Alma Mater
Editor: Stefania Bostock
Cover image credit to Wayne Wagg. Photo of Maggie Robinson (Year 11) and Adalia Hauler (Year 12) performing in the Drama 3 and Theatre Performance
(Year 4).
(03) 6108 2560
stmarys@smc.tas.edu.au
From the Principal
As a leading all-girls’ school in Hobart, St Mary's College is embarking on an exciting new chapter. Embracing the ever-changing educational landscape, the College is committed to continuous improvement and fostering a dynamic learning environment for young people.
St Mary's College operates under a welldefined strategic plan that meticulously guides all its endeavours. This plan prioritises continuous growth, ensuring every action aligns with the College's overall success.
"The cornerstone of this plan is the ‘Inspire, Learn and Grow’ philosophy, which empowers students to take ownership of their learning experiences."
This student-centered approach fosters a culture of independent learning, critical thinking skills and a lifelong love of knowledge.
St Mary's College is not just embracing change in its curriculum and approach to learning; it is also undergoing a physical transformation. New building works are currently underway, designed to modernise the learning environment and enhance the overall experience for students.
This transformation will further enhance the College's capacity to provide a well-rounded and enriching education, ensuring students are well-equipped for success in the ever-evolving world.
Recognising the value of lifelong connections, St Mary's College has implemented a dynamic update to its alumni network. This revamped approach centres around a newly established alumni committee, tasked with fostering a stronger and more vibrant community between the College and its alumni. This dedicated group will work to foster relationships with former students to create engaging events and explore opportunities for alumni to contribute to the College's continued success.
St Mary's College demonstrates a resolute commitment to moving forward with a clear vision for the future: ‘SMC 2025 and Beyond’. By prioritising continuous growth, empowering students and embracing innovation through building works and the changes to the alumni network, the College remains well-positioned to maintain its position as a leader in girls' education, ensuring it continues to thrive for generations to come. Thank you for being a part of the journey.
Damian Messer Principal
Prefect Report
In the spirit of sisterhood
The first half of 2024 has been a roaring success for the College community. This year, the Prefect group, together with the Year 12 cohort, made it our mission to foster a sense of sisterhood within the school. With this year being the year of compassion, it is fitting that we work to promote a sense of belonging and respect amongst students at the College.
At the beginning of the year, the Prefects elected Annie Kenney Young Women's Refuge as our charity for 2024. When deciding on a charity, we wanted to choose one that was both local and stood for something that we could relate to. Annie Kenney takes in women who have fled from domestic violence and offers them a place to sleep and some dignity. The money raised by the College will enable the service to support more women in need and provide them with access to life-changing programs which will help keep them out of the cycle of abuse.
The Year 12 students have enjoyed participating in fundraising events such as Relay for Life, where we raised more than $6,000 for Cancer Council. To support our fundraising efforts, the Prefects sold icy poles at lunchtime on a hot day which was also met with great success. The Prefects ran the annual St Patrick’s Day parade on the College Green where students brought in a gold coin donation to support the work of Caritas Australia.
We have also been working to improve levels of House spirit by implementing a quiz competition run in Pastoral Care (formerly known as Homeroom) of a morning. The quizzes have covered a variety of themes, including a quiz for International Women’s Day, which was won by College, and a quiz for Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which was won by Manresa.
At the end of Term 1, the St Mary’s College Prefects and St Virgil’s College Leaders met for our first collaboration meeting. During this meeting, we were served a meal of fish and chips with a side of salad along with some sweet treats that St Virgil’s had brought to share with us. Both leadership groups had come well prepared with ideas and initiatives to support the traditional brother-sister relationship between St Mary's College and St Virgil's College.
Our schools share a long-standing connection and building on this relationship is something that the student leadership groups are looking forward to progressing in the years to come.
Gabrielle Radic Head Prefect
College News
Masterplan in the works
The physical environment at St Mary’s College has had a refresh. Since Term 1 2024, students have been enjoying a wide range of new, contemporary indoor and outdoor spaces that are inspiring imaginations and promoting opportunities for learning and recreation.
The recently completed building and infrastructure works are centred on our building masterplan, developed in collaboration with IDW Architecture + Interiors, which encapsulates our strong vision for the College.
“Delivered in line with the College’s strategic plan for 2025 and beyond, these works are purposely designed to enhance the learning and physical environments for our students,” College Principal, Damian Messer said.
“With these additions, the College underscores its commitment to ensuring our school is well equipped to support our students and their individualised learning journeys. We are very pleased with the new upgrades and how the College is evolving.”
To date, the project has included a resurfaced top court – laid with artificial turf – for Junior and Senior School students to access, classroom extensions and upgrades, the glass enclosure of the Senior School parapet – with external lockers and bench seating, and the refurbishment of the Senior School textiles classroom.
The Year 7 space has also had a facelift, with updated lockers and a modernised Middle Years Coordinator’ office.
Meanwhile, on the College Green, the construction of the Murphy’s Café outdoor seating and service area is now complete.
“This space is a game-changer for our Senior students, providing them with a purposebuilt space to eat, socialise and relax, and the covered design means it can be used all year round,” Mr Messer said.
“Students have watched as Barry Figgel, our Property Service Manager, brought his design, building and carpentry skills to life in a practical setting,” he said.
With the decking and seating installed, work commences on the new serving window, sheeting of the walls and installation of the glazing at the end of the walkways.
The outdoor seating area will be enhanced by planter boxes generously sponsored by the St Mary’s College Alumni Committee, which will house fresh herbs and bush tucker plants to be used in Murphy’s Café.
We look forward to sharing this elevated space with our community for upcoming College events.
Above, the new outdoor seating deck area for Murphy's Café and below, the resurfaced top court, updated parapet space and seating area on the Café deck.
Project Connect: Enhancing connection and continuity
St Mary’s College has adopted a new Learning Management System (LMS) known as Connect, which has replaced our previous LMS (SEQTA) in 2024.
The Connect project has merged the existing school information system and our timetabling system to create a fully integrated information network that allows the College to communicate and collaborate with students, families and staff on teaching, learning and cocurricular activities.
As one of two pilot schools of the system, St Mary’s College spent 2023 in a transition phase in preparation for the 2024 academic year. The project will be rolled out to all schools and colleges in the Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) network over a five-year period.
Enhancing connection and continuity between Tasmanian Catholic schools and colleges is the driving force behind the project, which recognises the benefits of one central LMS to support pastoral and academic learning.
At St Mary’s College, the transition phase focused on guiding teaching staff through professional learning sessions on how to utilise the software resource effectively.
During the pilot stage, five teaching staff across the College implemented the LMS within their classes throughout Term 4. This process allowed key staff to deliver learning experiences, provide feedback on student progress and share suggestions for improvements with the management team at CET.
St Mary’s College staff maximised a number of planning days at the conclusion of the academic year in December to ensure resources were ready for full implementation in February 2024. This year, students and teachers at the College have been progressively using Connect in their delivery of learning and assessment across the Junior and Senior Schools.
Connect also gives teachers a platform for celebrating learning achievements and communicating school-wide news and events, which is integral for building relationships, enhancing a sense of community and helping our students to feel that they belong.
In Term 2, access to Connect was extended to families of the College. Parents and carers have the ability to view classroom information and news items, communicate with class teachers and receive timely online feedback on their child’s learning progress.
More information on Connect can be found on the College website at www.smc.tas.edu.au/ learning/technology/connect/
College News
Connect: From a student’s perspective
Connect is designed to enable continuity across pastoral care and academic information for students, educators, families and administrators in CET schools and colleges.
Year 12 students, Grace Cox and Hannah Lucas explain how they use Connect day-to-day at the College, and how the platform is improving the student experience – providing the tools, academic data and information to support their learning and wellbeing outcomes.
Hannah Lucas (Year 12)
Currently studying: Theatre Performance 3, English Studio 3, Outdoor Leadership 3 and Music Foundation Practical Study 4 (University Connections Program).
“Connect is part of my daily routine. I open Connect in my Pastoral Care group of a morning and check any emails or notices I may have missed. I am the Manresa House Prefect, so I use Connect in House meetings to read notices about any clubs, upcoming events or programs. For each class, depending on the content for the lesson, I most likely use it to access classwork resources as well as to communicate with teachers if I need support. Notes, previous lessons and files can all be accessed through the Connect class pages.
Having the Connect social stream has had a positive effect on my learning; I’m able to connect with other classmates and get ‘real time’ updates from teachers.
Since the recent addition of the ‘feedback’ button, finding results for assessments has been made much easier, and the calendar gives me a realistic visual of when work is due for specific classes."
Grace Cox (Year 12)
Currently studying: Chemistry 4, Legal Studies 3, Economics 3 and English Literature 3.
“While changing Learning Management Systems in Year 12 has not been easy, the switch to Connect has been a great aid to life as a St Mary’s student. On a daily basis, Connect is a very helpful, userfriendly tool for checking my timetable and allocated room, as well as accessing vital resources. Connect easily displays my subjects so that they are accessible for every class. It keeps track of all assessment due dates on the one calendar, which is a good apparatus for younger students to increase their organisation and time management.
