Ravishankar, Hilda Tirtadjaya
PLC Parent Groups
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Hethersett members enjoyed their annual Christmas luncheon held on the Croquet Lawn in the Boarding House. Hethersett Group The PLC Christmas luncheon was organised by the Hethersett Group on 15 November 2019. 95 parents and staff from the Junior and Senior school attended and were treated to a candid and inspirational message from Old Collegian Penny Loorham (1986 ) who is the chief designer for the well-known Perri Cutten fashion label. The luncheon was served buffet style and lovely Christmas decorations adorned the marquee lawn. A wonderful array of raffle prizes ensured many walked away with something in their hands and a broad grin across their face! It was a truly splendid way for parents and staff to celebrate the end of the year! Hethersett warmly welcomes all parents and we would love for you to get involved. The main purpose of the group is to support the school in organizing events such as the athletics carnival, Harmony Day lunch, Mothers’ Day morning tea, Fathers’ Day breakfast, and the Christmas luncheon. These activities provide a fantastic opportunity for parents to meet with each other while contributing to the school. Contact plchethersett@plc.vic.edu.au April Lim President
Prayer Group
Above: Karen Yap, Dianna Xu, Rena Frederick, April Lim, Heather Newhook, Rev Nick Curtis
The PLC Prayer Group continues to meet regularly. The Junior School’s meeting occurs every other Wednesday morning, during Week A. The Senior School meets every Thursday from 1.30 to 2.30pm. A broad range of people attend prayer group, including staff members (past and present), Old Collegians and parents. All are welcome – our oldest member is in her eighties! The Prayer Group volunteered their services at the Christian Union (CU) BBQ launch in February. Girls had the opportunity to enjoy a sausage and drink, whilst listening to the CU captains as they explained the various activities lined up for the year. The groups meet together to pray and to offer support to one another. We pray for the needs of the school, the staff and the welfare of students and families. More recently, there has also been a focus on the challenging issues facing our community, including the bushfires and coronavirus. We also receive confidential prayer requests from PLC families. We have seen many answered prayers. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and impact on communities, cities and nations, we will continue to pray for PLC staff and students, families and others. April Lim Convenor
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Friends of Junior School The Friends of Junior School (FJS) represents all the parents in Junior School. Its main aim is to engage and connect parents across all levels of Junior School, creating a warm and inclusive school community. The flagship events of FJS remain our extremely popular Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day Breakfasts in Betty Caldwell Hall, attended by more than 300 guests each. We also run bake stalls before and after the Easter and Nativity Services and the Junior School concert. Thanks to the generosity of our talented parent bakers in Junior School, we plan to run more bake sales in 2020 before the Caldwell and Winter Melodies concerts. Other events include sausage stalls for our daughters during House Athletics, the Swimming Carnival and Teddy Bear Picnic. During those events, we run a bake stall and a hot and cold beverage stand for attending parents. FJS is a volunteering society. The funds raised are the bake stalls and raffle tickets at the parents’ breakfasts are donated to the school. The revenue is used in school projects that will benefit all our daughters. Previous projects included the giant blue foam blocks in the sports pavilion, the undulating seats and table next to the playground and the reading corner in the library. Parents volunteering as organizers work in harmony with the staff and teachers of the school to bring as many networking opportunities as possible to all parents. We do encourage everybody to join us to help create a diverse and nurturing school environment in which our daughters grow. Contact: fjs@plc.vic.edu.au
Friends of Music Over 40 years ago, the Friends of Music School (FMS) was established in 1979 by Old Collegian, Mrs Lois Couzens, and “through informal concerts with well-known artists, were able to establish a bursary which is awarded each year to a girl in Year 7 for the duration of her music studies at PLC”. Over the years, the FMS has continued to support the musical endeavours of the girls at PLC by fundraising not just to provide a similar bursary to selected girls from Year 7 but also to contribute to the purchase of musical instruments such as grand pianos for use in both the Junior and Senior Schools. Recently, donations of drums and instruments have also been made to our sister school, Neno Girls’ School in Malawi. Our fundraising efforts have always encompassed a wonderful sense of community; at our last Music Roundabout in 2015, FMS raised over $20,000 through a combination of selling baked goods contributed by many parents of the music students and through various Silent Auction items - these included many handcrafted pieces by dedicated parents and family members, a private dinner party by one of our music teachers and even performances by the various string ensembles at the school. These funds contributed to the purchase of the Schimmel grand piano that was installed in the then newly minted Performing Arts Centre in 2016. Since then, FMS have hosted various other fundraising events, most notably, the inaugural Chamber Music High Tea in 2018, held again in 2019 by popular demand! In March 2020, our talented PLC music staff had graciously given up their time to plan a fundraising concert, The Feast of Music,
Shamilla Ramessur Coordinator
also for the purpose of raising funds for the FMS bursary. Unfortunately, with the onset of the Covid-19 measures, the concert had to be cancelled. Ticket sales were refunded but we hope to be able to reschedule this fabulous concert when circumstances permit and look forward to reconnecting with the PLC community then. FMS is a fun and friendly parent group whose main aim is to support the Music Department at PLC and to promote the positive involvement in music by the students at PLC. Music is a vital part of the comprehensive education offered at PLC and assistance in this area offers much appreciated support to the school, the teachers’ and most importantly the girls. Your support can be as simple as serving refreshments during interval or baking a cake to contribute to our fundraising efforts. If your daughter participates in the many orchestras and ensembles, bands and choirs offered at
