PRESIDENT’S REPORT

What a wonderfully busy and full year the Old Ruytonians’ Association had in 2022. It was great to be able to hold so many events after a dismal couple of years and it’s a great feeling to have ‘caught up’ on our reunions now. In the second half of 2022 we held the following reunions and events:

2021, 1 Year

2000, 20 Years (belated)

1992, 30 Years

1982, 40 Years

ORA Golf Day

London Reunion old ruYTonianS’

It was very special to be able to welcome the Class of 2021 to the Old Ruytonians’ Association and see so many of this cohort attend their first Ruyton reunion. The ORA Golf Day was held after a two-year hiatus and we sincerely thank Old Ruytonian Sue Thomas (Oakley, 1966) for organising this event for the past 15 years. Our volunteers are so valuable and very much appreciated. The London Reunion was hugely successful and was held in the most exquisite venue.

All our reunions were held off site last year (except one) due at first, to COVID and then due to Ruyton’s Dream Now building project. The Dream Now building project is named after Old Ruytonian and former Principal Hilda ‘Dream’ Daniell.

We hope to see many girls at year specific reunions this year and supporting the ORA Grand Reunion so it is a huge success. We are holding a New York Reunion later this year along with three interstate reunions; it’s been a while since we’ve been able to host these, so we are very excited. Make sure the School has your correct email address so we can keep you updated with POR events and news.

We successfully held our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 2 May with Hacia Atherton elected President again. The Committee warmly welcomes new members and invites interested parties to contact them on ora@ruyton.vic.edu.au for further information.

We welcome and congratulate the Class of 2022 to the ORA and we wish the Class of 2023 a fabulous year ahead.

Finally, we would like to congratulate former ORA President, Phoebe Demiris (Tallent, 2003) on the birth of her third child, Peter Rupert Demiris last year. Peter is a younger brother for Jack and Henry (pictured below).

Grand reunion

Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club

Event details coming soon

To update your details: online – www.ruyton.vic.edu.au/our-community/ updatedetails email – ora@ruyton.vic.edu.au old ruYTonianS’ aSSociaTion Social media PlaTformS

Website – www.ruytonora.com.au

Instagram – @oldruytoniansassociation

Facebook – facebook.com/oldruytoniansassociation

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amBer’S wHiTe liGHT (awl) fundraSier

A group of Old Ruytonians from the Class of 2020 are involved in fundraising for Amber’s White Light (AWL). AWL (a sub-fund of the Australian Communities Foundation) was created by the parents of Amber Wraith (2020) after her passing last year following a struggle with mental illness. AWL supports research into complex mental health issues and suicide prevention for teenagers and young adults, especially young women. Amber was a keen relay runner while at Ruyton and there remains a camaraderie among the Year 6 Ruyton relay team that made the SSV State Final in 2014.

Maddy Truong (2020) has designed the AWL website amberswhitelight.au Amy Hale (2018) and Izzy Hale (2019) have initiated other ways to raise funds for AWL through music bands and friendship connections.

Laura Jane Irving (2021) ran the Run the Tan event at the end of April to raise funds for AWL.

2020 School Captain, Mia Waters is also fundraising for AWL runthetan23.grassrootz.com/acf-amber-s-white-light/mia-waters

In April last year, my dear friend Amber passed away after an extremely difficult mental illness battle. Amber was a bright light in the lives of all that she knew, and I miss her deeply. This year I am fundraising for AWL, through Run The Tan, to raise money to further research into complex mental illness and suicide prevention.’ – Mia Waters (2020)

Dates To Remember In 2023

maY

Thursday 25 May Golden Girls and Borders Reunion auGuST

Friday 18 August

Old Ruytonians’ Grand Reunion ocToBer

Monday 2 October ORA Golf Day

Friday 13 October

Class of 1983, 40 Year Reunion

Thursday 19 October

Class of 2022, 1 Year Reunion

Please note that these dates are subject to change Updates will be made on the following ORA social media platforms: Website – www.ruytonora.com.au Instagram – @oldruytoniansassociation Facebook – facebook.com/oldruytoniansassociation ruYTon will Be HoldinG THe followinG addiTional reunionS

2023 – Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and New York

2024 – Canberra, Perth and Hobart