PRESBYTERIAN LADIES’ COLLEGE: A COLLEGE OF THE UNITING CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA
2021 Edition One
IN THIS ISSUE 4 Message from the Chair of Council 5 Ripples & Waves 6 A life of service wins plaudits for Old Collegian 7 Celebrating 40 years of the PLC Pipe Band 8 Waddi coffee now on menu 9 PLC Rowing adds ‘The Benny’ to its fleet 10 New tradition honours Year 6 cohort 11 Semester One Leaders 12 Emilia a woman ahead of her time 13 Science is in our DNA at PLC 14 In the News 15 COVID-fighting Old Collegians 16 Farewell Jenny 17 Just keep swimming 18 Great success for PLC students in all three pathways 20 Speech Night 2020 22 Year 12 Ball 24 Dancing the night away 25 Ringing in a new school year 27 Foundation Report 29 Reunions 30 Old Collegians’ Association 32 Tartan News 36 From The Archives 40 Obituaries
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Cover Image Senior Piper Sophie Hall during the filming of a Pipe Band music video to commemorate the PLC Pipe Band’s 40th anniversary this year.
Message from the Principal At PLC Perth we consistently review and strive to deliver the best educational outcomes for our students by continually challenging ourselves and ensuring we are on top of the latest research on pedagogical practices. However, while excellence in pedagogy is critical, it is not the only factor which makes a good school great. Over the past few months our School Council, Senior Leadership Team and our Education Leadership Team (which includes Heads of Departments, Pastoral and Academic Care Coordinators and SLT) have been focusing on a refresh of the School’s Strategic Plan, which will guide the next phase of
growth for PLC. A key part of this work has involved us considering closely the School’s values and the behaviours we would expect around each of these from all members of our community – students, staff, parents, Old Collegians and other stakeholders. It is all very well to state our values – Learning, Integrity, Community and Effort. But what do they look like in practice and what behaviours do
we expect of our staff, students and parents to emulate those values? What is the benchmark that we expect of ourselves and each other every day? When there is a clear understanding and acceptance of what values look like, a community as a whole generally becomes more accountable in living those values. In turn, this shapes a School’s culture to reflect the values that have been identified as key elements we all agree are essential to who we are as a community and to our success. A fabulous example of how our values can be applied in a practical and meaningful way is the work that our Rowing Programme has undertaken with Director of Wellbeing Chonny James and Head Coach Dave Milne. The students considered what our four values might look like in terms of how they behave as part of the team, what they expect of themselves and each other. Under the value of ‘Integrity’ they identified behaviours and actions including being committed to showing up; being gracious in defeat and humble in victory; being prepared to help, respectful of coaches and carrying out team jobs even when no-one was watching. Imagine a set of actions and behaviours like these applied across the School; how they would guide every individual in our community on the expectations we, as a School, have on how we each conduct ourselves and how we interact with each other. I strongly believe that once we can articulate a clear and consistent set of behaviours which our community acknowledges as being important and critical to our School values, the elements which make a good school great really come together. PLC is already a great school. Watching this process evolve leaves me really excited and feeling extremely positive about what we can achieve and to see the heights to which we will grow. Cate Begbie Principal www.plc.wa.edu.au 3
MESSAGE FROM THE PLC CHAIR OF COUNCIL
Leading the way at PLC
CHAPLAIN’S ADDRESS
Seasons I remember reading a fable of a man who wanted to teach his four sons not to judge people and things too quickly. He sent each of them on a quest to view a pear tree a great distance away and to report back to him after one year. Each of the sons visited the tree during a different season: winter, spring, summer and autumn. The first son, viewing the tree in winter reported that the tree was twisted, bent, dead and ugly. The second son, viewing the tree in spring, disagreed and argued the tree was green and full of growth and promise. The third son was adamant that the tree was covered in blossoms and smelled sweet, whilst the youngest brother was astonished that his brothers didn’t see that the tree was drooping with ripe fruit – he added that he picked some and that they were really tasty. The father concluded that they were all right in their observations. Each of them viewed the tree during a different season and this impacted their observations, reflection and perspective. He urged them to never judge a person or situation based on one observation or season. Term 2 is of religious importance to most of the major religions on the journey to reflect on and evaluate life. As fellow pilgrims on the journey of life, we are accustomed to the changes in the seasons throughout the year and how our surroundings change. Likewise, we are familiar with seeing people and situations unfold around us and may even be able to recall times when we were too hasty in judging people or situations. As we feel the cold gnawing at our bodies, enjoy a warm cuppa under the doona and evaluate our priorities, may we always remember that whatever the season, God is with us: encouraging us, loving us, forgiving us and shaping us into His image one day at a time. May this fill us with gratitude and enable us to live with compassion for the environment and everyone who may cross our paths. Rev. Manie Strydom Chaplain
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Unsurprisingly, one of the top five reasons families choose PLC Perth for their daughters’ education is the School’s focus on the health and wellbeing of its students. This sits high alongside our excellent teachers, our strong academic success, the breadth of our co-curricular programmes and that PLC is an all-girls’ school. We know this from our regular surveys of families, which help guide the School Council and Leadership Team in our decision-making. In reviewing the School’s strategic plan for the next several years, the PLC Council is cognisant of the need to prioritise PLC’s focus on health and wellbeing and ensure it helps to prepare our graduates for a constantly evolving world. The work being undertaken by the School with humanitarian, author and social justice campaigner, Rabia Siddique and the new Ripples & Waves programme, will significantly extend PLC’s wellbeing and service offering. Ms Siddique is an inspirational and sought-after leadership coach. With her expertise and that of a range of experts she will be bringing to the School, students will be shown that in order to lead others, they must first lead themselves and be well – mentally, physically and socially. In 2021, the programme will be delivered to our Year 9 cohort, with the aim to roll it out to more year groups from next year. The Council commends the extensive work and research that has been undertaken by the School and Ms Siddique to ensure Ripples & Waves delivers a unique, challenging and diverse programme which will inspire the students and encourage them to aspire to make a difference. The programme fits within an extensive health and wellbeing curriculum delivered at PLC from PreKindergarten through to Year 12. Age appropriate lessons aim to equip the girls with the knowledge and the skills they need on their journey through school, sport, extra-curricular endeavours, tertiary education and eventually, the workforce. This includes the topic of consent, which has been the subject of much community discussion and debate in recent weeks. At PLC, the topic of consent is covered in the health and wellbeing and protective behaviours curriculum. Consent features most heavily within our Year 9 and 10 programming and it is also addressed in the Lighthouse Leavers’ Essentials courses in Years 11 and 12. Ripples & Waves will help to further develop the students’ skills in leading themselves when, and if, they are faced with difficult situations. Claire Poll Chair of Council
Creating ripples of change at PLC Perth A new flagship programme at PLC Perth is encouraging its students to redefine leadership and understand that they do not need a badge to be a leader. Forming part of the school’s wellbeing curriculum, the programme is called Ripples & Waves – a nod to the famous quote by Mother Teresa: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Principal Cate Begbie said she wanted every PLC student to realise that they can be the change, no matter how small or big their impact. Ms Begbie said traditionally PLC provided leadership opportunities to girls. “Perhaps 10 to 15 per cent of each cohort may take on those roles,” she said. “It is my dream that this programme will make every one of our girls aware that she can be heard and that she can be a leader. “As a primary school teacher, I know that every young girl starts life believing in herself and dreaming big. For some reason, in some girls, this seems to waiver as they get older. This programme aims to harness that self-belief and make all young women realise that they are important, and they can have a positive impact. This could be locally, within her friendship group, at her sports club or it could be bigger if that is what she chooses.” PLC Perth has collaborated with international humanitarian, leadership consultant and best-selling author Rabia Siddique to develop Ripples & Waves, which in its first year will be delivered to Year 9 students before being rolled out in different forms across the school.
Ms Siddique said the programme would challenge and inspire students by exposing them to communities, environments and stories which give them new perspectives and test their thinking. “The girls will not be passive observers in this programme,” Ms Siddique said. “They will be working closely with people from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping those who are passionate about improving our environment and working with people who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others.” PLC has formed partnerships with three not-for-profit agencies which will offer students opportunities to form enduring relationships with each of them. Students will become extensively involved in the agencies’ work and be a part of their mission for positive change. The partnerships will be with Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Centre, Museum for Freedom and Tolerance and Plastic Free July –agencies selected for their social justice commitment and environmental awareness. Ishar provides a range of health services to women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; the Museum of Freedom of Tolerance aims to dismantle prejudice and discrimination through art, history, technology and storytelling to promote tolerance and social cohesion; and Plastic Free July is a global movement against plastic pollution and single-use plastics. “Our partnership with these agencies will see every girl experience service
learning through a social justice lens,” Ms Begbie said. “What Ripples & Waves will do is give girls an enduring connection and understanding of these groups’ needs, which goes well beyond raising funds at a cupcake stand or a gold coin donation.” Throughout the term-long programme, students will also be guided by eight experts whose life experiences may shock, inspire and challenge their own view of life. The experts include a Somalian refugee who now advises the World Economic Forum in Geneva about risks posed by climate change and wealth inequality and a Paralympian born without a right leg who was inspired by his sister’s cancer diagnosis to learn to run. Ms Siddique said Ripples & Waves would foster in students a genuine desire and interest in serving others and building respectful relationships with people from other communities and backgrounds. “It will push them and challenge them, and I believe Ripples & Waves will quite literally change these girls’ lives for the better.” Ms Begbie said the exciting thing about Ripples & Waves was that it would show girls that they don’t need a badge to be a leader. “We already have girls at PLC who are passionate about the environment, humanity and making a difference. Ripples & Waves will give them a pathway to make their dreams a reality. It will help them to get involved in the local community, make a local difference or, who knows, even a global difference. “Ripples & Waves will truly show that PLC Perth is a school with a social conscience.”
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Old Collegians Dixie Marshall (1980) and Donna Shepherd AM (1980).
A life of service wins plaudits for Old Collegian The life story of one of PLC Perth’s most selfless graduates was heard by guests at the inaugural Conversations at PLC, held at the Lighthouse in March. Donna Shepherd AM (1980) shared her journey from a teenage student hoping to study medicine, to her calling to devote her life to service and appointment as Chair of World Vision International. Fellow 1980 graduate and communications expert Dixie Marshall kept the audience entertained as she led Ms Shepherd through her life’s work. “I was the sporty one, you were the clever one, how did we ever become friends?” Ms Marshall asked her former classmate to kick off the event.
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After she had ruled out medicine as a career, Ms Shepherd embarked on a film making career yet even then her commitment to others less fortunate was evident. Her films were focussed on social justice issues and she soon felt a calling to do more. Her ‘sign’ that it was indeed her time to act arrived when she unexpectedly won a car in a competition and it was proceeds from the sale of her win that took her to the United States where she studied international development. From here she leap-frogged into roles devoted to improving the lives of others, in particular children in third world countries. Ms Shepherd recounted travelling to Tunisia where she walked miles with women to help them to get clean water so they could provide it to their children. She explained not only was the water needed to drink, but also to ensure the children were bathed and wore clean clothes to avoid infection and illness, which kept them away from school.
In 2013 she received an unexpected call from World Vision Australia Chief Executive Officer Tim Costello asking her to join the board of World Vision Australia and less than two years later she joined the agency’s international board before being appointed its chair in 2016. In Perth, Ms Shepherd is Managing Director of Creating Communities Australia, a consultancy dedicated to using the power of community to drive positive economic, environmental and social outcomes. She works in the role with her husband, Allan Tranter, who founded the business. Last year, Ms Shepherd was honoured when she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to children through international humanitarian aid organisations. Conversations at PLC will be held each term, featuring thought-provoking and inspirational speakers.
Celebrating 40 years of the PLC Pipe Band
Louise Farnay’s Illusion.