PLC, then we encourage you to become a member of FMS or at least be part of our volunteer network. Joining is easy, please leave your contact details with Kerith or Fiona at the Music School reception so we can add you to the mailing list and keep you informed as to what is happening within the PLC music community and how you can be involved. Li-Leen Tan President
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PLC Community News PLC OCA Golf
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Message from Lampas President, Mrs Christine Bradbeer. Dear Lampas Members, You won’t be surprised to learn that our planned tour of the Heritage Centre has been postponed indefinitely. Many of you, will like me, have been looking forward to it. Our diaries are full of cancellations are they not? I trust that all of you are finding many good things, often unexpected good things, happening in your lives, and I trust that all of you are finding the support you need. It is a particularly hard time for those of you who don’t have friends or family nearby, or who are in residences which are in lockdown. I am including my contact details at the end of this paragraph. I won’t be able to do shopping for any of you as our children, the two medical ones especially, have banned us from going to shops. However, I can offer a listening ear, which sometimes helps, and may be able to think of someone who can help. Let’s hope and pray that the efforts of our leaders to navigate the ship of state through this crisis are successful and the efforts of the scientists and medicos’ working day and night to help the sick, find a vaccine, and also the best treatment. My very best wishes to you all, Christine cgbradbeer@gmail.com
Alison Davies (Potts 1972), Cate Monahan (Littlejohn 1973), Rosie Batten (Walker 1969) and Robin Collier (Wilson 1969).
Alison Davies and Cate Monahan, after being fabulous PLC Golf Convenors for the past 8 years, have handed over to Rosie Batten (Walker 1969) and Robin Collier (Wilson 1969). Rosie and Robin have agreed to be the new 2020 organisers of the PLCOCA golf day taking over the reins from the very capable Alison and Cate, but retaining them as vital consultants. The sad news is that Rosie and Robin, despite both being GPs, have failed to save the PLC Golf Day. Their arrangement to hold the event on May 18th 2020 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club has had to be postponed. Meanwhile they would like all prospective golfers to commence online lessons during isolation. Your swing can be practised in your bedroom, living room or garden, after checking no one is in the vicinity. Exercises to improve golf including squats, leg swings, whooshing the club through the air, and four hour walks are recommended. Rosie and Robin are anticipating seeing all the loyal die-hards and many more keen, but not necessarily experienced, players when they announce the new date for our golf get- together. Watch this space and keep your chins up! Contact: robinjcollier@gmail.com
Past Staff Member Ms Lien Lee This month the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers Association (VILTA) acknowledged the work of Lien Lee by presenting her with a Service Award at its annual conference. Lien taught at PLC for 26 years and was a pioneer for the language inspiring both students and colleagues with her passion for excellence. Many PLC students took part in Lien’s study tours to Indonesia or were examined by her at VCE level. Congratulations ! Lien is nearly 80 and living in Hawthorn.
Vale Past Staff Member and Old Collegian, Jenny Waugh (1969) Jenny passed away on 20 April 2020 after a long illness. Jenny was an inspirational and highly respected Biology and Science teacher, becoming Head of Biology and then Head of Science at PLC. Jenny was passionate about Biology and in particular the environment, conservation and farming sustainability. She was a strong proponent of the scientific method and encouraged student learning through selfreflection, good-learning behaviours, critical thinking and active participation. Jenny’s enquiry teaching style was ahead of her time and her integrity, quiet determination and strong leadership made for a very happy Science Department. After retiring at a young age from PLC, Jenny continued to share her deep love for the environment and learning, initiating ecology programs at Newham Primary School and then within the local community and the Garden Club, propagating for annual community fundraising events. Jenny was highly intelligent and well informed on a wide range of subjects, with a quick wit and great sense of humour. She was a warm, generous and treasured friend to many and left a lasting impression on her colleagues and students. Provided by Angela Hurley, Anne Starkey and Andrea Skinner
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Old Collegians across the generations spent time with their daughters and granddaughters who are continuing the family tradition of attending PLC.
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Old Collegian Mothers & Daughters Morning Tea
2. 1. Former School Captains from 1996 and 1997, Priya Milton (1996) and Anne Renwick (Salvas 1997) attended the Morning Tea with their daughters. 2 . Generations attending the morning tea: Lisa Gaydon-Cook (1990), Glenda Gaydon (Martin 1957) and Alex Cook (Year 9) with Paris Newhook (Year 9), Heather Newhook (Andrew 1981) and Joan Andrew (Nixon 1951)
Mothers, grandmothers and daughters all celebrated their shared history of a PLC education at the annual Old Collegians’ Mother Daughter morning tea. Students from the Junior and Senior School enjoyed a delicious morning tea together whilst their mothers caught up with former school friends. The Principal, Mrs Cheryl Penberthy, warmly welcomed the Old Collegians and noted the strong bonds and friendships between family members through their mutual education at PLC. The President of the Old Collegians’ Association, Mrs Ailsa Wilson (1978), expressed her pleasure in seeing so many past students, who shared the same values and enduring traditions of their time at PLC.
