Boarders
Celebrating all things pink!
I think it’s fair to say that every week at Pymble is Boarders’ Week, but that special time between 12 and 19 May, where we formally celebrate all things Boarding, is a true highlight. This year was no exception as we started the week with our much-anticipated Year 7 to 9 Social and kept the entire College fully engaged with all things Boarding for the next seven days. This really does set the tone for the season with busy Boarders and our dedicated Boarding staff making the most of every opportunity. We had Boarders setting off overseas, a celebration of our First Nations scholars and our very own Dr H taking a 2,600-plus kilometre plus journey around country New South Wales to visit Boarders on their home turf. Even our Boarding parents got into the fun with their own special event in the Hawkesbury hosted by the McLaughlin family. Amongst all of the action, we welcomed our new Reverend, Rev Danielle, the perfect partner for our much-loved Rev Cass.
A busy time and much to report! I hope you might be able to spare some time to grab a cuppa and a sunny spot and enjoy a little glimpse into the autumnal lives of our Boarders.
Carolyn Burgess DIRECTOR OF BOARDING
Roadtripping in regional NSW
DR KATE HADWEN, PRINCIPAL
At the end of Term 1, Matt and I had the great pleasure of visiting several of our current and incoming Boarding families, many of whom have a long association with Pymble. Our six-day, 2,600 kilometre roadtrip through regional NSW saw us stop at Port Macquarie, Walcha, Gravesend, Pallamallawa, Moree, Walgett, Bourke, Nyngan, Griffith, Young and Moss Vale.
It was a privilege to spend time in the homes and towns of our Boarding families, listening to their stories, and getting to know the people and places in their lives. We also had the joy of meeting many grandparents along the way, which was extra special.
Three soon-to-be Boarders, coming our way: Lexie Kostalas, Isobel Inglis and Marlia Uhl from the Port Macquarie Region. How exciting!
Our sincere thanks go to the Barwick, Ritchie and Beveridge families for generously hosting us overnight, the Jacksons for hosting morning tea at their home in Nyngan, and all the families who put aside time for us to learn about the innovative practices they are integrating into their businesses and to reconnect as a Pymble family.
We are so proud of our strong, caring Boarding community and deeply value the trust our Boarding families place in us to care for their most precious assets, their girls.
Lunch at Walcha’s Café Graze, owned by Edwina Payne (1992), mum of Elke in Year 10. We also met up with the family of Harriett Lisle in Year 8, including grandmother, Anna Lisle (1976).
We loved our tour of Fairlands with the Webers, parents of Hannah in Year 11, who is also the youngest model on the family billboard in the background. Adorable! It was also great to catch up with the Farr family, parents of Evie (Year 9) and Milly (Year 7) and learn about the wonders of using Mitchell grasses in agriculture.
At Rankin Springs we met up with former Boarder Kate Luelf (1998) and future Pymble girls, Imogen, Madison and Zoe, who joins us in Year 7 in 2025.
Great night at Pallamallawa with the Barwicks, parents of Tilly (2023), Lola (Year 11) and Poppy (Year 9), and the incoming Browns (Maggie, Year 7 2025). Hopefully little Florence will join us too! So good to see Alice Hillsdon (2023), who was visiting the Barwicks.
Young is home to third generation Pymble girl, Edwina Beveridge (1993), husband Michael and their daughters Alice in Year 11 and Sophie in Year 9. We also caught up with Justin and Jane Leahy, parents of Macey (2023), Evie in Year 11 and Daysie in Year 7, and Sally and Scott Metcalfe, parents of Camilla in Year 7.
Last stop before heading for home –charming Moss Vale to catch up with the equally charming Whites, parents of Xyla in Year 9.
Community Weekend
ALICE BEVERIDGE (YEAR 11), YOUNG
The Term 2 Community Weekend is always a favourite with the traditional ‘Just Dance’ competition and dodgeball and benchball tournament. On Saturday night all Boarders from Year 7 to 12 got into the Olympic spirit to participate in the yearly ‘Just Dance’ night. We had swimmers, the Australian track team, Greek goddesses from the first Olympics in Greece, Argentinian rugby players and many more. After a few warm-up dances the competition started, year vs year, the crowd cheering for the winners. It came down to the grand final - Year 11 vs Year 12. The crowd was roaring, screaming and chanting, all divided between Year 11 and 12, until finally Year 11 brought it home for the win, with the reward of going to dinner first for the next week.
