Genazzano FCJ College - GenNarrations November 2020 Edition

GenNarrations November 2020

2020 Outstanding Alumna: Mary Hiscock Genazzano’s Supercentenarian - Vale Betty Jamison Reflection: Year 7 in 1970 - Part Two

GenNarrations is the biannual magazine of Genazzano FCJ College.

EDITING AND PROJECT TEAM Rachel Lindner Marketing and Communications Coordinator Rachael Beveridge Director of Community Engagement and Marketing collegedevelopment@genazzano.vic.edu.au COVER IMAGE Mary Hiscock, Outstanding Alumna 2020.

We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions made by staff, students and alumnae to this edition of GenNarrations.

SHARE YOUR NEWS If you would like to provide content or photos for future editions of GenNarrations, please email: alumnae@genazzano.vic.edu.au

CONTENTS

PAGE 5

PAGE 13

PAGE 24

MESSAGE FROM THE FCJ SISTERS

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PAGE 26

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MY TIME AS PRINCIPAL AT GENAZZANO FCJ COLLEGE 6 ALUMNAE AND YEAR 6 COMPANIONSHIP CAMPAIGN

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A JOURNEY TO A SMALL TOWN CALLED GENAZZANO

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BRENDA BRETT - 30 YEARS AT GENAZZANO

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SOCIAL JUSTICE WEEK

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KEEPING OUR STUDENTS ACTIVE AND ENGAGED DURING LEARNING AT A DISTANCE

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AN AWARD WINNING SCHOOL

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OUR ALUMNAE - A COMMUNITY OF BELONGING

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OUTSTANDING ALUMNAE AWARDS

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GENAZZANO’S SUPERCENTENARIAN - VALE BETTY JAMISON

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REFLECTION: YEAR 7 IN 1970 - PART TWO

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PHILANTHROPY AT GENAZZANO

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REUNIONS 32

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PRINCIPAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Message from the Principal Karen Jebb | Principal

I acknowledge and extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to our parents/guardians for their extraordinary support of the College this year.

We entered the 2020 school year with much excitement about the year ahead.

Following a very successful 2019 school year celebrating the 130th Anniversary of the College, winning The Educator’s most Innovative Schools Award and achieving outstanding VCE results with a Median ATAR of 90, we had much to look forward to in 2020. We were also looking forward to joining the celebrations of the Bicentenary Anniversary of the Society of the Faithful Companions of Jesus. In honour of the FCJ Bicentenary, we chose the inspiring words Ignited by beauty, truth & goodness for our 2020 school theme. A significant theme with much depth and meaning for us in 2020, not only marking the bicentenary of the Faithful Companions of Jesus but also most relevant for a year that we could never have predicted.

First day of school, 2020.

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In a world that has been inundated with restrictions, lockdowns and isolation, this year, more than ever we need to be ignited by beauty, truth & goodness; and to really appreciate these aspects of God’s presence working in our everyday lives. The sunrises and sunsets, the birds singing early in the morning when we can hear nothing else (as the roads are empty in lockdown) and the gifts of kindness shared by the most beautiful people on earth. Beauty, truth and goodness is within us, it is deeply engrained by the divine spirit in each one of us. Beyond the surface, it allows us to step back for a moment and marvel at creation. The beauty of a smile, hidden often behind a mask but vivid in the eyes, the goodness of simple acts of kindness shared during these challenging times and the truth of God’s grace when we take the time to look and see.

It seems such a long time ago when we began the school year with our beautiful and heartfelt Commencement Eucharist, followed by the exciting opening of our redeveloped Visual Arts Studios and witnessing the enthusiasm and school spirit at our House Swimming Carnival.

Then we went into lockdown, thinking that it would only last for one term and that the second half of the year would be back to normal. We certainly didn’t expect a second wave of COVID-19 in Melbourne and another term in lockdown. I still recall the sadness of our Year 12 students on Monday 27 July when they were told it would be their last day on campus for at least the next six weeks. Fortunately, towards the end of the term we were able to have some essential VCE assessments on campus, to support our Year 12

students as they moved slowly towards the final steps of their educational journey at Genazzano.

When I wrote this article during the Term Three holidays, I was hopeful that we would see a return to our beautiful Genazzano campus in Term Four with an easing of restrictions for all Melbournians, and my prayers were answered.

I am incredibly proud of the way our students and staff have continued to adapt to the changing personal and academic landscapes of this pandemic. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding achievements that the Gen Learning at a Distance Program has ensured and the many online community events that have occurred, keeping us connected. I don’t think anyone has done this easily, in fact, I think it has been an extremely difficult time; however, the support structures and the way our community has rallied together has made us stronger and more creative than we could ever have imagined.

We’ve witnessed outstanding music performances posted on GenConnect each Thursday; we’ve reached out to the FCJ Missions in Asia during Social Justice Week to raise over $10,000; we’ve watched the sporting success of our community via virtual marathons “1km at a time”; we’ve listened to students creative, interesting and informative podcasts; and we have enjoyed inspiring and heartfelt speeches given by College Captain applicants.

Despite the many cancelled events and reunions, our Genazzano Alumnae have also been instrumental in supporting our school community this year. The Genazzano Alumnae social media

NOVEMBER 2020 MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

platforms have shared heartfelt messages to our students, profiled past Gen girls as inspiring role models and supported our students through the career mentoring programs. One of the highlights for our Year 12 Class of 2020 was the video from the Class of 2019 with motivating messages of encouragement and advice. This reaching out from our 2019 graduates to the current Year 12s was a beautiful witness to the values underpinning the College motto of fidelis: faithful to each other not only in times of celebration but in times of challenge.

An important event at Genazzano each year is the Outstanding Alumna Award.

We would normally have a special award presentation and celebration evening in the Madeleine Centre in August and a whole school assembly the next day for the Outstanding Alumna to speak to students. Rather than cancel the event, we proceeded with a wonderful online assembly, inviting Mary Hiscock, our 2020 Outstanding Alumna, to speak to students online. Mary joined us from Queensland to share her extraordinary

and inspiring story which is featured in this edition of GenNarrations - I am sure you will enjoy reading her incredible journey. I extend my congratulations to Mary for instilling in our students the strong belief that women can aspire to a career in any discipline. She demonstrated this in her career as she faced barriers in a male dominated profession when she graduated from school in 1955. Her love of teaching at university has made her a wonderful mentor and provided ongoing joy as she has watched her students develop into influential figures in their own communities. Mary has proven herself to be a positive example and an Outstanding Genazzano Alumna, epitomising determination and self-belief to achieve her many accolades in an illustrious career spanning over five decades.

guardians for their extraordinary support of the College this year, particularly in assisting their daughters and sons learning from home. We could not have achieved so much without the strong partnership we have with our families and I know our teachers are incredibly grateful.

I hope all students can look back on 2020 with a strong sense of achievement under circumstances that no one would have predicted. Now that we are physically back together, we can finish the year stronger than ever!

With every blessing, Karen Jebb Principal

I congratulate Mary on receiving the Outstanding Alumna Award for 2020 and thank her for leading the way for the women of this century.

Finally, I think it is important that I acknowledge and extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to our parents/

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COLLEGE COUNCIL  MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF COLLEGE COUNCIL

Message from the Chair of College Council Kevin Frawley | Chair of College Council

We have continued to witness the courage and confidence of our community.

In 2020, our 131st year of the College and bicentenary year of the Society of Faithful Companions of Jesus, we have continued to witness the courage and confidence of our community.

the annual Gen/Xavier Musical and a virtual School Assembly to acknowledge our Outstanding Alumna for 2020, Emeritus Professor Mary Hiscock.

This year we have seen many within our community experience difficulties as a result of the COVID pandemic. We are especially saddened that some members of our College community have lost loved ones as a result, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. We will continue to support each other, to become more resilient, more determined and more grateful for those around us and for being part of this great community—Genazzano FCJ College.

Our daughters have continued to participate in many events together, albeit online, such as Gen Day, House Athletics Day, Debating Competitions and Social Justice causes, including Blankets for the Homeless and raising donations for the FCJ Missions overseas during Social Justice Week.

Of course, this is not the first time in the long history of our College that the College community, and society generally, has endured adversity, including a previous pandemic 100 years ago, depression and world wars. On each occasion, the FCJ Sisters and the College community worked hard to support each other; and the College has bounced back and flourished. By continuing to support each other at this time, we will do so again.

We are especially pleased that our entire student body, from ELC through to Year 12, has approached this year with resilience and true commitment to their studies via remote learning; our girls have worked hard to achieve the goals they have set themselves, supported by their parents and families.

While much of what we would ordinarily share as a College community has been unable to proceed as usual, it was pleasing to see so many events and planned works at the College continue this year. We were fortunate to enjoy our signature event, GenWelcomes in February, where parents joined together to welcome new families to Genazzano to share our hopes for our daughters in 2020. We also had the pleasure of attending

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We have also taken the opportunity, while our College facilities have not been in use, to undertake the redevelopment of our pool area; and we commenced work on new and enhanced areas for the Sports Department and Genazzano Institute of Learning & Brain Sciences. We also continue to prepare for our new Year 5 and 6 Learning Centre, once town planning approval is received. We look forward to these new facilities supporting our academic and sports programs and to witnessing the growth of our students and teachers through the professional learning program.

2020 also sees us farewell our Principal for the past five years, Ms Karen Jebb. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Karen for her strong leadership and achievements during her tenure as Principal. Karen has succeeded in improving educational outcomes as well as the financial position of the College, which will serve to enhance its future for many years to come.

Education is a lifelong journey and I congratulate all members of our College community on the journey they have undertaken this year, despite the difficulties faced by all concerned. May our College values of Companionship, Dignity, Excellence, Gentleness, Hope and Justice, stay with you both now and into the New Year.

GENNARRATIONS MESSAGE FROM THE SISTERS FCJ

Message from the Sisters FCJ Sr Barbara Brown-Graham fcJ | Leader for Australia On Holy Thursday night in 1820, as she watched and prayed before the altar of repose in Amiens France, Marie Madeleine d’Houët knew deep within that it was time to begin formally the work to which God had been leading her over the previous three years in particular. And so we call this day, Holy Thursday, our founding day.

The 2020 Bicentenary celebrations throughout the wider family of the Society of the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ Sisters) have been years in the making, but we did not plan on competing with COVID-19! In some mysterious way we can call this a blessing because it has lead us into new and creative ways of celebrating God’s abundant gifts to our Society and to the wider church and world through the FCJ Society over these past 200 years.

In place of local and international travel, we have made great use of all of the social media platforms to connect with one another across the world and to continue our meetings and sharing. We have ‘travelled’ to remote Ende, Flores (Indonesia) for the key moment of a vow ceremony. We have had some wonderful connections with our sisters in Manila, Myanmar, Indonesia and in Europe through their YouTube presentations of the ways they continue to serve the people, https:// www.fcjsisters.org/news/a-day-in-the-lifeof-sisters-on-lockdown/.

