Windsor News July 2015 - Presentation College Windsor

Winter
E x per i e nce Success
20
15
W i n dsor
From the Principal
Welcome to the first
Windsor News for
2015. As usual, it
has been a busy and
eventful year, with
much to celebrate. At
the beginning of the
year, we launched
Leonie Keaney
our new Strategic
Statement, developed in the second half
of 2014 following our four-year review.
The Statement, based on four pillars,
will shape our work and growth as a
school over the next three years.
Stewardship—our responsibility as
current custodians of this great school
and as 21st century educators
Learning—the centrepiece of school
life: rigorous, contemporary and for all
Citizenship—the future generation
is our joint responsibility with parents
and families
The year has also seen further
development of our facilities following
the opening of the new Aquinas Library
in August last year. A refurbished flexible
learning space has been created on
the ground floor of the Kavanagh
building, and a new Drama and
Performing Arts space has been
developed in the old library.
The College Board is currently
seeking new members for the four
sub-committees—Finance, Master
Plan, Marketing and Risk. Alumnae with
relevant expertise may wish to join one
of these and I would welcome your
participation. Thank you to those who
have already expressed their interest.
Good wishes to you all.
Mission—our identity as a Catholic,
Presentation School in the tradition
of Nano Nagle
news
In this Edition
From the Principal
1
Semester 2 Events
2
VCE Results
2
2014 Alumnae and High Achievers
3
School Leaders
4
School Leaders
5
Faith and Mission
6
Social Justice 7
ANZAC Centenary
8
World Teaching and Learning
10
Staff News
11
Alumnae12
Leonie Keaney
Principal
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
| 1
E x per i e nce Success
Term 3
Events Snapshot
July
Monday 13Students
Commence Term 3
Tuesday 14
Parent Association
Friday 24
Presentation Day
Tuesday 28
CBC/PCW Staff PD Day
Wednesday 29 Music Camp
August
Wednesday 5Year 10–12
Parent Teacher Interviews
2:00pm–9:00pm
Friday 7
Year 10 Retreat
Tuesday 11
Year 8 Retreat
Wednesday 12 Music Showcase
Monday 17
Mid Term Break
VCE Results
The class of 2014
achieved some
outstanding results
in their Study Score
and ATAR results, as
well as in the course
placements they
were offered. Half
Kelly McGurn
the cohort achieved
an ATAR in the top 30% of the State,
48% of the students were offered their
first preference and 75% one of their
top three preferences.
Congratulations to Damaris Kean,
who was Dux of the school with an
ATAR of 99.2, and to the ‘top ten’
high achievers.
Kelly McGurn
Deputy Principal, Staff
2014 Dux
Damaris Kean
top 10
Madeleine Carrucan
Carina Field
Emily Lai
September
Tuesday 8
Leanna Lim
Parent Association
Wednesday 9Year 7–9 Parent Teacher
Interviews 2:00pm–
8:00pm
Thursday 10
Science Expo
Tuesday 15
Art Show
Friday 18
Term 3 Concludes
School Tours
Semester 2, 2015
Term 3
Wednesday 15 July
Thursday 30 July
Tuesday 11 August
(Open Morning) Thursday 20 August
Thursday 3 September
Tuesday 15 September
Term 4
Friday 9 October
(Open Morning) Wednesday 21 October
Friday 6 November
Tuesday 17 November
Thursday 3 December
2 |
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
Sabrina Loo
Dannielle McKinnon
Zhané Orr-O'Farrell
Eilidh Sdrojek-Heenan
Maryanne Waiting
Mary Zou
E x per i e nce Success
Alumnae 2014
High Achievers
Whilst I was sad
(and a little scared)
to leave the warm
embrace of PCW
last year, I am
so thankful for
all that I gained
Zhané Orr-O’Farrell
during my time at
secondary school.
The support that I received from the
PCW community throughout what was
a very rough two years of VCE has
meant so much to me, and there is
no doubt in my mind that it was one
of the driving forces behind my
academic success.
Since leaving PCW and receiving my
hard-earned ATAR score, I received
an offer for my dream course, The
Bachelor of Environments at The
University of Melbourne, with a
Major in Architecture and Minor
in Journalism.
