Camphora Issue 17 Winter 2023

PLC SYDNEY CELEBRATES

135 YEARS OF EDUCATING YOUNG WOMEN

STRICTLY BALLROOM DAZZLES AUDIENCES

CAMBRIDGE: IN CONVERSATION WITH DR PAUL BURGIS

CONTENTS | ISSUE 17 WINTER 2023

1 From The Principal

3 Where do our Students go Beyond the Big Green Gates?

4 Strictly Ballroom Receives Rave Reviews

6 The Journey of Learning in the Classroom at PLC Sydney

8 PLC Sydney Open Day And Fair 10 135 Years of Educating Young Women

12 Faculty Feature: Meet the Visual Arts Department

14 Cambridge: In Conversation With Dr Paul Burgis

16 PLC Sydney Chosen as Cambridge Demonstration School

PLC Sydney acknowledges the Wangal people, of the Dharug dialect, on whose land the College resides, and pays respect to Elders both past and present. Camphora incorporates the Ex-Students’ News , the magazine of PLC Sydney’s Ex-Students’ Union.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

"And"

Thinking about our approach to learning.

Often in these pages we celebrate the accomplishments of our students and explain our programs. I am very pleased that we do. Camphora is a celebration of the students and staff of the College.

It is important also, however, to consider the educational philosophy that underpins the school. Since The Enlightenment there has been a gradual change occurring in Western societies in regard to how education is understood. I wish to highlight some aspects of this, and to indicate how we respond to it at PLC Sydney.

Here are some of the key points of change:

1. What might be called the Augustinian model of learning dates back to around 400 AD. Ancient societies were concerned with the question: ‘What is the good life?’ Aristotle, for example, believed that human beings were motivated by their idea of what was good. He asked his readers to ask themselves: ‘What is the good you think you are achieving?’

The Christian thinker Augustine wrote about properly ordering our loves as the means to the good life. As a Christian this meant first loving God, then his neighbour and then himself.

An education was therefore bent around the ideas of working out what is the good. What does Goodness mean? What is Beauty?

What is Truth?

Out of Athens and Jerusalem emanated the notion that the human being was ineliminably valuable and subject to bigger forces. The American philosopher Martha Nussbaum says that goodness has a ‘fragility’ to it. We are humble in its pursuit.

2. The Enlightenment distanced the learner from the objects that she studies. With the advent of the scientific method came the notion that to know the truth one had to fully remove one’s own bias. Universal truths will not be

learned through doctrines or by cultural practices or by listening to one’s intuition, but by dedicated observation of patterns and the scientific method. Thinkers like Jeremy Bentham wanted to act out their faith practically, helping their neighbour in real ways.

Whilst the scientific method has given us many great benefits in areas ranging from communications to medicine to use of energy, it has also reoriented our imagination in regard to how we think we learn. The famous chemist Michael Polanyi wrote a powerful book called Personal Knowledge in which he argued that the scientist never really divorces herself from her object of study. He noticed the profound differences in how science was done in the Soviet block to how it was done in the West.

3. Simultaneously, European writers like Sartre and Heidegger had studied and taught Augustine, and his modern existentialist counterpart Soren Kierkegaard, intensely. They decided that the scientific method, with its distancing of subject and object, was not the best way to understand the universe. Heidegger championed phenomenology. This is the idea that the centre of truth is a person’s lived experience within the world.

Life is a series of phenomena which we experience. My experience may not match yours. My truth may not match yours.

Notice the shift.

Originally we have truth and goodness and beauty existing first and foremost externally in God and the universe. Our task is to ‘discover’ life, to grasp its reality. Next we separate ourselves from our lived experience in order to observe the universe and establish provable truths upon which we can all agree. More recently we have our own truths which are preeminent.

Alasdar MacItyre’s best known book is After Virtue. It tells the story of what life is like for citizens who have abandoned the idea that there is a real goodness outside of ourselves, a telos, a meaning for us. One might say that we live in a time where autonomous expressionism is queen.

continued next page 

"Originally we have truth and goodness and beauty existing first and foremost externally in God and the universe. Our task is to ‘discover’ life, to grasp its reality."

‘Contemporary moral experience, as a consequence, has a paradoxical character. For each of us is taught to see himself or herself as an autonomous moral agent; but each of us becomes engaged in modes of practice, aesthetic or bureaucratic, which involve us in manipulative relationships with others. Seeking to protect the autonomy that we have learned to prize, we aspire ourselves not to be manipulated by others; seeking to incarnate our own principles and stand-point in the world of practice, we find no way open to us except by directing towards others those very manipulative modes of relationship which each of us aspires to resist in our own case. The incoherence of our attitudes and our experience arises from the incoherent conceptual scheme we have inherited.

‘Once we have understood this it is possible to understand also the key place that three other concepts have in the distinctively modern moral scheme, that of rights, that of protest, and that of unmasking.’

MacIntyre astutely notes that the contemporary way of understanding the universe has consequences. Instead of goodness and beauty and truth being our highest goods, our own personal power becomes the highest good. Thus, whether we are left of centre, promoting equity, or right of centre promoting freedom, we learn to ‘coerce’ each other. There is a growth in the idea that the right way to respond to life is to assert our rights, to protest, and to unmask the motives and actions of others. The problem is that others are doing that to us too.

We are not necessarily better than them because we too may operate on the basis of power. At PLC Sydney we think the word AND is important.

Of course life has power struggles in it. AND you or I could be motivated by our own power. AND, we do want to use science to determine what is. AND we also recognise that we find out about the universe through testimony and through reason and through examination of ideas. AND we do have intuitions. AND we can pray. We believe in agency and creativity. We do all we can to enable girls and young women to make choices and to be creative. Yet we don’t think that we are autonomous. There is a universe that is pushing back. We do have things that are personally true AND, yet, we recognise that there is a reality to confront. Life is about discovery AND construction.

OUR MAGAZINE TEAM

EDITOR

Mrs Renee Jones

COVER

Our girls celebrate PLC Sydney's 135 Year Anniversary at the Open Day and Fair. See page 8 for details. Photos courtesy of Maja Baska.

CONTRIBUTORS

Dr Paul Burgis, Ms Rowena Barnett, Mrs Jo Golotta-Maxwell, Amelia Lai, Zoe Guard, Rafaela Lee, Dr Sarah Golsby-Smith, Ms Jo Knight, Mr Andrew Paxton, Mrs Alison Lloyd, Mrs Nicole Southworth Rader, Ms Jen Gair, Ms Kristen Privett, Ms Renee Brown, Ms Lisa Tabuteau, Mrs Michelle Olsson, Jasmine Chee, Natalie Iacullo, Lynette Hawkey, Ms Ella Bates, Isabelle Ho Shon, Harriet Alder, Kiara Morishita-Lee, Ms Isabel Hayek,

Ms Lizi Simms, Ms Bronwyn Amy, Miss Jiye Kim, Mr Garry Barker, Mr Gerard Faure-Brac, Mrs Jo McGrouther, Sienna Özdemir.

Ex-Students' News: Mia Joseph, Mrs Kaye Browne, Ms Patsy Beckett, Marina Clark, Lesley Meldrum, Helen Humphries, Debby Cramer, Elizabeth Gregory, Ann McDonald. Thank you to all the ex-students and their families who contributed.

"We believe in agency and creativity. We do all we can to enable girls and young women to make choices and to be creative."

Dr Paul Burgis Principal

WHERE DO OUR STUDENTS GO BEYOND THE BIG GREEN GATES?

As teachers, we focus our attention on preparing our students for the future, equipping them with essential skills to help them navigate their lives beyond our College.

By Mrs Rowena Barnett Director of PLC Sydney Futures

Symbolically passing through the Green Gates means taking the first step along a new, and mostly unknown pathway to the future.

It is challenging to know exactly where our students move next as they often walk on with confidence into the future without much looking back. This is what we aim for and everything we do is geared towards preparing them for what may lie ahead. We often hear back from them only a few years later when their pathway has become clearer and they return to let us know how they have travelled. However, we do know about the offers that they receive from universities. The Class of 2022 cohort received some outstanding offers from universities. Many students received offers for their first preferences, and others received multiple offers in the different offer rounds. The range of universities and fields of study reflect the breadth and depth of the education that the students receive at PLC Sydney.

The following graphs represent WHERE our students receive offers. Note that this information refers only to universities in NSW/ACT and that some students received multiple offers.

The information graph 1 does not include offers made directly to students from universities (Early Offers). The destinations selected by our students is remarkably similar to those chosen the previous year where 30.1% of students were offered places at the University of Sydney, 22.1% at UNSW and 13.2% at UTS. These 3 universities remain the three most attractive tertiary institutions to our students.

When we look at WHAT our students seek to study, we note that the top two areas they are selecting is similar to the needs projected by the National Skills Comission in their Employment Projections published recently. The combination of STEM & Professional careers (36.1%) is our students’ top preference followed by Health Care and Social Assistance (24.1%).

What is also clear in the National Skills Commission findings is that more than 9 out of 10 jobs in the next 5 years will require a post-school qualification of some sort. This could include a university degree, a VET qualification or some other recognised qualification.

We know that most of our students go on to university study once they pass through our gates and that they are well equipped to face the world as confident young women with the essential transferable skills needed to see them find a meaningful career pathway.

Reference: www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au (n.d.). Employment Projections | National Skills Commission. [online]

Available at: www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/ topics/employment-projections

Graph

No.

Offers by Field of Study

More than half of the cohort of 2022 also received offers directly from universities before the HSC examinations were undertaken.

Graph 1

BALLROOM IS BRAVE, BOLD AND FULL OF JOY!

The Audrey Keown Theatre stage was set ablaze with the exceptional talents of the cast, crew and orchestra of Strictly Ballroom. Over 70 students across Years 8-12 took part in bringing this iconic Australian story to life. We asked the cast to take a leap of faith in trusting us with this complex production and their hard work and commitment paid off in four consecutive nights of sold out performances and standing ovations from delighted audiences.

By Mrs Jo Golotta-Maxwell Head of Drama

The cast had to strike a delicate balance between the heightened and stylised performances required to capture Baz Luhrmann’s overt sense of theatricality, but also the nuance of the sensitive relationships and character journeys. Our students brought such maturity, humour and understanding to their work. We selected this musical so that we could showcase the depth and breadth of talent we have at PLC Sydney. All of our cast and orchestra were able to bring distinct moments of brilliance to a production that will not soon be forgotten. What a way to kick off our 135th celebrations!

STRICTLY

Below are some reflections from members of the cast.

Strictly Ballroom was my first PLC Sydney Musical and I found it such a rewarding and enjoyable experience. I met so many new people across year groups that I hadn't interacted with before. Working on such a big project like Strictly Ballroom was immensely challenging but the rehearsals developed new skills and throughout the 6 months, I learnt so many new things. Performing in the AKT with such talented people was an incredible experience I will never forget. Opening night was everything we hoped it to be - colourful, flamboyant and energetic. Strictly Ballroom is definitely one of my favourite projects that I have done at PLC Sydney.

Lai,

My personal experience with Strictly Ballroom included a nerve-racking audition, many tiring but delightful rehearsals, and the most memorable performance days. Strictly Ballroom was an opportunity to engage with many new people that I now consider some of my closest friends.

The cast was filled with many people from different year groups so our paths would have never crossed save for being in the show. Initially, I was hesitant to audition out of fear, but now looking back at the extraordinary time that we had at every rehearsal, I’m so extremely grateful that I was pushed to step out of my comfort zone.

From the very beginning to when the last song was sung, the journey has been something that really put ‘love in the air.’ Throughout my time in the musical, I’ve made amazing connections that will last longer than the curtain closing.

Rafaela Lee, Year 9

The entire Strictly Ballroom experience consisted of a whirlwind of emotions. From the nerves during the audition process, the exhausting Friday afternoon rehearsals and the backstage excitement before performing - Strictly Ballroom had it all. I strongly believe that doing the 2023 PLC Sydney Musical was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had. Hard work was required to make everything happen and during rehearsal time you needed to give it your all, but it was really worth it in the end. The friends made backstage, the resilience and discipline that was required to produce such a spectacular show all contributed to something greater and unexplainable. Strictly Ballroom for me is a feeling, made up of memories, struggles, laughter and love. I am so proud of the entire cast, staff, orchestra and everyone behind the scenes as it truly would have not been as magical without every single person involved.

Zoe Guard, Year 10

Photos courtesy of Des Chu.

Amelia

Year 10

"Opening night was everything we hoped it to be - colourful, flamboyant and energetic. Strictly Ballroom is definitely one of my favourite projects that I have done at PLC Sydney."

THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM AT PLC SYDNEY

What happens when our students become concerned about their classroom in some way?

From time to time they will come to me or to a relevant Head of Faculty about a concern in the classroom. I want to bring you into our thinking when this sort of thing occurs.

By Dr Sarah Golsby-Smith Head of Learning and Teaching

Our PLC Sydney students are supremely polite and kind, and never seek to hurt or disrespect our teachers.

Schools are extremely complex places, both in terms of the demands of a single timetable to coordinate about 1200 people at any one time in the

senior school and in terms of the social complexity of any one of those meetings between students and teachers. It is why schools remain one of the most rewarding and fascinating places to work and learn; no two lessons are ever the same, and nor are the demands of one classroom the same as the next.

From time to time, our students struggle with this, particularly as they move from one class - where the learning might feel more straightforward - to another, where the learning might feel more demanding. We acknowledge the truth of this. A student might find it easy to find herself in music, for example, but might struggle in mathematics. She might not know how to find her feet, so to speak. To make matters worse, as the curriculum gets harder, a student might compare her previous experiences with this one, and find that she is not enjoying the subject as much as she did.

When such a situation arises, we reach to teaching and learning for solutions. Why? It is tempting to suggest that the easiest way to relieve a student’s

distress is to act structurally, to change the teacher and the classroom and therefore relieve the student’s distress. It is in this moment that I often hear a student say something along the lines of “This teacher’s style doesn’t suit my learning style”. And this student might be right … for the moment. Why “for the moment”?