“Year 11 took home the just dance crown, much to the dismay of Year 12.”
On Sunday morning we woke up bright and early, excited to put our school uniform back on for the weekend (not) to head to the Gordon-Pymble Uniting Church Chapel service, hosted here in our very own War Memorial Chapel. We all enjoyed the service, especially being a part of the baptism of the Iittle babies and were keen to get back to the Boarders’ Dining Room for the delicious brunch that had been prepared. After stuffing ourselves full of hash browns we headed back to the houses to put on our house shirts ready for the game of benchball and dodgeball. House vs house, winner vs winner, loser vs loser, until we found the winner. Although Marden tried to cheat themselves to a win, Goodlet* came out on top (no surprise). I will admit, I was nervous during the game but the Goodlet spirit shone through and we took the win for both the benchball and dodgeball.
* Yes, I am a proud fourth-generation Goodlet girl!
Pymble Goes West
CAROLYN BURGESS, DIRECTOR OF BOARDING
The Dubbo Boarding Expo is one of my favourite events of the year. Many of our Boarding families are based in the Central West and it is always an excellent opportunity to meet present, past and prospective families and share the joys of life at Pymble. As has become the tradition, we celebrated together at Press in Dubbo and it is always a treat to chat with our future Boarders over a toasted marshmallow, fresh from the firepit. We were extra lucky to have Dr Hadwen, Mr Bell and our Chair of the College Board, Mr Chris Fydler and his wife Rose join in the fun. Both Dr Hadwen and Mr Fydler spoke highly of our Boarding family, each noting the Boarders as the heart of Pymble
Boarding Parents hit the Hawkesbury
MRS EDWINA BEVERIDGE, BOARDER PARENT GROUP PRESIDENT
A weekend in May saw Pymble Boarding parents gathering at the McLaughlin family’s Hillbilly Cider shed at Bilpin, trying paddles of cider, meeting other parents and eating piping hot pizza for lunch, some seriously good cider and a beautiful location amongst the tall trees of the Blue Mountains, well worth the trip! The party then moved on to the Crown Plaza at Richmond for a dinner, more chatting and a few games of pool. It was a very fun and rowdy afternoon and evening. Not to do anything by halves, the McLaughlins also had a game of polo organised for us to watch at the beautiful Windsor Polo Club.
We are lucky to have such a great bunch of families, whose efforts to visit the Hawkesbury, were rewarded with an amazing weekend. Thank you to all those Boarding families who took time out to come along and meet other parents, and a special thank you to the McLaughlins - the bar has been set very high.
The Country Women’s Association (CWA)
MRS LYN BRIACO, ASSISTANT HEAD OF MARDEN HOUSE
The Hornsby District Branch is working with Pymble Ladies’ College Boarders to support young women to find out more about the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of New South Wales. Our branch has signed up all 135 Boarders as junior members and will be encouraging them to enjoy all portfolios of CWA and be part of our association. In theory, this will foster a better understanding of CWA throughout rural, regional and remote areas of NSW and the ACT and hopefully when these Boarders return home, they will be able to touch base with their local branches and enjoy all the CWA has to offer.
One of our first activities was scone making for a major catering weekend at the Fairholme Quilting display in Thornleigh over a weekend in May. Three BoardersJocelyn, Millie and Latiah - made just over 200 scones for the Hornsby CWA Café. It was a great way to spend Saturday night in Marden House, sharing scone making skills, lots of laughter and taste testing of course, complete with jam and cream!
We also thank the wider school community of Pymble for supporting the Boarders Week BBQ, where $700 was raised for CWA. Thank you to Carolyn Burgess for her enthusiasm in promoting CWA of NSW and for all the staff and students at Pymble for supporting CWA of NSW.
