Blackwatch Winter 2018 by Presbyterian Ladies' College

PRESBYTERIAN LADIESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; COLLEGE: A COLLEGE OF THE UNITING CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

WINTER 2018

IN THIS ISSUE 3

Message from the Principal

4 Lighthouse leader appointed to top Wellbeing job 6 Year 6 PLC student, Charlotte loses locks to help cancer kids

7 New music and boarding facilities at PLC 8 Chaplain’s Address 9 PLC welcomes new Director of Performing Arts 10 Diverse Community of Languages on show at PLC 11 Australian of the Year 12 Dancers broaden horizons 13 The Wolves 14 Music Chamber Concert 15 Junior School Music Concert 16 Migration Museum 17 Farm2Fork 18 Head of the River 19 Olivia’s second solo swim 20 Year 8s give it a go 21 PLC hosts STEM expo 22 Community Service

24 Foundation Report 26 Parents@PLC 28 Parents’ Committee 30 Old Collegians’ Association 33 Reunions 34 Tartan News 38 From the Archives 42 Obituaries

Subscribing Blackwatch is now sent electronically via email. If you need to change your email address details or if you know a current PLC family or an Old Collegian who is not receiving Blackwatch, please contact PLC Community Relations on blackwatch@plc.wa.edu.au or +618 9424 6475. @plcperth #plcperth

Cover Image Ruby Marinko (Year 4) and Aspen Murray (Year 4) show their true colours at the PLC Colour Run.

Message from the Principal Exciting developments are afoot at PLC Perth after our School Council recently endorsed the first stage of the revised and updated Master Plan, which will guide capital works decisions at PLC for the next 20-plus years. Following extensive consultation over the past 18 months, we announced to the School community at the end of June that a new Music Centre would be the centrepiece of the next major building project at PLC. It is anticipated the new state-of-the-art Music Centre will open in 2020. Nearly every student at PLC will benefit from this new building with most of our Junior School students and many of our Senior School girls undertaking music lessons every week. Music is such an integral part of our curriculum. At the moment, nearly 60 per cent of our students participate in around 700 music lessons every week, whether it be through learning to play one or more instruments, the PLC Pipe Band, chorale or ensembles. The Music Department is currently located at Finlayson House, which has undergone a number of refurbishments over the years to accommodate our music students. While this building has served us faithfully for many years, it has a number of limitations for use as a contemporary Music Centre. The new

building will be located to the east of Finlayson House and link directly with the Junior School. At the same time, the PLC Boarding House is in the enviable position of being filled to capacity, with a growing wait-list of families. All 137 beds are occupied, reflecting our strong reputation for caring for our boarders, developed by our excellent staff and high calibre boarding programme. To accommodate another 22 boarders from next year, the School Council has approved a plan which will see a temporary Music Village established on the Junior School tennis courts, allowing us to vacate Finlayson House so it can be upgraded to accommodate additional boarding students. Converting ‘Finney House’, as it was affectionately known by past PLC students who boarded there between 1923 and 1978, will create a wonderful homely environment for our new Year 7 boarders to begin their journey at PLC.

A new Science and Innovation Centre based at the Nisbet Dods Library is also a key part of the first stage of the Master Plan. There is a national demand for greater expertise in jobs in the science and technology field, in addition to a surge in entrepreneurship globally. At PLC, we are already working with our girls to ensure they are innovative, global thinkers and to engage them in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). A dedicated facility will further harness their enthusiasm for innovation and STEM. This is an exciting growth period for PLC and I look forward to keeping our parents and extended community updated on the progress of each of the projects. Dr Kate Hadwen Principal

Work has started on this transformation and the new boarding facility will be open next year.

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Lighthouse leader

appointed to top Wellbeing job INSPIRING LIFELONG WELLBEING

One of PLC’s most respected and accomplished staff members, Chonny James, has been appointed Director of Wellbeing. Ms James has been a member of PLC Perth’s teaching staff since 2000 and has held roles including Baird House Advisor and most recently Head of Health and Physical Education. She has been a critical part of the Wellbeing team during recent years and worked closely with the development of the Lighthouse Learning curriculum, which is considered world-leading.

Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen said Ms James’ appointment was well-deserved. “Chonny’s work in developing the Lighthouse Learning Framework was groundbreaking and other educators are now using her work as a guide to develop their own health and wellbeing curriculum,” Dr Hadwen said.

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“Chonny recently travelled to the United States to present at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools – Global Forum on Girls’ Education in Washington where attendees were blown away by the strength of our research-backed wellbeing curriculum and the concept of the PLC LIghthouse.” In the role, Ms. James will oversee staff in Physical Education and Sport along with the Wellbeing and Lighthouse staff, the Health Centre and the Head of Service. The Psychology team will now report to the Head of School and Daleen Engelbrecht has been appointed Lead Psychologist to support this new structure. Former Junior School Head of PE, Kobie McGurk, has been appointed Head of Physical Education PK-12. We asked Chonny a few questions to get to know her better. Who inspires you most? The most inspirational person in my life is my brother, Paul, who was born with cerebral palsy and has been confined to a wheelchair for the majority of his life. He is the most resilient person I know and a daily reminder of what really matters in life.

He’s often been a trailblazer! He was the first student in Western Australia to be given an electric typewriter to use in the classroom (pre-laptop days.) Being a trailblazer for anything requires courage and an unwavering persistence to ride the bumps along the way, understanding that you are clearing the path for others to follow, much like the journey we have begun with our PLC Lighthouse. What are you most looking forward to in your new role as Director of Wellbeing? I am a firm believer that wellbeing is individual and far from a ‘one size fits all’ model. What I am looking forward to most is working with students to provide them with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to personalise what wellbeing looks like for them. What areas are you currently exploring in your professional life which you can incorporate into your work at PLC? I am currently in the final stages of completing the Professional Certificate in Positive Education through the University of Melbourne. The course has been a great opportunity to research, explore and plan ideas for wellbeing at PLC.

Demand high for Lighthouse learning The PLC Lighthouse is proving to be a major drawcard for students and staff after the world-leading facility’s official opening in April this year. Director of Wellbeing, Chonny James, said the number of girls using the facility for Co-Curricular activities was exceeding her expectations with more than 120 students attending before and after school sessions. “This is significantly higher than the number of students we had participating in similar Co-Curricular options before the Lighthouse opened,” Ms James said. “Getting more students involved in physical activity contributes to our aim to improve girls’ health and wellbeing.” In addition, the Lighthouse has had more than 250 ‘walk-in’ sessions at the Lighthouse Fitness Centre from students in Years 10 to 12 and staff. Ms James said it was wonderful to see the building filled with students throughout the day.

“The girls are making the most of the wellbeing floor of the Lighthouse, with many using the Recharge, Meditation, and Workshop rooms during recess and lunch, study breaks, and before and after school. “The new Lighthouse Café is also very popular, particularly with our parents. Many are using it as a location for Year group coffee mornings or afternoon catch-ups.” Nearly 2,000 students, parents, staff and community members were treated to an afternoon of celebrations when the PLC Lighthouse opened its doors on Friday 6 April this year. Roving magicians, bubble walkers, a petting zoo, bouncy castles and special performances by students from Kindergarten to Year 12 kept guests entertained. They were also invited to explore the three levels of the Lighthouse to gain a better understanding of how the facility would be integrated into the School’s health and wellbeing curriculum.

