flyer
Issue 17 Spring/Summer 2018
St Margaret’s
Contents
Flyer Issue 17 Spring/Summer 2018 Principal: Ros Curtis Editor: Wendy Johnston Journalists: Pru Reed; Victoria Nikolova; Wendy Johnston Graphic Designer: Pam Smiles Photography: Victoria Nikolova; Michael Marston; Stephen Jigalin; Marc Pricop Printing: Screen Offset Printing
From the Principal
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Innovative Schools Award Excellence in Educational Leadership National Recognition for Leading St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Teacher
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St Margaret’s welcomes new primary maths specialist Grandparents and great performances Treasure Found – Book Week brings out our best Wearable Wonders – learning in the making National Science Week St Margaret’s sleek geek sisters St Margaret’s to award inaugural Ausenco Engineering Scholarship National Youth Science Forum Selections Shining a light on pathways
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Celebrating cultural diversity in the boarding house Leadership award Coming to a town near you A global community
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Record fundraising total for Ponytail Project Antipodeans: Life’s Adventures
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St Margaret’s students study abroad
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Festival celebrates creativity St Margaret’s art collection continues to grow with new additions
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AWARDS
LEARNING
BOARDING
SERVICE
GLOBAL EXCHANGE
MAYO ARTS FESTIVAL
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SPORT Head of the River Champions Andrews Cup Success Term 3 Sports Wrap Lily-Kate helping others through hockey Teamwork makes the dream work MUSIC Walking in the footsteps of greatness
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OLD GIRLS NEWS Career Inspiration from Old Girls Old Girls the world over Young Old Girls Overseas – My Gap Year An insight into global work Revelling in Reunions Lives of service recognised by highest honours
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A bold new vision for St Margaret’s sport Foundation News Donor Thank you Networking events share, support and inspire
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Inaugural Mother Daughter St Margaret’s Race Day Primary breakfast celebrations for Mother’s and Father’s Days
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FOUNDATION
EVENTS
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From the Principal
Although you are most likely reading this edition of the Flyer in October, I am writing my editorial in the last week of August/early September. As I reflect on the week that has just been, I realise I have just experienced the essence of a full St Margaret’s education within only a one week period. Let’s start on Tuesday 28th August. Tuesday: 86 students cut off their hair in The Ponytail Project and raised over $96,500 for Cancer Council Queensland and the Amanda Minotti Trust. The focus of the students on community service and philanthropy is inspiring and heart-warming. Also, on this day, NAPLAN results were released, and St Margaret’s was in the top 15 schools in Queensland in all year levels. In fact, we were only one of two P to 12 schools who had results in the top 15 schools for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Our emphasis on academic endeavour in the school, particularly the importance of foundational literacy and numeracy, was apparent when these results were published. That evening, the school celebrated 110 years of QGSSSA (Queensland Girls’ Secondary School Sports Association) at a gala dinner; St Margaret’s was one of the three schools that got together to begin this sports competition, which is now comprised of 10 schools. Sport has always played an important role in St Margaret’s 124-year history and it has always been a leading school in the sporting arena. Wednesday: Our growing emphasis on entrepreneurial thinking saw three entrepreneurs present to students and their parents about their achievements and their entrepreneurial thinking and approaches. This ‘Ignite’ session was followed in the next few days with Years 9 and 10 students revealing their entrepreneurial ideas, either through a ‘pitch’ at a trade fair or in a shark tank scenario. St Margaret’s is committed to reflecting current thinking about the importance of entrepreneurship and for providing opportunities for students to explore this important field. Thursday: We woke to the news that, the previous evening, two St Margaret’s girls (sisters Emily and Ella Woods) won a national science prize, the Sleek Geeks Eureka Science Prize, and were receiving national attention because of their video about lactose intolerance. These girls displayed initiative, creativity and a high degree of synthesis in the production of their submission for the prize and are great ambassadors for St Margaret’s.
Friday: We started the day with our annual Father/Daughter breakfast to celebrate Father’s Day. Each child had created a tie for their dads to wear and our Year 5 students performed a poem for their dads called ‘Our Hero’. With large attendance numbers, such an event reflected the strength of our community. The day ended with the Years 5 and 6 Arts Spectacular which is a tribute to the school’s high-quality Arts program. Wearable art, music performances, dancing and acting were all on display and well received by the appreciative audience. As an educator, I also found the final video – a documentary about the behind-the-scenes work that occurs in preparation for the Arts Spectacular – to be an interesting insight into the work of our teachers and the focus on the design processes that went into the production of the wearable art and the performances. Saturday: Our rowing squad of 145 students won the aggregate cup at the Head of the River for the fourth year in a row. Two of our club netball teams were in the final and our 12-year olds were victorious. Our reputation in sporting success was reaffirmed in this week. Sunday: The rowers and their families celebrated their end of season with a luncheon and awards were given. All of this is again reflective of the value St Margaret’s places on community and teamwork. Monday: St Margaret’s was announced as one of 40 innovative schools in Australia, as named by The Educator magazine. Our innovation centred around our focus on Academic Advising, Continuous Reporting and Student Learning Analytics. We are one of the schools leading the way in having students and teachers engage with the available student learning data and our innovation citation was recognition of the work we have been doing in this area. What a week! Certainly, it was busy and one of great success and achievement. What it did reveal, however, was the breadth of activities in which our students engage. Key themes for the week include Philanthropy; Community, Achievement, Excellence, Innovation and a focus on both the Arts and Sports. As you read these pages of the Flyer, you will see more evidence of these themes and the energy of our focused and committed students and staff. Ros Curtis Principal
MEd(Leadership&Mgt), MLitSt, BA(Hons), DipEd, ASDA, FACE, FACEL, FIML, GAICD
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AWARDS
Innovative Schools AWARD St Margaret’s has been named as one of Australia’s leading innovative schools by The Educator magazine for its Academic Advising Program introduced to Years 9 to 12 students in 2018.
As outlined in the last issue of the Flyer, the school replaced the traditional structure of form classes in Years 9 to 12, in favour of having small groups of students (10 to 11) being assigned to a teacher as an Academic Advisor. Students meet or communicate with their Academic Advisors twice a week as a group or individually. With assistance from their advisor, students set academic goals and track their progress through the Learning Analytics Program. The sessions also provide another opportunity to check in on a student’s general wellbeing. Already the introduction of Academic Advisors has resulted in academic gains. At St Margaret’s Academic Awards assembly at the beginning of Semester 2, a record number of students received awards – either an academic pocket or a progress certificate. There were also many more students who may not have received an award but who have shown gains in many areas of their academic life. Importantly, the girls have responded very positively to the new program. Dean of Studies Nicole Devlin said this regular connection with a teacher who is very focused and invested in their learning journey has given students the tools and confidence to take ownership of their own learning and its outcomes.
Academic Advising is a very beneficial program, and the weekly meetings provide guidance throughout the rigours of Year 11. It has enabled me to change my learning behaviours to be more focused and productive in the areas I needed to improve in. Matilda Palmer (Year 11)
“The use of data is critical to this ownership,” says Nicole. “The data is a way to illustrate and clearly indicate to students where they may need to spend more of their time. “It really makes them think about what they did or didn’t do to get the set of numbers they are looking at, and then to make a plan for improvement or alternatively to be assured what they have been doing is getting the desired results.”
Having an Academic Advisor has been extremely helpful and useful this year. The valuable mentoring provided has been incredibly advantageous in terms of time management and setting individual academic goals. It has also enabled me to identify and focus on areas that I needed to work on to improve my academic outcomes. Lizzie Fowler (Year 11)
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AWARDS
National Recognition for Leading St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Teacher Tom McCormick, St Margaret’s Head of Faculty – Sociocultural Studies, has confirmed his place in the top echelon of Australia’s teaching profession. Tom is among the first group of 25 independent school educators to be certified by Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) as Highly Accomplished or Lead Teachers (HALT) – the highest career stages of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Excellence in Educational Leadership
In August, the Australian Council for Education Leaders (ACEL) held its annual Awards Celebration. It’s a gathering where you will find some of the most esteemed educators, and, this year, St Margaret’s Principal Ros Curtis was amongst them, having been awarded an Excellence in Educational Leadership Award. This award is presented each year to an educator or group of educators who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in implementing an educational initiative, conducting research and/or influencing educational policy leading to improved educational achievement for students. The Award recognises educators at all levels and settings for leadership, be it classroom, faculty, school, tertiary, system or consultancy. We congratulate Ros and take the opportunity to revisit some of her remarkable achievements as an educator. Ros began her career as a history and drama teacher and has held a variety of roles from teacher to senior leader in six schools. In 2011, she was appointed Principal of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School. Upon completing her Master of Education in Leadership and Management in 2005, Ros received the Australian Council for Education Leaders (QLD) award from Queensland University of Technology for Academic Excellence in postgraduate study in Educational Leadership. Throughout her career, Ros has developed interests in school leadership structures and their effectiveness, curriculum leadership, the mentoring of aspirant leaders, effective governance and change leadership and management. In 2011, Ros received the John Laing Award for her significant contribution to the professional development of senior leaders in schools. Ros is currently national president of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools, Australasia and state branch chair; secretary/treasurer of the executive of the Queensland branch of AHISA (Association of Heads of Independent Schools); a member of the Board of Independent Schools Queensland; and a member of the Advisory Board of the Business School at Bond University.
Tom achieved Lead Teacher certification, saying he was destined to enter teaching after growing up in a household full of children. “My parents fostered more than 40 children and adopted five children, making me one of nine. I’m the second eldest so I was always helping out with homework or other school issues while I was growing up,” he said. “I wanted to make a difference and give something back in terms of the development of young people.” Tom, who has been teaching for eight years, four of those at St Margaret’s, said the partnership between schools, teachers, students and parents or carers was critical in a student’s academic and emotional development. “It really gives the students a boost when everyone is working together in partnership for them. Students know that they’re not on their own. They’re also being supported rather than being told what to do. That triangle of support allows students to grow in their own educational journey to get to the answers themselves,” he said. Tom is now sharing his insights and experiences as a mentor for other teachers undertaking national certification. Principal Ros Curtis said it was very significant to receive Lead Teacher status, as it is only possible after a rigorous process requiring evidence of performance against teacher professional standards. “Several more St Margaret’s teachers are currently pursuing either Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher certification – a testament to their commitment and dedication to the teaching profession,” said Ros.
The beauty of teaching is that you never stop learning. Tom McCormick
Ros said she was very honoured to receive the award. “I have always thought it was important to contribute to and learn from the wider educational community. This way of thinking has exposed me to the work of so many great people and I have been able to adapt their ideas for the St Margaret’s context.”
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LEARNING
St Margaret’s welcomes new primary maths specialist At the beginning of Semester 2, St Margaret’s welcomed Steve Box to the role of Primary Maths Specialist. Steve is a highly qualified educator with a Bachelor of Arts (Media), a Bachelor of Business (Public Relations), Bachelor of Education (Primary) and a Master of Education (Teaching and Learning).
Just one term into his new role and Steve is thoroughly enjoying working in classes with different age groups from Prep to Year 6, as well as working alongside other teachers and senior leaders in the primary school, developing mathematics practice and consistencies in curriculum.
He also has over 15 years’ experience, most recently in leadership roles as Head of Primary School at Moreton Bay Boys’ College and Head of Preparatory (K-6) at Toowoomba Anglican School.
When asked about his impressions so far, Steve said: “The girls are so keen and willing to learn. The classroom engagement has been fantastic. Both staff and students have been really welcoming, making the transition that much easier. It’s just a really nice feel when you come on campus.”
It wasn’t long before Steve came to the realisation, as many teacher leaders often do, that he missed the classroom, so prior to joining St Margaret’s, Steve moved into a more classroom, curriculum-based leadership role as Leader of Professional Practice at Toowoomba Anglican School. When the role of Primary Maths Specialist at St Margaret’s became available it seemed the perfect opportunity to Steve, allowing him to combine his passion for classroom teaching with the ability to apply his extensive skills and experience in curriculum and staff development. He was motivated by the glowing reports about St Margaret’s he had heard from his sister, Annette Box, who is Head of Faculty – the Arts in the secondary school and it also meant a welcome move back to his hometown.
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Steve has spent his first term reinforcing to the girls that maths is everywhere, and that being able to identify and describe it and make reasoned decisions about how you use it is really important. The importance of connecting classrooms to the real world is one of Steve’s greatest beliefs as an educator. “We want to ensure that what we’re learning in the classroom has the opportunity to have value beyond the campus gates. I think if what we are doing in the classroom doesn’t have meaningful connections to the outside world, then we are not maximising the learning experience.