PLC Perth is this year celebrating four decades of its beloved Pipe Band, with a gala reunion and history book planned to commemorate the anniversary. Old Collegian, current parent and historian Lucy Hair has spent hours in PLC’s archives trawling through hundreds of documents to trace the band’s story. Mrs Hair has discovered that while 1981 was the first official performance of the band – at that year’s Speech Night, Musical Director Eric Page first introduced the concept of a pipe band in the late 1970s. An enormous undertaking to first teach girls the pipes and drums and then get them to a point where they could play and march, it took years of hard work before they were polished enough to pipe in the Official Party at Speech Night to the God Save the Queen and Land of our Birth. However, the band truly came of age thanks primarily to the dedication and commitment of music teachers Ailsa Miller, Kerry Jones and Kerry’s husband Peter, who would go on to volunteer his services to PLC and the Pipe Band for three decades. Former Principal Hazel Day said not only did this trio teach the girls to play and march, they put their life and soul into the band and gave many girls, wonderful opportunities to perform not only for PLC but the wider community. “Who will forget our Band marking in the ANZAC Day parade or performing at the opening of the annual International Cricket Series at Lilac Hill in those early days,” Mrs Day said. “Then the iconic trip to Scotland in the 80s when they had such wonderful musical experiences. Had it not been for their enthusiasm and the support of the School community, the PLC Pipe Band would never have achieved what it did.” Members of the Friends of Pipe Band are organising this year’s 40th celebrations – an afternoon event at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on Sunday 29 August. More details will be made available to the PLC community soon. A special video to commemorate the anniversary has also been put together by the 2021 Senior Pipe Band. FoPB is offering pre-sales of the Pipe Band history book, which is anticipated to be ready by the August reunion. See the PLC website for more details. If you would like to prepurchase a copy of the book, please visit the PLC website.
Annual art exhibition is back in 2021 We are very excited that the biggest event on the PLC OCA calendar is back in 2021. The OCA Art Exhibition will be hosted at PLC from Friday 21 May to Sunday 23 May. Showcasing more than 75 artists, the exhibition celebrates established and emerging artists from the broader PLC community, including Old Collegians, their family members, staff, parents and friends of PLC. All artworks are for sale with funds raised from the exhibition supporting the annual OCA Bursary Programme for current students and other projects within PLC. The exhibition launches with the Opening Night Cocktail Party from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm on Friday 21 May. The evening includes Flametree sparkling and wine, plus beer, canapés, entertainment and the opportunity to be the first to preview and purchase the art works. As always, we welcome everyone from the PLC community to come along and enjoy the Exhibition and OCA Cafe over the weekend and ask the community to purchase a raffle ticket on arrival. A special thank you to our sponsors The OCA Art Exhibition is made possible thanks to the wonderful support of our sponsors, event supporters and many volunteers and we are sincerely grateful to those who are supporting this event. A special thanks is extended to our incredibly generous main Sponsors this year including; Old Collegian Liz Towner and current parent Anne Towner through their family business, Flametree Wines; Old Collegian Siobhan Way via her Siobhan Way Fine Jewellery; Old Collegians Jody Fewster of Ray White Cottesloe and Advans Exhibition Services.
advanswa.com.au
flametreewines.com
siobhanway.com
raywhite.com
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Year 12 students Eloise Middlemas, Dimity Andrews, Anna van Heerden and Monet Edwards with Roxy Bin Swani and Tamika Johnson.
Waddi coffee now on menu As the smell of freshly ground coffee fills the Quad, the simple pleasure of a coffee is surpassed only by the knowledge that this coffee is Waddi coffee – the only 100 per cent indigenous and female-owned and operated coffee supplier in Australia. PLC’s Bev’s Cafe made the transition to Waddi in March and not only is the coffee tasty, but it is such a terrific opportunity to support a 100 per cent indigenous and female company, owned and operated in Perth. Waddi is owned by Tomika Johnson, a Goreng Goreng woman, and Shakira Grasso, a traditional owner
An interesting first day on the job The first day on the job for PLC’s new Director of Boarding, Susie Edwards, was certainly one she will never forget. Ms Edwards said she was thrown in the deep-end on her first weekend when the WA COVID-19 lockdown was announced the same day and time students were being welcomed to the Boarding House for the start of term. “We had just had a really lovely orientation with all the new students, and I was getting ready to meet all the students and parents when the news hit about lockdown,” Ms Edwards said. “I felt so lucky that we have such amazing parents at the School
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and resilient girls who just took it in their stride and headed home, or to guardians’ homes for the week. “There was many a joke about ‘getting sick of the job on day one and kicking the kids out’ but everyone was so supportive and in positive spirits given the stress of the day,” she said. Ms Edwards comes to PLC from St Mark’s Anglican Community School where she held the position of Deputy Head of Senior School (Pastoral Care). She has an outstanding work history and experience in schools at very senior levels. Prior to her role at St Mark’s, Ms Edwards was Head of Year and Mathematics teacher at Trinity College, Science Teacher at John Willcock College in Geraldton and Boarding House Recreation Officer at MLC, Claremont. Ms Edwards said she was so thankful to all the staff, students and parents who had welcomed her and her family to PLC.
from the Pilbara region with family connections through the Nyiyaparli and Palyku aboriginal groups as well as links to Kariyarra and Ngarluma people. We are so pleased to be able to support this business and urge everyone to try their fabulous coffee.
“My nine-month-old daughter, Sammi, comes to school with me on Wednesday nights so that I can be at Boarding House Notices and the Prefect meeting and that has been my main opportunity to get to know the girls this term,” Ms Edwards said. “Sammi gets handed from student to student and I get to hear about how things are going with them and the girls have been fantastic. “Already I can feel that this school has a very supportive community with a strong heart and good values, and I look forward to being in the Boarding House full-time.”
PLC teacher named one of Australia’s Rising Stars Congratulations to our own Roxy Bin Swani, who has been named a 2021 Rising Star by education magazine, The Educator. Ms Bin Swani leads PLC Perth’s Gorna Liyarn Programme, the School’s Indigenous Scholarship Programme which currently has 39 students ranging from Years 7 to 12. In nominating Ms Bin Swani, Head of Senior School Rebecca Watts said Ms Bin Swani was committed to seeing students take on new educational opportunities and create intergenerational change within their communities. She was an expert in transitioning students into PLC Perth. She meets with new students and their families in their hometowns to help to create a positive transition to PLC.
(Left to right) Alisha Silbert, Molly Johnson, Indiana Silbert, Pippa Attwell, Antigone Miller.
PLC Rowing adds ‘The Benny’ to its fleet The generosity of 31 PLC families has been recognised with the naming of the rowing fleet’s newest Quad scull ‘The Benefactor’. To be affectionately known as ‘The Benny’, the purchase of the Quad was made possible after a night of fundraising at the Argyle Club’s 2019 cocktail party and a $12,000 contribution by PLC Parents in the same year.
Ms Bin Swani is an advocate for encouraging student voice and has organised celebrations for Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week, Close The Gap Day, and Sorry Day. This year she worked with students to arrange a special event to recognise the Black Lives movement and the issues facing Indigenous Australians. She has also organised Gorna Liyarn dance performances with a troupe of our Indigenous students performing at the School and for significant events within the wider community. The dance troupe helps to build the confidence of the students involved and allows them to celebrate their culture as proud Indigenous women. To encourage a better understanding of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander culture within the broader School community, Ms Bin Swani has developed and delivered a course for Year 11 and 12 students at the School that focuses on developing Indigenous cultural competency called the Aboriginal and Cultural Studies General. The course provides students with a safe space to have a conversation and gain an understanding of Indigenous history and culture (you can read more about the course on the PLC website). Ultimately, she hopes that it will spark students’ interest to continue their own journey learning about Australia’s First Nation’s people and how to be an ally. Congratulations Ms Bin Swani. This is so well-deserved.
In recognition of all of the donors, their family names have been painted around the boat in a fitting acknowledgment of their contribution. A christening of ‘The Benny’ had been planned for 24 April as part of the blessing of the entire fleet by PLC Reverend Manie Strydom, ahead of the 2021 rowing season. Unfortunately, a Perth and Peel COVID-19 lockdown prevented this from occuring and a smaller event was held on Saturday 1 May. The 2021 rowing season was due to kick off with the first regatta on 8 May after a 12 month hiatus due to COVID-19. This year, the Head of the River is scheduled for Saturday 26 June and all members of the PLC are encouraged to attend the event and support the PLC rowing team.
(Left to right) Mietta Bin Jacob, Saadhia Bin Swani, Rokiyah (Roxy) Bin Swani, Shakana Garstone and Cynarah Cheinmora.
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Head of Senior School Rebecca Watts, Head Prefect Monet Edwards and Deputy Head Prefect Dimity Andrews lead the Year 6 graduating cohort from the Junior School to the Senior School.
New tradition honours Year 6 cohort A moving new tradition recognising Junior School students’ graduation into the Senior School was established at the conclusion of the 2020 Year 6 End of Year Assembly. In a symbolic welcome, 2021 Head Prefect Monet Edwards and Deputy Head Prefect, Dimity Andrews, joined Head of Senior School Rebecca Watts and Pipe Major Helen Lovegrove in leading the entire cohort from the Junior School Swim and Recreation Centre to the Senior School Quad, where older students were gathered to welcome the girls. Head of Junior School Richard Wright said the occasion was made extra special with a guard of honour formed by the remaining Junior School staff and students, clapping and cheering the Year 6 students as they followed the procession across View Street. “It was a fabulous occasion and one which I think will remain a very special memory for all of the girls with respect to their transition to Senior School,” Mr Wright said. “It can be quite daunting to move from junior to senior school and this event helps the Year 6 students to realise they will be made to feel very welcome and at home in the Senior School.”
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He said holding the event immediately after the girls’ final assembly was fitting because it was already a very exciting and emotional time. Principal Cate Begbie said a lot of work was done by the School to ensure all new Year 7 students felt comfortable and at ease when they started Senior School. In the year prior to their start a ‘Getting to Know You Evening’ was held in which the students and their parents had the opportunity to meet each other and establish new connections ahead of starting Senior School. “Year 7 is a formative year, and we structure the introduction to the Senior School to help the girls become familiar with layout of the School, their teachers and their peers,” Ms Begbie said. “This helps to set up the girls for success as they continue, and commence, their PLC journey.”
INTRODUCING JUNIOR SCHOOL SEMESTER ONE LEADERS
Saskia Lehmann Head Prefect
Amberly Osborne Head Prefect
Jemima Vaughan Arts Leader
Indiana Wall Arts Leader
Mollie Brown Service Leader
Mia Liveris Service Leader
HOUSE LEADERS
Phoebe Salom Ferguson House
Charlotte Kingdon Ferguson House
Sara Kestell Baird House
Gisele O’Byrne Baird House
Kristen Kelly Stewart House
Virginia Roukounakis Stewart House
Valentina Franchina Summers House
Zahra vanden Driesen Summers House
Diga Elnadi McNeil House
Britney Savill McNeil House
Bijou Bird Carmichael House
Stevie Dyson Carmichael House
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Emilia a woman ahead of her time Never was there a more relevant and timely drama production than this gripping tale of England’s first woman to assert herself as a professional poet; a feminist who paved the way for women.
Eliza Wood with award presenter Patti Chong.
Eliza bestowed Australia Day Community Citizen Youth Award Eliza Wood (Year 8) was honoured at the Australia Day Community Citizen of the Year Awards for her energy and efforts over the past two years for her initiative and development of her surf lifesaving club’s Eco Surf Programme. Eliza was recognised by the Town of Cottesloe for her notable contribution during the last two years for her hard work not only with the North Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club, but to the wider Cottesloe and western suburbs community. Eliza showed commitment and leadership above what was normally expected of a girl who, at the time of the launch of the club’s environment and sustainability programme, was only 11-years-old. She demonstrated leadership and courage, often speaking at events of more than 400 attendees including meetings with councillors on the importance of reducing, reusing, refusing and recycling to reduce the devastating effects of plastic pollution, especially within an ocean environment. Since its launch in November 2018, the Eco Surf Program at NCSLSC has introduced an annual Plastic Free July beach clean with partners including KABC, the Town of Cottesloe, WRMC and Pelli Bags. Eliza and the club’s efforts have seen a positive change along the Cottesloe coast line with the installation of a publicly available refillable filtered water station care of a KABC grant, the introduction of Greenbatch recycle bins, regular Nippers beach cleans as well as inspiring local school students as part of their community service projects that being young is not a barrier to influencing change.
