The Elephant - Semester 1, 2016

Semester 1, 2016

Middle Years CRE8 a difference

Performing Arts Year 6 Production – The Lion King

TRAK Chat International Women’s Day

Semester 1, 2016

CONTENTS 12. Musical moments

28. Special achievements

14. Artistic exploration

30. Community matters

18. The Lion King

32. TRAK Chat

20. House Spirit

35. Where are they now?

22. Sporting achievements

36. Reunions 2016

8. Middle Years CRE8 a difference

24. Joan Ansett Hall

38. In memory

10. Building community

25. Business Management Small business, big ideas

39. Archives

11. Senior School Pathways to success

26. Around the School

2. From the Principal One School, Personalised Learning and Quality Teaching 4. Early Learning Centre Thriving with specialist classes 6. Wardle House PYP brings Science to life

The DAISY CHAIN

40. Events calendar

The Daisy Chain, the Principal’s blog, is a great way for our families and Collegians to stay connected with all of the current activity around the school. We encourage you all to view the latest edition which can be found at www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au.

Acknowledgements Editor: Community Office Editorial contributors: Staff, students and community members Photography: Community Office, Mark Chew, Cliff Elliott, Michael Moynihan, staff and students Design: Sierra Delta – www.sierradelta.com.au Print: Southern Colour – www.southerncolour.com.au

Toorak College Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza, VIC, 3930 PO Box 150, Mount Eliza, VIC, 3930 Senior School: (03) 9788 7200 | Wardle House: (03) 9788 7258 www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au www.facebook.com/toorakcollegemteliza www.youtube.com/user/ToorakCollege1 CRICOS provider code: 00349D CRICOS course code: 005454G

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TC

SNIPPETS

Tripp stole the show at House Music.

The Stephanie Alexander Garden Project research is underway.

The quality of The Lion King production was outstanding.

The team celebrate their AFL Achievements.

Families enjoyed the Big Bang Theory theme at Science Night.

Toorak competed at the Lifesaving Victoria Schools Surf League Championships.

One School, Personalised Learning and Quality Teaching Our Principal, Mrs Kristy Kendall, reflects on the three pillars of our Strategic Plan and what they mean to us.

Quality Teaching: ‘Teaching practice continually evolve, based on evidence’.

Our Strategic Plan is aligned with my aspirations towards a quality education and rich school experience and I have shared with the staff at Toorak College this year, my interpretations of our three pillars.

needs

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Teaching is a skill; a very difficult skill. You need to read 20 different students' abilities, confidence, mood and understanding (to name a few) constantly, in any one hour.

Teaching is not about imparting knowledge about content, that is readily available anywhere a student may want to get it. It is instead about making connections, links, synthesising and organising information, confidence building, stretching students, encouraging creativity and questions. To do all these things well, teachers need to continually evolve their practice.

Data can come from many sources, and all can be useful in ascertaining which element of a teacher's practice needs to evolve, based on that feedback.

One School: ‘Big Dreams, High expectations’.

Every year in a school is as crucial and critical as any other. The early development in childhood is just as critical as the finishing touches of the VCE. We need to work to achieve at least one year’s growth in every student, every year. To do this we need to keep encouraging our students to dream big, to set high goals and expect big things of themselves, and we as staff need to have high expectations about what every student can achieve.

Personalised Learning: ‘Students need to feel safe to take risks’.

Focusing on these three pillars ensures that we achieve our values of learning, courage, excellence, integrity and leadership through service.

Students learn in extremely different ways, but this also changes day to day; based on mood, confidence and social connections.

The school culture needs to develop a growth mindset in all of our students. Students need to embrace challenge and learn that mistakes are an inevitable part of life that help us grow and learn. They are not something to be avoided. To do that, though, our students must be connected. Fostering social relationships and connectedness is everyone’s responsibility and when our students feel safe they will embrace challenge.

Kristy Kendall Principal

2 From the Principal

PRINCIPAL’S INDUCTION It was an honour to be formally inducted as the 16th Principal of Toorak College on Thursday 14 April. As part of the ceremony each student received a daisy plant, reflective of the school emblem designed by former Principal, Miss Ellen Pye. Daisies are a sign of goodness and humility, but of particular note was that the daisy design featured the flowers tilting their heads to the sun. My wish for the students of Toorak College is that they plant their daisies, that goodness and humility grow within each of them and that they serve as a reminder to tilt their heads to the sun, and be proud and confident of the people that they have become.

‘Mrs Kendall had a tear down her cheek because she was very happy. I liked the big girls singing.’

Asher (Prep)

‘Mrs Kendall had a ceremony because she is the Principal of our school.’

Safia (Prep)

NEW APPOINTMENTS Head of Senior School Mrs Diane Furusho has been appointed as the new Head of Toorak College’s Senior School, and will commence in Term 3.

Diane is a respected educator who has pursued a career in education inspired by her own love of learning. Diane’s background is a perfect mix of curriculum leadership (Head of LOTE), pastoral care (Head of Girls) and staff leadership (Director of Pre-Senior). Most recently Diane has been the Director of Pre Senior Curriculum and Teaching at Haileybury.

We are confident that Diane’s inspirational leadership and vision for the senior students of Toorak College will ensure that Toorak College continues to build on its reputation as one of Australia’s leading and innovative girls’ schools.

Chaplain We are very excited to announce the appointment of the new school Chaplain, Ms Elsa Carr.

Elsa will join us at the beginning of Term 3 and has great links in the local community with her experience in youth health and wellbeing services.

Elsa is a member of St John the Less Anglican Church and has affiliation with the Uniting Church.

She has an absolute passion for youth and is looking forward to taking a more positive role in their development at Toorak College.

Head of Boarding In Term 3, Ms Caralyn Dea will join Toorak College as our new Head of Boarding. Caralyn has worked within an educational and boarding setting since 2007. She was most recently based in the Northern Territory, where she was the proud recipient of the Northern Territory Teacher of the Year Award in 2013.

Caralyn is an exciting young educator who is passionate about making a difference to every individual and creating a true ‘home away from home’ for our boarding students. She has experience in teaching the International Baccalaureate and is a passionate Nutritional Educator for students and elite sporting teams. We look forward to this new exciting chapter in our Boarding House and trust that you will join us in welcoming Caralyn to our community.

3 From the Principal

Thriving with specialist classes This semester the Early Learning Centre (ELC) children have had the chance to explore, ask questions and research within the ELC environment, school environment and the broader community.

There has been much excitement as the children have had the opportunity to participate in planned weekly specialist programs either within the ELC or throughout the school.

Specialist teachers have worked closely with the ELC educators to plan and implement a program that reflects age and stage of development and what the children are working on in their classrooms.

ACTIVE BODIES, ACTIVE MINDS Children from our 4 year old classes have participated in a variety of physical experiences designed to develop their gross motor skills, body awareness and hand eye coordination. Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) supports academic, social and emotional development as they build on skills and confidence.

THE JOY OF STORYTELLING Our 3 and 4 year old classes have enjoyed reading and storytelling through role play, puppets, poems and rhymes.

The children self select, with support of educators, books to take home on a weekly basis and books for the classroom. The children develop an appreciation of books, and using books as a resource tool to gather information.

FOSTERING THE CREATIVE SELF The arts have a strong presence throughout the ELC, where our 3 and 4 year old classes enjoy a Creative Arts and Music Program.

Visiting the art room on a weekly basis is a great opportunity to extend the children’s creative skills and the project work that classes are exploring.

The weekly music program has seen students explore self expression through movement, as well as various instruments and singing. The 3 year old classroom has had regular visits from their music teacher and the 4 year olds have visited the School’s Music Centre.

Sonia Dawson Acting Head of the Early Learning Centre

4 Early Learning Centre

VISIT TO THE DOLPHIN RESEARCH INSTITUTE Our ELC 4 year olds explored the environment and learned about marine conservation to support their current 'Sharing the planet' Unit of Inquiry, 'Together we share growing appreciation and care for our environment'.

