30 The House that Phil Built: A Family Affair at the Newly Renovated Admissions
From the Editor
Welcome to the autumn edition of Pembroke News for 2025. As we shift into a new season, our stories in this edition centre on the theme Our Place and Home . It is a celebration of both the tangible environments as well as the intangible essence that makes Pembroke a home for so many.
Whether students have just begun their journey with us or are reaching the halfway point of their final year, Pembroke is more than just a school—it’s a place where a sense of home, shared purpose, and caring relationships are built. You’ll find this echoed in the words of Rose Parkin and Jonney Liu (both Year 12), who reflect on the importance and success of the inaugural Respectful Relationships Student Symposium, an entirely student-led initiative, on pages 8 and 9.
Our tangible environments that contribute so strongly to Pembroke’s place and home include Pembroke’s sprawling Old Watulunga property (explored on pages 18 – 21), the world-class precinct planned for Haslam Oval (brought to life on pages 12 – 13) and of course Pembroke Boarding, a literal home for around 75 of our students who travel from across the country and the world to be part of the Pembroke community (hear from some of our boarders on pages 22 – 23).
And speaking of those who travel from overseas to join us, I sat down with our Coordinator of International Students, EAL and Homestay Mrs Mim Barnard to discuss the Pembroke Connect Program (PCP), our curriculum designed to help recently arrived international students build strong foundations as they enter a new environment. I am always amazed when I consider how much effort it must be to learn and study in English when it’s not your first language, let alone keep up with daily conversation and feel at home. You can read about the PCP on pages 28 – 29.
Pembroke’s old scholars are all over the world, either on holiday or extended travel, or relocating for study or work, with many finding their home in new countries. We spoke with old scholars Phil Mignone (2012), who has moved
to London for an exciting career opportunity (pages 40 – 41), and Mia Parkin (2023) who now resides in North Vancouver, Canada, whose basketball talents saw her named the 2024 PACWEST Rookie of the Year (pages 42 – 45).
An old scholar residing a little closer to home is Mim Sarre (2012), a Performing Arts powerhouse who caught up with old scholar Kate Holland (1992) to chat about her awardwinning Fringe shows, her upcoming cabaret show and finding her home on the stage, whether it was playing the piano at Chapel, studying Drama in Years 11 and 12, or taking on the leading role in the 2010 Middle School Musical. Flick to pages 36 – 39 to read the full piece.
It’s no coincidence that Pembroke is a home for so many people—in fact, it’s entirely intentional. The Learning and Caring framework perfectly encapsulates this notion, highlighting that both learning and caring are inextricably linked, and capturing that intangible yet deeply felt aspect of a ‘Pembroke education’. This is discussed further by Dean of Learning Cultures and Innovation Dr Michele McEvoy and Dean of Student Wellbeing (ELC –12) Mrs Rebecca Forrest on pages 10 – 11.
Whether you are a student, a parent, an old scholar, a staff member or other valued community member, the connection that comes from being part of the Pembroke community is felt across generations, across campuses and across oceans.
I hope these pages evoke the warmth, pride and sense of place we all feel as part of the Pembroke community. Happy reading.
Gabbi Agnew Publications Manager
From Our Principal
Our Place and Home
‘Our place is more than where we live—it is where we belong, where memory and meaning gather and whereour roots give us strength to grow.’
It has always struck me, over the past three years, that connections run deep at Pembroke. Generations have shared the experience of a Pembroke education—it has been a place where memories are forged and shared, and identities formed.
It is a uniquely collective experience and somewhat intangible to explain—but the ease that sits at the heart of our culture is due to this familiarity, this overwhelming sense of belonging and connection that we strive to nurture. It’s not new and has existed for over 50 years, but it should never be taken for granted.
This edition of Pembroke News is testament to our sense of place and home, built on trust over generations. It is a place beyond time—and from within these pages, this sense of connection is both obvious and celebrated.
When we consider a home, it is so much more than a building or location. It is a living place, formed and impacted on by those who inhabit the space. It is enlivened by relationships and marked by rituals. Many of these stories grace the pages of this edition and speak to this sense of home—that holds our stories and our memories.
→ Mark Staker chats with Reception students at the annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic
For some, this connection to place transcends generations—bringing a continuity to the experience. As I travel about and connect with students, old scholars, current parents and past parents, it is often the shared experiences that resonate. It is the experience of witnessing a child or a grandchild playing on the same fields that you once played on, or the joy of reconnecting at a reunion decades after you have left the School and being recognised by your peers. In essence, our place becomes a part of who we are—and for many, that links them to generations who have shared this experience.
For others, who may indeed be the very first in their family to attend the School, it is that welcoming sense of inclusion and acceptance that creates the connection— and that same sense of home. It becomes a trusting relationship—one that can be relied upon, in both the good and challenging times.
As many families entrust their children’s education to the School, it isn’t to an institution—it is to a community that they grow to know and love. It can never be taken for granted and with this comes great responsibility to preserve what matters—our unique culture. In short, we steward the traditions that make our School unique. As Principal, I take this responsibility very seriously as the culture at Pembroke has been built and nurtured by generations, and we must all strive to honour, develop and refine the culture as the School evolves to meet the needs of future generations.
So, as you read the stories throughout this publication, look for what connects the stories—the shared experience, the character, the values and overwhelming sense of community. Every member of the community, including all of our current students, are woven into this shared fabric—walking in the footsteps of others, while leaving their own for future generations to walk in. This continuity of community is what sits at the heart of our place and home at Pembroke.
In a world where disconnection and fragmentation are unfortunately the norm for many, schools and communities like ours counter and indeed challenge this norm. They become the anchor that connects us to something bigger than ourselves—and allow our memories and experiences to be connected to this very place, our home at Pembroke School.
Mark Staker Principal
→ Mark Staker at the Junior School Years 3 – 6 Swimming Carnival
Student Achievements
After a successful national campaign, Pembroke’s Team Koalafied received an invitation to the FIRST® Robotics Competition World Championships, held in Houston, Texas. The team consists of Pauline Oehler (Year 11), Daniel Wen , Angus Hunt , Brandon Ng , Jack Nguyen (all Year 10), Marina Bai , Hayden Kong , Arwyn Soi , Mikhail Sidhwani , Jacqueline Du (all Year 9), Qinchen Liu and Max Phillips (both Year 7). You can read more about their journey on pages 14 – 17.
Reuben Purcell (Year 11) represented Pembroke in Teen Parliament 2025, where he and other students from around the state discussed topics such as speed limits, nuclear power and drug rehabilitation.
Leo Ganama (Year 11) won a scholarship from the GoetheInstitut Australia for a German language camp held in Salzburg. Leo travelled to Austria with the other scholarship winners during the April holidays.
Eva Harrington Downie (Year 7) participated in the Athletics SA State Championships at Mile End. Competing for Pembroke, she won gold and was the Under 14 Women State Champion in three events, 400m, 800m and 1500m, and won silver in the 200m. Eva also competed for Hills Little Athletics in the Little Athletics SA State Individual Championships. She was the Under 13 Women State Champion in the same three events, 400m, 800m and 1500m, and again also won silver in 200m.
After being selected for the South Australian Under 16 Baseball team late last year, Archie Carman (Year 11) travelled to Sydney in January for the Australian Youth Championships. He and the team had great success, going undefeated across all nine games and bringing home a gold medal for South Australia for the first time since 2016.
Addison Norris (Year 10) was selected by the Australian Cheer Union to compete at the International Cheer Union Worlds – Youth and represented Australia in Orlando in April. She also recently placed first in the Level 4 division and second in the Level 3 division at Nationals for the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation on the Gold Coast.
Congratulations to Will Baker (Year 8) who placed first in his grade at the recent Schools Cycling Championship.
Lucy Rhodes (Year 5) represented Pembroke at the South Australian Equestrian State Interschool Championship, where, on her pony Scaysbrook Park Royal Encore (Archie), she was awarded State Champion Primary School Show Hunter in the Show Horse category.
Anderson Hou (Year 4) competed in his very first Fencing SA State Competition in the Under 11 Boys Epee category and came away with first place.
Angus Seears (Year 11) was selected for the Norwood Under 18 Football Squad for 2025.
Rory Matschoss (Year 6) was selected in the East Adelaide SAPSASA District Football team to represent the district in the State Carnival.
Alan Xin (Year 10) participated in the recent Golf South Australian Amateur Classic and travelled to Queensland to represent South Australia in the Under 18 interstate competition.
Archie Carman
Year 11
Addison Norris — Year 10
William Baker — Year 8
Eva Harrington Downie — Year 7
Reuben Purcell — Year 11
Leo Ganama — Year 11
Mikhail Sidhwani — Year 9
Hayden Kong — Year 9
Arwyn Soi — Year 9
Marina Bai — Year 9
Brandon Ng — Year 10
Jack Nguyen — Year 10
Pauline Oehler — Year 11
Angus Hunt — Year 10
Daniel Wen — Year 10
Qinchen Liu — Year 7
Max Phillips — Year 7
Jacqueline Du — Year 9
Alston Ma and Lucas Huang (both Year 6) played in the US Kids Golf Adelaide Competition, where Alston placed first in three of his four games, and Lucas won the 11 year old group.
Pembroke was fortunate to have six hockey players representing South Australia in the Under 16 National Hockey Championships that were held in Adelaide recently. Lucy Chappell (Year 11) and Lara Creighton (Year 10) played for the Girls Under 16 team, and Thomas Chan , Charlie Chappell (both Year 11), Harrison DeGaris and Oliver Bentley (both Year 10) played for the Boys Under 16 team.
Pembroke’s musicians have once again enjoyed a strong start to the year. Mia Huang (Year 9) has completed the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Certificate of Performance Piano with High Distinction.
Hanyu Liu (Year 7) completed the AMEB Clarinet Grade 8 examination and was awarded a High Distinction.
On the netball court, sisters Emilie (Year 10) and Scarlett Kilsby (Year 9) were both selected to represent South Australia at the Indoor Netball Australian Junior Championships for the 16 and Under Mixed and the 14 and Under Girls respectively. Additionally, both were made Captains of their teams. Emilie was equal third in the umpire voting for the 6-a-side tournament and was also selected in the Australian All Stars Team.
Amber Davidson (Year 7) has been selected for the Hills Netball Association Under 13 representative team.
Alex Lee (Year 12) enjoyed an outstanding performance at the recent NSW State Championship Rowing event, where he competed in the highly competitive Under 19 Single Scull and Schoolboy Single Scull events and achieved a sixth place finish in the Schoolboy Single Scull event.
Congratulations to Lucy Rhodes , Harvey Wadham , Samuel Johnstone , Flynn Wilkins and Louis Oliver (all Year 5) on their selection in the East Adelaide District SAPSASA Softball team that competed at West Beach.
Cayden Zhou (Year 8) has placed on the podium for multiple swimming races this year. At the 2025 State Relay Championships he won a gold medal in in the Boys 8 – 12 Years 4x50m medley relay and a silver medal in the freestyle relay. At the 2025 South Australia State Championship he won four medals including silver in the Boys 12 Years 50m freestyle, and bronze in 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke. Finally, at the School Sports South Australia Secondary Swimming Championships, he won the 50m backstroke and the 50m breaststroke and placed second in the 50m freestyle.
At the same event, Isaac Ho (Year 9) won the 50m long couse breaststroke event and was awarded the Standard of Excellence award. He also achieved second place in the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle events.
