Past Students’ Association report

Past Students' Association

FROM THE PRESIDENT

It’s been a productive start to the year for our Past Students’ Association. We thank those who offered their expertise and experience as mentors in the successful Meet with Success program, attended by 150 Year 10 and 11 students and their parents. We hosted another entertaining Star Women Speak event. Philanthropist and lover of the arts, Krystyna CampbellPretty (1969) captivated us with the story of her acquisition of the Dominque Sirop Collection which she has donated to the National Gallery of Victoria in memory of her late husband, Harold. Krystyna also shared her reflections of her education at Star which fostered a love of learning and developed her strong sense of social justice. I look forward to seeing many of you at our next Star Women Speak on 1 September when we will welcome writer and performer, Clare Larman (1976), and when the Star community unites for the second Mass of Remembrance on Sunday, 6 November. Frances Tobin (1980)

NEXT STAR WOMEN SPEAK – THURSDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER

Don’t miss writer and performer, Clare Larman (1975/76), who will talk about her life as a “left-of-centre” performer and the importance of a supportive community of women. Visit https://vimeo.com/152513236 for an excerpt from Clare’s most recent work, This Thread is Strong, performed at La Mama in November 2015.

STAR WOMEN SPEAK: KRYSTYNA CAMPBELL-PRETTY (1969) – PHILANTHROPIST & ARTS LOVER

Melbourne-based Krystyna Campbell-Pretty showcased her donation to the NGV of the Dominique Sirop Collection which includes 130 outstanding examples of French Haute Couture from 1880 to 1980.

Krystyna worked as a researcher and strategic management consultant with her late husband, Harold, in a successful business, providing strategic counsel to multi-national organisations. She currently focuses on philanthropic and other endeavours, providing opportunities for disadvantaged children to experience the visual and performing arts. It was a wonderful night. Krystyna started with her reflections and memories of her time at Star. She spoke of receiving “a better than world-class education” from a group of highly intelligent and dedicated women. She spoke passionately about fashion being an expression of society’s values and described clothes as “historical documents”. Using photographs taken by the NGV curatorial staff, Krystyna showcased nineteen pieces placing them in a social and historical context and interpreting them and their designers in a most engaging and informative presentation. Judging by the lively post-presentation discussion and the enthusiasm for closely examining the garments, this Star Women Speak event was a stunning success.

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1. Krystyna Campbell-Pretty 2. Hayley Fagan, Susie Cordia, Jacqui Constable & Geraldine Fagan 3. Mary Hawkins, Bernadette Sullivan & Krystyna CampbellPretty 4. Trish Keenan, Elizabeth Hutchinson & Sandra Diafas 5. Emma Callil, Sue Callil, Karina Dea & Sue Dea 6. Frances Tobin, Krystyna Campbell-Pretty & Marta Pearson 7. Madeleine Commins, Helen Commins & Sue Venner

Past Students' news

Sally Ann Ryan, Helen Laing & Katherine Lane

Jodie Nelson (Stock - 1983) graduated from Melbourne University in 1987 with a Masters in Audiology. After working at Australian Hearing as a clinician - services included paediatric audiology, a clinical leader and an educator - Jodie moved to Bern in 2014 to be part of the research team of Bernafon, a Swiss hearing health company that manufactures hearing aids. Jodie is a member of the Coady family. Six of the Coady sisters (Liz, Terry, Claire, Sue, Jill and Jenni), Jodie’s sister, Lisa Stock (1976) and two of Jodie’s cousins, Clare and Sarah O’Bree, all attended Star. Jodie’s mother, Liz Coady (Stock - 1952), was President of the Past Students’ Association.

Helen Laing with the Honourable Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria

The Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) has three former Star students working in the Cancer Information and Support Service. Sally Ann Ryan (1991) is the CISS Office Manager, Katherine Lane (2003) is Nurse Manager of the CCV’s 13 11 20 telephone service and Helen Laing (Scanlan - 1963) is a CISS volunteer. Helen’s sixteen years of voluntary service was recognised with a 2015 CEO award, received from the Honourable Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria.

Jacqui Chaplin (1984) launched her two-in-one book, Disclosure: casting out the shadows plus strategies for mind health resilience, in 2015. After twenty years of living with a depression diagnosis, Jacqui was officially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type II in 2013. She speaks openly and comfortably about resilience and mind-health matters. Jacqui hosts a weekly radio program, But I Feel Good, talking about pink elephants (resilience strategies) and black dogs (depression and other downsides of mental illness). She also speaks publicly about living a fulfilling life with a mood disorder. To purchase a copy of Disclosure, visit http://www.jacquichaplin.com/amemoir