Lighthouse Leaders

Thea O’Connor ‘Nap Before You Snap’ With more than 25 years of experience in the health and wellbeing sector, university science graduate and health journalist, Thea O’Connor, re-defines the importance of napping. Thea is a proud napper as well as an established writer, speaker, coach and productivity advisor. Introduced to the practice ten years ago by somatic therapist Gary Norfolk, Thea overcame her feeling of tiredness and birthed a passion towards workplace wellness. Thea hopes to re-shape the social norm of napping and create a cultural shift towards re-energising. When Thea first began advocating the importance of napping, the world laughed. Now, backed by industry professionals such as journalist, and businesswoman, Ita Buttrose, and Neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay, napping has become a valued and well-regarded sustainable re-energiser. On Thursday 7 June, Thea presented a seminar to discuss the benefits a 10 to 30-minute early afternoon nap can have on education and wellbeing. Thea emphasised that laying down, shutting your eyes or having a short sleep, can increase brain acuity and retention. “A ten-minute nap transudes three hours of energy,” said Thea. Thea suggested using napping as an alternative to coffee, tea or energy supplements. “I consider myself a long-standing advocate of the body in an increasingly disembodied culture that drives to over-ride our natural rhythms, and over-rely on artificial stimulation to get us through the day.” For more information please visit napnow.net.au

Watch the video in Digital Blackwatch

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iBook adds to PLC’s technology firsts PLC Perth continues to be a leader in using technology as an integral part of the School’s Teaching and Learning programme, with the publication of a PLC iBook. The PLC Apple Distinguished School Application iBook was developed by PLC’s Information Learning Technology and Innovation team and is an exceptional snapshot of the School’s use of ILT within the Learning programme.

Year 6 PLC student, Charlotte loses locks to help cancer kids You don’t need to be an adult or work at the pointy end of town to make a difference – just ask Year 6 student, Charlotte Gishubl, who shaved her head to raise money for kids’ brain cancer research at the Telethon Kids Institute. Charlotte raised an incredible $11,314, smashing her $10,000 goal! “Losing your hair sucks,” Charlotte said. “Losing your hair while undergoing really nasty treatment for cancer that kills more kids than any other, doubly sucks.” Mum, Jennifer Grove, said Charlotte had a good sense of helping others as their family was involved in regular philanthropy. “The decision to shave her head for brain cancer research was all Charlotte’s,” she said. Charlotte told her supporters she chose to shave her hair as she had a choice about losing her hair. “Kids and brain cancer don’t mix,” she said.

It was a surreal moment as her pony tail dropped to the floor for the first time. Expecting tears, but instead she laughed and joked with her friends and family.

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Charlotte has a great network of friends and family who support and love her for who she is, so the prospect of losing her hair did not bother her in the slightest. “She has a good sense of who she is and is very comfortable in her own skin so losing her hair was not a big deal,” Jennifer said. Telethon Kids Institute paediatric brain tumour researcher, Dr Raelene Endersby, said Charlotte was an inspiration, showing that anyone can make a difference, regardless of their age. “Childhood brain cancers are completely different to the brain cancers that affect adults, yet most of the research and the treatments developed are for adults. That’s why we are working hard to find better treatments for kids with brain cancer,” she said.

The publication of the iBook coincides with more than 90 per cent of PLC teaching staff being awarded with their Apple Teacher Badge. The badge recognises teachers as exceptional ILT educators and the programme undertaken to achieve the badge helps staff build their skills on iPads and Macs that they can apply directly to activities with their students. PLC Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen said, “PLC was one of Australia’s first schools to integrate technology into the curriculum and the new PLC iBook was evidence that staff and students were continuing to embrace technology as part of their learning journey.” The iBook is a free download from the Apple iTunes store.

New music and boarding facilities to cater for big demand at PLC Perth A contemporary new Music Centre will be built and an upgrade of facilities will allow for an additional 22 boarders at PLC Perth, as part of a construction project which forms the first phase of the School’s revised and updated 20-year Master Plan. Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, said it was planned for the new Music Centre to be located on the eastern side of View Street and provide a modern and purpose-built Music Department for PLC, where students undertake music lessons and ensemble rehearsals. Development of the design and scope of the facility will begin later this year.

“The new Music Centre will feature lesson facilities and an intimate concert space,” Dr Hadwen said. “Music is such an integral part of our curriculum. At the moment nearly 60 per cent of our students participate in around 700 music lessons every week whether it be through learning to play one or more instruments, the PLC Pipe Band, chorale or ensembles.

“In our Junior School, students undertake specialist music instruction every day from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6.” In addition, the School is undertaking work to accommodate an additional 22 boarding students due to a surge in demand.

To provide certainty to future families, we have decided to create an additional 22 places for boarding students, which is very exciting for the School. Finney House will be home to our Year 7 students, which will provide girls with a nurturing start to their PLC journey.”

“Our boarders are an integral part of the PLC community and this is a wonderful opportunity to offer places to even more girls.”

Dr Hadwen said a big demand for boarding places had led to the decision to refurbish Finlayson House, on the corner of View and McNeil Streets, Peppermint Grove. Affectionately known as ‘Finney House’ the building originally housed PLC boarders from 1923 to 1979.

Work on the new boarding facilities has started and will be completed ready for 2019. While this does create extra capacity, places have filled quickly due to our wait-listed boarding students and we only have two places remaining in 2019.”

“Our Boarding House is currently operating at capacity and we have substantial enrolment pressure from regional, interstate and overseas families.

The first stage of the Master Plan will also include another Junior School playground and an upgrade to the View Street entrance to the School.

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CHAPLAIN’S ADDRESS Keeping in touch with who we used to be A line in a Wordsworth poem, ‘The Child is father of the Man’ made me think about the past. As we look back on how our lives have unfolded, childhood may seem like a distant memory. We hardly recognise our ‘younger selves’, particularly the younger versions of ourselves that we are less proud of, but the distinguished American writer Joan Didion, warns against this: ‘I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, hammering on the mind’s door at 4am on a sleepless night.’

Our ‘younger selves’ have a way of popping up when least expected. I like Didion’s idea that we should stay ‘on nodding terms’ with the people we used to be for the memories will come, but they should not be allowed to rip us apart. In pastoral conversations with people over the years, I have heard many stories of regret, anger and bitterness over things that happened years before. Unacknowledged, our regrets, angers, bitterness can disturb us deeply and destroy our fragile calm. In the context of our spiritual journeys, learning to befriend our younger selves can be very liberating.

While sometimes being bearers of doom and gloom, they are also bearers of good news, reminding us of joyful experiences; of times when life held promise and was full of dreams. Embracing ‘the people we used to be’ facilitates healing, acceptance and understanding, of ourselves and of others.

PLC Boarders Journey Home PLC Boarders come from across Australia and the world, bringing a wealth of cultural and family backgrounds to our community.

Izzy rowing on

er. the Kalgan Riv

It is, no doubt, difficult for our boarding girls as they go through the semester missing their homes, their families and their childhood friends. As much as the girls enjoy boarding at PLC, they very much appreciate the holidays and long weekends, when they get to travel home. During the Boarders’ Weekend in June, many girls were fortunate enough to be able to go home for the weekend and were quick to get back into their farm life, doing the jobs they did before they were full-time boarders. Izzy Guille (Year 11), went home to Albany, Cheyenne Norwood (Year 7), travelled home to Esperance and Abby Noble (Year 10) went back to her family farm in Kulin.

Cheyenne with her dog

Abby thoroughly enjoyed her time back home at her family’s farm in Kulin. She enjoyed being outdoors, cuddling and feeding the lambs and helping with the seeding. Abby’s mum, Tracey, loves having her little girl back during the breaks. “I love one-on-one time with Abby, watching a movie and cooking her favourite meal,” Tracey said.

Abby’s family

farm.

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Cheyenne is also busy with jobs over the weekend at her family’s Esperance farm.

