Grammar Report Issue 104

CE th LEB e J RA ou T rn IN ey G ISSUE 104 2018

THE MAGAZINE OF THE CANBERRA GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL COMMUNITY 30 EDUCATING YEARS OF GIRLS THE CHAPEL SINCE 1926 7 / WHAT 4 / 90TH MAKES ANNIVERSARY OUR ELC EXTRAORDINARY? 10 / CELEBRATIONS 8 / TREADING THE GABRIEL THE FOUNDATION PATH TOGETHER – ENRICHING – ELC TO YEAR TOMORROW 12 12 / THE 13 / ROAD PASTORAL TO OXFORD CARE –14A /PATH SPOTLIGHT TO WELLBEING ON CREATIVE 14 / POSITIVE AND PERFORMING EDUCATION AND ARTS LEARNING 20 / THROUGH PLAY 24

CONTENTS FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A NEW JOURNEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 30 YEARS OF THE CHAPEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 WHAT MAKES OUR ELC EXTRAORDINARY?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 TREADING THE PATH TOGETHER – ELC TO YEAR 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 THE ROAD TO OXFORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Above: Chair of the Gabriel Board, Mr David Holmesby at the ELC with his granddaughter, Olivia Lynch (front centre), joined by Year 12 students (clockwise from left) Ellen Thurlow, Rosie Schweizer and Emma Khoo. See pages 10–13 to read more about the ELC and ten students’ journey to Year 12.

LEADING THE WAY IN GIRLS’ EDUCATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 TOGETHER IN MUSIC – THE MUSIC ACADEMY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 FROM THE PARENTS & FRIENDS ASSOCIATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

ISSUE 104, 2018 Published by Canberra Girls Grammar School Melbourne Avenue Deakin ACT 2600 Australia P: 02 6202 6400 F: 02 6273 2554 E: communityrelations@cggs.act.edu.au www.cggs.act.edu.au

EDITORIAL Sally Wagnon

LAYOUT AND DESIGN FAD Studios

This issue of the Grammar Report celebrates the journey through our School and beyond.

Cover: Maria Tsiokantas (Year 12 Robertson) revisits the Early Learning Centre where she commenced her educational journey at Canberra Girls Grammar School in 2005. She is pictured with current ELC students, playing in the sandpit, September 2018.

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LETTER FROM A GRAMMARIAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 NEWS FROM GRAMMARIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 ARCHIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

CELEBRATING the Journey

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL FOLLOWING THE THEME OF THIS GRAMMAR REPORT, CELEBRATING THE JOURNEY, I THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO REMIND READERS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT JOURNEY OF OUR FOUNDRESS, MOTHER EMILY AYCKBOWM – IT IS EXTRAORDINARY IN ITSELF. Emily Harriet Elizabeth Ayckbowm (1836– 1900), was determined to make a difference to the lives of those on the margins through education and equally determined to help rebuild her father’s church. To this end she founded the Church Extension Association (CEA) in 1864 and the Community of the Sisters of the Church in 1870.

The CEA motto was Pro Ecclesia Dei – For the Church of God – which was later to become the motto of all Schools of the Order. Led

by Emily, the followers, or subscribers, of CEA were trying to raise funds to refurbish her father’s (Reverend Frederick Ayckbowm) Holy Trinity Church in Chester, England.

After realising that to teach or nurse the poor she would need a community of likeminded women, Emily became the first Novice of the Community of the Sisters of the Church in a ceremony held in a small Chapel in Kilburn, London.

From the earliest days after founding the Sisters of the Church, Mother Emily was determined that the ‘great cause of education’ was to be their focus. Between 1870 and 1893 she built eight large schools for nearly 6,000 children. The schools were characterised by providing students with a breakfast of either hot sweet tea or soup followed by a currant bun or pudding cooked in long tin cylinders. The ‘bun schools’ became renowned, not only for the practical response to the hunger of the poorest of poor children, but also for the quality education provided by the Sisters.

Mother Emily noted, “We must make our schools and our teaching respected…and for this we must also be diligent learners.”

She also believed that to achieve education’s object, joy must be brought into a student’s life, the ‘bun schools’ should value the development of character and there should be no elitism in schools. The Sisters were the first Anglican Order to obtain certificates as registered teachers and the Inspector of Schools reported, “The quality of the work is considerably above the average… it is clear evidence of good teaching and attention on the part of those taught.”

First VIII Rowing crew with their boat named after the foundress of our School, 2018.

In 1892, following the General Synod of the Dioceses in Australia and Tasmania, an invitation was sent to the Sisters of the Church at Kilburn, inviting them to establish schools in Australia. Schools were established initially

“We must make our schools and our teaching respected… and for this we must also be diligent learners.”

Mother Emily in Hobart, Melbourne and Perth and eventually in Canberra via St Gabriel’s in Waverley, Sydney. At the request of the Right Reverend Dr Radford, Bishop of Goulburn, St Gabriel’s was moved to Glebe House (The Old Rectory of St John’s in Reid) in 1926. On 8 May 1927 the Foundation Stone was laid at Melbourne Avenue and on 13 September that same year, the building opened with Sister Hilda as Principal.

The determination and courage shown by Mother Emily and the Sisters of the Church is reflected today in the values of our School and the students we educate. In my position as Acting Principal, and moreover, Head of Senior School, I am constantly inspired by the unwavering strength and resolve of young women.

Peter Milligan ACTING PRINCIPAL

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 3

SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE The Board has also just completed an updated School Master Plan for both the Junior and Senior School campuses. After conducting an architectural competition, we selected Stewart Architecture as our Master Plan architects. You may recall that Stewart Architecture designed our wonderful new building, Yhuuramulum, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. We now have a long-term plan underpinned by an exciting design proposal for the whole school and I look forward to sharing with you the Board’s decisions about initial priorities from the School Master Plan.

THE CGGS BOARD WORKS HARD. THE TEN DIRECTORS ARE UNPAID AND GIVE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO SERVE THE SCHOOL. THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOL, WHILE THE PRINCIPAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF CGGS. The Board appoints the Principal; ensures the viability and development of the School as an educational institution; approves the strategic plan and the master plan; approves the annual budget and financial statements, including fees and loans; monitors the building program; monitors and mitigates risk; and ensures the School complies with its Workplace Health and Safety, legal and regulatory responsibilities.

Most recently, our attention has been very firmly focused on one of our key roles, the appointment of the Principal, following Mrs Coutts departure at the end of Term 3. After sustained work advertising, shortlisting, interviewing and undertaking contract negotiations, I was delighted to recently inform our community that Mrs Anna Owen will be our next Principal. She is an outstanding contemporary educator who is a great fit for the School.

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I am also very pleased we are adding another three classrooms and a large staff room to the Early Learning Centre (ELC) in time for Term 1 2019. Demand for the additional ELC places has been very strong,

so I am sure excited students will fill the new rooms in no time. Please let your family and friends know about this great opportunity to join the CGGS community and read more about the ELC in this edition of the Grammar Report.

Belinda Moss CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

Left: Belinda Moss – Board Chair.

Mrs Sue Hart – Board Deputy Chair.

Mr Jure Domazet.

3 Ms Bronwyn Fagan.

4 Mr Alan Francis.

5 Ms Kerri Hartland.

6 Dr Nick Hartland.

7 Mrs Cath Ingram.

8 Professor Frances Shannon.

9 Mr Rod Sutherland.

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CELEBRATING the Journey

FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OUR OWN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY IS ONE FACTOR IN INFLUENCING THE SCHOOLING WE CHOOSE FOR OUR CHILD. ANOTHER IS THE DESIRE TO GIVE OUR CHILD THE VERY BEST START TO LIFE BOTH AT SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL. As parents, we hear many views regarding schools, with one current view being that men and women must work together after school, so it is progressive for them to attend co-educational schools. Literature from around the world tends to refute this view.

Girls do better at school and after school if they go to single sex schools. It is boys who benefit most from co-educational schooling.

Last year, in my speech to the graduating Class of 2017, I spoke about the challenges awaiting the young women in the world after school, and quoted from the Workplace Gender Equality Scorecard for 2016–17. It showed that while women comprise 50% of the workforce, they fill only 38% of management positions, 16.5% of CEO roles and 25% of board positions.

Additionally, women are paid on average $26,000 per annum less than men who perform the same work.

just teach the curriculum and offer a range of sporting and co-curricular opportunities – all schools do that. What girls’ schools do is purposefully develop girls to understand their gender identity and to shape their self-concept, self-efficacy, and self‑confidence so they develop the knowledge and skills required to reject and overcome gender stereotypes.

“Schooling is so much more than academic outcomes – certainly these open doors, but it is the other skills that young women develop in relation to their belief in themselves that keeps the door open.”

At CGGS we understand girls and young women. We give them every opportunity to grow, to be creative and to smash the stereotype. We expand their minds and their physical boundaries. We develop resilience, self confidence and rigour. Our girls and young women thrive in a safe environment, embrace diversity and grow in compassion while helping others. We offer leadership programs, from Girls with Grit in

“Schooling is so much more than academic outcomes – certainly these open doors, but it is the other skills that young women develop in relation to their belief in themselves that keeps the door open.”

the Junior School, to Ad Astra in the Senior School, that are unique in Canberra. Our Boarding House is a home away from home, where girls from the bush, the city and overseas form lifelong friendships.

CGGS empowers girls and young women to believe anything is possible.

Belinda Moss CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Yet, if you are a girl in Australia, you are more likely to finish Year 12, more likely to go to university, and more likely to achieve higher academic results than boys. So, what is the problem? The problem is that schooling success does not translate into life success with regard to issues relating to gender.

So how do we fix this disparity? According to Dr Nicole Archard1 the Principal of Loreto College in South Australia, we do it by making more schooling experiences available for girls in single-sex environments. Girls’ schools do more than 1 https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/the-case-forgovernment-single-sex-schools-dr-nicole-archard/

Belinda Moss (left) with Anne Coutts at the opening of Yhuuramulum on 29 May 2018.

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 5

A NEW JOURNEY WE HAVE ALL HEARD OUR YOUNGER SIBLINGS, OR OUR CHILDREN, SAY: “ARE WE THERE YET?” IT’S USUALLY FROM THEIR SEATS IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND TYPICALLY AFTER JUST THIRTY MINUTES OF A MUCH LONGER JOURNEY. AS WE GET OLDER, WE BEGIN TO VALUE THE JOURNEY ITSELF,

“That’s the beauty of journeys, the end of one is just the beginning of another.”

RATHER THAN SEEING IT AS A BORING INTERLUDE WE HAVE TO ENDURE TO REACH OUR DESTINATION. The theme for this edition of the Grammar Report is, Celebrating the journey. A student’s educational journey is one where we should encourage them to enjoy, and learn from, each step. Many students will have a goal, a destination, which they are aiming for. It may be as simple as completing an assignment, it can be as ambitious as playing representative sport or joining the symphony orchestra.

Sometimes it’s a destination that is a long way away: becoming a doctor, owning their own house, having a family. All of these are worthy goals and all involve a journey that will take time and effort.

