Fintona File - Autumn/Winter 2019

autumn/winter 2019

FINTONA FILE The BI-ANNUAL Magazine of Fintona Girls’ School

great things come from a small package

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Contents PAGE 3 From the Principal

PAGES 16-17 Netball teams score goals

PAGES 4-5 VCE Results

PAGES 18-19 Girls being active

PAGE 6 ELC

PAGE 20 Girls active with technology

PAGE 7 Junior School

PAGE 21 Cabaret Night

PAGE 8 Middle School

PAGES 22-23 Meet our Teachers Simon Burke Jackie Dimattina

PAGE 9 Senior School PAGE 10 Our Young Achievers PAGE 11 Meet our Deputy Principal Sarah Carter

PAGES 24-35 OFA Deaths, Obituaries, News of Old Fintonians Reunions Annual Giving

Important Dates for 2019 JUNE

SEPTEMBER

Monday 10 Queen’s Birthday

Tuesday 3 ELC-VCE Art and Design Show

Friday 14 Report Writing Day - Student free day

Thursday 5 and Friday 6 School Play – The Red Shoes

Saturday 22 Fintona Gala

Sunday 8 – Friday 13 Year 7 camp

Tuesday 25 + Wednesday 26 Junior School Student Led Conferences

Thursday 12 Junior School Musical

Friday 28 Term 2 concludes JULY Tuesday 16 Term 3 commences for students Thursday 18 Year 10 VCE Information Evening Monday 22 Strings Soiree Thursday 25 Harp and Piano Soiree

Friday 13 Term 3 concludes OCTOBER Monday 7 Term 4 commences Thursday 10 VCE Art and Design Show Wednesday 17 Valedictory Evening Tuesday 22 Year 12 Final Day NOVEMBER

PAGES 12-13 Meet our Consuls

Tuesday 23 Year 9 and 10 (2020) Information Evening

PAGES 14-15 Our Community

Friday 26 Dads’ Beef and Burgundy Night

Wednesday 6 Fashion Runway

Monday 29 - Friday 2 August ELC Student Learning Conferences

Monday 11 Year 7 (2020) Information Evening

Tuesday 30 Guitar and Percussion Soiree

Friday 15 Middle School Orientation Day

Wednesday 31 VTAC Information Evening

Monday 18 Student Free Day – Report Writing Day

AUGUST Thursday 1 Years 5 to 8 Student Learning Conferences Fintona File Autumn/Winter 2019 Number 75 Published by Fintona Girls’ School 79 Balwyn Road, Balwyn Victoria, Australia 3103 CRICOS 00139C

Editor Vicky Kapourelakos and Janine Mayer

Professional photographer James Byron

OFA Editor Kate McPhee

Contributors We thank all our staff, students, parents and OFA members for their articles, news stories and photos.

Cover photo Linh Duong, Mathangi Sritharan and Elizabeth Pantazis participating in P: +613 9830 1388 an orienteering exercise Design F: +613 9888 5682 as part of the Year 7 JWB&CO E: fgs@fintona.vic.edu.au Outdoor Ed Day www.jwb.com.au www.fintona.vic.edu.au Back cover Print Matisse Miles and Ellikon friends participating in This document has been produced to international the bike exercise duringenvironmental management standard ISO14001 by a certified green printing company.

Year 7 Outdoor Ed Day This document has been produced to international environmental management standard ISO14001 by a certified green printing company.

Wednesday 14 Junior School Parent Led Conferences

Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 Mid Term/Melbourne Cup Holiday

Monday 18 ELC (2020) Orientation Day Friday 22 Year 12 Dinner Sunday 24 Food & Wine Festival

Monday 19 Vocal Soiree

Friday 29 Junior School Orientation Day

Wednesday 21 Woodwinds and Brass Soiree

DECEMBER

Tuesday 13 Annual Music Concert Tuesday 20 Careers Breakfast Friday 23 Friends of Rowing Trivia Night Tuesday 27- Friday 30 ELC Father’s Day Breakfast Thursday 29 Junior School Father’s Day Assembly Friday 30 Middle School Father’s Day Breakfast

Monday 2 Junior School Presentation Evening Friday 6 Final Day for students TOUR DATES 9.15am to 11.00am Monday 24 June Friday 16 August Thursday 10 October For more information on our upcoming tours, visit our website or contact the Registrar on 9830 1388.

From the

Principal

At

Fintona our students are constantly supported to live our motto, Age Quod Agis – do what you do well. As learners and individuals they work actively to explore who they are, what they are capable of achieving and how they can support others. We observe this in so many ways on a day to day basis - it is embedded in our community such that it is the norm rather than the exception for all that we do.

Being active is the theme for this edition of the Fintona File, which not only aligns strongly with our motto but encompasses all that we hold in high regard in education and that which we encourage - in life, friendships, service, and physical and intellectual pursuits.

The core program at Fintona supports girls to be active in their learning at an intellectual level, connecting learning to life, being curious and developing a love of learning and independence of thought that will stand them in good stead as they move beyond

great things come from a small package

school, but more than that, an education at Fintona encourages them to be active in so many other ways.

We want our girls to be physically active and we see this in their weekly timetabled program from the earliest of our learners right through to Year 12, with physical activity not only being great for our body but also our brains supporting mental health, social interaction and boosting one’s physiological condition to maximise learning.

Over and above the formal program and the strong and active House competition, our girls, almost without exception, participate in at least one GSV sport competition, rowing or Saturday netball program, as well as many individuals who also play sport at the local club level, dance or engage in some form of martial art.

Performance is another area in which our girls are active. Music ensembles, soirees, concerts, Cabaret Night, School Productions, Shakespeare Day, House Music and Drama and assembly events are just some of the areas in which our girls choose to challenge

themselves, develop and hone their skills and work as a team to realise each performance.

Performance also extends to the broad range of activities both within our regular program as well as the co-curricular opportunities for speaking presentations such as House debating, DAV debating, World Scholars’ Cup, EM Butt Public Speaking competition and United Nations Evatt Cup, as well as local and interstate events in which our girls participate.

Our girls are passionate and active in raising awareness and supporting issues affecting young people, health, social justice and the environment.

Through our range of social service programs across the school, girls actively engage in and learn more about issues in the broader community – local national and international. The awareness and interest begins in the Early Learning Centre with events like the Pyjama Day which raises awareness of the homeless youth in our community and money raised which goes to the great work Mission Australia is undertaking

to support those who are less fortunate than us; through to events such as the Relay for Life supporting research into cancer.

Girls on the Senior Campus ran a range of active and fun events in the lead up to Relay for Life which included the ‘sit up’ challenge, bake sale, head shave of two members of staff and then a 20 hour walking event where girls, staff and families of the Fintona community joined to share in a visual display of support and remembrance for those they have lost, those who are dealing with or have survived cancer.

Behind each and every event, in all that we do, are the very passionate staff who support the girls in all pursuits, from the formal to the less formal, and who work with our girls when an idea springs to mind or a cause needs to be supported.

We are all active in striving to do what we do well.

