Camphora Issue 12, Summer 2020

ISSUE 12 SUMMER 2020

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

MATILDA THE MUSICAL ITELL: DIGITAL STORYTELLING

CONTENTS

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ISSUE 12 SUMMER 2020

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From the Principal

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Tackling the challenges of medical biotechnology

Stories from the Archives: PLC Sydney’s Mr Melody Man

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Storytime STEM

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Media literacy

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ITELL: Digital storytelling

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Where there’s a will ...

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Overcoming the challenges of measurement in scientific research

EX-STUDENTS’ NEWS

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President's Report 2020

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Get to know the Ex-Students’ Committee

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Ex-Student Achievements

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Budding authors in Hamilton

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Announcements

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Lily combines the HSC with studying at Juilliard

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Building a legacy for generations of young women

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Staying positive and keeping focused: Emma Olson-Keating

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From the green gates at Croydon to the green grass of Oxford

Getting to know the 2021/2022 ex-student scholarship recipient: Yasmine Sulyok

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PLC reads the world

Do you know the history of the Ex-Student Speech Day prizes?

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Looking for adventure

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Connections across time: ESU pen pal project

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Farewell Mrs Cathee Mcallum

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Futures Webinars

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Ex-Students tartan up with virtual workshops

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2020: Reflections on a year of momentum for the ESU

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PLC Sydney’s new preschool thrives after first year of opening

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Matilda the Musical

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60 seconds with... Philippa Zingales

Ex-Student Spotlight

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60 seconds with... Mr Malcolm Heap

Save the date

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PLC Sydney: Timeline of a pandemic (Semester 2)

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

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In a school of almost 1400 students there are 1400 stories.

Whether it be the story of a runner striving to achieve her best, or a musician looking to a world famous music school for her tertiary studies, or a student with her heart set on Oxford, our school has many stories.

Of course, not everyone has singular ambition. Most students don't quite know their direction yet. And this is good. Thus, in this edition, you will also find articles on our science and theatre programs, where students simply explore and find out more about themselves and the universe.

We are very pleased to tell you the stories of 2020, because it really has been a good year of learning.

And you will meet the people supporting them, from the wonderful Mr Mal Heap to the considerate and organised Mrs Philippa Zingales.

We also have included the timeline of the second half of the year.

We are very pleased to tell you the stories of 2020, because it really has been a good year of learning. We learned 'book smarts' and 'street smarts' this year. We learned how better to read the world—both its literature and the surprises it can bring to us.

Enjoy this edition.

Dr Paul Burgis Principal

OUR MAGAZINE TEAM EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Mrs Nicole Paull

Dr Paul Burgis, Dr Maria Luisa Gutierrez, Yvonne Zhao, Marina Ruan, Katherine Zhang, Dr Suzana Sukovic, Ms Veronica Trainor, Mrs Lynette Hawkey, Mrs Jo McGrouther, Ms Carolyn Lain, Zara Matta, Madeline Papadopoulos, Lily Dai, Emma Olson-Keating, Ms Lisa Tabuteau, Ms Lisa Li, Jennivine Chen, Ms Helen Kardiasmenos, Mrs Phillipa Zingales, Mr Malcolm Heap, Ms Debby Cramer, Ms Renee Jones, Mrs Suellen White, Mrs Cathee McAllum, Ms Jodi McCarthy, Mrs Maria Halkidis,

COVER Following many delays due to COVID-19 restrictions, Matilda the Musical was performed to much acclaim (see page 22).

Photo courtesy of Des Chu.

Camphora incorporates the Ex-Students’ News, the magazine of PLC Sydney’s Ex-Students’ Union.

Yanna Gralton, Nicole Stellios, Louisa Cusumano.

Ex-Students' News: Marina Clark, Philippa Zingales, Ann McDonald, Lesley Meldrum, Helen Humphreys, Mia Joseph, Elizabeth Gregory, Margot Kelly, Katherine Sherrie. Thank you to all the ex-students and their families who contributed.

PLC Sydney acknowledges the Wangal people, of the Dharug dialect, on whose land the College resides, and pays respect to Elders both past and present.

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Students participating in the 2021 BioTech Futures Challenge. Left to right, top row: Jemima Wall, Florence Yao, Sora Beebar, Yvonne Zhao, Julie Gao. Left to right, bottom row: Olivia Low, Marina Ruan, Katherine Zhang.

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY In the developed world, heart disease is the single largest cause of death. Permanent scar tissue as a result of heart attack can currently only be treated with two methods: medication or a heart transplant.

A third treatment is in its developmental stages: 3D bioprinting a cardiac patch out of the patient's own tissue.

One major challenge with the cardiac patch is recreating a detailed vascularisation system with current 3D bioprinting technology, essential to supporting the new and existing heart tissue to pump blood effectively. What if you had to work in a team to develop a plan to solve this problem? We did.

Earlier this year, before COVID-19, two groups of students from Year 10 PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

and Year 11 volunteered for the Bio and Beyond 2020 Challenge, a Sydney University initiative. Working with assigned mentors, the students developed a plan to solve their medical problem using biotechnology. The teams presented their ideas at Sydney University as part of Women’s Week to an audience of university academics, including the Sydney University Professor of Genomics and ex-PLC student, Professor Kathy Belov and the Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Belinda Hutchinson and about 200 students and teachers from various

Sydney schools. A group of students from PLC Armidale was also invited to attend the event.

Our proposed solution featured capillaries made of cross-linked polyurethane and hyaluronic acid, utilising the mechanical strength of polyurethane and the hyaluronic acid to assist with angiogenesis and cell integration. This solution holds promise in improving the lives of those affected by cardiac dysfunction, by allowing the heart a path to heal without the need for a whole heart transplant. The research we carried out, guided by regular sessions with PLC Scientist-in-Residence Dr Gutierrez and our university mentor, Carmine Gentile from the University of Sydney, took us far beyond our comfort zone and introduced us to an entire new vocabulary. By the end of the program we were talking and reading the

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language of medical technology with surprising ease.

Some of the team are stepping up to a further challenge. Sydney University has recently launched its expanded version of Bio & Beyond called The BIOTech Futures Challenge 2021 (https:// biotechfutures.org/2021-challenge/).

PLC Sydney will be represented by Year 10 students Yvonne Zhao, Olivia Low, Ariel He, Sora Beebar, Jessica Chen, Katherine Zhang, Julie Gao, Jemima Wall, Florence Yao and Marina Ruan.

This time the teams will compete against hundreds of students to come up with an innovative solution to a current challenging problem in health and medicine or energy and the environment. The challenge will link students with world class academics from the University of Sydney, as

The teams presented their ideas at Sydney University as part of Women’s Week to an audience of university academics, including Sydney University Professor of Genomics and ex-student, Professor Kathy Belov.

We have extended ourselves outside the classroom, witnessed Science being applied to help change lives and worked with the guidance of professional scientists. well as the ARC Training Centres for Innovative Bioengineering, Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Medical Implant Technologies, Data Analytics for Resources & Environment and CubeSats (miniaturised satellites) and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Once again, we will need to develop an entire new vocabulary!

We are excited to be part of this biotechnology challenge. This experience introduced us to the field of biomedical engineering. We have extended ourselves outside the classroom, witnessed Science being

applied to help change lives and worked with the guidance of professional scientists. Through their valuable insights and guidance, we have been able to combine knowledge with creativity and innovation. We’ve had first-hand experience with the process of conducting a scientific investigation; from identifying the problem, to proposing and justifying a potential solution.

Challenges such as these really give a sense of satisfaction that comes from contributing to something more

than oneself, whereas the Student Research Project, for example, is an excellent chance to explore a personal curiosity independently, Bio & Beyond highlighted the importance of teamwork in all areas of biotechnology. This has been one of the most exciting aspects of being involved.

As biotechnology is predicted to become a significant part of our future, we would highly recommend these challenges to any students considering a career in science. Maybe our prototype for The BIOTech Futures Challenge 2021 might turn into a real solution in the future.

Yvonne Zhao, Marina Ruan and Katherine Zhang (Year 10) with Dr Maria Luisa Gutierrez, Scientistin-Residence

Students brainstorming ideas to define a research topic during their initial discussions at the Bio and Beyond Challenge.

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MEDIA LITERACY We live in a time when it is not always easy to distinguish between fact and fiction. A recent Australian study shows that children and teenagers are not confident about their media literacy.

Year 10 students participated in the 'Deepfake it till you make it' workshop in Term 4.

They have a reason to be unsure, but many do not have opportunities to develop necessary skills to interpret stories they see in the mainstream and social media. When the ABC invited schools to celebrate Media Literacy Week from 21 to 27 October, the Research and Library Services embraced this opportunity to raise awareness about media stories. Media literacy is a whole school’s business so we developed a comprehensive subject guide to support teachers’ work in their classes.

In the libraries, we prepared a range of media-oriented activities.

Our youngest students in Evandale investigated libraries as a place where we ‘find out about things’. They explored school electronic resources and discussed how information on the same topic is presented in different ways. The Evandale Teacher Librarian talked with the students about the importance of using trusted sources and prepared them to look for information about an animal by using their first database.

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In the Senior Library, Year 7 and 8 students practised their critical thinking by reading and interpreting the validity of a variety of media texts. Students

till you make it' was an opportunity for Year 10 to learn about the forensics of fake news by creating a deepfake video.

Media literacy is a whole school’s business so we developed a comprehensive subject guide to support teachers’ work in their classes. In the libraries, we prepared a range of media-oriented activities. engaged with articles, social media posts, images, and online games to learn how to spot misleading or fake news. Various activities were also placed around the library for students to do some detective work in their free time. The library staff followed with great interest students’ notes as they scribbled their assessment of news and even commented on major media issues.

The last event in the Media Literacy series was held for Year 10 at the end of Term 4. The workshop 'Deepfake it

By doing many engaging activities, we aim to raise students’ awareness and boost their critical thinking.

Discernment and interest in the world around them will help young people to become engaged citizens and independent thinkers who will be able to deal with many changes in their media environments.

Dr Suzana Sukovic

Director of Research and Library Services

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ITELL: DIGITAL STORYTELLING In Term 4 students had the opportunity to extend their writing, communication and digital skills by participating in iTell, digital storytelling workshops.

The Macindoe Research Centre and Countess of Jersey Literary Society came together to organise and facilitate the workshops over a period of 2.5 days.

Students were invited to consider existing stories of their choice and rewrite them from another perspective.

In the process of ‘creative reading’, they learnt how to analyse perspectives in a text, develop a short script, and combine it with images and music to communicate with an audience.

Workshops were designed to develop students’ transliteracy, the ability to apply a range of skills in many different contexts while communicating and interacting with different media and technologies. These workshops are PLC Sydney’s take on Dr Sukovic’s previous work on iTell, and research into transliteracy.

A significant component of the workshop and the initial drafting process was the experience of the story circle; an opportunity for storytellers to share their early drafts and receive

feedback from teachers, librarians and peers, with a view to refining narrative ideas and structures. This process involved great courage, trust and generosity from all participants and resulted in the building of a creative and cohesive team for the remainder of the workshop. As drafting transitioned into activities around visual literacy and experimentation with image and sound, students were able to recognise the connections to prior learning across a range of subjects, with students excitedly sharing their insights into rules of composition, aesthetics and the purposeful construction of meaning as learnt in Art, Maths, English and Science classes.

Engagement with technologies led to new creative possibilities and flexing of problem-solving muscles as well as awareness of their digital citizenship and responsibility as composers.

collaboration of staff from a variety of disciplines, each bringing a specialised skill set to support the students at the different stages of their project.

Immersed in this creative milieu, the staff enjoyed the process as much as the students! We facilitated the workshops with Mrs Sally Kudrna and Mr Matthew Dau.

From a professional perspective, the iTell workshops also enabled a

Director of Language and Literature

The highlight of the workshops was the final viewing of students’ work and the opportunity for the group to reflect upon and celebrate peer achievement.

Students who participated in the workshops were also invited to submit their completed digital stories into a competition, with the winning entry receiving a prize at the Humanities Awards Night in November.

Dr Suzana Sukovic

Director of Research and Library Services

Ms Veronica Trainor

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The AIDPSC Driving Force: Georgina Hedge (2019), Mrs Lynette Hawkey (Head of Speech, Debating and Public Speaking), Natalie Lambropoulos (2019) and Melinda Walsh (2014).

WHERE THERE’S A WILL ...

The Oratory program at PLC Sydney stared down adversity this year to prove that determination, creativity and the right mindset is all-conquering. It was necessary to adjust expectations to see “pandemic problems” as possibilities.

further features such as “Watch the Worm” (online polling) and “Wear Your House Background Colour with Pride”.

The Speech Department developed their own internal speaking and presenting programs, including the aptly named “Covid Classic 1” and “Covid Classic 2” and churned out wave after wave of Speech Showcase videos, to replace traditional recital programs for parents to celebrate online learning with their daughters.

The Public Speaking Festival also went online, with students giving outstanding performances of poetry

and reading to appreciative lockeddown audiences over Zoom.

In September, our team (including myself, ex-students Natalie Lambropoulos, Georgina Hedge and Melinda Walsh) digitised the entire Australian Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships (AIDPSC) 2020, revolutionising the event and remodelling it over 53 Zoom events for 110 participants and a live facebook stream. Ballots were submitted via Google Forms, 256 videos of pre-recorded content were reviewed by 40 adjudicators across

This mental shift was the key that saw our students surge ahead, strengthened by the formidable combination of in-house media production skills and Speech communication training.

As early adopters, Debating saw the potential of Zoom to regenerate its speaking program introducing the Battle of the Belles (an inter-year group tournament) in May and “Front-Foot” online team training programs in July. Skills honed at a grass root level were readily transferred to the Archdale Debating tournament, which was also revived in an online format, resulting in an elevation of our school ranking from 13th (2019) to 6th overall (2020). The Zoom format was also used in House Debating, engaging students with

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Behind the scenes at AHIGS Festival of Speech with Talei Chang (Year 10).

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Australia from Queensland, ACT and Victoria. It was a coup de force and provided just the right environment for our students to flourish. Emily Adamson (Year 11) was crowned National AIDPSC Champion and was closely followed by Breteil David (Year 11) as runner-up. PLC Sydney Speech students were declared National titleholders in three of the five speaking events: Talei Chang (Year 10) Interpretative Reading and Breteil David (Year 11) Persuasive Speaking and Impromptu Speaking.

In October, to crown a challenging year, PLC Sydney reclaimed the premier title at the Australian Heads’ of Independent Girls’ School Festival of Speech competing in a day of Zoom events against 27 other strong schools, each with a proud history of speaking programs. PLC Sydney emerged clear leaders picking up the victory with a convincing 15 point margin. The 14-strong team showed abundant girl-power to rise above the challenges and circumstances that COVID had thrown their way.

Focus, technical competence and courage on the day achieved an outstanding result.

Head Debating Coach, 2018-2020, Despina Bouletos (2015) said: “I was actually very pleasantly surprised by how well PLC Sydney

Volunteers at AIDPSC in September.

my teams whilst also running a Zoom meeting, being in charge of tech and logistics. Everyone had to learn to become more flexible this year, to adapt to 'go with the flow'. It goes to show that if you are truly passionate about something, it doesn't matter how you're doing it, as long as you have an opportunity to participate.”

"It goes to show that if you are truly passionate about something, it doesn't matter how you're doing it, as long as you have an opportunity to participate.” girls were able to transition to online debating and speech competitions.

They all thoroughly embraced the challenge of the new format and produced some stellar results. As a coach, I became adept at multitasking.

I learnt how to juggle my normal duties of taking notes, supervising

It wasn’t only the staff who rapidly upskilled, but students too gained highly proficient skills in managing Zoom events. During the virtual AIDPSC event, 19 students learned how to chair online events, switch cameras and audio, manage breakout

sessions and troubleshoot, gaining valuable technical skills in media production and event management.

