St Catherine's News spring 2017 by St Catherine's School

Incorporating the Old Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bulletin SPRING 2017

CONTENTS

Leadership

International Students

Junior School Redevelopment

Student Perspectives

Staff Profiles

Development

Early Learning Centre

Foundation

Careers

Our Community

Junior School

Senior School

Trips & Exchanges

Boarding

For the latest St Catherine’s news and regular updates visit www.stcatherines.net.au Editor Ms Petalyn Holloway Assistant Editors Ms Narda Edmondson, Mrs Katie Adelman, Mrs Kerrie Mussert, Ms Meredith Taylor Cover photo Zara Krause (Year 6), Georgia Hennessy (Year 5) and Ellen Vote (Year 6)

A Midsummer Nights Dream

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Professional Photographers Joe Vittorio Photography and James Grant Photography Contributors Thank you to all Early Learning Centre, Junior School and Senior School staff and SCOGA (St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association). The Bulletin Editor Emily Smith (‘10) Design Ms Ruth Gavin Print Waratah Group

For editorial queries, feedback or change of address, please email marketing@stcatherines.net.au For extra photos and video, you can read St Catherine’s News eMag online at www.stcatherines. net.au/our-publications

How do we preserve their youthful optimism and their high levels of engagement to enable the girls to flourish? What are the employment prospects and what is the future learning journey for the Class 2024? And how do we as a School adapt accordingly? – PRINCIPAL, MRS MICHELLE CARROLL UNPACKS THESE QUESTIONS IN HER ARTICLE ON PAGE 3.

LEADERSHIP

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

From the Chair of Council Passing the Baton

I am absolutely honoured to have been appointed as Chair of the St Catherine’s School Council. To work with the Council, to oversee and drive the strategic objectives of the School, along with Mrs Michelle Carroll, and her very talented and dynamic leadership team is a great privilege. The Council has been in excellent hands over the last six years under the fabulous stewardship of Mrs Clare Cannon, who was a member of Council for 11 years. I would like to thank Clare for her unwavering commitment serving the School. Clare tirelessly involved herself in School life and brought members of our community together to focus on a range of initiatives for the benefit of the School. Clare had numerous achievements during her time and most notably was Clare’s search for and appointment of a new Principal. She spoke with numerous educators from around the world, acquiring their advice, travelled to a number of schools and attended the National Coalition of Girls’ School of America Conference during her research period.

This combined with the efforts of the Principal Search Council Subcommittee found the right fit for the School and appointed Mrs Michelle Carroll to lead St Catherine’s forward. Another significant achievement under Clare’s guidance was the partnership with Mercantile Rowing Club. She was a strong advocate of the move to Mercantile and believed it would allow potential coaching and lifelong rowing through the established club. Clare will be missed, however, her legacy will continue as I feel very humbled to accept the ‘passing of the baton’. We are living in an era of significant change in the education sector which includes the Federal Government’s Independent schools funding reforms, continued innovations in technology, regulatory and reporting requirements and changes in curriculum to cater for our girls’ learning requirements and career aspirations. Notwithstanding the context in which our School operates, my vision for St Catherine’s is to ensure we continue to be an exemplar in girls education and nurture and develop girls who achieve excellence academically and girls who are also well rounded, capable and confident to step up and achieve their dreams. Our sense of close community is a hallmark of the culture at St Catherine’s. The collective contributions of our girls, parents, supporters and friends is something I have always valued since the day I walked through the gates 11 and a half years ago, when my little girl (who is not so little now) started her first day in Early Learning Centre. I certainly want to see our culture of being nurturing, supportive and caring of others to continue and flourish and I strongly encourage all our parents to connect and become involved where they can. I look forward to the challenges that await me and working with the Council, Mrs Michelle Carroll and her team, along with the St Catherine’s community to continue driving our great School forward. Ms Jane Hodder Chair of Council

There is a very palpable and positive energy to St Catherine’s. You can feel it as soon as you step onto our campus.

The Class of 2024

The joy on the faces of the Year 5 girls, evident in the photograph below, is just one example of the youthful optimism and high levels of School engagement that we as teachers witness every day. This leaves one to question, how do we best prepare our Year 5 students, the Class of 2024, for the changing demands of the workforce? How do we preserve their youthful optimism and their high levels engagement to enable them to flourish? What are the employment prospects and what is the future learning journey for the Class 2027? And how do we adapt accordingly?

According to the report from the Office of the Chief Scientist, the push to overcome barriers to women prospering in STEM in the workplace needs to begin at junior school. “The key finding is we (Australia) are losing female talent right across the STEM pipeline despite the fact there is no innate difference in ability.” (Roslyn Prinsley, co-author of the Report).

At the heart of the design for our new Junior School is the creation of specialist learning spaces that aim to foster the education, growth and creativity in the minds of our young students. Whilst Art, Music and Physical Education subjects are the ‘traditional’ specialist spaces in Junior Schools, it is the inclusion of a new Science Lab that is most exciting for our future.

This research is supported by an earlier study completed by the OECD in 2015 that revealed that despite girls having a more positive attitude about school, completed more homework and read more for pleasure, they lacked self-confidence in their ability to solve mathematical and science problems. They also achieved poorer results than boys in these subjects despite out performing boys overall. The study also affirmed research that girls at ‘all-girls’ schools were more likely to study subjects such as Physics and Mathematics at a senior level.

Additionally, upgrades in our Senior School Science Laboratories in the Edna Holmes Centre for Science further reinforce our commitment to STEM. Staged over 12 months to ensure we fulfil the timetable requirements, it is planned Science classes will commence Term 1, 2018 in two completely refurbished ‘wet’ labs. The Psychology classroom and Physics Lab, designed to house the new TIDE program of Coding, Robotics and Engineering, will take shape in Semester 1 2018. The final phase over the Christmas 2018–2019 period will include the Chemistry and Biology Labs, re-designed Prep Labs and Staffroom and overlay of a vertical garden on the external façade of the building.

Education will undoubtedly be the ‘engine room of Australia’s future prosperity’ (PwC, 2017) and the education system plays a vital role in equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed for a prosperous working life. Australia needs to position itself to compete in the global economy and understanding the impact of digitisation and technology on business, and the economy are paramount. Research undertaken by PwC suggests: • 44% (of 5.1 million) of current Australian jobs are at risk from digital disruption; • 75% of fastest growing occupations now require STEM skills and all require ICT skills; • $57.4 billion increase in GDP if we shift just 1% of our workforce into STEM roles. Innovation and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education are key to future growth. Most children today start school technologically literate. Our challenge is not just to harness the potential technology can offer to support quality pedagogy, but to use technology to extend learning opportunities and curriculum breadth for all students.

With only 27% of STEM jobs filled by females in Australia today, we must maintain a strong focus on educating and encouraging girls into this field of work. In the 1970s, just 7% of STEM roles were filled by women, this number tripled in 20 years with a reported 23% in the 1990s. This figure has almost stagnated since this time, increasing by only 4% in the past 20 years. This needs to change. Australia (and the western world) can ill afford to lose another generation of girls from this industry. If we want to attract the best and brightest minds, we must look to all of the population. More women can contribute to the STEM field.

www.afr.com/business/accounting/stem-gender-issues-start-atprimary-school-end-at-work-20161113-gso4o6 www.oecd.org/education/early-gender-gaps-drive-career-choicesand-employment-opportunities.htm www.pwc.com.au/education/education-reform-mar17.pdf

Thirty percent of the St Catherine’s graduating Class of 2016 accepted places in STEM related tertiary courses such as Biomedicine at The University of Melbourne, Engineering at Swinburne, Monash and UNSW and Science at Monash and the University of Melbourne. With the addition of the Science Lab, recruitment of science specialist teachers in the Junior School and an extensive upgrade to the Senior School

Science facilities, we hope to inspire and equip students with the confidence and capacity to continue this trend for St Catherine’s girls to aspire to careers in the STEM industry. Our education framework must equip young people with the capacity to think, solve problems and thrive within a changing society. We are acutely aware that there is much more to a St Catherine’s education than preparing a ‘workforce for the new economy’ and remain firm believers in the importance of a holistic environment. The graduating Class of 2024 has a visible zest for life and their enthusiasm for learning is unmistakable every day in their classroom. We are committed to cultivation in these girls, a love of Science and Mathematics that will ‘enable students to contribute to the overall wellbeing of our society – skills and attributes such as confidence, teamwork, problem-solving, aspiration and a love of learning’. The educational journey of the Class of 2024 is one of optimism. Mrs Michelle Carroll Principal

I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T S

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

2016 Graduates

Four of St Catherine’s 2016 graduates are undertaking their tertiary study aboard. St Catherine’s opportunities and strong educational foundations have empowered these girls to be independent and globally responsive young women.

STUDYING Abroad

ANNIE ANEZAKIS (’16) PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, USA

YUNJIA (KITTY) HONG (’16) IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

One of the greatest lessons I have learnt from my time at St Catherine’s is to remain open-minded and be willing to try new things. At St Catherine’s, I was able to push myself beyond my comfort zone, especially in the classroom, sporting arena and on Beyond Boundaries camps. I now feel equipped to tackle anything that is thrown at me and make the most of every opportunity I am offered. MADELEINE BAKER (’16) BOSTON UNIVERSITY, USA An invitation to study at Boston University, USA to complete the pre-medicine program, Human Physiology in a Bachelor of Science degree was too good to refuse. The wide range of subjects and opportunities to undergo internships in hospitals and clinical settings was what appealed to me. Initially, I was drawn to the professionalism of the US college sport culture, however, I was equally eager to experience something new beyond Melbourne. Boston University seemed a perfect fit for me. The application process was quite overwhelming and enduring. It included constant assessment of school grades and reports from Year 9, a video analysis of me playing hockey, a high SAT exam score, many entrance essays and personal references. I was still completing application forms three weeks before I left. The support from the careers department in my application process, by writing references and sending documents to the University, was incredibly valuable. St Catherine’s and the Senior School staff provided an engaging and strong academic setting which helped me develop a disciplined work ethic and achieve the VCE result I required. The support I received through the application process and through my VCE studies has left me feeling well prepared for the future.

It was this open-minded attitude that has given me the confidence to accept the Bachelor of Liberal Arts at Princeton University in America over over my university offer in Melbourne. The opportunity to major in molecular biology with a certificate in French, whilst also competing on the women’s lightweight rowing team is about as far from my comfort zone as I can be. As part of the liberal education system, I will have extraordinary opportunities to not only study what I am passionate about, but to also discover new areas of interest. It was only when I visited Princeton on an official visit last September, I fell in love with the University and all it had to offer for both my academics and rowing. The campus is incredibly beautiful (the boathouse in particular!) and there is an amazing sense of community – it just felt right. Throughout all of my time at St Catherine’s, the support from all of my teachers was unparalleled. I was constantly encouraged to strive to reach my highest potential academically and to push my boundaries. When discussing pathways after School, I had enormous trust in my teachers who guided me to make a decision that was right for me and I am now incredibly confident that I am making a huge step in the right direction!

Reflecting on my time at St Catherine’s, I have to say it will remain my lifelong treasure. This warm and supportive environment has influenced me to always be curious of the unknown, persevere when encountering difficulties, and be empathetic at all times. ELIZABETH BOLT (’16) ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND I could not have asked for better teachers than those I was fortunate to have had at St Catherine’s. The opportunities at St Catherine’s to live in England and Japan on exchange, as well as travel to America for the Global Young Leaders Conference have not only prepared me academically, but has instilled a work ethic and a love of learning that I believe (I hope) will get me across the line at St Andrews. There is really no better time to be studying International Relations and with a front-row seat to Brexit, the effects of the Syrian Refugee Crisis and the rising popularity of far-left and far-right parties in Europe studying a Master of Arts (Honours) in International Relations at the University of St Andrews, in Scotland really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My four-year degree at St Andrews, will include both an undergraduate and masters degree exclusively focused on International Relations. I will obtain two qualifications at the end of the degree, instead of one, something that was not quite possible to do with the more general BA degree in Australia. While I am trying not to plan too far into the future, and keep my options open, my goal is to pursue a career in politics.

Preparing application materials early, setting a clear plan and regular meetings with Mrs van der Poel helped me smoothly progress through my university applications. I think ‘start early’ and ‘progress daily’ are the key points to manage the process of applications and the work involved. I received offers to study MSci Mathematics at Imperial College London, MEng Biochemical Engineering at University College London, BS in Pre-dental Program with a Biochemistry Major at New York University, and a Bachelor of Biomedicine at The University of Melbourne through VTAC. Possibly the hardest period of time for me to make the decision for my future life. I finally chose to accept the offer at Imperial College London to study Mathematics at a higher level. The sense of gratification when solving maths problems is tremendous, and by focusing on what I love, I have greater confidence for my future. I appreciate the environment St Catherine’s provided me, with equal emphasis on both Science and Arts subjects. In this way, every girl could feel she is valued, by pursuing the subjects she loves and is good at. That is the best thing about St Catherine’s.

ELC

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Preparation for Life

the present. Childhood is a time to be and make sense of the world. Therefore, some of the most important elements of helping children be ‘ready’ for school relates to their health and wellbeing. Feeling confident, happy valued and connected to a group means that the learning will be optimised. Central to this, is developing strong, authentic, positive relationships and emotional resilience.

Beyond the ELC

When a child starts school, there is a considerable age, experience and developmental range. Those children who experience caring and responsive relationships and many stimulating experiences arrive at school with a history of learning behind them and a readiness to continue learning. Children who arrive without these experiences are already at a disadvantage that undermines their chances of succeeding at school. The Transition Statement becomes a valuable contribution towards each child’s learning and development when they start school. These statements, written by early childhood teachers align with the Early Years Learning Framework and provide a concise picture of each child’s strengths, in relation to the learning outcomes. Prep teachers review information in these statements to inform their curriculum planning and to ensure the recognition of each child’s prior learning. The high standard of early childhood education offered in our ELC in Campbell

Starting school is a significant milestone for children. The importance of a positive transition is acknowledged in research, policy and through early childhood educators’ professional practice. It is reflected in the National Quality Standard, which is the national benchmark for Early Childhood Education and Care Services.

Views about school readiness have broadened over time to become more focused on a child’s learning dispositions, prior experience, social and emotional maturity rather than a focus on the individual skill level of each child. How well the children are prepared for this transition impacts on their long-term outcomes. The launch of the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia in 2009, created a quality curriculum guide that encourages all early childhood professionals in collaboration

House and our partnership approach between families and educators promotes continuity of learning to link the previous experience with the new. Programs have developed over time to link the ELC to the students in the Junior School through the ‘Four Leaf Clover’ Program, where the children in the ELC Four Year Old classes form a bond with a Year Four student. This relationship continues all year and involves planned activities that strengthen their friendship. This sense of belonging to a community gives the children confidence. Visits to and from specialist classes such as French and Library also promotes this link to the School. We have a ‘Prep Expert Panel’ where the current Prep students are invited back to the ELC, to answer questions the children have about what school is like. Towards the end of Term 4, the Prep teacher will visit the ELC and spend some informal time with those students who will continue through to Prep. “The best way of preparing a child for school is to ensure that they have optimal social, emotional and learning experiences and environments during the early years, both at home and in community settings and services. To ensure this, we need to create the conditions under which families and communities can meet the needs of children as they (and we) would wish.” (Moore, 2006). Ms Fiona Barker Early Learning Centre Coordinator

with families to cater for this challenging and exciting time in their children’s lives. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia states when considering transition for young children, we must acknowledge that the child is a unique, active, engaged participant in their learning. From birth, children learn and demonstrate knowledge, skills and understanding in various ways and at different points of time. The early childhood years are not solely preparation for the future but also for

‘While there is some debate about what constitutes ‘school readiness’ or whether such a ‘concept’ or label is appropriate ... research indicates there are qualities, characteristics and skills that help smooth the path to school.’ – EARLY CHILDHOOD AUSTRALIA

JUNIOR SCHOOL

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Adding up to something great M AT H E M AT I C S I N T H E J U N I O R S C H O O L

Within the Junior School, our goal is to build the girls’ competence, confidence and interest in Mathematics. We deliver a rich and engaging sequential Maths program, and provide numerous opportunities to participate in mathematics related activities both inside and outside of the classroom.