“As teachers we are there to explicitly teach new concepts but then need to assist students to develop the skills to transfer and apply their knowledge in a range of different contexts, which is where you really start to see success,” Steve said. Steve has plans to build and expand the excellent work achieved in curriculum development by his predecessor Kelly Swan. Prime Mathematics for example, a program used in Prep to Year 4, will be expanded all the way through the primary school. He will also continue to optimise learning opportunities to ensure the girls are linking learning concepts in the classroom or the school environment to real world contexts. In addition, Steve will continue to provide professional development to primary teachers, model best practice and use evidence-based research to refine and develop the mathematics curriculum. One of the things Steve said he loves about St Margaret’s is the relationships he has already built at the teacherstudent level. “The girls are hungry to learn,” said Steve.
LEARNING
Grandparents and great performances Grandparents Morning is a much anticipated event in the primary calendar. The Philip Harris Sports Centre fills every year as grandparents, parents and guardians come to spend quality time with the primary students, taking in lively poetry readings, enjoying refreshments and visiting the classrooms to see how the children spend their school day. The proceedings began with the interhouse verse competition where students team up to enact a piece of prose or a poem for their house. They are scored according to their vocal unity, energy, sense of timing, and creative costumes, which add to the entertainment. This year was a close competition between the houses as each team gave an exceptional performance. However, Herrick, with their dishevelled uniforms and unkempt hair, won the trophy for their recital of “Instructions on How to Torture Your Teacher”, a performance that was humorously regarded as ‘highly polished’ by the judges. Thank you to our grandparents, guardians, family and friends for sharing this special morning with us.
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LEARNING
TREASURE FOUND – Book Week brings out our best “A book is a dream that you hold in your hands.” A quiet voice offered the insightful dictum to a hushed crowd of parents and guardians who came to witness the wonderful Primary Book Character Parade held in Eton Hall. The parade was a last hurrah for the national ‘Book Week’ celebrations of all things literary and Year 5 student Emily Smith wrapped up proceedings by skilfully articulating the wonders of reading. “Reading makes you escape away to places you can never go in real life and reading keeps you off a screen… When you’re reading, you’re always learning about new things and new places… Books don’t just go with you, they take you where you have never been.” Emily’s composed pauses added maturity to her words. “I have rafted down the Amazon River, fighting off piranhas. I have flown over the Tower of London on a broomstick. I have spent my childhood as a slave girl in the Han Dynasty and I have solved more mysteries than Sherlock Holmes,” she emphasised. Judging by the characters present at the ‘Find Your Treasure’ themed parade, it seemed many St Margaret’s students had been travelling to far away lands and living impossible adventures: Mary Poppins; Pippi Longstocking; Hermione Granger; Thing One and Thing Two; The Lorax; an astronaut; a crayon; a dinosaur; and the occasional unicorn.
Emily’s speech tapped into exactly what makes celebrating books so wonderful for young minds. “Reading results in achievement. This is plainly because when you’re reading, you’re learning new words that increase your vocabulary.” The idea of creating a memory word bank through reading is a concept the primary school has been celebrating with a program called Millionaire Readers, where primary students are encouraged to keep tally of the overall word count in the books they read. The concept helps children set goals and monitor their progress and also helps contextualise the significance of their achievement when they close each book for the final time. Another popular incentive to celebrate reading in the primary school is the annual participation in the Australian Library and Information Association’s National Simultaneous Storytime where school-aged children all over the nation stop to enjoy the same book on the same day. This year ‘Hickory Dickory Dash’ by Tony Wilson was given a lively enactment by the dedicated St Margaret’s staff in front of an enchanted young crowd.
Characters of all species, shapes and sizes hopped, waddled, trotted and skipped down the aisle, proudly displaying their characters to the delighted crowd. While the event gave our youngest minds the chance to outwardly express what it feels to walk in the shoes of another personality, the ceremony is more than just a homage to our beloved characters and crafty costumes. The parade brings life to the discussions children have about books as they encourage their friends to engage with their chosen story. These incentives offer valuable occasions to scaffold various learning methods and broaden each child’s experience of books, create positive encounters, encourage discussion and invite the imaginary into everyday life.
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LEARNING
Wearable Wonders – learning in the making The Years 5 and 6 Arts Spectacular is a highlight of the school calendar and while the audience is being dazzled by a million moving and sparkling pieces in this ‘one-night-only’ production, there are many gears turning behind the scenes for which preparations began many months in advance. Under each spellbinding costume is its creator and behind each carefully choreographed move is a list of learning outcomes that have been written into the curriculum to give the students the best possible learning opportunities from the experience. Throughout Term 3, Years 5 and 6 students are given a briefing where they learn the theme of the production and their role on the night. Students then begin work on their wearable art pieces, starting with the same methods used in the costume design industry. In Art class, students learn about wearable art in general; how costumes might be fitted; how they must function; and what materials may be used. Students then get to work, starting with idea creation, brainstorming and concept drawing, modelling and prototyping, and sourcing materials.
They engage in design and construction decision making, forward planning, and develop independent thinking and problem-solving strategies as they respond to feedback, address challenges and fulfil requirements.
Students understand their creations must address the elements and principles of design and, as they consider the focal point of their creations, they also take into consideration how to incorporate texture, modify and create patterns, add movement, and reflect on the overall balance and harmony of the final product. The wearable works are not only required to be visually balanced either; students also use their Health and Physical Education classes to learn the energetic dance routines they will perform on stage. Their wearable art creations therefore also need an element of practicality that will enable them to slide, bounce, jump and wiggle their way across the stage.
In addition to the benefits of physical activity, where students develop their physical literacy, memory, special awareness, and strengthen muscles and flexibility, dancing is also a highly social activity. Dance can help children improve their social skills and enable them to communicate better, learn teamwork, develop a greater sense of trust and cooperation and make new friends. They also share in the opportunity to perform with their friends on stage, in front of their families and loved ones – a truly indelible experience for many. Every year many hands come together to make the Arts Spectacular a possibility. It is a most valuable experience, not only for the memories made on the evening, but also for the experiential learning created along the way.
The dance is the perfect accompaniment for the mesmerising costumes – not only to add another level of entertainment for the audience, but also as a valuable learning outcome for the students.
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LEARNING
National Science Week Wildlife encounters, rocket launches, rat dissections, digestive system workshops, keynote speeches from pre-eminent Queensland scientists and loads of liquid nitrogen ice-creams (MasterChef, here we come) were just some of the many immersive activities held across the St Margaret’s campus during this year’s National Science Week in August.
Showcasing a range of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, psychology and digital technologies, the eighteen separate events run by staff across the primary and secondary schools during Science Week were designed to engage the girls and get them thinking about the relevance of science and technology to contemporary society. Further, providing exposure to leading academics conducting meaningful research in the fields of science and technology gave the students a wonderful insight into how rewarding and stimulating a career in STEM can be. There was a definite buzz in the air all week as girls took part in the wide range of hands-on activities, competitions, public lectures and discussions. Head of Science and Technology Chris Dunn said the students really embraced the spirit of the week, whether it was turning up in numbers to toast marshmallows (harnessing the power of the sun with
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a concave lens), making bath bombs (colourful chemistry) or blasting rockets across circular drive (as fire ignited the oxygen and methane mixture in plastic soft drink bottles).
“The activities sparked many conversations throughout the week, in and out of classroom, which was a great sign the girls were truly engaged with all that was going on around them,” said Chris. “We aspire to be a leading girls school in science and technology and celebrating National Science Week forms an important part of inspiring this academic culture back in the classroom.” Our Art students, led by Mrs Lisa Smith, also contributed to Science Week by creating public artworks in common areas, which were very effective in raising the profile of the week. The cement columns outside the Toorak staff room featured chalk drawings of some very colourful snails, snakes, cogs and not-so-colourful rats. In fact, the rats took over the school with the Art girls drawing a plague of little rats in sneaky locations throughout the campus and challenging the students to find them all. Year 11 student Sophie Cosgrove was the first to guess the correct answer of 41 rat drawings, earning herself a mug sporting the periodic table (to enjoy a little chemistry with her morning cuppa).
LEARNING
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LEARNING
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LEARNING
St Margaret’s sleek geek sisters Sisters Emily and Ella Woods have won the University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize for secondary students for their short film ‘Gas Busters’.
The hotly contested and prestigious award recognises the best short film that communicates a science concept in an accessible and engaging way and is dedicated to encouraging young scientists who will be future leaders in research, discovery and communication.
“I was a member of the winning team for The University of Queensland Science and Engineering Challenge in which my team built a hovercraft from everyday materials. These sorts of experiences have really helped to grow my passion for science,” said Emily. For Ella, this is her second win of the Eureka Prize having won the award in 2015 in the primary category along with fellow St Margaret’s student Georgia Souyave-Murphy.
In their three-minute film, Emily (Year 11) and Ella (Year 8) explain the science behind lactose intolerance, explore its evolution and present a simple solution that allows everyone to enjoy cow’s milk.
Emily and Ella were awarded their prize at a gala black-tie event in Sydney, where the sisters mingled and met some of Australia’s top scientists, including Professor Michelle Simmons (Australian of the Year 2018).
Ella said it was estimated two out of three people in the world were not able to consume dairy products without experiencing gut discomfort.
“Professor Simmons inspired me to pursue my passions and showed me what I can achieve through hard work.
“Milk is incredibly nutritious and is in so many foods such as coffee, ice cream and yoghurt, but for many people they can’t enjoy it without experiencing bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or flatulence. “These symptoms are caused by the body’s inability to properly digest lactose, the main sugar in milk,” Ella said. In their film, the sisters point out that dairy producers today are using a range of techniques to remove lactose from milk products. The simplest way is to add natural enzymes to predigest it, resulting in a slightly sweeter tasting milk without the gut discomfort. Emily and Ella both agree St Margaret’s has inspired them to pursue science and has provided opportunities for the girls to extend themselves through competitions like the Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize. “I have always been drawn to science subjects and at St Margaret’s I have been fortunate enough to study STEM and Science Extension in addition to science. These subjects have given me the opportunity to put science theories into action and build working prosthetics and aeroplanes. I have also had the opportunity to attend many QUT workshops through the Science Flyers Program and learn about coding and robotics.
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“She spoke about the difference between science in the days of Einstein, when all of the important scientists could fit in one room, comparing it to now, when important scientists are all over the world and from diverse backgrounds. She was incredibly popular at the dinner yet still made time to stop and talk to us and have a photo,” said Ella. The girls had several media commitments following their win, including interviews on ABC radio and television program Studio 10. St Margaret’s Head of Faculty – Science and Technology, Mr Chris Dunn, said the students were keenly interested in science and had independently taken on the challenge to enter the awards. “St Margaret’s fosters a fascination with science through our STEM program and it is so exciting to see young women like Emily and Ella rewarded for their exceptional efforts. They took on a topic that is important and they have addressed it in an entertaining and respectful way. As a school we are very proud of their achievement,” Mr Dunn said.
National Youth Science Forum Selections
Congratulations to Year 11 students Justine Solomon and Amelia Stapley who have been selected to take part in the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) 12 day residential program held in Canberra in January next year. The program is designed to give students approaching Year 12 a broad understanding of the study and career options available in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and encourage young people to seek pathways for careers in these areas in the future. During the residency, students from schools all over Australia will take part in workshops, group activities, lectures, social events and tours with NYSF’s universities and corporate partners and will have the chance to network with key professionals and other passionate STEM minds. In October, Justine and Amelia will visit Government House and meet the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, in acknowledgment of their selection into the program.
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LEARNING
Shining a light on pathways By definition, the word entrepreneurship means the activity of making money by starting or running a business, especially when this involves taking financial risks, and having the ability to do this. For Mathew Stein, Head of Faculty – Global Studies, who together with Hetal Raniga and Emily Labinsky teaches across the Economics and Entrepreneurial Studies (Years 9 and 10), it’s the spirit behind entrepreneurship which is one of the most important life lessons to instil. “Not everyone is going to be an entrepreneur or run a business, but we can all be in the business of making things happen, and it’s this way of thinking – the ability to problem solve, to think creatively about solutions, to take calculated risks, and to act on ideas – that will stand all our students in good stead, no matter what their career path. “These are important 21st century skills; skills in fact that will be sought after in most workplaces. “The skills of entrepreneurship encourage our students to believe that they can make things happen, and that they have the power to create change.