Scarlett Kilsby — Year 9
Charlie Chappell — Year 11
Thomas Chan — Year 11
Alan Xin — Year 10
Rory Matschoss — Year 6
Angus Seears — Year 11
Anderson Hou — Year 4
Lucy Chappell — Year 11
Lucas Huang — Year 6
Alston Ma — Year 6
Amber Davidson — Year 7
Oliver Bentley — Year 10
Mia Huang — Year 9
Hanyu Liu — Year 7
Emilie Kilsby — Year 10
Lucy Rhodes — Year 5
Harrison De Garis — Year 10
Lara Creighton — Year 10
On the tennis court, Sarvin Mahadavan (Year 10) was successful in his direct qualification for the Nationals Under 14 competition in April after winning the Playford 500 tournament.
Emily Vuong (Year 11) was selected to represent South Australia at the Under 17 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships held in Coolangatta.
Pembroke enjoyed considerable success at the South Australia Volleyball Schools Beach Festival, with Pembroke 1, comprising Tess Willis , Elijah Rhigas , Hannah Tanti , Henry Mott , Pippin McCleave (all Year 10) and Koz Liu (Year 8), entering as a mixed team in the Year 10 Boys Division 3 and taking home silver, and Pembroke 2, comprising Zenya Zarcinas , Cheyenne Liu , Josh Van der Linden (all Year 12), Mika Schmitt and Mia Chapman (both Year 11) entering as a mixed team in the Year 12 Boys Division 2 and winning gold.
Sisters Holly (Year 7) and Ruby Knights (Year 9), along with Miranda Thomas (Year 11) were all selected to represent South Australia at the Water Polo Australian Youth Championships, Holly in the Girls Under 14 and Ruby and Miranda in the Girls Under 16 team. Miranda was also selected for the Water Polo South Australia Performance Academy Program, while Ruby, ever the strong athlete in the water, also represented Grange Surf Life Saving Club at the National Surf Life Saving Championships.
Alex Lee — Year 12
Mia Chapman — Year 11
Koz Liu — Year 8
Elijah Rhigas — Year 10
Mika Schmitt — Year 11
Holly Knights — Year 7
Zenya Zarcinas — Year 12
Ruby Knights — Year 9
Miranda Thomas — Year 11
Cheyenne Liu — Year 12
Josh Van der Linden — Year 12
Tess Willis — Year 10
Sarvin Mahadavan — Year 10
Emily Vuong — Year 11
Isaac Ho — Year 9
Louis Oliver — Year 5
Cayden Zhou — Year 8
Harvey Wadham — Year 5
Flynn Wilkins — Year 5
Samuel Johnston — Year 5
Henry Mott — Year 10
Pippin McCleave — Year 10
Hannah Tanti — Year 10
Respectful Relationships Student Symposium
On Friday 14 March, Pembroke School hosted the Respectful Relationships Student Symposium in DY Hall on the Senior School Campus. This full-day event brought together approximately 150 students from 16 different schools across Adelaide, including Pembroke students. The symposium, led entirely by students, aimed to foster conversations around cultural change and respectful relationships among young people.
Recognising the need for improvement in fostering respectful relationships, the student-led committee took on the challenge of planning an event that could drive positive change. The concepts for the symposium were formed and refined over several months by the student panel, ensuring relevance to Years 10 – 12 today. The symposium’s core purpose was to address some of the most pressing social issues faced by young people today, including schoolyard banter and rapport, gender barriers (in sport) and sexual safety. These topics were chosen with the goal of being confronting within a safe and open environment where students could engage with these issues from a peer-driven perspective.
The symposium opened with speeches from the student panel, setting the tone for the day by sharing personal stories and motivations behind the event. Following this, Daniel Principe—an expert in communicating with teens and promoting healthy,
respectful behaviours—delivered an inspiring keynote. In collaboration with the student panel, Daniel gave an insightful and moving explanation behind how banter and rapport can often ‘turn dark’. His session was engaging and dynamic, prompting thought-provoking responses from students and encouraging open discussions about the impact of seemingly harmless jokes that can often escalate into harmful behaviour.
Following this, the focus shifted to gender barriers in sport, where old scholar Dr Amber Halliday OLY (1996), a former Olympic rower, and Ben Brown, a former AFL player, led a panel alongside Pembroke’s Sport Captains. Together, they explored how gender stereotypes and inequalities persist in both professional and school sporting environments. The conversation highlighted the challenges faced by female athletes and the importance of breaking down these barriers to foster inclusivity. Students appreciated the honesty and passion with which the speakers addressed these often overlooked issues.
After lunch, the symposium continued with a powerful keynote from Jana Gomes, who discussed coercive control and how to recognise it in relationships. Her speech shed light on the subtle yet dangerous ways coercive behaviour can manifest, urging students to be mindful of the signs and aware of how to support those affected. Chanel Contos concluded the keynotes for the day with a compelling and important speech on sexual safety. She focused on the types of sexual perpetrators most commonly faced in today’s society and how to safely avoid sexual assault, offering perspectives from both the victim and the perpetrator.
→ Guest speaker Daniel Principe and students Cordelia Stott Smith, Rose Parkin, Vivaan Sood and Jonney Liu (all Year 12)
→ Westminster School Principal Simon Shepherd
These insights were eye-opening and left a powerful message, calling for reflection and awareness among the students. Conversations like this helped students understand what allows negative actions to take place within a community and prompted ideas for actions that can shape our future into one that is enjoyed by all through a lens of respect.
Everyone can facilitate change— youth may be the future, but we are all in the present. How can we each contribute to building a more respectful society?
One of the most rewarding aspects of the symposium was witnessing how openly students engaged in the discussions. Many attendees reflected on how the event gave them a new perspective on how they perceive and respond to issues within their communities. As one student remarked:
‘The symposium really opened my eyes to how much we can do as students to make a difference. Hearing from our peers and experts gave me a new perspective on how I approach my relationships.’
Reflecting on the day, it was clear that the impact extended far beyond just those who attended. The ideas shared and the conversations sparked have already begun to influence how we think and act within our School community. Moving forward, we hope to see our efforts inspire ongoing conversations, both here at Pembroke and throughout the wider South Australian school network.
While the symposium has passed, these core issues will persist if left unaddressed. This is a reminder to be mindful of your actions and take responsibility for creating a better future for yourself and those around you. Stay aware of microaggressions in your daily life and have the courage to challenge them. Each school was tasked with creating a personalised ‘call to action’ to drive change within their communities. Everyone can facilitate change—youth may be the future, but we are all in the present. How can we each contribute to building a more respectful society?
Ultimately, the Respectful Relationships Student Symposium at Pembroke School marked a powerful step forward in raising awareness and promoting respectful interactions among young people. It demonstrated that meaningful change can begin with students taking the lead, challenging harmful norms and fostering a more positive culture within their communities.
Rose Parkin and Jonney Liu Year 12 Students
→ Sport Captains Roszi Bentley and Max Davis (both Year 12)
→ Guest Speaker Daniel Principe
→ MC Jana Gomes
→ Guest speaker Daniel Principe
→ Guest speaker and old scholar Dr Amber Halliday OLY (1996)
→ Hugo Borda (Year 11) and Oscar Blackburn (Year 10)
→ Ariel Higgs (Year 12)
The Learning and Caring Framework
The Learning and Caring Framework has been designed, through a highly collaborative process, to express to the Pembroke community what learning and caring look like at Pembroke.
As the first initiative within the Pembroke’s Strategic Plan 2030: Stronger Together , the Learning and Caring Framework provides a set of principles and a vision for the student experience at Pembroke. These principles and vision reflect our commitment to a holistic and rigorous education, where learning and caring are inextricably linked and together enable us to produce graduates who have the tools to thrive and flourish and to take their place as upstanding citizens of the world.
The framework is designed to showcase our student-centred approach, as it is the student who is at the heart of all we do. Therefore, our framework deliberately places students within the central circle, embraced by all other aspects of the framework.
Around our students sits the Caring Band. We know that without wellbeing, learning cannot occur, and so we represent within the framework the important notion of care in all its facets as being the first step to flourishing at Pembroke. The Caring Band is made up of six domains: Connected Care, Community Care, Academic Care, Ethical and Spiritual Care, Specialised Care and Boarding Care. Each of these reflects an important aspect of our intentional focus on student belonging and student wellbeing.
Once students feel safe and have a sense of belonging they are ready to learn in a variety of ways and through a plethora of learning experiences. The Learning Band therefore also comprises six Domains: Disciplinary Learning, Interdisciplinary Learning, Cultural Learning, Futures and Enterprise Learning, Service and Leadership Learning, and Experiential and Play-Based Learning. These domains showcase our extensive learning opportunities both within and outside of the classroom, demonstrating our commitment to both breadth and depth within a Pembroke education.
The Learning Band is then encircled by two more bands: Student-Centred Professional Development and Pembroke Effective Pedagogies; and our Values Band. The first of these bands is focused on the various practices undertaken by our teaching and professional services staff that contribute to the support, both in terms of learning and caring, that we provide to our students. The outer band then holds it all together, through the key documents that define us as who we are—the School Aims and Values, the Student Charters, the Pembroke Graduate Qualities and our School Motto Ex Unitate Vires—Out of Unity, Strength
Every element of the Learning and Caring Framework is an important piece of the whole, operating as a complex network or ecosystem, wholly connected and inseparable from all the other elements. The Learning and Caring Framework is the foundation to our commitment to a holistic education and details what this looks like at Pembroke. As we roll the framework out we are giving expression to what teaching and learning, caring and belonging are at Pembroke, developing a shared language for discussing these important elements of a Pembroke education and ensuring that everything we do accords with our Vision and our Values.
While the Learning and Caring Framework expresses our values and beliefs about a Pembroke education, it also serves as an opportunity to think about the future. Within the Learning and Caring Framework, therefore, we not only present what we currently offer in relation to each of the domains, we also outline our vision for the future through our aspirations.
The Learning and Caring Framework is an important piece of work, as it encapsulates all elements of a Pembroke education, both within and outside of the classroom. It presents to students, parents, staff and the wider community the essence of what we are about: what we stand for and what we offer to all students. It is the articulation of why Pembroke is, for all our School community, Our Place and Home.
Dr Michele McEvoy Dean of Learning Cultures
and Innovation
Mrs Rebecca Forrest
Dean
of Student Wellbeing (ELC – 12)
→ Isabella Farina with students Georgina McEwin and Reggie Gilleade-Silva (both Year 3)
Student Charters
Experiential and Play-Based Learning
Pembroke Aims, Values and Vision
Disciplinary Learning
Interdisciplinary Learning
Community Care
Connected Care
Academic Care
Ethical and Spiritual Care Specialised Care
Boarding Care
Service and Leadership Learning
Futures and Enterprise Learning
School Motto Ex Unitate Vires – Out of Unity, Strength
Cultural Learning
Pembroke
A place to compete, a place to perform, a place to reflect, a place to celebrate...
The next chapter in Pembroke School’s story was revealed at the Commencement of Year Ceremony in February held, fittingly, on Haslam Oval.
A bold vision for a state-of-the-art multipurpose centre, that includes a host of sporting amenities and seating for 2,100 people, was shared by Principal Mark Staker and Chair Melissa Mellen with the assembled Pembroke community.
Principal Staker said current plans for the Haslam Oval Precinct Project include a stunning building that will house three basketball courts, a gymnasium with strength and conditioning facilities, a dance studio, change rooms and staff spaces, positioned on The Parade at the southern end of a full-size AFL oval.
‘This will be a place where students can pursue and participate in a wide range of sports, from football, tennis and soccer, to basketball, volleyball and badminton,’ he said.
‘And it is also a place where we can come together as a community – assembled under the one roof, for the very first time in the School’s history. Concerts and other performances will be held here, and significant ceremonies and student milestones will be celebrated here.’
The Haslam Oval Precinct Project looks to the future, to nurture and support the health and wellbeing of current and future students; but it also honours and respects Pembroke’s past.
‘Our School’s founders and King’s, Girton and Pembroke old scholars will be honoured with a gallery worthy of their enormous contribution to the School,’ Principal Staker said.
‘It will appropriately reflect and be respectful of the great distinction they’ve brought to the School, and that makes Pembroke the School that it is today.’
In addition to the gallery, the project includes an old scholars’ function centre, with balcony views over the AFL oval, where members of the Pembroke community can meet to watch sport, to mark special occasions and to share memories.
Other features are netball and tennis courts, AstroTurf hockey and soccer practice pitches, catering and kiosk facilities and underground car parking with entry from The Parade.
If you wish to learn more about our Haslam vision, you are invited to contact Mr Vincent Ciccarello OAM, Pembroke’s Director of Development and Philanthropy, on +61 8 8366 7070 or vciccarello@pembroke.sa.edu.au.
→ Architect’s impression: northern façade of the Haslam Oval Precinct Project building
→ Southern façade of the building, looking west along the Parade
→ Southern façade of the building, looking east from the corner of The Parade and Gurrs Road
→ Aerial impression of courts, oval and building looking south
→ Old Scholars War Memorial Gallery
→ Northern façade of the building
→ Architect’s impression of the multipurpose interior
FIRST-Class Performance
by Team Koalafied
Pembroke School is the only school in South Australia with a FIRST® Robotics Competition Team—#6996 Koalafied. Since the team’s founding in 2017, Koalafied has gone on to represent Pembroke at many competitions, consistently ranking among the best teams in Australia.
Southern Cross Regionals
FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international organisation focused on inspiring young people to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The FIRST® Robotics Competition is one of its three main programs.
Each season kicks off in January when the new challenge is announced. Teams then have just over six weeks to brainstorm, prototype, manufacture, assemble and program a fully functional robot capable of performing the season’s specific tasks. Students collaborate closely with mentors, utilising skills in mechanical design, electronics, software
development and project management. Alongside the engineering aspects, the team also engages in fundraising, community outreach and sponsor relations to sustain its effort—closely mirroring real-world business management. Once the build is complete, the competition season begins with local and regional tournaments, ultimately leading up (for qualifying teams) to the World Championships.
For the 2025 Season REEFSCAPE™, the challenge for our robot is to place cylindrical pipes on poles high up in the air and completely lift off the ground at the end of the match, hanging from a ‘cage’ just eight centimetres from the floor. Our robot (nicknamed Locked In ) can complete those challenges quickly and with ease.
→ Team Koalafied at the 2025 Southern Cross Regionals receiving the Excellence in Engineering Award and the Finalist Award
We competed at the FIRST® Robotics Competition Southern Cross Regionals against 41 other teams in Sydney from 7 – 9 March, representing Pembroke at a national level. In qualification matches, we became the only alliance (comprising three teams) to defeat Australia’s top-ranked team while also winning 10 out of 11 qualifying matches, ranking third overall in the individual rankings.
In the playoffs we partnered with teams #7433 from St Columba Anglican School and #4729 from the University of New South Wales, competing with focus and well executed strategy. After an intense semifinals match, we played against the strongest alliance of the competition in the grand finals, finally securing second place overall and earning the Finalist Award. Additionally, our team received the Excellence in
Engineering Award, recognising our outstanding robot design and engineering expertise.
These two achievements had qualified us for the FIRST® Robotics Competition World Championships in Houston, Texas, where the top 600 of the 3,700 teams in the world come together and compete alongside each other. It marks the first time a South Australian team has qualified since 2018, when Team Koalafied won the Rookie-All-Star award in our debut season.
→ Team Koalafied’s robot completing objectives during a match
→ Angus Hunt (Year 10), Arwyn Soi (Year 9), Byron Betts (2020), Jacqueline Du (Year 9), Pauline Oehler (Year 11) and Qinchen Liu (Year 7) cheer on the team from the sidelines
→ Team mentor Declan Briggs (2020) briefs the drive team on game strategy
FIRST-Class Performance
by Team Koalafied
World Championships
Over four intense days of competition inside the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston in April, our robot competed in ten qualification matches against some of the best and most experienced teams from the USA, Canada, Israel, Turkey and beyond. Each match demanded precise driving, strategic adaptability and seamless teamwork.
Reaching Houston was an engineering challenge in itself. Due to the strict size limits on international luggage, the robot had to be disassembled in Adelaide and packed into suitcases, only to be painstakingly reassembled in a Houston hotel room before competition. The scene—robot parts spread across the hotel carpet, tools in hand—was a testament to our team’s resourcefulness and determination.
We also had a surprise guest, Pembroke Principal Mr Staker. Staying with us throughout the course of the entire competition, we had the opportunity of showing our robot competing on the field, everything we do behind the scenes, the FIRST® Tech Challenge and FIRST® Lego League programs running simultaneously, and most importantly, the core values and what makes FIRST® stand out.
Before the championship started, all teams were assigned to a division. Team Koalafied was assigned to the Newton Division, the most competitive division this year, with the world’s top two robots (now the 2025 World Champions) competing with us. Despite this extremely high level of competition, our team rose to the challenge, finishing with an impressive 7 wins out of 10 matches and earning 18th place out of 75 teams in our division— the best result of any Australian team this year. It was a significant achievement, and a great display of the team’s hard work during the months leading up to the event.
Between matches, we had the opportunity to visit the Innovation Faire, where companies and organisations like NASA, Haas, Boeing and BAE Systems as well as universities such as Harvard, Yale and MIT have dedicated stalls for students to visit and learn more about how to apply for a position or education there.
→ Team Koalafied students, mentors, parents and Principal Mr Mark Staker in Houston
→ The drive team transports the robot back to pits after a match → Mikhail Sidhwani (Year 9), Daniel Wen (Year 10), Arwyn Soi (Year 9) and Brandon Ng (Year 10) in front of a Saturn V rocket at the Johnson Space Center
Unfortunately, we narrowly missed out on the playoff rounds. With only the top 8 teams selecting alliance partners for the finals, the bar for selection was extremely high. Many of the top teams had years of championship experience, larger development budgets and deep support networks. Still, Koalafied held its own and came away proud, motivated and already buzzing with ideas for next season. Beyond the competition, a highlight for many students was our visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where we explored the history of human spaceflight, saw real Apollo mission artefacts and even toured a training facility used by modern astronauts.
For us, this trip was about far more than just robotics. It was about learning how to perform under pressure, communicate in high-stakes environments and collaborate with people from vastly different backgrounds.
Whether
it was troubleshooting last-minute electrical issues in the pits or discussing drivetrain design with a Turkish team over lunch, the lessons in resilience and cooperation will stay with us long after the final match.
Since returning to school, the team is already turning its attention t o future competitions, including the Melbourne Robotics Tournament this July. We’re hoping to use it as a stepping stone for training new students and testing out new systems in preparation for the 2026 season.
None of this would be possible without the support of our School, mentors and parents. We would also like to extend a special thank you to our sponsors for making this journey possible:
• C&J Accountants & Advisors
• Rockwell Automation
• South Australia: The Defence State
• WHI International
• Xeraphina
• Hatch
• REDARC
• Australian Institute for Machine Learning
• Energy Exemplar
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our mentors— dedicated volunteers who are either university students or parents. Many stood where we stand now as students, graduated from Pembroke and returned to support the next generation, which is a true reflection of their passion and commitment.
They spend hundreds of hours guiding us, sharing their expertise and inspiring us to push beyond our limits. Their patience and unwavering support shape not only our technical skills but also our character, teaching us perseverance, teamwork and innovation. Beyond the workshop, they drive across the country to ensure we can compete, believing in us even when we make mistakes. Their encouragement fuels our determination, giving us the confidence to overcome setbacks and keep striving for excellence.
To our mentors, you are more than just teachers—you are role models, motivators and the heart of this team. Your passion, generosity, gracious professionalism and unwavering belief in us mean more than words can express. We are grateful for the knowledge you share, the sacrifices you make and the inspiration you provide.
• Declan Briggs
• Nicholas Betts
• Byron Betts
• Ethan Nicholls
• Dylan Worswick
• Tom Zhu
• Anthony Smith
• Roman Olesnicky
• Piotr Kraczkowski
Thank you for everything you do!
We’re always looking to recruit new members and would love to have you join our team! If you are interested in joining Koalafied or have any inquiries, want additional information or are interested in supporting us, please send an email to: teamkoalafied@gmail.com
Daniel Wen (Year 10) and Pauline Oehler (Year 11) Team Captains
The eight competition fields running simultaneously inside the George R. Brown Convention Center → The drive team prepares the robot for a qualification match on the Newton Field
At Home on The Finniss
You’d be hard-pressed to find a location on Pembroke’s grounds that feels more connected to the theme Place and Home than Old Watulunga. What better way to celebrate this than to deep dive into the iconic property nestled on the banks of the Finniss River?
Aside from functioning as the heart of our extensive Outdoor Education and Camp Programs, the Centre has played host to staff professional development days, ELC excursions, Middle and Senior School Science, Biology, Geography, English and Art camps, Rowing camps, and the Pembroke Connect Program’s two-day camp designed to introduce recently arrived international students to the Australian outdoors. Our Geography students regularly practise their GIS drone-mapping skills on the property, and we’re also fortunate to host a thukabi (turtle) monitoring program run by the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Council (NAC) and Dr Scotte Wedderburn from the University of Adelaide.
The 17-hectare sanctuary allows our students in all year levels to immerse themselves in the natural world— whether that means planting trees, navigating a kayak through the reeds or falling headfirst into the water after building a less-thanseaworthy raft on Year 7 Camp!
No matter the activity, the outcome remains the same: students develop a deep understanding of the environment and their place in the wider world. They experience huge amounts of personal growth and build resilience through overcoming challenges in a safe environment.
The Old Watulunga property was purchased by the School way back in 1987, though the School’s Outdoor Education Program dates back another ten years to 1977, just three years after the School was founded. Always proudly co-educational, Pembroke was one of the first schools in South Australia to offer Outdoor Education to girls and boys together. Initially, students attended their camps at the Outward Bound Sea School at Clayton, just along the river from Old Watulunga. As the Clayton township became more established, the School looked towards the property on the Finniss River that we know and love today.
→ Old Watulunga
At Home on The Finniss
Over the years, the property has undergone numerous developments, most recently the 2017 addition of the Environmental Education Centre. The limestone building features learning spaces, an outdoor servery and windows so expansive that it’s impossible not to feel connected to nature, even from within the building.
Seeing the facility, you’d be forgiven for wondering how the students could ever experience the ‘character building’ difficulties that go hand-in-hand with Outdoor Education.
However, they do face these obstacles, and without fail, they come out stronger, more able and more resilient. Across the Middle School, the program includes the famous (or perhaps infamous) Year 7 raft building exercise, along with kayaking, sailing, surfing, navigating, camping in tents and rock climbing on the indoor wall. Outside of these adventurous activities, students plant, harvest and cook from the kitchen garden (complete with scarecrow!), building their knowledge of sustainable food practices and the origins of their food.
Set on Ngarrindjeri land, Old Watulunga consistently provides students and staff alike with a deeper connection to country, encouraging visitors to reflect on their relationship with the environment and its history. Pembroke is fortunate to share an ongoing relationship with Ngarrindjeri people, stretching back over 25 years. Ngarrindjeri Ambassador and Pembroke’s On Country Cultural Advisor, Uncle Cedric Varcoe, plays a key role in this. Usually around a campfire, Cedric shares Indigenous history, stories and culture with our students, laying the foundations for understanding and respecting the land’s rich heritage.
The lasting impact of Old Watulunga extends beyond its facilities—it’s a place where nature, history and education connect. Under the guidance of Mr Gary Stone, Pembroke’s Old Watulunga Coordinator, the property has seen continued ecological restoration, from tree planting and habitat renewal to the careful upkeep and restoration of its historical structures. His work ensures that Old Watulunga remains both an environmental and educational asset.
