Chronicle post march 2018

GHS & ST HILDA’S OLD SCHOLARS ASSOCIATION | March 2018

Shermaine Heng Graduated 2005

COVER STORY: SHERMAINE HENG

Singapore Perth Sydney Shanghai Berlin Shermaine is an Australian, born in Singapore, who grew up in Perth, moved to Sydney, worked in Shanghai, and now lives in Berlin. Why? Because she’s found there’s no better way to learn the unknown, face challenges, and meet wonderful people than to go where she never expected.

Starting off her career in an avant-garde fashion & lifestyle magazine, Shermaine later moved into brand communications and has been in creative agencies since then. Her seven years of career experience across three continents has allowed her to work with teams of different cultural backgrounds, crafting compelling and unique brand stories. During this time, she has worked with both local and international brands including Herman Miller, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Zegna, and MINI.

6.00pm Tuesday 10 April 2018 Ernst & Young 11 Mounts Bay Road, Perth

She believes that great ideas, good intentions, and hard work can truly make a difference to the community, and involves herself in social initiatives wherever possible. In Shanghai, Shermaine was a Board Director for a local non-profit, Stepping Stones, and worked on the marketing for TEDxShanghai. She is currently one of the Founders of OpeniDEO Berlin Chapter, a social initiative that brings together changemakers with the aim to create positive impact in our community.

More details can be found at www.shermaine.flyghte.com

The GHS & Old Scholars Association invites you to attend a talk with inspiring St Hilda’s Old Scholars who are prominent Women in business. They will each share their career paths, challenges and aspirations and conclude with a Q&A panel discussion.

SPEAKERS

CAREER NETWORKING SERIES

Shermaine lives her life with curiosity and imagination, and always believes that it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

She’s a true advocate for creativity, and sees it as the vital ingredient that can spark a little magic in all that we do.

Nita Peploe (1988) Managing Director, Oryx Communities, Aged Care and Retirement

Jay Barker (1999) EY - Senior Manager, People Advisory Services

Anneke Brown (1994) General Manager, COMO The Treasury

MC - Eliza Honey (2012) EY – Consultant, Advisory

Get your tickets for $20 through www.trybooking.com/URXY (includes refreshments) For more info, please contact oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au

FROM THE PRESIDENT The Old Scholars Association welcomes the new members of the Class of 2017!

Congratulations on extraordinary WACE results which you can read about on the next page.

Anu was recently named in the Estonian President’s Independence Day Honours list and travelled to Estonia for the investiture. She has been Honorary Consul for Estonia for the last 10 years and received the Order of the White Star for building ties between Estonia and Australia.

St Hilda’s girls won six General Exhibitions. Chair of Council Deidre Willmott said it is an amazing achievement for three schools, St Hilda’s, Christ Church and Perth Modern to take 50 per cent of the general exhibitions particularly since Perth Modern is a selective school and we are not. Of course we also acknowledge the support and guidance from teachers and families to achieve these results.

I hope you enjoy the new format Chronicle Post. Our Alumni Co-ordinator Leo Nye has collected a range of stories showcasing the variety of experiences of the 10,000 strong membership of the Old Scholars Association. Please ensure your contact details are up to date to learn about recent developments and upcoming events. Don’t think it is all about fundraising. Friend raising is far more important with opportunities and connections which can be useful to you beyond school. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and we welcome your input of news and information to make our Old Scholar connections stronger than ever.

Following last year’s success the annual Mothers’ Day Bazaar will remain at the Bay View campus. Not only is this a great occasion to meet up with many of our members and friends, but this event is the main fundraising activity for our OSA scholarships. There are many ways you can get involved – see back cover.

Business will be the focus of OSA career networking event on Tuesday 10 April in the boardroom of EY (Ernst & Young). The view of Elizabeth Quay from there is reason enough to come to this event but we have also assembled a panel of interesting speakers.

MC Eliza Honey (‘12) will introduce Nita Peploe (‘88), managing Director of Oryx Communities who recently acquired the Richardson Hotel to refurbish for aged care and deputy chair of St Hilda’s Council, Anneke Brown (‘94), General Manager of COMO The Treasury, the luxury hotel which was recently awarded Best Hotel in Australia and Jay Barker (‘99) who is a senior manager juggling her many roles including motherhood and running a small business. Each of the speakers were so enthusiastic about the project that I hope there will be many Old Scholars who come along to hear them speak of the Do’s and Don’ts of their career paths. Our professional networking events are opportunities for you to make the most of your OSA community by catching up with former classmates and making new connections. Everyone is welcome. I hope you will support this event and make suggestions for future speakers, fields of endeavour and venues which might interest you. We are still looking for a catchy event name.