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Written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, a woman, for an allfemale cast, Emilia takes us back 400 years. Could she have been the ‘Dark Lady’ of Shakespeare’s sonnets? What of her own poetry? Why was her story erased from history? This Senior School production had the audience captivated, moved, and compelled to be the change. “Listen to us. Listen to every woman who has come before you. Listen to every woman with you now. And listen when I say to you to take the fire as your own. That anger that you feel it is yours and you can use it. We want you to. We need you to. Look how far we’ve come already. Don’t stop now,” Emilia. The role of Emilia Bassano was expertly portrayed by three students Saskia Boquest (Year 11), Indah Jenkins (Year 11), and Katelyn Wain (Year 12) pictured below. The 35-strong cast comprised students of varying ages and experience. Some were seasoned veterans of the stage, such as Sophie Day (Year 12), but all put on a show none will forget. The production was directed by Drama Teacher Oliver Craze, and he reflected that the performances, which were shown over three consecutive days, were amazing. “Every one of the girls handled the script with sensitivity and delivered it with a true in-your-face attitude and determination. They indeed were a force to be reckoned with,” Mr Craze said. “It was exciting to see the new and emerging talent and they demonstrated that they could bravely step into their character’s shoes and deliver their roles. A brilliant example is one of the lead Emilia’s, Saskia Boquest (Year 11). “I am enormously proud of everything they have achieved, and I thank the cast and crew for their hard work and determination.” This play was an amateur production by arrangement with Origin Theatrical, on behalf of Nick Hern Books.
Katelyn Wain, Year 12, as Emilia.
amplify DNA using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), the BLUGEL gives the students hands-on experience with loading, running, and visualising the amplified DNA through gel electrophoresis. The combination of technologies provides students with an immersive and industry equivalent experience within the classroom. The purchase of these new technologies was made possible by the BHP Future Ready STEAM Challenge win in 2019 where a group of (then) Year 8 students won the $10,000 prize.
Science is in our DNA at PLC PLC has acquired its own piece of cutting-edge technology, commonly used by researchers on the International Space Station – a machine which replicates DNA. To enable the Year 12 Biology and Human Biology students’ development of biotechnology skills, PLC has recently incorporated the MINI16 and BLUGEL tools into our teaching practice. While the MINI16, along with biochemical reagents and computer-based software, allowed students to physically
Biology teacher Jane Brandenburg said she was excited about the depth and breadth of learning now possible for our students. “This technology is cutting edge. We are one of very few schools that are able to do this process using this equipment in our own labs. It gives students hands-on experience and confidence as biotechnologists. This is really important. Not only is biotechnology a critical aspect of the syllabus, but it is also an area where there is increasing employment opportunities,” Ms Brandenburg said. “This awesome machine replicates DNA. When our cells divide, we need to make new copies of our DNA so each daughter cell gets a complete copy. This machine can do this. It allows a scientist to take a very small sample of DNA, perhaps from a crime scene, or a rare and endangered plant or animal, or from a bacteria or virus and replicate it,” she said. Currently, Year 12 Biology students have been using this technology in class, but there are plans to also extend its use to Human Biology and with the International Baccalaureate students. There is also the potential to use it to solve DNA mysteries with our younger students.
Hair razing fight against cancer (Left to right) Isobel Weir, Grace Flanagan and Jasmine Barrett.
PLC Perth and Scotch College students have raised more than $112,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation in their annual participation in the World’s Greatest Shave. In late March, 82 PLC girls put up their hands to have their hair cut, including four brave students who had their heads shaved. One of the students, Matilda Lamb (Year 12) had never before had her hair cut and individually raised more than $3,700 for her efforts. About 130 Year 12 Scotch College students also had their hair cut or shaved. The World’s Greatest Shave has become an annual feature on the PLC and Scotch calendars, helping to raise money for research and development of new treatment technologies with the aim to cure blood cancers by 2035. Hair collected from the event is made into wigs for people diagnosed with leukaemia.
Leukaemia survivor Dom Sheldrick spoke to the students ahead of the event thanking them for their support and fundraising for the World’s Greatest Shave. A 20-year survivor of the disease, Mr Sheldrick said the money raised from the initiative was directly responsible for advancement of treatments. He said today his particular form of the cancer could be treated simply with a tablet. PLC parents and guardians are invited to head to the PLC Gallery for all the photos.
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In the News
PLC Perth has made headlines in local and State newspapers this year.
Seeing double When Tara and Bridie Swingler left their primary school, they were the only twins in their year. Now in Year 7 at PLC, they are one of five sets of twins in their Year group. This year, an incredible 12 sets of twins are attending PLC ranging in age from Pre-Primary to Year 12 and the Swingler sisters are enjoying having so much in common with their peers. Transitioning to a new school may be daunting for some, but for these inspiring, young girls, they are fortunate to have their sister by their side.
“We have loved it so far – especially the IGSSA Swimming Carnival!” Bridie added.
“The students and staff have been so welcoming, and it’s been great to get to know new people and try new subjects,” Tara said.
Now and again staff and students confuse Tara and Bridie and they’ve admitted that often their teachers can’t tell them apart.
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The Year 7 Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinator, Jane Brandenburg, certainly has her work cut out for her with five sets of twins under her care. “We have five sets of twins at PLC in Year 7 and they bring ten lots of magic to our year,” Ms Brandenburg said.
COVID-fighting Old Collegians Three Old Collegians on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19 shared their experiences and thoughts about the pandemic with guests at PLC Perth’s 2021 International Women’s Day Breakfast. Kate Langdon (1982), Maryellen Yencken (1982) and Erika Correia (1990) told fellow Old Collegians, current students, parents and staff that while the medical fraternity had been preparing for such an event, many lessons had been learnt from the outbreak. This included the need for all people to be more aware of their role in preventing the spread of disease.
Kate Langdon (1982); Erika Correia (1990) and Maryellen Yencken (1982).
Dr Langdon is a paediatrician and specialist in paediatric rehabilitation medicine at Perth Children’s Hospital. She and Dr Yencken, a general practitioner and principal partner of her practice, were among seven Class of 1982 PLC students to graduate from medicine at The University of Western Australia in 1988. The group were featured on a page one photograph in the West Australian at the time (see photo bottom right). Ms Correira is a nurse and currently part of Perth Children’s Hospital COVID Nursing Network. The trio told the breakfast audience that they believed the pandemic’s impact on people’s mental health would be a long-term issue that society would need to address as it recovered from the crisis. This year, the breakfast coincided with PLC’s annual Make a Difference (MAD) Week and Head Prefect Monet Edwards used the opportunity to ask Ms Correira about her work with the charity, Share the Dignity. In addition to being a Community Service Year Co-ordinator while at PLC, Ms Correira also pointed to her Cambodia service tour while at school as a key factor in her life which has led her to work with people living in extreme poverty. “It is easy for us all to become consumed with our own troubles and concerns, but it is when we are exposed to those living in abject poverty, and without means to help themselves or their families, that we can truly appreciate the opportunities life has to offer us in our wonderful country,” Ms Correira said. Share the Dignity works to make a real difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or doing it tough by distributing period products to those in need. The organisation believes that when someone is doing it tough, the last thing they should be concerned about is their period. To support the cause, PLC hosted a dignity drive encouraging students and staff to contribute period products to the charity.
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Farewell Jenny “ I know that my daughter is a strong, confident, and outgoing young woman chiefly because those qualities were nurtured and supported at PLC by the magnificent staff.”
If a meaningful career is measured in the way one positively impacts the lives of those around them, then Jenny Crisp’s score is off the charts. Mrs Crisp has worn many hats during her ten-and-a-half-year tenure at PLC, including English Teacher, Year Co-ordinator, parent, Deputy Head of Senior School, and most recently, Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinator of Year 10. Mrs Crisp is caring and devoted and feels all of life’s emotions right along with you. You come away from any conversation with her feeling like you have really been seen and heard, so it was in her pastoral care role that she made the most impact. “Some of our girls have had to cope with some serious challenges and it has always been my aim to ensure that these girls have the support and the encouragement that they have needed,” Mrs Crisp said.
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On reflecting on her fondest memory at PLC, Mrs Crisp said: “I think it would have to be performing in the first staff presentation for Arts Day. When we trooped out in our academic robes to sing Katy Perry’s song Fireworks and climbed into the choral stands, I think the girls were only expecting us to give a choral performance. But halfway through the song, we threw off our robes and flowed down into a dance routine – I think we blew their minds a little.” Mrs Crisp is excited to be moving back to her hometown and re-establishing some old friendships and finding some new ones as well. She is moving to Albany with her husband and is bringing with her many fond memories of PLC as a teacher, a leader, and a parent.
“I know that my daughter is a strong, confident, and outgoing young woman chiefly because those qualities were nurtured and supported at PLC by the magnificent staff,” she said. “I will miss PLC dreadfully, but I know that I can always visit.” Mrs Crisp leaves behind a legacy at PLC; students who are now avid readers, critical thinkers, confident communicators, and open-minded lifelong learners because they were fortunate enough to have Mrs Crisp as their teacher.
Just keep swimming “Take your marks…BEEP!” An eruption of noise reverberates off the walls. The atmosphere is electric. The swimmers are swimming as fast as they can! Sometimes there is elation, other times, quiet disappointment, but there are always smiles. Always memories made. Always pride for Team PLC. Already this year, PLC has been fortunate enough to take part or host the JIGSSA and IGSSA Swimming Carnivals, the Inter-house Swimming Carnivals and the Junior School Twilight Carnival. All these carnivals saw many talented swimmers emerge from the water either victorious, or proud of their efforts. In the Junior School, the Inter-house Swimming Carnival saw some outstanding individual and team efforts. Congratulations to Baird House who was crowned the winning House with 1043 points, followed by Carmichael on 980 points and McNeil in third place with 908 points.
Left to right: Ivy Natta, Lyla Kirman, Madeleine Mahony and Anika Wood.
Congratulations to the following individual swimming champions: Year 4 Champion Girl Millie Meredith-Humphry Year 4 Runner-up Champion Girls Sofia Lambo and Emily Weaver Year 5 Champion Girls Alice Cann and Sami Chee Year 5 Runner-up Champion Girl Tyra Stofberg Year 6 Champion Girl Chloe Ng Year 6 Runner-up Champion Girl Claudia McKay The Junior School JIGSSA Swimming Carnival was then held across three locations with each year group hosted at a different school on Thursday 18 March. Swimmers from Years 4, 5, and 6 competed or participated in a series of events with top performers swimming their way into the JIGGSA Twilight Carnival held on Tuesday 23 March at HBF Stadium.
After a huge 50 events, PLC came 3rd on the Year 4 overall score board, 7th for Year 5, and 5th on the Year 6 overall score board. In the Senior School, the Inter-house Swimming Carnival had it all – plenty of House spirit, new records smashed, fun novelty races and brilliant displays of athleticism. McNeil House was crowned the victor and took home the Blackwatch Swimming Trophy. On Friday 12 March, the Senior School participated in the IGSSA Swimming Carnival and while we came in 7th place, there was still plenty to smile about and many fantastic performances by our girls at HBF Stadium.
Congratulations to Inez Miller, Ellie Fry and Ruby Nell who set new records: Event
New Record
New Record Holder
Old Record
Old Record Holder
Year 9 100m Freestyle
59.69
Inez Miller
1:02.04
E Fry in 2018
Year 12 50m Backstroke
32.35
Ellie Fry
32.79
K Gill in 2009
Year 8 50m Breaststroke
36.33
Ruby Bell
37.57
S Sadek in 2011
Year 9 50m Freestyle
27.43
Inez Miller
27.97
E Fry in 2018
www.plc.wa.edu.au 17
Results Overview 2020 3 Results Overview 2020 3
Great Greatsuccess successfor forPLC PLC students studentsin inall allthree threepathways pathways
Working to ensure every girl achieves her best is the primary purpose Working to ensure every girl achieves her best is the primary purpose of PLC teaching staff. We are incredibly proud of our 2020 cohort and of PLC teaching staff. We are incredibly proud of our 2020 cohort and we wish the girls every success as they embark on their next journey. we wish the girls every success as they embark on their next journey. 109 students undertook WACE studies. Of109 these students, 97 chose the ATAR students undertook WACE studies. pathway 13 students a the ATAR Of theseand students, 97 chose Vocational and Training pathway Education and 13 students a pathway. Vocational Education and Training pathway. 26 students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma 26 students enrolled in Programme. the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
COMBINED IB/WACE ATAR COMBINED 91.90* / 90.05** IB/WACE ATAR State Median - 81.65 91.90* / 90.05** State Median - 81.65
WACE WACEATAR 89.20 Median
Median ATAR 89.20 • 10 per cent of our students anofATAR achieved • eligible 10 perfor cent our students a eligible score offor 99an or ATAR higher. achieved a score of 99 or higher. • 32 per cent achieved a of 95 orachieved higher. a • score 32 per cent score50 of 95 higher. • Nearly peror cent achieved
score of5090per or cent higher. • a Nearly achieved a score of 90 or higher. • 64 per cent of students achieved score 85 or higher. achieved • a 64 perofcent of students a score of 85 or higher. • Two students achieved perfect
IB IB Median Score – 34
ATAR equivalent / 91.50** Median Score –95.00* 34 ATAR equivalent 95.00* / 91.50** • 10.5 per cent of IB students ATAR • achieved 10.5 per an cent of IBequivalent students ofachieved 99.00 or an higher. ATAR equivalent • 35ofper centorofhigher. IB students 99.00 an ATAR • achieved 35 per cent of IB equivalent students ofachieved 95.00 or an higher. ATAR equivalent • More than or half of IB students of 95.00 higher. at ATAR equivalent • achieved More than half of IB students ofachieved 90 or higher. at ATAR equivalent • Three achieved the of 90students or higher. bonus achieved points in the • maximum Three students the Theory ofbonus Knowledge maximum points in and theExtended Theory ofEssay. Knowledge and Extended Essay. * *
VET VET The VET courses students
completed included: The VET courses students completed included: • Certificate II Customer Engagement • Certifi cate Customer Engagement • Certifi cate II II Sampling Measurement • and Certifi cate II Sampling and Measurement • Certificate III Events Certifi cate EventsStudies • • Certifi cate IIIIII Animal
Certifi cate Animal Studies • • Certifi cate IVIII Music Industry Certifi cate Music Industry • • Certifi cate IVIV Preparation for
Studies for • Health Certifiand cateNursing IV Preparation Health and Nursing Studies • Certificate IV Education Support Certifi cate Education Support • • Certifi cate IVIV Business •
Certificate IV Business
Based on ATAR conversion used by UWA which awards points to IB Diploma students. Basedbonus on ATAR conversion used by UWA which awards bonus points to IB Diploma students. Based on TISC ATAR conversion.