Learning is a journey, and circumventing the rigours of relationships is to circumvent the deep learning that can take place when things do not come as easily as expected. To move a student’s class because of a perceived mismatch of teacher and student would do a disservice to the complexity of the classroom; factors to consider would be curriculum, topic, other students, relationships and how they are formed, and previous experiences in the subject. Still further, making a decision such as this one before student and teacher have had time to grow ensures that neither teacher nor student is able to learn the other’s “style”. In other words, in a situation such as this, if teaching and learning is the problem, then we must seek a solution in teaching and learning.

In addition, moving a student from class to class for fear of a mismatch weakens the fabric of a school. We risk moving from a community to a marketplace. At PLC Sydney, we actively pursue a model where our students risk to reach reward, rather than seeking guarantee - which may ensure safety, but also ensures limited growth. This is not all. Differently to a commercial environment, where a customer could select a red product, but later switch to a white product, if we limit a successful classroom to only a student’s perception of what is working and what is not, then we weaken not only the timetable and the integrity of our classrooms, but we also hamper the possibility of the gift of real learning that the student does not expect. A student cannot know what she does not know.

In this way, when issues of teaching and learning come up, we will always approach them with curiosity, and with the confidence that solutions can be found in teaching and learning. We very rarely move students from class to class within the same subject, particularly where a student is concerned about a teaching style or learning style. What we will do is listen hard in the first instance.

We will seek to understand what is going on for a student. Then we will initiate a conversation - with parent/ teacher, teacher/student, teacher/ teacher, HoF/teacher - whatever combination suits the particular moment. We will keep those conversations going until student and teacher have found a way of communicating that ensures good learning and good teaching.

Students are often concerned that these conversations might offend their teacher. Quite the contrary. Our teachers welcome direct conversations with our students. In girls’ schools in particular, there is the tendency to think that communicating concern is the same thing as disrespect. Far from it. We want our students to be able to speak when they need to, in such a way that communicates the respect that we know they have for their teachers, but also aptly and clearly gives voice to their concerns. We want to nurture young women as they learn to speak. So, when these concerns come up, what should a student and her family do? And not do?

• She should not hide her concerns from her teacher, and failing that, the Head of Faculty or Head of Learning and Teaching. We are here and care very much.

• Trust in the school. Trust that speaking to our staff will in absolutely no way result in any recrimination. Trust that these conversations will change things for the better. We value the voice of young people. We will protect it, at every level.

• Try to come to staff with the problem, willing to talk, rather than the neat problem/solution of moving classes to avoid discomfort.

• Trust the process of classrooms and their growth.

• Avoid echo chambers of the playground, where staff cannot hear a growing concern and therefore cannot act.

Great classrooms often foster great conversations and we are not naive enough to think that classrooms do not benefit from support from time to time. We value your daughters and their experience. After all, they are what makes our classrooms what they are.

PLC Sydney’s Open Day and Fair this year brought our community together to celebrate the college’s 135 Year Anniversary with rides, stalls, academic and co-curricular displays, and campus tours, culminating in a spectacular light and fireworks display to end the festivities.

We were spoilt with beautiful sunshine to honour our school’s rich history and celebrate with our current, past and future families. The day kicked off with its usual gusto - rides on repeat, market stalls, food stalls selling mouthwatering delights, our girls showing their skills in entrepreneurship, academia, performing arts, music and sport and a myriad of fun activities like alpaca kissing, camel riding and cupcake decoration.

The highlight of Open Day and Fair was the night conviviality where guests were treated to a moving Vivid-style light show and firework extravaganza. As the fireworks wrapped up, the rain moved in and everyone went home full of community spirit and pride for our wonderful school. Thank you to everyone who helped made this day such a huge success!

Happy 135 Years PLC Sydney.

Photos courtesy of Maja Baska

PLC SYDNEY CELEBRATES 135 Years

OF EDUCATING YOUNG WOMEN

PLC Sydney’s 135 Year Anniversary Concert at the Sydney Town Hall was a celebration of our students, staff, alumni, families and council. We commemorate the achievements of both those who have been educated and those who have dedicated themselves to educating our girls over the past 135 years.

PLC Sydney girls joined students from schools across Australia and the globe to perform in a moving, joyful and stunning concert that will be remembered for years to come.

Opening with a beautiful Acknowledgement of Country featuring special guest artist William Barton, the concert showcased an incredible number of PLC Sydney ensembles, including PLC Sydney Pipes and Drums, Madrigal and Chamber Choir,

PLC Voices, Hamilton Strings, PLC Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choirs and our Wind Ensemble. We were also captivated by performances from our partner schools, Meitoku Gijuku Wadaiko; St Paul’s Co-educational College, Hong Kong; PLC Armidale; Stella Matutina Girls High School, Taiwan; and The Hutchins School, Tasmania. Our girls also performed a scene from our 2023 musical Strictly Ballroom.

"Our 2023 ComposerIn-Residence, Ella Macens, created a stunning final piece - World of Wonder."

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Our 2023 Composer-In-Residence, Ella Macens, created a stunning final piece - World of Wonder. The words, crafted by our own students about their experiences of being PLC Sydney students, were beautiful. We are grateful that the extraordinarily talented William Barton played alongside our combined choirs and orchestra in this moving and beautiful performance. This concert was a credit to so many of our committed and hard-working staff. We are thankful to everyone who helped make this such a success.

"Although we grow, although we change,  Our love, our sisterhood, always remains, always remains."

FACULTY FEATURE: MEET THE VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT

“PLC Sydney is heaven for art teachers; it is a dream to have a facility where students' works are valued and presented, and have the chance to view works by artists first-hand and gain insights into their physical and material form,” says Head of the Visual Arts Faculty, Ms Jo Knight of the Adelaide Perry Gallery.

The Visual Arts staff view teaching at PLC Sydney as a privilege. To mentor our talented and passionate young artists through a range of artmaking processes and have the opportunity to explore ways to express and challenge themselves to extend their aesthetic results beyond their expectations. It is a thrill to have so many of our students continue to practise in the Visual Arts beyond their school career within the fields of Architecture, Fine Arts, Design, Education and numerous related courses. We are also extremely proud of our HSC students who are regularly nominated and selected for ARTEXPRESS exhibitions across the state.

MEET OUR TEAM

Ms Jo Knight

Arriving with over 10 years experience as a Visual Arts Coordinator, and completing her Masters in Arts Administration at the College of Fine Arts UNSW, Ms Knight came to the College in 2012 as Curator, Adelaide Perry Gallery. She dedicated her passion for exhibiting cutting-edge professional artist practices to inspire our students. She moved into the Head of Faculty position in 2017 where she has since been committed to maintaining and improving the outstanding standard of the department.

Mr Andrew Paxton

Mr Andrew Paxton trained in the Painting Workshop of the School of Art & Design, ANU. He has been Adelaide Perry Gallery Manager at PLC Sydney since 2011, gaining experience in exhibition design and installation, art handling and arts administration. Each year, Mr Paxton assists the Visual Arts Faculty in the preparation of the College's student and professional artist exhibitions, including the Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, the Gallery’s premier event, with a view to delivering outstanding shows that display the girls’ work at its best. He coordinates many aspects of the management and maintenance of the PLC Sydney Collection including its storage, cataloguing, documentation and restoration. Among his most favourite works in the Collection are Ken Searle’s Midnight Shakes the Memory, 2009 Perry Prize Winner, and My Le Thi’s Here & There

Mrs Alison Lloyd

With a passion for creativity, Junior School Visual Arts Coordinator, Mrs Alison Lloyd aims to assist students with gaining a level of confidence in their artmaking so that they may express themselves uniquely and create art works that they are proud of. With a background in Photographic and Digital Media, Mrs Lloyd came to PLC Sydney in 2015 after teaching Primary and Secondary Visual Arts for many years. She now teaches from the new Junior School Visual Arts Room in Evandale where students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 enjoy their art lessons. “There are no ‘mistakes’ in our Art Room, just opportunities to learn and create amazing artworks,” she said.

Mrs Nicole Southworth Rader

Contributing to the diversity and expertise of the department is Art and Design Technical Assistant and practising landscape painter Mrs Nicole Southworth Rader. With a background in Graphic Design and having completed an advanced painting course at the National Art School, Mrs Rader is an asset to the team, lending her knowledge and skills to students across both the TAS and Visual Arts Faculties. Mrs Rader enjoys working on the co-curricular art programs of Hamilton After School Art and Art & Design Club in the Senior School, as well as supporting HSC students in the development of their Bodies of Work.

Ms Jen Gair

Connecting students with professional artists and the artworld is an integral ingredient of success for the Visual Arts Faculty at PLC Sydney. A focus that Ms Jen Gair shares in her dual role as a member of the Visual Arts teaching team and more recently as Curator. Having started at the College in 2017, Ms Gair hopes to build and extend our students' knowledge of Visual Arts and Design by showcasing works that both challenge and inspire them. She believes in encouraging an autonomous approach to the conceptual and material musings of student-making, whilst also learning from and celebrating the traditional and the academic. Having recently completed her Masters in Visual Arts Education, Ms Gair is passionate about encouraging students to become lifelong learners. She says, “I find personal enjoyment in building narrative connections for students where they can learn to acknowledge time, place, and culture and use this to explore new concepts with a renewed sense of understanding and confidence”.

Excited to be joining the PLC Sydney team in 2023 are highly experienced Visual Arts teachers Ms Renee Brown and Ms Kristen Privett, bringing a myriad of skills with them and a shared expertise in digital media.

Ms Kristen Privett

Ms Kristen Privett shares her experience in The Croydon as both a Visual Arts and Design & Technology teacher. Working professionally in digital design before beginning her teaching career, she draws on her expertise with technology to support our art students. Ms Privett encourages innovative approaches to artmaking and enjoys mastering new materials and techniques. She has honed her pedagogical approach for over 15 years and enjoys working with young people for their no-nonsense approach to life, and their energy. Her background of teaching internationally contributes to our understanding of a range of global art education perspectives at PLC Sydney.

Ms Renee Brown

Having taught for over 20 years in both Australia and the United Kingdom, Ms Renee Brown brings a wealth of experience to the fold. She has an extensive history in teaching Visual Arts from Years 7 to 12, including Photographic and Digital Media courses. Ms Brown is a passionate and committed teacher dedicated to helping students realise their full potential. She believes students' success is dependent on the development of a strong sense of belonging, engagement and affirmation. This provides the foundation for promoting critical and creative thinking, independent inquiry and a life-long commitment to grow and succeed. Ms Brown is thrilled to be our newest addition to the PLC Visual Arts teaching staff.

As a collegial, creative and caring team, the Visual Arts staff hope that the artists of PLC Sydney continue to feel safe, nurtured and empowered by the Visual Arts, and that The Croydon studios provide a sanctuary for innovation, critical thinking and meaningful artmaking. Through developing a community of makers, we encourage our students to engage with the Visual Arts as a way to connect with who they are as an individual, and contribute critically and passionately to the wider contemporary world.

CAMBRIDGE: IN CONVERSATION WITH DR PAUL BURGIS

Initially instituting Cambridge IGCSE to Years 9 and 10 in 2014, under the pioneering and trailblazing leadership of Dr Paul Burgis, PLC Sydney now offers Cambridge courses and assessment to Years 9 to 11.

The Cambridge Assessment International Education courses offered at PLC Sydney have grown significantly over the past ten years, both in popularity and breadth of subject, with the College soon to further introduce a selection of Cambridge International A Level Courses.

Currently PLC Sydney offers learning and assessment in the following Cambridge courses: Computer Science, Global Perspectives, History, Physical Science (to be replaced by Physics and Chemistry in 2024), Biology, Mathematics, Literature and, for AS Level students, General Studies.

Offering A Level teaching and examination is indeed, as Dr Burgis describes, a seismic moment.

But the PLC Sydney and Cambridge partnership is already full of notable moments: in 2016, a Year 10 student received a Cambridge Outstanding Learner’s Award after being named ‘Top in the World’ for IGCSE Global Perspectives; in 2017, a student received a ‘Top in the World’ award for finishing first in the Physical Sciences exam (in both instances from a student pool involving 11,000 schools worldwide); and in 2020, a Year 12 student achieved three A Levels (A*, A*, A) in her Cambridge exams (equivalent to 99.9+). She is now studying Computer Science and Philosophy at the University of Oxford. There is also a student currently completing her A Levels in Further Maths and Computer Science who will follow in those footsteps and already has an offer

from Oxford. It is to the impact of this student success and the transformative potential of the current courses offered that our interview returns.

Dr Burgis’ background is in teaching History and English. He has actively studied, researched and taught across the globe, as well as chaired accreditation and academic committees, and directed Master’s programmes. In 2001, he received the Norman Baker Award for Educational Achievement for ‘Outstanding Educational Practice’.

In conversation with Dr Burgis, we explore how and why PLC Sydney has introduced Cambridge (CAIE), and its impact and successes.

Why did PLC Sydney, under your leadership, decide to initially offer Cambridge Assessment International Education courses and exams to students in Years 9 and 11?

I taught Cambridge IGCSE and International A Level courses in Zimbabwe in the 1990s. I noticed the way that they assisted students with very few resources to apply their abilities and achieve success. In the UK, later, our daughter sat Cambridge courses and improved her Science results. The courses also allow teachers some flexibility about how and what they teach to tailor the courses for their region. In thinking about a second certificate to offer alongside the HSC [New South Wales Education Standards Authority courses], Cambridge was therefore an obvious choice. And when we instituted Cambridge IGCSE, we noted a significant improvement in students’ results in courses including Science and Mathematics. We are therefore very happy with this choice.

You mention the availability and use of the HSC – can you tell us what the pathway looks like for HSC students who wish to study internationally? And does the Cambridge offer provide a more convenient alternative to this?

The HSC does provide a good pathway. However, as Cambridge is better known by overseas universities than the HSC, it makes it an easier pathway for students who wish to study internationally.

