NEWS FROM OLD GIRLS

Congratulations to JUSTINE RICHMOND (Pearce ’84) who was ordained a priest on Saturday 6 March 2021 at St Boniface Cathedral, Bunbury. It was certainly a very special day as Justine was supported by her St Mary's friends. Each of them had a touch of St Mary's by way of a maroon hankie. We are sure Mrs Symington would have loved the nod to the maroon.

FROM LEFT: Sue Gray (Lockyer ’84), Felicity House (’84), Justine Richmond (Pearce ’84), Jannine Webb (’84) and Kate Robertson (Weeks ’84).

ELEANOR SCARFF (’01) married Lucas Signorile on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, in February 2020 and was able to enjoy a wonderful honeymoon in Fiji, just before COVID-19 restrictions. Eleanor's sister, Claire Scarff (’02), attended the wedding, along with Old Girls Suzanne Barton (’01) and Hannah Goodson (’01). Eleanor completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame in 2006 and has worked as a lawyer specialising in personal injury law for well over a decade. In July last year, she was made a Director of Dwyer Durack and in September 2020 was listed in Doyle's Guide as one of WA's leading work injury compensation lawyers (plaintiff).

ABOVE: Eleanor Scarff (’01) and Lucas Signorile’s wedding. ALISON KISH ('06) and her partner of nine years, Steven Rafty, were married in March 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 restrictions, in an intimate celebration for five people. Shortly after graduating from St Mary's, Ali took a gap year in America where she studied at the New York Film Academy. Upon her return home to Perth, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from UWA. Ali has been a practising solicitor for almost six years and is currently a family lawyer working in a boutique law firm in Perth. Ali has stayed active in the Perth theatre community and was a member of the cast in a production of Agatha Christie's Spider's Web in 2020. She gave birth to their first child, Arthur Kish-Rafty, in February 2021. Congratulations to you both!

LEFT: Steven Rafty and Alison Kish (’06). Photographer Natasja Kremers.

JESSE MCGINN (’08) recently returned to Perth from Sydney, where she has been living and working as an actor for the past five years. In between filming and auditioning, Jesse has been studying a Master of Education (Secondary) specialising in Drama and English. She is now in her final year and is about to commence her first practical posting at a school. Jesse says that our very own Drama teacher, Caroline Brand, was her inspiration for heading down this career path.

COURTNEY YOUNG (’09) and Luke Pellegrino celebrated their wedding in May at Christ Church Claremont. Fellow Old Girls, Darienne D’Adamo and Laura Gregory, both also from the Class of 2009, were part of the bridal party. Congratulations, Courtney and Luke!

L-R: Courtney Young (’09) with her bridesmaids Tayla Hampson, Darienne D'Adamo ('09), Laura Gregory ('09) and Laura House.

L-R: Tameka Rhodes (’10), Sophie Raynor (’08), Bonnie Raynor (’10), Molly Raynor (’19) and Emily Raynor (’06).

Congratulations to BONNIE RAYNOR (’10) and Andrew Tye, who were married in March at St Nicholas Anglican Church in Floreat, followed by a reception at the Mounts Bay Sailing Club. Bonnie’s bridesmaids were all St Mary’s Old Girls. Congratulations to you both.

KAYLIA STANTON (’11) has played professional netball with the West Coast Fever for the past seven years; however, earlier this year she moved to Melbourne to play with the Melbourne Vixens. Kaylia has a double degree in Nutrition and Health Promotion and has recently commenced work as the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator with Netball Victoria. Congratulations, Kaylia! JENNA BLAIR (’14) qualified as an enrolled nurse mid-2020 and is now working in hospitality while looking for her dream job in nursing. Working in hospitality has given Jenna a greater appreciation and understanding for different roles and she feels that St Mary's helped build her resilience and ability to adapt to any situation that is thrown her way.

Childhood sweethearts HANNAH COOPES (’16) and Old Haleian, Matt Haddon, were married in January at Oakover Wines with School Chaplain, Father Richard Pengelley, conducting the ceremony. Hannah and Matt met at the Year 10 social. Hannah’s sisters, Sarah and Min, and fellow Old Girl, Georgia McAlpine, were part of the bridal party. Old Girls Grace Walker, Jordy Nixon, Indi Scanlon, Ellie Orr, Bec Lyons and Robyn Fairbairn (via zoom) were also in attendance.

After graduating from St Mary's in 2016, TAJHA PRITCHARD (Dalecki ’16) commenced a Bachelor of Arts at Curtin University, but deferred her studies to have her beautiful son, Lachlan. She then began a career in mining as a recruitment consultant for small to mid-tier gold mining producers and during this time, she also started her own photography business, Wild in the Willows Photography. Since then, her business has grown considerably and Tajha has even taken photos of other Old Girls’ families. At the end of 2020, she was married and is expecting another baby this year.

Filmmaker and awardwinning script writer from the northern suburbs, EMILIE LOWE (’17), has written and is co-directing featurette, The Canary. It is a compelling period drama that utilises Western Australian cast, crew, locations and businesses. Set during the 19th century, The Canary follows protagonist, Claire, who is set adrift into the open ocean on a lifeboat following the sinking of a transport vessel. With the help of a caged canary, she must find the power to defy the social standards of her time and harness her inner strength and unrealised ingenuity to survive the ordeal. The Canary was granted permission to film on the SS Leeuwin II, making it the first commercial film to be shot on the iconic vessel. We cannot wait to see the final cut.

EVERYONE LOVES to know what their contemporaries are up to. Please send us news of what you are doing now, as well as photographs. Email: oga@stmarys.wa.edu.au Telephone: (08) 9341 9132 By post: Old Girls’ Association, St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, PO Box 105, Karrinyup WA 6921