The two of us

Strathcona’s connections ignite a special friendship

Eliza Goding, Head of Philanthropy

Barbara and I first met at Strathcona in 2022, 28 years after the death of her daughter, Jennifer. I felt an instant connection with Barbara and we chatted together that first day for a couple of hours over cups of tea in the library.

What struck me straight away is how full Barbara’s life is. Her story is incredibly interesting, but parts of it are also devastatingly sad. She lost her beloved husband John to cancer just two years before losing Jen (’87) in a plane crash in Alaska. Jen thrived at Strathcona, showing a particular penchant for performance, especially musicals. It made sense then, that following Jen’s death that there be a prize created in her honour. Funded by Barbara, the Jennifer Francis Drama Prize is awarded annually to the top Drama performer at a Year 12 level.

Despite the loss and incredible tragedy in Barbara’s life, she has found a way to keep moving. She had a long and impressive career in epidemiology — a career that defied the odds really, given women’s place in science back then. She travels extensively, with a particular interest in history and is heavily involved with a number of community organisations.

Since re-connecting with Strathcona, Barbara and I became aware of additional special connections her family had with Strathcona and our staff in the past, particularly at Tay Creggan. Her late husband John, a teacher at Scotch College, took boys to Tay Creggan for History classes and he also built sets for Strathcona and Scotch co-productions. After meeting our Director of Productions, Claire Johns and seeing some Tay Creggan drama in action, Barbara was keen to further support Strathcona; this time in the name of both Jennifer and John.

Barbara’s recent generous financial support of Strathcona is allowing Claire Johns to expand her Tay Creggan Theatre Arts program and will really turn the dial on what is possible for 14 and 15 year old students at this crucial stage of their development.

Each time Barbara and I meet, our relationship extends beyond our connection to the School and into a special friendship. Humble and kind, interested and interesting, intelligent, warm and very determined, Barbara epitomises the Strathcona spirit.

The most important thing I have learned from Barbara is that we do not need the best of everything, we just need to make the best of what we have. We are lucky to have Barbara as a part of our community.

If you would like to make a special gift to Strathcona, please contact Eliza at giving@strathcona.vic.edu.au

Alternatively, gifts can be made through our website at strathcona.vic.edu.au/giving

Barbara Francis, past Strathcona parent

One Saturday morning in 1995, a year after my daughter, Jen’s death in a light plane crash in Alaska, I had a chance meeting in the Camberwell Market with her beloved Drama teacher Merryn Antsee. There Merryn told me that Strathcona had recently obtained the rights to Les Misérables. She knew that ‘Les Mis’ was Jen’s favourite musical of all time, and that she would have loved the opportunity to perform in it.

Sadly, that was not to be, however Merryn sent me a ticket, and I found myself watching it through Jen’s eyes. It was a beautiful production. However, to then discover in the program notes that the performance was dedicated to Jen’s memory was quite overwhelming, and it set me on the pathway to establishing the Jennifer Francis Drama Prize, which came into being in 1996. I have since attended every Presentation Night to see the prize being awarded to a Year 12 Strathcona student.

The catalyst for the new phase of my support of Strathcona came in early 2022, with a phone call from Diana Little who was doing some work on the prizes in the lead up to the Strathcona Centenary in 2024. I did not know about the Philanthropy program that was underway so I was yet to meet Eliza. That came shortly afterwards.

For the first time in years I found myself going through all Jen’s theatre memorabilia, of which there was heaps, including theatre programs for performances she had seen and those she had taken part in. Amongst them was the program for “Murder Takes the Veil”, a 1983 co-production with Scotch College in which Jen was listed as a cast member and her Dad, John, as chief set builder!

Seeing John’s name mentioned reminded me of the stories he used to tell of history classes he took to Tay Creggan on foot from Scotch College where he taught for many years.

My first meeting with Eliza was in May 2022 and over many conversations, cups of coffee, phone calls etc I learned about the Strathcona of today and the Philanthropic program that is so crucial in creating opportunities for young women. I immediately engaged with Eliza and her enthusiasm for the role, as Head of Philanthropy was so infectious I knew I wanted to contribute in some way. But how or what I did not know except that it had to be something significant within the Drama department. Eliza first took me to the Canterbury campus where I met with staff engaged in dress rehearsals, discovering how they staged productions, obtained props, costumes etc and I was most impressed at how committed and enthusiastic everyone was.

I met Claire Johns (the infectious Director of Productions) who puts together performances on a shoestring, walking the nearby streets to see what she can pick up from nature strips to use as props, or costumes from hard rubbish! It didn’t take long for me to realise this was where I wanted to direct some funds for Tay Creggan Productions, and I am delighted to do so. Tay Creggan also had significance for both John and Jen so it feels ‘’meant to be’’ for my focus to be there.

This would not have happened without Eliza, gently guiding me along the way through what has become a very rewarding process. She has also become a very special friend and I look forward to my continued involvement with her and the School.

After graduating in 2008, Rachel took her passion for the environment and sustainability to the University of Melbourne where she obtained a Bachelor of Environments (Landscape Architecture) and a Master of Urban Planning including a semester abroad in Dublin and travelling studios to Zurich and Munich. Commencing her career as an Assistant Town Planner, Rachel is now Planning Team Lead at Arup, a global collective of designers, engineering and sustainability consultants, advisors and experts dedicated to sustainable development. As well as leading a team, she currently works within multi-disciplinary teams on complex planning and environmental approvals for large scale transport, water and renewable energy projects. Her career highlights to date include work in Wye River and Separation Creek following the Bushfires, the Puffing Billy Discovery Centre at Emerald Lake, and the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination Project.

Whilst at Strathcona, Rachel was a proud recipient of Strathcona’s Beth MacLaren Smallwood Scholarship for hearing impaired students.

“I was incredibly fortunate to attend Strathcona on a scholarship, thanks to the generous bequest of Beth McLaren Smallwood. I absolutely thrived at Strathcona and felt so lucky to find a school which provided me with so many wonderful experiences and also a skillset and attitude which has served me well in the years since leaving School. Strathcona left me with lifelong friends, a passion for