ascham old girls’ n magazine...from our patron contains short stories and poems – andrew powell...

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Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine

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Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine Summer 2018

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On the Cover: Libby Hogan (2009) works as a journalist in Myanmar.Editorial team Skye Barry (Edwards 1994), Gabrielle Bonney, Olivia Mallett (2010)Design Scribble & ThinkLayout Amelia Hull, Jennie Barrett

In this issue

Editorial note

And just like that it’s the end of the year! It’s been a lively 12 months of reunions, lunches and events that brought together Old Girls from all generations. This issue we celebrate the remarkable careers of Old Girls in journalism and the media, across print, radio, television and online. From the Press Gallery in Canberra, to the streets of Yangon in Myanmar, our Old Girls have helped share the stories of hundreds. In this edition, they tell another story: what drew them to journalism and how their time at Ascham shaped their paths.

Lastly, some news of our own. We are pleased to share that our magazine is now wrapped in biodegradable plastic, and printed on environmentally-friendly paper.

See you in the New Year!

Olivia Mallett (2010) with support from Skye Barry (Edwards 1994)

Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine – Summer 2018 1

18Golf and

Tennis Day

Q&A with Ascham Old Girl

journalists

Assembly to introduce Year 12 to the Ascham Old Girls’ Union

The Two of UsLibby Hogan and Antigone Anagnostell is

>> Full story p. 12

A Potted History of

Ascham PrizesA fascinating journey back

through Ascham Prizegiving

>> Full story p. 16 19

Morning Tea for Mothers with

Young Children

20Margaret Bailey Building—a new

era

6

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34 Careers updates

and news

North / North West Old Girls’ Lunch

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2 From our Patron

4 President’s Report

5 Newest members of the

AOGU Committee

6 Q&A with Ascham Old Girl journalists

12 The Two of Us

14 English at Ascham—

then and now

16 A Potted History of

Ascham Prizes

18 Golf and Tennis Day

19 Morning Tea for Mothers

with Young Children

20 Margaret Bailey

Building—a new era

21 North / North West

Old Girls’ Lunch

22 Brisbane Lunch

23 Reunions

30 Year 13 Drinks

31 Assembly to introduce Year 12 to the Ascham

Old Girls’ Union

32 Marriages, Births,

Deaths

33 Obituary

34 Careers updates and news

36 AGM Notice

37 AOGU Committee

Our magazine is proudly designed, printed and produced in Australia using environmentally friendly papers from sustainable sources.

From our Patron – Andrew Powell

During my studies of Science at university, we were required to complete the subject Scientific Writing in our second year. I remember starting this course thinking that we would be focusing on an expository style of writing; getting the facts in order and ensuring that there was a logical sequence to the information.

AOG Calendar of Events 2019

Friday 8 – Monday 11 March Class of 1976 Reunion (because we’re 60 years old)

Canberra—Venue TBC

Enquiries: Jane Easthope (Matthews) 0448 484 855 or [email protected] or Facebook: Ascham Year of 1976

Friday 15 MarchTildesley Team Jumper Presentation

Glenrock Drawing Room, Ascham School, 5.30–7pm

Wednesday 20 MarchIn Conversation – Network Event

Barnet Lecture Theatre, Centre for the Sciences, Ascham School, 6–8pm

Wednesday 3 April AOGU Annual General Meeting

Barnet Lecture Theatre, Centre for the Sciences, Ascham School, 6.30pm

Saturday 6 April Southern Highlands Lunch

Bendooley Estate, 3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima, 12noon

Tuesday 7 MayIn Conversation – Network Event

Barnet Lecture Theatre, Centre for the Sciences, Ascham School, 6–8pm

Saturday 27 July Class of 1969 – 50 Year Reunion

Glenrock Drawing Room, Ascham School, 11am–3pm

Enquiries: Meg Evans on 0431 692 443 or [email protected] and Mary Jacobs (Littlejohn) on 0410 413 163 or [email protected]

Friday 9 August Annual Golf and Tennis Day

The Royal Sydney Golf Club

Friday 6 SeptemberYear 13 Drinks

Glenrock Drawing Room, Ascham School, 6–9pm

Friday 20 December Class of 1979—40 Year Reunion

The Blue Room, Bondi, 6–12pm

Enquiries: Melissa Halliday on 0425 213 338 or [email protected]

Andrew Powell with AOGU Committee members Renée Lodens (Kiosoglous 1993) and Amanda Pfeffer (Stern 2008)

For any enquiries related to Ascham, please contact the Old Girl Liaison Manager, Skye Barry (Edwards 1994), on 02 8356 7065 or [email protected]

F R O M O U R PAT R O N – A N D R E W P O W E L L

2 Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine – Summer 2018 3

The course certainly did enhance this style of writing, but we also spent time rediscovering the pleasure of writing in the narrative and persuasive styles, as well as descriptive writing.

These types of writing I have just mentioned are developed throughout an Ascham girl’s schooling. They commence in Hillingdon and are developed and refined through Fiona and the Senior School. I speak to the girls about the importance of reading every night and how developing one’s reading and comprehension skills not only helps with English but also with deciphering textbooks for all subjects, particularly as they move into their senior years of study.

I’m not sure what comes first: being a good reader or being a good writer, and it probably doesn’t matter! Regardless, writing is an essential skill. Our work, learning and intellect is judged by our writing skills. Writing equips us with the skills to communicate and to express who we are. It enables us to explain and refine our ideas to others and ourselves. It allows us to preserve our ideas and memories, and to entertain others.

Ascham girls spend a great deal of their time at School writing. They write answers for Dalton Assignments and tests, articles for publication, nomination spiels for leadership positions, and on occasions they write excellent petitions!

One publication I always enjoy reading is Ascham Ink, which is published by the English Department. This book contains short stories and poems submitted by the girls from Years 7 to 12. The Year 6 autobiography also draws on the girls’ written skills and this is a much-loved publication.

As I sit and write this article, I am watching the Margaret Bailey Building being pulled down brick by brick. During Term 3, approximately 50 Old Girls came back to the School for a tour of the Margaret Bailey Building. As we walked around, the Old Girls were enthused to see the Dalton Plan in action, with much interaction occurring between teachers and girls. The building has been home to many Ascham staff members since it was built in 1933, and for my 25 years at Ascham this has been the base of the English Department. The new Margaret Bailey Building will cater for our girls into the 21st century and, importantly, will also retain its name—honouring the heritage, its legacy and the place it takes in Ascham’s history.

I hope you enjoy this issue, which focuses on English and the journalism and writing careers of some of our Old Girls.

Andrew Powell Head of School

President’s Report It is always wonderful to learn more about Old Girls, especially so when the magazine covers such a range of interesting Old Girls excelling in careers in the media and journalism. The influence that these amazing Old Girls have on the Australian media and their contribution to our country’s cultural and political conversation is inspiring to say the least.

We have been lucky enough to welcome a number of Old Girls to the AOGU Committee this year and they have brought with them several inspiring new ideas and projects for us to embark upon. Please take your time to look at the calendar on page 3 and diarise the events that take your interest. Our new In Conversation events, under the direction of The Hon. Brigitte Markovic (1982) will feature a panel of professional Old Girls providing industry-specific insights. These events will be a wonderful way of leveraging the value of being an Ascham Old Girl, networking with like-minded professionals and reconnecting with old friends.

We are also starting to grow our regional catch up functions and are planning a lunch in the Southern Highlands early next year. If you would like to help organise an event please let

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myself or Skye Barry (Edwards 1994), Old Girl Liaison Manager, know so we can progress plans and help you with them.

Thanks to Gabi Stricker-Phelps (2017) we have launched our first official Ascham Old Girls’ sports team for Indoor Hockey. Continuing to wear the blue and red sporting colours is a fun and easy way of keeping the community strong so please let us know if you have any interest in setting up an Old Girls sports team. I had the good fortune of playing in an Ascham Old Girls netball team at Moore Park in the late 1980s which was organised by Kirsty Bloore (Leabeater 1987), so it’s even nicer to see the AOGU formalise sporting initiatives.

Next year is our 120 year anniversary of the AOGU so with that we will be rolling out a Scholarship Plan for descendants of Old Girls which, with your help, will enable them to enjoy the benefits of an Ascham education.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas break and I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible in what looks like being a very full year of events and activities in 2019.

Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986)


Introducing some of the newest members of the Committee

Brigitte Markovic (1982)

In 2015, I was appointed as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. From 1988

to 2015, I practised as a solicitor at law firm Clayton Utz. I was appointed a partner in 1997. As a solicitor, I practised in corporations, insolvency, commercial and administrative law. I graduated from UNSW in 1988 with degrees in Commerce and Law. My husband and I have two children; my daughter Thomasina is in Year 6 at Ascham.

Nicola Michel (Dowe 1985)

After leaving Ascham in 1985, I completed a Bachelor of Arts at the

University of Sydney during which time I lived at Women’s College. I moved to France at the end of my degree and lived and worked in Paris for a number of years before returning to Australia to undertake a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of NSW. After completing my MBA I worked at Bankers Trust in Sydney, before moving to Greece and then Canberra with my family. I am currently working in financial services, specifically communication and public relations for global investment managers, which means I spend

most of my time at work writing about financial markets, funds management and investment strategy. My husband and I have four daughters, all of whom have attended or are currently at Ascham, so I am really pleased to be able to contribute to the School and the extended School community through the Old Girls’ Union.

Eliza Newton (2001)

I have a public relations and crisis management background, and recently took up the

position of National Communications and Marketing Manager for Lendlease Engineering Australia. At Ascham, I was heavily involved in music and earlier this year I had the pleasure of singing with Richard Charlton at the AOGU event In Conversation with Rowena Danziger. While studying at university, I was Secretary of The Women’s College Alumnae Committee and helped arrange regional functions, and fundraising events. The other main focus in my life is dressage. This means pre-dawn starts most days to keep my horses in training, and competing throughout the year at a national level at events in NSW and Victoria. It is time consuming, but a true passion!

