Lauriston Life January 2024

Lauriston Life JAN UARY 2 0 2 4

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Principal’s Perspective

Celebrating Excellence in Australian Education

Twin Triumphs

International mindedness re-imagined

Howqua wins the 2023 Australian Education Awards Best Co-Curricular Program

Dr Danielle and Jasmine Gescheit (OL 2007) share their advice for designing and acing life after Lauriston

Year 9 done differently

2023 AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION AWARD WINNER BEST CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAM – HOWQUA OUTDOOR PROGRAM search Howqua Year 9

Contents WE LC O M E 04 Principal’s Perspective ADVAN C E M E NT 06 A New Howqua House L I F E AT L AU R I STO N 08 Class of 2023 Results 10

Kindergarten

12

Junior School

14

Senior School

16

Howqua

18

Lights Up at Hamer Hall!

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Meet our 2024 Co-Captains

22

Life at Lauriston

S P OTL I G HT 26 Twin Triumphs

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32

STAF F N EWS 28 Quality Teaching Makes the Rounds 29

Redesigning our Senior School

31

Welcoming Natalie Fanariotis

C O M M U N IT Y 32 Community Service 34

Celebrating 30 Years of Howqua

36

Huntingtower Lunch 39

ADVAN C E M E NT 38 Yin & Xuan Award for Howqua ARC H IVES 39 Lauriston v Ruyton Hockey Match 120th Anniversary 40

Celebrating ‘The Queen of Games’ at Lauriston

B EYO N D TH E F I G TR E E 42 Beyond the Fig Tree 53

Vale

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Upcoming Dates for Lauriston Alumnae 36

We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Wurundjeri, the Boon Wurrung and the Taungurung peoples of the Kulin Nation, whose sovereignty was never ceded, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Indigenous Australia.

We would like to acknowledge that our community is diverse; and Lauriston values an inclusive and accepting environment for all ages, genders, abilities, races, religions, sexualities and cultures.

Cover: Old Lauristonians, twin sisters Dr Danielle and Jasmine Gescheit (OL 2007)

46 Contents

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Principal’s Perspective International mindedness re-imagined It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view.

George Eliot

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n our world today, we expect our young people to develop an intercultural identity, one which encompasses their own cultural background, in addition to the cultural communities in which they live and will work.

Our interest as a School in international mindedness arises from not only our questioning about the curriculum which enables young people to explore global and local issues, but also from the importance of helping our students and teachers to develop an attitude of openness and curiosity about the world and different cultures. Such an understanding helps us to view the complexity and motives that underpin human actions and interactions.

We know that there are various ways of describing or thinking about international mindedness. As part of our professional learning during 2023, our Junior and Senior school staff established our School’s definition.

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Principal’s Perspective

International mindedness is an open-mindedness that the world is much larger than oneself and the community in which you live.

We have a curiosity about and willingness to embrace diversity and respect the values and history of other cultures and languages.

We promote respect, encourage collaboration and develop high levels of empathy and compassion.

We strive to understand the perspectives of others, break down our own misconceptions or cultural stereotype and act with awareness of our interconnectedness with our own community and communities around the world.

International Baccalaureate Given that Lauriston offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma course, we also considered how the IB organisation has come to define international mindedness and found there are three main pillars: multilingualism, intercultural understanding and global engagement.

Multilingualism refers to promoting the use and development of diverse languages, including students’ home languages, within the School and the wider school community. Multilingualism helps to support the development of students’ identites and intercultural curiosity and awareness.

Intercultural understanding involves recognising and reflecting on one’s own perspectives, as well as the perspectives of others. A person who has intercultural understanding explores human commonality, diversity and interconnection.

Global engagement represents a commitment to addressing humanity’s greatest challenges in the classroom and beyond. Students and teachers are encouraged to explore global and local issues, including developmentally appropriate aspects of the environment, development, conflict, rights and cooperation and governance.

At the heart of international mindedness, is a desire to reach out to interact with others, including people who have different perspectives than our own and learn to understand and respect these points of view even if we may not agree with them. This calls for being open to and having respect for the cultures and beliefs of other people and having a level of adaptability when placed in new situations. While there is the need to reach out to interact with others, there is also the need to reach in and understand oneself.

The mission and values of our School speak to our desire to inspire our young people to be lifelong learners, who seek to work collaboratively as responsible, global citizens to shape their world. Relationships where there is open communication, embracing change with courage, engaging proactively with the world and engaging with others are all values of our School.

How to Embed International Mindedness The constant questions that we ask ourselves as educators is how we can embed international mindedness into the culture and curriculum of our School.

Throughout the educational journey of our children and young people, we aim to develop the values, attitudes and skills that support international mindedness and the ability to understand and respect those individuals who are perceived to be culturally different from oneself.

Through a variety of learning experiences, we want to develop the skills of analysis and critical thinking, the ability to listen and observe, to consider the perspectives of others and to be flexible in one’s thinking.

Recently, I was invited to meet with children in our three-year-old Kindergarten room because they and their educators wanted to show me the sustainable farm they had collaboratively designed. Listening to the children and their educators, I was reminded of international mindedness at a couple of different levels: • The children worked collaboratively on their project which required them to listen to each other and to be adaptable in the design and making of their farm so that as many ideas as possible could be included.

• In addition, the children were also considering the impact of climate change and sustainable approaches on the use of land.

Cooperative or group activities within the Kindergarten and classrooms enable young people to understand their need to work together on a task to achieve a successful outcome. The students need to help, share and encourage the efforts of each other. As in all forms of group work, the students learn to communicate effectively, manage differences of opinion and make decisions together.

At Lauriston, we encourage our children and young people to form friendships with their peers, including intercultural friendships. In reaching out to interact with others, who may have different perspectives from their own, our children and young people can learn to understand and respect different points of view, even though they might not agree with them. Our young people are learning to live in other cultural contexts and adapting to new situations. It is important to help our young people reflect critically on their intercultural experiences, exploring their own assumptions and beliefs.

Our overall aim is to promote an inclusive school environment which can model international mindedness and enable us to continue our work on embedding practices which will support our students to develop the skills and attitudes required. The future world of our young people will rely upon their ability to have meaningful, positive and constructive communications with people from many different cultures and to work effectively in a global society.

Susan Just Principal

Principal’s Perspective

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A New House at Howqua Together, we have forged the next chapter for Lauriston’s Howqua campus on Taungurung country.

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n 2023, we marked the 30th anniversary of Lauriston’s Howqua campus, a home away from home for Lauriston’s Year 9 students. Our 2023 Annual Appeal aimed to raise $300,000 for the new Howqua House and we’re thrilled to share that we’ve surpassed this goal with $306,000 currently raised. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our community. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who contributed, with special recognition for our major donors, whose names will forever grace a plaque outside the new Howqua House.

An exceptional opportunity awaits to name the new house at Howqua, a rare event that occurs once in a generation.

As a significant addition to the campus, its name will endure for years, creating a lasting bond for its residents, year after year. For more information, please contact Penny Richards Fowler, Director of Advancement: giving@lauriston.vic.edu.au

The need for a new house stems from the campus growth due to increasing student enrolments, especially with Lauriston introducing an additional Year 7 class in 2024. This expansion requires the new house to be ready by 2026 to accommodate the growing student population. Positioned at the eastern end of the existing houses, construction of the new house is scheduled for completion in 2025.

G a r y D u , J o y Y i n a n d Kat r i n a D u

We w i s h to ex p re s s o u r w a r m e s t g rat i t u d e to t h e fo l l o w i n g m a j o r s u p p o r te rs fo r t h e i r c o nt r i b u t i o n s to t h e n e w H o wq u a H o u s e B o d h i Ed u c at i o n F u n d G i l l e s p i e F a m i l y Fo u n d at i o n Kw o n g fa m i l y L au r i s to n Pa re nt s ’ A s s o c i at i o n C at hy L i u a n d H u a Q i a n Ly g o p o u l o s fa m i l y M a r k w e l l fa m i l y C h a r l ot te Y i z h e n S u n S u n Fo u n d at i o n Va s i l o p o u l o s fa m i l y Angela Chen Yu e ( Te re s a ) Z hu

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Advancement

Elise Gillespie (OL 1999), with her family outside the Gillespie House at Howqua

Lyn Brown, daughter of Jack Kirkpatrick, namesake of Kirkpatrick House at Howqua.

Lego Howqua Houses designed by students at the Armadale campus for Howqua Activities Day

Advancement

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Class of 2023 Results T

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he Class of 2023 h av e d e m o n s t rate d o p t i m i s m , c o m m i t m e nt a n d re s i l i e n c e t h at h av e e n a b l e d t h e m to e m b ra c e t h e i r f i n a l y e a r o f s e c o n d a r y s t u d i e s . Ev e r y s t u d e nt h a s b e e n p ro v i d e d w i t h t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to a c h i e v e s u c c e s s t h ro u g h t h e c o m m i t m e nt o f t h e i r te a c h e rs , t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e i r p e e rs , a n d t h e S c h o o l ’s i n d i v i d u a l i s e d c a re .

With a combined VCE and IB Median ATAR of 89.75, we would like to congratulate our graduating Class of 2023 on such a remarkable achievement. We would also like to recognise the role of Lauriston’s teaching staff in their unwavering support and ability to nurture the individual talents of each student.

VCE Duces – Freya Albrecht

VCE Duces – Beiang (Becky) Pang

We congratulate Freya Albrecht on her outstanding results in VCE – achieving an ATAR of 99.65.

Congratulations to Beiang (Becky) Pang who has achieved an outstanding ATAR of 99.65.

Freya has made a valued contribution to our School and it is fitting that she was elected Co-Drama Captain in her final year, a role she undertook with enthusiasm. Her Award of Half Colours demonstrates the contribution she has made through her participation in House, Drama and Music.

Becky has excelled in her studies. She has achieved an academic distinction for Year12 VCE Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics, achieved a distinction in the Australian Mathematics Competition in 2023 and was the recipient of the RH Street Memorial Award for Mathematics VCE.

Freya’s contribution to Music saw her awarded the Gold Music Badge and she was also awarded distinctions for Laurietta and Lauriston Voices.

Becky has positively supported her House through participation in cross country and winter sports.

Her talents have also extended to being an accompanist for School assemblies and participating in Chinese Help Club.

Class of 2023 Results

We a re s o p ro u d o f t h e C l a s s o f 2 0 2 3 a n d a re c o nf i d e nt t h at t h e s e y o u n g women will find success i n a l l w a l ks o f l i fe . I a c kn o w l e d g e e v e r y o n e fo r t h e p a r t t h e y h av e p l ay e d i n t h e i n c re d i b l e a c h i e v e m e nt s o f o u r s t u d e nt s . I n p a r t i c u l a r, t h e s t u d e nt s t h e m s e l v e s w h o h av e challenged themselves, e n c o u ra g i n g a n d s u p p o r t i n g e a c h ot h e r, e v e r y s te p o f t h e w ay.

– Susan Just, Principal

IB DUX – Aidi Han Congratulations to Aidi Han who is our 2023 IB Dux with a perfect score of 45 (ATAR equivalent of 99.95).

Aidi has proven herself to be an outstanding student with exceptional talent in several subjects. She has been awarded several distinctions and prizes in Literature, Economics, Mathematics and Sciences.

Aidi has contributed to Lauriston across the full spectrum of cocurricular pursuits and has proven herself to be an outstanding musician, debater and sportsperson.

This culminated in a Prefect leadership role in 2023.