Speech Captain 2021, Grace Chen reveals that “I’ve learnt that human relationships and connections have a magical way of persevering and thriving, even in the face of adversity. A year ago, I would never have imagined spending my Friday afternoon, on Zoom, chatting away with a fellow competitor who lived in another state. My perspective has absolutely changed around expectations in taking part in a competition. I used to really care about winning, as though winning constituted a sense of self-worth, a reward for the time and effort I had put into my training. Moving online has made me so much more appreciative of communication. It didn’t feel like much was lost at all, we still managed to find a way to connect with other girls and foster our passion for speaking. Winning is fun— but temporary—taking part in such adverse circumstances, unforgettable.

It was a miracle in itself that Speech was still able to run, not to mention run so smoothly.”

The take-home message from staff and students at Lyons House is that resilience and positivity demonstrate that where there’s a will, there certainly is a way!

Mrs Lynette Hawkey

From left to right: 2020 Debating Archdale Seniors Grace Chen, Zoe Jewell, Emily Adamson and Grace Hefferan.

Head of Speech, Debating and External Public Speaking

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Bethany Rand (Year 7) with Scientist-in-Residence, Dr Maria Luisa Gutierrez, and Physicist-in Residence, Dr Stephanus Van Heerden.

Bethany participated in the Science Enrichment Program offered to students in Years 7 and 8 in Semester 2 and investigated whether pigment colour in leaves affects the amount of oxygen production.

OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF MEASUREMENT IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH I have a research idea but how can I measure it? Three students use Spectroscopy to solve measurement issues in their Science research investigations.

Marina Ruan (Year 10), Sarah Ge (Year 10) and Bethany Rand (Year 7) all hit the same dead-end with their science research proposals. How can I measure my results?

This is not an uncommon problem and often no solution can be found, leaving students no option other than to rethink their research project. This can be disappointing and frustrating. But for Marina, Sarah and Bethany, the answer to their dilemma was spectroscopy.

Sarah Ge set out to explore the global issue of histamine intolerance which has been linked to anxiety, a growing mental health issue. Naturally occurring bacteria in fish produce an enzyme which converts histidine in the fish to histamine. Consumption of the fish can result in histamine poisoning which presents as rashes, itching, dizziness and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.

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Sarah’s research titled “Moody mackerel or mackerel moody? Histamine in mackerel; the best way to store Spanish mackerel in order to reduce your chances of histamine poisoning and related anxiety disorders”, aimed to determine an effective treatment for Spanish mackerel that would result in a reduction in histamine content.

Fish samples were either treated with unsweetened almond milk, red wine, lemon juice, clear vodka or water (control) for 12 hours at 4°C. Sarah’s dilemma was how to measure any change in the histamine levels.

Dyes found in wastewater produced from the textile, printing and paper industries are a major pollutant in waterways globally. Textile dyeing is the second largest global polluter of clean water, after agriculture. Marina Ruan decided to investigate the effectiveness of different adsorbents in removing dyes from water. Her aim was to find a substance that would address the problem whilst also being eco-friendly.

Marina chose to test water containing blue food dye with Bioglan Activated Charcoal Powder, raw eggshell powder and calcined eggshell powder. The eggshells were ground in a blender and calcined in an electric kiln. Marina could visually see that the blue colour was significantly reduced by all three

treatments but, like Sarah, the problem was how to quantify the change.

Discussions with the PLC Sydney Scientist-in-Residence, Dr Maria Luisa Gutierrez, are encouraged during the planning stages of student research.

For Marina and Sarah these conversations led to meetings with Dr Stephanus Van Heerden, PLC Sydney's Physicist-in Residence, who suggested a spectrophotometer could solve their measurement problems. Spectrophotometers are instruments that can accurately and with high precision measure the amount of light, of a specific wavelength, absorbed by a coloured solution. The absorbance of light is proportional to the concentration of the compound causing the colour.

Dr Van Heerden constructed a spectrometer suitable for each student’s project. Dr Gutierrez and Dr Van Heerden then trained Sarah and Marina to produce the required solutions and to use the spectrophotometers, including the computer program required to extract the data. Sarah also required a microtitre plate which she was able to borrow from the Sydney University laboratories of Professor Kathy Belov.

Both students agree the experience was extraordinary.

“Dr Van Heerden constructed a 442 nm laser-equipped spectrophotometer using a laser borrowed from the University of NSW. He also devised the computer application which allowed me to measure each sample’s absorption. This allowed me to determine accurately the histamine concentration of each sample.

I have learnt a considerable amount about the mechanisms of the spectrophotometer and how to gather and manipulate the data. This experience was definitely valuable. It has stretched my boundaries and given me a real sense of achievement. I have developed a strong sense of resilience; problems can be solved.” (Sarah Ge, Year 10) “Although somewhat confusing and difficult to grasp at first, it was a unique and memorable experience to learn about spectroscopy and to use scientific equipment that was unlike anything I’d ever encountered in the classroom. I am incredibly grateful to Dr Van Heerden for all the mentorship and guidance he provided while using the spectrometer, as well as his patience with answering all my questions and helping me understand how it worked.” (Marina Ruan, Year 10) What did their results reveal? Marina found that calcined eggshell powder was the most effective, with an average percentage reduction in the blue dye of 84%. This was followed by Bioglan Activated Charcoal Powder (77%), and by raw eggshell powder (48%). Sarah’s data showed that clear unflavoured vodka and unsweetened almond milk were optimal treatments in storing

Marina Ruan (Year 10) investigated the effectiveness of different adsorbents in removing dyes from water. Dyes found in wastewater produced from the textile, printing and paper industries are a major pollutant in waterways globally.

Spanish mackerel as they resulted in a lower histamine concentration of 0.000 mg/L and 0.107 mg/L respectively compared to the control (0.179 mg/L).

Bethany Rand (Year 7) participated in the Science Enrichment Program offered to students in Years 7 and 8 in Semester 2. In the program, students work with Dr Gutierrez and Dr Van Heerden to learn about photosynthesis during

Sarah and Marina submitted their research to the NSW Young Scientist Awards in August. Along with eight other PLC Sydney Senior School students, they were both recognised for the exceptional quality and great relevance of their research. a series of lunchtime lectures and practical activities and then plan and undertake an individual research project. Bethany chose to investigate whether pigment colour in leaves affects the amount of oxygen production because she reasoned that “photosynthesis in plants can play an

Sarah Ge (Year 10) set out to explore the global issue of histamine intolerance which has been linked to anxiety, a growing mental health issue.

important role in replacing atmospheric CO2 with O2. If one pigment in a leaf produces more oxygen than another this could help us to select and grow plants which will reduce atmospheric CO2 levels and will have a bigger impact in slowing global warming.”

Like Sarah and Marina, Bethany has used spectrometry to produce her data which is quite remarkable for such a young student.

“In the first step of my experiment I had to assess which pigments were in each variety of leaf. Initially, I used chromatography to see the different amounts and types of pigments. While the results showed that each leaf had different pigment colours, it did not give a measurable result. I discussed the challenges with Dr Van Heerden and Dr Gutierrez and concluded that using a spectrometer would give a more accurate and measurable result.

I hope that by the end of my experiment I will have some results that could provide real insight into how pigments in leaves affect oxygen production and could help reduce global warming.”

(Bethany Rand, Year 7) Bethany presented her research as a poster at a mini-symposium at the end of Term 4.

Sarah and Marina submitted their research to the NSW Young Scientist Awards in August. Along with eight other PLC Sydney Senior School students, they were both recognised for the exceptional quality and great relevance of their research. Sarah was invited to present her research at the second of the PLC Sydney Science Sound Bites lunchtime seminars to a gathering of interested students and teachers. Both students have related their Student Research Project (SRP) journey to Year 9 students who will undertake their research in Term 1, 2021.

Bethany, Marina and Sarah, mentored by our Scientists-in Residence, have forged new territory with measurement and shown that students can learn to use sophisticated equipment and understand and process the data, transforming simple qualitative observations into quantitative research.

Through showcasing their experiences to other students the possibilities of using spectroscopy will hopefully present opportunities to the next cohort of students as they plan their investigations.

Mrs Jo McGrouther Head of Science

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BUDDING AUTHORS IN HAMILTON Two budding authors in Year 4, Zara Matta and Madeline Papadopoulos, have had pieces of writing published.

Zara Matta’s highly descriptive short story “Window” was published in the anthology Windows by Better Read Publishing. An excerpt from Zara’s narrative is below.

Madeline Papadopoulos was presented with a Silver award in the NESA WriteOn competition. This is an annual writing competition for NSW students in Years

1 to 6. It is designed to encourage young students to develop their writing skills in an engaging way. Using a photograph for inspiration, students are asked to write a short piece in an imaginative, persuasive and/or informative style.

Congratulations to both of these students on their outstanding achievement.

Ms Carolyn Lain

Junior School EALD Teacher English Coordinator

Madeleine will also have her work published in The Best of WriteOn 2020.

An excerpt from “Window” by Zara Matta Sophie awoke to the sun shining on the side of her face. Her body was tense until she placed her feet in furry slippers and walked to the window. This was her favourite spot in the whole apartment. She could see children playing in the morning light and the trees neatly placed on the sidewalk—bursts of earthy colours and emerald. A dad picked up his baby who squealed in delight and a teenage girl patted her snowy white dog.

Sophie looked down. Wait...

"...she reached out and held her new crystals and sparkling necklace. Warmth radiated from her gifts, calming her and lulling her into a dreamless sleep." felt like hours but then fell asleep once more. Her slumber greeted her with distress and pain enveloping her body like an anaconda crushing its prey. Her bones groaned and her lungs seared. In the middle of

the inky night she reached out and held her new crystals and sparkling necklace. Warmth radiated from her gifts, calming her and lulling her into a dreamless sleep.

There was a present outside her window! She pulled it inside! The silver tag had her name on it and the golden ribbon embraced a box.

Eager fingers unwrapped the aqua paper revealing a little cube filled with treasures like rose gold coins from Persia and twinkling crystals.

Her father walked inside and spotted the gift and how it was for her. “Wow! This is beautiful! Hey Sophie, what’s this?” There was a message in a small cork bottle at the end of a sparkling necklace. She unsealed the cork and saw that the message read on A10 paper “I hope that you get well soon. Love you.” Who is that? Sophie thought.

Even though it was not a school night, Sophie went to be early after she had her medication. Restless, she groaned in the middle of the night and stayed awake for what

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Year 4 student Zara Matta with a copy of Windows. Zara’s short story “Window” was included in the anthology.

The stimulus for the NESA WriteOn competition this year was a photo of a child and a dog.

“Coco’s Strength” by Madeline Papadopoulos Resting on my familiar bed, lost in Coco’s deep brown eyes, I can hear mum coughing in her bed, as my warm puppy snuggles into my arms. Mum’s unwell. Again. I hope it won’t get as bad as last time. Dad doesn’t want to tell me she’s sick but… ….I already know. He can’t hide it from me. His eyes are black and sleepless.

Lately I have been scared to look into mum’s vacant eyes. I’m old enough to realise that she may not make it

Madeline Papadopoulos was awarded a Silver award in the NESA WriteOn competition. Her short story “Coco’s Strength” will be published in The Best of WriteOn 2020.

through this winter. Here in Australia, winters are pretty warm, but we have chilly winters in Tasmania.

My mind wanders back to a super busy Wednesday afternoon two years ago. Mum was baking something delicious, dad was working in the

usual. When had this happened?

I hadn’t noticed. I wondered quietly to myself what was wrong with her. I just wanted to go home. I couldn’t bear to see her like that.

To this day, I still do not remember what really happened in any clear order but I definitely recall "The hospital made me nervous how I felt. I was overcome with and anxious about what secrets it confusion and held about my mum. I wanted to fear. I didn't know what was know them but I also didn't." happening until the shock hit study and I….well I was doing what me. I had never seen my mum like that. So helpless. We found out after most kids do. I was making a right many tests that my mum had a rare royal mess! I had my hands deep brain disease. It had taken a hold in a huge tub of slime. Suddenly, I of my mum’s mind and was busily heard a big crash. Kind of like the draining away every ounce of her. sound a porcelain plate makes when it’s been dropped and broken. I ran The sole thing that has helped me to the kitchen and there, I was met through this trauma in my life is Coco. with chaos. Mum was on the floor.

Coco has allowed me to hold her for Dad was bellowing Mum’s name comfort and has helped me stand like a madman. Coco was barking. tall. When all I want to do is crumble Chocolate icing was smeared all to the floor and cry. Together we over the floor, mixed with shards of have suffered through this long porcelain. The only thing I remember tiresome journey and without her I clearly was my mum being carried would have given in to the darkness away on a stretcher, pushed by calling my name. emergency doctors.

I hope Coco has some more strength The hospital made me nervous and to get me through this next stage. anxious about what secrets it held about my mum. I wanted to know them but I also didn't. I held mum’s hand and it seemed thinner than

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LILY COMBINES THE HSC WITH STUDYING AT JUILLIARD Lily Dai’s musical career has been vast and at an incredibly high standard for any musician let alone one as young as Lily.

When she auditioned for a music scholarship at PLC Sydney, she was already part of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Rising Stars program. In Year 6 at the time, Lily had undertaken concerts on each Saturday since she was nine years old.

“I come from a musical family, my Mum was a soprano singer, my Dad taught me to play cello from age five and my brother plays piano, so I grew up surrounded by music,” she says.

Juilliard receives approximately 2000 applications for a number of courses across the entire college in a year, with approximately 150 students receiving a placement. Early this year Lily travelled to New York to audition for Juilliard and was successful, not only being offered a placement in the Bachelor of Music Performance program but a scholarship as well.

This is truly an achievement at the highest possible level in the world of Music performance.

This year Lily became the first student at PLC Sydney to be awarded a Representative Blazer for Performing Arts, presented for incredible musicianship in cello. When Lily was in Year 10, she progressed through to the finals of the Ku Ring Gai Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto Competition. For this performance she performed the first movement of Lalo’s Cello Concerto in D Minor for which she received the Barbara Robinson Award (equivalent of 2nd place). A fantastic achievement at such a prestigious event.

The Juilliard School is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leading drama, music and dance schools, with some of the most prestigious arts programs.

“I come from a musical family, my Mum was a soprano singer, my Dad taught me to play cello from age five and my brother plays piano, so I grew up surrounded by music.”

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Term 4 has seen Lily combine studying the HSC in Sydney with undertaking her first semester at Juilliard remotely, due to COVID-19 restrictions. “Going to The Juilliard School has been my dream for many years,” she says.

Lily hopes to travel to New York soon to continue her studies on campus.

We wish Lily all the best.

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STAYING POSITIVE AND KEEPING FOCUSED: EMMA OLSON-KEATING It’s clear to everyone that this has not been a “normal” year.

The pandemic has impacted everyone’s lives in so many different ways for better or for worse and we have all had to learn how to adapt to our new lifestyles.

Sport is a very big part of my life. I train for triathlons—swimming, cycling and running—for about 18 hours per week.

When COVID-19 became a pandemic and we had to go into lockdown, many aspects of my training and life were disrupted much like everyone else.

My coach quickly paired us up with a person who would be our COVID training partner for the duration of this restriction.

I was affected by COVID in a variety of ways. Due to social distancing efforts I had to change my training techniques and it gave me a chance to take a step back to look at where I was and how I could work on my weaknesses.

Initially all races were cancelled, but recently, there have been some events held which followed social distancing measures. This has been very exciting especially as we haven’t had races for the five months prior.

During lockdown, I had to adjust my ways of training to suit the social distancing and other COVID regulations that were in place. My normal training is in a group environment for most sessions because training with others helps you to work harder and you have fun together.

One of the restrictions the government put in place was the limit of two people exercising together at one time, meaning that I could no longer train with my squad. My coach quickly paired us up with a person who would be our COVID training partner for the duration of this restriction. My partner and I trained together in running and cycling sessions for about three months. For swimming, there were no pools open, so I did lots of open water swimming with my family at Balmoral beach in North Sydney. Driving to the beach four times a week became our routine that helped us get through the lockdown period. Towards the end of the lockdown the ocean water cooled down as winter approached. Luckily we wore our wetsuits to keep us warm! Instead of fretting about what we couldn’t do, we thought about what we could do and had some fun together.