Ferial Reid (1985)

I grew up in Yass and so was a boarder at Ascham, graduating in 1985. Following school, my

pursuits involved being outdoors or up in the air most of the time. I went to the Royal Agricultural College in the UK for a year and lived in Paris and the French Alps for eight months. Following that, I had a long stint coordinating courses with Outward Bound Australia

both in Australia and Zimbabwe. In my 30s I studied to become a commercial pilot and was based in remote places like William Creek, Coober Pedy, Port Hedland, and spent much time in Central Australia. I lived for a few years in Charleville in Queensland with my husband who flew with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, while I worked for a veterinary practice. In 2007, I moved to Humula near Wagga Wagga to farm cattle before moving again back to WA with my husband for 10 years. There I had two children, Georgina and Sinclair.

Gabi Stricker-Phelps (2017)

I am now the youngest AOGU Committee member, having just

finished school in the class of 2017 where I was Chair of the School Committee. I am committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity, and was awarded the Dame Marie Bashir Peace Award in 2017 for my community work fighting for both gender and marriage equality and working on the I See You Project, aimed at enhancing the sisterhood at Ascham. Currently I am studying Commerce/Law at the University of Sydney and am an affiliate at Women’s College. I’m passionate about setting up an AOGU sport initiative for all Old Girls that combines my love of socialising and exercising. The pilot program began in October with the AOGU Indoor Hockey team ready and raring to go (see more on page 34). I also hope to offer an insight into keeping connected with the new Old Girls coming into the community.

Big Sisters initiative—save the date! The AOGU is introducing a pilot event called Big Sisters for Ascham’s newest graduates as they start their tertiary education either at the University of Sydney or University of Technology Sydney.

The transition from School to university can be overwhelming. Big Sisters are drinks evenings for our newest School graduates at the start of the university year, aimed at connecting them with Old Girls who are studying at the same institution who can help introduce them to university life. Big Sisters will kick off with two drinks evenings in March. If you are interested in attending please contact [email protected]

USYD, 13 March, 6–8pm (location TBC, time might also change based on location)

UTS, 27 March, 6–8pm (location TBC, time might also change based on location )


Q&A with Ascham Old Girl journalistsAscham is proud to have schooled many Old Girls who have gone on to forge dynamic and successful careers in journalism. We turned the microphone around and invited them to answer a few questions about themselves, their time at School and their careers.

Debbie Whitmont (1974) I studied Arts/Law at Sydney University and then worked as a legal aid lawyer at Redfern Legal Centre before joining the ABC. Since then I’ve been a producer and reporter at Four Corners, had brief stints at Channel 7 and Channel 10 and was the ABC’s Middle East correspondent. I’ve also written a book investigating the fatal Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and am now working on another book.

Were you interested in English and writing while at School?

I loved English at School and also Debating. I remember there was a School essay competition, which was encouraging for people like me who were no good at sport. We had some very good English teachers, in particular Mrs McGaw and Mrs Scarlett who was wonderfully eccentric and always losing her glasses, which she had a habit of leaving in odd places like the fridge and the oven. More importantly, she introduced us to memorable writers such as Virginia Woolf, Henry James and TS Eliot. But my favourite teacher was Mrs Lewin*, who taught German. She was strict but brilliant and didn’t just teach grammar and vocab but also had us reading and analysing German plays and stories, which I loved.

Why journalism?

I never planned on journalism and have to admit I never planned anything much else about my career. A lot of it just happened. When I was working as a legal aid lawyer, I saw a Four Corners program about corruption in the judicial system, was fascinated by the combination of investigative journalism and filmmaking and decided that I wanted to learn how to make programs like that myself. I wrote to Four Corners asking for a job and they said: Go away and learn something about journalism! So I did.

Where was your first job in journalism?

My first job in journalism was with a consumer program at the ABC called The Investigators. I was hired for two weeks as a researcher and ended up doing different jobs at the ABC for nearly 30 years. I think it taught me that you never know what will happen and that it is always worthwhile trying something new. I’ve never regretted the things I’ve done, only the things I didn’t do.

[*Editor’s note: Sadly Mrs Evi Lewin passed away this year. Her obituary can be found on page 33.]

Susan Wyndham (1975) My journalism career began in 1981 when I was lucky enough to join The Sydney Morning Herald as a cadet, after my Honours year in English Literature at the University of Sydney. I was a news reporter, feature writer and editor of Good Weekend magazine before moving to New York as a correspondent for The Australian newspaper. I returned to the Herald as literary editor, running our coverage of books, and spent a few years as a deputy editor of the paper. I happily returned to writing about books and the arts, and was literary editor again for eight years. In 2017 I took voluntary redundancy as the Herald rapidly changed and contracted in the digital age. Now I freelance as a journalist, write book reviews, host literary events, judge book awards, and work on a slow-brewing novel. I’ve previously published a nonfiction book, Life In His Hands: The true story of a Neurosurgeon and a Pianist, edited an anthology, My Mother, My Father: On Losing a Parent, and contributed to several other books.

Were you interested in English and writing while at School?

Spelling, composition and, later English were always my favourite subjects. I was upset if I didn’t get 100 per cent in spelling and will forever know how to spell ‘separate’ and ‘amount’ because I got them wrong. I remember the fairy story I wrote in second class and can still recite my haiku from when our first year English teacher sent us out to write under the fig tree. Those small creative opportunities were thrilling. In my final years I won the English Prize and the Amy Molineaux Essay Prize. English classes were

really about the pleasure of reading, which is my lifelong passion, and I was fortunate to have parents and teachers who encouraged that interest.

Why journalism?

I knew at 15 that I wanted to be a journalist. In retrospect, I was partly influenced by my father, who worked for the ABC in production and management, and by my mother, who had a long career but dreamed of journalism. My ambition was clear even though my father told a School mate he didn’t think I was tough enough, and a teacher said she pictured me running an art gallery in Florence. Journalism was a way to write while earning a living, and a way to find out about the world. I loved newspapers and magazines as much as books—the words, the stories, the people, the physical pages—and I could think of no more exciting place to work than The Sydney Morning Herald.

Most exciting assignment?

It’s impossible to narrow a 35-year career down to one assignment. Each of my jobs was the most exciting at the time, but working in New York for eight years was the greatest adventure. I was there from 1988 to 1996 through the first Bush and Clinton presidencies, the Gulf War, the devastation of HIV/AIDs and crack cocaine. I interviewed actors such as Jack Nicholson and Harrison Ford, celebrity artist Jeff Koons, alligator hunters, a teenager on death row, and flew in an ultralight plane with a man who trained geese to migrate—stroking the wing of a flying goose was magic.

Opposite page: Debbie WhitmontAbove: Susan WyndhamAbove inset: Susan when she was literary editor at The Sydney Morning Herald

... I flew in an ultralight plane with a man who trained geese to migrate—stroking the wing of a flying goose was magic. Susan


Lucie McGeoch (1997)I‘ve spent the last 15 years working in Australian commercial media, mainly daily television. I began at Foxtel in my early 20s then moved to Channel 9 where I undertook a news and current affairs cadetship. After that I moved to A Current Affair, then hosted by Ray Martin and later Tracy Grimshaw, as an associate producer. I had a brief stint in magazines working at Woman’s Day as the news editor for a year. I’ve spent the last 11 years at the Seven Network, working as a producer then chief of staff of Today Tonight and the last five years as supervising producer of two daytime shows, The Morning Show and The Daily Edition.

Was there an Ascham teacher who made an impact on you?

The current Head of School, Mr Powell, was my Science teacher; he was someone who was clearly passionate about teaching. Mr Powell rewarded not only the naturally gifted students but also those like myself that tried to make up for a lack of natural talent in Science with some conscientious application. I wasn’t surprised when Mr Powell became the Head of School.

Dr Maréchal-Ross was my French teacher; she was the best, she looked like she had walked straight off the streets of Les Invalides, Paris, into the Ascham classroom. She is passionate and also recognised students that tried hard. The best teachers make learning fun. We were so lucky.

Most exciting assignment?

The most interesting assignment I’ve done is a story on an Australian former undercover detective

Colin McLaren; he wrote a book called Infiltration. It was a real-life Donnie Brasco story where he went undercover in the NSW town of Griffith to gather information on the Calabrian mafia residing in Australia. He was a very intelligent, very interesting man who risked his life several times. He worked with a female undercover operative who is still in the field so we never knew her name. Travelling to the town of Griffith for that shoot was a little unnerving! Of course we’ve done some fun celebrity interviews—a favourite is Hugh Jackman, always a class act. The real stars are a pleasure to deal with.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

The best is that it’s different every single day. I have never once been bored at work. Ever. Also, working with a great team and meeting interesting people. I love the power of television—there’s no better platform to capture the emotions of humans and galvanise them into action. People can talk about disruption, the online giants taking over and it’s true we’re all under pressure, but in my opinion TV is still the most powerful vehicle to share a message with a large audience. There’s no such thing as ‘off the record’.

What is the worst part? That it never stops. The show must go on every day, and every day you get a score against your competition in the ratings. I don’t know of another industry where it’s win or lose every day and you’re ranked against your competition. There are huge highs in television—it’s the kind of place where you can cry with laughter, where wonderfully outrageous things happen. There can also be deep, gut-wrenching lows. It’s a pressure cooker—you see people at their absolute best and their absolute worst, but I like that because you form close relationships with colleagues, many of whom remain friends for life.

Sharri Markson (2001)I had always wanted to be a journalist and got my foot in the door at News Corp doing a week’s work experience in Year 11. That week was fairly close to the Sydney Olympics and The Sunday Telegraph needed extra editorial assistants during that busy news period. I stayed on as a copy kid during the remainder of School, at weekends and during the holidays. After one year at USYD, studying Media Comms, the paper offered me a casual job as a reporter, which turned into a full-time position a year later. I immediately quit university.

The early start in the workforce was an enormous advantage. I was covering State politics by 21, and moved to Canberra two years later as political reporter before being promoted to chief of staff at The Sunday Telegraph. A couple of

Above: Lucie McGeochOpposite page: Sharri Markson in the Parliament House Press Gallery during the marriage equality vote in December last year.Opposite page inset: Sharri (in white coat) at Malcolm Turnbull’s press conference after the leadership spill

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years later, Channel 7 headhunted me for the role of news editor. My next job was CLEO editor—an out-of-the-blue job offer—and from there I joined The Australian newspaper as media editor.