Age Quod Agis Rachael Falloon Principal

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2018 VCE Results We congratulate the Year 12 Class of 2018 for their excellent academic achievements which affirm Fintona’s long-held position of being one of the State’s highest performing girls’ schools.

With a median ATAR of 93.9, one fifth of the Class of 2018 achieved an ATAR of 99+ placing them in the top 1% of the State and 60% achieved an ATAR of 90+ placing them in the top 10% in the State.

Principal, Rachael Falloon said: “The Year 12 cohort embraced the full range of opportunities afforded to them at Fintona, and leave with an outstanding education and set of skills that will no doubt carry them throughout life, whatever path they may travel.”

Median ATAR is

99+ 95+

90+ 4

93.9

A future full of exciting possibilities awaits the Class of 2018

The Class of 2018 is also to be commended for not only performing at the highest academic level but also for the rich contribution they made in so many areas to our community and for upholding the School’s values with integrity and honour.

Our VCE success would not be possible without the unwavering dedication and guidance of our teaching staff who have supported our students not just in Year 12 but throughout their time at Fintona.

We especially congratulate our three Duces, Zhihan (Lily) Cao, Rachel Lang and Anastasia Patralis who all achieved an ATAR of

Median ATAR over 7 years is

99.75

95.1

Median Study Score of

36

20% of students

achieved an ATAR of 99+ placing them in the top 1% of the State

43% of students

achieved an ATAR of 95+ placing them in the top 5% of the State

60% of students

achieved an ATAR of 90+ placing them in the top 10% of the State

30% There were two perfect study scores of

50 achieved

of Study Scores above 40 Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Victoria University 2%

RMIT University 7% La Trobe University 5%

Deakin University 15%

100% RMIT University 7% La Trobe University 5%

Deakin University 15%

University of Melbourne 43%

of our students received aMonash university offer with University 80% receiving their first or28% second preference.

great things come from a small package

Tertiary Institution Class of 2018

Me Biom

Monash University 28%

Victoria University 2%

Tertiary Institution Class of 2018

University of Melbourne 43%

Science 19%

Music 2%

Medicine/ Biomedicine 15%

Tertiary Courses Class of 2018

Chart based 2 offe

Arts 12% Design 2% Education 2% Engineering 2%

Health Sciences 19%

Law 4% Chart data based on Round 2 offers

Business/ Commerce 23%

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ELC The

International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) encourages student empowerment and active citizenship, whilst supporting the children’s levels of participation in both the curriculum and their social environment.

First term in any classroom sees the children establishing new relationships with their teachers and peers as they navigate their new classroom. As part of the settling-in process, each ELC class developed an Essential Agreement. The Essential Agreement is part of the PYP and is negotiated by and between the children. Rather than teachers imposing their own rules on the children, everyone in the group works together to establish an agreement of how the classroom will function. Essential Agreements are created for the purpose of collaboration and teamwork.

In Term 1, during Morning Meeting times, each ELC class engaged in discussions about the important things needed to ensure their classroom is a safe and happy place. The children, in collaboration with their teachers, then decide on the key values to be included in their Essential Agreement. These were then documented in various ways by the children, including through the use of words and illustrations.

The Essential Agreement – Active Citizens

The classroom Essential Agreement documents are available for the children to access and reflect upon in their classroom throughout the year. Because the children lead the process of creating the Essential Agreement they have ownership over the document and feel responsible for ensuring that both they and their friends are committed to its values. The Essential Agreement highlights both the ability of the children to collaborate together on a shared goal and the active nature of their citizenship in their classroom.

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1. Katie Bowen discussing the Essential Agreement with the children in her Wattle class 2. Kiara Lam creating her Essential Agreement ‘We are all friends’

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Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Junior School

Active Beyond the Classroom

Life

in the classroom has seen the girls in the Junior School engage in vigorous learning and inquiry. The International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme encourages the girls to seek opportunities to further their understandings of the world and to enhance their skills in all areas of the curriculum. In addition to their learning in the classroom, the girls are active participants in events and learning experiences that promote their social wellbeing and develop their talents and interests.

The girls have a range of activities in which they may choose to be involved. Their choices are many, and cater to their interests and desire to try new things.

Activities such as Jazz Ballet, Chess, Netball, Musical instrument tuition and Girl Guides are some of the activities available to the girls beyond the classroom curriculum. These activities allow the girls

to experience new forms of learning and increase their repertoire of skills.

Being active participants in learning beyond the curriculum and the classroom activates the minds of the girls and stimulates their imagination; it increases their skill development and co-operation with others. Taking part in these activities allows the girls to work in teams, think of others, be open-minded and reflective, as well as have fun.

Ms Eleni Goulas Head of Junior School

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1. L -R: Madeleine Chamberlain, Liana Razzaghighadikolaei and Pollyana Sprague practising their ballet 2. Lillian Preston loves attending the weekly Girl Guides 3. Chloe Singh loves playing chess

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Middle School

Class project on Aquaponics wins a Science Talent Search Bursary

Active

learning can take many forms and in the Middle School, students often engage with materials, demonstrate a process, apply concepts and collaborate with each other. Teachers act more like facilitators enabling students to become critical thinkers.

In Term 4 last year, the Year 6 class demonstrated exemplary techniques of active learning with their award winning Science Talent Search investigation that resulted in a bursary, one of the highest honours of the competition.

Students investigated the purpose of the nitrogen cycle by growing plants on top of a fish tank. Students delegated roles within the experiment, so that they could maintain, measure and record data regarding plant growth and water quality.

There were three tanks, testing which substrate had the maximum plant growth over six weeks. With the data collected, students created tables and graphs so that they could successfully analyse their results. Throughout the process, students were encouraged to think critically about their findings and what they represented.

Students took ownership of the project and developed the direction that the experiment needed to take next. In order to direct the experiment, student’s knowledge of bacteria, pH levels, plant requirements and basic chemistry were developed and increased so that they were able to analyse the data collected.

Students incorporated a variety of skills into their learning including Microsoft excel, research skills, data collection, analysing data, water testing, safety and risk assessment and valuable cooperation and collaboration skills.

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1 At the conclusion of the experiment students then came together as a class, to produce the scientific report that was entered into the Science Talent Search Competition. Due to the success of this STEM project, we are going to continue with this active learning and experimental research this year.

Lara Dresser Year 6 Teacher Ruth McKinnon Head of Learning, Curriculum and Development

2 1. Year 6 students were awarded a minor bursary and a medal at the Science Talent Search Awards for their aquaponics project 2. L:R: Elizabeth Pantazis, Mathangi Sritharan and Linh Duong checking their plant growth as part of their award winning Science Talent Search investigation

Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Senior School

Year 9 students actively engage in the community as part of Connections

“My favourite part of the program is seeing what is available in the city. I look forward to every Connections day; it’s so fun to explore the city with my friends and I love the sense of independence.”

Kristen Goh

A

longstanding yet recently redesigned fixture of the Fintona curriculum, Connections, endeavours to enrich students’ understanding of social, cultural and community contexts by addressing the challenges that exist in our contemporary times.

The program has been tailored to our Year 9 cohort with the objective of fostering active citizenship, reflective practice and advocacy for change.

