Alma Mater JUNE 2021 EDITION
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CONTENTS From the Principal
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Prefect report
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Pedagogy report
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Using art to ignite hope 6 Shining legacy in education 7 Community and outreach 8-9 This year so far in photos 10-11 Class of 2020
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Vale 13 Reunions
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Booties for alumni
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Anecdotes from the archives
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Alumni achievements
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Staying in touch with our alumni 18-19
Editor: Stefania Bostock Design: Shelley Medhurst Articles and photos are a combined effort from students, staff and alumni. Cover image: Stella Thristan, Amelie Webb and Madeline Stanton (Year 3).
164 Harrington Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 (03) 6108 2560 stmarys@smc.tas.edu.au www.smc.tas.edu.au Printed: 10 June 2021
From the Principal I've always been interested in the idea that schools are ever-changing and yet somehow remain the same. In our case this is true, partly because St Mary’s College is so old. At the same time the College, while being ‘elderly’, is still very much young and sprightly in its approach to education in the contemporary world. At the recent Year 12 Mother’s Day Breakfast we were regaled by the life story of alumna, Juliette Tria (class of 1999). While we were sitting in the Year 12 Common Room, Juliette delighted in telling me that she had known it in its former glory as the library. I’d say most rooms at St Mary’s College have had a former life.
What 'is' St Mary's is bigger than its buildings, its symbols and even its people. Even if you've only been out of the College for one year, you would find yourself coming back to a place that has somehow changed. It's still your place and yet, in a strange way, it's simultaneously unknown to you. Even the people in a school change almost on a weekly basis. We farewell students moving interstate, we welcome student teachers, we say goodbye to staff taking maternity leave, and so forth. The population of the College is everchanging.
For many alumni, the connection with the uniform is ever present, and for them, the uniform is and continues to be St Mary's College. But a walk-through the past will show you that the uniform has not always been as it is. In one iteration girls wore a light blue dress! While the blue is a contemporary St Mary's colour, it is hard to see the blue uniform as embodying how we now know St Mary’s, but the students who wore it were as much our alumni as the Year 12s who graduated last year. What 'is' St Mary's is bigger than its buildings, its symbols and even its people. It is an attitude, a way of knowing the world, a spirit, and I have no doubt these three features have been magnificently shaped by the Presentation Sisters. It is about knowing that one has responsibility to those who have less; it is about compassion and a down-to-earth simplicity. I am buoyed by understanding that in many ways I am inconsequential to St Mary’s College. I have decided to return to full-time study next year, hopefully embarking on a Fine Arts degree at the University of Tasmania. I have been the Principal of the College for six years. It has been the greatest privilege of my life. I look forward to welcoming the new principal as they take over the custodianship of the greatness and beauty that is intangibly St Mary’s College, while I take my place as an alumna, one of thousands of fabulous women and a few good men! Helen Spencer Principal
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Top to bottom: Year 12 Mother’s Day Breakfast fundraiser, smiles in the schoolyard, Ms Spencer leading the Kinders in an art lesson.
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PREFECT REPORT
Forging new friendships The Prefects, along with the rest of the Year 12 cohort, have enjoyed a busy start to the year. The Big Splash was the beginning of many lasts for the Year 12s, as we all enjoyed spending a day of fun at the pool with the Senior School, with great House spirit on display by all. Later in Term 1, a group of dedicated Senior students represented the College at Relay for Life, raising much-needed funds and awareness for Cancer Council Tasmania. This year, the Prefects have chosen the Hobart Women’s Shelter as the 2021 Prefect charity. Being an all-girls school, and in light of recent events in the media, the Prefects believe the Hobart Women’s Shelter is an important charity to raise funds and awareness for. Our first major fundraiser, the Mother’s Day Breakfast, was a huge success. Over 100 Year 12 mothers and daughters gathered to share breakfast and listen to alumna, Juliette Tria talk about her pathway in forensic science. The Big Night In saw the Year 11s and 12s spend a night at school bonding together. This, along with the introduction of a Year 11/12 Common Room footy competition, has helped to forge new friendships and friendly rivalries between the year groups, while strengthening existing relationships. This page, top to bottom: Big Splash, sunrise at St Mary's College, Year 12 Mother's Day Breakfast.
Phoebe Teale Head Prefect
Opposite page: The Building Futures Showcase.
