Our Amazing Browne Twins

Year 13 identical twins Bella and Chloe Browne started their St Cuthbert’s journey in Year 9, and during their time at the College have been inspirational role models for other girls. Their joint win of the prestigious Sherilyn White Memorial Scholarship for 2021, announced in a virtual assembly during the Term 3 lockdown, was welcomed enthusiastically by both staff and students.

“There have been only a few times that the Sherilyn White Memorial Scholarship has been shared, but both Bella and Chloe were equally deserving of the award in their own right”, says Head of Faculty, PE and Sport, Amelia McKibbin. “They are fantastic young women who epitomise our motto ‘By Love Serve’ and have made a significant contribution to College life during their time at St Cuthbert’s.”

“The twins are passionate, driven sportswomen, and they are humble when listing their many successes and contributions to the College. Both Bella and Chloe are heavily involved in many elements of life at St Cuthbert’s, including their roles as school prefects and members of the games committee. In addition to their considerable sporting achievements, music plays a significant role in their lives. Both play saxophone in the jazz band, and are also members of the Tibetan Cultural Group!

“They give 100 percent to everything they do, and manage their workload with maturity. They are also really encouraging towards our younger students supporting them to give things a go,” she says.

Bella and Chloe have excelled at sport during their time at St Cuthbert’s. Bella is the current U20 1500-meter National Champion while Chloe is the current U18 and U20 3000-meter National Champion. Chloe and Bella were also part of the bronze medal winning schoolgirls team at ISF world Cross Country championships in France, in 2018.

However, while they have represented the College and the country across a number of different sporting codes, for both girls their first love is hockey. They currently play in the St Cuthbert’s First XI, and this year have been selected for the New Zealand Under 18 Hockey Team.

Chloe says “I knew the College had a brilliant hockey reputation and making the First XI is what inspired me to continue to pursue the sport. It is something that as a younger student, a lot of the girls look up to, so I think it’s a real honour to be able to play in that team. I really enjoy it”

“The College provides a really good balance, both academically and on the sporting front, allowing girls to excel.” —Bella Browne

“The teachers are always there for you and encourage you to give everything a go. Your teachers are like your early supporters.” —Chloe Browne

Bella adds “We are involved in heaps of other sports, but it is hockey that we love the most, and being in the First XI is a real privilege. Making the Under 18 Hockey Team is a huge achievement, with Bella noting that “it was really exciting that we got named a couple of weeks ago. We made it!”

Scheduled to go to the World Championships this year, and last year, both the Australian National Cross Country and the Australian Oceania Track Nationals, which were all halted due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the twins have noted that “I think our achievements and making the team itself is still pretty exciting. Even though we didn’t get to go on a lot of trips, I still find that it’s a pretty cool feeling just knowing we made it.”

Chloe and Bella have big plans for their future. The Olympics has been front of mind recently, with the chance to represent New Zealand on the biggest world stage, the ultimate sporting goal for them. Being in their final year at St Cuthbert’s, both are now looking towards tertiary studies, and are truly humbled to receive the Sherilyn White Memorial Scholarship. They feel so grateful to have been awarded the $6,000 scholarship which can go towards expenses such as equipment, coaching, conditioning, entry fees, plus travel and accommodation costs.

“Our parents have definitely been our biggest supporters, probably more valuable than any professional advice we have received. Just the support that they give us both financially, and at home, has allowed us to pursue our passions both in academic study and sports.

“We’d also like to acknowledge our teachers and Dean of Iona, Gail Morrison, for the support we have had during our time at St Cuthbert’s. We feel so incredibly lucky to have had such wonderful PE teachers, and Sports’ staff, who have helped us achieve so many of our goals.”

Chloe and Bella have recently accepted a 2022 scholarship offer from the number one public university in the United States of America, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Congratulations girls, we are extremely proud of you.

About the Sherilyn White Memorial Scholarship

The Sherilyn White Memorial Scholarship was established to commemorate the life of a muchloved past student.

Sherilyn Jean White attended St Cuthbert’s from the age of six, in 1975 until 1987. During her time at St Cuthbert’s, Sherilyn won a range of awards and accolades including Auckland’s Secondary School 1987, Female Triathlete of the year, and she was regarded as one of New Zealand’s most promising young athletes. However, on February 8, 1988, Sherilyn fatally collapsed during a Half Ironman event.

After her tragic death, her close school and sporting friend Diana Foote (nee Irvine), decided that Sherilyn’s past school efforts and achievements should always be remembered. Consequently, with the support of Sherilyn’s family and friends, a Trust was established to ensure that Sherilyn’s name and contribution to the school lived on. The College’s Principal at the time, Joan Holland, stated: “There are other criteria for measuring a life as well as its duration – quality and intensity. As [Sherilyn] lives on in us, she transmits permanently something of what she was”.