I was intrigued when I took a creative writing course in England and my tutor asserted that ninety percent of anybody’s creative writing should be discarded.

Outrageous! I felt I didn’t have time to lose

Mrs Coutts during the Junior School’s farewell assembly in her honour, 24 September 2018.

and I certainly did not want to throw away such a large percentage of my creative output. However, she was right...redrafting

As I move to the next part of my own

and redrafting meant that I learnt more and

personal journey, I look back on the last

more at each step.

eight years as fulfilling, purposeful and

So we want our students to enjoy the

happy. I will miss Girls Grammar a great

journey and to put aside that, “Are we there

deal but I will relish a new challenge and a

yet?” outlook. We want to celebrate the

different way of life in Western Australia.

journey with them and encourage them as

That’s the beauty of journeys, the end of

they take each step.

one is just the beginning of another.

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Anne Coutts PRINCIPAL 2011–2018

CELEBRATING the Journey

30 YEARS OF THE CHAPEL

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THIS YEAR MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHAPEL OF THE ANNUNCIATION. To students who attended the School in the 1970s and early-mid 1980s, it may be hard to believe the structure at the top of the oval, which once housed the school gymnasium, is now the spiritual centre of CGGS.

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Originally constructed in 1972, the building underwent an extensive conversion under the guidance of architect Brian Dowling, and in 1988 was officially opened as the School’s place of worship.

Thirty years after its consecration, the guest preacher at the 2018 Founders’ Day Service, Bishop Stephen Pickard, rededicated the chapel for the School’s use.

Our School Chaplain, Reverend Dr David Willsher says, “Chapel remains a natural and loved part of our school life as students, staff and chaplains meet regularly for prayer, worship, singing and lunch, as well as for tears and laughs!”

Originally located in a small classroom in the Boarding House, the Chapel was later allocated temporary space at the rear of the former Assembly Hall when the Boarding House underwent renovations in the late 1960s. This move improved the accessibility for day girls wishing to attend services and take up positions as chapel servers, a role usually reserved for Boarders.

During any given week, a range of Chapel services are held for students, staff and the School community with students regularly engaged in the planning and running of each service. In addition to special Easter and Christmas services, the Chapel also hosts Grammarians who wish to return to their former school to celebrate marriages and baptisms or to honour the passing of loved-ones.

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Chapel of the Annunciation,

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Jody Packer (1983) and Jim Taylor wed

March 2016.

in the Chapel on 21 December 1988, pictured with Reverend Willson.

3 Archer Bell and silhouette.

4 S arah (Boyce, 1993) and Ian chose to baptise their son, James, at the Founders’ Day Chapel Service, 2012, pictured with Reverend Harris.

5 2013 Family & Friends’ Blessing of the Animals Service.

6 Consecration of the Chapel, 17 June 1988 (before the installation of the stained glass window).

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In 1989, the Parents & Friends Association donated the Knud Smenge pipe organ and the Grammarians’ Association gifted the stained glass window which is based on Chapter 8 of the Book of Proverbs, and was designed by Grammarian Ede Horton (1971).

The Chapel also contains a number of other gifts from member of the school community including candlesticks, pews and the Archer Bell (donated in 2001).

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THE EVOLUTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT SINCE THE LAST ISSUE OF THE GRAMMAR REPORT, WE HAVE EMBARKED UPON A RANGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AIMED AT IMPROVING OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

INTRODUCING YHUURAMULUM

For the Junior School campus, these projects include the continuation of our air conditioning rollout for classrooms; a refit of Year 5 classrooms as a trial for future planned upgrades; a significant upgrade to our playground space; and the commencement of the Early Learning Centre (ELC) expansion to add another three classrooms and a nature-based playground.

After months of construction, the second stage of our Lake Precinct was finally unveiled this year. Students descended on the new multi-purpose learning space at the beginning of Term 1 (efficiently delivered there by our new 55-seater bus) – well ahead of the official opening on Tuesday, 29 May 2018.

Our Senior School campus has also seen a range of activity including the opening up of our A Block classrooms by replacing timber clad walls with glazing; the refurbishment of the gymnasium floor; a number of projects in the Boarding House (including a refresh of the computer room and more air conditioning for student bedrooms); and the addition of air handling infrastructure (to manage air quality) for the Waterman Centre.

We have also undertaken important schoolwide projects focussed on information technology and energy management. The backbone of the School’s information technology infrastructure was upgraded, resulting in improved performance and reliability of our network for students and staff. This work has enabled us to begin the introduction of new technology to further support creativity and collaboration within our teaching and learning spaces.

From an energy management perspective, solar panels have been installed across all campuses, including Yhuuramulum.

Students are able to access data from the solar panels which shows the renewable energy generated by the School and

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how this relates to our overall energy consumption.

Our new Master Plan for the School will guide the evolution of our campuses as we turn our attention to our centenary year.

This was an extensive process that involved consultation with staff and students and input from a range of specialist consultants.

The design component of the Masterplan was led by Stewart Architecture who were selected by the School following a design competition where three leading architectural firms were invited to pitch their ideas.

The final report was presented to the Board in October and we are now working on reviewing priority projects for the initial phase of the Master Plan. For the Senior School this will include decommissioning the demountable classrooms, improvements to traffic management (primarily around student pick-up and drop-off), additional on-site parking and the creation of new teaching and learning spaces that link existing buildings. The focus for the Junior School will be on gradually creating additional classrooms to provide enough space for four classes in each year group as enrolments flow through from our expanded ELC. More detailed information on the Master Plan will be communicated in the new year once the Board has considered the priorities identified above and the timings of initial project works have been confirmed.

Matt O’Brien CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

The opening ceremony presented the opportunity to celebrate with the CGGS community, and to unveil the building’s new name, Yhuuramulum.

The ceremony commenced with a Welcome to Country smoking ceremony led by Ngunnawal elder, Auntie Violet, followed by the official opening by AnnaMaria Arabia, Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science. Principal Anne Coutts welcomed guests including Directors of the School and Gabriel Foundation Boards and Grammarians’ Association committee members. They were joined by representatives from the Junior and Senior School student body and Directors from both campuses.

The two-storey building was designed to take advantage of the location and vista of Yarralumla Bay. The upper floor offers multiple configuration options, while the lower level houses a STEM workshop and the rowing shed – enjoying direct access to the lake.

So far this year, in addition to hosting students on a regular basis, Yhuuramulum has also accommodated a wide range of events including the P&F Trivia Night, a Green Room presentation by Winter Olympian David Morris, the Senior School Art and Fashion Showcase, Junior School science activities and a book launch.

CELEBRATING the Journey

CHARLOTTE DREAMS UP NAME FOR BUILDING Yhuuramulum – the winning name for the School’s newest building – was selected following a community-wide naming competition, won by Year 7 student Charlotte Young.

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Charlotte's entry was selected as the winner and inspired the name Yhuuramulum, a traditional Ngunnawal word that means ‘to dream’. Her submission reflected thoughtfully on the history of the local indigenous people, as well as capturing the essence of the School’s motto, ‘To the young, anything is possible’.

“I chose the name because I imagined the lake facility becoming a place to create and dream for our future. I was so happy to win the naming competition and I am glad this name will last long after I have left school and that I will have left a part of me here,” said Charlotte.

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All proposed names were to meet criteria which was then considered by the judging panel. Submissions were received from staff, students, parents, Grammarians and members of the School Board. Thank you to everyone who took the time and energy to contribute to this community-wide competition.

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Flexible learning spaces on the upper floor

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New rowing storage on the lower level of

of Yhuuramulum. the building.

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Charlotte Young with Anna-Maria Arabia.

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WHAT MAKES OUR ELC EXTRAORDINARY? OUR EARLY LEARNING CENTRE (ELC) IS CO-EDUCATIONAL AND CATERS FOR CHILDREN FROM THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE, IN TWO SEPARATE YEAR LEVELS — RECEPTION AND PRE-PREP — BOTH OFFERING FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. The ELC is a purpose built facility, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Natural light fills the spacious rooms and the central Piazza is an inviting space where families, children and the ELC community come together.

Offering an educational program based on the Early Years Learning Framework, in conjunction with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), the natural curiosity and creativity of children is evident throughout the ELC, with artwork, photographs and shared learning taking pride of place around the centre.

EXPANDING THE ELC TO MEET DEMAND In response to community demand for quality early childhood places, coupled with

overwhelmingly positive feedback from the CGGS parent community, the ELC expansion will increase capacity through the addition of a new wing housing three learning spaces and additional outdoor play areas for a further 66 children.

On Tuesday, 25 September, a very excited group of students broke ground on the expansion of the ELC. In recognition of their commitment to CGGS, eight Year 12 students who started their journey at the ELC joined current Reception and Pre-Prep students as they turned the first sod on the construction site.

The architecture firm behind the original ELC building, Daryl Jackson Alistair Swayn, have designed the new two-storey wing which will seamlessly integrate with the current facility, preserving the learning environments which are so important to our students’ development and wellbeing.

A group of students who started their CGGS journey in the ELC joined current Reception and Pre-Prep students to turn the first sod on the site of the ELC expansion, September 2018.

Construction commenced in November 2018 and following the choice to use cross laminated timber (CLT) – a method which allows for much of the building to be preassembled – disruption will be minimal.

Students will be able to enjoy their new spaces in Term 1, 2019.

KATE COLUMBINE DIRECTOR OF JUNIOR SCHOOL (ELC) My journey at CGGS began in 2008 when I relocated to Canberra from Queensland. Beginning with a dual role of Reception Class Teacher and ELC Senior Teacher, I was fortunate to join the Junior School team as the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme was being explored, and subsequently adopted. I had no idea at the time how this would guide my career and open up new opportunities.

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CELEBRATING the Journey

GETTING TO KNOW OUR STUDENTS – WITH KATE COLUMBINE Tory Carpenter (Pre-Prep)

Philip Maleganeas (Pre-Prep)

Tory’s CGGS journey commenced as a toddler, when she accompanied older sister Eliza (now Year 1) as she entered Reception in the ELC in 2015. I still remember Tory’s mum, Bec, a Grammarian from the class of 2002, struggling to contain Tory as the lure of the colourful activities and songs became too difficult to resist! Tory (not so) patiently waited for her turn to join the ELC, and in 2017 she commenced Reception.

Before he was even born, Philip's family were very familiar faces at the ELC, his older sisters, Anastasia (now Year 4) and AnnaMarie (now Year 2) both commenced in Reception in the ELC. As a baby, Philip was a regular visitor to the ELC, and by the time is was his turn to start Reception, he was more than ready and has embraced every opportunity since.

“I love doing puzzles. When I was in Reception, I just did easy puzzles but now I am in Pre-Prep I can do hard ones…but they are easy for me! I am happy at school. I love it when my family come in… like on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and for the Student Led Conferences.”

“I love playing. In Reception I really liked to play with… maybe… with the blocks. I made bridges and roads. Now in Pre-Prep I can know about plants and we have talked about rubbish and looking after our world. I feel happy about coming to my school.

I like excursions and playing outside with my friends. And I like seeing my sisters at the gate when I am outside.”

