Fintona File | Spring/Summer 2023

FINTONA FILE

SPRING / SUMMER 2023 The Bi-Annual Magazine of Fintona Girls’ School

CONTENTS

1 2

From the Principal

4 6 8

Unwavering Passion for Music

A Fearlessly Fintona Sporting Culture

Life in Year 5 Exploring the Art and Science of Rainbows

9

Brave and Curious Students Take The Stage

10 12 13

Extraordinary Achievements

Investing in Financial Literacy Inspiring Leaders

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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The Art of Developing Critical Thinking and Agency

15 16 18

To see upcoming community events and add them to your calendar, scan the QR code or visit fintona.vic.edu.au/events.

Elevating Student Voice in English

Meet Our Staff A Day of Giving, A Lifetime of Opportunity

19 21 23 26 29

Old Fintonians’ Alumni Obituaries News of Old Fintonians Reunions Giving Day Acknowledgements

CONNECT WITH FINTONA Stay up to date with our community online.

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SHARE YOUR NEWS We love to share special and significant achievements from the Fintona community. Please send your news to Kate McPhee, Communications & Community Officer at news@fintona.vic.edu.au

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

FINTONA FILE Spring/Summer 2023 Number 84

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Published by Fintona Girls’ School Wurundjeri, Woi Wurrung Country 79 Balwyn Road Balwyn VIC 3103 Australia CRICOS 00139C +61 3 9830 1388 fgs@fintona.vic.edu.au fintona.vic.edu.au

Editors Cameron Arnold Kate McPhee

2024 SCHOOL TOURS

Cover Year 9 netball students progress to the Grand Final at the Boroondara Netball Association competition.

To see dates and register for a tour, visit: fintona.vic.edu.au/tours or contact the Registrar on 9830 1388.

Contributors Thank you to Fintona staff, students, parents and OFA members for their articles, stories and photos.

Discover how Fintona unearths the extraordinary in every individual at one of our school tours in 2024.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

LEARNING LEADERSHIP 'Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.'

– John F. Kennedy Leadership at Fintona is not limited to the role of Principal, or the Heads of School or Faculties. In every classroom, on any given day, our teachers lead as they impart their knowledge and guide our students.

Every Fintonian also leads through the way they inquire, collaborate and innovate in their learning.

Leadership, rather than titles or badges bestowed on individuals, is about a ‘collective’ with similar values and aspirations working towards a common goal. At Fintona, our common goal is delivering the best possible education through rich learning environments, opportunities and experiences that enhance student confidence and critical thinking. Our vision is ‘inspiring learners who lead’.

From Junior School through to Senior School, there are endless opportunities for students to lead. While the democratic application process for designated leadership roles requires students to be articulate and eloquent, their actions are ultimately the most important element. To lead is to practice empathy, compassion, gratitude and have a well-honed sense of self. Whilst having a title bestowed upon one is an achievement, most students without a title are practising good leadership by simply caring for others, being inclusive, and by upholding the ethos of the School.

people. She tries to look upon others as individuals rather than a crowd and is respectful of difference.

Fintona is brimming with parents, teachers, and staff more broadly who role model what it means to confidently lead with empathy, compassion, gratitude and humility. We are well positioned to develop our young people to become the change makers of the future who will contribute significantly not only to the life of the school, but to their local communities and beyond, and lead with distinction.

Rachael Falloon Principal

Like all people, we hope she understands that she has her faults, yet she also reflects on her own behaviour. In all aspects of her life, she eschews what is vulgar and meanspirited, and directs herself to what is good and noble.

Age Quod Agis 1

1. Yancey, A.K., Siegel, J.M. and McDaniel, K.L., 2002.

Role models, ethnic identity, and health-risk behaviors in urban adolescents. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 156(1), pp.55-61.

The School Ethos: A Fintona student can be recognised as one who faces her life with the simple belief that to live is to learn. In every endeavour, she aspires to do the very best she can. She is able to learn and work independently, yet enjoys the opportunity for interdependent and collaborative work.

She holds secure moral principles and beliefs, believes in a healthy body, whilst remaining attuned to the intellectual, emotional and spiritual dimensions of her being.

As a communicator she is poised and confident, is largely self-directed but will ask for help if needed.

For her, the pursuit of excellence is assumed, not contrived, and she knows this innately.

We hope that she accepts her limitations and believes that within those limits she can be inspired to make a difference.

She nurtures a love of tradition and heritage whilst maintaining a positive vision for the future. She is protective and proud of the School’s reputation and her own and aspires to be truthful and kind in her interactions with others.

Her outlook is optimistic and global, essentially because she is tolerant and believes in the inherent decency of all

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Running parallel with leadership, is positive role modelling. In education and the wider world, this is vital. We know that adolescents who have access to positive role models have higher self-esteem, better academic outcomes and are less likely to engage in risky behaviours.1

While exemplary role modelling is expected of adults in our school community, this is something that is learned, rather than being inherent. Our young people learn through their observations of us; the way we speak to and treat others, how we respond in demanding situations, and how we problem solve. Leaders and role models show a commitment to the values and goals of an organisation; are respectful; and make decisions to influence the best possible outcomes.

A FEARLESSLY FINTONA SPORTING CULTURE 2

For many years, staff and students have worked hard to develop a sporting culture of inclusion and excellence at Fintona. At its core is the hard work and dedication of our talented students, coupled with an understanding of the power of sport to bring people together and cultivate a sense of belonging.

Sam Kerr spoke about this in 2023, ‘I always try and make everyone feel welcome, and by being who I am, allow them to be who they are. I think that’s the most beautiful part of Sport, all these different people coming together to achieve something great’.

Our girls encourage each other and strive for excellence, proud to represent the Blue and Gold. Their commitment to supporting one another, and lifting each other up, reflects our values as a small school, with a big heart.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

And what an incredible year we have shared!

So many of our teams and individual athletes have experienced the joy of success and represented Fintona at state and national levels. A record number of teams qualified for GSV Finals including three softball, three badminton (one of which won the Grand Final!) a hockey and basketball team. Not to be outdone by these performances were the members of the GSV Athletics team, who won the School Population trophy for the first time, and our Cross Country girls who won the Senior trophy. In September, six of our Netball teams qualified for the finals, with four teams - Year 5, Year 6 and two Year 9 teams - achieving Grand Final glory. Every student who has competed for the Blue and Gold this year has embodied our school values in her commitment and approach.

At the same time, we have been fortunate to witness women’s sporting success on the world stage. The celebration of women’s sport is (finally!) capturing the attention of global audiences. Our Australian netball team, the Diamonds, won the Netball World Cup. Similarly, our Australian women’s cricket team retained the Ashes after winning the World Cup in 2022 and Kaylee McKeown became the first female swimmer to win the 50m, 100m and 200m events in a single stroke (backstroke). It was remarkable to watch so many skilful women celebrate these moments. And of course, there was palpable excitement as The Matildas surged into the semi-finals at the World Cup. Even as the ultimate trophy eluded them, the team won legions of fans across Australia, inspiring a new generation of female athletes. It is exciting that these achievements have had a trickle down effect and inspired our own students.

In a similar way, the admiration our girls have for each other extends beyond the podium.

We celebrate our wins, we graciously accept our defeats, and we appreciate the grit and determination of our teammates. Sport at Fintona is made possible by a dedicated group of staff, coaches and families. We owe them all our deepest gratitude and thanks.

This year has proven that having a collective spirit lays the foundation for a successful sporting culture.

