PLC in Print - November 2020

Presbyterian Ladies’ College MELBOURNE

No. 110 November 2020

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It is delightful to be reminded of the many creative and enjoyable events that have been held over the years to honour the long and illustrious heritage of our College.

Contents

Principal

3

Note from the Editor

4

Senior School

5

Junior School 10

Early Learning Centre 16

Lampas 37

Community News 40

ON THE COVER Junior School Book Week, 2020.

Boarders enjoying an icecream treat

www.plc.vic.edu.au

Junior School Book Week, 2020

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From the Principal This year PLC celebrated a very proud milestone, as it turned 145 years old. We at College love to celebrate our special anniversaries so it has been disappointing that many of our planned events have been cancelled due to COVID-19.

However, it is delightful to be reminded of the many creative and enjoyable events that have been held over the years to honour the long and illustrious heritage of our College. I am sure you will enjoy reading about these past celebrations and the other stories in our magazine which highlight some of the special events that have brought us all closer as a school community in 2020.

This has been a life-changing year for our families, schools, communities and nations.

The painful interruptions to everyday lives have been echoed around the world. It has been a difficult, frustrating and for some people, tragic year. However, even in the worst moments of the pandemic, individuals and communities have remained united by celebrating the small, everyday things that were usually taken for granted in our busy pre-COVID lives. They have created new community rituals and through these, provided continuity and a sense of belonging. PLC is no exception.

Our students, teachers and staff have drawn strength and inspiration from what has gone before. Our College has weathered many times of stress and uncertainty in its long history.

These critical times were endured and the experience gained was useful in helping to take it into the future.

Nurtured and challenged by their outstanding contemporary education, our students have the resilience, flexibility and vital skills to manage their changed lives. It has not been easy but with the guidance and dedication of their outstanding teachers, other PLC staff and caring parents, they have succeeded.

The Boarders have written a fascinating account of their lives since the beginning of the year. Unable to return to their overseas homes and see family, they have grown closer to each other and they share with us the fun and support they have experienced.

Girls and young women from all parts of the College have been doing marvellous work through distance learning. They have also been able to have fun and support each other during this time through virtual events and celebrations. Our creative students and teachers, assisted by our helpful IT staff, have created online music and theatrical performances, and many other enriching activities across all subjects and co-curricular activities.

Students have also reached out to others and in wonderfully diverse ways, thanked their loyal teachers and families and sent delightful messages to Old Collegians. They have lived out the traditional Christian values of service to others that underpin a PLC education but in a contemporary way.

There are interesting articles from all areas of our College community in this edition of our magazine. They are a celebration of all that is special about PLC today and are signposts to a wonderful future for our girls and our College.

Girls return to Campus – Term 4, 2020

Cheryl Penberthy Principal

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Reaching Out Looking forward, looking back This is certainly what many of us have been doing during this pandemic. In a way, it has been a welcome escape from the clutches of Covid-19, and it seemed far more optimistic to plan for a time when Zoom and Teams were no longer needed, when masks could be put aside, and when we could enjoy the benefits of social interaction.

Looking back over the 145-year history of the College gives us the perspective of those who have gone before and we are inspired by how they have also dealt with difficult periods and risen to the unique challenges of their times.

At the same time, there has been much to celebrate in the present. We may only have Zoom photos to share but this has not been a time to stand still at PLC. On-site there has been continued gains in the completion of building works and the opportunity for such special times in the Boarding House, particularly as Mrs Anne-Marie Williams (Deputy Principal – Staff and Students) and I moved in for Stage 4 lockdown to support students and staff through this unique time. The joy of living within the boarding ‘hub’ and witnessing the resilience of this community and the leadership shown by students and staff has been wonderful. The Junior School and ELC were quiet, but attentive staff continuously provided care for students who have benefitted from being at school so that their parents were able to work in their important and essential roles.

Of course, Distance Learning has been running continuously for our students and we have celebrated their learning and commitment to ongoing improvement every day. We have all learnt so much about technology, new ways of teaching and learning, online assessments including practice examinations, but more importantly, we have learnt we can adapt not just to survive, but to thrive.

I hope you enjoy this edition of PLC in Print in which we look at the past, the present, and some of our plans for the future. We have particularly focused this edition on honouring those who have contributed so much to PLC and the wider world, and we acknowledge the importance of the various groups within our community supporting one another both this year and throughout our long and significant history.

Lisa Saffin Deputy Principal Curriculum, Learning and Administration

This year, our school celebrates its 145th anniversary. We were hoping to focus on celebrating 145 years of the work and play of the every day living and learning in our community at PLC. However as we all know, this year has presented us with unexpected obstacles and trials.

The recent months have been challenging partly due to being isolated from our school community. We have had to forego contact with our friends and teachers. But what if we didn’t even have our online classes and didn’t have teachers staying in contact with us, trying to keep things as normal as possible?

In Junior School, we wanted the PLC Old Collegians to know that we were thinking about them in these times and were hoping that they remained healthy and happy. The Student Representative Council, with the help of Mrs Phillips and Ms Scoby-Smith, decided to create a video to reach out to our Old Collegians. The project, titled “Reaching Out”, included snapshots of how we were ‘thriving in isolation’ and the things that we were doing during this unique year.

The PLC String Quartet recorded Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetique which was used as the backing track for the video. During a brief period whilst we were allowed to be onsite at school, we managed to take snapshots of a typical school day. We also retrieved some memories of distance learning and collated them. Throughout the video, we included little messages from the Junior School Captains who wanted to send their best wishes to the Old Collegians.

I would like to send a huge thank you to Mrs Phillips, Mrs ScobySmith and Mrs Schroeder for their encouragement and support and feedback, and to Miss Bramble and Mr Smith for filming the quartet.

As the Chair of the Student Representative Council, I also take this opportunity to recognise the innovation and dedication of our SRC Representatives. They have encouraged their classes to contribute ideas and material for firstly, our inaugural Junior School newsletter, and then our video. We hope that our Old Collegians continue to thrive wherever they are and we also hope that they know that we are thinking of them.

Katherine Year 6

Reaching Out Video

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Senior School

Year 12 It was important to do what we could to finish the year off well for our Year 12s.

PLC Archivist Jane Dyer made sure the girls did not leave empty-handed as they headed home and into lockdown on Monday 3 August, taking with them the contents of their time capsules and so many happy memories of their time at PLC since Year 7.

After the completion of the General Achievement Test (GAT) on 7 October, the students received their special gift boxes and Year 12 jumpers and made a special sociallydistanced recording of the Leavers’ Assembly so parents will be able to watch at home instead of gathering on-site for the traditional final assembly.

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Life at PLC continues on during lockdown Whilst many people would think a Stage 4 lockdown means that everything stops, at PLC there is always something happening. Many people behind the scenes ensured academic learning was presented in new and exciting ways, our boarders enjoyed their third holiday period in lockdown and staff flexibly changed course to support the running of the College in new ways.

Boarders found so many ways to enjoy lockdown with campfires and camping on the Boarding House lawn, hide and seek in the Senior School building in the dark, breadmaking, pool parties and dressing up in an amazing array of costumes for dinner, were amongst some of the activities they enjoyed.

Many staff changed their regular work to support student supervision of assessments and off-site staff had daily deliveries of marking and resources by our wonderful Maintenance team.

PLC Activity Days Bringing Joy and Raising Spirits As the PLC Senior School settled into Melbourne’s first COVID lockdown and a daily routine of home isolation and online classes via Zoom, a small team of creative teachers got together to explore how the arts could enhance student wellbeing. To combat screen and Zoom fatigue, process challenging feelings associated with lockdown, improve physical activity levels and strengthen student connectedness to school and each other, the team developed a variety of engaging and unique activities that were collated into a WYSE website page. On Thursday 21 April, students and staff were given the day off from formal classes and the first ever PLC online Activity Day went live!

As such a large scale, creative online project had not been facilitated at the College before, much thought went into creating activities that were inclusive and captivating for students from Year 7 right through to Year 12. Providing students with choice and

freedom to select and participate in activities in a way that appealed to them was crucial to the day’s success. Some students chose to complete tasks individually, in Zoom friendship groups or in Zoom house groups. The creation of a live gallery, categorised into Houses, provided a platform where all shared work could be viewed instantaneously. Students were rewarded with a sense of achievement, positive peer review, community and house spirit.

Activities ranged from outdoor scavenger hunts, to lip sync challenges, drawing and sewing activities, cooking bake offs and colour challenges. Each of the activities had clear, concise instructions and only required everyday materials found around the home. It was a delight to see the fun, quirky student work pop up on the website as the day progressed.

The first activity day was so successful that three more activity days were held spanning right through to the end of lockdown 2.

Congratulations and thank you to the team of

teachers and IT support staff who made the magical days come alive: Jen Rivett, Amanda Snell, Cath Garrett, Ben Hudson, Elissa Payne, Victoria Turner, Gary Lang, Richard Squibb and Ramin Mehrpouya.

Jo Stackhouse Activity Day Team Leader

Year 9 Community in Action Outlook Program Poster by Alina

Crochet Bears by Julia

The aim of this project was to encourage Year 9 students to engage in community service.

Form and Social Action Captains began hosting zoom sessions where we discussed the importance of volunteering and how to narrow down the fields of actions which would be of interest to each individual. We planned our actions in our diaries and stated what we were going to do and why. We then collaborated with those who chose a similar field of interest for volunteering and began to plan ways that we could make a positive contribution.

Various actions chosen included writing letters to people in hospitals, creating workbooks for entertainment, picking up litter, designing posters to share and spread awareness of COVID, and making bags filled with essentials that were given to shelters.

The purpose was to lift people’s spirits, connect with those we may not have met before, inform others about ways to be safe and spread hope that next year would be a little brighter than this one!

Sonakshi, Alina and Sarah Year 9

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Geographers are always adapting to new environments and so it was that field work shifted online

Geographers

Geographers are always adapting to new environments and so it was that field work shifted online with Year 7s exploring their local community and reporting via Zoom and the Year 11 students completed an entire day exploring the Mornington Peninsula without leaving their desks. They investigated the impacts of coastal tourism and its future challenges on the Mornington Peninsula Shire by virtually exploring a large region of the coastal destination. They dived straight into map-reading and spatial skills by using topographic maps and navigating the Mornington Peninsula on Google Earth Pro. In groups of two and three, they parted ways to explore two different sites with their partners.

Some virtually investigated Mornington and Mount Martha, another group explored McCrae and Rosebud and the final group visited Sorrento and Portsea. The girls met with Point Nepean park ranger Holly Langton on Zoom to ask questions about the impacts of tourism, learning about the endangerment of the Hooded Plover due to peak season disturbances. Pallavi Shridar, Honours graduate and former PLC alumnus, was the next Zoom guest and she discussed her thesis on this topic as well as the many considerations that go into data collection and analysis.

Jess Yang Geography Teacher

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Writers Unite

Many literary events occurred online during lockdown. The keenly anticipated third edition for this year of the student newspaper ‘The Rumble’ edited by Keya Murty and Simran Khera (Year 11) was released. This edition gave us wonderful tips about surviving in isolation with great music, App and movie reviews, delicious recipes, and some wonderful contributions of writing and artistic works from across the Senior School.

Book week celebrations in the Junior School encouraged a love of reading and highlighted some much loved characters in the children’s costumes.

8C English contributed to ‘Love in a Time of Covid’ which was a chronicle/ website setup by New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera. He had high praise for our girls’ work: “Your students’ contributions are perceptive, ingenious, and I like the way they articulate the views of Year 8 students. The sketches are subtextual, I like the way they make you think. What will be enormous is that the material gives the site an opportunity to reach out to other young women and men around the world and to inspire them to express themselves too.

Tell the young ladies I am totally thrilled and do thank them all. I hope they enjoyed the process, and had fun, as much as I did looking at their work.”

– Much aroha, Witi

PLC Years 10-12 Poetry Competition

Our annual Senior Poetry Competition attracted an exceptionally high standard of writing.

The pandemic meant that students explored complex ideas, and connected with others in that deeply human way which poetry makes possible.

The competition has been sponsored for a number of years by poet and Old Collegian, Anne Carson (1974), with the aim of encouraging and recognising budding PLC poets. Two Year 10 students, Faria Hosein Qazvini and Aarabi Kugathas, tied for equal first place. Faria wrote a moving poem about the deep roots of her culture, ‘Land of Poems and Pomegranates’. Aarabi took on the myth of Icarus and daringly rewrote it as a love story. Both winners received a $100 book voucher, provided by Anne Carson.

Britney Pham (Year 12), our school Vice Captain, and Simran Khera (Year 12) were highly commended. Britney’s poem gave voice to Iago from Shakespeare’s Othello, showing a stunning command of language. Simran’s poem took a moment familiar to every PLC student, ‘the usual stampede/of girls in blue’ at a music assembly, in a haunting exploration of pain and the power of music. In Year 10, Cassie Tudge’s poignant poem about death and new life was commended, along with a second poem by Faria Hosein Qazvini, which celebrated the love of books across time.

We took advantage of COVID-19 to hold a Zoom session where awarded poets met with English department staff and Anne Carson. Girls read their poetry to the group with beautiful poise and sincerity. They were able to receive feedback from Anne, Henry Jones, Patricia Shiel and Cathy Altmann.

It has been so encouraging to experience, in Anne’s words, ‘the sincerity and deep feeling of the girls’ work’. Each poet’s voice came through strongly, and it was a privilege to read their work.

Cathy Altmann Deputy Head of English

now...

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PLC Literature Festival 18 – 21 August 2020

It was great to see two Old Collegians amongst the special guest authors presenting at our PLC Literature Festival. Rebecca Lim (1989) and Anna Morgan (2008) joined a stimulating line up of writers and illustrators of children’s and young adult fiction who gave online presentations. Anna’s second book “Before the Beginning”, a novel for young adult readers is now available. It was a special honour to have Ursula Dubosarsky, Australian Children’s Laureate for 2020-2021 to open the much-loved annual Festival.

then...

Did you know, Ursula’s PLC Melbourne connections with the College stretch back to 1913, the year her great aunt, Olga, enrolled at PLC East Melbourne? It was also the year the PLC East Melbourne library opened.

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The Costello Family has maintained links with PLC from 1913-2020. PLC Archivist Jane Dyer has documented the many links over the decades between the Costello family and PLC. 1918 Olga’s twin sisters, [Marion] Tasma and Norma, began their first year at PLC East Melbourne.

1994 Ursula Dubosarsky’s and Tanya Costello’s first cousin once removed, Jim Davidson AM, published a biography of Old Collegian Louise Dyer, “Lyrebird Rising”. Louise Hanson Dyer is the renowned founder of the French music publishing house L’Oiseau Lyre. Copies of Jim Davidson’s book are in the PLC Archive.

One of the school choirs and the new home of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music are named in her honour.

1999 Ursula’s sister, Tanya Costello, served on the PLC Council Board (1999-2010). Ursula and Tanya’s grandmother was Norma Tiernan. Olga and Tasma were their great-aunts.

Source: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/ venues/hanson-dyer-hall/

Excerpt: Patchwork, Dec 1913. Source: PLC Archive

2003 Jane Dyer was Tanya’s daughter, Madeleine Costello’s PLC Form Teacher 2005 Ursula’s niece, Madeleine Costello graduated with the PLC Class of 2005 2011 Ursula’s niece, Phoebe Costello (School Captain) graduated with the PLC Class of 2011 2020 Phoebe Costello joined the Old Collegians’ Association Committee 2020 Madeleine Costello employed as a teacher of Legal Studies at PLC. She was also one of the Old Collegian speakers at a PLC Careers session.

“Many of these original PLC East Melbourne Library books, were transferred to Burwood Senior School Library in 1957 and relocated to the PLC Archive in 2005.”

Excerpt: Patchwork, May 1914 Source: PLC Archive

“It’s been a collaborative delight to enrich the College’s corporate history and celebrate the combined legacy of memory, archives and libraries.”

Jane Dyer, PLC Archivist

1. Maddy, Tanya and Phoebe 2. Maddy and Ursula (Photos supplied by Madeleine Costello. August 2020)

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Friends of Junior School

Junior School

Prep 100 Days of School One of the most eagerly anticipated celebrations in Prep is the 100th day of school. On this day, we reflect upon the many achievements of our Prep students. These include making new friends, learning to read and write, and developing independence both in the classroom and during distance learning. We had a wonderful time celebrating this special milestone.

Miss Clare Conlon Prep Coordinator Since the beginning of the school year, our class has been counting the days of school by sticking marbles onto a pretend marble jar. As we got closer to the 100th day of school, I felt more and more excited.

Finally, it was 4th August 2020! That morning, we had a special Zoom meeting. We opened our special 100th day of school envelopes together. “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blow!� Everyone blew their party blowers at the same time! Next, each girl showed the class the 100 things they had collected to celebrate the special day. I showed my class 100 bottle caps from yoghurt pouches, fruit juice bottles and milk bottles. During the day, I made a 100 days of school crown. I coloured it with textas and decorated it with beautiful coloured jewels.

What a fabulous 100th day of school!

Sarah Prep C

2020 has undeniably been a very difficult year for parents in Junior School. Many face ongoing financial stressors while others struggle with the prolonged separation from their loved ones. Home schooling proved to be a steep learning curve in multitasking abilities as parents juggle work commitments and meetings, housekeeping and cooking, parenting, education and entertainment of several young children, often with comical consequences.

As the light shines at the end of the long dark tunnel of lockdown, all parents should be extremely proud of themselves. While home schooling is no mean task, it provided a window into the learning style of our children and the school curriculum. Away from homeschooling, many fathers in particular have relished the time spent with their children and countless special memories have been made. While our young children missed the social interactions of school and sport activities, they will look back at 2020 with great fondness. It is the year that they spent a lot of time with mummy and daddy enjoying endless simple pleasures, indoors and outdoors. Many would have learnt the immense gratification in creating an art piece or learning a new skill by themselves. Others would have discovered that siblings do make the best of friends after all.

During this time, it was heartwarming to see parents support each other and maintain a beautiful sense of community. I distinctly remember the flurry of WhatsApp messages on the first day of home schooling in term 2 as parents helped each other connect and navigate Seesaw. In the last 6 months, parents have constantly helped each other stay connected and informed of the latest COVID news, school updates and even created virtual social fundraising activities.

Term 4 holds many promises for all; face to face school, catching up, picnics, endless afternoons at the park and hopefully a very special Christmas with our loved ones. FJS remains ever ready to be involved in school events as soon as restrictions ease. Thanks to lockdown, many parents have now cordon bleu level baking skills and we look forward to these yummy treats for the bake stalls.

Sharmila Ramessur Friends of Junior School

fjs@plc.vic.edu.au

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Prayer - Distance Learning Dear Lord I never thought I’d be in this situation.

I’m a teacher, but there are no students.

Thank you, that you are always with me.

I miss their chatter, their questions and interactions.