The career mentoring program for the Years 10 -12 girls grows each year with strong support from many of you. If you would like to volunteer please email anuvanhattem@gmail.com - I hope you will join us for the 2018 reunions and events such as the Annual Bazaar, the 70+ Morning Tea, the Social Golf Day and Country Lunch. More details can be found on the school website under Old Scholars.

All the very best for 2018 and I hope to see many Old Scholars during the year.

Anu van Hattem, OSA President

GHS & ST HILDA’S OLD SCHOLARS ASSOCIATION

SATURDAY 12 MAY 2018 10AM TO 3PM

BAZAAR

ST ST HILDA’S HILDA’S SENIOR SENIOR SCHOOL SCHOOL BAY BAY VIEW VIEW TERRACE TERRACE MOSMAN MOSMAN PARK PARK MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS — VINTAGE CLOTHES — TEA HOUSE — SCULPTURES — UNIQUE CRAFTS — JEWELLERY — ART — KIDS ENTERTAINMENT — FRESH PRODUCE — FLOWERS

NEWS

Please keep us informed of any news at oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au

2017 WACE RESULTS We couldn’t be prouder of what our students have achieved in 2017.

93.60

MEDIAN ATAR

WA MEDIAN ATAR 81.40

We’d like to congratulate all of our students who have achieved wonderful results with the support of their teachers, family and friends.

17 STUDENTS WERE

GENERAL EXHIBITIONS

Awarded to the 50 students with the highest score based on an average of five courses, with at least two from List A and two from List B

Henri Currie 99.80 Sophie Fang Lin 99.60 Emma Harrington 99.65

Stephanie Tan 99.85 Chloe Walker Crinyion 99.65 Ruby Wiese 99.90

TOP 1% IN WA

WITH AN ATAR OF 99 OR ABOVE

111 CANDLES

THELMA MAUDE HERBERT Thelma Maude Herbert was born in Coolgardie on 13 February 1907, one of four children to Charles Roger and Florence (‘Florrie’) Annie Herbert (Beecroft). The family relocated to Perth, and moved to Thompson Road, Claremont during WWI. Thelma attended Miss Parnell’s Girls High School, was a keen tennis player and remembers exercise classes on the lawn. She recalled some of her classmates Peggy and Nelly Manford who lived in her street. When she left school she began working as a secretary at a law firm on St George’s Terrace in Perth.

She met a young accountant Colin Macleod and married at Christ Church, Claremont on 6 December 1934 with her sister Marjorie and friend Bertha Vaughan as bridesmaids. The couple lived in Martin Avenue, Nedlands spending Easters down in Rockingham. Colin enlisted and served with distinction in WWII, during which time Thelma and her two young children moved in with her parents, who had moved to Hampden Road.

Thelma recently celebrated her 111th Birthday, and while she was struggling to recall some of the details and names of her past she was smiling as she looked at old pictures of girls in school uniforms back in 1913 similar to what she once wore. She also enjoyed looking at the pictures of St Hilda’s as it is now, and hearing about the school. She still watches tennis, though these days it is a challenge to see the ball. When she would pause, feeling unsure about details of her past, she said “I will have to make some enquiries”. Thelma is the oldest Australian in the state, and the second oldest in the country, having seen many changes in Perth over the past century. She certainly has had quite a journey.

Thanks to Shannon Lovelady, Historian – Museum of Perth

BACK TO SCHOOL It’s always nice to see some familiar faces return to teach. A warm welcome back to: (L-R) Sophie Kelly (2011), Christy Boxshall (1991), Erin Hutchinson (1999), Hallie Purio (2008), Amanda Skea (2009)

GRACE CHOW & ISOBEL FERGUSON Grace Chow and Isobel Ferguson who graduated last year were selected for the 2018 Performing Arts Perspectives with their Original Scripted Monologues! The performances will be on the 10th April at The Perth Concert Hall. perthconcerthall.com.au/events/event/performing-arts-perspective-2018

THEADOSIA KURNIAWAN TED is a non-profit global community, devoted to spreading ideas, and since its conception in 1984 when it began as a conference relating to Technology, Entertainment and Design, it now covers topics from business, science to global issues in more than 100 languages delivered by inspired thinkers to a curious yet engaged audience.

This year, Theadosia Kurniawan, who we profiled previously in her involvement with Perth’s TEDxUWA, will be on her way to New York City to take part in the TedFESTNYC from Tuesday 10-14 April connecting with current and future networks, in The Age of Amazement.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SALLY MALE Congratulations to Associate Professor Sally Male, who on Wednesday 20 December received the Engineers Australia Medal 2017. This award came only one week after Sally was presented with the Australasian Association for Engineering Education Research Design Award 2017, for her Intensive Mode Teaching Project.

