GHS & ST HILDA'S OLD SCHOLARS ASSOCIATION | Decem ber 2018
Issue 2 | Date: January 9, 2019
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C Hury RO1983) N IC LE PO ST Tref f ina Dowland(Lidb OSA President'sLetter year we had Mrs Kim Kiepe speak and the new Chaplain, Father John Cornish was introduced to the audience. A thoroughly enjoyable morning for everyone involved. On 4 September, Old Scholars and W hitby Mothers were invited to a Country Lunch in the picturesque hinterland of the Ferguson Valley at the beautiful vineyard of St Aidan?s W ines. A special thank you to Pam Casellas (Greenway ?70) and Ruth Phelps (Rowell ?61) for organising such a delightful day. A bus full of Old Scholars left from the St Hilda?s Bay View Campus in the morning and after a few hours joined other Old Scholars at the winery. In total, around 60 former students attended and enjoyed a sumptuous lunch set in the surrounds of the beautiful countryside. Each year, the OSA recognises the outstanding input of staff who have provided service to the school for over 20 years, or have provided exceptional service during their tenure at St Hilda?s. We recognise their loyal service by extending Honorary Life Membership to the OSA. I am pleased to announce that Mrs Kim Kiepe, Tim Chapman and Stephen Petsos have been named Honorary Life Members of the GHS & St Hilda?s Old Scholars Association.
I do hope you enjoy reading this last edition of the Chronicle Post for 2018 and the first for me as President of the Old Scholars Association.
One of the OSA?s most important contributions is our scholarship program. Daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of financial members of the OSA and financial Old Scholar members are eligible for the OSA?s scholarships awarded each year.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend our most grateful thanks to Anu van Hattem (Palmoja,?75) who retired last month as President. She has been a dedicated and valuable member of the committee since 2010 and a most respected and dedicated President since 2015. Luckily for me she is continuing her involvement with the OSA in 2019 as Secretary.
The OSA Ammonite Scholarship provides support for a student of an Old Scholar in Years 11 and 12. It is with great pleasure to announce that Saskia Cumming has been awarded this scholarship. Saskia is the daughter of Sophie Sawyer (Rosser ?87).
I would also like to thank Kim Kiepe for her support of the OSA over the last few years as our Patron. On behalf of the association I wish her all the best in her future endeavours. The OSA formally farewelled Kim at the end of year Christmas drinks on 3 December. At this function the Association unveilled a portrait of Kim which was commissioned by the OSA and prepared by artist Corinne Barton who is a parent of an old scholar. This portrait will then be presented as a gift to the school to hang in the Boardroom along side all the other portraits of previous Principals.
Introduced in 2013, as a Centenary initiative, the Career Development Award supports a financial member of the OSA in their pursuit of travel and or learning from which others will benefit. The award recognises the value of women who are independently making their mark on the world by observing, learning from and contributing to different cultures and communities. This year the applications were outstanding and the decision was made to make a joint award to two recipients. Congratulations to Kate Naude (?03) who is a lawyer undertaking a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and to Monika Blankenburgs (?15) who is studying Environmental Science and participating in a sustainable energy project in Malawi.
In 2019, the OSA will welcome St Hilda?s 13th Principal, Mrs Fiona Johnston, to lead our School community into the future. As an association we look forward to working closely with Fiona to continue to uphold our traditions and core values. The OSA are planning a welcoming evening in March 2019 for an opportunity for our members to meet our new Principal. Two of our last few events of our yearly calendar occurred recently.
2018 has been a very successful and rewarding year for the OSA and I am very excited about the future prospects of the association. I look forward to working with everyone over the next few years. I would like to wish you all a very safe and happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
The 70+ Morning Tea was held in the School Hall at the Bay View Campus on Tuesday 14 August. It was an extremely popular event again this year with over 140 former students attending. The whole room was filled with chatter and laughter as our Old Scholars reminisced about the old school days. This
Treffina Dowland (Lidbury ?83)
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Farewell toPrincipal KimKiepe
As the School said goodbye to Mrs Kim Kiepe, the OSA Christmas Sundowner provided an opportunity to unveil the Principal's portrait. The Chair of Council, Nita Peploe, accepted the portrait on behalf of the School. It was presented by the OSA President Treffina Dowland and commissioned to Corinne Barton as a gift from the GHS & St Hilda's Old Scholars Association. Mrs Kiepe will be taking
up the role as Principal of Somerville House in Brisbane. The St Hilda's OSA wishes her well as she returns to Queensland to begin a new chapter of her career, continuing her work as a leader in women's education. The portrait will hang alongside those of past Principals displayed in the Boardroom of Catherine House. 3
Thank youf romthe Dean of Residential Lif e It was with great sadness that I submitted my resignation as Dean of Residential Life at St Hilda?s Anglican School for Girls in order to assume the role of Dean of Trinity College, the University of Melbourne, commencing January 2019.