To be able to check the daily news feed available to all senior students helps me keep across any upcoming events or important information. As a Prefect especially, it is fantastic to have a platform to advertise upcoming whole-school initiatives and encourage school spirit.
Connect also keeps track of all feedback from our teachers which, as a Senior School student, is crucial to learning and improving future assessments.
I’ve found there are more opportunities to communicate and engage with fellow classmates on Connect, thanks to the social streams and subjectbased news feeds.
Although it has been a challenge for students and teachers to get used to Connect, it’s proving to be a quality learning aid with an ongoing benefit for future students.”
International Women’s Day Breakfast
Celebration, empowerment and connection were on the menu at our International Women’s Day Breakfast, which was held at the College on Wednesday 13 March.
Year 11 and 12 students and Senior School staff attending had the pleasure of hearing from special guest speaker and St Mary’s College alumna, Honor Marino (class of 2001), while enjoying a delicious spread of savoury croissants, granola, fresh fruit and hot beverages.
An audio communications and engagement professional, Honor has extensive experience as a producer and reporter at ABC Radio. She is also the owner of Honor Marino Consulting, which specialises in helping businesses to communicate with their employees using audio. Honor has worked both on the mainland and overseas, but today is based in Hobart, her beloved hometown.
It was uplifting to hear Honor, who has a background in human resources, speak so candidly about her personal journey of success, growth and self-discovery, sharing the steps she took to overcome anxiety and self-doubt, follow her intuition and ultimately, establish a new career that aligned more directly with her skills and passion.
“I thought, ‘what are my strengths now?’ My strengths are human resources –from the old career, facilitation, and my new skill, audio. And that's when I started my new career now, as an audio consultant ... and I just love it.”
“I'm using all the skills that I have, the skills that feel effortless, and I'm not an imposter, and I’m not competing to be as good as anyone else. I’m me. And I feel very content.”
Honor admits that if she had her time again, she would “listen more closely to my heart, about what it is that I really love doing, and I would have also paid more attention in Mr Thomson’s tutorials!”
The breakfast was a wonderful opportunity for our community to join together to celebrate the inspiring, resilient and trailblazing women amongst us, and we thank Honor for sharing her story with us – it truly resonated with our staff and students.
As is tradition at St Mary’s College, International Women’s Day was marked by an all-school assembly in the Nagle Centre on Friday 8 March.
A highlight of the assembly was the latest instalment of ‘On the Couch’ (our Prefects’ interview panel) featuring special guest, Joanne McClennan from Annie Kenney Young Women’s Emergency Accommodation Service, the Prefects' chosen charity for 2024.
Above, Honor with Year 12 students, Olivia Walter, left, and Gabrielle Radic. Grace Cox, Year 12 with Sister Majella Kelly at the breakfast.
College News
Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day
On Wednesday 27 March, the Junior School welcomed grandparents and special friends to the College for a taste of school life and to celebrate the important role they play in the lives of our students.
The College was a bustle of activity as our special guests visited classrooms to discover what students have been working on throughout the term, before sharing a delicious morning tea and some precious quality time together.
It was clear to see, between the delightful performances from the Junior School choirs, classroom activities and lively games on the bottom court, the extraordinary bond our SMC grandparents have with their grandchildren.
A very big thank you to all families who joined us for this special event.
Heartwarming events to celebrate Mother’s Day
The weather may have been damp and dismal, but that didn’t deter the hundreds of smiling mothers, grandmothers, aunts and carers who rose early to attend our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast on Wednesday 8 May.
Due to the rain, the event was moved into the Nagle Centre, where more than 500 guests huddled together to enjoy freshly made bacon and egg rolls, delicious bowls of homemade granola and berries, as well as warming drinks including hot chocolate for the children and coffee for the adults in our community.
A much-loved event in the SMC community, the breakfast provided an opportunity for our Kinder to Year 12 students to spend some quality time with their mothers, grandmothers and significant female figures, allowing the younger generations to recognise and give thanks for the unconditional love, support, strength and inspiration these women give to them. That afternoon, students in Kindergarten honoured their mums by inviting them into the classroom to enjoy a very special Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea with all the trimmings.
The Mother’s Day celebrations continued on Wednesday 15 May with a breakfast hosted by the Year 12s, where students and their special guests enjoyed the chance to gather together, sharing in many laughs, memorable moments – including an entertaining mother-daughter quiz, and a silent auction which raised more than $3,500 for the Prefects' chosen charity for 2024.
It was wonderful to see connections being strengthened and a warm welcome genuinely extended to all those in attendance at these events. Thank you to all our volunteers for their support and for ensuring both breakfasts ran smoothly for all.
College News
Stepping into First Nations art
Artwork inspired by native flora and connection to country has breathed new life into the staircase outside the St Mary’s College Meeting Place.
The staircase project was a collaboration between the College’s First Nations staff and students, who spent many months brainstorming and planning the eye-catching design, which was unveiled to our community at the start of Term 1.
In creating the artwork, students reflected on their ongoing connection to land and the ways in which the environment influences their values, identity and spirituality.
Adorning the stair risers are images of natural flora which were hand drawn by the students. On every alternate step, palawa kani words are displayed, illustrating the qualities and values of importance to our First Nations community, such as pulingina (welcome), takariliya (family) and rrala (strong).
For the colour palette, inspiration was derived from the natural landscape of country: blue for the sky and sea, yellow for the sandy shores and green for the Australian bushland.
The finished result is a fantastic representation of the creativity and talents of the students involved, who embraced the opportunity to share their First Nations stories, culture and heritage through art.
Above, Learning Support Officers (First Nations Students), Caitlin Marr and Bellah Parker.
Lantern Lunches serving up smiles
St Mary’s College is continuing to lead the way in offering delicious and nutritious food options for students, with a new program dishing up old-fashioned hearty meals and smiles for miles.
Operating out of Murphy’s Café, the Lantern Lunches program is delivering hot meals for students at lunchtime on a regular basis.
The menu is full of tasty home-style recipes with locally sourced ingredients and a focus on sustainability, nutrition and the joy of sharing a meal around the table together.
Since its inception, students have enjoyed butter chicken and papadums, penne pasta in tomato sauce, garlic bread, garden salad and fruit salad, with ingredients for the pasta sauce – including the herbs and vegetables – grown in the school’s kitchen garden.
The meals are cooked by Murphy’s Café staff with input from the College’s VET Certificate II Cookery students who have a direct hand in meal preparation and service.
Murphy’s Café Manager, Phil Shanny said the program was a fantastic way to promote best-practice nutrition and lifelong healthy eating habits by encouraging students to explore and try new foods in a relaxed environment.
“In today’s busy world, it’s not always possible for families to sit down and enjoy a traditional meal together, so Lantern Lunches provides the opportunity for students of all ages to connect and communicate with one another while practising mindful eating,” he said.
Students have also been learning about the nutritional value of the meals and the impact of their food choices on the environment.
“The students that have participated in the program so far have been very engaged and interested in how we choose what to serve, which gives us a chance to talk about nutrition and healthy eating in a positive way,” Mr Shanny said.
“Establishing a positive relationship with food early in children’s lives increases the chance of these healthy behaviours following them into adulthood,” he said.
After they have finished eating, all students are responsible for emptying their food scraps into the organic waste bins so they can be turned into compost for the College gardens.
The Lantern Lunches program is run on a rotational schedule in the Junior School with plans for it to be introduced to Senior School students later this year.
Art that stops traffic lights
A group of St Mary’s College Year 9 and 10 students have added a splash of colour and vibrancy to Hobart’s urban landscape as part of the Hobart City Council’s Traffic Signal Box Program.
In conjunction with Urban Smart Projects, the council routinely commissions Tasmanian artists to use traffic signal boxes as their canvas to help beautify the city.
Armed with paintbrushes and a creative mindset, the Visual Arts students worked collaboratively to plan, refine and deliver a design that draws on its local surrounds, all in an extremely tight timeframe.
The final design, completed in March, is titled ‘Reloved Remnants’ in a nod to the upcycled clothing shop on Harrington Street and the College’s ethos of sustainability.
Drawing inspiration from sustainable fashion, the design shows a pile of retro fabric remnants ready to be re-used and turned into new handmade clothing items.
The signal box is located on the corner of Harrington and Melville Streets and is well worth a viewing. The finished artwork is also showcased on the Urban Smart Projects website: www.urbansmartprojects.com
Walking in the footsteps of Nano Nagle
Every two years members of the Nagle Education Alliance of Australia (NEAA) journey on a pilgrimage to Ireland. This year, the pilgrimage was held from Sunday 21 April to Friday 3 May, and the College’s Director of Identity and Mission, Sharon Lawler, had the opportunity to attend. She shares her experience with us below.
In April 2024, I was honoured to be chosen to represent St Mary's College on a pilgrimage to Ireland, walking in the footsteps of Nano Nagle. The 14 pilgrims comprised school leaders from a variety of Australian Presentation schools accompanied by Sister Maria Lazzaro as our spiritual guide. Together we explored Nano’s homeland in order to better understand her life, work and faith, as well as the legacy she has left today.