After much ‘umming and ahhing’ I
decided to defer this offer and take a
year to explore the field. Once I had
secured myself an internship at Di
Mase Architects, I then landed myself
a part time contract as the practice’s
Media Coordinator. This involves
updating the Di Mase website with the
latest information, projects and images
as well as managing Di Mase’s online
‘image’ and marketing. I am also lucky
enough to be a fly on the wall at our
construction sites, client meetings
and site shoots.
This internship has offered me such
an incredibly valuable insight into the
Architectural world as well as the
journalistic and media aspects—it is
the perfect position for an aspiring
architectural journalist.
I have also been offered another
internship with The Australian Design
Review. In this role I will be placed
with one of their magazines and work
on editorial pieces.
At the end of May, I will travel to
Sydney to attend the 2015 SPARC
Conference where my boss, Antony,
will give a presentation on the subject
of ‘Light in Architecture’.
So far, this ‘gap year’ has been a
busy one, and I hope to make it as
productive as possible, achieving and
learning all that I can before returning
to study in 2016.
Zhané Orr-O’Farrell
Alumna & High Achiever, 2014
Whilst I am
relishing the fact
that I now have
free time on my
hands, I thought
it only reasonable
that I fill up that
Carina Field
time! As well as
studying a double
degree in Law and Global Studies, I’ve
taken my passion for Social Justice and
plunged myself into volunteer work
with Amnesty International.
When not studying, campaigning or
working, I am usually undertaking
a range of exhilarating, challenging
and sometimes crazy adventures.
Consequently, my friends have gone
from referring to me as 'seriously
nerdy' to 'slightly gung-ho'. I am very
proud of my new image!
Carina Field
Alumna & High Achiever, 2014
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
| 3
E x per i e nce Success
Year 12 Student
Leader Reflections
My role as School
Vice-Captain
mainly involves
representing
the school in
events such as
Assemblies,
Liturgies and
Sophie Buckland
visiting other
Presentation
schools in Melbourne. I feel privileged
to have such a key role, since, as a
younger student, I had always looked
up to the School Captains, and wished
to one day address the school at
Assemblies. The responsibility of being
a School Vice-Captain is sometimes
difficult to manage with being in Year
12, but it is unquestionably worth it.
If you are like younger me and wish
someday to become a School Leader,
my advice to you is to never let that
dream falter, and work hard until you
achieve your goals.
Sophie Buckland
College Vice-Captain
What I remember
most about the
Year 12 Leaders
during my early
years of high
school is the effort
they all made
to encourage
Olivia Fox
the rest of us to
participate and
make the most of all opportunities.
What better way is there to do so than
being a House Captain! Through this
position I have gained friendships,
experience and leadership skills. I feel
that my Leadership role is not just
a job, but an opportunity to help my
House enjoy high school as much as
I have. It is satisfying and fulfilling to
see girls in my House enjoy activities
and events that I have helped to
organise. I hope that I can encourage
others to see high school as a place
for education, certainly, but also as a
friendly community. I know that I will
be leaving PCW with no regrets.
Olivia Fox
Nagle House Captain
4 |
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
I am honoured to
be International
Student Leader.
In this role, I am
able to help our
International
Students integrate
into the school
Pam Jarmcharoen
community
and have an
unforgettable PCW Melbourne
experience. I ensure that the
International Students are valued and
respected members of our school
community, and I encourage the
sharing of cultures and the growth of
friendships across year levels.
Pam Jarmcharoen
International Student Leader
Leadership is
often associated
with power and
authority. This is
not what drew
me to the role of
a School Leader;
it was the ability
Jamie Long
to inspire, support
and encourage
people in their aspirations and dreams.
On International Women's Day, I spoke
to Ms Rosati about the concept of
Leadership and the profound impact
Leaders have on our community. It
was agreed that Leaders may not
always comprehend how much
younger students look up to them.
Having looked up to my Leaders in
Year 7, it was difficult to realise that I
was now a Leader.
As College and Loyola Music Captain,
I have seen the school in a new light.
Being part of the Music Department
means being able to connect with
girls across all year levels, making
friendships and acting as a “big sister”
at times to girls who need someone
to talk to. It makes me happy to be
considered a Leader when I know I
have helped and inspired people. It
is one of the most challenging and
rewarding experiences and definitely
worth it!
Jamie Long
College Music Captain
Music Festival
was an extremely
worthwhile
experience. I
learnt a great deal
and discovered
things about
myself that I never
Sarah Koury
knew before.