An English adventure
PHOEBE ROBERTS (YEAR 10) NARROMINE
On April 13 I set off on international exchange to Wrekin College, in Wellington Shropshire, England. The co-educational boarding school was first established in 1880 and is set in the beautiful English countryside. School started at 8.20am and finished at 5.30pm, long days which I was not used to but as the weeks went on, I got into routine. I was boarding at the school during the week and would stay with my exchange partner on the weekend. Throughout the six weekends we were there we visited Ironbridge, Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury, Attingham’s Mansion, Liverpool, Stoke, Whitmore, Birmingham, London, Bristol, Bath and Oxford. During one of our weeks we also went to Chester Zoo with the biology students in our year group.
As Wrekin is a co-educational school, I definitely noticed a difference compared to Pymble. I was in an older year group and the English education system is very different to Australia. They don’t do the HSC; instead, they do GCSEs and A-levels. On Wednesday, sixth form (my year group) were allowed to get a town pass after 3.00pm and we could go into town until whenever we liked.
The best part of the exchange was making new friends and being able to go on the train and explore on the weekends. Cricket was a huge thing and everyone would go and watch the boys’ and girls’ teams out on the field which was really nice. Something I learnt about myself is that I do love Australia, and as I said to my friend during the last week, “I don’t want to leave but I cannot wait to get on the plane home and touch down on Aussie soil.”
“Joining Cadets in Year 8 was one of the best choices I have ever made.”
Deputy Chief of Army – Adventure Training Award (ATA)
CORPORAL HANNAH WEBER (YEAR 11), WALGETT
Midway through Term 1, I was fortunate enough to be nominated by the Pymble Ladies’ College Cadet Unit, to participate in the Australian Army Cadets National Adventure Training Award (ATA) held at Lake Barrington, Tasmania.
The ATA is designed to be the “most physically challenging and demanding field activity” that an Australian Army Cadet can undertake. I was keen for the challenge, and determined to give my all to potentially earning the highest accolade a cadet can receive - the prized Boomerang and Torch badge.
The preparation and barrier testing, that needed to be achieved, to qualify as an ATA candidate was of a very high and exacting standard. This included a pack march, carrying approximately 21kg, over a distance of 7.5km, within a time constraint of 90 minutes. I also needed to pass a swimming test, BEEP test, written knowledge assessment of navigation, first aid, communications, as well as having already attained the promotional rank of Corporal.
On day one of ATA, I arrived at Sydney domestic airport to coordinate with 23 other cadets from NSW. We flew into Launceston airport, changed to buses, and were then transported to our first designated area at Lake Barrington. There were 81 cadets, from cadet units across Australia, in attendance, as well as numerous support personnel and staff from the ADF.
At the base camp, we changed from civilian attire, into our our Australian Multicam Camouflage Uniform (AMCU), loaded up our packs (also called “Battle Prep”) and awaited instructions.
Using head torches, we received our first instructions, were allocated syndicates, got on a bus and didn’t reach our night location until one o’clock in the morning. We then set up our hutchies, unrolled our sleeping bags onto the cold ground and tried to grab some rest.
My allocated syndicate was Charlie 2. This was our group of 9 cadets, that we were to stay with for the duration of the challenge. There were 8 other syndicates of 9 cadets.
The first instruction to Charlie 2 was to hike up Mount Roland, 1,223 metres above sea level. It was 20 kilometres in distance to travel and took several hours in duration to arrive at the summit. We used a map and compasses to navigate the mountain terrain as a team. The challenges on the second day were deep rock gully canyoning through Machinery Creek, abseiling down six thirty-metre-tall waterfalls and realistic first aid scenarios. The final day involved a navigation kayak across 11 kilometres in Lake Barrington, raft making from jerry cans and then, as a team, paddling our creation across one kilometre of the lake. We also carried out field first aid and rescue scenarios.
Throughout the three days of intense activity, we were constantly being individually assessed (including 5 multiple choice/short answer assessments) and assessed as a syndicate. It was a mental challenge to work as a team to succeed, but at the same time, competing against your team members for the award.
Our syndicate functioned efficiently as a team, and each member of the group had valuable skills to contribute, which added to the overall success of our challenges. My leadership skills were very crucial during the navigational challenges and the communications activities. Our syndicate met with the Commander of the Australian Army Cadets, Brigadier Slaughter, which was an incredible experience.
I was presented with the Golden Boomerang and Torch badge, and certificate, by the Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Chris Smith, DSC, AM, CSC, on 12 April. All 81 cadets successfully passed the challenge, (which hasn’t occurred before.) I can now claim to be in the top one per cent of all Australian Army Cadets.
