St Mary's Fideliter - December 2013 Edition

F R O M L I T T L E T H I N G S , B I G T H I N G S G R O W

FIDELITERD E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 S t M a r y ’s A n g l i c a n G i r l s ’ S c h o o l P P N u m b e r 6 6 5 0 0 2 / 0 0 0 8 9

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C O V E R P H O T O

2013 Head Girl, Lianne Leung, with students from the Peter Arney Centre for Early Learning

F I D E L I T E R I N F O R M AT I O N

Fideliter is a publication of St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School.

please direct all correspondence to:St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, PO Box 105 Karrinyup WA 6921telephone: (08) 9341 9111 fascimile: (08) 9341 9222email: [email protected]

editors: Robyn Birkin and Hayley Macdonalddesign and production: Dessein

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4 C H A P L A I N ’ S R E P O R T

5 S C H O O L N E W SGirls Doing Great ThingsFrom the FoundationGuest SpeakersOld Girls Inspire Year 12s

1 0 S E N I O R S C H O O L N E W SFrom Little Things Big Things Grow: The Year 12 Father Daughter BreakfastThe Annual Tree Planting and Weed Eradication ChallengeBig Things Happening in Media StudiesThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Year 10s Sleep Out for a Good CauseThe St Mary’s Exchange ProgrammeThe Oxford ExperienceFarewell to some Familiar FacesPurple Bras, Helicopters and Newsreaders

2 6 J U N I O R S C H O O L N E W SWelcome to the New Peter Arney Centre for Early LearningYear 1s visit ScitechWelcoming our Grandparents to SchoolBook Week at the Junior School

3 0 A R C H I VA L A N E C D O T E SShoe of Delight

3 2 L A D I E S ’ A U X I L I A R Y A N D PA R E N T S ’ S O C I E T Y

3 3 S T M A R Y ’ S O N T H E R O A D

3 4 O U T A N D A B O U T

3 6 O L D G I R L S ’ A S S O C I AT I O NOld Girls’ President’s ReportEvents and Reunions

3 8 N E W S F R O M O L D G I R L SOld Girls’ Careers: From Passion to ProfessionNews from Old Girls

4 2 D O N AT I O N S

4 3 VA L E

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P R I N C I PA L’ S R E P O R T

The photograph of Lianne Leung, Head Girl for 2013, with some of the younger members of our Junior School on the cover of this Fideliter, is a delightful reminder of what brings us great joy at St Mary’s.

Seeing girls develop intellectually, have informed opinions, grow into young women, and be excited about their futures are all central to being an educator. Lianne Leung, who started at St Mary’s in Kindergarten and is about to move into the bigger world of university studies, epitomises the growth that we see in students. One would never believe that Lianne was a quiet and demure student in Junior School. Today she is outgoing, confident and keen to share her thoughts on growing up and being the best person and community we can be. No doubt, Lianne’s family has been integral to this transition. So too has the school, as teachers have encouraged and mentored her through those years. She is a wonderful example of ‘from little things big things grow’!

With the end of the year close at hand, we are farewelling five longstanding staff members, each of whom has been at St Mary’s for over twenty years, and one for almost thirty years. These staff members have seen St Mary’s grow from a smaller school with limited facilities into a very different one today. Through them, the culture of the school has built on the past and also taken new shape, responding to the world as we know it today. Importantly, some things have not changed, primarily our expectation that the girls be the best they can be in the truest sense of the words, and our strong sense of community, a hallmark of life at St Mary’s since its foundation.

We farewell Mrs Julie Pendergrast (boarding house administrator) who commenced at St Mary’s in 1992, Mrs Takako Matthews (teacher of Japanese) in 1991, Mrs Lynne Malone (Head of Technology and Enterprise until Term 1 2013) in 1987, Mr Ian Chidgey (Head of Year 12 and Science and Chemistry teacher) in 1986 and Mrs Wendy Chidgey (Head of Year 11, teacher of Information Technology and former Head of Physical Education) in 1984. Each has played a significant role in the life of the school, enriching education here and helping to provide our girls with the knowledge, skills and values that will be invaluable as school girls and future citizens. I wish to thank them for their immense contribution to St Mary’s.

We often hear that everyone is replaceable. My response would be “yes, but not in the same way”. This would be my sentiment as these staff members leave us.

2013 has been a busy and hectic year. It has finished on an exciting note for us with three of our students, Phoebe Blaxill, Evgenija Blazeska and Sarah Barber being winners for their age groups in the National History Challenge. This was followed by our Media Studies students – Keelee Hadland and Charlotte Palmer, and Chloe Hardingham and Meg Llanwarne – being placed first in national film competitions. We look forward to seeing them at the Oscars in future years. The year finished in the best way possible with a fantastic Speech Night, held in Hearn Hall for the first time due to concerns about the weather. Dr Joanna Potter (’00), veterinarian and opera singer, spoke and sang exquisitely, Lianne Leung as always had the audience enjoying every moment of her speech, and Julia Nicholls, Music Prefect, played the violin as if she were a member of an international symphony orchestra. We were very pleased to have the Archbishop with us. His beautiful words about the life of Nelson Mandela reminded us how just one person can bring significant change for good to the world. It was a night to remember.

As the festive season approaches, I wish all of our families a special time together. As always, a service will be held in the Chapel of St Mary on Christmas Eve at 5.00pm. Reverend Joyce will be holding the service. All members of our community are most welcome to attend. I wish you all a holy and happy Christmas.

Lynne Thomson Principal

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C H A P L A I N ’ S R E P O R T

In August of this year I went to hear Joan Baez sing at the Perth Concert Hall. The last time I went to a Baez concert was in London when we were both a lot younger! As I arrived at the Perth Concert Hall, ready to hear her sing (more than likely for the last time as she is now in her 70s), I bumped into a friend, also a priest, and he jokingly said, “Have you come to sing all the protest songs from our youth?” The 1960s (I was very young in the 60s) came to be known as the decade for protest. Growing up in the UK, I was familiar with the CND marches from Aldermaston to Trafalgar Square, protest rallies against the Vietnam War outside the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London and, with my mother, I would watch the news reports on television about the civil rights movement in America. Artists like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Pete and Peggy Seeger, and Ewan MacColl were all singers and writers of protest songs and were as familiar to us teenagers (at least us thinking ones) as The Beatles and Rolling Stones. As I listened to Joan Baez at the Perth Concert Hall, I realised that many of her songs still resonate today, for they flow out of the desire for a just and peaceful world. They now also act as a reminder to the ageing hippies of the 60s and 70s that humanity still has a long way to go. As a way of showing solidarity with issues of social justice in Australia, Baez sang Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s story of the Gurindiji people and Aboriginal rights activist Vincent Lingiari, From Little Things Big Things Grow. For many young people today, this song is not synonymous with the struggle for land rights and reconciliation for Australia’s indigenous people, but with a television advertisement for industry superannuation.

The ‘Parable of the Mustard Seed’, contained in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, is about small seeds growing into something larger. Jesus compared the tiny mustard seed to the Kingdom of God. He says, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.” The picture painted in the ‘Parable of the Mustard Seed’ by Jesus, is of the Kingdom of God which begins with him and a band of twelve followers. From this small and humble

beginning, it grows until it spreads over the entire earth, to become what we know today to be the Christian Church.

Education is about helping the small child to grow; to grow into an adult with a body of knowledge and more importantly in wisdom so that they make their own way in life. Yet all that educators can do is to plant the seeds. It is up to the individual to allow those seeds to grow through hard work and commitment. I am very fond of this story which I think sums up this notion:

A woman dreamt she was browsing in a market and to her surprise she sees God standing behind a stall. “What do you sell here?” she asks. “Everything your heart desires,” God answers. Hardly daring to believe what she hears, the woman decides to ask for the best things a person could wish for and rattles off a list to God. She says, “I want happiness, love, wisdom, peace of mind, freedom from fear and trouble.” Then, as an afterthought she adds, “Not just for me, but for everyone on earth.” God smiles and says, “I think you have got me wrong; we don’t sell fruits here, only seeds.” The point of the story is that God is in business to offer to us the desirable seeds of goodness. It is up to us to grow the seeds into trees that bear desirable fruits.

I also think the story illustrates what education is about. It is no small investment for parents, and we educators would love to be able to produce the finished product, but in fact what we do is to plant seeds. In the end, each student must take responsibility for her own learning, her own faith and values; we cannot do or buy these things for her.

The great Jewish religious thinker, Martin Buber, said, “a good teacher is not someone who teaches a subject well, but one who, in the course of teaching any subject, allows the student to know the world the way he or she experiences it. Good teachers guide students in their experience of reality.”

The Reverend Geraldine Nixon School Chaplain

EnDURinG sERViCE aWaRDReverend Joyce Polson was the recipient of the Enduring Service Award at the Australian Association of Religious Educators (AARE) awards night. A number of awards are given each year for Meritorious Service. Reverend Joyce received the award for her length of service in ministry in the Anglican Church, and was nominated by Anne Boyer, former Religious Education teacher at St Mary’s. The award was presented to Reverend Joyce at the AARE dinner on 11 September 2013.

Reverend Joyce is a familiar face to many Old Girls. She joined St Mary’s in 1968 as Deaconess Joyce Polson, and St Mary’s is delighted she continues to minister to the school on a part-time basis.

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GIRLS DOING GREAT THINGS

sCiEnCE talEnt sEaRChCongratulations, Estella Lee, Year 8, who, this year qualified for the final of the Science Talent Search, with her investigation which she completed in Year 8 Extension Science. The finals were held on Wednesday 18 September, when Estella won 1st prize in the Year 7/8 section.

YoUth inDiGEnoUs GathERinGCongratulations to Ruby Birch, Year 10, who was nominated for and won selection to attend the Indigenous Youth Leadership Gathering in Sydney. The event was a government initiative to encourage indigenous youth leaders to strive and make a difference in their communities.

national histoRY ChallEnGE

St Mary’s students from Years 7 and 9 once again took part in the National History Challenge and achieved some excellent results. Congratulations to Year 7 students, Evgenija Blazeska and Phoebe Blaxill, who were named national winners in the Year 7 category, and to Sarah Barber from Year 9, who was named national winner in the Year 9 category. All three attended the prize giving in Canberra in November.

lanGUaGE REsUltsRecently our language students have achieved some excellent results.

Alliance Francaise examinations• Lianne Leung, Year 12, placed in the top 10 in the state

Dante Alighieri examinations• Keely Johnson, Year 12, was awarded 2nd place • Elle Leask, Year 11, 1st place • Kriti Sharma, Year 11, 3rd place• Serena Russell, Year 10, 1st place• Hannah Coopes, Year 9, 2nd place in the Year 9 Speaking

Competition • Grace Walker, Year 9, 3rd place in the Year 9 Speaking

Competition

DAS German examinations• Lianne Leung, Year 12, 1st place • Bridget Rumball, Year 12, 3rd place• Lolita Viska, Year 11, 1st place• Olivia Keating, Year 10, 1st place• Julia DeLorenzo, Year 10, 4th place

A significant number of other girls from Years 8 - 12 achieved High Distinctions and state placements in these examinations, as well as in the Australian Language Certificate Examinations.

shaUn tan aWaRD

Three Year 12 Visual Arts students received awards at the presentation ceremony of the Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists. In the upper secondary category, Melanie Jackson was awarded 1st prize, Aliesha McGrath 3rd prize and Phoebe Gunson received a highly commended.

Renowned Australian children’s author and illustrator, Matt Ottley, presented the awards on behalf of award patron, Shaun Tan. This year, a record-breaking 2500 entries were received.

l-r: Mr Millimaci with our talented Italian students, Elle Leask, Grace Walker, Hannah Coopes and Kriti Sharma, at the Dante Alighieri Examination Awards

Melanie Jackson at the Shaun Tan Presentation Nightabove left: Year 7 winners Evgenija Blazeska and Phoebe Blaxill right: Year 9 winner Sarah Barber

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F R O M T H E F O U N DAT I O N

MEEt thE FoUnDation’s BoaRD oF ManaGEMEntEstablished in 1987, the Foundation encourages philanthropic support from current and past parents, Old Girls and friends of the school. Its objective is to enrich the educational experience at St Mary’s by assisting the school in developing facilities and learning opportunities for students. The Foundation’s Board of Management is responsible for the investment of donations, management of Foundation assets and the distribution of funds for school projects.

RON FARRIS – CHAIRMANRon has been Chairman of the Foundation since 1987. As well as real estate and investment experience, Ron’s involvement in the work of numerous charities brings additional strategic management and fundraising knowledge to the Board.

MARLENE CARTER (’63) - SENIOR VICE CHAIRMAN Marlene has been a member of the Board for 25 years. She was the Chairman of the 1996 Fundraising Campaign for the Information Technology Centre. Marlene served on the Old Girls’ Association from 1985 -1998, ten of those years as its President, and was made an Honorary Life Member in 1996.

BREE BUXTON (’98) – JUNIOR VICE CHAIRMAN AND OLD GIRLS’ REPRESENTATIVE

Bree joined the Board in 2007 and serves on the Bequests Committee. Bree is a lawyer in the insurance industry and has been a member of the Old Girls’ Association Committee for 15 years.

IAN AND WENDY CHIDGEY Ian and Wendy joined the Board in 2012 and serve on the Foundation’s Bequests Committee. Together, they have almost 60 years experience as teaching staff at St Mary’s which brings a real appreciation of the need for the ongoing development of the school’s learning environment.