Leading my House
taught me to be more organised and
more patient. It also taught me a lot
about how to multi-task my Leadership
role with my studies. I learnt to do
the best that I could in everything
that I undertook. It was an extremely
rewarding experience, and I encourage
all of you in the younger year levels to
get involved as much as you possibly
can. It is a memory that I will always
carry with me, and of which I am
very proud.
Sarah Koury
Nagle Music Captain
Being at PCW
Melbourne has
allowed me to
experience a
range of amazing
and challenging
things, but nothing
can compare
Phoebe Michetti
to the Music
Festival. Lauren
Cameron and I had the gruelling job
of creating, managing and performing
with our House through the weeks
of Term 1. Throughout the Summer,
we worked out a theme, found and
edited appropriate music, contacted,
managed, prepared and practised.
It was an arduous task but one that
I would never have turned down.
Having Lauren as a partner and the
outstanding support of the girls in our
House helped us achieve what we did.
Despite not winning, I am proud of our
efforts. Winning is not the prize; being
in Kostka is. Thank you, Kostka Girls
for making our final year the best and
most memorable!
Phoebe Michetti
Kostka Music Captain
E x per i e nce Success
Year 12
School Leaders
Year 12
School Leaders
Kostka
Captain:
Art
Vice Captains:Sophie Buckland,
Paris Rouvalis
Mary O’Loughlin
SportSarah Smith,
Jessica Read
MusicLauren Cameron,
Phoebe Michetti
Liturgy
Cherish Manabat
Social Justice
Caitlin Dickinson
Environment
Caitlin Dickinson
SRC
Kathleen Biscocho
House
Siena Brennan-Smith
Pam Jarmcharoen
Music Captain:
Jamie Long
Sport Captain:
Emma Thomas
Taylor Filiadis
Social Justice
Stephanie Perrott
Environment
Zoe Vovos
SRC
Alicia Gadd-Carolan
House
Dahlia Elmolla
Rhiannon Crooks
SRC Leaders
The following
students are to be
congratulated for
being nominated and
voted by their peers to
the position of SRC.
SportGeorgina McAlister,
Sophie Buckland
Liturgy
Molly Lidgerwood
SRC leaders Kostka
Isabelle Moustra
MusicJamie Long,
Jennifer Papamiltiades
Tessa Cox
International
Student Leader:
Loyola
Art SRC leaders year 9
Josie Dilettoso
Josie Dilettoso
Head of Xavier
Josephine Biscocho
Stephanie Chadwick
SRC leaders loyola
SRC leaders year 7
Nagle
Art
Sheree Chen
Phillipa Bandis
SportEmma Thomas,
Hannah Spellic
MusicMia Wansbrough,
Sarah Khoury
Liturgy
Mia Wansbrough
Social Justice
Lilith Rowles (Year 11)
Environment
Jessica McNicol-Larsen
SRC
Rachelle Gorbachinska
House
Olivia Fox
Hallie Mau
Catrina Michael
SRC leaders nagle
SRC leaders year 8
Xavier
Art
Coby Hiatt-Renkin
Isabella Oates
Grace Long
Pepa Doolan
SportEmma Shaw,
Erin Olerhead
Alexandra Leggatt
Adeline Chiwetu
SRC leaders xavier
MusicCamille Thomas,
Natasha Vais
Liturgy
Sophie Morrell
Social Justice
Camille Thomas
Environment
Christine Chow
SRC
Madison Giacometti
House
Julleanne Almirante
Rebeca Silveira
Isabeau Gorringe
Pascale Latras
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
| 5
E x per i e nce Success
Faith and Mission
The start of 2015
has gifted our
community with
many opportunities
to celebrate our
love of God and of
one another. As
Shane Taylor
Presentation people,
this daily challenge invites and renews
our work and ministry. Here is a snap
review of our first three months.
28 January: Joint staff Eucharist—St
Mary’s Primary School, CBC St Kilda
and PCW Melbourne; Fr Moran (our
beloved chaplain) commissioned us in
our vocation of educators of faith and
knowledge, challenging us to be the
Love of God to all we meet.
6 February: Year 12 Retreat—inviting
the girls to see their life and work as
Presentation people and what this
might mean as they complete their final
year of schooling within these walls and
get ready to enter the world beyond.
lose his fundamental right to life, for it
is primordial, inviolable, and inalienable,
and thus comes under the power of no
one whatsoever.
27 March: Holy Week Liturgy, focusing
upon the great expectation and joy
of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and
exploring the contrast of Crucifixion on
Good Friday.
