Winter 2014 - OLSH Bentleigh

Vol.6 No.1
Winter 2014
ISSN 1837-5316
Magazine of the Alumnae Association of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Bentleigh
e
THE GIRL IN THE BLUE UNIFORM
MILESTONE REUNIONS
FLAME SCHOLARSHIP AWARD GIRLS
2013 RESULTS: HIGH ACHIEVERS
SR MARY FYFE MEMORIAL AWARD
Flame
CONTENTS
WELCOME2
WELCOME
I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
CLASS OF 1963 REUNION
3
CLASS OF 1983 REUNION
4
Dear Alumnae Family
CLASS OF 1973 REUNION
5
FLAME GIRLS
6
CLASS OF 1993 REUNION
7
Over the past few months, there has been a transformation of the
College’s major courtyard area. It has been a fascinating process
to watch the transition from the ‘old’ and the birth of the ‘new’.
Students and staff alike were taken up in the creativity occurring
before their very eyes.
THE GIRL IN THE BLUE UNIFORM
8-9
FLAME SCHOLARSHIP AWARD GIRLS
10
SR MARY FYFE MEMORIAL AWARD
11
2013 RESULTS: HIGH ACHIEVERS
11
REUNIONS12-13
ALUMNAE NEWS
CLASS OF 2012 REUNION
14-15
16
The new landscape has changed the entire look and feel of this
central area. The beauty, colour and subtle softness certainly
emphasise our sense of being ‘heart’ people. It is as though now,
at the centre of our College, we have our own ‘heartyard’ where
students and staff can gather appreciating the surrounds and, most
importantly, appreciating each other from the heart.
In a real sense, the creation journey to the new ‘heartyard’ mirrors
a little of the inner journey of each of us. Our lives are continually
in transition: from the ‘old’ to the ‘new’ and often that journey
is shrouded in mystery – never clearly knowing what the ‘new’
will look like! The wisdom of the journey is to come to know that
the transition times – the pulling up…the breaking down…the
reshaping and reforming – are the heart of the matter.
We have indeed been blessed with a wonderful new area for our
girls. We hope that you will have the opportunity to come sometime
and see it too. Know you are always welcome at OLSH College,
Bentleigh.
Regnet Christus!
May Christ Reign
Publisher: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Bentleigh.
***
Front cover: Patricia Pearson wearing the first official OLSH College
uniform.See pages 8-9 for the full story.
***
Submissions to FLAME:
Alumnae contributions of photos and articles for FLAME are welcome.
However, please be aware that due to space and time constraints not all
articles may be published.
Any photos sent in must be at least 1MB in size or 300dpi resolution. The
names of the people in the picture should also be included. With group
photos, please supply the names from the back row first, from left to right.
Maiden names should be used and if the photo is about an event, it is
helpful to include the locality, the date and the purpose of the gathering.
Photos can be emailed or mailed. If you are mailing any photos, please be
sure to include your address if you would like the photo/s returned.
***
Your say:
If you have some news to share or just want to get in touch, contact
Ms Shane O’Neil, Alumnae Secretary
Tel: 03 8520 9263 Email: [email protected]
For the latest news about the Alumnae Association at OLSH College, go
to the College website at http://www.olsh.vic.edu.au, then select the
“School Community” button at the top of the home page and follow the
prompt to “Alumnae”.
***
Disclaimer:
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart pray for us.
Anne O’Loughlin
College Principal
Donations to the Flame Scholarship Fund:
We gratefully thank Linda (Henderson) Bruce, 1966; Helen
(Coghlan) Wood, 1959; and Anonymous, 1964, for their recent
generous donations to this fund.
Contributions were also made by various classes at their
reunion functions: $123 by Class of 1970; $100 by Class of
1963; $250 by Class of 1972; $106 by Class of 1968; and
$310 by the Class of 1964.
Donations go towards supporting a Year 10 girl in her final two
years of education at the College and are fully tax deductible.
Details of how to donate to the fund can be found on the
College website in the Alumnae section under the “School
Community” button on the home page.
On page 10, you can read about the girls who have received
this award since it was first established in 2011.
OLSH girls
girls
nything! can do anything!
All care has been taken to verify the correctness of the information provided in this
publication before going to print. However, we apologise if any inadvertent errors have
occurred. If you would like to reproduce any of the material in FLAME, please contact
the College.
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CLASS OF 1963
50TH REUNION
We all had a lovely day on Saturday 9 November 2013 so here’s a brief
overview for those who could not be there.
The Alumnae Secretary, Shane O'Neil, welcomed us with a great morning
tea in the College boardroom, then spoke to us about the Scholarship
fund and introduced the 2013 recipient, Dariyn Girton.
College Principal, Anne O'Loughlin, addressed us and we were all given
a beautiful statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart carved from detritus
left behind after the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991. OLSH sisters in
the Philippines were instrumental in helping local villagers, whose land
had been devastated, to find new work by carving these statues. Liz
presented Anne with a donation of $100 for the scholarship fund from
monies paid for lunch.
We then had a tour of part of the College showing us our old Year 7
classroom, today’s modern library and the Year 12 common room with
bright, colourful furniture (lucky girls). We visited the chapel and the old
convent which is now used for various classes and also to house Student
Services. The convent even includes a dance studio which has been well
used with OLSH taking out national titles in recent dance competitions.
