Issuu

huddle St Aidan’s

CE LE BR AT IN G

C O M M E M O R AT I V E E D I T I O N

years

JU N E I 2 01 4

St Aidan’s

contents

Celebrating 85 years

Curricular

Extra-curricular

Community

Contributors Courtney Phelps, Karen Spiller, Gillian Brown, Mark Bell, Sue Russell, Wendy Biggs and Jenny Green

Sport

Design Annie Fanning

Staff

Alumni

Faith

Editor Cassandra Erbs

Photography Athena Zelandonii , Brooke Petro, Sharyn Fidler, Cassandra Erbs Annie Fanning and Nathan Beveridge. Printing Print Systems Australia Editorial queries, feedback and change of address E: marketing@staidans.qld.edu.au Front Cover (Jessica Sharp and Emily Douglas 1991.) Inside Front Cover (Chai Jie Low plays with the Queensland Pops Orchestra)

Disclaimer The Editors have gone to great efforts to ensure the accuracy of the information compiled in this publication but can accept no responsibilty 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.

the first word

years ago our school was established by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent, supported and encouraged by Reverend

W.E.C. Barrett, Rector of the Sherwood Parish of St Matthew’s, and the Parish Community. Through these years there have been ups and downs of the School’s fortunes (and that of Brisbane and the local Community). Through the Depression, War years, Global Financial Crisis, flood and other challenges, St Aidan’s has shared the journey of the last 85 years with families of the western and south western suburbs of Brisbane. Time has seen only one of the early (1937) buildings survive. “Mecca”, fondly named by our eldest students, is now an art workshop and storage space, but was in its first iteration, one of the first septic toilet blocks in the District. And so the school buildings have come and gone. Most recently we have seen the $12 million of capital works completed in 2010 which has given our students the Christine Hartland Centre and associated pool landscaping and

Karen Spiller PRINCIPAL

Charma Place in the Junior School. We are now finalising our fundraising and plans for the redevelopment of the Archer and Templeton Science and Technology Centre to be commenced in September. Buildings come and go; and in their time provide wonderful facilities for students and staff and real opportunities for our girls to have a first class learning environment. There have been a number of constants over our 85 year history though. The support, guidance, wisdom and commitment of our Sisters and those they have entrusted the schools oversight to, School Council and Trust Members, has continued to provide a strong and enduring foundation for all we do. The commitment of our staff and unswerving support of our school community and parents in particular, has remained a vital constant. Another enduring feature is that of the authentic relationships that characterise our school and are evident in the daily interactions of our students with each other, with staff and their determined focus to take this care and concern into the wider community. This value is commented on by visitors to our school as well as our oldest past pupils – for whom it formed such an integral part of their early school days. I commend this 85th Celebratory Huddle to you and look forward to another 85 years of outstanding educational opportunities being provided for our students.

Karen Spiller

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

C E L E B R AT IN G

years

celebrating 85 years - vision

‘The greatest joys in life come from those who build with vision ... What vision we had! What plans for future expansion and beauty!’ Mrs Christine Hartland, 1954, reflecting on the first 25 years of St Aidan’s.

MR HARLAND, DEAN BARRETT, MRS BARRETT AND MRS HARTLAND

huddle I

june

2014

CE LE BR AT IN G

The early years The work of the Sisters of the Sacred Advent began in Brisbane in 1892 with the arrival of its founder, Sister Caroline Amy Balguy from England. She intended to establish a boarding school for girls, noting that in order to ‘have a progressive and tolerant community; educated women are a pre-requisite’. Education in Queensland in the nineteenth century was a two-tier system, with schools run by government and by the churches. By 1860, the first Anglican Archbishop, Dr Tufnell, had arrived in time to observe the abolition of financial aid to church schools and restricted religious education in state schools. The church’s response was to establish a network of church schools throughout the Diocese. The Sisters’ educational philosophy was based on religious principles and actively sought to educate ‘the whole personality, physical, mental and spiritual that the girls may live to their fullest capacity’. This philosophy informed each of the SSA schools established - St Margaret’s and St Michael’s in Brisbane, St Catherine’s in Warwick, St Anne’s in Townsville, St Gabriel’s in Charters Towers, St Mary’s in Herberton and All Saints’ Hostel in Charleville. The question of a school on the south side of the city was first considered in 1927. The Right Reverend Henry Frewen Le Fanu, Warden of the Society of the Sacred Advent, told the Chapter a house with grounds suitable for a school was for sale at Chelmer. Due to the lack of finance and no qualified Sister who could

years

be freed to manage the school, it was decided not to go on with the suggested project. In October 1928 The Reverend Canon WEC Barrett proposed a school should be opened in Corinda. St Margaret’s was now able to help financially and the school at Hamilton, which the Sisters were staffing, had been given up in July. Therefore, in December 1928 it was decided a school in the western suburbs was needed, as the distances travelled by some students attending St Margaret’s were great and time consuming. A suitable site had been found near the Corinda railway station, and a secondary day school was established as a branch of St Margaret’s, which would be supervised and staffed by St Margaret’s. St Aidan’s was opened in green and leafy Corinda, on 4 February 1929 by the Right Reverend Le Fanu. Sister Elisabeth was Sister-in-Charge; Mrs Christine Hartland, Headmistress; and the Reverend Canon W.E.C. Barrett, Chaplain. Records show 17 students were enrolled, including one boy. By the end of 1929 Miss Sutton joined the staff and the students from her small school at Sherwood increased St Aidan’s enrolment to 42. Boys were admitted into SSA schools so that they could have an Anglican education before attending ‘Churchie’. It is interesting to note that the depression years affected most church schools negatively. However St Aidan’s had 65 students by 1930 and 134 by 1934. This was a very promising start and reflected the considerable commitment to St Aidan’s from its first days from Sister Elisabeth, the Dean and the Bishop.

Source: St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School: celebrating over 75 years

celebrating 85 years - principals and headmistresses

1929 - 1947 Mrs Hartland

1948- 1955 Sister Lois

1955 - 1961 Sister Moira

1962- 1964 Sister Helen Marie

1964 - 1971 Sister Rachel

huddle I

june

2014

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

P ri nc ipal s

& Head mistresses

Mrs Christine Hartland was Headmistress when St Aidan’s opened on 4 February 1929, and remained at the School until 1947. Mrs Hartland, for whom one of the School Houses is named, valued the highest principles of education, personal integrity and good behaviour. As she said in later years, “the School and I grew together”.

Although the Sisters had traditionally come out from Community House in Ascot to teach Divinity and to prepare students for confirmation, the arrival of Sister Lois in 1948 represented the School’s first Sisterin-Charge. Her views on education were farsighted and progressive and she deplored any view that denigrated the value of education for girls. Sister Moira took over in 1955 when Sister Lois left to take charge of St Anne’s School, Townville. Under her guidance, support for the Arts grew, essential Senior School building works were under construction and Science subjects had received a much-needed boost. Sister Helen Marie succeeded Sister Moira in 1962, bringing to the School her great love of music. When Sister Helen Marie was also transferred to St Anne’s School in 1964, Sister Rachel arrived to St Aidan’s from St Catherine’s, Warwick. She was a lady of very high intelligence and had qualifications in Accountancy. Sister Kathleen took over in 1972, with the day-to-day running of the School carried out by the Senior Mistress,

1972 - 1973 Sister Kathleen

1973 - 1980 Sister Julian

1980 - 1991 Mrs Marjorie Neil

Mrs Mairi Potts. The sudden departure of Sister Kathleen led to the appointment of Sister Julian, who was known for her “incredible kindness and generosity”. Miss Marjorie Neil came from St Hilda’s School to become Headmistress at St Aidan’s in 1980. A testament to her years of hard work and foresight was the Performing Arts Centre (now the Christine Hartland Centre). Mrs Patricia (Trish) Evans succeeded Miss Neil in 1992. An Arts graduate with first class honours in German Language and Literature, Mrs Evans came to St Aidan’s with a breadth of teaching and administrative experience. Her vision for St Aidan’s included formulating and implementing a strategic plan and enhancing administrative staff and students access to improved technology. Her leadership was characterised by a renewed focus on teaching and learning. A dedicated Junior School was also constructed. Current principal, Mrs Karen Spiller was appointed to the role in 2000. An Arts and Education graduate from The University of Queensland with a Master of Educational Administration, Mrs Spiller views St Aidan’s as a school with a “tangible personality” – one of the best schools in Australia in terms of its excellent standards of education and supportive school culture.

1992 - 1999 Mrs Patricia Evans

2000 Mrs Karen Spiller

Source: St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School: celebrating over 75 years

celebrating 85 years - faith

1979 PREFECTS AT ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL

1993 CHAPLAIN’S INDUCTION

1995 SACRISTAN SERENA DRURY

huddle I

june

2014

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

The sisters had one simple rule

‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.’

2004 75TH CELEBRATIONS AT ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL

2009 GIRLS ATTENDING COMMUNION AT ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL

2012 KATE PIDGEON AND MOTHER EUNICE

celebrating 85 years - uniforms

1930

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

1949

1954 1955

1961 1961

1963

1949

1979 1979

huddle I

june

2014

Uniforms Because of its foundations with the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent, the St Aidan’s uniform was initially identical to its Sister School, St Margaret’s – navy blue skirt and bodice and middy top with a detachable white collar and a laced-up necklace. The sports uniform was memorably modest – a white long-sleeved shirt and school tie, brown box-pleated pinafore, bloomers and stockings. A bandana was worn with ST A emblazoned on the front when competing in interschool sports. The sports uniform remained unchanged, except the hemlines went up and down, until the mid1970s when there was a rethinking of the uniforms overall and changes were made to the sports uniform, winter uniform and style of the summer uniform dress. A light brown tunic sports dress with side splits and tied with a cloth striped belt and worn with matching bloomers was introduced with short socks. This uniform provided more freedom and comfort for the girls to move and perform their sports, and was worn by a decade’s worth of students. The distinctive St Aidan’s uniform now consists of the ink navy “Blues” dress, with white collar and brown “shoelace” tie. Brown leather shoes, brown ankle socks and rounded panama hat complete the uniform ensemble.

celebrating 85 years - building st aidan’s

Building St Aidan’s

1928

Sisters purchased MacArthur’s house and grounds along with basketball and tennis courts at the corner of Harrowby and Ruthven Streets. This large family home was built in 1904 by Mr E MacArthur and was situated on two acres. The streets of Harrowby and Ruthven then had different names of Alfred Street (Harrowby) and Arthur Street (Ruthven).