The pilgrimage began in Dublin where we explored the oldest Presentation school in Dublin, Presentation Primary George’s Hill, which continues to uphold its original mission to meet the needs of disadvantaged children. We were inspired by its targeted programs to support neurodiverse children. We also explored
the Presentation convent onsite which included reading some of Nano Nagle’s original letters. The next day, we participated in an International Presentation Symposium where we got to know some of our ‘Irish cousins’ who work in Presentation schools and other organisations in Ireland. The Irish Minister for Education made a special appearance and shared with us her fond memories of being educated in Presentation Schools.
Lastly, we visited the Presentation Secondary School, Coláiste Bríde which had a wonderful focus on inclusion and acceptance expressed through many amazing art installations throughout the school. We left Dublin with a strong sense that the Presentation charism is alive and well; a charism which adapts to the changing needs of the times, but which is always focused on those most in need.
We then headed to Ballygriffin, the childhood home of Nano Nagle. This property had been in the Nagle family for centuries. They were a prominent family in the area – even the nearby mountains are called ‘The Nagle Mountains’. Since Nano’s time, however, the land was divided up and owned by different families. In 1974, the property was bought by the Presentation Sisters and since then it has been transformed into a place of pilgrimage and a retreat centre. Although the main house that Nano lived in is no longer in existence, I found it easy to connect with Nano at this beautiful site.
The pilgrimage group with the Nano Nagle statue at Ballygriffin.
College
We spent a few days at Ballygriffin, soaking in the tranquillity and exploring the site which has a strong focus on sustainability. We learnt more about Nano’s life through the history room and also had a wonderful session led by Sister Anne Lyons exploring the depth of symbolism of the original Nano Nagle icon. Sister Anne also has the role of ‘Postulator’ which means that she is working towards Nano’s recognition as Blessed and, eventually, a Saint in the Church. During our time at Ballygriffin, we learnt how the Nagle family had to keep their Catholic faith a secret. This included attending Mass covertly at a local ‘Mass Rock’ where Catholics would gather to celebrate Mass away from the eyes of the English authorities. We also took a trip to nearby Fermoy, the home of the Sisters who came out from Ireland to establish St Mary’s College. On Friday 26 April, we celebrated the anniversary of Nano’s death with a gathering of more than 100 Sisters and other Presentation people. Our time spent at Ballygriffin was certainly a highlight for the group.
We then travelled to Cork where we really started to understand the work of Nano. There she began her secret schools, starting in Cove Lane and then throughout other parts of Cork. These unassuming buildings are mostly all gone now but a couple are still standing, used as houses. We were led by Sister Bride on a tour of Nano’s Cork, walking the route she travelled daily as she visited her schools and helped the poor of the city. This ended with a visit to Presentation North Convent where we received such a warm welcome by the Sisters. They certainly showed us what the Presentation value of hospitality is all about.
Despite all this, the highlight of our visit to Cork was spending time at Nano Nagle Place. This award-winning museum tells the story of what life was like for Irish Catholics under the penal laws of the 1700s and why Nano’s work was so important. This site is made even more special because it contains the tomb of Nano. The group spent time reflecting and praying here and we were blessed to be the first group to ever celebrate Mass at Nano’s tomb.
After visiting Cork, we saw a number of other beautiful places in Ireland which helped us to better understand the history and culture of this wonderful country. These included the port town of Cobh where thousands of Irish people left from for other parts of the world; Kinsale, the culinary capital of Ireland; the tourist town of Killarney and the historic medieval Monastery of Glendalough. Our pilgrimage ended with a visit to Mount Saint Anne’s, a Presentation Convent and Retreat Centre. Here we concluded with a Liturgy of thanks and reflection on all that we had experienced.
This pilgrimage was a once-in-a-lifetime experience which has given me a special insight into Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters. I continue to be impressed by Nano’s dedication to her faith and to the plight of those who were disadvantaged in her community. It is not an exaggeration to say that Ireland’s education system today is founded on her brave and pioneering work. I am also continually inspired by the work of the Presentation Sisters. Even though most of them are quite elderly, they still work throughout the world to show the values of hospitality, compassion and simplicity, and they continually respond to the changing needs of the time to carry Nano's lantern of Christ's love to the world.
Sharon Lawler Director of Identity and Mission
This page (top-bottom): Nano Nagle’s statue at Ballygriffin. Ballygriffin, Nano Nagle’s birthplace and family home (living heritage centre). Sharon inside the centre. A contemporary mural of Nano Nagle. The pilgrims at Nano Nagle’s tomb in Cork.
STEM Spotlight
Building skills for the future
Major advances in technology – especially digital technology – are rapidly transforming the educational landscape and redefining how knowledge is shared and consumed.
“As the world keeps changing, we need our young people to be confident with and adaptable to new technologies as they emerge,” says Brigid Knight, Director of Junior School.
“Building digitally literate and responsible students is an important part of our holistic education, which is why our STEM program in the Junior School focuses on real-world applications,” she says.
STEM (which encompasses Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is found in all areas of daily life and harnessing these learning opportunities allows children to critically think about, analyse and understand the world around them.
It is for this reason that STEM teaching in the early years is crucial for creating a robust foundation for further skills and a lifelong love of learning.
In the St Mary’s College Junior School, the STEM disciplines are taught in an intentional, integrated and cross-disciplinary way that increases student interest and engagement and nurtures their natural curiosity.
With hands-on activities and creative design, students learn through seeing their work in action as they develop their logic, reasoning and problem-solving abilities, as well as vital skills including communication, creativity and inquiry.
They are guided and empowered to see themselves as future innovators and leaders in STEM, actively contributing to the society in which they will live, through real-life role models: ‘If I can see it, I can be it’ reflects our commitment to making STEM an inclusive and accessible field for students.
Coding and programming begin in Year 2 classes with students advancing to digital systems, robotics and game making from Year 4 onwards.
Learning Leader of Numeracy, Ali Canning says that by providing more focused STEM lessons, students – from an early age – can “get a taste of the opportunities that come from an interest and ability in these areas.”
“These opportunities can help plant a seed of curiosity that may encourage more young women to go on to pursue STEM pathways and help to dispel the common misconception that these subjects or careers in STEM are only for boys,” she says.
Catherine Midson, Primary STEM Teacher
In 2024, St Mary’s College appointed Catherine Midson to the position of specialist STEM Teacher.
A strong advocate for future thinking and innovation, Catherine has spent the past few years championing STEM as a passionate and dedicated educator with Catholic Education Tasmania.
She brings more than 15 years of experience to her current role at the College, which sees her design rich and meaningful learning opportunities for Junior School students.
Her motivation lies in inspiring young minds to explore the wonders of STEM and equipping both students and staff with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Catherine integrates modern tools such as virtual reality, robotics and online simulations into the curriculum to make learning more dynamic. Through illustrating complex concepts in an accessible way, students are kept engaged and excited about their studies.
She also collaborates with teachers to embed STEM knowledge and skills into other units of inquiry that may be happening both inside and outside the classroom, from robotics and coding applications to planting and harvesting in our sustainable gardens.
“Showing how STEM can solve real-world problems, such as environmental challenges or technological advancements, helps students see the impact of their learning,” Catherine says.
“Entering competitions is a wonderful way to involve students in real-world situations. Students can connect with industry experts and find out first-hand how to work through a problem and find one, or many, solutions," she says.
"In FIRST LEGO League competitions, students build simple machines or robots with Lego; they create digital models and then program the robot to perform tasks with code."
Catherine uses group projects and discussions to promote teamwork and collaboration, with a strong focus on creating an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported.
Digital innovation
In Years 2 to 6, students take part in lessons that explore digital technologies, which provides an extra avenue for student engagement and learning.
The integration of digital technologies into teaching and learning has been proven to significantly enhance educational outcomes. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can create personalised learning materials, simulate complex scenarios and provide instant feedback.
“As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, some students chose to participate in an AI poster competition aimed at celebrating inspirational and successful female leaders in STEM," Catherine says.
"Google AI helped one student win the competition with her poster on Professor Fiona Woods."
Students are also delving into the world of programming, with Year 4 classes using basic block coding. Some will move on to python and even HTML for those who are keen.
The College provides students with access to the online programming platform Grok Academy, which is aligned to the Australian Curriculum and explores concepts in Design Thinking, Cyber Security and Cryptology.
In Years 5 and 6, students are learning about digital systems and how input and output combine to make a digital system work.
“They are using a small computer called a micro:bit to test how this works in real life,” Catherine explains. “From there, students can explore other digital systems and consider how a digital system might be used to benefit humanity now and into the future.”
3D printing and modelling has also been incorporated into the St Mary’s College curriculum in recent years, highlighting the shift in society towards supporting young women to study and work in technology.
According to the Deloitte Digital Pulse (2023), 95 per cent of the Australian workforce requires some reskilling as critical technologies will significantly impact their role.
It is therefore critical that the education system supports women’s participation in the ICT sector, Catherine says.
“Girls and women should see technology and innovation as attainable and worthwhile career paths," she says.
“Highlighting female role models and encouraging participation in non-traditional activities are powerful ways that we can break down gender stereotypes and help students pursue the limitless opportunities that STEM opens for them.”
Staff and Alumni Spotlight
Meet Rebecca Godfrey, Alumni President
In this edition of the Alma Mater, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Rebecca Godfrey to the role of president of the St Mary's College Alumni Association in 2024.