Connections operates in concept modules whereby students investigate a topic per term via site visits conducted in the CBD. This year our modules are defined as culture, community, service and sustainability. Within the cultural module, students explore Melbourne laneways to unpack art practices and politics. They investigate the multi-cultural landscape of our city and acknowledge local indigenous customs past and present.

The soon to commence ‘community’ module will see students evolve empathetic responses to urban issues such as homelessness and marginalisation thus breaking down stereotypes.

community. To complete the program, students traverse the responsibilities of contemporary citizenship by learning to live with a sustainable mindset to minimise their impact on our earth. We collaborate with CERES, assess architectural responses to ecological crisis and harness the power of plants in the carbon cycle to mitigate climate change.

Students also investigate fair trade and ethical decision making unpacking products and the impact of consumerism. Another embedded intention of the program is building student independence through self-navigated transport to and wayfinding within the urban landscape of Melbourne. Engaging in collaborative discussion and reflection through journaling further supports students’ sense of responsibility and forming of identity and values.

Ms Clare Sanders Year 9 Co-ordinator, Art & Design Teacher

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2 1. Year 9 students on a guided Urban Art Crawl in AC/DC lane 2. L-R: Lara Siriani, Zoe Stefanatos and Sophie Fitsioris at the Koori Heritage Trust interacting with indigenous tools and weapons

In Semester 2, students will partake in service placements activating their opportunity to give back to their great things come from a small package

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Our Young Achievers

Maia (left) and Genevieve

Maiysha’s climate change message spreads across the school

Flying to Silver

Zara organisers Roots and Shoots tree planting

Maia and Genevieve lead the way as Zoo conservationists

Year 12 student and Environment Captain, Maiysha Moin, represents a new generation of young Australians who are speaking up and demanding action on climate change. Her environmental activism journey came to the limelight with her interview on the Today Show last year and various media outlets in promotion of the School Strikes across Australia.

Since then, her passion for climate change and sustainability has manifested in establishing Climate Leaders.

Congratulations to Lani McKernan for achieving second place in the highly competitive Year 10 Butterfly field at the GSV swimming finals evening in April. Lani is a confident swimmer who has been swimming for many years and who has represented Fintona at GSV Sport on many occasions.

On May 11, Year 10 student, Zara Burk, as a member of Roots and Shoots, a youth-led organisation empowering young people to create solutions to global environmental challenges, had the opportunity to coordinate a tree planting event so that it could be offered to Fintona girls who were interested. The aim of the planting was to revegetate the Annulus Billabong area, at Yarra Flats Park in Eaglemont, an environment which has been degraded over time by extensive pastoral and human interference. The native flora planted is vital in revegetating and revitalising the ecosystem, as well as increasing biodiversity, and habitability for native fauna.

Zara, along with seven other Fintona girls, were lucky enough to meet Dr Jane Goodall, one of the world’s most active conservationists, during their tree planting day.

Former Middle School Environment Captains Maia Edwards (2016) and Genevieve Retallick (2018) were invited by Youth for the Zoo (YATZ), as part of a small group of nine, to facilitate a workshop with Dr Jane Goodall for primary school children. Both Maia and Genevieve are long serving members of the YATZ volunteering group which aims to educate young people, aged 13 to 18, about conservation at Zoos Victoria (Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo). Genevieve led a group of four students in Grades 5 and 6 and two teachers, assisting them in presenting to Dr Jane their project on Sustainable Palm Oil and the destruction of orangutans’ habitats. Maia’s role was that of facilitating the final Question and Answer session and thanking Dr Goodall on behalf of Zoos Victoria for giving of her time.

As the Environment Captain, Maiysha has established the Green Team, whose aim is to make positive, sustainable changes around the School that will help to improve our planet for the future. Maiysha and members of the Green Team will be focussing on ways for students and staff to recycle, compost, minimise water usage and break the cycle of fast fashion by organising a Pop-up op shop.

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Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Sarah CarterR Sarah Carter began at Fintona in Term 4 of 2018 and along with her responsibilities as Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School, she also teaches Year 10 Philosophy, an elective offered in Humanities. She has extensive experience as a Deputy Principal, having held this position at Catholic College Wodonga and at Stella Maris College, an independent girls’ school in Manly. Sarah has teaching in her blood and in this article we find out more about her impressions of Fintona, her views on girls only education and what inspires her.

Who inspired you to teach?

My parents were both teachers which in the beginning put me off to be honest. But then when I was older and thought about what it was that made their careers enjoyable – the collegiality, experiences and relationships, it became an easy decision.

I had two excellent Humanities teachers (History and Politics) in secondary school who were quite inspirational and I still often think of the lessons they ran and how engaged I was; inspiration for what I do and would like my students to enjoy.

Working at the Firbank Boarding House consolidated my decision to become a teacher. Working with those girls was a fantastic experience and taught me the value of good student/ teacher relationships.

What do you enjoy about working at Fintona?

Most definitely the staff and students. So many staff members have been welcoming and helpful. The girls here are impressive – intelligent, honest and friendly. They also have an excellent ‘can do’ attitude being involved in everything.

You often see students stick to one extracurricular – here it is not uncommon for great things come from a small package

Meet the Deputy Principal girls to be involved in music, drama and sport all at once! I really enjoy working in an environment that has primary aged students, having previously only worked with secondary students.

What is it about working in girls only education that attracts you?

Working with young women in an environment like an all girls school is really empowering. It’s great to see so many girls tackle tasks, subjects and activities without concerns about the boys watching, judging or making jokes. I really like that there aren’t many gender stereotypes in girls’ schools (increasingly there are no gender stereotypes). There aren’t many environments where this is the case.

In your experience, what do you believe has the largest impact on successful learning outcomes for girls?

Who is your inspiration?

The students I teach. Teenagers are often underestimated. Some of our students have huge challenges and they still manage to get to school each day, take on sports, community service, manage their friendships, work part time and have a social life. What the girls jam in everyday is inspirational. Many of the great teachers I have worked with over the years have also inspired me with their kindness, hardworking attitude and focus on doing the best for their students whilst having a good work and life balance.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to spend time with my friends, watch good movies and bad TV, read, spend time (out on the water) at the beach and travel both in Australia and overseas (especially distant places like Nepal and Russia).

Good relationships between students and staff are key. Girls learn better when they know their teachers, like them and care about them and not just in the classroom. I also believe that being organised, taking the time to get to know students, working smarter not harder, making time for conversation and talking about general topics, not just bookwork are important.

What is the best advice you can give students?

My best advice would be to be happy in your own skin, try hard not to become someone others expect you to be but who you really want to be. This is a hard thing to do sometimes so use the resources around you. Don’t be too shy to ask teachers, counsellors and your friends, parents, family for help. Being yourself sometimes takes great courage.

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Q&A Meet our Consuls 2019

Amy, you’ve already begun your School Consul duties, so what do you think is the best part about your role?