How did you find the initial uptake of the Cambridge options? Was their availability an offer that students found immediately attractive?

Initially, we had only 15-20 students selecting one Cambridge elective across Years 9 and 11. Now, however, almost all 340 students across these years do at least one Cambridge elective, with quite a few doing three. The uptake was immediate and the number of candidates has continued to grow.

Why are you continuing to grow Cambridge Courses on offer in your school?

In the shorter term, we will be offering a limited range of Cambridge International A Levels in 2024, before offering a full range in 2025. This venture into A Level provision is a significant point in the school’s history.

Has the evidential standout success of students undertaking Cambridge courses increased fellow student interest and participation?

We have had a few of these awards and they have all been very well received. Really, there is already interest from our students and parents, so much so that they are requesting even more subject choices. We are also fielding many enquiries from outside the school. These come from private students looking to take the examinations, students wanting to enrol because of our Cambridge Courses and other schools in New South Wales interested in offering Cambridge in their schools.

What impact and responsibility do subjects such as History and Global Perspectives have in shaping societies and in forming mindsets? How have these subjects, or the teaching of them, changed in response to recent cultural movements (such as the increasing awareness of equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and considerations of climate change and sustainability?

Schools could fall into a trap if they allow the zeitgeist to shape their curriculum offering. The current set of issues is in part shaped by human survival and equity, and there is also an emphasis on human autonomy in Western societies. This emphasis on ‘my own preferences’ being the way forward for everyone is problematic. It seems to be to lead

to ‘coercing others and seeking to limit them coercing me’. Much like the Roman Empire, the zeitgeist issues are largely imagined to be the remit of the powerful within the West. We can build a much better understanding of the issues affecting us today if we don’t react to the political activists on both sides of the spectrum, but rather develop a deep and broad historical, philosophical and theological understanding of how ideas develop. Further, in the Post-Enlightenment world, learning has been impacted negatively by the separation that is imagined between the subject and the object. Empiricism is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. At our school, we hold that the purpose of an education is to learn to love. We seek to not scapegoat people on either side of politics. Much of the current political activism maintains a commitment to scapegoating. We seek to build understanding. We support and encourage sustainable and intelligent action.

You yourself have taught in many distinct regions of the world and you are described as having ‘strong global interests’. In your experience, would you say that the educational challenges that you have witnessed are similar and translate across populations?

And, if so, do Cambridge courses and study options help militate or mitigate these?

I think Cambridge Mathematics, Science and History translate well. There are areas in English where Cambridge would gain from the NESA [New South Wales Education Standards Authority] courses. Cambridge courses are quite secure. They allow students to structure their learning. In Science, Mathematics and History they extend thought.

PLC SYDNEY CHOSEN AS THE CAMBRIDGE DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL FROM 2023-2026

PLC Sydney is very proud to have been chosen to be the Demonstration School for Cambridge in Australia from 2023 to 2026.

By Ms Lisa Tabuteau Director of Cambridge International Courses

We have been a part of the Cambridge family since 2014 and have increased our courses on offer from three to a smorgasbord of subjects at both International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and A Levels by 2025, which is Stage 5 and Stage 6 in The New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) terms.

This national launch means that we are sharing our experience with schools all over Australia. We aim to build a network of Cambridge schools because we know that the more minds we can get into one

space, the better the conversation. In this case, the conversation will be how to make the most of what the Cambridge courses have for our students, and how we can encourage our students to achieve to the best of their abilities.

Kathleen Lloyd-Parker, Cambridge Australian Senior Manager, flew in to join us at our launch on Friday 24 March. She stood with us in welcoming the four schools who have show an interest in joining the Cambridge family. Our Principal, Dr Burgis, welcomed our guests and gave a brief overview of why he has chosen to introduce Cambridge courses to PLC Sydney.

Firstly, he said that in his time teaching in Zimbabwe, he was impressed by how students were able to achieve whilst studying Cambridge courses even though they were disadvantaged in many ways. They studied hard for the end of year exams and were later accepted into prestigious universities. Dr Burgis noted that the Cambridge courses suited all level of abilities in the students he taught. Later, he said that his eldest daughter, who studied Cambridge when they lived in UK, greatly improved her marks under the program.

We have already spent time working with our brother school, The Scots College, who have recently introduced IGSCE to their suite of subjects on offer. They are very enthusiastic about the depth in the courses available. After the launch we were overwhelmed by interest from other schools all over New South Wales. Our next demonstration day will be Thursday 8 June where we will be inviting schools and important voices in education from all over Australia. I encourage you to view the interview with student, Amy Feng on the PLC Sydney website (under the Cambrige section). Amy has managed to balance NESA and the demands of the Cambridge A Levels over the last few years with such success that she has now been offered a place to study at Oxford, UK. She is a proud student of our college who waves the banner for those who will come behind her into a new future - thanks to PLC Sydney and Cambridge!

“After the launch we were overwhelmed by interest from other schools all over New South Wales.“

PLC SYDNEY RISING STAR - ELLIE COLE

Year 11 Student Ellie Cole is a student of many talents. Under her cool, friendly and outgoing personality is hidden a quietly determined and very disciplined athlete and student.

By Mrs Michelle Olsson Head of Diving

Her story thus far is inspirational…

Ellie was first introduced to PLC Sydney through the PLC Sydney Gymnastics program. After a school program held at her local primary school the coach kindly called Ellie’s mum (Kate) and told her that Ellie showed a lot of talent and she should enrol her in an “actual class”.

Kate hunted around for a strong program and was told to try PLC Sydney’s Gymnastics program. So, in Year 1 Ellie was off to gymnastics to conquer the world, well maybe level 1!

When Ellie was 8 years old she was involved in the PLC Sydney Open Day Display where she discovered the library! Ellie forgot all about the rides and stayed in the library just about the entire day. It was about that time that Ellie started asking her mum about attending PLC Sydney, partly for the gymnastics but mostly for the library! After becoming a PLC Sydney student in Year 5 Ellie threw herself into both her sport and her studies.

It was at this point that Ellie thought maybe it would be a good idea to try diving. Diving didn’t seem to require the hours of training that gymnastics did and Ellie, wanting to focus on her studies more, thought she would give it a try. Ellie realised from her first lesson of diving that this was a sport that she found fun and exciting. This new found study time only lasted a few months when Ellie was asked to trial for the New South Wales Institute of Sport and once again her training requirements increased.

In Year 7, Ellie and classmate and friend Stamatia Galanos won the National Sleek Geeks competition where they made a short film named “Fish Fiasco” where they looked at the effects of plastics in our oceans.

Ellie suffered from a debilitating stress fracture in her back in Year 9. Most people would have quit following such a long term injury. Ellie was given the go ahead to come back two times during the next two years just to be told that her comeback was too soon and she was back on the side of the pool going through her rehabilitation again. These years demonstrated to me Ellie’s strength of character and resilience.

Ellie watched her competitors learning new dives and winning competitions. I remember seeing Ellie practising her rehabilitation and congratulating her friends and competitors. Her sunny smile never left her face. She also spent that time focussing on her studies and took out first place in the Young Scientist awards in Year 10.

Ellie was finally able to make her comeback to diving just in time to help PLC Sydney take out the 2023 IGSA championships.

Fast forward to now and Ellie trains more than 20 hours per week. But somehow, with all the training she makes it work. Ellie studies extension mathematics, extension English, physics and chemistry and hopes to go on to study physics at university.

When you are passionate about something you always find the time to make it work! Ellie, now a member of the National 2832 Dream Squad will compete for Australia for the first time in May at the Bergen Open held in Norway!

Best wishes Ellie we are so proud of you!

"When you are passionate about something you always find the time to make it work!"

Ellie and her coach Chava Sobrino

GIRLS GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE CONSTRUCTION OF M6 TUNNEL

construction, and what sort of paths we could take to achieve a career in that field.

Fast forward to this year and as winners of the naming competition, we were invited back to the site to see the progress that had been made in the 6 months since we last visited. This time we were spoken to about paths we could take by women in the field. They spoke to us about what they studied in high school and university to get where they are, and the amazing support they get from their coworkers, as well as the aspects they bring to their team.

Year 10's Work Exploration Week gave them the opportunity to visit the construction site of the M6 Motorway.

By Jasmine Chee (Year

11)

Rewind to 2022 and as part of our Work Exploration Week, a group of students and myself visited the construction site of Stage 1 M6 Motorway in Rockdale.

On the site, the friendly workers spoke to us about the variety of jobs and skills needed in the industry, including communications, safety, and engineers as well as project managers. This opened our minds to the diversity in the field. Construction is not limited to physical labour, but requires collaboration between many jobs.

Then we were given a safety briefing and taken onto the site where there

was a 50m deep tunnel, used to access the main tunnel which would join Kogarah to the M8, easing congestion and providing shortened travel time across Sydney.

We were then introduced to the new roadheader, a piece of machinery with a rotating head used for digging through hard rock. On sites these machines almost became part of the team and a competition was held to name it.

As a group, we came up with the name “Terra”, the Roman goddess of the earth, and a pun on ‘terror’, a reference to the appearance of the roadheader.

We left the site with a new perspective on what goes on in the field of

This time we also got to venture into the access tunnel. Geared up in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), we gathered into the tunnel and revisited Terra the Roadheader, who’d begun her job digging the tunnel. It’s something that’s not given much thought, but there are so many individuals and factors that go into a project like the M6, each with different skill sets and perspectives to keep things running smoothly. The experience gave us so much incredible insight into the construction industry and possible future pathways in various jobs in construction and engineering.

Thanks to Dr Burgis, Mrs Barnett and Ms Wildie-McDaid.

The five students who attended were Amelie Haddad, Chauntelle Boustani, Sophia Or, Taylor Icanovski and Jasmine Chee.

MUSICIANS AND MENTORS –A NEW INITIATIVE TO FOSTER OUR BUDDING MUSICIANS

PLC Sydney’s Performing Arts department this year established the Musicians and Mentors program. This program was the brainchild of Philip Harper, the Director of Performing Arts, as he was a mentor when he was younger at his own school.

By Natalie Iacullo Music Captain

In bringing this tradition to PLC Sydney, Senior School Band, Choir, String and elective music students volunteer to provide support to the Junior School’s budding musicians.

This program has involved 18 senior musicians attending the rehearsals of various junior ensembles each fortnight to closely guide them in learning different styles of music and in preparing for performances. Each mentor from Years 10-12 has been able to play a significant role as an instrument section leader amongst these Junior School music groups. Being an instrument section leader has allowed them to collaborate, encourage and play alongside their younger peers in rehearsals, as well as provide technical help when needed.

Julia Murphy, a Year 12 trumpeter in the PLC Big Band, took on a role as a mentor within the Junior Jazz Ensemble on Friday lunchtimes this year. “The mentorship program has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with the younger girls in my final year. I have been very grateful to watch them grow as musicians over this time and I have found that the students quite enjoy playing with us too,” she said.

The Junior School musical groups which have had the guidance of mentors over this year include Cantabile, PLC voices, Hamilton strings, Middle Years Symphony, Evandale Strings, Junior Orchestra, Junior Concert Band and Junior Jazz Ensemble. The Performing Arts department looks forward to continuing this program in the future.

OLIVIA WOWS AT WORLDS

Year 12 student Olivia Stavrakis completed her participation at the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship (WIDPSC) in style, improving her world ranking by 7 places from last year’s online event, finishing 4th overall in World.

By Lynette Hawkey Head of Speech, Debating and External Public Speaking

Olivia claimed her place on the World stage by completing 2 rounds of four speaking events and selection to three from four finals. At the end of the rounds, Olivia was ranked 1st equal in readings (tied with US student Lily Pierce), 7th equal in persuasive, 17th in debate and 22nd in impromptu. Olivia took home a stunning African collectable ceramic Raku-fired figurine known as ‘The Dlamini’.

The 35th Annual World Championship took place in Durban South Africa between 26 March and 1 April 2023, hosted by Clifton Boys’ School. Billie Ronis and Eujiny Cho also competed in the competition with Billie also making the Readings finals.

A total of 108 competitors gathered from 16 countries for the first in-person event since 2019. The joy of reunion at an in-person fixture amongst the students was one of the highlights of the event. For our Year 12 students, this was a fitting way to draw their school representative speaking career to a close, as the South African trip was an educational and cultural experience of a lifetime.

We congratulate Olivia, Billie and Eujiny for being such excellent ambassadors for our school and maintaining our school’s record for excellence and consistency at this International event.

PLC SYDNEY

135 Years 1888 –2023

Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected schools for girls.

PLC Sydney opened its doors for the first time

When PLC Sydney opened its doors for the first time in 1888, the entire school consisted of 39 girls, 21 of which were boarders. It was the first school in NSW to be established by the Presbyterian Church. The College’s first classes began at Fernlea, a ‘gentleman’s residence’ in Ashfield.

The College moves to Croydon

The College moved to its present site at Croydon. The main buildings were Shubra Hall, built by Anthony Hordern III (of the department store family) in 1869, and a new structure erected in 1890 housing classrooms, dormitories, a dining room and an assembly hall. The design of ‘Shubra Hall’ has been attributed to architect Albert Bond. Officially opened by the governor of New South Wales, the Earl of Jersey, on 10 March 1891, his wife, the Countess of Jersey, made an impromptu speech, that was reported widely across Australia. Her name has ever since been associated with the annual reunion of ex students held every March, Jersey Day.

Pipe Organ completed

The three-manual pipe organ in College Hall, built by William Davidson of North Sydney, was completed.

The “West Wing” provides new space

The “West Wing” was completed, providing the growing College with five new classrooms at ground level and space for “seventeen new bedrooms and some extra bathrooms” upstairs.

PLC Sydney’s first Principal

Dr John Marden BA, MA, LLB, LLD, becomes the first Principal of PLC Sydney, from 1888 until 1919

First ‘Jersey Day’ held

The first reunion of ex-students was held on 10 March 1894. It was called “Old Girl’s Day”, but later became “Jersey Day”, acknowledging the visit and speech made by the Countess of Jersey on 10 March 1891. The Ex-Students’ Union was formed in 1906.

