Past Students Sionians Magazine Autumn #38

SIONIANS

From the College Captains Contents

Sionians: Beyond the Cherry Red Gates is produced by Our Lady of Sion College, 1065 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, Victoria 3128.

© Copyright reserved

Licensed under NEALS. The NEALS licence permits Australian schools and educational bodies to reproduce print and digital materials for educational use in schools free of charge.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to those who contributed to the articles and photographs in this issue.

Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Our Lady of Sion College. The editor reserves the right to amend or reject any item submitted for publication.

Correspondence is welcomed to: Tina Apostolopoulos, Principal, Our Lady of Sion College PO Box 254 Kerrimuir, VIC 3129

E: principal@sion.catholic.edu.au paststudents@sion.catholic.edu.au

T: +61 3 9890 9097

W: sion.catholic.edu.au

Front cover image

Our College has a proactive approach to providing enhanced learning experiences to our students now and into the future. When students leave our cherry red gates at the end of Year 12, they can look forward to a future filled with hope, developed through the vast range of opportunities offered at Our Lady of Sion.

During our time at Sion we have been fortunate to engage with the plethora of opportunities and activities offered. We never would have participated in some if we had not attended Sion, and many have helped us discover who we truly are as individuals and as a Daughter of Sion.

We have been involved in instrumental bands, school productions, filming, drawing, painting and sewing to name a few. Our College embraces all within the creative arts. We are encouraged to express ourselves through our passions and creativity, allowing us to grow and find what we love. Sion encourages students to not only explore the arts within the cherry red gates but beyond. Students can attend plays and musicals through the drama program or indulge themselves in art museums and exhibitions through art, textiles and visual communication design classes. Students are inspired to express creativity and explore how the arts can make each individual unique.

We are excited for the upcoming STEAMD building and the opportunities this will give our Sion community to further support innovation. The students can continue to embrace the arts with the STEAMD building (A for Arts; D for Design); to further grow Arts and Creativity within the Sion community.

Teghan and Liz, 2024 College Captains

From the Desk of the Principal

One of the most hopeful messages we can offer our young people is to remain open to change and to see change as an opportunity for growth rather than a challenge to be overcome. In a world of constant change and at times confronting tragedy, it is also vital that we help our students to see that the values they have been encouraged to adopt from their families and school as the basis for positive action.

This year, our College theme “Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons” invites students to focus on what Jerusalem represents. Over the centuries Jerusalem has taken on a redemptive significance, based on its root meaning – ir shalom - city of peace –with the hope that it becomes a place of harmony for all peoples and the centre of a world at one with itself.

In this sense and given the ongoing tragedy in the middle east, Jerusalem is an aspirational metaphor - a perfect place, a golden city, sacred ground. It represents hope and new life. Today we speak about being daughters or people of Sion and so in this manner we are saying that we are people of justice, peace and love.

A strength of our College is the way in which students embrace the opportunities of supporting those less fortunate than themselves. By widening their horizons and working for justice and peace, they improve the lives of others and enrich their own. Those who also offer our students great hope are you, our past students. With your stories and career paths beyond our cherry red gates, you provide our current students with lived experiences of life – the opportunities and the challenges that you have overcome.

In this edition of our Sionian magazine, we celebrate past students who have contributed to the lives of others in a variety of ways. Either through their direct actions or through their example, each has had an

edible impact on others. We also include the wonderful achievements of our Class of 2023 and the aspirations of our College Captains who have been supported to develop themselves within the arts and our leadership program.

One of the wonderful things about being an all-girls’ school is the strong relationships and support we extend each other, and the firm sense of belonging to a community that ultimately wants the best for each member. Thank you to our past students for all that you continue to offer Our Lady of Sion College and through your lives and commitment, the world beyond.

Tina Apostolopoulos, Principal

Above: 2023 Mentor’s Breakfast Below: 2024 College theme symbol

Top Achievers Assembly

It is a very momentous occasion when we welcome back our top achieving VCE students from the previous year and acknowledge and congratulate them on their great achievements at our Top Achievers Assembly. This year we were delighted to welcome back Deborah Lawrie (Class of 1970) as our keynote speaker and Mariam Grais, our 2023 College Dux.

Celebrating the success of our Class of 2023 was a moment to appreciate the joys and gifts of all within our community. The manner in which the students celebrated each other’s accomplishments, rejoiced their connection with each other and the College, really was the embodiment of the spirit of Sion. We were very fortunate to have Ms Deborah Lawrie join us for the occasion, and her introduction to the students highlighted how significant she was in the shaping of the gender discrimination and workplace laws in Australia. Very humbly, Deborah reflected on her time at Our Lady of Sion College and how this formed her love of sciences (and flying) and gave her voice to champion herself.