14 April: Resurrection Liturgy. We are
people called into the marvellous light—
may we share this light with others.
24 April: Anzac day. We prayed for
all who have died in our world, during
times of terror, war and violence. We
recommitted ourselves to be agents of
peace and love in our world, following
the example of Jesus and Nano.
12 February: Welcome Eucharist—As
we sang “Will you come and follow
me” we launched our new strategic
action plan guiding us in the areas
of Mission, Stewardship, Learning
and Citizenship.
18 February: Ash Wednesday—we
began the ancient and holy season of
Lent, receiving blessed ashes from our
student leaders; we were invited into
service of others and into a newer and
deeper awareness of our God of Love.
Wishing you every blessing and joy.
Shane Taylor
Head of Faith and Mission
PCW Melbourne
Values Life
Given the events and media reporting
of the execution of Andrew Chan and
Myuran Sukumaran—we recommit our
Catholic tradition of the value of life.
12 March: Year 9s explored, discovered
and celebrated the history of Catholic
Melbourne, with particular focuses upon
St Francis’ Church, the Birth place of
Mary MacKillop, St Patrick’s Cathedral
the contributions of Archbishop Daniel
Mannix and Daniel O’Conner.
6 |
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
If this right and its attributes are so
absolute, it is because of the image
which, at creation, God impressed
on human nature itself. No force,
no violence, no passion can erase
or destroy it. By virtue of this divine
image, man is a person endowed with
dignity and rights.
Respected Italian Franciscan, Father
Gino Concetti, writing in L’Osservatore
Romano in 1977:
In light of the word of God, and thus of
faith, life—all human life—is sacred and
untouchable. No matter how heinous
the crimes . . . [the criminal] does not
We pray O Lord that you comfort the
families, children, spouses, parents,
siblings and all who are affected by
these state sanctioned deaths.
We pray for the lawyers and advocates
who work for justice and who provide
companionship to those facing
inhuman conditions. May they not
be disheartened by this inhumane
decision to destroy life. Give all
those who fight injustice the resolve
to continue in this work and to be
strengthened by the coming together
of so many people from Australia and
around the globe, who are supporting
their efforts as protectors of the
fundamental human right to life.
We pray for all those who have
been affected by drug addiction;
addicts, families, communities;
through death, or whose lives
have been terribly damaged as a
consequence of addiction.
We pray that people seduced by the
lure of drug trafficking will be reminded
of the deadly and destructive results
for those who suffer as a result of
this trade.
Shane Taylor
Head of Faith and Mission
E x per i e nce Success
Social Justice
At PCW Melbourne,
we are strongly
committed to Social
Justice Projects.
These embody the
work of Nano Nagle
in caring for the
disadvantaged and
Phil McErvale
marginalised of both
our local and global communities.
PCW Melbourne students and staff
also support a number of other events
and organisations as the need arises
throughout the year.
In Semester 1, we are involved in a
range of Projects and activities:
• P
roject Compassion—raising money
for Caritas
• Pancake bake—collecting for Caritas
We support a number of groups:
1.Caritas Australia and Overseas—
supporting third world countries,
whose people live on the margins
and to draw attention to the many
unjust issues facing our world today.
At their meetings they exchange
hopes and ideas about aspects of
their lives concerned with Justice
and Democracy.
The students at PCW Melbourne, by
their commitment to Social Justice,
epitomise the way Nano Nagle lived
her life. Inspired by the words of El
Salvadorian Archbishop Oscar Romero
“Aspire not to have more, but to be
more”, students are taking up the
challenge to be more in their daily
lives and take action for Social and
Environmental Justice.
Phil McErvale
Social Justice Co-ordinator
• M
usic Festival—collection for
Caritas
• S
t Vincent De Paul—student
conference
social
justice
house
leaders
• Working at the Sacred Heart Kitchen
2.Presentation Sisters in Australia—
particularly ACRATH (Australian
Catholic Religious Against the
Trafficking of Humans) and
Wellsprings for Women, Dandenong
3.Presentation Sisters overseas,
particularly in India, where students
visit and spend time in the
Presentation School and Hospice
during their visit
Caitlin Dickinson
Lilith Rowles
Camille Thomas
Zoe Vovos
4. Society of St Vincent de Paul
5.Closing the Gap—supporting
Indigenous Australians, particularly
in the field of Education
6.Sacred Heart Mission—both
working in the kitchen and
helping support the serving of
over 100 meals.
