Camphora, Issue 13, Winter 2021

ISSUE 13 WINTER 2021

MATHEMATICS ENRICHMENT CONTINUES APACE

LEST WE FORGET ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES THROUGH EMPOWERMENT

CONTENTS

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ISSUE 13 WINTER 2021

01

From the Principal

EX-STUDENTS’ NEWS

02

A new space for junior artists

28

President's message

03

Mathematics enrichment continues apace

29

Ex-Students' committee

04

Creative design exploration at The Croydon

Alumni announcements

05

30

Accepting differences through empowerment

34

Save the date

06

Biotechnologists for a day!

35

08

Celebrating PLC Sydney across generations

“Hating Alison Ashley” has never been so much fun!

36

Queensland reunion

09

Rowers get back to business

36

Western Australia Jersey Day

10

Finding life in language: Writing at PLC Sydney

37

Class of 1960 celebrates 60 years since school

11

Transition girls enjoy a day of fun and friendship

38

Class of 1970 reunites in Marden

12

Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize

39

Business spotlight: Dental Spot

14

SEED cleans up the river

39

ESU card day 2021

15

Aerobic gymnasts move into new multi-purpose space

40

Ex-Students' spotlight: Sonia Clark

42

Ex-Students' spotlight: Anne Tischlinger

43

Webinars provide a glimpse into the future

44

Madeleine's simple gestures

15

Lest we forget

16

60 seconds with… Mr Adam Rothwell

17

60 seconds with… Ms Veronica Trainor

18

In profile: Hannah Moodie, Keira Vincent, Kendelle Tait, Heidi Shumack, Bianca Walton

21

Stories from the Archives: Brush up on your Principals

26

Space makers: PLC Sydney Sky Path

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

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Any parents who have been at the College for some time will have heard me speaking about the importance of students reading and thinking, about the real value of an education that is broad and deep.

Too much of our formal and social media wants to represent education as a series of polarised issues, and to thus shift education so that it is reactionary. This would be a terrible thing. Students need time to think about things. They need access to views other than those that are trending.

In this edition of Camphora you will find evidence of our attempts to have a rich and broad education.

It is my hope that students engage with topics that surprise them, that challenge their thinking, and which counter many of the trending ideas (conservative or progressive) that appear on social media.

Specifically, look out for our attempts to give our youngest students access to a magnificent art room right next to their own classrooms, in Evandale. This is so that they can grow through art. What a wonderful job the bright and creative Mrs Lloyd does! There are a number of articles on Enrichment. Students love to be offered extension work, a space where they can really develop their skills in an area of interest. Thus,

you will see articles on Mathematics enrichment, and theatrical enrichment, and enrichment in the area of Design.

This is something on offer in abundance at PLC Sydney.

An equally important theme is the idea that subjects must 'come to life'.

Thus, we have articles on using science to improve our environment, and on finding a 'voice' in print through the Countess of Jersey Society.

We also look to the future. Please find an article on our next building project.

We appreciate any assistance you might give us! And also one on the Transition Class and their programs to help them really take on the challenges of the future.

As usual we celebrate the successes of our students. This time the focus is on the Stockholm Water Prize and on some sporting stars. We also introduce you to students and ex-students and staff who are part of our community.

I hope you enjoy this edition. It says something more about who we are.

Dr Paul Burgis Principal

OUR MAGAZINE TEAM EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Mrs Nicole Paull

Dr Paul Burgis, Mrs Alison Lloyd, Mr Gavin Sinclair, Ms Jo Herrmann, Anais Lowe, Dr Maria Luisa Gutierrez, Horatia Ma, Emily Moloney, Ariane Sharpe, Ms Anna Martin, Mr Des Chu, Amelia Lai, Isabella Turner, Mr Félix Dieu, Mr Philip Harper, Mr Malcolm Heap, Sasha Prokhorov, Sarah Pattinson, Julia Fang, Ms Veronica Trainor, Evelyn Atkins, Deanne Kalis, Marina Ruan, Lilian Stock, Kimberley Ta, Mrs Jo McGrouther, Katherine Zhang, Ms Gaia Brambilla, Mr Adam Rothwell, Hannah Moodie, Keira Vincent, Kendelle Tait, Heidi Shumack, Bianca Walton, Ms Debby Cramer.

COVER Lest we forget. An ANZAC Day Service was held at PLC Sydney this year on 25 April.

Due to Covid-19, students were unable to participate in either the CBD March or the Burwood Council ceremony.

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

Ex-Students' News: Marina Clark, Philippa Zingales, Ann McDonald, Lesley Meldrum, Helen Humphries, Mia Joseph, Elizabeth Gregory. 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.

ISSUE 13 / WINTER 2021

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A NEW SPACE FOR JUNIOR ARTISTS 2021 started with an explosion of colour and excitement for Junior School students as they find themselves immersed in their Visual Arts lessons in a new learning environment.

In late 2020, the need for a dedicated Junior School Art space became apparent as the previously allocated room in The Croydon was no longer available due to the consistently growing number of our senior Visual Arts classes.

is the young, Long-Necked Turtle who now resides outside the entrance to the art space. She has only recently joined us in Evandale, but has been the source of beautiful inspiration for many artmaking activities completed by our Junior School artists already.

This is testament to the quality of Visual Arts programs offered to both our junior and senior students and the value and esteem in which the Creative Arts are held within the College.

Students have reacted with pure joy and gratitude at being able to explore their artmaking experiences in this new room. So far this year they have experimented with ceramics, printmaking, drawing, painting and sculptural processes, utilising the space and light within the new studio.

Pre-Kindergarten in particular have enjoyed being able to experience a variety of activities within one lesson and their skills and curiosity toward artmaking processes have increased.

In response to the increase in students using The Croydon’s studio spaces, a dedicated Visual Arts room needed to be established for our Junior School artists. Therefore, over the course of the Christmas break, one of the Year 2 classrooms not being used for 2021 was transformed into a space that would allow for both wet and dry artmaking processes.

The floors were covered with light, wood grain linoleum and sinks were installed close to the doorway. Display hooks and gallery wire have been hung to allow for the consistent display and appreciation of student work, and the intensity of the natural light that shines through the large windows means that we often do not need to turn on the ceiling lights.

A variety of plants have been collected and installed within the space to not only assist students in connecting with nature whilst indoors, but to assist with providing a sense of peace and calm when entering the room.

The new Junior School Visual Arts room is large in scale which allows for the effective delivery of differentiated learning experiences for students within lessons. Students have access to a wide range of Art related books and publications if they finish a task early or need a break from what they may be working on. Large, brightly coloured cushions adorn the walls of the space and are now used mostly

by Stage 3 students, looking for an alternative to sitting at a desk.

The latest, and probably most exciting addition to the new Junior Art Room, PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Kindergarten loved the freedom of experimenting with acrylic paint and creating shades and tones with a sense of uninhibited expression, and students in Years 1 and 2 regularly poke their heads into the room inquiring if today was their turn to spread ink on a canvas or be inspired by the Surreal work of Salvador Dali.

Their enthusiasm is second to none!

Years 3 to 6 express similar feelings as they come to this specialised space in Evandale, giving them a sense of change from their regular learning environment in Hamilton.

The connection and relationships being formed between Hamilton and Evandale students through our Stage 2 and 3 students walking across to the new Junior School Art Room add another layer of value to the development of this new space.

I am extremely grateful to be able to facilitate our Visual Arts Programs in this inspiring and peaceful new space and, I believe our students and teachers of the Junior School feel much the same.

I cannot wait to see what amazing art pieces continue to evolve this year from our Junior School artists via our new studio space.

Mrs Alison Lloyd Junior School Visual Arts Coordinator

MATHEMATICS ENRICHMENT CONTINUES APACE

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won’t be the only person struggling, and you’re with good mathematicians too.” The social aspect of learning is indeed important in these activities.

Syricia also appreciates the opportunity to learn computer programming, as it is different from normal classroom learning and she senses it will be useful in a variety of ways.

Year 9 student Alysa Xu (seated) was selected to be part of the AMOC training school.

The PLC Sydney Mathematics Faculty takes enrichment very seriously. In addition to a rigorous and challenging curriculum, we try to offer as many students as possible the support to broaden and deepen their thinking skills.

Each year builds on the year before, and in 2021 we experienced a PLC Sydney first: Alysa Xu (Year 9) was one of very few students Australia-wide to be selected to be part of the AMOC training school.

in content but mathematical (finding and exploiting patterns) in nature.

Two hundred students sat the CAT competition, which gives them a chance to uncover skills and interests they didn’t know they had.

Alysa has attended two weeks of training (online, sadly)—one in December and one in April. Alysa reports that each day was roughly nine hours, including breaks, and comprised lectures and group problem-solving questions. Most importantly, she reports that she has become more confident through the experience.

These elite training camps lead to potential selection to represent Australia in the IMO, and we wish her the best of luck.

Two teams of four students submitted lengthy reports for the IMMC in which they analysed the concept of “greatest of all time” in more than one sport.

And two students—Amy Feng (Year 10) and Alysa Xu—have accepted an invitation to a Sydney University-run advanced Mathematics correspondence course. And in the background, two co-curricular weekly clubs (Archimedes and Informatics) have provided students with problem-solving and computer programming opportunities.

This article aims to help parents understand just how much opportunity there is at PLC Sydney. Selected Mathematics classes from Year 4 to Year 9 have had regular enrichment visits, and most of those students (and even some others) have submitted work for the external AMT Challenge program. About 25 students sat the OzCLO competition, which is linguistic

I asked a few regular attendees of the Archimedes and Informatics clubs what they enjoy about them. Isabelle Ho Shon (Year 9) and Chrysolite Salla (Year 7) both emphasised the joy of learning multiple ways to solve a challenging mathematics problem, extending beyond their default trial and error.

Syricia R (Year 7) added: “You’re in an environment with your friends, so you

Each of the items discussed above deserves a small article to unpack the value they bring to the students who participate, and that is only what has happened so far this year. It all adds up to an exciting experience for students who relish a challenge. And the culture of enrichment both draws upon and feeds into the school-wide philosophy that deep thinking and resilience in the face of a challenge are important.

The teachers most directly involved are Miss Wong and Mrs Basford, who visit Year 4–6 classes; Miss Rossides, who visits a Year 7 class, facilitates a Year 7 withdrawal group, and helps organise the formal enrichment activities; Miss Angeni Bai, an ex-student who teaches Informatics; and myself (Mr Sinclair), who visits Year 7–9 classes and runs the clubs and competitions.

Mr Gavin Sinclair Director of Mathematics Enrichment

GLOSSARY AMOC: Australian Mathematics Olympiad Committee AMT: Australian Maths Trust CAT: Computational and Algorithmic Thinking IMMC: International Mathematical Modeling Challenge IMO: International Mathematics Olympiad OzCLO: Australian Computational Linguistics Olympiad

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CREATIVE DESIGN EXPLORATION AT THE CROYDON Semester 1 was a refreshing start to 2021 for students and teachers in the Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) faculty.

After a challenging year of ongoing adaptability and constant design project modifications, students have embraced the use of technologies within The Croydon and the design industry.

Our teachers are always looking for ways to offer our students creative design exploration opportunities. In the field of textile design, our students are encouraged to embrace new technologies whilst continuing to appreciate the value of traditional skills and techniques. This has been demonstrated across the curriculum through the range of dyeing and printing skills applied in projects from Year 7 through to Year 12.

Our enthusiastic Year 8 students had the opportunity to undertake a workshop with Pepa Martin and Karen Davis, the founders of the boutique fabric house Shibori.

Unfortunately, workshop sessions in 2020 were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Shibori workshop enabled our students to enjoy the process of creating handmade fabrics whilst expanding their textile knowledge. Shibori is a Japanese manual resist dyeing technique, which produces patterns on fabric. There are an infinite number of ways to bind, stitch, fold, twist, or compress fabric for Shibori, and each way results in very different patterns. Students have then designed and created a Shibori pyjama set inspired

by Shibori and contemporary fashion designer Issey Miyake.

Year 10 students designed, printed and laser cut fabric and then utilised the fabric in making a vase.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Year 8 students undertook a workshop with Pepa Martin and Karen Davis, the founders of the boutique fabric house Shibori.

Our committed Year 10 students have embraced the challenge of designing vases that could feature at the Finders Keepers Markets. Students developed individual fabric designs using Adobe Illustrator. These designs were professionally digitally printed and then laser cut, in The Croydon, to individual student design specifications. Digital fabric printing enables precise reproduction of very fine lines, with strong colour consistency. Traditional textile construction techniques were then applied to create the final vase concepts.

Our ongoing vision is to ensure that students are exposed to a broad range of design fields and technologies, enabling them to confidently combine skills and techniques to develop creative and innovative future solutions.

Ms Jo Herrmann Head of Technological and Applied Studies

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L-R: Emily Nielsen, Sarah Clifton-Bligh, Evelyn Atkins, Laurette Bechera and Anais Lowe, shared their experiences through the ‘Invisible Round Table Discussion’ at the Transition Assembly.

ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES THROUGH EMPOWERMENT The Inaugural Transition Assembly was an initiative to give Transition girls the opportunity to showcase their talents and experiences whilst promoting the significance of how we are all unique.

I also wanted to show how we can live as a united community by accepting the differences we have by empowering each other. We began the assembly with the girls doing something that they always enjoy, dancing, and they performed a fantastic Bible story dance.

I also wanted to convey how each student learns in different ways and the necessity to treat one another as equals through the ‘Invisible Round Table Discussion’, with some fellow Year 12 students: Emily Nielsen, Sarah Clifton-Bligh and Transition Liaisons, Evie Atkins and Laurette Bechara.

These girls shared their personal experiences of living with autism and cerebral palsy which were both memorable and educational for the audience and the action we can take

against ableism. Next, we played a video called Switched Lives that was created by the Transition girls which delivered the importance of empathy and brought a cheer from all.

Finally, we finished the assembly with the whole school up on their feet clapping along to “This Is Me.”

This assembly was a great success and I hope that it will continue annually.

Anais Lowe Year 12

The girls began the assembly by performing a wonderful Bible story dance.

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Adding reagents to a microtube for a ‘restriction’ reaction.

BIOTECHNOLOGISTS FOR A DAY! The polymerase chain reaction, better known as PCR, became a vernacular ‘word’ not only in Australia but also around the world in 2020. The acronym PCR is now recognised almost worldwide.

Covid-19 made it famous.

PCR is the biotechnological method used to detect people infected with the virus. PCR was one of the laboratory techniques that Year 12 Biology students learned to carry out with their own hands in the AMGEN Biotechnology Experience (ABE) earlier in the year.

The ABE was a one-day incursion run at the school’s Science McQueen labs thanks to the support and sponsorship of Sydney University and the American Biotech company AMGEN. In this incursion students were given access to specialist biotechnology equipment and resources. They learnt the tools of the trade and the techniques used in modern biotechnology laboratories around the world.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Students were skilled in the use of micropipettes to handle minute amounts of substances. They manipulated DNA with restriction enzymes to isolate the red-fluorescent protein gene and worked with a DNA ‘vector’ called a ‘plasmid’ to carry this gene into a bacterial cell to make it glow red. In essence, they created their own transgenic organism—at school. They were all able to see the little bacterial colonies glow red.

PCR was useful to ensure that the right gene was being used and that it was

not lost in the process. All this was done under the guidance of the Year 12 Biology teachers Mrs Barnett, Ms Humphreys and Dr Gutierrez.

Biotechnologies similar to those used by the Biology students are used around the world to create new medicines and to personalise treatment to specific people. By being exposed to these biotechniques, students gained an insight into the fascinating world of genetic manipulation and the scope that it has for the future of humanity and the environment.

Horatia Ma expresses her opinion: “The Year 12 Biology course and cohort was greatly boosted by the AMGEN experience— not only did we learn the theory behind different concepts and technologies in the sphere of genetics, but we were able to almost immediately implement this new knowledge into action. We were all very excited to work with equipment of quite high-tech standards, and were able to recreate seemingly extremely complex experiments in the comfort of our own labs. I felt that I was really learning, understanding and integrating the knowledge that I was being presented with, and the incursion helped consolidate a lot of knowledge leading into our depth study.”

Emily Moloney and Ariane Sharpe add: “The AMGEN incursion gave us the opportunity to engage in multiple complex scientific experiments that we had not explored

before, this broadened our studies as it allowed us to realise the many practical applications of the theory that we have been taught in class. Conducting first-hand experiments was insightful for us students as we understand the significant role that they have in more sophisticated biotechnologies that are used in vital practices; both in the medical field and the wider industry of Biology. After the incursion, we went away thinking critically about the ethical concerns associated with the application of some of the experimental techniques that we learnt about. This topic has many aspects to consider which could never have been covered in the single day. As a result of this, many of us are curious about how we can explore this field further, likely in our tertiary studies.”

Dr Maria Luisa Gutierrez Scientist-in-Residence

Horatia Ma, Emily Moloney and Ariane Sharpe Year 12

Transgenic red fluorescent bacteria grown by Biology students.

Getting ready to inoculate agar plates.

Students use a micropipette to mix minute amounts of chemical reagents into a small test tube.

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“HATING ALISON ASHLEY” HAS NEVER BEEN SO MUCH FUN! This year saw the return of the PLC Middle Years Production, a unique opportunity for students from Years 8-10 to be involved in the production of a fulllength play, staged in the Audrey Keown Theatre.

We chose to revisit the popular Australian play, Hating Alison Ashley, which was first directed here at PLC Sydney back in 2012 by our Head of Drama, Mrs Joanna Golotta-Maxwell.

the play, as well as other iconic Australian children’s content such as Bananas in Pyjamas, and was able to shed valuable light on the themes and characters of Hating Alison Ashley.

Based on the 1987 novel by Robin Klein, this story of female friendship has stood the test of time and continues to delight audiences with its humour, its cast of recognisable characters and above all, its enduring message about the value of looking beyond the surface of things and seeking to understand one another better.

Amelia Lai, in Year 8, who played the protagonist Erica Yurken, reflected:

Our ensemble of 31 students took to the challenge with tenacity, bringing the quirky community of the fictional Australian suburb, Barringa East, to life with a great sense of playfulness and comedic flair.

We were also thrilled to have Richard Tulloch, the playwright who adapted this story for the stage, join the cast for a Q&A session during the final phase of their rehearsal process.

Richard shared many entertaining anecdotes from his time developing

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"Hating Alison Ashley was an amazing experience, especially as this was my first high school production. I really feel as though I have learnt so much. My overall highlight from this production was meeting Richard Tulloch. As the original playwright of Hating Alison Ashley, he gave us all in-depth insights into the characters and how their lives affect who they are.”

Isabella Turner, from Year 10, who portrayed Erica’s ‘perfect’ nemesis, Alison Ashley, agreed: “Richard Tulloch reminded us to enjoy the fun of performing and that even in professional theatre things don’t always go to plan. This made me feel more confident to adjust or improvise when needed. I had thought that the biggest challenges would be learning

lines and overcoming nerves, but there is so much more to it! Trial and error is so important— sometimes you have to experiment a little to find what tone, pace or stance works best to portray your character. Being in this production helped me to become more confident when performing.”

Richard attended our Closing Performance and congratulated the ensemble on their joyful production of his play: “We enjoyed it enormously, and importantly, so did our grandson Jake (who being a drama fanatic in Year 9 at Newington can be a hard marker!)

Clear direction, a witty set, strong performances all round and above all, a fantastic spirit from the girls. Their enthusiasm was infectious.”

Our large and appreciative audiences echoed this feedback and this was a wonderful response for all of the students involved, many of whom were performing on the AKT stage for the very first time.

We look forward to seeing their talents flourish in future Performing Arts productions.

Ms Anna Martin

Director, Hating Alison Ashley

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ROWERS GET BACK TO BUSINESS When it comes to rowing, March means one thing—the NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River. Last year, it was not the case. As regattas were cancelled, schools moved online and lockdown started, only one thing was in our minds, we had unfinished business.

The 2021 Head of the River saw twelve PLC Sydney crews lining up to the start line. Out of twelve, ten qualified to their respective A-Final and one to the B-Final. By the end of the day, our girls won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal. They also placed third on the Senior Point Score, our best rank since 2008.

Whilst medals and championship trophies were awarded on that day, accolades were earned much earlier. For six months, our girls have been training four to eight times a week. For every second of their final race, they did one day of training.

Few have what it takes to wake up before the sun rises, push their mental and physical limits, then go through a day of school and sometimes come back for more before going home. Few have what it takes to give a nine or ten out of ten on a daily basis only to have a small chance at the end of the season. No matter the outcome, this is what PLC Sydney girls do best. They excel in their commitments to both their academics and co-curricular endeavours. Our girls are strong, fierce and have the courage to do what it takes. What our girls have is character.

2022 will see us come back for more. We will commit to the process and the score will take care of itself.

Mr Félix Dieu

Head Rowing Coach

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FINDING LIFE IN LANGUAGE: WRITING AT PLC SYDNEY Paul Kelly. These writers encouraged our students to reflect upon the role that history, language and storytelling plays in our lives and consider the responsibility of the writer, to walk the line between respecting facts and the stories of others and constructing their own creative fiction.

Three of our young writers from Year 9, Sasha Prokhorov, Sarah Pattinson and Julia Fang, share some of their thoughts on the writing process, the Sydney Writers’ Festival and their experience of participating in PLC Sydney’s writing clubs and activities: What do you enjoy about writing?

Sarah: I love expressing myself through a story and coming up with fictional worlds and people.

Year 9 students from the Countess of Jersey attended the Sydney Writers’ Festival Student Sessions in Term 2, experiencing a range of authors from diverse cultural and literary backgrounds, including Yuwaalaraay writer Nardi Simpson, Mirandi Riwoe, Tony Birch, Pakana writer Adam Thompson and singer-songwriter Paul Kelly.

Semester One was a rich and productive time for our PLC Sydney writers. The Countess of Jersey (COJ) writers’ group has seen a significant increase in numbers this year across Years 7 to 12 and we are thrilled to have the ongoing guidance and support of our fantastic creative writing teacher Dr Annabel Stafford.

This semester also saw the introduction of the Classical Literature Enrichment, a new project-based collaboration between the Countess of Jersey and the Classics Book Club, facilitated by Dr Suzana Sukovic.

This project enables students to engage in reading and peer discussion of classic literature as well as develop their skills in research, creative writing, editing and critical thinking. Students in this activity in Years 7 to 9 are currently developing their own independent literary project, using their research and reading as the platform for their own creative or analytical composition.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

It has been thrilling to see the diversity and sophistication of these concepts as they unfold. We are proud of the commitment and focus of these students as they take on such a challenge!

In Term 2 our Year 9 students from the Countess of Jersey attended the Sydney Writers’ Festival Student Sessions, taking part in lectures and workshops that both inspired and challenged.

They experienced a range of authors from diverse cultural and literary backgrounds, including Yuwaalaraay writer Nardi Simpson, Mirandi Riwoe, Tony Birch, Pakana writer Adam Thompson and singer-songwriter

Sasha: Writing is satisfying for me.

It has no restrictions. You are free.

You can do anything with the story and its characters. It's so fun because situations you might not be able to experience in real life, you can through writing! You can change the details in these situations too and experiment with how your characters react. And, you feel so content when you find that perfect phrase to describe something.

All in all, it's like day-dreaming, but making these dreams into a reality.

Julia: I love to express what I observe and find from everyday life and writing allows me to do so using words and language. By telling a story, we are piecing together our view of the world and sharing emotions we may have felt at some point in life with our readers.

Writing also helps me learn more about myself and find solutions to challenges I encounter.

How did the recent Sydney Writers’ Festival excursion enhance your writing practice or shift your thinking about writing?

Sarah: It helped me come up with new ways to find ideas by observing the things around me and using some past experiences or stories in my life to help me shape the idea. It helped me remember that writing takes work and I have to put in the effort. I also learned that to create a character you need to look deep inside yourself and try not to

use clichéd characters that do not have something wrong with them that makes them stand out. I learned that you need to figure out what your boundaries are when it comes to writing so you know what you are comfortable doing and what you won't do.

Sasha: The excursion was not only a fun experience but a valuable one. In the first session we met with the Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, who wrote not only stories but poetry, which he performed so beautifully with his acoustic guitar. He told his story using music and lyrics which emphasised its impact. This showed that writing goes beyond the typical short story. It's worth experimenting and implementing techniques like these and giving things you wouldn't normally do a go. It's also important to find inspiration from things around you. Anything from sidewalk graffiti to tragic memories. It was uplifting how much ideas and inspiration can come from family history and backgrounds and traditions. Or other people's stories that have affected us.

One of the arguably simpler but perhaps most important points made was dealing with failure. Failure is part of nature and definitely part of writing, and so is rejection, but this is also ultimately how we learn and improve. I found this experience very enlightening in enhancing my writing and my attitude towards it.

Julia: The writers inspired me with their writing journey.

I realised that writing is a way some writers use to explore and learn. It is more than a story or chunk of words. I now think of my story as something I really want to share or tell. I also learnt that you have to give the idea a go before determining many details surrounding it. So instead of waiting until the story plan feels perfect, I just start writing with ideas I like to experiment with.

Why is participating in reading and writing clubs important? How do you hope to use the skills and knowledge gained through COJ or the Literature Enrichment project in the future?

Sarah: Participating in reading/writing clubs is important not just because it helps enhance your skills for writing for English but because it teaches you to observe and think about the world around you. I hope to use the skills and knowledge I gain through Countess of Jersey to help me become a better fictional writer.

Julia: Countess of Jersey has allowed a free, friendly space for writers and I am encouraged to share my ideas with the group for feedback and further discussions. This is important as I start to plan and develop my story. Writing clubs are very important as you gain insight into ways of thinking, planning and communication with other people in the group. I hope to use these skills in the classrooms when working individually or in a group as they can be very useful almost everywhere in life.

Sasha: I've been in COJ since its beginning and have gained so much. From small, everyday activities to improve how you write about details and notice what's around you, to completing changing the phrasing of something to make it flow better. I hope to use the skills and experiences I've gained to publish books containing my thoughts, ideas and dreams in the future, and never stop improving on what I love to do most—write.

Ms Veronica Trainor

Director of Language and Literature

TRANSITION GIRLS ENJOY A DAY OF FUN AND FRIENDSHIP On Wednesday 28th of April this year, the Transition girls, along with the Riverview and Danebank Support Units, went ten-pin bowling at Strathfield Superbowl. We all had so much fun!

Then all the schools went back to PLC Sydney, which we (the Transition girls) hosted. We all had assigned tables, and we talked to the people at our table. Then the PLC girls from each table moved to the next table and talked to the new people at the table.

I got to see my old friend, Caitlyn, who I used to go to Giant Steps with back when we were four! It was a really nice time.

Evelyn Atkins Year 12

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AUSTRALIAN STOCKHOLM JUNIOR WATER PRIZE According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), climate change, increasing water scarcity, population growth, demographic changes and urbanisation already pose challenges for water supply systems.

By 2025, WHO predicts that half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas.

Understanding the importance of water, how it can be affected by humaninduced environmental impacts and how we can prevent or reverse these changes are vital areas of research.

The Stockholm Water Prize honours men, women and organisations for their outstanding contributions to a water wise world. The Junior Award is the world’s most prestigious youth award given to a high school student for water research. Over 30 countries send a student who has conducted outstanding research to the finals in Water Week in Stockholm each August.

Four PLC Sydney students from Year 11 presented their water-related scientific research in the semi-finals of the 2021 Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize. One student made it to the final round of four.

In 2020, Deanne Kalis, Marina Ruan, Lilian Stock and Kimberley Ta all selected an aspect of water quality for their Year 10 Science Student Research Project (SRP). All four students were recognised for the exceptional quality of their research in the Young Scientist Awards conducted by the Science Teachers’ Association of NSW. They were consequently invited to submit their work to the Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition in Term 1 this year.

All four students presented their research to an online judging panel in March, with Deanne being selected to appear in the online Australian final in April.

Lilian’s investigation looked into the effect of bushfires on water quality.

The increasing temperature of our planet is altering the water cycle, making water evaporate faster and causing droughts. Prolonged drought PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

is leading to dryer forests, more susceptible to wildfires, as observed in the devastating 2019-2020 ‘black summer’. State and rural fire services have deployed hundreds of thousands of tonnes of the reddish-pink aerial fire retardant ‘Phos-chek’ as a primary method of retarding bushfires.

In recent studies in the Murray Darling Basin, researchers have linked excess nutrient runoff from agricultural fertilisers to an increase in the abundance of cyanobacteria, creating “dead zones”, where no living organism can survive. Phoschek includes many of the same salts as common agricultural fertilisers: ammonium sulfate and ammonium phosphate. These act as sources of nitrogen and phosphorus to vegetation. My investigation tested the effect of excess bushfire debris: aerial fire retardant Phos-chek, and dead plant organic matter, Eucalyptus ash, on cyanobacteria populations to identify the environmental impact on already dwindling and fragile fresh waterways following periods of drought. My results showed that all tested substances produced a significant increase in the abundance of cyanobacteria. I believe my work should be reviewed by global fire fighting agencies in order to examine whether other fire retarding methods are more sustainable for our waterways.

Kimberley experimented with using whole papaya seeds in the process of water sanitation.

For many of us, clean drinking water is simply a step away. However in developing countries around the world such as Africa they aren’t as lucky. The World Health Organisation reports that there are 829,000 deaths annually from preventable diseases caused by limited access to clean water due to the lack of infrastructure and sanitation education. My research attempted to address this

issue with a more sustainable and accessible method of sanitising water - specifically within coagulation.

Coagulation is where a substance is added to clump together the pollutants of water, enabling them to be filtered out. When researching I found that papaya seeds could be a potential natural coagulant as they contain a positively charged protein, cysteine protease. They would also be a better alternative as they are a natural option and are easily accessible in sub-saharan regions of Africa, where these fruits are native and the access to water sanitation is limited. My experimentation revealed that whole papaya seeds were successful in acting as a coagulant and thus can be used in the process of water sanitation. With further research, papaya seeds could be used alongside the other steps of filtration and sanitisation to produce clean drinking water.

Marina set out to find an environmentally sustainable method for removing toxic dyes from water.

The rise of online shopping and convenient fast fashion has led to an increase in dye pollution globally.

Untreated textile dyes that are released into waterways and drinking sources can have adverse effects on marine ecosystems, due to their toxic nature. Human communities are also heavily impacted, with many people in developing countries relying on contaminated sources of water that can cause cancer and mutations.

Current methods of treatment, such as activated carbon, are costly and detrimental to the environment. I decided to explore the use of eggshells as a more environmentally sustainable adsorbent for dyes. Calcined eggshell powder (eggshells baked at an extremely high temperature in a kiln), raw eggshell powder and activated charcoal powder were used to remove blue food colouring from water.

Surprisingly, my results showed that the calcined eggshell powder was the most effective, even more so than the conventionally used activated carbon. These results suggest calcined

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eggshells have great potential to be used in the future as a method to reduce levels of dye pollution.

Furthermore, the repurposing of food waste, and the prospect of a low-cost, natural adsorbent greatly increases accessibility to poorer communities who are in dire need of a solution to dye pollution.

Deanne, like Lilian, looked into the effects of bushfires on water quality. Deanne’s research was recognised as one of the top four in Australia, narrowly missing out on selection to present her findings in Stockholm.

The unprecedented bushfires that took place in Australia in 2019 and 2020 devastated nearly 15 million acres of land and destroyed approximately 1,400 homes. The mass of debris, ash, soot and blackened vegetation left behind was extraordinary. The impact on the land, the water and the native fauna was visible across vast parts of the east coast. I therefore decided to examine the effect ash has on the key marine organism brine shrimp, Artemia salina, using them as a bioindicator in order to measure the severity of the bushfires on aquatic life.

I used a microscope to measure the heart rate of the live Artemia salina by counting their leg movements after being exposed to different ash concentrations over varying time exposures. The results showed that more time and only a small quantity of ash causes a decrease in heart rate causing death in a short period of time. The impact the bushfires have on marine life remains a critical area for further investigation.

Kimberley Ta experimented with using whole papaya seeds in the process of water sanitation.

Lilian Stock investigated the effect of bushfires on water quality.

The excellent research conducted by these students is of course just a beginning.

Water quality and access will be two of the biggest challenges in the future of humanity. We congratulate these four students on the creativity of their ideas and the quality of their scientific investigations.

Mrs Jo McGrouther

Deanne, like Lilian, looked into the effects of bushfires on water quality.

Deanne’s research was recognised as one of the top four in Australia, narrowly missing out on selection to present her findings at Water Week in Stockholm.

Marina set out to find an environmentally sustainable method for removing toxic dyes from water.

Head of Science

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SEED CLEANS UP THE RIVER On Saturday 10 April, 12 girls from SEED, along with Dr Gutierrez, joined forces with the 'Mudcrabs' to participate in our first river cleanup as a group along the Cooks River.

The Mudcrabs are a local community group under the Cooks River Valley Association that cares for the Cooks River by regularly organising rubbish-collecting events to keep it clean.

They are called the Mudcrabs not only because of the presence of Mudcrabs in a healthy river, but because volunteers move along the shore with rubbish pullers that resemble pincers!

It was a wonderful opportunity to participate in a community activity with an immediate and measurable impact.

After two hours of hard work, we had many bags filled with various assortments of trash.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Like with the waste audit SEED conducted in early 2019, this experience allowed us to see exactly what sort of things found their way into the river and onto the banks.

Unsurprisingly, we collected a lot of the usual culprits: plastic straws, plastic bottles, chip packets and many plastic bags. These items do not break down and remain a threat to the river ecosystem for years. We also collected popped balloons, a neat stack of coffee cups, an unsettling amount of styrofoam, and a number of Nerf bullets.

Through this experience, we were reminded how important it is to cut down on the amount of single-use plastic we rely on. Secondly, we need to make sure our rubbish finds its way to the correct bin, and stays there. It was evident from some of the items we picked up, such as the coffee cup stack, that the people who used them intended for them to go into the bin.

Maybe they found that it was already full, so they left it on the top of the

bin instead, or maybe they looked everywhere but couldn’t find a bin.

In these cases, the right thing to do is to take the rubbish with you. The alternative is for it to end up in our beautiful rivers, where it certainly does not belong.

Katherine Zhang Year 11, SEED member since 2019

AEROBIC GYMNASTS MOVE INTO NEW MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE The opening of the new Hamilton Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC) in Term 2 has added a wonderful new space for the students at PLC Sydney to learn, play and exercise in all weather conditions.

Resulting from a very generous bequest from exstudent Dr Marie Knispel (1944), the MPC is a welcome addition to the facilities at the College.

Our Aerobic Gymnastics team is now training in the Hamilton MPC area every afternoon and Saturdays. The gymnasts and coaches are very excited to have a wonderful space to train in.

The specific floor installed will provide our gymnasts a safer environment and allow a better preparation for competitions.

We’ve always been excited to be at training but now we are even more! For any information for new athletes that would like to join the team, please email gbrambilla@plc.nsw.edu.au.

Ms Gaia Brambilla

Head of Aerobic Gymnastics

LEST WE FORGET ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance.

At dawn on 25 April 1915 a contingent of Australian and New Zealand Soldiers landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula.

It was with this landing that there began to emerge the tradition of ANZAC with the ideals of mateship and sacrifice that distinguish and unite all Australians irrespective of their origins.

ANZAC Day, 25 April, is the day Australia commemorates with services and marches in cities and towns and throughout the world where servicemen, servicewomen and peacekeepers are stationed, to remember all those who lost their lives in service to their country, in all wars.

In past years PLC Sydney has proudly been involved in both the ANZAC Day Sydney CBD March and the Burwood Council ANZAC Day ceremony. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions we were unfortunately unable to continue with this tradition in 2021.

We decided to commemorate this important day with a service held on the morning of 25 April on Drummond Field.

This was a very moving ceremony involving readings and prayers sensitively recited by PLC Sydney students. The Senior Pipes and Drums marched onto Drummond Field joining the Wind Ensemble to provide beautiful, solemn, reflective music.

Thanks and congratulations must go to all involved in commemorating such an important event.

Lest we forget.

Mr Philip Harper

Director of Performing Arts, Coordinator of Bands

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60 SECONDS WITH ...

MR ADAM ROTHWELL Junior School Teacher Where did you start teaching?

The Scots College.

Have you always been a teacher or have you had other careers before teaching?

I spent a decade as a sommelier, winemaker and restaurant manager.

What led you to a career in education?

I had always anticipated going into teaching at some point.

Some of my greatest heros are teachers.

What has been your greatest challenge in the classroom?

Getting students to believe in themselves.

What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?

That each and every day brings something new, fun and rewarding.

What do you find most rewarding about teaching?

Helping to build students self esteem, confidence and belief in themselves.

Do you have a most memorable career point to date?

Splitting my pants on the handball courts in front of about a hundred students. I have never seen them laugh so hard!

Who has been your greatest influence?

Marcus Aurelius and Jo Lukabyo.

"I had always anticipated going into teaching at some point. Some of my greatest heros are teachers."

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

What is your motto in life?

There's nothing wrong with getting knocked down, as long as you get right back up.

Do you have any interests/hobbies?

Fishing, camping, cooking—anything outdoors!

MRS VERONICA TRAINOR

Have you always been a teacher or have you had other careers before teaching?

Most of the work I’ve done has involved some sort of teaching. I’ve been an outdoor education instructor and worked at a migrant resource centre helping adults and students with English language skills.

What led you to a career in education?

To be honest, I hadn’t planned on becoming a teacher. I spent my childhood observing my Italian-teacher mother spending hours prepping and marking student work and thought it looked too hard! It was actually part way into my Masters degree that changed my mind. I was taking a hefty reading course that covered almost the full body of work of author Patrick White.

At the start of the course a fellow student gushed, “He’s changed my life!”

Being young and cynical, I remember rolling my eyes a little at the time. But then, somewhere in the middle of reading The Tree of Man, I knew that all I wanted to do was teach English. So I guess Patrick White changed my life too!

What has been your greatest challenge in the classroom?

Teaching English at a feisty rugbyfocused boys’ school was a challenging start to my career. Novels would frequently whiz around the room and fly out of windows. I learnt some hard and fast lessons about the importance of trying to capture the students’ attention and giving the lesson purpose.

What do you find most rewarding about teaching?

Spending days immersed in literature is a gift. Plus I love that the learning never stops. There are always new ideas to be found in familiar books and students are fantastic for stretching and challenging your thinking too.

You might walk in to the class room with a certain perspective in mind, but a robust discussion about language and ideas can always enhance your way of seeing, and change the direction of the lesson too. It can be really revitalising.

Who has been your greatest influence?

My father was a great influence in shaping my love of literature. He taught me to read before I started school and always gave me books as gifts.

He encouraged me to think about ideas and patterns that take shape in narratives. I still love calling him up to talk about the latest novel or poem that either of us is reading. My grandmother was also a strong force in my life.

She was a ferocious advocate for the rights of women, local indigenous communities and the environment, well ahead of her time. She encouraged us to use our voices and our words to help others. I remember a summer holiday with her, when she wouldn’t let me go out to play until I had written a letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to stop the damming of a significant river system. I still recall that letter, which opened with the indignation of a six year old; “Mr Prime Minister, imagine if you were a bird or fish…”

What is your motto in life?

Climb the mountain (both literally and metaphorically).

What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?

Do you have any interests/hobbies?

It’s such a privilege to be part of a student’s educational journey, where they are piecing together a sense of the world, and figuring out who they are within it.

Rock climbing has been a passion of mine for over 20 years. I love the physical and mental challenge it provides, as well as the chance to be outdoors. You get to experience

a different perspective of nature in a way that is both exhilarating and humbling. I also have a secret love of furniture upholstery. In a different way it’s also about problem solving; taking things apart to see how they fit together. Plus it’s incredibly satisfying to find an unloved, council clean-up chair by the roadside and bring it back to life.

"Spending days immersed in literature is a gift. Plus I love that the learning never stops. There are always new ideas to be found in familiar books and students are fantastic for stretching and challenging your thinking too."

ISSUE 13 / WINTER 2021

60 SECONDS WITH...

Director of Language and Literature

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IN PROFILE

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Hannah Moodie DIVING How old were you when you started diving?

Six years old.

How did you become involved?

My PLC Sydney gymnastics coach encouraged me to try diving.

Are you a member of a squad/ team and where are you currently training?

Yes, I am a member of the PLC Diving Club, run by Michelle Olsson.

What are some of the challenges you face with juggling school work and competing/training?

During the warmer months, I train on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. I try to do my homework on the bus or on the evenings I am not training.

What do you like to do when you are not competing or doing school work?

I love all sports—I play soccer, touch, hockey, basketball, tennis and martial arts. I like watching TV and bouncing on the trampoline. I am learning the bagpipes and the trumpet.

What do you think have been your biggest sporting achievements so far?

Winning four gold medals and the State Cup for NSW in Brisbane this year.

What is your greatest sporting ambition?

I would like to compete at the Olympics in diving.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

Michelle Olsson.

Keira Vincent SURF LIFESAVING How old were you when you became involved with surf lifesaving?

Eight years old.

How did you get involved and which events do you compete in?

I got involved due to my family’s long history within surf life saving. I compete on the beach in sprints, flags and relays.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

What do you like to do when you are not competing or doing school work?

I like surfing at the beach, catching up with friends, having a good meal and watching movies.

What do you think have been your biggest sporting achievements so far?

Winning gold in sprints and silver in flags for surf life saving.

What is your greatest sporting ambition?

Which club do you belong to and where are you currently training?

To wear the green and gold to represent Australia.

Wanda Surf Life Saving Club. I am currently training in the Sutherland Shire on the beach and track.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

What are some of the challenges you face with juggling school work and competing/training?

KEIRA VINCENT (YEAR 9)

HANNAH MOODIE (YEAR 5)

The challenges I face are studying for exams, homework and assignments.

Bree Masters (athlete), Davina Strauss (coach) and my parents.

"My greatest sporting ambition is to wear the green and gold to represent Australia."

19 Kendelle Tait HOCKEY How old were you when you started playing hockey?

Five or six years old.

How did you become involved in playing hockey?

My dad used to play when he was younger for the NSW men's teams and when he finished up his playing career he started coaching one of the Sydney men’s 1st grade teams.

So naturally he convinced me to switch from netball to hockey and I've been there ever since.

Are you a member of a squad/team and where are you currently training?

I am currently a member of the 2021 Jillaroos World Cup squad, which is an ongoing thing this year with camps held at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra. As well as that I am a part of Sydney Uni Hockey Club, where I play in the SWHL Metro 1 Competition. I also have a scholarship with NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS), so in conjunction with club training I spend most of my weeknights training with the NSWIS women's squad.

What are some of the challenges you face with juggling school work and competing/training?

I think one of the hardest challenges is finding the discipline to sit down and do schoolwork after major benchmark events and during heavy training blocks as I am often exhausted. Especially around Terms 2 and 3 where I have most of my major events, it can be hard to find the right balance between study and training as well as downtime so I can be mentally and physically fresh. I love my training so sometimes I forget that schoolwork is also a part of my life and I need to balance it.

They have heaps more experience than me playing at that higher international level and watching/learning from them inspires me to be better and follow their footsteps in a way.

A positive environment at training makes things so much more enjoyable and gives me motivation to continue to work hard at my game.

My dad as well has had so much influence on me as he has coached me from such a young age. I really want him to be proud of what I am doing and how I am progressing as a player and individual. As much as I don't want to listen to him sometimes, he has my best interests at heart and I look up to him a lot so I can be the best person I can.

My coaches inspire me as well. They have invested a lot of time and energy into my training, feedback and assisting me with their guidance. I want to be able to make them proud too and have them be able to see the improvements and my efforts to take on board all the feedback information they give me.

"I am one of five of the youngest in the squad, so it's a really great opportunity for me to learn and grow as a player as well as test myself against some really amazing players across Australia."

KENDELLE TAIT (YEAR 12)

What do you like to do when you are not competing or doing school work?

Besides the comfort of sitting in my bed and watching Netflix, I love hanging out with friends and socialising where I can.

What do you think have been your biggest sporting achievements so far?

Definitely one of my biggest sporting achievements yet is the Jillaroos U21s World Cup squad that I made early last year. I am one of five of the youngest in the squad, so it's a really great opportunity for me to learn and grow as a player as well as test myself against some really amazing players across Australia.

What is your greatest sporting ambition?

My greatest sporting ambition would have to be the Olympics.

I don't tell many people but from watching London and Rio I think the Olympics is a real goal and I would love the opportunity to be there in an environment with all the world's best. With the right training, feedback and support it can most certainly be achievable for me.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

I don't really have one single greatest inspiration but I take inspiration mainly from the people around me. In club and at NSWIS, the older players within the group I look up to a lot.

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IN PROFILE Heidi Shumack SWIMMING How old were you when you started swimming?

What do you like to do when you are not competing or doing school work?

I like inline skating, RipStik, cycling, tennis, playing double bass and reading.

Two years old.

What do you think has been your biggest sporting achievement so far?

How did you get involved in competitive swimming?

In 2019 I flew to Melbourne with my parents and represented New South Wales in the School Sport Australia National Championship where I competed in eight events. I was very excited to win two bronze medals, two silver medals and four gold medals.

When I was seven years old and in Year 3, I was training only one day per week and then I progressed and made the school state swimming finals.

I didn't win anything, but I was very proud that I made it to the state finals.

Are you a member of a squad/ team and where are you currently training?

PLC Sydney.

What are some of the challenges you face with juggling school work and competing/training?

What is your greatest sporting ambition?

I would love to represent Australia at the Olympic Games and win a gold medal for myself and for my country.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

Ian Thorpe.

I am a very busy girl and I don't have much free time, but I enjoy the challenges and enjoy the rewards.

Bianca Walton OPEN WATER SWIMMING How old were you when you started open water swimming?

I was four when I first swam but only took up open water swimming when I was 15.

How did you get involved?

My swim club encouraged me to swim in The Penrith Regatta.

Are you a member of a squad/ team and where are you currently training?

I am a member of the Auburn Swim Club training six days a week at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre.

What are some of the challenges you face with juggling school work and competing/training?

BIANCA WALTON (YEAR 12) PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

I must be disciplined and super organised to fit everything in. I also have to compromise my social life with my hard training.

HEIDI SHUMACK (YEAR 6)

What do you like to do when you are not competing or doing school work?

Go to the beach, hang out with friends and whip up something in the kitchen.

What do you think has been your biggest sporting achievement so far?

Making the Junior Worlds Open Water Championships Australian Team to compete in the Seychelles in August.

What is your greatest sporting ambition?

To represent Australia in the Olympics.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

My mum and my coach.

"I am a member of the Auburn Swim Club training six days a week."

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The Gateway and Hamilton building was opened in 2018. Photo by NBRS Architecture.

STORIES FROM THE ARCHIVES Brush up your principals—how well do you know our heads?

We hear their names daily, but what do you really know about our Principals? Test your knowledge by answering these 20 questions.

The answers are on page 22.

QUESTIONS 1. The first Pet and Doll Show was held during this Principal’s tenure.

2. This Principal grew up in the new federal capital, Canberra, where her/his father was with the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor’s Office.

3. The CV of this Principal includes teaching positions in Zimbabwe, Queensland, and the UK. 4. Not long into this Principal’s tenure, the RAAF requisitioned the campus.

5. The College’s first Master Plan was implemented during this Principal’s tenure.

school, led this Principal to plan for better facilities, especially in the science classrooms.

students through the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) program.

8. For a number of years this Principal was the head of two campuses, Croydon and Pymble.

15. This Principal introduced the House system and a modified version of the Dalton Plan.

9. Before taking up the appointment as Principal at PLC Sydney, she/ he taught at PLC Sydney, SCEGGS Darlinghurst and at schools in India and Hong Kong.

16. This Principal was the Principal of PLC Armidale before coming to PLC Sydney.

10. The pageant Under This Gum Tree, written and performed to mark the College’s jubilee year, was produced during her/his time as Head.

11. This Principal initiated the Transition Program.

12. The controversial departure of this Principal was reported in Smith’s Weekly.

6. This Principal had an interest in ancient coins and Egyptian artefacts and left the collections to the College.

13. Before coming to PLC Sydney, this Principal held a senior administrative position with the Independent Teachers’ Association, a union for the teaching profession.

7. The implementation of the Wyndham Scheme, instituting an additional year of secondary

14. During this Principal’s tenure the College first offered Cambridge IGCSE subjects to Senior School

17. This Principal worked for the YWCA in France before and in Tasmania after her/his tenure as Principal.

18. This Principal received a University Blue in Hockey and was captain of the NSW ski team.

WILD CARD QUESTIONS 19. As a child, this Principal was a model.

20. After leaving PLC Sydney, this Principal studied medicine and became a general practitioner.

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STORIES FROM THE ARCHIVES ANSWERS 1. Miss Eunice Macindoe (1946-1956)

2. Miss Freda Whitlam, 1958-1976

3. Dr Paul Burgis, 2011-Current

The Aurora Australis for 1953 reported that “During the second term the parents organised a Pet and Doll Show which was held at the School on 13 June. Dogs of all shapes, sizes and colours were led in the gates by the confident owners; little girls proudly displayed their beautiful dolls and the judges had a hard time selecting the prize winners. This function proved a great success both financially and for the fun it created.” Since 1962 the money raised from the annual Pet Show has gone to Guide Dogs NSW/ ACT; at the end of 2020, the funds contributed exceeded $558,000.

Miss Whitlam’s father, Harry Frederick (Fred) Whitlam, was the Assistant Crown Solicitor when Parliament opened for the first time in 1927.

His wife, daughter Freda, and son Gough (later Prime Minister) moved to Canberra in January 1928. According to Freda’s biographer, Noelene Martin, Canberra at that time was basically a construction site where the scattered houses and public buildings, separated by paddocks, were connected by unsealed roads and unpaved footpaths. Fred Whitlam was Australia’s Crown Solicitor from 1936 to 1949, and a pioneer of international human rights law in Australia.

In 1992 and 1993 Dr Burgis taught English, European History, and African History, as well as coaching cricket and football at Eaglesvale School in Harare, Zimbabwe. Between 1994 and 1996 he was the Deputy Principal at Hillcrest Christian College in Reedy Creek, Queensland. For two years, 2004 and 2005, Dr Burgis taught in the MA in Education Program at St Martins College, Lancaster University in the UK. His last position before becoming Principal of PLS Sydney in 2011 was Principal at Inaburra School in Bangor, in Sydney’s south.

Students at our World War II premises in Strathfield.

4. Dr Helen Isabella Wilkie, 1942-1945 The first Pet and Doll Show, 1953.

Donated by Margaret Dent (née Goodacre), student 1949-1961.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

The military authorities requisitioned the premises of PLC Sydney for the RAAF No. 1 RIMU (Radio (Radar) Installation & Maintenance Unit). Leaving the Croydon campus in mid-1942 was a sad time, but in a war-time spirit of friendliness and cooperation, we spent a harmonious 3 ½ years at Strathfield, sharing facilities with Meriden and renting additional premises. Students and staff returned to Croydon at the beginning of 1946.

5. Miss Patricia Dyson, 1978-1985

7. Miss Freda Whitlam, 1958-1976 The Wyndham Scheme, named after the Director-General of Education of NSW, mandated a comprehensive co-educational high school system for the State, added a year to secondary education, instituted the School Certificate examination after the first four years of secondary school study, and the Higher School Certificate at the end of six years. The Education Act was passed in 1961 and mostly implemented by 1967. At PLC Sydney, Miss Whitlam could see that the extra year would put great pressure on library resources and science facilities. Accordingly, in 1964-1965 a new Science block was built and in 1971 upper floors were added to it, and in 1971 a Library was built over the old (1938) gymnasium.

In 1981 the architects Cox and Tanner presented a Master Plan which the College adopted in 1985. Implementing the plan involved purchasing more land between the College and the railway line in order to construct new buildings (notably the multi-purpose hall now called Thompson Hall) and a playing field (Drummond Field).

6. Dr John Marden, 1888-1919

Miss Whitlam at the opening of the Freda Whitlam School of Science in 1998. Neil Billington, photographer.

Dr Marden probably began collecting ancient coins around 1909, as he hoped to establish a College museum. Between 1913 and 1915 several articles appeared in the Aurora Australis describing coins purchased. As for the Egyptian artefacts, a medical missionary in Cairo, Dr Maynard Pain, visited the College in 1909 and presented a tiny piece of the wrapping of the mummy of the Pharaoh of the Exodus to the College museum. In 1910 Dr Marden fulfilled his lifelong dream of visiting Egypt. We do not know, but it may well be that he met up with Dr Pain and that he was the source, or at least the conduit, for the acquisition of the Egyptian artefacts. In time the coins and artefacts were displayed in Room 8, one of the classrooms facing the courtyard. During World War II, when the Croydon campus was requisitioned by the RAAF, Mr Evans, the groundsman, was instructed to store the collections in a tin box and keep it in his home. The box was subsequently returned to the College and the contents now reside in the College Archives.

8. Dr John Marden, 1888-1919

9. Miss Eunice Macindoe (1946-1956)

In 1913 the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in NSW approved the establishment of a branch school at Pymble. Fifty acres of land were purchased and building started. The “Pymble branch” opened in 1916 with 48 day girls and 86 boarders. The two campuses were two separate schools under the one Council and Principal. The Pymble branch grew and assumed its own identity and in 1929 the two schools separated, each with its own Principal and Council.

Miss Macindoe’s association with PLC Sydney was nearly a lifetime.

She became a student when she was 8 years old; and her four sisters also attended PLC Sydney. She taught at her alma mater in 1926 and again from 1930 to 1932. In 1925 Miss Macindoe taught at SCEGGS Darlinghurst, and during the 1930s she served at schools in Hyderabad, India, Hong Kong, Victoria and New South Wales.

10. Miss Mary Hamilton, 1932-1941 The pageant was written by Miss Flora Eldershaw, English and Latin teacher and Senior Mistress from 1923-1941. It was written to mark the 50th anniversary of the College in 1938, the same year as the 150th anniversary of European settlement of Australia. Under This Gum Tree illustrated the phases of Australia life which may have been witnessed by the great gum tree in the garden.

The performance was given in the garden near the tree and every girl in the College participated.

An Islamic lamp from Dr Marden’s Egyptian Collection.

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STORIES FROM THE ARCHIVES 11. Dr William McKeith AM, 1986-2010 The Transition Program started in 1994. Two events led to its establishment. First, while on sabbatical in 1992 Dr McKeith visited Millbank Primary School in the small Scottish town of Nairn, in central Scotland, and saw their two special education units, one for children with specific learning difficulties and one for children who were severely disabled. Second, shortly after his return an ex-student with one daughter at the school, applied for her second daughter, a Year 7 student with intellectual disabilities received when she had had leukaemia as a baby and the chemotherapy had affected her ability to learn. At a specially convened meeting with the whole staff there was a unanimous decision to research the possibility of establishing a program that would suit the particular needs of this child.

Pupils in the first Transition Class, 1994.

12. Dr E Neil McQueen, 1920-1929 Dr McQueen’s initiatives at PLC Sydney were many: the House system, the school’s own school certificate, engaging Lindley Evans to teach music appreciation, a school camp, and a modified version of the Dalton Plan. But implementing his educational philosophy was seen by some as too progressive for its time and it put him on a collision course with the College Council.

Ultimately a “resignation agreement” was drawn up and Dr McQueen departed in December 1929. What made Speech Day such a “bun fight” was that Dr McQueen had many supporters amongst staff, students and parents who believed that his dismissal was unjust. The important end-of-year event was covered by Smith’s Weekly, a tabloid newspaper that attracted readers with sensationalism, satire, controversial opinions with sporting and finance news, short stories, cartoons, and caricatures. The paper utilised a series of colourful headlines in its account: “Parents of Girls are Indignant”, “Storm at P.L. College, Croydon”, “Petitions against Departure of Popular Principal”, and a lead sentence that read, “Church educational circles in Sydney have recently been ruffled by the disclosure of what is tantamount to a sensation in connection with that exclusive scholastic institution, the Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Croydon”.

13. Dr William McKeith AM, 1986-2010

Before coming to PLC Sydney Dr McKeith also taught at Newington College and at Chevalier College in Bowral.

14. Dr Paul Burgis, 2011-Current PLC Sydney first offered the option of Cambridge International courses in 2015 to students in Years 9 and 10. Currently, pupils may elect courses in Computer Science, Global Perspectives, History, Physical Science, and AS Level General Studies (a Year 11 course). The Cambridge program enables students to sit examinations in globally recognised courses.

A Vicars House pennant. Mr Robert Vicars was Chairman of College Council 1929-1931. Donated by Phyllis Gillooly (née Grounds), student 1925-1929.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

15. Dr E Neil McQueen, 1920-1929

16. Dr Helen Isabella Wilkie, 1942-1945

17. Miss Mary Hamilton, 1932-1941

In 1924 the School houses were organised. The senior ones were eventually called Kinross, Harper and Ferguson after the first Chairmen of the College Council, and in 1927 the junior houses were named Vicars and McQueen. As the College grew, new houses were added: Anderson in 1968 and Pickard and Wilkie in 1995.

Dr Wilkie, Scottish by birth, earned her MA, DipEd and PhD from Edinburgh University. She came to Australia aboard the SS Jervis Bay in 1937 and took up her position as Principal at PLC Armidale in 1938. Four years later she successfully applied for the position of Principal at PLC Sydney.

In the late 1920s - early 1930s Miss Hamilton spent four years living in France studying phonetics and doing educational work with the French YWCA. At the end of 1941 she left PLC Sydney and joined the war services of the YWCA with the Australian Military Forces and was Senior Representative and then Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Tasmania. Her work took her into remote settlements.

18. Miss Patricia Dyson, 1978-1985 Miss Dyson received her BA and DipEd from the University of Sydney and her MA from Macquarie University.

Although her academic achievements were in Mathematics, she received her University Blue in hockey and was a NSW women’s ski champion and captain of the NSW women’s ski team.

WILD CARD QUESTIONS 19. Dr Burgis 20. Dr McQueen

Thompson Hall (completed in 1987) and Drummond Field (opened in 1989) were part of the First Master Plan adopted when Miss Dyson was Principal.

Ms Debby Cramer

Archivist

A scene from Under This Gum Tree, performed in 1938 to mark the 50th anniversary of the College.

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SPACE MAKERS: PLC SYDNEY SKY PATH

"Six new classrooms and link bridge between the McQueen Science Labs and the Macindoe Research Centre on Level 2." Beyond this physical description of the project, the architects, NBRS, have found their inspiration in reflection...

Reflection is the return of light or sound waves from a surface. A thought, idea or opinion formed as a result of meditation. In classrooms we learn and discuss ideas. In transit between classrooms we reflect. Sometimes internally and sometimes we bounce ideas with peers the same way light bounces off a surface. This forms an image, a new idea, an understanding.

The image reflected by the Sky Path is the tower of Shubra hall and surrounding gardens. Views towards the past inspire us to become light to the world into the future.

"We make and occupy spaces for purposeful activities. As with all our new building developments at PLC Sydney, we rethink and recalibrate our approach to learning and our physical spaces.

We embrace recent trends, where research highlights the connection between school design, physical learning spaces and their positive impact on teachers' pedagogy, student engagement and therefore student learning outcomes. Environmental sustainability and the integration of enhanced Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) within the school setting are also vital to create conducive environments where active learning can occur. The significant link between quality teaching and the effective use of the spaces in which we teach, supports our longer term vision for each teacher to have their own individual space/ room so they can create effective and positive student-centered learning environments.

https://youtu.be/YeObokLSVNQ

At PLC Sydney we continue to design and enhance our school buildings to meet the needs of our twenty-first century learners, so that we facilitate flexibility in both teaching and learning."

Dr Paul Burgis

Principal, PLC Sydney

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

- GIVE TODAY In 2021 we are seeking your support to build six new classrooms in the ‘skyway’ between the Science Labs and the Macindoe Research Centre on Level 2.

Your generous support will also assist us to upgrade classrooms and facilities in the Freda Whitlam Science Building and Amphitheatre.

Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.

CHARIDY.COM/PLCSYDNEY

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EX-STUDENTS’ NEWS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Sometimes sacrifices are not voluntarily made, as we have seen throughout the pandemic. As one example, some of our PLC Sydney international students have not seen their families in over a year. They have had no choice but to sacrifice seeing their families for the wellbeing of others. This is heartbreaking as we all know how important family and support networks are, especially during high school. I ask all ex-students to keep our international students in your thoughts and prayers, and we hope for a swift yet safe return to international travel so they can reunite with their loved ones.

I always become reflective - more than usual, at least - at this time of the year.

Easter and ANZAC Day in April, followed

by Mother's Day in May, are poignant reminders for me of the notion of sacrifice. When Christians celebrate Easter, we give thanks to Christ for His ultimate sacrifice. On ANZAC Day, we pay our respects to our service women and men for the human sacrifices they have made and continue to make for our freedoms, recognising that their sacrifices often have long-term effects on their lives beyond their time in service. On Mother’s Day, we celebrate our mums and mum-figures, with us and in our hearts, for the sacrifices they make for our families. These three events embody sacrifice for family, our country, and humanity.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

When I reflect on my own life, while the sacrifices I have made do not come close to these, I believe it is important not to dismiss them just for this reason. As a woman, along with other ex-students, we are all too familiar with personal and professional sacrifices, usually for the sake of others - children, family, colleagues.

This did not become apparent to me until my husband and I welcomed into the world our beautiful son last year.

As someone who has always enjoyed working, I had not prepared myself for the change in my life from full time work to full time motherhood. Throughout the year, I have felt this strange sense of guilt, like I was not "contributing" to our household because I had previously measured that in financial terms. With the insight from my husband and parents, I realised this was a narrow view on my role in our family. I have made a professional sacrifice, setting back my career trajectory, to not only simply care for our son but also to spend quality time with him and enjoy him every day.

My mum made the same professional sacrifice to raise her children and continues to sacrifice her personal and professional commitments as she cares for my son while I am at work on reduced hours, and help out every other day too! Her ability to sacrifice knows no bounds, especially for those she loves. These women should be celebrated. Given my PLC Sydney education, I am not someone who is short on things to say(!) but I genuinely find it difficult to articulate the words of gratitude for my parents and their ongoing sacrifices for me, and now for my own young family.

Many of our ex-students have their own families and many do not.

Regardless, a woman's sacrifice is not solely characterised by motherhood - in spite of the binary the media enjoys perpetuating, that being the only sacrifice women make is between raising a family and progressing in their careers. This is so frustrating in its inaccuracy. With the current discourse and anger around the gender pay gap in Australia and abroad, it is clear women have been sacrificing a lot specifically within their professional lives for career advancement, as they are overlooked for promotions and sacrifice salary increases to ensure their job security.

The very fact that maternity leave is typically longer than paternity leave reinforces this. It is upsetting to think that many of our ex-students would know this situation all too well.

A woman’s decision between family life and career, whilst common, is certainly not reflective of all women and especially our ex-student community.

Many of us are not necessarily caring for children, instead perhaps, caring

for elderly parents or relatives with a disability. This unpaid work epitomises sacrifice and we do it out of love, but like a lot of womens' work, it is not remunerated.

My best friend, who is also an exstudent, is a nurse – like many of our ex-students. The main purpose of her job is to save the lives of critically ill babies. I often think about the sacrifices she and her colleagues make, emotional and physical, and needless to say, financial. The sacrifices they make, on top of long and inconsistent shift hours, are sacrifices I could not possibly make.

And yet these heroes in our society are not remunerated like those of

ESU COMMITTEE AND OFFICER BEARERS 2021 Patron: Gwendoline Bosler (Stuart, 1949) President: Mia Joseph (Ilias, 2009) Vice President: Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978) Vice President: Edwina Hobson

us in the professional services when, ironically, they are the ones saving lives – not us.

ambitions, but also to celebrate and acknowledge what our ex-students do every day and the sacrifices we make.

In my role as President of the ESU, I am conscious of the balance of our events and support we give to ex-students. We have a lot of interest and participation in our careerfocused initiatives, which is terrific to see, but we also must recognise that careers do not define all of our ex-students’ lives, whether by choice or circumstance.

Our ex-student community is diverse in their pursuits, and our activities need to reflect this.

Our ESU serves not only to celebrate our ex-students’ professional achievements (of which there are many) and support our career

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Mia Joseph (Ilias, 2009) Ex-Students’ President

2021/2022 EX-STUDENTS’ COMMITTEE Founded in 1905, the Ex-Students’ Union was originally formed by a dedicated group of alumnae to raise funds for the building of the Marden Library, in honour of our first Principal Dr John Marden.

Today, the Ex-Students Committee is a volunteer group with ex-students representing most decades of the College's history. The Committee provides advice, counsel and financial support, working closely with the College to create new opportunities to re-engage ex-students with the school, fellow classmates, and the extended PLC Sydney community.

Please contact esupresident@plc.nsw.edu.au for more information.

(2015) Secretary: Elizabeth Gregory (Cornish, 1961) Treasurer: Johanne Stapelfeldt (1978) Vice Treasurer: Megan Carrillo (Hor, 1998) Committee Members: Rae Gower (Hoore, 1949) Sara Keli (Thorp, 2001) Lesley Meldrum (Morgan, 1955)

ESU NEWS

Robyn McBride (Hailey, 1976) Ann McDonald (1965) Director of Alumni Relations and Committee Member: Philippa Zingales (Harris, 1998)

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ALUMNI ANNOUNCEMENTS ENGAGEMENTS November 2020

9.4.21

Bridget McCarthy (2011) and Josh Stanton were engaged on their four year anniversary, as they walked to a romantic dinner at Barangaroo House.

They are planning an April 2022 wedding at Royal Randwick.

The engagement of Linda Chehab (2018) and Adam Nachabel was celebrated with family and friends in a winter wonderland themed party, which was inspired by their first meeting on a snow trip in 2016 when they were 15 and 17 years old.

As the bride-to-be shared, “We’re still so young and with being engaged comes with so much responsibility and maturity. In the end it’s so worth it when you know you want to spend the rest of your life with the person you love most.”

WEDDINGS 26.1.21 Elise Holden (2009) married Ben Monaghan at Melross Farm, Kangaroo Valley in front of 130 guests.

After a couple of postponed dates, Ben and Elise were so happy to have the day finally arrive. The heat of the summer day (they were lucky enough to have had some cloud cover for the ceremony) was perfect for a glass of celebratory champagne, lawn games and dancing the night away. The bridal party included Elise’s brother - the Bridesman - who had safely made it back from America in time, along with Kate Emery (Murphy, 2009) and Lauren Elliott (2009) - the bride’s long time PLC Sydney best friends.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

BIRTHS

8.01.21

26.01.21

Natalie Lambert (Ayash, 2000) and husband Tristan, welcomed Lara on the morning of 8 January - forever etched into their hearts and minds. Lara will be retold her birth story when she is old enough to appreciate it, emphasising the doctor who safely brought her into the arms of her longing parents. Mum and Lara share the same middle name of Joy.

Ellie Biebel (Cubis, 2007) and husband Jonathan welcomed a daughter, Araminta Evelyn, on 26 January. Minty was born at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California and weighed 7lbs 11oz at birth. Minty is Ellie and Jonathan’s first child and can’t wait to meet family in Australia soon!

12.02.21

11.03.21

Megan Carrillo (Hor, 1998) and husband Fabio welcomed Ignacio (Iggy) Andreas Carrillo Alonso on 12 February, at 3.36pm at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Iggy is grandchild number 10 for Megan’s parents.

Claudine Cornall (Gibson, 1999) and her partner Jhi welcomed baby Ella Madison Cornall on 11 March. Her big brother Oliver was very excited to welcome her into the family as you can see in the photo.

ISSUE 13 / WINTER 2021

ESU NEWS

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DEATHS Since the last edition of Camphora Magazine, we have been advised of the passing of the following exstudents and valued members of our community.

29.03.21 Helga Pettitt Helga was the wife of Council member, Gordon Pettitt, and a long time supporter of the College. Her daughter is Yvonne Fleming (Pettitt, 1976) who attended the College from Branxton.

09.03.21 Margaret Anne Hayes (Battye, 1949) Margaret began at the College in 1939 as a Day Girl. During her time as a student, she knew three Principals: Miss Hamilton, Dr Wilkie, and Miss Macindoe.

She attended the College in Strathfield during World War II when the school was relocated after the Croydon campus was requisitioned by the RAAF for radar purposes. She was at the “official return” to Croydon ceremony in 1947. Her sister Florence also attended the College.

27.04.21

June 2021

Judy Baird Judy was the first school counsellor at PLC Sydney and we knew her as a “gentle counsellor” and a “gorgeous person". Judy related very well to staff as well as students. After she finished at PLC Sydney, she was a counsellor with NSW Police, debriefing police after major incidents. Judy and her family were active in St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Manly. Judy was involved in the establishment of the Transition Class.

We thank God for her service at our College and her care of our students.

Mary Ablaza (2005) Mary was a valued student in our our Transition program and a very talented artist.

2.05.21 Diane Rolls (Honnor, 1958) Diane attended the College from 1956 until 1958, completing the Leaving Certificate. She received a Pocket in 1957 and 1958 for Athletics and was in Ferguson House.

VALE NANCY ATKINSON (McCredie, 1946) Nancy attended the College from 1940 to 1946 (through World War II) and was a highly regarded, admired and dedicated ex-student.

One of three sisters to attend the College - Isobel, Joan and Nancy McCredie, were all very involved students. Nancy and Joan both served the College as School Captains, and Isobel as a Prefect.

In 1946, Nancy was School Captain and as testament to her sporting prowess, also Harper Captain, and Captain of Basketball, Tennis and Swimming. She was also Captain of Junior School’s Thompson House in 1942.

Following school, Nancy returned to PLC Sydney as a PE Teacher and Boarding House Mistress, from 1951. She maintained strong friendships with fellow PLC Sydney girls Doranne Dobbin, Rosemary Neville, Patricia Sharp, and returned to the College for Jersey Day and The Croydon Circle luncheon almost every year.

Nancy passed away in March 2021 and we will miss her laughter and presence in our lives.

Vale Nancy.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

2021 Elaine King (Watts, 1953) Elaine attended the College from 1948 (Year 7) until the Leaving Certificate in 1953. Her mother Doris Watts (Horsfall) was a day student in 1915 and her daughter Florence attended as a Boarder.

VALE

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MRS JENNIFER CLARKE Mrs Clarke will be familiar to many ex-students as she was Mistress-in-Charge of Branxton from 1976 until 1980, and then Mistress-in-Charge of the Junior School from 1981 until 1987.

Her three daughters attended the College: Meredith Long (Clarke, 1983), Genevieve Clarke (1987) and Eloise Clarke (1987). We thank Mrs Clarke for her years of dedication and service to our students and the College.

ESU NEWS

Vale Jennifer.

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SAVE THE DATE The College and Ex-Students' are pleased to provide a wide range of event programming to foster connection between PLC Sydney's ex-students, the school community, and friends.

From signature events such as the annual Reunion and Jersey Day Celebrations; business and networking events; to social opportunities like the Archibald Tour Series and the Croydon Circle Luncheon, we look forward to welcoming ex-students back to Croydon, whether in person or virtually.

Visit plc.sydney/exstudentevents2021 for the latest information and to book.

The College 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 according to government recommendations and regulations at the time of the event. All events are subject to change.

REUNIONS IN 2021 This year on Jersey Day we will be celebrating: 1951: 70 Year Reunion

1991: 30 Year Reunion

1961: 60 Year Reunion

2001: 20 Year Reunion

1971: 50 Year Reunion

2011: 10 Year Reunion

1981: 40 Year Reunion

2016: 5 Year Reunion

Encourage your classmates to update their information with the college to ensure they receive an invitation.

INTERSTATE CONTACTS ADELAIDE

REUNIONS: 2000, 2010 & 2015 Saturday 14 August, 3.00pm to 6.00pm, Tickets $40.00

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

Class of 2000 - 20 Year Reunion Class of 2010 - 10 Year Reunion Class of 2015 - 5 Year Reunion

BRISBANE

ARCHIBALD EXHIBITION TOUR / MORNING Thursday 19 August, 9.30am, Tickets $60.00 Art Gallery of New South Wales

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

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

GOLD COAST CROYDON CIRCLE ANNUAL LUNCH Tuesday 12 October

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

MELBOURNE JERSEY DAY Saturday 20 November, 2.00pm to 4.00pm

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

NEW ENGLAND/NORTHERN DISTRICT

STAY IN TOUCH UPDATE YOUR DETAILS TODAY Did you know that our ex-students are a powerful network of women around the world?

Stay connected in the following ways: www.plc.nsw.edu.au/alumni/stay-in-touch facebook.com/groups/PLCSydneyExStudents @plcsydneyexstudents linkedin.com/school/plc-sydney

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Helen Loveday (Kinross, 1951) (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 If you would like to volunteer to coordinate a reunion or be the key contact for ex-students in your area, please contact the Ex-Students’ Office on 02 9704 5635 or exstudents@plc.nsw.edu.au for more details.

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CELEBRATING PLC SYDNEY ACROSS GENERATIONS

This year almost every era from the College's history was represented. One family has a five-generation connection to the school, dating all the way back to the 1920s - quite amazing!

ESU Ambassadors Chloe Houseman (Year 12) and Yasmine Sulyok (Year 11) spoke about their family connection to the school and their first memories of starting at PLC Sydney.

Grandmothers, mothers, aunts, cousins, godmothers and of course, sisters, enjoyed breakfast in the Macindoe Seminar Room and had the opportunity to meet with families from the College who share similar long-standing connections.

LEGACY RING Every time you wear this classic piece of jewellery, it will be a physical reminder of your connection to the College and history as a "PLC Sydney girl".

Custom made to order in the highest quality Sterling Silver with a high-polished rhodium-plated finish, each ring is engraved with your year of graduation and presented in a crested gift box. Each ring is $130 inclusive of GST, and a portion of the sale of each ring will be donated back to the College.

To place your order please contact the Ex-Students’ Office.

ESU NEWS

The annual Generations Breakfast hosted by the PLC Sydney Ex-Students is a wonderful opportunity for the College to come together to recognise the deep family connections with our community.

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QUEENSLAND REUNION A group of Queensland ex-students got together after a long delay due to the COVID-19 situation.

Five women: Jane O’Hare (Proven, 1970), Jan Porter (Pigott, 1970) from Toowoomba, Jenille Ball (Campbell, 1968), Trina Hawkins (Campbell, 1970) from the Sunshine Coast catch up annually, and it was a pleasure to welcome a new, yet familiar face, to the group - Helen Shephard (Rudling, 1967). Helen knew Jane from all those years ago as she was friends with Jane’s older sister, so lots of memories were shared. We hope next year more of our QLD ex-students are available to join us for lunch.