1932

Steer’s house was purchased to accommodate Senior students. MacArthur’s house then became known as the Junior School.

1936

Assembly hall was built and three senior classrooms were added on to MacArthur’s house.

1937

‘Mecca’ (a lavatory block) was built at cost of £344 in the Senior School.

1937 Tuckshop was created under a bower of wisteria. Mothers would set up tables under the senior arbour (this location is currently marked near the corner of fence adjoining the Kathleen Street property). A shelter shed was later built.

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

1939

Kindergarten opened. It was built on an existing vacant allotment purchased by the Sisters.

1942

During World War II trenches were dug by fathers and boys from BBC and Churchie early in the School year. Students were unable to return to School until the trenches had been established and classes were held in nearby homes of students during this time.

1948

The first Science Laboratory was established in the former garage of Steer’s House (Senior School).

huddle I

1952

The Boarding Hostel, known as Walker House – was made available to the School for use as a boarding hostel for country girls. Mr & Mrs Dance housed 20 boarders from as far as Cunnamulla and Papua New Guinea, and operated until 1957.

1954

MacArthur’s house is raised and classrooms created underneath.

1955

Mr Dean Prangley, an Architect, headed a building sub-committee in 1955 to formulate the school’s first long term plans for new classrooms. A permanent tuckshop was built onto the back of the Junior School (MacArthur house) – close to where the School’s existing tuckshop now stands.

1958

Senior Classrooms were completed in February. The building comprised of four classrooms and was located where the Art and Design Precinct is currently located.

1964

Four classrooms were completed (now the western end of Le Fanu). This was St Aidan’s first permanent building. This year also saw an extension to the Assembly Hall and a toilet block for the Junior School.

1965

The Broad family sold their home to Sisters, to be used for classrooms, music, drama and grounds (this was located currently where the Science and Technology Centre now stands) and became known as Broad’s House.

1965

The Dean Barrett Memorial Library was established.

1966

The Science labs were constructed. This consisted of a single storey building. Four additional classrooms were added underneath those already constructed in the western end of the Le Fanu building.

1967

The J W Fletcher Memorial Swimming Pool was built.

1968

The creation of a new courtyard in the centre of the new building block (now the Year 6 Courtyard) was completed.

june

2014

celebrating 85 years - building st aidan’s

1970

The Language laboratory was built.

1971

The new temporary Chapel was created where once the netball courts once stood. The Rosemary Hill Memorial Gates were constructed and dedicated.

1973

The fish pond and landscaped garden was created as part of a memorial to Mrs Hartland.

1975 ‘Beulah’ was purchased (the site where the Junior School now stands).

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

1975

A three storey classroom block was constructed (now the location of the Dance Studio, Heath and Design Technology classrooms and Art studio).

1979

Beulah sporting grounds were opened which included netball and volleyball courts.

1979

Le Fanu opened providing additional classrooms and a staff room.

1984

The Assembly Hall also known as MacArthur’s house was demolished.

1985

A devastating storm hit Brisbane and half the roofs and glass in school buildings were damaged and and had to be replaced with many areas repainted, rewired and carpets replaced.

1985

Le Fanu was extended eastward towards the railway line.

1986

Ambiwerra sporting fields were opened. Ambiwerra, which means ‘girls over there by running water’, was the name of the original school building, owned by the MacArthur family (otherwise known as MacArthur’s house). The grounds were originally a 17-acre dairy farm, owned by the Bergin family, purchased by the Sisters for $150,000. Ambiwerra included a 400-metre oval with 8 lanes, 2 international-size hockey fields, 3 netball courts and three volleyball courts.

huddle I

june

2014

1989

The official Opening and Blessing of the Chapel and Multi-Purpose Building (now known as the Christine Hartland Centre). The Chapel with its magnificent stained glass windows (completed over the following ten years) was designed to be at the heart of the School.

1997

Ambiwerra fields were extended with purchase of the ‘Strawberry Farm’ providing new tennis, netball, and basketball courts.

1997 Broad’s House was sold and relocated in Gumdale. The grounds of Broad’s were landscaped as a recreational area. 1998

The new Junior School building, on the former Beulah site, was completed.

1999

The new Senior library was established in Le Fanu. The Food and Textile Technology area was created in the space where the library once was and Le Fanu underwent a total refurbishment.

2002

Harrowby Street was closed and relocated to become Aidan’s Way.

2003

The opening of the Bob Templeton Science and Technology Centre (later renamed The Archer and Templeton Science and Technology Centre).

2004 Prep was reintroduced. 2004

The relocation of Year 7 classrooms to western end of Senior School creating the Year 7 precinct

2008

10 Ruthven Street, adjacent to the Junior School was purchased and was later relocated to Maleny.

2009

A new Angelus bell was commissioned.

2010

Charma Place opened in Junior School (on the former site of 10 Ruthven Street) which included a new Junior School library.

The Christine Harland Centre (formerly the Performing Arts Complex) re-opened following 8.4 $ million of renovations and extensions.

2012

Classrooms in the Junior School were remodelled for the re-introduction of Kindergarten.

2014 Renovations of the Science and Technology Centre.

celebrating 85 years - history of the school houses

During the 1940s and 1950s, each House celebrated the year and their achievements with a special annual supper, held in the Assembly Hall. Much care went into the table decorations including place cards.

AUSTEN

BARRETT

BRONTE

CAVELL

HARTLAND

huddle I

june

2014

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

History of School Houses

he St Aidan’s House system was first established in the middle of 1929, with each House named after women who had set the highest standards in their personal and professional lives and contributed to the status of women in the world. The earliest were Cavell and Nightingale in 1929; followed by Bronte in 1932; Austen in 1935; Hartland in 1966; and Barrett, Parkinson and Sellon in 1971. The early days of the School saw students carrying out weekly House duties, such as watering and inspecting the school grounds, rolling and marking courts and tidying classrooms. An order and disorder mark system meant these duties (and other House activities such as singing, debating and drama competitions) were keenly contested. St Aidan’s first Principal, Christine Hartland was a lover of flowers and reportedly refused to teach in any classroom without a floral arrangement of some description. As a result it was a House duty to ensure flowers were in every room and House Garden Competitions were introduced when the school grounds were extended. Other House activities over the years included drill competitions, ball games, hoop rolling relays, stamp collecting (which still continues today), flower arranging, gardening, lifesaving and gymnastics. In 1966 it was decided that the School had now grown sufficiently to support the creation of a fifth House, with Mrs Hartland honoured to have the House named after her. She chose jacaranda blue as the Hartland House colour. Over time, the five existing Houses grew to over 100 students each, and so three more Houses were created in 1971 “for greater efficiency” – Barrett (named after Helen Barrett, past student); Parkinson (after Mavis Parkinson, a missionary executed by the Japanese in 1942); and Sellon (after Priscilla Linda Sellon, who founded the Sisters of Mercy of the Most Holy Trinity in 1848).

NIGTINGALE

House Supper 1954

The House system changed for the final time in 1975, when Sellon and Parkinson were merged into the existing Houses. Current students at St Aidan’s continue to be placed into the six Houses of Austen, Barrett, Bronte, Cavell, Hartland and Nightingale. Source: St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School: celebrating over 75 years

CRICKET

BASKETBALL

2000

BALL GAMES

2005

BADMINTON

2010

ATHLETICS

2014

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

History of St Aidanâ€™s Senior Sport

1995 1990 1985 1980 1975 1970 1965 1960 1955

WW2

1950 1945 1940 1935

1929

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

ATHLETICS

BADMINTON

BALLGAMES

BASKETBALL

CRICKET

* A Significant Achievement has been defined, for these illustrative purposes, as : Core sports (Athletics, Cross-country and Swimming) - a percentage or aggregate cup win. Other sports - Senior or Open team win. Where there are multiple Senior or Open teams , it has been defined as a success with the pinnacle team.

POLIO OUTBREAK

LIFE SAVING

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

NETBALL

HOCKEY

FENCING

EQUESTRIAN

CROSS COUNTRY

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT*

NETBALL WAS KNOWN AS BASKETBALL DURING THESE YEARS.

CROSS COUNTRY

EQUESTRIAN

FENCING

HOCKEY

LIFE SAVING

NETBALL

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

Disclaimer - St Aidan’s has gone to great e

huddle I

2014

VOLLEYBALL

TOUCH FOOTBALL

TENNIS

TABLE TENNIS – The School offered the sport from 19971999 competing in the QGSSSA competition in 1999.

SWIMMING

SOFTBALL

PREMIERSHIP *2013 *2008 *2005 *2004 *2001

SOCCER FOOTBALL

ROWING

SAILING – St Aidan’s competed in sailing competitions during the early 1990’s with records of the sport offered in 1991 through to 1994.

june

PREMIERSHIP *1975

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

ROWING

SOCCER FOOTBALL

SOFTBALL

SWIMMING

TENNIS

TOUCH FOOTBALL

VOLLEYBALL

efforts to ensure the accuracy of the information in this timeline. If there are any omissions or discrepancies, we would be grateful to receive additional information

sport

CE LE BR AT IN G

years

History of School Sport In its initial years and considered far too young to compete in interschool sporting events, St Aidan’s was invited to compete as a House in St Margaret’s sporting competitions. St Aidan’s sporting teams of these years were founded on the tradition of sportsmanship, for which the School has become well known since then. An early tradition was established by holding the Sports Dinner following the Interhouse Athletics, which were always held on Ascension Day. By 1937 St Aidan’s claimed its first interschool competition won by the Hockey team. The first Interhouse swimming competition was held at Toowong Baths in 1948, with Cavell winning the Lawton Cup. St Aidan’s was the first school in Brisbane to possess a jumping pit. The purchase and development of the Ambiwerra sporting fields in the 1980s and is subsequent expansion in the 1990s saw a dramatic offering of sports available to students. During these years the popular and successful sport of rowing was introduced.

