Pembroke News - Spring 2023

Spring 2023 — Vision

From Our Principal

Student Achievements

Old Scholars

Edition 109

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Page 5

Page 28

Pembroke News

In this Edition Spring 2023 — Vision

03 Farewell from Our Chair 04 From Our Principal 05 Student Achievements 10 Student Ambassador at the VEX Robotics World Championships 2023 12

Meet Chris Zielinski

14

Exchange to Pembroke

18

Kakadu Trip: Environmental Systems and Societies

20 Interview with David Macdonald 24 Athletics Day Gallery 26 Year 10 Ski Trip 28 Giving Day 2023 30 Winter Sport Gallery 32

Old Scholars

34

A Lesson in Resilience

36 Dancing Queen Interview with Georgina Harris 38

Old Scholars News

40 A Lasting Impact — Interview with Old Scholar Jo Cooper (1953) 42 Old Scholars Gallery 44 Archives 46 Calendar

A Co-Educational, Non-Denominational Day and Boarding School from Early Learning Centre to Year 12.

From the Editor As we prepare to celebrate Pembroke’s 50th Anniversary and King’s College’s centenary next year, this edition of Pembroke News has highlighted the vision required in all facets of the School and its forebearers, whether it be planning for the future with the development of a new Middle School Café and Boarders Dining Room, to celebrating the efforts of those before us with the opening of the Home of Archives at 51 Park Road.

The visionary culture instilled from day one has carried through, building the Pembroke that we know today. Such vision is required of our educational institutions in order to predict future trends, prepare students for their future careers, and lead what is relevant.

In this edition we welcome our new Deputy Principal Chris Zielinski (Pages 12-13) and discuss his vision for the role and for Pembroke, including leading the way both academically and outside the classroom, and building world-class programs from ELC-Year 12.

Following the restrictions of COVID-19, our students are out in the world again, developing their own vision and learning from the vision of others before them.

One such example is the Year 11 group who travelled to Kakadu (Pages 18-19) in the Northern Territory and learned about the foresight required for cultural burning as a land management tool.

Not only are our students venturing beyond Adelaide, we are also welcoming students to Pembroke from overseas.

Read about Year 10 exchange student

Pembroke School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the IB Diploma & Primary Years Programme (PYP).

Cover Image Matilda Harris (Year 8) competes in the Tug of War at House Athletics Day

pembroke.sa.edu.au

David Lewis’s adventures in Adelaide on pages 14-17, having travelled here from Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town, South Africa.

We applaud the efforts of the entire Pembroke community on Giving Day, where we raised over $300,000 to transform the John Moody Centre. Flick to pages 24-25 to read more and see the architect’s drawings of this refreshed space for our Middle School and Boarding students.

Our old scholars shine in this edition; among others, we hear from David Macdonald (1983), drummer for Australian folk rock band The Waifs, we look forward to the introduction of Dance as a subject in 2024 with Georgina Harris (2011), and guest author and old scholar Kate Holland (1992) travels back in time to Girton with Jo Cooper AM (1953) of the Coopers Brewery family.

Along with Kate Holland, I also thank guest author Jo Bills (1972) for taking the time to sit with Amber Halliday OLY (1996). On pages 30-31 read about Amber’s Olympic rowing career, a cycling crash which led to three days in a coma and her subsequent recovery.

This edition of Pembroke News is as inspiring as ever, and as we look towards celebrating 50 years of Pembroke and 100 years of King’s College, I find myself incredibly proud to be part of this longstanding community. Happy reading.

Gabbi Agnew Editor

Farewell from Our Chair

→ Zoe Chapley (Year 7), Jane Miller, and Isaac Ho (Year 7)

In December, our wonderful Chair of Pembroke School Board, Jane Miller, will be retiring from the role and passing the baton on to fellow long-serving Board member Melissa Mellen. Here, Jane reflects on her Pembroke journey, from student to steward of the School.

I remember the day my letter came in the post to accept me as a student at the School; in fact, I still have the letter as my parents kept it for me. So, at the outset, I was taught that it is a very special place and having the opportunity to be a part of it is something to be valued. Then, when I commenced as a student, it lived up to that expectation. They were my formative years and the relationships I developed with staff and fellow students have been cherished by me ever since I left, and my core values continue to reflect the values of the School. To later be able to come back into the School again was a true joy. Having had the chance now over the past nine years to be really involved and connected has been very special.

I am feeling a bit nostalgic to see this chapter coming to an end, but I’m also extremely excited for Pembroke and the next stage for the School with Mark well settled as our Principal and a new Chair in Mel, which really places Pembroke in a great position.

Mel and I have been on the Board together for a very long time.

She was instrumental in delivering the Shipsters Road Project, and was also actively involved in the Principal recruitment process, so there have been some real flagship developments that we have helped to deliver in our time together. She will well and truly be a safe pair of hands and it will be a very easy transition. Most importantly, she is incredibly passionate about Pembroke and education in general.

Looking ahead, the new Strategic Plan has had much Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

collaboration, and through this co-design model there should be plenty of enthusiasm and ownership across the entire community. As for our 50th Anniversary next year, while 50 years in some ways doesn’t seem very old, I hope for the School community and the King’s old scholars and Girton old scholars that it solidifies a sense that we’re really here for the long term. Next year will be a point to look back and appreciate how far Pembroke has come in terms of its sustainability and presence and all of the success it’s had. However, I encourage our community to be talking about where the School will be in 100 years, and how we can now collectively and individually contribute to the future of the School and our students. Pembroke has passed from generation to generation, and I would like to see that continue – whether it’s families, staff, volunteers – it’s about a whole community providing a foundation for a bright future.

In terms of my future involvement with the School, my husband is a staff member so I will get to be his date at events rather than the other way around, I am a parent of three current students, I have my 30-year reunion coming up in 2025, and I’ll continue to be at events and engaging with people in our delightful community. I thank you all for being such a precious part of my time here at Pembroke.

Jane Miller Chair

02 — 03

From Our Principal The Shared Vision: Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future

→ Mr Mark Staker, Brandon Marlow, Tess Roberts-Thomson, Chloe Tziavrangos, Alice Sabine, and Mr Chris Zielinski at the Student Charter Launch

From the outset of my Principalship I have been asked, ‘What is your vision for Pembroke?’

I find it an interesting question in many ways, as schools are so much more than any one person. Furthermore, a school like Pembroke is built on a rich heritage stretching back over a century to our great founding schools Girton and King’s. And while Pembroke is on the cusp of its own historic milestone—50 years of quality inclusive co-education—visions do change and evolve as the world does.

There are some constants that endure, and in many ways these are encapsulated in our egalitarian spirit and lack of pretension, which reinforce a truly inclusive school for all. Co-education is core to our inclusivity, with all students sharing the mantle of leadership to live, care and learn together.

In devising our new Strategic Plan we have been working hard to develop a collaborative shared vision—one that reflects the voices of many, but one that also unites us through our hopes and dreams, honouring the past while shaping the future.

At the heart of any thriving school community lies a shared vision, a collective dream that guides its stakeholders towards common goals. It unites staff, students, parents and the broader community, cementing a sense of purpose and direction.

It fosters resilience as it provides a compass, so that when significant obstacles arise or people lose their way, they can return to the vision to remind them of the purpose and direction.

All schools and organisations need a sound vision, particularly when that vision is crafted by and for diverse groups of people.

The people who have created our vision feel empowered as they have been a key part of it; their voice has been valued and their own sense of loyalty to the School and its vision is

greatly enhanced by the process. To ensure this imperative, Pembroke committed to an inclusive co-design model that harnessed a major community survey and other engagement measures to collect feedback and insights from right across our diverse community.

In crafting our vision, the past has played an instrumental role; it’s where we learn about and understand the unique fabric of any school. I will often read the notes and newsletters of past principals to help me understand what their vision was for Pembroke—they were bold, progressive and inspirational.

To lose that would be to diminish their legacy; so, as we refine our vision within our Strategic Plan it has been enlightening to revisit the past and preserve the traditions that make our School so special.

Therefore, in our quest for a shared vision let us remember that it is not the vision of one but the shared dreams of many that can truly elevate a school community. Together we can create a future that builds upon our past while embracing the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. In unity we find strength, and we will forge a path towards the future for Pembroke.

We look forward to launching this vision as part of our new Strategic Plan in 2024 as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Girton and King’s uniting under their vision for quality inclusive co-education by establishing Pembroke. It is my great hope that the many voices that have shaped our shared vision and plan will feel valued, heard and exhilarated about the future of our incredible School.

Mark Staker Principal

Student Achievements

Liam Ng (Yr 2) won third prize for his poem ‘When Summer Is Here’ in the Year 2/3 category for the 2023 Young Writers’ Award.

Abigail Shao (Yr 12) was shortlisted for the prestigious John Locke Essay Competition.

Year 12 students Emma Baulderstone, Kyla Murfett and Stuart Vass competed at the Adelaide University Space Society 24-hour Space and Innovation Hackathon along with two other people to form Team CESKM Enterprises, where they won the Space Mining category.

Stuart Vass was also the Student Ambassador at VEX Robotics Worlds 2023. Read more about his eight days in Texas on page 10. Pembroke’s FIRST Robotics Competition team #6996 Koalafied competed in the Melbourne Robotics Tournament.

The team, which ranked first out of 16 teams from around Australia and won the tournament, comprised Daniel Wen (Yr 8), Lachlan Kemp (Yr 11), Alan Xie (Yr 7), Bryan Kang (Yr 11) and Howard Liu (Yr 8).

Old scholars Declan Briggs (2020), Ethan Nicholls (2020), Nick Betts (1987) and Byron Betts (2020) acted as mentors for the team.

Liam Ng - Year 2

Abigail Shao - Year 12

Emma Baulderstone - Year 12

Kyla Murfett - Year 12

Stuart Vass - Year 12

Daniel Wen - Year 8

Lachlan Kemp - Year 11

Alan Xie - Year 7

Bryan Kang - Year 11

Howard Liu - Year 8

Jayden Yue - Year 8

Emmanuel Lentakis - Year 8

Elise Dandie - Year 8

Nicholas Wong - Year 12

Pippa Reid - Year 5

Jayden Yue (Yr 8) won first place in the 2023 South Australia Under 15 Chess Championship.

Emmanuel Lentakis (Yr 8) reached the final shortlist for the South Australian Geography Photo Competition. His photo is displayed in a public exhibition at the State Library of South Australia in Adelaide from 16 October to 17 December 2023.

At the Australian Cross Country Championships Elise Dandie (Yr 8) represented the state and placed in the top 70 in Australia for the Girls 14 and Under 4000m.

Nick Wong (Yr 12) was selected to represent South Australia at the National Under 19 Badminton Championships. His team won the silver medal in Division 2 and he was runner-up in the Individual Boys consolation final.