Rebecca replaces outgoing president, Margaret Rootes, who remains on the committee as secretary. We thank Marg for her invaluable time and contributions throughout her tenure.
A familiar face in the College community and a passionate and active member of the Alumni, Rebecca – who hails from the class of 2000 – was the former secretary of the Alumni Committee on which she has served for a number of years.
She is also a current SMC parent (mum to Isabelle in Year 5) and in 2024, she returned to her beloved alma mater to teach maths and science in the Senior School.
As a mechanical engineer in her 'past' life, Rebecca intends to use the science and maths knowledge she has honed throughout years in the industry to inspire curiosity in the next generation of STEM professionals.
“I hope to bring some of my external experience as a mechanical engineer into the classroom,” says Rebecca, who currently teaches Year 9 Maths, 9/10 Science and Marine and Antarctic Science at St Mary’s College.
“I'm really passionate about encouraging more students with an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) to consider engineering careers and pathways towards tertiary engineering studies.”
Rebecca also hopes to bridge the gap between school and industry, adding that connecting students with industry mentors and other positive mentors can help enhance learning outcomes.
And despite the misconception that mechanical engineers “just do a lot of physical work on the tools”, Rebecca says the role is in fact much broader than this, which is something she wants to promote to her students.
“Working in engineering can be really dynamic, creative and challenging. There are elements of drawing and design, calculating measurements, specifying different materials, project management and dealing with stakeholders,” she says.
Rebecca has memories of her own maths teacher who sparked her love of STEM and teaching: Mr David Thomson.
“My interest in STEM started when I was a student in Year 9 or 10. I missed a lot of school in Year 8 due to being quite unwell, and I credit my enduring interest in maths to Mr Thomson,” she recalls.
“Mr Thomson was a major source of encouragement and support during this challenging period of my life. He pushed me to keep going when things felt overwhelming and saw that I could reach my full potential in the subject.
“In Year 12, I studied physics and chemistry. I had a keen interest in forensic science, but a few roadblocks got in the way of me studying this is at university. Ultimately, my love of physical science led me down the engineering pathway.”
Rebecca worked in engineering for almost nine years before the world changed in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic and shift to remote learning.
“With two young children at the time (in Year 4 and Year 1), I suddenly found myself becoming very familiar with the curriculum and I enjoyed finding extra tasks to support their at-home learning,” she admits.
“I ended up taking on some tutoring work during this time, and after a lot of "umming and ahhing," I jumped into teaching – and am loving it.”
As a teacher, Rebecca is driven by a love of learning and gets the greatest joy out of the journey of watching students benefit from the discovery process.
“It’s all about the little successes – those small ‘wins’ that boost confidence and build momentum; when a student thinks they don’t know how to do something and then realise that they, in fact, can,” she says.
“Watching the discovery process play out and seeing students making those connections is really gratifying.”
Quick-fire questions:
Who or what has been your biggest influence as an educator?
Many SMC teachers have influenced me in a professional sense. Margaret Rootes, in particular, was an incredibly supportive mentor for me when I started teaching. Also, one of our past principals, Sr Ona, is a major inspiration to this day. She was a very big support to me and my family when I was unwell; she went above and beyond the call of duty for us. Sr Ona instilled values in me that have shaped me, personally and professionally. Like Sister Ona, if ever I see a need in maths or science, I hope I make my students feel supported and inspired.
You’re a familiar face around the College as a current parent, past student and president of the St Mary’s College Alumni Committee. What was it like returning to teach at your alma mater?
The most fascinating thing about returning to SMC was having access to the old convent building (which was strictly off limits to students). It was also an interesting experience finding my way around the College – there have been a lot of changes to the buildings since my time as a student. Funnily enough, my Pastoral Care room today was once my English classroom and Lorise Clark was my English teacher!
Wearing a few different hats [as a current parent, teacher and President of the St Mary’s College Alumni Committee] has given me a wider perspective of the College community and a deeper appreciation for how SMC shows up for my child.
Do you have a favourite memory of your time as an SMC student?
Year 12 was a standout year for me.
What were you like as a student?
Really nerdy!
What is your wish for students this year?
To be happy, confident learners.
A note from the President
It’s been wonderful to continue with the committee in 2024, moving from the secretary to president role.
I’m excited to share that this year’s committee has been making some slow but steady progress, focusing on ways to engage alumni and strengthen connections within our school community.
We’ve been busy collaborating closely with the Community Relations department, crafting some exciting proposals for alumni functions that will bring together alumni young and old back into the College community.
With our committee members’ dedication and the expertise of Community Relations, we’re confident we can bring in some exciting new events in 2024 which we have been brainstorming together.
These initiatives aim to create a vibrant and inclusive community that supports all past students, no matter their background, to be a part of our College culture.
At our recent committee meeting on 13 May, we continued to refine our ideas and planningwatch this space for exciting updates.
As the president, I am proud to belong to a committee that’s committed to enhancing our school’s alumni and fostering meaningful connections within our community.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of our 2024 year brings.
Rebecca Godfrey President of the Alumni Association
Your Alumni Committee
President:
Rebecca Godfrey (nee Hindley) – class of 2000
Vice-President:
Sandra Halliwell (nee Perkins) – class of 1958
Secretary:
Margaret Rootes (nee Dixon) – class of 1967
Treasurer:
Jane Short (nee Hobbs) – class of 1962
Committee Members:
Margaret Peters (nee Dwyer) – class of 1963
Margaret Summers – class of 1962
Josephine Dare (nee Morse) – class of 1962
Farewell, Liz
Earlier this year, the College bid farewell to Junior School Teacher Liz Carter, who has been a valued member of our staff since 1999 and an SMC alumna since 1995.
Acting Director of Junior School, Sarah Clark has written a heartfelt address to Liz, paying tribute to her wonderful service and contributions to St Mary’s College and the wider school community, which you can read below. We wish Liz the very best as she begins her next chapter.
Liz Carter's journey through St Mary’s College was a testament to her love of the school community. Liz commenced at the College as a Year 3 student in 1986. After completing Year 12, her path led her back to St Mary’s as a Teacher Aide, relief teacher and then a long-treasured classroom teacher for over two decades. Students were excited to find themselves in Mrs Carter’s class and colleagues would seek out her energy and vitality.
Her presence wasn't just felt; it was part of our school fabric. Liz's genuine care and knack for efficiency made her stand out. Whether she was teaching a lesson, entertaining staff with her stories at break times or leading a dance number for the school musical, she brought a sense of joy to every task. One of the many things we miss about Liz is her laugh - a contagious burst of happiness that could brighten anyone's day.
Her passion for health and dedication to fostering student involvement also led her to take on the challenge of revitalising the rowing program. With her leadership, the team experienced a resurgence, attracting new talent and achieving notable success on the water. This legacy is a reminder of the power of passion and dedication in helping to foster communities.
With her fun-loving personality, Liz became a genuine fixture within the school, and she has been deeply missed since her departure.
Sarah Clark Acting Director of Junior School
A treasure trove of memories
Carmel Johnson (class of 1981) returned to St Mary’s College in November last year in the role of supervisor for the TCE end-of-year exams. In her own words, she shares the experience with us.
Legacy set in stone
It was such a joy to revisit the College, where I have a treasure trove of memories. I sat my Higher School Certificate exams in 1980 and 1981 which were undertaken up the hill at what was then St Virgil’s College.
I fully appreciate the anxieties that can arise among the girls at exam time. I remember being so nervous! Procedures haven’t changed a great deal; I can recall writing my answers on ruled foolscap paper, unlike the official printed answer booklets that candidates use today.
Fast-forward to November 2023; upon arriving at the school gates, it felt surreal walking along the parapet where we used to gather at recess and lunchtime and seeing my classrooms on my way to the examination hub. Memories of my teachers and fellow classmates came flooding back.
Class of SMC - over the page...
Going old school
We’re privileged at St Mary’s College to have a large number of alumni teaching and serving the next generation of students at their alma mater, some of whom are pictured over the page. Introducing the class of SMC: Ruth Prichard (1983), Claire Wilson (1999), Annie Jordan (2010), Anna Berger (1983), Elizabeth Payne (1984), Shelley Macleod (1975), Kate Jordan (2011), Ellie Brown (2017), Lucy Paske (2002), Rebecca Godfrey (2000), Kate Marr (2006), Margaret Rootes (1967), Selena Eaves (1993), Sister Gabrielle Morgan (1963), Brittanie McCarthy (2018), Cathie Owens (1977) and Sarah Matsouris (2002).
Our HSC results were posted out to us in the middle of January (yes, we had to wait that long!), and candidates’ results were published in The Mercury soon afterwards.
This is my second year at SMC as a supervisor, having previously filled the role at Rosny College on the eastern shore.
It’s been 42 years since I graduated, and my career pathway has encountered a few T-junctions. I’m currently employed as a gallery attendant at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Prior to this, I worked in newspapers as a commercial photographer for The Mercury, and earlier in my career I worked in secretarial roles in the state and private sectors.
I look forward to returning to the College again in November this year.
"SMC is a kind, caring community where each student is valued and respected. The importance of educating the whole person is front and centre, whilst espousing the values and teachings of Jesus."
