Born to Fly IV

born to fly 4

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School

born to fly

born to fly I am delighted to offer you the fourth edition of Born to Fly which profiles a further fourteen past students from our school’s 87 year history.

Their endeavours are spread across many decades and professions. What is common to them all is the experience of a St Aidan’s education, which they attribute as having a significant influence on their personal and professional life. Whether it be about an individual or group of teachers, or the authentic, aspirational culture of the school; each alumna has a story to tell of the way her experiences at St Aidan’s have shaped her life.

It is with gratitude I acknowledge these women, the women of the three preceding issues of Born to Fly and all the alumni of our school, who continue to give a good account of themselves - to coin a phrase from past Head’s reports and of our school. I also recognise the commitment of our staff throughout St Aidan’s history, and thank them for all that they do to provide a nurturing and stimulating educational environment that reflects our Sisters’ philosophy and ethos.

It is Mother Eunice’s 80th birthday this year and we could have no greater role model of service. We dedicate this edition of Born to Fly to her, in acknowledgment of her years of profession, service and leadership to us all.

Karen Spiller MBA, MEdAdmin, BA, BEdSt, FACE, FAIM, FACEL, FAHRI, FAICD, FCEOI Fellow of Bond University

Principal - St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School

born to fly Editor Alice Tidmarsh

Contributors Karen Spiller, Toni Riordan, Sue Russell, Wendy Biggs and Michele Grant, as well as our many amazing Old Girls who provided their time and energy to participate in this edition of Born to Fly IV.

Design Annie Fanning

Disclaimer The Editors have gone to great efforts to ensure the accuracy of the information compiled in this publication but can accept no responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions.

Although the Editors support the right of expression by members of the student body and other writers, we wish to make it clear that the views expressed by individual authors are not necessarily those held by the Editors or St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Corinda.

born to fly

joy roggenkamp OAM 1945 Artist dr kate stringer 1993 Breast and Endocrine Surgeon the venerable jan crombie 1973 Anglican Archdeacon helen summers 1978 Optometrist sophie clarke 2008 Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate joanna strumpf 1991 Art Gallery Director professor isabelle skinner 1979 Rural Health rachel forbes 2005 Netballer virginia bishop 1986 Interior Designer dr shaneen leishman 2001 Research Scientist joyce yang 2006 Architect coralie burcher 1961 Artist andrea davey 2002 Business and HR rachel barnard 1996 Social Activist

JOY ROGGENKAMP OAM 1945 Artist

JOY ROGGENKAMP 1945 Artist

JOY ROGGENKAMP 1945

OAM

Artist

In 1962, an aspiring Queensland artist, Joy Roggenkamp, sent one of her pictures to the NSW State Gallery as an entry into the then Wynne Watercolour Prize. Such was the response to Joy’s painting that when she met Sir Lionel Lindsay, a trustee of the gallery, to collect her prize she received universal praise and congratulations.

Sir Lionel even told her, “you are the best watercolour painter in Australia and the prize is a fitting reward.”

When the gallery introduced the Pring Prize for Women for the best watercolour in Australia, Joy won twice. She declined to enter for a third time because “she didn’t want to be greedy”.

Joy Roggenkamp 1963

By Jon Molvig oil on board (122.5 x 98.5 cm, detail) Collection of The University of Queensland. Purchased with the assistance of Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland Inc. and Veronika Butta, 2016.

Reproduced courtesy of Otte Bartzis.

Photo: Carl Warner

Born in Roma, Joy has been named as the most influential water colour artist in Brisbane in the 1960s and 70s and achieved a distinguished and long-standing career of more than 50 years in her beloved medium of watercolours.

In 1997 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of her own artistic talents and for the support she gave to her local community in judging numerous art competitions.

Joy passed away in November 1999 at the age of 71.