As we look ahead to 2024, some final inspiration from Ash Barty: Be brave, be courageous, be authentic, and most importantly enjoy the journey.

Simon Bourke Sport Coordinator

TEAM ACHIEVEMENTS

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS

GSV Athletics

Lexi (Year 9) Zoe (Year 12)

Won the School Population Trophy for the first time. Fintona’s best overall performance at Division 3 Athletics

Represented Victoria at the Cross Country Championships in Canberra

GSV Cross Country

Ibby (Year 9)

Senior team won the trophy for their Age Division – for the second year in a row

Represented Victoria at the School Sport Victoria AFL Championships in Ballarat

GSV Cricket

Sarah (Year 11)

Senior team qualified for the Finals: the first time for a Fintona Cricket team

Represented Victoria in the Vic Metro Squad in AFL U18 National Championships

GSV Badminton

Selected to be part of the representative GSV Cross Country team. The last time a student achieved this feat was Georgia Griffith (2014)

Three teams qualified for Finals Junior A team won the Grand Final

GSV Basketball Four teams: Junior, Intermediate (2) and Senior, all qualified for Finals

GSV Hockey Junior team won the Grand Final

GSV Softball Three teams, Junior (1), Intermediate (two) qualified for the Finals. Both Junior and Inter B were runners up in the Grand Finals.

Fintona Netball Club Six teams qualified for finals at the end of the Boroondara Netball Season. Four teams won their Grand Final.

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Farida (Year 10) Competed at the Australian Junior National Swimming Championships in Queensland Selected on the GSV Representative Swimming team. The first time a Fintonian has been selected.

Eliza (Year 8) Represented Victoria at the Sport Australia Hockey Championships in Darwin

Phoebe (Year 10) Represented Victoria with the School Sport Victoria Hockey team in Adelaide

Lucy (Year 9) Won a gold medal at the National Fencing Championships in Canberra

Francesca (Year 12) Competed at the Rowing National Championships in Perth

UNWAVERING PASSION FOR MUSIC 4

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

The 2023 Annual Music concert was a testament to the dedication, collaboration and the unwavering passion for music within our school community. The evening’s high calibre of performances by students in Years 2 to 12 interspersed with light-hearted moments perfectly embodied the Fintona spirit.

The breadth of styles and talent in our instrumental and ensemble music program was on full display, from the Year 2 string program and the 5/6 class orchestra’s movie marathon to individual solo performances and the Tourmount Strings. This variety showcased the start and end points of our students’ musical journeys.

A heartfelt thank you to the Music Faculty and parents for your support of music at Fintona. And congratulations to our exceptional students whose performances not only captivated the audience but also showcased their remarkable talent and passion for music.

Elliot Strand Music Learning Leader

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LIFE IN YEAR 5 Rachel Carpenter joined Fintona after returning to Australia from London where she gained invaluable cross-cultural teaching experience.

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As a teacher, she feels immensely grateful for the part she plays in empowering young women with independence, enabling them to fulfil their future aspirations with confidence, integrity and ingenuity.

Cynthia is 11 years old and started at Fintona this year. She loves all things to do with music and is a keen oboist and is also learning the drums. As well as being a member of several school orchestras and music clubs she plays badminton and is in a school netball team. She also has a passion for learning languages including Chinese, English and French and is eager to learn more in the future.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

CYNTHIA What did your first day at Fintona feel like?

Were you more nervous our excited?

When I first started at Fintona, I felt nervous yet welcomed. The teachers, older students, and environment were friendly and comforting, so I didn't have difficulty transitioning. Also, Orientation Day was beneficial because I met some of my future classmates and even made some new friends. After roaming around the campus and familiarising myself with where each building was and where I could find different places, it felt like I was already a part of the Fintona community.

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Can you tell us about some of the unique opportunities you've had at Fintona?

RACHEL What do you enjoy about teaching Year 5 at Fintona?

Fintona is a vibrant, dynamic, and inspiring place to teach. I genuinely look forward to walking into my classroom each day. Fintona provides all students with endless opportunities to discover their passions and develop their talents. I am constantly in awe of the support and encouragement the girls show their peers. The staff are equally inspiring to work alongside. I feel our beliefs as educators mirror the vision of the School. It truly is a spectacular place to teach.

Be present. Amidst all the learning, the mistakes, the stress, the tiredness, the elation, the uncertainty and everything in between – being present and mindful will allow you to embrace all these experiences for what they are. They are each precious and irreplaceable moments of your life, and they are part of your story.

What opportunities do you provide to foster exploration and learning?

At this age, students are discovering a lot about themselves as a learner and as an individual. I think it is essential that students receive extensive opportunities to explore new interests and to unearth their passions. What is most important is that they give everything a go. I often hear senior students reflect on their time at Fintona and confess that their greatest passions stemmed from subjects or sports that they were unfamiliar with or even initially disliked. For this reason, I intentionally nurture students to step out of their comfort zone, where they learn the most valuable lessons. In Year 5, students are provided with countless opportunities to speak in front of large audiences, to problem solve with their peers, to step outside of the constraints of a four-walled classroom, to learn in immersive and enriching environments, to develop critical thinking skills, to reflect and to celebrate their daily successes.

You’ve been at Fintona for almost one year. What is your favourite thing about learning here?

My favourite thing about Fintona is that everyone is inclusive, kind, and passionate about any problem or anything in general. This makes me feel comfortable walking around the School and communicating with teachers and other students. Also, Fintona encourages students to try new and challenging activities so they can find something they enjoy that they don't know about. For example, when I got to speak in front of the Middle School, I found out that I enjoy talking to many people and sharing my ideas.

In what ways has attending Fintona made you feel more confident in yourself?

There are many public speaking, presenting and specialised opportunities at Fintona, which have reduced my fear of speaking in front of many different people, such as students, teachers, judges and important members of society. This makes me feel more confident about myself because before I presented to anyone, I would shy away in fear, but now I can proudly stand in front of at least 20 people and present a speech.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

The Middle School years are critical to a young person’s academic, cognitive and emotional development. It is during this time they learn how to understand and manage their emotions, treat others kindly and build relationships. These years are also pivotal in that children develop increased independence, shift the centre of their social world from home to peers and explore and discover their talents and interests. I wholeheartedly enjoy being part of that journey.

What is the best advice you can give students?

Fintona has many more music and sports opportunities, such as Percussion Ensemble, netball, and other co-curricular activities. These opportunities allow me to enhance my skills for my hobbies and try many new things. For example, at my previous school, I had always wanted to try playing the drums and being a professional at sports but never got the chance to. Now, at Fintona, I can play the drums as much as I want and be a member of sports teams.

EXPLORING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF RAINBOWS 8

‘Look, there are rainbows on the ground’, ‘there’s a rainbow on my hand’, and ‘there are rainbows everywhere, up and down’ exclaimed the enthusiastic boys and girls in ELC as sunlight streamed through the windows during group time. This magical moment ignited a barrage of questions and sparked an intriguing inquiry into the science of rainbows, and further investigation into what makes up a rainbow and how they are created.

To embark on this rainbow learning journey, the students reflected on what they already knew about these captivating optical wonders and shared their insights with each other. One student said, ‘rainbows come from the sky, the crystal, and the sun’, and another said, ‘the sun makes a rainbow when it bumps into a crystal’. These thoughts were complemented by observations about how rainbows appear after the rain, and sometimes you can see them in a glass of water when it’s in the sun.