This year, the annual residential meeting of our General Superior and her Assistants together with the Area Leaders happened virtually over two weeks – embracing the time zones from Toronto to Melbourne with Dublin, London and Flores, Indonesia in between.

Our local groups of Sisters and Companions in Mission have met regularly through the same social media platforms and despite the constraints of different time zones, we have been able to connect with many of our communities outside Australia. At home, we enjoyed a great celebration in September of the 65 years of vowed FCJ life, love and service of our Sisters – Helen Mary Langlands, Aileen Ryan and Catherine Morrison and all this via Zoom! This ended with the FCJ virtual choir singing so wonderfully Mary’s song of praise, Magnificat. Likewise, we joined with Sr Kathleen Mary at MacKillop Care Home in Hawthorn East to celebrate her 100th birthday via Zoom – though you can’t eat a delicious birthday cake virtually!

The various ministries of our Sisters are carried out differently now – through phone consultations, Zoom calls, webinars and writing. In some ways we enjoy this new creativity and flexibility across borders! Our apostolic energy and ministry of prayer for the thirst of our world never ceases.

Annual residential meeting with the FCJ General Superior, General Assistants and all Area Leaders. i

General Chapter FCJ Sisters 2019

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General Chapter FCJ Sisters 2019

Thankfully, prior to COVID-19 we were able to carry out a number of our Bicentenary plans. Two hundred trees have been planted in rural Victoria as part of a corridor for native birds and animals; the lease on three of the houses of the Society have been extended for the use of refugees and asylum seekers; and substantial grants have been made available to rural families in distress and for tertiary scholarships for aboriginal young people. The Society has provided funding for the FCJ Bicentennial Multipurpose Hall in Benalla and for a Year 5 and 6 Learning Centre at Genazzano which is at the planning stages.

Our Bicentenary calls us to be more deeply women of thanksgiving. In the words of our General Chapter of October 2019…

As pilgrim companions for 200 years we know that ‘Le Bon Dieu conduit tout luimême.’ We rejoice that the Risen Jesus, source of our hope, joy and energy, is present and active in us and all around us.

In gratitude for this we want to live with deeper conviction as consecrated women, giving all that we are and all that we have. We are women of the Resurrection, messengers of the Good News, living out this desire in the divided and often suffering reality of our Church, World and God’s entire creationi.

We are grateful for the wonderful support given to us by Ms Karen Jebb over her years of leadership at Genazzano and we warmly welcome Mrs Loretta Wholley who takes up the baton of leadership. We thank all members of staff, all parents and families for your wonderful response to a year of challenge, change and opportunity! Thank you for accompanying us into our third century! As Jesus accompanies us…we are called to do the sameii.

To watch the FCJ virtual choir singing Magnificat, scan the QR code using the camera app on your phone or iPad.

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REFLECTION MY TIME AS PRINCIPAL AT GENAZZANO

My time as Principal at Genazzano FCJ College Karen Jebb | Principal As I come to the end of my five years as Principal of Genazzano FCJ College, many memories of my time at this College flood my thoughts and bring a warm sense of gratitude for the opportunity to lead this extraordinary learning community. It has indeed been an absolute privilege and delight; and the experience will remain in my heart forever.

Catholic Education is my passion and I hope that my leadership of the mission of Genazzano FCJ College and the charism of the Faithful Companions of Jesus has given justice to its aspirations.

My vision has been to continually ensure the College offers the best inclusive education possible whilst looking ahead to the future via an innovating curriculum that fosters a love of learning.

I believe it is important to maximise the potential of all students, ensuring the community continues to believe in and foster the powerful impact that young women can have on our world and the hope they bring to the future. I also believe it is important to maximise the potential of all staff by offering evidence-based professional learning and an avenue for them to share their expertise and work collegially with each other.

I am proud of the development of an FCJ Profile framework to articulate for the school community what is distinctive to all relationships and interactions in an FCJ school. The profile is based upon the Ignatian spirituality to see God in all things and the learning framework draws on the inspiration of the Ignatian Examen. The six key values of an FCJ school are explored in detail and describe how they are enacted/seen in the school on a daily basis. The development of this profile assisted me to articulate the distinctive nature of an FCJ school and to ensure that I led the implementation of the core values within all aspects of the College community. The profile creates a common language and ways of building positive and life-giving relationships with each other. It keeps our faith and FCJ traditions always at the forefront of our thinking, decision making and interactions.

Over the past five years, I have encouraged a collegial approach and focus on the use of data to inform our understanding of each learner in our College. Our teaching approach needs to be purposeful and an indicator of our impact on student learning.

This desire has driven our professional learning approach over the past five years. Our objective is to support all teachers to strategically and purposefully adjust their pedagogy to meet the learning needs of all students in all classes; and to utilise the learning data to track the overall improvement and impact.

Together with the Director, we launched the Genazzano Institute of Learning & Brain Sciences and almost all teachers have completed at least three ‘Science of Learning’ modules. Each university level module includes a teacher chosen micro-project to test the effectiveness of the PEN (Psychology Education Neuroscience) Principles in the classroom. Our aim is to have our 6

teachers understand how the latest research about the brain can be translated to best practice pedagogy. The Institute supports teachers to be researchers in their own classroom, with coaching sessions to assist with the micro-projects. We have partnered with Dr Jared Cooney Horvath, Neuroscientist and Educator at the University of Melbourne, who is now a widely sought-after presenter. This ground-breaking professional learning program has been developed exclusively for Genazzano with an aim that our teachers are experts at implementing the Science of Learning understandings in the classroom.

Our Professional Learning Program has been recognised nationally and internationally as innovative and cutting edge and Genazzano received The Educator’s Innovative Schools Award in recognition of our work in the area of learning and brain sciences.

Our VCE results place Genazzano in the top 4% of schools in Victoria. Last year, most excitingly, 50% of students achieved an ATAR greater than 90, which is 14% higher than 2018 and an incredible 10% higher than any record at Genazzano since the introduction of ATAR. We also had 7% girls achieve an ATAR greater than 99. These results affirm the work we have been doing in the last five years in putting learning and teaching at the forefront of what we do at Genazzano.

To support teacher, student and parent collaboration and effective communication and learning, we established an IT strategy plan in 2016 to implement an online Learning Management System and create a platform that provides easy communication avenues and innovative learning opportunities. This implemented ICT strategy led to a very smooth transition to learning at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic; and feedback we have received from students, teachers and parents has demonstrated the success of our Learning Management System and IT support.

I have enjoyed the implementation of the online presence of the College through social media platforms and the updating of our College website to incorporate online enrolment, video promotion and a cleaner style of information. It has been a critical communication medium this year.

Our pastoral care and wellbeing programs at Genazzano are also leading the way. We have a team overseeing the wellbeing of students at the College. Our Deputy Principals, Performance Psychology Team, Head of Junior School, Head of Senior School, Team Leaders, and/or Curriculum Leaders, work together to support our students' learning and wellbeing. This approach has seen significant improvement in retaining students at the College and, in most cases, successfully responding to their needs and developing better learning and wellbeing outcomes for them.

I am proud of the outstanding improvement of our Sports Program and the continued success of our Music and Co-curricular

NOVEMBER 2020 MY TIME AS PRINCIPAL AT GENAZZANO

Programs. Both these Co-curricular Programs develop the talents and abilities of our girls and enable their individual gifts to flourish in a supportive, team environment. We have been finalists in The Educator’s Best Co-curricular Program for three years in a row.

I have enjoyed attending the Genazzano Mothers’ Association (GMA) and Genazzano Fathers’ Association (GFA) formal events, and through this, having the opportunity to build wonderful relationships with our parents. By actively promoting the College’s desire to have positive and effective relationships with our parent community, together we have enhanced student learning outcomes and created an inclusive and supportive school community.

One of the strategic directions of the College Council was to improve the financial position of the College. The careful management of College finances has led to a renewed College Master Plan and completed capital projects that include the redevelopment of the Arts Studios and Sports and Fitness precinct. We have completed the planning for a new Year 5 and 6 Learning Centre and are currently waiting for Boroondara Council approval. I am proud to say that the College is in a sound financial position despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.

I hope that over the past five years, the school community has seen my energy and passion for Genazzano FCJ College, from ELC to Year 12 and Boarding. I love what I do and I think this translates to my work. I hope that I have been viewed as an ethical leader where faith, fairness and integrity are at the center of my decision making. I am passionate about student learning and ensuring that the students’ best interests are constantly on the agenda and

at the forefront of our thinking. The College has a responsibility to continue to strive for improvement in learning outcomes for all students and I have worked with many wonderful colleagues who have been instrumental in supporting this vision; which I am eternally grateful for.

Most of all, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our students, most of them by name. It is a joy to be at a school where students join us at the age of 3 years old and leave us as young adults at the age of 18. It has been a pleasure to attend and support almost every event and program possible including weekend sport, musical productions, drama performances, debating, social justice, concerts, community events and classroom presentations; all this has been embraced not so much as a task entailed as being principal - but as a joy. I hope that students remember me for being passionate about their learning and their achievements. I leave the College with a somewhat heavy heart but I look forward to my new challenge ahead in continuing my passion for Catholic education. I know that Genazzano will continue to go from strength to strength and I am grateful for being a part of the story.

With every blessing, Karen Jebb Principal 2016 - 2020

GMA Ball, 2019.

STEM Tour, 2018.

Genazzano 130 Celebrations, 2019.

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COMPANIONSHIP ALUMNAE AND YEAR 6 COMPANIONSHIP CAMPAIGN

Alumnae and Year 6 Companionship Campaign Amelia Tan | Events and Alumnae Relations Coordinator Experiencing the first pandemic since the Spanish flu (over a hundred years ago), 2020 has been challenging for many of us.

Lockdown imposed a new lifestyle which included Genazzano students learning at a distance and people who are most vulnerable encouraged not to leave their homes.

To help combat this period of isolation, an Alumnae and Year 6 Companionship campaign was created to share our love and support to members of the Gen community. Year 6 students were asked to write a letter to an Alumna sharing their learning at a distance experience and enquiring about their time at Gen. Letters were sent to over 360 Alumnae and responses came streaming back with around 50% replying with a letter to the Year 6 student who wrote to them. You could feel the warmth and appreciation from our Alumnae jumping off the pages and it was a wonderful activity to be part of.

Congratulations to all the students and alumnae who took part in this initiative, we hope the examples we’ve shared encourage you to send a handwritten letter to a loved one of your own!

Genevieve Belleville (Redmond, 1955) 8

I would like to thank the person who had the brilliant idea of setting the students the task of writing letters to us. Emily was in Year 6 and a delight. Yours sincerely, Joan.

Congratulations on such kindness and community benefit .

Best wishes to you all at Genazzano.

