Incorporating the Old Girls’ Bulletin
AUTUMN 2016
CONTENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
02 Leadership
Open Mornings Bookings: 03 9828 3071 admissions@stcatherine.net.au Thursday 28 April Thursday 9 June Thursday 25 August Thursday 20 October 9.00am start
04 Year 12 Results 06 History Making in our Rowing 08 School Captains 10 Early Learning Centre 12 Junior School 14 16 17
Senior School Aristotle Emotional Intelligence Program The Necessity of Good Thinking
18 Leading the Way 20 Student Perspectives 22 St Catherine’s History – The first six decades 24 Are you Paying attention? 25 Confucius Classroom 26 Staff Profiles 28 The Colours of Leadership 29 Boarding: New Transitions 30 Philanthropy 32 120 Celebration Ball 34 Our Community 36 Archives 37 The Bulletin
Performing Arts Senior School Production – Sweet Charity Thursday 28 April Friday 29 April 7.00pm Saturday 30 April, 5.00pm 120 Celebration Art Exhibition Opening (ELC to Year 12) Dorothy Pizzey Centre Friday 9 September, 6.00pm 120 Celebration Gala Concert Tuesday 13 September 7.00pm Melbourne Recital Centre Junior School Concert Thursday 24 November Community Events Sports Auxiliary Film Night Wednesday 27 April PFA Ruth Langley Luncheon Friday 20 May Snowsports Swap Sunday 22 May 120 Celebration Past Staff Lunch Mary Davis Centre Saturday 10 September
SCOGA Events International SCOGA Reunions Tuesday 21 June 2016 London Old Girl Reunion Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, London, UK 20 Year Class Reunion – 1996 Friday 15 April 2016 Year Reps – Twilight Tour and Reception Tuesday 3 May 2016 Drawing Room at 6.00pm 30 Year Class Reunion – 1986 Friday 13 May 2016 40 Year Class Reunion – 1976 Saturday 14 May 2016 120 Celebration Boarder’s Reunion Saturday 21 May 2016 Mary Davis Centre Café, 2.30pm 25 Year Class Reunion – 1991 Friday 2 September 2016 Five Year Class Reunion – 2011 Friday 7 October 2016 Pre 1957 Luncheon Friday 21 October 2016 12.00pm – 2.00pm 50 Year Class Reunion – 1966 Saturday 22 October 2016 SCOGA AGM Saturday 26 November 2016 10.00am For the latest St Catherine’s news and regular updates visit www.stcatherines.net.au
connecting our community Editor Ms Isabel Toland and Mrs Petalyn Holloway Assistant Editors Ms Narda Edmondson, Mrs Jodie Naismith and Ms Meredith Taylor Cover photo St Catherine’s Archive Department Professional Photographers Joe Vittorio 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 Deborah Berry (Manos ’77) The Bulletin Assistant Editor Stephanie Lazar (John ’86) Design Four Creative Print RA Printing This publication is printed on Pacesetter Laser. It is made from elemental chlorine free bleached pulp which is sourced from ‘Farmed Trees’ and other sustainably managed sources. It is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.
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
St Catherine’s now offers a number of social media platforms to connect with our community and discover the latest news.
“ 2016 is an exciting year for our School community as St Catherine’s celebrates 120 years since
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our Founding Principal, Miss Jeanie Hood, opened the doors to a girls’ school in Castlemaine.
@stcatherinesschool
Miss Hood’s personal credo in 1896 ‘we aim at turning out not only students but girls gifted
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mentally, morally and physically to be the women of the future,’ is a vision we continue to
Join the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) closed group page on LinkedIn. This page is set up for Old Girls to communicate, network and hear about upcoming alumnae events. Once you are a member you can then share with other Old Girls in your LinkedIn network.
This year St Catherine’s School celebrates 120 years of empowering and nurturing women of the future.
realise 120 years on.” Mrs Michelle Carroll ~ Principal
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LEADERSHIP
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
School Council Endorses Teachers “Teaching facilitates learning, the most challenging, exciting, expansive and complex cognitive activity known to humankind.”
Thus begins Mr Adrian Puckering, St Catherine’s Director of Curriculum Innovation and Development’s, article in St Catherine’s professional learning publication, Conscientia, volume two, 2015. Mr Puckering’s article outlines his travel to four European teaching and learning conferences last year, including meeting with Sir Ken Robinson, famous for his TED Talks, attending the Digital Education Show at London’s Olympia, and a keynote presentation on technology which included a session on Technology, Innovation, Design and Engineering (TIDE), much of which has been incorporated in the St Catherine’s curriculum. During the EDULEARN15 Conference which Mr Puckering also attended in Barcelona, Professor Donald Clark discussed virtual reality in the classroom as a learning activity. The core business of St Catherine’s is teaching and learning. It is the teachers that define the fabric of our School through their commitment to the learning and academic care of our students. The St Catherine’s School Council is committed to the development of our teachers, as showcased by our Teacher Fellowship. This Fellowship will offer grants, designed to support staff undertaking further study, or
to fund travel and approved expenses for exchanges or overseas conferences. The express intent of the Fellowship is to continually strengthen the learning environment and learning outcomes of our students. The School Council is committed to rewarding outstanding teachers with opportunities to continue to develop their learning and experiences outside the classroom. During her Speech Night address, 2015 School Captain, Nicola Sitch, spoke of the “St Catherine’s fortitude.” Nicola credits this fortitude to the close friendships made during her time at St Catherine’s, as well as the “unspeakable commitment” of all the staff at the School who demonstrate a “sense of profound and mutual respect.” Jaquelin Cantarella, 2015 Vice Captain supports Nicola’s sentiment commenting during her Speech Night address that “the devotion and pride in their students, and passion for education [shine].” Head of Performing Arts at St Catherine’s, Mr James Brown’s response, regarding highlights for the Drama Department, epitomise the enthusiasm of School staff, he writes “Drama at St Catherine’s has seen a steady
5.7% increase in awesomeness across the past five years, culminating in an 8.4% jump in 2015. Audiences came away from St Catherine’s performances roughly one third more satisfied when compared to any other performance.” Mr Brown concluded his summary with “alas, 48% of statistics are made up.”
‘For the two – past and present – are irrevocably joined together ’ Miss Jeanie Hood
Founding Principal Miss Hood of St Catherine’s School, then known as Castlemaine Ladies’ College, is quoted as saying, “Without an intelligent knowledge of the past, can the present be rightly understood? For the two – past and present – are irrevocably joined together.”
Whilst this might just be the case, these figures genuinely express the respect the students have for their teachers. Jaquelin sums up by saying, “Girls, we are extremely lucky to have such generous, supportive and dedicated teachers – to all the staff, I cannot express my gratitude enough for always seeing the potential in each of us and fostering an environment in which we can maximise this potential.”
This sentiment encapsulates much of what we are celebrating in 2016, our 120th year. We reflect and pay respect to the vision and dedication of Miss Hood, who dedicated herself to nurturing and educating young girls in regional Victoria. One can only imagine the thoughts of Miss Hood as she stood on Templeton Street, Castlemaine, 120 years ago and opened the School gates for the very first time. Little did Miss Hood know that she was building a School recognised today as a leader in girls’ education across Australia.
Mr Puckering concludes his article in Conscientia by saying: “Although perhaps seemingly contradictory, one of the very many upsides of teaching is in fact the opportunity to keep on learning.”
A visionary leader and contemporary educator of her time, Miss Hood’s aspiration for her School was to develop “not only students, but girls gifted mentally, morally and physically to be the women of the future.”
As a Council we thank St Catherine’s teaching staff for their commitment to our students and trust the Fellowship will assist them.
I have always thought great schools are a reflection of great teaching and in my many conversations with St Catherine’s Old Girls, I have been delighted to learn of the teachers who have been instrumental in shaping St Catherine’s girls over the past 120 years.
Mrs Clare Cannon (Darling ’77) Chair of Council
One Old Girl spoke of the influence of Mrs Julie Johns who taught at St Catherine’s from 1978 to 1999.
“I always believed I was not a gifted English student. I had Mrs Johns for the last three years of School and she encouraged, challenged, and taught me to think it through and try harder. She believed in me a lot more than I believed in myself. I did well in English in the end because of her dedication.” Or more recently, the impact of Ms Kristy Forrest, our current Literature, English and Philosophy teacher recognised by a current Year 12 student: “Miss Forrest can see the flame in her students when they are passionate, supporting them wholeheartedly in following what they want to do.”
Socrates – a chain of three enormously influential men, more than two millennia ago, laid the foundations of Western Philosophy and Science. As history demonstrates, educators who maintain an acute interest and belief in their students, who inspire, uplift and challenge their students, can shape the future. St Catherine’s is home to magnificent teachers who share these same qualities – activating change and driving enhanced student learning. This year, our educational focus is “Know Thy Impact” coined from the research undertaken by Professor John Hattie at Melbourne University and current Chair of the Australian Institute of School Leaders and Teachers (AITSL). Hattie reminds us “it is incumbent upon us, as teachers, to take on a mindset that we as educators can effect change.”
Teachers are instrumental in shaping students. Many teachers play vastly under-recognised roles in setting high achievers on their paths. Computer revolutionary Bill Gates, known for dropping out of Harvard, claims of his school Mathematics and Drama teachers, “There’s no way there would have been a Microsoft without what they did.”
Over our 120 year history, St Catherine’s has educated generations of remarkable young women and, as our School’s future unfolds, we recognise that our success is contained in respect for our past. As we celebrate this magnificent milestone, I would like to think Miss Hood would be proud to witness the success of our students and the commitment of our teachers.
The influence teachers have on their pupils has shaped Western civilisation. Aristotle himself was a pupil of Plato, who had been taught by
Mrs Michelle Carroll Principal
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
VICTORIAN OFFERS BY COURSE INTEREST AREA 2015/16
Year 12 Results
Architecture/ Environments Interior Design Creative Arts (Professional Comm, Advertising/Media, Design) Engineering (with commerce) Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Medicine ICT/Computer Science
The significant leadership and commitment to academic excellence of our 2015 Year 12 students has been a proud and uplifting narrative for St Catherine’s School. The Year 12 cohort of 2015 continued our School’s excellent tradition of academic success with outstanding performances across a wide range of subjects. As a School, we are extremely
Commerce, Business, Accounting, Marketing, PR, Events, Economics Science/Biomedicine Society and Culture (Arts, Law)
proud of all their achievements. Our class of 2015 were frequently described as cohesive, creative and enthusiastic. Their outstanding academic results completed a fulfilling year for the girls. Their willingness to uphold the School Values of Integrity, Curiosity, Perseverance and Empathy culminated in the following exceptional results: 9.5% achieved ATAR scores of 99 and above which places them in the top 1% of the State; 28% achieved ATAR scores of 95 and above which places them in the top 5% of the State; 53% achieved ATAR scores of 90 and above which places them in the top 10% of the State; 77% achieved ATAR scores of 80 and above which places them in top 20% of the State. • Study Scores of 45 or above (top 2% of State) were attained in 60% of the subjects taught at St Catherine’s School: Biology, Business Management, Chemistry, Economics, English, English as an Additional Language, History: Revolutions, Literature, Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods (CAS), Media, Physical Education, Global Politics, Studio Arts and Visual Communication Design. • Perfect Study Scores of 50 were achieved in 24% of subjects taught at St Catherine’s School: English, History: Revolutions, Specialist Mathematics, Physical Education, Global Politics and Studio Arts. • 100% of international students received a tertiary offer in Victoria in the early round of offers.
• 100% of domestic students were offered tertiary places in Victoria during the main round of offers.
St Catherine’s 2015 Dux
• Nine girls were also offered an additional place for a course in Victoria during the second round of offers.
Congratulations to Zhihui (Jennifer) Wang, our 2015 Dux. Jennifer achieved a perfect ATAR score of 99.95; one of only 35 students in Victoria to do so.
A number of our students applied interstate to either Bond University, Sydney University or Australian National University. All were offered a place, and most have accepted these and will be studying interstate. Courses being studied range from Bachelors of Philosophy, Media and Communications, Architecture, Hotel and Tourism Management, Law/ Politics, Philosophy and Economics, flexible double degrees incorporating Commerce, Arts or Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Jennifer achieved a perfect study score of 50 in Specialist Mathematics and was placed in the top 2% in the State for Biology, Chemistry and English as an Additional Language. As a Year 11 student in 2014, Jennifer was also in the top 2% of the State in Mathematical Methods and Music Performance.
Within Victoria we have one student successfully placed in Medicine and Surgery at Monash and another who will commence a cadetship with Ernst and Young, while she is studying Commerce at the University of Melbourne majoring in Accounting. Our largest interest area was in Business and Commerce related courses. We also had an increase in girls enrolling in male dominated fields of ICT, Engineering and Construction. Ten girls were offered places in degrees with honours or masters and over 30% of the girls were offered places in double degrees. During the application and change of preference cycle, a number of girls looked specifically at the opportunities available for work placements and
IBL (industry based learning) in their course preferences, as well as opportunities to participate in study abroad options.
VICTORIAN OFFERS BY UNIVERSITY 2015/16
There are several girls being offered scholarships based on their academic results, and because they have selected male dominated courses, or to assist with accommodation costs at college.
“I was so pleased to receive this result. I could not have achieved this without the academic, emotional and social support from my teachers and fellow students at St Catherine’s,” Jennifer said.
I am also very pleased to report one of our students, who had commenced a business traineeship with St Catherine’s School in 2015, has continued along this path and is now working full time in real estate. Our 2015 Year 12 graduates have paved a range of pathways for themselves. For each of the girls they are beginning to understand the individual journey they will take and have made some very informed and sound decisions that will position themselves with wonderful opportunities in their first chapter of ‘life beyond the gates at Heyington Place.’ Mrs Pauline van der Poel Careers Practitioner
William Angliss Deakin University Latrobe University Monash University RMIT Swinburne University University of Melbourne
“After undertaking work experience in Year 10 with an anaesthetist I was determined to study medicine. Now, I am excited to study Biomedicine at Melbourne University.” “The careers guidance, mentoring and skill development provided at St Catherine’s greatly assisted me to select subjects that would allow me to reach my goal of studying medicine,” said Jennifer. Jennifer’s genuine interest and motivation in her studies, and her ability to demonstrate maturity and independence to enhance and perfect her work is a credit to her.
Jennifer took on an accelerated course of study and completed VCE Mathematical Methods and Music Solo a year ahead. In 2013 she was made a Kwong Lee Dow Scholar, by The University of Melbourne. This is only given to high achieving students in Victorian schools. Jennifer also gained High Distinctions in the Australian Mathematics Competition and the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians, as well as gaining a distinction in the Australian National Chemistry Quiz. With a strong commitment to her academic programs Jennifer was also involved in a range of co-curricular activities including Music and as International Captain. “Jennifer made a substantial contribution to the co-curricular life of our School and was instrumental in building a sense of spirit and connection amongst all the international students during her time as International Captain. She is a highly motivated young woman and we wish her every success as she commences her tertiary studies,” says Ms Jeannette Gunn, 2015 Dean of Year 12.