In contrast, the next speaker, Dimitris Limnatitis, revealed he had no formal education – in fact, originally from Cyprus, he does not even write English. However, this has not stopped him from teaching himself everything he knows to run a string of successful businesses. One of his key messages was for students to be prepared to learn everything from the ground up. “If you want to be a chef, learn how to wash the dishes first.” Dimitris has had plenty of setbacks; his family had lost everything twice when they migrated to Sydney from Cypress. “We had $4000 between the six of us, but on the second day in Australia we all had jobs, and none of us could speak English.” The third speaker, Clarissa Rayward, runs her own law firm and also said there was always a way to push yourself through setbacks. “Self-belief will be your saving. You will be forever challenged but no matter what’s happening just believe that you can get through this. This is essential in business and in life.” She said everyone fails along the way but that’s how you succeed. “If you’re not failing, you’re probably not doing anything,” she said. The Year 9s and 10s have been undertaking projects which have encouraged this enquiring mind. Working in teams, they have been asked to think of what problems they or others might be encountering and come up with a solution and see if there is a market for the ideas. The Year 9s pitched their business idea to other students in a forum, before developing a presentation to a panel of St Margaret’s parents who are in business.
“Our aim is to provide them with the tools and some inspiration from others to shine a light on the possible pathways they can create for themselves.” Mathew said his belief in having students hear from other people about how they have created businesses and shaped their lives through entrepreneurial thinking was behind the recent ‘Ignite’ evening, where three very different and successful entrepreneurs shared their stories, their successes and lessons from their failures. The first speaker, Tracy Fullwood, was an industrial designer turned entrepreneur of 20 years. Her mindset has always been, “if I’ve needed it, let’s do this. If I need a book – in this case a children’s book – let’s write it”. She said product design was the art of problem solving, creativity and originality, and thinking outside the box. Tracy is currently studying a masters degree to gain the knowledge to advance one of her business ideas.
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The Year 10s held a trade fair where they had to gauge the interest for their product and reflect upon any feedback and what changes might be required, then consider how they could make their idea happen. Mathew Stein said everyone has ideas, but you have to believe you can make them happen – that you have the power to create and by doing so create change. “Giving our students the tools and belief that they have this power lies at the heart of one of the school’s strategic intents: ‘Empowering Young Women’.”
BOARDING
The closed weekend enabled us to get to know new people in the boarding community that we haven’t had a chance to properly meet yet. Morgan
Celebrating cultural diversity in the boarding house In the second week of Term 3, the Boarding House held its second annual ‘See my difference, See my worth’ festival to celebrate the boarding community’s vibrant cultural diversity. The two-day event featured a program of rich experiences celebrating the uniqueness of every one of our 170 boarders who hail from a broad range of geographical and cultural backgrounds. Food is, of course, a cultural expression and at the festival it was a delicious way for the students to journey around the world without leaving the dinner table. Throughout the weekend, various cooking classes were held where students made everything from strawberry protein balls to ‘sop sop’. A traditional dish from Thursday Island, the ‘sop sop’ recipe the girls created was passed down from the grandmother of Year 12 boarder Jo Loban. On the Saturday evening, St Margaret’s Head Chef, Scott Johnson, and his team created a cultural feast where students could discover new cuisines and experience new tastes, sharing traditional dishes from the many cultures that make up the boarding house community. Head of Boarding Ms Lesa Fowler said the festival focused on acknowledging that we are all different and each girl brings their own individual characteristics to the boarding community. “Accepting each other and appreciating different views, cultures and values formed the basis of our activities during the festival weekend,” said Ms Fowler. Dance is another avenue for cultural expression and an opportunity to learn about other cultures. During the festival
the girls learnt many different dances and enjoyed a traditional Papua New Guinean dance performance by Boarder Captain Christine Dawanincura and her family. Co-boarder captain Pru Brosnan followed with a traditional Acknowledgement of Country. Other festival activities included a Tai Chi session run by Serina He (Year 12) and a Pacific Islands flower crown making session which gave the girls an understanding of Islander culture. The international students ran a chopsticks challenge and our rural girls held a very Australian whip cracking demonstration. Ms Fowler said the success of the weekend was due to many in our St Margaret’s community. “The festival would not have been possible without the wonderful inspiration and organisation by housemothers Janet and Grace, the kitchen staff for planning and preparing an international feast and the facilities team for their assistance in setting up this wonderful event. “The Year 12s also played an integral part in the success of the weekend, demonstrating outstanding leadership skills,” said Ms Fowler. It was so good to try food from other cultures and try something different. Gabby and Ashleigh It was fun learning about other cultures. I really enjoyed the cooking and making flower crowns. Crystal I got to meet new people and spend time with girls I wouldn’t normally. Allysah
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BOARDING
Leadership award St Margaret’s Year 12 student Annabel Garland has won a prestigious national Future Leaders award for her outstanding community leadership.
The Future Leaders Awards recognise and reward young Australians who have shown strong leadership and potential and are dedicated to inspiring others to make a difference through engaging in environmental and community issues. A boarder since Year 8, Annabel has held the leadership roles of School Captain, Prefect and Band Captain in her senior year. St Margaret’s Principal Ms Ros Curtis said Annabel was an excellent role model for students who took the time to invest in relationships with others. “Throughout her schooling, Annabel has displayed outstanding leadership qualities, encouraging the student body with her warm and friendly manner, and her sincere and respectful dealings with others. She is a very polite, thoughtful and conscientious young woman with the ability to make others feel at ease,” said Ms Curtis. Annabel is enthusiastically involved in her academic studies as well as the vibrant sporting, music and performing arts life at St Margaret’s. She is a keen rower, plays touch football, loves to swim and enjoys her involvement in the St Margaret’s water polo team.
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Music lover Annabel has also been involved in the past two school musicals – Annie and The Sound of Music – playing clarinet and saxophone in the orchestra pit. In 2016, Annabel participated in St Margaret’s Global Exchange Program attending St Anne’s Diocesan College, in Hilton, South Africa, for a term. As the recipient of the Future Leaders – Helen Handbury Leadership Award, Annabel receives $5000 towards an international trip to experience community development in another culture.
Whilst Annabel hasn’t decided where this opportunity might take her, she is considering the idea of returning to Africa. “I’d love to go back to Africa to help make a difference in one of the local communities. “I feel very honoured to receive this award. It is a vote of confidence in what I hoped to achieve as School Captain this year,” said Annabel.
Coming to a town near you Senior representatives from St Margaret’s boarding and educational leadership teams will be travelling throughout Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory throughout 2019 and will be looking to catch up with past and present students and families as well as those potentially interested in learning more about a St Margaret’s education for their daughter. We will also be travelling to Hong Kong and China at the end of February to meet with agents and past, present and future St Margaret’s community members. If you would like further details about these visits, please email admissions@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or call + 61 7 3862 0837. TOUR DATE 27 Feb to 1 March 2- 4 March 24 - 25 February 26 - 27 April 4 - 5 May 18 May 5 - 6 June 14 - 16 June 20 - 22 June 19 - 20 July 3 - 6 September 30 Sept - 1 Oct Date tbc
LOCATION Alphe secondary school conference, Hong Kong Education Agent Visits, China (cities tbc) Toowoomba Boarding Schools Expo, Goondiwindi Kingaroy Show Longreach Show ICPA, Charters Towers Cattleman’s Dinner, Cloncurry Show Aggrow, Emerald Katherine Show, NT Miles, Chinchilla, Dalby Narrrabri and Moree Roma, Mitchell, Charleville
BOARDING
A global community
International Captains Serene He (far left) and Scarlett Wong (far right) with Emily Labinsky (International Pastoral Care Coordinator) and Angelin Achari (International Admissions and Community Relations) One of the many aspects that makes St Margaret’s so unique is our school community. Within our community we welcome 170 boarders from the outback to overseas. This makes for a culturally rich and wonderfully diverse student population. Our international students come from around the world to live and learn as part of the St Margaret’s community. The Flyer spoke to two of our current international students about their St Margaret’s experience.
Serina He Year 12 International Captain
Orika Tsukamoto Year 11 2018 Study Brisbane Ambassador
Being an international student at St Margaret’s is a great experience. St Margaret’s has a strong sense of community. All my classmates, teachers and housemothers are very caring and help to look after our international students. St Margaret’s has many activities in sport, music and House and social activities in boarding. It allows all the international students to interact with local students and experience the Australian culture. I have participated in badminton, basketball, chorale and dancing, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. The thing that I like most about St Margaret’s is the boarding house. Everyone shows respect to each other and we always have options of where and when we want to study. What’s more, we have different food every day and Asian options at dinner.
I enjoy school in Australia, as I think Australian people are friendly and the weather is beautiful. There are plenty of outdoor events which I love to go to, because I can meet new people and discover new cultures. Since starting at St Margaret’s, I have joined the Toc H group, where I volunteer and help out disadvantaged members of the community. I have also participated in badminton with the school. I have enjoyed being involved in both of these groups. My favourite thing about St Margaret’s is the study environment. There is all manner of options for academics, sport, music, the arts and cultural groups that we can participate in and enjoy. There is also a large range of subjects for selection which offer a global outlook. I especially enjoy Legal Studies, as I feel it’s helped me to be more aware of the world around me and to be a responsible young person.
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Record fundraising total for Ponytail Project Now in its fourth year, the Ponytail Project has firmly established itself as a much-anticipated annual tradition on the St Margaret’s calendar. This year, almost 90 secondary students cut off their ponytails, not only raising funds for Queenslanders affected by cancer but donating their hair to be refashioned into headbands for those who have lost their hair due to a medical condition. Primary students joined the cause this year, donning crazy and wacky hairstyles for a gold coin donation in a display of their support. Since the initiative was first realised in 2015 by then Year 12 students Beth Flint, Meg Fraser, Maria Cobain and Annabelle Crossley, the fundraiser has gathered momentum year on year with more students bravely cutting their hair and fundraising totals skyrocketing. This year’s record tally of more than $96,500 almost doubled funds raised through last year’s campaign. Funds raised were donated to the Cancer Council Queensland and the Minotti Trust which was established to support the young family of a St Margaret’s staff member and Old Girl who lost her life to cancer two years ago. The ponytails have been donated to Real Fringe Hairbands. Now the campaign has gone statewide with Cancer Council Queensland adopting the Ponytail Project and encouraging schools across Queensland to get on board and ‘rock the chop’. School Captain Xanthe Lowe-Brown cut 25cm of hair marking the first time she’s ever had short hair in her life.
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SERVICE
“In 2006 my Pop was diagnosed with a rare type of blood cancer. He really inspired me to take part in the Ponytail Project to raise funds for cancer research and to help people like him. “I’ve raised over $6,800 thanks to my supportive and generous family and friends,” said Xanthe. Prefect Jordan Small was the school’s leading fundraiser, with a tally of just over $8,200. After cutting off 25cm of her hair she said: “I’ve known a lot of people who have been affected by cancer in my life and a few who have unfortunately passed away. “So, I thought being involved in the Ponytail Project would be a small way of showing that I empathise with the struggle that people have gone through and a way of giving back,” said Jordan. A special thank you to Clayfield’s Boston Salon who have so generously supported the Ponytail Project since its inception with their expertise and manpower. The Ponytail Project is a genuine display of the generosity and willingness of St Margaret’s students to give back and to make a positive impact in the community.
SERVICE
Antipodeans: Life’s Adventures An Antipodean adventure is a life adventure – not just a holiday abroad. To prepare for the fifteen- day journey to North Vietnam, the 12 intrepid travellers from Years 10, 11 and 12 had four sessions before they embarked on a trip where they would be making a lot of key decisions on the fly, such as where to stay, what to see, what to eat and how much to spend on all of these. They also had to fundraise to help pay for a portion of the cement they would be using to help lay a concrete path between two villages.
There are three facets to this type of expedition – trekking, community service and cultural and social interaction. Upon arrival in Vietnam, the group trekked for three days through the mountainous area of Sapa, along the way experiencing different sub-cultures. Even neighbouring tribes are very unique with their own dialect, their own way of wearing clothing and even their own unique embroidery with their own symbols they stitch onto their clothes, a skill they shared with the group. The community project followed the trek and entailed two days of extremely hard work as the girls hand mixed cement using shovels with the entire village helping to transport the cement to lay the path. Afternoons and evenings were spent with the villagers - cleaning up the village with school students, learning how to embroider and make paper from bamboo shoots, as well as performing for the locals to show appreciation for their kind hospitality. Time was also spent at the local school, teaching the children English, which was as much a lesson for the children as it was for the girls as they navigated language barriers and experimented with different teaching strategies, resulting in renewed appreciation for the teaching profession!