I have had the opportunity to watch those who I nurtured and guided as three-year olds, just embarking on life, evolve into confident, independent, proud and capable young people, and their journey is something I am truly honoured and grateful to have been a part of.

Director of Junior School (ELC), Kate Columbine.

I absolutely loved the time I spent as a classroom teacher in the ELC, and the fondest memories I have are of the relationships I was so privileged to form with the children and their families, many of which endure today.

As an early childhood educator, hands-on, inquiry based learning has always been central to my teaching philosophy, and to further embrace this through the PYP, has been a joy. To have had the opportunity to take this further and train as a PYP Workshop Leader, and share my passion with others in the PYP community within Australia and the Asia Pacific region, has been incredibly rewarding. It has challenged

Top: Tory enjoying the great outdoors at ELC. Above: Philip Maleganeas is following in his sisters' footsteps at the ELC.

and inspired me and has ensured I continue to evolve and grow as an educator, leader and a person.

While my roles and titles have changed over the course of my time at CGGS, many things have remained constant: the sense of community at our school, the passion of our educators, and our commitment at the ELC to creating an environment in which the children can explore their world, express their thoughts and ideas freely, and where their natural curiosity and excitement for learning is fostered. I look forward with excitement to the next phase, as the ELC expands and evolves further, and to the opportunities and new possibilities on the horizon.

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TREADING THE PATH TOGETHER IN 2005, AS THE CGGS EARLY LEARNING CENTRE (ELC) COMMENCED ITS SECOND YEAR OF EDUCATING CHILDREN, AROUND FIFTY PRE-PREP STUDENTS STARTED THEIR SCHOOLING TOGETHER. OVER THE YEARS, CLASSMATES AND TEACHERS WOULD COME AND GO, AND FROM TIME TO TIME, NEW FACES WOULD APPEAR. For ten of these students, a special bond was formed and now, almost fourteen years later, after spending their entire school life at CGGS, they are preparing to leave the School and start the next chapter of their lives.

When these young women reminisce about their time at CGGS, there are recurring themes that pop up in their conversations – friendship, the supportive environment, opportunities, community and most of all, the appreciation they have for their teachers.

“Throughout my schooling life, I was inspired by my teachers and peers to want to learn not just for the sake of achieving high marks,” said Maria Tsiokantas.

“Instead, I want to learn because of how knowledge adds to you as a person…my teachers have showed me the deeper meaning in what I do every day.”

The youngest of three sisters to have attended CGGS –all who have held the position of Service Captain – Laura Francis cites a muchloved teacher as her best memory.

“Mrs Bennett (McNally). She was an incredible teacher and made each day special, she also taught my sister in Year 2, and then me in Year 2 as well. She became a very close family friend,” said Laura.

The pride these students have in their school is obvious. Many of them volunteer to show

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Back row: Iliana Xirakis, Maria Tsiokantas, Rosie Schweizer, Ellen Thurlow and Emma Khoo.

Front row: Tallulah Farrow, Laura Francis, Rachel Crawford, Ella Matthews and Josie Baillie.

prospective families around the campus and share with them the things they love about the school. Rosie Schweizer is so dedicated to welcoming new people she earned the informal title of Tour Captain.

For Iliana Xirakis, dance is her passion and she acknowledges how lucky she has been to combine it with her studies.

“I feel that there is so much that CGGS has to offer to every student, and by welcoming everyone we are enriching the ever-growing talent of the school,” said Rosie.

“With Dance Fest and performances in assemblies…and excursions where we have the chance to do classes and watch professional shows – it’s been nice to be able to do all that at school.”

As Rosie plans her next journey – to the USA where she has been awarded a scholarship to study and play Division 1 Basketball at George Mason University – she acknowledges the support she has received from CGGS while following her dreams.

Tallulah Farrow, who is also heading to the USA on a scholarship (Tennis, at University of Colorado Boulder) said she has “met some amazing life-long friends" during various stages of being at the school. "I think that the biggest thing I will take away from this school is a sense of community,” said Tallulah.

“I got to spend my childhood at a place where I was always appreciated for who I was and who I wanted to be. I am loyal to CGGS but I have come to realise that it is also loyal to me.”

“CGGS has really given me a lot of opportunities to dance at school,” said Iliana.

Leaving the school gates for the last time is destined to be an emotional time, and it can’t be understated how significant it will be for this group of ten.

CELEBRATING the Journey Safe Schools Captain, Ellen Thurlow said, “CGGS will always have a special place in my heart, it feels so weird to be leaving and branching out from a place that’s been a constant rock for most of my life.”

Meanwhile, Ella Matthews says while it will be hard to say goodbye, “I am planning to take a gap year and…depending on my degree, I may even end up applying to teach at CGGS!”

THE LEGACY

up until this year and her younger sister, Eloise, is in Year 8.

Every graduate of 2018 will be welcomed back to the School with open arms as they become members of the Grammarians Association. This community, made up of over 10,000 past students, includes sisters, mothers and aunts of the ten young women featured here.

Maria’s mother, Helen (Savvas, 1989) attended the School with her three sisters – the significance of this is not lost on Maria.

In addition to Laura’s two sisters, Sarah (2014) and Rebecca (2016), Emma Khoo’s sister Sarah graduated in 2011 and Josie Baillie’s sister finished in 2015. Rosie’s sister Vivienne and Ella’s sister Bronte were both members of the Class of 2016.

Rachel Crawford is a second-generation Grammarian – her mother Jane (Middlemiss, 1986) taught at the School

“Being part of a family legacy, has highlighted for me, the importance of valuing education. My grandmother who was a migrant from Cyprus, along with my grandfather, worked tremendously hard to give my mother and her sisters the opportunity to be part of the CGGS community,” said Maria.

“One day, I hope to be able to send my daughter to CGGS, to maintain the family legacy, and provide my children with the same opportunities that were given to me by my parents, and my grandparents.”

Emma and Sarah Khoo – back photo taken on Emma’s first day of ELC and the front, on her first day of Year 12.

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 13

THE ROAD TO OXFORD ESTABLISHED IN 1902 AND NOW REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD, THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIP ENABLES OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEOPLE, FROM AROUND THE WORLD, TO UNDERTAKE FULL-TIME POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD IN ENGLAND. THE THREADS THAT TIE RHODES SCHOLARS TOGETHER ARE: THEIR POTENTIAL TO LEAD; A VISION FOR A BETTER WORLD; AND A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND FELLOWSHIP FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MANKIND. Canberra Girls Grammar School proudly boasts four past students who have gone on to become Rhodes Scholars. Their names are listed on an honour board which takes pride of place in the reception area of the Senior School – a daily reminder that anything is possible. Here, we introduce the four women, each who have blazed their own trails since leaving the gates of CGGS.

Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth (1978) After graduating school, Elizabeth and her family moved to Perth, where she studied law at the University of Western Australia. There she held a number of student leadership positions and took up rowing, ultimately competing at the National Championships. She graduated with Bachelor of Jurisprudence (Hons) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degrees, and won the prize for the most outstanding law student combined with leadership.

After backpacking around Europe for six months, she returned to Perth to finish her articled clerkship. She then moved to Melbourne, where she has lived since the late 1980s.

Elizabeth was a solicitor for four years, until she joined the Victorian Bar in 1991. She was

The Reverend Dr Sarah Bachelard (1984) Sarah completed an Arts degree (Classics and History) at the Australian National University (ANU) after graduating from CGGS in 1984.

She then went on to study theology at Oxford.

“At the time, I had no intention of being ordained an Anglican priest – indeed, at that time, the first women hadn’t yet been ordained and I didn’t particularly feel myself drawn to this vocation,” said Sarah.

“I studied theology because I was interested in the spiritual life and I was looking for a way to make faith come alive for me. As it turned out, this turned out to be a much longer journey than I’d realised it was going to be!”

hears criminal and civil trials and appeals.

It led, first of all, away from the church and for over ten years, Sarah did not consider herself a Christian. During that time, she worked back in Canberra as a researcher in the Senate Committee Office and also completed a PhD in moral philosophy at ANU. Eventually, through a practice of meditation, she found herself drawn (much to her surprise) back to Christian faith – and a few years later, to a sense of call to the priesthood.

Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth.

Rev Dr Sarah Bachelard.

appointed senior counsel in 2002.

“I have always enjoyed teaching and have taught judges, lawyers and students in a broad range of subjects, including advocacy, evidence, procedure and judgment writing.”

Elizabeth was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2004. She

“I was the first Australian woman lawyer to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, and spent two years at Oxford studying for the postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree,” said Elizabeth.

She particularly enjoyed rowing at Oxford, where the sport is highly regarded, and was fortunate to row for a successful Oxford crew in the annual Boat Race against Cambridge.

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CELEBRATING the Journey

“My time at Canberra Girls Grammar was an important part of my formation.

There were aspects of school that I loved and continue to appreciate. I had some wonderful and intellectually engaged teachers and I particularly enjoyed English and History, and my introduction to poetry, tragic literature and medieval history.”

Dr Chloe Flutter.

Sarah Dobbie at her graduation in Oxford.

consulting firms, Chloe specialises in public

Fellowship, and then spent summer

sector consulting. She and her husband, Craig,

volunteering as a refugee lawyer on Lesvos

are also kept busy with two young boys.

(Greece), working in and out of Moria, “the

“Being awarded the Rhodes Scholarship was a hugely encouraging experience, and opened the opportunity for an enormously enriching couple of years at Oxford. The fruits of this time are still emerging in my life, and I am grateful for all that it has enabled in and through me.”

Sarah Dobbie (2010)

Dr Chloe Flutter (1991)

In her final year at CGGS, Sarah held the

Chloe graduated from CGGS in 1991 and

the Principal’s Award along with the Prize

went on to earn a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at Sydney University, majoring in Geography. Her decision to study economics and geography was inspired by one of her teachers at CGGS, Mrs Virr.

“Her geography classes challenged us to think critically about our environment and look for the often-hidden forces that make

position of School Vice-Captain and received for School Leadership and the Prize for Consistent Academic Excellence.

She went on study at the ANU and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations). Throughout this period, Sarah volunteered for various humanitarian and community organisations, in addition to interning for the United

world’s worst refugee camp”.

“Initially, I felt as though I unravelled in Oxford (or that Oxford had unravelled me) – the whole ‘Rhodes Scholar’ plus ‘Oxford student’ combination has a way of making you question every move, thought, and intention…I wondered if it was ever going to be “enough” to just live a life and help all those I can. It forced me to face up to myself and ask what I really want to do and, more importantly, who I really want to be. I can’t say that it was always (or often) easy, or that I’m quite there, but I finished the first year in Oxford feeling more myself than ever.”

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

Sarah doesn’t underestimate the

the Australian Law Reform Commission and

importance of being educated at Canberra

In 1999, Chloe was awarded the NSW

the International Prosecutor at the genocide

Girls Grammar School and credits the

Rhodes Scholarship and continued to follow

trials in Cambodia.

dedication and energy of her teachers for

it the way it is,” said Chloe.

this interest at Oxford University where she completed a Doctorate in Economic Geography. Studying in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar was a life-changing experience.

