The Bridge Issue 1 2021 Brigidine College St Ives by Brigidine College St Ives

THE BRIGIDINE COLLEGE ST IVES

bridge

ISSUE 1 2021

The Bridge, the Brigidine College St Ives biannual magazine Editor Aleisha Ford Graphic Design Lyndal Sayer Proof Reading Di Lawrence Cover and feature Photography Cameron Bloom Photography Michael Hennessy Anthony Khoury Brigidine staff and students Printing Worldwide North Ryde Brigidine College 325 Mona Vale Road St Ives NSW 2075 +61 2 9988 6200 office@brigidine.nsw.edu.au brigidine.nsw.edu.au

WHAT WE LIKED We wholeheartedly embraced International Women’s Day #IWD2021 with purple ribbons and origami hearts scribed with special messages to significant women in our lives.

CARE TO SHARE? We are always grateful to receive photos and stories that we can share on our social media pages. Please send content to communications@brigidine. nsw.edu.au

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Contents

Issue one 2021

14 FRO M T H E P R I N C I PA L

Courage, Confidence, Compassion in a changing world 2020 H SC R E SU LT S

22 2

SWIM M ING CAR NIVAL

From The Pool NEWS

EVENTS

EV ENT S

Year 12 Formal

Brigo Parents Forging Friendships

Mother’s Day Liturgy & Year 12 Breakfast

18 ALUMNI

What’s been happening

NEWS

Strengthening Connections

All That Jazz

New Staff Spotlight on Staff It Totally Changed Her Life C AM P S A N D R E T R E AT S

COMMUNITY

Student Highlights M USICA L

Building Right Relationships N EW S

An Eye Opening Experience

Congratulations Class of 2020 FRO M T H E D E P U T Y PRINCIPA L FAI T H A N D WE L L B E ING

DUKE OF EDINBUR GH GOLD

28 30

ALUMNI

Profiles 22

AR CHIVES

Creative Curation

Staff Farewells

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

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From the Principal

Courage, Confidence, Compassion in a changing world

In 2021 Brigidine College celebrates 67 years of excellence in education. Founded by the Brigidine Sisters to educate girls on the upper North Shore of Sydney we are proud that in our contemporary context we provide an education that is holistic, combining the spiritual, academic, physical and cultural dimensions of learning. Our Strategic Plan, Towards 2020, has reached its finale and new strategic planning began in earnest in Term 4 2020 and continued throughout Terms 1 and 2 in 2021 to realise our next directions that will steer us toward 2025. Our new Strategic Plan, Courage, Confidence, Compassion in a changing world 2021-2025, recognises the need for continuous school improvement and growth underpinned by our commitment to excellence and opportunity for all students. Our planning for the future ensures that we are positioned to respond to innovations in education and technology and a changing society that our students will be equipped to navigate.

As a Catholic school we recognise that our focus provides our students with an understanding of their faith and the moral courage and integrity required to take on the challenges of the world. Our aim is that our Brigidine graduates are women of the future who exemplify our motto of Strength and Gentleness in all aspects of their lives and dealings with others. Working with our facilitator, Dr Mark Turkington OAM, our new plan has been developed in consultation with a wide range of College stakeholders. The opportunity for the Kildare Trustees, College Board, Teaching staff, students and parents to contribute has been invaluable. It continues our commitment to our Mission Statement as a shared purpose: ‘We inspire our students to value learning, seek wisdom, act with integrity and to honour their spiritual heritage. We challenge young women to act with strength and gentleness in their own lives and the lives of others.’ Dr Mark Turkington has had a long and distinguished career in Catholic education spanning over 45 years. Dr Turkington has been Principal at St Leo’s Wahroonga, Area Administrator for Catholic Education, Parramatta and Regional Director for Sydney Catholic Schools. Dr Turkington was able to guide and facilitate conversations with each of our focus groups and work with our steering committee to ensure that all aspects

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

Our aim will be to continue developing and providing an innovative educational environment that recognises and builds students’ individual strengths and needs. We are committed to ensuring that learning is adaptable, transformative and engaging...

of our planning honoured our traditions and school culture at the same time as being future focused, with Brigidine students always at the centre of our considerations. Imagining College life in five years’ time is a challenging task. Our consultation process ensured that all aspects of school life were unpacked, and challenges have been set. A strategic plan does not sit in isolation. Coupled with annual goal setting and review, our Strategic Plan will be a living document in the lives of our students and staff. Our vision identifies five core strategic directions for Brigidine. These directions are interlinked, and each is essential to realising our strategic vision. Each year there will be a specific focus on an aspect of each direction which will allow for goals to be set and reviewed at whole school, subject department and staff levels. Our areas of strategic intent encompass: 1. Enriching and enlivening our Brigidine community in faith and service This focus calls us as a College community to instill

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a living and contemporary Catholic ethos modelled on Jesus Christ and the vison of Kildare Ministries in our students and staff. This strategic area will continue our work in the realms of faith, social justice and advocacy, prayer, reflection and formation. 2. Confident, creative and successful learners Our aim will be to continue developing and providing an innovative educational environment that recognises and builds students’ individual strengths and needs. We are committed to ensuring that learning is adaptable, transformative and engaging. Our aim is to embed a wide range of learning technologies and innovative practice to promote exceptional learning opportunities for all students. 3. A community of care, connection and compassion Brigidine is well known for a strong wellbeing focus within the wider community. Building on this strength we are called to promote effective wellbeing and a connected community where each member is known, valued and cared for.

We aim to strengthen our response to our community needs through actively supporting and developing a culture that is safe, positive, nurturing and inspiring. As a school community we value our partnership with parents and families, and we celebrate graduates who are confident, independent and self-aware. 4. The power of community and partnership Our strategic intent is to continue to build a culture and practice of teamwork, collaboration and mutual support with our families, alumni and community partners characterised by integrity, innovation and growth. For school communities the challenge of real-world learning needs to be embraced and explored. We seek to develop more extensive community partnerships which enrich opportunities for students. We aim to develop a culture of connection that links us with the professional and personal attributes of our College alumni and parents. 5. Governance, resourcing and sustainability Responsible stewardship

at the College ensures that we respond strategically, legally and ethically to future needs retaining our authenticity in care for our resources and the environment. College Leadership and the Board Directors will work closely in this area of Strategic intent to maintain a future focused, professional vision and actions. Underpinned in daily school life are our College values of compassion, confidence, courage, excellence, hope, hospitality, justice and wonder. These areas of strategic intent call us as a community to strive for quality and care in all that we do. Wisdom and vision are hallmarks of Brigidine College staff. We are grateful for the insights and focus our staff steering committee provided in developing our new Strategic Plan. With a range of experience and qualifications our steering committee enthusiastically embraced the task of ensuring that our new plan is authentic, forward looking and will challenge us as a learning and faith community to reach beyond what we are currently undertaking.

I would like to thank our Deputy Principal Faith and Wellbeing, Brian Loughland, and Leadership Team members, Heads of Department and staff members Tracey Byrne, Kathy Giuffrida, Nyree Lovett, DiAnne McDonald, Catherine O’Flynn, Matthew Selby, Leone Smyth and Helen Thomas for their enthusiastic commitment to this project. Brigidine College will always be future focused with an eye on our traditions and unique culture. Our vision is to follow the path of St Brigid, a woman of vision and courage. Our contemporary, holistic approach to Catholic education empowers young women to engage courageously, confidently and compassionately in a rapidly changing world. We are excited for the challenges and growth ahead for our community and we look forward to sharing the joy of our journey with you.