The last part of the expedition was spent discovering Vietnam, including beautiful Halong Bay where the group explored ancient limestone caves, discovered the art of pearl jewellery, went kayaking and participated in Tai Chi at sunrise. The expedition was an immersive experience rich in cultural lessons, life skills and with many opportunities for personal development. Undoubtedly it gave students a deeper appreciation for their own fortunate lives and how they have the capacity to help change the lives of others less fortunate.
Message s home from Na mFam Over the p ast three d ay Sa Pa mo untains. O s we have been trek k n the first a few slips day of trek ing up and down th do king we ex e entertaine wn the steep paths perie th d our tour guide. We rough the mountain nced stayed in hav ma s, w and had m ny villages and two e walked through a hich nd homestay any dome s. stic anima rooster ala These wer ls, includin e cozy rm clock. Th go (Vietnam ese pop), w e homestay provid ur own personal ed us with hich we en of trekkin some joye g wa followed u s very intense, and d raving to. The seco vop s, hoping to the Vietna nd day m catch our graciously eye with th ese ladies who had helped us eir handic get down the moun rafts for sa The past tw tains. le, o days wer working o e very busy n the proje a n d hard, as th ct; concret the village e girls wer ing of Nam C e ang to the a new pathway to everyone connect farming a now has a re g a re . It is safe to how hard the lifestyle ater appreciation a nd under say that and work standing o is in the h f ill tribes.
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GLOBAL EXCHANGE
St Margaret’s students study abroad
The opportunity to study abroad can have a profound effect on a student, broadening their horizons and contributing to their global outlook.
St Anne’s, South Africa
St Margaret’s Year 10 Global Exchange Program enables students to challenge themselves; further develop their independence; perhaps learn a new language; make life-long international connections; and develop international cultural awareness skills.
“My exchange to South Africa allowed me to experience a whole new culture and opened my eyes to different ways of life and traditions. One of the most valuable parts of my experience was the knowledge I gained about people and the world, which will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
The program emulates the vision of the school in providing unique opportunities for students to participate in global citizenship in the context of school and family life.
Indigo Hill
As part of the program, students have the opportunity to study at one of 10 schools in seven countries across the globe including: • Crofton House School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Shawnigan Lake School, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada • Saint-Nom-de-Marie, Montreal, Canada • Ursulinenschule Hersel, Bornheim, Germany • St Stephen’s College, Stanley, Hong Kong • Konan Girls High School, Kobe, Japan • Nga Tawa, Wellington Diocesan School for Girls, Marton, New Zealand • St Margaret’s College, Christchurch, New Zealand (Rowing Exchange) • St Anne’s Diocesan College, Hilton, South Africa • Emma Willard School, Troy, New York State, USA Here is what some of this year’s exchange students had to say about their experience.
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Bianca Licina
“I grew as a person on exchange. I became more independent because I had to learn how to do things by myself without the help of my family or teachers. I didn’t have anyone to organise me, so I had to learn to make sure I was on top of my work and anything that I had to do. I developed an appreciation for all that I have at home and how lucky I am to have the life I live. I also had the opportunity to participate in some great experiences I may not have done at home in Australia. I made numerous long-lasting friendships I will cherish forever.”
GLOBAL EXCHANGE
Saint-Nom De Marie, Canada Montreal
Crofton House School, Canada
Emily Pitt
“Exchange is an incredible opportunity. You learn so much about yourself and others. The most valuable part of my exchange was the life lessons I learnt. For example, when you’re on exchange and you run into a problem, no one is going to sort it out for you. You have to handle the problem in a mature, appropriate manner. I also learnt resilience in the face of adversity, which I believe is a vital life skill. I have also become more aware of the different cultures of the world and how they each have a uniqueness that sets them apart from one another. I gained a different perspective on education and I now have an international network of friends.”
“I made some very close lifelong friends and my language skills improved. I now find it much easier to pick up French and to understand movies and books. I developed my independence – I became much more responsible and my decision-making skills improved. Overall, exchange was such a rewarding experience and I now feel more confident to give new things a go and to say yes to new opportunities and this is something that I am really grateful for.” Margot Davis “My exchange experience made me more aware of myself and my capabilities and what I want from life and friendships. It made me more appreciative of my family and the world around us. The travelling also helped me become more confident and develop my independence.”
Olivia Garland
Sophia Colledge “I believe that my exchange experience has greatly expanded my global outlook, developed my communication and friendship skills and reaffirmed my own personal values. Crofton House is an extremely diverse school with so many unique and interesting girls. I had the opportunity to connect with many students and to appreciate both them and myself in a different light. Another important skill I learnt along the way was how to manage my finances. What shocked me the most, I think, was budgeting my savings as I travelled, ate and went out.” Sophie Gerlach-Zuch “Despite the small personal challenges, I believe that having had the opportunity to study abroad has helped me even in a short period of time to mature. Being away from my parents I developed my initiative, problem-solving abilities, resilience, accountability and time management skills. I loved having the opportunity to take on completely new subjects like sculpture and gain new skills like wood-work, which became some of my favorite activities while I was away. I have made a number of close friends through my exchange and I really liked the fact that there were a number of students from different countries as you learn a lot about other places and gain international connections. I had numerous valuable experiences while I was on exchange; however, you could say that it all came down to personal growth and the social connections I have made. I made many new friends that I’m now regularly in contact with and proved to myself and my family that I was capable of doing things on my own and I could succeed with persistence and determination. My advice: Immerse yourself in the school and social life and you will be rewarded with new friends, new experiences and wonderful memories.”
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A L
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S F E MAYO ARTS FESTIVAL S T IV
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The sixth MAYO Arts Festival held in May featured more than 40 artists, designers and sculptors in a vibrant celebration of the creative arts. Funds raised through the festival support the school’s ongoing commitment to arts education by funding our artist in residence program and also the expansion and preservation of the school’s art collection. The pieces chosen for the school’s art collection are ones that can contribute to students’ education, through critical analyses, discussion and interpretation, in addition to adding to the aesthetics of their learning environment.
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Festival celebrates creativity
This year’s festival launched with an evening cocktail party set within the gallery exhibition space. Guests had the opportunity to hear from special guests Graham and Judith Bell, meet many of the artists and appreciate the fine work on display, with the potential to invest in a piece for their own collection. We are very grateful for the support of furniture store Cult Design who partnered with the event to provide designer furniture pieces which enhanced the gallery exhibition space. The following Saturday morning the grounds of St Margaret’s were transformed with the bustling and vibrant familyfriendly festival component of the two-day event.
Market stalls lined Circular Drive and Eton Hall showcasing a range of wares including handcrafted gifts, clothing, artworks, plants and unique homewares. The smell of delicious gourmet food wafted through the school grounds, tempting taste buds with everything from wood fired pizza to steamed yum cha and the extremely popular donuts and cronuts topped with all sorts of sweet treats. The crowds arrived early to enjoy the glorious sunshine and shop at the stalls and gallery exhibition. By lunchtime, an audience had gathered in front of the stage on Circular Drive to enjoy the various student band and ensemble music performances as well as the energetic dance displays.
packages. Both prizes were coincidentally won by the same St Margaret’s parent who is very much looking forward to her first ever trip to the Whitsundays at the end of this year. Thank you to Ocean Dynamics for supporting this year’s MAYO Arts Festival. Second prize was a stunning getaway at Hinterland House in the Byron Bay Hinterland. An historic 1906 mansion set on a private 20-acre estate, it is a dreamy holiday house offering luxurious accommodation just minutes from Bangalow and Byron Bay. Thank you to Hinterland House for supporting this year’s MAYO Arts Festival. The list of donors and sponsors who contributed to the 2018 MAYO Arts Festival is long and each supporter helped to ensure the festival was a resounding success. We are very grateful for the support of this year’s sponsors including: Platinum Sponsor – Ocean Dynamics
Gold Sponsors – Cult Design and Hinterland House
Silver Sponsors – Barambah Organics, Print Media Group, Brisbane City Council and Italiquore Bronze Sponsors – Vanilla Pod, Racecourse Road Dental, The Van That Can and The Standard Market Company
Supporting Partners – Cruise Whitsundays, Sea Star Apartments, Mirage Whitsundays and Fishi The Barley Sugar Garden was a hive of activity throughout the day with swarms of festival goers enjoying all this precinct had to offer. Lob a choc, Golf Central putt putt, decorate a Vanilla Pod cupcake, lucky dip plus the Oxlades face painting and coloured hair stall were all popular, as were the sideshow alley games. The Tennis Support Group’s strawberries and ice cream stall was also a delightful new addition to the festival this year.
Stall Sponsors – Strathmores, Clear Insurance, Oxlades, Golf Central and Stone & Wood Thanks also to our community who supported the event in a myriad of ways: donating goods, buying raffle tickets, purchasing artworks, manning a parent stall or simply attending the festival and enjoying all the fun of the fair. We are looking forward to the next event in 2020!
Workshops, including creating a living terrarium log, sun catcher and bracelet making, all proved popular, as was the Ear Candy earring making workshop. The carnival rides on Petrie Street and Bubble Buzz on the nearby tennis court were also popular on the day. As always, the MAYO Arts Festival raffle was a highlight. First and third prizes were donated by platinum sponsor Ocean Dynamics and included two fantastic Whitsunday Holiday
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MAYO ARTS FESTIVAL
St Margaret’s art collection continues to grow with new additions Through the work of Friends of MAYO, St Margaret’s has continued to build and shape the school’s art collection with several acquisitions this year.
Society of the Sacred Advent, and we are thrilled to hang some of her works at St Margaret’s to give honour to her professional achievements.
work was thoughtfully chosen for St Margaret’s because Gail came from a rural background and attended a boarding school in Bathurst.
Judith and Graham Bell, long-time supporters of St Margaret’s art collection, generously donated a Margaret Olley watercolour on paper entitled Tari men 1968 during this year’s MAYO Arts Festival.
Several exquisite artworks are presently on loan to the school including an oil on ply by now Berlin-based artist Karla Marchesi entitled Care for me, as I care for you 2007 (below right). This piece is on loan from St Margaret’s Old Girl Susan Wilson (’71).
“In this portrait Gail Madgwick is shown surrounded by relevant aspects of her life, including the Bathurst Courthouse. Her personal strength and professional success will motivate our own students who study in the Independent Learning Centre,” said Jenny.
Another considerable donation to the school includes five colourful, oil on canvas paintings by late Queensland artist Pamela Hergenhan. According to John McDonald (one of Australia’s most respected art critics and Head of Australian Art at the NGA), Pamela’s work is not as well-known as it deserves to be. He attributes her sensitivity for colour and overlaid memories to her career as a psychologist before she began to paint full time. Pamela attended St Anne’s in Townsville, a school founded by the Sisters of the
Additionally, two paintings, Dunlop Children Xenia and Charles with Dick the Dog, by Ian Smith, and Warburton Pond (Circle Clouds Touching) by New Zealand artist David Ryan, are on loan from Old Girl Xenia Madill (’86) and her brother Charles Dunlop. Also on loan to the school are five significant Ian Smith artworks. Ian Smith is an Australian artist with a long exhibiting career and works in many private and public collections including the National Gallery, the Queensland Art Gallery and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He has taught in tertiary art institutions for many years and completed numerous residencies in secondary schools. Does a Bridge Exist Down Below 1993 (above) is a monumental triptych which is mounted in the secondary library. The artwork fits so seamlessly within the environment you could be mistaken for thinking it was commissioned specifically for this space. Two of Smith’s large, colourful paintings are displayed in the Arts Centre Foyer – Life Still – in a Brisbane Restaurant 2003 and NOW 1996, whilst another, Gail Madgwick as the Bathurst Magistrate 2001 is featured in the Independent Learning Centre. Secondary art teacher and Friends of MAYO committee member Jenny Lishman said the Gail Madgwick
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From Ian Smith collection (hanging in ACF)
Also hanging in this space is the beautiful painting entitled Sandy Feet, Gymnast and Bathers 2015, which features positions gleaned by watching people over years and combined into a dynamic collage. St Margaret’s is very grateful to Judith and Graham Bell who have facilitated the loan of these works to the school. It is an enormous privilege to have these carefully and thoughtfully selected works on display for students to appreciate. The senior students will have the opportunity to meet and hear from Ian Smith when he conducts an artist talk at the school in Term 4. “We are so fortunate to have these incredible artworks on display for all. They not only provide inspiration and vibrancy within our learning spaces but they are amazing teaching aides and incredible stimulus for a variety of techniques,” said Jenny.
