Black Watch Ed 2 2022

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Message from the Principal

Whether a child is gifted with the talent to become a musical superstar or more likely to grow up to be an adult whose solo performances are limited to singing along to the car radio, they will undoubtably benefit from Music education at school.

Research has shown that learning Music compliments and supports learning in other areas and has a powerful impact on young children’s development. There are known benefits to learning in Language and Mathematics as well as concentration and social skills. It is for this reason that we prioritise the learning of Music every day in our early years programme at PLC.

Neuroscience studies have shown that Music can enhance brain function in children. Musical activities (including playing an instrument, singing, or listening to music) stimulate the brain, leading to improved brain structure with the formation of new neural connections.

Studies also show that young children who participate in Music classes have improved speech and reading development. Learning Music helps to develop the left side of the brain (linked to language and reasoning), assists with sound recognition, and teaches rhythm and rhyme.

Learning Music also has a direct correlation with the development of skills in Mathematics. In listening to musical beats, children learn basic fractions, pattern-recognition, and problem-solving. Children who learn Music also have improved spatial intelligence and ability to form mental pictures of objects, both skills which are important for the learning of more advanced Mathematics.

Recent studies exploring the cognitive benefits of learning Music have also identified better working memory skills, helping them to remember things like important aspects of mental arithmetic and reading comprehension. The process of learning Music, particularly a musical instrument, also requires high levels of concentration and the ability to focus for extended periods of time. Just like playing sports, playing a musical instrument, and dancing also supports the development of motor skills.

In addition to the benefits above, there are the social benefits of being involved in a musical group and the opportunity to embrace the pure joy of music that are equally important to the development and education of a young person. Being involved in a music ensemble, band or choir helps improve children’s social and emotional skills. They learn to work together as a team, take responsibility for turning up for rehearsals, and develop empathy for others. This was particularly evident in Term 4 in our students who formed the cast of High School Musical Jr. Watching our Year 7 to 10 students leave after their final performance, it was obvious what a closely connected group they had become and the level of support they were providing each other. I have no doubt that these girls developed friendships that will remain well after that final performance. Music can give children (all people!) a way to express themselves, to explore their creativity, to be inspired as well as to inspire, to relax and to simply enjoy

the joy of music. The joy that Music brings cannot be underestimated and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we came to realise quite quickly the impact of losing something that we usually take for granted – the opportunity to sing in choirs and play instruments in ensembles and bands. While we were able to continue most school activities in 2022, our Music programmes were significantly impacted.

In August of this year, we celebrated the opening of our new state-of-theart music building which you can read about on page 5. It sits proudly alongside the Junior School and reflects the value we place on Music within our community.

Even through the trials of the first six months, music found a way. As you’ll read on page 6, Music pursued through virtual choirs and lessons. Music will always find a way at PLC as we acknowledge and celebrate the many benefits that learning Music can bring to the development and education of all children. We are very proud that our new purpose-built music building stands as a legacy of all the wonderful music making which has occurred here since our college’s inception, and waits here enthusiastically to help nurture the aspirations of current and future students.

Ms Cate Begbie Principal

Message from the Chair Of Council

While 2022 saw all organisations in Australia (and globally) continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19, it was also important that our School Council maintained its focus on the Strategic Vision for the College, including delivering on the Strategic Plan and refreshing the Master Plan. Our Strategic Plan encompasses all aspects of the future development of PLC, with the Master Plan focussing on infrastructure and buildings. Our School Council considers this type of forward planning one of its most important tasks.

We are very excited about the opening of our purpose-built music building in August 2022, which will provide an inspiring environment for our students and staff to learn and express themselves through

music for many years to come. Whilst construction of this project took about 12 months, conceptualisation through to final design took over five years.

As we completed the music building, our School Council started the journey of refreshing the Master Plan to provide a strategy and plan for the ongoing future development of the PLC campus over the next 10 to 15 years.

Throughout 2022, we have sought feedback from parents, students, and staff through a number of surveys. I appreciate the time that all community members have given in completing these surveys, the data from which has been used to review current facilities and inform decisions regarding priorities for the short- and longterm development of the campus.

The new PLC Master Plan will not just focus on supporting and encouraging our students to learn, but also the whole student experience and the continual strengthening of our sense of community. It will reflect both the history and legacy of PLC, as well as provide an aspirational vision and cohesive guide for future capital allocation. The goal of our new Master Plan will be to maximise our footprint and efficiency of our site without losing those elements that contribute to its character.

We are in the final stages of developing the new Master Plan and I look forward to sharing it with the community early in 2023.

Ms Claire Poll Chair of Council

From Little Things, Big Things Grow

We have all become accustomed, when watching TV, to the variety of advertisements linked with catchy song lines, now etched into contemporary folklore such as From little things, big things grow.

Not all who recognise the “theme song” of the superannuation industry would know it had very different origins 35 years ago. Written by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody, based on the story of the 1966 Gurindji Strike, or Wave Hill walkoff, it highlighted the role of Gurindji leader Vincent Lingiari, which was the beginning of the Indigenous land rights movement.

What was intended as a protest song to coincide with the 1988 bicentennial celebrations of 200 years of white settlement in Australia, began to take on a life of its own. The lyrics highlighted the grave injustices suffered by Aboriginal people. It was a simple song written around a campfire, but has since encapsulated the growing journey towards recognition and reconciliation in ways we never imagined.

When I recently led a Sunday worship service the text was The Parable of the Mustard Seed, where the question was asked “What is the kingdom of God like?” To which the response came: “It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree and the birds of the air made nests in its branches” (Luke 13:18-19).

When I handed a young worshipper a mustard seed he was surprised at how tiny it was, when compared to the tree it could become, up to a height of over seven metres. For a moment, he was as if an early follower of Jesus asking the same question: “How can this be so?”

As another year in the life of PLC comes to its natural conclusion, I have found myself reflecting on the privileged interactions I have had with so many students, intermingled with small insights into their view of the contemporary world and the part they want to play in it.

Most pleasing within the graduating cohort and those now emerging into leadership, is a genuine awareness that each has a part to play in making our society as inclusive as possible, devoid of discrimination and prejudice; genuinely looking for the best in all people.

My heart has filled with pride in being just a small part in helping guide a new generation who want no part of any agenda that involves putting other people down, or sacrificing everything to climb over others in order to achieve success or recognition.

I have watched young people spending time in our Chapel, reflecting on what the future holds in store for them as they face the challenge of examination and scrutiny by others; so many genuinely seeking God’s guidance as to how to make the best use of the life that has been granted to them in the service of others.

Indeed “From little things, big things grow”. I feel confident that those soon to leave the confines of PLC for whatever life offers them, will make their lives matter and give a genuine sense of pride to those who in a small way have played a role in their nurture and growth.

For such things we must all surely give thanks to God.

Rev Nalin Perera Chaplain

PLC Welcomes Mrs Geraldine Drabble as Head of Junior School

Mrs Geraldine Drabble is already getting to know staff and students in the Junior School. Although she doesn’t officially start until Term 1 2023, she is taking every opportunity to spend time on campus.

“Building relationships and making connections are my immediate priorities for Term 1”, she said. “I can’t wait to be part of the PLC community”. Raised in rural Western Australia, Mrs Drabble boarded at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School. Now a mother to two daughters, she is a staunch advocate for striving for excellence in girls’ education. During her time as Deputy Head of Junior School at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, she made significant contributions to the quality of education with the development of an award-winning primary STEM programme and a wellbeing programme that equipped parents with the tools to navigate their child’s social, emotional, physical, and academic needs.

In one of her many visits to PLC in Term 4, she said, “As our world changes exponentially with technological advancements, and with the population at eight billion – our priorities in education must be future-focussed.”

Mrs Drabble recently confirmed her three initial areas of focus will be purposeful learning within the Primary Years Programme curriculum, learner agency, and connection. Within this purposeful learning, she sees a strong STEM focus – particularly on real world issues and STEM- related jobs – as well as looking for ways to connect with local community and organisations on sustainability and environmental programmes.

Her second focus will be learner agency, as future-ready students need to exercise learner agency in their own education and throughout their adult life.

“Student voice is so important. I love to co-create plans, learning opportunities, and assessment tasks to demonstrate learning,” Mrs Drabble reflected and commented that she will be looking to include students in decisions about their learning and how their learning environments operate.

Connection is Mrs Drabble’s third area of initial focus.

“In order to function and thrive in a fastpaced world, an individual’s wellbeing is paramount. Developing a person’s emotional intelligence allows them to understand different perspectives, connect to a wider group of people, collaborate cohesively towards a common goal, and communicate their own needs”.

Principal, Ms Cate Begbie, noted, “I believe that we have secured the appointment of a leader and educator who is passionate about growing student engagement and enhancing the sense of belonging within our school community.”

Music Has a New Home at PLC

It was an endeavour which spanned four years, two Principals, and half the tennis courts but in Term 3, PLC was able to officially open the doors to its state-of-the-art purpose-built music building.

It was on Wednesday 1 August 2018 that the first meeting took place to discuss the renovations to Finlayson House and the development of the temporary Music Village on the tennis courts in the Junior School. In September that same year, the Music Village was installed onto the tennis courts – which was always to be a temporary measure until a new centre for musical excellence could be established.

From that time, there were ongoing collaborative discussions between staff and the architects at Parry and Rosenthal as the design was finalised. Then, despite the disruptions of the two years that followed, on Monday 24 May 2021 PLC celebrated the ‘turning of the sod’ and Cooktown commenced works on the site.

In a little over 12 months, on Tuesday 26 July 2022, PLC’s new music building opened its doors to both

Junior School and Senior School students as their new home for music at PLC.

With government guidelines only just relaxing for schools at this time, the decision to postpone the official opening until Saturday 3 September was made. On this day, PLC officially opened the new music building which commenced with a with a smoking ceremony by Professor Simon Forrest and a didgeridoo performance by Mr Micheal Spratt. Reverend Nalin Perera then gave his official blessing before Chair of Council, Ms Clare Poll, Director of Music, Mr Chris Goff, Principal, Ms Cate Begbie, and Arts Captain, Olivia Muir cut the Black Watch ribbon. The event then moved inside the building where guests were treated with a number of musical performances by students from both PLC and Scotch College.

In Ms Cate Begbie’s address, she acknowledged the vision of the principals who came before her; to Ms Hazel Day and her passion for The Arts that resulted in the development of the Hazel Day Drama Centre and the resultant growth of The Arts programme at PLC, to Ms Beth Blackwood AM who identified the need for a purpose-built music building, and to Dr Kate Hadwen who commenced the steps towards the design and initial construction.

Watch the time lapse of the construction of the music building

The Making of More to Me

Mr Chris Goff, Director of Music

Students learn and engage in music for many reasons – the pursuit of excellence, increased social skills, a sense of community, to have the opportunity to take part in something that is greater than the sum of its parts, and to discover things about themselves and others they may not know. But, during Term 1 this year, singing and choirs were significantly affected by government guidelines with restrictions placed on both singing and mixing year levels. So how were choirs to persevere? Music had to find a way.

At the start of the year, music staff worked together to find a creative solution and the beginnings of a virtual choir project started taking shape. They discovered a very special song. But not just any song. More to Me speaks about who we are as a College. It captures our values; values that were championed throughout the restrictions.

Then began the challenge of teaching this song to students from all five choirs from Years 3 to 12. They successfully learnt

this song both online and outside. Students were then scheduled to lay the audio in small groups or individually because year groups were still unable to come together. Then came the difficult task of layering the dozens of recorded tracks over each other to form the ‘virtual choir’.

It was around then that our Communications and Engagement team caught wind of this project and was keen to arrange a video clip to accompany this song and tell the story of this triumph over adversity. The video was captured in Term 3 when restrictions had lifted, and our newly completed music building could be incorporated.

Each choir, including the Petite Chorale, Deci-belles, Young Voices, Chorale, and Senior Vocal Ensemble was filmed in different locations across PLC and brilliantly depicts the students’ individual and collective bravery, resilience, and uniqueness. There truly is more to every student here

at PLC and I couldn’t be more proud of each of them and the finished product. I am also immensely grateful to our leaders and staff for their support. I urge you to watch the video by scanning the QR code. This is PLC’s More to Me

Celebrations of PLC’S new music building continues, with the purchase of eight Guzheng instruments to extend further blended musical opportunities with cultural opportunities.

PLC is delighted to welcome Ms Xueyan Chen to teach Guzheng. Ms Chen is an award-winning professional Guzheng musician with a Masters of Music Degree in Guzheng Performance from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music.

Ms Chen is currently the Director of the Western Australia Guzheng Academy and was formerly the Principal Guzheng Player and Soloist at the Chinese National Orchestra of Chongqing, Guzheng Lecturer at the Anhui University of Arts, and the Ambassador of Chinese-English Cultural Exchange. She was invited to perform as a Guzheng soloist at the National Centre for the

Performing Arts of China, which is the highest level theatre in China, and has performed professionally in the UK, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

Ms Chen will lead ensemble lessons for girls in Years 3 and 4 from Term 1, 2023.

Inspirational Leadership for PLC Pipe Band

PLC was very pleased to appoint Mr Alisdair McLaren as Head of Pipe Band this year. As a local boy with a huge amount of experience playing on Pipe Band’s ‘biggest stages’ around the world, it was an incredible opportunity for the girls to learn from someone with many World Championship, European Championship, British Championships to his name. He has been the Lone Piper at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Musikfest Der Bundeswehr Military Tattoo, and the Belfast International Tattoo, as well as Piping for HRH Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and HRH Prince (now King) Charles and the Duke of Rothesay at Dumfries House.

After only a few short weeks, the number of girls looking to join PLC’s Pipe Band, as well as the quality of piping from current pipers, has been rapidly improving with an incredible performance at PLC’s Speech Night in December. Mr McLaren has joined a strong tradition of drumming at PLC, thanks to the tutelage of Ms Marianne Kirby, former Head of the PLC Pipe Band, and now Deputy Head of the PLC Pipe Band and drum tutor. Ms Kirby is a rare breed, being an elite, young, female snare drummer (there are not many in the world!).