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PLC i n P ri nt | M ay 2020
Twilight Picnic
2020
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Archives
The PLC Community plays an important role supporting the vibrant, agile and meaningful archive collections stewarded in the Archive. Recent donations to the PLC Archive acknowledged by Jane Dyer, PLC Archivist include; Helen Clyne (1984) donated her PLC backpack and school bag. Aileen Stooke (1943) former Music Staff and current PLC Archive Volunteer donated her PLC East Melbourne and Burwood memorabilia that included the Address to the PLC Old Collegians Association. 17 March 1975 by Kathleen Fitzpatrick and documents from Miss Pearl M Richards, PLC piano and music theory teacher 1923 – 73. PLC East Melbourne invoices and receipts 1916. In 1989, Miss Richards donated the Ronisch Grand Piano currently gracing the Principal’s Foyer. Carolyn Blyth (Gray 1960) Birmingham donated her great aunt’s, Emilie Marianna Bryant, PLC Crested Book Prize – The decisive battle of the world by Sir Edward Creasy, awarded for Arithmetic in Dec 1908.
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Emilie is also listed in Patchwork as receiving a Roll of Honour Listing in July 1908, Dec 1908 and July 1909 and a Junior Public Examination in April 1910. Marcia Topic (Robinson) donated her mother’s, Marjorie Robinson (Neish) PLC Crested Book Prize The poetical works of Felicia Dorothea Hemans, awarded to Marjorie by Her Excellency Lady Foster in December 1923. Marjorie was enrolled at the College at the age of 7 in 1915. Her older sisters, Mary and Dorothy were respectively enrolled in 1912 and 1906. Lorna Watson (Aitken 1958) donated a collection of PLC East Melbourne memorabilia: Geography Student Exercise Book, 1954; Geography Practical Book, 1954; People in a Medieval Village in the Country, Middle IV; People of the Old Testament, Upper IV; Geography Student Exercise Book, Middle IV; 1955 General Science Practical Book, The British Isles, VA. 1956 and Geography Practical Book, VA, 1956. Mary Carter (Grieve 1976) descendent of PLC East Melbourne foundation student, Annie Brown, donated a copy of her mother’s, Bronwen Johnston (Grieve 1944), autobiography and a beautiful Autograph Book. The autograph book’s original owner was Gladys Wilson (1912) a PLC East Melbourne boarder from Nurmurkah. The book was given to Mary’s grandmother Margaret Grieve (Jones 1912) and includes the autographs of, and delicate illustrations by, PLC East Melbourne staff and students, including Hilda McKay and Margaret Jones, and PLC East Melbourne’s Director of Music Mr G. B Fentum 1887 – 1914. Sue Dalglish (1971) donated a PLC crested card--book-corner-protector from the estate of Mrs Betty Lynch (Everard 1934). Catherine Wilson (2012) donated a Junior school summer uniform.
1. This delicate PLC doll was recently donated to the Archive. It is wearing our East Melbourne winter uniform 19391965 and has the name Honey Quin inside the hat. We don’t have a student on record by that name but “Honey” was often used as a name of endearment. We speculate it was dressed by one of the Quin sisters in the 1950’s.
Heather Oldfield (Macvean 1963) donated her collection of PLC Patchwork magazines, 1937 – 1951, and PLC Song Book by Raymond Fehmel1961. Diana Cork (1970), PLC Art Teacher (1977 – 1990), donated her collection of PLC memorabilia including Junior School Winter Beret; Senior School Winter Beret; PLC Centenary Medal; 3 x PLC notecards; PLC Book Prize, Serious Business by J.H Dowd and B. E Spender, 1937; photograph negatives and digitised copies of the PLC Chrystal Creek Camp and PLC Weaving Studio [1980s].
