St Margaret's College Evergreen Spring 2022

spring 2022

Nurtured to thrive, inspired to shine.

Discover the opportunities available for your daughter at St Margaret’s College.

Enrol now to secure your daughter’s place.

Visit: enrol.stmargarets.school.nz or contact: enrol@stmargarets.school.nz

Contents Opening Remarks

2

Out & About – Regional events

18

St Margaret’s College Old Girls’ Association

3

Out & About – Parent drinks, Family events

19

Alumni Profile – Deenie Roche

4

Out & About – Cranmer Lunch, Senior Ball

20

Alumni Profile – Marianne Hargreaves

5

Foundation

21

Alumni Profile – Marewa Sutherland

6

Bridge Tournament

22

Pre-School

7

Our sad farewells

22

Junior School

8

Old Girls – Hiatt and Co

23

Centre for Innovation

9

Remembering Mary Ager

24

Middle School

10

Remembering Pam Wauchop

25

Independent Schools’ NZ Award

11

Alumni Profile – Enid Hardie

26

Boarding

13

Archives

27

Sport

14

In Closing

28

The Arts

16

3

8

23

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Opening Remarks New Zealand was the first country in the world where women won the right to vote and it’s now a leader for gender parity in politics.

The last election ranked New Zealand at number five in the world for women’s representation in parliament, at 48.3 per cent, up ten points from the previous election.

Now up again to 49.2 per cent, New Zealand is one of only two OECD countries to achieve gender equality in parliament.

A new chapter has also been opened in Australian politics with a record number of independent female MPs recently elected. Much has been said about this exciting wave of forthright, trailblazing, smart women; many of whom are graduates of girls’ schools.

This would be no surprise to anyone familiar with the benefits of single-sex education for girls. Clearly, there is something inherent to the girls’ school environment that better prepares women for high-level leadership.

So what is it about a girls’ school education that ignites in young women the determination, inspiration and motivation to lead? What gives them the courage and grit to be change-makers?

In girls’ schools, students are intentionally equipped with the knowledge and skills required to overcome social and cultural gender biases, and in doing so, actively break the stereotypical norms that define women in society. This is achieved through an education and co-curricular programme that rewires the implicit biases that so often limit women.

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A study by the University of Queensland found that confidence levels for girls in single-sex schools matches that of boys, while girls in the general population consistently demonstrate lower confidence levels than boys. In other words, the study found that a girls’ school provides the environment for their students to develop and maintain innate confidence and healthy self-belief.

And it is confidence, or a lack of confidence, that is

frequently attributed to the under-representation of women in senior leadership roles.

Research shows unequivocally that girls thrive in an all-girls environment; they do better academically, socially, and emotionally. In a girls-only setting, girls participate more freely in discussions, are more competitive and take more healthy risks with their learning — skills that are advantageous for life success.

Girls’ schools provide significant leadership opportunities — 100 per cent of the leadership positions (not just 50 per cent) are held by girls. The power of mentoring and role modelling provided by past students also provides girls with invaluable leadership development opportunities.

Data from a US study shows that girls’ school graduates are more likely than co-ed school counterparts to be involved in political activities, demonstrate social and political agency, and be supportive of societal improvements. They are more likely to be change-makers.

Our Spring edition of Evergreen offers affirmation that St Margaret’s College is purposefully building girls’ confidence, conviction and self-belief, making sure that our girls have the skills and knowledge to speak out and to break down barriers, empowering them to learn, live and lead.

Diana Patchett, Executive Principal Fitzsimmons, T.W., Yates, M. S., & Callan, V. (2018). Hands Up for Gender Equality: A Major Study into Confidence and Career Intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys. Brisbane, Qld: AIBE Centre for Gender Equality in the Workplace – The University of Queensland.

Riggers-Piehl, Tiffani Ph.D. (2018) Fostering Academic and Social Engagement: An Investigation into the Effects of All-Girls Education in the Transition to University - Higher Education Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles

Jan Wagner

Tom Tothill and Janet Shand

Diana Gunn

St Margaret’s College Old Girls’ Association We hope that Spring has sprung wherever you live in New Zealand after what has been a pretty average winter on both the weather and health fronts for many – but a great one for the skiers. It can only get better now with longer days and more warmth on the

which is disappointing however we do know that Covid affected many of those who had intended to be present.

Regional events in other centres of the South Island will be held in the next few months so we encourage

horizon. For our members who receive this in the Northern Hemisphere what a hot summer you’ve had.

After delaying the Cranmer lunch until the end of July, we had a lovely gathering with a smaller than usual group of about 55 ladies, a reflection of illness. Those who did attend enjoyed guest speaker Diana Gunn and the wonderful food that the College catering team provided, made even better with a glass of wine hosted by our generous Executive Principal and SMCOGA Patron Diana Patchett.

to you attend.

Reunion weekend at the end of October is looming and with last year’s groups postponed until this year we anticipate a large combined event and much activity around the College over the weekend of 28-30 October.

Do come if it’s your reunion celebration and reconnect with friends, and take the opportunity to look around your school, which provides a standard of facilities and education that is the envy of many. I often hear Old Girls saying they wish they were at school now!

Co-hosted with Christ’s College, events have been held in Auckland, Wellington and the Hawke’s Bay, with Margaritas events in Auckland and Dunedin. Again, numbers attending have been lower than in the past

Enjoy this edition of Evergreen.