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Making History
at the Australian National Rowing Championships
“The Boynton”
The “Geraldine Ilott”
Coach: Sarah Banting and Ben Burger
Coach: Will Bernard and John Saunders
Cox: Georgia Bickford
Cox: Adelaide Cester
Bridget Lieberman Danae Barbayannis Eliza O’Donnell
Annie Anezakis Georgie Gleeson Sasha Christian Elsa Robertson
India Watson
Gretel Newton Brown
Georgina Cheale
Lulu Gibson
Georgia Deacon
Alexandra Stopp
Sarah Fenton
Frances Curtis
Julia Rossi
The 2015/2016 Rowing season for St Catherine’s School resulted in great successes for our crews and our Rowing program. Our two Senior VIII Crews made history at the Australian Open Schools Rowing Championships in Sydney with our Boynton Crew winning bronze in the Schoolgirls Coxed VIII Sprint Final and The Geraldine Ilott Crew securing first place, wining gold in the Schoolgirls Coxed VIII, Sydney Cup A Final. THE BOYNTON In the first ever National Sprint Championships, held over 500ms. The Boynton recorded the first ever national medal to be awarded to a St Catherine’s School second VIII. The Boynton had a fantastic week, seeing their best racing. During their heat and repechage they were just over a second from qualifying from the A/B semi-finals. They then showed their true character by racing with seven rowers in the C Final due to injury. In the C final, with seven rowers they held contact with the field for 1500ms before only losing a handful of seconds to the other crews. All the girls supported each other and put out their best efforts which we are very proud of. This was an amazing campaign for The Boynton. THE GERALDINE For the first time in history, St Catherine’s School are the National Champions of the Schoolgirl Coxed VIII of Australia. Winners of the trophy named the Sydney Cup. Throughout the week The Geraldine had their best efforts on display. The regatta centre was talking about their intensity off the start, as well as the excitement they generated as a crew. They won their heat in style, then progressed to be
Founded in 1987, the St Catherine’s Rowing Club has enjoyed an illustrious history. Since its inception the program has quickly become one of the largest and most successful in the country. With one of the most experienced groups of coaches on the river bank, St Catherine’s Rowing provides holistic training to all our members. The team of coaches work with the girls to realise the Rowing Club Mission to ‘strive for success by achieving personal best’.
beaten in their semi-final to come second yet still qualify for the A Final. However the girls of The Geraldine, as well as the coaches, knew they were ready for the peak performance in the Final. The girls prepared themselves absolutely and were ready to race mentally, physically, technically and tactically. They blasted off the start to an early lead which they held for the full race, racing with pride, despite late challenges from silver and bronze medal winning crews. Post-race the girls demonstrated respect to their competitors and enjoyed the win like the professionals they are. Along with the exceptional results at the Rowing Championships the season provided challenges and rewards for all involved in our Rowing program. During the off season, the coaching teams completed development programs allowing them to successfully continue to foster a positive environment while also developing improved racing performances of all the crews. Rowing participants demonstrated substantial growth in their technical, physical, mental and tactical abilities throughout the season. The hard work and dedication shown by the St Catherine’s coaches and rowers has resulted in a number of successes during the season. The Junior Squad won gold in their Division 1, 5 and 6, A Finals at the Head of Schoolgirls Regatta, with the Intermediate Squad also seeing great successes throughout the season with regatta wins and a Bronze medal for the Year 10 1st Division Crew at Head of the Schoolgirls. We look forward to another successful Rowing season in 2016/2017. Mr David Fraumano Head Rowing Coach
The accomplishments of the Junior and Senior Squads during the 2015/2016 Season have truly been the result of a team effort. The St Catherine’s School rowers and coaches along with the wider Rowing community continue to be ambassadors of the School values in every respect. Thanks again to all St Catherine’s School students, parents, teachers and staff for their support of the Rowing Program.
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Senior School Captains
Junior School Captains
ELIZABETH BOLT SCHOOL CAPTAIN CLARE CAMERON SCHOOL VICE CAPTAIN
DAISY TURNBULL JUNIOR SCHOOL CAPTAIN CLEMENTINE SITCH JUNIOR SCHOOL VICE CAPTAIN
SENIOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS 2016
What are some of the duties you will take on in your roles? Elizabeth: Clare and I are very passionate about St Catherine’s, so our responsibilities, regarding the welcoming of new girls, and the planning of social events throughout the year, will definitely be met with enthusiasm. Most of all, we are looking forward to new friendships formed with girls across the Year levels. Our positions give us a unique chance to do this. Clare: The role of Vice Captain provides a great opportunity to work across the School to awaken all the girls’ personal leadership skills and nurture a foundation of School pride and guidance. Furthermore, the role allows a connection with girls across all Year levels from Senior to Junior where every connection is valuable. What attracted you to a position on the Student Executive? Elizabeth: I always admired the members of the Student Executive as I progressed through the Senior School. I admired how they talked to the nervous girl at lunch, organised fun lunchtime activities involving the whole School, or entertained us with stories and jokes as we walked down the corridors. However, as much as I wanted to be a leader of the School, I did not think I could be one until I returned from my trip to the Global Young Leaders Conference. Organised through St Catherine’s, this trip sent me to the United States to meet with other leaders from countries like Kenya, Argentina, Palestine and The Bahamas. There, I felt I had developed the skills necessary to become a member of the General Committee, and was where I really felt the pull to become a School leader. Clare: Spending my impressionable teenage years at St Catherine’s, surrounded by confident and empowered female role models, has shaped me as a leader and provided me with a thirst to
reach my greatest potential. Thus, a place on the Student Executive was a platform where I could communicate the positive message of what it is to be a St Catherine’s girl and furthermore pass on advice to other girls in their younger years. What makes a good leader? Elizabeth: I do not believe there is one outstanding characteristic uniting all leaders. Leaders are too varied to group in both purpose and execution. However, good leaders do all have a unifying quality, and that is kindness. It was my Dad who first told me you could have the right idea, the right materials and the right plan to make a difference in the world, but unless you have kindness, who is going to follow you? Clare: Above all a leader must be a good listener. It is a skill that is commonly overlooked and undervalued yet I believe it shapes personal leadership. True leadership is to serve others. Is there a high profile or community leader that you admire? Elizabeth: There are inspiring and courageous leaders I admire from all around the world for a myriad of reasons. I admire Sheryl Sandberg for her kindness and grit, Daniel Flynn for showing me where hard work and a kind idea can get you, and Usain Bolt for making some people believe I can run fast by relation! However I believe the two most inspiring people I have ever met would be my parents. Mum has an enormous heart and incredible motivation that I am astounded by every day, and Dad has courage and confidence I could only dream of. My parents lead by example, and I think doing so makes it easier for me to be the best version of myself I can be. Clare: Recently, I was fortunate enough to listen to a home grown Melbournian Holly Ransom.
Her career as chief of staff for Rio Tinto CEO of Emergent Solutions and her personal appointment by the Prime Minister of Australia to chair the G20 Youth Summit, equipped Holly with a fearless attitude and allowed her to make a positive impact. Moreover, her consistent promotion of female empowerment through her charitable actions and, a notable presence in the corporate world, has made a genuine influence I strongly admire. How would you like to be remembered as student leaders of St Catherine’s? Elizabeth: I have been so fortunate to have had such an extraordinary education at St Catherine’s, my only wish is to allow someone else the opportunity to enjoy it as much as I did. I would like to end the year having inspired at least one girl to pick up a pen and sign up for something that scares her. Debating, Sports, Music, Drama, Environment, Camp, Duke of Ed, Community Service, the Musical – as long as she finds it surprisingly enjoyable. I hope to be remembered as a student leader who inspired students to make the most of their incredible opportunities at St Catherine’s School, and if I am remembered as such, I will feel I have fulfilled my role as School Captain. Clare: Elizabeth and I hope to present as approachable role models to all the girls at School. We aim to be leaders who actively strive to maintain the School as a place where you are a part of a supportive community that encourages your individuality. Our aim in 2016 is to inspire girls to strive to be confident, motivated and thoughtful, to recognise their own abilities and respect others – that is the legacy we hope to leave.
How were you chosen for your roles? Daisy: In 2015 everyone who was interested in being School Captain had to write a letter to Mrs Moor explaining why they would be a good School Captain. In my letter I explained I wanted to be a good role model to the younger students and help them. We also had to deliver a speech to Year levels and then the teachers and students voted. Clementine: The process to be chosen was really interesting. We first wrote a letter to Mrs Moor outlining our reasons for being a worthwhile Captain. We were then required to write a speech on the topic of ‘my most interesting journey’ and deliver this to various Year levels in the Junior School. Following this the vote occurred. What was it like to be elected? Daisy: When I was younger I wanted to be Captain of my House, Davis. However, as I grew older I realised I did not want to only help my House but the whole Junior School. I was really happy and proud when I heard I was elected! Over summer I thought more about my new position and became really excited to start School. I am excited to be School Captain in this especially because it is St Catherine’s 120th anniversary. Clementine: It was the most amazing day. Mrs Moor announced the leadership positions to us at the end of the School year in 2015. After my initial excitement I used the holidays to think about how I would approach speaking in Assembly each week and our planning meetings with Mrs Moor. I decided I need to speak slower and more clearly in Assemblies – so far I have achieved this so I am really proud. What do you enjoy most about being a Barbreck Captain? Daisy: I really enjoy speaking at School Assembly and assisting Mrs Moor with the tasks she assigns to the Captains. So far however, the biggest highlight has been our School Church Service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Clementine and I,
as Junior School Captains, were part of the formal procession which was a big responsibility. Clementine: I enjoy the planning time we have with Mrs Moor, outlining the weekly activities. Having the opportunity to have this level of responsibility and involvement into the planning of our Junior School is such an honour.
School Captain
Elizabeth Bolt
School Vice Captain
Clare Cameron
Student Executives
Annie Anezakis Elizabeth Bolt Clare Cameron Elysée Dubois Sofiya Hay Amelia McDonald
Boarding Captains
Morgan O’Brien Ruyi Zheng
What are you looking forward to in your roles this year? Daisy: The Fundraising Day later in the year will be a lot of fun. It will be great to plan the day with the other Year 6 students and raise money for a worthy cause.
Art and Design
Coco Burrell Imogen Chandulal
Community Service
Eliza O’Donnell
Debating
Sofiya Hay
Drama
Frances Curtis
Duke of Edinburgh
Katherine Zhao
Environment
Madeline Mills
Clementine: Daisy and I are both really looking forward to organising the Fundraising Day later in the year. This has been something I have looked forward to as I approached Year 6. I am also looking forward to helping all the students in Barbreck and being a positive role model.
International
Cynthia Jiang
Magazine
Grace Nicolas
Music
Ruby Smith (Choral)
Spirit & Wellbeing
Serena Clark
What are some of the qualities that a good leader should have? Daisy: Good leaders need to be sympathetic, understanding and non-judgemental. It is really important also to be a role model by having integrity to do the right thing, always.
Sport
Georgie Gleeson
Clementine: The School Values of Integrity, Curiosity, Perseverance and Empathy are important qualities to have as a leader. It is essential that both Daisy and I always set the right example. What makes St Catherine’s such a great school to attend? Daisy: There are always students and teachers to support you. There is always a friendly face and it is never lonely, it really feels like a big family community. Clementine: Our School is so warm and welcoming. If a student needs a friend or some support there is always so many students willing to help. The teachers always provide advice and guidance and everyone is so friendly.
Katherine Yuan (Instrumental)
Ella Swann House Captains: Beaulieu Blair
Georgia Bickford
House Captains: Davis
Danae Barbayannis
House Captains: Holmes Kilbride
Annie Anezakis
House Captains: Langley Templeton
Elysée Dubois
Amelia McDonald Brooke Maat Madeleine Baker Hannah Wentworth
BARBRECK LEADERSHIP POSITIONS 2016
Barbreck School Captain Daisy Turnbull Barbreck Vice Captain
Clementine Sitch
Barbreck Music Captains
Jariyan Patel
House Captains: Beaulieu Blair
Emma Froomes
House Captains: Davis
Sienna Gracanin
House Captains: Holmes Kilbride
Maggie Dryden
House Captains: Langley Templeton
Arabella Hall
Megan Chang Zara Bongiorno Sarah Marriott Adelaide Mitchell Pippa Shergold
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ELC
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Play, Learn, Grow Play fosters creativity, imagination, social connections, intellect and learned behaviours.
Author of Environment and Urbanisation, Sheridan Bartlett (1999, Sage Publications) defines play as “passionately engaging in the surrounding world through “exploration, manipulation, physical exuberance, experimentation and pretence, either alone or with others.” Bartlett goes on to call play a “basic human drive” which is fundamental to development. These claims are supported by information in neuropsychology and psychopharmacology which indicates that “distinct changes in the brain occur as a result of play” the results of which are specifically important in early childhood. Play is so essential it is included in Article 31 of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which identifies it is not only a right for children to be engaged in play, but also a matter of equal opportunity for all children. The outdoor environment has so much more to offer than physical benefits. Cognitive and social/ emotional development are enhanced through children’s immersion in a range of engaging outdoor learning experiences. Communication skills and vocabulary are developed, as children invent their own games with their own rules. Social skills of cooperation, organisation and decision making are formulated as children create roles during their play with friends. Allowing children to make their own independent use of thought provoking, open-ended spaces and materials promotes agency and risk-taking. The Early Learning Framework for Australia states outdoor environments should support all aspects of children’s learning and invite conversations between children, early childhood educators, families and the broader community. It should promote opportunities for sustained shared thinking and collaborative learning. Nature based experiences, equipment and resources empower children to develop a love
for the beauty and wonder of the outdoors. Aesthetic presentations of these materials in the outdoor environment engages children’s senses and creates opportunities for everyday discoveries. The educators of Reggio Emilia in Italy have attained world renowned respect for the aesthetic elements of their learning environments. Their approach invites children to investigate, using the natural world’s beautiful sights, sounds and textures. As educators in the ELC, we take inspiration from this approach and embed its ethos in our planning and implementation of our outdoor program. The redevelopment of the ELC playground this year will be a shining example of our School’s endorsement of the importance of high quality outdoor play. The innovative design will create a more natural, inviting play area for our children which will promote sustainable practices and connections to the natural world. It will provide spaces encouraging fantasy and imagination, using natural amphitheatres and performance areas for Drama, Music, role play and opportunities for adventure. Children will explore high structures, uneven surfaces, ropes, boulders and logs. Children will be provided with loose parts and materials for the purpose of cubby building and imaginary worlds. Gathering and collecting rocks, leaves, seeds, cones, sticks and pebbles will be encouraged. The new playspace will include enclosed and hidden niches for retreat and social interaction. We look forward to unveiling the new playground in the coming months and providing our young learners with an enhanced learning environment. Mrs Alana Moor Head of Early Learning Centre and Junior School
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JUNIOR SCHOOL
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Primary Connections Enhancing our Junior School’s existing Creativity in Science and Technology (CREST) activities – a program that encourages students to design and implement their own scientific investigations – the Primary Connections Program was introduced in the Prep to Year 6 curriculum. Primary Connections is a partnership between the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Government. The program develops students’ knowledge, skills, understanding and capacities in both Science and Literacy. Primary Connections is a teaching and learning model based on the five Es: engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. With each Primary Connections Science Unit the student’s curiosity and wonderings have fuelled a quest to ask big and deep questions about why and how things are. These wonderings and questions have motivated and inspired them to explore and test their understandings through hands-on experiments in the classroom and outdoors. During Year 1 students engage with the Science Schoolyard Safari, increasing their appreciation of how we are all part of a single, complex ecological system. Students are encouraged to become ‘little entomologists’ observing animal features, behaviours, habitats and groupings and understanding new words and concepts. We observe the life cycle of silkworms and have been fortunate enough to witness the entire cycle, from hatching to laying the eggs. This topic has been a favourite amongst the Year 1 students as they learn to understand the importance of caring for these small animals while they watch each amazing stage. The Year 2 Unit Watch It Grow, engenders much interest and enthusiasm every year. Students
compare and contrast observations of how they have changed since they were babies allowing them to compare the life stage of other insects through experiments which explore the optimum conditions for the growth and development of mealworms. The Year 3 Science Unit Night and Day, allows our girls to enjoy exploring and expanding their understanding of a wide range of topics such as the creation of night and day and seasons through the interactions of the sun, earth and moon, living and non-living things and heating and freezing points. Students’ enthusiasm with these topics is fuelled through hands-on experiments in the classroom and outside, such as tracing shadows to demonstrate the changing position of the sun and earth and with incursions with visiting scientists. During this Unit the Science Journal is introduced to the girls to further develop question, observing and recording skills. In Year 4 students actively participate in the Earth and Space Science Unit, Beneath Our Feet. Students have explored rock and soil samples, identified features in the landscape that have changed over time, constructed TWLH* charts and most importantly, experimented. Year 5 students engage with the Earth’s Place in Space Unit through researching the development of human understanding of topics such as space and the planets. The students particularly
enjoyed and gained a broader appreciation of space through the construction of an orrery of the planets as the final element of the Unit.
