Myalla Spring 2023

Myalla O F F ICIAL J OURNAL

SPRING 2023 Issue #292

P ERT H COL L EGE OL D GI RL S' A SSOCI A T I ON

Super Sisters Featuring KANGAROO ROUTE

Alicia (2014) and Lauren (2015) Rheeston-Stewart REFLECTIONS OF AN OLD GIRL

Bianca Mazur (2000) SWEET SIXTEEN

Helen (Plaisted) Muir (1959) BUSH TELEGRAPH

Helan Pereira (1983) 1

Contents F R O M THE E DIT OR

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O G A COMMITTEE

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T H E KAN G AROO R OUTE

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R EF L ECTION S O F AN OLD GI RL

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O UT AN D AB OU T

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S W E ET SIXTE E N

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BO A RDE RS B USH TELEGR AP H

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O UT AN D AB OU T

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R EUN ION S

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O UT AN D AB OU T

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BI R T H DAYS AN D F ONDLY R EM EM BE R IN G

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COVER IMAGE ALICIA (2014) AND LAUREN (2015) RHEESTON-STEWART INSIDE FRONT COVER REVEREND LINDA PILTON AT ST MICHAEL’S DAY IN HER NEW COPE GENEROUSLY DONATED BY AN OLD GIRL

SPRING 2023

FROM THE EDITOR

Girl Power!

HEADLINE TO BE SUPPLIED

In case you haven’t heard, Perth College WON the IGSSA Athletics Carnival in early September, and boy (or ‘girl!’) were the celebrations lovely to watch.

The athletics team was ecstatic, the coaching staff were beyond beaming and the reception they all received when they entered Perth College with the trophy held high was truly heart-warming. If you haven’t seen it, please try to, either by following Perth College on Facebook or Instagram. The celebrations truly exemplify the immense pride the students and staff feel for the school. Sincere congratulations to all those involved, including the parents, many of whom are Old Girls, for their support and the love that goes into raising a competitive athlete… not to mention getting a kid to the track! Queue applause!

On the topic of winning, how good were the Matilda’s!

I know it was a little while ago now, but things have changed. I’m sure like many of you, I went from being clueless about the Matilda’s soccer team to, um, OBSESSED! Of course, I always barrack for an Aussie, but in truth, the Matilda’s had never been on my radar. However, after that single most stressful penalty shootout of all time, I was hooked. The team caught the heart of the nation, and not just with their performance, but also how they handled themselves… their sportsmanship. And while they were ultimately defeated by England, surely there’s no doubt the trajectory of women’s sport in Australia has changed forever… the way the country, the media, audiences and dare I say it, men, see women’s sport. Finally! As a friend of mine said, it’s been the most glorious ‘cop that’ to the dinosaurs who dismiss women’s sport.

On that note… I think you’ll love reading this Myalla’s ‘Sweet 16’ segment where we highlight Helen (Plaisted) Muir (1959) who truly is, an incredible sportswoman.

Helen played at Wimbledon no less and today, in her

80’s, has just represented and captained Australia’s team in an international tennis tournament. Remarkable.

Bounding off the court now and it was a true pleasure interviewing Old Girl, Bianca Mazur (2000) … and while you may not know her name, I am sure many of you know and own a particular kitchen gadget she’s been heavily involved with. Read on sisters!

In this Spring Myalla, we have not one but two kangaroo’s enroute! We normally feature just one Old Girl living overseas for the ‘Kangaroo Route’, but here we celebrate two incredibly successful sisters, Lauren (2015) and Alicia (2014) Rheeston-Stewart, who live in the UK. They’re our stunning cover girls.

Lauren has blitzed a path, distilling award winning gin while Alicia has roared down the straight as an engineer with racing car giant, McLaren. Sisters who really are doing it for themselves!

It was an absolute pleasure getting to know our ‘Bush Telegraph’ girl, 1983 leaver, Helan Pereira. This OG got on a TAA flight and flew from Christmas Island to arrive at Perth College with a plan… to escape the boarding house! She also talks about arriving at school as the only student of Indian heritage.

So dear readers, I hope you’re eager to dive into this edition, where we celebrate all Old Girls. But really, do try and watch the winning athletics team arriving at PC with the trophy aloft… it will stir up that fabulous feeling of pride with a big dose of nostalgia thrown in. Go on, make the effort.

Stay well.

MIGNON (HENNE) STEWART (1988) EDITOR

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Old Girls' Association 2023 Committee PRESIDENT

COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

STEPHANIE (JENNINGS) FULLARTON (1979)

STEPHANIE (JENNINGS) FULLARTON (1979)

VICE PRESIDENT

FOUNDATION CHAIR

LINDA (MEYERS) HYLAND (1968)

ANGEL CHEN (2008)

SECRETARY

MYALLA EDITOR

KATRINA (PORT) HARRISON (1988)

MIGNON (HENNE) STEWART (1988)

TREASURER

COMMITTEE

JEN (STEWART-WYNNE) SARRE (1988)

MALINDA BLAIR (1996) DENISE (JONES) HALL (1979) YVETTE (WIKLUND) JONES (1996) LESLEY (DUNSTAN) KEEN (1958) KYLIE-ANNE (GREEN) DELIC (1987) JEN (COLOMBO) GRIEVE (1967) JUSTINE (BEASLEY) LEGGE (1986)

BURSARY TRUSTEES PRESIDENT, TREASURER AND FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE

Young Old Girls' Advisory (YOGA) Sub Committee CO-ORDINATOR CONGRATULATIONS TO CHARLOTTE SARRE (2022), THE NEWLY APPOINTED YOGA CO-ORDINATOR.