I enjoyed writing a letter to the Genazzano Alumnae and loved reading the answers to my questions in reply. I found it interesting how fancy the handwriting was. - Olivia, Year 6 Gen girls, I think, wrote letters to Alumnae to make them feel happy and warm, knowing that someone is thinking about them during this tough time. This is more clear to me now, after I received a letter, written back to me and it gave me an amazing feeling of happiness.

- Madeline, Year 6

GENNARRATIONS ALUMNAE AND YEAR 6 COMPANIONSHIP CAMPAIGN

What a lovely surprise! Every day I go to the letterbox hoping that I will receive a lovely letter or card, but it rarely happens usually there are bills or other correspondence that is not very exciting, but today your lovely letter was waiting for me.

Elodie Beaudry, Year 6A

Joan Antonie (Cahill, 1947) 9

COMPANIONSHIP ALUMNAE AND YEAR 6 COMPANIONSHIP CAMPAIGN

Patricia Cody (Kennedy, 1951)

Helen Courtney (Kennedy, 1955)

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NOVEMBER 2020 ALUMNAE AND YEAR 6 COMPANIONSHIP CAMPAIGN

My name Madeline and I’m in Year 6 at Genazzano. I have two older brothers, an older sister and a dog. I started at Genazzano at the start of Year 5 and I’m really enjoying it there. Did you enjoy Genazzano when you went there?

Mary Williams (Anderson, 1960) I’ve been doing school from home for the past month and it has been very enjoyable and much easier than I thought. Activities I’ve been enjoying whilst at home have been drawing, reading and baking.

The thing I’m missing the most during Lock Down is probably my friends. I’m so used to seeing them every day. I do still see them every day, but on Facetime and Zoom. How have you been during lockdown? I hope it hasn’t been too hard and you're still finding ways to stay connected with your friends and family.

Madeline Newman, Year 6B I hope you stay safe, healthy and happy during quarantine.

Madeline

Natalie Vong, Year 6B

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REFLECTION A JOURNEY TO A SMALL TOWN CALLED GENAZZANO

A journey to a small town called Genazzano Ann Rennie (O’Neill, 1975) | English and Religion Teacher Enraptured with the piety of a girl who internalised without question all the stories of the saints, I was happily immersed in fabulous founding fables and the mystical world of apparitions and visitations. The miracle of a flying fresco took hold of my childish heart and a lifelong ambition was born. I knew that one day I would visit this sacred place - a special pilgrimage undertaken by many whose affection for the well-loved school upon the hill is abiding.

This lovely medieval town is an hour’s bus ride from the end of the A line in Rome.

Plain from the outside, the interior of the basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel is stunning, full of gilt and ebonised wood, large devotional paintings and marble statues. I particularly loved the exquisitely sculpted altar cherubs who looked as though they had been up to some mischief and had only momentarily stopped playing.

The icon is tiny. It has none of the obvious splendour of a Raphael or Murillo in its depiction of loving maternity. Mary is plain and the baby Jesus a chubby bubby with a wizened face who tugs at his mother’s garment. However, its importance is not in the artistic aesthetic, but in its meaning to those who venerate it. There is beauty in this evocation of the blessed union of mother and child; and more especially for Catholics who understand the eternity written in this special narrative.

Child which, somehow, attached itself to the church’s wall. The miraculous flight of the icon from Albania is recorded in a huge genre painting at the back of the basilica.

I had to see for myself the place after which the school was named - a visit to satisfy my curiosity and embed my understanding of how a school in colonial Victoria could have possibly been named after a small village in Lazio, Italy. For the first short while of its existence the new convent school in Kew did not have a name, but felicitously happened on one just before its dedication by the Governor, Lord Hopetoun, in 1890. Mother Mary John Daly had been reading to the community a book published by Monsignor Dillon.

She particularly wanted a one-word name for the school and all the sisters wanted to have a name that referred to Our Lady of Good Counsel. The first time the word Genazzano was mentioned all the sisters spontaneously looked up from their work.

It was a sign!

Genazzano has been a place of Marian pilgrimage since the 5th century. A number of popes have visited the town and saints,

Genazzano is a lovely small town with its medieval arch, well-worn buildings and old-fashioned streetlamps, its alleys decorated with householder pot plants and old wooden shutters open to the sun.

It has the rich but unpretentious patina of old Italy and one can imagine in the sleepy lassitude of a warm afternoon that the centuries are no longer numbered and that time stands still. There may be modernisation, but it is well hidden in these terracotta hills. For those Gen girls who visit here and stop to say a prayer in the basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel, it is a reminder of their alma mater and those other remarkable ladies of good counsel, our very own FCJ Sisters.

For those Gen girls who visit here and stop to say a prayer in the basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel, it is a reminder of their alma mater and those other remarkable ladies of good counsel, our very own FCJ Sisters.

The story of the advent of the fresco starts in the 15th century when a wealthy widow, Petruccia de Geneo, used all her funds to restore the church that had fallen into dilapidation. She was mocked for her dogged devotion, especially as her money began to run out. According to tradition, on St Mark’s Day, 1467, while the entire population participated in a carnival, a cloud descended from a clear sky. Enveloped in that celestial fleece was a small picture of Our Lady and the Blessed Basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

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too, have knelt in front of this modest picture: St John Bosco, St Vincent Palotti, St Clement Hoffbauer and the Augustinian priest Blessed Stephen Bellesini whose remains are in a glass coffin in a modern side chapel and who died of typhoid fever whilst ministering to victims of the plague.

Genazzano is also the birthplace of Pope Martin V whose papacy effected the end of the Western Schism at the Council of Constance in 1417 and brought about the end of the almost seventy-year Avignon papacy.

GENNARRATIONS BRENDA BRETT - 30 YEARS AT GENAZZANO

30 Years at Genazzano Brenda Brett | English Teacher When I commenced my role as Head of History at the College in 1990, I could not have envisaged that I would spend the next 30 years here! Who would plan for such a long stay? I say 30 years but there have been some breaks away, such as the year I spent teaching my way around Australia in 2003. What splendid memories and experiences I was able to bring back to Genazzano. Memories of teaching international students at the Cairns College of English or my teaching stints in the Northern Territory and Western Australia will forever remain in my heart.

Then there was an occasion recently when I was being served a cappuccino in a café on the other side of town. “Ms Brett” a lovely young waitress called out in delight, relaying a memory of hers when I taught her in Year 9 at least ten years prior. Apparently, someone had asked me in that class whether I ever swore, to which I replied, “I think anyone who swears has a very limited vocabulary”, which indicates that our wise words are often never forgotten. Whilst English teaching may have evolved over the years, wide, in-depth reading along with confident oral expression should always be the mainstay which underpins this crucial subject and affects performance in other areas.

My career at Genazzano has also embraced teaching English at all levels, which provided me with further variety in my daily teaching schedule. Naturally, I have some amazing memories dating back over the years such as the concluding English lesson I gave to a Year 10 class several years ago before the December break. They gave me a standing ovation when I farewelled them which brought me to tears. When I asked them why they had done so, they simply told me that throughout the year I had given them a voice, listened to them and talked to them, not at them. Words which have ever since resonated with me and which we should, perhaps, all take note of.

It would be difficult to identify novels which I think all students should read, but I feel almost compelled to recommend The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman both of which are in our superb College library. I will certainly miss the recommendations, book discussions and excellent support of the library team! I would like to also recommend two excellent films for staff and students to watch and perhaps, hopefully, they might come to the attention of curriculum writers: Belle and Sebastian (subtitles) and Hunt for the Wilder People.

I do not always follow traditional paths in my classes but, hopefully, this has made the experiences memorable and longlasting for my students. I have always been gratified by their feedback.

I feel privileged to have been a staff member at the College for so long; I have such wonderful memories and I hope that I have had a beneficial influence not only on the hundreds of students I have instructed over the years, but also on other staff members.

A sketch by one of Brenda's Year 12 History students.

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STUDENT CONTRIBUTION SOCIAL JUSTICE WEEK

Social Justice Week 2020 Ruby Curtis | Social Justice Prefect 2020 Social Justice Week, like many other things, looked very different this year. With all students at home, the activities that we would usually run were no longer possible and new and exciting ideas had to be implemented to allow the entire Genazzano community to be involved in the week.

When first approaching how to plan the week, I started by determining what the focus of the week should be. In the past, while large amounts of money has been raised for the FCJ Missions, the focus has been more on the activities at Gen rather the missionary work of the FCJ Sisters. I realised that this year would be the perfect opportunity to connect the Genazzano community with the work being done by the FCJ Sisters internationally. I had been in contact with Sr Paola (the Coordinator of the FCJ Learning and Development Centre in the Philippines) since the beginning of the year and asked if I would be able to interview her regarding the work she does at the Centre

Health education class.

Distributing learning modules to children who are unable to go to school because of COVID-19.

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and how COVID-19 had impacted this work. She kindly agreed and sent some photos which were later put together into a video.

To present this information to both students, staff and parents alike, we created a Social Justice Week page on GenConnect.

Here we were able to post about the activities for the week which included a House Move-A-Thon, Sustainability Day, Virtual Mission Stall, online quizzes at lunchtime and a Simply Sharing Day. The online platform meant that all members of the Genazzano community had access to the events and were able to make donations to the FCJ Missions via the GoFundMe page we set up.

The week was more successful than I could have ever imagined and thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of the Genazzano community, we raised $10,622. The week served as a reminder that even as we face our own difficulties, as Catholics, we see the importance of helping those most in need.

Local children outside the FCJ Centre.

Sr Ciony attending to patients in the clinic.

Distribution of vegetables during lockdown.

NOVEMBER 2020 SOCIAL JUSTICE WEEK

Interview with Sr Paola, Coordinator of the FCJ Learning and Development Centre What work do the sisters undertake at the FCJ Learning and Development Centre in Manila?

We offer a program of integrated community development which includes: 1.

House repair and toilet construction

2.

Educational programs

3.

4.

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Alternative Learning Systems for those who were not able to complete their schooling

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Computer classes

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Skills training in sewing, food processing and baking

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Scholarships for College students and Elementary and High School students

Income generation •

Card making, bead making and woven cloth products

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SIPAMCO Cooperative

Medical services •

Weekly clinic

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Health education

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Support for people with special medical needs or disability

5.

Community building and development

6.

Disaster risk reduction management

7.

Women’s development and child protection

8.

Program for senior citizens

9.

Youth program

How many people work in the Centre?

Three FCJ Sisters work in the Centre. Sr Vanessa is a Social Worker, Sr Ciony is a Nurse and I am the Coordinator of the Centre. We have six other staff; Jennifer Bohol who is a Teacher, Jomar Servas

who is a Computer Instructor, Grace Balanquit who is a Social Worker, Rhodora Carlos who coordinates the Health program and the Senior citizens’ program, Rossele Casas who is in charge of the Income generating program and Zenaida Frejas who is responsible for the Disaster risk reduction program.

When was the Centre founded and how has it grown since then?