After three years at The Australian, I took on the role of federal political editor for The Daily Telegraph where I’ve won the Kennedy Journalist and Political Journalist of the Year Awards, along with News Corp’s Sir Keith Murdoch Award for Journalist of the Year.

Describe a typical day for you.

I live in Sydney but spend 20 weeks of the year in the Press Gallery in Canberra when Parliament is sitting. In journalism, there is no typical day, but I’ll often have a catch-up over coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner with a contact and am on the phone constantly chasing stories. On very busy days, when I’m breaking a big political story, I will make around 75 phone calls and send well over 100 WhatsApp and text messages. Physically writing the story is the fastest and simplest part of the job. Verifying and confirming complicated stories is always challenging, and

this can include dealing with our legal team before publishing.

Often, I’m updating or writing entirely new stories for our later editions, up to 11.30pm at night. Dinners are interrupted on a daily basis! It is hectic and stressful. I can work from home, the office, Parliament or my hotel—wherever there is a mobile phone and laptop.

Most challenging assignment?

There have been so many exciting assignments, from covering overseas trips with Malcolm Turnbull and Donald Trump, where you travel in the VIP plane and in the Prime Minister’s motorcade. But there is nothing quite like the whirlwind of breaking a major political scoop.

This year, one of the biggest political stories in the country that I broke was

the leadership coup against Turnbull. This was immensely challenging and all-consuming. It was a regular Thursday when I got a sniff that Peter Dutton and conservative MPs were plotting to roll Turnbull. It seemed far-fetched, and yet I was able to confirm

through conversations with a number of politicians that a challenge was genuine and imminent. It was fairly late in the afternoon by the time I walked into my editor’s office to tell him about the story. We ran it on the front page the next day. Turnbull brought on the first leadership spill just four days later. That week was one of the most intense of my life. I was working 18-hour days and was in constant contact with all sides of the coup: the Morrison, Dutton and Turnbull camps. While they were all doing the numbers, I was too, to try and work out who was shifting support, when a next spill would be called and who would emerge as the new leader. I was pregnant with my first baby, so racing around Parliament to hound the politicians at press conferences was an added level of exhaustion!

Q &A W I T H A S C H A M O L D G I R L J O U R N A L I S T S

This year, one of the biggest political stories in the country that I broke was the leadership coup against Turnbull. This was immensely challenging and all-consuming. Sharri


Pia Akerman (2001)I finished at Ascham in 2001 and studied a B. Arts/ B. Commerce at the University of Sydney with majors in history and government. While at university, I worked as a copy kid on The Sunday Telegraph and completed internships there and at The Australian. The Australian gave me a cadetship in Adelaide, and I lived there for four years before moving to the Melbourne bureau in 2010. I took on an additional role as a weekly columnist for the popular Strewth column early last year, and am currently on maternity leave with my second child.

Q &A W I T H A S C H A M O L D G I R L J O U R N A L I S T S

Is there an Ascham teacher who made an impact on you?

Mr Taaffe. His passion for correct grammar and simple language was so formidable, I can still hear his voice in my head when I write. I try to impress his lessons upon young cadets—no passive voice!

Most challenging assignment?

Some parts of the job touch you personally and are hard to handle. I covered the murder of Melbourne woman Jill Meagher and the prosecution of her killer. Jill was my age, walked the same streets as me every day and worked in the same industry. It was impossible not to think ‘it could have been me’. Covering the deaths of young children is always hard as well, and I have felt this more keenly since having my own [children].

Best part of your job?

Being paid to have wonderful experiences, meet inspiring people and see amazing places. I’ve flown over Lake Eyre in flood, covered election campaigns and royal tours, and been privileged to interview people from all walks of life including many who have trusted me with their stories at the most difficult point in their lives—coping with personal or natural tragedies.

Olivia Leeming (2008)I am a political correspondent for Channel 7 at Parliament House in Canberra. After graduating from Ascham in 2008, I started my media career in AM radio while studying journalism at UTS. I have since covered two federal elections, two leadership spills and travelled to Singapore to report on Donald Trump’s meeting with Kim Jong-un.

Did you have a favourite subject at School?

I fell in love with the arts and humanities early on and still treasure the deep curiosity they encouraged. My English studies taught me to analyse and question everything—an important skill for any journalist—and I loved performing in School plays. They helped boost my confidence by forcing me to face my fears.

Where was your first job in journalism?

It was a sink or swim mission in the newsroom of the Sydney AM radio station 2UE. They agreed to let me do work experience and I was immediately sent to interview then opposition leader Tony Abbott, then went on to cover everything from bushfires to murder trials. After several months of perseverance I was hired, having learned far more in my early newsroom days than throughout my entire university course.

Above: Olivia Leeming (2008) at work outside Parliament HouseRight: Olivia Leeming (2008)

I fell in love with the arts and humanities early on and still treasure the deep curiosity they encouraged. Olivia

I’ve flown over Lake Eyre in flood, covered election campaigns and royal tours, and been privileged to interview people from all walks of life... Pia

Left: Pia Akerman with Kevin Rudd Inset: Pia in a mine

Describe a typical day for you.

I cover federal politics for Seven’s national news bulletins from 5am to 7pm. Some weeks, I’m up at 3.30am reading newspapers ahead of my early live crosses from Parliament House. Between live crosses and writing TV stories, I’m interviewing politicians, attending press conferences, juggling radio spots and updating social media. I often travel for stories for a few days at a time, but for federal election campaigns it’s several weeks of continuously following our political leaders around the country.

Antigone

I remember a very strong English Department at Ascham. All my teachers were passionate about teaching critical thinking, well-ordered writing and a love of text. I now work in broadcast and I think reading texts out loud—novels as well as Shakespeare’s plays—helped me think about language in a multidimensional way. I remember Mrs Stevenson reading out To Kill a Mockingbird in jean overalls and a straw hat with a Southern accent, and Ms Miller tearing up reading Funeral Blues. I think Ascham fostered an interest in global affairs and social justice, and we were taught to stay informed. I remember finding it difficult to elevate my writing to what was basically university level at high school, but it’s paid off in the long run.

I wasn’t one hundred per cent set on a career while I was at Ascham. I did know that I had a strong interest in media, languages and writing. I began writing music and arts reviews at university, and after interning in several newsrooms I realised I wanted to be a reporter. That said, it is difficult to plan a path with a media career as jobs are changing all the time with publications under pressure to stay viable. I’ve seen many rounds of newsroom redundancies and publications close—and I’m only 25.

Like Libby, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism)/Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of Technology Sydney. Libby was in the year above me at School but I do remember being in the same House (Bailey). While we didn’t know each other very well at School, when we started studying a Bachelor degree in the same year it was a relief to notice a familiar face in the lecture room. We gave each other feedback during our degrees—bouncing story ideas off each other and making recommendations in the university video editing suites.

I completed about 14 internships during my degree to gain hands-on experience, ranging from researching for the ABC’s 7.30 program, attending photo shoots with the now-defunct Madison magazine, live tweeting during the 2013 leadership spill for The Conversation in Melbourne and interviewing musicians for online publications. I began working at the ABC Sydney newsroom in 2016 after completing my degree and have since worked as a regional reporter in Newcastle, Wagga Wagga and Bega.

In hindsight, I liked the expectations of us at Ascham—we were expected to behave, write and act as young women. We were encouraged to think critically, use our own brains and not copy verbatim or imitate, which I think is a necessary approach in the professional sphere.

Olivia Mallett (2010)

The Two of Us Libby Hogan and Antigone Anagnostellis

Libby Hogan (2009) and Antigone Anagnostellis (2010) finished Ascham in different years, but reconnected at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) where they studied Journalism together. They are now both working as reporters in different countries: Libby in Myanmar and Antigone in rural Australia.

Libby

At Ascham, I had my heart set on becoming a teacher or working as a journalist. I got a taste for radio journalism at the age of 12 when I asked if I could host my own show at the local radio station, 2WEB in Bourke. I’ve always enjoyed telling stories and asking people about theirs.

I was never the top of English or wrote the most perfect essay, but I relished the lively debates in class and listening to everyone’s views. I think of Ms Miller and Mrs Di Stefano as facilitators; they would throw out propositions and the class would seize the idea and deconstruct it. We explored the themes of women behaving badly and identity politics, studying the likes of The Handmaid’s Tale, Simone de Beauvoir and Virginia Woolf’s Orlando. The ability to not just answer questions but to listen to each other’s ideas, challenge your viewpoint and then clearly communicate your argument was invaluable learning, thanks to the English Department.

Most memories are shared with the fiercely intelligent and fun group of boarders that became my family for my seven years at Ascham. I feel very privileged to have met such a bunch of supportive friends—beginning with just 10 girls we became thick as thieves running amok at dress-up nights, weekend leave and playing games using the entire School grounds as the field.

After finishing School, I took a year off and went travelling around Europe before studying a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism)/Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of Technology Sydney.

I knew Tig [Antigone] at School through Sports Houses and always enjoyed a chat with her. At university it was great to come across her in the lecture hall and discuss what stories we were working on. In later years we spent countless hours in the editing booths motivating each other and having a laugh when filming didn’t quite go to plan, or sharing various challenges we’d encountered during the day. Since graduating we’ve stayed in contact and it’s been exciting to follow each other’s careers. In October this year, Tig visited me in Myanmar.

I studied in Mexico for a year on university exchange and it was there I realised that I absolutely wanted to be a journalist. After witnessing the disappearance of 43 student teachers I grabbed my camera and photographed the national protests calling for justice and started pitching stories. I did countless internships for five years and finally received a short paid contract at ABC’s Foreign Correspondent.

As it didn’t result in a permanent position, I decided to move to Myanmar and work with a Burmese broadcaster to cover the hopes for a smooth democratic transition after almost 50 years of military rule. I have published stories in The Guardian, and with ABC, CNN, Al Jazeera and NPR (US National Public Radio).

It’s now been years of unpaid internships while studying, taking risks like moving overseas to a country I’d never been to before, and working day and night pitching stories to editors. It’s not a well-paid industry, there are job cuts everywhere you look, but at the end of the day I enjoy every story I work on and the biggest challenge is deciding what story to chase each day.