COMMITTEE YOGA IS A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT AND NETWORK WITH OLD AND NEW FRIENDS. WE ARE SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTFROM 18 TO 30 YEAR OLDS FOR THE YOGA SUBCOMMITTEE. CONTACT OGA@PC.WA.EDU.AU WITH YOUR INTEREST.

OGA Morgan Family Endeavour Award The inaugural OGA Morgan Family Endeavor award has been announced. This award is supported by the OGA and a donation from the Morgan family to acknowledge the courage and resilience shown by Hannah Morgan in her battle with a serious illness.

There was an outstanding field of applicants which indicated the amazing things our Young Old Girls are doing. The recipient was Lucy Strapp (2016) who has been selected to undertake a three-month placement at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York City. “My role SPRING 2023

will centre around the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee, which primarily deals with issues of human rights, humanitarian affairs, and social matters.” We wish Lucy all the best and next year we will be featuring Lucy’s story in Myalla. The OGA Morgan Family Award will be awarded annually, look out for the next opportunity to apply in 2024.

THE KANGAROO ROUTE

Sisters doing it for themselves Super sisters: Alicia and Lauren Rheeston-Stewart are doing Perth College proud. Still only in their twenties, these two Old Girls are blitzing their chosen career paths and while engineering is a shared theme, the similarities end there.

Alicia you graduated from PC in 2014 and chose to move straight to the UK to do a Masters in Chemical Engineering at Surrey University. What was the plan and how did you end up making the seemingly radical pivot to make gin?

I moved to the UK to do my Masters Degree partly because of the flexibility it gave me as I was able to spend a year in industry before I completed my Masters year.

I initially chose Chemical Engineering as I have always enjoyed STEM subjects and thought that I would enjoy working in the oil and gas industry. However, after spending my placement year working in a large energy company, I realised that this was not the career I wanted. I therefore went back into my final year at university with no idea of what I wanted to do when I finished!

One of my final year projects involved researching how to convert waste whey from cheese production into gin and vodka thereby reducing waste. This was my introduction to the alcohol industry, at the time not something I had ever considered working with after University.

However, COVID struck in the middle of my final year and I ended up back in Australia continuing my work there. As part of my research I visited various distilleries, looking at the set-up, production processes and costs involved. Once I had completed my degree I was still in Australia and thought “wouldn’t it be nice if we could do this”. As a result, I embarked on a distillers course and researched what was needed to set up a distillery and begin production and that was the start of our journey.

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THE KANGAROO ROUTE

AL

EN WITH TH ICIA AND LAUR

EIR PARENTS

HEATHER AN

D DEAN

You’re back living in the UK, so what role do you have with AmberChes now?

LAUR EN W ITH A MCLA PREVIO REN F US GE 1 CAR NE

RATIO

N

There must have been a huge leap of faith from your parents to back you (and join you!) in opening a distillery? And I assume it’s a move that involved risk?

I hear you’re the one in the family with exceptional tasting skills and also you have been lucky to come into the gin market at a time of incredible growth and demand for the spirit ?

Yes, it was a risk but we spent a lot of time looking at the costs and practicalities of setting up a distillery and what we would need to do to make it a success. The decision was made a little easier as we were all still based at home due to COVID restrictions so decided we didn’t have anything to lose by giving it a go. We won our first gold medal a couple months later at the Global Gin Masters in the UK and that gave us the confidence to continue. We have continued to work on making the highest quality spirits we could with the best ingredients we could source, and feel very lucky that the medals and awards have kept coming and the business is continuing to grow.

I’ve always been quite fussy when it comes to my taste, but it’s never something I have used to my advantage before. When I started playing around with recipes it came naturally, and the bonus was that I discovered that I could create gins that I love and that others love as well. We were fortunate to come into the market when we did; we could see how the market had grown in the UK and knew that Australia would follow this trend. Australian spirits still make up such a small percentage of the market so we hope we can keep expanding as the industry grows.

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I spend several months of the year in the UK now but I am still working for the business. In addition to developing the Gin recipes, I have taken on the branding, social media and marketing, as well as doing business analysis on areas such as the shows and markets we do - quite different to my engineering degree.

When I am out in Australia I can be found in the distillery working on new recipes and running shows and markets around Perth.

Lauren… do you like gin! I hear you have played a part too in AmberChes. Is that right?

I decided to stay in England at the start of the pandemic to finish my placement at Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team but once that finished I returned to Australia where I stayed for eight months, due to COVID, completing my university degree remotely. It was during this time that Alicia came up with the suggestion of starting our own distillery, so I was around to help build the distillery and branding, and even contributed to early marketing and sales efforts.

THE KANGAROO ROUTE You did a Masters of Mechanical Engineering at Southampton University … was engineering always on the agenda for you?

