PLC Sydney Annual magazine issue 8: Summer 2012
TRANSIT OF VENUS HOME AWAY FROM HOME ON ROUTE TO BEIJING IS THERE A MATHEMATICIAN IN THE HOUSE?
contents 2
From the Principal
18 60 seconds with Sister Natasha Yeend
3 Transit of Venus
19 Murder under the microscope
4 The MRC two years on
20 A bumper day in the Junior School
5 Transition Class gets social
21 A year in Hanoi
6 PLC Sydney hosts 18th Biennale of Sydney artist
23 Josie jumps for Australia
7
24 Belinda's success par for the course
Home away from home
23 Michele on track for success
9 In the footsteps of...
24 Elena makes a splash
10 Is there a mathematician in the house?
25 The ESU welcomes a new President
11 Open Day at The Croydon
26 ALUMNI
12 Boarders' Camp
26 Ex-Students: Where are they now?
13 Vietnam Service Learning: New beginnings
30 Former Olympians
14 Young scientists of the Junior School
33 The College reunites with our Alumni
15 On route to Beijing 17 60 seconds with Ms Jo Knight
32 PLC Sydney visits Young 34 Focus on Phillippa Carnemolla
Connect is printed on a 100% recycled paper stock that is accredited to Forestry Stewardship Commission standards which means best practices have been employed in the manufacturing. The paper stock is manufactured with a net zero climate impact and without harmful chlorine gases. Cover Image: Students viewing the Transit of Venus. Photo by Mrs Nadia Young. Editor: Mrs Nicole Paull PLC Sydney acknowledges the Wangal people, of the Dharug dialect, on whose land the College resides, and pays respect to Elders both past and present.
FROM THE PRINCIPAL At Speech Day 2012, we celebrate the achievements and efforts of the students at PLC Sydney. It is a chance to recognise students who have achieved at the highest level, to support young women and girls who display tremendous espirit d’corps, and to gather as a whole community to say thank you for the 2012 academic year. Each family has received an invitation to the 125 Year Anniversary of the College. I hope you are able to join us in 2013 at key events in the year as we celebrate this milestone. At Speech Day we will hear from our musicians and I will address the College succinctly on our future directions and Professor Lynn Cohick will provide reflections on becoming a young woman in both Ancient and contemporary societies. I have had this magazine distributed on Speech Day because it provides an understanding of the personal responses of a range of the girls and young women to a PLC Sydney education, and supplies stories about current students and programmes, staff and ex-students. Real life is not a series of multi-media trends or sound bites. Each person has a story to tell. Life is nuanced and narrative is therefore an effective way to provide a better grasp of who we are as a community. This magazine seeks to capture some of these stories. In this edition you will have an opportunity to find out more about our Junior School Science programme, and what our Mathematician-in-Residence has been doing. Our global links are illustrated and the exceptional opportunities across a range of subject areas have been highlighted.
We each experience an education through our children’s eyes. This magazine seeks to develop an understanding of the bigger picture of PLC Sydney College life. Perhaps it will assist some families to encourage their daughter to try something new, to follow a different pathway. It is our experience that the students who are committed to a range of activities and who seek to develop themselves as individuals, are more likely to both do their best with their studies and to enjoy school. Such students develop friendships with girls in other years and interact in a wide range of social spheres. If something goes awry for a time with a friend, they have a broader social network to rely upon. PLC Sydney has many facets. We are involved in a Strategic Alliance with PLC Armidale. Together our two Colleges strengthen each other. We also have a Boarding School. Thus, this campus is a home to many young women. In this edition we seek to highlight not only the academic, cultural and musical achievements, but also who we are as a community. I commend it to you.
Dr Paul Burgis Executive Principal issue 8 | Summer 2012
2
transit of venus Wednesday 6 June was a cloudy and overcast day at PLC Sydney yet there was a feeling of excitement in the air. Year 7 had prepared posters that were hung up around the school on the dangers of viewing the sun with the naked eye and through a telescope that did not have solar filters on it. Year 10 had prepared a Transit of Venus themed breakfast, morning tea and lunch to raise money for the East Timor project. Year 9A1 had presented at assembly the history and significance of the Transit of Venus to Australians as well as prepared a
I remember the cool gothic movie like effect of the sun through a solar filter. Theodora Lee, Year 11
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the Transit of Venus! PLC Sydney students and staff donned the special 'sci-fi' looking sunglasses to take a look at this rare occurance.
song and dance to celebrate the transit that would not be on view again until 2117. Year 9A1 had two lessons with Mathematician-in-Residence, Dr Dawes who explained how scientists after the 1769 expedition calculated the distance from the Earth to the Sun from data that had been collected from the transit of Venus. All the TV screens in the Macindoe Research Centre were showing the transit live from around the world. Students viewed the transit through eclipse glasses and every group of girls
“...every time the Sun broached the clouds, there was collective joy and amazement... an air of excitement prevailed... the girls looked the part with special glasses, just like a 50's Sci-Fi movie as one observer put it – it was a real buzz!” Mr Broadhead, Head Teacher Curriculum
“I remember waiting for the clouds to clear so I could see Venus using the eclipse glasses. Even though it was only a tiny dot it was still exciting to see a planet like that with my own eyes. I also remember watching the live stream of the transit and seeing Venus up close." Martina Kempys, Year 11
3
PLC Sydney | Connect
squealed with delight as first they saw the Sun and how small it was and then called out that they could see Venus. Telescopes that were on loan from the Betcher and Cooper families, were used for projecting the Sun onto a screen where the girls could also see Sunspots. Mr Coorey brought a telescope that had much stronger magnification that enabled the girls to see Venus closer and more clearly. Mrs Fiona Hendriks Science Teacher
“I learnt about the importance of the Transit of Venus (ToV) to the Australians. If it was not for ToV, then Australia wouldn't be one of the colonies of Britain and we might not be speaking English. ToV changed the destiny of this land. Besides the history part, I am really amazed by how smart the scientists were at that time. Without any modern technology, they could already calculate the distance from the Sun to Earth by watching ToV. This has made me really interested in the method they used and to try it once in my lifetime.” Yibing Chen, Year 11 (international student)
THE MRC TWO YEARS ON The Macindoe Research Centre opened its doors to much acclaim two years ago. So how has it changed in that time? As the needs of the students and staff evolve so too does the role of the Macindoe Research Centre (MRC). When the school year began in 2011, visitors to the building were amazed by the wonderful new facility and curious as to what it might offer. Mrs Joanna Taylor, Director of Information Services said “when the building first opened, just about every student in the College visited the new library – it was breathing room only! The facility is now taken for granted but is still very much appreciated by the whole PLC Sydney community.” With the café on the ground floor, the MRC has become the hub of College life. It is enjoyed not only by staff and students for teaching, learning and research activities but
also by parents and other visitors who stop by for a coffee or to catch up with others. As with any new building, there was a settling in period which allowed the College to record the patterns of use throughout the MRC and as such its use has evolved over time. The Macindoe Seminar Room, with its wonderful outlook over the city, has become a well-used venue for staff meetings, professional development, dinners, cocktail parties and musical performances. This room was also used for the viewing of the Transit of Venus activities when all Senior School students had the opportunity to look through a telescope and special glasses as Venus transited across the sun. The MRC is a popular venue for afterhours activities ranging from book launches to Debating and Public Speaking events. The Centre has also become an extension of the Boarding House with the girls using Level 1 for prep in the evenings, whilst a new Homework Club provides supervision for students doing their homework after school on five afternoons a fortnight. One of the most exciting new developments in the MRC is the introduction of OverDrive. The OverDrive collection is an extension of the physical library – only it’s available online 24/7 – and allows staff and
students access to eBooks and audio books via their laptops, home computers and mobile devices. Mrs Taylor said “as all students in Years 6 to 12 have laptops it makes sense to provide eBooks and audio books. They are a mobile generation and we need to tap into their way of reading and listening – reading and listening on the go – as well as quietly reading a traditional book. This is about to be complemented by the introduction of Bolinda, another eBook and eAudio system. Both Overdrive and Bolinda will be fully integrated into the library catalogue. Reading fiction at PLC is hugely popular!” Of course, the MRC continues to offer ongoing popular activities, such as Chess Club, Movies at Macindoe and the Book Vulture Club. The Centre has become such a favourite with students that Library staff often find them catnapping in the beanbags at lunchtime. Mrs Taylor summed up the positives for the students as “they love the colours of the furnishings and the openness of the building as well as the different zones with differing noise levels. Many Senior students like the Silent Study Room on Level 2, whilst others enjoy the opportunity for collaborative learning in the ‘Plato’ and ‘Socrates’ rooms. The MRC offers something for everyone.”
issue 8 | Summer 2012
4
TRANSITION CLASS GETS SOCIAL Sharing good times, good food, and making friends along the way! This was the theme on 23 August with students and staff from PLC Sydney Transition Class sharing a very special social with staff and students from Saint Ignatius College, Riverview and Danebank Anglican School for Girls.
The day began with a friendly game of tenpin bowling, with mixed teams of course, and some colourful disco lighting and funky music to get everyone in the social mood. Once scores had been tallied, everyone travelled back to PLC where they were met at the Transition House gate and given a welcoming letter directing them to their table for the first course. We had 68 people in total, seated at 13 tables. After drinks and entree had been served, PLC girls did a great job asking lots of questions to get everyone at their table involved in conversation. The hosts then cleared plates, and everyone moved tables and chatted with a different group of guests as they enjoyed main course, which consisted of pasta bake, shepherds’ pie, lentil pie, salad and scrumptious dressing. The day turned very hot and windy, but this did not stop those present from continuing to have a wonderful time, as they moved tables again and feasted on raspberry-spiked brownies, sticky date pudding with caramel sauce, fruit crumble, strawberries with chocolate gelato and vanilla ice cream. Yum! This was a great opportunity for our girls to put into practice the social skills we have been targeting in class. A great day was had by all involved. Mrs Cathee McAllum Transition Programme Coordinator “During the whole lunch, everyone talked and talked and we had the best day ever.” Kathy Tran
5
PLC Sydney | Connect
“I met Jesse from Riverview and he is the same height as me, and he’s in Year 7 too. Lucy took a photo of us together.” Chloe Bridges-Webb “I chatted to lots of people and found out what they like to do. I loved the pasta bake.” Ellen Brant “When I first heard about the Social Lunch and what was involved, I knew that it would be a fun day for the girls, but I did not anticipate how truly enriching and rewarding the experience would be. The planning that went into the big day was intense and thorough, to say the least. I knew it was going to be a special occasion when I overheard one of the students announcing to her friends on the morning of the lunch that she had barely slept the night before, due to her anticipation and excitement about the day ahead. Watching the girls engage with the St Ignatius and Danebank students was absolutely wonderful. The work that went into brainstorming and practicing conversation starters, appropriate social behaviour and perfect manners all paid off just beautifully. I was absolutely amazed at the way in which our girls ‘stepped up’ for the occasion. Their maturity, sense of humour and determination to make the day one to remember was truly inspiring. The girls achieved a true sense of empowerment and connectedness as a team, and I was so grateful to be part of it.” Anna O’Brien (new teacher to the Transition class in 2012)
PLC SYDNEY HOSTS 18TH BIENNALE OF SYDNEY ARTIST In June this year, PLC Sydney engaged its students in a new and unique partnership with the 18th Biennale of Sydney. In association with the international art event, the College hosted New Zealand artist Tiffany Singh for three weeks through its artist-inresidence programme.
