What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
WALDO EMERSON
RALPH
From the Principal
MS TONI RIORDAN PRINCIPAL
Welcome to the 2025 Autumn edition of Huddle. You will quickly discover a focus on sustainable growth which weaves between articles and across the pages of this much-loved St Aidan’s publication.
The theme of growing is one of our school priorities this year and in February, during our Academic Awards Ceremony at Brisbane City Hall, I shared with awardees, families, staff and students how I was trying to incorporate growing into my 2025. Since then, I have been pleasantly surprised by how many students, both very young and in their senior years of schooling, have approached me to talk further about my G.R.O.W framework, which I explained at the February event. You may find it useful too…
I have been giving considerable thought to what I could do to grow in my learning this year and I have produced a very simple framework to help me, which is based on the acronym – G.R.O.W.
Firstly, G is for gratitude.
Each day, I will tell myself at least three things in my life or just my day, that I am grateful for. When we start being intentionally grateful, we stop wanting more, wanting what others have, wanting possessions. When we stop our relentless pursuit of wanting things that we think will make us feel better, we give ourselves more space to focus on others and on the world around us.
And when we open more space, we open ourselves to opportunities for growth.
Next – R is for respect. Always, when we aim to respect all human beings, no matter if we know them or not, like them or not, feel different to them or not, in showing respect, we open our eyes to see, our ears to listen, our hearts to feel something that might pull us from our comfort zone and into greater understanding of people with whom we share our School and our wider world.
The third is O for ownership. We should all commit to owning our own learning. To take responsibility for our decisions, to own up to ourselves, when we catch ourselves blaming others for what is not going right for us. It is up to us and our own brains, our own minds, inner thoughts and discipline to better our chances for authentic learning and growth.
And the final element – W is for wellbeing. Like G for gratitude, O for ownership and R for respect, this is about us being intentional about our own wellbeing. This year, could we all address the important work of connecting what we want our brains and our bodies to do with the critical ingredients for growth? Connecting with food that nourishes us, connecting with the type of sleep that renews us and to recreation that ensures we do fun things, we spend time in nature – or at least outdoors - and spend social time with friends and family.
In 2025, as I aim to G.R.O.W, I hope you will too. By all means, try my framework, or better still, use your creativity and create your own, to give yourself the best chance to grow. Hopefully, this framework helps you nurture your potential, so that you can be the best versions of yourselves.
Our intent at St Aidan’s is to develop authentic, caring, confident, creative and connected women who value reason, imagination, truth, compassion and responsibility. Whether our girls and young women wish to be an astronaut, an ambassador or an accountant, a St Aidan’s student needs to know – not just think –but really know, deep down, that nothing will stand in her way. St Aidan’s helps to grow self-belief every day, in every way.
We grow in confidence and self-belief through collaboration, connecting, and doing things together - this is the St Aidan’s way to reach our goals.
Academic and Honours Awards Ceremony
MRS GERALDINE EBBRELL DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
Each year, we are proud to present our Academic and Honours Awards Ceremony — an event that not only honours academic excellence but also celebrates the growth and development of our students.
The 2025 Academic and Honours Awards Ceremony was our most significant yet, recognising a remarkable 441 students from 2024, a notable increase from 341 in 2023. This 29% growth in the number of awardees reflects the outstanding calibre of teaching and learning that defines our school. It is a testament to the dedication of our educators and the commitment of our students to strive for personal and academic excellence.
This year, we had the distinct honour of welcoming Cecile Wake as our Guest Speaker. A past parent, visionary leader, and former Chair of the School Council, Cecile brought with her an inspiring story that moved all in attendance. As a global executive with more than 25 years of experience in oil and gas project development, and a former corporate lawyer, she is also an elite athlete who represented Australia in seven World Championships in Modern Pentathlon.
In her address, Cecile reminded us that behind every polished biography lies a human story of setbacks, resilience, and growth:
“Remember that people’s stories — like social media feeds — are curated. They leave out the bad points, the difficult choices, and the trade-offs. But those are the most important parts, because it’s where you find out who you are.”
Her reflections spoke directly to the students: those recognised for their outstanding academic performance and those on the journey of growth. She emphasised the power of persistence, the value of discomfort, and the importance of discovering who you are through life’s trials,
“Growth, for me, was exploring the outer limits of my ability. I used to talk about getting comfortable being uncomfortable... because in those rough times, the greatest growth and learning happen.”
Cecile delivered a message of resilience that was underpinned by her own journey—one marked by personal tragedy, missed milestones, and transformative moments. Her story resonated deeply, particularly her memory of the St Aidan’s community’s unwavering support following the loss of her father,
“Even as I drifted in grief and pain, I was never alone... It was the Sisters who helped me and set me back on my way.”
She encouraged our students to embrace their future with courage,
“The right to fly upwards is the right of every soul to find its fullest expression... That is what I see in all of you.”
As we reflect on this year’s Academic and Honours Awards Ceremony, we recognise that it is far more than an awards presentation. It is a celebration of everything we stand for—excellence, resilience, creativity, and community. We thank all staff for their commitment to teaching and learning, which has contributed to the significant increase in student achievement. We also express our gratitude to Cecile for reminding us that success is not a destination, but a journey.
The Society of the Sacred Advent
SR GILLIAN SSA
REV SR JAN CROMBIE SSA
REV SR GILLIAN MOSES SSA
The Society of the Sacred Advent continues to explore fresh ways of being a religious community. This dreaming of new things has led to some exciting developments in our shared life.
In keeping with our tradition of seeing challenge as opportunity, The Society of the Sacred Advent (SSA) has been on the move. When it became apparent that the significant redevelopment taking place at St Margaret’s would impact our access to the Sisters’ Chapel, we began to explore other places to set up house. By chance, the parish of Hendra-Clayfield reached out to us at this time to explore the possibility of a partnership with them. And so it is that the SSA have begun to meet at St Colomb’s Church in Clayfield, for our monthly worship and also for a weekly community morning every Friday.