SPORT
Head of the River Champions For the fourth consecutive year, St Margaret’s has come away with the aggregate cup for champion school at the Head of the River. For each of the crews, it may be one race on one day, but many factors play a part in the lead up to the season’s ultimate regatta, in addition to factors on the day, including what Mother Nature decides to serve up. Our rowers had a relatively uninterrupted season with few injuries and illnesses; successful camps on the Maclean River were key to the season’s preparations; and, on the day, some rough conditions on the water at Wyaralong Dam suited our crews who train in one of the more exposed sections of the Brisbane River. First and foremost, though, the season’s successes were due to the passion, commitment and hard work of the rowers and their coaches, led by Head of Rowing Jared Bidwell and supported by parents, and the Rowing Support Group. The depth of the shed’s talent was evident in the results: St Margaret’s had a podium finish in 25 of the 29 races at Head of the River, winning eight of those races. This gave us a final points score of 812, 35 points ahead of Stuartholme in second place (777) and almost 100 points ahead of St Hilda’s in third (718). We congratulate Stuartholme and Somerville House for their First VIII first and second places respectively, where St Margaret’s placed third in a very hotly contested final race.
Our talent on the water was matched by the talent of our coaches, which included international representatives and 2013 Old Girls, twins Miller and Tyler Ferris, Rio Olympian Jess Hall and London and Rio Olympic silver medallist Will Lockwood, together with a slew of other dedicated and experienced coaches. The girls were privileged to be rowing in two new boats this season– the Olivia Campbell and the St Margaret’s Way – and we must thank the many generous donations made by parents and program supporters to keep the girls in the best equipment possible. In addition, two of last year’s new boats had been christened at the beginning of this season – the Maddie Edmunds and the Jacinta Edmunds – inspiring monikers for every girl who rowed in them. In 2018, Maddie (’09) and Jacinta (’11) have continued their international representative careers, competing in World Cup events and the World Championships in Europe. Together with Wallis Russell (’16) who competed in the Under 23 World Championships, our Old Girl rowers proudly continue the St Margaret’s representative rowing pedigree on the world stage. Wallis continues to wear her bright orange ribbon in every race, and this year made it all the way to Poland and the finals of the Under 23 Lightweight Women’s single sculls, where she placed fourth, just missing out on a podium finish by the narrowest of margins.
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SPORT
Term 3 Sports Wrap
Andrews Cup Success
The primary school has continued to enjoy a terrific year of outstanding participation and competitiveness in the 80th year of Andrews Cup competition. Following on from the great results achieved in Term 1, which included third place in the percentage cup and fourth overall in the swimming, a win for Year 4 tennis, and an outstanding performances in cross country where the team came first overall and won the 10, 11 and 12 years age group, recent results have included a second place in the C grade netball and third place in Andrews Cup athletics in the 10 years age group. St Margaret’s also won the Percentage Cup in City Districts.
It has been another busy term of sport full of hockey , netball, tennis, volleybal gymnastics, rowing and tra l, rhythmic ck and field. Our winter fixt ure sports had everyone Saturday mornings with up early on many teams experiencing success. Our best performin Winter was the Senior A g team this netball team finishing sec ond. Other successes inc volleyball team who rem luded the Year 10 ained undefeated until the final two games to finish hockey teams showed gre third; the junior at potential throughout the season to place fourth and and the senior C tennis tea fifth overall; m produced good results placing fourth on the lad der. The St Margaret’s rhythm ic gymnastics team demons trated wonderful artistic and poise at the QGSSSA flair, strength competition on 11 Augus t. St Margaret’s was repres Year 7, Year 8, A Grade and ented in the Open Pair divisions produc ing some excellent result winning a pennant in the s, including Year 7iii division. Our girl s also took to the track and commencing their trainin the field, g season in May and then competing on a weekly bas in the lead up to the Octob is since August er carnival. Other achievements this term saw our rowing cre ws displaying true grit, det spirit at the Head of the Riv ermination and er to win the aggregate for the fourth year in a row. netball teams contested a Four club semi-final. Two of those teams proceeded throug the 12 Years team winnin h to the finals with g outright. You can read more about our netball and in this sports section of the rowing seasons Flyer. This term has seen girls per form well, achieve goals and engage in their sports wit degree of passion and ent h a high husiasm which makes for an exciting final term as the centre stage out on the tra girls take ck, in the pool shooting goa ls in water polo, smashing badminton and, lastly, hit shuttles at ting home runs at softball.
A number of our primary students have also advanced to representative level across swimming, touch football, athletics and cross country. Head of Primary Angela Drysdale said the Andrews Cup Association has used this anniversary year to review the competition and plan for the future. “Part of the planning process is looking at sports through a 21st century lens, and considering what sports were not available 80 years ago which might now be popular and worthy of inclusion in the competition. “If the review finds that new sports should be introduced, this will happen in 2020,” said Angela.
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ers through hockey teered her th o g in lp e h e at Lily-K Charles volun e is ckey player Lily-Kate
tiativ student and ho ng Hockey. The ini In Term 3, Year 10 Walking or Wheeli deaf or oW W ts, e’s en an irm isb pa Br im ey th intellectual wi time with Hock rs ye pla for ram sive prog ical disabilities. a modified, all-inclu y/age rehab or phys ur inj s, to the ltie cu diffi hearing turday afternoons would devote her Sa ons ate ati y-K ific Lil od s, m ek we ple r sim ckey through ho Once a week for fou y pla to ing w ch ho tea rn s yers to lea one session program helping pla or through one-onll ba t er jus ht lig ing a be th st wi ge game th the youn like playing a small ts ranged in age, wi an cip rti pa e Th e. m the basics of the ga in their 80s. four and the eldest t mental strength. taught her a lot abou e nc rie pe e ex e th d Lily-Kate sai enough to overcom be mentally strong all n ca we ed e lis th d g. I rea others an “It was eye-openin ips. I loved helping through the hardsh sh azing, although pu am d s an wa ing w ne yth an eone something m so ing ch become another tea of igh responsibility to see that it m t ing rd wa re s wa It ging. sometimes challen d Lily-Kate. t like it is mine,” sai jus , on t five ssi pa n’s rso pe ng when she was jus for ten years, starti ey ack and ck llb ho fu g g yin yin pla pla en ey Norths Hock Lily-Kate has be for g yin pla her e an isb ion ents Br team in addit to years old. She repres Margaret’s hockey St e th for ys pla o als letics. half positions. She badminton and ath all, touch football, ugh hockey – a involvement in softb to help others thro y nit rtu po op e th appreciated She said she really ssionate about. pa t os m is e sport sh cipants and I really but so were the parti e, tim y m it can bring to up ing sport and everything is th “I may have been giv e . lov ly ite fin e opportunity arose verance. I de participate when th admired their perse to ed cit ex s . wa ate I y y-K at’s wh said Lil a person’s life and th every second of it,” involved and loved ing be e tim t ea gr a I had
SPORT
Teamwork makes the dream work
St Margaret’s new Head of Netball Gayle Coutts has been playing netball since she was just five years old. Gayle played school and representative netball throughout her school life and has played netball at Redcliffe for the Redcliffe Netball Association since she was 18 and started her coaching career at 19 years of age. Gayle also ran an indoor netball centre for 10 years. When her and her husband bought the Brisbane centre, there were just 20 teams. Within 18 months there were 120 teams, and while it might have been one of the smallest centres in Brisbane, with just two courts, it spawned 30 per cent of the state representative indoor netball players. Gayle also coached the U18 women’s Queensland team for three years. It’s clear, then, that Gayle loves netball! Surrounded by men in her family with her husband and three sons, Gayle says she is also loving being surrounded by the ‘wonderful’ girls at St Margaret’s. “One of my favourite things to do is just walk through the school and say hello to the girls. “They are so polite and friendly and full of joy.” Gayle says the entire St Margaret’s netball community is simply terrific. “The parents are very generous with their time. I love that lots of dads get involved; it’s pretty special for young daughters to share that time with their dads. All the parents – mums and dads – are so supportive of the program.” Beyond her enthusiasm for the game of netball, Gayle sees the sport as a great character builder.
“Girls have to learn how to work in a team, motivate and organise themselves to turn up to training, accept the losses with the wins, support their team mates, and learn to be gracious even when they disagree with the umpire.
training, working hard, and being under the direction of great coaches,” said Gayle.
“These are all valuable life skills and I can confidently say our girls carry themselves extremely well; so much so that I get officials and umpires coming up to me specifically to praise the conduct of St Margaret’s netballers.”
• Club Netball, which runs from February to September, with training once a week and a game every Saturday at Downey Park. Club is open to girls from the ages of 8 to 18.
For Gayle, simply being part of a team brings so many benefits to the girls. “Being part of a team and part of a club gives girls a sense of belonging and opportunities to extend their friendships beyond their usual social groups.” Gayle said when a student joins a netball team at St Margaret’s, she instantly has a group of ten friends. “It can be great for boarders to join a team and mix with the day girls and the wonderful parents who manage teams and drive teams to matches. “For girls new to the school who don’t know many people, being part of a netball team can really help to nurture that sense of belonging.” For the Prep to Year 3 Magnets Program, girls joining the school next year have been invited to come along in Term 4, where they will get to know some of the classmates they will be joining in 2019. Gayle has big plans for the St Margaret’s netball program. “It’s a popular sport with just over 300 girls playing netball this year across club and QGSSSA competitions. “We are looking to really build the program through some serious intentions around being present at
There are several different competitions within the St Margaret’s netball program. These include:
• QGSSSA Netball for secondary students, with training commencing in Term 2 and games in Term 3. • Vicki Wilson Cup, open to any school and has two divisions (junior and senior). The competition is played in pools, where a team must keep winning to progress to the final 20. These teams then play over a weekend in October in the state finals. Our Opens team qualified for the finals in 2017 and 2018. • Andrews Cup Netball for primary students (August carnival) • Magnets Program for mininetballers in Prep to Year 3 run on Wednesday afternoons in Term 4 in the Philip Harris Sports Centre • Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball (QISSN) – hosted by a different school each year in the July school holidays. Gayle says she is thoroughly enjoying her role at St Margaret’s. “It takes me back to one of the favourite times in my life – playing netball in Years 11 and 12 at school and I am really looking forward to building a premier netball program here at St Margaret’s.”
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MUSIC
Walking in the footsteps of greatness There is something about walking in the footsteps of greatness when you embark on a music tour to Europe that is as inspiring as it is surreal.
home to the Summa Cum Laude Youth Music Festival where student musicians from all over the world descended for some magical music making and forging of global friendships.
Strolling through the streets of Austria, Head of Performance Brad King came across a plaque on a building, but could only recognise Beethoven’s name on the inscription, so asked a passing local to translate.
Our young musicians also performed in the MuTH – a modern home to the very historic Vienna Boys’ Choir, which was officially founded in 1924, but had its origin in the boys’ choirs of the Viennese Court, dating back to the late Middle Ages.
Quite nonplussed, the gentleman nonchalantly informed Brad the plaque indicated this address, Laimgrubengasse 22, was where Beethoven composed his 9th Symphony. Another brush with history came on the day the tour group walked passed the Estates Theatre in Prague, where Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni was premiered in 1787. For 34 Australian music students and four staff from St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Australia, this was almost an otherworldly experience, standing on musically sacred ground, and the rest of the 2018 music tour brought many such moments.
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The other aspect of the tour was performing in community venues where the tour group met the locals in what Brad described as the ‘backstage view of Europe’ which was ‘very special’. In a local church just outside of Prague, the group received a 20-minute standing ovation and were showered with rose petals, before joining the locals for morning tea. They also played in a vineyard just outside of Vienna – once the battlefields of Napoleon.
Not only were the students surrounded by history at every turn, they were fortunate to perform in many amazing venues, taking the same stages as legends of the classical musical world once had.
Another aspect of the tour was participation in workshops and masterclasses with some outstanding musicians, such as a former conductor of the Vienna Boys Choir, and the principal oboe player and assistant conductor of the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
In Vienna, they performed in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Considered one of the finest concert halls in the world, this is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and is a spectacular sea of gold. Dating back to 1870, the likes of Richard Strauss, Johannes Brahms, Franz Liszt and Hans Richter have occupied its hallowed halls. In 2018, it was
For the staff and students, the tour was not just about the music; it was an immersive experience that brought people, place, culture and history together, along with incredible musical opportunities and growth. The memories of the 2018 music tour will make many a heart sing for a long time to come.
OLD GIRLS NEWS
Career Inspiration from Old Girls
St Margaret’s music students are already honing their craft with some wonderful outcomes, but these students are still in the early stages in their musical journey. Many young musicians feel the pull of a career built around music but it can often be difficult to know where these talents may take them. Earlier this year, students were given an inspiring address by Old Girl Maggie Leung (’97) about the journey her music career has taken to date, highlighting the way for those interested in following the same path.