First ‘Aurora Australis’ Magazine

The first copy of the magazine, Aurora Australis, was published in December. Miss Francis Fraser, Lady Superintendent, was the first editor.

The studio-gymnasium becomes the art studio

The College could embrace economy when necessary. The studio-gymnasium, erected at Ashfield in 1888, was moved to Croydon where it housed the art studio in I905. lt continued to be used at Croydon until its demolition in 1937.

1893 1894

1901 1904 1905 1888 1891

Miss Mary Hamilton

Miss Mary Hamilton, BA, DipEd, becomes Principal from 1932 to 1941

Black Watch tartan fabric

McQueen

Dr E. Neil McQueen, MA, DSc, becomes Vice Principal in 1916 and then serves as Principal from 1920 to 1929

PLC Sydney during World War II

Australia entered World War II on 3 September 1939. In 1942 the Croydon campus was requisitioned by the RAAF to house a radar unit. From the beginning of Term 2, 1942 until the end of 1945 the College moved temporarily to Strathfield where it leased three properties, Welbeck, Lingwood and Lauriston, to accommodate both boarders and classrooms. The staff and pupils of Meriden School, in the spirit of wartime cooperation, shared classrooms and other facilities with us.

1942

Miss Eunice Macindoe

Miss Eunice Macindoe, BSc, becomes Principal to 1956

Pymble school branch opens

On 8 February 1916, the branch school at Pymble opens. Dr Marden served as Principal for both colleges and both were governed by the same College Council. It separated from the Croydon College in 1929 and was administered by its own Principal and College Council. In 1977, under the Uniting Church it changed its name to Pymble Ladies’ College.

New Gymnasium a jubilee gift

Funded by the ex-students as their jubilee gift to the college, a new school gymnasium was built.

Swimming Pool and Marden Library opened

ln February Mr Robert Vicars, member of College Council, used a pair of gold scissors to cut the ribbon, officially opening the new swimming pool. ln March Mrs Jane Marden, the widow of the first principal, Dr John Marden, opened Marden Library.

‘Lingwood’ becomes ‘Branxton’

The property at 16 Margaret Street, Strathfield, (known as “Lingwood”) was retained after the war and converted for use for the College’s lower primary classes. It was renamed “Branxton” after a private school in Homebush Road, Strathfield, operated by Miss Margaret Thompson. In 1975 the lower primary classes were relocated to Croydon and from 1976 until 1996 “Branxton” was a pre-school.

The Black Watch tartan fabric was introduced for the school uniform.

Dr Helen Isabella Wilkie

Dr Helen Isabella Wilkie, MA, DipEd, PhD, becomes Principal from 1942 to 1945

Dr E. Neil

The return to Croydon

Although the school returns back to the Croydon campus on 6 February, 1946, the official return to the Croydon campus took place on 18 April 1947 in the presence of the Governor of NSW, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in NSW, and other dignitaries. Enrolments were at an all time high of 478, including I03 boarders.

The new Junior School

The new Junior School was completed and occupied by students. It contained five classrooms, an assembly hall, and a library. The building was officially opened in March 1964 by Dr Harold Wyndham, the Director-General of Education for NSW.

Tennis professionals play at opening of new courts

Lew Hoad and other pros gave a demonstration of exhibition tennis at the opening of two new tennis courts in April 1955, that were constructed by a group of fathers.

Miss Freda Whitlam

Miss Freda Whitlam, BA, DipEd, MA, becomes Principal from 1958 to 1976

New wrought-iron gates

The Ex-Students’ presented new wrought-iron gates, at the Meta Street entrance, to the College, replacing the timber gates.

The importance of the Scriptures, intellectual growth and moral education

HSC and new Senior uniform introduced

A major provision of the Wyndham Scheme was implemented this year: secondary schooling was extended by one year and the Leaving Certificate was replaced by the Higher School Certificate. Consequently the 1967 graduates were at the top of the pile for two years.

A new Senior School uniform was introduced for students in their final two years of secondary school (Black Watch tartan kilt, green collarless jacket, white blouse, Black Watch tartan tam o’shanter, nylon stockings and black low-cut shoes).

A new Science Block

A new Science Block, with two labs, a prep room and lecture theatre, was completed.

PLC remains with the Presbyterian Church

Miss Whitlam’s educational philosophy encompassed the importance of the Scriptures, intellectual growth and moral education. To help achieve these goals and to accommodate increasing student numbers, facilities were gradually improved and a new three-storey classroom block was opened by Dr Wyndham, the Director of Education of NSW. It comprised locker space and six classrooms, each fitted with double-hung chalkboards.

In May 1977 it was announced by the Property Commission that PLC would remain with the Presbyterian Church. As our sister school in Pymble was assigned to the Uniting Church and became known as Pymble Ladies’ College (rather than PLC Pymble), we reverted to our original name of PLC Sydney.

Miss Patricia Dyson

Miss Patricia Dyson, BA, DipEd, MA, becomes Principal from 1978 to 1985

Principal’s residence

Harmsworth,

Macindoe Library opened Macindoe Library was opened in 1992. Image of the library in 1996.

Drummond

Field opened Drummond Field opened. It is named after Betty Drummond (née Pirie), a student from 1919-1928 and a member of College Council from 1956-1990.

Extension Centre was founded

William T. McKeith

William T. McKeith, AM, BA, DipEd, MA, MBA, EdD, FACE, FAIM, becomes Principal from 1986 to 2010. There were 715 students enrolled at the College at the start of 1986.

1978 1979

4 House names

The house system was rationalised to the four houses of the Senior School – Kinross, Harper, Ferguson and Anderson. [The Houses originally adopted their permanent names honouring former Chairmen and women of College Council in 1926.]

PLC Sydney Foundation was established

The PLC Sydney Foundation was established to provide financial assistance to improve the physical plant of the College and to provide educational endeavours that benefit both students and staff.

The PLC Sydney Extension Centre was founded. It is one of the longest running continuous extension and enrichment programmes for gifted and talented children in Australia.

Evandale officially opened Evandale, for pupils from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 2, was officially opened.

1989 1994 1992 1993 1986

1987

College’s student newspaper begins

College Crow, the College’s student newspaper, started in April.

New building extensions opened

In February the Governor of NSW, Sir James Rowland, opened the new building extensions – Thompson Hall, the E. Neil McQueen Block and the Lindley Evans Music Centre. These facilities enabled further opportunities in art, music, home science, computing and sports.

Transition Programme begins in the Senior School

The Transition Programme began in the Senior School with nine students and one teacher. The programme caters for students with moderate to mild intellectual disabilities and activities are predominantly life-skills based.

114 Edwin Street, purchased and restored for Principal’s residence.

Two new Senior Houses, Pickard and Wilkie added

Two new Senior Houses were established: Pickard, named after the first Lady Superintendent, and Wilkie, named after the Principal.

East Timor Kindergarten Project begins

The East Timor Kindergarten Project began. This project operates two Protestant church kindergartens in Dili. It provides Year 10 students with the opportunity to participate in an ongoing cross-cultural community development project through planning strategies, making decisions, raising funds and/or visiting East Timor for an international community service experience.

Freda Whitlam School of Science opened

Former Principal Miss Whitlam officially opened the Freda Whitlam School of Science. The facility boasted new labs and greatly improved staff areas as well as the covered linking verandahs and the amphitheatre construction.

First Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing

Inauguration of the now $25,000 Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing. The Prize is generously supported by the Parents and Friends’ Association and named in honour of respected painter, printmaker and draughtswoman, Miss Adelaide Elizabeth Perry (1891-1973) who taught Visual Arts at PLC Sydney from 1930 to 1962.

Café opens, first Rowing Regatta happens

The Transition Class started its “In the Best of Taste” café and the first PLC Rowing Regatta took place on Iron Cove Bay.

Alliance with PLC Armidale announced

A strategic alliance with PLC Armidale was announced, designed to create and extend opportunities for co-operation between the two schools. The schools operate as separate identities under the one Principal and the one College Council.

The Croydon Art, Design and Technology Centre opens

The Croydon Art, Design and Technology Centre, which also houses the Adelaide Perry Gallery, was officially opened. Transforming this former hotel into a first-class educational facility took three years.

Pipe Band, marches in the Sydney Anzac Day March

The PLC Sydney Pipe Band, started in 2003, marched in the Sydney Anzac Day March for the first time.

Aquatic Institute and Performing Arts Centre opened

A significant building program was completed with the official opening of the J.D. Oates Aquatic Institute (honouring John Oates, OAM, Chairman of College Council 1985-2005) and the Performing Arts Centre, containing the Audrey Keown Theatre (honouring Audrey Keown, OAM, speech and theatre teacher 1959-2002). In 2010 the Performing Arts Centre was re-named the W.T. McKeith Arts Centre, in recognition of Executive Principal Dr W.T. McKeith 1986-2010

Adelaide Perry Gallery opened Adelaide Perry Gallery opened 1 June 2001.

Dr Paul Burgis becomes the 9th Principal of PLC Sydney

Dr

Paul Burgis, PhD MEd DipTeach

DipDivMiss becomes Principal in 2011. Dr Burgis has experience in university and school education in UK, Africa and Australia.

Gateway/Hamilton building officially opened

The Gateway/Hamilton building officially opened, with facilities for students in Years 3-6 and some administrative staff including specialist STEM rooms, amphitheatre, turtle pond, bee hotel, vegetable gardens, Arthropod house, and play equipment.

PLC Sydney Preschool Ashfield opens

PLC Sydney Preschool Ashfield is officially opened. The preschool provides high quality early learning for girls and boys between 3 to 5 years old.

Junior School Evandale Redevelopment

Address introduced

The annual Address invites a prominent Christian thinker to discuss the interaction of her or his faith with a discipline that is taught in the college, or a subject connected to human experience.

COVID-19 is declared a global pandemic

The COVID-19 virus sweeps the world. Lockdowns are enforced to stop people gathering and hundreds of thousands of lives are lost. PLC Sydney moves to online learning.

Junior School Evandale Redevelopment was completed in 2020 and included additional classrooms, breakout spaces, specialist facilities such as a Junior School Art Room and Evandale Library, with beautiful, redesigned playground and garden. However, due to COVID restrictions, the opening was postponed several times. The redevelopment was finally ‘officially’ opened at PLC Sydney’s Annual Open Day and Fair, on 7 May 2022, by Jason Yat-Sen Li, the Member for Strathfield.

2019 2020 2021 2023 2011

Macindoe Research Centre officially opened

Macindoe Research Centre officially opened, providing comprehensive up-to-date research and library facilities for students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 and for all staff.

2015 2018

Four Senior classrooms added above McQueen complex

An additional four classrooms, devoted to Senior School, were added above the McQueen complex to expand the learning spaces including dry labs.

Cambridge International Courses introduced

PLC Sydney becomes the first school in Sydney to offer Cambridge IGCSE Courses in Years 9 and 10 to supplement learning, in addition to the NSW Education Standards Authority courses.

Hamilton Multi-purpose Centre complete

Sky Path

In 2022, PLC Sydney commenced building six new Senior classrooms in the link bridge ‘sky path’ between the McQueen Science Labs and the Macindoe Research Centre on Level 2. It will be officially opened mid-2023.

Hamilton Multi-Purpose Centre, completed in early 2021, includes a sprung floor for Junior Aerobics and Basketball, plus after hours co-curricular activities. It is part of the Hamilton Precinct.

Pamela Nutt

GIRLS HONOURED TO ATTEND UNFORGETTABLE SCIENCE FORUM

In January of this year, Sasha Prokhorov and Isabelle Hoshon were privileged to attend the 15th Annual International Science Youth Forum (ISYF) as recipients of the Year 10 Dr Burgis Award for Excellence in Science Research.

By Isabelle Ho Shon (Year 11)

The ISYF is a prestigious science enrichment program for research students all over the world and was held at Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore. It was such an honour to represent Australia at this event and is definitely an experience that we will both never forget.

Throughout the forum we participated in a range of different activities and events with delegates from all over the world including Taiwan, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

To begin the event, we were taken on a captivating tour around Singapore titled “The Amazing Race”. We visited Singaporean Hawker Markets and tried new and different foods such as Ice Kachang and Orh Luak (Oyster omelette). We then travelled to Chinatown and Orchard Rd to explore different sites and stores and visited The Esplanade - a theatre on the Bay. We continued to Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. The Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay was extremely beautiful and definitely a highlight of this tour.

We also participated in a team project where we were challenged to design and create our own Rube Goldberg machine - a machine designed to perform a simple task through a series of overcomplicated steps. This was a really interactive and interesting experience which allowed us to collaborate with other delegates. As foreigners attending this event, Sasha and I presented our Australian culture in a cultural exhibition. We proudly showcased our national animals, food, sports and even celebrities. It was also interesting to see other countries‘ cultures and customs.

A true highlight of this experience were the talks and lectures from Nobel Laureates and eminent scientists we were able to attend. We attended talks from Professor Hartmut Michel (1988 Nobel Prize in Chemistry), Dr Eliza Fong (PhD in Bioengineering at Rice University), Dr Stephen Tay (Senior Lecturer in the Department of the Built Environment in the National University of Singapore (NUS)) and Professor Sow Chorng Haur (PhD, University of Chicago). We especially enjoyed Professor Sow’s talk about nanoscience as it was extremely engaging and taught us about something we did not know much about.

Lastly, to close the event, we attended a grand ceremony with four Nobel Laureates hosting an informative Q and A session and a poster exhibition where we presented our Student Research Projects with other delegates, and guests were able to ask questions. It was super interesting to view other projects and we were really inspired at the innovation of some of the projects. A noticeable project investigated using orange peels as an ammonia bio-adsorbent in aquariums.

This was an incredible and unforgettable experience which we are extremely grateful for. We would like to thank College Council, Dr Burgis, Ms Hendriks and Ms Ren for making this trip possible. This year PLC Sydney hosted our own International Student Science Conference, and the theme was “Bright Minds Shine a Light.”