Much laughter and chatter filled the morning and continued through
lunch at Kotaraya restaurant. A few girls came back to my house for
coffee and so a lovely day ended. It was so nice to have Sr Canice (now
Sr Therese) join us for morning tea. Do you all remember her teaching us
in Year 10? I certainly do!! She has had some bad health in recent years
but is as sharp as ever. We wish her well.
Thank you to everyone who was able to come. It was fun seeing girls
from so many years ago and on the whole we were able to recognise
each other. Some things don’t change!
Liz (Child) Freeman-Hume
Back row (L-R): Mary Rudd, Liz Child, Helen Fields, Margaret Lorkin, Judy Ludlow, Marie James, Janet Bailey,
Beverley Smith, Sue Hutchinson, Anne Martin, Jenny Tucker, Pauline Axten, Elaine Mulraney, Sr Canice.
Front: Eileen Horan, Kitty O’Kelly, Mary Calleja, Liz Carter and Dina Costanzo.
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CLASS OF 1983
30TH REUNION
Unlike our previous reunions, our 30th reunion needed email addresses,
so Margaret (Morrison) Spark and I made phone calls to over 80 girls. I
never tired of hearing the reactions I received when contacting my class
mates: the screams, the laughter and the chatting that then ensured
were truly memorable.
many changes. For most of us there was a first as the tour also included
the old convent.
So, after quite a few months of planning by Margaret, Tina (Salvatore)
Belotti and myself, the Class of 1983 finally met for our reunion on
Saturday 9 November 2013.
We then moved to The Cider Bar for drinks followed by dinner at The
Boundary Hotel. Lots of women remarked that they were taken aback
by seeing so many faces from our past ... all in one place. We soon
discovered that we were no longer teenagers and now women with
friendships and experiences going back over 30 years. We managed to
talk fairly solidly from 2pm until 10.30pm.
We started at the College for afternoon tea and a tour. This was the first
year we had teachers attend and so I would like to thank Sr Rita Clancy,
Sr Therese Farrell, Joy Carver, Monica Isles, Helen Banger and Michele
(Boyle) Linossier, also a 1976 alumna, for taking the trouble to come.
It’s always a pleasure getting together and I am happy to continue, as
requested by many, to be your designated class reunion co-ordinator.
If you would like to come to our next reunion, and I have not contacted
you, please email me [email protected] or call me 0418 531 473.
Two Year 10 girls, Sarah Freeman and Alexandra Moulton, took us
around the school and showed us that the College has been through
Josie (Castellana) Astone
(mother of Laura, 2008, and Leah, 2010)
OLSH girls
girls
nything! can do anything!
Back (L-R): Sr Rita Clancy, Michele Linossier.
Front: Helen Banger, Sr Therese Farrell, Joy Carver.
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CLASS OF 1973
40TH REUNION
Memories abounded when over 50 women from the Class of 1973
celebrated their 40th reunion at the College on Sunday 13 October 2013.
Organisers Pauline (Cull) Wood and Jenny (Martin) Killian worked very
hard to contact as many of their classmates as possible and were
pleased with the turn up.
Mary (Yates) Dow, who was Head Prefect in 1973, gave an entertaining
keynote speech. Here are some of her comments.
When I was first invited to our 40-year reunion I felt a mixture of terror,
curiosity and excitement. Terrified that I wouldn’t remember anyone and
even worse that people would not recognise or remember me!
I was curious to come back and see how much the school had changed
and excited to rekindle old friendships.
Mary reminisced about the camps at Milgrove and Father Pat playing
his guitar and singing James Taylor songs, as well as leeches and boys
invading their camp one very exciting night.
took place on Tuesday afternoons. Choices involved handcraft, hostess
and homemaking, senior and junior grooming, yoga, photography,
swimming and cake decorating. Things have certainly changed for the
better, everyone agreed.
Summing up, Mary posed the question: “Why have we come back
today?” She answered, if not for all, then on her own behalf at least.
I am sure there are different reasons for us all. We have all followed
different paths over the past 40 years but it is great to be here today!
I am very grateful for the education I received at OLSH, especially the
values of social justice and compassion that were instilled in us all.
I think what was written on the first page of the school magazine for 1973
is a useful message for us to reflect on as we continue on our journey for
the next 40 years!
“To become what we are capable of becoming is our true purpose in life.”
To gales of laughter, she also reminded her classmates of the fascinating
selection of activities called Options which involved the whole school and
rls
thing!
OLSH girls
can do anything!
OLSH girls can
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FLAME GIRLS
Louise (Hendriks) Cannon, 1979
Post-OLSH, Louise worked as a travel
consultant then completed a Bachelor of
Education. In 1989, she joined the Metropolitan
Fire Brigade and has spent the last 24 years
combating fires and specialising in Hazardous
Materials (HazMat) incidents, in 2009
Louise was inducted into the Victorian state
government’s Honour Roll of Women. This
year, Louise received the MFB’s Inaugural Chief
Officer’s Scholarship, which enables her to
continue her research into emerging technology
that can track firefighters inside burning
buildings. During the recent Hazelwood Mine
fire at Morwell, Louise used her HazMat skills,
working extensively both at the mine and at
the fire’s Regional Control Centre at Traralgon.
Louise and husband Ian have two daughters,
Sage and Isabel.
Patricia (Kelleher) Noferi, 1959
Following her Matriculation, College Captain
Patricia trained as a registered nurse. Her next
foray into serious education was nearly 30 years
later in 1996 when she attended the University
of Wollongong. In 2002, she graduated with
distinction with a Bachelor of Nursing and a BA
(Philosophy). While working in the community
managing an ethnic dementia day care facility,
Pat became a consumer representative with
the Illawarra Division of General Practice and
eventually a director on their board. There she
gained insight into the importance of good
governance. She and husband Joseph have
four sons and live at Port Kembla in NSW.
Kathy Scanlon, 1993
Currently on maternity leave with Summer, 8
months, and Rose 4½, Kathy is used to having
her hands full. In September, she resumes her
much-loved job as gorilla keeper at Werribee
Open Range Zoo. Kathy has worked as a zoo
keeper for the past 15 years and has a strong
passion for conservation. At home, her huge
menagerie includes bearded dragons, sugar
gliders, dogs, husband Gaz, pet mice and a
python. Animal loving runs in the family because
sister Julie (Scanlon) Burke, 1987, has worked
at Rowville Veterinary Clinic for the past 14
years. Her menagerie consists of two adopted
greyhounds, a cat and 18 chickens.
Natalie (Smrk) Ellis, 1993
After completing a Bachelor of Science at
Monash University majoring in Chemistry,
Natalie was accepted on a graduate program
with BP Australia. Working in the maledominated oil industry at the BP Kwinana
Refinery, Perth, was quite a culture shock but
Natalie thrived. Her next move was to BP’s
head office in Melbourne to work as a fuel
technologist, developing clean fuel products,
coordinating emissions testing programs and
providing product advice to clients. Natalie then
switched disciplines to join the Commercial
team, and is now a sales manager in Perth
selling BP fuel to major transport businesses.
She is married to Nathan, and is mum to
Katherine, 7, and Emily, 4.
Stephanie Lillis, 2003
Stephanie loved drama classes at OLSH and
performed in the 2004 Top Class for her VCE
drama solo. After a Performing Arts honours
degree at Monash University, she travelled to
Paris to study clowning with Philippe Gaulier.
This was followed by a full time acting course at
16th Street Actors Studio back in Melbourne.
Stephanie has worked in many popular theatre
and TV productions such as Blue Heelers. In
2012, she won the award for Best Actress at the
Melbourne Short and Sweet Festival. Stephanie
has just completed a masterclass with legendary
New York acting teacher Larry Moss. She will
be touring schools in Term 3 with the Complete
Works Theatre Company presenting Bertolt
Brecht’s The Life of Galileo.
Jodie Davis, 2002
“Up, up and away” could well be Jodie’s theme
song. In just a little over 10 years, she has
acquired qualifications in multimedia systems,
business, aviation and marketing, as well as
setting up and then selling three companies,
including Skythrills, a flying school and joy flight
company. Her passions have led her to pursue
a career as an aerobatic air show pilot. She
now competes in aerobatic competitions all
over Australia and hope to represent Australia
at the World Aerobatic Championships one day.
Her dream is to perform at Avalon Airshow and
overseas airshow, and says getting sponsors on
board will be her next big challenge.
OLSH girls
girls
nything! can do anything!
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CLASS OF 1993
21ST REUNION
“Were they always late for class too?” the manager at the Sandringham
Driving Range asked as the clock ticked on past 6.00pm. The date was
Saturday 29 March 2014.
We were waiting for the girls from the Class of 1993 to arrive to celebrate
their belated 20 year reunion. As it was a year overdue, they had renamed the reunion their 21st party.
And then around 6.15pm the first group of party-goers did appear: seven
excited women who had just spent the last quarter of an hour hugging
and catching up in the car park.
Stories tumbled out during the evening, some eliciting shrieks of laughter
as girls remembered their floral art and etiquette lessons with Mrs G.
They were not sure of the purpose of these classes but thought it had
something to do with being taught to be “ladies”.
rls
thing!
Others wished that they had had the benefit of somewhat less
lady-like career advice, but with true OLSH spirit, the girls had not
allowed any perceived inadequacies to hold them back from achieving
in their chosen fields.
Some are teachers, others nurses, several work in management in big
companies like the National Bank or Canon, one is in marketing with
Prime Super, another a systems engineer with Lend Lease, and at least
one has her own online business.
When asked to line up for their group photo, the girls showed where their
hearts were by breaking into a rousing chorus of the school song.
As one girl said: “It was a great group. I never experienced any meanness
and we all stuck together.”
OLSH
OLSH girls
can do anything! can do
We present so many faces,
From countries far and wide.
We come and join together,
To share our faith and pride.
Each day we learn so many things,
And we all must do our part,
Continuing goodwill and friendship,
From the very start.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
Composed by Tanya Lefebvre, 1988
OLSH girls can do anythi
OLSH girls can do anythi
Reunion organiser, Katie (Wise) Wade proudly displays
her Year 12 graduation gift, an OLSH key-ring, always
with her.