“Cheyenne helps with lots of things around the farm. She loves getting out into the fresh air,” Cheyenne’s mum, Fiona, said. Cheyenne’s dogs, BJ, Jess and Buddy, as well as her cats, Coco and Oreo, and her horse, Violet, love having her home. Cheyenne’s family took a drive up to Mt Ridley, to view Aboriginal rock art when they had a rest from their farm duties. Izzy ’s mother, Krysta, was ecstatic to have Izzy home in Albany for the weekend and kept her very busy working on the farm, with marking the calves and hand-feeding the cattle. “We always count down the sleeps until she’s home again! We try not to plan too much as Izzy appreciates just getting to spend time as a family, whether it’s on the beach, or on the farm or even in the kitchen,” Krysta told us. Izzy missed a rowing training when she was home for the weekend, however, this did not stop her from training on the beautiful Kalgan River so that she didn’t let her team-mates down. Izzy ended the weekend watching the new Tim Winton movie, “Breathe”. The filming took place at her old primary school. The movie also detailed a number of Albany’s beautiful beaches.

PLC welcomes new Director of Performing Arts Being a part of a School which embraces wellbeing throughout its curriculum was a key reason new Performing Arts Director Kathleen Plastow applied for the role after five years at Australia’s biggest independent day school in Melbourne. “PLC is such a welcoming community,” Mrs Plastow said. “The effort that everyone went to in order to make Arts Day 2018 such a great success is a fabulous testament to the collegiality of the staff and the students.” Mrs Plastow was Head of Faculty at Haileybury, Melbourne which has 4,000 co-education students across four campuses in the Victorian capital as well as another campus in Beijing. She managed all aspects of the School’s music programme and was integral in establishing Haileybury’s city campus as a viable alternative to select-entry music schools within the Melbourne city area. With her children now adults and left home, Mrs Plastow and her husband felt it was a perfect time to continue her career path in Perth with the newly created Director of Performing Arts role.

“I really value PLC Perth’s focus on wellbeing and I was aware of some of the research and philosophies of (Principal) Dr Hadwen. I wanted to be a part of that,” she said. Ms Plastow, who is a candidate for a Doctor of Education, undertook her teaching and music studies in Queensland and New South Wales. She describes herself as a researchdriven educator who strives to create high-functioning teams to lead educational reform.

Her go-to musical instrument is the trumpet but the rugbyloving musician also plays the cornet, flugel, horn, clarinet and guitar.

When it comes to her favourite pieces of music, Mrs Plastow said should could not separate Misty, her favourite jazz song, and Mozart’s Horn Concerto, her number one piece of classical music. “However, sometimes you just find a piece of music that makes you feel good; happy, joyful and alive. “For me, that piece is a song called Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson. When I hear this song, I simply have to sing at the top of my voice and dance around our apartment. I can’t help it and I don’t care what it looks like.”

Uniformity for PLC House emblems After consultation with students, staff and members of the PLC community, the School’s House emblems have been revised and updated to provide uniformity for their use. Until now, four different versions of each House’s emblem were being used in a variety of ways around the School. They vary between what is embroidered on students’ House shirts, the House banners and two electronic versions of the emblems used for promotional purposes. The problem was brought to a head after the House student leadership record books required updating because they had run out of pages.

This led to the question of which emblem to use for each House’s book. At the same time, House banners and bunting are also in need of updating. School Archivist, Shannon Lovelady, was closely involved in the emblem revision process to ensure the updated versions stayed true to their original intent.

However, records show that the flower petals were originally white, in keeping with Ferguson’s original colour of white. Ferguson’s colour changed from white to red in 1957 when the girls felt it looked like they were wearing their normal sports shirt rather than a coloured House shirt at Inter-House events. At the time and in a nod to its history, Ferguson’s sunflower petals remained white.

Possibly the House with the biggest change is Ferguson, which since 2008 has been used with its sunflower petals in yellow.

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Gooniyandi is an Australian Aboriginal language that is now spoken by only about 100 people in the Fitzroy Crossing region. It is considered an endangered language.

Diverse Community of Languages on show at PLC PLC Perth celebrated the many native languages spoken by its community by commemorating UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day on Wednesday 21 February. PLC students and staff participated in the day by writing a greeting in their native language on a paper leaf and pinning it to the “Languages Tree”. Throughout the day, as leaves were added to the tree, a wide array of greetings including; G’day, Ciao, Ni Hao, Konnichi Wa, Bonjour, Hallo and Namaste decorated the leaves. “The aim of our Languages Tree was to celebrate the diversity of languages prevalent within our community, while also reflecting on our similarities,” explained PLC Head of Languages, Cecilia Muller.

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22 native languages are spoken by PLC students, including Yoruba (Nigerian), Telugu (Indian dialect), Indonesian, Hindi, Mandarin, French, Cantonese, Greek, German, Afrikaans, Japanese, and numerous Indigenous dialects. PLC boarder, Skyla Ejai from Fitzroy Crossing, was one of the many students who proudly added her leaf to the Language Tree. “My greeting was ‘Joornany gardar garrarroo malyarndi’, which means ‘good afternoon everyone’ in Gooniyandi, which I speak at home,” Ms Ejai said.

Gooniyandi is an Australian Aboriginal language that is now spoken by only about 100 people in the Fitzroy Crossing region. It is considered an endangered language. Languages are taught at PLC almost every single day, commencing in Pre-Kindergarten and covering French, Mandarin and Japanese.

Australian of the Year More than 50 Senior School students with a keen interest in physics, had the opportunity to meet 2018 Australian of the Year and quantum physicist, Professor Michelle Simmons, on Tuesday 12 June.

Professor Simmons aims to build a quantum computer that is able to solve problems in minutes, which would otherwise take thousands of years.

It was Professor Simmons’ first visit to Western Australia since being named Australian of the Year on 26 January and thanks to Auspire – Australia Day Council of WA, PLC was her only school visit during her time in Perth.

Such a discovery has the potential to revolutionise drug design, weather forecasting, self-driving vehicles, artificial intelligence and more.

Professor Simmons spoke to the students about her own education at a co-educational comprehensive school in the United Kingdom where she was one of only two students to achieve A-levels.

Considered one of the world’s top scientists, Professor Simmons has pioneered research that could lead to a quantum leap in computing. Since arriving in Australia from the UK 18 years ago, Professor Simmons has transformed the University of NSW Quantum Physics Department into world leaders in advanced computer systems. In 2012, her team created the world’s first transistor made from a single atom, with the world’s thinnest wire. At the forefront of what she calls the “space race” of the computing era

Professor Simmons’ message to the girls was to ‘dream big, challenge yourselves and make ambitious goals in science. It was an honour for the girls to have had the opportunity to talk with her about her research and life experience.

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Dancers broaden horizons to include cultural dance at showcase Senses, PLC’s annual Dance Showcase for Senior School students was held to great reviews in June. Students from Dance Company, Dance Collective and the Year 11 and 12 ATAR Dance classes performed a series of ensemble and solo works in Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical and even Bollywood and Highland Dance styles. Senses set out to explore how dance ignites the senses within us. It showcases how people see, hear and feel the rhythms of music and movement. The PLC Dance Company has had the opportunity to work with two outstanding choreographers over the last semester including the much loved Janelle Vaccaro. Janelle is a Hip Hop extraordinaire whose career highlights include music videos, TV and live shows with ODO Artists Agency Los Angeles, M.A.C Las Vegas and Carnival Cruises USA. Most recently, the students worked with the incredible Ram Mrynal Seewooruthun. Ram began his training in Contemporary and Jazz and later trained in Kathak — a style of Classical Indian Dance. The technical demands and unique story telling qualities of Kathak inspired Ram to express his varied dance training through the Bollywood style. Ram successfully merges the glitz, glamour and high energy of Bollywood with the technical demands of Kathak, Contemporary and Jazz dance.