- Cathie Owens, Secondary Teacher
Carmel Johnson pictured in the second row, third from right, in her class photo of 1981.
Reunions galore!
Every year former classmates come together to enjoy a class reunion. These usually begin with a 10-year reunion, followed by 20, 30, 40 and 50-year reunions.
Any alumni wishing to hold a class reunion or enquire about a forthcoming reunion are welcome to contact the College on 03 6108 2560 or email communications@smc.tas.edu.au .
40-year reunion (class of 1983)
Words by Josephine Messer
On the afternoon of Friday 1 December there was much excitement as the Year 12 leavers of ‘83, along with the Year 10 leavers of ’81, joined together for what would be a fabulous weekend of catching up, laughter, reminiscing, storytelling and sharing of memories for our 40-year school reunion. Twenty-five of us, many of whom had not stepped inside the College since the day they departed, gathered for the commencement of the reunion at 5.30pm for a tour of the College by Principal, Damian Messer. After the tour, we gathered for light refreshments on a magnificent Hobart evening, on the convent rooftop, hosted by the College. Following drinks, we headed to Dāna Eating House for dinner.
The following day, the crew gathered again, this time at the home of Jo (nee Neville) and Damian Messer, who generously offered their home to host Saturday lunch. The Messer’s house has unspoiled views of Hobart and the Derwent River and once again we were treated with a stunning day of sunshine. Twenty-three of us gathered for pre-lunch drinks and canapés, consisting of oysters and spinach and ricotta pillows, in the marquee on the deck, before adjourning inside for a sit-down lunch. The chef for the day was Tom Messer, Jo and Damian’s talented son. We also had Anna Green’s daughter, Maggie and her good friend, also called Maggie, helping out as waitresses on the day.
On the menu for main course was a choice between lamb shoulder with apricot sauce or chicken with whisky orange hoisin glaze, both served with fingerling tatters. For sides there was a selection of homemade focaccia with chilli oil and goat’s curd dips, tabbouleh salad and wood grilled calamari salad. For the dessert, guests could choose between pavlova, chocolate mud cake and tiramisu. The day, of course, was not simply about the food but much more about the conversations we didn’t get to have on the Friday evening, or during the past 40 years!
There was a table of memorabilia, with Alma Maters from 1976 and blazers from the three generations of Jo’s family who have attended SMC: her mother, Lynette Lyons (1945), Jo Neville (1983) and daughter Meg Messer (2017). The lunch ended with a heartfelt rendition of the Alma Mater. The weekend was such a success and the girls had so much fun. In fact, they are already looking forward to the next reunion in five years’ time.
Girls in attendance over the course of the weekend and the state they travelled from to be here were: Loreto Lickiss (nee Urquhart), Melissa Philp (nee White), Ritsa Koumos, Anna Berger, Cynthia Direen, Shenna Rawlings, Anna Green (nee Calvert), Tess Smyth, Cindy Sun-Ho, Caroline Ross, Michelle White (nee Hall), Louise Netherton (nee Williams), Julie Clark (nee Guppy), Jan Stary, Lyn Dowd, Paula Xiberras, Tanya White, Kathryn Broomhead, Margaret Nelson (nee Broomhead), Theresa Murphy, Sally Garth-Smith, Deb Morgan (nee Shipley), and from Victoria: Sara Nicotera (nee Dalla Fontana), QLD: Clare Tyler (nee Blue), Therese Neal (nee Stacey), Ellie Ekin (nee Goodey) and NSW: Mary Peiffer (nee Powell).
More than 20 guests attended the fun-filled reunion weekend for the class of 1983, which featured a College tour and refreshments on the Convent rooftop, dinner at Dāna Eating House and a splendid lunch hosted by Jo and Damian Messer, pictured here and on following page.
1973-75 reunion
Words by Gianna Staples (nee Palmese)
This wonderful group of women met at the home of Jane Allwright (nee Ackers) for a shared lunch in early December 2023. Some of us left school at the end of Year 10 School Certificate in 1973 and others of us left at the end of Higher School Certificate in 1975. Those of us who live in Hobart manage to get together a few times a year to catch up and share news, have a few laughs and reminisce. We also like to meet up when we have our school friends visit from interstate and overseas. This time we were joined by Francesca Brickhill from Queensland and Mary McLennan (nee McCauley) all the way from Canada. We are blessed that our friendships have remained over so many years!
Pictured below, first image, from left, Robyn Ratcliffe (Prairie), Jane Allwright (Ackers), Shelley Macleod (Wright), Gianna Staples (Palmese), Francesca Brickhill, Sue Harington (Guy), Louise Hamilton, Annette Reid, Caroline Deeks, Jill Morgan (Wright), Mary McLennan (McCauley), Debbie Brown (Howard), Giulia Corradetti and Andrea Maver (Ward).
Artist Spotlight
Window into the soul
Jane Burton (class of 1984) is an artist working with photography, film and painting. Her work explores memory, longing, mortality and female desire and is often darkly ambiguous and enigmatic.
Since graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the School of Creative Arts, University of Tasmania, Jane has exhibited her work regularly and has been the recipient of artist residencies in Paris, London and Beijing.
Her photographs are held in prominent collections in Australia and abroad, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Australia and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
As a young child, Jane Burton would survive long car journeys by gazing out the window and taking mental photographs of the scenery flashing by.
“I’ve always looked at the world through an artistic lens,” Jane reflects. “Growing up on a farm – which I found very isolating, I would spend a lot of time looking at beautiful images in art books and creating fantasy worlds in my head. I was forever dreaming and seeking an escape and art gave me a way to do this.”
There was, however, a silver lining to Jane’s upbringing in country Victoria: the scenic landscape, which helped fuel her creative spirit. “Being surrounded by nature was amazing. I am driven by curiosity and drawn to the physical characteristics of a space, the terrain, where things connect and how light works.”
This fascination with the natural world and its raw, unfiltered beauty informs her art practice today. An accomplished photographer, and sometime filmmaker and painter, Jane “never uses a studio”, shoots and edits on film and processes her black and white photos in a darkroom, which she describes as “very magical.”
“It wasn’t until my third year at art school that I picked up a camera and discovered the immediacy of photography and how I could capture the vision I had in my mind. It was arresting. I was obsessed with that.”
Now residing in Melbourne, Jane has recently been named as a finalist in the 2024 National Works on Paper Prize and the 2024 Hadley’s Art Prize. “It’s great to feel that you are appreciated and that the judges deem your work as valuable, relevant and of quality.”
Here she answers some questions for the Alma Mater magazine.
How did you start your creative career?
I had originally intended to be a painter, probably due in part to being influenced by the art books my dad would bring home. I attended St Mary’s College for high school and graduated in Year 12. Like a lot of people at that age, I didn’t know what I wanted to do after I finished college. I had considered becoming a writer and studying literature at UTAS, but I didn’t quite get the marks I needed so instead, I applied and was accepted into art school, where I studied painting, drawing and ceramics. I did my Honours in photography, which was a wonderful experience. I used a large format Graflex 4x5 camera, which I’d lug around town with my tripod, and use black and white sheet film, which I would process myself.
Tell us a little about your current work.
As a practising artist, I tend to take on different projects that focus on a certain subject or landscape. I might do this for eight or nine months and then exhibit my work, or I might work with a public gallery in Melbourne or with the council on a commission. A highlight was undertaking a project at Luna Park, coinciding with its 110 th birthday. I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes to capture the inner mechanics of the Park, and its foreboding magic, which was thrilling.
What role has Tasmania played in the development of your art practice?
I moved to Tasmania at the age of 14 and lived there until I was 30. The Tasmanian landscape had a profound influence on me then and continues to influence me now. It has a unique disposition towards melancholy and romanticism, unease and harshness. This tipping point between beauty and terror is something I like to explore in my own work.
When you’re creating, what does a typical day look like?
It’s completely flexible and dependent on my mood. Oftentimes deadlines for exhibitions or applying for art prizes or grants dictate my work. As I work for myself, deadlines are useful for providing a start and end point. A lot of the time I’m also trying to take advantage of the elements such as good weather and lighting. I never use artificial light and aim to use natural available light where possible. I currently shoot with a Canon 35mm and a Hasselblad Medium Format camera.
What fuels your passion?
I often find myself going back to some of the images I looked at as a child (I gravitated towards symbolism and surrealism) and photography from earlier times, particularly the late 19 th century and early 20 th century. I find photographers from the earlier decades inspiring. There’s a purity to their work – there were no tricks or auto-flashes. You can be really present in the picture.
Travelling and exploring places is another source of inspiration for me. I’m always hunting for my subjects and locations. Most of my work starts with a feeling – it could be a sensation, an emotion, an atmosphere, and then I try to ‘find’ this feeling in a landscape. Bringing in a model is the next step to conveying the complete narrative: the where, when, why and with whom.
Do you have any favourite artists who you have drawn inspiration from?
I get quite obsessed with certain artists for a period of time, mostly photographers. Painters inspire me too, as does film – mostly psychological thrillers, art house and European films. I read a lot too.
I admire the photographs of Hobart based Pat Brassington; also the wet-plate collodion works of Sally Mann who lives and works in Lexington, Virginia.