Sally has led a multi-disciplinary and inter-university team of academics to gain the Australasian Association for Engineering Education Research Design Award 2017. This was given for a national research project on Students Experiences of Threshold Capability Development with Intensive Mode Teaching, funded by a strategic priority grant from the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching. Based on the research, the team developed an Intensive Mode Teaching Guide which advises teaching staff, administrators, researchers and students how to plan for, develop, resource, coordinate, and teach in an intensive mode unit.

BIRTHS

/ ENGAGEMENTS /

VALE

Sarah Kingdon (Bridgeman 2009) and husband Todd welcome Lillian Jude Kingdon on 11 December, sister to her brother

Eden Wheatley (2003) to Nicholas Fletcher

Beverley Lamotte (Jordan 1950) Susan Caddy (Green 1961) Ruth Hill (Anders 1959) Eve Muir (Wordsworth 1979)

OLD SCHOLARS GIVE BACK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

WALK FOR WOMEN’S CANCER We were lucky enough to have Cate Leedman (2006) back at the School in her capacity as Fundraising Events Officer at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research to talk about the Hawaiian Walk for Women’s Cancer.

Funds raised through this event go toward continuing efforts to find better treatments, preventions and diagnostics for women’s cancer through the innovative, world class scientists and researchers at the Perkins Institute.

Since her talk, we now have over 20 girls participating in the walk.

In celebrating International Women’s Day, we welcomed Year 10 students and their mothers to breakfast with an opportunity to listen to guest speaker and Old Scholar Nikki Heyder (2005). Nikki, an accredited Nutritionist, Counsellor and Wellness Coach, holds a double major degree in Human Resources and Small Business Management and with this has worked with major corporations creating their in-house health & wellbeing programs. She is the Founder of NOOD, a Perth based whole food and lifestyle business, and was a finalist of the Telstra Business Women’s Award in 2015.

Nikki has a strong belief in living a balanced life, not allowing anything to overwhelm or consume you. She expressed the importance of finding time to look after your health, particularly when you are feeling the pressures of study or work. She stressed the importance of listening to your body when you have pains or headaches, and being conscious of taking time out to de-stress, watching your diet and looking after yourself from the inside.

While it has been a busy few years with the growth of her business, Nikki expressed that a learning curve for her has been her ‘vulnerability’. That she has always believed she ‘can do anything’, but has realised she should “never be afraid of asking for advice, and the key in any relationship in work or life is communication.”

When reflecting on her teen years she remembers questioning at the time why there were so many rules to follow, but now appreciates how the discipline gave her a stronger work ethic, great outcomes and success beyond school.

It was wonderful to have Nikki return to the School and have her connect so well with the students, mothers and staff attending.

Follow Nikki’s blog at www.nood.net.au

2018 Adelaide Reunion

6.00 – 7.30pm Monday 7 May 2018 Venue: St Aloysius College 53 Wakefield Street, Adelaide

Cate returned after the event to speak directly with the Year 11s about her journey since leaving School, addressing some of the challenges and discovering passions along the way. She graduated from UWA and Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB / Bachelor of Arts (BA) Literature, Film and Television, Theatre and Performance. While she did not pursue Science after school, like many of her family, her school Chemistry has given her an understanding what goes on in the research world in which she now works.

Now working at the Perkins Institute for the past few years, Cate has managed the fundraising efforts of the Walk for Women’s Cancer. This event has grown significantly with hundreds of participants joining the cause each year. Cate provides constant support to those involved ensuring they meet their goals and facilitating the success of the Walk, which is a great achievement.

Last year, Cate together with Dr Alex Heaton (2006) cohosted the OSA Careers Networking Series for Health Professionals where three Old Scholars Dr Sarah Paton (1974), Associate Professor Fiona Pixley (1974) and Professor Catherine Cole (1978) delivered an inspiring panel discussion.

To register for this year’s Hawaiian Walk for Women’s Cancer on Saturday 5 May, visit www.walkforwomenscancer.org.au

As part of the 2018 Biennial Educators Conference: Fearless Girls, Strong Women - the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia is offering member schools attending the conference a unique opportunity to hold an Adelaide reunion at a special alumni reception at St Alysius College.

Please book through www.trybooking.com/TZBQ

SWIM TEAM BREAKFAST

WALK FREE FOUNDATION

Jemma Dessauvagie (2003) addressed our 100 strong swim team recently at a breakfast leading up to this year’s 54th Annual IGSSA Swimming Carnival hosted by St Hilda’s at the HBF Stadium.

We welcomed Grace Forrest (2010) to address a recent Assembly and talk about her own personal journey from her school days and how her experiences impacted what she is doing today. Grace is a founding director of the Walk Free Foundation (an international Human Rights organization) and has worked as a communications strategist on the Global Slavery Index.