I want to attribute my success on achieving the Boomerang and Torch, firstly to my family who have supported me in every way, and with huge gratitude to the Pymble Ladies’ College Cadet Unit. Joining Cadets in Year 8 was one of the best choices I have ever made.
I have also been inspired by two family members, who both served bravely and purposefully in WW2. Bomber
Command and Flying Officer Keith Weber, and Infantry Private Milton Deutscher. Both Keith and Milton were young livestock and grain farmers and left their families and farms to protect their nation, and ultimately gave their lives in the name of service.
The Pymble Cadet Unit is such a worthwhile cocurricular activity to participate in and facilitates growth and development of individuals like no other activity can. Sure, it may not be the trendy high school activity to do for some girls, and wearing AMCU on Mondays may not be your cup of tea, but it is the ultimate service activity that any young Australian can commit to. Cadets has developed my leadership, self-confidence and has shaped my future.
The values that form the Australian Army Cadets’ identity are so vital, not only at a national service level, but for everyday society. The Australian Army Cadet values are service, courage, respect, integrity, and excellence. The values were tested and assessed as part of the ATA, and without knowledge and implementation of these values, I would not have been successful.
The ATA was humbling, gratifying, enlightening and consolidating. The ATA was extremely challenging, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. There was no room for self-doubt, or doubt in your syndicate’s aptitude, or my ability to lead with confidence.
Our Pink Ladies
Pink Ladies are special people in the lives of our Boarders who go out of their way to make our time in Boarding easier, happier and much more connected.
ASPEN MOORE (YEAR 12, HEAD BOARDER), DUBBO AND SKYE POCKLEY (YEAR 12, HEAD BOARDER), BYRON BAY
For those who don’t already know, at the end of each term the Boarding community awards a staff member and family within the day school in thanks of their ongoing kindness and support to the Boarding community.
It was an easy choice for our autumn staff Pink Ladies - Mr Greg Hastie and Ms Vanessa Yu who are the incredible team who brought our dream of a Year 7 Boarding house to life, and in record time! Mr Hastie had a very clear vision of the new Year 7s carrying their suitcases through the doors of Avonmoore early in Term 1 and somehow managed, against all odds, to pull it off! It was a great lesson for us all in the power of determination, fortitude and deep care. Ms Yu was also there every step of the way, negotiating with designers and regulatory authorities to ensure Avonmoore turned out to be a beautiful, welcoming and highly functioning home. Thank you from all of us, and welcome to the Pink Lady club!
Not only are the fabulous staff at the College a significant support to our Boarders, but of course, there are so many wonderful families in our day school who so kindly help our Boarders with a place to stay, transport to and from sport, and if you’re lucky, some special treats. This term we would like to thank the McLean family who have been a huge support for our Boarders, opening the doors of their home for us to stay in holidays for extra commitments, weekends and many lifts to and from sport. This family has been extra welcoming for new Boarders, helping them out both in the day school and out of school. Thank you to the entire McLean family, including Harriet (Year 12) and Lucy (Year 10), for their support and kindness towards our Boarding family. Please know, your efforts do not go unnoticed.
Boarders’ Week
ANDIE HODDER (YEAR 12), FORBES
Welcome to Boarders’ Week! Over the course of the week, we celebrate Boarders with a range of activities and head-to-head sporting competitions between day students and Boarders. The celebration commenced on 13 May, with events throughout the week. Our Boarding community came together to compete against the day girls in a variety of sports including netball, water polo, touch football and volleyball. The Boarders’ competitive spirit and excitement to play resulted in a win and some losses, although this did not stop the Boarders from getting into it and having a go!
But Boarders’ Week is about more than just sports. We hosted a breakfast for the teachers and staff to express our gratitude for everything they do for us Boarders. Each of us wrote heartfelt cards to show our appreciation. Additionally, offices throughout the school were beautifully decorated in celebration of Boarders’ Week. Special mention goes to the Upper School for hosting ‘Nanna’ the goat and some adorable chicks for the week. The Middle School team also impressed with scarecrows and hay bales. A big thank you to the Chartwells catering team for making the week extra special with delicious morning tea and afternoon treats.
