FINANCE

Foundation Activities

After the requirement for the Foundation to cancel all social activities through 2020 due to the lengthy COVID-19 lockdown, it was a great pleasure to be able to reconnect “in person” with our community by way of a series of social activities throughout 2021.

DENISE HALL (1979), DAVID HALL AND JANE SCOTT (1975)

The Hawkesbury Club Garden Party

The Hawkesbury Club was established soon after the launch of the Perth College Foundation in 2012 as a vehicle for the School’s past parents, past staff, former Council members and former Foundation Board directors to maintain their connection to Perth College by attendance at an annual event hosted by the Chair of the Foundation.

The 2021 Hawkesbury Club garden party was held on the PC front lawn under the jacaranda trees on a very hot March Sunday. Notwithstanding the heat, we had a good turnout of loyal community members and it was wonderful to see many familiar faces. Attendees were entertained by fabulous musical duo including PC Old Girl, Emily Gelineau former PC Music Scholarship recipient. An update on the Foundation’s progress in relation to fundraising goals was provided by Foundation Chair, Mrs Karen Field and Principal, Ms Helen Aguiar gave a brief update on the School’s achievements over the previous year.

Note: Emily was recently awarded a scholarship to New York University to undertake a Film Scoring Course this summer. Most recently, she recorded Violin on the 2022 Grammy-nominated arrangement of “Metaknight’s Revenge” by the 8-Bit Big Band, recorded at Bunker Studios, NYC.

MARK TAYLOR, JULIET TAYLOR, AFFIE KARALIS, KAYE VERBOON (1971) AND RICHARD VERBOON EMILY GELINEAU (2016) PERFORMS VIOLIN

1950

Sister Novice Valerie with Junior School Students

1987

Adrienne Dullard and Elizabeth Lawton

Annual Scholarship Donor Breakfast

Our annual Scholarship Donor Breakfast was held at the Mount Lawley Golf Club in August, attracting the usual enthusiastic supporters keen to hear from past and current recipients who provided insights into the importance of the scholarships to both them and their families.

This year we were fortunate in being able to host Wendy Scott-Hamilton, Director of Philanthropic Services at JB Were as our guest speaker. Wendy provided interesting insights into the state of philanthropy in Australia, especially in terms of the impact of COVID-19 and its potential longer-term effects on the independent schools sector.

KALICIA MANNERS, EMMA WIEBRECHT, WENDY SCOTT-HAMILTON AND NADIA SHAUN (2019) In her short speech, Chair Karen Field thanked the Perth College community for their extraordinary loyalty and support for the work of the Foundation as it focuses on attainment of its goal to raise a critical mass of $30 million by 2028. In particular, Karen acknowledged that this is an ambitious target for a school such as Perth College but it is great encouragement to recognise that in eight/nine years we have managed to be two thirds of the way along the timeline with $20.5 million in assets raised so far; significantly during this time the Foundation had also supported the School to the tune of more than $2 million demonstrating its commitment to tackling sustainability on both long and short term fronts.

The end-of-year party also served as our farewell to our long serving Foundation and Alumni Co-ordinator, Natalie Swannell. It is a great loss but Natalie has provided wonderful service to the Foundation and the School over ten years and we understand her decision to now focus on her family and their newly established business.

NATALIE SWANNELL, KAREN FIELD (1965) AND CAROLINE RISAH

Pre-Christmas Party

November saw a crowd of around one hundred loyal supporters gather at Myalla House for a pre-Christmas celebration which provided the opportunity to catch up with old and new friends in a very relaxed and fun-filled atmosphere. We all had lots of fun and were entertained by Old Girl musician Leah Guelfi (2017).

WENDY MCGIBBON, MARCOS PRADO, ANDREW HARRISON, KAREN FIELD AND ELDER VIEIRA

Young Old Girls Advisory (YOGA)

As part of our cultivation strategy amongst younger old girls (18-30 years old), the Foundation supported a number of initiatives in 2021 to build engagement with our younger cohort of Old Girls. In spite of COVID-19-related disruptions, the YOGA brought three events to life during the course of the year.

Building on the success of our inaugural wellbeing YOGA-on-the-lawn event in 2019, we repeated this initiative in 2021; the turnout was excellent with young old girls now participating as the yoga instructors and photographers as well as raffle prize sponsors.

Towards the end of the year, the Foundation also supported the YOGA valedictory initiative, which involves the YOGA group hand-crafting 100+ wellness packs for every Year 12 student before they sit their final exams. This initiative aims to reinforce to our newest Old Girl cohort the importance of our culture of giving.

ANGEL CHEN (2008) AND MIA FREEMAN

YOGA wrapped up the year with an Appreciation Sundowner held in the CBD, hosted by one of our young Old Girls. This Sundowner was supported by the Foundation and Old Girls’ Association as a way of acknowledging the commitment that so many Young Old Girls give to Perth College by way of mentoring and a variety of volunteer activities; this sort of commitment augers well for the future and the Foundation will continue to support the work of this enthusiastic group.

1996

Students with theatre plans

Jacaranda Society

“Recognising benefactors who have left a gift in their Will”

A group of members gathered at the home of Foundation Chair, Karen Field in September. We welcomed our Principal, Ms Helen Aguiar who outlined plans in train for the School in the next few years. Up-to-date information in relation to the School’s long-term strategies is of significance to this group each of whom has advised their intention to leave a gift to the Foundation from their estate. Given this group’s personal commitment, strategies were canvassed as to how best to promote expanded membership of the Society in order to enhance future benefits which would accrue to Perth College through such individual generosity. Membership of the Jacaranda Society is open to anyone who has made a provision for the School/ Foundation in their Will. Advising the Foundation of your gift enables us to acknowledge you in person and express our gratitude with like-minded members of the Society.

VAL MAYGER (1957), BEV IRELAND (1960), PATSY SAUNDERS, JILL YELLAND (1965) AND KAREN FIELD (1965)

YOGA-ON-THE-LAWN EVENT 2021 YOGA END-OF-YEAR APPRECIATION SUNDOWNER 2021