Archives Inspire Service and Community Student Volunteers, Year 7 – Year 12, are rostered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the term to assist the PLC Archivist with research, outreach and collection management duties. Volunteers also have the opportunity to work with other Old Collegian Volunteers, Archive staff and visitors from our wider communities. Each hour of student service contributes towards a Service Award. This year PLC Archive staff are mentoring over 25 student volunteers, some of whom have been assisting in the Archive since Year 7. Earlier this year, it was an additional pleasure to welcome Old Collegian, Tiffany Chang (Library Captain, Class of 2015) as an Old Collegian Volunteer. Tiffany’s 40 hours of voluntary work in the Archive will enable her to fulfill a component of her Master of Engineering (Biomedical with Business) at the University of Melbourne. The Archive celebrates the contributions of current and former staff and students to global, national and local events, including International Women’s Day 2020 and this year’s PLC Discovery Night. We also celebrated the success of portrait artist, Paul Nelson, in the 2020 Portrait Society of America International Members Competition https://www.portraitsociety. org/international. Last year Paul Nelson painted the portrait of PLC Principal, Dawn Clements, the most recent addition to the PLC Portrait Gallery in Wyselaskie Hall. The College has direct links with many other well known artists including Walter Withers, Arthur Lourerio and Violet Teague. To learn more about the PLC Melbourne Archive contact our Archivist, Mrs Jane Dyer, jdyer@ plc.vic.edu.au
PLC i n P ri nt | M ay 2020
Old Collegians President Report
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PLC Women in football 2019 November Spring Luncheon Catherine Phillips (2009), our first Old Collegian AFLW player and now a St Kilda Midfielder joined Shona MacInnes (1976), a former country boarder, who now heads up the Development of Women’s Football at VAFA. Shona played baseball and netball at PLC and was in the First teams from Year 10. Shona explained that she had played netball her whole life, which meant joining her 7 teammates on a netball court out in the weather and no one ever watched them unless it was a grand final game. With 3 sons she became very involved in their football activities to become President of Kew FC. She learnt that when a man plays football, he has a whole club to support him; coaches, strappers, physios, a gym and clubhouse with a bar. These sporting clubs are tremendous networks for men, for their sport, their health and fitness, and their careers over their whole lives. As women we have a long way to catch up to provide the support of any sports club to each other. Catherine explained as a female engineer, she was much more relatable at work in a male dominated profession, once she told her male peers she played footy. Footy is a universal language that everyone has seen on TV and everyone in Melbourne relates to on one level. The conversation was very rich with Fiona McKenzie (1979) Barrister/Designer of Superpod Homes chairing the discussion. Fiona thinks some take home messages are that; perhaps as women we could also learn from the discipline, dexterity and team
skills that men build up over many years of team sport, which at their boys’ schools was often compulsory. The discipline and perseverance of turning up to practice and playing with your team, to work together to support each other with a common goal, through the whole season. At PLC we have all learnt discipline and perseverance but perhaps we have not all had the experience of doing this in a team. Of course, the current educational experiences at PLC are constantly adapting and are team-based to prepare the current students for team based, workplaces. So, let us all support AFLW, our women in football and learn to talk footy, even if only so we can reach a wider cross-section of the local community. It was a great honour to have past German student Helen Haysom (Miller 1978) on stage with me to introduce Pat Ritter OAM as our most recent Honorary Old Collegian. Pat taught German at PLC for over 20 years, including being the tour leader of German Exchange trips and Head of German. Many PLC students remember their German lessons with great affection. Pat still tutors and examines VCE German including the children of many Old Collegians. As Pat is a keen member of the Lampas Society, a table of Lampas past staff joined Pat to celebrate.
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OCA Melba Music Concert It was with great relief that the longplanned OCA concert took place on Saturday 21 March this year. Originally intended as a fundraiser for the Dame Nellie Melba Memorial Music Scholarships, the event became one in which there was no physical audience but it was livestreamed around the world. Amongst those watching was Concert Patron, Peter Ross, a former Director of Music (1987-2007), who recommended many of the performers at the time the concert was first proposed. Following the formal opening by Dur-è Dara (1962), a Director of the Victorian Women Trust, nine musical items were presented. The first, by soprano Ivanna Cheng (2000), was an aria by Giuseppe Verdi, accompanied by pianist Hui-Ling Yeo (1983). This was followed by an alto saxophone solo played by the 2019 Melba Scholar, Cheryl Tsui, now in Year 11. The work, by Paul Creston, an Italian American, was followed by ‘I Know It’s Today’ from Shrek the Musical sung by the Clapperton sisters, Emily (2018), Alice (2015) and Lucy, currently in Year 11. Cellist Josephine Vains (1991) then performed the ‘Prelude from JS Bach’s Suite in C major’. The next five items were new Australian works, four of them composed within the last five years. ‘Cloudscape’ by Clare Strong (2010) was dedicated to her late friend, Morgan Mansell (2010), daughter of PLC Staff member Peter Mansell, a moving work performed by pianist Edith Ellis (1973), flautist Janine Hanrahan (1984) and violinist Vivian Wong (2019). This was followed by a composition for three steel pans titled ‘Rain Aroma’, played by Sharon Ross (1974), sister of former Director of Music Peter Ross, and her son Jesse Brown. Next was a piece by Katy Abbott (1988) titled ‘Re-echo’, performed by Carmen Chan Schoenborn (1997) on marimba and cellist Josephine Vains. A piece titled ‘Bioluminescence’ composed by Liza Lim (1984) followed, performed by guest flautist
Paula Rae. To complete the concert, 13 musicians played an arrangement of Brian Brown’s ‘Wildflowers’, originally written for his jazz group but specially arranged for PLC in 1979. It was first performed at that year’s Speech Night as a tribute to the retired VicePrincipal, Mrs Donalda Crofts. Throughout the entire concert an extraordinary frisson was experienced by everyone involved. For the musicians, it was the oddest feeling to bow to an empty auditorium. While Lisa Leong used her experience as an ABC radio presenter to compère with great panache, she too admitted that it was a slightly unnerving experience to talk to an invisible audience. An audio-visual team plus stage hands working almost in silence ensured that everything would appear as normal in the live-stream. Heartfelt thanks are due to the musicians and PLC staff who donated their time and expertise as well as the guest artists who ensured that the items that were planned for so long could be performed. Particular thanks should go to
PLC Development Manager, Antony Hankin, who ensured that the concert would go ahead, albeit with the strictest observation of government health regulations. To have succeeded in presenting a concert of the highest musical standard, under the most unusual circumstances, is testament to the spirit and goodwill of everyone involved. A concert recording of the event is currently being edited and enhanced which will see the concert permanently hosted on the PLC website at www.plc.vic.edu.au/ about/old-collegians/news-events Ros McMillan (1959) Former Director of Music (1974–1987)
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In this turbulent and trying year of 2020 PLC OCA is exploring new ways to connect with you and give you more regular updates. Our two new Communications Officers have activated our own Facebook page. A place for Old Collegians to share photos and thoughts. We look forward to sharing with you at the PLC Melbourne OCA Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/plcmelbourneoca/
Women Out There Fellowship SCHOOL’S OUT AT PLC –
Recalling Term 1 of 1972 Good heavens but I seem to recall that at the start of the 1972 school year a letter was sent to our parents by the Principal Miss Joan Montgomery, that the start of the school year would have to be delayed. Yippee you say, however there was a reason for this! You wouldn’t think that our Principal would give us an extra week’s holiday for nothing? No way that is not PLC! The reason for this is that for occupational health and safety issues building renovations had not been completed, so we had to attend school for one day, meet our teachers who would give us the equivalent of one week’s school work for us to do. We returned to school the following week. I don’t believe that it affected our education. In the 1970s there were no remote distance online learning like we have today, but we still managed. All the best to everyone in these very trying times. Terri Mackenzie (1976) OCA Committee
A PLCOCA initiative for all Old Collegians Highlighting community engagement
This grant of up to $2000
provides seed-finding for a project which adds value to a community. For further information contact Secretary at plc.melb.oca@gmail.com Applications close on the last Friday of February.
