IE Autumn 2015 magazine_FA_V2_Web_SP

Information Exchange
Melbourne Girls Grammar
an Anglican school
i.e. Autumn 2015
Melbourne Girls Grammar
an Anglican school
2 Chairman of Council
3 From the Principal
4 Curriculum – Early Learning
8 Curriculum – Junior Years
10 Curriculum – Middle Years
12 Curriculum – Senior Years
13 Curriculum – Boarding
14 Visual Art
16Drama
18 Music
20 MAaD Auxiliary
21 Morris Hall Welcome Breakfast
22 St Hilda’s Chapel Service
23 2015 SEC Inauguration
24 Year 12 Father Daughter Breakfast
25 Boarders’ Family Dinner
26 Archives
28 Family Connections
31 Eye on MGGS Art
32 Parents Association
33 Nisi Dominus Society
34 Celebrating Community
Contributions to the
Artemis Project
36 Old Grammarians Society
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Editorial Co-ordinator:
Melissa Hosikian
Community Office
Email: melissa.hosikian@mggs.vic.edu.au
Published by:
Melbourne Girls Grammar
86 Anderson Street, South Yarra 3141
Victoria, Australia
For the latest Melbourne Girls Grammar
news visit: www.mggs.vic.edu.au
2
Chairman of Council
Art enables us to both find
ourselves and lose ourselves at
the same time.
In my other life, I’m currently working on a
project with Lyn Williams AM, the Chairman
of McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery
and widow of artist Fred Williams; both such
great forces in the world of fine arts. I’ve told
Lyn the story of my own mother standing
rapt in front of one of Fred’s paintings at
an exhibition in Geelong in the 1960’s. I’ve
never forgotten the transfixed look on mum’s
face, mesmerized by the landscapes Fred
Williams painted that transformed the way
we view much of Australia’s open space.
What about for you? Has there been a
painting, a piece of theatre, a film, a book, a
dance performance, a recital, a song, a….?
The Arts at MGGS is continually evolving,
leaving audiences astonished and
sometimes overwhelmed by the creativity,
talent, freshness, insights, beauty and
sophistication. I’m thinking of the choirs at
the St Paul’s December Carol Service, the
musicians on stage at Speech night, the
annual Art Exhibition of works from 3YO to
VCE, the evolution of drama and performing
arts, and the creative writing we read.
And that’s just from an audience
perspective. The enabling of Art, as Thomas
Merton says, to both find ourselves and lose
ourselves, is the intrinsic value of art when
Anita Ziemer
Anita Ziemer
Chairman of Council
pursued by the individual. That’s the real
collect for our girls.
This year three of our Year 12 graduates
have been invited to present at the Season
of Excellence in Fine Art, Drama and Music.
They are rightly proud to be acknowledged
for their brilliant talent and hard work while
our School can be proud of its strong and
evolving Arts curriculum and co-curriculum.
Interestingly the Victoria State Government
recently changed the title of its Arts Ministry
to the ‘Creative Industries’ Ministry. It’s an
interesting time to be looking at how our
artistic lives connect with other parts of our
lives.
ANITA ZIEMER
CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL
From the Principal
Kahlia Davis graduated in 2013 and headed
straight to New York and studies at the
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
(AMDA). Embracing an unrelenting schedule
of classes, many days being 7.00am –
9.00pm, and demonstrating outstanding
resilience living independently in New York
apart from family and friends, she pursued
her passion for musical theatre with the
enthusiasm I remember so fondly of Kahlia
the student, the SEC leader, the supportive
peer. How fitting that on the eve of going
to print with this edition of IE, focused on
celebrating the Arts at MGGS, news reached
us that Kahlia had taken the next brave and
exciting step in her fledgling stage career.
We were thrilled to hear that Kahlia has been
offered a 12 month contract touring the USA
in the cast of 42nd Street, and understudy
for the role of Maggie.
Kahlia’s story is captured on page 17, her
words celebrate the encompassing culture
of our school, that no matter the pathway,
an MGGS girl has it instilled in her to seize
opportunities. We encourage our girls to
walk confidently in the world, whilst having
the respect and humility to value the
diversity of those they will study with, work
alongside, and lead.
The Arts naturally immerse students in
the perspectives of “others” – culturally,
ethnically, politically, historically. It is a
context in which students can explore their
emerging beliefs and opinions, to stretch
themselves through various mediums
of expression, and to trial and test their
creative interpretation of concepts,
issues, and environments. The Arts are
an integral and enriching domain of our
Programs, K – 12, and for many girls an
exciting opportunity for personal growth
and engagement. I do hope you enjoy this
edition of IE, connecting our community with
current practices in the Arts at MGGS.
“Bold” is a word I do associate with
our history of educating girls – “trail
blazers” is often a description that our Old
Grammarians give to their experiences under
successive eras of Principals and inspiring
teachers. In this edition of IE, we introduce
the focus for philanthropy in 2015, our
Gender Equality Campaign. This fundraising
campaign will be led by the voices of our
girls, informed by their perspectives on the
experience of being a girl today. Our girls
ask the questions that matter to them when
faced with gender inequity. And our girls
demonstrate the spirit and determination
to challenge this status quo. I hope that,
when asked, you will join our girls in
crafting a future in which gender is not the
discriminating factor.
I warmly thank Mrs Janine McKenzie for
her service and commitment as Director of
Junior Years. She leaves MGGS to pursue
post-graduate studies, following her passion
for research and evidence based practice
in education. With the refurbishment of
our Junior Years campus and curriculum,
Catherine Misson
Principal
Janine McKenzie
Janine provided passionate leadership for
the establishment of our Learning Studios
environments as well as developing
strategies to enhance contemporary literacy
and numeracy practices at P – 4. Janine can
also be very proud of the development of
the new Science Program at Morris Hall, a
wonderful extension of our commitment to
developing confident, contemporary girls
through challenging learning experiences.
Janine’s warmth towards girls, staff
and parents was a lovely feature of her
leadership style, and the community
benefitted from her inclusive approach.
Kellie Morgan
Mrs Kellie Morgan will assume the role of
Director of Junior and Early Years Programs.
An outstanding educator, combining
insight with experience in K – 4 learning,
Kellie is excited to offer her leadership
and encouragement of Morris Hall and BTC
communities.
the all-round knowledge, expertise and
interpersonal skills that this important role
requires. She has worked within the field of
education in a range of diverse international
educational settings. She has extensive
experience in the English school system and
the IB. Nicola is currently Head of English
at St George’s School, Switzerland, a role
through which she redesigned the Middle
Years English Program, drawing upon the
IB model and international best practice,
delivering outstanding academic results.
Nicola Kirkup
She values the central role of student
wellbeing for happy and motivated girls,
and her student centred philosophy aligns
strongly with our approach to Middle Years
schooling. Nicola has an outstanding
reputation for collaborative leadership,
change management, and innovation in
schooling. She is looking forward to leading
and learning beside our outstanding team
of staff.
CATHERINE MISSON
PRINCIPAL
Ms Nicola Kirkup has been announced as
Director of Middle Years (Years 5-8). From
a strong local and international field of
candidates, Nicola emerged as having
3
Curriculum – Early Learning Centre
Imagine...
Visual Arts in the Early Learning Centre
At the Barbara Tolson Early Learning Centre, a section of our statement
of philosophy says: “We recognise the rights of students to explore,
question, reflect, problem-solve, theorise and communicate their
thoughts and findings through a range of expressive languages.”
It is our aim to provide a learning
environment for our girls where research
occurs naturally – a place where
imagination, experimentation, rigour,
creativity and expression can interweave.
Our girls are offered daily opportunities
to encounter many types of materials,
expressive languages, and points of view
whilst working actively with their hands,
minds and emotions, in a context that
values the intense creativity of each child in
the group.
Our Early Learning Program has been
influenced by a number of theoretical
perspectives. One of these is the Reggio
Emelia Approach. Loris Malaguzzi (1920
– 1994), the founder of Reggio Emilia’s
educational philosophy, promoted an
innovative philosophy of education: a
theory based on the hundred languages of
children, giving value to the potential and
many intelligences of all children.
As a provocation to activate a range of
expressive languages, the girls were offered
an opportunity to visit the Phelia Grimwade
Drawing Room to view the majestic ‘Twixt
Shadow And Shine, 1921, oil on canvas by
Theodore Penleigh Boyd.
At first the girls observed their
surroundings, marvelling at the Drawing
Room and noticing many wonderful things
about the space.
Zara: The room looks different from when I
last saw it.
Scarlett: Last time when I came here I was
waiting for Melissa.
Lyla spotted the MGGS Art Catalogue: Look
Nicole it’s the same picture!!
Then the educators invited them to look
closely at the beautiful painting that hangs
above the fireplace, and they talked about
possible questions, thoughts and feelings
that we could experience while really
looking, attending and seeing the painting
in front of us.
Anabelle: It is standing on the river and
shining on the grass. People are sitting near
the tree because of the flowers, the wood
and the river.
Elsie: The tree grows flowers so it protects
the tree from the monkeys, so they can’t eat
the leaves, only bananas. The people are
watching the river.
Alice: The people are next to the tree. How
did the tree grow? I like the frame. It has lots
of swirls and swirls around it.
Sam: The leaves on the tree are a bit yellow,
because I like the colour. It will be autumn
and then the leaves will fall off.
Alannah: The people are walking past the
leaves.
Nicola: The man painted the tree, river,
people, grass and the bush because it’s
really, really beautiful.
Clara: It’s a brown tree and brown leaves
because it’s a hot day.
The Hundred Languages of Childhood
The child
is made of one hundred.
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred, always a hundred
ways of listening
of marveling, of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding.
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.
The school and the culture
separate the head from the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
love and marveling
only at Easter and Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred
they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination,
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.
And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there
The child says
No Way. The hundred is there.
Loris Malaguzzi (1920 – 1994)
4
Ross Group
‘Twixt Shadow And Shine (1921)
Theodore Penleigh Boyd
Ross Group
Wilmot Group
Wilmot Group
5
Curriculum – Early Learning Centre
To find out more about
‘Twixt Shadow And Shine,
please turn to page 31.
6
Wilmot Group
Ross Group
To begin the conversation the educators
wondered out loud: Who is the artist? Where
was she/he standing? Did the artist paint
what she/he sees or something from her/
his imagination?
Miffy: She is a girl, the artist.
Valentina: Maybe it is a tree that is in the
front of the school.
Amelie: I think it’s a forest and maybe a girl
painted a picture.
Hamsini: A book. It was in the book.
Ariana: There is water, it’s a bit dark.
Teacher: I can almost hear the sounds.
Zara: You can imagine frogs in the river and
birds.
Alana: It’s a yellow river.
Teacher: Can you pay attention and focus on
the bank of the river, just under the tree.
Amelie: I can see people. There is the artist
too.
Valentina: They are painting the pictures
too. Maybe.
Amelie: And the grass.
Billie: What are these black bits?
Valentina: Maybe the storm is coming.
Zara: It is coming tonight, maybe they are
camping overnight.
Amelie: Maybe it’s wind.
Miffy: It got a lot of people, I can see it now.
Zara: Could it be that someone is getting
married?
Billy: A stormy night.
Valentina: It is autumn, because it has
different colours.
Indie: The leaves are getting off the trees
and they are not coming back.
Valentina: They had a swim and the
crocodile was going to bite them, so they
had to get out.
Ariana: I think the colours are beautiful. I
think the painter painted it a long time ago.
After they shared their thoughts the
educators told the story of the painting, the
artist and talked about its history. The girls
thought about the many stories that this
painting could have each time a new child
looks at it with new ideas and new feelings.
Ruth: What ideas do you have about this
painting?
Beth: There is yellow leaves, like yellow pom
poms, like honey. I like to eat honey.
Eva: They don’t have any leaves.
Isabella: There is a road but no cars. There
is a tree. It feels like they are in a forest.
Taylah: I see grass.
Shyla: I see a river.
Harini: There are trees.
Isla: And flowers.
Eva: I can see people.
Genovefa: Are they having a picnic?
“Children need the arts as much
as they need fresh air. Otherwise
they perish on the inside.”
Philip Pullman, author and illustrator
Beth: You can’t see them easily. Not on the
grass. They might fall in the river.
Shyla: They are tiny.
Genovefa: Maybe they are trying to fish.
Jasmine: There are flowers and the people
are dancing. Fairies could be flying around.
Beth: It looks like it is night time.
Ruth: Is it scary?
All: No.
Shyla: I think they might have the big people
fall in the river.
Taylah: They may drown.
Genovefa: They could swim. Or have life
jackets on.
Serafina: Maybe the fairies will look after
them.
Genovefa: I think it looks like concrete.
Isla: I think it’s a river and a road.
Ruth: From the information it says it is the
Yarra River.
Beth: With the honey tree.
Genovefa: Flowers on the tree and the bees
can make the honey.
Early Learning Centre artworks inspired by ‘Twixt Shadow And Shine
7
Curriculum – Junior Years
A Foundation for Creativity
The Visual and Performing Arts at Morris Hall
Schools are a microcosm of society, reflective of our democratic system which encourages expression, the
ability to communicate ideas, ideals, new discoveries and new technologies.
The Visual and Performing Arts is a forum,
pivotal to every society and a means of
expression, both culturally and socially.
The Arts encompass new ideas which are
fuelled by human emotions and driven by
the desire to express concepts reflecting
civilization.
Many schools have Arts programs, but the
strength of the Arts program is indicative of
the encouragement of creative expression
and lateral thinking within a school. At
Morris Hall our students engage in a variety
of artistic experiences, enabling and
encouraging involvement in all the arts.
As with other disciplines, learning in the
Arts is sequential. Foundational skills are
paramount in order for future innovative
creativity to abound. We encourage
emotional, sensory, cognitive, physical and
aesthetic expression, as it is this holistic
approach to the Arts which forms the basis
for knowledge and creativity to develop. The
expansion of skills is explored through a
diverse range of disciplines. Such skills are
developed and nurtured with each student
and are supported by the opportunity for
8
individual extension and encouragement for
future growth in the Arts. Students are given
a multitude of opportunities to perform,
observe, create, make and respond in both
Visual Arts and Performing Arts, enhancing
both self-esteem and a love of the Arts.
“...the strength of the Arts
program is indicative of the
encouragement of creative
expression and lateral thinking
within a school.”
The Visual Arts Program often integrates
art practice with studio units of inquiry and
includes exploration in drawing, painting,
textiles, clay, printing and mixed media.
In our teaching, the emphasis is through
tenacious individual attention, and for more
able students, increasingly complex tasks
and extensions are set. Students learn to
analyse art, discuss art and display their art.
In Performing Arts students learn to read
and listen to music, create music, and are
given a variety of opportunities to perform
music, demonstrating their skills with
rhythm and beat. Individual tuition in a
variety of instruments and voice training is
available. Various group activities such as
Morris Hall Voices, Twilight Recitals, Morris
Hall Orchestra and the string program,
provide the girls with many performance
opportunities. The Annual School Music
Concert, Morris Hall Performs!, is a highlight
on the school calendar as is the whole
school Art Exhibition.
It is the belief in every student’s ability and
our comprehensive Arts Program that will
ensure our students at Morris Hall become
lifelong learners of the Arts, accepting and
appreciating diversity, individual expression
and cultural heritage.
MARINA DAVIES
MORRIS HALL VISUAL ARTS TEACHER
9
Curriculum – Middle Years
Contemporary and Innovative
Arts in the Middle Years
As in every Program offered at Melbourne Girls Grammar, the Middle Years Arts Program ensures that our
girls are exposed to a range of experiences in which they can explore, understand and enhance skills in a
developmentally appropriate way.
The Arts is an essential component of a
comprehensive education leading to the
full development of our Middle Years girls
and ensuring participation in cultural and
artistic life within the school community
and beyond. Through creation, performance
and presentation, our girls engage in the
curriculum while conveying their ideas and
personal experiences.
At the core of our Middle Years Program is
the belief that the success of our Middle
Years learners relies on the opportunity for
students to demonstrate independence
and choice in order to discover their
talents and passions. We recognise
that our Wildfell and St Hilda’s girls are
enterprising, show initiative and are eager
to use their creative abilities; therefore the
Arts Program provides our Middle Years
girls with the opportunity to construct a
pathway based on their passion in Music,
Drama, Dance, Visual Art and Innovation.
With the renewal of our Co-curricular
Program, which builds on the student’s
experience in the Junior Years, our Wildfell
and St Hilda’s girls have the choice to
explore Contemporary Dance, Coding,
Drawing Club, Choirs, Ensembles, Drama
and Contemporary Theatre. Each of these
10
Programs challenges the girls’ perceptions
and stimulates their imaginations, while
giving them the opportunities to acquire
new skills and consolidate those from prior
“...the Arts Program provides
our Middle Years girls with
the opportunity to construct
a pathway based on their
passion.”
learning. Our girls are also encouraged to
explicitly describe the meaning-making
process in which they are engaged, as this
enables them to constantly develop their
metacognitive awareness of how learning
‘works’.
Our contemporary and innovative Middle
Years Arts Program strives to provide
learning that is significant and relates to the
experience of each discipline individually as
well as collaboratively. The three disciplines
are all grounded in the view of how
students can construct meaning from their
experiences. The programs are innovative
while practically reflecting the changing
nature of contemporary classrooms within
a global society. An important aspect of
this is creative engagement which provides
relevant connections, hands on activities
and stimulating content. The Arts Program
is complemented by the parallel activities of
House events, community time gatherings
as well as Chapel Services. Through their
active participation, our Middle Years girls
develop a sense of school connectedness
which serves to enhance their wellbeing
and self-efficacy.
In 2015, we look forward to watching our
Middle Years girls contribute their best
to our School, showcasing their passions
and talents throughout the year in events
such as the School Concert, the highly
anticipated Middle Years Production and
the annual Art Exhibition.
LEIGH PITT
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE YEARS
11
Curriculum – Senior Years
Creativity and Wellbeing
Arts in the Senior Years
“Adolescence, as broadly defined in the Western world, is the transition period in between childhood
and young adulthood. It is the period of lifetime development in which many adolescents begin to make
health and lifestyle choices that have significant impact on overall wellbeing. During this transition,
developmental psychologists often point to several typical “developmental tasks” that must be achieved
for successful entry into early adulthood. These developmental tasks include forming more mature peer
relationships, breaking childhood emotional dependence upon parents, exploring and achieving sex-role
identity, preparing for long-term romantic partnership and family life, and preparing for entry into the
workforce and the economic world through choices about education and a career” (Nurmi, 1993).
A number of studies were undertaken on
the value and the positive impact that Arts
study has on the wellbeing of students.
Some of their key findings that are relevant
to our context are:
• Visual Arts students reported
significantly higher levels of school
attachment than did non-Visual Arts
students.
• Emerging adults who had studied Music,
Drama, or the Visual Arts scored slightly,
but statistically significantly, higher on
a standardised test of vocabulary as
emerging adults than did their non-arts
peers.
• As adults, former students of Music and
Drama were significantly more optimistic
than were former non-Arts students.
• General findings indicate a significant
reduction in the use of harmful
substances during adolescence and into
young adulthood.
When our girls choose Arts pathways
they are choosing a passion. Studying an
Arts subject is much more than the final
performance of a piece of music or the act
on stage. The processes that lead up to that
performance point are full of opportunities
for improved wellbeing. Hope, resilience,
persistence and positive emotion are all
significant qualities that enable a student
to produce the final piece to the best of
their ability. The social connection between
fellow peers and the professional staff are
also of a unique nature. Every performer/
artist knows what it is like to receive both
12
acclaim and critical judgement. When these
are given at key moments in a student’s
development they can lead to extraordinary
moments of personal growth. The high level
of emotional engagement in arts activities
provides unique moments of self-awareness
and openness to evaluation from others.
In a positive school environment that is
managed by skilled professionals these
moments offer profound educational
opportunities for growth.
“Studying an Arts subject
is much more than the final
performance of a piece of
music or the act on stage.”
The social nature of performance also
helps students feel connected to a group
of like-minded individuals and we want to
encourage that sense of belonging in our
girls.
Below is a reflection from Year 12 Art
Vice Captain, Sophie Rasheed, about her
experience in the Arts and Drama faculties:
“From the beginning of school to where I am
today, doing a form of the arts as a subject
has been an invaluable part of my schooling
life. Not only has art created an essential
balance among my subjects, but it has also
challenged the creative side of my brain
more than any Maths or Science subject
could! Furthermore, the Arts never cease to
provide me with (much-needed) time amidst
a busy school day for self-expression and
relaxation through creative endeavours.
Indeed, by partaking in various forms of
the Arts during my schooling life, I have
developed my creative and analytical skills,
and developed into a well-rounded person
by having the ability to see the world in a
range of different perspectives.
It’s also needless to say that the Arts are
fun! They can also be a fantastic way to meet
new people – something I discovered upon
arriving at MGGS. For example, despite not
doing Drama as a subject, I was offered an
array of opportunities to get involved in this
form of the Arts. In fact, one of my fondest
memories at MGGS occurred during my
first House Drama in Taylor House. Working
towards a shared goal with girls from
across the year levels was a truly uniting
experience, from which I felt immediately
a part of the School. If someone asked me
before I arrived if I thought I would be one of
the main roles in a school Drama production
or do a solo act in front of the majority of the
school, I probably would have laughed and
called them crazy. However, this was merely
a taste of what the School’s Arts Program
offers. With the incredible guidance and
support from the MGGS Art staff, anything is
possible.”
LAMIA ROCKWELL
DIRECTOR OF SENIOR YEARS
Curriculum – Boarding
The Polly Winterton
Boarding House Art Award
The Boarding House collects and
frames VCE boarders’ art work to
display in the House. The House
benefits from the actual students’
artwork being exhibited; it is
an opportunity to display and
celebrate the creativity and skill
of girls over many years.
Creativity is enriching and vital in the
students’ formative years. Many students
work diligently over their time in the
Boarding House and as such folios are
highly valued. When good works have been
achieved, acknowledgement is important.
Pride is only learnt when there is something
to be proud of in the daily lives within our
community.
The previous Director of Boarding, Mrs
Polly Winterton, feels strongly about this
and created the Polly Winterton Boarding
House Art Award. Polly reflected that
‘receiving an award at school is to feel
rewarded, humbled, and confident from this
acknowledgement. It is gratifying for me
to provide such pride and pleasure for the
recipient of my choice. I could not live well
without artwork around me and I believe
there are many girls who feel the same as I
do and appreciate the exhibited’.
2014 Polly Winterton Boarding House Art Award Recipient
Min Kim, Year 12
Replay
For this artwork, the idea of listening to music while travelling can be a physical experience.
Furthermore by listening to music, memories of the past can be brought up, creating a
connection with the emotional. I tried to explore the meanings given to the experience of
travel. In this case, I concentrated on the dynamic and happy meanings that I used the
illustration to create a common ordinary traveller to whom the audience can relate. An ovalshaped artwork reflects the idea that people can conjure imaginary memories by listening to
their favourite music and it is also a great travelling companion.
13
Art
Visual Art at MGGS
A reflection from the Head of Art
“Art does not solve problems, but makes us aware of their existence,” sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz
has said. Arts education, on the other hand, does solve problems.
Research shows that Arts education is
closely linked to almost everything that we
as a nation say we want for our children
and demand from our schools: academic
achievement, social and emotional
development, civic engagement, and
equitable opportunity. Passion and the
belief in the limitless potential of students
in education is paramount; as Visual Art
teachers it is imperative for enthusiasm
and love of the arts to be conveyed in
order for students’ aesthetic senses to be
inspired and the desire for creative output
will abound. Opportunities harness creative
drive and endeavour.
At Melbourne Girls Grammar, a robust,
innovative and contemporary education
includes a broad and diverse Arts
education. This introduces our girls to
a program which fosters conceptual
development through higher order thinking
tasks and programs and adherence to skill
acquisition. It also provides foundations
in nurturing contemporary art practices
and the capacity for girls to take risks in
a supportive learning environment which
recognises connections to national,
international and regional artists, Arts
organisations and institutions. These values
contribute to a broad understanding and
framing of complex and delicate ideas and
principles women and girls hold in our
society and are at the core of our vision.
Our school prioritises our teachers as high
functioning Arts specialists; bringing a suite
of skills and attributes to their learning
programs. Our girls depend on the capacity
of their teachers to deliver content that is
both relevant and supported by programs
which support current artistic working
practices used by emerging Australian
artists. Connections and collaborations with
Melbourne based artists are structurally
supported through our long running Artist in
Residence Program and extensive Exhibition
Programs, and philosophically support our
vision for an arts learning culture, focused
on supporting and nurturing within our
school walls a firm understanding and
connection to contemporary arts practice.
Extension Programs, such as excursions
to the Sydney Biennale, White Rabbit
Gallery and MONA in Hobart, reinforce the
contemporary foundation of the learning
opportunities in the VCE. Incursion and
excursion programs in the Middle Years
Program to ACCA in Southbank, Heide
Museum in Bulleen and CCP Photography
in Fitzroy connect our girls with current Arts
practice and local Australian artists engaged
in national and global cultural debate and
analysis. Our inclusion two years running
in the National Gallery of Victoria’s Top
Arts Exhibition is a testament to the girls’
technical and conceptual innovation in their
folios and final art works. Last year’s Art CoCaptain Laurena Letico has gained a place
in the 2015 Exhibition.
High competency in literacy and the
development of a program focused
on debate, analysis and synthesis of
contemporary Art concepts and ideas is
at the foundation of all our Programs in
our School. Demand for greater flexibility
in learning styles and approaches to new
innovations in Arts pedagogy remains
a key priority for our contemporary Arts
learning area. Relevant professional
learning programs and involvement in
the Arts industry are key values for our
department and the staff teaching in the
Arts in our school. Immersion Programs
such as our Master Class Programs and
Open Studio Program in the VCE further
compliment the curriculum programs and
allow our girls with a higher capacity to
cognitively develop further depth and clarity
around higher order thinking processes
and routines. Extending our girls’ abilities
and giving them flexibility to extend and
expand provide a diverse learning suite of
experiences for the girls.
It has been said many times, the Arts is one
of the key languages of our contemporary
world, vibrant, innovative and always
creatively challenging. A Merton Hall girl
studying Art in our School symbolises this
mantra and enculturates their learning
community with a dynamic and individual
flair we all love and cherish.
SIMON CARVER
HEAD OF ART
Save the date!
VCE Studio Arts Open Evening
Thursday 30 July, 6.00pm
Lily Langford and Laurena Letico (2014 Art Captains) with Simon Carver
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Top Arts
We were thrilled to receive the news
from the selection committee involved
in shortlisting and selecting the final art
works to be exhibited in the 2015 Top
Arts exhibition at the National Gallery of
Victoria.
The Top Arts exhibition is part of the VCE Season of
Excellence celebration and receives some 3,000 entries
from Year 12 students who receive an A or above each
year from public, Catholic and Independent schools
across Victoria. Our 2014 Art Co-Captain, Laurena Letico,
has been selected to show her piece Julia, a multi-media
textile work depicting Australia’s first and only female
prime minister. The piece was part of Laurena’s Unit 3
Art folio and highlights Laurena’s meticulous attention
for detail in the development of her three dimensional
folio and conceptual resolution of themes and concepts
researched throughout last year.
I am concerned with the effects of consumerism on both
an international and suburban scale, and with the chain
of events – from the decisions made by the government
to consumer choices – that result in the destruction of
the environment. Inspired by Fiona Hall, my work uses
recycled objects and materials, with traditional methods
like weaving and knitting. The knitting stirs notions
of warmth and care, yet behind the earnest façade,
politicians have agendas other than the cost of their
decisions on the environment.
Laurena Letico
Julia by Laurena Letico
Simon Carver
New committee member for the Arts Advisory panel – City of Yarra
Yarra City Council’s Yarra Arts Advisory Committee – Visual Arts Panel (VAP) is a key committee that provides the formal
mechanism for Council to enable community participation in arts and cultural planning and development. YAARTS was established
in 1997 as a community advisory committee to Yarra City Council to provide advice on arts and cultural development in the City of
Yarra. It is comprised of representatives from Yarra based arts and community organisations, local artists and cultural industries
representatives.
The Committee provides a formal mechanism for Council to consult with key stakeholders, seek specialist advice and enable
community participation in arts and cultural planning and development.
This year I was nominated to become part of the committee. My intent for seeking nomination is to seek further community
partnerships with artists, arts organisations and key stakeholders in the contemporary and community based arts sector in
inner metropolitan Melbourne. To further my understanding of future initiatives by local council will benefit our girls and assist in
planning for cross-arts partnerships with the City of Melbourne, City of Yarra, City of Port Phillip and City of Stonnington.
15
Drama
Drama at MGGS
A reflection from the Head of Drama
2014 was an exciting year for Drama at MGGS. In addition to House Drama, the Senior Production Sleeping
Beauty and the inaugural Company M Artist in Residence project Little Red’s Musical Murder Mystery, the
Drama Department offered girls additional opportunities to engage with the arts in cross-disciplinary ways.
This approach, working across all art
forms, is indicative of the direction the Arts
departments at MGGS will take in future
projects, in line with trending directions in
professional contemporary arts practice.
This was highlighted in the 2014 MGGS
Art Exhibition, which saw Music students
playing live at the opening event, and
three performances staged by Drama
students throughout the evening. These
performances asked students to consider
the nature of the Arts through a series of
provocations or questions. What is the role
of art in contemporary society? What defines
contemporary art? Who decides its value?
The performances were well received by
audiences and this tradition of collaboration
across the Arts departments will continue in
the future.
Other projects saw MGGS students venture
further afield, into the broader Melbourne
Arts community. In March, Year 10 students
worked in response to the National Gallery
of Victoria’s Melbourne Now exhibition,
devising original performances to
accompany select artworks, and creating
a performance tour, led by a student and
performed alongside the artworks in the
gallery. A second project using this model
was developed later in the year when the
NGV invited MGGS back to work in response
to the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition From
the Sidewalk to the Catwalk. We extended
the model to include students from Music
and Art in this project, and had an electric
string quartet performing, multimedia
projects created by Art students working
with film and photography, wearable art
created by Art hybrid textiles students, and
Drama students performing works created
in response to the themes in Gaultier’s
show. This project was staged in the NGV’s
Clemenger Theatre and received high praise
from its audience of families, friends, MGGS
staff and staff from the NGV.
The continual and ongoing evolution of
these kinds of projects allows us to further
develop the model of “Using contemporary
art as a stimulus for performance making”,
which became the topic of my presentation
at Drama Victoria’s Ignite Conference at
the end of 2014. Conference delegates,
comprising Arts teachers and industry
professionals, praised the presentation for
its innovative approach to enhancing young
people’s creativity through the arts. I have
recently been invited to Drama Australia
and Drama New Zealand’s international
conference Gamechanger to be held at NIDA
in 2015 to showcase MGGS’ Drama projects
of 2014 and introduce the projects that will
occur in 2015.
In addition to me, the 2015 Drama
Department is comprised of newly married
Jessica Beardall (nee Huggett) and this
year we welcome two new staff members
who bring a wealth of professional arts
education experience to MGGS. Rebecca
Asp is a highly experienced educator
who is a VCAA assessor for Drama and
Theatre Studies written and performance
examinations, and has founded her own
company, Culture Mamas, providing arts
experience to mums with new babies.
Melinda Keyte has a broad experience
across the arts and education, having
managed Opera Australia, and worked on
arts education projects across Drama, Film
and Media. We have a staff with strong
cross-disciplinary skills and are looking
forward to developing exciting new projects
this year.
2015 brings a host of new experiences and
opportunities for the MGGS girls. We have
16
Congratulations to
Kahlia Davis!
introduced new Contemporary Movement
classes for Years 7 and 8 students,
developing their skills in contemporary
dance and physical theatre. We are dividing
House Drama into two events, with Senior
Years events happening in Term 1, directed
by Years 11 and 12 girls, and Middle Years
events co-ordinated by Years 9 – 11 girls
in Term 4. This will allow all girls who wish
to participate the opportunity to do so,
and rather than auditions, we will now
arrange casting sessions prior to each
event. We will launch a new Drama Club in
Semester 2, with a two-pronged approach
to enhancing the girls’ arts experiences. We
will offer after-school workshops to build
skills in areas such as auditions and acting
for camera, in part facilitated by Limelight
Drama School and Casting Agency, with
Director, Olivia Connolly, visiting MGGS
for the first time as a guest adjudicator
for Senior House Drama. We will also ask
2015 Drama Captains Lucy Price and Poppy
Batty to co-ordinate student group visits
to see professional shows, and facilitate
workshops with associated artists wherever
possible.
This year’s Senior Production will move
off campus to be staged in the beautiful
professional venue the Arts House
Meatmarket in North Melbourne in May.
The Middle Years Production will return in
August, and both of our productions will be
original, devised works; the girls co-creating
the works they perform. We will continue to
mentor girls who wish to pursue positions of
responsibility, such as stage management,
lighting design and operation, and
direction.
Kahlia Davis (2013) was accepted into the
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
to study Performing Arts, commencing in
February 2014 in New York. One of Kahlia’s
first big auditions was for 42nd Street (the
musical), and after a very rigorous audition
process over two weeks, with approximately
300 – 400 auditioning for the parts, Kahlia
was offered a contract for the ensemble plus
understudy for the role of Maggie.
Kahlia talks about how her education at MGGS helped her to be where she is
now, and the lessons she learnt along the way: “The two subjects I took at MGGS
that have most influenced my continued studies of Musical Theatre were Music
(Contemporary Voice) and Theatre Studies. The tuition I received in these subjects
and course content provided me with a step ahead when I came to AMDA. Even
the small things like knowing how to interpret the key signature of a song, or basic
skills in quick scene study and character analysis can make all the difference in a
fast paced audition situation. However, I do believe that the general expectations
of every MGGS girl have also heavily influenced how I present myself in the
professional industry. Self-confidence, compassion, hard work and respect go a
long way in any professional scenario, but particularly in the theatre. Many times
you have one chance to make the right impression and having confidence in your
abilities and who you are makes this task seem much less daunting.
An MGGS education is a well-rounded education. Every girl is entitled and
encouraged to explore their passions no matter what the area of focus. Whether it
be mathematical, scientific or creative, there is opportunity to excel in each area
individually and simultaneously. The MGGS staff and students were always very
supportive of my passion for the Performing Arts, and still continue to be from the
other side of the world – at MGGS you’re part of a community far larger than any
individual, not only during your years of education, but also beyond graduation.
One lesson that’s stuck with me from my time at MGGS is what it means to be a
leader – not a glorified individual, but a servant to those you lead. I guess that
all stems from the very clichéd ‘treat others as you would like to be treated’, but
it really is that simple. As I’m sure you can imagine, you meet some colourful
characters in the Musical Theatre industry, so this lesson has held me in good
stead – be patient, be kind, be respectful.”
We are very proud to have recently been
selected by Drama Victoria to feature on
their website as an exemplary school, which
will include a feature article in their online
Mask Magazine and a short video being
created for their new YouTube channel.
We are very excited about our achievements
and our jam-packed 2015 Program and
looking forward to meeting new audiences
for our work.
TARA DANIEL
HEAD OF DRAMA
17
Music
Music at MGGS
A reflection from the Director of Music
Music at MGGS continues to combine the traditions of old with the challenges of the new in a supportive
and nurturing environment which encourages each girl to be the best musician that she can be, both in the
classroom and beyond.
Rehearsals for Chamber ensembles,
Pianists Plus, Merton Chorale, Merton
Singers and Merton Chamber Voices were
undertaken for the High Tea on Thursday
March 12. Meanwhile, the girls in Senior
Choir were channelling Purcell in their
preparation of the “Birthday Ode for Queen
Mary” (1791) for the MGS Choral Concert.
The Bands set their sights on a lunch
time gig for the whole school to enjoy
on the deck near the White Garden in
Week 8 and the Orchestra has embraced
Samantha Willis, French Horn player from
the Godolphin School, as they commence
learning repertoire for the School Concert in
Term 2.
The Melbourne Recital Centre again
welcomes us for the School Concert
on Tuesday 26 May this year and all
our musicians will be represented in a
kaleidoscope of styles and ensembles
across the wide range of genres we offer at
MGGS.
The Class Music Program is an elective
subject from Years 6 – 10 and every Year
5 student has class Music for a semester
as well as being a part of the Years 5 and
6 Wildfell Choir. The students continue to
enjoy the refurbishment of the B1 classroom
and the new technology software is being
used in a variety of creative electives from
Music Department staff
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“Music and Magic” at Year 6 to “Design,
Create, Present” at Year 10.
Our VCE Music Performance students have a
long history of excellence, as was displayed
by the presence of Tessie Chang, Serena
Cheung and Mana Ohashi, our current
Music Captain, this year in the Assembly for
High Achievers. Our 2015 VCE students are
demonstrating similar excellence and we
“Music expresses that which
cannot be said and on which it
is impossible to be silent.”
Victor Hugo
look forward to their fine performances on
Oboe, Violin and Piano over the next couple
of years.
We encourage as many students as possible
to take up instrument or voice lessons for
many reasons that are well documented,
such as having a unique one to one learning
experience which supports all subject
learning in the discipline of regular practice,
scheduling of time, understanding the
deeper pleasures of creative expression
and in developing fine co-ordination skills.
The extension of this learning is to play in
relevant ensembles and we encourage all
students to extend their music learning by
participating in our rich ensemble program.
The School Music Bursary program, given
to beginner students or those learning
particular instruments recommended for
Bursaries by the Music Team, took off in
2014 and has been very successful. We
have encouraged those students with an
additional smaller Bursary in 2015 and will
offer further new beginner Bursaries in
Term 2.
We look forward to collaborating with the
Drama and Art Departments during 2015
and the Music Team and the Music Captains
continue to plot and plan concerts, Chapel
items, assembly performances, afternoon
soirees, whole School Choral practices and
informal class presentations alongside
cherished School events, such as the School
Concert, House Music and the Carol Service.
ELIZABETH BARWELL
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Save the date!
School Concert
Tuesday 26 May
Melbourne Recital Centre
2015 Music Vice Captain and Captain:
Amy Luo and Mana Ohashi
High Tea with Palm Court Chamber Music and a touch of song
On Thursday 12 March, Ross Hall came alive with the sounds of beautiful chamber music paired with a lovely high tea. Our musicians
performed brilliantly, showcasing an exciting start to the music year. Included in the afternoon program were piano duets and trios,
string ensembles and Merton Chamber Singers. Congratulations to the Music Department for hosting such a great event and to all the
students and staff who performed at and supported this event.
19
The MAaD Year
Music, Art and Drama
The MAaD Auxiliary (formally known as the MGGS Arts Auxiliary)
is made up of current MGGS parents across all campuses and Old
Grammarians who have daughters involved in or are interested in the
domains of Music, Art and Drama.
This coming year we seek
assistance from parents
with:
We work closely with the Heads of the Music, Art and Drama Departments and meet briefly at
Merton Hall approximately four times a year to plan events and identify the areas of support
each department will need in that term.
Drama Department:
Some of the ways in which we support the departments can be catering for events, sewing of
costumes, building sets, sourcing props and providing finance for and promoting events, to
name a few examples.
• providing and serving
light refreshments prior to
performances
We also provide three prizes that are awarded at the conclusion of each academic year to a
student in each of the domains.
Art Department:
You can get involved
All parents are invited to be involved, especially if you have a daughter who is involved in
any of the domains. Many of our parents do not attend the meetings but have let us know
they are available to help. For example, last year OG Deb Jerkovic (Wirth, 1980) and husband
Michael had their garden open for the Open Garden Australia program. They asked us to
help cater, enabling us to raise some money to provide the MAaD prizes for the 2014 Speech
Night. We were able to get enough help from parents who had indicated they were able to
help and are on our database.
MAaD is a fun way to meet other parents in the School and a great way to support our girls
in the fields of Music, Art and Drama. Please look out for news on upcoming events and
required help on eVI.
PENNY DIMITROULIS AND ANNA PERMEZEL
PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF THE MAAD AUXILIARY
• prop maintenance
•sewing
• Arts Week BBQ
• providing and serving
refreshments at the Art
Exhibition and the Open Studio
Evening
Music Department:
• providing flowers and
decorations prior to the high tea
and several music soirees
If you are able to help in
any way please let Penny
(pennyarowlands@hotmail.com)
and Anna (apermezel@bigpond.
com) know so we can contact you
when help is required.
Music Art and Drama Parents Association
20
Morris Hall Welcome Breakfast
Tuesday 17 February
The annual Morris Hall Welcome Breakfast is a much-loved event that sets the Morris Hall grounds buzzing
with parents, staff and students.
Held on a fine Melbourne morning, it was a fantastic way to start the day with the dads in charge of the barbecue and cooking the hot
breakfast food, lots of delicious bakery goods and fruit, and the ever-popular coffee cart.
Guests were welcomed by Principal Catherine Misson and Director of Junior Years Janine McKenzie, and parents had the opportunity to mingle
and chat with staff members over coffee. Thank you to Beck Wilkinson and fellow Class Reps for organizing such a wonderful event.
21
St Hilda’s Chapel Service
Friday 20 February
The St Hilda’s Chapel service celebrates the commencement of the new cohort of St Hilda’s girls and
acknowledges their future work and contributions in their formative years at Melbourne Girls Grammar.
The focus of the service this year was
courage and this theme was explored
through reflections and readings. Mrs
Misson empowered the girls to be confident
with their voices for the benefit of their
global sisters, not just themselves. She
spoke about what it means to be an
emerging citizen and how our privilege in
society is also our responsibility.
I shared my aspirations for the cohort
and what I hoped they would achieve
in their time in the St Hilda’s Emerging
Citizenship Program. “This year, there are
three particular attributes that I feel are the
most important – I want you, our St Hilda’s
girl to be courageous, resilient, conscious
citizens”. I highlighted the importance of
courage to take risks with our learning, to
22
do the right thing and the courage to put
others before ourselves.
The Year 8 students spoke about their
experiences in the first year of the St Hilda’s
program. Maddy Stirling, Year 8, shared
her thoughts on her journey so far, “I have
travelled so far in the St Hilda’s Program, I
see the support that I have had, I remember
the challenges that I faced, and I laugh at
the fun that I have had. I have achieved
many things with the support and the
guidance that I have had from my teachers
and friends”. Jennifer Langford spoke about
her experience as a new student to MGGS,
“The St Hilda’s Program was different to
anything I had ever experienced, and at first
I was nervous about what it was all about,
but throughout the year I felt more and more
that I belonged in the tight community of
my year level, and more broadly the whole
MGGS community”.
Two Year 8 students were asked to select
and share quotes that encapsulated their
experiences in Year 7, below are the quotes
that were chosen:
“You have brains in your head. You have
feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, in
any direction you choose.” Dr Seuss
“Everyone wants happiness, no one wants
pain. But you can’t have a rainbow, without
a little rain.” Unknown
LUCY ELLIS
YEAR 7 CO-ORDINATOR
2015 SEC Inauguration
Monday 16 February
On Monday 16 February, all Years 11 and 12 students and guests of the newly appointed councillors
gathered in the Chapel of St Luke for the inauguration of the 2015 Student Executive Council.
The Chapel Service was led by our Chaplain,
Reverend Denise Nicholls and we were
delighted that the Dean of Melbourne,
the Very Reverend Dr Andreas Loewe was
able to officiate. Dr Loewe presented
each student with her SEC badge and
delivered a thought provoking address on
the significance of teamwork and value of
learning from each other in a leadership
team.
In her concluding reflection, our 2015
School Captain, Grace Joel, challenged
the SEC and all students to seize the
opportunity to be the best they can and
finished with the following words:
Because when you take away the awards
that are forgotten, the physical proof of your
time here, what’s left, 20 years from now?
It’s the little things. We will remember the
moments that make us, us. So in 2015, we
can’t promise to be perfect, we can’t say
we will get everything right, but let me give
you one guarantee the SEC is certain of.
That little tiny light inside that makes all
of us leaders, dreamers and innovators;
determined, motivated and compassionate,
that light matters to us. The moments that
will remind you 20 years from now, of the
MGGS girl you still are; those little moments
matter, because they make us, us, so let’s
make them count in 2015.
Following the service, the members of the
SEC and their proud parents and visitors
gathered in the Phelia Grimwade Drawing
Room for a light lunch.
LYNN BROADWAY
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: STAFFING AND OPERATIONS
23
Year 12 Father Daughter Breakfast
Thursday 26 February
Held at the Royce Hotel, the annual Year 12 Father Daughter Breakfast is a lovely way for girls to spend
time with their fathers before the academic year really kicks off.
This year, the guest speaker was acclaimed
and award-winning author Alice Pung,
author of Laurinda, Unpolished Gem and
Her Father’s Daughter. Alice was born
in Footscray, Victoria, a month after her
parents Kuan and Kien arrived in Australia.
Alice’s father, Kuan, who was also in
attendance at the breakfast, is a survivor
of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime and
24
named her after Lewis Carroll’s character
because after surviving the Killing Fields, he
thought Australia was a Wonderland. Alice’s
books are studied in secondary schools
and universities in Australia as well as
around the world, and she has lectured at
universities and schools all around Australia
and overseas.
Thank you to School Captain, Grace Joel,
and Vice Captains, Amanda Beaumont
and Lauren Mitchell, for having an official
role on the morning, as well as the staff
in attendance: Principal, Mrs Catherine
Misson, Director of Senior Years, Ms Lamia
Rockwell, and Year 12 Co-ordinator, Mr
Michael Ware. Special thanks also to Class
Representatives, Fiona Olney-Fraser and
Louise Bellamy, who organised this event.
Boarders’ Family Dinner
Friday 20 February
The third Friday evening of Term 1 is always the MGGS Boarding House Family Dinner hosted by
Mrs Catherine Misson. Everyone is ready to come together and celebrate the beginning of 2015.
Our ever expanding community including
grandparents, parents, girls and staff shared
their experiences of their time so far. There
was a sense of excitement from girls and
parents to see each other and an overriding
sense of being settled with the year starting
off so positively. With a full, happy and
tired house, the girls are learning to live
amongst genuine diversity and to reflect on
the impact they have on each other whilst
living together – lifelong skills that will hold
them in good stead. The boarders are MGGS
students who happen to reside on campus,
they live within a dynamic learning precinct
and seize all opportunities.
Lucy Gough’s Speech – 2015 Boarding
House Vice Captain
My name is Lucy Gough, and I am the
Boarding House Vice Captain for 2015. This
is my fourth year in the MGGS Boarding
House. I am from Moama, which is small
country town that borders the Murray
River. Even though I don’t live on a farm,
throughout my years as a boarder, I have
been asked some very quirky questions
by the day girls, who seem to have no
understanding of life outside the big city.
My favourite one being “So, if you’re from
the country, does that mean you know how
to milk a cow?” Not all of us are from the
country, in fact, the MGGS boarders come
from all around the globe, Darwin, Canberra,
Singapore, Dubai, Moscow, Noosa, just to
name a few. No matter where we are from,
all boarders share the same experience
of living away from home. Boarding at
MGGS is a challenge faced not only by the
girls themselves, but also by the families
supporting them back home. It takes a lot
of courage to move out of home at such a
young age and to adjust to a new life in a
strange city. You may think that at times
your parents have deserted you but trust me
when I say that your families sacrifice a lot
for you to have the opportunity of boarding.
I discovered this for the first time in Year
9, less than two weeks after moving into
the Boarding House. My mum was at the
supermarket in Moama and came across
a close family friend who greeted mum by
saying “How is Luce going in Melbourne,
do you miss her?” Mum completely lost it,
began crying and out of embarrassment ran
down another aisle. Whilst Mum struggled
to stay calm and collected at the mention of
my name, I was loving the newly founded
freedom of boarding school. To be honest my
parents could only imagine the mischief a
group of Year 9s could get up to in the House.
Without even realising it, I have learnt a
lot of lifelong lessons whilst boarding at
MGGS, however ironing, sewing or hand
washing are not one of these. I am confident
to say that I have mastered the technique
of shrinking a woollen jumper in the dryer
and turning a white shirt pink. Living in a
house with 80 girls is not as easy as it might
sound. When I was in Year 9, the Director of
Boarding at the time, Polly Winterton, told
me to “fake it until you make it”. There is no
doubt about it that it takes time to settle in to
life as a boarder, but if you go with the flow,
you will soon feel very much a part of this
tight knit boarding community.
If I could give one piece of advice to all the
new boarders this year, it would be to throw
yourself into the deep end. MGGS offers
many amazing opportunities and if you want
to gain the fullest experience of boarding
school, you have to seize these opportunities
with both hands. Throughout my time at
MGGS, I have been involved in the Rowing
Program, which has allowed me to form
strong friendships whilst also keeping busy.
I believe that keeping occupied is the true
cure to homesickness. For any new boarders,
don’t be afraid to come and have a chat to
the older girls. Everyone has encountered
the same challenges that you face. We are all
in this together! Be patient, but enjoy your
experience as a boarder because trust me, it
goes by in the blink of an eye.
Year 9 Boarders with Emma Douglas
and Anna Roxburgh
Drinks on the patio
Boarding House Vice-Captain, Lucy Gough
Boarders’ Parent Group President, Mark Yates
Boarding House staff
St Hilda’s Boarders
25
Archives
Our School Anthem
Our School Anthem, Nisi Dominus, is known to every Old Grammarian and every student in the School. In
the century since its creation, it has been a vital part of all important School occasions.
The anthem had its origins in the arrival in Melbourne in 1916 of two
people who were to have a strong influence on music in the school.
The first was the young Englishman, Alfred Earnest Floyd, newly
appointed as the organist at St Paul’s Cathedral. The second was
Miss Kathleen Gilman Jones, the new Headmistress with a strong
love of music, who met Dr Floyd at the cathedral. Not long after,
Miss Gilman Jones asked him to set the words of the 127th psalm to
music and our School Anthem was born. On 15 June, 1917, the new
anthem was heard for the first time. The School Hall, known now as
the Chapel, was formally opened on that day and for the first time,
the girls, coached by Dr Floyd himself, sang the anthem at an official
occasion.
Dr Floyd taught singing at the School for many years from 1916.
Generations of girls have remembered him as a beloved character.
He told the girls that music was one of the best ways of taking the
mind and spirit for a change of air. He believed everyone should
learn to use their voice ‘intelligently’ in both speech and song. He
demanded that the girls become involved in their music. “Music”,
he told them, “is a beautiful poem with the words left out and the
meaning left in”.
Dr Floyd’s involvement in music at the School continued until the
1950s. He was a familiar figure, taking singing classes, helping to
organise lunchtime concerts and small music competitions.
Even when the Senior School went to Doncaster during the Second
World War in 1942, he still managed to find a way to get there to
continue to inspire the girls. Mary Gillespie (1942) remembered
her delight in weekly lessons with Dr Floyd. “I just loved the time
spent with him; he taught me a love of classical music, especially
organ and choir music. He came out to Doncaster once a week on
Thursdays.” Desma Stephenson (1942) recalled seeing Dr Floyd
descending from a tradesman’s van. The tradesman had kindly gone
out of his way in a time of petrol rationing to give Dr Floyd a lift as he
tried to ‘hitch a ride’ to Doncaster to fulfil his teaching commitments.
Anne Bottomley, a student in the 1950s, remembers him as “a little
man full of joy”.
1920s Dr Floyd
rt
ing to depa
1919 prepar leave
on
nd
for Engla
26
She says he pulled out every stop on the organ and lifted the roof
of the Cathedral.
In 1993, at the Centenary Concert, Dr Floyd came to life again,
through the amazing skill of the late Campbell McComas. His
creation of Dr Floyd’s persona, voice and eccentricities was
extraordinary. For those who had known and loved him in their
school days, it was very moving. For nigh on 50 years, Dr Floyd
gave generously of his time to the musical life of the School
and we owe him a great deal, in particular our beautiful School
Anthem. For those Old Grammarians who knew him, he remains
a well-remembered, somewhat eccentric figure, who shared his
passion for music and inspired so many of them to a love of music.
PIP O’CONNOR (FARRER, 1965)
MULTIMEDIA HISTORIAN
Nisi Dominus
Except the Lord build the house,
Their labour is but lost that build it.
Except the Lord keep the city
The watchman waketh but in vain,
The watchman waketh but in vain.
It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early,
And so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness,
It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early,
And so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness,
For so he giveth his beloved,
His beloved sleep.
Except the Lord build the house,
Their labour is but lost that build it.
We look for a city that hath foundations,
Whose builder and maker is God,
Whose builder and maker is God.
27
Family Connections
Holmes Family History at MCEGGS
One family, strong ties, now with current students in their fourth generation….
Joan Elvin (top right, back row
) with her
hockey team
Front row: Third from left, Prue Holmes and
third from right, Louise Holmes
First Generation: 1920s
Second Generation: 1940 – 50s
Joan Elvin, born 1910 and her sister,
Winifred Elvin, born 1908, migrated from
England when they were young girls with
their family, including three older sisters,
and went to MCEGGS when they arrived at
the start of second term in 1921.
Winifred became ill with
pneumonia and had to
leave school in August
1924. Joan completed
her Leaving Certificate
in 1926 with Honours
in English and British
History. They both had
happy and fulfilling
Joan Elvin
school careers. Joan Elvin
played hockey well and after leaving school
joined the Old Grammarians Hockey Club,
which she ran for quite a few years. They
were very successful and she was chosen to
play for Victoria and then the All Australian
Women’s Hockey Team in 1926 (which
actually never went out of the country!). She
also ran a club for Old Grammarians, situated
in the city. In 1933 Joan married AR (Bill)
Holmes; they had three daughters, Jennifer,
Prudence and Louise.
Prue Holmes moved to MCEGGS in 1949
and was most impressed by D. J. Ross as a
sensible, thoughtful Head Mistress. Prue
participated in a number of sports including
tennis and was Captain of Swimming.
Her mother was interested
in hockey and came to
watch the hockey matches
on the oval at school,
which was most unusual
for the time. Prue was
elected to the Executive
Council as a form captain
in 1951 and in her final
two years (1952 and 1953)
as a general member. She
completed Matric in 1953
and went on to be one of the
first women to undertake a
degree in Landscape Design
at Burnley. Prue married
Barry Johnson and had two
daughters, Penelope and
Anna, and one son David.
Winifred Elvin in 1925 Back Row
L–R: Mary
Sewell, Beth Glasgow, Margaret Gilru
th,
Margaret Blackwood . Front Row L–R:
Nancy
Holt, Margaret Berry, Winifred Elvin
Louise Holmes completed
Matric in 1954 with honours
in Modern History and
remembers fondly their
Headmistress, D.J. Ross, as
a leading educationalist,
‘ahead of her time’ –
although there were no
Houses and Miss Ross did
not encourage competition.
Girls attended Assembly every
morning in the old hall, with
prayers and hymns. Her favourite hymn
was ‘O Brother Man’, with the last line ‘Each
smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer’.
There was also Chapel Fund collection
every Thursday morning. Another strong
memory is of certain denominations leaving
assembly prior to the religious proceedings.
Louise was passionate about sport, playing
in the hockey, swimming and baseball/
diamond throwing teams. She also sang in
the Choir and Madrigal Group. Louise was
a Councillor (as they didn’t have prefects
in those days) and Captain of Swimming in
1954 and 1955. She married John Gourlay
and had three sons and one daughter,
Emma, and 10 grandchildren. She has
been an active OG and devoted much time
to voluntary and philanthropic activities
throughout her life.
1955 Hockey Team - Back: Patricia Britten,
Yvonne Williams, Jenny Simmons, Joan
Robertson, Deidre Simpson, Margaret Pizzey.
Front: Nance Cooper, Jill Newbury, Jenny Hall,
Elizabeth Tymms, Louise Holmes
a Johnson (left, on first
Prue Johnson with Ann
Penny Johnson (right)
day at Morris Hall) and
Prue Holmes
2013 IWD Breakfast Anna Permezel (Johnson),
Louise Gourlay (Holmes) and Emma Harrison
(Gourlay)
Third Generation: 1970 – 80s
Penny Johnson 1969 – 1974. In 1969, Penny
Johnson entered Morris Hall. Penny has
always been extremely artistic and followed
her creative passions, including painting,
drawing and pottery. She married David
Leonard in 1989 and now lives on a farm
in country South Australia. They have one,
adult son, William.
Anna Johnson 1974 – 1981. Anna competed
for the school
in hockey and
tennis teams, and
represented the
school in inter
school debating.
She completed HSC
in 1981, including
Italian language,
which has become
a lifelong passion.
Anna Johnson 1981
Anna completed
a Bachelor of Arts
at Melbourne University, completed a retail
management traineeship and pursued an
extensive marketing career in Fast Moving
Consumer goods. Anna is a very active parent
and OG, involved with fundraising and on
the School Council. Anna married Andrew
Permezel and has two daughters, Samantha
(OG 2011), Sophie (current student) and a
son, James. “Melbourne Girls Grammar has
offered me wonderful opportunities to acquire
knowledge and make lifelong friends and
my involvement with the school gives me
great pleasure to this day. Melbourne Girls
Grammar gives every girl the incredible
opportunity to expand her horizons and
‘have a go’ at all manner of activities. This
is especially true today as the school offers
a much wider variety of extra-curricular and
co-curricular activities than ever before and
exposes the girls to world class speakers,
volunteer opportunities, overseas exchange
and trip experiences to name a few.”
Emma Gourlay 1971 – 1982. Emma enjoyed
12 happy years at Morris Hall and Merton Hall
and keenly participated in baseball, hockey,
swimming, house singing and a little House
debating. In Clarke, Emma remembers never
being winners,
but loved the
social side
of House
activities. After
HSC, Emma
completed
a secretarial
course and
Emma Gourlay at
Marketing
Morris Hall
Diploma
at Holmes
Commercial College (established by her
grandfather, AR Holmes). She worked in
secretarial positions, food marketing, and
continues to work in helping people with
healthy eating and cooking. She maintains a
strong link with the School and is a proud OG,
keeping up with her cohort through arranging
the Navy Blue Lunch. Emma married Michael
Harrison and has two sons and one daughter,
Jen, a current student. “My School memories
are very happy and our School values of
integrity, compassion and courage, as well
as decency, independence and caring for
others have become very ingrained, which I
see clearly demonstrated in all other OGs and
students. I am always proud to be a Merton
Hall girl”.
Samantha Lynch and
Samantha Permezel
(2011), Year 7
Fourth Generation: 2000 – 2020s
Samantha Permezel 2003 – 2011. Sammy
rowed for three years and found a passion
for photography in VCE, before undertaking
further photographic study, completing
a child care qualification and is currently
working and running her own small
business.
Sophie Permezel 2008 – present. Sophie is
always keen to participate in multiple school
activities, most notably, rowing, snowsports
and a variety of GSV sports throughout the
year. She is a happy member of Year 10 and
enthusiastically joins in all House activities
for Mungo.
Jennifer Harrison 2011 – present. Now in
Year 11, Jen is studying Latin and Italian,
loves netball and other GSV sports, is active
in House activities, particularly drama and
singing, participates in rowing, and enjoyed
the first Year 9 experience to Sri Lanka in
2013. She is a strong willed, independent
Melbourne Girls’ girl, who strongly supports
equality for all women.
Rosie Gourlay 2014 – present. The
daughter of Andrew and Rachel Gourlay
and granddaughter of Louise Gourlay,
Rosie commenced in Year 7 in 2014. Rosie
enjoys many of the activities and sports
offered, including indoor cricket, netball and
drama. She has a particular passion for art.
Rosie prospers in the dynamic and diverse
environment that exists at Melbourne Girls
Grammar and looks forward to engaging in
many more of the various
programs and actions offered
over the next few years.
Sophie Permezel
Rosie Gourlay
Jen Harrison
29
Merton Hall History Society
Afternoon Tea
Wednesday 9 September 2015
4.30pm – 6.30pm
Seminar Room, MGGS, 86 Anderson Street, South Yarra
$25.00
Mr Ian Metherall – ‘The Ashes Bail – or Lady Clarke’s Veil?’
A story behind MGGS and the Cricket Ashes. How does MGGS fit in? Lady Janet Clarke served on the Provisional Council established
in 1900 by Bishop Goe to shepherd the transition of the School to the Church in 1903. She had been a financial supporter of the
establishment of the School in 1893. Her niece, Agnes Snodgrass, was a boarder in that first year.
Lady Clarke’s husband William Clarke, President of the Melbourne Cricket Club, created a social game for the English team at their
country house ‘Rupertswood’ in Sunbury before the official tour in 1882-1883 commenced.
The burnt veil of the Clarke’s governess, Miss Florence Morphy, and the subsequent gift of this veil in a little urn to the English
captain, Ivo Bligh, has captured the imagination of many. Bligh and Morphy were later married at Rupertswood in 1884.
Ian Metherall (past parent of MGGS) has commissioned a documentary on this fascinating story of the Cricket Ashes. A website is
currently being built on the same subject.
Please book online via Trybooking: www.trybooking.com/GVKG
*Please note amended date
Merton Hall Country Lunch
Inviting current families, Old Grammarians, past parents and friends of the School
in Deniliquin
Friday 29 May 2015
11.45am for a 12 noon start
Guest Speaker, Principal Mrs Catherine Misson
The Crossings Café, 295 George St Deniliquin NSW
$90 includes 3 course luncheon with champagne, wine, tea and coffee
Dress code: smart casual
RSVP by Friday 22 May via www.trybooking.com/HEBP
30
Eye on MGGS Art
Theodore Penleigh Boyd
“’Twixt Shadow and Shine” (1921)
Fittingly, the theme of this painting is
celebration. It represents a celebration
of Australia’s natural attributes, like the
wattle blossom which became our national
emblem and a symbol of our burgeoning
sense of nationhood after the First World
War. In this work, the beauty of the
Australian countryside with the glorious
Cootamundra tree as its subject, expresses
the patriotism and love of home of soldiers
like Boyd who had experienced the muddy
horrors of trench warfare in Europe.
The title comes from the poem Dedication
to Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes by
Adam Lindsay Gordon:
In the spring when the wattle-gold trembles
‘Twixt shadow and shine,
When each dew-laden air-draught
resembles
A long draught of wine
‘Twixt Shadow and Shine is a major work
from Boyd’s immediate post-war period
and must be regarded as a highlight of his
artistic career.
He trained at the National Gallery School in
Melbourne between 1906-1909, numbering
among his instructors Frederick McCubbin
and Bernard Hall. Landscape painting was
where Boyd’s natural taste and talents
lay and he was happy concentrating on a
restricted group of motifs and subjects.
The location of this painting was probably
Warrandyte, close to his home. Other
favourite places which inspired him and to
which he repeatedly returned were Yarra
Glen and the upper reaches of the Yarra
River. Arthur Streeton was a family friend
and a major influence on the young Boyd’s
landscape painting. Living in London
and Paris from 1911 until 1913, he came
into direct contact with plein air painting.
When war broke out, Boyd enlisted and
was invalided out, returning to Australia
in 1918. Here he embarked on a series
of wattles-in-bloom paintings from which
he developed a personal genre, much as
Hans Heyson had done with his heroic
images of the gum tree. ‘Twixt Shadow and
Shine is a late product of this process and
Boyd’s serious investigation of the wattle
theme must be seen, in part, as a reaction
to his war-time experiences and one of his
most distinctive achievements. Capturing
wattle in flower is notoriously difficult but
Boyd has rendered its delicate, ethereal
masses of intense chromatic brilliance in
the highest key without losing the overall
balance of colour and composition. As its
name suggests, ‘Twixt Shadow and Shine is
an exercise in tonal painting in which the
artist, working with a limited colour palette,
explores the play of light and shade over the
natural forms.
Penleigh Boyd’s premature death in a
motor accident in 1923 at age 33 came too
soon for him to have reached full stylistic
maturity. As examples of his early brilliance,
‘Twixt Shadow and Shine and related
artworks show him to have become a
conservative master of the lyrical and poetic
in landscape painting.
The pervasive serenity of ‘Twixt Shadow
and Shine, with the quiet country stretch of
the Yarra in the background, was a happy
choice for the Grimwade’s drawing room.
The subject was echoed by the name of
their residence, Yarra House (now Phelia
Grimwade House) from which they would
have undoubtedly have enjoyed a view on
the river below their northern boundary. The
painting was apparently purchased for the
position over the fire place in the Drawing
Room of Yarra House where it hangs today.
31
Parents Association
Report from the President of the Parents Association
What a gorgeous night for the Welcome to Parents Cocktail Party. As I sit and reflect on the evening, I am
feeling so very positive. Not just for my daughter but every one of our girls at MGGS.
I am touched by the camaraderie of the
School community, its support for the
School’s vision and the shared belief that
this School, and this education, can and will
empower our daughters today, tomorrow
and into the future. I am inspired by the
courage of the School’s leadership and its
willingness to take a leap of faith in pursuit
of greater goals. And I feel so blessed that
my child is a part of something so very
great.
For some, the Welcome to Parents Cocktail
Party was their first whole school event. For
others, it brought a mixture of bittersweet
emotions. The warm night, bubbles and
laughter were definitely sweet. But as a Year
12 parent, this sweetness was mixed with
memories and nostalgia.
As a parent, I have been involved in the
32
Arts, GaP and Sports Auxiliaries, I have
been a Class Representative and as a
rowing mum I have bonded with other
parents over early mornings and chicken
sandwiches by the river. These experiences
have made our family’s journey at MGGS
richer and my otherwise busy life has only
been enhanced by the friendships that I
have made at the School and the things that
the School community has taught me.
My only regret is that my daughter will not
be a student at MGGS when the big black
hole next to the Chapel metamorphoses
into a state of the art Artemis Centre,
although, as an old girl, she will be enjoying
its facilities for years to come.
One of the greatest parts of being the PA
President has been watching the School
unite to support and raise money for the
Artemis Project. For me, the highlight of this
evening was presenting the Principal with
a “big cheque” representing the PA’s 2014
contribution to the Project of $100,000.
Over the last few years the PA has raised
over $691,000 towards this Project which
makes us, the parents, the greatest single
contributor so far. Thank you all and well
done.
Enjoy Semester 1. We have got off to a
great start with the cocktail party, the GaP
Auxiliary’s inaugural community service
visit to Fareshare and the MHRC’s very first
regatta. It is a semester of firsts and we
should be very proud as I know there are
more to come.
CAROLYN CLARK
PRESIDENT, PARENTS ASSOCIATION
33
�isi Dominus Society
Melbourne Girls Grammar
The Melbourne Girls Grammar Bequest Society was formed to seek financial security for the Merton Hall
Foundation Endowment Fund, which is primarily subsidised by Bequests. School fees do not subsidise this
fund as that income is used to attract and retain the high calibre of our teaching staff.
A healthy Endowment Fund enables our
School to pursue initiatives that enhance
our ability to nurture strong, capable girls
and provide financial stability for the future
of the School and its programs.
The focus of the Nisi Dominus Society
will be to celebrate and create a unique
networking opportunity with other members
of our community who have decided to
donate in this thoughtful way.
In 2014 a bequest discussion group was
formed to establish a strategy for a renewed
approach to the bequest program after
many years of successful stewardship by
Mrs Barbara Tolson (Selleck, 1943) and Mrs
Venetia Patchett (Streeton, 1965).
The next Nisi Dominus Society event is
being held at ANAM (Australian National
Academy of Music) later this year. Details of
this event will be advised closer to the date.
On Thursday 12 March the re-launched Nisi
Dominus Society held a special Afternoon
Tea with the Principal, Mrs Catherine Misson
to announce the new name.
34
A bequest may enable you to do more for
our School than you thought possible. The
structure and size of a general Endowment
Bequest may be discussed with Kathy Hines
on 9862 9271.
The following options are available:
Named Bequests – A program or
Scholarship is endowed in perpetuity in the
name of the donor.
General Endowment Bequests – An amount
of money or an asset is given to MGGS
towards its Endowment Fund.
General Revenue Bequests – An amount of
money or an asset is given to MGGS towards
its general operating expenses i.e. Merton
Hall Foundation Building Fund.
Celebrating Community Contributions to the Artemis Project
The Howe Family
2014 saw the end to the
school years for the Howe
family who credit MGGS with
an extraordinary education
and environment that has
provided such opportunities
and experiences for Georgie and
Ellie, both academically and cocurricular.
However, the lifelong friends the girls and
Sally and Nick have made along the way
“have made life at MGGS so meaningful
and leave lasting memories and stories
throughout eight wonderful years. The
girls look forward to being active Old
Grammarians and the MGGS School
Community will always be so special to us”.
Georgie continues her second year of
tertiary education at Princeton University,
majoring in Classical History, whilst Ellie
has been accepted to the University of
California Berkeley (San Francisco) also
on a rowing scholarship and studying Arts
(Anthropology), commencing September
2015.
Trustees
of the
J Ross
Memorial
Fund invite you to
The The
Trustees
of the
D JD
Ross
Memorial
Fund
invite you to
The D JD
Ross
Oration
The
J Ross
Oration
Wednesday 13 May 2015
Wednesday
4.00pm13 May 2015, 4.00pm
To be held in
Margaret
Seminar
Room
Tothe
be held
in theSpring
Margaret
Spring
Seminar Room
Melbourne
Girls
Grammar
Melbourne Girls Grammar, 86 Anderson St, South Yarra 3141
86 Anderson St, South Yarra 3141
GUEST SPEAKER:
GUEST SPEAKER:
AssociateAssociate
Professor Dianne
Vella-Brodrick
(PhD)
Professor
Dianne Vella-Brodrick
(PhD)
Director,
MasterPositive
of Applied
Positive Psychology
program,
Director, Master
of Applied
Psychology
program,
Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Please RSVP by Wednesday 29 April 2015
PleasePatchett
RSVP by(Streeton,
Wednesday
29 April
2015vpatchett@bigpond.com
Venetia
1965)
– Email:
Fay Nicholson
(Woodcock,
1949)
– Email:
nicholsonrogerfay@bigpond.com
Fay Nicholson
(Woodcock,
1949)
Venetia
Patchett
(Streeton, 1965)
nicholsonrogerfay@bigpond.com
vpatchett@bigpond.com
Julia Hare (Gillespie,1971) – Email: juliahar@bigpond.net.au Ph: 9822 5687 Mobile: 0418 566 039
Julia Hare (Gillespie,1971)
Email:
juliahar@bigpond.net.au
9822 5687
Your
donation
to the DJ Ross Ph:
Memorial
Fund will be appreciated.
Mob: 0418 566 039
35
Old Grammarians Society
President’s Report
Since the last IE magazine publication in December, there have been a few activities involving the OGs.
• Catering to the interests of younger
members
•Events/activities
Our Scholarship Funds are in great need
of extra funds to be able to maintain
satisfactory capital. Our invested capital
needs to be increased to keep the
scholarship awards worthwhile.
• The use of social media and other online
communication tools
To this end, we are working hard this year to
raise funds through:
The meeting in 2015 will be held at Firbank
(FOGA).
• The sale of our OG wine – (order forms
available)
Adelaide Luncheon – January 14
• A film night – March 1 – The Second Best
Exotic Marigold Hotel
About a dozen OGs gathered for lunch at the
Havelock Hotel in Adelaide. It was lovely to
see Sharyn Lyford’s new baby and enjoy a
catch up with some of the South Australian
group. As you can see in the photo below,
Sheila Allen (HLM) was able to attend.
It was marvellous to see her so well and
enthusiastic about her old school. Thanks
to Marg Slatter and Sandy Edwards for
organising the event. A quote contained in a
later email from one of the participants:
• The Blue Illusion Fashion Parade
• Encouraging their participation in
support of their school
• Alumnae networking
Combined Old Girls’ Association
COGA (Combined Old Girls’
Association)
I attended this meeting at Ivanhoe Girls
Grammar School in October last year, with
representatives from 14 other schools.
The Principal of Ivanhoe Girls, Dr Heather
Schnagl, and the Community Relations
Manager, Anna Aughterson, led us on a tour
around the School to see the new building
developments and the refurbishments that
have been completed over recent years. The
guest speaker was John Gunston who spoke
about the Cooerwull Mentoring Program
at IGGS. The aim of the program is to help
give past students and other alumnae the
opportunity to gain hands-on career advice.
The discussion that followed addressed
issues about the challenges faced by alumni
groups, such as:
Fundraising
“… Isn’t it quite special to have a connected
group of independent, joyous souls from
over the decades meet annually to exchange
chatter, past and future….”
• Raffles at reunions
• The International Women’s Day Breakfast
• The sale of books we have published
– Memories of Marysville, Memories
of Doncaster and The Gilman Jones
Scholarship – A Reflection on Lives of
Service
• A selection of greeting cards with
specially chosen photographs of
significant School places and icons
Please keep these funds in your mind, if or
when, you feel able to support them.
New members for the Old
Grammarian Society Committee
We would welcome new members to our
committee. We are a hard-working group
from various year levels at the School. We
meet as a full committee, every second
month, and the Executive, every other
month. The OG Society Handbook on
the School web site explains our mission
statement and the objects of the Society.
We need members who love their School,
and are willing to work as a team with the
School Community.
Film Night
36
L-R: Rosemary McDonald (Crawford, 1962), Sandy Edwards (Hayden, 1974), Lianne Bilson (1954), Judy
Wilkinson (Rutty, 1965), Sheila Allen (Ulbrick, 1937), Dr Sandra Harbison (Watts, 1969), Margaret Slatter (Addis,
1962), Sharyn Lyford (Nash, 1987), Judy Kelton (Clements, 1953), Prof. Judith Brine (Dax, 1954), Sally Fearn
(Freeman, 1974).
On Sunday March 1, a happy group enjoyed
a film night at the Como Theatre in South
Yarra. Champagne, savoury sandwiches and
finger food were served before entering the
theatre. Thank you to those who came, and
particular thanks to Venetia Patchett for
organising the function.
Old Grammarians Society
President’s Report
Reunions
Four reunions have been enjoyed this term.
The 30 year and the 10 year were held on
Friday 13 February, and the 20 year and 40
year groups met on Friday 6 March.
This was the first time that the School
had run two of the gatherings on the one
night. They were held in separate areas
of the School and as usual, a great deal
of fun, laughter and reminiscing ensued.
The traditional gathering at the Botanical
was the usual meeting place for the “after
parties”.
Pip O’Connor (Farrer, 1965), School
Multimedia Historian, prepared a digital
display of the collections in the School
Archives, relevant to each group. The
School Archives are always grateful for
donations of School memorabilia – photos
uniforms, school documents and student
work – all greatly enrich our historical
records.
Three OGs at the 40 Year
Reunion had started
school together in Prep
in 1963 (pictured right).
Twins, Jane Aird and Lisa
Phillips (Graham) and
Susan Campbell (Tripp)
enjoyed re-discovering the
article they had written
in their final School
Magazine along with the
four other Prep ‘survivors’
of their year. They also
remembered a photo which appeared in
the 1963 Magazine of the Graham twins
painting in front of the Wendy House, which
is still in use in the BTC Centre today.
JUDY WILKINSON (RUTTY, 1965),
PRESIDENT, OLD GRAMMARIANS SOCIETY JUDYWILKINSON@IINET.NET.AU
The 1971 boarders also had a reunion on
Saturday 29 March 2014 at Royal South
Yarra Tennis Club (pictured left).
Back Row L-R: Fiona Gaston (Smith), Diana King
(Joseph), Karen Hunter (Weaver), Kate Edgar, Jenny
Barcham (Weir), Fiona Clegg (Lory)
Middle Row L-R: Annie Johnston (McLachlan), Anthea
Atkins (Cooper), Janet Low (Hall), Wendy Nichol,
Marilyn Gourley (Radcliffe), Belinda Kirkwood, Annie
Perkins (Webster), Julie Hope (Sloane), Karen Caban
(Tonkin), Mignon Patterson, Sandra Emery (Hawkins),
Viviann Birch (Wong), Sally Papworth (Osment)
Front Row L-R: Sally Ramsay (Woodard), Fiona Picot
(Milham), Sue Smith (Sutherland), Sally Harrison,
Pam Hopkins (Cornish), Wendy Winks (Barry), Julie
Owens, Rosemary Fraser (Stone)
News of an Old Grammarian
Prue Addison (1998)
Prue completed her Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Botany at the University of Melbourne
in July 2014. Prior to her studies she had worked for eight years as a marine ecologist
in government and private organisations both in Australia and the UK. Her PhD research
specialised in conservation decision-making and Marine Protected Area Management. Her
thesis is entitled: Targeting the science-management interface: improving the use of longterm monitoring in conservation management. She was awarded the degree at a PhD Only
Conferring Ceremony in March 2015. Prue is currently working with the Australian Institute of
Marine Science, Australia’s premiere tropical marine agency, headquartered near Townsville.
Prue’s mother, Sally Addison (Cohn
1969), Dr. Prue Addison (1998) and
Prue’s aunt, Anna Alston (Cohn, 1975)
37
Old Grammarians Society
International Women’s Day Breakfast
The International Women’s
Day breakfast was held in the
Boarder’s Dining room this year
on 11 March.
The change from the Lyceum Club venue
was made to allow staff, parents and
students to attend before their school day.
This was the fourth IWD celebration we have
had, with yet another fascinating speaker.
Venetia Patchett (Streeton, 1965), Pip O’Connor
(Farrer, 1965), Jenny Brown (Black, 1965)
Dr Maggie Kirkman (1964), a teacher, an
academic and author of several books,
reflected on her schooling and her career,
and the extraordinary achievement with her
husband Sev Clarke in 1988, of becoming
a parent. Her sister Linda (1972), gestated
their daughter Alice in the first example of
IVF in Australia.
Dr Maggie Kirkman (1964)
Margaret McNaughton (Atkins, 1955), Louise Gourlay
(Holmes, 1955), Simone Carson
Trudie Horsfall (1976), Dr Maggie Kirkman (1964),
Cynthia Kirkman (1965)
Auckland Old Grammarian Catch Up
On Thursday 26 February three of our seven
Auckland based Old Grammarians met with Kathy
Hines from the Community Office for Morning Tea
at Odette’s Eatery. It was a lovely opportunity to
catch up and share news from the School. It also
happened to be Luci McCann’s (Nation, 1986)
birthday!
L–R: Luci McCann (Nation, 1986), Louise Smedley
(Carr, 1974) and Trish Duncan (West, 1953) and
Kathy Hines.
38
Kathy Hines, Rolly Law (McDonald, 1970), Meg
McPherson (McCarthy, 1970)
Judy Wilkinson (Rutty, 1965), Dr Maggie Kirkman
(1964), Catherine Misson
Old Grammarians Society
Reunions
Class of 1975 40 Year Reunion – Friday 6 March
Anna Alston (Cohn), Carolyn Mason (Hanson),
Barbara Hingston (Taylor)
Jane Ryan (Appleby), Jane Ristrom
(Nancarrow), Susan Campbell (Tripp)
Kim Waddell (Attridge) and Janie Wall (Lang)
Class of 1985 30 Year Reunion – Friday 13 February
Alison Ward and Georgie Howitt
Libby Ward (Williams), Jay Clark (Morgan),
Caroline Riddell-Clark
Jane Farago and Victoria Thieberger
39
Old Grammarians Society
Reunions
Class of 1995 20 Year Reunion – Friday 13 March
Anna Jordan (Winterton) with Frankie and
Liz Cooper (Moffatt) with Penelope
Anna Jordan (Winterton) with Frankie,
Sally McAdam, Louise Lawson (Box),
Skye Mules (Campbell)
Katie Lamb (Kovacs), Tamara McNaught,
Caroline Buckridge
Class of 2005 10 Year Reunion – Friday 6 February
Tracey Liu (centre) with past staff member
Janet Maher and Deputy Principal: Staffing
and Operations, Lynn Broadway
40
Alice Beaven
Tamara Weston, Virginia McDonald,
Christina Higgins, Susan Ellis
Old Grammarians Society
Babies
Upcoming
2015 Events
Reunions 2015
5 Year Reunion
Friday 15 May (held offsite)
50 Year Reunion
Saturday 20 June
60 Year Reunion and
Anniversary Chapel Service
Saturday 19 September
Other events 2015
Francis Jack Jordan (Frankie), born February
13 2015. Parents Anna (Winterton, 1995)
and Lucas Jordan. Also pictured on previous
page with mum Anna at the 20 Year Reunion
(far right), and Liz Cooper (Moffatt, 1995)
with Penelope. Fourth grandchild for former
Director of Boarding, Polly Winterton.
DJ Ross Oration
Wednesday 13 May
Vale
Gwenda Alder (Chadwick, 1945) – 26
January 2015. Gwenda started in Grade 2
at Morris Hall in 1935. In the Senior School,
she was a keen athlete, taking part in many
sporting activities. In her final year, 1945,
Gwenda was a member of the Hockey Team
and Vice-Captain of the Running Team. She
was very involved in the life of the School,
taking part in the Gardening and Outdoor
Clubs as well as sports teams. She was
elected to the Prefects’ Executive Committee
and matriculated with honours in English,
Biology and French.
Janice Anderson (Hammill, 1954) – 2014.
Janice entered the School in 1950. She left
school at the end of 1954, having gained
her Leaving Certificate.
OG Country Lunch
Friday 29 May, in Deniliquin
International OG Cocktail Party
Thursday 2 July (TBC), Hong Kong
Blue Illusion Spring Fashion Parade
Tuesday 25 August
OG Golf Day
Monday 21 September
Card and Games Day
Thursday 1 October
OG Association Meetings 2015
29 April
3 June
5 August
7 October
Elizabeth Spry (1998) and Lachie Northey
welcomed a son, James Oliver, born 5
October 2014 in Melbourne.
Would you like to
organise a reunion?
If your year level would like to organise
a reunion catch up off campus,
outside of the School-run reunions,
please contact the Community Office
at community@mggs.vic.edu.au as we
may be able to put you in contact with
your peers.
AGM
Full committee
Full committee
Full Committee
Invitations will be sent approximately
six weeks prior to each reunion. If you
would like to organise a ‘post-reunion’
get-together, please contact the MGGS
Community Office on (03) 9862 9200.
Dates were correct at time of printing
and may be subject to change. Please
visit our website for all event details
or contact the Community Office at
community@mggs.vic.edu.au
Shirley Freeman
Shirley Estelle Freeman AM DSc
(Richardson, 1942) – 28 December 2014.
(pictured) Shirley lived and worked in
exciting times. As a new bio-chemist
she was involved in the research for
warfarin and lithium assays and her career
progressed to being an early technical
advisor to the Australian delegation at the
Chemical Weapons Convention in Geneva.
The Nobel Peace Prize won by the OPCW
makes us proud that Shirley took part in the
beginning of a process that has become so
valuable to the world.
Shirley attained four degrees in Science,
BSc (1945), MSc (1954), PhD (1959) and
DSc (1965). She was a Fellow of the Royal
Australian Chemical Institute and Member
41
Old Grammarians Society
Vale
of the Order of Australia (AM). She worked
at CSL, the Baker Institute and Melbourne
University before working for DSTO at
Maribyrnong.
Shirley managed family life well – we
enjoyed holidays together and the
pleasures of conversation on the way to
school (both of us attended Melbourne Girls
Grammar). She introduced us to skiing,
horse riding and the arts.
The empty nest phase of life was filled, not
only with work but also blue water sailing
and trekking – and here again Shirley broke
new ground – to become the first woman
skipper and full member of Hobson’s Bay
Yacht Club and was a member of one of the
early groups to visit Bhutan in 1975. She
was an honorary life member of Hobson’s
Bay Yacht Club and their rescue boat has
been named after her.
In her retirement she continued consultancy
for some time; became a skilled ceramicist
and wrote for Amnesty International.
Retirement also brought the opportunity to
have a holiday place at Tura Beach which
was enjoyed by all.
Her sailing career ended at about the
same time as the tragedy of her younger
daughter’s illness and death. Shirley
committed herself to nursing and assisting
Helen and enabled Helen to collaborate on
peace research papers during her illness.
Shirley’s trekking and travels provided
material for the books she wrote in her
writing stage of life – first her memoir,
then some novels and finally the books of
photographs and commentary.
Shirley had two daughters, four
grandchildren and so far two great
grandchildren.
(Written by her daughter, Jenny Rickards)
Diana Beaufort Hardy (Somerset, 1955).
Diana came to the School at the start of
1946 into Grade 4 in Morris Hall. She
gained her Leaving Certificate in 1954.
Her elder sister, Susan, also attended the
School, leaving in 1953. She was a vital part
of her extended family and will be much
missed.
42
Margot Jane Hartl (Webster, 1965) – 19
July 2014. Margot spent some years in
Morris Hall. She worked at Royal Melbourne
Hospital in the Neuropsychiatry and Eating
Disorders Services. According to the death
notice from her work colleagues, she was ‘a
loyal, funny, warm and much-loved member
of the team’. Margot married Patrick Hartl
and they had three children, Anna, Will and
Camilla.
Kristine McRae (Meissner, 1962) – 4
February 2015. Kristine started at the
School as a six year old in 1950. Her elder
sister, Carolyn, also attended the School,
leaving in 1956.
Marjorie was delighted to be able to remain
in her own flat in spite of physical disability
and very grateful to those who made that
possible. (With thanks to her daughter, Jenni
Banister-Jones)
Virginia McKee (middle)
Virginia Shattock (McKee, 1953) – 22
November 2014. Virginia started at the
School in 1948 as a boarder in Year 7, being
placed in St Hilda’s House. In 1953, she
matriculated successfully with honours in
French.
Marjorie Richards
Marjorie Richards (Mehaffey, 1938) – 20
November 2014. (pictured) Marjorie was
born in Brisbane in 1918 and came to
Melbourne when she was five. She was
a student at the school from 1930 to
1934, a member of St Joan’s, gaining her
matriculation in 1934. She loved English
and treasured the School prizes she won in
that subject and carried a love of reading
throughout her life. After war service in the
Naval Cipher Office in St Kilda Rd, Marjorie
became a medical social worker with
the Red Cross and then the Repatriation
Hospital. Some travel overseas in France,
Italy and the UK followed before she started
work at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. After
her marriage to an old Melbourne friend
and then her daughter’s birth, her husband
was posted to Zimbabwe and they settled
there for the next 26 years. Marjorie worked
voluntarily for the church and for many years
was a librarian at a senior high school. After
her husband’s sudden death, she returned
to Australia where her daughter and family
were now living and reconnected with
many old friends. She gave generously of
her time in a multitude of voluntary roles.
Ursula Kneebone
Ursula Webb-Ware (Kneebone, 1955).
Ursula came to the School as a boarder
from Hamilton in 1942. Soon after her
arrival, she was evacuated, with the rest
of the Senior School, to Doncaster, where
she spent most of her MCEGGS years.
She matriculated in 1944 with honours
in Geography and English. Her daughters
Catherine (1975) and Margaret (1975)
attended the School as boarders.
Susan Womersley (Russell, 1958) – 2014.
Susan entered Morris Hall into Grade 4 in
1950. She was elected as a Councillor in
1957 and 1958 and gained her Leaving and
Post-Leaving Certificates.
Obituaries
We’re always happy to publish a short obituary.
Please send 300 – 400 words plus a photo to:
community@mggs.vic.edu.au
Gender
equality
starts at
school.
Gender equality is achieved when people are able to access and enjoy the same rewards, resources
and opportunities regardless of whether they are a woman or a man.
The workplace gender pay gap in November 2014 was 18.8%. In 2004 it was 14.9%.†If your daughter
is going to experience gender equality in her future workplace, it’s time she experienced it at her school.
Support Melbourne Girls Grammar Merton Hall Foundation. Contact community@mggs.vic.edu.au
†Source ABS (2015), Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, Nov 2014.
43
Melbourne Girls Grammar
an Anglican school
Principal
Mrs Catherine Misson
Senior Years
Middle Years
Merton Hall
86 Anderson Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141 Australia
Junior Years
Morris Hall
100 Caroline Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141 Australia
Early Learning Centre
Barbara Tolson Centre
63 Clowes Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141 Australia
3 and 4 Year Old Kindergarten
Boarding House
86 Anderson Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141 Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9862 9200
Facsimile: +61 3 9866 5768
Email: enrolments@mggs.vic.edu.au
Website: www.mggs.vic.edu.au
ABN 81 116 806 163
CRICOS Provider Code 00322D