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Growing our love of learning
PEDAGO GY
T H E G I R L S ’ WAY ! Regardless of the career path a St Mary’s girl chooses—engineering, the arts, technology, medicine, business, or a trade, she needs to truly believe that there is nothing standing in her way to achieve these goals. Girls’ schools predominately have a history of founders who were fearless trailblazers; women who often defied many obstacles to create schools that promoted an education for girls and young women that removed boundaries, promoted resilience, agency, innovation, and a growing love of learning specifically for and about girls. This is the message that is reinforced to our girls through both their learning and connection to the legacy of Nano Nagle at the College every day. At the time of writing this article, I am ending my first term at St Mary’s College. It is only a short time, but long enough to attest to the unquestioned focus the College and its teachers have for the health, wellbeing and academic success of each student from K-12. As educators, we aim to continually improve our learning environments, the content of our curriculum and to build positive relationships with each other so that our girls learn, grow and flourish, both academically and spiritually. As a community of learners, teachers at St Mary's College have been working in Professional Learning Community teams (PLCs). Small groups have been investigating innovations in teaching and learning, including trends in literacy and numeracy, effective feedback and programs around positive behaviours and wellbeing. These are shared with our colleagues to improve the learning of our girls and move our efficacy as teachers and a college forward. Along with the PLC investigations, much of the work done in Term 1 has been around preparation for
the Building Futures Showcase, an event designed to bring to life the wonderful opportunities on offer at St Mary’s College through subject choices for 2022 and long-term educational and career goals. Staff have been working with industry, the University of Tasmania and TasTAFE to support students in determining their subject choices with advice on academic content and expectations, learning
Girls’ schools predominately have a history of founders who were fearless trailblazers opportunities and future pathways. These activities encourage a shared vision around girls’ learning, strong collaboration among educational peers and an improvement in outcomes that positions our students well for their future. While parents and teachers
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have a significant role to play in shaping students’ learning and future pathways, it is important to acknowledge and support student agency in this process. Student agency is empowering students to play an active role in deciding what and how they will learn. This includes ensuring that we have a student voice in decisions around subject content, assessment type, learning styles and learning environment. Co-agency with students and teachers is critical. As stated in the OECD Education and Skills Project 2030 conceptual learning framework: '…the concept of co-agency recognises that students, teachers, parents and communities work together to help students progress towards their shared goals'. Teacher/student collaboration around what is learned and how it is learned, teacher development through PLCs and events such as the Building Futures Showcase are growing our girls’ love of learning so that they may successfully take that 'one pace beyond' in their future endeavours. Louise Bender Director of Pedagogy
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Using art to ignite hope FOR A BETTER FUTURE
The Nagle Prize is a national competition open to students from Nagle Education Alliance of Australia (NEAA) member schools. Last year’s competition asked students to interpret the meaning of ‘A flame for the future’ in their design, while linking it to Nano Nagle and the Presentation story. Year 10 student Nandhini Ramanathan took out the secondary school category of the competition with her winning design, which will be printed on a pull-up banner to be used by NEAA schools across Australia. We chatted with Nandhini recently to learn more about the meaning behind her artwork, which imagines a future where people reach out in faith, in a spirit of hospitality, compassion and simplicity, to all of creation. Congratulations on winning the secondary school category of the 2020 NEAA Nagle Prize. What was your reaction when you found out you won? Thank you. I was very shocked and surprised at first. I didn’t believe my work was chosen at the winning piece! At the same time, I was also very happy and proud of my achievement. How did you first learn about the NEAA Nagle Prize? Mr Clarke (the College’s former Director of Identity and Mission) emailed Year 7-12s about the competition last year during remote learning. I am very interested in art, so I just gave it a go. It was fun interpreting the meaning of the theme and using my creative skills during online learning. The 2020 prize was linked to the theme, ‘A flame for the future’. How did you interpret the meaning of this statement in your design, while linking it to Nano Nagle and the Presentation story? I interpreted the theme by showing that the inspiration and influences of tomorrow’s society would be the people of today. People should be the flame—or light—in the lives of others, to give them hope 6
for a better future. I connected this statement while linking it to Nano Nagle and the Presentation story by showing that Nano Nagle was the flame for the future. Their story is full of love, care and hope that answers the way we should act today to enlighten and shape the future generations. What meaning or message do you hope people take away from your design? I hope that people take the message of Nano Nagle and the Presentation story to continue to show love for others in any opportunity they can. I wanted to convey the meaning that people in this generation are role models to the generations to come. I also wanted to interweave the theme of ‘A flame for the future’ through my design to demonstrate that we should bring light and hope in people to create a better future. You obviously have a strong passion for creating – how did you get started with visual arts? I have been creating art since a very young age. I used to do a lot of artwork at school in the Philippines. I started out with very simple drawings, and I would watch YouTube videos and go to art lessons to develop my knowledge. I
never gave up. Visual art is a way for me to communicate my thoughts, allowing me to unload my heart and soul, and help my mind process my emotions. What do you like to paint/draw/ create the most? I really like to draw mandalas. Doing so helps me get rid of stress, meditate and heal. Mandalas bring peace and a sense of calmness, so creating them helps me to concentrate, focus and feel balanced because they are mostly symmetrical. Do you have a favourite spot for creating artwork? I create a lot of artwork at home, usually outside in my backyard. This gives me the opportunity to get out of my normal routine and create art where there are no distractions and where I don’t feel confined to one room or spot. I get raw inspiration from textures, tones and colours from nature around me. What advice would you give to other aspiring visual arts students? As long as you have fun, enjoy yourself and be unique with your artwork, you can achieve your goals. Even if you fail, recognise that failing also means you are growing.