As School Consuls, Chee-Rae and I have had the opportunity to present weekly assemblies to the school community. This year we decided to outline three global issues that resonate with Fintona and explore one topic each term within our assemblies. So far we have focused on gender issues and our roles as women emerging in the political, social and cultural climate of the 21st century. In this way, consulship has allowed us to open conversations with our peers about their concerns surrounding body image, career possibilities and featured a strong involvement in International Women’s Day. What has a Fintona education given you?

Fintona, on top of the quality education it administers, has provided me with more than an understanding of economic principles and Latin grammar (although it is a pretty neat skill). The focus on individual development at Fintona, both in terms of social and moral growth, fosters a safe environment for girls to challenge themselves, building resilience in defeat 12

and celebrating shared victories. I feel that over my five and a bit years in this community I have broadened my cultural knowledge within our diverse student body and, through the opportunities in public speaking, debating, community service and overseas exchanges that have been afforded to me, I have achieved a more wholesome education.

Centre on the Christmas stage when I was three. I also enjoy a good game of tennis and get a little too crazy around Australian Open time going into full fan mode with banners and face paint. Keeping a balance of these extra curricular activities has been imperative in preserving my sanity, not only in Year 12, but throughout my secondary school education.

What are your future aspirations?

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don’t know about you.

Despite an ongoing desire to run away with the circus and perform trapeze, I will hopefully pursue a career in humanitarian law after school with a focus on refugee crises or environmental protection. This aspiration may seem the result of youthful naivety, and it probably is, but the political inaction against these global affairs demands change from our progressive and unapologetic generation, who will actually live to see the consequences.

What interests do you have outside of school?

In the pursuit of public humiliation, I continue to sing not only in my shower but also for people. I have been interested in the performing arts since an impromptu concert given at Doncaster Shopping

One summer morning in 2007 my brothers and I (me being four and them three and one) believed an excursion to Woolworths to buy their classic chocolate mud cake was a task we could undertake on our own.

So, stealing the keys to our Ford Territory, we embarked on a very brief but enthralling journey to our neighbour’s front yard. How we managed to start the car I don’t know. How we stopped it is no less a mystery. Nevertheless, our neighbour, who also happened to be a Supreme Court judge, was not overly impressed with our driving skills.

Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

The School Consuls for 2019 are Amy Chilcott and Chee-Rae Loi. Amy has been at Fintona since Year 7 and Chee-Rae since Year 5. In the ‘Meet our Consuls’ segment, we get to know them just a little better, find out about their aspirations and what motivates them.

Chee-Rae, You’ve already begun your School Consul duties, so what do you think is the best part about your role?

One of the best parts about being a School Consul is being able to add your own touch to the school. In the modern digital age that we live in, cyber-bullying has become increasingly and shockingly common in the lives of our generation.

Combatting bullying and promoting a healthy mindset was an issue that Amy and I wanted to focus on with the introduction of our National Anti-Bullying Day Picnic.

This year, it took place on 15 March with the entire senior campus, teachers included, showing up with snacks and picnic blankets to share with each other! It was a really fun lunch with lots of music and three-legged races!

What has a Fintona education given you?

One of the best aspects of a Fintona education is the abundance of activities, opportunities and leadership positions that I am sure I would not have had access to at another school. The public speaking competitions, language exchanges, GSV sport competitions and annual school plays have educated me beyond the great things come from a small package

applications of calculus. A Fintona education is a balanced one, and over my seven years at Fintona I can honestly say that I have developed in all aspects of who I am.

What are your future aspirations?

Actually, by some strange coincidence, all my relatives who were born in the Chinese Year of the Snake have become doctors, both of my grandparents included. 2001 was the Year of the Snake and my family has always told me that it was fate that I would also become a doctor, despite my four year-old self adamantly wanting to be a popstar. Much to my four year-old self’s disappointment, my popstar ship has sailed and after this mammoth year of VCE finishes, I would love to study medicine.

Both my grandparents are doctors and they have both said to me on numerous accounts that it is one of the most rewarding jobs; you might not change the world, but you can impact someone’s individual world.

over ten years. I love all things theatre, especially being a part of a production.

Aside from performing, I love to travel.

Experiencing new cultures, albeit they come with strange cuisines, is so fascinating to me and I love immersing myself in different ways of life. I have a long bucket list of countries to visit in the future!

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don’t know about you.

When I was eight years old, I was at home with my sister and I decided to try and cook dinner for my family. My dinner repertoire consisted of the humble 2-minute noodles. Alas, after succeeding in placing the noodles on the stove, my errant self wandered off and forgot about my culinary masterpiece. Thirty minutes later, the strong smell of burnt food alerted me to my noodles, but all that remained was a black charred mess on the bottom of the pot. I now cook 2-minute noodles in the microwave.

What interests do you have outside of school?

Outside of school, I’ve participated in drama and hip-hop/commercial dance for 13

Our Community Mothers and Daughters High Tea

18 May

Mother’s Day

ELC 7-10 May

Junior School 9 May

Middle School 10 May

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Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Grandparents’ Day

ELC Picnic

ELC 20-22 March

17 March

Junior School 20 March

Middle School 20 March

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Netball teams score goals

Netball

at Fintona is fun and inclusive and is the perfect way for girls to immerse themselves in the Sport program. Netball is underpinned by fundamental throwing and catching skills and assists students to develop their cardiovascular fitness. For girls at Fintona it also provides an opportunity to meet others from different year levels and forge lasting friendships. Being active and involved with a team sport such as netball provides the chance to build confidence both on and off the court and most importantly, adds a level of fun to staying fit!

The Fintona Netball Club began in 2013 with two teams entered to the local Boroondara competition.

Since then, the Club has grown to eleven teams and offers a program to all students from Years 5 to 12. In 2018, we began delivering a Net, Set, Go style of program to our Years 1 to 4 girls with the intention to develop their enthusiasm and skills for netball. Always a central focus for our coaches is to provide a happy and healthy 16

” There has been such a significant improvement in the program and this year I have really enjoyed coaching a Year 9 team.“ Tayla McKernan

environment in which the girls can play competitive netball whilst fostering a supportive team environment, consistent participation, personal commitment, fair play and the enjoyment of physical activity.

A key element to achieving these goals (no pun intended!) is the welcome involvement of our Year 10, 11 and 12 students who offer their time to coach and inspire the younger netballers under the direction of our new Head Coach, Ness Alexandra. Ness brings years of experience in our local netball scene as well as currently coaching representative level netball teams. One of these coaches, our Sport Captain Tayla McKernan, has been part of the Fintona netball program since she was in Year 5. Tayla recently reflected about her time playing and coaching netball at Fintona: “I feel really lucky to have been both a participant and a coach of netball during my time at Fintona. There has been such a significant

450

improvement in the program and this year I have really enjoyed coaching a Year 9 team. It has provided a great opportunity to get to know some of the younger girls in the School and it’s been a fun experience. It is also a chance to improve my leadership and communication skills. I really think that netball is a great way to interact with many people from other teams.”

Netball at Fintona is so worth your while being involved! It is really fun and the netball family welcomes you all.

Simon Bourke Sport Co-ordinator Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

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2

3

4

In 6 years fintona netball participation is up

%

Established in 2013 with two teams, the Club has grown to eleven teams in 2019 and offers a program to all students from Years 5 to 12.