membership of St Hilda?s Old Scholars Association, an honour that I was deeply touched to receive. Residential life provides a unique perspective, which allows its members to be fully immersed in the progress of students as they advance towards maturity and young adulthood. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a very warm and positive relationship with the Old Scholars Association, and have been very grateful for their ongoing generosity and support for the boarding community. For this commitment I extend my sincere appreciation.
Living and working on the School campus for over 20 years has meant that St Hilda?s has not only provided a wonderful professional environment for me, but also a home, where I have been able to raise my children and care for my family. Significantly, it has provided a front row seat to observe a generation of young women grow and flourish. Many of those young women, whom I hold in the highest regard, are now members of the Old Scholars Association.
I look forward to remaining in touch with a school and community that I have a deep affection for through my membership.
I have been touched by the realisation that this longevity has conferred generous honours including honorary
Leonie Jongenelis 4
Old Scholar turns100 .Pictured third row, second from left, standing next toPrincipal MissSharp.
Mar gar et Joan Bar r ett-Lennar d (Cl ar k , 1934) cel ebr ated her 100th bir thday on Thur sday 15th November with friends and family
the Christmas ham which had been soaking in the laundry trough. And in keeping with the Christmas theme, years later when the family was mourning the loss of Maggie?s mother, they hadn?t the interest to cook the usual Christmas pudding so had bought a tinned one. W hilst the family drowned their sorrows with a few drinks the pudding that was merrily heating up on the stove suddenly exploded so there was no pud to be had that year ? it was all on the ceiling! ?Mmm? too much drinking and not enough watching what you should be doing!?
at a lovely function in her home town Beverley. It was a glorious afternoon tea with many travelling from far and wide to be with this delightful lady. Following this party was another on the weekend for family who were not able to make it for her actual birthday. Maggie has lived in Beverley almost all her life. Her father was a bank manager and their home was the NSW Bankhouse. In 1932 at the age of fourteen she left to attend St Hilda?s where as a boarder for two years she played piano for whole school events. Many years later her daughter Helen (dec) would also do the same, but her granddaughter Catherine preferred sports practice over piano. Maggie has such fond memories of her time at St Hilda?s, especially the weekends sitting on the front lawn of the school where they planned their whole lives ahead of them! Her closest friends were Barb Adams and Gwyneth Broun, also from Beverley, and Lucy Kelly. During the school holidays Barb and Maggie would often go out with Mr Adams (Barb?s father who was also a bank manager) visiting his clients. They always took enough food for the day which included sweetmeats to be had at certain intervals along the way where they also learnt to shoot from a pea rifle!
Maggie?s life has been fraught with family tragedies, including the deaths of two of her four children, but she somehow has kept abreast of it all with her wonderful sense of humour and infectious laugh. She certainly doesn?t look 100, and she says neither does she feel it! Guess that?s the answer to a long life. Jenny Broun
Maggie always aspired to be a nurse, but on returning home after finishing school at sixteen found herself helping mothers for the first few months after giving birth. During this time she met the love of her life local farmer Keith Barrett-Lennard whom she married when aged nineteen. They made ?W oonderlin?their home where many an hilarious tale stemmed, including the drama of the dog eating 5
Q&A Professor CatherineCole (1978) BeyondtheLab Old Scholar Catherine Cole returned to Perth last month for the 40th Reunion of her year group. Catherine is the Professor of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology at UW A and at the Telethon Kids Insititute where she is an Honorary Senior Fellow. She has since returned to Doha where she heads up the paediatric oncology service in the new Sidra Hospital. She answers some questions about her journey since leaving school .
Princess Margaret phoned to say they were looking for trainees in paediatrics and I had been highly recommended. My ego intact, I made the jump and have never regretted it despite paediatrics being one of the least remunerated specialties. Money has never been a prime motive for me, though I will address it again a little later. Did you feel you experienced hurdles in progressing in your career?
Did you have a strong interest in Science at School?