During this time students of Year 11 Visual Arts took a hands-on role collaborating with the artist in the preparation of objects for, and the installation of, Ms Singh’s work Knock on the Sky Listen to the Sound. The work was installed across three key Biennale of Sydney sites including Pier 2/3 and Cockatoo Island, where students worked enthusiastically alongside Ms Singh, gaining a variety of insights into contemporary conceptual art practice, a key focus of study in the Year 11 Visual Arts course. Tiffany Singh’s art practice explores aspects of contemporary and ancient Eastern and Western spiritualities through installations that incorporate and celebrate objects of ceremony and ritual from the ‘everyday’. Knock on the Sky Listen to the Sound incorporates hundreds of wooden wind chimes frequently seen in places of religious significance such as temples and shrines. A key element of the work is audience participation and visitors to Pier 2/3 were invited to select a wind chime, take it home, embellish and decorate it, and reinstall it at the Cockatoo Island site. “The process of moving the objects becomes a spiritual journey and pilgrimage between the sites” Ms Singh said. An essential aspect of Tiffany Singh’s practice is audience participation. Year 11 Visual Arts students were given the task of ‘making their own’ a selection of wind chimes using paints and objects during art making workshops held at The Croydon with Ms Singh, Mr Hetherington and Ms Knight. These works marked the site at Cockatoo Island to which subsequent chimes taken from Pier 2/3 eventually made their way. Knock on the Sky Listen to the Sound was Tiffany Singh’s first involvement with the Biennale of Sydney and she is currently undertaking a similar project in India. The students greatly enjoyed their collaboration with Ms Singh and the experience of being involved firsthand with a large scale high profile art project. Ms Jo Knight Curator of Adelaide Perry Gallery & Visual Arts Teacher
Knock on the sky listen to the sound is a Buddhist proverb of spiritual significance, first heard on a journey over the Himalayas in Ladakh, where the sky was so close we felt like we could knock on it. It seems an appropriate title, as the artwork transforms the space into an open-air musical instrument that, on initial contact, sounds as though it is coming from the sky... Visiting Cockatoo Island: Students Isabella Dabaja (left) and Aniko Michaelis (right) with artist Tiffany Singh at the installation of her work.
Tiffany Singh “Tiffany Singh gave us all an incredible insight into the organisation and multiple stages involved with producing an installation artwork. With direct background information from Tiffany herself, including her art making practices and philosophies as well as influences and spiritual beliefs, we were able to connect with her work and understand the concepts and ideas driving the piece. It was an amazing opportunity to work alongside Tiffany Singh, being involved in producing and displaying the work. She acted as a great inspiration for all of us.” Jordan Evans, Year 11 issue 8 | Summer 2012
6
home away from home Life as a boarding student can bring many positive experiences as well as numerous challenges resulting from living away from family and friends. Three Boarders from overseas families share their experiences of life in the Boarding House.
7
PLC Sydney | Connect
Stefanie Li Year: 11 Nationality: Australian From: Hong Kong How is PLC Sydney different to your school you attended at home? My old school was co-ed so I found it a bit weird at first, coming here to an all-girls school. The campus here is also a lot bigger and therefore requires more time to walk to and from classes. On the other hand my old school, instead of expanding sideways, expanded upwards and therefore had a lot of stairs. It took less time to walk up and down, as the Secondary School was on the upper levels. Are there similarities between PLC Sydney and the school you attended at home? Yes, they both follow the HSC system and they both have Primary and Secondary
Schools. They also have similar facilities such as a swimming pool and a gym. My old school is also English based and our teachers were all Westerners. Our timetables also have the same structure. What do you like most about Australia? I like the environment here in Australia. It’s much less polluted here than Hong Kong and less crowded as well. Things like school work are less demanding here, whereas in Hong Kong people get very stressed because of its high demands. What do you dislike about Australia? I dislike the transport system the most. The trains come every 20 minutes, whereas in Hong Kong trains come every 5 minutes. We also have an electronic card which stores money and can be used as a form of payment for bus, ferry and train tickets. I guess I am used to the convenience of having it, as I’m not too fond of the idea of buying tickets every time I travel.
What is the best part of being a Boarder at PLC Sydney? The best part of being a Boarder at PLC Sydney is the fact that you’re able to build close relationships between different year groups. Normally at school, year groups would only bond within themselves but in the Boarding House everyone just interacts with all the year groups. Being in the Boarding House also means you can ask someone when you don’t know how to do your homework. There are people in your grade who can help you and those above who can teach you. What is the most challenging aspect of being a Boarder? Having to face people all of the time. It can be quite tiring sometimes. Although sometimes you maybe aren’t in the mood to talk to people, you still have to put a smile on your face and socialise with those around you. It is also very difficult when there are
fights in the Boarding House because tension builds and it can get very stressful. What are your plans for life after school? I plan to stay in Australia after school, most likely in Sydney but perhaps Melbourne or Brisbane as well. I plan to study something related to design at university.
The best part of being a Boarder at PLC Sydney is the fact that you’re able to build close relationships between different year groups.
Pippa Lam Year: 8 Nationality: Australian From: New Jersey, USA How is PLC Sydney different to your school you attended at home? PLC is a lot smaller than the school I attended at home and there are a lot less people. Also here there are more activities to do and there is also less work compared to my old school. In America the schools are split up into Primary, Middle and High School so there is less interaction between different year groups. Are there similarities between PLC Sydney and the school you attended at home? Both schools are very multicultural and have great learning facilities. What do you like most about Australia? Everything is a lot more relaxed than the daily routines in America. What do you dislike about Australia? Well I don’t particularly like living in cities.
Yibing Chen Year: 11 Nationality: Chinese From: Shanghai City, China Why did your family choose PLC Sydney? My mum had done a lot of research into private schools in Sydney. PLC Sydney just caught her eye because of its long history and good academic results as well as good manners and teaching. What do you enjoy most about boarding at PLC Sydney? You meet a lot of people from different places. You learn more than being a Day girl. There is more relaxing and sleeping time on school days. What do you find the most challenging aspect of boarding? Coping with life here in the first place. It is a challenge to fit in with a group of girls in the Boarding House. As an only child I need to learn to share with others. How do you keep in contact with family and friends from home? Technology: Skype, phone, text and other Chinese communication software and websites. Describe a typical school day… I get up at 7.00 am unless there are other activities or classes before school. Breakfast
is before 7.30 am then I tidy my room, pack my bag and go to school at 8.23 am. After two periods and pastoral care, I have recess. There is a variety of foods for morning tea. Then I have two more periods and it is lunch time. There is usually pasta, rice, rolls or pizzas to choose from. I have a great time with my Day friends before attending classes again. There is also afternoon tea after school and then usually I have a rest before early prep or I do some light-weight work. Then it is dinner time and prep, which is study time. I go to bed at 10.30 pm. Describe a typical weekend… I sleep in on the weekends usually. I get up before lunchtime and go downstairs to eat. I usually enjoy myself for one or two hours and then do my work. Sometimes I go out with friends to Burwood for shopping and having fun. There is a movie on Saturday night. Is there anything else you would like to share? Being a Boarder has lots of benefits. There are students in higher years helping you with both living and studying. Also it is easier for us to get to school and attend school events. I have heard of people coming as temporary Boarders and ending up loving it. It is a great choice.
An international perspective: Stefanie Li (left), Pippa Lam (centre), and Yibing Chen (right), share their stories on life in the Boarding House.
What is the best part of being a Boarder at PLC Sydney? I like being in such a close knit community – it helps to make really strong friendships. It is really great to know you can rely on close friends like your room mates and they become just like your sisters. What is the most challenging aspect of being a Boarder? Living with people that you don’t necessarily get along with is difficult but in a way it is good to learn to be tolerant of other people. Have there been any funny misunderstandings between Australian and International Boarders? Once Jane* was helping explain to Christine* what the words in her book were. Jane tried to explain the word ‘tempted’ but she used the pictures of boys on her cupboard. So now every time Christine uses the word ‘tempted’ she points to the pictures! What are your plans for life after school? Hopefully my family will move back to Australia by the time I leave school and then I will probably stay in Australia. * Names have been changed to protect student identities!
issue 8 | Summer 2012
8
in the footsteps of...
In the most recent set of school holidays, avid readers and budding writers from PLC Sydney headed off to the United Kingdom to indulge their love of literature by walking in the footsteps of literary greats, with visits to author's homes, museums and theatres. They say that you can never know the feel of wind in your face until you have... well... actually felt the wind... in your face. ‘So it is to thee...’ in the words of Shakespeare’s King Lear. Thirty-two students and four teachers from PLC Sydney felt the absolute delight of wind in our faces on the moors of the Bronte sisters and then the hills surrounding ‘the Lakes’ or Lake District of Wordsworth. It was there that we understood what those writers wrote about in the visceral sense. We also had the opportunity to walk the streets that haunted Dickens and to sit outside on the benches of Shakespeare’s Globe. We were glad that it was both a little chilly and a little uncomfortable as we had just arrived in London and needed to be kept awake! The tour was a life changing experience for us. It has rekindled love of Austen and reinforced respect for the timeless words of Shakespeare. We also enjoyed getting to know students, some we had met in class or tutor group, and some we had only just met at the airport. The young women were patient, as one needs to be on long haul flights, enthusiastic – and we are not just talking about shopping – and attentive during the morning lectures and workshops. Those students have returned to English classes with a knowledge and experience that will lift and glide them across the waves of challenge that are the senior English courses. PLC Sydney can look forward to going back with a new group of students in 2014. UK Literary Tour Staff. 9
PLC Sydney | Connect
Day 3 Hampstead, London.