The SSA values have been expressed as Humility, Courage, Compassion, Resilience, Faithfulness and Wholeheartedness, and this move exemplifies these values in action. We are exploring with humility ways of being present in a new space and with another community, even though we don’t know what the future holds. We welcome the different opportunities this offers the SSA as we continue to reflect on what it means to be faithful in today’s world. And we wholeheartedly accept the challenge of offering our SSA spirituality to the Church and the wider community, just as we did in the very beginning.
Renewal is not just about buildings and addresses. In December we welcomed 8 new Companions of the SSA, and 3 women began to intentionally discern a call to become Vowed Members of the Society. In February, another Companion joined us and also expressed her desire to discern a call to Vowed Membership.
In these seasons of change, we still celebrate our schools and the life they bring to the SSA. We pray that St Aidan’s students will always know and treasure the presence of the SSA with them, just as we treasure your presence with us.
Congratulations to the Class of 2024
MRS LAURA COOKE DEAN OF STUDIES
The Senior Outcomes of 2024 are, once again, outstanding. Through the hard work and dedication of this cohort and their teachers, St Aidan’s continues to cement its strong reputation as one of the top performing independent schools in Queensland. The age old advice to “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground” rings true for this cohort, who whilst definitely aiming high, did not lose sight of what was important. Active participation in extra-curricular activities alongside balancing informal and formal leadership roles was a hallmark of the class of 2024. We remind our graduating cohort that their ATAR numbers, whilst impressive, do not define them. It is what they choose to do with their numbers, and how they choose to tackle their next adventure that matters. Their families and the School have equipped them with the map and tools they will need as they take this next step into whatever adventure awaits. We cannot wait to watch them soar.
Subject Profile Philosophy and Reason
MR JOEL GLAZEBROOK DEAN OF PEDAGOGY AND INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
What can we know? What should we do? What are we?
These are the fundamental questions that animated philosophers when the tradition emerged more than two and a half millennia ago in Ancient Greece. They remain the questions that underpin the study of philosophy today.
Philosophy and Reason, offered for the first time at St Aidan’s in 2025, is a course of study in the Senior School that gives students the opportunity to return to these perennial concerns of human experience. Over the two-year course, students develop a sophisticated understanding of the incredible capacities – as well as the intriguing limits – of our ability to know ourselves and the world. In addition, students examine the most promising candidates for moral clarity, including the demanding theory of Immanuel Kant (one must not lie at any time, under any circumstance), and the more flexible framework offered by Jeremy Bentham (maximise happiness; minimise pain)
Finally, we delve into the state of society and politics, examining various justifications for authority and interrogating arguments about human (and non-human) rights. We conclude this focus with an examination of the key political ideologies that have underpinned (and posed significant challenges to) the structure and function of the nation-state throughout recent history – liberalism, socialism, anarchism, and libertarianism.
So far, we are off to a wonderful start in 2025, with students engaging in the often-confounding field of propositional logic, as well as the challenges associated with our obligations to our fellow creatures. We have also developed protocols around dialogic learning in the form of Socratic discussions. These discussions allow students to apply explicitly taught declarative and procedural knowledge through open and evolving conversations about significant philosophical issues. Often, these discussions involve thought experiments such as the Trolley Problem (should I sacrifice one person to save five?), the Ship of Theseus (how many parts of an object can I replace before it is no longer itself?), and Brains in a Vat (is everything actually an illusion?).
As we continue to deal with international political instability, threats posed by the acceleration of technology, and increasing hyper-partisanship, the ability to critically consider and reflect on the substantiation of a perspective, point of view, or political program is more important than ever. These skills are undergirded by the central concerns that emerged at the dawn of philosophy – how we see the world, what we take to be true, and how we are motivated to realise our values. It is inspiring to see the students of Philosophy and Reason returning to this perennial wisdom to develop skills that will enable them to address problems of our contemporary world.
Year 10 Certificate I in Active Volunteering
MRS MEG BISHOP DEAN OF STUDENTS
Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mould the present into a future of which we can all be proud.
HELEN DYER (AWARD WINNING CANCER RESEARCHER)
In our ongoing commitment to develop and promote caring and connected young women, St Aidan’s has introduced a Certificate I in Active Volunteering, as part of our Year 10 Skills for Learning program in 2025.
The program, written and delivered by Volunteering Queensland through their online learning portal, has students complete a variety of subjects ranging from workplace health and safety modules, to communicating in the workplace and learning to be an effective volunteer. The course is supported by the Skills for Learning teaching team, and for the most part is completed in class time.
Part of the course includes 20 hours of practical volunteering experience which students can elect to complete either through the school, or with external volunteering organisations in the wider community. Many of the students have already identified opportunities both in school and in the broader community that they can participate in.
Volunteering and service to the community aligns with the values and mission of St Aidan’s, along with keeping the
traditions set by our founders, the Sisters’ of the Society of the Sacred Advent. Connecting the students and school to our wider local and global community also aligns with our current Strategic Direction. For the students, volunteering and service significantly improves mental health outcomes in academic studies and will provide excellent skills and experience for future employment and university applications. The course can also contribute QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education) points and is itself a recognised qualification that can be used in the future for opportunities outside of school, including the upcoming 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
We are so excited to work with Volunteering Queensland to undertake this new course, and we look forward to the opportunities it brings for both our students, the School and our community as a whole in the future.
Galentine’s Day
At St Aidan’s, Galentine’s Day is celebrated as a meaningful way to honour friendship, solidarity, and the empowering connections that girls form with one another. Observed on February 14th it provides a space to recognise and celebrate the deep bonds of friendship among our students.