Ms Kirby started drumming at 10 years old and loved it so much she began working part time to pay for lessons with a World Champion drummer to take her own playing to the next level. She has learnt to play bagpipes simply to gain a deeper understanding of what is required to be a good drummer.

At 17, she was invited to join Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band, one of New Zealand’s most prestigious Grade 1 bands, where she found herself to be the only female snare drummer, and 10 years younger than the next youngest in the corps. By 2011, Ms Kirby competed in her first World Championships in Grade 1, repeating the achievement in 2016 and 2018. 2023 will be her fourth competition.

Ms Kirby credits drumming for taking her all around the world, and now plays for the WA Police Pipe Band with Mr McLaren, where she is the only female snare drummer to have ever played with the WAPOL Pipe Band. Her passion to produce more confident and capable female drummers shines bright, and no doubt seeing female drummers in Grade 1 Pipe Bands will no longer be the rare sighting it is now.

The Semester 2 Junior School Leaders

House Leaders

Tallula Chamberlain Head Prefect

Jessica Smith Service Leader

Anika Wood Service Leader

Sophia McManus Head Prefect

Amelia Falconer Arts Leader

Isla Barker Arts Leader

Valme

Gil Domenech

Stewart House

Elka Griffin Summers House

Zara Khattak Summers House

Annika Patel Stewart House

Hannah Regli Ferguson House

Coco Jones McNeil House

Saila Hardwick McNeil House

Milli Dodds Ferguson House

Alex Kassner

Baird House

Ariana Norman Carmichael House

Maisie Hatch

Carmichael House

Ivy Natta

Baird House

have all been excellent in their roles and PLC thanks them wholeheartedly for their service to the College.

Introducing the 2023 Senior School Prefecture Leaders

Correia Head Prefect

I am truly thrilled to be elected as Head Prefect and to have been given the opportunity to help lead my peers and make this year as enjoyable as possible. I’m excited to be able to work with the Student Council and the extended community to continue to make the College a joyful and safe experience for all.

One thing I’ve always admired about PLC is the strong sense of community that we have the privilege of being a part of every day. To build on this, I wish to promote inclusivity and foster a greater relationship between year groups, as I believe these connections are vital in a community like our own. I know personally that the bonds I have made with both younger and older students are going to stay with me forever.

I also admire the ‘have a go’ attitude many of us share and I hope to help lead by example in building confidence within everyone, so they feel as though they can give everything a go, without the fear of failure. We are given endless opportunities here at PLC, so let’s all encourage each other to make the most of it whilst we can.

Head Prefect

Success tends to be attached to the attainment of wealth, fame, or social status, however, the true definition of success states that it is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. As 2023 Deputy Head

Prefect, I hope to achieve success. Along with my other Student Leaders, I want to be an authentic leader who not only supports but encourages others to strive for this feeling. However, the action of self-worth and feeling a sense of purpose is the ‘success’ I want my fellow peers, teachers, and wider PLC community to look towards.

There are wins and losses, there are big goals and smaller ones too, but no matter the achievement, my purpose in this role is to celebrate those. By doing this, I hope to foster selfconfidence in others which, in turn, might inspire them to ‘succeed’ in their endeavours, whatever they may be. I hope to bring the school closer together from the students to maintenance staff to Old Collegians. I will build meaningful connections with others and demonstrate the school values in order to leave my positive and ‘successful’ mark in PLC history.

books, by having a book swap on one day at the end of the year. This helps the community to get together and share their similar interest in subjects while also helping the environment. I believe I can achieve these new ideas and bring them into the community to help improve our College.

My life has always centred around The Arts. From a young age, I was encouraged to express my creativity and incorporate it in whatever I do. I have always felt truly happier and more inspired doing handson work that was engaging and built my confidence.

Hello everyone! I am very grateful for being appointed as the new Academic Prefect for 2023! I am excited to take part in leading the College in many ways, especially encouraging academics at PLC. I love to help encourage a love of learning and give my support in any way possible.

What I look to achieve as Academic Prefect in 2023 is to help organise outside-of-class study sessions with teachers for all year groups in the Senior School, this way I feel more people are likely to show up and are able to get the help they need. I also would love to create a more efficient way that students can sell their

We are all naturally creative in differing ways and I believe that PLC offers many performing and creative arts opportunities for all students to find their passions. The Arts at this school are so special since they cross all divides, allowing students to develop their own, unique personal voice and form of self-expression.

As Arts Captain, I hope to build excitement and enthusiasm for all areas of The Arts at PLC and will strive to create a positive and inclusive environment where students feel accepted, and have a wealth of support from their fellow students in their creative pursuits. I would like to endorse participation and a ‘give it a go’ attitude that I believe is so important for impressionable, young, learners, as well as ensure that all areas of The Arts here, are equally celebrated and exposed to the students.

Tess Marinko Arts Captain

Ally Negus Academic Prefect

Lucy

Libby Hutton Deputy

As Reconciliation

Captains for 2023, our aim is strengthening and reinforcing relationships between Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples, and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all of the PLC community. We are focused on the formation of societal outcomes that help generate a community where the country, culture, rights, and contribution of First Peoples are valued and respected. We aspire to be part of a community that celebrates strong and positive relationships between our First Peoples and the PLC community, as critical building blocks of practical social outcomes and community wellbeing. Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that reminds us that while generations of Australians have fought hard for meaningful and important change, future gains are likely to take just as much, if not more effort, in which we plan to assist the PLC community in making.

especially in the Boarding House for all the students. As Senior Boarder, I want to further the relationships between the day students and the boarders, so we feel connected and can all share our stories. I also want my boarding sisters to feel connected with each other no matter where they come from and be proud to say they are a boarder. I am excited about my role next year, and to work with the Boarding House Prefects and other school prefects to achieve the best PLC community we can.

I’m very grateful to have been chosen for the role of Service Captain. I hope to ensure that after a few years of restrictions due to COVID-19, the College now reenters the community through its service engagements as seamlessly as possible.

My name is Imogen Famlonga, and I am the Senior Boarder at PLC for 2023. I am a mokborring (proud) Wadawurrung person and my hometown is Broome. My community in Broome is a place where we come together with respect and trust and have built life-long relationships with each other. I aim to achieve this within the PLC community,

I am so thankful and excited to be given the role of Junior School/Senior School Prefect. From being in the Junior School, I learnt the values of PLC from a young age and the strong community the College has built. It’s a privilege to be a part of it –where each year group feels a part of the PLC family. As the JS/ SS Prefect, I aim to build on the relationships between the year groups and making the school be seen as one whole school, instead of the Junior School and Senior School. My goal is to strengthen the bonds between students across all the years and build on an environment where the older students become the mentors, giving the younger students someone, they can aspire to be. I am so delighted to be given this role and I hope I can help strengthen the PLC community.

In the coming year, I would like to encourage students to learn how to get involved in the various communities surrounding our College. I hope to bring the various projects and initiatives already developed back into the fore, ensuring our past ideas are implemented successfully.

I also wish to create a developing cycle of opportunities that continue for years to come.

Given the concept of service has immediate associations with larger, international projects, I wish to break this down into more local activities which will be much easier to implement for our students.

Getting involved and introducing service to the younger years is crucial in building up the College’s overall development in this area and success on a local level can be very motivating for others and can encourage participation in similar events. Starting small is the best way to develop our service and together we can build towards working on larger projects when possible.

Katie Marris Service Captain

Denby Shephard JS/SS Prefect

Kalani Buckle

Reconciliation Captain

Emma Holtham Reconciliation Captain

Imogen Famlonga Senior Boarder

Tilly Johnston Sports Captain

Sport has always been a very important part of my life; it has provided me with ongoing opportunities to make new friends and gain new skills. I believe that sport can be very rewarding, and I hope that by encouraging students to always have a go, they will find their passion for sport and enjoy it just as much as I do!

There are so many sports on offer at PLC and I hope to motivate all students to participate and have a go at the wide range of sports available. I aim to continue making sport at PLC an inclusive and positive environment for students across all year levels, as well as being a role model for all students, ensuring that everyone strives to achieve their best.

My goal as Sports Captain is to maintain and improve the spirit of Team PLC in 2023, I can’t wait to hear everyone cheering each other on by the track, pool, or field!

Ava Miels Wellbeing Captain

As Wellbeing Captain for 2023, I will uphold the PLC values and instil a sense of positivity in the lives of other students. The values of ‘community’ and ‘learning’ are integral to the College’s way of life, and in particular, the role of wellbeing in the school. A student’s wellbeing is one of the most important aspects that make up how they look at their life and so personally I hope to display that positivity is contagious. Likewise, creating a positive environment and perspective on education for students can have uplifting

effects on wellbeing. In the coming year, I am excited to work with the Student Council and the Year 12 cohort to continue the fostering of a positive stigma around mental health through the implementation of new and creative initiatives.

Breaking Free in ‘23

The graduating class of 2023 announced at the Science Assembly in November that their Year 12 motto is ‘Breaking free in ‘23’.

“PLC gives you so many opportunities to try new things and it is constantly pushing you outside your comfort zone, but now that we are in Year 12, we have learnt to push ourselves and so we are comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Deputy Head Prefect, Libby Hutton said.

The cohort wants to express that this year is all about breaking free of personal constraints and achieving personal goals.

The motto drew inspiration from this year’s production of High School Musical Jr. with the song ‘Breaking Free’.

Philosophers Triumph

In September, Sasha Forsyth (Year 8), Shantisha Shaufler (Year 11), Elise Wright (Year 9), Eleanor Kerr (Year 7), and Jin Liu (Year 10) participated in The Perth Philosothon at UWA and their efforts saw PLC win the 2022 Overall WA Champion School. This is the first time PLC has won this esteemed trophy.

Eleanor also won 1st prize for Year 7, Sasha won 2nd prize for Year 8, and Elise won 3rd prize for Year 9, as well as the Tapper and Millet Medal for Most Promising Philosopher.

Over four rounds, the students addressed and engaged in philosophical discussion of ethical problems with students from competing schools. They worked through the elements of the problem, raised questions, built on others’ ideas, and explored the topics which ranged from social ethics to environmental ethics and metaphysics.

Left to right: Sasha Forsyth (Year 8), Shantisha Shaufler (Year 11), Elise Wright (Year 9),

and Eleanor Kerr (Year 7) absent: Jin Liu (Year 10)

Year 6 Exhibition Takes Flight

This year, the Year 6 Exhibition took a different format with an aeroplanethemed evening, where the Junior School community received a boarding pass for their flight to embark on a journey through the students’ Primary Years Programme learning.

Captained by Acting Head of Junior School, Ms Meredith Beer, the evening held on Wednesday 31 August departed after all the necessary safety checks and the Year 6 teachers/flight attendants ensured all the passengers were comfortable.

The in-flight entertainment was a fabulous rendition of We Are Australian with students performing both the vocals and instrumentals before passengers landed at their first destination.

Each of the Year 6 student’s PYP Exhibition pieces within the themes of Ancient Civilisations, Technology, Ancestors, Sustainable Fashion, Inspirational People, Sport, Food and Languages, Scientific Discoveries, and Fashion Over Time, were positioned in different destinations across the Junior School.

Year 6 families and friends were able to explore the students’ exhibition pieces with them articulately explaining their central idea and findings. Some examples of the spaces and pieces the students created ranged from an igloo to showcase the architecture of the Inuits in Northern Canada to the ‘Little Black Dress’ famously designed by Coco Chanel.

The students also collaboratively created a life-sized family tree tracing ancestors back hundreds of years, food and culture from around the world presented in a ‘MasterChef’ class, and the sustainable fashion clothes swap which encouraged the community to think about the environment when it comes to fashion.

Year 9s Win National Book Writing Competition

Year 9 students Isla Mannolini, Rosie Greenaway, Kiara Stofberg, Emma Ryan, Livya Siford, Kaitlyn Sin, and Edith Hellings were announced as national winners of The Kids’ Cancer Project’s Write a Book in a Day competition after doing just this. The group commenced writing at 8.00 am and completed an entire book titled ‘Thief in the Themepark’ with illustrations before the 9.00 pm deadline. They were then announced as the winners of the WA Best Middle School Book before then also taking out the Middle School National Winner for Best Book on Wednesday 9 November via a Youtube announcement. Kaitlyn Sin said she loved the experience and enjoyed being an author, illustrator, and publisher for a day.

“I’m so happy to know that the book we made will help spread joy to children around Australia. It was so much fun,” Kaitlyn said.

Teams of up to 10 compete from across Australia to write and illustrate a book in under 12 hours that will be uploaded to an online library for children in hospitals around Australia.

This year marked the 20th year of the competition and has raised over $792,423 for kids’ cancer research to find kinder, better treatments.

To read Isla, Rosie, Kiara, Emma, Livya, Kaitlyn, and Edith’s book, ‘Thief in the Themepark’, scan below.

Do you think you could write a book in just ONE day?

PLC Partners with Another University in Exciting New Programme

PLC will be a partner school with The University of Western Australia as of February 2023 in an exciting new programme coined the UWA Starter Pilot. Designed for senior secondary students, the programme provides them the opportunity to participate in a new and innovative micro-credential programme. Participating students may also stack microcredentials and gain credit for one or more units when commencing an undergraduate degree at UWA.

In addition, the Curtin University Rising Scholars Programme (RSP) will be launched in 2023 to replace the existing Innovative Schools Scholars’ Programme (ISSP). The programme offers highachieving students first-hand experience of learning at

Curtin University while still in school, allowing students to earn University credits. Students engage with staff and students on campus, in blended learning, or online units.

PLC students in Years 10 to 12 who have demonstrated high academic ability are eligible for the Curtin University Rising Scholars Programme (RSP) and UWA Starter Programme.