Thank you for making us creative like you, so that I can still teach and students can still learn through modern technology.

Just when I thought I couldn’t bear it any longer you made a way so that I could go into school to supervise a small group of students, real children, and then I could enjoy Zoom Joyce Club. How I had longed for that interaction and banter.

Thank you, Lord, that you know the needs of the weak and the lonely and provide refuge.

Late in the night, marking and recording and marking and recording and thinking and planning seemed so relentless, but you are my strong tower, my shelter in times of trouble.

Then the sheer joy and surprise of the email, drawing, voice message or note from a student through SeeSaw and Google. Those students, I virtually teach, really do listen.

Thank you, Lord that you are the one who provides all my needs, the things that give me joy and purpose.

I will trust in you because you are very good.

Thank you, Lord.

Sharon Catchpoole

Drama and Dance During Distance Learning Lights, camera, action! Drama and Dance in Distance Learning kicked off with a bang!

All the way through we enjoyed fantastic activities including different types of dances, famous monologues, learning and practising concert dances, public speaking, video challenges and of course, the optional tasks!

Completing our assignments has also allowed us all to spend a lot more time together as sisters! We all especially enjoyed filming dances together and even choreographed extra dances together to music!

One of the entertaining tasks to complete was the Hip Hop Dance Assignment as it was full of energy and groovy too!

For the Video Challenge we all created an introduction to the popular children’s television show called Peppa Pig! This was quite challenging when filming the introduction as we all kept forgetting to put on the pig nose and we had to film over and over again until we finally remembered to do this and the camera stopped falling down!

We learnt from Drama and Dance in isolation what the term ‘monologue’ meant, how to use iMovie, how to always be creative and we realised that we all work really well together as sisters, which has been extremely helpful to all of us.

Drama and Dance during Distance Learning has been the best it could ever possibly be!

Chloe Year 5, Audrey Year 3 and Naomi Year 1

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‘PLC Artists on Display’ Padlet Term 3 saw the initiative of a ‘PLC Artists on Display’ Padlet for the whole school to join in. A Padlet is an online virtual “bulletin” board, where our PLC Junior School artists can share their art in a secure location. A big congratulations goes to the Art Captains and Art Action team for initiating this as well as conducting Art Club through Zoom (Years 3-6).

A special mention to Shenny (Art Captain), for creating the video, launching the ‘PLC Artists on Display’ virtual gallery and creating a buzz.

NGV Virtual Excursion Year 3 and Year 4 Marking Time: Indigenous Art PLC students in Years 3-6 had the experience of attending a NGV Virtual Excursion. Each session was run by NGV hosts informing and discussing art. Students used online chat to communicate. The students were excited about being together learning and linking art to history.

Students experienced ‘connection to country’ and its importance to First Australians through art.

Traditional and contemporary art was explored.

Year 5 Colony to Nation Students looked at the impact of colonisation on the First Australians and observed colonial Australian and Indigenous artworks from a range of cultural perspectives.

I think the NGV incursion was a great experience! It taught me very unique things, and how the Aboriginal people used their culture to create masterpieces of art! It has inspired me to create art pieces at home! I learned that their art tells stories, represents symbols and what materials they use. It really is quite dazzling!

Overall it was an A-MA-ZING experience and I look forward to going there in person in the future!

Zoe Year 4 I liked learning about the Aboriginal art and cultures and discovering that the Aboriginals used earthy colours for their paintings and art. Some modern art is actually Aboriginal art and they use a variety of bright colours and symbols that all mean something. This is called contemporary Indigenous art.

Ella Year 4

What I enjoyed most about the NGV is that we did fun challenges and I learnt about modern Aboriginal art. I loved all the fun jokes and stuff and I liked that I learnt something new today. There’s so much to learn there!!!

Alissa Year 4 I learned about the Indigenous Australians and how the British affected their lives. I saw many different types of artwork in the NGV virtual rooms. I loved the whole incursion because of all the different artworks, displays and Aboriginal art.

Vivienne Year 4

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The virtual excursion was a unique and one of a kind experience for me. I learnt many new things, including the fact that some painters didn’t paint what they saw, but instead, they altered the small details in their painting from reality. Other artists painted outdoors instead of in their studios.

They painted exactly what they saw, usually using quick brush strokes because of the hot weather in Australia that caused the paint to dry quickly. These artists were called realists.

Many of the paintings included Aboriginals, the Indigenous people of Australia. Something I found out that was shocking to me was that there were about 300 indigenous languages but there are only 13 traditional Aboriginal languages still being spoken today! Another thing I learnt is some tools the Aboriginals used like a parrying shield. This virtual NGV excursion was definitely a fascinating experience for me and I hope to go there in person one day!

Cassie Year 5

I enjoyed listening to the people from NGV and learning so many new things like how when the Gold Rush came Melbourne quickly overpopulated and since there was no proper sewage system it was called Smellbourne.

I also learned that in Tasmania artists pretended that there were still Aboriginal people there even though they were already driven out with threats or had died with a disease that some people had brought with them on the ships. I enjoyed our excursion a lot and hope that in the future that I may be able to visit the NGV in person.

Anya Year 5

I thought the NGV excursion was amazing, wonderful, awesome and a great experience.

I learned that the Australian people in Melbourne used emu eggs to celebrate the money they got.

I loved the excursion. It was wonderful and interesting. The NGV host was really smart and was great at telling all of us about the Indigenous people and early settlers.

I am lucky to have experienced it.

Sienna Year 5

This was the first time I’ve been to the NGV in Melbourne (virtually or in person) and it was amazing! It was also a very unique experience because you don’t get to do tours from your own home everyday. My favourite painting was, ‘The Pioneer’ because it told a fascinating story simply using the characters’ facial expressions (like how at the start the lady was sad and homesick) and their surroundings. I also really liked the artwork of the Australian bush, it looked so real, just like a photograph! Thank you for organising this awesome experience!

Pippa Year 5

I really enjoyed this session as I could link my general knowledge to it. I loved learning new things not only about the pieces of artwork, but also about the history and colonisation of Australia. I found this excursion really interesting because last semester the Year 5 students were learning about the colonisation of Australia, and I thought it was interesting how art can link to history. I loved this virtual excursion.

Zuneira Year 5

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At our NGV Virtual Excursion, we explored the concept of how a piece of artwork can be both functional and decorative. We dived into the piece ‘Horse Lamp’ (2006) by Lagerkvist, Lindgren, Lancken and Savstrom, which depicted a lamp that was in the shape of a horse, which can function as a light as well as being a piece that can be displayed. Using a template where you roll two dice, I got the two prompts ‘bread’ and ‘bird’s beak’ which I turned into a mailbox with a bread box with a flap at the front which can be opened to retrieve mail. I added a beak to the front which makes it look more like a bird!

Alexandria Year 6 At our virtual excursion to the NGV, we looked at an artwork called ‘Horse Lamp’ (2006) by Lagerkvist, Lindgren, Lancken and Savstrom. The guide led us in a discussion about whether something could be decorative as well as functional. This inspired me to create a Bird Kettle. It could be used as a normal kettle but like a special china ornament, it could also stay in a display case or cabinet. The Bird Kettle could be decorative and functional at the same time.

Ovindee Year 6

This ‘Flamingo Lamp’ was inspired by an artwork called ‘Horse Lamp’ (2006) by Lagerkvist, Lindgren, Lancken and Savstrom, which I saw at the Year 6 virtual excursion to the NGV. We were introduced to the idea of how something could be designed to look good, like an ornament or sculpture, as well as perform a function. My ‘Flamingo Lamp’ could be useful as a lamp but still be decorative as a flamingo.

Jaime Year 6

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Robogals Reflections

Year 4’s Unique Digi-cursion Learning Experiences The girls in Year 4 were thrilled to participate in a series of online, live ‘digi-cursions’ throughout Term 3!

The first interactive session was with Robogals Monash; a student-run global organisation whose aim is to inspire, engage and empower young women into engineering and STEM related fields. Robogals Monash run engineering-based workshops for students all over Australia.

Involving problem solving, teamwork, presentations of ideas and the exposure to engineering, the sessions were highly beneficial for our girls. They were introduced to multiple types of engineering and discussed how engineering impacts their everyday life. The girls also participated in an interactive quiz and had the opportunity to apply their understanding through a design element where they designed houses for extreme conditions.

The Year 4 students also engaged in 2 digi-cursion sessions with the Cyber Safety Project; an organisation who run entertaining and informative sessions designed to support, empower and equip students with the knowledge and skills to maintain their safety when connecting online. Through highly engaging education, the students discovered strategies to manage the extra time they are spending on technology during this current digital climate.

I used to think that engineering only meant building things but after the Robogals workshop today, I now know that there are many different types of engineering. I really enjoyed the video they showed us where the chicken was used to take videos with a little hat and camera strapped to its head. I loved the way they used the breakout rooms and the activities that we did, especially designing our own house.The Robogals session was interesting, inspiring and fun!

Matilda Year 4 The Year 4s had an extraordinary time with the Robogals. We learned that there were many types of engineering such as environment, material and way more. The Robogals taught us what their job is and other interesting things. Then we were separated into different break out rooms where we each had a teacher and a staff member from the Robogals. We had lots of fun competing in the competition. My group came second. Then we came back together to look at daily engineering gadgets that have made life easier. One of them was a little bump that rose up and down whenever someone drove too fast. The bump will raise up so the driver won’t get in a car accident. We then made an imaginary house in whatever habitat we wanted. My group used the sea. We had the BEST time ever. I am really grateful for their visit and hope that they could come back soon.

Sherry Year 4

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I really enjoyed the Zoom-cursion run by the Robogals. One hour went so quickly and I wish it could have gone the whole day. The learning was joyful and creative. I picked up so much about engineering and it has inspired me to consider this as a future career. The type of engineering I think I would be most interested in is mechatronics and biomedical. Mechatronics might sound scary and difficult, but I actually think it is awesome to design and build something new by combining different technologies, such as electronics, computer science and software.

Biomedical engineering is like a superpower of healing people. It is what we need the most right now to create new equipment or new ways to cure sick people.

Rebecca Year 4 l’ve always wondered what it would be like to create things that don’t just affect us but the whole world. I learnt that many creations made by engineers do just that, such as mobile phones and solar panels. Creative solutions like these have made our lives much easier, faster and better. From today’s Zoomcursion, I am now interested in Architectural Engineering because one of our activities was to create a house for an extreme condition using our imaginations.

Sophie Year 4

Cyber Safety Project Reflections I really liked the Cyber Safety sessions. I found it interesting because the information was easy to understand and the presenters were organised . Something I learnt about keeping myself and my friends safe on the internet was to not post information about yourself. I used to think that it was silly not being allowed to play online games, but now I think that my mum was right and you have to be careful about what you do online because there can be people pretending to be your best friend and they are strangers.

Tiffany Year 4 I highly enjoyed the Cyber Safety incursion with Sam and Trent! They made it so much fun, and very interesting! They explained everything so clearly, and even let us watch them play Minecraft! I loved when Sam realized how risky the messages he sent were. They were such good actors, I would have never guessed the messages were fake if they weren’t cyber safety experts!

Sumithra Year 4 I really enjoyed the Digi-incursions, the teachers were really nice, funny and good at acting out things as if it were real! They taught me lots of things I didn’t know about cyber safety, such as not to post when you’re on a holiday and post it when you come back. A top tip I learnt is to think before you post.

Deepali Year 4

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I found the Cyber Safety Project Incursion very interesting and funny because Trent and Sam taught us many new things about cyber safety which will be really important in future days and years. It will also help us think about what we are posting online and how the post might make other people/strangers make assumptions about us. It was also very funny because their acting skills were very good.

Charmaine Year 4 I enjoyed the Cyber Safety Digi-Cursion because it was very educational and fun at the same time. I learnt that we should not share personal or private information to friends, neighbors or strangers. It was extremely funny and it has taught me many new things about Cyber Safety.

Hui-En Year 4

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Early Learning Centre “In the children of today, lies the hope of many tomorrows!”

The last 145 years has been a time of continual transformation for PLC. Throughout these years, PLC’s commitment to educational achievement and endeavour has been well supported by progressive and visionary leadership and the decision to offer early childhood programs is indicative of this. PLC was one of the first schools in Australia to embrace early childhood education and, proactively, established the PLC Early Learning Centre 26 years ago. Over this time, the ELC has grown from an initial 45 children to the 200 girls and boys enrolled today.

The world has changed dramatically over the last century and there is no doubt that it will continue to change as new discoveries are made and events impact on our world. This past year has been a resounding testament to this. There is no doubt that everyone has been challenged to think differently and try new ways of living during 2020.

Early Childhood teachers understand the inevitability of change and always encourage children to embrace transition with a positive mindset. They are cognisant that young children have an innate motivation to adapt to new situations and have a voracious hunger to understand the world in which they live.

With this in mind, ELC educators aim to create an environment that treasures and supports our youngest citizens. Each new adventure is a new opportunity. Every new experience helps children to develop their competence and resilience and helps to prepare them for a world full of opportunities, challenges and possibilities.

With the many changes that have shaken our world this year, ELC teachers and educators have retained their commitment to the underlying principles that are the foundation of a quality, vibrant, learning community.

What has stood out during this time of social and physical distancing, lockdown and working from home initiatives?

• The recognition that relationships are at the very core of the delivery of an exceptional early year’s program.

• The strength of a united and caring ELC community.

• That technology, when used wisely, opens up many opportunities for connection with children and families.

• The overwhelming enthusiasm, flexibility and resilience of young children.

This generation of children will have many stories to tell of their world during Covid-19!

There have been setbacks but there have also been many gifts from this pandemic. We have learnt so much as a society about kindness, acceptance and the importance of caring for others.

The children of 2020 are a very special generation of children who will undoubtedly steer the world forward with a sense of community and shared humanity.

Deborah Hendren Head of Early Learning

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

What a year 2020 has been so far! How do you share in community when you are told to socially isolate and distance? This creates some real challenges for Christian Ministry but it also creates opportunities.

For the sake of this article I want to summarize some of the key aspects of Christian ministry in three main points as follows: 1. Good Christian ministry should have at its core, teaching and learning from the Bible, as we discover more of who God is, what God is like. It should explore how God has acted in history and how He still changes lives through His Holy Spirit. Transformation, reconciliation, forgiveness, a new start, peace of God and peace with God. 2. Good Christian ministry should allow worship that is participatory that means people write and sing songs of thanks and praise to who God is and what He is doing. Worship also includes how we use our time and money to honour God; for example, how we use hospitality to ‘bless’ others and participate in Christ- centered community.

3. Good Christian ministry should proclaim the ‘Great News’ of Jesus Christ as it reaches out into the community through words, what we might call evangelism, teaching, testifying to God’s goodness and discipling. It should also include actions. Actions may include volunteering, works of charity, walking alongside those in need, advocating for those who need a voice.

So what has it looked like when you can’t gather in person? What does it look like when you are not allowed to sing together? What does it look like when you can’t eat together?

In one way the clip ‘The Blessing UK’ epitomized what it means to be unified in purpose and passion of sharing God’s blessing, despite physical buildings being closed and people in social isolation. It is a song that very much feels anointed for this season of 2020. You can listen to this amazing song here: https://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U There were a few things that happened this year that allowed us to adapt as we reached out with the ‘Good News’ in our community. Chapel went virtual and we started sending out a daily devotion. The devotion is based on a verse from the Bible. It is the firm belief that God still speaks through what He spoke through and is still in the business of changing lives.

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Christian Community Jeremiah 31:3 reminds us that God has loved us with an everlasting love and that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

God has shown us His grace and mercy in Jesus so we can have the peace of God and peace with God even in difficulty times.

Early on our chapels focused on some practical tips even when facing an unprecedented crisis like a pandemic. Bear Grylls says ‘If faith and fear sail into your harbor, don’t let fear drop anchor’. As people left PLC to enter into a time of ‘lockdown’ we focused on how to have faith instead of fear.

Dr. Patrick Sookhedeo of Barnabas Fund had some practical tips that we explored.

1. Discipline your mind not to give way to the emotions of fear.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7.

2. Trust God, talk to Him in prayer, speak it out loud and sing to him.

3. Acknowledge that God is in control (see Matthew 10:29).

4. Remember God cares for us “Casting all your cares upon him, for he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7.

5. Know the End-an eternal glory, which far outweighs ‘our light and momentary troubles’. 2 Corinthians 4:17 6. Care for others. As you love God be empowered to love others and serve them too. Galatians 6:10.

It is so important even when we face fear and anxiety to discipline our minds and rest in God’s grace. This is part of the point of Christian meditation; not to empty one’s mind but to fill it with the knowledge of God’s goodness and grace.

While we were in Stage 3 we could still attend chapels virtually. Talks could be given and the chapel band could still sing even with social distancing. The services were streamed into classrooms as our students would then watch and participate from their form room.

We had also been exploring some of the characteristics of God such as God as Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and that God is the living God of justice. With the civil unrest especially in America, it was an important aspect to be explored. We were reminded that justice has a source: God, and that we all have to give an account to how we have lived with what we have.

We were also reminded of lessons from the past such as humble powerful leaders such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior and his six steps of non-violent protest.

Principle One: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

Principle Two: Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding. The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation. The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.

Principle Three: Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people. Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil not people.

Principle Four: Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.

Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation. Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.

Principle Five: Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate. Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and creative.

Principle Six: Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice. The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.

I especially love that last one. The nonviolent resister has a deep faith in justice.

God is a God of justice and His will be done.

There are many powerful lessons to learn in Dr. King’s wisdom.

We were also reminded that sometimes we don’t have the full picture but God is at work. The story of Corrie Ten Boom giving thanks for the fleas is a good example of that.

You can read about that in her book ‘The Hiding Place’. There are things that happen in life that we would never want but we can still get to a position where we thank God for what we have, even if it is less than perfect now.

Stories such as Archbishop Kwashi from Nigeria, Kim Phuoc from Vietnam, are great examples of God at work despite difficult times.

We are reminded to have faith over fear.

That faith is not based on our own faith but on the object of our faith; God and his faithfulness. To grow in faith we need to learn more about God and to exercise our faith.

Nick Curtis Director of Christian Ministries

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Christian Union During distance learning it was felt by the CU captains, Isabella Mellado and Isabel Wen, and myself, that it was important for Christian Union meetings to run. This is because we know that it is during difficult times that we become more aware of our need to trust God and support each other. We held ‘regular’ meetings where we discussed questions raised by the Alpha Youth series and spent time praying together for our personal concerns.

We also ran two evangelistic events on Zoom. The first, called ‘Can of Worms’ addressed curly questions about Christianity to a panel of guests- Pete Sorenson and Katie Holloway from Deakin University, and Lexi Chiswell and Siobhan Chan, ex PLC students. The questions were provocative and handled sensitively. We had a large number of attendees at this exciting event.