Choreographers, Hanna Maciejewski and Mackenzie Goldsmith, created exciting and challenging works with Dance Collective. Independent dancer and choreographer, Ellen Thomson, also worked with our Year 12 ATAR Dance class. Dance Teacher and newcomer to PLC, Patrice Smith was impressed with the commitment of the PLC Dance programme to allow the girls to work with professional choreographers in different styles. Learning from working choreographers ensures our students are used to working and behaving in a professional manner. “We are so lucky at PLC to be able to work with such mature, focused and dedicated students who always rise to any challenge put before them. They put in a lot of time and hard work and we are very proud to present pieces of such a high standard.” Students are invited to audition for the Dance Collective (Years 7 to 9) in Term 4 and Dance Company (Years 10 to 12) early in 2019.

Watch the video in Digital Blackwatch

The Wolves

The Year 11 Drama WACE production, The Wolves, was a highlight of this year’s arts curriculum. Oliver Craze and Bauke Snyman, directed PLC’s captivating portrayal of Sarah Delappe’s award-winning production, The Wolves. Finalist of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Delappe’s captivating, comedic and endearing production is an honest portrayal of adolescent girls progressing from girlhood to maturity and coming-ofage. Puberty, friendships, successes and failures are common themes seen throughout the production. Through clever and a seemingly unintentional illustration of credible themes, the dialogue is conversational and the socio-economic context can relate to any audience.

“Through overlapping dialogue, the audience is forced to find harmony and order in the chaotic array of emotion and thought amid the range of conversation,” Mr Snyman said. It was important to Delappe to represent the girls as idiosyncratic people, and the work of Oliver Craze and Snyman Bauke was to no discredit. The production raised existentialistic questions that softly resonate with its students and the commonality of growing up and finding your place in society.

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Music Chamber Concert It was a beautiful night in May for the annual PLC Chamber Concert at Christ Church in Claremont. Nine PLC ensembles performed a mixture of classical and contemporary music with pieces from Mozart to A Great Big World. The beautiful acoustic quality of the 126 year-old church added to the ambiance of the evening making it a magical night showcasing PLC girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; talents.

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Junior School Music Concert Every year, parents and grandparents of Junior School music students look forward to the annual music concert held in May. The concert, held on 23 May in the Junior School Sport and Recreation Centre, followed a weekend music camp where the girls worked intensively on the pieces they would perform in their ensembles. With nearly 150 girls taking part in eight ensembles, including some of our very youngest girls, it was a concert that proved the popularity of music in the PLC Junior School. With so many children taking part, the concert was also a great opportunity to have so many of PLC community come together to witness the progress of their daughtersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; musical abilities.

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Old school tie binds PLC families

Migration Museum Transdisciplinary teaching and learning is at the heart of the Primary Years Programme in the Junior School. Last term, the Year 6 students presented research into their family’s migration story. From Mongolia to Croatia and Scotland to China, students explored the driving conceptual idea that ‘Migration is a response to challenges, risks and opportunities’ and that Australia truly is a migration nation. Head of Junior School, Louise Peyton, was especially impressed with the hard work and efforts of staff and students.

“ It was an absolute privilege to watch the Year 6 students as they shared their transdisciplinary learning with their families and special friends at the Year 6 Migration Museum. PLC’s cultural diversity is a great strength of ours and it was wonderful to witness.”

At PLC, we are fortunate to have an extremely strong and connected community of Old Collegians, including many whose daughters and granddaughters continue the tradition of a PLC education. As PLC enters its 104th year, the introduction of a fourth and fifth generation to the School is becoming more frequent and this was celebrated with the recent production of a video featuring the Thompson family. Kindergarten student Tikky Smith has embarked on an education path well worn by her forebears. Tikky’s mum, Alexandrea Thompson (1988) and her grandmother Jane Thompson (Stimson, Prefect 1958) continue to wear their PLC badges with pride. Tikky’s great grandmother, Freda Stimson (Gates, Dux and Head Prefect 1926) was also a trailblazer of her time. Mrs Stimson left PLC to study science at the University of Western Australia in the late 1920s.

Watch the video in Digital Blackwatch

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Nothing wasted as produce hits PLC plates More than 200 guests attended the second Farm2Fork at PLC on Saturday August 25 and were able to enjoy a beautiful winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evening, tasting and feasting on more than 20 delicious dishes and wonderful wines. This fabulous event, established by Michelle Barrett and the boarding community, connects producers and consumers through a paddockto-plate community event and showcases produce from across WA, with much of the produce grown, reared or made by PLC School families and friends.

Farm2Fork encourages great student involvement, with many student volunteers involved in the preparation of the food prior to the event and helping on the night. The student-run sustainability committee worked with the organisers to ensure Farm2Fork was a zero-waste event and all leftover food from the event was donated to OzHarvest.

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Head of the River It was almost perfect conditions on Saturday 23 June as PLC claimed victory in the 2018 Head of the River at Champion Lakes. It was the fourth consecutive title and sixth in the past seven years for PLC in the prestigious Independent Girls’ School Sports Association’s First VIII race. Having bested the competition in each of this year’s lead up regattas, PLC was set to take out the Wendy Zuideveld Perpetual Trophy for the tenth time in 11 years, but was determined to claim Head of the River, too.

It was a tense race with MLC and St Hilda’s determined to make the race challenging for PLC.

Rowing in Lane 8, PLC won by seven seconds covering the 2km in seven minutes, 9.55 seconds. In other Rowing news, the PLC 417 8+ crew won bronze and the 419 Coxless Four PLC/WARC composite crew won bronze at the 2018 Australian Club and Schools Championships. Samantha Deykin, Rebecca Gunzburg and Portia Knight were selected in the 2018 WA School Girls Pathways Crew along with Louisa Jackson and Emma Wilson, WA Junior State Pair that competed in the 2018 Australian Junior Team Trials.

Watch the video in Digital Blackwatch

Olivia’s second solo swim Year 12 student, Olivia Williams took on one of Australia’s most iconic events, the Rottnest Channel Swim, in February. More than 2,000 people undertake the 19.7km open water swim every year, which commences at Cottesloe Beach and finishes at Rottnest Island. Olivia has been participating in the race since the age of 14, when she was the youngest person to ever complete the Rottnest Channel Swim. Olivia remembers that swim in 2015 like it was yesterday. “I will never forget it. The weather was awful and the water was choppy, but I kept going,” she said. It took her nine hours and 40 minutes to reach the finish line at Rottnest Island. “It’s not about time to me, I achieve my goal by just crossing that finish line.” Since then, Olivia has been participating every year, either in teams or duos. “I just love swimming,” she says.

“When I was younger, I used to watch my dad swim the race and it really inspired me to do it too.” Now, at the age of 17, Olivia has faced her second solo swim, completing it in seven hours and ten minutes with an average speed of just under 21 minutes per kilometre.

“ My little trick to keep me motivated for all those hours was to sing songs to myself and count my strokes.” In true PLC fashion, all the Senior School girls got behind Olivia on the day before the race, giving her an uplifting send-off and cheer!

IGSSA Carnival Results PLC’s Term 1 & Term 2 results: Tennis 2nd Volleyball 3rd Swimming 6th Hockey 1st Netball 4th Cross Country 4th (one Year 9 pennant)

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Year 8s give it a go The Year 8 girls ventured 350km south of Perth in May, to Contos Campground in the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park for a week of challenges, personal growth and building support in small communities. The girls were split into two groups over two weeks. In the spirit of supporting the community, Principal Kate Hadwen, accompanied the first week’s group as one of the supervising teachers. The Outdoor Education Programme, themed ‘Give it a Go’, is all about demonstrating courage, support in a small community and learning how to push through personal boundaries and to promote self-sufficiency. When students forget an item or task, they discover the direct consequence and are far more likely to remember it in future. As a result, they become selfsufficient and thrive on the opportunity to cook for themselves, organise their own equipment and learn to live with each other. After the four-hour drive to the Margaret River region, the first job was to set up their tents and make the camp ready.

