Meet the SRC Executive for 2022

Amolika Bhatia President

Wilderness School actively cultivates leadership qualities in our girls. We aim to build the understanding and skills of leadership through the curriculum and the many varied activities of school life in order to become respected leaders who act with integrity and model ethical behaviour. We are delighted to introduce our SRC Executive for 2022.

What legacy would you like to leave Wilderness?

Being a part of the Student Representative Council (SRC) Executive is a true honour for me and I would love to utilise this opportunity to make a lasting impact on our school community. I would personally love to create an environment at Wildy where every girl walks into the gates and leaves each day smiling, full of a sense of happiness, belonging and enthusiasm. School is a place where some of the best memories are made, and I really want every girl to cherish every day and the friendships and connections they make. This intertwined with our vision of ‘Triple A’ - Adventure, Ambition and Appreciation - is the legacy I would love to leave Wilderness. As a part of this vision, I hope every girl will be able to recognise each person who plays such a large role in the life we live, education we have - and incredible opportunities providing time to stop, reflect and appreciate all Wilderness has to offer. I hope that every girl will reach out to every opportunity presented to them with a sense of adventure and courage, never afraid to hold back.

I also hope that each Wildy girl will recognise that no goal or idea, or vision is impossible with the backing of such a strong community, and to always have ambition to strive for their individual best. This is the legacy I hope to leave Wilderness - one of Adventure, Ambition, and Appreciation.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership? What is it? It can mean so many things to so many different people. But for me, a true leader is one who brings other people up around them and doesn’t go on the journey alone. They recognise that leadership is not a solo journey - and take others along the ride guiding them and helping them along the way. Leadership to me is not about showing people you care through a big speech or words scripted on a page, but about how you make people feel. How do people walk away after spending time with you? If they are happier, feel better in some way, inspired, motivated, then that’s true leadership.

I believe leaders should always go to every effort to ensure everyone is valued in the group or team and feel like they truly belong. This is the kind of leadership I hope to demonstrate throughout my time on the Wilderness SRC and moving forward into the future.

Tell us three things that people wouldn’t know about you.

Many people do not know this, but I actually sleep talk every night without fail. My sister reports back to me the next morning the strange things I’ve said. But my sleep talking goes so far that I woke up all the girls up on camp at 2am in the morning. I told everyone to start packing to begin our hike. Some girls even deflated their sleeping mats. Let’s just say the girls were not the happiest with me the next day when their sleep had been interrupted multiple times by my sleep talking instructions. Believe it or not I actually bought my family’s first dog while in one of my classes at school. The dog was being announced during school hours and I really wanted to make sure we secured him, and somehow, I managed to do this while in class doing my schoolwork. He is the cutest puppy ever! Thirdly, to help me deal with the stress and nerves during an exam, I always bring five of my favourite chocolates, Cadbury Twirls, into every one of my exams. Without fail I have never entered an exam without my Twirls and will continue this tradition as I enter Year 12.

Which three people would you invite to a dinner party and why?

Ash Barty is one person I would love to invite to a dinner party. She is courageous, resilient, independent, and strong, and demonstrates so many of the characteristics of an incredible leader. She has set an example for so many young girls and women worldwide and Indigenous communities as well, showing us that with passion and determination anything is possible. She is an ambassador for so many community sport programs - with the focus on encouraging girls to continue pursuing sport - having a lasting impact of the lives of so many females through her work. She was awarded the 2020 Young Australian of the Year with her vision to ‘Help inspire women and girls to believe in themselves and have the courage to do things their way’ - which I truly believe is so powerful. Spending time with her at a dinner party would allow me to hear from such an inspiration - and her journey to becoming the incredible leader and sportswoman she is today. Another person I would love to invite to a dinner party is the 2021 Young Australian of the Year, Isobel Marshall. She is an inspiring individual who manages her intensive university load studying Medicine, while also running a non-profit business known as Taboo - which is ‘helping women all around the world by breaking down menstruation stigma and providing greater access to hygiene products.’ She demonstrates that small ideas sparked during school leadership can grow to become something that can truly have a world impact. I would love to hear about her journey and how she manages her own personal time, university life, running a business and volunteering all so successfully. Thirdly, I would invite Ms Danvers to a dinner party. Although I have spent time with her this year through my leadership, having a real opportunity to sit down with her and talk about how she has gone about becoming such a successful and impactful leader would be an incredible experience. I would love to hear about the exciting parts of leadership, and the challenges she has faced through her various roles and how she has overcome them. Spending time with someone who has had so much experience in leadership, and impact upon the lives of others, would build upon my character, allowing me to truly understand the ways in which I can leave the most positive mark on my school.