** **
Based on TISC ATAR conversion.
scores of 100 per cent. • subject Two students achieved perfect subject scores of 100 per cent.
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE
10 10
22
31 31
11
students scored anstudents ATAR ofscored 99an and higher ATAR of 99 and higher
students scored anstudents ATAR ofscored 90an orATAR higher of
achieved a perfect subject achieved a score of 100% perfect subject score of 100%
General Exhibition General
Exhibition
88 88 22 90 or higher
students scored anstudents ATAR ofscored 80an orATAR higher of 80 or higher
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Subject Exhibitions Subject
Exhibitions
Subjects where PLC students were thePLC highest Subjects where performing students students were the highest (top 0.5%) in the State performing students (top 0.5%) in the State • Accounting & Finance • • Biology Accounting & Finance • • English Biology • • Food Science & English • Technology Food Science & • Human Biology Technology • • Mathematics Human Biology • Specialist Mathematics Specialist
WACE WACESubject SubjectAwards Awards General Exhibition General Exhibition
Certificates of Distinction (19)(19) Certificates of Distinction
Certificates of Merit (27)(27) Certificates of Merit
NishaNisha Whittome Whittome
Charlotte Ball Ball Charlotte Catherine Banks Catherine Banks ClaraClara ChenChen Not for Notpublication for publication Cassidy Emmott Cassidy Emmott Jessica HalesHales Jessica Antonia Jian Jian Antonia EloisaEloisa Malet Malet RubyRuby McLellan McLellan Sophie Michael Sophie Michael Ella Miels Ella Miels ElizaEliza Murray Murray Pattison VerityVerity Pattison AnnieAnnie PricePrice Isabella Stevens Isabella Stevens Jennifer Jennifer Sun Sun VanZanden der Zanden StellaStella Van der Whittome NishaNisha Whittome Bryanne Zabora Bryanne Zabora
LilahLilah Barker Barker Deanna Bertram Deanna Bertram Giorgia ChinChin Giorgia Isabelle Cooper Isabelle Cooper Eva Eva Coulson Coulson Ava Ava Drage Drage KateKate FewFew Zsa Zsa Zsa FioreFiore HartHart Georgia Hyde Georgia Hyde Jessica JiangJiang Jessica Philippa Joyce Philippa Joyce Georgia Keamy Georgia Keamy Alexandra Kirkwood Alexandra Kirkwood Annabella Liddelow Annabella Liddelow Ashley Maddern Ashley Maddern Madison Marley Madison Marley Millicent McCarthy Millicent McCarthy Amelia McIntosh Amelia McIntosh Claire Moon Claire Moon Natasha Psaltis Natasha Psaltis Georgia Rieck Georgia Rieck Jaime Sabavala Jaime Sabavala Siegmund NyahNyah Siegmund Aishna Singh Aishna Singh Lili Streader Lili Streader Weber AbbyAbby Weber Kiara Wright Kiara Wright
Subject Exhibitions Subject Exhibitions Food Food Science & Technology Science & Technology Eliza Murray Eliza Murray Human Biology Human Biology StellaStella Van der VanZanden der Zanden
Subject Certificates Subject Certificates of Excellence of Excellence Accounting & Finance Accounting & Finance Natasha PsaltisPsaltis Natasha Biology Biology AnnieAnnie Price Price English English Giorgia Giorgia Chin Chin Science & Technology Food Food Science & Technology Eliza Murray Eliza Murray Human Biology Human Biology Stella Van der Zanden Stella Van der Zanden Mathematics Specialist Mathematics Specialist Antonia Antonia Jian Jian Jennifer Jennifer Sun Sun
www.plc.wa.edu.au 19
New awards a feature at Speech Night 2020 The legacies of two inspiring Old Collegians was acknowledged with the introduction of two new awards in their honour at the 2020 PLC Perth Speech Night. Principal Cate Begbie said she was humbled to present the inaugural Dr June Jones and Dr Patricia Kailis Awards, in recognition of two extraordinary women whose dedication and service to PLC has left lasting legacies. Ms Begbie said the Dr June Jones Award recognised Old Collegians whose professional or volunteer accomplishments demonstrated a significant positive impact – locally, nationally or internationally. The Dr Patricia Kailis Awards celebrates achievements in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship for alumni aged 40 years and younger.
The inaugural awards were presented to Donna Shepherd AM (1980), pictured right, and Tasmin Venter (2008), pictured below left, respectively. Ms Shepherd is the Chair of the Board of Directors of World Vision International and Managing Director of Creating Communities Australia. She is a humanitarian, entrepreneur and consultant. Her passion for social justice saw her move into international development, working with El Taller in Tunisia and lecturing in international development in masters programmes in the United States, Ecuador and Australia. At World Vision Ms Shepherd launched the ‘It take takes a world to end violence against children’ campaign in Addis Ababa in 2017. In 2020 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to children through international humanitarian aid organisations. Ms Venter joined Shell as a graduate engineer and has been a trailblazer for women in engineering at the company. Her role has taken her across the world and in the past few years she has worked on the Prelude FLNG, the first project of its kind to develop the world’s largest floating structure and first every floating LNG vessel. Ms Venter’s most recent position as Reliability Engineer requires creativity and innovation for the FLNG, one of the most challenging oil and gas assets in the world.
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COVID-19 failed to dampen the spirits of the Class of 2020 and the cohort’s resilience was on show at their final Speech Night. 2020 Head Prefect Ella Miels urged students to look beyond the pandemic and to seize their moments in life to ensure they made most of their opportunities. “Don’t try to only do great things,” she told the crowd. “Try to do small things with great meaning. Seize your moments.” It was a fitting speech to end Speech Night which dazzled all with a rendition of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s I’m Still Standing, by the PLC Stage Band and Year 12 vocalist Emma van Schouwen, and the Combined Choirs, Years 3-6 Choristers and Bartok String Orchestra’s We’ll Rise Above by Jeannine Lasky and Masa Fukuda.
2020 Head Prefect Ella Miels urged students to look beyond the pandemic and to seize their moments in life to ensure they made most of their opportunities.
www.plc.wa.edu.au 21
Roaring into the 20s Although the COVID-19 lockdown stole the original date for the Year 12 Ball, nothing could stop the glitz and glamour of the new date, Saturday 6 March. The theme of the Ball was 1920s and the 2021 Year 12 cohort and their partners took our breath away as they walked the red carpet into their Year 12 Ball at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. At the Ball the crowd was entertained by musical duo Emma van Schouwen on vocals and Ethan Lamb on Trumpet, and the amazing flapper dancers from the Boy from OZ. A massive thank you to the Year 12 Ball Parent Committee, led by Sarah Flanagan, who did an amazing job in ensuring the girls and their partners had the most wonderful evening.
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www.plc.wa.edu.au 23
Dancing the night away On Friday March 5 our Year 11s dazzled at the black and white themed Year 11 Dinner Dance where they danced with friends and partners at the Claremont Football Club. A huge thank you goes to Year 11 parent Deane Pedersen, who took charge of the decorations for the event and created an absolutely beautiful setting.
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Ringing in a new school year After a false start due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the annual PLC Parents Welcome Sundowner took place on a warm night on Friday 19 March. More than 400 parents and guardians enjoyed mingling with fellow PLC community members and staff to welcome the 2021 school year. The entertainment was provided by 2020 graduate, Emma van Schouwen whose soulful voice filled the Quad. PLC Parents Sundowner Co-ordinator Lizzie Marinko said it was an absolutely fabulous night with everyone so happy to catch up with each other. “I love the Sundowner as it provides a wonderful, opportunity for the whole school to come together and enables parents to catch up with everyone. “It is also the best way for new parents to be welcomed to the school. “The Welcome Sundowner really typifies everything that I love about PLC, the community is so welcoming and inclusive,” Mrs Marinko said.
www.plc.wa.edu.au 25
Easter Service & High Tea On the last day of Term 1, Thursday 1 April, PLC invited Old Collegians who left the school 50-plus years ago to an Easter Service held in the Hugh Baird Sport and Recreation Centre , followed by a high tea in the Lighthouse Community Room.
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This year, it was notable that so many Old Collegians returned to catch up with friends. Noreen Craig (Class of 1939) was our most senior member at 99 years of age. We thank her, and every one of the 75 Old Collegians who attended this special event.
Community gets behind Hardship Campaign Since the PLC Student Hardship Campaign was launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic, more than 60 families have contacted the school seeking some form of assistance. Most of these families were able to recover relatively quickly and payment plans were sufficient. However, others needed more assistance and readily agreed to complete a comprehensive Financial Capability Assessment that was independently assessed by an external independent organisation. The PLC Foundation has continued to apply an objective and highly rigorous process for assessing hardship requests
while keeping the families’ identification highly confidential. The support of the Finance Committee of the PLC Council and the Foundation Board in expediting the decision process and assisting those families most in need has been greatly appreciated. While the impact of COVID-19 on our PLC community members has not been as severe as first anticipated, many families did suffer severe financial
FOUNDATION
REPORT
setbacks and many will take some time to recover. We anticipate continuing to receive a small number of requests for assistance for the remainder of this year. The management team behind this project are regularly in contact with families who have sought assistance. The gratitude from these families for the PLC community for their generosity in a time of need has been nothing short of overwhelming. The generosity of members of the PLC community has enabled PLC students and their families to remain in our amazing community.
Welcome to our new Scholarship students
The Hon. June Craig AM, Jenny Rankin and Margaret Atkins OAM
Summers Society morning tea
In 2021 we welcome three new PLC Foundation Scholarship students Ava Farrer, Caitlin Pantall and Aurelia Qaqish. Through the generosity of the PLC community, the PLC Foundation is currently supporting 15 Scholarship students.
Members of the Summers Society visited the Junior School in March. They enjoyed morning tea and hearing news of the School from Claire Poll, Chair of the PLC Council, and Principal Cate Begbie. After morning tea the group visited the Junior School STEM Room where they enjoyed listening to the students’ presentations, followed by the experience of building solar cars.
www.plc.wa.edu.au 27
Thank you to our donors The PLC Foundation serves as an independent manager and custodian for the provision of sustainable financial support to PLC over the long term. The PLC Foundation Board Members would like to extend their gratitude and thank supporters of the 2020 PLC Student Hardship Appeal, Annual Giving Programme, those donors who continue to meet their commitment to the 2017 Scholarships Fundraising Campaign and the 160 current families who have donated through Voluntary Contributions. We also acknowledge those Donors who wish to remain anonymous. Voluntary Contributions raised $87,466 2020 Annual Giving Programme raised $12,280 Mrs Margaret Atkins OAM [Cusack 1947]
Ms Berwine Barrett-Lennard [Cook 1945] Mrs Jean Brodie-Hall AM FAILA [Slatyer 1942] Mr David Burt and Mrs Christine Burt Ms Andrea Gillett [1980] Mrs Anne Gregg [Cooke 1952] Mrs Julie Larkin [Sedgman 1951] Mrs Molly Paterson [Allen 1947] 1 anonymous Donor Note: the 2020 PLC Student Hardship Campaign replaced the 2020 Annual Giving Programme.