After leaving school Jemma maintained her passion for sport and competed as an elite athlete for many years between graduating high school and eventually graduating from university. She played over 50 senior international games for Australia, captained Australia B, spent a season in Italy, and captained her national league team. She retired from water polo at the end of the 2010 international season.

Throughout this time she continued with her studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons.) from Curtin University in 2013.

In 2014, she completed a thesis titled; ‘What does it mean to be an elite athlete in Australia; A qualitative exploration of the lived experience of elite athletes within and beyond the competitive domain.’

After completing a Master of Psychology (Professional) at Curtin University, she worked as a sessional academic and research assistant. Jemma has delivered guest lectures, and was acting as unit coordinator on multiple occasions throughout her employment at Curtin.

She spoke of her experience and how she was inspired after visiting Nepal as part of a School Community Service program. She met children in orphanages and later returned to the area to find that the children she had met previously had been sold to slavery. It was seeing first-hand the physical, emotional and mental trauma of children as young as three that was unbelievable. This was the catalyst in becoming actively involved in change and becoming a voice and leader in the abolishment of modern slavery.

Grace offered some advice to girls to “follow what fires you up”, find what moves you and get involved. Grace has done this with extensive time working on the ground with survivors and documenting slavery conditions throughout South East Asia and The Middle East focussing on refugee communities who are vulnerable to slavery and forced labor. This is being explored by The Freedom Fund for a hotspot intervention, of which she is on the counsel of advocates.

At the motivational breakfast Jemma reminded girls not to put too much pressure on themselves and that no matter the result, they would still be as highly valued after the carnival as they were before.

On Friday night, St Hilda’s celebrated their 7th consecutive win. Not only did St Hilda’s win the 2018 Boans Trophy for Champion School, but the girls excelled and won year group pennants for Years 7, 9, 10 & 12. Congratulations to the hard work, time and commitment of the girls and the tremendous support from the staff, coaching team, families and volunteers on the night.

ASIA REUNION Contact Leonora Nye leo.nye@sthildas.wa.edu.au

Grace has represented Walk Free Foundation (walkfreefoundation.org) at a variety of forums globally, including events at the Vatican and United Nations, and is an Ambassador for the Humanitarian Group and The Freedom Hub. She was recently nominated for an ‘abolitionist’ award by the Nomi Network based in NYC, of which she recently won. She has just been asked to become a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Australia. This is both an appointment and an award in recognition of her contribution to human rights and the anti-slavery space.

It was an inspiring talk and you are able to read the transcript from Grace’s talk at www.sthildas.wa.edu.au/community/ old-scholars/grace-forrest

The Principal, Mrs Kim Kiepe, invites you to meet with her during her upcoming trip to Asia.

Hong Kong

Sunday 15 April 5.00 - 7.00pm Pottinger Hotel - The Envoy

Singapore

Thursday 19 April 6.00 - 8.00pm Marina Bay Sands - Spago

Jakarta

Sunday 22 April 5.00 - 7.00pm Farmont Hotel - K22

SUE AND ANNE’S FARM TALES Sisters-in-law Sue Tighe and Anne Letch have, for 50 years, been wedded to farm life and all the excitement and humdrum that comes with it.

Like many boarding families, their stories track highs and lows of agriculture, but their friendship, forged in the picturesque contours of Clackline (near Northam), endures.

Anne

Sue

I could never have imagined I would live over 50 years on the same family property, but as a young teacher fortunes can change in an instant with a country posting.

We came to live in Clackline for very different reasons. You could say I was ‘born and bred’ in this place. My parents farmed a wheat and sheep property in Eadine. It is the farm Anne has lived on since she married my eldest brother Michael and it borders the property where I live now.

After graduating with my teaching degree I taught in Geraldton before heading off to Europe for adventure.

On my return I was posted to Northam Primary School.

I joined the Northam Theatre Group and was cast playing my future husband’s wife. I married Michael Letch and began farming life, living in the historic Eadine homestead. The years of re-decorating and furnishing were exciting and rewarding.

While being a country girl (my father was a bank manager, so I attended eight schools from Perenjori to Lake Grace), I had never had any involvement in farming. There were some real surprises – whole sheep on the kitchen table to be jointed and frozen, the midday serving of shearers’ roast lunches in Century-plus heat, and the blinding dust while drafting sheep. Driving through the smoke, with Sue, with food and water for the firefighters. And tragically, in the 1970’s, the demolition of the beautiful Eadine homestead (circa 1902), by the re-routing of the Great Eastern Highway.

There were fun picnics at the creek, picking mulberries, catching gilgies with the children, catching newborn white lambs in the morning light, and the ever changing green/brown paddocks. There was creative time spent with Michael designing and building the new Eadine house and garden.

We watched the children grow and become part of a farming community, attending the one-teacher school at Clackline until it closed.