DR KATE STRINGER 1993 (Brunner)

Breast and Endocrine Surgeon

DR KATE STRINGER 1993 (Brunner)

Breast and Endocrine Surgeon

Dr. Kate Stringer is a specialist Breast and Endocrine Surgeon working at the Wesley, Northwest Brisbane Private and Holy Spirit Northside Hospitals. After completing Year 12 and recieve an OP1 along with 10 other students in her year, Kate studied Medicine at the University of Queensland and trained in General Surgery. Kate then undertook subspecialty training in Breast and Endocrine Surgery as the Ramsay Health Fellow and her supervisor then invited her to be a partner in the Brisbane Breast and Endocrine Surgeons Practice.

Kate is married to Toby Stringer, a Mechanical Engineer, and they have 2 children.

Kate specializes in the management of breast cancer, thyroid and parathyroid disease. Kate says it was St Aidan’s policy of encouraging every student to ‘participate in all areas of school life’ that stood her in good stead personally and professionally in life after school.

“St Aidan’s not only pursued academic excellence but fostered an environment of inclusiveness, allowing every student to experience a full range of activities.”

Kate represented the school in tennis, swimming and cross country. She jokes that while she was certainly not a champion in cross country or swimming she was encouraged to participate. Kate still plays tennis and runs every week.

Kate was a prefect and excelled academically, as well as participating in public speaking and debating.

Kate cites St Aidan’s desire to develop “well rounded” students as being integral to success in life post school.

“In particular, the St Aidan’s culture of empathy and compassion has helped me immensely in my work with cancer patients.”

THE VENERABLE JAN CROMBIE 1973 (Davey) Anglican Archdeacon

THE VENERABLE JAN CROMBIE 1973 (Davey)

Anglican Archdeacon

When Jan Crombie graduated from St Aidan’s she wasn’t faced with a big choice when it came to selecting a university course. With just four options available for women, Jan began a Bachelor of Education at the University of Queensland before studying a post graduate degree in Organisation and Management in Melbourne.

But it would not be until her forties, as a wife and mother of three children, that Jan found her true vocation – the Church.

Today she is The Venerable Jan Crombie, the archdeacon of parish partnerships in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.

Although it would be another nineteen years from when Jan left St Aidan’s in 1973 before women were allowed

to be ordained as priests, she feels that the influence of the school and the presence of the Sisters were a huge factor in her future, “I was school captain for my final year and this was also Sister Julian’s first year as principal. She had the qualities of leadership that I see now have become inspirational for me. She was a quiet, firm presence with a confident and assured identity and she engaged with people with respect and care,” Jan says.

This has influenced Jan’s current position which sees her creating relationships between Anglican social welfare agencies and parishes in Melbourne.

“It is about creating opportunities for us to harness the common good of people for the good of the communities we are part of. I am where I am meant to be.”

HELEN SUMMERS 1978 (Luxton) Optometrist

HELEN SUMMERS 1978 (Luxton) Optometrist

St Aidan’s Old Girl Helen Summers isn’t shy about taking up a challenge. As a graduate optometrist in Kenya, she saw the impact that poor vision and preventative blindness had on the nation, with children struggling to learn because of eyesight problems; having their future employment hindered and plunging people into an endless cycle of poverty.

Back in Australia she launched her own optometry business in Darwin, relying on second-hand equipment and even setting up without a bank loan.

The business has grown, with Helen opening eight vision clinics stretching 1500 kilometres across the Top End and helping remote indigenous communities in Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Kakadu and Arnhem Land.

As a chair and director of many vision-related national and international organisations, Helen is also a board member of the International Vision Academy whose role it is to develop vision services in countries throughout the world where they do not currently exist.

Helen believes her love of helping others began during her school years at St Aidan’s, “it was through the focus I was taught at school that women can be strong, healthy and empowered that made me realise it is possible to achieve my personal and professional goals.”

SOPHIE CLARKE 2008

Human Rights Advocate

SOPHIE CLARKE 2008

Human Rights Advocate

Human Rights Advocate Sophie Clarke has completed her dual degree at The University of Queensland and is working as a Judge’s Associate at the Queensland Supreme Court. The momentum to study a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Peace and Conflict studies and International Relations came from an inspiring teacher during Sophie’s school years at St Aidan’s.