LAETITIA RICHMOND P R I N C I PA L

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

News

2020 HSC Results Congratulations to the Class of 2020 on their outstanding HSC results during a challenging year. Their resilience and determination were evident in every aspect of their study and engagement in school life throughout the year. Early entry offers to university, nominations for HSC Showcases of Excellence in Dance, Drama, Music, Textiles and Visual Arts set the scene for success for this cohort of students. As a community we wish them all the best for their future study, endeavours and life beyond Brigidine. We couldn’t be prouder of them graduating as women of Strength and Gentleness, ready to make their mark on the world. LAETITIA RICHMOND P R I N C I PA L

164

99.65

STUDENTS MENTIONED ON THE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVERS LIST THOSE WHO SCORED 90 MARKS OR HIGHER - BAND 6

MENTIONS ON THE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVERS LIST ACROSS A BROAD RANGE OF COURSES

BRIGIDINE’S HIGHEST ATAR ACHIEVED BY TWO STUDENTS

BRIGIDINE RANKED 9TH IN NSW OUT OF CATHOLIC GIRLS SCHOOLS

ALL ROUNDERS STUDENTS THAT ACHIEVED AT LEAST 10 UNITS OVER 90% BRIGIDINE RANKED 62ND SCHOOL IN NSW

132

NOMINATIONS AND / OR SELECTIONS FOR THE HSC SHOWCASE

EARLY ENTRY OFFERS GAINED INTO UNIVERSITY

18 % OVER A MARK OF 95

37 % OVER A MARK OF 90

90 % OVER A MARK OF 70

Reflecting on the impressive results achieved by the Class of 2020, there is a sense of immense professional pride at being part of such a dynamic and inclusive learning community. To say that 2020 presented a plethora of challenges is an understatement! Our students had to manage the high levels of uncertainty and disorientation which emerged because we were learning during a pandemic. There were many reasons for the successes of 2020. However, one significant key was that while there were many factors which could impact detrimentally on our students’ ability to achieve their personal best, we remained committed to focusing on what we could control, rather than what we could not. From my analysis of the Higher School Certificate data, all of our students experienced growth and success. Our students were rewarded for their perseverance and diligent study. As a result, they have been afforded a raft of exciting post-school opportunities and we can’t wait to see what they will do next! Outstanding results were obtained by the following students. Joint Dux: Teya Murray and Jane Shin both achieved an ATAR of 99.65. All Rounders: An ‘all-rounder’ is a student who has achieved at least 10 units over 90%. All of these students achieved this excellence across a breadth of subjects. Charlotte Cuda, Lucy Eyres, Teya Murray, Charlotte North, Jane Shin, Priya Wheatley. Top Achiever in the State: Heidi Richardson was placed in the Top 20 in the State for Standard English. Other Notable Achievements Distinguished Achievers list: 84 students were mentioned on the Distinguished Achievers list (those who scored 90 marks or higher - Band 6), with 164 overall mentions across a broad range of courses. Brigidine ranked 9th in NSW out of Catholic girls’ schools. 132 students gained early entry offers into university. Brigidine had 30 nominations and/or selections for HSC showcases of exemplary work. Chantelle Cunningham and Alannah Darling were both offered prestigious Co-op Scholarships to the University of NSW. These scholarships are highly valued and sought after with only 77 being awarded from over 660 applicants.

ELIZABETH WEBSTER D E P U T Y P R I N C I PA L TEACHING AND LEARNING

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JOINT DUX 99.65

TEYA MURRAY

JANE SHIN

Every Brigidine girl will have her own unique journey at this incredible school, and every Brigidine girl has limitless potential, so allow yourselves to reach for your goals with conviction and self-confidence; challenge yourself, be curious, be passionate, be original, and you will go far. If COVID-19 taught me anything, it is that life can take you anywhere, so I look forward to all of the unexpected experiences the future may present.

Ultimately, whilst the HSC is a challenge, the resilience and perseverance you gain through it is endlessly more important than the concepts you study for it. I may no longer be able to recite quotes from The Crucible nor the atomic mass of chlorine, but I can assert with confidence that I am ready for whatever it is my next chapter entails. I would like to say a massive thank you to all my teachers, family members and friends who have grounded me, supported me and guided me towards this confidence, both inside and outside of the classroom.

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

From the Deputy Principal Faith & Wellbeing

Building Right Relationships

In recent weeks, the media has been focusing on the issues of consent, sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour between men and women. Many parents and students in the College would be fully aware of these matters and would be following it closely on social media as well. A positive element is that these conversations will hopefully lead to change and a reduction in this behaviour. The more the matter is discussed with young people, along with a reminder of the expectations for their behaviour, the safer they will be in social situations and the more empowered and strengthened they will be in managing their own relationships. At Brigidine we educate young people in ‘rightrelationships’. As a Catholic community we believe that all people have an inherent dignity and worth and deserve to be treated with respect. We encourage students’ understanding of sexuality and relationships through the PDHPE program and also through a range of presentations on cyber-safety, drug and alcohol awareness and the legal requirements in social settings with the local NSW Police Liaison Officer. This is necessary to counter the impact of social media and the increased access of young people to phones and devices with internet capacity. The early exposure to things like pornography and social media,

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Brigidine College welcomes

New Staff especially among our young boys, often leads some to a distorted view of relationships and an inability to develop sound relationships with girls in their teenage and adult years. Young women have been influenced as well in this area, with sexualised behaviour experienced at younger ages than would be expected normally. It is difficult for parents to keep up with the pace of social media and the many platforms young people are using today to connect with each other. Many would be unaware that their children were involved in these activities and being coerced or encouraged to join gatherings that are potentially unsafe and led by young people strongly influenced by what they see and hear on social media. It is important that adults reclaim this ground and assert the right to set boundaries and expectations for both young men and women. The matter of consent is but one aspect of this discussion. If young people can have access to a phone or device, then there has to be a discussion around its correct use. Monitoring of the devices is essential for all parents as they are able to access the whole world through them. As young people they are not fully developed physically, emotionally or mentally, so we all need to work in partnership as adults to provide clear boundaries and expectations for them. This is new territory for all involved, but our foundations and values in Christian and respectful relationships gives us a framework to guide our young people safely. We aim to provide the young women of Brigidine College with a faith perspective that leads them to appreciating the dignity and worth of all people. We encourage them to be strong, independent women with self-respect and a strong sense of self-worth. Their education in the College community arms them with the knowledge, confidence and emotional capacity to handle the many challenges life will provide. If they work closely with trusted friends they can support each other in social settings. Every Brigidine girl should know that, along with her family, her school is a safe place where she can talk to trusted adults about the issues she is facing in life.