What are your fond memories of your time at St Mary’s College?
I had a great art teacher, Mrs Prichard, who was very beloved. She was generous and encouraging and her art room was a very warm and sunny place that overlooked the top ground. Mr Doug Griffiths was a fantastic teacher of Literature and English Studies, whom I found very inspirational, and Mr Eugene Clark, who taught American History, also stands out. I’m the eldest of eight children and my three sisters and I all went through St Mary’s College (my brothers attended St Virgil’s College). We lived in North Hobart and would walk to school together.
What advice would you give to students wanting to pursue art as a profession?
Art is worth pursuing because it gives you a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure. It is a skill that you can refine – you can always get better and better at your craft. The world needs art, and art needs artists and designers. While creative art is very important, it is not an easy career path. I’m fortunate to have the flexibility to pursue creative projects, but it can be a precarious job and unless you’re doing commercially well, you won’t always make a consistent income. You need to have thick skin and the ability to be self-generating.
You can view Jane’s work online at www.janeburton.com.au or at the Bett Gallery Hobart.
Jane Burton portrait on oppposite page. Image credit: Prudence Flint. Below, a selection of Jane's photography.
For whom the bell tolls The history of the St Mary’s College bell tower
When renowned colonial architect Henry Hunter designed the Presentation Convent –the magnificent sandstone building adjacent to the Cathedral, he included in the plans a fine bell tower. This tower would nicely offset, in an architectural sense, the bell tower which sat astride St Mary's Cathedral.
Sadly, due to finances, the Sisters had to postpone the building of the bell tower. At the same time, the Cathedral bell tower was dismantled due to construction faults.
The building plan at St Mary’s College continued with the addition of a gable wing on the Cathedral side of the convent in 1871 and the construction of the 'Free School', which was completed in 1876. It was not until 1888, when another wing was added to the original convent, that the bell tower was at last finally completed. Now, the Angelus bell could ring out over Hobart at 6.00am, 12.00pm and 6.00pm every day of the week. Its real purpose was also served: to call the Sisters and students to prayer at regular intervals.
Today, the bell rings only at 12.00pm during the month of May, at which time everyone pauses to pray the Angelus, that beautiful ancient prayer which reminds us of Mary's yes to God in accepting her role as the mother of Jesus.
It is known that the bell was rung to mark the end of World War II, as well as to mark the new millennium at midnight on 31 December 1999. In the 'olden days', brides could arrange to have the bell rung as they left the Cathedral after their weddings.
In the 21st century, the bell assumed another role. At the beginning of each school year, all new St Mary's College students are 'rung in', and when the Year 12 classes are preparing to leave the College at the end of their school year, they are 'rung out'. Needless to say, these two rituals can cause laughter and joy, as well as tears, and have become highly anticipated events in our school calendar.
Margaret Rootes Heritage Officer
Forging new pathways for future leaders Alumni News
The Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship offers Australian students an international experience to help develop their cross-cultural thinking and leadership skills, as well as access to networking opportunities with Australia-Asia thought leaders.
Molly Topham (class of 2022) was one of two undergraduate students from the University of Tasmania awarded a Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship this year worth $12,500.
The scholarship will enable Molly to travel to China for a semester to attend East China Normal University in Shanghai where she will study the Global China Program, which comprises language courses and units related to different social, political and economic aspects of China.
The second-year Justice Studies student says her focus is on enhancing her understanding of Chinese values and cultural beliefs, which will strengthen her degree and complement the thirdyear university level Chinese units she took in 2023 – the highest offered at UTAS.
She is also interested in ways to forge meaningful relationships between the next generation of Australian and Asian leaders.
“This scholarship will help in my future careers and encourages me to look at how Australia can strengthen its relationships with China beyond trade, such as sustainability and international cooperation,” Molly said.
“Only by exchanging knowledge can we ensure a just, safe and certain future.”
As an Asian Exchange scholar, Molly will be able to connect with scholars across the nation.
She will also complete a week-long residential in Singapore in July, focusing on Australia’s relationship with Asia.
“China is often met with suspicion or hostility by other nations, with some taking a step back when it comes to international, cooperative, social and/ or political issues,” she said.
“I want to learn their values and cultural beliefs in order to enhance cooperation rather than just expecting them to follow Western values.”
Approximately 35 Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarships are awarded annually to undergraduates from 14 partner universities to undertake the university-approved exchange program in Asia for one or two semesters. The funding supports all travel, study and living expenses in the selected destination.
Alumni achievements from near and far
Congratulations to the following alumni who have been recognised for their accomplishments across many and varied fields.
Amelie Cox (class of 2023) represented Tasmania as a referee at the Water Polo Australia 13&U National Development Carnival held in Hobart from 6-9 July 2023.
Lizzie Johnstone (class of 2017) was awarded the inaugural Annie Greig Dance Scholarship from the state government in November 2023. Lizzie is using the scholarship to study a Master of Screendance (a fusion of dance artistry and filmmaking) at the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School.
Commander Claire Jones CSC RAN (class of 1995) was recognised for her outstanding contribution to armament engineering in the Royal Australian Navy. Claire was presented with the award during an investiture ceremony held at Government House in April.
Karen Kluss (class of 2000) won the Best Female Performer in a Leading Role for Amanda and the Glass Menagerie at the 2024 Theatre Council of Tasmania awards. Karen has been a regular on the Hobart theatre circuit for the past 20 years and is the founding director and producer of independent musical theatre company, Bijou Tasmania based in Hobart.
Meg Messer (class of 2017) was named as a winner of the University of Minnesota’s 2023 1A FAR Academic Excellence Award, representing rowing. The award is given to student-athletes who graduate with a cumulative GPA of a 3.80 or above and have participated in at least two years of NCAA intercollegiate athletics at a Football Bowl Subdivision institution.
Sophie Muller (class of 1991) was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding service and leadership in Tasmania’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
Sophie Robinson (class of 2020), Kate Oliver (class of 2020) and Phoebe Teale (class of 2021) competed in the New South Wales Rowing Championships, held from 9-11 February. Sophie and Phoebe placed second in the U23 Lightweight Women’s Double. At the same event, Sophie also placed second in the U23 Women’s Lightweight Single race. Sophie and Phoebe then competed in the Australian Rowing Championships which took place in New South Wales from 18-24 March.
The pair placed second in the state team crew in the Interstate Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Scull, Victoria Cup race. Sophie, representing the Tasmanian University Boat Club, won the U23 Lightweight Women’s Single Scull, clinching the title for the second year running. She was also in the winning crew for the Open Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Scull and rowed alongside SMC student, Imogen Stewart (Year 9) in the U23 Lightweight Women’s Double Scull, placing third. Phoebe, representing Sydney University, finished eighth in the same race, ranking her eighth overall nationally.
left column, Commander Claire Jones. Above, members of the Tasmanian State Rowing team, from
Maddie Higgins and Olivia Walter (Year 12) with alumni
Teale, Sophie Robinson and Kate Oliver.
In
left,
Phoebe
Alumni
Lily Ward (class of 2018) was named as a finalist for the 2024 Art Song Award. Lily was one of four classical singers from Opera Scholars Australia in contention for the award. Lily is a soprano who completed her honours year in classical voice performance at The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in 2023. She has performed several operatic roles with National Opera, Melbourne Opera and the Melbourne Conservatorium. In 2023 Lily was selected as a developing artist with the Richard Divall Developing and Emerging Artist Program where she performed the role of Barbarina in their production of The Marriage Figaro
Bailee Woolley (class of 2014) received the Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) Gilbert P. Whitley Award for outstanding senior student presentation on fish or fisheries at the combined ASFB and Indo-Pacific Fish Conference in Auckland, New Zealand. Bailee is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.
Caroline Sharpen (class of 1991) was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the performing arts through leadership roles. Caroline was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 2019 and serves on the boards of Symphony Services Australia and Creative Partnerships Australia. She is also Principal of her own Sharpen Creative Industries Consulting.
Above, Lily Ward and Caroline Sharpen.
News
Celebrating a century
In January Helen Foster (nee Mitchell) turned 100 years old. Her daughter Helen Byrne shares how her mother celebrated this significant milestone and reflects on her life well-lived.
On 5 January 2024, Helen Foster celebrated her 100th birthday in Mackay, Queensland with friends and relatives, including her eight children, their spouses and most of her 25 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.
It was a joyful occasion, and Helen responded to toasts, expressing her amazement at having lived for 100 years.
“Can you believe that I was born on this day 100 years ago?”, she asked her guests with a laugh of disbelief.
She went on to say that “There are four words I can attribute my successes to: family, friends, faith and Foster”.
When pressed for highlights of her life, Helen said: “Every era of my life has been special in its own way and [each has] come and gone in [its] own time.”
Born in Hobart to James Aloysius and Alice Mitchell, Helen grew up in Bathurst Street, Hobart and commenced her education at St Mary’s College in 1929. In her final year of schooling (1940) – a year after the outbreak of World War II, she was elected school captain.
Above, Helen, pictured far right, with fellow St Mary’s College students, P. Ball, left, P. Blanton, N. Langdale and J. Gillam in 1939. In second column, Denis and Helen Foster pictured outside St Mary’s Cathedral on their wedding day, 22 March 1947.