The students’ curiosity led the class to delve deeper into the subject, unearthing some fascinating answers. Rainbows, the students discovered, are created when sunlight is dispersed by water droplets, such as raindrops or fog. By looking through a glass of water, the students learned about the science of refraction, where light changes direction as it passes through a medium denser than air, like a raindrop. The rainbows the students witnessed were created when the sunlight passed through a prism hanging in the ELC classroom, capturing

the beams of light streaming in through the high windows. The students’ exploration also unveiled that rainbows always display their colors in a consistent order, and to observe a rainbow, the sun must be behind you.

This journey of inquiry not only deepened their understanding and kindled new predictions, but also inspired the boys and girls to express their newfound knowledge through art.

The students experimented with 2D and 3D art forms, using materials like paint, recycled items, plasticine, and markers to make their own rainbows. They also loved singing the rainbow song using sign language.

Anna Crozier ELC Teacher

BRAVE AND CURIOUS STUDENTS TAKE THE STAGE As part of their Drama and Music studies, Year 4 students presented Brave and Curious, a unique adaptation of the Alice in Wonderland story, featuring original songs written by the students. They performed for the Junior School and parents over two days, bringing joy and wonder to the school community.

Students showed an impressive ability to collaborate with their peers and work as part of an ensemble to bring the story and characters of Wonderland to life. They eagerly chose their roles and cleverly contributed to the directorial vision. They also wrote and choreographed four original songs based on the Alice, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and Queen of Hearts characters and an opening soundscape.

With such lyrical lines as 'Mixed feelings turn into reality,' 'Tick a pocket watch, it's calling me,' and 'Begone, you prawn!', the songs were a delight for the audience.

Special acknowledgment should be given to those who gave their time and expertise to the production. Year 4 Teacher/ Curriculum & Pedagogy, Lara Dresser enthusiastically worked with students in the classroom, Music Learning Leader, Elliot Strand accompanied the performance, and Year 12 student, Charlotte choreographed movements and worked with students backstage.

The process was creative and dynamic in which students were encouraged to share ideas and work together to produce an uplifting play.

Rehearsals were often halted by barrels of laughter as students joyfully and imaginatively explored and expressed the possibilities for staging and performing. Converting the abundance of student ideas during rehearsals was highly rewarding and enjoyable. It was wonderful to witness students grow in confidence and develop teamwork skills.

Ben Christensen Music Teacher

Above all, a special thank you to the students for the wonderful enthusiasm and commitment to this production. Well done!

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Andrea Mina Drama Teacher

EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS TILANA WINS PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION 10 Congratulations to Tilana in Year 11 who was the winner of the 2023 Elizabeth M Butt Public Speaking Competition.

Tilana delivered an artful analogy of a chameleon, to highlight the themes of identity and people pleasing, in response

to the quote, ‘I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be’, by Joan Didion.

Now in its 32nd year, the competition is named after the School’s third principal, Miss Elizabeth Butt OAM and provides a wonderful opportunity for our Year 5 to 12 students to develop their public speaking skills.

ATHLETICS TEAM MAKES FINTONA HISTORY Congratulations to our Year 7 to 12 students who competed in the GSV Preliminary Athletics Carnival and were awarded the Population Trophy. This is the first time Fintona has won this award, which is based on the number of points accumulated, taking into account the number of students in the team.

PREMIER’S VCE AWARDS Congratulations to Year 12 student Eva, and Kristen Goh from the Class of 2022 who received Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Premier’s Awards for their outstanding academic achievements. Eva received her award for German (undertaken at Victorian School of Languages) and Kristen for Art in the VCE last year.

The Carnival showcased numerous outstanding individual performances, with many students securing first place in their respective events. This photo features some of those exceptional athletes but all members are to be congratulated, as Fintona’s success was a real team effort.

The annual VCE Premier’s Awards recognise students who have shown remarkable excellence in the VCE. Eva and Kristen were among 300 top-performing students from across the State who were honoured at a prestigious ceremony for their exceptional dedication and academic results.

MONASH SCHOLARS PROGRAM Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Monash University’s Monash Scholars Program is designed to equip high achieving students with further skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in their future tertiary studies and careers. This year,

Zimo, Katherine, and Jessica in Year 10 were selected into this highly competitive program. Over a two-year period, the students participate in a series of on-campus events to assist them in pursuing their passions, exploring new fields of study, and developing their study skills. Well done Zimo, Katherine and Jessica.

A CLEAN SWEEP AT DAV COMPETITION Congratulations to Charlotte, Katy and Yasmin in Year 12 who were awarded first, second and third places, respectively, at the DAV Senior Division Public Speaking Competition. The competition provides students with an opportunity to extend their existing public speaking skills by presenting

one prepared speech and two impromptu speeches. Students receive high quality feedback from experienced adjudicators, as well as the opportunity to watch fellow speakers.

All three students are high achieving members of Fintona’s Debating team so it is worthy that their skills were recognised at this competition.

BADMINTON TEAM WINS GRAND FINAL

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Congratulations to Fintona’s Junior Badminton Team who won the GSV Grand Final against Toorak College winning three matches to one. The team played a terrific season winning all rounds of the competition.

REPRESENTING THE STATE IN CROSS COUNTRY Congratulations to Lexi in Year 9 and Zoe in Year 12 who represented Victoria at the National Cross Country Championships in Canberra. Competing against the best Cross Country runners in Australia, both students put in an outstanding effort with

MATHEMATICS COMPETITION PRIZES This year, a number of our students have performed at an elite level in national mathematics competitions. Congratulations to Vienna (Year 8) for receiving a prize, and Shreya (Year 5) and Laura (Year 10) for being awarded ‘Best in School’ in the Australian Mathematic Competition (AMC).

Lexi competing in the Under 16 Division as one of only 15 girls representing Victoria, and Zoe, one of 20 Victorian girls in the Under 20 Division.

Well done Lexi and Zoe, the Fintona community is extremely proud of your achievements and dedication to the sport.

Laura also received the Peter O’Halloran Award of Excellence for achieving a perfect score. In the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking Competition (CAT), Yueshan and Avery in Year 6 received ‘Best in School’ Awards. Both competitions test students’ mathematical knowledge, logic and problem-solving skills through a wide variety of challenging questions and tasks.

A STAR IN ECONOMICS

Dora’s success in economics is a testament to her dedication, interest and problem-solving capabilities in a variety of economic issues.

Dora was also an inaugural member of the Fintona’s International Politics and Economics Club (IPEC). Well done, Dora.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Congratulations to Dora in Year 12 who won two major economics competitions this year.

The Australian Economics Olympiad (AEO), focused on contemporary economics issues, involved online education seminars, two examinations and a group case study which reviewed the impact of migration policy on Australia through an economic lens. The

Australasian Economics Competition (AEC) was held in Sydney and Dora’s team won against Singapore and New Zealand.

INVESTING IN FINANCIAL LITERACY

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Recently, bemoaning that I had paid a significant amount for Taylor Swift tickets while the concert itself would not occur for another eight months, my Year 12 students taught me a new term, ‘Girl Math’.

For those not familiar with the social media phenomenon, ‘Girl Math’ can best be described as a thought process to make someone feel better about an expensive purchase. For example, ‘I bought a new top for $200.’

‘Don’t worry, after 20 wears at $10 each it becomes free – ‘Girl Math’.’

Aside from the term ‘Girl Math’ feeding a deep-rooted stereotype about financial management, it is simply incorrect. And it is another reason why we are driven to better educate our young people in the basics and subtleties of financial literacy.