Our second evangelistic Zoom event was held on a Thursday lunchtime this term. We had another past PLC student, Caroline Dehn, speak about her faith journey. She spoke in a lovely animated manner about how she seeks to honour God in her life. The event connected with our girls, and also staff that were present, in such an encouraging way.

Christian Union has been such a blessing at this challenging time, the girls have learnt more about the God who loves them, and they have experienced the care and love of their Christian peers.

Lastly despite the challenges of lockdowns and social isolation, there were also new beginnings of faith in our PLC community.

In stage 3, in the first lockdown when some movement was allowed, we had the joy of participating in a baptism at PLC. While

we don’t have a physical chapel we were able to use Hethersett Hall, complete with the icecream fridge in the background! The baptism was a beautiful and significant moment both in the individual’s life, the life of their family and our community as a reminder of God’s promise of the forgiveness of sin, the hope of the resurrection, new beginnings and a peace with God that can never fade. It was a great joy and privilege to be a part of this.

The water represents the old being washed away and the new has begun, life in Jesus Christ.

While what we face is not ideal and we long for better days, we don’t give into hopelessness and anger as we have this treasure of what God has done in Jesus. It is something that is available to all and so we continue to testify to this even somewhat creatively.

Prayer, the engine room of ministry has continued faithfully with regular prayer meetings with students, staff and parents, these have been done via Zoom.

While stage 4 has meant we can’t assemble or attend chapels, we testify in other ways. At the time of writing it is our hope that in Term 4 we can return to some sort of ‘on site’ learning. It is our hope that we can again run virtual chapels and one day chapels where people can gather.

We can continue to cherish and reach out to our sister schools - Neno in Malawi and also Worawa. We don’t know what Christmas and Christmas celebrations will look like this year but we do know that significant moment 2020 years ago, God entered into humanity in Jesus. He knows well our pain, fears and hopes and dreams. He is not immune from pain and through the resurrection he conquered death and has made the faith hope and love of the Gospel a real possibility.

There is a hope for what lies ahead and a deep joy available for the present. With that comes a peace that passes all understanding.

May you know that peace today.

A couple of concluding thoughts first from 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”

Spurgeon.

Kate Stanton Christian Union (CU)

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

Prayer Group

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Social Action

One thing that we have all learnt this year is that nothing is certain. For some of us, life’s challenges can sometimes bring discouragement or a sense of hopelessness.

Yet, we can draw encouragement from the Scripture: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31) The PLC Prayer Group brings together a wonderful group of people from all areas of our diverse school community, who meet regularly to encourage one another, inspire hope and to pray for the needs of PLC. In Term 1 the group assisted with preparations for the 2020 Christian Union Launch and also had a stand called ‘Faith in Action’ at the Twilight Picnic in February this year. Since the recent restrictions came into effect, the prayer group has successfully transitioned to online prayer meetings via Zoom every Thursday afternoon, enabling members to connect with each other and pray together. We also attended the annual Prayer Day for Schools in September and it was inspiring to hear about the great work of various organisations such as Mustard, Kids Hope and Korus Connect.

The prayer group has been a source of strength and support for many during this time and is open to all. We would love to meet you and have you join us in prayer. We have seen many answered prayers during this time and despite the challenges, it is reassuring to know that there is a God who cares, accepts and loves us. Since its inception in 1991, during Dr William Mackay’s tenure as Principal of PLC, the prayer group has been attended by parents and staff members past and present, former chaplains and Old Collegians. The group was first convened

by Annette Anakotta, followed by Anna Ward and continues the tradition of PLC parent convenors today. There are currently two groups led by parents from Junior and Senior School, that meet weekly to pray for the needs of the school and its community.

For any further information, please email prayergroup@plc.vic.edu.au April Lim Prayer Group Convenor prayergroup@plc.vic.edu.au

Excerpt: Patchwork, Aug 1880.

Source: PLC Archive

Excerpt: Patchwork, 1980.

Source: PLC Archive

The Social Action calendar of events is a very busy one, led by the Year 12 Social Action Captains and team members who are selected via an application and voting process. These young women demonstrate attributes of the PLC Graduate Outcomes: leadership, kindness, a social conscience and a determination to make a difference. These are attributes articulated and honoured by PLC staff and students across the years.

Indeed, Professor Pearson’s Inaugural Foundation Lecture to the College at East Melbourne in 1875 outlined his fundamental educational policy and intention, “To give the girls at the Ladies’ College as nearly as possible an identical education to that which their brothers were receiving in the public schools for boys. He justified this policy by explaining that the great changes going on in the world, particularly those brought about by the Industrial Revolution and the new theories of social justice, were so radical and their efforts so far-reaching that they must affect women as well as men, and in particular, that the education which had fitted women to live in an era which was passing away was not adequate to prepare them for life in a strange, new time”. [PLC Melbourne : the first century 1875 - 1975 by Kathleen Fitzpatrick p79]

Over the past 145 years these sentiments - social justice, philanthropy, charity, giving, benevolence and volunteering - have motivated Old Collegians Vida Goldstein, Dame Nellie Melba, Helen Macpherson Smith and legions of alumnae and staff to lobby for social justice, raise funds for scholarships, charities, hospitals, disaster relief and to be genuine agents of good influence at home and abroad.Volunteering gives students a sense of purpose and achievement and helps them to feel part of the greater community. It gives them an opportunity to share their skills and to learn new skills and also contribute in a positive way to the lives of others. Many PLC girls are inspired by the opportunities they receive at PLC and go on to create even greater contributions to society. One example is Effie Li who was the 2019 Social Action Captain. She is donating her time as part of the volunteer translation initiative put forth

by Khan Academy. They are translating their English website content into many different languages, offering free online education to those who are in need. Effie is in the Mandarin translation team working on proofreading articles and video captions for mainly the mathematics and economics content.

Effie is also interested in what she can do for poverty alleviation and hopes to collaborate in the future with girls who have graduated from our sister school, Neno Girls’ School in Malawi.

Continues p20

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Neno Girl’s School has always been a focus at PLC and the school community has generously supported the students and teachers over the years. Jenni Williams, our Neno Coordinator, takes a group of students to Neno every second year and says “Watching as our PLC girls are swallowed up into a sea of Neno girls is a wonderful experience. It is always a privilege to see the girls flourish during their time at Neno” In a usual year the Social Action program allows each year level to contribute.

Throughout the year the whole school has the opportunity to donate to various charities through our school assembly collections. In the first term the Social Action Committee plans, organises and manages the intermission catering for the House concerts and they also plan and execute a Quad Day with food and activities. All the proceeds go to support our sister school in Neno.

The Harmony Quad Day and ‘In The Spotlight’ stalls are a focus for Term 2 with students contributing a range of delicious goods to be sold. The Year 9 students are responsible for wonderful Christmas in July themed stalls that donate funds to the students’ chosen charity. Many students attend the ‘Walk Against Want’ raising money for Oxfam projects that support women and children and alleviate poverty.

Term 3 is busy, with the interval food stalls at the PLC/Scotch play raising money for Neno. The Literature Quad festival, Year 10 Waxworks and the Year 8 Pink Quad day, all see the girls working hard to support various charities. The introduction of the PLC Gift running race offers a fundraising opportunity that includes involvement of the Years 7, 8 and 9 students.

Students throughout the year donate their time to activities such as packing donated food for the Camcare Food drive and the Year 9 students have donated non perishable food items to the St. Tom’s Hope Food Drive. Next year we hope to involve the Year 10 students in this as well.

The Year 11 World Vision Committee is elected each year via an interview process and they attend the World Vision Youth Forum in Melbourne. They are then responsible for encouraging the school to take part in the World Vision Backpack Challenge. This year due to the pandemic all World Vision activities were postponed with a new version of fundraising opportunities to be announced for 2021.

The year finishes with the Year 7 Quad Day raising funds for individual charities. All form groups select various gifts from class donations that support Oxfam, World Vision and The Salvation Army. Year 11 students donate their time to collect gifts to put together Christmas Gift boxes for Worowa Aboriginal College in Healesville. Additionally, many students and staff have added a Christmas gift to the Christmas tree that will support families in need at this time.

Although 2020 has been an unusual year, the students have still made a wonderful effort including the online fundraiser that supported six charities assisting Australian families through this time of need.

The wonderful generosity of the PLC community always amazes me and I would like to thank everyone for their amazing support this year, particularly the PLC Social Action Committee of 2020.

Sally Walk Social Action Convener

Morgan Mansell Fund A huge thank you from the Morgan Mansell Fund to Kate Ginaylo (1997) and Junior School staff and students for the free dress day to promote sun smart awareness. Over $1000 was raised for the Morgan Mansell Fund, and this will be passed on during the next round of grants to melanoma research. Through everyone’s support the fund has recently been able to make grants of $2000 to each of Peter Mac, The Melanoma Institute and MS Australia.

We were also really honoured to have presented the inaugural Morgan Mansell Prize (Melanoma Researcher of the Year) at Melanoma Research Victoria’s annual meeting.

Professor Mark Shackleton, and other cancer specialists from the Alfred, Peter Mac and Austin hospitals adjudicated on the numerous entries on melanoma research that were received.

Thank you to everyone supporting the Morgan Mansell Fund dontmswithmorgs.com Together we can make a difference to find a cure for this cancer – the biggest killer of young Australians between the ages of 15 and 39.

Scholarship

Lamont Scholarship Congratulations to Old Collegians Samantha Christie (1985) and Dr Christine Muttiah (2005) who were both recently awarded Lamont Scholarships.

Samantha completed a law degree upon leaving PLC and has now commenced further studies to update her skills. Christine is completing a Masters through the University of Melbourne and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research investigating novel treatments for women with breast cancer. We wish them both all the best!

Annie Elizabeth Lamont, her sister Jean and cousin Doris, were past students of PLC, Perth. When Ms Annie Lamont died in 1994, she left a bequest “to establish a scholarship for post-secondary study to further the academic education of a past student of PLC, Burwood”. The Lamont Scholarship is awarded annually to Old Collegians to assist with the continuation of their tertiary studies, either in Australia or overseas.

Information and application forms can be obtained from the PLC Administration Office by emailing adminoffice@plc.vic.edu.au.

The due date for applications for the 2021 Lamont Scholarship is Friday 12 February 2021.

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

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OC Takes Action

Old Collegian Kim Creek (1988) participated in the March 2020 Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia Humanitarian Challenge. She shared with us her account of this lifechanging adventure.

It all started when I was in my early 20’s and the story of pioneering Australian obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Catherine Hamlin AC and her husband Reg captured my imagination. Dr Catherine Hamlin was interviewed on television and in the interview, she asked women to knit and crochet squares which would then be joined together to create the now famous blankets, which provide comfort to the patients at their Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. Almost thirty years later, I decided to fulfill my lifelong ambition to visit the Hamlin Fistula Hospital and its facilities and see for myself their advocacy of women’s health. The trip was also a purposeful way to celebrate a looming milestone birthday.

To this day 85% of all births in Ethiopia take place without a skilled birth attendant.

The Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation has a lifetime quest to restore the health and dignity to the most marginalized of women in Ethiopia who have survived the horrendous, and preventable childbirth injury: obstetric fistula. The Foundation functions around The Hamlin Model of Care: Treatment, Prevention, Rehabilitation and Re-integration. It is a fully funded “whole of patient care” model.

A model critical to women who have been incontinent, humiliated and sometimes even exiled from their communities.

It was inspiring to meet an inpatient who had the previous week been referred to the hospital having lived isolated from her family in a hut at the rear of their farm for nearly 50 years. The relief on her face when she knew that her condition had a name and that a fulfilling, supported life after free surgery was possible, left an indelible mark on my life.

The trip provided the opportunity to experience the work of the Foundation first hand and the results of our pre-requisite fundraising efforts. This included city hospital, regional clinic and college tours, engagement with midwifery and theatre staff and the chance to experience Desta Mender (‘Joy Village’), the working village and recovery centre for long-term fistula patients. Cultural experiences included visits to a tribal village, the Bullets to Beads program and the impactful “Red Terror” Martyrs’ Memorial Museum and many others.

The culmination of this once-in-a-lifetime experience was marked by my participation in the annual Women First 5km run. The event coincides with the celebrations of International Womens’ Day. The city centre course was closed to spectators, lined with guards and armed personnel and there were police observing from rooftops to ensure the security of the biggest, women only event in Africa with some 15,000 participants. In the pre-race marshalling area, we were free to dance to the thumping of drums and local African music beats and mix with our fellow women in celebration. Keep in mind all of this headiness and exercise was at altitude, 2400m above sea level as Addis Ababa is the third highest capital in the world.

Of course, there were copious opportunities to immerse myself in some serious Ethiopian coffee culture remembering all the while their motto that: one never partakes of coffee alone.

It was truly an honour to participate in the legacy that is the work of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation with its purpose to eradicate fistula forever.

Kim Creek (1988)

now...

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PLC Music

OCA Melba Music Concert Video Our long planned, OCA Melba Music Concert is now a video posted on our Facebook page and the PLC website for everyone to enjoy in their own homes. The concert was planned across 18 months to celebrate 145 years of PLC music and our talented Old Collegian musicians. We greatly appreciate the many Old Collegians musicians and composers who encouraged us. Although COVID-19 restrictions precluded many of our musicians from travelling and performing on the day, it is wonderful to honour the spirit of our original plans with this video for you to enjoy at home and share with your family and friends. The video is 78 minutes long and is an edited and enhanced version of the livestream that was recorded in the empty PLC Performing Arts Centre on 21 March, 2020.

The microphone problems have been edited out to allow you to enjoy these eight items. We are very proud that Items 4–7 have all been composed by our own Old Collegians. Past Director of Music, Dr. Ros McMillan (1959) AM and our Compere Lisa Leong (1989) will guide you through the program here.

www.plc.vic.edu.au/about/oldcollegians/news-events/ocas-melbamusic-concert-video Ailsa Wilson (Watson 1978) President PLC OCA

Music The PLC Music Department prides itself on the range of musical activities that are provided to students throughout the College. As well as regular events such as the Autumn Melodies, Grand Concert, Spring Concert, Jazz Cab and Retro Night, a number of smaller instrumental concerts, workshops and masterclasses are held each year to benefit our talented music students. Alas, 2020 did not turn out the way we had planned, and we have not been able to hold any scheduled events. However, our ever-resourceful and creative music teachers have been remarkable in the way they have adapted to distance learning. With no real prior experience of delivering music lessons online, they have created music activities days, organised online concerts and ensemble rehearsals on top of their day-to-day teaching. It is terrific to see how engaged our students have been with music throughout this difficult time.

The Gala Celebration is the pinnacle of events on the music calendar each year, featuring our top ensembles and soloists. Again, coronavirus has interrupted our plans but in lieu of the event at Hamer Hall, we were able to view an online retrospective of Gala Celebrations from 2009 – 2019. It was wonderful to look back and see the outstanding performances that have taken place and the consistently high standard of music-making that our students manage to produce each year.

A large number of our students present for AMEB exams each year, but this year exams have also taken on a different nature. Many students have undertaken exams by video as face-to-face exams have not been possible.

Coronavirus has certainly made 2020 a year to remember. It may have stopped a large number of activities taking place but it takes more than a virus to stop the music! Now, more than ever, music has an important role to play as it brings communities together and creates social connections in this time of isolation. Whether it be uploading a recording on Youtube, taking part in a street sing-along from the confines of the driveway, or attending online concerts, music has been seen throughout the world as a panacea in these troubled times. Nevertheless, we eagerly await the day that that we can join to make music together again!

Richard Squibb Director of Music

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

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Friends of Music School Music has brought people together during this Covid pandemic lockdown. As cities all over the world shuttered to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, people turned to music. They created together from their balconies and windows - to combat the isolation, to lift spirits and to show support for the healthcare workers defending the frontline. A new breed of videos started to appear on social media: musicians started doing live solo performances from their living rooms, whilst some collaborated with their other colleagues to seamlessly stitch together duets from parts they had performed separately in their own homes. Other larger organisations were more ambitious and we were treated to virtual performances by orchestras and choirs synchronised in an online Zoom “concert hall” resembling a Brady Bunch opening credits screen.

Similarly, at PLC, we have seen our own virtual Symphony Orchestra perform “the impossible” with 45 girls recording their parts individually in isolation with a metronome or click track; then these parts edited together to present the ultimate “Mission Impossible” spy theme, encapsulating the essence of our PLC girls and their can-do attitude during this lockdown period. Please head to the PLC page on Instagram or Facebook if you wish to watch this invigorating performance.

Mission Impossible Video Tribute Music is a universal language. It creates a sense of belonging and participation. During this time of active social distancing, musicmaking is an antidote to the coronavirus blues. Recently, Music Captain Jodie Middleton and the music committee have organised the inaugural “Quarantunes” competition to get “Bach” to the spirit of music making under the theme of nostalgia and childhood!

The Friends of Music School (FMS) will be sponsoring the prizes for this music competition and we are eagerly anticipating viewing the creativity of the girls’ performances. The wonders of technology have also allowed our FMS committee members to stay connected via WhatsApp and to hold our committee meetings by Zoom.

For the first time, we held our annual AGM in October on a virtual platform. Although our activities have been significantly reduced this year, we hope to innovate and present inventive ways to connect with the school community and to keep the students engaged in their musical endeavours post-Covid. As school resumed for our girls in Term 4, we are

well aware that the new normalcy will not be quite the same as what we have been used to. Large gatherings may not be possible for a while. We have certainly missed coming together as a school community at Hamer Hall for the Gala Concert this year to watch the girls and music staff showcasing their work.

However, in lieu of this occasion, we were treated to a trip down memory lane through a compilation of video highlights from previous Gala Celebrations of the past decade, curated by our Music Director, Richard Squibb and his team. The Coronavirus crisis has forced us to adapt and we look forward to more creative ways the girls and the school find to bring music to our ears!

Li-Leen Tan Friends of Music School President FMS@plc.vic.edu.au

then...

Gala Celebration Video

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PLC Sport

OCA Community Sports Kellet Cup The 89th Kellet Cup Tuesday 16 March 2021 4.00–5.45pm

Tennis

Race to the Castles When the PLC Houses were named after six Scottish castles so many years ago, it signified our heritage and reminded us of our roots in Scotland. At that time, nobody would have envisaged the opportunity that this would provide in 2020. Looking back even just ten years, coordinating the PLC Race to the Castles would have been a totally different experience. Through technology and the ability to track exercise on many devices, complete online forms, communicate with participants all over Melbourne, Victoria and the world, it was possible this year to hold an event that brought PLC families, students and the community together with a common goal.

Throughout Term 3, participants, including students, staff and Old Collegians, tracked and logged kilometres travelled using a variety of exercise forms in the quest to help their House be the first to travel just over 20,000km to their castle in Scotland. They visited many of the PLC Boarder’s home towns and cities along the route and enjoyed a ‘free flight’ between Beijing and Edinburgh. During lockdown, a time when exercise, community and feeling connected was so important, the PLC Race to the Castles provided an incentive for the PLC community to reach these goals.