* What we Think we know, what we Want to learn, what we Learned, How we know Science in Year 6 includes investigation into Marvellous Micro-organisms. Students explore the bread-making process and the microorganism yeast. Through a series of experiments students discover the importance of yeast and its optimal growing conditions. Studies lead them to learning about the role of micro-organisms in the discovery and development of the antibiotic, penicillin. The hands–on approach, collaborative activities and relevance to their own life and experiences is thoroughly enjoyed by students. The diversity of the scientific investigations within both our CREST and Primary Connections programs promote inquiry-based learning within the Biological, Chemical, Physical and Earth and Space Sciences. These programs provide a strong foundation for our students and consolidates their understanding of scientific method and Science inquiry as they enter Year 7 Science. Ms Vanessa Jackson-McRae Head of Science
“You can find out new things and find out more. Science opens us up. I feel curious about how the world works and I want to know more.” Ana-Safiya Barmare Year 4
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SENIOR SCHOOL
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”Socrates
A Growth Mindset I was recently reading afresh the importance of a growth mindset. Much of our understanding of this way of thinking and the psychology behind this simple term stems from the work of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, outlined in her insightful book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (Ballatine Books, 2006). In her work, Dweck describes two ways of thinking that lie at opposing ends of the mindset spectrum; fixed and growth mindsets. A fixed mindset assumes our character, intelligence and innate ability is rigid, predetermined and cannot be changed. This leads individuals to place limits on what they can achieve, especially in areas that are not regarded as natural strengths. A growth mindset is based on the understanding that innate ability is just a starting point and that a person’s abilities can be developed through hard work and perseverance. These individuals have the confidence to try new things and view failure as an opportunity for growth and develop a zeal for learning. Dweck explains that individuals do not necessarily operate at the mindset extremes, but sometimes apply differing mental processes to different areas of their life. These strategies of thinking can be developed both consciously and intuitively at quite a young age and determine how an individual will instinctively operate. After two decades of study in this field, Dweck argues persuasively on the importance of positive belief systems
and demonstrates how they influence behavior and ultimately determine success. A growth mindset is liberating, as it places hard work and practice as the determining factors for improving a person’s skillset, across a range of disciplines. Dweck found that even very young children have already adopted a mindset. When offered a choice of tasks, some children will choose the task at which they know they will succeed, whilst others will be inclined to try a new task in which the outcome is unknown. Dweck’s research not only identifies the key aspects of this mindset but also explores how the brain operates and how it can be reprogrammed for greater learning. Once an individual adopts this belief system, each life experience forms part of a learning journey and provides an opportunity for self-improvement. In reality, we appreciate that not all aspects of a person’s life can be developed to the same extent, but there is wisdom around a breadth of learning and a holistic approach to education. At St Catherine’s, the development of a growth
mindset underpins both our curricular and co-curricular programs, which are specifically designed to encourage girls to attempt new challenges with their learning. In the classroom, this mindset is consciously and subliminally communicated through both verbal and non-verbal communication. The consistent message to our girls is they need to continually apply themselves in all areas of study, focusing their minds on the process, as well as the outcome. This is why Student Reports record application, as well as the level of achievement. This approach to the educational process, along with the emphasis on our core values of Integrity, Curiosity, Perseverance and Empathy enable our girls to be active learners. At St Catherine’s, we aim to instil a growth mindset enabling our girls to look to the future with optimism and expectation, knowing they can develop the necessary life skills to face and meet life’s challenges with poise and confidence. Mrs Rosemary Ward Deputy Principal
Women and Financial Literacy Financial literacy is the possession of knowledge and understanding of financial matters, it often entails the knowledge of properly making decisions pertaining to certain personal finance areas such as investing, saving and retirement. It also involves intimate knowledge of financial concepts like interest, financial planning, consumer rights, the value of money and the mechanics of a credit card. St Catherine’s offers a wide range of opportunities for students to engage in financial education. As part of the Years 9 and 10 elective program students can study Dollars and Sense, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and Revista-Recording and Reporting. These electives provide students with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills relating to taxation, budgeting, business planning and management and recording and reporting financial information for future decision making. So why is financial literacy so important for women in the 21st Century? > Statistics have shown women on average earn 18.2 percent less than men > Women are more likely to take career breaks for family reasons > 50 percent of women state that dealing with money or finances is stressful.
While on average women live longer than men, they have less superannuation in retirement. Research has shown that between the ages of 58 to 62 mens’ superannuation is a staggering 120 percent more than that of women. The consequence of this, is that approximately 77 percent of women rely on some form of age pension in retirement. Financial literacy as part of the core curriculum during Senior School is key to young women being able to make effective financial decisions. If financial literacy is developed early, this will provide them the opportunity to develop the necessary confidence and skills to deal with money in the future. While women only make up 23 percent of leadership roles in Australia’s top 2000 companies, reflecting there is more work to be done to achieve equal representation, there has been a significant increase in the number of
women graduating from University and entering into highly regarded professions. In the past, many of these professions were dominated by their male counterparts. This has given women an opportunity to embark on careers that will see them well remunerated. With all of this money, what to do? Armed with the appropriate financial tools women are able to take control of their finances, prepare for their future, have freedom in the choices they make and feel confident in doing so. At VCE level, students can pursue Economics, Business Management or Accounting. While these subjects may be elected as a pathway to Commerce related tertiary courses, they also provide students with important financial skills and knowledge to enable informed decision making in the future. Mrs Tracey McCallum Humanities Teacher
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Old Girl Amelia Hamer (’11) studied philosophy in VCE, winning the Premier’s Award for academic excellence in the subject. Now working in finance in London, she explains how philosophy teaches you from the bottom
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
up and is useful in every career – ‘ I think I first became interested in Philosophy out of intellectual curiosity. Most philosophical questions – ethics aside – are not in themselves useful things to
~ Aristotle
know or tangibly going to affect how you live your life. But in thinking about the most fundamental philosophical questions, you learn how to think from the bottom up: what makes an argument logically sound? What assumptions are you making in that statement?
Aristotle
Can I accept them?
Emotional Intelligence Program
The Necessity of Good Thinking
We have a tendency to obsess about vocational and practical skills, but really the most useful thing you can learn is how to think, how to question and how to understand and put together complex and coherent arguments. Smart people get hired, and philosophy definitely makes you smarter – it is like a workout for the brain.
Partnership with Swinburne University The importance of teaching and modelling emotional intelligence (EI) in schools is becoming more widely accepted as research continues to affirm its benefits. The correlation between academic success and improved emotional intelligence is now well supported. More importantly though, is the potential for emotional intelligence to improve our personal wellbeing and relationships.
The need for improved EI is particularly important in the school setting as, apart from assisting students to establish positive peer relationships, it can equip young people with the 21st Century skills to succeed in the workplace. Renowned US psychologist and author of Emotional Intelligence, Dr Daniel Goleman, has described the importance of schools teaching the ‘portable skills’ of connection, empathy and communication to equip young people for 21st Century careers and challenges.
which draws upon a range of Positive Education and Emotional Intelligence strategies and skills. Professor Con Stough, Director of the Swinburne Centre for Human Psychopharmacology and Project Coordinator, Justine Lomas, will initially work with the St Catherine’s School Year 4 and Year 8 staff to create age appropriate programs for those Year levels. The Swinburne staff are keen to partner with St Catherine’s after identifying our whole School approach to teaching emotional intelligence skills aligns well with their goals.
Providing our students with the skills to recognise, understand and manage their emotions is a key focus of the weThrive Wellbeing@St Catherine’s program. This year, St Catherine’s is with the Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Resource Unit to create resources for our Wellbeing program. The Centre has been administering the ‘Aristotle EI Program’ for over 10 years and has worked exclusively with a select group of schools, both in Australia and overseas.
Professor Stough’s studies show adolescents with higher emotional intelligence experience higher scholastic performance, greater wellbeing and resilience, and that lower emotional intelligence has been linked to lower scholastic performance and greater bullying and victimisation. As the partnership develops, the Swinburne staff are also keen to work with the St Catherine’s Sports staff and Boarding staff to produce materials specific to those contexts.
This partnership with Swinburne provides St Catherine’s with the latest evidence based research, as well as staff professional development and student programs. This relationship will enhance our existing program
We are excited about this opportunity to enrich and further resource our programs with evidence based research. Ms Merren O’Connor Director of Student Wellbeing
When people think of a Philosophy class, images of ancient, bearded Greek men in togas or chain-smoking French intellectuals in berets and black skivvies may come to mind. For many, it fails the utility criteria a post-industrial society automatically defers to when determining the value or relevance of a school subject, which is, ‘what job will this lead on to?’ The answer, in short, is all jobs, as the etymology of the word ‘philosophy’ which means ‘love of wisdom’, suggests. It is vocational in the widest sense of the word, in that it assists students in negotiating the complexities of modern life by compelling them to take charge of their own thoughts. Ironically, as the world’s oldest discipline, it is the one least bound by tradition or regulation. Its only demand is clarity of thought and adherence to the authority of reason, which makes it a crucial inclusion to any school that claims to produce critical thinkers and offer a genuinely liberal education. St Catherine’s School is one of only 88 in the State offering Philosophy at VCE level. Of this 88 there are barely a handful of independent girls’
schools. The first introduction for our girls begins in Year 5, where Junior School Principal Mrs Alana Moor guides the students through a range of ethical questions, easing them into the art of careful opinion forming and the consideration of different moral views. In the Senior School, students have the chance to take Philosophy as part of the Years 9 and 10 Elective program. The first few weeks on critical thinking is followed by Units on ethical theory and political philosophy, which for many students, is the first opportunity they have had to question and evaluate their accepted beliefs and assumptions. This Years 9 and 10 taster sets the stage for VCE Philosophy, where students take the step into formal logic, metaphysics and more challenging questions of ethics and politics. In the classroom above the Year 12 Common Room (suitably nicknamed ‘Heaven’ by Ms Gunn) blue ribbons stand in for togas, although the communal table and rigorous discussions evoke ancient times. On a typical day, an idea is laid on the table and unpacked. Arguments are never dismissed or
blindly accepted, but evaluated logically. In Year 12, students spend the year in the company of Descartes, Plato, Locke, Nietzsche and Peter Singer amongst others, considering the value of their arguments in relation to our contemporary context. The course truly operates in the present, demanding an examination of modern life through the lens of ancient wisdom. Thus, Cartesian dualism is tested against the findings of modern neuroscience, while the implications of John Locke’s harm principle are considered in relation to online liberty. The result is a genuinely collaborative and highly stimulating learning experience where the students carry the majority of the intellectual load, using online forums to share their evaluative points and test out ideas. This conflation of old and new is very much in the spirit of the subject, which is designed to be a tool kit for modern life. So, please come up to Heaven and see the spirit of Socrates alive and well. Miss Kristy Forrest Philosophy Teacher
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
“Challenge yourself. Do not be afraid to take the road less travelled. I try to be as honest as possible with myself about whether I am content with the course I am on.”
Leading the Way Veronica Corrigan (’06) Following a careers forum with Veronica Corrigan (’06), Emma Thompson (’15) was inspired to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. This year, Emma was accepted into the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) degree at Monash University.
You were successful in your application to study Medicine at Monash University, is this what you have always wanted to do? For a very long time, yes. Even as a child, I always looked forward to visiting the doctor, or going to the hospital. I am fascinated by the human body and the complexity of all its systems. I am inspired by the dedication and wisdom of the doctors I have encountered. I love the idea of having the knowledge and integrity required to be able to create a unique bond with another person based on trust, in order to be there to help them at times when they need it most. And so, I would say my passion and commitment to a life in medicine has been developing ever since I was young. However, it was during my work experience with an anaesthetist that my aspiration to pursue medicine was really confirmed. I cannot help but think back to one of the surgeries I watched; a hip replacement. The patient was an elderly lady and due to her condition she was not able to have a general anaesthetic. Instead, she was sedated and given a local anaesthetic; meaning she had to remain conscious throughout the procedure. I was given the task of holding the lady’s hand to monitor her pain levels and check
she was not suffering (under the supervision of the anaesthetist). But in that moment, the sense of trust the lady had in me as she squeezed my hand with nerves, and my sense of responsibility as I squeezed back to reassure her, is something I want to feel my whole life. What was your application process? Medicine at Monash University is the only direct entry course in Victoria, so the demand is high and as a result the process is dauntingly competitive. Entry is based equally on three factors; ATAR, Undergraduate Medicine & Health Science Admission Test and interview. At the end of July, you are required to sit the UMAT; a three hour exam comprising of multiple-choice questions in three sections testing logical reasoning and problem solving, interpersonal skills and non-verbal reasoning. If your ATAR and UMAT are high enough, you will be shortlisted for an interview during the summer holidays. The interview is a 90 minute MMI (multiple mini interview), involving nine 10 minute stations; each with a different scenario for which you will be asked a series of questions. Finally, you wait patiently with your fingers crossed until offers are released!
How did St Catherine’s help you achieve your tertiary goals? I feel so privileged to have grown up within the St Catherine’s community because I truly believe that the School provided me with endless opportunities to develop the qualities and values that have ultimately helped me achieve my goal. The School’s emphasis on community involvement ensured that giving and caring for others is of utmost importance to me. The wonderful teachers and staff of St Catherine’s constantly demonstrate passion and integrity, and expect nothing less of the students, motivating each and every girl to strive to be the best they can be. What advice would you have for other students wanting to be accepted into Medicine? Find your passion, find your motivation! The application process is there to differentiate between those who are committed and those who are not.