We warmly welcomed our new staff to the community at a special assembly in Term 1. We are thrilled with the talents and depth of knowledge they have added to Brigidine College St Ives across a range of departments. Ms Monique Bobanovic - Visual Arts Ms Alessandra Caruso - Languages Mr Tim Donlan - Sports Ms Alison Finnerty - HOD Visual Arts Ms Nikki Greig - Science Mr Sam Lopizzo - ICT Ms Maggie Maslanka - Counsellor Ms Natasha Mountfort - Visual Arts Ms Rosemary Ramage - Diversity Team Ms Gail Sach - Mathematics Ms Rebecca Salter - Counsellor Mr Owen Vale - Director Cocurricular

BRIAN LOUGHLAND D E P U T Y P R I N C I PA L FA I T H A N D W E L L B E I N G

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

News

Spotlight on Staff

OWEN VALE DIRECTOR COCURRICULAR

ALISON FINNERTY HEAD OF VISUAL ARTS

I feel fortunate to have had such a rich and diverse experience as an educator over the last 26 years. My journey began in the humanities and ventured through sports to the creative and performing arts. This journey bears witness to the value of educational experiences that are authentic, challenging, creative and collaborative. I am driven to provide students with experiences that ‘connect’ and become inspiring, relevant and engaging. I have a deep personal interest in sport and sports coaching. I’m a theatre lover and director, with a broad appreciation of the arts. And I love a sense of adventure amongst the outdoors and travel. As a father of two young girls, I am also deeply interested in girls’ education. I have always loved the depth and diversity of learning that cocurricular programs promote and provide, and I deeply value the role such programs play in the formation of capable, resilient, and confident young women. Brigidine has a spectacular cocurricular program, offering each student an opportunity to form life-long connections with friends, team-mates, ensembles, casts, crews, coaches and staff. Each girl can certainly find their ‘tribe’ at ‘Brigo’, and through a love of experiential learning and community engagement realise and discover a better version of themselves. During Term 1, I saw pure joy in the faces of our choir singers, musical performers, and musicians as they shared in uplifting harmony. I witnessed impressive sporting performances in softball, water polo and AFL. I listened carefully to the positive tone of the halftime huddle, was energised by the tightness, connectedness, and determination of dance ensembles, and ‘blown away’ by the nearly endless list of auditionees for the Year 11 Play. I cast an eye and noticed the professional behind-the-scenes work of our exceptional ‘Girls in Black’. I have also been impressed by the talent, sophistication and teamwork amongst our debaters, Mock Trial team and public speakers. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I very much look forward to serving the Brigidine community as the new Director Cocurricular and I thank the community for the wonderfully warm welcome.

As a Visual Arts educator for over 26 years, I have had the privilege to teach the subject that I am most passionate about, in both my personal and professional life. I have had experience working in both coeducational and girls’ Catholic systemic schools with my most recent position being Visual Arts and TAS Coordinator at Catherine McAuley, Westmead where I taught Visual Arts and Religious Education for the last 19 years. From the moment I started working here at Brigidine College I quickly realised that I have joined a very creative and talented school community that has a strong tradition of supporting and celebrating the arts. It is a real credit to all the past art teachers at Brigidine who shared their expertise and talents with their students, for as I walk down the corridors around the school I see the amazing works created from their past endeavours. I welcome the opportunity to lead and facilitate the future direction of visual arts education here at Brigidine, one that honours the past, ignites the present and embraces the future. I personally would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow teaching colleagues Natasha Mountfort and Monique Bobanovic and support staff member Joanne O’Connell for the dedication, enthusiasm and support they have given to making our start to the new academic year such a success. I look forward to showcasing the amazing talents of our current and future visual arts students and welcoming and meeting the parents and guardians who support and nurture their daughters’ creative gifts.

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Annual Giving

It totally changed her life She was young and had her whole life ahead of her. A family, caring parents, a bright outlook and loads of potential. Her grandparents loved telling their friends how bright she was and could barely hide their pride and hopes for her future. She was a little reserved and was anxious when she had to ‘give a talk’ or perform in front of a crowd. But confidence would come in time. Her parents really valued education, especially for her. And they understood the difference it could make to her life. If she had strong values, confidence in her own abilities and talents, experiences that developed her resilience and supportive people around her, she could expect to achieve so much! They had plans. They would work hard to realise these for her and for her future. But tragedy struck. Their world fell apart. The school they planned on could no longer be part of her life. The circumstances that can bring this about are many: loss of income, loss of a parent, illness that totally disrupts life. It can happen to our friends or indeed to us and during 2020 it happened to many around us.

2020 made us all aware of how vulnerable we really are. For those of us who were able to keep working and functioning with ‘COVID adaptations’ there is a heightened appreciation for what we have. This awareness has been clearly apparent amongst our students who turned their energies to some amazing efforts for the community, particularly the homeless, in 2020. The next chapter for this girl could take two directions but the one that happened was a Bursary to Brigidine. Did you know that we have a Scholarships and Bursary Fund? If ever there was a year to support it, this is the year! This Fund means we can give a girl the opportunity for an education and experience that will see her through life. Her education, values, friendships and learned resilience will make such a difference to her future – the one her parents and grandparents hoped for. No matter what your connection to Brigidine you know the difference this can make. We need to build the Scholarship and Bursary Fund so that it is sustainable into the future to continue to offer opportunities to girls in need. This is the year to give. Brigidine girls talk about the courage, confidence and compassion they learn here. This year we need to have the Courage, Confidence and Compassion to give so that we can build this Fund to support girls through Bursaries. To make your gift and Change Her Life please go to the Brigidine website today and select Giving then Annual Giving. You can click on the Give here button to take you straight to Payments. DI LAWRENCE D I R E C T O R D E V E L O P M E N T A N D C O M M U N I T Y R E L AT I O N S

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

Camps & Retreats

Strengthening Connections Brigidine girls had the opportunity to focus on strengthening their connections to each other and our community in March when all Year groups undertook a camp or retreat experience at a range of locations. Students participated in team building activities, leadership initiatives, built on their connections with each other as well as their mentor teachers, challenged themselves to be resilient and pushed themselves outside their comfort zone with a variety of exciting activities. Year 12 students in particular had time to reflect and recharge their energy for the remaining school months ahead as they work towards graduation and the HSC exams. Thank you to all staff who worked with our students to make this opportunity possible. These camp and retreat experiences make the mission of giving our girls space to create meaningful partnerships that will develop them in all aspects of their lives ring true. LAETITIA RICHMOND P R I N C I PA L

“Camp can be a stressful time for everyone. Being away from home, [in] uncomfortable sleeping conditions and being with people you don’t know. I’m sure we’ve all heard our [camp] leader talking about our comfort zones and the phrase ‘challenge by choice’ when we get to the giant swing or a zipline... But looking back, I’m sure we all are a little bit proud of what we accomplished. Throughout the camps you always become closer to your mentor group...Camp allows us to meet people we wouldn’t normally interact with and learn how to work as a team. This shows that camp is beneficial and a valued part of school life.” Gabrielle Hopping, Year 9 (published in Brigidine College’s student run magazine, Student Voice)

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ELIZABETH WEBSTER D E P U T Y P R I N C I PA L TEACHING AND LEARNING

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

Duke of Edinburgh Gold

An Eye Opening Experience

Year 12 students currently completing their Gold award had originally planned to complete their residential project in Fiji last October. With COVID-19 restrictions in place that could not happen and we began to look for alternative options for this component of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. In the effort to still provide our students with a residential project, which is a unique requirement of the Gold award, that truly broadens horizons and challenges their outlook, where participants undertake a purposeful experience working towards a common goal, we looked locally and created a Brigidine residential experience that was life changing for the girls. In December students spent a week involved in one of three residential projects; 4titude, a day program for people with a developmental disability, Dignity or Evolve House, both supporting people experiencing homelessness. Each night they slept in the Brigidine College library. Staff volunteered their time to supervise and parents prepared and cooked meals and provided transport to the different venues the girls attended. We are so grateful for their support in making this residential project possible. The girls immersed themselves in the program and gained different perspectives, all while displaying the Duke of Edinburgh values of empowerment, progress, diversity, and connectedness. Here is a reflection written by Emily Ambrogio (Year 12) who attended the Dignity residential project. SKYE WACHER D U K E O F E D I N B U R G H C O O R D I N AT O R