Travelling to the "...floral and country green..." of Hampstead was where the old gigantic houses stood tall and elegant. The birds chirping, trees swaying and the bright, warm sun thawing out our bodies, created a morning that I will never forget. The clean cream coloured houses lined up along the main road with multi-coloured flowers to 'o'erperch' up the brick walls. We had the chance to explore the area of Hampstead, observing where the famous writers found their inspiration. We wandered through the very house, the very room, where Keats, a famous poet specialising in Romantic themes, finished writing the poem 'Ode to a Nightingale'. When we walked back to the bus I felt a strong drive to write. Vinita Chumsri, Year 9
Day 5 Chawton, England
Today we went to visit Jane Austen’s house. We were able to go and see where she grew up and spent her childhood years. It was fascinating. One amazing thing I could not get over was how beautiful the house surroundings were. It was so green and filled with many types of flora and fauna. After having wandered around the garden, we were brought inside where we were given a presentation about her life and where she took inspirations for her writing. We learnt so much about how her father set up a boarding school in their house. I never knew Jane Austen was proposed to in her lifetime. After the presentation we were able to see some specimens from Jane Austen’s lifetime. It was pretty cool being able to hold these specimens like glover stretchers from 200 years ago. It was amazing to see all the actual furniture, including her writing desk, and household items from her family. One thing I thought was amazing was seeing an original work sewn by Jane Austen herself. After the tour we were able to go crazy in the gift shop. Claire Protas, Year 9
In 2012 Dr Burgis installed a mathematician-in-residence in the Senior School to further develop the mathematical understanding of the students. But what exactly does a mathematician-in-residence do?
IS THERE A MATHEMATICIAN IN THE HOUSE?
Dr Lloyd Dawe joined PLC Sydney in Term 1 this year to support the work of the Mathematics staff and students in Years 7 to 12. During the year Dr Dawe has made many valuable contributions to both the Faculty and the learnings of the students.
In working with teaching staff, Dr Dawe has been sharing his current mathematical readings and investigations, particularly in the history of mathematical ideas at Faculty meetings as well as assisting with reviewing examination questions. He is a wonderful source of advice and staff are appreciative of the opportunity to bounce ideas off such an experienced educator and mathematician. Dr Dawe has been visiting classes and working with Senior School students of all levels and assisting with their mathematical problems. A focus has been extending and preparing Extension 2 students for the HSC in addition to teaching the Year 7X class each week during Terms 2 and 3. Students in Years 7 and 8 were fortunate to be supervised by Dr Dawe as they worked through the Challenge and Enrichment Stage of the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians.
About Dr Lloyd Dawe After 30 years of service at the University of Sydney, Dr Lloyd Dawe has returned to a favourite place – the school classroom. Prior to joining PLC Sydney as mathematician-in-residence in 2012 he held this position at Queenwood School for Girls, Trinity Grammar School and Inaburra School. During his career, Dr Dawe has been a teacher of Mathematics, Head of a Mathematics Department in a Secondary School and Head of Mathematics at the former Sydney Teachers College. At the University of Sydney, he was appointed Head of the Department of Educational Psychology and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education. As an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, he has a long term research interest in the learning and teaching of Mathematics. Dr Dawe holds degrees from the University of Sydney (BSc Dip Ed), the UNSW (MEd with Hons) and a PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of Cambridge.
Dr Dawe has also supported important links between Mathematics and Science. In March, all Year 7 Mathematics students explored the tracking of the sun across the sky at the equinox to estimate the latitude of PLC. Despite the difficulty of getting accurate measurement with a simple shadow stick, the results were excellent - close to 34°S. In June, together with the Science staff, students were able to view the Transit of Venus across the Sun. On that day Dr Dawe taught a Year 9 Science class to discuss the measurement of our distance from the Sun, the important mathematical goal of the observation. The students were also able to explore the pattern of the observations from the first sightings by humans in 1639 to the present. The mathematics is complex but the students were curious and motivated. Dr Dawe has a life long interest in Art and Music and their connections to Mathematics. In October, Dr Dawe opened an Art Exhibition at the Adelaide Perry Gallery showing the work of ex-student Phillippa Carnemolla, now artist-in-residence at the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Lisa Jones who have both been inspired by mathematical ideas to create beautiful, thought-provoking work. These connections have been developed into deeper abstract levels with the advent of modern technology, in particular, computer graphics. PLC students have had a further opportunity to enrich their education through this fabulous exhibition. The Mathematics Department used the creation of art inspired by mathematics as the theme for Maths Week in 2012. So what has it meant having a Mathematician-in-Residence at PLC Sydney? It has been a wonderful opportunity for the staff and students at PLC Sydney to gain wisdom from an exceptionally knowledgeable mentor. Mrs Patricia Pollett Head of Mathematics
issue 8 | Summer 2012
10
Open Day at The Croydon Open Day is a fabulous occasion at The Croydon Centre for Art, Design and Technology that enables the community to see the facilities, highlighted by the student work in action and genuine project development. The studios feature a range of activities that allow visitors to gain a greater understanding of technologies and processes that are applied by our talented young artists and designers.
In the Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) Faculty, the Senior students are given the opportunity to work throughout the day on their Major Design Projects. Year 12 Design and Technology student, Tamara Jones was in the process of developing a cookbook for a niche market. Her design brief was to design and manufacture a stylish cookbook campaign that embraces feminine style and reliable recipes with compatibility to all skill levels. The campaign aimed to feature a cookbook enhanced by promotional materials that appeal to the specific target market. A test kitchen was staged in the Food Technology studio with girls from different year groups cooking, taste testing and evaluating the food products and their ability to follow the recipes. Mr Michael Carter, commercial photographer, author and presenter for Consumer Science RMIT University in Melbourne, joined the test kitchen to demonstrate and support the development of professional food styling techniques. Mr Carter then worked with Year 11 Food Technology students throughout the week. Visitors were treated to tasty delights such as chocolate chip cookies, melting moments and a spectacular range of cupcakes. Tamara used the feedback from students, staff and parents to further develop her recipes and the cookbook design. Each recipe had to be tested, developed and professionally photographed. Tamara’s task is a wonderful example of a design project that enabled a student to apply a diverse range of skills and technologies that are available in The Croydon, and produce work of an industry standard. The final project submission included a 140 page cookbook, an apron, graphic work for an instore display and a blog. Success for Tamara has come from following a passion and creative interest in fashion, food product development, graphic design and marketing. Visit www.bakingisagirlsbestfriend.wordpress.com to access the blog. The continuing goal for the TAS faculty is to ensure that the application of problem solving, resource management and collaborative learning skills can be applied across the curriculum and assist students throughout their life and future careers. Ms Jo Herrmann Head of Technological and Applied Studies
11
PLC Sydney | Connect
BOARDERS’ CAMP The blinds are pulled down, the lights turned out and the doors of the Boarding House are locked as the Boarders head off for a weekend of adventure and fun at camp. For the past several years the Boarders and Boarding House staff pack up for a weekend and go to a fun filled location of adrenaline packed activities and personal challenges. This is organised and run primarily by our talented Year 12 Boarders and Senior Boarding staff. This year our destination was Toukley on the NSW Central Coast. The weekend is planned to provide each Boarder with a change to routine, exposure to new locations outside of Sydney or Country NSW. They have experienced the wonder of the Blue Mountain and spectacular Central Coast over the few years we have held Camp. The excitement is palpable as the girls prepare each year with great expectation regarding location and activities. Each Boarder chooses one friend to buddy up with and then they are placed into larger teams with girls from each year group. They learn to work cooperatively within their team throughout the weekend. Why is this important when these girls already live together you might ask? A team teaches reliance and trust as well as requiring individuals to embrace personal strengths and talents to best serve the team. Together they learn to capitalise on these attributes in a way that normal daily life does not generally require. The offshoot being that they learn more about the girls with whom they will share life with for the coming year and from time to time are surprised by the talents that others may not have had the opportunity to display. Camp is nonstop activities from the minute we arrive until we roll the girls back onto the bus Sunday night. Over the weekend they could do anything from beach games, great
Photo by Seraya Harding.
races, giant swings, quad bikes, rollerblading, flying foxes and so much more. Every year we have our Boarders’ Talent Night and over the years we have been surprised by the amazing talent our Boarders exhibit as they organise items of music, dance and short plays as well as having general fun activities. Students who may in a normal day be very shy and quiet can amaze everyone as they shine brightly up
on stage with talent that would otherwise be unknown. Camp is definitely a highlight in our year and the Boarders love to relive the memories and tell the stories each year in the lead up to the next great surprise adventure. Ms Pauline Turner Director of Boarding
issue 8 | Summer 2012
12
A YEAR IN HANOi In December 2011, teachers Mr Len Elliott and Mrs Belinda Elliott packed their bags and boarded a flight to Hanoi with their daughter Nancy, where Mr Elliott took up the role of Vice-Principal at the Vietnam-Australia school for one year. Most travellers in Vietnam think of their experience in terms of significant moments. This is inevitable, since so much seems so strange! Extraordinary events seem to come thick and fast for the newcomer; in our first month we were confronted with traffic accidents, salmonella poisoning, dengue fever, corruption... It’s tempting to define the role of VicePrincipal at the Vietnam-Australia School (VAS) Hanoi in the same terms: a series of strange experiences. I received an email one Wednesday, for example, telling me that the People’s Committee had decided all schools like ours would no longer operate from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm. They would start at 7.00 am and finish at 7.00 pm, to alleviate traffic congestion. This would commence the following day. The implications for school buses, timetabling, staffing, families... astonishing. Then there was the email from the Principal telling me that the school would be inspected for registration the following day. I needed to ensure programmes, scope and sequence, student work samples, compliance documentation, etc. were all ready for presentation. 13
PLC Sydney | Connect
But there is more to this role, of course, than dealing with crises. VAS is a relatively new school, one that aims to develop an Australian teaching and organisational model; as such the role prompts a fresh assessment of everything that makes up that model. It is a complex and diverse role, requiring social and cultural understanding, an awareness of Vietnam’s colonial and martial history, and consideration of the complexities of a shrinking capitalist economy under a communist government. All of these have profound implications for relations between students, their families and staff, and for developing an ‘Australian’ school. This culturally diverse context provides lessons that are relevant to an Australian context. Opposition to change, for example, in part a consequence of Vietnam’s long history of colonialism, requires a renewed assessment of how change is proposed and effected. Alternative methods must be sought where orthodox ones fail. It is essential to involve all the school’s ‘stakeholders’ in matters regarding the school’s future, particularly students’ extended families. (The family is still of fundamental importance in Vietnamese society.) Questions regarding
the management of Australian schools follow: how well do we recognise the school as a community, and how inclusive are our processes in leading it? Communication assumes a special importance here; it can be difficult in such complex cultural circumstances, in such a young and busy school. Sometimes a passing student is useful as a translator when talking with staff; it’s like altitude training for educators. It soon becomes evident that miscommunication and misunderstanding are inevitable, despite the best intentions and protocols. The best approach is to recognise the inevitability of misunderstanding, and (try to!) respond with humility, patience and flexibility. There is much to learn from the Vietnamese in this respect: they rarely take offence, partly because they rarely take an issue personally. Perhaps this comes of sharing such a small country with 90 million others, and living in a society where materialism has not yet recreated the western focus on the self. Vietnamese society is largely secular, which carries implications for personal faith. A Christian working in Vietnam realises
The best approach is to recognise the inevitability of misunderstanding, and (try to!) respond with humility, patience and flexibility. new values in Christian belief, particularly in becoming more aware of Christianity’s role in the formation of western social fabric; in its absence, Christianity’s influence on western laws and social and political structures becomes easier to see, and easier to appreciate. Its absence in society reveals its essentiality in human interaction. It is appreciated more in friends, especially in those whose faith seems stronger in isolation. The role of VAS Vice-Principal, as in most schools, involves organising major whole-school events, such as assemblies, graduations and extraordinary events. This aspect of the role presents exciting opportunities in Vietnam, because many of these events have never been held here before. Grandparents’ Day, for example – quite common in Australian schools – is new here, and assumes special significance. Vietnamese culture is firmly based on the extended family; our inaugural Grandparents’ Day at VAS was the first in Hanoi, probably the first in Vietnam. It was talked about for several weeks, and reported across the country. After a few months as Hanoi residents, my wife and I found that the traffic accidents and corruption and salmonella poisoning blended into the background. The newcomers were incredulous, and we listened patiently, but we found we had started to adapt, to work around it all. In some ways it reminds me of my bushwalking trips when I lived in Tasmania... the early days were always sensational, the landscape astonishing, the mud horrible. After a few days, however, I’d start to take it all for granted – all the distance, aches and isolation – and by the time I was approaching the end, I’d feel one with it all. That’s when I knew it was really doing me good. Mr Leonard Elliott Vice-Principal Vietnam-Australia School
YOUNG SCIENTISTS OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Science in the Junior School is thriving. Girls from Evandale and Hamilton enjoy hands-on activities with their classroom teacher in partnership with Mrs Annie Martin – the Junior School Science teacher appointed at the beginning of the year. Whilst there are specified topics for each year group, Science is also integrated across the curriculum. Mrs Martin shares some of the highlights that our budding scientists have experienced this year. Kindergarten students made models of spiders and insects to help understand the differences between them. They also enjoyed pretending they were worker bees, acting out the waggle dance as they collected pretend nectar and took it to the queen bee - their teacher! Year 1 students devised a fair test to see if the story about The Three Little Pigs was true. Each class built three houses – one of straw, one of sticks and one of bricks (Lego). The students then acted out the story with puppets and the Wolf attempted to blow the houses down with a hair dryer! Year 2 learnt about moving toys. Every week in Term 2 they studied a ‘real toy’ and the science behind it. They then made their own version of the toy and investigated ways to modify it to make it work better.
