b u l C n a i v oK ro
the Alumni Association of Korowa By Ian Robertson Alumni Manager
Strategic Review Under the great leadership of our President, Dr Helen Tope (Class of 1980), the Korovian Club Committee along with the Alumni Manager have been engaged in a strategic review. It started with a brainstorming session in February that posed questions such as: • What makes us proud to be a Korovian? • What roles should an alumni association fulfill? • How should the Club facilitate connections beyond reunions? • How should the Club support the School? In subsequent online meetings, a new vision statement has been drafted and strategic goals set for the next two years. The Committee plans to gain stakeholder feedback via a survey of sections of the Korovian community representing different eras. We feel it is timely to consider our role in the vastly different world of the 21st Century.
Reunions and 130th Anniversary Celebrations The reunion program planned as part of the School’s 130th anniversary celebrations has been severely impacted by COVID-19. In addition to the five-year cycle of class reunions, both interstate and overseas reunions had been planned, along with special events. We now hope to hold these in 2021. It has been pleasing to hear that Korovians have been connecting in the virtual world, such as via Zoom or the amazing Class of 1985 who formed the 85’ers on Facebook that now has 90 members!
Melanie Dow (Class of 1998) celebrating her ‘virtual’ birthday with her Korowa friends.
Connecting with our Alumni Many Korovians have contacted me seeking to reconnect with former classmates or asking about past teachers. This perhaps is due to the desire to seek reassurance from happier and more certain times, and to an element of nostalgia. It has been very gratifying to be able to facilitate these connections. Some other ways in which we have connected with our alumni have included: • Sending EDMs to the respective reunion groups when reunions would have been held, including a message from the School/Korovian Club and photographs of their time at school. • Many phone calls to our older and more isolated Korovians. These have revealed amazing positivity and resilience. • Led by the current School Captains, students have written to some older Korovians and received some delightful responses. • On behalf of the School and the Korovian Club, personalised emails were sent to Korovians in the UK and USA to say that we were thinking of them, with many great responses received.
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