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In December I had the privilege of embarking on an experience that I can say has changed my life and view of homelessness forever. The Dignity residential program that I experienced involved myself and other Gold Duke of Edinburgh students from Brigidine participating in acts of charity for people experiencing homelessness. Throughout the week I gained a greater understanding of what it is like to be homeless, breaking stereotypes and assumptions about people experiencing this. I participated in a range of activities such as cooking meals at Dignity which were then frozen and made available to homeless people to come and take without question or interrogation. I was also involved in making a garden bed at the Dignity site, wrapping Christmas presents which were sent out to various venues for people experiencing homelessness over Christmas, organising hampers, cleaning guest houses, helping with laundry, organising clothing and toiletry packs for guests and visiting the Dish. This experience has raised my awareness of the marginalised and those experiencing homelessness and understand the support they need. I learned that anything I can do, even if it is something small, can have a tremendous impact on someone’s life. Seeing first-hand the difference I can make to other’s lives has encouraged me to continue my work for various charities and to never assume anything about anyone. The people I met on the experience will have a lasting impact on me and I can happily say that I have been enlightened by this experience. E M I LY A M B R O G I O , Y E A R 1 2

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

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Swimming Carnival

From the Pool The annual Brigidine Swimming Carnival was held in February at the Warringah Aquatic Centre. Although the carnival couldn’t be a whole school event due to Covid restrictions, it was a fun filled day with some excellent swimming and plenty of house spirit! Year 7 students experienced their first Brigidine sports carnival and the Year 12s went out with a bang at their last swimming carnival, demonstrating excellent leadership and showing the Year 7 students how it’s done! There were four records broken and some new relays introduced. Some highlights of the day included the final Year 12 ‘Brigo 3-6-9’ chant in the pool and a new relay, the 2x50m House Captains’ Relay. C L A I R E H AT H E R E L L HEAD OF SPORT

RESULTS Age Champions

New Records

Multi Class 1st - Lisa Weingartner 2nd - Jaanvi Khandhar 3rd - Sayaka Nishide

Taylor Bradac 16 Years 50m Freestyle: 28.29s (old record 28.70s) 16 Years 50m Butterfly: 30.93s (old record 31.61s)

12 years 1st - Melia Adamian 2nd - Imogen Cochrane 3rd - Adela Zhang 13 years 1st - Olivia Price Equal 2nd - Poppy Smith Equal 2nd - Ciara Magee 14 years 1st - Indie Smith 2nd - Audrey Draper 3rd - Sophie Cooper 15 years 1st - Zannah Dixon 2nd - Hannah Smith 3rd - Lara Price 16 years 1st - Taylor Bradac 2nd - Sarah Hudson 3rd - Isabella Janoyan

Indie Smith Junior 100m Freestyle: 1:02.82min (old record 1:02.85min) Magali Ogg Senior 100m Freestyle: 1:01.6min (old record 1:02.62) Open Invitation 50m Free Champion Taylor Bradac School Champions Magali Ogg and Zannah Dixon House Point Score 1st - Kildare (565.5 points) 2nd - Fatima (544 points) 3rd - Lourdes (502 points) 4th - Prague (436.5 points)

17+ years 1st - Magali Ogg 2nd - Ashley Williams 3rd - Ashleigh Kuztnesov

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

News

Student Highlights SWIMMING At the NSWCCC Carnival Brigidine ranked 4th out of 97 schools. Nine of our swimmers were selected to represent NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools carnival. Audrey Draper: NSWCCC Bronze Medallist 14 Years 50m Backstroke Lisa Weingartner: NSWCCC Silver Medallist 1618 Years MC Breaststroke Indie Smith: NSWCCC Silver Medallist 12-14 years 200m Freestyle, Bronze Medallist 12-14 years 100m Freestyle and 400m Freestyle Indie Smith, Poppy Smith, Audrey Draper, Sophia Cooper (pictured left): NSWCCC Silver Medallists 4 x 50m Freestyle Junior Relay Magali Ogg: NSWCCC Silver Medallist 17 years 100m Backstroke and Bronze Medallist 17 years 400m Free

PUBLIC SPEAKING Well done to College Captain, Flora Tucker (pictured), who was Lions Club St Ives Youth of the Year winner. Congratulations to Jasmine Guyot (Year 12) and Amelia Hague (Year 7), who progressed through to the semifinals of the 2021 CSDA Public Speaking Competition. Further congratulations to Amelia, who was successful in the semifinals, and now progresses to the final of this highly competitive event.

Zannah Dixon, Ashley Williams, Magali Ogg, Taylor Bradac: NSWCCC Gold Medallists 4 x 50m Medley Open Relay, setting a new record for NSWCCC!

DIVING Hannah Smith (Year 9) competed in the NSW Age Diving Championships in the 1M Springboard and Platform (5m and 7.5m) at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre where she placed 1st for both events. Hannah has now qualified to compete in the National Elite Junior Championships which will be held in Melbourne in July. Hannah represented to College at both the IGSA and NSWCCC Swimming and Diving Championships. In both carnivals, Hannah finished 1st in the 15 years Springboard event and 3rd in the Open Platform event. At the IGSA carnival, Hannah was named Intermediate Diving Champion and has been selected to represent NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Carnival.

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SOFTBALL Congratulations to Josie Howlett (Year 8), Sienna Newbery (Year 9), Kirra Gilchrist and Bethany Lever (Year 10) for being selected for the 2021 IGSA Softball team. They will compete at the upcoming NSWCIS Challenge. Bethany (pictured above) and Kirra competed at the NSWCIS Championships with their team finishing second on countback. Bethany has been selected to represent NSWCIS and Kirra selected as a shadow.

VOLLEYBALL During Camps and Retreats week, Marley McHugh (Year 11) took a short break to trial for NSWCCC Volleyball. Marley was successful in making the team and will compete at the NSW All Schools tournament. This is the second year in a row that Marley has been selected in the team.

WATER POLO Isabella Brooker (Year 10) and Magali Ogg (Year 12) have both been selected for the NSWCCC Open Girls Water Polo team. They will play against NSWCIS and NSWCHS teams in the NSW All Schools Challenge in Term 3.

IGSA SOFTBALL

IGSA TENNIS

Brig 1 won their grand final over Abbotsleigh 9-3 and were crowned S01 IGSA Champions! Brig 2 finished 3rd and Brig 3 finished 4th in their 3 v 4 playoff matches.

Brig 2, Brig 11 and Brig 12 won their grand finals, winning their IGSA Division. Brig 1, Brig 3 and Brig 4 finished runners up.

PYMBLE WATER POLO Brig 1, Brig 3 and Brig 6 all won their grand finals, taking out the Senior Division 1, Junior Division 1 and Year 7 Divisions.

BRIGIDINE AT THE ROYAL EASTER SHOW Brigidine Music (pictured bottom right) was one of the very exclusive school to perform at this year’s Royal Easter Show. Songs included Johnny Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice’, Stevie Wonder’s ‘Faith’, and classics such as Glenn Miller’s ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ along with many other great hits. It was a spectacular showcase of our girls’ enthusiasm for performing great music.