Class of 2023 Results VCE & IB Combined Results

Median ATAR

Results Summary

8%

89.75

99+

98+

90+

80+

Top 2% of the state

Top 10% of the state

Top 20% of the state

35 86.05

VCE Results ATAR Results

10%

23%

40%

98 + Top 2% of the state

95 + Top 5% of the state

90 + Top 10% of the state

Median ATAR

IB Results Median IB Score & ATAR Equivalent

37.5 94.9 Global average score: 29.06

75%

49%

Top 1% of the state

VCE Results Mean Study Score

13%

Equivalent median ATAR

IB Results

Median IB Score & ATAR Equivalent Diploma Scores

12%

50%

69%

Scored 43+ (Equivalent to ATAR of 99+)

Scored 38+ (Equivalent to ATAR of 95+)

Scored 35+ (Equivalent to ATAR of 90+)

Class of 2023 Results

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Kindergarten

Active hands, creative brains

T h e e a r l y y e a rs a re a c r i t i c a l p h a s e i n b ra i n d e v e l o p m e nt w h e n t h e fo u n d at i o n s fo r l i fe l o n g l e a r n i n g a re l a i d d o w n . We kn o w f ro m re s e a rc h t h at ‘ t h e e nv i ro n m e nt ’ t h e c h i l d re n w o r k a n d p l ay i n i s a ke y fa c to r i n b u i l d i n g t h e n e u ra l p at hw ays a n d c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e b a s i c c a p a c i t y o f t h e b ra i n . T h i s i n t u r n i m p a c t s t h e a c t i o n s w e a re a b l e to d e v e l o p w i t h o u r h a n d s a n d i s w hy p ra c t i c a l l e a r n i n g i s s o i m p o r t a nt i n t h e s e e a r l y s t a g e s o f d e v e l o p m e nt . T h e m o re a c h i l d c a n e n g a g e i n d i f fe re nt a c t i v i t i e s a n d w i t h d i f fe re nt m ate r i a l s , t h e m o re m ot i vate d t h e y w i l l b e c o m e to p u rs u e n e w c h a l l e n g e s , s o l v e p ro b l e m s a n d l e a r n n e w s ki l l s .

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oung children are masters of hands-on learning and in kindergarten children, spend their time learning through listening, speaking, touching and using the senses to explore the environment. Handson learning is more realistic and less abstract for young learners and allows young children to interact with the learning materials and make mistakes as they learn in a practical manner. Inquiry-based STEM education in the early years is a collaborative process, which encourages curiosity and allows children to raise questions and explore their interests. Through play, children are familiarised with scientific processes and learn to think scientifically.

The Kindergarten is influenced by the philosophies of the schools of Reggio Emilia which encourage children to engage in project work. Working with the children’s own ideas and providing a range of materials for children to work with, children use hands-on learning to problem solve, be creative and practise different ways of doing. This practical approach gives children many opportunities to

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Kindergarten

practise fine motor skills and develop the necessary core strength to function in the classroom as they move into more formal learning.

The educators in the Kindergarten were keen to understand the connections between the hands and brain development.

We learned that over time our hands and our brains have evolved in parallel and as our brains became finely tuned, our hands have become more sensitive. As we become better at performing tasks with our hands, the brain so to speak does not need to be involved as the action becomes automatic. To provide a framework for our research we developed two research questions:

• How does the development of hand dexterity build brain capacity?

• How do we build an environment that supports the development of brain/hand coordination?

Montessori recognised the importance of the hands as the tools that can make what the mind sees as real. The Montessori method puts emphasis on hands-on learning for this reason. Children who work with their hands develop a more complete understanding of concepts than children who merely read or view instructions.

She believed that the hand and brain must develop in harmony. The hand reports to the brain; the brain guides the hand; the cycle continues, resulting in the development of the intellect.

“As a child, the hands play an important role in improving cognitive skills and making connections in the brain. The hand is the instrument of the mind.” Dr Maria Montessori.

This is not a free journey but neither is it a journey with rigid timetables and schedules; rather, it is akin to a journey guided by a compass.”

Carlina Rinaldi

The Reggio philosophy places great emphasis on the creative arts as a vehicle for children to make their learning visible. All projects incorporate elements of literacy and numeracy but it is the creative arts that acknowledges the need for children to be able to express feelings and emotions. Imagination plays a key role in developing knowledge and understanding. The emphasis is on the learning process rather than the final product. By giving children multiple tools to be creative, they are able to revisit ideas and areas of interest to gain a higher level of understanding, allowing children to see the world from many different perspectives through their own creations.

“The children are encouraged to use all their senses to seek a greater understanding; through observation, analysis and piecing together what they experience, they dismantle and reassemble the original, creating a new and individual whole”, Education Scotland 2006.

Fiona Ireland Director of Kindergarten Kindergarten

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Junior School Cultural diversity

Lucy, Sophie and Chloe performing a dance at our Chinese New Year assembly

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Junior School

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ustralia has developed into one of the most culturally rich and linguistically diverse countries in the world. Developing an understanding of cultural diversity is an essential part of living with others in the 21st century and this of course has implications for schools, who should help students become respectful of the multitudes of cultures that they’ll interact with at school and once they leave school.

Intercultural understanding involves students learning about and engaging with diverse cultures in ways that recognise commonalities and differences, create connections with others and cultivate mutual respect.

Across the Junior School, we aim to develop culturally inclusive classrooms where students and staff recognise, appreciate and capitalise on diversity to enrich the overall learning experience.

In general, most students are comfortable interacting with people, behaviours and ideas that they are familiar with but can react with some uncertainty when faced with the unfamiliar. At Lauriston, we aim to teach students that differences in culture are to be cherished and appreciated.

The children in the Kindergarten are given authentic opportunities to learn about the First Peoples of Australia.

The focus is on Victorian First Nations peoples as they lived on the land we now occupy. Every year the Elder of the Wurundgeri peoples, Murrundindi, spends four days in our Kindergarten conducting a Smoking Ceremony and embedding First Nations Culture, sharing stories, cooking and painting. Murrundindi also visits our Bush Kinder site where he shares knowledge of the plants the First Nations peoples used for eating and medicinal purposes.

Indigenous studies are revisited in Year 4 where students investigate the diversity of our First Nations groups by studying their unique connection to the land and spirituality.

In Year 3, the students discuss and compare a range of cultural stories and events within their Inquiry Unit on Celebrations. One of the highlights of this unit of work is the expo where Year 3 parents and grandparents teach small groups of students about their own culture.

In Year 6, a particular focus is on recognising our place in the world and how we, individually and collectively, gain so much from those we surround ourselves with.

During the Year 6 Inquiry Unit on Migration, the students consider who makes up our country of Australia and the positive contribution various cultures have made to Australian society.

Within our Mandarin and French language programs, the students explore the similarities and differences between Australian, Chinese and French cultures. They learn about the significance of a range of cultural events such as Chinese New Year and Bastille Day. At Lauriston, it is our hope that our students are able to grow up in a world where they feel loved and included and never experience the pain of rejection or exclusion.

We teach our students the values and dispositions of care, empathy, respect and open-mindedness, as we aim to raise children who will celebrate and value diversity and be proud of themselves and their family traditions.

Chris Toms Vice Principal, Head of Junior School

Junior School

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Senior School

Seamless transitions for student success and wellbeing At L au r i s ton , we have deve lop e d t ransit ion p ro grams in eac h year to en su re th at ou r you n g p e o p l e a re c on n e c te d w it h t he ir p e e rs and te ach ers an d h ave c lear exp e c tation s for th e year ah ead .

Transitions in Years 7 and 8

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ur transition program for Year 7 begins in the year prior to entry into secondary school and includes a number of activities such as the Step into Year 7 evening and after school activities where students and their parents can learn more about the curriculum, technology, co-curricular activities and leadership opportunities. Our current students from Year 7 offer their voice when speaking to the students about their own experiences throughout the year.

When we begin the new school year, our Year Level Coordinator and Tutors give attention to supporting the students to settle into their daily timetable of lessons and activities. We hold our Year 7 camp at The Summit in week 2 to encourage the building of friendships and a strong sense of teamwork and participation.

As our Year 8 students transition into the new year, they are not only thinking about the year ahead, but are considering how best to prepare for their Howqua year in Year 9. Our first Year 8 camp of the year is held early in Term 1 and given there are water-based activities, these are both enjoyable and challenging. The Year 8 students participate in a second camp in Term 4 which offers

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Senior School

camping in a tent and outdoor activities in preparation for the Howqua year. Our intent throughout Year 8 is to support our students to develop a sense of self-efficacy and to build on their confidence in trying new challenges.

Transitions from Howqua to Armadale As we welcome our 2024 Year 10 students to the Armadale campus, we acknowledge that throughout the Howqua year, there has been an opportunity for personal growth.

We encourage each student to become more confident about what each can do and achieve. We know that our students have overcome various obstacles and will be able to do so again.

For our young people, this has been a time to build an independent identity. That said, their physical and mental health depends on the availability of a community that is willing to help each individual navigate the inner and outer changes of the adolescent terrain.

In 2024, we will be taking our Howqua Class of 2023 through a rite of passage ceremony at our Armadale campus. Our rite of passage will acknowledge the

personal growth and the new skills and attributes each student developed throughout this year. We want our students to understand that as they return to Armadale, they will be using their skills and attributes in new ways that will help them navigate Year 10 and the later years of Senior College.

At the end of the first week of Term 1, we will welcome our Year 10 students and their families to an evening BBQ where there will be an opportunity to reminisce and to look ahead to the new year. We will announce our Howqua Student Ambassadors from years 10 and 11 for 2024 and these young people will participate in a broad range of leadership opportunities throughout the year.

Our Year 10 Coordinator, Mr Irons, has planned a Year 10 Conference Day for our students in early February, including the themes of ‘unpacking’ Howqua and stepping forward into years 10, 11 and 12. Our aim is to harness the personal growth of the Howqua year and enable each of our Year 10 students to feel a strong sense of purpose and belonging on their return to Armadale.

Transitions into VCE and IB

Anne Wallington alongside Lauriston’s 2023 School Co-Captains Sophie and Holly.

Anne Wallington Says Farewell

As they enter into the final two years of their education, our students have received information and extensive counselling about our VCE and IB Diploma courses. Our years 11 and 12 students will complete Head Start programs in the year prior to entry into their final two years of school.

These programs enable the students to gain an introduction into their subjects and gather some holiday reading which will support them in the following year.

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Our years 11 and 12 students participate in conference days at the beginning of the school year. These conference days give attention to study and organisational skills, time management and how to balance academic studies with co-curricular activities. A highlight for our students is our student panels of alumnae who can offer their own strategies for navigating Years 11 and 12.

I was very fortunate to have the support of some excellent mentors when I began my teaching career at Lauriston, and I am happy to finish what has been a satisfying and rewarding career. I have worked with some wonderful colleagues who share a passion for ensuring the absolute best in girls’ education. Each principal with whom I have worked has had her own approach to leadership but with the common underlying belief in providing girls with strong values and the best possible education to equip them to move into their adult lives.

Our students often comment on the support they receive from their teachers throughout their years at Lauriston and the friendships established within their peer levels.

We recognise the importance of relationships for young people in their academic success and their ability to flourish as individuals. At the heart of all of our transition programs is the building of these relationships which will continue to develop as a student moves through each year of school.

Susan Just Principal

started my very first teaching position at Lauriston in 1995 teaching Year 12 IB Economics. I was thrilled to have my first teaching position at Lauriston, not only because of the School’s very fine and well-deserved reputation, but also because Lauriston was already a part of my family history.

It has been an honour and privilege to be a part of Lauriston – thank you very much to the staff, students and parents for your support along the way. I wish you all the best in the years ahead.