In a world where female relationships are sometimes overshadowed by romantic ideals, Galentine’s Day reminds our students of the importance of supportive, platonic connections.
By celebrating Galentine’s Day, we encourage our girls to appreciate the value of authentic relationships that are rooted in mutual respect, trust, and kindness. These friendships, built on shared experiences and emotional support, play a pivotal role in their personal development.
Additionally, Galentine’s Day is a reminder that strong female friendships can be a source of empowerment. It allows our students to see the importance of lifting each other up, sharing successes, and offering encouragement through challenges.
In doing so, we foster an environment where they can grow not just academically, but also emotionally and socially. Ultimately, Galentine’s Day celebrates the power of female solidarity, reinforcing the notion that women thrive when they stand together.
This year, our girls had a lot of fun with our Galentine’s day ‘photo booth’ where they celebrated each other and had a laugh too!
Meet our Year 3 Teacher
Lily Bougoure
Qualifications
Bachelor of Education (Primary Education)
About School Life
How do you keep things fresh in the classroom?
Hands-on activities.
What’s the best thing about being a teacher?
It is so hard to choose! I would say it’s seeing each student grow as the year progresses – whether they try something new, step out of
About Life Outside of School
What would the students be surprised to find out about you?
I love playing sport, particularly AFL and Touch Football.
What are some pets you’ve had or would like to own?
I don’t have a pet, but I would love to own a kelpie.
What is your dream holiday?
My dream holiday is to go to any beach on the west coast. I have never been, and I have always loved going to the beach.
If you weren’t a teacher what would you be?
If I wasn’t a teacher, I would be an artist. I love to paint and express my culture, so I would love to paint murals in schools.
What song do you love singing out loud?
I love singing Beautiful Things.
Favourite Quote
There is a difference between not knowing and not knowing yet.
About the Students
If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
I would take them to North Queensland to visit the communities, see the animals in the outback, and walk on Country.
Favourite Book
Walk With Us
By Ellie Laing, Adam Goodes, David Hardy (Illustrator).
Meet our Year 7-12 Maths Teacher
Mitchell Elliott
Qualifications
Bachelor of Education
About School Life
What makes a good day at school?
Starting the day with a delicious coffee and having another one later on during the day.
What’s the best thing about being a teacher?
The best thing is building the relationships over many years and watching them ‘grow up’ and go off into whatever they choose to pursue with confidence
What inspired you to go into teaching?
It’s a little cliché but I had an amazing teacher at school, Mr Yates, who made such a huge difference to my life and steered me in the right direction. He really inspired me to go into teaching and I hope that I can make a small difference to
About Life Outside of School
What would the students be surprised to find out about you?
I get incredibly nervous having to talk in front of large groups.
What is something that inspires you to get up in the morning?
There’s no single thing that inspires me to get up in the morning but rather, a series of things. I love my job so it’s easy to get up and come to work but I also love my life outside of work with my partner and friends.
What is your dream holiday?
I would love to go to the Maldives one day. It would be nice to do it with all the trimmings, but my savings won’t allow for it just yet.
If you weren’t a teacher what would you be?
That’s a tough one! I’d like to say a professional golfer but more realistically I would probably have stayed in my previous career with the Australian Federal Police.
Favourite Book
The Invention of Wings
Favourite Quote
The Man in the Arena. It’s a long one but I really enjoy it.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
About the Students
If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
Italy – It would be incredible to go on a trip to see all of the historical sights throughout Italy. If we could extend it to a full European tour that would be even better.
Autumn Concert
MS SHANNON TOBIN HEAD OF PERFOMANCE
On the final Wednesday of Term 1, 360 musicians from the St Aidan’s Junior and Senior Schools united to present the annual Autumn Music Concert at Riverlife Church.
The event, featuring students from Years 2 to 12, was well attended by parents and friends, and numerous school staff from various departments assisted the music staff in making the event a success. Four string ensembles—Dolce, Vivaldi, Corelli, and Paganini Strings—performed music from different eras, showcasing the diverse talents of the string students. Band students from Years 4 to 12 participated in Charma and Con Brio Bands, as well as the Symphonic Wind ensemble. Two jazz ensembles, including the newly formed Two-beat Band, played a mix of popular and jazz pieces. The concert also included performances by the Junior Singers, Children Crossing Choirs, Chorale, and Ensemble Volar. An impressive “glow in the dark” performance by the Percussion Ensemble kicked off the 2-hour show. Congratulations to all the students and staff for delivering such polished performances so early in the year.
St Aidan’s Athletes Shine at Australian All Schools Championships
MR SAXON MOSELEY CO-ORDINATOR OF ATHLETICS AND CROSS COUNTRY
Over the Christmas holiday break, several St Aidan’s athletes took to the national stage at the 2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships, delivering outstanding performances and bringing home impressive results. Representing Queensland, our students showcased their speed, endurance, and determination against the nation’s best.
Individual Achievements – Representing Queensland
Zara Hagan
U18 100m National Champion (1st place)
Isabella Valinoti
U17 3000m Silver Medallist (2nd place)
Eloise Nealon
U14 200m (4th place), Queensland U14 relay team Bronze in 4x100m & 4x200m
Tiana Keke
U15 100m (6th place), Member of Queensland U16
4x100m Relay team
Team Success and School Spirit
Beyond individual success, St Aidan’s athletes showcased their depth and teamwork in the prestigious National Schools Challenge.
Our Junior Teams Challenge squad
Eloise Nealon, Pepper Benson, Tiana Keke, Grace Hefner, Emma MacDonald, and Amelia Lee—delivered a dominant performance to claim the Gold Medal, reinforcing St Aidan’s reputation for excellence.