AFL Brig 4 won the Year 9/10 Division 1 final 31-12 over Ravenswood and remained undefeated for the season.

DEBATING Students from Years 7 to 12 have participated in the Independent Schools’ Debating Association Competition throughout Terms 1 and 2. Faced with COVID restrictions, the competition was held online with students using Zoom to connect with other schools across Sydney. The Year 7 team has seen particular success, progressing through to the finals rounds of the competition. They defeated Monte in the Octos and will face Loreto Kirribilli in the Quarter Finals. Good luck to Anabel Clancy, Amelia Hague, Isabella Keir, Jessica Kelly, Eliza Le Marne-Court, Emily Lovelock and Mia Nemeth de Bikal.

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

Musical

All that Jazz

Watch All That Jazz: A Concert Revue on Brigidine’s YouTube channel!

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The College Musical is a cornerstone of Brigidine’s cocurricular Performing Arts program. Students across the College in Year 7 through to Year 11 can audition for the following year’s show, undertaking two terms of rigorous rehearsals to perform an often sold-out three-night season. It is one aspect of my time at Brigidine that I am especially fortunate to be a part of, collaborating with exceptional colleagues, inspiring students to embrace and extend their talents, and giving back to our community. I have witnessed powerful moments of student mentoring and seen friendships emerge across Year groups, not to mention the spirit of generosity and inclusion that underscores the ethos of Brigidine. In March 2020 it was business as usual as we were preparing for our annual Musical, a production of Chicago. The students were very excited to be stepping into a world that wasn’t their own, exploring characters who were both admirable and reprehensible, and performing memorable songs written by John Kander and Fred Ebb. Only a week out from opening, our plans unexpectedly changed. This was disappointing for our students who were so keen to share what we had created with family and friends. Mrs Roslyn Boyd and I began looking at postponing to later in the year and then into the next. For us, cancellation was not an option. If we encourage our students to approach situations with resilience and grit, we had to model the same! With ever-shifting COVID-19 restrictions and limitations on what we could safely do, we found ourselves relying on the basic tools that every performer has – flexibility, creativity and the ability to find inspiration in the most surprising places. It is in this spirit that we created All That Jazz: A Concert Revue, celebrating The Jazz Age of the 1920s. This allowed us to present songs written during or about this time period, bring the words of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald to life, and discover what made the 1920s an exciting era for women boldly forging new paths for themselves. Whilst we were no longer in Chicago, we managed to make the occasional detour to revisit some of those

Kander & Ebb songs. Many students from the 2020 cast remained committed to completing the journey they had begun. My sincere thanks to all these girls for their graciousness, positivity and tenacity. We even had some of our Class of 2020 alumni return to grace the Brigidine stage one more time. I would like to make particular mention of Chloe Jackett who generously gave of her time to assist with the choreography and create some new routines for the revue. We also had a number of alumni from past Musicals return in the orchestra, trading tales of their experiences in their shows. Two alumni realised they had shared the stage once before, when one was in Year 8 and the other in Year 12! When it became apparent to us that we were not able to safely ensure capacity audiences, we made the decision to film our revue instead. This pivot meant we were no longer creating something for the stage, but something to be enjoyed on screen. This gave us the chance to experiment with the presentation, even inviting audiences backstage into the wings with the otherwise unseen Girls In Black crew for one song. Mr Gareth Edey’s keen eye for lighting helped us to create strong visuals that we hope are as engaging for you at home as they are in person in the Bowie Hall. We had a non-stop film shoot that lasted over 5 hours, but the cast were indefatigable right until the end. Whilst the process of All That Jazz: A Concert Revue was definitely the most unusual of all Musicals in recent memory, it was an opportunity to create something unique that had never been done before. By committing the work to film, the students received a lasting memento of the show and perhaps for the first time were able to share their achievement with extended family abroad. I hope you enjoy watching our Musical from the comfort of home and we anticipate inviting you back to Brigidine for next year’s show in person. CHRIS RUTHERFORD DIRECTOR

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

Events

Year 12 Formal OUR TIME IS NOW Below is an excerpt taken from Jemima Guberina’s College Captain’s Address, streamed to the College community at the Year 12 Final Assembly held in September 2020.

“Brigidine College is our gathering place; we are here to learn, experience, to support each other and to collaborate as we discover who we are as individuals. And from this beautiful gathering place, we will go out to where we belong in the world.” 22

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For me, 2020 has been a great teacher of humility, a stark reminder that I don’t know everything and I’m in control of far less than I’d like to believe. So much of 2020 has been about upended expectations, the gifts of change and uncertainty, granting oneself the space and permission to feel a range of appropriate and often uncomfortable emotions. This new reality saw us, as a global community, succeeding and failing in equal measure. I was determined to take up a kind of reflexive optimism, drawing on our Brigidine mission statement of courage and confidence: “This is going to be okay, we’ll get through this and we will make this a wonderful year.” The reality was that 2020 was heartbreaking and challenging for many. The suddenly unemployed and millions homeless, the victims of racism, those suffering with mental health and those that love them, those trapped in abusive and unsafe homes. The words “I can’t breathe”. It feels like 2020 was asking me to grow up, to accept that pain, suffering and grief are part of the birthright of being human. I say that with the full knowledge and deep faith that love, joy, laughter, equality and a home are also part of that birthright… As a Senior 10 we wanted to do our part to ensure that love is at least in the lead. We were dedicated to finding the magic within, that would sustain our Brigidine sisters and fuel the light within them. There’s something so moving about the millions of people taking quarantine seriously because it signals a deep faith in community and a respect for the most vulnerable among us. A powerful statement that we are members of a community, a resident of a state, and a citizen of a beautiful country. That our lives are not for us alone. We are in this together, locally and globally. Brigidine has given us endless opportunities. Most importantly ones to be our best selves, and we have been supported unconditionally even through our mistakes. Forgiveness is a rare quality. Our unified school cares not at all about one’s race, colour, class, or politics. Instead we have had the privilege to meet and build wonderful friendships with unique individuals from many different backgrounds… Our time is now. Our place is here. Our purpose is understanding we all belong; we all need to be loved and all may have life and have it to the full. Brigidine College is our gathering place; we are here to learn, experience, to support each other and to collaborate as we discover who we are as individuals. And from this beautiful gathering place, we will go out to where we belong in the world. JEMIMA GUBERINA C O L L E G E C A P TA I N ’ S A D D R E S S 2 0 2 0

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News

Staff Farewells

AUDREY COBURN SCIENCE

AMY HOCKEY COLLEGE PSYCHOLOGIST

BELINDA MOORE DIRECTOR COCURRICULAR

Ms Audrey Coburn came to Brigidine in Term 4, 2002. Since then she has taught 14,217 lessons and has sat through some 3,500 mentor sessions. Audrey has educated around 1200 individual Brigidine girls over this time who probably remember her as being among one of their inspirational high school teachers. Each of those 14,217 lessons has been taught with altruistic passion after thorough preparation, research and thought, down to the last detail. Audrey always took the time to get to know each girl in her classes, not just by name, but by nature, both on a personal and educational level. Each year, Audrey’s mentor classes came to know and adore her for her ability to listen without judging, and to show genuine attention and interest for those in her care. The relationship between Brigidine and Audrey was best expressed when her retirement was announced to the girls at assembly. The spontaneous expression of sadness from within Bowie Hall was echoed through the corridors and buildings where Years 9, 10 and 11 girls were watching on via Zoom. To those staff who had the pleasure of getting to know Audrey, she became far more than a work colleague, and much more a friend. Her flowers from her garden would magically appear to brighten up the staff room and bring cheer to a dull day. We all wish Audrey well for her future endeavours utilising her vast knowledge and skills in education and botany.