Our Maths program is centred upon the internationally recognised program, PRIME Mathematics, which provides a challenging base for us to build upon. This program supports our aim to develop students’ thinking, fluency and understanding in Mathematics. We want to encourage students to explore possibilities, and develop bold problem-solving approaches and skills. We want them to take risks in their learning, focusing on how and why, rather than just the answer. When students have greater confidence, they give themselves the freedom to take risks in learning, and to engage in trial-anderror processes that are fundamental to acquiring knowledge in Mathematics. As with literacy, it is also critical we build strong foundations in numeracy. From Prep through to Year 6, the Mathematics

program focuses on building strong foundations across the three strands of Mathematics as outlined in the Victorian Curriculum – Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. Lessons are carefully planned and differentiated to cater to the individual needs and thinking styles of students. In the classroom, students learn maths in many different ways – through manipulation of concrete materials, modelling of maths problems, practising processes, talking about problems, drawing and writing, playing games, and using ICT. Activities are designed to transport students from being concrete learners to developing their ability to mentally process information and become abstract thinkers. Within this, the children are challenged to

extend this understanding to solve problems. The automatic response of number facts and mathematical tables are also a major focus. These are developed through maths challenges, games and activities. In Prep and Year 1, we have a strong focus on hands-on activities and use many different concrete materials and manipulatives to ensure all maths learning has a strong foundation. While introducing new topics, we consistently revise and extend current knowledge to ensure all individual needs are met. The Learning Plus department is particularly active at this level to ensure the building blocks are firmly in place for future learning. From Year 2 to Year 4, we introduce differentiated Maths Problem Solving groups that allow for the individual needs of students to be focused on while working in like-ability groups. During these sessions, students have

the opportunity to apply Mathematical skills to various problem solving tasks that are fun and often based in real-life contexts. In Years 5 and 6, for those students who display a strong aptitude towards Mathematics, there is a Maths Master Class program, in which Senior School teacher and expert Mathematician, Mrs Amanda Ladbury-Webb works through challenging Mathematical tasks with groups of Years 5 and 6 students. This is a wonderful opportunity that provides an additional challenge for those students. In addition, opportunities to engage in a number of other Mathematics related activities beyond the formal classroom are provided throughout the year. Quite often the students do not even realise they are applying the skills they have learnt in the classroom.

Just some of these include: • Morning STEM classes which require girls to apply Maths skills to new contexts • Chess Club at lunchtime • Coding Camp in the holidays • Maths Challenge and Maths Olympiad competitions Through the delivery of a robust, engaging and challenging Mathematics program, we hope to develop students who are competent and confident with mathematical concepts. This includes easily, seamlessly and unconsciously drawing on what they have learnt to solve everyday problems, see patterns, understand relationships in the world around them and incorporate processes of questioning, reflecting, reasoning and proof. Ms Catherine Samuel Deputy Head of Junior School

SENIOR SCHOOL

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

“Life is where you progress… No Human is limited… it’s not about the legs, it’s about the heart and mind”. – Eliud Kipchoge In 2017, Eliud attempted to break the 2 hour marathon record… he ran 2.00:26!

Mathematics journey and achievements It has been an exciting year for Mathematics at St Catherine’s School. Our girls have performed extremely well in a range of competitions; Computational and Algorithmic Thinking, the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians at both the Challenge and the Enrichment stage, the Australian Mathematics Competition and The University of Melbourne’s Secondary School’s Mathematics Competition. These competitions are approached with great enthusiasm and we are always delighted with the discussions that are generated from the questions. Competitions allow the students to tackle unfamiliar problems and the conversations that follow, help them develop new strategies in problem solving. The competitions are an extension to the classes at St Catherine’s. Mathematics is lightly streamed for Year 7 through to Year 10. There is an Enrichment class which works through the course fairly quickly resulting in time to work through other aspects of Mathematics. Students who are more challenged by the subject are placed in a reinforcement class that covers the same curriculum, however, at a slower pace. This class is deliberately kept small to

Team Running allow for more one-on-one assistance and for the flexibility to address some of the skill issues that need review. Students who are not in either the Enrichment or the Reinforcement class are spread into two equal classes. We are very aware of catering for differences within the cohort and as a result we also offer both an Honours Program for the more talented Mathematics students and classes for those who require additional support. Both of these are small groups which meet one or more times a week during scheduled classes. The teachers who take these groups are specialists in assisting students to achieve their full potential in Mathematics. In ensuring we continue to cater for individual needs we adapt the course accordingly. An example of this is this year’s Year 7 cohort. Testing indicated their strength in Mathematics and as a consequence we have established an accelerated class to cater for their thirst for knowledge. In this class, the students will cover both the Years 7 and 8 Mathematics curriculum, but there is the flexibility to investigate any areas of interest that arise from discussions. This is an exciting project

and one we will be closely monitoring. It is essential that the students involved feel comfortable with the work studied, but are also stimulated and challenged. We are excited about our plans to introduce the Years 9 and 10 elective, Algorithms, which caters for students with good analytic ability, and to also offer Foundation Mathematics Units 1 & 2 for students who find Mathematics challenging, however, would like to have a Year 11 Mathematics subject. These subjects are all offered, though dependent on the number of students who elect to study them. At VCE level, we offer small classes for Mathematical Methods, Further Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics. Many of our Senior teachers are assessors in one of the three areas, with one teacher holding the position of Assistant Chief Assessor of Specialist Mathematics examination 2.

In running, we all understand and appreciate the physical demands of the sport and the health benefits associated with this, however, we sometimes overlook and underplay the psychological values that underpin the reasons why we engage in sport and what drives us to give it our all and get the best out of ourselves. In 2017, the St Catherine’s Cross Country team built their season around the values of effort, self-confidence and making a positive contribution towards their team. In every team discussion, each tough training session and every hard fought race, these values underpinned the way the team went about their performance. The 2017 St Catherine’s team matched its best ever result in the GSV Division 1 Cross Country Championships, finishing third overall. This was an outstanding achievement for our School when you consider the GSV competition consists of 24 competing schools, with more than 1,300 runners competing at the Championships. For those who were fortunate enough to witness the race, the picture above tells the tale. Where other schools relied on physical abilities of individual performers, St Catherine’s focused on the ‘heart and mind’; the psychological values that provided reason and rationale for why effort was regarded so highly within our teams performance. For the coaching group, shifting the focus of causality away from the external drivers of winning a race or producing a super time and instead channelling it towards internal values of giving effort, belief and teamwork towards something greater than self, provided a means of purpose for the members of this team. No longer was the racing simply about how ‘I’ could do better, but more so, how could ‘I’ contribute to those around me performing better?

Mathematics at St Catherine’s is a continuing and adapting subject that lays the foundations for the next generation.

School sport by design is about teamwork, working hard with your friends and contributing positively towards the environment in which you share. The girls of St Catherine’s Cross Country team are leading the way in shaping how sport should be played; we look forward to seeing this team continue to progress and push their own limits.

Ms Janette Matt Head of Mathematics

Mr Lloyd Knight Head of Sport

TRIPS & EXCHANGES

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Oxford WIDENING PERSPECTIVES

Royale Academy

During the Term 2 holidays, Year 11 students Sophie Karunaratne, Samara Gill and Isabelle Gough spent two weeks immersed in study at Oxford Royale Academy. Driving through the gates of the grand Yarnton Manor, on the first Sunday, was truly an awe-inspiring moment. Being able to reside in Oxford Royale’s own 17th Century Manor house and having the opportunity to be guided, challenged and inspired by the world-class teachers from Oxford University was truly a once-in-a-life time experience. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by 84 people from more than 70 different countries including America, Brazil, India, Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Saudi Arabia and many more. This allowed us to be exposed to various cultures and provided us with a broader perspective of different views and values present globally. The following day, we were immediately immersed in our chosen courses; Isabelle embarked on the challenges of the Business and Enterprise Programme, whilst Sophie and Samara participated in the Broadening Horizons course, focusing on English Literature, Chemistry, Economics, Debating and Public Speaking and Global Issues. These courses enabled us to further explore our areas of interest, whilst extending our knowledge for further VCE courses over the next two years. What made these classes truly memorable, was being able to experience them with students from all different corners of the world. Particularly, in the Global Issues Seminar, Sophie was encouraged to debate about the ethics of sovereignty and national security, and through this, draw in the values of Australia and our position in the world.

In addition to the challenges within our chosen courses, ORA allowed us to experience what Oxford City has to offer. A favourite activity was punting along the famous River Thames; which was much more complicated than anticipated. Despite navigating low branches, bridges and ducks, trying to keep the boat straight, we can safely say punting was a firm favourite amongst the activities. In the duration of the jam-packed two weeks, other activities included site seeing Oxford evening sport, visiting The International Centre for Birds of Prey, touring Hampton Court where Henry VIII lived during his reign, Model UN debating, the ORA Talent Show and taking part in our particular favourite, Homework Club. We were also grateful to explore our specific interests and potential career paths in the Insight Masterclasses. In four very different fields, specialists came to Yarnton to share their expertise with us. Isabelle embarked in the challenges of the Forensic Outreach workshop and had to solve a crime scene which was constructed by an expert investigator. Samara and Sophie dissected the art of filmmaking in the Hollywood and Film workshop by creating their own story board and presenting it to a panel of film makers. On the final Thursday, we travelled to London to see the West End’s production Mamma Mia. We were able to explore Covent Gardens and then embrace the bustling Oxford Street culture before the production. However, the highlight of the night was dancing in the isles to classic jukebox musical Mamma Mia.

Our last day at ORA brought to an end our time at Yarnton, all too quickly. The Graduation Ceremony itself highlighted the achievements of students in their chosen subjects. Specifically, Samara received an award for her outstanding efforts in Economics, and Isabelle was acknowledged for producing the judge’s favourite business plan MOOD® in her Business and Enterprise Programme. We all now possess a greater understanding of the world and the many different cultures across the globe, along with a new-found independence. We have made life-long friendships from the most unexpected places, and are all the more thankful we shared this incredible experience with them. All in all, these two weeks will definitely resonate with us forever as the program provided ample insight into life after School and the endless possibilities for our learning journey. Sophie Karunaratne, Samara Gill and Isabelle Gough Year 11

St Catherine’s School Melbourne

Congratulations to Sue Collister on ten years as our Director of Boarding Services at St Catherine’s School, Melbourne!...

“Congratulations to Jasmine Glass (Year 7) whose artistic talent has been recognised by Katherine Regional Arts – KRA in the #NAIDOCWeek2017 Art Competition.”

stcatherinesschool The Junior School is a sea of pink today, as all girls from Prep to Year 6 have arrived at School adorned in pink for our 2017 Year 6 Fundraising Day supporting @breastcancernetworkaus

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St Catherine’s School Melbourne

“...a number of St Catherine’s students have achieved outstanding results at both State and National levels.”

St Catherine’s School

stcatherinesschool Thank you to everyone who slipped on their runners for a jog or a walk around the Tan on a Sunday morning. It was warming to see the St Catherine’s community rally together to raise money for #freezeMND #stcatherinesfunrun

Congratulations to our Junior Head of Rowing and Physical Education and Health Teacher, Bridgette Carlile, on the appointment of Australian U21 Rowing coach... #TeacherTuesday St Catherine’s School Melbourne

Melbourne

“Today, our Year 9 students are excited to depart for their Heyington to Highland trip in Fiji.”

“Congratulations to Lisa Steven on receiving a 2017 Higgins Community Service Award...” #Leadingtheway

stcatherinesschool A light 4km beach run at Fairhaven this morning for our girls on the Cross Country Camp. #LifeAtStCatherines #FairhavenBeach

Very proud recipients at #SkiAndSnowboardAwards, of the #2017SchoolCluboftheYearAward

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CONNECTING our community Join the conversation stcatherinesschool Good luck to our teams participating in the @bonduniversity High School Mooting Competition on the Gold Coast today. #LifeAtStCatherines

St Catherine’s School Melbourne

Our Year 12 Chemists participated in the @RACI_HQ designed to encourage passion for Chemistry #ScienceWeek #STEM St Catherine’s School

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“Each week the children in the Banksia Room are immersed in the French language during their French class with Monsieur Gold.”

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Melbourne

“Congratulations to Year 10 student, Kavina Kalaichelvam who won the Senior Division of the Rostrum: Voice of Youth public speaking on the weekend.”

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Congratulations to #OldGirl Kate Beynton (’88) who was recently recognised as an #ArchibaldPrize 2017 finalist. stcatherinesschool Students hit a high note award! In this week’s Stonnington and Progress Leaders our Senior Strings Platinum Award from the Victorian School Music Festival is recognised. #LifeAtStCatherines #music

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stcatherinesschool In this weeks @theweeklyreview our new Junior School plans feature... #leadingtheway #herfuturebeginshere

St Catherine’s School Melbourne

St Catherine’s School

“Congratulations to Holmes Kilbride who took out first place at the 2017 St Catherine’s annual House Athletics event.” #LifeAtStCatherines

Melbourne

“This morning, our year 7 students welcomed their grandparents or a special friend to see firsthand their learning in TIDE and coding.”

B OA R D I N G

Extending connections throughout Asia Strong relationships between boarders, families and staff form the foundation of life in our boarding house. As Director of Boarding Services, a typical day involves consultation with academic staff, Year Level Deans, support staff and members of the School’s Leadership team. This is followed by phone calls, emails and meetings with boarding families or guardians to ensure we maintain open and active communication. It is this communication that helps develop a sense of family among students and staff, marked by mutual care and respect, happiness and a sense of belonging, relationships greatly valued during a girl’s time as a boarder at Illawarra and beyond. In July this year, Principal, Mrs Michelle Carroll and I had the opportunity to visit some of our international families in China and Malaysia. While life as a boarder offers the opportunity to develop relationships and forge friendships that will last a lifetime, for some of our International families, choosing to send their daughter to St Catherine’s comes with the additional challenges of language barriers and limited contact with the School except through their daughter, their agent in China or an appointed guardian. As the function in Shanghai commenced, it quickly became evident how much our boarding families value the role we play in

stcatherinesschool Last week legendary Australian World Champion, Olympian and Olympian Gold medallist rower, Kim Brennan and her father Max Crow were guest speakers at the Father & Daughter Dinner.

stcatherinesschool Our Years 11 and 12 students had a particularly inspiring start to their day today at the St Catherine’s 2017 Careers Breakfast.

their daughters’ lives with students arriving to proudly introduce their parents and siblings. I was particularly moved when one mother gave me a heartfelt hug and thanked me for looking after her daughter, while another commented to Mrs Carroll that in eight years at a school in China they had never met their daughter’s Principal, yet here, in just 18 months, was the Principal travelling all the way to Shanghai to meet them. Assisted by their daughters as translators, we were able to talk to each family, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the School and Boarding House they had carefully chosen for their daughter. The sentiment was repeated in Kuala Lumpur, where we had the opportunity to meet with past parents and students as well as current and future families. Amidst the many conversations, I recall one parent’s remarks about why they had chosen St Catherine’s School. The main reasons being the size and atmosphere of the Boarding House and the leadership of the School. Our trip continued with a presentation to a group of education consultants in Hangzhou on life at St Catherine’s, our successes and our role in helping students find their sense of purpose in the world. Later that day, we met with a group of prospective parents and students and had the opportunity to interview a number of potential boarders. We also visited an online classroom and witnessed technology that is at the forefront of education for approximately 200 million students currently at school in China. The week in China and Malaysia, has given us a wonderful insight of the value placed on education by our international families and the importance of strengthening relationships with our overseas families. Most importantly, however, that while our girls will have many ‘homes away from home’ over life’s journey, their time at Illawarra will leave a lasting and positive impact on their successes in the years to come. Mrs Sue Collister Director of Boarding Services

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

LITERACY HEART

PLAYING & SPORTS PRECINCT

At the heart of the new Junior School will be the Library & Resource Centre. This will form the academic hub and literacy core of the building. It will be a place to not only find a great book, hear a good story or learn to discover through research but also a place where ideas are shared and enhanced through a technology rich centre. The Library & Resource Centre will be a shared learning ‘space’ that is both physical and virtual. This inclusive and welcoming environment will be accessible for parents and grandparents to also enjoy before and after School in fun, educational activities and reading.