Since graduating from St Catherine’s, Veronica has completed undergraduate medical training at Monash University and two years of clinical training. During her studies she spent time travelling in Europe and attending language schools in France. Now back at university to complete a Masters of Health Management, with the goal of pursuing a career in medical administration, Veronica has also taken on a mentoring role at St Catherine’s, discussing her role as a doctor with interested Year 12 students. Describe a typical work day for you? Most recently I was a urology resident. Typically I start work at 6.30am, complete a ward round with my team when we check on all of our patients and make a plan for their care. I may see new patients in emergency, or assist in surgery. Mostly I am on the Ward with admitted patients or in clinic to review patients. All of my work is undertaken under the guidance of my registrars and consultants, so there is always someone that I can turn to for help. I finish work anywhere between 4.00pm and 8.00pm depending on the workload. Given the long days I take care to have a lunchbreak and a coffee break (or two) and chat to colleagues. Has there been a defining moment in your career so far? There have been two. The first time I assisted for open heart surgery as a third year medical student the surgeon had me hold the patient’s heart in my hand. It was a surreal experience to say the least – and I really understood then the responsibility we take as clinicians and the incredible trust we are granted by the community.
Also, in my final year as a medical student I undertook a placement in the Intensive Care Unit of a French hospital. This was an incredible experience, not only to develop my medical French language, but to understand the different modes of healthcare training and delivery across the world. It was humbling to find myself at a disadvantage, working in my second language. It has made me acutely aware of the advantages we have in Australia, and brought a new perspective to working with colleagues and patients for whom English is a second language.
their varied interests. She has never accepted that women would be less, or could expect less, than their male counterparts. This has inspired me to know we do deserve the things we dream of and work towards and that we should not compromise our beliefs, or attempt to adapt who we are, to suit what others want us to be.
Do you have a career philosophy? Challenge yourself. Do not be afraid to take the road less travelled. I try to be as honest as possible with myself about whether I am content with the course I am on. I am not afraid What do you most enjoy about your work? to pursue the things I want. This year I moved I love the opportunity it provides to meet such to a city where I do not know anyone, to follow Following a careers forum with Veronica Corrigan, Emma Thompson was a broad spectrum of society and the insight it a less than conventional path. I do not know inspired to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. This year, Emma was offers to the vast range of experiences our fellow where I will end up, but I am thoroughly enjoying accepted oftrust Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) men and womeninto have.the As aBachelor doctor people the journey. medegree with some very personal details – we are at Monash University. What is your favourite St Catherine’s memory? dealing with people who feel vulnerable and my I do not think I can narrow it down to one work allows me to ensure their dignity and comfort. moment. The thing I most value is the What advice would you offer any current remarkable bond and camaraderie between student wanting to enter medicine? St Catherine’s girls. We recently had our 10 Be prepared to take on a lifestyle – you will year School reunion, and I was reminded of the be in class and studying, or working very long pride and support between the girls, despite the hours, while your schoolmates have free time different lives we are leading. My closest friends to party, travel and have countless hobbies. are still those I went to School with, I think that But you will have the advantage of meeting reflects the wonderful culture at St Catherine’s. and working with some incredibly diligent, What did you enjoy about returning intelligent and inspiring people. to St Catherine’s last year to provide More specifically, practise, practise and practise career advice? for the UMAT and the interview. They can be Meeting the girls was a lovely reminder prepared for and you are at a huge advantage if of the opportunities available to students. you understand what techniques they use and St Catherine’s does a wonderful job of supporting what they are looking for. the aspirations of its girls. It was very rewarding to provide career advice to Emma Thompson, Who inspires you and why? who was applying for a degree in medicine. To be a little sentimental – my mother. She is a Emma is a capable and compassionate young GP and when she was a year or two older than I woman and she will be a valuable asset to the am now, she started her own GP practice which health industry. she has expanded that over the past 30 years. In addition to running a successful business she It was also wonderful to witness the developments has been involved as Chairperson of Lowther in the building and infrastructure of the School Hall and currently as board member of the – the Marigold Southey Sports & Aquatic Centre Australian Medical Association Victoria. is fantastic. With all of these commitments she still has time to learn French and support three children and
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STUDENT PERSPECTIVES
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Meet four of our students… Isabella Soutter
Arabella Bertalli
Romy Cantwell
ISABELLA SOUTTER/YEAR 2
ARABELLA BERTALLI/YEAR 4
ROMY CANTWELL/YEAR 8
What do you enjoy most about School? My teachers are kind and teach me lots of new things. I love to learn! I also like coming to School to see my friends.
What does it mean to you to be a St Catherine’s girl? To be kind, always think of others and be a positive role model.
What have you been learning about so far this year? In Mathematics, we are learning about subtraction and sums, we are reading out loud and in History we are learning about St Catherine’s School. We learnt that Miss Langley was not the first Principal of our School, it was Miss Hood. We also learnt in Geography that Tasmania is part of Australia but it broke off.
What are you learning in the classroom at the moment? We have just started a Science experiment learning about what is beneath our feet. We are learning about soil. We each have a jar of wet soil, which we added water to, and a jar of dry soil. We are going to conduct experiments to see what happens to the two types of soil. I am excited because my soil also has rabbit fur in it from my pet bunny, Oats!
What would you like to achieve during your time as a St Catherine’s girl? I would love to complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award and I also want to undertake a couple of years of Rowing which starts at the end of this year.
Do you play any musical instruments? I have been playing the piano for almost two years and this year at School we will be learning the violin. It was fun to have our arms and bodies measured to find the violin that would fit us best. What do you want to be when you are older? Lots of different things! A sailor, Netball player, skier and an archeologist – because bones are so interesting. What do you hope to achieve by the end of the year? I would like to be able to play the violin and be better at the piano and Mathematics. What do you like to do when you are not at School? Play with my dog Rosie, play Tennis and Netball, go sailing with my family and dance.
Do you play any sports? Yes, I love to play goal defence or centre in Netball and I also love Gymnastics. Uneven bars are my favourite apparatus, even though I missed the bar once, I learnt I needed to persevere and try again. What do you hope to achieve by the end of the School year? I would love to know all my times tables off by heart and complete at least two Music examinations. What do you enjoy most about School? It is so nice to be at School each day and see all my friends. Everyone is nice. My teachers are really helpful too and it is fun to play and learn. My favourite thing to play is four square with my friends.
Are you involved in any co-curricular activities at School? I am involved in two co-curricular activities at School – GSV Swimming and Drama Club. I really love to swim in squad but swimming in an environment like GSV, with your class friends, is a lot of fun. What does it mean to you to be a St Catherine’s girl? To me, being a St Catherine’s girl means a lot. I moved to St Catherine’s in Year 5 and I could instantly tell the difference from my old co-educational school. St Catherine’s has an amazing environment, full of extremely kind and caring people. I feel so lucky and honoured to be a part of the St Catherine’s School community. What do you hope to do by the end of the year at School? I want to use my time in GSV Sport and other co-curricular activities to make friends with all the new Year 7s as well as try white water rafting. I would also like to learn more about leadership and what it means to be a good leader.
Sabine Harms
What are some of the things you are most looking forward to next year? Next year I am looking forward to Rowing on the St Catherine’s Junior Rowing team, Year 9 camps and selecting new subjects such as media and business.
SABINE HARMS/YEAR 12 What do you like most about School? I enjoy many aspects of School, particularly the friends that surround me. Studying for tests or completing homework is easier with a supportive network of friends beside you. The wide variety of co-curricular activities on offer at School is also great. It allows all of us to express ourselves in our own way – whether it be through Music, Sport, Drama, etc. The teachers and staff are also very supportive, and truly caring, for each individual. What has been a highlight for you so far this year? Commencing Year 12. I have always looked up to the Year 12 girls and aspired to be like them for many years. Now I can be a positive role model, like those before me, for someone else.
Are you involved in any co-curricular activities at School? I am involved in quite a few co-curricular activities at School, including a range of Drama, Music and Sport activities. Within Music, I am involved in the Double Reed Ensemble, Wind Quintet, Cantanti Belli, as well as Concert Band and Jorgensen Orchestra. Within Drama, I am involved in the Senior School musical, Sweet Charity. This Term I am also involved in GSV Diving and plan on being involved in a GSV Sport each term. What would you like to achieve during your time at St Catherine’s? I would like to support others and allow everyone to feel comfortable in their School environment. I would also like to complete everything to the best of my abilities, whilst making lifelong friends. What are some of the things you are most looking forward to next year? Hopefully starting a university course! However I hope before university starts I can enjoy the freedom it brings. I am really looking forward to the prospects of my future, not only in a career sense, but also to meet new people, staying in touch with old ones and keeping those friends for life.
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School Captain Margaret Woodlock was selected for the Australian Olympic Games in Shot-put for the 1956 Melbourne Games.
1978
1946–1955
1956
St Catherine’s School Council was formed in 1947 following the retirement of Miss Hilda Langley and the transfer of her ownership of the School.
1947
1936–1945
In 1953, with the Castlemaine years unrealised, celebrations for the School Jubilee began with the planting of the Jubilee tree. The incorrect founding anniversary date used of 1903, reflecting when the Langley sisters took over the School, was celebrated right up until research for the centenary revealed the earlier date of 1896!
Over 40 Old Girls served during the War, the impact of which was felt with the tragic death of Sister Jenny Walker, a member of the Australian Army Nursing Service, lost while aboard the hospital ship Centaur which was torpedoed in 1943.
The polio epidemic of 1937–1938 affected all Schools and many St Catherine’s girls attended School sporadically with absentees learning by correspondence.
1935
1926–1935
In 1935 the School established the first School Orchestra. The League of Nations Union was a new School activity and Science and Literature Clubs were formed.
In 1934 the first Headmistress Miss Edna Holmes is appointed by Miss Langley, breaking the tradition of the School Proprietor also running the day to day academic life of the School.
Old Girls of the decade show an impressive range of achievements many are now included in the Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum Project such as Sunday Reed (Baillieu ’22). Beatrix Reid (McCay ’12) had obtained Honours in Law, and was the second woman to sign the Victorian Bar Roll and Jean Sutherland (’27) won a Howitt Scholarship for Zoology.
1921
1916–1925
1934
In 1921 new traditions began with first St Catherine’s Magazine published in November and the formation of the Old Girls Association.
1906–1915
Homesickness for boarders is painfully captured in a letter home by Moroa Hobile-Cole (Molesworth ’25) to her Mother in 1922 “It is getting nearer and nearer to the day when I will be tearing along in the train and every minute will be getting nearer to my brothers and my dear little sister.”
In 1903 the Misses Langley sisters purchased the School and introduced the Motto Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum (Nothing is great unless it is good).
1896–1905
1911
For many decades, these early years were unrecognised, until 20 years ago, when historians rediscovered the origins of the School.
1896
1960
1942
1928
1956–1965
Details on the history of St Catherine’s between 1966 and 2016 will be covered in the Spring Edition of St Catherine’s News.
This decade saw the School unveil the artist Elaine Haxton’s Mural on the Arts which depicts figures of Music, Song, Dance, Comedy and Tragedy.
In 1958, St Catherine’s was used as a testing ground for the introduction of television, watching the very early transmissions of the program Behind the News. In 1959 the opening of the new pool was sabotaged with Condy’s crystals turning the water to a bright purple and desperate attempts to rectify the situation made things worse!
1948
The house and land known as Barbreck was purchased in 1947 and the Parents’ Association was established in 1949.
In 1942 the full effect of war came to the School with Heyington Place used extensively for WAAAF Training resulting in the evacuation of the School to Warburton from March to late November.
In 1931 the new Science room was completed and Chemistry and Physics were introduced to the curriculum.
In this decade he School began Drama productions in 1928 with the play Monsieur Beauclaire; 1929 The Gyspy Mind; 1930 Fantasy and 1931 Robin Hood.
Post War the School struggled to retain enrolments. Miss Langley decide to merge the School with Miss Templeton’s School Blair in 1920 and set up a new site at 247 Williams Road in a house called Montrasse.
1920
In 1911 the School’s name was changed from Castlemaine Ladies’ College to St Catherine’s School after the Langley sisters’ old School which they attended as students, in Waverley NSW.
In 1917 Miss Mary Winter (affectionately known as ‘dear Winty’) commenced over 40 years of service to the School as a teacher and bursar alongside Miss Langley. The Winter Room, located in Sherren House, was named in appreciation of her long years of service in 1936. She retired in 1947.
In 1896 the School, then known as Castlemaine Ladies’ College, was founded by Miss Jeanie Hood until 1902.
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St Catherine’s History – The first six decades 1966–2016
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Are you paying attention?
Since 2012 St Catherine’s has offered students a ‘Confucius Classroom,’ in partnership with the Confucius Institute at Melbourne University. This partnership underpins the School’s commitment to the teaching of Chinese language and culture.
If attention is the key ingredient to learning, we need to teach the fundamentals of attention.
Recently I read with great interest ‘catastrophic doomsday’ reports concerning the ‘obliteration’ of concentration, attention and focus due to our fascination, perhaps even addiction, to smart-phone technology; some reports went even further, suggesting how the average Western fifteen year old now has an attention span somewhere between an amoeba and a goldfish. The reports though were not just confined to the Western teenager, indeed certain nations in Asia (notably Taiwan, South Korea and Japan) have named internet addiction as the number one health crisis amongst youth; it has long been known that the social and emotional circuitry of a child’s brain is developed through contact and conversation, so it would seem inevitable that more time spent away from people, and more time spent focused upon a digitalised screen, would lead to social and emotional deficits. None of this of course is particularly new. In 1977, the Nobel-winning economist, Herbert Simon, when writing about the coming information rich world, warned that what information consumes is “the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” We are living in an information age like no other, and therefore we need, as educators, to focus more on attention than ever before – and, here is my argument, attention is grabbed by engagement.
And here lies the crux – engagement, attention, can in fact be amplified by the use of digital resources; the most precious resource in any digital system in fact is not the interface, nor the processor, or the memory, not even the network. The most precious resource is human attention and every variety of attention has its uses. The very fact that almost half our thoughts are daydreams suggests the ‘wandering mind’ must have some advantages, but it is also true we learn best with focused attention. As we focus on what new things we are learning, the brain begins to map that information on to what we already know, making new neural connections. When our mind wanders, our brains activate a host of circuits, ‘chatter’ if you like, that actually have nothing to do with what we are trying to learn and, lacking focus, we are therefore unable to map the new information and it is forever lost to memory. Quite simply, it remains unlearnt because we lacked attention. Attention, or focus, therefore is the key to success in the learning process and perhaps we are on the very threshold of being able to harness digital resources to improve student engagement, and therefore attention. Rather than digital resources bringing the obliteration of attention, they are perhaps somewhat of a saviour.