For many years the answer to this question was ?No?. However, while doing my fellowship in Vancouver Canada, one of my favourite mentors warned me that barriers to women become more and more subtle as you advance and this proved prophetic. I had a very successful career in paediatric haematology and oncology at PMH and also in the pathology laboratory and in the last decade I was the inaugural professor at my beloved University of Western Australia. Slowly but surely, professional jealousies from men who should have known better and should have shown more integrity, conspired against me. Just today, I read an article in the Guardian online about bullying in the medical profession by Ranjana Srivastava and she says ?During that year (the year she was bullied) I was far from the best doctor
Yes indeed I was a science nerd at school, but this was to be expected as our father is a retired professor of chemistry. The pinup board in our family room for many years had a large Periodic Table of the Elements! I?m pleased to say that these days it is covered with photos of children and grandchildren. Were you always driven to study Medicine, and step into Paediatrics? I have to admit, I followed my sister Judy into Medicine for the deeply shallow reason that the medical students seemed to have a lot of fun. My move into paediatrics came rather suddenly when I had been overlooked for a training position at Royal Perth Hospital (given to two of the boys! They were very clever). That day the medical administrator from 6
I could be for I was emotionally depleted?. Like me, Ranjana is an oncologist and perhaps in no other field do doctors need to be emotionally available to their patients. In paediatrics that means being there for the whole family - one of the many joys of paediatrics. I tell this story because it has a happy ending. PMH was investigated for bullying and low morale and the chief executives all resigned. I can report that last month when I was back in Perth, I attended the clinical staff annual dinner, the first for the new Perth Children?s Hospital, and the atmosphere was lovely and hopeful, the room full of young enthusiastic paediatricians - a joy to behold, the hospital has been reborn, just as I have by choosing this time to move to a new and challenging job in Qatar.
Your work takes you from the lab to the bedside, how has your work in clinical trials impacted the huge improved outcomes over the years?
Did you have female mentors or advocates helping you along your journey?
Each type of cancer is rare so in order to study enough children, we must have international collaborations. I have worked mainly with the American based Children?s Oncology Group. Some years I travelled so often, my family called me Cathy Pacific. I learnt that a benefit of being short in stature is that its easy to sleep in an economy class airline seat and my friends and I would then recover from jet lag hiking in one or other of the beautiful National Parks.
Paediatric oncology is unique in medicine as we have collaborated internationally for over 50 years, running trials to improve outcomes for children with cancer and leukaemia. Is it new drugs or the use of the drugs? Always acting in our patients best interest without conflicts of interest. How much collaborative work do you do with international research groups?
The support of other women is so strong in all aspects of women?s lives. In Perth, my day begins with a walk or run with ?the running girls?a lovely group of friends. I head to work, caffeinated and knowing I am loved - I can?t recommend this start to the day more highly. At work, women have supported me from the very beginning, some well known like St Hilda?s very own Fiona Stanley and Fiona Pixley, and others ranging from much older to much younger. Paediatrics has many more women than men and one of the eternal questions is whether a career becomes less well remunerated because it is feminised, or becomes feminised because the remuneration is less. Equality in the workplace should very much include equal pay, and as Libby Lyons the Australian Government?s W orkplace Gender Equality Agency tells us, this is yet to be achieved in Australia.
W hat has taken you to Doha? The period of low morale at PMH took a great toll on me and when the offer came to head up the paediatric oncology service in the new Sidra hospital, I jumped at the opportunity. Qatar is a tiny country which has bridged the Arabic and Western worlds. There are 92 nationalities in our hospital collaborating to bring the best from our medical systems-American private medicine and the NHS/ European style government medicine and unsurprisingly the country has opted for an Australian style mix of private and public with many Australians working in the Ministry of Health to bring in National insurance. The opportunity to meet so many people from different countries and cultures has been wonderful. It is heartwarming to know that everywhere in the world, parents love their children the same way.
W hat do you think are the challenges that women face today as a Health Professional? Balancing the needs of work and family will always be the most difficult task for women, but today I see many more young couples understanding that you cannot raise children and both work full-time (I remember times when Tim and I were each working 100 hour weeks, no wonder our family had its ups and downs! As a paediatrician I should have known better). Today?s parents are much better at placing their children?s needs (and their own needs) on an equal footing with work. I whole heartedly support them. You are clearly passionate about your area of clinical research. W hat are your recommendations for girls studying science on choosing an area to specialise? Fortunately, most undergraduate degrees are quite broad and expose the student to many different areas. My advice would be to go with an open mind and then follow whichever passions develop. So often that is dependent on having an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher. Kathy Pickup at St Hilda?s back in the 70s was the first of many science mentors for me.