With best wishes on behalf of the committee Susan Mohammed, SMCOGA President

St Margaret’s College Old Girls’ Association

Annual General Meeting Tuesday 1 November 2022, 6pm St Margaret’s College Staffroom 12 Winchester Street, Merivale, Christchurch

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Alumni Profile: Deenie Roche

Deenie Roche didn’t set out to be a lawyer while studying the International Baccalaureate at St

Deenie was interviewed by Sienna McEwan (left) and Lauren Healey (right).

Margaret’s College in 2012-13. It was during her fourth year of law school, and while volunteering as a crisis advocate at the Wellington Women’s Refuge that she saw first hand the difference to families in crisis in having a really good lawyer who understands their situation and can help them navigate the courts system.

Deenie secured an internship through the Women’s Refuge, and is now a senior solicitor at Cuba Family Law. She specialises in family violence and care of

in meeting new people and seeing things from an alternative perspective.

children, and more recently in the area of mental

“Violence is endemic in New Zealand and there is no

health. She loves her job, but she doesn’t lose sight

easy fix. Perpetrators and respondents to protection

of the fact that her work brings her into contact with

orders are not necessarily bad people, they don’t always

people who are experiencing the worst time of their

know that there is another way.”

lives. She says:

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and this provided Deenie with valuable experience

Deenie is now a member of the governance group of the

“It’s satisfying to close a file and know you helped

Women’s Refuge, which has responsibility for strategy,

a family. Things might not always go the way you

finance and operations. The Women’s Refuge often

thought, but you are giving someone the tools to get

comes to Deenie direct when a woman requires legal

to where they want to be, to help them come to an

support, as her training means that she knows how to

agreement that they can live with so that they can

speak with people in crisis and to get them the results

go on with their lives.”

they want.

Unlike many areas of law, family law requires a lot of

Healthy boundaries are key, and Deenie’s firm supports

time in court, and Deenie relishes persuading judges

its employees to see a therapist every six weeks, as well

with her arguments. But the family law system is

as encouraging a good work-life balance. She also gets

overburdened, due to a lack of family lawyers and

great support from the other lawyers at her firm when

insufficient court time.

she needs it.

“There needs to be more junior lawyers in family law –

Having spent a semester in the US while at university,

it’s not seen as glamorous or as well paid as other areas

Deenie is now weighing up the possibility of living

of practice, but with a significant review of how the law

overseas, but for now she is enjoying what she does,

works in New Zealand in the pipeline, it’s a great time

and has just completed her training to be a Lawyer for

to come in. Some might think it’s depressing, but

the Child, ensuring children in family law matters have

I really believe what we’re doing matters.” Deenie says.

a lawyer to advocate for them.

Her role as a crisis advocate at Women’s Refuge has

Deenie is a proponent for studying law as a means to

helped her in her current role and she believes

pursue a range of different career options. “You don’t

everyone can benefit from volunteering in roles like

have to be a lawyer and there are lots of opportunities

these. Volunteers are enrolled on a 50 hour training

for law graduates. The secret is, no one has it figured

programme before having contact with families,

out, and you don’t have to decide right now.”

Alumni Profile: Marianne Hargreaves

St Margaret’s College Old Girl Marianne Hargreaves’ creative flair started at an early age, when she and her sisters made everything from paper dolls’ houses,

Marianne and her three sisters all attended SMC, continuing the St Margaret’s family tradition set by their 95-year-old mother, Bet Godfrey .

embroidery samplers, clothes and even their wedding dresses.

So it’s no surprise that after seven years as a school dental nurse when she left school, Marianne returned

New Zealand Order of Merit) for her services to the community as an artist and administrator.

to the arts.

“Knowing that what you are doing makes a difference

“I was always attracted to textiles and when I came

talk about personal experiences, issues, politics, and

back to Christchurch as a dental nurse, I began weaving with a table loom, something creative to do after work.

Once I had our two sons, and realised I didn’t have the time needed to concentrate on weaving, I started patchwork because it was easily portable.”

to people’s lives is the best reward. Hearing speakers seeing people come out of a session knowing it has changed something in their lives is what drove me to continue doing it. Being able to bring issues out into the open in a safe environment is really important.”

Marianne says her early work as a dental nurse taught

A two year City & Guilds Creative course in embroidery

her patience and opened her eyes to a different world.

subsequently opened a new world for Marianne.

Becoming a textile artist took her into a wonderful

In 1990, the NZ Embroiderers Guilds were involved in making four stage curtains for the newly-built Globe Theatre in London. Marianne made the boar on the

world of visual art while the arts festivals introduced excitement, entertainment, challenge and reward. With WORD, she combined all these different skills.

Adonis panel. Other highlights include: exhibiting

But those more recent years have not been without

at The Barbican in London in 1996; coordinating the

challenges, including the Christchurch earthquakes

Women’s Suffrage Commemorative Wall Hanging

and the Covid pandemic.

(involving over 100 women) that now hangs in the

“Running events in a world where months, years of

Christchurch Town Hall; and receiving a grant to travel to UK and USA to visit textile artists.

“I think there’s a resurgence of interest in textiles at the

planning can suddenly be irrelevant, can be demoralising. But, there are solutions to be found, and with technology there are different options available

moment and it’s being accepted more into mainstream

now than there were in the post-earthquake era.

art practice. Patchwork and quilting have always had

“Sourcing the money to enable arts to happen is always

a large following and exhibitions are well attended.”

a challenge which many people are oblivious of, and

Aside from pursuing her own art, Marianne was

working on a shoe-string budget to make giant things

President of the Friends of Christchurch Art Gallery Te

happen has been one of my biggest challenges.