Bathed in Sound

Sound bath therapy is an ancient practice originating in Tibetan and Himalayan cultures, most notably with Himalayan bowls and gongs used by Buddhist monks. Indigenous Australians have also conducted sound therapy for thousands of years using didgeridoos. In recent years, it has become popular in the West as a complementary tool for managing health and wellbeing.

Head of Science, Ms Lesley Kaye, has an interest in practices that promote wellbeing and recently completed a Masters Degree researching “How Adolescents Respond to Meditation”. She was the recipient of the UWA Francis George Bradshaw Prize in Education which is awarded to the best student completing their Master of Education.

She has been facilitating sound meditations for a number of years at the College and in the local community and wanted to gain a formal qualification as a sound therapist to gain a greater understanding of the neuroscience and therapeutic benefits of sound. This motivated her to study a Professional Diploma in Group Sound Therapy at the British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST); she will finish this qualification at the end of the year.

As part of this professional diploma, Ms Kaye conducted four sound bath mediation sessions for PLC staff throughout October and November.

Ms Kaye facilitated the sound bath by playing gongs, crystal bowls, and other resonant tools, allowing

fellow staff to slip into deep relaxation. Following the 45-minute session, Ms Kaye brough the group out of the experience and gave some after care instructions as they filled out a brief survey to assist with her studies.

One PLC staff member commented, “I felt very relaxed with any tension no longer present in my body; in fact I had to re-focus in order to drive home safely! It is clear to me there is a very real and palpable benefit to this therapy and I would highly recommend it to those who are curious about reducing tension and stress.”

Year 9 Student Among Top Mathematicians in WA

The annual Western Australian Junior Mathematics Olympiad (WAJO) took place in October at the University of Western Australia. Over 400 students from 24 schools in Years 7 to 9 participated in the competition, solving mathematical problems individually and in teams.

Year 9 student, Yuki Li, received outstanding results from the Olympiad after participating in the 100-minute exam.

With an exceptional score, Yuki not only took out equal 7th place but was awarded a Merit Award for her strong individual performance. This is a very prestigious award in an extremely competitive competition.

Previously, PLC Years 11 and 12 students, Yvonne Cui and Linda Zou have also received excellent marks in various Australian Mathematics Olympiads. Having been invited to nationally recognised academic excellence programmes, thanks to their results, they have been pivotal role models and inspiring figures for Yuki.

Linda and Yvonne have been mentoring Yuki as well as other young Maths whizzes at PLC before school through problem-solving sessions. They have both been working in the UWA groups over the past couple of years and are hoping to encourage other young, talented students to follow in their footsteps.

Broadening Knowledge is in our DNA

If students were given the power to study and manipulate genes, what would they do with it?

PLC has acquired its own piece of cuttingedge technology, a gadget used by researchers on the International Space Station – a machine that replicates DNA.

To enable the Years 6, 7, and 8 Science students to develop their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology skills, PLC has recently incorporated the miniPCR technology into our teaching practice. The miniPCR, along with biochemical reagents and computer-based software, allows students to physically multiply DNA in minutes.

“Once we have added the materials to the miniPCR and allowed it to work for 30 minutes, we get more than a billion copies of each DNA molecule,” Ms Brandenburg said.

Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) gives students a hands-on experience. They have plenty of DNA to load, run, and visualise in the College’s blueGel electrophoresis systems.

“This much DNA is fantastic. It means we get enough DNA to understand genetic diseases and solve fun forensic cases,” Ms Brandenburg continued.

This has opened students’ eyes to micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, the polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, the use of data bases and DNA blasts.

“We are one of very few Australian schools to have this opportunity. Owning this technology provides a real edge to our teaching. It also means that DNA technologies have become more concrete and therefore more accessible for our younger students,” Ms Brandenburg said.

“The miniPCR thermal cycler and blueGel electrophoresis systems have simplified DNA. It makes it so much easier for students to understand.”

Across Term 4, 24 students from Years 6 to 8 benefitted from this technology through PLC’s innovative DNA Technologies programme, funded by the PLC Parents. The Science department has been amazed at the amount of learning and research that has come from this hands-on programme.

“DNA technologies is an employment growth area. These tools are allowing our girls to gain experiences that most biologists don’t get until well into their university years,” she said.

Year 4 Science Fair

Year 4 students welcomed their parents into the classroom on Friday 2 September for an exciting Science Fair. Parents were fortunate to enjoy a display of students’ hypotheses, experiments, and scientific findings in a fantastic showcase of learning.

The day was a success with students experimenting, building, developing, and demonstrating their scientific abilities.

Finding Solutions Through Science

Science brings about solutions for everyday problems and provides answers to the greatest mysteries of the universe. It is an important channel of knowledge and whilst it has a specific role, it has multiple functions for the benefit of society, such as improving knowledge and education and enhancing the quality of life. It is for these reasons that the Junior School celebrate National Science Week annually through their Festival of Science.

The Festival of Science (FOS) aims to ignite an interest in science, inspire students to perform new experiments, and make them aware of the latest developments in science and technology within the National Science Week theme. On this day, all students participate in several scientific activities ranging from hands-on science and STEM experiences, engagement with guest speakers and opportunities to participate in incursions or excursions. This year, the theme was ‘Glass: more than meets the eye’ and students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 made sugar glass, mirror windows, marble run challenges, kaleidoscopes, telescopes, experimented with jelly optical fibres and hot glue glass fibres, photography, and more!

The value of parents in a child’s education is undeniable and research shows that girls’ attitudes to STEM are most strongly influenced by their immediate family. Thus, parents are encouraged to support the various FOS activities and share their expertise.

Quantitative and longitudinal data has shown that one of the five main reasons girls are not taking up careers in science is the lack of exposure and experiential opportunities in primary school. In the Junior School at PLC, we are purposefully trying to negate this happening by celebrating and engaging in National Science week and also by providing science and STEM opportunities within our Units of Inquiry.

The FOS reinforces the importance of science in our daily lives and the commitment of the Junior School to promote girls in STEM, through early opportunities and experiences from a very early age. We hope that our FOS provides hope and inspiration to our students and future generations to pursue their dreams.

Ms Michelle Clayton, Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator – Junior School

Serious About Science

“Science Week has opened my mind more to the world of science and to the different science careers available,” Josie Raston (Year 9). Each year, PLC dedicates a week for students to immerse themselves in all things science and, this year, it kicked-off with a Science Assembly with guest speakers to inspire the girls to consider STEM careers.

Old Collegian, Dr Jessamine Soderstrom (1990), who is an Emergency Physician at Royal Perth Hospital, a Clinical Toxicologist, a Clinical Senior Lecturer and UWA, and TED presenter, spoke about how she found her love for Science at PLC. The periodic table was one of the few things that she understood after migrating from Malaysia and only initially speaking Malay; the periodic table of elements is the same across the globe.

She continued to discuss the interesting places her career has taken her through being open to opportunities.

Associate Professor, Katarina Miljkovic, from Curtin University and winner of the 2022 Women in Physics Lectureship, is a planetary scientist with expertise in numerical and experimental impact physics and a passionate advocate for studying science. She also spoke about seizing opportunities regardless of whether they are in your comfort zone, or not.

Science Week continued with a number of practical incursions, excursions, and experiments. Some of the highlights included the International Baccalaureate students working together using their knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology to design experiments to combat a nuclear disaster.

One student built a solar car, while another conducted desalination experiments to turn ocean water into clean, drinking water, while others attempted to grow plants under different light conditions. The Year 9 cohort learnt about tectonic plates and volcanoes using Mars Bars during an incursion facilitated by OzEarth, while Year 7 students used their laptops to access the same tools used by researchers and astronomers to observe and collect astronomical data. Facilitated by Institute of Radio Astronomy (ICAR), students accessed and remotely controled the four current SPIRIT robotic telescopes in real time to take images of distant astronomical objects, as well as scheduled automated data acquisition as part of more sophisticated research projects.

Grandparent’s, Special Friend’s and Arts Day

Ms Colleen Garland, Junior School Art Teacher

This year has been all about flexibility and resilience. When the Day of Mourning to acknowledge the passing of Queen Elizabeth II fell on a day originally planned for our Art’s Day, we were quick to adapt and restructure Arts Day and combine it with Grandparent’s and Special Friend’s Day – a format we discovered was incredibly successful.

It began with the students sharing their learning in their classrooms with their grandparents and special friends. Normally on this day, a book is read, a bookmark made, or a game played. This year, the grandparents and special friends were also taken on a personal tour of the Junior School, the new music building, and the Junior School Art Exhibition. The students were extremely proud to show their artwork. They confidently explained the transdisciplinary theme, the central idea, the design thinking, and the making process to their guests.

After the tour, morning tea was served to our special guests by our wonderful parent group. This was a lovely time for old friends to get together and for new friendships to form.

After morning tea, the students joined the grandparents and special friends for a wonderful singalong led by Music Teachers, Ms Hayley McDonald-Burns and Ms Linda Arnold. This was the first time we have done this and the enthusiasm shown and the lovely chorus of voices was outstanding.

Our Arts Day festivities continued with a special assembly with a Junior School production of Robin and the PLC Hoodies. It was a wonderful opportunity for Performing Arts to shine in front of the Junior School community.

An Insight into Creativity at PLC

Ruby Meara (Year 12), 2022 Creative Arts Captain

This year’s Creative Arts and Technologies Exhibition, InSight, was a beautiful display of our students’ hard work. The large attendance for the exhibition opening night made me overwhelmed with joy, seeing the wider PLC community engage with the students and their artworks. Art is not only a form of selfexpression, but one of activism that allows us to share our unique insights of the world and, as students, having this opportunity is a luxury. The night included a highly entertaining fashion show from our Textiles students, a captivating viewing of the media students’ short films, as well as a tremendous display of skill from our Woodwork and Visual Arts students. The wide range of techniques and mediums used throughout the exhibition reiterates just how many opportunities there are within the Creative Arts. I am so thankful for all the opportunities the staff have given me and for the lifelong friendships I’ve made, so I would absolutely encourage everyone to get involved with the creative arts no matter their skill level or age.

Additionally, respected mixed media artist and PLC Old Collegian, Samantha Sadik (De Sillery 2005) was present for the opening of the exhibition. Samantha spent the evening carefully evaluating every artwork as well as selecting three of her personal favourites. Samantha shared her wisdom of the art world with us, providing very valuable insight and inspiration, which I know all the students appreciated.

After seeing everyone’s hard work displayed at the exhibition, I have never felt prouder. I can’t wait to see what artworks are produced in the years to come.

Boarding House New Addition to Arts Day Acts

Arts Day is always the highlight of the PLC calendar, aptly known as ‘The Best Day of Year’, and 2022 included all the usual favourites such as House Dance, House Choir, Year 12 Act, and Staff Act. This year, however, there was a new addition to the running order in the Boarders’ Act, and it was a resounding success.

Choreographed by all the Boarding House Prefects and led by Senior Boarder, Meeza Humphries (Year 12), it was a great way to show the solidarity and community spirit of the Boarding House.

“There were a lot of us who normally aren’t dancers, but it was exciting to come together as a boarding family and show who we are,” Meeza said.

While the Boarding House Dance didn’t officially contribute to the House tallies for Arts Day, it was more than that. It showed the incredible spirit of the Boarding House in a true showcase of fun, love, and community.

Throughout the day, there was an incredible display of talent across of the disciplines within The Arts. Singing, dancing, musical instruments, cake decorating, photography competitions, textiles, individual and group performances – the day had it all.

House Dance is always impressive, and this year saw Ferguson House take out the title of House Dance winners. Carmichael House won House Choir with their song Royals by Lorde, and Carmichael House were crowned Overall Champion House in a flurry of confetti.

Winning Houses

House Dance - Ferguson

House Choir - Carmichael House

Overall Winning House - Carmichael House

Roald Dahl Classic the Golden Ticket

The musical from the Roald Dahl’s classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was a choc-full of entertainment.

Held in June and running for four performances with two casts, the popular musical had audiences singing and toe-tapping along. Numbers like Pure Imagination, The Candy Man and I’ve Got a Golden Ticket were outstanding.

Featuring Senior School students from PLC Perth and Scotch College, the musical’s tale centres around Charlie Bucket as he embarks on an unforgettable ride through a world of pure imagination.

Kindness of Strangers: Chilling,

Abstract, and Insightful

Olivia Muir (Year 12), 2022 Arts Captain

Talented Senior School students from PLC and Scotch College turned heads at this year’s senior school play with their incredible contemporary interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ Kindness of Strangers.

The show, held in the wintery month of August, made for the perfect setting for the unnerving and confronting stories in which we all painted on the Hazel Day Drama Centre stage.

The performance included four one-act plays which encompassed some of Tennessee Williams’ finest and most powerful work. The plays entailed the perception of life as it is, and the passion for life as it ought to be, which have made Williams’ plays classics of the American theatre. This emotional, unsettling, and intense script was captured by Year 11 and 12 students.

Particular mention to Year 12 leads: Sophia Stewart, Indah Jenkins, Charlotte Williams, Ruby Meara, myself, and Poppy Bell. As a finishing touch, the play was accompanied by PLC’S Stage Band led by Director of Music, Mr Chris Goff, and lead vocals were performed by both myself and Insiah Riaz.

PLC Break Free

Everyone has dreams. While some dream of being the star of the basketball team or science decathlon, others hope to be the lead in the school musical.

The cast and crew of PLC’s High School Musical Jr. reminded the crowd to dream big and follow their passions, despite how others may try to confine them.

This smash-hit musical phenomenon, presented by Years 7 to 10 students, ran over five performances from Thursday 10 November to Saturday 12 November.

Gabriella Montez’s character, played by Tatum Ryan (Year 10), highlighted the importance of being brave and overcoming the limits imposed by others. While Sharpay’s character, played by Charly Stephens (Year 10), taught the audience to stay resilient when striving to reach goals – now, this doesn’t mean it’s healthy to draw up a design like Sharpay’s in I Want it All, but students should dream.

As the cast showed how they could “break free” from the obstacles they faced, they highlighted that, “there’s no star in heaven that can’t be reached”.