On the basketball court Pippa Reid (Yr 5) won the Under 12 Division 1 title in the State Basketball Championships and played in the National Junior Classics. Sam Hughes (Yr 10) was selected into the Australian Under 17 Crocs squad and participated in a selection camp at the Centre of Excellence in Canberra.

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

04 — 05

Student Achievements Brandon Marlow (Yr 12) was awarded the 2023 Student Citizenship Award (Highly Commended) certificate and medallion from the Order of Australia Association, South Australia Branch.

Archie Vincent - Year 7

Amelia Song - Year 1

Ella Hou - Year 5

Olivia Chao - Year 3

Chloe Chandler - Year 12

Gabrielle Prider - Year 7

Gabrina Guo - Year 6

Milan Schembri - Year 8

Lucas Huang - Year 4

Izzy Vincent (Yr 12) has been selected to be an ambassador for the Sammy D Foundation. As a Sammy D Champion Izzy educates young people around the impacts of violence, bullying and the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

Younger brother Archie Vincent (Yr 7) was selected in the Norwood Redlegs Under 13 Development Squad, involving a 10-week program including games against other SANFL clubs.

Pembroke’s dancers have been busy at various competitions lately. Amelia Song (Yr 1) placed first in both the 6 and Under Jazz troupe and Song & Dance troupe in the Get the Beat dance competition.

She also placed second in the Evolution Dance Competition in 6–7 Jazz Solo. Ella Hou (Yr 5) achieved the Contemporary Merit Award for the Asian Grand Prix 2023 Sydney Regional Competition for the 11–12 years old group. She also competed at the 2023 Asian Ballet Competition, where she won a bronze medal for Contemporary Solo and a merit award for Classical Ballet Solo. Olivia Chao (Yr 3) received two first-place awards in the Jump Dance Challenge Adelaide. She won the 8 and Under Lyrical Solo and the 8 and Under Broadway Jazz Solo. She also won first place in the Ridgehaven Callisthenics Graceful Competition in the Sub Junior 9 Years Novice section. Also in calisthenics Chloe Chandler (Yr 12) was the National Champion at the 2023 Australian Calisthenics Federation National Competition for the Inter Age Solo category.

Gabrielle Prider (Yr 7) was selected to represent South Australia at the School Sport Australia Diving Championship. At the SA Diving State Championships she achieved two golds and one silver medal. She also achieved two Elite National Qualifying scores for the national competition to be held in September 2024.

Alston Ma - Year 4

Lily Bungay - Year 10

Tom Wycherley - Year 12

Olivia Souter - Year 11

Kate Thomson - Year 9

Winston Zhang - Year 7

Gabrina Guo (Yr 6) has had a successful fencing season. She won gold in the 2023 Fencing SA U15 Championship and silver in the Under 17/20 Championship. She also won the silver medal in the Fencing SA Open Andrea Chaplin Cup Women’s Foil and bronze in Singapore Minime International Fencing Festival 2023 Under 12 Girls Foil. Milan Schembri (Yr 8) won gold at the State Championships for Under 15 Épée and bronze for Open B Épée.

Student Achievements On the golf course Year 4 students Lucas Huang and Alston Ma have celebrated many achievements.

Lucas won first place in the 8–9 year old category SA Teemates 9-hole event at North Adelaide and achieved second place in the West Beach Parks 9 Hole Individual Golf Australia SA Junior Event. Alston won first place in both the Boys SA Winter Cup 9-hole competition and the Teemates 9-hole series at West Beach Parks for the 9 year old age group, and also won the US Kids Golf Adelaide Tour Regency Park Tournament for his age group.

At the State Gymnastics Championships Lily Bungay (Yr 10) came first on balance beam, third on floor, fourth on uneven bars and third overall in the Level 7 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics section.

In the Port Lincoln Gymnastics Club Invitational Championships she came first on balance beam, second on floor and second overall in Level 7. At this competition she also won the National Level 7–10 Artistry Award for balance beam.

Thomas Wycherley (Yr 12) represented South Australia at the Under 18 Hockey National Championships where he was selected in the All Australian Under 18 team. Tom has also been awarded a SASI scholarship for hockey. Olivia Souter (Yr 11) represented South Australia at the recent 16 and Under School Sport National Hockey Championships.

Olivia was selected in the All Australian team from this tournament.

Kate Ying Thomson (Yr 9) has had many achievements on the ice-skating rink, including third place in the 2023 Panda Challenge Championship in the Advance Novice division. She also competed in the 2023 Oceania International Competition, the Crystal Challenge Trophy and the Asian Open International Figure Skating Trophy. At the 2023 Hollins Trophy International Kate and Winston Zhang (Yr 7) both achieved fourth place overall.

At the 2023 Adelaide Eisteddfod our musicians performed brilliantly, with several students achieving highly. In the Woodwind division Liam Kang (Yr 6) came second in the 11 and Under category and the Grades 5/6 category. In the Piano division Miranda Teng (Yr 4) placed second in the 9 Years category.

Jayden Yue (Yr 8) won the Certificate of Performance Honour Award for the Piano division. Mia Huang (Yr 7) won first place for Grade 8 and Claire Li (Yr 7) achieved second place. Mia also won first place in the 12 Years Own Choice Piano Solo section. In another competition Mia received the Derringer Music Award for the Years 7–9 Instrumental section at the 2023 Rotary Youth Music Awards.

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

Claire Li - Year 7

Matthew Zhang - Year 3

Ruby Lee - Year 8

Amy Song - Year 10

Anika Hiriyanna - Year 8

Natasha Paran - Year 8

Natasha Eskandari-Marandi - Year 10

Lauren Harris - Year 9

Clara Carrocci - Year 9

Leon Lin - Year 10

Adison Ni - Year 8

Hunter Michell - Year 9

Jacob Miller - Year 9

James Cross - Year 9

Laura Miller - Year 5

06 — 07

Student Achievements

Mia Chapman - Year 9

Cheyenne Liu - Year 10

Jack Lawson - Year 11

Back to the Eisteddfod Matthew Zhang (Yr 3) achieved second place for the 9 Years String division, while Ruby Lee (Yr 8) achieved four individual first prizes in the String division. Ruby was also the recipient of the Adele Anthony Violin Medallion, awarded to the most outstanding violinist 13 years or under. In the Flute division Amy Song (Yr 10) achieved four placings (first, second and two thirds) and received an Honourable Mention in the Open Age Woodwind recital. Amy was also recently awarded her Associate of Music Diploma (AMusA) for Flute, with Distinction.

Other musical achievements outside of the Eisteddfod include Anika Hiriyanna’s (Yr 8) achievement of an A+ for her recent singing exam in Grade 3 Musical Theatre, and Natasha Paran’s (Yr 8) performance of Henryk Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra at Elder Hall.

Mia Teng - Year 1

Max Bush - Year 12

Ava Wilson - Year 12

Felix Hopprich - Year 11

Harry McGregor - Year 11

Hugo Sutton - Year 11

Tom Archer - Year 11

Joe McGee - Year 10

Bailey Heriot - Year 9

Harrison Chandler - Year 9

Max Black - Year 9

Patrick Sage - Year 9

In the pool Pembroke continues to dominate.

Natasha Eskandari-Marandi (Yr 10) won six medals at the SA Swimming Long Course Championships including one gold, two silvers and three bronze.

Natasha and fellow student Lauren Harris (Yr 9) also competed at the School Sport SA State Team Swimming Championships in multiple events. Clara Carrocci (Yr 9) competed in the 2023 Australian National Age Swimming Championships and achieved three silver and one bronze medal in the 14 year old Girls categories. At the 2023 SA State Swimming Short Course Championship Leon Lin (Yr 10) was awarded a bronze medal for the Male 12–16 4x50m medley relay, and Adison Ni (Yr 8) brought home one gold, three silver and one bronze medal.

The winter months allow our skiers to shine, with several students competing in the South Australian Interschools Snowsport Championships. In the alpine giant slalom (Male Division 2) Hunter Michell (Yr 9) placed second, and the team gold medal went to Pembroke’s team of Hunter, Jacob Miller (Yr 9) and James Cross (Yr 9). Also in this event Laura Miller (Yr 5) took out third place in Female Division 4. Jacob and James placed second and third, respectively, in the snowboard giant slalom (Male Division 2) and James also placed second in the snowboard cross (Male Division 2). In the ski cross (Male Division 2) Hunter took out first place, and the team gold medal went to Pembroke’s team of Hunter, Jacob and James.

Student Achievements Luke Chen (Yr 9) represented South Australia in the 2023 Australia Table Tennis National Championship where he won both gold and bronze medals.

At the Australian Youth Volleyball Championships Pembroke saw Zenya Zarcinas (Yr 10) represent South Australia in the Under 17 State Indoor Volleyball team, while Emily Vuong (Yr 9) captained the 15 and Under team that included Mia Chapman (Yr 9) and Cheyenne Liu (Yr 10). South Australia won the bronze medal and Cheyenne was also selected in the All Australian Honorarium team.

Sasha Sierp - Year 8

Dhruv Joshi - Year 11

Roy Hu - Year 5

Jerry Shen - Year 5

Sam Hughes - Year 10

Brandon Marlow - Year 12

Izzy Vincent - Year 12

Liam Kang - Year 6

Miranda Teng - Year 4

Mia Huang - Year 7

Luke Chen - Year 9

Zenya Zarcinas - Year 10

Emily Vuong - Year 9

Alex Chen - Year 8

Lucas Tziavrangos - Year 9

Jack Lawson (Yr 11) has been selected as Co-Captain in the Boys Under 17 State Water Polo team and recently competed in the National Championships.

Sisters Miranda (Yr 4) and Mia Teng (Yr 1) each won two Certificates of Merit in Junior Art, Craft & Design at the 2023 Royal Adelaide Show.

Pembroke’s two Pedal Prix ‘A’ teams were crowned National Champions for 2023 with a perfect 600 points out of a possible 600 for the season. The Senior Secondary A team (Team Centurion) included Max Bush (Yr 12), Ava Wilson (Yr 12), Felix Hopprich (Yr 11), Harry McGregor (Yr 11), Hugo Sutton (Yr 11), Tom Archer (Yr 11) and Joe McGee (Yr 10). The Middle Secondary A team (Team Phoenix) included Bailey Heriot (Yr 9), Harrison Chandler (Yr 9), Max Black (Yr 9), Patrick Sage (Yr 9), Alex Chen (Yr 8), Emmanuel Lentakis (Yr 8), Lucas Tziavrangos (Yr 9) and Sasha Sierp (Yr 8).

Dhruv Joshi (Yr 11) completed a half marathon in the Adelaide Marathon Festival.

Cub Scouts Roy Hu (Yr 5) and Jerry Shen (Yr 5) recently achieved their peak awards, the Grey Wolf Awards. These are the highest possible in the Cub Scout section and are milestones that took them three years to complete.