In the journey towards achieving gender equality, empowering girls with financial skills and knowledge is incredibly important.

These essential skills can set an individual up for life, equipping them to make informed and confident decisions about their financial future. Every young person, but particularly girls, given how society has been structured for so many years, can benefit from early exposure to financial education.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

At Fintona, we teach financial literacy through real-world experiences and tailored learning opportunities.

Year 6 students learn how businesses strategically influence consumer behavior through visiting supermarkets. Exploring the aisles, they witness the subtle yet persuasive marketing techniques employed to capture

their attention. This experience lays the groundwork for them to navigate the consumer landscape with a discerning eye.

The annual Lemonade Stand Game is an interactive platform to learn about marketing, pricing, and the fundamental principles of supply and demand. Through this business venture, students experience the basics of entrepreneurship and the importance of adaptability and strategy in a competitive market. This experiential learning approach fosters a sense of confidence and resourcefulness in financial decision-making.

Financial Literacy classes from Year 9 are tailored to the needs of students and provide a foundation for understanding more complex financial concepts. Covering topics such as the share market, property market, and personal finance, these classes imbue Fintonians with the knowledge to make sound financial decisions. Students gain insights into the dynamics of investments, budgeting, and the significance of long-term financial planning.

The overarching goal of financial literacy for girls is to create a generation of financially savvy and independent women. By arming them with the tools to understand and manage their finances, we empower students to shape their own futures, giving them the freedom to pursue their aspirations without constraints.

The importance of financial literacy for girls cannot be overstated. Educating our students to make informed financial decisions not only contributes to their individual success but also to the broader goal of building a more equitable and prosperous society. It is time we scroll past ‘Girl Math’ and focus on powerful young women commanding their own financial futures.

I am, however, still looking forward to the Taylor Swift concert, paid for in advance.

Chris Williams Commerce Learning Leader

INSPIRING LEADERS

The Leadership Series is an innovative program that seeks to link the experiences of successful Fintona Alumni with our current Year 9 to 11 students in preparation for leadership positions they will hold at school and in the community.

The program offers insights into varying forms of leadership, identifying the many divergent paths to being a leader, types of leadership styles and challenges when in a leadership position. It has been invaluable for the students to listen to presentations by successful Alumni who have experienced vastly different career journeys in a range of industries and occupations.

To inform this year’s series, students were surveyed to ascertain what aspects of leadership interested them and what industries they would like to hear about.

Representing a broad range of fields, our students have attended presentations by Judge Amanda Chambers representing the legal field, Olivia Collins who works in international art, design, and marketing, Jackie Besley in the field of marketing, business management and consulting, and Jo Syme who works in the music industry.

The sessions have been extremely popular and the students have taken on board much of what has been shared. Comments from students have included: ‘I just loved hearing how, if something didn’t work, try a different angle.’

‘I always thought you had to be super confident and prepared to take on leading roles but now I see it is a developing process.’

‘It was amazing to hear of the many failures that came before success.’

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‘It was reassuring to hear that they did not have a clear path lined up when they left school!’

The Leadership Series will continue offering wonderful advice and real-life experiences to our students and our thanks go to the many Alumni who have offered to be a part of this program.

Mark Geraets Head of Senior School

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

THE ART OF DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING AND AGENCY 14

The Arts are a lens that establishes what it means to be human. It is a way for us to discover, experience and explore the shared experiences, emotions, and challenges that are common to all, regardless of culture, race, or background. The Arts are how we define where we have been and where we are going, in both a cultural and societal sense.

Active participation in the Arts, as a creator or as an experiencer, requires the application of higher-order complex thinking, purposeful investment and meaningful inquiry. To engage in the Arts, one must create connections between new experiences and established knowledge.

The Arts are where we learn to critically think in a humanistic manner. Through the Arts, one discovers and explores the shared experiences, emotions, and challenges that are common to all.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

It is for these reasons that Visual Arts and Design education is fundamental for personal and collective success in a post-industrial world. This is perhaps more important than ever due to the enormity of economic and environmental challenges we face, only exacerbated by the exponential increase of automation and the integration of artificial intelligence into the commonplace.

The strength and importance of Visual Arts and Design education is that, at its core, it necessitates the application of sustained inquiry, critical thinking and real-world problem-solving. Furthermore, it requires students to take agency in and for their own learning.

Agency, critical thinking and sustained inquiry is essential for success in our complex and rapidly changing environment, characterised by an abundance of information. Critical thinkers can sift, adapt and actively respond to, what is at its essence, a changing landscape. The post-industrial world demands effective consideration, understanding and appreciation of different perspectives and cultures.

Each project or task requires students to undertake a creative iterative process; one that involves exploration, experimentation, application and evaluation. The success of our students in this area of the curriculum is determined, first and foremost by their ability to critically think their way to solutions to multifaceted problems.

The artifacts included in our recent VCE Art and Design show exemplify students' engagement with this creative process, with each of the works exhibited underpinned by extensive research, personal exploration and robust intellectual conceptual development. Each of the artists and the designers have been placed at the centre of their own learning.

Brit Biviano Art Learning Leader

ELEVATING STUDENT VOICE IN ENGLISH As humans we are born with the extraordinary capacity to communicate.

From the moment we take our first breath, we are innately primed to connect with others to survive. Over time, through socialisation and intricate biological processes, we learn how to speak in words. But the process of learning to read and write needs to be taught in a more formalised and structured way. Being able to create meaning through words is not a natural process. We are not biologically primed to read or write; it needs to be expressly taught. Writing, like other human endeavours, is a craft that needs to be nurtured, developed, and refined through mentoring, consistent, deliberative practice, and meaningful learning opportunities.

As C.S Lewis once stated: 'You can make anything by writing.' That is to say that through the written word we have the capacity to create, innovate, and empower.

So, while its potential is unquestionable and its importance non-debatable, the way to develop the written literacy skills of each generation remains in the hands of educators. Of course, we are all educators, but in the formal education system it is the English teachers who are charged with the responsibility to develop the writing skills of our students.

At its core, writing should be about the writer communicating their thoughts, feelings, and attitudes to the reader; their voice must be present in their writing to be heard. However, in recent years, we found that student voices were not always present in their writing, their writing was becoming too formulaic, as their focus was on the final essay rather than the joy of crafting a response.

This year, as a team of English teachers, we engaged a writing coach and mentor, Leon Furze, to guide us through the process of redesigning our curriculum from Years 5 to 12. Acknowledging that ‘Learning the craft of writing… enables writers to find their own “voice”’, and it is a slow and considered process (Carey et al, 2022, p36), we redirected our focus. Our journey started

through the collaborative process of crafting our English Faculty Vision, establishing learning goals, and then re-developing our writing units that focused on the craft of writing.

A key strategy we used was 'The Writing Cycle' model which is outlined in 'Practical Writing Strategies' by Leon Furze and Benjamin White.

We dedicated more class time to the generation of ideas. Using carefully selected ‘mentor texts’, we examined extracts from both written and audio-visual texts, to inspire ideas and to provide samples of writing to our students. We engaged more in the conferencing process, providing opportunities for students to receive feedback during the writing process.

Editing and proofreading, during the writing stage, became more prominent. From the outset, students were reminded about the importance of aligning purpose, form and audience when writing.

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Of course, the product of writing is still a part of the process that is worthy of recognition. But to elevate its status beyond writing for an examination or in-class assessment, we re-vamped our internal writing competition renaming it ‘The Fintona Ringing Voices Writing competition’. Adding in more categories and allowing for more forms of writing was a key change made to this competition.