Donate online to the Melba Memorial Music Scholarship Dame Nellie Melba (1880) is our best known Old Collegian musician, an acclaimed opera singer who sang on the world stage. In 1907 she was the President of the PLC OCA and from that time she organised concerts to raise money for school children who had suffered as the result of WW1. The Melba Memorial Music Scholarship is awarded each year to outstanding musicians, to assist with the costs of their music lessons. Please consider joining other Old Collegians by donating to support these important scholarships. Your donation can be paid online into the following: Details of the PLCOCA CBA account for those who wish to complete an online bank transfer • Account Name: PLCOCA • BSB: 063 197 • Account Number: 00900486 • Reference: Melba (and your name) Alternatively, you may also donate cash or cheques (payable to “PLCOCA”) by getting donations to Lauris Murnane at 2/26 Kensington Road, South Yarra VIC 3141. (Please specify Melba Memorial Music Scholarship) Donate now and help a musician at PLC. For further information email: plcmelb.oca@gmail.com
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Donate online to the Helen Hailes Memorial Scholarship The Helen Hailes Memorial Scholarship has been awarded since 1959 to relatives of Old Collegians who would not otherwise be able to attend PLC. This scholarship was set up to honour Miss Hailes, a greatly loved Vice Principal (1933-1954) and Acting Principal, after her sudden death in 1958. For many years Old Collegians have donated cash and cheques through the important Birthday League to support this scholarship, by sending donations to Lauris Murnane at 2/26 Kensington Road, South Yarra VIC 3141. We are now introducing online giving to make donating more convenient (in our busy lives). Donate now and help a girl to PLC. Details of the PLCOCA CBA account for those who with to complete an online bank transfer:
News from Branches
• EFT Giving • Account Name: PLCOCA • BSB: 063 197 • Account Number: 00900486 Specify Purpose as: Helen Hailes Sch Payee: Specify name by which you would like to be acknowledged in PLC in Print as part of the Birthday League or anonymous.
Mornington Peninsula Old Collegians’ Friendship Group The Mornington Peninsula Friendship Group now has over 100 Old Collegians on our database and this number is expanding all the time, thanks to the word being spread by current members and also thanks to the mail-out of the invitation by the school. We had planned a lunch for 25th March, but unfortunately had to postpone this lunch due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic. At this stage we have not heard of any of our members contracting the virus and we pray that this may continue. Talking around the group, we are informed that most have gone into voluntary self-isolation. Many of us are at the age when we could be highly vulnerable to the virus, so this is a very wise move. If any Old Collegians need assistance, or even just to hear a friendly voice, Pam and I would be happy to chat. It has been timely also to think about what are the advantages of this period of enforced staying at home. It is a great time to catch up on household cleaning / repairs / tidying / sorting / needlework / crafts / learning new technology or a new language – all those things we can be too busy to do when our diaries are full! Our next planned lunch – Coronavirus permitting – is set for Thursday 23 July at the Mornington Golf Club. It was great to see six members of the Class of ’63 at our last lunch – as shown in the photo below – there are around 16 from this year now in the database and later years are also increasing in numbers. Contact Jan at lemonjam.lj@gmail.com /0418 550 446 or Pam at gagabooth4@ gmail.com /0438 907 701. Pam Booth (1959) / Jan Kirchner (Morrison 1963)
For further information email: plc.melb.oca@gmail.com
Helen Hailes The following Old Collegians and members of the Birthday League are thanked for their contributions to the Helen Hailes Scholarship Fund: D. Williams, B. Steel, P. Randell, H. Bailey, A. Rechner, J. Garrow, K. Matthews, A. Smith, R. Muir, L. McClintock, A. Hoadley, OCA North East Group
North East Branch The North East Old Collegians met again this year at the Uniting Church Shepparton where the Ladies Committee from the church catered for our lunch. Although there were only 18 members present, we had a very enjoyable day. We also welcomed a new member who has come to the NE – Helen Beanham (Quayle 1958). We enjoyed cold meats and salads, along with fruit salad, cheesecake slice, cream and ice cream. Some Shepparton members made slices and biscuits to enjoy with our cuppa afterwards. Our thanks go to the Shepparton members who decorated the tables with blue and gold flowers and ribbons in PLC colours as well as making punch for each table. President, Ailsa Wilson joined us again, the only representative from Melbourne who was able to give us a report on school activities and Old Collegians’ events.