I returned to teaching while the children, Matthew and Rebecca, were still young and taught full-time at Northam Primary School for 41 very rewarding years.

I am one of many farmers’ wives who in the 60’s and 70’s contributed, by teaching, to the sustainability of their farms when market prices for sheep and wool were severely low.

I have loved living on the farm, and I now enjoy having Rebecca’s children visit to experience those natural things not really possible in city life.

A St Hilda’s education has been in the family since Michael and Sue’s mother Catriona De Castilla attended Girls High School with her sisters, Rona, Winsome and Margot. Rebecca attended as a boarder and her daughter Laura attends now as a day student, with Eleanor beginning next year.

I had a farm upbringing and went to a one-teacher primary school, then boarded at St Hilda’s. It was a bit of a shock, but I loved it, especially the fact there was lots of sport. I was quite sad to leave, but found a job in Northam before leaving for Europe for a year.

After returning I married Michael Tighe, farmer and neighbour who I had known all my life. Very soon our children Simon, Bridget and Nicholas were off to the one-teacher school and then boarding, which meant more time for farm work.

I helped out with everything on the farm; shearing time, lamb marking, feeding stock; all the general chores. I disliked most helping Mike scope contour banks. He always picked the most freezing day and I had the staff and he the dumpy level. We spent many hours standing planning these, so Mike could then bring in heavy machinery to make these banks to optimise water flow.

The grimmest task was disposing of sheep when farmers were paid 20 cents a head by the government to shoot sheep because there was no market for them. Another unattractive job was clearing by hand ‘poison country’ of noxious plants fatal to sheep.

Although farming has its ups and downs it is a free life - and a wonderful life for children and our family. Where else would they learn a work ethic like no other, where they could have pets, ponies, motorbikes, fish in dams, learn to drive, shoot and be responsible for themselves?

The farm got bigger and the children grew up.

Bridget went to St Hilda’s as a boarder. Her daughter Amelia will be a fourth generation St Hilda’s girl. I hope she relishes it as much as Bridget and I did.

Photos by Angie Roe

Angie (class of 1987) gained a Bachelor of Arts from UWA and is a professional photographer based in the Avon Valley in Western Australia, covering all areas of the State. She specializes in wedding, family, event and commercial photography, with her images evoking natural, emotive storytelling. Member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography angieroephotography.com.au

Words by Bridget Tighe

Bridget (class of 1987) is Marketing Manager at CinefestOZ, the annual five-day Australian film festival based in the South West each August.

She studied English and Public Relations before embarking on a career in consultancy and corporate PR. After travelling extensively, she settled in Margaret River, lured by the coast, forests and a chap who makes delicious wines at Fraser Gallop Estate.

It’s interesting to see what influences one in their chosen career, but Anneke’s journey into hospitality began with exposure to travel at a very young age when her father was posted to Indonesia for work. Not only did she learn to speak the Indonesian language fluently, her holiday experiences in Asia made such an impact that at the age of 12, she was found sketching a floor plan of beachside resorts with recreational facilities, restaurants and beach front accommodation.

property on the front cover of that brochure.

It was stunning and she knew that one day she would work for this company. She knew it, and believed it.

She began her career with the Amanresorts in 2001, as the Reservations Manager for Indonesia. While she was offered to move to Singapore after a restructure, the Regional Manager wanted to keep her in Bali, and Anneke moved into a new area in training. It was during her tenure with Amanresorts that she was exposed to the world of hotel projects. She was fortunate enough to be part of the project team for 8 resort openings from Cambodia to India, Bhutan to Sri Lanka and finally the Caribbean, after which she decided to return to Australia.

Amanresorts proved to be an incredible experience and Anneke believed she had the best job in the world.

“MY 12 YEAR OLD SELF WAS BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT”

On returning to Australia, Anneke attended St Hilda’s, with Mrs June Jones as her principal, preaching the motto that “Girls Can Do Anything” and motivated her to succeed. Her father, very much Anneke’s personal hero, was also a big influence in her life and he advised his daughter that to move into an industry like hospitality, one would need a good business grounding to get anywhere.

Before starting studies she won an Australia Brit Society scholarship to work in the UK for a year. She worked at a remote hotel in Scotland, which would have been a huge adjustment from her days at St Hilda’s in Perth but this provided great training working at a hotel two hours north of Edinburgh, thrown into housekeeping, the kitchen and taking on reception duties.

Following this experience, Anneke returned to study Commerce at UWA with a triple major in Business Law, General Management and Marketing, but during this time continued to work in hospitality at the Subiaco Hotel which gave her a fantastic grounding in the hospitality industry. She studied full-time and worked full-time which she loved, but sadly her father passed away just before she graduated. When Anneke did graduate, she finished her work at the Subiaco Hotel and ventured to Sydney, and while feeling confident at the time, found it hard to gain employment. Somewhat disheartened, she decided to apply for a job as a Travel Agent, with a love of travel in mind, but lasted 8 months. By chance, this became the best learning curve of her life.