Designed with the active girl in mind, the Playing & Sports Precinct provides a wonderful play space for energetic Barbreck girls at lunchtime and morning tea, the freedom to run in a Physical Education lesson, the enjoyment of ball games during School sport and a wide open field, the Village Green, to host community outdoor events such as our Christmas Fair and Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Relocated and enclosed within the grounds of the School campus, it ensures a safe and secure play space with close and visible proximity to staff offices, enabling vigilance and care for our supervision of the girls.

Investing in our next generation is what drove our considered planning and development of our most significant building project in 50 years. Our new purpose built Junior School building will create a new learning experience for our Barbreck girls, fostering the education, growth and creativity of young minds. Some key features of this build include: Library & Resource Centre, STEM Lab, Language Lab, Performing Arts Auditorium, Arts Studio and Playing & Sports Precinct.

An Art Gallery adjacent to the Auditorium will provide a brilliant showcase of the works created in the Art Studio located on the lower level. The new Art Studio will be bathed in natural light and continue to facilitate our junior artists.

The new Junior School building will epitomize St Catherine’s nurturing and empowering approach that is a Barbreck education.

It is essential to build every girl’s confidence, help develop core values and offer a range of opportunities for her to explore her interests and discover her talents. Ultimately, it is vital to create an environment for students to develop and thrive for lifelong learning. St Catherine’s is committed to providing personalised learning, explicit instruction and skills in literacy and numeracy, the promotion of creativity, self-expression and self-awareness, and the embedding of self-management and self-regulation in children’s learning.

ARTS STUDIO

Investing in our next generation “Quality education involves teaching you to learn, and that learning is a lifelong pursuit.” – Gail Kelly

STEM LAB

LANGUAGE LAB

PERFORMING ARTS AUDITORIUM

A purpose built STEM Lab will continue to recognise the critical importance of developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) capabilities for our young students. Curriculum rich with scientific discovery, coding, virtual reality, robotics and construction, St Catherine’s Junior School will inspire and equip girls from a young age with the confidence and capacity to aspire to STEM careers.

The custom-designed Language Studio will offer the space for Language to be explored, shared and taught. The Language Studio reaffirms the School’s commitment to raise globally aware students, inspired to successfully communicate in a foreign language and curious to explore the intricacies of other cultures and customs.

The new Junior School builds on this vibrant area of our Music, Art, Dance, Public Speaking and Drama curriculum with an Auditorium where all of our girls (and their parents and grandparents) can gather comfortably for assemblies, parent evenings, music concerts and graduation ceremonies and will include a designated rehearsal space and well-equipped Music classroom, complete with private instrumental tutorial rooms.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Meet four of our students... Penelope Glenning

Nadia Mohamed

Paloma Gattino

Matilda Wolton

PENELOPE GLENNING, YEAR 7

NADIA MOHAMED, YEAR 5

PALOMA GATTINO, YEAR 3

MATILDA WOLTON, YEAR 10

What do you like most about School? I love that I am able to learn according to my own ability and standard. The way the School’s curriculum is structured and how my learning is fostered, means I can perform to the best of my ability. I also like that I can walk into School every day feeling safe and comfortable. I feel I can be myself which gives me confidence socially, helps me to perform my best academically and the confidence to participate in co-curricular activities.

What do you like most about the School? I like that it is socially inclusive. There are no cliquey groups, and if you would like to join a game, you will definitely be welcome. There are also lots of opportunities at St Catherine’s. Being new to the School this year, these things really stand out and I know all Schools are not like this.

What do you like most about School? Probably, playing outside with my friends. My friends and I like conducting dance routines and I usually play the role of judge. The others do not like being judge, but I really enjoy it.

What do you like most about school? I enjoy the opportunity to see and collaborate with my friends on a daily basis. I find I learn a lot from listening to their points of view and I love the environment that we work in. Particularly, the library and café spaces. I also very much appreciate the extra support that I am receiving through Learning Plus. It has made school a much less stressful experience for me, and my learning is progressing faster than previously.

Are you involved in any co-curricular activities at School? I participate in lots of sport here at St Catherine’s, which I really enjoy. I also participate in various music ensembles and DAV Debating. These activities, provide me with a lot of experience and enjoyment learning to cooperate in a group. What would you like to achieve during your time as a St Catherine’s girl? I would like to learn and master a range of various skills that will help me to become a strong leader. As well as this, I would like to become a positive role model and live up to St Catherine’s qualities. What do you hope to do by the end of the year at School? Being new to St Catherine’s this year, I barely knew anyone. Now, half way through the year, I have forged new friendships and by the end of this year, I hope to have made strong connections and friendships with all the students in my Year. I also hope to maintain good marks. What are some of the things you are most looking forward to this year? Participate in a crystal growing competition as part of a science program. It should be super interesting!

What are your favourite things to do away from School? I think of myself as quite a creative person and love to draw cartoon illustrations. I enjoy watching YouTube videos that teach me how to draw and learn new techniques. I also love writing fiction, particularly, horror and mystery stories. What activities are you involved in at School? This year, I have enjoyed playing Soccer, Tennis, Netball and recently starting Skiing. I have found skiing so much fun and really exhilarating. I also play double bass, piano and percussion. What would you like to do when you grow up? I have a strong interest in dinosaurs and would like to study palaeontology. I am fascinated by how dinosaurs civilised and evolved. I love watching documentaries about dinosaurs and visiting museums, seeing skeletons, bones, and other types of fossils. What are you most looking forward to learning at School this year? Probably, Year 5 Genius Hour, where creatives go on a PC program and have the ability to spill out all your ideas on a computer. It provides an opportunity for students to explore their passion projects.

What is your favourite thing to do in School? I enjoy narrative writing. A recent topic that I wrote about in class, was ice. We were asked to write about something that melts. I chose ice, as I like how when you place it under heat, it melts into water and how ice can be moulded into different shapes. Do you have a favourite teacher or subject? My favourite teacher is Mr Tainsh. He is really nice and I like how he teaches us new things. He also gives us help when we need it. My favourite subjects are Maths and Science. In Maths, I am enjoying learning fractions and in Science, I have really liked learning how things melt. Do you play any sport? I have been doing Gymnastics since I started School. I really like going on the beam, doing cartwheels, pullovers and jumping to the high bar. I also do Cross Country. On Tuesday mornings, I come to school at 7.15am for Junior Joggers and run two to three kilometres around the streets nearby. What would you like to do when you grow up? I would like to be a Marine Biologist, as I find sea animals really interesting. Particularly clownfish, whales, sharks, stingrays and manta rays. I read a lot about sharks. I like how they look, how they swim and learning about where they live. I also like sea snakes and would like to know more about them.

Do you play any sports? I have participated in sporting activities such as Rowing. One of the highlights of my year has been the Head of Schoolgirls Regatta. I also enjoyed participating in Cross Country carnivals, and progressing my running skills through the winter months. What would you like to achieve during your time as a St Catherine’s girl? I would like to leave School with good friends that I hope will support each other throughout our entire lives. Additionally, I would like to attend university and pursue a rewarding career. What do you hope to do by the end of the year at School? I hope to complete my Light Blue Leadership Diploma, and improve my marks, particularly in English. What does it mean to you to be a St Catherine’s girl? I will always be supported by a strong community of women, who appreciate kindness, empathy, hard work, honesty and integrity. Heading into VCE next year, do you have any career/subject plans already? At this stage, I am keeping my options open. However, I am considering business and health options, particularly at RMIT.

CAREERS

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Morning Motivation

THE SMALL THINGS Perhaps the most salient aspect of St Catherine’s is its distinctly intimate community: an ethos that is difficult to emulate elsewhere, nor can ever quite be encapsulated in words. St Catherine’s breeds this culture. It is the knowledge that there is nothing arbitrary about the responsibility that we, as students, hold, because we all play a role in shaping the community to which we belong. I began my time at St Catherine’s in Year 7, and was instantly hooked on the fact that regardless of your interests, skills, or ability, you will always experience that feeling of belonging. It is through this nurturing culture that we are then able to find our voice, express our views and opinions, and pursue our talents and interests. Now, as a Year 12 student, the general consensus amongst my peers is that one of the most rewarding aspects of your final year of high school is the opportunity to form relationships with younger students. As we progress through Senior School, we model aspects of ourselves off those who come before us, eventually evolving from the mentored to the mentor, and shaping our own community and our own story. For me, community manifests in the immense pride you experience when one of your fellow Boarders wins Gold at Head of the Schoolgirls, despite the fact that your own Rowing career was limited to a single season in Year 9,

or when the School applauds an instrumental soloist following an outstanding performance in Assembly. This is a solidarity that transcends age, ability and curriculum, but is imbedded in the long history of our School. Our education is more than a mandated curriculum, a set of stipulated mathematical formulas and English texts. It is an amalgam of every conversation we had, every friendship we valued, all the triumphs and all the downfalls. To be a ‘St Catherine’s Girl’ is much more than to proudly wear a blue ribbon. It is an attitude, an approach to the challenges that life inevitably presents, and the ability to stay true to yourself in the process. St Catherine’s is not just a close-knit community, a school with fantastic VCE results, and hard-working teachers and students alike. It is a place where we become more than a group of individuals, or cohorts of girls who merely coexist within the same buildings. We become this incredible force of drive, passion and going beyond.

And so the proverb goes: from little things, big things grow. I think that this is by far the most important lesson that any school can teach. An awareness of your impact on the community and the manner in which the small things contribute to a larger scheme. A conversation that may seem meaningless to one person has the capacity to ignite a spark in another.

Careers play a big role in our lives, and the idea of choosing one can be daunting. At St Catherine’s we get this, and so does our School community.

life examples and seeing how decisions are made. The insight into the importance of soft skills such as problem solving, communication and teamwork was valuable, as was the advice by the speakers not to be afraid of making mistakes and failing.

In this way, the seeds of St Catherine’s remain ingrained in us long after our time as students is well and truly over. We appreciate the value of character and experience, over that solely of outcomes. Because, during the formative years of our lives, it is the small things that truly matter.

The guests shared into their journeys from school to the workforce, including the studies they had completed, directions their careers had taken them and the current careers they held. The ability to receive information in a relaxed setting enabled the girls to participate in engaging and meaningful conversations.

Mackenzie Leyden School Captain 2017

At this year’s Career Breakfast, our Year 11 and 12 students were inspired and treated to invaluable advice and insight about future career prospects from 17 members of our School community, all from a variety of industry groups and career backgrounds. A true reflection of the strong support our School community provides, each year, members of our community take the time to invest in our girls and share their wisdom to help lead the way and guide our students in finding the right pathway for them. This is a truly invaluable experience and highlights the lifelong connection and willingness of our old girls, parents and various other members of the School community to support the next generation of St Catherine’s girls. This year’s students were informed and inspired by the experience of School community, representatives from the areas of business analysis and advisory, designing, entrepreneurship, marketing, media and communications, psychology, property and nutrition fields.

Victoria Laspas (’88), Director at Bartlett Workplace encouraged out girls to “consider yourself an asset”, Arthur Galanopoulos, fashion designer said, “Do not be afraid to try new things. It can take time to work out what interests you”, and Joe Powell, Director of Catapult cautioned, “Do not overcomplicate life or business. Have the courage and self-belief to say yes to opportunities” and Charlotte Keating (’99), clinical psychologist, reaffirmed “You are not your ATAR score. Your ATAR score does not predict your ability to succeed in life. Do not be in a rush to work out what you want to do in life”. The girls were able to freely chat with the speakers, asking many questions to discover more information about the day-to-day tasks of their current careers. Students were curious about the positive and the negative aspects of a job, how to enter the industry, how to succeed and what to consider when making choices for their future. They loved hearing about real

One student shared, “it was inspiring to hear how some speakers gained career progression in a reasonably short time” and another admitted, “you feel you really nervous about making choices after School, and today made me feel excited about what the future holds.” One student resonated particularly with the rhetorical messages from all guests to “take any opportunity you can (paid or unpaid), network and do not be afraid of making mistakes or failing.” Filled with valuable information, our Year 11 and 12 students left the breakfast feeling inspired and motivated. Thanks again to our wonderful guests, who generously dedicated their time and wisdom to support the next generation of St Catherine’s girls and helping to guide them make some difficult decisions. Mrs Pauline van der Poel Careers Practitioner & VET Coordinator; and Miss Sally Wilkinson Careers Advisor

PERFORMING ARTS

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Midsummer

“To do a great right, do a little wrong” – The Merchant of Venice

NIGHTS DREAM Decoding the meaning of Language

“Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush, stumble and fall” – Romeo and Juliet The last Shakespearean play to be mounted as a Senior production at St Catherine’s was Macbeth in 1998. There were plenty of reasons to return to Shakespeare some two decades later: rich language, carefully crafted characters, abundant symbols and motifs, thought-provoking plotlines, and moral conundrums are all worthy of mention. However, ultimately it is because his plays inspire engaging discussions, critical thinking and creative meaning-making. The Elizabethan dialogue and structures were challenging at first, but some simple substitution, script analysis and rhythmic guidance helped to underscore the meanings and the ever-evolving nature of language. Our students have been able to experience, read, listen to, devise, decipher, deconstruct, consider and create within the rehearsal room, engaging with ideas that are relevant and meaningful.

Our cast comprised of talented Years 11 and 12 actors from St Catherine’s School and St Kevin’s College. They came such a long way in their understanding of the messages and comedy of the play, the development of their characters and relationships, and the mastery of their expressive skills to tell the story. This development came from holding discussions with one another about the motivation of characters, workshopping different directions and characteristics and using the language to guide the action. It was a joy to work with such imaginative and driven students, whose passion, curiosity and support brought out the best in one other.

Our VCE Theatre Studies class collaborated to develop the overall vision for the production, remaining true to the contexts of time and place, drawing clear divisions between the human, natural and magical realms. They tackled the many production team roles including makeup, costume and set design, as well as working on the stagecraft areas of publicity, direction, stage management and acting. They held meetings and enjoyed workshops with a variety of theatre professionals. They drew upon the expertise of other staff and students at St Catherine’s to plan and develop a memorable production that allowed, yet again, for the whole to become greater than the sum of its parts. Mr James Brown Head of Performing Arts

“Things won are done; joy’s soul lies in the doing” – Troilus and Cressida

PERFORMING ARTS

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

“Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you.” – The Lion King

HEAR THEM

Roar The Lion King JR.

A JUNIOR SCHOOL PRODUCTION This year, all students in Years 5 and 6 performed The Lion King JR., based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor and the 1994 Disney film. Set in the African Pridelands, The Lion King JR. tells the story of the epic adventures of a curious cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destiny as king. Along the way, the young lion encounters a colourful cast of characters including the lioness Nala, charismatic meerkat Timon, and loveable warthog Pumbaa. To claim his rightful place on the throne and save his beloved Pridelands, Simba must find his inner strength and confront his wicked Uncle Scar. The Lion King JR. features classic songs from the 1994 film such as Hakuna Matata and the

Academy Award®-winning Can You Feel the Love Tonight and additional songs penned for the Broadway production. Under the direction of a fabulous production team, the students worked extremely hard to learn the songs, dances and dialogue for this famous story and loved working with visiting choreographer Chris Barratt. The cast focused on using movement to enrich the storytelling and clearly convey important dramatic moments throughout the show. It was an exciting experience for everyone involved. Being part of a School musical production is a great deal of fun, however, it is also a huge amount of hard work and commitment. When the final performance is over, those involved are left with a huge

sense of achievement, espirit-de-corps and many wonderful memories. For children, these experiences are precious and full of positive learning possibilities. In many studies, researchers are now linking involvement in the arts to better child development and higher student achievement. School musicals in particular provide a range of arts activities that benefit the students. One of the most obvious benefits of being part of a school musical is the development of skills in self-presentation. Children must learn how to present themselves in front of an audience, be it big or small. Participation over a period of time, from the first rehearsal through to the final performance, allows students to improve their self-esteem and self-

confidence, developing poise, and learning to overcome anxieties. In an article published by PBS Parents, it was noted that “When students are working towards a common goal, they appreciate that their ‘voice’ and interests are heard and understood by others. This joint effort creates a sense of secure acceptance that is critical to their self-esteem.” Participation in a school musical production helps children learn both self-reliance as well as collaboration with others in order to reach a goal. In group settings, there is less of a focus on winning or losing, and more emphasis on working together as a team towards a shared performance goal. For example, in musical theatre, children may have to learn to work behind the scenes, as well as on stage.