Poppy Takes a Parliament to Parliament

Year 7 student, Poppy Mahon, has enlisted some political muscle to save native owls from poisoning. Discovering her passion for native wildlife and owls in her Year 6 PYP Exhibition project, Poppy has been working to stop the use of second generation rodenticides since then. Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are responsible for the deaths of many native birds that eat poisoned rodents. Many alternative poisons are available for killing rodents that are just as effective. “They’re banned in the UK, Europe, Canada, and America, but in Australia they are only restricted to purchase to those over the age of 16,” Poppy said.

Poppy started a campaign, writing three times to Premier Mark McGowan before securing any response. When Poppy discovered that Bunnings did not prevent her

(then aged 11) to purchase these poisons, she successfully lobbied Bunnings to make sure an age check was enforced at self-serve checkouts. She is still chasing to ensure Bunnings implement the signage part of their agreement.

Poppy visited Curtin MP, Kate Chaney, with a Barn Owl and a Boobook for a meeting about these rat poisons in September, where she was pleased to discover Kate also knew that the collective noun for owls is a ‘parliament’. Although an owl supporter, Kate highlighted that this is a State, rather than Federal issue.

Poppy has also met with local MP, Dr David Honey, who has agreed to look into the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) review that WA recently submitted. However, she is still waiting for a response.

Awareness and change are both high on Poppy’s agenda.

Forming a ‘Wildlife Warriors’ student group, Poppy and PLC students have taken their message to the local community, taking stands at the Celebrating Lake Claremont Event, at Claremont Quarter, and in one of the gardens at PLC’s Open Garden Day. The Wildlife Warriers consist of Year 12 students Madeleine Robins, Claire Dean, and Sofia Sommerhalder, and Year 7 students India Griffin, Brianna Mal, Isabel Greentree, Eleanor Fraser, Beth WallisHuges, Charlotte Meredith, Maya Pushpalingam, and Matilda Ashton. Ms Janine Nicholson also joins the group at meetings.

Poppy has successfully lobbied Pet Barn to delist SGARs. The Wildlife Warriors are now finalising a petition to Coles, IGA, and Woolworths, and will be surveying local residents about owls in their areas.

Reflecting on Experiences as Part of the Diploma Programme

Students from Years 11 and 12 International Baccalaureate Diploma’s Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) have been given the opportunity to enhance their personal and interpersonal development by learning through experience.

This unique learning programme sees students lead their own service initiatives while fostering a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from their work.

This year, the CAS programme introduced two CAS Core Days, during which, students were introduced to several experiences that challenged them to show initiative, engage with the community, and develop local and global understandings.

IB Diploma CAS Co-ordinator, Mr Matthew Donaldson, said that he saw students thrive as they took on leadership roles and responsibilities at PLC and in the local community.

“The learning experiences aimed to inspire students while providing the skills, knowledge, understanding, and genuine opportunity to work towards achieving the seven CAS outcomes,” Mr Donaldson said.

Across this initiative, some of the activities students were introduced to included environmental beach cleaning and environmental data collection, Cooking for a Cause, mindful yoga, and the Give Write programme.

Mr Donaldson continued, “The students at PLC have such brilliant ideas; they are so full of energy and creativity, and they want to be involved. It is great to create important learning experiences that counterbalance the academic pressures of the Diploma Programme”.

A Small Kit A Large Difference

Every individual should have the right to a clean and safe childbirth

Imagine living in a world where you do not have access to simple tools that are essential for childbirth. For many living in regions of the developing world, this is a sad reality and PLC is helping to make a difference.

PLC has aligned with The Birthing Kit Foundation (Australia) to pack and supply clean birthing kits to pregnant women living in rural communities and low-resource settings around the world. These small kits contain six essential items that can help a birth attendant deliver a baby safely.

While it seems simple, these basic items such as a plastic sheet for a labouring mother to lie on, a sterile scalpel to cut the umbilical cord, and gloves for the birth attendant to wear, are helping to save lives. PLC has been fortunate enough to contribute to this cause.

In Term 3, approximately 40 Senior School students came together to assemble 200 birthing kits which will be distributed to women in need, around the world. Year 11 IB CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) students, Isabelle Harrold

and Kavita Bisht, led this initiative as part of their CAS project, by raising $1,000 to purchase the equipment needed to construct these kits.

“This is such a rewarding initiative, as we get to create and see tangible outcomes that will benefit someone’s life immensely,” Isabelle said.

Since 1995, 2.4 million birthing kits have been distributed. For every 11 kits that are made and sent, one casualty is prevented. By conservative estimates, this number of kits would have saved the lives of tens of thousands of women and babies.

Packs of Sunshine for Foster Children

Sometimes, for various reasons, children need to be moved to emergency care. When this happens, the Department for Child Protection and Family Support moves quite swiftly and often there is little time for the child to pack clothes and belongings to take with them.

Upon seeing the need, Year 11 students, Brinya Wakefield and Sophie Hardcastle, initiated a volunteer project to produce, source, and construct packs that aim to support children and women escaping family and domestic violence.

Called Sunshine Packs, these ‘packs’ contain the sort of

necessities needed to help vulnerable people cope, including clothes, toys, books, and personal hygiene products.

In supporting this project, Brinya and Sophie ran a donation drive for these items in the Junior School throughout Term 3. The whole Junior School community gave generously donating both the requested items and backpacks.

Under the co-ordination of these two incredible students, the PLC community packed a whopping 40 Sunshine Packs to donate to the Operation Sunshine WA charity.

Year 9 Service Leadership

Young people. Small steps. Real changes.

Ms Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing

Using the Challenge-Based Learning Framework of the Service Leadership portfolio, teams in Semester 2 moved from the ‘big question’ into the investigation, questioning, and trialling some of their ideas into action.

• The Education portfolio tutored Year 5 students in the Junior School.

• The Environmental portfolio analysed the costs of PLC’s carbon footprint.

• The Children’s portfolio began developing an app for the Foster Carer Association of WA.

• The Disability portfolio planned activities to engage the customers of Rocky Bay.

• The Safe Spaces portfolio collaborated with PLC’s architects.

• The Senior’s portfolio worked with Curtin Heritage Living.

• The Mental Health portfolio investigated therapy animals in schools, the possibility of introducing mental health first aid training for students and worked with the Blue Tree Project.

• The Homelessness portfolio trialled running a café to raise funds as a social enterprise and cooked for St Patricks Day Centre.

• The Social Justice portfolio surveyed the students on cultural competency and immersed themselves in Indigenous culture through art.

Embedding Service Learning into the curriculum provides the opportunity for students to engage in real world issues and take small steps to make change. Being able to effectively work in groups and teamwork are critical elements of future focussed education. A range of essential skills identified by Harvard’s School of Education for Leadership were developed throughout the programme, which aims to build confidence, develop conflict resolution strategies, and further enhance problemsolving and goal setting skills.

A Starry, Starry Night

The stars were shining in more than the night’s sky on Saturday 13 August as parents from PLC dressed to the theme of ‘a starry night’ for the inaugural parent ball.

Set in the picturesque Frasers Restaurant in Kings Park, 350 parents and PLC staff enjoyed a beautiful three-course meal and danced the night away with entertainment by the band Little Belle. Boarding parents Nat Kelsall (mother to Emmeline in Year 9) and Lisa Thompson (mother to Poppy in Year 8) led this initiative and worked collaboratively with PLC’s Events Manager, Ms Nicole Wilson, to bring their vision to life. Initially earmarked to be held at the The Ritz-Carlton, COVID-19 thwarted those plans and Frasers Restaurant came to the rescue to ensure this flagship event went ahead. Planning for the next parents’ ball is already underway with this biennial event set to be held at The Ritz-Carlton in 2024.

Day Breakfast

PLC Community Shines at Open Garden Day

Mrs Michelle Barrett (Wandel 1994), Open Garden Day Committee Member

Beautiful weather warmed the PLC community as parents, staff, and students came together to deliver another memorable PLC Open Garden Day on Friday 21 October. This year’s event saw the opportunity for attendees to visit seven amazing gardens generously opened by local families. Many of the properties were historical homes in the area and the gardens varied in design and plantings. There were a number of guest speakers and demonstrations which took place during the day as well as amazing performances by PLC Old Collegians, the PLC Pipe Band, and music ensembles, all showcasing the wonderful talents to be found at the College. A further display of talent was the exhibition of senior student artwork and a market stall of junior artworks. View Street was once again temporarily closed to create the Open Garden Day Marketplace which was abuzz with lively atmosphere, offering a vast array of food, produce, and gift stalls from PLC and outside vendors. The lawn of The Stables Cafe was a popular resting spot for attendees to enjoy some tea and homemade cakes, all baked by our parent volunteers and served by parents and students. Some of the other things that makes PLC unique were on display throughout the day with the Beth Blackwood rowing boat sitting proudly on the lawn of historical Scorgie House, rowing demonstrations, and market stalls of various PLC community groups. A special thanks to all the parent, student, and broader community volunteers and the amazing OGD Committee, consisting of parent volunteers and College staff, as well as the generous garden owners who together made the day possible and an enjoyable experience for all. We look forward to the sun shining once again at the same time next year for a very special 25th PLC Open Garden Day.

Celebrating the Class of 2022

Every year at the start of Term 4, it is an emotional time as PLC begins to farewell the graduating class with a series of events – the first of these is the Year 12 Final Assembly.

This year, the College again recognised its Lifers with a special gesture. Year 1s presented those graduating students who have been at PLC for a total of 12 years or more with a pink rose.

Each and every student from the Class of 2022 was then acknowledged with a special statement submitted by a student or member of staff close to them and read out by their House Tutor. While receiving their certificates from Principal, Ms Cate Begbie, the words of praise rang throughout the Junior School Sport and Recreation Centre.

After the ceremony, the cohort was then processed out to the Quad by the Pipe Major for the traditional team-in-a-huddle in an emotional farewell befitting these inspiring students.

Duel Winners of Prestigious Pocket

This year at the Year 12 Final Assembly, two students were announced as the recipients of the Principal’s Citizenship Pocket. Olivia Morton and Sienna Grubb were Year 12 students who have both equally made a difference to the richness of the life of the College

“From my own interactions with these students I know that both of these young women will, no doubt, make their marks and do incredible things, but what impresses me most about them is that I also have no doubt that they will do this with the greatest of humility, integrity, and compassion for others and the world around them,” Principal, Ms Cate Begbie said.

“They are both equally exceptional role models not just for students, but for every member of this school community. These students don’t just talk about our school values – community, learning, integrity, and effort – they live them.”

The award is given to a student (or students) who is not a member of the Student Council, who consistently achieves academic results that reflects her personal best, demonstrates exemplary dress and behaviour, and participates fully in the life of the College.

2022 Leavers Praised for Accomplishments of Character

“We spent time this year celebrating academic achievements, sporting victories, and jaw-dropping performances. All these accomplishments have made the entire PLC community incredibly proud of you but I just hope this sparkle doesn’t outshine or outweigh what might be viewed as a less flashy accomplishment: great character. You don’t win awards for looking out for one another when times get tough, you don’t receive a round of applause at Assembly for being kind. Yet you all do it anyway and that is what is great character,” Principal, Ms Cate Begbie said at the Valedictory Service. While this year’s cohort’s achievements have been outstanding, Ms Begbie remarked that the accomplishment of having a good and kind character needs just as much praise and recognition and she took the opportunity to voice this in her Valedictory Service speech.

Staff, family members, and 145 students from the class of 2022 filled the Junior School Sport and Recreation Centre on Thursday 13 October to recognise the achievements of the Class of 2022.

Students were presented with their certificates by Ms Cate Begbie before also being congratulated by President of the Old Collegians’ Association, Ms Jessamy Mahony (Carroll 1988) as the evening marks a significant turning point for the cohort. It is the moment they are officially welcomed into the Old Collegians’ Association.

Guest speaker and Head Prefect of 2017, Rieley Stewart, spoke eloquently and gave fitting advice passed on from her mother. “No one is better than you, but you are no better than anyone else,” Ms Stewart told the cohort.

“Have the confidence to speak up and question the things around you…most importantly trust and be patient with yourselves. Up until now you have been a big fish in a small pond but now you are ready for the big, wide world. It’s scary and daunting but it’s yours for the taking,” Ms Stewart concluded.

Ms Begbie thanked the Class of 2022 and remarked what an amazing journey through PLC they have had.

“You leave behind an inspiring and aspirational legacy of not just excellence and accomplishment but of great compassion, and in turn, of great character.”

“Thank you for leaving PLC a better place….Enjoy this celebration and acknowledgement of all you have achieved and the amazing young people you are.”

Watch the video here

Inspiring Old Collegians Awards

PLC is proud to recognise its outstanding Old Collegians each year at Speech Night by awarding two awards, the Dr June Jones Award and the Dr Patricia Kailis Award. Dr June Jones Award recognises Old Collegians whose professional or volunteer accomplishments demonstrate a significant positive impact. This year, the award was presented to Professor Lennie Barblett AM (1977) in a hybrid pre-recorded presentation as she was unable to attend.

Lennie’s research focusses on curriculum development, pedagogy, and pedagogical leadership for effective early childhood. Embedded in this is her interest in the role digital technologies play in children’s learning, development and wellbeing, educator’s teaching and learning, and the connection and engagement of families. In 2021, Lennie was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to tertiary education and early childhood teaching.

In the same year, she was also named winner of Engagement

Australia’s Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact. She is also a chief investigator on the Australian Learning Frameworks Update project 2020-2022 and Kindytxt, a digital literacy texting programme for families of Kindergarten children.

The Dr Patricia Kailis Award celebrates achievement in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship for alumni aged 40 years and younger. It recognises women who are pioneers in their field or fields.

This year, the award was presented to Professor Kathryn Holt (1999) and it was graciously accepted by her aunt and past member of PLC staff from 1987- 2010, including senior leadership roles, Jenny Rankin.