“Not only did I meet my husband (he was the Western Australian Rhodes [Scholar] from the same year), I relished being in a truly global cohort of students and studying under some of the world’s top academics.”

“Two days after graduating from the ANU, I flew out to Egypt to work as a refugee legal advisor, where I was still working when I applied for the Rhodes Scholarship,” said Sarah.

Sarah’s first Oxford academic year saw her complete a Masters in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies with Distinction and receive the Prize for Best Thesis. Beyond

giving her the courage to persist in the face of resistance and a voice to speak when others remain quiet.

“The education that I received gave me a freedom that millions fight for – the freedom of choice.

In turn, it gave me the opportunity and responsibility to make

Today, as a Partner at The Boston Consulting

the academics, she travelled to Palestine as

genuine differences to the lives of

Group, one of the world’s leading strategy

part of the inaugural Eden Rhodes Palestine

those who lack that freedom.”

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 15

LEADING THE WAY IN GIRLS’ EDUCATION AD ASTRA – TO THE STARS

YEAR 6 – GIRLS WHO LEAD

Ad Astra is the Senior School’s holistic program that enables our students to gain the skills necessary for success in academic pursuits and future employment. It was introduced this year to Years 7 and 9, and in 2019 will be part of the curriculum for Years 7 to 10.

Girls Who Lead is a year-long program designed to empower Year 6 girls with leadership skills for the future. It recognises and develops their talents and abilities through the membership of twelve designated committees and other leadership opportunities, including hosting special assemblies, fundraising and community events.

The program aims to develop students through future-focussed learning and the layering of skills year-on-year. This helps to cultivate an awareness of the world around them and understand how their individuality comes into play across different environments.

The Year 7 ID Program, focuses on transferable skills taught through a series of practical workshops exploring critical thinking, research, self-management, emotional intelligence, communication, and planning and reflection.

Students in Year 9 participate in the Canberra Community Project – an opportunity to collaborate with peers, teachers and business mentors to identify challenges and opportunities that face Canberra as a community. The value of their design solutions are ultimately evaluated by members of the community.

From next year, our Year 8 students will focus on School Community, as they build on the teamwork skills developed in Year 7, to create passion-projects of benefit to the CGGS community. Meanwhile, young women in Year 10 will undertake a Personal Project, using their skills and connections in the community to produce and exhibit a project with a global slant.

Year 9 students working on their Heart of Canberra projects.

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The program also aims to develop the students’ mentor skills. By working collaboratively and cooperatively with Junior Primary peers in the Buddy Reading and Peer Mediation programs, the Year 6 students have consulted with teachers to further develop their leadership skills.

“Leadership is being a role model for younger students. In the Peer Mediation activities we put the CGGS Way into action,” said Year 6 student Zoe Theodorakis.

In its pilot year, the program encouraged girls to adopt critical thinking when problem solving through the use rigorous inquiry techniques. Furthermore, it has given the students a voice to share their knowledge and skills with others.

“We lead with our ideas and show this in assemblies and fundraising activities like Mini-Fete to raise funds for the Alimo Academy, our sister school in Kenya,” said Zara Czechowicz from 6R.

Year 6 Mini-Fete.

CELEBRATING the Journey CGGS HAS ALWAYS SOUGHT TO ADOPT NEW, CHALLENGING AND CONTEMPORARY METHODS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, WHILST MAINTAINING OUR ACADEMIC RIGOUR AND STRONG PASTORAL FOCUS. OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAMS ACROSS THE SCHOOL HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK DEVELOPING

TARGETED, AGE-APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS WHICH COMPLEMENT THE CURRICULUM TO EQUIP GIRLS FOR LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. IN 2019, OUR YEAR 4 STUDENTS WILL BE THE FIRST COHORT TO EXPERIENCE OUR NEWEST PROGRAM, smART Girls.

YEAR 5 – GIRLS WITH GRIT

YEAR 3 – GIRLS TALK

The Year 5 ‘Girls with Grit’ program was developed to foster and promote a range of skills and dispositions essential for success in the 21st century. The immersive program teaches students valuable life lessons which can be applied to our leadershiporiented Year 6 program, the challenges of transitioning into Year 7, and beyond.

Girls’ TALK is a year long, evidence-based program for Year 3 girls that targets the development of a sense of belonging and wellbeing through a focus on positive health, positive emotions, and positive relationships.

Four focus areas underpin the program: ff Outdoor education and physical endeavour ff Happiness and wellness ff Learning how to learn ff Sustainability and action As a result, students have developed: common positive language; increased independence; strategies to face challenges and deal with adversity; increased awareness of personal learning preferences through practice of metacognition; and an appreciation of taking action in the wider community through fundraising for charities.

Sophie Frost of 5B says, “The program has made me more aware of what I can do to help charities and fundraise to help those who are in need. I know that I am growing as a person because I am becoming braver and stronger due to Girls with Grit."

Girls with Grit at B.FIRM.

Through a variety of teaching and learning strategies embedded across the curriculum, students have developed the understandings, dispositions and habits to support their ongoing growth. This has fostered increased engagement in all aspects of school life.

This year, two Units of Inquiry (Who We Are and How We Express Ourselves) explicitly focused on the students’ sense of self and others, and how this impacts their relationships. Students enjoyed Tai Chi which promoted physical health and mindfulness, and Orienteering which developed conflict resolution skills, independence and wellbeing.

After attending the Girls TALK Gala Day in November 2018, parent Euan Mitchell declared the program is tangibly contributing to his daughter Tess’ growth mindset.

“What sets people apart more and more is their level of emotional quotient, to have self awareness about their own feelings but also empathy to understand others,” said Euan.

“We certainly get more a more nuanced breakdown at the dining table on what happened that day, how everyone reacted and what they thought about it. It’s great that CGGS is thinking about how to give our girls the skills to succeed in a changing world.”

Year 3 students enjoying the outdoors at camp.

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 17

TOGETHER IN MUSIC – THE MUSIC ACADEMY THE MUSIC ACADEMY AT CANBERRA GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT THE TOGETHER IN MUSIC CONCERT ON WEDNESDAY, 4 APRIL 2018 IN A JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF MUSIC AND COMMUNITY. The concert featured performances from the Glanville-Hicks Symphony Orchestra, Williams Guitar Ensemble, the debut performance of Strike! Handbells, Gabriel Trio and our guests from Austria, the Graz Boys’ Choir. Australian composer and Grammarian, Sally Whitwell (1991), commissioned a work for the launch and The Edge was brought to life on stage by over 200 voices, the symphony orchestra

and handbells. The final performance of the night saw the Australian premiere of Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo, a 50-minute work featuring a massed choir made up of CGGS students, local community choirs and our Austrian guests accompanied by the Glanville-Hicks Symphony Orchestra. It was a truly magical performance celebrating music’s ability to unite and empower.

A COMMUNITY UNITED BY MUSIC Music is, and will continue to be, an important part of life at CGGS. It provides us with an opportunity to express ourselves, to challenge our intellect and to work together with others to achieve our collective goals. Music helps to integrate life and learning for our students and is essential in the pursuit of a holistic education.

The Music Academy program offers something for everyone – from early childhood music classes right through to theory, aural and musicianship, composition classes, handbells, community choir and symphony orchestra for our students and community members. It is wonderful to see Grammarians, staff, parents and friends standing alongside our students in pursuit of their own individual and collective music goals. We are truly, together in music!

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Performers assembled on stage for the Together in

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Handbells Ensemble performing at the Together in

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Students enjoy the fun Music Dance Night in June 2018.

Music Concert on 4 April 2018.

Music Concert.

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“One of the best things about music, is the ability to share it with others. The Together in Music Concert was a great example of the universal nature of music as we stood on stage to perform Jubilate Deo for the first time in Australia with local Canberra community members and the Graz Boys Choir from Austria.”

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Nicole Wang — 2018 Music Captain (right) 3

18 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

CELEBRATING the Journey “I’m honoured to have received a Scholarship in 2018. The Music Academy here at CGGS is phenomenal.

Being mentored by world class musicians, attending masterclasses and engaging in performances with the broader community are just some of the great things about our opportunities in music.”

Ailin He—Vivien Gough Memorial Music Scholar (below)

FRIENDS OF MUSIC Canberra Girls Grammar School Friends of Music is a small group of parents, students, alumni, caregivers and friends interested in supporting the work of The Music Academy through fundraising for discretionary acquisitions.

MALCOLM GILLIES – PATRON OF THE MUSIC ACADEMY As patron of The Music Academy at Canberra Girls Grammar School, I do hope that this new venture will allow you to appreciate more the great mental, aural and physical traction that is music.

Whether you are seven or seventy, there is music for you: pieces to play, songs to sing, skills to practise, and wonderful works of musical art perhaps just to contemplate. Music is about the mind, the heart and that other thing we sometimes call ‘the soul’. And in this mad world, we especially need lots of ‘soul’.

The Music Academy seeks to share CGGS’s musical expertise and accomplishments more widely than ever before. Its offerings cover a wide range of styles of music and different skills or techniques. Led by the excellent CGGS music staff, the Academy’s programs throw open the School’s doors to the community, whether as individuals,

Academy. If you are interested in assisting with CGGS Friends of Music activities, please contact the group secretary, Wendy Craig, at music@cggs.act.edu.au

Professor Malcolm Gillies, Patron of The Music Academy.

groups or more formal artistic partners.

Yes, music is all about connection, and making new connections. Perhaps there is a new experience here at The Music Academy for you.

Professor Malcolm Gillies PATRON OF THE MUSIC ACADEMY

Joel Copeland DEAN OF MUSIC Below: Members of Friends of Music at the Music Dance Night, June 2018.

Fundraising takes the form of operating a canteen, sausage sizzles and bake sales at Music Academy events held throughout the year. In 2018 the Friends have sponsored the Instrumental Opportunity Program (IOP) for Bassoon and Oboe in the Junior School and provided funds for the purchase of hand chimes for both the Junior and Senior Schools. They have even catered for international guests, such as the Brigham Young University Wind Symphony. The group generally meets 4–6 times each year to plan its support of activities which change according to the needs of The Music

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 19

SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOL ARE SPOILED FOR CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARTS. IN ADDITION TO THE MUSIC ACADEMY, CGGS HAS A BROAD OFFERING OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS WHICH GIRLS CAN TAP INTO VIA CURRICULUM AND CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES. THE WEALTH OF TALENT WITHIN THE SCHOOL IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH EXHIBITIONS OF STUDENT WORK, PERFORMANCES, ART AND FASHION SHOWCASES AND MAJOR PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS THE 2017 WHOLE-OF-SCHOOL PERFORMANCE OF ANNIE – THE MUSICAL. Take a walk around the Early Learning Centre

Students from as young as five can join the

and you will see our youngest students

Mini Artists where they explore different

embracing their creativity. Paintings,

elements of art while girls in Year 5 are

drawings, sculptures and decorations adorn

encouraged to participate in Drama Club

the colourful classrooms and students

which culminates in a full production mid-

express themselves through play. As students

way through the year.

continue on their journey through the School, their learning in the Arts grows with them.