Are some of the men on the team surprised to see a young woman like yourself there or is it more ’normal’ nowadays?

I have always been interested in maths, physics and STEM but I hadn’t really thought about what path to choose until applying for university. As I started to investigate what degrees would allow me to pursue my dream of working in F1, Mechanical Engineering with Mechatronics seemed to be the best fit for both my academic interests and career aspirations.

While there still aren’t many women in F1 that number is gradually increasing and no one in my team has treated me differently because I am a woman. I am very grateful to have met and worked with some amazing women and men at McLaren who have supported and continue to support me through my journey.

How did you get into race car engineering and what’s your role with McLaren?

At university I became involved in the Southampton University Formula Student Team - a studentrun organisation where, as a team, you design, build and compete with single-seater race cars. I really enjoyed this and spent two years on the committee as Head of Powertrain Testing and Head of Electronics, leading to my placement at Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team in the Dyno department.

By my final year I knew that I wanted to join the McLaren graduate scheme, as it offered the unique opportunity of moving between a variety of departments and experiencing many different aspects of the business, allowing me to assess what role I wanted to pursue.

One of my placements was with the Control Systems Team which I really enjoyed, so when the opportunity came up to become a Control Systems Test Engineer I applied for my current role.

Lauren and Alicia, you have both been exceptional students… both named Dux when you graduated from Guildford Grammar junior school and both excelling at Perth College. What was behind that drive and did a little healthy competition between you as sisters play a part?

Lauren + Alicia: While we are both quite competitive people, we have never been academically competitive with each other, so we were actually able to support each other at school without having to compare our achievements.

However, if you get us facing each other on a sporting pitch then all bets are off!

You have both ended up in relatively male dominated spaces… did Perth College have a role in that… you can achieve anything you set your mind to or was that more parental guidance?

Lauren + Alicia: Our parents have always said we can achieve whatever we want, and we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to pursue a variety of subjects and extracurriculars at Perth College that allowed us to pursue any degree we wanted. We were always brought up to believe that it is hard work that matters and that as women we can often bring something different into traditional male professions.

Do you both have fond memories from school?

Lauren: I will always look back at school with fond memories, especially of the friendships made there. I am very lucky to still have some great friends from school whom I still see whenever we are in the same country!

Alicia: I am also lucky to have made some amazing friends at school, some who are actually working in our business now. We will always be grateful for the support we have received from this community throughout our journey!

What’s the plan from here ladies?

Lauren: I plan to stay in Formula One and I am excited to see what opportunities I end up pursuing at McLaren as my career progresses, and where this road may lead!

Alicia: I am planning to continue growing the business, hopefully one day taking our product across the globe!

Heather: You and Dean must be incredibly proud parents?

Absolutely. Alicia and Lauren have both done so well but it has all come through hard work and this is something they learnt early on in their school life. What is so fascinating is that although they have both always shown particular strengths in the STEM subjects, none of us predicted the careers that they have chosen and we are so enjoying watching their progress.

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REFLECTIONS OF AN OLD GIRL

Whipping up a storm Bianca Mazur (2000) was in Year 11 at Perth College when her mum (Grace) returned from a holiday with a new, weird kitchen gadget.

Little did Bianca know this oddity would change her life!

Grace Mazur is responsible for introducing Australia and New Zealand to Thermomix… an appliance that blends, stirs, weighs and cooks just about any meal you could imagine.

It’s now a multi-million dollar business with more than 500,000 Thermomix on kitchen benches across both countries.

Bianca, an only child, has worked for the company right from the beginning and it was a true delight to sit down with her and reflect on the early days and her time at PC.

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Thermomix has taken Australia by storm, and your Mum, Grace, was key to that.

Yes. It was during a trip back to her childhood town in Poland that mum was first introduced to Thermomix by one of her friends. She instantly knew she had to have one and bring one home. Once we all started using the Thermomix at home, mum could see what a difference it made in our lives. It was in this moment that the idea was born to start up the business. She then sought the rights from the manufacturer, Vorwerk to distribute the product in Australia which took several attempts until finally being approved. The first years of starting the business were a fun and exciting journey but not an easy one. There were lots of challenges as there are with many new businesses and it took years for Thermomix to become a popular household name.

I am deeply proud of mum for having the courage to embark on this journey all those years ago. She’s been an inspiration and has taught me that when you have a dream and set your goals you can achieve them through passion, perseverance and unwavering belief.

When did you start to get involved with the company?

As soon as mum received the rights to distribute Thermomix in Australia it was mum, dad and I all involved in starting up the company. I was only 17 at the time and dived into a world which was unknown but I had the guidance of my mum who was driven. With limited funds to put into the business, our house quickly converted into a makeshift office where my early roles involved answering phones, data entry, picking up machines, recipe development in our kitchen, and Thermomix demonstrations and deliveries.

I understand you shared the Thermomix love with some PC friends?

Quite a few of my PC friends were a part of the Thermomix journey in the early years when we were operating out of our family home and eventually moved into our very first office. A few friends worked as employees and helped with administrative and dispatch roles.