Old scholars and students are often quick to name Old Watulunga as an unforgettable highlight of their school journey, and it’s easy to see why. From early mornings by the river to evenings around the campfire, a trip to Old Watulunga will challenge, inspire and stay with you long after you leave.
Gabbi Agnew Publications Manager
→ Ariel Higgs (Year 12) on her Year 7 Camp in 2020
→ The Old Watulunga homestead (1989)
→ Terrence Guan (Year 10) taking care of the kitchen garden
→ A disastrous raft-crossing attempt on Year 7 Camp, 2021
→ Students on the docks of Old Watulunga in 1995
→ Year 8 Camp, 2023
→ Uncle Cedric Varcoe showing ELC students a turtle
→ Students sailing with the Environmental Education Centre in the background
→ Old Watulunga
→ Year 7 Camp, February 2020
The strong coffee went down a treat at the P&F Welcome Morning Tea for parents of new students
Abbey (Harris) Bailey (1994) and Hugh Bailey at the P&F Welcome Morning Tea for parents of new students
Chris Shopov, Maddy Shopov and Aaron Burt at the P&F Welcome Morning Tea for parents of new students
Lisa (Stanhope) Hall (1999), Jacqui Sandland (1999), Alan Hall, Luke Hann (1999) and Kirsty (Heriot) Starling (2001) at Pembroke’s South East Community Event
A bit of friendly competition in the way of giant chess at The Pembroke Club
Rob Nachum and Rachel Dalton on the red carpet at the Unreel Film Festival
Sam Underdown and James Seears enjoying a perfect summer evening at The Pembroke Club
Harrison Stock (2022) and Andrew Kroehn at the Welcome BBQ for Pembroke Boarding families
Michael Griffiths (1991) bringing festive joy to the Pembroke community at Carols in the Quad
Boarding House Assistant Tom Clegg (2018) with Pembroke boarders Nicholas Stock, Angus Kile, Julian Mitchell and Hamish Kroehn (all Year 12) at the Welcome BBQ for Pembroke Boarding families
Scott McGee, Pip Souter (1987), Kate Souter and Joe McGee (Year 12) at the Commencement of Year Ceremony
Patricia and Hana Melzer (2024) stand proudly with the Pembroke Rowing boat named in Patricia’s honour at a Pembroke-hosted rowing regatta
Susanna (Hill) Parkinson (1994), Susannah Martin, Richard Little and Kirsty Angus celebrating the start of a new school year at The Pembroke Club
The Pembroke Choir performing Christmas classics at Carols in the Quad
Home Away from Home
It’s not uncommon to hear students explaining that Pembroke feels like home— from the caring and supportive environment to the friendships and connections made, it is a place of community and togetherness.
For roughly 75 of our students, Pembroke does much more than feel like home—it is home! Our Boarding community extends far and wide, with families travelling from regional South Australia, interstate and overseas to be part of our connected community.
With the recent reopening of Turner House, located on the Girton Campus, in addition to our main Pembroke Boarding House, our boarders enjoy modern facilities, warm group spaces and supportive staff.
We chatted with a few of our boarders to find out more about life as a boarder…
Firstly, where are you all from, and how long does it take you to travel between Pembroke and home?
Ashley Wong (Year 12): I am from Hong Kong. It takes between nine and ten hours to fly from Adelaide to Hong Kong.
Addison Ichwan (Year 10): Jakarta, Indonesia. It takes two flights and over ten hours to travel there.
Ada Heaslip (Year 11): I am from a tiny town called Mataranka, 400km southeast of Darwin. Travelling back home entails a nearly four-hour plane ride to Darwin followed by a four-hour drive home with one of my parents.
Hamish Kroehn (Year 12): I am from Waikerie in the Riverland. From home, it is roughly a two-hour drive to the Boarding House.
When did you start boarding, and how did it feel on your first night?
Ashley: I started boarding in Year 9, back in 2022. On my first night at Pembroke, I was very excited. Everything felt new—the people, the place and living away from home. I was a little nervous, especially being in a new environment without my family, but the excitement helped me settle in. Sharing a room was a big change, but my roommate and I quickly bonded, and we still keep in contact. We learned to respect each other’s space and support one another. Now, the Boarding House feels like a second home. I’ve grown more independent and I feel comfortable in this space, surrounded by supportive people.
Addison: I started ten weeks ago (at the start of this year). My first night felt weird, but now I’m used to it.
Ada: I began boarding in 2023, so this is my third year. My first night as a boarder was a long time ago, so my memory of that night is hazy. The change in lifestyle and school was a massive jump, so I remember fearing the new school and new lifestyle that I would need to get used to for the next four years.
Hamish: I started boarding at Pembroke in Year 9. I thought I was going to be extremely homesick before I first came; however, after setting everything up in my room, boarding didn’t seem so big and scary. I slept pretty well that night. Now, after so many years, I’m accustomed to it, and it doesn’t feel much different to sleeping at home (except for the first night back).
What are some of the biggest differences between Pembroke and your previous school(s)?
Ashley: One of the biggest differences is the diversity at Pembroke—I’ve met people from so many different backgrounds, which has really broadened my perspective.
The teachers are also incredibly approachable and supportive. They run regular help sessions and are always happy to support us beyond the classroom.
Another big difference is the range of opportunities outside the classroom. There are various co-curricular activities to get involved in, whether it’s sports, music or leadership, which makes school life more balanced and engaging.
Addison: Everything is different, the culture, the facilities and the friends.
Ada: My old primary school was at the most a total of maybe 70 kids. So, coming from that to a school that has ten times the number of students was extremely intimidating.
Hamish: Pembroke offers a wide range of different opportunities that weren’t available at my old schools, from sports and cocurricular to academic subjects. For me, the teachers are also a lot more invested in your learning and individual goals.
→ Ashley Wong, Hamish Kroehn (both Year 12) and Addison Ichwan (Year 10)
What do you wish day students understood about what it’s like to be a boarder?
Ashley: I wish day students knew that boarding life goes beyond just staying at school overnight. We’re constantly surrounded by others, so there’s not much personal space, and we don’t get to fully switch off after school like they can. It can be tiring at times, but it also teaches us to be adaptable and resilient.
Addison: What it’s like having prep and a structured life, and having our phones taken away at night.
Ada: Something that I wish day students would understand about being a boarder is how hard it is sometimes. They may hear us talking about the food, but it goes deeper than that. We can’t leave school and go back to our parents and siblings and our homes, instead we get phone calls and only see them over the holidays. That disconnection gets overwhelming sometimes and it can be difficult.
Hamish: That it’s not just a holiday but still home, meaning we don’t just get to do whatever we want, whenever we want. There is still structure to what can and can’t happen.
What’s your favourite meal in Boarding?
Ashley: My favourite meal is hash browns and eggs for breakfast.
Addison: Hot chocolate.
Ada: My favourite meal has to be the chicken parmis, it is always a highlight when they come out for one night a term.
Hamish: Make your own taco/burrito nights.
And lastly, what would you say to future boarders about what it’s like to be a boarder?
Ashley: There are numerous ways that boarding helps you get ready for life beyond school, including gaining time management skills, the ability to handle difficulties on your own and living together with others respectfully. It teaches you practical skills while maintaining a supportive environment, which is an excellent transitional period between school and adulthood. Boarding equips you with the self-assurance to face whatever lies ahead.
Addison: It is kind of freeing but also sometimes a pain when trying to do activities outside of school that require us to organise leave.
Ada: Something I would say to future boarders is that you won’t be able to experience anything like boarding. Saying that we are a family sounds cheesy but it’s true. You live with these people and form connections that you won’t experience with any other friends. It is an amazing experience and opens several opportunities for everyone, especially those coming from rural locations like me.
Hamish: No matter how scary or daunting it feels, make those early connections and take those opportunities, as it helps bridge the gap between ‘home’ and ‘a boarding house’ early, and it does get easier with time.
→ Amelia Daniel and Chantelle Watson (both Year 12)
→ Julian Mitchell and Nicholas Stock (both Year 12)
→ Riley Wake (Year 12) and Archie Randhawa (Year 11)
→ Boarders at the Welcome BBQ
→ Pembroke Phoenix
→ Pembroke Phoenix dishing out the high fives at Years 3 – 6 Swim Carnival
→ Pembroke Phoenix with Peter Woon and Wilbur at the Middle School Pet Show
Interview with a Mascot
As part of Pembroke’s 50th Anniversary celebrations held across 2024, a School Mascot competition was held, with nearly 150 entries from students and staff. Year 12 student Chloe Allen’s concept of the Pembroke Phoenix captured the imagination of students and staff alike and was chosen after a School-wide vote.
Inspired by the legendary bird’s history across cultures—from the Egyptian Bennu to the Greek and Roman phoenix—her creation symbolises resilience, renewal and strength, values that define the Pembroke spirit. Recently unveiled at a Junior School Assembly, the Pembroke Phoenix will serve as a unifying emblem of community pride. We caught up with our new feathered friend to get the inside swoop!
Welcome, Phoenix! It’s been a blazing start to your journey as Pembroke’s new Mascot. How have your first weeks been soaring through our School?
Thank you! It’s been an absolute feather in my cap. From the moment I landed at Pembroke, I could feel the warmth—not just from my own flames but from the incredible students and staff who welcomed me with open wings. The energy at the Junior School Assembly and the Swim Carnival was electrifying! It’s clear that Pembroke is a place where school spirit burns bright, and I’m honoured to be a part of it.
Speaking of the Swim Carnival, fire and water aren’t exactly the best of friends. How did you manage to keep your flames alight during the event?
Haha, excellent question! While it’s true that a phoenix typically avoids a dip in the pool, I wasn’t about to miss out on such an exciting event. I perched poolside, cheering on our incredible swimmers as they made waves—both literally and figuratively! The determination and teamwork on display were inspiring. I must
say, seeing the students support one another so enthusiastically is a testament to Pembroke’s Values. I may not have taken a swim myself, but I definitely made a splash in spirit!
As the embodiment of renewal and strength, what do you hope to achieve in your role as the Pembroke Phoenix?
My mission is simple: to ignite a passion for perseverance, unity and growth within the Pembroke community. The phoenix has long been a symbol of rebirth and transformation, and I see that reflected in Pembroke’s commitment to developing well-rounded, resilient learners. I want to inspire students to rise from their challenges, embrace new opportunities and spread their wings— whether in academics, sports or personal growth. This School fosters an environment where everyone can soar, and I hope to fan the flames of that ambition even further!
That’s a powerful message! Pembroke has laid out an exciting vision for the future in its Strategic Plan 2030. How do you see your symbolism aligning with the School’s goals?
The Pembroke Strategic Plan 2030 emphasises being ‘Stronger Together’, which couldn’t resonate more with me. A phoenix is not just about individual transformation—it’s about renewal and rising together as a community. Pembroke’s focus on unity, diversity and sustainability reflects the same principles. The School is committed to fostering an inclusive, forward-thinking environment where students are encouraged to be adaptable and innovative. I represent the School’s ability to embrace change, grow from challenges and continuously strive for excellence. Like me, Pembroke doesn’t just weather change, it thrives through it!
That’s an inspiring perspective! Finally, do you have a message for the Pembroke community as you embark on this journey with us?
Absolutely! To all students, teachers and families, I want to say: let’s keep the flames of curiosity, resilience and teamwork burning brightly! Pembroke is a place where everyone can rise, no matter what challenges come their way. Let’s support one another, embrace the spirit of learning and soar higher together. Remember, at Pembroke we’re not just a school—we’re a family, and we are stronger together. Let’s spread our wings and set the sky ablaze with our passion and determination!