1938 POMMEL

1938 ATHLETICS

1945 NETBALL

1949 GPS SPORTS DAY

1971 Nightingale House Banner

academics - student achievements

100% OP1-15 results 2 013

Each year we celebrate

our graduates

who have truly excelled. Our list of Honours recipients is an example of the St Aidan’s girls who have put in the hard work and have been rewarded at the end of their school life by being accepted into their tertiary course of choice. We also celebrate our students who have been recognised with university scholarships based on their outstanding results. St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School students have again achieved exceptional OP results in 2013 with 100% of OP eligible students gaining an OP between 1 and 15 – one of only two Queensland schools to ever achieve this feat. Our results show St Aidan’s is again well above the State average in all OP categories and is one of the top performing independent schools in Queensland. 100% of our students also attained their Queensland Certificate of Education. 100% of total applicants received an offer from QTAC in the January round.

OP Results 2013

OP 1

OP 1-3 OP 1-5 OP 1-10 OP 1-15

28% 43% 86% 100%

(State = 2.75%) (State = 10.45%) (State = 19.96%) (State = 49.27%) (State = 79.20%)

huddle I

june

2014

Academic Achievement

academics - student achievements

100% OP1 - 15 Results 2013 Louisa Macdonald (DUX 2013) is currently studying a Bachelor of Science at The University of Queensland, with the view to pursue a career in a science or medicine-related field.

Louisa Macdonald VICE CHANCELLOR’S SCHOLARSHIP, University of Queensland

She is the recipient of a coveted University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, awarded to outstanding school leavers who achieve at the very top of the OP1 band.

Irene Mengel (2013) is currently

Irene Mengel VICE CHANCELLOR’S SCHOLARSHIP, Queensland University of Technology

Alexandra Thompson SIR SAMUEL GRIFFITH SCHOLARSHIP AND THE SUPPORTING WOMEN SCHOLARSHIP, Griffith University

studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She has received a 2014 QUT Vice Chancellor’s Academic Scholarship, the university’s top offering for high achievers. In addition to financial support, the QUT scholarship program provides students with professional development opportunities that help to build leadership skills and industry networks.

“It is still early days, but I am hoping this degree will lead me into a career in law, potentially linking my business qualifications and going into taxation law to ultimately become a tax law barrister,” said Irene.

Alexandra Thompson (2013) is currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Information Technology (majoring in Computer and Electronic Engineering) at Griffith University.

Alexandra has also been accepted into the Griffith Honours College, a program designed to offer selected students experiences to assist them in developing skills such as leadership, teamwork and community engagement.

She is also the recipient of two scholarships – a Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarship, awarded to students who achieve high academic success and demonstrate great personal achievement and leadership qualities; and a Supporting Women Scholarship, awarded by Skills Queensland to encourage highachieving female students in Queensland to study in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as Engineering, Information Technology and Agriculture.

“At St Aidan’s I developed a love for the creative as well as the analytical, and so I am hoping to end up in a career that challenges both sides of my brain, such as overseeing product and software design and development,” said Alexandra. “Electronic and software engineering is a field that is always changing and moving forward, and I would love to contribute to that.”

huddle I

june

2014

Tertiary Destinations of our 2013 School Leavers

28%

Society and Culture

(e.g. Law, Economics, Psychology, Sport & Recreation)

24%

Management and Commerce

Education

(e.g. Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary)

(e.g. Hospitality Management, Banking & Finance)

Area of Study

16%

Health

(e.g. Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Pre-Med, Naturopathy, Speech Pathology)

Creative Arts

(e.g. Music, Graphic Design, Communication and Media Studies)

Architecture and Building

11%

Natural and Physical Sciences

(e.g. Urban & Regional Planning, Interior Design)

(e.g. Mathematics, Physics, Laboratory Technology)

Engineering

(e.g. Chemical, Automotive, Civil, Aerospace, Biomedical, Surveying)

43% of our students achieved an OP 1-5 Tertiary Institution Destinations

Institution

2013 (%)

The University of Queensland (UQ)

49% 34% 13% 4%

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Griffith University Other Universities

100% of total applicants received an offer from QTAC in the January round.

academics - student achievements

huddle I

june

2014

As part of the unit, students joined forces with SPARQ-ed (Students Performing Advanced Research Queensland) for a series of exciting workshops based both at St Aidan’s and at the SPARQ-ed facility located in the Translational Research Institute (TRI) in Woolloongabba. An initial school-based workshop called Little Things Matter provided the eager students with the opportunity to learn how to take swabs and plate them onto nutrient agar. Girls tested various sites around the St Aidan’s Junior School, and were then invited to TRI to view their results. Here, they also took part in a World in a Drop of Water microscope workshop, where they discovered the intricacy of the microscopic world through pond organisms and even cancer cells. Established in 2009, the SPARQ-ed program is a collaboration with The University of Queensland’s Diamantina Institute and the Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment. Its top facilities boast a biomedical teaching laboratory and online learning area, where participants can work alongside scientists from TRI’s partner institutes.

SPARQ-ed Sparking students’ curiosity for science is nurtured early at St Aidan’s, as Year 6 classes recently discovered with a fascinating primary Connections unit of study titled, Marvellous Microorganisms.

“Experiences like SPARQ-ed present our students with unique opportunities for participating in hands-on scientific study within the surrounds of state-of-the-art biomedical teaching laboratories and facilities,” said Vivian Dowd, Year 6 Science Coordinator. “The aim of these kinds of studies is to nurture students’ natural curiosity and sense of wonder about the world around them – when students are engaged in the joy of scientific discovery, they are also further developing their scientific literary skills and an ability to apply critical and creative thinking to draw thoughtful conclusions.”

a c a d- languages emics - the aspiring women in science conference Arts

All the interesting stuff is happening at the interfaces, if you bring together people who are good at biology, maths and engineering they come up with answers to problems no one of those three disciplines can solve. Prof Ian Frazer, Keynote Address at the Aspiring Women in Science Conference

huddle I

june

2014

girls @ the

heart of science With between 80-90 per cent of Year 11 and 12 students studying at least one Science subject, St Aidan’s is bucking the national trends of a minority of girls choosing to include these subjects into their Senior studies. When recently visiting St Aidan’s to open the Aspiring Women in Science Conference in May, Science and Innovation Minister the Honorable Ian Walker said it was important to address the gender imbalance. “The latest data from Microsoft shows that 80 per cent of jobs globally in the next decade will require technology skills, while science, technology, engineering and mathematics occupations are growing by 17 per cent,” Mr Walker said. “Technology also plays an important part in the four pillars of our economy, tourism, agriculture, resources and construction that we promised at the election to grow. “If young women don’t embrace these subjects, they’re cancelling themselves out of many career opportunities while they’re still in the classroom.” The Aspiring Women in Science conference hosted by St Aidan’s and The University of Queensland was one attempt to redress the gender imbalance in the scientific world.

The conference with the theme of Girls @ the heart of Science, saw more than 200 of Queensland’s brightest young female science students from 40 secondary schools across Queensland and New South Wales. Students travelled from as far as Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Townsville as well as New South Wales come to Brisbane to attend. This is the second year the conference has been held and it has seen the numbers of students attending almost double showing a real desire for young women to learn more about possible study and career paths in the area. Speakers this year included Professor Ian Frazer, co-creator of the technology for the cervical cancer vaccines and CEO and Director of Research of the Translational Research Institute; and Aideen McInerney-Leo, an expert in human genetics from the UK. The conference also saw St Aidan’s welcome back a number of Old Girls to the School including Dr Geraldine Moses (1980) – Pharmacy; Dr Shaneen Leishmann (2001) Dentistry; Dr Ruth Mackinnon (1979) – Genetics; Caitlin Prior (2009) – Engineering; and Aimee Hanson (2010) - Genetics.

T h e A s p i r i n g Wo m e n i n S c i e n c e C o n f e r e n c e

academics - science

Aspiring Women’s Conference - St Ursula’s Katie Randall, Alycia Hogan, Grace Saffron, Chloe Turrell

Aspiring Women’s Conference St Stephens College Marina Kaku, Rebecca Wallace, Anastassia Demeshko,Lauren Scott

Aspiring Women’s Conference - St Aidan’s Students

CHELSEA DELVES INTO RESEARCH Chelsea Ho (Year 12) has been offered a placement at AIBN (Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology). The University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) is an integrated multi-disciplinary research institute bringing together the skills of world-class researchers in the areas of bioengineering and nanotechnology. It is home to 19 research groups working at the interface of the biological, chemical and physical science to alleviate problems in human health and environmental issues. Students will be assigned to a specific research group for the four days. Students are asked to familiarise themselves with the research focus of the group before their placements and consider the basic science that underpins the work.

huddle I

“ the opportunity to fly

anaviation simulator has ensured their love of flight is really taking off.

“

Aeronautical science may go over the heads of many, but for over 80 of St Aidan’s Years 11 and 12 students, the opportunity to fly an aviation simulator has ensured their love of flight is really taking off. The experience was thanks to a new collaboration between Defence Force Recruitment, SimJET and Encore Events, with St Aidan’s one of only 20 schools in Queensland invited to trial the simulator experience. The flight simulator took up to four participants every 20 minutes, with students experiencing the role of both pilot and air traffic controller. The program aims to provide an opportunity to young women who may not otherwise ever have the chance to fly a simulator, and is part of a Defence Force strategy to increase the number of female recruits into the Air Force. “The students loved the experience, with many commenting that it was a chance of a lifetime,” said Careers Counsellor, Jennie Robinson. “Overall the experience was very positive, and really inspired some of our students to consider a career as a pilot for the first time.”

june

2014

a i snt do rdy e s i g n - d e s i g n a n d i n n o v a t i o n s t u d i e s cc r ea ad tei m v ei casr t- sh a

St Aidanâ€™s Fast Fact

subjects or courses

Design and Innovation Studies

huddle I

june

2014

new multidisciplinary subject called Design and Innovation Studies has been launched across Years 7 and 8, providing students with a framework for developing innovative solutions to problems. Through various design projects, students in Years 7 and 8 are learning to generate ideas, engage in technological processes and create interesting and inventive solutions to real-life issues. Year 7 students are currently engaged in a project that aims to redesign the ‘Tuckshop experience’, and are also set to produce a short video to document their process. Meanwhile, Year 8 students are redesigning the ‘Locker Experience’ and the School’s outdoor areas, undertaking research through observation and interviews to identify key issues. The students have all been given a small notebook in which to continually jot down ideas, inspiration and questions. “Students appear to enjoy the fact that everything about the class is a little ‘different’ – they have a lot more creative control over how the projects develop, and they’re learning to handle the fact that the creative process is not always direct and linear,” said Design and Innovation Studies Subject Coordinator, Tim Kemp. The subject seeks to meet the growing need in business and industry for innovative designers to deal with rapidly developing technologies and practices. “I see huge benefits for Design and Innovation Studies students outside of the classroom, as well as in other subjects,” said Mr Kemp. “These projects help students to develop effective brainstorming and observation skills, foster empathy for end-users of products and encourage them to find inspiration in everyday items to constantly ask, ‘Why do we do things like this?’”

academics - kindergarten

P Painting poppies; coming to school in your pyjamas; popping popcorn – learning about the letter P is fun when you’re a student in St Aidan’s Kindergarten! These were just some of the engaging activities that make up the Jolly Phonics program, an initiative introduced by Kindergarten teacher, Louise Vickers to help children learn their alphabet sounds through songs, games, art and stories.