The children, staff and parent volunteers travelled by bus to Balnarring Beach, where they used their scientists' eyes to observe and collect information. They were careful to stay safe by keeping close to their group and not touching cone fish.

After the beach, the children visited the Dolphin Research Institute to learn about protecting our living marine treasures.

5 Early Learning Centre

PYP brings Science to life Science is a way of thinking about the natural world that keeps wonder and curiosity alive.

Each year, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program (PYP) of Inquiry is audited by Wardle House teachers to ensure that Units of Inquiry cover the essential elements of the PYP and the expectations of the Australian Curriculum.

Teachers develop Units of Inquiry that link all subject areas in a transdisciplinary manner in order to build on a global perspective of concepts, topics, issues, problems and skills needed for our students to make informed decisions as 21st century citizens.

Science is a way of thinking about the natural world that keeps wonder and curiosity alive and, through the PYP, is woven throughout the curriculum and integrated with all disciplines.

Science is not considered a separate subject area in Wardle House, but taught primarily through the PYP Units of Inquiry with opportunities for further scientific inquiry to be supported through visits to the Senior School Science Labs. In the Lab, science experts team-teach with classroom teachers, offering provocations and learning engagements to generate thinking and develop scientific language and skills.

Common across Wardle House units is the focus on inquiry as an approach to learning that involves a process of exploring the natural and material world. Inquiry learning encourages questioning, making discoveries and testing those discoveries to construct scientific understanding, as evidenced in the following examples.

Early this semester, Year 1 began their ‘Who we are’ unit with a trip to the Science Labs, examining how responsible choices can protect our safety. Students learned about safe handling of materials and were provided with hands-on opportunities to demonstrate responsible choices as they worked on collaborative experiments.

Through their recent ‘Sharing the planet’ unit, Year 2 examined the Central Idea, ‘Water is essential for survival’. This unit opened numerous options for earth science inquiry, including developing understanding about the water cycle and the limited nature of this essential resource.

Reflection on scientific learning throughout this unit also assisted Year 2 students to develop a sense of responsibility regarding the impact of their actions on themselves, others and their world. This became increasingly evident in their attempts to understand what it would be like to carry water great distances, as many children have to do around the world for survival, in the bucket challenge experience.

6 Wardle House

We wrote down what we wondered about our Unit of Inquiry ‘Sharing the Planet’ and put them on the Wonder Wall. Then we went up to the Science Labs to find out the answers to our questions. Amelia (Year 2) Instead of just looking up the answers on the internet or in a book we were able to go to the Science Labs and actually explore and investigate through experiments to find the answers to our wonderings. We got to play with water and find out how it was made and where it comes from. Taylah (Year 2) I wondered if people could drink muddy water. When we were in the Science labs we did some experiments to find out how to clean water. First we had to filter the water in a beaker and filter paper but it didn’t make the water very clean.

Aspen (Year 2)

ELC 4 year old children worked with Year 2 buddies to develop their scientists’ eyes to draw nature in our school environment, making scientific links to their ‘Sharing the planet’ Central Idea, ‘Together we share a growing appreciation and care for our environment’.

We did an experiment where we put all these little plastic containers on top of each other. Inside them we had sand, pebbles and charcoal. Then we used filter paper as well.

We put the muddy water in the top and it filtered out the dirt. But it still wasn’t clean enough for us to drink. A lot of people around the world do not have clean water to drink.

Chiara (Year 2)

Science Lab experiences were used as a provocation for students in Year 6 to gain significant scientific skills and knowledge to front load their learning before embarking on their ‘How the world works’ unit, focusing on how geological changes and extreme weather events can affect the earth’s surface. This resulted in deep scientific inquiry which engaged the students in the enterprise of experiencing real science for a real purpose: thinking like scientists.

Going up to the Science Labs helped me to understand about the water cycle because we got to make our own. We heated up the water and then we put cling wrap on it and ice cubes.

It showed us how evaporation, condensation, collection and precipitation works. I didn’t know how it worked before. We even made our own and we put these in our classrooms to see the water cycle, it worked! The sun shines in through our window and heats up the water and then we get to see evaporation and condensation happening. Morgen (Year 2)

Kim Wheeler Deputy Head of Wardle House and PYP Coordinator 7

Wardle House

CRE8 a difference Students identify their passions and interests, and teachers facilitate opportunities to engage in authentic and purposeful problem solving experiences.

CRE8 is a program developed for Year 5 and 6 students at Toorak College. It aims to address essential criteria for effective individualisation in learning by promoting creativity and personal expression, fun and engagement, whilst developing the learner as a whole person who is empathetic, collaborative and flexible. Students identify their passions and interests, and teachers facilitate opportunities to engage in authentic and purposeful problem solving experiences.

This year in CRE8, the teaching team identified the importance of making the program focus on real world connections and taking action. They wanted the students to be involved in learning experiences that tapped into community expertise and that focused on action that makes a difference.

From this, the concept ‘CRE8 a Difference’ was pitched to the students. Using a Project Based Learning model, real world connections are being made to learning with the ultimate goal to produce a product or service that has an authentic purpose.

The difference they made through their CRE8 Project can be to either themself, the community or the environment.

In total, eight different CRE8 projects have been made available that reflect a wide variety of expertise and passions. The projects available had diverse themes; community service, robotic design and construction, environmental sustainability, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, sport science and Human Powered Vehicles. After careful consideration, the students were asked to apply for the project they felt most connected to.

As a result, CRE8 time in Year 5 and 6 is a dynamic, engaging and energetic afternoon. Students are learning in mixed age and ability groups, alongside teachers and community experts, who all share the same interest and passion.

Glenn Hagart Wardle House Teacher and Coordinator of Middle Years

8 Middle Years

‘When programming robots I feel as if I’m in a different world, a world of exploration and imagination.’ Georgia G (Year 5) ‘I’m really interested in the human body and I wanted to learn more about how it works. I’m really enjoying doing sport science experiments and being interactive.’ Sienna S (Year 6) ‘I was connected to the community service project because I really wanted to make a difference. I’m enjoying being able to do what I always wanted to do.’ Ruby C (Year 6) ‘Programming robots is exciting and very interesting. It makes you feel different, as if you’re in another dimension.’

You You Z (Year 5) ‘It’s just nice to see people’s faces light up. Volunteering in the community makes me realise it’s the little things that help make a big difference.’ Olivia K (Year 5) ‘I chose to work on building a humanoid robot because I have a robot toy at home and I always wanted to know how it worked. I’m really enjoying learning coding.’ Sophia T (Year 5)

9 Middle Years

Building community The positive relationships formed between students is having a positive effect on learning and is a marker of future school success.

Our older students develop leadership skills and empathy, enhancing their self-awareness, self-confidence and self-esteem – characteristics that have a positive effect on learning. Each fortnight, all students in Wardle House from the ELC to Year 6 have the opportunity to connect with their buddy class, usually with an authentic link to their Unit of Inquiry.

Student connections across the school are diverse. Rather than using teacher mentors, Year 10 students have supported Year 6 students as peer mentors, as they work towards the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) Exhibition.

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB-PYP) is centred around an individual’s wellbeing as it is believed to be intrinsically linked to all aspects of a student’s experience at school and beyond. At the core of ‘personal and social capability’ is the social and emotional learning of students; it focuses on individuals learning to understand themselves and others and in the process, more effectively manage the many facets of their lives including their relationships and learning.

Last term, Year 8 students were given a product design brief requiring them to interview a client and make a product according to the client’s specification. Year 1 buddies became the clients and after extensive interviews their ambitious ideas were expertly created.

Research shows that cross-age relationships, such as those developed in a buddy program promote a safe, inclusive and connected school culture. The buddy system has strengthened our school community and challenges stereotypes, misconceptions or fears that students may hold about younger or older age groups. Students feel valued and supported; it teaches important social skills and creates a caring ethos within our school. Connectedness is enabled for both older and younger students which allows students to bond more closely with our school, thereby increasing the likelihood of positive social behaviour. It has been suggested that when students feel connected to their school, they also feel valued and safe, and are less likely to either bully or be bullied.