By having to carry out a variety of tasks and roles, they are able to look at the world from different vantage points. “Music gives us a language that cuts across the disciplines, helps us to see connections and brings a more coherent meaning to our world.” (Ernest Boyer, President, Carnegie Foundation) The Arts allow for deep self-expression from a child’s heart. In a world addicted to technology, the experience of being involved in a school musical production provides students with an outlet for making creative choices, thinking new ideas and interpreting the material in expressive ways. These experiences can help our girls make sense of their emotions and the world around them, and develop new ways to communicate and express their ideas.

Every two years, the staff and students in Barbreck prepare ourselves for a period of intensive work to prepare a new performance piece. The energy, time and commitment given to this project is substantial, however, I believe the educational benefits that students draw from these experiences more than justify these efforts. An ancient Chinese proverb states, “One picture is worth ten thousand words.” I think you will agree that the photos from the Junior School Musical say it all. Congratulations to the cast of The Lion King JR. Mrs Melissa Dods Junior School Music Coordinator

PERFORMING ARTS

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Gala

Fact or Fiction For many years, the annual Gala Concert has been a much anticipated premiere music event of St Catherine’s School calendar. In a rapidly changing world, traditions remain important to maintain a sense of connection to the community.

Our past and present St Catherine’s School families understand that the Gala Concert is an opportunity to showcase the talent of our large ensembles and to involve as many musicians as possible in a glorious night of high-quality music-making. Our most senior performers, in particular those girls completing their Music Solo Performance for VCE Music are provided with invaluable solo experience. As has been the case for a number of years, the Gala Concert is themed to unify our series of pieces from ensembles. Our musical items this year were linked to a theme of ‘Fact or Fiction?’, and as always, pieces were chosen for their educational value as well as audience enjoyment. The concert showcased a diverse repertoire from students in Years 3 to Year 12, featuring Dance of the Reed Flutes from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Handel’s Zadok

the Priest, My Shot from Lin Manuel Miranda’s hit show Hamilton, and a spectacular massed finale performed by students from Years 5 to 12 featuring a medley of songs from James Bond films. Our talented staff and students performed magnificently, entertaining and thrilling the School community with their breadth of sheer talent enhanced only by the glorious surroundings and acoustics of the Melbourne Recital Centre. A truly joyous evening celebrating our passionate and dedicated musicians. Mrs Jenny Mathers Head of Music

YULENDJ

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Arts girls, to use the exhibition to develop key knowledge needed for their SACs and end of year examination. The School is incredibly grateful to Shaun Dennison (father of Allegra, Year 8), the curator for the exhibition, who gave his time to come and talk to the Year 12 students about the art industry and in particular the background work that goes into putting together this type of exhibition, from meeting with galleries, promoting the exhibition and hanging the artworks. The Year 12 students also visited MARS Gallery, one of the galleries that has supported both Yulendj exhibitions. The students had the opportunity to learn a great deal about the gallery and their artists from director, Andy Dinan and her staff. Andy was very generous with her time, allowing the girls to explore parts of the gallery to develop their understanding of a commercial gallery space, storage of artworks, contemporary art practices such as video art and developing relationships with artists. The students really responded well to the personal interaction with Andy and her staff, which should hold them in good stead for recalling important information for their examination.

Yulendj 2017 Following the footsteps of the successful inaugural Yulendj Exhibition in 2015, this year’s exhibition had one major difference – its location. Held in Sherren House ballroom the exhibition was not only showcased beautifully, it was easily accessible by students and families throughout the week. It also offered the benefit of the Visual Arts staff to use it as a teaching tool for developing skills in analysing artworks from a firsthand experience. Students and staff were able to use class time to discuss how artists create artworks, explore individual style and communicate ideas. This type of exhibition also presented a variety of artistic styles and use of media, inspiring our students to explore new ideas and art forms.

The Yulendj Exhibition also allows for the wider St Catherine’s community to access the exhibition and learn about our Indigenous Scholarship Program. It was wonderful to see how our students from all year levels responded to the video of our current Yalari students, learning about where they come from and the impact on their lives by coming to St Catherine’s. They also enjoyed viewing each girl’s linocut prints, created especially for the exhibition, with each edition selling out. The girls were very proud that they could make a contribution to the Scholarship Program by making and selling their artworks. The exhibition showcased artworks from highly regarded commercial art galleries and a number of SCOGA artists. The presentation and sale of the artworks allowed the Senior students, particularly the Studio

Other classes visited the exhibition to discuss the art industry, learning about how artists can make a living by participating in this type of exhibition. In particular, the students were able to see the work of many of our Old Girls who work as artists and this involvement of SCOGA artists is an important aspect of the exhibition. This type of exhibition also presented a variety of artistic styles and use of media, inspiring our students to explore new ideas and art forms. Without the support of these artists and our sponsors, it would be difficult to cover the costs associated with staging this type of important event. Mrs Brigid Weereratne Head of Arts

A special thanks to our Gold Sponsors Coco republic and Mercedes-Benz, Toorak.

S TA F F P R O F I L E S

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Vale to Michael Bond St Catherine’s Drama Teacher 1997 – 2015

When we reflect on teachers who have inspired students and colleagues, Mr Michael Bond is one that stands above the many. His love of teaching was reflected in all that he did with his students, passing on a passion and love of theatre. As a colleague, his willingness to share and collaborate allowed the Arts Faculty to work as a creative and enjoyable department. His eagerness to create interesting sets challenged the Visual Arts staff to teach students how to work together, ensuring that our sets enhanced the performances. Michael was always developing new ways of engaging the students and it was with this in mind that he first proposed House Arts; an end of year program that brought together all the

creative arts skills that students learn in their Music, Drama and Art classes. The program provides the Year 11 students the opportunity to lead the rest of their House, developing scripts, media, dance, music and art. The first years of House Arts saw the Arts Faculty improve and develop these initial ideas into what has become one of the most popular events in the School calendar. What better way to end the School year but to celebrate the girls’ talents, handing over the teaching to the girls, to lead and showcase their skills. Michael was also a mentor to staff and Mr James Brown has reflected on what Michael shared with him:

MS MARY-ANNE KERATIOTIS ENGLISH TEACHER / DEBATING & PUBLIC SPEAKING COORDINATOR

MISS ALYSSA FLINT YEAR 5 CLASSROOM AND STEM TEACHER

“Michael’s defining virtues as a colleague were undoubtedly his dry humour, witty stories of dramatic adventures, his exceptional eyebrows and his staunch dedication to creating interesting and challenging theatre with his students. Michael’s dedication to Drama at St Catherine’s School saw him not only direct productions, but also write the scripts, design the scenery, build the set and plot the lights. He would spend copious hours in the rehearsal room collaborating with the actors, and played a part in igniting a passion for theatrical endeavours in many of his students. He was very giving of his time and supportive in collaborating over dramatic projects. His was a mind of no creative boundaries and his knowledge of plays and playwrights was second-tonone. He was a much loved character who was very well respected by students and staff alike, and will be dearly missed.”

Mary-Anne believes firmly in the power of education shaping and changing people’s lives. She also believes education is a fundamental and democratic right.

In her time at St Catherine’s, Alyssa hopes to help develop a culture of thinkers and learners who leave as questioners, innovators ready to challenge thinking and demonstrate persistence.

When asked what first motivated her to become a teacher, Mary-Anne’s response was, “My love of language and literature, as well as the inherently optimistic nature of teenagers made me want to be an educator. Connecting with students and helping them to reveal the power of their own expression is a constant source of delight, and it never ceases to surprise me.”

Alyssa says, “From a very young age, my parents encouraged me to ask questions and explore the world. Having grown up in country Australia, catching frogs and observing the night sky, I was always asking questions about the world around me. Science was the avenue to answer my thousands of questions.”

Michael Bond will always be remembered fondly by staff and students as a highly engaging teacher, who shared without restraint. His legacy to Drama at St Catherine’s is reflected in our students’ ongoing love of theatre. With this in mind, the School is very pleased to announce that from 2017 the House Arts Award will be renamed The Michael Bond House Arts Cup, as a tribute to this dedicated and passionate teacher, whose passion and creativity helped devise and improve our wonderful House Arts program. Vale Michael.

Mrs Brigid Weereratne Head of Arts

At St Catherine’s, Mary-Anne teaches English at all levels, and is the new Coordinator of Debating and Public Speaking. “This is a new and exciting role for me. I hope to forge greater links with external organisations to establish St Catherine’s as a school that is known for the quality of its Debating and Public Speaking program.” Mary-Anne believes that while the links between Debating and academic success are relatively easy to demonstrate, there are also social qualities of personal confidence and increased emotional intelligence by ‘reading’ your audience, which are not as well appreciated. Twelve years ago, Mary-Anne suggested that Debating should be a formal curriculum skill in Year 7 at St Catherine’s, and it has been ever since. Along with her passion for Debating and Public Speaking, Mary-Anne also enjoys the performing arts. “There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to be able to explore all aspects of the performing arts: theatre, film, dance, singing, and various other aspects of fine art and crafts.”

“I love the infectious excitement that it creates. Science has taught me that there is always more than one-way to solve a problem and that a discovery is right around the corner.” Alyssa loves working and sharing her passion for maths and science with the students in her classroom and STEM classes. Her favourite time of the week is during her STEM lessons when they explore scientist of the week. “To see their curiosity in action and excitement for learning, emphasises the need for raising the profile of Maths and Science for girls from birth”. Alyssa believes that it is vital to capture and maintain the attention of our youngest girls in order to develop open-minded and flexible women who are ready to take on the problems of the world.

MS LILLY DUSTING DEAN OF YEAR 11/ VISUAL COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN TEACHER Passionate about pastoral care and building strong relationships with her students, Lilly thrives as Dean of Year 11. Lilly is looking forward to witnessing her cohort graduate as she knows the individual stories behind each girl’s journey. Having worked as Deputy Head of Boarding over the past few years and now as Dean of Year 11, Lilly is a strong believer in individual care of students and considers this personalised care one of St Catherine’s biggest assets. The rapport between teachers and students and how it constructs an excellent classroom environment is a real strength. Lilly prides herself on an honest and open dialogue with her students, and having relationships with them based on a mutual respect. Reflecting on why she became a teacher Lilly says it was her own secondary schooling experience and the number of incredible teachers, particularly in the arts, who made a significant impact in her adolescent life. “These teachers helped me realise my potential as a creative student and encouraged me to study what I loved.”

“Science promotes creativity, persistence, flexibility, analytical thinking, and so much more. It is essential that we foster a culture that promotes science, to ensure that we develop women prepared for the future.”

As an educator, Lilly is conscious of the profound impact teachers can have on the lives of their students. While teachers focus on personal teaching practice and delivering the curriculum, she believes that truly meaningful learning occurs once a positive rapport is established with students.

Outside of work, Alyssa is currently preparing herself for the Spartan 21k Beast in October. Good luck, Alyssa!

Lilly hopes that she too can inspire and help students to realise their own potential in following their passions as others did for her.

MR MIKE ZAMMIT DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS With an extensive corporate background, Mike Zammit joined the team at St Catherine’s in 2016 as Director of Business. “It has been a very exciting time to be part of the School. We recently completed the ELC external learning space and witnessing the excitement on our young students’ faces when they first played in the redeveloped space, was just priceless.” “Being part of the Junior School project has also been really exciting. It is motivating to observe the culmination of a lot of hard work and planning coming together. We are also commencing a refurbishment of the Science Precinct later this year and improving a number of areas around the School which benefits the students, and I really enjoy that.” “I derive amazing engagement from what I do, and I know I am part of something that really matters, the education of our future leaders!” Mike believes the quality of the staff at St Catherine’s is what drives the School forward. “I am privileged enough to work with staff who are engaged, driven and wanting to deliver the best we can. I am also very fortunate to work for a Principal who has an exciting vision for the School and engages staff to want to be part of this vision. There is a genuine passion across the staff, teaching and non-teaching, around our students’ overall wellbeing.” “The School has a long and proud history and I would like contribute to that. I am committed to setting up the School’s financial sustainability well into the future and piloting improvement in facilities and services for our students.” When not at work, Mike can be found exploring the ocean by scuba diving or travelling the roads on his motorbike.

DEVELOPMENT

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017 1976 Kiss Me Kate

FROM THE ARCHIVES

History of Stage 1953 Elizabethan Day Merchants of Venice scenes

The calibre of young talent at St Catherine’s has been ever present and school productions have been a long held event on the School calendar since 1925. It was then that the very first performance, the play The Mousetrap, took to the stage and the School community has remained entertained ever since. The Second World War witnessed the productions take a hiatus, and in 1935 all societies were amalgamated into ‘The School Club’. It is not until Miss Borland resolves in 1943 to divide the Club and it is then that the Dramatic Club begin reporting in the St Catherine’s Magazine on plays read, studied or performed. In 1952, actress Mrs Yetta Rothberg, was employed by Miss Mary Davis to produce Bonaventure, and in 1953, An Elizabethan Day, in 1953 a pageant written by Miss Mary Pearson which celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Mrs Rothberg went on to produce Lady Precious Steam in 1954; Pride and Prejudice in 1955; Cyrano de Bergerac in 1956 and Hassan in 1957.

1966 Antigone

The early 1960s Mrs June Epstein directed Operetta Mr Nightingale and Catherine of Alexandria (1965) and in 1969 the Drama report announces a break with tradition as Scotch College students join the cast of Dandy Dick. The tenth anniversary of the School’s collaborations is celebrated in 1979 with the performances of The Happiest Days of Our Lives; A Man for all seasons and The Diary of Anne Frank. Bringing Shakespeare’s language to life, Shakespearian plays that have featured throughout the century have included A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed in 1958, 1987 and most recently in 2017, The Tempest in 1975, Romeo and Juliette in 1980 and The Taming of the Shrew in 1992.