Then there were the friends I would rope in for ad hoc tasks that needed to be done. I fondly remember rustling up my friends when we needed to do a big mailout and pack hundreds of envelopes with newsletters and materials. Of course, I also needed some recipe tasters, so our house would always be bustling with eager friends, especially when ‘cocktail testing hour’ hit.

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REFLECTIONS OF AN OLD GIRL

What was school like for you?

I remember being nervous when I started at Perth College in Year 8.

Those nerves soon subsided as I quickly grew to love the school and started to make connections with individuals who now have become lifelong friends. I have to say my overall time spent at PC over the 5 years is a time I will always cherish.

I didn’t always find school easy. I would have been described as an average student in terms of performance. I did well in a few subjects that I enjoyed but also found some more challenging. An area I really struggled with was public speaking and I found it extremely daunting talking in front of a group of people. I still remember having to do numerous oral presentations in English and even monologues in Drama with Anne Hairsine. Anne was an incredible teacher and really pushed us out of our comfort zone and I’m so grateful that I had those opportunities to help build my confidence and lay the foundations for effective communication that has now become a key part of my role.

Another pivotal figure during my PC days was Judith Cottier who has made a lasting mark on my journey. I can still hear her speaking to us about the 3 C’s. It’s amazing how you remember things after all these years and carry those values on. She was an incredible leader who oozed passion, care and support for us all.

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How important was it for you to do further study?

Even though I had the opportunity to continue working in the business after it started up I had always wanted to go on and study at university but I struggled like many knowing which direction to take when I was finishing up at high school. I was always interested in sports nutrition and my love for health and nutrition only grew after Thermomix was introduced into our lives. I went on to study nutrition and dietetics at Curtin and started to apply what I was learning back into the business. When I graduated, I had the choice to go back to Thermomix full time, but I had a strong desire to experience the world outside of the family business and gain skills and experience in the field I had studied. After more than three years working as a clinical dietitian at Sir Charles Gairdner hospital, I returned to Thermomix with all my new found experience

and skills. I was able to go on and fulfil one of my goals in developing an everyday healthy eating cookbook as well as many other resources to assist customers on their health journey.

You must work so closely with your mum?

We spend a lot of time together, both at work and outside of work, which can mean nearly every day of the week. We even all lived together with my husband and kids while we were building for around 3 years.

Mum has been a great mentor and we are now the closest we have ever been as we both work side by side in the business. But it’s not always sunshine and rainbows and there are times where we don’t meet eye to eye. This would have to be one of our biggest strengths as we always tell each other exactly how it is, which is true to our core values of always being real and honest.

“We often reminisce about our days at school and have so many great memories and stories that we’ll cherish forever.

They’ve been a key part of my journey… the joys, celebrations, tears, and challenges. I couldn’t imagine life without them.”

You have three children! You must be busy?

I met my husband Matt 17 years ago… he was introduced to me by one of my PC friends. Matt and I now have 3 children, Phoenix who is 9, Scarlett who is 7 and Chloe who is 3 years old. So yes, our life is a little bit crazy at times... maybe a lot of the time! I am still trying to learn to embrace the chaos and let things go that aren’t crucial in the day to day.

As the saying goes, I try not to sweat the small stuff and take the time to enjoy the precious moments in life.

One of my biggest learnings in life has been to always make sure you are living outside your comfort zone.

If I didn’t take those moments, I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am today. I’m so grateful to mum and dad for choosing Perth College and being supportive of my choices to allow me to push myself outside my limits.

Thank you so much for sharing your journey Bianca. We wish you, and your incredible mum, continued success.

You’re still close to your PC friends… how important have they been for your journey?

It’s hard to find the words that express how truly grateful I am to have stayed close with my PC friends, spanning 27 years now.

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OUT AND ABOUT

Over 40 Old Girls Tennis Competition

This year’s “Over 40 Old Girls Tennis Competition” saw Perth College come in a respectable 5th out of the 8 competing schools. PLC once more took home the trophy!!

Next year the competition will be held on the 21st March, at the Cottesloe Tennis Club. If you are interested in playing, please contact Margo Salmon on 0447066599.

L to R: Brooke (Blechynden) Duff (1988), Elizabeth Moir (1986), Ann Marie (Moir) Hogan (1984), Annie Taylor (1984) , Julie (Slee) Millar (1984) , Melinda (Burns) Ditchburn (1984), Margot (Stinton) Salmon (1960), Sally (Heaton) McLarty (1984) and Helen (Plaisted) Muir (1959)

Brianna Throsell Brianna Throssel (2013, second from right) was recently a part of the gold medal winning team in the 4x200m freestyle relay event at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The 13 golds equalled Australia’s best ever World Championships results (2001 and 2005), however with more silver and bronze, Fukuoka 2023 stands as Australia’s best ever meet. Go Brianna!!

SPRING 2023 MAY 2022

OUT AND ABOUT

Melissa Clements Archibald Finalist

TRACEY DEMBO PROMOTING HER NEW BOOK.

Back to School

We’re thrilled for Melissa Clements (2016) who was selected as a finalist in Australia’s most prestigious art awards, the Archibald Prize.

Melissa painted her self-portrait titled ‘In the driveway, 40 degrees’, taking inspiration from sitting in her car on a sweltering summers day in Perth.