COVID, despite being an awful, ongoing event, has provided us with the opportunity to step back, reflect, and think about how to improve ourselves.

This is what I took advantage of in this time in regards to triathlon in particular.

Looking at our situation with a positive perspective helped my family and I to be relieved from some of the stresses that we were feeling. We made the circumstance positive by reminding

ourselves of the benefits of taking a break from our routine. I was able to take a look at what I had been doing previously in races and training and what weaknesses that I needed to work on.

I also had the chance to take a break from being in “race mode” as there were no races being held. Since I race in cross country, athletics, and triathlon events very often throughout the year, I seldom have many large breaks. For a couple weeks at the start of lockdown I took the time to do less intense training and more aerobic training so as to develop a strong base. I enjoyed this time because I was able to spend time regrouping and having personal time.

The Triathlon NSW pathway managers organised a new state-wide triathlon series for us athletes to take part in this season because they don’t know if we will be able to compete with the other states. Our first triathlon was 11 October and the rest is taking place over the following four months.

This is a new race series that has been introduced and I am interested to find out if it will stay to become a permanent event in the future.

I have had to be patient through the pandemic for this big part of my life to continue, but so has everyone else and I know that soon enough races will be held again. So in the meantime I am staying positive and keeping focused.

Emma Olson-Keating, Year 10

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Jennivine at Matriculation with fellow students, where they were formally admitted into Oxford University at the beginning of the term.

FROM THE GREEN GATES AT CROYDON TO THE GREEN GRASS OF OXFORD The green grass of Oxford is a long way from the green gates of PLC Sydney in Croydon, however, that is where Jennivine Chen landed in Term 3 this year. Finishing Year 12 at the College a little earlier than her fellow students, Jennivine was accepted into Oxford to study Computer Science and Philosophy at the prestigious university in the United Kingdom and commenced her studies while her cohort was sitting their HSC exams.

Jennivine is an exceptional student, studying her Cambridge A level courses at the same time that she studied her HSC subjects at PLC Sydney. She was given support from the teachers here in her A Levels— Mr Gavin Sinclair, Ms Sarah Waller and Ms Lisa Tabuteau— which became essential when the lockdown was imposed earlier this year. Ms Tabuteau said “Against all odds and in many ways, all by herself, she not only got through her Cambridge course, but did incredibly well!”

Jennivine’s mum, Ms Lisa Li, shared the exciting news with Dr Burgis in August

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when Jennivine’s A-level results were released and news of her offer came through.

"I am writing to share wonderful news.

Jennivine has received her A-level results and has met her conditional offer to start in Oxford University this October. When we received the results, the first thing I wanted to say is THANK YOU and thanks to the teachers who have been helping her to reach for this goal. Her subject teachers have been more than supportive and have all aided her tremendously in this process, especially this year due to COVID-19 and Cambridge exam cancellations.

Every teacher at PLC wanted her to do well from the bottom of their hearts, and I know for a fact that she has grown so much from the girl she came to PLC as.

Before PLC, Jennivine had been to both a public and an international school in China, but the school environment here is uniquely unifying in its sense of community. I remember in Year 8 when she first came, occasionally I walked through the school and you would chat to us—and every other parent— each time with a personal greeting. What also surprised me was the dedication of teachers who spend their after-

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In the time Jennivine has spent at PLC, she formed many valuable and unforgettable friendships that will be carried way beyond the school gates and I deeply believe that the girls will grow up to become young women of integrity and purpose. school time to run extra-curricular activities and the wonderful teacherstudent relationships here that build upon the curiosity and respect for knowledge.

In the time Jennivine has spent at PLC, she formed many valuable and unforgettable friendships that will be carried way beyond the school gates and I deeply believe that the girls will grow up to become young women of integrity and purpose. These examples are just to name a few, but from Speech Day 2019, I cannot agree more with the school's strategic vision and the push for T-shaped talents in students— it reflects your thoughtful insights on education.

In addition, PLC's encouragement for girls to pursue STEM subjects and hence creating an academically excellent environment has definitely influenced and shaped Jennivine during her study.

It would be impossible to picture her as she is without the girls who came before, leading by example in the STEM field. They've inspired her to push the limits and have given her courage to embrace challenges. This year in particular has put that to the test, no matter how difficult, it has taught us to keep going forward and anticipate the unexpected along the way."

After settling in England, Jennivine reached out to Ms Tabuteau, Director of Cambridge International Courses at PLC Sydney, to update her on her commencement at Oxford and she has kindly shared this with us.

Jennivine with (left to right) Dr Lloyd Dawe, Ms Lisa Tabuteau, Ms Sarah Waller and Mr Gavin Sinclair, on her last day at PLC Sydney.

“Dear Ms Tabuteau, I’m doing very well and apologies for not catching up sooner! Each term is only eight weeks and I’m now into my fifth week of the term, so everything has been going past very fast.

The workload here is somewhat manageable. I get a 2000 word General Philosophy essay every fortnight, plus around three or four problem sheets every week—those are for the Probability (Maths), Discrete Maths (Computer Science), Functional Programming (Computer Science), and the Introduction to Logic (Philosophy) courses I’m taking this term.

Usually I try to get up before 8.00 am and go on a walk/run to see the cows at Christ Church Meadows. A few days ago I walked past the TS Eliot Theatre at Merton College and just had to take a photo :) The amazing collection of Yeats and Virginia Woolf in the Balliol Library also made it very tempting for me to re-read some of their works too.

Speaking of libraries, the university libraries are in very high demand due to the booking system put in place because of COVID. I’ve been in the Radcliffe Camera once, but couldn’t find a reading space that time I went. I was very lucky to have booked a spot in the Duke Humfrey’s Library for today, apparently it’s the oldest library in Oxford and they filmed Harry Potter there! I’m going to try and finish my essay there today (this week’s topic is on the rationality of inductive references and its implication to scientific enquiries) and make some good lecture notes so I can get started on the problem sheets before tomorrow.

Extracurricular-wise, I’ve joined the College's novice Rowing Club and a few other subject-related societies. Although because of the second lockdown, I’ve only been out on the water once :( I’ve also signed up for choir just in time leading up to the Christmas service so I’m very much looking forward to that. In addition, I’m doing some outreach work for the Computer Science Department as a student ambassador, and for the College to answer questions from incoming applicants in 2021, which means I’ll likely get paid during the Christmas holidays. A few days ago it was also the BUMS (Balliol Undergraduate Maths Society) election, and I got a role on the committee as a social sec along with another person— we’ll be in charge of organising all social events for the society this year.

All has been good, although slightly busy :)”

We wish Jennivine all the best for her studies at Oxford and look forward to welcoming her back to Croydon one day.

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PLC READS THE WORLD PLC Sydney reads the world this year with a sense of adventure and discovery. Each term we focus on reading books from a different continent. So far, we have completed our reading journey through Asia, continental Europe and Africa.

At the time of writing, we are reading books from Americas—South America, and French and Indigenous Canada. The reading journey takes students outside Western English speaking countries to explore different cultures, environments, social issues and styles of writing. They mark their readings on a Google map, creating a constantly growing collection of inspiring titles and recommendations to share with their peers.

At the end of each term, we acknowledge the best readers by selecting the Reading Ambassador and two attachés for each continent. At the end of the year, we will announce the winner of the reading challenge. With the library collection now equipped to support reading wanderlust, we hope that PLC Sydney students will continue to read the world in many years to come.

Ambassadors and attaches recommend: Asia

The City of Sand series by Tianxia Bachang The Art of War by Tzu Sun Japanese Children’s Favourite Stories by Florence Sakade Europe The Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer Multiversum by Leonardo Patrignani PLC reads the world takes students on a literacy journey all over the globe.

“Reading books from Africa has given me an entire new insight into African culture and how it is perceived—especially by the media. To be honest, before reading these books I had the same common, stereotypical concept as most people.

However these books proved me wrong, allowing me to explore and be surprised at how developed, flourished and beautiful African culture is. I was definitely surprised at first at the fact that the characters in these books live just like us, and go through the same life situations. They're all going through the same things as me. With additional flavour and bright colours, I thoroughly enjoyed all the books I read.”

Sasha Prokhorov, Year 8

“My reading trip around the world has been an incredible experience. The contrast between different continents is fascinating to me. To think we all live in the same world as neighbours, but each continent has such vast cultural diversities and, yet, our ethics are similar. It’s interesting to read the philosophy behind each culture, their religions and customs, yet we are all connected in some way by the similarities. We may all have the same problem, but depending on our culture or upbringing, deal with things differently while looking for the same outcome. This connects us all together.”

Monet Lowe, Year 7 PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

One Clear, Ice-cold January Morning at the Beginning of the 21st Century by Roland Schimmelpfennig A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos Africa

Never say Never by Anthony Mugo The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba Aya series by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls are Used in War by Jessica Dee Humphreys and Michel Chikwanine

Dr Suzana Sukovic

Director of Research and Library Services

LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

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In a year when overseas travel and exchange was not a possibility, Year 10 students had to look for adventure closer to home.

The aesthetically pleasing and beautifully peaceful campus of PLC Sydney leant itself to more than one adventure; and so was launched four days of activities, variety, challenges and fun with friends.

Two of these four days of Year 10 Adventures had students engaged in a rotation of activities in House groups: meaningful, relevant vocational workshops entitled Passionate Profiling, Jazzy Jobs and Outstanding Occupations.

House groups also engaged in a Self Defence workshop, Meditation, Toughen Up, a fitness challenge, and a taste of Cheerleading, with a performance on the stage of the Audrey Keown Theatre.

On the other two days, students had the opportunity to build their own day from the variety of workshops offered.

Under the direction of an experienced florist, students made flower crowns; another group interacted with the expert staff involved in running the turtle program and maintaining the Invertebrate House; girls engaged in craft activities including making bag tags, a pompon Christmas decoration, as well

as learning about various techniques to make Christmas cards. PLC Sydney gardeners instructed a group about de-heading plants, repotting and striking a cutting; an Archibald hung artist led a workshop about portrait painting; whilst other girls learnt about grooming, caring for and disciplining a pet dog.

Students of Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese and Latin were fully immersed in full-day language and cultural enrichment activities; drama, cuisine, conversation, arts and craft. Elective Drama students attended a tailor-made performance workshop.

On the fitness front, a group of students worked with the College’s personal trainer and another group practised their tennis skills and game technique.

A Dance workshop was also offered where participants moved through many styles of dancing.

Science in the Kitchen instructed girls the useful life skills of how to make cheese and yoghurt and in the Slice, Dice and Marinate workshop, students

learnt and practised the correct technique of using a kitchen knife, making a marinade and barbecuing.

Students with instruments and a love of all things music attended a jam session. Another engaging workshop had competitive students forming teams to compete in Trivia. A Christmas message to be shared with the PLC Sydney supported aged care facility was also filmed.

PLC Sydney staff facilitated many of the workshops, while others were capably executed by external experts in their field. There was energy, enthusiasm and productivity surrounding every activity.

Year 10 students were grateful for a break from their classroom studies and for the choice of workshops. It was a successful and enjoyable four days.

Mrs Suellen White

Director of International Studies

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FAREWELL MRS CATHEE MCALLUM In 1994 PLC Sydney introduced the Transition Program, a unit developed to educate students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Coordinator of the Transition Program since it began, Mrs Cathee McAllum, has seen the lives of many young women transformed.

Prior to the program being introduced, PLC Sydney had little expertise in providing education for students with special needs.

However, after much investigation, consultation with the staff and the full support of College Council, Principal Dr Bill McKeith proudly launched the Transition Program with the first cohort commencing in 1994.

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Before coming to the College, Cathee had worked in both total integration and total segregation models of schooling and felt that neither approach worked well for the majority of students. When she looked at what Dr McKeith was proposing to implement at PLC Sydney, Mrs McAllum “loved that this is a school offering so much to the girls in the way of great role models, facilities and co-curricular programs. We were designing a program to meet the needs of each student and to begin at their starting point and move them forward.

That’s what really attracted me to the program. And that’s what I think we are still doing pretty well.”

When reflecting on her start at PLC Sydney, Cathee said she was asked to stand up and talk about the girls that were coming into the program.

“I had only met the girls once, so I didn’t

really know that much about them.

I remember speaking about how I felt setting up the Transition Program wasn’t going to be about what the school could do for these students, but what the students would do for the school.

And I stand by that today. Some of our mainstream students have gone on to study inclusive education following their experiences with our girls and for some students who have been involved with the program through the Duke of Edinburgh service component, it has changed their pathway in life. They developed a real passion for it.”

“Some of the young women who leave PLC Sydney may end up working alongside someone with a disability and some of them will have a child with a disability. And what we are doing here with the Transition Program is educating the students that it is not

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the end of the world. This is part of the journey. The road they travel will be a little bit different but people with a disability are still really wonderful, worthwhile contributing members of society.”

The Transition Program has a threepronged approach with a focus on academic, social and independent living skills. Cathee says “the team places equal value on all three components and from a personal point of view, I actually believe that if we can help the girls develop stronger social skills it is one of the most important aspects we can assist with. The latest research demonstrates that young people who have strong social skills do better later in life.”

When asked about some highlights from her time at the College, Cathee was quick to respond with the annual Transition Spectacular. “We get such wonderful support from both the school community and the wider community. It’s just amazing to watch the girls progress over the years, gain confidence, develop their speaking skills and become more confident on stage.

They just love it.”

A source of pride for Cathee is the live-in component of the program at McAllum House, which has been renamed in her honour (formerly known as Transition House). “We really wanted to teach skills in the environment where they would be used. Students who have special needs tend to not generalise or transfer skills, so it has been really important that we have been able to teach those independent living skills in the house.

It has also had the unexpected bonus of offering respite to the parents who may not have had the opportunity to do things like go out for a meal together in a long time or go away for the weekend.

And for the girls, staying at the house is a real highlight.”

Some of our mainstream students have gone on to study inclusive education following their experiences with our girls and for some students who have been involved with the program through the Duke of Edinburgh service component, it has changed their pathway in life.

After so many years of supporting students at PLC Sydney, Cathee is proud that the team has assisted other private schools to develop their programs for inclusive education. “We have built such a strong model with really positive outcomes and it has been great to share our learnings with other schools.

We have set a great example.”

Reflecting on more than 25 years of providing inclusive education at PLC Sydney, Cathee says “The program has been very successful in transitioning students into society. Over 100 young women have graduated since its inception.

As a result, many are living independently and most graduates are working in supported employment, including three ex-students being employed at PLC Sydney. It is so rewarding to hear about the girls’ lives after they have graduated from school.”

Twenty-seven years after walking through PLC Sydney’s green gates, Cathee is farewelling the College and heading for new experiences in Tasmania. We acknowledge Cathee’s significant contribution to PLC Sydney and the lives of so many young women and wish her all the best for the future.

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PLC SYDNEY’S NEW PRESCHOOL THRIVES AFTER FIRST YEAR OF OPENING PLC Sydney Preschools threw open its doors in Ashfield early this year and after an uncertain start, is now thriving after nearing its first year in operation.

“Just after our first month of opening, we were shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

We had to think very fast about how we were going to keep our preschoolers engaged and actually keep our preschool viable”, said Sarah Clay, Acting Director, PLC Sydney Preschools.

Facing a few tough months, our teachers quickly adapted and made our entire program online for our preschoolers. “The teachers created engaging and hugely valuable online content that not only involved teaching our curriculum but also included dramatic play, story time, music and dancing”.

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“Our philosophy at the preschool is really about giving children a place to belong and creating deep connections with children and families, understanding how each child interacts, how they learn and what motivates them”

Once we could get back into the classroom, our program has gone from strength to strength. Offering a specialised curriculum for children aged 3-5 years old, it is evident that our new premise in Ashfield has thoughtfully designed to promote curiosity and to challenge the most eager minds, alongside a wonderful range of innovative resources. Our enrolments continue to grow and we see a very bright future for this wonderful early learning centre.