Mrs Amy Hockey (nee Wheaton) worked as a College Psychologist at Brigidine College for a number of years. In 2020 she resigned from her position to work as an adolescent psychologist in her own practice. She had two children while working at Brigidine. Amy was an outstanding College Counsellor, working with many families and students to improve their outlook and manage the complexity of their own lives. Amy worked extremely well with individual students in her care, but also spent considerable time working with the College pastoral team to develop effective strategies to develop emotional capacity in the young women of Brigidine. She was a trusted and highly valued colleague among the whole pastoral team and always approached her work with a positive approach and a ready smile on her face. We wish her well in this new phase of her life’s journey and give thanks for all she has done for the College community in her time at Brigidine.

At the end of 2020 we farewelled Mrs Belinda Moore as she embarked on her new role as Deputy Principal at Queenwood. Throughout her time at Brigidine, in her roles as Head of Sport and as Director of Cocurricular, Belinda worked hard to ensure that wonderful opportunities were afforded to our students as well as our teachers. Belinda’s experience with sport in independent girls’ schools through her role at IGSA and AHIGS facilitated great opportunities for our students and us as a school. Belinda extended her experience last year as well by taking on a Tournament of Minds team who much to her surprise brought home the goods! Staff have valued Belinda’s support, wisdom and good sense of humour. She navigated the complexities of the cocurricular life of the College in the wake of Covid-19 with calmness and a rational approach, at all times with girls’ welfare at the centre. Belinda leaves Brigidine a revamped Awards criteria, which she worked hard on implementing in 2021. Her legacy also includes a cocurricular program rich with prospects for students and staff alike. We wish her all the very best as she takes up her new role. While moving to deputy principal entails diligence and in many ways a leap of faith into the unknown, Belinda possesses all the qualities needed for the job and the sporting ability to make that leap!

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GARY LEAL PROPERTY TEAM

MATTHEW SELBY MATHEMATICS, SOCIAL JUSTICE As a teacher at Brigidine, Mr Matthew Selby always brought his love of life and compassion into everything that he did. He was a respected Mathematics teacher teaching to Extension 1. His classroom was a place that students always felt that they were cared for and respected. Matthew was always willing to work with his students to help them overcome their mathematical challenges and foster a love of learning. Outside the classroom he was well known for his amazing wardrobe of dress ups. Every carnival Matthew could be seen sporting a ridiculous costume of some sort. The girls loved this about him and were always eager to see his latest costume. Matthew was also actively involved in the social justice activities of the school. He organised immersions for our girls to travel around the world to help people less fortunate than themselves and to gain firsthand experience of how differently others live. This brought a wonderful appreciation to many students of how lucky they are. Through these experiences he was also able to show the girls people from different communities that have happy lives with very little other than family and their community. We were fortunate to see Matthew on his journey to married life. Covid brought many unusual experiences and one of the most memorable was the marriage of Brigette to Matthew. They made the papers as one of the very last weddings before lockdown. They then went on their honeymoon. Due to travel restrictions they stayed in Hornsby but they delighted many with their ‘Hornsbymoon’ adventures, this time appearing on Channel 7’s Sunrise. Over the years Matthew made his presence known and he will leave a big hole here at Brigidine. We wish him all the very best for the next chapter of his life in the Southern Highlands and congratulate Matthew and Brigette on the impending birth of their first child.

Brigidine College is a campus that is fringed by forest, gardens, and beautiful grounds. As staff and students walk through the school gates they are instantly moved from the hustle and bustle of Mona Vale Road to the lush green surrounds of the College. Native birds and animals contribute to this unique environment. Mr Gary Leal was passionate about building these natural and inviting spaces for all to enjoy. For 33 years he worked tirelessly to ensure that Brigidine always looks its best. From his work in the gardens to establishing and maintaining the vegetable gardens for girls in TAS subjects, helping staff and students with every request, even down to planting a jacaranda tree for me after a short conversation about favourite plants! We wish Gary the absolute best in his next chapter and know that he will be tremendously missed by all the Brigidine community. He will be thought of every day as we enjoy the fruits of his vision and arduous work for the College. Laetitia Richmond Principal Gary is someone very special and his contribution to Brigidine College is unique. My first impression of Gary was ‘This is a man of few words’ as I remember his interview for the position of the College’s first official Groundsman. Gary’s life at Brigidine had begun in a tiny storage space, few gardening tools and with his quiet and unobtrusive work ethic. Over the years, Gary has shown his wonderful talents with his affection for Brigidine College, enriching the lives of the community with his vast knowledge of flora and fauna, his dedication to his work, and his friendly, modest manner. Gary, you are surely a shining example of living and working with Fortiter et Suaviter. You will be greatly missed at Brigidine and by all the friends you have made there over 33 years. Sr Anita Murray CSB Principal 1975–1989 Gary’s playbook was one of dedicating himself to the preservation and, indeed, enhancement of the beauty of nature at the College. He worked diligently in God’s garden, respectful of the life to be found in Nature. But Gary was even more than that: through his care of the campus and of the people in it he became a friend to us all. No show pony, Gary is modest and deflects praise of himself. Respected by everyone, not least the students. Gary always went the ‘extra mile’ combining zeal with generosity of spirit. Leal with Zeal! Gary Leal, one of the greats in the wonderful story of Brigidine College St Ives. What a privilege it was for me to work with him. John Bowie AM Principal 1996–2005

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Community BRIGO PARENTS FORGING FRIENDSHIPS Starting high school is a big adventure for our girls with so much to learn about their new surroundings, but they are not the only ones who have much to learn. Mums and Dads are on a steep learning curve too as they help their daughters navigate a whole new world! Meeting other parents is a great way to share in the experience and often allows them to catch up on information their daughters may have forgotten to tell them! Brigidine Mothers Luncheon Groups have long been a tradition here at the College, some of the original groups being set up almost 40 years ago. Since their inception the number of groups have grown and now both Lunch and Supper groups catch up regularly. This year we welcomed over 70 of our Year 7 Mums to the College for their first meetings. It is hoped these groups will flourish into firm friendships over the coming years. Term 1 2021 saw the launch of Brigo Dads, a chance for dads with a daughter in Year 7 to meet and get to know one another in a relaxed and friendly environment. Over 30 Dads came along and met some new faces over a glass of wine or a bottle of beer and a bite to eat. We very much hope this is the start of another wonderful tradition. PIP INMAN, ALUMNI AND C O M M U N I T Y R E L AT I O N S C O O R D I N AT O R