Year 5 studied invertebrates and to aid their learning a Giant Burrowing Cockroach was purchased as a class pet. The students also made amazing models of a chosen invertebrate, which they presented to their classmates (and some students even showed their model to Senior School students), describing how certain features help with survival. Year 6 focused on the Scientific Method, in particular Scientific Reports, earlier in the year. They undertook several experiments, including cutting a postcard to fit their body through and they also made parachutes to find out if the canopy size affected the time they took to fall. Mrs Annie Martin Junior School Science Teacher
Year 3 students were exposed to real pig body organs. The children touched brains (with gloves) and realised how soft they are and hence the importance of skulls. They then related this to the need for helmets in certain sports and made mini helmets for model brains (water balloons), which they then dropped to test their effectiveness.
Year 4 girls learnt about different forms of energy, in particular light. They investigated light in action in many ways, including it as a requirement for plant growth in their own terrariums and also by making kaleidoscopes.
issue 8 | Summer 2012
14
ON ROUTE TO BEIJING From the Great Wall at Jiyong Pass and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, students and staff visited the land of contradictions that is modern day China. During the April school holidays 91 Music and Language students, 12 staff and a shadow parent group from PLC Sydney, were privileged to travel to China for a 12 day tour. Flying out on two planes and touching down in Beijing, the group was immediately greeted by the fabulous culture, architecture, dance, food, language, history and music of such an ancient civilisation. In Beijing our girls were able to visit and perform at many iconic landmarks. The Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square, to name a few. The first musical engagement for the group was for the first Australian female Ambassador to China, Ms Frances Adamson. The choirs sang for the Ambassador and her staff, and she in turn generously spoke to the girls about her position in Beijing. Moving to the next landmark, which was one of the highlights of the trip, some of our Pipe Band members, the Big Band and Wind Ensemble all performed on the top of the Great Wall at Jiyong Pass. Blessed with fantastic weather the whole group enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at this amazing fortress. Visiting the Beijing Acrobatic Theatre in the evening and the zoo one morning, the group also performed at the Beijing Conservatory for the Chinese National Youth Orchestra who in turn played for us on traditional Chinese Musical instruments. The next leg of the tour was spent visiting the very ancient and beautiful city of Xi’an. Viewing the ancient city wall and partaking in an amazing 18 course dumpling feast, the city is well known for being the birth place of the Tang Dynasty. The highlight of this leg of the journey was the amazing visit and performances at the Museum of the Terracotta Warriors. Here our choirs performed some unaccompanied songs and then were free to visit the fabulous warriors displays. That same afternoon we were able to visit a local traditional Chinese martial arts school where we were treated to amazing martial arts performances by the boys. To reciprocate our Big Band performed for them.
15
PLC Sydney | Connect
Gifts were exchanged and now PLC owns an authentic Chinese martial arts sword! Next we arrived in Shenzhen, in the south of China, where we shopped, viewed cultural displays and did a wonderful concert with the students and staff of the Shenzhen Middle School and the world renowned Lily Children’s Choir. Singing songs with the students, and being able to exchange gifts and get to know the other students, musically this event was one of the highlights of the tour. Moving to the final destination and arriving by bus into Hong Kong, the group was able to spend two days being hosted by our partner school, St Paul’s Educational College. Viewing the sights of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak (in the clouds), the Symphony of Lights on the
Harbour and being caught in a deluge whilst shopping at Stanley Markets are memories the group will not forget. Although physically tired at the end of a busy 10 days the group was ready to rehearse and perform with the students of St Paul’s. A final combined rehearsal and concert on the second last day, was perhaps the most gruelling event of the tour as many members were very fatigued. Nevertheless the concert was a great success and it gave our girls a chance to perform many of their performance pieces and to combine in the choirs, strings and bands. Being able to get to know the St Paul’s students was also a wonderful opportunity. The next day Ocean Park awaited us and we had a wonderful time viewing the ocean life of this area of the world as well as ‘wind down’
Music News Congratulations to the Senior Chamber Orchestra on winning the Secondary Schools String section of the Sydney Eisteddfod for 2012. The girls secured victory playing the difficult finale from the 'Serenade for Strings' by Tchaikovsky. Well done girls.
on several of the exhilarating rides at the park. Boarding our flights that evening the group was ready to travel home and reminisce about their wonderful Chinese adventures. Special thanks must go to all the staff who accompanied the tour, to the Parents & Friends’ Association and PLC Sydney Foundation for helping with financial assistance. To the Music Support Group parents who helped with fundraising and to all the girls who were fabulous ambassadors for the College and Australia. We all have many wonderful memories of an exciting and interesting tour. Ms Fiona Clouston Head of Music
issue 8 | Summer 2012
16
60 seconds with… Curator of Adelaide Perry Gallery & Visual Arts Teacher What do you enjoy most about teaching? Going through the HSC every year... no really. Being a fly on the wall while the girls grow and develop over time to become confident and independent young artists. What is your greatest challenge in the classroom? Getting students to pack up. Once the creative juices start flowing it’s hard to get them to put away the paint! What do you find most rewarding about teaching?
Unable to choose between Psychology and Visual Arts when applying for university, Ms Jo Knight decided on the happy medium of Art Education. She loves connecting with young people and believes teaching Visual Arts is a great opportunity to engage with our inspiring youth through their ideas, emotions and imagination.
Learning is a two way street. I enjoy the exchange of ideas and the sharing of all things art, exhibition and culture. It is such an enriching experience. When a student tells me about an artist they have discovered or an exhibition they have visited I know they have got the ‘art bug’ and are hooked for life. How do you motivate students who are not particularly interested in Art? The imagination needs to be sparked and nurtured. There needs to be a personal connection between the artist and their work. This can happen through all kinds of inspiration – an image, a story or even a joke – as well as through the sheer pleasure of getting your hands dirty (with clay, charcoal, paint, etc.). Play and discovery is important. Physical engagement with materials is just the beginning for discovering your own voice of visual representation. Have you experienced any lessons that haven’t quite gone to plan? I call these happy accidents! At times when an art lesson doesn’t go to plan an unexpected creative outcome can result. A spill of ink, the wrong click of the mouse or a clumsy moment forces you to rethink a work and come up with a solution which can improve a work overall (well some of the time).
17
PLC Sydney | Connect
What is your most memorable career point? It sounds corny but landing myself at PLC Sydney and working in the Adelaide Perry Gallery has been a highlight for me. I love arranging and presenting works, identifying aesthetic and conceptual links between works while still maintaining a connection with youth and art education. What a wonderful resource the gallery is for PLC students to have on tap. What are your interests/hobbies? Travelling the world, experiencing other cultures and viewing some of the finest and most outrageous art first hand. I love to visit galleries and be inspired by the exhibition spaces themselves. Favourites include the Musee d’Orsay, Museo del Prado, MOMA, The Tate Modern and the chaos of the Venice Biennale. Of course I also love to drag my daughter Florence to exhibitions in Sydney as well. What is your motto in life? I like to remember the words of Pablo Picasso “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Also to “Keep your finger on the pulse” as the Visual Arts world is ever changing so you need to keep connected.
College Nurse
Nursing has led Sister Natasha Yeend on a journey that has involved helping people from all walks of life. Her work in accident and emergency, palliative care, orthopadedics and trauma (neurology and orthopaedics), travel medicine, general practice and remote area nursing has seen her witness the highs and lows of life. What led you to nursing? I was the kid at school making sure everyone was okay. When I was growing up my next door neighbour worked at Westmead Hospital’s Accident & Emergency and would tell me all the gory stories of their latest shift. Also my mother gave me a nurse’s uniform to dress up in when I was five and I used to sit on my sister and pretend I was ‘fixing her up’ (just for the record, I don’t sit on patients anymore – unless they are in Accident & Emergency at St Vincent’s Hospital and are having a psychosis and need to be sedated!). What is your greatest challenge as a school nurse? Not being able to be in two places at once. What do you enjoy most about nursing? Being able to think laterally and the day being unpredictable. It sounds corny but making a difference – it may be as simple as helping someone in pain or lending an ear to listen. What do you find most rewarding about nursing? I love to hear people’s stories. I used to think you had to be old to have a good life story but the girls can pop out a good one sometimes. Have there been any funny moments? I have developed a weird sense of humour in order to deal with some awful things I have witnessed, as a way of coping. So what I think as funny other people would not.