The Social Justice Collection for the
Sacred Heart Mission culminates at
our Social Justice Liturgy at the end of
Term 2.
• Cake Bake—supporting Caritas
The Social Justice House leaders:
Caitlin Dickinson, Lilith Rowles, Camille
Thomas and Stephanie Perrott, have
been working hard with the Social
Justice Committee and the Student
Body to raise funds for those in need
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
| 7
E x per i e nce Success
Anzac
Centenary
The Poppy
The Poppy—the international
symbol of remembrance—makes an
appropriate tribute.
Casualties
ANZAC Day, Gallipoli
Landing at Gallipoli
The landing at Anzac Cove was
part of the invasion of the Gallipoli
Peninsula by Australian and New
Zealand forces on 25 April 1915. The
landing was made by soldiers of the
Australian and New Zealand Army
Corps (the ANZACs) and was the first
significant combat of the war for the
two countries.
It was the start of a long 8 months.
Where is Gallipoli?
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in the
eastern European part of Turkey.
8 |
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
Gallipoli cost many lives. Of the dead,
8,709 were Australians and 2,701 were
New Zealanders.
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day, 25 April, is observed in
New Zealand and Australia as a day
of commemoration for those who
died in the service of their country
and to honour returned servicemen
and women.
E x per i e nce Success
VCAL Literacy
ANZAC Service with
the Prahran RSL
On Saturday 18 April, the Prahran RSL
invited PCWM to join them for a special
unveiling of the new memorial in the
Victoria Gardens on High Street. In
addition, our students were asked to
help lead some of the prayers and
the singing.
Emily Nassios class work
During the moving ceremony, Taylor
Filiadis, Shevaun Pope and Bella Oats
represented PCWM wonderfully.
Their cheerful presence lit the day of
many veterans. The girls also enjoyed
conversations with Local, State and
Federal government politicians.
Thank you, girls, for sharing your talents
and time, and celebrating this important
occasion in our local community.
Shane Taylor
Head of Faith and Mission
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
| 9
E x per i e nce Success
World Teaching
and Learning
Visit from
Singapore teachers
Recently, PCW
Melbourne hosted
a morning with 10
visiting educators
from both primary
and secondary
schools in Singapore.
Their visit to
Gerard Morais
Melbourne was a
study tour, looking at the structure and
curriculum of a few select schools. The
Singaporean teachers were completing
a Diploma in Educational Management
as part of their responsibilities as newly
appointed Heads of Department.
Their morning at PCW involved a school
tour and various talks on curriculum,
faith, school structure, the Presentation
story, Learning Support and Positive
Education. The Singaporean teachers
were very impressed with PCW and
the programs we offer. Several have
made some initial links and are keen to
establish a more permanent educational
collaboration between Singapore
schools and PCW Melbourne.
Gerard Morais
Teacher of Health and PE
NEAA Conference
On Tuesday 28 April, eight PCW
Melbourne students attended the
NEAA Presentation Staff Conference
at the Pullman Hotel. The day involved
hearing from Presentation Sisters as
well as staff from Presentation schools
across Australia. As students, we
had the opportunity to express our
10 |
thoughts on what it truly means to be
a Presentation Person, and discuss the
influence of Nano Nagle in our lives,
how we can follow in her footsteps
to be people of welcoming hearts. It
was amazing to be able to contribute
to and experience the true essence
of our wider Presentation community,
especially following the Presentation
Student Conference held in Yeppoon
in 2014. Thank you, Ms Keaney for this
insightful experience.
Stephanie Guzzardi
Year 11, Xavier 2
Biscocho and Fiona Li. Honourable
Mentions: Katherine Sofronas and
Persephone Gronert.
Jo-Lee Kennedy
Head of Science
French
Working with a French chef makes a
world of difference
French madeleines are small, buttery
cakes baked in a shell-shaped mould.
Model UN Conference
Jo-Lee Kennedy
In Term 1, Year 10
girls participated
in a Model UN
Conference—MUN,
part of the Year 10
Civics and Citizenship
Course.
Model UN Conferences are designed
primarily to promote respect and
tolerance through deeper understanding
of humanitarian and other significant
global issues, whilst highlighting
dialogue and diplomacy as key
strategies for conflict resolution.
Through this international awareness,
active and positive citizenship
is encouraged.