IAN CURLEWIS – CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNORSIan, a past parent, is a lawyer who has been practising in workplace relations for over thirty years. He particularly advises and represents schools, TAFEs and universities in all aspects of their operations including the development of policies, affirmative action issues and workplace safety.

RODGER GIBSON – GOVERNORS’ REPRESENTATIVERodger, a past parent, joined the Board in 2005. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors from 2006 - 2012. Rodger practised in areas of taxation, financial accounting, risk and case management, corporate management and company secretarial and compliance for 40 years.

MICHAEL GOSATTI Mike, a current parent, joined the Board in 2013 and is a member of the Finance Committee. He is Director of Miluc Civil P/L, a civil contracting company, and Miluc Property Development.

TANYA HAZELDEN – PARENTS’ SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVETanya has been a member of the Board for two years as the Parents’ Society representative. Her daughter is in Year 3. Tanya has a background in Business and Safety management and currently holds a Risk Management role for Stockland.

LES HEARN Les has been closely associated with St Mary’s since 1968. He joined the Board of Governors in 1975, serving as Chairman from 1986 - 2001, overseeing the establishment of the Foundation in 1987. Before retiring, Les was an accountant.

PETER MEAD – TREASURER AND SECRETARY Peter joined the Board in 1997 as Secretary and Treasurer. This year, he took on the additional role of Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with over 25 years’ experience in large commercial organisations.

LINDSAY PALMER Lindsay, a past parent, has been on the Board since 1987 and has held positions of Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Finance committee. He has worked as a Financial Planner for 40 years, specialising mainly in retirement and superannuation planning.

LYNNE THOMSON – PRINCIPAL

Lynne joined the Board in 1997 on becoming Principal. She is a Foundation member and is an inaugural member of the Bishop Riley Society.

IAN VINER – GOVERNORS’ REPRESENTATIVEIan, a past parent, has been a member of the Foundation Board since its establishment in 1987. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Governors and, as a QC, brings legal, parliamentary and commercial experience to the Foundation.

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inaUGURal BishoP RilEY BEQUEst soCiEtY DinnEROn 21 November, the inaugural dinner of the Bishop Riley Society was held at the UWA Club. The Bishop Riley Society celebrates those members of our school community who have chosen to make a bequest to St Mary’s in their will. Hosted by Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Ron Farris, and Principal, Mrs Thomson, the dinner was an opportunity to formally thank Society members for the special commitment they have made to the school. Marlene Carter (‘63) is the inaugural Chair of the Bishop Riley Society.

For more information about remembering St Mary’s in your will, please visit www.stmarys.wa.edu.au/foundation or telephone the Community Relations Manager, Linzey Allinson, on (08) 9341 9120.

Members of the Bishop Riley Society

thanK YoU to oUR 2013 DonoRsOur sincere thanks to those members of our school community who have generously donated to the Foundation and school during 2013. We greatly appreciate your gift to support St Mary’s in providing a first class education for our students.

FOUNDATION’S ENDOWMENT FUND The families of all new students who have contributed to the Foundation’s Endowment Fund.

BUILDING FUNDSt Mary’s at Metricup Class of 2013 and their families Lady Treatt (Frankie Wilson ’32), Old Girl Mrs J Gibson, Past Parent

Performing Arts Centre Seats Mr C & Mrs L Abbott, Past Parents Ms K Allason (‘89), Old Girl Mr A & Mrs M Arnold, Parents Mr G & Mrs L Barrett, Parents Mr A Beck, Staff Mr G & Mrs J Beeck, Past parents Mr I & Mrs J Bignell, Parents Mrs E Blaby, Current Grandparent Dr H Clarke, Past Parent Mrs T Collins (Kennedy ‘95), Old GirlMr S & Mrs A Collova, Parents Ms K Cooper (‘82), Staff Mr P Costantino & Ms N Richardson, Parents Mr P & Dr M Costelloe, Past Parents Mrs A Dawson (Fraser ‘94), Old GirlMr P & Mrs L de Bruin, Parents Mr J & Mrs N Drazevic (Moffett ‘87), Parents Mr F & Mrs O D’Silva, Past ParentsMr D & Mrs J Dye (Collison ‘88), Parents Mr D & Mrs A Elliott, Past Parents Mr J & Mrs M Evangelista, Parents Mr S Fan & Mrs H Guo, ParentsMr G & Mrs C Franklin, Past Parents Mr S & Mrs V Furzer, Parents Mr R & Mrs L Gracias, Staff

Mrs C Haak, Staff Mr R Hawes & Ms J Boden, Parents Mr J & Mrs L Hurst, Parents Ms M Jenkins (‘05), Old GirlMr R & Mrs L Johnson (Ireland ‘84), Parents Mrs M Johnston, Past Parent Ms J Karmelita, Staff Mr X Kris & Mrs Alicia King (‘88), Parents Mr K & Mrs A Law, Parents Dr D & Mrs M Leung, Parents Mr P & Mrs M Markey, Parents Mr S & Mrs S McAlpine, Current Parents Mr T & Mrs R Moran, Past Parents Mr S & Mrs V Murphy, Parents Mr J & Mrs S Nicholls, Parents Mr B & Mrs K Nixon, Parents Mr R & Mrs S Paterniti (Tuckey ‘78), Past Parents Mr N & Mrs C Politis, Past Parents Mr J Richardson & Ms J Preshaw, Parents Dr S & Dr N Rath, Parents Mr C & Mrs L Richardson (Kelly ‘85), Parents Miss L Roberts (‘00), Old GirlMr W & Mrs J Rowley, Parents Mr M & Mrs M Savage, Parents Mr B & Mrs D Smith, Past Parents Mr V & Mrs D Spaseski, Parents Dr S & Mrs B Towler, Past Parents Mr P & Mrs A Turner, Past Parents Mr C & Mrs J Waterman (Markham ‘90), Parents Mr C & Mrs C Wilson, Parents Dr K & Mrs J Wong, Past Parents Professor M Zheng & Dr Y Fan, Parents

SPEECH NIGHT PRIZES Dr J Craig - In memory of Mrs Frances Craig (Governor 1954-1958) Mrs C Barnes, Past staff

Mrs M Freitag, Past staff Mrs H Hyslop (Judge ’50), Old GirlMrs G Irwin (Stone ‘74), Old GirlMrs A Jackson AM, Past staff Mrs D Lane (Marshall ’79), Old Girl Mrs Ruth Phelps - In memory of Mrs Ruth Rowell (Robinson’34) Mrs M Stannage, Past Staff St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association St Mary’s Ladies’ Auxiliary

LIBRARY FUND Mr & Mrs M Milne - In memory of Mrs Mavis Milne (Lohoar ’26)

BISHOP RILEY BEQUEST SOCIETY The new members of the Bishop Riley Society in 2013 are:Ms K Allason (’89), Old Girl Ms E Carr (’81), Old Girl Miss M Carter (’63), Old Girl Mr I and Mrs W Chidgey, Staff Mr R & Mrs J Farris, Past Parents Mrs A Jackson,Past Staff Ms J Milloy (’72), Old Girl Rev’d J Polson, Staff Mrs Lynne Thomson, Staff

And to those who wish to remain anonymous.

If you would like your name to appear in next year’s annual List of Donors, please contact Linzey Allinson, Community Relations Manager, on (08) 9341 9120 to find out how you can make a gift to St Mary’s.

If an error has been made in this list, please accept our sincere apologies and contact us so we can ensure that the error is not repeated in future years.


REBECCa sMithOld Girl, Rebecca Smith (’06), addressed the girls at the Term 2 opening assembly. Rebecca has a BA with first class Honours in Music from WAAPA, and this year was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to undertake a two-year, Master of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Before jetting off, she spoke with the girls about the application and audition experience in applying for the Fulbright scholarship, and what the scholarship means to her. She also inspired the girls to be aspirational.

JaCKiE FREnChYear 7 students were privileged to have the popular Australian author, Jackie French, come to speak to them in August. With 290 books in our collection written by Jackie, it was a very exciting experience for both staff and students.

Jackie spoke about her love of historical facts and the extensive research she does before writing her books. She spoke about her titles that focused on war and provided the girls with many interesting facts about what life was like in those days. The students thoroughly enjoyed her visit.

aKRaM aZiMiThe 2013 Young Australian of the Year, Akram Azimi, visited St Mary’s to speak at assembly and hold conversations with students in the Elizabeth Myles Library. He won this prestigious award for his commitment to making the best of his educational opportunities after arriving in Australia as a refugee, fleeing the Taliban in Kabul as a young child. He is currently studying Law, Science and Anthropology at the University of Western Australia. Akram is passionate about his philanthropic work with indigenous Australians in the Kimberley, and his mentoring of indigenous primary school

students in outback communities in WA. He had just returned from his travels around the world with the Bill Gates Foundation, delivering polio vaccines to assist in the eradication of polio. Akram’s visit sparked many ongoing conversations and his enthusiasm for education and helping others was inspirational.

ST MARY’S COMMUNITY ENRICHED BY GUEST SPEAKERS

Lianne Leung and Julia Nicholls with Rebecca Smith

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O L D G I R L S I N S P I R E Y E A R 1 2 sOver the winter, it was our pleasure to welcome back some ‘young’ Old Girls to speak to Year 12s about their further education and career experiences.

The idea behind the breakfast sessions was for Old Girls who have gone on to further study or are taking their first steps into the workplace to share their experiences with small groups of Year 12 students interested in their fields. This year the topics covered included Law, Marketing and Communications, Science and Fashion.

Over a croissant and a coffee, the Old Girls answered questions about courses, the university experience and life in the workplace, as well as giving their perspective on how to set about choosing the right path. Some recurring pieces of advice were to pursue your own interests and passions and embrace as many opportunities as you can.

Our speakers were knowledgeable and very helpful. We are grateful to them for taking the time to visit us.

KEn aRKWRiGhtMr Ken Arkwright, a Holocaust survivor, came to visit the school during Society and Environment Week in August. He mesmerised an overflowing lecture theatre with stories from his life during the Holocaust.

athanaE lUCEVOld Girl, Athanae Lucev (’01), spoke to the girls at the Term 3 opening assembly. Athanae currently works as an image consultant. She shared her story with the girls and left them with four pieces of advice, including how to present yourself on social media.

Old Girls, Tina McLoughlin and Casey Matherson, talk about Marketing and Communications

Our sincere thanks to

LawRubin Trehan (’10)

Shivani Bhalla (’05)

MarketingTina McLoughlin (’09)

Casey Matherson (’11)

ScienceMelissa Simonds (’10)

Courtney Whitehall-Holla (’07)

FashionJonté Pike (’07)

Stephanie Fulham (’08)

In 2014 we plan to hold at least six of these events. If you have left St Mary’s in the last seven years and would like to share your story with the Year 12s, please contact us at [email protected]

DR JUDE lonGDr Jude Long, Principal of Nungalinya College in Darwin, came to speak with the Year 9s and 12s in Chapel on Wednesday 5 June.

Nungalinya College is an ecumenical adult education college for indigenous Australians. It provides courses in Theology and Ministry and literacy and numeracy, which assist students to go on to do further studies at Nungalinya or other colleges. The college also provides cross-cultural awareness programmes for non-indigenous Australians who work with indigenous people.


F R O M L I T T L E T H I N G S B I G T H I N G S G R O W: T H E Y E A R 1 2 FAT H E R D A U G H T E R B R E A K FA S T

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am Ian Chidgey and it is my pleasure to welcome you to this, the fifth annual Father-Daughter breakfast. I recently heard a song on the radio by Dave Warner, “From Little Things Big Things Grow.” That sentiment is certainly appropriate for this event. Our first breakfast attracted a small but high quality attendance of about 36 people in a rather large conference room at Observation City. Since then, my hope has been that all members of the year group would come to breakfast with a close member of their family and this year we have managed to entice more than 270 guests to join us.”

And so began my welcome to the Father-Daughter Breakfast in 2005. Our guest that year was Susannah Vaughan. At that time Susannah was the youngest, and only female, Marine Superintendent in Australia and captained a VSPO (an oil rig).

In trying to grow the breakfast from very humble beginnings we have constantly searched for speakers with interesting, often unorthodox stories to relate, and, over time, we have heard from a diverse range of guests.

The guest speaker for 2013 was Brittany Moxham, WA Young Australian of the Year and Supervisor of Karratha’s Youth and Family Centre. Brittany graduated from St Mary’s in 2005.

The guest speaker’s task is a daunting one: relate to an audience of three hundred people, ranging in age from sixteen to 60, at 7.30am on a cold, dark, wet morning following a long weekend holiday. None of our thirteen speakers to date has disappointed us. Each guest speaker presents an inspiring speech to the Year 12s and their dads, generally covering topics such as school life, life out in the real world after school and the important relationship between a father and daughter, as the Year 12s complete their final year at school.

The backgrounds of these women have been impressive. An Olympian, a para-Olympian (accompanied by her guide dog, Rosie), media personalities, an Iraqi refugee, a human rights lawyer, entrepreneurs, an award-winning author, an orchestra conductor and a couple of Young West Australians of the Year.

One of the tasks that we set each year is to make Year 12 memorable for the girls and their families, to put in place events and situations that can be looked back on in years to come, hopefully with some degree of affection.

Hopefully, the Father-Daughter Breakfasts have achieved this by creating special occasions that will form lasting memories.