1954 Lady Precious Steam

In 1991, Mr John Cramer (Head of Drama 1989–1991) reports in St Catherine’s News “Drama at St Catherine’s gathers momentum” as he details the new courses of study introduced throughout Senior School. In 1992, Drama was introduced as part of the new VCE Arts Field of Study. Past Heads of Drama, Mr Goran Banyai (1992–1996) and Mr Michael Bond (1997–2015) and current Head of Performing Arts, Mr James Brown continue the tradition. Ms Melissa Campbell Archivist

ST CATHERINE’S DRAMA PRODUCTIONS 1925 The Mousetrap 1926 A Dicken’s Evening – scenes 1927 Jan of Windmill Land 1928 Monsieur Beauclaire 1929 The Gypsy Mind 1930 Fantasy and the Rivals 1931 Robin Hood 1932 Scenes from four plays 1935 Amalgamation of Societies to “The School Club” 1936 Pride and Prejudice 1939 HMS Pinafore Second World War 1944 Toad of Toad Hall 1945 Dramatic Club but no performance 1946 6th Form Follies 1948 Quality Street 1949 Dramatic Club was reduced to eight members and they were invited to contribute a one act play on the Old Girls Play Night 1950 Marigold 1951 6th Form Follies 1952 Bonaventure 1953 An Elizabethan Day 1954 Lady Precious Steam 1955 Pride and Prejudice 1956 Cyrano de Bergerac 1957 Hassan 1958 A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1959 Tobias and the Angel 1961 Mr Nightingale 1965 Catherine of Alexandria 1966 Antigone 1967 Hiss the Villain; and St Joan 1968 Caesar and Cleopatra 1969 Dandy Dick 1970 The Crucible; and The Lady’s not for burning 1971 Medea 1972 Lola Montez 1973 The Bald Primadonna; and Family Album 1974 Toad of Toad Hall; Twelfth Night; You can’t take it with you; and Musical Salad Days 1975 The Tempest 1976 Our Town; and Kiss Me Kate 1977 The Furtive Fortunes of Fickle Fate; Pygmalion; and The Queen and the Rebels 1978 Hello Dolly and Billy Lair 1979 The Happiest Days of Your Life; A man for all seasons; and The Diary of Anne Frank 1980 The Mikado; and Romeo and Juilette

1981 Night Must Fall 1982 Death of a Salesman 1983 The Crucible 1984 The Inspector Calls 1985 Our Town 1986 Oh What a Lovely War 1987 A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1988 On our selection 1989 Pippin 1990 Sweeney Todd 1991 The Crucible; and Salad Days 1992 Taming of the Shrew; and To Kill a Mockingbird 1993 Pride and Prejudice 1994 The Skin of Our teeth 1995 Antigone and A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1996 Fiddler on the Roof; and Love Letters 1997 A Tale of Two Cities 1998 Flowers for Algernon; and Macbeth 1999 Rumours; and Whistle Down the Wind 2000 JS – Ocean commotion; and SS – Murder by Membership 2001 MS – Rarely Avenue; SS – Fashion Stakes; and JS – (Year 5) Musical Big Momma 2002 Away; and Moving Mountains 2003 Little Women 2004 It’ll be alright on the Night 2005 Vintage Crop 2006 Cloudstreet; and Pride and Prejudice 2007 The House of Bernarda Alba 2008 Our Country’s Good; and Stepping Out 2009 Rumours 2010 The Boyfriend Witches 2011 JS – A Fairytale Life; SS – Dark and Stormy Night 2012 Cats 2013 SS – The Insect Play; (Year 8) Wind in the Willows; (Year 7) Myths and Fairytales JS – The Emerald Crown 2014 SS – Anything Goes; (Years 7 & 8) The Wizard of Oz 2015 SS – The 39 Steps; (Years 9 & 10) House on Fire; (Years 7 & 8) Seussical Jr JS – Alice in Wonderland 2016 SS – Sweet Charity; Years (7 & 8) Hating Alison Ashley

A lifetime

of St Catherine’s memories

For most of us, our experience at St Catherine’s is as a student, boarder, alumni, parent or teacher. Jeannette Fraser (’51) was different – her School experience lasted a lifetime.

Jeannette’s journey at St Catherine’s began as a boarder from 1947 to 1951 and resumed soon after achieving her nursing qualifications. She was the School Sister

(nurse) from 1959 to 1961 and again from 1965 to 1971. Jeannette was joined at the School by her aunt, Georgiana Moore, as a Music Teacher and her mother, Amelia Fraser, as a Boarding House staff member. Jeannette continued her interest in St Catherine’s, by serving on the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) Committee for 40 years until her retirement in 2003 – a significant record of service. She was appointed as a SCOGA Honorary Life Member in 2015.

When retiring to care for her mother, she participated in many activities – breeding Maltese dogs, attending symphony concerts, ballet and opera, joining the Royal Society and Embroiderers’ Guild of Victoria,

successfully entering beautiful needlework and patchwork in various shows. Jeannette continued these activities when she moved to Rosebud to begin a new life, still keeping contact with her many students – her visitors and Christmas card list were enormous. Jeannette made a significant donation of archival material including her personal papers, photographs and scrapbooks. Sadly, Jeannette died in November 2015. The School honours the memory and service of Jeannette Fraser. As a final dedication of her service, Jeannette generously left a gift in her Will to the School to enable students to receive a Boarding Scholarship at St Catherine’s.

F O U N DAT I O N

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

ST CATHERINE’S SCHOOL FOUNDATION

The Impact of Your Giving

JEANIE HOOD SOCIETY Patron 1 ANONYMOUS Patricia Ilhan & John Ilhan† Sarah & Bails Myer AC Carina & Douglas Reid Lady Southey AC (Myer ‘45)

Each year presents new challenges and opportunities for us all. For the Foundation, this year has been a particularly active year, supporting our girls and our School’s future.

to primary and secondary schooling, makes very little significant changes to St Catherine’s and we are reliant as ever on your support to fund what fees do not, new buildings and scholarships.

Last year, the Foundation Board began the process of providing the equivalent of an Annual Report, called the Impact of Giving Report. This year, we have included the report with St Catherine’s News. The report outlines the influence of our work and our community’s giving, such as the construction of our new Junior School and the provision of scholarships to rural/ regional and Indigenous students.

I am delighted to report that our community, our parents, alumni and staff, are increasingly becoming involved and over the past year total giving has risen by 54 per cent. This increase in giving has largely been the result of the Foundation’s purposeful engagement of our community, through the Her Future Begins Here Junior School campaign. We are very grateful and thankful for your support.

2017 Campaign Team: Cameron Bertalli, Wayne Kent, Michelle Carroll, Sherrie Zeng, Stuart Galbraith, Sally Joubert, Jim Shergold, Lachlan Armstrong. Absent: Claudette Passon.

The report also outlines the progress of our various campaigns and appeals to provide the best programs, facilities and resources for our students. The latest round of Australian Government funding changes

Parents and alumni driving down Heyington Place, or arriving at our campus, will notice the hive of activity on the site of our new Junior School. Construction was able to begin with confidence, due to your support, towards the end of Term 2. The new Junior School is not just an updated copy of the existing Barbreck building, it includes many exciting new features in Science, Language, Music and Literacy, to name a few. Importantly, we know the warm nurturing spirit of our Junior School will continue under the watchful guidance of Mrs Alana Moor, Head of Junior School and ELC and her tremendous teaching staff. Thank you to everyone who supported our Annual Giving appeal this year. Giving almost doubled in comparison to the previous year, enabling us to become significantly closer to our campaign target of

$3 million for the new Junior School. Indeed, giving to this year’s appeal was a record. It is not just bricks and mortar though, the Foundation is actively committed to providing opportunities for girls from across our rural/regional and Indigenous communities to attend St Catherine’s School. We know that scholarships transform lives and it is great to see our alumni, in particular, giving back to provide opportunities to future generations of girls. The Board has also been delighted to welcome more than 80 new members to the Foundation over the past year. We welcome you to our supportive community and look forward to seeing you at our events and celebrations in the years ahead. At the end of June, the Foundation Board farewelled Anne Court (Lowry ’58) after more than six years as our Board President. Gina Israel (Shackell ’76) is our incoming President and we are very grateful to both alumni for their service and commitment to our girls’ future. Finally, I would like to congratulate Foundation Board member, Lisa Steven on receiving a Higgins Community Service Award. It is a well-deserved recognition of Lisa’s exemplary contribution to our community and our School over a 20-year period. Mr Wayne Kent Foundation Chair

Benefactor 3 ANONYMOUS Toni (Pierce ‘67) & Martin Armstrong May & James Chen Rebecca & Jamie Gray Sonia & Wayne Kent Christina & Anthony Nicholas Annie & John Paterson St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) St Catherine’s Parents’ & Friends’ Association (PFA) Gillian Ruan & Paul Yu

Trustee 1 ANONYMOUS Lloyd Bickerton Clare (Darling ‘77) & Andrew Cannon AM Caroline & Philip Cornish Margaret Darling AM (Anderson ‘39)† Barbara & Stuart Foley Pam (Wallace Smith ‘54) & Graeme Fraser Neilma Gantner (Myer ‘38)† Grenet Foundation Janet Hawkins OAM (Guest ‘52) Lisa & Jack Hennessy Mary-Louise & Christopher Leach Louise & Martyn Myer AO Lisa & John Steven Margaret Wallace Smith† Anne Waterhouse Chunxin Li & Xiaoqing Yao Fellow Julia (McKinley-Wilson ‘69) & Warwick Anderson Rebekah & Lachlan Armstrong (‘95) Pierce Armstrong Foundation Samantha Baillieu AM (Myer ‘78) & Charlie Baillieu Gail & Jim Butler Astrida & Craig Cooper Anne Court (Lowry ‘58) Sally & Phil Dreaver Anna & John Field Fiona & Andrew Fox Isabella Green OAM (Stokes ‘58) & Richard Green Deb & Euan Gronow Bill Johnson Jane & Ian Mandie Erica & Peter Marriott Annabel (Plummer ‘82) & Rupert Myer AO Fiona (Malley ‘76) & Sid Myer AM Sandra (McIntosh ‘62) & Stephen Nicholas Tina Li & Ye Shao Kate & Stephen Shelmerdine AM Lindy Shelmerdine (’80) Sandra & Achilles Tzelepis Jane Hodder & Murray Ware Senior Member 3 ANONYMOUS Nina (Kirby ‘94) & Paul Aberdeen Alba & Nick Bernardo Deborah (Manos ‘77) & Peter Berry Julia & Cameron Bertalli

Sally Morrell (‘79) & Andrew Bolt Jodie & Patrick Cody Marina & Anthony Darling Symone & Andrew Demetriou Carolyne & Graeme Devlin Alexandra (Boynton ’76) & Gordon Dickinson Alison Eaves Robert Eaves Jane & John Edwards Lucy (King ‘90) & Andrew Fortey Lyra & Marco Gattino Louise Lampard (‘79) & Gavin Gleeson† Katy & Chris Gobel Suzie & Simon Gough Sally Clarke & Tim Gullifer Jane & Andrew Guy Sherene & Peter Guy Amanda & Richard Hamer Sam Hayward Lou & Anthony Heffernan Christina & Andrew Herold Miche Bonett-Horton & Ted Horton Ann (Pisterman ‘64) & Tony Hyams Sally & Richard Joubert Vanessa (Heinze ‘89) & Russell Keating Jenny Lempriere Marita & Jim Lillie Judy Matear (Spry ‘49) Sarah (Baillieu ‘68) & Robert McKay Patricia McKenzie Alexandra Mayes (’80) Carole & John Middleton Kate & Mark Nilsen Erica Gill & Brendon O’Brien Julie-Anne & Dean Pagnin Lady Ramsay† Don Ravida Lucy Ravida Gill & Charlie Richardson Nathalie & David Shergold Margery Snowball (Hilford ‘43) Judith Williams (Best ‘39)† Samantha & Stuart Wood QC Member 5 ANONYMOUS Patti & Frank Ainalis Anna & Tom Alexiadis Desi (Kalfadellis ‘87) & Manny Anezakis Jennifer & Logan Armstrong Louise & John Ayre Everard Baillieu† Caroline Balderstone (’87) Peter Balderstone Samantha (Pratten ‘79) & Andrew Ballantyne Lyndal & Michael Barrington Mim & Michael Bartlett Meg Begg (Christensen ‘61) Nicole & Ross Begley Peter Bennison Anthea (Gray ‘79) & Stephen Bickford Annabel Bowden (Lewis ‘80) Caroline (Purves ’63) & Stephen Brain Prue & Nicholas Brown Celia Burrell AM (Shelmerdine ‘83) & Will Burrell AM Geraldine & Andrew Buxton Andrea Donaldson & Bruce Caine Sarah & James Cameron Wallace Cameron Sherrie Zeng & Gary Cao Belinda & Iain Carmichael Louise & Don Carroll Michelle & Justin Carroll Toula & Brett Chatfield Rebecca (Mayes ‘84) & John Clark Peter Clements Kate & George Colman Jocelyn Cooper (Bottomley ‘44)† The Hon Andrea Coote Sarah & Andrew Cormie

Jenifer & Stephen Cottrell Nicola (Foley ’83) & David Court Andrew Darbyshire Kristene & David Deague The Hon Linda Dessau AC Melissa (Nicholas ’82) & Dom Doyle Cathryn Eckersley Jenny Elstoft (Latreille ‘58) Sally & Mark Elstoft Douglas Engmann Jennifer & John Fast Jane & Scott Favaloro Mandy Catanach & Nigel Fish Sarah (Scambler ‘93) & Andrew Foote Sarah & Lachie Fraser-Smith Margaret & Adrian Gardner Gaby Tomkin & John Gdanski Maryanne & Dario Giannarelli Janet Gibson (Currie ‘53) Kerry Gillespie Kate & Craig Gilmour Lou & Philip Goodman Judy & Kevan Gosper AO Peta & Robert Gray Helen Rofe QC & Rowan Gregory Kay Sneath & Anthony Hall Taff (Watson ‘81) & Will Hamilton Christine & Richard Harbig Skipp Williamson & Carol Haynes Fleur & Lars Heidenreich Dorothy† & Ian Hicks AM Wayne Hinton Jane & Stephen Hiscock Annabel (Levy ‘79) & Allan Holmes Weiwei Chi & Yini Huang Roni & Gaby Hubay Karen & Graeme Hunt Crisoula & Naji Imam Gina (Shackell ‘76) & Peter Israel Pamela Jacobson (Sallman ‘44) Kate & Mark Johnson Mandy Coupe & Peter Jurcevic Sue & Nick Karunaratne Sally Keating (Pinkus ‘71) Alice Keilar Diana & James Kimpton AM Elizabeth & Jerry Koh Cathy & Peter Kudelka Lara Stocco & Shane Kyriakou Elizabeth Lane Sarah (Wilson ‘73) & David Lawford Karen (Lim ‘87) & William Lee Jill & Tim L’Estrange Alison Tarditi & Andrew Leyden Lin Lin Sally (Shelmerdine ‘73) & David Lindsay Sarah & George Low Lisa & Stewart Macciolli Carey Baker-Mackie & Terrence Mackie Kirsten & Scott Mailer Thea Manson (Coltman ‘51) Niamh & Simon McCall Lelde & Peter McCoy Justin & Julie McNab Carol & John McQuay Rosemary & Roderick McRae Kathleen Mein (Rhys-Jones ‘31)† Fiona Menzies (‘87) Graham Menzies Shayne & Graeme Menzies Deborah & Ross Middleton Paula & Stuart Moir Philip Molyneux AM† Annabel Montgomery (Darling ‘76) Jenifer Murchie (Paton ‘53) Jane & Fraser Murrell Gill Myer (Woods ‘72) Tony Myer Kerrie & Jamie Nasser Anne (Harbig ‘64) & David Neate Felicity & Michael Nettlefold P B Nicholas†

Lisa Nicoll-Cooke (Nicoll ‘63) Annick Houle & Stephen O’Connor Ginny & Michael Palmer Tiffany-Lynn & Benjamin Pascoe Hugh Paton Conny & Spiro Paule Margery Pierce† Dorothy Pizzey AM Irene (Crooke ‘29) & Quintin Pollard† Catherine & Roger Poole Carrie & Dennis Price Meredith & Michael Pryse Avril (Goldstone ‘46)† & Ian Rainford OAM Cathy & Michael Ramsden Barbara Randall Stephen Randall Fiona & Scott Reinke Anni Grimwade (‘79) & Tim Roberts Rachel & Peter Robertson Becky Hyde & Dale Rodgers Nadine & Jonathan Rosham Rowena (Williams ’87) & Nicholas Rudge Katy & Chris Sadler Nicky Schooling & Ross Smith Gabby & Jason Scillio Katrina & John Shackell Laraine & Peter Sharr Holly (Tinsley ‘89) & Jim Shergold Vivienne & David Showers† Robert Sinclair Sam Sinclair Charles Sitch Jackie (Barnes ‘77) & Greg Sitch Jennifer Sitch (Wilson ‘77) Chrissy (Condon ‘76) & Andrew Skinner Linda & Garnet Smith Dacre Smyth AO† Jane Song St Catherine’s School Sports Auxiliary Anna & Clive Standish Vicki Standish Susan (Connor ‘61) & Richard Stanley Amanda (Trumble ‘69) & Bruce Stewart Catherine & Rohan Sutherland Jannie & Henry Tay Bob Taylor† Charles Tegner Elizabeth Thomas Vincent Thomas Rupali Kashyap & Arjun Thyagarajan Rebecca & Nick Turnbull Tatiana Drever Turner & Andrew Turner Blaan & Saverio Valmorbida Chirawan & Sunya Viravaidya Rowena Phillips & David Vote Lisa Walford Nicholas Walford Louise (Macdonald ‘83) & Jonathan Walmsley Fiona (Kittson ‘82) & Patrick Walsh Sylvia Walton AO Yumin Ren & Hui Wang Bei Song & Zhiqiang Wang Judith Ward Alison & Rod Watkins Sandra Meena & Brendon Watkins Jill Watson (Bazeley ‘51) Prue Weber (Larritt ’62) Alvie & Stephen Webster Michelle Jablko & Paul Wegener Jane & Richard Whiter William Wilson† Linda & Carrie Wong Xuan Weng & Wei Jun Wu Venetia & Stavros Yallouridis Hong Chen & Chun Yang Lisa & John Zeigler Cindy Yuan & Adam Zhang

Jeannette Fraser (‘51)

The Foundation honours the memory of the late Jeannette Fraser (‘51) and Kathleen Rankin (‘35) and recognises their generosity in leaving a gift to support future generations of St Catherine’s girls through their Will.