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The legacy of the Presentation Sisters in Tasmania, dating back more than 150 years, was recognised on Friday 12 March when they were inducted on the 2021 Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women. The Presentation Sisters have made a positive impact on the lives of many thousands of Tasmanians through the network of schools they set up around the state, which includes St Mary’s College. Sr Gabrielle Morgan PBVM, Congregation Leader of the Presentation Sisters in Tasmania, said she was stunned and delighted at the honour. “I feel gratitude for the recognition of the contribution that we, the Sisters, have been enabled to make in relation to the education, in particular, of young women and girls, and the significant impact that the Presentation Sisters have made, and continue to make, in the broader community,” Sr Gabrielle said. As the first Presentation school in Australia, the College is proud of its heritage, with the charism of the Presentation Sisters and their foundress, Nano Nagle, at the heart of our community. St Mary’s College Principal, Helen Spencer has paid tribute to the Presentation Sisters, who founded the College in 1868, two years after they arrived in Hobart from Ireland. “Our story began more than 150 years ago and is interwoven with the stories of numerous communities that would not be here but for the love and courage of Presentation women,” she said. “We are proud of and grateful to the Sisters for continuing to inspire, motivate and empower future generations of young women to make a difference in their own way.”
Shining legacy in
E D U C AT I O N A N D H O U S I N G After establishing St Mary’s College, and a ‘poor school’—St Columba’s— on the same site, the Sisters soon opened other schools in Launceston, Bellerive, Lindisfarne, Queenstown, Beaconsfield, George Town, Karoola, Lilydale, Longford, and took over the already established school at New Norfolk. Sr Gabrielle said had it not been for St Columba’s School, thousands of Hobart children in the latter part of the 19th century might not have received any education. Following the closure of a number of small schools in Tasmania during the 1970s, the Sisters went out into the community as pastoral workers, caring for immigrants, refugees and the marginalised in society. “When the numbers of young women entering religious life declined, the Sisters continued to operate their schools with lay teachers, but the Presentation philosophy of welcome, simplicity, compassion and hospitality continues,” Sr Gabrielle said. “The Tasmanian Sisters have strongly supported their international sisters in the Philippines, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea, with some Sisters also volunteering for a number of years in the latter two countries, providing educational opportunities for girls and young women.” In 2018, the Sisters gifted a large parcel of land in Blackmans Bay to the Tasmanian people on the condition the land be used for
affordable housing and supported accommodation. Work is now underway at the Maryknoll development following a blessing service at the site led by Hobart Archbishop Julian Porteous on Friday 19 March. The houses are expected to be completed by mid-2022, with most to become homes to families on the housing priority waitlist, people with disabilities and over 55s. A St Mary’s College alumna, Sr Gabrielle entered the Presentation Novitiate in Melbourne in early 1964 and was professed in 1967. She then spent several years at St Mary’s College teaching and furthering her professional development, before she was chosen to lead the Sisters’ Congregation in Tasmania from 1999 to 2006, and again from 2015 to the present day. Sr Gabrielle remains a continual presence at St Mary’s College—her office is located in the original convent building—where our students and staff address the quest for social justice and contribute financially to a range of charities.
Opposite page: Nandhini Ramanathan (Year 10) and, inset, her awardwinning artwork. This page (left-right): Presentation Sisters inducted into the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women (photo: Wendy Shaw), Blessing of Maryknoll with Sr Gabrielle Morgan and Sr Barbara (photo: Mark Franklin).
Community
& OUTREACH
A CHIME FOR EVERY CHILD Our Belling-in ceremony was held on Wednesday 10 February, where we welcomed all newcomers to our Presentation community. Steeped in tradition, the Belling-in is a wonderful example of our College living out one of our touchstones, hospitality. There were many cheers and rounds of applause for our newly commencing students and Year 12 students as they made their way through a guard of honour, with the Covent bell tolling in the background.
PRESENTATION FAMILIES WELCOMED Families flocked to the College Green on Tuesday 16 February to celebrate our first community event of the school year. This year’s Families on the Green was a tremendous success, with around 600 students, family members and staff attending to enjoy the wonderful food and entertainment on offer, as well as the chance to meet and mingle with members of our College community. Highlights of the program included live music, courtesy of the College band; the ever-popular jumping castle, a spectacular lion dance performance from the Chinese Community Association, and ice cream from Murphy’s canteen—the perfect treat for a warm summer’s evening.
WOMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT The College was delighted to be joined by our fellow Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia (AGSA) Tasmanian group members from Mount Carmel College, St Michael’s Collegiate School and Fahan School at our International Women’s Day Breakfast, held on Friday 12 March. Attendees had the pleasure of hearing from special guest speaker and St Mary’s College alumna, Molly Gerke (class of 2012), while enjoying a spread of savoury croissants, granola and fresh fruit. Molly shared an inspiring story of her time volunteering in Vanuatu, the establishment of the Open Door Foundation and her work with the United Nations. Molly was joined by fellow speaker, Keisy Ureleo, who she met through her foundation work in Vanuatu. As a member of the AGSA, St Mary’s College works to challenge and call out gender bias and inequity, to seek and celebrate women’s achievements and to create a more inclusive, equal world.