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Dr Alex Heaton (2006), Prof Fiona Pixley (1974), Prof Catherine Cole (1978), Dr Sarah Paton (1976), Cate Leedman (2006)
JulieColvin (1989) Jobsfor theFuture cause. W ith suicide being the highest cause of death in young people today, she believes ?everyone should have the opportunity to be happy.?During the long ride, participants stop and talk to high school students, making them aware of the help and resources available and to let them know they are not alone. This year?s ride will be over 400 km from the South West up to Perth. Despite holding a degree, new graduates express concern in entering the job market. W hen applying for a job, Julie advises, ?it?s important to think about what the organisation is looking for and having the ability to show that your skillset can add value. In the jobs of the future, companies will look for transferability of skills, particularly with new industries and new roles emerging. Get experience and get experience that is relevant. Find Vac work with organisations in your sector.? W hile a degree is important with the ?hard skills?(technical skills) companies look for people with good ?soft skills?and the ability to interact with people. Be interesting: join groups whether it?s within sport or volunteering, but just get involved. She suggests that if you haven?t decided what direction you want to take your career, develop networks to meet and talk to people to find out what else is out there and doors will open. Don?t be afraid to enter a job at the bottom, so long as it provides career development and you can work your way up. Big organisations offer internships, which is a wonderful chance to get your foot in the door of a company as they will often recruit people they know.
Julie Colvin, an Old Scholar boarder from the Class of 1989 has wonderful memories of her days at St Hilda?s and despite taking all STEM subjects for her final years at school, she decided she wanted a broad Commerce degree and graduated in 1993 from UW A. On completion, she took up a graduate role at Price W aterhouse Coopers (as it was then). Julie stayed with the international firm for four years, during which time she became a qualified accountant and obtained a secondment to Siberia in Russia. This was an eye opener to live in a socialist country where even McDonald?s didn?t exist.
Julie confirms that it ispossible to have a family, work and lifestyle, and if you choose to have a break as she did when she started a family, remember to stay connected and look for opportunities. Consider what you want out of your career and hopefully if it provides flexibility, good opportunities and the ability to work with people who are appreciative of how you work. Don?t ever be afraid to ask for help both professionally and personally in order to achieve what you want to do.
Julie returned home to W A to spend a season on the farm before returning to London and worked with another global consulting firm for three years. She recognised the significant difference in what she could earn as a postgraduate, Julie eventually decided it was time to settle and moved home permanently. She began working as the Finance and Administration Manager at the Mount Hospital, when an opportunity arose with a change in direction. W ith her understanding of management, she joined Michael Page as a Recruitment Consultant and stayed on as Manager for seven years before starting a family.
One important thing to remember is that Perth is still small in the context of the world, but your reputation will always follow you. The way people communicate on social media will make a difference as your digital footprint stays with you for a very long time. Julie reflects on the exciting opportunity to start Derwent for herself and her partners, giving her the ability to do things the way she wants to do them. She now has three children, with her eldest daughter Zoe currently in Year 8 at St Hilda?s Next year, Julie will be celebrating her 30 Year Reunion and looks forward to catching up with her friends from the Class of 1989.