Music is ubiquitous. From an early stage in life, our responses to rhythm and sound play an important part in our development. Regardless of a person’s musical ability – whether passively hearing, or actively listening to music – our moods are influenced, bonds to people, moments and memories are shaped, and communications and shared experiences are fortified. We understand the ways music can help us relax, concentrate and be more productive during exercise; yet, we generally don’t realise that music can have a measurable psychological and physiological impact on the body. Old Girl Maggie Leung perceived music’s influence at a young age. Now an accomplished musician with piano, guitar and flute in her repertoire, Maggie attributes her experiences studying music extension at St Margaret’s as pivotal in fostering in her a deeply intrinsic understanding of music. “Mr King, Mrs Castle and my piano teacher, Mrs Gillian Smith, taught me that music is more than ‘leisure appreciation’ but is innate in us as humans. I loved my weekly piano lesson with Ms Gillian; she made me ‘feel the
music’ in my soul by singing and dancing to my piano playing. I remember she used to put her hands on my shoulders as I played to help me relax, whilst singing the melody out loud to make me ‘feel’ the music. Those musical moments were magical,” she said. Maggie’s aspirations for a career in music led her to the Queensland Conservatorium where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Performance). Realising she had many of the necessary traits and abilities to pursue a career as a music therapist, Maggie went on to attain a Graduate Diploma of Music Therapy at The University of Queensland. Music therapy is a research-based profession with a holistic approach to treatment and recovery. Studies show certain applications of music can alter neurological and physical responses to pain, stress, depression and anxiety; can assist developmental outcomes in infants; improve and rehabilitate non-verbal reasoning, fine motor skills, auditory discrimination and vocabulary development in children; and, with the appropriate therapeutic interventions, can support patients experiencing illness, trauma or disability. Employing a framework of humanism, developmental psychology, cognitive behaviour therapy and psychoanalysis, a music therapist relies on music skills and special training to develop therapeutic interventions to improve the health, functioning and wellbeing of patients. These musical interventions include singing, songwriting, instructional songs, instrument playing, improvisation, listening to music, musical games, and neurologic music therapy techniques.
Proven to help people with mental health disorders, patients in rehabilitation from Acquired Brain Injury, people with disabilities, terminal illness or patients in palliative care, music therapy can also help pregnant women, mothers and infants, families in crisis, as well as refugees needing assistance with cultural integration. Whether the outcome is relaxation, self-expression, motivation, parentchild bonding, social interaction, empowerment, or developmental stimulation, a music therapist develops goals and implements appropriate musical techniques, methods and activities to achieve therapeutic outcomes for patients. As a neurologic music therapist, Maggie now serves as the team leader of allied health for Oncology Services at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and is working with a variety of providers within the hospital to improve health outcomes of patients. She also holds a Master of Business Administration at The University of Queensland and was encouraging of the future for students interested in pursuing a career in music therapy. “I loved meeting the young ladies during my talk. They are strong, intelligent and passionate women and I was very impressed with their questions and their communication. They are BIG future thinkers!” she said. Students were fascinated to hear the evidence-based research supporting the power of music in enhancing patients’ recoveries and many left the talk with a clear understanding of one of the possible career paths available to those with a passion for music.
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OLD GIRLS NEWS
17
UNITED KINGDOM
CANADA
101
GERMANY SWITZERLAND FRANCE
56
Old Girls the world over
UNITED STATES
2
SWEDEN
SPAIN
5 1
61 1 1 6
AUST
ITALY
ZAMBIA
1
ZAMBABWE
ARGENTINA
1
St Margaret’s alumni is made up of a network of over 8000 graduates spread around the globe. Our graduates leave St Margaret’s prepared for a global future and an interconnected world. According to our latest records, this map depicts the diverse spread of our graduates living and working internationally. So many of our graduates have wonderful stories to tell. Here we have highlighted the stories of just three. We encourage all of our alumni to reconnect or remain connected and keep us posted on your journey. You can do so by emailing oga&alumni@stmargarets.qld.edu.au. If you are a past student and think your details need to be updated, you can do so on the St Margaret’s website under the community section.
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SOUTH AFRICA
Elise Mawson (nee Thomson ’03) Elise is the founder and managing director of TaxiBaby. com, a company that aims to make travelling with children both safe and convenient. After graduating from St Margaret’s in 2003, Elise studied chemical engineering and went on to work for BHP Billiton for 10 years. She completed an MBA with an exchange to Harvard, then moved into finance, first as an investment analyst in Brisbane, then onto Singapore as a finance and risk manager. The now Singapore-based mother of two toddlers says the birth of her eldest son highlighted the lack of options and support in Asia for car-free families and so the idea behind Taxi Baby was hatched. She says the values instilled in her during her time at St Margaret’s helped shape the businessperson, friend and mother she is today. “I always remember being encouraged by my teachers to challenge the norm, question the status quo, disprove the assumption and that trait, in particular, I cherish,” said Elise.
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TRIA
43
42 CHINA
2
1
THAILAND
SAUDI ARABIA
1 KENYA
1
SINGAPORE
9
TAIWAN
3 1
PHILIPPINES KIRABITI
BRUNEI
1
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
8
MALDIVES
37
INDONESIA
12
SOLOMON ISLANDS
9
3 1
JAPAN SOUTH KOREA
HONG KONG
15
MALAYSIA
1
50 56
U.A.E.
46
66 SWAZILAND
WA
25
NT SA
QLD
34 Geneva based Kate practises as an international lawyer and is currently with the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, working to produce a report detailing human rights abuses committed in Myanmar since 2011. Upon graduating St Margaret’s, Kate studied Arts/Law. In 2003, she entered the world-renowned, internationally respected LLM (Master of Law) program at Cambridge University. Both fascinated and horrified by conflicts and events around the world, Kate worked on a trial before the United Nations Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda in Tanzania. She spent five years living in Tanzania and representing Rwandan accused, before leaving to work on trials in the former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia. In June this year, she finished an eightyear case as counsel before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. A strong proponent of the regionalisation of international justice, last year Kate co-presented a three-month training course for Rwandan Bar Association lawyers on representing accused in genocide cases before Rwandan domestic courts. Earlier this year, Kate was awarded Bond University’s Alumni Award for Community Achievement.
FIJI
6369
28 531 NSW 61 227 VIC
Kate Gibson (’96)
3
VANUATU
CANBERRA
TAS
Professor Ricki Bliss (’96)
73 NEW ZEALAND
After graduating from St Margaret’s in 1996, Ricki completed a Bachelor of Science followed by a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Queensland. She pursued her PhD studies at The University of Melbourne and was awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Kyoto University in Japan and another through the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. Currently an associate professor of philosophy at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, USA, Professor Ricki Bliss specialises in metaphysics. She says she appreciates, now more than ever, the opportunities she had throughout her school years. “When I was a student, Brisbane was barely on the world map, yet St Margaret’s offered an absolute world class education. The kinds of literature we were exposed to, all the hours spent at the Mayo Art Centre, the swimming classes, history classes, and the standard to which we were held, creates girls who can compete academically with the finest from around the world,” said Ricki.
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OLD GIRLS NEWS
Young Old Girls Overseas – My Gap Year I applied for a gap year with Letz Live/Tutors Worldwide in Term 1 of Year 12 as I knew I wanted a year’s break from study and some time to travel before settling into university. I had only been overseas twice before my gap year, both with St Margaret’s school trips to Borneo and New Zealand. The experiences I had on these trips heavily contributed to making the decision to take a gap year in the UK. I had also heard about St Margaret’s Old Girls doing the same thing and after talking about it with them I felt reassured it would be something I could do and enjoy. I was placed at Hanford School in Dorset, England. It is a small all-girls prep school in the countryside. The school has a big horse riding program which was a preference of mine when I was interviewed by Letz Live. I have been lucky to be able to ride three times a week and assist in riding lessons with young girls. One of the best things about working at a school for your gap year is the holidays! I have travelled to 16 countries just this year – Germany, Norway, Italy, Portugal and Croatia have been some my favourites. I have also made so many friends from all over Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, who are also working in schools across the UK. This year has taught me to take responsibility for myself along with giving me independence and confidence. I have learnt a lot of useful skills while working at Hanford School which I know will benefit me at university and in future jobs. I would highly recommend applying for a gap year in the UK if you aren’t planning on heading to tertiary study right away. It is the best decision I could have made and the opportunities that come with it are endless. I think going to St Margaret’s definitely opened up this opportunity for me as I acquired my love for travel through the school trips, gained leadership skills through Years 11 and 12 and had connections with Old Girls who could tell me about their gap years. The staff at Letz Live/Tutors Worldwide were excellent as they helped with visas, suitable school placements and were always around to offer advice throughout my gap year. Wilby Waugh (’17)
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I applied for a gap year as I thought it would be an amazing experience, living and working on the other side of the world. I am very interested in coaching sport and, at the end of Year 12, I was accepted into The University of Queensland to study a Bachelor of Health, Sports and Physical Education. I have deferred my studies for a year to gain some practical experience and have an adventure! I had to decide early if I wanted to potentially go on a gap year, so I applied at the end of Year 11 (2016) with a company called The Gap Network. I had two interviews and after my second interview on ANZAC Day in 2017, I learned that I had a position at Tudor Hall, a private girls school in Banbury, England. As I write this, I am nine months into my gap year and it has been the most incredible year. I was a little homesick in the first few weeks, but this year has really prepared me for a potential future in coaching sport as I have assisted with netball, swimming, athletics, rounders and more. Four nights a week I assist in the Year 8 boarding house helping the girls before lights out. While the education system and climate are quite different, girls across the world are the same! The school holidays have been a fantastic opportunity for travel with Europe on my doorstep. I have just spent six weeks of my summer holidays exploring Germany, The Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, Greece, Austria, Italy and others. I have learned a lot about the culture and history that defines a country. Studying at St Margaret’s definitely helped me think globally and, in many ways, prepared me for my gap year. While I was at school, I studied German and it was great to put this into practice in my travels. My independence while I was at St Margaret’s grew partly from the travelling opportunities, camps and adventures in which I was involved, as well as the leadership experiences in my final year such as netball captain and Herrick House captain. The meld of day girls and boarders also helped to broaden my horizons. St Margaret’s provided many opportunities which assisted me for my gap year and for these I am extremely grateful. Per Volar Sunata! Zoe Garraway (’17)
OLD GIRLS NEWS
An insight into global work
In June, St Margaret’s Old Girl Lucy Shaw (’09) received an esteemed Fulbright Award, one of the most prestigious and selective scholarship programs in the world, to study at Harvard in the USA. The award aims to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange. Living and working in East Africa for the past two years, Lucy has been selected to study a Master of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School and a Master of Public Administration majoring in International Development at the Harvard Kennedy School. She plans to focus her Fullbright studies on energy in developing markets, in particular how public and private sector collaboration can accelerate access to electricity and a transition to low-carbon technologies in Africa. Lucy is the epitome of a global citizen having carved out her pathway forging a career that is the true definition of global work. The Flyer chatted to Lucy about her journey and life after St Margaret’s.
Q
What advice can you offer to current St Margaret’s students on the value of global literacy?
Lucy: We are in an increasingly interconnected and inter-dependent world where global trends and decisions made by other countries can impact our domestic business and political decisions. Gaining
an appreciation for other cultures, speaking a second or third language and understanding how powerful global forces such as urbanisation, migration and climate change are shaping Australia are important for a thriving career domestically, and even more so for those who want to succeed internationally. Cultural sensitivity and understanding are even more essential for those looking to work in emerging markets, where often the most important part of implementing sustained solutions to big problems is involving and empowering local leadership and staff from the government and private sector.
Q
What did you study upon graduating from St Margaret’s?
Lucy: A Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Melbourne.
Q
How did your St Margaret’s education prepare you for your career pathway right up to and including the Fulbright Award? Lucy: I focused on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) subjects at St Margaret’s, with excellent teachers like Mr Cross and Mr Farrelly who pushed me in Maths and Physics classes. Though at times these classes were highly theoretical, these skills set me up to be an effective ‘problem-solver’ during my engineering degree, which is a highly prized skill for top management consulting firms. As I moved into the international development sector in Latin America and Africa, these skills became even more important. To get something new to work in these regions, it often takes a fresh approach to thinking about problems, an ability to break them down into smaller pieces, and quantitative skill to back up decisions with hard data. Beyond this, it also requires the ability to work with different people from different backgrounds and world views. Studying foreign languages at St Margaret’s and living as a boarder with students from rural Queensland and NSW, and foreign countries like Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea and Switzerland, played a part
in preparing me for understanding and interacting with such diverse groups of people.