In the Senior Teams Challenge, our athletes displayed remarkable determination and camaraderie, securing a commendable 5th place.
Isabella Valinoti, Amelie Boyd, Aurelia Boyd, Elodie Boyd, Layla Pennisi, Lauren Deighton, and Lucy Quarterman all contributed to this strong team effort,
reflecting the supportive and determined spirit of St Aidan’s athletics.
Celebrating Dedication and Success
Congratulations to all our athletes for their exceptional performances and unwavering commitment. Their achievements not only highlight individual talent but also the strength
Extra-Curricular Activities
MR BRETT DIONYSIUS
ENGLISH AND PASTORAL CARE LEADER YEAR 11
After the highly successful launch of ‘The Advent’ literary journal’s first edition in October 2024, the new 2025 committee thanked the outgoing 2024 management team with its inaugural afternoon tea event on Friday 28 February in Aidan’s Place. The afternoon tea was held to congratulate the former 2024 Year 12 committee on their success in producing the very first issue, but also to give each past student involved a copy of the final printed version of the beautiful first edition.
Hosted by new Managing Editor Tempest Lott and Assistant Managing Editor Serena Shi, the former seniors were thrilled to each receive their good copy – and to be the centre of attention with Junior and Middle school ‘Advent’ members flocking during the intermission to get autographs from Elise Davies, Charlotte Worthington, Isabella Williamson, Laura Donnelly and Mia Stephensen. It was quite the ‘rock star’ treatment which was a beautiful and spontaneous moment during proceedings.
Since the 2025 committee has opened up submissions for the second edition to Years 4 - 6 students from Junior School, the afternoon tea was also an opportunity for the Junior School Library Captains, Art Captains, Assembly Captains and students from the Girl Zone Book club to meet both the incoming and outgoing management teams and other senior school ‘Advent’ members. Not to mention having a popper and a sausage roll as they got to know their ‘bigger sisters’ – whose editing and publication shoes they may well be fitting into in the future!
The afternoon was filled with laughter, joy, and plenty of special moments between contributors and junior students who are just beginning to spread their wings in the literary and creative world. Whether it was exploring the final printed copies handed out or receiving autographs from the contributors themselves – in an unplanned frenzy of positive energy – the event was a thoroughly memorable experience to start the year!
As Tempest Lott said in her speech, “As a point of reference, last year, with ‘The Advent’ just beginning, we focused on something that bound us, and the entire universe together – connection, or connectedness to be exact. Whether that connection was between humanity, family, space, planets, dimensions, or something as tiny as ants. And this year, we begin a new chapter – growing and expanding ‘The Advent’, as we build on the shoulders of everyone who came before us.”
So, in 2025, let’s embrace all the small beginnings and unlikely journeys that await us!
Hockey Alumni Continue to Fly
MR NIGEL BAILEY YEAR 11 PASTORAL CARE AND HISTORY
St Aidan’s Alumnae Morgan Gallagher (2014), Ruby Harris (2018) and Georgina West (2022) have successfully combined continued participation in elite level sport with their tertiary studies. All three are seasoned campaigners in the National Hockey One League - Australia’s premier Hockey competition - with Morgan turning out for the Brisbane Blaze, Ruby representing the Tassie Tigers, and Georgina playing for the Canberra Chill.
Between them, the girls have also amassed a truly impressive array of representative honours at the highest levels. Morgan has been a member of Queensland representative sides from U13, many of these as captain. She was captain of the Australian U21 Jillaroos side in 2021 and debuted for the Hockeyroos in 2023, going on to earn six caps representing her country and touring to India and China. Morgan has also led the Brisbane Blaze for the last three years.
Ruby has been a constant fixture in Queensland sides since she was 12 years of age and is a former multi-year member of the Australian U21 team (2019-2022), for which she was selected for the Junior World Cup Qualifiers against New Zealand. Currently a member of the Hockeyroos 2025 Development Squad, in February this year Ruby was selected in the Hockeyroos and made her debut for the national side in 38 degree heat in Argentina.
In what is definitely becoming part of a pattern, Georgina has similarly represented Queensland since she was 12, captaining the side in 2016, 2017 and 2022. Georgina is currently a member of the Jillaroos and recently represented Australia in World Cup Qualifying in Auckland. Last season Georgie was awarded the Peta Gallagher Medal for highest goal scorer in ACT Hockey, and also the McKay Medal for the Best and Fairest female player.
Morgan, Ruby and Georgina are all former St Aidan’s ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ winners who represented St Aidan’s in a wide variety of sports in addition to Hockey. They have also managed to successfully juggle the demands of their club and representative commitments with tertiary studies. Morgan graduated from QUT with a Law degree (Honours) in 2020 and is currently a Corporate and Commercial lawyer with McInnes Wilson. Ruby completed her Bachelor of Business Management at the University of Queensland in 2024, majoring in Marketing and Human Resources. Georgie is currently studying a Bachelor of Health Science at the University of Canberra and intends to complete further postgraduate study in the health field upon completion.
Moreover, all three young women have been extremely generous in giving back to St Aidan’s. All of them have had prominent coaching roles in the school’s Hockey program over many years,
despite their busy schedules. Collectively, they have spoken fondly of the opportunities and support they were provided at St Aidan’s. Morgan praised the school for ‘the support, understanding, flexibility and motivation to be successful, both academically and in sport’, and likened her time at St Aidan’s to being ‘part of a special community that values and supports your passions in all facets of life’.
Ruby noted when reflecting on her Hockeyroos debut: ‘The support I’ve received from the St Aidan’s community has been incredible, and I will be forever grateful for that’. Georgie is a graduate of the school’s pioneering Athlete Mentoring Program, initiated in 2019, which aims to support student athletes in high performance sporting environments through their academic and sporting journeys. Georgie observed that the program ‘enabled me to successfully balance my sporting and academic endeavours during school’, and ‘provided me with the confidence to strive to achieve excellence in all aspects of my life’.