Kathryn is a computational biologist specialising in infectious disease genomics, and a Professor at Monash University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Kathryn has a BA/BSc from UWA majoring in Biochemistry, Applied Statistics and Philosophy, with Honours in Genetics, a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute on the genomics of typhoid fever, and a Masters in Epidemiology from the University of Melbourne.

Kathryn runs a computational genomics research group utilising genome sequencing to study the evolution and transmission of bacterial pathogen and hospital associated pathogens. Her lab is particularly interested in the global health crisis of multidrug resistant pathogens, and human and environmental microbiomes and their role in chronic disease, infectious disease, and horizontal gene transfer. They develop bioinformatics software when needed, including laboratory and computational methods for nanopore sequencing.

Professor Kathryn Holt (1999) Professor Lennie Barblett AM (1977)

Anoushka Wins Prestigious Principal’s Inspiration Award

Among the numerous Academic, WACE, VET, IB Diploma, and Citizenship Awards presented at the 2022 Speech Night, there was one award that is only given in exceptional circumstances at the Principal’s discretion: the Principal’s Inspiration Award.

This award was last awarded in 2020 and it recognises compassion, integrity, respect for self, inclusivity and respect of others, acceptance of responsibility, engagement in the life of the School and community, and a demonstration of initiative in response to challenges.

This year it was awarded to Anoushka Paganin. “Anoushka exemplifies what it means to be a PLC student”, Principal, Ms Cate Begbie told Black Watch writers.

She has regularly won Speech Night awards for Academic Endeavour and Academic Excellence since Year 6, but the Principal’s Inspiration Award recognises the role she has played in making PLC

the College it is. She has been involved in Music since Year 1, and has won Pockets for Dance, The Arts, Academic Honours, Music, Service Leadership and was the College’s Civics and Social Justice Captain for 2022.

“The awards Anoushka has won only tell part of her story at PLC”, continued Ms Begbie. “She has won the Principal’s Inspiration Award this year to celebrate all the things that can often be overlooked. Anoushka is always the first to answer a call for volunteers, has always been willing to try new things, and push herself beyond her comfort zone. She always gives 100% to any task, all while encouraging others to join in. She is incredibly resilient, polite, kind, and thoughtful and completes all activities with a smile on her face. Anoushka has been a joy to know during her time at PLC.”

Students Shine Bright

2022 Dux Awards

It seems that Speech Night gets better each and every year and this year’s Speech Night, ironically, left people speechless. The evening commenced with the a poignant series of items to respectfully acknowledge our nation’s First Peoples and the land we were meeting on. The unique and informative Acknowledgment of Country written and spoken by 2023 Reconciliation Captains, Kalani Buckle and Emma Holtham, in both English and Noongar language was backed with Mr Michael Spratt on Didgerido. This was followed by the Gorna Liyarn Dancers performing a dance choreographed by Tianna Bin Jacob (2022). I Am Australian was then performed by PLC’s Combined Choirs, Bartok Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Senior Pipe Band, with dance performances by Gorna Liyarn Dancers and Dance Company in a truly united representation of PLC’s reconciliation aspirations.

Another musical highlight and something unique to this year’s Speech Night, was a moving performance of One Day by Koolulam, a socialmusical initiative aimed at strengthening the fabric of society through massed singing events. In 2018, Koolulam invited 3,000 people who had never met before to sing in Haifa, Israel to celebrate coexistence. The song is a cry of hope, sung in three languages – English, Arabic and Hebrew. On Thursday 8 December 2022, PLC’s students performed its own version of this song arranged by Director of Music, Mr Chris Goff. In combining Senior Pipe Band, Combined Choirs, Bartok Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble, PLC achieved something truly remarkable.

Janet Phemister Prize for VET Runner-up to Dux Jasmine Walter

DJ Carmichael & Company VET Dux Jade Johnson Janet Phemister Prize for WACE Runner-up to Dux Poppy Bell Janet Phemister Prize for WACE Runner-up to Dux Noah Hall

DJ Carmichael & Company WACE Dux Linda Zou

DJ Carmichael & Company IB Diploma Dux Indah Jenkins

DJ Carmichael & Company IB Diploma Dux Saskia Flemming

IGSSA Success

Throughout the second half of 2022, PLC has seen a number of outstanding individual and team successes in the Senior School. From some incredible results in Soccer such as winning the pennants in Senior A Soccer, Year 7/8 B Soccer, as well as the Overall Soccer Pennant, to outstanding runs by Annie Pfeiffer (Year 12) and Sienna Hanikeri (Year 12) which solidified the Years 11/12 Athletics pennant win, it’s been a semester swathed in success for PLC.

It was a similar story for the IGSSA Cross Country coming away with the pennant for Year 11/12 with some incredible runs again from Sienna Hanikeri and Ella Slocombe.

Senior A Basketball also took out the Senior A Basketball Pennant aided by their coach and former Perth Wildcat, Mike Vigor.

Another pennant title was awarded to the Senior A Water Polo team, who in late October, performed flawlessly in their competition to take out the Year 11/12 Pennant after being undefeated all day.

PLC also saw success in Cricket this year with the Years 7/8 B Cricket Team winning the pennant and the Open B Cricket Team also taking home the pennant.

PLC also had an incredible Rowing season taking out the IGSSA Head of the River. Read more on page 42.

PLC Claim JIGSSA Cross Country Pennants

A thunderstorm may have been forecast, but the sunshine came out for the Years 4 to 6 students as they competed in the JIGSSA Cross Country Carnival in September.

Held at Alderbury Reserve, runners left it all out on the course with some outstanding results as PLC took home the Years 4, 5, and 6 Champion Pennants!

This is an incredible achievement. Whether students ran a personal best or won their race, each student tried their best and displayed incredible school spirit and sportswomanship.

Sam Maxwell Strives

for Sport for Every Student

Mr Sam Maxwell has been supporting PLC athletes for 18 years. Initially overseeing Tennis, Cross Country and Athletics, and now as the recently confirmed Head of Sport. Overseeing Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 students, Mr Maxwell’s priorities will be providing sporting opportunities for every student, from just getting involved to high performance athletes, and connecting those elite students with pathways to the professional space.

A talented tennis player and runner in his own right, Mr Maxwell played tennis as a Junior in the WA State League and has won National Medals in middle-distance running. After leaving school, he transitioned to coaching tennis where he saw a career pathway. He still coaches Wimbledon Champion, Matt Ebden, and until this year was the Head Coach at Mosman Park Tennis Club – a role he held for the last 12 years.

Mr Maxwell completed his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce degree from UWA, before joining Freehills in their Commercial Law team.

His love of sport and a desire to work with people more than paper led him to set up his own athlete management company, supporting the commercial side of professional athletes.

The stable of athletes he has helped has included tennis stars Casey Dellacqua, Ash Barty, Matt Ebden, John Peers, and Storm Sanders, as well as Australian cricketers Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nicole Bolton, Joel Paris, and Sam Whiteman, among others.

PLC Celebrates 10 Consecutive Head of the River Wins

PLC’s success in rowing regattas is unmatched, winning ALL the past ten Head of The River (HOR) Regattas.

It doesn’t feel like it for some, but it’s been a decade since PLC’s First Eight crew made history at the 2012 Head of the River (HOR) Regatta, taking out the title for the first time in Schoolgirls’ Rowing.

In 2012, the crew of Elinor Scott (cox), Natasha Gay, Kate Mannolini, Rebecca Duke, Emily Mantle (Captain of Boats), Andie Sones, Jessamy Burton, Kailey Creeger and Ellen Kennedy won by four boat lengths in 7 min 3.70 sec, and also saw PLC take out all four regattas in the lead up to the Head of the River Regatta.

Ten years later, head coach, David Milne and the 2022 First Eight Crew, again triumphed and won the Perpetual Trophy for Schoolgirl Premiers, marking PLC’s 10th consecutive HOR win.

Director of Wellbeing and past Head of Rowing, Chonny James said the PLC Rowing programme has continued to intensify each year.

“We have placed a strong emphasis on quality, not quantity. The dedication, commitment and ’striving for excellence’ from the PLC Rowing coaches is a credit to them,” Ms James said.

“Drawing on Mr Milne’s extensive coaching and rowing experience as well as all of the hard work put in by the 2022 crew, we are ecstatic to have brought home another win and be a part of this momentous piece of history.”

2022 First

Eight crew; Kate Williams (Cox), Pippa Attwell (Stroke), Tilly Johnston (Seven), Libby Hutton (Six), Ellen Sinclair (Five), Brooke Poole (Four), Bella Van Ingen-Kal (Three), Chloe Fleay (Two) and Jaz Shervington (Bow).

David Milne Confirmed as Head of Rowing

PLC has long dominated Champion Lakes and the College is delighted that Mr David Milne (Milney) was confirmed as Head of Rowing and Elite Athlete and Culture Mentor earlier in Semester 2 this year.

Milney’s love for rowing started as a schoolboy at Wesley College, before joining the West Australian Rowing Club (WARC) while he completed his Bachelor of Arts (Psychology).

A successful rower in his own right, he won the Junior Coxless 4 in the WA State Championships, and in the following year came second in the (higher division) Open Coxless 4 in 1995, the same year he started coaching at the WARC and Wesley College. In 2002, he was recruited by the UWA’s Boat Club as Head Coach, before joining Perth College as Head Coach in 2005. In 2009, he joined the Western Australian Institute of Sport as Coach of the Junior and Under 23 Squads. Success in the Australian National Rowing Championships led to Milney being appointed by Rowing Australia to coach Australian junior crews in two World Championships; the first the Junior Men’s Coxless 4 in Lac du Causse Correzien, France in 2009, and then the Junior Mens Coxed 4 in Roundnice, Czech Republic. Both crews won bronze medals. Milney then joined Wesley as Director of Rowing in 2010, joining PLC as the coach of our Second Eight in 2011 before jumping completely as Head Coach at PLC in 2012. Since joining the College, PLC has secured 10 season wins on points, and nine Head of the River victories. Milney cites his proudest moments as his very first win as Head Coach (which was also PLC’s first ever win in Rowing), and the win in 2021 when sport was returning to normal post COVID-19, and many other schools had said loudly they thought that was the year they would take PLC’s rowing crown. A sweet victory indeed. All students who have been tempted to learn to row can attest to the strong culture at the shed for community, fun, co-operation and hard work, a culture now being extended to other sports. Milney’s new role includes the mentoring of PLC’s elite athletes, a role he has unofficially performed for many years. As he creates the programmes to include all students in sport as well as to nurture and support our elite athletes from Junior Elite competition to Senior Elite sport, PLC’s sporting future has never looked so bright.

PLC Basketball Reaches New Heights

PLC provides a community built on comradery and participation. The College facilitates peer support and opportunities where students can challenge themselves through participation and diligence.

This ‘can do’ community value coincided with

Over the past year, there has been a significant increase in participation numbers in Years 3 to 6 and Head of Sport, Mr Sam Maxwell, hopes this trend continues into next year and beyond.

“It has been a very exciting surge in participation, and I would like to thank both the students

PLC Firebirds Claim Victory

The Year 6 Netball team, the PLC Firebirds, enjoyed an outstanding season this year in the Junior Perth Netball Association (PNA) Competition and came away with an inspiring win in the grand final.

Across the months of April to September, Years 2 to 6 students were busy participating in the Perth Netball Association competition on a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning at Matthews Netball Centre.

While every year group performed at their personal best throughout the season, it was the Year 6 PLC Firebirds who won the Winter Year 6 Junior Competition after superb team effort and a handful of outstanding individual performances.

Students were able to display great sportswomanship, whilst honing their netball skills in a fun and competitive environment.

Izzy Secures Spot in Australian Youth Squad

Izzy Scott (Year 11) is no stranger to the world of sporting royalty. She is the daughter of former national champion and national representative rower, Rob Scott and Australian gold medallist in the 2000 Olympics for Water Polo, Liz Scott OAM. Izzy seems to be following in her parent’s footsteps having earned her place in the Australian Youth Women’s Squad following her

team by eight and made her first state squad by 14. Now at 16, she is consolidating her position as goal keeper and is on the trajectory for sporting greatness in her chosen sport of Water Polo.

Over the next 12 months, the Australian Youth Women’s Squad will come together for domestic training camps and international opportunities

Shining a Light on all Things Boarding

In May, PLC shone a spotlight on everything boarding as part of PLC’s annual National Boarding Week celebrations.

In recognising the fantastic efforts and commitment from all PLC’s boarders, boarding families, and boarding staff, the College kicked off the week with the annual Boarders vs Day Students’ Tug-o-War.

Across the week, students also participated in a high-spirited ‘Race to School’, joined in some fun quizzes, competed in the annual Year 12 PLC vs

Scotch Netball game, and involved themselves in a lively volleyball game.

“It was so great to see both boarding and day students enjoy the fun activities and celebrate National Boarding Week together,” Director of Boarding, Ms Susie Edwards said.

Dynamic Duos at Boarders’ Ball

On Saturday 6 August, the Year 11 and 12 boarders from PLC Perth and Scotch College celebrated reaching their Senior Boarder milestone with a Boarders’ Ball.

With a ‘Dynamic Duos’ theme, students attended the ball in some very creative costumes.

Students spent the memorable evening enjoying fantastic food and dancing the night away while capturing special moments using the photo booth.

New Tradition Honours Year 12 Boarders

A new tradition recognising the special community PLC’s Senior Boarders share was established at the conclusion of the Year 11 Quay2Quay in 2021.

In symbolising their strong connections, this year, for the first time, all Year 12 boarders received ‘Boarder Badges’ to wear with their blazers.

Deputy Senior Boarder, Olivia Ellis (Year 12), said the idea was instigated by her boarding cohort and has made connections within the boarding house even more special.

“It is an admirable celebration and one which I think will remind me of all the very special memories I’ve shared with my boarding community,” Olivia said.

“My boarding peers have been a large part of my life, and these badges help to symbolise the forever friendships we have formed.”

Olivia said wearing these badges on their blazers has also helped nurture the Senior Boarders’ connections within the day school.