Technical skills she had learnt during that period she still uses today.

Anneke reflects on her last day of work as a travel agent as the doors closed for the day, and she picked up the Qantas Luxury brochure off the shelf, which featured the famous three tiered swimming pool of Amankila, Bali. She sat at her desk and looked at her colleague saying “one day I will work here”. She recounts that they both laughed, but will never forget that moment.

So Anneke decided to move to Bali, with the advantage of speaking Indonesian, she worked with local businesses, art centres, and tour operators and eventually made contact with the General Manager of the Amankila, Guy Heywood who would later become her mentor. She visited the

On returning to Australia, Anneke was lured to join her mentor Guy Heywood, as General Manager of Longitude 131, the luxury tented camp at Uluru, yet another amazing experience which she successfully ran for two years before returning to Perth. She decided to step back into training joining a Sydney based organization and running their WA division. This was a great insight into the local hotel scene, and confirmed how much she enjoyed and had missed the day to day operations of running a hotel.

Anneke had already learnt of plans for the Old Treasury Buildings, and it was through her previous connections that she would learn more about the project and was already keen to be involved. In awe of the plans and redevelopment, she began spending time with the project development team after hours, looking at plans, giving an operational perspective to the design, suggesting changes that would assist the operation flow. As she states herself, “my 12 year old self was bursting with excitement”.

The opportunity arose to join as General Manager of the Treasury hotel (unnamed at that point), and from 2014 Anneke has been enjoying an amazing journey leading up to the opening of COMO The Treasury.

Anneke throughout her career has been passionate, and despite experiencing some road blocks and challenges, she learnt resilience early to keep her moving forward. She appreciates what has helped her succeed is having someone on her side, pushing her to develop professionally. She developed confidence, learning to step out of her comfort zone, but trusting her faith in her ability.

Anneke has been included in a newly released book “A Wealth of Insight”, a book featuring 35 of the World’s Best Luxury Hoteliers on Leadership, Management, and the Future of 5-Star Hospitality.

Hear Anneke talk at the upcoming Career Networking event on Tuesday 10 April.

Tickets available at www.trybooking.com/URXY

Photo courtesy of COMO The Treasury

ANNEKE’S TREASURY Anneke Brown (1994) is the General Manager of COMO The Treasury, a luxury hotel in Perth. This significant heritage restoration was recently awarded Best Hotel in Australia in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, and the only Australian hotel to make the top 50.

JENNIFER’S INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS After graduating from St Hilda’s in 1994, Jennifer completed a BA(Hons) at the University of Western Australia majoring in Politics and European Studies including a semester at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. She then moved to Canberra and completed a Masters in International Affairs at the Australian National University before being accepted into the graduate program at the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) in 2002.

The highlight was a five-year stint in Moscow between 2006 – 2011 where her role included the management of local Russian staff dealing with Immigration and security matters between Eastern Europe and Australia. The opportunity to be immersed in such an extraordinarily different culture was rewarding and life changing.

The major challenges included learning to speak Russian and surviving the long harsh winters, with the highlights including regular trips to the Bolshoi Ballet and the opportunity to travel to a number of former Soviet bloc countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine for work. Having completed her honours thesis on totalitarianism and literature in Eastern Europe, the opportunity to experience post-Soviet Russia in all its complexity, was a dream come true.

Surviving -38 degree temperatures was another matter!

Jennifer’s career with the Commonwealth Government has spanned 15 years and included postings to Hong Kong, Moscow, Dubai and Singapore where she is currently posted as First Secretary at the Australian High Commission.

Jennifer is currently based in Singapore with her husband Adam and their two-year old son, Tom, where the temperature is a balmy 30 degree most days of the year.

CLASS OF 2016

TWO PATHS ONE PASSION

SOPHIE SMITH & BONNIE TUCKETT

It was lovely to have Bonnie Tuckett and Sophie Smith from the Class of 2016 visit the School last month, and hear what they have been doing since leaving school.

While both girls have only recently graduated, they said their experiences and influences at St Hilda’s directed them into their current study, both choosing to pursue areas of Science. Bonnie and Sophie spoke highly of the incredible support they received from the school and particularly their Biology teacher Miss Thompson, who had such a wonderful and passionate teaching style. It made it easy for them to realise what areas of science they enjoyed.

From a very young age, Bonnie was always keen to pursue Vet Science and she was always keen to work with animals, but there were challenges as Bonnie was diagnosed with CAPD and ADHD. While these learning difficulties are common, Bonnie did not want these labels to define her. She was determined to work hard to achieve her goal.

