Alumnae Spotlight

WHO AM I Sarah Arrowsmith Class of 2017

What have you done since graduating? I received the Chancellor’s Scholarship which allowed me to attend a University funded trip to NASA in Houston, Texas. This trip enabled me to have some unforgettable experiences, including heading to the Silicon Valley to have tours around Google and Tesla. This led me to be involved in other projects at Victoria University.

How did you get this opportunity? Because of my commitment to striving to improve the quality of life for those less fortunate. Since the middle of Year 12, I have been involved in a group helping disadvantaged young women from across the world. ‘Days for Girls’ is an international organisation that creates reusable, sustainable menstrual care kits for young women so that they remain at school and receive an education beyond puberty. These kits are completely homemade and involve several hours of cutting, washing, sewing and packing in order to get to their destination. In Year 12, I recognised that Days for Girls required more hands. Soon enough the connection was made and through our hard work, many young women across the globe can make a difference to society.

Advice for others wishing to be change makers. It is important to know that without hard work and determination, these kinds of opportunities don’t arise. To receive opportunities, it is necessary to expose yourself to different programs and place yourself outside of your comfort zone. Involving myself in co-curricular activities throughout secondary school and volunteering my time to help other young women has allowed me to put things I encounter into perspective. WHO AM I Deirdre O’Donnell Class of 1971Head Prefect and Dux

What do you do today? I am presently chair of the board of St Columba’s College, and have a part time position as deputy chair of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, plus belong to two other volunteer boards. The first is the Stewardship Council of the Missionary Sisters of Service, a uniquely Australian order of nuns whose mission is ‘to go into the highways and byways’. Their founder, Father John Wallis, grew up in Yea, in north central Victoria, and as I now live in regional Victoria this had a special resonance for me. I am also chair of the board of ACCAN (the Australian Communications Consumers Action Network) the national peak body for communications consumers. ACCAN focuses on accessibility and affordability, and has played an important role during the past year in promoting and safeguarding consumer rights when simply being connected via telecommunications became one of the most important ways for our society to continue to function during the COVID pandemic.

How did St Columba’s College impact you? ? I see the impact St Columba’s had on me as being twofold: it gave me friends for life, and the teachers encouraged me to always strive to be my best. Looking back now over a period of nearly fifty years since I left, I can still attest to the strength and value of the friendships, and have a great store of memories of teachers from Mrs Kelly in Grade 3 through to Sister John in Year 12, not to mention May Downs and Mrs Nicholson. We seemed to have a great variety of fascinating teachers, both lay and religious, guiding our progress though our school years.

To share your news with the community get in touch with us via email. E alumnae@columba.vic.edu.au