↓ SECTION 04 — THE MAIL ROOM
PAST PARENTS’ NETWORK Since its official launch at a gala cocktail party in 2012, the School’s Past Parents’ Network (PPN) has gone from strength to strength. The PPN has grown into a vibrant network of past parents attending a dynamic array of functions each year, both in Australia and overseas, with many becoming enthusiastic supporters and regular attendees. The Network was established to enable all past Geelong Grammar School parents to maintain links, share news, occasionally meet face-to-face for a function, and generally keep in touch with the wider School community. “The Network was established with the very specific purpose of providing a vehicle for parents to keep in touch with one another and with the School after their children had left,” PPN Co-Chair Markela Sargent-Peck said. “It was also to ensure that we capture that collective knowledge and experience for the benefit of the broader GGS family. It’s not too unusual to find people who have been parents at the School for almost a quarter of a century, from the day their eldest started at pre-Prep to the day their youngest left Corio, and undoubtedly for many this connection will continue with grandchildren as they join the School.”
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The PPN most recently hosted an Autumn Cocktail Party at the South Yarra home of Sarah and Ted Watts, parents of Dan (FB’10). In November, the Network hosted an afternoon tea at the Corio residence of the School’s Principal, Stephen Meek and wife Christine, parents of Henry (A’10). In September, the Hong Kong chapter of the PPN met in the offices of Carl Lu, located in the heart of Hong Kong’s International Finance Centre with spectacular views across Victoria Harbour to Kowloon. Carl and wife Frances are parents of Caitlin Lu (O Unit’08).
2 1. Chris Koren (M’70), Debbie Haines, Simon Kemp (Cu’70), Charlie Scudamore and Cathie Kemp 2. Lyn and Rob Backwell (M’81), Shadda and Andrew Abercrombie 3. Suzy Rayment, Ping Chow, Markela Sargent-Peck and Rita Wu 4. 2015 Past Parents’ Network Cocktail Party in Hong Kong
Previous events have been held at the Toorak home of Drew and Shadda Abercrombie, parents of James (Fr’08) and Bayles (P’11); the Mt Macedon property ‘Bolobek’ of Hugh (FB’77) and Brigid Robertson (Gordon, Cl’77), parents of Hugh (FB’04), Catherine Cohen (Robertson, Cl’06) and Hannah (Cl’10); the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club; the Armidale jewellery store of Mandy Catanach (Je’80) and husband Nigel Fish, parents of Liv Fish (He’11); and the East Melbourne home of Anne and Mark Robertson, parents of Will (P’03), Ollie (P’08), and Lachy (P’11). For more information about the Past Parents’ Network please contact PPN Co-Chairs, Markela Sargent-Peck (0408 397 311 or email: markela@tpg.com.au) and Cathie Kemp (0413 626 666 or email: chk3033@tpg.com.au)
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4 LIGHT BLUE - GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL
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