The week finished with one of our favourite annual highlights - the Charity Sausage Sizzle. Together this year we raised over $700 for the Country Women’s Association. This is a lunch time that everyone looks forward to; not only do the Boarders get to show off their superior cooking skills, but also their incredible taste in music.
Overall, Boarders’ Week was a fantastic celebration of friendship and sportsmanship with the Boarders bringing home spirit and a well-deserved win in the volleyball match.
And a word from our Head of Marden House, Mrs Beth Ayling….
This was a Boarders’ Week to remember! The entire College had such a fantastic time celebrating our girls. Personally, my favourite part was hearing one of our Year 10 Boarders get so giddy with joy at one of our events that she just couldn’t contain herself, saying “I just love this so much! I just love Boarders’ Week”. I think for me, this really drove home how much this week means to our girls. It’s not a tokenistic event, it really means something to the Boarders to have the whole school getting behind them. It gives them their chance to shine and it gives everyone else a chance to show gratitude for everything they bring to the College.
It is probably easy for so many to forget that, on top of all the things that your average teenager has to manage, these girls are also often hundreds of kilometres from their mums, dads, siblings, grandparents, friends, pets and everything that is comfortable and familiar for them – everything they call ‘home’. When Dr Hadwen talks about the Boarders as the heart and soul of Pymble, it really is true and Boarders’ Week gives them a chance to make sure everybody else knows this!
Celebrating our First Nations Scholars
IMOGEN HAWKINS (YEAR 12), KEPNOCK, QUEENSLAND
My name is Imogen, I am a proud Gamilaraay woman. I have been boarding at Pymble since Year 8 and am now in Year 12. I am from a family of 5 with my parents and two younger brothers who are all in Bundaberg.
I came to Pymble in 2020 because my family and I wanted a supportive and challenging environment in which I could grow. At first, I was both excited and nervous. My dad was in the navy, and as a result we moved around a lot, and I had to learn how to adjust to new friends and different environments. However, Pymble soon became a new constant in my life, for which I am so grateful.
Pymble has helped me grow a lot, encouraging me to try new things, take on leadership roles and look into a lot of opportunities I would have never had the chance to. Looking back and now being in my final year, I can truly see how much this school has given me, the confidence to be here right now writing to you, skills for my future and the lifelong friends I have made.
During my time at Pymble, I have had the incredible opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities,
many of which have shaped my passions and interests. From joining water polo and hockey teams, to being able to express myself in drama and the arts, each experience has played a vital role in my growth and the person I am today.
Being a part of sports teams has taught me the importance of teamwork, winning and losing, as well as dedication. My competitive spirit has very much grown being at Pymble, as has my dramatic side. Being involved in the creative and performing arts has allowed me to explore and express myself in ways I never thought were possible, as well as explore my culture more deeply. Most recently, I have helped produce an artwork for the Conde Library’s Acknowledgement of Country, which is hung in the entranceway as a reminder of whose land we stand on.
The opportunity to engage in community service projects has also given me a sense of fulfilment and joy in giving back. In particular, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to go to Arnhem Land and be immersed in Yolngu culture. I sent this text to my parents the day we landed back in Sydney explaining the effect it had on me.
It read, “Probably the best thing I have ever heard was one of the Yolngu ladies explain how rich they are. She said being rich can mean all different things, and although most people think being rich or successful is having a lot of money, she said her vision of being successful is being where she is now. She is rich in health, family, knowledge and happiness. And so am I. I know most people would judge some of the houses they lived in, maybe even the lack of wealth they were surrounded by. But when I tell you, some of those people were the happiest people I have ever met, I would rather live like that any day. I couldn’t even tell you how jealous I was by the amount of knowledge they had, it makes me both happy and sad, as sometimes I wish mine and dad’s mob had more knowledge since most of it is lost, but it also makes me happy still knowing our culture as a whole isn’t lost. One of the Elders spoke about growth, growth in culture, growth in understanding… Aboriginal or not, we learn to keep that fire alive”.
This was without question a life-changing experience that I will remember forever. The pride I felt in my culture, my family and my First Nations sisters here with me today was and is immense.