Together, these three women, all of whom have had to deal with the disappointments, challenges and setbacks that are a part of any sporting journey, have embodied the St Aidan’s values of authentic, caring and connected women, and who have indeed ‘flown upwards’. We look forward to following the next exciting stages of their respective careers!
YEAR 7 CAMP
MR MATT LOWE
YEAR
7 PASTORAL CARE LEADER
Outdoor education plays a vital role in our Pastoral Care program, offering students valuable opportunities for hands-on learning beyond the classroom. Many eagerly anticipate school camps, which not only encourage practical learning but also serve as an excellent platform for social-emotional growth. These camps help students build resilience, develop empathy, and enhance communication skills. Furthermore, they inspire a deeper connection to nature, promoting environmental stewardship and personal development.
For our newest Penguins, the recent camp at Mapleton provided a chance to form new friendships and strengthen relationships with their teachers. Over three action-packed days in the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland, our Year 7s participated in activities like rock climbing, canoeing, and orienteering. They worked together in teams to build and test a makeshift bridge across a muddy creek and experienced the thrill of defying gravity on the Giant Swing. Every activity was designed to foster strong bonds among the new Year 7s while encouraging them to
YEAR 8 CAMP
MR TIM KEMP
YEAR 8 PASTORAL CARE LEADER
In Week 5 of Term 1, Year 8 students embarked on an unforgettable four-day Survival Camp at Cobb & Co Nine Mile Campgrounds, inland from Noosa. Throughout the week, students worked in teams to set up their campsites, cook meals, and take on a series of survival challenges, including the Survival Walk, Fire & Water, Raft Building, and Archery Tag.
Inspired by the television show Survivor, teams competed against each other in challenges, earning points along the way. The girls approached each task with enthusiasm and determination, stepping out of their comfort zones and developing valuable teamwork skills. One of the highlights was the Tribal Wars on the final day, where each group proudly presented their flag and war cry in a spirited finale.
Beyond the competitions, the camp provided an opportunity for students to connect with classmates outside their usual friendship groups, forging new friendships and strengthening bonds that will last throughout the year.
A huge thank you to the teachers who attended and supported the students, making this experience possible. The Year 8 Survival Camp
Campus Development News
Sports Performance Centre: Cutting-Edge Design Steps Up in the Face of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred
In March, as Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached, the facilities team put their innovative flood-prevention measures to the test for the first time at the Sports Performance Centre (SPC), successfully safeguarding the facility’s world-class courts.
In preparation for potential flooding, the team executed a pre-emptive ‘lifting of the floor’ procedure, elevating the timber flooring and storing it on high ground to prevent damage. This proactive measure is part of the SPC’s standard flood response protocol, activated whenever flood warnings are issued.
While the cyclone brought some water to the playing fields and reached the outdoor courts, the building itself remained unaffected. The Facilities Team responded swiftly, inspecting the premises thoroughly to ensure everything remained dry inside. Their proactive approach helped confirm that the timber flooring was unharmed, ensuring any future re-installation could proceed smoothly.
At the time of writing - repairs and replacements continue, safety testing on the playing fields is ongoing, with the team working diligently to restore the Ambiwerra Sports Precinct to full use as soon as it is safe to do so.
While the situation presented significant challenges, it proved that the investment in cutting-edge engineering technology and careful planning
Parents & Friends Supporting Our Community
MS ELIZA BRYETT PARENT AND VOLUNTEER OFFICER
Over the past few months, our dedicated Parents and Friends Association (P&F) has been actively engaged in fostering a strong sense of community, encouraging parental involvement, and undertaking fundraising initiatives to support the ongoing needs of our school.
One of the key objectives of our Association is to create opportunities for parents and families to connect with one another while supporting the school. The St Aidan’s P&F has organised a range of events that have successfully brought our community together.
On Saturday, 8 February, the School hosted its inaugural Welcome Picnic at Ambiwerra. This delightful afternoon saw staff, students and their families come together to enjoy music, food, games and plenty of fun. Our P&F generously hosted a sausage sizzle, ensuring everyone was well-fed, while the adults were able to relax and socialise at the bar marquee.
Following this, on Friday, 14 February, our parent support group, Friends of Sport, held the Friends of Sport Cocktail Party to mark the opening of the 2025 sporting year in The Link. It was a wonderful evening where guests heard from Fred Himstedt, Friends of Sport President, and St Aidan’s Head of Sport, Cherie Andersen. Both speakers shared valuable insights about the upcoming sporting year and how families can best support our students in achieving their sporting goals.
On Friday, 28 February, our Junior School students danced the night away at our dazzling Junior School Disco in the Christine Hartland Centre. The evening was filled with music, laughter, and excitement. Our P&F ensured the event was a memorable one
by hosting a DJ, dinner and snacks, a glitter station and a raffle. Prizes were also awarded to those who dazzled in their best disco-themed outfits, adding an extra element of fun to the evening.
Unfortunately, due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, our scheduled Open Morning on Thursday, 6 March, was cancelled. The P&F had planned to host a special ‘Baked with Love’ morning tea, and while we were disappointed not to proceed on this occasion, we are looking forward to hosting a similar event at Open Day June.
Looking ahead, we are excited to host the highly anticipated Mother-Daughter Breakfast in May. This cherished tradition is always a highlight on the calendar, and we warmly invite you to join us for what promises to be a memorable morning.
The remainder of 2025 is set to be just as exciting, with plenty of fantastic events and initiatives in store. The St Aidan’s Parents and Friends Association remains committed to building a vibrant school community, supporting our School’s ongoing needs, and enhancing the educational experience for all students.