The buddy system is pivotal to the success of our traditional Wardle House Beach Picnic. This year, students from Prep to Year 6 joined in the fun by sharing this experience with their buddies. We see evidence every day, that the important values of respect, care, valuing difference, responsibility and friendship are fostered through the connections made with peers.

Mandy Whitworth Head of Wardle House 10

Building community

Pathways to success Challenge has been a constant focus for our Senior School students as they have embraced the wide variety of opportunities offered to them in Semester 1.

the best learning opportunities emerge from those moments.

Persistence and resilience are key dispositions emphasised by Baroness Campbell. ‘It doesn’t matter if you get knocked down seven times, as long as you get up the eighth.’ It takes courage and commitment to be a leader and there is much wisdom to be gained about personal leadership from these outstanding female figures.

The beginning of 2016 was filled with much excitement. In February, the Cloisters looked absolutely beautiful adorned in a series of lanterns to celebrate the Chinese New Year for the Lantern Festival. Years 7 and 8 students have enjoyed the opening of a fantastic new outdoor learning area complete with pizza oven and plenty of seating. Families who attended the Year 7 and 8 Science Night thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Big Bang Theory’ themed evening. Festooned in bright colours and costumes, the girls have cheered each other on in the House events of Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics and Music. We excitedly await the unveiling of the new athletics track and hockey pitch.

Challenge has been a constant focus for our students as they have embraced the wide variety of opportunities offered to them in Semester 1. Years 7 and 8 students have bonded together as they have hiked, kayaked, camped out or mountain biked as part of their camp experiences. The Year 8 girls at Camp Jungai have even acquired the skill of catching a trout. There was much laughter and comradery as the Year 10 girls participated in a three day Challenge Camp. Year 9 students undertook their Beyond Boundaries journeys, which took them to locations stretching from the Northern Territory to Malaysia and India.

These journeys also incorporated the important value of leadership through service as they were engaged in community service.

Earlier this year, Mr Phil Carew and I delivered a workshop at the 2016 Global Forum on Girls Education in New York, about how to develop a STEM mindset for girls via a digital makerspace.

This event was a great opportunity to hear an array of renowned speakers who included political activist Gloria Steinem, Arianna Huffington who co-founded the Huffington Post, Baroness Sue Campbell (a UK Sports administrator who works with Olympic athletes) and Melbournian Holly Ransom who was appointed to chair the G20 Youth Summit in 2014. I was also privileged to hear Rachel Simmons, author of ‘The Curse of the Good Girl’ and meet a young Australian female entrepreneur Tania Zuki at her business, who at a young age in New York has started up her own analytics company with a team of 74 employees in the area of social media.

The investment in challenge whether in or beyond the classroom has a far-reaching effect in developing the essential dispositions of resilience and persistence.

Liana Gooch Acting Deputy Principal

In terms of their own pathways to success, many women conveyed a common message; the importance of being true to yourself and looking after your wellbeing, making sure you get enough sleep, regularly do some of the things you want to do, being realistic - you can’t do absolutely everything; know what your inner strengths are and how to draw on them when needed.

Many of the activities our students are involved in are developing leadership skills. Baroness Campbell discussed how participation in sport helps build many of the leadership skills that can be transferred elsewhere in life. Being part of a team develops confidence to speak in front of a group and opportunities to empower and engage others to grow as part of your team. Arianna Huffington referred to the reality that there will be times when actions and decisions you make simply don’t work - everyone makes mistakes and in fact, those mistakes are a vital stepping stone to success. Some of

11 Senior School

Musical moments Confidence soars as students challenge themselves on stage.

CONCERTO AND ARIA EVENING Our annual Concerto and Aria Evening was a triumph. In an intimate salon in MC1, ten solo artists graced the stage with their classical repertoire. Almost all of our soloists this year were in Year 12, and acutely aware of the fact that it was their very last opportunity to perform in this concert. Cameras and tearful mums were very much evident. With expert accompaniment from Mrs Katriona Newman, we heard delights from opera and concertos from the 17th century as well as the 20th century.

The girls dressed for the occasion, in style befitting a night of refinement and classical music.

SPLIT SOIREE Some of our youngest performers from Wardle House, had the opportunity to take the stage for the Split Soiree in Term 2. Prep to Year 4 students performed in the afternoon, with two rooms full of parents and performers. In the evening, audiences filled three rooms and were treated to performances by students from Years 5 to 12. With 110 students performing on the day, this was a very successful event, enjoyed immensely by all who attended.

AUTUMN CONCERT The Autumn Concert was upon us soon after we had settled back into a new year. Our Ensembles rose to the occasion in magnificent form, despite a very short period of rehearsal. This is always one of the favorite concerts of the year – a balmy autumn night, friends and family, good music and Easter holidays on the horizon. There is always a buzz in the air.

Jayne Turner Director of Music

Ensemble playing is so important in the development of musicians, which is why we place such emphasis upon it. The variety was noticeable – from ABBA, Lady Gaga and David Bowie to Andrew Lloyd Webber and traditional folk music; our orchestras, bands and choirs filled the room with such energy and enjoyment.

PRINCIPAL’S INDUCTION Term 2 began with feverish preparations for Founder’s Day and the Induction of our new Principal, Mrs Kristy Kendall.

The orchestra accompanied the procession with Mussorgsky’s ‘Great Gate of Kiev’, while the choirs and orchestra performed ‘The Power of the Dream’ with soloist Sheralyn H. Years 3 to 7 plus the Senior Choirs sang ‘A Blessing’ especially for Mrs Kendall.

12 Musical moments

What music means to me...

Sisters Charlotte and Anabelle tell us how important music is in their life and what they have learnt so far. We look forward to watching their musical journey as it continues.

As soon as l was born l started at the Suzuki music school in Melbourne with my sister Charlotte, and Mum. At the age of three l graduated and started playing the violin. My violin is called Violet; she plays beautiful music. I have just started playing with the Benedetti strings group at Toorak College and am the youngest which makes me feel really proud. l am learning so much, it is really challenging but lots of fun and l am loving making friends with the other year levels.

Playing the violin fills my heart with music and love!!

I have always loved music; when l was a baby my Dad would sit me on his lap and play the piano, l would stop crying.

When l was six months old l started at the Suzuki music school with my Mum, we used to dance, sing and play instruments.

At the age of three l graduated to violin. When we moved from Melbourne to Mount Martha, l started Prep at Toorak College and decided to change instruments; from the violin to the cello. I knew straight away that l loved the cello and my teacher Mr Keuneman was fantastic. My cello is called Clare and l play in the Wardle House Orchestra and Benedetti strings. By being involved in the music community at school l have met lots of friends from different year levels. I love the sound a cello makes, it can be low and also high. I love the cello, it fills me with joy and happiness, and always makes me feel good.Â

Anabelle O (Year 3)

Charlotte O (Year 5) 13 Musical moments

Artistic exploration Students from across the school have taken advantage of various artistic opportunities.

WARDLE HOUSE EXHIBITION Wardle House Art – a Retrospective, showcased artworks in a true gallery-style setting and was the first opportunity to collectively showcase the artwork of all ELC and Wardle House students. Yet it was more than an Art Exhibition – it was a celebration of the students’ artistic achievements from 2015.

The evening started with the opening of the Exhibition, followed by students guiding their parents on a journey throughout several venues - MacLean Hall, Wardle House foyer and the Art Department gallery space. The evening concluded at the Cloisters with the Lantern Festival, to mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year.

It was a resounding success with parents, relatives, visitors and staff in awe of the outstanding work created by the students in their timetabled Visual Art lessons. You You Z from Year 4 won the People’s Choice Award for her work ‘Torn Trees’.

Toorak College Open Day occurred the following morning so it was the perfect opportunity for our visitors to view the Retrospective.