Some of the most popular activities in the Senior School stem from the co-curricular

In the Junior School, students from Prep

program. The Ausdance Youth Dance Festival,

to Year 6 draw on a wide range of stimuli:

Dancefest, is one such example. Each year,

the creative works of professional artists,

students from Years 7 to 12 audition to be a

contemporary and historical works, music,

part of the non-competitive event that aims

artwork, dance and stories. Learning in

to promote and showcase dance in ACT high

these areas is integrated into general

schools and colleges. CGGS’ involvement

classroom programs as well as being taught

has been long-standing and our students

by specialist teachers and through the co-

love being a part of this fun, energetic and

curricular program.

community based co-curricular activity.

The Waterman Centre and Drama Centre are home to the Arts in the Senior School (in addition to the myriad activities undertaken in the Music Centre). On any given day, these spaces buzz with creative energy.

"I’ve been a part of Dancefest since Year 9. At first it was to just to have fun with my friends and dance but now it’s because of the experience. Dancefest

From Year 7 Drama students developing

allows me to become more confident

theatrical skills such as self-expression,

and open as a dancer and a person

trust and discipline, to young women in

overall. It gives me a break from my

Years 11 and 12 participating in specialist ‘light painting’ workshops. The pursuit of creativity is evident across the campus.

In addition to the extensive Creative and Performing Arts offerings in the curriculum, CGGS is recognised for its broad cocurricular program which enables students across the School to extend themselves and follow their artistic passions.

20 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

school academic commitments and allows me to relax, while being part of a lovely, inspiring and supportive community of girls.”

Alex Walker, Year 12.

The co-curricular Drama program, broken into three categories – Years 7–8, Years 9–10 and Senior productions – not only

Top: Senior performance at Dance Festival 2018.

Above: Sophie McGlade (Year 11) and Alex Walker (Year 12) feature in a ‘light painting’ created by Senior Photography students.

affords students the chance to perform in front of their peers and the wider school community, but also opens the door for production and direction opportunities.

"Co-curricular drama has been an extremely rewarding experience for me. I have been involved in many co-curricular productions including Steel Magnolias and directing the Year 7–8 production. This has allowed me to make lasting friendships with girls from other years,” said Year 11 student Noa Zwikael.

“Acting has also given me a lot of confidence which had a positive effect on my everyday life. I would highly suggest participating in co-curricular drama to anyone in the school community.”

CELEBRATING the Journey

WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER ANNIE – THE MUSICAL With the announcement that CGGS would be performing Annie as its major production last year, the corridors were humming with excited girls keen to show off their acting, singing and dancing chops. Not to mention the squeals of delight when canine guest star ‘Murphy’ took to the stage to make the announcement!

Director Fiona Mahl collaborated with many others across the School to bring Annie to life. With Mia Byron and Evie Harrison sharing the lead role and Stephanie Maclaine as Miss Hannigan, Junior and Senior School students featured both on and off the stage. Our musicians, led by Mrs Natalie Guile brought the much-loved soundtrack to life, while textiles

students (and teachers!) created stunning costumes and members of the Creative Arts faculty produced sets featuring the New York skyline.

At the annual Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Awards Gala Night held earlier this year, our production of Annie was nominated in seven categories. Stephanie Maclaine (Year 12) won the award for Best Youth Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, while Conductor and Musical Director, Natalie Guile won the award for Best Musical Director for a School or Youth Production.

These awards represented the culmination of many months of planning and rehearsing by a large group of staff and talented students, who all contributed in their own way to create a show which they can all be very proud of.

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“Working with our students in the production of Annie was certainly a privilege – it was also really enjoyable.

To receive a CAT nomination was a great honour – to actually win the award for Best Musical Director for a School or Youth Production was an amazing surprise. It was so lovely to be recognised for the role I took in the production, especially given the pleasure it was to work with our dedicated and talented students.”

Natalie Guile

“Being given the chance to play the part of Miss Hannigan was such an incredible opportunity. Her character is so extravagant and allowed for me to play around with things I hadn’t had a chance to do before. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and led to my first CAT Award. I worked so hard for this performance and put in a lot of effort and it definitely paid off. I am so grateful to have been given that opportunity and I am so excited to see what other opportunities come my way.”

Stephanie Maclaine

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Stephanie Maclaine as Miss Hannigan.

Evie Harrison as Annie and Anna Khan as Grace.

3 Danny O’Neill as Daddy Warbucks with Evie 1

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4 C AT Award winners, Natalie Guile and Stephanie Maclaine pictured with voice coach, Helen Swan.

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The cast of Annie with orchestra.

Harrison as Annie.

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 21

FROM THE PARENTS & FRIENDS ASSOCIATION A VIBRANT AND ENGAGED SCHOOL COMMUNITY DOESN’T HAPPEN BY CHANCE BUT RATHER THROUGH A STEADY BUILDING OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS – EVERYONE AT THE SCHOOL. ULTIMATELY, WE WANT THE SAME THING; A PLACE WHERE WE AND OUR FAMILIES FEEL WELCOME, CONNECTIONS ARE MADE AND A JOURNEY IS SHARED FOR THE TIME THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE AT CGGS. THE P&F’S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO DO JUST THAT; BRING PARENTS TOGETHER FROM ELC THROUGH TO GRADUATION. 1

Activities this year have included; ff Co-ordinating and staffing the Junior School Athletics Carnival kiosk which was furnished with delicious donations from parents ff Running a sellout Trivia Night in August ff Turning student art into lasting memories with the Junior School fundraiser ff Showcasing and celebrating the CGGS community at our annual Fete in October ff Recognising teaching excellence and outstanding contributions to the School through our P&F Awards

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Our secondary purpose is to fundraise to provide those special extras – supplementary items to enrich the experience of the students at CGGS. Ranging from a grand piano and choral risers in the Junior School, to a sailing dinghy, resuscitation mannequins, speakers for STEM workshops, robotics equipment to extend the EINSTEIN program and develop digital capabilities in our students…and plenty more.

The P&F is comprised of people just like you with children in years Prep through to Year 12. Being on the committee is not feasible for everyone but we welcome your contribution be it in hours, cakes or ideas!

Get involved; it is rewarding and your children appreciate it too.

Our next AGM is on Tuesday, 12 March 2019.

All CGGS parents and friends are welcome to attend any meeting at any time throughout the year. See you there!

Kim Champion de Crespigny PRESIDENT P&F ASSOCIATION 2018 22 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

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With thanks to:

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Peter Arnaudo, Sue Borgo, Kim Champion de Crespigny, Wendy Craig, Gerard Foley, Janice Green, Peter Henson, David Jameson, Lisa King, James Palmer, Nerissa Richardson, Karen Roberts, Vikki Templeman, Gayatri Urologin, James Valentine, Danielle Young and Heather Yuill.

Winners of the 2017 P&F Staff Awards – Murray McKay, Vikki Templeman and Ross Hicks (not pictured, Robyn Hetherington).

P&F Association 2018 Committee 2 3

The ever-popular used books stall.

Fete stall showcasing our Junior School Young

Entrepreneurs 4 T he Quad buzzing with activity at the Fete.

5 P&F Trivia Night at Yhuuramulum, August 2018.

6 C hildren enjoying interaction with farmyard animals at the Petting Zoo. 7 Boarders’ Fairy Floss stall.

CELEBRATING the Journey

80 YEARS OF THE GRAMMARIANS’ GARDEN STALL

A very familiar face at our annual fete is Margaret Cornwell (Archer, 1951) who, along with other dedicated Grammarians, propagates plants year-round and gets them ready for the adored Grammarians’ Garden Stall.

This year the stall celebrated 80 years of contributing to the CGGS community through the sale of plants at the fete.

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It is partly Margaret’s (very) green thumbs – she regularly volunteers at the Old Parliament House Rose Gardens – that sees her contributing so enthusiastically year after year. More importantly, it is the family tradition her father started

80 years ago that motivates her to keep serving the CGGS community.

“My father, Keith Archer – who was a member of the School Board – started the garden stall at the annual fete in 1938 and continued to contribute until I took over in 1970,” said Margaret.

These days, fellow Grammarians, Sanchia Glaskin (1965) and Penelope Lithgow (1986) join Margaret to ensure our community have a wealth of choice when it comes to buying plants. We thank them greatly for their dedication and ongoing support of the CGGS community.

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Top: Keith Archer (centre) at the Garden Stall in 1986.

Above: Sanchia, Penelope and Margaret at the 2018 Fete.

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GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 23

LETTER FROM A GRAMMARIAN Mrs — teachers like Mrs Hartshorne and I was so lucky at Girls Grammar Tregonning my love of books and words. Mrs Thompson fuelled and supported me that when I forgot to leave. Mrs Virr told never kicked me out of the library was about ld wor the said connected to others. She every country and its people were ecosystems, not just land masses. ugh to (pay the world so I could care about it eno Mr Kent made science relevant to al context, oric hist its enwell put the world into attention) and try harder. Mrs Gre ent. pres the ed in the past that has led us to challenging us to ask what happen book, The Barrier.

These are all themes that are in my told me I my confidence, took me aside and Mr Joyce and Mrs Rose, after I lost to myself I needed to learn to be a better friend was my own worst enemy and that Vandermark n was the best, forget the rest. Mrs instead. Mr Joyce also said Hawthor Perhaps the greatest things I and told me to just keep writing. in Year 5 gave me my first journal took from Grammar were an ing from Grammar were an understand Perhaps the greatest things I took understanding that women excitement about learning, and a an g, thin any do can en wom that can do anything, an excitement ily. group of friends who are my fam about learning, and a group of I studied Law re whe SW UN to t wen and 2 199 friends who are my family.

I graduated from CGGS in wondering why Commerce? I still are I and nds frie My ce. mer and Com me a lovely boy who would go on to beco travelled the world for a year and met an international law firm. don for ten years where I worked for my husband. This kept me in Lon about 2012, I came up ia where we had our fourth child. In tral Aus in e hom my to d rne retu In 2010, we t novel. for air and started writing my firs ll me. That might seem er, I’ve always loved words. They thri emb rem may hers teac lish Eng As my old meditation and and. Writing is my therapy. It is erst und will ers read ate sion pas weird to some, but exhilaration in equal measure. community in Sri Lanka , because I felt I had a duty to my God Sun the of g Son el, nov t I wrote my firs book is my love letter to my country’s many narratives. This and in the diaspora to tell one of our where they came from. I think it children. I want them to understand ancestors – it is also a gift to my ’re going. will help them work out where they t. learn from the mistakes of our pas my fears for the world if we don’t law an tari ani I wrote my second novel to set out hum al internation erstand the role and limitations of My work as a lawyer helped me und ts subvert civil liberties. men ern s to society when gov pen hap t wha me ed show also It in conflicts. advice I offer my four children: same unsolicited (and unheeded!) the r offe I S, CGG of ents stud the To be brave.