RELAYING A MESSAGE OF HOPE A group of compassionate Year 11 and 12 students rallied together to help make a difference in the fight against cancer in this year’s Relay for Life. ‘Team SMC’ relayed for more than 20 hours, carrying Nano Nagle’s lantern as a baton, to raise $5,600 for cancer research—a cause very close to the girls’ hearts. The College is very proud of their efforts. Thank you to the students, teachers, parents and carers who participated and donated to support the community and this very worthwhile cause.
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STUDENTS GATHER FOR VINNIE'S MASS On Tuesday 9 March, students Niah Bester (Year 9) and Maddie Young (Year 10) represented the College at the induction mass for the St Vincent de Paul school conferences. The Mass welcomes schools and their Vinnies leaders from the greater Hobart area to gather, receive a blessing for their work in 2021 and confirm their commitment to living out the Gospel messages by serving Christ with love, respect, justice, hope and joy. St Mary’s College has a long association with St Vincent de Paul, which sees Junior and Senior School students supporting all St Vincent de Paul initiatives at the state level. As part of our fundraising commitments, the Young Vinnies group once again collected donations for our annual Winter Woolies drive. Donated items included warm clothing, gloves, beanies and blankets for the Vinnies Winter Appeal, which provides emergency relief to people at risk and experiencing hardship.
A MORNING FOR OUR MUMS An early Mother’s Day celebration brought many families to the College Green on Tuesday 5 May for delicious warm breakfast treats. Thank you to everyone for coming together to show our mothers and the special women in our lives how much they mean to us. We also wish to thank our fantastic helpers who volunteered their time on the day. Students in Years 11 and 12 also had the opportunity to spoil their leading ladies with a breakfast they hosted on Friday 7 May. The event was a great success, with proceeds from the day going towards the 2021 Prefect-elected charity, the Hobart Women’s Shelter.
ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIONS St Mary’s College students gathered at the Hobart Cenotaph at dawn on Sunday 25 April to mark ANZAC Day and to pay their respects to the men and women who have served—and continue to serve—our great nation. Emily Keane (Year 12) gave a moving address at the service, and Cecilia Hutchinson, Amelia Howell (Year 11), Grace Simonetis and Eliza Topham (Year 10) sang two hymns and the Australian national anthem. All students who attended ANZAC Day services represented the College with honour, pride and dignity, and should be commended for the way they conducted themselves on such a solemn occasion.
Opposite page, top to bottom: Belling-in, Families on the Green, International Women's Day. This page, top to bottom: Mother's Day Breakfast, Vinnie's Mass, Relay for Life, Anzac Day.
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This year so far I N P H OTO S
Opposite page (left-right, top-bottom): First day of Term 1, Belling-in, Families on the Green, Big Splash, Tasmanian Schools Rowing Championships, International Women's Day, Palm Sunday, Year 9 camp, Year 9-10 Retreat, SATIS Head of the River Regatta, Relay for Life, Year 6 science. This page (left-right, top-bottom): Families on the Green, First Grade basketball, Junior School Swimming Carnival, Scooter Day, Matilda the Musical , Mother's Day Breakfast, the Carter family at the North West Schools Rowing Regatta, Matilda the Musical, Nano Nagle coin line, Year 6 science, Year 10 Welcome to Senior Studies dinner.
Pearls of wisdom for our CLASS OF 2020
Congratulations new graduates, and welcome to the St Mary’s College alumni family. Your journey at St Mary’s College does not stop when you graduate. From the moment you complete Year 12, you become a lifelong member of our alumni—a community of past students and staff from across the decades, committed to supporting the next generation of St Mary’s College students and keeping the Presentation Sisters’ mission alive. We asked our current alumni to share a piece of advice, message of encouragement or a few words to live by for incoming alumni. We have published a selection of these below. ‘Your best is enough’. ‘Don’t stress, there are many roads to Rome. Study the best you can and no matter the results, celebrate your achievements knowing you have done your very best. Good luck for the future.’ 'Don't think that you'll have just one career for the rest of your working life. If you believe in your own abilities and are prepared to study, you can achieve anything. As the world changes and your life circumstances alter, you may find your current career no longer suits you. That's not failure, it's just the way life goes. Best of luck going forward, girls.' You are enough—please don’t stress, it is wasted emotion. Seek solace from your family, laughter from your friends and know that your teachers love you.' 'Be true to yourself, always.' Top-bottom: Year 12 Retreat, The Originals at Graduation Mass supper, Gradutation Mass.
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loved the Sisters and the College and began to feel the early flickering of a religious vocation when she was still in primary school. In Year 10, Sr Joseph was dux of her class and in her matriculation year in 1949, she was a prefect. In early 1950 she entered the Presentation Novitiate in Launceston.
Vale
Sr Joseph professed her final vows at the end of 1953 and on the very next day, she was en route to New Norfolk for her next teaching appointment at St Brigid’s School, where she worked for two years before moving to St Cuthbert’s School in Lindisfarne.
A woman of strong faith and a Presentation Sister for 68 years, Sr Mary Joseph McVilly devoted her entire life to living out the mission of the Catholic Church.
Over the next 40 years, Sr Joseph quietly served God and her congregation as a teacher in many Presentation schools, including St Mary’s College. During the 1960s, she commenced her university studies to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Sr Joseph was born in Hobart during the Depression years, into a staunchly Catholic family. She commenced her education at St Mary’s College at the age of five and a half. Sr Joseph
The last two decades of Sr Joseph’s teaching life were spent at St Mary’s, first as a class teacher and, from 1991, as the special education teacher.
SR JOSEPH MCVILLY
and after discerning a vocation to religious life, entered the Presentation Sisters’ Novitiate at Elsternwick in Melbourne in March 1964. During the nearly three years of Novitiate formation, Sr Julianne had only limited contact with her parents, before returning to Hobart in January 1967 to be professed as a Presentation Sister. She took the name Emmanuel and began her teacher training, which she continued at Sacred Heart College in Launceston in 1968-69.
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SR JULIANNE TAPPING
Sr Julianne Mary Tapping was born on 19 April 1946 to her loving parents, Phyllis and Pierre Tapping. She grew up in Sandy Bay, beginning her schooling at Mount Carmel College. She changed schools when she began Year 4 and completed the remainder of her education at St Mary’s College. At the end of 1963 she matriculated
In 1969 Sr Julianne was diagnosed with systemic lupus. She was flown to Hobart to be met by the Superior at the time and her parents, who had been given every expectation that she would die. Sr Julianne went on to live another 51 years, marked by the lupus and other health conditions. St Mary’s College welcomed Sr Julianne back in 1970 as a Year 7 teacher. In 1977 she commenced a Theology degree at the Catholic College of Divinity in Melbourne and in 1979, became the first Tasmanian
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From 1999 she was given the responsibility of looking after refugee students and became involved with a Catholic Refugee Support Group, through St Joseph’s Parish. She also helped with the Sacramental Program at St Joseph’s over many years. Sr Joseph moved to Immaculate Heart of Mary school in 2005, continuing her teaching in special education, as well as her loving care of the humanitarian students. In 2019 she moved into Rosary Gardens aged care facility in New Town. She died on 26 April 2021, the day on which the Presentation Sisters honour their foundress, Nano Nagle. Her funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Peter Addicoat CP, who said during the homily: ‘Sr Joseph lived a full life committed to the service of the God who created her and called her into ministry within the Presentation Congregation. She brought the power of God’s redeeming love into the hearts of people of differing creeds, countries, cultures and across the generations.’
woman to obtain the Bachelor of Theology. Sr Julianne returned to St Mary’s in 1980-81 to teach Higher School Certificate Religion, while also taking on the role of Religious Education Coordinator. She later served on the de la Salle Youth Retreat Team and as a Student Retreat Coordinator at St Patrick’s College, Launceston. After completing a Spiritual Direction program in 1996, Sr Julianne spent the next few years in prayer ministry before working from the Bellerive convent in ministry, spiritual direction and prayer guidance. Her last appointment as Parish Sister on Flinders Island was a culmination of her years of teaching, theology, spirituality and prayer. She retired from active ministry in 2006. Julianne has left behind her a legacy of love and service, tested at times by debilitating health issues. In her final years, she resided in a sunny room at Guilford Young Aged Care Facility where she remained until she died on 16 August 2020. 13
Reunions CLASS OF 1958
CLASS OF 1980
The class of 1958 celebrated their 62nd year reunion on Wednesday 21 October 2020. They spent the afternoon reminiscing and enjoying a sumptuous meal at Drysdale House in Hobart.
The year 2020 was a year like no other. As the class of 1980 was endeavouring to plan our 40th reunion, the world was in a state of uncertainty. The late Baby Boomer cohort, however, was nothing if not adaptable. After a number of date revisions we finally decided to go for it on the weekend of 4-5 December.
Pictured below are the group including Marie Jeffries (Boden), Cecilia Foley (Stevenson), Patricia Locke (Foley), Patricia Carnivale (Pearton), Sandra Perkins (Halliwell), Annette Ibbott (Ogilvie), Elizabeth Vagg and Lyn Headlam.
As a reunion of this importance demanded something special, we reached out to our brother class
from St Virgil’s College (we were co-ed in Years 11 and 12 at that time) and gathered at The Hanging Garden on the Friday evening for drinks and tapas. The response from ‘the boys’ was overwhelming; in fact, there were probably more SVC classmates than SMC attendees that evening. It was amazing as many of us have not connected since school days and yet conversations didn’t miss a beat. A small group toured the College on Saturday afternoon. There were the usual stories of parapet lunchtimes, water fights and marching on the top ground. Everyone was incredibly impressed with the new facilities and the current direction that the College is taking, with its provision of a First Nations meeting place and environmentally-friendly canteen. As always, homage was paid to the Presentation Sisters who were our predominant educators, mentors and models of what strong women are able to achieve. Saturday evening was a girls-only event and we gathered at Botanica Bar for dinner. Conversations were a little different this time. The impact of the pandemic and the fact that we are all approaching our 60th birthdays created an atmosphere of honesty as we shared our various journeys—career paths, tree-changes and sea-changes, grandparenthood, retirement and life lessons learnt along the way. It was a very special night. Naturally, there was a lot of reminiscing about old school days, the friends who sadly were no longer with us and those who could not make the journey back to Tasmania due to the current COVID-19 restrictions. This marvellous experience certainly bore out the adage that ‘old friends are good friends’. Perhaps we shouldn’t wait another 10 years to reunite?
Pictured (clockwise from above): The Class of 1980 reunited with their brother class from St Virgil’s College for an evening of drinks and tapas at The Hanging Garden; enjoying a tour of their old stomping ground; dinner and reminiscing at Botanica Bar. 14
Brigid Knight
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Upcoming reunions Don’t book your flights just yet! Due to unforeseen circumstances, and after thoughtful consideration, we have decided to postpone the alumni reunion event planned for Saturday 9 October 2021. Though we have been looking forward to gathering together, we are hopeful you will still be able to join us for a College tour or alumni get-together in the near future. We will be sure to keep you posted if anything changes, and once a new event is confirmed, you will be the first to know! As usual, alumni are still welcome to organise their own private reunions. If you wish to hold a class reunion in the future, please contact Community Relations on 03 6108 2560 or communications@smc.tas. edu.au.
ANNUAL ALUMNI MASS, REUNION AND AGM Find your invitation to the annual alumni Mass, reunion and AGM on the back cover of this Alma Mater. We hope to see you there!
UPCOMING REUNIONS
CLASS OF 2011 (10 YEARS)
CLASS OF 1971 (50 YEARS)
A reunion for the class of 2011 is currently being organised. Email and print invitations will be sent closer to the date so please ensure your contact details are updated with the College via the webform at www. smc.tas.edu.au/community/alumni.
A warm invitation to all St Mary's College students who graduated from Year 12 in 1971 or who were part of this year group at any point during their school years.
Date: To be confirmed Contact: Charlotte Tokmak (Walsh), tokmakcharlotte@gmail.com
BUSINESS BREAKFAST (1 YEAR) The class of 2020 is warmly invited to attend the first graduates business breakfast. Hear from our special guest speaker to help you on your career journey, meet with alumni and learn about the benefits of becoming an Alumni Association member, and enjoy a catered breakfast with your former classmates. Details will be confirmed closer to the date and a full invitation will be emailed to you.
Come join us for our 50-year reunion. It is our ‘first-ever’ reunion and everyone is very welcome. Saturday 16 October 2021 10.00am A guided tour of St Mary’s College, 164 Harrington Street, Hobart. Meet at Reception (Brisbane Street entrance to College). Saturday 16 October 2021 12.30pm Lunch at Frogmore Creek Restaurant, 699 Richmond Road, Cambridge. $60 per person for two-course meal, drinks purchased separately Sunday 17 October 2021 11.00am Brunch/coffee at The Hanging Garden, 112 Murray Street, Hobart. (Pay own way.) RSVP By Friday 24 September 2021 To: Diane Kinghorn (O’Leary) Email: dkinghorn@netspace.net.au Mobile: 0438 244 991
Creating close-knit communities BOOTIES FOR ALUMNI
Calling all knitters! Could you help us by creating some knitted keepsakes for our future alumni babies? These beautifully crafted St Mary's College baby booties, pictured right, are very sweet and would make a lovely gift for the little ones who are joining our growing alumni family—especially now as the cooler weather is upon us. The project has recently launched, and we would love the assistance of
our alumni community. Patterns and wool are provided. We would also love to know about any soon-to-arrive alumni babies. If you or someone you know is preparing to welcome a new bundle of joy, please contact us. To sign up for the project or to register a baby or baby-to-be, please phone Community Relations on (03) 6108 2560 or email communications@smc.tas.edu.au.
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Anecdo tes F RO M T H E A RC H I V E S STORIES OF RESILIENCE AND WAR One interest I have always had in working with the history of St Mary’s College is exploring the stories of alumni who have served in the defence forces and/or in wars. There can be no doubt that many of our women would have played various roles in the major wars of the 20th and 21st centuries. Lucinda Casey (class of 1998), pictured right, is an example of a young woman who has made her career in the Navy, serving in the Middle East, as well as all over the world. Through most of our history we have had boys at St Mary’s College, so it stands to reason that many of those boys will have served our country. I have yet to make a project out of this matter, but it is on my wish list. Beatrix Kelly was educated at St Mary’s in the early 1900s and she volunteered for war service in early 1918, serving at Roseneath Military
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Hospital and later, at the Bombay Convalescent Hospital, where she was a Theatre Sister. Beatrix is survived by her niece Marjorie (Darcey) Fitzpatrick who, at 106 years of age, is our oldest surviving former scholar. I’m sure the story of Beatrix is the tip of the iceberg of similar stories. Born in Hobart in 1896, as a young boy, Norman Meagher was educated at St Mary’s College, before moving on to Officer College on the Glebe and Queen’s College. At the end of 1911, Norman matriculated and began working in the Law Department of the public service while studying Law at the university. He was a champion marksman in the cadets and a talented trumpet player. After his enlistment and training at Ross, Norman sailed from Tasmania in 1916 with the 40th Battalion. He survived Flanders and Messines only to be shot at Ypres in late 1917.
