Chair of Council's Report

It is with great pleasure that I present to you, on behalf of the College Council, our report on the affairs of Presbyterian Ladies’ College for the year 2022.

After two long years of interrupted face-to-face learning brought about by the pandemic, it has been of great relief that 2022 has been a year without any disruptions to on-site learning. Our students and staff have been able to engage in the all-important tasks of teaching and learning in a classroom setting where collaboration and discussion takes place most naturally. Many of the College’s much-loved events, such as the Gala Speech Night, concerts, musicals and sporting carnivals have also been reinstated in the College’s calendar, to the delight of our girls.

Our thanks go again to our Principal, Mrs Cheryl Penberthy, and her entire staff at the College. They have worked hard to ensure the smooth and effective running of the College and to consistently provide the highest quality education to our girls – to develop them as critical thinkers and servant-hearted leaders, and to nurture them in character and resilience. Our Christian values continue to be our reference point for such an endeavour so that our girls make a truly meaningful contribution to society as the women and leaders they become.

We also wish to thank those who retire from service on Council this year. They include Mr Wayne Rice, who served as my deputy chair, Mrs Priscilla Mellado, Mrs Elizabeth McGregor, Dr Tanya Josev and Dr Andrew McDonald. A special mention goes to Dr McDonald, who has served in distinguished fashion on the Council for 23 years, and for many of those years, was also President of the PLC Foundation. During this time, Dr McDonald has been a champion for the renewal of the College’s infrastructure and facilities, and the modern facilities which the College is able to boast today are a testament to his efforts.

Three key highlights mark the year. Firstly, after much due diligence and planning, the College Council has finally approved the development of the Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre. The new Centre will boast, amongst other facilities, an 8-lane, 50-metre swimming pool, with diving platforms, learn-to-swim facilities and a gymnasium comprising three full-sized basketball courts. This is an important project which aligns with the vision and mission of the College, seeking to provide a holistic education to all our students, developing fully both the mind and body. Construction commenced in December 2022, and we plan for the facility to be opened in 2025, in time for our 150th Year Anniversary celebrations.

The second highlight relates to the development of a new Strategic Plan. Stakeholder consultation began in late 2022, and the College is carefully collecting and considering the feedback which has been received to develop strategic goals to set the direction for our College over the next three to five years. It is important that as a College, we retain and safeguard all that is precious about our College, but that at the same time we strive to keep improving on the education we offer so as to maintain our pre-eminent position as one of Australia’s leading ladies’ colleges. Mrs Penberthy and her leadership team will progress this work early in 2023, and we plan to launch the next plan in Term 3 of 2023.

Thirdly, after three years of planning and development, PLC has launched its new range of uniform for our girls – the first such change in 25 years. To be transitioned over a period of two years, the new uniform will be transeasonal and fabrics and design have been updated to suit the needs of the 21st century.

Finally, the College is pleased to report that the finances of the College are sound. Enrolments are healthy and with borders opening, our boarding school occupancy is also increasing, with healthy future prospects. We continue to maintain a careful focus on the stewardship of the College’s resources to ensure that the College remains viable and that continued investment in the capital and human resources of the College can be maintained into the future. This is particularly important in light of the significant investment which has been committed to the Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre.

The College Council looks forward to the College community’s support in the coming years to assist in delivering on these key objectives.

We are thankful that under God, PLC has continued to flourish and that the students that come to our College are able to receive the education they need to prepare them well for the future. We do not take for granted the abundant provision from

God, whether it be the quality and strength of our community, the strong leadership of the Principal and the staff, the strong Christian foundations of the College, or the wonderful students who choose to study with us. We look forward to another year in which He will continue to prosper and bless our College.

Rev Mark Chew Chair of Council