The results were tallied and Atholl were the eventual winners. Congratulations Atholl!

Student Experiences: “The 2020 Race to the Castles event was an engaging and exciting way to get everyone exercising and moving. Friendly competition between the houses made this experience all the more enjoyable and it will be something I won’t forget!”

“I really enjoyed the Race to the Castles as it added a sense of excitement during lockdown and made me want to do more exercise. It also brought my family together. It was such a great idea.”

Regrettably, like many events for PLC in 2020, we were not able to play the Old Collegians’ tennis team against the School GSV Team for the Kellet Cup. With the ambition to play during Term 4 further eluding us, the school GSV Tennis Team looks forward to reuniting to challenge the Old Collegians on Tuesday 16 March 2021 on the school courts. This annual event has been run since 1932, and apart from four years where ‘no play’ was recorded, we have been meeting as a much loved tradition of the school sporting history.

Doubles matches are played in a nine game set and it is a great chance to reconnect with your tennis partner from your school days and take on the current students. We have 11 courts to use so if this is your first time considering playing we welcome you all. We end the afternoon’s competition with refreshments and the presentation of the Cup to the winning team and celebrating the 89th year of this competition.

Please join us by confirming your place in the team to epayne@plc.vic.edu.au (Sports Department) or jandimmick@icloud.com (Old Collegians Captain) by Friday 13 February 2021.

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Golf SAVE THE DATE

Old Collegian Golf will be returning at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club on Monday 17 May 2021 To register your interest please contact Robin Collier (Wilson 1969) robinjcollier@gmail.com

Netball PLC OCA Netball has a very short history.

Let’s throwback to 2016, when a graduating PLC student, who was very upset that she would have to say goodbye to her netball teammates, decided she didn’t actually have to say goodbye at all.

The first thing I wanted to do when I started school at PLC in Year 7 was to join the Saturday Netball team. One of the greatest things about Saturday Netball is its ability to bring girls together, to make friends who you wouldn’t have classes with, to make friends with girls outside your house, and even at trainings outside your year level. Netball was the thing that brought us together, and after six years of waking up early to train, winning and losing and being there for each other, it was such a shame that we would part ways and no longer be able to play Saturday Netball together. It was a spur of the moment decision in January 2017 when I sent an email to the Netball Association, “Can we still play as a team even though we don’t have a club anymore?”.

The answer was yes. Then it was an email to PLC and the Old Collegians’ Association, “would it be okay if we became a PLC Old Collegians’ netball team?”. Another yes. A quick text to all my netball friends and we had a team. PLC OCA Melba was created. By the time we hit halfway through the 2017 winter season though, it was clear we would struggle for numbers.

In July 2017, I entered a competition to design a netball dress and my dress design won, and the $500 was spent on brand new uniforms for PLC OCA Netball. The 2017 Spring netball season saw the PLC OCA Melba team in fresh uniforms with Old Collegians from 2010 to 2016. The season was a resounding success. It was no surprise to me

Driver Cup that the Old Collegians from other years were incredibly kind, friendly, and fantastic people.

We were lucky enough in 2019 to have enough interest from Old Collegians for two netball teams. The PLC OCA Netball community bloomed. PLC OCA Melba and PLC OCA Goldstein (named after two famous PLC Old Collegians) played one game after the other, which left plenty of time to cheer and support the other team on. In December 2019 we organised a Christmas party and we made our first appearance at the PLC Twilight Picnic in 2020.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has halted many activities in 2020. We managed to squeeze in 2 games of netball before it was no longer safe to play. We are still hopeful that by November or December this year we will be able to play in a social netball competition organised by the Waverley District Netball Association. If it is still unsafe to play, then we look towards the 2021 season with extreme anticipation and hope that it will be safe then.

PLC OCA Netball in 2021 is a wonderful opportunity to bounce back from lockdown into a welcoming community of netball loving Old Collegians. If you are interested, or would like to be kept in the loop with PLC OCA Netball please contact Clare Haysom (2016)

haysomclare@gmail.com Reserve your place in the OC Team by Friday 13 February, 2021.

Clare Haysom (2016)

Tuesday 15 June 2021

Hockey Each year the Senior Hockey Team eagerly look forward to competing against the Old Collegians for the prestigious Driver Cup. The Driver Cup is named after Janet Driver, a long serving Physical Education/ Outdoor Education staff member who has been instrumental in the development of hockey at PLC. Janet is a passionate hockey player and coach, she has played hockey at a national level and has been an integral part the hockey program at PLC. This match is a great opportunity for past and present students to share their passion for hockey in a fun but competitive way. It is always a hard-fought competition between the two teams with real sportsmanship displayed throughout the game. The match is always followed by an afternoon tea for the players.

Whilst we haven’t been able to play in the past two years due firstly to unfavourable weather and more recently due to COVID restrictions, we are already looking forward to the next match in June 2021. For Old Collegians who are keen to play in future matches please contact Lauren Law (2007) –

lawl@cggs.vic.edu.au Lauren Law (2007)

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History of Boarding at PLC Boarding Since its foundation at East Melbourne in 1875, Presbyterian Ladies’ College has provided boarding facilities for girls whose families have lived out of town or overseas.

1875 The College opened with some of the original sixty pupils enrolled as boarders and housed in School House.

1908 ‘Junior House’, (later ‘Koorinya’) for younger boarders was purchased and renovated for boarders. Boarders number 61.

then

1957 Final Closing Service for the

boarders held in Wyselaskie Hall, East Melbourne.

1958 Final church service for boarders

1922 The Boarders’ Choir was started.

held at Scots Church on 11 May. Boarders’ church dresses changed from the old navy blue to a smart grey dress. The two PLC East Melbourne Boarding Houses amalgamated into one in the new Boarding House at PLC Burwood.

1929 The “Harriette Wilson Prize” for

1959 First edition of the boarders’ maga-

Boarder Prefects was founded in memory of Mrs J. P. Wilson, wife of Dr. Wilson, Head Master of the College 1888-1906.

zine ‘The Weird Mob’ published.

First Boarders’ dance held in the Junior School Hall.

First Boarders’ Sports held.

1919 A solid balcony was built around two sides of the Junior House building with 26 beds for junior boarders.

1934 During the Centenary Celebrations of Melbourne, the Boarders were taken to see decorations and illuminations of the city, and to numerous celebrations of this historic event.

1960 Boarders’ prefects reduced to six in number. 93 boarders in all.

1966 A new television set was purchased

1995 A sound system replaced the radio in the Boarding House. Desks were added to bedroom furniture in the Boarding House.

1999 Renovations made to the

over the air in the Presbyterian Half-Hour.

for the boarders’ sitting-room and every bedroom was brightened by a new chenille bedspread.

1937 PLC boarders were more or less

1967 Boarders’ Prefects became the

quarantined for term 2 due to the acute anterior poliomyelitis epidemic. The outbreak from 1937-39 was particularly severe in Melbourne, causing the closure of schools and the banning of children from public transport.

Boarding House Council.

Boarders’ Sitting Rooms. Boarding House Cottage for Year 12 boarders opened in Daniel Street. ‘Sam’ the Spoodle came to live with the 80 boarders in the Boarding House.

1983 The Boarding House at Burwood

2000 Boarders number 83 from 14

named ‘Koorinya’ after the East Melbourne Boarding House. It housed Year 7 to Year 11 boarders. Year 12 boarders were housed in Hethersett House.

2001 Mobile phones were allowed in

1936 The Boarders’ Choir made its debut

1938 PLC purchased ‘Hethersett’ in Burwood.

1942 Due to the bombing of Darwin, arrangements were made in term one, for the temporary billeting of boarders with families in Burwood, Kew and Camberwell districts (all in close proximity to Hethersett) Girls were bussed to school from their ‘families’. Boarders helped dig trenches in the Fitzroy Gardens opposite PLC East Melbourne on the weekends.

1988 Numbers reached 120 in the Boarding House.

1990 Two microwaves donated to the Boarding House by the Boarders’ Parents’ Association.

1991 Two computers introduced into the Boarding House. Girls were allowed to wear pants to church each Sunday instead of skirts.

1994 All boarders moved into Koorinya.

different countries. the Boarding House.

2002 Curfew for Year 12 boarders extended to 10:30pm on the weekend.

Pyjamas allowed for weekend lunchtimes for boarders.

2007 Year 9 and 10 boarders housed in ‘Mollison House’ during extensions and renovations to the Boarding House.

2008 Following the opening of the new extensions to the Boarding House, all boarders were once again housed in ‘Koorinya’.

& now

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2020 Quarantine

The start of the 2020 school year in the Boarding House was unlike any other. The house was divided into two, with girls flying in from Hong Kong and China to undergo quarantine in “The Ship”, while the remaining girls to stay on the other side of the house. It was strange seeing friends on the other side, yet not being able to catch up face to face.

However, despite the separation, girls would wave and attempt to talk through the window of the door separating the Boarding House.

The two weeks soon passed and we were reunited once again.

COVID-19 has definitely changed all our lives, many people may have questions of what it is like boarding during this unusual circumstance, being away from friends, family and not returning home for almost a year! Although it was tough, the girls in the boarding house definitely persisted and stayed strong. could choose the type of tea and syrup they liked. One of the most exciting pieces of news in the holidays was that we had a new coffee machine in the House. Everyone was welcomed to have lessons with Karina to learn to use the machine and to do latte art. Since then, the coffee machine has been a popular spot in the dining room every day! We are very grateful that although we are not allowed to order food delivery or go to any restaurants, the Boarding House staff, kitchen staff and the Boarding House committee have been trying their best to provide all the food we like.

Kahoot Night, Easter Egg Decorating Competition, and other activities

Happy girls moving out of “The Ship”

School Holidays During school holidays, we were lucky to have each other in the Boarding House, making our quarantine lives a lot more exciting and enjoyable.

Excursions In the second term holiday, we were able to have excursions to Half Moon Bay and the Dandenong Ranges. As it was the first time going to the beach and walking under the trees with a “mask” on, it was a very interesting and unforgettable memory for all of us. Being out and enjoying nature, we felt so much better and more connected to the outside world, after almost 3 months of indoor quarantine.

Food Thanks to Karina, our catering manager, and the rest of the kitchen crew, we were lucky to have a BBQ lunch outside on the lawn, getting some sunshine and fresh air and taking some time off screens. Apart from this, we also had the opportunity to make different kinds of popular food and drinks by ourselves like Chinese dumplings, pizza, bubble tea, coffee, etc. In the bubble tea making session, we had different flavours like Thai milk tea, black tea, green tea, etc, boarders

27

Adding to that, boarders also had multiple fun activities to take part in while the restrictions were still being implemented.

These activities included sports, face mask making session, games nights, bread making, pool movies and dance parties. Having the privilege of using the school gym and sport courts, we did our very best to keep fit through tennis, basketball, volleyball, frisbee or even just walking around the school grounds. Games nights when we played Kahoot, Guess the song, and also Stargazing were some popular activities that we enjoyed. Hearty laughs and giggles filled the Boarding House during those nights. Last but not least, we did not miss a chance to celebrate Easter as we took part in the Egg Hunt and Decoration competition. Alongside the “material” treasure of chocolate eggs, we got more valuable gifts of friendship, fun and enjoyable time.

Online Learning Even though we had distant learning, for boarders it might not be so distant. Every day, we went to school, sat in designated classrooms or areas and began our online classes. Despite not being able to see teachers and our day school friends, we still had our boarder friends with us. Term 2 online schooling was a bit of an adjustment but it only took a while. Many of us enjoyed sleeping in late in the morning and discovering a new found hobby for coffee making.

Online learning enabled us to form tighter bonds with our friends in the Boarding House and feel more relaxed during classes. It has

been a new and challenging experience for all boarders but the support of the Boarding House staff and day school members have assisted us in feeling more comfortable and cared for.

Changing Faces On 12 August, tough news hit the Boarding House. Unfortunately, due to the Stage 4 lockdown restrictions, we had to say goodbye to all of our lovely Boarding House casual staff. They are: Mrs Anne Callahan Mrs Kathy Cogger Ms Caroline Dehn Ms Christal Xie Ms Ellen de Waard Ms Hannah Moody Mrs Ignis Xie Ms Alina Shie Mrs Maria Ngo Ms Rachelle Thannhauser Ms Sonya Andrew Ms Margie Chambers Ms Helen Gunn Ms Julia Liang.

Although we were very sad to not be able to see them, and worried about what the Boarding House would be like without them, some permanent PLC staff members from other departments came to the rescue.

They include our two Deputy Principals - Mrs Saffin and Mrs Williams; as well as Mrs Curtis, Mrs Pontifex, Mr Gogoll, Mrs Hawkins and Mrs Wadsworth. They brought a fresh feel to our Boarding House with them, and what a pleasure it was to get to know them!

We would like to thank all our wonderful staff members, our Heads of Boarding, Mr Manderson (our casual minibus driver) and Mrs Manderson, and our fellow boarders in making 2020 such an awesome and memorable year. The pandemic has only brought boarders and staff closer together as we take on the challenge as one big family.

As the 2020 Boarding House Committee members hand over their roles to our new team, we wish our 2021 Committee all the very best for next year as they lead the Boarding House in a whole new adventure.

Ching Ee and Kaow Hom Year 12 Boarding Captains 2020

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Developing Skills and Knowledge for the Careers of the Future Often when we ask the girls what they like about their favourite subjects, their response is “The Challenge!” Whether it be solving a maths or science problem, creating a piece of visual or performance art or analysing and commenting on a text, each girl embraces this opportunity given her own interests and talents.

The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) in their The New Work Order Report (2015) uses the term “enterprising skills” to identify the capabilities required for the future workforce. These include problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, innovation and communication.This learning was reinforced in a recent online presentation by the Program Director for the Faculty of Arts, at The University of Melbourne, who stated that students’ learning includes collaborative leadership, understanding complex concepts together with critical and analytical skills within a changing social context.

These qualities have been highlighted for us during our experience of COVID-19.

We have seen the girls, no doubt with the support of families, adapt to remote learning by engaging with a positive mindset, further developing independent study skills and using their initiative to endeavour to solve the challenges that have arisen.

In May, our Year 11 and 12 students had the opportunity to engage with a number of Old Collegians (OCs) who shared their study and career journeys since leaving school.

Given the challenges of conducting this event on campus, each presenter kindly filmed their segment. These were combined into a single livestream for students to access through Wyse. As we devised new ways of providing these opportunities to students, our guests communicated that they too had been creative and flexible in pursuing their careers.

This included accepting roles they may not have expected to undertake in commencing their careers and how these played out to lead to the initially desired outcomes; relocating their lives interstate and overseas for career opportunities; being open to the challenge of accepting opportunities they never knew existed; recognising the importance of communication in sharing research and ideas and engaging in continuous learning.

They also talked about the importance of achieving a work/life balance, developing hobbies and interests into small business activities alongside one’s principal career and, importantly, acknowledging what one can be grateful for each day. We are very grateful to

Fiona Bateman (2000) (Veterinary Specialist), Alison Chong (2008) (Industrial and Research Chemist), Madeleine Costello (2005) (Commerce/Legal Studies Teacher), Amy Nhan (2006) (Employment Lawyer) and Mabel Yan (2011) (Clinical Doctor/PhD candidate) for sharing their experiences. These OCs valued their school life and encouraged students to participate in the wide range of activities offered in the classroom and the broader life of the school to develop new skills and to make a strong network of friends to provide support now and into the future.

We can have confidence that our students are engaging in experiences to gain the knowledge and skills to prepare for a future that will require flexibility, a global perspective and the ability to manage the impact of technology in transforming the workforce.

Pauline Parker Careers Development Practitioner

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PLC Melbourne Archive in 2020 New ways of learning and connecting with business, family and friends, shortages of face masks, hand santiser, major disruptions at home and work… and now the suggestion that the AFL Grand Final 2020 relocate to Queensland, Sydney or Geelong!

“Tribulation first makes one realize what one is.”

Source: Quote from Marie Antoinette by Stefan Zweig, in a book presented to the College by Old Collegian Panette Bryant in 1954

now...

Archive Donations

How are you dealing with the daily challenges?

Pandemics have significantly impacted society and changed the course of human history before, but this is your invitation to include your photographs, reflections, anecdotes, triumphs and failures in the College’s collective ‘iso” memory. You may have family, patients and emergency services workers, who have been more directly affected by the COVID–19 crisis. How has your family, coped with face masks, sanitiser, coughing in the elbow, knocking elbows as greeting, home schooling, working from home, lockdown restrictions, video conferencing, social distancing or added new words to the 2020 COVID–19 lexicon https://public.oed. com/blog/the-language-of-covid-19/ The PLC Archive has a mandate to capture and steward the memories, stories and the history of the College for the present and future generations. 2020 is certainly providing an extraordinary opportunity for each of us to contribute to the College’s collective memory and curriculum resources for the students and staff of tomorrow. Please consider including your stories, hobbies, joys, achievements and disappointments, in the Archive and email your COVID 2020 MOMENT contribution to jdyer@plc.vic.edu.au Help us build the College Archive for the future.

Jane Dyer PLC Archivist

As with the rest of the world, COVID-19 pandemic restrictions temporarily closed the Archive to on-site visitors, students, staff and volunteers. The ability to accept donations was also reduced. The ongoing successful operation of the PLC Melbourne Archive to retain and preserve the history of the education of women, and the contribution the PLC community has made nationally and globally, is enriched by donation. Donations of archives, primary source material originated by, or mentioning the College, auxiliary organisations and Alumni may be in a range of formats: uniform, manuscripts, papers, minutes, correspondence, books, maps, photographs, audio recordings or artefacts.

Old Collegian, Carolyn Blyth (Gray 1960) visited her old school recently to donate to the Archive a PLC Crested Book Prize which her great aunt, Emilie Marianna Bryant, was awarded for Arithmetic in December 1908.

Carolyn has lived in the UK for 50 years, so was very interested in the huge changes to the campus over the year. She particularly enjoyed the Heritage Centre and is pictured here with copies of her old school uniforms.

Like so many Old Collegians, she still keeps in touch with her special friends from school.

Lil with A.S. Neill at Summerhill

Henry Handel Richardson One of the most pleasurable aspects of the Henry Handel Richardson Society’s recent experience has been the expanding and fruitful relationship with HHR’s old school – PLC. Only twelve months ago the school graciously hosted our annual oration, delivered by Professor Stefan Welz from Leipzig.

Since then, a Society tour to HHR sites in Britain and Germany in September 2019 revealed two matters of particular significance to PLC. One of these was to do with HHR’s sister, Lil Neustatter, who also attended the school and was in many ways as notable as her sister. Lil was a gifted musician, a suffragette who endured a jail term, and an educationist who, along with A.S.Neill, founded the progressive school, Summerhill.