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

08 — 09

Student Ambassador at the VEX Robotics World Championships 2023 This is a story of how cocurricular Robotics at Pembroke School impacted me and enabled me to discover new interests, make international friends and gain valuable skills, ultimately shaping my future educational and career path—all while having fun.

→ Stuart Vass, Year 12

I’m currently in Year 12 and have been doing VEX Robotics as a co-curricular activity at Pembroke since Year 7. The Pembroke team 12223B started with three people (James Speck, James Jankowski and myself) and over the years expanded; by Year 11 we were joined by Ben Woolcock, Kyla Murfett, Jasper Yeend, Feruz Karimov and Ben Black. Our team has won state titles (2019 Design, 2019 Excellence, 2019 Robot Skills Champion, 2019 Teamwork Champion Award, 2020 Design, 2021 Design), national titles (2019 Excellence, 2020 Create, 2021 Design) and a world title (2022 Innovate LRT).

What I’ve gained from the competitions is probably different from most people. Most of the team joined Robotics because of the engineering. Gradually, over the years, I’ve done less engineering and more managing, documenting and marketing—and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s like running a small business—different people in different roles to create a final result. It’s given me the skills to lead

and talk, and allowed me to explore how I like to present information and how I design things. I’ve also had a lot of fun formatting the engineering journal; it’s very colourful, full of information and includes QR codes to my supporting videos, quotes and diagrams.

It helps showcase the hard work of the team.

In 2020 the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) called for new international Student Advisory Board members. The RECF is responsible for running the VEX Robotics competitions within countries and worldwide. I applied directly and have now served for three years.

Being on the board has been an excellent opportunity. I have virtual meetings with the 12 student board members from around the world, RECF staff and CEO Mr Dan Mantz. I’m able to see how things are run and can provide ideas, suggestions and concerns from a student’s perspective at the program level. Three years in, I can now see this advice positively affecting the real world.

In 2023 I was fortunate to be invited by Mr Mantz to attend the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas, as a student ambassador for my work on the Student Advisory Board. VEX Worlds lasts for 10 days and consists of four back-to-back competitions with more than 30,000 students and over 3,000 teams from across the United States and 56 other nations. It was amazing to support such a significant event.

My experience of the event was atypical of someone competing.

I served as a student ambassador, which meant I met with VIPs and helped with tasks for which the RECF needed a student representative. One of the most exciting moments was the four opening ceremonies’ Parade of Nations. My role was to help distribute flags to each country’s team and support them before they took to the stage. It was a moment of unity where diverse cultures and backgrounds came together to celebrate our shared interest in robotics. Additionally, I had the privilege of carrying the flag for countries without a representative as a gesture of respect for each participating nation.

Seeing so many student board members and staff that I’d met with virtually was exciting. I also saw behind the scenes, including talking about robotics at three sponsor lunches, presenting trophies at the Educators Conference, running the ballot papers to the judges, enjoying dinners with the other student advisory members, and having fascinating conversations with staff about AI and the future of the competitions. By working both alone and with the other student ambassadors, I honed various STEM skills, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving and STEM advocacy. Interacting with diverse groups such as students, teachers, coaches, VIPs and officials enriched my skills and cultural awareness, fostering personal growth.

And, as my first time overseas, it was a delight to see squirrels in the nearby park! Although it is cliché to say the experience has left a lasting impact on my life, from the rush of excitement in attending such a huge event, to working with other students and growing and learning, representing Australia and serving the community internationally, it’s opened the world to me.

Mr Mantz also asked me to present at the Educators’ PD+ Conference. With this audience I shared the impact that my Pembroke Robotics team, dedicated teachers and the VEX Robotics program have had on my life.

Thank you to my team, other teams, my teachers, the School, volunteers, sponsors, parents and the RECF for supporting various aspects of my and my team’s involvement with Robotics over my years at Pembroke.

During VEX Worlds I sought out the Australian teams, including those from Pedare Christian College (South Australia), Djirikitj Firebirds (Yolŋu students from East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory) and the eastern states.

If you are thinking about joining Pembroke co-curricular Robotics, go for it! There are so many avenues to do what you love beyond just designing robots.

Stuart Vass Year 12

“... from the rush of excitement in attending such a huge event, to working with other students and growing and learning, representing Australia and serving the community internationally, it’s opened the world to me.”

→ Stuart Vass, Student Ambassador, at the VEX Robotics World Championship 2023 in Dallas, Texas

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

→ VEX Robotics World Championship 2023 Opening Ceremony in Dallas, Texas

10 — 11

Meet Chris Zielinski

→ Deputy Principal Chris Zielinski

→ Chris Zielinski with Patrick Sage (Yr 9) and Bonnie Jeong (Yr 9)

This semester Pembroke welcomed a new Deputy Principal, Mr Chris Zielinski. Hailing from Melbourne with his family, he joins Pembroke with a wealth of knowledge, experience and excitement for the years ahead. I met with Chris to discuss all things Pembroke, moving to Adelaide and taking on the Deputy Principal role.

Hi Chris, welcome to Pembroke. What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

What is your vision for yourself in the role and for the School?

I love the vibrancy of schools, and the thing I love about a Deputy Principal role is that no day is ever the same. I love the broad exposure that I have to different aspects of the school, and I’m looking forward to having my hand in learning both in and out of the classroom from ELC to Year 12, across SACE and IB, plus all the co-curricular activities at Pembroke. It’s a really unique opportunity.

Pembroke has a proud and rich history. In the humble and respectful way that the School goes about its operations, I’d like to be part of refreshing things to not only stay relevant but to lead what is relevant. An example is the tertiary pathways for students—the School could have a hand in directing the conversation rather than having the system ‘done to it’. As for me and my vision, it’s to support the Principal and the staff.

They are the experts, they’ve got the know-how. My approach is to assist them to do the best for the students. When we allow staff to contribute to their areas of passion and expertise, the School and students shine. Largely, my experience with schools is enjoying the additional programs that schools have to offer. Above Pembroke’s excellent curriculum, I would like to see world-class programs from ELC to Year 12, allowing ageappropriate opportunities for students throughout the journey.

We have a social imperative to be serving and to have an element of service in our trips and co-curricular opportunities.

How were the first few weeks and what were your first impressions of Pembroke?

There was always going to be a steep learning curve—so many new faces and places to learn. It makes you realise how harshly we can mark ourselves when we’re learning a new skill or experiencing something for the first time. Before I started, a few students took me on a tour of the School, and speaking with them made me so excited to be here. They gave me a really good sense of what it’s like to be at Pembroke. Speaking with the community, there is genuine pride and love of the School, which is so great to hear. Although I’ve come from a girls’ school, I’ve worked in co-education before, and it was an intentional choice to come back to co-education. I think people do a disservice to boys and girls when they assume they can’t work together. There are some things we need to do differently compared to single-sex schools, but throughout boarding, trips away (such as outdoor education or international trips) and even interactions in the yard, it all feels very genuine.

What’s your favourite day on the School calendar?

I really like those ‘rite of passage’ events where staff, students and parents have the opportunity to stop and reflect on how far we’ve come, and on the hard work that everyone puts in. It’s so nice to celebrate the student achievements, no matter how big or small they are. Whether it’s the Reception students’ 100 Days of School celebration or the Year 12 Valedictory, or anything in between, we see an outpouring of gratitude to those who have invested so much time—teachers, parents and students alike.

What are your favourite school memories from when you were young?

I grew up in Melbourne, and I remember school as a place where I could roll in as early as 6.30 am for sport training, and roll out as late as 8.00 pm having accessed extra study time or support from teachers. Having a supportive network of people and having creative and physical outlets brought out the best in me in terms of study. My lasting memories will always be the staff and students who were walking alongside me for the schooling journey. My favourite teachers were not the ones from whom I got the best grades, but the ones who understood me and cracked the code of how to get me working well. It’s the unexpected things, the extra bits and enhancements, that I enjoyed the most.

A deputy principal has to be a jack-of-all-trades. What’s the most unexpected skill or talent you’ve had to tap into while on the job?

Aside from all the ‘pandemic skills’ like contact tracing and temperature testing, probably egg flipping on the barbecue! I’m happy to put my hand up to help wherever it’s needed, and the barbecue is often that place!

If you could be a student again for a day, which year level at Pembroke would you pick, and why?

It’s got to be ELC or Year 12—the bookends. The play-based learning really speaks to me in the ELC, and I’d get to hang out with my kids! And the Senior School feels almost like a tertiary campus in the way that classes and activities are undertaken, and the tempered way that staff and students interact. Those well-formed relationships speak to Mrs Piggott’s leadership of the Senior School.

→ Mark Bennett, Anthony Carrocci, Chris Zielinski and Carl Salt

What’s your favourite thing to do on a well-deserved holiday?

It’s normally something active—I sometimes have trouble sitting still! We were lucky enough to have a week in Thailand before we moved from Sydney, which was a brilliant mix of activities, relaxing and seeing different cultural aspects. It might seem strange but I love going to supermarkets in different countries and seeing different products and buying obscure flavours of different snacks. So yes, if I had to pick, my top three favourite things would be food, activities and relaxation.

What is your family enjoying most about Adelaide? How are your boys enjoying Pembroke?

They are enjoying Golden North Giant Twins the most, I think!

We’re really enjoying exploring Adelaide. South Australia and Adelaide have so much natural beauty to offer, whether its zoos, beaches or playgrounds. It’s also great that it doesn’t take 45 minutes to get anywhere! The boys have really hit the ground running in the ELC. Our educators are so welcoming and have made it so easy for us. Between staff, parents, students and children, there are a lot of people invested in the Pembroke community and it means that we had an instant social network, which has been great.

What is your best advice for Pembroke students?

Lean in. Regret is unfortunate and you don’t want to look back on one of the best opportunities you’ll have in your life and think ‘I could have done more.’ The opportunities available at Pembroke are never-ending, so you can really do things you wouldn’t otherwise. Try the co-curriculars you won’t be able to do once you leave, and take advantage of all that’s on offer.

Gabbi Agnew Publications Manager

→ Alexandra Piggott, Chris Zielinski, David Dall (1992) and Alex Dall (1995)

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

→ Staff-Student Basketball Game

12 — 13

Exchange to Pembroke

My name is David Lewis and I am an exchange student from Bishops Diocesan College, an all-boys’ school in Cape Town, South Africa.

Bishops has fostered an exchange relationship with Pembroke for 18+ years, and I have been fortunate to be involved in the first opportunity in over three years following COVID-19.

Back in South Africa I was at a co-ed school called Sweet Valley from Years 1 to 7, after which I moved to Bishops in Year 8. At Bishops I am deeply invested in my school and involved in all academic, sports and cultural areas of school life.

I saw this exchange as the perfect opportunity to take part in something bigger than me and represent my school abroad.

Of course the thought of travelling to a completely foreign school in a completely foreign country over 10,000 km away felt a little daunting at first.

This would be the first time I had ever taken an overseas flight on my own.