Bonnie took a General Pathway, which exposed her to one day a week of hands on work experience at two Veterinary practices through the INSTEP program. She was strongly supported with her studies through the Tutoring Centre, and found work placements with the assistance of the School’s INSTEP Coordinator. Bonnie was so determined that she was happy to put in the hard work and volunteer her time. Volunteering also gave her connections meeting future lecturers in her further studies. At the end of Year 12 Bonnie graduated with a Certificate II in Animal Studies, in addition to completing a Certificate III in Educational Support.

On leaving school she was accepted into TAFE studying Cert IV in Vet Nursing, and at the end of 2017 graduated and received a VNCA (Veterinary Nursing Council of Australia) Award for “Performance in Clinical Practice” with a commendation for her enthusiasm and passion for the course. About to commence a bridging program called “On Track”, Bonnie is looking at enrolling in Animal Science and Animal Health at Murdoch University this year, and she is definitely on track to do that.

Sophie selected a different pathway, studying ATAR subjects which were quite broad, as she was still unsure what she wanted to do beyond the St Hilda’s campus. Sophie agrees that encouragement of her teachers resulted in a real enjoyment of her science based subjects.

She also shared the classroom experience with Bonnie and embraced Miss Thompson’s passionate teaching in her Biology class.

While unsure which direction she would head after leaving School, Sophie’s interests were in science and communication, and with her added interest in animals, Sophie decided to pursue Zoology and Science Communications, both of which she does not regret at all, and is now enjoying her university life. While it seemed daunting stepping out of the school after so many years, UWA is filled with fellow Old Scholars and the comfort of some familiar faces.

She has recently had her research published in the Cygnus Journal, and enjoys the fact that the results of her analytical data studies are returned to the scientific community and eventually to the wider community at large.

MRS JONES’ LEGACY

A response to Mrs June Jones Obituary

By Jennifer Tucker (1955 Harrison)

‘Le Fanu House’ 1950

In response to the recent obituary for Mrs June Jones, Principal of St Hilda’s for 17 years, I believe one of her greatest legacies she left the school, students and future generations was her stand to save ‘Hope Nicholas House’ from demolition.

It was years ago when Joanna Muir (Fergusson Stewart) Head Prefect of year 1955, hosted a luncheon for Mrs Jones, who was visiting past students in Sydney to show us a preliminary of the then Master Plan for future development of the school between Bay View Terrace, Palmerston and Glyde Streets. Hope Nicholas House (‘the old house’) was omitted and when I asked why, her reply was that the architects had explained it was not possible to keep the house because the proposed Chapel needed to be in that prominent location at the main entrance and the two could not be allocated together. To which the response was - you can’t do that without losing the heart, soul and history of the school!

Reasons why it had to stay followed. To name a few: the ‘old house’ had heritage value, it was built before the school was established; it was where the Head Mistresses (as they were then known) resided when they lived on the premises; located at the entrance it gave students a homely, colonial appearance with

its embracing wraparound verandah, juxtaposed with the formal ‘Catherine House’ school on the other side of the driveway: it was the Dining Room for all the boarders for years, including World War II and that is where the girls from Margaret House sheltered during air raids.

I remember the side passage that we used daily leading to the Dining Room for all meals. The main passage was blocked off where it intersected. It was in this narrow passage junior boarders from Margaret House sheltered during air raids, sometimes in the middle of the night. It appeared larger then, as I was small (because of the war I commenced boarding in 1944 aged five). Soon there was an adjustment made to the passage. I thought the ceiling was removed – it seemed darker with timber and the single pendant globe was so dim. Perhaps hessian was fixed above the ceiling joists, to allow ventilation.

However I was more fascinated - and have never forgotten, the timber (struts) secured in a ‘crisscross’ across the top. Of course after the war the passage was restored. It was years later (when qualified as an Architectural Draftswoman), I realised that ‘herringbone strutting’ had been attached - the practice used between ceiling joists with wood floors in storied buildings. If

Hope Nicholas House 2018

the struts were between the joists they would have been smaller than between the walls, therefore more safe for children in reinforcing the passage. The older boarders sheltered in slit trenches in vacant, open ground towards Glyde Street - strictly ‘out of bounds’ for us! There was one occasion I believe, we were told to put on a gas mask for a short time inside the passage during an air raid - that may have been more of a test. We had tried them on once before - very odd contraption, during a regular drill exercise outside.

Hope Nicholas House has weathered and adjusted to historic growth and may have been an early venue contributing to important decisions in the transformation of the school. Its adaption today for receptions to past students and other gatherings links the past, including all boarders using the Dining Room in relay sittings, at separate tables but together relaxing and communicating during a meal after the official grace. It is a testimony to its continuing life, linking past and present in a timeline with its current and past students with the staff as one entity, serving an important social role to the school.