While expository writing is still part of our curriculum, the craft of writing has now become more prominent. We are in the early stages of our journey and student voice is now our focus.

On that note, I will remind you of the words of esteemed writer Ernest Hemingway: 'There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.'

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Michelle Maglitto English Learning Leader

MEET OUR STAFF 16

‘I feel and see ‘the wonderful’ in what the youngest students are creating in Art. ’

FRAN HYDE Nine years ago, Fran first came to Fintona as an artist in residence. The very next year, she began teaching in the Early Learning Centre (ELC). Now teaching Art to students from the ELC to Year 2, Fran is passionate about creating a place where there is joy and happiness in the process of making and learning about art.

What makes you so passionate about teaching Art? ‘The artist is the person who makes life more interesting or beautiful, more understandable or mysterious or probably in the best sense, more wonderful.’ A quote from George Bellows.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

It doesn’t matter where I teach, I feel and see ‘the wonderful’ in what the youngest students are creating in Art. This is what makes me passionate about sharing my love of making and creating art on the Junior Campus.

Art can be a powerful means of fostering critical thinking and problemsolving skills. How do you integrate these skills into your teaching?

In the art room, students learn and develop skills to question the understanding of their learning and to analyse and make sense of the information. This involves observation, interpretation, decision-making and problem solving which are all important skills for students to learn through art.

Critical thinking has become essential in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world. It’s not just about acquiring knowledge but about questioning, analysing, and making sense of that knowledge.

And one of the most effective yet often overlooked ways to cultivate this skill in children is through art.

Who or what inspires you?

My students inspire me every day with their enthusiasm to learn and create. I am fortunate that I get to teach my favourite artists and they teach me. There is not a day that goes by I don’t learn something new from each of my classes. My art department colleagues, who are all amazing artists, also inspire me to keep creating and making art.

What are your goals in terms of instilling a love for art and critical thinking in your students?

I hope the students sense my love and passion for art. It is important for me to share and role model how I approach art making: how I choose and experiment with materials; how I problem solve to express my idea; how I bring my creation to life.

I make observations, I experiment, I ask questions and make my own interpretation.

These are all fundamental aspects of critical thinking. When I am creating art, I am making conscious decisions about what to create, how to create it, and why I am creating it in a certain way. I look carefully at my work, adjust, and reflect on the outcome.

By demonstrating these skills to my students, they can see how critical thinking skills can enhance their art making process.

ELLI BURDAN Currency trading, gardening, fondant cake creations, airbrushing murals, paper-craft models, building and construction, and even learning to fly a plane are all evidence of Science and Technology Learning Leader Elli Burdan's belief that educators 'should always strive to continue learning'.

Alongside her faculty leadership, Elli teaches Biology, Chemistry, Coding and Applied Computing in the Senior School.

How do you hope to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders through your role?

As an educator, I strongly believe that each student has a unique story inside them waiting to be told. It is an honour to be a part of their educational journey and to help shape the next chapter of their story.

My goal is to empower them to take risks

and step outside of their comfort zones in an educational context. By sharing my own journey, I hope to inspire them to explore new opportunities and discover their own passions.

What unique opportunities do you find in teaching at a school like Fintona, and how do these differ from other schools you have worked in?

Fintona provides a world of opportunities that I had not witnessed during my tenure at coeducational schools. The students exhibit a keen thirst for knowledge and often ask out-of-the-box questions that also inspire me to explore further, making it both an opportunity and a challenge. I enjoy the small class sizes and the sense of community that prevails, with students who display a high level of concern for one another and support everyone around them. They tend to be more engaged than their coeducational counterparts and are less hesitant to ask questions.

Can you tell us more about your journey to become a pilot, and how does this passion complement your teaching?

Flying has always been a dream of mine, but I never thought it was possible. It is an amazing feeling to be in control of an aircraft high above the ground. The science behind flight fascinates me; as my instructor once said, 'We are in a little tin can with a big fan on the front, moving at 200km/h, 3500 feet (1km) above the ground!' This statement made me realise that there is so much to learn and understand about flying, which only fuels my desire to continue learning. As an educator, I believe that we should always strive to continue learning.

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What do you hope the future of teaching Science and Technology looks like?

I believe that STEM education will become more prevalent, with more equipment from larger labs becoming smaller and more accessible to students. I would like to see students have more opportunities to explore with technology, better preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that they will face in the future.

I hope the future of teaching science is increasingly hands-on, active and curious.

It is important to encourage in students the drive to find answers to even the simplest of questions. This requires developing a hypothesis, testing, refining, retesting, and exploring their question until a satisfactory conclusion is reached. I hope that technology will continue to develop so that students can explore further within the classroom and have the necessary tools to satisfy their curiosity to learn more.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

‘My goal is to empower them to take risks and step outside of their comfort zones in an educational context.’

A DAY OF GIVING, A LIFETIME OF OPPORTUNITY

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Thank you to our entire community who gave so generously to a means-assessed scholarship during our first Giving Day. We were absolutely delighted with the result as we exceeded our goal, raising an incredible $259,157.

Our sincere thanks to more than 280 parents, Old Fintonians, staff, students, past parents and friends of Fintona who threw their support behind this event, enabling us to achieve this result. Your donations have helped us positively impact the life of a future Fintonian by fully funding their journey from Year 7 to Year 12. We have named the means tested scholarship the Fintona Community Scholarship to reflect the support that our community has given towards Giving Day.

We also appreciate the philanthropic leadership of those who were our matching donors, allowing us to double every donation made on the day, and to our team of volunteers who gave their time in support of Giving Day. What a beautiful gift for someone – an education at Fintona - the Fintona Community Scholarship!

Adele McIntosh Development and Community Engagement Manager

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

OLD FINTONIANS’ ALUMNI

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REUNIONS 2024

VALE

As year group reunions were combined in 2023, there will be no year group reunions in 2024. Reunions will return in 2025 with the following combined year groups.

The Fintona community is saddened to learn of the passing of the following Old Fintonians:

Classes of 1975/1976 Classes of 1985/1986 Classes of 1995/1996 Classes of 2005/2006 Classes of 2015/2016 Classes of 2020/2021 20

INTERSTATE WA Saturday 11 May NSW/ACT Thursday 12 September QLD Saturday 19 October SA TBC

Katrin Margaret Chittams (Edwards ’55) 23/2/21 Janet Paterson OAM (’49) 22/7/22 Jane Walker (Robinson ’60) 23/10/22 Rae Rogers (Tipping ’62) 6/6/23 Dr Joan Robson (Freeman ’55) 27/6/23 Ann Barkla - Past Staff 26/7/23 Lynette Iliffe (Gullick ’46) 12/8/23 Jan Finch - Past Staff 8/9/23

SPECIAL EVENTS

Alster Nolle - Past Staff 19/9/23

Blue & Gold Luncheon For Old Fintonians who left the School over 50 years ago (Class of 1974 and below).

Thursday 5 September, 12 noon.

Lady June Smith (Forestier ’52) 29/9/23

OFA Golf Day TBC

Judith Bartlett (Melville ’44) 7/10/23 Elizabeth Fahie (Dyer ’75) 9/10/23 Nancye Walsh (Hutton '46) 19/11/23

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Correction: In the Fintona File (Autumn/Winter 2023) the birth and death dates for the Obituary of Helen Beverley Beesley (Wright ’46) was incorrectly listed and should have read 18/2/1929 – 18/2/23.

We sincerely apologise to Helen’s family and friends for this error.

OBITUARIES

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KATRIN MARGARET CHITTAMS (EDWARDS ’55) 26/1/1937 – 23/2/21 Katrin was born in Melbourne and started at Fintona in the Junior School. After completing Year 12, she obtained a Degree in Social Work from The University of Melbourne and went on to lecture in early childhood development.

Katrin travelled widely and settled in New York where she eventually met and married her beloved husband Nat. Her son Andrew was born sometime later, and they lived on in New York for six years with Katrin working in a centre for early childhood development.

On returning to Melbourne, Katrin studied a Masters in Ceramics from RMIT and her work was included in two international exhibitions in South Korea. She also exhibited in Melbourne and interstate and won prizes for her ceramics.

When Katrin’s granddaughter Natalie was born, she devoted herself to minding her and encouraging her interest in creative activities such as painting and drawing.

Over the years, Katrin maintained contact with friends from Fintona attending monthly luncheon reunions which she enjoyed.

Katrin is sorely missed by her family and many friends and colleagues in the artistic community.

ANN BARKLA 29/12/1938 – 26/7/23

JAN FINCH 8/6/1939 – 8/9/23

It was with much sorrow that the Fintona community heard of the passing of Ann Barkla on 26 July this year.

It is with great sadness that on 8 September we received the news that Jan Finch had passed away peacefully after a long battle with ill health.

Ann was a wonderful colleague at Fintona who served the School diligently from 1976 until the mid-1990s. She was always initiating and developing ideas to improve the educational outcomes of the students she taught through her holistic approach to education and was a true professional in all that she did.

Ann will be remembered for the impact she had on so many students especially in the music and literature disciplines and for her initiative in developing Year 1 camps as well as her involvement in the Junior School eisteddfod where she worked closely with the music teacher, Marilyn Brown. In addition, Ann was the library assistant in the Beatrice Chilvers Resource Centre where, once again, her love of literature was conveyed to the students.

Upon her retirement to the Alexandra district in country Victoria, Ann became an active and valued member of various music groups, the Library, U3A and many other voluntary organisations in the community.

She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

She completed additional studies at La Trobe University majoring in mathematics and came to Fintona in 1986 as an experienced mathematics educator. Jan was the Murdoch House teacher for a number of years and became the Mathematics Co-ordinator in the later part of her time at Fintona. She was a fine role model and mentor to both staff and students and as such was nominated for the ‘National Excellence in Teaching Award’ in 2002. Jan was responsible for the setting up of the Mathematics Task Centre which provided students with stimulating activities to aid the development and extension of their mathematical skills.

Jan was a devoted mother to her two children and adored her four grandchildren, sharing her passion for cooking and fine food and her love of music with them all. Her husband, John, died suddenly in May 2022.

She will be missed by all whose lives she touched in her gentle and caring way.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Ann’s gentle, caring nature enabled her to develop long standing, enduring and special friendships with many of her colleagues.

Margaret Cunningham often quoted from Shakespeare: “I count myself in nothing else so happy / As a soul remembering my good friends” Richard II (2.3.49-50) and indeed Ann was a wonderful friend to so many.

Jan was born in England and migrated to Australia, travelling on a ship with her two young children to join her husband John who had already begun working in Melbourne.

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ALSTER NOLLE 17/1/1938 – 19/9/23 It was with great sadness that the Fintona community was informed of the passing of Alster Nolle.

Alster will be remembered fondly by the staff and students of Fintona where she was a dedicated member of staff for over thirty years.

She was a highly talented and creative teacher of art whose extensive knowledge and passion for the subject gave students the opportunity to develop their talent and skills to the maximum.

Her art room in Glencairn was a centre of much artistic creativity and the finished products were engaging and quite spectacular.

Alster’s ability to create interesting displays of such works were enjoyed by all.

The students of Fintona acknowledged Alster’s contribution to Fintona when she retired writing, ‘Thank you for your dedicated service to the School. Having a place where we always felt welcome and able to express ourselves has meant a great deal to us and we hope we have brought as much colour and fun into your life as you have brought into ours.’

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Alster retired to Apollo Bay to be near her family and spent many happy years there. She had time to pursue her own art focusing on mixed media to capture the look and feel of her surroundings. She held several exhibitions to showcase her work, including the annual Apollo Bay Art Show where her work was very successful.

We extend our condolences to her family and especially her dearly loved sister, past staff member, Jennis Kiellerup who was the drama teacher at Fintona for many years.

LADY JUNE SMITH (FORESTIER ’52) 24/7/1935 – 29/9/23 June attended Fintona from 1942 until matriculating in 1952. She was an excellent student and accomplished pianist, achieving many academic and music awards and was selected to represent the School on the panel of Young Moderns in 1952.

June went on to study medicine at The University of Melbourne where she met a former Scotch College boy, David Smith. June and David decided to interrupt their studies, secure jobs and marry and start a family of three boys. David, later Sir David, embarked on a career in the public service in Canberra culminating in his appointment as Official Secretary to the Governor-General, placing him in a central role on the steps of Parliament House in the infamous dismissal of 1975.

As with many women of her generation, the job of raising a family was June’s main career but she was also the greatness and stability behind her husband. She did also achieve success outside family holding at various times important positions in the Department of the Army and at the Australian National Library.

June and David celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary together in April 2022 with David passing away in August that same year. June is survived by her three sons and an extended family of several generations.

NEWS OF OLD FINTONIANS

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL We wish to acknowledge Elizabeth Fahie (Dyer ’75, dec.) who, in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list, received a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in engagement with community service partners in servicing vulnerable children and young people.

After completing Year 12 at Fintona, Elizabeth went on to study a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from The University of Melbourne. She then worked as a Social Worker in Child Protection, Out of Home care, and Child and Family Services in Victoria.

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Sadly, Elizabeth passed away in October this year. The OFA passes on their condolences to Libby’s family.

YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD Congratulations to Sofia Plymin (’11) who has been awarded ‘Young Scientist of the Year’ by the Victorian branch of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists. The award is given to a scientist who has worked in the industry for less than 10 years and shows a great deal of personal endeavour, exceptional leadership and mentorship.

In her final year of school, Sofia was School Consul and then went on to study a Bachelor of Science Degree at The University of Melbourne followed by a Master’s Degree in Laboratory Medicine at RMIT.

Congratulations Sofia, what fantastic recognition for your hard work.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Sofia is the Senior Medical Scientist for the Northern Hospital’s Blood Bank. Prior to this position, Sofia was Senior Medical Scientist at St Vincent’s Hospital where she worked in the Haematology and Coagulation laboratories.

We were delighted to welcome back to Fintona a number of Old Fintonians who presented at this year’s Leadership Development Series for Senior School students. Thank you to Jackie Besley (Robertson ’86), Amanda Chambers (’80), Olivia Collins (Angelatos ’02), and Jo Syme (’04) who provided the students with wonderful insights into their career journeys. Here is a brief overview of each Old Fintonian’s career.

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OLIVIA COLLINS (ANGELATOS ’02) Olivia was School Consul in her final year at Fintona in 2002 and says the leadership skills she learnt in this role have proven essential in her professional life as Principal of Olivia Collins Art & Design.

