2021 Foundation Impact Report

2021 FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT

CONTENTS From the Principal

1

For Our Future

2

The Spirit of Ruyton

3

Impact of Giving

4

Dream Now

5

Making a Difference

6

Moreton Bay Fig Bequest Society

7

Listing of 2021 Donors

8

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Despite the obvious challenges of 2021, there was much to celebrate at Ruyton. Building on the culture of philanthropy nurtured over previous years, we had many successful fundraising efforts to the betterment of our school and its students.

Launching the Dream Now campaign to redevelop Royce Theatre and the Library, we raised over $300,000 in donations, and an additional $850,000 in pledges towards Dream Now. We are rightly proud of having secured over one million dollars in total towards this project to date. It is a significant milestone not only for the campaign but for Ruyton having never raised that figure in one year before.

In addition to the campaign, the Annual Appeal raised valuable funds for the Founder’s Scholarship and the Henty Excellence in Teaching Fund. Every single donation makes a difference in the lives of our girls. I personally know of two recipients of a Founder’s Scholarship whose lives have been transformed due to the benefits of a Ruyton education and the opportunities it provides.

Gifts in will are essential to the Ruyton Foundation in ensuring our future and we were delighted to receive an additional bequest last year. Unable to gather our confirmed bequesters together as the Moreton Bay Fig Tree Society due to COVID, we are looking forward to hosting our annual bequest luncheon this May. I sincerely thank the Ruyton community for its support of our wonderful school. Together we have shown that we can make a real difference to the lives of our girls.

Linda Douglas Principal, Ruyton Girls’ School

2021 Foundation Impact Report

1

FOR OUR FUTURE It is with genuine delight I report the Ruyton Foundation raised more than $307,000 in 2021.

Launching Ruyton’s biggest ever fundraising campaign to rebuild the performing arts and library precinct, the Dream Now campaign has a target of $3 million dollars. As the pandemic retained a grip on our lives in 2021, the Foundation adapted its onsite events for the campaign and moved them online. It proved a wonderful platform to share our plans for the future of our school; and we were thankful this important building project resonated with so many.

In addition to Dream Now, other areas of philanthropy across our school remained strong with the Foundation: • Building the Founder’s Scholarship and providing new opportunities for a young girl to receive a Ruyton education who otherwise could not.

2

ruyton girls’ school

• Launching the Henty Excellence in Teaching Fund and providing essential professional development opportunities for the teachers who influence the lives of our students.

• Coordinating Speech Night prizes and supporting a program directly funded by our community that celebrates the achievements of our senior students in their final years.

• Supporting the Rowing Association to buy a new squad scull and oars.

I encourage you all to look at page 4 of this report for a detailed summary of the giving in our community, and you will see the culture of philanthropy at Ruyton is alive and well. My sincere thanks to every one of you, in helping to make such a positive difference in the future of our school.

Peter Nelson Chair, Ruyton Foundation

THE SPIRIT OF RUYTON Working at Ruyton is a joy, and I often reflect how fortunate I am to have the privilege of building a culture of philanthropy within a connected, grounded, and positive community. There is no doubt in my mind that the Spirit of Ruyton may begin with the girls, but it flows into all that we do, and through our families too.

The Foundation enables us to build funds for the betterment of our school and the girls who enter our doors. Supported by a cross section of fundraising professionals and dedicated volunteers, the Foundation builds connection and engagement and ensures we can provide opportunities for all our students.

The Parents of Ruyton (POR) is another group that continually makes an impact. Whether it is organising a Christmas market, managing the Second-Hand Uniform Shop, or holding stalls for our girls, their work makes us a stronger community from within. We are so thankful for their tireless support and focus on making a difference every day.

We all know our students were challenged in a myriad of ways in 2021, and yet they were able to shine and show the Spirit of Ruyton. Living through the pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but perhaps children have had it the hardest.

Quickly moving from distance learning to onsite schooling and back again, moving performances online or pivoting to virtual fun runs required resilience, creativity, and positivity. Watching the girls perform their House cheers in Spirit Week was a beautiful example of how a ‘simple’ joy meant so much to students and staff in that moment.

Thank you everyone in our community who has made a difference. Whether a donor, volunteer, staff member or community member advocating for our school and the work it does, makes a difference. We all carry the Spirit of Ruyton.

Sally de Guingand Director of Community Engagement

2021 Foundation Impact Report

3

IMPACT OF GIVING 2021 TOTAL

103

54

14

6

23

6

NUMBER OF DONORS

CURRENT PARENTS

PAST PARENTS

STAFF

ALUMNAE

OTHER

*FOUNDER’S SCHOLARSHIP

*CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

$101,130

$145,035

HENTY EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING FUND

*AUSTRALIAN SPORTS FOUNDATION

$3,300

$33,835

*BUILDING FUND

$10,160

OTHER

(inc. Speech Night, Foundation, Yr 12 Gift, *Heritage Leaves, COVID bursary)

$13,500

*Tax deductible

SMALLEST DONATION

LARGEST DONATION

YOUNGEST DONOR

OLDEST DONOR

BEQUESTS

$20

$65,500

19YRS

93YRS

10

To date

DREAM NOW It’s Time to Dream Big It is time for Ruyton to dream big and Dream Now. With enormous appreciation I can say our community has already wholeheartedly embraced this concept. Our $3 million fundraising campaign for the Dream Now project was successfully launched in 2021.

The Dream Now project is named after Hilda Daniell, our longest serving and much-loved Principal (1913- 1952) who was fondly nicknamed ‘Dream’ by her students. Hilda wanted Ruyton girls to be real, and steered Ruyton soundly and strongly through two world wars, the Spanish flu and even a fire in Henty House. It is fitting we honour her legacy as we prepare for our future and dream big for the future of our current students and all those girls to come with the development of a new performing arts centre and library.

We would never have anticipated raising in excess of $1 million by the end of such a difficult year. Our intention was to share this important project with our community and hoped that the importance of what we were preparing for, would resonate with people. To know that members of our community could see the vision and understand the necessity of what we were doing for the future of Ruyton, is extraordinary and humbling.

With our community we can make this dream a reality for our future, just like it will make a real difference in the lives of our girls. Thank you to all that have listened and supported us on this journey to build a new home for the Spirit of Ruyton. It will benefit the community for generations to come and we welcome your support.

Sally de Guingand Director of Community Engagement

2021 Foundation Impact Report

5

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Growing an Elm Michael and Melinda Gray arrived at Ruyton in 2005 when their eldest daughter started her education in the Early Learning Centre; two more daughters have since embarked on the journey through our School from Kindergarten to VCE. For nearly 20 years the Gray family has immersed itself into the School community, giving back in many ways. Michael has provided multiple work experience opportunities; Melinda has volunteered countless hours with the parents’ association and the performing arts department. Everything they have done for Ruyton has made a difference.

With a strong sense of belonging to the School, Michael and Melinda feel their family has gained significantly from being a part of our community.

Being in a fortunate position to be able to support the Dream Now campaign, the Gray family’s legacy will now forever be remembered in the Dream Now building, through the naming of the black box theatre as the ELM Theatrette (E, L and M after daughters Eloise, Lucy and Miranda).

Empowering and enhancing the lives of countless Ruyton girls as they walk through the doors of the ELM Theatrette, Ruyton is incredibly fortunate to have families like the Grays. They will forever be embedded into our school, and we are so thankful for them.

Sally de Guingand Director of Community Engagement

6

ruyton girls’ school

MORETON BAY FIG BEQUEST SOCIETY Treasured Memories: Jane Teasdale (1957)

Members

Jane arrived at Ruyton in Year 7. Her parents moved to Melbourne when her father, Sir John Teasdale was appointed Chairman of the Australian Wheat Board. Jane thoroughly enjoyed her time at School and has many treasured memories and friends that she catches up with from time to time, interstate and in the past overseas.

Ashton, Micky (Marshall, 1965)

‘My time at Ruyton allowed me the opportunity to pursue my musical studies and my bequest to Ruyton reflects very much upon this fact. Miss Daniell was very supportive of my extra music studies. I loved my time at Ruyton and I feel so grateful to have had a wonderful education and to have made such wonderful, life-long friends. It gives me great pleasure to do this in the hope that another student will benefit.’