Thinking back to your own education, were you ever taught how to focus? Were you ever taught about how the brain functions in terms of mapping information and committing it to memory? For most, we never were. Some individuals were more gifted than others, and the ability to sit and focus was considered a characteristic rather than a science, as a trait rather than as something which could be taught and therefore improved. The digital world is not going away and if we believe the constant tidal wave of texts and email, calls and notifications, is leading to the obliteration of attention – and if we also believe attention is the key ingredient to successful learning – then we need to address it. We need to teach the fundamentals of attention. In Years 7 and 8, over the next term or so, all students will be involved in a program entitled ‘The Science of Learning’; as well as investigating how to be a better learner, a central pillar of the program examines how our brains learn. Focus and attention, in a digital world, is explored in all its wonderful colours, ensuring our students are fully harnessing the benefits of technology in their learning. Paying attention to attention – now there is an idea. Mr Adrian Puckering Director of Curriculum Innovation and Development
Confucius
Classroom at St Catherine’s Upon entering Beijing International Airport there is a cascade of banners welcoming visitors. One of these is a Confucius saying, “It is such a delight to have friends coming from afar– .” In the final decades of the Twentieth Century, as China began to depart from many of its Communist policies and reinvent itself as a powerful economic and cultural force in the world, Confucius has been revived to become a symbol of the greatness of Chinese civilisation. Confucius is without doubt, one of the most influential Chinese teachers and philosophers. He lived around 2,500 years ago, a contemporary of Buddha and slightly earlier than Socrates. His philosophy and teaching – Confucianism formed the foundation of Chinese society, government and education.
Employing Confucius as a symbol of Chinese culture, the first Confucius Institute (CI) was opened in 2004 in Seoul, South Korea. The Confucius Institute is a public, non-profit organisation run by the Chinese government. The aim of the Institute is to promote the study of Chinese language and culture, and support Chinese language teaching programs following the models of Alliance Française, Japan Foundation, or the Goethe Institute. Since then CIs have been established worldwide, mostly in universities. In Australia there are CIs at the University of Sydney and University of Adelaide. In Victoria there are two CIs at The University of Melbourne and La Trobe University. Since 2012, St Catherine’s has been collaborating with the CI at The University of Melbourne to become a Confucius Classroom. This agreement is based on the School’s
commitment to the teaching of Chinese language and culture. With the support of the CI St Catherine’s established a partnership with He Ping Jie First School in Beijing. The two schools signed a Friendship Agreement symbolising the meaningful and beneficial relationship for both schools. The work of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms have raised the profile of Chinese studies in Australia. Our students are now more aware of the relationship between Australia and China and of the importance of Chinese language and culture in their future studies and careers. Mrs Mary Hugh Chinese Teacher
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S TA F F P R O F I L E S
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Ms Ingrid Hildebrand
Director of Business For the past 10 years Mrs Geraldine Ilott has expertly and prudently managed the finances, general staff and property resources of St Catherine’s School, in her role as Director of Business. Geraldine’s personal tenacity and determination has resulted in the School’s sound financial position as well as the outstanding buildings and grounds our students enjoy today. In April, Geraldine embarked on the next step in her career as Director of Finance and Business with Loreto Australia and South East Asia. Reflecting on her time at St Catherine’s, Geraldine says one of her greatest joys has been to witness the transformation of the School since she commenced in 2006. “One of the most enjoyable parts of my role is seeing the changes in the campus when buildings and ground works come to fruition after what can be months, and in some cases years, of planning and development. The upgrade of our Early Learning Centre in Campbell House, the return of the Art studios to their rightful home in Wiltondale, the Marigold Southey Sports & Aquatic Centre, the management of our National Trust listed building – Illawarra House, and the Senior School renewal which was completed last year have all provided outstanding opportunities for the students and staff at St Catherine’s,” says Geraldine. As well as overseeing all major building projects and the regulatory framework of the School including working closely with the ICT Manager
and HR Manager, Geraldine was also Secretary to School Council, Company Secretary, Finance Committee participant, Building and Property Committee, OHS Committee and a member of the Foundation Board. Geraldine says working across these varied areas of the School and with a multitude of staff is something she will greatly miss. “Working across so many areas kept me on my toes and the excellent staff, in their various disciplines, continued to stretch my skills and abilities. I enjoyed enormously the cut and thrust of negotiations in all the various contracts and projects which allowed me to meet and work with a broad range of people.” A testament to the legacy Geraldine will leave at St Catherine’s is the naming of the Rowing Senior VIIIs boat in honour of her, in recognition of her planning and development of a long term home for St Catherine’s Rowing at Mercantile – the internationally recognised home of Rowing in Melbourne. “To be recognised by the School community, through the Heyington Club, in that way was a very proud and humbling moment for me. It was a beautiful gesture that I will always remember.” We thank Geraldine for her commitment to our School’s history and traditions and for her outstanding stewardship of our finances, buildings, grounds and all business aspects of the School and wish her every success in her new role.
MS INGRID HILDEBRAND ENGLISH AND HUMANITIES TEACHER ENGLISH AND HUMANITIES ACADEMIC HONOURS PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR With Australian Ballet and National Gallery memberships, a passion for English, History and hula-hooping and qualifications as both a Senior and Junior School teacher, St Catherine’s English and Humanities Academic Honours Co-ordinator, Ms Ingrid Hildebrand provides students with an eclectic mix of experience and knowledge. “I believe teaching should be filled with ideas, possibilities and inspiration, not just the facts. The interactions with students energise my teaching and the positive relationships I build with my students motivates me,” Ingrid explains. “It was always clear to me I would become a teacher. I loved learning at school and was passionate about English and History. Transferring my genuine enthusiasm for these subjects to the classroom felt natural.” Overseeing St Catherine’s Years 7 and 8 English and Humanities Academic Honours Program has been an inspiring opportunity for Ingrid who says the Program deepens students’ knowledge and skills through explicit teaching of 21st Century thinking. “It is inspiring working with young minds that question and challenge assumptions and teaching these students skills to creatively solve problems.” “The most rewarding part of my teaching is cultivating meaningful relationships with my students. I remember the teachers that guided my journey at school. Now, I encourage and support my students in the classroom to take positive risks with their learning,” Ingrid says.
Ms Sue Cooke
MS SUE COOKE (’70) YEAR 2 TEACHER ST CATHERINE’S OLD GIRL For Year 2 teacher, Ms Sue Cooke, the School’s 120 celebrations are also a reflection of her family’s history, spanning not only throughout Sue’s own career and school life but through her family’s connections, with her mother, her great aunt and aunt also being Old Girls of the School. “My mother was a student at St Catherine’s during the war time evacuation to Warburton. I grew up listening to stories about mum’s life as a student during these years. St Catherine’s has certainly been a very important part of our lives for a long time. We are very proud of our connections,” Sue says. Commencing her teaching role at St Catherine’s in 1971 Sue is well equipped to teach the history of St Catherine’s to her Year 2 students admitting she loves the topic herself, learning more about the School each year. “As part of Year 2 History, we learn about St Catherine’s. Each year I discover more about our School’s beginnings. This year, in particular, I realised just how similar the core values, established 120 years ago, are to the values we hold true at St Catherine’s today.” Initially interested in becoming a kindergarten teacher, Sue majored in French and German at University and then, after visiting a primary school, decided to complete a Diploma of Primary Education. “You could almost say I fell into teaching, however I am so glad I made this career choice. It is such a gift to see the growth of my students over the years, not only academically but also emotionally,” Sue says.
Mrs Amanda Ladbury-Webb
MRS AMANDA LADBURY-WEBB MATHEMATICS TEACHER MATHEMATICS HONOURS PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR When asked what first motivated her to become a teacher, Amanda’s response was, “the famous French mathematician, Siméon Poisson once said ‘life is good for only two things, discovering Mathematics and teaching Mathematics’ when I became a teacher I hoped my love of Mathematics would be infectious.” Whilst Amanda has more interests than Poisson, she remains passionate about Mathematics. “I enjoy exploring different ways to explain theories and techniques so students fully understand. There are so many connections and relationships in Mathematics that there are often multiple approaches to understand a concept. It is truly rewarding when you see a student have that eureka moment and hear the magic words, I get it now.” Having first commenced work in banking with JP Morgan in London, Amanda appreciates the importance of both being able to solve mathematical problems and communicate processes and findings to other people or groups. Amanda coordinates the Mathematics Honours Program for Years 7 to 9 and the Mathematics Extension Program for Years 5 and 6 at St Catherine’s. “The ability to interpret and justify mathematical results is a valuable skill that benefits students in the classroom and in the workplace. Our Mathematics Honours Program is exciting for all our students. With enhanced mathematical communication skills our Honours students can, at a peer to peer level, better explain concepts to other students, greatly improving the skill level of the class,” says Amanda.
Mrs Rosemary Ward
MRS ROSEMARY WARD DEPUTY PRINCIPAL St Catherine’s Deputy Principal, Mrs Rosemary Ward believes inspiring students to love learning is the greatest reward she receives from teaching. “My mother, stressed upon me from a young age, the importance of education. During high school I had several teachers that demonstrated great care and interest in my education and it was during this time I decided I wanted to invest in the lives of young students, just as they had for me. “I love the challenge of inspiring my students to enjoy my subject area, Mathematics. There is nothing like the buzz when the ‘light bulb’ moment occurs, and a student who has struggled with a particular concept understands. There is also the inner satisfaction of playing a part in a student exceeding what they thought was their potential,” Rosemary says. Having worked in Australia, England and at international schools, Rosemary understands the importance of knowing individual students and what their unique characteristics are, in order to truly make their learning personalised. Along with her passion for Mathematics, Rosemary also enjoys Opera, in particular Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Phantom of the Opera. “At 16 I started Opera singing and pursued it professionally until I was 31. I love singing anything from Phantom, it always brings a tear to my eyes,” Rosemary says, “I am out of practice now but have made a 2016 resolution to start practising again.”
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BOARDING
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
The Colours of Leadership The structure of St Catherine’s Leadership Diploma enables every Years 9 and 10 student to exhibit leadership in practical and meaningful ways, including guiding team mates on the sporting field, volunteering time to support a community service or taking the next step to initiate an event or activity. The Leadership Diploma is offered as a Light Blue and Dark Blue Diploma. Those girls who meet the Light Blue criteria are awarded the Diploma upon completion in Year 10 and are eligible to be nominated for Year 12 Leadership positions. The Dark Blue Leadership Diploma is an individual extension-based diploma designed to extend beyond the expectations of the Light Blue Diploma. The Dark Blue Diploma acknowledges those students who demonstrate initiative by individually coordinating and managing an event or activity. In order to be eligible, students must complete their Light Blue Diploma to a high standard and submit a written application to the Dean and the Deputy Principal. Current Year 11 student, Georgina McNab, provides an excellent example of the personal and community rewards derived from taking on this initiative. In her letter of application to complete her Year 10 Dark Blue Leadership Diploma, Georgina wrote of the qualities she
St Catherine’s girls are taught to understand leadership is not a clearly defined quality but a range of traits varied for each of us. The Years 9 and 10 Leadership Diploma helps each student discover their personal understanding of leadership – whether it be supporting or inspiring others, taking initiative or simply putting themselves forward and stepping out of their comfort zones.
sees in a good leader as ‘honesty, empathy, integrity and determination,’ and the need to ‘embody the values of the group they represent at all times’. As part of her Dark Blue Leadership Diploma Georgina organised a Smith Family charity initiative to help disadvantaged children within Australia. Georgina undertook a Christmas collection of toys and books in both the Senior and Junior Schools, collecting and donating 53 toys and 24 books. Sharing her hope to ‘educate other students on the difficulties faced by children who are living in very similar communities to us, but without the level of comfort and opportunity that we take for granted’, Georgina successfully met her Leadership Diploma goal of leading by example, inspiring others to go through their pre-loved toys and books to help those less fortunate.
While the Light Blue Leadership Diploma requires students to meet strict criteria demonstrating their capacity to get involved and extend themselves, the Dark Blue Diploma rewards those students who take the extra step to develop their own initiative or project. However, irrespective of the level or colour of the leadership, each Diploma participant is able to engage more fully with their community. For some, like Georgina, the real benefit comes from proactively supporting a cause they passionately believe in, setting an example of what it means to be a ‘Dark Blue’ leader. Ms Merran O’Connor Director of Student Wellbeing
New Transitions Our boarders have had a wonderful start to the year in our Boarding House, Illawarra. We have welcomed 14 new members to our boarding community from regional Australia and overseas, with five of them commencing Year 7 at St Catherine’s in 2016. A new and exciting time for our boarders, the boarding experience is also a time of transition for the girls’ parents. With three daughters now boarding at St Catherine’s our 2016 Boarding Captain, Morgan O’Brien’s parents, Chris and Toni, from Bright in regional Victoria, share their experiences as parents of boarders. How did you select St Catherine’s School? We wanted an all-girls boarding school in Melbourne. After internet searching, we narrowed our choices to two schools. We then toured both campuses and our girls
walked out of St Catherine’s saying, “Can we go there?” We liked the way the staff addressed the girls directly, we were impressed by the facilities and the homely feel of the Boarding House. How did Morgan find the ‘settling in’ process at St Catherine’s? To be honest, the first six months were a challenge – our first daughter away at boarding school, and it was also Morgan’s first experience of living away in Melbourne. Coping with transport, living with other girls, and a new
curriculum brought with it expected difficulties. However, it was all handled in a supportive environment and after the first semester Morgan loved being at St Catherine’s. In what ways has boarding at St Catherine’s been beneficial for Morgan? We come from a small rural town so Morgan has gained independence and skills that she would not have gained for many years living in Bright. The subject choices available at St Catherine’s have broadened her interests and allowed her to find subject choices not available in regional Victoria. How do you feel involved in the life of the School as a boarding parent? We feel very informed with the School’s weekly newsletter and Boarding House communications. Being four hours from Melbourne, we cannot attend all functions, but we try to attend the Year level functions where possible. All the teaching staff are available by phone or email also.
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PD HEI L VA EN LO T PHM RO EN PY T
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
THANK YOU Thank you to all our donors for your generous gifts to St Catherine’s in 2015. By working and giving together we can ensure our girls have the best possible facilities and programs for their all-round development and enrichment.
Recognising the Past,
Planning the Future 120 years of developing outstanding women is a significant achievement for girls’ education in Australia. It is timely to reflect on what we have achieved and to ensure that St Catherine’s remains at the forefront of girls’ education, providing a 21st Century St Catherine’s girl with a 21st Century education.
St Catherine’s has had incredible support from principals, staff, students, parent communities, Old Girls and of course Foundation members. I would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank all our Foundation members for your generous support. I am very pleased to advise that over the last five years Foundation membership has doubled to over 400. The generous nature of our Foundation members, in partnership with the wider St Catherine’s community, ensures our girls experience an environment encouraging excellence in all pursuits. The continued support of St Catherine’s families has assisted the completion of several projects at the School. Our Early Learning Centre has been reborn as the Ilhan Family Centre providing students with an experiential learning environment. The Marigold Southey Sports & Aquatic Centre has become home to St Catherine’s Aquatic enabling our daughters from Years 2 to 12 the opportunity to compete at local, national and international meets.