Anne Wallington Former Deputy Principal, Head of Senior School

Senior School

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Howqua

Celebrating excellence in Australian education In 2023, Howqua’s Outdoor Education Program was the winner of the Australian Education Awards Best Co-Curricular Program.

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Howqua

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s well as experiencing fun and exciting activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing and abseiling, horse riding, canoeing, a 48-hour solo experience and hiking, the girls not only need to adopt a growth mindset to push themselves beyond the familiar but also to embrace the power of teamwork.

The criteria for this award considered how the program supported classroom learning, the variety and scope of the program, student participation and engagement and the effectiveness of the program to develop personal skills, and stakeholder consultation and feedback.

The Howqua Outdoor Education Program has fostered resilience and leadership skills in our Year 9 girls since 1993. Each year the activities, while similar, are tailored to the cohort. They are designed to offer just the right amount of challenge and each year they face setbacks; they weather storms and emerge stronger both individually and as a group.

The Howqua Program provides opportunities for students to take on age-appropriate challenges, even though they often experience discomfort. Over time, they start to lean into the challenges. As every Howqua graduate will tell you, they get comfortable with being uncomfortable. The Howqua Program offers students the opportunity to go beyond resilience.

Not only are they able to overcome challenges but they learn to thrive in these conditions. They start to embrace challenge and seek opportunities that push themselves in order to grow. This aligns with the tenets of antifragility.

Since COVID-19 we have had to look at system designs in education and how we can possibly benefit from the forced disruption.

The concept of antifragility allows us to reflect on the Howqua Program and how now, more than ever, our program is so important. The concept of antifragility was developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb and can be defined as the property of systems in which they increase in capability to thrive as a result of stressors, mistakes,

faults or failures. While resilient systems or individuals can resist or bounce back from adversity, those who are antifragile thrive in these conditions. According to Taleb (2012), “Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness.

The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; antifragile gets better.”

At Howqua, every individual has the opportunity to lead and work to their strengths. Through leadership they develop a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with empathy, integrity and purpose. The Howqua students are not just followers, they are emerging leaders of the tomorrow. Once they emerge from the program we celebrate the accomplishments, growth and potential of these remarkable young women to make a meaningful impact on the world.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the dedicated Howqua staff and community, whose exceptional efforts have made our Year 9 Program an extraordinary and transformative experience for our students.

Dr Alison Manson Vice Principal – Head of Howqua Campus

We w e re ex t re m e l y p ro u d a n d hu m b l e d to re c e i v e t h i s aw a rd a n d a c kn o w l e d g e t h e d e d i c at i o n f ro m t h e S c h o o l a n d s t af f o v e r m a ny y e a rs i n c o nt r i b u t i n g to w h at i s a v e r y s p e c i a l a n d i m p o r t a nt p ro g ra m .

T h i r t y y e a rs a g o , Ru t h T i d e m a n AO h a d t h e fo re s i g ht to re c o g n i s e t h e n e e d fo r Ye a r 9 s t u d e nt s to h av e a u n i q u e ex p e r i e n c e o u t s i d e o f t h e c l a s s ro o m .

T h e H o wq u a O u td o o r P ro g ra m p ro v i d e s o p p o r t u n i t i e s fo r t h e g i r l s to d e v e l o p m a ny s ki l l s , b ot h te c h n i c a l , s o c i a l a n d e m ot i o n a l by ex p o s i n g t h e m to c h a l l e n g e s a n d u n c e r t a i nt i e s i n n at u ra l e nv i ro n m e nt s .

Howqua

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Lights up at Hamer Hall!

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long-awaited celebration of Music at Lauriston was shared with a full audience at Melbourne’s iconic Hamer Hall on Tuesday 1 August 2023, as the Gala Concert saw its return to this spectacular venue following the inevitable interruption during the pandemic years.

This special evening not only celebrated the combined pursuits of many of Lauriston’s co-curricular ensembles, but also the musical skills of the entire School as each child from Prep to Year 12 participated in whole-school singing. In the weeks preceding the Gala Concert, massed singing rehearsals in both the Junior and Senior schools filled Irving Hall with energetic song.

In anticipation of performing in such a magnificent venue and in celebration of this significant event, strings, band and choral ensembles were combined into massed groups,

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Life at Lauriston

including both primary and secondary students, allowing absolute beginners to rehearse and perform alongside Lauriston’s most experienced senior musicians. The joined forces of all ages and skill levels into such ensembles saw our senior students demonstrate leadership, musicianship and kindness, while our younger students were mentored and given the opportunity to see and hear, what can be achieved in their own musical journeys.

The Gala Concert also marked a special celebration of our current School song, ‘We Hail Thee Lauriston’.

A historical examination of Lauristonian magazines indicates that, over the years, there have been a number of Lauriston School songs. The December 1918 edition of the Lauristonion printed the lyrics of two School songs: ‘We are the girls of Lauriston school’ and ‘Schools of all schools to thee we bring’, while the 1919 and 1920

Lauristonians included two further versions of the School song: ‘Lauriston! Lauriston! Wave the flag high’, and ‘Lauriston for ever’ respectively.

School song with a full symphony orchestra backing, while allowing many more students to join in the sharing of our School song through playing a musical instrument.

In 1946, the first lyrics of the current School song, ‘We Hail Thee, Lauriston’ were published, however, it was not until approximately 1953 that this new song was to become the main school anthem and has remained so to this day. In 2023, this anthem celebrated 70 years as part of our school community.

To commemorate this occasion, Old Lauristonians were invited to join the rehearsal process with our current choristers and orchestral musicians, before participating in the premiere performance of this new arrangement. Sharing a part of Lauriston’s history on a world-class stage was a truly exhilarating experience for both performers and audience members alike and made for an unforgettable evening.

Audiences at the 2023 Gala Concert witnessed the first performance of the current School song, ‘We Hail Thee, Lauriston’, with new orchestration and descant part, arranged by renowned Melbourne musician, Nicholas Buc. This special new arrangement will afford all students the chance to experience the feeling of singing their

Elizabeth Tindall Head of Music

Life at Lauriston

19

Meet our 2024 Co-Captains Alison and Lotus, Senior School Captains 2024

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ongratulations on being appointed as Lauriston Captains for 2024! What are you most looking forward to in your year of leadership?

Alison: This year, I can’t wait to celebrate all that we have to offer as Lauriston students. We are such a strong bunch of individuals with diverse backgrounds, passions and ways of thinking and I believe that recognising these is how we can bring out the best in each other. We want to continue cultivating the fun, supportive culture we have here at Lauriston, while ensuring that our School remains an inclusive and encouraging space in which all students feel seen and heard.

Lotus: Personally, I am really looking forward to forming new relationships in 2024. As School Captains, it is vital for us to stay connected with all members of our school community, including students, staff, parents and alumnae. To me, leadership is all about being approachable and generous, so I hope Alison and I can continue to foster a culture of kindness and friendliness amongst our students. Our community possesses a wealth of knowledge and I hope to draw upon the experiences of our fellow students and other members of our community, to create positive and meaningful change at Lauriston.

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Life at Lauriston

Both of you h ave c h o s en to stu d y I B. Can you take u s th rou gh you r th in kin g an d reas on in g for c h o o sin g th is intern ation a l l y ren own e d p ro gram?

Lotus: What initially drew me to the IB Program was its focus on developing well-rounded students who are equipped with the skills necessary for university and further education. As well as providing a vigorous academic program, the IB places emphasis on research skills and critical thinking. What continues to excite me about the IB is the concept of global mindedness.

Whether it be in Biology, History or Theatre, the understanding of diverse cultural perspectives is embedded into all IB courses.

Alison: The first thing that struck me about the IB Program was its balanced structure. With six subject groups to choose from, five of which are compulsory, the program perfectly suited my broad range of interests. Additionally, I feel that we students can truly benefit from pursuing our hobbies and engaging with the wider community to complement our academics. Also, the choice we have as IB students to study subjects at either the standard or higher level, gives us the ability to extend ourselves in the subjects we are most interested in.

Lotus, we understand that you star te d at L auriston in Year 7. What were you looking forward to when you be gan your Senior Scho ol journey and how has your experience compared to your initial expe ctations and hopes?

Lotus: When I began my Senior School journey at Lauriston, I was most looking forward to Howqua and to undertaking the IB. After a year of lockdowns in 2020, the prospect of going to Howqua the following year helped me to stay motivated and gave me hope during moments of loneliness. I discovered that as well as providing me with many precious memories and skills, Howqua taught me a lot about myself. Howqua completely surpassed my expectations and was so much more rewarding and fulfilling than I ever could have imagined.

Al i s on , we u n d e rst and t hat you st ar te d at L au ri s ton i n Ye a r 2. Can you de s cr ib e what th e cul t u re wa s l i ke i n t he Junior Scho ol and h ow t h e Sc h o ol c onti nue d to e m b e d t hat cult ure i nto you r s e n i or ye ars at L aur iston?

Alison: Looking back on my time in Junior School at Lauriston, I vividly remember having meaningful connections with both my peers and my teachers. The classroom was a space in which I felt like I could be myself and ask questions – a sentiment that has since become true to my life outside of school. I also remember feeling well-looked after both academically and personally and realise now that our needs as students were prioritised in a way that recognised the importance of student wellbeing. This care and support continues to underline the Lauriston experience, thanks to a network of staff and students who participate wholeheartedly in connecting with one another.

B ot h of you a re i nvolve d in m any c o - cur r ic u lar a ct i vi ti e s at L au r iston. H ow has your pa r t ic i p ati on i n the s e act ivit ie s he lp e d you a ca de m i c a l l y a n d p e rs onally?

Alison: The broad-ranging nature of Lauriston’s cocurricular activities means that there truly is something for every student to enjoy. Personally, my passion for Music and creativity has led me to have been a part of numerous choirs and string ensembles. The like-minded friends I have made in these musical environments are people I share countless memories with. Similarly, Sport has balanced my school life with a chance to engage in some healthy competition while building relationships with my peers.

Lotus: I think all the extracurricular activities on offer here at Lauriston provide a plethora of academic and personal benefits to students. Particularly, Debating is one that I especially enjoy. Over the years, Debating has helped me to refine my abilities to write and to form arguments logically and coherently. On a personal level, Debating has helped me improve my confidence and has strengthened my friendships as well.

Wh at h ave b e en s ome of you r favou rite memorie s at L au riston?

Lotus: Most of my favourite memories from my time at Lauriston were formed at Howqua. Particularly, I recall finishing my six-day hike as one of my happiest moments.

Hiking was by no means my strong suit at Howqua; however, I found this hike to be the most enjoyable of all my outdoor experiences at Howqua. While it was certainly challenging, the feeling of accomplishment at the end was worth every difficult moment. Being able to celebrate as a hiking group was immensely enjoyable.

Alison: A core memory I have of my time at Blairholme is the Year 2 sleepover, where all of us were cosily packed in the main room of Blairholme under a tapestry of blankets.

Huddling our soft toys, we were totally engrossed in the movie Frozen being projected up on the wall, singing (or perhaps screaming) along to ‘Let It Go’ together.

Now th at you are c omin g to th e en d of yo u r s c h o olin g , wh at d o you th in k will stay wit h yo u on c e you grad u ate? An d wh at le g acy d o e s yo u r year level h op e to leave?

Alison: I am very grateful to say that Lauriston has instilled within me a strong sense that we can all do the things we set our minds to. The ability to see setbacks as a learning opportunity is crucial, as being a young person at school is nowhere near easy. With a support network of friends and teachers, as well as the ability to pursue our passions, I hope that our school community can all carry an optimism for the future, while leading through moments of vulnerability by backing ourselves and each other.