“Mrs Burvill-Shaw ignited my enthusiasm for modern history and motivated me to major in Peace and Conflict studies and International Relations in my Arts degree,” Sophie says. “This combined with the opportunity to participate in volunteer and community service projects cultivated my desire to use the skills and knowledge I have gained through school and university to help those who are less fortunate than me.”

Even during her studies, Sophie took the opportunity to travel and complete internships in countries such as Ghana and South Africa which saw her helping those in need and advocating for refugee rights.

In June 2016 Sophie completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and was admitted as a lawyer in August 2016. Sophie is in no doubt that it was her time at St Aidan’s that was the launching pad for her keen interest in advocacy.

Sophie says, “St Aidan’s has had a great influence on the work I have done since finishing school. The nurturing and empowering environment at school gave me the confidence to pursue a career in an area I was passionate about.”

JOANNA STRUMPF 1991

Art Gallery Director

JOANNA STRUMPF 1991

Art Gallery Director

When she was in Year 6, Joanna Strumpf went on a school excursion to the now defunct Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane. The visit to the museum, which featured work by the conceptual artist Peter Tyndall, would have a profound effect on Joanna. The excursion set her on a journey that started at St Aidan’s and resulted in Joanna, together with her business partner Ursula Sullivan, becoming two of Australia’s most proactive and successful art dealers and launching their own Sydney gallery, Sullivan+Strumpf.

Joanna is the first to admit that she isn’t a talented artist, “from the time I knew that my future was in art, I knew I wasn’t a good artist but I had a passion and the desire to succeed,” she says. The decision to pursue a career in art was heavily influenced by her

time at St Aidan’s, by the teachers and the then school Chaplain, Father Binns, whose zeal for art would inspire Joanna.

“It was incredibly forward thinking of the art department at St Aidan’s to arrange a school excursion to see a conceptual art exhibition.” Later when the museum closed and the owners auctioned off the paintings I did buy some. It wasn’t until I had finished university and was earning money that I was finally able to buy my own Peter Tyndall,” she says.

Sullivan+Strumpf opened another gallery in Singapore in June this year and hope to continue the same success they have achieved in Sydney.

PROF ISABELLE SKINNER 1979 (Lenigas) Rural Health

PROF ISABELLE SKINNER 1979 (Lenigas) Rural Health

In her final year at St Aidan’s Isabelle Skinner was called into Sister Julian’s office to talk about what she wanted to do in the future. Isabelle had applied to Queensland University and James Cook University to study marine biology. Sister Julian shook her head, “that’s a surprise, you are a people person, have you considered nursing? You would be an excellent nurse.”

Isabelle admits she wasn’t sure, “but I loved Sister Julian to bits and she was right. I started my nursing training at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and pretty soon I knew it was the right place for me and I thrived. I went on to study at university in England and do further studies at postgraduate level in Australia culminating in a PhD in Public Health.”

Nursing was the start of a journey which inspired Isabelle’s passion to help others and her interest

in public health in rural and remote communities in Australia and throughout the world.

In 2012 she was awarded the prestigious Aurora Award for her contribution to remote health, made all the more rewarding because it was voted by her peers.

Today Isabelle is Professor and the Associate Dean Research and Research Training for the Faculty of Engineering, Health, Science and the Environment at Charles Darwin University. She has served on multiple boards in the education and not-for-profit sectors as well as being a business owner and Director of her own companies.

Isabelle maintains, “Sister Julian was right. She was dedicated to her vocation and is certainly my role model.”

RACHEL FORBES 2005

Netballer

RACHEL FORBES 2005

Netballer

Rachel Forbes can’t keep the enthusiasm out of her voice. The gifted netballer is loving being back in Brisbane, loving playing for Queensland Fusion in the Australian Netball League and loving being an exercise physiologist.

These are all huge achievements for a girl who started on a sports scholarship at St Aidan’s in Year 11 with her twin sister Lauren.

“We both loved netball and were playing for local league in Indooroopilly when our coach, who was also a teacher at St Aidan’s, Tracey Jeanes-Fraser, helped us to get a scholarship at the school and was instrumental in guiding me to achieve continued success in a sport that I love,” Rachel says.

