From the Old Kobeelyans' Association President
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Jill Clarke Old Kobeelyans' Association President 2022 is a very special and significant year for Kobeelya, as we celebrate the school’s 100-year anniversary. The centenary is an opportunity to honour and celebrate our rich history and the contributions made by those before us. As an Association, it is our passion and responsibility to uphold and nurture ongoing traditions and friendships between former Kobeelyans and Penrhos Kobeelyans. We consider the connection between our communities to be strengthened by our joint milestone celebrations, as Penrhos College marks its 70-year anniversary.
The iconic bell has always been a significant landmark in Kobeelya’s grounds - it has recently been renovated and relocated to the front of the Coach House Museum, home to the Kobeelya and Kobeelya Penrhos school collection. Thanks to a 2020 fundraising project, this important work was made possible and I am sincerely grateful to the contributions of generous sponsors. The bell has been silent since June 1986, when the school ‘closed its doors’ for the final time - it will be fantastic to hear it ring once more.
We look forward to Kobeelya’s 100 Centenary and Reunion in September, marked by a weekend filled with lunches, museum visits, walking tours of the grounds and the Centenary Dinner on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, a service will be held at St Michael and All Angels Chapel - led by Old Girl, Rev Marion Prowse (1963) - followed by breakfast, to round-out a wonderful weekend. Bookings are flooding in from across the country, with Old Girls planning to travel from interstate to attend in a welcome boost to our more local and regional turn-out.
We are looking forward to continuing celebrating our Centenary throughout the year, and we hope to see some familiar faces at our upcoming events – be sure to save the dates!
As happens at every significant reunion, the former Boarding Houses - Burbidge and St Anne's - will come to life once again as they fill with warm chatter, laughter and the sharing of fond memories between old friends. I recall the ‘out of bounds’ upstairs wooden floorboard creaking loudly if a student were to attempt sneaking into dinner late… we will see if anyone dares to brave the boards again, so many years later!
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EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN
