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St Catherine’s St Catherine’s News Autumn 2021 2018
The Performing Arts precinct is named in honour of Miss Dorothy Pizzey AM, who was Principal at St Catherine’s School from 1977 to 1997. The honour was well deserved. She was an outstanding Principal in many ways, leaving a strong legacy. Under Miss Pizzey’s leadership and around a time where schools were rather insular, St Catherine’s had a stable cohort of teaching staff. Miss Pizzey’s highly trained background and broad career experience had a positive influence on the academic success which still continues to this day. Miss Pizzey was also passionate about providing girls with an international
perspective. In the 1980s, our student trips took in locations like Central Australia, Europe, China and later Japan. An international club was established to welcome girls from other countries on exchange. Country exchanges included France, Belgium, Germany, Japan and England. This was not the norm at the time amongst schools but remains the norm at St Catherine’s to this day. Miss Pizzey was also a strong supporter of boarding school. In the 1960s and 1970s, school after school closed their boarding schools. Not Miss Pizzey. She understood that, when they closed a boarding house, a piece of the school’s
heart closed with them. She saw the School’s Boarding House as a bridge between total care of home and a world that requires personal responsibility and sensitivity in relationships. Boarders possess their School in a different way to today’s students. Sciences were also a focus. Miss Pizzey established an Astronomy Club in 1983, with students viewing planets and constellations and attending lunchtime theory lessons. Just over 10 years later, Miss Pizzey hosted St Catherine’s first astronaut-inresidence Dr Rhea Seddon, who visited for 10 days. This accomplished female astronaut worked with science
Centre
DOROTHY PIZZEY
Middle School Musicale rehearsal in the Dorothy Pizzey Centre, 1987
School Vice-Captain Olivia Withers, School Captain Fleur McKay, Dr Rhea Seddon – astronaut-in-residence and Principal Ms Dorothy Pizzey, 1994