I trust we will be able to resume some normality in our lives sometime in the not too distant future. I was very overwhelmed when presented with a beautiful bunch of flowers on the day from the members after the passing of my husband recently. I have appreciated all the love and support shown over the last few weeks. Thank you ever so much, I do enjoy keeping in touch with you all. Judy Cuddon jcuddon@outlook.com
PLC i n P ri nt | M ay 2020
Class of 1969 – 50 Year Reunion
Class of 1979 – 40 Year Reunion
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Reunions
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Reunions Postponement of PLC Class Reunions 2020 Due to the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the College is postponing all Class reunions for the remainder of this year. We will be looking at how to hold these reunions in the future as they are an important part of our Old Collegian and School Community. We will advise this year’s reunion attendees about future dates as soon as practicable. If you have any further queries and to ensure your personal contact details are up-to-date please contact development@plc.vic.edu.au Please pass this message on to your year level if you have a Facebook Group. We appreciate all the positive feedback and wonderful support from our Old Collegian network.
Class of 1974 gathered for their 45th Reunion at Old Collegian November Spring Luncheon.
Class of 1964 celebrated their 55th Reunion at the Old Collegian November Spring Luncheon.
2009 Reunion
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Weddings Lucy Munanto (2008) married Christofer Adrian on 12 October 2019 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Malvern. Lucy’s Bridesmaids, sister Melissa Munanto (2010), Wendy Wen (2008), Harveen Khera (2008) and Yan Lee (2008) along with many PLC friends from the Class of 2008 attended the celebration.
Engagements Erin Lane (2008) became engaged to Kris on 12 February 2020. After a few days into their trip in Japan, Kris proposed to Erin at a beautiful temple as they strolled through the streets in the evening before dinner. The proposal came as a complete surprise. Erin and Kris met at university over 6 years ago and have spent the last 5 years in a long distance relationship as they lived and worked in various cities around Australia. The couple are now looking forward to planning their wedding, and finally living together! Sheree Wood (2011) became engaged to James McLaren on the 29th of Dec 2019. James and Sheree were engaged in the Victorian high country. They started going out while they were both in Year 11. A little Scotch and PLC love story.
Rita Pascoe-Webbe (2010) married Marcus Bubis on 1st March 2020 after nine years together, at St Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church and with their reception at Ivory in Elsternwick. Stephanie Eastmure (2010) and Rita’s sister Alina PascoeWebbe who is in Year 9 this year at PLC were bridesmaids. It was a lovely sunny autumn day spent with close family and friends that included friends from the Class of 2010: Tushka Sridharan, Preetisha Dey, Sangita Chakraborty, Elizabeth Kurien and Helena Heyes (2008). Lucy Owen (2013) married Alex Ecob in Sydney on 11 January, 2020.
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News of Old Collegians Congratulations
Births Caroline (Bailey 2004) and Alistair Gloutnay welcomed a daughter Grace Harper on 10 March 2020. Breeanna (Harper 2007) and Richie Harslett welcomed Lydia Maeve born on the 11 March 2020. Stacey (Mann 2012) and Jesse Fallowfield welcomed a daughter Estelle Celine on the 27 February 2020. 1.
2.
3. 1. Lucy Munanto (2008) 2. Rita Pascoe-Webbe (2010) 3. Lucy Owen (2013)
38 PLC in Pri nt | M ay 2 0 2 0 Gladys Byrne (Meadows 1943) passed away on 28 June 2019. 1.
The PLC Community is saddened to learn of the passing of the following Old Collegians.
Obituaries Betty Lynch OAM (Everard 1939) passed away on 3 November 2019 at the age of 97. Betty had been a passionate supporter of research into mental health, with a particular focus on Bipolar Disorder. In 2017 she very generously provided a gift that enabled the construction of the John & Betty Lynch seminar room at NeuRA with her message displayed outside the seminar room. “Communication is vital for all living creatures.” With her husband, John Lynch, they established the John and Betty Lynch Fellowship Lecture Program. The Fellowship is an international collaboration with renowned scholars in the areas of bipolar disorder and other related serious mental illnesses, with a focus on sharing their knowledge with Australian academia and the community on current research and treatment options.