At the same time, our 2023 College Dux, Mariam Grais spoke of the highs and lows of motivation across her Year 12 year, and the changes that she made about her future pathways as she grew and matured throughout her time at the College. Mariam spoke from the heart when she said:

Self-doubt is so incredibly dangerous. Trust me when I say that, when not addressed or resolved, it deprives you of the drive and determination needed to reach your full potential. From my experience, self-doubt can stem from a fixation on your weaknesses, which eventually start overshadowing your achievements.

Mariam Grais, 2023 College Dux

Imagine if Ms Lawrie had listened to the doubtful voice in her head!

A hearty congratulations to the 22 students from 2023 who achieved an ATAR above 90 as well as to the many students who excelled in their particular passions and subjects. To all of you, it is not the score you attained, but the way that you went about your studies and the way that you have shared your gifts with us across your time at the College that allowed you to be so successful. We hope that you, like Deborah Lawrie, can continue to apply the learnings about life, action and your voice, to make the world a better place.

Allison Stott, Deputy Principal, Teaching and Learning

Where are They Now?

Ms Deborah Lawrie AM (class of 1970) is an inspiration to women around the world as she fought for her right as a woman to become a pilot after being refused to fly by Ansett Airlines despite successfully meeting their criteria in 1979. Deborah recently spoke to our Sion students at our Top Achiever’s Assembly sharing her journey and life lessons on how to succeed and reach your goals.

Deborah is a great role model of how you can fight for what you believe in and pave the way for women in a male dominated industry.

In 1979 Deborah was the subject of the first contested equal opportunity anti-discrimination case in Australia. After fighting for more than a year she won the battle against Sir Reginald Ansett in the High Court. She joined Ansett Airlines to become the first female airline pilot for a major airline in Australia and in 1992 published her book ‘Letting Fly’.

After the Pilot’s Dispute in 1989, Deborah relocated to the Netherlands to fly with KLM Cityhopper. She held the position of Flight Safety Manager for four years and was the Chief Flight Safety Investigator for eight years. Deborah was chairman of the European Regions Airlines Association Air Safety Working Group from 1998-2004 and she was a member of the IATA Aircraft Accident Classification Working Group. In 2004 Deborah was part of a team commissioned by the Netherlands, to align the Latvian aviation standards with those of the European Union.

In 2008 Deborah returned to Australia to join Jetstar Airways and was a Captain on the Airbus A320 based in Christchurch. In July of 2012 Deborah joined Tigerair in Sydney where she was an A320 Check and Training Captain until the airline was shut down in 2020.

Deborah was inducted into the Victorian Honor Roll of Women in 2001. She received an award as Master Air Pilot in 2017 and was appointed as a Member (AM) in the General Division of The Order of Australia in June 2019 for significant service to aviation as a commercial pilot, and to women in the profession. She was inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2022 and in November 2023 Sydney Airport named a flyover that connects the International and Domestic terminals in her honor. Deborah currently flies the B737 with Virgin Australia.

What challenges did you face with respect to gender and how did you overcome them?

In the early days of flying with Ansett Airlines several male pilots doubted my ability and believed I did not deserve to be in the cockpit. It was important to keep faith in myself and confidence in my own ability. Eventually my skills and knowledge were recognised but it took several years.

What were your fondest memories of Sion?

My fondest memories of Sion were playing traitors on the netball court. Being part of the netball team

and visiting the schools we competed against. Sitting around the heater in Year 12 and chatting to my friends, Science classes and Mrs Becu our French teacher.

What did your Sion education teach you?

I think my Sion education taught me to challenge the norm. We also learnt care and compassion for one another.

What were your favourite subjects at school?

Chemistry, Physics, Maths and French. I wished I had paid more attention to English.

What advice would you give our current students who have aspirations and dreams about their future careers?

Study hard. Knowledge is power. Don’t worry about missing out on things, you have no idea what will open up to you when you leave school.

What are you doing with yourself now?

I am still flying with Virgin Australia, I am writing my second book and I do some consulting work in aviation safety.