“A true highlight of this experience were the talks and lectures from Nobel Laureates and eminent scientists we were able to attend.”

Cultural Exhibition

ISYF delegates as well as organisers from Hwa Chong Institution

THE PLC SYDNEY STUDENTS’ PHOTOGRAPHIC PRIZE TURNS 15!

The inaugural PLC Sydney Students' Photographic Prize was held in April 2009, in conjunction with an exhibition of photography by the Australian master David Moore.

By Andrew Paxton Adelaide Perry Gallery Manager

Students were invited to respond to the theme My Visual Journey and Hannah Cooper (2013) from Year 8 was named Overall Winner for her work Copacabana.

Now in its fifteenth year and supported by PLC Sydney Parents & Friends' Association, the annual Students' Photographic prize has become one of the most anticipated and popular events on the Adelaide Perry Gallery calendar.

Offering as inspiration a different theme and guest artist each year, Miss Amelia Rand, Art & Design Captain said, “The Students' Photographic Prize creates a 'visual dialogue' within the College community. Students from Kindergarten to Year 12, and staff, exhibit alongside one another, in conjunction with the work of a professional artist. The accessible nature of photography as a form of expression for people of all ages and backgrounds is something that I find exciting. I always come away from

the Finalists' Exhibition feeling in awe and inspired by the diverse work on display, demonstrating a new world of possibilities. The positive atmosphere of the opening event and the sense of achievement in seeing people interact with my work encourages me to keep creating.”

In 2023, students and staff were asked to respond to the theme Girls Rock! with multilayered explorations of female energy, movement, confidence and raw expression. The Gallery was thrilled to have the participation of Sydney's legendary rock music photographer Tony Mott. The suite of Tony Mott’s images represented, over a thirty-year period, the formidable presence and dynamism of female performers both on and off the stage. It was on display with the student finalists' works from 28 April - 17 May.

Of the finalists, Adelaide Perry Gallery Curator, Ms Jen Gair said, “The students worked with focus and determination to present a wide landscape of images that reflected their technical considerations and conceptual intent. It was incredibly powerful

to have these images displayed in conversation with Tony Mott's work in our wonderful gallery space.”

For this year’s overall winner, Ariella Humphreys of Year 11, the theme Girls Rock! immediately caught her attention and she was compelled to enter. “To portray through photography the power and strength girls have resonated with me and my art making practice,” she said. “Upon seeing Tony’s works I realised my ideas aligned perfectly, not only with the theme but with Tony’s portrayal of women as well. The mood and tone that Tony creates within his works encouraged me to push my creative practice, to create something as emotion evoking as his art. For me photography is so much more than just a snapshot. I aim to tell a story and inspire an emotional connection for the audience. I love capturing the essence of people and the everyday within my art and I’m so glad the theme of Girls Rock! allowed me to do so.”

Ariella Humphreys, Cable Ties, Overall Winner PLC Sydney Students’ Photographic Prize 2023

Chrissy Amphlett, lead singer, The Divinyls, 1983. ©Tony Mott. Courtesy Tony Mott

IN PROFILE HARRIET ALDER

Year 8

A star on the rise - Harriet Alder shines as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins

Why did you audition for Mary Poppins?

I was encouraged to audition for Mary Poppins by the principal of my dance school because she thought I was a good match for the brief. My dual nationality helped as I can put on a pretty good British accent! Ultimately I wanted to try something new and just give it a go.

From when you first auditioned, how long was it until the show went live?

How did you manage your schoolwork with your commitment to the musical?

How long have you participated in musical theatre (singing/dancing/acting)?

With musical theatre my driving interest started with dancing. I took my first ballet lesson when I was 3 years old. When we lived in England, I did two years of musical theatre classes. I loved it! I’ve also sung in choirs throughout Junior school. Whilst I’ve done some drama classes and followed the speech program at school I haven’t really had any formal acting training. It’s been more just singing around the house and cutting the odd iMovie with my sisters! When I got into the character of Jane Banks, I really surprised myself with my ability to act, as I had never done anything like that before.

Is Mary Poppins your first professional production?

Yes, Mary Poppins was my first professional production.

What other shows have you been a part of?

I was part of the chorus in a junior musical of Wicked in England, which I did when I was 6. I was part of the 2020 Ed5 International USA cast that was due to perform at Disneyland, Florida, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to Covid. Nevertheless we got to perform the show at NIDA.

I auditioned for Mary Poppins in early February. I signed my contract on my birthday (3 March) and we started rehearsals on the 28 March. It was nerve wracking waiting to hear if I had been cast as I knew the casting tapes were being sent to Cameron Mackintosh in the UK for approval. We rehearsed for 6 weeks and opened the show at the Sydney Lyric mid May.

What was your favourite part of being in Mary Poppins?

There were so many amazing parts of Mary Poppins journey; the people, the thrill of performing, the friendships I made… I could list so many amazing aspects. Though if I had to pick one, my favourite part of Mary Poppins was having the opportunity to work with and learn from so many talented, professional actors, in particular Stefanie Jones.

Through my time with Mary Poppins I mainly used Google Classroom to receive and complete any class work. It was really helpful having such amazing teachers that were really supportive of what I was doing as they posted all the work I needed and answered any questions over email. Doing online learning in the pandemic really helped me to understand the virtual side of school. I mainly did school in the morning time and shows at night. I tried to keep a rough routine as much as possible, to allow me to work efficiently whilst away from the classroom.

What performing arts subjects do you study at school?

At school I am involved in 3 different choirs, I play the clarinet in a few of the bands and I also follow the AMEB piano exam program. I also do dancing and singing lessons outside of school with Ed5 international. In Year 7 we did Music as one of our subjects, unfortunately we aren’t doing it this year, but I am definitely keen to pick it up again as an elective in Year 9.

Do you have any idea yet if you’d like to continue down this path in the future?

I’d like to focus on my acting and see if there’s a possibility of doing some TV work. Unfortunately there’s not many professional opportunities for teenagers in live theatre, so I may have to wait a few years before another big opportunity comes along. A show like Mary Poppins only comes around every 10-12 years. I would love to try out for Mary next time it is here!

Which parts of Australia did you travel to for the production?

I performed in 3 different states: Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Do you have plans to audition for anything else in the near future?

Who knows… watch this space!

Photos courtesy of @peakhourimages

"There were so many amazing parts of Mary Poppins journey; the people, the thrill of performing, the friendships I made..."

KIARA MORISHITA-LEE

Year 5

With dreams to play in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Kiara is well on the way to play on the world stage.

What musical instrument/s do you play?

I play the flute and violin as well as sing (I have also played the piano in the past).

What groups or ensembles are you a part of both at school and outside of school?

Within school I am part of PLC voices, Middle Years Orchestra, Hamilton Strings, Junior Concert Band and the Junior School String Quartet. Outside of school I belong to 2 groups in the Australian Girls Choir, including a special selected performing group.

What age were you when you started playing music?

I started at a very young age. I got captured by music because my older brother was playing the violin and I would always try to copy him with a pair of chopsticks! With the flute, I would just walk around the house blowing into my mum's flute's mouthpiece - which also made my brother annoyed. Singing came along naturally - which means lots of singing in the shower! I started violin at 2 years old, flute at 4, piano at 6, and singing always - but I was part of the Australian Girls Choir when I was at 4 years old.

What are some of your biggest musical achievements?

I've won multiple international and domestic music competitions and awards, and earlier this year I went to Melbourne to perform in the AMEB flute conference. I met lots of different people, musicians, composers and even the CEO of AMEB, Bernard Depasquale! My biggest achievement was to perform in Paris in December last year. I performed in the famous hall, The Amphitheater Cite de la Musique - Philharmonie de Paris. I believe that opportunity got me one step closer to my biggest dream, meeting the famous flute player, Emannuel Pahud.

Do your music commitments ever interfere with school and if yes, how do you manage both?

I try to time manage with my school work along with my other passions like reading and hanging out with friends.

I have to give some credit to my mum as she will always organise my snacks after a long day of rehearsals and practice, and also improved her driving skills of NOT getting lost as she drives me place to place every afternoon. I would also like to thank my teachers that work very hard and try to adjust the homework time schedules to fit everyone's timetable.

What are your dreams for the future when it comes to music?

My dreams for the future are to play with the famous flute player, Emmanuel Pahud in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - the orchestra known to be one of the best in the world. I would also want to study overseas when I'm older.

Who has been your biggest influence or inspiration with your music?

The people who are the most supportive to me would be my flute teacher, Jocelyn Fazzone, my parents, my mum for helping me practice and giving up her time and energy on me, and my dad for singing along with me in the car on the way to school.

Emmanuel Pahud for each time I hear your sound on YouTube it helps me to adjust and practice to get as good as you! I would also like to thank my guinea pigs, Oreo and Brownie - now only Oreo, for listening to my music and always being quiet when they need to be while I'm doing a recording for a competition of some sort.

"The people who are the most supportive to me would be my flute teacher, Jocelyn Fazzone, my parents, my mum for helping me practice and giving up her time and energy on me, and for my dad for singing along with me in the car on the way to school."

30 YEAR 11 GIRLS GIVE BACK ON THE VIETNAM SERVICE LEARNING TOUR

In early April, 24 students and five staff embarked on a life changing service learning tour to Vietnam. We were greeted by many happy residents of the Ba Vi Centre for People with Disabilities, who were counting down the days for PLC Sydney to arrive.

By Isabel Hayek Social Educator Vietnam Service Learning Coordinator

This year with the assistance of Helping Hands staff, we were able to have five swimming sessions with residents and for many, it was the first time they had left the centre.

The squeals and excitement in the water was something students and staff will never forget.

Water is medicine and this was evident when watching residents with cerebral palsy move so calmly in the water and move their muscles and bones for the first time. Residents were also treated to a lunch fit for a king.

Ba Vi is the saddest yet happiest place on earth. Our motto is always, “It’s not what PLC Sydney does for the residents, it’s what the residents do for us”.

After our amazing time in Ba Vi we went to Hue for the cultural learning aspect of the tour. We went to the Imperial City and the 17th Parrallel, did a cooking class and rode bikes around the rice fields.

Having done a final evaluation of the tour with students, they all agreed that the best part of the tour was being at Ba Vi and establishing connections with the residents. The centre relies strongly on PLC Sydney to make these connections and pay for staffing as well

as the maintenance of the buildings. Our largest fundraiser is a trivia night and all funds raised are provided to the centre.

"The squeals and excitement in the water was something students and staff will never forget."

MENTAL FITNESS AMBASSADOR – LIZI SIMMS

This year I was fortunate to be selected as a Mental Fitness Ambassador, on behalf of the Australian Institute of Sport and the Black Dog Institute. My role sees me connecting with a variety of young people and athletes and I essentially deliver a program which highlights the importance of mental fitness, and equips the individual with a tool-kit of strategies to assist them in maintaining a positive well-being.

Within my presentation I share my journey of mental health and my elite sporting experiences, telling stories and adversities, and how I overcame them.

There are so many amazing resources available to help support young people and I am very grateful to be a part of something that aligns with my values so closely. The Black Dog Institute is Australia’s only medical research driven organisation dedicated to helping us all live mentally healthier lives through its efforts in research, clinical services and education programs.

Any school, sporting club, or organisation can sign up for a free 45-minute presentation where ambassadors such as myself, will come and present the program. I truly believe if I can touch one person, then my role is worthwhile. I have visited many schools including Barker College and Cranbrook and numerous sporting clubs and fundraising events - I even jumped out of a plane in an initiative called ‘Courage for a Cause’.

Our aim is to leave young people with some simple, yet effective strategies to help them reflect and recognise gratitude moments, develop their mindfulness skills and start thinking about their meaning and purpose in

life. I also try to show young people how essential it is to look after your mental well-being, but more importantly, how easy it can be if we spend a short amount of time prioritizing it. This opportunity came about for me as a previous Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder and former national representative in Water Polo. The ambassadors are all elite athletes, or have been, and all have a story to tell. Much like our girls here at PLC Sydney, I was a high achiever with goals and ambitions. And with success comes pressure. Being dropped from teams, questioning if I am good enough, trying to figure out who I am if I’m not an athlete, managing personal and others expectations, and trying to ensure my self-worth wasn’t directly related to my successes in the water, was certainly a challenge. These feelings and experiences are similar to many young people in their own area of interest.

What I am so thankful for in today’s society is we at least acknowledge these challenges now. When I was a young athlete we had limited access to a sports psychologist when we weren’t performing and our confidence was low. Today, individuals have resources and services available when they are in a good place, when their confidence is high and they can manage their expectations, before mental ill-health surfaces.

Being a PDHPE teacher here at PLC Sydney, I am passionate about sport, well-being and health. What our girls have to face today in terms of social media, the Covid lockdown, and the pressure that is the HSC, more than ever it is essential we look after each other. Fortunately we are now seeing role models, celebrities, and successful individuals come out and share their mental health journey and this is positively impacting our young people.

If they can feel understood, and see people they are connected to admit they’ve overcome adversities, it gives them hope and confidence that they will be OK too. The PDHPE curriculum allows our girls a chance to learn about these important topics and I am thankful I get to support and educate students in their journey to become amazing individuals with courage and purpose.

I have been personally challenged as a mental fitness ambassadorbeing vulnerable and sharing my weaknesses and adversities. Yet the growth and healing which has taken place for me on this journey reiterates how being brave is an admirable and worthwhile trait and how important it is to take positive risks in our lives.

STANDOUT SPORTS PERFORMANCES KICK OFF IN FIRST TERM

The 2023 year kicked off with an exciting term of team sports and some fantastic individual performances.

The team sports played in Term 1 were tennis, badminton, softball, water polo and AFL in the senior school and football in the junior school. Twenty two teams competed in grand finals, with many others also making it through to 3rd v 4th playoffs.