2020 PLC Student Hardship Campaign pledges total $597,099 Mrs Margaret Atkins OAM [Cusack 1947]
Dr Barbara Baird [1957] Mr Kieran & Mrs Michelle Barrett [Wandel 1994] Ms Cate Begbie Mr Brian Beresford Mr Charles Bolt & Mrs Liz Bolt [Pethick 1984] Ms Yasmin Broughton Bux Foundation Mrs Charmian Burton Mrs June Craig [Lynn 1947] Mrs Jo Cruickshank [1977] Ms Devon Cuneo [Nankivell 1965] Mr Alan & Mrs Helena Donnelly Mr Paul Early & Ms Stephanie Schmidt Mr Chris & Mrs Tia Ellison W Fairweather Mr David & Mrs Sarah Flanagan Mr Mark Foster Mr Carlo Franchina Ms Melissa Gillett [1984] & Ms Vicki Edwards Gilmac WA Pty Ltd Mrs Jill Green [Rae 1970] Mr Tony & Mrs Michelle Grist Albion Foundation Ms Jennifer Grove [1989]
Old Collegian leaves generous bequest The PLC Foundation was extremely grateful to be the recipient of a bequest this year from Rhona Cordin (1950). Rhona was born in Claremont and grew up in her family home on Stirling Highway, roughly where Hungry Jack’s now stands. She came to PLC from Claremont High School in 1949 for her final two years of schooling, during which she played in the A Softball and Basketball Teams, was awarded tunic colours and a pocket for Basketball, and was Stewart House Captain in 1950.
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Miss June Hardie [1951] Mr Andrew Hawley Mr Mark Hector Mr Mark & Mrs Carolyn Hyde Miss Sandy Kenworthy [1953] Ms Linda Kenyon Kestel Family Mrs Anne Kyle [Jago 1948] Mrs Verona (Tibby) Lea [Baron-Hay 1949] Mr Richard & Mrs Trish Leake [Hassell 1982] Mr Grant Lee & Dr Jane Mair Mr Adrian & Mrs Jackie Lee Mrs Helen Lewis [McCowan 1944] Ms Morgen Lewis [1987] Mr Chris & Mrs Carolyn Lilley Mrs Freda Livingston [Bunce 1949] Mrs Beverley Ludlow [Harrison 1956] Mrs Wendy MacGibbon [Lynch 1946] Mr Ian Macliver Mr James & Mrs Cate Mactier Mr Tim & Mrs Jessamy Mahony [Carroll 1988] Mrs Elizabeth Manners-Sutton [Irving 1939] Ms Monica McInnes [2002] Mr Andrew & Mrs Cate McKenzie [England 1986] Mr Rob & Mrs Keryn McKinnon Mr Ian & Mrs Jayne Middlemas Mr Luke & Mrs Jane Miels [Cox 1984] Mrs Sue Monger [Mills 1949] Mrs Jill Mowson [Harrison 1949] Mr Robert & Mrs Suzanne Nash Mrs Alice O’Donnell [Law 1983] Ms Suzanne Pelczar Mr Michael & Mrs Alison Purves Ms Jenny Rankin
On leaving school Rhona worked as a secretary at the ANZ Bank before becoming an air hostess with TAA. She was based in Adelaide and Melbourne, but worked overseas, in London and throughout Europe. Back in Perth in the 1980s, Rhona owned a fashion boutique before retiring in the mid-1990s. Rhona passed away in late 2020 and the bequest was her first donation to the Foundation.
Teams First Basketball 1949 Back, L-R: Robin Sinclair, Rhona Cordin, Barbara Baty, Nancy Smith Front: Sue Mills, Shirley Cary (Captain), Judith Blair.
Mr Graham & Mrs Margaret Reynolds Dr Robert Serich & Dr Jenny Rogers [1972] T H Rose & Sons P/L Mrs Stephanie Saleh [Orgill 1955] Mr Greg Sanderson [1951] Mr Bernard & Mrs Julia Schortinghuis [Osborne 1989] Mr Adam & Mrs Winks Shephard [Sheedy 1988] Mrs Glenice Shephard Mrs Jane Somes [Temperley 1962] Mrs Margaret Stamper [Monger 1947] Mr David Stokes & Ms Elena Macrides Mrs Betty Trotter [Gibbs 1939] Mr Mark O’Malley & Ms Pip van Helvoort Mr Richard & Mrs Elizabeth Vaughan [Overton 1962] Mr Mark Siford & Ms Carmen Yung Mr Wayne & Mrs Sonya Zabora 12 anonymous Donors
The PLC Foundation Incorporated is a notfor-profit organisation. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible. A tax receipt will be issued for all donations to the PLC Foundation Building Fund and the PLC Foundation Scholarship Fund.
REUNIONS
10 Year Reunion (Class of 2010)
20 Year Reunion (Class of 2000) The school was abuzz with laughter, hugs, chatter, and prams as the Class of 2000 kicked off their 20 Year Reunion with a class photo and school tour on Friday 16 April. Current Deputy Principal – Operations, Chris Robinson, who was the cohort’s Year Coordinator for both Year 11 and Year 12, also made an appearance to help celebrate this milestone. The catch up with former classmates continued into the late hours enjoying each other’s company at Steve’s. By all accounts it was a fabulous night and those who attended the reunion would like to especially thank Lucy Caratti (Atkins) for organising the event.
www.plc.wa.edu.au 29
OLD COLLEGIANS’
ASSOCIATION
A community for life While the rich history of PLC over the past 106 years includes a location move, huge campus growth, some uniform changes and a constantly evolving curriculum and set of educational offerings, the real history of this extraordinary school is in its people. The students, the principals, the teachers, the staff, the parents, the volunteers, the suppliers; past and present; old and new; are all integral to PLC’s ongoing success and story. Together the OCA and PLC believe that once you join the PLC family you will be a part of this community for life. For the OCA, this enduring focus on fostering a positive and engaged community is incredibly well reflected by the multi-generational connection between so many Old Collegians families and PLC today. Today PLC has a student base with just over 25 per cent being daughters, granddaughters or greatgranddaughters of Old Collegians. This is amongst the highest percentage of any girls’ school in Australia and we are immensely proud and grateful that generation after generation, where
possible, so many PLC girls and boys choose to send their children back to PLC to receive an incredible education.
Welcoming Old Collegians back to PLC A big thank you to PLC for welcoming back our Old Collegian community to many events over the past few months, including the fabulous ‘Conversations at PLC’ which featured Old Collegian and Chair of World Vision International Donna Shephard and the beautiful PLC Easter Service and Luncheon attended by 75 Old Collegians. We look forward to welcoming Old Collegians and members of the PLC Community to our upcoming Art Exhibition in May and other events including the Tartan Lawyers Networking Event and PLC Student Careers Event this coming term.
Congratulations to PLC for taking another victory at the annual Independent Girls Old Scholars Tennis Day at Reabold Park Tennis Club in late March. It was a great day of very competitive tennis and PLC was victorious defeating 6 other schools to take the trophy. Back Row: Mareena Weston, Pippen Parissis, Linda Arnold Middle Row: Niki Morcombe, Judy Kozak Front Row: Denise Cramer, Kirstin Prendiville, Debra Taylor
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Staying connected PLC and the OCA provide many opportunities for Old Collegians to stayed connected with each other and with PLC at Career Networking Events, Guest Speaker Events, Reunions and other events like the upcoming OCA Art Exhibition, so we warmly invite you to keep the OCA updated with your details. If you have changed your name, email or postal address, please send your updated details to Sascha Hill, Alumni Co-ordinator at oca@plc.wa.edu.au or via telephone on (O8) 9424 6520.
2021 Reunions 10 Year Reunion (Class of 2011) Date: Saturday 18 December Venue: Mosman Park Bowling Club Contacts: Dinu Kumarasinghe at dinutwk@gmail.com Book: www.trybooking.com/747894
20 Year Reunion (Class of 2001)
Please contact Alumni Co-ordinator, Sascha Hill at oca@plc.wa.edu.au if you are interested in being the contact.
30 Year Reunion (Class of 1991)
Introducing the OCA Family Pin To celebrate the ongoing multi-generational connection to PLC and as part of the OCA’s 100 Year Celebrations, we introduced the inaugural OCA Family Pin to formally acknowledge and thank those Old Collegian families who continue to send their daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters to PLC. Our OCA Family Pin features the traditional Scottish thistle which is part of the PLC school crest. We chose the thistle to symbolise and celebrate the important and enduring foundations of PLC, its people and its community. The first presentation of the inaugural OCA Family Pin was postponed due to the snap February lockdown, so we were thrilled to reschedule and present 50 Year 12 girls these pins in mid-March at the Principal’s Assembly. Thank you to the 25 Old Collegians who attended this Assembly. Over the coming terms we will hold similar ceremonies to recognise the daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of our PLC Old Collegians in every year group throughout PLC and warmly invite Old Collegians to attend these events. Warm regards, Jessamy Mahony President PLC Old Collegians’ Association
Date: Saturday 18 September Venue: TBC Contact: Lizzie Marinko at lizziemarinko@gmail.com
40 Year Reunion (Class of 1981)
Date: Saturday 19 June Venue: Cottesloe Golf Club Contacts: • Robyn Andrew (Slatyer) at andfam@iinet.net.au, • Andrea Reynolds (Hamersley) at wtco1@westnet.com.au • Carolyn Reid (Stretch) at pcreid@westnet.com.au Book: www.trybooking.com/732808
50 Year Reunion (Class of 1971) Date: Friday 22 October Contact: Ingrid Forrester at ingridforrester@hotmail.com
60 Year Reunion (Class of 1961) Date: October Venue: TBC Contact: Sascha Hill at oca@plc.wa.edu.au
65 Year Reunion (Class of 1956)
Date: Tuesday 17 August (in conjunction with Founders Day Luncheon) Venue: PLC Perth Contact: Sascha Hill at oca@plc.wa.edu.au
70 Year Reunion (Class of 1951) Date: Friday 13 August Venue: PLC Perth Contact: Sylvia Brandenburg OAM, 0427 464 123 kinghills@bigpond.com
www.plc.wa.edu.au 31
TARTAN
NEWS
Jenny Cox (1956) Jenny is proof that it is never too late to learn. She has recently graduated from Murdoch University at the age of 81. Jenny graduated with a Bachelor Arts — Australian Aboriginal Studies, receiving her certificate via a special ceremony in her home suburb of Rockingham in March this year. Jenny Cox with her grandchildren Jack, Molly and Isobel McCarthy, Rebecca Gunzburg (2019) and Alexandra Cox.
traveled to the UK to work. HIV and AIDS was at the forefront of the 80s and early 90s and her preclinical and clinical years were heavily influenced by the myriad of immuno-compromised conditions that accompanied this disease prior to the sophisticated medications we have available today. Maryellen expressed that working on the early HIV wards at St Thomas’ in London was both fascinating medically and culturally.
Dr Maryellen Yencken (1982) In 1979, Maryellen commenced Year 9 boarding at PLC and graduated in 1982. Home was the family’s merino sheep farm closeted in the tight knit farming community of Kojonup. Much of her childhood was spent free roaming and honing her observation skills of the natural world whilst her three older siblings were away at boarding school. “The early 80s was yet to be politically correct which possibly gave way to a naive innocence and freedom that allowed us as students at PLC to not contemplate nor consider for a second any boundaries that may impede the subjects we chose or the professions we would pursue. Evident by the seven other PLC girls who graduated alongside me completing our medical degrees in 1988. Our graduation photo gracing the front page of the West Australian,” Maryellen said. After completing her intern year at Royal Perth Hospital, Maryellen
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Returning to Perth, Maryellen spent a year as a medical registrar at Fremantle Hospital refining her medical skills before completing her FRACGP and entering General Practice. Over the course of these years, she spent time as a student doctor with the Flying Doctors out of Dampier and seeing much of the red earth of the Kimberly’s from the air and travelling to remote aboriginal communities. Maryellen also worked in the rural town of Busselton for six months along with spending time travelling to India, Pakistan, driving and camping through the United States and much of Europe. As well as working as a general practitioner, she spent five years working at the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) in forensic medicine, representing clients as an expert witness in the legal system. Maryellen was inaugurated as a member of the College of Legal Medicine as a result of this forensic work. Creativity comes in many forms and in her private life she has recreated the childhood connection to the land by creating a large vegetable garden at her coastal home, with her husband
Simon and two young adult sons. The family lives with six resident hens, her dog Occy and cat Rodger. From a medical perspective, creating her own medical practice along with her two business partners has been a work in progress for the past 21 years. Maryellen became a partner just after her first child was born and the practice has grown from three doctors to 14 with around 30 staff in total servicing the Bicton, Palmyra and East Fremantle areas where they all aspire to creating a kind, family style general practice whilst practicing excellent medicine.