My friends and fellow First Nations students at Pymble are my second family and the people who make my home away from home in Boarding. They’ve been there for me when I’ve been at my weakest and to celebrate my strengths. Many of us First Nations students have built a strong bond, based on shared experience and a deep sense of connection throughout our culture. They’ve all shown me the true meaning of sisterhood, teaching me that family is more than just blood. With them, they have created a place and school environment where I am loved, accepted and cherished for who I truly am.
After I finish school, I want to study psychology at the University of Queensland. Understanding the human mind has always fascinated me, and I want to help people with their mental health. I also plan to travel and learn about different cultures, including my own. Overall, my goal is to make a positive impact and to know that I’ve made a difference, no matter how small.
The Margaret Brooke ‘Brooksie’ Award
The Margaret Brooke Award – ‘The Brooksie’– is awarded in the final Chapel service at the end of each term to a Boarder who exemplifies the spirit of a tenacious, courageous, compassionate and giving woman.
MRS ANNE GRAHAM, HEAD OF LANG HOUSE
This Boarder consistently:
• Upholds and demonstrates the College values of Care, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Responsibility.
• Actively contributes to the Boarding community.
• Demonstrates dedication to her studies.
• Displays ‘Pymble Pride’ including wearing appropriate school uniform, being punctual and maintaining a tidy room.
Brielle Mann
Brielle epitomises the essence of the Brooksie Award, being tenacious, courageous, compassionate and giving. Her remarkable spirit transcends barriers that are just waiting to be conquered. Her tenacity shines through in her determination to make the most of any situation, refusing to let any challenge deter her from pursuing her goals. Her courage is evident - she persists with resilience and grit.
Brielle is a true friend, always ready to step in and help anyone who needs it. She is respected for her compassion as she extends empathy and support to those around her. Brielle loves to ensure a peaceful environment in the house, does not speak ill of others and is kind and understanding.
Chatting with staff and her Boarding sisters gives her pleasure and she is an enthusiastic, and funny, storyteller. Her sense of humour just adds to her individuality and charm. She also takes pride in having an immaculate uniform.
Brielle’s creative side gives her great joy, whether it be in her dedication to her training in rhythmic gymnastics, or immersing herself in her Textiles HSC Major Work.
Loving Love It
KATIE WHITE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BOARDING
The Love It Weekend Activity Program stands as a testament to the College’s dedication to the holistic development of our Boarders, fostering a strong sense of community among them. Each weekend offers a diverse array of activities, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy and explore.
One of the standout events for Autumn was the Year 7 to 9 Social, a highly anticipated gathering that brought together students from Joeys, Abbotsleigh, Knox, Shore, Ravenswood, Ascham and Wenona for an evening of fun and bonding. Despite an unexpected fire alarm causing a brief interruption, the event was a resounding success and marked a perfect start to our Community Weekend.
Our Years 10, 11 and 12 Boarders also enjoyed the hospitality of Ravenswood and Knox boarders, attending socials at these respective schools. These events provide valuable opportunities for our Boarders to forge new connections and take pride in dressing according to the social theme. They are eagerly awaited and hold a special place on the Boarding calendar.
Closer to home, several in-house opportunities allowed Boarders to connect throughout the term. We kicked off with the Big Sister-Little Sister movie night in Avonmoore, where the Big Sisters treated their younger counterparts to an array of desserts before settling in for a cozy movie night. It has been heartwarming to witness these bonds strengthen over the course of the year.
Responding to Boarders’ requests for more year-group bonding opportunities, autumn saw the various houses take turns hosting pizza and games nights.
These gatherings have been a great success, and we plan to continue these events into the winter term, with dessert and games nights on the horizon.
A visit to Taronga Zoo provided Boarders with a chance to connect with wildlife and appreciate conservation efforts firsthand. Against the backdrop of Sydney’s skyline, they marvelled at majestic elephants and playful penguins, gaining a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship. Similarly awe-inspiring was their nighttime visit to Vivid Sydney, where they immersed themselves in dazzling lights and interactive art installations that transformed Sydney’s landmarks.
As I write the Boarders are busily anticipating the adventures to come.