Old Girl, Dr Lisa Gorton (’89) joined with the School community last year in opening the Ruth Langley Research and Learning Centre (Senior School), the Edna Holmes Centre for Science and the Mary Davis Centre. The benefits to our girls are tangible as is evidenced by our strong 2015 ATAR results. We have also relocated our Rowing to Mercantile and purchased the adjacent property at (17A) Heyington Place. Every year, through our Annual Giving program, our community joins together to support our girls’ learning spaces, libraries and scholarship programs enabling talented students from a diverse range of backgrounds to realise their potential. With your support last year, we were able to renew our iconic Clocktower classrooms and purchase new educational displays for our Senior School. Recently the School wrote to current parents advising that a Town Planning Application has been lodged with the City Council of Stonnington to enable our School to begin one
Community values “A caring, happy and friendly community” – This is how Samantha Wood, mum of Year 4 student Charlotte describes St Catherine’s. Sam and Stuart Wood have been a part of the School community since 2010. Their son William enjoyed the Early Learning Program and their youngest daughter Amelia is excited to start the ELC program next year.
of the most exciting and significant additions to our campus in the School’s 120 years – the development of a new Junior School, a key element of our ‘Her Future begins Here’ campaign. The new Junior School will incorporate flexible and vibrant learning spaces, advancements in technology and sustainable design to prepare our girls to be women of the future. The project will be carefully staged and planned to minimise the impact on School life. It will also allow sufficient time to raise the philanthropic funds and provide the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ and invest in the future of our exceptional girls. More details on this exciting campaign will be provided later in the year. Thank you to all our supporters in 2015 and I look forward to welcoming more families into the Foundation and continuing our support for our Principal, Mrs Michelle Carroll and her outstanding team as they develop women of the future. Mr Wayne Kent Chair, St Catherine’s School Foundation
“What stands out to me is the teacher’s commitment to helping the girls learn and succeed,” Samantha said. “There is a big emphasis on developing the whole person which is supported by the School’s values of Integrity, Curiosity, Perseverance and Empathy.” Charlotte has also taken up a number of activities on offer at the School including gymnastics, Swimming, Tennis, cello and piano, Netball and Skiing. An unexpected benefit each season has been family time on the mountain and witnessing the progression in Samantha’s skiing. According to Samantha, “giving is important because the fees only cover the day to day cost of running the School, new buildings and scholarships need to be funded through the School community.” “Stuart and I have been very happy to donate to the School to support the redevelopment of the Senior School. The School has given our children so much and it is good to know we have helped contribute in combination with other parents and Old Girls.”
You are warmly invited to consider a gift to St Catherine’s School and join our family of donors below. Please contact Mr Stuart Galbraith, Director of Development and Community Relations, on (03) 9828 3032 or development@stcatherines.net.au for more information. Sally Ahern (Watson ‘74)
Alison & Shaun Dennison
Louise Lampard (‘79)
Lindy Shelmerdine (‘80)
& Stephen Ahern
Rosemary Duthie
Rita Lapidus
Kate & Stephen
Joanna Anderson (Nicholas
(Loveless ‘71) & Ian Duthie
Kathryn & David Lloyd
Shelmerdine AM
‘86) & Nigel Anderson
Jane & John Edwards
Elizabeth Loane
Letitia Shelton (Cole ‘58)
Rebekah Armstrong &
Valda Ellinson (Beville ‘49)
(Hayes ‘56)
Chrissy Skinner (Tissot ‘76)
Lachlan Armstrong (‘95)
Jane & Scott Favaloro
Dimitra & Emmanuel
& Andrew Skinner
Caroline Arnoul
Anna & John Field
Loupasakis
Jann Smeaton
Caroline & Wayne Arthurs
Fiona & Andrew Fox
Sarah & George Low
(Norman ‘52)
Jo Atkins
Pamela Fraser (Wallace
Thea Manson (Coltman ‘51)
Anne Smith
Ann Badger
Smith ‘54) & Graeme Fraser
Erica & Peter Marriott
Lady Southey AC (Myer ‘45)
Caroline Balderstone (‘87)
Sarah & Lachlan
Judith Matear (Spry ‘49)
St Catherine’s Old Girls’
Peter Balderstone
Fraser-Smith
Barbara Mayes (Spry ‘52)
Association (SCOGA)
Kate Barber (‘96)
Kaye Ferguson &
Catherine McDowall (‘76)
St Catherine’s Parents’
Moira Barr (Hamilton ‘58)
Peter Sexton
Karen McKendrick &
& Friends’ Association
Lyndall & Michael
Michelle Gardiner
Sean Hogan
St Catherine’s School Art
Barrington
(Robertson ‘94)
Patricia McKenzie
Action Auxiliary
Carol Batty (Kimpton ‘67)
Joan Glover (Barwood ‘40)
Alana Moor
St Catherine’s School
Elizabeth Beale (‘68)
Rebecca & Jamie Gray
Peter Moore
Drama Auxiliary
Nicole & Ross Begley
Tim Gullifer
Caroline & Gary Nattrass
St Catherine’s School
Sally Bell
Russell Hay
Sally & David Nicholas
Music Auxiliary
Anthea Bickford (Gray ‘79)
Fleur Heidenreich &
Lisa Nicoll-Cooke
Mary & John Stekelenburg
& Stephen Bickford
Lars Heidenreich
(Nicoll ‘63)
Amanda Stewart (Trumble
Robert Bishop
Sandra Henderson
John Nieuwenhuysen AM
‘69) & Bruce Stewart
Caroline Brain (Purves ‘63)
(Evans ‘53)
Sharyn Page
Jean Stewart (‘39)
Naomi Browning (Dec)
Margaret Heslop (‘62)
Catherine Park & Tom Park
Meredith Taylor (‘79)
Elizabeth Burman
Jane Hodder &
Annie Paterson &
Monique Treadwell
(Harley ‘55)
Murray Ware
John Paterson
Richard Tsiang
Gail & Jim Butler
William Hogg
Jill Paterson (‘61)
Caroline Vaillant
Susie & Peter Cahill
Mary Hope OAM
Jan Peele
(Officer Brown ‘56)
Clare Cannon (Darling ‘77)
(Molesworth ‘40)
Melissa Peters (Kavals ‘00)
June Vose (Mackay ‘46)
& Andrew Cannon AM
Noelene Horton AM
& Mark Peters
Rosie Waite-Garrisson
Louise & Don Carroll
Margaret Howes
Samantha Pfeifer (‘78)
(Waite ‘78) &
Michelle Carroll
(Duckett ‘48) & Sam Howes
Rosemary & Andrew Philip
Tony Garrisson
Regina Cheale
Madeleine Hunter (‘05)
Rowena Phillips &
Sylvia Walton AO
Xiao Yu (Carol) Chen
Ann Hyams (Pisterman ‘64)
David Vote
Yuan Ya (Carol) Wang
May & James Chen
& Tony Hyams AM
Josephine Portwine
Anne Waterhouse
Carlo Colosimo
Geraldine & Bernard Ilott
Rachael & Joe Powell
Vanessa Webb (Hergstrom
Anne Connellan
Margaret Ironside (‘48)
Emma & Ian Pratt
‘85) & Richard Webb
Astrida & Craig Cooper
Linda Irving Hyman &
Shahan Priamo
Jane & Richard Whiter
Axi Cooper (‘05)
Mark Hyman
Elizabeth Prowse
Beth Wilson (Neville ‘62)
Elizabeth Cooper
Jennifer Jeffries-Wilson
Yumin Ren & Hui Wang
Marjorie Wilson (Pease ‘62)
(Newman ‘61)
(Ramsay ‘47)
Joan Rofe
Sally Wood
Anne Court (Lowry ‘58)
Susannah & Michael Johns
Diana Saul & Doug Harrah
Jenny Woods
Paul Cross
Sally Joubert
Rosemary Scarborough
Emma & Nick Young
Virginia Dahlenburg (‘77)
Sonia & Wayne Kent
(Catchlove ‘64)
Tim Zwar
Cathryn & Andrew
James Kimpton AM
Diana Sellenger (Bown ‘60)
Darbyshire
Cathy & Peter Kudelka
Sharon Seoud
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Top L:R Showcasing a history of St Catherine’s; Elegant table centrepieces; Principal, Mrs Michelle Carroll and Chair of Council, Mrs Clare Cannon (Darling ’77) cutting the 120 Birthday Cake Bottom Left L:R Mrs Rebekah Armstrong, Mrs Mary Wilson and Mrs Emily Barrington; Mrs Rebecca and Mr Jamie Gray; Mrs Geraldine and Mr Bernard Ilott; Guests dined on delicious food; Mrs Holly Shergold (Tinsley ’89), Mrs Emma Stephens (Millis ‘89), Mrs Rachel Schiavo (Silverman ‘89) and Mrs Odette Kerr (Macquet ‘89) Bottom Right L:R Mrs Fiona and Mr Scott Reinke, Ms Andrea Donaldson, Mrs Lee Spyrou, Mrs Anthea Bickford (Gray ’79); Brigette Cantarella (Year 11) and Manon Dennison (’15); Mrs Shayne Menzies, Mrs Rosemary Philip, Tamsin Cantwell (’15) and Alice Philip (’15); Ms Erica Gill and Mrs Fleur Heidenreich; Mrs Felicity Bongiorno (Miller ’87), Mrs Lisa Steven and Mrs Peta Gray; Mrs Jane and Mr Murray Hodder
We Celebrate our …and our The 120 Celebration Ball Committee
What a night of nights our 120 Celebration Ball was! The beautiful and elegant surrounds of the recently-opened Glasshouse venue were the perfect setting for our 380 guests joining together to celebrate the School’s 120th anniversary. The AAMI Stadium with twinkly lights provided a majestic backdrop as our guests enjoyed fabulous pre-dinner marimba and guitar music provided by Year 12 students Greta Chen and Ruby Smith. Guests were delighted to be presented with beautiful sketches from our roving fashion illustrators, Manon Dennison (’15), Ingrid Crossing (Year 11) and Brigette Cantarella (Year 11), who captured the glamour of the attendees. Guests dined on delicious food while sampling delectable champagne and Birthday Bling cocktails. The room was resplendent with elegant table centrepieces provided by the capable Kate Stewart (‘01) and her En Pointe team. A showcase of wonderful talent featured throughout the evening. Tamsin Cantwell (’15) and Alice Philip (’15) opened the evening’s entertainment with Let me be your Star and Fight Song captivated the audience. Violinist Sally Cooper was electric, engaging the audience and bringing a party atmosphere to the room. Many guests will remember Sally’s extraordinary performance while the St Catherine’s confetti rained down on the dance floor later in the evening.
The night was well supported by so many – Luke Darcy, our fabulous MC and Lachlan Fraser-Smith, a wonderful capable Auctioneer. Our group of Class of 2015 students; Kathleen Hugh, Nicole Kaminsky, Annabel Steven, Emily Tanner, Emma Thompson, along with Petalyn Holloway and Meredith Taylor from the Marketing Department, worked diligently all night supporting our auction and raffles. Our impressive list of event and auction sponsors who donated such incredible fundraising items demonstrated an enormous display of faith in our ability to run a successful event. We proudly thank these generous sponsors and donors for their deep and ongoing commitment to our students and School. Please visit the events page of the St Catherines website to view a full list of event sponsors. Please show your support for these retailers and businesses in return and mention ‘St Catherine’s’ to keep the circle of generosity going. With such great support received for the night, our Committee was subsequently delighted to make a $99,397 donation to the School from proceeds raised. Over the coming years the School will be undertaking the Her Future Begins Here campaign to support the School’s vision of empowering and nurturing our girls to become women of the future, just as our Founding Principal, Miss Jeanie Hood envisaged when she opened the School 120 years ago. The funds raised from the 120 Celebration Ball will support that vision and benefit all students. Mrs Lisa Steven St Catherine’s 120 Celebration Committee
Liz Addison-Baker Rebekah Armstrong Anthea Bickford Felicity Bongiorno Bec Clark Sophie Christian Symone Demetriou Susie Farrer Erica Gill Peta Gray Emma Green Fleur Heidenreich Kirsten Mailer Marnie Pringle Rowena Rudge Lisa Steven Jill Taylor
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
PFA
120 Years
Rock Quiz
Blue Ribbon Recipes Project Commencing the 120 Years of Blue Ribbon Recipes project, I fully expected to be overwhelmed by the talent and creativity of the School community, and I was not disappointed. The flair, inventiveness, generosity and energy of those within the school has been outstanding. We have had contributions of beautiful and delicious recipes from current and past staff and students, mothers and fathers, past parents and St Catherine’s Old Girls as well as members of our wider School community.
The Rocking Quiz Night 2 with Brain Nankervis, organised and hosted by the Music Auxiliary, has solidified its place in the events calendar of the St Catherine’s community after the resounding success of the most recent event. Attendees were put to the test in the three round quiz which tested even the most avid music aficionados. Any tense rivalry inspired by the competitive nature of the event was alleviated by special guest and MC, Brian Nankervis who kept the crowd involved and engaged throughout the evening. The Zumba dancers and ticket sellers kept spirits high as the night progressed with many attendees delighting in the evenings dancing activities while others celebrated their raffle wins. The donated raffle prizes ranged from an opportunity to conduct the Jorgensen Orchestra to the opportunity to observe during a medical and surgical work experience along with numerous hampers.
During the evening, the Dorothy Pizzey Hall was filled with the beats and sounds of a number of performers including the vocal talents of Ruby Smith, 2016 Choral Captain, our Senior School cover band Auto-no-maus made up of Sofiya Hay, Demi Markakis, Ingrid Crossing, Gemma Chan, Katherine Yuan, Ying You (Jenny) Wang, Charlotte Weir, Sidonie Bird de la Coeur and Greta Chen with a guest appearance from Mr Dean Hilson. Many thanks to Mrs Jenny Mathers, Head of Music and Mr Tim Collins, Deputy Head of Music at St Catherine’s for their ongoing support and to all the parents involved with the Music Auxiliary who made this event such a success. I look forward to many successful future events together. Mrs Larissa Roeske Music Auxiliary President 2016
However this book is not simply about food. As one author remarked, “a recipe is a story that ends with a good meal.” It is the stories within these recipes that are most enchanting! Amongst the pages you will find not only a recipe for every occasion, but a story of love and care from the family that shared it. There are many treasured dishes captured in this book that carry with them touching histories and happy memories. These make this so much more than just another cookbook. If you are searching for a beautiful memento of our School and your time here, either as a parent, student or staff member, then I can say with confidence you will not be let down. There are stunning photographs contributed by skilled photographers, recipes from both professional and home cooks, and artwork and images highlighting the St Catherine’s community. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to be part of this project, and I am looking forward to the finished result. Information on availability and ordering will be featured on the St Catherine’s Website. Mrs Christie Freeman Parents’ and Friends’ Association
120th Celebration: Past Parents Social Evening
Connecting St Catherine’s Families St Catherine’s is well known for being a close-knit School community. To strengthen this, a few years ago the Past Parent’s and Families’ Network (PPFN) was formed. Our key objective is to help facilitate the continuation of the close friendships formed amongst parents, as well as maintaining relationships with the School. We do not fundraise and membership is automatic to any parent whose child has left St Catherine’s, including those who still have children at our School. Our key activities include: a social evening for immediate past parents of Year 12 students; year level reunions (especially in the past ten years); and an annual event for all past parents. These events are all free of charge and usually held in the homes of past parents. We trust you enjoy these occasions for a catch up with fellow past parents. Please do let us know if you are happy to host an event in your home – the School can arrange glassware, invitations and help you update your email addresses as needed.
We also arrange tables at the School’s major events such as the Ruth Langley Luncheon, Gala Concert and Senior School Productions. Information on all of our events are posted on the St Catherine’s website, under ‘Our Community’ in the Past Parents section. Please check the website regularly to help plan your diary. All our news and invitations are sent via email. If you move or have changed address since leaving the School please let us know. Please feel free to circulate our invitations and news to other past parents who we may have lost track of. You can now also catch up on our events and news in future editions of St Catherine’s News and via the School’s Social Media Channels. Mr Scott Reinke Chair, Past Parents’ and Families Network
It is always a fine evening when the Past Parents community gather for a social event and the most recent at the Hamer’s home was no exception. Many heartfelt memories and new and exciting news were exchanged in the convivial surroundings provided by our hosts. With champagne to enjoy and toast the 120 years of education at St Catherine’s School. Old friends are rediscovered and new friends were made at a very enjoyable occasion. Thank you for the generous donation of champagne and wine from Alister and Rosa Purbrick and Stephen and Kate Shelmerdine, the delicious catering from Chartwells, the Hamers for their hosting and the wonderful music from current year 12 students Greta Chen and Ruby Smith.
Class of 2003 Reunion It is now 13 years since our class of 2003 left School. It was so lovely to catch-up with each other on our walk around the Royal Botanical Gardens followed by refreshments afterwards on Friday 18 March. I thoroughly recommend the reunion to other year group parents. Julia Anderson, mother of Leila Anderson (’03)
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
ARCHI V ES
A Message from the President
In recognition of St Catherine’s time in Warburton during the Second World War, when the School was evacuated and utilised by the Australian Government as a training base for the WAAAF, the School commissioned this Mural, currently on display as part of the Warburton Rail Trail.
The School Archives is concentrating this year on the personal stories held within our ever expanding collection. These anecdotes, some of which are only a couple of sentences in length, can evoke strong memories among their readers.
Personal Stories from the St Catherine’s Archives For those staff members who have worked at the School for up to 40 years some letters found in the Archives can be particularly poignant. The following extract, from a letter sent from Miss Hilda Langley to student Isobel Robinson, illustrates the warmth and affection present within the teacher student relationship. If you have a story or a letter that you would like to contribute to the School Archive then please email it to the Archive Manager: mcampbell@stcatherines.net.au. Ms Melissa Campbell Archives
“My dear Isobel, I was so glad to get your letter, but so sorry to hear that you had not passed in History, six subjects shows you did a good years work anyway and I do hope you will have another try in December and that you will be successful. We have opened with a full School, I miss the Old Girls who have left and you among them. I am glad you had a couple of years at St Catherine’s and wish it could have been longer. Give my love to your Mother I hope you and she will come and see me sometimes. Ever yours affectionately, Hilda Langley” – sent March 10, 1936.
THE BULLETIN
Welcome and congratulations to our newest SCOGA members, the Class of 2015, who completed a fantastic final year of School and excelled in the VCE.
Dr Edwina Thompson (’96) – Threat Finance expert
I would also like to congratulate and introduce our new SCOGA Committee members Nicole Osborn (Schwarz ’85) and Roz Mackay (Kirk ’75) together with Nicola Sitch and Jaquelin Cantarella, 2015 School Captain and Vice Captain, as ex-officio members.
In April SCOGA will be launching a book to celebrate all the Old Girls recognised in the Project and to commemorate the School’s 120th Anniversary.
Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum Project SCOGA’s Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum Project was conceived in 2006 in recognition of the amazing achievements of past students of St Catherine’s School. This year SCOGA is delighted to be inducting 16 new Old Girls who have been influential in their field of endeavour: Elyne Mitchell OAM (Chauvel ‘30) – Author Dr Athel Hockey AO (‘40) – Geneticist Pamela Warrender OAM (Myer ’42) – Founder, Committee for Melbourne Rev Nanette Good OAM (Nutt ’46) – Priest Esta de Fossard-Nelson (Hall ‘50) – Teacher and author Beverley Diane Holuigue CCP OAM (Nicholls ‘58) – Chef, author, teacher Virginia Edwards AM (Smith ’56) – Animal welfare advocate Jane Singleton AM (Stoney ’64) – Journalist and Director, Sydney Peace Foundation Jane Clark (‘72) – Curator at MONA Celia Burrell AM (Shelmerdine ‘83) – Author and tourism entrepreneur Sally Macindoe (’84) – Partner & Global Head of Diversity, Norton Rose LLP Kate Beynon (‘88) – Artist and Archibald finalist Dr. Lisa Gorton (’89) – Rhodes Scholar and author Olivia Skellern (Bunn ’96) – Olympic equestrian
Anna Segal (’04) – Olympic freestyle skier The profiles of these remarkable women can be found at www.stcatherines.net.au/our-community/scoga/nil-magnum-nisi-bonum-project/
SCOGA Women in Industry Networking Events Last year SCOGA launched our career specific networking events for all Old Girls and members of the School community. They were such a success that we will be continuing the series this year with an event for those in the banking and financial services industry and those in the fashion industry. On Tuesday 25 August 2015, we hosted the Women in Marketing and Communications Networking Event with a speaker panel featuring Genevieve Brammall (Lally, ‘89), Caroline Viska (’95), Zoe Carr (’96) and me. All speakers provided valuable insights into the marketing and communications industry, spoke passionately about their experiences and offered advice to more than 40 Old Girls and members of the School community. Reunions This year we will welcome back the following Year groups who will celebrate milestone reunions with a tour and cocktail party or morning coffee at the School: 2001, 2006, 2011, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1976, 1966 and the Pre-1957 Group. We are also delighted to be hosting a reunion in London on Tuesday 21 June and a Boarders’ reunion on Saturday 21 May. The inaugural New York Reunion and the Captains’ and Vice Captains’ Reunion in February were also a great success!
Our reunions are always very well attended and a great way for Year groups to stay connected. We thank Sally Ahern (Watson ’74), our Reunion Coordinator, for her tireless effort in organising these events, together with the School’s Community Relations Department and the respective Year Group Representatives. We look forward to thanking our Year Group Representatives at the annual cocktail party to be held on Tuesday 3rd May. Honorary Old Girl We are delighted that Mrs Jane Torii has become our latest Honorary Old Girl, in recognition of her valuable service as a member of staff at St Catherine’s School. We look forward to welcoming Mrs Torii to reunions and events in the coming years. Thank you My sincere thanks must go to the SCOGA Committee for their tireless work and dedication. I would like to thank the following retiring Committee members for all of their efforts, enthusiasm and commitment to SCOGA: Meg Begg (Christensen ’61), Susie Borthwick (Morris ’81), Lucy Fortey (King ’90), Abigail Hand (Hossack ’83), Megan Macdonald (Benson ’00), Anissa Millis (Cavallo ’93), Sara Petautschnig (Sutton ’83) and Zelia Ranger (’06). Thank you to our Year Group Representatives who we regularly rely on to pass on information about our events to their Year Group and to keep the Committee up to date with news and information. Our thanks also to Principal, Mrs Michelle Carroll, and Development and Community Relations, Marketing, Archives and Business Offices for their ongoing assistance and support. Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) SCOGA President, 2016 phoebe_norman@icloud.com
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
2015 SCOGA
Marketing and Communications Networking Event SCOGA was delighted to host the fourth networking event of the 2015 series on August 25 for those working in, or interested in the marketing and communications industry. The event, held at Ellis Street Studio in South Yarra, was supported by the School and more than 40 Old Girls and members of the School community were in attendance. We welcomed speakers Genevieve Brammall (Lally, ‘89) National Head of Media Relations and Communications, News Corp Australia, Caroline Viska (’95) Director, Caroline Viska Consulting, Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) Event Marketing and Sponsorship Consultant and Zoe Carr (’96) Director, Major Events & Special Projects, Bastion EBA and Director, Crawf TV Productions. The speakers delivered passionate speeches about their experiences in the industry and the panel discussion, moderated by Phoebe Norman, offered valuable insights and advice. All speakers enjoyed their ability to work with a diverse range of people with varied skill sets across the corporate and public domain. Zoe Carr discussed how running her own business has allowed her to start in one specialty and move to another depending on the nature of her clients. Flexibility and experience in as many segments as possible was essential. Caroline highlighted just how prolific collaborations between businesses and sponsors have become across the industry, giving examples that included campaigns that she has managed. Collaborations have assisted her to build her network. The growth of online/digital in the marketing landscape has changed the way we work and consume information, and Genevieve spoke about the impact of the digital revolution on her role at News Corp. Each speaker provided excellent advice to those who were studying at university and to the Years 11 and 12 students in attendance. “The key message was to gain as much experience as
possible, starting at the bottom and working your way up and to recognise that we are all still learning no matter how senior we are in a role. A good network can lead to client referrals and business building and more often than not to your next job!” says Phoebe Norman. We received wonderful feedback on the event and our speakers: “The speakers were insightful and I enjoyed how different each story was. Different perspectives enhanced the presentation immensely. I do believe it is worth attending and would encourage other girls to come along next year without doubt.” Isabelle Ferrali (’15). “It was great – so interesting to hear the stories of other Old Girls. And it was fantastic to meet others in the field. Great venue too!” Anna Crameri, (’00) Manager – Marketing & Communication at GHD. “Exceeded my expectations. The panel members were all very inspiring and each of their different stories covered a range of topics.” Camilla Speer (Deague ’02), Senior Marketing and Sponsorship Executive, Art Series Hotel Group. Sincere thanks to all our speakers for their insight and time and to Mrs Michelle Carroll, Principal and staff in the Marketing Office for their support of these events. Thank you also to the organising committee; Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95), Deborah Berry (Manos ’77), Tori Landale (’10), Emily Smith (’10) and Helena Lyristakis (’11).
SCOGA Committee 2016
NETWORKING EVENTS 2016 Wednesday 11 May St Catherine’s Women in Creative Industries: Fashion Networking Event Wednesday 17 August St Catherine’s Women in Banking
Left to Right Zoe Carr (’96), Genevieve Brammall (Lally, ‘89), Caroline Viska (’95) Ruth Wiseman, Sherryl Douglas, Alice Gardiner (’14), Sophie Gardiner Phoebe Vile (’96), Polly Viska (’01), Linke Lovett (’96), Lucy Cashmore (Olsen ’97) Panelists offered valuable insight and advice to attendees during the Marketing and Communications Networking Event
& Finance Networking Event Further information on upcoming events can be found at: www.stcatherines.net.au/our-community/ scoga/networking-and-mentoring/
THE BULLETIN
President Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) Mobile 0459 024 183
AM for Old Girl
phoebe_norman@icloud.com Vice President Victoria Landale (‘10)
Virginia Edwards (Smith ’56) has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to the community as an advocate for the welfare, care and support of sick and injured animals and to philanthropy. Virginia’s fifty years of volunteering at Lort Smith Animal Hospital has included pet therapy visits, working in the Hospital’s opportunity shops and organising fundraising events. In 1980 Virginia was proud to be invited to join the Hospital Board, serving for 35 years. She also chaired the fundraising committee for the new Hospital which opened in 2000. “I was totally and utterly overwhelmed to be honoured on Australia Day this year,” says Virginia. “Receiving the AM coincides with the 80th Anniversary of Lort Smith, established in 1936 to enable people of limited means to access veterinary care for their beloved animals. I am exceptionally passionate about the history of this unique organisation.” Virginia is also one of the longest serving committee members of SCOGA, serving as President in 1982–1983 and 1995–1996. “Lort Smith and the School have always been my special interests in life,” says Virginia. SCOGA extends its warmest congratulations to Virginia. Mrs Virginia Edwards AM (Smith ’56), with her Golden Retriever, Hallie. Photo courtesy of Matthew Lyn.
Treasurer Nicole Osborn (Schwarz ’85) Secretary/Public Officer Stephanie Lazar (John ‘86) Reunion Coordinator Sally Ahern (Watson ’74) Mobile 0419 001 012 sahern@bigpond.net.au Bulletin Editor Deborah Berry (Manos ’77) oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au School Council Nominee Louise Lampard (’79) General Committee Virginia Edwards AM (Smith ’56) Helena Lyristakis (’11) Roz Mackay (Kirk’ 75) Emily Smith (’10) Lisa Trosdal (’79) Ex Officio Michelle Carroll (Principal) Nicola Sitch (’15) Jaquelin Cantarella (’15)
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
cing and catching up.”
1975 Year Group – 40 Year Reunion Year Rep: Ann Walker, assisted by Roz Mackay (Kirk)
Left to Right Farleigh McLaren (’06), Michelle Carroll, Angela Johnson (’00), Samantha Pfeifer (’78), Kate Hatherley (’07), Aimee Hocking (’00), Edwina Myer (’05), Laura Riordan (’05), Grace Eilenberg (’05), Diane Arnold (’74), Elizabeth Carey (Elder ‘82), Anna MacDonald (Riordan ’00), Melinda Robertson (‘98), Regina Schleiger (’83)
Inaugural New York Reunion
1985 Year Group – 30 Year Reunion Year Rep: Lisa Ritchie
1990 Year Group – 25 Year Reunion Year Rep: Lucy Fortey (King)
On Tuesday 10 February 2016, 13 Old Girls and 2 current parents met at the Marriott Hotel in the heart of Times Square, New York City. We gathered for the inaugural New York reunion coinciding with the visit of the Principal, Michelle Carroll. The Old Girls in attendance ranged from those who had graduated in 1974 to 2008. Some had established roots and families in New York and others had recently relocated to embark on new adventures. We were even lucky enough to have Angela Johnson (‘00) in town on business from London. It was wonderful to share stories about our paths to New York, living in the US and, of course, to exchange memories about the old St Catherine’s days. Everyone very much enjoyed meeting Michelle Carroll and hearing about the forum on girls’ education she had attended earlier in the week. Thank you to Meredith Taylor (’79), Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) and other members of SCOGA who were involved in organising the event. We are already looking forward to our planned catch up next year. Laura Riordan (’05)
2006 Year Group – 10 Year Reunion Year Rep: Zelia Ranger
Dates for
2016 Reunions
Reunions
1965 Year Group – 50 Year Reunion Year Rep: Cynthia Howell (Alsop)
THE BULLETIN
2010 Year Group – Five Year Reunion Year Reps: Lucy Cameron and Amy Wilson
Friday 15 April 2016 20 Year – 1996 Tour 5.30pm, drinks in Drawing Room 6.00pm Kate Barber – 0409 804 948 kate.barber.1@gmail.com
Friday 2 September 2016 25 Year – 1991 Tour 5.30pm, drinks in Drawing Room 6.00pm Emma Stanford – 0400 147 134 emma.e.stanford@gmail.com
Tuesday 3 May 2016 Year Reps Cocktail Party Drawing Room 6.30pm Sally Ahern – 0419 001 012 sahern@bigpond.net.au
Friday 7 October 2016 Five Year – 2011 Tour 5.30pm, drinks in Drawing Room at 6.00pm Helena Lyristakis – 0409 606 878 helena.lyristakis@gmail.com
Friday 13 May 2016 30 Year – 1986 Tour 5.30pm, drinks in Drawing Room 6.00pm Melissa Sweetland – 0417 036 529 melissa.sweetland@bigpond.com Saturday 14 May 2016 40 Year – 1976 Tour 10am, Morning coffee and tea in the Drawing Room 10:30am Gina Israel – 0414 950 096 gisrael@bigpond.net.au Saturday 21 May 2016 Boarders’ Reunion High Tea and tour 2.30pm – 5.00pm in the Mary Davis Centre oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au Tuesday 21 June 2016 London Reunion 6.30pm Cocktail Party at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London, UK oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au Facebook London Networking Group: www.facebook.com/ StCatherine’sOldGirlsinLondon
Lucy Court – 0431 834 961 lucy_court@hotmail.com Friday 21 October 2016 Pre 1957 Luncheon 12.00pm – 2.00pm Virginia Edwards AM (Smith ’56) – 9503 1222 elizabellmaine@gmail.com Sally Aheen – 0419 001 012 saheen@bigpond.net.au Saturday 22 October 2016 50 Year – 1966 Tour 10am, morning coffee and tea in the Drawing Room 10.30am Sally Bell – 0413 629 719 / 9510 5054 sw.bell@bigpond.net.au Saturday 26 November 2016 Annual General Meeting 10.00am followed by morning tea oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au
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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2016
Past School Captains’ & Vice Captains’ Reunion Breakfast
Connecting our Community
THE BULLETIN
Weddings
Please ensure your details are up–to–date so you do not miss any invitations or School news. To update your contacts (email, postal or phone numbers) please email oldgirls@stcatherines.net. au or phone Ms Meredith Taylor, Community Relations Officer, on +61 3 9828 3081. You can also like the School’s Facebook page to keep up with the latest community news – www.facebook.com/stcatherinesschooltoorak 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.