“The students are immersed in learning each new sound through a variety of activities including songs, stories, art and crafts and interactive whiteboard games,” said Ms Vickers. “The children are having so much fun with these learning experiences that they do not perceive it as work.” The program is unique in that letters are not taught alphabetically; instead, each sound is introduced in a sequence that allows students to build upon their ability to spell phonetically, with a new sound introduced each week.

“The first five sounds taught are: S, A, T, I, P and N,” explained Ms Vickers. “Once the children have mastered these sounds, they are able to blend them together to spell up to 30 words.” Ms Vickers said the Jolly Phonics program has been very well received by her students, particularly when learning new songs each week.

june

“When we investigated the P sound for example, the children loved learning actions to go with the song, as well as playing educational games on the interactive whiteboard and painting beautiful poppies,” she said. “Their favourite activity was the P Party – all the students came into school in their pyjamas and we ate popcorn and made pizzas!”

2014

jolly phonics kindergarten

huddle I

curricular - year 7 camp

p e ngu i ns

here are perhaps few better ways to bond a group of people than to ask them to get through a muddy, physically demanding obstacle course together. For the 47 St Aidan’s Year 7 students, their camp at Lake Moogerah – aptly titled, Muddy Penguins – was a test in perseverance and an ideal opportunity to cement friendships that will last them a lifetime.

Even rain and the resulting wet grounds couldn’t dampen their spirits, as students eagerly worked their way through ‘The Mission’ obstacle course, a low ropes apparatus, the ‘Tumble Tower’, archery and team-building activities such as StarWarts, a game played entirely in the dark. The general consensus amongst the girls at the end of the camp was reportedly that it “was the best fun ever”.

“Although the majority of the cohort transitioned into Year 7 from the St Aidan’s Junior School, the camp gave them the opportunity to interact with people outside their usual friendship groups, and even get to know the staff who accompanied them on the trip better,” said Head of Year 7, Vera Coleman.

huddle I

june

2014

“ Teamwork

“

makes the dream work Bang Gae

“The enthusiasm that the girls showed in all activities was infectious and it was refreshing to see everyone getting involved – for example, although The Mission obstacle course initially appeared daunting, all the girls mucked in and most completed it more than once. There were many gleeful squeals as they slipped and slid their way around!”

Ms Coleman said that on the whole, the cohort was settling into life in the Senior School well. “The Year 7 girls have approached their academics with confidence and enthusiasm, and especially enjoy having specialist teachers for all their subjects,” Ms Coleman said.

“Hopefully the learning that they took away from the camp about how a team should work, and what an individual needs to do to be a member of a successful team, will be evident in the future as the girls progress through their years of high school.”

global connections

extracurricular - global exchange

The first participants in St Aidan’s Exchange Program for 2014 have returned home to St Aidan’s triumphant, after spending time at their host school in Tasmania. Amelia Anderson and Alexandra Gehrke (both Year 9) were welcomed to St Michael’s Collegiate in Hobart earlier this year, and reported having a wonderful time experiencing Brisbane and St Aidan’s through “fresh eyes” when they hosted their Collegiate students last month. Alexandra said she had enjoyed being a student of the Middle School at St Michael’s Collegiate, and had experienced many of Hobart’s fascinating cultural and historical sights. “I had so much fun doing this exchange – I got to make new friends, some of which I’m still in touch with today, and go to different places that I wouldn’t have been able to experience in Brisbane, such as the top of Mount Wellington,” said Alexandra. “I think it takes courage to hop on a plane with only one other person you know, and leave your family and friends behind. I feel that I am more independent now than I was before the trip.” Fellow exchange student, Amelia also felt she had improved her selfconfidence since her trip.

“I would definitely recommend this exchange to other students, as it is a fantastic experience that helped me grow independence, self confidence and adaptability,” said Amelia. Alida Thistlethwaite (Year 9) is one of four St Aidan’s students travelling to South Africa on exchange later this year, and recently hosted her host sister, Jenna from St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria. “Hosting Jenna was so great, and I am really looking forward to seeing her again when I go over to South Africa,” said Alida. “I am really excited to meet her family and go to school to see how different it is from ours. I also really love lots of different South African food so hopefully I’ll get to try some delicious things while I’m over there!” In addition to Hobart and South Africa, this year will see St Aidan’s students studying abroad in Perth, Melbourne and New York City. NEW YORK – Paris Irwin, Katherine Dunn, Emma Frey (Year 10) PERTH – Ruby Turner, Tasmin Oswin (Year 9) MELBOURNE – Gemma Kirwood, Ella Morrison (Year 9) JOHANNESBURG – Bronwyn Van Wyk, Kathleen Kendall (Year 10)

huddle I

They would not yet know it, but for three current Year 12 students that performance marked the first taste of a journey that would ultimately see them acting alongside Shake & Stir professionals in The Tempest, staged at Brisbane Powerhouse earlier this year. It was towards the end of 2013 that the St Aidan’s English and Drama departments submitted entries in the inaugural Queensland Youth Shakespeare Festival. After performing in regional trials in the Drama category for Scenes, Heather Burridge, Madelyn Kilkenny and India Oswin (then Year 11 students) went onto the state finals where they triumphantly took first place.

june

2014

Queensland Youth Shakespeare Festival In January this year Shake and Stir Theatre Company produced an engaging, professional performance of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”, featuring the three St Aidan’s students who won the State finals of the competition, along with a number of other finalists.

With other chosen finalists, these girls were then invited to participate in the experience of a lifetime – acting in a professional theatre production, Shakespeare’s The Tempest. “Each rehearsal was so rewarding, and it was amazing getting to work with such a talented group of people,” said Madelyn Kilkenny. “I have learnt so much about performing in theatre and how a professional show is put into action; it was incredible going into the theatre and seeing the set and lighting all put together by a large crew.” India Oswin (pictured) agreed, and said she had learnt a lot about performing in theatre, and how a show is put into action. “I have never felt so lucky in all my life as when I found out I was selected to be part of The Tempest; it was an absolutely amazing experience that reinforced my love for Shakespearean literature and drama,” said India. For Heather Burridge, the highlight was spotting actors that she was accustomed to seeing on stage, sitting in the audience watching her. “Seeing professional actors watching us in the audience that I see perform on stage all the time was surreal, as was the knowledge that we were selected from 5,500 to take part in The Tempest – I got a ten-day taste of my dream job!” Head of Drama, Kate Reilly said that working with practitioners in the industry broadened students’ perspectives of possibilities in interpreting, staging and presenting theatre. “The Drama Department has been fortunate to maintain links with industry practitioners, and this additional involvement in the Youth Shakespeare Festival has been a valuable opportunity for our students,” said Ms Reilly. “The benefits gained by the girls involved have been verifiable in the classroom, resulting in a more professional approach and an increased pursuit of excellence.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DYLAN EVANS

extra curricular - music

Star on the rise St Aidan’s Music Co-Captain and rising pianist star, Chai Jie Low is no stranger to the stage. Her impressive credits include invitations to perform at the 2009 Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal concert and various recitals and functions throughout Queensland, as well as first place in the Open Diploma Level Piano section at the 2012 Brisbane Eisteddfod and the Gladys Payne Piano Memorial Bursary at the Ipswich Music Eisteddfod. She is currently also a member of the St Aidan’s Chamber Strings, Symphony Strings Orchestra, Chorale and Stage Band. On May 17, Chai Jie’s career took a major step forward when she made her professional concert debut with the full Queensland Pops Orchestra (QPO), playing The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini as part of QPO’s 30th Anniversary Concert. Queensland Pops Orchestra was first established to bring together a cultural melting pot of high quality entertainment to a community who enjoy a mix of opera, popular classics and musical theatre. The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is hugely popular with audiences around the world due to the combination of sparkling piano virtuosity balanced with sumptuous melodic writing. “Romantic works by composers like Rachmaninov are always my favourite to play, so I was very excited to choose Rhapsody on a Theme of Pagnini for my first performance of a large-scale work with an orchestra,” said Chai Jie. “It was a lot of work preparing for the concert, but it was also a very exciting and rewarding experience to play with the QPO – I absolutely loved the beauty and depth of sound that filled the room when the piano and orchestra played together!” St Aidan’s Head of Music, Dr James Cuskelly said the concert was a wonderful platform for Chai Jie to perform concert repertoire of an international standard on stage with highly skilled professional musicians. “The inclusion of the piece in this concert allowed Chai Jie the opportunity to display both her prowess and her sensitivity, and she received outstanding reviews both from concert goers and from the professional music fraternity for her performance,” said Dr Cuskelly.