However, the thought of all that I could gain from a trip like this motivated me to take it on—and oh, am I so glad I did! I knew that this would be my chance to gain independence, test myself and see how I would cope with living away from home for an extended period of time.

The lessons you learn on the exchange are truly invaluable. For example, one of my lessons was how to deal with extreme disappointment after unfortunately suffering a ski injury on the Year 10 Ski Trip at the beginning of the term and finding out that I would be off sport for the rest of my stay. This came as a huge blow to me as I love my sport and had looked forward to playing Hockey for the Pembroke team. However, in dealing with this huge disappointment I learnt how to make the most of what I still could do. Out of it I emerged stronger. I made sure to make the most of some of the incredible subjects on offer here at Pembroke. I especially enjoyed my metal class, which fostered many useful skills and where I had complete freedom to design and produce my own bracket and wind-chime.

→ The ‘SA:SA’ students (South Africa/ South Australia)

→ Madi Eskinazi (Yr 10 Exchange) and David at the historical Lyndhurst Ochre Quarry Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

14 — 15

I also learned the importance of effective communication, organisation and proper time management in order to make the most of my somewhat limited time here in Adelaide.

→ Marree Trip students on a sandstone ridge

The overriding reason why I have loved my time at Pembroke so much is because of the incredible community that I was accepted into from day one. Pembroke is such an inclusive and diverse school, which was immediately evident to me as soon as I started at the beginning of the term. It was this inclusion and sense of belonging that left me so sad to leave. The connections, friendships, countless laughs and memories will last a lifetime. For this reason and the life skills I learned along the way, I could not speak more highly of my exchange at Pembroke and would certainly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity.

I was lucky enough to join in on two absolutely amazing School trips—the Ski Trip and Marree Trip. In just 2 weeks I had witnessed both of Australia’s extremes!

From shredding fresh powder to exploring the outback of Australian culture, each so different but yet incredibly special and littered with many memorable moments.

Other highlights of my trip were the King’s Champions League Soccer tournament during PE, being included in the Student Voice Executive and the Oats House events. I especially enjoyed being involved in the House Rowing and winning the Year 10 House Debate. I also managed to get out to an AFL Showdown game, which was like none other—the atmosphere was electric and great to witness in person.

Up in the Adelaide Hills I visited Cleland Wildlife Park and spent a day with Nick Brockhoff (1997) at his farm doing ‘Aussie things’ such as herding cows while walking alongside kangaroos just five metres away; Nick is a Pembroke old scholar and former Pembroke outdoor activity instructor.

And so, looking back, I can confidently say that I have lived the Aussie life and it sure ain’t too bad! I will forever be grateful to all those teachers, staff and fellow students who contributed to a truly unforgettable experience. I will forever cherish my days in the land down under!

David Lewis Year 10 Exchange Student

Exchange to Pembroke Gallery

Holding a bearded dragon at Lake Eyre

Marree group

Madi and David at Coward Springs near Marree

Year 10 Oats Tutorial Group

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

David and Hamish Kroehn (Yr 10) at the Lyndhurst Ochre Quarry

David, Angus Townsend and Yibin Khuu (all Yr 10) at Mt Hotham

King’s Champions League team The Pickford Piggies: Jesse MacDonald, Max Davis, David, and Jonty Jamieson (all Yr 10)

Jake Wong, David Lewis, Frank Shen and Amy Song (all Yr 10) after winning the Year 10 House Debate

David and Madi at Mt Hotham

16 — 17

Kakadu Trip: Environmental Systems and Societies There was something special, even spiritual, about standing in a place like Kakadu’s Ubirr rock escarpment in the late afternoon, watching the wetland below us slowly crackle under the maintenance of a coolseason Top End burn.

Whistling kites wheeled around effortlessly in the convection gyres, and the pall of purple smoke gently unfurled across the plain. Intentional and methodical mosaic burns such as these are a testament to the way that people modify the landscape while showing respect for its complexity and the bounty it provides. Fire is a contradictory force that yields life and regeneration. It is cleansing and nurturing, and integral to the Top End’s ecology. To learn about its use is to learn about our own place in the world, fostering respect for both nature’s power and its delicacy.

We travelled to Kakadu to consolidate and enhance our learning of the IB subject Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS). Only through such immersion do the rich interconnections between environmental and societal needs and values, which are core to the course, reveal themselves. While ESS acknowledges the extent to which humans threaten the very processes that support our existence, it also includes hope and optimism about solutions, retrospection and atonement.

Every trip to Kakadu is different. Some of us had been there before, but witnessing it at different times brings about an understanding of its special ecological nuances. The ESS course is a fantastic opportunity to learn about different environments and cultures. In our first topic we learned about contrasting environmental viewpoints, and how people’s impressions of the environment are based on their lived experience. During our trip we investigated the practice of controlled burning, which involved learning more about the culture of the First Nations people who live in the Kakadu region. We met with Mr Peter Christophersen, or Christo, a former Pembroke parent and expert on the local wildlife, culture and its management, and were privileged to be shown around by him. We were also able to visit the Bowali Visitors Centre and Warradjan Aboriginal Culture Centre to learn more about the wildlife and history of Kakadu, as well as the significance of the area to local Indigenous people. A few of us were even given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assist with a controlled burn using traditional methods.

We were accompanied in the Northern Territory by Mr Adrian Friedel, Mr Simon Miller and Ms Elise Walker. We stayed in cabins on the first and fourth nights, but for the second and third we were in tents. We had time for our own recreation and personal reflection over the course of the trip, and some of us undertook an incredible fishing experience, with barramundi on the menu. On the first day we went to Jabiru, and learned about the history of mining in the area and the efforts to rehabilitate waste-rock landforms.

The trip was also an opportunity to collect data for our major Internal Assessment, which was themed around the characteristics of areas subject to different burning frequencies and regimes.

On the second and third days, after an incredible Yellow Water Billabong cruise with several up-close but tightly controlled crocodile sightings, we headed into the bush to undertake our data collection. Some students looked at species identification and proportional assemblages, while others carefully measured elements relating to structure, stratification and ecosystem function.

The last couple of days included a final dinner with Christo and then the viewing of some huge magnetic termite mounds, as well as many dips into natural rock pools on the drive back to Darwin via Litchfield National Park. This trip was an amazing experience—it was eye-opening to be immersed in a different and unique natural environment—as well as creating new friendships along the way.

Our ESS experience was both enriching and inspiring, leaving us with a deeper understanding of the intricate relationships within our environment and a heightened sense of responsibility to protect and conserve our planet.

Overall, the ESS anticipated course has been fast-paced but rewarding, thanks to the interesting subject matter and the flexibility it has given us as both a science and a humanities subject. The course is a great option for anyone interested in land and water management, environmental solutions, contemporary thinking and open-mindedness. As humanity hurtles towards any number of irreversible tipping points, the better informed and more connected we are, the more prepared we will be to withstand and adapt to the challenges they present.

Lucy Sage, Phoebe MacLaren and Manal Choudhury Year 11

Students on the Ubirr rock escarpment watching the controlled burning in Kakadu

Yellow Water, Kakadu

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

Past parent Peter Christophersen and Phoebe MacLaren (Yr 11)

Harry Willis (Yr 11) and Peter

18 — 19

Interview with David Macdonald (1983)

I have been a fan of Australian band The Waifs since seeing them perform in a hotel in Broome way back in 1992. They were a fledgling trio at that point, having only formed some months earlier in Albany, Western Australia, and then had worked their way up the coast. Vocalist sisters Vicky and Donna Simpson and guitarist Josh Cunningham were clearly special even then. Thirty-one years, eight albums, numerous ARIA awards and many national and international tours later, including a tour of the United States in 2003 supporting Bob Dylan, The Waifs’ revered place in contemporary Australian culture is confirmed.

When did you first realise that you wanted to be a professional musician and how did you go about making this vision a reality?

That’s a trick question, right? Even though I’m typing these thoughts from a hotel room while on a national tour drumming for The Waifs, it still doesn’t seem real or quite professional, yet.

But, to your question, although I never really shone musically as a kid (but was lucky enough to have a musician-turneddentist in dad, a piano at home, and a mother supportive of the arts), my curiosity and fascination of music was a constant throughout school life, with my dabbling in recorder then piano then trumpet then classical guitar and eventually an electric

In 1998 The Waifs met Pembroke old scholar David Ross

guitar in Year 11. Then I formed a rock band ‘The Tablets’ with

Macdonald (1983) at the Port Fairy Folk Festival and invited

fellow Pembroke buddies Simon Edwards and Bruce Campbell

him to drum for them as they couldn’t afford to fly their regular

and a zany uni astrophysics student called Andrew Allison.

drummer to their next gigs! Now, 25 years on, Dave is still with

I was now totally into music but also totally into water polo,

The Waifs and currently on a national tour. I was lucky enough to be able to get in touch with Dave through a mutual acquaintance, and I asked him about his journey.

tennis, skate boarding, surfing and science. Also, my fandom for geology began thanks to Pembroke hiring a firebrand Geology teacher called Brian Pennington. What a legend—he turned me into an earth scientist from day 1, Year 12!

→ David on stage with The Waifs, Brisbane, July 2023

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

20 — 21

It wasn’t until after a stellar run as a research geologist for World Geoscience Corp. and CSIRO in WA (while also mucking around experimental Indi bands as a complete hack on drums) that I saw a performance of a local Perth jazz group on TV with this one young drummer who was just killing it. I later found out his name, Chris Tarr, and he went on to do big things in the US and now lectures at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), the college I was to get my future jazz tuition at.

doesn’t mean you’ll be successful at it, nor that being successful as a musician means you’re any good at your instrument. Try applying that logic to most other professions.

Oblivious to the odds, I found a great drumming tutor (Bruce Devenish); we drew up a 2-year plan to get me ready to audition for jazz drumming at the WAAPA Conservatorium of Music and I just obsessively learnt the technical essentials of jazz drumming, almost like you’d learn jujitsu, totally focused and systematically.

Two years later I scraped through the auditions and then quit my CSIRO position to study full-time.

After 2 years of college I was so wrapped up in music, playing in over half a dozen lineups, that I didn’t even graduate! I just melded into a scene of drumming in jazz groups, a jug band, art rock experiments, cover acts, wedding bands and busking duos. It was crazy, fun, totally bonkers chaotic, and it’s making me nostalgic. I also had to pick up part-time work as a contract geo to pay the bills.

And then one day in 1998 while on tour in Victoria playing washboard for a jug band, The Ragabillys, I met The Waifs in a Guinness tent at Port Fairy Folk Festival, and I had a laugh and got an invitation to play drums for them in Western Australia because they couldn’t afford to fly their drummer over for the tour. They paid me $100 a day. It was awesome and, somehow, I kept getting the invite to join them on the road and in the recording studio, and suddenly it’s 25 years of touring since that chance meeting!

What was it like to meet and support Bob Dylan?