Boarders’ Reunion On Monday 29 February the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA), together with the School, welcomed back more than 60 past School Captains and Vice Captains spanning the last seven decades. SCOGA President Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) was delighted to introduce 1979 School Captain Amanda Robertson as guest speaker. One of our first Old Girls to be honored in the Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum Project, Amanda is Head of Nephrology Surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Amanda spoke about lessons she had learnt since leaving School, the impact that School had on her and how it has influenced who she is today. Over breakfast, the group reminisced about happy times in their final year of School and later toured the School and attended morning assembly. Captains and Vice Captains were
invited to wear their beautiful blue blazers and a wonderful group photo was taken in front of Sherren House. Sue Harrison (Adamson ’50) said “it was a lovely idea to have such a gathering and although one of the older participants, it was great to catch up with younger women who had been involved with the School.” “I thought it was a really great celebration, with a terrific speaker and I loved catching up with so many Old Girls. How lucky we all are,” said Fleur Calvert (McKay ’94). Natalie Simpson (’02) summed up the morning perfectly. ‘It was such a wonderful and special event and I was very grateful to be included. To have so much history in the same room was truly remarkable!” Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95)
Left to Right Past Captains and Vice Captains don their blue blazers outside Sherren House following the Reunion Breakfast ; L:R – Eliza Bellmaine (Edwards ‘83), Melinda Law (’83), Virginya Thomas (Sutton ’85), Jenny Jackson (Sharp ’85); L-R: Alex Hinchcliff (’11), Helena Lyristakis (’11), Nakita Wilson (’13)
SCOGA and the School will be hosting a reunion for all boarders on Saturday 21 May 2016 from 2.30pm – 5.00pm at the School. There will be a tour of the School followed by High Tea and we look forward to welcoming back our past boarders. To update your contact details to receive the invitation, please contact oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au
London Reunion SCOGA and the School will be hosting a reunion in London, UK on Tuesday 21 June 2016 at 6.30pm at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery. If you live in London, or know someone who does, please make sure we have your email address in order to be sent the invitation. Contact details and enquiries can be sent to: oldgirls@stcatherines.net.au There is a Facebook page for those living in London to network together: www.facebook. com/stcatherinesoldgirlsinlondon
Top – Left to Right Phillipa Leggo (Peardon ‘00) married Scott Leggo in May 2015 in the Hunter Valley, NSW. The wedding was held at Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club and the reception was at Muse Restaurant. Their mothers were their witnesses L:R Scott Leggo, Marion Leggo, Phillipa Leggo (Peardon ‘00), Jenny Peardon (Horne ‘65) Rebecca Melville (‘03) married Josh Agius on 18 April 2015 at Bellbrae, Victoria. Jane Willersdorf (‘02) married Jon Bower Daniel Smith on 30 August, 2014 at Myer Mural Hall, Melbourne L:R Nicholas Laming, Amanda Hammond, Jon Bower Daniel Smith, E. Jane Smith (Willersdorf ‘02), Stephanie Vroom (Manolas ‘02), Daniella Gavshon, Sarah Farace (Willersdorf ‘95) and Graeme Wattie
Our new babies Left to Right Jess Junkeer (Wang ’01) with Hugo Junkeer, Linley O’Brien (Hewitt ’01) with Zara and Jack O’Brien, Morgan Ryan (Lacey ’01) with William and Patrick Ryan, Diana Telford (Dickinson ’01) with Angus and Emily Telford and Amy Tabart (Bennison ’01) with Jack and Olivia Tabart; Georgia Faye Olsen Norman, a daughter for Phoebe Norman (Olsen ’95) and Stuart Norman; Isabella Elizabeth Carroll, a daughter for Sarah Bostock (’96) and Noah Carroll; Lily Catherine Colclough, a daughter for Alice Colclough (O’Brien 02) and Justin Colclough. A sister for Oliver and Hamish; Grace Eva Rose Smith, a daughter for Jane Willersdorf (‘02) and Jon Bower Daniel Smith; Emily Diana Telford, a daughter for Diana Telford (Dickinson ‘01) and Paul Telford. A brother for Angus. Four generations L:R Alexandra Dickinson (Boynton ’76), Jill Boynton (Warnock ’46) with Emily, Diana Telford (Dickinson ‘01); Isabella Rice, a daughter for Sophie Rice (Pelman ‘97) and Richard Rice. A sister for Edward and Willow; Luca Bowie Lutz, a son for Rebecca Lutz (Paranthoiene ‘97) and Chris Lutz. A brother for Coco and Arabella.
Fiona Richardson (’03) married Nicholas Allen on 16 May 2015 at Portsea L:R Sarah Murchie (Richardson ’01), Christa Ray (Block ’03), Fiona Richardson (’03), Nicholas Allen, Penrose West (Burge ’03), Avesia Troon (Calman ’03) and Alyssa Cruickshank. Catherine Carah (Hutton ’04) married Alexander Carah on 21 November 2015 L:R Xavier Shiels, Victoria Prowse (‘04), James Gray, Sophie Ahern (‘04), Nicholas Waters, Catherine Carah (Hutton ‘04), Alexander Carah, Elizabeth Hutton (‘07), Julian Russell, Anna Glynn (‘04), Thomas Carah, Louisa de Kievit (‘04)
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Obituaries
Jocelyn Brassey Cooper (Bottomley ‘44) Ethel Grace Du Ve (Langley ’33) Jeannette Fraser (’51) Lucy Halliday (’93) Sue Monro (Bowman ‘63) Donalda Mairi Picken (‘40)
(McConnan ‘42)
Bunty was the only and much adored child of Sir Leslie and Lady Gladys McConnan, commencing at St Catherine’s School at the age of 10.
classes in places such as the high-rise housing estates in Flemington – something she found challenging but deeply satisfying.
Bunty loved and excelled at School and was thrilled when news came the School was to be evacuated to Warburton in 1942. She spent her last year of School as a boarder and as School Captain.
Bunty was a long-time member of the Lyceum Club, ultimately becoming President from 1978 until 1980. She also took over her mother’s connection to what was originally called Berry Street Babies’ Home. She served on the board there between 1981 and 1991, and was Vice President from 1983 to 1985.
As her three children grew Bunty immersed herself in community activities. She became president of both the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association and the Cadet Mothers’ Association at Scotch College. She completed a Diploma of Migrant Studies, after which she home tutored migrant women and taught English
Donalda (Donna) was born at home in North Carlton on 4 September 1922 and was educated at St Catherine’s School from 1928 to 1941. She achieved Leaving in 1940 and was a Probationer, Prefect and Blair House Captain in 1941. Donna enjoyed playing tennis, golf and tried her hand at skiing. Although it was mooted she may go to university, with the war in progress she entered the work force instead, commencing work with the Department of Munitions in April 1942 until June 1946.
Donalda Mairi Picken (’40)
The Tanya Prochazka and Marianne Hunt Memorial Concert held at Toorak Uniting Church on December 13 was described as a “great reunion of everyone who loved Tanya and Marianne.” Mother and stepdaughter passed away a month apart in 2015. Joining to celebrate their lives during an afternoon of uplifting performances and moving reflections were family, friends, colleagues and pupils, some of who had travelled from Europe and Canada.
Bunty studied economics at Melbourne University, then she went to the UK, Paris and Florence to be “finished.” She met and married her husband, Ham Moreton upon her return to Australia.
Lesley Baxter (Bunty) Moreton
Kathryn Rainford (’82) Elinor Cynthia Ranken (Peterson ’40) Diane (Dee) Rickard (Paterson ‘43) Celeste Tehan (‘97) Pamela Williams (Granowski ’51)
Donna was elected a Life Governor of the Association for the Blind in 1974. She drove and volunteered for that Association for over 15 years, receiving the Tilley Ashton Medal for her 15 years of honorary service in 1984 and another award in 1996. She supported many charities including the Mission of St. James and St. John,
Balancing teaching with family life, Marianne was remembered as a gracious, inspiring and generous teacher and friend by those fortunate enough to have been her students. Colleagues and pupils lauded Tanya’s personality and her amazing abilities, notably to bring long flowing phrases to life with a very free bowing arm and to interpret the work using a story or a metaphor. Family members shared cherished memories and at times humorous recollections of both women.
More than 30 cellists (students and “grandstudents” of Marianne and Tanya) filled the chancel of Toorak Uniting Church to perform the final set, the poignant strains of Londonderry Air contrasting with the buoyant energy of Bohemian Rag. In memory of Marianne’s husband Kenneth, and Marianne and Tanya, The Hunt Family Memorial Fund (formerly the Kenneth Hunt Memorial Fund) helps disadvantaged young musicians attend the annual National Music Camp of the Australian Youth Orchestra. Since 2003, the Fund has generously donated $14,000 to help 29 students attend the National Music Camp. Administered by the family, funds are raised through concerts and donations. For more information, please contact Rosanne Hunt at rosyhunt1@gmail.com Deborah Berry (Manos ’77)
Marianne Hunt was a dearly loved cello teacher who made an inestimable contribution to Melbourne cellists and cello culture. She was School Captain in 1939 and 1940 and was chosen to sing the part of Josephine in a School production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore at the Comedy Theatre. As a cellist, Marianne was encouraged by the School violin teacher William Mallinson.
A loving mother and grandmother, Bunty was a remarkable woman with many talents. She instinctively knew how to relate to very different people, and strongly believed in social justice and in serving the community. Su Laird (Moreton ’74), Jane Moreton (’78) and David Moreton
Rosanne Hunt (‘80) and Elizabeth Wallfisch (Hunt ‘69), daughters of Marianne and sisters of Tanya, featured among the distinguished soloists and joined the Melbourne Baroque Orchestra in its debut performance. Fulfilling Tanya’s special request that Schubert be played in her memory, the Adagio from the Quintet in C major included Elizabeth on violin and Rosanne playing Tanya’s cello on loan from the Prochazka family.
Marianne Hunt (Maxwell ’39)
Marianne studied with Henri Touzeau at the Conservatorium of Music and joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 1946. From 1949 to 1952, she was a student of Henri’s teacher, Paul Bazelaire, in Paris. In 1955, back in Melbourne, she married Kenneth Hunt, founding Dean of Engineering at Monash University and father to twin daughters, Tanya (‘69) and Elizabeth (‘69). For the sake of family life Marianne decided to resign from the Orchestra and devote herself to teaching. At her peak Marianne taught more than 60 students a week – she taught at St Catherine’s for many years – and
caring for children and families, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and through her philanthropy was made an Honorary Life Governor of both The Royal Children’s Hospital and the Alfred Hospital. She enjoyed her dogs, keeping two at a time, both corgis and terriers (Fox and Jack Russell). She was a good neighbour, friend and caring family member. After a stroke at the age of 84, she moved into care and settled into Hedley Sutton Community where she lived for the last six years of her life, passing away peacefully on 27 May 2015.
Tanya Prochazka was a Canadian-based cellist and cello professor. During her time at St Catherine’s she excelled not only academically and in Music, but also in Sport. She had an exceptional musical heritage: her mother was oboist Tamara Coates, and her grandfather was the eminent conductor Albert Coates. Tanya’s father, Kenneth Hunt, was an engineer but also a fine clarinetist.
Donna’s great, great nieces, Chloé and Amelie Favaloro also attend St Catherine’s, currently in Year 3 and Prep.
Tanya’s stepmother, Marianne Hunt (Maxwell ’39), was her first cello teacher. Tanya went on to study with Henri Touzeau, and as a teenager won the ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition. She toured as a soloist with the Australian Youth Orchestra and then studied at the Conservatoire de Paris under André Navarra. Tanya worked in Vienna, studied in the US with Janos Starker and in the UK with Jacqueline du Pré. She won several prestigious prizes at European competitions.
Jane Favaloro
Tanya Prochazka (Hunt ’69)
In London in 1979 she met her future husband, Arthur Prochazka, an Australian neurophysiologist and in 1986 they moved with their three children to Edmonton, Canada.
she was still teaching at the age of 89. She tutored at Music camps and was an AMEB examiner, a council member of the Musical Society of Victoria, and a recipient of teaching awards from both the Victorian Music Teachers Association (of which she was a director) and the Australian Strings Association. She went to cello conferences in Moscow and the US, and Ken and Marianne entertained visiting cello soloists at home. Marianne taught her daughters Rosanne (‘80) and Tanya (’69) the cello and three of her five children became professional musicians. As a teacher, her kindness, patience and insightfulness were legendary, and she encouraged her students to love and respect music and the people around them. Marianne is survived by four of her five children, 14 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and by her sister Rosemary Fisher (Maxwell ’46). Rosanne Hunt (’80)
Tanya quickly became one of Canada’s leading cellists and in 1998 she was appointed Professor of Cello at the University of Alberta. Diagnosed with cancer in 2005 she continued her performance and teaching career, including a recital at Weill Hall (Carnegie Hall) New York, until illness finally forced her to retire in 2013. In 2009 she was inducted into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame for her contributions to the cultural life of the city. Her musical passion and her insistence that every performance be of the highest quality was well known. “Each one of us is a maestro”, she believed. She inspired her students and colleagues to engage with the freedom of the human spirit, to be courageous and to do anything. Tanya is survived by her mother Tamara, twin sister Elizabeth Wallfisch (Hunt ’69), five other siblings, husband Arthur, three children and five grandchildren. Rosanne Hunt (’80)
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