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Events

Mothers Day Liturgy & Year 12 Breakfast

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

From the Alumni and Community Relations Coordinator

Alumni

I have pleasure in bringing to you the Alumni section in this issue of The Bridge. I am extremely thankful to the Alumni writers who have shared their news and stories with us. Each story is a true reflection of our College and its community and demonstrates the lifelong impact a Brigidine experience has not only on the individual but on the wider world. These pages aim to inspire, educate, and entertain. We love to tell stories of growth and transformation so if you have a story to tell please get in touch with me. As you read the following Alumni pages you will notice they feature our new Alumni logo. We are excited to be launching the logo this month. You can read about the story behind the design in this issue. Community has always been at the heart of the College and we are fortunate to see evidence of it in many aspects of College life. Our current P&F committee has been eagerly waiting for COVID restrictions to be lifted and as I write they are looking forward to bringing our community together at the Cocktail Party. They come from a long line of parents who have supported the school and I encourage you to read the story about some pioneering parents who, back in the late 1960s, were key in enabling the College to offer education to girls right through to Year 12. I look forward to meeting some of you this year at events we are hoping to hold. Please check the dates for Reunion Days on page 30 and share them with your fellow classmates. Let’s show COVID that despite its best efforts community is still alive and kicking at Brigidine. PIP INMAN A L U M N I & C O M M U N I T Y R E L AT I O N S C O O R D I N AT O R

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FROM THE ACORN TO THE OAK

In these times of iconography and symbols we are delighted to unveil a new Alumni logo ‘The Acorn’. It recognises our Alumni, a group of women who are part of our College community, who are a reflection of its past, representation of its present and a link to its future. The logo recognises when the first pupils of the school graduated in 1957, the year Brigidine College St Ives Alumni began. Ever since then it has been a place where memories are shared, friendships maintained and support for the College provided. When designing the logo it was important to recognise the links between the College students of today and those who have gone before them. The ribbon from the College crest has been incorporated and the College colours have been used to represent those links. But why the acorn? From 1807, the beginning of the Brigidine Sisters, the oak tree and acorn have had significance. In the early days of the Convent in Tullow, Ireland, Bishop Daniel Delaney, the founder of the Brigidines, took an oak-sapling from Kildare, Ireland and planted it in the Convent grounds. The oak tree took root in Tullow and out of it grew and flourished the far spreading tree of the Brigidine Congregation. To this very day this oak tree still stands on the grounds of the Convent in Ireland. Its roots spread far and wide, reaching NSW in 1883 and in 1954 Brigidine College St Ives began to grow. Since then over 7000 young women have passed through the gates of the College becoming members of our Alumni community. They are outstanding examples

of the generations of strong and gentle women the College has helped to shape. As a group they are recognised as an important part of our College community. Today, the use of the acorn in the logo is symbolic of the association our Alumni has with the very start of the Brigidines and how they are part of something that grew from small beginnings. Rita Minehan csb was invited to share the Brigidine Story “From the Acorn to the Oak” with the Brigidine Sisters in the Irish-UK Province in July 2006, in preparation for the Brigidine Bicentenary in 2007. She wrote “So as we look at the horizon, it’s from the old to the new, from heritage to horizon, from the acorn to the oak. The acorn was planted on fertile ground. The oak, like the congregation, is showing signs of aging, needing to be pruned. But there is life in the old oak. It’s still full of sap, still green. It’s still sprouting acorns and giving new life. As we look at each other today, and at our Congregation, we can rejoice and celebrate.” So today, 67 years after the roots of Brigidine College St Ives began to grow, we celebrate our Alumni and all that they represent in our past, present and future. We hope that this new logo will give our Alumni a renewed sense of belonging to their alma mater and with ‘The Acorn’ they will continue to thrive and grow.

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

Alumni

Profiles

PIONEERS DEBBIE HADDRICK’S STORY My education at Brigidine St Ives began in Year 7 in 1966. My mother had been taught by the Brigidine nuns at Randwick and felt that the guidance of the Sisters of St Brigid would ensure a bright future. It was quite a small school then and students from Our Lady of Good Council Forestville were encouraged to attend which provided a very much needed boost to student numbers. I was something of a trail blazer. I was not a St Ives girl nor was I a Forestville girl. I was a beaches girl from Dee Why, the first to travel to the school from that area. Not belonging to either group enabled me to flit between the two and I became friendly with lovely girls from both camps. We were all settling well into school life when the nuns dropped a bombshell on our parents. They did not have the facilities to allow us to complete Years 11 and 12. The College would only cater for Years 7 to 10. This news spurred the parents into action. They embarked on a daring scheme to raise $90,000 to build a block containing a library, science room, staff room and classrooms. Mr John McEwen was President of the P&F at the time and when he was posted overseas for his work my father, Mr John Louis Smith, became president.

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They embarked on a tireless campaign of fundraising. These dedicated people of the P&F ran an art union, with the prize being a boat. Raffle tickets were sold at shopping centres every weekend but that was not the end of it. There were fetes, bush dances and all manner of events which enabled them to save the school and see us through to Year 12. These are pioneers who should not be forgotten. The cohort that had commenced in 1966 did not all continue to Year 12. In the 1960s there were not the many career opportunities for young women that exist now. We mainly had the option of being receptionists, hairdressers, nurses, or teachers. Most of our friends began their careers after Year 10. Twelve of our original cohort went on to do Years 11 and 12. We longed for a common room and were finally given an old storeroom near the canteen. We could chop off the top of our tunic to make a senior uniform. Happy days! I left Brigidine at the end of Year 12 in 1971. There were no gap years in those days. I did teacher training at the Catholic Teachers College North Sydney. I taught at St Kevin’s Dee Why for 13 years before entering the state school system. I taught at Harbord Public School for 11 years and have been teaching at Cromer Public School for 18 years. Raising young children meant that further study was done by correspondence and later, online. I upgraded my diploma of teaching to a degree. I then went on to attain a Bachelor of Special Education, a Graduate Diploma in TESOL and a master’s degree in Teacher Librarianship. Every new teaching opportunity motivated me to become further qualified. I embarked on the master’s at the age of 55. It is never too late to study and pursue something new and take on a fresh challenge. I see the wonderful facilities that are available to Brigidine girls today. The College has come such a long way since those early years of struggle in the 1960s. Much is owed to the hard-working parents of that era who laid the groundwork for the wonderful institution that it is today. DEBBIE HEDDRICK (NEE SMITH) CLASS OF 1971

HELP FIND “LOST ALUMNI” The success of our strategies to engage alumni relies on our being able to communicate with you all. We have records for all our alumni but are only in regular contact with a small percentage. Some may have changed jobs or moved to another city or country, and we are no longer able to communicate with them. Every small effort to help us find “lost alumni” goes a long way. If every alumnus we are currently connected to helped us reconnect with only one of our “lost alumni”, suddenly we would be able to reach a far greater percentage. This would have wonderful repercussions in every alumni engagement initiative we run. You can support this effort to reconnect by making sure we have your most up to date contact details and encourage your fellow classmates to update their details with us too. Contact Pip Inman, Alumni and Community Relations Coordinator at alumni@brigidine.nsw.edu.au or on 02 9988 6254.

2021 Reunion Day This year’s Reunion Day will be held at Brigidine College St Ives on Saturday 23 October for the following alumni: Classes of 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2015. (These groups missed out last year due to Covid restrictions) Classes of 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2016. Keep an eye out for further information from the College. We look forward to welcoming you back!