Gladys was born in Morwell on 18 May 1928. Her father Harry Meadows, a businessman, mother Margaret, a registered nurse, and she and her younger brother Norm lived in a town called Brown Coal Mine (later Yallourn North). She said she was always embarrassed about the address on her suitcase when travelling on the Gippsland Railway to and from school. From 1941–1945 she was excited to attend Presbyterian Ladies’ College, East Melbourne as a boarder with her local friend Alison Reid (Pye 1944). She often referred to sleeping on the veranda at PLC when fresh air was regarded as the best health practice. At PLC she formed firm friendships with Pat Purvis (Laidlaw 1944), Francis Ross (Patterson 1944), Alison Irwin, Jean Hodson, Helen Walker, Helen Rowland, Marion Button, Joan Montgomery (1944), Lesley Falloon (Keipert 1937), Lila McCulloch (White 1944) and Margaret Britter; friendships that lasted a life-time. Due to the uncertainty created by the war in the Pacific, the boarders at PLC, East Melbourne were allocated to a day-girl’s family. Gladys lived in Camberwell with a family who had their own ballroom in their house, something she always recalled as she loved dances. During this time she said trenches were dug at Heathersett. She owned a box brownie camera and took a number of photos of PLC, East Melbourne buildings, fellow students and teachers, the chip picnic at Eltham and sporting activities including the tennis team and gymnasium class. While at PLC she studied office skills and was proud of her typing and shorthand skills. She worked as a stenographer for the first female barrister and solicitor in Melbourne, Joan Rosanove, for an accountant, the Purvis stores and Camberwell Grammar School.
Gladys married Norm Byrne, and had three children, Robyn, Graeme and Lynette and was a great promoter of education for all her children. She has three grandchildren. She greatly enjoyed her own daughters attending PLC Burwood, Robyn (1973) and Lynette (1977) as well as their PLC activities/meeting up with other parents who were Old Collegians that she remembered from her own school days. Glad and Norm ran their own business in Yallourn until the SEC closed the model town. She was involved with Guides and was President of the local chapter of the Penguins, an organisation that trained women to make public speeches. She could always provide an entertaining speech on a variety of topics or a funny poem. Both were keen golfers at the Commonwealth Golf Club and while her husband was able to put his name on the board after winning a number of competitions Gladys was the secretary of the CGC Associates (Women members). She enjoyed attending PLC OCA functions and meeting and being interviewed by the PLC students. In 1987 she was very pleased to win the PLC OCA Golf Trophy with 41 Stableford points and enjoyed seeing usually up to 40 other PLC Golfers each year. She is greatly missed by her family and friends. Jean Cockerell (Kinnear 1944) passed away on the 22 August 2019.
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Joan Aveling Layet (Thomas 1946) passed away on 6 November 2019 aged 91. 3. Yvonne Hansen (Harrison 1944) passed away on 25 January 2020.
1. Gladys Byrne (Meadows 1943) 2. Yvonne Hansen (Harrison 1944) 3. Joan Aveling Layet (Thomas 1946)
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Yvonne was born on 3 March 1926 in Burnley and she spent her childhood and early years in Carlton and St. Kilda. She attended Carlton Primary and Brighton Road Central schools and then in her early teens, she went to PLC in Albert Street, East Melbourne. Yvonne loved PLC and she remembered her years there with great fondness throughout her life. After leaving PLC, Yvonne studied at Stott’s Business College and then taught at the College. Following her marriage in 1948 to Jim Hansen, Yvonne started her own Secretarial Business and, following the birth of her daughter in late 1951, she took only 6 weeks off from work. She continued to run her business and worked from home as her daughter grew. Yvonne was a woman ahead of her time as she continued to work following starting her family. Yvonne worked for 25 years at Monash University as Administrative Assistant to the Professor of Music, until she retired in late 1991 at 65 years of age. Yvonne studied for her Bachelor of Arts degree at Monash, majoring in Linguistics and Indonesian. She graduated in 1984 at the age of 58 years. Yvonne travelled many times to Bali and other parts of Indonesia to visit her brother and she continued her Indonesian studies well into her 90’s. She enjoyed attending PLC reunions and talking on the phone to Natalie who had been in her class at East Melbourne. Theirs was a friendship that lasted some 80 years. Yvonne was greatly loved by her family and she is missed by her daughter Vanessa, her grandson David and David’s partner Bea.
Joan was born in 1928 to Emma and Howard Thomas and elder sister to Rae (Decker) dec. and Helen (Jowett). Joan used to catch the bus from Glenferrie Road to Hartwell to PLC in Burwood and after Junior School travelled to East Melbourne via the number 7 Tram. She regularly attended the wonderful reunions with many classmates over the years and always recalled her wonderful time at PLC and valued the enrichment of lifelong friendships. PLC put her on the track to art classes and she learnt with watercolours and then moved on to oils. Joan’s involvement at Kooyong Tennis Club first in secretarial work, then Committee work, gave her opportunities to meet Australian and International tennis figures and fostered a passion for travel with an accent on Italian art and culture. After more than 70 years of membership and service, she would be bestowed the honour of “Living Treasure” of the Kooyong Tennis Club. She studied painting and languages, played bridge and tennis regularly. Later in life she worked part-time in the fashion industry, selling and buying for Avanti Boutique in Balwyn.
Joan was passionate about the Children’s Hospital Committee, 2020 her Hawks, MCC and VRC memberships and enjoyed many outings and travel with Probus. Joan loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, family and wonderful friends and enjoyed a lifelong love of the ballet and art that was nurtured at PLC by Miss Lawton. She was funny, gentle and kind to the end. Betty Hunt (McCulloch 1948) passed away on 5 August 2019 at the age of 88. Betty always spoke very fondly of her school days at East Melbourne, particularly of her teachers and the close long term friendships she formed there. Betty’s daughter Kate Mulcahy (Hunt 1983) also attended PLC. Elizabeth Batchelor (James 1953) passed away suddenly on 17 January 2020. Joan Dwyer (Singer 1956) passed away on 11 September 2019.