Photos from Home

Here are some of this year’s entries.

Every year, the Boarding House holds a Photos From Home Competition.

CELEBRATING CULTURES

Shining A Light on Languages

Buenos dias, bonjour, ni hao, buongiorno, apa kabar, guten tag, goei dag, bom dia, gode dag and g’day...

In celebrating the linguistic diversity in our PLC community and showcasing the benefits of language learning, in Term 3 PLC participated in Languages Week. Two live Taiko Drumming performances, a talent show with distinct international flavours, a special assembly, and many in-class activities were enjoyed throughout the week-long celebration.

Acting Head of Junior School, Ms Meredith Beer commented that research shows significant cognitive benefits of second language learning. “Bilingual children demonstrate greater problemsolving, critical-thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask. Children proficient in other languages also show signs of enhanced creativity and mental flexibility,” Ms Beer said.

A Goal for Diversity

As NAIDOC Week officially fell during the school holidays, PLC celebrated NAIDOC Week in Week 2 of Term 3.

In celebrating the NAIDOC Week 2022 theme of ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!,’ students across all year groups participated in several activities that encouraged learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.

As one of the activities, PLC’s Gorna Liyarn students challenged Scotch College to a game of netball. It was a tough-fought contest with PLC coming out on top with a 14 to 11 victory.

In an interview with The POST, Year 12 Reconciliation Captain, Montanna Reidy, said PLC only had two Year 8 indigenous students when she started Year 8 in 2018. This year, there are 49 in total.

“NAIDOC Week gives me a chance to celebrate my culture and share it with other people,” Montanna said to The POST.

These are important findings for parents and students who seek rich educational experiences; knowledge of languages and intercultural understanding have a core role to play in education.

The netball match helped celebrate the contribution First Nations students make to PLC and the wider community. It was a fun and thought-provoking activity geared toward inspiring action for all Australians to advance their knowledge of First Nations cultures and histories.

CELEBRATING CULTURES

Inspiring Indigenous Leaders of the Future

Michelle Ninyette is a proud Noongar Yorga woman and since September, she has taken the reins as PLC’s Indigenous Programme Co-ordinator.

Ms Ninyette oversees the 49 Indigenous students at PLC –most of whom form a group known as Gorna Liyarn. This name is derived from the Kimberley region, where the scholarship programme has its roots. In the Bardi and Yawuru languages, Gorna Liyarn translates to ‘strong heart’ or ‘strong spirit’. It is on these strong hearts and spirits that Michelle hopes to build a focus on leadership and empowering Indigenous students to be changemakers.

As well as her connections to the Wilmen and Ballardong area, Michelle brings extensive experience working with and for Australian Aboriginal children and their families in various capacities including Community Engagement Facilitator, Aboriginal Education Officer, and as a Youth Development Officer. Michelle is also currently completing her Bachelor of Applied Science at Curtin University.

“I am all about empowering our young Aboriginal girls. I have just attended the Oxfam Straight Talk event in Canberra which empowers Aboriginal

women to be change-makers.

If I can transfer that knowledge over to these young girls and get them to see the strengths that lie within them, they will be unstoppable,” Ms Ninyette said.

“The biggest thing I would like to achieve is for the girls to see all the possibilities and to believe in their potential as changemakers of tomorrow; to fuel their confidence that they can be whatever they put their mind to. I want the girls to look deep within themselves and find out who they are and what their passion is, not be who society expects them to be. I want the girls to truly honour themselves and for them to see that we are all here to support them on their journey.”

Every Gorna Liyarn student, whether they are from Perth or beyond, must board at PLC to be eligible for this scholarship and Ms Ninyette’s own four daughters are all Gorna Liyarn

girls so she knows the value of PLC’s boarding community. Jada Reidy (Year 7), Mia Reidy (Year 9), Bella Reidy (Year 10), and Montana Reidy (Year 12) have flourished at PLC.

“I am very fortunate to be able to work in the same school as my daughters. We have such a good bond and healthy respect for each other. It is also nice to be able to share special occasions and events with them. It means I can see more of my girls and their school lifestyle than I would if I was working elsewhere,” Ms Ninyette said.

“At times, it’s hard for me to go home and leave the girls in boarding but the benefits of the Boarding House far outweigh my sacrifice. They have the support they need from the staff and lean on each other for strength. It’s tremendously difficult for these girls to be away from Country, but they draw strength from each other and from within.”

Thank You

Byzlyn Sin (Year 12)

In 2016, I received the news that I was the lucky girl to receive the Foundation Scholarship for 2017. Back then, I had no idea what a lasting impact my journey at PLC would have on me. Being a PLC girl is one of the best things that has happened to me. I am awed by my talented and outstanding peers who set the bar so high; many of whom are outstanding athletes, inspirational leaders, and magnanimous Old Collegians who return to give back and I hope, one day, I can too.

PLC has unveiled the potential that I never realised I had. I was the state runner up in my first ever public speaking attempt, the UN Youth Voice Public Speaking Competition. Since then, I have continued to represent PLC in many other competitions, including WADL debating, the Australasian Philosothon, Mock Trials, and my favourite team effort, the da Vinci Decathlon, where our team was the state champion for three consecutive years. I am also so grateful to be named the 2022 Debating and Public Speaking Captain, just like the first Foundation Scholarship recipient, Tabitha Malet, in 2016.

Under the ISSP High Achievers Programme at Curtin University, I was granted the opportunity to accelerate my Accounting studies, enrolling at University in Year 10!

I am most passionate about PLC’s community service programmes, and I have spent a great deal of my time at PLC participating in programmes such as Cooking for a Cause and the Smith Family Student2Student Reading

programme, helping disadvantaged students to improve and boost their confidence in reading, which was one of the most rewarding experiences.

I am most blessed to have made so many amazing friends. I am so grateful for the girls who have been there since day one, and I know we will remain lifelong friends as we have been there for one another in every fragment throughout our sixyear adventure.

I am thankful for all the opportunities which were bestowed on me as a PLC girl. I will continue to work at my best ability and uphold the high integrity of PLC values, community, and effort.

Next year, I hope to study a double degree in Law and Accounting at the University of Western Australia. PLC has set a strong foundation in my studies. I am confident that many of the life lessons I have gained at PLC, will undoubtedly help me in pursuing my dream career.

Thank you.

Thank you for granting me the opportunity to study at such an amazing school.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this strong community.

Thank you for everything, I am so eternally grateful.

Scan to donate to the PLC Foundation’s Scholarship Fund ( tax deductable)

A Timeless Gift

The PLC Foundation was honored to receive one Bequest in 2021 from Mrs Lesley Vernon BarrettLennard (Gibson 1942), who sadly passed away on 7 August 2021, aged 95 and one Bequest in 2022 from Mrs Thelma Emily Webster (Fisher 1947) who sadly passed away on 22 November 2021, aged 92.

The Foundation extends sincere thanks to Mrs Barrett-Lennard and Mrs Webster and families, for their generous bequests which will support the Foundation’s mission to provide a centre of academic excellence for the education of tomorrow’s leaders.

Lesley Vernon Barrett-Lennard (Gibson 1942)

Lesley was the daughter of Alwynne Beatrice Compton and Vernon Bland Gibson, who worked for the major under-sea cable company (for which Cable Beach was named for) during the war. Lesley was a day girl for three years - from First Year in 1938 until she was evacuated to Beverley in her Leaving Year in March 1942 (just a few weeks after the year began) with the threat of Japanese invasion.

Lesley did not return to finish her schooling. Lesley’s sister Jocelyn Francis (Gibson 1949), first cousin Maggie Venerys (Clifton 1954) and a second cousin Charmian Bourne formerly D’Orsogna (Urquhart 1956) attended PLC, and through them several more distant cousins.

Lesley married Thomas Barrett-Lennard, a farmer, in 1948, and ended up back in Beverley where they raised one son and three daughters. Her daughters were intending to study at PLC but when the time came, all the other local girls were going to St Hilda’s, so they sent them there. They were all very athletic, and when St Hilda’s won the Athletics one year in the 1960s, there were jokes going around that St Hilda’s wouldn’t have won if Lesley had sent her daughters to PLC!

Lesley enjoyed receiving copies of Black Watch and birthday cards from the College. Thelma Emily Webster (Fisher 1947)

Thelma was a day girl for three years - from First Year in 1943 to her Junior Year, 1945. (It was common to leave after Junior in those days. It was the equivalent of Achievement Certificate or Year 10).

1939 Under-14 Relay Team, this photo appeared in the 1939 Kookaburra Back, L-R: Ailsa Newman, Gwen Beard, Beth Dunn, June East, Anne Alexander

Front: L-R: Lesley Gibson, Phyllis Winter, Margaret Webster

70 Year Reunion (Class of 1947) Scorgie House Boardroom.

Back Row (L-R): Hon June Craig AM (Lynn), Joanna Bullock (Gibson), Elizabeth Green (Plaistone), Elizabeth Flynne (Shearn). Front Row (L-R): Thelma Webster (Fisher), Margaret Atkins (Cusack), Lynnette Cook (Owen), Pamela McBain (Smith), Sue Carew-Reid (Copley).

Thelma married garage proprietor John Webster in 1952, and they lived in the Scarborough/Doubleview area for the rest of their lives. They raised four wonderful children Rob, Lyn, Paul and Dale. Thelma attended the Easter Service in 2009 and returned for her 70-year reunion in 2017; Thelma appreciated receiving PLC birthday cards. Thelma was a regular donor to the PLC Foundation’s Annual Giving Programme.

Welcome, Alexandrea Thompson

The Foundation Board welcomes Ms Alexandrea Thompson. Ms Thompson is a senior commercial lawyer with 25 years’ experience, both in private practice (eight years) and in-house with oil and gas companies (17 years), including five years working with Chevron and 11 years working with ConocoPhillips leading and advising on commercial, contract negotiation, transactional, and external relations matters as well as providing advice on corporate governance, including company secretarial and Board advisory matters.

Ms Thompson has been a visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School researching legal issues in respect of visual arts, museums and international legal protections for cultural heritage. In addition to legal qualifications, holds Bachelor (Hons)(UWA) and Masters (University of Warwick) in History of Art.

Ms Thompson is a PLC Old Collegian (1988) and her daughter a fourth generation PLC student.

Farewell, Mark Hector

The PLC Foundation would like to thank Mr Mark Hector for his time as a member of the PLC Foundation Board and Foundation Investment Committee. When Mr Hector joined the Foundation Board in August 2020, he leapt straight into driving and assisting the Foundation’s successful 2020 PLC Student Hardship Campaign.

Mr Hector is the Managing Director and Founding Partner of QUBE Property Group Pty Ltd, formerly a Chartered Accountant and board member and Chair of Lifeline WA from 2013 – 2017.

Mr Hector’s two sons have graduated from Scotch College and he has a daughter who is currently enrolled at PLC.

REUNIONS

50 Years On (1972)

Linda Wayman (1972) reflects on 50 years out of PLC, the life that was waiting for them when the graduated, and divulges what some of her cohort have been up to since.

1972 was an exciting and tumultuous time in Australian history, though most of us in our final year at PLC were too busy living our full life within the school, playing sport, participating in school activities, or simply preparing for our Leaving exams, to fully understand that change in the outside world was ramping up.

Moving beyond the irony of the number one hit for 1972 being Donny Osmond’s Puppy Love and the highest grossing film being The Godfather, March 1972 saw the first International Women’s Day march in Australia and a few months later the establishment of the Women’s Electoral Lobby. We may have been aware of the Vietnam War if we had older brothers or cousins, but since we weren’t able to yet vote, we may not have understood that while we were down beach in December 1972 relaxing and relieved to have got our Leaving exams over and done with, Gough Whitlam was elected as Prime Minister.

Yet, that election was paving the way for significant change for us as young women … ranging from big stuff such as Australia’s withdrawal from the Vietnam War, free tertiary education, maternity leave for federal public servants, and the reopening of the Equal pay case for women; to perhaps less sweeping changes but no less important to individuals including the introduction of no-fault divorce and the lifting of a 27.5% luxury sales tax on the contraceptive pill. So, what awaited the young women of PLC’s leaving year of 1972 as, in 1973, they stepped into the world bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with a future replete with opportunity and adventure?

Over the past 50 years, the class of 1972 have seen some travel to out-of-the ways places such as Antarctica or Alaska, some who have ridden

(twice) around Australia on a motorbike, while another has recently taken up gliding and trekked central Australia.

We have people who have won awards for swing dancing, quilting, who exhibit their art, or who teach people scuba diving, or music! There are careers in the health sector, law, education and others such as a shire ranger or running a marine business, or a dance school.

We have authors and musicians; bull terrier breeders and bridge players; and all sorts of community involvement from heading up surf patrols to running a second-hand bookshop for charity, or someone who helps a community in Zimbabwe. Then there’s another whose life highlights included accompanying her mother to World War II reunions in Darwin.

And as we think back, a really good education for a young woman at the beginning of the 70s was gold. And, as recognised by several women in our cohort, a really good education led to much more – it led to choices, independent thought, self-confidence, and the opportunity to forge a successful career.

Equally important are the lifelong friendships that we’ve forged from PLC. We may have left PLC 50 years ago, but PLC never truly leaves us, for we carry the memories, friendships and love for lifelong learning with us wherever we go.

And even at 67 years of age, we continue to look froward to the future. Some of us want to have solo art or textile exhibitions; do long walks in Europe and the US; improve our golf; continue to learn new things and develop more as a person; continue with their charity work, and then there’s the person who is going to Madagascar next year as a volunteer to work in marine conservation. And another person who simply wants to buy a Jersey cow.

Thank you so very much to Jenny Rogers (1972), Linda Wayman (1972) and Faye Sassella-Otley (Sassella, 1972) for organising the 50-year reunion.

