Korovian Club news

BY HELEN TOPE AO, PRESIDENT OF THE KOROVIAN CLUB

Representing Korowa’s alumni, and the long history and traditions of Korowa carried by her past students, the Korovian Club Committee was honoured to take part in the Founders’ Day and Commissioning Service for Korowa’s 10th Principal, Mrs Frances Booth, at St Paul’s Cathedral in March.

In June, the Korovian Club hosted its second Korowa Connections speakers’ event on the Treatment of Women in the Media. We were delighted to welcome Korovians, Korowa parents, students and staff to listen and engage with a distinguished panel of speakers that included Sally Gluyas (Class of 1980), Kate Halfpenny (Class of 1984), Caitlyn Watson (Class of 2014), and Sarah Duggan. The panel of media professionals shared perspectives drawn from their breadth of career experience, generating a stimulating and thoughtprovoking discussion that kept us talking long afterwards (while we enjoyed drinks and a fabulous sharing table).

The Korovian Choir performed at Korowa’s Gala Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Conducted by Ana Mitsikas (Class of 1990), the choir enjoyed performing 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree' and 'Shenandoah' at the concert that showcases the musical talents of current students. Please contact the Alumni Manager at irobertson@korowa.vic.edu.au if you would like to join the choir.

The Korovian Club hosted Korovians and their friends to the NGV’s Pierre Bonnard: Melbourne Winter Masterpieces on Saturday 19 August, for an introductory talk by NGV staff and self-guided tour of the exhibition. This was followed by refreshments together in the Queen Victoria Gardens.

2023 Korovian Fellowship Grant recipient Anastasia Frolov

Congratulations to Anastasia Frolov (Class of 2009) who has been awarded the Korovian Fellowship Grant for 2023 for her project –Professional English for Displaced Ukrainians. Anastasia, along with a number of others, has volunteered her time to teach Ukrainians who have arrived in Australia due to being displaced by the conflict.

The selection panel were impressed at the initiative that Anastasia has shown in embarking on this very worthwhile social enterprise project and could see the direct benefits of the project to the chosen community. The $5000 grant will enable the purchase of a large number of Duolingo for Business’ Accounts. Super Duolingo provides language learning without interruptions, no limits to the mistakes a student can make, quizzes to track progress over time and personalised lessons. Whilst the volunteer classes are held once or twice each week, the students will now be able to expedite their progress through continuous practice and exposure to English. This will directly assist displaced Ukrainians to improve their competence in English and will allow them to not only more easily adapt to life in Australia, but also improve their employment prospects.

We thank the other grant applicants - Korovians are certainly involved in a diverse range of altruistic pursuits.

Applications for the Korovian Fellowship Grant for 2024 will be advertised in March next year.