1. 2018 Senior Winter Netball Champions with Sport Captain Tayla McKernan third from left in the back row 2. Arabella Boschetto, Year 7, looking for the perfect pass 3. Arina Foroodi, Year 8, leaping for goal 4. Dasheille Reid, Year 11, staying hydrated at quarter time break

1 great things come from a small package

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Girls being active 1

Active Coders

Active in sport

During the Term 1 school holidays, Fintona hosted a Code Camp for junior and middle school girls. With fun and excitement the girls learned to design, code, problem solve, build and play their very own games.

Students swam, rode and ran their way in the GSV Triathlon in February. For many it was their first Triathlon experience but certainly not their last.

Fintona participated in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence in March by asking everyone to bring along something for lunch to share amongst their friends. The picnic on the front lawn was a great success as Fintona students celebrated friendship over bullying and violence.

Active in philanthropy

It is wonderful to see the Fintona community come together to raise funds for causes. In March our girls and staff raised over $9,000 for Relay for Life. Another outstanding effort for team Fintona. Our girls planned and organised a series of events to raise funds for cancer including sit-ups in the gym, a bake sale, a sausage sizzle and in a brave act; Ms Christa Ackermann, Science Co-ordinator and Mr Chris Williams, Commerce Co-ordinator, had their hair shaved by very eager students.

The series of events culminated at the overnight event where the Fintona spirit of fundraising and community support was well and truly alive among students and staff.

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Active in promoting mental health

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1. L-R Iphigeneia Bablis, Jethya Perera and Ruby Herbert enjoyed making their own games at Code Camp 2. Competitors finish the swim in the GSV Triathlon at Altona Beach 3. A group of junior students share a picnic celebrating friendship over bullying

Active in the environment

Active in the great outdoors

Fintona’s Green Team, headed up by Environment Captain Maiysha Moin, is encouraging students and staff to be kind to the environment by organising a number of initiatives including bringing lunch containers from home instead of using plastic wrap, minimising the use of plastic cutlery and promoting ways to be more environmentally conscious.

These Year 8 girls were pleased with their raft building skills at Gembrook. Fintona’s Outdoor Education program encourages students in Years 1-10 to move outside their comfort zone with unique experiences tailored to their needs. Fintona girls can participate in mountain biking, abseiling, team challenges, cooking in the bush, canoeing, hiking and expeditions to name a few – promoting personal development, teamwork, environmental awareness in a fun and safe way.

4. Participating in the overnight Relay for Life is a Fintona tradition 5. Collecting cutlery for re-use is an initiative of Fintona’s Green Team 6. Year 8 girls enjoy the results of raft building during their outdoor education experience

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Girls active with technology There

are many examples in our curriculum where students in both the Junior and Senior Campus use digital technology to enhance their learning.

In Geography, students are now able to access simple Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to produce their own digital maps. Students are able to manipulate interactive maps, such as those in their Jacaranda Atlas and are then able to customise the map by digitally adding their own annotations and features (see Map).

Our VCE Geography students are able to use remote sensing imagery to determine glacial retreat due to climate change, in countries such as Greenland and Iceland. Later this year, our Year 7 students will participate in a collaborative Science and Geography department fieldtrip to collect and compare water quality and litter data at three sites along the Yarra River: upstream, midstream and downstream. It is planned that students will be able to use the networks of satellites that orbit the earth (GNSS or Global Navigational Satellite Systems) to provide locational information for this data. In addition, there are plans to utilise some of the numerous web-based and on-line spatial technologies to enhance students’ geographic understanding and knowledge.

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In the Year 9 ‘Code Camp’ elective, students extend their computational thinking skills using ‘Swift Playgrounds’ which is Apple’s learn to code platform. Through a series of challenging puzzles, students learn how to break down a big problem into smaller more manageable chunks and write code that can be re-used. They test their algorithmic thinking skills by finding efficient solutions to problems. Later in the year they will see how these skills are applied in the real world by participating in the NAB Work Immersion program to see how user experience, data analysis and cybersecurity are the real-world concerns of business today. Term 2 sees the coding students working on their projects for wearable technologies and robotics.

In the Junior School, students are provided with the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of technological experiences. Students are provided with the opportunity to develop their computational thinking skills through the use of physical devices such as Blue Bots, WeDo Robots or Dot and Dash Robots, or, via coding programs such as Blockly or Scratch. Each of these sessions are embedded within their Units of Inquiry.

This year, students have the opportunity in Prep to code a Blue Bot to help them dispose of their rubbish wisely, learn about force and motion

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2 through coding the WeDo Lego Robots in Year 3 or code an animated interactive water cycle using Scratch in Year 4.

Mr Alex Rossimel Humanities Co-ordinator Ms Mel Yuan Digital Technology Teacher

3 1. An example of a digital map of the Volga River produced by Annabelle Lee for her Geography Rivers Research Assignment when she was in Year 7 in 2018 2. L-R: Dayara Jayatissa and Charlotte Dowling use ‘Swift Playgrounds’ in their ‘Code Camp’ elective to make a robot move 3. L-R: Allegra Weedon and Audrey Masters-Fleming creating an animated motion using the Scratch app

Ms Laura Barker e-Learning Facilitator

Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

The Golden Age of Hollywood

Cabaret Night 2019 Friday

29 March saw all Year 5 and 6 students, as well as a number of students in Year 8, 9 and 10 perform at Cabaret Night.

Adopting a ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ theme, the night was a roaring success, despite nearly not going ahead due to a power outage in the late afternoon! Luckily, the electricity supply was restored in time, and we were able to forge ahead with what turned out to be a very memorable night of music, dance and comedy.

Congratulations to all of the performers who presented their very entertaining items throughout the evening, and a big thank you to all staff and parents in the Fintona community who attended Cabaret Night 2019.

Ms Karen Heath Music Co-ordinator

2 1. Charlotte Fels, Tap Dance, Singin’ in the Rain from Singin’ in the Rain 2. Tayla O’Neil, Tiffany Spencer, Helen Kyriakos Cabaret Night ‘The Golden Age of Hollywood’

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Q&A Meet our Teachers Simon Bourke Simon joined the staff at Fintona as Sport Co-ordinator in 2015 and since then has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Sport and Physical Education team as well as the broader Fintona community. He teaches Physical Education to students from Years 5 to 12 as well as the Year 9 elective ‘Australia’s Health’ and Year 10 elective ‘Sport Science’.

What do you love about being the Sport Co-ordinator at Fintona?

I draw great energy from the relatively small community that is the Fintona students, parents and staff. I find our School to be very people centred with great focus on the whole development of the girls.

I really like to witness the adrenalin and joy that sporting events bring to our students as they strive to challenge themselves whilst representing Fintona.

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What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about collaborating with people who strive for personal and professional excellence. I gravitate towards people who have a willingness to improve and are broad minded about their approach to life. I have been lucky to travel to various places around the world and have actively tried to take the path ‘less travelled’. Through these experiences I have met fascinating people from whom I have learnt a great deal. I hope that I have been able to reciprocate some positivity of my own along the way.