We would like to offer a warm welcome to our 2025 Executive and thank them for their dedication to our community:
President Kris Whitehead
Vice President Carl Quarterman
Treasurer Emma Bristow
Acting Secretary Carl Quarterman
We sincerely thank our dedicated members for their unwavering support and enthusiasm, and we look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events throughout the year.
7.00am - 8.00am September 2025 Thursday 4
Doors Open 6.45am I Christine Hartland Centre
Foundation
The Fearless Girl: Her soul is fierce, her mind is strong, her heart is brave.
DR ANNE KRUGER FOUNDATION CHAIR
This statue, generously placed on the Junior School campus by last year’s Year 6 cohort, represents the hope we, as parents, have for our daughters: to grow into confident, courageous, capable, and caring young women, living their best lives.
The Fearless Girl is not just an aspiration; she is a reality I see in our students every day. Thanks to the dedication of our teachers and staff, they truly embody the school motto Per Volar Sunata (Born to Fly Upwards).
The right learning environment and infrastructure play a crucial role in shaping the holistic education of young women, enabling them to be confident and fearless. Philanthropy helps to transform a school by enhancing the opportunities it can offer. One of the main visions the Foundation Board has for philanthropy in the next few years is to help create a world-class Aquatic Centre that goes beyond simply being a top-tier aquatic
Friday 15 August
St Lucia Golf Links
facility. This pool will also serve as a space for students to build confidence in the water and for those with Olympic aspirations. It will be a nurturing, transformative environment for St Aidan’s and our broader community.
To bring this vision to life, the Foundation is seeking Matchers for this year’s Giving Day on 12 June. By becoming a Matcher, you will amplify every generous donation from our community. Your support will double the impact of donations, helping to fund the creation of the Ambiwerra Aquatic Centre and expand our transformative Scholarship Program. If you share our vision and are able to contribute—whether as a family, business, or organisation in our community—please reach out to our Development Office.
In addition, the St Aidan’s Tuition Fee Raffle will raise funds for the Aquatic Centre. This is a fantastic opportunity for parents and guardians of currently enrolled students to make a meaningful impact, while also having the chance to win a $32,000 credit towards 2026 school fees! Tickets will go on sale in Term 3, and the winning ticket will be drawn at the Friends and Futures Lunch on Friday, 17 October.
Lastly, our dedicated Foundation Board is also planning for our annual Golf Day on 15 August. There are sponsorship opportunities available, so if you have a business you’d like to promote during this fun event, we’d love to hear from you.
Yours in Fearless legacies.
For Her
Thursday 12 June
From the Archives
Revolutionising St Aidan’s Sports: The Impact of Mrs. Harris at St Aidan’s
MRS WENDY BIGGS ARCHIVIST
Sue Spencer’s words perfectly capture the spirit of St. Aidan’s girls and their unyielding passion for sport. Throughout the years, St. Aidan’s has fostered the importance of maintaining a healthy body and mind, integrating sports and fitness into daily life. While the school’s small student body initially limited its competitive participation, it didn’t take long for St. Aidan’s girls to make their mark in the world of school sports.
In 1929, St. Aidan’s took part as a “house” at the St. Margaret’s Interhouse Sports Day, sharing a Physical Education teacher with St. Margaret’s - Miss Redman. Back then, the school’s grounds featured a simple tennis and netball court, which by 1935 had expanded to include a second tennis court. The school’s 2-acre grounds provided the perfect setting for athletics and ball games, and by the 1930s through the 1950s, St. Aidan’s offered teams for tennis, netball, athletics, hockey, and swimming. Students wore uniforms that included long-sleeved blouses, pinafores, ties, leather belts, and stockings—quite different from today’s more modern and comfortable attire.
The 1956 Melbourne Olympics played a pivotal role in sparking increased interest in sports. During this time, St. Aidan’s new PE teacher, Ms. Susan Laidlaw, attended a conference on new teaching methods and physiology, bringing innovative ideas back to the school. She introduced the first-ever jumping pit for long jump and high jump in Brisbane — a game-changing addition to the sports program.
As enrolments grew, the Graceville Oval became the venue for the school’s Interhouse athletics events, with girls traveling by train to transport the equipment. In the 1970s, sports like
softball, hockey, and volleyball were introduced, but it was Mrs. Barbara Harris (later Mrs. Alexander), a PE teacher who joined St. Aidan’s in 1972, who truly revolutionised school sports.
Mrs. Harris emphasised the importance of swimming and lifesaving skills, making sure students not only excelled in competitive sports but also acquired valuable life skills. Under her leadership, the school’s sports uniforms became more practical, with the introduction of athletic shorts and tracksuits — a significant shift from the restrictive attire of the past.
Her impact didn’t stop at uniforms — Mrs. Harris’s guidance and vision played a key role in expanding St. Aidan’s sporting culture. The opening of the Beulah sporting grounds in 1979 brought new opportunities for netball, volleyball, and tennis, while the 1986 opening of the Ambiwerra Sporting Fields paved the way for the introduction of sports like soccer, cricket, and touch football. By the 1990s, St. Aidan’s was offering 18 sports, including unique options like sailing and fencing. By 2005, the school was one of only four to compete in all 15 QGSSSA sports, boasting 92 teams and over 1,000 participants — a testament to the school’s thriving sporting culture.
In the years that followed, St. Aidan’s continued to invest in top-tier facilities, including the addition of a fitness centre in 2002 and the stunning new Sports Performance Centre at Ambiwerra in 2024. The new centre, featuring indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, and futsal, has become a hub for our athletes, providing state-of-the-art facilities for training and competition.
Even though we lack in numbers, the enthusiasm of all girls more than makes up for this.