Puna o Waiwhetū for nine years and is still a member of

“The rewards, though, are the amazing people you

the Executive Committee.

meet. Whether it’s an actor, dancer, writer or artist,

She also worked for the Christchurch Arts Festival before taking over as Executive Director of WORD

most of them will be able to recount the moment that they knew they had to follow this path.

Christchurch in 2010 – a role she only retired from in

“Being in the arts is a passion that drives and inhabits

2022. This year she received a MNZM (Member of the

you and gives you the greatest pleasure.”

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Alumni Profile:

Marewa Sutherland A pure stroke of brilliance Little did Marewa Sutherland (Kraak) realise that her formative years rowing at St Margaret’s College would have such a profound effect on her life.

The sports and exercise nutritionist co-founded PURE Sports Nutrition and traces her path back to her rowing days at school (2002-2005), where SMC had a clean sweep in Maadi across consecutive years.

We started with one hydration range and we now have

During this time, I saw Kat Darry for nutrition advice

around 50 products across three sister brands.“

on how to fuel through the fairly heavy training and racing load. Kat was just so inspiring to me during very casual consultations at her dining room table. Her small children were running around the house, and have now themselves come through the sporting ranks at SMC and beyond which blows my mind.”

After a gap year at St Margaret’s College in Edinburgh, Marewa enrolled at the University of Otago to study the new BAppSc degree – Sports and Exercise Nutrition.

“My brother, Simon, and I were heavily into cycling when I finished university and really struggled to find nutrition that was easy to get in, especially when racing. After a year of obsessively researching, we saw a gap for nutrition with a higher level of quality.”

Thus PURE sports nutrition was born.

“We soon worked out the science was important for performance, but just as much so was the taste and usability of the products. So we essentially ‘test drove’ our products with every athlete we could find. By the

At the outset, PURE was predominantly aimed at endurance athletes. However, its natural ingredients have attracted a large customer base of generally active people wanting to lead healthier lifestyles, including young athletes.

Outside New Zealand, PURE’s main markets are Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates.

“It’s a wild ride starting your own business. We went in very fresh with high energy to do what we needed to do to succeed. As the business continues to grow, experience and expertise drive our decision-making process so it’s very different from the early days.“ Life is a juggle for Marewa today. Three children and co-owning PURE feels like a circus at times, however she maintains her active life fuels her energy and drive.

She is also unequivocal in encouraging young women to pursue their dreams.

time we brought our products to market, we already

“Don’t be afraid of giving an idea you have a go, pick up

knew that they performed – which is a large piece of

the phone and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Most

the puzzle,” Marewa recalls.

success stories sound glossy but you can be assured

“We literally started our business in the garage, before sneaking into a commercial kitchen at night. From stickering bags to sales, marketing and dispatching, it was all us in those early days. Ten years on, we now

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dispatches our range domestically and internationally.

“In Year 13, I rowed for the New Zealand U21 academy.

have an in-house factory that manufacturers and

there will most likely be many failures along the way.

There are so many knowledgeable people around, so don’t be afraid to reach out and get insight into what interests you.”

Pre-School In the Pre-School we enjoy celebrating the children’s learning in a variety of ways.

Our inquiry topics change each term depending on tamariki interests, parent and whānau aspirations and teacher observations.

Through a child’s natural curiosity a love of learning develops. The Pre-School programme promotes tamariki to ask questions, explore and to challenge themselves.

Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, acknowledges the holistic way children learn and develop and so we plan for the physical, cognitive, spiritual, social and emotional characteristics

show telling a story of Matariki. For some of our tamariki being on a bus was just as exciting as the show and for some it was their first ever bus ride.

The teachers also notice when tamariki have been developing new learning dispositions such as persisting with a difficult task or showing kindness to a friend and Maggie Bear are another way that the children’s achievements are celebrated.

of each child. The preschool environment is set up to

More traditional ways we celebrate at the Pre-School

support these learning outcomes.

are birthdays, reaching new milestones, whole

The highlights in our celebrations this year have been our ‘Messy Play’ morning. The teachers set the scene

school events such as Book Week dress up day and transitioning to school.

for a morning of tactile exploration tamariki came

The tamariki look forward to their celebration of

prepared to enjoy the outdoor transformation.

learning during their time at our St Margaret’s College

Water, bubbles, mud and a giant unicorn made it

Pre-School. The tamariki wear the korowai cloak and

a fabulous event.

with their key teacher look back through their

Our excursion to the glow festival was a great success in Term 2 and the tamariki really enjoyed the puppet

portfolios and share favourite learning moments.

Sarah Bradley, Director of Pre-School

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Junior School “Science is simply the word we use to describe the method of organising our curiosity.” Tom Minchin There have been times over the past two terms when I have pinched myself as I see the high level of science occurring in the Junior School. We are so lucky to have access to the secondary Science Faculty. Together, the Junior School team and the Science Faculty make a fierce team committed to inspiring our young ākonga to develop curiosity about how our world works. Class teachers work alongside science specialist teacher, Michelle Brennan who both leads science classes and provides support to the Junior School team through

with the acronym, MRS C GREN, as well as the features of the teeth of herbivores, omnivores and carnivores.

