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Ascham Old Girls’ Newsletter Summer 2014

The AOGU Newsletter is produced by Ascham’s Office of Community Relations

Editorial Team The AOGU Committee represented by Giselle Collins greatly appreciates the support she is given in the production of this newsletter from Ascham School’s Office of Community Relations, represented by Victoria Harper who with Ascham’s Old Girl Liaison Officer, Skye Barry together provide the oversight and editorial function for the AOG Newsletter.

Publisher Ascham School

Design Scribble & Think

Layout Jennie Barrett of Ascham School

Founded 1899 Generations of heart and soul

AOG Calendar of events 2

From our Patron 3

President’s report 4

The Two of Us Scientists 5

Technology entrepreneurs 8

Science Now 12

HSC Art Show Lunch 16

Class of 1954 – 50 year reunion 19





Class of 2013 – the first reunion 24

North/North West lunch 25

Building our Girls’ Future 26

Celebrating a centenary since Miss Bailey bought Ascham 30

Herbert J Carter portrait 32

Walking a sacred path – now open 33

Announcements 34

Career updates 38

Descendants of Old Girls on the current School Roll – corrections 40

Do you have any news? 40

Cover image – Dr Giselle Walker (1994) on polar bear watch at Diabasodden, in Svalbard, Norway. Read more on page 5.

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AOG Newsletter Summer 2014

It is of great interest to me that this issue of the Ascham Old Girls’ Newsletter has science and technology as its theme.

I have had the pleasure of teaching science at Ascham for 21 years and I still continue to teach Year 7 science classes. I started at Ascham in 1993 with Steven Robinson as the Head of Department. Steven was a terrific mentor for me. He was enthusiastic and very patient, showing the best way to engage my students in the topic and develop a love of Physics. Each week we would work through the assignment and develop strategies to help all of the students succeed.

Computers in the classroom had only just started to be rolled out in the 90s at Ascham and they were not used as a teaching device, more of an administrative tool for writing reports and word processing assignments. It did not take long for the technology to move ahead and the devices were soon being used as teaching tools in the Science Department to collect and analyse experimental data.

We now have a Bring Your Own Device Program (BYOD) for Years 7-12. Students can now access many of their assignments and other resources online. This process does not dilute the offering of Dalton. Every teacher still has their own classroom where the voice of explanation, encouragement, comfort and praise exists as strongly as ever. Studies in the Senior School still operate with teachers working collaboratively with the students to develop a deep understanding of the topics being covered. While technology is a great enabler of this learning, it is not the driver.

The computer usage and skill set of the staff has increased dramatically over the years. Staff are now proficient users of smart boards, iPads, tablets and Apple TV. Much time and effort has been spent on professional development, but with computers it often comes down to time spent at home by the individual staff member.

We are always looking to create opportunities for teachers to learn from each other and with the use of technology now so ubiquitous in the school environment there are more opportunities for this to occur through the Ascham Hub and

the online Learning Management System (LMS) CANVAS. Many assignments and resources placed online so the students can access these anytime, take pre-tests prior to their learning and some lessons have been taped and uploaded so the girls can revisit what was covered in class.

At Ascham we want all our students to be engaged learners and we continue to promote exciting opportunities both in and out of the classroom. They are now beginning to work in the exciting areas of coding and computation.

Ascham has always kept up with developments in technology and this will continue as a matter of course, but at the same time we must recognise that with the speed of change and with the rapid development in technology none of us know what will be there for the girls entering Year 7 in three years’ time, let alone for the girls presently entering Hillingdon. It is important that we design the infrastructure of the school so there is flexibility and we are confident that as always we will be able to make the most of whatever comes along.

In the Senior School we ask the students to hand in their mobile phones to their form tutor each morning. There are various reasons for this but one important reason is the girls have ample screen time at home and in class and at recess and lunch we want the students talking to each other!

Much is written in the press about the STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. These subjects are important for girls and at Ascham we are blessed with wonderful Science, Maths and Technology teachers. The girls continue to study the sciences of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and high level Mathematics. This puts our girls in a strong position to continue STEM subjects at university and follow careers in the exciting growth industries of mining, agriculture, finance, food technology, IT and sports medicine.

With the construction of our new Science and Community Centre underway it will be exciting to have nine new laboratories with a strong technology platform that will be adaptable to the changes in technology. One laboratory will be a multipurpose lab for the Hillingdon students, Art, PDHPE or any subject that wants to utilise a laboratory setting for the collection and analysis of data. The decisions we make around the use of technology are governed by one question – how will it enhance girls’ learning?

Schools are exciting places with new technology in the classroom but it is still the guiding hand of a teacher who helps students gain a thorough understanding of concepts, who provides feedback through the assignments and directs questioning in studies that allows Ascham students to achieve such renowned academic success.

Andrew Powell Head of School

From our Patron – Andrew Powell

Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981), Andrew Powell and Jacqueline Giesser (2013)

AOG Calendar of events 2015

Monday 16 March 8am Annual Golf and Tennis Day, The Royal Sydney Golf Club

Golf Tee Off from 8am, 9.30am and Tennis from 10am. The day concludes after a light lunch and trophies are presented.

For more information please contact: [email protected] or telephone (02) 8356 7065

Saturday 7 March 12noon Class of 1965 – 50 Year Reunion

At the home of Annie Sutherland (Moline)

5 St Marys Ave, Bondi Junction

For more information please contact: [email protected] or call Annie on 0415 708 989

For those interested a school tour will be held before hand meeting under the Fig Tree at Ascham at 10.30am.

Friday 13 March 6pm Tildesley Jumper Presentation

Glenrock Drawing Room, Ascham

Old Girls from the Tildesley Team of 2005 are invited as guest jersey presenters. All Old Girl Tildesley players are welcome.


Wednesday 1 April 6.30pm Ascham Old Girls’ Union AGM

Marie Daley Room, Ascham


Friday 1 May 10.30am Ascham’s Biggest Card Day

Glenrock Drawing Room and private homes across Australia from 10.30am-2.30pm


Friday 1 May 6.30pm Class of 1975 Reunion – 40 Year Reunion

Glenrock Drawing Room, Ascham

For more information please contact Melanie Currie (Buttenshaw) at [email protected] or on 03 5367 8510/0409 999 866

Wednesday 3 June 7am Business Breakfast

Sunroom at the Ivy, 320 George St, Sydney

with special guest Belinda Hutchinson AM

For more information please contact [email protected] or telephone (02) 8356 7065

Friday 21 August 11am HSC Art Show Lunch

Dining Room and Packer Foyer, Ascham from 11am-2.30pm


Friday 16 October North/North West Old Girls Lunch

Venue and time to be advised


Saturday 24 October 10am Morning Tea for AOGU with Children Under 7

Hillingdon Playground, from 10am-12noon


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Editors’ note

This edition of the AOG Newsletter has the underlying theme of Science and Technology, as a sign of respect for our Head of School who has been teaching Science at Ascham for more than 20 years. We also note that Ascham’s masterplan focuses on Duntrim House and the large contribution it will make not only to our Boarders (a home away from home) but also on facilitating Science and Technology.

Science, similar to Maths, is, in our opinion, fascinating to study in that it bases its development on logic and (hopefully) reason. Both these attributes fit closely with Ascham’s philosophy and planning framework. To all those Old Girls and one day Old Girls, we hope that you will enjoy the legacy that this generation will be making in facilitating your journey of discovery through Science and Technology. So please turn the page and commence your own path of discovery. And if turning the page is not enough we are sure Emily Simpson would be delighted to know you may visit Centennial Park and walk her journey of thought and meditation.

All the best on behalf of the Editorial Team!

Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986)

The Two of Us Scientists

Dr Giselle Walker and Dr Vanessa Haverd were in Ascham’s Class of 1994. After many years studying science in their respective specialites, this year they were posted to Europe on separate assignments. They caught up in Switzerland to pursue another shared personal interest – mountain climbing.

Giselle has a BSc(Hons) from Sydney and a PhD from Copenhagen University in Denmark and the Natural History Museum, London.

In addition to receiving a perfect HSC TER score of 100 upon leaving Ascham in 1994, Vanessa has a BSc (Chemistry) (Hons 1 and University Medal) from the University of Sydney and DPhil from the University of Oxford.

Giselle My enduring memories from Ascham are of excellent teachers, and of hating having to choose between subjects. There never seemed to be enough time to do one subject in enough depth, without skimping on all the others. At different times I really enjoyed Science, Maths, English, French, Latin, History and Music – I spent way more time on music than was sensible, given that I didn’t do it for the HSC. I think the success of the Dalton Plan was teaching us early that time spent on one thing is time taken away from another, so you have to choose – I’m still frustrated by the need to choose strategically!

When I left school my career plan was totally mapped out – I was going to be an infectious diseases physician and anyone who remembers me will be laughing here, since I think I mentioned the plan several times a day! As with most all-consuming but vague ambitions, life didn’t turn out like that – I lasted about a week enrolled in graduate medicine at Sydney while it dawned on me that being a doctor was going to take all sorts of personal strength and maturity that I lacked; and that I was more interested in the infectious microorganisms than the patients. This was news to me, albeit probably not to anyone else! Looking now at who has done medicine, from the class of 1994, I’m very glad that they are now medics and I’m not …

Vanessa My years at Ascham from Transition to Year 12 were idyllic: strong memories – too many to list here – from the first day with our tartan pencil cases in Mrs Sheriff’s class (she seemed like a giant) to the final receipt of our HSC marks; playing sport and music; Outward Bound (which sparked my love of bushwalking) and studying like crazy, always with the support of teachers who were friends and mentors as well. I can honestly say that I have never since worked quite as hard as I did in Year 12. Whenever I am racing for a deadline at work (e.g. to prepare a talk for a conference or finalise a research paper), late nights and occasional all-nighters

always remind me of Monday nights at school when I’d frequently work through until dawn, arriving at school so tired that I’d be giggling uncontrollably.

When I left school I didn’t have a firm ambition: I’ve always been one to take opportunities as they come. At school I put a lot of time into French and German, but these were never subjects that I envisaged would feature in my career.

Giselle I started with undergraduate science at Sydney, and was captivated by my honours research on taxonomy of microorganisms, and fieldwork in Antarctica. I did a PhD in taxonomy and electron microscopy at the London Natural History Museum and Copenhagen University in

Giselle and Vanessa with Vanessa’s husband, Matthew, and daughter, Erica, at Kandersteg, Switzerland

President’s report

What a wonderful few months we have had being part of the Ascham Old Girls’ Union! First there was the delightful Art Show Lunch where those who attended enjoyed the spectacular exhibition of HSC artworks, some created by daughters of Old Girls.

I was greatly impressed by the talent of all the Ascham girls. Old Girl Angela Kent’s commentary was enlightening about the works, how their themes came about and the background of the student artists – you can read more about the event and see photos on page 16. The delicious lunch was catered for by Ascham led by John Woodrow – many of us remember him from our own school days.

On 10 October I was lucky enough to enjoy the lunch organised by the North/North West branch of the AOGU. The lunch was attended by a range of Old Girls from those not

long out of school to those more mature. It was so good to catch up with friends from my own peer year, and to make new friends.

The day started with a visit to Bullarah Public School where books were donated from Ascham’s Hillingdon girls to the visiting mobile library. This was followed by a look around the lovely town of Moree and then the NNW Lunch organised by Jan Sam. Next year will be the NNW branch’s 50th annual lunch. Great effort!

In this edition of the newsletter we have many great articles and the flavour is science. The interviews of Drs Giselle Walker and Vanessa Haverd are fascinating and a pleasure to read. Their strong memories of Ascham make me realise how much our school years influence us. Giselle and Vanessa have such fond memories of the school.

The newsletter is being very well received and its delivery is anticipated by our readers. We have had wonderful feedback from many of you. I am sure you will enjoy this issue and please feel free to contact Ascham’s Old Girl Liaison Officer if you have an idea or story for an article. Our contact information can be found on the last page of this newsletter.

Vi et Animo.

Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981)

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Denmark. After that I was a postdoctoral research fellow at Cambridge for six years, which was bliss, mixing with the most amazing people in the most fantastic settings. I got to do lots of research, and to teach there and at Oxford, and at UNIS in Svalbard. One of the people I enjoyed mixing with at Cambridge was Isabella Alexander [Ascham Class of 1994; BA and LLB (Hons) at ANU, PhD at Cambridge], who introduced me to my husband Dave. He is from Sydney and studies computer security. Dave got a permanent academic position at Otago University, so we moved to New Zealand in 2011. I started working as an electron microscope technician, then got a lectureship in the Botany Department for 2012. After that, I realised that to work in NZ as a scientist I would need to get more widely-applicable skills; so I have done another couple of short-term contracts, working at the University of Alberta on ecology of microorganisms in the Canadian Oil Sands; and I’m now working in Paris and Prague, on ecology of microorganisms that live in deep-ocean environments without oxygen. I’m also still teaching ecology of microorganisms in the Arctic, as UNIS.

Vanessa I started out at the University of Sydney as a Chancellor’s Scholar doing Chemical Engineering. The program involved summer industrial work placements, so I had some idea of potential future employment. In my third year I took a year off from engineering to complete a Science degree (double major in Chemistry) and enjoyed it so much that I continued to do fourth year in Science [an Honours year involving research into surfactant Chemistry (making bubbles!)].

It was clear from my work experience that a rewarding career in science would require a PhD. After a couple of false starts at PhD research projects at University of Sydney, I realised it was time for a change of scene. I applied for a scholarship to Oxford University and was successful in securing funding to study Infrared Emission Spectroscopy. I had no idea what this was, until I arrived, but that was no deterrent! It turned out to be an interesting research project in Physical Chemistry, but quite theoretical and with no immediate link to prospective jobs back home.

I was desperate to return home after three years abroad, so applied for an unrelated research position at Wollongong University in the Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group (fondly know as FART: Flatulent Atmospheric Reach Team after their research on whole-sheep carbon balances which involved fitting canisters over the rear end of sheep). Four years later, after some interesting work on stratospheric ozone, and trace gas exchange between forests and the atmosphere it was time to move on again. I applied for positions at CSIRO and ANSTO, but was very much hoping for success at CSIRO in Canberra, since my wonderful friend and husband Matthew had secured a position at ANU there. I kept the nerves at bay, waiting for the email denoting success or failure by hiking on the remote Yakushima island of Japan. On return, I logged into my email at the airport terminal to find I’d been successful. What a relief!

Giselle My work involves the taxonomy of microorganisms – how we decide ‘which’ biological entity is ‘which’. Applying names to microbiological entities is hard because we often have no real way of describing where one species ends and another begins – it’s often not obvious whether things can interbreed, or whether that makes them the same species. That means it’s often hard to say if we’re talking about the same thing in

different places: microbial ecology is totally enmeshed with and dependent on taxonomy. Although the naming system for life dates back to the 1750s, most life is still under-described. Microorganisms like the ones I work on haven’t been fully described because you can’t really see them without electron microscopes (which have only been around since the 1960s), and you can’t describe them otherwise without gene sequencing techniques that have only been around for the last 10 years. I try to formally describe diversity – currently that is understanding the interactions between (climate change-relevant) methane-producing microorganisms and the bigger microorganisms that they live in, who control their ecology.

Personal life in academia is often forcibly remote – so I’ve spent many hours in the last few years talking to my husband via Skype. When I get back next year I’m really looking forward to running, cycling and bushwalking with him, helping him renovate our house, and singing in local choirs. It’s also lovely to come back to Sydney and catch up properly with our families and friends who have inspired us and put up with us never being around for so long now.

While in Europe this summer I met up with Vanessa and her husband and daughter while she was working over here in July. We were good friends throughout our time at Ascham, liking Science, Languages and Music (I also thought her dog Max was pretty cool). Stupidly we lost touch when we went to University – in those pre-email days – so it was great to catch up again more recently and discover that we still share many interests and viewpoints and we both like running up mountains – though I don’t think I could keep up with her! Science is so highly specific that we are in very different spheres at the moment, but I’m working towards understanding how methane-producers operate in the environment so I guess we could come full circle and end up working together on some parameters of carbon budgets one day, if I manage to find out anything useful!

I think the Dalton Plan helped me get here by teaching me how to break big tasks into achievable parts. This means I’m now not frightened of multitasking or of taking on new subjects. The diversity of subjects on offer was good background for my area of biology – which requires sciences, but also some maths and computer programming, writing skills in English, and a willingness to try to read and communicate in many other languages. Latin, French and German were good background for picking up new languages, working in labs with other foreign students, reading taxonomic literature (much of which isn’t in English), and knowing enough Norwegian to avoid polar bears on fieldwork in Svalbard. Outward Bound taught me that several weeks of camping food and not showering won’t kill you and can even be rather good fun when it’s fieldwork – particularly as it’s less smelly in the Arctic!

Vanessa (far left) and Giselle (second from left) with school friends at Outward Bound in 1992

Vanessa during a field campaign at the Tumbarumba field site

Vanessa I have been working as a research scientist at CSIRO ever since (2007), as a terrestrial ecosystem modeler in the Continental Biogeochemical Cycles Team. Our broad objective is to quantify the fluxes and stores of carbon, water, energy and nutrients in Australian landscapes. Amongst other things, our research led to the first ever comprehensive assessment of the Australian terrestrial carbon budget, which we published last year.

I met my husband Matthew at the Botany Lawn at University of Sydney where we had regular Bushwalking Club meetings. We have been great friends ever since. Similar to many scientists, including Giselle, we struggled with the ‘two-body’ problem for many years, with the extreme being during our engagement period, when I was in Oxford and Matthew in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Finding jobs together in Canberra is a dream come true, and something we will never take for granted. Other special people in my life include my Mum, who has always been so supportive of any of my endeavours, and some very close colleagues. Working hard together with common objectives fosters strong friendships. Of course there is also my dog: Max, my childhood schnauzer who lived until he was 17 and maintained his strong loyalty even after my three years overseas. We now have another standard schnauzer, Eric, and his brother Ernie lives with my Mum. More recently, there is my baby Erica, who is beyond any dreams I ever had.

Giselle and I were close friends at school. It was magical to meet up with her last July at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof. As this pretty young woman with red hair approached, it felt like stepping back in time: she hadn’t changed much at all! We instantly had loads to talk about and notes to exchange on our respective research careers. Giselle is right into running up mountains, which is also a passion of mine. Now that she has a place in Dunedin, I’m sure we’ll find excuses to meet up and go walking/running together.

Ascham has helped me reach my goals as the Dalton plan allowed for flexibility and the time to think. Having the whole week to mull over assignments rather than having to complete them on a given day allowed for ideas to mature. I rely on the confidence I developed then to complete large tasks by a deadline, even if it means staying up all night! While I was at school I definitely learnt that hard work pays off.

We are living in a time of unprecedented human-induced global change. It is important to me that my efforts are directed towards making a difference, at the level of improving our understanding of how terrestrial ecosystems are responding to rapidly changing climate and atmospheric CO2, and what role they play in mitigating against human-induced climate change.

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‘My business partner Jacqui and I saw a huge gap in the market after organising our own weddings. The registries available only offered traditional or high end brands as opposed to supporting Australian boutique designer brands and the interface was unappealing. Jacqui and I both had maternity leave together which gave us time to start creating a business that could give other couples the wedding registry we’d always wanted. As we love all interior styles we’ve made sure our range is extensive enough to create any interior style and to ensure no wedding registration ever looks the same.’

Internet access was not widely available in Australia until the mid-1990s, and it would be fair to say that when these Old Girls were at Ascham in the 1980s and 1990s they might have had home computers for typing out English, History or Geography essays but beyond that computers or technology did not feature substantially in their education. The internet was in its infancy and the idea of an online business in its current form did not exist. The remarkable speed with which this industry has grown has provided them with the opportunity to establish their own businesses in new areas. Equally, for a country so geographically isolated, the internet opens up the world as a potential market place.

Keeping up to date with technology is key to their ongoing success and all the girls have made it one of their businesses’ top priorities. Renee Lodens (Kiosoglous 1993) is the owner of Travelshopa, an online community dedicated to local shopping across fashion, gifts and homewares. The search-based site helps shoppers discover where the best local shops and local brands are in different cities. Renee says, ‘Technology is the backbone of our business and most of my clients wouldn’t be able to survive without technology. It has enabled us to connect with readers, customers and partners from all over the world from day one, and execute our grand plan relatively quickly.’

Edwina Volz (Loiterton 1995) also started an online site called Local Market Guide, which provides the latest information on local markets, stalls and special events. Edwina was led to this career path after she had children and began regularly seeking out fresh produce markets. ‘Local Market Guide is me and my lap top’, Edwina says.

‘Without technology I wouldn’t have a business. I advertise online and connect with customers via social media on a daily business. Technology allows me to track what web users are looking at on the site and to tailor the information to suit.’

Just as owning a business involves continual work, finding and maintaining customers, building a website doesn’t stop once it goes live. ‘They are a living organism’, Edwina says.

In 2014 many people do not hesitate to purchase an item online which is only available on the other side of the world; in kitchens across Australia busy parents can stock their fridges for their families with the click of a button; business travellers and holiday makers can find the unique item that signifies their trip when in a foreign city with relative ease. In all of these instances, technology is the enabler.

Women are leading the new wave of online business start-ups in the midst of a thriving environment of female entrepreneurs. Statistics from the Australian Womens Chamber of Commerce and Industry show the number of women in Australia who are starting up their own businesses has doubled since 2007 and there are now approximately one million women trading in Australia.

Kamilla Johns’s (1994) interest in nutritious food came to the fore while she was pregnant with her twin boys Jet and Felix. ‘I used to work long hours in the city as a lawyer and then investment banker and ate out a lot and often at my desk’, she told the AOGU Newsletter.

‘When I was pregnant with twins I started thinking more about what was in the food I was eating. Once they were born I was super busy so I started making meals in bulk with all the crunchy bits and sauces separately packed so we could always eat delicious foodie nutritious food, however tired. I had organic sausage rolls, pies and apple crumbles ready to bake fresh when people dropped in. I made packs of meals for friends having babies and my friends asked for more! And the business was born.’

Two years later, Kamilla now delivers thousands of restaurant-quality, handmade healthy meals every week via her online business Kamilla Johns Real Food.

Similarly for Pascale Helyar-Moray (1992), her business idea sprung from chasing a need of her own. Pascale was looking to buy a special piece of jewellery but didn’t want to trawl the streets and shops while pregnant. ‘My husband offered to buy me a piece of jewellery to celebrate the birth of our twins and being pregnant at the time the last thing I wanted to do was spend a lot of time on my feet shopping, so I went online but couldn’t find anything I liked in the metals I wear or the stones I love’, she said.

‘I didn’t have the energy or time to visit a jeweller to create something, so – incredibly frustrated – I didn’t buy anything. After the babies were born and we’d relocated to Australia, I saw a website which offered the ability to design your fashion item as you wanted it. For the first time, I realised the technology was possible to do this sort of thing.’

As a result, Pascale began her online jewellery business StyleRocks, which allows shoppers to custom design their own fine jewellery, at an affordable cost.

Meanwhile Zoe Dent (Louden 1998) started the bridal registry site The Wedding Nest while she and her business partner were both on maternity leave after being underwhelmed with the online wedding registries on offer. The Wedding Nest gift range includes not only the registry basics, but also beautiful homewares and statement furniture pieces.

Jacqui with Sienna and Zoe Dent (Louden 1998) with Hunter

Technology entrepreneurs

According to recent Roy Morgan research, more than 50% of Australians now shop online and spend more, on average, per order compared to other countries. We also boast the largest number of online business start-ups in the world, with figures increasing 200% between 2010 and 2012. In step with the growth of the digital retail landscape, a number of Ascham Old Girls have ventured to start their own online businesses. As with many women these days, some of these enterprising Old Girls have established their businesses in response to discovering a gap in the market, often off the back of life changing experiences such as having children.

Erica Stewart (Shannon 1992) and Charlotte (4), Olivia (12) and Sam (10)

Pascale Helyar-Moray (Moray 1992) owner and founder of StyleRocks

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Save the date for our Business Breakfast 2015

Wednesday 3 June from 7-9am, Sunroom at the Ivy, 320 George St, Sydney

After the success of the inaugural AOGU Business Breakfast in 2015 with our brilliant Old Girl speaker, Shemara Wikramanayake (1979), we have arranged another Business Breakfast for a mid-week winter morning in 2015 at the same excellent venue in Sydney’s CBD, this time with AOG Belinda Hutchinson AM (1971) as our guest of honour.

Belinda is Chancellor of the University of Sydney, and a director of AGL Energy, the Salvation Army Eastern Territory Advisory Board, Australian Philanthropic Services, NSW State Library Foundation, and a member of the Federal Government Financial Services Advisory Council. Belinda was previously Chairman of QBE Insurance Group, and an executive director of Macquarie Group where she was the head of Macquarie Equity Capital Markets. Belinda was Guest of Honour at Ascham’s Prizegiving in 2014.

The Sunroom at the Ivy is kindly provided to the AOGU for this event at a special rate, courtesy of Bettina Hemmes (1981) and the Breakfast will be open to all members of the Ascham community.

‘They constantly need to evolve and adapt to changing customer needs and technology.’

Understanding IT terms and processes was a vital part of this journey with Zoe explaining that before she started The Wedding Nest she spent a lot of time understanding the difference between source content management systems and ecommerce platforms before working out what was best for her business.

This sentiment is echoed by Erica Stewart (Shannon 1995), the owner of hard to find, a curated online market place which brings together hundreds of small, creative businesses who make, design or import gorgeous, high quality products. Erica says, ‘Keeping up with the latest, best-practice technologies is essential. We spend around $30,000 a month on new site features, improvements and bug fixing, and we’re about to launch the second version of our Gift Finder app. Every little tweak we make to the site can have a dramatic effect on conversion rate and average spend, so we also make sure we set up the appropriate measurement processes and analyse everything we do... a website is like a car that constantly breaks down and needs fine tuning, it’s never ending!’

Juggling a business with a family is an ongoing challenge for every one of these Old Girls. While flexibility is named by all as the key advantage of running their own business, taking sole responsibility as business owners and fitting everything and everyone in is the hardest thing for all. For Edwina, while she can choose the hours she works to fit around school pick-ups and other commitments, she says a lot of her work doesn’t gets done until the kids are in bed.

‘My life is pretty hectic and balancing kids and work, especially my own online business is tricky’, Kamillla says.

‘I have six year old twin boys and a four year old little girl and making sure they are happy, healthy and have everything they need is the most important thing. My husband and I try and juggle this and we have a great, flexible and very patient nanny who helps us manage some mornings as well as the afternoons. I do the school run a few times a week so I stay connected. I am still a relatively small start-up so do a lot of the jobs but as the business grows I am working on hiring more people to help out.’

Kamilla’s sentiments are also echoed by Zoe, who says, ‘Starting the business at the same time as having a baby and studying nutrition on the side meant the last few years have been crazy with zero down-time. It was very hard to not pick up the computer once the baby was sleeping as there is always something that is urgent.’

For Erica, it is her husband, Josh, who is a stay-at-home dad that is the answer. Erica admits it is a trade-off but she can focus on the business and there’s still balance at home.

A good dose of Dalton planning and preparation have helped all the girls keep their businesses and home lives afloat. Writing lists and more lists, prioritising and staying focused on the task at hand are all key skills the girls have learnt at Ascham. While technology has been crucial to their business success, understanding and using it is a new skill set they have had to learn along the way. When asked if there was

Renee Lodens (Kiosoglous1993) with Eva and Michael

anything they would like to have done more of at school, many of them replied they wished they had concentrated on English more in class. As Edwina states, ‘I never thought I would be writing a blog read by thousands of people.’

As business owners, economics has taken a new importance in life for many of these Old Girls, with Zoe indicating, ‘I wish I had done a business skills/intro to Economics class (despite my innate lack of interest in these subjects) as that area of the business has been a steep learning curve – from managing our Xero accounting system to understanding P&L to even working out how to pay employees – up until now I was just used to receiving a pay slip every week with no further thought as to how they materialised.’

The growth of online retail businesses has certainly changed the way many people shop today. With our increasing access to the internet via smart phones, home computers, tablets and other personal electronic devices, the world, and more shopping experiences, has been brought to our finger-tips.

These Ascham Old Girls are all part of the growing wave of Australian entrepreneurs taking advantage of and also fuelling this growth through setting up online businesses. By harnessing innovation which recent advances in technology allow, the girls have all found a niche and courageously pursued it, resulting in successful businesses. Well done to them!

Skye Barry (Edwards 1994)

Kamilla Johns (1994) at work

Edwina Volz (Loiterton 1995) at the Markets in May with school friends and helpers Melissa MacDonald (Daubney 1995) and Caroline Rockey (1995)

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I started my PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, because I wanted to help people by curing diseases. After completing my studies I realised just how complex science was; the more I learned about how things worked at the molecular level the more I realised just how little was understood and how complicated it is to cure diseases. However, I was not discouraged by this. I decided that I wanted to work in the field of cancer research and came to Sydney to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and St Vincent’s Hospital where I completed three post-doctoral fellowships.

I have always had a vivid interest in science and never ceased to be amazed by just how fast science research is changing due to advancing technology. During my PhD and at the start of my first post-doc I would analyse one gene at a time. By the end of my research, technology had progressed far enough to allow for the analysis of tens of thousands of genes at a time! Having left research has not dimmed my enthusiasm and interest for science one little bit. With my career change into teaching I decided to impart my excitement onto future generations, some of whom will hopefully go on to have careers in science and work on the challenging questions that face society.

With three daughters of my own, I am passionate about girls’ education in Science and as the leader of the Science Department I have a very clear vision for our students. As the women of tomorrow’s society, I believe it is essential that our students leave school with a good understanding of the technological and natural world they live in. The world is becoming an ever-more connected, yet increasingly complex place. Whether or not our students decide to pursue science-related careers or not, they need to be well-informed and science-literate citizens in order to be able to form intelligent views on the many technical questions that our society faces and that will impact on their daily lives.

So, in my role as the Head of Science, I aim to run a department that inspires students about science, teaches them to think, and provides them with the opportunities to learn about science not just in the classroom but through activities outside the classroom that are not directly linked to the curriculum. This year was packed with science learning both in and outside the classroom. Our excursions to Long Reef (Year 8), Echo Point (Year 10), Camp Kedron (Year 11 Biology) and ANSTO (Year 12 Chemistry and Physics) were directly linked to the curriculum and provided students with valuable hands-on learning that supplemented their studies. In addition to these, we had a large number of activities that

Science Now

Ascham’s Head of Science Dr Suzann Malaney outlines what has changed and what has not for Science students at Ascham.

were not directly linked to the curriculum but were aimed at sparking an interest in students as well as providing them with a more broad education and giving them a snapshot of just how many areas of their lives are touched by this subject (every area!). Some of this year’s activities are outlined below:

• An Astronomy Night for our school community where we learned about Extra-terrestrial Intelligence from our visiting speaker Dr Bhathal and viewed the night sky through our telescopes

• Our tour to Lizard Island that allowed the students to learn about the Great Barrier Reef, move out of their comfort zone and hopefully pass on the message to preserve this wonder of our world

• Participation in the first Sydney L’Oreal Science Forum for Women which was held at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research; this fabulous opportunity enabled our Year 10 students to talk to young female scientists about their careers in medical research

• Science Week which included a mobile Planetarium, lunchtime activities for all, a world-wide online science quiz competition for Year 9, and a visit to the Science Festival at the Australian Museum for Year 8.

Many other activities took part this year both in the Junior and Senior school, including an engineering day at UTS, a demonstration and explanation by two scientists from UTS of playground physics with a focus on head injuries; dissections; the best way to make honeycombs, and a fascinating talk by Professor Vaughan Macefield on Pain.

On a purely academic note, we have been working on assignments for the new Australian Curriculum for a couple of years now and enjoyed implementing those for Years 7 and 9. These assignments differ from older ones in a number of ways. First, they make use of a wide array of technology-enabled learning that is available these days. Lessons and assignment work frequently contain short, interesting video clips that are aimed at arousing students’ interests or providing a visual way of learning about new concepts. This stands in contrast to the long videos that used to fill a whole lesson.

There is also a wide array of interactives that has been incorporated both into lessons and weekly assignments to enable students to learn by ‘doing’ and ‘seeing’. This new way of learning is a particular advantage in areas where there is a limited amount of practical work, such as in areas of biology. We are, of course, very conscious not to substitute valuable practical work with online interactives. All our classrooms now have Apple TVs which enable teachers to connect their iPads to the projector directly and wirelessly. We also have student iPads in the department for their use. The use of these is incorporated into some experiments but also enables the

students to take pictures of their practical work and present it as a photo story.

What else has changed?

• We are teaching students to complete their own Summaries at the end of a unit in preparation for the test. While in Years 7 and 8, students will receive guidance from their teachers with writing these but from Year 9 they are expected to complete these on their own. We strongly believe that this will teach the students some very valuable skills for life!

• The School Certificate has been abolished for Year 10

• We no longer teach Agriculture to boarders and the ducklings that used to live near Lab 7 are thus no longer there. This makes for a more pleasant atmosphere in the vicinity of Lab 7 (Mr Trimble’s room), which has also been renovated since and is now larger than it used to be

• Mr Sze-Tu no longer teaches Maths and now belongs completely to the Science Department

• A one-day Year 10 excursion to the Blue Mountains has been substituted for the three-day excursion to Kanangra and the equipment list has changed slightly since then; we no longer feed the students chocolate!

Dr Suzann Malaney in the classroom

Science Week at Ascham in 2014

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Are fewer students taking Science subjects for their HSC?

A number of studies in recent years including one conducted by the Australian Academy of Science showed that there is a decline in the nationwide numbers of students taking Science in Years 11 and 12 over the past 20 years. The reasons for this are unclear but there is some suggestion that this may be due to an increased number of HSC subjects on offer as well as a lack of practical involvement by the students at school.

Although we do not have data for the last 20 years, I am pleased to report that at least for the last 12 years the numbers of students taking Chemistry, Biology, and/or Physics in Year 12 has not changed, taking into account year-to-year fluctuations (see table below).

Year % Biology % Chemistry % Physics

2003 53 36 21

2004 45 40 22

2005 39 27 13

2006 42 32 15

2007 31 31 12

2008 52 22 5

2009 35 26 12

2010 43 25 7

2011 34 20 15

2012 47 24 15

2013 47 23 14

2014 42 29 18

Average 43 28 14

Having said this, 2014 was the first year that Ascham offered a stage 6 PDHPE course and we did see a decline in the numbers of students signing up for Biology. However, it is too early to say whether this is due to an extreme year-to-year fluctuation or indeed the result of the added option that students can choose from and only time will tell.

Numbers at Ascham would certainly not be dropping due to reduced involvement in hands-on activities for Science students.

Results

We continue to get our students to participate in a number of academic competitions to provide them with practice, to challenge them and give them the opportunity to excel. The ICAS competition is still held annually and we receive many strong results. Other competitions that a selection of students participates in are the science Olympiads, the Australian National Chemistry Quiz (ANCQ), the Titration Competition, the Australian Brain Bee and the Gifted and Talented Qualifying Exam. Several of these competitions provide the school with valuable data that can be used to identify any weaknesses and thus provide useful data for teaching and learning.

The standard of Science at Ascham continues to be very high and we have, for the second year in a row, a Year 8 student who has achieved full marks in the ANCQ. In addition, we have had outstanding results for Year 11 in the ANCQ with five Distinctions and six High Distinctions – this is unprecedented! Our HSC results remain strong with band 5 and 6 results well above the state average and last year we had particularly strong results for Chemistry and Physics!

Dr Suzann Malaney

Year 10 at the first Sydney L’Oreal Science Forum for Women

Francesca Von Braun-Bates 2006 is an astrophysicist at Oxford in the UK. She told the AOG Newsletter how her interest in Science was fostered during her time at Ascham.

Was there a teacher who inspired your love of Science?

My teachers in Fiona fostered my love of Science. In particular, they encouraged me to read widely to satisfy my appetite for scientific knowledge. It was Mr Trimble who really focused my interest on Physics.

What did you study when you first left school?

I undertook a Bachelor of Science degree in Advanced Mathematics at the University of Sydney. I also took Latin and Informatics in my first year. I was admitted to the Talented Student Program at Sydney, which enabled me to develop small research projects even as an undergraduate.

I participated in Outreach activities for the School of Physics, including demonstrating the very HSC experiments which Mr Trimble had taught us at Ascham. I also studied French for three years at the Alliance Française.

What are you studying now?

I am reading for a DPhil in Astrophysics at the University of Oxford (Balliol College). My research focuses on testing modifications to general relativity via supercomputer simulations of the distribution of galaxies in the Universe.

What are your plans for the future?

There is another year left in my degree before I need to consider entering the real world. I have just been asked to teach Beginners’ German at the Oxford University German Society and General Relativity at St Catherine’s College. After submitting my DPhil, I would love to continue my experience at Oxford with a Junior Research Fellowship. I enjoy living in the UK and aim to make the most of the easy access to different cultures in Europe.

What is your strongest memory of Ascham?

The last day still evokes a strong nostalgia, especially the contrast between enjoying the euphoria of my classmates and saying farewell to my teachers.

How did Ascham and the Dalton Plan help you get to where you are now?

The self-discipline instilled by the Dalton Plan is fundamental to balancing my research, teaching and social life. The quality of my teachers and the opportunity to discuss my work on an individual basis certainly contributed to my results. It is only as a postgraduate that I am experiencing a similar level of interaction with my supervisors. When I received my first timetable at university, I realised how much I missed Mr Onstein!

From Ascham to Astrophysics

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It was a memorable day because of the exquisite quality of all of the artwork, the clear dedication and talent of the girls facilitated by the staff and the variety of mediums that the girls used. The individuality of the works demonstrated how the teachers are able to work with each student and how non prescriptive they are about the process of the creation of the major works.

Five of the Year 12 artists are daughters of Old Girls as can be seen on page 17.

Once again Old Girl and Past Parent Angela Kent (Saunders 1978) kindly took us around the Art Show and explained very eloquently the various artworks, the meaning of them, how they were developed and somehow communicated to us what perhaps we could see in them but were unable to articulate. We are very lucky to have Angela’s knowledge and understanding and grateful for her willingness to give us this time – it makes for a much richer experience.

At the delicious lunch on the verandah afterwards we were joined by members of the parent community, including some very proud Year 12 mothers. We raised money for Old Girls’ scholarships through the sale of memorabilia as well as gourmet quality homemade produce donated by Old Girls.

Our guest speaker was young Old Girl Sophie Lanigan (2013). She is an art aficionado and absolutely passionate about why art is important, what it means and how it challenges us. She is currently studying Architecture at

the University of Sydney. She also works at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and as an intern at other key galleries and exhibitions including Sculpture by the Sea.

Our Head of School, Mr Powell, also spoke to us about current matters at Ascham and we were fortunate to view a short video on Ascham’s development plans for the Sciences and Boarding and the flow on positive effect of Duntrim House for so many other parts of the school.

Fittingly, Angela Kent won the beautiful raffle prize of a Camilla Kaftan so kindly donated by Old Girl Camilla Franks (1993), Robyn Russell won dual membership to the MCA and Fiona Playfair (Atwill 1980) won a My Island Home voucher.

Once again we would like to thank Ascham chef John Woodrow and his team for their hospitality, Angela Kent (Saunders 1978) for her time and willingness to talk to us, Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) for all her work in making sure that this is the fantastic event that it is, the Old Girls who provided the produce for the stall and the raffle prize donors for their generous contributions.

We will be holding this event next year on a Friday (21 August 2015) to make it easier for the country Old Girls and others to come, catch up and view the Art Show in such an enjoyable way. We look forward to seeing you there.

Hattie Millett (Street 1980)

HSC Art Show Lunch

Every year the Ascham HSC Art Show seems to astound the viewers. At the Old Girls’ Art Show Lunch held on 20 August 2014 the response of the guests was again one of amazement but also genuine respect and admiration for the Art students and the Art Department.

Angela Kent (Saunders 1978) introducing the Art Show Edwina Sweeney (Dunlop 1985) and Anna Cobcroft (Buckley 1988)

Hattie Millett (Street 1980) and Martha Millett (Year 12) Jacky Cadell (Rollinson 1982) and Lydia Cadell (Year 12)

Jane Newsome (Houston 1982), Barbara Newsome, Dimity Newsome, Alex Newsome, Alison Newsome (Year 12), Pattie Houston (Tomlinson 1949) and Brad Newsome

Holly Guinness (Johnston 1984) and Adelaide Guiness (Year 12)

Tina Milson (Bowman 1974), Kate Milson (2007), Emma Milson (2009), Nicola Milson (Year 12), James Milson, Camilla Milson (2012) and Paula Bowman

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Thirty-five of us enjoyed catching up with each other and having a delicious lunch prepared by John Woodrow, Ascham’s wonderful chef. It was a busy day at Ascham with the Hillingdon Sports Carnival so everyone was thrilled that Mr Powell managed to pop in to the Drawing Room just before lunch was served and fill us in on school activities and the plans for Duntrim House.

After lunch we went down Fairy Walk to the 18 Footers in Double Bay where we chatted on into the late evening. We would like to thank Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) who coordinated the day beautifully.

Prim Murray (Gollan 1964)

Class of 1964 – 50 year reunion

The Class of 1964 gathered for lunch on 8 August in the Glenrock Drawing Room.

Merrilie Slack-Smith (Sims) and Sandy Rowlands (MacDonald)

Penny Mowat (Norton-Knight) and Geraldine Bull (Morris)

Jenny Stearn (Field) and Fiona Spence

Victoria Scanlan (Sharp) and Jane Meares (Furley)

Katie Reid (Sharp) and Jennifer Miles (Sly)

Ginny Lennox (Hayman 1983) and Sabrina Barry (Hutchinson 1973)

Suzanne Monro (Brunninghausen 1951) and Simone Arnott (Pirenne 1950)

Lea Stracey (Serafim 1973), Edwina Birch (Gibson 1973), Madeleine Adams (Wilkinson 1973), Clytie Williams (Cullip 1973), Kate Hyles (Maslin 1973)

Sophie Lanigan (2013), Victoria Hordern and Nicola Swift

Wendy Cohen (1970) and Angela Bettington (1970) Tina Milson (Bowman 1974) and Rowena Danziger

AOGs and Ascham community members at the Art Show Lunch

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With four events over the October long weekend, our main event was a drinks and canapés party for 40 at Inglis stables in Randwick. Thanks to Sarah Inglis (White) for her generous contribution to the evening.

The ‘expats’ of our year were ably represented by Jane Bryden-Brown who flew in from London. Our head girl, Vessa Playfair-Ettelson, led the speeches, which, predictably, became more hilarious as the champagne flowed.

We had a tour of Ascham on the Saturday afternoon – a very different place to the relatively untouched heritage buildings set in large green spaces of the early 1970s. A few met at the Royal Oak in Double Bay after the tour which was a great way to continue catching up.

Judy Kaye (Pongrass) generously hosted brunch at Vaucluse on the Sunday. Yet more champagne in a lovely setting on a gorgeous day!

Those of us on the organising committee, including Mary Jane McKerihan, Anne Meyer (Halliday) and Flis Street (Rutledge), believe we know a thing or two about organising reunions and want to share our tips:• Go for more than one event and a mix of home and commercial venues. This gives more people a chance to at least get to one – and for those who can, it’s great to continue the chat after the main event

• The organisers should meet early and often – there’s a lot to do. Helps if the meeting place is a cute Paddington Bar

• Numbers are pretty important. We used a web-based ticketing process to ensure that people respond and pay in good time

• Use suppliers who will let you take back expensive things like alcohol

• Have a photographer – in our case, architect Leone Lorrimer (McGrath) took that role. She also designed a beautiful invitation

• A personal approach and open lines of communication work well – Class of 74 is terribly modern with a Facebook page. We have a group email for news and to organise ‘in between events’ such as Sunday brunches.

Class of 74 Organising Committee

The Class of 1974 in 2014


What a terrific turn out for the Class of 1984’s reunion!

The lights were dim, which we all appreciated, and the music fun, which set the perfect tone for a night of laughter and memories. We spent a good solid five hours together and still we found we didn’t have enough time to work the floor – none of us have changed – still all the same girls, just a little bit older and wiser.

One comment on the night: ‘What a beautiful group of humans with so many laughs and genuine joy to see each other again’. It’s very special to reconnect with your school mates – they are very precious jewels who should be treasured for life. Till the next get together chicks!

Thank you to our photographer Ginny Lennox (Hayman)!

Lorica Clarke (Rooklyn 1984)

Gretel Packer and Samantha Graham

Anita Kemp (Thompson), Meredith Brodie (Bloore) and Samantha Rush (Lendvay)

Ali Yeldham, Virginia Wilson and Flavia Abdurahman

Deborah Ferguson (Cortis), Ayesha Hoffenberg (Hill) and Trude White (Collier)

Nicky Lavigne, Jennifer Snyders, Cassie Borzuola (Dyball) and Vanessa Riepler (Schwarz)

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‘We do not remember days, we remember moments,’ Cesare Pavese said. This sentiment could not be more appropriate for the flood of fond memories that came, on the eve of our five year reunion.

The event was preceded by nearly a year of anticipation, mostly fuelled by our Facebook group we so aptly named ‘The Golden Year’, and the night did not disappoint. The night was one of stories, high-pitched squeals and laughter. Mostly we were just thrilled to be once again reunited with the grilled asparagus. We had a quite a turn out – girls from interstate and overseas made the journey to the Ascham Drawing Room and we were particularly touched and grateful to see so many of our beloved teachers. Five years on, we were all still smitten with Mr Onstein, intimidated by Mrs Booth and adoring of Mr Bost. I think I speak for the year when I say that I was strongly reminded of how fortunate I was to have grown up at Ascham, being guided by the very best of teachers.

My (navy, felt) hat goes off to our year – everyone glowing with happiness. It was such a treat to be surrounded once again with the very talented Class of 2009. While many of us

were somewhat disappointed that no-one had a scandalous tale to tell – no pregnancies, no convictions, probably not even so much as a late university assignment submission – I have to commend our year on their achievements and how special it was to be once again surrounded by such a successful group of young women. The night was not complete without the mandatory siege of old Ascham girls to the Royal Oak Hotel in Double Bay, where the night continued to buzz with high-pitched squeals and laughter.

I would like to thank Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) and the Old Girls’ Union for organising this wonderful event, the teachers for putting up with us for six years and the School for welcoming us back on home turf.

Harriet Wadsworth (2009)

Back left to bottom right Katie Remond, Georgie Henderson, Lily White, Emily Kirkpatrick, Sam Reardon, Annabelle Rutledge, Caroline Russell, Edwina White

Elenore Cooper-Levi, Jessie Street, Trishla Barmecha, Jane Sydenham-Kwiet (Sydenham 1972)


At our wonderful 15 year reunion we caught up with:

Class of 1999 under the Fig Tree

Nuj Kim, Ellie Kent, Harriet Wadsworth Susanna Hyles, Victoria Ratcliffe, Lulu Minnett, Pelin Darendeliler

We also had three lovely babies join us and some babies in utero too.

It was wonderful catching up with everyone and lovely exploring the school and finding most things are exactly the same with only a few changes.

Thank you everyone for a fabulous reunion.

Wishing you all the best with your future endeavours and I look forward to our next reunion.

Camilla Fretwell (Thompson 1999)

Our teachersMr OnsteinMrs BoyceMrs DanzigerMrs Hummel Mr KomaromiMrs LumsdaineChef John Woodrow

And our Old GirlsAlex CotmanAnika ZemanAnna DukesAnne TindalAntonia BlairAntonia Lloyd JonesCamilla ThompsonCharlotte CurtisChloe Zylstra Cybele MalinowskiDanielle VenturaEdwina Wilkes

Elizabeth WestgarthEmily MobbsEmma BagnallGenevieve O’CallaghanHarriet FesqHarriet LorrimerHeidi IlkinJeanine BribosiaKate CruikshankKate GlennieLucy BuchananMadeleine Ho Mia Davison

Michaela VidaNichola ArmstrongNicole BroitNikola DouglasPriya LoombaRebecca Lau Teniqua CrawfordVanessa CrawfordVanessa TranVeronica SomervilleVictoria Gorman

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On Saturday 12 October, Ascham welcomed the Class of 2014 to the Glenrock Drawing Room for their first school reunion, also known as the Year 13 Drinks.

The girls reunited with Andrew Powell, Ascham’s Head of School and their Year Coordinator Kristy Spagnolo as well as other teachers including Frances Ward, Ludo Onstein, Anne MacCallum and Ken Sewell. The girls were delighted to see two teachers who have departed the school, Frances Booth and Amy Dal Pozzo. Also attending were Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981), President of the AOGU, Harriet Millett (Street 1980) and the Old Girl Liaison Officer Skye Barry (Edwards 1994). The girls were delighted to receive their copies of Charivari 2013 and their Year Book.

Skye Barry (Edwards 1994)

Class of 2013 – the first reunion

On Friday 10 October some 43 Ascham Old Girls from the North/North West region of NSW gathered in Moree for their annual lunch. Andrew Powell, Head of School, and Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1980), AOGU President, travelled from Sydney to join the Old Girls for the day.

North/North West Lunch 2014

The day started early with Andrew and Jenny visiting the Gwydir Mobile Pre-School at Bullarah Public School to present books donated by the Hillingdon Library. They then joined the Old Girls for lunch at the Town and Country Club in Moree. The room looked lovely with flower arrangements for the tables provided by Tina Clyne (Macneil 1973). Barb Ball (Stitt 1963) welcomed everyone and thanked them for travelling to Moree for the lunch and then Gwenne Mason (Doran 1944), the most senior Old Girl from the Moree District in attendance said Grace and proposed a toast to Ascham.

Following the main course, Andrew gave a very informative talk to the Old Girls about everything happening at Ascham including an update on boarding and the amazing results boarders were achieving in the HSC which was of particular

interest and relevance. Andrew and Jenny then took questions from the Old Girls about Ascham and the Old Girls’ Union. The Old Girls appreciated Andrew’s friendly approach and having the opportunity to speak with both Jenny and Andrew. At the end of the lunch Sarah Ball (Glennie 1995) thanked Andrew and Jenny for coming to the lunch and presented them both with a gift.

Thank you to Barb Ball (Stitt 1963), Jenny Carrigan (Chick 1989), Tina Clyne (Macneil 1973), Ann Newton (Chick 1986) and Jan Sam (Gill 1961) for organising the lunch and Tempe Onus (Street 1974) for organising the presentation of the books at Bullarah Public School.

Jan Sam (Gill 1961)

The North/North West Lunch 2014 Tina Clyne (Macneil 1973) Andrew Powell and Vicki Mitchell (Clifton 1975)

Kate Mulligan and Andrew Powell The North/North West Old Girls enjoying lunch

Alessandra AkhundSelin AlaEleni AnagnostellisAlexandra ArmatiVanessa Au-YeungMargadhi Bamunu ArachchigeMithila Bamunu ArachchigeIsabella BestGemma BishopClare BrownAmelia BucklandValentina CalpisRosemary CarrZoe CarvossoRebecca CassHannah CharnyIsabel ChongNichola ChowAimee CoxAlexandra CrawfordLucy CreerEmma CullenMegan Dang

Emma DeaconZoe DelaneyEmma Di FrancescoEllen DonaldRebecca DupainKate FullerHolly GavinEliza GazalJacqueline GiesserFiona HarastyZara HartwigRebel HaslingdenGeorgina HatchClaudia HerroSamantha HillClaire HoVictoria HodgkinsonMegan HoodAnastasia IgnatovaIsabella IpkendanzDaisy JohnsonAntoinette JohnsonAnnika Kemp

Juliet KirbyLaura KirkpatrickDayna KohnSophie LaniganMaya Le BranskyEmma LicardyLong-See LoJessica MalcolmMollie MaloneyPriya McKowenRuth MoldovanIsabella MooreZoe MossVeronica NashedEmilie NationColleen O’ConnorLouisa PainterTahlia Pajaczkowska-RussellHannah PakulaLaura ParmegianiKamara PatherIsabella Peterson-McFarlaneTabatha Pezzotti

Julia PriestonMadeline RedhillDiana ReidElena RobertsIndia RobertsAlison SchofieldEmma SheehanEliza SolomonZoe SophiosKate StantonCaroline StubbsMartha SwiftNina SzewczykAlyssa TanneChloe TefasKim TranNatalie TurnerMolly WardSarah WaterhouseGeorgina WilliamsMelissa WongTaylor WongLaura Workman

Zoe Sophios, Rebecca Cass, Kristy Spagnolo, Zoe Delaney, Tabatha Pezzotti and Hannah Pakula

Molly Ward, Elena Roberts, Frances Ward and Anne McCallum

The AOGU welcomes the following students from the Class of 2014 and encourages them to stay in touch:

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Sally Psaltis (Heath 1981) as well as being an Old Girl, and current parent of Harriet in Year 7 and Georgie in Year 11, is the newly appointed Chair of Ascham Foundation’s Past Student Committee which is raising awareness and involving Old Girls in this significant extension of our campus. She is joined on the Past Student Committee by Old Girls who have stayed connected at Ascham.

Linking Old Girls to Ascham’s next phase in Building Our Girls’ Future – The Ascham Duntrim Project

Building Our Girls’ Future is an overarching project that encompasses the Council of Governors’ vision for Ascham. It will enhance and revitalise many parts of the campus, benefitting not only current and future students, but also staff, parents, Old Girls and the whole Ascham community. It will enable Ascham to remain at the forefront of women’s education in the 21st century through improved facilities and the continuing use of the Dalton Plan.

‘I am delighted to share the news about this major project with you’, Sally said.

Georgie Psaltis, Virginia Heath (Lane 1956),Sally Psaltis (Heath 1981) and Harriet Psaltis at Ascham’s 125 year lunch in 2011

‘There are enormous flow–on effects from this development which will further the opportunities for both current and future generations of Ascham girls. The development of our newly acquired Duntrim property is just the first stage in a developing vision for the future of Ascham.’

So how did Building Our Girls’ Future – The Ascham Duntrim Project come about?

In 2012, Ascham acquired an historic and sizeable adjoining property, known as Duntrim. Along with beautiful open grounds including tennis and croquet courts, Duntrim House was originally built by William and Florence Macpherson in 1911 and was the family home of many Old Girls from the Macpherson family and later owners the Cohens (who bought it in 1922). The Cohens were the grandparents of Old Girls Susan Crist (Cohen 1969), Wendy Cohen (1970) and Dinah Treble (Cohen 1972).

Duntrim’s acquisition provided a rare opportunity for Ascham to expand its footprint in Darling Point, enhance the education of the girls and support the teachers with updated and inspiring facilities. The acquisition cost of $12.25m has already been fully funded.

‘The renovations and building work planned in the Ascham Duntrim Project are expected to cost $25m’, Sally said.

‘It is the widest-reaching project that Ascham has ever embarked on, representing an historic and exciting new chapter in the School’s 128 year history. Construction has started and is expected to be complete early in 2016.’

As many Old Girls remember, back in 1989 Ascham was one of the first schools in Sydney to provide a purpose-built 700 seat theatre with a revolving stage – the Packer Theatre. While it was sad at the time to see the demolition of The War Memorial Hall it resulted not only in physically opening up Ascham’s campus but in changing the whole look and feel of the School – delivering a new central focus point and place of gathering for the girls.

A real cultural transformation took place. There was a discernible uplift in the interest and capability across all our performing arts, from both teachers and students.

‘It was incredible to see how a state-of-the-art physical environment really inspired greater participation and achievement in the arts’, Sally said.

‘Likewise with the newly acquired Duntrim land – it will provide more space, allowing Ascham to evolve and transform the campus further, open up the back of the School, and inspire all girls and teachers with new Science facilities. It will also change the dynamic for boarders, creating a separate and relaxing haven for them to retreat to after school.

‘The transfer of the Science and technology faculty and much of boarding to this new campus in 2016 will produce significant space in the centre of the School, essentially “opening up” the entire campus.

‘This will give us the flexibility to review and optimise the overall use of other buildings, grouping relevant faculties together and allowing for an historic rejuvenation of the entire campus where we can continue to Build Our Girls’ Future’ Sally said.

Boarding plays a vital part in the strong sense of community and connection at the School. Ascham is proud of its heritage and tradition with boarders from regional Australia who bring a great depth of diversity and vitality to the School.

‘Like our Science laboratories the current boarding facilities are in need of updating. The historic Duntrim House will be fully renovated and extended to meet the needs of our boarders, providing accommodation for 61 girls and creating attractive apartments for several boarding staff. The charming proportions and family atmosphere of Duntrim House will be actively maintained so that our boarders feel they have a home away from home.’

Ascham’s current Science teaching facilities are mostly housed in the Halse Rogers building, dating from the 1960s; and, in a more recently built laboratory in the TM Scott Building dating from the 1990s. The current laboratories vary in shape and size and there is a real need for updated facilities.

North facing amphitheatre – artist’s impression Science and Community Centre – artist’s impression

Single bedroom for a senior boarder – artist’s impressionShared bedroom (Years 7-10) – artist’s impression

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View of Duntrim House and grounds, early 1920s, McPherson Family Collection, Ascham Archives

Committee member Robby Harricks (Moline 1957) said, ‘I am passionate about the study of Science as it fosters curiosity and problem solving – skills that are very useful in life’.

‘Science and technology are basic to understanding many of the big issues that face us in Australia now and in the future. It is wonderful that Ascham is upgrading the learning spaces for Science so that generations of girls have an inspiring place to learn and communicate’. Robby is also a past Ascham Science teacher, parent and careers adviser.

The School’s new Science and Community Centre has been specifically designed as an innovative teaching and learning space fit for the demands of 21st century study. It will have nine modern, spacious, fully-equipped Science laboratories, a 140 seat mid-size, university-style lecture theatre as well as indoor and outdoor informal learning spaces including a north-facing, outdoor amphitheatre.

Academic collaboration, exploration and experimentation by our girls will be encouraged and further co-curricular options will be able to be offered.

Ascham’s expanding footprint in Darling Point with New South Head Road clearly visible on the left and the dotted area indicating the Duntrim acquisition

Robby Harricks (Moline 1957)

What next?

There will be a fundraising campaign launched in 2015 with differing levels of involvement possible.

If you would like further information please contact Mrs Patti Frawley on 8356 700 or at [email protected].

Ascham Foundation’s Past Student Committee consists of:

Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) – future parent and Ascham staff member

Jane Busby (1968) – past AOGU President, past Editor of the AOG newsletter and Ascham Council member

Anna Cobcroft (Buckley 1988) – current parent

Alexandra Cooper (Noss 1982)

Robby Harricks (Moline 1957) – former staff member, careers adviser and past parent

Sally Psaltis (Heath 1981) – Chair and current parent

Debbie Lloyd-Phillips (MacDonald 1965)

Jenny Moulder (Lance 1981) – current parent and Ascham Council member

Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981) – current parent and President of the AOGU

28 29


Celebrating a centenary since Margaret Bailey bought Ascham

Miss Bailey’s working life spanned the first half of the 20th century at a time when the world was undergoing tumultuous change, all of which profoundly affected society and in turn, education.

Margaret Bailey

Raised and educated in Toowoomba, she graduated from the University of Sydney with a BA (Hons) in French. She returned to Queensland to teach at two schools, Rockhampton Girls’ Grammar and Girton Girls’ Grammar, before going abroad to study from 1912 to 1914. She gained Diplomas from University College, London and the University of London, later also studying German at Institut Tilly in Berlin.

Miss Bailey joined the staff of Ascham in 1914, and in September, barely six weeks after the outbreak of World War I, she and Miss Kathleen Gilman-Jones became the new Principals. The partnership was only to last 15 months, as Miss Gilman-Jones left Ascham to take up the position of Headmistress at Melbourne Church of England Girls’ Grammar School at the beginning of 1916. Miss Bailey made no secret of the fact that she found it a challenge being left solely in charge of the school during the war years. Notwithstanding, she registered the school in 1917 so the girls could be eligible to sit the newly introduced Intermediate and Leaving Certificates. Despite the fact that Ascham girls had been matriculating since the 1890s, more than once taking out the Fairfax Prize for top girl in the state, and some Ascham girls had attended university, for the most part few Ascham parents could see the benefit of their daughters undertaking tertiary study. The devastating social and economic effects of World War I changed this view. Lois Linsley became the first Ascham girl to pass the Leaving in 1920, but Miss Bailey had already been looking for some time to introduce a modern educational system at Ascham, one that could prepare the girls for university and life beyond school.

In her Annual Report for 1918, she notes, ‘I have always made it a rule to keep classes small enough to allow of each girl receiving individual attention, and I have no intention of departing from this principle.’

In this same report she also refers to encouraging a habit of ‘independent study and research’. In 1921, she departed for an extended study tour of the US and UK to investigate progressive educational methods, although the editors of Charivari also observed that she was having a long holiday, ‘which she richly deserves after the strenuous work she has put into the school for the past eight years.’ She visited, among others, the Dalton School in New York and Streatham School in England as well as attending numerous conferences to research the latest thinking in educational methods. In the Annual Report for 1922, written by her trusted friend and colleague, Mrs Annie Macintosh, the meticulous

research leading to the implementation of the Dalton Plan that year is described in detail. Mrs Macintosh notes that although a few of the girls found it initially somewhat challenging, overall it had been enormously rewarding for students and teachers alike.

The girls themselves were apprehensive at first, remarking under their various form notes in Charivari in 1922,

we have been struggling to master the new system and ...although it seems popular, is rather trying for the eyes’ and ‘at first we imagined a swirling, whirling mass of girls in all directions but in a very short time...the new system proceeded tranquilly enough and in spite of the fact that it looked like hard work, everyone is now contented with their lot.

The following year (1923), it was introduced to the younger years including the girls of IVA (Year 6) who exclaimed, ‘this is our first term with the Dalton Plan and it was heralded with great enthusiasm.’

Another indirect effect of World War I was the introduction of the khaki coloured uniform, replacing the previous uniform of navy blue skirts and cream blouses. Made from surplus army material, box pleated tunics doubling as sports uniforms were introduced in all girls’ schools following the formation of the GSSSU (the IGSSA) in 1922. At Ascham, it was typical of Miss Bailey’s pragmatism that the uniform was in khaki so as not to show the dirt, and for many years, beige/khaki remained the Ascham colour although today, only a fragment remains in the stripes of the summer uniform.

Meanwhile, Miss Bailey paid down the lease on the school property she originally had with the Carters. By 1930, she had bought the first of Ascham’s many neighbouring properties, ‘The Knoll’, renamed Macintosh House after Mrs Macintosh, where the junior boarders lived. Three years later during the Depression, she built a classroom block, the Margaret Bailey Building, now the oldest existing classroom block at Ascham. Despite these additions to the school, Ascham was not exempt from the effects of the Depression, and following much thought and discussion with her trusted colleagues and

close members of the school community, Miss Bailey made the decision to incorporate the school in 1937. Her reasons for doing so are outlined in a document written in 1945, in which she expresses her feeling that, ‘a school which has been in existence for fifty years should not run the risk of closing because of the difficulty of finding one person willing to undertake both the duties of head of the school and the heavy financial responsibilities involved in ownership of the property’. In the same 1945 document, Miss Bailey outlines each of the developments and improvements the school had introduced during her time as Headmistress. It was the first time that she had appealed directly to the Old Girls, noting the challenges of World War II in particular and the burden on her staff, especially the boarding staff who were desperately trying to maintain pre-war standards despite the difficulty in obtaining domestic staff. The Appeal was a great success, and led to the purchase of Fiona, the Dower House and the adjoining land on which the Oval was built.

In an interview with Miss Bailey’s personal assistant, Mrs Anne Weekes, the latter noted that Miss Bailey ‘stayed on during the War, though she had not planned to.’ Apart from evacuating most of the boarders to Cooma and Blackheath during 1942, and the cost of accommodating them on two separate sites as well as maintaining the main school, the war period also brought with it a great deal of sadness. Mrs Weekes adds, ‘many navy families were at school and the families used to come to [Miss Bailey] to break the news to the children of a loss.’

Many of Miss Bailey’s contributions form the foundation of Ascham today, whilst the school days of Miss Bailey’s students are still very much alive in the anecdotes of Old Girls, as well as the lively reports, essays, illustrations and accounts in Charivari. The sample of accompanying photographs donated to the archives by Old Girls show the day to day life of Miss Bailey’s Ascham, which spanned from the beginning of World War I to the end of World War II.

Marguerite Gillezeau Ascham ArchivistFirst Intermediate Group, 1917, Hilda (Strang) Woodriff collection

Working bee, Kiah Lodge 1942 Janet Barton and friends, in front of Miss Bailey’s study, last day of term 1928

30 31


Walking a sacred path – now open

‘Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there lies a field. I will meet you there.’ – Rumi, 13th century Persian poet

Robert Reed, Margot Doolan (Reed 1968), Madeleine Reed, Robin (Bobby) Reed (1942 and HJ’s granddaughter) Mathew Lynn (portrait artist) and Dr Peter Carter (HJ’s grandson) Centennial Park labyrinth opening ceremony 15 September 2014

The labyrinth is just such a field – a place which holds and welcomes people of all faiths, for reconciling differences, reminding us that we all walk the same path.

The passionate dream of OG Emily Simpson (1982) to finance and create a public labyrinth came to fruition in 2014 when Sydney’s first public labyrinth was opened in Centennial Park by Dame Marie Bashir. AOG Newsletter readers will remember an article about Emily’s ideas for it in the Autumn 2012 issue.

‘The Labyrinth’s long winding path acts as a metaphor for our journey through life’, Emily said at the opening on 15 September.

‘For those of you who find traditional sitting meditation challenging, then walking meditation is an easy way into that same peaceful place – a way to quiet the mind and open the heart. It’s an old fashioned slow-cooking form of contemplation.’

The Centennial Park Labyrinth is a landmark labyrinth, handcrafted from stone and comparable with the 800 year old original in France at Chartres cathedral and one in San Francisco at the Grace Cathedral.

In Sydney the Labyrinth was walked by leaders of 11 religious faiths at its opening, ‘weaving the threads of their faith into

the path of the labyrinth – generating a field of good will and reverence for all to share.’

‘St Augustin said Solvitur Ambulando – which means “It is solved by walking”’. Emily said.

‘We’ve all had moments when we wanted the world to just stop, so we could gather ourselves and begin again. The labyrinth is the place for that – a watering hole for the spirit. A place to come in times of anxiety, confusion or sorrow and walk your way into the relative calm and clarity of the bigger picture.

‘It offers us a threshold to cross, helping us leave behind what no longer serves and quite literally, step into the new. It’s also a place for joyful thresholds – celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, new seasons and holy days.’

Emily has provided Sydney with a sanctuary for centuries to come, by gathering a community of supporters and philanthropists committed to walk the Labyrinth together, as the much loved Buddhist teacher, Thich nat Han says, ‘kissing the earth with your feet, planting peace with each footfall.’

Victoria Harper and Emily Simpson (1982)

Herbert J Carter portrait

Old Girls who have attended a function in the front Drawing Room in Glenrock in recent years have probably seen the beautiful portrait of Herbert Carter hanging just to the right, inside the door.

Last issue, I wrote an article about Mr Carter and erroneously attributed the commissioning and funding of the portrait to the Carter family, when it was in the fact paid for by the Reed family, descendants of Mr Carter through Bobby (Carter) Reed.

Mr Robert Reed, great-grandson of Mr Carter, whose mother, sister, wife and daughter all attended Ascham, recently visited The Octagon to donate papers from his mother Bobby Reed (Carter 1942) who sadly passed away in May this year. The Reeds commissioned artist Mathew Lynn whose mother and sister were Old Girls – Caroline Lynn (Yates 1956) and Sophie Lynn (1983).

The unveiling of the portrait in 2009 coincided with both the centenary of the Carter family’s purchase of Glenrock in 1909 and Maddie Reed’s final year at Ascham. The event was attended by numerous descendants of Mr Carter, members of the Carter and Reed families, including Robert’s mother, Bobby.

Mathew had interviewed Bobby at home in Orange, part of his meticulous research into HJ’s life. Photographs from Margot Reed, Ted Carter and his son John, were also critical in recreating the final portrait, copies of which are now in the archives. Bobby herself had started as a young boarder in Macintosh House. Bobby enjoyed her time at Ascham, participating in all aspects of school life including sport and school performances, ultimately winning the A J Macintosh Prize. Included in her papers are her collection of sports ribbons and in keeping with wartime restrictions, examples of

the handwritten achievement cards which were issued in lieu of the usual sports prizes.

Bobby finished school in 1942, the middle of World War II, and according to Robert, was hoping to join the War effort as a nurse. Her father persuaded her instead to go to university, perhaps a testament to his own father’s fervent belief in girls’ education, not to mention endorsing Miss Bailey’s own philosophy of girls obtaining tertiary education whenever possible. Bobby studied Physiotherapy (Massage, as it was still called at the time). As well as working before she married, after her children had finished school, Bobby started on a fresh chapter of her life and worked full time as a physiotherapist in Orange. She also pursued her love of sport throughout her life, her great passion being golf. Her lifelong interest in Ascham culminated in being appointed to the School Council during the 1960s.

Marguerite Gillezeau Ascham Archivist

Sylvia MacManamey, Ann Dalrymple Hay and Robin Reed (Carter), ca 1937, Mac House. Peggy Saville de Seriere collection, Ascham Archives

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Engagements Marriages Births Deaths

Engagements

Elizabeth Hourigan 1998 to Andrew Biggs on 21 August 2014 Elizabeth Lee 2005 to Benjamin Yong

Marriages

Grace Corbiau with Louis and Olivia

Births

Edwina Lau 2003 to Joel Ernest Munns on 4 October 2014

Briana McEwen 2003 to Justin Drew on 15 March 2014

Anna Macgowan 1973 to Andrew Hutchison on 25 January 2014

Mary Dewar 2002 to James Dutaillis on 6 September 2014. The four bridesmaids – all Ascham Old Girls – were her sisters Fiona Dewar 1998 and Alexandra Dewar 2000, and friends Sophie van Praag (Harvey) 2002 and Amber Glajz 2002

Kristina Kovacs 2005 to Teji Gobran on 20 September 2014

Moana Page 1997 to Dan (Daniel) Torr on 10 June 2014 in Bora Bora. Moana had nine bridesmaids on the day, four of whom were Ascham Old Girls – Emilia Garrigues 1997, Helga Douglas 1997, Tamsin Churchouse (Bradshaw) 1997 and Alicia Wadsworth 2000.

Correction:

Camilla Thompson 1999 to Kristofer Fretwell on 8 December 2013 (incorrectly noted in Winter edition where we referred to Camilla as Camilla White – our apologies to Camilla!)

Edwina Lau and Joel Ernest Munns Briana McEwen and Justin Drew Moana Page and Daniel Torr

Velvet Chapman (Garvey) 2000 – son, Oscar John Chapman on 15 February 2014, first grandchild for Tracey Garvey (King) 1969

Grace Corbiau (Knott) 2002 – daughter, Oliva Chloé Corbiau on 24 February 2014, a sister for Louis Xavier

Kate McFadyen (Barry) 1997 – daughter, Molly Sally McFadyen on 7 May 2013

Emma Marsh (Miall) 1997 – daughter, Willa Tika Marsh on 24 February 2014

Nina Miall 1995 – son, Dashiell (Dash) Oliver Uglow on 21 May 2014, a brother for Felix

Sophie Soster (Martin) 1997 – son, Hamish Antony Soster on 22 April 2014, a brother for Lachlan and Annabelle

Kate Spencer (Mackay) 1995 – daughter, Imogen Lucy Anne on 8 July 2014, a sister for Maxine and Sophie

Allegra Spender 1995 – daughter, Octavia Spender-Capps on 23 March 2014

Alice Strang (Evans) 1998 – son, Clive Harry Strang on 13 January 1914, a brother for Nelly and Rex

Sophie Van Praag (Harvey) 2002 – daughter, Eva Van Praag on 21 November 2013

Alex Wilson (Gordon) 1995 – son, Barnaby John Wilson on 28 February 2014, a brother for Theodore

Eva van Praag

Deaths

Caroline Collins (Weidersehn) 1958 on 2 April 2015

Mervyn Finlay on 2 July 2014, husband of Prudence Finlay (Teece) 1952 and father of Victoria Finlay 1976 and Catherine Finlay 1983

Violet Hamilton (Diane Oakley) 1967 on 4 July 2014, sister of Carol Oakley 1968 and Trish Oakley 1974 (see obituary also)

Patricia Harland (Sanderson) 1961 on 19 August 2014 (see obituary also)

Elaine Howard (Howes) 1945 on 12 June 2014

John Hudson on 4 August 2014, father of Anne Andersen (Hudson) 1978 and Joan Elsley (Hudson) 1977 and husband of Jennifer Hudson (Davidson) 1950 (deceased)

Gillian McKerihan (Scott Stevenson) 1940 on 6 September 2014, mother of Susan McKerihan 1967, Sara McKerihan 1969, Mary Jane McKerihan 1974 and Anita Lau 1977, grandmother of Edwina Munns (Lau) 2003 and Isabel Lau 2009

Wendy Matthews on 11 July 2014, mother of Lisa Matthews 1982

Belinda Nixon on 4 August 2014, mother of Lucie Body (Nixon) 1985 (see obituary also)

Charlie Onus on 25 June 2014, husband of Mandy Onus 1971 and father of Jessica Onus 1998

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Obituaries

Patricia Anne Harland (Sanderson) 1961

11 June 1943 to 19 August 2014

Pat was a true country girl – and like many of us she was thrown into the deep end of a totally different and unfamiliar lifestyle as a boarder in a city school, in the days when the only communication with our parents was through letters.

I was fascinated by Pat’s stories, and about her every day life growing up in Walgett. It was so different to my life living in the cool Monaro mountain country in southern NSW. Pat was an only child and her friends were the domestic animals, horses, sheep dogs and cats. Often with humour she told us about hunting wild pigs, emus and kangaroos. Much of this time she was busy translating her stories into drawings, using pencils and paper.

Whether she was depicting actions of stockmen on horses chasing pigs, or carefully adding fine details to a landscape of her home country – she accurately drew from memory without photographs to assist her. She was an amazing natural artist.

One story stands out from Pat’s school days. Once she returned from holidays bringing a substantial amount of cash with her. When questioned by Mrs Rowe about this she said she had earned it pig shooting! On a boarders’ shopping trip to David Jones Elizabeth Street store one Saturday morning (wearing full boarders’ uniform), Pat snuck out of the store to secretly buy a new shotgun at a nearby gun shop! Somehow she concealed her purchase, although there were occasions when her dorm mates suggested she bring out the gun and fire a shot to quieten the early morning birds!

In later years when on a family holiday I stayed with Pat and her family. It was the first time I had experienced the flat plains and dry landscape of North West NSW. This was when I realised that those incredible drawings that Pat did at Ascham informed us of what the country really looked like.

After leaving school Pat returned home, working on the land for her father. With little time to pursue her love of art, she undertook an occasional art workshop, and sometimes exhibited her work in local art exhibitions. Later she enjoyed working in pastels – her art always portraying a sense of colour and her feelings about the country that she loved and knew so well.

Today I am thankful to have a small collection of Pat’s hand-made Christmas cards from past years – some with that touch of humour, to remember my very talented friend – who was perhaps an Australian version of Calamity Jane!

Kindly provided by Catherine Jarratt (Ferguson) 1960

Pat was the only child of Mr and Mrs Ian Sanderson from Walgett. Pat told me her story years ago:

After she was born there appeared to be something wrong with one of her eyes. Mrs Sanderson had a friend whom she met at art classes before she was married, so made an appointment with Dr Norman Gregg, later Sir Norman Gregg. Dr Gregg was an eye specialist in Macquarie St Sydney. It was at this visit that it was revealed that the only illness during her mother’s very normal pregnancy was German Measles at 13 weeks pregnant. This revelation was the start of years of research and it was Dr Gregg who announced to the world the connection between German Measles and deformities. Pat was the case study.

Pat attended Ascham from 1955 to 1960. At school Pat was always sketching and painting. After school and going home to help with running the properties in and around Walgett, Pat married and had two sons. After her divorce Pat moved back to the family property and with her partner, later her husband Trevor, they both managed the family properties until her death in August 2014 after a short illness.

Kindly provided by Sue Litchfield (Robinson) 1962

Violet Hamilton (Diane Oakley) 1967

12 February 1949 to 4 July 2014

Violet Hamilton (nee Diane Oakley), class of 67, sadly passed away in the UK in July this year at the far too young age of 65.

Violet was a highly talented fine art photographer, whose work

spanned the counter culture of Sydney in the 70s to, more recently, the world of 19th century female photographers.

Violet spent much of her high school years in Ascham’s art rooms, where she became inspired to dedicate her career to art.

After gaining a degree at the National Art School, she became Rolling Stone’s chief photographer in Sydney in the 70s, documenting the rock and roll scene in Australia.

At the same time, Sydney was coming of age. Paddington, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross provided the edgy backdrop for a new and innovative approach to art, music and culture. This was the chemistry that sparked Violet’s photography at that time.

Violet then undertook post-graduate work at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After gaining her degree, she was offered the position of the curator of the Wilson Centre for Photography in London – one of the largest private collections of photographs in the world, owned by the man who owns the James Bond production company.

At the Wilson Centre, she uncovered the work of women photographers in the 19th century such as Julia Margaret Cameron. She curated a series of exhibitions of Cameron’s work around the world.

I was lucky enough to inherit the body of her professional output and I will be working with the National Art School to exhibit her work for the first time in Australia.

Violet is survived by her partner, Clive and our sister, Carol Oakley (class of 68) who lives in Greece.

Kindly provided by Trish Oakley 1974

Belinda Nixon

2 February 1938 to 4 August 2014

Belinda began school at Ascham in 1949 at Mac House at the age of 11. She very quickly settled into all that School and Boarding offered. She keenly participated in many School activities including School Tennis, displaying her talent and ability by making the As

in both the Junior and Senior divisions and competing in various Tildesley Shield’s for Ascham, making the semifinals on at least one occasion. She was proudly chosen to be an usherette at the Davis Cup in 1954. Belinda also represented the school in Athletics.

Belinda was beautiful, vivacious, kind and fun loving and made many very dear and close friendships that continued through her life. Upon leaving school she completed a

Secretarial Course in Sydney before returning home to help run the Family Property, Burren Burren at Collarenebri, NSW.

At the age of 20 she married John Nixon and moved to the beautiful Nixon Family Property ‘Oakhampton’ in Upper Manilla in Northern NSW that has been held in their family for five generations, where together they raised four children, James, Rex, Tina and Lucie. There Belinda also immersed herself in all that the region had to offer, becoming involved in many local activities and organisations. She was a founding member and past Chairman for the Brain Foundation for the N&NW as well as Chairman of the Manilla Hospital. She was also president of the N/NW Ascham Old Girls Union, in charge of raising funds to contribute to a proposed Boarders Scholarship at Ascham.

Her husband John was unfortunately involved in a serious Horse Riding accident in the late 1970s. To her credit she rose to all the challenges this brought the family, founding and running a wonderful and much acclaimed Home Stay at Oakhampton, that created a truly unique Australian Country Hospitality experience for the many thousands of people from both here and overseas who she looked after so warmly for many years right up until April this year. She would regularly cater for large events involving a three course meal for over a hundred people at a time.

She was the NSW representative for Farm Stays regularly taking care of baby animals such as kangaroos and goats in the Homestead itself, much to the great delight of her many house guests. She would tirelessly get up during the night to feed them as one would a baby. During times of droughts many of her previously cared for kangaroos would return as pets to feed on the beautiful green Oakhampton lawns. Many of the animals she cared for remained as pets at Oakhampton itself and she also had a multitude of many other interesting animals and birds that she would tend and care for daily in the Homestead gardens that guests too were able to enjoy.

Her interests were many and varied including gardening, travelling and racing. Of great pride to her was the fact that her parents Rex and Helen White had won the Melbourne Cup in 1956 with their family horse, Evening Peal.

Belinda bravely battled cancer for over 25 years, approaching it with the same optimism, courage and strength she did with all aspects of her life, and always with a smile on her face and great care and interest for others around her. She died at her daughter Lucie’s home in Brisbane following an illness associated with her longstanding battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family. She leaves behind four children and eight grandchildren and is dearly missed by all who knew her and loved her.

Kindly provided by Pam Agostini (Cobcroft) 1954

Patricia Harland (Sanderson 1961) with Jenny Arthur (Bucknell 1961)

36 37


Career updates

Jess Beston 1994* After ten years working for major record labels, in 2011 Jess started her own business, Tiny Monster, a music management and independent artists and repertoire business. Jess now manages The Trouble With Templeton and Holy Holy.

Harriet Body 2005*Harriet is a visual artist who works in a variety of media including video and mark-making on paper to explore ideas of process, simplicity and nothingness. She has completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with First Class Honours and a research-based Masters of Fine Arts, both from the UNSW College of Fine Arts. She has exhibited extensively in Sydney as well as elsewhere around Australia and overseas. Harriet is currently working towards two major exhibitions in Sydney and Darwin and an artist residency in Japan in 2015.

Stefanie Brown 2004*Stefanie currently completing her PhD in Electrical Engineering, specialising in Acoustic Signal Processing at UNSW. She has completed a number of internships while studying at a wide variety of electronics, software, biomedical and telecommunications companies in Australia and the US.

Jeanine Bribosia 1999*Jeanine started her own agency, The Cru Media + Communications in 2010. Now, with an agency of seven staff, and clients from Matt Moran and Guillaume Brahimi to GH Mumm and Shaw + Smith, Cru Media is recognised as a leader in the food and drink space, and named one of the fastest growing Public Relations businesses by The PR Report.

Amy Colquhoun 1997*Amy is currently the Senior Social Worker in Rehabilitation at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. Amy’s experience has been primarily in health social work in a number of public hospitals including The Royal Melbourne, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Sally Dunlop 1998*Sally is a Behavioural Scientist at the Cancer Institute NSW, where she conducts research on the impact of media and public health policy on smoking-related attitudes and behaviours. She is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, where she supervises research students and teaches about media effects on health behaviours.

Rebecca Gill 2007*Rebecca completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) at the University of Sydney. Rebecca also completed a graduate program at the NSW Treasury in 2012. She

then spent ten months in the office of Treasurers Mike Baird and Andrew Constance as Treasury’s Departmental Liaison Officer managing the Treasurer’s requests for advice. She recently returned to Treasury as an analyst in the Infrastructure Financing Unit where her team develops the best value-for-money financing arrangements for infrastructure and commercial projects initiated by the government. At the moment she is working on the $14.9 billion motorway project, WestConnex. She is continuing her studies part-time at the post-graduate level in finance.

Anna Grunseit 2005 Anna who is daughter of Barbara Grunseit (Warnock 1970), recently completed a Masters of Law (LLM) at the University of Cambridge with First Class Honours and is working for the New York law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom at the firm’s London office.

Jane Hewitt 1986*In 1996, Jane founded UniLodge Australia, a student accommodation specialist, and Nomads Hostels. Jane was recently appointed a non-executive director of a specialist youth services organisation Beacon Foundation and is involved in a variety of social ventures including the Business Alliance to End Homelessness, participating in a project to fund and build youth ‘Foyers’ in NSW and in a review of social housing policy for Social Ventures Australia.

Audrey Lim 2009 Audrey graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, UK with a BA (Hons) in Modern and Medieval Languages and Management Studies, and was awarded First Class Honours with Distinction (also known as a ‘Starred First’).

Tiffany Northall (Dyball) 1986*Tiffany has worked in hospitals as a Registered Nurse/Clinical Nurse Specialist for the last 20 years. Tiffany completed a Masters of Nursing Research in 2012 and is currently completing a PhD. For the last ten years she has specialised in the care and management of older people in hospital. This is the focus of her clinical practice as well as her research.

Jess Ross 1993*Jess is Managing Director of the Australian arm of Wilson Fletcher, an international digital design studio. With over ten years of digital content strategy and product management, Jess is now a specialist in digital subscription services, paid content, conversion and membership moneys and works with senior teams to facilitate content-led digital innovation programs.

Dr Nisha Sachdev 1993*Nisha completed her undergraduate medical degree in Scotland, and then relocated to New Zealand. She also finished a PhD and specialist training in Ophthalmology. Nisha then spent a few years in Melbourne subspecialising in Paediatric Ophthalmology. During this time, she commenced volunteer aid work in Vietnam where she is part of an organisation performing cataract surgery in rural Vietnam with Vietnam Vision Project. She aims to start her own organisation, performing this work in India. Nisha is now back in Sydney where she has commenced her own private practice in Leichhardt, with her sister Sonia (1998) who is a dentist.

Katherine Weekes 2007 Katherine completed a Bachelor of Commerce/Law at ANU in 2013, majoring in Finance and Marketing. After participating in Protégé, a Microsoft marketing competition for university students, Katherine completed an internship at Microsoft in Enterprise Marketing. She has since been working as a Marketing Communications Manager.

Margaret Macarthur (Downes) 1955 and Carol Taylor (Tilbury) 1955Old Girls Margaret Macarthur (Downes 1955) and Carol Taylor (Tilbury 1955) of the Wellington Branch of the Red Cross recently won the Margaret Waddell Cup for Achievement by a NSW Country Branch in 2012. They were runners up for this Cup in recent years. They were particularly thrilled to receive this award named after a fellow Ascham Old Girl.

The Late Margaret Waddell OBE (1930) served as Lieutenant in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea during World War II. She worked for many years for the Red Cross where she represented Australia at four World Conferences and was Chairman of the NSW Red Cross for several years. She was awarded an OBE in 1973 for her services to the community. She formed The Red Ribbon Committee in the 1970s when she was Chair of the NSW division of Australian Red Cross, as a group for women and wives of consular generals who wished to raise funds for the Red Cross.

Victoria Weekes (Harvey) 1979 After a successful and diverse career in the financial services industry, Victoria now has moved to what is known as a ‘portfolio’ career, which she says gives her in-built variety and interest to her professional life. She is a non-executive director of a number of private sector and government entities, some for profit and some not-for-profit, and an occasional business adviser on anything from risk management to gender diversity. Victoria is on the Board of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA) and in this capacity she has pursued one of her passions – improving gender diversity in the financial services industry. This has involved some exciting initiatives, one of which is the Lightbulb Moments

video series, which is a series of interviews with male leaders in the industry who talk about their ‘Lightbulb Moment’ – the personal moment when they realised how important gender diversity was in an otherwise male dominated industry. The series uses the personal stories to try to inspire other men in business to think about what drives them and how they can contribute to change. As a personal challenge of her own, Victoria appeared earlier this year on Channel 10’s Studio Ten morning show to talk about the Lightbulb Moments.

Anna Willett (Caldwell) 1990Anna is now living in China and working as a freelance photographer. She recently embarked on a life changing journey with friends to Kenya in Africa to take photos and document the lives of under-privileged children in Kenyan society. The result of that trip was a book that is now available for sale in Australia through So They Can. The book’s main focus is based on interviews with the orphans in a home built by So They Can which then expands into where some of these children came from. In addition they document issues faced by families in very poor circumstances, in a small country town in Kenya and how through education you can change the lives of individuals, their families and communities for the better. One hundred percent of book proceeds are being donated back to organisations working in Kenya to help children.

The book is available at [email protected]. For more information on Anna and her work go to www.annawillett.com.

Dr Nicole Yu 2002* Nicole is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering at UNSW. She is Conjoint Lecturer at The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Honorary Researcher at The Westmead Children’s Hospital. She co-invented two international patented orthopaedic implant designs for bone repair. Nicole’s research interests lie in orthopaedic and regenerative medicine – particularly the optimisation of tissue engineering strategies for bone defect repair. From 2011-2014, Nicole was Postdoctoral Research Officer at The Orthopaedic Research and Biotechnology Unit based at The Kids Research Institute.

Suzie Coghlan 1976 – correctionIn the AOG Newsletter Winter 2014 we reported that Suzie was nominated for NSW Local Woman of the Year. In fact she was nominated for NSW Woman of the Year and she won NSW Local Woman of the Year. Our apologies to Suzie.

* With thanks to Ascham’s Careers Department who provided the updates marked * as a result of the Year 11 Careers mentors lunch where they began a mentoring process with current Ascham girls. Further career updates of our Old Girl mentors will be published in the next edition of AOG Newsletter due to space restrictions in this issue.

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Descendants of Old Girls on the current School Roll – corrections

Thank you to those readers who have alerted us to errors and omissions in the list published in the Winter 2014 Newsletter. Here are the corrections which should be read in conjunction with this earlier list.

Student name Mother Grandmother Great Grandmother

Year 10Emma Sweeney Edwina Dunlop Jill Saxton Phyllis Haley

Year 11Annabel Sweeney Edwina Dunlop Jill Saxton Phyllis Haley

Year 12Isabella Poulden Catherine Lawrie Judy Pitt

Holly Wadsworth Sarah Bray Diana Sinclair

Next AOG Newsletter – do you have any news?

The AOGU office welcomes information including graduations, careers, reunions, engagements, marriages, births, deaths, items of interest and changes of address.

We would also like to include details regarding your business for the AOGU Business Directory.

If you would like to let us know of your Ascham forebears and wider connections (e.g. aunts) please give as many details as possible including name, maiden name and year of leaving school.

Please use let us know if you would like to receive Ascham’s weekly eNews sent to parents, staff and members of the Ascham community. It is published during school terms and contains detailed news. However it is only available via email.

Name: Maiden name:

Email address: Years at school:

Phone (include mobile):

Address: Postcode:

News:

Yes I would like to receive Ascham’s weekly eNews.

Please send to Editor, Ascham Old Girls’ Newsletter, Ascham School, 188 New South Head Road, Edgecliff 2027 or email: [email protected]

NEXT ISSUE – WINTER 2015

Submission deadline: Friday 27 March 2015

Yes I consent to sharing my details amongst Old Girls.

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Founder Miss Marie Wallis

Patron Mr Andrew Powell

Office Bearers for 2014/2015 President: Mrs Jennifer Ridhalgh (Harvey)

Vice Presidents: Miss Hannah Brown and Mrs Caroline Stephens (Atwill)

Honorary Treasurer: Miss Amanda Urquhart Honorary Secretary: Ms Catriona Booth

Committee Mrs Skye Barry (Edwards), Ms Julia Booth, Mrs Penny Buckland (Bray), Mrs Giselle Collins (Jollie), Mrs Caroline Laumberg (Crouch), Mrs Harriet Millett (Street), Mrs Tina Milson (Bowman), Mrs Cathy Lawrie Poulden (Lawrie), Ms Amanda Stern, Miss Diana Reid

Enquiries 8356 7065 or [email protected]

AOGU Committee

Fiona Dewar (1998), Amber Glajz (2002), Mary Dewar (2002), Alexandra Dewar (2000) and Sophie van Praag (Harvey 2002)

Ascham Old Girls’ Union

188 New South Head Road, Edgecliff NSW 2027 Australia

P +61 2 8356 7065 F +61 2 8356 7230 E [email protected]

www.ascham.nsw.edu.au

summer 2014 - potentiality online communitiesaogu.ascham.nsw.edu.au/nsw/...summer2014_lr_ds.pdf ·...

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