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Erika Correia (1990) After graduating from PLC in 1990, Erika went on to complete a Bachelor of Nursing Degree at Curtin University. Paediatrics was always of interest to Erika and her nursing career started at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children where she completed a Graduate Nurse Program and then went on to work in theatre, ED, and on the surgical, medical and infant’s wards. After a few years at PMH, Erika was keen to nurse overseas and worked in London at Great Ormond St Hospital for Children. This certainly was an eye opener as she was exposed to a different health care system and patients from many different back grounds and cultures. Whilst based in London she took the opportunity to travel around Europe and Africa. After returning home to marry and raise two daughters, Erika came back to nursing and is currently working at Perth Children’s Hospital with the COVID Nursing Network. Whilst fortunate that they haven’t had an outbreak of the virus and have had no ill children with COVID, for Erika’s team, it has been challenging in regard to cancelled surgery, reconfigured wards, visitor screening, PPE, mask fit testing and the roll out of the COVID Pfizer vaccine.
Dr Katherine (Katy) Langdon (1982) Katy is a paediatrician and specialist in paediatric rehabilitation medicine at Perth Children’s Hospital. She is also a medical researcher, educator and the Chair of the CAHS Clinical Staff Association. Erika is passionate about helping those less fortunate than herself, and as well as being the Community Service Year Co-ordinator at PLC, she volunteers with her family for charities such as Share the Dignity and Homelessness We Care. Having the opportunity to travel to Cambodia with PLC to build houses in a remote community for the those living in extreme poverty was one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences she has ever had.
Katy has three children all of whom were educated at PLC, Sarah a doctor, Rebecca soon to be clinical psychologist and Isobel who is heading down a pathway of the law. All four of them love singing. Katy loves the natural environment and more recently Western Australian history. She likes to swim in the ocean and run, when she can.
These experiences have helped Erika maintain perspective in her life. “It is easy for us all to become consumed with our own troubles and concerns, but it is when we are exposed to those living in abject poverty, and without means to help themselves or their families, that we can truly appreciate the opportunities life has to offer us in our wonderful country,” Erika said.
www.plc.wa.edu.au 33
TARTAN
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Charlotte Mulroy (2009)
Nia Pericles (1993) Congratulations to Nia Pericles who in October 2020 was shortlisted for the prestigious 2020 Walkley Awards for excellence in Journalism, for her moving documentary – Storm in a teacup. The Walkley Awards are the pre-eminent national journalism awards presented annually in Australia. They recognise and reward the best in the craft and set the industry standard for excellence. Nia, who was writer, director and narrator of Storm in a teacup, an intimate documentary that portrays how her father, one of Western Australia’s most well-known artist’s, Leon Pericles faces his greatest challenge: holding an exhibition of his life’s works while facing the mental decline of his wife and Nia’s Mother, Moira (MacKellar 1967), as Alzheimer’s disease turns their world upside down.
Charlotte is the Director at CM Talent, a recruitment business she recently founded whilst on maternity leave with her second child. During this time, she quickly realised there was a gap in the market for providing small/ medium sized businesses with a means to engage an external recruitment specialist without forking out a fortune. Moreover, it became apparent that in order to be a primary caretaker and still have a level of financial independence, she was going to have to create her own flexibility!
Before starting a new business, she held various recruitment positions within an external agency, recruiting for white collar and blue-collar roles in the resources, infrastructure, construction and Defence industries.
with dementia. Given the strong voice Moira has in the film and the way the family engage with her, Dementia Australia recognise the film offers up many examples on how to learn skills around empathy and how best to engage with people with dementia. The application will hopefully be released this year.
Alzheimer’s disease. Over $100,000 has been donated so far.
In the film, Leon creates an artwork for Moira ‘Etching for Moi’ and 100% of the sale of the etching goes to Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, who do remarkable medical research, working to create a world without
Charlotte’s experience does not only sit within recruitment, she has been fortunate enough to be involved in the contract take-over of a major Defence maintenance contract and has also worked in various jobs within the oil and gas industry.
Nia is currently Head of Development for Artemis Media and Series Producing a three-part documentary series for SBS, hosted by Dr Michael Mosley, looking at the world’s fastest growing chronic disease Type 2 Diabetes and how we can reverse it in a group of Australians with diet. Previous productions as producer include Nine’s ‘Getaway’, ABC’s ‘Exhumed’, Ten’s ‘Bondi Rescue’ and films ‘Felicity’s Mental Mission’ for ABC, ‘Secret life of Death’ SBS.
As Moira’s condition progressed, the documentary shows the love and respect her parents have always had for each other, and the reality of facing the challenges ahead, together, as they always have. Since Nia first started pitching her film, she has been working closely with Dementia Australia who are using clips of Storm in a Teacup in a new mobile learning app to train home support workers in how to engage with people
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Back row: (Left to right) Nia Pericles, Moira Pericles, Nia’s brother Damien Pericles, Leon Pericles and Ita Buttrose AC OBE (Dementia Australia Ambassador) Front row: Nia’s neice Linnea and nephew Marley Pericles.
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Talia Clohessy (2013) Congratulations to Talia on her Graduation. At the end of 2020, Talia graduated with a Doctor of Physiotherapy (with distinction) from the University of Melbourne and during the virtual graduation was awarded eight prizes, including: Physiotherapy / Melbourne School of Health Sciences Award for Excellence (Dux), Constance Read Memorial Award, Neurological Physiotherapy Prize, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Prize, Physiotherapy Research Foundation Award, Leadership and Management Award, Healthcare in context Award, Graduate Attribute Award (nominated by the department) and the Austin Health Cathy Nall Clinical School Prize. She was also named valedictorian and invited to be admitted to the Dean’s Honour List in 2021. In 2021, Talia accepted a new graduate role at Austin Health, one of the top tertiary trauma hospitals in Victoria.
Nina Kennedy (2014) We are always excited to share the outstanding achievements of our Old Collegians, and none more so than Nina Kennedy (2014), who pole vaulted her way into the history books on Saturday 13 March at the Sydney Track Classic. The 23-year-old is now the Australian women’s pole vault record
Across her work and study Talia has developed skills within acute cardiorespiratory, neurosurgical, orthopaedic trauma and emergency medicine wards in both adult and paediatric settings. She also undertook a Global Mobility Scholarship to travel to Niseko, Japan, gaining experience in managing acute snow-sports injuries. Previously, Talia completed a Bachelor of Science with first-class honours majoring in Human Physiology. Talia has a keen interest in neurological and cardiorespiratory acute care, and a future wish to pursue research. She is also passionate about advocating the benefits of learning STEM at School. “There is a huge amount of diverse and fascinating areas within the world of STEM! STEM jobs are the foundation of addressing so many of the challenges facing our planet from innovations in healthcare, to clean energy, understanding our own ecosystems and those across the solar system.
holder after edging past the previous record 4.82m on her first attempt. Nina’s jump was a personal best by 7 cm and surpassed previous recordholder Alana Boyd’s jump of 4.81 cm from 2016. “I’m just happy that it’s done, and I got it tonight,” Nina said after her jump. “I’ve attempted it about five or six times this season so to just nail it on my first attempt, I’m so happy. “I’ve had my last two comps where I’ve jumped on new poles and it hasn’t quite worked so I actually used … Alana Boyd’s pole. So, thanks Alana,” Nina said. Nina’s feat would have earned her a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics and has well and truly cemented her place at the Tokyo Olympics having jumped the Olympic qualifier height on six or seven occasions through the opening months of this year.
Getting women more involved within STEM jobs can provide unique and vital perspectives on these challenges and allow women to be at the forefront of so many amazing changes and discoveries. Within healthcare, women are breaking through with innovations that are saving lives in unique ways and making a difference to people of all walks of life. It can also open up a world of opportunities to explore interests and passions and help empower the next generation of women to break down barriers and take up professions previously dominated by men to further our collective knowledge.”
Atteya Thomas (2010) Since Atteya graduated from the University of Notre Dame, with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2016, she has been working for the Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical Service in Halls Creek as a registered nurse where she was a pivotal part in strengthening their clinical team. Now Atteya has returned to Perth to attend UWA Medical School to study for another four years, to become a doctor. Once she graduates, Atteya would like to return to the Kimberley where most of her family are based. That way she can be close to her home and help communities throughout the Kimberley.
Engagement & Wedding Notices Emily Miller (2011) married Aaron Christopher Smith on 16 April 2021 at Old Broadwater Farm in Busselton. Bianca Macliver (2007) married Nick Legrand on 16 April at the Cottesloe Civic Centre followed by a reception at home. Angela Egerton-Warburton (2010) got engaged to Tim Mayne on 17 April 2021, in Sydney.
www.plc.wa.edu.au 35
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ARCHIVES
A recent enquiry focused on the whereabouts of the Bunbury (Lifesaving) Cup, in which PLC Perth had a team compete from at least 1952-1982. While we don’t have it, or know its whereabouts, we were reminded of our Stella Elford Clarke’s (1927) sad role in the 1925 formation of the Bunbury Amateur Swimming and Lifesaving Club. Stella was born in 1910, the daughter of Charles and Elvina Clarke nee Lowe, from ‘Boongarra’, Burekup. She was their oldest daughter, third of six children, and blessed with a lovable, bright, sunny nature. Her early schooling was at Burekup State School where, in 1922, she was the top student of Standard V. She came to PLC at the start of third term in September 1923, aged 13. Earlier in 1923 PLC had purchased ‘Duff’s House’, the old Macbean and Gawler residence at 1 View Street (now Finlayson House), directly opposite what is now Scorgie House. Back then it was dubbed ‘Junior House' and Stella boarded there with the “younger fry”. She settled in well. She was a good swimmer, but neither overly sporty nor robust. She was interested in science and proved to be a clever illustrator. But her greatest love was gardening, and she was often found tending to the soil and plants in a tiny, sunny patch near the Summer House, in its original location. (Also known as the Gazebo, it was moved to the eastern side of View Street in the 1970s.) In 1924 Stella passed several life-saving certificates and was delighted to be joined in the Boarding House by *May Verschuer, aged 15, an old family friend from Bunbury. The next year she won the Science and Gardening Prizes at Speech Day on 8 December, before going down to Bunbury with May to stay with the Verschuers for a few weeks’ holiday. May was the only daughter of John and Maud Verschuer, nee Chalmers. She had one older brother, Paul, and three younger: Peter, Jack and Ivan.
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Peter was 15, the same age as Stella, and had a glass eye from a childhood accident. While his good eye was fixed on Stella, she had her heart set on trying surfing! Doctors encouraged her as they thought it would help her weak heart. The weather was too rough for the first few days, but on 21 December it cleared. It looked safe... At around 10am Peter and Stella walked into the water at Back Beach between Rocky Point and the Surf Bathing Clubhouse. Stella was about 12 metres from shore, a little ahead of Peter, when she turned with a look of alarm, saying she was in trouble. Peter was a strong swimmer and went to her aid immediately, but the undertow swept them both nearly 400 metres out to sea. They both began screaming for help but unfortunately, right then, the beach was just about deserted. Peter held onto Stella and tried to reassure her, but as she lost consciousness in his arms, he began desperately screaming for help once more. The South West Times of 22 December 1925 described the unfolding tragedy: "... Medical opinion is that finding herself in grave danger, the girl’s heart … gave way. The boy’s position became critical … After a few minutes, during which he courageously fought to hold up his companion, his cries attracted the attention of a couple of firemen off the Seattle who were strolling along the sea beach… One of them, named Victor Boswell, hastily stripping off his jacket as he ran and not even stopping to divest himself of his boots, sprang into the sea ... In the meantime, the grim fight for life on the part of the two young people was evidently nearing its close as far as the girl was concerned.”