After a short break from work, Julie and her business partner established Derwent Search, who advise on Board, CEO and leadership appointments across a range of industry sectors. W ith three business partners and a team of great people, the business has been established for 11 years, and she has managed to find an ideal work life balance. Over two years ago she began training to undertake the Youth Focus Hawaiian Ride for Youth as she is passionate about this great
You can support Julie's Ride for Youth page at: www.rideforyouth.com.au/ 2019/ riders/ julie-colvin/ 8
Amy Manf ord(2010) TheWest totheWest End Old Scholar Amy Manford (2010) has had a busy and rewarding eight years since leaving St Hilda?s. She is currently performing as the alternate ?Christine DaaĂŠ?in one of London?s most popular West End musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber?s ThePhantom of theOpera. Prior to her West End debut, Amy had performed internationally as a soloist with the London Handel, London Cello and the Perth Symphony Orchestras. This year, Amy was also honoured with an invitation to sing the Australian National Anthem in front of HRH Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle for the 2018 Anzac Day Memorial Service in London. She has since performed at Buckingham Palace in front of HRH Prince Charles and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall. W ith a classically trained background, Amy received a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice in 2013 and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Music in 2014 from The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts under the tutelage of Patricia Price. She was awarded the prestigious Barbara MacLeod Scholarship for Most Outstanding Female Classical Student in 2014 and also received the Michelle Robinson Award for most outstanding first year recital in 2011. Amy graduated with honours from the Royal College of Music studying a Masters in Vocal Performance and during her time there, obtained the Basil Coleman Opera Scholarship and studied with world renowned lyric soprano, Janis Kelly. Looking back at her school days, Amy reflects on being surrounded by music at home with her father, a self-taught guitarist who together with her younger sister Chloe, would harmonise their favorite Disney songs. She also remembers many holidays where she would throw together a production and perform in front of parents and friends, providing lots of practice in front of a live audience. Her audition strategy was that ?simplicity is key, pick arias or songs that are within your technical ability.?W hen she received her Bachelor?s degree her strategy remained the same, but she researched songs, ?looking for something interesting, yet different?, selecting arias that the panel wouldn?t have heard many times that day. She believes that this gives the impression that you are an exciting innovative artist, and position yourself as one of a kind. Amy continues another exciting year ahead in her role at The Phantom of the Opera. Anyone visiting London should try and catch Amy at Her Majesty?s Theatre in the West End. 9
Sylvia Mills(1967) Findinga Niche
Sylvia and her two sisters, Patricia Gill and Margaret W allace, moved from the Eastern States with their parents, commencing life in Perth as boarders when their parents settled in Esperance. They enjoyed the freedom that school gave them compared to the strict ethos of their boarding experience in Sydney where they were never able to leave the grounds. Both Patricia and Margaret each have daughters who attended St Hilda?s. Sylvia Mills (1967) left school and became a mother craft nurse for seven years with private and institutional cases until she moved to the United Kingdom. There, Sylvia worked in gemology trading sapphires on the open market. After four years, she returned to Perth from London and worked in retail, but it wasn?t until she discovered a niche in the market that Sylvia began her next chapter with a change in industries and began a Personalised Group Tour for Country Escapes in W A. She rebranded the business more recently to Luxury Outback Tours. The tours range from day trips to 10 day tours from as far south as Esperance to Broome, all of which are personalised and cover a range of amazing Western Australian destinations. As a Sole Operator who has now been working for 18 years in tourism, Sylvia began working without a mobile phone or even access to the internet. W hile technology has certainly improved, working as a sole operator means you are a one woman band, wearing many hats from coordinating tours, updating the company website, running the social media platforms, ensuring the vehicle is maintained and overseeing the reservation connections and booking channels. Her work requires constant planning: understanding international political and economic events which may affect tourism, this can also include natural disasters, such as floods, droughts and fires and being on top of what is happening locally. As the face of her business she needs to attend Trade Shows and network with other industry associates as a pivotal part of the marketing, and it is important for Sylvia to build long term relationships with the International Trade Organisers (ITOs) and Agents, much like maintaining the connections of the Old School Ties of St Hilda?s. To those considering starting up in business, Sylvia highly recommends having a great mentor: someone in the industry who can give good advice and who you can bounce things off, but who can also provide some emotional support. Despite the challenges, she maintains her passion and while she has had her ups and downs in business, the passion continues to give her the drive to move forward. W ith a very busy 2019 ahead and already taking bookings for 2020, she looks forward to continuing the journey.
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Sylvia Thom(Campbell, 1962) Jennievan Driel (Davies, 1957) It was lovely to have two Old Scholars come for a visit to the School recently, Jennie van Driel (Davies 1957) and Sylvia Thom (Campbell 1962) together with a couple of friends who toured the grounds. Sylvie informed me of her family?s connection with W ooleen Station, which the Year 10 students travel to as part of the Outdoor Education program. Sylvia?s grandmother Minilya Drake-Brockman married Ben Sharpe in 1910 near Balingup. Ben's father James Sharpe bought the lease of about 90,000 acres at Yewlands Pool, the land on which W ooleen Station was founded. The property expanded when James?partner acquired another 210,000 acres from J H Monger and added another detached block to the North West. After finishing his education in Perth, Ben returned to W ooleen to learn the ropes of station work and management. At the age of 36 Ben bought W ooleen from his father and in 1918 built the main W ooleen Homestead. This property was designed with magnificent proportions and practical function. Sand for thousands of handmade bricks for great verandahs had to be carted a great distance before being loaded and mixed by hand. St Hilda?s is very connected with W ooleen Station today. Every year the Odyssey expedition provides the Year 10 students with a mobile bushwalking journey through the majestic landscape in the Murchison region of Western Australia. Now a station approximately 650km north north-east of Perth, it covers an area of half a million acres. The whole Year 10 cohort travels by bus to W ooleen where they are divided into nine smaller groups. Under the guidance of dedicated Outdoor Educators this invaluable experience provides an enriched knowledge of the landscape and indigenous culture. The property is now owned by David and Frances Pollock who manage and host the St Hilda?s annual visits. It is wonderful to have an Old Scholar connection with the origins of this extraordinary nature based station and our School?s Outdoor Education Program today.