Be grateful, be kind, be honest and SHANKARI CHANDRAN (1992)

SUMMARY OF SHANKARI’S NOVELS Song of the Sun God is a story of three generations of Australian Sri Lankan women and the choices they make to survive Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war. It follows their lives from Sri Lanka to Australia as they flee one home to create another. It weaves together themes of family love, duty to homeland and the moral compromises and consequences of war.

The Barrier is a gripping, near-future thriller that intertwines war, disease, biotechnology and religion. It asks, what would happen to the world if an Ebola pandemic and religious wars converged? Set in the year 2040, a new world order has emerged. The West has built a wall between itself and the East, the movement of people is banned, there is a virus, a vaccine and an apocalypse. But in what order?

24 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

CELEBRATING the Journey

NEWS FROM GRAMMARIANS

The Grammarians’ Association Canberra Girls Grammar School

DIMITY AZOURY (2006) shared the lead role in The Australian Ballet’s Production of The Merry Widow in Canberra in May 2018.

Dimity Azoury began dancing at the age of four in her home town of Queanbeyan, New South Wales. She studied for eleven years at the Kim Harvey School of Dance in Canberra before moving to The Australian Ballet School

in 2005. She was accepted into The Australian Ballet in 2008, where she has had the opportunity to travel to Paris, London, New York, Japan, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Dimity was promoted to soloist in 2015 following her debut as Baroness von Rothbart in Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake, and to senior artist in 2017.

Katerina Babajanov.

Barnacles #1 (2018) by Annabel Butler.

KATERINA BABAJANOV (2015) has been training with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy since 2017 and earlier this year, performed on the Bolshoi Theatre stage in Moscow, Russia – dancing in Don Juan.

SARAH COUPLAND (1981) Professor Sarah E. Coupland is a senior Consultant Histopathologist at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital (RLUH) and is also the George Holt Chair of Pathology at the University of Liverpool, England. Her areas of expertise include Haematopathology, Ophthalmic Pathology and Oncology, Molecular Pathology, and Biobanking.

ALIX BIGGS (2012) headed to the University of Oxford to start her Masters in Migration Studies in September 2018. She is attending thanks in part to a Gowrie Scholarship.

Top: Dimity Azoury (photo courtesy of The Australian Ballet).

Above: Amy Braddon.

ANNABEL BUTLER (1985) held a solo exhibition, Barnacles, at Stella Downer Fine Art in Sydney during August and September 2018.

More of Annabel’s art has been featured in past Grammar Reports (issues 96 and 101). Annabel Butler has exhibited extensively in Australia, as well as internationally in New York and across Europe. Her work features in a number of private and public collections in Australia.

AMY BRADDON (2002) graduated from the University of Southern Queensland in 2016 with a Master of Arts specialising in Editing and Publishing.

She leads the Ophthalmic Pathology referral service at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals which has one of the three referral centres in England for adult ocular tumours.

She is also Director of the North West Cancer Research Centre at University of Liverpool.

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 25

"The main influence school has on me was to not even raise the suggestion that as a woman I should be limited in what I could achieve in life."

Helen Curtis

Professor Sarah Coupland (photo courtesy of Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group).

Sarah recently won the prestigious International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Ophthalmic Pathology Award.

HELEN CURTIS (1982) was awarded the 2017 ACT Women Lawyers Association Woman Lawyer of the Year – Government category.

Helen attended CGGS from 1977 to 1982.

She was involved in many aspects of school life – sport (hockey, softball, netball, and athletics), debating, ballroom dancing (after school in the old gym), house plays, the school magazine editorial team, Robertson House Captain as well as receiving reasonably good marks.

“I was pretty chuffed to get voted by my Year 12 peers for the school spirit prize given by the Old Grammarians Association,” said Helen. To this day, Helen is still close friends with girls she met on her first day of Year 7: “Many might remember me as Dino – a weird nickname that stuck.”

At the end of Year 12, Helen applied to study PE teaching as well as Law – because she couldn’t decide what she wanted to do.

It was her father who suggested that law might be the better option for her.

Helen feels honoured to have received the award for ACT Women Lawyers Association Woman Lawyer of the Year – Government Category, particularly as these were the inaugural awards for the ACT.

26 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

Top: Helen Curtis.

Above: Sally Hirsch.

Sally Holbrook.

“I believe it was in recognition of both my practical approach to helping clients as well as the contribution I make to the development of more junior lawyers. I have now ended up working in the same

and five years in the USA. She has founded an edtech start-up, Tracker Apps, which develops software for schools who use the International Baccalaureate programmes.

The company specifically focusses on apps that support student agency and help students and teachers track skill development.

Department my father was in for many years – so some kind of synchronicity!”

SALLY HIRSCH (CRESWELL, 1995) completed her Doctorate in Education in 2016 from the University of San Francisco and moved to Malaysia with her husband, daughter and two dogs in March 2017. Since being in Malaysia, she has enjoyed getting to know the local community, and experience tropical living after ten years in Switzerland

SALLY HOLBROOK (1997) was awarded with a commendation at the ArchiTeam Awards for her PerfPad project in 2017 and made the shortlist for the 2018 Houses Awards for the same project. Sally established her architecture and interior design practice, NORTHBOURNE, four years ago.

CELEBRATING the Journey VERITY MCWILLIAM (1994) was appointed as ACT Supreme Court Associate Judge in June 2017.

Verity began at Canberra Girls Grammar School in Year 5 and continued her schooling at CGGS all the way through to Year 12.

From there she went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Hons I) and Bachelor of Laws at the Australian National University followed by a Master of International Law at the University of Sydney before starting her career at a local Canberra firm. She practiced at the NSW Bar from 2006 and previously worked as an associate to two Federal Court judges, a solicitor in the NSW

Verity McWilliam speaking at the CGGS Founders’ Day assembly, May 2018.

Crown Solicitor’s Office and for PwC Legal in Sydney and DLA Piper in London.

CGGS was delighted to welcome Verity back to the School as the keynote speaker at both Junior and Senior School Founders’ Day assemblies in May 2018.

KATRINA MARSON (2007) was named the 2016 ACT Young Lawyer of the Year.

When she was at school Katrina says she was always ‘pretty active’ in co-curricular interests.

“I did netball, piano, coxed rowing for a while. I occasionally did debating. I was

also one of the SRC reps for my cohort in Year 12. " said Katrina. "I was also fairly studious though. I liked doing well in my subjects, especially English, History and Legal Studies”.

On graduating from CGGS, Katrina went straight to the Australian National University (ANU) where she studied Arts/ Law and also obtained her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. Towards the end of her time at university, she helped found ANU Volunteers, in part with fellow Grammarian, Jessica Saunders (2007).

students is to, “Pursue what it is you want to do, and to always maintain a degree of self-belief. While we all doubt ourselves from time to time, have the confidence that you can achieve. Trust your own judgement and values, and make sure you have fun.”

GEORGIA O’BYRNE (2012) was awarded 1st Class Honours in Classics from the University of Queensland in 2017 and this year was awarded a University of Queensland medal. This recognition is a reflection on the love for ancient history which was instilled in her at CGGS.

“I really enjoyed engaging with the ANU and broader Canberra community in that

Katrina Marson.

Hana Sayers.

way. I then did my legal placement at the ACT Department of Public Prosecutors (DPP) and went on to become a prosecutor there, most recently as a family violence prosecutor. I’m now on secondment at Legal Aid ACT in the criminal practice.”

HANA SAYERS (2002) was named ACT Midwife of the Year 2016.

When asked how she felt about being awarded the 2016 ACT Young Lawyer of the year, Katrina said: “It’s a real privilege.

There were many stellar nominees and the Canberra legal community has a lot of talented young lawyers, so I feel honoured.”

Katrina’s advice to Canberra Girls Grammar

After receiving her award, Hana was featured in HerCanberra’s Women in Work segment, where she talked about what it was that made her want to study midwifery at the University of Canberra and, what she does to support women and families during and post pregnancy.

Not only does Hana support and empower women to make the most of their birthing experience, but she also works hard to raise awareness about the benefits of

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 27

skin‑to-skin contact and its ability to increase breastfeeding rates.

Within only three years of being a midwife at Calvary Hospital, Hana increased skinto-skin contact for a group of mothers who often miss out on this: those who’ve had caesarean sections.

In addition to this Hana has also been working on a project raising money to purchase a Cuddle Cot, a piece of equipment which allows parents to spend time with stillborn babies to say a proper goodbye. Hana says she instigated training around how they support these families in a very compassionate and sensitive way.

GAIL TREGEAR (1957) has written a book titled No Time for Toys, about her ancestor Sarah Thatcher. The book, which was launched at the Commonwealth Club on Wednesday, 29 August 2018 is available through Xlibris and Amazon, among other outlets.

KYLIE WALKER (1991) is the CEO at Science & Technology Australia and in October 2017 was named Chair of the Australian National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Kylie had always wanted to be a journalist and after leaving school she moved to Bathurst to study for a journalism degree at Charles Sturt University. After graduating she

then that I wanted my next steps to be in this area," said Kylie.

“Now, as CEO of Science and Technology Australia, I’ll be working to lobby and raise awareness on behalf of all Australian scientists and technologists, and to improve public understanding of science.”

When asked what made her choose this career path Kylie said that she has always pursued work which is meaningful and in which she can learn more about the world, challenge herself, try new things, and meet really interesting people.

At school she studied all the mandatory Science subjects up to Year 10, and then took

Veronica Tamsitt (photo courtesy of UNSW Research).

Gail Tregear.

Kylie Walker.

VERONICA TAMSITT (2007) defended her PhD at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego on 1 March 2018 and has returned to Australia to take up a threeyear postdoctoral research fellowship at the Centre for Southern Hemisphere Ocean Research, based in Hobart.

won a cadetship with the ABC and spent the next ten years in journalism, culminating in the federal press gallery where she was the national health, medical and science reporter for Australian Associated Press.

Chemistry and double Maths in Years 11 and 12 (along with double English, Media and Politics).

“I got a real kick out of reading about medical research, in particular, and knew

SAVE THE DATE: FOUNDERS’ DAY AND REUNION WEEKEND ff Saturday, 4 May 2019 – Chapel Service, School Tours, Reunion Lunch and Music Academy performance

28 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

ff Monday, 6 May 2019 – School Tours, Founders’ Day Assembly, Lunch and Badge presentation

“Although I’ve always been fascinated by science, I wasn’t actually very good at it.

Just ask Mr Kent.”

Kylie’s advice to current CGGS students – “Don’t be afraid to test new ideas and try new things – and don’t be deterred if you fail, because failure is a really great learning tool.

If you are true to yourself, follow your passion, work hard and have fun, you can’t go wrong.”

CELEBRATING the Journey

BIRTHS

ENGAGEMENTS

ABIGAIL BOETTCHER (MEADOWS-BATAGOL, 2005) and husband Richard welcomed their second baby girl, Emmeline Jean on 17 September 2016 – a baby sister for Jemima Jane born 28 January 2015.

AMY BRADDON (2002) and Sean Kearney in August 2017 in Rome – “It was magic!” said Amy.

Right: Emmeline Jean Boettcher with sister Jemima.