“

In June/July this year, Chai Jie will advance her standing as a professional pianist when she participates in Stony Brook International Piano Festival in New York. This prestigious course involves two weeks of private instruction from Artist Faculty members, master classes with international guest artists, lectures on piano playing techniques, music theory/piano literature courses, recitals and performance in New York City.

june

2014

Queensland Pops Orchestra

huddle I

Photograph courtesy of the Queensland Pops Orchestra

extra curricular - stage dance

STAGE success The students of our auditioned dance troupe of STAGE dance have been leaping to great heights with success in a number of recent competitions including taking out first place at the Brisbane Eisteddfod in the Secondary Schools Jazz Section in May.

huddle I

june

2014

Knockout blow in Great Debate see St Aidan’s the victors

St Aidan’s students Rebecca Kirapairajah, Savannah Kuylaars, Amy Changuion and Simran Shah took on their fierce opposition of Brisbane Boys College speakers of Jeremy Briggs, James Sennayke, Aditya Suresh, and Alex Reyment on the topic “Reality television should be wiped from the face of the Earth” in this year’s Great Debate. More than 300 spectators meant a last minute change in venue to cater for the large numbers keen to see the two schools face off. With St Aidan’s arguing the negative and BBC the affirmative it was sure to be a hard fought battle. St Aidan’s was the victor on the night with a knockout blow scored by Savannah Kuylaars who had done her research on the opposition with hard evidence found on the Facebook pages of the BBC debaters who ‘liked’ a number of reality television shows – a position they found hard to argue back from.

community - international women’s day fun run

International Women’s Day FUN RUN In a sea of pink, 232 members of the St Aidan’s community joined an enthusiastic crowd who put their best foot forward in support of the annual International Women’s Day Fun Run, raising money for women with breast cancer. The St Aidan’s team, organised by the Interact Club, took out the Schools’ Challenge trophy and the Highest Fundraising School Team award after raising $3,790. A total of 8,310 people participated in the March event, raising a staggering $240,000 for Mater chicks in pink, an organisation providing support to women with cancer. Participants can choose to either run or stroll the five-kilometre circuit, which weaves through the beautiful surrounds of South Bank. Zara Haines (Year 7) was the highest fundraiser from St Aidan’s, collecting an impressive $1,010. This was Zara’s first year attending the Fun Run, and she said felt strongly about fundraising for the cause after a close family member developed breast cancer. Breast cancer is still the most common cancer affecting Australian women, with seven Australian women dying from breast cancer each day. “The International Women’s Day Fun Run is a wonderful opportunity to bring our school community together joining in the fun of the day, while raising money for such a worthwhile cause,” said St Aidan’s Head of Library Services and coordinator, Kristen Lewis. The prizes taken out by the St Aidan’s team will be raffled at other Interact fundraising events throughout the year.

huddle I

Worlds greatest shave

Students throughout the School gathered in the Christine Hartland Centre in March to cheer on the girls as they lost their locks. The girls each had their own reasons for becoming involved in the mammoth fundraising effort, including Kirsten’s father Paul surviving cancer and Isobel’s friend recently being diagnosed. The World’s Greatest Shave initiative brings in roughly half the money The Leukaemia Foundation requires to fund its important work.

2014

worlds greatest shave

Shaving off your full head of hair is a daunting idea for most, but the bravery of four St Aidan’s students to do just that has raised over $12,000 in support of The Leukaemia Foundation. Kirsten Mackie (Year 8), Amy Stalley (Year 8), Isobel Taylor (Year 10) and Chloe Stokker (Year 7) all took part in the 2014 World’s Greatest Shave, which encourages people to shave or colour their heads and raise money for people with blood cancer.

june

junior school - c token

St Aidan’s wins

2014 PREMIER’S SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

huddle I

june

2014

Students working towards a sustainable future St Aidan’s was announced the winner of the Community Award at the 2014 Premier’s Sustainability Awards at a prestigious event in late May with over 450 people in attendance at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Premier’s Sustainability Awards recognise the achievements of Queensland communities, schools, individuals, businesses and industries in adopting sustainable business practices. The Community Award is given to a Queensland community group or a community partnership for measurable achievements in environmental care and natural resource stewardship. St Aidan’s was awarded this honour due to the School’s numerous community partnerships including with groups as diverse as Landcare and the Oxley Creek Catchment Association to involvement in the Brisbane City Council’s Active School Travel and Waste programs. The School’s internal initiatives also were recognised such as the work undertaken by our Earth Angels, the Soles for Souls campaign of our Seniors as well as the work done by the School’s staff and School Council. This year, the awards attracted 120 nominations across nine categories ranging from some of the state’s biggest infrastructure projects to small, innovative and game-changing enterprises. The School was recognised with a beautiful trophy and $2,500 for future initiatives. Special congratulations to Mrs Megan Daley leading the working being undertaken by our Junior School Earth Angels and other sustainability initiatives within the school.

Australia’s Favourite School Library It’s no secret that St Aidan’s Junior School Library is a special place to be, and now the rest of the country knows it too. The Junior School Library has been voted Australia’s Favourite School Library, as part of a campaign launched by Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) to find the nation’s favourite libraries. Across a range of 16 different categories, the competition received a staggering 223,768 votes from members of the public across Australia. The campaign kicked off in February to coincide with Library Lovers’ Day, with voters logging their votes via phone, email or online since mid-March. “Congratulations to our tireless Junior School librarians, Megan Daley, Jackie Child and their team on this well-deserved accolade,” said Head of Junior School, Louise McGuire.

huddle I june 2014 45

p s pa or er tn t- s c ar on sds f cr ioeunndt sr y - r e p o r t

cross country

june

2014

cross country

huddle I

The St Aidan’s Cross Country team has aimed for the stars – and got there – with an incredible first place in the Percentage Cup and third place in the Aggregate Cup at the annual interschool Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) Cross Country championships held in May.

Head Coach, Jayden Russ, said the thrilling success was due to an increased focus on participation, as well as developing emerging talent within the School to compete amongst the competitive QGSSSA landscape.

success

“Over the past two years, the St Aidan’s Athletics and Cross Country program has undergone a sweeping change in culture, attitude, training, coaching and overall outlook towards achieving in these sports,” said Mr Russ, who has been with the School since 2012. “We have focused our efforts on building the St Aidan’s program through creating a fun, friendly and supportive training environment where each girl is motivated to be a part of the team success, and this has also created an internally motivated core group of elite athletes buying into the program and wanting to make a difference.”

With St Aidan’s moving up the overall leader board in both QGSSSA Cross Country and Athletics, its athletes are now shining at what Mr Russ described as “the next level”. “With a motivated team of athletes and coaches, we are aiming to move into the Top 5 overall for Cross Country and Athletics and challenging for victory in the Percentage Cup competition,” said Mr Russ. “Performances such as these have lifted the profile of St Aidan’s Athletics and Cross Country with a new found spirit and energy growing from within the student body.”

sport - cross country

ON THE FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS School Captain, Libby Jacques, made national selection, chosen to run for Australia at the International School Sport Federation’s World Cross Country Championships in Israel in March. She returned with a sensational top ten finish in 6th place. Elizabeth Jacques •

Represented Australia in the Schools World Cross Country Championships in Israel in 2014 with a top 10 finish of sixth.

•

Broke the 16 year 1500m QGSSSA record by 4 seconds in 2013.

•

Representing Australia at the upcoming Oceania Championships in the Cook Islands

•

Australian All Schools Championships Bronze 1500m & 3000m in 2013

•

Athletics Australia Target Talent Program Athlete

Libby has also been recognised for her sporting achievement and leadership with the Australian Olympic Council’s coveted Pierre de Coubertin Awards which will be presented in July.

huddle I

june

2014

FAST FACTS St Aidan’s has had some impressive results in Cross Country and Athletics this year. At an inter-school level: • Winner of the Joan Benson Percentage Cup & Third in the Aggregate - QGSSSA Cross Country Championships • Winner of the Inala District Junior School Championships • Second in the Percentage Cup - Andrews Cup Cross Country Championships

NATIO NAL CHAMPIO N The unheralded performances of St Aidan’s athletes have continued at state and national levels – with a highlight being Madeleine Attlee (pictured right) crowning as a national champion for her run in the Under 16 400m. St Aidan’s athletes had 12 top eight finishes at the recent Queensland Junior Athletics Championships. Kate Riethmuller (U/14), Romany Beckinsale, Madeleine Attlee (U/16), Erin Sundstrom, Madi Trainor, Rhoda Thornton and Libby Jacques (U/18) qualified to represent Queensland at the Australian Junior Championships in Sydney. A number of these athletes continued on this success with five top ten finishes at the Australian Championships, highlighted by Madeleine Attlee’s gold medal victory in the Under 16 400m. Madeleine Attlee •

Under 16 400m Australian Champion in 2014

•

14 Years QLD 400m Champion in 2013

•

14 Years QLD Champs Silver 200m in 2013

•

QLD Athletics A-Squad Member

At a state level: • Queensland Champions in the 3 x 4km at the State Relay Championships; • Fastest school in the state, claiming a thrilling victory in the Queensland Athletics Champion School of QLD 4 x 100m Challenge; • 12 ‘top 8’ finishes - 2014 Queensland Junior Athletics Championships; • 30 Athletes qualified to compete at the Met West Regional Cross Country Championships • 11 St Aidan’s girls qualified to compete at the Queensland Schools Cross Country Championships • Seven students qualifying to represent Queensland at the Australian Junior Championships; At a national level: • 5 ‘top 10’ finishes at the Australian Championships; and • Gold for Madeleine Attlee’s in the Under 16 400m. • Madeleine Attlee, Erin Sundstrom, Rhoda Thornton selected for the Queensland Athletics A-Squad • Libby Jacques and Katie Colebourne selected for the Queensland Athletics Q-Squad At an international level: • Sixth place for Libby Jacques competing for Australia at the World School Cross Country Championships in Israel.

sport - rowing 25 years

As St Aidan’s celebrates its 25th year of Rowing in 2014, The Huddle looks back on a quarter century of early mornings, blistered hands and crews of girls bonded for life.

25 years of early mornings

The first students to row as a St Aidan’s crew were coached by the iconic Don Bosher, out of Toowong Rowing Club. One of the student’s mothers approached then headmistress, Miss Neil to ask permission for the girls to enter the inaugural School Girls’ Head of the River in 1990, under the school name. St Aidan’s became a founding member of Brisbane School Girls’ Rowing Association, and that year took out its first win in a regatta, with the coxless pair taking gold.

