OLD GIRLS' ASSOCIATION

Despite 2022 beginning quietly for the Old Girls, with COVID-19 restrictions forcing the cancellation of several events, we still managed to have a productive start to the year by awarding some prizes and scholarships.

Year 12 student Samantha Lourey wowed OGA Committee members,

Necia Drazevic and Hannah Jago, with an impressive portfolio submission to win our 2022 Jane Gillon Arts Award. This award, which is a monetary prize to be used in an arts-related discipline in Year 12, is open to all

Year 11 girls at year’s end.

We also recently awarded the 2023 Marlene Carter Scholarship to current Year 6 student, Helena Drescher, daughter of Dr Elizabeth Drescher (Elderfield ’92), and the 2023 Ethel Beaton Scholarship to current Year 10 student, Rose Meharry, daughter of Renee Meharry (Sassella ’96). Congratulations, girls.

While these awards are reserved for current students, we have several scholarships and prizes open to our members. Applications have closed for 2022 and we look forward to announcing the successful recipients soon.

It was with great sadness that we farewelled 2021 Head Girl,

Sally Hicks, one of our newest Old Girls, in March. Sally will forever hold a special place in our hearts. On behalf of the OGA and all our Old Girls, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to Sally’s parents, her brothers and all those who loved her.

Best wishes for the year ahead.

Amy Dawson (Fraser ’94) President Old Girls’ Association

ANNUAL OLD GIRLS’ EVENT GOES VIRTUAL

St Mary’s traditional Old Girls’ Day might have fallen victim to the wave of COVID-19 cancellations this year, but that did not stop the School from honouring its fabulous former students. When it became clear that a face-to-face gathering could not go ahead, our innovative alumni relations team began brainstorming ways to reimagine the popular event. Thus, Old Girls’ month was born.

Our online celebration of St Mary’s Old Girls featured a series enchanting posts, profiles and puzzling questions. We learnt little known facts about the School, rekindled memories through historical photographs and profiled Old Girls who have had a profound impact on St Mary’s and the wider community.

The celebratory month wrapped up with the distribution of an

Alumni Survey, which was carefully crafted to help shape the future of our community engagement. After such a successful

Centenary year, we cannot wait to see what our next century of discovery has in store for our inspiring Old Girls.

MARLENE CARTER HERITAGE CENTRE DONATION A PLACE TO GROW

If you missed out on securing a copy of our Centenary book, A Place to Grow, fear not - the School has plenty of copies available for purchase. One hundred years in the making, this beautiful coffee table book, written by renowned historian and author, Richard Offen, is filled with stunning images and captivating tales about St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School. To order your copy of A Place to Grow, please visit our Senior School Reception or call (08) 9341 9111. You can also purchase the book online via www.stmarys.wa.edu.au/news/ publications.

St Mary’s wishes to extend its gratitude to former Old Girls’ Association President, Honorary Life Member of the OGA and Honorary Member for Life of St Mary’s, Jane Gillon (Fisher ’70), who recently donated a bundle of old School prize books belonging to Barbara Campbell (Germon ’49). Barbara won the 1948 Archbishop Riley Prize and was Dux of the School in 1949. Signed with the elegant signature of Mrs Elizabeth Myles, Principal 1944 to 1956, the books will be a wonderful addition to the Old Girls’ Book Prize

Collection in the Marlene Carter Heritage Centre.