Opposite page: Libby behind the camera First: Antigone reading the news in the studioSecond: Libby and Antigone in MyanmarThird: Libby on State Day in Myanmar

I enjoy every story I work on and the biggest challenge is deciding what story to chase each day. Libby

Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine – Summer 2018 13 12

I’ve seen many rounds of newsroom redundancies and publications close—and I’m only 25. Antigone

The Universal Value of Literature: English at Ascham now

Therese Turner-Jones has been Head of English at Ascham for two years. She is leading the department as it embraces a new syllabus and reflects upon the constant amid the change.

Each new generation of students experiences English in the way and approach of the syllabus of the time, but fundamentally the appreciation of great literature remains a constant.

The implementation of the new syllabus for English in Years 11 and 12 has started for the cohort of HSC 2019. Multimodal presentations, contemporary texts that cross and combine media forms as well as timeless favourites dominate the landscape of the classroom experience.

Authors in their own right, students are encouraged to embrace the energy of imagination across a range of diverse construction that includes creative, analytical, discursive, informative and persuasive responses. Optimal learning experiences and student engagement in critiquing and appraising the works of others, as well as their own writing, has turned the page of 21st-century pedagogy to prepare the girls for a new-look HSC from 2019.

There is segue, however, between the past and present of English at Ascham that resonates with Oscar Wilde’s

words ‘It is Literature that shows us the body in its swiftness and the soul in its unrest’. The girls in their English classroom in Lessons and Studies are drawn to the beautiful and artistic works that cross the contemporary world and capture eras past. The milieu and epoch of the original and modern canon are analysed and evaluated in consideration of the impact and effect of compositional choices. The aesthetic, the sensual, the intangible—qualities that have inspired great writers and composers to move beyond the temporal into realms of imagination and enlightenment—become the platform for impassioned responses to texts. These qualities that entrance, enthral and enrich us, through the power of communication of great literary works of the past and present, culminate still in the offerings of English at Ascham.

The girls have learnt, and indeed are still learning, that literature can take us on a personal journey, transforming, inspiring and liberating us.

Barbara Hardy’s 1968 work, Towards a Poetics of Fiction: An Approach Through Narrative, is so very relevant for our girls at Ascham—she stated that ‘we dream in narrative, day-dream in narrative, remember, anticipate, hope, despair, believe, doubt, plan, revise, criticize, construct, gossip, learn, hate, and love by narrative. In order really to live, we make up stories about ourselves and others, about the personal as well as the social past and future.

Our students’ best lessons and best texts read are the ones they make connections to that are relevant to their experiences and their own story.

From a teaching perspective, how do we achieve this? It is through the narratives we use, and expand upon, many from our own childhood and adolescent years to explain and discuss so many of the issues and themes explored and shaped in the texts we teach. From this, so many new insights and ideas, fresh and waiting to be

nurtured, are created within the English classrooms. It is in these forums that students are given the opportunity to shine and come to new ways of thinking about learning and responding to the literature we study.

Therese Turner-Jones Head of English

Ascham’s English Department— rigour and depth with every decade

Joanne Manning has seen the English Department through decades of change and hundreds of students, and has been a core part of the evolution of this dynamic subject area.

The study of English remains an essential component of an Australian education. At Ascham the English Department has endeavoured to maintain the rigour of reading and writing skills with the critical thinking of conceptual issues and the creativity of narrative and poetry writing.

The syllabus has developed with the changing needs of the market and Ascham has balanced these needs with what we believe is the essential core of English study. Our desire to study novels, short stories, film and poetry with a keen academic focus has remained central to the Ascham English Department. We study English to understand our culture, human behaviour and the human mind.

The ultimate aim of the English teacher is to encourage reading and thinking. From this comes the conceptual understanding to say something about our world. Some years ago the English Department spent time working on reading. I was Head of Department at the time, and after completing my studies in Comprehension Strategies at Columbia University, New York, we renewed our focus across the department on wider reading. Encouraging reading in our students remains a challenge for all English teachers, as the competing forces of media have diminished the importance of reading. We hope the Old Girls have become avid readers in their adult lives and feel that they are confident communicators. We also hope this love and enjoyment of reading began with the Ascham English Department.

The Dalton Plan, Studies and teachers having their own rooms allows for much discussion in the English classrooms. Teachers have easy access to texts that will interest girls, whether they are enthusiastic readers or yet to be convinced of the benefits. We encourage girls to browse our shelves for a book that might inspire and provoke thought, lead to an obsession with an author or passion for a genre. Some of these books are never returned and English teachers take delight in the ‘stolen book’—as long as it has been read.

The department has changed over time. We remember fondly Mrs Ann Parker who brought a keen intellect to the study of King Lear and cared for the emotional needs of the girls during the turbulent HSC year. The charismatic Mr Ben Taaffe, when not mentoring new English teachers, could be heard reciting Hamlet’s soliloquies to girls previously unaware of such poetic portrayals of human anguish. Ms Jennifer Wells and Dr Selina Samuels brought with them backgrounds in academia, enabling a renewed focus on critical theory and application to English texts. Our present Head of English, Mrs Therese Turner-Jones, brings with her a wealth of experience from NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) through syllabus writing and examining. The department has welcomed a number of exciting and passionate English teachers over the years.

We will soon have a new Margaret Bailey Building, farewelling the old

one that has been our home for so long. In the new space there will be reading lounges and places for girls to collaborate. Break-out spaces and outdoor classrooms will create more relaxed environments for creative writing, guest speakers and discussion. While the building will bring new opportunities for teaching, the rigour and depth of English will remain.

Dr Joanne Manning Director of Curriculum and Learning

14 14 Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine – Summer 2018 15

Top: Therese Turner-Jones, Head of English at AschamBottom: Old Girl and English teacher at Ascham from 2002 to 2012, Selina Samuels (1986), with her Form class

Top: Joanne Manning with members of the Class of 2013Bottom: Ben Taaffe with students in the 1980s reading the poetry of WB Yeats

Social Awareness and Environmental Awareness. The most recent addition is the prize for Student Mentorship and Support, first awarded in 2017.

Sport at Prizegiving was for a very long time limited to Physical Culture and Tennis. The first prize for Physical Culture, later called Physical Training, featured in the 1906 Prizegiving program. The Senior Tennis Player’s Honour Board Prize was established in 1917 and for many years multiple Tennis prizes were announced at Prizegiving. Although Ascham girls were involved in other sports, such as Athletics, Swimming, Basketball and Hockey much earlier, these sports only started being recognised regularly at Prizegiving from the late 1950s onwards. The Carolyn Davis Memorial Cup for Athletics was first awarded in 1957. The cup for the most promising Junior Hockey Player had its first recipient 1958, followed by the cup for the most promising Junior Basketball Player in 1960. The Honour Board prizes for Captains of the different sports were established from the early 1990s.

The Old Girls Honour Board Prize is the oldest continually awarded Prize. It appears on the first Prizegiving programs, and the Honour Board was established in 1902. For many years this prize was decided by popular vote of the students. However, since 1956 this prize has always been awarded to the Chair of the School Committee. I also discovered that Houses were established under Miss Whitehead on the instigation of the 1953 School Committee and after a vote by the whole School. Initially there were only four houses: Bailey, Carter, Glenrock and Wallis with the addition of the last two houses, Street and Whitehead in 1971.

Many of the names and donors of the prizes are of historical significance to Ascham. They fall into a few main categories: former Heads of School and teachers, parents and Old Girls. Some belong to more than one category.

Heads Marie Wallis, Herbert Carter and Margaret Bailey each have a prize in their memory. The oldest prize named in a teacher’s memory is the Amy Molineaux Prize, established under Mr

Carter. Important teachers from Miss Bailey’s time who had prizes named after them are: Flora Scott, Eva Fry, AJ (Annie) Macintosh and KC Gilman Jones, who in fact was co-owner of Ascham with Miss Bailey between 1914–1916. Prizes named after more recent members of staff are the Vivienne Blunt, Naomi Robinson, Judith Reed and Helen Grant prizes.

The following Old Girls have had prizes established or dedicated in their memory: Eileen Teece, Susan Jolly, Margaret Lundie, Betty Winn Ferguson, Nicole Youdale, Judith Hislop-Stone, Melissa Coghlan Roberts, Katrina Dawson and Fiona Gardiner-Hill.

At the most recent Ascham Company AGM it was announced that the Honour Board Prize for the Highest ATAR would be named the Margaret Stone Prize, in recognition of The Hon. Margaret Stone’s contribution to the School as Chair of the Ascham Council of Governors between1998–2008.

The complete list of prizes and their historical information is now included in the Senior School Prizegiving program. Although there are currently enough prizes to recognise outstanding contribution and achievements, there are still many prizes that remain unendowed. Recently some Ascham community members have endowed or re-endowed certain prizes. Anyone interested in giving their support to a particular prize, or wanting to find out more about a particular prize, should contact Ascham’s Old Girl Liaison Manager, Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) on 02 8356 7065 or [email protected], or myself on 02 8356 7000.

Ludo Onstein


A Potted History of Ascham Prizes

Every Ascham Old Girl has memories of Prizegiving, having participated in up to six Senior School Prizegiving ceremonies during their Senior School years. Prizegiving at Ascham takes place on the last day of the year and suitably marks the end of the School year with a celebration of excellence and contribution. In my role as Director of Studies and Deputy Head, I was responsible for this event for a number of years.

I became very familiar with the prizes and their names, from Mysie Stephen to Flora Scott and Eva Fry, but it was only when I read Jane Gilmore’s excellent biography of Margaret Bailey that I discovered the history of many of the names mentioned at Prizegiving.

This led to my investigation of the history of all the prizes and since 2017 this information has been included in the Senior School Prizegiving program. I found most information in past Prizegiving programs and copies of Charivari, as well as Heads of School reports, but, like browsing the shelves of a bookstore or surfing YouTube on the internet, the research itself led to all kinds of unexpected and sometimes quite surprising discoveries!