“Our philosophy at the preschool is really about giving children a place to belong and creating deep connections with children and families, understanding how each child interacts, how they learn and what motivates them”, said Sarah. “It’s all about playbased learning but incorporating all the important elements of literacy, mathematics and STEM”.

Another really special quality of the preschool that makes us stand out is the calibre of our teaching staff. Each teacher has in excess of 10 years experience and our children absolutely love them. The relationships that are formed between the teachers and each child are priceless. We’ve seen some of our more reserved children thrive over the time they’ve been with us. “We are very grateful for what we have created in this first year and I’m confident all of our families would agree that this is a pretty special place to bring their children”.

"The relationships that are formed between the teachers and each child are priceless."

every day, we know we’ve created a special place for our PLC Sydney Preschoolers.

Ms Renee Jones

PLC Sydney Preschools Communications Manager

As we begin to wrap up 2020, our very first graduates are preparing for kindergarten and we are getting excited to welcome our new intake of preschoolers for 2021.

Hearing the sound of excited screams, thundering feet running in the playground, booming laughter between friends and watching curiosity grow

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MATILDA THE MUSICAL In a year like no other, PLC Sydney’s Matilda the Musical became a “symbol of strength, hope, optimism and creative problem-solving”, says Director Mrs Maria Halkidis.

In 2020, it seems only fitting that PLC Sydney’s highly anticipated musical production happened to be Matilda, a rendition of Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel revolving around a young girl who shows perseverance, integrity and purpose in the face of less than ideal circumstances. Especially for the Year 12 students involved, the lessons to be taken away from Matilda couldn’t have been more relevant

than in this rollercoaster of a year.

Despite various challenges, the show fortunately did go on and the production was fantastic, with incredible performances from the girls.

The Drama production in itself requires an epic amount of work, time and energy for both students and staff—and that’s just under normal circumstances. With the Opening Night originally scheduled for 29 April and COVID-19 restrictions forcing PLC Sydney to resort to online learning on 23 March, the future of Matilda looked uncertain for all involved. However, both the staff and students pulled out all the stops to make sure none of the hard work that had been put into the musical would go to waste.

Rehearsals were eventually allowed to resume in August but the ensuing second wave of restrictions presented yet another set of problems for the production; group singing and mixing students from different schools in the performing arts weren’t allowed and musical ensembles had to maintain strict social distancing. It also didn’t help that the COVID Safe regulations were often changing as the situation in NSW improved throughout the year.

“There were times when a lot of us felt like throwing in the towel but Mrs Halkidis, Mr Harper and Mrs McCarthy never, never gave up.

They were all incredibly creative and resilient!” says Yanna Gralton, who played the lead character Matilda.

In response to the restrictions, it was decided that everything would be prerecorded and collated into a backing track, except for the soloists who were allowed to sing live. The band and the ensemble singing were recorded and the students learnt to lip-synch the musical numbers in the show.

Production Manager Jodi McCarthy even went to the lengths of re-ticketing the production three times to adjust to each new set of regulations. The dedication and unwavering faith displayed by the staff involved in Matilda is truly something to behold.

Seeing as such a substantial portion of the Matilda cast were Year 12 students, Dr Burgis made the decision to postpone rather than completely cancel the musical, as most other schools in the country were doing. For students like Nicole Stellios (dancer) Matilda was a “healthy outlet where we didn’t have to focus on the stresses of the HSC and COVID-19”.

The Opening Night of Matilda was also pushed back to the last week of Term 3 after the Year 12 Graduation.

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“We just really wanted to see it through for them,” Ms McCarthy reflects.

COVID-19 has thrown a number of curveballs in the works and ‘adjusting to a new normal’ is a saying we hear often. While disruptions to the traditional PLC Sydney musical had its trials and tribulations, there were some positives that came out of the new approach.

Ms McCarthy believes that the changes allowed students the opportunity to learn new things.

“Learning to lip-synch and record definitely was a good experience for the girls because they’d never been in a recording studio before.”

Ultimately, for the cast and staff that were a part of Matilda, there was something special about it, an attachment that stemmed from the sheer amount of resilience and commitment that was invested in the production.

“This has definitely been one for the record books!” says Mrs Maria Halkidis.

Elysia Cook (2019) Ex-Students' Office Intern

A Dramatic Future for Louisa 2020 School Captain and drama enthusiast Louisa Cusumano is one of a very small handful of students at PLC Sydney who has been in every school musical from Years 7 to 12.

It’s not hard to pick once you’ve seen her formidable and captivating performance as Ms Trunchbull in PLC Sydney’s 2020 musical Matilda—her talent is immense and captivating.

Louisa’s introduction to drama can be traced even further back to her inaugural performance in the 2015 Senior School musical Les Misérables.

She was only in Year 6 at the time.

Finding a newfound passion in drama and musicals, Louisa later joined the Drama Club as she entered high school.

Louisa’s talent extends far beyond just musicals. She has taken part in numerous plays, drama company productions, theatre sports competitions and clubs since Year 8.

In 2018, Louisa was one of a group of PLC Sydney students who were crowned the intermediate state

champions for Impro Australia Theatresports.

For Louisa, drama has never been a chore. Drama has always been something that she has enjoyed and she views it as a break from study; a safe place where she constantly feels safe and happy to try new things and be herself. Of course, there were times when it was really hard for her to balance school and drama commitments over the years but in the end she was doing what she loved.

“I think my favourite memories were the cheesy ones—crying with the cast after shows or joking in rehearsals.

Just spending time creating stuff with really amazing people was the best.”

When asked about her plans postschool, Louisa cooly replied that she was still unsure of what the future holds. She would love to continue drama and has auditioned for a few drama schools but ultimately things are still up in the air.

Elysia Cook

Ex-students’ Union Intern

Louisa in a scene from the 2018 production Beauty and the Beast.

2015 Les Misérables 2016 Into the Woods

Anne of Green Gables 2017 High School Musical

Inheritance 2018 Beauty and the Beast 2019 Addams Family

Over the Moon and Far

Away Impro Show

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60 SECONDS WITH ...

PHILIPPA ZINGALES Director of Alumni Relations Please provide a brief description of your role.

I oversee the engagement strategy and events for ex-students, working closely with the Ex-Students' Union Committee.

The broader purpose of my role is to create opportunities for ex-students to connect to the College throughout all stages of their lives after school. All of the communications and events we do are to encourage ex-students to keep their connection to PLC Sydney alive. Of course, it's also lovely when an ex-student considers sending their daughter here!

Tell us a little about your career to date.

I graduated from PLC Sydney in 1998.

I went to Sydney University to study a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in English and History) and simultaneously did a Diploma of Public Relations at APM College of Business. I had the opportunity to complete my BA on an exchange, so I finished my last semester of uni at Cornell University in the USA. After graduation I secured an internship at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, which led to them offering me a full-time, entry-level role as the Publicity Coordinator.

Over the next 10 years I established a career in Australia as an arts and entertainment publicist, promoting film, television and major arts events (such as Sculpture by the Sea). I also worked for PR agencies overseeing communications strategies for corporate clients such as Procter and Gamble; Cancer Council NSW amongst others.

When I married my husband Matteo (who is a composer for film and TV), we decided to try Los Angeles for a couple of years. I landed a dream role in Los Angeles as VP of International Publicity working on major motion pictures.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

I travelled to film festivals such as the Berlin Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival; coordinated international promotional tours with people such as Ryan Gosling, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson (to name a few); and oversaw major press junkets in New York and LA. After a few years in LA, we decided to return to Sydney and I took up the role of Head of Communications at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) for three years. Then I came to PLC Sydney.

What do you find most rewarding about your role at PLC Sydney?

I enjoy learning about each ex-student, their time at school and what they have gone onto experience in life. Every day my work makes me value how amazing women are, the value a good education can bring to life, and the importance of having strong friendships to support you, especially in times of difficulty.

What is the most challenging aspect of your role?

There are over 10,000 women out in the world with a valuable story to share, but there is only one of me.

Each ex-student has something to say, and while I wish I could speak to each of them, the challenge is encouraging them to contact me and tell me their story, no matter how successful or simple their lives have been after school.

I am always treading a fine line between tradition and change. Traditions are very important, especially to a school like ours with a rich history, however, traditions have to serve a purpose. We all remember what the school was like "in my day", however, the school is a living, changing thing and the society we are preparing our students for is ever-changing, so our traditions have to serve the ex-students and the College of today and tomorrow. It can be challenging to be a change-instigator, as school connects us to a particular moment in our lives, and this brings up a lot of emotion.

What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?

When I look back at my time at school I really had no idea who I was or what I was going to be. However, I was in a place, with teachers and friends, that supported me discovering my passions and pushing me to be the best I could be (except in Chemistry... that was never going to happen!). It's lovely to be working at a place that gave me such strong foundations and positive memories and seeing a new generation of women have their own PLC Sydney experience.

Ultimately, I get to see the success that a generous and privileged education like the one our students receive can help support and the women who attended PLC Sydney consistently share what the College taught them about the importance of service and friendship, above anything else.

Do you have a most memorable career point to date?

When I was a very young publicist I was given a small independent, Swedish film called As it is In Heaven to promote and it was only playing at ONE cinema in Sydney—the Cremorne Orpheum and did I mention it was Swedish! Not the easiest film to sell. It was about a choir in a rural village and it was a lovely film but we were given no marketing budget to promote it, no advertising at all really.

I sent letters about the film, with free tickets to nursing homes and aged care villages; to every community theatre company or suburban choir group; across Sydney to encourage word of

mouth and then we got a 5-star review in The Sydney Morning Herald. That was basically all the press we got. Well, the film went on to be the Orpheum's most successful film of all time, running continuously for two years. I was pretty proud of my part in that at the time and it gave me the confidence to know that I was good at what I was doing, and could think outside the box.

We sat and chatted about the event and the weather, and our kale salads (very LA), but it was such a refreshing experience and she was so genuine and interested in the people behind the scenes, not just busy being pampered like so many celebrities can be.

about trying to find balance in your life: look after your health, wealth, family and heart. If any of these feels out of balance, it starts to affect the other and ultimately you need to aim for a balance of all four to achieve whatever your personal vision of success and happiness may be.

Who has been your greatest influence?

Otherwise, it's difficult to choose or define a most memorable moment.

This may be a little cheesy, however, I remember sitting in the greenroom at ComicCon, eating my lunch and this woman sat down next to me and asked me how my day was going. Now, I don't get star struck very easily, but I realised the woman was Academy Awardwinning director and actor, Jodie Foster.

My mum, Linda. She's bold, has a memorable laugh, is 100% herself and great fun.

Then go forth, with determination and dedication!

What is your motto in life?

Anne of Green Gables: Tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it.

The second is something my father told me when I was in high school and it's

25

Do you have any interests/hobbies?

Well, considering I have a 6-year old and a 4-year old at home, my hobbies involve snacks, trampolines and PJ Masks these days. But I am very partial to yum cha and to the Agatha Christie TV Series, Poirot starring David Suchet.

MR MALCOLM HEAP Design and AV Technician

What do you find most rewarding about your role at PLC Sydney?

Please provide a brief description of your role.

What is the most challenging aspect of your role?

Anything to do with sound, video, photos and presentations. 2020 has also seen the new skill of live streaming everything.

Term 4.

I started off as a registered nurse working in a Cardiac Unit. In the early 90s I worked at the ABC in children’s television as a puppeteer. Working on shows such as The Ferals, Bananas in Pyjamas and Creature Features. I was fortunate to spend almost 20 years working at the ABC. In the early 2000s I was given the opportunity to work for Sesame Street.

Ollie was the first Australian Muppet, and he was on air for almost a decade.

Between shows I started working with an event management company who specialised in audio visual. Much of what I do at PLC Sydney was what I did for that company. After 35 years in television as a puppeteer I decided it was time to call it a day. I still perform live shows with Colin Buchanan, most of these are done during school holidays, or on the weekends.

What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?

Being blown away by the talent and brains of the PLC Sydney girls. Be it on a sporting field, in the pool, on the stage or in front of a microphone. Or being one of the hundreds I snap a photo of who have just won a national or international competition. The talent on display is awesome!

Do you have a most memorable career point to date?

There are two that come to mind. I had the privilege to travel as a performer, performing in stadiums around the world. In Lima, Peru I took the stage in front of an audience of 75 000. Working with Sesame Street, I had the fun of performing with Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover.

Who has been your greatest influence?

There are two people who had a big impact on my life. The first was my church Minister. When I was a 12 year old he encouraged me to use my gifts to serve in the church. He supported

and allowed me the opportunity to do this for many years.

Clifford Warne was my television mentor. He was one of the first performers to do live children’s television. He took me under his wing and encouraged me to be myself and to practice, practice, practice until “you make it look easy.”

What is your motto in life?

“Sure ... we can do that.”

Do you have any interests/hobbies?

I love to swim. Swimming laps is a great way to switch off and relax. It also helps with shoulders that are rather damaged from years of puppetry. I used to windsurf, but have now taken up the more relaxing stand up paddle boarding.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

60 SECONDS WITH...

Tell us a little about your career to date.

Helping others.

PLC SYDNEY: TIMELINE OF A PANDEMIC (SEMESTER 2) "A Google Form will be released to staff before PD Day on 20 July requiring them to acknowledge if they have been to Victoria or to any NSW hotspot or location prior to the PD Day. The form will include a link to the list of NSW hotspots. Staff are not to attend PD Day if they have visited any of these places within the time period indicated and must contact Deb Vitlin immediately." 1

Premier Gladys Berejiklian urges public to wear masks in public.

• A n experimental vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University against the coronavirus produced an immune response in early-stage clinical trials.4 The Senior School Leaders Installation Service is to be held online. Staff and students were given a link to the webinar.6

Australia: 12,636 notified cases, 147 deaths.

Globally: 14,043,176 cases, 597,583 deaths.3

JUL

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced COVID-19 restrictions introduced to pubs will be extended to restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs – bookings limited to a maximum of 10 people, weddings and corporate events limited to 150 people, subject to the four square metre rule, funerals and places of worship limited to 100 people.2

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Because of the recent increase in numbers of COVID-19 in the community, it was decided to hold the Staff Professional Development sessions via Zoom rather than in the Audrey Keown Theatre.

1 Email from Dr Sarah Golsby-Smith, Head Teacher, Learning and Teaching, to Staff, 17 July 2020.

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"All visitors to the school must sign in, electronically or in hard copy. Parents are not permitted on the premises unless they have an authorised meeting. Receptionists will provide a daily updated hard copy of the hotspots list from the Department of Health for visitors to check." 5

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The coronavirus death toll in Victoria is expected to grow, as disaster medical teams arrive to tackle outbreaks in aged care facilities.8

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“COVID-19 has changed our world. It has brought people, communities and nations together—and driven them apart”. Director-General of World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

30 July will mark six months since the WHO declared the virus an international public health emergency. More than 16 million cases have now been reported to the UN health agency, with more than 640,000 deaths worldwide.7

4 SBS News App, 21 July 2020.

2 ABC News App, 17 July 2020.

5 Email from Deb Vitlin, Head of Compliance and Human Resources, to Staff, 23 July 2020.

3 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Weekly Epidemiology Reports, Australia, 2020, www1.health.gov.au (now published fortnightly rather than weekly)

7 SBS News App, 28 July 2020.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

6 Email from Linda Chiba, Deputy Principal, to Staff, 23 July 2020.

27 "The Pamela Nutt Address will be delivered online this year to students at Assembly (7 August) and made available through the Portal to families.

The speaker, Dr Sharon Dirckz, will pre-record her speech from England, where she lives.