Trina Hawkins (Campbell, 1970)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA JERSEY DAY It was wonderful to finally be able to get together after Covid-19 sent us all into lockdown last March. We all met at Dux Restaurant in Como, Perth.

Whilst the main topic of conversation was our 2020 year, being in lockdown, it was still a very friendly day, and for some, a very welcome catch up with old friends.

We also had two new ex-students which was wonderful, hopefully we will see them again at next year’s event.

Next year is our 40th year as a group, with Heather Wilson leading us for 35 of those years. I am sure we will be able to make it a very special day.

Apologies came from Heather Wilson (Ainsworth, 1951), Mary Hookey (Holder, 1974), Barbara Barton (McMurchie, 1948), Sue Morris (Andison, 1967), Margaret Hester (Ainsworth, 1957), Marjory Ikin (Hutchinson, 1958) and Katrina Downes (Campbell, 1987).

We did miss seeing our usual stalwart Mrs Lesley Meldrum (Morgan) who was unable to travel this year.

Kay Ralph (Teasdell, 1970)

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Clockwise around the table: Alison Bird (Turner, 1957), Diana Lim, Moya 'Min' McLaughlin (Smith, 1970), Julia Hewson (Webster, 1968), Anne Lawson (McConnell, 1960), Alison Cull (Bennett, 1956), Pene Wood (Longshaw, 1964), Diane O’Flaherty (1962), Ros Kruger (Bonnette, 1964), Kay Ralph (Teasdell, 1970) and Sylvia Mills (1968).

CLASS OF 1960 CELEBRATES 60 YEARS SINCE SCHOOL

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It was a pleasure to welcome back the Class of 1960 to celebrate their 60 Year (plus 1) Reunion on 22 May. Originally scheduled for March 2020, this reunion is the first held at the College since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The much-anticipated 60 Year reunion took place on a lovely sunny day in May, and we welcomed 25 ex-students back to school.

A tour of the College featured a surprise science class with ex-student and Junior School Science Teacher, Mrs Annie Martin, whose mother Jennifer Leckie (Wilson) is in the 1960 finishing class.

A three-course lunch was held in College Hall and included an opportunity for friends unable to attend in-person to chat with classmates via Zoom. Kerry Chater and Kaye Brown were instrumental in organising a special book of recollections from the year – created during the height of the pandemic, as the class shared memories of their school days over email when their original reunion was cancelled over a year ago.

ESU NEWS

As always at a reunion of good friends, the highlight of the day was the conversation and laughter. It doesn't seem to matter how long it's been since you've seen friends or been back to school - once a PLC Sydney girl, you are always a PLC Sydney girl!

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CLASS OF 1970 REUNITES IN MARDEN

Maja Baska photo credit

On Saturday 5 June, the Class of 1970 reunited for their belated and rescheduled 50-year reunion.

The day began in College Hall with a tour of the iconic buildings and familiar gardens. The new extensions and facilities were highlighted by a sneak peek of the 2021 PLC Production of Joseph & the Technicolour Dreamcoat during final dress rehearsal.

After the tour, classmates enjoyed drinks and canapes in Marden and explored the archival displays reminiscing together over shared experiences and laughing as time seems to disappear as friends reconnected.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Dental Spot We are pleased to welcome a new dental practice to Croydon's Strand and it's even better to know it's a PLC Sydney family business run by ex-student Charlotte Raad (2010) and her husband Anthony Adaimy.

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• Determination and ambition (having a strong desire to make your dream a reality.)

• Confidence (being confident in yourself and your abilities, and a strong desire to keep learning to stay on top of your profession).

Congratulations on your new practice location - please tell us a little about Dental Spot.

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

Thank you, we are incredibly proud of our new premises and are so excited to be part of the Croydon community. When we opened Dental Spot over 10 years ago, we had a vision of opening a complete service dental clinic, a ‘one stop shop’ for all of your dental needs, without it feeling like a medical clinic. We believe we have achieved this with our beautiful new Croydon clinic. Dental Spot is a boutique dental clinic with a dynamic team of dentists, dental hygienists, dental prosthetists, dental assistants, dental technicians and receptionists.

Visit www.dentalspot.com.au for more information.

Do not be afraid to fail. Be confident in your product/service and what separates you from other businesses. Remember that competition is healthy and it will drive you to do better.

Remember the importance of hard work.

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

Three skills needed to be a successful business owner include: • Honesty (having a strong desire to provide the best treatment to our patients. We know our patients are our future and we always keep in mind the bigger picture of running an ethical business.)

ESU CARD DAY 2021 What a very happy occasion this year’s Card Day was!

Everyone was so pleased to be out and able to enjoy meeting face to face after all the months of restrictions.

We did, however, miss seeing a few of our regular attendees and hope that there will be a chance to catch up with them again soon.

Thank you to all who attended and to Rae Gower, Elizabeth Gregory and Philippa Zingales for all their invaluable help.

Card Day for 2022 has been booked on Monday 21st March - please save the date!

Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978) ISSUE 13 / WINTER 2021

ESU NEWS

The card players very swiftly headed for their tables, whilst others enjoyed Backgammon, Scrabble and other board games. There was much chat over lunch which was served in the lounge area, so that everyone had a wonderful catch up on two years' worth of news. Libby Tugwell’s card stall and Lesley Meldrum’s gift stall, as well as Crested Ware from the College added to the day by providing an opportunity to even do a little shopping!

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EX-STUDENTS' SPOTLIGHT Lieutenant Sonia Clark is in charge of some of the biggest ships in the Royal Australian Navy, protecting Australia's borders. Her unique path to the Navy is a journey of building self-respect, some wisdom from Mum, and not judging anything (even the military!) by its cover.

If we look back at your time at school, when did you attend PLC Sydney, and what did you plan to do after school?

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I loved science. I thought possibly medical science or engineering. It turned out my marks in English and History were better, and we received our HSC results when I was on a school trip to Nepal. We had to keep international phone calls short as they were so expensive, and my brother convinced me to study arts/law that I’d just made the marks for at Macquarie Uni. Please briefly tell us what you did after finishing school?

I went to uni for a few years, but I didn’t do very well. I became incredibly shy after high school and struggled initially. When I ended up working and switching to uni part-time, it worked much better for me. I dropped out of law, finished my arts degree, and managed to get a graduate position in the Australian Public Service. I went back to law a few years later and finally became a solicitor before chucking it all in to join the Royal Australian Navy as a maritime warfare officer.

What does a typical "work" day look like for you?

Ha, I love this question! Being in the navy, virtually no two days are the same.

When I’m out at sea, we have a daily routine, and it’s nice that your home and workplace are one and the same no commute!

But I also do shift work at sea, which sometimes means working up to 12 hours a day, including through the night. I’ve spent many hours at sea being awake at some ungodly hour.

It can be tough sometimes but being PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

out on the ocean watching the sun come up knowing you’re keeping everyone safe is something quite special.

When the ship is in homeport, I usually work similar to office hours and do a lot of admin work and training.

What has been the proudest moment in your life so far?

Actually, this one is probably quite recent. Apart from getting into the navy (I’m not a physical person, so passing the fitness test was a very proud moment), I recently had the privilege of deploying to Fiji to help after the devastation caused by cyclone Yasa.

I was able to go ashore and help build temporary school facilities, and all the kids were so cute and everyone so grateful. We even received a letter from the island chief apologising for not being able to feed the troops as all their crops had been devastated. We definitely had enough food with us and had been supplying emergency rations to the islands, so that was very humbling.

Could you tell us about a mistake you have made and what did you learn from that mistake?

Not following my mother’s advice! It’s a bit hard to pick out one mistake; I’ve definitely made a few! Professionally I’m quite proud of my achievements, although the road has been long and windy. Personally, I think my biggest mistake was not having enough selfrespect or self-worth. That led me to investing time in people who weren’t good for me and was very draining. I think if I’d had more self-worth, I would have made some better decisions in my 20s! If only I'd listened to my mother, she believed in my worth, and she was right. It’s taken me a long time to value myself, and it’s still a struggle.

Sonia Clark (1998) Lieutenant, Royal Australian Navy, Principal Warfare Officer, HMAS Adelaide LHD-01

What's the most significant piece of advice you've received, and who shared it with you?

Just over ten years ago now, I was progressing my public service career really well, but I never felt right. I did an executive leadership course, and they tested my personality. I had great chats with one of the consultants who said ‘just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s good for you’ or words to that effect. I was good at my job but so drained. It turned out I wasn’t doing the right sort of job for my big sky thinking sort of brain. I was down in the data. The chats I had with those leadership coaches helped me dare believe that I could get out of my comfort zone and do something that was right for me. Without that, I would never have taken the plunge and joined the military.

If you could travel back in time, what would you say to your younger self at the age of 20 or 30?

You’re worth self-respect. Give yourself some. Do what you want to do, not what you think other people want you to do.

What tools (apps, books, podcasts, etc.) Or activities do you go to for inspiration/ideas/productivity/ balance?

I love the work of Brene Brown. Highly recommend watching her Ted talks. The idea of vulnerability in leadership really resonated with me. In my 20s, I tried to be the tough results-driven person, but my leadership style has changed since then. Being in the military, it would seem like an oxymoron to be vulnerable, but it isn’t. It’s the best kind of leadership I’ve seen and inspires people to come with you. I’m currently reading think again by Adam Grant -

If a younger woman asked you about joining the military, what advice would you give her?

Do it. The military offers so many wonderful opportunities for all people.

I had the benefit of coming into the organisation a bit more mature, but I must admit I'm sometimes jealous of the incredible careers ahead of those who join soon after school or in their early 20s. It’s rare to work for an employer who offers you so much variety through your career - not only in Australia but overseas as well. It’s also got the flexibility to allow you to have a family and continue your career, with excellent extras such as full health care coverage and great parental leave conditions.

That’s not to say it won’t be challenging.

There are ups and downs, particularly as a trainee when you are regularly out of your comfort zone. The female numbers in the military are everincreasing, and whilst it’s a traditionally masculine occupation, as a capable and compassionate individual, I have thrived in the organised. That’s not to say I don’t try and change things now and then, but usually, the blokes listen and are interested! My view is – the more women we have in the organisation, the less exceptional we are. The less exceptional we are, the less exceptional we have to be. I think that’s the ultimate goal, so we can just get on with the job.

It’s a big organisation, and each job is very unique and has its own challenges and rewards. I’m more than happy to talk to anyone who’s interested in a military career to provide an insider’s perspective. Whether it be looking to go to ADFA as part of an undergraduate program, gaining a trade, or joining as your second (or even third) career, there are quite a few options.

What are some misconceptions about working in the military that you wish other people understood?

They’re probably the same misconceptions I had. For me, it was that I would not be a good fit for the military, particularly the navy, as an older, professional (and gay) woman.

But the organisation is so very different.

It has values I strongly believe in, and it’s constantly working hard to be better and improve itself. Even in the eight years, I’ve been in, it’s changed a lot for the better. I joined the navy at 32, and they have given me every opportunity – to drive some of the biggest ships

and now in charge of some of the most expensive and leading-edge warfighting kit in the world. I’m trusted to defend the ship and keep everyone on board safe.

The trust placed in me is incredible.

The modern navy is not like the old school stories or probably how many people imagine it.

It’s a diverse, interesting organisation, full of some of the most intelligent and hardworking people I’ve ever met.

The work practices and atmosphere have often been so much better than my experience with previous employers (both government and private).

One of the greatest misconceptions is that when you are posted to a ship, you are out at sea for that whole time.

Most postings are about two years in length, and there’s a mix of what we call sea and shore postings (on a ship or in an office building). During your sea posting, you also spend plenty of time in homeport (for me at the moment, it’s Sydney) and get time for leave and respite. Seagoing trips can be anywhere from a few days to six months, with one of the great benefits (pre-COVID-19 of course!) Being the many wonderful ports you get to visit.

Anzac Day is coming up very soon what does this day mean for you?

My grandfather served in the Second World War. He was a quiet family man, didn’t like alcohol much and hated the drinking culture around Anzac day, so he never marched. I think that made me very conscious of what Anzac day should really be about - a solemn commemoration of often senseless death and suffering. For example, it’s still hard to fathom the number of men who died in the First World War as a proportion of Australia’s population at the time. There’s no other way to describe it than a great tragedy.

I still feel like a bit of an imposter when I march, or people thank me for my service. Although the work has been tough at times, with long stints away from home, I’ve never had to endure anything like what my grandfather did, and hopefully, none of us have to again.

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How has your education at PLC Sydney shaped the person you are today?