Rachel can also thank her grandmother and mother’s Scottish heritage that would enable her to attain her

next sporting triumph thousands of miles away from Queensland. Rachel was playing for the super league in England when she decided to try out for the Scottish Thistles netball team.

“I’m half Scottish. The whole of my mum’s side of the family are over there. I went to the trials just for a bit of fun but I was picked to be part of the Scottish squad and represented Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 Netball World Cup in Sydney.”

Now she is back in Australia and relishing the warmer weather, Rachel’s next choice will be whether she continues to play for Scotland at the next Commonwealth Games being held in her home state.

VIRGINIA BISHOP 1986

Interior Designer

virginia bishop 1986

Interior Designer

As a young student Virginia Bishop knew she was not a natural academic. However, this has not stopped her from being a creative and artistic director at leading advertising agencies in Brisbane, Sydney and New York. Nor has it impeded her from setting up an extremely successful interior design company when she returned to Queensland three years ago.

“I was always creative but slightly dyslexic, the teachers at St Aidan’s saw this and they gave me the confidence to follow my own path in life and to have the faith in my own skills and abilities,” Virginia says.

After 25 years working in advertising, the last 12 years in New York, Virginia is happy to be home and working in an industry where she can make a difference to people’s lives.

“How your home looks is so important to your happiness and enjoyment of life. Just having a wrong colour in a room can create so many negative thoughts.

I love what I am doing now and the positive feedback from clients makes it so worthwhile,” she says.

Virginia has just taken on the Presidency of the Queensland Interior Decorators Association, where her focus will be on mentoring students coming into the design world.

Virginia is also giving back to the community as she volunteers with Anglicare Southern Queensland by using her creative flair to transform living spaces for homeless women and foster children.

DR SHANEEN LEISHMAN 2001

Research Scientist

DR SHANEEN LEISHMAN 2001

Research Scientist

As a Year 1 student Shaneen Leishman posed a unique challenge to the staff at St Aidan’s. Born with cerebral palsy, and struggling to talk and walk, Shaneen needed extra help and that’s exactly what she got.

Today Shaneen is a research officer at the University of Queensland’s School of Dentistry, having completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and being awarded a PhD in 2013.

Shaneen says St Aidan’s went the extra mile to ensure that she stayed and thrived at a mainstream school, even making sure she was stimulated and learning over school holidays.

“I remember that I was pretty stubborn and found it hard to learn, but the teachers at St Aidan’s didn’t give up on me and they gave my parents scrapbooks

to help me learn at home, even continuing throughout school holidays. I wanted to go to a ‘normal’ school and be given the same opportunities as everyone else. My parents tried a number of schools to gain a place for me but St Aidan’s was the only one willing to take me on and I’m still in contact with many of the teachers who helped me through school,” she says.

Shaneen says that in spite of her difficulties, St Aidan’s encouraged her to participate in every activity, “I took everything in my stride and St Aidan’s encouraged me not to be limited by my disability. I loved being part of the rowing team and even today I am still involved in the sport as a cox.” Shaneen was also the School Vice-Captain in 2001.

JOYCE YANG 2006

Architect

JANO DAWES 1986 (nee Robertson)

Business owner

JOYCE YANG 2006

Architect

St Aidan’s felt like home for Joyce Yang, even though she was a long way from her actual home and family in Taiwan. For Joyce, St Aidan’s became her family in Australia, where she believes talented and supportive teachers steered her towards a career where she would combine her love of both maths and art – architecture.

Today, after studying at RMIT, Joyce is working for a global architectural and design company and playing a key design role in high rise development.

“St Aidan’s did play an important role in the choice of my career, particularly my art teacher Mrs Brown who was very supportive, encouraged my artistic side and inspired me to combine my two favourite subjects into the perfect career for me,” Joyce says.

Her flair for art was recognised in her senior year (2006), when Joyce was named as one of the recipients of the Education Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Art. “I have a lot to thank St Aidan’s for, I started there in Year 10 at a time when most teenagers are seeking a direction in life – and this was even harder for me because I was so far away from my family, but I immediately felt the warmth and support at St Aidan’s and it was like home away from home for me,” Joyce says.