Kathleen Rankin (‘35) The Foundation warmly appreciates everyone who has notified the School of their intent to leave a bequest. If you plan to, or are interested in leaving a bequest for St Catherine’s women of the future, please notify Stuart Galbraith on +61 3 9828 3032 or development@stcatherines.net.au. St Catherine’s School has made every effort to ensure accuracy in this publication. We apologise for any omissions or errors. List current as at 30 June 2017. † Deceased

OUR COMMUNITY

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Dinnner FAT H E R & DAU G H T E R

Years 5 to 12

The Father and Daughter Dinner in July this year was once again held in the Long Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was an engaging, convivial and informative night. Principal, Mrs Michelle Carroll’s introduction set the tone of the evening by emphasising the importance of fathers being involved in their daughters’ lives and sharing their journey. Guest speakers for the evening were Kim Brennan (Rio Olympic Rowing Gold Medallist) and her father Max Crow (past AFL great). In a highly entertaining format, brilliantly hosted by St Catherine’s father, Michael Christrian (Sasha Year 12 and Coco Year 10) the crowd was delighted to listen to Kim’s journey to Olympic Gold. Perseverance, resilience and sheer hard work were the key messages.

Kim encouraged our St Catherine’s girls in the audience not to limit their potential and to persevere no matter how difficult the road. The love, dedication, support and respect between Max and Kim was obvious for all to see. Max also shared tales of his PR faux pas with the media in Rio which thoroughly entertained the crowd. The night could easily have continued on with many lining up to converse and take photographs with Kim, the younger girls racing around the MCG terraces and the dads enjoying the night with their daughters and other dads. It truly was a great night! Mrs Libby Stopp Sports Auxiliary President

Wellness Inspiration

It was wonderful to observe so many current parents, past parents and Old Girls coming together to enjoy each other’s company over delicious food and wine provided by Leonda on the Yarra.

On 19 May, 235 women gathered together for this year’s Ruth Langley Luncheon to hear health and wellness blogger, Zara D’Cotta from Oh My Goodness, discuss her moving story from corporate career girl to ‘Wellness Warrior’. After having survived two cancer diagnosis before her 32nd birthday, Zara’s honest account of her journey through one of the world’s most devastating diseases, touched a chord for most women in the room.

All attendees at the Luncheon were provided with fabulous goody bags filled with olive oil from Living Pure, Carmen’s Muesli, Porridge and Bliss Balls, Loving Earth Chocolate and gift vouchers from Pure Baby, Sophie Moran, WeXchange, Grass Roots Wellness and Morris Jones. The support of our generous sponsors is so greatly appreciated and valued.

Her message regarding the study of Epigenetics, the impact our diet, lifestyle and surrounding environment on the possibility of gene mutations causing chronic disease, was a powerful wake up call for all. Zara’s tips to achieve wellness involved meditation, exercise in ways that feel good to you, switching to whole foods and removing the toxic chemicals in our environments and homes.

Our Raffle and Silent Auction prizes were donated from members of our School community and we wish to also thank WeXchange, Yabby Creek Wines, Happy Melon Studios, Coltman and Co, 2XU, Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), Living Pure, Paul and Nina Aberdeen, Flip Shelton and Morris Jones for their generous support. Mrs Nicole Begley PFA President St Catherine’s School

2015

Past Parents & Families Network Update Many years may have passed since their girls were at the School but that certainly has not dampened any enthusiasm shown by past parents to come together from various year groups throughout the year. This year the 2001, 2011, 2015 and 2009 Past Parent groups met at the homes of Chrissy and Andrew Skinner, Annabel and Allan Holmes, Louise Lampard and Lisa and John Steven respectively, for chatty and cheerful catch-ups, and to fondly reminisce about their families’ time at St Catherine’s. Thank you to all our hosts. Please enjoy the photos from the 2017 gatherings at www.stcatherines. net.au/gallery/past-parentsfamilies-network-event-gallery/ Our PPFN Committee is keen to keep these informal past parent events continuing on an annual basis for all year levels. To ensure you receive an invitation please update your email contact details with the School at pastparents@stcatherines.net.au

2009

2001

L E A D I N G T H E WAY

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Leading the Way

of operations for Lendlease Building in Queensland and the Northern Territory, including tenders and projects in delivery.

Saskia Holloway (’13)

Lucy Gowdie (’01)

Where are they now? This edition we delve into the lives of three of our Old Girls and School Duces to discover where life has taken them since graduating from St Catherine’s.

continue studying Latin and French, and to pick up International Politics. I eventually chose to study Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne, with a view to going into the Juris Doctor at the end of my degree.

Saskia Holloway (’13)

The biggest challenge that I faced in the early years of my degree was combating negative comments about how I was going to use my studies (particularly Latin) to prepare myself for future employment. As much as I loved studying the speeches of Cicero, and the linguistic mannerisms of roman slaves, I was also beginning to wonder the same thing. The question of applicability, and more importantly of employability, was weighing very heavily on my mind. I dealt with this problem in three ways.

Old Girl Saskia Holloway (’13) is still very much in the studying stage of life. In the fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Chancellor’s Scholars Program) at The University of Melbourne, Saskia has a double major in Politics and Latin, as well as a Diploma in French. What is your current position and what does it involve? I am in the fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Chancellor’s Scholars Program) at The University of Melbourne. I have a double major in Politics and Latin, as well as a Diploma in French. I will be the only University of Melbourne student in my cohort to graduate with a Latin major, rather than the standard classics major which includes both Latin, ancient Greek and ancient world studies. In order to achieve a major purely in Latin, I completed advanced language units with The University of New England. I studied French at St Catherine’s, and am currently on a twelve-month exchange at Sciences Po, Paris, where I am taking all my papers in French. What have been two of your greatest achievements to date? What challenges have you faced professionally and how have you dealt with them? I am still very much in the studying stage of my life, although hopefully on the cusp of entering the work force in the not too distant future. When I left school, I was not ready to commit to any single career path, nor to a vocational degree such as Law. I knew that I wanted to

Firstly, I accepted the fact that I could not anticipate every potential direction that my career could take, and that flexibility, although uncertain, would lead me to more rewarding results. Secondly, I made it my mission to buy coffee for as many people as I could who were willing to talk to me about how they had navigated the transition from an Arts degree, to further study or directly to employment. Thirdly, I applied for a year-long exchange at Sciences Po, Paris, which is one of most highly regarded institutions in the field of political science, boasting amongst its alumnae many former presidents and heads of state. In the final year of my degree, I am starting to see how my subject choices are not irrelevant at all, and that they are in fact beginning to lead me in very interesting directions. What advice would you have for current St Catherine’s students, particularly our VCE students, when selecting subjects, tertiary courses and careers? The best advice that I could give to any student is to be as informed as possible.

Sarah Lang (‘10)

Whilst many students will have a vague idea of the professions they are interested in, they probably do not have a very clear understanding of what these professions actually involve. Draw on other people’s experiences in order to inform your own. St Catherine’s has a proud history of Old Girls influencing a number of industries. Do you have professional networks of Old Girls that you keep in contact with? If so, how have these connections been beneficial? In early 2015, I attended the Women in Law Breakfast. After listening to the panel discussion, during which former students and now legal professionals described their own career paths, I reached out to Old Girl Kate Barber (’96). Kate’s legal background and her experience working as a public servant and later consulting on government particularly resonated with my own career interests. Over coffee and between emails, I learnt from Kate what cannot be learnt online or in a text book – what law and government is actually like for someone who has experienced it, how the two can be combined, and indeed where to begin combining them.

Lucy Gowdie (’01) Class of 2001 Lucy Gowdie (’01) is now the regional Commercial and Risk Manager for Lendlease Building in Queensland and the Northern Territory. What does your current position involve? I sit on the Regional Senior Leadership Team and I am responsible for developing and delivering the Implementation Plan for the commercial function. In particular, I provide commercial and risk support and expertise in relation to all aspects

What study did you undertake postschool and how was it beneficial? My undergraduate studies were in Civil Engineering and Law, and postgraduate studies in Construction Law. Although I have learnt a huge amount through ‘on the job’ experience and from my many mentors, without my formal education and qualifications I would never have been successful in applying for the various roles I have performed over the years. What has been one of your greatest career achievements to date? One of my most recent achievements is my contribution to the delivery of the $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital project. This project was procured as a public private partnership, and Lendlease was appointed as the design and construct contractor. What challenges have you faced professionally and how have you dealt with them? Despite increasing awareness surrounding the importance of gender diversity, in Australia, we continue to face barriers attracting and retaining women in the construction, engineering, project management, architecture, and construction law. I have worked in the construction industry for nearly 10 years, and during this time the challenge of being a female in a male dominated industry has remained fairly constant. Share of voice, job recognition, authority and leadership are just some of the aspects that come to mind. Lendlease, my current employer, is especially supportive of diversity – in fact, we were recently awarded the 2016 Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Australian Workplace Gender Equality Agency. My biggest challenge is to ensure that I remain a positive role model and influential leader for not only my team but also other women in the construction industry.

Reflecting on your time at St Catherine’s, how do you feel the School community assisted you? The message that ‘girls can do anything’ was always strongly reinforced to us throughout my time at St Catherine’s. This helped me believe that I could successfully pursue a career in a traditionally male dominated industry. What advice would you have for current St Catherine’s students, particularly our VCE students, when selecting subjects, tertiary courses and careers? Do not restrict yourself to either focusing on one subject area. I selected a range of subjects which made my studies more interesting, and kept my options open for which tertiary courses I could pursue.

Sarah Lang (’10) Sarah Lang graduated as Dux in 2010 before going on to study a Bachelor of Film and Television at Bond University. What is your current position and what does it involve? I am a Freelance Script Coordinator for television. This essentially means that I am contracted to different television shows throughout the year, although I do the majority of my work with the ABC. As a script coordinator, I am the link between the writers and the rest of the cast and crew. What is your career background? I graduated from Bond University with a Bachelor of Film and Television four years ago, and have been working in the TV industry ever since. My first job was on Fat Tony & Co, a spin-off of Underbelly. As well as scripting, I have branched out into several other roles, such as casting assistant, production secretary and production coordinator, on a range of shows including House Husbands, Wolf Creek and the new ABC drama Newton’s Law. What have been two of your greatest career achievements to date? The first time I saw my credit appear on TV – squished in tiny, unreadable font at the bottom of the screen was a bit of a dream come true.

Another was being able to take my family and two ex-teachers from St Catherine’s backstage at The Weekly with Charlie Pickering to visit me at work in the studio. It is difficult to explain to people what I do every day, but somehow, seeing me in amongst all the action, convinced my parents that I have ‘made it’ in the industry! What challenges have you faced professionally and how have you dealt with them? The biggest challenge of my career is being a freelancer. My generation and those currently in school are entering a workforce that looks very different to that of our parents. We are often expected to market ourselves, to be flexible, and to get creative in order to find work in our chosen fields. A full-time job at a fixed workplace, year in year out, is simply not the reality for many people my age, and we must become accustomed to a degree of instability and uncertainty in our professional lives. Although this is a huge challenge, financially, psychologically and even physically, it does bring some great rewards. Over the past four years I have worked in five different cities in Australia, and I have had to develop the grit, resourcefulness and independence that it takes to manage my own career. Reflecting on your time at St Catherine’s,s how do you feel the School/staff/students assisted you? There were several members of staff who played important roles in nurturing my interests and pushing my abilities while I was at School. I most admire how the staff and School supported my career decisions. What advice would you have for current St Catherine’s students, particularly our VCE students, when selecting subjects, tertiary courses and careers? My advice is not to be afraid of nontraditional careers, of trying different types of study, or taking a year to work or travel before university. I believe that navigating your career path requires a lot of selfknowledge and introspection, and the only way to learn about yourself is to get stuck in and make some mistakes!

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association

Jeanie Hood Society Membership SCOGA was made a benefactor in the 2016/17 financial year of the Jeanie Hood Society, which was recently established in honour of the founding School Principal to recognise the School’s most generous, and caring supporters. It should also be reminded that the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association has been a member of the St Catherine’s School Foundation since 1999.

A Message from the President Since becoming President in November 2014, I have been continually inspired by SCOGA’s community of supporters who work together to advance our Association and support the School, almost entirely on a volunteer basis. Under our rules, one of the purposes of SCOGA is to “promote the welfare of St Catherine’s School and to raise, aid or contribute to the raising of funds for the use and benefit of the School (whether for endowment, building, establishment, recreation or other purposes advantageous to the School)”. As such, I am delighted to announce; ‘ Her Future Begins Here’ Campaign Donation SCOGA has donated $50,000, paid for in two instalments in the 2017/18 financial year, towards the development of the purpose-built Junior School; the most significant building project in over 50 years. This donation will specifically be used for the tiered seating meeting area, in honour of the much loved Red Steps currently in Barbreck complete with a selection of images from the archives highlighting the joy experienced at School by Barbreck alumni over the years.

Annual Giving 2017 Campaign Each year, the School’s annual campaign is aimed at “building philanthropic support for facilities, programs, infrastructure and staff to build the foundations for life-long independent learning for our girls”. I am honoured to report that as at 30 June, 2017: • Alumni giving rose by 23% over the preceding year • 25.6% of all donations made to this year’s campaign were done so by alumni • For the last two years, 25% of those alumni donations were made by our alumni in their 30s, followed closely by alumni donating in their 60s • 14% of alumni donations are also current parents of the School. Traditionally it can be said that men are far more inclined to support their School or Old Boys’ Association; a trend that I am hoping is changing at St Catherine’s, given the statistics presented for this recent campaign. Each gift, of any size, makes a real and positive impact and I thank all our alumni who donated for their generous support and encourage others to consider supporting SCOGA and the School to allow us to support our current students and Old Girls. Foundation President Announcement I am delighted to advise that Gina Israel (Shackell ’76) has commenced her role as President of the St Catherine’s School Foundation Board, succeeding fellow Old Girl, Anne Court (Lowry ’58). Gina’s family has a deep and longstanding involvement with St Catherine’s, including her great Aunt, Dame Adelaide Doughty CBE DBE (Shackell ’24), a Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum

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recipient, her mother Patricia Shackell (’46) and her daughter, Juliet Israel (’09). Moreover, Gina served as School Captain, Swimming Captain, and Treasurer and a Member of the SCOGA Committee for six years. I also wanted to congratulate and thank Anne on her tremendous tenure as President of the Foundation Board and her unwavering support of SCOGA. Old Girl Appointed as County Court Judge On behalf of SCOGA I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Carolene Gwynn (’87) who has recently been appointed as a new judge of the County Court. The former Magistrate has joined the County Court after more than 20-years of experience in criminal and family law proceedings. She has spent a number of years mentoring law students at Monash University and was an instructor with the Victorian Bar to Legal Training Institute students in Papua New Guinea. Carolene was an active member on various committees and spent four years at Victoria Legal Aid as a solicitor. SCOGA Committee Update I want to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Honorary Treasurer Nicole Osborn (Schwarz ’85) and congratulate Lucy Court (’11) on her appointment as replacement. We welcome Philippa Elder (’99) and Sarah O’Brien (’02) to the Committee and thank them for their enthusiasm and hard work already shown since they joined! Thank You Thank you so much to the SCOGA Committee for their ongoing support and hard work throughout this year. We have spent the year pre-planning a great deal for our Biennial SCOGA Lunch next year (see details over the page) and future networking events. None of this could have been achieved without the time, dedication and enthusiasm given by our dedicated Committee members. Thank you to Principal, Mrs Michelle Carroll and the Development and Community Relations, Marketing, Archives and Business Offices for their ongoing assistance, support and ideas that assist with connecting our community with the School. Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) SCOGA President 2017

Maddy Steere (’14)

ABOVE: Georgie Gleeson (’16) and Adelaide Cester (’16); BELOW: L-R: Georgie Gleeson (’16), Annie Anezakis (’16) and Adelaide Cester (’16)

Old Girls’ Rowing Success In 2017, Annie Anezakis (’16), Adelaide Cester (’16), and Georgie Gleeson (’16) all competed for Mercantile Rowing Club at the Sydney International Rowing Regatta. The girls had a successful week placing top three in all their races. Having only trained together for a short period of time, Georgie and Annie managed to come away with a bronze medal in the Under 21 pair race, battling against some wet conditions. With Adelaide coxing and both girls rowing in the Under 21 four and Under 23 eight, the three girls collected a Gold and silver respectively, adding to their medal tally. Additionally, both Adelaide and Georgie were selected for the Victorian Youth eight, which was to race in the Interstate Regatta alongside the other state

boats from Australia. The eight had a convincing win, crossing the line seven seconds ahead of the next crew, claiming the prestigious title of the Bicentennial Cup. These three girls had rowed in the National winning boat in 2016, with Annie and Georgie as stern pair and Adelaide as the cox and it has been great to see them continue to participate in the sport.

Old Girl represents Australia at FINA World Championships In July this year, Old Girl Maddy Steere (’14) made waves in water polo at the Fédération Internationale De Natation (FINA) world championships in Budapest, Hungary. Maddy represented Australia with the Aussie Stingers team, and had an outstanding win over Olympic bronze medalists Russia, securing their position in the top eight. The Stingers were knocked out of the competition in the quarterfinals, losing 5 to 7, to reigning World and Olympic champions, USA. On graduating from St Catherine’s, Maddy attended The University of Melbourne, before being accepted to the University of Michigan’s water polo program in 2016. Maddy trained with the 2016 Rio Olympic team, and was selected for the Aussie Stingers Tokyo Olympics development squad. You can follow Maddy’s success and journey to Tokyo on her blog http:// maddysteere.wixsite.com/towardstokyo. Emily Smith (’10)

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Author Kim Kane draws inspiration from St Catherine’s in many of her 18 books After being inspired by a career presentation from fellow Old Girl the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Kim Kane (’90) chose a Law/Arts degree at The University of Melbourne over architecture and embarked on a law career. “I went back to work for two weeks when our twins were two and realised that neither my partner nor I were ever going to see the children and I was unlikely to be able to manage a legal practice with parenting and puree.” Having written part-time for some years already, Kim began a full-time career as a writer.

St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association

“The ability to recall tiny details as a young person means that I do draw endlessly on my life at School, and my teachers and friends inform a great deal of my work. T-bar shoes, new blue socks and half cheese rolls have all crept into my novels”. With her latest novel, When the Lyrebird Calls, School friends have been very involved. Alice Kelly (’90), Lisa Gorton (’89) and her sister Tamsin Kane (’92) provided feedback on various drafts. Shelley Marshall (’90) researched 19th century labour statistics and Yolanda Finette (Walker ’90), School Captain and an Aboriginal woman was also incredibly helpful. “When I got into a knot over language about a character from Coranderrk – the Aboriginal station near Healesville, Yo was able to ask her family and friends to see what might have been appropriate.’’ Asked about career highlights, Kim says that receiving prizes and short-listings are wonderful, but having Carrie Bickmore read her book Family Forest on Play School as

part of their 50th Anniversary Celebrations was great fun. Kim sits on the board that selects the Australian Children’s Laureate, therefore, her legal experience still comes in handy, but for the most part she feels incredibly fortunate to have a career that she loves.

Margaret McLean (Woodlock ’56) was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to masters sport and the community in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours. She was Captain of St Catherine’s School in 1956 and was selected to represent Australia in shot put at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. She went on to become Australian shot put champion for six years between 1957 and 1962, and Victorian champion in shot put and javelin between 1956 and 1960. In the 1990s and early 2000s Margaret competed in and won gold, silver and bronze medals in shot put, discus and javelin at Australia Masters in Melbourne and World Masters Games in Brisbane. She was also a volunteer at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as well as a torch-bearer when the relay went through Frankston. In conjunction with her professional life, Margaret has given 60 years of voluntary service to Australian, English and Canadian

Connecting our Community Please ensure your details are up to date so you do not miss any invitations or School news. To update your contact information (email, postal address or phone numbers), please email oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au or phone Ms Meredith Taylor, Community Relations Officer, on +61 3 9828 3081.

Stephanie Lazar (John ’86)

You can also like the School’s Facebook page to keep up with the latest community news – www.facebook.com/stcatherines schooltoorak

Old Girls trek to Everest Base Camp Miles Franklin Award winner Sofie Laguna (right) launched Kim Kane’s novel When the Lyrebird Calls late last year

OAM for Margaret McLean Margaret McLean (Woodlock ’56) competing at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games

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guiding organisations including 56 years with the Australian Guiding Movement as a guide, Certificate Trainer, major events organiser and member of the State Council, and 20 years with the Red Cross. She began as a volunteer First Aider with Red Cross, then with Sports Medicine First Aid serving for over 50 years. She was also a serving member of the Victorian Olympians Club Executive Committee and Director of the Strolling Players Youth Performing Arts Group. Margaret was also co-producer, consultant and interviewee for the documentary champion. The Franz Stampfl Story, which tells the story of her Athletics coach, Franz Stampfl, who also trained Roger Bannister to break the four-minute mile in 1954. We congratulate Margaret on all the work she has undertaken and continues to do for the community and for receiving this wonderful award. Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95)

Three Old Girls have completed the gruelling trek to Everest Base Camp, Nepal this year, and share their experiences with the Bulletin. Skye Stuart (’02) joined 28 other trekkers from around the world as part of Turia Pitt’s Everest 2017 Interplast Charity Trek initiative, together raising more than $240,000. Skye found out about the charity trek while doing Turia Pitt’s hair and makeup in August last year and signed up immediately. She raised an incredible $24,000 through her own ‘Skye’s the Limit’ fundraising campaign. Twins Emma and Rachel Collister (’12) completed the trek with their father, 13 other people from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, four guides and eight porters. All three trekkers say that reaching Everest Base Camp itself was a touching experience, and a highlight of their trips. For Skye, another memorable moment came when she was trekking up Kala Patthar at 3.30am to see the sun rise upon Everest Peak, and realising that the stars she was looking at were actually the headlights of people summiting Mount Everest. Rachel said that another highlight was two days after they had started their descent, when they were staying at a remote teahouse. They spent an evening listening to their group leader, Jimee, discussing Everest legends and stories, and woke up the next morning to a snow-covered

Rachel Collister (’12), Marc Collister and Emma Collister (’12)

winter wonderland. The group delayed their trek, pausing to have a group snowball fight. The trekkers faced physical and mental challenges throughout their journey, with Skye and Rachel both noting that being surrounded by their teams was key to beating their mental hurdles.

Join the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) closed group page on LinkedIn. The page is set up for Old Girls to communicate, network and hear about upcoming alumnae events. Once a member of the page, feel free to share with other Old Girls in your LinkedIn network. www.linkedin.com/ groups/6781799

Marcomms and Journalism University Students:

The Collister twins were pleasantly surprised by the food and accommodation along their journey, staying at teahouses run by locals with cosy rooms and home cooked meals. Skye was surprised by how real and present the dangers were on the trek, and impressed by the way the Sherpas respect the mountain – and refer to it as ‘her’. Well done to Skye, Rachel and Emma, who all proved that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Emily Smith (’10)

Grace McBride and Skye Stuart (’02)

Calling out for budding marketing communications and journalism university students: Do you need work experience or have internship requirements? SCOGA is planning to launch a new e-Bulletin and are looking for students who would like a three or six month internship to manage stories and communications from our SCOGA Community, including a ‘Market-Place’ section for babysitters and small business marketing, as well as articles about what our Old Girls are doing. Although it is a voluntary role, it will provide a great opportunity to enhance your CV, gain accreditation for course/subject work (where possible) and work with a terrific committee. Please contact Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) President SCOGA – phoebe_norman@icloud.com

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association

Sydney Reunion

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Reunions

On Friday 31 March, on a warm Autumn evening SCOGA, together with the School welcomed an intimate group of Old Girls to The Women’s College at The University of Sydney. Sharing special moments and hearing stories of St Catherine’s past and its current day were 20 Old Girls ranging from 1960 to 2016. We welcomed sisters Diana Johnson (Sherwin ’60) and Pattie Bowden (Sherwin ’63), Lynette Davenport (Wilks ’60) and Prue Iggulden (Watt ’63) to recent graduates, Katherine Yuan (’16) and Yingyou Wang (’16) who now reside at The Women’s College. With champagne on arrival, the Old Girls shared stories from the recent National

Rowing Championships, boarding house days from years past and a particular story of one of our Old Girls dedicated to row for the first time at 70 years old. Louise Lampard (’79) welcomed everyone on behalf of SCOGA and passed to Mrs Michelle Carroll to celebrate the reunion. It was a wonderful night, with many keen to host more events in Sydney and engage their networks that might have lost contact with the School.

Grace Davenport (’06), Jessie Pettigrew (’01), Paige McLaren (’07), Sally Buchanan (’07)

Should you be interested in catching up with Old Girls in Sydney on a more regular basis, please get in contact via oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au. Grace Davenport (’06)

Georgie Hatton CROWNED RUNNER UP MISS UNIVERSE AUSTRALIA TOP LEFT: 1997 Year Group – 20 Year Reunion Year Rep: Cecilia Riebl; TOP RIGHT: 2012 Year Group – Five Year Reunion Year Reps: Katie Cameron and Philippa Sutherland; BOTTOM LEFT: 1992 Year Group – 25 Year Reunion Year Rep: Georgie McAllister (Guy); BOTTOM RIGHT: 2002 Year Group – 15 Year Reunion. Year Reps: Lucinda Barber and Natalie Simpson.

Model Georgie Hatton (’07) is carving out a career in the industry, being crowned runner up in the 2017 Miss Universe Australia competition at the Sofitel Melbourne in June this year. “It was a truly exciting experience, one I will never forget,” Georgie said. “The most challenging part is being confident enough to speak on any topic in front of the judges and a big audience. I enjoyed the bonding trip to Bali the most, and getting to know all the other girls.” An important part of Miss Universe Australia is the strong focus on charity and community service. Throughout the competition, Georgie supported ‘Dress for Success’, a charity empowering women to create economic independence by providing them with the tools and techniques to enter the workforce. All Miss Universe Australia

National Finalists were also ambassadors of ToyBox International, a charity supporting sick and disadvantaged Australian children.

Dates for

Georgie uses her mother’s maiden name for work purposes, modelling under the name Georgie Mitchell.

2018 Events & Reunions

On graduating from St Catherine’s, Georgie completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University, majoring in Marketing and Commercial Law. Following her degree, she modelled between London and Shanghai, and was the youngest person to accomplish both a Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Master’s in Business Administration at Swinburne University. “Next on the agenda is a PhD,” Georgie says. “I have always had an interest in business and innovation.” Emily Smith (’10)

Monday 12 February 2018 SCOGA 2017 School Leavers’ Panel 9.00am, Ballroom – Sherren House oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au Friday 16 February 2018 10 Year Reunion – 2008 Tour 5.45pm, Drinks in Drawing Room at 6.15pm Jacinta Halsall – 0433 126 557 halsalljacinta@gmail.com

Looking to the future, Georgie hopes to combine her modelling career with her business studies, and have a successful business of her own.

Thursday 8 March 2018 SCOGA Biennial Lunch 12.00pm – 2.30pm, Crown Towers Melbourne oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au

Friday 23 March 2018 15 Year Reunion – 2003 Tour 5.45pm, Drinks in Drawing Room at 6.15pm Leila Lee (Anderson) – 0402 428 453 leila.m.anderson@gmail.com

Friday 24 August 2018 25 Year Reunion – 1993 Tour 5.45pm, Drinks in Drawing Room at 6.15pm Joanna Chamberlain (Grant) – 0448 840 648 joanna.chamberlain@gmail.com

Tuesday 1 May 2018 Year Reps’ Cocktail Party 6.30pm, Drawing Room – Sherren House

Saturday 15 September 2018 50 Year Reunion – 1968 Tour 10.00am, Morning Tea/Coffee in Drawing Room at 10.30am Carol Reid (Gadsden) – 0419 532 765 carol@bimbimbi.com

Saturday 26 May 2018 30 Year Reunion – 1988 Tour 10.00am, Morning Tea/Coffee in Drawing Room at 10.30am Kayt Macdonald (Riches) – 0403 308 785 kaytmac1@yahoo.com.au Nicolle McCurdy (Austin) – 0417 104 055 naustin@gazman.com.au Friday 3 August 2018 20 Year Reunion – 1998 Tour 5.45pm, Drinks in Drawing Room at 6.15pm Kate Cooper (Olsen) – 0414 313 645 kateolsen1@gmail.com

Friday 12 October 2018 5 Year Reunion – 2013 Tour 5.45pm, Drinks in Drawing Room at 6.15pm Zoe Allatson – 0488 280 031 zallatson@outlook.com Nakita Wilson – 0409 953 477 nakitaswilson@gmail.com

Friday 19 October 2018 Pre 1959 Luncheon 12.00pm – 2.00pm Sally Ahern (Watson) – 0419 001 012 / 03 9818 4423 sahern@bigpond.net.au Virginia Edwards AM (Smith) – 03 9503 1222 elizabellmaine@gmail.com Friday 23 November 2018 40 Year Reunion – 1978 Tour 5.45pm, Drinks in Drawing Room at 6.15pm Rosie Garrisson (Waite) – 0439 348 002 agarriss@bigpond.net.au Saturday 24 November 2018 SCOGA Annual General Meeting 10.00am, Ballroom – Sherren House oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

Notice of Annual General Meeting Next Annual General Meeting The 96th AGM of the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) will be held on Saturday 25 November 2017 at 10.00am in the Ballroom, Sherren House. The meeting will be followed by Morning Tea.

St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association CURRENT STUDENTS OF ALUMNI

CURRENT STUDENTS OF ALUMNI

Child

Mother

Child

Camilla Aberdeen

Nina Kirby (’94)

Lara Anderson

Joanna Nicholas (’86)

Olivia Fortey

Lucy King (’90)

Fleur Angenent

Emma Stanley (’97)

Susan Connor (’61)

Lucy Glover

Annabel Forsyth (’85)

Giselle Armstrong

Lachlan Armstrong (Old Boy ’95)

Toni Pierce (’67)

Elizabeth Gorton

Sandra Court (’84)

Anne Lowry (’58); Sue King (’59)

Lynette Walkley (’34)

Ziabella Armstrong

Lachlan Armstrong (Old Boy ’95)

Toni Pierce (’67)

Sophie Gorton

Sandra Court (’84)

Anne Lowry (’58); Sue King (’59)

Lynette Walkley (’34)

Axel Ashton

Eliza Peters (’98)

Zara Gracanin

Lincoln Baker

Brooke Gronow (’00)

Sienna Gracanin

Summer Balla-Kellett

Mandy Balla (’86)

All Old Girls are most welcome to attend. Any member who would like to bring business before the AGM is required to give notice in writing to the Secretary no later than Saturday 28 October 2017.