A WHOLE LOT OF CONNECTIONS “Good morning, may I speak with Vicki Scott please?” “One moment…” “Vicki Scott speaking.” “Good morning Vicki, it is Daniel Anania.” “Daniel, good morning . . . I guess you won’t be calling Riverview!” This call took place 24 September 2008. My daughter, Chloe, was born barely 6 hours before. Crazy, right? Let me explain. My name is Daniel Anania, my eldest daughter Chloe started Year 7 at Brigidine this year. My Brigidine story goes back a long way. Until Chloe’s first day at Brigidine I had no real connection to the school, except for a whole lot of connections. Let’s start with my mum, Virginia Anania (nee Rooney) Class of 1975. Prior to that, her older sister Anne Carey (nee Rooney) graduated Class of 1973 and later their younger sisters, Patricia Rooney Class of 1984 and Deborah Rooney Class of 1986. Anne’s daughter, Elizabeth Carey, graduated in 1996, followed by my sisters, Erin Poirot (nee Anania) Class of 2000 and my youngest sister, Kylie Anania-Gavin (nee Anania) School Vice Captain Class of 2002. That would be enough for most families, until my dad’s sisters decided to send their daughters to Brigidine: Serena Rees (nee Bell) Class of 2006, Tabitha Bell Class of 2009, Brooke Bell Class of 2018 and Olivia Boyle Class of 2009. Adding to that, my younger daughters, Keira and Danica, are enrolled to commence at the College in 2023 and 2027 respectively. Back to the joke with Vicki Scott about

Riverview . . . Riverview is my alma mater. I knew former Brigidine Principal, John Bowie, when he was Deputy Principal at Riverview. Vicki has been a long serving staff member at Brigidine in her role as Principal’s PA, and I have kept in touch with her for almost two decades. I had joked with Vicki after I found out that Chloe’s mother was pregnant that the day the baby was born one of the first calls would be to either Riverview or Brigidine. Brigidine won, three times it turns out! In 1997, Riverview and Brigidine collaborated on the stage production of Guys and Dolls. My dance partner was Andree Baxter College Captain Class of 2000. Some of my closest friends through high school were young ladies from the Class of 1999. I even got roped into representing Brigidine in mixed doubles tennis so they could compete in the Hornsby Competition, competing with Susan Clear, Erin Gavin, Theresa Pitts and Carmen Lord, all Class of 1999. My mum served on the Brigidine P&F the entire time my sisters attended the College, including three years as Vice President. I spent a lot of time setting up and packing up P&F events. Looking back, I have many connections with Brigidine. And now it’s time to be the only one that really matters – Dad of current and future students. I am proud and excited for this new chapter and the opportunity to create a deeper connection to such an important part of my family’s life. DANIEL ANANIA S O N , B R O T H E R , N E P H E W, C O U S I N AND FRIEND OF ALUMNI C U R R E N T A N D F U T U R E PA R E N T

I’M NOT A GOOD HAT WEARER!

My baseball cap for my early morning walk or a sun hat are essential but the regulation red beret defeated me as it hovered like a flying saucer over my head. It fell off frequently! A Brigidine girl since I was 12, I’ve worn many ‘hats’ during my long connection to the Brigidine community. As a little Year 7, I learnt Irish dancing, played tennis and netball, and enjoyed most of our classes, although no comment on my lack of sewing skills. Having to polish the classroom statues and clean with Sister Romuald because we lived on Woodbury Road was less exciting! It was a privilege to be the 1976 College Vice Captain and a House Captain of Prague, to represent NSW Catholic girls’ schools at a United Nations Youth Conference, while also gaining lasting friendships from school. On the Christmas eve after I’d completed my BA DipEd at Macquarie University, Sister Anita employed me as an English/ History/Drama teacher. It was a wonderful Christmas gift. So many happy years of learning and teaching, fun and challenges

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE

Alumni

Profiles followed. One very fancy dress up hat featured at our staff ‘royal’ afternoon tea to celebrate Charles and Diana’s wedding. Yes, long ago now but a precious memory recalled of my dearest friend Ingrid Thompson (now deceased). My career as a passionate educator was shaped through my leadership of the English and Drama departments and many professional opportunities including publishing and external advisory work, and my life has been enriched by enduring connections with former colleagues and students. When I left Brigidine in 1997 I was uncertain about my future. The next real hat would be black velvet with crimson ribbon. Quite splendid. My dear late Mum spoke proudly of my “floppy hat” - it was a significant achievement! I had joined Macquarie Uni’s School of Education in 1999 (on contract initially) and graduated with my PhD in 2005. Now, I’m a senior lecturer, an academic researching and teaching in English and literacies education, well published, and the recipient of numerous awards for both research and teaching. I enjoy mentoring future teachers about the profession I’ve ‘lived’. In 2013 a new Brigidine ‘hat’ came with my appointment as a Director on the College Board. It has been wonderful to contribute in a governance role, recently concluded, and to witness our impressive community that lives on with “strength and gentleness”. Personally, my newest ‘hat’ is that of “great aunty”, emphasis being an aunt who is ‘great’(!) to our family’s newest member: 15-month-old Aidan. I’m delighted he loves my presents of books! I’m a very proud aunt to three wonderful nephews and four gorgeous nieces. With the love of family and friends, and sharing the joys of theatre, dinners, my garden and travel (when we can), all is well. Fortunately, my long-term commitment to yoga does not require any head wear! D R K E R RY- A N N O ’ S U L L I VA N C O L L E G E V I C E C A P TA I N , P R A G U E H O U S E C A P TA I N C L A S S O F 1 9 7 6 PA S T S TA F F M E M B E R

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TRY YOUR BEST We always like to feature stories of alumni who continue to live by the College motto, Fortiter et Suaviter, Strength and Gentleness, long after they walked through the school gates. For many it is about finding their own path or about how they can make a difference to others and for some, like Jacqui Kilkeary (nee Ham), it has been about survival, determination, and trying her best no matter what life throws at her. Jacqui graduated from Brigidine College St Ives as part of the Class of 1994. She knew she wanted to work in television and headed off to UTS University where she studied Communications and majored in Advertising and Public Relations. Jacqui fulfilled her dream. Her first media job was with the Nine Network where she worked through the ranks for 15 years and today she works for SBS Television in the Media team as the Group Sales Manager. Despite a successful career that was not where her strength and gentleness was needed the most. At the age of 44 Jacqui discovered the joy of Zumba, an aerobic fitness program featuring movements inspired by Latin American dance. In Jacqui’s words Zumba is “laughter, coordination (or lack thereof), a ‘religion’, a collective group of women (and that one man) of all ages, shapes, sizes, lifeexperience, religion, socio-economic group who all NEED Zumba”. She was told she would

love Zumba and found she needed the music, sweat and the motion of everyone sweeping across the room together. And why did she need Zumba? Well at the age of 41, when Jacqui was a busy mum of three young daughters with a fulltime career, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis hit and with it came the task of being honest with her girls about her prognosis and ensuring they achieved all the things a mum wishes for her children including making their own independent Brigidine journey where they can “just try their best”. So, each week despite a lack of coordination, an aching body and a reflection she often doesn’t recognise, Jacqui moves to the music, escapes the pain, physical and mental struggle, the fear of recurrence and for her mind, body, future, and family… she tries her best. Jacqui’s eldest daughter, Olivia, will be starting her own journey at the College next year, a journey where Jacqui is confident Oliva will also learn the values of Strength and Gentleness and to always try her best. Jacqui wrote “I hope I can inspire the young women of the current and past Brigidine community that strength and gentleness will always shine through whatever lies ahead of them.” J A C Q U I K I L K E A RY ( N E E H A M ) CLASS OF 1994