GHS & ST HILDA'S OLD SCHOLARS ASSOCIATION | Au gu st 2018
Issue 2 | Date: August 10, 2018
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REUNIONS
C HEVENTS RO N IC LE PO ST UPCOM ING
N EW SLET T ER
60 Year Reu n ion - Class of 1958
70+ MORNING TEA
COUNTRY LUNCH
Sat u r day 6 Oct ober
Tuesday, 14 August
Tuesday, 4 Sept ember
Ser vice, Sch ool Tou r , Lu n ch - St Hilda's
70 + Morning Tea will be held in the
Old Scholars and Whitby Mothers
Geraldine Erlandson,
School Hall at the Bay View Campus
are invited to a lunch in the
springside@amnet.net.au
on Tuesday 14 August at 10.00am.
picturesque hinterland of the
40 Year Reu n ion - Class of 1978 Fr iday 12 Oct ober 2018 Sch ool Tou r / RFBYC Julie Eller, eller@tpg.com.au; Janine Goyder, jsgoyder@bigpond.com Book at: www.trybooking.com/TFUJ
30 Year Reu n ion - Class of 1988
There will be raffle tickets and OSA
Ferguson Valley at the beautiful
merchandise available to purchase,
vineyard Aidan's. Issue of 2 |StDate: August 10, 2018
with all proceeds going toward the
Venue: St Aidan's Wines,
OSA Scholarship programs.
754 Ferguson Road, Dardanup
There is no charge for this event, but please register your attendance by contacting Alumni Coordinator, Leonora Nye on 9285 4256 or email leo.nye@sthildas.wa.edu.au .
(20 minutes east of Bunbury) 3 Course Lunch $50 per person Bus from St Hilda's and return $25 Register at.www. trybooking.com/WRUS
Sat u r day 1 Sept em ber 2018 Sch ool Tou r / Th e Clar em on t Hot el Kate Watts, katienwatts@hotmail.com
CAREER DEVELOPM ENT AWARD
Book at: www.trybooking.com/XBKP 20 Year Reu n ion - Class of 1998 Sat u r day 24 Novem ber 2018
Applicat ion s ar e n ow Open !
the value of women who are
Introduced in 2013 as a
independently making their
Centenary initiative, the annual
mark on the world by observing,
Sch ool Tou r / Pr in ce Lan e Bar
OSA Career Development
learning from and contributing
Abby Macnish,abby.macnish@gmail.com
Award, (previously OSA Travel
to different cultures and
Award) supports a financial
communities.
member of the OSA in their
Applications for the 2018 Career
pursuit of travel and learning,
Development Award close on
NOTE : CHANGE OF DATE 10 Year Reu n ion - Class of 2008 Sat u r day 15 Decem ber 2018
from which others will benefit.
Sch ool Tou r / Cot t esloe Beach Hot el
Valued at $3000 the Career
Lily Barrymore, ljbarrymore@gmail.com
Development Award recognises
Hallie Purio, hallie_purio@hotmail.com Maddy Shellabear, Maddy_shellabear@hotmail.com
COUNTRYLUNCH 12.00pmTuesday4September St Aidan'sWines 754FergusonRoad,Dardanup(20minuseast of Bunbury) 3courselunch$50per person BusfromSt Hilda'sandreturn$25 Door todoor busservicewill beavailabledepartingpromptly fromSt Hilda'sat 8.45am.Seatsarelimitedandbookingsare essential,pleasereserveyour seat throughTryBooking.
www.trybooking.com/WRUS
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Wedn esday 29 Au gu st 2018.
C H RO N IC LE PO ST
FROM THE PRESIDENT
N EW SLET T ER So much has happened at St Hilda?s since the last Chronicle Post was sent to you. In May our Patron and Principal, Kim Kiepe announced she was returning to work in her home state of Queensland. On the following page is the message to the school community announcing the appointment of Fiona Johnston as the new Principal to lead our school community from 2019. Do follow the video link as well. https://youtu.be/zsbxvR-7EVI At the end of the year we will have the opportunity to bid Kim a fond farewell and Issue 2 | Date: August 10, 2018 to thank her for her hard work and support of the Old Scholars Association. Early next year the Old Scholars will have an opportunity to get acquainted with Fiona as the new Principal. The Old Scholars Association looks forward to the change and innovation that comes with the change of leadership. In the meantime we will continue to uphold our traditions and core values as we hold events that bring Old Scholars together. In the following pages you can read about the Business Career Networking night at EY, and the very successful Mother ?s Day Bazaar in May. In June we welcomed 32 Old Scholar mentors back to school to share their experiences with the students in Years 10, 11 & 12. Congratulations to Evie Hewitt from the OSA Junior Campus who has been selected as the winner of the Year 6 academic scholarship this year. Good luck to the girls who will be interviewed shortly for the Year 11 & 12 Ammonite scholarship. I have thoroughly enjoyed my years as President. I am very grateful for the time and commitment from my committee members and the extended Old Scholar network which continues to support this organisation. I look forward to catching up with you at the 70 Plus Morning Tea or at the Country Lunch in the Ferguson Valley on the 4 September. I hope everyone attending reunions this year will treasure the time spent with school friends.