By 1992, 45 girls had signed up to row, with Rob Garnsworthy heading the coaching team. His expertise continued St Aidan’s Rowing on the right track, with a plan for the future acquisition of equipment and a more structured coaching plan. It was in 1993 that St Aidan’s Rowing Club first began rowing out of the Brisbane Boys College boatshed, and hired some of their equipment. Now with 65 rowers, in 1996 Mother Eunice dedicated and launched a new lightweight

boat for the 1st VIII crew named Spirit of Aidan. The Don Bosher quad boat was also added to the fleet in recognition of Mr Bosher’s considerable contribution to St Aidan’s successes in rowing. History was made in 2004 when, for the first time, St Aidan’s won the 1st VIII race at the Head of the River regatta by a significant margin. The Rowing Club and the wider school celebrated a feat that was truly momentous and which will be forever remembered by the

huddle I

S jpuon ret 2- 0f 1e 4n c i 5n 1g

years of rowing As one of the School’s most talented rowers during her years at St Aidan’s, it wasn’t long after graduating high school that Eve Pinkerton (School Captain 2011) felt the lure of the sport once again. Now training with the Toowong Rowing Club High Performance Squad, Eve recently won gold in the U21 single lightweight scull at the National Rowing Championships in Sydney – an achievement that has come through a lot of hard work. “We train up to three times a day, six days a week,” said Eve, who is also in her third year of Biomedical Science at The University of Queensland, as well as working part-time at the Mater Hospital for Palliative Care Research. “Training involves rowing each morning at 4.45am, and then the remaining sessions of the day cover weights in the gym, running and/or ergos.” Eve was also a member of the crew that won the U23 quadruple scull at the National Championships, and placed third in the U23 double scull. She said she most enjoyed rowing in the bigger boats, and said it brought back memories of her experiences at St Aidan’s.

naming of another VIII boat, Spirit of 2004. The following season, St Aidan’s brought home the Aggregate Cup for the first time, and the 1st VIII went on to achieve gold at the State Championships. Since those humble beginnings in 1989, the St Aidan’s Rowing Club has seen over 750 rowers come through the sheds. The St Aidan’s Rowing Club is now located at the St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace shed at Tennyson, a much larger facility closer to the school campus.

Current Director of Rowing, Cameron Stephenson has been a familiar face around the sheds for 14 years, first as a parent and then as a coach since 2003. He began competitive rowing and coaching long before becoming involved at St Aidan’s, and continues to row competitively. “Perhaps the thing that characterises a St Aidan’s rower is that despite often being physically smaller than the girls from other schools, we consistently perform better than expected – by rowing better,” he said.

“From Year 7 to 12 I rowed in various boats with different mixes of girls and coaches; but it was my time in the 1st VIII in 2010 and 2011 which form some of my fondest memories of rowing at St Aidan’s,” said Eve. “It was in this team that I learnt the importance of dedication – we always took training very seriously so that regardless of what happened on Head of the River day, we could say that we had trained the hardest out of all the schools.” Eve said her goal for next year is to be selected in the U23 Australian Rowing team, and compete at the World Championships in 2016

sport - hockey

Dreams can come true

It’s not a sport for the faint of heart, but for St Aidan’s Hockey Captain, Morgan Gallagher, representing her country in Hockey is the ultimate dream come true.

This month sees Morgan pursue Hockey overseas for the first time, as she gets set to join her teammates in the National U16 squad and play matches in South Africa. Morgan was also recently selected in the Queensland Women’s U18 Hockey Squad, the winning team to recently take down New South Wales in the Grand Final, 5-2. “I really enjoy the games, and also the friends you meet,” said Morgan, who has been selected in a Queensland Hockey team every year since the age of 11. “When you go away for games you stay with your team so that is always fun as well. In South Africa we are travelling around playing a couple of trial games and we’re also entered in a test series – we also get to visit game parks and go on safaris while we’re over there, so I’m really excited!”

Morgan began playing Hockey at six years old and would reportedly go to bed on a Friday night wearing her shin pads and socks, just so she would be ready for her game come Saturday morning. “Perhaps the thing that has impressed me most about Morgan’s Hockey career at St Aidan’s has been her willingness to mentor others,” said St Aidan’s Head of Sport, Nigel Bailey. “She is a very unselfish player who, although she could easily dominate games at this level, has actively sought to create opportunities for the less experienced members of any teams she has played in.” A talented all-rounder, Morgan is also involved in school Soccer, Swimming, Softball, Athletics and Badminton and is a Co-Sports Captain.

huddle I

june

2014

Champion Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) JUNIOR RIDER With countless hours spent in the saddle since the age of three, Rosanna Relton (Year 11) has come a long way since her days riding a little Shetland pony named Peanuts. Recently awarded Champion Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) Junior Rider at the 2013 Australian Young Rider Championships and a nomination as finalist for Junior Sports Star of the Year at the 2013 Equestrian Queensland Awards, Rosanna has been named the FEI Young Rider of the Year at the 2013 Dressage Queensland Awards. “The feeling of competing in front of a crowd of thousands, and hearing my name together with ‘representing Australia’ is indescribable,” said Rosanna.

The young rider plans to base herself with one of her riding coaches in England after graduating Year 12 in 2015, and travel between there and Brisbane while competing on the European circuit. Ultimately, she said her goal was to make the Olympics or World Equestrian Games team by 2020. “It’s my passion for my sport and the love for my incredible horses that gets me out of bed and working hard every morning,” said Rosanna. Photograph courtesy of the Local Horse Magazine

junior sport - in profile

To k e n P r o g r a m

hey may be relatively new to the classroom environment, but St Aidan’s Prep and Year 1 students are already perfecting their courtesy, cooperation and consideration skills thanks to the help of a new program. The ‘C’ token program was established at the beginning of 2014 by our Prep and Year 1 teacher, Tracey Hand and seeks to encourage students to behave in a respectful manner towards themselves and each other. Students exhibiting courtesy, cooperation or consideration are presented with a ‘C’ token; once collected, 20 tokens can be saved up or traded in for one of three rewards – a prize from the lucky dip basket, half an hour of free choice time with a friend or a lunch date with Head of Junior School, Louise McGuire. Once the girls have collectively achieved a total of 1,000 ‘C’ tokens, a special prize will be awarded to the whole class. “The development of appropriate codes of behaviour allows each child to feel confident, secure and valued in their

classroom environment, which was the impetus for establishing the ‘C’ token system in our classroom,” said Ms Hand. “The room literally buzzes whilst the girls are counting their tokens each Friday – not only are students keen to acquire tokens, their skills in counting to 20, adding to 20 and also understanding how many more tokens they need to achieve 20 are also developing very well,” she said. Ms Hand reported that across the board, a special lunch with Ms McGuire had been the most popular reward choice. “Not one girl has opted for the lucky dip basket or free choice time in weeks!” she said. Ms McGuire said she was delighted with the opportunity to spend quality time with the girls – who enjoy lunch with placemats and flowers and animated conversation.

june

2014

j un ior s port

huddle I

staff - in profile

St Aidan’s Principal, Karen Spiller has been named Bond University’s inaugural Principal in Residence. The esteemed role will see Mrs Spiller advise on a number of issues for the university, particularly in relation to the management of caring for students as they transition into tertiary studies.

BOND UNIVERSITY

Principal in Residence

Mrs Spiller will also be available to the university to comment on a variety of educational issues, and has already spent time with the Heads of Faculties to learn more of their offering and advise on what she believed students are looking for in a university. Mrs Spiller said she was thrilled to be working alongside some of Australia’s top thought leaders across a variety of fields, and said she could see numerous benefits for both the university and the School. “Bond University has generously offered the opportunity for St Aidan’s students and staff to avail themselves of the Bond campus and lecturers in many different forms,” Mrs Spiller said. “For example, I am working with the Faculty of Health Science to offer specialist training for sports staff and students on nutrition and dietetics, as well as safe training and warm ups. We are also discussing opportunities in the Business and Law Faculties for staff training and guest lectures in financial management for students.” “The sky is the limit for this mutually beneficial relationship.”

Dr James Cuskelly KMEIA Life Membership

In recognition of his dedication to the field of music education, Dr James Cuskelly has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia (KMEIA).

In her announcement to KMEIA members, National President, Tess Laird said it was “heartening to be able to congratulate him among many who have had their lives changed by his inspiration and encouragement.” The award was presented at the final concert of the Brisbane Summer School in front of over 300 course participants, and an audience that packed the theatre venue to capacity.

“I was deeply honoured to receive this Award from KMEIA, and I am so humbled that my colleagues from around the country felt moved to recognise me in this way,” said Dr Cuskelly. “In general, I think that teachers are a group who work to build futures for others and in this sense, the work only bears fruit many years into the future. An award such as this serves to reinforce the value of the work and to provide an endorsement of the many years of my teaching.”

huddle I

june

2014

Leading from the front It was almost eight years ago when as a delegate at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools conference in Boston, that St Aidan’s Principal, Karen Spiller heard women’s issues advocate Marie C. Wilson articulate a sentiment that struck a chord with her.

Kim Kiepe Principal from 2015 St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls– Perth (current Deputy Principal of St Aidan’s)

Conference attendees – mainly teachers and education leaders – were encouraged to “reach back and bring other women forward”. It was an idea that sparked what has become a driving passion for Mrs Spiller, now renowned in her own right for her work in encouraging and promoting women’s leadership in all areas and organisations, particularly in education. St Aidan’s has a well refined student leadership program throughout the school and this is complimented through an extensive leadership development program for staff. This includes annual reflective professional review, the opportunity for study leave and exchange programs, workplace shadowing both at St Aidan’s and other schools, career coaching as well as the multi-award winning Aspiring Women Leaders Conference – offered since 2006. More than 400 women from schools all over Australia and New Zealand have attended these conferences. Karen has also been a regular presenter at conferences aimed at encouraging women’s leadership including the Association of Independent Schools in New South Wales and Western Australia, Edmund Rice Education Australia and in Singapore.

In just ten years, four of St Aidan’s senior leaders have accepted Principal roles in schools around Australia and many other staff have accepted other promotional opportunities.

Ros Curtis Principal of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School – Brisbane (former Deputy Principal of St Aidan’s)

Her work in this area was further enhanced when in 2011, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship that provided the valuable opportunity to “examine strategies for preparing female leaders for the role of principalship in Australian schools,” through travels in the UK and USA. Most recently, St Aidan’s Deputy Principal, Mrs Kim Kiepe will commence the role of Principal of St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in Perth, from January 2015. Former St Aidan’s Deputy Principal, Ros Curtis, is now in her fourth year as Principal at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School. “I have benefited so much from the encouragement and sponsorship from so many, especially previous Heads (both male and female), that have enabled me to assist others to be the best they can be and pursue leadership” Principal, Karen Spiller said.