‘It captures a moment at the end of a long day in my studio, which has no air-conditioning”, Melissa says.

“As I drove home, I felt exhausted not only from the oppressive heat, but from the creative expense that artists endure.”

There were 57 finalists in this years Archibald Prize, just two from Western Australia.

“I didn’t believe it at first because I always think the Archibald is something artists from Western Australia enter but never expect anything to come from it,” she said.

1998 leaver, Tracey Dembo recently went back through the school gates to promote her wonderful new children’s book… ‘An A to Z of Dreaming Differently’. The book is an affirming alphabet story encouraging children to use their voice. “So often kids are told they have to follow the rules” Tracey says , “but sometimes they need to trust their instincts and know that their voices matter and they can speak up”. As part of Children’s Book Week in August, Tracey chatted with the Kindys, Preps and the Years 1’s and 2’s about her book. “It was lovely seeing my old school and connecting with the students she said. “It really was amazing and to have the opportunity to share my book with them was fantastic.” Tracey is a corporate lawyer but says she has always been passionate about children’s early learning, and with two daughters of her own, the time was right to explore a creative outlet. Tracey added, “Perth College was instrumental in encouraging me to do anything I wanted and to pursue my dreams.”

We’re so pleased those dreams came to fruition.

Congratulations Tracey.

While Melissa didn’t win, we couldn’t be more proud of this former Arts Captain.

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SWEET SIXTEEN

Game, Set, Match Our lovely ’Sweet 16’ subject in this Myalla, Helen (Plaisted) Muir (1959) is a true inspiration… on and off a court!

This Old Girl has never sat still and, aged 81, is off to Europe soon to compete in the International Tennis Federation’s World Master’s Championships. Wow! Helen has played in the Australian, Italian, French and Wimbledon championships and excelled at squash too. And while she still plays tennis competitively, Helen says she enjoys a lovely country lifestyle between their farm in Waroona and with family in Cottesloe.

1. My first car was …

A Morris Oxford. I saved up like mad and it was the one I could afford. I got it when I was 20, when I returned from Melbourne. It was 1962.

2. If I had my time again I would…

Spend more time with family and friends. It’s an open ended answer, but that’s where my heart is.

3. How important has sport been to you?

Playing sport has been a big part of my life. Competing, coaching, meeting wonderful people. Learning teamwork, giving and taking, and getting up from losses.

Using your talents and having a go!

4. I don’t want to….

Waste any time. I believe all of us have been gifted talents by God and some people don’t use them and they’re wasted. I want a full life and to use whatever I’ve been blessed with.

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5. My greatest accomplishment is …

6. My first taste of independence was when I …

Being a wife, mother and a grandmother is my greatest joy and satisfaction.

left home at 17 to go and live in Melbourne alone to train for tennis.

Family is first. I met my husband Mick at Rottnest with the rugby boys and we have been happily married for more than 55 years. Mick is involved in mining and farming.

My greatest honour was representing Australia in Tennis and Squash. I played at Wimbledon and at the British Open Squash Championships.

I have also been inducted in to the WA Squash Hall of fame, the Australian Squash Hall of Fame and the WA Tennis Seniors Legends Hall of Fame.

At the moment I am the Australian 80’s champion in singles and I’m off to Spain soon as Captain of the Australian over 80’s team.

I have loved being involved in coaching and teaching, and in the last 20 years I have also held a Pastoral role.

7. My idea of a good day is… a hard days work in the garden, then a hot shower.

8. My most treasured possession is … my Bible. I like the word of God and studying it. It’s got all the answers for me.

9. One should never talk about… “gossip”. I think gossip is very dangerous, like Chinese whispers, it can get out of hand.

10. If I could relive one moment, it would it be…

I’ve had so many wonderful moments I can’t choose one. Life has been very, very, very good to me. All my moments are great!

11. The most important thing in the world is …

Love and kindness. It’s the simple things in life. Random acts of kindness go a long way.

12. Do you have any advice?

I’m a coach, so having a good, positive word and encouraging one another goes a long way. It can get people going.

13. What was the best advice your parents gave you?

“Have a go! If you fail, get up and have another go.”

14. You can have one super power. What is it?

To have great wisdom and to use it wisely.

15. What are your key reflections on your time at Perth College.

Appreciation of the influence the Sisters had on renewing and stimulating my Christian journey.

Wonderful friendships, particularly with the boarders and the great thrill of winning the Slazenger Tennis Cup!

16. What advice would you give your sweet 16 year old self?

Be natural. Be yourself.

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BOARDERS BUSH TELEGRAPH

Helan Pereira (1983) Imagine, as a child, you’re living an idyllic life on Christmas Island, off the north west coast of Australia, when your parents tell you you’re off to boarding school, two and a half thousand kilometres away.

Now that’s an adjustment!

“The rules to the boarding house were on my bed. I read them and stepped out of the room, looked around and went right, I’m getting out of here” she laughs.

“I’d come from an island where I was free!”

For 1983 leaver, Helan Pereira that was her reality and she remembers it all too well, including the moment she walked in to the Perth College boarding house, only to hatch her escape.