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There wasn’t much time as the first rotation of activities started very soon after arrival. Activities included exploring Giant’s Cave abseiling and overnight mountain bike and bush walking expeditions. Another part of the girls’ experience was a very special lesson in Indigenous culture with Wardani elder, Mitchella Hutchins. Mitchella teaches the girls the ways of her Wardani people, who are a matriarchal society. She hopes to inspire the girls to look after and protect the natural world, and each other. The girls learned to make a resin from natural ingredients and used it to make tools. They also made string and experienced ochre body art. Ellen Barker, Director of Outdoor Education, enjoys seeing the girls break through their personal barriers in order to achieve a task during the programme.

“Students often surprise themselves by completing activities that they never though they could. Their mindset plays a much greater factor in their success than their physical fitness,” Ms Barker said. The acceptance of the self within a community also has a strong focus during the week away. As students began to understand their own strengths they were then able to use them to help one another. The increased awareness of others made the group realise that every individual has different abilities and skill sets.

Dan Pike, Outdoor Education Programme teacher gave the girls some great advice about reaching their goals, “The strongest tool available to you is your group. With good support, encouragement and teamwork, amazing things can be achieved.”

PLC hosts STEM expo for local students PLC welcomed The Australian Computer Society Foundation on the 9 May for an exciting Science and Technology exhibition. The BiG Day In Junior, was an all-day Science and Technology event that saw over 200 local students participate in a number of workshops and activities held at PLC. With the aim of promoting interest and involvement in Science, Technology and IT, students were encouraged to develop new ways of thinking.

The BiG Day In Junior aimed to spark career interests, develop computational thinking skills, software development, digital creativity, and digital literacy. Facilitated by industry and University professionals, the students had the opportunity to get involved in a range of different workshops and activities.

Originally targeting secondary students seeking careers in IT, The Australian Computer Society Foundation developed a programme aimed at primary aged students. Following the success of their innovative programme in the Eastern states, The BiG Day In Junior Technology Expo came to PLC to inspire our Year 5 and 6 girls and students from neighbouring schools.

Students rotated through a variety of activities that were led by key organisations such as Adobe, Solar Buddy and Technology One. The day was a success with students experimenting, building, developing and discovering their STEM abilities. The students could not have enjoyed the day more and PLC were happy to host them all at the Junior School.

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Community service integral to life at PLC Perth Pushing girls beyond their comfort zone to inspire emotional and social development is the philosophy behind PLC Perth’s Service Immersion Tours. Each year, PLC offers its Senior School students a range of cross-cultural opportunities for girls to learn more about themselves, about others and the world around them. PLC Head of Service, Matt Donaldson, said the link between service and the curriculum allowed students to relate the lessons of the classrooms to the realities of the outside world and to apply what they have learned in the wider community. “Our Service Immersion Tours are very popular with students,” Mr Donaldson said. “We offer tours to Cambodia, Tanzania, Vietnam and the Kimberley; all involve cultural immersion, history and service work. “Some of our Year 11 and Year 12 girls have recently returned from Tanzania where they fundraised $28,000 for the Matipwilli rural village to purchase materials to build an amphitheatre, paint classrooms, create a community garden and to add gutters, downpipes and water catchment containers to the trade centre. PLC has partnered with this village since 2004.

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“They also worked with primary teachers to develop their computer literacy skills. Students participated in an adventure challenge, climbed Mt Meru and viewed a spectacular sunrise over Mt Kilimanjaro.”

Year 11 student, Lucie O’Sullivan, said what struck her most about the tour was not the differences between herself and the Tanzanian students, but the similarities. “In particular, when visiting Kibisila High School in Dar Es Salaam, I realised how ignorant the concept of us versus them was,” Ms O’Sullivan said. “We were all students with dreams, ambitions, interests in basketball, dance, music or reading. While there were cultural differences, these didn’t build a barrier between us but rather us the opportunity to understand each other’s cultures.”

Mr Donaldson reported that the School’s recent Kimberley tour, the students worked with the Imintji and Mowanjum communities out of Derby, participating in projects with local elders and children. “It is a journey of discovery which opens the students’ eyes to an Australia within an Australia,” he said. The girls say it is a life-changing experience in which they get to the witness the deep spirituality, beauty and complexity of Aboriginal culture. “They learned about traditional healing, bush medicine and painting in Udialla Springs and assisted with the Mowanjum Festival.

“The service element of the tour is a reciprocal experience, with an emphasis on the girls learning from the elders about life experiences completely removed from their own and opening up a non-judgemental dialogue in which no question is too risky to broach.” Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, said the tours complemented a host of community service projects undertaken at PLC to instil a strong sense of giving in its students.

“Community and service learning is an integral element of life at PLC,” Dr Hadwen said. “Our programmes encourage students to make connections between intellectual and social development, leading to action and reflection.” Other community service projects run by the School include co-curricular activities supporting Good Samaritan Industries, Sportslink and aged-care facilities. Family service projects where girls and their parents work together to support organisations are in place at Ronald McDonald House, Red Cross Soup Patrol and Amana Living.

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FOUNDATION

REPORT

Summers Society The Summers Society provides an opportunity to recognise those who contribute to the long-term future of PLC and acknowledge the pivotal role that the philanthropy of these people has played in securing the School’s position in coming generations. There are two ways to qualify to become a member of the Summers Society; notify PLC that you have made a provision to PLC in your Will (Bequest); and/or a commitment towards a better future for girls and young women through a financial contribution of $100,000 or greater during your association with the School. Summers Society members enjoy attending small functions each year where they are able to hear news of PLC from Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, in an intimate setting. The generosity of Summers Society members and the wider PLC community ensure future generations of PLC students will continue to benefit from this historic, contemporary and progressive school that so many others have enjoyed. This year, the Summers Society is delighted to invite four new families into its membership; Katrina and Craig Burton, Michelle and Tony Grist, Wendy Hillman and Cate and Andrew McKenzie.

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“Dr Summers’ bequest to the School was the catalyst for PLC to embark on a fundraising venture. Buildings were in need of maintenance, better amenities and facilities necessary to meet rapid changes in the education of girls,” Hon. June Craig said. “My involvement with PLC spans some 75 years as a student, parent and grandparent and as a member of the Old Collegians’ Association (rural representative), School Council and (PLC) Foundation. There have been many changes and exciting developments in education over that time.” “The School has been sustained by the generosity of many past donors and benefactors. If it is to continue to develop, provide excellence in education, be a modern and progressive school that encourages girls to be independent learners, build upon their strengths and make a worthwhile contribution to their world, then PLC will need your help.”

“The public commitment to bequeath to the PLC Foundation is my contribution to the future. I see it as a way of supporting the generosity of past donors and at the same time giving to the future of the girls and the School,” Mrs Craig said.

SUMMERS SOCIETY MEMBERS Robyn Ahern Margaret Atkins OAM (Cusack 1947) Lady Jean Brodie-Hall Craig and Katrina Burton (Fairweather 1982) Hon June Craig AM (Lynn 1947) Tony and Michelle Grist Wendy Hillman (Naughton 1968) Dr Patricia Kailis AM OBE Rosalind Lilley (McClelland 1961) Andrew and Cate McKenzie (England 1986) Denise Murray (Chapman 1966) Willy and Mimi Packer (Clough 1982) Jennifer Rankin Helen Shilkin-Reinhold (Shilkin 1960) Ian and Susan Trahar Dr Simon and Alison Turner Angela Vincent (Vincent 1956) Judith Vincent (Vincent 1956) Glenn and Jane Whiddon and three families who wish to remain anonymous

Bequest from the Estate of Dr Margaret Henderson OBE (1932) The PLC Foundation has received a significant bequest from the Estate of Dr Margaret Henderson OBE (1932). Margaret Henderson was our 1932 Head Prefect. She graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Medicine in 1938, then joined the staff of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). During the war, Dr Henderson continued her work at RMH as Resident Medical Officer and served with the civilian forces, at the rank of captain. Throughout, she continued her studies and graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1941. At the end of the war, Margaret joined the Red Cross as Senior Medical Officer in Malaya, carrying out vital work in fighting tropical diseases in outlying villages. She then worked in England and Europe, obtaining fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians for her work in respiratory and thoracic medicine. Dr Henderson returned to Melbourne where, in 1976, she was made an Officer of The Order of the British Empire (Civil, Imperial) for her services to medicine.