Lotus: I think the friendships I have made at Lauriston will always be incredibly special to me. On top of this, my time at Lauriston has taught me the importance of knowing when to ask for help and not to be afraid to do so. I think this confidence will stay with me long after graduation.

As for what legacy our year level hopes to leave, we are all deeply passionate about encouraging engagement from the student body. Whether it be in Sports, Music, House events or academics, we want to see Lauriston students putting themselves outside of their comfort zones and trying new things.

Life at Lauriston

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Life at Lauriston A Dreamy Collaboration Congratulations to the entire cast, crew and makeup artists of the Lauriston and Scotch College production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Scotch for their fabulous partnership and for collaborating on such an enchanting set of performances!

Site Visit to Blairholme

100 Days of Prep

Our 2023 Year 12 students, who have been with us from Prep through to Year 12, embarked on an incredible adventure to revisit Blairholme. For many, it had been years since they last set foot on the campus and what an adventure it was visiting the construction site.

Every year this event holds a significant place in the memories of our Prep students, becoming a special part of their time at Lauriston.

As a new generation of Lauriston students prepare to embrace these revitalised facilities, we want to emphasise that the rich heritage and enduring charm of Blairholme will forever remain in the hearts of all who have called it home in the past. It is a legacy that will continue to resonate, cherished by every Blairholme student and family.

Stay tuned for exciting updates on the Blairholme/Early Learning renovations! We can hardly wait to share the progress with our community in the months ahead.

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Life at Lauriston

We celebrated 100 days of Prep with special medals designed by the students and made in our FabLab and presented in front of some very proud families.

Slope Stars Despite challenging snow conditions, the Lauriston Snowsports community united to create an outstanding and fulfilling Snowsports season. We extend our congratulations and heartfelt appreciation to our Lauriston competitors and their families for their unwavering dedication.

We thank our Snowsports Captains, Elizabeth and Mia, for their enthusiastic efforts in championing and shouldering diverse Snowsports responsibilities throughout 2023.

Characters Come to Life That’s a wrap on Book Week and celebrating all things in the world of literature!

Supporting From Afar Our Year 9 students got into the Matildas spirit up at Howqua, with the cohort watching the World Cup penalty shootout from the dining hall.

We extend a big thank you to our Junior School Librarians for brilliantly coordinating this week of literary festivities. And what better way to conclude Book Week 2023 than with a vibrant Book Week Parade in Irving Hall.

The profound impact of this tournament is leaving an incredible mark on the world and has created a memory for our Lauriston students that will last a lifetime.

Go Tillies!

Life at Lauriston

23

Life at Lauriston Celebrations for Howqua To commemorate Howqua’s 30th anniversary, the Armadale campus hosted an activities afternoon. The event aimed to unite students from across the School and engage them in rotations of activities similar to parts of the Howqua Program.

The activities perfectly embodied Howqua’s core elements and traditions, from Milo races and lively karaoke to STEM raft-building challenges, Orienteering adventures, Rock Climbing and spirited Soccer matches. There was something for all Prep – Year 8 students to enjoy. The Howqua ambassadors from years 10 and 11 did an outstanding job leading these groups.

Sleek Geeks Finalists Field of Women We take immense pride in our Lauriston students, who united with thousands at the MCG for the 2023 Field of Women round, showcasing unwavering support for those affected by breast cancer.

This remarkable event demonstrates the profound power of unity, strength and inspiration that radiates from all participants.

It was a meaningful moment for some of our students as they met with Lyn Swinburne, the founder of Breast Cancer Network Australia, and a former teacher at Lauriston Girls’ School.

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Life at Lauriston

Congratulations to Alison and Kathlin on being awarded Runners Up in the Australian Museum Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Competition, Secondary Schools Division.

Their entry on the scientific benefits of drinking green tea resulted in them being selected as one of the three finalists in the competition.

“We had a great time together in Sydney and it was a truly unforgettable experience – we began our trip with meeting other Sleek Geeks finalists, which was followed by a Q&A with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. He had a great sense of humour and we got to know more about his experiences in STEM through the many intriguing anecdotes he shared.”

Andrews’ Pitch-Perfect Victory In keeping with the much-loved tradition of musical rivalry, Kirkhope, Andrews, Irving and Mitchell went headto-head in Lauriston’s annual House Music Competition.

This year, Andrews hit all the right notes and emerged as the victors of the 2023 House Music Competition.

A big round of applause to our Music Captains and the dedicated Music Department for orchestrating such an entertaining afternoon.

Footy Fever Our Kindergarten and Junior School students got involved in the AFL Finals spirit in Term 3 by taking part in Footy Colours Day. We were fortunate to have AFLW stars Eliza McNamara (Melbourne) and Olivia Vesely (St Kilda) attend. Their involvement inspired our students and highlighted the exciting opportunities for women in sport.

Spring Market Magic When spring blossoms, the School counts down to one of Lauriston’s most cherished events of the year, the 2023 Prep–Year 2 Spring Market held in Term 4.

This delightful morning showcased the unique and entrepreneurial experiences of Prep–Year 2 students as they shared their learning.

Each class took on the task of crafting a stall for the market, and in 2023, students showcased their creativity by using recyclable materials and the FabLab to produce items inspired by their exploration and wellbeing lessons.

Acting as both buyers and sellers, students were assisted by the Year 6s, who helped with counting change.

The market not only created a delightful atmosphere for the students but also the staff and parents.

Life at Lauriston

25

Cover story

Twin Triumphs

Designing and acing life after Lauriston S e v e nte e n y e a rs a g o , D r D a n i e l l e a n d J a s m i n e G e s c h e i t ( O L 2 0 0 7 ) g ra d u ate d f ro m L au r i s to n G i r l s ’ S c h o o l fe e l i n g u n s u re o f w h at t h e i r f u t u re s w o u l d h o l d , b u t n o n et h e l e s s , e a g e r to v e nt u re b e y o n d t h e w a l l s o f L au r i s to n a n d i nto a t h r i l l i n g j o u r n e y o f s e l f - d i s c o v e r y.

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n October 2023, Danielle and Jasmine returned to Lauriston’s Irving Hall to congratulate and farewell the graduating class of 2023, to which they shared six invaluable lesson they have learned since closing the chapter on their Lauriston education.

Lesson 1: Lean into ‘you’ and follow your passion.

Danielle Despite being identical twins, from a young age Danielle: we had very different passions. Jazz always loved to dress up in our mum’s clothes and I was a tomboy who rode around on our brother’s skateboard. Fast forward to now and Jazz is a fashion designer and I work in sport.

A pivotal moment that gave me the courage to follow my unique passions happened at Lauriston. I remember sitting in Ms Gilchrist’s room to discuss what I was thinking of doing after school. “Do I study Law or follow in our dad’s footsteps and study Medicine?” Ms. Gilchrist said, “Dani, you will need to wake up and do whatever you decide every day, so make sure you do something you love.” This really stuck with me.

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Spotlight

So, make sure to cherish your individuality, use your passion as a compass and lean into your authentic self.

Le ss on 2: You d on’t h ave to h ave all th e an swers or h ave you r entire f u tu re map p e d o u t .

Danielle After school I was set on two things, that I Danielle: wanted to study Sport and Exercise Science/Commerce at Deakin University and that I wanted to work in elite sport. Clear as mud, right? What transpired was a messy, rollercoaster journey. This included an internship at Tennis Australia (TA), leading to a full-time Sport Science role at TA, the completion of a PhD exploring injuries in elite tennis players and then throwing it all out the window and turning my focus to management.

Now, I am the Head of Players with Disability at TA. Evidently, my path has been far from linear and it serves as a reminder that you don’t need to map out your entire future right now. Embrace the uncertainty and remember the age-old Howqua quote: “The journey is just as important as the destination.”

Le s s o n 3 : D o n’ t b e af ra i d to t a ke r i s ks .

Jasmine After leaving Lauriston, I studied a Bachelor Jasmine: of Design, majoring in Fashion. Choosing what course I wanted to do was easy for me. However, that’s when the easy part finished. After graduating from university, I had the opportunity to start a retail business with our mum! I was 20 years old and had zero business experience. It was incredibly daunting, but too significant to pass up, so I took the risk.

While the retail business was fulfilling, I never lost sight of my dream to create my own clothing brand. So, after five years of running the stores, I felt ready to start Jasmine Alexa – a women’s active and leisurewear brand.

I applied for a spot in a runway show at Melbourne Spring Fashion Weekend and got accepted, with only four weeks to prepare.

Jasmine Alexa was gaining traction, and I was privileged to showcase at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Sydney, grace the covers of magazines and be worn by countless celebrities.

You don’t need to take big risks like I did, but remember that sometimes, the most unexpected risks lead to the most extraordinary rewards.

Le s s o n 5 : Yo u r ATAR / I B s c o re i s n ot a m e a s u re of your worth, nor is it the be-all and end-all.

Jasmine Among the many achievements and milestones, Jasmine: your ATAR or IB score is likely to be a significant one.

However, it’s crucial to remember that this number does not define your worth, it’s merely a stepping stone or a gateway and it is not the only gate. Reflecting on our graduating class of 2007, some decided to go to university, others took a gap year, some went straight into work and some moved overseas. However, looking at them now, they all have truly inspiring lives and careers.

So, just remember that your score is just a small part of a much larger picture. It can’t quantify the love and support you have and will receive from family and friends, nor can it capture the unique qualities and talents that make you who you are or the dreams you wish to achieve.

Lesson 6: Once a Lauristonian, always a Lauristonian.

Danielle Even though you will eventually put your Danielle: Lauriston blazer, tie and hat in the cupboard for the last time, similarly, to putting away your hiking boots, pack and gore-tex jacket from Howqua for the last time, know that your Lauriston education will set you up for success.

Lesson 4: Courage is always better than comfort.

As a Lauristonian you already have:

Jasmine In short, we do not grow when we are in our Jasmine: comfort zone. To step outside our comfort zone, we must be courageous. This is now what I base most of my decisions on – I ask myself, “Is this coming from a place of courage, or a place of comfort?” It’s what gave me the courage to call up THE ICONIC and hassle them until they stocked my brand. Choosing courage over comfort, has taught me that stepping out of your comfort zone will always lead to something positive, even if it’s just the joy of being brave enough to give it a go. And for that fact alone, you can never fail in anything that you do.

• The strength and resilience to overcome any obstacle.

• The independence and courage to step forward into the unknown.

• The community to support you along the way.

• The interpersonal skills to create strong relationships.

• The bravery to take up the space that you deserve.

• The diversity of thought, voice and experience to provide a unique perspective.

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2023

Jasmine and Danielle at the Back to Howqua Day

Spotlight

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Quality Teaching Makes the Rounds Lauriston’s unique approach to professional learning

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t Lauriston Girls’ School we are in the fortunate position of being an employer of choice. We have relatively low teaching staff turnover and when the time comes to employ a new teacher, we attract teachers with experience and expertise in their teaching fields. But our exceptional teachers do not rest on their past achievements. They continually strive to improve their teaching and the high-quality teaching that happens in the classroom is one of the factors that lead to our outstanding Year 12 results.

Among the many professional learning programs that our teaching staff undertake, is our whole-school initiative known as Quality Teaching Rounds. This program is unique in that all the Lauriston staff – both Junior School and Senior School (including our Howqua Campus) – are involved in these rounds. We chose this program because its primary focus is on improving the quality of the classroom teaching.

It is a model that was developed in 2003 by Associate Professor James Ludwig and Laureate Professor Jenny Gore from the University of Newcastle and has been the subject of multiple rigorous research studies over the past 20 years. It has been shown to improve the outcomes for students in the classrooms by encouraging teachers to focus on 18 different elements in each of their classes.

