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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2020
A Word from the President 2019 brought enormous highs to SCOGA, but with the dawning of 2020 and the smoke billowing across the state, we are reminded about the fragility of our land and the torment it has brought to so many. Our hearts go out to those who are directly affected by these tragic events brought on by the fires, and to those fights being fought by so many. To those within our SCOGA family and the wider community as a whole – we embrace you. Planning started early this year for SCOGA with our centenary only 12 months away. Not only do we need to cement our core program, we also feel that some areas need refinement. Old Girls communications will be a key element of focus this year, along with setting out how we want to celebrate our 100 years of SCOGA in 2021. SCOGA continues to flourish and evolve, and with this comes the need for diversity within our Committee. We are thrilled to head into 2020 with an extraordinary group of 17 committee members whose ages spread across the decades, and have skills to match our plans and programs. 2020 will see a continuation of the incredibly successful, and much sort after, Mentor Program. We are in the process of securing our mentors for the year and will be giving plenty of notice prior to the release of the 6 golden seats for each industry sector.
Overseas and interstate SCOGA chapters have come into our line of sight. With St Catherine’s Old Girls spread over the globe, we feel that wherever we dwell, sometimes there is no place like home… well at least a feeling of it. As a committee we are keen to commence this project and for it to become a regular part of our SCOGA program.
to work with the school to refine and improve its database, and one way to do this is with all Old Girls updating their details. This can be done via email to us (see address below), or by visiting stcatherines.net.au – clicking on the SCOGA tab, then the Update Your Details button, and filling in the form. Alternatively, you can advise your Year Group Representative of any changes.
In October last year, SCOGA donated the magnificent sculpture named ‘The Hands’ to St Catherine’s. Installed into the gardens outside the Mary Davis Centre, we are once again reminded about our remarkable Old Girls. A chance meeting with Lisa Roet (’84) when Dr Jane Goodall visited the school, led to an opportunity for us to purchase this extraordinary piece of work. I must wholeheartedly thank the SCOGA Committee of 2019 who unanimously voted ‘YES’ to acquire this gift for St Catherine’s.
Our e-News will continue to be emailed out each quarter. Please feel free to forward stories about what you are up to scoga@stcatherines.net.au
SCOGA social media will be ramped up in 2020. We will be developing Instagram and Facebook pages dedicated to Old Girls, as well as active promotion of the current LinkedIn group. We will advise the community once these are ready for you to ‘follow’. Year Group Representatives are a conduit from SCOGA to our Old Girls community. We appreciate their work on continuing to encapsulate their cohort. SCOGA continues
We look forward to hosting nine Reunions this year – 2015, 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990, 1980, 1970 and Pre 1961. We had sensational attendances last year, and look forward to filling Sherren House with laughter, memories, connections and reconnections. Thank you to the SCOGA Committee of 2020 who are embracing our direction. To Principal, Michelle Carroll – your open door and open ears are greatly appreciated. To Jane Hodder, Chair of School Council and her team – thank you for enabling us to be relevant, and worthy of delivering a voice on behalf of all St Catherine’s Old Girls. Chrissy Ryan (Graham ’79) SCOGA President scoga@stcatherines.net.au