Wendy Lauman Deputy Principal of St Hilda’s School – Gold Coast (former Dean of Student of St Aidan’s)

parents and friends - in profile

Holiday on offer The P&F has been very active throughout this semester with various fundraising activities. We started the year with a Trivia Night in February which was successful on many fronts â€“ participation across the parent and school community; $10,000 funds raised; and a great night that was enjoyed by all. We hope this event will become a permanent annual fixture on the calendar. At the end of Term 1 we also launched our major fundraising initiative for 2014 - the Fiji Holiday Raffle with the major prize of a five night holiday at the Sheraton Fiji Resort and $2,000 Virgin Australia Gift Voucher. Other fabulous prizes on offer include a $1,000 Shaw Stockbroking gift voucher a Wenger luggage set and a Noosaville getaway. To date, the profit raised from this initiative amounts to $8,000. Other events held over this period have been a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle in April raising over $2,000, and our regular school dances. Attendance at these dances has been tremendous and have raised more than $18,000 from the two dances this year. Thank you to our volunteers and various Support Groups who have worked so hard to achieve such fantastic results and we look forward to more activity in the second half of the year.

huddle I

Planning for the future The start of 2014 for St Aidan’s School Council has certainly been productive. We have been undertaking consultation with members of our school community including parents, past parents, students and Old Girls to assist in the refresh of the School’s Strategic Plan. Our aim is to release this strategic plan later in the year. The School Council has also established a Marketing Communication Reference Group which has been meeting regularly. I am delighted to advise of the appointment of Rev Gillian Moses as School Chaplain who will start in Term 3. Rev Moses is currently Priest in Charge of the Cooroora Parish and has been a member of our School Council as a nominee of the Sisters so she already has a strong understanding of the Philosophy of the Sisters of the Sacred Advent and our school values and culture. We are also delighted, but also saddened, with the appointment of our Deputy Principal, Kim Kiepe to the role of Principal of St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, Perth commencing in 2015. This is wonderful testament to the work being undertaken in our School and by Karen Spiller, in the development of female leaders in education. We congratulate Ms Kiepe on her appointment. The process to appoint a successor for the role of Deputy Principal is currently underway. Finally, the Sisters Trust has given their approval to commence the refurbishment of the Archer and Templeton Science and Technology Centre which is due to start in September of this year for completion by the start of the school year in 2015. This will be an exciting project for the School and I encourage members of our community to support the project through the Foundation’s Campaign for the Sciences.

june

2014

Ms Gillian Brown Chair of Council

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer…” 2 01 3

-2 0 1

SCIE A P P EN C E AL

Ms Harriet Tubman

Campaign for the Sciences Update Thanks to your support, St Aidan’s continues to nurture and encourage a love of the sciences, as well as provide a comprehensive range of world-leading facilities. Since the launch of the Campaign for the Sciences in 2013, combined donations of more than $450,000 have been generously received from our community of parents and Alumni. Initial seed funding of $300,000 was kindly donated by an Old Girl, with parents, and other community members, continuing to follow this lead. Gifts made to the Building Fund via the Periodic Table Honour Board, from Direct Mail Appeals, and from Foundation event attendance, including our series of Science Centre Breakfast Walkthroughs, will enable the physical refurbishment of the Science Centre, which will commence in September 2014. Please refer to the Foundation Newsletter, which accompanied this edition of the Huddle, for more information, including a visual layout of the Science Centre’s proposed design.

MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST Our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast was held in May. Guest Speaker, Clinical Psychologist, Dr Rosie Peters (2003), spoke of her work with childhood anxiety. A lovely breakfast was provided by Caxton Street Catering, and while a few people had their eye on the prize, only one winner could ride away with the main prize – a gorgeous bright yellow retro ladies bike! Thank you to all our prize donors and volunteers for supporting this thoroughly enjoyable and well-supported event.

DATE CLAIMERS Make sure you diarise the following Foundation event dates (keep an eye out for your email invitation closer to the time):

Father’s Day Breakfast – Friday, 5 September Foundation Lunch – Friday, 10 October Junior School Dads’ Disco – Friday, 31 October

Alumni News Ascension Day

197 9 ALUMNI CELEBRAT E ASCENS I ON DAY

alumni - creating a living bridge

Olympics beckon

1937 Hockey Winning Team

Hockey’s history of wins When Huddle readers speak, the editorial team listens – especially when those readers know how to wield a hockey stick. An article published in the December 2013 edition of The Huddle featured the impressive Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) premiership win by last year’s Hockey team. That article incorrectly stated that this was the first time a St Aidan’s Hockey team has taken out the top spot in schoolgirls’ competition. Thanks to correspondence from several passionate past students, it has now come to light that this honour was also awarded to the St Aidan’s Hockey team as early as the 1930s, and again in 1991 (C grade), 1992 (A grade, shared) and 1993 (A grade). We apologise for any offence this error may have caused, and look forward to many more premiership wins in the future of St Aidan’s Hockey.

Equestrian and past St Aidan’s student, Chelsea Higgins (2011) continues to go from strength to strength, with the announcement that she has made the National Para-Equestrian Elite Squad – putting her in contention for World Championship or Olympic Games selection. Her journey to the top has not been an easy one; in 2010, Chelsea was competing at the Interschool National Championships in Sydney when her horse took a fall during the Cross Country phase, landing directly on top of her. Sustaining a serious brain injury, Chelsea was treated in intensive care for two weeks, initially completely paralysed on the right side of her body and with a fractured scapula, lacerated liver and perforated lung. Almost four years on, Chelsea has again steadily learnt to walk, talk and function; but for the brave young rider, the best news of all was when she was finally able to get back in the saddle. Chelsea is now classified as a Grade III International Para Equestrian athlete, competing on her beautiful horse, Holstein Park Comedian. In 2013, she was also awarded the prestigious Para Equestrian of the Year trophy. Chelsea said she was absolutely thrilled to be given the opportunity to represent Australia and compete with some of Australia’s top riders as part of the National Para-Equestrian Elite Squad.

1939 Hockey Team Winners Of Interschool Pennant

She acknowledged that while her accident had turned her life upside down, her dedication to the sport and passion for horses helped her heal and get back to doing what she loved.

huddle I

june

2014

St Aidan’s students make a difference. The accomplishments of St Aidan’s alumni bring honour to themselves and to their School in a multitude of ways – through leadership in their professions, business and government; ground-breaking advances in science and medicine; accomplishments in athletics, humanities and the arts; and service to the global and local communities. This year, St Aidan’s is looking to recognise these exception Alumni with the introduction of the St Aidan’s Alumni Awards.

Caroline Amy Alumni Award Recognises the significant contributions made by St Aidan’s alumni in their local communities and beyond. Nominees must comply with all of the following eligibility criteria: •

•

Demonstrates sustained and significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: professional achievement, community, cultural, sporting or leadership achievement. Work, whether professional or volunteer, demonstrates a significant positive impact that has been felt by many. Through prominence in their field/profession, brings distinction to St Aidan’s. Has achieved sustained success over their career that is noteworthy and exceptional.

These annual awards will aim to recognise outstanding achievements made by alumni locally and outside of Australia in community service and their professional field. The Awards will celebrate the diverse achievements of alumni and provide an opportunity to share these inspirational stories throughout the year. The winners will be widely celebrated and promoted, leading up to and after the School’s Annual Awards Night.

St Aidan’s Alumni Award Categories: •

Distinguished Young Alumnus (under 30).

•

Caroline Amy Alumni Award

Key dates 31 July

Nomination close for the awards

August

St Aidan’s Day – recipients are announced

November

Annual Awards Night – recipients receive their award

For more information and details on how to nominate for the awards visit our website at http://www.staidans.qld.edu.au/Community/OGAandAlumni/Pages/Alumni-Awards.aspx

Distinguished Young Alumnus (under 30) Recognises young alumni (30 years or younger at the time of nomination) whose early accomplishments inspire and provide leadership to students and alumni. Nominees must comply with all of the following eligibility criteria: •

Recognises young alumni whose early accomplishments inspire others.

•

Work, whether professional or volunteer, demonstrates a significant positive impact that has been felt by many - locally, nationally or internationally.

•

Their accomplishments raise their profile and standing within their community and/ or bring greater recognition of their profession.

•

Demonstrates leadership qualities in a variety of contexts that could include volunteerism or community work or through their profession.

alumni - creating a living bridge

Alumni Events In the regal surrounds of The Brisbane Club, past students at all stages of their law careers recently gathered to network and discuss the joys and challenges of the legal profession. Now an anticipated annual event on many past students’ calendars, the Law Breakfast hosted by the St Aidan’s Alumni is the perfect opportunity for professional and social networking within an intimate and friendly setting. During what was dubbed “the best Law Breakfast yet”, this year’s attendees were treated to an engaging talk by former St Aidan’s student Margaret Jolly, lawyer and human resources consultant. Others present at the breakfast came from a wide variety of legal professions. Bonnie Apted (2007) is currently a Judge’s Associate in the District Court, and said she had enjoyed the opportunity to network and stay involved with the school community. “The Law Breakfast allowed me to catch up with and meet others studying or working in law – the ‘older’ Old Girls also gave helpful advice on career options and pathways and shared some of their own experiences,” said Bonnie. Similarly, with three semesters left until she completes her bachelor degree in Law/ Journalism at The University of Queensland, Emma Hislop (2009) said she found a great deal of value in being able to candidly speak with experienced legal practitioners in a casual context. “I typically view networking as a brazen, awkward practice, but I found the breakfast to be a very relaxed and convivial event,” said Emma. “I was able to discuss my future employment prospects with like-minded people, and obtain advice from women who have each taken unique career paths in the legal profession.” Old Girls involved in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, Building and Town Planning were also treated to a very successful networking breakfast in early June, with attendees spanning a decade of graduates, ranging from 2013 to 1993.