Our grand final winners included PLS01 AFL who dominated in the wet conditions. The PLS03 tennis team had a fantastic grand final win over Abbotsleigh who had defeated them earlier in the season. Five other tennis teams also won their grand finals. It was also a strong term for our water polo teams, with PLS01 and PLS04 winning their grand finals.

Runners up for the term included the PLS01 Badminton team, who finished second on the ladder and were only defeated throughout the season by a very strong Meriden team.

Our two softball teams made it through the finals, with PLS02 finishing runners up.

The Year 7/8 AFL divisions did not play grand finals, but teams finished in the following places:

• PLS03 - 2nd place (7/8 Div 1)

• PLS04 - 1st place (7/8 Div 3)

• PLS05 - 1st place (7/8 Div 4)

These teams played in a gala day in the final week of sport in place of a finals series. The PLS03 team did well, winning all matches on the day.

Our Football 1sts made a strong start to the NSWCIS Cup, with solid wins against Arden Anglican College and Emanuel School.

Term 1 was a superb term for the PLC Sydney swimmers and divers. The year started with the Junior and Senior Swimming and Diving Carnivals, which proved to be fantastic days with plenty of school and House spirit, and great competition with a number of girls making it through to representative carnivals.

The highlight of the term was PLC Sydney being crowned the overall winner of both the IGSA Swimming and Diving carnivals. The performances of these teams were exceptional and winning both carnivals in the one year will go down in the history books.

The Junior and Senior Cross Country Carnivals were also held with some strong performances across the board. The Junior girls have also competed in the IPSHA Cross Country, with seven students making it through to CIS.

PLC Sydney finished a commendable 5th in Tildsley Tennis Tournament. The stand-out performances were Shiori Takeda making it to the quarter-finals in singles and Alyssa Brown and Ella Soo making it to the quarter-finals in doubles.

In February, PLC Sydney had three teams and six individuals line up for the Triathlon events at the NSW All Schools championships held at the Penrith Regatta Centre. All our athletes competed strongly over the two days of competition.

In March, 14 PLC Sydney rowing crews competed in the prestigious NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. There were several outstanding performances including a silver medal to Isabelle Yardley in the Year 10 Single Scull, a bronze medal to Sarah Bebbington in the Senior Single Scull and gold, silver and bronze medals to Amber Bradley, Ella Dunphy and Pelin Ozen, in the Para Single Scull. The following players were also successfully selected in representative teams during Term 1:

Lilah Ajami (Year 6) - CIS Football

Lily Harman (Year 6) - IPSHA Netball

Shiori Takeda (Year 11) - CIS Tennis

Jessica Steventon (Year 7), Keira Toohey (Year 8), Amelia Steventon (Year 9), Neave Balzan (Year 12) and Isabella Murray (Year 12)IGSA Touch Football

Tiffany Gao (Year 10) - NSW All Schools Volleyball

Aimee Longhurst (Year 12) - CIS Cricket

Sherry Zou (Year 7) - CIS Golf

Meadow Milner (Year 11)IGSA Basketball

"The year started with the Junior and Senior Swimming and Diving Carnivals, which proved to be fantastic days with plenty of School and House spirit, and great competition with a number of girls"

"The performances of these teams were exceptional and winning both carnivals in the one year will go down in the history books."

IGNITE CAMP

Nine years ago, the senior school Christian group underwent a revitalisation process, and with it came a name change: Fuel. Soon after, an annual camp was established for the community: Ignite.

By Miss Jiye Kim Chaplain and Christian Studies Teacher

Perhaps it was only a matter of time until we would focus on the book of Daniel and the image of the fiery furnace to consider how to live faithfully, fearlessly, and faultlessly in the eyes of God and one’s peers.

Ignite 2023 was that moment. Four staff and 60 students from Years 7-12 gathered at Cru’s Lake Macquarie campsite over the weekend of 31 March - 2 April to enjoy what many called “Fuel on steroids”. Indeed, much like our weekly Wednesday lunch gatherings, the camp ensured good time was given to sessions, arts & crafts,

games, and peer-led discussions and testimonies – all areas that facilitate community-building centered on the word of God.

The sessions were especially treasured by everyone. Whether students are investigating Christianity or desiring to live each day as followers of Jesus, it allowed for them to witness and participate in Christian community. The student band led us in singing to celebrate what God does for his people. We heard from student leaders who testify to the truth of this in their own lives. We were taught from the book of Daniel by Anna Moss, Women’s Ministry Facilitator for the Presbyterian Church of NSW, who called us to take heart because God is the true King on the throne:

one who is with us, for us, and loves us. Finally, we discussed these ideas in peer groups to encourage one another.

Other highlights included activities like rock-climbing and pier visits, evening yeargroup chats (overseen by senior student leaders and staff), late-night group chats in cabins (not as strictly overseen), and the continuous chances over the weekend for bonding between students of different year groups. In their feedback forms, many noted that the only downside was that Ignite wasn’t a whole week!

Fuel is led by the Chaplaincy team in conjunction with the Fuel student leadership team. Other Christian faculty members get involved whenever possible, and we welcome others in our wider PLC Sydney body to come visit and pray for our community. We seek to create a dynamic and inclusive community for Years 7-12 students to come and experience life with Jesus.

PLC SYDNEY PIPES AND DRUMS ON THE GO!

The Pipes and Drums have had a fast start this year and are going from strength to strength in their performances.

By Mr Garry Barker Pipe Band Coordinator

On the first day of school, PLC Sydney’s serene atmosphere was adorned with the sound of music permeating the atmosphere right across the campus. Pipe Major Jasmine Chee from the Pipes and Drums stood on Dr Burgis’ balcony as students were arriving for their first school day of the year and welcomed them with great renditions of well-known Highland tunes.

Played well, bagpipes have an amazing sound, and Jasmine’s performance didn’t disappoint. The lone piper playing at the start and end of each term is now a tradition at PLC Sydney and will stand the test of time.

During February, Jasmine was joined by piper Minnie Jay to lead on the Billy Mac Dash competitors at the Senior Swimming Carnival. A marvellous sight and sound to kick off an important contest.

March kept the Pipes and Drums busy again, firstly with a parade and musical presentation at Jersey Day, with a

great response from the audience. A highlight was to hear the crowd on the Sunken Lawn singing Amazing Grace with the Pipes and Drums, which is a huge compliment.

The very next day, the Pipes and Drums once again performed before the start of the Annual Church Service. A march from the Performing Arts Centre to the front of the College and then a musical performance to welcome the congregation rounded off a great weekend’s effort by the young ladies of the Pipes and Drums.

By this time, the Band was buzzing. There were already several performances completed and more to come.

Piper Ella Maitland played to lead her rowing team to a major event in March.

1 April saw the Pipes and Drums in Bundanoon, a beautiful village in the Southern Highlands south of Sydney, for the annual Bundanoon is Brigadoon Celtic festival. An early start, a street march of nearly 2 kilometres, an individual band display performance on the Bundanoon Oval and two massed band performances filled the day.

The massed bands comprised 25 pipe bands, fielding several hundred pipers and drummers. The girls’ performances brought tremendous comments from the audience, particularly about their demeanour and professionalism. The organisers estimate there were close to 10,000 spectators at the event.

Term 2 had barely begun, and the lone piper had barely played on Dr Burgis’ balcony, when the Pipes and Drums again performed for the public, this time in the ANZAC Day March in the Sydney CBD. In many ways, it turned out to be a tough day, but once again the girls performed professionally and represented their school admirably. There have been many positive comments about their performance and their showing on the ABC live broadcast proved their capability to a huge television audience.

They also played for the processional at the school ANZAC service. Once again, they did the job in style.

The remainder of Term 2 saw the girls play at Open Day and Fair, the 135 Year Anniversary Concert at the Sydney Town Hall, the Berry Celtic Festival, and the Senior Athletics Carnival.

The Pipes and Drums instructors are all duly proud of the girls. They represent the College to the public in inspirational ways and they do it with style. They are a class act.

60 SECONDS WITH ...

MR GERARD FAURE-BRAC

Sport and Performance Psychologist

Have you always worked in a school or have you had other careers?

Many other careers! I travelled for a number of years and worked in schools (I was a PE teacher) and managed bars among other jobs. I went back to uni to do my Masters in Sport Psychology and worked in track construction, building anti-erosion paths in national parks. I began work as a sport psychologist within the Health Department and set up a role within child & adolescent psychology using performance enhancement skills as an adjunct to traditional medication and behavioural therapy. I slowly moved into my chosen area of sport psychology with the NSW Institute of Sport and spent the next many years working in high performance sport. I was with Cricket NSW before coming to PLC Sydney.

What led you to a career in education?

Originally PE because I loved sport. When studying sport psychology as an undergrad I always wondered why no one was doing this work in schools - I would have loved to have learned those things when I was going through. When I finished my studies I looked into the possibility of doing this work in schools but there was not much of an appetite for it outside of a few presentations here and there. When I saw PLC Sydney with its progressive views on the education of young women offering an opportunity to do just that, I thought “it’s time to put my money where my mouth is”.

What has been your greatest challenge at school? Sticking to session times that are 53 mins, 49 mins, and 13 mins.

What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?

You often see the impact you make relatively quicklyalso watching the development of a student as they grow from child to independent young person is pretty special.

What do you find most rewarding about working in your field?

Watching self-confidence grow simply by adjusting a few things in how an individual goes about what they do and building simple performance skills to help. Seeing an individual realise anything is possible is pretty cool.

Do you have a most memorable career point to date?

I have a number from the sporting world - not so much about the achievements they gained, but more about being “allowed” to work so closely on things that are so important to them and building that mutual trust required to do so.

Doing this work in the school space is probably too soon to say, but some pretty good successes have come from the most unexpected of areas - I like that.

“You often see the impact you make relatively quickly - also watching the development of a student as they grow from child to independent young person is pretty special.”

Who has been your greatest influence?

Its difficult answer, I have an eclectic taste. Usually the usual, doing the unique whilst maintaining their humility and kindness

What is your motto in life?

Quantum Potes Tantum Aude (my school teachers would be shocked to hear that)

Do you have any interests/hobbies?

Rugby, fishing, home brewing, sea kayaking, fishing from my sea kayak, most sports, camping, hiking, snokeling, anything at the beach, travel…

MRS JO MCGROUTHER

Head of Faculty, Science

Have you always worked as a teacher or have you had other careers?

I have always been a teacher except for a break of eight years when my two children were young. When I first started teaching I had a second job filling the shelves at Woolworths a couple of nights each week. We clocked on at 6pm and often did not finish until 1 am. This was back when shops closed at 5 pm and before barcodes and scanners were invented, so everything had to be labelled with the price. I was the smallest member of the night-fill team so I worked in the confectionery aisle as they thought I would consume less!

What led you to a career in education?

I loved school and learning but I also loved animals. I grew up in the Central West of NSW in the small town of Parkes. I was always surrounded by animals. For a while I was undecided about becoming a vet or a teacher but my interest in Science and Maths trumped and I enrolled in a BSc at Sydney University, knowing that if teaching was not my thing there were many other options available with a Science degree. It seems teaching was my thing!

What has been your greatest challenge in the classroom?

Every class is made up of a diverse group of students. They have different interests, they learn at different rates and in different ways. Like me they have family issues, friendship issues, commitments, highs and lows. Some have been up swimming laps at 5 am, some have a speech exam after my lesson, some are overwhelmed with school work, some are procrastinators and disorganised, some are extroverted, gaining energy from being with others whilst some are introverts, gaining their energy from within. My greatest challenge has always been to know and understand each student so that I can encourage and guide them as young people and as learners, providing a supported space for each to thrive.

What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?

I love the energy in a classroom. No group of students is the same, no lesson is the same. I love lessons that work, where students are fascinated, where they have a sense of success, where they dig deep to master a skill and where they learn a little more about themselves. Lessons that don’t go so well motivate me to devise new strategies, to look at the personalities in the room and create a different approach that may just work in the next lesson. To witness and play a role in the growth of young people is a real privilege. I am fortunate to work with a team of teachers who share this passion.

What do you find most rewarding about working in your field?

I love receiving an email or card from a past student who has pursued a career in Science. It makes me happy to think that in some small way I may have ignited a spark. A few years ago, I ended up in Accident and Emergency at RPA Hospital with suspected cyanide poisoning. Many tests were done and when the results came back the doctor on the ward read out the assessment written by the Poison’s Registrar, “Patient appears to be fine but should remain under observation for a few more hours and thanks for teaching me Chemistry Mrs McGrouther. I loved your lessons.”

Do you have a most memorable career point to date?

I have been teaching for 36 years so to choose is so difficult. Overseas tours (New Zealand, USA, Tanzania, Singapore, Vietnam) certainly rate highly as these forge strong friendships in amazing settings. The Vietnam trip to the Ba Vi Disability Centre was definitely a standout. I would encourage students to consider this life-changing experience.

Another memorable career moment was my interview for the position at PLC Sydney on Skype. I was on Long Service Leave, staying in a hotel in Istanbul, Türkiye. The interview was at 7 am so we rose early, made the beds and hid the backpacks and wet towels. I felt it was the worst interview I had ever given but here I am!

Who has been your greatest influence?

Often people are inspired by good people who are highly skilled. I have been very fortunate to work with a few of these wonderful mentors in my career, but, I would have to say that the people who have had the greatest influence have been the exact opposite. These episodes of intense challenge encouraged me to step up and helped me discover strengths I did not know I had. It wasn’t pleasant at the time but looking back now, I am so grateful that these people crossed my path. Real growth happens when things are tough.

What is your motto in life?

What doesn’t break you makes you stronger!

Do you have any interests/hobbies?

I love to travel, particularly to wild and remote places. The last big trip I did before COVID was to Iceland, the land of unpronounceable places. We did the Laugavegur Trek, staying in mountain huts and trekking through the most spectacular volcanic terrain and waterfalls.

My most adventurous trip was a kayaking expedition to the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska. Aside from the spectacularly blue ice formations and the booming sound of the glacier calving into the sea, seeing grizzly bears face to face in the wild was an experience I shall never forget!

