Wilderness Old Scholars – From the WOSA President

WILDERNESS OLD SCHOLARS

From the WOSA President

“Volunteering plays a valuable role in sustaining healthy, resilient communities and contributes significantly to the quality and vibrancy of our society.” (Volunteering SA)

I am sure that everyone reading this will share my appreciation for the people in our communities who offer their time as volunteers. At the time of the 2016 Census, 21.4% of South Australians had volunteered in the previous 12 months, second only to the ACT. The volunteering effort is valued at $5 billion annually in South Australia.

If we were to ask our old scholars, we would find they volunteer in many ways across many communities. In our community volunteering takes many shapes and forms - short-term, long-term, or once-off. Volunteering can be formal, such as joining our committee, or informal through involvement in events, mentorship or the sharing of skills and experience with Wilderness students.

Recently we held the first of an ongoing series of Industry Forums. Our panel members Kathy Nicholson (1994), Elsinore Mann (1999), Natalie Redmond (2008) and Sarah Damin (2017) willingly volunteered their time to share their insights and experience in Science and Engineering over breakfast. We sincerely appreciate their help in making it a success and building an ongoing conversation with other old scholars and Wilderness students.

WOSA is also committed to assisting the Girl Up Committee. The girls are sewing sanitary items for women who don’t have access to these basic needs. We will be calling for volunteers to assist at a ‘Sewing Day’ later in the year. I want to thank the WOSA committee and the extended WOSA community for their volunteered time. Without it, we would not be able to push forward with the events and services that we hope will reshape and continue to build the connected, engaged community we strive for.

I encourage anyone who has a passion for being involved in the old scholars’ community in any capacity to contact either Emma Bishop, our Old Scholars’ Liaison Officer, or me or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Building a community only comes with willing participation – the more, the merrier!

Jacki Smith (Class of 1978) President Wilderness Old Scholars’ Association

LinkedIn: Jacki Smith Email: president@osa.wilderness.com.au

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.

SERVICE TO OUR SCHOOL

Since the founding of Wilderness, right through to today, ‘service’ is a core value instilled throughout our time at school.

I am confident it is a value that stays with us for life. No individual better exemplifies this core value than our Principal, Ms Jane Danvers who I am delighted to announce was recently inducted as an honorary Wilderness Old Scholar in commemoration of her outstanding 15 years of service to the School. The WOSA committee proudly presented Jane with her own Wildy signet ring at its first meeting of the year in what was a very special and touching moment. I am sure our entire old scholar community will join me in welcoming Jane as a member of the Wilderness Old Scholars’ Association.