Amelia Weston Marketing and Communications Coordinator
→ Pembroke Phoenix with Chloe Allen (2024), who first pitched a phoenix in the School-wide competition
The Pembroke Connect Program
For many people who have lived in Australia their whole lives, it’s impossible to understand the challenge of moving overseas to study in a country that doesn’t speak your language.
Our exposure to other languages is limited to the occasional restaurant menu, a couple of lines in movies (‘Hasta la vista, baby’) and the lyrics to Despacito (that we are surely butchering). Even when travelling overseas, English is so widely spoken that most Australians can get by without learning any of the local languages. For all the wonderful things about living in Australia, this is one of our biggest shortcomings on the global stage.
Students move to Adelaide from all over the world to study at Pembroke, sometimes as boarders and sometimes with one or both parents. Culture shock, to varying degrees, is guaranteed. Whether it’s students from remote Indigenous Australia who’ve never lived in a city, or international students who’ve never been immersed in an English-speaking environment before, when English isn’t your first language it’s incredibly challenging to enjoy daily conversations, keep up in class and truly feel at home.
Enter the Pembroke Connect Program (PCP). Run as a whole separate curriculum, the PCP is designed to help recently arrived international students build strong foundations in English language proficiency and confidently transition into life at Pembroke. The course is conducted on our Middle School Campus and enables students to integrate into school life fully. The PCP covers all sorts of things that would not typically be taught to students as they learn English: Australian lingo (anyone from overseas who’s been told to ‘chuck a u-ey’ will know how confusing this can be); shorthand (defs, soz, probs); cultural knowledge; Australian humour; sports knowledge; catching the
bus; Indigenous history; understanding the climate and the risk posed by the Australian sun; how to go to the doctor; and how to access academic and pastoral care support at Pembroke.
PCP students also attend a two-day camp at Pembroke’s Old Watulunga facility without the pressure of a typical school camp. There, they are given the time and space to learn the vocabulary associated with school camps, the Australian outdoors and water safety. It’s the perfect way to build confidence before attending other camps or choosing Outdoor Education in the Senior School.
There is a strong emphasis on the academic skills required to thrive at Pembroke including study habits, research strategies, using a diary and actively participating in class, among others.
Joining the PCP also means taking part in PCP Science and PCP Maths with a specialised teacher. Anyone who has studied a Science subject in Senior School can tell you that it’s almost like learning a new language in itself (if anyone can correctly pronounce phenolphthalein, I’d like to hear it) and learning the vocabulary in a safe and supportive class is key to succeeding in these subjects.
The program began in 2016 when Mrs Mim Barnard (who still runs PCP today) sent international students offsite for intensive English lessons, which was disruptive to their daily schedules and their sense of connection and belonging at Pembroke. Mim identified that there was a need for Pembroke to offer a tailored program that could set students up to succeed in our School, specific to our curriculum and co-curricular programs.
Outside of PCP lessons, students participate in all that Pembroke has to offer—House meetings, PE lessons, Chapel, assemblies, Home Group (which still features the much-loved weekly tute cake), one line of mainstream classes and whichever co-curricular activities they choose.
→ Will Yang (Year 7) and instructor Matt Beelitz
→ PCP Camp
→ Quinna Sun (Year 9) and Ms Eliza Demasi
Over the years, it has become extremely successful, expanding from David Freesmith and Mim Barnard teaching most of the time to now having five staff members with Eliza Demasi, Mee Ching Ling and Libby Twigden. Old scholars who began their studies in the PCP have moved to various parts of Australia and the world to pursue their tertiary education and have gone on to study a wide range of disciplines including teaching, science, pharmacy, accounting, medicine, law and engineering.
If you’re interested in helping out, our students greatly benefit from interacting with volunteers who drop in to assist with speaking and reading practice.
To join as a volunteer, please email mbarnard@pembroke. sa.edu.au or find out more about the Pembroke Connect Program for future students by emailing admissions@pembroke.sa.edu.au.
Gabbi Agnew Publications Manager
Testimonials
Two PCP graduates, Lucas Jin and Molly Li, shared their PCP experience with us. Lucas and Molly both excelled in Year 12, with Molly scoring 95.55 and Lucas achieving 99.65, which saw him named the SACE Proxime Accessit in 2023.
‘I joined Pembroke in 2019, and just like most students moving from overseas, it was my first time studying abroad. The Pembroke Connect Program (PCP) was my first introduction to Pembroke. It is a great privilege to have the program run by the School, and PCP not only helped me quickly acclimatise to the new learning environment but also prepared me well for later studies at Pembroke and beyond.
The skills I learned in PCP were transferable and have contributed to my academic success and extra-curricular activities including the Headstart Scholarship Program at the University of Adelaide. The supportive and caring environment made me feel welcomed as a new student, and my connection with the teaching staff has continued even after graduation.
Looking back on this wonderful experience as a university student now, my time with PCP was a highlight at Pembroke, and I will always cherish the skills and friendships that continue to shape my academic and personal journey.’
Lucas Jin (2023)
Old scholar
‘The PCP program was my first stepping stone to integrating into an Australian school as an international student. It provided a supportive environment where I studied various subjects with the same student group, helping us acclimate to a Pembroke education and Australian culture.
The program allowed me to adjust to the academic pace of studying in English and prepared me to transition into mainstream subjects while building the confidence to socialise with other students. I particularly appreciated the welcoming atmosphere of the PCP program, where I felt comfortable making mistakes without embarrassment and received patient guidance from teachers who helped me improve.
From the confidence I gained through the PCP and the opportunities and co-curricular activities offered at Pembroke, I was fortunate enough to become the Head Girl of the Pembroke Boarding House in 2023. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Clinical Science/Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University, having completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) at Pembroke and graduating with a Bilingual Diploma.’
Molly Li (2023)
Old scholar
→ Terry Pan (Year 10) and Lewis Yang (Year 7)
→ Vic Qiu (Year 10), Fiona Fei, Aliya Ma and Quinna Sun (all Year 9)
The House that Phil Built: A Family Affair at the Newly Renovated Admissions Centre
Straight across the road from the Senior School Office at 17 Holden Street is a lovely old building that has turned up numerous times in the lives of past and present Pembroke employees, Phil Gabell and his daughter Amy Viselli.
Dating back to 1926, the former residence has evolved substantially over the years. Once home to teachers, renters or Heads of Boarding and their families, it is now the School’s Admissions Centre and a stunning place of welcome.
We have Phil to thank for the extension at the back in which the dining table now sits. He started his 20 years working for Pembroke as a carpenter and this was one of his projects—an add-on to accommodate a growing family. The more recent renovations took place last year and included a new bathroom along with fresh paint and furnishings. Re-opened a few months ago, the building is filled with colour and light thanks to bright orange door frames and an impressive angular skylight. Comfortable yet chic décor is complemented beautifully by student artwork, copies of the iconic Teddy-grams for Campbell book and some teddies too.
As Admissions Coordinator, this is where Amy works, answering calls and emails from prospective parents and scheduling their pre-admissions interviews, and she loves both the space and her duties.
‘I have a background in administration and started with Pembroke casually when they needed some assistance over Christmas in the Front Office. I fell in love after five days, they liked my work too, and I haven’t really left, apart from having children. I have worked in so many different departments and it has just been an absolute blessing.
I came to Admissions back in 2021, left to have my daughter and returned almost two years ago. It’s so different now without the impact of COVID-19. We get to work with international students again and host stands at Field Days. My colleague Claire just attended one in Lucindale and said it was wonderful.’
Amy was quick to point out the stylish and spacious interview room when I first entered the building. She talked fondly about the benefits of these chats with prospective parents and students, which were introduced by the Director of Admissions Jess Geraghty.
‘Getting to know families and children before they start school really helps the onboarding process. Children might be academically strong in one area but need a little bit of help in something else. We can have things in place before they even begin.
We have a slightly different system for the children joining the Early Learning Centre because they’re so young. Instead, families can join one of our more informal Teddy Bears’ Picnics where the children can be observed, and we get to know the parents and answer any questions. Each child goes home with one of their very own bears.’
For those not yet enrolled but interested to learn more, giving the Admissions Team a call or sending them an email is a great place to start. No question is off limits.
→ The Gabell Family
our student leaders take the tours so you can hear first-hand experiences. Anyone unable to attend can join one of our Small Group Tours or arrange a separate Personal Tour. All the information is up on our website and while you’re there, you can request a digital copy of the Prospectus which is full of information about the School.’
While Phil didn’t send his children to Pembroke, all three of them have worked here in some capacity, no doubt drawn to the environment that offered him numerous opportunities and nurtured him along the way. He shifted from carpentry into a Building and Grounds Coordinator role and then into the job of Facilities Manager, and his admiration for the School endures.
‘Amy’s brother Matt applied to work with Peter Sulicich, Building and Grounds Manager, one school holidays and returned for around seven years. Later, during his university study, he studied alongside Peter who was extending his education with Pembroke’s support. 17 Holden Street featured during his degree too. I helped him build a model of it, which earnt him an excellent mark!’
While in between jobs, his other daughter Beth joined Pembroke in the Middle School Front Office, covering Amy’s contract while she was seconded to another role. Beth continued working with Pembroke in the Senior School Front Office.
‘Pembroke is a great place for opportunity and a community of people who are always willing to help,’ said Phil.
This is true for students and staff alike. The School strives to be a place of support and offers Inclusive Education, the Pembroke Connect Program (PCP) which helps prepare recently arrived international students for study, a Wellbeing Team and even Wellbeing Dogs.
Set up in their beautiful new building, the Admissions Team is ready to discuss all this and more.
→ The newly renovated Admissions Centre
Kate Holland (1992) Old scholar
→ The Gabell Family in front of the extension that Phil built: Beth, Phil, Amy (Viselli) and Matt
Summer Sport Gallery
Ashlea McFarlane-Smith (Yr 8) enjoys scaling a wall during a Bouldering session Margaux Spears (Yr 7) prepares to shoot a goal during a Middle A Girls Basketball game
Girls Open A Volleyball team competing against Immanuel College
Harry Willis-Hell (Yr 8) ready to race with his crewmates at the Head of the River Regatta
Head of the River School Girls First IV winners: Isabella Westley (coxswain), Abi Young, Mia Chapman (all Yr 11), Lara Kidman and Evelyn King (both Yr 12)
Genevieve Glavas (Yr 12) representing Pembroke at the Head of the River Rowing Regatta
Rex Matschoss (Yr 3) batting in Junior School Boys Cricket
Bailey Heriot (Yr 11) playing Touch Football for the Open Boys team against Marryatville High School
Ruby Knights (Yr 9) takes aim in an Open A Girls Water polo game
Dheer Shah (Yr 9) batting for Pembroke in a First XI Cricket game
Polly Harrison (Yr 12) prepares to pass the ball in an Open A Girls Touch Football game
Spencer House Captains Emilia Mercer Dally and Digby Sutton (both Yr 6) celebrate their Junior School Swimming Carnival victory with the Pembroke Phoenix
Shreya Ganesan (Yr 11) is a picture of focus representing Pembroke in Tennis
Emi Fawcett and Ryan Foo (both Yr 6) lead a Yorke House chant at the Junior School Swimming Carnival
Old Scholars
→ Mim Sarre (2012) performing Opinionated at Adelaide Fringe in 2023
My warmest welcome goes to the newest members of our community—the Class of 2024. Many of us have followed your journey over the past few years, whether at careers breakfasts, old scholar assemblies, the Old Scholar vs Student Debate or old scholar lunches. We are delighted to officially welcome you into our family. On behalf of all old scholars, congratulations and welcome!