Q
Your work in Africa to date and your future study plans surrounding the accessibility of electricity has and will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of many people. Would you say that St Margaret’s propelled you to work in an industry and location where you could make a real difference? Lucy: While St Margaret’s certainly played a role, when I was in high school, I had no idea where my path would lead. Given my complete lack of direction at the time, I tried to at least plan on the best possible next step, which for me was doing a highly technical degree that leveraged my maths capability but was more practical for the real world. The STEM training that St Margaret’s provided set me up incredibly well to succeed in a rigorous engineering program and an even more rigorous management consulting role in Australia and the USA. If you want to contribute to development in emerging markets, it’s especially important to go with a skill set that can be of use, and St Margaret’s set me up to do this. In terms of location and industry, most of the Australian aid and development efforts that I learned about at university were understandably directed towards Asia. I wanted to have the most impact that I could, in the areas most in need, which led me to choose Ethiopian agriculture and Sub-Saharan African energy access as my focus areas. I would encourage current students to push the boundaries on what they think is possible – when I was in high school I never imagined even visiting East Africa and now I have been living and working here for two years. I would also encourage students looking to make a difference to think through what their unique impact could be and strive towards developing capabilities (both hard and soft skills) that will enable them to contribute the most they can. We wish Lucy all the best for her Harvard studies and future aspirations.
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OLD GIRLS NEWS
Revelling in Reunions St Margaret’s considers all past students to be valuable, lifelong members of the wider school community. There is a sense of belonging and support that extends well beyond the school gates and, each year, more and more Old Girls are engaging with their alma mater. In 2018, past students turned up in record numbers to celebrate their milestone reunions together. Over 510 Old Girls attended the reunion weekend, which included reunions for graduates of 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, and 2008. This year recorded highest attendances at the 30, 40, 50, and 60 years reunions, while the VIP luncheon welcomed 77 past students who graduated more than 60 years ago. Held every year on the Sunday of the reunion weekend, the Old Girls’ Chapel Service and Morning Tea is another treasured opportunity for our community to reconnect and this year was attended by 122 Old Girls who filed into the chapel to enjoy fellowship with the Sisters before enjoying refreshments in the Arts Centre Foyer.
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Earlier in the year in June, the Old Girls’ Association hosted its annual brunch, welcoming two Old Girls as guest speakers: international award-winning comedian Mel Buttle (’99) and recent graduate and 2017 OGA prize winner and boarding captain Christine Murr (’17). Both delivered energetic and inspiring accounts of their lived experience within and beyond the school gates. The St Margaret’s Old Girls’ events provide a wonderful platform to reconnect special friendships formed years ago and is an opportunity to learn more about the school – its past, present and plans for its future.
OLD GIRLS NEWS
10 YEARS REUNION
Judith Ross-Smith OAM (’51), Distinguished Past Student Award recipient Helen Meredith and Mary Peden OAM (’53) attended the Old Girls VIP Luncheon.
Lives of service recognised by highest honours 20 YEARS REUNION
St Margaret’s has nurtured thousands of women who embody the Sisters’ philosophy, and who are making a positive impact in the communities in which they live and work. We frequently hear stories of St Margaret’s past students, and their incredible pursuits of service to others. At the Old Girls VIP 60+ reunion this year, Mary Peden OAM (’53) made the connection that of the 18 students in the class of 1951, four incredible women have been honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their outstanding service and achievements in the communities of which they are a part. (Mary was awarded an OAM in 2017 for service to botanical organisations and to philanthropy).
30 YEARS REUNION
40 YEARS REUNION
The most recent to be awarded was Denise Wadley (nee Lawton) who earlier this year was honoured for her dedication and service to the arts and education administration in Queensland. Denise has served many years nurturing the music and arts world in Brisbane through varying degrees of involvement with organisations including the Queensland Youth and Philharmonic Orchestras (now the Queensland Symphony Orchestra), the Queensland Conservatorium of Music Council and the Confederation of Australian Professional Performing Arts (CAPPA). She was a member of several boards including the Queensland Opera Company, Metro Arts and the government’s advisory council for the arts as well as the St Margaret’s School Council. Last year, Merilyn Luck (nee Beak) received an OAM for her service to the Rockhampton community. Merilyn’s contribution to the Rockhampton Art Gallery both as an inaugural donor and later as trustee and chairwoman helped to establish what is now recognised as one of the most revered art collections in regional Queensland with an estimated worth of more than $14 million and more than 1200 works in the collection. In 2008, Helen Pointon (nee Wright) was honoured for her service to the community, particularly through roles supporting women’s and children’s organisations in South Australia. Much of Helen’s community service has been with Girl Guides South Australia but she also belongs to and has held executive positions with several other organisations including the International Women’s Day Committee.
50 YEARS REUNION
Judith Ross-Smith (nee Booth) was recognised in 1992 with an OAM for her services to the community in Armidale for her work chairing a fundraising committee to build a community-based dementia unit and for assisting manage the Armidale Biennial Arts Festival that won a NSW government Award for Excellence. Judith has also worked for Zonta for some time and now acts as the Zonta Club Blackall Range publicity officer as well as the Maleny Arts Council. St Margaret’s commends these women on their outstanding achievements in their pursuit to make a real difference in their communities. They have truly borne out the Sisters’ philosophy that their schools will nurture individuals to realise their full potential to engender Christian values, encourage high academic standards and service to others so that all will have not only one goal but also inner strength ‘to love one another as I have loved you’ [St John 13:34].
60 YEARS REUNION
If any past students have news or updates to share, please email oga&alumni@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.
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FOUNDATION
A bold new vision for St Margaret’s sport On Friday 20 July at the annual St Margaret’s Day celebrations, a bold new vision for St Margaret’s was announced, with our students brimming with buzz and excitement as we unveiled the plans to transform almost one third of the campus to develop a new state-of-the-art sports precinct. Sport has long played a significant role in the lives of St Margaret’s girls and sporting participation is a hallmark of a St Margaret’s education. We remain renowned for our high levels of participation and success at the competition level in a whole range of sports, including lifesaving, swimming, water polo, tennis, netball, athletics and rowing. The development plan boasts a water polo sized heated pool, enabling students to swim and train for sports such as lifesaving and water polo all year round, new tennis courts with lights, a new gymnasium, a strength and conditioning gym, and HPE classrooms. Sophie Webster (Year 7) said: “With night lights for tennis, we will be able to extend the time we can play and practise. Sometimes we can’t play now if it has been raining, so all-weather courts will really help, too.” With the primary catalyst for this project being the life expectancy of the current pool, built in 1969, the responsible and futureproof decision is the creation of a comprehensive sports precinct in the northern end of the campus, between Butler and Lapraik Streets and adjacent to the primary school. This development will be the
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making of St Margaret’s for decades to come; but it’s far more than just bricks and mortar. It represents the future of health and physical education here at our school. Over 92 per cent of our students undertake on average a minimum of two sports each year. These new facilities will support the sporting curriculum and be an enabler for all teams regardless of the season and most weather conditions. Sport is an important part of our culture and it contributes to a balanced education resulting in confident, compassionate and capable young women. Participation in physical education has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of students. When students are at their healthiest and happiest, their academic performance and the way they engage and interact in the classroom improves. Multiple studies show a link between sporting activity and academic success (Alliance of Girls Schools 2016). In Sweden, researchers from the Centre for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation at the University of Gothenburg found that when a child’s physical activity was increased by two hours per week, they were twice as likely to achieve national learning goals in Swedish, English and mathematics at age 12. Furthermore, in Spain, a study of children and teens aged 6-18 years showed that while general physical fitness is linked to academic performance, it is cardiorespiratory
capacity and, in particular, motor ability, that have the greatest influence on academic outcomes. These findings are of great interest given that the data from the Australian LOOK study shows that 8-year-old girls have 18% lower cardio-respiratory fitness and 44% lower hand eye coordination scores than boys. Academic research also consistently shows that girls in single-sex environments are significantly more likely than girls in mixed-gender environments to participate in sport and physical activities. Taken together, these studies reinforce the cascading benefits available to students at girls’ schools where large numbers of girls not only participate in weekly physical education classes and extracurricular sport, but often also take part in music, drama, dance, debating and leadership activities. Put simply, girls’ schools provide the ideal environment for girls to participate in sports, PE classes and extracurricular activities which, in turn, lead to improvements in both physical fitness and academic outcomes. The improved facilities will also provide encouragement for greater participation in water based activities due to the pool being heated. Year 8 student Lucy Damman said: “It will be great to have a heated pool all year round. Pre-season water polo training, even in October, is so cold in the 50m pool, and I’m excited to hear we will be able to hold home matches at St Margaret’s, which will be a real advantage.”
This bold new vision is being funded in part by a Capital Campaign. St Margaret’s has a long history of philanthropy with the facilities the girls benefit from today being delivered by the efforts of previous generations of parents, past students and staff. As you embark on one campaign, you realise just how life-changing donations in the past have been. A walk through the school’s history book and early editions of The Link reveal that many of the current buildings, not just enjoyed by current students, but by Old Girls, were the result of the generous philanthropic actions of people in the past. The Darnell Buildings – the current music rooms, archives area (1936), and health centre (many will remember the latter as an art room) (1933) – were realised through a generous donation from John Darnell, who made a significant gift to both Churchie and St Margaret’s as he valued the power of education and the work of the Anglican Church. The Jackson Building (Music, Textiles and now The Loft, but previously classrooms and a Drama space) was donated in honour of a past student (Lorna Jackson, who attended St Margaret’s 1942 – 1953) and was officially opened in September 1984. Past students will remember fondly the Sister Helen Orchestra room (which was originally a small theatre) and the food and textile rooms.
More recently, parents and past students supported the capital campaign to develop the Eunice Science and Resource Centre, a significant investment in the STEM education of our girls. In 2014, a one-off donation transformed the space outside the Chapel creating the Barley Sugar Garden, much appreciated green space on the school campus. Thanks to support from parents, past students, staff and the P&F Association in the past two years, M’s Café and the surrounding Toorak Gardens were opened in 2017 and the collaborative lecture space – The Loft – was opened in Term 1 this year. This campaign for the sports precinct is about a community coming together with a purpose to create a campus where the needs of many students will be met and where student memories will be made. It is about creating the best possible educational environment for an holistic education, for which St Margaret’s is so well-known. Our vision is to always be an outstanding day and boarding school for girls and we are committed to providing an environment that prepares confident, compassionate, capable women able to contribute in a global community. So far, thanks to the generosity of our community, including past students, parents and staff, we have raised more than $700,000 of our $1 million goal. But we need your help and leadership to fully realise this bold new vision.
A permanent Donor Wall will be erected in the precinct with the names of those who have given $1,000 or more etched into the school’s history of giving. The Donor Wall will be reminder to future generations of St Margaret’s girls that they are benefiting from the generosity of those who came before them, and an example of what can be achieved through the collective philanthropy of a community. To make a tax-deductible donation to the St Margaret’s Foundation Building Fund to support the new sports precinct, please use the giving envelope included in this edition of the Flyer or the online donation form on the school’s website https://foundation.stmargarets. qld.edu.au/. For further information or to discuss giving options, please contact our Director of Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement, Lara Pickering, on +61 7 3862 0884 or email foundation@stmargarets.qld.edu.au. The project is due to commence in December with demolition and site establishment, with the expected completion date in early 2020. All consultants are onboard and the design is well underway. We are pleased to report that a Sports Precinct Operations Committee, including sports teaching staff, has been established to ensure minimal disruption to education during the build. Reference: Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia 2016, eBrief: Research summary for principals, Issue 3, Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia.
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FOUNDATION
Foundation News In May 2008, Brendon helped establish Whitehaven Private Portfolios. As director and portfolio manager, he spends most of his day overseeing the investment and administrative activities of clients’ portfolios. Because of his background as a chartered accountant, his unique ‘after-tax performance’ view to investment operation sets Whitehaven apart.
New Foundation Director The St Margaret’s Foundation is pleased to welcome Mr Brendon Alford as a Foundation Director. Brendon is a current parent and husband of Head of Year Kelly Alford. Brendon is an investment specialist whose judgment is sought after in the industry because of the depth and diversity of his experience. He has worked in the accounting and investment sector since 1997 and boasts qualifications in business, applied finance and chartered accountancy.
Principal Ros Curtis said Brendon joins a very dedicated Foundation board comprised of professionals from a range of backgrounds who voluntarily contribute their expertise to the Foundation for the benefit of St Margaret’s and its students now and into the future.