Mr Ian Chidgey Head of Year 12

oUR PREVioUs sPEaKERs:Trini Powell 2001 Captain Hockeyroos

Tracy Cross 2002 Para-Olympian and lawyer

Tina Altieri 2003 Media personality

Karen Tighe 2004 Media personality

Susannah Vaughan 2005 Marine Superintendent

Louisa Wood 2006 Entrepreneur

Jasmine Denkha 2007/8 Young Lawyer of the Year and Iraqi refugee

Natasha Lester 2009 Author, winner of the TAG Hungerford Award

Alicia King (‘88) 2010 Executive Director of the Zanders Restaurant Group

Jessica Gethin (Walker ‘97) 2011 Musician

Holly Ransom 2012 Entrepreneur and WA Young Australian of the Year

Brittany Moxham (‘05) 2013 WA Young Australian of the Year

Congratulations to the 2013 Music Prefect, Julia Nicholls, who this year, was successful in attaining her Licentiate in Music, Australia. Julia will now be recognised internationally as being of exceptional standard.

Julia also won the School Age: 15–17 years division of the WAM Song of the Year 2013 competition with her song, Thing of Ours. Julia’s song was one of five finalists in this division. Julia has recently had further success, with her song having been awarded second place in the Australian Children’s Music Foundation National Songwriting Competition. Part of the prize is a $500 gift for St Mary’s to purchase musical instruments.

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Ella-Rose Fowler with her dad, Stephen Fowler

Natasha and Tiffany Terpu with their dad, John Terpu

Montana Roberts with her dad, Brad RobertsJessica Zheng, Cairo Leicester, Brittany Moxham, Julia Nicholls and Shilpa Rath

Dearne Meier with her dad, John Meier

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st MaRY’s naMED ChaMPion sChool at thE MEtRoPolitan ZonE G iRls’ sUnsMaRt 2013 Wa sChool sURFinG t itlEsIn August, the St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School Surf Team became the Champion School for the first time at the Metropolitan Zone Girls’ Sunsmart 2013 WA School Surfing Titles. The girls won both the Senior and Junior titles, and three teams continued on to compete in the Sunsmart 2013 WA School Surfing Titles Finals, which were held later in the month of August.

l-r: Nicola Tate, Jade Mickle, Simone Wilson and Lili Callisto

T H E A N N U A L T R E E P L A N T I N G A N D W E E D E R A D I C AT I O N C H A L L E N G E

Each year the bar is set higher. Over the course of two days each year, Year 10 students assist Landcare to plant thousands of trees and remove tonnes of weeds.

The challenge is always to plant or remove more than the girls did in the previous year. Yet again, in 2013, the girls did not disappoint, planting over 19,000 seedlings, almost double the number of seedlings planted back in 2011.

Later, in Term 3, although hampered by torrential rain, the girls still managed to pull three and a half tonnes of weeds, not quite beating the target set by the year before them, but still a very impressive number. The girls pulled out weeds such as Cape Tulip and Lupin crops which have an invasive and detrimental effect in some areas. Not only do these days provide invaluable support to Landcare, but they also assist the girls to reach their target of twenty community service hours, a requirement for students at St Mary’s.

Mikaela Thomson and Grace Gunson Olivia Ion and Danika ButlerRudra Bhatt and Emily Kirton


B I G T H I N G S H A P P E N I N G I N M E D I A S T U D I E S

This year has seen the Media Department at St Mary’s continue to grow with the movement of all Media classes into our impressive newly refurbished building, the Ron Farris Media Studies Centre. Currently over 300 St Mary’s girls participate in Media Studies each year, and this new space has accommodated all the exciting activities that have taken place.

Media Production and Analysis became a WACE subject in 2009, and since this time the number of students who are interested in pursuing it as an academically rigorous subject has increased. Through its inclusion in the courses of study, students now have the opportunity to study film texts and theories that range from analysing World War II German propaganda films to independent art house films. In this sense, Media is now a subject that contains great breadth and depth within its syllabus.

In addition to this, the St Mary’s girls have continued to prove that they are highly capable filmmakers through the successful annual Media Night showcase and their additional success in film and photography competitions. So far this year, students have been finalists for competitions such as Tropfest Jr, Media Perspectives, the Rio Tinto Earth

Assist photography competition and the Chevron Focus Environment photographic competition. These truly have been great achievements and I am sure there will be more success in the years to come.

As with all growth, the increase in the number of classes now means that in addition to two full-time Media teachers at St Mary’s, there will be a third specialist part-time Media teacher beginning in 2014. This will allow the subject to grow even more and is a welcome addition.

From the small beginnings of Media Studies at St Mary’s, the subject has continued to grow and I thank my predecessors and current staff for working hard to foster this development.

Miss Rebecca Watts

Head of Media

MEDia aWaRDsCongratulations to Imogen Bath, Year 11, for being awarded 3rd place in the Chevron Focus Environment photography competition. The competition required students to take and submit photographs that conformed to the category of ‘Respecting Biodiversity’.

thE sCREEn it! CoMPEtit ionCongratulations to Year 12 students, Meg Llanwarne and Chloe Hardingham, whose short film, Closure, was selected as a finalist in The Screen It! Competition. The girls were awarded the prize for Overall Best Senior Secondary Film, and travelled to Melbourne to receive their award. Their film will be screened as part of the permanent exhibition at ACMI.

BUFta shoRt F ilM CoMPEtit ionStudents from Years 11 and 12 entered the BUFTA short film competition, run by Bond University. This was the first year St Mary’s had entered this competition. Keelee Hadland and Charlotte Palmer were awarded the Jury Prize for their film, Les Couleurs, as well as being finalists for Best Comedy, and Jemima Mortimer narrowly missed out on taking away the prize for Best Experimental Film.

St Mary’s was also awarded the prize for Best School in Australia, which is a fantastic reflection of the hard work and strong production skills of our Media students.

RoBin anDERson F ilM aWaRDsYear 12 students, Lauren Cant and Tahlia Sanders, had their short film, Delusion, selected as a finalist in the national Robin Anderson Film Awards. The girls’ film was shown at the Dendy Cinema in Circular Quay, Sydney.

l-r: Tahlia Lowe, Media Captain Elect 2014; Sarah Inglis and Georgia Delli-Benedetti; Closure, a short film by Year 12 students, Chloe Hardingham and Meg Llanwarne; and Teacher of Media, Steve McLeod and Head of Media, Rebecca Watts

Movimento, a short film by Jemima Mortimer of Year 12


T H E L I O N , T H E W I T C H , A N D T H E WA R D R O B E TA K E OV E R T H E L A DY WA R D L E P E R F O R M I N G A RT S C E N T R E

“Yes, the children will find their way back to Narnia. It is important they return. Good people need good rulers. And good rulers need good people. That perhaps is the deepest magic of all.” - Aslan

It was in 1950, five years after the end of the Second World War, that C.S. Lewis first published his magical tale of two brothers and two sisters, who were sent away from London during the war, because of the German air raids. From the opening to the conclusion, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe weaves a compelling tale of good’s triumph over evil, in a world filled with imagination and wonder, far from the grim reality of war.

For a brief period, early in November, St Mary’s was alive with the sounds of the good versus the bad. The crusading army of Centaurs, Leopards, Stags, Unicorns, Dryads and Naiads led by the mighty Aslan, Lord of the Woods, the Great King, triumphed over the Werewolves, Ogres, Trolls and Ghouls of the White Witch Army.

Over 70 girls auditioned on Thursday 25 July to be cast in a play that originally had a cast of only 20. With the creation of two huge armies, 47 Year 7, 8 and 9 girls made the final cut. Amazed by the magnificent set that they could clamber over, stimulated by the wonderful fight choreography learnt, and excited by the characters’ costumes and makeup, the cast truly amazed the audiences with their professionalism, passion and energy.

On a sadder note, the final curtain came down for three outstanding lower school actors when The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe closed on Saturday 9 November. Rebecca Fingher, Eloise Orr and Indiana Scanlon were first cast in the 2011 inaugural Lower School Production of The Beauty and The Beast, directed by Tanya McCall. Now in Year 9, it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to these three girls and the other fourteen Year 9 actors who will graduate to the Senior School Production next year. The future of magic in The Lady Wardle Performing Arts Centre is assured.

Fortunately, we have a wealth of talent in the Year 7 and 8 performers, and I am looking forward to the younger actors blossoming and stepping up to meet the new challenges ahead.

Miss Caroline Brand Director


Y E A R 1 0 s S L E E P O U T F O R A G O O D C A U S E

The idea was: A never-before-done Year 10 Sleepout to raise awareness, and simulate the homeless experience. The minimum amount per person to be donated to participate would be $20, and all funds would go towards the Anglicare Homeless Appeal and in particular, the Street Connect programme for homeless youth, and this would become an annual tradition.

A guest speaker from the Anglicare Homeless Appeal came to speak to us during Chapel. His name was Esben Kaas, and we were to meet him again on the night where he would again bring everyone to (or close to) tears.

The day before the sleepout came, and the news was out; it had been postponed. According to weather reports, an electrical storm was predicted for the following night. It was slightly anticlimactic, but we rescheduled the date for Friday 1 November.

We arrived at school from 7.30pm with our sleeping bags and pillows, ready for the night ahead. Mr Thompson sat all 62 of us down and told us what was in store for the night and as we had some time to spare, we managed to get in a game of spotlight. Not long after, two men from Street Connect had arrived with their bus to talk to us. We stood outside the uniform shop as we listened to Esben explain what Street Connect does for the people living on the streets, in particular, youths like ourselves. We were told some scary statistics that made us appreciate what we have, and also reassured us that what we were doing was well worthwhile. We were then taken through the bus and given the opportunity to sit down and ask Scott, the other Street Connect worker, some questions that were on our minds after Esben’s speech, which seemed to have affected us all.

After this, it was time for dinner. Although soup and a bread roll may sound like a simple meal, the chef from the boarding house certainly surprised us with a delicious pumpkin soup that

satisfied even the fussiest of us. After dinner, we all sat in a large circle with Mr Thompson and talked about what we had just experienced. We all felt that the night made a lot more sense after hearing what Esben and Scott had to say as it reinforced why we were there, sleeping out, with only a sleeping bag and some cardboard.

At 11.00pm, we started to set up where we were sleeping and managed to get somewhat comfortable and just as we started to fall asleep, the sprinklers turned on. There was a number of ear piercing screams and a lot of laughter as girls tried to quickly drag their cardboard and sleeping bags away from the edge of the grass. We finally settled back down and fell asleep.

Up rose the sun (and the crows) at 5.00am, and we had no choice but to get up. Lots of moans and groans accompanied this as well as heads popping out from sleeping bags like meerkats, dazed by the bright sun. Although we probably weren’t feeling our best, no one complained as a big, warm breakfast arrived for us. Bacon, eggs, sausages, rolls and hot Milo were on the menu. After breakfast, a few played some football and a few went back to their sleeping bags, but soon it was time to for us to pack up and head home or back to the boarding house.

The first ever Year 10 Sleepout had definitely been a success. Between the 62 of us who participated in the sleepout, we managed to raise $3681 for Street Connect.

The Year 10 Charity Committee

Annika Langdon and Olivia WebbEmma Crisp, Evie O’Meara and Grace Hamp


Monique Sackers, Sophie Cornforth, Kaitlyn Poon, Rudra Bhatt and Manishaa Mukundala at the Sleepout

WatCh this V iRtUal sPaCEThe St Mary’s website is an important way for the school to communicate with many groups, from future and prospective parents, to current parents and Old Girls. Each month, the website attracts over 25,000 visits, which not only come from Perth, but also from rural WA and overseas, including Albany, Kalgoorlie and Geraldton, and much further away in locations such as Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Over the past year, the school has made many additions to the school website. One of those was the addition of a virtual tour, which gives parents and other members of the school community a sneak peek into the classroom. The school has now added another seven locations including Year 7, Dance and Science. Visit www.stmarys.wa.edu.au/tours to view our virtual tours.


T H E S T M A R Y ’ S E X C H A N G E P R O G R A M M E

Thirteen years ago, St Mary’s welcomed our first exchange student on the Year 10 Exchange Programme. She came from Westover School, Connecticut, a small independent girls’ school Mrs Thomson had visited on a trip to the US and liked very much. The following year, St Mary’s reciprocated by selecting the first two St Mary’s girls to travel and study at Westover, with a third girl off to St Margaret’s College in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Driven by the keen interest shown by our girls, the programme has expanded over the years and now includes twelve schools located in the USA, England, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore, each offering a unique experience and collectively offering up to 22 places for Year 10s - how wonderful to be able to offer this life-changing opportunity to so many. Each school was selected for its quality of education, extra-curricular activities and the exciting opportunities they provide for a broader education. From castles to wildlife parks, white-water rafting to visiting monuments, there are many possibilities on exchange. Girls leave home with nervous anticipation and excitement and return one to three months later full of wonderful stories, photos and new self-confidence.

Exchange aims to teach independence and resilience, promote awareness and respect for other people and their cultures and develop in students the skills to become citizens of the world. It has seen the start of many long-lasting friendships and sparked the love of travel and learning in another country. Sometimes the hardest part of exchange is saying goodbye to new friends. There are big hugs and often tears; however, thanks to today’s technologies, keeping in touch has never been easier.