The first records of Prizegiving go back to 1900, when it took place in December. Between 1904–1918, however, this event took place at the end of June. Then, from 1919 onwards, it was back at the end of the year. It turns out that in the first years after Federation, the academic year in NSW followed the Northern Hemisphere timing with the academic school year finishing at the end of June, while being divided into four terms. This changed in 1919 because of the 1918 Spanish flu. This epidemic meant that schools were forced to remain closed throughout February, after the long Australian summer holidays. To manage this extended break from school, the NSW Government decided to extend the 1918–1919 academic year until the end of that year and, at the same time, reduced the number of school terms

16

Opposite page: Old Girl Edwina Christie (2004) presenting prizes at Prize Giving in 2017First: Deidre Pickett-Heaps (Clarke 1961) points to her sister Kerry Campbell (Clarke 1959)’s name on an honour board while on a Reunion tour in 2016 Second: Bookplate, Lois Linsley, 1920Third: Marie Wallis Prize, Maybelle Markell, 1919

Ludo commenced at Ascham in 1991 in the French Department. He became the Director of Studies in 1998, and later Deputy Head, until he stepped back from those roles at the end of 2014. Ludo is still very involved with the School on various projects. He is also an Honorary Old Girl.

from four to three. This was already the case in Victoria, South Australia and New Zealand at the time. This arrangement was meant to have been only for 1919, but it stayed in place until 1987, when NSW returned to having four school terms, while still finishing in December of course. Margaret Bailey also mentions in her 1919 Headmistress’ report that the last students did not return to School until August that year because of the Spanish flu.

Each Prizegiving program over the years contains intriguing information— it reveals what was taught and valued in education at the time. There have always been prizes for academic excellence, called Form Prizes, and prizes for English, French and Latin are listed in the earliest programs. In the early 1900s there were prizes for ‘Tidiness of Exercise Books’ and ‘Conduct’ as well as ‘Dressmaking’, ‘Woodcarving’ and ‘Elocution’. The first prize for ‘Dancing’ was awarded in 1917 and Boarders’ Dancing prizes were regularly presented from the mid-1920s onwards. The last Boarders’ Ballroom Dancing prizes were awarded in 1962. In 1925, there was even a prize for ‘Special Dancing’. Ribbons and badges for ‘Posture’ were awarded continually right through the 1950s and 1960s. However, this prize disappeared from the program in 1974, the second year of Mrs Danziger’s headship. For many years, between 1938–1960, there was also a ‘First Aid’ prize.

The first prizes for overall Contribution to Creative Work in the School and Contribution to Music were introduced in the late 1970s. Of course, there are several much earlier and long-established prizes for Music, Debating, Speech Training and the Dramatic Arts. Some of these prizes date back to Mr Carter and the early years of Miss Bailey. Mysie Stephen, one of the first Music teachers at Ascham under Mr Carter, started presenting Music prizes in 1915. The Eileen Teece Memorial Honour Board Prize for Debating and the Junior Debating Prize, donated by Miss Fergusson, date back to 1925 and 1927 respectively. These three prizes have been part of Prizegiving ever since.

The mid-2000s saw the introduction of the Honour Board prizes for

Golf

ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSEWinner: Amanda Burke (Hudson 1978) 32pts

Runner up: Jane Holyman (Archibald 1978) 32pts

Nearest to the pin: Holly Marsh (Jarvis 1990)

Longest drive: Debbie Lloyd-Phillips (MacDonald 1965)

ON THE CENTENARY COURSE

Winner: Julia Hutchinson (Ricketson 1970) 20pts

Runner up: Annette McKay (Bingle 1958) 20pts

Nearest to the pin: Anna Cobcroft (Buckley 1988)

Longest drive: Julia Hutchinson (Ricketson 1970)

TennisWinner: Anne Fitzgerald (1976)

Runner up: Sarah Fritsch (Ashley 1994)

Social winner: Sue Dick-Smith (Macpherson 1963)

Social runner up: Ferial Reid (1985)

Golf and Tennis Day

The Ascham Old Girls’ Union held our annual Golf and Tennis Day on Friday 10 August at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Old Girls across generations came together for a fun day of sport and camaraderie. While there was enough competitive spirit to make the winners deserving, there was an abundance of friendship and connection. This continued into lunch, which was attended by our patron and Head of School Mr Andrew Powell. The Golf and Tennis Day is a fixture for all Old Girls who enjoy either or both of these sports to mark as a must-attend event in 2019.

Special thanks to Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) for her efforts in pulling the event together.

Caroline Isles (Allsopp 1988) AOGU Committee member and coordinator of this event

18 18 Ascham Old Girls’ Magazine – Summer 2018 19

Top: Tempe Macgowan (1977), Milly Arundell (McCallum 1989), Brooke Taylor (Charles 1989), Juliet Lawson (Hassall 1987), Ashley Scott (Meagher 1988), Vickie Poolman (Maher 1986), Anne Fitzgerald (1976) and Sarah Fritsch (Ashley 1994)Second: Penny Joyce (Sutherland 1957), Anna Cobcroft (Buckley 1988), Alex Cooper (Noss 1982), Alice Pilcher (Conibear 1997), Annette McKay (Bingle1958), Bronwen Wade-Leeuwen (Lewis 1975), Sally Kimpton (Windeyer 1959), Hilary Cotman (Green 1970), Ronnie Harding (1958) and Julia Hutchinson (Ricketson1970)Third: Amanda Burke (Hudson 1978), Julia Hutchinson (Ricketson 1970), Sue Dick-Smith (Macpherson 1963) and Anne Fitzgerald (1976)Fourth: Bronwyn Wade-Leeuwen (Lewis 1970), Tina Donnelley (Raine 1978), Janie Holyman (Archibald 1978), Mandy Burke (Hudson 1978) and Fiona Frost (Crawford 1977)Fifth: Caroline Isles (Allsopp 1988) and Svetlana Collantes (2002)Sixth: Vickie Poolman (Maher 1986) and Brooke Taylor (Charles 1989)

Morning Tea for Mothers with Young Children

The Morning Tea for Mothers with Young Children was held on Saturday 1 September at the Hillingdon Playground, for all Old Girls with babies and children aged under seven.

It was a beautiful morning filled with big smiles and laughs with the children running around the playground and playing in the sandpit as their parents watched on and chatted to both new and familiar faces. The Morning Tea is a great opportunity to reconnect with Old Girls who want to share the ‘mumhood’ experience or even introduce their own daughters to what life will be like at Ascham for themselves when they start soon.

We cannot wait to reconnect with you and your little ones over a cup of tea and a muffin at the Morning Tea next year.

Amber Glajz (2002) AOGU Committee member and coordinator of this event

Top: Madeleine Moore, Eva Lodens and Lucia BarrySecond: Leah Bischoff (Bekiaris 2006) and Maya and FreddieThird: Renée Lodens (Kiosoglous 1993), Sophie Moore (Menzies 1998), Xanthe Moore, Poppy Mills and Josie Ashton (1995)Below inset: Amber Glajz (2002) and Aria


Margaret Bailey Building—a new era

On Friday 31 August, Ascham Old Girls were invited to join Head of School Andrew Powell to bid farewell to the Margaret Bailey Building in its current form. Some 50 Old Girls assembled at the fig tree, with a strong sense of nostalgia.

After a warm welcome by Mr Powell, we commenced the walk through the corridors of the two-storey building for a final time. There was endless natter between the generations, each swapping stories about classes and teachers, as the group toured the 12 classrooms of the Margaret Bailey Building, and the new Belgiorno Nettis Languages Centre that opened in 2017.

Mr Powell shared the exciting plans for the new Margaret Bailey Building and other aspects of the Ascham Masterplan after the tour. The demolition of the old brick building, first built in 1933 by Margaret Ann Bailey (Headmistress, 1914–1946), will allow for a new three-storey building designed by BVN Architects, with oversight from Old Girl Angela Kent (Saunders 1978) as a Governor on the School Council.

The new Margaret Bailey Building will become an exceptional new centre, and will retain its name—honouring the heritage, its legacy and the place it takes in Ascham’s history. The footprint of the building will grow from 680m2 to over 2,000 m2, providing a better use of the property with modern, functional classrooms and

innovative learning spaces. What’s more, the Margaret Bailey Building copper lettering will be restored.

We thank everyone who joined us for this special event and look forward to inviting the Old Girl community to visit the new building once complete in late 2019.

Renée Lodens (Kiosoglous 1993)

Top: Wendy Willcocks (Fuller 1969), Hazel Watson (Willcocks 1957), Nicky Clark (Willcocks 1998) and Emily ClarkSecond: Jenni Tadman, Amanda Stewart and Tempe Mcgowan, all Class of 1977Third: Louisa Larkin-Miocevic (Larkin 1989) and Barbara Coward (Mansfield 1940)Fourth: Old friends, Hazel Watson (Willcocks) and Peta Phillips, both Class of 1957Fifth: Ricky Davis (Mandl 1973), Margie Mansfield (Cole 1973), Lavinia Chrystal (Robson 1972), Catherine Rawson (King 1972), Claire Baistow (McCallum 1973) and Michelle Broinowski (Stead 1973)Inset below: Margie Mansfield (Cole 1973) holding her old School report

Top: Old Girls enjoying lunch Second: Barbara Mulligan (Barnes 1963), Julia Young (May 1975), Christine Ireland (Laurie 1961) and Renée Lodens (Kiosoglous 1993)Third: Rosemary Nankivell (Duddy 1975), Bean Baillieu (1979), Julie Anderson (Burrell 1982) and Kate White (Lowe 1975)Fourth: Prim Winston-Smith (Archibald 1972) and her dear friend Sarah Thompson (Barton 1971)Fifth: Skye Barry (Edwards 1994), Angie Berry (Gill 1984) and Suz Lord (McMillan 1975)

On 11 October 64 Old Girls gathered for a delicious lunch at The Glasshouse restaurant, Goonoo Goonoo Station, just south of Tamworth. As anticipated The Glasshouse proved to be quite a drawcard among the ranks—many coming for a ‘sticky’ as much as to catch up with their friends!

North / North West Old Girls’ Lunch

Ascham fellowship is alive and well!