STORIES FROM THE ARCHIVES

Interestingly in 1930, former PLC Sydney assistant teacher, Miss Gurney, opened a school in the same Church Hall in Beecroft and called it Ardern. It still stands there today.

During World War II PLC Croydon campus was used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), who requestioned the College to house a RADAR unit. In the meantime, PLC Sydney students occupied Lauriston, Welbeck, and Lingwood Houses in Strathfield. Lauriston and Welbeck were disposed of by the Council in 1946, but Lingwood was retained as the Junior School.

History of the Junior School

When PLC Sydney opened its doors for the first time in 1888, the entire school consisted of 39 girls, 21 of which were boarders. It was the first school in NSW to be established by the Presbyterian Church.

Over a long history, the College has grown and transformed.

The Junior School has always been a significant part of PLC Sydney life, and it has undergone many stages, all contributing to what it is today. Let’s take a brief look into the history of the Junior School and the many changes it has experienced in PLC Sydney’s 135-year story.

The College’s first classes began at Fernlea, a ‘gentlemen’s residence’ in Ashfield, where Senior and Junior students were taught. In 1891, PLC Sydney moved to its present site at Croydon, where all the girls shared facilities. In 1906, the Rugby House (also known as the Red House), which stood where the primary school stands today, was purchased by the College Council for £1200. This was the first time the Junior School students were taught in a separate building from the Senior School girls.

Ten years later, in 1916, the building was redesigned and became the residency of the Vice Principal at the time, Dr E. Neil McQueen. This became the principal’s residency until the start of World War II.

During the 1920s, the PLC Sydney Preparatory School was housed in a Church Hall in Beecroft for the rental cost of £1 per week. By 1929 PLC Sydney was making continuing losses on the Beecroft campus, and the Council decided to close this campus in June 1929, returning these students to the Croydon campus.

When the College returned after the war, in 1946, boarders occupied the Rugby House. During the boarder’s occupation, the house was renamed ‘Hamilton House’, in honour of PLC Sydney’s first female Principal, Miss Mary Hamilton, who served as principal from 1932-1941.

In 1946, negotiations were entered into with Miss Margaret Thompson, the owner and principal of “Branxton”, a private school on Homebush Road, Strathfield. Subsequently, it was agreed that Miss Thompson close the Homebush Road site, and move her school to Lingwood where it would retain the name “Branxton” and from 1946 would come under the control of the PLC Sydney Council.

Rugby House

Newly named Hamilton House

Branxton was a highly successful undertaking, and the enrolment of Junior School students grew exponentially. This came with the challenge of space. The overcrowding in the Junior School was becoming an increasingly serious matter. Eventually, Council resolved to demolish Hamilton House and erect a new self-contained primary section on the Croydon site. The boarders who were housed in Hamilton House would be temporarily housed in Pickard House.

The new Junior School building was officially opened on Friday 20 March 1964, by Dr. H. S. Wyndham, Director of General Education for New South Wales. The Junior School cost £45,000 and accommodated 150 students. At the time, Miss Whitlam was the Principal and Mr F. L. Thompson was the Chairman of College Council.

The architects, Laurie & Heath, planned the school “as a compact group of buildings, integrated with a grassed playground, a paved games area, and a courtyard recreation space.” Facilities included five classrooms, a junior library, an assembly hall that could be used for art, drama and music lessons, a cloakroom, and modern toilets. Each classroom boasted a blackboard that could be rolled up or down as required, a large map of Australia and a public address system. And thanks to Ex-Students’ Union, there was a television in the Junior Library!

The Junior School facilities that were “state-of-the-art” in 1964 became outmoded and the Primary Branch –Hamilton – was demolished in 2015 to make way for the “new” Hamilton that opened in 2018. It includes facilities for Years 3-6: 14 classrooms, 4 breakout spaces, specialist STEM rooms, amphitheatre, turtle pond, bee hotel, vegetable gardens, Invertebrate House, Multipurpose Centre and play equipment.

The 2018 Junior School Captain reported that:

“One of our biggest highlights was the opening of our new Junior School. The two years of construction, which we experienced first-hand, were long but worth it. We are now enjoying the new spacious classrooms with many superb facilities. We also had the privilege of welcoming the Honourable Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of NSW, as our special guest to this memorable event.”

"Eventually, Council resolved to demolish Hamilton House and erect a new self-contained primary section on the Croydon site."

1964 Junior School Opening Program

Official Opening

Open Day

Junior School 1960s

GIRLS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE TO ORGANISE FUNDRAISER FOR THOSE HIT BY DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE

The recent earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023 was a tragedy that affected countless individuals and families.

By Sienna Özdemir (Year 11)

The loss of life, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of survivors were on a scale rarely seen before. So many people were in need of urgent care and support in the affected Turkish provinces, including Adana, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, and Sanliurfa.

As a group, we organised a food stall selling manoush in various flavours such as zaatar, cheese, zaatar and cheese, meat, and vegetarian to raise as much money as we could to help those in need. The funds we raised for the earthquake relief were a way to make a positive impact on the many lives that were affected by this disaster.

One of the most compelling reasons for us to put together this food stall was the fact that the people needed urgent assistance as the earthquake caused a number of issues, leaving people without access to bare necessities, such as food, water, shelter,

and medical care. The funds provided critical resources to people in need. In addition to the immediate aid, organising the food stall for earthquake relief in Türkiye will also provide long-term recovery in rebuilding efforts in the region. Recovering from a natural disaster like this is a difficult process that requires sustained support and resources.

The fundraiser was a way to raise awareness and a sense of connection within the community. Bringing people together to support this cause shows solidarity with those affected by the earthquake. This can be a very powerful force for resilience and healing in the aftermath of a disaster. It allowed everyone in the school community to get involved and take meaningful action in the face of tragedy by supporting the cause and buying from the stall.

By raising over $15,000, we provided support to those affected by this terrible disaster, whilst also creating awareness for the relief effort.

As someone with family in Türkiye, this was a tragedy that was very close to my heart and was particularly meaningful and personal to me. Thanks to the help of friends, family, and the school community, this fundraiser was able to become a reality. Thank you to the people involved in the fundraiser:

Sienna Özdemir, Olivia Hassan, Lana Oueik, Myah Mourched, Zahara Chanine, Sybilla Bajugi

EX-STUDENTS’ NEWS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Crested ware aside, in this momentous year in PLC Sydney's history, it is fitting to reflect on how we all play a role in the rich tapestry of its history. I was a student for 13 of the College's 135-year history, which seems like a drop in the ocean, but in my own 31-year history, it was certainly significant. I feel deeply honoured to have shaped - even in a small way - and been shaped by the College, and it is a privilege as an ex-student to celebrate our school's milestone.

I recently experienced the adrenaline rush of purchasing one of our school's limited edition commemorative bears, "Evelyn", to add to my collection of PLC Sydney bears and dolls (tragic, I know). It was unthinkable that I could miss out on such a keepsake!

Whenever I walk through the school grounds, I admittedly feel quite envious of our current students for enjoying many new facilities which did not exist during my time as a student. Hamilton and the Macindoe Research Centre (and of course its cafe) are the developments which particularly strike a chord with me. I also often wonder if the Invertebrate House had existed during my time as a student, whether I would be more comfortable around certain wildlife! I am not alone in feeling like I have "missed out" on certain novel aspects of the College. When I catch up with ex-students at events such as Jersey Day and Open Day, our conversations often centre around what we did not have, rather than what we did enjoy. It is remiss of us to forget the impressive infrastructure that was built during our school years; in my time, the JD Oates Aquatic Institute and the Audrey Keown Theatre were notable developments - admittedly, my strengths lay in making more use of the latter than the former...

I wish to acknowledge on behalf of the Ex-Students, the steadfast leadership of Dr Burgis, College Council and the Executive Team. We thank you for your ongoing custodianship of

our much loved school, preserving and enhancing its reputation to ensure ex-students feel proud to be PLC Sydney girls for life. Our school always seems to strike the right balance between offering an innovative approach to educating young women (our school was named one of the world's 100 most innovative schools), whilst also upholding the values and traditions of the College which have always held us in good stead. Although I have been blessed with sons, who will not have the opportunity to enjoy a PLC Sydney education, our school's ongoing reputation is the very reason I continue to give back and feel particularly honoured to do so in my capacity as President of the Ex-Students - especially during such a significant year in the College's history. I encourage all ex-students - particularly if you have not returned to the College for some time - to reacquaint and rekindle your love for your school through the events planned for this year, many of which have already proven so far to be magnificent. See you back at school.

"Our school always seems to strike the right balance between offering an innovative approach to educating young women whilst also upholding the values and traditions of the College which have always held us in good stead."

Mia Joseph (Ilias, 2009) President of the Ex-Students

2022/2023

EX-STUDENTS’ COMMITTEE

Founded in 1905 as the Ex-Students’ Union, the Ex-Students Union was established by a dedicated group of alumnae to raise funds for the building of the Marden Library in honour of our first Principal, Dr John Marden.

Today, the Ex-Students’ Committee is a volunteer group with ex-students representing most decades of the College's history. The Committee provides advice, counsel and financial support, working closely with the College to create new opportunities to re-engage ex-students with the school, classmates, and the extended PLC Sydney community.

Please contact esupresident@plc.nsw.edu.au for more information.

INTERSTATE CONTACTS

Adelaide

Patricia Becket (Lamrock, 1961) patsybeckett70@gmail.com

Brisbane and Sunshine Coast

Jane O’Hare (Provan, 1970) 0448 003 895

jane.ohare@bzzzom

Canberra Suzanne Clubb (1957) (02) 6238 1531

suzanneclubb@bigpond.com

Gold Coast

Jeni Bone (Payne, 1987) (07) 5526 0092

jeni@edit-it.com.au

Melbourne

Leonie Gillett (Cresswell, 1961) (03) 9848 5058

Leonian2@bigpond.com

New England/Northern District

Helen Loveday (Kinross, 1961) 0428 210 584

Western Australia and Riverina

Catherine Cruikshank (Bassingthwaighte, 1986) 0428 276 353

If you would like to volunteer to coordinate a reunion or be the key contact for PLC Sydney ex-students in your area, please contact the Ex-Students’ Office on 02 9704 5635 or exstudents@plc.nsw.edu.au for more details.

COMMITTEE AND OFFICER BEARERS 2022

Patron: Gwendoline Bosler (Stuart, 1949)

President: Mia Joseph (Illias, 2009)

Vice President: Edwina Hobson (2015)

Secretary: Elizabeth Gregory (Cornish, 1961)

Treasurer: Johanne Stapelfeldt (1978)

Vice Treasurer: Hannah Kesby (2009)

Committee Members: Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978)

Sara Keli (Thorp, 2001)

Lesley Meldrum (Morgan, 1955)

Robyn McBride (Hailey, 1976)

Ann McDonald (1965)

Director of Alumni & Community Relations & Committee Member:

Philippa Zingales (Harris, 1998)

ELIZABETH GREGORY (CORNISH, 1961)

When did you start at PLC Sydney and what did you enjoy most about your time at the College?

I started at PLC Sydney in 1957 for high school and finished in 1961 as there was only 5 years of high school in those days. My sister and I travelled from Manly each day.

What have you gone on to do since school?

I did a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at Sydney University directly after school. Pharmacy was a new degree course and our year was the second intake at Sydney. My graduate internship was at a Pharmacy in Forrestville and my first job as a registered Pharmacist was as a relief Pharmacist in a pharmacy in Griffith. Between travel, marriage and a family I worked as a relief or part-time Pharmacist mostly in hospitals before finally being the Senior Pharmacist in the Cancer Centre at Nepean Hospital Penrith.

I did my Masters in Health Science in the mid 90s at Western Sydney University at Windsor and was a guest lecturer for the Palliative Care course there for a year or so.

Why have you gotten involved in the Ex-Students' Committee?

As I had retired from full time work, Lesley Meldrum in about 2004/5 asked me if I would like to join the

GET TO KNOW THE EX-STUDENTS’ COMMITTEE ALUMNI NEWS

Ex-Students’ committee, which I did somewhat reluctantly but thought I would meet new people and maybe learn new skills.

I also didn’t think I would have any of the next generation at the school. It was nice to reconnect given it had always been part of my life having had four previous generations attend. I have really enjoyed being on the committee.

Favourite memories from school?

I don’t know that I have any favourite memories as such. I enjoyed school - the academic, the swimming, the tennis and netball, I loved learning to play the organ in my last 2 years, the many friends from all over Sydney as well as the boarders from rural NSW, the travelling - it was all very social.

EMMA OLSEN-KEATING SELECTED IN AUSTRALIAN TRIATHLON TEAM

Triathlon Australia was recently excited to announce the Australian team for this year’s World Triathlon Junior World Championships taking place in Hamburg, Germany.

Congratulations to Emma OlsenKeating (2022) for being selected in the team, earning her qualification at the 2023 Australian Junior Championships in Port Adelaide.

This year's World Triathlon Junior Championships will be held as part of the broader World Triathlon Sprint

& Relay Championships in Hamburg, with the World Triathlon Championship Series, Age Group Sprint World Championships, and Mixed Relay World Championships for Elite, Junior/U23, and Age Group categories all taking place. We wish Emma all the best.

"It was nice to reconnect given it had always been part of my life having had four previous generations attend."

KARLA BORLAND FINDS HUGE SUCCESS IN SELF SERVE CAFES

Karla Borland (1995), an ambitious entrepreneur, took a leap of faith by leaving her successful 17-year career in banking to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship.

Today, her remarkable business venture, Morsl, has flourished and is valued at an impressive $14.4 million. Recently, the company raised an additional $5 million, enabling them to expand their reach and establish more self-serve cafes with healthy food options for hardworking individuals at large industrial sites.

WEDDINGS

Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Ms. Borland held influential positions at Credit Suisse, working in exciting locations such as Sydney, Singapore, and Zurich. It was during her time as a banker that she personally experienced the challenge of finding wholesome meal and snack options amidst long hours at the office.