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2018OSA Career Development AwardWinners The Old Scholars Association introduced the annual OSA Career Development Award supporting a financial member of the OSA in their pursuit of travel and learning. Valued at $3,000, the Career Development Award recognises the value of women who are independently making their mark on the world by observing, learning from and contributing to different cultures and communities. This year the Award was shared between two finalists with specific projects each developing their career
MONIKA BLANKENBURGS Currently studying Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne, she plans to participate in an ongoing sustainable energy project with a not for profit organisation that aims to solve pressing social issues through social enterprise. The aim of the project is to provide access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to the city of Blantyre in Malawi. She will be part of a volunteer team conducting assessments of the business and technical viability of particular energy distribution channels.
KATE NAUDE To further her career, Kate will be undertaking a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance through the Governance Institute, the only course in Australia which will lead to becoming an internationally recognised Chartered Secretary. This will be of relevance to her area of expertise, and Kate will be completing this outside her normal work hours at a national law firm. Corporate governance practices is very highly regarded and relatively niche and the course will further her knowledge of this area of law.
2018OldScholar Interschool Sport The 53rd annual Combined Independent Girls School (CIGS) Golf Day was held at Royal Perth Golf Club in October hosted by Iona. Iona was the winner on the day with 68 points, followed by Perth College, St Mary?s, and Penrhos/ Kobeelya. St Hilda?s came 5th with 61 points. St Hilda?s top two pairs were Anne Tregonning, Anne Marie Tsaknis and Gill Meecham and Jan Macpherson. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day which included a delicious lunch and an opportunity for players to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. The 2019 CIGS golf day will be at Cottesloe Golf Club on Monday 23 September, and if you have an interest in joining the team for next year, please contact Anne Marie Tsaknis by email: tsaknis@iinet.net.au
The IGSSA Old Girls Tennis was held on a gorgeous day at Reabold Tennis Club on 5 April. St Hilda's finished the day third place and PLC won the day again! A fun time was had by all. The team was: Bethwyn Keech (1990); Michelle Atkins (W ark,1984); Sheena Storm (Richmond, 1983); Billie Hadfield (McTaggart, 1969); Sharon Burvill (Seymour, 1980); Fiona Allan (Richmond, 1983); Ari Harold (Treleaven,1983); Robin Romero (Anderson, 1984) If you have an interest in joining next year, please contact Sheena Storm by email: sheena.storm@dorado.com.au 12
Classof 1958 60 Year Reunion
Thirty-nine girls, including two from Victoria, enjoyed their Diamond Anniversary lunch held in The Gallery at St Hilda?s following a Service in the beautiful Chapel with nostalgic memories of hymns and Bible reading from term-end services in the past. Geraldine Erlandson (W oodcock) 13
Classof 1968 50 Year Reunion
?Fifty years this year marked the end of our school days and, for a very small few, 13 years before that we?d started upwards on our ROYGBIV rainbow educational path at St Hilda?s. Have we reached our vertex yet? I don?t think so; we?re still going onwards and upwards! Our 50th Year Reunion, this year, more than any other before it, defined friendships that were formed during those heady years of sometime insecurity and shyness, sometime boldness and triumph. That wonderful comedienne, Phyllis Diller, said
?a smile is a curve that sets everything straight?and put a sound to that smile and you would have heard the laughter of the Class of ?68 resonate across the Indian Ocean from The Shorehouse restaurant. W onderful memories came flooding back with the distinctive head throwing of Susette Hughes in full-bodied jollity, the wicked chuckle of Jenny Hodder and the squeals of youthful delight from 45 ?girls?confirmed the amazing bond we have.? 14
Penny Boon (Burt)
Classof 1978 40 Year Reunion
The Class of 1978 reunion started with an afternoon school tour followed by celebrations in a private room at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. There were 51 girls in total, Robyn and Sue travelling from England, Cathy from Qatar and many from interstate and regional W A.
performance from Beth, Sue, Kate and Rochelle. It was an evening of laughs, dancing, chatting and singing. We started planning 18 months in advance with a closed Facebook page and since then the Class of ?78 has grown to nearly 70 members. It was wonderful to be able to rekindle with old friends. We are all looking forward to the next one.