At the Commencement Ceremony in Term 1, we were given an exciting preview of the proposed Haslam Oval development (pages 12 – 13). A video presentation featuring three generations of the Crowhurst Family beautifully highlighted the School’s strong sense of connection and tradition.
It was particularly meaningful to see how the old scholar community will be represented in the new building, with a dedicated Old Scholars Gallery—a space for reflection and honouring those who have come before us. I extend my sincere thanks to the School for its openness and engagement in ensuring that our community’s legacy is thoughtfully incorporated into this remarkable project.
I have just returned from our annual trip to Canberra with Principal Mark Staker, where we hosted another successful dinner with old scholars ranging from the Class of 1961 to 1998. The Canberra dinner always showcases an impressive and diverse array of careers, sparking fascinating conversations—often jaw-dropping ones! As always, Malcolm Lamb kept us all in check with his sharp wit, ensuring that no mispronounced word went unnoticed. It was an evening filled with laughter, camaraderie and deep appreciation for the strong bonds within our community.
I would also like to congratulate the Pembroke Old Scholars Cricket Club on another outstanding season, with the L02 and L07 teams both claiming premiership victories. The club also played an important match against the current Pembroke First XI team in honour of William Chittleborough. Following the game, the Chittleborough Family officially unveiled the William Chittleborough Best Team Man Award in the David Parkin Room—a fitting tribute to Will’s enduring legacy in both School and old scholars’ cricket.
As a community, we also extend our deepest condolences to the family of Adam Steinhardt and to the entire Old Scholars Soccer Club who have lost a cherished friend, mentor, coach and player. Adam’s impact on the club and its members will not be forgotten.
Finally, I am pleased to introduce the newest members of the POSA committee. Their dedication and volunteer efforts are invaluable to our community:
I look forward to another exciting year ahead and to seeing many of you at upcoming events.
Holly Jamieson-Loveday (1997) President, Pembroke Old Scholars Association
Pembroke Old Scholars
Affiliated Clubs
Men’s Soccer Club possc.net pembroke.soccer@hotmail.com facebook.com/pembroke.os.soccer.club
Cricket Club pembrokeoscc@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/18278828118
In Unitate inuchoir@gmail.com facebook.com/inunitate
Women’s Soccer Club pembrokewomenssoccer@gmail.com facebook.com/poswsc
Football Club pembrokekings.com.au facebook.com/pembrokekings
Netball Club facebook.com/pembrokeoldscholarsnetballclub
→ Mim Sarre (2012)
Fearless & Feminist
Act One
Millicent Sarre (aka Mim) enters this world with musical genes. They come from her Dad Rick Sarre (1972), himself a beloved old scholar, as well as her Mum Debra Sarre who was a very competitive and successful Highland Dancer. They didn’t skip younger brother Elliott (2014) either who is, according to Mim, a ‘brilliant songwriter/guitarist’ as well as a lawyer.
Mim’s been creating and performing for as long as she can remember. ‘It’s just something I’ve always done that felt very innate to me. As a little kid I was always making up little songs and at school, I was always the one on the piano at Chapel singing something that I’d written. It’s a skill set that I’ve honed over time just by virtue of doing it.’
The opportunities and encouragement Mim received at school were highly influential in her eventually pursuing the Arts. A member of Mellor in one of its sportier phases, Mim was the IB Theatre student more likely to be found exploring music and drama than running many races.
Academics were also highly important and something that came quite naturally. ‘I’ve always been a big nerd’, she says. Tune in to any of her lyrics and the intellect is immediately apparent. Being a nerd has its benefits.
In Year 10 Mim played the titular role in Thoroughly Modern Millie and loved it as much for the bonding as for the music. ‘I think there’s something pretty special about musical theatre, where you just come together so closely.’ She’s never forgotten the sheer scale of the show either.
‘It was greater than anything I’d had the opportunity to do prior. It was the full show with the full orchestra. Costumes were out of this world, and we got to do it in the Norwood Town Hall—a gorgeous, grandiose theatre. The School takes it seriously and ensures it’s a significant experience. I feel similarly about the shows that we went on to do in Years 11 and 12 as Drama students.’
Mim says being given a lot of autonomy over what they created in those final years was probably the precursor to the fact that she’s gone on to write so much of her own work.
‘We were given trust at a pivotal age that our ideas mattered and that what we wanted to contribute was worthwhile and worthy.’
A Pembroke influence that remains to this day is that of her former teacher, Julianne English. When tossing up whether to audition for drama straight out of school or wait a few years, it was Julianne who assured Mim she was within her rights to want to pursue it now. ‘She was the first person who made me believe that following an artistic pathway was actually a viable career option. My parents have always been great supporters, but they were initially adamant that I follow something with more security.’
From the moment Mim began putting on shows, Julianne has been invited to a preview performance and attended every opening night. ‘I value her opinion and input so much.’
The Interval
Mim describes her path into a full-time Arts career as an odd one.
‘I studied Law first off. About six months after I finished school, I went and did a year at Graceland University, a liberal arts college in Iowa. My Dad and cousin had gone there, and it was amazing— the best year of my life. Then I came home and did my Law degree in Adelaide while still heavily involved in teaching Performing Arts, participating in community theatre and performing in multiple shows at every Fringe.
I really enjoyed studying Law because it was very academically rigorous and I’m such a language person. Really getting into the nitty gritty of statutory interpretation and choice of words and language scratched that part of my brain, but my creative juices just weren’t flowing in that setting. So, I finished my Law degree and did my placement to get admitted, imagining I would be a lawyer by day and at shows each night. The juxtaposition made it very clear to me that one was not the right fit. Then I wrote my first cabaret show, Friendly Feminism , and it went gangbusters. I realised I could do Arts as a job.’
Mim did a Fringe season of the show in 2020, then COVID-19 hit.
MusicalNotes:
Lyrics or melody, which do you write first?
I always start with lyrics but hear the melody immediately after.
Favourite genre–Cabaret or Musical Theatre?
That’s like picking a favourite child. I can’t.
What instruments do you play?
Ukelele and piano. I taught myself the uke specifically for one song. I took piano lessons but always resisted the classical route and now regret not learning to read music better!
Remembering lines, hard or easy?
The lines I’ve sung I remember forever. The purely spoken lines, not so much.
Act Two
The wild success of Friendly Feminism was of course welcome—multiple awards and more money than she’d ever had—but by closing night, Mim was tired and relieved she could sleep. COVID-19 closures made her take stock and realise she’d always wanted to study musical theatre at a tertiary level. Touring wasn’t going to be possible with closed borders and there were such extreme restrictions on capacity in venues that study made a lot of sense.
As luck would have it, there was a brand-new course in Adelaide at the Elder Conservatorium. So, at 26, Mim went back to study. Here, she met a new best friend and collaborator in ‘fellow outspoken, lefty feminist’ Rosie Russell, who would become part of the award-winning Bisexual Intellectuals line-up.
Since graduating from this course, Mim has hit the ground running, and her Arts career is fully fledged. In the past few months alone, she’s performed Bisexual Intellectuals at the
Favourite person to perform with?
I have two. My best friends: Rosie and Jem who perform in Bisexual Intellectuals with me.
Career highlights?
Winning ‘Best Cabaret’ for Opinionated at the 2023 Fringe. It was the validation I needed. Being a mentor for The Class of Cabaret last year, encouraging young passionate talent.
Important advice for aspiring performers?
For Cabaret: Share your story safely, ensure you have distance and objectivity from it first. For Musical Theatre: Resist being homogenised, your unique quirks will be your superpower.
Performing in OntheTown in 2023
→ Mim with PRIMETIME co-writer Joseph Simons
→ Adelaide Cabaret Festival Gala 2024
Adelaide Fringe and won a Weekly Award; joined the rotating cast for a performance of Simply Brill, alongside fellow old scholar Michael Griffiths (1991); and recently discovered that PRIMETIME , the musical she’s writing with former lecturer Joseph Simons, has been programmed in this year’s Cabaret Festival as the musical theatre work in development.
As well as upholding triple threat status as a freelance performer and cabaret artist, Mim also works as a vocal coach for individuals and groups.
The Encore
Given all her commitments, Mim’s not sure how plausible it will be to work on a Pembroke Middle School Musical again, but she’d love to.
‘In my work as Vocal Director on three Pembroke musicals— The Addams Family, Mamma Mia! and Chicago —I saw deep connections grow before my eyes, between groups of kids who might not necessarily have had pre-existing relationships. By the end, they were so tight-knit. I loved it.
I especially loved working with Rebecca Ramsey (1997) who is just a force of nature. The kids adore her and she’s so passionate about what she does. She also understands as an old scholar how special that one chance to do the musical is. She’s really intent on making it life-changing.’
Should that musical experience ignite a spark like it did for Mim, her advice is a line she has tattooed on her body: Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.
Kate Holland (1992) Old scholar
→ Mim starring as Millie Dillmount in ThoroughlyModernMillie (2010)
→ Performing debut season of FriendlyFeminism with Jemma Allen in 2020
→ Mim starring as Millie Dillmount in ThoroughlyModernMillie in 2010
→ Rosie Russell, Mim and Jemma Allen performing BisexualIntellectuals at Adelaide Fringe 2024
Supermarkets
Having a genuine love of supermarkets is not a common trait. In fact, here in Australia, we spend a fair amount of time complaining about them. But for Phillip Mignone (2012), recently made Head of Food Strategy and Programme Delivery at Marks and Spencer in London, the love is strong—detectable even via an online interview on his Sunday evening.
It blossomed during his years at the innovative and awardwinning Foodland at Frewville, where he worked during his Law degree, and revealed itself as a passion after some life-changing advice from his Mum.
Like many of us, Phillip wasn’t particularly certain about his future back at school. He was active, keen on athletics, cross country and basketball. One of four siblings, he even defected from his brother’s House of Medlin to Hill House because of its sporting reputation. As for his study, he loved Geography under Mr Miller and Ms Hunt, but is particularly grateful to Ms Rutherford for her influence on his subject decisions that kept breadth in his choices and gave him options.
Despite never undertaking Legal Studies at school, Phillip went to the University of Adelaide to study a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Italian). His tertiary education included exchanges in Leeds (for Law) and Rome (for Italian) and, once he’d graduated, he began a career in commercial law. But his heart wasn’t in it.
‘Then Mum gave me the most influential piece of advice I’ve ever had. She suggested that for the next three months, I write down every brand or company that I interact with and enjoy. This would create a list of potential workplaces, all that I align with their mission and product. I could then go for roles within them, that weren’t necessarily based on me being a lawyer. It was all about getting me somewhere I felt connected and passionate, so I could ultimately find my space and thrive.
I found that most of my companies were food-related, because I’m incredibly gluttonous, but also supermarket-related. Those years I’d spent learning about running a successful one at Foodland Frewville caused me to take a step back. I knew there was another way I could drive change in people’s lives, and I went from being a lawyer to entering the grad program at Coles in 2020.’
When you consider all that followed, a step in the right direction feels like a more appropriate description, even living in Melbourne with a pandemic in the mix. Within weeks of his first shift on Valentine’s Day, people were vying for toilet paper. Then there were the Lismore floods, followed by bushfires. He saw not only how quickly you can mobilise, but also how much people depend on you to make sure that you land things well, straight away. His passion to help his community grew.
Phil’s trajectory in the supermarket space has since been steep and swift, and not all by accident. While randomly selected to interview his Chief Operating Officer when he first started, the email he sent six months later, offering to work with him directly, was off his own bat. It was ignored, so two months later, he sent another
one, and received an email from his Executive General Manager, who knew of the repeated contact, asking if he could take him on. Long story short, he worked so hard that eventually the Chief Operating Officer invited him over to Harvard to assist him with his MBA and bring the results back to Coles. Over the next five years, he worked closely with both, even leading their culture survey to bring in the best score on record.