SUE SPENCER SPORTS CAPTAIN, 1975
It is with great sadness that we remember the recent passing of Mrs. Barbara Alexander (Harris), the beloved teacher who dedicated so much of her life to St. Aidan’s.
Her dedication to the students and her ability to build strong, confident athletes remains one of St. Aidan’s greatest legacies. We invite you to share your memories of Mrs. Alexander (or Miss Harris) and any sporting anecdotes from your time at the school. How did she inspire you? What moments stand out as truly special? As we remember her contributions, we also celebrate the lasting impact she had on St. Aidan’s sporting legacy.
Please contact Wendy Biggs, St Aidan’s Archivist, with any memories or anecdotes at w.biggs@staidans.qld.edu.au
Photo: 1976 Lifesaving A Team
J. Spencer, J. Archer, K. Hing, C. Jackson (C), Mrs Alexander, A. Coates, T. Spencer.
C LE W E R C O CK T AI L P A R T Y
ALUMNI News
Libby Mudie (2006) nee Armstrong. Libby welcomed her first child a son Mack Harry Roy Mudie on 1 February 2025.
Congratulations to Avalon Ormiston (2019) on her recent achievement as the inaugural Graduate Pathway Internship recipient at the Stephanie Lake Company. The Stephanie Lake Company is a multi-award-winning contemporary dance company based in Melbourne, known for a gutsy, original choreographic style.
Avalon completed her Advanced Diploma in Elite Performance and continues her education in Health Science at the University of Sydney, reflecting her interest in the intersection of art and science. Avalon is also the worthy recipient of the 2024 Emma Betts Young Alumni Award.
ALUMNI News
Lesley Cobon (1946)
nee Hunter passed away 3 August 2024 at the age of 95years. Her 3 daughters attended St Aidan’s, Gillian Johnston (1977), Jennifer Cobon (1969) and Sally Hunter (1973). Jenny’s daughters also attended the school Jessie Fanton (2002), Kate Davie (1999) and Lucy Fanton (2005)
Pamela Benness (1946) nee Foote passed away 19 June 2024, aged 95. Pamela’s daughter Sally Rowe passed on that her mother had had a wonderful life and a great fondness for her time at St Aidan’s.
Jennifer (Jennie) Streeter (1968) passed away peacefully on 9 January 2024 after a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her daughter Michelle and sister Christine (1967)
Janice Simon (1949)
nee Feather passed on the 11 November 2024.
Poem written by Janice in the 1947 Recorder ON PASSING JUNIOR
I ought to pass Junior this year, they say,
A couple of B’s and at least one A.
But I don’t see how I can do it at all
For sometimes my mind is as blank ‘as a wall.
If angle A equals angle B, Then how the heck can C equal E!
And if horses can eat a whole field in a day
How many pounds has the owner to pay?
How many lbs. of the second tea
Would be an equal amount for U and V!
Substitute x to equal y
‘’But I don’t see how, or where, or why?
The heart is a muscle, hollow and round,
And where is the Epiglottis to be found?
“We’re sure to get Asia to do for a map,”
If we don’t, I’ll soon be eating my cap.
Pamela Reisner (1944) nee Pennycuik passed away Christmas Day 2024. Pamela was a renowned biologist who obtained her Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland before enrolling in a Master’s degree in Zoology. After spending 18 months in the United Kingdom, she returned to Brisbane and a position in the Physiology Department where she studied for her PhD. In 1961, Pam moved to Sydney and to the CSIRO’s Division of Animal Genetics. Pam married Alex, a molecular biologist in 1986. She published 51 papers in a variety of publications during her extensive career.
ALUMNI News
Ruby Harris (2018)
A huge congratulations to Ruby Harris on her selection into the Hockeyroos and making her Australian debut in Argentina competing against Belgium and Argentina!
Amelia (Millie) Dunn (2011)
Amelia has been working with Channel 4 over in London since moving to the UK at the beginning of 2023. Millie is one of the producers of Inside Gaza: Israel and Hamas at War (including travelling to Tel Aviv and the West Bank and filming on location where she operated as cameraperson and producer). Millie’s team (the C4 News Coverage division) won an Emmy Award for their work covering the conflict.
Laura Binns (1994) and Gerry Kay
Alumna Laura Binns (1994) and past staff member Gerry Kay, caught up in London over lunch during Gerry’s visit to the UK last year.
Georgina Sawyer (2018)
Georgina is an actor singer with salad.days.collective. Since graduating from a Bachelor’s Degree in Acting with the Deans Excellence Award (2022), Georgina has worked on sets with Universal Pictures and trained with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Along with SDC’s production of Scenes With Girls, Georgina and her film Meet Fran has recently been selected in the New York, Lift Off Film Festival.
ALUMNI News
Kate Wheatley (2011)
Kate is a Senior Analytics Architect at Media.Monks. She was identified in the top 100 brightest digital stars in Britain’s digital landscape by the British Interactive Media Association in 2024.
Imogen McCluskey (2011)
Imogen McCluskey recently earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Directing from the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory in 2023. Her achievement was made possible with the generous support of Screen Australia Enterprise Funding, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the American Australian Association Arts Fund Scholarship, and donors to the Australian Cultural Fund.
In 2024, Imogen was honoured to be selected for the Screen Australia Talent NYC delegation, attending the prestigious Australian International Screen Forum in New York City. Her education and accomplishments are a testament to her dedication and the invaluable support of these organisations.
Have you recently had a baby?
If you have recently had a little one, please share your news with us. We would love to send a St Aidan’s onesie to you.
We have onesies for girls and boys.
COMMUNITY News
Kristen Willis
Introducing our new Graphic Designer, Kristen Willis. On the week she started at St Aidan’s she was also shortlisted for a prestigious Children’s Book Council of Australia Award.