unrealised potential of the stories of his generation. To make some sense out of his death, Norman’s father published a small book in 1918, containing all his boy’s letters home and his other writings. If you have a family story of any SMC alumni who served I would love to hear from you to build on the scant information which I have. Margaret Rootes Heritage Officer and Alumni Association President
Norman’s story contains all the tragedy and poignancy and
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Alumni Amy Prokopiec (class of 2020) was selected to represent the state in the Tasmanian Devils AFL team who competed in the NAB League competition, which saw her go up against the best teams in Victoria over a nine-game roster. Amy was also named in the leadership group. The team had an outstanding season, winning six games and losing only three, making it to the finals. Amy ended the season as the highest goal scorer for the Devils with 12 goals. She now returns to play with her club, Clarence, in the newly formed SFLW competition.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Australian Academy of Performing Arts Bachelor of Arts (Acting) course after a successful audition process. Kate Matar (class of 1999) was recently promoted to CEO of the UK-headquartered culture consultancy, Barker Langham, after holding the position of director of the firm’s Dubai office.
Amy is currently studying Health and Physical Education at the University of Tasmania.
Kate has been based in the Middle East for the past 13 years, where she has worked across a range of roles in the tourism and cultural sector, including senior management positions with Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Dubai Tourism. Kate joined Barker Langham five years ago as an independent consultant.
Sophie Williams (class of 2020) enjoyed a successful first solo exhibition at The Glimar Man Studio in Hobart. Sophie is pictured top right with the College’s Senior Art Teacher, Emma Havard, on opening night.
Today, as CEO, she is building on her leadership and track record of client work as she leads a 90-strong firm and global projects portfolio. Kate has a master’s degree in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University.
Upon graduating from St Mary’s College, Lucinda Smith (class of 2019), pictured top left, was accepted into the Western
Sandra Taglieri SC (class of 1983) was appointed as Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC), commencing in the Hobart
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registry of the FCC on 18 May 2021. Sandra was admitted to both the Supreme Court of Tasmania and the High Court of Australia in 1989 and has practiced as a barrister since 2009, taking silk in 2018. Sandra graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws in 1987 before being admitted to both the Supreme Court of Tasmania and the High Court of Australia in 1989. Since 1989, Sandra has practised as a barrister and solicitor at firm Butler McIntyre & Butler, and then from 1995 as a partner at firm Phillips Taglieri. In 2009 she joined Derwent & Tamar Chambers as a barrister and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2018. In addition to her career in private practice, Ms Taglieri was appointed as a Commissioner of Legal Aid Tasmania from 2008 to 2012, taught as a part-time lecturer at the Centre for Legal Studies at the University of Tasmania from 2009 to 2013, and from 2013 has been appointed as a part-time member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
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Staying in touch
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O U R A LU M N I enough, there aren’t that many opportunities to dress up in blue, jump in a pool and play games for a full day in my life at the moment! For this reason, I’d encourage all students to maximise these opportunities, as they’re ones that can’t often be repeated in adult life.
HOLLY ANDREE (CLASS OF 2017) Since hanging up her green blazer for the last time in 2017, former Head Prefect Holly Andrée has been busy juggling the demands of full-time study with work and other commitments, but she still makes time to get outdoors and explore the natural wonders of her home state. What are you currently studying and at which university/education institution? I’ve just stepped into my third year of a Bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies, majoring in Human Geography at the University of Tasmania. Once I complete this degree, I intend to stay at the university for another two years to complete my master’s in planning. Why did you choose this pathway? I’ve always had an inherent passion for our natural world, which was definitely nurtured at St Mary’s College, hence why I initially decided on this path of study. Through the various classes I have studied thus far at university, my passion has broadened to encompass the people and
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systems that influence our world, with a specific focus on how we can change certain systems to contribute to a more equitable society. What do you hope to achieve (professionally and/or personally) in the future? Once completing my master’s, I intend to (hopefully) work as an urban/town planner specialising in greenspaces and creating sustainable urban and peri-urban liveability. I had wished to maximise this job by travelling around the world, which would fulfil a personal passion to experience as many places and cultures as possible. But that perhaps is something I may have to reconsider due to the current global circumstances. At the moment, my hope for the future is simply to stay as healthy as possible, both physically and mentally, by encouraging more time for my hobbies such as bushwalking/hiking, reading and gardening to name a few. What did you most enjoy about St Mary’s College? St Mary’s College is genuinely unlike any other school when it comes to school spirit and I think that’s what I enjoyed the most throughout my time there. Funnily
What did you gain from being a Prefect, and how did this role shape who you are today? Being a Prefect definitely helped me discover a sense of leadership and responsibility. These are two traits that have contributed to my personal growth today at both university and in my current workplace. They also contributed to a greater self-confidence and helped me push myself to do things that I’d never thought were possible, such as living overseas by myself for a full year. These traits were further fostered by the general St Mary’s College environment and all of my peers and teachers.