Meeting Bob—well, that was something. Actually, we were instructed not to talk to him, but he chatted briefly to some of us. Not too many words were exchanged really. He did buy us all smart-looking country shirts to wear! We got the impression, though, that Bob may have wanted the opening act from Australia to look a little less shabby on stage. The shirts were maroon and yellow with rope and gun embroidery, not our usual jeans and t-shirts, which we returned to after a few shows. Ultimately though, it was a huge honour and surreal experience to be there for 30-plus Dylan shows.

Do you have any memories of Pembroke that you’d like to share? → Brisbane, 2023

While watching Chris Tarr perform on TV I was transfixed, stunned. He was creating so much music and vibe on the drum kit and at that moment I remember clearly something switching on within me—a new calling, you could say, along the lines of ‘I want to feel what it feels like to be so inside that musical experience, I wanna be a jazz drummer’. That was the moment I decided to begin dedicating my life to music, I think, and I did call my mum that day and say as much. After that I’d catch myself on more than one occasion looking through my CSIRO computer screen and asking myself, ‘Is this it? Is this all there is? What am I doing here?’.

(Side note, I LOVED my job as an earth scientist and this was a dilemma).

As I’d later discover, there is no road map to becoming a touring professional drummer; there’s just luck, some good timing and more luck. I’d also realise that being great at your discipline

Too many to share, so here’s the immediate shopping list: • Meeting Principal John Inverarity on my first day of school in Year 8. He came up to me and my best friend Alex (Sandy) Cameron and said, ‘Hey boys, welcome to your first day at Pembroke, it’s also MY first day too!’

• Ricky from Coober Pedy tearing it up on the drums during Friday lunchtime rock jams at the Middle School Music rooms.

• Garry Chisholm taking the highest (knee on opponent’s shoulder) mark at a Saturday arvo footy match, landing square on his back from 8 feet up, then kicking the goal while totally winded—legend!

• Kylie Alp in full force in the Water Polo pool (I was the team’s goalkeeper). I could never stop her shots; she was a gun! Also, the Tottman lads were a force of (aquatic) nature that generated their own weather system at the State Schoolboy Championships— totally brilliant.

→ Mr Russell’s 1983 Tutorial with David Macdonald (back right)

• Todd Viney using a Year 10 student as a battering ram to fend off a bunch of us who were trying to wrestle him after he set a wager that said bunch couldn’t tackle him to the ground. Todd won that bet. Also, watching Todd and Roger Rasheed try and beat each other at tennis was just plain nuts—two magicians with rackets.

• The Battle of The Band gigs were just epic! I was in The Tablets; we lost but wore the best paisley shirts and court jester outfits.

Our drummer Bruce had his own car, an old Corolla that he drove to school, and we’d cruise around listening to David Bowie on his ghetto blaster at lunchtime if we could sneak it.

• Playing lunchtime ’smash ball’ in the Senior School—very few rules, all welcome, plenty of opportunity for dental and orthopaedic interventions, which was totally covered by the parents of participants of said activity.

• The two computer nerds who ruled the ‘computer lab’ (the School had a single Intel 286 PC), who showed me two computer games, one called Blitzkrieg and the other Dungeons & Dragons.

• My Year 12 Geology teacher Brian Pennington, who totally reshaped and inspired my appreciation of the earth sciences and consoled us students after a punishing matriculation final exam; he was a great educator and kind guy.

Did your school days help form you as a person and/or musician?

Pembroke had a critical role in shaping me but exactly how feels hard to pinpoint. I remember myself as a self-conscious and somewhat anxious teen, socially awkward, feeling and seeking connection and meaning predominantly through sports. That’s a weird way of saying that sports helped me to become a musician.

But in sport I was free to express some of my potential, which possibly provided a firmer platform to be more confident in other areas of life. Music came next.

Maybe anything that builds a little confidence in early life becomes a toehold to the next challenge that might have otherwise

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

seemed too intimidating. So that’s where the many facets of school life all refract to help us shine in unpredictable and surprising ways, lighting up a new path to explore. Hard to say, but being given a choice of opportunities to shine feels like a good idea at any rate.

Is there any advice you can share with our students about pursuing a passion?

Music has been a calling for me rather than a profession, so let’s start there. Next, instead of pursuing a passion it might be more interesting to flip that and think on how that passion is actually pursuing you. Maybe you can slow down a little, let it catch up.

Maybe then you’ll discover it was always there but hidden in full view? So, we go from chasing a ball of passion to floating down the river of it. Here, there is an ever-present invitation to play within that body of water, finding a flow and not fighting the currents.

I say all this because it is easy to be hard on yourself. Ambition and goals can be cruel masters and hide from view the beauty and essence of the process of living a passionate life. If you don’t let the joy of practice and play into your process, then you’re going to miss the ride. So, go easy on yourselves when reaching for the thing— that’s easier said than done, but why not?

Finally, I feel that I need to acknowledge that luck has provided an invisible resonance to that calling. Just like sound, luck bounces and reverberates between and throughout us, and so how we share our luck is possibly what best manifests our lives.

I’ve long held the belief that to live in a society that provides us with the freedom and liberty to express yourself artistically and honestly is freakishly lucky, and is also an invitation to be yourself, to experiment and mess with the dials of life. And to be kind.

As my partner often says to me when we’re dithering on some harebrained creative notion, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’

She’s got good advice.

Tim O’Loughlin Emeritus Head of Publications

22 — 23

Athletics Day Gallery

Luca Schmitt (Yr 12) clears the High Jump bar

Josh Pannell (Yr 12)

Max Davis and Joe McGee (both Yr 10)

Sam Creighton (Yr 12)

Oats House cheer on their competitors

Elizabeth Lim (Yr 12) competes in the Long Jump

Maya Bentley (Yr 9) jumps the hurdles

Runners clear the hurdles on Athletics Day

Johnny Phan (Yr 7) in the Tug of War for Medlin House

Hana Melzer (Yr 11) competes in a relay

Smith House, Athletics Day Champions for the fourth year in a row!

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

Mellor House supporting their team

Seb Sobels (Yr 12) competes in the High Jump

Kiera Sutherland (Yr 9) and fellow competitors

Holly Creighton (Yr 10) running for Reeves House

24 — 25

Year 10 Ski Trip

Leading up to the Ski Trip, it was all we could talk about. After many meetings on the specifics and details of the trip, and with a personalised jumper in hand, everyone was excited.

→ The Year 10 Ski Trip group

Due to COVID-19 the trips had been cancelled in the years prior, and so everyone knew how fortunate we were to have the opportunity to take part in this trip. We are lucky to be able to take extra-curricular trips with Pembroke, especially one such as this, as the trip focuses on spending time with your peers and getting to know people from the Pembroke community whom you otherwise may not meet.

Mount Hotham was the chosen location, all the way through Victoria on a 14-hour bus ride. We were incredibly fortunate as the weather was clear and sunny; we had ‘bluebird’ days almost the whole week away. In Mount Hotham we regularly took the shuttle to Hotham Central, where there was a variety of restaurants and stores and, most importantly, the ski slopes.

Some of us had never seen snow and others were advanced skiers and snowboarders, although the disparity allowed us to teach and learn from one another. The trip broadened our skills on the slopes, and many who were beginners at the start of the week were confident coming down blue runs by the end. This was due to teamwork, perseverance and fantastic instructors.

From ploughing down the mountain to parallel turns and hockey stops, there was a lot to learn. Despite this, every new skill learnt and progression felt like an enormous achievement.

The transition from green runs to blue runs was a fulfilling, exciting and undoubtedly clear step in our progress and filled us

→ Year 10 students Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

with a sense of pride like no other. As our days began with a 1.5hour lesson, most students felt comfortable on the slopes and improved greatly. Free skiing filled up most of our afternoons; in this time without an instructor, reading of the map and locating where we were and where we needed to be proved necessary. We had to make sure that we arrived for lunch on time, and were back at the lodge at a certain time. Fortunately, after much perseverance, we made it through and could find our way around the mountain easily. Although off the mountain, we enjoyed staying in two lodges, the Kalyna Lodge and the Jalanga Lodge. Throughout the week we learnt to live in close quarters with one another and understood how to respect each other’s boundaries while living with them too.

We highly recommend this trip to others as it was an unforgettable experience that was thoroughly enjoyed.

Everyone learnt so much from the trip, and not just on the slopes. Independence, courage and perseverance were all attributes necessary for us Pembroke students to really get the most out of the trip. We lived together, ate together and skied together, and every moment was a blast. It was an entertaining way to end the mid-year break and a wonderful way to spend time with our friends, gain independence and, of course, learn to ski.

Taylah Le, Katrina Chen, Lara Kidman and Caitlin Vass Year 10

→ Ariel Higgs, Evie Angus, Ali Burns, and Roszi Bentley (all Yr 10)

→ Kasey Kamadi and Savanna Ng (both Yr 10)

26 — 27

Giving Day 2023 Bringing our community together for a brand-new Middle School Café and Boarders Dining Room!

→ Middle School students say ‘THANK YOU’

→ Chris Zielinski, Mark Staker, and Jessica London at the Junior School Coffee Morning

→ Coffee morning at the Junior School

→ Barbecue lunch hosted by the boarding students

→ Molly Li (Yr 12), Amanda Bourchier, Danielle Yunupingu, and Harrison Hammat (both Yr 12) cooking the barbecue

On 17 August we celebrated Giving Day, a day when our community came together with unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to support a truly worthy cause. It was a day filled with spirit and action, with many individuals contributing generously.

The Middle School campus was buzzing with a hot doughnut and popcorn sale, with a percentage of proceeds supporting the cause. Middle School staff enjoyed a delicious morning tea and gave generously in support.

The results were remarkable. Together, with support from our generous pioneer donors and many others in the community, we managed to raise over $300,000, a substantial sum that will be used to help transform the John Moody Centre on our King's Campus.

Our boarding students must be commended for hosting a delicious bacon and egg roll barbecue at lunch on the Senior School campus, and a raffle and soft drinks sale across both the Middle and Senior Schools. All up, thanks to the incredible efforts

by Middle and Senior School students and staff, $1,682 was raised—another fabulous achievement!

This transformation will bring about a new Middle School Café and a Boarders Dining Room, along with the opening of Yellow Submarine Too Café on Shipsters Road. These developments are set to make a significant impact and touch countless lives.

We were so thrilled to see each sub-school enthusiastically support Giving Day. The day kicked off with a coffee morning at the Junior School attended by many parents, staff and Board members. Our juniors raised almost $600 in gold coin donations—what a great result!

We now eagerly await the commencement of the transformation of the John Moody Centre, and greatly look forward to its opening and sharing it with our community. Thank you to everyone who got behind Giving Day; we are so proud of our community for this incredible effort and for supporting us so generously.