The FCJ Centre was founded in 2002 and has extended to other areas since then. We have a second Centre in Area 5 and another small Centre in Sandakot. In all, we work in six areas now.

Who has access to the programs?

All the people in the areas where we work have access to the programs. In the main Centre we support 4,000 people in the community.

How has your work and the lives of the people you work with been impacted by COVID-19?

Many people lost their livelihood. During the severe lockdown from 16 March to 2 June, we distributed rice, milk, vegetables and small amounts of money to the most needy families. Once we were able to reopen the FCJ Centre we concentrated on helping families to set up a small business so they could generate income.

The children were not allowed to return to school until 5 October so we provide weekly modules for them so that they can keep up with their studies.

What new strategies have you had to implement in light of the pandemic?

We use our Facebook page to communicate with the wider community. There are still many restrictions and only 10 people can be in a room at one time, so this helps us to contact a wider group. We also placed a bulk order for laptops to enable our College scholars to study from home as there will be no face to face classes for the moment.

Where do you most need help and support?

It is always a great help when people buy the products the women make.

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FEATURE LEARNING AT A DISTANCE

Keeping active and engaged during learning at a distance During 2020, our College community has shown amazing resilience and courage as we have rallied together and adapted to a different way of doing things. This has affected all aspects of our students’ education, including activities outside of the classroom. Congratulations to our innovative staff and students at Genazzano who have continued to find engaging ways for us to connect while at home and to maintain our strong learning culture.

Music The Music Department has implemented some amazing initiatives during learning at a distance to keep students, staff and our community connected to Genazzano’s rich musical and choral tradition.

In May, the Music Department launched their weekly Music Moments. Each Thursday during the term, performances featuring soloists or ensembles were shared on GenConnect and later posted to the College website. These snapshots share what the Genazzano students have been able to achieve while learning at a distance, along with their talent and commitment to refining their musical interests.

The full collection of Music moments can be viewed at genazzano.vic.edu.au/ learning/music.

students to receive immediate feedback when learning and practising their music.

Term Two also saw the introduction of the SmartMusic platform for our music students, in addition to delivering their music lessons via Zoom. This wonderful, web-based suite of music educational tools offered our instrumental and vocal students an extensive library, method books, sight-reading exercises and accompaniments; and has allowed

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SmartMusic allows for home practice and rehearsals to be more in-depth and independent – Sarah Vilo

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I really like how it is all clearly laid out so you know what you have done and what you need to do – Olive Hamilton

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Thank you for continuing music lessons. It has been a welcome return to normal. Our daughter needs the routine and outlet that music brings to her life – Genazzano parent

Blankets for the Homeless Our Co-curricular Program also continued during learning at a distance, offering a number of opportunities for students to contribute outside the classroom.

During CatholicCare Week and as part of our Social Justice Action, members of the Genazzano community were invited to support Blankets for the Homeless as one of Term Two co-curricular activities.

The aim was to knit as many blankets as possible to be donated to charities in time for winter.

We received overwhelming support for this initiative from students, parents, College staff and members of the community who saw the call out for squares posted on our Genazzano social media channels.

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We also received a number of telephone calls from parents to thank us for this opportunity to connect with their daughters, to teach them a new skill, to work together on a project and to be able to give back to the community. Students also mentioned how great it was for them to connect with their extended family and friends, while receiving great knitting tips along the way.

The College received hundreds of knitted squares which were turned into beautiful and warm blankets and donated to a women’s shelter in St Kilda just prior the second lockdown. The shelter accommodates approximately five to ten women at any one time who

may be experiencing housing difficulties and require support to establish more permanent accommodation; and helps them access health care, work and life skills support.

Thank you to everyone that supported this great College initiative, it was wonderful to see so many people come together from all parts of our community.

GENNARRATIONS LEARNING AT A DISTANCE

Sport Our Sports Department has ensured sport and fitness have remained top of mind for students and their families throughout learning at a distance.

models as they set the standard of physical activity and create a sense of belonging— one of the most important benefits of sport and team activities”.

The 2020 Gen Sport Captains have led the way posting daily workouts on the GenConnect portal along with highlights and motivational quotes to our @genfcjsport Instagram page. The Zoom workouts replicated some of the typical daily fitness sessions available at the College and allowed students the flexibility to complete the workouts in their own time and for members of their family to join in.

The Team have also shared a range of health tips and physical challenges; and made sure typical College events, like House Athletics Day, have still gone ahead. These sorts of activities have been so important for lifting our spirits and reminding ourselves to stop and have fun. They have demonstrated the holistic approach we have to education at Genazzano and the inclusive and welcoming energy of our community.

Students of all ages have participated and staff have also enjoyed the opportunity to join in different types of activities, albeit online.

Online Run Club and Ride Club groups were formed using the social-fitness network, Strava; to promote and encourage daily physical activity by tracking movement through GPS. Community hubs were also created for swimming and rowing, with various training and fitness programs led by our team of coaches – all which have enabled our Gen students to stay connected and continue to receive encouragement and support from each other.

“The benefits of these communities is that our coaches can still provide real time feedback to our active girls as they complete prescribed weekly sessions”, said Nick Wall, Director of Sport.

“Another positive outcome has been the engagement of girls who have turned to exercise as a source of stress relief as they look to maximise their study efficiency at home”.

“Our staff and captains perform as role

Principal, Ms Karen Jebb has actively participated in the sports programs from afar and admired the way our staff and student have embraced the challenges of learning at a distance.

“I am so incredibly proud of our Sports Captains and Director of Sport, Mr Nick Wall and his team, who have supported our girls to keep fit at home and maintain good physical and mental health”, she said.

“I supplemented my own running program with the strength and conditioning exercises posted by our Sports Captains – they were certainly challenging and effective”.

One of our most successful sporting initiatives was the Gen Virtual Marathon Challenge which involved connecting

with our community 1km at a time! The goal was to see as many faces as possible and create that important sense of whole school support and connectivity despite our distance. The challenge was set to start with our House groups and sporting teams and extended to include staff, alumnae and our parent associations. It was wonderful to see so many different people from our community get involved to keep fit and healthy together.

A typical week at Genazzano sees more than 50 sport and fitness sessions being delivered across 26 different sports and seven fitness programs, in addition to the extensive curriculum including Arts, Drama, Languages, Music, Maths, Technology and Science.

Highlights: •

Our live morning fitness program has been the mainstay of our sport offerings since March and peaked with over 250 girls regularly involved.

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The benefits of physical activity for managing mental and physical health has become a peer inspired education program.

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The benefits of our Strava Run Club and Ride Club and the House Active Minutes Challenge have been far greater than the weekly statistics of minutes trained, runs completed, or metres climbed.

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The greatest gains have been vertical integration and connection as our senior girls have provided kudos to junior girls and our College leaders have provided weekly motivation, encouragement and inspiration.

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ENROL AT GENAZZANO A THRIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY

A thriving learning community “A Gen girl is someone who puts her hand up for activities, gives up her seat on the tram without being asked, whose positive attitude can be noticed instantly and the student who tries her best in sporting, musical and academic pursuits”.

Sarah Salib | College Captain 2020/2021 Our Vision is ‘to share in a future-oriented and distinctive learning culture guided by reflection, wisdom and service. We empower young women to transform the world with hope and care’.

Our hope is that through God’s grace working in us all, each young person grows into their best self, with a zest for life and the generosity and confidence to use their talents and gifts in the service of others.

Our Mission

About Genazzano

Genazzano FCJ College lives its vision through embracing the talents, potential and dignity of each person. We achieve this by:

We are an inclusive community that celebrates diversity and delivers a balanced approach to learning and growth, from ELC right through to Year 12.

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Appreciating the unique giftedness of each other

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Confidently innovating and adapting to embrace a changing world

We confidently innovate and adapt to a changing world by allowing students to grow academically and personally.

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Engaging with others with a positive, loving attitude

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Energising ourselves through high expectations.

We engage with others with a positive and loving attitude, serving a higher purpose through our Catholic faith and social justice programs that take action to benefit society and people in need.

We apply distinctive learning approaches based on cross disciplinary, student centred thinking and a commitment to excellence. Our transformational learning experiences focus on soft skill acquisition not just content; and our high performance culture promotes independence, self-belief and professional practice across the entire school.

A Genazzano education is a wonderful gift and we invite you to discover the Genazzano difference for yourself. Visit our website or contact our Enrolments Team to discuss how you can ensure the best start for your child’s future. registrar@genazzano.vic.edu.au genazzano.vic.edu.au

Open Mornings 2021 Experience the world of opportunities that a Genazzano education can provide.

All Open Mornings include a presentation from the Principal and students and a student guided tour of the College.

There are also opportunities to experience our Early Learning Centre environment in action.

Register today at genazzano.vic.edu.au 18

Open Mornings

ELC Tours

Wednesday 3 March

Friday 12 February

Wednesday 24 March

Friday 26 March

Tuesday 18 May

Friday 23 April

Wednesday 2 June Wednesday 21 July Tuesday 3 August Wednesday 6 October

NOVEMBER 2020 A THRIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY

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FEATURE AN AWARD WINNING SCHOOL

An Award Winning School In 2020, Genazzano FCJ College has again been recognised for its excellence and commitment to girls’ education as a finalist for the Australian Education Awards 2020 in four categories; winner of The Educator’s Innovative Schools Award; and recognition in The Educator's Hot List with Deputy Principal: Learning and Teaching.

Australian Education Awards The Australian Education Awards bring together hundreds of education leaders, recognising star performers in the K-12 sector across 25 categories. The Awards recognise schools, principals, department heads and teachers for their achievements.

This year, Genazzano was shortlisted for four awards: Best CoCurricular Program (for the third year running), Best Use of Technology, Best Professional Learning Program and School Principal of the Year - Non-government.

Being a finalist in these Awards is testament to the ongoing commitment and dedication of our teachers and support staff who work tirelessly to ensure we deliver world class programs that meet the academic and wellbeing needs of our students.

The extensive Co-curricular Program of over 130 activities is an integral part of the College’s educational experience; promoting creativity, excellence and innovation; along with opportunities for leadership, service to the community and teamwork.

Supported by energetic staff and parents, students are able to pursue their passions and develop lifelong interests and relationships outside of the classroom and their peer groups.

Activities include Music, the Arts, Sport, Debating and Public Speaking, Language Immersion, Social Justice and Leadership, as well as interest based clubs that change throughout the year.

This year we had two elected Co-curricular Captains who advocated for the program by suggesting ideas, actively participating and encouraging their peers to get involved. This holistic approach to education empowers students to be risk takers who willingly step outside their comfort zones, make connections and achieve set goals – all qualities of the Genazzano learning community.

Providing a rounded education is also demonstrated through the school’s commitment to technology and preparing students with the skills they will need for life and work. By bringing the digital technologies curriculum to the forefront of student learning, the College has created a strong technology culture and excitement in this area.

Students are introduced to programming and coding within the curriculum and provided many opportunities to experience and create with technology via games and virtual reality excursions.

Over the past two years, exciting and dynamic DigiTech programs have been introduced including innovative cross-curricular programs with digital technologies learning embedded in core curriculum areas and a partnership with RMIT to teach Python Programming at Year 7. Massive numbers of students engage in the GenTech co-curricular club each week and our students have competed nationally, including placing first at the ‘Everybody Dance Nao’ competition. The College has now implemented two programming electives at Year 9, an integrated coding program in Year 8 Mathematics and our first technology based VCE class – Applied Computing.

For the Best Professional Learning Program Award, Genazzano has been nominated for its Science of Learning: Improving Educational Outcomes professional learning program. Now in its third year, the multi-year program is designed and delivered by internationally renowned neuroscientist, teacher and author, Dr Jared Cooney Horvath; and offers cutting-edge research in the fields of neuroscience, education and psychology, as well as coaching on the translation of key scientific principles and workshop applications.

The professional learning program focuses on student improvement and supporting teachers to build individual and

Is there a realistic and exciting career for girls in technology? Yes! says Curriculum Leader of Technology, Ms Sarah Gale who has spearheaded a plan to drive technology use at Genazzano which is going from strength to strength.

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GENNARRATIONS AN AWARD WINNING SCHOOL

collective expertise through projects, team research, shared learning, and opportunities to speak publicly about their work to teach others. We have also had a number of educators published this year, in different journals relevant to their fields of expertise.

The final nomination for School Principal of the Year - Nongovernment, is to recognise the extraordinary leadership of Ms Karen Jebb, Genazzano FCJ College Principal (2016 - 2020), for her gusto and vision, which has been displayed time and time again during her five year tenure as Principal. She has transformed school engagement and established a direction and structure that ensures student learning is first and foremost in all activities.

The outstanding VCE results in 2019, with 7% of students in the top 1% of the state and 50% of students receiving an ATAR of 90 or above, is testament to the thriving learning culture and commitment to excellence from educators, student and parents, that Ms Jebb has created.

We are eagerly awaiting to hear the results of the Awards which will be announced on 26 November 2020. Regardless, being shortlisted is a fantastic achievement and one that our Genazzano community should be very proud of. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Innovative Schools Award In 2019, Genazzano FCJ College was recognised as an innovative school for the work of the Genazzano Institute of Learning & Brain Sciences; a unique and progressive innovation to promote an understanding of brain function and health for improved learning and living.

Since then the Institute has gone from strength to strength, continuing to support students with different programs and clubs; the Science of Learning program for educators; and events, news and forums to support the broader community to better understand the brain and embrace topics like neurodiversity.

piloted by the Genazzano Institute of Learning & Brain Sciences this year and received positive feedback from both staff and students.

“I think the survey is useful. I was able to stop and think about how I learn and what I’m good at”. - Genazzano student, 2020.

Emergence combines exceptional learning opportunities with a new microcredential platform and a dynamic digital ePortfolio.

Students build rich compendiums of skills mastery, knowledge and experience throughout their learning journeys and the portable database allows them to showcase their accomplisments beyond the school.

2020 Hot List The Educator's 2020 Hot List features leaders who are creating positive change in the lives of Australian students through a vast range of innovative evidence-based initiatives. Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, this List recognises individuals who have led the K-12 education sector over the past year and made invaluable contributions.

We were delighted to have Ms Lorna Beegan, our Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching recognised in the ‘Hot List’ for championing multiple progressive and innovative student programs at the College. These include: •

the ‘GEN-i-US Profile’, an exciting skills and microcredentialed portfolio launched for Year 10 students;

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‘Cognizance’ Metacognition and ‘GenCurious’ for Year 9 students to help them delve into learning about the brain and how learning takes place; and

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a Year 7 ‘Inside Out: Outside In’ program where students learn about emotions and explore neurodiversity in collaboration with the Genazzano Institute of Learning & Brain Sciences.

This year the Institute has been recognised again for its iLEARN Profiler and upcoming Emergence program. The Profiler is a strength based tool which invites a student view of strengths, challenges, classroom experience, mindset, approach to learning, metacognition, motivation and more. The tool was developed and 21

OUR ALUMNAE – A COMMUNITY OF BELONGING

Our Alumnae - A Community of Belonging Community is a place of belonging, a place where people are earthed and find their identity. - Jean Vanier Amelia Tan | Events and Alumnae Relations Coordinator When I started working at Genazzano three years ago, one of the things that immediately struck me was the strong sense of community. I met various types of people connected to the College in my time as Events Coordinator; warm colleagues, welcoming families, remarkable students and sincere Alumnae.

After recently becoming the Events and Alumnae Relations Coordinator, I thought it was important to introduce myself to you all. Unfortunately, I am not a Gen Alumna but have attended all-girls Catholic schools my whole life and know the experience well. I also have strong alumna pride for my alma mater as all the women on my mother’s side of the family went to the same school. The experience is so unique where you get to build such strong bonds. It really helped form the type of person I am and I believe your Genazzano experience has done the same for many of you.

I love Genazzano’s rich history and how its values, so deeply ingrained in the community, has produced such strong women. I would love to get to know each of you and hear your stories; past, current and even future - it would be great to build on the Alumnae network’s sisterhood.

More importantly, I look forward to engaging our community together with our Alumnae Association President, Emily Biasotto (2012). In working closely with Emily, I discovered how passionate we

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both are about connection and belonging, so I took the opportunity to interview her and find out more about what makes a Gen girl tick.

in, you’re not going to get anything out of it!

3.

In general, I look back fondly on recesses and lunchtimes sitting in the Atrium or outside in front of the d’Houet Building, or on the grass near the front gates, chatting and laughing with friends and deciding who had the best lunch that day.

4.

Life Is Excellent Day, started in 2010 which we then carried on to 2012. It was a busy few days leading up to it but the new Life Is Excellent Day Breakfast with pancakes was a real highlight, as well as having all the Year 12s to make cupcakes and Gen cookies to give out to the rest of the school.

5.

Playing netball on Saturdays was also a massive highlight. I did this from Year 7 all the way through to Year 12 and I absolutely loved finishing the week with a netball game!

Tell me more about your experience at Gen. I started in Year 7 at Gen in 2007 and graduated in 2012. My time at Gen was very enjoyable.

I loved school. I am definitely a keen learner (I’m still studying) and Gen really allowed me to flex this muscle.

As a whole, my experience of Gen was probably quite similar to most other Gen Girls, so I’ll share a few of my favourite memories: 1.

2.

I was a rower from Year 8 until Year 12. Nothing prepared me for the challenges of life like rowing did.

Training many times per week and staring down the ergo screen before a test pushed me to my limit many times. But I am so grateful I was able to be a part of such a strong squad that continually demanded excellence. Furthermore, the friends I made are still my friends today.

Let’s face it, you create a unique connection with people who have seen you at your very best and your very worst.

In Year 12, I had Mrs Patterson for both Methods and Specialist Maths and not only did she teach me a lot about Maths but she also taught me a lot about life. She always urged us to give something a go, even if we thought we might get it wrong, because that is the best way to learn. The catch phrase I always carry with me is “if you write nothing, you get nothing”. This was talking about exams and tests but it carries a lot of truth if applied to life. If you don’t contribute or put any effort

All in all, my experience at Gen was a very positive one and I look back fondly on my time as a Genazzano student.

Why do you love it? What makes Gen so different?

I suppose primarily I love Genazzano because I spent so much time there in my formative years and it has a comforting familiarity to me. I do also love that Genazzano is an FCJ school.

Marie Madeleine is a beautiful example of a strong, independent woman and I love that it is she whose footsteps we are following. Since it was founded, Genazzano has been led by a woman and I love this championing of female leaders.

Since leaving school and meeting people who went to different schools, the aspect of Genazzano that I am most grateful for is this sense of belonging. That no matter where you go, what you do or who you become, the fact that you once wore the

NOVEMBER 2020 OUR ALUMNAE – A COMMUNITY OF BELONGING

burgundy, navy and white, means you are a part of something special. It’s a sense of community that I think is so important, especially in a world that is becoming more and more disconnected.

How did you become President of the Association?

At the 2019 AGM, it was asked if there were any nominees for President. With some encouragement from other committee members, I decided to nominate. It was a very spur of the moment decision. I was then successfully voted in and left the AGM as the new President of the Genazzano Alumnae Association.

What is your vision for the Alumnae Association?

For me, connection is the ultimate vision for the Association. I think connection is the most important part of being a human.

We need to be connected to ourselves, to the people around us and to the environment. As a community of Alumnae, the thing I want most is for each Gen Girl who has left the College to feel like she is still connected to Genazzano, in whatever capacity feels right for her.

In line with this vision for connection, I envisage creating more frequent opportunities for Alumnae to meet. While I think large events are important, in life, the things we do every day are far more important than the things we do once in a while. Therefore, my priority is creating initiatives which create weekly, fortnightly or monthly opportunities for Alumnae to connect with each other. The first one in the pipeline is an Alumnae Netball Team (or multiple teams). Other activities like choirs, book clubs, running groups, networking events are all on the horizon too, but obviously everything is subject to restrictions.

What always amazes you about our Alumnae network?

I love that no matter the difference in age, there is a wonderful understanding between two Gen Girls. I have connected with Gen Girls far older and far younger than me and it amazes me how strong the similarities are between us, just because

we both went to Genazzano. Being a Gen Girl is wonderful basis for strong connection and community and this is something I am very grateful to be a part of.

What is a Gen Girl?

When I was at school, the buzz words were Courage and Confidence, as well as Love of Learning. I think a Gen Girl is a woman who embodies these qualities. To me, courage looks like pushing the boundaries and going after what is true to you, especially if it doesn’t align with the norm or what the societal rulebook says you ‘should’ be doing. Confidence is about knowing that no matter what, you have always got whatever it is you need inside you and you always have your own back no matter what challenges you face. A Love of Learning is about always being curious and interested in expanding knowledge and wisdom. In combination, courage, confidence and a love of learning are about not accepting what you are told but actually being brave enough to question everything and inform yourself so that you can confidently make your own decision. At this time in our lives and in history, these qualities have never been more important. These qualities are about taking ownership of our own lives and stories and not settling for a path that has been laid out for us!

A side note: when I was in Year 11 and Mrs Cowling spoke to us prior to nominating for leadership roles, she talked about how Jesus, although praised now as a wonderful human being and embodiment of love, was actually a radical in his time.

She spoke to us about how being a leader is about doing the right thing and not necessarily being liked for it (and obviously Jesus is an extreme example of that). A Gen Girl is a leader who strives for what is right.

What are some of your plans for the future?

life is the best thing to do to ensure you make it!

Do you have anything else to share with our Alumnae?