Oxford graduate Miss Catherine Small who directed St Hilda’s

for sixteen years since its foundation, wrote in her final message to the girls on her retirement in the 1946 Chronicle, .....“from study and research will come understanding that man’s roots will go deep into his past, and that the past, present and future are continuous”.

Mrs June Jones expressed that as a client of the architects, they – the school, had to take on board their advice. On the contrary, the other way around it was entirely up to her with the support of her Council on behalf of the school, to spell out their brief to keep ‘the old house’ intact, even if it meant working harder, and with the local authorities to achieve this aim. The rest is history.

In a world of change and upheaval Hope Nicholas House epitomises permanence.

Thank you Mrs Jones for your legacy.

Jennifer Tucker (Harrison)

BAZAAR SATURDAY 12 MAY 10AM - 3PM

HELP NEEDED PLEASE CAKES

Always a sell out, we would love to hear from anyone able to make a cake, biscuits or slice for sale. Please contact Rosey Longmire on 0409 109 173 or ralongmire@bigpond.com if you can help.

JAMS & PICKLES

Looking for jam/chutney makers and or donations of produce for jam and chutney making for the Old Scholars Mother’s Day Bazaar in May. We supply the jars and labels and I can deliver and pick up the jars. Please contact Catriona Quinlan (Cameron 1969) on 0414 667 480 or 9383 2410

SECONDHAND CLOTHES

If you are doing a cupboard cleanout before May, we would love to recycle your pre-loved clothes or handbags.

Any clothes left over will go to Red Cross. Please contact Treffina Dowland on tdowland@australisoil.com or 0413 948 255 to arrange collection or drop off.

BOTTLE TOMBOLA

We are looking for donations of wine or sparkling wine for a bottle tombola. Donations can be dropped at the Communications & Engagement office at the School, or contact Eliza Honey on 0452 171 707 or eliza.honey@au.ey.com

SILENT AUCTION

2018 Events IGSSA Tennis Thursday 5 April Professional Career Networking Event Tuesday 10 April Bazaar Saturday 12 May Mentoring Day Monday 11 June 70+ Morning Tea Tuesday 14 August CIGS Old Girls Golf Day Wednesday 10 October OSA AGM Monday 15 October OSA Social Golf Day Friday 2 November Valedictory Dinner Thursday 29 November

Regional Visits

17 May – Albany (St Hilda’s & CCGS) 18 May – Kojonup (St Hilda’s & CCGS) 24 May – South West Region (St Hilda’s & CCGS) 7 June - Geraldton 4-5 August - FeNaClNG, Karratha 29-30 August - Dowerin 20-21 September - Esperance

Reunions 60 YEAR REUNION – CLASS OF 1958 Saturday 6 October 2018 Geraldine Erlandson springside@amnet.net.au

If you have any items or experiences (like a facial or massage) to donate to the silent auction please contact Anu van Hattem on anuvanhattem@gmail.com or 0414 842 757

50 YEAR REUNION – CLASS OF 1968 Saturday 14 April 2018 Penny Boon peneric@git.com.au

BOOKS

40 YEAR REUNION – CLASS OF 1978 Friday 12 October 2018 Julie Eller eller@tpg.com.au Janine Goyder jsgoyder@bigpond.com

CROCHET WORKSHOPS

30 YEAR REUNION – CLASS OF 1988 Saturday 1 September 2018 Kate Watts katienwatts@hotmail.com

We are having a secondhand book store so if you have any books to donate, please contact Jane Barker on 0467 482 122 or janecbarker@yahoo.com

If you would like to learn a new craft or improve your skills, join Tracey, Angela & Anu in the Old Scholar sitting room on Wednesday 11 April, 18 April and 25 April from 10am.

Even if you already know your way around a crochet hook, come and join us for a morning of creativity and fun.

Each session costs $30 and includes morning tea. All proceeds go to the Old Scholars Association. Places for beginners are very limited so please email Tracey Parker at tprenown@bigpond.net.au

20 YEAR REUNION – CLASS OF 1998 Saturday 24 November 2018 Abby Macnish abby.macnish@gmail.com

VOLUNTEERS ON THE DAY

10 YEAR REUNION – CLASS OF 2008 Saturday 20 October 2018 Lily Barrymore ljbarrymore@gmail.com Hallie Purio Hallie_purio@hotmail.com Maddy Shellabear Maddy_Shellabear@hotmail.com

If you are able to spare some time on the day to assist with one of our stalls, please email Anu van Hattem at anuvanhattem@gmail.com with your availability.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION EMAIL OLDSCHOLARS@STHILDAS.WA.EDU.AU