45-Year Reunion (1977)

On Saturday 29 October 2022, the gorgeous home of Judy Smirk (Kyle) turned out to be a most friendly and welcoming venue for our reunion function. It was a perfect evening to renew old friendships, so in these comfortable surroundings 30 alumnae from the 1977 year group were set for a fabulous evening.

Proceedings began with drinks and canapes enjoyed with three of their teachers: Di Allan, Diana McArthur and Romaine Saunders. Sadly, Frances Dharmalingam couldn’t make it on the day due to being unwell. After an hour or so, Head Prefect, Jo Cruickshank called us to be seated at two lovely long tables, beautifully set with tablecloths adorned with loads of white flowers and greenery. Delicious food by the always excellent caterer Garry Rishworth encouraged conversations to flow easily. Jo welcomed all attendees and directed everyone to the apologies notice board where special messages and greetings could be enjoyed. Jo gave a short tribute to our beautiful colleague Penny Moir (Leighton)

who sadly passed away in January 2021. Barbie Smith then gave an insightful, clever, and very humorous speech loosely based on Helen Reddy’s hit song “I Am Woman”.

Everyone agreed that they hadn’t changed much in 45 years, however, the passage of time certainly brings tolerance, acceptance, and wisdom. They were reminded of the incredible power of kindness and friendship particularly in times of challenge and adversity. They all went home richer for their shared experiences and over all these years have truly embraced the enduring companionship they value so much.

The committee of Rosemary Johnson (Breidahl), Susan MacDonald (Rees), Helen Schurmann (Tweedie), Rosanne Dowland, Mary-Ellen King, Jo Cruickshank, Barbie Smith, Lennie Barblett, Maria Bacopanos (Kailis), Fiona Fairhall (Spragg), Liz Prater, and Jenny Thornton are to be congratulated for their persistence and energy in co-ordinating another fantastic reunion event.

60-, 65-, 70-, and 75-Year

(1962, 1657, 1952, 1947)

Founders Day was held on Thursday 18 August, and it was an extra special celebration this year with the 60-, 65-, 70-, and 75-year reunions joining the PLC community for the Founders Day Service. Joining other Old Collegians after the service, the Boarding House Dining Room was transformed and filled with stories, laughter, and familiar faces as luncheon was served.

A fabulous performance from the Petite Choral and the Junior School orchestra welcomed the ladies into the Boarding House.

Reunions

Welcoming Our Young Old Collegian Community

The OCA recently hosted the 5-Year Reunion Sundowner and the College was thrilled to welcome 40 plus members of the Class of 2017 to this event. It was a wonderful night, with much energy and excitement, as many old school friends caught up. PLC looks forward to hosting the Class of 2018 in 2023.

70-Year Reunion (1952)

On Thursday 27 October, the Class of 1952 met in the University Club Restaurant at UWA to celebrate 70 years since leaving school. They were delighted to have 16 attend, including Jan Hodge (Geddes) who came from Sydney. Over a delicious lunch, there was much reminiscing about the great changes experienced over those 70 years. They all appreciated how fortunate they were to still be able to enjoy each other’s company, and share their individual interests. Thank you to Leonie Kirke (Jeanes 1952) for organising this reunion.

OCA Awards Honorary Life Members

At the Founders’ Day Service in August, we had the great honour of awarding three new Honorary Life Members of the OCA. This award is given for exceptional service and contribution to the OCA and PLC community. Over the past 102 years, the OCA has awarded just 20 women this honour. The first recipient of the award was Dr Helen Gryzb (Brine 1970). Helen served on the PLC Council for eight years and the OCA Committee for 18 years as President, Vice President, Secretary, and a Committee Member where she was responsible for driving many initiatives and activities to foster the connection amongst Old Collegians and with PLC. Helen was involved in many major strategic decisions which have helped shaped PLC into the school of today. The second recipient of the award is Katrina Burton (Fairweather 1982). Her contribution to the College spans nine years as Council Member and Deputy Chair of Council and eight years as President, Secretary and Committee Member to the OCA and Old Collegians’ community. Katrina further developed many OCA activities like networking and mentoring programmes for the benefit of many students and Old Collegians. For a decade, Katrina served the Argyle Club in many roles including President, Secretary, Committee Member and also in various co-ordinator roles.

The third recipient of the award is Shannon Lovelady (Martin 1983), our Archivist, and Historian. Shannon’s list of contributions to the OCA, PLC, and our community as a Committee Member, in her role, and as general school cheerleader, has been immense. She is the face and voice that has warmly welcomed hundreds of Old Collegians and past families back into the College’s fold over the past 16 years. Shannon’s contribution to meticulously building our Archives, promoting and preserving the history of this amazing College, our Old Collegians, our staff, and our PLC families is just remarkable.

“We have enjoyed many occassions for Old Collegians of all ages to connect and celebrate together in the second half of 2022 and I would like to share a few highlights.”

Mrs Jessamy Mahony (Carroll 1988), OCA President

OCA Inspiring Woman Recipient

Each year, the OCA Committee, as part of its OCA Inspiring Women’s Programme, endeavours to recognise, honour, and profile an inspiring Old Collegian who has achieved success in their chosen field, career or area of personal pursuit. It was our great pleasure to announce Robyn Sermon (1990) as the 2022 OCA Inspiring Woman Recipient in October.

Robyn is a remarkable and inspiring Old Collegian who has enjoyed a 30-year career in the education, agriculture, mining, and health sectors, focussing on regional development, stakeholder engagement, community infrastructure and business leadership. Robyn has worked for a federal government minister, Rio Tinto, UWA and the WA Country Health Service in addition to being on a number of boards including the Royal Flying Doctor Service in both WA and nationally. In March 2022, she joined the Royal Agricultural Society of WA as its first female CEO. As part of the role, Robyn runs the Perth Royal Show, WA’s largest community event with 345,000 attending the 2022 show.

57th Combined Independent Girls’ Schools Golf Day

The 57th Combined Independent Girls’ Schools Golf Day was held in October at the Cottesloe Golf Club.

Our PLC Old Collegians fielded a team of 11 pairs and it was a case of déjà vu, with our team again finishing runner-up, by one point to St Hilda’s.

Angela Anderson (Rogers 1974) and Anne Stroud (Seymour 1983) had the best score of the day with 31 points and Leonie Cooke (1971) and July Healy (Anderson 1971) came in with the second-best PLC score of 29 points. The top two scores for each team determine the results. PLC did have a slight home ground advantage with our two best pairs all being members of Cottesloe Golf Club. The event will be hosted by Perth College next year at Royal Perth Golf Club in early November. Any Old Collegians interested in being included on the mailing list for this and future golf events should contact Jane Metcalf (Linfoot 1988) at jane_met@bigpond.net.au

Congratulations to Our OCA Bursary Winners

For over 60 years, the OCA has proudly been awarding scholarships and bursaries to PLC students and this year we are delighted to share with you the 2023 bursary recipients.

The Olive Cusack Bursary Isobel Noble (Year 9)

The Dr Vera Summers Bursary Jessica Nixon (Year 10)

The Heather Barr Memorial Bursary Jaz Shervington (Year 11)

Congratulations to these three worthy recipients. We would like to extend our congratulations to each and every one of the accomplished young women who applied. You are all absolute credits to yourselves, your families, and to PLC.

The enduring success of the OCA is very much a team effort and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the members of the OCA Committee: Carolyn (Winks) Shephard (Sheedy 1988), Justine Cerini (1988), Natusha Wenn (Petrelis 1995), Jennie Deykin (Eastwood 1982), Jane Anne McLarty (Symington 1964), Devon Cuneo (Nankivell 1965), Liz Langsford (Jones 1983), Leanne Ikin (Hatton 1979), Louise Aakermann (Cullen 1988) and Zoe Burke (2021) for all you have done this year.

Mrs Jessamy Mahony (Carroll 1988) OCA President

OCA Art Exhibition

After rescheduling from May to August due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we were thrilled to welcome hundreds of members of the PLC community to our annual OCA Art Exhibition. This year, we showcased and celebrated 67 established and emerging artists from our community including Old Collegians, present and past parents, and staff members. The event was a huge success thanks to the calibre of our artists and also thanks to the support of our community, sponsors, and volunteers.

Special thanks to our featured Artist Samantha Sadik (De Sillery 2005), our curating team of Anne Marie D’Arcy (1988), Philippa Trevena (Clarke 1988) and Narelle Manser-Smith (Manser

1988), our Major Sponsors including Liz Towner (Clarke 1958) and the Towner family of Flametree Wines, Jody Fewster (Bond 1983) of Ray White Cottesloe, Mosman Park, uber-talented jeweller Siobhan Way (1989), and Don Ainsworth from Advans Exhibition Services. Thank you also to our Raffle Prize donors, Lua and Lyle from Henri Living, Penny Sadler (1990) from Penny Sadler Design and Lizzie Marinko (Burt 1991) from Urban Fable. Thank you to OCA Vice President Carolyn (Winks) Shephard (Sheedy 1988) for the months of work in staging and managing this event. We look forward to hosting the next OCA Art Exhibition in June 2023.

Beth Blackwood AM

Recognised in Honours List

Beth Blackwood AM was recognised in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List “for significant service to secondary education, and to youth”. Beth was PLC’s eighth and longest-serving Principal between 1997 and 2015.

During this time at PLC, Beth promoted the importance of developing courageous young women and founded many initiatives and programmes, including our very successful Indigenous Scholarship Programme and the International Baccalaureate. Beth responded to the acknowledgment of her award on LinkedIn saying, “I have been blessed with so many opportunities to contribute and am indebted to those who have supported and encouraged me along the way. It has been a pleasure to learn from, and work alongside, so many inspiring leaders, mentors, educators, and students. So many just as worthy of commendation. I have received more ‘nuggets of gold’ than I have given. Thank you for sharing my journey.”

Olivia De Jonge Radiant in Elvis

Olivia De Jonge (2015) rose to international stardom this year having starred in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis released in June 2022 as Priscilla Presley. Starring alongside Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, the film followed a 20-year period of Elvis Presley’s life, following his rise to fame and his relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

Nina Kennedy Wins Gold

Nina Kennedy (2014) has made a comeback over the past few years, taking great strides to top it all off by taking out first place in pole vault at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August.

Nina has excelled in athletics from a young age, with a former pole vault junior world record holder title to her name. The 25-yearold came to the Commonwealth Games this year as the favourite, having won bronze at the World Championships two weeks prior as well as at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Nina has overcome both physical and mental challenges, having placed 12th in the 2020 Olympic Games and has worked hard to come back to career-best form. To the delight of the nation, Nina won gold at the Commonwealth games clearing 4.60m on her second attempt of the height.

Olivia started acting at age 12 and always loved watching films growing up. She was first introduced to Baz Luhrmann’s work at PLC in Years 8 and 9. Studying films such as Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet and Strictly Ballroom, she instantly fell in love with Luhrmann’s storytelling. She has risen to fame, starring in several local and international productions including Australian television series Hiding and her lead role in the 2015 film The Visit.

Elvis is the second highestgrossing musical biopic of all time, behind only the Freddie Mercury movie Bohemian Rhapsody.

Trevor at Home at PLC

It was a lightbulb moment that saw Tessa MacKay (McOnie 2008) decide to email Principal, Ms Cate Begbie, with an offer for PLC to become temporary custodians of her largest artwork.

Tessa’s hyperreal portrait of Wongatha/Pitjantjatjara/Nyungar actor, Trevor Jamieson, spans across a 290cm x 290cm canvas. It has been exhibited at the State Buildings and PS Art Space Fremantle and also at PLC’s 2021 OCA Art Exhibition.

The idea to approach PLC came to her after a number of students emailed her after they saw Tessa’s work and chose it as the focus of their study. This then prompted her to consider the school as a potential place for the work to be on display, instead of returning it to storage. When the email came, Ms Begbie admitted to being incredibly excited and humbled with the offer. The giant painting took two hours to re-stretch and hang in the foyer of the Hazel Day Drama Centre. Tessa commented she could think of no better location than the hallowed grounds of her own school in the company of students.

Tessa has fond memories of her roles backstage in Performing Arts and also her subject, Trevor Jamieson, is a dancer and esteemed actor. He has become one of the nation’s foremost Indigenous performers, so the location of this inspired piece in the heart of PLC Performing Arts and adjacent the Dance Studio, could not more perfect.

Tessa’s portrait of Trevor is just one of three artworks created for art competitions and is available for acquisition. www.tessamackay.com

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Ms Shannon Lovelady, PLC Archivist and Historian

Our Archives is exactly what it’s supposed to be: a busy, working Archives as well as a thriving environment for everything to do with the history of our College and the people who’ve come here - either as staff, students, Founders, Council Members, or other benefactors, throughout the past 107 years.

This year it also became a centre for family history research as a few requests came from people researching their family history.

One request was from Dr David Carlin, who is a Professor of Writing at RMIT University in Melbourne. David is the son of Joan Carlin (Stewart 1948), brother of our only Rhodes Scholar Dr Wendy Carlin (1974), and John Stewart’s great grandson. In July 2022, David and his wife Linda came to WA on a research trip looking into David’s Stewart family history.

We welcomed David and Linda in to our Archives to view what we had in the collection relating to John Stewart, and the more than 20 Stewart girls who’ve come through PLC; the most recent being Rieley Stewart (2017) who graduated as Head Prefect. First we showed David the Stewart House Honour Boards before moving onto photographs, biographies, newspaper articles, places where his great grandfather is mentioned in our Council Minutes, and in Kookaburras, as well as a comprehensive family tree as it relates to PLC.

Before he came, we put him in touch with his Perth cousins, who kindly lent him several precious family photo albums (some we’d had the pleasure of seeing before, others we hadn’t); Margaret Stewart’s (1922) autograph book; and the diary she kept on the 1926-1927 voyage to England, on the return from which her father died.

We are very grateful David brought all of these items to us, which resulted in a very long and satisfying day carefully digitising everything - for him, for the rest of the family, and for our own Archival Collection. These are such wonderful

treasures to work with, and share! Then, in mid-October, we received another significant donation from the WA Medical Museum in Subiaco (detailed in Recent Accessions). It was an album full of photographs and documents relating to Sister Minnie Hodgson (1925) who survived the bombing and sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke on 14 February 1942, but was killed two days later on Banka Island, Indonesia (see Blackwatch 2022 Edition 1).