Daughter of Sion Award

The 2023 Daughter of Sion Award was awarded to Violet D

Year 8 was a great year for me, I focused my efforts on all the extracurricular activities available and tried to do my best in my academics. I gave myself the goal to achieve the Ratisbonne award, as I missed out on it the year before. To make the most of Year 8, I gave myself goals and broke them down to focus on all areas of school. I tried to participate in the things I loved doing, like GSV sports and different art competitions. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone to make the most of the available opportunities. My favourite activity was all the GSV sports I tried; I felt I really pushed myself to try different things and experience new sports, like the triathlon.

The main projects that I involved myself in last year were mainly connected to my role as Year 8 Sport Representative. With help from the SRC’s and my fellow Sport Representative, we organised a basketball tournament for the whole year level with many rounds and an overall winner. It was a great activity for the year level to participate in and it was great to have some friendly competition between Homerooms.

The top thing I love about Sion - there are many - are the abundance of opportunities. With GSV and the many arts and drama related activities there is always something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed all the activities that I was able to participate in because of my quest to achieve my Ratisbonne award, like the different art posters.

Opportunities like the ones available at Sion are the best ways to meet people that share your love and interests. I found through many of the extracurricular activities that I did, I made so many more friends. I highly recommend to anyone that the best way to meet new people is through doing the activities you love doing. GSV has given all its participants, including me, a place to make friends, grow and step outside their comfort zone in a safe, fun environment.

Throughout Year 8 I tried everything that I could to fully emerge myself in the Sion community. Through the different experiences I shared with my peers, I grew as a leader, a friend and as a classmate. When I planned the Basketball competition, it took a large amount of communication between the teachers, students and my fellow organisers to create a tournament for all the students to enjoy. I felt that this experience was one of the highlights of my year, I grew as a person and was able to experience a new aspect of sport.

$500 is a lot of support for a charity, however I feel that a local charity, The Generosity Collective, is deserving and in need of support. This is not a large charity, but the work that they do is life changing for those in desperate need for support. The Generosity Collective looks at helping people in need of clothing and basic supplies, and who are escaping a variety of different situations. This is an incredible example of an act of kindness for the community and I feel that it really reflects the values of kindness, compassion and generosity that I strive to show each day.

Violet D, current Year 9 student

L-R Claire R, Violet D, Ava H and Amelie P at 2023 Year 8 Pi Day

Violet and Grace D at 2023 Swimming Carnival

Giving back to our Sion community

Angela Foote (Dallow- Class of 1971) is in the Arts and Creative industry. She was the Director & Curator at Hawthorn Studio & Gallery for 12 years and is currently working part time for her son’s business R L Foote Design Studio (rlfootedesign.com) as a Curator and Retail Manager. Last year, Angela offered to help with our students’ work experience program and welcomed Maxine who was looking for work experience in the Arts field.

I commenced at Sion in 1966 a momentous year as decimal currency was introduced that year and we were in the new cherry red uniform and thought how lucky we were to be starting in such a special year. When I left Sion I went to Holmes Business College along with four other girls from Sion for a year’s study. I then accepted a job at a Law Firm called Mallesons (now called King & Wood, Mallesons) which was one of the largest law firms in Melbourne at the time. I was there five years as a Secretary and worked my way up and through the different law departments to become a Personal Assistant to one of the Partners.

I married my husband, Graeme Foote, in 1975. He was a Jeweller & Silversmith but also did sculpture as a hobby. This hobby eventually overtook the jewellery and he became a full time sculptor. I had a love of renovating homes along with my husband and we renovated eight homes before we had children (I am now in my 14th home!) and I became an Interior Designer with a strong passion to bring original art into people’s homes.

Whilst renovating Federation Style homes, we could not get the decorative terracotta ridges, finial, and chimney pots, so my husband and I made our own. We then had builders and tilers asking him to make some for them, so we decided there was a market for this and commenced a business together called ‘Gargoyles and Dragons’ makers of Architectural Ceramics. This business quickly grew and we bought the old Surrey Hills Post Office Building (sadly it has since been demolished) on Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. We found we were making large one-off sculptures and fountains for domestic and public art so we introduced another business, Surrey Sculpture Studio and employed five full time sculptors. We made the fountain at the end of the pool at Rippon Lea, a large bronze fountain in Spring Road Gardens, Malvern and a large fountain at Flemington Racecourse, just to name a few.