Lapcik, Wiktor †

a’Beckett, Sue Dean, Sally (1970) Griffiths, Fiona (1987) Kanat, Robyn (Bate, 1980) Smith OAM, Margaret (Ingram, 1965) Teasdale, Jane (1957) St Clair Crampton, Mary Hope † Verity, Nedra (Huston, 1947) † Kate Nixon Alumnae and Bequest Manager If you would like to leave a gift in will and join the Moreton Bay Fig Bequest Society please contact Kate Nixon on nixonk@ruyton.vic.edu.au 2021 Foundation Impact Report

7

LISTING OF 2021 DONORS Adams, Kathryn (Green, 1962)

Douglas, Linda

Ashton, Merrienne (Marshall, 1965)

Dundas, Annabel and Pole, Simon

Badger, Ann

Fan, Yu

Balderstone, Caroline

Fenton, Jane (2020)

Baron, Gabrielle and Wilmshurst, Peter

Fielding, Brenda (Rawnsley, 1965)

Bedford, Linda (Wilson, 1967)

Fon, Ben

Berold, Di

Gillam, Helen and John

Berry, Georgia and Simpson, Tom

Goonesekera, Dr. Tharanga and Athil

Bidmead, Nicole and David

Gough, Brier (1969)

Burgess, Dr. Megan and Senyard, Andrew

Graham, Bill

Caplan, Alyssa and Michael

Griffith, Renee and Brett

Casey, Beverley

Griffiths, Fiona (1987) and Osmond, Anthony

CHH Property

Griffiths OAM, Anne (1960)

Clarke, Margaret (Menzies, 1957)

Henderson, Heather (Menzies, 1946)

Clarke, Larissa and Anton

Holmes, Vanessa and Greg

Cleeve, Jennifer and Brent

Huynh, Joanne and Bernard

Cody, Sharon and David

Jayaswal, Shyama and Cooper, Robert

Condon, Annie and Cunnington, Mark

Jordan, Helen and Peter

Cook, Susan (Jarman, 1980) and Martin

Khouri, Demet and Jean-Pierre

Crosby, Fiona

King, Heather and Dr. John

Currie, Rebecca and Prof. Peter

Lam, Sim Ching and Ho, Chun Fai

Darling, Paula and Lee, Warren

Lei, Jiang and Shan, Jiarong

Davidson, Katie and Tristan

Li, Lily and Cen, Guangxu

de Guingand, Sally (1986)

Lin, Dr. Christine and Chee, Rayhann

Dean, Sally (1970)

Lipchin, Dr. Karen and Steven

Devlin, Karen and Davison, Stuart

Littlejohn, Dr. Tonya (1993)

Doufas, Angela and Chris

Liu, Lydia and Liang, Feng

8

ruyton girls’ school

We would like to thank all our donors in 2021 for making a difference today and those to come tomorrow Look, Lilian and Neoh, Julian

Sudharta, Dewi and Hariawan, Hariawan

Lucas, Margaret (Swan 1962)

Talbot, Samantha and Andrew

McLaughlan, Virginia

Timm, Gabriella and David

McLeod, Dane

Tinney, Laura (2018)

McMillan, The Hon. Justice Cathryn (1970)

Tran, Chi and Nguyen, Dr. Hieu

Menyen, Mira (2019)

Utter, Louise (Foletta, 1962)

Milne, Elizabeth (1980)

Van Bavel, Emma and Cartledge, Glenn

Mirabito, Anthony

van Haandel, Jennifer and John

Morberger, Meaghan and Frank

Walmsley, Belinda and Stephen

Morrison, Sally

Warne, Dr. Ellen and Andrewes, Dr. Frazer

Nelson, Natasha and Peter

Waters, Mia (2020)

O’Brien, Maeve

Webb, Jillian (Daniels, 1966)

Pan, Qi and Yang, James

Weeraman, Deepa and Dr. Ajith

Pang, Haijie and Huang, Fei

Williams, Jen and Roach, Andrew

Pantelidis, Felicity and Reece, Nicholas

Wills, Lee

Pei, Li and Guo, Guodong

Wintrust Pty Ltd

Perelsztejn, Diane and Rabinowicz, Les

Wong, Alice and Alfred

Peters, Tonya

Woolrich, Karina and Rev. Malcolm

Peterson, Dr. Deborah

Wray, Dr. Alison and Williams, Prof. Christopher

Phung-Lan, Ann and Lan, Sam Chiu-Wai

Yang, Yumei and Guo, Zhi

Robertson, Shirley (Wines, 1962)

Young, Enlighta and Mok, Matthew

Scerri, Belinda and Garcia, Alan

Zaparas, Irene and Apostolos

Sharples, Peter

Anonymous, (1)

Stanway, Jean (Berry, 1950) Stone, Chloe and Adam Streckfuss, Karen and Lardner, Simon 2021 Foundation Impact Report

9

ruyton girls ’ school

12 Selbourne Road Kew VIC 3101 Australia Tel +61 3 9819 2422 www.ruyton.vic.edu.au

@ruytongirlsschool