The girls loved exploring these items and it was exciting to watch their curiosity and high-level questioning skills develop.

planning and brainstorming of ideas. She has worked

The Year 5 class is currently studying Sustainable

with each teacher to plan and deliver engaging science

Energy Sources and recently, teacher Betsy Ryan was

through class inquiries.

excited to have the support of the science faculty as she

Earlier in the year, the Year 4, 5 and 6 classes were fully immersed in an inquiry study of Antarctica. Michelle and the classroom teachers delivered a programme of science experiments to illustrate the challenges of life in this extreme environment. The girls learned why icebergs float as they created density towers experimenting with a range of liquids of varying thicknesses and masses. They learned about the behavioural and physical adaptations of Antarctic

gathered resources to enable the girls to learn about a range of energy-related scientific principles. A quick trip up to the Science Faculty to borrow a piece of pvc pipe resulted in Betsy being given lots of fantastic resources including personal solar cells enabling the girls to conduct their own experiments. The Year 5 girls are so engaged in this science and it’s fantastic to watch their reading and writing skills develop further as they communicate this complicated science.

animals through the creation of a blubber glove which

We feel so fortunate as a Junior School to have access

they submerged into ice cold water. The girls were

to the resources and expert teaching of the Science

amazed that their blubber- gloved hands could

Faculty. We love the opportunities we have to use our

withstand the freezing temperatures!

different educational strengths to collaborate with our

Our younger learners are also loving their science lessons. Year 2 has been studying animals and Michelle

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explore. They learned about categorising living things

presented the class with a selection of teeth and feet to

secondary colleagues. Our Junior School ākonga are so fortunate to benefit from this partnership.

Bridget Compton-Moen, Head of Junior School

Centre for Innovation Pioneering new technology with impact Guided by it’s mission to be “pioneers that change

for her clothing range, to create engaging content for

education, by transforming teaching and learning as

Instagram.

active leaders, and rethinking what is possible”, our Centre for Innovation faculty is continually challenging the status quo.

Key to this is the way in which the Centre uses impactful technology. Using the SAMR model – substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition – Linda Chong, Audrey Campbell and Nicole Lloyd are helping students and their fellow

“The ability to move from being a discerning consumer of information to a creator of compelling information is key to our teaching.”

Augmented Reality Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of digital information with the user’s environment in real time.

Unlike virtual reality (VR), which creates a totally

teaching staff to find novel and immersive uses for

artificial environment, AR users experience a real-world

technology, at the same time fostering young

environment overlaid with generated perceptual

problem-solvers and innovators.

information.

Audrey Campbell says: “SMC has been intentional in

AR is being applied to a range of learnings at SMC,

allocating time for our Centre for Innovation faculty

including Year 7-8 mathematics, helping students to

staff to explore how impactful technology can support

visualise, understand and estimate Commonwealth

teaching across the board, ensuring we are preparing

Games athletics records. In Year 3, it has been used to

our girls for the future world of work. Often students

completely immerse girls underwater off the Kermadec

access this learning as a result of their current teacher’s

Islands, northwest of Aotearoa, introducing them to

personal passion for technology, but we have the

marine life and the effects of pollution. Supported by

resources not only to engage students through our own

the Blake Trust NZ, the headsets have opened the eyes

classes, but to provide tailored professional development

of our students in wanting to become kaitiaki –

to staff across SMC, so that they can make technology

guardians of the sea.

relevant to their own teaching.”

The faculty is engaged in a number of programmes currently across a wide range of subject areas.

Green screens Caitlin is a Year 13 student studying textiles and enrolled in SMC’s project based learning course Project X.

EPro8 SMC’S Engineering, Problem Solving and Innovation teams have grown from two teams in 2019, to seven in 2022, with our older students mentoring our younger teams.

EPro8 stretches students’ minds but is also stretching teachers’ professional development. Tasks require

Linda Chong says: “Caitlin’s passion is clothes and she

students to work cooperatively in groups to build

has been experimenting with green screens to promote

complex structures within a set time limit, requiring

her reversible blazer. Taking a green screen image and

collaboration, determination and a flexible mindset.

overlaying this with her colour palette, Caitlin has been

The teachers leading this programme are learning

able to mimic the colours of the fabrics she has selected

alongside students in this space.

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Middle School Ma te tuakana te teina e totika, Ma te teina te tuakana e totika The older will lead the younger and the younger will lead the older.

This term we held the first ever Middle School tutor

activities where students followed the dance moves on

groups combined with the Junior School tutor groups.

screen to mindful colouring and story book sharing, the

Whilst this has been a regular event for our Middle and

25 minute session was a highlight for us all.

Senior School to join together, this is the first time we have included our little sisters.

and it is wonderful to have these moments to remind

Our tutor groups meet together daily, and twice weekly

ourselves. We experience the joy and excitement of the

for an extended period of time to work in a multi-level

youngest students who are bubbling with enthusiasm.

group. This is an important part of our pastoral care

Our Middle Schoolers are eager to learn and share their

system. The groups spend time talking, playing games,

skills. They are fun to be around and have great energy.

sharing kai and collegiality.

These characteristics and opportunities make St

It was with great joy that each tutor group hosted four

Margaret’s College a very special place, more than just

or five junior school students. A range of activities were

a place of learning but a place to belong, a place to join

planned and developed for this time and it was

in and a place to take flight.

a wonderfully heartwarming experience.