Also in his final year at St Virgil’s College next door was her future husband, Denis Foster who completed the year as dux of the college and went on to graduate with a Master of Science at the University of Tasmania. Helen and Denis were married on 22 March 1947 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart, with Archbishop Tweedy officiating.
After five years in Melbourne, the pair moved to Mackay where Denis took up a position of senior chemist at the Mackay Sugar Research Institute. They arrived in Mackay on a steamy December day in 1951, but never looked back. They enjoyed the small-town living and saw it as a great place to raise their children.
Along with her very demanding parenting roles, Helen continued with her golf. This was a skill that had been nurtured by her parents in Hobart. At the age of 18 she joined the Royal Hobart Golf Club as a junior associate and won her first competition with her father.
Helen also combined her child rearing with contributing to the West Mackay Catholic parish community. She was secretary of the Women’s World Day of Prayer and spent many years as a catechist at Chelona State School, just south of Mackay.
By the late 1970s all her children were living away from home, and Helen started to work on the family history. Her rationale was that her children were growing up in north Queensland, away from their family roots in Tasmania and it would be good if they knew something of their origins.
Her work started before the convenience of the Internet, so there was much correspondence with historians in England, Ireland and Scotland, as with Tasmanian archives. In her 70s, 80s and 90s Helen embraced a range of information technologies to continue her research and to document her findings so that they are accessible to the family.
In retirement, Helen also began to accompany husband Denis in sailing cruises around the Whitsunday Islands. Denis was a keen sailor from his Hobart days and found the islands to the northeast of Mackay a great place for cruising and exploring.
Denis died in 2006 at the Mater Hospital in Mackay, six months before their 60th wedding anniversary.
Helen was always proud of her association with St Mary’s College Hobart and enjoyed seeing her alma mater again when she visited Hobart in 2020.
To honour her 100th birthday, she received a Papal blessing and letters from King Charles III, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Governor-General of Australia and the Governor of Queensland, as well as local, state and federal government representatives.
Note
In the lead up to publication, we were saddened to hear of Helen’s passing on 11 June 2024, aged 100 years. We offer our deepest condolences to Helen’s family, friends and all who knew and loved her. In publishing this article, we wish to honour Helen’s memory, remembering her as the amazing woman she was and acknowledging her remarkable 100th birthday milestone. At the time of writing, it was thought she was our oldest living alumna.
This page (top-bottom): Helen with her parents Alice and Jim Mitchell, Oatlands. Helen, left, cruising with Denis and friends. Helen visiting St Mary’s College in 2020. Helen with her five daughters and three sons.
Ann relives glory days
Ann Murray (nee Doolan) attended St Mary’s College in the early 1940s as a weekly boarder. Now, at the age of 88, Ann resides in Melbourne where she moved after she married in 1958.
While many decades have passed since Ann was a young student at the College, she still has fond memories of Mother Madeline and the time she was crowned champion of the 100-yard sprint – a fact she always takes great delight in sharing with family and friends. The trophy that was awarded to Ann is today in safe keeping with one her grandchildren.
Ann also held onto the sports uniform from the pinnacle of her school athletics career, which she kept in pristine condition. Ann donated the uniform to our archives during a recent visit to the College, but not before having one last photo with it.
The story of Ann Murray
Ann Murray (nee Doolan) was born in 1935 to Nancy (Cuff) and Harold Gervais Doolan. Sadly, when Ann was six, her mother died. Ann’s only sibling, Philip died of diphtheria a year after their mother. So, at the age of seven, Ann was sent to board at St Mary’s College in 1942.
While Ann recalls the Sisters as being kind, nevertheless she was often homesick, especially at night, and freezing, as heating was not a priority in the convent. Her dormitory was very cold, with only a one-bar radiator, around which all the children crowded. As a boarder, Ann always had chilblains in the winter.
To help her face the cold conditions, Ann’s grandmother knitted her warm woollen singlets for boarding school. Unfortunately, after being washed in the big copper tubs in the school laundry, her precious singlets came back to her half the size, as well as scratchy and felted. Ann has told her own four daughters that the students wore woollen fingerless gloves in the classroom during winter so that they could hold the pencils in their freezing hands.
Sometimes in the heart of a Hobart winter the pipes would freeze overnight, and a wash in the morning was out of the question.
As it was wartime, the College was blacked out by night and during air raid practices. This meant little to Ann at the time, although she recalled filing down the stairs with an eraser clenched between her teeth during the blackout drills. The theory was that in the event of bombing, the students would not bite their tongues from fear. Despite this time of major upheaval, Ann has told her daughters that because she did not understand the war, she had no anxiety about these strange goings-on.
As far as food went, Ann loved the custard which was often served, and continued to love it all her life. The orchards around Hobart provided endless apples to the boarders, so much so that Ann was not a great fan of apples once she left St Mary’s.
From the athletics point of view, Ann was an excellent runner. At the time, the most junior running champion was called (most inappropriately to modern sensibilities) Midget Champion, and when Ann won this trophy, one of the Brothers told her that one day she would race in the Olympics. Although this did not eventuate, in 2000 Ann was invited to the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony to honour her grandfather, L A Cuff, one of the founding fathers of the modern Olympics.
In other memories, Ann told her daughters about a lady she remembered, a Miss Pennycuik, who may have been a sports mistress, or perhaps the lady at the corner lolly shop. Ann recalled getting 60 aniseed balls for a penny at the corner shop, much to the chagrin of the shop keeper, who had to count them out. Ann admits she did not really like aniseed balls but as they were such good value, all the boarders bought them at the weekend.
Ann returned to live in Launceston when her father married her stepmother, Monica. Her two younger siblings, John and Kay Doolan were born in Launceston. Ann attended Sacred Heart College in Launceston until matriculation. For her matriculation year she returned to St Mary’s College but finding herself the only student in the class on the first day, Ann decided to leave and undertake a secretarial course.
Ann worked for Warner Brothers in Hobart until her marriage to Peter Murray, who had been a boarder at St Virgil’s College. The couple went on to have daughters Philippa, Jennifer, Nichola and Louise, followed by 16 grandchildren and 20 greatgrandchildren. After their marriage Ann and her husband moved to live in Melbourne and bring up their family there. Ann has always loved returning to Tasmania and visiting her old haunts, although her memory is not as sharp as it once was.
Ann has always been very nostalgic about St Mary’s College and in fact still catches up with some other former St Mary’s friends in Melbourne. An ex-St Virgil’s artist and long-time cartoonist for Melbourne’s Sun newspaper, Jeff Hook – married to Pauline, one of Ann’s alumna friends, drew Ann a delightful picture for her 80th birthday. He titled it ‘The Belles of St Mary’s’ featuring as it does Ann and her long-cherished friends.
In February 2024, Ann made another trip down memory lane with a visit to St Mary’s College, and a look at the familiar buildings of her era, as well as the many additions which have been made during a lifetime of visits. Certainly, a very different vista to the one she first saw 82 years ago!
Margaret Rootes Heritage Officer
Staying in touch with our alumni
Gabrielle Fracalossi (class
Where has life taken you after finishing Year 12?
It has taken me to a few places! I didn’t necessarily take the most orthodox or streamlined path after finishing high school. I took two gap years following Year 12 while I figured out what I wanted to do. In 2018 I moved to Geelong, Victoria where I was enrolled to study in the accelerated Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry at Deakin University. I graduated in August 2021 and from there I took my first graduate job in a small, regional town called Warrnambool. In May 2022 I moved to Melbourne, and I am currently working as the resident optometrist for a very busy practice in Highpoint, Maribyrnong. Last year I was lucky to buy my first home close to where I work and just a month shy of my 26th birthday.
What does your job as an optometrist entail?
Well, it involves a lot more than just prescribing glasses which is a common misconception. I am therapeutically endorsed which means I can prescribe certain topical medications to treat a range of diseases such as glaucoma, inflammatory conditions and bacterial infections, just to name a few. We are primary care providers, so we have been trained to screen for and diagnose numerous emergency life- and sight-threatening conditions which we have to be able to identify and triage appropriately. Much of our work involves referring to ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) for various pathologies we may come across, as well as working closely with GPs who may refer to us for opinions.
A typical day for me involves seeing anywhere up to 20 patients during the busy months of the year and 10-15 during other times of the year. We have 20-minute appointments so it’s a very fast-paced environment and every appointment involves a series of about 10-plus clinical tests that you’re performing in order to gather clinical data about the patient’s glasses or contacts prescription, as well as their eye health.
Beyond that, as the resident optometrist at my store, I also help to manage the clinic by doing general clerical duties and keeping the clinic running smoothly.
of 2015)
How did St Mary’s College help consolidate your career path?
St Mary’s helped guide me towards a career of science/medicine from a young age. I had many great teachers in early high school that saw my potential and helped to foster my passion for the sciences in those formative years which ultimately led me down the path I pursued. SMC also offered the High Achiever’s Program (HAP) which gave me the opportunity to work alongside a small cohort of like-minded peers and under the devoted tuition of the amazing Angela Fraser who made it her personal mission to ensure you were constantly learning and improving.
Is there an influential teacher or mentor that inspired your educational journey?