It was such a memorable and fun night. Chris set up an amazing memory table with news of girls who couldn?t attend and complete sets of our uniforms. The open microphone proved a big hit, especially the hilarious
Janine Goyder (Caldow) and Julie Eller (Buzza) 15
Classof 1988 30 Year Reunion
On Saturday 1 September, the Class of ?88 held our 30 year reunion upstairs at the Claremont Hotel. A place a lot of us spent far too much time at over the years. It was fantastic to see over 100 friends, some of whom had flown in from interstate and overseas. Although nervous we might not recognise people, our fears were quickly allayed. For the most part, we recognised each other and I have to say for women pushing 50 everyone looked pretty damned amazing!
W ith great food, plenty of 80s music, a slideshow with hysterical photos from school days, and of course fantastic company and memories, everyone seemed to have a wonderful night. After less than four hours sleep, a group of us met again at lunchtime on the Sunday. A lot of champagne may have been consumed. We finished up at about 8.30pm. The Class of ?88 has always been known for our partying ways after all.
We were all so eager to catch up that a lot of people were there nearly an hour before kick-off, and most of us left at closing time, which meant we arrived three hours late to the after party organised by the Christ Church Old Boys.
Special thanks to Beck Byrne (Smith) for all her help both in the lead up and on the night. Kate W atts 16
Classof 1998 20 Year Reunion
The 20 year reunion saw many of the 1998 leavers meet near the chapel to tour the school grounds. There was so much to catch up on and it was difficult to break away from conversations to be updated on the many changes at the school. Though there were many new additions, it was great to see familiar sights and share the memories and stories they stirred. The function held in the city was fantastic with many
laughs and catch ups. A huge thank you must go to Abby Niven (Macnish) for bringing such a far flung group together for a wonderful night and to all the girls who travelled from near and far. Bindi Murray (Thomson) 17
Classof 2008 10 Year Reunion
The Class of 2008 Ten Year Reunion was held this December at the Cottesloe Beach Hotel. A speech by Head Girl Lily Hands welcomed everyone who could make it from overseas, interstate and all over W A for the event.
A great night had by all, thanks to those who helped to organise the night and to all the girls who came. Our thoughts to absent friends who couldn?t be there, but we?ll see you at the 20 year reunion, if not before!
The appearance of the boys from the Christ Church Grammar School Ten Year Reunion at the end of the night evoked some school disco nostalgia, which by chance fell on the same evening!
Lil l y Bar r ymor e, Maddy Shel l abear and Hal l ie Pur io
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JuneBowman (Cruickshank, 1954) Written by her friend JaneBrummitt, below isa TributetoOld Scholar JuneBowman (Cruickshank 1954) whopassed away in January of thisyear. In her final year, whilea GascoyneHouseprefect, DeGrey was created and JunebecametheFirst Captain of that house. After graduating, shewent toliveand work in Adelaidewhereshemet her husband Brian Bowman. They weremarried in Christ Church in Claremont in 1959 went back toAdelaidefor a short time, beforereturning tolivein Perth. Juneand Brian had 3 sons all of whom went toChrist Church Grammar School, wastheSt Hilda'sClassRep for many years, and alsohelped out on committeesat Christ Church.
Also thanks to June and Brian, a number of interstate supporters of Nutcotevisited the site of May?s home at the Harvey River Station between 1886 and 1888. Its bushland had been the inspiration for May?s creation of the Gumnut Babies and their world. June hoped that this site would one day become part of an Australian May Gibbs trail.
JUNE BOW MAN (CRUICKSHANK) 1938-2018 At the memorial service for June, held in the St Hilda?s school chapel in Perth W A, her niece Jo Cruickshank, recalling June?s love for the work of May Gibbs, read from Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. On all the pews and covering the casket were native flowers and leaves, dominated by the May Gibbs gum and evocative banksias, some in full flower. All had been specially gathered from June and Brian?s former farm, by their son Peter, his fiancĂŠ Julie and by June?s cousins Michael and Tracey Humphry. They were beautifully arranged by June?s artistic thirteen year old granddaughter Mathilda, whose home is in Copenhagen, Denmark.
June?s support for the saving of Nutcotedates from when she was in her early 50s and grappling with Parkinson?s Disease. Supported always by her husband Brian, she was admired by her many friends and relatives for the courageous way she faced this. Only in her last Christmas card to me, dictated to her son Richard, did she admit how hard it had been.