A View From My Window: Darwin
WYNTAH WOODROFFE-MULHOLLAND (YEAR 10), DARWIN
My name is Wyntah WoodroffeMulholland, I’m in Year 10 and I’ve been boarding since Year 9, 2023. I live in Darwin, which is at the top of the Northern Territory and about four hours away from Sydney by plane. I’ve lived in Darwin my whole life with my family. In my family there is myself, my older brother, Chayseton, two younger sisters - Imarni, who is at Pymble with me, and Celia-Betty, who is nine - my younger brothers, Patrick, seven, and Junior who is two. And, of course, my parents, Enid and Kim.
The view from my window is actually just the road and the front of another person’s house but the time I spend at home are my most cherished memories with my family. Whether it’s having a day out fishing somewhere off the Nightcliff Jetty, the creek or in the mangroves, swimming in any nearby waterhole, going to the rugby or AFL stadium and watching my siblings play – even the early 8.00am games and staying all day to watch the 6.30pm gamesgoing to the city to have dinner then finishing off the night with a ride on
the ferris wheel, having a barbecue down on the beach with all the family or simply just having a girls’ day with mum at the local shopping centre.
I had never boarded or been such a long way from home since coming to Pymble last year, so it was a big adjustment coming here and starting a new school. Although I love it in Sydney and I am very grateful for all the new opportunities that have opened up for me, going home is definitely one of the biggest highlights at the end of every term.
A View From My Window: Walcha
HARRIET LISLE (YEAR 8), WALCHA
Hi, my name Is Harriett Lisle and I am a Year 8 Boarder here at Pymble I come from a small town called Walcha, which is five hours north of Sydney and one hour east of Tamworth. Walcha is known for its natural beauty with waterfalls and gorges, along with beautiful rivers full of trout. I have three younger siblings: Tom, Will and Edwina. We live on a sheep and cattle farm, with a bunch of pets including our dogs, Pip, Dea, and Ruby, our cat, Tabby, our chooks and ducks, and Pumbaa, the feral pig.
I came to Pymble because of the amazing opportunities, variety of
sports, fantastic education and lots of my family who went before me.
I have loved hockey for a long time but Pymble has helped improve my skills and I really enjoy playing here. My great-grandmother also went to Pymble; she always tells me that when she was in Year 7 there were only 60 girls in her year, and that was considered big! They used to sit together on Gloucester lawn in a big circle. Great-Nanny used to run around the hockey field and in those days they didn’t have shin guards, meaning she was was hit in the shins every game. Apparently her bones
still have dints in them from the hockey ball. Thankgoodness hockey at Pymble is much safer now!
When I look out my window I see my sister, Edwina, playing with the animals, my brother, Will, mustering sheep, and my brother, Tom, building things, I see baby lambs prancing, and I see my mum’s garden. When I am at home I like to help Dad mark the lambs or cook with my mum, but my favourite thing to do is spend time with my animals and see my cousins. When I return to Boarding, I feel sad but I know good things are ahead of me, I enjoy seeing my friends and Sydney family.
Meet our new Revs
ADDISON (ADDI) SEETO (YEAR 10), PAPUA NEW GUINEA
At the start of Term 2 we welcomed Reverend Danielle Hemsworth-Smith, to join Reverend Cass Blake in our much-loved Chaplaincy team. To get to know our two new beautiful Chaplains, I had the privilege and honour to get an opportunity to ask questions to get to know them better! We chatted about everything from what superpowers they wished to have or who is one person that inspires them the most every day, (spoiler, find your nearest tissues, this part made me shed a tear!). Through the contagious laughs and the flowing conversations, I got a small glimpse of their lives and all the adventures that they hold.
Addi: What is one superpower that you wished you had?
Rev Danielle: I always said I wanted to have the ability to be invisible but after a conversation with two girls in Year 7 last week about this same topic I have decided that if I had to have one superpower it would definitely be shapeshifting. The girls pointed out to me that if you shapeshift you can become invisible. And how cool would it be to shapeshift into something like a bird?
Rev Cass: Good question, I think I would want to have the ability to time travel because I could go back to when I was a child or even because I love history, I could time travel to long ago!
Addi: What is one meal you could have for the rest of your life?
Rev Danielle: Good question, I would love to have a salad sandwich everyday. But it has to be a gourmet salad sandwich. I could eat that for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rev Cass: Mine would definitely be a chilli prawn fried rice without a doubt. I love that meal so much.
Addi: What is one of the most bizarre things you have ever done in your life?