Consequently, this year there will not be a staff breakfast before the address." 9

COVID-19 Update produced outlining the procedure PLC Sydney would follow if we had a case of the virus in the school.12

Returning Queenslanders must now arrive by air and spend 14 days in hotel quarantine at their own expense, with the state closing its border with NSW overnight.16

Letter outlining procedure if a member of the school community has a COVID- 19 test.13

Victoria has recorded 394 new coronavirus cases and 17 deaths— the deadliest day of the pandemic in Australia so far.17

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AUG

“COVID-19 Leave” document outlines steps to be followed and types of leave applicable for staff and close contacts diagnosed or tested for COVID-19.15

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3

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has issued a “strong recommendation” that people wear masks when on public transport or buying groceries; while working in customer-facing roles in hospitality or retail; when attending a place of worship; and if people are in an area of high community transmission.11 Victoria to move to stage 4 restrictions from today: nighttime curfew, residents can only shop and exercise within 5 km of their home, exercise outside of the home allowed for only one hour at a time, students will return to home-based learning, etc.10

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“I think we have to presume that there will be no COVID-19 vaccine. . .

Therefore I am asking the Executive to plan for 2021 as if we are restructuring the College to enable excellent parentteacher relations, positive student learning and well-being, creatively considered events and performances, and the continuation of our culture.”

Speech Day will not be held at the ICC, but at the College. Only 150 persons could attend the event if held at the ICC.18

• “ The ‘close of school’ and graduation events [for Year 12] will go ahead in a modified form.”

• T he Boarding House has been reconfigured to house 49 instead of 65.14

8 SBS News App, 30 July 2020.

14 Weekly Letter to Staff from the Principal, 7 August 2020.

9 Weekly Letter to Staff from the Principal, 31 July 2020.

15 Email from Deb Vitlin, Head of Compliance and Human Resources, to all Staff, 7 August 2020.

10 BBC News App, 2 August 2020.

11 ABC News App, 2 August 2020.

12 COVID-19 Important Update, 3 August 2020.

13 Letter to PLC Sydney Parents from the Principal, 6 August 2020.

16 SBS News App, 8 August 2020.

17 SBS News App, 9 August 2020.

18 Staff Meeting Message from Dr Burgis, 10 August 2020.

19 Letter to PLC Sydney Community from the Principal, 14 August 2020.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

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“I write to tell you that St Vincent’s College has reported a positive case of Coronavirus. We received the news this morning that the affected student was in the St Vincent’s netball team that played our school (a Year 10 team) last weekend. We immediately identified the team, the sisters of the students in the team, the coach and any other adults at the game. We masked the students and checked their temperatures (none had an elevated temperature). We contacted families and had the students go home and be tested. This included a Year 12 student.

I will write to you on or before Sunday evening with an update.” 19

Australia: 23,696 notified cases, 428 deaths.

“There’s a new language on everyone’s lips as we hit the road again in earnest” ... with new words in our vocabulary such as hepa filters, immunity passport, enhanced/deep cleaning, no sail order, plate shaming, PPE, safecation, sanitagging, travel bubble, travel credit, virtual vacation, etc.28

Globally: 21,028,995 cases, 761,160 deaths.21

Scientists searching for a COVID-19 vaccine have received assistance from an unlikely source—Australia’s top spies. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has been working with medical institutions and scientific organisations to ensure their highly sought-after research is not stolen.29

“If we have a case during school hours­—reminder 1) We would enter a lockdown. 2) We would not be allowed to move any student until the Dept. of Health gave us the clearance ... " 23 “Federal health minister Greg Hunt says he’s “cautiously but genuinely optimistic” that a coronavirus vaccine will be available by next year”.24

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“It is a government requirement that we keep a register of all staff who have had a COVID-19 test and the results of that test.” 26

“As a precaution, please ensure that you take your laptops home with you this weekend.” 20

"Letter outlines changes that have recently been made to the operational conditions for schools, related to COVID-19. Changes include ceasing operation of choirs and groups featuring wind instruments, inability to have a live audience for drama production Matilda, inability to play sporting teams outside of our region, organising for food from the canteen to be pre-ordered and collected to stop students from lining up, etc." 22

22

“Due to the new NSW Dept of Health COVID regulations for schools, all assemblies until further notice will be streamed into Home room classrooms.” 27

NSW bans school formals, choirs and social events ... Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the rules applying to public schools would come into effect on Wednesday, but that she has written to private schools asking them to also abide.25

20 Email from Mrs Linda Chiba, Deputy Principal, to Senior School Staff, 14 August 2020.

26 Email from Deb Vitlin, Head of Compliance and Human Resources, to Staff, 20 August 2020.

21 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Weekly Epidemiology Reports, Australia, 2020, www1.health.gov.au (now published fortnightly rather than weekly)

27 Email from Linda Chiba, Deputy Principal, to Staff, 20 August 2020.

22 Letter to PLC Sydney Community from the Principal, 17 August 2020.

28 “New Words for a New World”, Michael Gebicki, Traveller, Sydney Morning Herald, 22 August 2020.

23 Email from the Principal, to Staff, 17 August 2020.

29 ABC News App, 24 August. 2020.

24 SBS News App, 17 August 2020.

30 ABC News App, 31 August 2020.

25 SBS News App, 18 August 2020.

31 SBS News App, 6 September 2020.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

29 Black watch tartan face mask now available from the Uniform Shop.

Year 12 formals and graduation ceremonies will happen this year, but with differences. Students will have to bring their own pens to sign each other’s yearbook or T-shirts, each student can invite two people from their immediate family or household to their graduation ceremony, dancing is permitted but must be outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, and students can only dance with partners who are from the school, the same local community, or who have had a relationship with the group and normally socialise with the student cohort.36

31

SEP

The College conducted a COVID-19 lockdown drill so that staff and students would know what would happen “should we have to close the school because we have been notified about a positive case of COVID-19 in the school”. Briefly, the Principal would notify parents; parents would be required to collect students from the school, at designated times from designated areas; no student would be permitted to leave the school, they must be picked up.33

Australia is one of the only democracies in the world that has banned its citizens from leaving the country as a public health measure during the coronavirus pandemic.

The ban was implemented on 25 March and is set to end on 24 October, though is likely to be extended.30

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07

Schoolies celebrations—what you can and can’t do under the rules—notice issued by NSW Government giving advice to Year 12 students on how to plan and enjoy end of secondary school celebrations in COVID-19 safe ways.35

160 choristers in both the Junior and Senior schools are part of a “Virtual Choir Project” to continue to make music together, while being apart.34

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The Morrison government has Australia: 26,753 notified cases, 674 deaths announced free COVID-19 vaccines would be made available Globally: 28,640,529 cases, 917,404 deaths.37 progressively through 2021, should promising trials (being conducted

by Oxford University and the University of Queensland) prove successful.32 The production of Matilda will have four performances: two in the last week of Term 3 for students (streamed to various classrooms) and two during the holidays when parents can attend (Audrey Keown Theatre).

Melbourne residents will see the city’s Stage 4 lockdown extended by at least another two weeks under the government’s roadmap to reopening the state.31

32 SBS News App, 7 September 2020.

33 Letter to Staff from Dr Burgis, 7 September 2020.

34 Connections, 10 September 2020.

35 Help Us Save Lives Schoolies Celebrations, NSW Government 36 “Choose your dance partner wisely”, Sydney Morning Herald, 12-13 September 2020, p. 17.

• D uring the HSC exams Year 12 students will gather each morning in a marquee that has been set up. The exams will take place on Level 3 of Macindoe Research Centre, where we can adhere to the 75 in a room rule.

In the case of English and Maths exams, where there are more than 75 candidates, the new science labs will also be used. On those days (20, 21 and 26 October) some year groups will have online learning. It is important that the Year 12 students come to school, take their exam, and then go home.38

37 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Weekly Epidemiology Reports, Australia, 2020, www1.health.gov.au (now published fortnightly rather than weekly) 38 Staff Meeting Message from the Principal, 14 September 2020.

39 SBS News App, 18 September 2020.

40 ABC News App, 24 September 2020. More details in letter from Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Health Officer, NSW Ministry of Health, to school communities and community sports organisations, 24 September 2020.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

US President Donald Trump tested positive to COVID-19 on 2 October. On 3 October he was moved to Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre as a precautionary measure. He received an intravenous dose of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ duel antibody and also took zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin. Speculation as to the possible impact on the US general election on 3 November. He returned to the White House on 5 October.43

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Year 12 Informal Assembly Day, adjusted to be “COVID-19 safe”, students and relevant staff only.

NSW has recorded no locally acquired COVID-19 cases for the 11th day in a row.45 Rich nations, including Australia, have snapped up over half the future supply of coronavirus vaccines. Despite representing 13 per cent of the global population, wealthy nations have already secured the lion’s share of doses, Oxfam has warned.39

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End of school holidays

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Year 12 Graduation Service and Principal’s Lunch, adjusted to be “COVID-19 safe”, students and relevant staff only.

Further restrictions in NSW will be eased including: school choirs can gather with a maximum of five singers, school music ensembles can restart with an unlimited number of people as long as social distancing is practised, interschool and zone sporting competitions, school camps and excursions, on campus school programs with parents including reading groups, Kindergarten and Year 7 orientations.40

OCT

18

Boarding school students permitted to cross the NSW-Victorian border and travel restrictions for Lord Howe Island lifted.42

The global coronavirus death toll has now passed one million.41

Start of school holidays

The latest research from the CSIRO found the coronavirus was “extremely robust” and can survive for 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass found on mobile phone screens and both plastic and paper banknotes, when kept at 20C, which is about room temperature.47

2,3 & 5

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People from New Zealand will soon be able to travel to NSW and the Northern Territory without having to quarantine, after the federal government negotiated the first stage of a trans-Tasman bubble.44

Australia: 27,344 notified cases, 898 deaths.

Globally: 37,109,113 cases, “deaths reported to WHO passing one million”

41 SBS News App, 29 September 2020.

46 SBS News App, 12 October 2020.

42 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Weekly Epidemiology Reports, Australia, 2020, www1.health.gov.au (now published fortnightly rather than weekly), 11 October 2020.

47 BBC News App, 12 October 2020.

43 SBS and ABC News Apps, 3 and 6 October 2020; SBS News App, 3 October 2020.

49 ABC News App, 19 October 2020.

44 SBS News App, 3 October 2020.

45 ABC News App, 6 October 2020.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

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Australia is in talks with Japan, South Korea, Singapore and South Pacific nations on reopening travel as coronavirus infections ease, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday.46 From Friday 16 October restrictions will be eased for outdoor dining establishments, allowing one patron per two square metres (rather than four square metres) but it will be dependent on the use of an electronic QR code to record patrons’ contact details.48

48 SBS News App, 14 October 2020.

50 Letter from the Principal to Parents and also Weekly letter to Staff, 16 October 2020.

31

The NSW Premier has announced more easing of restrictions around gatherings after the state recorded zero local cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. From Friday, 23 October, the number of people who can attend weddings will be lifted to 300 and group bookings at restaurants will be increased to 30 people, but the guests must be seated, no “mingling” is allowed.49 Speech Day was broadcast online.

Speeches and prize winners were filmed the previous week.

Students watched from home.

Year 12 students begin Higher School Certificate examinations.

COVID-19 safe protocols include: wearing a mask if they come to school on public transport; not talking with younger students as they proceed directly to the marquee or examination room; being screened by both questionnaire and by temperature check; examination rooms will be cleaned after each exam; students must leave school premises once they have finished an exam; if they have a second exam that day they go to the McQueen Seminar Room to study.50 A vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech was 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in ongoing Phase 3 trials, the companies announced on Monday.54

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Last day of HSC examinations for Year 12 students.

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Hundreds of students from more than 20 high schools across Sydney that were sitting the final HSC Biology exam were evacuated after the schools received threatening emails. Police and the bomb squad were called in to investigate.

Most students returned to the exam room and completed the exam. Mark Scott, NSW Department of Education Secretary said that no student will be penalised or disadvantaged by the disruptions.53

20, 21 and 26 October 2020 In order to protect the Year 12 students during the HSC English and Maths exams, which require the use of more rooms than the other exams of the HSC, Years 7, 8 and 11 are to stay at home and engage in online learning on these days, as per the process utilised during the lockdown period earlier this year.51

DEC

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NOV

The lockdown in Melbourne ends.

From 28 October Melburnians can leave home for any reason as the city “opens up”.52

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To comply with COVID restrictions for social distancing and number of people who can gather in one place, the Year 12 Graduation Dinner was held in marquee set up on Drummond Field.

Ms Debby Cramer Archivist 51 “Term 4 Online Learning Days for Senior School”, PLACES, College website.

52 SBS News App, 27 October 2020.

53 ABC News online, 28 October 2020.

54 SBS News App 10 November 2020.

Visit https://www.plc.nsw.edu.au/microsites/archives/ stories-from-the-archives to view the complete timeline Recording events from PLC Sydney, Australia and the world: PLC Sydney Archives.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

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STORIES FROM THE ARCHIVES: PLC SYDNEY’S MR MELODY MAN Mention the Argonauts Club to anyone who grew up in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s and the response is likely to be a nostalgic smile triggered by happy memories of listening to the popular ABC radio program the Children’s Hour.

And they may well say, with pride, “I was a member!”, as nearly 100,000 young Australians aged between 7 and 17 had applied for and received their enamelled badge, membership certificate and their allocated pseudonym.

One of the “senior” Argonauts was “Argo 4”, aka “Mr Melody Man”, aka Lindley Evans. Lindley Evans presented a segment on the Thursday episodes of the radio program in which he spoke about music performance and composition. To enhance the spoken word, “Mr Melody Man”, himself an accomplished pianist, might play extracts of the compositions discussed or have guest artists (singer Dame Joan Hammond, pianist Geoffrey Parsons, French horn player Barry Tuckwell, among others) perform passages.

Lindley Evans was engaged by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in its children’s sessions on radio for thirty years, from 1939 to 1969. But the genesis of his interest and expertise in music appreciation started at PLC Sydney in the 1920s.

Lindley Evans was Dame Nellie Melba’s accompanist on her tour to India and England in 1922-1923. The tour included performances at the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Dr E Neil McQueen, PLC’s second Principal, engaged Lindley Evans in 1920 as a piano teacher. Evans was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1895 and came to Sydney with his family when he was 15. He studied piano at the NSW Conservatorium of Music and was working as a piano teacher when one Sunday the minister of the Randwick Presbyterian Church asked if he had seen an advertisement for a position at “PLC Croydon”. Evans had not, but applied, was interviewed by the Principal, and was duly appointed.

seat at the back of the hall ... shortly afterwards [Dr McQueen] announced that Music Appreciation would become part of the school curriculum, as much a part as any usual school subject, and that the course would be spread over three years. Although sporadic classes in the same subject had been held at other schools, nothing approaching the PLC scheme in either length or scope had been attempted, and I believe I am right in saying that no other school had then included the subject as an integral part of the curriculum.”

“After I had been at the school for some time,” Evans writes in his autobiography Hello Mr Melody Man, “Dr McQueen called me in to discuss the introduction of what, for want of a better name, was called Music Appreciation. He asked me if I was prepared to undertake such a project ... Dr McQueen suggested I give a trial demonstration to the whole school one day after regular hours. This was announced and although it was not made obligatory to attend most of the school turned up. With some trepidation I noted that the Head had taken a

Evans explains how he developed the course. He recognised that the way to gain the attention of the class was to “let them hear music that they could instantly enjoy”, and while he excluded the “pop song”, he experimented with almost everything else. He used the piano to play key passages of the works studied to the students, as well as playing 78 rpm records on a gramophone. The quality of records improved when electric recordings were introduced, thus enabling the pupils to hear “for the first time what

Lindley Evans with the Tennis Team he coached, 1921.

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Dr McQueen and Staff, 1921. Lindley Evans is the tall gentleman (193 cm) in the back row.

an orchestra was meant to sound like”. He then borrowed records to play in the classroom because “the school budget did not allow for more than an occasional purchase”. From time to time he was able to “induce” a skilled performer to visit and show the students “both the limitations and the possibilities of the instrument he brought with him”.