June?s lifelong love for the work of May Gibbs was enhanced through her family?s friendship with May?s family and especially through her mother?s second cousin Josephine, wife of May?s brother, Ivan Gibbs. From visiting their family at Creaton, Pinjarra, June grew up aware of the vast range of artistic works created by May before she moved to Sydney in 1914. Among these were her large and lively caricatures of guests, lining the walls of her cousin Gibbs?21st birthday party at Harvey ? and created on butcher paper. Finding the following day that some guests had not been amused, May declared she had burnt them.
At her service, in lieu of flowers in her memory, June?s sons suggested that tax deductible donations be given to either the Nutcote Trust or Parkinson?s W A Inc. The donations to Nutcotewill help create a guidebook for visitors to the ?dear little house?May built, on the strength of her earnings. Its stories will be full of humour. June would have liked that. Jane Brummit Feb 2018
She had in fact hidden them and in 1991, after her nephew, John Gibbs had them conserved, June suggested exhibiting them at the Bowman family farm, as a fundraiser in support of the May Gibbs Foundation?s campaign to ?Save Nutcotefor the Nation?. The initiative proved so popular that she then arranged for the caricatures to be exhibited at the Glyde Gallery in Mosman Park. Additionally, she encouraged Gibbs family members to lend other original works. Copies of May?s caricatures from Perth and Sydney newspapers were also included and all helped to inspire a further fundraising exhibition at the Westpac Gallery, Melbourne. June had been thrilled when Elizabeth Durack visited the exhibition at the Glyde Gallery. Thanks to her, Elizabeth opened Nutcoteon May 1, 1994 - and June was there. 19
CLASSOF '83 REUNION
SAVE THE DATE
Satur day 22 December
MEET THE NEW PRINCIPAL Thur sday, 14 Mar ch 2019
Cottesl oe Beach Cl ub (Rear of theCottesloeHotel) 5pm star t
The OSA President, Treffina Dowland extends an invitation to meet the School's New Principal, Fiona Johnston.
Cash bar for food and dr ink Fiona Allan (nee Richmond)
Tickets: $25 Book Here
Mobile: 0448 798 689
2019 REUNIONS
STAY CONNECTED As Old Scholars, you are part of the St Hilda's global community. Please stay in touch so we can provide you with support, scholarship opportunities, mentoring and news of networking and social events as well as reunions and other benefits to our connected community.
DIARY DATES OSA EVENTS Br idge Day Wednesday 20 March IGSSA Tennis 4 April Bazaar Saturday 11 May
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Ol d School Ties TBA
oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au.
Best w ishes
1st Year Reunion - Cl ass of 2017 TBA
Car eer Mentor ing Day Monday, 24 June
for a Happy & Heal thy Festive Season!
70+ Mor ning Tea Tuesday, 20 August
NOTICES BEREAVEMENTS
10 Year Reunion - Class of 2009 TBA 20 Year Reunion - Class of 1999 Jessica Anderson: jessicaanderson00@gmail.com 30 Year Reunion - Cl ass of 1989 Saturday 8 June Joanna McCarthy: joanna.mccarthy@me.com 40 Year Reunion - Cl ass of 1979 TBA 50 Year Reunion - Cl ass of 1979 Saturday 23 November The Galery, Hope Nicholas House Trina Quinlan (Cameron),trinaquinlan@bigpond.com Diane Hann (Crane) divahann@gmail.com 60 Year Reunion - Cl ass of 1969 October Margaret Halcombe (Buckeridge)
OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE FAMILIESOF: Penny McDonal d (Adk ins, 1963)
W EDDINGS CONGRATULATIONSTO:
BIRTHS
Cour tney Dor sett (2003) and Michael Spencer
CONGRATULATIONSTO:
Al icia Faul k ner (Mir ik l is, 1992) and her husband Angus on the bir th of their tw in daughter s Char l otte and Gr ace, sister s to Al exandr a and Josephine. Anna Fr eedman (1997) and her husband Cl inton Leighton on the bir th of their son Mitchel l , br other to Hayden. Natal ie Al l en (2004) and her husband Nichol as Sew el l on the bir th of their daughter Viol ette. Tessa Bontempo (1998) and her husband Gior gio Giur iani on the bir th of their son Giacomo. Fl eur Nobl e (Viner ) and husband Jamie, w el comed a son Char l ie, br other to Lil l y. 20