An u van Hat t em President, GHS & St Hilda's Old Scholars Association
Tim e: 10.00am Ven u e: Th e Sch ool Hall, Bay View Cam pu s, Bay View Ter r ace, M osm an Par k For m or e det ails, con t act Alu m n i Coor din at or , Leon or a Nye on 9285 4256
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CHAIR OF COUNCIL'S M ESSAGE The members of your School Council selected Fiona from a wide range of applicants because of her outstanding leadership skills and capacity to act as a role model for our students and staff. She has a clear vision for the future of girls?education, a wide range of educational experiences, and she has demonstrated her commercial acumen in guiding the growth of a complex and sophisticated secondary school that shares many of the challenges faced by leading schools, like St Hilda?s. Originally from Brisbane, Fiona completed her tertiary qualifications in Queensland and Victoria. She taught in the United Kingdom and in Queensland ? including at Stuartholme School and the Anglican Church Grammar School, prior to commencing at theFiona Australian International School in 2012. Mrs Nita Peploe Chair of Council
I have now spent considerable time with Fiona and firmly believe she will bring a dynamic leadership style to the role of Principal that will benefit both current and future students, our parental group, and the entire school community.
Your Council has absolute confidence that we have secured a leader of the highest quality for St Hilda?s who will both drive and guide the evolution of our school during the next decade as the education we provide continues to be shaped by a combination of technology and the changing needs of our society. Fiona has a clear vision that education must be about personal growth and wellbeing at all levels, with each individual being given the opportunity to specialise in those areas where their talents and interest lie. We believe that through her words, actions and achievements Fiona will be a role model who will continue to focus on preparing our girls for the future. Fiona is currently still living in Singapore with her family, so we have provided this video introduction to enable you to hear from her direct. Fiona assumes leadership of St Hilda?s from Kim Kiepe at a time when the school is recording impressive academic results and an exciting range of sporting and other co-curricular achievements in state, national and international competitions and activities. In our conversations with Fiona and her colleagues, it has become very clear to the School Council that one of her strongest skill sets is the ability to lead and empower staff to deliver the best education for each student and to work closely with their parents. She is noted for her collaborative working style and accessibility to all staff to help inform their individual decision-making. I am sure that our dedicated staff will welcome and be excited by Fiona?s appointment. As Council Chair and a St Hilda?s Old Scholar and current parent, I believe this is an exciting time to be the parent of a daughter. When our daughters are given the right educational opportunities and role models, then there is no limit to what our girls can achieve in the years ahead. Fiona successfully combines a busy career and family life, and she is the right leader to ensure that St Hilda?s remains a pre-eminent girls?school in Western Australia and that we continue preparing girls for the future.
Fiona Johnston
Fiona will move to Perth with her family in early 2019. Her daughter (Year 6) will attend St Hilda?s and it is intended for her son (Year 9) to be enrolled at our brother school, Christ Church Grammar School. We will ensure that students, parents and Old Scholars of St Hilda?s will have early opportunities to meet with Fiona at a number of events during Term 1 in 2019. I hope you will join with me in making Fiona and her family feel very welcome in Perth and part of our wider school community, as they will be with us for many years ahead. Yours sincerely Nit a Peploe Chair of Council
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NEW S GEORGINA PEARCE OAM (1957 KING) We congratulate Georgina Pearce as a recent recipient of the 2018 Queen?s Birthday Honours. Georgina received this recognition for her many years of work and service in the community as a dedicated volunteer. Georgina began boarding at St Hilda?s in 1952 through to 1957 and was familiar with the importance of a strong community having come from regional Kojonup. She enjoyed her time at school and after graduating she studied Arts at UWA before marrying and moving to Bullsbrook where she had three girls, Melody, Merrilee and Emma. Her daughters attended the local Primary School, before they too would start boarding life at St Hilda?s. Georgina continued her involvement and interest with the School and assisted with fundraising activities along with volunteering at the Riding for the Disabled at the Claremont Showgrounds. During the 1980s Georgina was very involved in supporting the Friends of the Art Gallery of WA, but with a passion for ?giving back to the community?, Georgina joined the Friends of Flying Doctors in 1995 raising money for the Royal Flying Doctors Service. She recognised the importance of the organisation and the service it provided to communities in remote areas. Through the influence of some equally community minded associations, Georgina banded together a group in 2002 forming the Flying 1000, a name suggested by another Old Scholar Mandy Loton (1959). This small but strong group of women were focused on raising money specifically for medical equipment and the fit-out in the new Pilatus aircraft. These volunteers targeted 1000 people to donate $250 a year over a 4 year period and making this a recurring program. The success of the Flying 1000 resulted in them raising $5 million from their inception in 2002 to 2017 which far exceeded their expectations. Georgina believes that the key to a successful committee is having energetic members who are focused and loyal and who exercise diplomacy, but she stresses that managing a database is paramount. She believes that it is important for the group to work for the collective good, and to always remember the donors. Everyone wants to be part of a winning team, and it is important to recognize the efforts and contribution of those who have been involved in the committee?s success. While Georgina has stepped down from the committee, she has remained the Patron of the RFDS and is still very actively supporting the organiation. As she states: ?the pleasure is in the doing?.
JESSICA M ARAIS (2002) Congratulations to Jessica Marais (2002) who took out the Award for Most Popular Actress at the recent Logies Awards on the Gold Coast. Jessica is currently seen on our television screens in Love Child and Wrong Girl.
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CAREERS NEW S W OM EN IN AVIATION VERONICA BINNS (CARR 1989) Pursuing a career in aviation began for Veronica Binns with a childhood interest in space travel, and an ambition of becoming an astronaut on a NASA Space Shuttle. At the early age of 10, she wrote to NASA to find out how this could happen, receiving an encouraging response from NASA ensuring her that the dream was certainly not impossible. Subsequent travel on airliners fuelled her passion for commercial aviation.
DANIELLE LINDELSEE (INGLISS 1987) One could say that the aviation industry is in Danielle Lindelsee?s genes, obtaining early exposure to the industry with her father working for Ansett Australia during her childhood. When she graduated from St Hilda?s in 1987, she decided to pursue a Humanities Degree at Murdoch University and later moved to Flinders University in South Australia.
Years later, after graduating from St Hilda?s in 1989, Veronica completed a Bachelor of Science in Archaelogy at UWA. While studying at university she began flying during holidays and weekends at a local flying school, but on completing her degree she spent a year backpacking around the world returning to Perth where she obtained a Commercial Pilots Licence. Training in Australia was an expensive exercise, but Veronica was determined to realise her dream holding many part-time jobs to finance the number of flying hours required.
After graduating, Danielle embarked on a year of travelling, returning to a role at Flight Centre in Adelaide in her early 20s, where she began her research into obtaining a Commercial Pilots License. With the high cost of training in Australia, she made the move to the US attending a training course at the Delta Aviation Academy in Florida. One year later, she was qualified and flying commercial Learjets and hired by United Express, a regional carrier based out of La Guardia in New York, and continuing this for over five years.
Once she had her licence, Veronica began teaching others how to fly before heading north to gain experience in larger aircraft. She worked for mining companies in Karratha, Darwin and Alice Springs, later moving to Queensland where she took up her first airline job. Veronica explains that ?The job is not just about getting from A to B safely, there are lots of other layers involved with all departments. We rely on all the human and technical elements to come together to get an aircraft airborne. Becoming a Captain involves learning how to manage situations and people. Environments and the people you work with are constantly changing and you need to adapt to handle these changes effectively and efficiently.?
With her husband also in the industry, Danielle took time off to raise her three children and remained ?grounded?in beautiful Denver, Colorado where they now live. She returned to work with United Airlines, as a Pilot Instructor at the United Airlines Training Facility. Built in 1967, this is the largest training facility in the world, and conveniently located in their hometown. The facility trains 1200 pilots a year, and employs 100,000 people, with Danielle training pilots for Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft from every aspect of the hydraulics and pneumatic engineering to ?what to do when systems fail?. The role enables her to balance maintaining currency in the industry, while remaining available to the family. Danielle loves her work and believes the industry is less of a boys' club and is now attracting a younger generation.