When I had just started out nursing I was working in a hospice. One of my patients died and I needed to wash, dress and take him down to the morgue. At a large hospital there would be people to deal with the body but at the small hospital we would deal with it. The wardsman and I took the body down to the morgue and he said to me when we standing in front of the freezers “just wait here I have forgotten something.” He left me all by myself in the morgue (with 10 or so bodies). I stood there frozen convinced I could hear something! Do you have a most memorable career point? Working on Lizard Island for a year. Because it was remote the only other medical help was a one hour flight away. I had support from the Royal Flying Doctors. There were many varied issues I had never dealt with before – sting ray barbs, irukandji stings, fish hooks through fingers and having to suture wounds. Living on a tropical island was amazing. The social side of things was pretty good too. Do you participate in any volunteer nursing projects? I have been over to Port Moresby in PNG a few times with an organisation call Operation Open Heart. Like the name of the organisation suggests, Cardiac Doctors perform open heart surgery on children that would most likely die without the surgery. Sometimes we get adults that somehow have got to adulthood and survived. The patients come from tiny remote villages
on the outer lying islands of PNG. It’s pretty scary for the kids seeing a tall white woman standing over them! One question a father asked me once was “can my son go hunting with me now”. It was one little question that registered what we were doing there. Little Benson was going back to the village where he came from. He no longer was going to be a burden but a contributing member of the village. Before the operation he couldn’t run as he was not getting enough oxygen to his body. After he recovered from the operation I think he would have been faster than his dad. I did get a little concerned that the population of wild eatable animals would go down– with a spear through their head! What are your interests/hobbies? I love to travel, seeing how other people live (my favourite places have been India, Morocco, Tibet and Cuba to name a few). I also love cooking and photography. My fiancé is getting me into the AFL, watching the Swans. I have really enjoyed this year (surprisingly!). What is your motto in life? I have two. Firstly “happiness is what you give not what you get.” I have realised this while travelling that people who have nothing are some of the happiest people I have seen. And secondly “life’s greatest memories will be made up of once in a lifetime opportunities – don’t hesitate when they arrive – just do it!”
issue 8 | Summer 2012
18
MURDER UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Crime sites, villians and victims in Hamilton? For six weeks Year 6 students became super sleuths to solve an environmental murder mystery... Murder Under the Microscope (or MUM as it is affectionately known) is an online game in which Eco Sleuths all over Australia research and analyse evidence to solve an environmental crime. Run by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, the game involves students investigating potential environmental ‘victims’, ‘villains’ and ‘crime sites’ following clues provided via internet broadcasts which the students viewed on the interactive whiteboard (IWB). Each week new clues were revealed by the online characters and students analysed the evidence and then worked toward solving the crime by narrowing down their lists. The students worked individually as well as in pairs, groups and as a whole class to solve the crime.
19
PLC Sydney | Connect
was fun when you had something you could research, so if you had a clue I could see if that related to my catchment or my victim or my villain.”
PLC Sydney has been involved with MUM for approximately 10 years and it is run as a competition between the Year 6 classes. As well as watching the broadcasts on the IWB the girls used their laptops for research both in allocated class time and at home.
For Jessica Nikolovski from 6G it has been the highlight of her year. “I really enjoyed having to investigate because I love investigating and getting involved in things; like issues that involve Australia. It’s sort of like the kids way of learning about topics and exploring and learning.”
Year 6 teacher Ms Suellen White said that the benefits of participating in MUM were numerous. “MUM provides an opportunity for the students to work collaboratively as well as develop their own independent research skills. The game also provides links across the curriculum from Science and English to HSIE and Technology. MUM is exciting for the girls and is a great team building exercise.”
Sophie Palmer from 6W enjoyed the whole class and independent work the best. “I liked how we read through the messages as a class and then went home and did our own researching and then went back and as a class had a big discussion about it. I also liked writing information reports on the victim, villain and crime site. It was fun and interesting to hear what others had to say.”
When asked about MUM, Maeve Kelaher from 6K said “I really enjoyed the researching. I know it sounds weird, but it
And as for the winning class? Congratulations to 6K for correctly identifying the crime site, the villain and the victim. Well done!
A BUMPER DAY IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Each year students in both the Junior and Senior Schools eagerly anticipate a highlight on the service learning calendar – Red Cross Bumper Day. Cupcakes, lollies, jewellery and games characterise the fun of Red Cross Bumper Day which is held as an annual service learning event by Year 3 to 6 students. It is a fun day but the underlying reason for the event has a serious side. The funds raised are donated to the Red Cross to support their efforts in providing various community services, ranging from blood supplies and disaster services to first aid and refugee services. Retired Junior School teacher, Mrs Margery Foss, was the first coordinator of the event when it started in 1987 and has fond memories of the experience. Mrs Foss recalled that “in the early days, it was only for Junior School students. One year there were more stalls than customers so it was decided to invite the Senior School girls to come along. The day became a highlight for all students.”
The event was originally known as Red Cross Pedlar Day and in the early 1990s underwent a name change following a remark from a student who exclaimed that “it was a bumper day”. Henceforth it was known as Red Cross Bumper Day. This year Red Cross Bumper Day raised approximately $6000 – a far cry from the $136.87 raised in its first year. In the early days, students had to be a member of the Red Cross Youth in order to participate. Jillian Riffel, President of the ‘Red Cross Youth of PLC Primary’ in 1987, made the following record in the Charity Book: “Red Cross has a Pedlar Day on Friday 13th March. Almost every member of Red Cross took part that day by bringing a tray full of food to sell at recess. Most of the food was very healthy and very delicious.
The money we raised went to help the children at Glen Mervyn Red Cross Home. Thank you to all members of Red Cross who helped us raise the money for the home. We raised $136.87.” But the day is also about more than money. Run by the Junior School Charity Captains, the day is an opportunity for the students to use their initiative and creativity to look beyond their own circumstances. Junior School teacher, Ms Lyn Oliver, said “the girls have to work cooperatively within a group, plan their stalls and are then responsible on the day for setting up, selling their wares, handling money and cleaning up. It is a great learning experience.
issue 8 | Summer 2012
20
Much work was done to improve the day to day lives of the children through large scale renovations to the kitchens and bathrooms in each of the houses at the orphanage. Each year a group of Year 11 students would visit the orphanage and plan further ways to spend the fundraising money.
VIETNAM SERVICE LEARNING: NEW BEGINNINGS Over recent years the Year 11 students at PLC Sydney have been raising money to support Birla Children's Village, an orphanage in Hanoi, Vietnam. Through the work of Mr Bevan Marshall, Mrs Leonie Brewer and Mrs Penelope Russell, thousands of dollars were raised to aid this orphanage which receives little government assistance. 21
PLC Sydney | Connect
After having the wonderful opportunity to take over the position of running the tour, I took a group of students to Birla in April 2011. The staff and students were very impressed with all of the improvements PLC had been able to make at the orphanage and the very good conditions the children and their house mothers were now living in. We also came to realise that since PLC first started working with Birla, they now receive a lot more sponsorship from other agencies so a decision was made to move on and look to supporting an orphanage that was in greater need of our assistance. Mr Diep the director of Birla Children’s Village wrote to us with the following words of thanks: “We are so proud to have such good friends like you who care for us and encourage us spiritually and financially. We are so thankful for your kindness to come help us, regardless of the long distance and your time, you always tried to help us in all the things you could, so that the children can live in a better condition.” Through the use of our contacts at the Vietnam-Australia School, we decided to change the tour itinerary in 2012 and to visit an orphanage for disabled children in a remote area known as Ba Vi located on the outskirts of Hanoi. The aim of this tour was to assess the needs of the Centre for the Old and Disabled and come up with a plan for future work. The staff and I were especially concerned about how our students would react to seeing so many children in the orphanage with such severe disabilities so we spent much of our time in the lead up to the trip running preparation sessions. Overall I was incredibly impressed with the maturity of our students in handling a very sad and difficult situation and the enthusiasm they demonstrated towards planning future work at the orphanage. I am very much looking forward to working with the Year 11 Vietnam Committee and planning how to best use our fundraising money to support the Centre for the Old and Disabled in Ba Vi. I would like to sincerely thank the wonderful staff that accompanied me on the 2012 tour, Mrs Halkidis, Mrs Knapman and Mrs O’Brien. I would also like to thank Dr Burgis, Mrs Brewer, the PLC Foundation and the PLC community for their ongoing support. Miss Thea McLean Service Learning Coordinator Vietnam
“We first visited the Ba Vi Home for the Old and Disabled which, whilst incredibly confronting, most of us felt we had been well prepared in the lead up to the trip. At this orphanage we observed a severe lack of sufficient resources and a lack of trained staff. Most of the children suffered from various disabilities.” Jocelyn Dracakis, Year 11 “The Vietnam Tour was an incredible experience that granted me a greater appreciation of the things I too often take for granted: my parents, home, ample food and an education. Connecting with and witnessing the joy and love expressed by the children, which may have been in the form of a big hug or as simple as the reaching out of a hand or the turn of a head was exceptionally moving.” Caitlin Ford Year, 11 “On this visit we donated milk powder, rice, nappies, toys and other resources. Our funds will also go towards installing bathrooms and ceiling fans in a new building at the orphanage as well as looking to purchase a washing machine in order to assist the staff.” Georgina Chard, Year 11
issue 8 | Summer 2012
22
JOSIE JUMPS FOR AUSTRALIA Blazing glory: At a special assembly earlier this year, Josie Nicol (left) and Michele Dawson (right) were presented with the PLC Sydney Australian Blazer, in recognition of representing Australia in their chosen sports at the highest international level for their age.
Starting out in Little Athletics at age six, led Year 11 student Josie Nichol on a path to the winners dias in her chosen event of triple jump. Joining Balmain Little Athletics when she was around six years old because her parents wanted her to participate in a sport and the club was nearby, Josie spent her Saturday mornings running and jumping for fun. A standout performer at PLC Sydney Junior School Athletics carnivals since her inception in Year 3, she started out her athletic career competing in events such as the 100m Sprint, Long Jump and High Jump. It was not until around the age of 14 that Josie started Triple Jumping, a move that led to her representing her country at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Barcelona, Spain in July this year. Josie said that “representing Australia has by far been my greatest sporting achievement. Also jumping 13.25m and breaking the Australian under 18 triple jump record was an amazing accomplishment as well.” For most of Josie’s track and jumping sessions, she trains at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre and Trinity Grammar School for gym and pool sessions. She is ranked 4th in Australian Open and 6th in International Youth (under 18) and is in the NSWIS Emerging Talent Programme, the Australian under 19 Squad and the Australian Target Talent Programme. It can be difficult for Josie to juggle school work with competing and training. She said “getting all my assignments done on time has been hard but I am managing.” When not competing or doing school work, Josie likes to hang out with her friends and loves to cook but her main focus remains firmly on athletics.