There’s something about all us PLC Sydney girls that’s hard to put a finger on. I think we’re all our own worst critics; we constantly strive to be better, which is often no bad thing. Sometimes we just need to step back and give ourselves a pat on the back every so often (and be vulnerable)!

I think my time at PLC Sydney helped engender good manners, some humility and the ability to talk to anyone wonderful life skills. No doubt it set me up academically and professionally too.

I didn’t always feel like a classic PLC Sydney girl, but now I realise there isn’t any such thing - we’re all individuals, but we all share that unique experience.

I feel very privileged.

Please share some of your most vivid, favourite or amusing memories from school.

I’m sure a lot of my amusing memories revolve around my (still) best friend Alicia Hambly (1998), and I doubt I’m alone in that feeling!

One of my most vivid memories was being on year 10 school camp; I was hanging in another cabin (past bedtime) and singing some rolling stones song at the top of my lungs, dancing away when one of our maths teachers, Ms Turnbull, walks in.

Everyone else scattered like cockroaches, and I’m there still singing and dancing away, not realising she was staring right at me until I turned around! Suffice to say; she was not amused (secretly, she probably was very amused!).

My other vivid memory was winning the music night for Kinross in year 8 with run to paradise!

Our modern society is so complex and diverse. I think Anzac Day is a critical part of an overall picture of who we are that starts with first nations peoples and includes all our new migrants forging a uniquely modern Australian identity. We should never forget the sacrifice of all Australians, either fighting for our country or fighting to make our country a better place.

ESU NEWS

all about rethinking, unlearning and relearning. I love the smiling mind app for short, simple guided meditation.

ISSUE 13 / WINTER 2021

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EX-STUDENTS' SPOTLIGHT Now based in Austria, Anne Tischlinger has traveled and lived around the world since graduating from school in 1970.

If we look back at your time at school, when did you attend PLC Sydney, and what did you plan to do after school?

My first experience of being in a formal group with other similarly-aged children was when I started school at age five at PLC Croydon in February 1950. Arriving at the old stables, I felt a certain amount of trepidation, in addition to the excitement of beginning at what I imagined would become my ‘home away from home’, for many years to come. I ended up with the Leaving Certificate at the end of 1960, my sister Robin in 1963, so there was a good deal of time to prepare for the future.

But plans? I remember Ms Keown conducting a short recorded interview with myself and my classmates in one of our final years, so I must have been a very immature 15-16 years old at that time.

I remember giggling with embarrassment at not having anything you might call a ‘plan’ and stammering out a few desperate words about ‘travelling’.

However, as our father (a GP & surgeon) expected us to get a university degree, travelling didn’t make much sense, as I certainly didn’t possess the wherewithal to travel at that young age! I have to confess I’d always been fascinated by the small print on Grandad’s medication, though, possibly indicative of an incipient interest in the effect of chemicals on living organisms.

Otherwise, my love of pineapple milkshakes led me for many years to believe that running a milk bar might just be the perfect profession...

Please briefly tell us what you did after finishing school?

So in 1961, I headed straight for Sydney University, but what was I to study? As I didn’t have a clue, ‘General Science’ seemed like the perfect option.

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

In the 1950s, there were no careers’ officers in the school. Other than Ms Keown asking for a show of hands one day regarding whether we hoped to go to university or not - my hand did not go up! - there was little in the form of career guidance.

At university, a new, exciting lifestyle resulted, with masses of extracurricular activities, boys and finally a Pharmacy degree, with Honours in Pharmacology.

Like many of us, I could write a book on where life has taken me since graduation in 1964, but, in a nutshell, I can say it’s dealt me pretty good cards and although my career path has been slightly wobbly between 1964 & now, 2020, it has roughly been: one year’s retail pharmacy for registration at age 21; two years establishing & running the Poison Information Centre at RAHC, Camperdown; a year and a half’s travel overland, from India to London (incl. a prolonged hospital stay in Esfahan, Iran, with hepatitis A), around Europe, and to Turkey and Israel; several hospital pharmacy stints at Guys and the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond St, London; a move to Vienna, Austria, in 1970, English-teaching at Berlitz; & after training in London and Canterbury, at a small school I set up in our home, catering for all ages; as well as editing of medical texts, translating (German-English) and coaching; and 24 years as the ‘English conversation teacher’ at the Vienna Japanese School; accompanied by family management; child-raising; travel to with Europe and to Australia, USA, China, Japan, Taiwan, Zimbabwe, Laos and Cambodia; and the founding and running of the first Austria-wide ADHD association with a team of locals and non-locals.

What does a typical 'work' day look like for you?

A typical day for me is sadly not what it used to be. I was diagnosed with Motor-Neurone Disease (MND) in

Anne Tischlinger (Alexander, 1960) Kinross House

2011 (aged 66). I was already retired at the time of my diagnosis; I am ‘lucky’ to have a slowly-progressing form. At 76, I’m still able to write emails or chat on FaceTime, walk, swallow and talk, occasionally see the grandchildren and our daughters in Vienna (SARS-COVID-2 permitting), and meet friends and former students using public transport.

What's the most significant piece of advice you've received, and who shared it with you?

Susan Cohen, my sister’s classmate and friend from PLC Sydney, probably gave me the most significant advice I’ve ever received when she suggested moving from London to Vienna in 1970.

Although learning German was a fairly traumatic experience and the local mentality impossible to embrace initially, this advice changed my life completely, in both positive and negative ways.

What has been the proudest moment in your life so far?

The proudest moment in my life had nothing to do with my career! I think there were two: the birth of our first daughter in 1976, when I’d been working in the entomology field (flies!) at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

The other proud moment was our second daughter’s birth in 1979, during six years of somewhat prolonged maternity leave (something nobody in this country [Austria] would do today).

If you could travel back in time, what would you say to your younger self at the age of 20 or 30?

If I could travel back in time to when I was about 30, I’d probably tell the young woman about to start having a family in Austria to visit her parents in Sydney more often! Only now, with one daughter living with her family in Tyrol, 4 1/2 hours by Railjet from Vienna, do I realise what it’s like not to have your grown-up child in regular, close, physical contact. My parents had to wait 12 years for me to visit!

How has your education at PLC Sydney shaped the person you are today?

When I was studying, a computer was a mechanical monster that played “Waltzing Matilda” in the Physics department at Sydney University we were thus computer-illiterate.

Physics was not taught to girls. If you chose Chemistry, then Biology was out for some reason. Hockey wasn’t offered because there had once been a fatal accident. Philosophy, politics?

Well, if you took history, then it was covered in some way. Art education?

I have no recollection because I couldn’t draw! Debating was non-existent.

WEBINARS PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE A win from the 2020 Covid experience has been the opportunity to expand our offering of careers events, to a virtual webinar series.

Tailored for current senior students and ex-students up to 5-years out of school, guest speakers candidly share how they decided to go into their chosen fields, what advice they’d give to a senior student considering their degree or career path, what they enjoy most about their work, how to establish a professional network and much more. Recordings of all Futures Webinars can be found via the Futures tiles on PLACES. This year we have held sessions focused on:

Some of us were lucky to have very gifted music teachers, and some had the chance to learn Latin. A Scripture teacher whose theological background knowledge was superb, and we had wonderful PE facilities and teaching.

• Information Technology featuring speakers Helen Angell, who is the Director of IT - Applications and Technical Services with Lion and Annaliese Rozvany (2014) who is an engineer with Atlassian.

The Principals, despite their idiosyncrasies, were impressive female role models.

• Financial Services featuring Sally Choi (2002), Head of Capital Strategy & Execution

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at Commonwealth Bank, Sacha Loukovsky (2003), Head of Insurance & Senior Adviser, Profile Financial Services and Jenna Labib (2009) from UBS, Equity Sales • Journalism featuring Natassia Crysanthanos (2012) Education Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. Her recent reporting includes her exclusive coverage of the historic consent petition, which demands better and earlier sex and consent education in schools for which she received a Walkley Award Nomination for Young Journalist of the Year.

• Psychology and Social Work with psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis (2009) and early childhood social worker Zainab Zaidi (2010).

• Law with Samantha Blundell (Lau, 1999), Head of Legal, Asia-Pacific, for Travelex, the world’s leading foreign exchange specialist and Alessandre Alonso (2013) a lawyer in Commercial and Public Sector litigation with Clayton Utz.

‘Responsibility’ and ‘caring’ were prominent terms that stood us in good stead for personal development in the years to come, no matter how deficient some aspects of our schooling may have been in the 1950s.

Anastasia Hronis

Zainub Zaidi

Samantha Blundell

Alessandre Alonso

Please share some of your most vivid, favourite or amusing memories from school.

The funniest scene in my school memories was the afternoon a clownish classmate got us all to ‘paint’ our front teeth with Vegemite to greet our teacher! Our hilarity was, needless to say, not appreciated!

ISSUE 13 / WINTER 2021

ESU NEWS

They encouraged us to develop strong personalities, even in those early times preceding sea changes in the lives of women.

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MADELEINE’S SIMPLE GESTURES Following a life-changing trip overseas, Madeleine Hill (2009) took a significant career risk, leaving in the middle of completing her Master’s Degree by Research in Design to embark on a career in environmental sustainability. In this interview excerpt, Madeleine shares how a career pivot has led her to establish a new online platform to encourage everyone to make sustainable choices in their homes.

“In 2012, I was studying Design in Photography and Situated Media at UTS, and through uni, was exhibiting my work in Galleries around Sydney. A big part of the degree was critical thinking and exploring art history & theory, understanding various art movements and how they came to be.

This led me to landscape photography, and my research led me to environmentalism in art movements like the 1960s Land and Environmental Art, where artists would document themselves in changing landscapes, usually reflecting environmental and societal issues they were responding to. My Honours project focused on walking in the landscape and how walking had been used in movements like Land Art, to understand the history of a place and the issues that were occurring at those times. Like the Land Artists decades before me, I would document what I witnessed while walking in the landscape, though the issue I was faced with was a changing landscape as a result of

climate change. My research led me to find a strong link between how 1960s Land Artists and 18th-century literary figures (and philosophy such as that of Thoreau) approached and documented the natural landscape, often through walking.

This subject matter made me increasingly aware of my environmental footprint, and I found the awareness started permeating every area of my life. I questioned how I could improve and do things differently.

Last October, I founded Our Simple Gestures, an online platform that provides tools and resources to help people minimise their environmental impact by forming sustainable habits and making more informed choices in their homes. I had the opportunity to work on this project through the C40 Cities Women4Climate mentorship program.

Our Simple Gestures was two years in the making, and I was thrilled to launch it thanks to the support network of the wonderful group of women (20 mentees with 20 mentors) I met through the mentorship program.

Read Madeleine’s full story at www.plc.nsw.edu.au/alumni/spotlight

After Honours and before I started my Masters, I took a year off and travelled all over Europe and Central America. Taking a break from academia had me rethink my design path, and made me realise I wanted to focus my work on climate change and sustainability. After a year of giving the Masters a go, I took a leap of faith and left the program to pursue work in the climate change space.

Now I work with the Investor Group on Climate Change, a not for profit organisation in the finance sector working with super funds and other investment organisations to look at the impact of climate change on investment.

Madeleine Hill (2009)

OUR SIMPLE GESTURES TOP TIP FOR EACH ROOM OF THE HOME Kitchen Minimise food waste when cooking oursimplegestures.com/minimise-food-waste-when-cooking Bathroom Soap bars over bottled products oursimplegestures.com/shampoo-bars-over-bottled-products Living Room Start electronic (E) waste recycling oursimplegestures.com/electronic-waste-recycling Laundry Washing with cold water where possible oursimplegestures.com/cold-water-washes-over-hot-water

PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA

Bedroom Calculate the footprint of your wardrobe and clothing habits oursimplegestures.com/calculate-the-footprint-of-yourwardrobe-and-fashion-habits Learn more at oursimplegestures.com Contact hello@oursimplegestures.com @oursimplegestures

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SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER

YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED TO JERSEY DAY 2021 Jersey Day is the annual "back-toschool" day for all ex-students.

Return to Croydon for an afternoon of tours and refreshments, catching up with friends and remembering your days as a PLC Sydney girl.

This year we invite the classes of:

1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011 & 2016 to celebrate their reunions with us.

A full schedule of the afternoon will be announced in September.

Visit plc.sydney/jerseyday2021 Call 02 9704 5635 Email exstudents@plc.nsw.edu.au

PLCSYDNEYEXSTUDENTS FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/ PLCSYDNEYEXSTUDENTS

PLC Sydney takes the health and wellbeing of the school community very seriously. COVID-19 safety measures will be in place for all events in 2021 and will proceed in line with government recommendations and regulations. Events are subject to change.

ISSUE 13 / WINTER 2021

ESU NEWS

RSVP 1st November

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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