Boswell unlocked Peter’s grip on the unconscious Stella and in the doing, was immediately swept out to sea himself. Peter, who was nearly done in, grabbed hold of Stella once more as the fickle tide swept the pair closer to rocks near the shore. He briefly lost his grip on her and the waves tossed him up the beach, where the gathering crowd restrained the exhausted lad from going back in to try to save his friend. When he saw Stella floating at the edge of the breakers he grabbed a rope and valiantly brought her to shore, 40 minutes after she’d first got into difficulties. Dr Joel, who’d arrived on the scene, knew Stella and her family well, but he realised she was dead before Peter brought her to shore. He worked on her for an hour, but to no avail. Peter, who came close to drowning, was awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Merit for his brave actions that day in trying to save Stella. Victor Boswell, who needed artificial respiration to survive, received the Bronze Medal. An ‘In Memoriam’ appears in our 1926 Kookaburra: "A cloud was cast over our holidays just before Christmas by the news of the death of Stella Clarke, who was drowned while bathing at Bunbury on December 21st. Our deepest sympathy goes out to her parents and brothers and sisters. We know that Stella was one of the sunniest members of the School, and realise what the loss of her must mean in her home. Stella’s garden is still being tended, and her name will be commemorated by the prize for gardening, which has been very kindly promised by Mrs Clarke." The Stella Clarke Memorial Prize for Gardening was first awarded in 1926, as Mrs Elvina Clarke had promised, and awarded every year thereafter, until 1951.
Journalist and author Patrick Cornish drew on our Archives in writing ‘A Watch on the Waves’ in 2015 which explained the decision to establish the lifesaving component of the Bunbury Surf Bathing Club had been made the day before Stella drowned. He wrote that the night she died, Peter’s mother, Maud Verschuer, called everyone in town and campaigned hard to ensure it went ahead, because she never wanted any other 15-year-old to dive into rough waters with nothing but a rope around their waist to retrieve a body, as her boy had done.
Stella Clarke (1925) with siblings Middle back: Frank Clarke (b 1901, KIA Crete 1941) Front, L-R: Nancy Clarke (b 1914), Michael Clarke (b 1918, KIA Kokoda), Stella Clarke (b 1910, drowned 1925).
Mrs Verschuer was successful. Within days the life-saving component was fully operational and is today known as the Bunbury Surf Lifesaving Club. * May Verschuer married Harold Nash in 1933. Her daughter-in-law, granddaughters and great granddaughters have all come through PLC. One is here now, in Year 12.
In November 2019 Stella Clarke’s niece Debbie Scott (Clarke 1969) donated two incredibly poignant photos to our Archives; one is the only one of Stella we’ve seen, with all of her siblings. The other was of 15-yearold Peter Verschuer, with his younger brother.
Peter Verschuer (right) aged 15 in 1925, with younger brother Ivan.
www.plc.wa.edu.au 37
FROM THE
ARCHIVES
PLC Pipe Band practising at Stirling Castle during the 1988 Pipe Band tour.
Recent Accessions Unknown Donor 1978 PLC Band single Mrs Merle Page nee Dorrington (Music Mistress 1954-1993) Sonafen fur Pianoforte solo von L Van Beethoven (German version) originally sold at Nicholsons in Perth. Inscribed with Mrs Page’s mother’s maiden name, Ruby E M Scott, “Alviston”, 20 Campbell Street, Subiaco. This copy was clearly well-loved, with repairs tended to, and copious notes and adjustments pencilled onto the music and in the margins; Sonatas for the Pianoforte L van Beethoven and Augener’s Edition of Novelletten fur das Pianoforte von Robert Schumann, both once belonging to Dorothy Hutchinson (Music Mistress 1920-1965), dated 20 June 1916 (her 20th birthday); Beethoven Sonatas, once belonging to Noreen Else of 137 Sewell Street, East Fremantle; 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989 Kookaburras.
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Jane Thompson (Stimson 1958) Orders of service for the 1990 Diamond Jubilee Appeal Community Leaders’ Breakfast; 1984 and 1985 Founders’ Day Services and for the 1985, 1998 and 1999 Speech Night; the OCA’s 70th Anniversary Dinner, 1987 (70th anniversary of the opening of the Cottesloe campus); the 1981 and 1982 Service to conclude Secondary Education for Year 12 Students; the 1984 Induction of Rev Margaret Zayan (Reverend 1983-1993). 1940 Kookaburra; Strategic Plan 1994-2004; Stewart House 50th birthday brochure; Letter advising Dr Stimson that Jane had been awarded a Carmichael Bequest scholarship for 1958, to the value of £50; OCA circular, January 1967; photo of Mog Gadsdon (Gordon 1957) and Dr Vera Summers (Principal 1934-1961; on staff from 1920) in the country c1981; book of attendees at OCA events, started by Valerie Barrett-Hill (Hubbard 1941), 1959 President, and going through to 1979; two rolls of proof photos taken during 1980s OCA events (see photo).
Vaughn Bisschops, glass artist Framed artwork showing the making of the Heather Barr Memorial Chapel stained glass window. It was given to him by Chris Rumble who worked on the window with Leon Pericles and Colin Montfort. Wendy MacLeod (Emmott 1963) Items Wendy used at School: engraved ink pen and pencil case; beret with her name tag sewn in; Mothercraft folder; blanket used in the Boarding House; enamelled tie pin. Alison Carroll (Coates 1966) Fourteen tiny photographs once belonging to Alison’s husband’s aunt, Bobbie Stanley-Low (Carroll 1922). See photos. Kym Patiniotis (1989) In contribution to the Pipe Band’s 40th anniversary commemorative history: Kym’s drumsticks; 1988 Pipe Band tour diary; VHS video of Scotland 1988, filmed by Kym during Pipe Band tour; 135 photos from the Pipe Band tour.
LEFT (Left - right) Joanna Farrell, Joanne Jarrott and Dorothy Hatch wearing their white tracksuits. Inter-School Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition c1984. BELOW LEFT This is ME, December 23 1918. BELOW RIGHT Edna (Rose) at PLC 1919.
Penny Moir (Leighton 1977) via Jo Cruickshank (1977) Penny’s 1977 Summers Arts Captain badge (inaugural); Penny’s Year 12 blazer pocket with Summers emblem (inaugural); embroidered PLC crest (old style) on blue cotton; PLC felt banner. Jo Pope (Lapsley 1981) Jo’s bagpipe chanter first used in 1977 with Eric Page (Director of Music 1975-1981). Anne Maroni (Hood 1981) Two photos of Ashley Mottershead (Fraser 1981) and Jo Pope (Lapsley 1981) dressed in Fremantle Ladies’ Pipe Band uniforms on Anzac Day 1981. Dr Margaret ‘Margo’ Warburton (Humanities staff 1996-2012) and Dr Joan Pope OAM The University of Western Australia and the Second World War Nominal Roll Project: Remembering the service of staff, students and graduates of UWA by Drs Margaret Warburton and Joan Pope OAM, and to which our Archivist contributed a brief history of Roma Gornall (Craze 1932).
Digital Accessions Kate Goldie (1988) USB with scans of 383 photos of 1988 cohort used for the 1988 Reunion in 2018. Jane Bell Bandack (Bell 1984) Twelve minutes of wonderful colour footage of the Junior School play from the early-1970s. John Dowson (Kindy c1952) Nine photos relevant to PLC, once belonging to his aunt Gwen Dowson (French teacher 1929-1930).
Janine Tate (Bruce 1987) Two photos: Janine competing in the Inter-School Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition of 1984 or 1985; and Joanna Farrell, Joanne Jarrott and Dorothy Hatch wearing their white tracksuits, waiting to compete in the same competition. Penny Moir (Leighton 1977) via Jo Cruickshank (1977) Penny’s 25 Year Reunion speech, 2002; Letter Penny wrote to Jo Cruickshank (1977) in May 2020; ‘My MND Journey’ by Penny; ‘She’s Our Hero’ in the Albany Advertiser, 11 June 2020.
Thank you to Jane Meneghello (McGibbon) and Coralie Gadsdon (Humanities teacher 1987-2008) for their tireless work in the Archives. Jane, in particular, has realised that the work in Archives is never really finished, and that there’s always something interesting to dive into!
www.plc.wa.edu.au 39
OBITUARIES
Margaret Joan Lowe (Kirkwood 1950) 24 November 1932 - 21 November 2020 Margaret’s parents were Archibald Kirkwood DCM, a Scottish civil engineer and WWI veteran, and Elsie Maisey, who was Anglo-Irish and had been raised on St Helena in the South Atlantic and, later, Gibraltar. They made their home at 81 St Leonard’s Avenue, West Leederville, and Margaret, their only child, was born in 1932. After the bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942, and of Broome a fortnight later, Margaret was among many children evacuated from Perth. She was sent to Merredin where she was billeted with Winifred and Newton Winton, who ran the No: 4 Pumping Station on the pipeline. She remembered it was a great year, during which she attended Merredin State School and enjoyed regular visits from her father as he continued his work, now as chief superintendent of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. Returning to West Leederville in 1943, Margaret, aged 11, then won a scholarship to start at PLC in 1944. During her seven years at PLC she forged many extremely close, lifelong friendships, found her intellectual interests were stimulated and her pursuits encouraged. She also loved playing tennis and learning to play hockey, and was a Prefect in her final year of 1950.
950 Leavers in their Junior Year, 1948 Back, Left to right: Dee Schorer, Jeanette Rodda, Philippa Haesler Middle: Dawn Reid, Helen Andrew, Joan Hiller, Joan Wallace Front: Bettine Birdseye, Margaret Kirkwood, Jennifer Ledger Very front: Joan Rawll.
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Keenly intelligent, Margaret went on to graduate in Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia and began her Masters in Agricultural Economics. A difficult relationship with her supervisor curtailed her Masters’ study and, in mid-1956, she embarked on a wonderful, thoroughly enjoyable, 18-month trip to the UK. When not visiting relatives and sightseeing, she worked as a field research officer in Cambridge, interviewing and collecting data from local farmers. Returning to Perth in 1958, Margaret worked as an economist at Wesfarmers but after her adventures in the UK, she found Perth a little too small and isolated, and soon took up a position with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in Canberra. There, she met public servant James Lowe who, after witnessing several of Margaret’s previous beaux being knocked back, devised a plan which never risked him making a direct proposal, instead referring to ‘when we’re married’. He was delighted it worked, and they were married at St George’s Cathedral, in Perth, in 1962.
ABOVE TOP: Newly engaged James Lowe and Margaret Kirkwood, 1962. Courtesy the Lowe family. ABOVE: Margaret and James Lowe, on their final big adventure, 2006. Courtesy the Lowe family.
In 1979 Margaret, James and the boys spent five wonderful months in the UK reconnecting with friends and family and revisiting the places Margaret loved so much. On their return in 1980 Margaret became a scientific editor at CSIRO for the Division of Water and Land Resources. She loved the work, and the people, and retired in 1994, aged 62. She and James then further indulged their love of travel, overseas and locally, including a 2006 circumnavigation of Australia.
In 1964 they bought land in Hughes, one of the first suburbs developed outside central Canberra, on which they built their own home. In mid-1965 though, just as they had their home and garden as they wanted, James accepted an 18-month secondment to Melbourne where their first child, Michael, was born in February 1966.
After James suffered a stroke in late 2006 Margaret stayed closer to home, but still attended exhibitions and shows, enjoyed her Scottish country dancing, catching up with friends, and pottering in her garden. James died in 2011, after which her travel further affield resumed - to New Zealand, Vietnam and Japan. Despite the distance, Margaret also kept in close contact with her WA friends and classmates, and frequently returned to Perth for reunions. Were it not for Covid, she would’ve been here in August 2020 for her year’s 70th reunion.
They returned to their Hughes home later that year and, as Michael got a little older, Margaret picked up occasional research assistant/editorial work through the Australian National University and Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
In 2012 she wrote to us, “I always look back on my time at PLC as most important. It gave us a great base on which to develop - both academically, and in our approach to life. Some of my dearest friends all come from those days.”
Their second son, Duncan, was born in April 1970 and Margaret, who had always wanted two boys, was delighted. In time, she returned to casual work with the CSIRO but on weekends they all enjoyed bushwalking, picnics and lunches by the lake.
On Friday 20 November 2020, after a routine visit to her doctor’s, she began to feel unwell. Sadly, she collapsed at home the next day, and died with her son Michael beside her, three days before her 88th birthday. With thanks to Ian Stimson (OSC 19481953), Michael and Duncan Lowe.