Based on the UN Model, the students
acted as delegates for a given country,
discussing and forming resolutions in
answer to the question:
Should nuclear power stations be
used as a source of energy given
that their use may ultimately have
an impact worldwide?
Best Speakers: Iona Murray-Walton,
Emily Rule, Stephanie Giannakis and
Niamh McFadden. Best Position
Papers: Iona Murray-Walton, Josephine
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
There are many versions of the
madeleine story. Whatever the story,
the Year 7 French students of PCW
Melbourne have researched and
worked on the ingredients of this
traditional French recipe.
Above all, they were delighted to make
traditional madeleines with the French
Chef Sebastien Boiron. They learned
the French pastry technique of mixing
the ingredients for a long time in order
to get a very smooth preparation.
They used un fouet (a whip) and poured
the preparation into specific moulds
(moules à madeleines). They were
exposed to French language, and the
interaction between Chef Sebastien and
the students was terrific. Furthermore,
it was all hands-on!
Merci Chef!
Annie Haddad
French Teacher
E x per i e nce Success
Staff News
New Staff
Demi Cartledge
Demi Cartledge
Demi is a graduate
teacher from
the University of
Melbourne. The
second oldest
university in
Australia, Melbourne
is highly regarded
both in Australia
and the world.
Demi is teaching Year 7, 10 and 11
English.
PCW was privileged to have Demi on
a teaching placement during 2014, and
she is excited to return to us this year.
In her life outside of teaching, Demi
loves to read, watch Doctor Who
and explore the cafés of the south
of Melbourne.
This year, she hopes to establish strong
relationships with parents and students
and to fully immerse herself in all that
PCW has to offer.
Josie Dilettoso
Josie joins us from
Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart College
in Bentleigh. Her
accomplishments
span 28 years,
during which time
she has taught
Josie Dilettoso
History, Humanities,
Religious Education and Italian.
Josie is passionate about Social Justice
and Human Rights. She believes
strongly in upholding the dignity of
every person and working to bring
about an inclusive and just world.
Josie is also an avid traveller, visiting
many places that reflect her love of
History and food.
Family is extremely important to her,
and spending time with them is always
a priority.
Josie’s biggest hope for the year is
to build new relationships with the
students and staff at PCW and to be an
ongoing support for those in her new
school community.
This year, she hopes to learn as much
as she can, meet new people and of
course, enjoy the year!
Travis Pearce
Rachael Maddox
We welcome Travis
to PCW Melbourne,
who has come to
us from Emmaus
College in Vermont
South. He is an
experienced teacher
Travis Pearce
of seven years,
teaching Physical
Education, VCAL and Mathematics.
Rachael grew up
on Phillip Island
before moving to
Deakin University
to study teaching.
She feels fortunate
to have completed
Rachael Maddox
her teaching
practicum years in
many different schools, finishing her
final year as an associate teacher at St
Michael’s Grammar School. Rachael is
now looking forward to completing her
graduate year at PCW Melbourne.
Travis loves sport, and, when not
teaching, may be found playing or
watching tennis, football and cricket.
This year, Travis hopes to provide
opportunities for students to achieve
meaningful pathways into work or
future study.
With six years’ experience in Sport
coaching and four in various Outdoor
Education Leadership Roles, Rachael
will be teaching Years 7 and 8 PE, Year
9 Science and Year 10 Sport Science.
Marriage and Birth
Sport is a huge part of Rachael’s
identity. She enjoys all sports but
in particular netball, tennis and
aquathons. Growing up on the coast,
she developed a love for beach and
bushland activities, particularly surfing,
sailing and hiking.
Caitlin, now Mrs Brierty, married
her beloved Chris (Albie) in December
and Lisa married her beloved, Daniel,
in March.
Rachael hopes to continue challenging
herself, and to simply enjoy the
moment that is now.
Welcome: to Daisy, daughter of Annie
and Alistair; to George, son of Jess
and Steve; to Joseph, son of Rachel
and Adrian; to Nina, daughter of Nadia
and Clint; and to Thomas, son of
Casey and Stephen!
Emily Patterson
Marie Rimpas
Editor
Emily joins us from
Frankston High
School, where she
completed her VCE
last year.
As an AFL Trainee,
she will be working
closely with Rachel,
our Sports Coordinator, as well as
the Sport and PE Departments, in
organising sports days and events.
Emily will also attend workshops once
a term in order to receive her VET
Sport and Recreation Certificate.