Veronica, now based back in Perth, has been working with Virgin Australia for 15 years and has been a Captain on the Boeing 737 for 10 of those years, both a role and an aircraft which she loves. Virgin employees 1500 pilots in Australia, and Veronica is fortunate to work for a supportive family-friendly employer that allows her the flexibility to select as many day trips in her schedule to be home at nights, back with her children and husband, also a Captain with Virgin. She believes a career in aviation to be highly rewarding and it has offered her so many different and wonderful opportunities.
We have recently seen Danielle return to Perth with her daughter Eva, who last term took part in the Australian Schools Experience and boarding here at St Hilda?s, in a wonderful opportunity to attend her mother ?s old school back in Western Australia.
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CAREER NETW ORKING SERIES
Over 60 people attended the OSA Career Networking Series, featuring Women in Business, this included recent graduates, current students, current parents and Old Scholars. Anneke Brown (1994), General Manager of COMO, The Treasury, Nita Peploe (1988) , recently appointed St Hilda's Chair of Council and Managing Director of the Oryx Communities, together with Jay Barker (1999) EY Senior Manager, People Advisory Services, shared their unique journeys and an insight into how they have progressed to where they are now. The event was hosted and moderated by Eliza Honey (2012) EY Senior Consultant in the beautiful EY city offices overlooking the Swan River.
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OSA BAZAAR
It was a beautiful day for the annual OSA Bazaar held at the Bay View Campus in May. The very talented music students provided a Jazz ensemble, Barber Shop Quartet and a Pop Music Band, creating a wonderful atmosphere for the biggest Bazaar yet. With a selection of vendors with unique products, handcrafts and entertainment the Committee have continued to raise funds for the OSA Scholarship & Career Development Award programs. Thank you to all who supported this event and making it such a success.
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OSA CAREER M ENTORING DAY
We welcomed over 30 Old Scholars back to school for the annual Career Mentoring Day, to share their experience in their chosen field of study or career with Year 10-12 students. This was a great opportunity for girls to ask questions and hear first hand from those already in the industry. We are grateful to the Old Scholars for the time they have taken out of their busy schedule to participate in a very worthwhile event. While it is not always possible to have specific industries represented during the day due to work and time commitments, the School endeavours to find Old Scholars who may have an interest in speaking with students. If you are interested, please contact the Alumni Coordinator, Leonora Nye on 9285 4256 or email leo.nye@sthildas.wa.edu.au Thank you to our 2018 Mentors: Sharne Clayton (1990), Abigail Lyon (2014), Miranda Edmonds (1994), Alexandra Mehl (2013), Shannon Dantoc (1997), Alex Needoba (2008), Sarah Hammond (2008), Jane Leaversuch (1986), Emily Honey (2008), Rachael Oldmeadow (1991), Susmita Thomson (1991), Anne Major (1991), Megan Reilly (1979), Rebecca Kirkman (1991), Georgie Gallagher (1985), Sophie van Hattem (2008), Hallie Purio (1993), Bec Shellabear (2003), Kathryn Boon (2002), Angela Burvill (2013), Lucy Plushke (2013), Amy Collins-Walker (1988), Tory Packer (2008), Stella Kelly (2016), Kate Parker (2005), Maryam Bell (1995), Rebekah Barnett (2000), Susan James (1991), Keiko Uno (1991).
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OLD SCHOLARS VISITS PENNI TOWNER (2000) Penni Towner (2000) graduated St Hilda?s and gained a Bachelor of Business, Marketing & PR from The University of Notre Dame in 2006. She stepped into a role in the fashion industry and later moved into Marketing at Hollywood Private Hospital. In 2010, Penni was very keen to start her own business and had a vision of creating an iconic brand of quality beauty and lifestyle products inspired by the Australian beach culture. With her father mentoring her in the early stages of the business, Penni founded Aussie Bombshell Pty Ltd. Over the past eight years she has learned many things about being a small business owner, all aspects which included decisions made from product development and sourcing manufacturers to brand design and website development. While Penni is also the face of the product, and actively works at marketing and distributing the brand nationally and internationally, she also spends time with the customer directly, and educating members of the beauty industry. With experience in building sales, identifying new Business Opportunities and Strategic Planning, she has continued to use her skills in the continuous growth of her business. Penni addressed the Year 11 girls last term about her experience from her school days to now running her own successful business.