Determined to solve this problem for others, she founded Morsl in 2017. Since then, Morsl has grown significantly, proudly operating 14 sites across New South Wales and Victoria. These locations are strategically placed within some of Australia's largest warehouses and logistic companies, including renowned names like Amazon and Officeworks.

17.12.22

Elise Harrison (2012) married Cameron Alderman (The Scots College, 2011) at Jaspers, Berry in South Coast NSW. The bridal party included bridesmaids, Jessica Blake (School Captain 2012), Ruby Kerr (2012) and Kassandra Kashian (2012).

Maria Glinellis (2015) married James Tedesco on a beautiful cool summers day at Redleaf Wollombi. The wedding was celebrated over a four day festival, with 250 of their friends, family and James’ Roosters teammates. Maid of Honour was Chelsea Batten (2015), who met Maria at PLC Sydney in Kindergarten. Maria’s sister in law Ally Glinellis (Henderson, 2010) and her sister Isabella Henderson (2012) were bridesmaids.

20.03.23

Karoline Chardon (2015) and Adam Milbank met in 2016, at the Old Fitzroy Hotel where Karoline was working in the underground theatre at the time persuing her love of drama. Adam proposed in 2021 and they were married in March 2023 with Adam's family joining their unity from the United Kingdom at Bendooley Estate. Karoline’s Maid of Honour was Brittany Gann (2015) and guests included Alexia Morelli (2015), Tyra Maranik (2015), Victoria Taylor (2015) and Isabella Rupolo (2015).

07.01.23

NUMBER ONE SCIENCE PODCAST CREATED BY EX-STUDENT

Congratulations to Dr Joelle Gergis (1995) whose new podcast Fear & Wonder is now Australia's #1 science show on Apple and Spotify!

Fear & Wonder is a new climate podcast co-hosted by Dr Joelle Gergis – a climate scientist and lead IPCC author – and award-winning journalist Michael Green. It will take you inside the United Nations’ era-defining climate report via the hearts and minds of the scientists who wrote it.

ALISON JONES FINDS LOVE AND CAREER IN REMOTE NSW TOWN

When Alison Jones (2006) decided to try her luck on a reality TV show back in 2010, she could not have imagined where her life would take her – including training as a specialist GP with the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).

Alison found love on popular TV show, The Farmer Wants a Wife and now lives on a rural property in Walcha in the NSW Northern Tablelands with her husband and children. She initially joined the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program but faced challenges with travel aswell as having to move practice every six months. She opted for the RVTS program with a plan to pursue her Fellowship through RVTS within a five-year timeframe.

Alison now campaigns for better local childcare access in her small town of Walcha and more support for rural GPs, like her.

DEATHS

Since the last edition of Camphora Magazine, we have been advised of the passing of the following ex-students and valued members of our community.

08.05.23

Maria Cafe

PLC Sydney’s much-loved Secretary to the Senior School Well-being team, Mrs Maria Cafe, died on Monday 8 May, 2023, surrounded by her husband Gary and other family members. Our deepest condolences go to Gary and to the family. Gary and Maria have been PLC Sydney staff members for many years. Gary is in charge of PLC Sydney's bus fleet. Maria suffered a recent heart attack which had severe complications.

Maria worked at PLC Sydney for 23 years. She was the College Receptionist and Secretary to the Bursar in 2000 and 2001. From 2002 to 2004 she became part of the Deputy Principal’s Administration team. From 2005 to 2013 she held various roles connected to the Senior School staff, and the Deans and Directors. For a time she even worked in Evandale. More recently she was the secretary to the Head of Well-being and the Heads of Year.

16.07.22

Yvonne Campbell (Gow-Gates, 1955)

Sister of June Smith (Gow-Gates). Boarder and daygirl 1950-1955.

2023

Fay Burcombe (Morten, 1946)

24.04.23

Sue Morris (Andison, 1967)

Sue was a dedicated member of the WA Ex-student group.

REUNIONS

CLASS OF 1960 CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAYS

The class of 1960 had a wonderful lunch at Eden Gardens Macquarie Park on 10 March 2023. Many of us turn 80 during this year so it was a time in life that we thought was well worth celebrating.

By Kaye Browne (Haynes, 1960)

Kerry Chater very generously gave us our spectacular huge chocolate cake, and Beverley Nettle organised the restaurant. 17 of our friends were present.

Some of those that live overseas, Anne Tischlinger (Alexander), Roslyn Edwards (Henderson) and country Australia, Margaret Mills (Shepherd), Sue Denison (Brown) were not able to come but we ate cake for them.

(L to R) Margaret Bergomi (Brodie) front, Angela Leonard (Daly) back, Robyn Gleeson (Patterson), front, Ailsa Rollinson (Wardlaw) back, Frances Lemmes (Gibson) front, Ruth Lowson (Caldwell) back, Beverley Nettle (Milgate) forward from Ruth, Susan Connery (Woodward) front, Libby Ansted (Pascoe Pearce) back, Kerry Chater front, Kathryn Russell (Peaston) back, Wendy Cummin (Campbell) further back slightly hidden, Jenny Cottrell (O’Connor) front red shirt, Diane Shapcott (Dolphin) back, Lynne King (Dunbar) front, Chris Walker (Wherrett), Kaye Browne (Haynes).

Jenny Cottrell (O'Connor) with Diane Shapcott (Dolphin)

QUEENSLAND

Due to some ill health, last year’s reunion was cancelled so it was great to get together with nine other ex-students. Lots of discussions about what we have all been up to, travel, family and being grandparents. In fact, one of our ladies recently became a grandmother for the first time.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Our group of 11 ladies enjoyed sharing stories about their school day experiences over lunch. We enjoyed a wonderful 3 hours together.

ADELAIDE

Our happy group met for the Autumn Luncheon at the Old Noarlunga Hotel south of Adelaide. Although small in number we are keen to maintain the link we have both with the College and our friendships, and therefore aim to meet a few times each year.

Sadly we said goodbye to one of our stallwarts, Penny Barnett (Hart, 1968) who has made the move to the north of Sydney to be closer to her family. We will miss her cheery dialogue and friendship.

We welcome Mandy Thomas (1974) to our group and look forward to getting to know her better over our lunches.

If anyone is considering a visit to Adelaide, please contact Patsy Beckett 0407 249 850 to see if you will be here for one of our amazing lunches.

Image below:

(Lamrock, 1961),

Winn (Williamson ,1965), Janet Byrnes (Peatty, 1961), Viv Aubrey (Peatty, 1965), Alison Tate (McKelvey, 1956). Missing from the photo are Mandy Thomas (1974) and Hilary Thomas (Bell, 1954).

Patsy Beckett

Maggi

(L to R) Roslyn Hannell, Jane O’Hare, Deb Morris, Trina Hawkins, Jen Ball, Rosie Morris, Jenni Lisha, Margaret Slinger, Helen Shepard and Kathy Byrne.

(L to R) Marilyn Bookham (Jobling, 1976), Jo-Anne Kramer (Ferguson, 1978), Alison Bird (Turner, 1957), Anne Lawson (McConnell, 1960), Frances Veltman, Rosalind Kruger (Bonnette, 1964, Sara Winton (Aboud, 2007), Alison Cull (Bennett), Julia Hewson (Webster, 1968), Pene Wood (Longshaw, 1964)

Not in photo: Mary Hookey (Holder, 1974) arrived after photo taken

What a beautiful (and hot!) day our Jersey Day 2023 was this year! This special event takes place in March each year, and we welcomed back seven year groups reuniting at school.

The Class of 1963 celebrated their 60 Year Reunion over lunch in College Hall. A special thanks to Denyse Coghlan (Nicholls, 1960) for her energy and work to bring her classmates together to mark this special anniversary!

Barbara Smith, mother of Alex Smith d. (1993) and Naomi Law (Smith, 1989), with Shona Gibson (Reid, 1977)

Jo Young (Cook, 1993), Katrina Bignasca (1993), Elizabeth Pechan (Naupa, 1993), Christine Stretton (Mitchell, 1993)

Afternoon tea on the Sunken Lawn, our talented Pipes and Drums performed and tours meant this afternoon flew by, but not without lots of catching up, laughter and reminiscing.

Classmates from Year 12 1984

Classmates from Year 12 1983

Prunella Webber (1977), Megan Nelson (1977), Vicki Trillini (Hallinan, 1977), Vicki Khul (Bosler, 1977), Kathryn Elliot (Williams, 1977), Shona Gibson (Reid, 1977)

The Classes of 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003, 2013 and 2018 enjoyed drinks and canapés around the College campus until well into the evening.

We look forward to 2024 Jersey Day on Saturday 9 March and welcoming back all the “4” Decades including 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014!

Catherine Marvell (Davidson, 1975), Elizabeth Gregory (Cornish, 1961), Anna Economou (Gregory, 1989), Sara Keli (Thorp, 2001), Mia Joseph (Ilias, 2008), Phillipa Knight (Gregory, 1991); seated: Lesley Meldrum (Morgan, 1955), Margaret Middleton (Esplin, 1954)

Jenson (Lerch), Lindy Kingsford, Dianna Garth (Rixon), Jane Tegal, Jacqueline Coan (Oates).

1983 Classmates: Ingrid

1973 Classmates: Kathy Byrne, Deirdre Batten, Susan Trigg (Heywood), Rene Holmes (Mottee), Janet Atkinson.

Class of 1993

Classmates from Year 12 2018

Felicity Worland (Strahorn, 1993)

"The Classes of 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003, 2013 and 2018 enjoyed drinks and canapés around the College campus until well into the evening."

Dr Burgis with Sheena Fenton (1973), Prue Gibson (1973) and Rene Holmes (1973)

WHO WAS ADELAIDE PERRY?

The other side of Adelaide’s life was that of a teacher. Over her 30 years at PLC Sydney, she initially worked as a parttime art teacher and then became the art mistress in the years following WWII.

“Adelaide’s time at PLC Sydney was a significant portion of her life,” says Jo. “Interviews with past students reveal they didn’t know that she had such a high profile in the art world and the significance of having her as a teacher, until many years later.”

The Adelaide Perry Gallery is a testament to the contribution this dedicated teacher made to our school.

The name Adelaide Perry is one that’s certainly familiar to the PLC Sydney community.

But who was she and why is she such a significant figure in the history of our school and the art world more broadly? A new biography by Jo Oliver, ‘Adelaide Perry: Artist and teacher’ explores the life of this incredible woman.

Throughout her life, Adelaide Perry balanced two streams of her life. She was at the forefront of the modernist art movement in Australia and worked across a variety of mediums, including portraits, landscape and printmaking. Her work is held by national, state and regional galleries.

WELCOME BACK TO THE CLASS OF '63

“The Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing is one of the most prestigious drawing prizes in Australia,” adds Jo. “Adelaide was very committed to the importance of drawing as a precursor to painting and to drawing as a medium itself. While she was a teacher, she introduced her students to cutting-edge art and through her legacy of the Adelaide Perry Gallery and drawing prize.”

Adelaide Perry: artist and teacher’ features chapters that explore Adelaide’s years at PLC Sydney. The book is available from https:// scholarly.info/book/adelaide-perry/ or through your favourite bookshop.

It was a joy to welcome back the Class of 1963 on Jersey Day to celebrate their milestone 60 Year Reunion.

It was an afternoon of reuniting friendships after many years of not seeing each other with cries of "you haven't changed at all" a regular part of the arrivals.

The class enjoyed a tour and there was lots of laughter over shared memories of school days, uniforms and favourite (and not so favourite) teachers, and shared life moments. Special thanks to Denyse Coghlan (Nichols, 1963) for her enthusiasm and work to reach so many of her cohort and ensure the afternoon was special for everyone.

Jo Oliver with past archivist, Debby Cramer

UPCOMING EVENTS

For the latest event information, visit our website

GENERATIONS BREAKFAST

PLC Sydney values the wonderful generational connections within our College community. Ex-students who are mothers, grandmothers, aunts, godmothers, or relatives of current students, are warmly invited to join us for breakfast in Term 3. Please extend this invitation to all the ex-student connections in your family. It is also a pleasure to invite our incoming 2024 families who have ex-student connections to join us this year.

Date: Tuesday 25 July 2023

Time: 7.30 to 8.30 am (current students/staff will depart on the first bell at 8.20 am)

Venue: Marden

RSVP via 02 9704 5635

BEARS

Our anniversary uniform bear Evelyn wears the black watch tartan junior dress with black ribbons.

Don't miss out on taking home Evie as your own PLC Sydney friend as we have a very limited number of this special bear available. Uniform Bears can be ordered by calling PLC Sydney Reception on 02 9704 5666. They are expected to arrive in August.

Please note: Piper Bears are not available.

ARCHIBALD TOURS HOSTED BY THE EX-STUDENTS

Ex-students, family and friends are invited to an exclusive viewing of the 2023 Archibald, Sulman and Wynne Prize finalists at the Art Gallery of NSW. Led by an experienced guide, these intimate tours provide the opportunity to see this year's exhibition up close and learn about each artist and sitter in great detail.

MORNING TOUR

Date: Tuesday 15 August

Time: 9.15 am for a 9.30 am tour (meet at the Gallery entrance) The ticket price includes a guided tour, coffee and light morning tea.

TICKETS: $65.00

Bookings required. Please call the Ex-Students Office on 02 9704 5635.

DID YOU KNOW THAT OUR EX-STUDENTS ARE A POWERFUL NETWORK OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD?

STAY IN TOUCH – UPDATE YOUR DETAILS TODAY https://exstudents.plc.nsw.edu.au/stay-connected/

Join the Official PLC Sydney Ex-Students Group: facebook.com/groups/PLCSydneyExStudents

Follow us on Instagram: @plcsydneyexstudents

Update your LinkedIn profile with PLC Sydney and grow your school network: linkedin.com/school/plc-sydney

Contact the Ex-Students’ Office

T: 02 9704 5636 E: exstudents@plc.nsw.edu.au