Dr Henderson was tremendously generous with her time, encyclopaedic knowledge and immense compassion. She was also unstintingly benevolent. PLC is fortunate to have shared that benevolence with Baptcare, Janet Clarke Hall (University of Melbourne), Royal District Nursing Service Foundation, Royal Melbourne Hospital Research Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, and her family. During PLC’s 2015 Centenary our Old Collegians’ Association recognised Dr Henderson’s extraordinary accomplishments. We are all proud of her accomplishments and she will always remain one of our truly Inspiring Women.

Meet the members of the PLC Foundation board IAN MACLIVER Chair, PLC Foundation PLC Foundation Board member since 2011 Daughters: Lily (2018), Isabella (2012) and Bianca (2007) CATHY DONALDSON Secretary, PLC Foundation Board PLC Foundation Board member since 2013 Daughters: Eliza (Head Prefect 2018), Phoebe (2015) and Anneliese (2013) CARLO FRANCHINA PLC Foundation Board member since 2015 Daughters: Giavanna (Year 5) and Valli (Year 3)

TONY GRIST PLC Foundation Board member since 2016 Daughters: Maddy (Year 10) and Isabelle (2016)

JAMES MACTIER PLC Foundation Board member since 2015 Daughters: Edwina [Year 8] and Harriet [2016]

Dr Margaret Henderson OBE

ANDREW MCKENZIE PLC Foundation Board member since 2011 Daughters: Martha (Year 12) and Amilia (Year 7)

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PARENTS@

PLC

Parents@PLC fosters friendships within the School community and is inclusive of all existing and new parents to the School. We support the School’s ethos of a caring, warm and nurturing environment for our girls, parents and the wider school community. Parents@PLC supports volunteers who take on roles such as Year Representatives, New Parent Liaison, Pastoral Care and other Sub committees which organise activities throughout the year. The Outdoor Movie Night was a fantastic success. This free, family event was well attended and Beauty and the Beast was shown on the Senior School Quad on a lovely March evening. Many thanks to Louise Martin and Caroline Lehmann for your amazing organisation of this event once again this year. The Annual PLC Parents’ Tennis Morning was held in May this year at the Cottesloe Tennis Club. It was a fantastic morning of ‘round robin’ doubles tennis, dodging rain showers and was followed by lunch! The event was a great mix of parents from all year levels, getting to know each other in a relaxed and fun environment.

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Many thanks to Katrina Downes and Margaret Shine for their time and effort in organising the day. This year’s 21st Open Garden Day, our major annual fundraising event, will be held on Friday 26 October. Put the date in your diary and join PLC and the wider community for an incredible day of beautiful gardens, food and market stalls, including the famous PLC Christmas Cakes and the Garden café. This is an event not to be missed. The annual Parents@PLC Wish List was granted early in Term 2. A variety of applications from both Junior and Senior Schools were considered with over $45,000 being committed. Three applications from the list were approved.

Firstly, the provision of Industrial fans, requested by Dr Kate Hadwen, for the Junior School Gymnasium, at a cost of approximately $40,000. Fans for the Hugh Baird Sport and Recreation Centre were also requested, and whilst our funds do not allow for that this year, it will be a consideration for next year.

An important consideration when allocating such a large portion of funds is the benefit to students, staff and parents. The fans certainly meet that criteria. Secondly, the Writer in Residence programme for the Junior School will continue this year. It has been funded for many years and it is extremely well received by both students, teachers and parents.

Lastly, we have purchased two more PLC branded Marquees, which will add to the three we have previously purchased. These are used by the whole school at various times, including Open Garden Day, Head of the River, Athletics carnivals, to name a few. The marquees will benefit both Junior and Senior School girls, now and in the future.

We have an incredible group of dedicated, positive, supportive parents and supporters, who make PLC the school it is. The Parents@ PLC committee would like to thank the parents who continue to organise these events and our parents and wider community for supporting them.

See the full photo gallery in Digital Blackwatch

Susannah Evans President Parents@PLC

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PARENTS’

COMMITTEE

The Parents’ Committee kicked off the 2018 PLC social calendar on a lovely summer’s evening in February with its ever-popular annual sundowner. This event plays an important role in bringing parents and staff from across the School together. FUNDRAISING Through the Parents’ Committee, fundraising activities such as the School Fees Draw and annual Family Subscription, money has been provided for a range of significant things that the school would not necessarily otherwise be able to provide. The Committee tries to share its funds around the School and 2018 was the first time in many years that the committee supported the Boarding House with the Term 1 Fee Incentive Draw, funding a mentoring programme for Year 7 and Year 8 students in the Boarding House.

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Net proceeds of the Term 2 and Term 3 Fee Incentive Draw will be used to support a ‘Scientist In Residence’ programme which will work with all students across Junior and Senior School, along with staff to further develop the knowledge and skills around STEM. The goal of the Scientist in Residence programme is to inspire students with extraordinary science and engage them by working with real-life scientists in the classroom. The programme aims to develop a partnership between teachers and scientists, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and passion for both teaching and science.

It will also ideally develop students inquiry skills, critical thinking skills and their communication of science skills by engaging students in the wonders of science and encouraging students to question, explore, observe and discover as they use the process of science to learn about their world. Marine and Maritime Studies will be added to the Year 11 and 12 curricular options in 2019. This programme will raise awareness and interest in this subject as well as to generate interest in Science in general. We encourage all parents to participate through the annual Parents’ Committee membership, and welcome you to join the Committee as a member, or simply to attend a meeting and meet other parents and hear about what is happening in the School. Matthew Maxted President PLC Parents’ Committee

See the full photo gallery in Digital Blackwatch

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OLD COLLEGIANS’

ASSOCIATION

International Women’s Day

Easter Service High Tea

Tartan Lawyers

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we were inspired by three esteemed guest speakers and Old Collegians at a breakfast held on the PLC Quad. Louise Daw (Craig 1998) Entrepreneur of the Year Recipient, Sally Hollis (1987) Tourism Industry Professional and Erin Corner (Gasiorowski 1987) Marketing Leader, shared their fascinating life and work experiences, followed by an insightful question and answer session led by Head Prefect – Eliza Donaldson, Deputy Head Prefect – Lizzie McLarty and Wellbeing Captain – Makenzie Thomas.

Easter was celebrated on Thursday 29 March with our Old Collegians attending the School Service before enjoying a High Tea in the cafeteria. It was a lovely opportunity for Old Collegians who left school over 50 years ago to catch up with one another and hear all about the new and exciting goings on at PLC, from Dr Kate Hadwen.

The PLC Old Collegians’ Association and Old Scotch Collegians were delighted to co-host the Tartan Lawyer’s Breakfast on Friday 4 May. This annual event for aspiring, current or former members of the legal profession was well attended and included Year 12 students from PLC and Scotch College, who were considering law as a professional. The event featured a presentation from Courtney Lauren, Senior Manager, Business Banking at Macquarie Bank who presented their latest industry benchmarking report. A very engaging panel discussion followed with Old Collegian, Clare Pope, Pwc (1997) and Saul Davies from Taylor Smart.

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PLC Retains Old Collegians’ Tennis Title Congratulations to our Old Girls’ Tennis Team for once again winning the annual Old Girls’ IGSSA Tennis Competition, even without Judy Kozak (Lange 1976), a great player who usually anchors the team. It was a great day and everyone played really well. Making this year’s event even more memorable was the knowledge that the competition has been running for 20 years and that PLC has won seven out of the last nine years, and 15 out of the last 20 years.