As a result of the sleuth work of our President, Graeme Charles, we were able to find her previously unidentified grave and have a plaque erected in Llanfairfechan, in Wales.

In Leipzig we were privileged to attend a celebration of the completion of the translation into German of HHR’s first novel, “Maurice Guest”. The novel is set in the world of music students at the end of the nineteenth century in Leipzig, where HHR and Lil and other PLC students, notably Marie Hansen, also studied.

(For detailed accounts of these events read newsletters for January 2020 and April 2020 on our website: www. henryhanderichardsonsociety.org) 2020 is a landmark year for the Society – the sesquicentenary of HHR’s birth in Melbourne in 1870. Unfortunately the pandemic forced the postponement of the annual oration that PLC had once again generously agreed to host.

We look forward to the next Oration which will be held at PLC on 19 June 2021.

Stefan Welz delivers Oration 2019

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History in the raw…

So what are archives?

Archives diaries, letters, drawings and memoirs – are primary sources created by those who participated in or witnessed the events of the past. Archives have the power to change our view of history as a series of facts, date and events. Primary sources, real and personal, fascinate learners of all ages.

For over 145 years, generations of PLC Old Collegians, students and staff have stewarded and integrated the College’s unique collection of archives into the life of the College and its wider communities. Today, historical scholarship and understanding comes alive as students and researchers touch the lives of the people, the evidence of others, about whom history is written.

Mrs Anne Harvie (Baldwin 1936), PLC Archive Volunteer and former PLC English Teacher with JS Students. Source: PLC Archive PLC Archivist and Student Volunteers. Source: PLC Archive

“Our archives are an important part of our history because they tell the stories of and the achievements of generations of alumni of many exceptional women” Wendy Fishley (Olney 1955), PLC Archive Assistant.

Students begin to recognize how a point of view and bias affects evidence. Differences among students in interpreting documents are not unlike those among historians.

They also confront the language of the time and come across human expressions that provide history with colour and excitement and directly link students to its cast of characters…

PLC Students, East Melbourne, 1900.

Source: PLC Archive

then…

“Using the words of historical author, Sara Sheridan, our archives are treasure troves - a testament to many lives lived and the complexity of the way we move forward.

They contain clues to the real concerns of day-to-day life that bring the past alive. The individual documents are like signposted roads, heading to a variety of intriguing possibilities.”

Patchwork, August 1913. Source: PLC Archive

Marion Wilson (Looke 1974), PLC Archive Cataloguer.

Archives breathe life into the stories of our past…

Archives tell us something that even the best-written article or book cannot convey.

Jane Dyer PLC Melbourne Archivist

Patchwork, August 1934. Source: PLC Archive “PLC has had a long, proud tradition of being socially aware. It is always fascinating to look in the Patchworks of this era, one during which the White Australia policy was in full and terrible force, and read the compassion with which the girls wrote about these issues. Much like the PLC girls of today, they were unafraid to speak up about issues of injustice.”

Alex Owen (2018), PLC Archive Assistant

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When students and teachers participate together in the exciting and evolving process of historical inquiry, returns, in terms of knowledge, skills and interest, can be great and lasting.

[Collage of Photos, Clockwise from Top Left: Patchwork, July 1901; PLC East Melbourne Autograph Book, 1932; PLC Junior School Art lesson at Hethersett, Burwood, 1946; Letters from French schoolgirls, 1940; Archive volunteer and former PLC Music teacher Aileen Stooke (1943); PLC East Melbourne doll made by former Craft teacher Betty Stuart (Clayton 1942); PLC Patchwork August, 1934: Research: Louise Hanson-Dyer Collection (Source: PLC Archive)

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Staff Service Chairman of Council’s Retirement After eleven years of service to the PLC College Council, our current Chairman Mr Russell Walley, is retiring. In announcing his retirement, Russell told the Council it had been a privilege to serve on the PLC Council.

Appointed to Council in June 2009, he has served the past nine years as Chairman of Council, and also Chairman of the Executive and Finance committee and a member of other Council Sub-Committees.

Central to his devoted and tenacious leadership has been his Christian faith, serving God and others in his tireless work on our Council. 1 Peter 4:10, ‘As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace’, exemplifies Russell’s godly service over this extended period of time for our College.

He has been strong in his commitment to our girls and took great pride in seeing them thrive in the Christian culture which is the foundation of our College. His deep knowledge and genuine interest in the College, and all it stands for, has been a great hallmark of his leadership as Chairman of Council.

As a judicious steward, Russell has led the College through a period of growth in enrolments and physical resource renewal, as well as managing some difficult decisions with great wisdom. Russell’s strong commitment to the College community along with his financial acumen has been invaluable, making a positive impact on the resilient position the College is in. He has provided enduring support to other Council members, leading a cohesive team with a great heart for the College, past, present and future.

Russell has graciously immersed himself over this time in the life of the College,

attending many events along with his wife Lyn, and we are indebted to him for his significant energy over these years. Their daughter Lauren graduated from PLC in 2010. Our sincere thanks are extended to Lyn for her support of Russell in his service to the College as we are mindful of the time it has required and the impact this has had on family time.

On behalf of the College community and the College Council, we express our gratitude and sincere thanks to Russell and we wish him and his family God’s richest blessings as they move on from our community to serve in other ways.

The incoming Chairman is Reverend Mark Chew. A current parent of PLC girls Emma (Year 11) and Lauren (Year 8), Mark has served actively on the PLC Council for ten years and is a member of the Executive and Finance Committee. With a background in commerce and finance, Mark currently serves as a Pastor at Holy Trinity Doncaster and St John’s Blackburn and is also on the Board at Ridley College. He begins his term as Chairman of PLC Council in November 2020.

Mark is looking forward to the contribution he will make to our College as Chair of Council, and we wish him and the Council well as the school moves forward into the next exciting period of its history.

Cheryl Penberthy Principal

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A Tribute to Angela Hurley Angela began her career at PLC in 1986 and has worked with five Principals in a range of positions for nearly 35 years. She began as a Senior Biology and Science teacher and then added roles such as House Coordinator, Year Level Coordinator, Snow sports Coordinator, Head of Biology, Registrar, and now Director of Admissions. Up until this year, all her roles were combined with a Science teaching load.

For many students, Mrs. Hurley has been the first person they met at PLC. As Registrar, later Director of Admissions, Angela would regularly introduce prospective parents and their daughters to PLC. Warm and personable, gregarious and fun-loving, Angela welcomed everyone with the same enthusiasm and inclusivity. Within a few minutes of meeting her, everyone felt like they had known her forever. There is no doubt that many enrolments eventuated due to Angela’s enthusiasm and love of PLC. Angela could persuade parents to see beyond just the buildings and satisfy them it was the right school for their daughters!

Prior to taking on the role of Registrar, Angela was the Head of Biology. She is a highly skilled teacher. She loved the classroom and managed to juggle the two very different roles of registrar and teacher magnificently. She has always been a dynamo in the classroom and brought science to life with engaging hands-on activities. Her students loved her!

Angela is always so positive and full of life. She is adventurous and has a great love of nature and the outdoors. She took students on marine science excursions and showed them how to jump daringly from Portsea Pier, snorkel among its underwater pylons to view sponges and darting fish, and explore rock pools safely using a longhandled wooden spoon.

On Year 11 Biology field trips, Angela’s fascination for plants led to foraging and finding botanical treasures hidden in the bush. Angela encouraged students to immerse themselves fully in the experiences of their surroundings.

‘Let’s take a ride in the back of a farm truck to see a calf being born.’

‘Who’d like to come for a slosh through mud to look at marsh birds?’

‘It will be a bit slippery but won’t it be fun to find the biggest, oldest tree in Melba Gully?’

Angela made everything sound exciting and nothing was too dirty, wet or uncomfortable for the intrepid Mrs Hurley!

She was also interested in what the students were thinking. She interviewed them and filmed their responses to her questions about their experiences on camps and excursions.

Sporty and energetic, Angela has been a competitive tennis player outside school. For some time, she took part in weekly afterschool staff tennis matches with members of Science, PE and Audio-Visual staff.

Angela now gets lots of exercise walking her dogs, two spaniel-kelpie crosses, who never tire of running. One of her dogs is also an extreme-distance swimmer and Angela may be seen at Brighton Beach running along the shore trying to keep up with it, as it makes its way to St Kilda!

Angela also enjoys dancing. To help celebrate a colleague’s birthday in 1998, Angela attended a sedate dinner at the University of Melbourne Staff Club, accompanied by music from a classical pianist. After dinner, a small group of (then) young PLC staff decided to raise the energy level of the evening by attending a city club for some dancing. They were not long inside, when, from somewhere on the dance floor, through the darkness and over-amplified music, a high-pitched voice was heard. ‘Hello Mrs. Hurley!’ A pair of attractive, fashionablydressed young women greeted Angela: they were two of her Year 12 students! It surprised Angela’s colleagues but she was totally at ease and carried out a friendly conversation with them as though it was not at all unusual for teachers and students to be bumping into each other in a King Street nightclub!

Angela is a keen gardener and has an eye for the aesthetics of landscaping and floral arrangement, as well as home decorating.

Angela and Rick are tireless and have relocated and beautifully renovated several homes during her time at PLC, as well as building a beach house in her homeland, New Zealand. Angela’s generosity towards her colleagues has been demonstrated by the hospitality she has extended to entertaining in her lovely homes on many social occasions.

Over her many years at PLC, Angela has been a great supporter of the Science Department. She embraced change enthusiastically and thrived on the new. When curriculum changes or new regulations came into force, Angela’s approach was to roll up her sleeves and get on with it!

Angela has always shown kindness and support to others in times of need.

She consistently put a positive spin on any situation and used her own brand of delightful, self-effacing humour to put everyone at ease, allowing them to forget any troubles. Nothing was ever any trouble for Angela, she was always available when help was needed. She has been a joy to work with.

In her time at PLC, Angela has been a loyal, versatile and dedicated member of staff. Angela also entrusted PLC with the education of her daughter Alice, from the Early Learning Centre through to the end of Year 12.

The PLC community is extremely fortunate to have had Angela in its midst for so long.

She has been a wonderful contributor to life at PLC. Reflections provided by Andrea Skinner, Sue O’Brien and Jen Rivett

34 PLC i n Pri nt | Nove mbe r 2 0 2 0

A Tribute to Josephine Foxcroft

Josephine has made an amazing contribution to life at Presbyterian Ladies’ College. She is a person of great intelligence, depth and creativity. An innovative and engaging teacher and a visionary leader, she has a great capacity for coming up with new ideas and an appetite for hearing the thoughts and ideas of others. She is committed to lifelong learning and continuous improvement and is passionate about education. She is a voracious reader and is always excited to share the excitement of new approaches and ideas with others. This was often seen in HACCs (Heads of Academic Curriculum Committee) and through the professional reading group that she established. Her contribution as a curriculum leader at the College will be missed very much.

Josephine is also a character. She has an unmistakable, almost wicked laugh and a great sense of fun. She is genuinely interested in people and will happily chat at great length about just about anything. Josephine loves a good story; telling them, hearing them and even on occasions being the subject of them. And you know that your story has been appreciated when she responds with her hearty laugh. Josephine is great company and one who enjoys the company of others.

She is a presence that will be missed in decision-making forums and professional conversations, in the staff room and in the classroom. We wish her every happiness in her retirement.

Tim Joyce

At least once a week or so a photocopied news article would mysteriously appear on my desk in the English office. These would land at random times and I always enjoyed returning from a class to find an A3 page obscuring my marking underneath. The articles came from a wide range of publications and usually had absolutely nothing in common with one another; one would be an analysis of the latest discovery about blackholes while the next would be a development in the art world.

Often two entirely different articles would descend on my desk at the same time, each vying for my attention. The only commonality was the source: Josephine Foxcroft. As the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) coordinator she would deposit these treasures on my desk to share with my students.

TOK is an incredibly wide ranging subject and it is no doubt this quality that drew Josephine to it in the first place. She reads incredibly broadly and there hardly seems to be a subject that she eschews.

I even received the occasional article about algorithms and artificial intelligence!

Alongside her reading is an ear that is constantly tuned to Radio National and I have had many conversations with her about radio programs she has listened to. On several occasions we were able to download relevant interviews and share them with the IB students.

A true polymath, I will miss Josephine’s love of knowledge and learning and all that she contributed to the TOK program at PLC. She enjoys playing with knowledge and language and I will also sorely miss her irreverent wit. I am currently seeking expressions of interest from voracious readers who feel they can continue Josephine’s tradition of furnishing me with random articles from every possible subject area.

Henry Jones

What can I say about Josephine Foxcroft?

From a personal perspective, she has been a dear and loyal friend for a very long time.

For many years her office was next to my office, and although she was always busy with her work, she made time for at least a quick conversation with me during the day, and occasionally when the need arose we talked at length. I always found Josephine to be a person whose conversation was seasoned with wisdom, learning, humour and Christian grace. Nothing was too much trouble for Josephine and she always left me with the feeling that doing the best for the students and addressing their needs were foremost among her concerns. Not everyone who becomes a teacher is ideally suited to the role, but I think it would be fair to say that Josephine was. After watching her daily interactions with students over many years, I can confidently say that she brought a lot of insight, compassion and care into her work with students. Doubtless she would have occasionally had to bring an honest reality check to some unrealistic student expectations; my understanding is that she would have done this with a good measure of kindness and sympathetic listening! I found Josephine to be a learned and capable person whose extensive reading and study allowed her to reflect deeply on a wide variety of issues. I also found Josephine to be a steadfast and faithful follower of Jesus.

Although we have travelled along slightly different pathways in the Christian life, I always felt there was a deep Christian bond between us where we could openly, honestly and regularly share some of the personal and precious aspects of being Christian together.

Josephine was not someone who paraded her faith on every occasion, but it was a quietly reliable and prayerful given in everything she did and I honour her for it. Educators are busy people and sometimes in the hurley burley of day to day school responsibilities it is easy to be more task than people orientated. I want to thank Josephine for never having done that with me and my life is much richer for it. I wish her a very happy and well deserved retirement.

Reverend Charles Green

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A Tribute to John Law, the PLC Team Player John Law began his career at PLC teaching Swimming and PE in 1990, the year after he retired from his illustrious career as a star Australian Rules footballer playing for North Melbourne in the VFL. Prior to this he had taught at both St. Michael’s Grammar School, St Kilda and Brighton Grammar, Brighton. As a footballer John was known for his direct style of play and for his uncompromising commitment to his team. He has played with the same drive and commitment to PLC for over 30 years and has been a central member of our PLC family.

Greatly admired for his energy and sense of fun, a story which exemplifies this was the egg dropping competition in the early days when he taught Year 3. The girls had to design something in which they could drop an egg from a height without the egg breaking. John said he would be the compere and to the delight of the girls and staff alike, he arrived dressed in his dinner suit and a bowtie and his fellow teacher wore a chook suit. John’s ‘Dad jokes’ have also been renowned throughout the Junior School.

Generations of girls enjoyed the Year 6 JOG (Junior Outdoor Group) camp held up at John’s farm at Strathbogie. He taught girls and staff basic farming knowledge, as well as how dams and windmills assisted people on the land. He loved this time just as much as they did! He also brought his energy, enthusiasm and support to the running of the Joyce camps over the years.

For many years John ran the holiday program which meant he had responsibility for the logistics and financial side of the whole program as well as the organisation of multiple activities around the school so that children had a choice of 7 or 8 activities at any given time. No wonder more than seventy children happily signed up for the 14 day program! John always set the bar high for the girls on the sporting field and introduced many innovative lessons. These creative lessons along with his laidback and humorous personality guaranteed the girls enjoyed PE and gave 100%. Another arena where John loved the opportunity to connect with students at their level was by dressing up and acting on stage to the delight of girls and teachers alike. On many occasions he displayed his wonderful acting abilities, including some memorable performances of Matt Preston and the old, strict Headmaster, Mr Charles Pearson from PLC’s early days.

John has always demonstrated high moral, family and social values and was always fair in his dealings with people. Highly regarded for his honesty, trustworthiness and loyalty, John has led by example to build a staff that is a team, who respect each other, support each other and who work collegially. John has supported and mentored many staff over the years and his dynamic and inclusive style has been a driving force in the Junior School, benefitting students, staff and our parent community alike. His openness and approachable nature endeared him to parents who so appreciated the time he spent each day in the school pickup area, listening to their concerns and answering their questions. John has had two careers in his working life, his football and his teaching. There are not many who play football at this elite level, who go on to make a new career that is so devoted to serving others. It is a great credit to John and has been for the benefit of PLC, that he has gone from strength to strength in his thirty years at the College. From his role of Captain of the North Melbourne Football Club, to captaining our Junior School, he has been a great leader who has shown courage on the field and in the way he took on his new role as Head of the Junior School. John has been a great team player, knowing that when one succeeds, everyone succeeds. We will miss hearing the jingle of his keys in advance of his booming voice and hearty smile. John has been a central figure on the PLC side, our Captain and most valuable team member.

He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. John is a proud family man. His wife Bronwyn also taught at PLC, and their two daughters Rachael and Lauren attended the College. We thank him most sincerely for his acclaimed and devoted service and we wish him and his family every happiness in the years ahead.

Reflections provided by Cheryl Penberthy, Suzanne Phillips, June Tait, Kate Ginalyo, Paul Hamilton-Smith and Sharon Catchpoole

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A Tribute to Jennifer Pinkney 2020 - what a year on which to finish a working career! While we are delighted for Jen that she is retiring at the end of this year, it will mean the loss of an incalculable store of PLC corporate knowledge, as well as a devoted employee and wonderful colleague.

If there was an award for the person who has held the greatest variety of roles in the most areas of the College, Jen would be the clear winner!

Jennifer Pinkney initially came to PLC in a casual capacity in 1998 to assist with the Junior School Weekly Newsletter.

Realising her quality, she was employed as a permanent part-time Office Secretary in June 1999 and the rest, as they say, is history.

In April 2000, Jen moved to the Senior School Principal’s Office and Development Office to cover for another staff member on extended sick leave. In July 2000, she went back to Junior School full time while their secretary went on long service leave, then a month later covered the LSL of the Music School Secretary.

In August 2000, Jen became the official ‘Roving Office Secretary’, filling in wherever an extra administration staff member was needed in the College. From December 2000

to April 2001, she was Acting Registrar, after which, she became PA to the Deputy Principal, Carolyn Elvins. She has remained in this role for the rest of her time at PLC. While the Deputy Principals may have changed, Jen has been the constant. After Carolyn Elvins, she served as PA to Tim Argall, Keiron Jones, Anne-Marie Williams and Geoff RobertsThompson, and has now been working solely for Anne-Marie Williams for the last two years.

Jen’s time at PLC has clearly been characterised by a willingness to do whatever is required and this has resulted in a career of more than 22 rich, varied and valuable years. She is the consummate professional, always immaculately presented, impeccably polite to everyone and her discretion, attention to detail and knowledge of grammar are legendary. As with all great personal assistants, her aim is to anticipate what needs to be done before others even realise they need it. With her encyclopaedic knowledge of PLC, she is the go-to person for everyone with questions and nothing is ever too much trouble.