Petra Glaser Wardle House Visual Art Specialist

14 Artistic exploration

15 Artistic exploration

Art Club is for anyone and everyone and our aim is to create a fun, positive place for students to come and make art.

ART CLUB Art Club has been quite the success this year, with lots of students turning up at the sessions, creating and making awesome things like marbling and tassel garlands. I am delighted to see so many students from across the year levels taking part in Art Club, gaining a sneak peek and hopefully inspiring them to continue studying art subjects throughout the years. One of the most successful activities we have held at Art Club this year was marbling, with almost 30 students down in the Art Department spending their lunch time creating wonderful pieces of marbling artwork, whilst making a beautiful mess, eating lollies and yummy food, chatting and enjoying themselves in a shared and inclusive environment.

Art Club also featured at the Toorak College Open Day, having a stall set up in the Cloisters with card making, fruit painting, stencil drawings and marbling. I had lots of little children, teenagers and adults come through and take part in the various activities we had on offer throughout the day, with people taking home a piece of artwork that they made at Toorak College.

Most recently, Art Club contributed to an amazing fun filled week called, ‘Arts Week’. During Arts Week, the school celebrated the various arts that it offers by running activities in Music, Drama, Dance, and Art. Art Club helped run various art activities, with hundreds of photos printed for those who came down and participated in a studio shoot, which was set up with the studio lights and the white backdrop. Everyone had a blast posing in front of the camera and the photos turned out brilliantly. They were printed on the day for them to take home.

Another activity we held was a collaborative fashion piece, where each of the groups were given a mannequin and painted fabric. They were set the challenge of designing and creating a dress. Their creations blew me away, with such amazing pieces made during a single lunchtime.

Art Club has so many more things in store for the rest of the year so I encourage all students to get involved – absolutely no prior skill is required! Art Club is for anyone and everyone and our aim is to create a fun, positive place to come and make art.

Francesca Oswald-Jacobs Visual Arts Prefect, 2016

16 Artistic exploration

17 Artistic exploration

The Lion King The well-loved story of Simba’s journey through the circle of life holds an important message for us all.

YEAR 6 REFLECTIONS: I think one of the best ways to improve our production is to practise, practise, practise! If you are in a group or you have a partner who you do a lot of dialogue with, get together with them and PRACTISE. If you keep forgetting the words to the songs then take a copy of the music home and practise it. I think in just doing a little practice a lot can happen. Maya From being in this production I have learned that whilst it is fun working with your friends, it’s hard to pull all of the songs and dances together. You only know how much goes into the production if you are in it. There’s just so much work to do, including designing and making costumes and sets.

Every detail counts because it all gets noticed on the night.

There is a lot of hard work involved but it’s all worth it in the end! Monique

During our rehearsals of The Lion King, I learned that you have to be very committed to learning your lines and your songs. Something that I found challenging was having to juggle learning the choreography and the lyrics. I really enjoyed watching other people rehearse. I am really proud of everyone’s hard work; we have all put in 110%. Elouise I learnt that when you are performing, you can’t really think like yourself anymore. You have to think and move like the character you are acting out, even from the smallest of things like the way you stand to the way you sing. Ruby

The Year 6 production of The Lion King delivered some powerful messages to our audiences. In order to restore the delicate balance of the Pridelands and take his place as leader, Simba learns to value the contributions of all other animals (The Circle of Life), make friends outside of his comfort zone (Hakuna Matata) and to challenge the ideas of his Uncle Scar (Be Prepared), whilst respecting traditions (They Live in You).

As well as specific skills in music, dance, drama, design, mask and costume making, the rehearsal process provided the Year 6 students with opportunities to enhance PYP attributes including confidence, leadership, decision-making skills and collaboration.

Jenny Stevenson Musical Director

House Spirit CERUTTY Over the first semester we have had such a blast in Cerutty! We’ve had some fabulous results and I couldn’t be prouder! The girls have put in so much effort in every trial at lunch, costume/ outfit, race or encouraging their fellow Cerutty sisters! We can’t wait for more fun throughout the year!

Whitney E, House Captain

PYE DOUGLAS

An array of House colours flooded the oval as the chanting began signifying the start of our first event of the year, House Swimming. The bold costumes and innovative chants were sung until we all gathered around to do our traditional Hokey Pokey dance, before making our way to the pool. Everyone’s spirits were high as the swimmers put on their caps and goggles before heading over to marshalling to swim their hardest for their House. It was a great start to the year and congratulations must go to everyone who participated!

This first semester of House events has been absolutely wild but, as expected, I along with all the Dougie girls have had an amazing time. Callie, Megg and I have been blown away with the enthusiasm and involvement of our girls. We’ve had girls going out of their way to help out and the commitment of these ladies has been invaluable and inspirational.

All of the girls both in Douglas, and in the other Houses, should be really proud of the effort they have been putting in during what has been a really busy time, I can’t wait to see the awesome things we are all going to do together in Semester 2!

Alex W, House Captain

Beth D, House Captain

20 House Spirit

TRIPP House this Semester has been an incredible and unforgettable experience.

From doggy-paddling 50m butterfly in House Swimming to skipping the 1500m in House Athletics, girls from all year levels have approached every challenge with unbelievable enthusiasm and an exceptional sense of humour. I look forward to more events this year and I couldn’t be prouder of the terrific and talented Tripp girls.

Josephine D, House Captain

HAMILTON The first semester has been huge in terms of House events. As always, the sportsmanship and enthusiasm shown by the girls has not failed to amaze, and the spirit that is so unique to Toorak is stronger than ever. We look forward to what the rest of the year brings!

Isabella C, House Captain

MAYFIELD Mayfield’s explosive start to the 2016 year has been nothing short of extraordinary, and somewhat shocking. Our year has started with the impressive sight of teamwork, dedication and enthusiasm, resulting in a very unexpected streak of wins. It has not been the winning that has been the highlight for me so far, but the new friendships and fun we’re having along the way and I hope that this continues throughout the year.

Ashley F, House Captain

21 House Spirit

Sporting achievements GSV INDOOR CRICKET FINALS The Junior Indoor Cricket team finished the Term 1 home and away season at the top of their zone. The team was excited to compete against the MLC team in the Semi-Final. A strong performance with the bat and in the field resulted in a convincing win for the team and they progressed to the Grand Final. It was a tight game and the result came down to the final over. The Toorak team finished runners-up to the Siena team. This was the first Indoor Cricket team to contest finals since 2004.

GIRLS SPORT VICTORIA (GSV) SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 The Swimming and Diving team competed in the GSV Championships at the end of Term 1. The Toorak College team was placed in a high level Preliminary Round. The Swimming team qualified for the Division 2 Finals and the Diving Team progressed through to the Division 1 Final. The Swimming team finished in 5th place overall with seven individual qualifiers and seven relay teams qualifying for the finals evening. Lucy M (Year 11) qualified for three individual events. Congratulations to Vanessa B (Year 12), who won a bronze medal at the Finals Evening. The Divers finished in 7th place in the top division. Thank you to Captains Erin C (Swimming) and Meg B (Diving) for their work over the season.

GSV 15 YEAR CELEBRATION – THANK YOU TO OUR COACHES As Girls Sport Victoria celebrates its 15th year in existence, it is a moment to reflect on the Toorak College journey as one of the original member schools in the sporting association. As part of the celebrations we took a moment to recognise coaches that have been involved in the program over that time. Girls Sport Victoria created a commemorative badge and certificate for those that have achieved 5 year, 10 year and 15 year milestones.

Thank you to coaches Ruwen and Greg Clarnette (Badminton), Barb O’Brien (Athletics and Cross Country), Lee-Anne Marsh (Basketball), Michele Coventry (Head of Sport, Volleyball, Softball) for their 15 year contribution to GSV sport at Toorak College.

22 Sporting achievements

GSV 9 HOLE EVENT Toorak College Golfers played a 9 hole round at the Metropolitan Golf Course in the middle of February. This is an event that is open to both current students as well as past students. The gusty winds out on the course made playing the round quite difficult. Congratulations to Lauren B (Year 8) who won the competition for students with a handicap score.