They put him forward to support and travel with Coles CEO Leah Weckert with whom he became close. When he told her he thought he needed more international experience, it was she who put him forward for the job at Marks and Spencer. Just four months into that overseas role, he was invited to step up again, now sitting on their Leadership Team. No matter where he works, he ensures people are always aware of his intentions and he advises others to do the same.
Phil is quick to credit Pembroke for some of his success too. ‘It was fundamental in me building a mindset of growth. I remember learning new skills every Friday afternoon as a Year 7 and across all those incredible camps. I also think being surround by others, both students and staff, who are passionate and keen to succeed really sets you up well for your own success. I always felt incredibly supported. You can feel so lost and full of self-doubt at school, but the teachers made me feel comfortable to ask for help.’
Neither his Law degree nor Italian study are going to waste either. ‘I think the vast majority of time, the way I structure my thought process or attack a problem comes from law, and it’s always handy for contracts.’ Living so close to Europe has made staying fluent in his second language all the more possible via a fast and affordable trip to Rome.
On top of the obvious responsibility that comes with Phil’s current job, it’s true that they kind of revere supermarkets in the UK. They also share a deep love for prepped food. Phil tells me that the second highest selling product to water in Marks and Spencer is a chicken Caesar wrap! One that he vouches for in its deliciousness.
So, will he ever come home? Well, he misses his pooch and his family. He’s loath to let a penchant for marmite dusted cheese balls overtake his love of vegemite. And the way the Brits mess up the colour codes for packaging crisps (aka chips) still frustrates him.
But for now, he’s found his ‘duvet-flip’. That thing that makes him keen to flick off the covers and get up each morning, despite the ever-overcast London sky.
Kate Holland (1992) Old scholar
→ Phillip Mignone (2012)
→ Phillip at Marks and Spencer in London
→ Phillip Mignone (2012)
→ Phillip with Andrew Balales at Swimming Carnival → Phillip with Eliza Inglis (2012) on the Year 10 Ski Trip
Rookie of the Year
→ Preparing for a free throw for Capilano University, North Vancouver
Mia Parkin (2023): PACWEST Women’s Basketball
Mia Parkin (2023) was recently named Rookie of the Year for Canada’s Pacific Western Athletic Association, where she plays for North Vancouver’s Capilano University. Manager, Old Scholar Engagement Will Cutts spoke with Mia about her achievements, her time at Pembroke and moving to Vancouver to pursue her love of basketball.
Congratulations on being named the PACWEST Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year! How did it feel to receive that honour in your first season?
Thank you so much! It was such an honour to receive the Rookie of the Year award this year. A player on the team last year was also able to win the award, so following in her footsteps and doing the same this year was so special for me and our college. I felt so supported this year by coaching and my team, and it was such an honour to be recognised for all the work I put in this season.
Can you take us back to where your basketball journey began? When did you first fall in love with the game?
I first began to play basketball because of another Pembroke old scholar, Adele Cooper. She asked me to join Norwood Basketball Club when I was eight, for fun. I didn’t begin to take basketball seriously until I was about 13, where I found a new love for the game and began putting in work outside of team training times. This improved my basketball dramatically, and I loved pushing myself to play at the highest level possible.
Pembroke Basketball was something I was involved in from when I started in Year 8. Pembroke gave me the opportunity to play with players much older and more experienced than me, which was something I had never done before. This allowed me to become inspired and want to work to be as good as them, and it made me realise that there was so much more to still accomplish in basketball.
Besides basketball, were there any other sports, activities or subjects at Pembroke that you were passionate about?
At Pembroke, I LOVED Outdoor Education. I have always loved being outdoors and exercising which was exactly what this class was. Ms Jones was my teacher in Years 11 and 12 for Outdoor Education and her teaching allowed me to learn how to navigate and trust in a large group so our camps could go smoothly.
Another standout memory at Pembroke would have to be the House sports activities, whether that was House basketball, netball or soccer, I always loved to participate and play against all my classmates. An extension of this would be the Students vs Teachers Basketball games that took place in Year 12. It was so fun to see our teachers outside of their normal teaching environment and on the court.
How did Pembroke help prepare you for life as a college basketball player—both on and off the court?
Pembroke was a key part to my preparation for life as a college player as it allowed me to understand the importance of managing my time effectively. In Year 12 especially, I had to manage my basketball schedule, playing semi-pro and my studies. Learning this skill has allowed me to manage my training times and studies here in Canada. I had so many teachers at Pembroke who pushed me to stay on top of my work and help me navigate my life on and off the court.
A huge standout for me during my time at Pembroke was Donna O’Connor, who was such a key part to my above 90 ATAR and keeping my sanity throughout Year 12. She held me accountable to my schoolwork and constantly made sure I was doing okay and balancing everything in my life. Whether that was schoolwork, social life, working or basketball, she was always someone I could go to and someone who would help me out. I could not have had this opportunity without her.
→ Mia playing for the NBL1 Norwood team
Walk us through a typical day as a student-athlete at Capilano—how do you balance training, games and your studies?
A typical in-season day for me starts with me arriving at school at 7am for an hour of shooting before our on-court training that runs from 8 – 10am. We then go from our on-court training to the gym for a lift from 10 – 11.30am. After that I will go home before work from 1 – 3pm and then typically head straight back to school for classes and study before getting home around 8pm and going to bed! Having such full days was definitely a shock to my system at first as I found it hard to balance everything; however, learning to delegate your time and giving myself time to study at school allowed me to maintain my busy schedule and stay on top of my studies.
What has been the most challenging aspect of transitioning to college basketball, and what has been the most rewarding?
The most challenging aspect to the transition of college basketball has most certainly been being away from home. Whenever challenges arose at home, I have always had my parents, sisters and friends around to support me. Finding only myself as a support system to begin the season was really challenging and I found myself navigating most issues by myself. This also is now one of the most rewarding parts of my college transition. I have found a new independence in myself and am able to live and work for myself. I have lots of support around me here, but have also learnt to live and support myself.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently during your time at Pembroke to prepare for this next step?
If I had my time again at Pembroke, I would have signed up for the high performance Athlete Development Program. It would have given me access to brilliant coaching and more skill time to improve my basketball and further prepare me for college.
→ Lily Kent (2023), Holly Wadlow (2023) and Mia surfing as part of Outdoor Education at Pembroke
→ Mia passes the ball for Pembroke
Balancing my time at Pembroke was not always easy, particularly in Year 12 where I had such a big workload. I would find time to sit in the library with my friends and complete my work. Basketball would often mean I had lots of late nights, so getting my homework done before training was the best option for me to succeed. Donna O’Connor also helped me find time to balance both my schoolwork and basketball so I could be successful in the classroom and on the court.
What are your goals for the rest of your college career—both in basketball and academically?
For the rest of my college career, I hope to finish my Psychology degree and continue to perform on the court. I hope to one day get MVP of the league or play for a bigger school in other parts of Canada. This will allow me to continue to travel and meet new people. Mainly, I hope to continue to love it and enjoy playing the game and having fun with my teammates.
At the moment, when I come home for the summer (Australian winter), I am playing in the semi-pro NBL1 Norwood team. I would love to play pro when I finish my college career in another four years; however, it is not something I am completely set on. I would love to continue to travel the world and use my basketball to do so. I would love to play in Europe or in Japan in their leagues there.
If you could give one piece of advice to current Pembroke students who want to play sport at a high level, what would it be?
My advice to any Pembroke student would be to continue to play the sport because you love it. Everyone joined sport at some point because it is fun. Continue to play for that reason. It can be difficult balancing so many different parts of your life, especially in the last years of school when it becomes tough. Try to find the enjoyable parts of your sport again and play for that reason. There were many times where I had to miss hanging out with friends or parties for basketball, so focusing on the reason I play made it all worth it in the end.
The biggest lesson I have learnt from moving across the world is how important it is to travel. I have met so many amazing people and seen so many new places, which has just made me want to travel more. There are so many cultures and people all over the world I am yet to meet, and I am so excited to be able to continue to travel and see the world.
Will Cutts Manager, Old Scholar Engagement
→ Mia makes a shot for Capilano University, North Vancouver
→ Mia goes for a layup for Capilano University, North Vancouver
A Harmonious Journey through the Decades
The History of Pembroke Choral Society/In Unitate
Pembroke Choral Society was formed in March 1976 at the request of former choristers of the School. There were not many choirs in Adelaide that were suitable for younger people in the 70s. Many of us wanted to continue to sing.
Our first rehearsals were held in the rehearsal room in Angove House. Our first appearance was at the School Concert where we performed Vivaldi’s Gloria . We continued to feature in the School Concerts, Old Scholars Week Chapel Services, Lessons and Carols, and for 17 years at Carols by Candlelight in Elder Park.
Members of the Pembroke Choral Society in 1976:
Josephine Bills, Kathryn (Huxtable) Kay (1975), Helen Manthorpe (1975), Penny (Minks) Campbell (1975), Joanne Omond (1975), Georgina (Shearer) Featherby (1975), Jan Wilson (1974), Carolyn (Knaggs) Alexander (1974), Janet Buchan (1972), Joy Dobson (1975), Susie Lang (1974), Michelle (McGlasson) McColl (1975), Pip (Munday) Vande Kamp (1975), Jenni Pearce (1975), Peter Holmes (1974), Rick Pfeiffer, Rick Sarre (1972), Trevor Shard (1974), Christopher Breen (1975), Bruce Carter (1975), Mark Doley (1975), Bruce Hastings (1974), Peter Hill (1975), Tim Mellor (1974), Andrew Swanson (1975) and Colin Telfer.
We staged our own musicals in 1984 and 1985, produced by Rick ‘Effectively’ Sarre. His famous tag line, ‘Effectively, it will work with an audience!’. The years would involve great social occasions, weekend south coast camps, progressive dinners and Christmas dinners. This tradition continues today with healthy social activities.
The Pembroke Choral Society officially became affiliated with the Old Scholars Association in 1978. This included a representative on the committee. The choir grew to its largest in the 80s, now a select a cappella group of 18.
A couple of highlights of the early years were being part of the 2,500 voice massed choir on the eve of the South Australian Jubilee 150 and the performance of Carmina Burana in Festival Theatre, combining with all the choirs of the School in 1987.
In 1999, we changed our name, thinking that being a Choral Society may appear a little stuffy as we approached the 2000s. Derived from the School Motto Ex Unitate Vires (Out of Unity, Strength), our new name In Unitate was launched, now shortened to InU.
Our Musical Director at the time, Tim Marks, had a great love for 16th and 17th century music. We did several concerts of this wonderful music with composers including Purcell, Gabrieli, Byrd and Gibbons. Then he introduced some African melodies, Gospel rhythms, and Jazz rhythms to our repertoire. In 2002, we did a concert titled Rockapella —this was possibly the birth of our new style.
Since 2008, with the exception of 2022, we have performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival every year, providing a fantastic opportunity to share our a cappella arrangements with our audience.
Sadly, we lost our dear friend and Musical Director Tim Marks in 2016. We are what we are today because of Tim’s inspiration and vision. Tim saw that for us to continue to be successful, we needed to do something different.
Old scholar Amanda Lumsden (1992) is now our Musical Director. She brings her amazing talent and enthusiasm to rehearsals every Sunday night at the Old Scholars War Memorial Pavilion. We welcome enthusiastic choristers from many backgrounds, and we are proud that our vocal arrangements are contributed largely by our members.
As we approach our 50th year in 2026, we plan to have a golden celebration for InU and would love to include some of the 350 people who have been part of this group over the years. Please get in touch if you’d like to join the celebrations with us, via inuchoir@gmail.com or 0403 372 341.