Catriona Neil-Dwyer Philanthropy Manager

Architect Renders of the Middle School Café and Boarders Dining Room

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

28 — 29

Winter Sports Gallery

Olivia Kang (Yr 3) prepares to throw the ball in during a netball game against St Peter’s Girls’ School

Will Kennett (Yr 12) playing 1st XV111 Boys Football against Scotch College during the Winter Intercol competition

Ruby Knights (Yr 7) representing Wright House during Middle School House Cross Country

Johnny Li (Yr 6) clears the ball away from goal during a soccer game against Prince Alfred College

Adele Cooper (Yr 12) playing Open A Netball

Dheer Shah (Yr 7) looking focused during a mountain bike competition

Everett Webb (Yr 12) playing Open A Basketball

Danielle Yunupingu (Yr 12), Abbey Yunupingu (Yr 11) and Emilio Berryman (Yr 11) at the Yunupingu Cup during the Indigenous Sports Round

Jack Hamzah (Yr 11) playing 1st X1 Boys Soccer against Scotch College during the Winter Intercol Competition

Reesey Trang-ho (Yr 8) playing netball during the Winter Interschol competition

Eliza Pannell (Yr 10) playing Open A Hockey against Scotch College

Enoch Osei-Tutu (Yr 11) playing Open A Basketball

Thomas Fang (Yr 10) strikes the ball during a 1st X1 Boys Soccer game

Zoe Whittam (Yr 8) preparing to shoot a goal against Scotch College during the Winter Intercol Competition

Eddie Hill (Yr 11), Daniel Sims (Yr 11), George Cother (Yr 11), Ash Rawlinson (Yr 11), Jack Robinson (Yr 11), Mitchell Sims (Yr 12) celebrate a goal against Scotch College during the Winter Intercol competition

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

Elise Dandie (Yr 8) representing Yates House during Middle School House Cross Country

Lachy Antic (Yr 10) playing Mixed Touch Football

Annabelle Gilder (Yr 9) prepares to strike the ball in Open A Soccer against Westminster School during the Winter Interschol competition

30 — 31

Old Scholars

President’s Report Captain Eddie ‘Cookie’ Cook. Eddie, with his fast right-arm prowess, comes with invaluable experience, having represented Kensington Cricket Club and previously shining with the Pembroke Firsts Cricket team under the able guidance of Coach Tom ‘Tucker’ Evans (2007). Other notable players in the team include Max ‘Macco’ Nicholas, Sam ‘Fruity’ Ross (2022), Angus ‘Lowndsy’ Cother (2022), Nathan ‘Tuey’ Tu (2022), Nick ‘Wiggy’ Wigg (2022), Tom ‘Chopper’ Reid (2022), Archie Richardson (2022), Jamie ‘Dunny’ Dunn (2022), Huw ‘Chadders’ Chadwick (2022) and Harrison ‘Stocky’ Stock (2022).

With the arrival of spring, I am delighted to share my President's Report, providing an overview of exciting developments within our community.

We begin by celebrating the outstanding achievement of the Pembroke Old Scholars Soccer Club, who clinched victory in the Football SA Community Women's Division 1/2/3 Cup final. This success underscores the dedication and skill of our alumni, embodying the high standards that define Pembroke.

As the cricket season unfolds, it's an absolute pleasure to introduce the talented individuals that form the new T20 team of Pembroke old scholars. Leading from the front is Captain Ethan Holmes (2022), renowned for his right-arm bowling.

Aiding him in leadership duties is Vice

Pembroke Old Scholars’ Affiliated Clubs

Our recent Sydney Old Scholars Event featuring guest speaker Emily Griggs (1991) was a resounding success. With more than 25 years of television experience, Emily has produced many shows across most genres. Her credits include The Secret Life of 4 Years Olds, I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! and Married At First Sight. Emily's insights resonated with our alumni, reinforcing the enduring bonds that unite us. This event's popularity reflects the robust spirit of our community, which continues to thrive.

In July the Darwin Community Lunch brought together 30 members of our community, including old scholars, parents and future parents. These gatherings play a pivotal role in nurturing connections and strengthening the sense of belonging that defines the Pembroke Old Scholars Association.

Women’s Soccer Club pembrokewomenssoccer@gmail.com facebook.com /poswsc Football Club pembrokekings.com.au facebook.com /pembrokekings

→ Amber Halliday

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

Principal Mark Staker’s commitment to getting to know our community also included a trip to Queensland for the Brisbane Old Scholars Event. The evening was filled with shared memories, laughter and the rekindling of old friendships.

Special thanks go to those who braved the huge city crowds to attend as it was held on the night of the NRL State of Origin match.

Such events, held in various cities, illustrate the strong bonds that connect our alumni across the country.

As we approach the 50th Anniversary of Pembroke and 100th Anniversary of King’s College, we are eagerly preparing for an exciting year of celebrations. While I cannot divulge all the details at this moment, you can rest assured that Old Scholars Week will be a memorable occasion. We are enthusiastic about honouring our past while looking ahead to a promising future.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to all members of our Committee, past and present. It is your unwavering contributions that make POSA exceptional, and your shared vision that shapes our future.

Holly Jamieson-Loveday (1997) President, Pembroke Old Scholars Association

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

Netball Club

In Unitate inuchoir@gmail.com

facebook.com/ pembrokeoldscholarsnetballclub

facebook.com /inunitate

32 — 33

A Lesson in Resilience

Girton old scholar Jo Bills (1972) sat down with World Champion and Olympic rower Dr Amber Halliday (1996) to talk about how sport has influenced her, and the lessons that helped her overcome adversity when life took an unexpected turn … → Amber Halliday and Jo Bills

So, Amber, did your interest in sport start at school?

Indeed it did, but would you believe I never considered myself a sporty kid? I was in the bottom Netball team and not confident at all in PE. I guess I was okay at cross country running. And then, in Year 7, I followed a friend along to Rowing and I was hooked!

I really enjoyed it. It was hard work but a lot of fun, and I wanted to get a little bit better at it every day. I got a taste of self-efficacy when my coach—Mr Reardon, who was also Head of Rowing—made me stroke seat of the U15A crew and we started winning races. I started feeling more confident about what I might be capable of … but that didn’t mean I started dreaming of the Olympics back then!

My confidence grew as I made the First Eight crew and was made Captain of Boats. But we didn’t win Head of the River in either of my senior years, so I guess that spurred me on. My older sister Bianca (1995) had made a transTasman team and so I followed her into the elite pathway. I was not considered very good to start with! But after a lot of training I started to pull a bigger ergo (ergometer rowing trainer) score and had some good results in local time trials in my single scull. I started to do that at a national level and eventually I started making Australian teams and winning medals at the international level! It took me 30 seconds to say that but it took me about 5 years to do it!

Well, you’ve certainly had some amazing achievements since leaving school—can you tell us about the highlights that you’re most proud of ?

I can honestly say that one of my biggest highlights was when Causby (Sally Martin (nee Causby), Pembroke’s current Head of Rowing) and I won the World Championship in 2002. It was our first year in the lightweight double, an Olympic boat class. Sal and I had rowed the lightweight quad the year before and won the world title in world record time, but we were not expected to win in the double event.

We made the final and rowed an absolute textbook race in tough conditions to win—it was just incredible!

Unfortunately Sal’s back gave in before the 2004 Olympics, but I made the team. So, being an Olympian that year was a pretty bittersweet highlight. I made the 2008 Olympics too, and my crewmate and I went in as world champions but we didn’t perform well and missed the final.

The highs and lows of sport, eh?

After Beijing I turned to cycling, where I pedalled out my disappointment and had some success. Rowing makes you fit and strong for pretty much anything, so, relatively quickly, I won the Tour of New Zealand in 2009 and the Australian Time Trial National Championship in 2010.

I do also have some non-sporting accomplishments I’m very proud of—my Psychology PhD and my beautiful son Monty!

Your life has been a remarkable lesson in resilience!

Can you tell us about the circumstances in which you overcame adversity? And how the lessons you’d learned from sport helped you?

Young people today face enormous challenges on so many fronts. What advice do you have for them that may help them deal with life’s challenges and not be overwhelmed by negativity?

Well, Jo, I think you’re hinting at that major challenge I faced 12 years ago when I had a really bad cycling accident. It wasn’t a particularly spectacular crash but it changed the course of my life. I was racing in a women’s event to the side of the Tour Down Under—which is all the women had back then—and I’m told I just touched wheels with someone and came down awkwardly, landing on my temple. I was put in an induced coma for three days, had post-traumatic amnesia for a month, and then spent another month in hospital learning to walk and talk again. I spent 12 months getting back to driving and working, but there was still so much ahead of me even then.

Critical thinking has to be an essential skill for young people today. There is the ‘insta-perfect’ world and the pressure for ‘likes’ etc. But there is also AI and deepfakes on the horizon, so knowing how to tell what is real from what’s not will be an extremely valuable skill.

I drew on what I knew—how to work hard, how to fight for improvement, how to believe in myself and how to keep going, even when I didn’t want to. They’re the things you learn in sport.

The accident motivated me to get back to my Psychology studies—I thought it would really kick-start my brain. I did a Grad Dip, got into Honours, and ended up doing a PhD. And I had a baby at the same time! I loved seeing my husband and son from the stage at my graduation. I was so proud!

And do sport! Even if, like me, you are not particularly good at it to start with! Sport gives us such a safe place to learn how to work hard, to strive, to manage pressure. It is a safe place to fail and to learn how to pick yourself up and try again. Team sport teaches us how to get along with people and gives us lifelong friends—I still catch up with my Pembroke Rowing girls as if no time at all has passed.

Amber, thank you so much for sharing some of your story with me today. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Actually, there is! I’d like to thank the Pembroke community for the huge honour they gave me earlier this year when the Pembroke West Lakes boat shed was named after me. It made me reflect on that Pembroke coach who believed in me before I believed in myself. It was a huge turning point and I am so grateful.

About the interviewer: Jo’s family’s association with the School spans four generations—her grandfather James Bills was the second Headmaster of King’s College, for whom Bills House is named; her parents attended Girton and King’s; her brothers attended King’s; and both her children attended Pembroke (Sam 2009 and Morgan [Collins] 2011). She currently rows with Pembroke Masters Rowing Club.

→ Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston celebrate their victory in the lightweight women’s double sculls final race of the Rowing World Championships, 2 September 2007 in Munich

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

→ Sally Martin and Amber Halliday at the Pembroke Rowing Shed Opening

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Dancing Queen Interview with Georgina Harris

Every parent would know the effect that The Wiggles can have on a young person’s mind—the joy on their face when they dance to the classic songs Hot Potato or Big Red Car, and the nostalgia they feel when they can still repeat the lyrics years later. → Georgina and students at the 2020 Middle School Musical, Chicago

For old scholar Georgina Harris (2011), her love of dance began with the hokey pokey, and now she has been able to turn that passion into her day job (or at least one of her day jobs!).