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THE GIRL IN THE BLUE UNIFORM
Last year, OLSH College Bentleigh celebrated the 75th anniversary of its
humble beginnings in February 1938 as a commercial college for young
ladies, first located in rooms at St Paul’s Primary School.
In August 1938, the school moved to its current site and on 12
September 1939, under its then name of Sacred Heart Convent School,
OLSH was approved for registration by the Council of Public Education.
A few years later, OLSH entered a new phase when Sr Mary Brendan
applied to the Registrar of the Council of Education for secondary
registration on 27 July 1945.
This was the same year Pat Pearson (now Hogan) became the first in
her family to attend the fledgling OLSH College. She had completed her
Year 8 at St Patrick’s Primary School in Mentone but instead of going to
the much closer Kilbreda for her further education, her widowed mother,
Lillian, choose OLSH because it offered a commercial Proficiency (Form
3) and Intermediate (Form 4).
Pat’s two older sisters, Maureen and Nance, also completed Year 8 at
St Patrick’s, Mentone, and then went to business colleges in the city.
With the two older girls working and bringing in some money to the
household, there was more available for Pat’s education. Younger sister
Margaret followed her three years later to OLSH.
In anticipation of OLSH being registered as a secondary school, the
principal at the time, Sr Giovanni, commissioned a local woman to make
the first “official” OLSH College uniform. Up until that time, girls had
worn the uniform from their primary schools, which in winter generally
consisted of a plain square-necked navy tunic with three box pleats
cinched with a belt at the waist, worn with a white shirt.
Pat and classmate Kath Scanlon were the two girls who received the
prototype OLSH winter uniforms. The plain navy primary school tunic
was replaced by a more glamorous and flattering model: a vee-necked
tunic with blue and gold stripes on the yoke, one large front box pleat
and multiple small side pleats cinched with side belts finished off with
covered buttons that echoed the six decorative buttons under the striped
yoke. This was teamed with a cream shirt, blazer, hat and, of course,
gloves.
Being chosen to wear the brand new OLSH uniform was evidently a
matter of great pride in Pat’s family as her eldest sister Maureen took a
photo of Pat in the backyard of their home against the wall where the
passionfruit grew. Maureen had the sepia photo hand coloured and
presented the framed final product to Lillian for Mother’s Day, 1945.
Pat says at that time, there were only 29 girls in the whole school. Fees
were three guineas a term and if there were two girls, it was five guineas.
Parents in those days were told that the construction of Patterson Station
was imminent but it was not built until 1961, nearly two decades later, so
girls from bayside walked from Bentleigh Station. When there were train
strikes, Pat remembers being billeted with Bentleigh families as very few
people had cars in those days.
Subjects studied included Bookkeeping, Shorthand, Typing, Maths,
French, Geography, and English. Teachers were Sr Giovanni, Sr Sophie
and Sr Declan who was also homeroom teacher. Pat’s favourite subjects
were Bookkeeping and Maths. The commercial subjects were taken
in the brand new light-filled commercial centre, the core of the original
buildings of the school, and all other subjects were taken in the little
house that was their “home”.
OLSH girls
girls
nything! can do anything!
College leaders in 1946 (L-R): Betty Boland, Margaret Whitfield (first Head Prefect), and Joyce Fidge. Four years
later in 1950, the brown and gold uniform was introduced and lasted with variations until 1992, when the transition
to the current blue and green uniform took place.
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OLSH girls
can do anything!
Very lady-like: Pat Pearson, aged 14, smiling for her sister’s camera in the backyard
of the family home. Artistic licence by the hand colourist means that the actual logo
on the blazer has been painted over and imagination used instead.
Pat and John Hogan on the porch of the Pearson family home in The Corso, Parkdale.
Girls could also do Sewing classes on Saturday mornings at apparently
no extra cost, where they drafted and cut out patterns and learned how
to do immaculate tacking, otherwise it had to be all ripped out.
Pat remembers making a pink woollen frock for Margaret, as well as a
hat and a child’s frock.
Pat worked in Coles full time during her 1945-1946 school holidays to
help with expenses. After completing Intermediate in 1946, she was
given a list of places to apply for work by Sr Giovanni. At one place, she
was offered a modelling job but declined. She ended up as a typist and
receptionist at the Board of Works where she made a lot of good friends.
The only sport played was basketball among the girls themselves. Pat
remembers a sport day consisting of races where girls seemed to have
worn their normal uniform, and also recalls a fête being held. Girls were
expected to bring their own lunches as there was no tuck shop or
canteen, but the sisters used to make little meat pies and sell them to
the girls at recess time.
The year Pat studied her Intermediate was the first a Leaving class was
offered at OLSH with three girls undertaking their studies at this level:
Margaret Whitfield, Wilma Rich and Maureen Brazel. It was five more
years before the school had grown sufficiently to be able to offer its first
Matriculation class to four students in 1951.
rls
thing!
Pat remembers her two years at OLSH as very happy ones. Just last
year she met up with Kath (Scanlon) Blake. They hadn’t seen each other
for over 50 years, but talked like there had been no break at all in their
friendship. Sadly Kath passed away in January earlier this year. Pat is so
grateful that she and Kath were able to be together for those precious
hours sharing lovely memories of school days.