Kathryn Gray, Head of Middle School

All around the College you could see the beaming

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At times we forget the uniqueness of our community,

smiles of the students involved. From “Just Dance”

Independent Schools’ NZ Awards Lisa Williams Year 10 can be a challenging one in schools. It’s a time

Diana Patchett, Executive Principal, says, “This

when students may lose their focus and engagement

prestigious award recognises Lisa’s innovation and

and when many other factors play a significant role in

drive in heading our acclaimed Rite Journey

girls’ personal development. At St Margaret’s College,

programme. The programme has produced remarkable

the Rite Journey means students are engaged and

results for our girls, adding an important layer of

challenged throughout the year.

self-awareness and appreciation at a time in their lives

Lead by Deputy Head of Middle School, Lisa Williams, the programme has a focus on each student learning

when they may feel awkwardly caught between childhood and young womanhood.”

about themselves and challenging their perspective on

“It is said that a teacher affects eternity; you can never

current values and beliefs. SMC is thrilled that Lisa has

tell where their influence stops. Nowhere would that

been recognised by the Independent Schools of New

be more evident than with Lisa. Her influence will

Zealand (ISNZ) Honours Awards, for Services to

extend far beyond today, for the gifts she and the SMC

Teaching – Rite Journey and Health Education.

Rite Journey team have uncovered with our girls will reap rewards well into their futures.”

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Boarding With Covid bringing so much disruption and isolation over the past two years, more recently we have really enjoyed being able to open the boarding house once again for combined dinners, day school friends visiting, dinner swaps with Christ’s College and parent

possibilities for our young people as they spread their wings beyond SMC in future years.

events. Boarders’ chapel service at the start of each

Looking ahead, we are eagerly planning for a full

term have also been reinstated. A feeling of normality

upgrade of Kilburn House. The first stage of installation

is returning.

is taking place over the 2022/2023 summer break.

In Term 3 we welcomed new international students with many of our boarding girls taking on the role of ‘buddy’ to help them settle into life at St Margaret’s College. It is a rich experience for everyone to have such cultural diversity in our boarding houses. The friendships formed across nations open so many

Rooms will have a complete new fit out of furniture to achieve a more modern and sustainable living environment, appropriate for our girls’ needs. We look forward to sharing the progress of this with our community.

Deanne Gath, Director of Boarding and International

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Sport SMC girls wearing the Silver Fern St Margaret’s College is so very proud of our wāhine toa

and allegiance when the New Zealand Army wore it

who have represented not only SMC but New Zealand

during the Boer War at the turn of the 20th century.

on the world stage.

The silver fern has been accepted as a symbol of New Zealand’s national identity since the 1880s. To Māori, the elegant shape of the fronds stood for strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power. To Pākehā, the fern symbolised their sense of attachment to their homeland.

For more than 100 years, members of the New Zealand team have been wearing the silver fern, a symbol that represents our national sporting hopes and dreams.

The silver fern became a symbol of bravery, sacrifice

Jemma Burrowes and Grace Farrell – Rowing Jemma Burrowes and Grace Farrell were selected into the New Zealand U19 Women’s Rowing Eight and competed in Italy at the 2022 World Rowing U19 Championships.

A well-deserved fifth placing for these young athletes.

Milo Neil – Fencing Milo competed in Sydney at the Oceania and Australian Cadet (U17) Fencing Championships and was selected in the New Zealand team that competed in the Commonwealth U17 Fencing Championships in London

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from 9-20 August.

Helen Belcher, Director of Sport We have the following athletes who are on the brink of New Zealand selection: Cara Mustchin – named in the NZ U20 Touch squad as a trialist Ashlyn Koce – named as a reserve for the NZSS Netball team Molly Williams, Mezzy Surridge & Sorell Shand – named in an extended squad to attend a Junior Black Sticks camp to select trialists

Katherine Babington – Orienteering Katherine competed at the New Zealand Junior World Orienteering Championships in Portugal in July. She will also be contesting the Australian Schools Championships in Sydney in September.

Anna Babington – Orienteering Anna Babington has gained selection into the New Zealand Schools Orienteering team competing in the Australian Schools Championships in September.

Ivy Brown – Basketball Ivy was in the New Zealand U17 women’s team who travelled to Jordan in June to participate in the Women’s FIBA Asia Cup. Qualifying at this tournament they then travelled to Hungary and competed against the world’s best U17 basketballers in the Women’s FIBA World Cup.

Brie Cox – Canoe Sprint Brie has been selected into the New Zealand U18 Sprint Kayaking team and will be competing in the Asia Pacific Cup in Japan from 29 September – 2 October.

Lucia Gale – Tennis Lucia was selected to represent New Zealand in the Lucia Gale

Ruby Young

U15 Tennis team and competed in the Australian teams event in July. Our New Zealand team placed 5th overall.

Ruby Young – Tennis Ruby has been playing as a member of the New Zealand Junior team and competed at B2 Oceania Junior Championships in Sydney.

Trinity Mackley-Flutey – Softball Trinity has been selected into an extended Junior White Trinity Mackley-Flutey

Emily O’Connor

Sox squad for 2022. The squad has been split for trips to Australia and Trinity will attend games during September and October.

Emily O’Connor – Volleyball Emily was selected into the New Zealand U19 development team and played in the Australian State Volleyball Championships coming away with first place.

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The Arts The stage was set. The lights were bright. Our hearts were full as the time had come! This term saw our Senior Production of ‘Little Women’ brought to life by a double cast of incredible students. With two hours

Matariki, up-beat musical numbers, and a poignant

worth of dialogue, richly performed with American

Vincent Van Gogh inspired routine.

accents, beautiful period costume pieces, and a simple yet striking set, ‘Little Women’ was an absolute delight.

Thank you to our Supporting Partner, Mainland Capital.

achievements so far this year, with a significant number of awards and recognition coming from this

Portraying a tight-knit family, with very different

year’s Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival participants,

personalities, hopes and dreams, the audience was

including songwriting awards, best student director,

taken on a journey of love, sacrifice, forgiveness,

winning essay entries, costume designs, and various

friendship and all the complex emotions and actions of

acting awards at both regional and national level.

being a family during the American Civil War. In every

Outstanding work from our girls, who represented the

sense of the word, our cast formed their own family,

College with such professionalism and enthusiasm.

igniting new friendships and becoming their own little whānau. Older cast members took the younger under their wings, and displayed beautiful leadership and encouragement – a true reflection of our ‘Big Sister / Little Sister’ culture at St Margaret’s College.