Casper Bell

Grandmother

Great Grandmother

Mother

Sue Catchlove (’59)

Mother

Clementine Newton-Brown

Jane Forsyth (’88)

Gretel Newton-Brown

Jane Forsyth (’88)

Eve Nicolas

Kate Arnott (’88)

Meg Nixon

Helen Adams (’88)

Samantha Osborn

Nicole Schwarz (’85)

Meryanda Rowden (’55)

Camilla Knowles (’89)

Abby Page

Kate àBeckett (’87)

Leigh Denham (’61)

Noreen Heath (’34)

Camilla Knowles (’89)

Chloe Page

Kate àBeckett (’87)

Leigh Denham (’61)

Noreen Heath (’34)

Pia Graham

Marnie Aitken (’84)

Jessica Paterson

Sophie Nicholas (’89)

Lucy Gray

Penny Anderson (’87)

Allegra Paul

Francesca Hubay (’86)

Christine McKinleyWilson (’59)

Anouska Paul

Francesca Hubay (’86)

Christine McKinleyWilson (’59)

Pamela Rome (’63)

Felicity Miller (’87)

Lucy Green

Charlotte Brasch

Nicholas Brasch (Old Boy ’93)

Isabella Stokes OAM (’58)

Claire Hayne

Leslie Reynolds (’54)

Alexandra Brearley

Sara Luth (’85)

Amber Hamersfeld

Natalie Bloom (’88)

Please RSVP by Friday 19 November to Stephanie Lazar (John ’86)

Isabella Bufé

Tracy Cedzich (’86)

Chloe Handbury

Georgina Seccull (’86)

Isla Burrell

Celia Shelmerdine AM (’83)

Madeleine Hooker

Antoinette Walshe (’88)

Secretary St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association 17 Heyington Place, Toorak VIC 3142

Willow Burrell

Celia Shelmerdine AM (’83)

Olivia Howitt

Michaela Grogan (’86)

Ellie Cacopardo

Christina Smith (’88)

Prudence Whitehead (’61)

Ella Johns

Susannah Chapman (’86)

Katie Cacopardo

Christina Smith (’88)

Prudence Whitehead (’61)

Year Reps’ COCKTAIL PARTY

Annabel Calvert

Fleur McKay (’94)

Sarah Baillieu (’68)

Margaret Cox (’35)

Clara Calvert

Fleur McKay (’94)

Sarah Baillieu (’68)

Margaret Cox (’35)

Lucy Campbell

Amelia Osborn (’86)

Elspeth Cannon

Clare Darling (’77) Sophie Shelton (’85)

Letitia Cole (’58)

Maroa Molesworth (’25)

Sasha Christian

Sophie Shelton (’85)

Letitia Cole (’58)

Maroa Molesworth (’25)

Lucy Church

Katrina Irving (’81)

Honor Clark

Rebecca Mayes (’84)

Willow Clarke

Aiesha Cipriani (’94) Susan Adamson (’90)

Pernilla Coleman

Kirsty Gilmour (’86)

Saskia Coleman

Kirsty Gilmour (’86)

Chloe Cooper

Sophie Richmond (’89)

Zara Cooper

Year Reps’ Cocktail Party – Leila Lee (Anderson ’03), Nicolle McCurdy (Austin ’88) and Lucy Fortey (King ’90)

St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association invites you to

Save the Date

BIENNIAL LUNCH ‘Celebrating Our Women’ Thursday, 8 March 2018

– International Women’s Day – 12.00pm – 2.30pm, Crown Towers Melbourne

Barbara Spry (’52)

Elizabeth Newman (’61) Louise Coltman (’54); Elizabeth Newman (’61)

Jonathan Joseph (Old Boy ’95)

Lucinda Kelly

Belinda Mountain (’83)

Eloise Kewley

Sally Stonier (’78)

Holly Landrigan

Margaret Guy (’89)

Betty Lyall (’36) Betty Lyall (’36)

Emma Peele

Lorraine Gray (’63)

Louise Strauss (’62)

Shirley Ellinson (’42)

Noel Lidgett (’50)

Jenny Home (’52)

Violet Lazar

Stephanie John (’86)

Katherine Lee

Karen Lim (’87)

Cassandra Lie

Kelly Clemenger (’80)

Sebastian Lincoln

Marita Batty (’96)

Sophie Lovell

Sarah Leahey (’82)

Astrid Low

Margaret Carlyon (’45)

Edwina Low

Margaret Carlyon (’45)

Arabella Lutz

Rebecca Paranthoiene (’97)

Sam McAllister

Georgina Guy (’92)

Robin Richards (’74)

Pia Foley (’81)

India Peters

Melissa Kavals (’00) Mark Peters (Old Boy ’94)

Nina Portnoy

Jane Davis (’85)

Sarah Pratt

Jill Cannon (’66)

Hollie Pringle

Marnie Ross (’92)

Victoria Jacobson (’65)

Scarlett Pringle

Marnie Ross (’92)

Victoria Jacobson (’65)

Edward Rice

Sophie Pelman (’97) Richard Rice (Old Boy ’88) Prudence Minifie (’51)

Emma Robertson

Anna Lally (’88)

Molly Robertson

Anna Lally (’88)

Charlotte Rodgers

Marion Teare (’50)

Chloe Rodgers

Marion Teare (’50)

Emma Rodgers

Jill Sargood (’48)

Marion Teare (’50)

Eloise Rudge

Rowena Williams (’87)

Pamela Granowski (’51)

Anna Shears

Penny Roysmith (’81)

Betty Shields (’51)

Alexandra Shergold

Holly Tinsley (’89)

Margaret James (’61)

Pippa Shergold

Holly Tinsley (’89)

Margaret James (’61)

Georgia Macaw

Susan Gawler (’64)

Clementine Sitch

Jennifer Wilson (’77)

Poppy Maling

Jean Cameron (’49)

Georgie Sitch

Jennifer Wilson (’77)

Hayley Cottrell

Constance Vanston (’22)

Chloe Manson

Thea Coltman (’51)

Serena Sitch

Millicent Cottrell

Constance Vanston (’22)

Tabitha Manson

Thea Coltman (’51)

Jacqueline Barnes (’77)

Sophie Sitch

Jacqueline Barnes (’77)

Isabel Southey

Astrid Alstergren (’78)

Marigold Myer AC (’45)

Isabella Soutter

James Soutter (Old Boy ’92)

Prue Macnaughtan (’62)

Katharine Soutter

James Soutter (Old Boy ’92)

Prue Macnaughtan (’62)

Elizabeth Switkowski

Georgina Hinton (’99)

Camilla Thomas

Virginya Sutton (’85)

Camilla Thomas

Julia Hammon (’00)

Mirabelle Thomson

Rebecca Jockel (’98)

Lily Trosdal Ryan

Lisa Trosdal (’79)

Charlotte Upton

Scarlett Davis

Briely Trollope (’89)

Matilda Day

Amanda Hyams (’95)

Ann Pisterman (’64)

Harriette Dryden

Victoria Krauss (’92)

Prudence Spinney (’68)

Margaret Spinney (’42)

Maggie Dryden

Victoria Krauss (’92)

Prudence Spinney (’68)

Margaret Spinney (’42)

Holly Elstoft

Jenny Latreille (’58)

Holly Farrer

Susie Cook (’93)

Madeleine Farrer

Susie Cook (’93)

Sophie Farrer

Susie Cook (’93)

Jane Fenton

Caroline Balderstone (’87)

Sarah Fenton

Caroline Balderstone (’87)

Chiara Fleury

Pia Nanut (’91)

Arabella Foote

Sarah Scambler (’93)

Margaret Drummond (’62)

Charlotte Fortey

Lucy King (’90)

Pamela Rome (’63)

Harriet Fortey

Lucy King (’90)

Pamela Rome (’63)

Eliza McCurdy

Nicole Austin (’88)

William McInnes

Lisa Kelly (’92)

Alice Menzies-King

Fiona Menzies (’87)

Adelaide Mitchell

Katie Krauss (’90)

Nadia Mohamed

Farah Pasha (’91)

Georgina Moors

Edwina Saunders (’86)

Ruby Morton

Renee McNamara (’87)

Charlotte Myer

Annabel Plummer (’82)

Lisa Nicoll (’63)

Prudence Spinney (’68)

Marjory Sharp (’35)

Margaret Spinney (’42)

Charlotte Murdoch

Sandra Spry (’59)

Margery Austin (’26); Olive (Bell) Lawson (’19)

Olivia Murdoch

Sandra Spry (’59)

Margery Austin (’26); Olive (Bell) Lawson (’19)

Barbara Boynton (’73)

Lisa Hinrichsen (’83)

Jill Smith (’55)

Jack Nagel

Christie Gronow (’97)

Giselle Upton

Lisa Hinrichsen (’83)

Jill Smith (’55)

Olivia Nagel

Christie Gronow (’97)

Mia Upton

Lisa Hinrichsen (’83)

Jill Smith (’55)

Olivia Nash

Abbey Blackshaw (’93)

Alexandra Webster

Chloe Nevins

Simone Willis (’91)

Great Grandmother

Elizabeth Gillon (’67)

Claudia Perkins

Claudia Richardson

Carol Kimpton (’67)

Grandmother

Elizabeth Gillon (’67)

Zara Peele

Jenny Home (’52)

Mia Lansell

Coco Christian

Milla Cohen

Evie Joseph

Ava Lansell

Margaret Anderson AM (’39)

Great Grandmother

Pamela Rome (’63)

Zara Bongiorno

0404 584 412 stephanieclazar@hotmail.com

(All mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers are listed by maiden name) Child

Isabelle Fortey

Grandmother

THE BULLETIN

Jill Warnock (’46)

Alison May (’46)

Pia Zayontz

Anna Davis (’87)

Sara Zayontz

Anna Davis (’87)

St Catherine’s News Spring 2017

S t C a t h e r i n e ’s O l d G i r l s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n

Weddings

Jo Pizzey (’96) married Michael Malyniak on 4 March 2017 in the Fitzroy Gardens. Left to right: Tina Lindhal, Michael Malyniak, Jo Malyniak (Pizzey ’96), Georgie Lazer (Lazarus ’96).

Emma Stuart (’01) married Philip Brooks on 24 February 2017 in her parents’ garden at Portsea. Left to right: Anna Konieczny, Polly Viska (’01), Charlotte Biggart (’01), Philip Brooks, Emma Stuart (’01), Skye Stuart (’02), Emma Guthrie (’01).

Lindy Shelmerdine (’80) married David Moffatt on 17 March 2016 on the beach at Sorrento.

Babies 2. Arthur Burge West, a son for Penrose (Burge ’03) and Edward West. A brother for Clementine; 3. Harry Thomas Fenwick, a son for Edwina (Thomas ’03) and Ryan Fenwick;

4. Hugh Archibald Nunn, a son for Natalie (Simpson ‘02) and Andrew Nunn; 5. Henry James Olsen Norman, a son for Phoebe (Olsen ’95) and Stuart Norman. A brother for Georgia; 6. Billy Thomas Speer, a son for Camilla (Deague ’02) and Nick Speer. A brother for Henry; 7. Edward Frank Skopal, a son for Fiona Clemens (’96) and Richard Skopal. A brother for Molly, Hugo and Angus; 8. Olivia Ann Denham, a daughter for Anna Crameri (’00) and Bradd Denham;

Vale & Obituaries

Michael Bond (Retired staff member & Honorary Old Girl)

Helen McIlwraith (Fowler ’38)

Kathleen Rankin (’35)

Jill McKenzie (Currie ’51)

Julie Smythe-King (Willder ’78)

Jill Boynton (Warnock ’46)

Annie O’Brien (Moylan ’97)

Jean Stewart (’39)

Barbara Hadley (Bayston ’51)

Avril Rainford (Goldstone ’46)

Janet Webb (Alstergren ’62)

Barbara Hadley (Bayston ’51)

Deirdre Drummond (Candy ’70)

Julie Smyth-King (Willder ’78)

Minnie Law (’83)

Barbara was a day girl except for one year, 1942, when the School was evacuated to Warburton. In every letter home, she was concerned about the lack of toothpaste!

Deirdre Jane Drummond was born in Warrnambool in 1953 and attended St Catherine’s as a boarder in 1965, joining her sister Vivienne. She loved school, participating in both sporting and academic pursuits. Deirdre was also a member of the senior hockey team, a School Prefect and Captain of Langley in 1970.

With much sadness, Julie passed away on 26 April 2017, the victim of a cruel brain tumour. Julie was the loving wife of Eugene, and the devoted mother of a 13-year-old daughter Victoria. She was also the loving sister of Susan Mavridis (Willder ’74) and loving aunt to her niece Annabel Willder (’09).

Minnie passed away unexpectedly and prematurely in March.

Barbara was in Langley House, became a School Prefect and was goalie in the 1951 unbeaten and winning hockey team.

1. Annabel Grace Nelson, a daughter for Caroline Ray (’97) and Andrew Nelson;

9. Parker Jon Smith, a son for Jane (Willersdorf ’02) and Jon Smith. A brother for Grace; 10. Posey Ann Phoebe Syme, a daughter for Phoebe (Vile ’96) and Andrew Syme. A sister for Albert; 11 Emelia Lilian Clark, a daughter for Monique Watson (’10) and Stuart Clark. A sister for Oliver; 12. Grace Elizabeth Carah, a daughter for Catherine (Hutton ’04) and Alex Carah;

Barbara began nursing at Royal Melbourne Hospital but left to marry and go to England where Hugh completed his postgraduate medical degree. They had two daughters and spent many years travelling the world, enabling them to visit every country. Barbara was a volunteer guide at the National Gallery of Victoria for 32 years, President of the guides for two years and also a Tapestry Workshop guide. She was on the committee of the Performing Arts Museum and a member of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria, where she specialised in lace making and cross-stitch.

14. Theodore Harry Nethersole, a son for Julia Brukner (’02) and Samuel Nethersole;

In between all her volunteer work, Barbara found time to be everybody’s friend and a proud grandmother to five grandchildren.

15. Violet Anne Ardlie, a daughter for Amy (Bell ’98) and Davin Ardlie. A sister for Heidi and Albert;

Wendy Hampel (’51)

13. Harriet Peggy Rose Speer, a daughter for Francesca Carter (’05) and Charles Speer;

16. Wilfred Harry Love Dehlsen, a son for Lizzie Cantor (’96) and Tom Dehlsen. A brother for Archie.

THE BULLETIN

After leaving school, Deirdre travelled the world, returning to Melbourne to study nursing. She worked at Malvern Private Hospital as a theatre nurse for many years. In 1981, she married Michael Drummond and they settled in South Yarra. Following their retirement, travel became a major focus. They both had a keen interest in art collection and antiques. Deirdre died at home after battling cancer for many years. Her entertaining stories and quick wit remained with her until the end. She will be sadly missed by many friends here and overseas, in particular her life-long School friends. Barbara O’Brien (Whiting ’70) and Sarah Fulford (’70)

We all remember Julie as energetic and bright, playful, with a keen sense of adventure, full of fun and life, a positive and free spirit with a sense of responsibility. She made friends easily and maintained many long and loyal friendships. Julie was intelligent, humorous, mischievous and an extremely talented musician, playing the first violin in the String Quartet. She was a wonderful member of the School community and the St Catherine’s class of 1978, being the beloved Vice-Captain of the School that year. After school days she became first violin of the Petra String Quartet (a most prestigious quartet) and also a member of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Julie will be remembered as a precious gem and sadly missed by the Class of 1978 and everyone who knew and loved her. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, particularly her husband Eugene, daughter Victoria, sister Sue and brother Andrew. Prue Milne (’78) and Susan Mavridis (Willder ’74)

Minnie attended St Catherine’s from Prep to Year 12. She loved St Catherine’s, was an excellent student, brilliant sportswoman and extraordinarily popular. These qualities led to her being elected School Captain, and, in that role, she set the benchmark for leadership. After school Minnie studied Arts at The University of Melbourne and then Marketing. Her incredible work ethic and high standards, which were a hallmark of her life, led to a very successful career that she loved as a Market Researcher and Brand Scientist. Minnie was small of stature, but had a huge impact upon everyone she met. She was passionate, hilarious, determined, caring and an amazing friend to so many. So loving, and equally loved, she leaves behind a huge legacy of friends who miss her incredibly. Above all, Minnie’s greatest passion was family – the one she grew up in and the one she created. She leaves behind her loving husband, Steve Hoban, and her greatest source of joy in life, her two daughters Emma (11) and Zahra (9). She was an extraordinary mother. There is a big hole in so many lives with Minnie not being here, but wonderful memories of a life lived to the full, will be with us forever. We love you Minnie. Sarah Dahlenburg (’83)

www.stcatherines.net.au 17 Heyington Place, Toorak

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Victoria, Australia 3142

@stcatherinesschool

T +61 3 9822 1285 E info@stcatherines.net.au CRICOS 00574F ABN 90 004 251 816

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