Georgina is a dance teacher and event coordinator by day, and when she’s not chasing after her 1-year-old daughter she is choreographing school musicals across Adelaide. If you were lucky enough to watch our Years 9 and 10 students in the Middle School Musical Mamma Mia! last year, then you would have witnessed Georgina’s wonderful work. Amongst the glitz and glamour of the stage, it is the collaboration with the students that keeps her coming back each time. ‘Some of these kids have never had any exposure to dance, drama or musicals, so when you work with them it’s really fulfilling to see them exposed to theatre for the first time. There is the saying “the magic of theatre” and it is honestly true. You see so many friendships form—people interacting with people who, you can tell, wouldn’t normally interact. It’s really heartwarming to watch that develop. In the end I am really proud of them when I see how far they have come’, says Georgina.

For many old scholars the Middle School Musical was the highlight of their Middle School years. What makes the experience unique for the students who work with Georgina is the ability to be a part of the creative process of the musical’s choreography.

Georgina works to the students’ strengths, often shifting and changing choreography based on what will make the students shine. ‘I often don’t pre-choreograph; I like to work it out with the students when they’re in the room and see what they’re good at.

I look at their strengths and sometimes ask, “Can anyone do a handstand?” or “Has anyone got any cool tricks?”, and see what they have to offer.’

The creative process is as fulfilling for the students as it is for Georgina, as it allows her to use her experience and knowledge of various dance styles to create memorable moments on stage. So how do you take something that is already iconic and make it your own? Georgina says, ‘I normally do watch the show before I start the project to get my head into the style of the choreography, but

then once I’ve started I don’t like to watch it again because I don’t want to copy what they’ve already done. I definitely research to understand the style and the famous moves, but then I let my brain and dance experience bring the show together.’

During her time at Pembroke as a student Georgina took any opportunity to be a part of anything to do with dancing —from the Square Dance to performing in the musical Cabaret, but she also fondly remembers the annual Middle School Pet Show, camps and Science lessons. ‘The great thing about Pembroke is that there are so many different opportunities. The School is good at not sticking to one lane—it has many facets. Pembroke is really good at creating a wide range of experiences for students, the musical being one of them!’ And now we can also add dance classes to the many co-curricular activities offered at Pembroke, with a dance program to be launched in 2024. Georgina says, ‘Anyone who is interested in dance would jump at the opportunity to make it a part of their education. If I was at School when this was offered I would have been overjoyed.’

Georgina is a wonderful example of an old scholar who has worked hard to turn her passion into her job—not always an easy task! But her advice to students is simple: ‘Make sure it’s something that you love because when you are in school there is a lot of pressure and expectation to have it all figured out as soon as you finish Year 12, and that’s not always how life works out. So, choose something that you actually love and that you are passionate about, and then be open-minded to try new things. Do internships, offer your time voluntarily and get your foot in the door, especially in the performing arts—it’s a difficult industry to get paid for. But I think it applies to any industry. If you do something you love, and you are a go-getter (and don’t expect to get the perfect job straight away) and you try different things, it will work out in the end and you’ll be happy’.

Candace Cox-Tuck Manager, Old Scholar Engagement

→ Georgina Harris (2011) Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

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Old Scholars News

Births Thomas Crowhurst (2004) and his wife Kristen welcomed Benjamin John Grant Crowhurst on 16 February 2023 weighing 3.7kg and 51cm long at Burnside Hospital. He is a little brother for their children, Hugh (5) and Eliza (3).

→ August David Game Evans → Crowhurst family

Luke Evans (2004) and his wife, Jen (Game) Evans (2008), welcomed August David Game Evans on 28 February 2023 weighing 3.76kg at Burnside Hospital in Adelaide. He is a little brother to Rupert.

Tom Evans (2010) and his wife Madeline welcomed Louis Robert Evans, born on 27 June 2023 weighing 8.6 pounds. Louis is a younger brother to Emilia.

Jot Lynas (1999) and his wife Amy welcomed Oliver “Ollie” Jonathan Lynas on 16 June weighing 3.2kgs and 52cms long at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. He is a little brother for their sons Benny (aged 5) and Charlie (aged 3).

→ Oliver Lynas

→ Louis Evans

Will Smerdon (2004) and his wife Sim welcomed their second child Louis Singh Smerdon on 9 July 2023. Louis was born in Seattle weighing 8 pounds 13 ounces. He is little brother to Olive (aged 3.5 years).

→ Louis Singh Smerdon

Deaths Janet Bowering (1959) sadly passed away on 5 May 2023 following a short battle with cancer, aged 78.

Darren Mead (1990) sadly passed on 20 April 2023, aged 49.

Andrew Randell (1945) sadly passed on 20 August 2023, aged 92.

Josephine Thomson (1956) sadly passed on 28 July 2023, aged 84.

The Reverend Dr Paul Trudinger sadly passed away on 9 June 2023, aged 93.

Vivienne ‘Elizabeth’ (Shephard) Wallington (1953) sadly passed away in June 2023, aged 86.

Elizabeth (Motteram) Esselbach (1956) sadly passed away on 20 August 2023, aged 84.

Jo (Symonds) Thomson (1956) sadly passed away on 28 July 2023. Jo attended Girton School for 12 years (1944 – 1956). In her senior years she represented her school in both tennis and basketball (later known as netball).

In 1955 she captained the “B” Tennis team and remained in the team the following year. In 1956 she played in the “B” Basketball team. In 1955 she was made a school prefect.

Her leadership skills came to the fore in 1956 when she was Captain of St Anne’s House. In the same year she was voted in as Head Girl.

In her Leaving (Yr 11) results the subjects she took included Maths, Chemistry and Physiology which would have benefited her for her Science Degree at the University of Adelaide. She went on to work in Biochemistry and she tutored medical students in Melbourne after her marriage to Dr Gerald Thomson. They had three children together and for much of their lives, due to Gerald’s untimely death, she brought them up as a single mother. Rest in peace Jo (Symonds) Thomson.

→ Jo (Symonds) Thomson

Marriages Charlie Craven (2004) married Francesca Smerdon.

Gabbie Thompson (2012) married Joel Grieger in Hamilton Island, 9 May 2023.

Sacha Tucker (1994) and Adam Steinhardt (1986) were married on 5 November 2021.

Mitch Sallis (2010) married Bonnie Conachan in Yeppoon, Queensland, on 30 September 2023. The groomsmen included old scholars Zennon Schmidt (2010), Tom Evans (2010), Alex Nettheim (2010) and Sean Wright (2012).

→ Bonnie Conachan and Mitch Sallis (2010)

→ Adam Steinhardt (1986) and Sacha Tucker (1994)

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

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A Lasting Impact — Interview with Old Scholar Jo Cooper (1953) Not all students are drawn to study. It’s a fact known to frustrate many a parent (and teacher). Thankfully many educators possess a special ability to nurture other aspects of a pupil, helping them to thrive. For old scholar Jo Cooper, that person was Miss Yates, then Headmistress of Girton.

Jo started at Girton when she was 7 years old, graduating in 1953. The post-war era was a tough time for schools. ‘We struggled to get 300 students, and finding and keeping staff was incredibly difficult. Miss Yates ran the school single-handedly. Not only was she Headmistress, but she also took care of the Boarding House and filled in as cook and teacher when required.

‘I wasn’t a very capable student. I did my senior class over two years. Despite that, Miss Yates made me a prefect for a few years. There wasn’t a head prefect back then—we were more of a group of helpers. I loved organising things and I was good at it. Miss Yates helped me find my talent.

‘Then, as I was leaving school, she asked if I wanted to help her in the office. She was doing everything on her own. I was delighted by the request and thrilled to say yes. I assisted with paperwork such as enrolments, answered the phone, ran the tuck shop and helped the boarders (taking them to dental appointments, delegating their pocket money and arranging their trips home). Miss Yates also suggested I go to the School of Mines and Industry to do typing and bookkeeping. I was paid a minimal amount but it didn’t matter. Thanks to the very high standards Miss Yates set, she set me up well for everyday life. Looking back, I am so grateful for the level of trust she gave me.’

Miss Yates was even instrumental in managing Jo’s love affair with the older boy who continually visited, having met her at her first ever debutant ball. That boyfriend was Bill Cooper OAM (a descendant of South Australia’s famous brewing family) and he went on to become her husband. They shared 60 years of marriage before he passed away.

Shortly after marrying they were encouraged to buy and run a dairy farm in Mount Compass. It was five tough years of early starts, no electricity and brown water. It’s also where they had the first of four children. Jo thinks

it was going through that hardship that made their marriage work. After Bill’s older brother died, and Bill was requested by his father to work at the brewery, they returned to Adelaide already quite mature.

Life was a different kind of busy back in town. Bill was a rep and often away travelling, but he learnt a great deal and the brewery had ongoing success. As the parents of two daughters, it was on their watch that the name changed from Coopers & Sons to Coopers Brewery. Their youngest daughter Melanie became the first female and the first of the fifth generation to be employed there on a permanent basis.

Giving back to the community that supports the brewery has always been important to the company. With faith a significant part of their personal lives, the business has had strong Christian values since the time Bill was Managing Director. In 2006 they established the Coopers Brewery Foundation to provide additional focus on their social commitment.

Jo said, ‘The Foundation has given over $7 million to around 350 various Australian charities selected by the Board of Governors, benefiting organisations caring for people in need.

Our shareholders and employees are encouraged to support the Foundation and I’m grateful that they always choose to do so and do so generously.’

The wider community is grateful to Jo in return. Her service to the philanthropic sector and the Anglican Church of Australia is so extensive that it led to her receiving a Member of the Order of Australia earlier this year. Jo described, ‘I saw an email from the Governor-General and I was so embarrassed that I had to leave the computer all day.’

Thankfully she accepted the honour, as the recognition is well deserved.

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Burnside Hospital Foundation, Redlegs Foundation, City of Adelaide Clipper Ship and Neurosurgical Research Foundation have all benefited from her generosity. And Pembroke does too. Jo regularly donates towards Pembroke’s Archives and the collection gets better every year.

While she might not love the school photo of her on display, Jo does hold memories of her time at Girton very dear, especially the guidance of Miss Yates. Her advice for current students is to understand that happiness comes from within.

‘Don’t rely on others to make you happy, otherwise when you hit struggle street you won’t cope that well.’

Christened Josephine Cooper, married to a Cooper and connected with Coopers Brewery since her 20s, the big question is, does she like beer? Absolutely. And if she runs out of time for a meal, a Coopers Stout usually does the trick!

About the author: Kate Holland (nee Bailey) graduated from Pembroke in 1992, with a deep love of literature and writing thanks to several influential teachers. She went on to study English Language and Literature at the University of Adelaide. Since then she’s been a publicist, copywriter, musician and long-time radio producer at ABC Radio Adelaide. She’s now a freelancer running her own business, KTB Communications, helping people to communicate on paper, platforms, podcasts and in person.