In Visual Arts we have four talented junior students selected for the annual ‘Art Stars’ Exhibition. The Exhibition is a spectacular display of Christchurch’s student art with their stunning art available to be purchased from the public. This is the first year that

Over four shows, the whole production team brought

‘Art Stars’ have had a Junior School section, and we are

everything to the stage, leaving us all inspired and

so proud of our SMC girls for their achievement and

proud of their achievement.

recognition for their work.

Alongside this production, there were other moments

As we look forward to the rest of the year’s programme

of celebration on the stage as students performed at

which includes celebrating our visual arts students

the annual ‘Twilight Concert’. With a feeling of spring,

through end of year exhibitions, and experiencing the

the stage was alive with twinkling lights and colourful

hard work and wonderful choreography of our senior

flowers, and the air of ‘new things’ was abundant!

dance students for their ‘Retrograde’ dance show, we

The night featured Jazz, Choirs, Rock Bands, and Orchestra, to an incredibly moving drama piece from our winning Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival performers, and capping off the evening with some

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We continue to be amazed by our students’

wonderful dance numbers, drawing inspiration from

are delighted to see that our art students have not just ‘taken flight’ this year, but are truly soaring as they aim high in their quest to enrich their experiences and engage with the arts at SMC. Laura Hewetson, Arts Facilitator

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Out & About Auckland regional event

Wellington regional event

Hawke’s Bay regional event

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Year Group Parent Drinks

Father/Daughter Breakfast

Autumn Family Festival

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Out & About Cranmer Lunch

Senior Ball

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SMC Foundation It is a privilege to champion the work of the St

I am today through ongoing support and never giving

Margaret’s College Foundation. Since joining the staff

up on me”.

of SMC in July I have been constantly impressed by the many and varied ways that our community supports the College.

The Foundation’s Annual Appeal has also seen generosity from older generations within our community. One of our delightful grandparents has

We are fortunate that the SMC community is ambitious,

kindly donated to the state-of-the-art playground –

dynamic and engaged, and the Foundation is excited

the first of its kind in New Zealand – planned for the

about the opportunity to build on this to assist the College’s mission to grow empathetic, confident and connected global citizens.

We are currently in the midst of our 2022 Annual Appeal, and it has been encouraging to see so many of our supportive community donate to two amazing causes.

The tradition of generosity at St Margaret’s College must never be underestimated.

One of our recent gifts came from a younger member of the Old Girls’ Association who graduated from university last year and joined the workforce. She was delighted to give back to a fund that recognises and acknowledges the hard work and talent of the SMC teaching staff: “They helped shape me into the person

Middle and Junior School. They strongly believe in the value of play and are pleased to contribute to this amazing playground that will benefit the girls, including their granddaughter in Year 5.

Whatever the reason for giving, we are truly appreciative.

No gift is too small and each time you donate your generosity is felt widely throughout our College both now and into the future.

We offer a sincere thank you to our past and present supporters. Together we can continue to create a legacy for the future, ensuring generations of girls are empowered to learn, live and lead.

I look forward to meeting many of you at future events.

Erin Reeve, Foundation Manager

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Bridge Tournament

Our Sad Farewells

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#1290

Mary Ager

104 years

#2271

Adrienne Adair died August 2021

86 years

#1376

Pamela Wauchop (Mower)

100 years

#2465

Jeanette McMurtrie (Gilbert)

82 years

#1489

Jean Hudson

97 Years

#2476

Marion McCree

86 Years

#1597

Cecily Wright (Gillanders)

96 years

#2598

Diana Manson (Morten)

79 years

#1620

Rosemary Doyle-Smith (Packer) 91 years

#2601

Barbara Musgrave

82 years

#1674

Jean Cowie

94 years

#2677

Anna Brinson (Winskill)

84 years

#1696

Nancy Newland (Hulme)

95 years

#3033

Jenny Clibborn (Horton)

80 years

#1745

Helen Bradbury (Orchard)

86 years

#3086

Annette Gee-Taylor (Scholefield) 82 years

#1863

Dawn Webster (Clark)

92 years

#3637

Angela Brott (Blackie)

73 years

#1864

Virginia Hunt (Clayton)

95 years

#4020

Anne Askin (Farmer)

71 years

#1894

Gwen Parton (Maffey)

94 years

#4063

Christine Regnault

71 years

#1951

Jennifer Babington (Gardiner)

88 years

#4360

Vicki Matthews (Kendall)

60 years

#1993

Rowa Sturman (McCrostie)

93 years

#4953

Rosemary Poland (Williams)

54 years

#2063

Valerie Scowen (Bowen)

90 Years

#5215

Nicola Love (Thomas)

63 Years

#2070

Dorothy Godkin (Gifford)

92 years

#5324

Elizabeth Sanders (Miller)

62 years

#2076

Marilyn Dempster (Johnson)

91 years

#7615

Olivia Harvey (Ward)

37 years

#2084

Juanita Saxby (Neale)

81 years

#11089-14

Julia Rockell

24 years

#2236

Rose Anderson (Erikson)

80 years

Old Girls

Hiatt and Co Introducing Anna Hiatt I grew up with a vegetable garden and had no idea

Innately we all knew that we should be growing our

that many people hadn’t, not to mention that they

own. For me it’s all about helping busy beginner

didn’t know where to even begin establishing one. I’m

gardeners get growing. It’s not about being completely

Anna Hiatt from Wanaka and I established Hiatt and

self-sustainable – (that is so hard) but just small steps

Co, helping people all over New Zealand with bespoke

with what’s achievable with the limited time most

edible garden consultations face to face or online. I also

people have.

sell gorgeous edible garden boxes that contains seasonal seeds and all you need to get growing.

