ST CATHERINE’S
135
SNOWSPORTS AUXILIARY
SPORTS AUXILIARY
After many false starts in 2020 we were all excited to get back on the slopes in 2021. Unfortunately Covid had other plans (again)!
The St Catherine’s Sports Auxiliary recognises and acknowledges effort, participation and excellence in the sporting achievement of our girls. The Auxiliary celebrates sport and aims to bring parents and students together in a fun community environment. This year we were hampered by extended lockdowns preventing the Auxiliary from undertaking many planned initiatives, however those that we did proceed with emphasised the tremendous sporting spirit of our School.
Luckily, we still managed to enjoy some successful and fun events. On Sunday 28 March our inaugural pre-season Ice Skating Event at O’Brien Icehouse took place with 56 students attending. We look forward to continuing this tradition and bringing the girls together with their Snowsports friends in a ‘wintery environment’ to get excited about the upcoming season. Thank you Tiffany-Lyn Pascoe and Adam Gill for being the driving force behind this event. After last year’s cancellation we were happy to enjoy Opening Season Drinks, generously hosted by the Aberdeen family. This was an enjoyable social event with a huge turnout, providing a fabulous opportunity to reconnect with the St Catherine’s Snowsports community after a long break. Our Snowsports Swap this year was our biggest and best ever! After last year’s cancellation we were happy to once again host our famous annual sale. This year’s Swap exceeded expectations, generating more income than any other year. Our Swap has become an institution, with many families returning year after year. This event created so much excitement people lined up for hours in anticipation of the doors opening. We are proud to host such a successful fundraiser, but also proud we are providing an important recycling service to the community. Unfortunately, House Snowsports weekend was cancelled the day before it was scheduled. This was heartbreaking for the girls (missing out for a second year in a row). Thank you to the incredible Sports Faculty, Mr Tom Crebbin, Mr Nick Racina, Miss Olivia Cody and Ms Meredith Taylor for all their hard work scheduling, rescheduling and cancelling this event and Interschools. Thank you to all the families who attended Mt Buller for the House Snowsports weekend – those who were already there or on their way – we are grateful for your commitment and support. Special acknowledgement also to the girls who participated in Dryland Training – Strength and Conditioning (a new training initiative to assist in the development of sport specific conditioning for Snowsports) in anticipation of the season, also the girls lucky enough to be at Buller during non-lockdown times, who were able to participate in XC training. Your hard work and enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed and will put you in great stead for the 2022 season. Thank you to the entire Committee, looking forward to 2022! Ms Monique Rosshandler and Ms Tamsin Greig Snowsports Auxiliary
During Terms 1 and 2, we provided fun, healthy breakfasts at end of season training sessions and House carnivals. Our Committee members thoroughly enjoyed the appreciation the girls showed. Our largest event this year was St Catherine’s versus Lauriston for the Huntingtower-Heyington Cup. This event demonstrated terrific camaraderie amongst students, staff and parents and was hosted at St Kevins’ College. The Auxiliary provided healthy food for all St Catherine’s competitors, in addition to snacks for more than 100 students and parents who cheered passionately for our girls in a fiercely fought game, which deservedly ended in a draw. The event was promoted heavily by Director of Sport Mr Nick Racina, who along with former St Catherine’s Sports Captain, Miss Celia Cody (’19) as AFL coach, created a sporting atmosphere that has set the benchmark for future GSV clashes high. With the unfortunate cancellation of the Father Daughter Dinner, the Sports Auxiliary was unable to capitalise on raffle and auction prizes the Auxiliary had obtained through generous donations. The sale therefore of Sports Auxiliary supporter caps continued to be our primary source of revenue with sales at sporting events proving our community values supporting our young active girls. At the commencement of Term 4, the Sports Auxiliary together with the Sports Department celebrated the girls’ achievements throughout the 2020-2021 calendar. Whilst the season was interrupted, the ability of our girls to excel and continue to participate across a wide range of sports was evident and applauded at the virtual Awards evening. I would like to thank our Director of Sport, Mr Nick Racina whose genuine care and enthusiasm for the girls and the Auxiliary at St Catherine’s is consistently evident. Thank you also to our Committee who tirelessly champion our girls. Whilst there are too many parents to thank, I would like to extend a special thank you to our Year 12 Auxiliary member parents, Mrs Rachael Seymour, Mrs Fleur Heidenreich and Mrs Symone and Mr Andrew Demetriou. Mrs Lee Holmes Sports Auxiliary President