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Alumnae Committee: Catherine Etty-Leal (immediate Past-President), Sarah Cass (Treasurer), Melina Abbey, Claire Walpole, Alice Whelan and Stephanie Johnston for being awesome women to work with and for always having excellent ideas for where to take this Association.

Secondly, I want our Alumnae to know that I am very keen to make sure that all Alumnae feel included and excited about the opportunities to connect with each other. The catch here of course is that to do this effectively, I need to know what you would enjoy participating in. So, I finish on a question to all Gen Alumnae: what sort of events/experiences/opportunities get you excited and interested in being more involved in our community?

Contact with us via email at alumnae@genazzano.vic.edu.au. facebook.com/GenAlumnae @genazzanoalumnae

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If you come from a line of Genazzano Women, help us restore missing links.

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We are looking for expressions of interests for social netball next year.

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Have you started a business?

Send us the details and connect with us.

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Follow us on social media for more Alumnae news.

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Health Science (Chinese Medicine) at the Southern School of Natural Therapies. I should be finished in 2023 and after that I intend to practice as a Chinese Medicine Practitioner. At this point, that is the only clear cut plan for the future. If this year has taught me anything, it’s that flowing with

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FEATURE OUTSTANDING ALUMNAE AWARDS

Outstanding Alumnae Awards 2020 Outstanding Alumna - Emeritus Mary Hiscock (1955) Genazzano Alumna (1955), Emeritus Professor Mary Hiscock, has been recognised as this year’s Outstanding Alumna for her vast contribution to the field of Law and service to others.

With a career spanning over five decades and significant achievements within her field, Mary has spent a life time making a positive contribution to society and inspiring others. Throughout her professional and personal life, Mary Hiscock has been an outstanding role model to many, instilling a strong belief that women can aspire to a career in any discipline.

As Chair of the Women Lawyers Association in 1969, linked to the National Women’s Council, Mary was involved in the historic national Equal Pay Case in 1969.

Following her schooling at Genazzano, she was awarded the Julia Flynn Prize as the top student in a Victorian Catholic School and went on to complete a Bachelor of Law with honours at the University of Melbourne.

After completing her Doctor of Law with the University of Chicago, she returned to the University of Melbourne in 1963 and

Mary Hiscock, Outstanding Alumna 2020.

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commenced as a full time Academic within the Law Faculty.

At 33 she became the Faculty’s first female reader and was recognised as a pioneer of the study of Comparative Asian Law. In 1994, she became Chair of Law at Queensland’s Bond University and was later appointed Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies).

She retired in 2002 and was made Emeritus Professor of the Law Faculty.

Mary has always demonstrated a willingness to help others and still teaches students today.

“I love watching my students develop into influential figures in their own communities. Being able to support and mentor post graduate law students is a true pleasure”, she said.

As an expert in international trade and investment, Mary has been influential within government and academic institutions as well as significant international institutions, including the United Nations Commission of International Trade Law.

College Captains, Lola Crivelli and Ruby Atkin, interviewing Mary at the Virtual Outstanding Alumnae Assembly.

GENNARRATIONS OUTSTANDING ALUMNAE AWARDS

Her dedication to the field of Law has seen her achieve multiple awards and she has authored many journal articles regarding International Comparative and Commercial Law, and Contract Law. Ms Karen Jebb, Principal at Genazzano FCJ College commented on Mary’s achievements and contributions to the community.

“Congratulations on being this year’s Outstanding Alumna Mary”, Ms Jebb said.

“During such a difficult time, we are so pleased to be able to acknowledge the wonderful contributions you have made and continue to make. You are an inspiration for everyone in our Genazzano community”.

In continuing the wonderful Genazzano tradition, Mary was invited to address the Genazzano students at a virtual Outstanding Alumnae Assembly. Connecting in via Zoom from Queensland, Mary spoke about two significant women after whom two of our Houses are named.

Firstly, Mother Philomena Douglas, who was Mistress of Studies and class Mistress in her final two years. Mother Douglas cleverly leveraged Mary’s reputation as the late Mary Hiscock by making her the late monitor. It was a masterstroke that demonstrated Douglas’ astute insight into her pupils.

The second significant woman she spoke about was Mother Gerda Prytz. When Mary was in Year 12, Mother Gerda taught her Australian History, where Mary became immersed in the subject.

She described her as a friend and “one of the five best teachers” throughout her life. She was enthralled in Gerda’s lived experience of our country’s transformation which also inspired her to become

such an active participant through the legal system.

Mary also spoke fondly about the significant impact her grandmother had on her passionate feelings about social justice and doing what is right no matter what the personal cost. She said that her strong social justice commitment was fostered at Genazzano, especially in Years 11 and 12, where they had weekly sessions discussing many contemporary social justice issues and moral questions of law, politics and religion.

At the end of the assembly Ruby and Lola, College Captains 2020, asked Mary what message would she give to young women today.

“Perseverance and passion. Never do something unless you are passionate about it – don’t do it for money because at the end of the day you must satisfy your own standards. You are the only one who can judge this. It is you that needs to decide whether you have spent the day well”.

Mary will be formally recognised at the 2021 Outstanding Alumnae Awards Evening which will celebrate both the 2020 and 2021 Outstanding Alumnae winners.

To hear Mary’s speech and Q&A with College Captains, Ruby and Lola, please scan the QR code using the camera app on your phone or iPad.

Never do something unless you are passionate about it – don’t do it for money because at the end of the day you must satisfy your own standards. You are the only one who can judge this. It is you that needs to decide whether you have spent the day well”.

Outstanding Alumnae Awards 2021

Save the Date!

Do you know a past student who has made a difference in our community, displayed the Genazzano values of courage and confidence and is an inspiring role model for all young women?

Join us to celebrate our 2020 and 2021 Outstanding Alumna Award Recipients.

UPDATED DATE Tuesday 24 August 2021 Wednesday 25 August 2021.

7.00pm, Genazzano FCJ College.

Nominations open in June 2021 for the 2021 Outstanding Alumna Award.

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FEATURE GENAZZANO’S SUPERCENTENARIAN - VALE BETTY JAMISON

Genazzano’s Supercentenarian Vale Betty Jamison Amelia Tan | Events and Alumnae Relations Coordinator Betty Jamison always held Genazzano in her heart. Beginning at the College in 1920 at the age of 10 as a boarder, she shared that one of her fondest memories was the church services, particularly the Easter period. Back then, Lent ended at midday on Saturday and boarders happily ate chocolate on Holy Saturday afternoon.

Her time at Genazzano instilled the FCJ values in Betty for the rest of her life.

Betty’s time at the College was interrupted when her father’s family business collapsed in 1925 and the family moved to Sydney, cutting Betty’s time at Genazzano short. A few years after, Betty’s mother passed away unexpectedly in 1928, prompting Betty’s return to Melbourne to be cared for by her grandmother. As fate would have it that on her return to Melbourne, Betty met John Jamison at a bridge game party. Romance ensued and the pair were married in 1937.

During WWII, John went away to serve in the RAAF leaving Betty at home with two young children. She showed tremendous fidelity, courage and confidence during this period and demonstrated her resilience and perseverance raising the boys on her own - all qualities that her sons would later very much admire her for.

To Betty, the most important thing was family and her children.

She didn’t treat family as a closed tribe but rather as an open community receiving everyone sincerely. She once welcomed two Jehovah’s Witnesses at the door and saying “we’re Catholic but do come in and have a cup of tea”. Her life was only ever about God, love and relationships.

Betty and John’s engagement Announcement.

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Betty, aged 3 or 4.

In 1952, the Jamison family embarked on their next adventure as John was given an appointment in England. They had never been to Europe but with the same courage and fidelity, Betty and John took their four boys (one of them just a baby) and emigrated by ship from Port Melbourne.

Betty had an unwavering faith and bounds of hospitality, something that could have been attributed to the kindness of the FCJ nuns that Betty experienced during her schooling. She would often say that when she had nothing better to do, she prayed. She had grown a strong devotion to Genazzano’s patron saint, Our Lady of Good Counsel. She was often heard saying a prayer she learnt at the College: O Virgin Mother, Lady of Good Counsel, Sweetest picture artist ever drew, In all my doubts I fly to thee for guidance, O Mother, tell me what am I to do?

A life well lived, Betty never complained because every day was a blessing for which she was grateful and she never wasted energy by getting angry. She taught by example and more than by words; and even as the effects of old age took hold, she continued graciously without a complaint.

Betty passed away peacefully in her sleep at 110 years of age leaving behind a legacy of love that impacted the generations in her family.

OGA Golden Jubilee booklet.

NOVEMBER 2020 GENAZZANO’S SUPERCENTENARIAN - VALE BETTY JAMISON

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FEATURE REFLECTION: YEAR 7 IN 1970, PART TWO

Reflection: Year 7 in 1970 Part Two Ann Rennie (O’Neill, 1975) | English and Religion Teacher We have come a long way since 1970.

Australia had a population of 12.2 million and Sir Henry Bolte, the cartoonist’s dream, was Premier of Victoria. This was the year Tullamarine Airport opened and the Westgate Bridge collapsed. IBM introduced floppy disks and 3XY was the local hip radio station. Dame Edna was still Mrs Edna Everage, wife of Norm, denizen of Moonee Ponds. She had not yet gone on to conquer the universe with her quick wit, outsize ambition and swaying gladioli, and undertake advertising campaigns for an insurance company with meerkats mistaken for possums. Daddy Cool was a year away from releasing that other national anthem, Eagle Rock, and John Farnham, was a much loved popstar plumber whose Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head is still as fresh as it was on its 45 rpm vinyl record the day it was released.

A baby-faced twenty-six-year-old Mick Jagger featured in the title role in the film, Ned Kelly. Melbourne girl, Germaine Greer, published The Female Eunuch and the world for women began to change, s…l…o…w…l…y.

One of the biggest things to happen in 1970 was the arrival of Mr Duncan, the first male teacher in the history of Genazzano.

Of course, the school had been used to visiting prelates, monsignors, bishops and archbishops and had chaplains and priests thick on the ground in Kew, with the Redemptorists in Majella Court a fiveminute walk away and the Jesuits at Xavier, but this was ground-breaking. Brave Mr Duncan!

I am afraid to say that my later Year 10 Maths class with him was not a success and that was all to do with me and nothing to do with Mr Duncan and his efforts. (I recently met him again and oh, how we laughed about those days. He kindly pretended to remember me and perhaps he did because I sat solidly up the back for the year with my best friend and spent most of the lesson laughing, but he certainly had happy memories of his time teaching at Genazzano).

I digress… back to the first year of living in the seventies!

Monday tuck-shop was heaven with Gen mothers making salad rolls I can still taste.