Above: Back, L-R: Denise Cramer (Dowland 1975), Linda Arnold (Vuletic 1979), Pippen Parissis (Palassis 1983), Diana Edmunds (1985). Front: Debra Taylor (MacBean 1977), Diana Bowman (Richardson 1976), Anne Bull (Richardson 1974), Jane Glass (Lange 1974).

OCA Welcome New Students At the end of Term 1, the Old Collegians’ Association hosted a lovely afternoon tea in the new PLC Lighthouse. This occasion was for the Old Collegians who had a daughter or granddaughter start at PLC, in 2018. The grandmothers, mothers and daughters were given a personal tour of the Lighthouse building from Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen.

Art Exhibition The OCA Art Exhibition was, once again, a great success in 2018. We are thrilled to report that this year the Opening Night sold close to 300 tickets, thanks to the event growing in popularity with its wonderful reputation in the School and wider community. The Exhibition also attracted hundreds of visitors over the weekend, despite the dismal weather, who perused the artwork and caught up with friends in the Café.

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The feedback from artists and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive, with visitors impressed by the professionalism and quality of the works on display, as well as the format of the Exhibition, and many people went home with a lovely piece of art to hang in their homes. The winner of the People’s Choice Award went to Genevieve Montegomerie for her amazing art piece, Only a Paddle Board. Congratulations also to the winners of the Francesca Nelson Awards. The first prize was awarded to Corinne Barton for her beautiful piece, La Primavera and Bush Flowers. Highly Commended Prizes went to: • Tessa McOnie - Lily • Graeme Symons - Geishas • Bernice Wright - Magpies and Geese Kakadu • Diana Watson - Country Garden Miniature awards: • Judith Stewart - Mellow Moments • Sally Rossen - Rottnest Pied Oyster Catcher 2 This Exhibition continues to be a very successful fundraiser for the OCA, with all funds raised going towards scholarships for current PLC students.

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Founders’ Day Service and Luncheon

OCA Calendar

We were delighted to have 65 Old Collegians who left the school over 50 years ago come back to PLC for the annual Founders’ Day Service and Luncheon.

40 Year Reunion (Class of 1978) Saturday 6 October 4.00 pm - Photo & Tour of PLC 5.30 pm - Sundowner Venue: Mosman Park Bowling Club Booking: trybooking.com/WUOH Contact: Liz Langdon langdone@iprimus.com.au

Old Collegian, the Hon June Craig (1947) spoke at the service and cut the cake with her great granddaughter, Tilly (Pre-Kindergarten). This celebratory service was followed by a lovely luncheon at the new Lighthouse. Inside the Lighthouse, the room was humming with warm conversations and those from the Class of 48 and 53 reconnected as they celebrated their 70 and 65 Year Reunions on this special occasion. Jennie Deykin (Eastwood 1982) PLC Old Collegians’ Association President

50 Year Reunion (Class of 1968) Saturday 20 October 6.00 pm Venue: St Catherine’s on Park Conference Room Booking: trybooking.com/WMBG Contact: Rosemary Lukin mallorycottage@bigpond.com 60 Year Reunion (Class of 1958) Saturday 10 November Venue: PLC Perth Contact: Jenny Fairweather jenfairs@bigpond.com 20 Year Reunion (Class of 1998) Thursday 20 December 3.30 pm - Photo & Tour of PLC 5.00 pm - Sundowner Venue: Ocean Beach Hotel - Upper Deck of the Saloon Bar Booking: trybooking.com/WSLX Contact: Kate Findlater (Myers) katefindlater@gmail.com For more details on the reunions and other OCA events, please contact Sascha Hill at oca@plc.wa.edu.au

REUNIONS

30 Year Reunion (Class of 1988) Thank you to the 88 girls who joined us to celebrate our Class of ‘88 30-Year School Reunion on Saturday 19 May 2018. It was a beautiful night, enjoyed immensely by all in attendance. The reunion kicked off with a group of excitable and very chatty friends attending a school tour, an official photo on Carmichael Hall steps and a warm welcome by Dr Kate Hadwen. Guests then moved to Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club for drinks which was an evening full of laughter, fun and reminiscing.

The fabulous 80s music and a 400 plus digital photo display of our old school days proved a huge success. The evening was aptly summed up by Lucette, who wrote, afterwards: “Had the most fun night imaginable last night at my 30-year reunion. It was a room full of love and excitement to learn about everyone’s lives. Such admiration for so many women in that room last night. Old friendships were revisited, existing friendships strengthened and new friendships made. My heart was full at the end of the night.”

Thank you all for making the effort to come to celebrate and a special thanks to all those who travelled from New York, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and regional WA. We look forward to our next big ‘0’ celebration, in 2028! The Reunion Committee Annie Atkins (Howard), Melissa Beresford (Barrett), Natalie Gardener (Olsen), Kate Goldie, Tash Leaversuch, Jessamy Mahony (Carroll), Rebecca Mathews (Andersen), and Winks Shephard (Sheedy).

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TARTAN

NEWS

Left: Yvonne Lane with her artwork. Below: Faye Lorimer with her artwork.

Yvonne Lane (1948) & Faye Lorimer (1948) Old Collegians, Yvonne Lane and Faye Lorimer, recently exhibited at the annual Old Collegians’ Art Exhibition and both can trace their love of art back 70 years when the pair were in the same cohort at school. “The art classes back then consisted of bringing your own still life to draw, you know, with a banana, an apple and a bottle on a table, that sort of thing – nothing like how it is today,” Faye recalls.

“Every Friday a beautiful artist, not a teacher as she was not paid, would come and show us how to draw.”

Seven generations on and the pair’s connection with art and PLC continues. At 88 years of age, Yvonne and Faye are the oldest contributors to the annual PLC Old Collegians’ Art Exhibition. Yvonne, a member of the Watercolour Society of WA and the Armadale Art Society, exhibited five watercolours at the event, while Faye, a former art, physical education and English teacher, also contributed a watercolour.

Dell Nainby (1952) After leaving school, Dell went to Underwood Business College, and was very fortunate to then be employed at the University of WA Accounts office for seven years until she married in 1960. Dell has four children; Christopher (1961), Jocelyn (1963), Catherine 1966 (deceased) and Margaret (1967). She divorced in 2001, has eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Dell played the organ in various churches throughout the years and now is leading a quieter life.

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Jocelyn van Heyst (Gollan 1953) Congratulations to Jocelyn van Heyst (Gollan 1953) on receiving an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to community health; particularly in the area of speech pathology. Jocelyn trained as a Speech Pathologist and worked with children for many years before retraining as an adult Speech Pathologist. She worked at St George Hospital in Sydney and became Rehabilitation in Charge of Speech Pathology until her retirement in 2011. She has continued to attend seminars at the Brain Institute at the University of NSW and is also a counsellor at the Sydney Specialist Health Clinic. Jocelyn has also handled the publicity and marketing for a family owned vineyard and high-profile restaurant in Sydney in which she had invested. In 1980, she was commissioned to write a book ‘The Australian Gamekeeper Cookbook’. Jocelyn has been freelance writing on life and culture since 1979 (Epicurean Magazine). She became the Marketing and Communications Director and in 1981 the International Marketing Director, involving travel to NZ, Great Britain and the USA. This greatly built the company’s sales and reputation for fine wines. In 1984 the winery was sold.