MICHELE ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS Having started competing in the sport of Orienteering at age 10, Year 12 student Michele Dawson has been a stand out performer in this challenging sport of endurance and skill. Michele began in Orienteering through her dad’s involvement in 12 and 24 hour endurance events. After seeing an advertisement for Orienteering at one of these events, her dad thought it would be a great sport for the whole family to try. 23
PLC Sydney | Connect
Her journey in Orienteering led to Michele being selected to represent Australia at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Slovakia this year. Listing this as her biggest sporting achievement so far, Michele said “it was an amazing experience to have the opportunity to train and compete alongside the world’s best Orienteers. It has inspired me to train harder and develop my skills further to be able to perform better at next year’s Championships. My best result overseas was placing 77th in the Middle Distance Qualification, narrowly missing the ‘A’ Final by three places.” With Orienteering requiring a lot of travel to extensive bushland for competitions on
weekends and school holidays, it has been challenging for Michele to manage the demands of competing and keep up with school work, particularly in her HSC year. “It is often difficult to set aside time to study as I am either travelling, training or recovering for the next day of competition.” Michelle recently competed at the 2012 Australian Orienteering Championships Carnival in Tasmania and her performance has led to her being announced in the Australian Schools Honour team. Michele will now go on to represent Australia in the upcoming Oceania Championships being held in New Zealand in early January.
BELINDA’S SUCCESS PAR FOR THE COURSE Year 4 student Belinda Ji, started playing golf at the tender age of seven. Her golfing prowess on the course has started her journey to achieve her goal – representing Australia at the Olympic Games.
When asked about how she became involved in golf Belinda said “I tried a few golf lessons first and I had a lot of fun. Now I really enjoy playing golf.” Belinda is currently a member at Concord Golf Club, where she was granted the Scholarship of Junior Membership, and is the youngest member to have received this honour. It can be difficult for Belinda to juggle her school commitments with competing. “Sometimes I need to compete in four day tournaments and I have to leave school for the whole week. During this period, I still bring my school work with me, as I want to continue doing well at school.” When Belinda needs some time out she likes to go shopping, listen to music and play on the computer. Belinda’s success on the golf course has seen her selected for the state team and represent the NSWPSSA at the Australian Primary Schools Golf Championship. She believes her biggest golfing achievement so has been in the NSW Primary Schools Golf Championship event. “I came first in the girls nett and second in the girls scratch. And I am the only Year 4 girl selected in the state team – the other girls are all in Year 6.” With golf returning to the summer Olympic Games in 2016 Belinda is on track to realise her dream.
ELENA MAKES A SPLASH Multi-talented Year 5 student Elena Ng is making a name for herself in both diving and gymnastics. After starting gymnastics at the age of three years old because “my sister did gym and we went together,” Elena has gone from strength to strength. She now trains at PLC Sydney and is a member of the Gymnastics NSW National Development Program Squad (Level 4). This year Elena placed in the top 10 at the State Championships in gymnastics. When Elena was eight years old she also decided to give diving a try. “My friends told me it was fun so I went along.” Training at PLC Sydney for diving, just “going along”, has led to amazing success for Elena. She placed 5th in the School Sport Australia
Diving in 2012 and has been selected into the Emerging Talent Squad with the NSW Institute of Sport. Elena is the current PSSA State Age Champion, a title she also held in 2010 and 2011. As Elena progresses in gymnastics and diving, training demands increase and it can be difficult for her to manage the additional school work as she gets older. Elena explains that “I am also involved in music groups and other co-curricular activities. Time is always an issue but you learn to deal with it.” When not training, competing or doing school work, Elena likes to relax by reading, playing computer games or watching television. She also tries to fit in practicing her musical instruments. When asked about her sporting ambitions, Elena replied “I would like to keep on improving in both of my sports and perhaps represent Australia one day.” issue 8 | Summer 2012
24
ALUMNI
THE ESU WELCOMES A NEW PRESIDENT After three years as President, Mrs Robyn McBride handed over the reigns of the Ex-Students' Union to Sara Keli in 2012. I am thrilled to be the President of the PLC Sydney Ex-Students’ Union and to continue to foster the relationship between the ex-students and the College. I finished at PLC eleven years ago in 2001. In some ways my memories of running to Croydon station to catch the train, lunchtimes spent wandering the beautiful grounds and of course hours spent in class preparing for the HSC seem distant. Yet, when I walk through the school gates I instantly feel like I am welcomed back to the warmth and love that is the PLC family. After leaving PLC I studied a Bachelor of Liberal Studies at Sydney University and fell into an Honours year in Human Resources Management. Since graduating in 2006 I have worked in various Human Resources roles in the Finance industry, travelled, taken on the role of Editor of Kid Magazine, joined the Board of Dress for Success Sydney and married a wonderful man. Throughout each of these elements of my life post
25
PLC Sydney | Connect
school, there has been a strong connection to PLC that has helped me immeasurably. Everywhere I turn there seem to be exstudents willing to help me in my journey and likewise me in theirs. I have had mentors, colleagues and friends from not just my year at school but across the generations. With the 125 year celebrations of PLC Sydney in 2013, I am excited by the opportunities we have to celebrate a wonderful school that is so close to all of our hearts. As an ex-student community this is also our chance to say thank you to our school for many years of education, friendship and community. For many exstudents, the grounds of PLC look very different to when they attended school but one thing they will agree remains is the school spirit and all that it entails. In 2013, the Ex-Students’ Union will be joining the events at PLC and also celebrating with a special lunch on Jersey Day, an annual event where all ex-students’
are welcomed back to the College. We will continue our Card Day, Archibald ‘Art Before Hours’ Tour, Networking Breakfast and Mothers and Grandmothers Afternoon Tea. We welcome everyone from the PLC Community to our events so if you would like more information please contact me on sara.keli@live.com.au. If you are a member of the Ex-students’ Union and would like to get more involved in the committee or attending events we would also love to hear from you! Sara Keli (née Thorp)
To become a member of the Ex-Students' Union, visit the ‘Our Community’ section on the PLC Sydney website at www.plc.nsw.edu.au.
ALUMNI
EX-STUDENTS Josephine Williams (neÉ Cripps) Year of graduation: 1975 Since leaving school I have… After finishing at PLC I completed a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Sydney. I worked for a few years in hospital pharmacy and gradually became more interested in public health, health education and postgraduate study in education. This lead to work at the NSW Health Department where I worked for many years on a range of pharmacy related projects and more recently with non-government health organisations on heath initiatives from quality use of medicines to the retention of specialists in rural communities.
Annabelle Williams Year of graduation: 2006 School achievements from Years 11 and 12: Miss L. Thompson Prize for School ViceCaptain; PLC Academic Medallion for tenth in year and Certificate for Academic Achievement; Prize for first place in Geography; Dr RV Rickard Memorial Prize for Outstanding Performance; PLC Ex-Students’ Union Scholarship 2005 and 2006; AHIGS Festival of Speech first place (Current Affairs division); Chairperson of SRC; and PLC Sydney Public Speaking Competition - Winner Senior Section. Since leaving school I have… Studied Law and International Relations at Bond University. During that time I completed two internships. The first was in 2009 in Paris where I worked for Austrade in the Australian Embassy and the second was in Washington DC where I worked for Perennial Sports and Entertainment where I had exposure to a number of things
ranging from negotiating player contracts for NFL players to working with Google on community and Government relations. Represented Australia at a number of events as a member of the Australian Paralympic Swimming Team including the 2012 Paralympic Games in London where I won a gold medal in the 4x100m medley relay. Other events include the 2010 Commonwealth Games (silver medalist, 50m freestyle); 2010 World Championships; 2009 World Short Course Swimming Championships (silver medalist, 100m butterfly and bronze medalist, 50m freestyle); and the 2008 Paralympic Games (bronze medalist, 100m butterfly). Current occupation: Finishing my Law and International Relations degree and then in Feburary 2013 I will be starting work with corporate law firm Allens Arthur Robinson in Sydney. Current city and country of residence: Washington DC, USA… for three months… then back to Sydney!
In the past few years I have worked with my husband in his pharmacy management consulting company. This has been an exciting opportunity to help build a business and to continue working in the pharmacy profession. Working part-time has allowed me to enjoy new study in the world of textiles and upholstery. I also play tennis, read, walk and head up to the Blue Mountains to bushwalk whenever possible. And I always love catching up with my old school friends. A couple of years on the PLC ExStudents’ Union Committee provided a great opportunity to reconnect with the school and with other ex-students and to get to know the great team on the Committee. We have been very fortunate to have lived overseas and travelled widely over the years; many trips with the added excitement of watching our daughter Annabelle represent Australia in swimming, the highlights being two Commonwealth Games and two Paralympics. One of the most memorable times was in 2006 when Annabelle competed at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne during her Year 12 at PLC. The thrill of seeing Annabelle swim in front of a home crowd and then the overwhelming support that she received from PLC was unforgettable and was the inspiration for Annabelle continuing with her swimming at the elite level for another 6 years.
issue 8 | Summer 2012
26
ALUMNI
EX-STUDENTS THE crichton FAMILY
Fiona Finlay (nEÉ Crichton) Year of graduation: 1985
Jane Crichton Year of graduation: 1983 Since leaving school I have… Believe it or not, I have furthered my education, completing a Diploma of Teaching, Post Graduate Diploma of Social Science and currently undertaking a Masters in Child and Adolescent Welfare. My working life has seen me working in a variety of Children’s Services both in rural isolated communities and in Sydney. This in turn, has been shared with travel throughout Australia and overseas. After spending two years in the Kimberley I returned to make my home in Wagga Wagga, where I have worked with Family and Community Services (formerly DoCS) for the past 10 years. Although I am based in Wagga our region covers 76% of the state, allowing me to experience not only diversity with my core job responsibilities but also in the communities and cultures I work with. Some of my favourite memories from school are... The delicious cinnamon crepes for breakfast and Sunday lunch. Treats from Miss Keown. Being so embarrassed on Speech Day, when I received the Eunice Macindoe Prize for Reliability (my friends and I use to think it was only the nerds who were awarded it, looking back I was probably the queen of nerds!). 27
PLC Sydney | Connect
Setting the smoke detectors off in the Tower while cooking toast, NOT SMOKING… consequently the entire boarding school was evacuated, the Fire Brigade arrived, to find a charcoal piece of toast stuck in the toaster whilst I was on the phone! This resulted in me having to spend the whole of the next school holidays in the shearing shed to pay back the fine for the false alarm. Miss Rennie dressing up every year for the Borders vs Day girl relay. And as for the rest, I am sorry, what happened in the 80s at PLC stays in the 80s! What do you remember with fondness when you look back at school with your sisters? At the beginning of term, standing on the front steps of the school in Year 12 crying whilst Fiona and Julia were smiling and laughing saying goodbye to Mum and Dad. Pay back on muck-up night. Witnessing one of my sisters (no names mentioned) having to get out of bed in the mornings without abusing anyone. Current occupation: Community Programs Officer. Current city and country of residence: Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Since leaving school I have… worked in photography as a freelance and wedding photographer. After 15 years of photographing and digital took over, I hung my cameras up and became a full-time mum (domestic goddess) to my two children (Hugh 15 years and Holly 13 years). I am now working at Young High School as a Student Learning Support Officer. Some of my favourite memories from school are... boarding life, giving Miss Rennie grief and Sport. Melissa Cooke and I always scaring each other around the corridors and unfortunately one day I scared Sister McInnes who was in charge of boarding at the time... gated for the weekend! What do you remember with fondness when you look back at school with your sisters? Boarding life, Miss Rennie (Home Ec.), and two dear friends who I still stay in contact with, Melissa Cooke (Riss) and Elizabeth Jackson (Libby). I loved having my sisters, cousins, neighbours from Young and many girls from all over NSW all living under the one roof! Current occupation: Student Learning Support Officer. Current city and country of residence: Young, NSW.
ALUMNI
Julia Englert (neÉ Crichton) Year of graduation: 1986 Since leaving school I have… worked in Administration mainly in the rural sector throughout NSW and one year on a working holiday to England. Some of my favourite memories from school are…friends; being a Boarder; Miss Rennie’s laugh; being one of Miss Keown’s ‘helpers’; forgetting a line when taking my oath as Ferguson House Captain, something about ‘honouring the school’ – oops!; eating two trays of cheesecake in one sitting! - I don’t eat cheesecake now… that one I will never forget; and Boarders vs Day girls Athletics Relay. What do you remember with fondness when you look back at school with your sisters? It was great having sisters and cousins at school. They were like security blankets - if you needed them, they were always there! I do remember when Jane was in Year 12 and I was in Year 9 she would bribe me with jam on toast in bed at 6.15 am so I would get up and get down to the running track for Boarders’ Relay Practice. I have never been an early bird but food would always do the trick. Current occupation: Quite apt for this article. I have been the School Administration Secretary at St Columba’s, Yeoval NSW for the past eight years and love working in a school. I also teach Business Administration at TAFE. The best job of all is being a mother. Current city and country of residence: Baldry, NSW (4 hours west of Sydney near Orange).
jobs in Canberra, Young and Orange. I later gained qualifications in Marketing and spent many years as a Marketing and Careers Coordinator in Health. I have recently finished working for an Indigenous Organisation as a Community Development Officer working in the Aboriginal Communities in Western NSW. I worked closely with the youth and managed programs to assist them with career opportunities and pathways.
Prue Crichton Year of graduation: 1990 (Boarders’ Vice-Captain) Since leaving school I have… After school I moved back home to Young and completed a secretarial course through TAFE and worked in various Vet Nursing
For the past 18 months I have slowly been building up a photography business, 2CPhotography (www.2cphotography.com. au), specialising in commercial and candid equine photography. I spend most of my weekends either photographing and or competing on my horse. I have photographed various horse events such as Dressage Championships, State Breed Championships, International Eventing Competitions and numerous Campdraft, Team Penning and Pony Club events. Next year I’d like to work towards putting together a coffee table book on all things horses. I have lived in Dubbo for the past 14 years and own a gorgeous little 3 bedroom house. I live there with my family of two dogs and a cat… I have not married (yet!) but am waiting to get off that round-about to find my prince charming who’s apparently just around the corner!
Some of my favourite memories from school are... The great friendships made whilst at school. Saturday Sport (it meant I got to go out of the school grounds for the morning!). Having eating competitions at dinner - seeing which table could eat the most rissoles and sausages... It always ended badly with the sisters holding us back after dinner and having to either wash up for a week or be gated for the following weekend! Home Economics with Miss Rennie… she always loved the boarders. Year 11 Play with Miss Keown ‘Think of the Magic.’ I can still remember my first line “Ma where’s the chips!” Looking after Miss Keown in Year 11 and getting a Kit Kat from her glove box every afternoon! What do you remember with fondness when you look back at school with your sisters? Miss Keown and Miss Rennie. Current occupation: I am working for Western NSW Local Health District as the Quality Manager for Mental Health Drug & Alcohol. Current city and country of residence: Dubbo, NSW.
issue 8 | Summer 2012
28
ALUMNI
louise harris Year of graduation: 2002 School achievements from Years 11 and 12: School Captain Since leaving school I have … travelled the world, joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, learned Japanese and moved to Tokyo. My favourite moment as a School Captain was… looking forward to hearing about everyone’s adventures at our 10 year reunion. My advice to the Senior School students is… leap at every opportunity that comes your way, ignore those who doubt you and, above all, keep calm and study on! Current occupation: Diplomat. Current city and country of residence: Tokyo, Japan.
Jan van der Weide (nÉe Wilton) Year of graduation: 1973 School achievements: Winner of the Tildesley Shield Singles in 1972 and 1973. Since leaving school I have… I left PLC Sydney in 1973 to follow my dream of playing competitive tennis. This led me to competing at Wimbledon in 1976 in the Ladies’ Doubles where my partner and I made it through the qualifying games to the first round of the Championship. In 1976 I also played in the Australian Representative team (under 21 years) in the Annie Soisbault Cup which was held in Poland. During my competitive playing days I was ranked the No. 1 Junior (18 years and under) in Australia and throughout my career I played against the likes of Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, Martina Navratilova and Sue Barker. I reached No. 113 on the world rankings. I ran a tennis business for twenty years before joining PLC Sydney in 1997 as Head Coach. I married and had two children, divorced, married again and now also have a step-daughter and step-son. We were like the Brady Bunch – he had the cat, I had the dog and we both had two kids! One of my funniest memories from school is... My sister, Gai, would always rise when the alarm went off in the mornings, unlike me. I depended on her to wake me up which she usually did. There were however a couple of occasions where she chose to teach me a lesson or two. She would wake me as she was leaving to catch the bus. Naturally I would fly out of bed and attempt to also catch the bus as in those days school students were not allowed to catch the following two buses. The end result of course was that I ended up walking to school from Earlwood to Croydon usually carrying the heavy Globite school case full of heavy text books, PE sports bag and my tennis racquet. Did I learn from this? I'll say yes as having now been working at PLC for the past 15 years I usually rise at 5:30 am! Current occupation: Tennis Coordinator, PLC Sydney. Current city and country of residence: Sydney, NSW.
29
PLC Sydney | Connect
I left PLC Sydney in 1973 to follow my dream of playing competitive tennis. This led me to competing at Wimbledon in 1976...
ALUMNI
FORMER OLYMPIANS Elizabeth Walker (neé fraser) for the record Years at PLC Sydney: 1946 – 1957. Won the Senior Championship at the All Schools Swimming Sports in the record time of 30.4 seconds in 1957. Sport: Swimming. Competitions: Australian Junior Championship 1955; 200m freestyle Olympic Games, Melbourne, 1956. In 1956 the Olympic Games were held in Melbourne and fifteen year old PLC student Elizabeth Fraser was a member of the Australian Swimming Team. Elizabeth had been a student here since 1946; indeed, she was “the only one in Kindergarten who could dive for pennies in the shallow end of the school pool.” “I can’t remember being taught how to swim,” Elizabeth smiled, “I seem to have always known how. My mother couldn’t swim, so she didn’t teach me. I grew up in Stanmore but we often visited relatives in Dee Why and Collaroy on Sundays and we always swam then. The sports teacher told my parents that I would benefit from swimming training, so when I was 12 my parents arranged for me to start training at the Enfield pool.” ”My father drove me every morning around 5.30 am and stayed at the pool while I had training,” she continued.” He would have a swim himself and then wait for me to finish. He would drive me home for a quick breakfast, and then I’d take the train to PLC. My mother took me to training after school.” Frank Guthrie was her coach. Guthrie trained several Olympians, including Lorraine Crapp. Elizabeth and Lorraine both joined the Cabarita Swimming Club. The hard training paid dividends: in 1955 Elizabeth won the Australian Junior Championship in the 200m freestyle event. In the lead-up to selection for the 1956 Olympic team, she was invited to train at the Tobruk pool in Townsville. At that time there weren’t many indoor pools and the training season for swimmers was extended by travelling to the warmer Queensland climate.
I can’t remember being taught how to swim... I seem to have always known how. The Olympic Games had not been held in Australia before, so being part of the Australian team in 1956 was especially exciting. Elizabeth marched in the Opening and Closing ceremonies. Female team members received two skirts and two berets, cream and grey, to wear with the green blazer. Swimmers received two swimming suits and two track suits, plus a supply of Palmolive brand toiletries.
Elizabeth taught her two children to swim and, more recently, her two grandchildren. She joined a triathlon club in the 1980s and ran triathlons and fun runs until she turned 65 years of age. Living near the beach in one of Sydney’s southern suburbs, Elizabeth and her husband swim a mile most mornings. “I made a lot of friends at the Olympics. I think the experience made me enjoy sports more,” she asserts.
According to Elizabeth, “My best event was the 200 m freestyle but this wasn’t one of the events at the 1956 Olympics.” So she became one of six chosen for the 4 x 100 m freestyle relay team. In a cruel twist of fate she just missed out in the final selection of the four to swim the relay and so did not swim. It was a bitter personal disappointment, although the team, which included Dawn Fraser and Lorraine Crapp, captured a gold medal for the event.
Reflections and advice
Post 1956 Olympics
Her advice for any would-be Olympians at her old school today can be summed up in one word: enjoyment. “Just go for it,” she advises, “but remember, you must enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it.”
“After the Olympics I continued to train for two years, but when I missed out in being selected for the 1958 Empire Games I stopped swimming,” Elizabeth relates. “It was time to move on and do something else.” She sat the Intermediate Certificate exams at PLC – in Miss Macindoe’s office – before she went to Townsville for training and then went to business college. This training led to work in a solicitor’s office.
Elizabeth Walker (née Fraser) was an Olympian more than 50 years ago. Have our attitudes toward sport, and the Olympics in particular, changed? Elizabeth believes they have. “I think swimming was more fun then. There wasn’t so much pressure to get a medal. Our parents paid for most of our training and maybe we got a medal. Today it’s a business now and money is an incentive. Winning is too important now.”