In 2008 Graeme wanted to focus fully on his own art practice and work towards an exhibition each year, so we sold Gargoyles and Dragons and moved to Burwood Road, Hawthorn in 2009 where we opened an Art Gallery called Hawthorn Studio & Gallery. I was Director and Curator of the Gallery and we had a studio at the rear for Graeme where he also ran classes from. The Gallery became successful with over 50 artists that I mentored and exhibited with me. Graeme’s annual exhibitions were also a great success. His opening exhibition was of Six Life Size Sculptures of women

called ‘Six Influential Woman’ celebrating six amazing Australian Women, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Janet Holmes aCourt, Luwija (Lois) O’Donoghue, Christine Nixon, Jeannie Pratt and Stephanie Alexander. These sculptures are now on exhibit to the public at Cloudehill Gardens & Nursery in Olinda, and recently they have repositioned them in their own separate gardens. There will be a launch of the Graeme Foote Sculpture Walk on Saturday 27 April which is International Sculpture Day.

Sadly my husband died in 2021 of cancer. I have since done a few art fairs and now focus on activating a gallery at my son’s ceramic studio, RL Foote Design Studio, along with helping him in the business.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to give back to my Sion community and help with work experience. I was able to provide a broad experience for Maxine in setting up the gallery, working in the showroom and also doing hands on work in the studio making ceramic pieces. Taking on a current student is a very rewarding experience for both the student and the past student. It gave me a great sense of pleasure passing on knowledge and wisdom to the next generation leaving school. Maxine was a great credit to the school, her enthusiasm, diligence and determination in doing a good job was commendable and gave me great delight in giving her my time. I hope other past students give time to our next generation of Sionians as it is such a rewarding pursuit.

Angela Foote

Maxine in the Gallery with a display of ceramics that she curated

Vale Sr Joan Mack

It is with great sadness that one of our dear Sisters of Our Lady of Sion passed away last year. Her dedication and commitment for our Sion community never faltered and her endless passion for caring for others to help make a difference was remarkable.

Sr Joan Mack grew up in Box Hill in what may be described as a normal suburban family of the post war years. Her dad who served in the Army Medical Corp was a World War II veteran and went to work each day, while her mum stayed home to care for the family. While Joan was a small child, her maternal grandmother came to live with the family and was to become a significant person in her life.

Joan had a simple and happy childhood playing with her older brother and her two younger sisters as well as the children in their immediate neighbourhood. They had a pet cat, and vegetables growing in the back yard!

She attended St Francis Xavier’s primary school and joined the College community at Our Lady of Sion College in 1957. She is remembered as being a caring and fun-loving friend who was good at craft. Her craft work was the envy of some of her fellow students! Her love of, and interest in the life of the College community never waned and even when quite ill she never missed an opportunity to visit the College and thoroughly enjoying each function she attended.

Joan with her parents and brother

Over the years the Mack family was a familiar sight around the Parish attending Sunday Mass as well as joining many of the various parish groups. Joan was an active member of the Children of Mary Sodality as well as the Young Christian Workers’ Movement. In 1967 at the age of 23 she joined the sisters of Our Lady of Sion and made her first commitment in May 1969.

Vale Sr Joan Mack

Celebrating receiving the habit. Joan is joined from the left, by her future sister-in-law Ursula, her

her cousin Jacqueline Houghton.

As a consequence of growing up with an aging grandmother and parents who were always dong something for other people, either in the school community, the neighbourhood or through St. Vincent de Paul, Joan learned to care for others especially those who were vulnerable.

This concern for the welfare of others led Joan to begin to study nursing at Sacred Heart Hospital in Moreland where she graduated as a registered nurse and midwife. Joan’s long-term dream of caring for elderly people was about to begin.

Joan’s first appointment as a nurse was at Sacred Heart Hospital in Moreland (now known as the John Fawkner Hospital). This was followed by some 20 years of service at St. Joseph’s Tower Nursing Home where she was a Charge Nurse for most of those years. Joan was dedicated and diligent in her service of others, bringing not only physical healing but also spiritual and emotional healing to her patients and their families.

sisters Margaret, Anne and

Joan with her sister

Joan at Our Lady of Sion College

Joan appointed as a nurse

Joan (left) and her next door neighbour Judy Green ready for Saint Francis Xavier’s Primary School.

Vale Sr Joan Mack

It was Joan’s strong desire to bring healing to others that led her to further her studies and to transition to hospital pastoral care, first at St. Joseph Tower and then as a Catholic chaplain at Peter Mc Callum and St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Joan had a strong commitment to creating a world of justice and peace. For Joan this commitment was expressed by her many community-based involvements which included volunteering at the Aboriginal Elders Community Service, St. Vincent de Paul, Parish hospital visitation, to name a few.