After Year 12, Olivia graduated from T he University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Commerce/Arts (Hons), Throughout her career, Olivia has managed an Aboriginal Art Gallery, built a thriving piano teaching studio, and run her own art and design business, Olivia Collins Art & Design which has grown from strength to strength. Olivia has sold a number of her popular original artworks to collectors from Australia, the US and the UK, secured both private and commercial commissions, and established global print-licensing arrangements for her designs. Recently she secured a commission for her large-scale resin artwork at Crown Sydney.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Left page L – R: Mandy Chambers (’80), Year 11 students Sowmya and Zoe, Olivia Collins (Angelatos ’02) Right page L – R: Jackie Besley (Robertson ’86), Year 11 students Alex and Sienna, Jo Syme (’04)

Reflecting on her time at Fintona, Olivia valued the opportunity to explore a wide array of interests within a supportive environment. The School's motto, 'Age Quad Agis' (Do What You Do Well), has left a lasting impression onher.

AMANDA CHAMBERS (’80) Mandy is a respected judicial professional who has dedicated her career to the pursuit of justice. With a strong commitment to empowering young women to embrace leadership roles, Mandy's journey began as a lawyer specializing in industrial relations, employment law, and discrimination law.

After two decades in this field, in 2006 she was appointed to the role of Magistrate, overseeing the sex offence list for three years.

Her dedication to the legal system led to a part-time position with the Victorian Law Reform Commission.

In June 2016, Mandy's exceptional legal expertise earned her the esteemed position of Judge in the County Court. She went on to serve as President of the Children's Court of Victoria for six years and presently serves as a trial judge in the Criminal Division of the County Court. In this role, she presides over cases involving serious criminal allegations, conducts jury trials, and determines sentences for both guilty pleas and convictions.

Mandys leadership philosophy centres on the wisdom of not having all the answers and the importance of actively listening to others, a principle that has guided her through a successful career. Her time at Fintona left her with cherished friendships and a lasting appreciation for the value of hard work, a belief that has proven invaluable throughout her journey as a leader in the judicial system.

JACKIE BESLEY (ROBERTSON ’86) After completing Year 12 at Fintona, Jackie studied a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University. She also holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from James Cook University and is currently completing her PhD in social psychology and NFP (Not-for-Profit) Governance.

Jackie is a distinguished executive search consultant and leadership coach with a strong reputation in the education sector. Jackie has leveraged her expertise to establish her own executive search consulting firm. In addition to working as the managing partner at Deveraux Consulting, Jackie serves as the Chair of Fintona's Board of Management. Day-to-day, Jackie engages with future academic leaders, helping institutions find and recruit senior academics and executives into leadership positions.

Reflecting on her time at Fintona, Jackie says her education provided the foundation for everything she has done since. She’s a lifelong learner and appreciates the value of hard work and trying new things.

JO SYME (’04) As a student at Fintona, Jo was heavily involved in music playing the drums in the Percussion Ensemble, Rock Band, Stage Band, and performing regularly at the annual concerts.

After completing a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University a career in the music industry was a natural fit.

Jo’s career journey has seen her tour both nationally and internationally with her band, Big Scary who have released numerous albums.

Beyond the stage, Jo is a driving force in the independent music scene and co-runs the independent record label Pieater, supporting and promoting fellow artists, managing collaborations, overseeing merchandise production, and much more. Two workdays rarely look the same for Jo; whilst she still drums, co-writes and sings with Big Scary, a great deal of her time is spent working with publishers, agents, distributors, designers and manufacturers on behalf of other artists with her record label. From time to time, Jo also moonlights as a wedding DJ.

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Jo valued the small size of Fintona as it gave her the confidence to befriend and get on with new and diverse people as she not only knew her whole year level but many students in other years.

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

REUNIONS

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CLASSES OF 2003 & 2004 20 YEAR REUNION Friday 28 July Class of 2003

Class of 2004

L – R: Penelope Reidy (Clark), Jacqui Shanasy (Lester), Alison Rodriquez (O’Grady), Katina Miriklis from the Class of 2003

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

CLASSES OF 2013 & 2014 10 YEAR REUNION Friday 1 September Class of 2013

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Class of 2014

L – R: Sarah Manger, Pamodi Kodikara, Andee Ilag from the Class of 2013

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

NSW/ACT REUNION Thursday 14 September L – R: Kate McPhee, Communications & Community Officer, Janet Ojerholm (Brown ’56), Linda Polites (Chapman ’68), Linda Barnes (Baker ’59), Wendy Seymour (Turner ’55), Barbara Shaw (Thompson ’67), Julia Overton (’63), Wendy Skilbeck (’75), Barbara Brady (Cooper ’51), Judith Moyes (Smith ’51), Jennifer Michelson (’64)

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QLD REUNION Saturday 21 October L – R (back): Kate McPhee, Communications & Community Officer, Adele Outteridge (Samuel ’63), Michelle Harris (’62), Jessica O’Bryan (’87) L – R (front): Helen Jane (’78), Jenny Bakken (Moore ’61)

Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

GIVING DAY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to the following donors and those who gave anonymously to a means-assessed scholarship on Giving Day.

Mr Q Gao & Ms M Liu Ms S Gao & Mr K Dang Mrs T & Dr M Garg Mrs R Garoni Dr K A & Mrs H R Gassert Mr Y Geng & Mrs Y Huo Mr J Georgarakis & Ms L Teti Ms J E Goldsworthy Dr R Thiyagarajan & Dr V Goonewardene Dr K Gordon & Dr S Ang Mrs A M Gordon Dr M & Mr A Graham Mrs Q Gu & Mr R Yu Miss S Guo Mr J Guo & Mrs H Peng Mrs Y Guo & Mr J Lan Mrs J T Hadges Dr Margaret Harper Mrs A Hawker Ms C He Mr M Herbert & Ms T Hook Mr T Hinh & Ms E Lee Mr L K W & Mrs J Ho Miss N L Hopkinson Mrs S B & Mr C I Houguet Mr Q Huang & Mrs D Zheng Ms F L Hyde Mrs R F Jacobs Mrs R M & Mr A G Jenkins Mrs A Jervis-Read Dr L & Mr T Jeyaretnam Mr Q Ji & Ms Y Dai Mr K Jiang & Ms X Zheng Mr X Jiang & Ms Y Peng Ms Y Jiang & Mr H Tang Mrs J D Johnstone Mr N & Mrs F Kanarev Dr E Kandare & Dr G Chirima Mr K Kang & Mrs J Gao Mrs T & Mr K Kapur Mrs D & Mr J Karametos Dr K D Kaur & Dr R Sethi Mrs S Kaur & Mr G Singh Mr F Ke & Ms X Lin Mrs V E & Mr A G Kemp Mr A & Mrs P Khandelwal Mr K Kontaxis Dr H M Korchak Mr W Lai & Ms J Liang Ms Y Lai & Mr N Kang Mrs A J Langstone Dr D and Mrs L Lau Mrs N & Mr C Lauder Mr R Law & Mrs P Chong Dr H & Dr M Lazaris Dr T Le & Dr C Duong Mr D Lee & Mrs M Noguchi