Helan’s parents, who are Indian, moved from Singapore for her father to take up a role at the Christmas Island Post Office. Helan was just seven when she arrived and while she loved living on the Island with her three little sisters, the tiny population of just two thousand meant there wasn’t a suitable senior High School. So she started at PC in Year 11 thanks to a scholarship from the WA Education Department.

It was 1982 and Helan arrived at Perth College as the only person of Indian heritage in the entire school.

“Do you how hard that was for me? I went in and I was like, I’m the only one who looks like me” Helan says laughing.

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“But the girls were so great in just welcoming me and not making me feel any different.”

This effervescent OG also laughs when she recalls the girls teaching her how to manage her laundry after she mistakingly placed all her dirty clothes in the bin instead of the washing hamper. “I also had to really practise how to use a knife and fork properly,” she adds.

But the biggest adjustment came from moving away from her family.

“Becoming more independent was something I had to learn, more on an emotional level, as coming from an Asian family, we’re more interdependant on each other”.

Helan also says the teachers and boarding house staff were fantastic.

“The whole experience of being supported was so nice. They knew a few of us didn’t see our parents regularly so they were really kind. I’m so grateful I had a good experience”.

“School really gave me a footing to go out into this world.”

Another terrific distraction from home was exploring the state with her new found friends.

“I had a great time going to spend weekends with some of the girls in their homes in various country towns, like Norseman.”

Helan laughs out loud though when remembering an encounter with the “formidable” Principal, Christopher Ellis.

“We went across the road to his house for supper. Oh my god! I remember he asked for my views on politics and I was 16 from Christmas Island… I was like huh!!! My eyes were like, What?!

I had lived so remotely and to me it (politics) didn’t matter. But he was lovely.”

Helan says she had a particular fondness for Canon Edwards, the school priest and her art teacher, Roz Synnot. “She knew I was busting to do stuff but just scared and she gently encouraged me”.

The colours and canvas still bring Helan much joy.

“I love art because it’s the space where we as humans get to express ourselves”.

A testament to her art teacher and her talent, Helan won the art prize at graduation and was keen to pursue it as a career but “My mother being Indian said “no, you need a proper job. You can do art as a hobby. So of course I studied psychology” she laughs.

Over time, Helan met her second husband and the pair lived in Malaysia where she worked in a foster home for girls in Kuala Lumpur, teaching art and helping raise money through exhibitions.

These days you can find Helan happiest in her art studio, in her home near Fremantle. She also works in a clinic, counselling those on the autism spectrum.

“This is the hardest work I’ve ever done” she admits. “You have to tread gently as they’re so misunderstood and it’s really sad… but it’s very rewarding work.”

As for the future, this Old Girl wants to wind down the psychology work and ramp up the art work with a bigger studio and workshops.

She also hopes of returning to Malayasia to hold art workshops. As for Christmas Island… Helan has no desire to return after hearing it’s changed so much.

“I have so many great memories of living on that island,” she says. “It was like a dream.”

Thank you for sharing memories of your dream and your time at Perth College Helan, and we hope your wish of more time in front of a canvas comes true.

Helan did her degree at WAIT (Curtin University) and married, however divorced ten years later. As part of her healing she moved to Taiwan to teach English.

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OUT AND ABOUT

OGA Ladies Long Lunch This year the Ladies Long Lunch was held at Nikola Estate. The Perth College family owned location was the perfect backdrop for our 110th birthday Long Lunch celebration. We had a record number of guests, and it was wonderful to see so many new faces in attendance.

We collected close to $5,000 on the day which will be directed towards the Emma And Bessie Cotton Memorial Fund and the OGA Heritage Scholarship.

‘It’s a social highlight each year and we’re already planning a fabulous lunch for 2024.’

Bindaring Red Cross Clothing Sale Perth College Old Girls are always happy to support and give back their time, and this event is a great way to do this.

At this year’s Bindaring event, Perth’s original pre-loved fashion sale, several Old Girls were doing just that.

SPRING 2023

L TO R : GWENDA (BENNETTS) KENNEDY 1970, SUE (NORGARD) BURNS (1962), LINDA (MEYERS) HYLAND (1968), LINDY ROSENWAX (1972), CYNDA JOHNSTON (1977).

OUT AND ABOUT

OGA Netball It seemed only fitting that in the 110 year OGA celebrations the first Old Girls’ Association netball team was formed. Winning 5 games in a row, they looked like the team to beat! Old Girls of all ages and stages formed the inaugural team and only missed out on the finals on percentage! Good luck next year girls. If you are keen to play in the 2024 season, contact us at oga@pc.wa.edu. au.

It’s a Dog’s Life Old Girl Kelly Peacock (1988), founded ‘Dogs In Sync’ in 2016, a business focused entirely on the health and well-being of canines. She was inspired by a very special Border Collie called Sonny. With qualifications in canine massage, nutrition and herbal medicine under her belt, and Sonny thriving on his raw food diet, coupled with herbal medicines, natural supplements and regular massage, Kelly knew that she wanted to help other dog owners who might be dealing with chronic disease and other physical or behavioural issues in their dogs. She continues to study and ensures she is abreast of the latest research and products in the dog health category.