Evans also sought permission from the “Head” to purchase miniature scores of some of the works studied so that the pupils could follow the music while listening to it. He chose Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, partly because “even those who could not read music could follow the pattern of the three black notes followed by an open note with the sign of the pause above it”. To reinforce the various musical themes in a composition, the students learned to sing them as a way of helping to find them throughout the work.

So, how did this preparation serve the pupils in an actual live performance?

Lindley Evans writes that the Conservatorium orchestra gave a

performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and “to a girl they all went, armed with their miniature scores. In class on the day following the concert I was naturally eager to hear impressions of their first experience with a live orchestra and asked if any one of them would care to comment on what they had heard. My request was followed by complete silence. I asked again; once more there was no reply. I became a little annoyed at this and, hoping to give them a lead, said something like, “Surely someone has something to say about the concert? Were you able to follow the playing? Did you enjoy it?” There was another moment of silence before one of the girls stood up and quietly said, “Mr Evans, we thought it wasn’t a good performance.” Nothing could have given me greater pleasure than that remark, for it seemed to me to vindicate all that had been attempted during the year.

For the plain fact was that it had been a poor performance, and it delighted me to think the girls had gone beyond the mere following of the printed score and had got something of the feel of the live performance”.

Mr Evans also conducted choral singing at the College and the choir, which met at lunch time, won the Dempster Shield competition among Sydney’s girls’ schools for the first three years after its inauguration.

Lindley Evans taught at PLC until the end of 1929, when he, and several other staff members, resigned in protest over the removal of Dr McQueen.

Nonetheless, his decade at the College had done much to lift the standard of music education and performance and

to instil lifetime appreciation of music in the pupils.

Evans was only 34 years old when he left PLC Sydney and his contributions to music in Sydney, Australia and indeed the world, were rich and varied. He accompanied the Australian diva Dame Nellie Melba on several tours; he taught at our neighbour school MLC and at the NSW Conservatorium; he and Frank Hutchens formed a duo-piano team and performed together for 41 years until Hutchens’ death in 1965; he composed the music for the iconic Australian films Forty Thousand Horsemen (1940) and The Rats of Tobruk (1944) as well as writing works for piano, orchestra and voice; he was actively involved in the National Music Camp Association, the Australian Youth Orchestra, the Australian Music Examinations Board and the Australasian Performing Right Association.

Lindley Evans enjoyed a long career as a remarkable musician and an outstanding educator. Our College has had (indeed has!) many inspiring teachers: Lindley Evans certainly ranks in the upper echelons of the list!

Ms Debby Cramer Archivist

Lindley Evans died in 1982, just months before his autobiography was published. His widow, Marie Evans (née Stewart, who attended PLC from 1917 to 1919 and was also a pianist), presented a copy to the College Archives on Jersey Day 1985.

Sources: “Evans, Harry Lindley (1895-1982)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography.

Lindley Evans, as photographed on the dust jacket of his autobiography Hello Mr Melody Man Lindley Evans Remembers.

“Hello Mr Melody Man” Lindley Evans Remembers, Lindley Evans, Angus & Robertson Publishers, Sydney, 1983.

“Lindley Evans, Esq, CMG, for PLC Croydon’s Centenary publication”, Marie Evans, September 1980.

The Golden Hope: Presbyterian Ladies’ College Sydney 1888-1988, John McFarlane, 1988.

“Argonauts Club”, Wikipedia.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

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STORYTIME STEM For years young children around the world have heard tales about the troubles their favourite storytime characters faced. Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk being chased by a giant, the animals in Matt Shanks’ Row, Row, Row Your Boat falling into the water and the pigs from The Three Little Pigs having their houses blown down by the big, bad wolf.

Year 3, with the help of PLC Sydney’s Junior School Technology Teacher, Ms Helen Kardiasmenos, set about creating solutions to help these beloved characters. Firstly, the girls built a coded Lego WeDo Crane to assist Jack and the Golden Hen to get down the beanstalk.

After saving Jack, the students helped the animals in Matt Shanks’ Row, Row, Row Your Boat with a better solution for getting down the stream. Rather than use a traditional boat, the girls built and coded an Airblock drone hover boat.

To trial the effectiveness of the boat, they tested it at PLC Sydney's pool, with

First up, the girls set about developing an early warning system for the pigs, building and coding a pressure sensor system to act as an alarm to warn the pigs if the wolf came near their houses.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

rubber ducks standing in for the animal characters. Students also designed and built their own boat in Augmented Reality using a Merge Cube. Whilst having fun, the students learnt the principles of aerodynamics, exercised logic and used their critical thinking skills. Had the animal characters in Row, Row, Row Your Boat had access to an Airblock drone hover boat, they would not have fallen in the water!

Of course, who could not have some sympathy for the plight of the little pigs.

After constructing their houses, the big bad wolf huffed and puffed and blew two of their houses down. If only the pigs had some assistance from Year 3!

First up, the girls set about developing an early warning system for the pigs, building and coding a pressure sensor system to act as an alarm to warn the pigs if the wolf came near their houses.

This was developed by connecting their pads to a Makey Makey and coding it using Scratch.

constructed and then the huffing and puffing of the wolf was simulated by using a blower.

Once the area was secured with the early warning system, the girls took a look at the construction of the houses.

Working in Science with Mrs Martin, the students explored material choices and houses of straw, sticks and bricks were

The little pigs can now get a good night sleep knowing that the students from PLC Sydney’s Year 3, 2020 have their back. Well done girls for keeping the world’s favourite storytime characters safe!

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EX-STUDENTS’ NEWS PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2020 This year has been challenging, but it has provided me with the opportunity to come to terms with improving my fairly dismal technological skills. This in itself, has given me all the more reason to admire and value the many and varied talents of the Ex-Students’ Committee members.

Working with ex-students on the committee from all stages of PLC Sydney from 1949 until 2015 has been very rewarding.

Whilst planning events had been one of our main focuses until this year; we suddenly were faced with finding a new direction as was everyone. Perhaps foolishly, we decided to tackle the less “glamorous “ side of the ESU and work on updating the Constitution. This will be a cinch, I thought!

Never start a project with the thought “ this will be a cinch” is my note to self.

It has undoubtedly been an honour and a privilege to represent the Ex-Students’ Union (ESU). I have enjoyed meeting so many people who form part of the PLC Sydney community from the current students and staff, to members of College Council, to members of the P&F, Foundation and of course my fellow ex-students.

We are pleased to share more about the revised Ex-Students’ Constitution on page 49 and are looking forward to Jersey Day, currently scheduled for Saturday 13 March at Croydon.

I would like to thank my team, the ESU Committee, for all their tireless efforts, dedication to the College, time and support over the last three years. I can honestly say I would never have managed without you.

Mrs Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978) ESU President

ESU NEWS

This is my final report as President, and with the approach of the end of my three-year term, it gives me a chance to reflect on my experiences over that time.

The last six months have had us slogging our way through many a “ vigorous discussion “ and making us learn to appreciate other ways of thinking. It has certainly been quite a journey, but one that has proved to be very positive as appreciation for each member’s strengths and talents grew.

Last night after a particularly gruelling two and a half hours on Zoom with the Constitution Review sub-committee, we could almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

As fatigue set in and we tried valiantly to combat it and reach the final two or so clauses, hilarity (or was it hysteria?) unexpectedly set in. As I looked at the exhausted but laughing faces on my screen, I realised how much I had come to admire and truly value each and every member of the Committee.

We had become a real team.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

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ESU COMMITTEE AND OFFICE BEARERS 2020 Patron: Gwendoline Bosler (Stuart, 1949) President: Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978) Vice President: Catherine Marvell (Davidson, 1975) Secretary: Elizabeth Gregory (Cornish, 1961)

GET TO KNOW THE EX-STUDENTS’ COMMITTEE Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978) Committee Member since 2011 I enjoy being on our committee because first and foremost I have made some wonderful friends of all ages and generations.

I also welcome the opportunity to be able to work with the others and the wider ESU community to keep our organisation alive and relevant for all to benefit and retain their connection to PLC Sydney.

Treasurer: Rae Gower (Hoore, 1949) Committee Members: Megan Carrillo (Hor, 1998)

Elizabeth Gregory (Cornish, 1961)

Mia Joseph (Illias, 2009)

Committee Member since 2005

Edwina Hobson (2015)

I enjoy having contact with the school again. I enjoy the people on the committee, with the bonus of being part of a multigenerational group.

Sara Keli (Thorp, 2001) Lesley Meldrum (Morgan, 1955) Robyn McBride (Hailey, 1976) Ann McDonald (1965) Johanne Stapelfeldt (1978) Director of Alumni Relations and Committee Member: Philippa Zingales (Harris, 1998)

Catherine Marvell (Davidson, 1975) Committee Member since 2005 & rejoined in 2010 The camaraderie across generations makes being on the committee worthwhile as it’s fantastic to see younger women join the committee. It is a unique experience to attend events that unite and celebrate individual lives across all year groups.

Rae Gower (Hoore, 1949) Committee Member since 2003 It was when my granddaughter Dani Gower (2001) started rowing, I met Gwen Bosler (Stuart, 1949) at one of the regattas, and she encouraged me to join the committee. The rest is history.

Mia Joseph (Illias, 2009) Committee Member since 2010 & rejoined 2018 I relish working with other ex-students, across many age generations, because we all share the same love for PLC Sydney and commitment to supporting our school to reach new heights.

Robyn McBride (Hailey, 1976) Committee Member since 1999 I enjoy the camaraderie and doing something that counts.

It’s important to me to be active in a volunteer position and ensure that the Ex-Students’ Union remains viable.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

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Johanne Stapelfeldt (1978) Committee Member since 2018 Even though the school has grown since I left, it’s nice to be involved, to contribute and give something back to the school. I’ve enjoyed making new friends and learning new things in areas outside of my area of knowledge and expertise.

Sara Keli (Thorp, 2001) Committee Member since 2006 The committee is such a diverse bunch of women. We all have different experiences and careers, but we are all united by our love of PLC Sydney. I have developed wonderful friendships through the committee over the years and learned so much from this amazing group of women.

Megan Carrillo (Hor, 1998) Committee Member since 2018 The idea of joining the committee was sparked after my sister enrolled my niece into MLC instead of PLC Sydney.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the College, and we have a strong family history with the school, which started with my grandma and her sister attending in the 1940s. It saddened me that a family tradition was going to be broken. I wanted to do my part to help change that and to ensure family traditions and legacy enrolments at PLC Sydney were front of mind through increased engagement with ex-students.

Edwina Hobson (2015) Committee Member since 2019 The primary reason I joined was to try and facilitate closer relationships between people in my year and generally at PLC Sydney, post-graduation. I saw that a strong network of ex-students could be of enormous value to all of us in terms of career growth and development, and I wanted to help grow and strengthen that network. I think that many people remain close with their core group of friends post-school, but if we can build a broader camaraderie that exists in many of the boys’ schools, I think women broadly would be better off.

Lesley Meldrum (Morgan, 1955) Committee Member since 1969 In 1969 I was invited by the then Secretary Joan Bryan (Fletcher, 1938) to join the Committee as they were looking for younger members. I stepped down when my girls were young then rejoined about 1990. Having both attended and taught at the College I have enjoyed the friendship of many ex-students.

Ann McDonald (1965) Committee Member since 1987 I joined the committee when my daughter Amanda entered Kindergarten in 1987. She was the fourth generation of the family to come to the College. I wanted to get involved in having a chance to give something back to the place that had nurtured three generations of women from my family and was about to do so for a fourth.

Philippa Zingales (Harris, 1998) The ex-students are the largest group within the school community, and the connection we share is unique. We have all been young women, in a shared place, shared traditions, over some of the most formative years in our lives. The bond that this shared experience creates exists beyond school and when you attend the College becomes irrelevant as we are all PLC Sydney women. The Committee is the embodiment of this: women working together to ensure today’s students connect to the history and tradition of our school, in a way that serves them through life.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

ESU NEWS

Committee Member since 2018

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EX-STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS WALKLEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM OR JUST WALKLEY AWARDS The Walkley Awards are the pre-eminent national journalism awards presented annually in Australia. They recognise and reward the best in the craft and set the industry standard for excellence.

Ex-students Nina Funnell (2001) and Juliette O'Brien (2001) were both nominated for a 2020 Award for Excellence in Journalism.

We are pleased to share that Nina won the Public Serrvie Journalism awards for her work as part of the #LetUsSpeak campaign, which advocates the repeal of laws silencing sexual assault survivors. The group behind the campaign have recently had success in getting similar laws changed in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, and are now advocating for similar laws in Victoria to be changed.

Nina Funnell (2001)

Read more about Nina’s campaign: #LetUsSpeak: Victoria blocks sexual assault victims from using real names”, “Give Rape Survivors a Voice” and “Gang rape victim becomes first Tasmanian to speak out following gag law reform”.

Juliette was nominated for the Innovation award for her website covid19data.com.au, Australia's first website tracking the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been used by more than two million Australians and cited by dozens of publications.

Juliette is the 2020 Speech Day Keynote speaker, and we look forward to hearing her story.

Juliette O'Brien (2001)

WOMEN IN LAW AWARDS Congratulations to ex-students Elizabeth Pearson (2006) and Kate Cook (2009) are both nominated for a 2020 Women In Law Awards in the category of In-House Lawyer of the Year.

Kate Cook (2009)

The Women in Law Awards is the benchmark for excellence, celebrating and recognising the outstanding women influencing the Australian legal profession. This prestigious national awards program presents an exceptional opportunity for leading women to showcase their achievements, attract more clients and propel their career, on top of giving them the recognition they deserve. The winners are announced on 10 December.

Furthermore, Kate has also been recognised as the Australian Disputes Resolution Under 30 Practitioner of the Year. Congratulations to Kate and Elizabeth!

PODCAST OF THE YEAR Congratulations to Johanna Bell (1999) whose podcast BIRDS EYE VIEW has been named Podcast of the Year at the 2020 Australian Podcast Awards. Johanna is the series' executive producer.

BIRDS EYE VIEW shares the stories, reflections and memories of women in the Darwin Correctional Centre (DCC). The DCC is located just outside Australia’s most northerly city.

Of the 1048 inmates at DCC, 80 places are for women. This is one of the first podcasts ever made by women in prison and the first-ever to be made in DCC. Please note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait people are advised that the podcast may contain the names and voices of people who have passed away.

To listen to the award-winning podcast visit https://www.birdseyeviewpodcast.net/ PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

UTS LAW SOCIETY BRENNAN PROGRAM

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The Brennan Justice and Leadership Program offers UTS Law students the opportunity to extend their academic experience and engagement with social justice.

Georgina Hedge (2019)

A highly-competitive program, the award is granted to students who engage and reflect on the nature and features of justice, as well as compulsory volunteer leadership through service hours. Georgina Hedge (2019) has recently been appointed as the Brennan Program Director for the UTS Law Students’ Society.

Congratulations Georgina!

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT THE ACTIVE STUDIO Nicola Pithers (2011) The Active Studio is an exercise physiology clinic that provides exercise and pilates services in both a group and one on one setting. Exercise Physiology is the use of exercise in the management of chronic disease, illness and injury. We work with a wide variety of clients from people with chronic lower back pain, managing diabetes or endometriosis to working with people with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or brain and spinal cord injuries.

What did you study after school?

I attended PLC from 2004 and graduated in the class of 2011. When finishing school, I studied a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise Physiology), absolutely loved it and have been working as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist since. I am now also completing my Masters of Exercise Medicine (Oncology).

What was the "spark" or idea that started your business?

At a previous workplace, I had worked really hard spending a few months on building a strong client base. Unfortunately, they closed down, and I had all of these clients who wanted to keep training with me. My parents sat me down and convinced me to open my own clinic as I had the most challenging part done (getting that initial client base). We have just celebrated our second birthday!!

Nicola Pithers (2011)

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful business owner?