Not only am I passionate about getting people growing but I am also passionate about making these edible

I have had a colourful variety of professions since

gardens look gorgeous so people are proud of them.

leaving St Margaret’s College. After completing my

I love edible flowers, bee attracting flowers, and fruits

studies in Sports and then Massage Therapy, I set up my

like strawberries are woven all through mine.

own massage therapy clinic, following on from that I moved into floral design which led to Pure Chaos – Floral design, where I specialised in flowers for weddings and events. I then studied event management and have had more than 10 years working in the event industry mainly on international sporting events. Covid came – events died (as did all my contracts) and this gave

Success to me is one less plastic bag of lettuce on the shelf in the supermarket by helping others grow and pick you own salad greens fresh for the table – no matter how little or large their space. Everyone has room to grow something even if it’s a window sill garden filled with gorgeous micro greens.

me the chance to take a breath and reset for the future.

Thanks to Covid Hiatt & Co was born.

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Remembering Mary Ager

Mary Elm Ager was born on September 15, 1917 in Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay. Her family moved to Christchurch

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in 1926 and after a couple of years the family moved to

Travel played a large part in her life, she spent three

Rangiora where her father, Theo, became manager of the

years during her thirties working as a nanny in New

Farmers Trading Company and later deputy Mayor of

York before visiting other areas of the United States and

Rangiora. Mary started St Margaret’s College as a boarder

Canada. She also travelled to Europe where in England

in 1935 and in 1936 became a Prefect and a Head of

one of her highlights was a visit to Buckingham Palace

House Prefect. Her duties included lining the girls up to

for a garden party, standing at one stage close to the

walk crocodile fashion to and from school and ironing

Queen. During a road trip from New South Wales to

the younger girls’ uniforms each day. While Mary was

Melbourne as a girl the family experienced the Black

at SMC she was involved in a school production of

Friday bushfires, Mary and her siblings spread ice

‘Iolanthe’ in which she played the Fairy Queen.

cream on their faces to cool down.

After leaving school Mary joined her father working for

Mary passed away peacefully aged 104 years young on

Farmers for a total of 35 years.

May 2, 2022. She was a treasured aunt and great aunt.

Remembering Pam Wauchop

Pam Wauchop (nèe Mower) passed away peacefully

of Evergreen magazine when she turned 100 years

May 16, 2022. Pam was at St Margaret’s College in the

old. You can read about Pam’s life as written by her

mid 1930s and was featured in the Spring 2021 edition

family here.

Pam was born in Christchurch in 1921 – the first child of World War 1 returnee, Billy Mower, and his wife Ivy. She grew up in Sumner, a sporty girl, a swimmer, a runner and a tennis player – sports she continued for much of her life.

Her early school years were at Sumner school – she graduated to St Margaret’s senior school in the mid 1930s. She and her best friend Lorrie Archibald (née Dawe) would catch the tram from Sumner into Cathedral Square and walk the remaining few blocks to St Margaret’s in Cranmer Square. Pam made friends for life during her time at SMC. And she would return to the school as a committee member of the Old Girls’ Association, and as Vice President for the Golden Jubilee year in 1960.

A debutante in 1938, she caught the eye of the handsome young Hal Wauchop, and in 1941 they became engaged.

Hal had enlisted in the army, and Pam joined the Women’s Auxiliary Airforce (WAAF) in 1942. They married while Hal was on a week’s leave in 1942.

She resigned from the WAAF at the end of 1944 to have the first of her four children in 1945.

With the children reaching independence, Pam opened her own business – a craft gallery in the McKenzie and Willis Arcade. The family home became a gallery in its own right as choice pieces became too irresistible to sell!

Pam continued to play tennis at the Elmwood Club, but

The 1950s were the family years – with picnics, camping trips and parties with friends and neighbours

she also took up bridge. She and her partner Yvonne Shepherd were formidable players – right up until

in Glandovey and Ilam Roads.

a couple of years ago.

Pam and Hal had their first big overseas adventure in

Her legacy to her family – alongside the beautiful

1968, just as the world was turning on its head. They saw first hand the riots in Los Angeles and Paris. They

house and garden she has created in Maidstone Rd – has been – and continues to be her everlasting curiosity

also saw Miles Davis up close at the Village Voice!

and her enduring interest in the world around her.

For over 30 years we’ve combined our passion for food with the finest local ingredients to turn events held in homes, businesses, and local venues into deliciously memorable occasions. Whether using our professional staff or catering delivered to your home we will work with you to surpass every expectation.

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Alumni Profile:

Enid Hardie A thoroughly modern woman Enid Hardie is extraordinary. It’s a privilege meeting her.