Girls travelled for miles. From New Zealand, Robbie Douglas-Clifford (Gilder 1975); Surfers Paradise, Pattie Houston (Tomlinson 1951); Glen Innes, Belinda Norton (Futter 1976) and Jane Newsome (Houston 1982); Walgett, Jane O’Brien (Irving 1976); Narrabri, Prim Winston-Smith (Archibald 1972); Sydney, Hilly Laidlaw (Barton 1975) and Sal Lomax (1975). Girls also came from Gunnedah, Curlewis, Coolah, Cassilis, Moree, Mudgee, Scone, Quirindi, Walcha, Armidale, Guyra and places in between, even from Tamworth!

Boatie Travers (1974), recently returned unscarred from safari in Africa, brought her mother Marion Tanner (Simson 1947) who was our most senior Old Girl on the day.

We welcomed several first-time AOG lunch-goers: Sarah Ronald (2000) who teaches Art at NEGS, Kate Gunn (Davidson 2000) from Spring Ridge and Hannah Crawford (Street 1994) from Walcha. Hannah’s sister Katie Street (1996) was unable to attend because of work commitments yet painted a still life of poppies for our silent auction. It was expressly couriered by her Aunt Pip Warrick (Street 1971) from Armidale to The Glasshouse. Katie’s painting contributed hugely to the success of the fund-raising on the day.

As Head of School Andrew Powell was unable to attend, Myfanwy Stanfield, Ascham’s Director of Enrolments and Community, spoke on his behalf about Ascham’s direction and achievements.

Skye Barry (Edwards 1994), Ascham’s Old Girl Liaison Manager, attended along with Renée Lodens (Kiosoglous 1993) from Sydney who is a member of the AOGU Committee. All three ladies contributed much to the success of the day, speaking with many of the Old Girls and selling raffle tickets. Thanks to the generous donations from several Old Girls who were unable to attend the lunch, along with the donations and fundraising on the day, we will be able to assist the daughter or granddaughter of a North / North West Ascham Old Girl who is enrolled at Ascham once again next year.

Angie Berry (Gill 1984) and Suz Lord (McMillan 1975)


Top: 60 Year Reunion GroupSecond: Christine Bear (Molesworth) and Ellie Seaman (Brunton)Third: Sandra Anderson, Jane Swanton, Caroline Walder (Downes), Sue Phillips (Palmer), Julie Wyer (Hammond), Gai Wiles (Willis) and Jenny Burman (Reading)Fourth: Peta Golsby (Jaquet), Janice Monie (Davies) and Annette McKay (Bingle)

This was their fourth reunion, having celebrated the 25th, 40th and 50th, and the second reunion to be held at the School. Many thanks to those who travelled from outside Sydney to get there. Unfortunately, our Head Girl and Old Girl of the Year Ray Mould (now Parsons), who lives in Tasmania, was unable to attend this time.

Classes of 1957 and 1958—60 Year Reunion

On 7 September, 19 of the 32 girls who sat the Leaving Certificate Class of 1958 and seven girls of the 25 of the class of 1957 met for a 60th Reunion at Ascham.

It was inspiring to see how well people related to one another. It was also good to see those who were close friends at School standing together for photos. I think there were at least five members of the Kindergarten class of 1947 and the majority at the lunch had been in Junior School in Fiona.

Before lunch we had a chance to chat in what used to be the room outside Miss Whitehead’s office in Glenrock. It is now called the Drawing Room. For our group, the portraits of Miss Dorothy Whitehead, our Headmistress, and Miss Fergusson, our Modern History teacher, brought back the most memories. It was also nice to note that Miss Marie Daley, our Ancient History teacher, has been honoured with a nearby meeting room named after her.

It was a very well organised sit-down lunch and we were all at the one long table. This enabled us to change places and move around easily to speak after the main course. After lunch most of us took a tour of the Margaret Bailey Classroom Block in which we had spent five years of our lives! Although it had been rearranged it was not difficult to recall the different subject rooms. It was wonderful to be able to peruse the English Honour Boards outside the room for English. It was good to be reminded that Beverly Finlayson (Francis) won the Amy Molineaux Essay prize in both 1957 and 1958 and that she also shared the prize for English with Angela Taylor (Ackland) in 1958. Both Bev and Angela live out of Sydney and sent their apologies.

Sandra Anderson (1958)

Top: Sophia van Praag (Harvey 2002), Ali Nott (2009), Vanda Carson and Lynne Carson (Westgarth 1956)Second: Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986), Gaynor Thearle (Bowie-Wilson 1961) and Paula Sandford (Murphy 1965)Third: Sue Litchfield (Robinson 1961) and Andrew PowellFourth: Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986) with Harriet Sutton (Pembroke 2003)

It’s not easy trying to get everyone together here in Queensland as we are all scattered all over the place, from Cunnamulla in the west to Cairns to the north

Brisbane Lunch

Queensland Old Girls Get Together

On 31 October we held a Queensland Old Girls Get Together at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane. Sixteen Old Girls attended and we all felt very honoured with the attendance of Head of School Andrew Powell and Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986), President of the AOGU, who both very kindly flew up for the day.

It’s not easy trying to get everyone together here in Queensland as we are all scattered all over the place, from Cunnamulla in the west to Cairns to the north. The area covered is about a quarter of the area of Australia so it was fantastic to get as many as we did.

Looking forward to our next get together in about two years.

Merry Christmas to you all and may the New Year be a healthy one.

Sue Litchfield (Robinson 1961)


Top: Anne Milne (Trollope), Barbara Ball (Stitt), Jill Grieve, Mim Poolman (McConnell), Janelle Dundas-Smith (Connell), Anne Keys (Boase), Kate Fletcher (Crossley), Sue Dick-Smith (Macpherson), Marian Sawer (Philippa Goodwin), Dinny Perry, Margaret Burrell (Cobb)Second: Sue Dick-Smith (Macpherson), Anne Keys (Boase), Janelle Dundas-Smith (Macpherson), Dinny Perry, Jill Grieve, Andrew Milne, Anne Milne (Trollope), Kate Fletcher (Crossley), Mim Poolman (McConnell)Third: Sue Dick-Smith (Macpherson), Janelle Dundas-Smith (Connell), Jill Grieve, Anne Keys (Boase), Barb Ball (Stitt)Fourth: Anne Milne (Trollope), Janelle Dundas-Smith (Connell) and Jill Grieve

Class of 1963— 55 Year Reunion

A 55 Year Reunion of 1963 leavers was held in Mudgee on 24 October.

Those attending were:

Barb Ball (Stitt) Margaret Burrell (Cobb) Sue Dick-Smith (Macpherson) Janelle Dundas-Smith (Connell) Kate Fletcher (Crossley) Jill Grieve Anne Keys (Boase) Anne Milne (Trollope) Dinny Perry Mim Poolman (McConnell) Marian Sawer (Philippa Goodwin)

We started the festivities with a very noisy dinner at an Indian restaurant, followed the next day by a lovely lunch in the beautiful Blue Wren Vineyard. After a brief rest for some (especially the vocal chords) we headed back to Jill Grieve’s home for nibbles and drinks and more chat—in case we had missed something.

The weather was perfect and although needing rain the gardens were beautiful—especially the roses. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and Jill did a fantastic job with all the organising.

We finished up meeting for breakfast the next morning before heading for home.

There were a number of apologies from those who could not come.

Hopefully the next reunion will see many more of the Class of ‘63.

Janelle Dundas-Smith (Connell)

Top: Prue Sinclair (Powell), Tina Donnelly (Raine), Fiona Webb (Duddy) and Janie Holyman (Archibald)Second: Anna Lloyd (Goddard), Candy Braithwaite and Ann Holmes a Court (Jones)Third: Members of the Class of 1978 on the School tourInset: On the Glenrock stairs


On Saturday 15 September the Class of 1978 held their 40 Year Reunion.

We started with a School tour at 4.30pm, which was really interesting as so much has happened at the School; the boarders were particularly impressed with the change in the boarding facilities! We were lucky to have Angela Kent (Saunders) there to explain the plans as she has been very involved in the building program over the last few years, as a Governor on the School Council.

We then met at the Bellevue Hotel for drinks and canapés. We had a great turnout of around 50 and enjoyed catching up with some girls who had left before Year 12 as well. We had girls who had travelled far—Jeannie Cogill from New York, Candy Braithwaite from Singapore, Harriet Davie from Fremantle and Jody Walton from New Zealand, as well as those from country NSW. It was lovely to have such a strong turn-out from the boarders, many of whom still live in the bush and are feeling the effects of the current drought.

It was a lovely, relaxed evening and went too fast with a lot of requests for doing it again before another 10 years—although it was noted that pub venues were maybe becoming a bit noisy as our hearing starts to decline!

We did miss those who couldn’t attend—some overseas or at other important functions—but especially thought of those who were unwell and not able to join us. We very much hope that we will catch up at the next event with those that couldn’t make it this time.

Jill Hawker (Cropper)

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Top: On the tourSecond: Top to bottom closest to Honour Boards: Kate Munro, Natasha Evans (Mack), Emma Preece (Bechley-Crundall), Sarah Wakem (Parfett), Edwina Ekins (Hodgkinson) Top to bottom next to balustrade: Jenny Harris, Caroline Dinning (Bosch), Emma Davies, Kristie NealeThird: Class of 1988

…I have to say it... I think this was definitely my favourite Reunion, everyone looks fab and I feel like it was far less overwhelming than last time... maybe we have all chilled a bit or maybe just a little bit wiser... whatever it is, I really enjoyed the catch-ups and loved hearing so many great and diverse stories... sorry to those who could not come, see you next time.


Celebrating our 30 Year Reunion has been a wonderful experience—everyone enjoyed reconnecting with so many interesting women.

Even for those not able to be there on the night, there was much interaction in the lead-up, sharing photos, memories and reengaging both online and in person. We had close to 60 turn up on the night, a great turn out with quite a few coming from overseas!

Below are some of the Facebook posts and photos from the night…

‘ …Brilliant night just ruined by my Uber driver asking if I had grandchildren.’

‘ …I’m with you!! I really think we’re improving with age. It felt calmer and everyone was genuinely happy to see each other again. I loved it. A room full of special people with a connection that can’t be replicated.’