TESSA GOUNDAR (O’BRIEN, 2005) and her husband Shiv welcomed their first baby on 18 September 2017 – Louie Michael Goundar. Louie’s middle name is in memory of Tessa’s dear father who they sadly lost in 2016. "Louie is just the most darling little boy. We are very lucky to have him," said Tessa.

Right: Louie Michael Goundar.

DIANA HEMMINGWAY (2004) and her husband Neil Jenkins welcomed a baby boy, Julian Alexander in May this year.

Right: Amy and Sean.

PHILIPPA CROWTHER (2012) became engaged to Eliot Bassili whilst on holiday in the USA in August 2018. Philippa and Eliot met in Year 12 when they were School Vice-Captains at CGGS and CGS respectively!

Right: Philippa and Eliot.

TANYA GUNASEKERA (2012) is engaged to Joshua Howarth.

The proposal took place on the balcony of Lui Bar overlooking Melbourne. Tanya and Joshua met in Canberra although both were living in Melbourne at the time.

Right: Tanya and Joshua.

Right: Diana and Neil with their son, Julian Alexander.

MEGAN HODGE (KNOWLES, 2001) and husband Anthony welcomed their second child, a boy – Hugh Douglas Hodge on 22 March 2018. A brother for Ella who was born in 2012.

Megan is living in Brisbane, and is a primary school teacher at Calvary Christian College.

Right: Anthony and Megan with their children Ella and Hugh.

CATHERINE KNIGHT (WAY, 2003) and David Knight are delighted to announce the birth of their son, Bradley David, born 22 February 2018 at The Canberra Hospital, weighing a tiny 2.845kg. His sister, Alana, now 3.5 years old, is a very doting big sister and the two of them are always smiling or laughing with each other," said Catherine.

Do you have a story to tell? We love hearing from our alumni and encourage you to share your journey with us. Tell us what being a Grammarian means to you and how life at the School helped shape who you are today.

Please contact Alumni and Events Manager, Rebecca Turner grammarians@cggs.act.edu.au or 02 6202 6403.

Did you know The Grammarians’ Association on LinkedIn and Facebook? Join our private LinkedIn group and Like our Alumni Facebook page to keep up-to-date with school news, events and information.

Facebook www.facebook.com/canberragirlsgrammaralumni LinkedIn Canberra Girls Grammar School Grammarians’ Association

Right: Bradley David Knight.

GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 29

WEDDINGS PIP AGNEW (2008) and James Miller married at Pialligo Estate on 21 October 2017 at Pialligo Estate, Canberra. Grammarians Victoria Hone (2008), Olivia Holt (Roberts, 2008), Laura Agnew (2005) and Rebecca Wojcik (2008) were members of the bridal party.

VALE JESSICA RAINBOW (2011) and Billy Bourchier married on the 6 January 2017 at Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens Brookfield near Brisbane in Queensland.

Top: Jono Cvetanoski, Victoria Hone (2008), Thomas Miller, Olivia Holt (Roberts, 2008), James Miller, Pip Miller (Agnew, 2008), Robbie Mardus, Laura Agnew (2005), James Hart, Rebecca Wojcik (2008).

NICHOLA BENNETT (MCNALLY) 21 January 2017.

Nichola was a much-loved teacher in the ELC and Junior School. She fought bravely after undergoing a lung transplant. A memorial for Nichola was held at the Chapel of the Annunciation on 17 February 2017.

Top: Nichola Bennett.

Above: Joy Bowerman.

Above: Sarah and Julian D'Arcy with their bridal party.

SARAH D’ARCY (FLEMING, 2006) married Julian D’Arcy at Bendooley Estate in Berrima on Friday, 16 February 2018. They had about 90 guests in attendance including four Grammarians in the bridal party: Samantha Saals (Fleming, 2002), Nadia Daly (2006), Susan Healsmith (2006) and Michelle Hemmingway (2006).

OLIVIA HOLT (ROBERTS, 2008) married Nic Holt at the National Gallery of Australia on 19 November 2016. Her bridal party consisted of Grammarians Alice Roberts (2004), Pip Agnew (2008) and Lauren Sewell (2008) as well as Susie Magin.

OLIVIA ORCHARD (2012) married Luke on 18 March 2017.

30 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

JOY BOWERMAN (WATERMAN, 1938) on 1 December 2016. Joy was the daughter of Herbert Roy Waterman, she started at St Gabriel’s at Glebe House in 1926 and was a prefect in 1938.

Top: Nic and Olivia Holt with their bridal party.

Middle: Billy and Jessica Bourchier.

Above: Elizabeth and Trevor Smith.

ELIZABETH SMITH (WILSON, 2008) married Trevor Smith at Gold Creek Chapel, Canberra on 7 January 2017.

DEL COLEMAN (CALTHORPE, 1935) on 26 April 2017. One of our school’s first students who lived to be 98 years old.

Dell (she preferred Del) was the elder daughter of the Calthorpe family, Dawn (1940) being the younger. In 1927, the family moved from Queanbeyan to Canberra where Del, warmly supported by her parents Dell and Harry Calthorpe, attended a new school.

In 1927, at age eight, Del was an early pupil of St. Gabriel’s in Glebe House, the location of which is now marked by a plaque near Glebe Park. There she won prizes for Divinity and Elocution.

CELEBRATING the Journey Her main interest and skill was in playing the piano as a private pupil of Irene E. Kermode (Mrs A.G. McDonald) who gave lessons in Eastlake (Kingston). At the age of nine, Del gained a first class pass in music in the London College of Music Examinations.

For the rest of her life, playing the piano was Del’s great passion.

In 1928 the School moved from Glebe House to a new Tudor-style building in Deakin, followed in 1933 by a change in name to the Canberra Church of England Girls’ Grammar School. Del was in Kilburn House and recalls wearing a red and white tie.

In 1935 Del was appointed School Captain.

The dates of her school attendance, ‘1927 –1935’ were inscribed on an inkwell, a gift from the Committee of the CCEGGS to the School Captain.

One of the most exciting events of her school days was her presentation, along with thirty-seven others, as a debutante.

The ball was held in Parliament House in October 1934 on the occasion of the visit of HRH the Duke of Gloucester.

who was overseas at that time. He came to the School in a time of rapid change. He was instrumental in the formation of the Gabriel Foundation and in its early growth.

In the first six years, the Foundation gave over one $1 million to the School.

In 1938, after leaving school, she represented the Old Grammarians’ Association on the School Council (Board) which at that time was chaired by Bishop Burgmann.

He is also remembered for introducing superannuation for the staff of the School and for the establishment of the School shop which began to sell new uniforms in addition to recycling old clothing.

As a prospective bride she attended an evening class in embroidery given at the school by Elizabeth Davies. By the time she married former Duntroon cadet S.T.G. ‘Dave’ Coleman in 1940, she proudly added handembroidered items to her trousseau.

Jill Waterhouse (1962) (Del’s niece and god-daughter) TIMOTHY CHADWICK on 5 September 2018.

Tim was very involved in the early days of the School’s Rowing Club. He is survived by his wife Sian and three daughters, Claire (1995), Sophie (1997) and Hannah (2000).

ALTHEA DE SALIS (MOUAT, 1934) on 20 June 2017. Loving mother of Adrienne (1961), Phillipa (1970), grandmother of Kathy Knight (1994) and aunt to Penelope De Salis (1974).

SHIRLEY MAY FAULDER (1949) on 31 August 2018 in Yass. Wife of Ben and mother of Bronwyn, Lea, Wendy, Stephen and Fiona.

Loving grandmother and great grandmother of their children.

Desmond is fondly remembered as being very supportive of his staff, arranging meals at his home and sending flowers and visiting sick staff. He also allowed full time staff in the business office to have a day off in November to do their Christmas shopping. On a more amusing note he also sang a lot and talked very loudly and had red and green lights installed on a toilet in the administration area so everyone knew when it was occupied.

Desmond also served as President of the Australia-Britain Society (ACT) and as a Trustee of the Australia-Britain Foundation and was instrumental in the construction of Magna Carta Place and its memorial in the Parliamentary Triangle. He was associated with many other organisations and in the Canberra community including The Cook Society, St Johns Ambulance, Rotary and the Lords Taverners.

AVM DESMOND HALL CB, CMG, CBE, AFC, KSTJ on 23 April 2017. Desmond was the Business Manager of the School from 1983 until 1992, after distinguished service in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He had adjusted his age and was just 20 years old in 1945 at the Above: Del as a student at St Gabriel’s.

In 1935, the School was only nine years old with a total of 86 students from Kindergarten to the Leaving Certificate.

In 1935 Del was one of only three listed as passing the Leaving Certificate (Year 11), the best of her five subjects being English.

Along with fellow students, Del helped organise the Treasure Hunt and other entertainments at the school fete, an event that was absolutely essential as a money raiser.

end of WWII). He stayed in the RAF serving with distinction in Britain’s nuclear-armed V Bomber Force and was one of a unique group that flew each of the V-bomber variants, Vulcan, Valiant and Victor, during the Cold War. Following a period as Air Officer Commanding, Malta, his final posting was as British Defence Adviser at the British High Commission in Canberra.

Desmond was recruited in England to administer the Gabriel Foundation and was interviewed by a member of the Board

Desmond Hall (taken from the 1992 Business Office Staff photo).

Desmond’s wife Mavis, who was also very supportive of his many activities and in his role at the School, died not long after Desmond on 29 July 2017.

An example of service to others, Desmond will be remembered for his kindness, his generosity and his enduring contribution to the School.

David Holmesby CHAIR OF THE GABRIEL BOARD GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104 | 31

CARYL HASLEM OAM on 6 May 2018. Caryl was a very familiar face at Girls Grammar in the 1970s and 1980s.

Vivacious, intelligent and enthusiastic, she left an indelible mark on the school.

Caryl’s association with the School began when her and husband John’s youngest daughter Sophie (1989) attended the preschool on Grey Street, Deakin, in 1975.

Three years later, oldest daughter, Emma (1985), commenced in fifth grade. In 1980, Sophie returned in third grade, having attended the infant school at nearby Canberra Grammar School. Both sisters continued at CGGS until the end of Year 12.

Caryl took a very active interest in her daughters’ schooling, joining the Parents and Friends Association, later becoming its first woman President. She then joined the School Board, heading its Strategy Committee, and becoming a driving force behind the Gabriel Foundation.

after Sophie graduated, accepting a position as Foundation Executive Director of her old school Shelford in Melbourne in 1995 to establish its foundation.

REUNIONS

Caryl is survived by John; Emma and her children – Thomas, William & Harry; Benjamin and his children – Barnaby & Edward; and Sophie and her children – George, Arthur & Alice.

As part of Founders’ Day weekend activities in May 2018, an excited group of 23 women from the class of 1968 met in the foyer of Canberra Girls Grammar School for their 50 year reunion.

Benjamin Haslem JAYSON HINDER (1981) on 30 April 2017. Loved husband of Lisa. Loving father of Madeleine, Nigel and Oliver. Much loved son of Colleen.

BERYL LIBBY on 20 April 2017 in Canberra.