Many of our Lauriston teaching staff have completed the extensive training offered by the University of Newcastle to ensure that they understand these elements and how to effectively focus on them in the classroom. As educators, we found that these concepts tied in with much

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Staff News

of our already established classroom practice and clearly articulated what we believed to be excellence in classroom teaching. This model provided us with a rigorous framework which we have adopted as our teaching framework for the immediate future.

Last year in 2023, each Senior School teacher and many of the Junior School teachers participated in a Quality Teaching Round. The teachers engaged in preliminary readings, classroom observations, follow-up coding exercises, follow-up professional discussions and then the round concluded with a meeting with a member of the Executive team to discuss the experience. This was a significant time commitment from the teachers and the responses from the staff were overwhelmingly positive. We all appreciated the opportunity to reflect on our teaching and on how we could improve the everyday experience for our students in the classroom.

Fundamental to Quality Teaching Rounds is the concept of an open classroom where teachers are encouraged to watch each other teach. I do believe that this remains one of the most powerful forms of professional learning. It is impossible to watch a colleague teach and not to learn.

This year, we will continue with this most successful professional learning as the Lauriston teaching staff continue to strive for the best possible outcomes for our dedicated students.

Lindy Grahn Assistant Principal – Learning and Innovation

Redesigning our Senior School

Our new look Leadership team and classrooms

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n our Senior School, we believe it is important to teach our students to adapt to change and embrace the possibilities this may bring. Therefore, we are excited to announce the new structure of our Senior School.

This new interpretation of our Leadership team aims to continue to enhance the educational experience offered at Lauriston.

We welcome Natalie Fanariotis our new Deputy Principal – Wellbeing, to our Senior School team. During 2024, I will be taking on the role of Acting Head of Senior School.

As Acting Head of Senior School, I will be looking after the logistics and daily operations of the Senior School, and working closely with Natalie, Lindy Grahn, Assistant Principal – Learning and Innovation and our staff.

Together, we will endeavor to develop a team approach to supporting students in achieving their best academically, while supporting their wellbeing needs.

We are delighted to announce that we have five Year 7 classes commencing in 2024. With the addition of another Year 7 class, there are renovations happening in the Years 7 and 8 Centre, to ensure all the Year 7 classes can remain together.

Included in our renovations this year, we have had new (BenQ) screens installed in all our Senior and Junior learning spaces to enhance the learning experiences of our students. These interactive screens foster a collaborative and creative way of learning, as they allow staff to enhance their delivery of the curriculum.

We are looking forward to the return of our students and staff after the summer vacation. We will run transition programs for our students entering years 7, 10 and 11. Our Year 12 students will begin their year with a Conference Day. We would encourage parents, both new and continuing, to join with us for our Information Evenings.

We know wholeheartedly that the senior years in a student’s schooling can be a critical period for both their academics and wellbeing and so we are excited to bring our informed restructure and newly developed learning environments into 2024.

Vanessa McDonnell Acting Head of Senior School

Photo: Vanessa McDonnell Acting Head of Senior School, Natalie Fanariotis Deputy Principal and Lindy Grahn Assistant Principal - Learning and Innovation

Staff News

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Welcoming Natalie Fanariotis

Lauriston Girls’ School Deputy Principal – Wellbeing

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ast year we were delighted to announce the appointment of Natalie Fanariotis to the position of Deputy Principal-Wellbeing, effective from the commencement of Term 1 this year. With a distinguished background in education, Nat previously served as the Head of Wellbeing at Caulfield Grammar School.

We warmly welcome Nat to Lauriston and look forward to her valuable contributions in fostering the holistic development and wellbeing of our students.

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Staff News

Q & A with Natalie

students, parents, caregivers and support services (where appropriate), schools can intervene early.

Wel c om e , N at! C an you share a bit ab out yo ur ex p e r i e n c e s and jour ney le ading up to j o i n i n g L au r i s ton?

Wh at will you r n ew role as D ep u t y P rin c ip a l – Wellb ein g en c omp ass?

I’m absolutely thrilled to be here! Prior to joining Lauriston, I held the position of Head of Wellbeing at Caulfield Grammar School. In that role, my primary focus was strategically and systematically enhancing wellbeing literacy among students, families and staff, while also establishing the necessary structures to ensure quality care for all.

Prior to this, I had the privilege of working at Beyond Blue, where I was dedicated to leading the quality implementation of the National Mental Health in Education Initiative (Be You). Before that, I served as the Director of Student Services at Balwyn High School. In this role, I was responsible for overseeing individual student management and support, as well as the development of whole-school wellbeing programs and practices.

Each of these experiences, coupled with further studies, has enhanced my professional development and growth and shaped my current approach to strengthening wellbeing in schools.

W hy d o e s we l l b e ing in s cho ols m at te r ?

Wellbeing positively influences student learning outcomes, and success in learning enhances student wellbeing (Education Services Australia Student, Student Wellbeing Hub, 2010).

When students experience a state of positive wellbeing, they function more effectively, engage more actively and optimistically in learning, develop stronger and more meaningful relationships and become better equipped to navigate life’s inevitable challenges.

Children and young people spend most of their formative years within education, making schools an optimal setting to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to tune into their own needs and the needs of others and respond accordingly. Just as we teach literacy and numeracy, we can also teach wellbeing skills within the school environment.

Given that half of all lifelong mental health issues emerge before the age of 14 (Kessler, 2005), investing in proactive wellbeing promotion, prevention and early intervention during school years is paramount.

Schools are also staffed with caring and capable adults who serve as positive role models and are well-placed to notice changes in students’ behaviour, health learning and relationships. Through collaboration with Ronald C Kessler, (2005) Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication

My role will involve strategic and operational responsibilities aligned to four key objectives:

1.

Building wellbeing literacy amongst students, staff and families;

2.

Enabling high-quality proactive and responsive pastoral care for all students;

3.

Strengthening partnerships between home, School and the community;

4.

Authentically integrating wellbeing into the learning experience and environment.

I’ll collaborate closely with the School’s Leadership team, teaching staff and pastoral staff to achieve a common goal: empowering every student at Lauriston to reach their full potential in both learning and wellbeing. This entails fostering a learning environment where each student feels a strong sense of belonging and connection, is known, heard, valued and receives appropriate support across all aspects of their holistic development.

I am dedicated to aligning my efforts with the School’s vision, values and strategic plan, ensuring that any initiatives aimed at enhancing schoolwide wellbeing are evidence-informed and responsive to the unique needs of the Lauriston community.

L astly, we all kn ow th e s ay in g “You c an’t p ou r f rom an emp t y c u p ,” s o, as you su p p o r t wellb ein g at L au riston , h ow will you b e lo o ki n g af ter you rs elf ?

It’s important to me that I ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to wellbeing and I’ve refined my toolbox of strategies over the years. Being a morning person, I kickstart my day with exercise, which helps clear my mind and boosts my energy. Recently, I’ve ventured into cold water exposure, a challenging and incredibly invigorating practice – I’ve even reached the two minute mark! Cooking serves as my mindful practice and sharing food with loved ones brings me immense joy. I dedicate time to connect with friends and family and playing with my mischievous French Bulldog, Winnie, never fails to put a smile on my face.

Prioritising my wellbeing is my personal responsibility, ensuring I can be at my best and give my best. It requires daily effort and it’s worth it.

Staff News

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Community Service ver the past seven years, Lauriston has been establishing a partnership with an organisation in Alice Springs called Children’s Ground.

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The Arrernte Elders believe, as does Jane Vadiveloo, that their children will stand strongest in the world when they stand most strongly in their culture.

Children’s Ground is a not-for-profit First Nations organisation with a 25-year approach where children can develop rich cultural and linguistic foundations in their first language and culture. This incredible organisation’s agenda is set by a group of Arrernte Elders and implemented by an Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff led by CEO Jane Vadiveloo, a formidable woman. Jane Vadiveloo has a lucid intellect, an unwavering passion and a double master’s degree in psychology. She has been connected to the Arrernte since the age of 13.

Lauriston has been fortunate enough to have Jane come and speak with our students several times since 2016, talking with them about the history, culture and stories of Indigenous Australians. In 2023, Jane spoke with both years 6 and 11 students at two separate events – giving them a greater understanding and developing compassion and empathy so they too, can help bring about a change.

The Year 11 students raised funds with a soccer match and sausage sizzle in Term 4 where Cassie from Children’s Ground did an Acknowledgement of Country.

Children’s Ground is creating a different future with First Nations children, families and communities experiencing the greatest levels of disadvantage. They are working with entire communities from infants to Elders to make real and lasting change. They integrate First Nations learning and development (including learning on Country with Elders – their language, their culture and the land) and western learning (including English literacy and numeracy). They are taught health and hygiene (washing hands, blowing noses, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, animals are vaccinated, wormed and treated for fleas and ticks).

In previous years, we have collected boxes of stationary to be sent up, woollen blankets to be made into soft sculptures, have held casual clothes days to raise funds and a few staff members have visited Alice Springs and experienced Children’s Ground firsthand. We have had Wear it Yellow days and have also had the privilege of two Elders from Children’s Ground coming to speak with the Kindergarten students and during COVID-19 we tutored a couple of Children’s Ground children.

First Nations educators work side by side with western trained teachers who listen, mentor and work in partnership to ensure the children are receiving a holistic education that equips them to walk confidently in all worlds.

Here at Lauriston, we are proud to support Children’s Ground who are making real and lasting change and we aim to walk alongside them to bring about this much needed change.

Sarah Jessup Community Service Coordinator V i s i t t h e C h i l d re n’s G ro u n d w e b s i te

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Community

Students v Teachers Children’s Ground Charity Soccer Match

The Queen’s Fund

Soft sculptures made by First Nations artists with woollen blankets, donated to Children’s Ground by the students at Lauriston Girls’ School. The soft sculptures were also on display at the National Gallery of Victoria.

For 136 years, The Queen’s Fund has been working hard to provide emergency relief through funding to support Victorian women and children who are in crisis. In Year 9 student Georgia with her mum and President of The Queen’s Fund, Lucy O’ Sullivan 2023, The Queen’s (OL 1990) Fund provided assistance to 1,896 women and 2,270 children across Victoria.

President of The Queen’s Fund is Lucy O’Sullivan (OL 1990) whose mother, Geraldine O’Sullivan (OL 1962) and sister Charlotte O’Sullivan (OL 1999) are also Old Lauristonians. Inspired by her mother’s commitment to philanthropy and community engagement, Lucy’s daughter, Georgia (Year 9) organised a Senior School fundraiser as part of her involvement in the School’s Community Service Committee.

Through their respective roles at The Queen’s Fund as a member and as a supporter, Lucy and Georgia hope to continue their mission of showing the value of social compassion and demonstrating the power of women helping women.

Lauriston Girls’ School Community Services Coordinator, Sarah Jessup, with children from Arrernte Country.

V i s i t T h e Q u e e n’s F u n d w e b s i te

Community

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Celebrating 30 Years O n Sunday 15 October 2023, Lauriston was delighted to welcome more than 500 special guests, alumnae and families, back to Howqua to help celebrate 30 years of innovative education.

As the Lauriston community gathered to commemorate this occasion, it was a time for both nostalgia and appreciation; to reflect on the past three decades of the Howqua Program and acknowledge the contribution of those who made it possible.

Old Howquarians had the opportunity to reconnect with their year group, visit their old houses and walk the Ring Road. Some of the Lauriston community members who made the establishment of the campus possible were able to join us for the Celebration assembly.

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Community

The highlight of this assembly was the shared stories, personal and profound, from Old Howquarians and students spanning three decades. Their recollections illuminated not only their experiences at Howqua but also the enduring impact that this Year 9 Program has had on their adult lives.