I’ve always had an inherent passion for our natural world, which was nurtured at St Mary’s College What is your advice for a current Year 12 student? If I were to have my time again as a Year 12 student and Prefect, I would definitely make sure to not forget about the small things that make the St Mary’s community so unique. Spending a free period visiting some of the Junior School classes, or attending the after school cocurriculars to cheer on some of our brilliant academic and sporting teams are just some examples of the small acts that really bring the St Mary's community together. These can work equally as great stress busters!
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Staying in touch JACLYN THURLEY (CLASS OF 2006) Jaclyn Thurley is the founder and principal of The Pelvic Studio, a Hobart-based physiotherapy practice with expertise in pelvic health for both men and women. Tell us about your role. What does it involve? I am a physiotherapist that has specific expertise in pelvic health. We refer to ourselves as ‘pelvic physiotherapists’. A pelvic physio is someone with specific training and expertise in treating conditions in and around the pelvis. In simple terms, we treat anything below the waist and above the thighs. Think things like lower back/pelvic girdle/ hip pain, abdominal rehabilitation, and anything to do with the pelvic floor, such as bladder and bowel issues. I recently moved back down from Sydney and founded The Pelvic Studio, a physiotherapy practice in Hobart. The Pelvic Studio offers specific expertise on male and female pelvic health issues. Our clientele mainly consists of pregnant and postnatal women, males and females with pelvic pain (such as endometriosis), and men before and after prostate surgery. How did you get started as a physiotherapist? What led you to establish your own practice? When I was in Year 10 at St Mary's College, I decided to be an AFL physio. I had a dream to be one of those physios running out on the football ground, tending to players' injuries. To get into physiotherapy you had to have a TCE score of more than 96 points. So, I put my head down, tail up for Years 10, 11 and 12 and studied hard! I was accepted into Melbourne's La Trobe University and decided not to have a gap year and instead, go straight from Year 12 into a physiotherapy undergraduate degree.
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floor health as an elective subject and just loved it! I threw the idea of being an AFL physio out the window and set my sights on becoming a pelvic physio. I had a lot of ideas on the type of service I wanted to provide, and my dream was to always have my own physio practice. In 2020, I made my dreams come true and opened a practice in Salamanca, Battery Point. What does a typical day at work look like for you? Usually back-toback patient appointments for about eight hours, which means very little time for loo breaks (so I must have a great pelvic floor!). Although I work hard and am often a little tired by the end of the week, I wouldn't change what I do for anything. I love helping the Hobart community improve their pelvic health and ultimately, improve their quality of life. What do you love about your specialty? I love being a part of my patients’ ‘health team’ and being able to support my patients at different stages of their lives. For instance, seeing a woman pre-pregnancy to help prepare their body and then having them come back into my treatment rooms sometime later exclaiming, ‘I’m pregnant!’. Being able to support these patients throughout their pregnancy and beyond, and
O U R A LU M N I then getting to meet their new little baby and safely guiding them back into exercise after giving birth is just so rewarding. Helping patients through such an important and precious time in their lives gives me immense job satisfaction! What is good health to you? Finding balance in your body—that is, making sure you have both ‘yin’ and ‘yang’; pairing cardio (walking, running, swimming) with strength and conditioning (such as weights), or pairing strength and conditioning work with stretching and yoga. Thinking back to your time as a student—what did you most like about St Mary’s College? There was an excellent culture and great teachers. St Mary’s College was competitive in the sports arena and it had such a great supportive environment! What is your advice for a current Year 12 student? When it comes to thinking about your career pathway, make sure you talk to multiple adults in different industries. Work out which industry and/or career path works best for you, but also do your research on what industries are booming at the moment, or what industries are going to boom (for instance, the IT industry).
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St Mary's College Alumni Annual Reunion Saturday 13 November
12.00PM MASS, ST MARY'S COLLEGE CHAPEL 1.15PM LUNCH AND AGM, STAFFROOM $20 including a glass of bubbles! Enquiries welcome: Margaret Rootes, mrootes@smc.tas.edu.au PLEASE PAY AT THE COLLEGE OFFICE OR DIRECT DEPOSIT TO: ST MARY'S COLLEGE ALUMNI BSB 067-000 ACC 1087 6505 (PLEASE USE YOUR NAME AS A REFERENCE).
SAVE THE DATE
ST MARY'S COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY FAIR Wednesday 15 September 3.30pm to 5.30pm
