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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2021
A Word from the President I must say that I am very happy to turn the page on 2020. St Catherine's Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) found itself in a position of needing to turn ourselves 180 degrees from where we usually stand… on the front foot. We had to grasp the situation we all found ourselves in and find new ways of assisting our Old Girls and the current St Catherine’s community. We needed to continue to be proactive so as not to stall in our progress, but become reactionary to the tsunami of troubles which were heading towards us. For the vast majority of the year we had to manoeuvre and pivot to the situation at hand. Many decisions were forced upon us, such as the postponement of all our remaining events for the year. We have offered the year groups the opportunity to celebrate their milestone celebration in 2021. This has been well received and we look forward to an extended reunion program this year. Following on from the substantial 2019 donation by SCOGA of ‘The Hands’ sculpture, 2020 evolved into a year of great difficulty and financial struggle for many within our School community. The development of The Hardship Fund was launched in direct need to the situation at hand, and to also provide opportunities to future students. SCOGA was in full support of the need for this fund, and therefore immediately gave $50,000 to the cause. For SCOGA, we were absolutely delighted, encouraged, humbled, and thankful to our Old Girls’ community who made up 40% of the total donors. This is a reflection of the real engagement of our alumnae.
Despite a quieter year on the gatherings and events front, SCOGA has not been idle with its time. We are thrilled to announce that our Facebook and Instagram pages were launched on 1 October 2020. Find our Instagram page @scoga.au, and our Facebook members only page at St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA). These pages have been developed to highlight the history of the Old Girls and the current goings on of our community. Old Girls are being encouraged to send through photos of their times at St Catherine’s, which have been giving our followers a wonderful collage of the life and times of a St Cath’s girl. Our Mentor Program and launching of the international, interstate and regional chapters were put on the back-burner last year due to restrictions, however, they will become front and centre as part of our 2021 program. These are vitally important initiatives which will aid our Old Girls with their careers and also to connect those who live in cities across the globe. The SCOGA Fellowship was offered again in 2020. After two incredible years and with a vast numbers of applications, the success of 2020 was an unknown due to the need for many applicants to future plan which for some would involve travel. I am happy to report that the global pandemic did not stop our Old Girls from applying. We were thrilled to advise that the 2020 recipient was Professor Susan Davis AO (’74), and who this year also received an Australia Day honour for her work. The SCOGA Fellowship remains an important foundation stone of what we do and why we do it. Long may it continue.
2021 will see the introduction of our International, Interstate and Regional Chapters. Spanning across the globe, I also want to acknowledge and thank our Old Girls who will be leading these groups. Our Community Committee and the Chapter Heads will be formulating the charter together to ensure it encompasses the best and most suitable way to deliver a successful and tailored program. We have a lot of ground to make up with the hosting of all the regular reunions, the rescheduling of the 2020 postponed reunions, celebrating 100 years of SCOGA and all the festivities of the School’s 125 years. Finally, I must say a very strong farewell to 2020. It has certainly brought with it challenges but also lessons and positives. I wish to thank the SCOGA Committee, a magnificent group of women who volunteer their time to continue to strengthen and bind our Old Girls’ community. We head into 2021 with a remarkably strong SCOGA Committee of 20 extraordinary women. I am incredibly thankful for their work and commitment to achieve our goals In summary, 2020 has been one that will undoubtedly fill a chapter in future publications about the history of St Catherine’s School. I genuinely feel that the rocky seas we have all had to endure will scar many, but like all wounds they will heal over time. Sometimes these scars are forever noticeable but we learn to live with them; but others will fade. A mark that we spot every now and then – a brief reminder of that time. Chrissy Ryan (Graham ’79) SCOGA President scoga@stcatherines.net.au