Jamie B (Year 11), Charlotte B (Year 9) and Bettine H (Year 11) competed in the golfers without a handicap score division. Bettine finished 2nd and Jamie finished 3rd in the competition.

EQUESTRIAN The Toorak College Equestrian team is the reigning champion school for the Interschool Showjumping series.

In 2016 the Toorak College team has started where they left off. A strong team of showjumpers won the second ISJ round with four Champions and a perfect score – Jasmine D (Stars), Olivia B (Intermediate), Monique D (Encourage) and Neve B (Freshman) as well as numerous class wins and placings for the team.

GIRLSAIL

SAILING The Toorak College sailing team competed in the Victorian Secondary Schools Teams Racing event off Royal Melbourne Yacht Club at the end of Term 1. High winds on day one of the competition meant that the schedule changed and the main racing occurred on the final day of the competition.

The Toorak College team worked well as a team to employ both sprint racing skill and teams racing strategy to their races. Toorak College finished the competition as the winner of the independent girls’ schools division (the GSV Division). Congratulations to team members – Sophie P (Captain), Sophie J, Jess H, Ashleigh L, Mia T, Immi W, Ella S, Harriet C, Georgia P, Bridget L and Chloe H. Thank you to coach Chris Jackson for his work through the season.

Girlsail 2016 was conducted at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club in early March. There were 48 teams entered from schools across Melbourne as well as teams from Apollo Bay and Geelong. It was a stunning day but low winds in the morning session meant that competitors needed to think strategically about finding the best line on course. The winds picked up in the afternoon which assisted with the racing for the final series. The competitors embrace the racing as well as the strong comraderie that surrounds the regatta.

Sophie Ciszek was this year’s guest speaker and she inspired the teams with her stories about training and racing in the Volvo Around the World Race.

Sophie was gracious with her time and formed part of the on water race official team.

Thank you to the team of talented volunteers from Davey’s Bay Yacht Club and Yachting Victoria who take on the important roles required for the running of the event. Thank you to our Sailing Team Manager, Mrs Elizabeth Keep, for her work with the program over the past ten years.

Kirsten Thomson Director of Sport

23 Sporting achievements

GIRLSURF Girlsurf is an annual event run by Toorak College that creates a safe and fun environment for girls to surf with their peers, seeing every girl leave the water with a massive grin on her face.

We had around 80 competitors this year. This is a testament to the nature of the event, and the spirit that comes from the passion of the girls, and the support from our sponsors and the East Coast Surf School. The day ran very smoothly with nice small conditions allowing all the girls to catch some waves, creating a very successful event with the Toorak College A team coming 3rd overall!

Alex Wake House Captain (Pye), 2016

Joan Ansett Hall We had 14 new girls join our big family this semester and we have shared plenty of happy memories.

The community of Joan Ansett Hall has been very busy in Semester 1 with lots of activities and lovely experiences.

At the start of Term 1 we had the Boarding House Swimming Competition and girls demonstrated great enthusiasm in this event. We also had the opportunity to be involved in the Toorak College Lantern Festival, a group of boarders showcased their talents by playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, and teaching young children how to paint and make lanterns. We all enjoyed the amazing fireworks afterwards.

On ANZAC day, we did some in-house baking and made some yummy ANZAC biscuits, it was such fun to learn about the origin of the ANZAC biscuits and to bake them ourselves. At the beginning of Term 2, we went to the Peninsula Hot Springs over the weekend and the girls enjoyed the warm water and felt very much relaxed and ready for the following week.

We had an annual excursion and headed off to Werribee Open Range Zoo. It was a great day and the girls enjoyed seeing lovely animals from different countries, especially the koala.

All the Year 12 boarders participated in The Wilderness Shield with the Toorak Collegians and the girls had great fun, especially playing badminton. Some of our Year 9 girls took their Beyond Boundaries trip to Indigenous Australia to experience the diverse culture of Australia in the last two weeks of Term 2.

We have had a productive semester and are looking forward to the next amazing term!

Camilla Yang Head of Joan Ansett Hall, 2016

24 Joan Ansett Hall

Small business, big ideas Year 11 students learn valuable skills through their Business Management small business stalls.

As part of the Business Management Unit 1 course in Year 11, students are expected to examine the day-to-day operations of a small business. As future skills place an emphasis on adaptability, problem solving, collaboration and selfmotivation, this topic is able to give a practical understanding of business through our small business stalls. Strict business processes are adhered to, with all students selling food gaining their food handling certificate and a shutdown list checked on the day to ensure occupational health and safety procedures are followed at all times. Students gain valuable teamwork skills and experience both the responsibility of making monetary decisions and the pressure on the day of customer service.

Students have two days of trading to help them understand and improve their stalls by adjusting their offerings and overall improvement in areas they feel are necessary. They rise to the challenges imposed on them by very real trading and at the conclusion of their work they submit their final business plan complete with written research, budgets, marketing plan, analysis, conclusions and reflection.

This year’s events proved to be successful with both days having excellent weather, a prime decider for customers as the event is held in the Cloisters. Over two days of trading, students were able to raise more than $1,300 which they chose to donate to the following charitable organisations: Backpacks for Kids Victoria; Cool Earth; and Free to Shine.

We thank our school community for sharing this special event with us and helping the girls receive a real life understanding and insight into the business world. The students truly benefit from such an experience that is only made possible by the support of our school community.

Natasha Lazarus Senior School Teacher

25 Business Management

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26 Around the School

Around the School 1. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS Students and staff celebrated Random Acts of Kindness week by writing kind letters, leaving small gifts, paying each other compliments or just spending time together. The picnic was a festive event where the Senior School students danced with Wardle House students and encouraged everyone to ‘colour their world with kindness’.

2. ANZAC DAY Our Senior School girls represented Toorak College at services for ANZAC Day this year.

The Mornington service was attended by Phoebe B, Jaymie M, Josephine D and Candace H, along with Mrs Kristy Kendall.

The Mount Eliza service was attended by Ashley F, Beth D, Whitney E along with Ms Liana Gooch.

3. STEPHANIE ALEXANDER GARDEN PROJECT Year 3 students have enjoyed visits to a sustainable farm and to Heronswood to learn about gardens for the planning of the Stephanie Alexander Garden Project. They researched best practice in design to prepare for cultivation. Students began by using the drone to evaluate the existing Wardle House vegetable garden, then created virtual Minecraft gardens in the DIGI Zone.

4. BREAKOUT CHALLENGE To provoke thinking around ‘How we organise ourselves’, the Year 4 teachers set up a ‘breakout’ provocation which had students working together as a team to solve puzzles that would unlock the padlocks. Using clues and hint cards, students used ICT, general knowledge and Maths logic to work out the answers to the secret codes.

5. STEM LEARNING Toorak College was privileged to have the internationally recognised, leading research scientist Professor Richard Boyd present to our Year 12 Biology students and Year 11 classes to support their STEM learning.

6. WALKS OF LIFE The Toorak community came together for the Alice Sloan Walks of Life, walking to the Davey’s Bay Yacht Club where we enjoyed a breakfast BBQ together, then finishing up the walk back at the School.

7. BEACH PICNIC It was a warm day for the traditional Wardle House Beach Picnic. Students from Prep to Year 6 joined in the fun, sharing this experience with their buddies. Icy poles were a great treat before heading back to sandcastles, beach cricket, footy, tug-o-war and cooling off with water activities.

8. HOUSE ATHLETICS Ballam Park was a sea of colour during House Athletics in April. There were some outstanding efforts and displays of spirit from all the Houses, but it was Pye who took out the win on the day.

27 Around the School

Special achievements Music Teacher, Gerald Keuneman, received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) earlier this year.

Gerald began teaching at Toorak College in 2001 and is also conductor of the Victorian Concert Orchestra and Whitehorse Symphony Orchestra.

Gerald received his OAM for Services to Music and the Community.