Over the years, Joan’s knitting bag was always close by, and she would be knitting for her craft market. With the proceeds, our Sisters in the Philippines were able to support a community health program among urban poor, including training of health workers and providing basic equipment. When Joan was no longer able to conduct her craft market due to her ill health, she continued to knit tiny clothes for the Red Nose Treasured Babies Program.

Sr Joan’s 2023 Christmas Nativity

Joan relaxing with her community members. L-R: Sr Andrea from Costa Rica, Sr Mary Barbuto and Sr Lucia from Brazil.

Sr Joan with former student Georgia D (2019) at Sion Mass

Sr Joan at Sion Dux Assembly 2019

Joan at her craft stall fundraising for the Sion Philippine Mission

Sr Joan, Sr Inez and Sr Mary at Sr Inez’s 90th birthday

In August 2021, Joan was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer. She underwent treatment and major surgery. The surgery took place during the second covid lockdown. For ten long weeks Joan endured her ordeal of recovery and rehabilitation with no face-to-face contact with family, sisters, or friends. She emerged from this experience, strengthened by the experience of the Divine sustaining her, and with a deep appreciation of the attention and care she had received from her medical team.

Joan’s profound faith and trust in God as well as her bravery and resilience have been inspirational for all of us who were privileged to share her journey to her eternal home. Rest in peace Joan.

Sr Joan and Sr Patricia at Sion Assembly 2019

Enjoying a joke with Sr Patricia Watson, Sr Mary Lotton, Sr Joan and Sr Marianne Dacy

Sr Patricia Fox, Sr Patricia Watson, Sr Marianne Dacy, Carmel Crawford, Sr Mary Barry, Sr Joan Mack, Tina Apostolopoulos, Sr Helen Frawley, Sr Angela Bayliss and Sr Mary Barbuto

From the archives

In memory of Jan Murphy - Sion’s first Archivist

The Sion Community recently mourned the loss of Jan Murphy, a former student, librarian, and archivist. Jan, along with her older sisters Loris and Valerie Coutts, attended Notre Dame de Sion, Box Hill from 1956-1960.

In 1987 Jan returned to the College as a Library Technician. It was while working in the library that Jan identified the necessity to organise all of the boxes of ‘stuff’ we had accumulated throughout our long and proud history. And so, with the approval of the Principal Lucy Molony, Jan was appointed the first College Archivist and set to work diligently sorting out and cataloguing the photographs, memorabilia, uniforms and registers that had been left languishing in the Librarian’s office.

As a devoted Sionion, Jan’s enthusiasm for preserving the history of the College was evident in her efforts to establish and expand the Archive collection. Through her unwavering dedication and hard work, the Archive was not only established but has flourished over time. Jan’s contribtions have played a pivotal role in capturing and safeguarding the rich history of Sion for the benefit of future generations.

Jan’s journey, from being a student to returning as a Library Technician and eventually becoming the first College Archivist, is a testament to her deep connection with the Sion community. Jan Murphy will be remembered with gratitude and admiration for her role in preserving the cherished history of Notre Dame de Sion.

Class of 2023 Reunion

On Friday 22 March, our Class of 2023 was welcomed back through our cherry red gates for their class reunion. Our Miriam Theatre foyer was filled with excitement, laughter and lots of chatter as our past students and teachers reunited. It was wonderful to see how our students have been embracing life after Sion and seeing them happy to be back together at our College. We thank everyone for attending and we look forward to having you at future past students events.

1958 [L-R] Jan Murphy (Coutts), Margaret Dee, Heather Kiernan

1960 [L] Heather Kiernan & [R] Jan Murphy (Coutts)

1989 Archive Room, Jan Murphy with Year 12 students Sharon Swift & Adele Luci

1997 Jan Murphy & Sr Angela

1998 Jan Murphy

Named and Known

Emma and Laura pay it forward

Emma Meagher (Class of 1994) and Laura Amadio (2009) have rejoined us through the cherry red gates but this time as employees, giving back to our Sion community. Laura, a member of the Learning Resource Centre Team and Emma, our College Receptionist. Here they share their experience from being at Sion and their journey since leaving the cherry red gates.

Emma

How did your interest initiate working at Sion?

Prior to working at Sion I had spent quite a few years working in Learning Support within Primary and Pre-school education. This was a fantastic experience that aligned with the challenges of bringing up a young family. More recently I have been interested in securing support roles within the education sector and was fortunate to secure a role in a very familiar secondary school!

How did Sion influence your professional ambitions?

The Sion community was always very supportive of individual needs, preferences and ambitions. As students we felt empowered to be women who could achieve their goals and professional path of choice, no matter how challenging that may be.