Among the items donated are Minnie’s baptismal and confirmation certificates, her Junior Certificate, Mothercraft and Invalid Cookery certificates, her passport, letters, and a 1940 telegram from her brother, Bill. There is also a wealth of photos of Minnie – while at PLC in 1923 and 1924, and MLC in 1925, the Yealering family farm, of nursing at the Children’s Hospital in Subiaco, and in the country, and lots of candid, casual, and beautiful studio shots. These extremely significant items, all of which have now been digitised, will become the Minnie Hodgson Collection. It wasn’t long before our first visitor came to view the Collection; in early November Minnie’s grand niece Anthea Hodgson (1988) came and spent an hour in the Archives carefully looking at her great aunt’s photos and documents. She is writing a book about Minnie’s life, and we were able to give her a digital copy of everything for that, and to share amongst her family - and that’s what it’s all about.

Minnie in the gardens at PLC in 1923 or 1924

Minnie as a young woman in the early 1930s.

John Stewart is a name well known to most at PLC but, for other readers, he was a successful business and family man, and one of our generous benefactors who, in early 1917, gave us a £1,000 debenture (around $100,000 today) to facilite our move from Palmerston Street, North Perth, to View Street, Peppermint Grove. John’s daughter Margaret Stewart (1922, PLC Council 19451968) then became one of our first new students when we opened the new campus in August 1917. John was on PLC Council from March 1917 until his death in August 1927 and, when the House system was established with three Houses in 1934, one of them was proudly named in his honour.

Minnie’s passport.

Minnie as a young nurse at the Children’s Hospital, Subiaco, early 1930s.

AANS Sister Minnie Hodgson of the 2/13 Australian General Hospital, Singapore.

Minnie with her graduating class of nurses at the Children’s Hospital. She is in the second row, third from the left.

Minnie in the late 1930s.

John Stewart, mid-1920s, courtesy David Carlin and the Stewart family.

Dr David and Linda Carlin in front of the Stewart House Honour Boards, visited our Archives in July 2022 as part of a journey of family history discovery!

Recent Accessions

JBarbara Finch (1950)

Barbara’s Kookaburras from 19421953 inclusive (minus 1943 and 1944, due to WWII paper shortage, and 1949, which wasn’t printed).

Alison Henshaw (Downie 1969)

A parcel of documents covering Alison’s time at PLC (1965-1969) including: the 1965 and 1969 Schedule of Fees; list of uniform requirements; Alison’s Needlework Process Book, Book 1; 1966 IGSSA Swimming and Speech Night programmes; programmes for Lady Precious Stream (1965), Tobias and the Angel (1966) and Toad of Toad Hall (1967).

Marlene Anderson – Archives donor ‘Nelson’s School Dictionary’, rescued from the bin at a charity book sale. The book was first owned by Janet Smith (Davis 1948), and subsequently by her daughters. In the back are signatures from girls and teachers including Mrs Myrtle ‘Pussyfoot’ Matthews (Languages teacher 1939-1950), Mrs Jean Miller (teacher 1944-1945), Dr Vera Summers (Principal 1934-1961), Mrs Dorothy Woodman (Kindergarten and Primary Teacher 1936-1965), Miss Marjorie Birks (Sub-Primary and Middle School teacher 1944-1947) and Miss Winnie Barclay (Science and Maths teacher 1942-1952).

Plaxy Linton – daughter of Eithne Bryant (Pope 1946) Eithne’s Prefect’s pin, engraved with her name on the back.

OCA President Jessamy Mahony (Carroll 1988)

Jessamy’s speech in inducting Dr Helen Grzyb (Brine 1970), Katrina Burton (Fairweather 1982) and Shannon Lovelady (Martin 1983) as Honorary Life Members of the OCA at Founders’ Day, 2022.

Margaret Lefroy (Hammond 1970)

Papers relating to Margaret’s mother Margaret Hammond (Murdoch 1938) and her time at PLC (1936-1938) including: letter from Dr Vera Summers (Principal 1934-1961) wishing her well in her leaving exams; Margaret’s Physiology and Hygiene Leaving Certificate exam, 1938; and six photos from Margaret’s days at PLC (see pic).

Sylvia Brandenburg (Leeke 1951)

Sports skirt belonging to Sylvia’s daughter Shelley Mason (Brandenburg 1973).

Mike George – Open Garden Day volunteer (garden descriptions)

Open Garden Day programmes from 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016. Note: We did not have original programmes for 1998 or 1999 so, thanks to Mike, we do now!

Excellent version of ‘whole school’ photo taken in 1927 from Betty Trotter (Gibbs 1939), including Betty’s aunt, PLC Matron Bea Chubb.

Betty Trotter formerly Anderson (Gibbs 1939)

An excellent copy of the 1927 photo of the ‘whole school’ including Betty’s aunt Bertha ‘Bea’ Chubb (Matron 1924-1928), see pic.

WA Medical Museum, Subiaco

An album of items relating to Minnie Hodgson (1925) including: Minnie’s baptismal (1908) and confirmation (1929) certificates; Junior Certificate (1925); Certificate for Invalid Cookery (1930); Infant Welfare and Mothercraft Certificate (1932); reference from Dr Lindsay Male, Surgeon and Paediatrician, KEMH and the Children’s Hospital (1933); reference from Laura Scott, Matron of Greenbushes Hospital (1933); letter from Public Health re holding Minnie’s pay until they ascertained where she was, in the Eastern States (1935); Minnie’s British passport (1930s); telegram from her brother, Bill (1940); letter from Minnie to Norma Scanlon (nee Murdoch, a school friend from MLC) while she was at sea enroute to Singapore (late 1941); transcription of same letter with notes identifying people and places mentioned; a brief bio of Minnie including a summary of the Vyner Brooke and

Thank you to those who have recently donated items to our Archives.

Banka Island Massacre; letter from Anne Sage, Matron-in-Chief of the AANS, to Minnie’s father sympathising with him re Minnie’s likely fate (1944); letter from Maj Gen Callaghan to Minnie’s father sympathising with him re Minnie’s confirmed death (1946); letter from Returned Army Nurses’ Club to Minnie’s father on their decision to donate £1/1- (around $70 each, today) to the State War Memorial in honour of Minnie (1948); newspaper article from The Narrogin Observer, 10 May 1995, ‘Yealering family loses daughter in Banka Island massacre’; newspaper article from The POST Newspapers, 19 February 2022, ‘Chin up girls, I love you all’; newspaper article from Post Newspapers, 24 September 2022, ‘Minnie change for Beer Park’; and 57 photos of Minnie at PLC, MLC, on picnics down the river and in the bush with friends, in nurse training at the Children’s Hospital, nursing in the country, the family farm at Yealering, Minnie in Singapore in 1937, nursing in Singapore in late 1941/early 1942, and posed studio photos (1923-1941).

Digital Accessions

Jane Meneghello (McGibbon 1971)

Scan of Aurelie Yeo’s (Shearer 1951) A3 artwork done for the Rottnest Swim 2022; Order of Service for the funeral for Claire Merriam (2000). Dr David Carlin – great grandson of John Stewart (see main article)

The opportunity to scan Margaret Stewart’s (1921) autograph book; the Stewart family photo album; Margaret Stewart’s personal diary from the family’s trip to England in 1926 and 1927, on the return of which her father died; 24 single photographs from the Stewart family archives; Stewart photo album from the family’s trip to NSW in 1922.

The 1938 Inter-House Athletics Carnival.

Back, L-R: Beryl Craze, Diana Lester, Jean Parker, Glenice Pascoe, Leslie John, Mary Livingstone, Sheila Rowsell, Barbara Roe

Front: Kay Lissiman, Helen Finch, Wendy Smith, M Allen

Connie Livermore and Helen Finch at the 1938 Inter-House Athletics Carnival.

A rare interior shot of the Stewart family’s parlour, late 1920s, courtesy of David Carlin and the Stewart family.

OBITUARIES

We are saddened to hear of the passing of the following Old Collegians:

Meryl Gwynne Barham (Pritchard 1954)

10 December 1937 – 5 May 2022

Agnes Nancy Benaim (Reid 1945)

16 March 1928 – 12 May 2022

Jane Grettan Bennison (1965)

10 June 1948 – 17 August 2022

Marjorie Doris Blackman (Hubbard 1945)

8 November 1928 – 11 August 2022

Olwen Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Bull (Hay 1947)

14 June 1929 – 8 July 2021

Janice ‘Jan’ Codde (Sangster 1951)

8 May 1935 - 15 August 2022

Elizabeth May Connell (Caisley 1969)

2 June 1952 – 6 April 2014

Valerie Gwennyth Stern Croker (Snowden 1952)

23 October 1934 – 30 August 2022

Helen Carlisle Crosby formerly Illidge (Crosby 1955)

30 August 1938 – 14 October 2017

Barbara Helen Ellis (1941)

25 October 1924 – 30 August 2022

Dorothy Lindsay Gent (Isbister 1940)

2 December 1923 – 8 March 2022

Eileen Ada Giblett (1940)

29 June 1923 – 5 March 2019

Anne Elizabeth Green (Ross 1950)

23 March 1931 – 17 July 2022

Catherine Edith House (1993)

21 January 1976 – 23 April 2022

Wendy Tregellas Hotchkiss (Button 1947)

1 March 1930 – 26 October 2021

Shelley Maude Hutchison (Sutherland 1949)

16 August 1932 – 23 October 2022

Margaret Helen Johnson (Dare 1959)

10 November 1941 – 15 November 2022

Pauline Joan Kennedy (Harrison 1951)

12 April 1934 – 11 January 2019

Diana Mary Laurie (Bennett 1961)

7 July 1943 – 22 March 2022

Nora Vivian Le Fanu (Wheatley 1950)

13 December 1932 – 14 March 2022

Valerie Mavis Little formerly Aitken (Bulllmore 1943)

24 December 1926 – 14 November 2022

Jean Barrie Macdonald (Nairn 1952)

11 August 1935 – 23 August 2022

Clare Anne Merriam (2000)

21 August 1983 – 1 July 2022

Jenny Meryn Mills (Bunning 1951)

6 June 1934 – 21 April 2022

Shirley Helen Page (Dempster 1956)

17 February 1939 – 11 June 2022

Jillian Mary Paul (Monteath 1959)

5 January 1942 – 24 March 2022

Claire Frances Purse (1999)

22 May 1982 – 6 August 2022

Janet Mey Smith (Davis 1948)

3 January 1932 – 11 December 2013

Sheena Mary Stuart (Nicholson 1951)

15 October 1933 – 2 November 2022

Irene Eve Sunderland (2021)

10 July 2003 – 5 May 2022

Joan Annabel ThurnValsassina (Freecorn 1941)

20 November 1924 – 4 April 2022

Jennifer Frances Tunstill (Lowrie 1948)

22 December 1931 – 14 May 2022

Jennifer Louise Wainwright formerly Sims (Wainwright 1976)

22 January 1959 – 31 March 2022

Laurel Wells (1947)

11 February 1930 – 23 November 2022

Judith Eleanor Winslade (Robertson 1956)

10 December 1939 – 28 December 2021

Mignonne Wyatt (Smith 1945)

8 May 1928 – 2 May 2022

Mary Evelyn Yeates (Youngberg 1952)

21 Jun3 1935 – 14 July 2022

We are also deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the following former staff:

Jane Elizabeth Frame

Home Economics Teacher 2002-2011

20 November 1954 – 10 November 2022

Term 1 Community Tour Dates

Discover the PLC difference and attend a Community Tour.

A tour of PLC allows you to view the facilities, meet the Principal and staff, see students enjoying their learning environment, and ask any questions you may have. To ensure you have the best possible experience on the tour, numbers are limited and bookings are essential.

For bookings, scan

Early Learning Centre and Junior School Community Tours

Thursday 16 February

9.00 am – 10.45 am

Tuesday 28 March

9.00 am – 10.45 am

Thursday 23 February

9.00 am – 11.00 am

Tuesday 21 March

9.00 am – 11.00 am

Senior School Community Twilight Tour

Wednesday 5 April 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm

PLC Launches New Holiday Programme

PLC Perth was delighted to launch its inaugural PLC Holiday Programme in September this year which saw 50 students from PLC and beyond from Pre-Primary to Year 7 take part.

This initiative, led by IB Diploma CAS Co-ordinator, Mr Matt Donaldson, was offered over three halfdays and focussed on several sports including netball, dance, cricket, tennis, and basketball.

Mr Donaldson’s decision to involve not only community partners such as Netball Australia, WA Cricket, Perth Scorchers, Aspire Tennis, and K2 Dance through their high-class coaching, but also the Year 11 International Baccalaureate students who were “big sister helpers” was an inspired one. It saw each participant have the opportunity to receive personalised coaching and personalised care throughout the day.

PLC is pleased to offer the continuation of this highly successful programme in the upcoming January school holidays. The next programme will run Wednesday 18, Thursday 19, and Friday 20 January from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm at $50 per day.

PLC is delighted to partner with some excellent sporting groups to deliver the programme including Fremantle Football Club and Perth Scorchers (with current players), K2 Dance, Netball WA, Aspire Tennis, Mark Lee Football Club, Hockey (current Olympian), and MBA Sports.

Each day is unique, with students covering four different sports sessions each day. This is open to female students from Pre-Primary to Year 7 in 2023 from any school.

Principal, Cate Begbie, was thrilled with the programme and believes it is vital service to offer both PLC families and the broader community.

“What better way to assist our families in securing top-quality holiday care than through a fun and inclusive programme with an initial focus on sport?” Ms Begbie said.

“It is our hope that future programmes will broaden to offer Visual and Creative Arts, water sports, and excursions.”

For more information on the upcoming January programme, please see the advertisement over the page.