LEFT: A teenaged Trisha dancing with the WA Ballet. Courtesy the Kotai family. MIDDLE: JK and Jean Ewers with Trisha, c1945. Courtesy State Library of Western Australia, Image 109832PD. RIGHT: Trisha Ewers in 1950, aged 11. Courtesy State Library of Western Australia, Image 274363PD.
Dr Patricia Jean ‘Trisha’ Kotai-Ewers OAM (Ewers 1956) French Teacher 1979-1988; Summers House Advisor 1984-1988 17 July 1939 – 17 January 2021 Trisha was the only child of Jean nee McIntyre and John Keith ‘JK’ Ewers, a teacher, a literary legend, and the founding President of the Fellowship of Australian Writers of WA (FAWWA). Among the many books he wrote was ‘Living English’, a WA curriculum textbook in use for many years. It was a mystery as to why Trisha only attended Kindy here briefly in 1943 until 2009, when our Archivist called and asked why. Trisha said her mother had come to pick her up one afternoon, and saw her precious Trisha (3) dancing along the top balustrade of Summers House with her arms stretched out, tight rope style, with a sheer 4-5m drop to the ground below her. As the Ewers lived at 13 Keane Street, Mrs Ewers then sent Trisha to nearby Cottesloe Primary. Like both her parents before her, Trisha then received a scholarship to Perth Modern School, after which she trained as a ballet dancer, becoming a foundation dancer with the WA Ballet at the age of 16. Later, she learnt three languages and became a French teacher, teaching here for ten years from 1979 to 1988. Madame Kotai was very well liked and respected by staff, who appreciated her great sense of humour and fun, and by students, to whom she became ‘Maman’. She organised all of the
French trips and accompanied each trip, and was also a kind and caring Summers House Advisor from 1984 to 1988. Trisha was on the FAWWA for more than two decades and, from 1988, its President for fourteen years. She was the driving force behind the 1990s relocation (from Clement Street, Swanbourne, to nearby Allen Park) and restoration of both Tom Collins’ and Mattie Furphy Houses, both of which now serve as FAWWA administration and events spaces. Later, Trisha undertook her Masters in Philosophy and, at the age of 76, completed her PhD on the FAWWA. A talented poet, Trisha’s poetry was published many times and, in 2007 she published her book ‘Listen to the Talk of Us: People with Dementia Speak Out’, which contributed to her being awarded an OAM in 2015 for service to literature and to people with Alzheimer’s.
She often spoke of her own death with her daughters, Haede, Kate Dawes (Kotai 1983) and Clara Kotai (1987), and received their blessing that it was ok for her to go if she wished, when the time came. Trisha was adamant she would not leave her home and, as she wished, she died there on 17 January 2021, aged 81. Her funeral would have been very largely attended, but fell in the middle of our five day lockdown. Thus, her memorial service was held in March, fittingly in the grounds of Mattie Furphy House below a canopy of eucalypts and a circling flight of Carnaby’s Cockatoos. Her passing has left a huge hole in the worlds of dance, teaching and writing, and we extend our sincere condolences to her daughters and granddaughters, her many friends, and everyone who loved her.
Jenny Hetherington (English and Drama teacher 1979-2002; Director of Career Development 2002-2017) and Trisha’s dear friend from their days together here, last saw Trisha in the middle of last year when, she says, while Trisha was becoming the tiniest bit frail, she was still “completely and marvelously herself”. We understand the epilepsy with which Trisha had lived all her life, had begun to re-emerge and played on her mind. She was not afraid of death, and in fact welcomed going into the invisible realm with the certainty she would see her adored parents once more.
Dr Trisha Kotai-Ewers OAM (Ewers 1956), or Madame Kotai as many of her students and Summers House girls will remember her.
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OBITUARIES While her own preference was for classical singing, she loved learning the modern songs the girls wanted to sing.
Merle Lorraine Page (nee Dorrington) LMus LTCL Piano, Singing and Music Mistress 1954-1993 Honorary Life Member of the OCA 8 February 1931 – 1 December 2020 Music was Merle’s first love. The daughter of Percival and Ruby Dorrington, licensees of Boulder’s Shamrock Hotel, as a tiny tot she used to sit and strum an old bicycle wheel and sing and, at five, sometimes performed at family events at the Shamrock.
Otherwise, because Percy and Ruby wanted their only daughter to have a refined upbringing, Merle was kept firmly away from the rougher side of life in the mining town, and also from most patrons and activities inside the Shamrock Hotel. There were few opportunities in the country to pursue a love of music so strong, but Merle’s mother, Ruby nee Scott, was an accomplished pianist who, before her marriage, headlined her own orchestra. She was the consummate professional and saw to it that Merle had the musical education she desperately wanted. Aged nine, in January 1940, she began studying under Miss Olive Ruane LRSM LMusA and, 14 months later in March 1941, passed exams in preparatory theory (honours), junior theory (honours), preparatory piano (honours), University of WA Grade V, piano, honours (highly commended), and Grade VI, theory (credit) with Trinity College of Music, London. In 1945 Merle won the local prize for the Intermediate Division, and soon began taking her own piano students in Miss Ruane’s premises in Piesse Street, Boulder. In 1952 she was awarded her LMusA with the Australian Music Examinations Board. In the early 1950s Percy and Ruby sold the Shamrock and moved down to Perth; first to John Street, Cottesloe, but soon, to 22 East Street, Mount Hawthorn, where Merle lived for all but the last few months of her life. In February 1954 Merle (23) joined PLC staff as a part-time Music Teacher and Accompanist, working closely with Miss Dorothy Hutchinson (Music Mistress 1920-1965), still our longest-serving staff member and with whom Merle got along very well, and Mr Zdislaus Ladomirska or ‘Mr Lado’ (Music teacher 1950-1966).
Merle Dorrington featuring in The Sunday Times, 9 March 1941.
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In a 2011 interview with Grace Muir (2015) and Sally Mathwin (2015) as part of an Archives’ Centenary Project, Merle said:
“When I came to PLC in 1954 there were four piano teachers and the piano rooms were situated off McNeil Street. (There used to be double gates going out onto McNeil Street.) There was a two-storey building; the upper floors occupied by domestic staff, and below there were seven piano rooms with four piano teachers. They were quite noisy, really, because the Leavings and SubLeavings had their classes to the left of our building, and they had their lockers situated along the walls of our music rooms, which were very small!” At the time, PLC girls all had the opportunity to sing in the choir, but now that there was an accompanist, Miss Hutchinson saw the opportunity for PLC to compete in the WA Music Teachers’ Association’s annual Festival Choirs. Merle described 1954 as when the girls who couldn’t sing were released from the choir, leaving 35 of the purest voices. Lots of practise ensued, and our choir then competed every year between 1954 and 1967, during which we celebrated four firsts (1958, 1959, 1961 and 1966) and otherwise finished in the top three. In 1971 the Junior (Year 10) and Leaving (Year 12) Certificates were abolished and replaced with the Achievement Certificate, for which music became a properly assessible subject, just like maths, literature or chemistry. This was the catalyst for positive change in the study of music, and the School aimed at bringing someone on board who could really launch a strong music programme to build on. Merle was delighted at this. She believed music is a universal language, and that everyone should learn music of some description. Thus things changed dramatically in 1975, for both Merle and PLC’s Music programme, with the arrival of former army band master Eric Page (Director of Music 1975-1981) from Melbourne. In October that year his wife and daughter, Dawn Page (1978), joined him. Suddenly every girl who wanted to learn music, could, in addition to 25 girls being picked
We are greatly saddened to hear of the passing of the following Old Collegians: Beryl Norma Edmund Anderson (Jones 1947) 2 September 1930 – 30 November 2020 Merilyn Bethea Butterworth (Waddell 1957) 15 April 1940 – 13 December 2020 Suzanne Margaret ‘Sue’ Carew-Reid (Copley 1947) 25 December 1929 – 24 December 2020 Paige Taylor Counsell (2012) 14 May 1995 – 16 December 2020 Joan Margaret Goad (Hiller 1950) 11 March 1933 – 29 January 2021
from Year 8 to study an instrument, with succession planning built in. As a result, by 1979, some 350 girls were involved in instrumental music. Along with this huge surge in the study of music came the start of Band tours and, wherever the Band went, with Eric, the Choir went, too, with Merle. While her own preference was for classical singing, she loved learning the modern songs the girls wanted to sing. After Eric’s marriage ended in 1979, Merle and Eric got together. They married in 1981, and were blissfully happy until Eric died in July 1982, aged just 52. Despite her grief, Merle resumed teaching later in 1982. It was the year Maribeth Williamson (Music and Singing teacher, 1982-2012) started at PLC. Merle welcomed her warmly, with her wealth of musical knowledge and imparting the tradition of music at PLC. Within months, vocal student numbers grew. The Chorale was formed, and they again entered choral festivals, with ensemble members competing as soloists, and taking their AMEB exams. Merle was their brilliant accompanist, working tirelessly with each girl to ensure they presented at their very best on the day, regardless of age or expertise. She also accompanied her own piano students to their exams in Nedlands, imparting wisdom and calm in the drive to and from PLC. Merle continued to attend music camps, though not as many after Eric died. Kerry Jones (Pipe Band teacher 1982-2016) remembered the staff supper at the end of a long day at a Fairbridge music camp, with Merle,
always the lady, “as pretty as a picture in her long nightie, embroidered dressing gown, matching slippers, and her beautiful hair neatly wrapped in a hair net.” In 2011, long after her retirement in 1993, after 40 years here, Merle said she had loved every minute of her time at PLC. The years afterwards were spent very quietly at home, occasionally socialising with close friends such as Muriel Gadsdon (Goodall 1952; Music teacher 1970-1984 and 1988-2004, dec) and, even more occasionally, attending a special PLC music event. She is long remembered as strong minded and extremely talented. During her time here she added much to the success of her students, as well as to the Music Department, the staff of which considered it a privilege to have worked alongside her. Merle moved into care at the end of 2020 and unfortunately died, very soon after, aged 89. The song is ended, but the melody lingers on. ABOVE: The first victorious 1958 Festival Choir Back, L-R: Susan Gooch, Sandra Davy, Lesley Brodie-Hall, Eleanor Scrymgeour, Jennifer Staniland, Diana Chase, Sally Huelin, Gerry Avery, Judith Cammilleri, Margaret Dann Jillian Eyres, Teeny Law, Marg Gordon, Betty Malcolm, Miss Merle Dorrington, Miss Dorothy Hutchinson, Helen Boys, Sandra Duncan, Alison Ward Second row: Elizabeth Godsman, Anne ‘Tiggy’ Maitland, Jeannie Lyall, Jenny Meecham, Marg Dare, Rosalind Mayrhofer, Susan Crawley, Daphne Young, Marie Hitchings Front: Di Gribble, Helen Novakov, Jan McGregor, Colyn Grigg, Veronica Uren, Joy Owen, Jame Stimson, Elizabeth Liddell, Dorothy Inkpen.
Marjorie Dell Hutchinson (Smith 1941) 14 July 1924 – 6 March 2021 Helen Jeanette James (Williams 1944) 15 April 1927 – 17 November 2020 Dr Patricia Jean ‘Trisha’ Kotai-Ewers OAM (Ewers 1956) 17 July 1939 – 17 January 2021 (see also staff, below) Margaret Jean Howse (Eddleston 1962) 28 May 1945 – 11 February 2021 Shirley Catherine McKee (Edwards 1939) 10 December 1922 – 5 January 2021 Penelope Dawn ‘Penny’ Moir (Leighton 1977) 15 March 1960 – 11 January 2021 Doreen Joy Owens (Brockway 1946) 7 November 1928 – 1 September 2020 Sonya Pamela Rodgers (1988) 4 November 1971 – 31 December 2020 Jenny Sue Townsend (Clough 1971) 12 July 1954 – 10 February 2021 Kaye Sylvia Ward (Olsen 1966) 19 January 1949 – 5 March 2021
We are also saddened to advise the passing of some of our former staff: Sally Patricia Alys Cook (nee Vardon) Middle School Hygiene, English and History Teacher 1957-1962 27 March 1934 – 6 January 2021 Taryn Margaret Fiebig Music Teacher (cello) 1992-1997 1 February 1972 – 20 March 2021 Merle Lorraine Page (nee Dorrington) Piano, Singing and Music Mistress 1954-1993 Honorary Life Member of the Old Collegians’ Association 8 February 1931 – 1 December 2020 Dr Patricia Jean ‘Trisha’ Kotai-Ewers OAM French Teacher 1979-1988; Summers House Advisor 1984-1988 17 July 1939 – 17 January 2021
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