Even more significantly, Jen has collected and maintained a firm group of friends from all the times and differing areas of the College in which she has worked. This just might have something to do with her interest in people and stimulating conversation, her amazing

generosity and her love of good food and social occasions. Our Jen loves a party! She is as loyal a friend as she is an employee and, while we wish her every joy in retirement, she will be sorely missed on a multitude of levels.

Our loss will be her beloved children’s and grandchildren’s gain and we know that she will relish being able to get up when she feels like it and spending as much Nanna time as her heart desires!

Karen Chittenden

A Tribute to Mark Hennessy Mark has been an integral member of the Year 9 Wellbeing and Outlook team for a number of years. As a Year 9 Form Teacher he always invested time and energy in building community and creating a sense of belonging amongst the students in his form. There would be the weekly ‘Song of my Life’ presentations, quotes of the week, personalised birthday cards and end of year photo fridge magnets.

As a member of the Outlook team he brought IT skills and expertise to the curriculum. Integrating IT into classwork, sharing materials electronically, and encouraging staff and students alike to experiment with iMovie, QR codes, shared links and creative presentations.

In recent years Mark has been responsible for the Outlook City program. His attention to detail, meticulous organisation, structured planning documents and personal encouragement for all students as they wrestled with ‘Big Questions’, was outstanding. He constantly sought out new ideas and experiences for the girls, and his wide-ranging knowledge of Melbourne was a great asset. Mark was always full of enthusiasm, encouragement and words of praise for the girls’ Self Initiated Projects. As an educator Mark fostered independent learning amongst the Year 9s, giving them responsibility for their learning and the chance to pursue their own interests. The Outlook program has certainly been enriched by his contributions.

“To be early is to be on-time, to be on-time is to be late, and to be late is totally unacceptable!” Mark Hennessy – Outlook Program Preparation Sessions!

Janet Driver

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Lampas Staff Obituaries Beverlie Asprey passed away peacefully on the 1 August 2020 at Chelsea Manor.

Beverlie’s warmth, humour and ready smile made her a very welcoming presence in the library and in the wider staff community, morning teas and meetings. She enjoyed the interaction with the girls and staff alike.

Beverlie was a willing participant in the many extracurricular activities the school had to offer including for many years the Year 7 Camping program at Crystal Creek, music concerts and arts activities. At her farewell, Beverlie mentioned that her most memorable year at PLC was 1975, the 100 year anniversary celebrations. After leaving PLC, Beverlie continued an active professional life in many roles other than librarian.

Lampas

Memories of The Lampas Society The Lampas Society was formed at the instigation of past Principal Mrs Elizabeth Ward, who gathered some parents and staff together in 2002 to brainstorm the idea.

This group investigated similar organisations in other schools and worked, over the next months, to develop an appropriate constitution (not the simplest activity) and to determine the structure and fees that would be appropriate. The name came later at the suggestion of former Old Collegian, Head Girl and staff member Joan Kent (Battersby 1946) who turned 91 this year. It is, of course, derived from our motto, Lex Dei Vita Lampas.

Lampas was launched at a cocktail party in April 2004. This new group, established for fun, friendship (and definitely not fundraising), only required that one had an interest in PLC. Chris Garde, a keen member of the founding committee, produced a marvelously varied list of things to do and see in Melbourne.

These were often activities which people might not have gone to of their own initiative, or which might have been more difficult to arrange alone, and all were at a manageable cost. Subsequent Lampas committees have continued this practice. The original committee spent quite a bit of time adjusting the constitution. Managing the subscriptions proved difficult and in 2006 Elizabeth Ward agreed that in future membership of

the Society would be free to anyone who completed a membership form.

Three of the fascinating early visits were to the then recently opened Shrine Undercroft, the jewel cave that is the The Johnson Collection and Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park, in the middle of the Yarra River. More recent pre Covid excursions included, for example, two trips to Bendigo to see exhibitions relating to Marilyn Munroe, and the work of Balenciaga, a tour of Bishopscourt and the Lyon House museum and Galleries in Kew. The wonderful speakers at both the Annual Meetings and the September Luncheons have always been a delight; engaging, informative and amazing.

We invite past staff and Old Collegians to share their fascinating lives after PLC. Over the 18 years the stimulation provided has been wonderful. Long may it continue!

All members of the PLC community, their families and friends are welcome to attend our interesting, low-cost and varied events during the year. Membership of the Lampas Society is free. For more information, please contact the President, Mrs Christine Bradbeer at lampas@plc.vic.edu.au or Julie Schroeder jschroeder@plc.vic.edu.au Christine Bradbeer President of Lampas

Gloria Foon passed away on 6 June 2020 aged 92.

All those who knew Gloria were sad to hear of her death, although she had lived a long and fruitful life. She was an elegant, kind, gentle, sensitive and thoughtful person with a great sense of fun. She had the highest standards for herself and for the students she taught. Past colleagues and students have very fond memories of her. She continued to show an interest in the lives of her students, long after they left PLC. Gloria was particularly an inspiration for all language teachers and was a cheerful colleague, always willing to offer her help when other staff needed it. She was a fine Head of Languages for many years at PLC. We are grateful for all she gave us, as a colleague, teacher and friend.

Suzanne Strangward passed away in May 2019.

Suzanne was an enthusiastic and innovative Mathematics teacher and stimulating colleague for members of other departments. During and after her time at the College, Suzanne was very supportive of many Gifted Education initiatives, including Tournament of the Minds. Later she concentrated specifically on Future Problem Solving in which teams of PLC girls won huge and coloured trophies in America. She was an evaluator of FPS competitions, the Australian National Director for five years and a member of the Future Board of Trustees. Suzanne also played a significant role in the introduction of IB to the PLC curriculum. Suzanne’s interest in books and bridge kept her involved with former colleagues long after she retired. She is missed and remembered with gratitude.

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OCA President’s Report New OCA Committee Members

(L to R): Dr Tang Li (2007), Robyn Byrne OAM (1973), Lucy Munanto (2008), Phoebe Costello (2011), Amy Nhan (2006) and Dr Mabel Yan (2011)

Our PLC education and values have given us all a strong basis as we travel through this difficult year together. In 1903 the Old Collegians’ Association (OCA) was formed as a way, to reconnect with the experiences, values and people they enjoyed most in their PLC education. The OCA has a proud history of adapting to dramatic changes in the life of PLC girls and their families. In fact, during WW1 the OCA established the first scholarships to help girls whose fathers died in war. Each generation has the opportunity, to reinvent the OCA to be relevant to their own generation and lifestyles. The pandemic has brought us the challenge of connecting with Old Collegians when we have not been able to gather in large groups.

This year we have been energised by our six new OCA Committee members. Our two new Communications Officers Phoebe Costello (2011) and Lucy Munanto (2008) have guided the OCA from a list of COVID cancelled events at Hethersett to the exciting world of online communications. Photos, memories and news are being shared on our new PLC Melbourne OCA Facebook page. We look forward to you joining us.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ plcmelbourneoca

Lesley’s 100th Birthday Celebrations Lesley Falloon OAM (Keipert 1937) The OCA was delighted to join in the 100th birthday celebrations for Lesley Falloon OAM (Keipert 1937) in June with a small lunch at her home. We presented her with a hand painted card by Amy Nhan (2006) with a portrait of Lesley based on the photo taken of her speaking to the Mornington Group for their 40th Anniversary Luncheon. Given social distancing Lesley commenced her celebration with a drive-by in Hampton and then groups from her many different activities came to wish her well over the next week.

Lesley has been a trailblazer for women all her life as one of the first residents of the University of Melbourne’s Women’s College, a pioneering female biochemist, and Dual Mayor of Sandringham for which she received her OAM. She was a PLC Boarder from Rupanyup where her father was the GP. A keen golfer, Lesley is well known at the PLC Golf day. Many of you will have seen her propose the Toast to the School at November luncheons and more recently introduce our Lord Mayor Sally Capp. Lesley wishes to thank everyone for their beautiful cards and well wishes. She reflected that it is well worth getting to 100 years, as you have a wonderful time seeing your whole life paraded before you as people come from all your different activities to wish you well.

Zoom has enabled us to reach more Old Collegians including those living in regional centres, interstate or overseas. We have been delighted to welcome women from London, Edinburgh, HK, Singapore and New Zealand.

It is also a great option for busy local women juggling many roles. We have included the links so you can still watch these PLC Women Zoom events now. We hope our online events have reminded you of the skills and passions you discovered during your PLC days and about the energy and excitement we all shared together in House Concerts, Speech Night Gala Concerts and in House Sports.

This year we made a decision to offer all our online Zoom events free of charge.

If you have enjoyed any of these, you may like to join the many Old Collegians over the decades who have donated. We have streamlined our online donation system to make this easier for you.

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Dr. Deborah Seifert AM (Williams 1970) Dr. Yvonne Ho AM (1983)

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp (1986)

PLC Women Zoom Live PLC Women Zoom Live events with experienced Old Collegians sharing their journey since leaving PLC, was launched by our Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp (1986) on Saturday 16 May 2020, with over 100 joining us. Sally shared with us that ever since her PLC days she has been, “A serial have a goer”.

This has helped her embrace many new opportunities, which sometimes can be humbling, but has also helped her develop a deep resilience and to move to new projects.

She learnt as a young lawyer, that she is responsible for her own career happiness and she needed to be able to communicate clearly what she wanted to achieve. You can enjoy the recording of Sally in her Lord Mayor Chambers and hand embroidered robes here.

A key message has been that a PLC education enables women to be flexible in a crisis. They are able to look at the facts, analyse the situation, make a rational decision, be nimble and have the confidence to implement. Pivoting is also a great skill for women to use as they move onto new opportunities.

Dr. Deborah Seifert AM (Williams 1970), Head of International House at University of Melbourne joined her past PLC student Dr Yvonne Ho AM (1983), Board Director, Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Radiologists for our PLC Women Panel Saturday 29 August 2020.

https://www.vimeo.com/plcoca

The topic, achieving gender equality in Australia’s Honour Awards was interesting to Old Collegians from 2018 -1945 with 86 joining us and a further 60 registering to receive an email of the recording. Please visit the following link to view the recording:

https://www.vimeo.com/plcoca We all agreed we need to nominate more women for Honours to increase the visibility and recognition of all the invaluable work of women in our society, economy and community. To encourage this Robyn Byrne OAM (1973) is leading a new OCA subcommittee PLC Honours. Please email her at plc.melb.oca@gmail.com if you would like to assist her or suggest Old Collegians who could be nominated for Australian Honours.

Ailsa Wilson (Watson 1978) President PLC OCA

plc.melb.oca@gmail.com

Women Out There Fellowship (WOTF) Applications are now open for Women Out There Fellowship (WOTF) to all Old Collegians. You may have a community project or be planning a project where the grant of $2,000 could make a difference. WOTF aims to acknowledge and encourage the fabulous work that many undertake in their own communities. The 2021 WOT Fellow will join our list of four previous WOT Fellows and their projects which have included an after school club in a housing commission tower, oral hygiene health, empowering displaced women through civil war in Sri Lanka and protecting delicate ecosystems.

Women Out There Fellowship A PLC OCA initiative for all Old Collegians Highlighting community engagement

This grant of up to $2000

provides seed-finding for a project which adds value to a community.

For further information contact the Secretary at plc.melb.oca@gmail.com Applications close on the last Friday of February.

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PLC Community News PLC Foundation The normally highly social PLC Foundation has, like all communities and organisations, had a very quiet year in 2020. Whilst the group was able to celebrate the opening of the new Year 12 Centre in January, all other events for the year were put on hold.

However, the Foundation was extremely grateful to receive a donation of almost $300,000 from a wonderfully generous benefactor in February. This significant Building Fund donation will support the next major development at PLC and in recognition, the group looks forward to publicly honoring the benefactor’s outstanding contribution at a special event in the near future.

This year the Foundation also chose to postpone any additional formal fundraising. With so many people impacted by COVID-19 and the effects it has had on the Australian economy, the group focused on supporting the members of the wider PLC Community.

Hethersett Group As Australians ushered in 2020, many looked towards the New Year with eager anticipation - a new decade, a new era. Few would have predicted that in the ensuing weeks and months, Victoria would be in a state of emergency, our nation in lockdown, and the world would be in the midst of a devastating pandemic.

By March, we were washing our hands vigorously, watching press conferences with bated-breath and grappling with the paradox that loving our elderly parents meant that we shouldn’t see them in person. We became familiar with terms such as N95, PPE, COVID-Safe, 1.5m, Zoom, contact tracing, social distancing, self-isolation and the ‘new normal’.

And yet after months of being in isolation, we have learned to enjoy the simple things in life – reading, gardening, walking around the neighbourhood, connecting with loved ones online, playing board games, having dinner together as a family. For many others, however, it continues to be a very challenging time where families have had to navigate change, hardship and unspeakable loss.

The Hethersett Group was in the midst of preparing for the PLC Sports Day back in March when the pandemic disrupted our plans. A faithful team of volunteers had planned to sell an array of hot and cold foods, snacks, baked goods and drinks. However, it was not to be. Athletics day was subsequently cancelled and the school holidays brought forward not long after that.

AGM Hethersett Group

Since then, the Hethersett Committee has continued to meet via Zoom and the wider Hethersett group has been staying in touch through our WhatsApp chat group. We have shared inspiring videos and messages, food photos and have remained in touch. It is not just our PLC girls who miss the social interaction, parents are feeling isolated too.

Whilst the Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day celebrations have been cancelled this year, the Christmas Luncheon in November – a fantastic year-end celebration event – remains on hold. As Hethersett continues to support the school community through this challenging season, we would encourage parents to come together and serve the school; we would love to meet you and welcome you to our wonderful group.

Hethersett is the oldest parent body at PLC. It was founded in the 1950s and named in honour of the original property on the campus grounds. Hethersett warmly welcomes all parents and we would love for you to get involved. The main purpose of the group is to support the school in organizing events such as the athletics carnival, Harmony Day lunch, Mothers’ Day morning tea, Fathers’ Day breakfast, and the Christmas luncheon. These activities provide a fantastic opportunity for parents to meet with each other while contributing to the life of the school. For further information, please email plchethersett@plc.vic.edu.au April Lim Hethersett President

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Geelong Group

Branches Regional Group Contacts North East Judy Cuddon (Clezy 1957)

jcuddon@outlook.com Geelong Anne Parton (Donaldson 1955)

ivpanne@iinet.net.au Mornington Peninsula Jan Kirchner (Morrison 1963)

Lemonjam.lj@gmail.com

Interstate Contacts ACT Morag Donaldson (1987)

plcincanberra@hotmail.com Queensland Jenny Thompson (1965)

Jenj_thompson@bigpond.com Sydney Julie Phillips (Rank 1961)

t.j.phillips@bigpond.com

International Contacts Edinburgh, Scotland Kathleen Harrison (1960)

bokat.harrison@blueyonder.co.uk Kuala Lumpur Chee Guen Loh (1981)

guenloh@hotmail.com London Andrea Melville (Blow 1994)

The Geelong Group recognised its 70th Anniversary as a Branch on 18th July this year, however, sadly has not been able to celebrate this worthy achievement due to the restrictions in place during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

We hope to do justice to the memory of our forebears, the women of the Western District who began the Branch – later in the year or early next year.

Our Branch was saddened to learn of the death, on 16th September this year, of our dear member Gwen Munro aged 95 years.

Gwen was for many years our devoted Branch Treasurer. Two Old Collegians personally represented us at her actual Funeral in Queenscliff Uniting Church, and others joined in by viewing the Virtual Service on Zoom.

Anne Parton (Donaldson 1955) Geelong Group President

North East Group The year 2020 will go down in history as a year that was “lost”. Many of us have missed celebrating various milestones in our lives as well as being unable to see family and friends.

With modern technology we have connected remotely for some of these events which has been a wonderful godsend, and this has helped allay the feelings of ‘loneliness and isolation’ that living alone often brings.

We have really enjoyed and appreciated the Zoom events that Ailsa and her Old Collegians’ committee have worked tirelessly to arrange for us to participate in during this time. A wonderful Nellie Melba concert which

Plcoca.uk@gmail.com

had to be cancelled - but then played over Zoom for us all to enjoy. Then there have been some forums featuring Old Collegians who have contributed their talents and knowledge to the community in various ways and these have been informative and enjoyable.

The Principal, Mrs Cheryl Penberthy has embraced the Old Collegians with her letters and emails of encouragement and comfort to us during this time. At the same time, steering the current students along the right path during this isolation. Her thoughtfulness in sharing a lovely video of the girls in the Melba Chorale singing “You will be found” was beautiful and much appreciated. The school community is very blessed to have such a thoughtful and caring leader.

A big thank you and congratulations to all the staff who are working remotely behind the scenes to keep this great school learning online. We all hope that soon you will be able to meet up with your colleagues at school again. As for the North East Old Collegians group, we were able to hold our March lunch just before we went into isolation - but sadly missed the June and October meetings.

However, I am anticipating that we will be able to travel to Milawa for the March 3rd, 2021 lunch if circumstances permit.

Thank you to those NE members who keep in touch and notify me of any news of members – I do appreciate your emails. We look forward to the next edition of PLC in Print coming to us online. Please contact me if you are interested in joining us at lunches or have any questions.

Judy Cuddon (Clezy 1957) North East Group President

New Zealand Jane Foster (1985)

Jane04@bigpond.com Singapore Lydia Lim (2006) lim.lyd@gmail.com

Donate online to the Helen Hailes Memorial Scholarship The Helen Hailes Memorial Scholarship has been awarded since 1959 to relatives of Old Collegians who would not otherwise be able to attend PLC. This scholarship was set up to honour Miss Hailes, a greatly loved Vice Principal (1933-1954) and Acting Principal, after her sudden death in 1958.

For many years Old Collegians have donated cash and cheques through the important Birthday League to support this scholarship, by sending donations to Lauris Murnane at 2/26 Kensington Road, South Yarra VIC 3141. We are now introducing online giving to make donating more convenient (in our busy lives). Donate now and help a girl to PLC. Details of the PLCOCA CBA account for those who with to complete an online bank transfer: • EFT Giving • Account Name: PLCOCA • BSB: 063 197 • Account Number: 00900486 Specify Purpose as: Helen Hailes Sch Payee: Specify name by which you would like to be acknowledged in PLC in Print as part of the Birthday League or anonymous.

For further information email: plc.melb.oca@gmail.com

Helen Hailes The following Old Collegians and members of the Birthday League are thanked for the contributions to the Helen Hailes Scholarship Fund: R. Perrin, H. Haysom, B. Tacey, J. Andrew, W. Fishley, N. Cronin, J. Montgomery, B. Hookey, K. Cherry, Y. Knowles, J. Noble, Y. Sargood, L. Murnane, J. Oldfield.