Mrs M Schoeffel Mrs F Scott Dr A S Siswojo & Mrs I Djohan Mr N R Smith & Ms E F Kerr-Smith Mrs A Smith Mrs W & Mr L Southward Mrs A & Dr G Stefanou Mrs L A Steven Dr K M Strasser Mrs S Su Mr L Sun & Mrs Y Dai Mrs X Sun & Mr C Qin Miss C Swinburne Mrs V J Taft-Pearse Miss W Tan Mrs L Tang & Mr L Chen Mrs A & Mr F Tankir Ms S Teh & Mr S R S G Tatchell Mr P W Teng & Ms C C Wu The Bryan and Rosemary Cutter Foundation Mr D Thomas & Ms K Wallis Tourmont Incorporated Mr M J Tropea Ms T Tsang & Mr J Lee Ms M Tso & Mr K Chan Mr R Turner & Mrs K Marmaras Mrs C A Vickers-Willis Mr D Wang & Mrs D Peng Mr H & Mrs M Wang Mr Y Wang & Ms J Yuan Mrs H Wang & Mr J Zhao Ms J Wang & Mr M Zhu Ms Y Wang & Mr P Lu Mr Z Wen & Ms J Chen Ms T H Weng & Dr L Huang Mrs S Wentworth Ms P L West & Mr S A Burke Mr J K Weymouth Mrs F Williamson Mrs M & Mr S J Wilson Mrs B & Mr A Wimalasuriya Ms M Wong Mr R S Wotherspoon & Dr T S Penovic Ms F L Wyber & Mr J L Snaden Ms J Xie & Dr F Liu Mr L Xu & Mrs J Ge Mrs C Xu & Mr J Gan Mrs X Xu & Mr W Shen Mr K Yan & Mrs C Yang Mr T Yang & Mrs X Long Mrs H Yang & Mr T I Leong Mrs X V Yang & Mr J Shi Mr B Yao & Mrs Y Liu Ms C K Yeung & Dr J Leung Miss F Yin & Mr R Y Li Ms P M Young Mr S Yu & Ms D Dudek Mr T Yu & Ms X Sun Mrs D & Mr K Yu Ms C Yu Mr K Yung & Ms T Mak Mr M & Mrs M Zarif Miss C E Zerbe Ms Q Zhan & Mr S Liang Miss X Zhang & Mr H Gu Ms I Zhang & Mr H Huang Ms Y Zhang & Mr Y Xue Ms Y Zhao & Mr Z Chen Ms W Zhao & Mr W Liu Miss S Z Zheng Mr G Zheng & Mrs Y Liao Mr W Zhong & Mrs W Wang Mr M Zhu & Ms J Wang Mrs Y & Mr W Zhu Mrs F L Zito

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Fintona File | Spring / Summer 2023

Mrs A J Adams Dr A Ansari & Dr A Ahmed Mr C Arnold Mrs D Ashbolt Mrs J Bai & Mr J Zhao Mrs K & Mr T Bakirtzis Ms C L Bawden Miss E J Beaurepaire Mrs S J Bentley Mrs J E & Mr G D Besley Ms L J Blenheim Mrs J A Blum Bob Stewart Pty Ltd Mr C & Mrs P Boschetto Mrs B J Brady Mrs J Brash Miss E M Bravin Mrs A Breadmore Ms R Brown Mr Y Cai & Ms Y Zhao Mr A Calic & Dr M Theivendran Mrs K H & Mr A D Chamberlain Dr S Chen & Dr J Ma Mr J Chen & Mrs C Yang Mr Y Chen & Ms X Xu Mr Z Chen & Ms Y Zhao Mrs Y & Mr J Chen Ms Y Chen & Mr X Bao Dr N Cheng & Mrs T W Nunes Mrs B & Mr T P Chenu Mrs M & Dr Y Cheong Ms T Cherubin Mr Z Chew & Ms A A Wu Dr K Chin & Mr K Foong Mr C Chiu & Ms C Cheung Mr T J Clarke & Ms H C Mould Ms C E Condell Ms A Coote Mr Q Dai & Ms L Wang Mrs J Danby Mrs A R De Silva & Mr M M Nihalsingha Mr Z Deng & Ms W Gao Mrs H Dennett Mrs S & Mr A Dimou Dr M A Doig OAM Dr P Dry Mr J Du & Mrs Y Tan Mr G Dubow Mr A & Mrs S Dutta Mrs J Etherington Miss H A Evans Mrs H M Fairlie Ms R Falloon & Mr R Devling Mrs P Farmer Mrs R & Mr N Fels Fintona Parents' Association Ms D P Fleming & Mr B L Masters Mr M J & Ms J Fowler

Ms M Tang & Mr K Lee Mr A C Lennen & Ms S Doherty Mrs C A Levi Mrs T H & Mr P Lewis Mr B Li & Mrs J Chen Mr H Li & Mrs W Huang Mr L Li & Mrs M Yang Mr Z Li & Mrs Z Xia Ms M Li & Mr K Chung Ms Y & Mr H Li Ms J Liang Ms R Licciardi & Mr J Georgis Mr J J Lin & Mrs Y Huang Mrs L Lin & Mr Q Xu Ms C Ling & Mr J Li Mr F Liu & Ms X Lin Mr J Liu & Mrs K Yang Mr X & Mrs H Liu Mrs M Liu & Mr Z Liang Mrs S Liu & Mr S Fan Mrs D K Loftus-Hills Mrs L & Mr A Longo Ms C E Looker Mrs E L Lord Mr W Lu & Dr W Lou Mr R & Mrs S Ludlow Mr K & Ms J Ma Ms S L Mabin & Mr J B Gilligan Mrs R & Mr T Madden Ms M Maglitto Ms T Mak & Mr K Yung Mr S & Mrs A Mansour Dr E March Mrs K Marmaras & Mr R Turner Mrs F Marsland Mrs A Mason Dr S & Mrs A S McCallum Mrs L A McClenaghan Ms A McIntosh Mrs A J McMahon Mrs J D Mee Mr E Menzies & Mrs X Liu Mrs E A Mitchell Mrs J Mitchell Mr Y Moon & Ms J Lee Mrs S Munro Ms V na Ranong Mrs R & Mr G Nakas Mrs A O & Dr P T Q Nguyen Mrs J Nishakar & Mr N Anantharajah Mrs X Niu & Mr H Liu Mrs T W Nunes Mr J & Ms C O'Donnell-Young Old Fintonians' Alumni Mrs J Pan & Mr B Sun Mr M Pathak & Mrs A Choudhury Mrs L Pattison Ms A L Payne Ms A H Phillips Mrs N & Mr M Poustie Mrs J Qian & Mr W Zhang Mrs Y Qian & Mr X He Mr Y Qiu & Ms Q Ren Mrs Y Qiu & Mr D Luo Mrs M Qu & Mr H Dong Dr D T Ratnam & Dr I Thevarajan Dr R Retallick & Ms E E Bolitho Mrs S Retschko Dr E Roberts & Mr N Roberts Ms J Robertson Ms J Rodgerson & Mr C Bate Mrs A C Rodriquez Miss L E Rose Mrs S C E Rowland Mr T Saricam & Mrs V Burelli Mrs M Sayadi & Dr H Derakhshani Dr H Y Schnagl AM

2025 SCHOLARSHIPS NOW OPEN Academic | Music | Academic/Music Year 5 – 11 Entry Applications close Friday 9 February 2024 Principal’s All-Rounder Year 8 – 11 Entry Applications close Friday 28 June 2024 Fintona Community Scholarship Year 7 Entry Applications close Wednesday 31 January 2024 Apply online: fintona.vic.edu.au/scholarships

FINTONA GIRLS’ SCHOOL Wurundjeri, Woi Wurrung Country 79 Balwyn Road Balwyn VIC 3103 Australia +61 3 9830 1388 fgs@fintona.vic.edu.au fintona.vic.edu.au