Rev Danielle: I’ve gone riding on the back of a camel in the Sahara desert. It was incredible!
Rev Cass: I’d say something that is pretty crazy that I’ve done is pet a crocodile. Pretty scary but yeah pretty crazy.
Addi: What is your favourite thing about chapel?
Rev Danielle: This is pretty crazy but I love seeing the Boarders walk into chapel in their uggs and their tracksuits. I think it is pretty funny and I love seeing it. Definitely one of my favourite parts.
Rev Cass: I’d say something that I really love is the passing of the peace. It is actually really cute to see all the girls hugging each other or fist bumping each other. It really does show the community and the love.
Addi: What have been some of your highs and lows since being at the College?
Rev Danielle: I must say one low has definitely been leaving the community that I was just with behind and having to say goodbyes. Even though I know they will always be with me, goodbyes are always hard. But in saying that one high has been meeting everyone here at Pymble and having so many new people in my life. Oh and I’ve also gotten lost a couple of times. That was pretty low.
Rev Cass: This is actually funny but one time I was walking to chapel and there was this loose tile and I stepped in it and a bunch of water came out and landed on my brand new shoes. That was definitely a low. Luckily I put some water on the shoes and got most of the stain off. But a high is just how this school just focuses so much on female empowerment and how strong and capable we actually are. I actually wish I came here as a little girl.
Addi: Who is someone in your life that inspires you everyday and what do they do to inspire you?
Rev Danielle: I have a lot of strong people in my life that inspire me every day but one that stands out to me is the lady sitting right now, Rev Cassidy. I just think there is honestly something so great about her and I love that she just always has a smile on her face.
Rev Cass: My kids inspire me every day. They are in the next generation and it makes me want to teach them and show them the wonders of the world.
Where are they now: Clarissa Auffermann
WRITTEN BY CLARISSA AUFFERMANN (YEAR 10, 2007 - YEAR 12, 2009)
Thanks to Facebook, I saw our 15-year reunion invitation which seemed to be a perfect opportunity to reconnect with Pymble girls. Having loosely been in touch with a few friends from back then, I have, though, never made it to a Pymble reunion in Sydney since our graduation as living overseas and scheduling made it difficult. This year, the timing was perfect. We had an afternoon filled with laugher, shared memories and we all felt this bond which has never faded. Fifteen years - a mix of “we mostly still look the same” and “nothing much has changed” paired with we have greatly developed, girls had travelled the world, worked overseas, while some bought houses, were married and had kids. I later walked around the Pymble grounds, a trip down memory lane, while admiring the astonishing new buildings on the beautifully developed campus. Immediate gratitude and pride accompanied me.
I became part of the Boarding family at Pymble in 2007, when I was in Year 9 after having begged my parents to enrol me at Pymble. My mother, Dina Waldthausen, and sisters, Johanna, Helene and Pauline Auffermann, spoke highly of their time at Pymble. I longed for the same opportunity because school being described as enjoyable was something I had not experienced until then. Coming from Germany where education was incomparable to Pymble, I tried to make the best of the ample of opportunities during my time on campus. The music, sports, community service and hikes linked to Duke of Edinburgh were things I loved at Pymble, and I still do.
Having had the opportunity to learn at Pymble certainly shaped me in my teenage years and still accompanies me in my current daily life as a primary school teacher; Pymble was to me the source of inspiration to educate others. After graduating from Pymble in 2009, I volunteered with Antipodeans in Peru teaching at a rural primary school near Cusco. This eye-opening experience further encouraged me to become an educator as I came to realise how fundamental education is. I then studied at the University of Education in Heidelberg, Germany and received a scholarship to learn and teach in Bandung, Indonesia. I am now pursuing a career in education encouraging students to be curious, take risks and strive for their highest. I love seeing them grow and take on challenges whilst sharing knowledge and guiding them in their personal development.
In recent years, I completed a sabbatical, during which I taught at an NGO in Varanasi, India, the internationally renowned Green School in Bali, Indonesia and worked in school development in Hanoi, Vietnam while specifically looking at their leadership and school values. I am now based in Zürich working at a bilingual international school teaching grades 3 and 4.
I am extremely thankful for the great role models that my Pymble teachers set for me and try to teach by their example.