In 1984 Jocelyn and her husband, Cyrille moved to France where they had bought an old watermill in Corrence in the Var. With no French language skills, learning French became urgent. This was done by French courses at the University of Aix en Provence, the village square and by Jocelyn organising the village women to join her free aerobics classes twice weekly. After several years, a local girl took over but the French lessons continued and now she is fluent in French. From a Paris apartment, Jocelyn launched her journalistic career in France writing for four or five publications and being granted membership of the Presse Etrangere in Paris, giving her entry and access to high security events in diplomatic circles. It all ended in 1990/91 with her return to Sydney, with grandchildren and speech pathology work. Jocelyn played hockey and was a member of the 1956 all-Australian hockey team in Melbourne at the Olympic Games and interstate. She also played squash at state level and was a keen skier. She continues to play golf and tennis and enjoys swimming and walking.

Since 2015, Jocelyn has trained and works as a volunteer cancer counsellor at the RPOW Hospital on a weekly basis. Jocelyn’s other interests include music, cuisine, bridge and films. She was also a guide for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and in 2013 became their ambassador. Jocelyn has been married for 59 years and has three children and eight grandchildren.

Amanda Thomas (1983) Amanda came to PLC in Kindergarten, 1970, joining older sister Juliet Ward (Thomas 1980). Youngest sister Emma Bassingthwaite (Thomas 1987) followed a few years later. In 1977, Mr Thomas was relocated to Sydney. Amanda was then in Year 6 and transferred to PLC Pymble. Amanda had many dear friends from those Junior School days, and the reunion committee was very pleased to track her down in time for her 30 Year Reunion back in 2013. She made a lightning trip over for the night, during which, years and distance melted as if nothing, and those lovely friendships were happily reignited. For the past 26 years, Amanda has worked at Qantas as cabin crew, and she just loves her job! It takes her around the world to her favourite destinations and brings her home to her husband and two daughters, in Sydney.

Phoebe Seir (1985) Congratulations to Phoebe Seir (1985) who was a recipient for the Town of Cottesloe 2018 Volunteer Recognition Awards. Phoebe was acknowledged and recognised at an awards presentation night in conjunction with National Volunteers Week for her work starting up the archives for Cottesloe Primary School and the ongoing work of recording and preserving the School’s history. It was a massive surprise and honour for Phoebe to receive the award.

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TARTAN

NEWS

Sally Rigg (1988) Sally moved to the US to study architecture at Rhode Island School of Design following her university studies at Deakin University in Geelong. After living in NYC, Providence, and LA, working as an architect and set designer, she moved back permanently to NYC (except for a year and a half in Italy while waiting for her green card). Sally has her own architecture and design firm and lives with her husband and six-year-old son, Sam in the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan. Sally was thrilled to return to Perth for her 30-Year Reunion and would love her peer group to look her up when they visit NYC.

Her work can seem a bit like magic, something that’s earned her the title Mistress Voodoo, but it’s all grounded in her background as a physiologist and her personal medical history.

Sarah Pexton (Newland 1988) After finishing school, Sarah went on to study Early Childhood teaching. She has lived and worked in Dandaragan, Perth, Boddington and currently lives in Kojonup with her husband, Ainsley Pexton and children, Zoe (11) and Josh (13). The family will be relocating back to Perth in 2019 for their next chapter and Sarah is looking forward to catching up with friends from her time at PLC.

Sasha Wray (Boston 1988) Sasha graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy in 1992 and has since also studied Naturopathy and Acupressure. After many years of travelling and two stints of living in the UK, Sasha now lives in Hilton with her husband, Jonathan and eight-year-old son, Morgan and six-year-old daughter, Sula. Two years ago, Sasha and her husband started Next Wave Therapy, a physiotherapy, occupational therapy and naturopathy practice. Their specialty is treating chronic pain and psychological health. Sasha was heartened and delighted to reconnect with so many of her friends from school at her recent reunion.

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In addition to developing neurological and autoimmune protocols for individuals, she also advises medical device start-up companies on how to enter the movement space.

Fiona Gilbert (1993) Fiona moved to California in 2002 and was diagnosed with a degenerative neurological condition in 2003. Instead of succumbing to life in a wheelchair, Fiona went back to college and became a physiologist and biohacker. Today, Fiona Gilbert is CEO of Quanta Therapies, Inc., a multinational, multidisciplinary biohacking company based in San Francisco, California. “At Quanta Therapies we believe technology, science, energy, and intelligent self-care matter,” says Fiona. “That’s why we make bioenergetic technology wearable and accessible to everyone. We partner with international biotech, medical device, supplement, and life science companies to integrate new, non-invasive methods into existing medical and wellness models”.

Fiona blends science, life experience, technology, and compassion to create customized biohacks that transform lives.

While Fiona spends much of her time with patients, working with executives to expand their businesses isn’t new to her. She spent 15 years as a Managing Partner at Ephraim Consultants helping U.S. companies transition to the Australian market. Quanta Therapies unites that ability with her clinical work – both of which involve tuning into people’s needs and working with them to develop a more positive future. Fiona’s goal is to help people who feel trapped inside their bodies discover that there is a world outside of the pain and limitations they are currently experiencing. She developed her biohacks to help people with severe medical conditions, but within those protocols is something for anyone who wants to expand their concept of wellness. Fiona puts the caring back into the treatment sphere and encourages her patients to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves.

Belle Taylor (2000)

Isi Martin (2013)

In 2001, Belle was a Rotary Exchange Student in Denmark. Returning to Perth, she studied Media and Communications at Curtin University before going overseas to complete internships with the United Nations bureau of CNN in New York and The Dubliner Magazine in Ireland. In 2006, she returned to WA to work as a cadet Journalist at The Albany Advertiser. She was selected for a cadetship with The West Australian in 2007. In 2012, she relocated to Beijing to work as a feature writer and sub editor at China’s leading English language newspaper, the China Daily. Belle returned to Perth in 2016 to take on the role of editor of STM Magazine. In 2017, she took on the role of senior writer with the Sunday Times. Belle is currently on parental leave, having given birth to son Harry in November 2017.

After leaving PLC, Isi studied Biomedical Sciences at UWA. Following this, she completed a 1-year Post Graduate Diploma in Education majoring in Science (also at UWA). As part of the course, she completed two practical teaching experiences, one at MLC and one at Atwell College.

Nina Kennedy (2014)

Emma Stark (2015)

Congratulations to Nina Kennedy, the extraordinary WA pole vaulter and former junior world record holder who has just competed with the best jumpers in the world at the IAAF Diamond League athletic competition in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Diamond League invitation represents another career milestone for Nina in a year that has already seen the 21 year old elevate her PB to 4.71m, win a first national championship title and take a bronze medal from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Emma got in touch with us recently after finishing her first week of teaching in Ivrea, Italy, and she found her host family to be wonderful, showing her around town and giving her first taste of the true Italian pizza! At school, her class was absolutely amazing. “I taught 8 to 10-year-old students who were so friendly, enthusiastic and willing to put in 110% every day,” exclaims Emma. “We learned the cup song and did a whole bunch of drawings and posters, plus our workbooks, and on top of that they learnt a dance to ‘Uptown Funk’ to show the parents!”

Alexandra Smith (2016) Ali went to PLC from Year 8 to Year 10 (2014) before moving to the Friends’ School, Hobart. She is currently studying Law/Arts at the Australian National University in Canberra.

“Both were vastly different learning environments, offering me the opportunity to practise different skills at each location,” recalls Isi. After this, came the difficult task of applying for full-time employment. She knew she wanted to work full-time, preferably in the area of Science. There were not many full-time opportunities in Perth, so she expanded her search over East and in late January she received a call about an interview for a position in Charter Towers, Queensland. After a telephone interview and a flight over to visit the School, she decided she was going to make the move to the other side of the country. “When I came back for the Easter school holidays I heard about the Graduate IGNITE Programme offered by Hale. The opportunity was too good not to pursue. Having made it through the first round of interviews, I was lucky enough to be offered a place in the second round. After a full day filled with interviews, teaching, and tours, it was up to the panel at Hale to decide which two graduates out of the six would be offered this incredible opportunity. I was lucky enough to be one of those two people.”

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