Penny (Minks) Campbell (1975) Old scholar and founding member of Pembroke Choral Society/In Unitate
Back (L – R): Georgina (Shearer) Featherby (1975), Penny (Minks) Campbell (1975), Joanne Omond (1975), Jan Wilson (1974) Middle (L – R): Carolyn (Knaggs) Alexander (1974), Susie Lang (1974), Jenni Pearce (1975), Michelle (McGlasson) McColl (1975)
Front : Sabina (Scales) Turner (1975)
Back (L – R): Peter Hill (1975), Chris Breen (1975), Bruce Hastings (1974), Bruce Carter (1975), Andrew Swanson (1975) Front : Peter Holmes (1974) and Trevor Shard (1974)
Old Scholars Gallery
Kathryn Lymn and Meg Oates at the Class of 1985 40-Year Reunion
Guests of the 2025 Hong Kong Community Event
Student and old scholar players at the Will Chittleborough Memorial Cricket Match
Sidonie Henbest (1994) and Michael Griffiths (1991) performing at the Pembroke Arts Network Launch
2024/25 LO2 Champions
Pembroke Old Scholars Soccer Club 2024 Legends team
Julianne English and Jeremy Thomas (2019) at the Pembroke Arts Network Launch
2004 Leavers at the 20-Year Reunion
Old Scholars News
Births
Anton Andreacchio (2004) and partner Emily Small welcomed Sophia Andreacchio on 23 May 2024 at Burnside Hospital.
Sophie Mintz (2011) and fiancé James McKinlay welcomed Chloe Joy McKinlay on 27 November 2024 weighing 3.2kg at Burnside Hospital.
Phoebe Harrowfield (2010) and her partner Dave King welcomed their daughter Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Joy King on 9 April 2025 at Frances Perry House, Melbourne.
Deaths
William Morris Johnson (1953) sadly passed away on 17 November 2024, aged 89.
Lionel David Matthews (1955) sadly passed away on 18 August 2024, aged 86.
Michael Rinder (1972) King’s old scholar passed away on 5 January 2025.
Dr Milton Haseloff (1951) sadly passed away on 13 January 2025, aged 90. Milton had a career in education and was past Deputy Head at Prince Alfred College for almost 30 years. Milton won a scholarship at King’s College and supported many King’s events. He was a boarder and became Prefect in 1951.
Adam Steinhardt (1986) sadly passed away on 20 January 2025. A champion athlete and a passionate advocate for the School’s old scholar programs, Adam had a distinguished career at the Pembroke Old Scholars Soccer Club. He excelled as both a player and coach, winning multiple titles and leaving a lasting impact. A dedicated committee member for many years, he also served as President from 2012 to 2015. In 2019, Adam was awarded Life Membership, the club’s highest honour, in recognition of his outstanding contributions that helped shape POSSC into what it is today.
→ Emily Small and Anton Andreacchio with baby Sophia Andreacchio
→ Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Joy King
→ Sophie Mintz and James McKinlay with baby Chloe Joy McKinlay
Marriages
Hugh Evans (2007) and Maya Birvé were married on 2 November 2024 at St Mark’s Church Darling Point, Sydney. The wedding party included old scholars William Evans (2005), Alexander Jarvis (2007) and Charles Canny (2007).
Cassandra Mason (2013) and Sam Campagnale were married on 18 October 2024 at Ayers House, Adelaide. The wedding party included old scholars Jack Mason (2011), Hannah Dunn (2013) and Tiffany Gray (2013).
Ryan Smallwood-Simpson (2011) and Tanya Zhong were married on 29 November 2024 at Pike and Joyce. The wedding party included old scholars Dhanya Giles, Bhargav Challapalli, Jonathon McKendrick, Tristan Beasley, Vincent Portella and Jordan Stuckings (all 2011).
Josh Zoanetti (2013) and Georgia Tottman (2013) were married on 22 December 2024 at Pike and Joyce. The wedding party included old scholars Carmel Zoanetti (2007), Harriet Flavel (2008), Jordana Zoanetti (2008), Tom Tregenza, Jason Raz, Jordan Wishart and Brianna Sneath (all 2013).
Henry Ball (2010) and Harriet Nelligan were married on 14 March 2025 at Eurilla Estate. The wedding party included old scholars Angus Bills, George Horlin-Smith, Jordan Miller-Owen, Max Griguol and Brad Hill (all 2010).
Alex Bate (2011) and Kate Nelson were married on 22 March 2025 at Eurilla Estate. The wedding party included old scholar Michael Tripodi (2011).
Ivona Todorovic (2012) and Michael Vemana were married on 16 November 2024 at Golding Wines.
→ Hugh Evans and Maya Birvé
→ Ryan Smallwood-Simpson and Tanya Zhong
→ Harriet Nelligan and Henry Ball
→ Cassandra Mason and Sam Campagnale → Josh Zoanetti and Georgia Tottman
→ Kate Nelson and Alex Bate
→ Ivona Todorovic and Michael Vemana
From Our Archives
Recognising the significance of heritage helps us appreciate the cultural and historical connections that shape our environment and foster a sense of belonging. There are two hertiage-listed properties on our Pembroke grounds: Bills House, King’s Campus and Angove House, Girton Campus.
Angove House , originally known as Arowie, was built as a two-storey, stately sandstone home by James Alexander Holden in the 1870s. Mr Holden had arrived in Adelaide in 1854 and established a leatherwork and saddlery business which was later transformed into a car body business—the precursor to General Motors Holden. He sold the property in 1883. The building was bought by Mark Ridgway, a well-known art collector and dealer.
Girton Girls’ School purchased the property in 1926 and officially began the relocation process. It was used as a girls’ boarding house until the mid-1960s. It was officially named Angove House in September 1965 after Mrs Dorothy Angove, who was the second Headmistress of Girton from 1926 until 1932.
In 1969 the Commonwealth Government approved a grant for a new library to be built in 1970, which allowed Angove House to become an art and craft centre and included a room for Matriculation girls for private study. In 1971 Angove House became the cultural centre for the school, catering for art, craft and music at Girton.
Angove House was given State Heritage listing in 1989. In 2009 it became the Centre for Visual Arts, and Pembroke carried out restorations of the top and northern verandas. The upstairs room became an IB Theory of Knowledge classroom, accommodation for senior tutors and spaces for the Information Systems Department and an interview room.
Archives would like to source any photographs taken of Angove House when it was a Boarding House. If any Girton old scholars can help, please contact archives@pembroke.sa.edu.au
Remember – Archives Matter!
Bills House , originally known as Gwent House, was built as a single storey by Dr Gunson in 1882. In 1884, Brigadier General George H Dean purchased the house and added a top floor during the 1890s and extended the property in 1902.
King’s College took possession of the property on 21 December 1923 and immediately carried out further additions, building change rooms and toilets. The main building was altered and the balconies enclosed to provide sleepout accommodation for the boarders. King’s College opened on 5 February 1924. This building accommodated the Headmaster’s residence, dormitories for 17 boarders and included the Matron’s Office and a dining room.
Mr CC Shinkfield (1945 – 56) was the first Headmaster not to live in the Boarding House (as it was known) when Charlick House was built in 1950. Later, Charlick House was demolished to make way for the Middle School Resource Centre. The previous four Headmasters (Haslam, Bills, Smith and Oats) all endured living in close quarters with the boarders. There were three dormitories—Junior, Middle and Senior. The Middle dorm had a shower room adjacent and was a test of character during the winter months with cold showers only. Before Wright Hall was built, assemblies were held in the room, which later became the boarders’ lounge and is now our main Reception Office.
At the inception of Pembroke, the Boarding House was officially named Bills House after the second Headmaster, Mr James A Bills (1928 – 33). Today, Bills House is used for the Principal’s Office, administration offices, the main Reception Office and includes staff room kitchen and dining facilities.
Peta Harries Archivist
→ Gwent circa 1880s
→ Bills House in 1994
→ Arowie circa 1870s, now known as Angove House
→ Angove House in 2022
2025 Calendar
June
SACE Choreographic Night
Monday 2
Year 12 SACE Drama Performance
Tuesday 3 – Friday 6
Class of 2015 10-Year Reunion
Friday 13
Old Scholars Brisbane Event
Friday 20
Year 5 Musical
Wednesday 25 – Thursday 26
July
Darwin Community Lunch
Sunday 27
IB Diploma Programme at Pembroke Event
Wednesday 30
August
Old Scholars Sydney Event
Thursday 7
Junior School Book Week
Monday 18 – Friday 22
P&F Father’s Day Event
Friday 29
September
Middle School Art Exhibition
Tuesday 2
King’s Luncheon
Thursday 4
Barmera (Riverland) Community
Event
Friday 12
Stage 2 Dance Assessment
Monday 15 – Tuesday 16
Old Scholars Week
Monday 15 – Sunday 21
Generations Breakfast
Thursday 18
Class of 1975 50-Year Reunion
Friday 19
Music Showcase
Saturday 20
Pembroke Old Scholars
Back-to-School Workshops
Saturday 20
Pembroke Old Scholars Association AGM
Wednesday 24
Year 6 Exhibition
Thursday 25
October
Paskeville (Yorke Peninsula)
Community Event
Wednesday 1
Middle and Senior School House
Athletics Day
Wednesday 15
Valedictory Ceremony and Dinner
Friday 17
Old Scholars Melbourne Event
Thursday 23
Public Holidays & Student Free Days
Term 2
Monday 9 June (King’s Birthday)
Term Dates:
Term 2
Tuesday 29 April – Friday 27 June
Term 3
Monday 21 July – Friday 26 September
Term 4
Monday 13 October – Thursday 4 December
Term 3
Friday 5 September (Student Free Day)
Open Days
We warmly invite families considering new enrolments at Pembroke to join our Open Days.
Please register to attend an Open Day via www.pembroke.sa.edu.au/ admissions/open-days-and-tours
ELC – Year 6 Sports Day
Friday 31
Year 11-12 SACE/IB Art Exhibition
Friday 31
November
Junior School Grandfriends’ Day
Thursday 6
ELC and Reception Family Day
Saturday 8
Year 11 SACE Drama Production
Thursday 13 – Saturday 15
Pembroke Live
Sunday 16
End of Year Dance Show
Wednesday 19
Class of 2005 20-Year Reunion
Friday 21
Carols in the Quad
Sunday 23
P&F Committee AGM
Tuesday 25
Class of 1995 30-Year Reunion
Friday 28
December
Year 6 Graduation
Wednesday 3
Pembroke Awards Ceremony
Friday 6
Term 2
Wednesday 4 June (Senior only)
Wednesday 18 June (Middle only)
Term 3
Wednesday 30 July (Junior only)
Wednesday 13 August (Middle and Senior)
Thursday 4 September (Middle and Senior)
Term 4
Monday 20 October (Junior only)
Thursday 30 October (Middle and Senior)
Publications Manager
Gabbi Agnew
Email: gagnew@pembroke.sa.edu.au
Editorial Team
Gabbi Agnew (Editor) Will Cutts (Manager, Old Scholar Engagement)
Contact Website: pembroke.sa.edu.au
Telephone: (08) 8366 6200
Email: enquiries@pembroke.sa.edu.au
Please send all address changes to Reception Office
Pembroke School
342 The Parade
Kensington Park SA 5068
Telephone: (08) 8366 6200
Email: update@pembroke.sa.edu.au
Pembroke News is published twice annually. Registered by Australia Post Print Post no. 100003637
CRICOS Provider Number 00367B
Update Your Details
Are your contact details correct?
Old scholars can stay up to date with the latest news and receive invitations to upcoming events. Update your details via our website: www.pembroke.sa.edu.au/old-scholars/update-your-details
If you prefer to receive the online version of Pembroke news, please notify us via email at oldscholars@pembroke.sa.edu.au
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