GHS & St Hilda's Old Sch olar s Associat ion
ANNUAL GENERAL M EETING M ONDAY 15 OCTOBER Tim e: 7:30pm t o 8.30pm Ven u e: Th e Galler y, Hope Nich olas Hou se Bay View Cam pu s Meeting followed by refreshments
EM M A CURNOW (1998) We also welcomed Emma back to school to talk to the Year 11 students. After graduating from school, Emma studied Commerce at UWA. She began applying to the biggest global accounting firms during her holidays of her second year of university resulting in an offer at EY, enabling her to step into the area of audit after graduating. Emma enjoyed her time at EY in Audit as it provided her with an understanding of different businesses, with clients in mining and exploration and production companies, Wesfarmers and the Geraldton Newspaper. During her time at EY, Emma along with her peers sat the Chartered Accounting exams. It was difficult studying and working at the same time, but it is something of which she is proud and the most highly recognised qualification worldwide that an accountant can attain. After three years, Emma decided to move to London. She worked for a variety of companies in different industries and when she returned six years later, she worked for a surf fashion business, an insurance company and a not for profit organisation which helped people with disabiilities to find work. It is possible to work in a variety of businesses anywhere with the skill set acquired from an accounting degree. Being on the inside gave her the opportunity to see what makes each business tick. Emma is the Financial Controller and Company Secretary at Norwest Energy , but is currently on maternity leave spending time with her young son William.
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OLD SCHOLARS VISITS ELIZA HONEY (2012) Eliza graduated from St Hilda's and went on to pursue a commerce degree at UWA. In her second year, Eliza changed from a double major of History and Economics to majoring in Business Law. While at university, she completed a number of internships, one at the West Australian Football Commission and another working for a Federal Politician. After her final semester, she interned in sports marketing in London for five months, but rejected a job offer and decided to return home to pursue a graduate job in Perth. Eliza started as a graduate consultant at EY one year ago and is loving it. The main pieces of advice she gave to the Year 11 students as they consider what career or study to pursue is: -
It doesn't matter if you are unsure of what to study or pursue as a career, just make sure you do something, and work hard at whatever that is. You never know where things may lead. At the very worst, if you dislike something, you can cross that off your long list of possibilities;
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Speak to as many people as you can to find out what they do. Your parents, your siblings, your friends. Not just what they say they do, but what their job or study actually entails. You often never know what people do in their role at work until you ask them. Eliza uses herself as an example; no-one really knows what a consultant is, until you actually ask.
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Failure is not a bad thing, in fact it is a learning experience. Successful people have failed, and continue to fail at different things. What makes those people successful is the ability to learn from those mistakes, learn quickly, and harness the feedback to try again.
FROM THE ARCHIVES Principal Catherine Small (1931) is seen riding with the girls at the front of the School. (Right) Folk Dancing lessons were held in the School Hall. Images from Prospectus. Copy donated by Connie Lodge (Hawker, 1948)
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If you have any stories that you would like to share, please do not hesitate to forward them to oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au
REGIONAL VISITS
The Principal, Mrs Kim Kiepe together with the Head of Boarding, Leonie Jongenelis visited our regional communities in Albany, Kojonup, Margaret River and Geraldton to share news of the School.
NOTICES BEREAVEMENTS
W EDDINGS
OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF:
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Margaret Wain (Curtis 1949)
Emily Wickens (2002) and Duncan Wood
Susanne Morre (Lawrie 1954)
Sarah Sciarrone (2010) and Choda Tonga (pictured)
Ellen Chapman (Matthews 1937)
Jennifer Male (1988) and Richard Stallard
Diane Coxon (Robbins 1957)
married at the Chapel of St Hilda of Whitby earlier this year.
Kathryn Boon & Ross Duckham
Lanie Porter (Canning 1965) Metta Thick (Herbert 1948) Penelope McDonald (Adkins 1963) Margaret Spry (1948)
BIRTHS CONGRATULATIONS TO: Melanie Wiese ( 1987) and husband Emmanuez Hondros on the arrival of their son Jacob , brother to Alice and Adelaide. Dr Genevieve Gibbons (2002) and her husband Mark Weatherill on the arrival of their daughter Phoebe Kate McCung (Beverley 1996) and her husband Thomas on the arrival of their twin daughters Josephine and Lillian, sisters to Charlie.
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