L TO R: JEN (COLOMBO) GRIEVE (1967), ANNE (HEPWORTH ) HAIRSINE (1956), JACKIE (SCURLOCK) BARNWELL (OAM) (1961), JUDITH COTTIER (AM).

Celebrating Judith Cottier’s Birthday A few very special Old Girls wished former Principal, Judith Cottier a happy birthday recently at the Chapels in Maylands. While Judith didn’t attend PC as a student, she was principal from 1987 to 2002 and the OGA happily adopted her as an honorarary Old Girl. I’m sure many readers will recall her enthusiasm and her wish for students to strive to do their “PB”… their Personal Best!

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OUT AND ABOUT

Inaugural OGA Heritage Scholarship My name is Emily Morriss. I am currently a year 11 student, and the 2023 recipient of the inaugural Heritage Scholarship. Moving to PC was an immense change and tough transition for me. When I first found out about receiving the Heritage Scholarship, I was very grateful and excited, but I was also very nervous and a bit up in the air. To be completely honest, I did struggle quite a bit to find my feet. However, with the welcoming support from staff, my peers, the Old Girls, and my family, I have been able to immerse myself in the Perth College Community. Perth College has offered me a lot of support and opportunities to participate in different activities that I didn’t have access to at my old school. I have enjoyed having the opportunity to play different IGSSA sports and getting to coach a year 5 team for the Netball JIGSSA carnival. In August, I also had the amazing opportunity to participate in the 2023 Anglicare SleepOut. I got to give back to the community by raising funds and gaining awareness about homelessness in Perth.

Through my short time at PC, I have certainly grown as a person. I cannot wait to see what other opportunities I can take part in and goals I can achieve by the end of year 12. Emily is the daughter of Cath Irving (1993).

Concert Hall Performance Grace Reid (2021 left) and Arwen Ooi (2021 right) performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra as part of West Australian Youth Orchestra and combined performance at Perth Concert Hall.

Arwen has been appointed as this year’s concertmaster for WA Youth Orchestra.

SPRING 2023

OUT AND ABOUT

Old Girls giving back Perth College Old Girls are known for being capable, courageous and caring. Here some young OG’s gave back to PC for the Pathway Planning to help year 10’s with their subject selection.

L TO R: KIRSTY ANDERSON (2012), DIANA DO (2014), OLIVIA DE KONING (2013) AND ASH HADDON (2013).

L TO R: LESLEY (DUNSTAN) KEEN (1958), ANGEL CHEN (2008) CHAIR OF FOUNDATION, VIKKI (RHODES)DE ALWIS (1995) CHAIR OF COUNCIL, CLARE JOHANSEN, ACTING VICEPRINCIPAL, JUDITH COTTIER AM - HONORARY OLD GIRL, REVEREND LINDA PILTON, ANNE (HEPWORTH) HAIRSINE (1956), AFFIE KARALIS - HONORARY OLD GIRL, STEPHANIE (JENNINGS) FULLARTON (1979) PRESIDENT OF THE OGA, KYLIEANNE (GREEN) DELIC (1987), JACKI (SCURLOCK) BARNWELL OAM(1961) ALLISON PEMBER – PAST STAFF MEMBER AND JUSTINE (BEASLEY) LEGGE (1986).

St Michael’s Day coffee and cake After the ceremony at the Perth Cathedral, we welcomed the Acting Principal, Clare Johansen, and some other very special Old Girls, for coffee and cake. It was also announced that the incoming Chair of the Perth College Foundation is Angel Chen (2008) which is fantastic news!

Three generations at PC A long history of sporting Old Girls run in this family.

Here are three generations of Barron House Captains from L to R: Margo (Stinton) Salmon (1960), Anna Salmon (2023) and Belinda (Salmon) Powell (1993).

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REUNIONS

18 Month Reunion 2021 Leavers

The class of 2021 met at Si Paradiso to catch up with classmates, share reflections of their time at school and find out what they have been up to since graduating. Sophie Gerus, 2021 School Captain said “It was nice to see everyone in the one place after such a long time. Reuniting again as a collective brought back fond memories.”

5 Year Reunion 2018 Leavers 2018 Leavers gathered to share some refreshments and great company. Despite the chilly July weather, attendees joyfully reconnected with each other and compared stories of their time at Perth College.

10 Year Reunion

2013 Leavers

2013 Leavers were invited back to Perth College to see just how much has changed since their graduation.

Their tour also included a special viewing of the Judith Cottier Theatre. The celebrations and reminiscing continued long into the night!

SPRING 2023

REUNIONS

30 Year Reunion 1993 Leavers 1993 Leavers were invited back to Perth College for a chapel service followed by a tour of the School and refreshments at Myalla House. It was well attended, and everyone had a wonderful time catching up with classmates, and reflecting on their lives since they left school 30 years ago!

40 Year Reunion

1983 Leavers

A small group gathered to attend a tour, chapel service and lunch to celebrate their 40-year reunion. A delicious lunch was served in Myalla House and lots of fun was had by all!

Vintage Reunion 1962 Leavers and older The OGA Vintage Reunion includes those who have already celebrated their 60 year reunions and is always extra fun. The day began with a beautiful service in the Chapel. The ladies then enjoyed a delicious lunch at Myalla House and took the opportunity to look at the fabulous Heritage video, which celebrates 110 years of the Old Girl community. It truly was a wonderful opportunity for our vintage OG’s to connect.