The current generation of Howqua students added their voices to the celebratory chorus, with Choir and instrumental music performances and the presentation of 30 tree saplings. These trees will be planted on the campus as a reminder of 30 years of Howqua and the natural environment that surrounds the campus. To bring the festivities to a close, families and guests across different eras of Howqua’s legacy, enjoyed a wholesome picnic by the logs before making the journey home.

of Howqua Gratitude is extended to all the families and guests who have been part of Lauriston’s journey – whether in the past, present, or yet to come. Your presence at this event, marking a significant milestone in Lauriston’s history, is truly appreciated. The celebration was a momentous occasion, blending reflections on the past with anticipation for the future. Lauriston eagerly awaits the unfolding of the next 30 years of Howqua, envisioning the relationships and life lessons it will impart to our Year 9 students and those in the years to come.

One prominent figure was unable to attend the festivities.

Past Lauriston Principal Ruth Tideman AM, whose unwavering commitment was instrumental in bringing the Howqua campus to life, shared her thoughts with all who had gathered.

I am astounded at the number and the variety of the things that girls can learn at Howqua.

From the youngest to the oldest, their days are filled with ideas and activities to take them on through life. The Howqua experience is just one such entity; just how big it is laid out here today. There is no question that it suits the Year 9 girl.

We can’t imagine Lauriston without it – and hundreds of women are out in the world doing good and great things because hundreds of Lauriston parents, teachers and others have given life to this program. The rolling green fields we bought in 1992 (during a Recession) look the same perhaps but don’t be fooled. What has gone on here is a transformation.

Ruth Tideman AM, Lauriston Principal 1983–2000

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Huntingtower Lunch T h e f i rs t d ay o f S e p te m b e r a l w ays m a r ks t h e b e g i n n i n g o f s p r i n g , a s e a s o n o f re n e w a l a n d re j u v e n at i o n a n d t h e a n nu a l H u nt i n g to w e r c e l e b rat i o n s ki c ke d o f f t h e s e a s o n .

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auriston’s Huntingtower brings together our Old Lauristonians’ Association (OLA) members, past Lauriston parents and current Lauriston parents to celebrate our Lauriston Community. The event would not be possible without the energy and dedication of the Huntingtower Lunch Committee and the Lauriston Parents’ Association (LPA).

Taking place at the Glasshouse, more than 350 current parents, OLA, past parents and staff attended and were warmly welcomed with a signature drink on arrival and live entertainment. Throughout the luncheon, there were raffles, silent auctions and lucky door prizes, that collectively raised $36,921 toward Lauriston’s Annual Appeal for a new house at Howqua. At the luncheon, Principal Susan Just shared the exciting news that the Senior School will be expanding to include an additional Year 7 class, so there is a need for a new house at Howqua in the near future, as we also celebrate 30 years of our Howqua campus.

On behalf of the Huntingtower Lunch Committee, we would like to thank everyone who attended. It was a truly enjoyable occasion. The LPA and Huntingtower Lunch Committee are also incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed towards the fundraising activities associated with the lunch.

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Community

LPA President Eva Dixon and LPA Vice President Events and Communications Victoria Moffat.

Our sincerest thanks to our incredible sponsors and donors for your generous donations.

More importantly, creating moments for our community to be inclusive, warm and inviting has been a goal of the LPA in 2023 and it will continue to be our goal in 2024.

As a school community, we are on the collective journey of educating and raising strong, independent people.

Supporting each other and getting to know one another during school events or opportunities to socialise is such a rewarding and fun way to take the journey together.

We look forward to many more moments like this along the way.

Save the date for the 2024 Huntingtower Lunch on Friday 13 September at Zinc.

Eva Dixon LPA President Victoria Moffat LPA Vice President Events and Communications

Community

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Yin & Xuan Award for Howqua

A new writing prize celebrating Lauriston’s Year 9 Program Jenny, Angelica, Mrs Sarah Ding and Mr Ting Jiang

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s both former and current Lauriston parents, Mr Ting Jiang and Mrs Sarah Ding know firsthand how truly transformative Lauriston’s Year 9 Program at Howqua is. When their eldest daughter Jenny (OL 2022), returned to Armadale following her Howqua year, Ting and Sarah were overjoyed to see the depth of their daughter’s independence and academic achievement.

The family have also just said farewell to their second daughter Angelica, as she embarks on her Howqua year in 2024.

As parents who are eager to share the benefits of a Howqua education, the family has developed a rewarding initiative to acknowledge the quality education and personal growth experienced by Lauriston’s Howqua students.

Created for Howqua and fully supported by the Ding and Jiang family, the Yin & Xuan Award for Howqua will begin in 2024 as a yearly perpetuity prize, to be awarded to a singular Howqua student.

The prize of a valued book voucher will be gifted to students for producing an outstanding written reflection that encapsulates the powerful learning, uniqueness and gratification that encompasses a Howqua education.

The written reflection will form part of the English Year 9 curriculum, with students having the opportunity to

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Advancement

be guided in their writing by their English teachers. The reflections will then be judged by key members of staff and an external individual, to which the winner will be announced at the Howqua assembly in December.

The Yin & Xuan Award for Howqua will be a powerful tool for capturing and celebrating the shared stories and reflections of a community, offering benefits that endure over time.

With the support of Principal Susan Just, this award was created to allow each Howqua student to capture each day’s experience with their handwriting, turning it into one of the most unforgettable memories of their life. We hope it will encourage more Lauriston students to walk through the doors of the Howqua Campus and to take on the challenge of a different approach to education.

Mr Ting Jiang Lauriston is grateful for the Ding and Jiang family’s ongoing support of Lauriston, including the new Prep classroom that was opened in early 2023, as part of the Junior School unification project.

We look forward to celebrating the first recipient of this Award at the 2024 Howqua End of Year assembly to be presented by the Ding and Jiang family.

Lauriston v Ruyton Hockey Match 120th anniversary

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n 2003, Lauriston and Ruyton Girls’ School commemorated 100 years since their first hockey match in 1903. In 2018, Lauriston and Ruyton Girls’ School met again to play another commemorative match and decided to make this an ongoing event, with this match to be held every five years to celebrate both our shared history of hockey and connection to Margaret and Lilian Irving.

On Friday 11 August 2023, Lauriston and Ruyton met for a friendly game to commemorate the 120th year of Australia’s longest-running school hockey competition. It was Lauriston’s turn this time to host the match which was held at the Malvern Hockey Centre.

Our archivist supplied colourful banners with photographs from both the Lauriston and Ruyton school archives, that document over a century of hockey played at our schools.

Congratulations to Ruyton for their 4-2 Hockey trophy win and 120 years of Hockey rivalry. We already can’t wait for the rematch in five years!

We have established that the 1903 match was the first girls’ interschool hockey match played in Victoria and highly likely the first hockey match between two girls’ schools in Australia. It is therefore certainly an event worth celebrating!

Archives

39

Celebrating “The Queen of Games” at Lauriston Hockey Champions, 1916

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n the December 1918 edition of our school yearbook The Lauristonian, hockey was described as “The Queen of Games”. Hockey continued to be the premier sport during Lauriston’s early decades and our first Principals’ contribution to the development of hockey as a school sport in Melbourne cannot be overstated.

The School’s founders Miss Margaret and Miss Lilian Irving were instrumental in establishing Hockey as a competitive sport for schoolgirls in Melbourne. Margaret Irving went over to England in 1901 and saw Hockey being played in English schools. She decided to bring the game back to Melbourne as a winter sport for Lauriston students. The Irving sisters had hockey sticks made locally so that they could teach their students how to play the game.

In 1903, Lilian Irving arranged the first girls’ inter-school hockey match between Lauriston and Ruyton, which was played on vacant land on the corner of Mercer and Malvern roads. Lauriston won the match.

The students from Merton Hall (now Melbourne Girls Grammar abbreviated to MGGS), also attended as enthusiastic spectators of the game. This was the very first girls’ interschool hockey match in Melbourne.

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Archives

In 1904, Margaret Irving together with Mary Morris of the then named Melbourne Church of England Girls’ Grammar School (MGGS), established the Girls’ Schools Hockey Association. The Association organised regular competitions between schools.

In the 1920s Lauriston competed against other schools in the newly founded Girls’ Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) and Lauriston was consistently very successful with winning the Hockey Championships.

In 1925, with the support of the Old Lauristonian Association, the School raised funds to level and replant the baseball field and to create a full-size hockey field.

The Lauriston Hockey team, coached by Miss Thompson, made a disproportionate contribution to Victorian hockey throughout the 1920s and 1930s. At least 13 Lauriston girls were awarded full ‘blues’ for hockey at The University of Melbourne in the 1920s. A number went on to play for Victoria. Annual trips were made to play Clyde Girls’ School at Woodend. The Hockey team also travelled by train to play against Walford House in Adelaide. In 1927, the English Hockey team visited Melbourne. Lauriston students watched their demonstration matches, attended their lectures and had a private coaching session with Miss Warwick, their team Captain.

Hockey dominated Lauriston’s sporting life until well into the 1950s, with regular classes, house, interschool and staff–student matches.

Today Hockey is one of the many sports available to our students within Lauriston’s expansive physical education curriculum, including our participation in the GSV (Girls Sport Victoria) competitions. Lauriston will always be proud of the role that our founding principal Margaret Irving had in bringing hockey to Melbourne.

Lisl Bladin Archivist

Images, far left, from top: Hockey Team 1907 Hockey Team, 1971 Hockey Champions, 1932 Above: Hockey Team, 1982 Right: Hockey Team, 2017

Donations We w i s h to a c kn o w l e d g e re c e nt d o n at i o n s to o u r A rc h i v e s c o l l e c t i o n .

Object

Donor

Photograph of June and Helen Andrews, circa 1950s.

June Cameron (Upjohn, OL 1951).

Howqua magazines, videos, newsletters, publicity material, site plans and meeting notes from consultant architects etc., 1992 to 1996.

Helen Hennessy, first Co-Director of Howqua campus.

School reports, probationer’s badge and blazer pocket.

Wendy Smibert (OL 1963).

Junior School photograph and Lauriston summer uniform dress.

Wendy Handbury (Cook, OL 1968).

Lauriston spoon.

Dr Jacqueline McLeod (OL 1963).

Cross stitch handbag made for Intermediate Craft class.

Marilyn Armstrong (OL 1963).

Archives

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Beyond the Fig Tree 2023 Reunions

5 Year Reunion – Class of 2018 The Class of 2018 had a wonderful evening at their 5 Year Reunion event on Friday 5 August! The gathering took place at Harvie in Armadale, preceded by a short tour of the School. These former Lauriston students enjoyed a heartwarming time reconnecting with one another.

Relationships form the foundation of our lives and the strength of traditional connections should not be underestimated. Being in the presence of individuals who have been part of our journey since our early days can offer a unique sense of comfort. There is truly no substitute for the profound bonding and the exchange of shared human experiences with those who we hold dear.

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2013 The Class of 2013 was treated to a truly memorable evening during their 10 Year Reunion, which took place on Friday 11 August at Gloria’s Wine Bar in Camberwell, following a delightful tour of the School. These former students relished the opportunity to rekindle old friendships and forge new connections.

The presence of individuals who have walked alongside us since our formative years holds a special power to provide solace. Indeed, there exists no adequate replacement for the deep connections forged and the exchange of shared human experiences with those we hold close to our hearts.