Congratulations to Kelly Allen, our Educational and Developmental Psychologist, who was recently awarded the 2015 Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Thesis Award for her PhD that she completed in October last year. Her thesis title is, ‘In Pursuit of Belonging: A socio-ecological perspective to investigating school belonging in secondary school settings’.

Our three Toorak College Aerobics teams have qualified to compete at the National Schoolaerobics competition to be held in the Gold Coast in August. Congratulations to teams Toorak Accelerate (1st), Toorak Crystals (3rd) and Toorak Infinity (4th) and their coach Mrs Kristy Kendall.

Five Toorak students have been selected to play for the elite netball club Peninsula Waves, one of only 10 elite netball clubs in Victoria, Peninsula Waves represents the Mornington Peninsula region in the Victorian Netball League (VNL) Competition. Jordyn B has been selected to play for Peninsula Elite 1S and VNL Under 19s. Gabby H, Gemma G, Tiarne D and Tess A have been selected to play for Peninsula Elite under 15s.

Holly F (Year 10) was awarded the Australian Scout Medallion in May. This is the highest award earned by Scouts for the 11—14 year old members. Holly has been recognised for her determination, resilience and leadership skills and is visiting Switzerland with the Scouts over the holidays. This award was also achieved by Phoebe P (Year 10) last year.

This is an outstanding achievement by both girls.

28 Special achievements

Jess H (Year 10) won the Under 19 division of the O’pen Bic State Championships held at Royal Brighton Yacht Club in February.

Amalia F (Year 9) won the prestigious singing competition ‘Fasttrack’ last year and is now coached by David Jaanz, managed by YOYO Music Management and has her own YouTube channel ‘Amalia Music Official’. She is developing her skills with study of piano, violin, singing, songwriting and will feature in the role of Gabriella in the upcoming Senior School production of ‘High School Musical’.

Amelia C (Year 11) is involved in Stage School Australia as a member of the Young Australian Broadway Chorus.

Amelia is in the top group, the 'Triple Threats', the top 50 performers. Amelia has recently performed at the National Theatre in St Kilda, in Adelaide as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival and toured to America last year to LA, New York, Chicago and Washington.

Emma N (Year 10) was selected for the Under 18 Victorian State Basketball team.

Jamie B (Year 11) competed in the Under 18 National Water Polo team in April.

Shauna M (Year 7) was selected as a member of the Victorian Under 12 Hockey Team. She will be competing in the National competition in Cairns from 31 July to 5 August.

Sophie J (Year 11) is part of the Victorian Sailing Team, and after placing 4th girl at the 420 Nationals, is heading to Italy with her crew and the rest of the Australian 420 team, to compete in the 2016 420 World Championships.

Emily H (Year 8) was selected to compete in the Victorian Hockey Team at the Nationals in Adelaide.

Kimberley N (Year 11) won the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Plain English Speaking Award and has progressed to the State semi-finals in June.

Community matters The Toorak College Parents and Friends Association (P&F) have enjoyed a wonderful start to the year.

At the Welcome Drinks at the beginning of the year, we had the opportunity to welcome Mrs Kristy Kendall as the School’s new Principal, and new families as part of the School community.

The evening was a delight with unprecedented attendance.

Many gathered to celebrate Chinese New Year in the Cloisters at the Lantern Festival. The crowd was entertained by our very talented Performing Arts students whilst savouring tasty delights from the many food outlets including the P&F ‘Satay BBQ’. Once again the wine garden proved to be a popular area to relax and meet fellow parents while enjoying the fantastic vibe of the festival. As the evening came to an end, we were mesmerised by a sensational fireworks display that lit the sky over the top oval.

The Mother’s Day breakfast was held in Mary Herring Hall with the dads of Toorak College serving a delicious breakfast to the very important women in our lives. It was an occasion to celebrate our mothers, grandmothers and carers and an opportunity to thank them for all they do to make our lives so wonderful.

The P&F have many exciting events scheduled for 2016 and we welcome you all to join us and celebrate our school community.

We wish you all a fantastic year ahead.

Construction continues on the DIGI Zone with doors and linoleum now installed and the landscaping complete. The DIGI Zone provides an inspirational outdoor area for our children to gather and enjoy. The P&F’s contribution of $25,000 has contributed to this innovative learning space and we once again thank you for your participation in our P&F driven events, which has facilitated this initiative.

Tanya Wilson President, Parents and Friends Association

30 Community matters

31 Community matters

TRAK Chat Not only do we have a new name, Strategic Plan and Constitution, we have a new energy, style and presence.

exemplary. Jill has been on the Committee for 15 years, and spent four years in the role of President from 2002 to 2006. During her time on the Committee Jill took on a variety of projects and responsibilities, and anyone who has had the opportunity to engage with Jill knows that she has such a genuine passion and love for Toorak College.

This contribution to the Elephant marks my final one as President of the Toorak Collegians, although I will be remaining on the Committee as the Board representative.

When reflecting over the past year I remain very pleased about the direction that the Toorak Collegians have taken in the past five years during my Presidency. We, as an organisation, really have evolved from when I started. Not only do we have a new name, Strategic Plan and Constitution, we have a new energy, style and presence. We now also have a vibrant calendar of events, including the Wilderness Shield competition, combined Reunions and TC2T (Toorak Comes To Town) upcoming on Tuesday 9 August.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank the Community Office, especially Georgia Symmons and Sophie White. Their ongoing support and participation in the Committee has fostered a close connection between the School and the Toorak Collegians, making for a really positive working relationship and enabling so many projects.

I am personally very excited for the 2016-­2017 Collegian year ahead. The Committee has new faces and new directions, to build upon a long heritage of involvement and support within the School. I am sure that the continued success of Toorak Collegians is inevitable. I wish Carolyn Such, the incoming President, and the rest of the Committee the very best.

We have championed heritage preservation works within the School and supported the School’s Annual Giving Program. In striking a balance between tradition and future focus, we have evolved into an organisation that strives to connect Alumni and current students.

I would like to publicly thank those who have served on the Toorak Collegians Committee during my Presidency. As volunteers, the Committee is the backbone of the organisation providing direction, stewardship and support. Individually each Committee member gives so much of their time to the Toorak Collegians, with each member’s efforts being invaluable.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my role as President. I hope that my small contribution has assisted this organisation in developing a strong strategic vision, setting and achieving goals, and fostered a renewed and continued connectedness within Toorak College and the Collegian community.

In particular I would like to acknowledge retiring Committee Member Jill Griffith, as her resignation represents a significant loss to the Committee. Jill has been the consummate Collegian and her dedication to the organisation and the School has been

Cara Pope Toorak Collegians President 32

TRAK Chat

WILDERNESS SHIELD Friday 4 March, 2016 proved another beautiful evening for this year’s Wilderness Shield competition against the Year 12 girls.

This year saw the Collegians fielding Swimming, Badminton, Volleyball, Tennis, Netball and Bocce teams. On the day, the Year 12 girls were fiercely competitive in the pool and continued that drive into the other competitions and the 5-1 win to the Collegians does not reflect the closeness experienced on the day.

Since its inception four years ago, this event has grown in popularity and we are indebted to those Collegians who set the evening aside to come along to compete, enjoy some fun and laughter and dine in the lovely Pavilion Cafe, alfresco setting, for the presentation of the Shield.

Collegians competing range from Girls of the ‘50s through to Girls graduating as recently as 2015, all bonded through their early life experiences at Toorak College. The Games Song and the Spirit ‘sing off’ is always a highlight and this year the Year 12s excelled.

Thanks go to to the Community Office staff for all their assistance and the PE staff who facilitate every aspect of the competition.

Jacque Ross Class of 1971

2017 WILDERNESS SHIELD Next year’s Wilderness Shield will be held on Friday 10 February. Be sure to save the date!

Contact the Community Office to register your interest via community@toorakc.vic.edu.au.