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Class

Reunions

Reunions We would like to thank our Old Collegians for their patience and understanding regarding the postponement of the Class Reunions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We now have finalised our schedule for the 2020 and 2021 Class Reunions at the College next year, with many reunions being hosted on the same day but conducted as separate events.

We are very excited to showcase the amazing transformations that have occurred since you last visited the campus and of course, to reconnect our Old Collegians with classmates and the wonderful friendships they formed at school.

Please check below for the full list of 2020 and 2021 Reunion dates for your diaries. An invitation with full details regarding your Class Reunion will be sent prior to the event.

YEAR REUNION DATE Class of 2020 Graduation Dinner 29 May Reunion Class of 2019 1st Year Out 6 August Class of 2016 5 Year Reunion 27 March Class of 2015 5 Year Reunion 27 March Class of 2011 10 Year Reunion 1 May Class of 2010 10 Year Reunion 1 May Class of 2006 15 Year Reunion 12 June Class of 2005 15 Year Reunion 12 June Class of 2001 20 Year Reunion 17 July Class of 2000 20 Year Reunion 17 July Class of 1996 25 Year Reunion 31 July Class of 1995 25 Year Reunion 31 July Class of 1991 30 Year Reunion 4 September Class of 1990 30 Year Reunion 4 September Class of 1986 35 Year Reunion 9 October Class of 1985 35 Year Reunion 9 October Class of 1981 40 Year Reunion 30 October Class of 1980 40 Year Reunion 30 October Class of 1976 45 Year Reunion 13 November Class of 1975 45 Year Reunion 13 November Class of 1971 50 Year Reunion 20 November Class of 1970 50 Year Reunion 20 November Class of 1966 55 Year Reunion 13 November Class of 1965 55 Year Reunion 13 November Class of 1961 60+ Reunion 7 August Class of 1960 60+ Reunion 7 August

Please contact us via development@plc.vic.edu.au or on 9805 7860 if you require any further information regarding your Class Reunion.

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

News of Old Collegians Congratulations

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Engagements SueLee Seng (1998) became engaged to Rowan Theel on 5 July 2020 in his backyard in the rain. SueLee and Rowan met in the social enterprise cafe SueLee manages in Kyneton when he came in as a customer for a takeaway coffee and toastie. (pic 1)

Weddings Fiona Brooks (2008) married Christopher Nedelkos on 18 April 2019 at the Melbourne Registry Office. Photography was taken at Captain Cook’s Cottage in a nod to Fiona’s Yorkshire heritage and a cocktail reception at the Heide Museum in Bulleen. Other PLC guests were Fiona’s sister, Felicity Brooks (2010), Kaysten Flory, Nicole Hossari, Venetia Hoe and Sarah Chang (all 2008).

They enjoyed a delayed honeymoon throughout Europe in October and November 2019 before welcoming a beautiful baby boy, Henry, in February this year! (pic 4)

Vanessa Chen (2008) married Jeremy Wong on 23 November 2019 at Holy Trinity Anglican Church (Doncaster). Old Collegian Megan Low (2008) was maid of honour. The service was led by Head of Chinese Michelle Liu and former PLC chaplain Reverend Charles Green delivered the Bible Message.

Other PLC guests included Katerina Hui (2006) and Vi Ha (2009).

Zoe Driver (2008) married Matt Anderson at Half Acre, in South Melbourne on Friday 13 March.

What may be a superstitious date for some, turned out to be their lucky day.

The venue is located quite close to Albert Park, the Formula One track, and they were bracing for loud noise pollution from the practice sessions - however as the pandemic situation developed - the event was cancelled so all vows and speeches could easily be heard! The ceremony and reception (both at Half Acre), were indoors, protected from the windy, chilly and drizzly mid-March Melbourne weather.

Zoe’s bridesmaids were all PLC alumnae - Jessica Knight (2008), Asta Wilson (2008), Natasha Redden (2008) and Libby Cotter (2008). Throughout the planning, it was always going to be only the three Melbournebased women by her side. Libby works as a primary school teacher in Shanghai, China and was not expected to be attending the wedding (but Zoe had asked her to be a bridesmaid anyway!). As the Covid-19 situation developed in Asia, then eventually Australia, she was stuck in limbo staying temporarily in Melbourne for a few months.

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PLC guests included Zoe’s mum, past staff member Janet Driver and a large group of alumni Left to Right in picture 2 - Nicole Hossari (2008), Natasha Redden (2008), Jessica Knight (2008), Zoe, her Mum Janet Driver, Libby Cotter (2008), Stefanie Walters (2009), and Asta Wilson (2008).

Matt and Zoe had planned a honeymoon in Hawaii in May, but these plans have been “postponed” until they can make it once international travel resumes safely! (pic 2) Nicole Yow (2008) married Fraser Werner on 24 August 2019.

Nicole’s bridesmaids included Susannah Harrison (Green 2008) & Stephanie Wong (Ling 2008). (pic 3)

Births Naomi (Rajeswaran 2004) and Shehan Wijayasinghe have welcomed a son Micah Alexander Wijayasinghe on 15 September 2020.

Katherine Rennick Crosbie (Markham 2005) and Derek Crosbie welcomed a son, Archie Edward Henryk Crosbie on 3 May, 2020 in Benalla, Victoria. Nephew to Jennifer Clare Markham (2000), and first Grandchild to Joe and Janet Markham (Rennick 1969).

Anna Crawford (Washington 2008) and James Crawford welcomed a son, Xander on 31 March 2020.

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The PLC Community is saddened to learn of the passing of the following Old Collegians.

Obituaries The following obituaries have been supplied by family and friends of the deceased.

Phyllis Ida Powell (Leckie 1931) passed away on 12 April 2020 just prior to her 106th birthday.

Phyllis was born June 16th 1914. Her family lived in Malvern East during her early years. She had an older sister Gwennyth and six years later her brother, Jack, was born.

Sadly, Phyl’s mother passed away six months later.

The family owned the thriving grocery business, R.G. Wilson’s in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, which had the Royal Charter to serve Government House Victoria. On Saturday mornings Phyl and Gwen would ride to the store in a sulky with one of a line of faithful horses, always named Commodore, leading. On reaching the grocery store they were treated like princesses. Entering the store the aroma of freshly ground coffee pervaded the senses. Dame Nellie Melba was a regular customer, and at Christmas time she always gave the family a huge box of specialty chocolates. Melba also requested gold thread to lace the turkey – if not available, blue baby ribbon!

Due to the loss of her mother she and her sister attended PLC as boarders.

Phyl was a conscientious student and was awarded a number of prizes. She became an accomplished pianist and we enjoyed hearing her play at home.

On leaving PLC she enrolled at Stott’s Business College and later became a valued secretary at Burns Philp in Melbourne. Her PLC friend, Bronhwyn Powell, introduced her to her brother, a young doctor named Mostyn Powell and at the age of 21 she married in 1935. On their honeymoon they went skiing at Charlotte’s Pass near Mt Kosciuszko and luckily were unhurt when their car slid off the road into the snow. Phyl gave birth to two daughters, Jillian in 1936 and Celia in 1938.

At the beginning of WWII, her husband Mostyn (Mick) joined the Medical Corp and left for the Middle East leaving Phyl to manage at home.

This was a difficult time for all Australians and fortunately Phyl was able to get help from relatives and friends.

After returning from the war, Mick won a Carnegie Fellowship requiring him to travel to Boston for some paediatric cardiology studies.

Phyl bravely boarded a freighter and sailed to meet him in London, coinciding with the end of the studies. They sailed home together via Las Palmas and Cape Horn with Mick as ship’s doctor. A short time after returning to Melbourne, Elizabeth was born in 1948 and finally Phyl gave birth to a son Michael, in 1950. Phyl was a busy hard working devoted mother, and wife, with four children and a husband deeply involved with the development of the Cardiac Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Late in the 1950’s the family purchased an old fisherman’s cottage at Diamond Bay, Sorrento and spent many happy family times there. She and Mick enjoyed entertaining friends and colleagues there.

In the 1970’s Phyl became Mick’s secretary, when he set up his medical practice at home. They did some travelling to the Pacific islands and some Australian and

European destinations. Phyl was widowed in 1994. She had been a devoted loving wife, enabling Mick to pursue his important medical career as a Paediatric Cardiologist, and his sporting interests in squash and golf.

It was then time to downsize into a modern unit in Cummins Grove, Malvern which proved to be an excellent choice. Phyl was still driving, but later she would walk to Glenferrie Road to do her shopping and socialising. She liked this compact new residence very much. Her daughter Elizabeth came to live with her and became her carer.

They had good times together attending many of Melbourne’s wonderful cultural activities.

Looking back over Phyl’s long life we have to ask how Phyl was able to achieve the impressive age of 105 years. She was always busy, enjoyed cooking sweet things; loved to play the piano, swim at Diamond Bay and play a little golf. She wrote beautiful letters to family and friends and was a crossword devotee, even at 105 years. During the eight years she spent at Vasey RSL Age Care facility she continued to socialise and make friends.

The new friends and staff members were very fond of Phyl and extremely impressed by her will to live and enjoyment of life. She was certainly blessed with relatively good health to the end. Neither blind, nor deaf or demented!

She was fortunate to have a supportive family.

Phyl was a gentle, kind and gracious lady, with a good sense of humour... to the end.

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

Beryle Osmond (White 1937) passed away on 12 August 2020 just prior to her 100th birthday.

Beryle was born in Victoria in 1920 – the eldest of seven children, with three boys and then three girls – all in nine years.

Her family lived in Werribee in Victoria where her father was a grazier and her mother a piano teacher. They were well known in the community and to this day have a street named after them – Whites Road in Werribee South. Her father became a successful farmer and was able to buy a large sheep and cattle station, Woodsome Lees, near Tocumwal on the border of Victoria and NSW in 1934. There they lived in a large, gracious homestead that had a large ballroom where they held dances. Being the eldest of seven, and having a mother who suffered badly from asthma, Beryle took on a lot of responsibility for the children and the household. Her organisational skills started to emerge at this stage!

Beryle went to PLC as a boarder, as did her three sisters, Joyce Davies (1942), Elsie Churchill (1944) and Lila McCulloch (1944).

She enjoyed being able to just be one of the girls and felt it gave her a lot of confidence, or as she said, “it finished me off”.

Once she left school and returned to Tocumwal she became her father’s secretary At this time she became very involved with the Red Cross and this continued through WW2.

During the war Tocumwal had internment camps for people of German, Italian and Austrian descent etc. who were housed in tents on the Common. Beryle remembered them as lovely people and said they loved the music, the food and the conversations

Working for her father was not much fun – he was demanding and had views on how she should live that didn’t fit with her own. She decided to study social work and attended the University of Melbourne during the war years.

Her father refused to support her in this endeavour and her mother said she, “Might as well give it a go as she hadn’t managed to find a fellow to marry”.

She loved social work and decided to look for a job. Her father told her not to return home if she did. She obtained a position at the YWCA in Townsville where she worked with women and girls for two years.

At the end of her two years, and still being unmarried, she explored going overseas for new experiences. Following a short time at canning factory, where she was available to help the 500+ women employees with housing, childcare and other issues, she obtained a job in New Zealand.

Beryle came to NZ in 1948, aged 28, to the role of Director of Activities for the YWCA in Woburn, Lower Hutt.

Beryle met Ron Osmond in Wellington.

The couple went to Melbourne and became engaged on New Year’s Eve in 1949 and married in Wellington on 29 July 1950.

Beryle and Ron moved to Cambridge where he was quickly made partner. They had four children – Murray, Alistair, Meredith and Leighton. As a young mother with no family support Beryle devoted herself to setting up supports for young mothers. Most of the groups she joined resulted in her becoming president and life member – some of them even conferred honours on Ron as well – probably for being long suffering!

She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and set up the Fireside Club which met as a support group. She was Superintendent of the Sunday school and also an elder from 1969 when there was only one other woman elder, and on the committees overseeing church affairs.

Through her involvement in numerous groups she was a true leader. People said that, “You always knew what Beryle thought on an issue” and that “It was easier to go along with her, then oppose her”. She loved the fund raising, events, interactions with mayors and MPs and making a difference.

She believed it was most important “That you don’t do everything for yourself, you do it for your community”.

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In 1977 Beryle was awarded a Silver Jubilee Medal – an award given to 1400 other notables in NZ who were subsequently given knighthoods and damehoods. In 1993 Beryle was awarded the National Women’s Suffrage Medal – awarded to 500 women and men who had, by their virtues and talents, made a recognised contribution to the rights of women in their community in NZ. Right through to her 80’s she was still attending AGMs and being recognised for her service.

In the midst of all this community service, Beryle supported her husband and her family in all their ventures. Hosting international guests as part of a home hosting scheme at her home, visiting and planning a holiday every few years to Australia.

Beryle nearly made 100! She lived a full and active life until the past year when she entered rest home care. The family are grateful for her life and the legacy she left for them all.

Gwen Munro (1943) passed away on 16 September, 2020 aged 95 years.

Gwen completed Form VI (Commerce strand) and began work in the Commonwealth Bank as a shorthand typist. Several years later she joined the Red Cross Blood Bank.

She worked with them for the next 34 years, before retiring to Point Lonsdale in 1986. Gwen was a committed volunteer in numerous organisations including nearly 70 years service for the Red Cross. Gwen was also Treasurer of the PLC Geelong Old Collegians for many years. Her sister Lorraine Preston (Munro 1941) who died in 2015 was also a past PLC student.

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Dawn Bartram (Mallinson 1944) passed away on 13 August 2020 aged 92.

Dawn was born in Windsor to Joan, a homemaker, and Bill, a violinist and teacher who founded the Malvern Symphony Orchestra. Younger brother John completed the family. Dawn attended Korowa Anglican Girls’ School until the end of Year 9 before transferring to PLC East Melbourne in 1942 for Year 10.

“I always wanted to go to PLC where my mother (Joan Whalley 1919) and her sister (Hilda 1926) had gone,” she recalled. “It was an academic school, fairly strict, with a very nice lot of girls. I always enjoyed it.”

In her four years at PLC, Dawn embraced student life, particularly her Matric years of 1944 and 1945 when she was a prefect and member of the Scientific Club and Student Christian group. She also led Leven House in the 1944 Choral contest. After matriculating, she attended the University of Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Science and securing a job with Victoria’s Department of Agriculture.

In 1947, the day after her 19th birthday, Dawn met John Bartram at a tennis party.

John, who would become a four-time national sprint champion and represent Australia at the 1948 London Olympic Games, was preparing to study Medicine at the University of Melbourne’s Mildura campus, but the pair stayed in touch and married in front of 130 guests at Toorak Presbyterian Church on 3 December 1949.

From 1951 to 1968, Dawn bore nine children, including daughters Julie and Louise (1972), Jane (1975), Sarah (1977) and Emma (1986). All attended PLC about two kilometres west along Burwood Highway from where John had established his medical practice next to the family home in 1958.

“We so enjoyed having a family,” Dawn said. “John was one of five and he enjoyed that. We didn’t really discuss it. We just thought ‘oh yes, we’d like to have another baby’, so we did.”

Dawn undertook the colossal task of raising nine children and supporting John as he built his practice, starting at 7.30am and finishing at 9pm on weekdays, and working Saturdays. Having delivered thousands of babies, John was called upon at any hour.

With her youngest child at school, Dawn returned to study in 1975 aged 47, gaining a DipEd from Burwood Teachers’ College. In 1976, she taught grade 3 at Korowa.

“It was very busy, getting there each morning,” she said. “I had to work at night because I wasn’t used to teaching, so I had to learn about what I was going to teach the next day.”

At the end of her first year at Korowa, Dawn was invited to teach science to Grades 4-6 the next year, but she resigned to work part-time as a receptionist in John’s practice, where she stayed until his retirement in 2007.

Dawn’s passions included the Fitzroy Football Club, which she followed from 1945.

She would regularly take her younger children to St Kilda’s Junction Oval in the 1970s and ‘80s to watch her Lions and rejoiced in Brisbane’s three premierships from 2001 to 2003.

In 1964, she joined the Metropolitan Golf Club, serving as Women’s President for two years from 1992.

Dawn’s proudest achievement was her family and her 65-year marriage to John, the “nicest person in the world”. “I can’t imagine another man doing as much for his wife as John does for me. He’s a special person” she said. John died in November 2014. He and Dawn are survived by their five daughters, and sons Hugh, Richard, James and Andrew, 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Alison Saunders (Inglis 1945) passed away 13 June, 2020. Alison attended PLC East Melbourne from 1940-1945. Her time there always brought back happy memories of an excellent education and lifelong friendships.

Alison graduated as a Dental Nurse after leaving PLC and worked in a private practice at 2 Collins Street, Melbourne for five years until her marriage in 1952. She devoted her time to raising her three children, Margaret (1970), Bill & Garry. Her family and friends remember her as vibrant, selfless, impeccable and a lady of style.

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

Lois Beatrice Black (Walls 1949) passed away 16 October 2020 aged 89 years old.

Lois was a boarder from Camperdown from 1946 - 1949. She died in Lorne.

She was a loving and supportive mother to Julianne and Angie and grandmother to Prue and Olive.

Vivienne McCutcheon OAM (Penington 1950/51) passed away 28 July 2020.

Vivienne, with her sisters Margaret (1948) and Jocelyn (1952), attended PLC starting at Junior School Hethersett when it first opened in 1939. She was a prefect and Leven sports captain in her final years, and enjoyed her schooldays, keeping firm friends with some of her contemporaries.

Vivienne led a very full life. She described several people in particular who influenced her - her father, a hard working doctor who spent his first years practising in New Britain, and secondly her aunt Frances Penington, who briefly taught history at the school, and who was the first woman to serve on any major government commission in Victoria, namely the Housing Commission. Frances worked towards housing and income security for the impoverished. This inspired Vivienne to study Arts and Social Work at the University of Melbourne. Here she became involved in the Student Christian Movement, and Australia’s responsibility to World Peace and Welfare. It was here she met Andrew McCutcheon who was passionate to travel and help the world.

Andrew studied architecture and then theology. After marrying he and Vivienne spent the next three years at Iona and working in the slums of Glasgow.

After returning to Melbourne they chose to live in a third floor Housing Commission flat with no lifts or running hot water, where they were often called upon to help day and night, and where Vivienne organised activities for the residents.

With three young children she helped set up the Hanover Centre in Fitzroy for homeless men. In the early 1970’s she was involved in the establishment of several community health centres in the inner suburbs.

Together with her cousin Professor David Penington, she lobbied hard to establish the Richmond Community Health Centre in 1975, and it still exists today.

Later Vivienne moved into an academic career and taught Social Work at Phillip Institute (now RMIT), helping to set up the first Graduate Diploma in Community Work.