Mrs Linda Gracias Exchange Programme Co-ordinator

Julia DeLorenzo at Stonehenge, UK

Alyssa Leng at Edinburgh Castle

2013 EXChanGE stUDEnts GENEVIEVE BARTON St Margaret’s Secondary School,

SingaporeCATHERINE BOCK Loretto School, ScotlandLAUREN BREWER St Margaret’s College,

New ZealandTEEAH BUNGEY Samuel Marsden Collegiate

School, New ZealandEVE COTTON Laurel School, United StatesJULIA DELORENZO Badminton School, EnglandRACHEL ETTRIDGE Westover School, United StatesLEENA FOGARTY St Margaret’s College,

New ZealandRACHEL GEIER Havergal College, CanadaANNIE HEWITT Saint Mary’s School,

United StatesJOLANTA HEWITT Westover School, United StatesLUCY INMAN Bridge House School,

South AfricaPHOEBE JAMIESON Badminton School, EnglandCLARA KELLY Saint Mary’s School,

United StatesEMILY KIRTON Uplands College, South AfricaTESSA LAING Samuel Marsden Collegiate

School, New ZealandANNIKA LANGDON St Margaret’s Secondary School,

SingaporeALYSSA LENG Loretto School, ScotlandELANA MULVAY Havergal College, CanadaSHAY TOOHEY Stanford Lake College,

South AfricaMELISSA POWELL Laurel School, United StatesLUCIE ZWART Samuel Marsden Collegiate

School, New Zealands E n i o R s C h o o l n E W s 1 8

“Exchange really made me see what life was like in another country. I went to St Margaret’s Secondary School in Singapore and it was really interesting to compare it to school here. In just two short weeks, I made a lot of friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Another highlight was hosting my exchange sister and showing her the sights of Perth for two weeks. Applying for exchange was the best decision I have ever made and I am so thankful to be able to take part in it. I recommend it to everyone.”

Annika Langdon on her exchange to St Margaret’s Secondary School, Singapore, Term 2 holidays 2013

“Exchange has completely changed my life for the better. I went on exchange to Westover School, Connecticut for thirteen weeks. Going to a place where you knew no one was terrifying, but from the moment I first arrived I knew it would become a second home to me. Exchange isn’t just about attending a school, it’s about experiencing the whole culture. I have made friends with whom I will keep in touch forever and my exchange partner is more like a sister. Exchange really is the best experience I have ever had, and I very strongly recommend it to everyone. You will never forget it.”

Rachel Ettridge on her exchange to Westover School, Connecticut, USA, Term 3 - Term 4 2013

“Exchange is a truly amazing experience. Flying to the other side of the world can seem a little scary at first, but as soon as I arrived in Raleigh, all my doubts disappeared. My exchange to Saint Mary’s School has definitely been a highlight in my life. The school is beautiful, located in downtown Raleigh. Everyone was so welcoming and my boarding experience was fantastic. I had the opportunity to meet so many girls from all over the US, discover a different culture, try new things and have so much fun. North Carolina is such a lovely state. I had the chance to explore the beaches, Bush Gardens Theme Park in Virginia, watch an American Football game, visit Washington DC and shop at many malls. It was summer so the weather was humid and hot. Exchange made me become a more confident, understanding and responsible person. I made many lifelong friendships and took away many fun and exciting memories.”

Clara Kelly on her exchange to Saint Mary’s School, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, Term 3 2013

Rachel Ettridge, centre, with her friends at Westover School

Shay Toohey with Abigail Joubert at Stanford Lake College, South Africa


T H E O X F O R D E X P E R I E N C E

Kim Domleo and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to study abroad in the Term 2 holidays, at Oxford University as part of The Oxford Experience. We stayed at Balliol College, a beautiful college that showcased the wonderful architecture of England. My room was located in the attic area of one of the towers and I had an amazing view over the whole college, with glimpses of Oxford city in the background.

At Oxford I studied Experimental Psychology, Medical Biology, and Leadership and Team-building. The courses were very enjoyable although quite hard and challenging.

I also participated in most of the excursions that the course ran. One of these included a day trip to Cambridge University. We spent the day walking around the town and campus looking at all the colleges. I even had a go at punting! This then led to our punting instructor falling into the river, a hilarious moment that I will never forget.

Although the course and the excursions were fantastic and I learnt so much, my favourite part of the whole experience was the people I met and with whom I have now become friends. At Oxford, there were over 90 different nationalities, so I was able to meet a range of people from around the world. I have already had many hour-long Skype calls catching up with the friends I made, and I plan to see them all again in the future.

Oxford was one of the most amazing experiences I have had in my life. I really encourage anyone at St Mary’s who is thinking of applying to do so, as it is something you must try.

Maya Koentgen Year 11

In the June holidays of 2013, I was one of two St Mary’s girls who had the amazing opportunity to fly to England and spend two weeks at the Oxford Royale Academy Summer School. During my time there, I stayed at Balliol College, which was celebrating its 750th anniversary.

Throughout my two weeks at Oxford, I studied three courses: Political Science and International Relations, Experimental Psychology and Leadership and Team-building. After eating breakfast with everyone in the dining hall in the mornings, we walked to our classes. They were located off campus, in different areas around the centre of Oxford. The classes were university-type lectures and were challenging, and also very interesting.

The days were so full and there was always something exciting happening. A big highlight for me was the 1920s ball at an amazing old manor house.

I did so many amazing things in those two weeks, but it was the people I met who made the experience so special. I met people from the Netherlands, Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Brazil, America, Spain, France, Greece, Singapore, India, Italy, Albania and many more. Learning about their different homes and cultures, and becoming friends with them, made my days at Oxford some of the best of my life.

Kim Domleo Year 11

The Dining Hall at Balliol College

Kim Domleo and Maya Koentgen with her fellow Oxford Experience friends

For 2014, six St Mary’s students have been chosen to take part in the Oxford Experience. Strong academic achievements is one of the major criteria that needs to be met.


EXPansion oF Dannatt hallWork is well underway on the new fitness centre and expansion of Dannatt Hall. The extension will provide much needed space for the new fitness centre as well as modern new change rooms and store rooms for the Physical Education Department. With the school’s philosophy of ‘healthy body, healthy mind’, the fitness centre will provide a new teaching space with both cardio and weight machines. Unlike the existing gym the fitness centre will accommodate a whole class. The additions will also centralise PE teaching, work and storage spaces which are currently in different buildings.

“Sport is such an important part of life at St Mary’s. This year alone, St Mary’s won IGSSA Volleyball, Netball, Basketball and Soccer and came second in Hockey, Softball, Tennis and Cross Country”, says Jenny Raphael (Tyson), Head of Physical Education. “The new fitness centre will allow us to integrate specialised strength and fitness work into the training programmes for our sports teams, all of which will help enable their future success.”

This building project is being supported with funds from the St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School Foundation.

20 YEaRs: halE st MaRY’s ConCERt BanD REUnionThe 20th Anniversary of the Hale St Mary’s Concert Band was held on Friday 30 August, in the Hale Music and Drama Centre.

It was an evening of fond memories and joyous music-making, featuring performances from Hale St Mary’s Concert Bands 1 and 2 and the reunion band, the ‘Windbags’. The final item featured all three bands combining for a performance of Stray Cat Strut, with over 150 musicians on stage! The evening concluded with the Old Boys and Old Girls enjoying a BBQ meal, providing an opportunity to look over some old band photographs and recall some memorable concerts and tours.

Zareen Torre (Kuriyan, ’99) and Lexi Smith (Meeke, ’99)


stUDEnts shoWCasE thEiR WoRK at thE sEnioR sChool aRt EXhiBit ionThe annual Senior School Art Exhibition was held on 8 and 9 September. Ms Lee Kinsella (’89), a curator at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery of UWA, opened the exhibition, which was attended by a huge crowd. The wonderful Wearable Art parade, featuring the Rococo-inspired costumes worn at the CAPAF performances in August, was one of the highlights of the evening.

The Wearable Art programme is vital to the ongoing creativity in the Visual Arts Department. It is an extra-curricular activity for girls in Years 9-12 that encourages individuality and builds confidence and supportive friendships between girls of different ages. Many past students have continued their interest in fashion and costume in their tertiary studies and careers, some becoming very successful. Recently, past students have volunteered their time during weekend and after-school workshops.

The exhibition showcased a variety of artworks produced by the Senior School Art students, highlighting the innovative and skilful works of 34 graduating Year 12 Visual Art students. Their works investigated contemporary themes and displayed the ever-changing nature of artistic expression. Selected works from Years 7-11 in Art, Construct and Innovate, Design, Fashion and Graphics, also featured in the exhibition. Diverse works included large-scale furniture pieces, architectural models, fashion illustrations, mixed-media jewellery, sculptural masks, puppets and imaginative ceramic pieces. This year’s exhibition in particular, displayed great diversity, due in part to the differing strengths of the six teachers within the Art Department.

Ms Keryn Cooper Head of Art

Artwork by Bianca Fletcher-Robinson

Lauren McPhee and Madison Post

thE sPiR it oF ChRistMas has hit thE hoME EC DEPaRtMEntThe St Mary’s Home Economics Department has been full of Christmas cheer over the past few weeks. The Year 10 girls in Cakes and Patisserie have been busy preparing their Christmas creations. Their cakes are made of chocolate mud cake, covered in chocolate ganache with an additional covering of fondant icing. They have then been airbrushed and topped off with a fondant icing Santa. There are currently 82 Year 10 girls studying Cakes and Patisserie, and the subject is very popular among the year group.

Other year groups have also been joining in on the Christmas festivities in Home Economics, with the Year 10 Food and Nutrition girls making gingerbread houses and the Year 9s preparing beautiful Christmas hampers.


inDiGEnoUs PRoGRaMME EnRiChinG thE l iVEs oF all stUDEnts

At St Mary’s we have a small but dynamic group of indigenous students from families who are situated all over Western Australia. Some girls reside in the boarding house and travel from quite remote communities while others are day students who live close by. Because there are more than 200 different indigenous language groups across Australia, we have a collection of different storylines and histories amongst our families and this creates a fantastic learning opportunity for us all.

The students meet together regularly as a group as well as part of the wider Independent Future Footprints community that is led by Mrs Roni Forrest from AISWA. Over 200 indigenous students meet together several times a term to socialise and participate in leadership and cultural activities. A highlight of the year is the Welcome to Country that is held at Kings Park, where the students listen to speakers and elders, and get to know each other in collaborative games and the sharing of a meal. This year Akram Azimi, the 2013 Young Australian of the Year, spoke at several of our events and was an inspiration to all who attended.

During NAIDOC Week, the students celebrated by creating a fifteen-metre sand painting of a snake, and the community added their special creative touch to complete a fantastic display. They created a large indigenous flag with handprints that was hung outside the canteen for the week and was organised by the 2013 Respect Committee. The school hosted the Wesley dance group at assembly and the indigenous girls attended NAIDOC events, including our Hale St Mary’s Inaugural Art Exhibition.

The students from both schools worked collaboratively for eight months preparing for their joint NAIDOC Art Exhibition. It was a great success and many of the staff and families attended the opening night. Latisha Mongoo’s painting was selected by a federal government department to be on the cover of one of their publications for 2013. The students have already started preparing for next year’s NAIDOC event.

Our school has certainly been enriched and blessed by the presence, cultural training and awareness that our indigenous students provide. The involvement with other schools provides the opportunity for our girls to share with and learn from each other and be inspired to be leaders of the future.

Mrs Jo Pengelley Indigenous Students’ Co-ordinator

above: Students at the Welcome to Country in Kings Park

far left: Latisha Mongoo and her award winning artwork

left: Roni Forrest visits during NAIDOC Week with the indigenous dance group from Wesley College


FA R E W E L L T O S O M E FA M I L I A R FA C E S

WEnDY ChiDGEYI started at St Mary’s in 1984 as Head of Physical Education.

I have enjoyed everything about working here: seeing the school grow and develop and being a part of that journey; winning the swimming and taking the softball trophy from MLC; the ski trips to NSW, Victoria and Europe; sports tours to the UK; establishing World Challenge, and working as a Head of Year.

Life after St Mary’s for me will hold time for golf, painting and travel - hopefully to Italy and America.

What I will miss the most is teaching, the wonderful energy and spirit of young people, the fellowship of colleagues and being a part of a very special school.

JUliE PEnDERGRastI started at St Mary’s in 1979, when I worked for two and a half years as a temporary typist in admin, and we had one IBM golf ball typewriter and a gestetner copier. In 1992, I came to Anne Symington House as the Receptionist and 21 years later, I am retiring from this position.

My favourite memory of working at St Mary’s is being part of the wonderful boarding community and caring staff. I have shared lots of laughs and cried a few times, but it’s been a fabulous job as you may have guessed. I will cherish my privileged memories.

Life after St Mary’s holds lots of ‘Julie time’, grandchildren time, house, garden, sailing and travelling.

I’m not sure what I will miss the most; it’s been a long journey.

Julie Pendergrast with Nadia Egan, Niamh Reading and Sophie Tuckett

Wendy Chidgey with the girls who attended the 2013 Alliance of Girls’ Schools breakfast at Perth College

taKaKo MatthEWsI started working at St Mary’s in 1991 and have immensely enjoyed the classroom interactions with the students.

I will not only miss the people I worked with at St Mary’s, but also seeing the tipuana-tipu grow, the carefully attended-to, beautiful gardens, tall deciduous trees and the little white pagoda that came from Colin Street in West Perth.

My life after St Mary’s will give me more time for cooking, sewing, painting, reading, shopping and cleaning. I will enjoy my life with the extra time that is given to me.

Now it is time for me to say farewell. Best wishes to you all. Thank you for being nice to me all these years.

Takako Matthews and Year 8 students at Japanese Immersion Day

ian ChiDGEYI came to St Mary’s in 1986. When I was offered the job, the Principal, Mrs Jackson, warned me that people found the school to be a difficult one to leave. I guess she was right.