Celebrating our Alumnae

20 Year Reunion – Class of 2003

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The Class of 2003 enjoyed a fantastic 20 Year Reunion at Harvie in Armadale on Friday 18 August. After a delightful School tour of the Year 5/6 Centre and Ullmer Sports & Wellbeing Centre, former Lauriston students headed to Harvie for an evening focused on rekindling old friendships and forging new connections.

There is no doubt that relationships are paramount. The enduring bonds formed since our formative years offer unique comfort and shared human experiences.

Beyond the Fig Tree

Beyond the Fig Tree 25 Year Reunion – Class of 1998 It was terrific to see so many members from Class of 1998 reunite at School for a trip down memory lane and to see after so many years, how the School has so magnificently advanced – with the new Year 5/6 Centre and the remarkable construction of the Ullmer Sports & Wellbeing Centre.

Afterwards, they all met at Harvie in Armadale to spend some truly quality time together, catching up on each other’s news and hearing the stories of what has taken place since graduating. It was agreed that nothing much really changes, and it is incredible how easy it is to rekindle relationships that were formed with such solid foundations.

30 Year Reunion – Class of 1993 As the final reunion of 2023 and finishing on a very high note, we welcomed the Class of 1993 to their 30 Year Reunion on Friday 24 November. They explored the grounds at School, before moving to Harvie for a wonderful cocktail party! We were thrilled that many came from far and wide – and so many of them were over the moon to reconnect with some who hadn’t seen each other in 30 years! The #laurilove was flowing!

On Thursday 15 June, we were thrilled to help organise an impromptu reunion for the Class of 1988 in celebration of 35 years! Traditionally our reunions are 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 40 years and then every five years after 50, so we were excited to support Sabina Read (Bradfield, OL 1988) who wanted to get the 1988 cohort together. And what a fabulous evening it was!

40 Year Reunion – Class of 1983 We were thrilled to help organise the 40 Year Reunion for the Class of 1983 on Friday 28 July. Held at The Orrong Hotel, following a brief tour at School, these Old Lauristonians relished in each other’s company.

Relationships are the bedrock of life and traditional connections can wield tremendous influence. Being surrounded by individuals who have been with us since our youth can be exceptionally reassuring, as there is no substitute for bonding and exchanging our shared human experiences with those we deeply cherish.

Beyond the Fig Tree

Celebrating our Alumnae

35 Year Reunion – Class of 1988

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Beyond the Fig Tree Annual Lauriston Luncheon

On Thursday 26 October nearly 100 Old Lauristonians attended the Annual Lauriston Luncheon, held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. It was a magnificent day! We acknowledged milestone reunions for the Class of 1968 (55 years), Class of 1963 (60 years), Class of 1958 (65 years), Class of 1953 (70 years) and Class of 1948 with the School Captain – June Danks (McMullin, OL 1948) in attendance to celebrate her 75 Year Reunion!

As special guests of honour, we welcomed for the first time, the Class of 1973 who celebrated their golden anniversary. It’s hard to believe for some of these women, that it’s been 50 years since they left Lauriston.

Celebrating our Alumnae

At the lunch we were introduced to the newly elected School Captains for 2024 and Lotus and Alison thoroughly enjoyed meeting our alumnae community. During the luncheon, the School’s Choir Laurietta and a String Quartet performed. Our guests enjoyed singing the School Song and the lunch concluded with a group singing the “old school song” acapella and with great gusto!

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It was a beautiful lunch and a wonderful opportunity for our alumnae who left Lauriston 50 or more years ago, to reconnect and catch up on each other’s news.

Thank you so much to the alumnae who flew in from the USA, UK, QLD, ACT and NSW for the luncheon. It was a very special day.

The 2024 Annual Lauriston Luncheon has been booked for Thursday 24 October.

Beyond the Fig Tree

Beyond the Fig Tree OLA Golf Day 2023

Congratulations to Kerry McKendrick (Aberdeen, OL 1977) who was the overall winner at the OLA Golf Day held on Monday 20 November. And what a magnificent day it was for 36 Old Lauristonians spanning five decades, who participated in the 18-hole Stableford Competition, with one group playing a 9-hole Ambrose game.

Sorrento Golf Club certainly spoiled us with a fantastic course, beautiful food and drinks at lunch and the weather was superb!

Celebrating our Alumnae

A big shout-out and thank you to Amelia Kennedy (OL 1995), Tory West (Rodd, OL 1995) and Kate Wilson (Jackson, OL 1995) who hosted for the third time at Sorrento Golf Club. These ‘Golfing Girls’ bring loads of entertainment, fun, laughter and friendship, that makes it such a wonderful day to be part of.

We are currently exploring opportunities for next year’s Golf Day to be played at other golf clubs.

If you are interested in hosting the OLA Golf Day and there is availability at YOUR golf club on Monday 18 November 2024, please email Catherine at ola@lauriston.vic.edu.au Thank you to everyone who participated.

See you in 2024!

Beyond the Fig Tree

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Beyond the Fig Tree

Celebrating our Alumnae

OLA Fellowship 2023

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OLA President Anna Wilson (Murray, OL 1990) with Binny Langler (Murray, OL 1990)

Izzi Harris (OL 2016) at the Back to Howqua Day

The Old Lauristonians’ Association is thrilled to announce that for the first time, two OLA Fellowships were awarded in 2023. We congratulate Binny Langler (OL 1991) and Izzi Harris (OL 2016) – both alumnae submitted outstanding applications.

Since graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Master in Film and Television (Directing) in 2021, Izzi has dived into writing fiction, directed multiple theatre pieces at the Melbourne Fringe, created several short films and recently foraged into producing music videos.

Binny is a certified Executive and Gallup Global Strengths Coach, with a Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and multiple agile certifications.

Recently she’s been honing her camera department skills for the ABC and Channel 10, playing hockey, and is looking forward to making more creative content in the future. The OLA Fellowship will provide Izzi with the opportunity to create her next film. Watch this space!

The OLA is supporting Binny to participate in an intensive six month online training ‘Firework’ Career Coaching program that will position Binny as a trailblazer, strengthening her global digital coaching business, while contributing to nurturing a more engaged and resilient future workforce.

The OLA Fellowship Committee was stunned by the application submitted by Izzi Harris.

Beyond the Fig Tree

Binny and Izzi were presented with their awards at the Valedictory assembly on Tuesday 17 October 2023.

We also congratulate the alumnae who were shortlisted as OLA Fellowship finalists.

Shortlisted OLA Fellowship 2023 We c on g ratu late An n a Mallard ( OL 2007) wh o is an exp erien c e d ad v is or at th e D ep ar tment o f Foreign Af fairs an d Trad e (DFAT ).

She is passionate about global action to address climate and environmental challenges and has a particular interest in the nexus between climate action and rights for people with disabilities. Currently, Anna leads on progressing disability equity and rights across multilateral fora including the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Anna graduated from the Australian National University in 2012. She attended Howqua in 2004 which sparked her interest in protecting the environment and caring for nature.

Anna Mallard (OL 2007)

We look forward to seeing where the future takes Anna, and the impact she makes to the world.

With an extensive background in psychology and a passion for equality, Eleanor identified an unmet need for expert communication consulting in the market. CCC aims to mitigate the risk of being ‘cancelled’ by helping businesses embrace a rapidly evolving socio-political environment. Eleanor’s mission is to empower individuals and organisations to promote kindness, inclusivity and social responsibility through language and behaviour at a systemic level.

The calibre of candidates for the 2023 OLA Fellowship has simply been unspeakably outstanding! The OLA is completely thrilled to have the means to support this program, that promotes and supports Lauriston alumnae in achieving their goals and supporting their future endeavours.

Eleanor Clifford (OL 2016)

Beyond the Fig Tree

Celebrating our Alumnae

We take p leasu re in h ig h lig htin g a won d e r fu l you n g alu mn a wh o su b mitte d a won d er f ul ap p lic ation for th e OLA Fellowsh ip . E leano r Clif ford ( OL 2016) wh o fou n d e d Can c el Cu l t u re Con su ltin g ( C C C ), wh ic h lau n c h e d in Marc h 2022. C C C was b u ilt f rom a d e sire to h elp b u sin e ss e s n av igate th e intric ate lan d s c a p e o f c an c el c u ltu re an d fo ster au th entic , in c lu s i ve c ommu n ic ation .

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Beyond the Fig Tree King’s Birthday Honours

B E L I N DA M O S S OAM ( P OATE , O L 1 9 6 9 ) Belinda Moss (Poate, 1969) was awarded an OAM for service to education in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours list.

Belinda regards education, especially for girls and young women, as the greatest enabler of all. She is currently the Chair of the Gabriel Foundation at Canberra Girls Grammar School (CGGS) and was previously Chair of the School Board at CGGS from 2011–2019. In both roles, Belinda was the first woman to hold these positions. She is also a member of the School Board for the South Coast Anglican Schools (St Peter’s, Broulee and Sapphire Coast Anglican College).

Celebrating our Alumnae

Belinda is active in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, where she is a member of Bishop-in-Council, Chair of Committees, a member of the Diocesan Finance Committee and a Lay Canon of St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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After university, Belinda spent 20 years in education, teaching French, Spanish, English and English as a Second Language at secondary level. Then, Belinda moved into the Australian Public Service, where she worked at Senior Executive Service level, focusing mostly on national security and counter terrorism. Belinda retired in 2014.

Belinda’s mother, Marjory Elaine Gilchrist (Barr, OL 1946), also attended Lauriston, as did her sisters-in-law Joanne Yarwood (Moss, OL 1972) and Alison Monotti (Moss, OL 1973) and niece Isobel Kiel (Monotti, OL 2006).

Returning to Lauriston for her 50-year reunion, Belinda was delighted to catch up with many friends, some of whom started Kinder with her. Belinda looks back fondly on her days at Lauriston, which fostered the foundation for a fulfilling career and the desire to contribute to the community.

JAN E B E L L AM ( FAI R , O L 1 9 7 7 ) Lauriston Girls’ School congratulates Old Lauristonian Jane Bell, who was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to governance in the medical research, health care, and not-for-profit sectors.

Jane is a Director at Mesoblast, Amplia Therapeutics and Deputy Chair Monash Health, AAT. Jane has over 30 years of experience as a non-executive director and banking and finance lawyer. Her expertise spans various areas, including banks, corporate treasury and financial services operations. She has a particular focus on capital markets, derivatives, secured lending, structured finance, securitisation of loans, retail banking, bill payment and payment systems. Additionally, Jane has experience in funds management, mergers, acquisitions and divestments, as well as in insurance, GST, health services, IP and the commercialisation of biotechnology.

Her diverse knowledge encompasses general corporate and commercial matters which she gained in Australia, England, Canada and the USA. Furthermore, her professional background includes working at major law firms, international banks and an ASX-listed corporation.

Jane possesses strong legal and strategic thinking skills, along with expertise in funding, capital management, financial management, risk management, change management, compliance, corporate governance and analytical skills. She acquired these skills through extensive legal practise in the retail, banking, health and insurance industries. Additionally, Jane has 20 years of experience as a company director, serving on 14 boards.

Her proficiency extends to setting strategies and goals, ensuring adherence to corporate governance, leading change management, renewing culture and fostering growth in shareholder returns.

Her recent award as a Member of the Order of Australia is so richly deserved and Lauriston is proud of Jane and all Old Lauristonians who contribute to society in many ways.

Beyond the Fig Tree

Beyond the Fig Tree King’s Birthday Honours

P RO F ES S O R DAN I E L L E MA Z Z A AM ( O L 1 9 8 1 ) We congratulate Old Lauristonian Danielle Mazza who was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine and to medical research, particularly to women’s health, in the King’s Birthday Honours Awards in 2023.

Danielle holds the Chair of General Practice at Monash University and is a nationally and internationally recognised leader in women’s health, implementation research and knowledge translation in the general practice setting.