OLSH girls can
Pat says the nuns wanted to the girls to be ladies and students were
often ticked off for misdemeanours of etiquette such as winking at a
teacher. She recalls frequently succumbing to the tempting smell of the
potato cakes being cooked at the fish and chips shop near Bentleigh
station and being reprimanded for eating in uniform.
As the same time they were being told to be “ladies”, the girls were given
a sense of broader possibilities for young women. Sr Declan used to say
passionately: “I don’t want to be here with you girls – I joined the order to
be off with the missions”. In those days the OLSH missions were centred
on the Gilbert and Ellis Islands which seemed very remote and full of
downtrodden masses, where lots of hard work was to be done.
But perhaps there were good reason for the frequent injunctions
about being “ladies”. As these were war years, American soldiers were
everywhere. Bayside girls soon learned to always take the train to
Frankston, not to Mordialloc, as the Yanks were billeted somewhere
further down the line. Chances were, you’d get to talk to some young
handsome soldier who was very polite and friendly. If not, the older
soldiers would give you lollies because you reminded them of their
children back home.
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Holy Trinity
Last edition featured a story about OLSH alumnae on the staff of
St Paul’s Primary School, Bentleigh. A companion piece about
alumnae working at the other two primary schools in the Holy
Trinity parish, St Catherine’s, Moorabbin, and St Peter’s, Bentleigh
East, will appear in the next edition.
OLSH girls can
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FLAME SCHOLARSHIP AWARD GIRLS
For each of the three years since its inception in 2011, the Flame
Scholarship Award has been granted to a Year 10 girl who best
exemplifies what is it to be an OLSH girl.
These qualities are explained in the OLSH pillars of education as being
“a heart person who is faith-filled, reverences relationships, pursues
excellence and touches the hearts of others”.
achieve their goals. It takes the form of a $1,000 grant in both Year 11
and 12 towards the cost of tuition fees.
The 2011 inaugural recipient was Bianca Fernandes. In 2012, the award
was given to Dariyn Girton, and in 2013, the award was presented to
two applicants who could not be separated, Sarah Freeman and Sasha
Hermosa.
The award is funded by donations from generous donors who appreciate
the value of their OLSH education and want to assist younger women to
2011 – Bianca Fernandes
In her application for the 2011
award, Bianca stated she wanted
to be a paediatrician as she had
had considerable experience of
medical procedures during her
childhood. She said receiving
the scholarship gave her the
confidence and drive to succeed
in VCE, while she had ongoing
medical issues.
2013 – Sarah Freeman
Now in Year 11, Sarah, the eldest
of five children, hopes to study a
Bachelor of Arts then specialise
in Law. She has been actively
involved in various social justice
initiatives at OLSH, volunteering at
a Vincent de Paul op shop and the
Sacred Heart Mission kitchen. She
is one of two Senior Justice and
Peace Leaders for 2014.
Bianca is currently studying a
Bachelor of Nursing at Holmesglen
TAFE and has already completed
a placement at Monash Medical
Centre in Clayton.She still wants
to specialise in paediatrics and
theatre and hopes to become a
midwife when she finishes her
nursing degree.
Sarah tutors children in English,
Maths and Piano. As well as
playing basketball for the last 10
years, she has a keen interest in
history, philosophy, writing and
language, and is never without a
novel (or two)! In May, as a member
of Year 11 Debating Team, Sarah
took part in the Model United
Nations Assembly.
2012 – Dariyn Girton
In Year 12, Dariyn’s main focus is
to successfully complete her VCE
with a balance between spending
time with family, friends and
hobbies like hockey, while exploring
her career options. She is currently
leaning towards a Bachelor of
Environments at Melbourne
University.
Towards the end 2013, Dariyn was
part of the OLSH World Challenge
team who travelled to Thailand
and Laos, where the girls trekked,
toured and carried out some
volunteer work in Nam Gha Village
in Laos. Dariyn said: “This trip
made me realise the many qualities
others and myself have developed
from our leadership and teamwork
experiences.”
2013 – Sasha Hermosa
In Year 11 also, Sasha is studying
towards a career in the medical/
public health field. She is interested
in epidemiology as a further
degree as she is passionate about
community-based services and
the provision of medical assistance
to disadvantaged communities
overseas.
Since late last year, she has been
involved in the Orchestra Band and
in 2014, will be part of the school
production My Fair Lady. Sasha
is also one of the Senior Social
Justice and Peace team and an
ambassador for the Australian Red
Cross Blood Service. Currently, she
is completing her Duke of Edinburgh
Silver Award and in her April
holidays, she was part of the Kiribati
Immersion trip.
OLSH girls
girls
nything! can do anything!
Clockwise from bottom left: Dariyn with backpack trekking; Bianca Fernandes in her nurse’s uniform; Sarah at work in the
Sacred Heart Mission kitchen in St Kilda; Sasha with students at Immaculate Heart College in North Tarawa, Kiribati.
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DONATIONS
SISTER MARY FYFE AWARD
Last year, a new award was created in honour
of a distinguished alumna, Sr Mary Fyfe.