Actively pursuing her publishing goals, Kristen’s debut picture book Peek-a-Boo Lottie was shortlisted for the 2025 CBCA New Illustrator Award and awarded Highly Commended for her personal book project as Emerging Illustrator for the SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator in 2024.
We are thrilled to have such an amazing designer and illustrator on the team.
Welcome and congratulations Kristen!
Joel Glazebrook
Dean of Pedagogy and Innovative Practice, married Sarah Gunn on September 14, 2024, at The Refinery in Newstead.
COMMUNITY News
Mr Brett Dionysius
St Aidan’s English and Literature teacher, Mr Brett Dionysius, was awarded the 2024 Queensland Writers Fellowship for $19,500 supported by Arts Queensland, the State Library of Queensland, and the Queensland Writers’ Centre. With only three fellowships are awarded each year, and with applications being judged by a panel of three esteemed Australian writers, this is an incredible achievement.
The funding that Brett has received will be used for research and writing of a new poetry project, “The Eromanga Sea”.
“The Eromanga Sea” will explore Queensland’s geological, ecological and socio-cultural evolution as a ‘state’ from the Late Cretaceous period through to the current Holocene epoch, looking at how this vast ocean and major topographic, climatic and human impacts have shaped not only Queensland’s physical landscape, but also the consciousness of the people who live here. The project will entail travel throughout Queensland to research areas where the Eromanga Sea once covered – mainly Western Queensland locations such as Lawn Hill Gorge, Mt Isa, Winton and the red west, Carnarvon Gorge, the Diamantina National Park and Channel country. We are looking forward to following Brett’s progress in this literary space.
Congratulations to Maddy McKenzie and her partner Luke on the birth of baby Patrick in April 2025.
Senior
Jemima Walker
School Teacher, married Jack Clayton on 12 April 2025, at The Calile Hotel
Maddy McKenzie
Nominate an Outstanding St Aidan’s Graduate ALUMNI I Awards
In August each year, as part of St Aidan’s Day celebrations, Principal, Toni Riordan takes great delight in revealing the recipients of our Emma Betts, Mother Emma and Caroline Amy Awards. The announcement of the Alumni Award recipients is shared with the whole school and award winners’ biographies are highlighted for the audience.
Every year, our students, their parents and staff members gain real life lessons from our Awardees’ special messages, which are shared at the annual Aidan’s Celebrates evening. It is always wonderful to continue the conversation in our school community about the interesting and diverse role models which make up our yearly Alumni Award recipients.
If you know of an inspiring past student or are an alumna - please take the step this year to either self-apply if you are an alumna or nominate a past student, as recognition of St Aidan’s alumni is an important part of an exceptional education at St Aidan’s!
What is required to nominate:
• A completed nomination form and current CV/resume of the nominee
• A written statement (maximum 500 words) detailing why the nominee deserves to be recognised and how they meet the criteria for the award
• Any supporting evidence such as awards, media clippings, video footage, etc.
NOMINATIONS CLOSE
ALUMNI Reunions 2025 SAVE DATE
Ascension Day (All Welcome)
60 Year Reunion (Class of 1965)
70 Year Reunion (Class of 1955)
Thursday 29 May 10.30am - 2.30pm
Clewer Cocktail Party (Alumni, Past & Current Staff)
Friday 30 May 6.30pm - 9.00pm
10 Year Reunion (Class of 2015)
20 Year Reunion (Class of 2005)
30 Year Reunion (Class of 1995)
Saturday 31 May 10.00am - 3.00pm
40 Year Reunion (Class of 1985)
50 Year Reunion (Class of 1975)
Sunday 1 June 10.00am - 3.00pm
Melbourne Saturday 17 May 12.30pm - 2.00pm
International Reunions
Seoul: 15 June
Taipei: 22 June
New York: 26 - 28 September
THE LAST WORD
As I write this, we are preparing for Cyclone Alfred. By the time the Huddle goes to print, we will know what happened, but right now I do not. We are still anxious about possible outcomes. Where will the damage occur? Who will be flooded? There is a tendency to prepare for the worst, and still hope for the best.
It occurs to me that Easter is much like this. When I think about the Great Three Days of Easter – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day, this is the pattern. Maundy Thursday remembers Jesus’ last meal with his friends, though which of them knew it was to be the last? Even if the disciples did not have that knowledge, I suspect there was a vibe about the meal that told them something was up. They may well have been ‘heightened’, to use a modern word.
Then there was Good Friday, when the worst did happen, and Jesus was put to death. At that point, the disciples were just in the thick of things, uncertain, fearful, and (we are told) huddled together in a locked room, hiding from the authorities. In the moment, they could not imagine a bright future.
Finally, and against all expectation, there was Easter morning, and the revelation that Jesus was not (or was no longer) dead, but fully alive, and coming to meet them. In the darkest moment, overwhelming joy. When they expected darkness, there was light.
From our post-cyclonic perspective, we don’t need to hope, because we will know. We will know what the damage was, where the floodwaters came to, who was affected and who miraculously escaped harm. All of this will have played out.
Easter has also played out, and God has reminded us that resurrection breaks into the patterns of life and death to bring another way – life through death. It reaches us to look for signs of hope even when everything seems hopeless, because there will always be reason to hope. We know this in every natural disaster, when in the middle of all that despair and destruction amazing stories of compassion and courage emerge. We help one another. We stick together. We overcome.
If I look beyond Easter and cyclones, I think this is an important reminder for our current global situation too. Whatever disasters swirl around us, whenever we are tempted to lose hope, that is when stories of courage, compassion, and life emerge. They always do, for this is the real pattern of life. To paraphrase Michael Crichton in Jurassic Park, (resurrection) life finds a way