Danielle is ranked among the top general practice academics in the country, with an impressive track record in competitive research. Over the course of her career, she has acquired more than $33 million in competitive funding. Of this, $26 million was awarded in the last five years. Additionally, Danielle has published over 185 peer-reviewed publications.

Danielle’s contributions have improved the day-to-day clinical practice of GPs nationally and internationally.

She is one of the few Australian academic GPs to have sole-authored a textbook in a clinical area of general practice. Women’s Health in General Practice – first published in 2004 and republished in 2011 – is a recommended text for GP registrars, cited in the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) women’s health care curriculum.

Danielle is active, dedicated and highly likely to make significant further contributions through her research, research-informed teaching, clinical work as a GP and wider service. She continues to work clinically in the Bayside area of Melbourne, is a current board member of the Southeast Melbourne Primary Health Network and was previously on the board of the Bayside Medicare Local, Central Bayside Division of General Practice and the Victorian Metropolitan Alliance (a regional general practice training provider). In addition, after serving for 11 years on the RACGP’s Expert Committee on Quality Care, she now serves on the RACGP’s Expert Committee on Research.

Celebrating our Alumnae

As a leading clinician researcher, advocate and educator on women’s health care, Danielle has an unflagging commitment to improving the quality of sexual and reproductive health care provided to women by GPs. Her vision is one where Australia’s 5.5 million women of reproductive age receive high quality, accessible and evidence-based sexual and reproductive health care in general practice.

Beyond the Fig Tree

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Beyond the Fig Tree King’s Birthday Awards

MARG AR ET KE N DAL L OAM ( STR E ET, O L 1 9 5 4 ) AN D WI L L IAM ( TI M ) KE N DAL L OAM Lauriston Girls’ School is very proud of two members of our community! Old Lauristonian Margaret Kendall and her husband Tim have both been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the recent King’s Birthday Honours, for service to the community of the Mornington Peninsula.

Since they married, Margaret and Tim moved to the Red Hill area in the mid-1970s.

They have volunteered at a range of community organisations, including Vinnies Kitchen and Second Bite, for more than 10 years.

Margaret has also participated multiple times in a local initiative to support people who sleep rough in their cars, while Tim was the former president of the Red Hill Agriculture Show Society.

Celebrating our Alumnae

But Tim has said that the Mornington Community Support Centre was where they had poured most of their energy for the past eight years.

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After their Second Bite delivery shift on Thursdays, this dynamic duo don aprons at the Mornington Community Support Centre’s café where Tim does the dishes and Margaret moves between tables, helping to serve up meals and chatting with people in need who stop by for food and fellowship.

Margaret said they were most inspired by the example set by Hong Kong-based Christian organisation, the Crossroads Foundation. “The organisers did whatever they could to help others and relied only on their faith to get by,” she said.

Beyond the Fig Tree

Margaret and Tim are renowned as bundles of energy and are heavily involved in social justice issues and fundraising for the church and the wider community.

“Margaret is a mad jam-maker, and her jams go into fundraising for all manner of things, including for survivors of the recent earthquake in Syria and Türkiye,” Reverend Fiona Goy said.

Margaret said making jam was a handy way to use up whatever bruised and unwanted fruit was left over from their food delivery duties.

It also happened to fit with her overall outlook, she said.

“Don’t waste anything because there is always someone who needs something.”

Margaret and Tim are members of the Elizabeth Kirkhope Circle and regularly attend Lauriston occasions. In early June, we were delighted to welcome them to Howqua, where they saw firsthand the wonderful facilities the School provides Year 9 students and they were particularly interested in the health, wellbeing and sustainability aspects of our wonderful outdoor education campus.

Beyond the Fig Tree

Alumnae news: Lucinda Pyman (OL 1990)

Lucinda, a resident of Mornington for 13 years, runs a homecare business with a dedicated team of two nurses and a carer, supporting individuals of all ages to remain independent in their homes. In addition to her business responsibilities, Lucinda has undergone extensive training at Sphinx Spiritual School of Learning under the guidance of Ian and Pearl Rogers for 14 years. As a result, she is now an accredited Medium, Spiritual Counsellor, Hahnemann Healer and Parenting Coach.

Spirituality has always been a significant aspect of Lucinda’s life and her interest in a higher guiding force was reinforced when her mother passed away during her fifth-grade year at Lauriston. This event sparked her belief that there is something greater beyond this life.

In 2009, Lucinda faced a devastating loss when her daughter Sunny was stillborn, leading to the breakdown of her marriage. Struggling with grief and despair, Lucinda was driven to change her life by her two-year-old son, James. Determined to find answers and heal, she sought the guidance of Ian and Pearl Rogers, joining their mediumship development circle and receiving spiritual counselling and homeopathic treatment. Through these experiences, Lucinda gained a new perspective on her life and began to understand that she had the power to shape her own path.

With newfound strength and purpose, Lucinda transformed her life, becoming a more loving and compassionate person and fostering a deep connection with her son, who also joined a mediumship circle.

Celebrating our Alumnae

Recently, Lucinda partnered with her long-term friend Elizabeth Harding, who is a spiritual counsellor and healer as well. Together, they operate a new clinic in Mornington, offering a range of healing, including Naturopathic Colon Hydrotherapy. They believe that 60% of physical illnesses stem from emotional issues, often manifested in digestive problems.

Lucinda is immensely proud of her journey and how she has turned her life around to help others. With her business partner, Elizabeth, she continues to provide healing and support to those seeking spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

Lucinda and her business partner, Elizabeth.

Beyond the Fig Tree

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Beyond the Fig Tree

Women in Politics – Wednesday 16 August 2023

From left, The Hon. Jane Hume (Exell, OL 1998), Sabina Read (Bradfield, 1988) and Zoe McKenzie MP (OL 1989) .

Celebrating our Alumnae

We were thrilled to invite our community to a wonderful evening of inspiration! Irving Hall was filled with guests who came along to hear Senator the Hon. Jane Hume (Exell, OL 1998) and Zoe McKenzie MP (OL 1989) share their stories of life in politics.

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The panel discussion was moderated by renowned psychologist, friend and fellow Old Lauristonian Sabina Read (Bradfield, OL 1988) who highlighted the future skills developed when they were all Lauriston girls and how Jane and Zoe have made an impact in the Australian political arena.

Sabina is a conversationalist who works to help people become the architects of their own wellbeing, growth and freedom. Sabina is also the resident psychologist on toprating Radio 3AW in the afternoons and is co-host of the #HumanCogs podcasts.

Another trio of Old Lauristonians impacting the world in which we live.

Beyond the Fig Tree

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Remembering our alumnae

Dorothy celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family and was simply thrilled that Principal Susan Just, presented her with a few Lauriston gifts.

Dorothy was in terrific spirits and eagerly shared stories and fond memories from her time at School. Dorothy started at Lauriston in 1930 and Miss Margaret Irving was her Head Mistress.

Dorothy also shared an extract from her own personal memoir, penned when she was 91. She recalled wonderful memories as a Lauriston girl, catching the tram up Malvern Road with her friends, the classes and the rituals of day-to-day life as a girl at Lauriston in the 1930s.

It is with a heavy heart, that we share the news of Dorothy’s passing on Wednesday 31 January 2024, not long after she celebrated her 100th birthday. We are extremely thankful for the opportunity to have visited Dorothy before her passing, on such a joyous and significant milestone.

Dorothy will forever be remembered by family and friends as a loving, courageous and intelligent woman, who lived a rich and fulfilling life.

On behalf of the Lauriston community, we wish to offer our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Dorothy’s family, friends and extended loved ones.

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D O ROTHY C O O P E R ( WH I STL E R , O L 1939) On Sunday 3 December 2023, we paid a visit to Dorothy Cooper (Whistler, OL 1939) who was our oldest known Lauristonian.

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Remembering our alumnae

D IAN N E E I L E N B E RG (PERL, OL 1965) Lauriston Girls’ School was saddened to be advised that Dianne Eilenberg (Perl, OL 1965) passed away on Friday 4 August 2023. Dianne was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother. After she retired from speech pathology, she enjoyed travelling with her loved ones, gardening, cooking and her pets. She also loved spending time with her family and her friends and was always there for anyone who needed help or just an ear to listen. Di will be missed by her family and especially her daughters Kate Graham-Wood (Eilenberg, OL 1989), Sarah Quin (Eilenberg, OL 1990) and Di’s sister Margaret Robieson (Perl, OL 1962).

CARO L LU G G ( B E R R I MAN , OL 1943) We were saddened to hear of the passing of Carol Lugg, who passed away on 31 December 2023.

In 1943, Carol was a member of the School Committee and was in Irving House. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Carol’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

JAN ET G O O D WI N ( L AM B , O L 1 9 5 3 ) We are sad to advise that Janet Goodwin (Lamb, OL 1953) passed away on 9 May 2023. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her daughter Sally and Janet’s extended family.

Collecting Kinder Memories Lauriston Archives will be developing a new exhibition on the history of early learning at Lauriston, to celebrate the reopening of Blairholme in 2024. The exhibition will include a history of Lauriston’s Kindergarten, our more recent Early Learning Centre and the separate ‘Little Lauriston’ campus in Malvern.

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To celebrate this significant moment in Lauriston’s Early Learning Program, we hope to include written memories and photographs from our alumnae and current students.

We are seeking to capture your Kindergarten memories, copies of your favourite photographs and the generous loan of any nostalgic memorabilia that we can put on display.

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If this is something you would like to be a part of, please contact Lauriston’s Archivist Lisl Bladin on 9864 7555 or via email bladinel@lauriston.vic.edu.au

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Kindergarten class at Little Lauriston, 1952

Upcoming Dates for Lauriston Alumnae D ate

Ev e nt

Monday 5 February

Founders Day Assembly and Light Lunch Irving Hall

Friday 1 March

5 Year Reunion – Class of 2019 Year 5/6 Centre and then at Harvie, Armadale

Monday 4 March

International Women’s Day (IWD) Irving Hall

Monday 18 March

Brisbane Chapter Reunion

Friday 22 March

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2014 Year 5/6 Centre and then at Harvie, Armadale

Te r m 2 – 1 6 A p r i l to 2 1 J u n e Friday 19 April

20 Year Reunion – Class of 2004 Year 5/6 Centre and then at Harvie, Armadale

Friday 3 May

25 Year Reunion – Class of 1999 Year 5/6 Centre and then at Harvie, Armadale

Monday 13 May

Intergenerational Photo

Monday 13–19 May

Student Futures Program

Thursday 23 May

OLA Professional Networking Event

Te r m 3 – 1 6 J u l y to 2 1 S e p te m b e r Monday 9 September

Perth Chapter Reunion

Te r m 4 – 8 O c to b e r to 6 D e c e m b e r Sunday 13 October

10 Year Howqua Reunion for Class of 2017 Howqua Campus

Thursday 17 October

Valedictory Irving Hall

Thursday 24 October

Lauriston Luncheon including 50 Year Reunion for Class of 1974 Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club

Friday 25 October

30 Year Reunion – Class of 1994 Year 5/6 Centre and then at Harvie, Armadale

Friday 15 November

40 Year Reunion – Class of 1984 Year 5/6 Centre and then at Harvie, Armadale

Monday 18 November

OLA Golf Day

Event details and dates are subject to change. Please go to https://ola.org.au for more information about alumnae events.

Upcoming Dates for Lauriston Alumnae

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Find their curiosity

Experience co-educational early learning at Lauriston, where passionate educators collaborate with each child and foster play-based inquiry, nurturing social skills and supporting children’s curiosity to thrive as individuals.

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