The inaugural Sister Mary Fyfe Memorial
Leadership Award was presented on Regnet
Christus Day, 21 November 2013, to Emily
Carroll for outstanding leadership in her role as
2013 College Captain.
Your gifts are the lifeblood of the scholarship
fund and we warmly thank all individual and
class donors.
As it stands, the scholarship award represents
around 20% of a senior girl's tuition fees.
While this is a significant contribution of support
for the recipient and her family, we would like to
grow the fund so as to be able offer more support
to more students on the basis of both merit and
equity.
Sr Mary Fyfe had a long association with
OLSH being a past student and teacher, as
well as Vice College Captain, Dux and Deputy
Principal. She joined the Congregation of the
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in
1965 and served more than 30 years in education
in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Japan.
We would therefore be grateful for more
individual donations, even $20 would be
helpful, and contributions from more class
groups attending reunions.
In 2005 Sr Mary was elected to the position
of the Superior General of the Daughters of
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and, in this
role, assumed the leadership of the sisters
throughout the world. Sadly, in June 2013,
Sr Mary passed away from cancer.
Recipients of the Flame Scholarship Award fully
appreciate the honour of receiving the award
and are proud to be chosen to carry the flame
of the OLSH spirit into their final two years of
schooling and beyond.
The award was presented by Mary’s older
sister, Barbara Fyfe, who completed Year 11
at the College in 1949 as Head Prefect.
OLSH girls
rls2013 RESULTS: HIGH ACHIEVERS
can do anything!
thing!
For a list of recent donors and information on
how to donate to the fund, please see page 2.
OLSH girls can
The OLSH VCE class of 2013 has continued the outstanding academic tradition of the College.
Gemma Chris, 2013 Dux, in front of the honour board
showing previous OLSH high achievers.
7 students received an ATAR of 90 or above 8.5%
30 students received an ATAR of 80 or above 36.5%
45 students received an ATAR of 70 or above 50.8%
Congratulations to all students and staff for the dedication and hard work
reflected in these excellent results.
FLAME — Winter 2014
Back (L-R): Marisa Cafasso, Gemma Chris, Joanne
Deftereos, Charlotte Cleary, Victoria Pechlivanis, Clare
Drew, Dominique Hanna, Alana ludica and Anne
O’Loughlin, (Principal). Front: Martina Mossad, Megan
Supple, Katya Eskola, Jessica Rogalsky, Stephanie
Loiacono, Jessica Zeller.
OLSH girls can
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Flame
REUNIONS
CLASS OF 1970
Sunday 27 October 2013 saw 15 of us gather for our second reunion
in 43 years, with six girls attending lunch for the first time. Welcome to
Heather Laird, Judy Mark, Jenny Sawyer, Maria Casey, Maree Clavarino
and Kathy Peck.
With lots of laughter and catching up to do, the afternoon went by very
quickly. Another highlight was the donation of $123 collected for the
Flame Scholarship Fund, an important aspect that keeps us connected
to OLSH.
Our reunion for 2014 has been planned for Sunday 26 October 2014 for
lunch at 12.00 at the Sandbelt Hotel, South Road, Moorabbin.
We now have a Facebook page! It is a closed group, so for more info
and photos, please register at OLSH Bentleigh Class of 1970.
Judi (Wood) Fasham
OLSH girls
OLSH girls
can do anything! can do anything!
OLSH girls can do anything!
CLASS OF 1999
CLASS OF 1967
Girls from the Class of 1999 can be grateful that Marianna Kouroumihalis
(now Ziersch) has a low boredom threshold.
Ten women from the Class of 1967 and their partners gathered together
late last year for their annual Christmas catch up. It was at the home of
Steve and Maureen (Anderson) Kulak in Endeavour Hills on Saturday 30
November 2013. A good time was had by all.
OLSH girls can do anything!
Marianna studied Graphic Arts after Year 12, but found the industry was
not flexible for anyone with a young family. So designing invitations for
friends and her children’s christenings and birthdays was the only way
she could keep up her creativity.
Kathleen (O'Brien) Appleton
OLSH girls
girls
nything! can do anything!
Early this year, keen for another project, she decided it was time to
organise a 15th reunion for her classmates and so she did, all via
Facebook. Here are the happy crew at the Mentone Hotel on Saturday
15 March 2014, all having good time. Thanks, Marianna.
P 12
FLAME — Winter 2014
Flame
EVENTS IN 2014
CLASS OF 1968
Thanks to Joan Ahern, women from the Class of 1968 generally meet twice
a year around May and November. The most recent gathering was on
Saturday 24 May 2014 at the Dingley International. This photo show those
who attended the pre-Christmas lunch on Saturday 30 November 2013
when the group donated over $100 to the Flame Scholarship Fund.
rls
thing!
Sun 6 July
Reunion for Class of 1959
Sat 2 August 40th Reunion for Class of 1974
Sat 9 August 20th Reunion for Class of 1994
Thurs 21- Sat 23 Aug
College Production My Fair Lady
Thurs 4 September
College Open Day / Arts Festival
Sun 12 October
30th Reunion for Class of 1984
Sun 26 October
Reunion for Class of 1970
TBA
10th Reunion for Class of 2004
TBA
1st Reunion for Class of 2013
For more information and contact details, please go to the Class
Reunions section of the College web site: www.olsh.vic.edu.au.