‘ …I had such a great time and have also been quite emotional about it ever since! It was amazing to see you all—I missed so many of you too. Anyway, I am extremely happy and grateful to have been able to time a visit from NYC with it, and after living overseas for 19 years, it was incredible to reconnect.’

‘ …So lovely catching up with all you glamorous gals. Was really fun hearing all the news. I’ll be back in 10 years, I won’t leave it 30 years this time!’

‘ …What a very wonderful group of girls (we’re girls till we’re 60 then we become ladies).’

Georgie Wilcox (Solomon)

Top: Annabelle Newham (Falk), Sarah Plaskitt, Sophie Castleman (Mann), Sonya Anderson (Lake) , Fiona Sawyer and Katrina Dunn (Adams)Second: 25 Year Reunion groupThird: Ann Schippers (Craig), Nisha Sachdev and Melissa Whelan (Whitfield)Fourth: Freny Kalapesi, Cressida Pollack (Walker), Bethany Hudson, Kate Little and Alex Wenderoth (Beer)


The girls of 1993 enjoyed their 25 Year Reunion on Saturday 20 October.

The evening event was held at the Royal Oak in Double Bay. The stormy weather couldn’t keep us away, with girls coming together to rekindle old friendships with some and find new common ground with others. How quickly the hours passed, there being so much to say to each other. If only the evening had been longer.

We finally said our fond farewells when the bar closed at midnight, and are already planning the next one!

Alex Wenderoth (Beer)


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On Saturday 13 October, the Class of 1998 celebrated our 20 Year Reunion. It was fantastic to see over half the year in attendance—people had flown in from overseas and travelled across the country to be there.

The evening started with a tour of the School. It was really exciting to see how the face of Ascham is changing with all the new developments and construction; and equally surprising to realise that the Packer Theatre still felt very big! Then it was on to Folonomo in Surry Hills to share stories over drinks and food, and laugh over the quotes in our Year Book, which had made its way to the event as well. We could have stayed chatting and reminiscing for many more hours. The Reunion was a reminder of the strength of the bonds made during School, despite the years gone by.

Sheila Jayadev

Top: Class of 1998 relive Assembly on the School tourSecond: Emily Montouri (Atherton), Rebecca Astar, Sarah Davies, Jo Ferris and Jenny AdamThird: Nicky Clark (Willcocks), Amber Molnar and Jessica JohnsFourth: Emily Montouri (Atherton) and Airlie Galvin (Halliday)Fifth: Class of 1998 at their ReunionInset below: Alicia Jarret and Sheila Jayadev

Top: Jessica Harper, Amanda Pfeffer (Stern), Bianca Hollo, Lisa Fedorenko, Tatiana NikiforovaSecond: Rebecca Ridalgh, Tatiana Nikiforova, Annabel Tresise, Danjel Miladinovic, Sally AllportThird: Sabina White and Paige Totman


The much-anticipated 10 Year Reunion of the Class of 2008 was attended by more than 40 people.

Hosted at the Tilbury Hotel in Woolloomooloo, it was the first time many old School friends had seen each other in nearly a decade and was a perfect opportunity to catch up. Following a short welcome and acknowledgement of Laura Hinds’ work, conversations switched to reminiscing about adventures at School, sharing highlights of the past 10 years and discussing plans for the future.

A big thanks to all who attended and to Sarah Margo and Skye Webb for their hard work in organising this event.

Amanda Pfeffer (Stern)



Year 13 Drinks

Year 13 Drinks were a huge success with over 70 girls from the Class of 2018 returning for our one-year reunion.

Glenrock was buzzing with excitement as we all shared our stories and adventures from the past year with many girls having travelled overseas or started work or university. We caught up with some of our teachers and heard from Mr Powell and the AOGU on upcoming events and ways to keep connected with the Ascham community.

While most of us have kept in contact with one another, it was lovely to be in the same place together laughing and remembering our time at School.

A huge thank you to Skye Barry (Edwards 1994) for organising such a fabulous first reunion. May this be the first of many more!

Gabi Stricker-Phelps

Top: Members of the Class of 2017Second: Catherine Ding, Cissy Xu, Angela Chen, Anisha Gupta, Madeleine Webster, Gabi Stricker-Phelps, Alex Tonkin, Aliette KissThird: Kate Moss, Stella Babidge, Madeleine HuynhFourth: Tully Robinson, Charlotte Borten, Hannah Magotra, Isabelle Nastevski, Madeleine Huynh, Ruby Mann

Glenrock was buzzing with excitement as we all shared our stories and adventures from the past year...


Top: Mia Crowe, Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986), Camilla Bell and Caroline Isles (Allsopp 1988)Second: Mia Crowe, Camilla Bell, Isabella Cairns, Liana Isaias-White, Ruby Ginzburg, Isabella Wilson, Sophie-Charlotte Busch, Naomi ArnoldThird: Tess Barton and Naomi Arnold, daughter of Karen Arnold (1982)

Assembly to introduce Year 12 to the Ascham Old Girls’ Union

On Tuesday 28 August AOGU President Giselle Collins spoke to Ascham’s outgoing Year 12 about the Union’s activities, welcoming them as imminent Old Girls.

As Year 12 girls prepare to take their next step in life and discover life outside the School gates, Giselle reminded them that becoming an Ascham Old Girl is about forging a new connection with their School. The Ascham Old Girl friendship network is a bond that holds strong. She encouraged the girls to stay in touch with each other via the Old Girls Facebook and Instagram pages and to attend the Year 13 Drinks, their first Reunion after finishing School.

At the conclusion of the assembly girls were offered a special AOGU cupcake and the latest edition of the Old Girls’ Magazine.

Marriages Births Deaths

Engagement

Natalie Gaston (2004) to Steven Burt on 17 May 2018

Marriage

Sarena Paradice to Alexander John Preddey on 20 October 2018. Sarena is the daughter of Jude Paradice (Carr 1974)

Births

Victoria Brookman (2003) – daughter, Camilla Yanada Whitington in February 2018, a sister for Robert and Delina

Sophie Moore (Menzies 1998) – daughter, Xanthe Margot Moore on 4 June 2018, a sister for Madeleine and Jasper

Alice Pilcher (Conibear 1997) – son, Thomas Henry Conibear Pilcher on 23 December 2017

Jacqui Ross (Beaumont 1995) – son, Edward on 13 February 2018

Brianna Stokes (Edwards 1996) – son Sam James on 7 November 2018

Sophia van Praag (Harvey 2002) – son, James Adrian van Praag on 14 April 2018, a brother for Eva and Alexander

Bronwen Wittig (Dagworthy 1998) – son, Charlie Thomas Wittig on 8 January 2018, a brother for Henry and Isabella

Jane Utting (1995) – daughter, Annabelle Jane d’Esterre Molineux on 22 September 2018

Deaths

Tamara Adler (Doyle 1953) on 20 April 2017

Jude Peter Gerard Cleary on 16 October 2018, son of Amber Cleary (Ryan 1993)

Graham Crouch on 3 July 2018, husband of Barbara Crouch (Showers 1948), father of Catherine Crawford (1974), Caroline Crouch (1981) and grandfather of Fiona Crawford (2006), Sarah Crawford (2004) and Amelia Laumberg (2012)

Carole Ettelson on 29 July 2018, mother of Susie Goodman (1979) and mother-in-law to Vessa Playfair-Ettelson (Playfair 1974)

Dr Margaret Farquharson on 19 June 2018, mother of Anne (1980) and Diana (1982) Corlette and grandmother of Georgia St Leon (2017)

Angie Gibson (Richardson 1967) on 20 September 2018, mother of Skye Gibson (1999)

Judith Gollan (Playfair 1940) on 17 October 2018, sister of Wendy Williams (1944) and Lady Susan Atwill (1948), mother of Prim Murray (1964) and Julia Tregoning (1967), grandmother of Amelia Teasdale (Murray 1992) and Emma Martin (1997), great grandmother of current students Skye Murray and Riley Martin

Val Gowing (Burcham 1930) on 26 September 2018, one month shy of her 104th birthday. Mother of Sue Blomfield (1962), Sally Daniel (1967) and Sandy Price (1967)

Isabel Herron (Sweetaple 1946) on 17 September 2017, mother of Nicola (1982) and Lara Meares (1986), grandmother of Samantha (2006) and Vanessa Herron (2009)

Mrs Evi Lewin, German teacher at Ascham 1961–1982, on 21 June 2018 (see obituary on opposite page)

Thomas Kimlin Midelton on 14 April 2018, brother of Margaret Poten (Midelton 1953)

Charlene Meade OAM (Toddy 1949) on 11 September 2018, mother of Angela Meade (1975)

Harry M Miller on 4 July 2018, father of Justine Miller (1983), Brook Rutherford (1993) and Lauren Miller Cilento (1995)

Bronwyn McDouall (Cupitt 1968) on 30 August 2018, mother of Serena Morcombe

Ian Murray on 18 September 2018, father of Penny Perkins (Murray 1973)

Charles Phipps on 21 August 2018, husband of Elizabeth Phipps (Wiles 1945) and grandfather of Elisa Phipps (2009)

Antony (Tony) Edmund Rundle AM, father of Diana Cavanagh (1981), Melissa (1984) and Rebecca Coote (1989)

Deidre Siddall (1954) on 25 August 2018

Commodore Sir Laurence Street AC, KCMG, QC, (1943) on 21 June 2018, father of The Hon. Justice Sylvia Emmett (1971), Sarah Farley (1980), Jessie Street (2009), grandfather of Phoebe Emmett (1998) and current student Heidi Street

Keith Swan on 11 October 2018, husband of Camilla Swan (1957 Hetherington), father of Mitzi Swan (1980) and Liz Swan-Ward (Swan 1984)

Margaret Warburton (1968) on 13 August, sister of Catherine Rawson (1972)

Nancy Woodley (Lowe 1944), on 9 July 2018, mother of Katrina Ballantyne (1970)

Daphne ‘Bobbe’ Zeleny (Bowman 1931) on 6 October 2017, mother of Kathy Zeleny (1979)

Peter G Murdoch on 11 July 2018, father of Sarah Murdoch (2001)

Denis Magoffin on 9 October 2018, father of Alice Roberts (1981), Catherine Heitmann (1983), Sarah Langker (1987) and Briony Fowke (1990)


Obituary

Evi Lewin 17 April 1932 – 21 June 2018

Ascham German teacher 1961–1982

Evi Lewin was a force to be reckoned with. She was fiercely intelligent and uncompromising in her commitment to excellence, fluent command of German, and an in-depth understanding of literature. Her commitment to teaching stemmed from her drive to share with others her knowledge, skills and love for languages and literature. She was exacting in her standards, extraordinarily well organised and never minced her words. She taught at Ascham for 21 years, from 1961 to 1982, and the 1981 Charivari recalls her organisation, her infectious laughter, the wit and inventiveness of performances of her German plays in assembly, and ‘the verve, the vigour, the rigorous expectations’ that she brought to the School.