TOORAK COLLEGIANS COMMITTEE The Collegians Committee was elected on Sunday 29 May at the Collegians AGM held at Toorak College. We welcome new and existing members – Carolyn Such ’69 (President), June Lambert (Secretary), Claire Loughnan '02 (Treasurer) and committee Cara Pope '02, Sue Dixon '81, Naomi Daff '84, Jacque Ross '71, Penny Bowman ’01, Rosemary Sewell ’74, Rachel Loughnan ’08, Shonnie Waters ’96, Penny Shell ’96, Elise Moynihan ’86, Sinead Waterson ’15 (Ex officio) and Emma Wiggins ’15 (ex officio).

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Toorak Collegians Committee (formerly TCOGA Committee) is in the process of establishing a new Strategic Plan, the basis of which will aim to better meet the needs and preferences of all Toorak College alumni.

In order to understand how we can deliver relevant and beneficial initiatives to you, we should like to invite all Collegians to complete a survey, where you will have the opportunity to tell us how we can improve, and confirm what is currently working well.

The survey link has been emailed to those Collegians for whom we hold email address details. If you have not received this email and would like to have your say, you can access the survey via the Toorak College website homepage www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au. The survey will close at COB Monday 29 August 2016.

All survey responses will remain strictly confidential.

This is an exciting step forward for our committee and we are hopeful that the results will go a long way towards enhancing the lives of Collegians across a wide range of ages, interests and geographical locations.

If you have any questions in regards to this survey, please contact the Community Office via community@toorakc.vic.edu.au.

33 TRAK Chat

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY For the past two years I have had the opportunity to MC the International Women's Day Toorak Talks event, an experience which has been incredibly awe inspiring and eye-opening.

Hearing stories of success and selflessness from other women made every challenge imaginable seem achievable. The women I met and interviewed were happy to give their time to converse with me, and made me feel as though my opinions were valued.

I cannot stress enough how wonderful this learning experience was, and I sincerely hope that Toorak Talks continues in the years to come.

I was so pleased to have been invited back on International Women’s Day to talk to the girls about my work in ethical sourcing and humanitarian issues in the supply chain. When I walked into the hall, one of the first things I noticed, there up above the stage loomed the School emblem with the latin School motto ‘in labore quies’ or ‘in your work find peace’. I have thought a lot about that School motto in the weeks since. It has been now nearly 20 years since I walked out the gates as a Year 12 student for the last time and it is quite a journey that I have been on, and coming back again felt like going a full circle. When I left school, I thought that life was a bit like a conveyor belt, that there were logical life stages that just happen – university, linear career progression, meet a spouse, have family so on.

Now, I do know lots of people who have been able to navigate their lives like that and I have immense respect for them, but it has just not been my experience. My experience of life has been more like an adventure that I discovered and made up as I went along. From gold mines in Papua New Guinea, to big corporate consulting opportunities, an abandoned Post Grad Law degree, and now having redesigned my life as an academic researcher and freelance writer, my life has been a colourful one. I am grateful life actually isn’t a conveyor belt because I could make my journey my own. It has had the lessons and experiences that I needed to have in order to learn what I needed to learn in order to be a human being of depth, and of service to the community. And in that, I find peace.

Josephine Dalsted Class of 2016

To follow my work please connect via my blog, www.ethicalwarrior.com.au or via the blog Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ethicalwarrior/ Kate Nicholls Class of 1997

ONE SCHOOL MANY FUTURES

THANK YOU

We are proud to uphold the traditions that have seen the School develop students with passion, pride and confidence. We are about to embark on a period of rapid change in education, where now more than ever we are preparing our students for careers that have not yet been created, in a world that has not yet been imagined.

Toorak College would like to acknowledge the contributions of those generous members of our community who have supported us so far in our 2016 Annual Giving Appeal (as of 30 June 2016).

Our Annual Giving appeal for 2016 is focused on preserving our past whilst looking toward our future.

With this in mind this year’s goal will focus on restoring our Mary Herring Hall to its former glory, ensuring our Joan Ansett Hall boarding house is a warm and personalised home away from home and creating learning spaces that develop and foster a love of learning.

Toorak College has committed to development in these areas but your generosity will help to accelerate this process and ensure that our school remains an educational leader.

Your tax deductible donation will be greatly appreciated.

Please visit www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au/community/philanthropy/donations

34 TRAK Chat

Mr & Mrs A B Bishop Ms Ann Condon Mrs Rosemary Creed Mrs Bron Davis Dr Anouk Dev Misses M & J Edwards Mrs Janet Evans Mrs Angela Grutzner Mrs Pamela Hall Mrs Janet Haysom Mrs Diana Heggie Ms Leanne Howard Mr Andrew & Mrs Karena Mitchell Mr Jack Mordes Dr Jennifer Picking Mrs Catriona Ridland Miss Dawn Routledge Dr Anne Sarros The Swift Family Foundation Mrs Barbara Thomas Mrs Lorraine Wood

Where are they now?

PIE SUTITHON, CLASS OF 2014

MICHELLE PHIPPS (NEE LEE), CLASS OF 1989

During her foundation year at the University of Art, London, Pie has been working hard to get into Fashion Communication & Promotion at Central Saint Martin, the school that many art students dream of and one that requires a high standard in portfolio and interview. Pie spent long hours preparing all her designs to meet a strict criteria and deadline.

Michelle started working as a casual in a department store at the age of 15 where she developed a love for business and employment relations.

When she was in Year 10, Michelle developed a love for musical theatre; performing in numerous shows at Toorak and Peninsula. Years later still, as an Undergraduate at Monash University, she studied Literature and Communications, but immersed herself in musical theatre winning several amateur theatre awards. She moved into the professional arena, performing in the Australian Tour of ‘Hair’, the album launch for Christine Anu, ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Cats’, ‘Bad Boy Johnny’ and many others.

Pie applied to some of the top Fashion Schools in Europe including Central Saint Martin, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and the famous Instituto Marangoni. She was offered places to all schools though has chosen to study Fashion Communication & Promotion at Central Saint Martin. Congratulations Pie!

At the same time, Michelle cultivated her love for retail working in Sales and Marketing for David Jones for nine years. In 2005, she took a keen interest in Human Resources, working for Ella Bache in Communications, Education and HR. She moved to Coles Supermarkets NSW HR and then ANZ HR for Kellogg’s until 2014.

Now HR APAC for the Brown-Forman global spirits company, Michelle has kept her love for performance alive as a Board member for NSW Ausdance, a NFP business that represents the interests of dancers and dance educators. She is also a Board member of the Australian Drinks Association. Michelle has an MA HRM and a PhD in Communications and is an accredited Senior HR practitioner with the Australian HR Institute.

Michelle lives in Sydney with her husband Rob and two children.

35 Where are they now?

Reunions 2016 On Saturday 21 May, 2016 the Cloisters resonated with school spirit and the camaraderie of old friends; Toorak College welcomed Collegians from 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 for the 2016 Reunions. Collegians enjoyed the opportunity to revisit their favourite spaces in the School on a tour presented by the 2016 Prefects. Following this, a luncheon in the Mary Herring Hall provided an afternoon to share memories and reconnect with school friends.

36 Reunions 2016

CLASS OF 1966 REUNION

CLASS OF 1975 REUNION

The Class of 1966 celebrated its 50 year reunion, with a lunch held on Saturday 2 July in Melbourne. The event was a huge success with 20 Collegians attending. Thank you to all those who travelled from far away to be with us, especially Libby McKinnon (nee Chadderton) and Jenny Cowell (nee Bartlett) who both travelled down from Queensland. It was also lovely to have 1968 Head Girl, Sally Blair (nee Boothby) join us at the end.

You’ve seen the movie. The one about the school reunion where people arrive to boast about their fabulous lives. As the night progresses admissions about sadness and ruin emerge.

Toorak College reunions just aren’t like the movies.

When the Class of ’75 met at GGs restaurant in Clarendon Street, East Melbourne in May, 21 women walked back in time to the warm and welcoming arms of the girls that they once were. Memories abounded. Classes. Teachers. That first kiss.