• Passion - Love what you do, and you'll never work a day in your life.

• Ambition - being a goal-driven person is vital. You need a clear vision of what it is you want to achieve and how to achieve it.

• Dedication - when you run your own business, work never ends, there is always something to do.

What advice would you share with someone looking to start their own business?

What tools would you recommend to anyone trying to start her own business or that you go to for inspiration/ ideas/productivity?

I have to be honest here - my parents are my biggest go-to. I'm very lucky they are so supportive and have such good knowledge about running a business as they are both self-employed.

Visit www.theactivestudio.com.au to learn more about Nicola and her business. @theactivestudio

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

ESU NEWS

The people you have around you are everything! Not only your family and friends for support but having a good professional network and people who have faced the same challenges that you are going through are the people that you need around you.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS ENGAGEMENTS 28 August 2020 Georgia Harris (2001) and Justin Fryer are thrilled to share their engagement news. They are planning a January 2021 summer wedding.

Remi Scott (2008) and Jeremy Neagle.

12 August 2020

Georgia Harris (2001) and Justin Fryer.

Remi Scott (2001) and Jeremy Neagle were engaged on 12th August (which was also Remi’s 30th birthday) over breakfast at their new home in Newcastle. A 2021 September country wedding is planned, at a family friend's farm in Bulahdelah.

WEDDINGS 9 November 2020 Holly Ward (2007) and Kendrik Louis were married at Deux Belettes in Byron Bay surrounded by family and friends.

(Photo credit: @alexmarksphotography)

Holly Ward (2007) and Kendrik Louis.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

WEDDINGS CONTINUED 23 January 2019 Lis Davies (2003) and Phil Wood were married in February 2020 at Mona Farm in Braidwood. Serin Kasif (2003) travelled from London for the wedding and was part of the unofficial bridal party. Lis and Phil met at Rockpool est. 1989 when he was the Executive Chef and she was working in politics. While they had to cancel their honeymoon on the day they were due to fly to London, they feel very fortunate to have been married in the halcyon days before the pandemic changed life as we know it.

BIRTHS

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15 June 2020 Eloise Woods (1999) and her husband Oskar welcomed Ivy Antoinette Julie Wafforn on 15 June at The SAN hospital in Wahroonga in Sydney.

DEATHS Since the last edition of Camphora Magazine, we have been advised of the passing of the following ex-students.

18 September 2019 Diane Gay Dickson (1960) 16 March 2020 Judith Hazell (Woods, 1955)

ESU NEWS

Lis Davies (2003) and husband Phil Wood.

Vinod Kumar, David Berry, Lis Davies (2003), Serin Kasif (2003), Joel Farland.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

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BUILDING A LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS OF YOUNG WOMEN This summer, work will begin on the top floor of the Hamilton Building (home to students in Years 3 to 6) to create an indoor sporting facility.

This expansion will provide more excellent space for our Junior School students and after school programs to use and enjoy. The cost of the project is just under two million dollars, and it will be funded in full by the College Foundation.

However, this project is the result of one generous bequest from an ex-student of the College - Dr Marie Knispel.

Dr Knispel was a day student from 1938 to 1944.

She was in Ferguson House and attended the College during WWII. During her time as a student, there were two Principals: Miss Hamilton (1932-1941) and Dr Wilkie (1942-1945).

In 1938 Australia marked 150 years of European settlement and PLC marked its 50th anniversary. Marie took part in the Under This Gum Tree pageant that Miss Eldershaw wrote to mark the event – every girl was in it!

A recollection from Dr Knispel: “1938 was the 50th Anniversary of PLC. I found myself as a waratah dancing in the pageant; my parents came and watched.”

In 1942 the RAAF requisitioned the school, and the College moved to Strathfield for the duration of WWII so Dr Knispel would have been part of that move. She sat the Intermediate Certificate 1942 and her Leaving Certificate in 1944.

After completing her education at PLC Sydney, she went on to study medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1951. Dr Knispel practised as a General Practitioner in Burwood for more than 40 years.

A very proud and dedicated ex-student, Dr Knispel attended Jersey Day most years, was a member of the Shubra Towers Society, and maintained strong friendships from her time at the College.

What is a bequest?

A bequest is an opportunity for every member of the PLC Sydney community to make a tangible and lasting gift that helps secure the future of the College. It is an instruction contained within a Will and specifically reserves part of an estate for a particular beneficiary.

Bequests can be directed to a specific area of the College’s operation such as an individual Scholarship or the ongoing Building program, or an unencumbered gift allows

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Dr Marie June Knispel. (Photo credit: Final Yearbook, 1950, University of Sydney Medical School, p. 57).

Dr Knispel passed away on the 12 January 2019. In her will, she generously gave a gift of $3 million to the Foundation, with $2 million assigned to the Building Fund, and $1 million to scholarships and bursaries.

Future generations of PLC Sydney young women will benefit from her kind generosity, and we hope, go on to enjoy their education, sport and time at school as much as she did.

Vale and thank you, Dr Knispel.

the College to direct the financial support to an area of particular need.

Making a bequest is not difficult. Private and confidential assistance is available through PLC Sydney from the Foundation Executive Officer.

Mr John Da Cruz Executive Officer, PLC Sydney Foundation Tel: (+612) 9704 5733 Email: jdacruz@plc.nsw.edu.au

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ESU NEWS

Exterior vision of the Junior School's Hamilton Sports Extension, to be completed in 2021.

Interior vision of the Junior School's Hamilton Sports Extension. Thanks to NBRS Architecture.

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

GETTING TO KNOW THE 2021/2022 EX-STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: YASMINE SULYOK I know now that I did not need to worry, because, from day one, I have loved every aspect of PLC Sydney life, and have always felt wholeheartedly encouraged and supported by my teachers to be the best I can be.

As a young child, I liked being active; however, it wasn’t until my first Evandale swimming carnival that I realised just how much I loved sport. Over the years, I have been chosen to represent our school in many sporting faculties, both as a team and as an individual at the highest levels. I have proud memories of my achievements, especially in swimming and gymnastics. Still, I have also learned some really valuable life skills for balancing my time and self-expectations that I will continue to use for the rest of my life.

The friendships I have made at school mean the world to me, and I often reminisce with my best friend that she was the first girl I met, on my very first day in Kindy.

That’s the thing about this life for all the PLC students. It isn’t just the place we go to learn; it’s also the place filled with encouragement and friendships, and the place that helps guide us in life.

`

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YASMINE SULYOK (YEAR 10)

My name is Yasmine Sulyok, and I am honoured to be the recipient of the 2021-2022 Ex-Students’ Union scholarship.

My PLC Sydney journey began on 27 January 2009 – my first day of Kindergarten.

I will never forget walking through those big green gates holding hands with my mum and dad, not knowing what to expect, but drawing courage from my mother’s words and her fond memories of being a proud PLC girl (Orsolya Jakab, 1992).

I remember looking up and thinking they looked like gates to a castle, and I was so excited to be in this magical place.

I remember worrying about making friends, being liked, doing well, and all those things kids worry about when they start something new.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

In my heart, I carry our school value “To make the world a better place, and life a worthier thing.”

The School Hymn. These words give me strength and courage to be a person of integrity and compassion, and one who strives for excellence to the best of my ability.

I can’t wait for what’s to come in my final years of school.

I am thrilled to be an ambassador for the Ex-Students, and I am comforted knowing that even after I graduate, I will still have the opportunity, on occasion, to be welcomed back by those big green gates.

The Ex-Students’ Union offers a two-year partial scholarship for a girl entering Year 11 at PLC Sydney.

The scholarship is awarded to a girl with a strong ex-student family connection, who shows a high level of personal development and confidence in all areas of school life, including contribution to the school.

Applications open Term 3 2021.

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1907 staff photo: Mrs Wallace is standing, the 3rd from the LEFT, wearing a white blouse. Miss Uttley-Todd is standing, 3rd from the RIGHT, wearing a pinafore-type uniform with a very tiny waist.

Miss Eunice Macindoe, Principal 1946-1956.

DO YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE EX-STUDENT SPEECH DAY PRIZES? There are many prizes presented at the annual Speech Day ceremony.

Although the College funds the majority of these prizes, a number are sponsored by both generous individuals and groups such as the Ex-Students’ Union (ESU) and the P&F.

The Ex-Students' Prize for Work and Games, which is well known to most students today, is the oldest and each recipient’s name is displayed on an Honour Board in College Hall. The prize is awarded to a Year 12 girl who has an excellent record in both the academic and sporting fields of endeavour.

The Ex-Students' A.A.Uttley-Todd Memorial Prize for Textiles and Design, also for a Year 12 girl, was established in 1947 by the ESU in memory of Miss Alice Uttley-Todd who was Housekeeper at the College from 1898-1933.

According to the Archives, she was a much-travelled, well-read woman, remembered for both her professional competence and her thoughtfulness.

The Ex-Students' Annie Wallace Memorial Prize for Music for a Year 12

girl was established in 1948 by the Ex-Students’ Union in memory of Mrs Annie Wallace, the sister-in-law of Dr Marden. She was a gifted musician, who, from about 1895, taught music at the school as well as playing the organ for Assembly. She was also a foundation member of the Ex-Students’ Union and remained an active member until she died in 1945.

The Ex-Students' Eunice Macindoe Memorial Prize for Science, established in 1998, is for either a Year 10 or Year 12 girl who shows a love of Science.

Miss Eunice Macindoe is best known as the fifth Principal of the College, and after whom the Macindoe Research Centre is named. However, she was also a student at PLC Sydney from 1912 – 1921 and later, with her BSc from Sydney University, was a teacher of Physiology and Biology in 1926.

She taught at other schools in Sydney, India and Hong Kong before serving as Principal at PLC Sydney from 1946-1956.

Special thanks to the College Archivist, Mrs Debby Cramer, for providing this information.

Elizabeth Gregory (Cornish, 1961)

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

ESU NEWS

The four prizes supported by the ESU are some of the longest standing prizes by the College and have a rich history behind them.

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CONNECTIONS ACROSS TIME: ESU PEN PAL PROJECT The primary purpose of all ex-student activities is to foster and support the continued connection between ex-students and the College today.

So the question at the front of our mind during this unique year has been how to do we stay connected when we are far apart?

Particular thought went to our oldest or regionally located ex-students, who may have felt the social isolation from friends and family more acutely.

Led by ESU President Marina Clark and in partnership with Mrs Melissa Watters, Head of Junior School and Year Five and Six Teachers, the ESU Pen Pal Project came to life.

We invited students from Years Five and Six to write to an ex-student. Provided with only a name and year of graduation

Chiara (Year 5)

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

of their pen pal, we asked each student to share a little about life in the Junior School in the 21st Century. They, in turn, had some questions as to their ex-students’ pen pal’s time at the College. An envelope, stamp and away over 200 letters went!

Over the past month, it has been heart-warming to receive hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls from ex-students to their pen pals.

Photos and memories have been exchanged, and commonalities have been discovered - some caught the same train as the other to school each day, they were in the same house, or enjoyed the same subjects.

Time and age become irrelevant as our students and ex-students connected over shared experiences and school traditions. As the saying goes, Once a PLC Girl, Always a PLC Girl.

Letter from Roslyn Muston (Walker, 1965)

FUTURES WEBINARS

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A popular event, the Futures Series invites ex-students to speak with senior students about various industries and career pathways. Due to COVID, these events pivoted to become online webinars.

Co-hosted by the Director of PLC Sydney Futures Mrs Rowena Barnett and Director of Alumni Relations Mrs Philippa Zingales, during Term 3 and 4 webinars on Medicine; Engineering and Construction; and Design Fashion; were held on a Thursday evening via Zoom.

Guest speakers included junior doctor Dr Caroline Lee (2013), emergency nurse specialist Rebecca Cullity (2002) and postgraduate medical student Emma Carnuccio (2016).

They shared their HSC story, university experience and an overview of their work in the medical field. Opportunities for women in engineering and construction continue to grow, and it was inspiring to hear from Edwina Hobson (2015), Zoe Panagiotaros (2015), and Louise Osborne (2010) who are all successful building careers in these fields.

These sessions are an excellent opportunity for students (and parents!) to ask questions about the subject choices, the HSC experience, selecting a course and adjusting to university, work/study balance, finding a job, networking and much more.

The final Futures Webinar in 2020 focussed on careers in design, specifically in fashion and related fields. It was fantastic to hear from Veronica Macaluso (2017), Cate Caldis (2018) and Laura Frettingham (2014) about their study and work experience. Laura (based in London) joined the event from the UK, bringing a valuable global perspective to this event and highlighting the benefits of holding these events virtually.

The 2021 Futures Webinar events will be announced soon.

Emma Carnuccio (2016)

ESU NEWS

Zoe Panagiotaros (2015)

Dr Caroline Lee (2013)

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EX-STUDENTS TARTAN UP WITH VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS Throughout June the ESU presented a series of free virtual workshops to the ex-student community. An opportunity to connect with ex-students virtually, these sessions explored a variety of topics including:

Second Momentum with Michelle Pascoe (Dickson, 1979): Ex-students discussed ways to approach & prepare for retirement, how to start over in business or at a later stage in life. Michelle founded one of Australia’s most respected training companies, Optimum Operating Procedures and Services Pty Ltd (OOPS) and shared her personal experience and knowledge with our workshop attendees.

Feel Good, Do Good with The Posify Group: Led by sisters Mariane Power (O'Connell, 2000) and Jenna O'Connell (2002) The Posify Group aims to inspire meaningful living by sharing practical, evidence-based strategies that help people feel well and do good. In this session, we discussed what the future of work looks like and practical strategies that will help to set personally meaningful goals and of benefit to the world. This was an excellent session for our most recent ex-students who have just begun university or are about to graduate and enter the workforce.

First Impressions Count with Colour Me In Styling: Experienced stylist Amelia McFarlane led a workshop on the power of colour and how to use it to look to make an impactful first impression in any situation (including on a Zoom call).

We discussed personal grooming, the ten essential items every wardrobe needs and how to be kind to your body to feel confident and authentic in your daily presentation at any age or stage of life.

Building Resilience at any age: Experienced HR and business leader Jennifer Dignam (Clark, 1979) shared practical ways to build and develop your resilience at any stage of life. What is resilience, why is it essential?

We discussed the eight characteristics of resilience and how to apply resilience in your everyday life.

We welcome topic suggestions or expressions of interest from ex-student presenters as we plan more Tartan Up events for 2021 and beyond. Recordings of each Tartan Up session are available at: https://www.plc.nsw.edu.au/microsites/alumni/spotlight-on

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

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Class of 1999 celebrates their 20 year Reunion at Jersey Day 2019.

2020: REFLECTIONS ON A YEAR OF MOMENTUM FOR THE ESU While 2020 brought a pause to our very busy events calendar, it provided valuable time for the ESU Committee to take stock of our history and look to the future.

As I mentioned in my President's Report on page 35, the main focus of this year has been a review of the ESU’s Constitution. Why you may ask?

Well, there have been significant changes since the Constitution was last updated. The College’s appointment of a Director of Alumni Relations and the necessary increase of digital technology has had an impact upon the way the ESU operates and communicates.

In looking at what similar ex-student or “old girls” organisations have done with their Constitution, ours, although adequate, did appear to be somewhat minimalist. This was done by design, as being too prescriptive would require any changes to the Constitution to be brought to the AGM on a far too regular basis.

So the ESU Committee began discussions in March. We all had our own ideas as to what should be in it and for a short time, it looked as though we were going to be at a stalemate.

Through engaging a lawyer to assist us and discovering the hitherto hidden legal talents of members of the Committee, we have finally completed the task.

in person? Should the Director of Alumni Relations be allowed to vote at meetings and hold a position on the Committee if they are an ex-student? What happens if they are not an ex-student? None of these dilemmas was taken lightly. They involved much debate, and through reasoned arguments, we were able to end up with a document that we are all not just happy with but proud of.