Life at St Mary’s has been infinitely varied. I have enjoyed the opportunities to be involved in the community at a wide range of different levels. My work has taken me from the classroom to the other side of the world and back, and I treasure the personal and professional growth that working here has afforded me.

Life after St Mary’s for me, holds retirement from teaching and the challenge of embarking on a new, unexplored lifestyle.

For me, what I will miss the most from St Mary’s is the quality that characterises St Mary’s, the palpable sense of community. I am going to miss the sea of smiling faces that has greeted me every day for 28 years.

Ian Chidgey with 2013 Head Girl, Lianne Leung


P U R P L E B R A S , H E L I C O P T E R S A N D N E W S R E A D E R S

On Thursday 6 June, St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School donned purple bras, ribbons and nails for Purple Bra Day to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care WA, a foundation that provides emotional, practical and financial support and care to people affected by breast cancer.

Organised by Mr Blatchford, Head of Craig House, and the Year 12 leaders, the day attracted the attention of Channel 10, who sent their helicopter and newsreaders, Narelda Jacobs and Tim Gossage, to capture the morning’s events.

Year 12s rattled tins at the entrance to the school and collected money as parents and teachers drove in the gates. Purple bras were sold for $5.00 each, and the supplies quickly ran out as so many of the girls wanted to support this great cause. Craig House girls from both Junior and Senior School then created a big purple bra on the top oval, ready for the helicopter to arrive and capture images that would appear on the Channel 10 news programme that night.

This fantastic fundraiser not only raised awareness in the St Mary’s community about breast cancer, but also raised $2,370.00 to go to Breast Cancer Care WA.

Bridget Rumball and Eleanor BigwoodYear 12s with Tim Gossage and Narelda Jacobs


W E L C O M E T O T H E N E W P E T E R A R N E Y C E N T R E F O R E A R LY L E A R N I N G

With much anticipation and excitement our two Pre-primary classes moved into the new building at the beginning of Term 4. The new learning space has been designed to create an early learning centre, combining the now Kindergarten building and the new Pre-primary.

Young children need to learn through a combination of explicit teaching, exploration, investigation and play. In order to provide children with the opportunity to learn through these different methods, we need to give them appropriate spaces. Both learning areas are designed to provide the children with a variety of learning spaces, both inside and outside, to accommodate these different learning methods. Designated teaching spaces in both the Kindergarten and Pre-primary allow teachers to explicitly teach concepts to the class. All these spaces have an interactive whiteboard to further enhance learning.

The open plan spaces in both centres are used to provide a wide variety of learning experiences where the children can consolidate the skills being taught through play and investigation. Although there are two classes in both the Kindergarten and Pre-primary, their activities are designed for the children to develop associations with all the children in the year level. The ability to work comfortably and confidently with a wide variety of people is an important trait to develop.

Before designing the new play space, we examined the specific skills that we wanted to promote in our young children. The ability to assess and take a risk, develop self-confidence, develop fitness and promote a love of nature were among them. By providing children with the opportunities to take risks through their play, we are enabling them to learn to judge risks, learn to know their own capabilities and how to go that little bit further, learn how to make good judgements and know that even if they do make a mistake they can learn from it. When children are faced with a difficult and challenging situation and they learn to tackle it and have success, their level of self-confidence is heightened. An active outdoors programme, that provides and encourages children with a wide variety of obstacles, requires them to use both physical and perceptual skills and promotes fitness in children. Natural products are the major component in the new play space. They provide the children with opportunities to use all their senses to explore. The plants have been specially chosen to provide a wide variety of textures and smells for exploration.

“Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives.” Thomas Berry, The Dream of the Earth.

As the plants grow, the play space will continue to change and evolve, providing the children with more challenges and rich experiences to promote their healthy well-being and wonder at the world around them.

“Children are born with a sense of wonder and an affinity for nature. Properly cultivated, these values can mature into ecological literacy, and eventually into sustainable patterns of living.”

Zenobia Barlow, Confluence of Streams.

We want to instil in our students a passion and nurturing attitude toward the natural environment through our own nature-based learning space.

Helen Adams Head of Junior School

J U n i o R s C h o o l n E W s 2 6

clockwise from top: Sophia Larsen; Scarlett Jones; Tea time with Shanika Swartz, Brooke Fotios and Hannah Sexton; Hanging around with Ellana Lynch, Phoebe Please, Eirene Kiratzopoulos and April Perry (upside down); and painting with Brooke Fotios

J U n i o R s C h o o l n E W s2 7

Y E A R 1 s V I S I T S C I T E C H

A highlight of our Term 3 Science programme was the Year 1 excursion to Scitech Discovery Centre on Thursday 29 August 2013

The girls were split into groups and encouraged by the experienced staff to freely explore relevant science concepts in the features exhibition and general exhibition areas. The emphasis was on experimenting, exploring and investigating how science, technology, engineering and maths are relevant to our everyday lives. Everyone enjoyed interacting with the exhibits to observe and discover what happened at each one, why it might be so and how it might relate to them. The “Eye Spy Private Eye” walk-through display, with code-cracking and puzzle-solving activities, was also very popular, as the girls tested their problem-solving skills in a range of simulated situations.

In Discoverland, the girls played with hands-on exhibits that stimulated them to experiment with forces through magnets, air, water, gravity, electricity and their muscles. They explored the world of shadows and light dispersion in an under-the-sea themed set. They used props in the shape of sea creatures and plants, and were encouraged to create a story whilst using an array of coloured lights to set the mood. The girls also played in an exciting underwater area where they dressed up as sea creatures using the costumes provided, before venturing into a cave. Once inside, they

got up close and personal with some fish by crawling into a specially built aquarium, played with colourful bubbles and mirrors, matched sea animals to their shadows and spied on our parent helpers using a periscope. Much fun was had with ropes, pulleys and levers at the Construction Site, where the girls eagerly donned construction helmets to build with polystyrene bricks. The Ball Slide was also a hit, with the girls learning to control the speed and course of a ball through its track by increasing or decreasing the forces applied.

To conclude the morning, the girls were treated to a 30-minute puppet show about how animals and plants extract the energy they need to survive in their natural environment. Different light and energy sources were shown in a very interactive show using light, sound and great visual effects. The staff then encouraged the girls to ask questions, and discuss and reflect on what they had seen and heard during the story.

On our return to school, much discussion and further questioning were engaged in as the girls reflected on their experience and all that they had learned during a very enjoyable and successful excursion.

Sue Smith, Year 1.1 and Sue Martin, Year 1.2

Maya Wright Isabella O’Meara

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W E L C O M I N G O U R G R A N D PA R E N T S T O S C H O O L

Grandparents assembled in the Lady Wardle Performing Arts Centre, where they were welcomed by Helen Adams, Head of Junior School, and treated to a concert. This performance included the Chamber Strings, Year 4/5/6 Chorale and the Year 5 Beginner Band, who played and sang for the grandparents. The Pre-primary children sang and danced whilst the Year 3 students performed a selection of dramatic poems for them.

Grandparents enjoyed afternoon tea before moving to the Junior School classrooms with their grandchildren to see how a primary school is run in the 21st century.

Once again, the Junior School staff put on an incredibly polished performance for our students at the Book Week assembly. The students spend the weeks prior to it trying to guess what the staff might perform for them. Re-enacting Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Book? by Lauren Child, the staff enthralled students as we celebrated the wonder of stories. Cameo performances by Mrs Newman (Dracula), Mr Dimauro (Herb), Mr Chidgzey (Goldilocks), some Kung Fu Pandas, a wicked step-mother and many other familiar characters, as well as a bit of Gangnam Style dancing at the Royal Ball, topped off an enjoyable assembly item. This year, as well as staff and students dressing up as their favourite book characters, some parents dressed up as well. Students showed terrific style and imagination in the selection of costumes for the Book Week Assembly.

Felicity Letch Junior School Teacher

Chloe Anastas and her grandmotherElisha Read-Smith, Darcey McDonald and grandparents

B O O K W E E K AT T H E J U N I O R S C H O O L

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S H O E O F D E L I G H T

The new Peter Arney Centre for Early Learning was opened at St Mary’s on 20 September 2013 by The Most Reverend Archbishop Roger Herft AM. Great care and attention have been placed on making the Centre a secure environment for the Pre-primary students to learn and explore in exciting and adventurous surroundings. The outside play facilities include a hand water pump, wooden ship deck and adventure tent amongst other playground equipment. Kids can be old-fashioned kids outside: learning through play, exploring and trying new things, achieving and growing in a safe and miniature version of the world. Even the toilets are tiny!

The requirements of the very young at St Mary’s, once called ‘infants’, have always been of great importance. So much so, that in 1924 when the school was still newly established and existing in a converted parish hall with six classrooms, funds were found by the Diocesan Trustees to purchase the cottage on Colin Street, West Perth next to the parish hall for the Kindergarten, Preparatory or Sub-Primary (Pre-primary) and Form 1 (Year 1). This building framed the courtyard and playground at the front of the hall and was converted for the special needs of small children. It would later be known as Hamilton House, named after Miss Beryl Hamilton, foundation teacher (1921 - 1940) and Headmistress (1940 - 1944).

Play and games were seen as such an important aspect of learning, that in 1926 Mr Frank Wittenoom provided £330 to extend the back of the cottage to create a large ‘airy’ classroom and convertible indoor play area. Wittenoom Hall, as it was named, was described in the 1926 Almerta: “The ceiling was lined with squares of woodwork and around the walls are blackboards about four feet high…The children use low chairs and tables, and the centre of the floor is cleared for their dances and games…The small tables and chairs, the brightly coloured curtains, together with flowers and pictures, make the hall very pretty, and the Kindergarten children are proud of it.”

A poem, written as a parody of an old Mother Goose poem, was included in the same Almerta for the Kindergarten Notes:

‘There were three old women who lived in a shoe,

They had so many children they didn’t know what to do.

‘Twas Mr. Frank Wittenoom who saw their plight,

And with £330 made all things right.

Now they have a large room bright and airy,

Come one, come all, Jane, Joan and Mary,

To see all the works of art they have had sent

By old girls and artists on beautifying bent.

The three old women have children galore,

Some are good, some are bad, but all they adore,

Many are the funny things that happen in that shoe,

And once you come within that door you feel no longer blue.

Though many were the jolly times in their old shoe,

They feel most truly thankful, they really do,

That Mr Wittenoom came along and saw their plight

And now we see them happy in their shoe of delight.’

Frank Wittenoom Hall, St Mary’s Kindergarten 1927

Hamilton House, Colin St, West Perth 1930s

a R C h i Va l a n E C D ot E s 3 0

The Junior School progressed happily with numbers of little boys and girls growing steadily in the 1930s. When Miss D.H. McQuie contacted the School Board in August 1936 with the possibility of selling her Junior School at Tyrell Street, Nedlands to St Mary’s, the Board jumped at the chance to expand the Junior School in numbers and location. As St Mary’s was still a parish school at the time, they were also delighted to be involved with another Anglican parish in St Margaret’s, Nedlands. The St Mary’s Junior School, St Margaret’s Hall, Tyrell Street, Nedlands opened on 15 September 1936 with Miss O. Dean in charge. Fourteen boys and twelve girls aged from three to eight years, attended, wearing the St Mary’s uniform in Preparatory and Form 1. The school blossomed and by 1955 had eighty students, four staff and could no longer fit into the accommodation at St Margaret’s Hall. It was a financial strain on St Mary’s to run two such large junior schools, so in 1956 the Tyrell Street campus was handed over to the management of the St Margaret’s parish.

Hamilton House with the Wittenoom Hall addition was once again the home of the Junior School until St Mary’s leased the Craigmore property in 1959. Craigmore was situated on the entire corner block of Kings Park Road, Ventnor Avenue and Outram Street, West Perth. The Junior School moved to Craigmore and the Senior School used Hamilton House for extra classrooms. Craigmore provided a magical setting for the Junior School, having been a stately home with established gardens, old stables, water fountain, tennis court, the Belvedere tower, now at St Mary’s, Karrinyup, and large, ornate, timbered rooms. The Junior School flourished at Craigmore, along with Boarding House students, until the school’s eventual move to Karrinyup (1965 – 1970).

Stephanie Neille Archivist

Margaret Somes (Rex ’51) middle, aged 7. Junior School Nedlands 1941

Junior School students at Craigmore 1959

Junior School 1946 in Wittenoom Hall

St Mary’s Junior School Nedlands Prospectus 1941

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L A D I E S ’ A U X I L I A R Y

One moment we are welcoming in the new school year, the next moment it’s Orientation Day for the next school year. Ladies’ Auxiliary has once again had the pleasure of being involved in many school events during the year. It is important to take a moment and thank everyone who has volunteered their valuable time to be a committee member, a class representative, a helper at a music night or sports carnival, or an attendee at our annual lunch. So, thank you so much.

It has been a busy second half of the year for our group. We had the pleasure of serving refreshments at St George’s Cathedral after our Chorale girls sang beautifully at the evening service, at the St Mary’s September Music Night, and at Grandparents’ Day, which is always very well-received and a really lovely afternoon.

Our Annual Ladies’ Lunch was again a great success. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, and were treated to some gorgeous fashion, delicious food, and, of course, the amazing company of fabulous friends to raise funds to put towards our next project.

Ladies’ Auxiliary had our traditional coffee/cake sale at the Junior Sports Carnival, which is always a busy and fun day. Next on our calendar was Orientation Day, and we had many volunteers from both the Junior and Senior School serve morning tea to new parents, who, I’m sure, appreciated the hospitality shown by our helpers.

We are always very appreciative of the support we get throughout the year from Mrs Thomson and Mrs Adams. They are very generous with their time, the information that they share with our committee, and their willingness to discuss the huge range of issues that are raised at our meetings. We have had a really super group of Class Representatives who, as always, try to provide many opportunities for social gatherings during the year. Your support of these efforts is very much appreciated.

The wonderful Ladies’ Auxiliary committee has again been incredibly supportive of me, and the work that we do around the school. Thank you to Karen McLean, Jo Beere, Jackie O’Malley, Jane Crisp, Jill Charlish and Daina De Mattia.

There are many Year 12 mums whose youngest daughters are graduating this year, and who have been great supporters of Ladies’ Auxiliary over the years. We thank them very much for their contribution to our school community. In recognition of their dedication and long term support, Jackie O’Malley and Karen McLean were also this year awarded Honorary Life Membership to the Ladies’ Auxiliary.

We look forward to seeing you at our meetings in 2014, or at any of the many school events supported by the Ladies’ Auxiliary.

To the girls in the Class of 2013, we wish you every success and much happiness.

Elizabeth Price President, Ladies’ Auxiliary

PA R E N T S ’ S O C I E T YIt has been a busy six months for the Parents’ Society, beginning with a very successful Careers Night held at St Mary’s in July, with over 40 organisations participating. The event was well-attended and very well-received by all there.

In the second half of 2013, the Parents’ Society has provided funding for guest speakers, furniture for the boarding house, specific play equipment for the Junior School, as well as equipment for Media Studies.

Going forward, the Parents’ Society has committed to purchasing gym equipment for the new fitness room. Ongoing discussions are being held regarding further great initiatives for both the Junior and Senior Schools.

The planning for the February 2014 Sundowner is well- advanced and we look forward to seeing you there and participating in our signature annual event. It will be held on Friday 14 February.

Lastly, I would like to thank all parents for their contribution to the Parents’ Society through the levy, and to all the members of the committee for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. I would also like to particularly mention Jackie O’Malley and Brett Sabien, whose daughters are graduating this year. Both Jackie and Brett have been great, long-term supporters of the Parents’ Society, and were awarded Honorary Life Membership this year for their efforts.

All the very best for Christmas and the New Year.

Carmelo Arto President, Parents’ Society

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S T M A R Y ’ S O N T H E R O A D

FenaClnGMrs Thomson and Mrs Campbell travelled to the FeNaCLNG Show in Karratha in August, and had the chance to meet up with Old Girls and future parents of St Mary’s.

This year St Mary’s also visited Darwin, Dowerin, Kojonup, Kununurra, Margaret River, Mingenew, Newdegate, Broome, Quairading, Wagin and Wongan Hills.

Mrs Thomson and Mrs Campbell with Old Girl and current parent, Mrs Sherrie James (’82)

far left: Lynne Thomson with Old Girls, Stephanie Seah, Justina Ravi, Jasmine Wong and Valerie Wong in Singapore

left: Lynne Thomson and Jaya Mirwani, parent of Malika Mirwani. Mrs Mirwani generously held a brunch luncheon for Old Girls at her home in Jakarta.

right: St Mary’s Old Girls in Jakarta

far right: Mr and Mrs Evans and Tina Campbell in Jakarta

JaKaRta anD s inGaPoRELynne Thomson, Tina Campbell and Peter Mead travelled to Singapore and Jakarta in August, where they held dinners with future, current and past students and families.

DOWERIN 27-28 AUG

DALWALLINU 6 SEP

NEWDEGATE 3-4 SEP

KARRATHA 2-3 AUG

BROOME 3-4 MAY

KATHERINE 18-19 JUL

WAGIN 7-8 MAR

DARWIN 24-26 JUL

KATANNING 15 MAR

If you would like to be notified or know someone who would like to be notified when St Mary’s is coming your way, please email [email protected]

O N T H E R OA D I N 2014

SINGAPORE 23 AUG

JAKARTA 24 AUG

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a n dO U T A B O U T

GRANDES BELLES AND OLD GIRLS’ ART AND WINE EVENINGOver 60 Old Girls and Grandes Belles (mothers of Old Girls) returned to the school to view students’ art works in the Senior School Art Exhibition in September.

The ladies had the chance to walk around Dannatt Hall and view the amazing talent, including wearable art, while sipping on wine, Frankie’s Folly, from the St Mary’s vines, at Metricup, (available at www.frankiesfolly.com.au). We hope to see many more Old Girls and Grandes Belles next year at this event.

l-r: Aaron and Sonia Dunstan with David Murdoch l-r: Paul Bradley, Chris and Tania McDonald, Gemma Chen and Jose Scriva

NEW PARENT DINNERSThe annual New Parent Welcome Dinners were held in July. The dinners gave new parents to the school an opportunity to meet staff, members of the Board of Governors and other parents.

Guests were treated to a meal by school Head Chef, Eric Barlette, and waited on by students from the boarding house. Each night guests heard from a different Old Girl, who shared her story of life within and beyond the walls of St Mary’s.

LANGUAGE TOURSDuring the Term 3 holidays, three separate language tours departed for Germany, France and Japan. The girls had the opportunity to experience the culture of these countries first hand, and further developed their language skills whilst travelling.

German students enjoying a canal cruise in Colmar

The girls enjoying a day off school in France at Place Des Terreaux, Lyon

Amber Kitney, Olivia Ion, Eleanor Barr, Bailey Smith and Sophie CornforthAt Cultural Festival in Naka High School, our sister school, in Tokushima

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SAVE THE DATE - GRANDES BELLESIn 2014, the annual Grandes Belles Breakfast will be held on Saturday 22 March, at St Mary’s. Grandes Belles are mothers of Old Girls and mothers of Year 12 girls. The name ‘Grandes Belles’ comes from St Mary’s at West Perth days, where students were called the ‘Belles of West Perth’

The Year 7s had the honour of meeting a Vietnam War Veteran, Mr Graham Edwards, in Term 3. Mr Edwards had sadly lost both legs after stepping onto a land mine during the war. Mr Edwards is an influential speaker and spoke about his experiences as a soldier, as well as a Member of Parliament.

YEAR 12 VALEDICTORYThe Year 12 Valedictory was held on Tuesday 22 October. The 2013 Year 12 girls and their parents enjoyed a Chapel service in The Lady Wardle Performing Arts Centre, followed by a dinner in Hearn Hall.

SAVE THE DATEThe Grandes Belles and Old Girls’ Art and Wine Night will be held on Sunday 7 September 2014.

l-r: Head of Art, Keryn Cooper (’82), Hazel Taylor and Chloe Taylor (’11)

Christie Waldek (’11) with her mother, Lorraine Waldek

Barbara Anderson with daughter Tonya Kalajzic (’87)

Vietnam War Veteran, Mr Graham Edwards

l-r: Lianne Leung, Lauren Masi and Keely Johnson

Jemma Fewster and her parents

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oGa MEEtinGs 2014Our Committee meetings are open and all members are welcome to attend.

The venue is the Seminar Room, Administration Building at St Mary’s at 7.00pm.

Tuesday 11 February

Tuesday 11 March

Tuesday 13 May

Tuesday 10 June

Tuesday 12 August

Tuesday 9 September

Tuesday 11 November

annUal GEnERal MEEtinG 2014You are invited to join the committee for the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 1 April 2014, in the Seminar Room, Administration Building at 7.00pm.

Committee members whose term expires and who may seek re-election in 2014:

Shelley Civitico

Amy Dawson

Katy Keddie

Julie Martin

Robin Moran

Andrea Sassella

oGa MUMs MoRninG oUtThe OGA had great pleasure in inviting Old Girls, who have enrolled their daughters or are considering enrolling their daughters, to a morning tea and a tour of the school.

O L D G I R L S ’ P R E S I D E N T ’ S R E P O R T

It is always wonderful to see former students back at the school, and this year we saw particularly large attendances at two Old Girls’ events held at St Mary’s.

Over 100 Old Girls visited the school for Old Girls’ Day in April, and we also enjoyed a lovely lunch and the opportunity to sample the St Mary’s at Metricup wine, Frankie’s Folly. The feedback from the Old Girls attending was very positive and I would encourage you to come along to OGA Day 2014 on 28 March, to enjoy a day of friendship and take a look at the wonderful new facilities at the school.

In October we held our first “Future Mums’ Morning Out” and invited Old Girls who had enrolled, or were considering enrolling their daughters, to St Mary’s for a tour and to enjoy a morning with other future school parents. Most Old Girls attending were leavers from the 80s and 90s.

Many had not been back to St Mary’s since graduation and were enormously impressed by the development of facilities and learning opportunities.

A highlight of every year for the OGA is the Valedictory Dinner where we welcome our newest members of the Association. This was a lovely evening for the Class of 2013 to reminisce over their school life and enjoy dinner with their parents and teachers in a beautifully decorated Hearn Hall.

My sincere thanks to the OGA committee who have devoted so much time and effort to organising and supporting various OGA events this year.

Jane Crisp (Cyprian ’81) Old Girls’ Association President

olD G iRls’ DaY 2014 - saVE thE DatESave the Date - Old Girls’ Day 2014 will be held on Friday 28 March. A special invitation is extended to the members of the Class of 1964, 1954 and 1944 who will be celebrating their 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries.

sCholaRshiPs FoR olD G iRlsSt Mary’s offers a range of scholarships available to Old Girls undertaking various studies including:

• Esmee Byatt Scholarship for students commencing fourth year Medicine at UWA

• Deborah Cook Scholarship for students commencing second year Nursing or Midwifery studies

• Helen Judge Award for students commencing second year of an art-related university degree

• The new Fay Bailey Scholarships for students commencing their third year of an Engineering, Science-related or Law degree

Applications for these scholarships are now open. Visit www.stmarys.wa.edu.au/oga-scholarships-and-awards for more information.

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E V E N T S A N D R E U N I O N SGolF DaYOn Monday 29 July, the Combined Independent Girls’ School Golf Day was held at Cottesloe Golf Club, with 126 players competing. St Mary’s was the host school for 2013, and the day was organised by Helen Walker (Graham ’61), with help from Ermie Robinson (Seabrook ’69).

St Mary’s finished in fifth position, but only eleven points separated the eight schools competing.

There is still space for more players in 2014, so if you know of anyone interested for next year, please let me know.

Helen Walker, Golf Day Representative [email protected]

Front Row: Nola Wheatley (Grieve ’68), Joan Karmelita, Helen Walker (Graham ’61) and Brenda Soon (’90) Back Row: Rosemary Campbell (’76), Mandy Hepburn (Wilhelm ’85), Amanda Lekias (Young ’85), Lynne Malone (Eakins ’66), Ermie Robinson (Seabrook ’69), Roberta Jones (Weston ’71), Barbara Farr (Carnegie ’77), Lynne Ferguson (Weston ’66), Margaret Lutz (Prichard ’66)

‘s iXtY anD sEnsational’ REUnion FoR thE Class oF 1970The Class of 1970 celebrated their 60th birthdays at a wonderful evening at Noelene Dermody’s (nee Ball) home in Karrinyup on 9 November. Girls travelled from far and wide to be part of this special celebration including Sandy Kohlmoos (nee Edwards) from Oregon, USA; Julie Stockley (nee Brown) and Marie Jenkins (nee Dyson) from Queensland; and Jenny Pitman (nee Griffin), Sue Boyland (nee Hooper) and Pat Filinski (nee Bird) from rural WA. The girls had a great time sharing their memories and photographs from school days and the years beyond.

Helen Moorhead

(Front row l-r) Noelene Dermody (Ball), Julie Stockley (Brown), Laureen Lindsay (Smith), Helen Moorhead, Jenny Pitman (Griffin), Sandy Kohlmoos (Edwards), Jane Gillon (Fisher) (Middle row l-r) Chris Kerin (Thomas), Jo Baker (Meiklejohn), Kathie Gates (Hillier), Lois Chiew, Sue Reid (Dow), Kathy Verrier (Samuels), Jennifer Kessly (Faigenbaum), Teina Peters (Waldeck), Pat Filinski (Bird) (Back row l-r) Janice Nelson (Cannon), Maree Jenkins (Dyson), Penny Chellew (Devine), Robina Papalia (Jennings), Jenny Cross (Mack), Helen Wenn (Carmody), Sue Boyland (Hooper), Margaret Saunders (Harris)

2003 REUnionOn Saturday 9 November the Class of 2003 had their ten year reunion at Pure Bar in Subiaco. It was a wonderful chance to catch up with everyone and find out about their marriages, babies, careers and more. Girls came from all over WA and Haruna Minoura flew in all the way from New York just for the reunion. We also enjoyed a few cringe worthy memories during the viewing of our Leavers Video and we were updated with everyone’s lives through a PowerPoint. It was a great turnout and many people have already made plans to catch up in the near future.

Skye Mercer

1993 REUnionWhat a fabulous and accomplished group of ladies the Class of 1993 are! Our reunion was held in October with a daytime tour of the school followed by a social gathering. Those who attended the tour were impressed with the vast range of improvements that have been made in recent years, especially a heated pool (surely the early morning swimming and diving training is more enjoyable now) and enhanced facilities for the arts.

About 50 Old Girls caught up at Pure Bar in Subiaco for fun and frivolity that was enjoyed into the early morning. It was wonderful catching up with everyone. Thank you to Jackie Clark for bringing some photos of ‘the olden days’ to reminisce over and Lara Mitchell (Dixon) for taking photos that will no doubt be reminisced over at the next reunion. To everyone who couldn’t attend - we missed you and hope to see you at the next one... Best wishes and take care.

Janelle Haines (McBain)

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O L D G I R L S ’ C A R E E R S : F R O M P A S S I O N T O P R O F E S S I O NJ O A N N A P O T T E R ( ’ 0 0 )I have always wanted to be a vet. From a very young age I was pestering my parents to have pets. But I have always had dreams of being a singer, too. I vividly remember listening to the same songs on repeat until I had memorised them completely, from as young as seven or eight years of age. I have had two passions in my life, science and music. Sometimes I take a step outside myself and try and survey the scene from a different perspective. Mostly I think ‘What am I doing here? What an immensely stupid mistake!’ But, sometimes I find myself thinking, ‘Wow, that was lucky.’ It is true that I have been lucky. Sometimes I think that there is someone watching over me, helping me, but mostly I think it is the result of throwing myself into every situation with passion and enthusiasm. I have developed a motto: “If you give everything you attempt, everything you have to give, then, if it doesn’t work out, at least you know it’s not because you didn’t try hard enough.” I think it is this exuberance for life that has helped me follow both of my passions into professions.

I first went to university to become a vet. My parents wanted me to have a ‘real’ job. I am very grateful that they recommended this, because it means I can enjoy my music as a paid hobby. I love my work as a vet. I am currently studying in the UK to become a specialist in anaesthesia. I have anaesthetised animals for brain surgery and am part of a team doing research into the development of heart valves that will grow with the patient. The second time I went to university it was to become an opera singer. This career is still growing and I have so much still to learn. I have been a soloist

with professional choirs in Perth, have sung for weddings and funerals, engagements and parties and all major events in the church calendar. I was a soloist as a student at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and I have been a guest artist for the University of Bristol Chamber Choir in the UK. I would like to go back to university and do a postgraduate diploma in Opera Performance and then audition for the major opera companies around the world.

In my veterinary life, I have been there to save a person’s best friend and to ease the passing of their best friend when science can no longer help them. In music I have felt the emotions that words alone cannot describe. I have worked with some of the most talented people, world recognised in their fields, be it musical or scientific. I consider myself very lucky. I owe a debt of gratitude to St Mary’s for finding and nurturing both the scientific and musical elements in me and allowing me to be fortunate enough to follow both of these passions into professions.

AT H A N A E L U C E V ( ’ 0 1 )It was my love of writing, and my fascination with other people’s lives and stories that led me into journalism. I hadn’t studied it at university but was lucky enough to get a place in the cadetship programme at The West Australian after having worked in Carnarvon and Albany. Undertaking that training, and working in media, was a great training ground for developing resilience, the ability to think quickly, and get along with anybody. From one day to the next I could be interviewing and talking to school students, business leaders or farmers.

While I was working as a journalist I developed an interest in gender equality and started volunteering with women’s rights groups. When the opportunity came up to work in Federal politics, I took it on even though it seemed intimidating. After nearly three years working on the Federal Liberal Party’s women’s policy and as a media adviser to a Federal Senator, I am now working as a personal branding and image consultant and have recently started an online business in the health and wellness space, called Green Smoothie Co. I have always loved helping people, and both my businesses help me fulfil that desire.

I think it’s really important to know not just what you’re good at, but also where your passions and interests lie, as well as being really clear on what your values are.

It’s where those elements intersect that you’ll find your sweet spot in terms of what you do for a living. I think it’s important to think broadly about what makes you happy too. When I was at school, I always thought I’d be a lawyer, but I studied Law and hated it, so I swapped into a straight Bachelor of Arts and have subsequently undertaken postgraduate studies. I never thought I’d be a business owner, but now I have two. It’s taken lots of risks and lots of pushing myself outside my comfort zone to do things like corporate presentations and pitching for new business, but I like to think I’m learning and growing every day, and it employs the creative part of my brain in a way that a nine-to-five job doesn’t always allow. I think there’s a huge future ahead for female entrepreneurs and I am very excited to be part of that movement.

N E W S F R O M O L D G I R L S

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O L D G I R L S ’ C A R E E R S : F R O M P A S S I O N T O P R O F E S S I O NA N D R E A T O N K I N ( ’ 7 8 )After leaving St Mary’s I took a GAP year and spent most of the year travelling around America. Upon my return, I studied at Mt Lawley Teachers’ College and after completing my long term prac at Methodist Ladies’ College, I was lucky enough to be offered a full-time teaching position in the Junior School. City jobs were scarce for graduates so I was over the moon. I adored my early teaching days at MLC’s Barclay House and taught a split Year 3/4 class for six years. It was during this time, I began designing and sewing most of my clothes.

I married and left MLC to raise my three gorgeous boys, not returning to work for fourteen years. I cherish those years as a full-time, stay-at-home mum.

Once back teaching, I chose flexible relief work at MLC and St Mary’s. This worked well for six years, as I could juggle the boys’ assemblies, music and sporting commitments. It was a really special time returning to my old school, and, oh my, how it had changed!

One by one though, as my boys were finishing school, I was feeling a strong urge to have a complete change and leave teaching to finally follow my fashion passion. So, I took the plunge! With no job or firm plans, I didn’t renew my teaching registration. No more teaching.

I started on the floor at Witchery Karrinyup, where loads of St Mary’s mums and girls would pop in to visit, and it was so much fun. Soon, I was taking styling bookings and it was here that the State Manager of Myer found me and offered me a styling role at their flagship city store. I left Witchery and began at Myer. I styled men and women of all ages and from all walks of life at Myer for three years. I also hosted many Fashion Workshops in-store as well as at corporate offices on the Terrace.

I am now a stylist at fabulous Claremont Quarter and I am loving it.

My fashion journey has led me down the social media path, where I now write my AndAndrea fashion blog. It’s a blog for ‘UnModels,’ that is everyday women who want tips and style advice and who want to have fun with fashion.

A typical day? Well, every day is so varied. Yesterday, I was on set, taking ‘behind the scenes’ photos of a new range to feature on my blog for the Melbourne Cup. Today, I am invited to a new store launch and I will cover the launch on my social media sites. Tonight, I am juggling two events, the first of which is a WA Designer Fashion Show in Mt Lawley, and then a fashion party to celebrate another store’s birthday. Tomorrow is fittings at CQ then a VIP night at a fashion house. Every day is different and exciting and I absolutely love every minute of it.

My journey continues next year, with my next goal, which is public speaking. I will be speaking at length at an ‘Every Woman’ luncheon, helping to motivate and encourage others to follow their dreams and passions.

ANNA MULHOLLAND (’02)If I had told my seventeen year old self that at the ripe age of 24 I would be retired from one profession and embarking on another, I wouldn’t have believed you. I completed a Bachelor of Science Nursing at Curtin University, and after three and a half years of training and completing nursing practicals, I started working at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

Working as a registered nurse was a humbling, satisfying, terrifying and an amazing experience, which gives one an interesting perspective on life and what’s important. I met truly fantastic people during my time as a nurse and I wouldn’t give up any of the negative experiences I had while nursing.

After working as a nurse for three years, I decided it was time for a break. I spent nine months abroad, working six months in the famous ski resort, Whistler, in BC Canada, then the next three months travelling around the USA, Greece, the UK and Ireland.

On my return to Australia, I informed my parents that I no longer wanted to pursue a career in nursing, but I had no idea what I wanted to do. This was a difficult decision, as it was only with distance that I was able to understand the personal toll that nursing was having on me. My parents were extremely supportive; however, they understandably were concerned when I had no idea what I wanted to do next.

I looked to the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) course at UWA to help provide me with some career direction and spent the next nine months completing the course. The MBA opened my eyes; not only was I learning about all the different aspects of business, but I was also learning about all the different types of careers from the range of professions my MBA peers were in.

It was through the MBA that I learnt about management consulting and I have not looked back. I joined the KPMG Management Consulting team in 2011, and I work as a Senior Consultant. I have worked with a range of clients from big oil and gas corporations to rural local governments. To my delight, and relief, I have been able to transfer many skills developed while nursing. No, not how to inject a client with a solution, rather how to manage people and difficult situations. No day is typical as a management consultant. Like any job, I have good and bad days, but there is always a new challenge waiting the next day.

I have recently become a board member of the not-for-profit organisation, Community Vision, a community service organisation offering support to seniors, people with disabilities, youth, children and families. I am hoping to utilise a combination of my health and business skills to assist this fantastic organisation have a sustainable future.

What do I wish I had been told in high school? Life is fluid, that whatever university course or apprenticeship you choose immediately post-school, will not define the rest of your life.

My advice to St Mary’s ladies is, be brave enough to make changes in your life, recognise and promote your transferrable skills and knowledge, and never underestimate yourself.


n E W s F R o M o l D G i R l s3 9

KATHLEEN BRENTON-COWARD (Prebble ’47) trained as a social worker at UWA after achieving a Bachelor of Arts. She later completed a History Honours Degree. Kathleen worked as a housemistress at St Mary’s, West Perth and Karrinyup.

LYNNE LEONHARDT (Coles ’65) was long-listed for the 2013 Dobbie Award for her novel Finding Jasper. During 2013, she was invited to speak at the Perth Writers’ Festival, the Margaret River Readers’ and Writers’ Festival and the 2013 Emerging Writers’ Festival in Melbourne. Finding Jasper was launched in November in Singapore.

KERRY FISHER (Cookson ’77) lives in Tasmania with her husband and four children and manages her own swim school called Just Swim. Kerry travels back to Perth frequently and recently met up with two old friends from St Mary’s and would love to meet up with other past students and friends. She is looking forward to her next St Mary’s school reunion.

CAROL HARRIS (Paterson ’78) was a boarder at St Mary’s for nine years. She currently works in the field of teaching special needs children in an inclusive school setting and the children love to see the Fideliter magazine whenever she receives it.

SUSIE DAWSON (Readhead ’80) currently lives between Perth and Broome. She has two businesses under management in Broome - a health food shop and wellness centre and a BP Service Station (the one near the airport). Susie commutes to Broome every couple of weeks. She has three children at home in Applecross, all either at university or working in their selected careers.

ELIZABETH SHAW (Viner ’81) is happily living in Melbourne with her husband and three children. She looks forward to at least one trip a year back to Perth where she always catches up with her St Mary’s friends. Elizabeth is organising a get-together in 2014 with St Mary’s Old Girls Jennie King, Vikki Dyson, Tracey Langridge and Sue Turner to celebrate their 50th birthdays.

SUSANNE LINE (Palmer ’83) has just moved back to WA after living in Sydney and Melbourne for the past fifteen years. She is very happy to be home and enjoyed meeting up with the Class of 1983 at their 30th School Reunion this year.

LEANNE GUILD (Haigh ’86) has been living in Africa since 1995, working in the adventure travel industry. She has recently moved to Tanzania with Acacia Adventure Holidays.

JOY HOPWOOD (’86) is founder and Artistic Director of Sydney’s Joy House Film Festival, a short film festival with the theme of joy which offers cash prizes for emerging youth, multicultural and indigenous film makers Australia-wide, each year.

NAHIID STEPHENS (’94) won a scholarship to Brazil for a year on exchange, straight after graduating from St Mary’s. After her return, she studied Veterinary Science at Murdoch University, completing the five year degree in 2000. She then worked as a small animal clinician in private practice in Queensland, Perth and the United Kingdom (while also travelling through Europe and South America). In 2009, she started training as a veterinary anatomic pathologist, passing the first round of exams to achieve Membership of the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 2010. Nahiid currently works full-time as a lecturer in Pathology at Murdoch University’s School of Veterinary and Life Sciences. Her special interest in marine mammal diseases led to her meeting her now husband, Dr Hugh Finn (a Murdoch University researcher in wildlife biology). Nahiid and Hugh were married in December 2012 where Jaslyn Cullen (Gibson ’94) was the matron of honour and Nahiid’s sister, Anna Stephens (’99) was bridesmaid. They are happily settled in Perth, with Hugh pursuing a post graduate law degree and Nahiid pursuing a part-time PhD in health and disease in coastal WA dolphin populations. Furthermore, Nahiid’s love for Brazil continues, as she is part of a six member Brazilian Samba No Pe dance troupe, who regularly perform around Perth.

KIRRILEE LEHMAN (Hoffman ’94) married Daniel Lehman in April 2013 at the Quarry Ampitheatre in City Beach. Bridesmaids included Old Girls, Taryn Hoffman (’96), Celia Pritchard (’94) and Michelle Hancock (’94).

PIA HAZELWOOD (Blake ’95) married Paul Hazelwood, a geologist, in Sydney in 2012, surrounded by immediate family, before celebrating with a wedding in Bali, attended by friends and family from around the world. Pia and Paul welcomed their first baby in August this year. Pia is responsible for talent management at Chevron Australia and is currently completing her third degree. A keen surf ski paddler, Pia competed in two Avon Descents as a solo female paddler and has enjoyed travelling to unique and challenging locations for both work and adventure. One of her highlights was backpacking through the Middle East on her own.


Left to right: Kerry Baxter (’96), Jennifer Hay (’96), Taryn Hoffman (’96), Kirsty Allwood (’94), Michelle Hancock (’94), Elizabeth Moore (’94), Celia Pritchard (’94), Sara Graham (’94), Kirrilee Hoffman (’94), Michelle Vlahos (Papadopoulos ’94), Kirsten Shaw (’94), Melissa Grant (’94), Jane Conner (’94), Amanda Williams (’94) and Claire Partidge (’94).

Joy Hopwood

n E W s F R o M o l D G i R l s 4 0

SARAH GODKIN (Chong ’96) returned to the Chapel of St Mary for the Baptism of her daughter, Alice, in September this year. Both Sarah’s daughters (Alice and Chloe) are enrolled to attend St Mary’s in the future.

SALLY VANDERWIEL (Stewart ’96) and her husband, Ryan, welcomed their first baby, Jack Ryan, on 30 November 2012. Sally is currently taking maternity leave from her work as a psychologist.

AMBER GRAHAM (’96) has a post graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) and School Psychology to complement her Bachelor of Science and post graduate Diploma in Psychology. She is currently developing an educational programme for young people (“Monkey Mastery”), whilst working part-time and looking after her daughter, Arwyn Joy Lamont, born 4 February 2006.

MIKALA BURKETT (Kopinsky ’96) and her husband, Scott, welcomed a little girl, Ebony Mae, on 4 December 2012. They already have a son, Ashton, who is now three years old. Mikala is taking some time off teaching to spend time with her two children.

EMMA PEARSON (’97) is in her ninth season singing opera at the Wiesbaden State Theatre in Germany. During this season she will return to the Sydney Opera House to perform Queen of the Night in the Julie Taymor production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, from 10 January until 25 January 2014. Emma is also very excited by the luxurious prospect of being home for Christmas this year.

CHRISTELLE DAVIS (’98) and her husband have lived in Indonesia and Japan for a number of years, but have now settled in South Korea. After completing her PhD in American Literature in 2012, Christelle is currently Professor of English Literature at Gyeongsang National University in South Korea.

CLAIRE JOHNSON (Goldsmith ’99) married Liam Johnson in 2011.

NAOMI SHIVARAMAN (’00) has spent the last seven years as Producer and Chief of Staff for Today Tonight on Channel 7. She was recently asked to produce the Sunday Night programme.

TEGAN DUNN (’03) gave birth to her daughter, Charlotte Louise McLean, in December 2012. She is due to be married in March 2014.

JESSICA HARLOND-KENNY (’04) has recently written and performed in a one-woman production entitled The Hardest Way to Make an Omelette, which was performed in October at the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle. She also co-wrote and performed in See Ya Sailor Man, which was nominated for Best Theatre Production at the 2013 Perth Fringe World Festival. Jessica is a regular artistic associate to the Spare Parts Puppets Theatre, performing in their in-house and touring seasons of the works Hare Brain and Hachakio. She attributes her passion for the arts to St Mary’s and our drama programme, facilities and teachers.

STACEY NORTHEY (’05) is currently living in Melbourne, after being recruited to play in the Victorian Netball league last year. She is currently working as a morning presenter on Get Cereal at SYN FM, a community radio station. Stacey recently had the exciting opportunity of appearing on Deal or No Deal, where she won $22,000. She plans to spend the money on a trip to New York next Christmas.

JENNI EDWARDS (’06) was selected for a Rotary Youth exchange to Skagen, Denmark in 2007. Between 2008 - 2012, she completed a double degree in Arts/Economics at UWA, where her Arts majors were Mandarin and Geography and her Economics majors were International Business and Asian Business. Jenni moved to Canberra earlier this year to work for the Department of Agriculture as part of their graduate programme. She is one of only two Western Australians in a graduate group of 60.

CLAIRE WARD (’07) has recently launched her own dietetic consultancy business, Allied Nutrition. Claire lives in Port Kennedy with her partner and their puppy, Lucy.

IMKE CRONJE (’07) enrolled at Edith Cowan University to study a Masters of Clinical Psychology. She was awarded the Delta Psychology prize for exhibiting the best clinical skills for her course in her year group.

NATASHA PRITCHARD (’08) is currently studying Medicine at Monash University and has been awarded Best Clinical Paper at a recent Fertility Society of Australia meeting, for her case control study of antioxidant therapy in patients with multiple failed IVF cycles. Natasha’s findings show melatonin may lead to higher quality eggs which could improve pregnancy rates. After completing her medical degree, Natasha plans to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynaecology. She will continue her research into infertility, with planned presentations at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine meeting in Boston in October this year and the British Fertility Society next year.

Emma Pearson

Clockwise from back: matron of honour Jaslyn Cullen (Gibson ’94), bridesmaid Anna Stephens (’99), Hugh Finn and Nahiid Stephens (’94)

Rev’d Joyce, Alice Hiu Kuan Godkin, Paul Godkin, Sarah Godkin (Chong ’96), Chloe Miu Kuan Godkin

n E W s F R o M o l D G i R l s4 1

D O N AT I O N SThank you to the following Old Girls, former staff and members of the school community for so generously donating to or visiting the St Mary’s Archives. Thank you also to those who have assisted Reverend Joyce Polson and Mrs Ronda Beck with collecting stories, memories and photos from their school days.

Diana Hardie for her aunt, Jean Banfield (’25)Robyn Metcalf (Stewart ’66) for her aunt, Isla Rose Jones (Saw ’31)Lorrie Maley (Rowledge ’33)Merrilees Salter (Lukin ’36)

Dorothy Harbisher (Van Dal ’39)Barbara Hurst (Cuming ’47) and Peter HurstJoan Brenton-Coward (Prebble ’47)Ann Woods (Byron ’50)Margaret Somes (Rex ’51)Valma Cearns (Davies ’51)Margaret Miller (Anderson ’56)Wendy Swannell (Peet ’57)Carolyn Seale (’60)Kate (Kathleen) Kidman (Blair ’61)Diana King (’63)Marlene Carter (’63)Suzanne Dunne (Snooke ’63)Gay Routledge (Kirby ’64)Gaye Anderson (’64)Lynne Malone (Eakins ’66)Deanna Joy Glossop (Henke ’68)

Georgina Wigley (’68)Dawn Masters (Crawford ’69)Marlene Rattigan (Seale ’69)Jenny Pitman (Griffin ’70)Sue Boyland (Hooper ’70)Beverley Streater (Langner ’72)Julie Dammers (Bruce ’73)Lynne Noack (’76)Barbara Crossing (’79)Felicia O’Brien (Bowen ’80)Susan McHardy (’80)Jane Crisp (Cyprian ’81)Susan Riley (Cornish ’81)Leanne Bengtsson (Hiskins ’82)Pelagia Christodulou (Kakulas ’83)Virginia Wallwork (Christie ’84)Adelle Wearden (Ewen ’85)Alison Dennison (Roy ’85)Elizabeth Howson (’85)Louise Richardson (Kelly ’85)Christine Symington (Henning ’88)Celia Russell (Baldwin ’90)Amy Dawson (Fraser ’94)Kylie Giles (Wheeler ’97)Peta-Jane Hogg (’98)Glenice Lucev for her daughter, Athanae Lucev (’01)Rachel Neil (current student)Angela Deeks

Dawn LindsayIan ChidgeyJane Anne McLarty (Symington) and Margaret Hector (Symington)Jenny CarkeekJohn Taylor and Katrina ChisholmNellek JolTed RollinsonZelda Cadlolo

CAROLINE ANDRETICH (’09) is currently in the second last year of her law degree at Notre Dame University and has just been awarded the Lavan Legal Prize for Advocacy for 2012.

LUCY MEMBREY (’10) has been offered a place in the 2014 NAB Graduate Programme in Melbourne. She will commence in the wholesale banking stream where she will deal with large scale investments, capital funding and asset management for large firms and institutions.

ANEEKA ALEXANDER (’10) is currently in her second year of Medicine at Bond University. She is involved in a global health group call M.A.D. (Making A Difference) and was fortunate

to visit a few community refugee centres last year to provide education to newly arrived refugees on healthy eating and health care in Australia.

CHANEL CRONJE (’10) is studying a Bachelor of Science (with an environmental focus) at UWA. She was awarded the EFH and EA Jenkins Prize for completing units to the value of 96 to 120 points with the highest weighted average mark in four, level 2 Science units.

BELINDA SMITH (’12) competed in the All-Australian AFL Youth Girls’ team in May this year, where WA finished 2nd to Victoria Metro.

D o n at i o n s 4 2

VA L EIt is with sadness that we record the deaths of the following members of the St Mary’s community.

BETTY ENNIS (COOKE ’36)Betty attended St Mary’s from 1933-1936 and was made a Senior Prefect in 1936. She was a talented athlete, winning the Senior Athletic Champion title in 1934, 1935 and 1936.

After leaving St Mary’s, Betty attended university and teacher training college, before marrying

Rex Ennis at St Mary’s, West Perth in 1944. Rex and Betty were posted to Nigeria in his role in the diplomatic service and they spent many years there before settling in the home counties in England. Betty passed away, aged 94, this year, leaving a daughter, Sue, son, Tony, six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

ANNE DAMON (HASSELL ’46)Anne attended St Mary’s between 1942 and 1945. Anne grew up in Kojonup and married Barry Damon in 1950 at St Mary’s, West Perth. She passed away in April 2013 in Kent, England.

ANNETTE CARSWELL (FARRANT ’50)Annette was born in 1931 in Collie and completed her early schooling there. She came to St Mary’s as a boarder in 1947, quickly making many friends. She represented Wittenoom in netball and tennis. After completing her leaving examinations, Annette began nursing training at Princess Margaret Hospital. She married Brian Barrow in 1954 and had four daughters.

When she retired, Annette became an ‘enthusiastic’ Old Girl with a particular interest in the Elizabeth Myles Library and collecting memorabilia for the school Archives. In 2007, Annette, together with Grace Richardson (Snook ’48), was instrumental in establishing The Elizabeth Myles Prize for Appreciation of Literature for a Year 11 St Mary’s student.

Often quoted to her friends was Annette’s precept of ‘common decency and self-respect’, which she held true all her life. Annette died on 24 May 2013 and a service was held at St Mary’s.

Ann Woods (Byron ’50) and Barbara Brand (Green ’49)

MARGARET HOPKINS (MAYRHOFER ’57)Born in Three Springs, Marg was a boarder at St Mary’s, West Perth from 1950 to 1955. Tennis was her forte – playing for Hackett. Business College and PMH training followed, leaving to marry John Reidy-Crofts. Then came three children and a life in the Goldfields with senior medical/ secretarial/ administrator jobs in Kambalda, Kalgoorlie and Perth. A highlight was

operating her own shop - Karajan Young Fashions, in Hannan Street. In 1978 Marg married geologist Geoff Hopkins and travelled widely with him in Australia and overseas, living in Amsterdam and linking with her grandfather’s family in Italy. Marg retired in Nedlands and was diagnosed in 2011 with an auto-immune liver disease (PSC).

She died in Hollywood Hospital on 16 July 2013. Stylish, principled and wise with a wry humour, she is greatly missed by Geoff and her blended family - Paul, Sally, Stuart, Richard and Kate, eleven grandchildren and her many school, nursing and life friends.

Geoff Hopkins

MRS NAN JONESMrs Jones, Science teacher at St Mary’s, passed away on 9 October 2013. Mrs Jones began teaching at St Mary’s in 1961 at West Perth. She served three Headmistresses, Mrs Macdonald, Mrs Symington and Mrs Jackson, retiring after 23 years in 1983. As well as teaching Science, Mrs Jones also ran the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Her

daughter, Bronwyn Carruthers (Jones ’77), wrote, “She always expressed such fond memories of her time at St Mary’s and of the many girls who were impacted by her influence”.

DR JOHN CRAIGDr John Craig, a generous benefactor to the school’s Foundation, passed away on 12 July 2013.

In 2011, Dr Craig established the Frances Eileen Craig MBE Scholarships for the top two Year 11 students, in memory of his mother who served on St Mary’s

Board of Governors 1954-1958. He was passionate about education and gave generously to the schools and universities with which he had a connection.

Dr Craig attended Hale School and studied medicine at UWA and the University of Melbourne before joining the RAAF, where he became a leader in the emerging field of aviation medicine. After the war he pursued a successful career in anaesthesia.

Dr Craig also gifted the Save the Children Wishing Well from Kings Park to St Mary’s and this was dedicated at the school in 2012. A plaque at the site of the well records his, and his mother’s, motto

I shall pass through this world but once.Any good that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any human being,Let me do it now.Let me not defer it or neglect it,For I shall not pass this way again.

MISS MARGARET FEILMAN OBEMargaret Feilman was Perth’s first female town planner. She also had a successful career as an architect and landscape designer and was an early advocate for identifying and protecting built heritage.

In 1963, St Mary’s Headmistress Mrs Theresa Macdonald, commissioned Margaret to design the new St Mary’s school at Karrinyup. Margaret’s design was an innovative one, incorporating landscaping and classical courtyards.

She received an OBE in 1981 in recognition of her services to architecture and conservation. Margaret passed away on 24 September 2013

Va l E4 3

14 February Parents’ Society Sundowner7-8 March Wagin Field Day7 March Hale St Mary’s Concerto Night14 March Open Morning22 March Grandes Belles Breakfast23 March Music Under the Stars28 March Old Girls’ Day6 April Hale St Mary’s Cantate Evensong3-4 May NW Expo, Broome9 May St Mary’s Music Night9 June Dance Showcase21 July Hale St Mary’s Career Expo

2-3 August FeNaClNG (Karratha)7-9 August Senior School Production - Little Women15 August Hale Governors Concert17 August ‘Our Lady of Winter’ Service27-28 August Dowerin Field Day3 September September Concert3-4 September Newdegate Field Day5 September Open Morning7-8 November Lower School Production14 November Media Night3 December Carols by Candlelight5 December Speech Night

2 0 1 4 E V E N T S C A L E N D A R

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St Mary's Fideliter - December 2013 Edition

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