Something to do with the butter slathered on doughy rolls and the fact that it wasn’t from home. Vanilla slices and neenish tarts were my favourites as our orders were put into brown paper bags with correct money, name and class for collection at lunchtime. Before that we recited the Angelus at midday in those days when prayer punctuated much of our young lives. Sometimes, we would stop at the grotto and wonder about Bernadette and Lourdes and all things miraculous. We acknowledged our grubby venality through the frequency of confession for the sins of fibbing, pinching siblings, saying unkind things and thinking mean thoughts, being rude to parents and the usual litany of misdemeanours for which a Hail Mary or three or a Glory Be was the penance. I loved the old chapel with its bees-waxed wooden pews, plaster cast saints, lingering incense and its enveloping gothic gloom.

Riffling through the 1970 yearbook, I am reliably informed by Sr Eymard that the Medium School performed the operetta, The Gypsy Maid. No doubt the mothers spent hours sewing costumes for those with great theatrical and musical talent and the rest of us. We were taken into town for the cinematic experience of watching Walt Disney’s animation masterpiece, Fantasia on the wide screen and out on excursion to Yan Yean reservoir to

28

understand Melbourne’s water supply.

We were also introduced to the Scientific Research Association method of narrative composition. This was probably the neuroscience of the day with the explicit aim of improving our writing. However, after 25 years of teaching, I know that the best thing for writing is reading. Twelveyear-olds then and twelve-year-olds now need the nourishment of words and ideas from both classic and contemporary fiction to expand their own imaginative repertoire. We studied Colin Thiele’s heart-breaking February Dragon. With our recent devastating bushfires, this book is as relevant today as it was then.

As I reminisce I wonder what my Year 7s of 2020 will think about their interrupted school year when they connect at their 45-year school reunion in 2070. I wonder what the school day will look like and how the Genazzano campus might change architecturally to reflect the student population and new educational pedagogies. I hope the grotto is still here reminding us of the Gen girls of 1931 and that the Wardell building is a hive of activity. I hope the old stories and traditions are kept alive. There’s nothing like the changing incarnations of the Grey Lady to add to the school mythology. I hope that this next generation, in their turn, will be encouraged to find and treasure the beauty, truth and goodness of the world around them; to see their lives as graced opportunities to do good; and to be thankful for their fleeting days at the wellloved school upon the hill.

Most of all, I hope that some happy little Year 7 in 2070 reads this for her research on the history of Genazzano and marvels at the olden days and all the great school stories archived for posterity and rediscovery.

Correction: In Part 1 of Gen in 1970, Sr Barbara Reed fcJ was listed as Principal of Genazzano FCJ College however, it was actually Sr Barbara Hume fcJ.

GENNARRATIONS REFLECTION: YEAR 7 IN 1970, PART TWO

As I reminisce I wonder what my Year 7s of 2020 will think about their interrupted school year when they connect at their 45-year school reunion in 2070. I wonder what the school day will look like and how the Genazzano campus might change architecturally to reflect the student population and new educational pedagogies.

Barbara Hume, Principal 1968 to 1970 Barbara Hume was an FCJ nun who achieved so very much in a relatively short time. She entered the FCJs in their annual intake on 2 February 1950, at just 16 years old.

Her good friend Maryrose Dennehy entered a year later. In 1954 they were both sent to Frieberg in Switzerland to attend university.

They lived at the La Chasotte convent and walked 40 minutes each way, twice a day (home for lunch), often through snow. This degree was a real achievement, as nearly all lectures were in French. Barbara did her Dip.Ed. in Manchester and returned to Melbourne in 1960.

On her return, Barbara lived at Genazzano and her only sister had moved in across the road with a growing family. She was, of course at that time, unable to visit them.

She loved her time at Genazzano, as a teacher and active member of the FCJ community. She taught English, French and Art over the years, starting with Years 9 and 10, then moving on to Years 11 and

12. She was made Sports Mistress and then went on to become Principal from 1968 to 1970.

Barbara was an exceptional teacher. Her enthusiasm for her subjects made them come alive to her students. She and Sr Maryrose became the Form teachers for the two Year 12 classes, plus Barbara was still the Principal. Nobody would be given all those concurrent responsibilities these days.

Barbara taught English Expression, English Literature, French and Art at Year 12 level.

She made Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales understandable, even fun! She gave us plenty of tips to deal with exams, tips I still use to this day. “Read the question carefully, twice”, “underline the key words”, “look what angle the question is asking you to pursue”. She taught us to take care and to stick to the point.

When Pope Paul VI, in Barbara’s words, “threw open the windows on the Catholic Church” in 1971, Barbara left her home at

the Convent and leapt out into different fields. At first, she taught at Taylor’s College in Collins Street and then taught Senior Art at Loreto.

In 1974, a great friend, Fr Peter Quin SJ phoned to advise her of a teaching position at the Jesuit College in Sydney, Riverview.

Barbara applied and became the first female teacher and thus began a wonderful 20 year teaching tenure at Riverview. She loved it there and the staff, students and parents all loved her.

Barbara returned to Melbourne in the mid 90s and never wanting to be idle, worked at Xavier College in Kew, mostly as a volunteer. She was given ‘the attic’ for their large collection of memorabilia, which she loved sorting. Barbara retired from Xavier at the age of 80 and now resides at Mary McKillop St Vincent’s Aged Care in Hawthorn, as does her sister Pat Reed.

Written by Barbara Smith (Reed, 1970), Barbara Hume’s niece.

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PHILANTHROPY AT GENAZZANO THANK YOU DONORS

Philanthropy at Genazzano Our community at Genazzano FCJ College is what sets us apart from other schools and the pride and love of Gen, which our graduates and their families feel towards the College, lives on long after graduation. Our alumnae and parents, past, present and future, are deeply committed to the future of Genazzano, which is evident through the ongoing contributions we receive through donations and volunteering for College activities.

The generous donations we receive each year enable us to continue to maintain, restore and redevelop College buildings; and strengthen the facilities we provide to our students.

This year we have proudly completed stage one of our visual arts refurbishment and commenced planning for stage two; redeveloped our pool; commenced expanding the area of our

Sports Department and relocating the Genazzano Institute of Learning & Brain Sciences. We have also commenced work on the new Year 5 and 6 Learning Centre due for completion in 2021.

Funds have also supported a number of Academic and Music Scholarships, and the annual Gavin Smith Boarding Scholarship; as well as going towards resources for the College Libraries.

Although it has been a challenging year and we have not run our usual annual appeal, we have still received support from many of you. The College would like to thank everyone who has donated in 2020 and acknowledge your generous gifts which ensure we can continue to provide outstanding opportunities for generations to come.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT: Mr J and Mrs N Abeyewardene

Mr L and Mrs E Duane

Mr T Ngai and Ms P Kwan

Mr S Attard

Dr G and Mrs M Fitt

Mr L Nguyen and Mrs L Huynh

Mr A Benston and Ms G Farrell

Dr V Hamilton

Mr A and Mrs A Prowse

Mr M Braine and Ms C Hayes

Mr P and Mrs S Harmon

Dr B Rowland and Dr R Horner

Prof M Brear and Ms K Cotter

Mr L and Mrs E Kantaras

Mr M and Mrs C Sekias

Ms S Cao

Associate Prof P Keller and Ms M Reynolds

Mr M and Mrs K Smith

Ms J Chamberlin

Mr D Kerford and Ms T Bennett

Mr J and Mrs M Somerville

Mr D Chen and Mrs R Li

Mr A Kuner and Ms J Collins

Mr A and Mrs J Stewart

Prof P and Mrs K Choong

Mr J and Mrs L Laird

Mr S and Mrs S Woodall

Mr M Ciantar

Dr B and Mrs I Lui

Mr C and Mrs A Xenos

Mr M and Mrs L Cococcia

Dr C MacIsaac and Ms B McConnell

Friends of Romania and the Philippines

Mr D Condon and Mrs C Tanna

Mr C and Mrs A Manly

We also had 1 anonymous donor.

Dr N Crump and Ms F Bourke

Mr M Morina and Ms A Capponi

Mr A and Mrs R Di Marzo

Mr A and Mrs C Morrison

Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity. To donate or for more information visit www.genazzano.vic.edu.au/community/donations-giving.

30

NOVEMBER 2020 THANK YOU DONORS

Year 5 and 6 Building - artist's impression.

Stage one of the visual arts refurbishment.

Pool redevelopment.

Stage one of the visual arts refurbishment.

31

REUNIONS MESSAGES FROM THE CLASS OF 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 & 2010

Reunions Sadly, our planned reunions for 2020 had to be postponed due to restrictions regarding social events and gatherings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but rest assured you will still have an opportunity to gather with your class and celebrate your time at Genazzano together next year. Please see dates below.

In lieu of meeting together on campus, our Classes of 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 were invited to send in school photos, memories and messages to share with their cohort.

We hope these memories fill you with warmth and joy and we look forward to connecting with you all in 2021.

Wonderful memories of learnings for life. Love, laughter and faithful friendships.

Carolyn Carey (Hoban, 1970)

Thanks to Mr Harrison and all involved in our productions for the great memories. Dana Crisafi (1990) RESCHEDULED REUNIONS: CLASS OF

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

1 year reunion

10 year reunion

20 year reunion

2019 Thursday 11 November 2021 4.00pm - 5.30pm, Genazzano FCJ College 32

2010 Friday 8 October 2021, 6.00pm - 7.30pm Genazzano FCJ College

2000 Friday 8 October 2021, 6.00pm - 7.30pm Genazzano FCJ College

GENNARRATIONS MESSAGES FROM THE CLASS OF 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 & 2010

I loved my time at Genazzano; it always felt like a second home to me. From starting in Year 7 to graduating in Year 12, I have many happy memories and made so many amazing friends whom I still cherish today. It brings me much happiness to know we are all an important part of the ever threading tapestry of a wonderful school community bound together by a universal love of learning and compassion for our peers. From theatre studies to sports carnivals, science classes to school formals - what a time it was to learn in such a beautiful environment! I am forever grateful for my time at Gen, and for how important our families were in making our time there even more precious. Lara Antonelli-Leorke (2000)

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

30 year reunion

40 year reunion

50 year reunion

Saturday 9 October 2021, 6.00pm - 7.30pm Genazzano FCJ College

Date TBC. Please contact Mary Helen Farrell maryhelen@mhfmarketing.com.au.

1990

Saturday 9 October 2021, 6.00pm - 7.30pm Genazzano FCJ College

1980

1970

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COMMUNITY NEWS WE REMEMBER

We Remember Alumnae

College Community cont.

Pauline Condon (Fitzhenry, 1955): Daughter of Ted (dec.) and Hilda (dec.). Sister of Geraldine Fitzhenry (1948). Wife of John Patrick (dec). Mother of Andrea (dec.), John, Richard, Suzanne Hansen, Matthew and Christopher. Mother-in-law of Nicki, Sarah, Mark, Nikki and Katherine. Grandmother to Benjamin, Oliver, Rupert, Charles, William, Alexander, Annabel, Penelope, Jimmy, Sophie, Emily, Amelia, Tom, Jack and Harry.