Of his appointment to the foundation, Brendon said he was excited to become a Director of the St Margaret’s Foundation and join a team of dedicated and passionate colleagues. “The position will afford me the opportunity to contribute to an exceptional organisation. St Margaret’s is presently in an incredibly exciting phase of its history with a number of significant projects planned that will enhance its already impressive suite of learning facilities. I believe the Foundation to be a key component of the school in providing a legacy for current and future students,” said Brendon.
The Capital Campaign – “Going for Bold” The campaign to support the new sports precinct is progressing well, and we are well on our way to reaching our $1M target. We still need your help. Whether you can support in ways small or large, the school and our students will be most grateful for any contribution you can make. To make a taxdeductible donation you can use the giving envelope included in this edition of the Flyer or the online donation form on the school’s website https://foundation.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/. For further information, contact our Director of Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement, Lara Pickering, on +61 7 3862 0884 or email foundation@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.
Going for Bold $700,000 $900,000
$300,000
$100,000
$500,000 $1,000,000
$200,000 $800,000
$400,000 $600,000
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FOUNDATION
Thank you St Margaret’s with the Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of those who have participated in the 2018* Enhancing Excellence Campaign by donating towards bursaries and building projects, including the Capital Campaign for the new sports precinct. We also extend our thanks to those who wish to remain anonymous. *This list includes donations received from 5 October 2017, when the last Spring/Summer edition of the Flyer was published, to 5 October 2018. LUMINARY $10K+ Anonymous (5) Issy Burdon Ros Curtis Arnika Di Bella and Family The Helene Jones Estate for Nora Baird The Colleen McCullough Scott Trust The Lamprecht-Simpson Family The Leggett Family The Lisle Family The Malouf Family The McKie Family The McWilliam Family The Miers Family Old Girls’ Association Parents & Friends Association Professional Women’s Network Rob and Alison Quinn Jayne and Peter Smith The Solomon Family VISIONARY $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous (1) The Alford Family The Becker Family Keri Craig-Lee The Crouch Family Ruby and Lucy Dee The Earnshaw Family The Hudson Family In Honour of Pamela Lusby Jane Ann Phillips PwC Sally Quayle The Reinhardt Family The Sorbello Family The Traves Family CHAMPION $2,500 - $4,999 Shirley Bale Zoe Connolly The Dines Muntaner Family Sarah, Annabelle and Eliza Ferrier Margot and Ron Finney Nick and Shareen Hellen James Walsh and Sarah Curtis
AMBASSADOR $1,000 - $2,499 Anonymous (3) Diana Cameron The Caro Family Charlotte and Alexandra Cattanach Sally and Emma Chester The Dew Family Robyn and Jane Ferguson The Ganim Family The Gutteridge Family The Harris Family Noela, Delma and Sandra Helton Catherine (CJ) and Pamela Hendry Brian Hirschfeld Ruby and Olivia Howard Valletta and Nina Hutchins Wendy and Warwick King The Laherty Family Margot Love The Lyons Family In Memory of Amanda Minotti The Perrett Family The Piggott Family Dr Annette Quayle Dr Patricia Quayle The Reddacliff Family The Roberts Family The Rombola Family The Simpson Family Debbie Smith Cameron and Anna Sorensen The Swan Family The Sweeney Family Simone Timchur Joe, Karen and Rosabelle Tully Lillian Wallace Julianne and James Webster The Wehl Family Greg, Susannne and Stella Willims The Wilson Family The Wishart Family ADVOCATE $500 - $999 Anonymous (3) Dr Kylie Armstrong Lee Beanland Glen Cameron Jill Hewitt Kristopher Isles Wendy Johnston The Jorgensen Family Jane Madden Mary Peden nee Grigg Lara and John Pickering Frank and Sylvana Pugliese Michael and Nadia Shewan Pam Somerset Andrew Wellington SUPPORTER $2 - $499 Anonymous (16) Greg Anderson The Astill Family Libby Black Vanessa Brennan Jennifer Brett Ann Brown Helen Burns Jo Butterworth
Margaret Cameron H and R Campbell Anne Clarke Sophia and Naomi Colledge Pam Conde Fiona Copp Desiree Coroneo Dell Cossart Joan Cowie Cathy Cox Kate Curran Jean Davies Nicole Devlin Olive Donaldson Robert and Gayle Donaldson Angela Drysdale Annie Dunning Maryann Efstathis Craig and Alison Fenton Robert Fitzgerald Lesa Fowler Laurel Fraser Karen Gorrie Margaret Hamilton The Rev Canon Dr Murray Harvey Sandra Herman Janice Hewitt Gayle Horn Sandra Humphries Anne Jobbins Tien Kelly Paul Lindstrom June Lobegeiger Paisley Mathieson Coralie McArthur The McGagh Family Susan O’Hare Shayne Olsen The Pieterse Family Dawn Powell Carl and Louise Rackemann Pett Rayner Mitchell Salmond Dawn Stevenson Mary Surtees Allison Thorpe Nikki Townsend Betty Tsang Janine Walker Andrew Weeden The Williams Family Chris Williams Toni Williams Every year, in addition to donations to the Foundation’s building, scholarship and endowment funds, the school receives support from many areas, from within the school, from the wider school community and from local businesses and corporate sponsors. We would like to gratefully acknowledge all our sponsors this year; whether it is in valuable time given to the school through volunteering; the donating of raffle and auction prizes for our events; sponsoring an event; or through in-kind gifts, these contributions are invaluable to the school now and into the future. We also wish to sincerely thank everyone who supported the school by attending an event, purchasing a raffle ticket or bidding for an auction item. Your generosity is truly appreciated.
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FOUNDATION
Networking events share, support and inspire The Professional Women’s Network series continues to be popular, with a string of successful female leaders speaking to sell-out audiences at each of the three events held so far this year. With the aim to share, support and inspire, these events have given many women and men the opportunity to do just that. Three visionary women have shared their wisdom through experience with audiences at the breakfast events held to date: Bobbie Brazil – lawyer and Order of Australia recipient, Wendy King – President, Australia East, ConocoPhillips, and Alison Quinn – CEO of Retire Australia and Chair of St Margaret’s School Council. As the Flyer goes to print, we are looking forward to our last event for the year at which Dr Lavinia Codd (Advancement Manager – Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland and Board Chair of the QBI – Stroke Advisory Board) will be the guest speaker. To give more city-based professionals the opportunity to enjoy these valuable networking events, this evening cocktail style event is being held at Price Waterhouse Coopers in the CBD. Through sharing their journeys, both personal and professional, the women each highlighted the fact that the highs and lows, the challenges and setbacks were all critical lessons which shaped who they are today. Whilst audiences walk away with a dose of inspiration from the tangible successes these women have achieved, these events are also opportunities for guests to cultivate relationships and expand their network through authentic connections.
St Margaret’s students from Years 10 to 12 and university residents from Durack College also benefited from attendance at these events and the valuable connections and mentorship they deliver. The chance to access support, guidance and knowledge from women already forging their own path is a constructive opportunity for students on the brink of their future study and career trajectories. This year, St Margaret’s welcomed a new major partner, Torrens University Australia/Laureate Universities, across all four of the networking events. Torrens University is as an innovative and global further-education provider offering courses at vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate levels across business, design, health, hospitality, project management, education, sports management and higher degrees by research and English. We greatly appreciate the support of Torrens University alongside our other event sponsors including associate partners Pitcher Partners and McCullough Robertson; special table sponsor, Programmed Property Services and supporting partners, Queensland Brain Institute, Downer and Gardior. We would also like to thank the generous support of our raffle prize donors. Funds raised through the Professional Women’s Network events support St Margaret’s Endowment Fund, which assists with bursaries to attend St Margaret’s. Thank you to our community for supporting these events throughout the year and we would encourage you to consider supporting them again, together with your networks, in 2019. Audio of Alison Quinn’s presentation is available online at www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au. Audio of future guest speakers will also be uploaded so you can listen and be inspired at any time.
2019 PWN Event Dates THURSDAY 21 MARCH 2019 – Breakfast 7.00am WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2019 – Breakfast 7.00am TUESDAY 20 AUGUST 2019 – Breakfast 7.00am THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER 2019 – Cocktail 5.30pm
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High Tea EVENTS
Inaugural Mother Daughter High The P&F hosted the Inaugural Mother Daughter High Tea on 12 August, attended by 226 mothers and daughters of the St Margaret’s school community from Years 7 to 12. The atmosphere in Eton Hall was beautiful, with floral bunting hanging from the ceiling, flowers and Dresden China decorating the tables, and the sounds of classical musical performances by the String Quartet and a piano solo by Akari Komoto adding to the lush ambience.
Tea
Organised by Anthea Damman and Angela Pratt and MC’d by Captain of Strings Darci Rutherford, the afternoon was enjoyed by all and raised $5,400 to benefit the students. Thank you to all who attended, supported the raffle and especially to those boarding students who gave up their time to help the service team on the day. These events could not be a success without the support of our generous prize donors. Thank you to McKinney’s Jewellers (major supporter), Albion Fine Trades, Datacom, Blow Inn, Keri Craig Emporium, Brisbane Anti-Wrinkle and Skin Studio, Hamilton Lashes, Ascutz, Milo Macy, Tim Nicholls MP, Kennedy’s Timber, St Margaret’s School Supplies Shop, Sugarize, Pine Rivers Physio and Sports Care and the St Margaret’s P&F Association for all donating prizes to the raffle draw.
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EVENTS
St Margaret’s
RACE DAY
The start of spring heralds the annual St Margaret’s Race Day. Into its 22nd year, a record breaking sell-out crowd of 320 guests graced The Grove Marquee at Doomben Racecourse. Looking fabulous in their finery and fascinators, everyone was in great spirits, with Fashions on the Field – ‘Best Dressed’ and ‘Best Tie’ – adding an element of flair and fun to this community event. Year 11 students Louise Millar, Sophie Gerber, Mia Fahrensohn, Lucy Bartlett, Megan Roxburgh, Charlotte Wala, Bella Gray, Amelia Stapley, Ella Leavey and Laura Manly did a wonderful job assisting in ushering and selling mystery envelopes on the day and were excellent ambassadors for the school. The raffle was available online this year, and included items from prize donors: PandaPearls, the Alford family, Racecourse Road Dental, Mantra French Quarter, the Lisle family, Keri Craig-Lee, Puma Fuels, Palace Supper Club, Brisbane Racing Club, Bridgestone Select – Hendra and Nundah.
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The funds raised will go to support the sports precinct with the total from the day reaching just over $24,500 – a true testament to the generosity of the community. These events could not take place without the involvement of businesses and organisations who offer sponsorship and donations. Thank you also to the local businesses who kindly donated prizes to our 120 mystery envelopes sold on the day. We encourage you to support those businesses who support us. Major Race Sponsor – Qscan, Race Sponsors – Clear Insurance, Madisons Cleaning Services, UMS Schoolwear, Programmed Property Services, Ascot Plumbing, Blight Rayner Architecture Supporting Partner - Belbaker Bus Lines. Our final word of thanks goes to the P&F Event Race Day Committee Angus Cameron, Louise Campbell, Lynn Couchman-Frame, Anthea Damman, Carolyn Hood, Dimity McDouall, Kate Peereboom and Angela Pratt, led ably by President David Lisle, who worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone had a truly wonderful time.
EVENTS
Primary breakfast celebrations for Mother’s and Father’s Days St Margaret’s has many traditions, and one that is very much looked forward to by our younger students is the primary breakfasts held on the Friday mornings prior to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. This year, both occasions fell on spectacularly clear mornings and the girls and their guests enjoyed the sweeping views, lovely food and good company on the terraces making memories and sharing special times together. The girls had the opportunity to thank the special women and men in their lives with handmade gifts and heartwarming performances – a song on Mother’s Day and poetry recital on Father’s Day. These occasions hold a special place in the hearts of our students and parents alike; the warm glow of treasured times together lasting long after the girls have offered their final hugs and kisses before rushing off to class for the day.
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St Margaret's OPEN DAY
9.30am - 12.30pm SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019 Register online at www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au For all enrolment enquiries call our Admissions team (07) 3862 0777 or email admissions@stmargarets.qld.edu.au
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School 11 Petrie Street Ascot QLD 4007 Australia Telephone: +61 7 3862 0777 Facsimile: +61 7 3862 0701 mail@stmargarets.qld.edu.au www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au St Margaret’s School Council Ltd ABN: 69069684019 CRICOS Code: 00511K A School of the Society of the Sacred Advent
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