Put it in your diary... HEALTH BREAKFAST Networking Event – 21 August BUSINESS BREAKFAST Networking Event – 27 August CREATIVE INDUSTRIES Networking Event – 2 September To attend or receive further information on any of these events please contact the Alumni Office on P: +61 7 3373 5961 or at E: paststudents@staidans.qld. edu.au

huddle I

june

2014

40 Year Reunion On 4 May, St Aidan’s welcomed back the

Following a sumptuous luncheon, a grand

Class of ‘74, for their 40 Year Reunion.

tour of the current campus was organised and

There were 30 in attendance, from a

all who joined, were amazed and delighted

graduating group of fewer than 60. Many

with the School’s development. Our special

hugs and shrieks of delight ensued, with

reunion has been memorialised on the

the arrival of classmates from Melbourne,

Campaign for the Sciences Periodic Table

Western Queensland, and two from

with the element 40, Zirconium, donated by

South Africa with ‘ancient’ artifacts’ and

‘The Class of ‘74’.

photographs were displayed throughout the room.

Reunions and Old Girl Events 2014 21 August

7 am

Alumni Health Breakfast

27 August

7 am

Alumni Business Breakfast

2 September

7 am

Alumni Creative Industries Breakfast

13 September

2 pm

Melbourne Reunion

10 October

7 pm

Young Old Girls Event

25 October

2 pm

Canberra Reunion

For further information, please contact the Alumni Office on 3373 5961 or paststudents@staidans.qld.edu.au

Vale Sister Julian We gained valuable lessons in life and leadership from this extraordinary woman

Rowena and Sister Angela at Community House. In 1953 she felt that she was being called to do something different with her life and she approached the Mother Superior with a view to testing her vocation to the Religious Life. She was sent to St Aidan’s to help with the Kindergarten, and assumed the name Sister Julian. Her time was also spent at St Martin’s Hospital, Tufnell Home (a home for children), and some of the other Sisters’ schools.

SR JU LIAN AN D CHLOE

Sister Julian was Sister in Charge of St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School from 1973 to 1980 and was the last of the Sisters of the Sacred Advent to take the lead, in this role, at the school. Sister Julian born Barbara Liddell, grew up on a property near Hughenden, west from Townsville in Central Queensland. She attended one of the Sister’s Schools, St Gabriel’s in Charters Towers when she was twelve years old and in 1941, was named School Captain. This followed her early years of education being home schooled and working on her family property. She completed senior studies learning English, French, Latin, Physiology, Ancient and Modern History and Maths. Sister Julian graduated with grades to study medicine however the war intervened and she returned home to the family farm and became a jillaroo. She loved working with the sheep, milking the two house cows and mustering. She was rarely seen without a dog at her side. In 1951 she came to Brisbane and volunteered at Red Cross, Legacy and began taking an active role in her local Church – Christ Church, Yeronga. She joined the choir and the youth group and on Sunday afternoons she made contact with Sister

In 1956 Sister Julian became a Novice with the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent and was professed in 1958. She spent some time at Community House and St Martin’s Hospital, and she was involved with a number of Schools – St Michael’s, Clayfield, St Catharine’s, Warwick, St Anne’s in Townsville and St Margaret’s before being appointed the Sister-in-Charge at St Aidan’s in 1973. Sister Julian was the Sister-in-Charge of St Aidan’s from 1973 to 1980. These were years when great changes were taking place in education in Queensland – the external Senior Examination had just been replaced by internal assessment in line with the Radford Report and schools were having to be more innovative in developing Work Programs and assessing their students. Sister Julian led St Aidan’s through these challenging years in her own quiet way and with her own common sense approach to administration. She was well liked by the whole School Community – students, teachers and parents. The 1970s were in many ways turbulent years and Sister Julian was very much aware of the changes which were taking place in society and indeed in the world – old and tested values were being challenged and were being replaced by values which were influenced by the rise of materialism and secularism. In 1975 in her Speech Night Report she commented: “The past five years have seen dramatic changes in our educational system… progressive assessment has provided

teachers with far wider scope and greater flexibility…this is good; but instead of removing the supposedly undesirable element of competition among students, it has increased it…this breeds academic selfishness…the individual now seems to work alone against the rest.” She then went on to say: “The whole educational process (has) distorted values and priorities. Religious and moral instruction and cultural pursuits, which are not assessable and yet are so important in the formation of character, receive scant recognition from a generation of students who are forced into a deadly rat race to gain entrance to tertiary institutions. The solution is for these institutions to set their own entrance examinations and allow our schools to resume their proper role – to inculcate (the) right values and a love of learning for its own sake.” These comments reflected the Philosophy of Education of the Society of the Sacred Advent which was an important cornerstone in the administration of all of the Schools with which they have been associated. Sister Julian suffered from very poor eyesight and she managed this challenge through a sharp intellect and a highly developed memory. She was a fierce advocate for the development of values and character education. Following her passing early this year, many Old Girls and members of staff remembered Sister Julian fondly as “a beautiful soul”; “kind to all”. However, one Old Girl in particular described her life beautifully: “She was a very gentle person. She was small, yes, but quietly fierce in the sense that she knew what her values were, the values of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent, what was expected of her, and in turn what she expected of her staff and students. She was dedicated to her faith, which guided her actions. Always authentic, and trusted. “We gained valuable lessons in life and leadership from this extraordinary woman.

Alumni News Deaths

Marriages

Mary Harrison (Chambers, 1941) passed away in December 2013

Emma Betts (2008) married Serge Simic on 16 March 2014.

Chelsea Higgins (2011) named in the 2014 Para-equestrian Elite squad.

Delas Cross (McDonald, 1942) passed away in October 2013

Louise Knyn (2004) married Simon Clarke on 22 June 2013.

Kate Baumann (2008) graduated with honours in Zoology.

Ashleigh Mulder (2004) passed away in May 2014

Zoe Jacovides (2003) married Aaron Feehan on 9 May 2014.

Congratulations Tahlee Minto (2005) graduated with first class honours in medicine.

Anne Marie Rice (1991) made the Doyle’s list of leading family lawyers. Eloise Kearney (2005) was admitted as a solicitor. Caitlin Manche (2006) graduated with a dual Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Business Management, with a Dean’s Commendation for high achievement. Nikki Manche (2008) graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Geotechnical), and was awarded First Class Honours. She also spent one semester abroad at The University of Illinois. Andrea Tjoeng (2003) was named in AIM30 – a list of managers under 30 making their mark. Meg Rylance (2007) who is Assistant Editor for Shine TV and is currently working on Network 10’s Master Chef. Emily McLaughlin (2007) appointed as Assistant Development Manager at Bluestone Property Solutions and is currently working on a large scale apartment building project in Sydney.

Births Ashleigh Danielli (Gilchrist, 2002) and Daniel welcomed Flynn Harry on 23 February 2014. Ashleigh Petrou (Downes, 2003) and John welcomed Aerlia on 26 December 2013. Katie McGovern and Michelle Dance (1993) welcomed Thomas Malcolm McGovern on 27 March 2014. Prue Groves (Forbes, 2005) welcomed Orlando Andrew Groves on 20 January 2014. Tanya Dobeli (Hart, 2002) and her husband welcomed Lachlan Alexander Dobeli on the 21 January 2014. Cath Matthews (Green, 2003) welcomed Emily Matthews on 24 February 2014. Michelle Argles (Baird, 1999) and Jordan welcomed Emmerson Quinne on 13 April 2013. Emily Pinna (2005) welcomed Ava Elizabeth Williams 8 July 2013.

Rachel Armstrong (2001) married David Bentley on 13 April 2013. Lauren Mclune (1999) married Luke Newland on 26 April 2013. Hannah McConchie (2007) married Kris Rowan 3 May 2014. Lauren Gross (2003) married Liam Purves on 4 April 2014. Amanda Baird (2001) married Jeb Wesener on 28 September 2013.

Engagements Chloe Lucas (2003) is engaged to Andrew Sellick and will be married in September 2014.

St Aidan’s

contents

Celebrating 85 years

Curricular

Extra-curricular

Community

Contributors Courtney Phelps, Karen Spiller, Gillian Brown, Mark Bell, Sue Russell, Wendy Biggs and Jenny Green

Sport

Design Annie Fanning

Staff

Alumni

Faith

Editor Cassandra Erbs

Q&A: Suzanne Wilton, Associate Chaplain Suzanne Wilton first began at St Aidan’s at the beginning of her journey of formation for the priesthood, as part of a student placement associated with a School Chaplaincy scholarship at St Francis College. She is now completing her studies while continuing her Chaplaincy work with the St Aidan’s community. For how long have you been a Chaplain? I have been a Lay Chaplain for eight years, working in primary schools and volunteering in hospitals, before spending five years in the role on a new secondary campus. Where have you worked previous to St Aidan’s? I have been a teacher in several schools before moving into Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care fields, where I worked at Samford State School and Prince of Peace Lutheran College. What does your role at St Aidan’s involve? This year I have a greater responsibility for Religious Values and Education (RVE) coordination and support. I have particularly enjoyed teaching the Year 8 classes, who bring so much creativity and enthusiasm to their study of RVE. During this interim period when St Aidan’s has not had an ordained Chaplain, I have organised and arranged the worship services alongside Rev Michael Stalley and a group of enthusiastic students. I have also been blessed with a great team of sacristans who have taken up the challenge of working with me as we find ways to enrich the worship life of the School. What do you find unique about the St Aidan’s faith community? There is so much rich tradition and history at St Aidan’s which connects us with the Sisters and all those who have worked, dreamt and prayed for this community over the past 85 years. I love practices like the ringing of the Angelus which reminds us all to pause in our busy days to be still and remember that Christ is with us. I also love the way the Chapel tells the story, through its art and windows, of the saints we honour and the Celtic spirituality which can be recognised in our stories, prayers and hymns. Flowing out from this centre is a long practical history of service to the community which is very evident in every year level and in the leadership capacity of the students. What does 2014 have in store for Chaplaincy at St Aidan’s? Chaplaincy has some big changes ahead. My time has been a time of transition, and I am very much looking forward to welcoming the Rev Gillian Moses as full time Chaplain from second semester. Rev Gillian and I will be working together for the remainder of the year to continue to provide worship, pastoral care and support the RVE programs at St Aidan’s.

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School

11 Ruthven Street Corinda Qld Australia 4075 T: 61 7 3373 5999 www.staidans.qld.edu.au A School of the Society of the Sacred Advent ABN 71079817981

CRICOS Provider Number 01194K