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Supporting the Wilderness Parents and Friends’ Association
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The Parents and Friends’ committee started 2020 with a wonderful Parent Welcome Drinks were held on Friday 7 February. The event was held on Memorial Lawn with 250 parents and staff in attendance. The committee were all on hand with bright shirts and big smiles, serving an array of drinks to parents new and old. The weather for the evening was perfect, leading to a pleasant evening of introductions, chatter and marvellous eats catered for by the Wilderness Café. This annual event is an important demonstration of the role of the Parents and Friends’ committee - being the friend raisers of Wilderness School and its community. Encouraging a sense of connectedness within the School, we traditionally hold events throughout the year, providing opportunities for our families to meet other parents and staff, share ideas, have fun, and enjoy being part of the Wildy family. Of course, with the changes to our world in 2020, our normal calendar of events was altered for the year. The Mother’s Day Classic continued to run Australia wide. As a virtual event, the Wilderness School team walked and ran in our own neighbourhood on the cold morning. We were pleased to be recognised as the largest participating school in South Australia. This was our 9th consecutive win of the award and one of which we are very proud. On November 10 and 11, we were so very fortunate to support the Wildy Fringe on school grounds, where the combined efforts of Drama, Multimedia and Art were able to showcase the girls’ work in a dynamic format across several stages. Parents were entertained with Years 7, 9 and 10 theatre performances, the Year 11 Stand Up Theatre Company, screening of the 2019/2020 Wildy Films including the People’s Choice Award, as well as Multimedia and Art Exhibitions and live music. It was so fabulous to get back out and about on the grounds, albeit carefully, and support the girls. We continued the engagement of the Year Level Representatives and are thankful to those parents who organised the small year level gatherings throughout the quieter months.
In 2020 we developed a wonderful range of Wilderness Supporters’ garments available to parents, grandparents and friends of Wilderness. From this year there are fashionable rugby tops, polo tops, scarves and beanies in Wilderness colours to be worn while showing support to our girls and our School, at school sports, cocurricular activities and intercollegiate competitions. This quality merchandise will be available through the uniform shop and may be worn proudly throughout the year. Although 2020 was quieter for parent interactions, the committee continued to collaborate in developing policies and procedures for future events, in keeping with the new regulations of social gatherings and catering. We have had time to brainstorm ideas and look forward to bringing fresh involvement and interaction around the School in 2021.
I sincerely thank all of the Wilderness School Parents and Friends committee members and executive for their patience, resilience, passion and their continued sense of community spirit within our school in what was a different year. The Parents and Friends Committee are excited to return to face-to-face friend raising this year at various showcases, performances, sporting events and exhibitions which display the skills and achievements of our girls. Personally, I had a year to reflect on the wonders of our school and the resilience of the girls, staff and executive in times of change. It is heart warming to see our school move through these changes with confidence and skill, giving my committee and me the desire and ambition to further support our adaptable community.
Jen Guest President, Parents and Friends’ Association
WILDERNESS OLD SCHOLARS
OUR MISSION REMAINS: To provide a ‘go to’ community hub for Wilderness women and girls through the provision of services and events that add value to their personal and professional lives.
From the WOSA President
I recently looked back at what I had written in the Spring 2020 edition of the Wilderness Times. I noticed that I had signed off hoping for a return to life with more certainty in 2021. I suspect that was because with certainty comes a sense of security.
Reflecting on this now, I realise that certainty can be an elusive concept. In fact, a quote from Pliny the Elder (AD 23/24 – 79), Roman author, naturalist and philosopher – ‘The only certainty is that nothing is certain.’ - suggests that this concept has challenged humanity for quite some time!
The one thing that did become certain in 2020 was the need to embrace uncertainty and tackle it head on. The result has been astounding. We all adapted to the changes required of us to live our lives, both personal and professional, differently from how we had been living them. We learnt to socialise differently, we learnt to learn differently, to work differently and we embraced the technological and behavioral changes required to do this. This time of uncertainty has encouraged change and inspired entrepreneurship and experimentation. Whilst we expect a sense of normality to return to life in 2021 it will be a different normal from life before COVID. What we should hope for in 2021 is to find a better balance between certainty and uncertainty. The ability to adapt to change and to find ways of living in what has become our new normal. At this point we are anticipating a return to our graduating year and regional reunions and events such as Quiz Night that are part of our anticipated annual calendar. In addition, we hope to bring our community together at a professional level with events and services that will be new to WOSA. More news of dates will be announced as they come to hand. But no matter what happens in 2021, there is one thing that does remain certain, you remain a valued member of the Wilderness Old Scholars’ community - always.
Jacki Smith Class of 1978 President Wilderness Old Scholars’ Association