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News
Gail Tregear (1957) At the recent H.H. The Amir’s Sword horse racing festival in Doha, Qatar, held in February 2020 there were two Old Collegians in the parade ring amongst a total of maybe 20 foreigners - Gail and Pam Goodfellow (Ferguson 1965). Pam is connected to OTI racing who owned part of one of the runners in the main thoroughbred race. Gail was there as a journalist for ‘Racing and Sports’.
Judy Baird (Tuttleby 1958) Judy has long had a goal to publish her family history and at 78 years of age has just achieved this goal. ‘’Reflections on Resilience” is the story of five women in her family who over three centuries experienced love and loss, hardship and deprivation in their lives, yet went on to make meaningful contributions to humanity. Two of these women attended PLC.’
Margot Foster AM BA LLB OLY (1976) In late 2018 Margot was appointed to chair the Election Oversight Panel for World Athletics (formerly the IAAF – International Association of Athletics Federations). This required her and the four men on her panel to oversee and monitor elections at the Congress held in September 2019 in Doha in conjunction with the World Athletics Championships. The EOP has been established as an anti-corruption measure and is a world-leading initiative by an international sports federation. In early 2019 Margot was recognised as one of the 50 most influential women in sport in the country by the Sydney Morning Herald. As of 1 January 2020 she took up her role as the first woman elected a Vice
President of Motorsport Australia (formerly – Confederation of Australian Motorsport). Margot was appointed to the board on 1 January 2018 and was pleased to have the confidence of her mostly male colleagues as reflected in the election. Margot was the only woman on the board and the first ever appointed at the time (there having been one woman elected through her State previously). Margot is delighted that she has been joined by two other women in the past several months. Whilst she has some 30 years experience in sport as an athlete and now administrator, Margot is not a petrolhead and was appointed to complement those on the board and bring a different way of thinking which she has been able to do in a range of ways. Margot is chairing the organising committee for the celebration of the centenary of women’s rowing in 2020. One hundred years ago women, who had been rowing since the 1880s or thereabouts, competed for the first time in the Interstate Regatta where states compete against each other with men’s crews.
Jennifer Zhu (2005) Last year, from June to August 2019, Jennifer Zhu spent 9 weeks in Strasbourg, studying at the International Space University. Since graduation from PLC 15 years ago, she went on to pursue physics at university, her favourite subject, but didn’t end up becoming a scientist. She now finds herself working in the space sector for the National science agency, CSIRO, in Canberra and she could not pass up the chance to join the Space Studies Program. The program’s philosophy is international, interdisciplinary and intercultural. The 126 participants from 37 countries were exposed to core lectures on subjects including orbital mechanics, space law, rocket science and astronaut selection. ‘Departments’ allowed for in-depth study of specific space disciplines, such as human performance in space and satellite applications, while elective workshops covered subjects from space radiation to star gazing. The final intense weeks were
spent delivering a team project with around 30 stressed and sleep deprived people striving to meet tight deadlines. Highlights include: meeting Buzz Aldrin (second man to walk on the moon), visiting the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut training centre, seeing all the screens at the ESA mission control centre, getting in touch with physics again at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) and meeting with several space start-up companies. It was definitely a unique and life-changing experience!
Zoe Wyatt (2009)
1 Zoe is currently finishing a PhD in mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland this year and then taking up the Henslow Research Fellowship at Darwin College in the University of Cambridge from October. (1) Old Collegians Anne Neil (Hare 1963), Sally Capp (1986) and
Wendy Fishley (Olney 1955) met up at an OSCA event at Scotch College. (2)
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PLC i n P ri nt | M ay 2020
1
Australia Day 2020 Honours Congratulations to the following Old Collegians who were recognised in the 2020 Australia Day Honours List.
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Mary Featherston (AM) (Currey 1960) For significant services to the arts, particularly to interior and industrial design. (1)
Jennifer Doubell (OAM) (Walker 1964) For service to the community through charitable organisations. (2)
Professor Rachel Webster (AO) (1968) For distinguished service to education in the field of astrophysics, to astronomical research and to young women scientists. (3)
3
Bobbi Mahlab (AM) (1980) For significant service to women, to publishing and to philanthropy. (4)
4 5
Fiona McLeod (AO) (1981) For distinguished service to the law, and to the legal profession, at the nationals and international level, and to women lawyers. (5)
Professor Alison Ritter (AO) (1981) For distinguished service to education, to drug and alcohol research and social policy, and to professional medical societies. (6)
Dr Desiree Yap (AM) (1981) For significant service to women’s health and to medicine. (7)
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Seri Renkin (OAM) (1987) For service to the community through charitable organisations. (8)
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42 PLC in Pri nt | M ay 2 0 2 0
Presbyterian Ladies’ College MELBOURNE ABN 16 005 650 386 CRICOS No. 00334M 141 Burwood Highway Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia Tel: (61 3) 9808 5811 www.plc.vic.edu.au Copy for the next issue of PLC in Print is due by Friday 3 July 2020 Please mail copy to the Development Office or email to development@plc.vic.edu.au INCORPORATING THE OLD COLLEGIANS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