Students tended to be wary of Mrs Lewin until they got to know her, when they realised that beneath the tough taskmaster, with the resolute green correcting pen, lay a warm heart and

a mischievous, often self-deprecating, sense of humour. No-one who saw her overwhelmed by a fit of laughter could forget her delight in the ridiculous, especially if it involved a clever play on words. Her classroom was a haven of concentration, hard work and commitment to focused study, punctuated by bursts of laughter and hilarious German music. To her Form Class in particular she showed her gentle, nurturing side.

At least two of Mrs Lewin’s students went on to become German teachers (what higher praise for a teacher’s talent and commitment?): Margaret Leggatt (Conn 1972) and Jane Sydenham-Kwiet (Sydenham 1972). When Jane sat the HSC in 1972, Mrs Lewin’s son Robert was also sitting the Extension German paper. Robert came first in NSW in German and Jane came second. Mrs Lewin said at the time she was unsure which order she would have preferred, but as both mother and teacher, she must have been thrilled and proud.

Even after Mrs Lewin finally retired, she continued studying and learning. She completed a degree in Linguistics with the University of New England and a wide range of online courses with Oxford and Cambridge Universities, including in Art History

and Ancient History. She developed a particular passion for exploring the arcane content of international specialist libraries. She confided with a grin that she had developed a knack for gaining access to the closed sections of libraries where precious manuscripts were kept. She spent many hours in these sanctuaries of knowledge studying a range of topics. The dedicated educator became a lifelong professional student.

Mrs Lewin died in June 2018 after a long illness throughout which her radiant intellect, her love of scholarship, her delight in robust intellectual discussion and her mischievous sense of humour never waned. As an inspirational teacher and a wonderful woman, she will be missed by the many upon whose lives she had a strong and lasting impact.

Jane Sydenham-Kwiet (1972) and Karen Arnold (1982)

Mrs Lewin in class with girls in the 1970s


Careers updates and news

Ascham Old Girls Inaugural Indoor Hockey Team

Girls from the Class of 2017, led by Gabi Stricker-Phelps, have established Ascham’s first Old Girls Indoor Hockey Team. They kicked off the Indoor Hockey Season with a very convincing 12–1 win. We look forward to hearing the results of the rest of the season and growing the AOGU sports teams. If you are interested in joining the next season, please email [email protected]

Anna Doubell (1996) swims the English Channel

Congratulations to Anna Doubell who swam the English Channel on Thursday 5 July 2018, after two years of training. Anna’s swim took 12 hours, 24 minutes. She was plagued by swarms or ‘smacks’ of jellyfish, which stung her badly, but was relieved that fog on the coast of France did not stop her swim. At the end, Anna says, her ‘face and arms were swollen from jellyfish stings. My throat was raw from the salt water. But I wasn’t cold. I wasn’t sore. I was all smiles.’ Anna is the second Ascham Old Girl to swim the Channel. Victoria Gorman (1999) swam the Channel in 2012. More information on Anna’s swim can be found here: www.doubs-swims.squarespace.com

Geena Dunne (2011) and Georgie Vaile (2008)

Geena Dunne and Georgie Vaile have a passion for supporting women in developing communities, which is why in 2019 they are heading to Namibia to distribute menstrual cups as a part of Geena’s initiative, The Cova Project. Each year, girls in Namibia can miss up to 50 days of school because of their periods. In March, Geena and Georgie hope to significantly impact this statistic. The Cova Project, run by both girls and a dedicated team in Namibia, plans to donate 20,000 menstrual cups to eastern Namibia, providing girls with up to 10 years of reusable, safe, sanitary care and the chance to experience their full education. ‘It’s a challenge but an incredibly worthwhile one with such positive, measurable outcomes. The cups are $5 and they give a girl back

50 days of school a year. It’s like a little silicon scholarship says Geena.’

Geena and Georgie are fundraising now, donate at thecovaproject.com

Kristina Freeman (Harrison 1995) and Alice Peel

Ascham Old Girl Kristina Freeman and her co-founder Alice Peel, who attended Ascham until Year 6, have teamed up to create Grow Your Mind. It is a social venture that aims to teach children from as young as three about their brains, emotions and ways to build resilience, compassion and mindfulness. Together they have combined their skill set of acupuncture, education, public health and positive psychology to create stunning emotional wellbeing kits and mental health resources for schools and for homes.

Kristina and Alice strongly feel that while poor mental health is indeed serious, mental health education does not need to be. Therefore humour and play are woven into all of their resources. If you would like to know more about Grow Your Mind you can find them on Instagram, Facebook or simply visit their website: www.growyourmind.life

Tonia Godhard AM (1958)

Tonia is known for her advocacy and support for young children and early childhood education in Australia and is a highly regarded as an early childhood expert. Her dedication is evidenced by her active and high level appointments to a broad range of children’s services organisations and advisory groups. In recognition of her work in this field Tonia has received a number of prestigious awards. In 2002 she was awarded the Order of Australia for service as an advocate for early childhood education; in 2005 she was awarded the Macquarie University Alumni Award for distinguished service to the early childhood profession; and in 2016 Tonia was awarded a Doctor of Letters.

(Harriet) Indie McDowell (2008)

Indie is the Medical Director of a small but bustling and beautiful Women’s and Children’s Clinic in Gubrye, Ethiopia, which serves 30,000 people. The clinic’s passionate, experienced midwives offer care for the whole spectrum of childbirth, from prenatal pregnancy planning right through to a six-week postnatal check, and everything in between. Indie has been awarded several grants from

philanthropic organisations to design, project manage, build, equip and stock the clinic and has since been working both as the Administrator and Medical Director, managing the provision of clinical services and a staff of nine. Indie is raising money to cover the costs of the medicines, the staff university fees (one of the things they are most proud of is that all the clinical staff are enrolled in university, either during the summer or for each

weekday morning), some final bits of building (for example, a fence and door instead of the corrugated iron they currently have), and to ensure that their poorest patients can have access to free healthcare. If you are interested in learning more go to JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/atsedeandindiesclinic

Shemara Wikramanayake (1979)

Macquarie Bank announced that Shemara Wikramanayake would become the first female CEO of Macquarie Group. Shemara holds Bachelors degrees in Commerce and Law from the University of New South Wales, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. She commenced her tenure at Macquarie in 1987. Prior to that, Shemara worked as a corporate lawyer.

Left: Anna Doubell (1996) Above: Ascham Old Girls’ first Indoor Hockey Team

Left: Kristina Freeman and Alice PeelAbove: Indie McDowell and Atsede, Clinical Manager and Head of Midwifery Services, in EthiopiaRight: Shemara Wikramanayake


AOGU Committee

Founder: Miss Marie Wallis Patron: Mr Andrew Powell

Office Bearers for 2018 President: Mrs Giselle Collins (Jollie) Vice-President: Ms Olivia Crowley Vice-President and Secretary: Mrs Amanda Pfeffer (Stern) Treasurer: Ms Sarah Merrick

Committee Ms Lisa BellMs Julia BoothMs Svetlana CollantesMs Olivia CrowleyMs Amber GlajzMs Caroline Isles (Allsopp) Ms Renée Lodens (Kiosoglous)Ms Olivia MallettMrs Nicola Michel (Dowe)The Hon. Brigitte Markovic Ms Eliza NewtonMs Ferial ReidMs Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey) Ms Fredericka van der Lubbe Ms Gabi Stricker-Phelps

Special AOGU cupcakes were made to welcome Year 12 to the Old Girls’ Union

Notice of Ascham Old Girls’ Union Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Ascham Old Girls’ Union (‘Union’) will be held on Wednesday 3 April 2019 at 6.30pm in the Barnet Lecture Theatre, Ascham School, 188 New South Head Road, Edgecliff NSW 2027, for the purpose of transacting the following business:1. Report of the Union’s activities since the previous Annual General Meeting2. Presentation of Balance Sheet3. Election of Office-Bearers and Members of the Committee

All past pupils of Ascham are welcome, whether or not they are members of the Union.

A report will be given to the meeting by the Head of School. If you will attend the AGM please RSVP to the Old Girl Liaison Manager, Ascham School, 188 New South Head Road, Edgecliff NSW 2027, or [email protected] or 02 8356 7065.

Nominations for New Committee Members

Nominations for new Committee members are welcome. Nominations must be in writing on the Nomination Form obtainable from the Executive Officer and must be received seven (7) days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Please note that only financial members of the Union are eligible to nominate for the Committee.

The Ascham Old Girls’ Committee is always looking for help. If you do wish to be on the Committee or would like to volunteer to help at AOGU functions, please contact the Old Girl Liaison Manager on 02 8356 7065 or [email protected]

Standing left to right: Caroline Isles (Allsopp 1988), The Hon. Brigitte Markovic (1982), Renée Lodens (Kiosoglous 1993), Fredericka van der Lubbe (1986), Eliza Newton (2001), Jenny Ridhalgh (Harvey 1981), Amber Glajz (2002), Gabi Stricker-Phelps (2017)Seated left to right: Amanda Pfeffer (Stern 2008), Olivia Mallett (2010), Giselle Collins (Jollie 1986) and Sarah Merrick (1986)

Founded 1886 Generations of heart and soul

www.ascham.nsw.edu.au

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ascham old girls’ n magazine...from our patron contains short stories and poems – andrew powell...

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