The event also provided an opportunity to display some Perth College memorabilia, a perfect accompaniment for a trip down memory lane.

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OUT AND ABOUT

OGA 2023 AGM The day started with a Chapel service and was followed by jam and scones at Myalla House. The AGM welcomed two new committee members, Jen (Colombo) Grieve (1967) and Justine (Beasley) Lege (1986). Remove while and start with Jane Scott stepped down after 6 years as Council Representative and Stephanie (Jennings) Fullarton (1979) was elected in this role. Karen (Miles) Field (1965) was thanked for her many years of generous service as Chair of the Perth College Foundation and was gifted with a beautiful Jill Yelland Glass artwork. An original print of the School of the Beaufort Street Wing was unveiled as a gift for the OGA 110 Year birthday Celebrations – ‘Holding our Heritage with Care’. Photos courtesy of Anne Hairsine.

SPRING 2023

OUT AND ABOUT

Well Done!

Dr. Sophie Payne (2003) has just received recognition as one of the top 25 young female scientists who, by their research, are changing the world. Sophie is developing an innovative drug-free treatment for rheumatoid arthritis – a condition affecting more than 20 million people worldwide. The tiny medical device, implanted in the abdomen, stimulates the vagus nerve to dampen the body’s overactive immune response and reduce inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

Well done Sophie!

OGA Bursary Lunch 2023 Every year our OGA Bursary holders join us for lunch in Myalla House. This year we were also joined by our inaugural OGA Heritage Scholarship recipient. It was a delight hearing stories about sporting achievements, overseas travel and general wellbeing of the students and what they are all up to. We are very proud of these young people and all their achievements.

BACK ROW: STEPHANIE (JENNINGS) FULLARTON (1979), PRESIDENT OF THE OGA, AMELIA (YEAR 10), EVELYN (YEAR 8), EMILY (YEAR 11), EMILY (YEAR 11) FRONT/MIDDLE ROW: ANGEL CHEN (2008) CHAIR OF FOUNDATION, GENEVIEVE (YEAR 7), STELLA (YEAR12), EMMA (YEAR 9), LESLEY 25 (DUNSTAN) KEEN (1958)

Over 90's Birthday Club Happy birthday to our Old Girls who are celebrating a 90th birthday between May 2023 and October 2023 Elizabeth (Smith) Anthony

1952

Betty (Maslen) Bogle

1951

Mary (Edgecombe) Dowdall

1951

Noreen (Knight) Emery

1950

Sandra (Gray) Gray

1951

Mary (Blacklock) Hicks

1950

Jennifer (Carrick) Holder

1950

Margaret (Hurst) Kaill

1950

Joy (Miles) Smith

1950

Over 100's Birthday Club A special CONGRATULATIONS to our Old Girls who turn 100 or more between May 2023 and October 2023 Sheila (Wilding) Curlewis

1937

Bobbie (Flight-Smith) Hardie

1938

Pat (Lackman) Baunton

1939

Joan (Harrison) van Oosteron

1939

Fondly Remembering Sincere condolences are extended to the families of the following Old Girls’ whose deaths are known to the Association.

Miriam (Kenyon) Berinson

1959

Margaret (Moyra) Brinsden

1944

Gail (Holden) Hayden

1957

Pamela (Mawby) Hesling

1942

Hazel (Broad) McPherson

1943

Mary (Morrell) Melot

1941

Frances (Russell) Nicholls

1936

Dr. Glenda (Yeomans) Parkin

1971

Joan (Meares) Rose

1944

Elizabeth (Johnston) Teede

1950

Diane (Richardson) Webb

1970

Jennifer Ellis

1970

SPRING 2023

Introducing Angel Chen, 2008 leaver and new Chair of Perth College Foundation

CONNECT

Do you know a 'lost' Old Girl?

If you know someone who has lost touch with the Old Girls’ Association or has changed their contact details, please encourage them to get in touch with the OGA via oga@pc.wa.edu.au or call 9471 2163 as we would love to reconnect with them.

The OGA is on Instagram The Perth College Old Girls’ Association is now on Instagram! Why not follow us at perthcollegeoga and keep up to date with events and news, share photos and articles and submit information or updates.

Myalla is now available digitally Myalla is now available to be received electronically via email. Those without an email, or who prefer to receive their magazine in the post, can still receive a printed edition. Manage how you would like to receive your Myalla magazine at www.perthcollege.wa.edu.au/community/ old-girls-association

Perth College Foundation The Perth College Foundation conducts appeals throughout the year to raise much-needed funds for facilities, programs and scholarships. Your support is warmly welcomed to help us facilitate ongoing delivery of a world-class educational experience at Perth College.

If you would like to make a donation of any kind, please visit the Perth College website at www.perthcollege.wa.edu.au.

Alternatively, contact Alumni Co-ordinator, Caroline Risah, on 9471 2163 or email foundation@pc.wa.edu.au.

Thank you for your generous donations We sincerely thank those that have supported the Perth College Old Girls’ Association through significant and generous donations. All contributions large or small are greatly appreciated.

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