Where did you get your love of sport?

I was introduced to sport at a very young age and my family placed a high value on being involved in both individual and team sport. So, as a youngster, I was involved in Little Athletics, Soccer, Tennis and Football. I was encouraged to try as many sports as I wished and the only non-negotiable was that I had to learn how to swim.

What is your favourite sport?

That’s a difficult question!

I don’t have a particular favourite sport – rather, I really enjoy teaching and watching junior players and athletes at all levels. I am a long suffering Carlton supporter – so this has impacted my love of football in recent times! However, this season I have begun coaching an U18 regional girls’ football team and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with these young women who have had much success over their junior careers.

What message do you want to give to your students about the relevance of sport?

I hope that our students really grasp the chance to make lasting memories with their friends whilst being engaged with sport. Success can be measured in different ways. For some, winning a trophy or medal is the ultimate prize. For all, being actively involved in your life with your friends should be seen as a worthy triumph.

Tell us about the Sport program at Fintona and the attitude of the girls you teach?

The Sport program at Fintona is diverse. There are many opportunities for girls to try their hand to develop different skills in various competitive and non-competitive sports. I am proud that the girls display positivity towards their team mates, enthusiasm for the game and commitment to representing Fintona. I am often approached by other Heads of Sport who remark on the high level of our girls’ sportsmanship. This embodies the attitudes inherent in a Fintona sportswoman.

How do you like to spend the weekends and term breaks?

I like to spend the holidays catching up on some sleep!

Being out of the School and work routine is also relaxing. I like to catch up with friends along the surf coast where we (attempt!) to surf and from time to time I head interstate or overseas for a completely new adventure.

Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Jackie has been at the Fintona Early Learning Centre for the past 12 years and currently teaches the Pre-prep Young Thinkers Program for four and five year olds. She is a passionate educator and revels in the conversations she has with her children on a daily basis. Currently she is Acting Head of ELC while Cara Mearns is on Long Service Leave.

What makes the ELC so special for the students?

The sense of community. As educators we work very hard to help children and families feel that they belong and this in turn has a positive impact on their learning and wellbeing.

What do you love the most about your job?

Four-year old conversations.

The wondering, the curiosity, the questions, the humour, the innocence and the knowledge.

great things come from a small package

What are you passionate about?

In my role as an early learning educator, I am passionate about creating the best conditions I can for children’s development and learning. I am an avid reader and I enjoy being up to date with the latest educational research and trends and translating some of these ideas into my practice. Being a mother myself I have had experience assessing how important early childhood has been in my own children’s development and am passionate about providing a quality program for the children at Fintona.

And, of course, I’m passionate about coffee (my husband runs a coffee business).

How do you encourage kindergarten children to learn?

Viewing every child as an individual is imperative.

Children come to the ELC with varying backgrounds and experiences. To establish a connection we have to respect these differences and recognise the prior knowledge

Simon

Jackie Dimattina

that they bring to the centre.

We need to truly ‘listen’ to them, observe them and from there we can create learning experiences that cater for their individual needs.

You are currently filling in for Cara Mearns as the Acting Head of ELC. What are you most enjoying in the role?

The opportunity to lead the ELC team and work with our families is something I am enjoying as well as being involved in the School’s leadership team and working on some of the School’s strategic planning.

How do you like to spend your weekends and term breaks?

My husband, John and I have two teenage boys, so sport features heavily in our weekends. We also love spending time at the beach with family and friends.

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OFA

Old Fintonians’ Alumni AUTUMN/WINTER 2019

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Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

OFA Births

Obituary

Congratulations to Penelope Large (Knight ’02) and David on the birth of Darcy on 11/3/19, a brother for Rose.

Ruby Kirwan (Riddell ’32) 1/8/15 – 22/11/18 Ruby Kirwan was born in Melbourne on 1 August 1915. Ruby started at Fintona Presbyterian Girls’ Grammar School as a year 2 student in 1922 when the school was located in Burke Rd. Her father was James Riddell, the Melbourne City Valuer and her mother was Rubina Drew, who had primary responsibility for raising their three children. Ruby had two siblings, Reece and Tony.

Ruby was a remarkable woman, far ahead of her time in so many ways. She had a strong sense of social justice and a deep interest in public affairs and politics. For example, she was very supportive of the current Royal Commission into the banks and was keenly interested in its proceedings.

The Fintona community is saddened to learn of the deaths of: Lynette Deuchrass (Williams ’60) 19/9/18 Kelly Anne Stoker (Jackett ’79) 28/10/18 Anne Bruce (Tyrrell ’69) 19/11/18 Patricia Diamond (Hoban ’50) 7/12/18 Judith Johnston (Magnus ’53) 23/2/19 Elizabeth Joan Burnet (Haig ’46) 8/5/19 great things come from a small package

Ruby was passionately anti-war. She would often reminisce about standing in Collins Street in Melbourne watching the soldiers and the walking-wounded, including her own relatives, marching home from the First World War in 1919.

Ruby was angry about the pointless waste of human life in the Great War and many wars after it, including modern conflicts in which Australia has been involved. She never lost her rage about this, although she made a wonderful contribution to Australia’s war effort though her involvement in Force’s Entertainment throughout the Second World War. Of course, there was a lighter side to Ruby which was seen in her commitment to the game of golf which she played with her second husband, Richard Kirwan, at her beloved Roseville Golf Club in Sydney. She was a highly

competent player there for many years and a senior office bearer. Ruby also played Bridge which she viewed as a serious intellectual and mathematical challenge. She loved the technicalities of it, she loved the competition and she loved winning.

Whilst Ruby was a woman of many parts, the love of her life was music and theatre. She was a talented Mezzo Soprano and won a scholarship to the Melbourne Conservatorium and never looked back. She had a wonderful career, especially in the 1940s with the JC Williamson and D’Oyly Carte Opera companies, mainly playing leading roles in various Gilbert and Sullivan operas with many friends and colleagues.

Ruby had very fond memories of Fintona and often shared them with her family.

She was a fixture at the annual OFA reunion in Sydney and would often read a poem she had composed. At a recent reunion she reminisced about the boarders having cold showers and how staff use to keep the classrooms cool in summer by hosing down canvas blinds.

Ruby lived a long, full, independent and healthy life and will be missed by the large contingent of Old Fintonians who attend the annual NSW reunion in Sydney.

Based on an Eulogy written by Ruby’s nephew, Robert M C Brown (AM).

Ruby at age 99 playing Bridge

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News of Old Fintonians

Old Fintonians being active

Throughout a student’s time at Fintona each girl is encouraged to be active not just in the classroom, but through sport and in the community and this ethos continues well beyond the School gates.

Katie Ashbolt (’14) Currently in her final year of Speech Pathology at LaTrobe University In the five years since Katie Ashbolt finished Year 12 she has continued to be an active member of the community, something she says was a value instilled in her at School.

Katie took up as many opportunities to be physically active as possible at Fintona.

She was a member of the cross country team, as well as various after or before school sport groups. Her passion for sport still continues in gymnastics, netball, running and recently having taken up footy in a local womens’ league.

For five years, Katie has worked as a gymnastics coach at Balwyn Gymnastics Club and works with a range of gymnasts, including a teenager with Autism and a young man with Cerebral Palsy. The young man with Cerebral Palsy whom she coached is currently working with Katie as a volunteer in training to become a coach himself. Katie’s role at the Club includes both coaching and mentoring aspiring coaches.

done,” says Katie. “In my gap year after Fintona, I volunteered twice a week at an arts class for people with disabilities through Yooralla. Here I discovered my passion for working in the disability sector, and it inspired me to study Speech Pathology at University as well as continue to work as a disability support worker throughout my studies.”

“Fintona always encouraged me to be an active member of the community. In my time at Fintona, I completed my Bronze level of the COMPASS program, as well as World Challenge, which involved volunteering in the community, both locally and internationally.

During Year 12, I also volunteered once a week at Balwyn Gymnastics Club when I was training to become a coach myself,” says Katie.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed all participation in the community that I have 26

Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Andrea Gaze (’77) Former Professional Ballet Dancer/Stage Manager and now owner of a Personal Training and Pilates Business Being active and disciplined is not only a career for Andrea Gaze but a lifestyle choice.

Andrea started as a student at Fintona in Prep around the same time she started ballet. At age 10 after seeing Rudolph Nureyev dance in Australia with the London Festival Ballet Company (now known as English National Ballet) she decided her ambition was to dance in that company.

Andrea says School was a place where everyone was encouraged to be active.

She remembers folk dancing in the Quad and Hobbies Day where students were allowed to choose something they were interested in and present it. Andrea and her friend, also an aspiring dancer, choreographed a duo dance to ‘Swinging Safari’, made their own costumes and performed it on stage in Buick Hall.

At age 17, Andrea headed to London to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer. Joining the London great things come from a small package

Festival Ballet Company, she danced all the major classical ballets in London, UK tours and Europe, even sharing the stage with Rudolph Nureyev.

Andrea’s career then took her into choreography and theatre stage management in musicals and opera after singing and dancing in the ‘Oklahoma’ tour around Australia. At the Victoria State Opera, Andrea’s positions included Assistant Director, Company Stage Manager and Casting. In 1991 she was Stage Manager for the original production of Phantom of the Opera in Melbourne and Sydney. For over two decades, she also ran The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust (Arts Charity).

can do and benefit from, to feel happily mobile and confident in their own bodies, before they want to get fit. This program targets people who may be overweight, older and those who find it painful to move.

“Moving and mobility is as much for mental health as for physical wellbeing. Movement is medicine and it’s never too late to start moving and improving. I love teaching my clients and others to find ways to move well and take responsibility for themselves, to be strong, mobile, fit and active,” says Andrea.

Andrea always loved to move to music and after the birth of her two sons she retrained in fitness and personal training and started her own mobile Personal Training and Pilates business (www.aptandpilates.com).

Andrea is now also a bodyART Australian Master Trainer, an exercise method inspired by yoga, tai chi, martial arts, dance and Pilates combined with breathing techniques, Yin Yang Balance and relaxation.

Her latest project creation is called ‘Mobility Matters’, a simple program almost anyone

Andrea dancing in Gay Wightman Ballet School’s production of the Nutcracker

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The Ex-Files

Domain Review, February 2019

In February this year, Domain Review featured three past students in a careers article.

Xia Niu Class of 2005 Veterinarian

Tanya Nunes Class of 2009 Business Consultant

Hannah Sturrock Class of 1992 Managing Partner, Advertising

Xia was a house captain and recipient of the Caltex Best All Rounder award in Year 12. She enjoyed participating in various extra-curricular activities including the wind trio, concert band, orchestra, debating team, swimming and cross country.

Tanya was School Captain in Year 12 and says her time at Fintona helped foster her love for science and interest in business.

She completed a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) and a Masters in Marketing at the University of Melbourne.

She is currently working at Ernst and Young as senior consultant in their advisory practice, and has a strong focus on the public health sector.

Hannah graduated from Fintona in the top one per cent of the state in English Literature. She completed a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) at RMIT before going to London and working in production, design and advertising roles for 10 years.

She studied a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne which also involved veterinary student placements in the US. Since graduating in 2010 she has been working in clinical practice both in Tasmania and Melbourne.

“Fintona fostered a sense of community and the ideal that everybody matters.”

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“My time at Fintona allowed me to build lifelong friendships and encouraged me to pursue my passion in health and life sciences.”

Back in Australia, Hannah is now managing partner at awarded independent advertising agency, The Hallway. This year she was named as one of AdNews’ 30 Emerging Leaders and selected for The Marketing Academy leadership development scholarship.

“Fintona was a special place that cultivated my confidence and independence.”

Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

90th Anniversary for Women’s Interschool Golf Challenge

Order of Australia awarded to Dr Bronwyn King (’92)

Old Fintonians have a long association with the Women’s Inter-School Golf Challenge Cup which this year is celebrating its 90th Anniversary. Twelve schools, including Fintona were instrumental in starting up the competition in 1929 to foster teamwork in Associate golf and to promote a charity day for women’s or children’s charities.

Congratulations to Old Fintonian, Dr Bronwyn King (‘92) who was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in this year’s Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to community health, particularly through advocacy for institutional investment strategies.

The schools were Clyde, Fintona, Firbank, Loreto Abbey, Melbourne C.E.G.G.S. (Merton Hall), M.L.C., Tintern, Geelong C.E.G.G.S. (The Hermitage), Ormiston, P.L.C., Ruyton and Toorak College. The First Annual Inter-schools golf match was held at the Victoria Golf Club. Over the ninety years, Fintona has won the trophy six times.

Bronwyn is a specialist Radiation Oncologist, founder of Tobacco Free Portfolios, a former elite swimmer and Team Doctor for the Australian Swimming Team. She delivered two TEDx talks in 2018, calling for change in the global finance sector.

In 2019 the Committee consists of 30 representatives from most of the original schools together with representatives from many other schools. Between 1996 and 2019, $64,000 has been donated to the children’s charity The Cottage by the Sea in Queenscliff.

It is wonderful to see Bronwyn recognised for her inspiring work.

Fintona golf representatives have taken many leadership roles within the organisation. Gwenda Mary Bedggood (‘21) was President of The Sun Golf Challenge Cup Committee from 1950 - ’61.

Her niece, Gwenda Vera Syme (Bedggood ‘43) also represented Fintona many times and was in the winning team of 1966 and won the major Individual prize that year. Gwenda Syme’s daughter, Heather Schnagl (Syme ’71) now plays in our OFA golf days. Mrs. J Margaret Bell was OFA Golf Representative from 1969 - ’94. During that time she was also Secretary/Treasurer of the Sun Golf Challenge Cup Committee from 1978 ’80. Sally Syme (Shaw ‘74) has been the Fintona Representative for 11 years and was Minute Secretary for the WIGCC Committee from 2013 - ’15. Margaret Picken (Mill ’67) is the current Representative and was Secretary/ Treasurer of the WIGCC Committee from 2016 - ’18.