Or contact Shane O’Neil, OLSH Alumnae Secretary, on 03 8520
9263 or [email protected].
OLSH girls
can do anything!
OPEN DAY
THURSDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
Come to Open Day and take a tour. Learn about all the educational
opportunities on offer and enjoy the Visual and Performing Arts
Showcase.
Back two rows (L-R): Maxine (Collery) Peterffy, Susanne (Cummins)
Morton, Patricia (McCormack) Phillips, Mary (Stewart) Grant, Helen
(Hyrons) Clancy, Kathleen (Payens) Crellin, Judith (Dunne) Warren-Smith,
Carole (Ruggiero) Swann, Kathleen (Munro) Wilson, Maree (La Ragy)
McMahon. Front two rows: Penny (Spruce) Caulfield, Kath (Fogarty)
Conrad, Christine Spirason, Catherine Donovan, Jill (Harkin) Ward, (Class
of 1964), Margaret (Keady) McFarlane, Lauraine (King) De Bortoli.
Afternoon tea provided.
OLSH girls can
CLASS OF 1965
OLSH girls
can do anything!
There was a warm connection between 17 school friends when they
came together on Wednesday 5 March 2014 at The Marine Hotel,
Brighton, to share lunch, recall the funny and serious escapades from
College years, and talk about the experiences of different life journeys.
Whilst sharing stories throughout the afternoon, we recalled the names
of school friends we had not seen for a long time. We hope to reconnect
with them over the next 12 months so that our 50th reunion planned for
March 2015 is one shared and celebrated by as many as possible.
OLSH girls
FLAME — Winter 2014
All welcome!
OLSH girls
OLSH girls
can do anything! can do anyth
We also fondly remembered Elaine (née Harris) Bond who recently
passed away: Elaine was a popular
scallywag
during
college
years.
OLSH
girls
canourdo
anything!
Everyone contributed to a successful day. A particular thank you to those
who travelled from afar (Carole, Catherine and Kathleen) and to coorganiser, Kath.
Christine Spirason
OLSH girls can do anything!
OLSH girls can
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Flame
WEDDINGS
VALES
Josephine (Healy) Murphy, 1974
Born 16 May 1957, Jo attended St Agnes
PS in Highett and then OLSH from 19691974. She commenced working with the
ATO, finishing her career as a director in
the area of non-compliance. Jo and her
husband Gavin together raised four very
talented and loving children. She had two
brothers and four sisters, three of whom
attended OLSH: Robin, 1966; Monica,
1973; and Donna, 1981; as well as a niece
Megan Rolls, 1993. Jo passed away on 4
September 2012 and is dearly missed by all
the family.
Olwen Bell, 1997
The last thing Olwen expected when she went chasing the snow
in Canada in 2011 was to find her future husband. She met Jason
Vanier while out with a few girlfriends and the romance quickly grew.
Their mutual obsession with snowboarding saw them chasing the
powder together for days throughout the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Appropriately, they married in May 2013 beside the Vermillion Lakes
in Banff with the same spectacular mountains behind them. Olwen is
the president of the Edmonton Burlesque Festival and Jason works
in logistics and warehousing in the oil fields in Northern Alberta. They
currently live in Edmonton, Canada.
Michele (Loughnan) Farrelly, 1967
Born 4 December 1949, Michele
attended OLSH from 1962-65. She
worked at the Commonwealth Bank
and was communications manager with
Telstra. Michele had three children:
Katie, Cameron and Luke and four
grandchildren: Olivia, Flynn, Riley and
Harvey. Sisters who are also alumnae are
Noreen, 1962; Patricia, 1965; and Robyn,
1972. Michele passed away on 26 March
2012 after a battle with cancer.
Elaine (Harris) Bond, 1965
Everyone liked Elaine; she was always
thinking of what she could do to make
others laugh. Classmate Kath Fogarty
remembers a Friday procession at College
when students weren't singing loudly
enough so had to assemble after school.
Sister Maria saw Elaine talking so stood
her up the front and told her to sing a
song. She picked a Beatles hit so all the
girls joined in, creating much hilarity. Elaine
faced health problems throughout her life
with dignity. She met Leo at 25, a widower
with five children; they married and a
year later Luke was born. Elaine brought
laughter into her friends’ lives.
Carla Renwick, 2003
Carla married Jeremy Kerrigan on 27 December 2013 at St. Mary’s
Church, East St. Kilda. Carla is pictured with Jeremy, her sister Nicole,
1998; parents Michael and Bernadette; and sister Erin, 2001. Bernadette
has been on the OLSH staff for 24 years and is now working as data
analysis facilitator. Michael is currently the chairperson of the College
Board.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
MY FAIR LADY
My Fair Lady has been called
"the perfect musical".
Based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion,
with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music
by Frederick Loewe, the musical's 1956 Broadway
production was a hit.
The OLSH My Fair Lady will be staged in the College
Theatrette on 21, 22 and 23 August at 7.30pm with a
2pm matinee on Saturday 23 August.
Bookings can be made online in August
P 14
FLAME — Winter 2014
Flame
ALUMNAE NEWS
Sr Elizabeth (Glenyce) Little, 1962
We congratulate Sr Elizabeth on her recent
appointment as the Provincial Leader of the
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
Prior to taking up this role, Sr Elizabeth had
spent over 30 years in indigenous and urban
Catholic education in the Northern Territory and
for the past five years had been the Chancellor
for Governance in the Diocese of Darwin.
In March 2014, the OLSH Sisters elected Sr
Marife Mendoza from the Philippines as their
Congregational Leader of over 1,000 OLSH
Sisters throughout the world. She replaces Sr
Mary Fyfe, 1964, following her untimely death in
June last year.
We wish both Sisters well in their new
leadership roles and their endeavours to bring
Christ’s love to where it is needed most.
For more news about the work of the OLSH
Sisters both in Australia and overseas, please see:
www.olshaustralia.org.au
Jessica Simonet & Rebecca Pratt, 2012
Two 2012 students honoured last year are Rebecca and Jessica, both
winners of an Australian Vocational Student Prize which recognises
students who have demonstrated outstanding skills while completing
vocational training in senior secondary years.
Only 74 of these awards were given to Victorians in 2013, out of a total
of 500 prizes available nationally each year of a certificate and $2000.
At present, Rebecca is working at the Mackie Family Vet Clinic in
Bentleigh and completing her Certificate 1V in Veterinary Nursing.
Jessica is undertaking a Hairdressing apprenticeship and working at
Figureheads Hairdressing in Brighton.
Michelle Jones, 1983
Michelle and husband Ron Geritz own Blerick
Tree Farm in Neerim South, where they grow
ornamental trees and shrubs, and also run a
garden design service.
Since 2012, Michelle has been operating a
high-level consultancy with a Chinese tree farm
providing technical advice about introducing
and growing large ornamental trees in China.
In mid-April, Michelle was one of 683 delegates
accompanying the Minister for Trade and
Investment, the Hon Andrew Robb, on a
national trade mission to China.
FLAME — Winter 2014
Heather (Laird) McGrath, 1970
At the end of 1999, the Sacred Heart Parish
in Sandringham established a Social Justice
Group of which Heather became a founding
member.
In 2001, the parish formed a twin parish
partnership with Remexio in East Timor,
located up in the mountains 32km from the
capital, Dili.
Over the last three years, Heather has
enjoyed teaching excursions to Remexio
where Tetum, Portuguese and English are
taught in the schools.
Heather says: “The students and people
are very simple, appreciative and happy.
They show you don't need much to live a
meaningful life.”
Heather’s group has given assistance to
reconstruct the church hall, new residence,
office and other accommodation, and has
provided resources for the school. She is
excitedly looking forward to her next trip to
Remexio in July 2014.
Jessica Rogalsky, 2013
On 26 January 2014, Jessica was presented
with Bayside Council’s Australia Day Youth
Award.
She won the “Young Citizen of the Year”
award on the basis of her contribution and
commitment to improving activities, services
and life experiences for young people in the
community.
Being hearing-impaired has not held Jessica
back from achieving in a range of spheres,
such as obtaining her Duke of Edinburgh
award, volunteering as a Cub Scout leader, and
participating in the 2013 National Youth Week.
Jessica is now studying occupational therapy
at Monash University’s Peninsula campus in
Frankston. Recently she received a course work
scholarship.
Later this year, Jessica will be leading on
Cuboree, a five day Cub Scout camp with
over 3,000 children aged 8-11 years old. Not
daunted at all, she says: “Bring on the next
adventure!"
Called Australia in China Week 2014, the
mission received extensive media coverage
both in China and Australia.
For Michelle, the highlight of the trip was signing
a contract to form a strategic partnership to
protect foreign horticultural intellectual property
in China, and to work towards opening up
export channels of plants from Australia to
China.
Michelle’s mother, Elaine (Wilson) Jones, 1956,
and sister Claudia, 1988, are also alumnae.
P 15
Flame
CLASS OF 2012 REUNION
ONE YEAR ON
Just 12 months since the Class of 2012 had graduated and so much
seemed already different when we gathered for our first reunion on
Thursday 10 October 2013.
Chatter about university, journeys taken across the globe, future plans;
you name it, we talked about it! In just one year, things had changed
and yet one thing had stayed the same; our ability to come together and
celebrate friendship.
We were lucky enough to have our reunion in the College’s multipurpose
room, with the food catered by the nearby Café Vercelli. With a yellow,
blue and red colour scheme mirroring our OLSH crest, decorations
enlivened the space and a video of what 2013 looked like had everyone
smiling.
Natasha Pinto helped with the invitations, Trish D’Lima made our lovely
hearts and Roseanne Costandi, Danielle Slevison, Sarah Lawrence and
Caley Riddell all helped set up the room.
It was lovely to catch up. Hot-air balloon centrepieces reminded us that
while we all had places to go in the world, OLSH would be the ground
from which we left.
Tracy Kilpady
2012 Head Prefect and reunion organiser
OLSH girls
girls
nything! can do anything!
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College
111 Jasper Road, Bentleigh, VIC 3204
Tel: 03 8520 9200
Fax: 03 8520 9299
Web: www.olsh.vic.edu.au
P 16
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FLAME — Winter 2014