CORALIE BURCHER 1961

Artist

Photo by Robyn Hills.

CORALIE BURCHER 1961 Artist

In recent years Coralie Burcher fulfilled a long held wish to donate a number of her paintings to St Aidan’s, today they can be seen hanging in the Principal’s office.

Coralie said she was ecstatic to see her artwork go to the school where her love of art first began.

Coralie’s first job after school involved painting – she was a colour consultant for British Paints. Marriage and motherhood put her art on the back burner for a while, before Coralie opened her first business – the Burwill Gallery in Jindalee and followed by another gallery in Milton’s Park Road.

Now living on the Sunshine Coast, Coralie is still painting. With all of the accomplishments and accolades she has received for her seascapes, landscapes and animal studies, she still believes there is room for improvement.

“I believe that you never stop learning. Even though I am now semi-retired I do still enjoy sketching with friends but I know that pretty soon I have to get back to some serious work,” she says.

After donating her paintings to St Aidan’s, Coralie visited a group of Year 10 students during their art class. At the time she told them, “you don’t just get an education at St Aidan’s, you are given an incredible opportunity to start a good future.”

Coralie also exhibited works in the St Aidan’s 75th Anniversary Art Show.

ANDREA DAVEY 2002 (Tjoeng)

Business and HR

ANDREA DAVEY 2002 (Tjoeng)

Business and HR

Andrea Davey laughs when she says that she’s a bit bossy. Rather than seeing it as a fault, Andrea believes it is this characteristic that has given her the confidence and leadership to soar in her career and lead businesses, both in Australia and overseas.

Now the Chief Operations Officer for Employment Office Group, Andrea oversees operations for EOG’s Australian and North American branches. Andrea has over 10 years’ experience providing creative solutions to organisations looking to improve how they attract, retain and reward their biggest asset – their employees.

It is this ability and foresight (and maybe a bit of bossiness) that has seen Andrea thrive in her career

and it is these personality traits which first surfaced during her school years at St Aidan’s.

“St Aidan’s was pivotal for me. It was a small enough school so I wasn’t a nameless face in the crowd. I was given the attention I needed while I was at school and always given the opportunity to contribute my views and opinions.

“Yes, I suppose I can be a bit bossy, but I’ve always taken that as a compliment and it was certainly never quashed while I was at school. St Aidan’s gave me the leadership skills that I needed to succeed,” Andrea says.

RACHEL BARNARD 1996

Social Activist

RACHEL BARNARD 1996

Social Activist

As she conducts her business from her office in New York, Rachel Barnard reflects back on the important role a teacher at St Aidan’s had on her life.

In the United States, Rachel is the founding executive director of Young New Yorkers, an organization that provides arts-based diversion programs to courtinvolved young people in Brooklyn.

Rachel says that these young people aged 16 and 17 – tried in the New York Court system as adults – are given the chance to take responsibility for their actions while using art to give voice to their experiences and hopes for the justice system. All of this rather than doing jail time or incurring other adult sanctions.

It is this abiding sense of empathy and justice that was first meaningfully engaged when Rachel was in Year 10.

“I was incredibly inspired by our English teacher, Mrs Youatt-Pine. She chose a subject concerning prejudice and asked us, as a group, to come up with a definition.

As a bunch of 15 year old students we came up with the phrase ‘judgement before knowledge’ which I think was pretty insightful.”

Rachel says that “it was through this subject and the reading list that Mrs Youatt-Pine gave us that expanded my empathy and had me realize the importance of people connecting to each others’ stories. Even today there are books on that Year 10 list which I remember and I often reflect on their importance.”

born to fly

Previous editions of Born to Fly

Born to Fly I

Born to Fly II

For a copy of earlier editions of Born to Fly contact St Aidan’s Alumni Office - 3373 5961

Born to Fly III

per volur sunata

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School

confidence and success

11 Ruthven Street Corinda Qld 4075 T: 61 7 3373 5999 F: 61 7 3379 9432 E: school@staidans.qld.edu.au www.staidans.qld.edu.au CRICOS Provider Number 01194K

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