The St Margaret’s College Old Girl is 95 years old, quick of mind, slight of build, and interested in everything around her. She belongs to a book club, her favourite TV programme is the current affairs show Q&A and Te

and the highest unclimbed peak. Kangchenjunga was

Ao and she’s a big fan of broadcaster Kim Hill.

not climbed again for 22 years and only then by an

But it’s when you look at the photos on her fridge that you get a glimpse into Enid’s earlier life – as a woman

After that expedition, Enid joined Norman in Nepal

who loved tramping in her younger years, and was

where she and a friend were responsible for sourcing

unafraid to take on new adventures. The neatly ordered

supplies for Sherpas to take up the mountain.

pictures are a mix of family and friends including Sir Edmund Hillary with Enid’s late husband Norman, also a mountaineer. There’s another of Enid and Norman at Everest base camp in Nepal.

“Then we were faced with the big decision of whether to go back to New Zealand or should we go back to England. We didn’t have children at that stage so we could please ourselves. But we wanted to start a family

A woman ahead of her time, Enid (whose surname was

so we decided to return to New Zealand – I have no

then Hurst) studied English Literature at the University

regrets about that decision.”

of Canterbury after attending SMC in the early 1940s with long-time friend Bet Godfrey (mother of Marianne Hargreaves). The pair had been together at Fairleigh Kindergarten, Fendalton School, and today they’re still good friends, keeping each other company at Old Girls events.

It was at university that Enid met husband Norman, who was studying civil engineering.

“I was looking at a noticeboard and trying to decide whether I’d keep going with hockey, which I’d played at school, or do something different. Norman persuaded me to join the tramping club.”

The couple went on to have two daughters; one who lives in Christchurch, the other in Nelson, both are full time counsellors.

While they were growing up, Enid went back to part-time teaching – at Avonside Girls’ High School for six years followed by 14 years at Cashmere High School. In those latter years, she took on more of a counselling role and returned to university to get a formal qualification as a counsellor.

“I loved it. I was ambitious for the youngsters and I wanted to help them identify their strengths. Not everyone is academic and they needed help to broaden

And so began a romance which survived Enid moving

their horizons beyond that to realise their potential. My

to Auckland for a year and then England for another

advice to young people today is still the same. Go as far

year before Norman joined her.

as you can with whatever skills you have.

“We married in 1951 and lived in Kent – I was teaching

“When I was growing up, my father wanted me to join

at St Christopher’s School for Girls in nearby Beckenham

his business as a typist. But I didn’t want to do that.”

and Norman spent five years working in London as a structural engineer.”

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Indian Army expedition.

Today, Enid still lives independently, has a wide group of friends who drop in, loves reading detective thrillers

Norman’s climbing reputation preceded him and in

and biographies. She’s a big fan of John le Carré,

1955 he was part of a successful expedition to climb

Germaine Greer, and Kiwi biographer Rebecca Macfie.

Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain

But her all-time favourite author remains Shakespeare.

From the Archives Yearbooks – why do we have them? Who are they for?

a little trek down memory lane with some of their

Who looks at them? Why do they look at them? Who

classmates. Current and past students alike may well

decides what is included – because something has been

be looking for information, or photos, of relatives that

in there for the last 100 years, is it still relevant today?

attended the school before them, sometimes being able

I believe the answers to those questions change

to trace back as many as four generations here at SMC.

depending on the perspective you are asking them from. As a parent you go through the yearbook looking for evidence that your child has been in school and contributing in a relevant way to committees, clubs, performing arts, academically, arts, sport, or whatever took their fancy for that year.

For an archivist, yearbooks going back to nearly the beginning of the school give a glimpse into the life of students here at SMC, the big snow of 2012, the rebuilding of the school after the shakes of 2010 and 2011, uniform styles through the years, sports teams, records of staffing, some pictures of the early years.

As a current student you might look for that same

As our school has evolved across the years, so has our

evidence or just check out your friends and what they

yearbook. From very dull 99% text to the bright and

were up to and maybe even see if there is something

colourful publications of today. From A5 booklets to

that might interest you for the coming school year.

A4 nearly 2cm thick productions that show off the

Is that another role a yearbook has – advertising

achievements of the year for everyone that gets a copy.

activities? A Year 13 student that has just left, if anything

So many times past yearbooks have yielded valuable

like my recent leaver, might be quite happy to file their

information about a person or team or activity that

yearbook away without so much as a glance at the glossy

I have been questioned about. Questions I am always

pages as they focus firmly on their future prospects.

happy to answer especially if it involves a walk down

A past student might come to the college to find the yearbooks relevant to their time at SMC, and take

a path that leads to the wonders of yearbooks.

Vickie Ward, Archivist

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In Closing “It is but lost labour that we haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of anxiety. For those beloved of God are given gifts even while they sleep.”

These words of wisdom from Psalm 127 form part of

Feelings of tiredness and anxiety seem to have

‘Night Prayer,’ from the Anglican New Zealand Prayer

engulfed many of us and that is understandable given

Book, the content of which is taken from scripture and

what has been (and is) going on in the world today,

lived experience of a relationship with God.

it can be hard to see a way through. However, even

How many of us burn the candle at both ends, trying to fit everything we think we need to do into the day, then get anxious about all the things that we haven’t managed to get done? This then has the ability to rob us of peace, sleep and can impact our life the next day.

I hear it time and time again, “I am so tired,” “I hardly slept at all,” or “I couldn’t sleep because I was worrying about…” Every time the words of the Psalmist come

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to mind.

making the smallest of changes can improve our outlook and wellbeing, looking at how much sleep we are getting, noticing the things that bring us joy, appreciating feeling the spring sunshine on our faces, the wind in the trees and the birds singing. Slow down, breath, smell the roses, enjoy the ride, life is a precious gift to be cherished.

Blessings and aroha Rev. Steph Clay, Chaplain

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Annual Appeal Growing Bright Futures September 2022

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