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

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Old Scholars Gallery

The Pembroke Old Scholars Netball Club A’s after their win against the University of Adelaide

Sunny Chen (2022), Colin Lane (1971), Mark Staker and Renae Leith-Manos (1990) at the Sydney Old Scholars Event

The Pembroke Old Scholars Womens Soccer Club after their win in the Football SA Community Women’s Division 1/2/3 Cup Final

Bill Nankivell (1940) celebrating his 100th birthday at the King’s Luncheon

Girton old scholars at the annual Girton Luncheon

David Espie (1981), Amanda Bourchier (1979) and Trish Chisholm-Espie (1982) at the Pembroke stand at the Darwin Show

Archives

→ Philippa Hook (1958), Peta Harries, Alison Bell, Jim Keatch, Kay Petherbridge, Brian Callaghan and Paul Cudmore at the Archives Opening

Recognising our vision for Archives with a new home to provide a space for research, office work, conservation, display and storage facilities all in one location.

After several years of working out of temporary facilities and separate areas for storage and workplace, it was wonderful to highlight the new home of Archives to our School community.

In May we officially opened our new facility at 51 Park Road in a beautifully restored villa on the corner of Walsall Street. It was also an opportunity to honour our volunteers during National Volunteers Week and foster a sense of unity and shared purpose, paying tribute to the tireless efforts of the dedicated volunteers who play an integral role in our community. We were fortunate with perfect weather as our guests mingled and walked around our garden.

Principal Mark Staker gave the official welcome and thanked our volunteers. After formalities guests were invited to take part in a high tea and explore the historical displays in each room. Visitors could immerse themselves in the photographic albums and read the stories on display. Some old scholars tried on their old school uniforms from the Girton, King’s or Pembroke eras, while others found publications belonging to their family members and many discovered their connections with our shared heritage. It was a fabulous morning, bringing awareness that Archives is available for our whole School community to enjoy.

State Library, spoke about changes over the years and how their department liaises with other conservators and curators to ensure that collections are stored correctly and available for exhibitions.

Afterwards we took a short stroll over to Artlab Australia where Jodie Scott, Senior Photograph and Paper Conservator, showed our group through their various labs. Jodie highlighted some of the fascinating projects that they are currently working on. Artlab not only assists cultural institutions along North Terrace and handles private collections, providing services for preservation, care and management of these items, but also assists school archives with specific services. This ASASIG event was well supported and, as always, our networking was a valuable part of these professional development sessions.

Numerous donations have been received since our May opening and we appreciate the community recognising the importance of preserving our records and memorabilia to add to our collections for the Girton, King’s and Pembroke eras.

Members of our School community are welcome to visit Archives; we are open daily during School term times by appointment. Contact archives@pembroke.sa.edu.au to arrange a visit, donate memorabilia or conduct private research.

Remember – Archives matter!

Peta Harries School Archivist

Recently we welcomed several overseas visitors to 51 Park Road.

Old scholars (pictured) Adam Chan (1991), Weng Wong (1997) and Peng Wong (1989), along with their extended families travelling from Malaysia, delighted in researching the King’s magazines looking for photographs of their family members.

The committee for the Australian Society of Archivists Special Interest Group (ASASIG) for SA Schools held a professional workshop in June, showing our group a behind-the-scenes view of the conservation studies at the State Library SA and Artlab Australia. The State Library has sole responsibility to provide access to a large proportion of SA historical records for present and future generations. Mr Peter Zajicek, Senior Conservator at the Anne Martin (1971) with her book ‘A Jug Full of Caring’ in the Research Room Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

42 — 43

Archives

Sally Fleet (1996) and Evangeline Metz (2012) enjoying the Archives Opening

Old scholars Adam Chan (1991), Peng Wong (1989), and Weng Wong (1997) visiting Archives with their families

Andrea Schultz and Robin Holmes (1976) at the Archives Opening

Jean Zhang, Crystal Zhao and Jason Huang at the Archives Opening

Lucas Wong (Yr 6), Peng Wong (1989) and her daughter, Leia Ong visiting from Malaysia, Weng Wong (1997) and Abigail (Yr 2)

Philippa Hook (1958), Gay Sanderson (1962), Heather Twelftree (1962), Trina Harris (1962), and Judy Tregoning (1962) at the Archives Opening

Vale

→ Dr Barbara Possingham, pictured with late husband Max c. 1990

Dr Barbara Possingham

Dr Barbara Possingham sadly passed away on 5 May 2023. Barbara was Deputy Co-Principal of Pembroke, and inaugural Head of Senior School at Pembroke from 1974 – 1992.

Barbara became Deputy Co-Principal of Pembroke School along with Mr Dick Fricker AM in 1974, at its inauguration. The co-principalship and deputies established an agenda of joint leadership in the merging of Girton School and King’s College to Pembroke School.

Barbara was one of the first two women to complete a PhD in physics at the University of Adelaide in the 1950s, an exceptional achievement, and her academic and scientific credentials and achievements are many and varied.

When Mrs Diana Medlin AM was Principal in her own right, she appointed the first Heads of Junior School, Middle School and Senior School – Barbara was appointed Head of Senior School.

Barbara taught IB in India, so she was the ideal choice to be given responsibility for introducing IB at Pembroke in 1989. Resigning at the end of 1991, Barbara stayed at Pembroke until mid-1992 for the transition of Mr Malcolm Lamb as Principal.

Mrs Patricia Hansen

Mrs Patricia Hansen sadly passed away on 1 February 2023, aged 85.

Pat’s tremendous career as Head of the Junior School at Pembroke spanned 12 years from 1987 – 1998.

→ Mrs Patricia Hansen c. 1998

Pat was a caring, nurturing, and dedicated teacher known for her passion, commitment, energy, example and joy. A knowledgeable, determined lifelong learner herself, she proved to have an enormous impact on her staff in professional development for classroom management, as well as curriculum development.

Pat introduced many effective programs to Pembroke’s Junior School, including ELIC (Early Literacy Inservice Course), LLIMY (Language and Learning in the Middle Years) and STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting).

A role model for her staff seeking further education, Pat completed her Master of Education during her time at Pembroke. Pat left all educators confident about children’s educational journeys and the impact that they make along the way.

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

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2024 Calendar 2024 will be a milestone year in our proud history as we mark Pembroke’s 50th Anniversary and King’s Centenary.

We look forward to celebrating our rich heritage and bright future together across our entire School community.

February

April

- Commencement Ceremony Monday 5

- Jazz Cabaret Performance Friday 5

- P&F Community Welcome Celebration Friday 23

- Old Scholars Week Monday 8 – Sunday 14

March - Class of 1984 40 Year Reunion Friday 1 - Pembroke Old Scholars Canberra Event Friday 8 - Lucindale Community Event Friday 15 - Head of the River Saturday 16 - Unreel Film Festival Thursday 21 - Senior School Formal Saturday 23 - Middle School House Swimming Carnival Thursday 28

- Generations Breakfast Thursday 11 - Middle School Pet Show Friday 12 - Class of 1974 50 Year Reunion Friday 12 - Pembroke Old Scholars Back to School Workshops Sunday 14

- Girton Luncheon Saturday 11 - Mildura Community Event Friday 17 - Year 12 SACE Drama Performance Wednesday 29 – Saturday 1 June - Careers Breakfast Thursday 30 - Middle and Senior School Cross Country Thursday 30 - Yunupingu Cup Friday 31 – Saturday 1 June

June May - Generations in Jazz Friday 3 – Sunday 5 - Broken Hill Community Event Saturday 4 - Mount Gambier Community Event Saturday 4 - Mothers Day Luncheon Friday 10

- Pembroke Old Scholars Brisbane Event Friday 7 - Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion Friday 14 - Pembroke Winter Festival of Music Wednesday 19 – Monday 24 - Pembroke Old Scholars Perth Event Friday 28

The following events and details are correct at the time of print.

July - Alice Springs Community Event Friday 5 - Darwin Community Lunch Sunday 28

- P&F Father's Day Event Friday 6 - Middle School Art Exhibition Tuesday 10

August

- Barmera (Riverland) Community Event Friday 13

- Year 5 Musical Wednesday 7 – Friday 9

- Middle School Musical Wednesday 18 – Saturday 21

- Cleve Community Event Wednesday 14

- Class of 1994 30 Year Reunion Friday 20

- Junior School Book Week Monday 19 – Friday 23

- Year 6 Exhibition Thursday 26

- Music Showcase Friday 30

- POSA Sydney Event Friday 27

September

October

- King’s Week – Celebrating the King’s Centenary Monday 2 – Friday 6

- Middle and Senior School House Athletics Day Wednesday 16

- Back to School Assembly with King’s Old Collegians Wednesday 4

- Valedictory Ceremony and Dinner Friday 18

- King's Luncheon Thursday 5

Term Dates Term 1 Tuesday 30 January – Friday 12 April Term 2 Tuesday 30 April – Friday 28 June Term 3 Monday 22 July – Friday 27 September Term 4 Monday 14 October – Friday 6 December

- Grandfriends Day Thursday 24

Public Holidays and Student Free Days

November - ELC – Year 6 Sports Day Friday 1 - Year 11-12 SACE/IB Art Exhibition Friday 1 - Pembroke Old Scholars Melbourne Event Friday 8 - Pembroke Live Sunday 17 - Junior School Spanish Day Thursday 14 - Year 11 SACE Drama Performance Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 - Class of 2004 20 Year Reunion Friday 22 - P&F Committee AGM Tuesday 26

December - Readings and Carols Sunday 1

Open Days

Term 1 Monday 11 March (Adelaide Cup) Friday 29 March (Good Friday) Monday 1 April (Easter Monday)

We warmly invite you to experience Pembroke for yourself. Please register to attend an Open Day at www.pembroke. sa.edu.au/admissions/open-days-andtours.

Term 2 Monday 10 June (King’s Birthday)

Term 1 Tuesday 5 March

Term 3 Friday 6 September (Student Free Day)

Term 2 Wednesday 29 May Term 3 Wednesday 7 August Wednesday 11 September Term 4 Thursday 31 October

Pembroke News — Spring 2023 — Vision

46 — 47

→ Students visit Hancock Gorge in Karijini National Park, Western Australia on their Beyond the Horizon trip

Publications Manager Gabbi Agnew Email gagnew@pembroke.sa.edu.au Editorial Team Gabbi Agnew (Editor) Tim O’ Loughlin (Emeritus Head of Publications) Candace Cox-Tuck (Manager, Old Scholar Engagement) Contact Website pembroke.sa.edu.au Telephone (08) 8366 6200 Email enquiries@pembroke.sa.edu.au CRICOS Provider Number 00367B Please send all address changes to The Reception Office Pembroke School 342 The Parade Kensington Park SA 5068 Telephone (08) 8366 6200 Email update@pembroke.sa.edu.au

Update Your Details Are your contact details correct?

Stay up-to-date with the latest news from your Pembroke old scholar community 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 Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Pembroke Old Scholars on Facebook and connect with Pembroke School on LinkedIn.

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