6 minute read

Where are they now?

Laura Barden (2012)

I am and always will be an extremely proud Carey Grammarian! I cherish many memories I have from my time at Carey from 2007–12, and I am incredibly grateful for the support, guidance and endless opportunities I received.

After leaving Carey, I completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in food science, at the University of Melbourne, while also pursuing my love for hockey and training with the Victorian Institute of Sport. In 2016, I was selected to join the Australian Women’s National Hockey Squad, relocating to Perth to join the centralised training environment. I proudly wore the green and gold bodysuit for 42 international capped games in the following two years. Unfortunately, I was not selected for the 2018 National Squad.

Still feeling like I had unfinished business and a strong desire to make it back into the squad, I moved to Holland, the hockey capital of the world, to learn and develop my hockey with undoubtably some of the best players in the world. Not only did I develop as a hockey player, but I felt a real sense of growth as a person. I learnt a bit of Dutch and came home with a new desire to become a nurse. Through some sacrifices, hard work, determination, and constant love and joy for the game, I was able to earn my spot in the 2020 National Squad off the back of a strong performance during the HockeyOne competition in 2019. I am now back living in Perth, halfway through my Master of Nursing, and training hard to get to Tokyo and win a gold medal.

Carey taught me a lot, but the most important lesson was to chase my passions with determination and grit. As long as I work hard at what I love and pursue my dreams, even when faced with challenges, I can be proud of everything I do. I feel so lucky to have spent six amazing years at Carey because I know my time there truly shaped me into the person I am today. Carey offered me more than an education: it offered an opportunity to thrive in every aspect of life.

Jan Sherry (Hartnett, staff 1981–2002)

To me, the spirit of Carey is characterised by the many lasting friendships I have with staff and students from my time at the School. Carey is a place that cares for people both personally and professionally, has a positive approach and emphasises service in all spheres of community life.

I joined the Commerce department at Carey in 1981. During my 22 years at Carey, I saw the transformation from the early days of co-education to one where girls made up almost 50% of the student body, the acquisition and development of the Donvale campus, the introduction of the International Baccalaureate, the School’s International Accreditation, and the introduction and development of computer technologies into education.

Over my time at Carey I was encouraged to take on a diverse range of roles and responsibilities by each of my three Headmasters/Principals. This included my time as the first female Head of House at Carey for Newnham House, Director of Curriculum and Dean of Studies. I was also awarded a threemonth travel scholarship, giving me the opportunity to visit schools in the United Kingdom, Canada and USA, and I was fortunate to be supported to complete my Master of Education where the first year was run within the School.

After leaving Carey, I set up a consulting business and continued my involvement in education through the Incorporated Association of Registered Teachers/ Centre for Strategic Education, the Independent Education Union and the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) where I played a key part in drawing up the codes of conduct and ethics for Victorian teachers, worked as a field officer and also as an investigator. I am currently a member of the pool of Hearing Panel Members for the VIT.

Since 2007, I have lived on three acres in the Macedon Ranges where I’m able to indulge in my passion – building and nurturing gardens – and I volunteer with Open Gardens Victoria.

Frances Goh (2006)

I attended Carey from Year 7 to 12, and I was actively involved in the student community as Middle School Captain, Senior School Vice-Captain, Prefect, Girls First Badminton Captain and I represented Carey in inter-school debating and orchestra. I cherish the lifelong friends and mentors the School has given me. After Carey, I graduated from the University of Melbourne with a double degree in Commerce and Arts.

Beyond academics, my education at Carey taught me life skills, like how to lead a values-based life and the importance of community, both locally and globally. This held me in good stead for my university exchanges in Boston and Beijing as well as my time working in Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

The numerous and multi-faceted opportunities afforded to me by Carey’s co-curricular program instilled in me the principles of creativity and collaboration. This has led me to my current work in the social and corporate innovation space, where I am Director of Strategy and Innovation at the management consulting firm kin8. I am also currently Head of Community at One Roof, a collective movement reshaping the world of work for women.

Since leaving Carey, I’ve returned to contribute to the lives of both students and teachers. Some examples include speaking at Year 10 careers evenings, running holiday programs for Year 7 and 10s teaching entrepreneurship and startup skills, holding an after-school series of talks for teachers on the topics of innovation and technology, as well as presenting at staff days about the new ways students will work and study in the 21st century.

I’m excited to be a part of the OCGA Council this year. I want to help reconnect alumni with their alma mater through interesting events and initiatives that are especially relevant for the challenging times we are living in.

Rodney Cummins (staff 1964–76)

I was not a Carey student, but the School has always been an important part of my life. I became a teacher at Carey after my return from Germany, where I had been teaching at the Berllitz School of Languages for about four years. When I stepped ashore, there was a letter from the retiring Headmaster, Mr Hickman, asking me to come in for an interview. Another teacher of German was needed, so I stepped into the position.

The School, both staff and students, could not have been more welcoming, and they remained so for the 11 years I taught at Carey. I have many great memories, such as the task I was assigned to stand at front entrance to make sure that all the boys were wearing their caps correctly! Then there were the lunchtime patrols of the school grounds, and the Saturday hockey matches at Bulleen. I also loved the annual student camping events to the Victorian countryside or Tasmania.

I made some wonderful connections with staff, such as the Vice-Principal Arthur Sandell, who recruited me into the World Educational Fellowship. For many years I was the secretary of the Victorian Branch. I was also a member of a small group of staff that explored the possibility of co-education and recommended it to Carey. When I look back at this, it is with great satisfaction.

Before I arrived back in Australia and joined the Carey staff, I taught English on board the ship. One of my students was Robert Rosen, who became the conductor of the Australian Ballet. When he retired, I suggested to Mr Cramer that he be employed in the Carey music department. Carey gained a fabulous musician! And perhaps still lurking in the department is a harpsichord I built.

But my connection with the School runs even deeper. A little while after I left Carey, I inherited an 19th-century book about my family. Believe it or not, in the book I read that my grandfather five times removed, a Baptist pastor, was a close friend of William Carey and helped him establish the Missions to India!

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