Giuseppina Belanti: Wife of Giovanni. Mother of Frank (Genazzano Staff Member) and John. Mother-in-law of Riposa and Tina.

Grandmother of John, Mark, Clarissa, Laura, Oriana, John and Anthony. Great grandmother of Mariella, Christian, Siena and Renee.

Maureen Hartung (Gaffney, 1960): CORRECTION: Wife of Brian.

Mother of Tania (1985), John (dec.), Benedict, Emmett and Damon.

Grandmother of 13 grandchildren. Sister of Patricia Cheers (1964).

Great Aunt of Gabrielle Cheers (Year 5), Niamh Gaffney (2018), Maggi Gaffney (Year 10) and Erin Gaffney (Year 8). Daughter-in-law of Margaret Joan Hartung (dec., Farey, 1936, ). Niece of Mother Mary John Haskings fcJ (dec.).

Mary Hogan (1953): Mother of Jennifer.

Betty Jamison (Allen, 1925): Mother of Tony, Tim, Alan and Peter (Fr Christopher). Mother-in-law of Julia, Brita (dec.), Christel (dec.).

Grandmother of 8 children and great grandmother of 13 children.

Maxwell Millie (1950): Brother of David (1951), Cate (1958), Helen Lanyon (dec., 1959) and Madeline Braden (1964).

Anne Molan (1943): Wife of John (dec.). Daughter of Leslie and Mildred Howett (dec.) Sister of Robert Howett (dec.) and Michael Howett (1938).

Catharine Mary O'Dwyer (1968): Wife of David Billings. Sister to Juliana Jones (1966) and Mary (dec., 1978 ). Sister-in-law to Eve Provan (Billings, 1961), Helen Reynolds (Billings, 1968), Ruth Prendergast (dec., Billings, 1967), Joan Fowles (Billings, 1971), Catherine Billings (1976). Mother of James, Elizabeth, Grace, Christopher, Kitty and Lucy.

Adrienne O'Meara (O'Keefe, 1932): Wife of Arthur (dec.).

Lynette Peniston-Bird (Baldie, 1957): Wife of Peter (dec.). Mother of Juliet and Justin (dec.). Grandmother of Jessica.

Richard Stanley (1949): Son of Helen Stanley (Hoope, 1932).

Brother of Peter (1950), Catherine Gilbert (1963), Patricia Connor (1966). Uncle of Paula Matthews (1987), Anna Stanley (1988), Prudence Stanley (1992), Joanna Gilbert (1993). Grand-uncle of Lily Matthews (2018) and Georgie Kerr (Year 7).

Mary-Rose Stewart (1963): Mother of Elizabeth O'Brien (1965), Lucy, Georgina and Phoebe. Mother-in-law of Nick and Tim. Sister of Michael and Elizabeth (1961). Grandmother of Charlie, Theodore, Jack, Sebastian and Amelia.

College Community Peter Abrahams: Husband of Olga. Father of Paul, Rachel Sharrock (1988) and Emma Hindhaugh (1989). Grandfather of Hannah (2019) and Caitlin (Year 11).

34

Ray Blackbourne: Husband of Silvia (dec.), Husband of Lynne (Cooper, 1951). Father of Geoffey, Peter, Katharine Hall (1980), Paul Buttifant, Christopher (dec.) and Helen Hall. Grandfather of Thomas and Kate Buttifant (2013).

Moya Carse: Grandmother of Alexandra Versluys (1992) and Georgia Versluys (1996).

Rosa Fazzalari: Grandmother of Claire Woodall (Year 10).

Fr Terence Kelly SJ: Son of Michael (dec.) and Marjorie (dec.).

Brother of Michael (dec.), John (Past Genazzano Staff Member), Peter, Maureen McDermott (1954) and Katherine. Brother-in-law of Jeanette, Geraldine and Ian McDermott (dec). Uncle of Anne, Terry, Kieren, Heidi, Tony, Angela, Caroline, Christopher and Philippa (1996).

Vilma Manzotti: Mother of Chiara Camarda (Genazzano Staff Member).

Denise McCarthy: Wife of Joseph Thomas McCarthy (dec., Architect of Wardell Chapel). Mother of Jane, Andrew, Anne-Marie (dec.) and Tom. Gloria Jean Murray: Mother of Trevor, Mark, Shane and Gayle (Genazzano Staff Member). Mother-in-law of Eles, Margaret and Steve. Grandmother of Lauren (1989), Jacqueline (2002), Damien, Samantha, Alexandra, Luke, Jarryd, Delanie, Liam and Melissa. Great grandmother of Louis, Leo, Rochelle and Breanna.

Myles Edward Evans Nelson: Brother of Mandy Lyle (Genazzano Staff Member).

Brian O’Connell: Husband of Elizabeth. Father of Jane Hearn (1976), Sue Furst (1977), Joanne (1978), Mark, Michael, Andrew and Jenny (1991). Grandfather of 21 including Kate Hearn (2008), Sarah Hearn (2011), Alex Millen (2015), Samantha (2017), Joanna (2019), Olivia (Year 9), Zoe Dewhurst (ELC 2016), Max Dewhurst (ELC 2018) and Xavier Dewhurst (ELC).

Yaeko Okino: Mother of Takako (Genazzano Staff Member).

Alberta Papalia: Wife of Carlo (dec.). Mother of Maria Rosa (Past Genazzano Staff Member), Joseph Anthony (dec.), Dominic and Angeleah.

David Quin: Father of Gabrielle Quin (Genazzano Staff Member).

Grandfather of Tulipa Rodriguez-Quin (2020).

Paul Shiels: Brother of Elizabeth (1974), Fiona Bird (1976), Louise (dec., 1979) and cousin of Mary De Sousa (Seal, 1979) and Anne Steward (Seal, 1983).

Donald George Wreford: Father of Jessie Geraghty Wreford (Genazzano Staff member) and Sassa. Grandfather of Yianni, Luanna and Poppy.

Maria Ziccone: Grandmother of Lara Antonelli-Leorke (2000) and Jason Antonelli.

COMMUNITY NEWS BIRTHS AND WEDDINGS

Births Alumnae 1.

Thomas Bell born 1 June 2020. Son of Ruth (McFarlane, 2005) and David Bell. Brother to Matilda.

2.

Benjamin Francis Chown born 3 June 2020. Son of Angela Chamberlin (2002) and James Chown. Brother to Joshua.

3.

Celia Hempenstall Jones born 30 September 2020.

Daughter of Erin Hempenstall (2001) and Tristan Jones. Sister to Easton.

4.

Tex Klein born 7 March 2020. Son of Elli (Vogue, 2008) and Mikey Klein. Grandson of Libby (Johnson, 1978) and Harry Vogue. Great grandson of Margaret and Stuart Johnson.

5.

Leah Ruth Niklason born 8 May 2020. Daughter of Angela (Ryan, 2006) and Brendan Niklason. Sister to Eric.

6.

Florence Shute born 13 August 2020. Daughter of Felicity Lee (2008) and William Shute.

7.

Alexander James Taylor born 25 September 2020.

Son of Elizabeth O'Brien (1997) and Chris Taylor.

Brother to Jack.

8.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Francesca June Wright born 25 June 2020. Daughter of Alexandra (O’Halloran, 2010) and Thomas Wright.

Niece of Georgia O’Halloran (2010), Molly O’Halloran (2014) and Sophie O’Halloran (2019).

Staff 9.

1

Francois Pierre Louis born 11 August 2020. Grandson of Yeen Hortle (Genazzano Staff Member).

10. Bear Theodore Morley born 14 August 2020. Son of Paula and Ben Morley. Grandson of Monica Helleur (Genazzano Staff Member).

11. Gourdon Spitty born 12 August 2020. Son of Sarah and Daniel Spitty.

Brother to Raphie and Cleo. Grandson of Debra Everitt (Genazzano Staff Member).

12. Hugo Brian Yeung born 7 August 2020. Son of Cara and James Yeung.

Brother to Oscar. Grandson of Rosie Hailes (Genazzano Staff Member).

Weddings and Engagements Alumnae

1

1.

Grace Dillon (2009) married Liam Tobin on 8 March 2020 at Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorn.

2.

Stephanie Gleeson (2014) and Harry Woodley announced their Engagement on 2 October 2020 at Queen's Park Toowoomba, QLD. The engagement happened live on-air (Radio Station River 949).

2

All submissions are subject to College guidelines and inclusion is at the discretion of the editing and project team.

35

ALUMNAE CONNECT WITH US

Genazzano Alumnae One of the oldest and strongest associations in Australia, the Alumnae Association has brought Genazzano women together for more than 100 years and comprises over 10,000 members.

facebook.com/GenAlumnae @genazzanoalumnae genunite.org

Today, the Genazzano Alumnae Association continues to be a strong and supportive community of women who share a common history of education and friendship at Genazzano.

We invite you to connect with us online, through Facebook, Instagram and our online alumnae platform genunite.org.

How would you like to receive your copy of GenNarrations in 2021?

If you wish to receive an online version of GenNarrations in 2021, please complete the online form via the QR code.

Scan the QR code using the camera app on your phone or iPad and provide your name and current email address.

If you would like to continue to receive a printed copy of GenNarrations, a hard copy will be sent to this address. To update your mailing address, please email alumnae@genazzano.vic.edu.au.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

In 2021, reunions willl be held and hosted at the College by the Alumnae Association and will include a College tour, a drink on arrival and light refreshments. From here, you are welcome to move on to another venue to continue your celebrations.

Invitations will be emailed approximately 6-8 weeks prior to your reunion, so make sure your contact details are up to date on GenUnite, www.genunite.org or email alumnae@genazzano.vic.edu.au.

Planned Dates CLASS OF

CLASS OF

10 year reunion

20 year reunion

Friday 22 October 2021 6.00pm - 7.30pm, Genazzano FCJ College

Friday 22 October 2021 6.00pm - 7.30pm, Genazzano FCJ College

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

30 year reunion

40 year reunion

Friday 29 October 2021 6.00pm - 7.30pm, Genazzano FCJ College

Friday 29 October 2021 6.00pm - 7.30pm, Genazzano FCJ College

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

one year reunion

50 year reunion

Thursday 11 November 2021 4.00pm - 5.30pm, Genazzano FCJ College

If you are interested in organising this event, please contact the Development Office.

2011

1991

2020

2001

1981

1971

Alumnae Gen Day Mass and Luncheon Sunday 2 May 2021 Genazzano FCJ College Outstanding Alumnae Awards Evening Wednesday 25 August 2021 Genazzano FCJ College Memorial Mass Sunday 21 November 2021 Genazzano FCJ College

UPDATED DATE Tuesday 24 August 2021

College Community Events 37

Genazzano FCJ College 301 Cotham Road, Kew VIC 3101 T +61 3 8862 1000 E collegedevelopment@genazzano.vic.edu.au W genazzano.vic.edu.au CRICOS Provider Number: 03298G