As President, I began by having very fixed views on several issues, but after being exposed to others’ ways of thinking, I realised that I wasn’t seeing the “big picture”, and it was time to embrace the 21st Century. Perhaps some of your reactions might be the same as mine were, but I hope that like me but without the benefit of being privy to background discussions, you will see that the new Constitution truly reflects the ESU of 2020 and beyond. As one of the Committee members quipped, “I guess we are no longer a Cottage Industry.”

And we aren’t! Our draft Constitution reflects the expectations of professional organisations. It is comprehensive whilst allowing for flexibility. It will be sent out to you in readiness for the AGM to be held (COVID-permitting) on Saturday 13 March at Jersey Day. Please take the time to consider it with an open mind.

There have been a lot of the proverbial “blood, sweat and tears” that have gone into it.

Some of our stumbling blocks through the process were: Should there be provision for a proxy vote? Can we use technology to open up meetings for those who can’t attend

Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978)

ESU NEWS

Nine months later - a draft Constitution has been born.

The revised draft is with Dr Burgis and College Council for their approval before we put it out to our members for consideration and (hopefully) acceptance at the next AGM.

ESU President

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

EX-STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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Could you briefly tell us about your career and life after school?

`

I had a happy apprenticeship at the pharmacy in Summer Hill. I saved up so I could go overseas for ten months, most people did that back in the day. I worked for six weeks in London, long enough so that I could say that I had experience working overseas.

CAROLINE LYONS (SCHIESS, 1956)

School Captain, Harper House Captain When did you go to PLC and what did you plan to do after school when you were at school?

I started at the College when I was eight, and I had a wonderful time at school.

Biology, PE and geography were my favourite subjects; however, I had no idea what I wanted to do throughout my high school years. I remember wanting to be a librarian, but my mother told me the course would take too long, I think it was something like six years of study at the time.

My father suggested that I get an apprenticeship at a pharmacy, where he’d spoken to one of the local pharmacists. They said they’d take me on (being paid 10 shillings!) providing I worked every Saturday morning during the leaving certificate year. I didn’t take chemistry or maths, which in hindsight was a bit silly, as I had a lot of catchup work to do to get myself through my pharmacy degree. But I was pleased that I did pharmacy in the end; it was a great profession for a woman at that time.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

I met and married a fellow pharmacist through one of my best friends from school. We opened our first pharmacy in Liverpool, we had that for a few years, and then we opened one of the first day and night pharmacies in Sydney, located in Auburn. At the time, we had three children (one a newborn), and that was a tough time. I didn’t work at the pharmacy apart from a couple of odd days, but it was hard in a tiny little house with different sleeping schedules.

However, it was still a great experience.

From then on we worked as locum pharmacists. Between the two of us, we relieved over 100 pharmacies within Australia and around the world, which was interesting. We learned something new with each one. I retired when I turned 70.

What did you love about being a Pharmacist, and what were the challenges?

The thing about the job that I loved the most was the social interaction and just helping people. I found the lack of routine a bit challenging as a locum pharmacist. For example, you might recommend something, but you’d never receive the feedback from that recommendation, as you’d have moved on to the next pharmacy. As a woman, it was an excellent profession.

In those days it was good money, and we were paid the equivalent to a male pharmacist. I could work an afternoon or a day per week and spend the rest of my time with the family. That ended up increasing to two days a week, but I never worked full time, apart from just a few locums.

What does a typical day look like for you at the moment?

I belong to two book clubs, I walk every day, and I play social bridge, which I love.

My husband and I were into jigsaws during the height of the pandemic; I also have a little bit of garden to potter

around in. At our retirement village, it is quite social. There’s a lot to do, but it's completely optional. They’ve been great through the pandemic, especially with keeping up activities albeit socially distanced.

Have you found COVID challenging in terms of your social connections?

We enjoyed it. It didn’t worry us at all.

My husband loves his own company, so he was perfectly happy. I find that wearing the masks out in the public when shopping is a bit stifling.

We’ve abided by the rules. Being separated from family, especially the little ones, was at times a bit hard but it’s just a sacrifice we have to make. My eldest daughter and two eldest granddaughters live up in Coffs Harbour. We try to see them once or twice a year, but that’s obviously a little more challenging now. My daughter still runs a practice in Hornsby, so she comes to Sydney every few months for staff meetings and the like. I have seven grandchildren ranging from 25 to 3 years old.

What’s the most significant piece of advice you’ve ever received and who gave it to you?

The most significant pieces of advice I ever received came from my father.

He always told me to be honest, truthful and kind. I’m also more of a glass-halffull person.

What would be the proudest moment in your life so far?

My proudest moments would be giving birth to the three children, of course.

Meeting and marrying my husband.

I was very proud to be School Captain at PLC as well.

If you could travel back in time to that girl who was school captain, what advice would you have for her?

Everything is just so entirely different nowadays. I had a final year class of just 40 girls and the school only had 500 students, which was the most that it had ever had at that time. I would think trusting your instincts would be the advice I would give to my younger self.

This is where I’ve found the two book clubs very interesting. One of the book clubs you’re able to choose your books, but with the other club, the books are given to us from the library. This is interesting because some of the books selected for us by the library I never would have picked up and read on my own accord. I usually end up finding them interesting or loving them, although sometimes they’re not so good. We seem to watch a lot of repeats of the old English comedies on TV because my husband loves them. We’re also quite into portrait painting episodes and quiz programs.

What role has being a PLC Sydney student played in your life?

It has played such a big role.

It staggers me!

I organise school reunions with four other school friends. I think we’re one

of the only years that have organised school reunions ever since we left school, while a lot of the other years don’t bother. We started holding them every ten years, then it became every five years, and now we meet annually except this year due to COVID. I had no idea I’d be doing so much with PLC still, especially after having been School Captain. It’s been an absolute pleasure. I’m a people person, and I do love to keep in touch and interact. It’s been great for our year to stay in touch and support each other. We also love going back to school and on campus for the occasions.

What values and skills do you think were instilled in you by being a PLC girl?

Honesty, respect and routine.

Friendship, of course. Helping others and service were values that were upheld at PLC Sydney.

school supported her love of music and performance, and how a piece of advice given to her from a great artist made a big impact on her career and outlook on life.

Tell us a little bit about when you came to PLC Sydney, what your school experience was like and what your plan was for after school?

`

I didn’t come to PLC Sydney until I was in Year 9. I was already thinking about moving schools because I had lots of friends at PLC Sydney, I had just started taking singing lessons at the NSW Conservatorium of Music, and I thought that the College would be a better fit academically and musically for me.

ROXANE HISLOP (1977)

One of Australia's most acclaimed mezzo-sopranos.

Roxane shares a glimpse into the world of an opera singer, how

In Year 11 and 12, I knew that in the future, I wanted to go on the stage in some form but had not decided how or when that would happen. I was taking Speech and Drama lessons with Miss Audrey Keown at school as well as continuing my singing lessons at the Conservatorium and studying piano and music theory. I was involved in the Drama Club as well as the school choir and madrigal group.

How did your career unfold after you graduated?

My time at PLC Sydney definitely guided me into my singing career.

Both Principal Miss Freda Whitlam

What are some of your favourite memories or traditions from school?

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We loved sitting under the old oak tree.

The ground seemed so enormous to us when we were little. I can remember the thrill we’d get when we were allowed to go on the Senior’s Lawn which was in front of Miss Macindoe’s office, in front of Shubra Hall.

We used to dip our feet in the Condy’s Crystals before we could go in the old swimming pool. I used to love sitting in the old biology huts, which were the old Airforce huts. We always knew it was summer when the windows were open, and we could smell the grass being mowed.

I loved the assembly. I’m not musical, but I loved the organ throughout my time at PLC. I was also Harper Captain which meant that I had to conduct for choir night. I’ll never forget how I conducted in such a basic manner because I’m not musical at all.

and Miss Keown were extraordinary influences in my life. In my entrance interview with Miss Whitlam, I was telling her about how I’d just started taking singing lessons at the Conservatorium as a single study, and I remember her saying “right, well we will encourage that!” Even from my earliest days at the school, she kept an eye on that aspect of my life. She pushed me to make the most of opportunities, take on solo roles and represent the school in music competitions.

However, even though I auditioned for the Conservatorium to do an undergraduate degree immediately after school, I decided to go to Sydney University. Miss Whitlam had always said that if you’re going to have a career on the stage, it's good to have something behind you as well. I enrolled in Law at Sydney University and switched over to a combined Arts Law degree after the first year. All the while, I kept on singing.

At the end of my Arts degree, I did a summer clerkship at a law firm and thought hmm… I’m not sure if this is for me. I had also auditioned for the Opera School at the NSW Conservatorium and won a scholarship to go there for three years. I thought I’ll just take one year off law, and that was that. But I was very glad that I had at least completed an Arts degree. Mid-career I went back to university to do a Masters of Education in Arts Administration. This ultimately More of Roxane's story overleaf...

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

ESU NEWS

Do you have favourite books or radio programs?

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made my later career move into teaching at university much easier.

After I graduated from Opera School, I joined Opera Australia and was lucky to have an ongoing association with the company from 1985 till 2016. I was initially a member of the chorus.

After winning the Sydney Sun Aria competition and the Metropolitan Opera auditions which led to studying in London and New York I made my principal debut with the company in 1988. I was a resident principal mezzosoprano with Opera Australia until I married in 1995, moved to Melbourne and then continued working with them as a freelance artist.

I have a repertoire of over 60 roles with the company and as a freelance artist have been lucky enough to perform with every major Opera company and Symphony orchestra in Australia. I did think about pursuing work overseas and was offered work in Germany, but my sister Glenice became ill with breast cancer which eventually claimed her life and I did not want to move away during her last precious years. In retrospect I am glad I didn’t pursue an international career, it is very hard on family life, and I was fortunate that there was so much wonderful work in Australia at that time.

What’s the most significant piece of advice that you have received in your life and who was the person that shared it with you?

I was given this particular piece of work-related advice quite early on in my career. The music industry is competitive, and there’s always competition for the same roles, particularly when you are young and less established. I was doing some vocal work with one of Australia’s best sopranos - Rosamund Illing. I can remember asking her advice on what to do especially with there being so much competition in the industry. She advised me to look for the areas of repertoire I did better than anyone else. "Find your niche,” she said.

I’m a mezzo-soprano, and those roles encompass playing the role of young boys,” colourful women” or the companion or mother character. The other mezzos were much more boyish than I was, so Rosamund suggested I concentrate on the more feminine roles.

Whenever I presented for an audition, I would sing arias from Carmen, Samson and Delilah or Werther - all very feminine roles which not only suited me vocally but also my appearance and personality.

I tried to stay away from a repertoire

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Roxane as Rosina in Barber of Seville for Opera Australia.

that suited others better, and that seemed to work in my favour.

What has been your proudest career moment to date?

Singing Carmen with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House. It still feels like a dream, and I often pinch myself that I had the opportunity to do that.

I was fortunate to sing the role in two separate productions during my time with the company.

If you could travel back in time to your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give her?

Always strive to be the best you can be and never give up. Be kind to yourself because not everything will go to plan.

Keep on pushing to be the absolute best that you can be and don’t be disappointed if things don’t necessarily go down the pathway you think. Often, you’re taken down a different path which proves to be as good or better.

You’re in a competition solely with yourself and nobody else. Make everything you do better than the last time you did it. If you can forget about all the noise around you and focus on that - I think it saves a lot of time and angst.

What are some of your favourite memories or moments that stand out to you from your time at PLC? I had a lovely circle of friends at school, and though I don’t live in Sydney anymore, enjoy catching up with them when possible. Fortunately, one of my friends from school, Linda Davie (Cambridge, 1977) now lives in Melbourne. I’m godmother to one of her daughters, we spend Christmas together, and she lives just around the

corner. Some of my favourite memories revolve around my musical experiences; it was such a wonderful time. I was in such a talented year group and the Year 11 play - The Wizard of Oz - was a real focal point for all of us. It was a very special time. On a smaller scale, in my last year, I came back after my HSC to do a Drama Club production of The King & I, with the talented Jenny Charles (1979) playing the King.

I loved the early morning madrigal group. I lived in Blakehurst, and another member of the group Jane Lennox (1977) came from Cronulla.

Still, somehow, along with the other members, we all managed to get to school at some unearthly hour to practice gorgeous madrigals under the expert instruction of Megan Nelson (1977) at the piano.

What values do you think PLC Sydney instilled in you that you have carried with you in your approach of life?

I felt that everybody was valued. Every student had something to offer. My talent happened to be music; other students were good at sport; some were academically gifted. PLC Sydney appreciated, valued and developed whatever the individual’s talent was and it was celebrated. That was my impression, and I did take that away from school. Even in my teaching now, the standard of my students varies considerably, but each is special and unique in their way.

PLC Sydney tried to find individual strengths, and they found mine and strongly encouraged it. By the time I finished at PLC Sydney, I almost had no choice but to go into music and to perform!

SAVE THE DATE

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JERSEY DAY Saturday 13 March We are hoping that in 2021 we will be able to hold Jersey Day, and therefore our Reunions, on Saturday 13 March at the College. The ESU has it’s Annual General Meeting on Jersey Day each year.

Confirmation that the event will be held in person and further details will be advised in the new year.

We are also hopeful that the Reunions that were postponed in 2020 will be able to go ahead next year. Information about the rescheduled reunions will be sent directly to the classes whose events were cancelled this year.

If you would like to be an Ambassador for your year group and assist in planning your Reunion (with a significant amount of help from the College), please contact the Ex-Students’ Office.

INTERSTATE CONTACTS ADELAIDE

Patricia Becket (Lamrock, 1959) patsybeckett70@gmail.com

BRISBANE

Petrina Hawkins (Campbell, 1970) trinahawkins@me.com

CANBERRA

REUNIONS IN 2021

Suzanne Clubb (1957) (02) 6238 1531 / suzanneclubb@bigpond.com

Next year PLC Sydney will be celebrating:

GOLD COAST

Jeni Bone (Payne, 1987) (07) 5526 0092 / jeni@edit-it.com.au

1951: 70 Year Reunion 1961: 60 Year Reunion 1971: 50 Year Reunion 1981: 40 Year Reunion 1991: 30 Year Reunion 2001: 20 Year Reunion 2011: 10 Year Reunion 2016: 5 Year Reunion

MELBOURNE

Leonie Gillett (Cresswell, 1961) (03) 9848 5058 / leonian2@bigpond.com

NEW ENGLAND/NORTHERN DISTRICT

We encourage you to contact your Year Ambassador or the Ex-Students’ Office to update your contact details or to assist in planning your reunion.

Please note: PLC Sydney takes the health and wellbeing of the school community very seriously. COVID-safe measures will be in place for all events in 2021 and will proceed in line with government recommendations and regulations. All events are subject to change. Visit www.plc.nsw.edu.au for the latest event information.

Helen Loveday (Kinross, 1961) (02) 6721 0583

SUNSHINE COAST Jane O’Hare (Provan, 1970) 0448 003 895 / jane.ohare@bigpond.com

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Kay Ralph (Teasdell, 1970) 0438 932 690 / termimesh@westnet.com.au

RIVERINA Catherine Cruickshank (Bassingthwaite, 1986) (02) 6927 6353

STAY IN TOUCH – UPDATE YOUR DETAILS TODAY Visit: plc.nsw.edu.au/alumni/stay-in-touch Join the Official PLC Sydney Ex-Students Group: Follow us on Instagram here:

@PLCSydneyExStudents

@plcsydneyexstudents

ESU NEWS

Did you know that our ex-students are a powerful network of women around the world?

Contact the Ex-Students' Office: T: (+612) 9704 5635 E: alumni@plc.nsw.edu.au

ISSUE 12 / SUMMER 2020

1 Meta Street Croydon NSW 2132 Phone (+612) 9704 5666 Fax (+612) 9744 0519 enquiries@plc.nsw.edu.au www.plc.nsw.edu.au All material appearing in Camphora is copyright.

Reproduction is not permitted unless otherwise authorised.

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