Community Engagement

By Sharyn Hanly Director of Community Engagement

2020 began with so much promise. Korowa’s 130th Anniversary year, the calendar was full of exciting events for students, current and past parents, staff and Korovians.

Sadly, COVID-19 brought the festivities to a halt, and like everyone we have had to find new ways to engage and connect. Korowa is all about community, and we were grateful that our first whole School event for the year was celebrated in style by more than 400 current parents and staff. The Cocktail Party was the first event of our milestone year, and the first opportunity for families new to Korowa to meet in a social setting. New friendships were made and conversations continued into the night, with much anticipation for the year ahead. Little did we know. We were delighted also to welcome more than 250 guests to the International Women’s Day Breakfast in March. The theme this year was Sports and Wellbeing, coinciding with the construction of the new Sports and Wellbeing Centre. The facilitator was Karrie Long (Class of 1989), Director, Nursing Research Hub, Royal Melbourne Hospital and North Western Mental Health. The panel comprised: Wendy Millar (Malfroy, Class of 1964), former Director of Sport at Korowa; Shannah Kennedy (Van Eerden, Class of 1988), strategic life coach, best-selling author, motivational speaker and wellbeing specialist; Anna Shedrina (Class of 1999), 2016 World Champion in clay target shooting; and Zaita Anderson (Class of 2009) Strategist, Australian Football League. Our students took away many valuable messages from these four generations of Korovians! Since then, COVID-19 restrictions have stopped us connecting face-toface with our wider community. We have maintained our presence online, however, and members of the Community Engagement team have been redeployed across the School, reverting to careers before Korowa or finding new skills. Connection and community is Korowa, and it has never been more appreciated.