Beryl was a Teacher of Divinity, Commerce, Secretarial & Computing at the School between the years of 1968 and 2000. She was the Head of Kilburn from 1984.

Jane Bennett, Rosemary Brewster, Christine Hart (Stuart), Rhondda Dickson and Verona Burgess at 1968 Reunion, May 2018.

In our day it was a much smaller school it was then – the archival photographs of our two year groups showed a year group of about 50 girls. Most recognized each other quickly and there was a mixture of laughter and tears.

Her efforts led to her being the School’s representative on the ACT Chapter of the National Council of Independent Schools and then ACT representative on the National Body. She also strongly supported the foundation of Radford College.

Jean McLennan at 2015 Founders’ Day Lunch.

JEAN MCLENNAN (SHEPHERD, 1939) on 24 April 2017. Mother and mother-in-law of Stewart and Lesley, Ian and Pamela.

Grandmother of Jack, Austin and Claudia.

Sister and sister-in-law of Bob and Roma.

RAE OLSEN (GREENWOOD, 1942) on 12 June 2017.

Caryl Haslem OAM.

Her input and enthusiasm were recognised when she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to Education and the Arts in 1990.

Caryl’s family was well known at the School.

Her husband John – the Federal Member for Canberra 1975–1980 — was also on the Gabriel Foundation Board.

Caryl’s passion for education continued 32 | GRAMMAR REPORT No. 104

CLASS OF 1968

FREDA WHITLAM (1936) on 30 May 2018 in Sydney, aged 97. Sister of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Freda attended Canberra Girls Grammar School and later became a French teacher at the School.

We enjoyed morning tea and a lovely welcome from the Principal, Mrs Anne Coutts. A tour of the school followed with our charming Girls Grammar guides. Those who were boarders relived their boarding days with a tour of the Boarding House.

We were amazed at how the school had grown and developed and we felt that the young women attending the School today are given every opportunity to pursue their ambitions and live their dreams, whatever they may be. After the tour we headed off to University House at the ANU for our reunion lunch complete with speeches, toasts, and beautiful food. Photographs and other memorabilia were displayed and Susann Morgan (Lambert) provided a beautiful celebratory cake complete with the school logo. The highlight of the event had to be the meeting up with old classmates and the sharing of past stories and reminiscences including one from a former student who had been a boarder since the age of six!

CELEBRATING the Journey Chapel service followed on the Sunday morning and then most of us re-assembled for school assembly on Monday where we listened to an inspiring speech from another former ‘old girl’.

We headed off, rather rowdily – and with gentle threats of being put on detention if we didn’t behave – and enjoyed a light lunch at the new Girls Grammar facility, Yhuuramulum

Top: Letty Lees (Hallam), Barbara Swinbourne (Pryce) and Judy Laity.

Above: Christine Hart (Stuart), Julie Colman (Overall) and Christine Thearle (Davidson).

(well, we didn’t have anything like that in our day!). We received our commemorative badges and again spent time with our friends.

We would like to extend our thanks for a wonderful weekend to Mrs Coutts, and Rebecca and Laura from the Community Relations office. We would also like to extend our best wishes for the future to all the girls at Girls Grammar and especially those in Year 12. We look forward to welcoming you as the new group of ‘old girls’!

Jane Turbayne (1968)

BURRAWI Every edition of Burrawi is now on display outside the Multi-Media Theatre in the Gabriel Centre at the Senior School campus. The installation shows the

CLASS OF 1978

CLASS OF 1998

There was a lot of chatter as twenty or so members of the Class of 1978 explored the School after having left 40 years ago. Some changes were applauded, others were not, but all agreed the School had changed and grown so much. There was lots of laughter as we remembered teachers, events and

On Saturday, 19 May 2018, 42 members

Members of Class of 1978 at their reunion tour of the School.

Class of 1998 reunion celebrating at Hotel Realm.

buildings (in particular, the freezing old science labs and the old PE showers where the Chapel now lives). We also had the opportunity to visit the Boarding House and saw how much more comfortable it is now.

for many years. There was much reminiscing

That evening the noise was even greater as nearly 50 not-so-old-girls met at The Ottoman for great food, much talk and reminiscing (and a drink or two). Social media has made it so much easier to keep in contact (in our day, computer studies involved paper cards, lead pencils and a trip to a giant computer at the ANU). Many who were unable to attend still made contact and shared their news with us on our reunion Facebook page. It was a most enjoyable evening.

Kingdom met for lunch in London and

of the Class of 1998 reunited for a tour of the School, followed by a lovely evening at Hotel Realm.

It was wonderful to catch up with friends and to reconnect with others we hadn’t seen

of adventures had, times past and plenty of chatting about what we’ve all been up to for the past twenty years. On the same day, a few of our classmates who live in the United celebrated the milestone from afar.

Thank you to the organisers and to CGGS for welcoming us back, we look forward to our 50th reunion.

evolution of Burrawi and how far we have come in recognising students' achievements.

While undertaking research for the collection, we discovered quite a few gaps in the publication of Burrawi since its inception in 1934. The missing years are: 1943, 1945–1950 and 1955–1958. The reason as to why those years were not published seems to be

austerity measures, which makes sense given it was during and after World War II. However, if you have any more information about why these issues were not printed, please do let us know!

Top: Cover of Burrawi 1992 featuring student artwork by Adrienne Firth (1994).

Above: Cover of Burrawi 2006.

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ARCHIVES Following our 90th Anniversary celebrations in 2016, a gallery of past Chairs of the School Board has been installed in the Senior School Boardroom.

If you have a spare minute, please pop into the Administration Building to have a look. Unfortunately, there are some gaps

CONSERVATION TIPS HOW TO EFFECTIVELY REMOVE OLD, YELLOW AND DAMAGING STICKY TAPE IN YOUR OWN HOME One of my most frequently asked questions from members of the community is how we remove sticky tape from documents.

Conservators use a number of methods to remove sticky tape and one of the most effective methods can be attempted at home. Many self-adhesive tapes are heat sensitive and will release from the page more easily when heat is applied.

It was difficult to find examples of any documents in the Archives where sticky tape was evident (we try to remove it immediately), which is wonderful! I delved

in our collection and we need your help to complete our gallery. If you, or someone you know, have a photo of the following past Chairs, please contact me via email archives@cggs.act.edu.au ff Dr Dickson: 1948 – 1951 ff Mr Andrews: 1952

into the depths of Archives and uncovered a Canberra Church of England Girls Grammar School Balance Sheet from 1954 that had some tape along the edge. Even though the tape was not damaging any text or images, it is still important to remove it.

Step 1 Depending on where the tape is, and the fragility of the document, I use a hair dryer set to warm, or therapeutic pads that can be heated in the microwave. Keep a distance of approximately 15cm from the yellow-taped section of the document and move the dryer up and down the tape until it starts to activate, about ten seconds. Use a scalpel, or a plastic spatula, and carefully lift the tape away from the document Before you start – test a small area first.

Bishop Gordon Arthur: 1961.

Canon Robertson: 1935–1936.

ff Mr Kenneth Henry Oliphant: 1953 ff Mr Piggin: 1957 ff Mr R S Swift: 1974–1977 ff Reverend Neil R Edwards: 1978–1982

It is a good idea to test a small section of tape to see if it responds to this treatment method – the tape should become more ‘gooey’ with the application of heat and should come away from the paper without lifting any of the surface. If you seem to be lifting fibres or layers of paper with the tape then another method of removing .the tape is necessary. All other methods involve solvents and should not be attempted at home.

Step 2 To remove any adhesive residue left behind, use crepe rubbers or gum erasers. These rubbers are available from conservation and art supplies stores like Eckersley’s. Use small circular motions to ‘ball’ the adhesive residue and then lift it from the document.

Unfortunately, even when you can remove the tape carrier and adhesive, a stain will often remain. These stains are a disfiguring reminder of the evils of sticky tape as a method of repairing precious documents. It is always better to leave a page torn than to repair it with sticky tape. Place the pieces in a plastic sleeve until you can get them properly repaired by an expert.

If you need help removing sticky tape or would like to know more, please do not hesitate to contact me on the details opposite.

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If there is a particular conservation issue you would like to see explained in the next issue of the Grammar Report, please let me know. Alternatively, if you would like to see me privately about an issue plaguing your own collection, I am more than happy to help – please do get in touch.

1954 Balance Sheet prior to conservation work.

Yellowed tape before treatment.

3 After treatment.

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CELEBRATING the Journey

THANK YOU Thank you to the following people for their help in identifying all the girls in the 1969 Form 6G photo which featured in the last issue of Grammar Report: ff Janet Ilchef (Campbell, 1969) ff Annabel Ochiltree (McFarlane, 1973) ff Catherine (1977) and Rosemary (1969) Hook ff Alison Brown (1969) ff Ann McGonigal (1974) Here is Form 6G of 1969 with all the names, thank you for all your help!

Back row – Christine Button, Marian Currie, Janelle Christian, Suzanne Gee (dec), Katy Jones, Vicky Berry-Smith, Claire Gidley-Baird Middle row – Leigh Elliot, Linda Boreham, Sally Bannerman, Alison Brown, Debbie Cramp, Jane Ballard, Suzanne Heatley Front row – Mary Green, Jenny Hoare, Marilyn Hughes, Marianne Henchman, Tessa Frazer-Oakley, Lindy Hardcastle, Janet Campbell Absent – Form Mistress, Mrs Shaw (then Deputy Principal)

Form 6G in 1969.

As always, if you have anything you would like to donate to the Archives, either as a past student or a member of our community, please do not hesitate to contact me.

There are many gaps to fill in the School’s colourful history – any artefacts or photos or memories are greatly appreciated.

Amalta Sahay ARCHIVIST Phone: 02 6202 6457 (8:30am – 3:30pm) Email: archives@cggs.act.edu.au

Additional thanks to the following people who have recently donated various artefacts to the Archives: ff Charlotte Harper (1989) for her donations of the Record Books ff Margaret Cornwell (Archer, 1951) for the brown brief case, newspaper articles, photos and tidbits only she can find! ff Carolyn Wilson (Hick, 1990) for her donation of her school uniform and various Burrawi ff Jillian Smith (Swan, 1972) for her donation of one of two Grammar Reports missing from the Archives, Issue 76 ff Janice Polak (Ginn, 1958) for her donation of both the missing Grammar Reports! We now have a complete set in the Archives ff Yvonne Fetherston for donating her daughter Julia’s (2004) prize books ff Nicki Vance (1977) for donating uniforms and a Robertson poster from her time as Sports Captain ff Ros Lindsay, former Head of Boarding 1997–2006, for donating the CCEGGS Boarders’ Recipe Book 1995

CAN YOU HELP? UNIDENTIFIED GIRLS 1955 CHOIR This is the 1955 Choir pictured with Miss Burilda Millett, a Music and Choir Teacher at CCEGGS from 1941–1957. We have a couple of names, however, it would be lovely to put a name to all the faces. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Canberra Girls Grammar School Melbourne Ave, Deakin ACT 2600 T: 02 6202 6400 | F: 02 6273 2554 CRICOS provider No. 01294F ABN 67 008 559 331

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