The top four players from the OFA’s annual golf day go on to play in the Challenge Cup. This year’s OFA Golf Day will be held on Monday 30 September at Kew Golf Club. Please email Marg Picken (Mill ’67), OFA Golf Representative at m.picken@ bigpond.net.au if you are interested in attending either for golf or lunch afterwards.

Golf Challenge makes the news in1966.

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Reunions

Classes of 1958/1963 Combined 55 & 60 Year Reunion Thursday 18 October, 2018

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1. Classes of 1958 & 1963 with Principal, Rachael Falloon 2. L – R: Margaret Hatty (Woodhouse ’58), Pamela Farmer (Forster ’63) 3. L – R: Judith Clarke (McKenzie ’63), Margaret Brinsden (Westley ’63)

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Classes of 1958 & 1959

Monday 12 November, 2018 L – R: Celia Waldron (Tribe ’58), Pam Stockley (Bolton ’58), Mel Marsh (Merilyn Seward ’58), Sue Steel (Barnett ’59), Lori Buttner (Lorraine Williams ’58), Mary Feore (‘59), Oafie Roxburgh (Josephine Jones ’59), Merilyn Bodinnar (Davies ’58), L – R: Margaret Hatty (Woodhouse ’58), Sue Retschko (Harrison ’60)

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Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

1. L – R: Sally Stoyles, Jeni Friend (Watts), Lindy Zerman (Murray)

Class of 1979 40 Year Reunion

Friday 1 March, 2019

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2. Class of 1979 with Principal, Rachael Falloon 3. L – R: Jane Berveling, Fiona Goulding (Woollard), Pam Blake (Tibballs)

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1. Class of 2014 with Principal, Rachael Falloon, past staff member Julie Goldsworthy and Chris Williams, current staff member 2. L – R: Coco Lunn, Chris Williams, staff, Fairlie McKinnon, past staff, Jennifer Johnston, past staff, Jessica Hunter, Anna Wotherspoon, Rana Elbay, Dimity Hanney

Class of 2014 5 Year Reunion

Friday 15 March, 2019

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3. L – R: Isabella Frances, Kate Cranage, Christie Young, Stella Que, Isabella Aprico

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Reunions Class of 1969 50 Year Reunion

Saturday 6 April, 2019

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Class of 1969 with Principal, Rachael Falloon

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L – R: Diana Gerstman (Bethell), Catherine Brumley, Robyn Vines

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L – R: Kerith Opie, Cathy Parke (Scales), Amanda Russell (Shaw)

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QLD Reunion

Saturday 27 October, 2018 The Continental Restaurant was the venue for the annual Queensland OFA Reunion held on 27 October. Nine past students welcomed the Principal Rachael Falloon who regaled us with current happenings at the School. Jacqui Fullard (Robson ’84)) joined us for the first time. As usual, there was a lot of chatter and catching up on the year. During the course of the luncheon we raised a glass to Shirley Coxon (Wright ’42) who had passed at the age of 92 since our last gathering. Shirley would travel from Longreach to join us for our yearly reunion. Helen Jane (’78) 32

L – R (back): Annette Ford (Haywood ‘78), Adele Outridge (Samuel ‘63), Diana Deane (‘73), Michelle Harris (Lucovich ‘62), Mandy Nixon (Dick ‘75) L – R (front): Jacqueline Fullard (Robson ‘84), Helen Jane (‘78), Rachael Falloon, Principal, Daniele Williams (Lucovich ‘60), Mary Cameron (Hayward ‘58)

Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

L – R (back): Rachael Falloon, Principal, Prue Jay (Love ‘67), Diana Pinkney (Goodson ‘65), Primrose MacAlister (‘62) L – R: (middle): Sue Vandeleur (Leaver ‘57), Elizabeth Vines (‘70), Louisa Rose (‘87) (Front): Kirri Radcliffe (Hicks ‘56)

SA Reunion

Sunday 25 November, 2018

(L - R) Margo Colson OAM (Hughes), Helen Stevens (mother, Dot attended Fintona), Jane Derrick (Hurst), Ann Way (Connelly), Dot Falkner (Strangward) and Lorraine Adams (Christensen)

NE Victoria Reunion

Wednesday 17 April, 2019

WA Reunion

Saturday 11 May, 2019 L - R (back): Marg Bruns (Loughnan ‘44), Julie Dickinson (Adams ‘53), Lynette Clayton (Handley ‘52), Suzanne Harcourt-Smith (Magrath ‘58) L - R (front): Rebecca Vercoe (Johnson ‘82), Sarah O’Sullivan (Harold ‘83), Skye Windebank (‘95)

great things come from a small package

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UPCOMING OFA EVENTS Reunions 2019 Class of 1989, 30 Year Reunion Friday 2 August, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Classes of 1959/1964, 55 Years/60 Years Reunion Thursday 24 October, 10am Tour followed by morning tea 1958 & 1959 Luncheons Glenferrie Hotel, Hawthorn 12 noon Monday 12 August Monday 11 November Class of 2018, 1 Year Reunion Thursday 14 November, 10.30am Interstate/Country Reunions NSW/ACT Thursday 12 September North East Victoria (Benalla) Thursday 17 October QLD Saturday 26 October SA Sunday 24 November SPECIAL EVENTS OFA Art Show Tour & Afternoon Tea Thursday 3 September, 1.30pm OFA Golf Day Monday 30 September Kew Golf Club

Join the OFA Facebook Group Please join the Old Fintonians’ Alumni Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/groups/ ofafintona to keep up to date with Alumni news including reunion dates and photos.

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Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019

Your gift will make a difference We hope you consider making a donation to Fintona’s Annual Giving Appeal. Donating to this year’s Appeal whilst not only contributing to the legacy that parents, grandparents and alumni have made before you, will benefit current and future generations.

Over the years, the School’s Annual Giving Appeal has funded a wide range of projects to further enhance the learning opportunities of all students. Some of these projects include the Middle School’s Science Discovery Room, a contemporary refurbishment of the Beatrice Chilvers Library, state of the art science equipment, landscaping of the Junior School playground, and additional sports equipment for the Margaret Ross Centre.

In addition to offering scholarships to some of our current high achieving students, each year girls have been able to join Fintona through the gift of a scholarship. Previous recipients of scholarships speak passionately about their time at Fintona and the life changing opportunities they were given as a result of their scholarship.

Whether your donation contributes to the Scholarship, Building or Library Fund, all are practical and meaningful ways to make a tangible and lasting difference to the learning experiences for every student right now and for generations to come.

We hope you will join us in supporting the 2019 Annual Giving Appeal. Your gift, no matter the size, will make a difference.

Donate online at www.fintona.vic.edu.au/community/giving or ring the School on 9830 1388 for an Appeal form.

2019 Annual Giving Appeal MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Donate Now great things come from a small package

Senior campus 79 Balwyn Road Balwyn Vic 3103 Australia

P. (03) 9830 1388 F. (03) 9888 5682 E. fgs@fintona.vic.edu.au www.fintona.vic.edu.au

JUNIOR campus 80 Balwyn Road Balwyn VIC 3103 Australia

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Fintona File | autumn/winter 2019