Angela Fraser, of course! She left an indelible mark on me during my time at St Mary’s. She is an incredible teacher and person and someone I stayed in touch with even after I left SMC.
Do you have a favourite memory from your time at St Mary’s College?
This may be a weird answer but honestly it was probably the Year 6 Canberra trip. Just good, wholesome fun before I had a care in the world!
Staying in touch with our alumni
Gabrielle Fracalossi profile continued.
What’s one lesson that continually resonates with you?
There was actually a particular quote Angela had up in the HAP room (she had all sorts of quotes and affirmations on posters that covered the walls) that really stuck with me, and it was something like: "The only person that never makes a mistake is the person that never does anything at all." I think I often felt a lot of pressure to succeed and was worried about the fallout if I didn't achieve at the level that I was expected to by my peers, but at the end of the day it was unreasonable to think I could ever be infallible.
Looking to the future, where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?
In the next five years I think I would honestly be very happy if I was still doing exactly what I'm doing now. There may be some potential for me to pivot slightly away from a purely clinical optometry role, and I may want to consider somewhat of a more hybrid role within the company, but I'll just have to see where life takes me!
What is one piece of advice for current St Mary’s students?
It’s OK not to know what you want to do when you finish school and it's OK to take your time figuring it out! Don’t just do a degree for the sake of it. I’ve seen so many people my age make that mistake of doing an undergraduate Biomedicine or Bachelor of Science degree just to bide their time because they know they're vaguely interested in the sciences, and they figure it’s a good idea to keep themselves actively studying rather than taking an ‘aimless’ gap year. Gap years are good. Breaks are good. It’s a really big financial decision to take on a tertiary degree and I don’t think a lot of 18-year-olds consider that when they enrol in the course. If it's not a vocational course, then really consider what the degree is going to do for you and if it’s worth doing.
Save the date for the 2024 AGM!
Date: Saturday 9 November
Location: St Mary's College
Details to be shared soon!
Have an idea or suggestion of what you'd love to see at the AGM? Email communications@smc.tas.edu.au.
Staying in touch with our alumni
Tayla Moschogianis (class of 2018)
What has been your journey since graduating from St Mary’s College?
In my college years I studied musical theatre and dance. After graduating, I took a gap year and continued to train at House of Dance in all genres. I was also involved in two musicals with the Show Company and at the end of 2019 I successfully auditioned for a full-time performing arts school in Melbourne, Patrick School of the Arts (through Swinbourne University). This is a two-year course to prepare students for the professional industry through exposure to the best dancers and choreographers in Australia. After completing my two years (Certificate IV in Dance), the COVID-19 pandemic brought me back to Tasmania, and that is where I have been since 2022.
Have you always wanted to pursue a career in this field? If so, when and how did you realise this?
I think I have always known that a path in education or teaching would be my calling after hopefully pursuing my career in performing arts. During my gap year I worked at St Virgil’s College as a Teacher Assistant. I knew this was only a temporary job, but I enjoyed it enough to be interested in coming back to it when the time came. This time is now, as I am currently a Teacher Assistant at St Cuthbert's Catholic School in Grade 1/2, and it is such a rewarding and fulfilling job. I have been there for two years, and I absolutely love it. It has made me realise the love I have for working with young children and has almost convinced me to start my studies in education.
How did St Mary’s College help nurture your talents and/or shape who you have become?
St Mary’s College was so supportive of my dreams and aspirations of being a dancer and performing in musical theatre. The teachers always assured me that they would catch me up on any work I might miss so I could do well, both in school and in my dancing career. I am still in contact with many teachers from St Mary’s who helped me follow my dreams. It is special knowing they are still in my corner cheering me on. I would not be the person I am today without the amazing teachers I had during my time at the College.
Do you have a favourite memory of SMC?
I absolutely loved the school and House spirit that was always present. Swimming carnivals (Big Splash), running carnivals, cross country, House drama and other House events are favourite memories. In Year 6 I was voted in as Manresa ViceCaptain, and I took on the responsibility with pride. Reflecting on this now, I still remember that feeling of bringing your House together and celebrating wins, big or small. It was such an amazing time. These were always events that my friends and I looked forward to each year.
Can you tell us a bit about being a cheerleader on the Solstice Tas Gas JumpSquad which performs for the Tasmania Jack Jumpers and how you landed this amazing opportunity?
Being a part of the Tasmania Jack Jumpers jump squad is one of the best experiences I have had to date. I successfully auditioned for this amazing opportunity by attending an open call audition, and I have proudly been a member for all three seasons. It is one of the professional dance gigs available to Tasmanian dancers, so it is an absolute privilege to be involved. It is challenging work, however, and requires dedication and commitment, but it is all very worth it, especially after the Jack Jumpers’ championship win this season. I dance alongside 12 other amazing performers who push you to work harder and harder and subsequently I have enjoyed the experience increasingly each season.
Tayla Moschogianis profile continued. What skills have served you well in your industry?
Organisation, resilience, confidence, communication and relationship skills are all skills that I learned from an early age and that I’ve refined over the years. From around the age of five I was dancing most nights for two to three hours, so I had to develop excellent organisational skills to meet my school commitments. When I was 14, I started instructing younger dance students, firstly as an assistant and eventually, as a teacher. My confidence developed naturally through dance, however as I progressed, I learnt humility and developed a profound respect for others.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I aim to be in paid employment in the performing arts industry, either in musical theatre or dance, or pursue further study to become a teacher. Importantly, I want to continue to lead a healthy and happy life doing the things I love with the people I love. I hope to have a family one day, and you can be sure that if there is a little girl in my future, she will be at SMC.
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Staying in touch with our alumni
Honor Marino (class of 2001)
What does your role as a radio producer involve, day to day?
I produce for an afternoon program. Each day I’m responsible for finding, booking and researching stories for a two-and-a-half-hour show. I also put the show to air, lining up the interviews, taking talkback callers and texts, and making sure the presenter has everything they need to sound great on air.
Have you always been interested in media and communications?
I remember the moment I realised I wanted to work in media. It was in Mr Geale’s Year 9 Drama class. He announced an upcoming competition hosted by WIN News offering the chance to read the news on TV. The segment would be broadcast on WIN TV across Tasmania.
I put my hand up straight away. Mr Geale told me to listen to the daily bulletin for more information. I waited and waited – dreaming of my chance to win the competition. When I didn’t hear anything, I asked my teacher, Mr Thomson, if he had heard anything, and he said to me: “Entries have already closed!”
I was heartbroken. And I was so cross with Mr Geale and Mr Thomson for not passing on the message in the daily bulletin. Although when I think about it, it was almost certainly my fault that I didn’t hear the message. I was probably chatting to my friend Amy Paprotny (class of 2001) at the time!
Ever since then, the seeds were sown, and I wanted to work in media.
What was your pathway after leaving St Mary’s College? Can you share the steps you took?
When I left school, I drifted into an office job and started working in Human Resources. I did it for 15 years and worked my way into a senior role. I was good at it, but to be honest, it was stressful.
After I had kids, I decided my job had to be really rewarding if it was going to take me away from spending time with my kids.
I spent a lot of time thinking about my strengths and discovered my ‘superpower’ was having great conversations. I realised I could turn this skill to interviewing people and my dream to be a WIN News reader was suddenly resurrected after 20 years.
I had a plan; I hosted a couple of shows on Edge Radio which led to a job as a producer at the ABC. I also volunteer for Print Radio Tasmania, and I love helping people tell their stories.
You also established your own business, specialising in audio marketing and communications. What challenges did you face?
I realised the best way to get a job that aligned to my strengths was to set up my own business and create my own job. I love being able to combine all my skills in human resources and broadcasting to offer something unique in Tassie. Setting up a business is so much harder than I thought, but it’s worth it.
What are your fond memories of St Mary’s College?
I’m still best friends with the girls from school. We’ve been friends for 28 years and I know we always will be. We spent all our recesses and lunches together on the parapet, or in the courtyard behind room 12, and I’m so grateful to have them in my life.
The other thing I really value from my time at St Mary’s was being taught to touch-type by Sister Joseph! She made us cover our hands with bibs so we couldn’t peek at the keys. I think we knew a lot more about computers than she did, but she taught us the discipline to learn to type the correct way. It’s a seemingly small skill, but I use it every day (although after three decades, I still find myself peeking at the keyboard to type numbers).
What advice would you give to current students preparing for the future?
Understand your strengths and choose a job that uses them. When you’re using your strengths, it feels good, and it's fun. The more fun you have the better.
A round of applause for Cosi
A big congratulations to the cast and crew involved in this year’s Senior School production of Cosi. The students took to the stage and captivated audiences over two performance nights at the Moonah Arts Centre on 7-8 June. Their dedication and passion shone throughout the production which created a rich tapestry of storytelling. Thank you to Senior Drama Teacher Leah Wallace, with support from Relief Drama Teacher Sally Lewry, for your expertise and dedication in guiding the students. Well done on an outstanding show!
Written in 1992 by Australian playwright Louis Nowra, Cosi is a dark comedy that delves into themes of friendship, community and the beauty found in our differences. The play is set against the background of the Vietnam War, in a Sydney psychiatric facility.