Harriet Craig Vice President

What legacy would you like to leave Wilderness?

After being elected to this position, over the past term, I have come to realise the significant influence that we can have on such a large group of individuals. It is incredible to see the impact that a new initiative or a fun new event can have on girls in the years below us. In 2022, I hope to continue this legacy in as many ways as possible. In particular, I would like to leave a legacy that encourages girls to appreciate the opportunities we get. I would like girls to make the most of their time at the School and create as many memories as they possibly can because, with only a year left at school, I can certainly say that time flies if you don’t stop to appreciate the best moments.

What does leadership mean to you?

To me, leadership involves actively encouraging innovation and originality. There will always be things that I believe in and that I can put my energy towards, but I believe leadership is about encouraging those around you to do the same. The change that we can make as a community if everyone stands up for what is important to them will be immense, compared to simply the change we can make in a year on our own. Being a good leader is about not only speaking on behalf of those around you but also giving those around you the ability to speak for themselves. Tell us three things that people wouldn’t know about you.

Unless you have driven past my house and seen them perching on the fence, most people are probably unfamiliar with the fact that I have three guinea fowls. All of which cause quite a fuss when they decide to venture over the fence and across the street to feast on our neighbours’ verges every morning. Cliff jumping is my absolute favourite thing to do in the entire world. I will jump off anything I can climb up to. Bonus points if it involves a rope swing. I love my Dad (he bribed me into writing this).

Which three people would you invite to a dinner party and why?

Firstly, I would invite Jamie Oliver so that he can cook up an amazing feast for us to enjoy. Secondly, I would invite Adele because she is an absolute icon, has an incredible sense of humour, and can entertain us with her unbelievable voice. I would also be honoured to redo Matt Doran’s (Channel 7 journalist) interview with her. I have certainly listened to her album, so that will not be an issue.

Finally, I would invite Amelia Earhart, not only to gain an insight into her disappearance but also to learn about the courage and ambition it took to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

Eliza Corbin Secretary

What legacy would you like to leave Wilderness?

I am committed to leaving a strong legacy in our school community that builds on from one another’s kindness and instils an attitude that encourages all girls to become better versions of themselves. This connects to the theme for the 2022 Student Representative Council (SRC) – ‘Triple A’, known as Appreciation, Ambition and Adventure.

I believe I can have a positive impact by leaving a culture at Wilderness where we are all ambitious in our commitments, relationships, and goals. This will allow us to make the most of opportunities and connections that will benefit us beyond school. To have the ability to make others want to follow in my direction is a powerful and influential position. I will use it to become a positive role model and an active member of the Wilderness community - with the hope that girls can embrace ‘Triple A’ and further school values.

What does leadership mean to you?

To me, leadership is the impact and progressive difference I can create with a group, or an individual. It is the ability to encourage and give others the resources to develop the version of themselves that they aspire to become while guiding them to collate a range of skills that will help them achieve their best.

Tell us three things that people wouldn’t know about you?

I have a massive addiction to Fruchocs and could not live without them.

Every night before bed, I do word searches in a little puzzle book to help me get to sleep. I played cricket in primary school but have now ‘retired’ to beach and backyard cricket. Which three people would you invite to a dinner party and why?

If I was to host a dinner party, I would invite Ash Barty, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Queen Elizabeth II, as I am intrigued by their personal experiences and perspectives on global issues. I would love to know more about how they overcame challenges, and what they believe are the next steps moving forward in our society. As both a sportswoman and Young Australian of the Year, Ash Barty’s accomplishments inspire me to strive for what I am passionate about. Similarly, Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s passion and strength to make a difference regarding gender equality are interesting. I would love to hear about her experience through this journey. Queen Elizabeth II can provide an extremely different perspective on a range of global topics due to her position, which I would love to hear and understand. I would also love to know about her lifestyle and experiences being part of the royal family. To me, all three of these women highlight the importance and power of education. When our society is educated, we have the opportunity to create meaningful change and share stories or perspectives with others. I believe hearing about their opinions and experience would increase my understanding of our society, how I can have an impact, and how I can overcome challenges I may face.