Sources: Interview with Elizabeth Walker, July 2012, Aurora Australis, Wikipedia.
issue 8 | Summer 2012
30
Learning to fence
ALUMNI
After finishing her Leaving Certificate in 1938 Catherine didn’t want to go to university. “I’d had enough of school but the choices for women then weren’t as great as today. You could be a teacher, a nurse or get a clerical job such as working in a bank.” Catherine went to the Swords Club, then in Rushcutters Bay, which was founded by Frank Stewart in 1913. She completed a two-year diploma program that qualified her to be a “Games Mistress” so that she could teach sports in schools. It was at the Swords Club that she learned to fence. “Frank Stewart was the one who really taught me how to fence” she said. “I’d always been interested in fencing and liked reading about it in historical novels like the Three Musketeers.” Fencing captivated Catherine. Thanks to financial support from her family she lived in Paris for two years and in 1948 attained the Maître d’Armes, the highest qualification a fencer can achieve, from the Academie d’Armes. The Olympic experience
Catherine Onslow (neé Pym) for the record Years at PLC Sydney: 1927 – 1938. Captain Kinross House. Sport: Fencing, Women’s Foil, Individual. Competitions: British Empire Games, Auckland, 1950 (Bronze medallion); Olympic Games, Helsinki, 1952. Catherine Pym was one of the six members of the Australian fencing team for the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. She had been a student at PLC from 1927 to 1938 and was Captain of Kinross House in 1938. Catherine competed in the British Empire Games in Auckland in 1950, where she earned a bronze medallion in the Women’s Individual Foil event. “Sport in those days was for fun,” Catherine reflected at a recent interview, “You never thought of earning money from it. In 1952, the government paid my airfare not from Sydney to Helsinki, but only from Paris to Helsinki. I got the uniform to wear at the opening and closing ceremonies and a track suit, but that was it. We paid for our own fencing uniforms and our own equipment.”
31
PLC Sydney | Connect
Before the Olympics in Helsinki in 1952, Catherine undertook further training in Paris. She stayed in the Family Hotel, which was owned by the wife of the fencing master, Maître Battesti, and was just opposite the Ritz although not nearly as elegant. “It was very moderately priced and I moved in there. I got a simple meal every night – normally a bowl of soup. Prices were very high in Paris after the war and many things were in short supply. I remember often having a hard boiled egg and a small glass of beer for breakfast because they were available and the beer was cheaper than coffee!” In Helsinki, women of all nationalities lived separately from the men and the fencing events were held at a separate venue. According to Catherine, “the opening ceremony was quite simple compared to the big performances of today. All the teams marched into the field, there were some speeches, the Olympic Flame was lit, the Games were declared open and then hundreds of pigeons were released into the air.” “Sport then was a pleasure,” Catherine believes. “We didn’t have the pressure of ‘you’re here, you must get a medal’. I did my best, but I didn’t do it for the glory”. Indeed, of the 4925 athletes who competed at the Helsinki Games only 268 were fencers and of them only 37 were women. Catherine explained that “historically the Europeans
ALUMNI
were the high achievers in fencing. There were regular competitions in Europe whereas here there weren’t competitions. So in comparison, we were an inexperienced team.” Sadly, the team brought home no medals. Years at PLC 1927-1938 Catherine grew up during the Depression and believes she and her sister Hillary were lucky to be able to go to PLC Sydney. “I was always very happy at PLC,” she remembers. Miss Froggatt was her Kindergarten teacher and the classroom was upstairs in Shubra Hall in what is now the Principal’s Office. During her time at PLC Catherine served as Captain or Vice-Captain of the Rounders, Netball and Swimming committees, and was a member of the Student Christian Movement Committee. In her final year she was a Prefect and Captain of Kinross House. Looking back, she feels her most interesting teacher was Miss Wills, the History teacher. “She was a good teacher and also looked a bit like Wallis Simpson, who of course was in the news in the mid-late 1930s because of her link with King Edward VIII.” The College marked its 50th anniversary in 1938, Catherine’s last year. She remembers the Under This Gum Tree pageant put on to mark the event. She believes she was in the speaking chorus and remembers wearing a white Grecian style costume. “I think my younger sister Hillary was a koala.” Advice to potential Olympians Catherine’s advice to those who harbour a dream to be an Olympian is simple. “Get the support of your family. My father supported me in what I wanted to do. He was born in New Zealand of English parents. He went to Melbourne as a boy and went to Geelong Grammar School. He was in World War I and met my mother while in the UK. They married and came to Australia after World War I. They were in the Quarantine Station at North Head. What an introduction to Australia for my mother!” Sources: Interview with Catherine Onslow, June 2012, Aurora Australis, The Swords Club, SR/ Olympic Sports, Wikipedia.
PLC SYDNEY VISITS YOUNG On Sunday 17 June the College held a Luncheon with the Principal at The Country Club in Young. The Principal, Dr Paul Burgis and his wife Susan, Director of Boarding, Ms Pauline Turner, Registrar, Mrs Catherine Marvell (neé Davidson) and Edwina Hobson (a current Year 9 boarder from Young) represented the College on the day. It was a wonderful opportunity for past, current and future families to gather together and hear from Dr Burgis about how PLC is going and where it is heading. The past Boarders especially enjoyed listening to Edwina talk about life in the Boarding House today, assisted by Ms Turner. They were amazed to hear that the food was great and that the tower was now an office. The venue arranged by Mrs Janine Hobson (Edwina’s mother) was conducive to relaxed conversations, reminiscing and much laughter. Ms Rosalind Rennie (past teacher) also drove up from Sydney for the day much to the delight of those ex-students present. Family names of some who attended were Bassingthwaighte, Bull, Carter, Crichton, Maxwell, Robinson and Shannon. The College will be looking into repeating these events in other areas of country NSW in the future. If you are interested is assisting, please email Mrs Catherine Marvell via cmarvell@plc.nsw.edu.au.
Ms Debby Cramer Archivist
issue 8 | Summer 2012
32
ALUMNI
THE COLLEGE REUNITES WITH OUR ALUMNI This year the College welcomed back the 2002, 1992, 1982 and 1972 Alumni. Each afternoon was a huge success with the women most impressed with the new additions to the College as well as reminiscing about those surroundings that were so familiar to them and the incidents they brought to mind. Each afternoon involved a tour of the College, a presentation of photos from their era as well as time to chat and catch up with friends. These events are an opportunity to catch up with colleagues at the 'scene of the crime', and for the College to find out about 'our girls' beyond the green gates. Future Alumni events can be found on our website www.plc.nsw.edu.au/page/events. Mrs Catherine Marvell Registrar
Some comments heard at these events were: “Wow! The pool. Bit different to the old one with the dressing shed.” “I thought I had forgotten so many things from my school days but they have just come flooding back. What fun we had.” “I don’t know what it is exactly but even though there have been some major physical changes it still feels the same.” “Thanks for our very personalised tour and reunion. I can't believe how much I enjoyed seeing everyone again and wandering around PLC.” “Thank you for inviting us back. It has been fabulous.” “Did you know that the Art teacher from 1972, Mrs Susan Williams went on to marry Crown prince Leka of Albania and became known as Queen Susan of the Albanians”.
33
PLC Sydney | Connect
focus on PhillipPa Carnemolla
Workshop in progress: Phillippa Carnemolla working with Lucy from the Eastern Respite and Recreation Centre on the leaves of the ‘Breathing Conifer’ sculpture. Photo by Fiona Morris.
Since walking through the gates as a student for the final time in 1990, ex-student Phillippa Carnemolla has gone on to build a successful career as a designer – with two distinct pathways. After graduating from PLC Sydney, Phillippa completed a degree in Industrial Design at UTS and worked in consultancies before embarking on a Masters in Design (by research). The topic of her research – investigating how Mass Customisation and new production technologies could change the face of manufacture and mass production of products – led to former Principal, Dr McKeith, asking Phillippa in 2000 to speak to students at PLC Sydney about her research and why she found it so fascinating. Phillippa has developed two sides to her practice as a designer. Firstly, as a researcher and academic in the Enabling Built Environments Program at the University of New South Wales, and secondly as an artist and jeweller. Her work as an academic has led Phillippa to a field of research she is very passionate about – investigating the ways accessible environments can eliminate disability. Phillippa said “our environment, including the buildings we live and work in and the public space we move through, has the ability to disable or enable each of us as individuals with our individual health and mobility profiles.” As part of her current PhD studies she is undertaking, Phillippa is researching how home modifications can help people stay at home longer as they age and health may begin to decline. She believes “home modifications can prevent or offset the need to enter residential care, improve safety in the home and reduce the risk of falls.” Phillippa’s other love is her role as a practicing artist, jeweller and designer. It is this role that has seen Phillippa reconnect with PLC Sydney this year. In October she exhibited her recent works in the Adelaide Perry Gallery together with artist Lisa Jones. Phillippa said “my creative works are inspired and driven by the geometry of nature; I create sculpture and jewellery that pay homage to the mathematical
codes of the universe. In my recent creations I have been inspired by the geometry of flora and fauna.” Initially Phillippa began exhibiting her works in 2009 and was thrilled to be selected as the artist-in-residence this year for the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. This role has led to a project involving a team of young people from the Come In Youth Centre and Eastern Recreation and Respite Centre. The project is a large public sculpture - the “Breathing Conifer” (a hanging copper seed pod made from over 150 copper leaves) – with the leaves being coloured by the young participants. Phillippa has expanded on the participatory aspect of her residency through engaging our PLC Sydney Transition students. The students contributed to the production of the sculpture by colouring individual copper leaves each of which will be incorporated into the final work to be installed in the Fernery at the Royal Botanical Gardens in March 2013. Phillippa said of her residency “from the start I felt strongly that I wanted to share this wonderful experience and opportunity at the Botanic Gardens with a group of people for whom a high-profile, artistic experience would not typically be available. This project addresses the problem of isolation and exclusion felt by young people who are living with a disability or in a situation of disadvantage. This is addressed through the creative arts in an accessible and inclusive setting.” This year Phillippa’s felt artwork The Reunion Angel was the winning entry in the Women on Boards Art Prize. Reunion Angel (Fushia) was commissioned by the Macindoe Research Centre and is a part of the the PLC Sydney Collection. Visit www.phillippa.com.au to view a gallery of her work. issue 8 | Summer 2012
34
Phone (+612) 9704 5666 Fax (+612) 9744 0519 Email enquiries@plc.nsw.edu.au www.plc.nsw.edu.au All material appearing in Connect is copyright. Reproduction is not permitted unless otherwise authorised.
MP;PR3231;-2012-12
Boundary Street Croydon NSW 2132