Emily Patterson
When not fulfilling her commitments
as an AFL Trainee, Emily loves being
involved in sport, going to the beach
and socialising with friends.
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
| 11
E x per i e nce Success
Alumnae
Interview:
Mary Brierly (nee
McNally) Alumna 1954
Q.Mary, what is one
outstanding memory
of your student days
PCW Melbourne?
A.I started school
at PCW as a Prep
student in 1943 and
Mary Brierly
was there for 12
years, completing Year
11 in 1954. My years at Windsor were
happy ones, with some friendships
enduring to this day.
Q.Tell us a little about your life
post PCW!
On leaving school, I went to work for
PMG (now Telstra), where I stayed for
10 years. I was a member of the Past
Pupils Committee for five years before
I married. We moved to Geelong for six
years where three of my four children
were born. On returning to Melbourne,
I again became involved with the Past
Pupils Association.
Q.Tell us of any relations that
attended PCW.
A.My mother and her four sisters all
attended PCW. Her two older sisters
spoke with affection of the time spent
there in the late 1880s and early 1890s.
I also had a niece who was a Junior
Boarder at Windsor in the early 1970s.
All have many happy memories of their
school days.
Q.What changes are most notable
to you?
A.Today, the Nuns are no longer at the
school. The Junior School and Boarding
facilities do not exist. The uniforms
have changed and the pupils have much
more freedom. More classrooms and
the new Hall have been built, and in the
past 12 months, a magnificent Library
has been established.
Q.What do you see as the role of the
Past Pupils Committee?
12 |
A.The role of the Past Pupils has
changed over the years. In the 70s and
80s, we ran a lot of functions to raise
money and printed the Entre Nous
quarterly. Now this is done by the
school twice a year. The Committee is
active in collecting memorabilia, looking
after the archives and answering
enquiries from past pupils wanting to
know about their ancestors.
Reflections:
Mary-Anne Thomas
My two years
as a boarder at
Presentation College
Windsor had an
enormous influence
on me, particularly
through the life-long
friends I made. As I
Mary-Anne Thomas
look to my friendship
group now, I see women who have
made an incredible contribution to
public life—and the common good—as
judges and lawyers, as doctors, nurses
and healthcare workers, as public
servants and community workers, and,
like me, through politics.
We have each been influenced
by Windsor’s emphasis on Social
Justice and Community Service
and by feminism—that is, tackling
impediments to women’s equality and
participation in public and community
life. My career has been diverse and
has included being a teacher, a union
organiser, a policy and communications
executive in organisations as different
as the Department of Premier and
Cabinet, NAB and Plan International.
While I was often in trouble at school
(not surprisingly for talking too much!), I
remember my Windsor days with great
affection. I am proud to have served a
short term on the Board and to watch
young friends graduate with a thirst for
education and with aspirations to make
the world a better, fairer and more
just place.
Mary-Anne Thomas MP
State Member for Macedon
Parliamentary Secretary for Health
Alumna 1980
PCW Melbourne | windsor news | Winter 2015
We would like to thank Mary-Anne
and Mary for sharing some of their
memories of PCW Melbourne.
The Lost Art of
Questioning…
Australia’s
Immigration
Law
Children are gifted
with wonderful
curiosity. They are
not afraid to ask
questions. As adults,
Carina Field
we need to think,
analyse and engage
with the world in daily life, yet, as we
leave childhood, we are conditioned
to stop asking difficult questions.
This notion of blind acceptance
is dangerous!
Unless we think critically, question
motivations and hold the government
to account, unjust decisions will prevail,
and the vulnerable will be harmed.
One such case is Australia's current
Immigration law. Asylum seekers have
suffered gravely in off-shore detention
centres. However, both major political
parties support an expedient ‘out of
sight, out of mind’ approach. As a
result, the public's engagement with the
policy is limited and the consequences
of the policy are not understood or
questioned. Meanwhile, politicians
argue over what arrangements fit their
political needs, their ability to win votes.
The crucial engagement of the mind,
questioning what is right and wrong,
and holding people to account for their
actions, is absent.
Society needs to be challenged
to improve. Extraordinary
accomplishments come from critical
thinking. We cannot accept what we
are told until we are satisfied that all
questions have been answered, and
that the action taken is one that is both
fair and humane. It is not enough to
merely accept the status quo without
properly engaging in conversation and
carefully analysing the consequences.
Carina Field
Alumna, 2014