Laughter. Tears. Sporting feats. Dreams. Dances. Learning to live.

Apologies were received from 16 of our cohort and hopefully next time more will be able to attend.

Although the time flew by, it was wonderful to catch up with everyone again, once we all recognised each other! Thank you to all those who attended and we look forward to our next reunion which will be sooner rather than later.

It was like re-visiting a home that you grew up in. Walk in and recollect conversations that you still remember as clearly as the day they took place. Go into another room and bump into a friend from 40 years ago. Turn around and remember something that you’d thought had been tucked away so securely that it would never again see the light of your day.

Barbara Thomas OAM (nee Phillips) Class of 1965

Women came from as far west as Perth and as far north as Sydney. In a room set aside especially for our reunion, they talked overwhelmingly about lives well-lived. Four hours was not long enough. So we’ve voted to make it a yearly event.

Same time - the last Saturday in May (which will be 27 May 2017). Same venue - GGs Restaurant, 150 Clarendon Street, East Melbourne (the food was terrific). All you need do is drop a quick line to next year’s event coordinator, Pam Hall (pamelahall4@bigpond.com) saying that you’ll be there.

Chris Richards Class of 1975

37 Reunions 2016

In memory VALE: ELIZABETH NOSWORTHY Elizabeth Nosworthy worked tirelessly on the Toorak College Board for a number of years. She was a significant contributor to the school, both financially, donating to the Marjorie Williams Centre construction and to events such as the school fete, where she ran the very successful gourmet stall. Elizabeth was instrumental in setting up the Early Learning Centre in the early 90s. She is fondly remembered by Mrs Karen Towers, Head of Humanities and Commerce at Toorak College. Karen worked on the ELC committee with Elizabeth. She had two daughters that attended Toorak College, Sarah who was the Head Girl in 1996 and Georgia who finished at Toorak College in 1998. Elizabeth passed away peacefully at Cabrini Palliative Care on Saturday 16 April, 2016.

VALE: ALISON WALKER (NEE ELDRIDGE) CLASS OF 1939

Steve Hubbard Head of Studies, Toorak College

Alison Walker passed away at the age of 93, having lived a remarkably full and active life. Alison commenced at Toorak College (TC) in 1937. She excelled at swimming and hockey and enjoyed horse riding. Leaving school in the war years Alison served in the Women’s Australian Army Services and was posted to the Northern Territory.

After the war Alison and her lifelong TC friend, Tootles Grice travelled overseas. In England, Alison met, and in 1951 married her husband Brian. Brian’s RAF career took them to many parts of England, Morocco, Singapore and Holland over the next 20 years. Brian retired in 1973 and he, Alison and their three children, Richard, Katie and William settled in Australia.

After a brief time in Shepparton, Alison and Brian returned to Frankston. They were a popular couple, enjoying parties, bridge and golf. They were keen members of the local field naturalists club and Alison undertook a major tree planting project at the Frankston Golf Club.

VALE: JUDITH BARTON (NEE GUBBINS) (CLASS OF 1949) From Victoria’s Western District to the vast cattle country of Queensland, then to Barwon Heads in retirement. Such was the life journey of Judith Barton (nee Gubbins) whose formative years were spent as a boarder at Toorak College.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s Alison, Brian and Tootles, together with friends, camped the length and breadth of Australia. The ‘Outback Travellers’ were an intrepid group, making many friends that they revisited over the years.Alison was active until the end. She volunteered at St Paul’s Opportunity Shop and St Paul’s Church, played bridge, attended concerts, art galleries, functions at her golf club and tended her garden.

Retaining her humour and many interests to the end, Alison was great company and loved being with family and friends.

Gubby won respect on the basket court and baseball pitch.

As captain of Douglas in her final year she swapped bat for baton to conduct the House choir with enthusiasm and flair.

Gubby returned to School later as housekeeper and team coach in basketball and baseball.

I remember her as strong, practical and loyal – a generous contributor to the School community.

Alison is survived by her children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Angela Grutzner Class of 1951

Elizabeth Eldridge Class of 1973

38 In memory

Archives The Toorak College Magazine, The Elizabethan, celebrates a 111 year history.

DID YOU KNOW?

TOORAK OLYMPIANS

The Toorak College Magazine was first published in 1905. In 1944 it was renamed ‘The Elizabethan’ with ‘The Magazine of Toorak College’ on the title page to honour Mrs Elizabeth Tripp.

This being the year of the Rio Olympics, we reflect that Toorak College has had a long history of sport and gamesmanship as demonstrated in the Editorial piece of the 1956 Elizabethan.

Toorak Collegians featured in Tradition, Belonging, Spirit, who have participated in past Olympics include:

Today The Elizabethan is our annual yearbook and is a record for our students of the year that has been.

1. Fiona Taylor – Windsurfing, Barcelona 1992 2. Jane Robinson – Rowing, Atlanta 1996 3. Amanda Ross – Equestrian, Sydney 2000 4. Sally Francis – Paralympics Chef d’Equipe (carer) Hong Kong 2008 5. Brooke Dunleavy – Skiing, Vancouver 2010

The Archives hold past issues of the magazines which contain a rich collection of information describing not only the School activities, but an indication of the social fabric of the time.

The Archives are keen to hear from anyone who may have information about the sporting achievements of Toorak Collegians. Please call or email the School Archivist: nataliee@toorakc.vic.edu.au Mrs Natalie Elliott Archives

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Events calendar We extend a warm welcome to all members of the Toorak College community to attend these special events.

*TC2T TOORAK COMES TO TOWN

ART OF REMEMBRANCE LUNCHEON

Event date: Tuesday 9 August, 6:30pm-8:30pm Event location: 505 Wine Room, 505 Malvern Road, Toorak

In support of the Alice Sloan Trust Event date: Saturday 22 October, 12:00pm Event location: Toorak College

SENIOR SCHOOL PRODUCTION HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

OAKS DAY Event date: Thursday 3 November, 11:30am - 3:00pm Event location: The Royal Hotel, Mornington

Event date: Thursday 25 - Saturday 27 August Event location: George Jenkins Theatre, Monash University

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

2017 HEAD GIRL SPEECHES

Event date: Friday 25 November, 6:30pm-8:30pm Event location: Cloisters, Toorak College

Event date: Tuesday 30 August, 12:10pm Event location: Mary Herring Hall, Toorak College

SAVE THE DATE

FATHER’S DAY BREAKFAST Event date: Friday 2 September, 7:15am for 7:30am start Event location: Mary Herring Hall, Toorak College

*2017 Reunion - Classes of 1977, 1987, 1997 and 2007 Event date: Saturday 20 May, 2017 Event location: Toorak College

WINE BLUFF

*Please note - events marked with an * are Collegian specific events.

Event date: Saturday 10 September, 7:00pm Event location: Dining Room, Toorak College

For further information on any of these events please contact our Community Office on 9788 7279 or community@toorakc.vic.edu.au.

VCE ART, DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION

REUNION CHAMPIONS NEEDED Our reunion program relies on Reunion Champions.

We are seeking volunteers to rally their peers to attend and help collect memorabilia for display. If you wish to become a Reunion Champion or would like more information, please contact the Community Office on 9788 7279 or community@toorakc.vic.edu.au.

Event date: Thursday 6 - Saturday 9 October Event location: D4, Toorak College

SPEECH NIGHT Event date: Friday 14 October, commencing 7:30pm Event location: Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, Clayton

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SNIPPETS

ELC students enjoying the Cloisters.

Wardle House students showed off their creativity in the Easter Hat Parade.

The silent disco was a quiet night.

Mrs Kendall talking at leaders in our community event with Soar Collective.

(Photography by Bianca)

Tinkering with the Ozobots in the DIGI Zone.

Team spirit at the Head of Schoolgirls Regatta.

Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza, Vic, 3930 Phone: 9788 7200 | www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au CRICOS provider code: 00349D CRICOS course code: 005454G