What did you do after you left Sion?

When I left Sion I studied a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and Management. From there, I also completed a Post Grad Certificate in Multimedia. I worked in Media and Publishing companies for many years in Production Co-ordination and Pre-press roles.

Were there other roles you worked at before returning back to Sion?

I’ve also worked as a Producer in Event Management.

What advice can you give our Sion students?

Simply to follow your goals/dreams as there are so many different paths you can take to get there, and don’t be surprised if these goals change along the way. Embrace the friendships and connections you make at Sion, as these will no doubt be lifelong friends who will support you for many years to come.

What are your thoughts on our very strong belief that every student is ‘named and known’?

From the moment you walk through the gates and converse with staff and students, it becomes obvious that Sion upholds a very inclusive culture, where students feel a strong sense of belonging. Students are supported and encouraged at every level and it’s wonderful to be a part of such a warm, engaging and welcoming environment.

Laura

How did your interest initiate working at Sion?

When I finished Year 12 at Sion I enrolled in a course called Certificate in Work Education at Box Hill Tafe. We had to do different types of work placements in hospitality, retail and administration. I asked the College if I could do my administration placement at Sion and it was in the library. When I finished my course, the Principal Karen Jebb asked if I would like to continue working in the library. That was in 2012 and I am still working in the library but now also work in the Food Technology area.

How did Sion influence your professional ambitions?

The staff who helped me in the library during my placement taught me and encouraged me to do all of my jobs to the best of my ability. But working with them and watching them do their jobs and how they worked with students was the best experience for me and I followed their good examples.

What did you do after you left Sion?

I enjoyed working in the kitchen at the Yarra Valley Country Club in Bulleen for the hospitality part of my course and at Target Templestowe for the retail part.

What advice can you give our Sion students?

The six years I spent at Sion as a student were some of the best years of my life and the advice I would give to Sion students is to be nice to each other, especially the teachers, be thankful and make the most of everything that the school offers.

What are your thoughts on our very strong belief that every student is ‘named and known’?

This is the best part about being a Sionian. It didn’t matter whether teachers taught me or not, they all knew me and my friends by name. Even now, I feel so happy and welcomed when staff or students say “Hi Laura” when they see me or walk past me. It is so nice.

L-R Emma in Year 12 and in 2024

L-R Laura in Year 12 and in 2024

News

Congratulations to Lara Hausegger - Drafted in the AFLW Sydney Swans

I started at Our Lady of Sion College in 2018 and graduated last year in 2023. For as long as I can remember, I have always been involved with sport. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed and is how I like to keep myself busy. Throughout my childhood, I tried as many sports as I could, always keen to give everything a go. I fell in love with basketball, and was pretty set on playing it for most of my life. When I was younger, it was very uncommon for girls to play football and there weren’t a lot of opportunities. I was lucky enough to grow up in a house full of boys, and my brothers motivated me to give footy a go. I played with my twin brother in the boys team for my first two seasons, until finally my local club introduced a girls team. I have loved the game ever since and never looked back.

I was drafted into the Sydney Swans AFLW towards the end of last year. This was such a surreal feeling and such

a dream come true, something I will forever be grateful for.

I moved up to Sydney in early February and now live here full time. Currently we are in the off season but still training very frequently, until the official preseason starts on June 3. We will train six times per week until games commence in late August.

When I’m not at the club I’m either at uni, currently studying Public Health or exploring the amazing beaches around Sydney.

The Sports Program at Sion played a big part in encouraging me to pursue my dream, especially throughout my Year 12 year. It provided me with a fun and flexible outlet and one in which I could develop my leadership skills. A further mention to teachers ,Mr Mclnerny, Ms Gurciullo, Mr Rieusset and Ms Linossier who played a big part in the support I received throughout the year when balancing Year 12 and my football commitments.

Mentors required

Past students of Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill, are invited to share their experiences of further study and career pathways with our Senior students.

If you are interested in taking up these opportunities as they arise, to provide support for our students as they navigate their own pathways, including participating in the Mentors Breakfast in 2024, please contact Mrs Brooke O’Hara, Careers and Pathways Counsellor at bohara@sion.catholic.edu.au or 03 9890 9097.

Vale

We remember the following people and their families in our prayers:

• Helen Naughton (Murray), Class of 1967

• Josephine Matthew who worked at the College from 1972 - 1975

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them May they rest in peace. Amen.

Images L-R: Lara being awarded Coaches Award for CGSAV Senior AFL, Lara with her family and friends, Lara playing AFLW