As Andrew moved from the church into local government in the 1970’s and state government in the 1980’s, Vivienne’s focus also moved towards policy development and practice reform. She was appointed to the Board of Management of the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Dental Health Review Board, and later the Mental Health Review Board and the Council on the Ageing. She worked as a senior investigator for nine years, and in 1995 as Acting Health Services Commissioner.

In 1996 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services in welfare. education and health.

In 1992 Andrew retired from politics and established the vineyard “Ten Minutes by Tractor”, so Vivienne worked hard to develop the cellar door. They both loved travelling and organising friends to stay.

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She felt passionately about refugees and asylum seekers, and they were both very involved in Sisterworks, an empowerment and support group for these women. They also helped in the formation of the Port Phillip Citizens Reconciliation with First Peoples.

Vivienne loved life and was active until her sudden death, aged 87. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Judith Murray (Brittingham 1950) passed away on 31 August, 2020, at Maddocks Gardens Aged Care, Bairnsdale, in the area in which she and husband, Colin, farmed for many years. Judy achieved in sport and studies at Presbyterian Ladies’ College and worked as a Physiotherapist in Bairnsdale after marriage. At PLC Judy was Athol House Captain (only one “l” in those days) in 1948, School Prefect in 1950, Captain of Atholl House in 1950 and Captain of 2nd Tennis.

Her sister Barbara Hansen (Brittingham 1955) lives in Falls Creek, NSW, and she is survived by her husband Colin, daughters Sally (Murray 1976) and Leecia, and son Tony.

48 PLC i n Pri nt | Nove mbe r 2 0 2 0

Dr Patricia Verne Kailis (Hurse 1950) An outpouring of tributes in recognition of the life of Patricia Kailis flooded Perth newspapers following her death on 17 April, 2020, aged 87. The vast columns of appreciation from individuals and organisations who benefited from her medical and business expertise gave testimony to the breadth and generosity of Patricia’s contribution to the life, work and well-being of the people of Western Australia.

Patricia, eldest daughter of Verne and George Hurse, was born in Castlemaine, Victoria. Her Primary education was at Chatham State School, Surrey Hills, where she was Dux in 1944. During the year, the Headmaster called her father to the school to inform him that Patricia was to be Dux. He pronounced that his daughter was ‘going to go places’, and urged him, if possible, to pay to send her to a good school for the education she deserved. Patricia’s father chose PLC. Throughout her school life Patricia was a fiercely ambitious student. With unwavering self-belief, she reveled in competing for highest honours in every subject and was awarded many prizes. This drive to excel also spread to Patricia’s after-school pursuits: piano, ballet, and horse riding.

Patricia often reflected on her PLC life with her nine-years-younger twin sisters, Wendy and Judith, who also attended PLC. She spoke of the lasting influence of certain teachers on her life, and of the musical highlights of her time there: listening to Mr Fehmel’s ‘inspired’ classroom presentations of recorded Beethoven symphonies, singing in the choir, playing percussion in the orchestra, and performing in Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

The Hurse family was involved in the vibrant life of the local Banool Road Presbyterian Church in Balwyn as well as joining in regular worship and Bible Studies, Patricia had fun in the activities of the youth group, the Presbyterian Fellowship Association (PFA), which included tennis tournaments, church camps and hilarious pantomime productions.

Patricia completed her degree in Medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1957 and moved to Perth after accepting a two-year

Residency at the Royal Perth Hospital. She lived up to her high self-expectations by also concurrently spending several months gaining experience at the Princess Margaret and King Edward Memorial Hospitals. She had placed her stamp on the three major Perth hospitals!

In 1960 Patricia married Michael Kailis (dec), the son of George Kailis, a migrant seaman from the Greek Island of Kastellorizo.

The pair moved north to the small coastal town of Dongara, where Michael wanted to fulfil his vision of building a lobster processing business. Because there was no resident doctor in the town, and to the relief of the isolated population, Patricia quickly set up a one-doctor medical practice in the local hotel. Over the ensuing years, while raising their family of four, Maria, George, Amanda and Alex, and with Patricia dedicated to her medical practice, the MG Kailis Group of maritime companies became well-established, with lobster processing in operation.

In 1969, as the demands of business outgrew Dongara, the family returned to Perth, and Patricia became engrossed in genetic counselling. Between 1970 and 1996 Patricia held honorary positions in neurology and genetics at Royal Perth Hospital. She began gathering data on children affected by family generational diseases. Patricia’s exhaustive counselling and documentation not only led to the setting up of the Royal Perth Hospital Genetic Counselling Program for Muscular Dystrophy and Neuromuscular diseases, but also to a significant reduction of X-lined Muscular Dystrophy in WA. Patricia’s work was hailed as pioneering application of genetic counselling.

In 1979 Patricia was appointed an Office of the British Empire for her contributions in the fields of carrier detection of inherited diseases.

In 1981, Patricia conducted collaborative research into Motor Neurone Disease, which involved the tracing of the extensive history of the disease in a single family. This research contributed to a world map of known genetic mutations causing debilitation muscle and nerve diseases, and to the discovery of a gene for some forms of Motor Neurone Disease.

In 1996 Patricia was named a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of over 20 years’ service to medicine as a genetic counsellor in neurological and neuromuscular disorders to the Human Genetics Societies of WA, the Royal Perth Hospital and to Rocky Bay Inc. (a facility for the disabled). In the same year Patricia also became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

The MG Kailis Group expanded to include prawning in Exmouth, the building of fishing fleets at Fremantle, and pearl farming in Broome. When a mysterious disease threatened the industry, Patricia discovered, by using her scientific and medical clinician skills, that the shells could be kept disease free if hospital grade hygiene was applied in their handling. Her methods for eradicating the disease became standard practice.

Patricia was Governing Director of the MG Kailis Group from 1999 until 2006.

Pearls were Patricia’s pride and joy. In 1978 she established the iconic Western Australian ‘Kailis Jewellery’ boutiques, which featured uniquely designed Kailis pearl settings. Patricia took responsibility for the retail arm of the business, and, for over 40 years, oversaw the operation of the boutiques in Fremantle, Broome and Perth. No wonder she was proclaimed the doyenne of the Australian pearl industry!

PLC i n P ri nt | Novemb er 2020

Apart from the previously mentioned awards, Patricia received many honours in recognition of her humanitarian contribution to Medicine, Science, Business, Philanthropy and the Arts: In 2001 the Australian Government awarded Patricia the Centenary Medal for her contributions and service to medicine, science and the community.

In 2005 Patricia was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Western Australia.

In 2006 Patricia received a Gold Medal from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was also appointed Dame Commander of Grace of the Sovereign Order of the Orthodox Knights Hospitaller of St John of God of Jerusalem.

In 2007 Patricia was recognized as a Champion of Entrepreneurship (Western Division) in the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

In 2010 Rocky Bay Inc Opened the Patricia Kailis Centre in Cockburn Central. The Centre is dedicated to Patricia for her strong connection of over forty years with Rocky Bay, providing counselling and support for families living with disabilities.

For Patricia education was the key to success. She was a vigorous promoter of advanced school and university opportunities for Aboriginal girls. Her two daughters attended PLC Perth, where Patricia was appointed Chair of the School Council in 1998 after being a member for some years.

Patricia also served on the Board of Notre Dame University. She felt immense pride in witnessing, with her sisters from Melbourne, the inaugural ceremony for Aboriginal graduates from Notre Dame University, Broome Campus, in 2002. In promoting Aboriginal art Patricia generously supported the production, exhibition, and sale of art works by Aboriginal women from remote communities in Western Australia.

Patricia was a luminary of the highest order. With her astute intelligence, wisdom, foresight and courage, she personally oversaw her visionary, trail-blazing projects from conception to operational completion. This was the girl who the Headmaster foresaw was ‘going to go places’!

In 2019 the Kailis family and the Harry Perkins Research Institute of Medical Research in Perth established the Patricia Kailis Fellowship in Rare Genetic Disease, stated ‘to support young, talented, midcareer researchers who dedicated their lives to helping families facing a genetic disease diagnosis’. Patricia’s spirit lives on!

Margaret Brughera (Jones 1951) passed away 31 July, 2020 aged 86 years.

Margaret attended PLC East Melbourne from 1947 to 1951, including as a boarder in Koorinya from 1948 to 1950. During her school years she excelled in studies and sports.

After Matriculating she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in History at the University of Melbourne, followed by the Preliminary Certificate in Librarianship.

She worked in the newly established Archives Section of the State Library of Victoria until late 1957 when she departed on the typical Grand Tour/Working Holiday of young girls to the U.K. and Europe. At the end of twelve months, instead of returning to Australia, she took up a position in the information Library of the Australian Consulate-General in New York.

Subsequently she met and married Dominic Brughera, had a daughter and son and lived over the years in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Connecticut. In Madison, Wisconsin she completed a Master’s Degree in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin and after moving to Connecticut became Reference Librarian at the New London Public Library. For her research work into the history of the houses of residents, she was awarded the status of “Daughter of the American Revolution” – even though she had never become an American citizen nor could she claim to be a descendant of a participant in the War of Independence – usual requirements that admission to the group demanded.

On the death of her husband, and thirty-five years residing in the U.S., Margaret returned to Australia. Here she resumed her close connections with PLC friends, many of whom she had never lost contact with over the years. She pursued her own Family History research, was a volunteer at the

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Genealogical Society of Victoria, particularly for the International Settlers’ Group, and was also a regular helper at the Knox Opportunity Shop in Bayswater.

At PLC Margaret followed in the footsteps of three aunts (Margaret, Dilys and Mary Jones), a third cousin (Lorna Mary (Mollie) Lloyd) and three cousins (Bronwen, Dilys and Ann Grieve). After her, the family’s long association with the school continued with Margaret’s two sisters (Olwen and Elizabeth), and another cousin (Maragret Boazman), second cousin (Mary Johnston) and two nieces (Bronwyn and Megan Fincher).

Barbara Colson (Dunlop 1954) passed away on the 18 April, 2020.

Barbara’s PLC education started at Hethersett, as the Junior School was known. Classmates from there and from the Senior school became lifelong friends.

Although Barbara suffered from asthma, she enthusiastically joined in sporting activities, and played in the school second tennis team.

After school, Barbara attended Larnook Teachers’ College, which provided training for teaching Domestic Science in secondary schools. Barbara kept up many of the skills she learned there, capably running a busy household, where her cooking in particular became somewhat legendary.

Barbara taught briefly, before she and her husband Ewan had three sons and a daughter, Emma Colson (1986). Barbara encouraged the children in their sport and academic achievements in veterinary science, medicine and physiotherapy. Visits to them in adulthood took Barbara and Ewan to Myrtleford, Geelong and Warrnambool, and also to see, and travel with, Emma in Europe.

Never enjoying good health, Barbara’s life revolved around family and friends. She gained enormous pleasure in planning and tending a beautiful and productive garden, which reached down towards the Yarra. When she was well enough, she enjoyed attending Old Collegians’ reunions and luncheons with friends.

In recent times, Barbara maintained a fierce struggle with her health, but never lost her spirit.

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Joan Dwyer OAM (Singer 1956) Joan Dwyer, a remarkable barrister and solicitor, chairperson and tribunal member, passed away on 11 September 2019. In her illustrious legal career, particularly as a member of various tribunals, she made an enduring difference in people’s lives. She was a warm, articulate and compassionate person who really cared about others and was interested in social welfare.

In 1980, Joan became the Chairman of the Equal Opportunity Board, a position which gave her the opportunity to pursue her passion for fairness and justice. Her subsequent position as a Senior Member of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal which she held for over 20 years was a very satisfying and influential period in her career, where she was able to assist people who sought a review of decisions made under Commonwealth laws across a diverse range of fields. She documented this exciting work in national and international journals and found satisfaction in drafting new legislation to correct discrimination where it occurred.

Joan was also committed to improving the lives of people suffering from Severe Communication Impairment and for 10 years was on the board of DEAL Communication Centre.

She was awarded her Medal of the Order of Australia in 2005 for her “service to the community, particularly through the DEAL Communication Centre, and to the law.” After her retirement, she became a member of the Mental Health Review Board which she found very rewarding and served on other panels relating to medical and legal issues.

Early in her career, Joan faced the challenge of wanting to combine part-time legal work with caring for her daughters at a time when no such work/family balance existed in her profession. She succeeded and pioneered the way for other women lawyers to work part-time.

She also worked in the UK during the periods her husband Dr John Dwyer QC held academic positions there, supporting his career moves while keeping her own legal career alive through being flexible and open to change.

Joan was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother, with a wide range of friends and interests who appreciated life and lived it fully.

She died peacefully after a five year battle with cancer, which she endured stoically. She is sadly missed by her devoted family, friends and colleagues.

Read Joan’s compelling personal account of her rich life and career in her entry in: The Australian Women’s Register Exhibitions Trailblazing Lawyers Project Team, ‘Dwyer, Joan’, Australian Women Lawyers as Active Citizens, Australian Women’s Archives Project September 2016

https:www.womenaustralia.info/ lawyers/biogs/AWE56446b.htm Jane Baker (Taylor 1962) passed away on 24 August, 2020 after a long illness, in her 77th year. Jane joined PLC in Year 7, the last year in East Melbourne then the senior school moved to Burwood.

Beryl Howie (Stoney 1962) passed away 24 August, 2020 after a battle with leukaemia.

Beryl was the younger child of Eadley and Flora Stoney and she had an older brother Graeme. Her early life was spent on a property on the Goulburn River where she was home schooled by her Mother. Due to the building of the Eildon Dam the property was flooded and the family moved to Minto Park, a property on the Mt Buller road out of Mansfield.

Beryl attended PLC as a boarder. It was here that she made many lifelong friends.

Beryl enjoyed all the sporting activities offered and became an accomplished musician.

She went on to the University of Melbourne where she completed her Physical Education training. She enjoyed tennis and represented the University of Melbourne in hockey. She was also in the Victorian Women’s cricket team.

In 1967 Beryl married John Howie who lived with his parents on the family property in Mansfield. Beryl involved herself completely in the community life at Mansfield. She taught RE and PE at the Primary School and was highly active in the Uniting Church. She played the organ regularly for Sunday services and for many weddings and funerals. She was a Council member for the Uniting Church, as well as being involved with Pastoral Care at the hospital and the Mansfield Nursing Home.

Her other great interests were the local Refugee Programme, the Child Support Programme, and the Historical Society.

However, Beryl’s greatest love was her family. She and John had four boys who all went to Geelong College, and they were blessed with eight adoring grandchildren.

John died in 2016.

Beryl will be remembered for her strong faith and love of humanity. She will be greatly missed by her extended family, her many friends, and the wider Mansfield community.

Beryl will also be sorely missed by members of the North East Old Collegians group.

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Achievements Amanda Shilo (Davis 1991) received her PhD in Nursing from Endicott College, Beverly, MA, USA on 13 May, 2020. Amanda’s qualitative dissertation investigated clinical instructor perceptions of male nursing students. Amanda is an Assistant Professor in Nursing at Endicott College, where she teaches nursing research and writing classes.

She is also the lead of the School of Nursing Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce. Her current research is a collaborative effort with other nurse researchers investigating just culture and climate justice through nursing exemplars.

Congratulations to Savitri Thurairatnam (2017) New Colombo Plan Scholar for 2020.

New Colombo Plan scholars receive a prestigious scholarship, which offers Australian government funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs for students to study and intern in the Asian and IndoPacific regions, helping to develop crosscultural links internationally. As a recipient of one of these scholarships for 2020, Savitri, who is studying at Deakin University, plans to undertake a semester of study at the Royal Thimpu College, Bhutan, where she will have the opportunity to learn more about environmental management. Savitri is interested in beginning a career in geospatial science and hopes to do an internship in this area in Japan when restrictions ease.

Dr. Karen Chan graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) from the University of Hong Kong in 2002. On graduation, she worked for one year as a research assistant in the Department of Psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She was then offered to do a PhD in Psychological Medicine under Dr. Pierre J. V. Beumont at the University of Sydney, based at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. During her PhD degree, she had a career change after seeing a chiropractor who treated and relieved her from neck pain and headaches

effectively without the need of medication or surgery. She went on to finish a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and a Masters of Chiropractic at Macquarie University, Sydney in 2009.

Dr. Karen Chan has been practicing as a Chiropractor in Hong Kong for the past 10 years. She recently took up a position at the newly renovated Hong Kong Spine Centre in Central Hong Kong. Karen enjoys providing specialised spinal care for all stages of life, from pregnancy and paediatric work-related strains to sports injuries, and degenerative spinal conditions in the elderly. Her vision is to help people maintain a balanced lifestyle and strive for each person to reach their full potential. Hong Kong Spine Centre website: spinecentre.com.hk

Food Around the Hood (FATH) Food Around the Hood (FATH) is an online marketplace & food delivery service that started out as an initiative to profile chefs and hospitality workers who’ve lost their jobs due to COVID lockdowns and have pivoted to selling food online. What started out as an Instagram page to help promote these new food businesses, FATH has evolved into an online marketplace of the best Food Makers serving hungry Melbournians looking for new and hard to find food like Mochi Cookies or French Caneles.

Using the newly built website:

www.foodaroundthehood.com.au Melbournians are now able to order delicious food they see on screen and get it delivered straight to their door every Saturday. For the moment, FATH is rotating the suburbs available for delivery every week.

The three OCs, Lucy Munanto (2008), Melissa Munanto (2010) and Yan Lee (2008), run FATH as a social enterprise, whereby profits will be shared with COVID-related relief aids and vulnerable communities in Melbourne. You can currently help support this initiative by following @foodaroundthehood on Instagram/Facebook or by ordering delicious food from their website: www.foodaroundthehood.com.au

The Footprints of Change Last year, Emily Thomas (2010) took the brave step of starting a new communications firm, Giraffe Consulting.

Emma Hall (2011) has since come onboard as a communications advisor. Despite a global pandemic, Giraffe Consulting has gone from strength to strength this year, taking on a variety of clients in industries as varied as water, education, publishing and law. The business has also launched a new podcast, The Footprints of Leadership, interviewing inspiring leaders from all walks of life and asking them to share their secrets for success. Along with a fantastic line up of inspiring leaders, the podcast includes Grace Brown (2010) as a guest, talking about her journey into professional cycling in Europe.

Giraffe website: https://www.giraffeconsulting.com.au Footprints of Leadership podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ show/2Ua9lUkWWCLeDOLEjBceS0? si=6KN1XLB6Sn6o_Rrn-n-T2w Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/ podcast/the-footprints-of-leadershippodcast/id1523809303

Presbyterian Ladies’ College MELBOURNE ABN 16 005 650 386 CRICOS No. 00334M 141 Burwood Highway Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia Tel: (61 3) 9808 5811 www.plc.vic.edu.au Copy for the next issue of PLC in Print is due by Friday 19 February 2021 Please mail copy to news@plc.vic.edu.au INCORPORATING THE OLD COLLEGIANS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER