OSA CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER

Dear Old Scholars

Welcome to our September edition of the OSA Connections newsletter.

It has been a busy term for the OSA Committee.

In August we hosted a successful financial literacy evening, Money Matters at St George’s College. Thank you to Sarah Battaglia (2012), Chantal Mah (2015) and Michelle Broom (Marfleet, 1989) for coordinating the evening, and Senior Wealth Advisor, Dawn Thomas for presenting.

The annual OSA Pin Presentation was held at Senior School Assembly last week, where 43 students received their OSA Ammonite lapel pin. Our thanks to our guest speaker, Emily Kempin (2012), and to Sandra Naude, Pam Casellas (Greenway, 1970), and the Year 7s for their 130 OSA Trailblazers project presentation. It was wonderful to see so many Old Scholar families and friends in attendance.

In its seventh year the OSA Art Exhibition was a great success for our whole community, showcasing the work of 36 artists. Our sincere thanks to Samantha Newall (Hamersley, 1993) for coordinating this event, and our amazing OSA community for your generous contributions.

Please note that the GHS and St Hilda’s Old Scholars Association Incorporated Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 6pm in the Gallery, Heritage Centre, Hope Nicholas House. All OSA members are welcome to attend.

We are incredibly fortunate to be part of such a strong school and OSA community. Thank you for your generous support, volunteer contributions, and friendship, all of which enable the GHS and the St Hilda’s Old Scholars Association to continue to grow and thrive.

Click Here to Update Your Contact Details

Best wishes,

Dr Amanda Burt (Coad, 1989)
President of the GHS & St Hilda’s Old Scholars Association

We warmly invite you to join us for the OSA Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 13 October at 6pm in the Gallery of the Heritage Centre, Hope Nicholas House, and followed by a special evening celebrating our Year Representatives. All OSA members are welcome to attend.

This is an opportunity to reflect on the year, hear about the OSA’s plans for the year ahead, and thank our wonderful Year Representatives for their continued support, enthusiasm and connection to the St Hilda’s community.

Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

Date:   Tuesday 13 October
Time:   6.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Gallery, Heritage Centre, Hope Nicholas House

No RSVP necessary, we look forward to celebrating with you and thanking those who help keep our OSA community connected.

For further information please contact the Ella Morison (2016), Secretary of the OSA via oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au.

We look forward to welcoming you to these upcoming events. Links to these events will be provided as the dates approach.

OSA AGM & THANK YOU EVENING FOR OSA YEAR REPRESENTATIVES 
Date:   Tuesday 13 October
Time:   6.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Gallery, Heritage Centre, Hope Nicholas House.

OSA SOCIAL GOLF DAY & LUNCH
Date:   Monday 9 November
Time:   8.30am – 2.00pm
Venue: Nedlands Golf Course, Melvista Avenue

OSA CHRISTMAS CHAPEL SERVICE & REFRESHMENTS
Date:   Wednesday 2 December
Time:   6.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Whitby Chapel & Gallery, Heritage Centre, Hope Nicholas House.

A group of 36 talented artists exhibited a stunning selection of original artworks over three levels of the Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre. Opening Night tickets sold out again this year with guests wanting to see the unveiling of works including paintings, mixed media to sculpture, weaving and ceramics. The evening was a wonderful celebration of creativity with artists, visitors, live music from our talented student musicians and Andrea Black (Shepherd, 1990), and delicious canapes served by our wonderful Community Service students.

The OSA Committee is grateful to all those behind the scenes, the St Hilda’s School Development Team (Lizzie Warburton, Hope Barr, Courtney Roy, Gemma Lamplough), the Facilities Team (Glen Jacovich, Christian Duran and Richard Sweeny) and the TWG Catering Team.

Most of all, thank you to Samantha Newall (Hamersley, 1993) for coordinating, and to our dedicated team of volunteers, including Treffina Dowland (Lidbury, 1983), Telia Peploe (1993), Jodie McIntosh (Phillips, 1993), Fliss Brophy (Brockman, 1993), Emily Hardie (Carter, 1992), Jane Barker (1986), Justine Henwood (1979), Alice Hamilton (2015), Ella Morison (2016), Victoria Parker (2016), Michelle Broom (Marfleet, 1989), Verity Burges (2001), Chantal Mah (2015), Sarah Battaglia (2013), Amy Collins-Walker (1998), Isabelle Honey (2016), Pam Casellas (Greenway, 1970), Astrid Delmenico (D’Espeissis, 1993), Daley Welch (Walker, 1993).

The week of the OSA Art Exhibition began with a significant event, the 2026 OSA Ammonite Pin Presentation on Monday 14 September. The lapel pin is given to the daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters of Old Scholars, and we were so pleased to present the pin to 43 students from Year 7, including one from Year 8, one from Year 9, and two from Year 10, in front of the whole school and their families and friends.

We were also fortunate to see the presentation by the Year 7’s on their 130 OSA Trailblazers project, assisted by Sandra Naude and Pam Casellas (Greenway, 1970). You can explore more about the Year 7’s 130 Trailblazers project below in the St HIlda’s News.

The special speaker was Old Scholar Emily Kempin (2012) who was visiting from the UK.  Emily has had a fascinating career (read more about Emily’s career featured in this Newsletter), is the GB Rowing Regional Talent Coach and has been nominated to be the GB Representative on World Rowing’s Women in Para Sport Leadership program.  We are most grateful that Emily took time out of her trip home to Perth to revisit St Hilda’s and to see the new boathouse.

After the OSA Pin Presentation Assembly we invited the attendees to reconnect and enjoy a light lunch in the Gallery of the Heritage Centre.

We were so very pleased to see the students attending with multiple Old Scholars, such as Year 7 twins Georgia and Maggie Bushell who were accompanied by their mother Joanna Bushell (Bayly, 1998), their grandmother Whispy Bayly (Sippe, 1966) and their two great aunts, Patricia Locke (Sippe, 1965) and Mary Dingle (Sippe, 1963).

Thank you to everyone who attended to support this special event.

On Thursday 27 August, the OSA was proud to host Money Matters; a financial literacy workshop and networking event, presented by The Wealth Designers and located in the beautiful Ruth Rogers Room at St George’s College.

Senior Advisor, Dawn Thomas, articulately took us on an insightful journey into the world of inflation, time value of money and superannuation.  Having each been provided with test papers, we were able to conduct a self-assessment as to our own financial literacy understanding.  (Graciously we were not graded.)

The event was a hit and an opportunity to enjoy a social drink and to network in the beautiful surroundings of St George’s College, whom we thank for use of the Ruth Rogers Room for this special event.

The positive feedback echoed the value and importance of events such as these. It was an honour to organise and host.

Sarah Battaglia (2012)

Date:  Saturday 19 December
Time & Venue: 4.30 – 6.00pm Heritage Centre & Tour of School
Next Venue: From 6.00pm Mosman Park Bowling Club

Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DPDKO

Organiser: Sarah Wallace 

SAVE THE DATE

Date:  Saturday 31 October
Venue:  4.00pm Heritage Centre & Tour
Next Venue: 6.00pm Claremont Yacht Club
RSVP:  Please RSVP via the link below.

RSVP Here

Organisers: Kate Buffham (Thompson), Cindy Kempton and Jane Barker

Date: Saturday 21 November
Time & Venue: 4.00 Heritage Centre & Tour of School
Next Venue:     5.30pm The Albion Hotel, The Boardroom.
Cost:  $75

Register Here

Organisers: Pia Rigby Marazzi, Sue Ransom (Clarke) and Jane Henderson (Dadour).

Date: Sunday 25 October 2026
Time & Venue: 3pm Heritage Centre
Next Venue: 4pm Reunion at 45 Keane Street, Peppermint Grove, WA 6011
Cost: $75

RSVP: Sue Gillett on sue.whms@iinet.net.au

Organisers: Sue Gillett (Wisbey) & Ann Treadgold (Cariss)

1966 Boarder’s Reunion

Date: Saturday 24 October 2026
Time & Venue: From 4pm (4pm – 5pm is Happy Hour) Samson’s Paddock, Glyde Street, Mosman Park

Organiser: Jane Talbot-Ponsonby (D’Espeissis) Mob: 0413 391 205

The Class of 1969 are invited to an informal gathering at Jenny Fowler’s (Boyle) home in December.

Date: Friday 4 December 2026 at 6pm
Venue: Unit 306, 4-6 Doepel Street, North Fremantle
RSVP by 1 December 26 to either:

(BYO drinks or canapés to be arranged upon RSVP).

Di Hann (Crane) 0431 379 451 divahann@gmail.com

or Trina Quinlan (Cameron)  0414 667 480 quinlan.catriona@gmail.com

Date: Saturday 12 December at 4pm
Venue: Cottesloe Pub Beer Garden.
RSVP:  Via Facebook Coral Reunion | Facebook

Continuing our series featuring former members of staff Sandra Naude and Pam Casellas (Greenway, 1970) have researched the archives to write about Mrs Dorothy Cairns, Boarding House Mistress of St HiIda’s from 1978 to 1998.

I started at St Hilda’s in Year 6 and spent seven amazing years enjoying all the opportunities the School had to offer. I enjoyed having so many different facets of life on offer, from music, to sport, to academics and tried to participate in as many of those as I could. Since graduating, I have been able to identify many skills, both practical and transferable, that I learnt from St Hilda’s that have shaped the trajectory of my life.

Possibly the most important of these are team work and time management. By the time I reached Year 11 & 12, I was juggling 6 ATAR subjects, 4 ensembles, Deputy Captain of Boats and Mock Trials.

St Hilda’s also fed my curiosity of how the world around me worked and drove my aspirations to study Genetics and Archaeology, leading to a BSc (Hons) from the University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute. I then moved to the UK to pursue a MSc from the University of Exeter in Bioarchaeology & Forensic Anthropology.

Having a strong sense of self and independence drilled into me at school definitely helped in this transition, moving not only away from home for the first time but to the other side of the planet! I had dreams of getting a PhD in Ancient DNA, however the COVID spanner led me into Lab Management. This took me from the Medical School in Exeter to the Genetics Department at Cambridge University. 

The largest impact was perhaps the Learn to Row course in Year 8. I never expected how something so mundane would change my life forever. Rowing became a throughline for my time at St Hilda’s. I loved the comradery of rowing, the bonds formed by getting up at the crack of dawn, in the cold and the wet, being literally stuck in the same boat and having to trust your teammates had your back. In Year 12, Australian National Championships were held in WA, and getting to experience rowing on a national level (the excitement, the community, the quality of the competition) embedded this as something I wanted to keep doing forever. At university, I kept rowing and decided to pick up coaching as a way of giving back to the community, and passing on my love of the sport to the next generation. By the time I graduated, I was coaching Shenton, Trinity, St Hilda’s and every squad at university I wasn’t rowing for; it’s a wonder I still managed a 1st, but that diligence and organisation I learnt at school treated me well.

The UK is one of the world’s powerhouses in rowing. I had so many opportunities to continue participating in the sport I loved during my masters and then into my adult working life. Cambridge is one of the UK’s rowing hotspots, and over the four years I lived there, I rowed and coached at 6 different clubs (often simultaneously), enjoying the variety of commitment and ability levels (from novices to top college crews, to high-performance club crews winning on a national level). By the end of 2025, I was working a full-time job in science and coaching another 30 hours a week on top of that. I participated in British Rowing’s pilot Coaching Development program and realised that I enjoy coaching way more than being stuck behind a lab desk, getting to enjoy being outside, working with individuals and understanding what their motivations are and how to help them achieve their goals. 

Once I began searching for full-time coaching jobs, it didn’t take me long to find the perfect position: British Rowing Regional Talent Coach. I started this role at the beginning of this year and have learnt so much in such a short period of time. I’m the regional coach for Yorkshire and get to go to all of the schools/unis/clubs in the county and work with their coaches and athletes to become the best version of themselves they can be. I also find individuals with potential to become the next Olympic gold medallist and develop those skills. I love watching people thrive in these new environments and discover the sport that has shaped my life since I was 12.

This Summer I achieved something I never thought possible, I was selected as the England Para Team coach for the Home International Regatta, against the best athletes in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I have absolutely adored coaching para-athletes, getting to problem solve and challenge myself to work with athletes to find adaptations that let them unleash their potential. This has led to being nominated by the GB Performance Director and Paralympic Head Coach to be the GB Regional Talent Coach. I am so looking forward to working with other para coaches from around the world to make this sport more accessible to everyone.

Without the opportunities provided to me by St Hilda’s I never would have had the confidence or knowledge to go after what I wanted and keep achieving beyond even my own wildest dreams.

We are very sorry to announce that the following Old Scholars have passed away.

16 October 1937 – 9 July 2026

1950 Guides L-R: N Gray, B Stump, A Bailye, A Clarke, B Wilson and J Gare.

Angela Parkinson (Bailye, 1954) attended St Hilda’s on an academic scholarship in the early 1950s. She hoped to study medicine, but circumstances did not allow that path to continue. When she was offered a position as a telephonist in Kojonup, which would not be held for her, she left St Hilda’s before completing her final term. She completed her Junior Certificate by studying privately and was later promoted to Switchboard Monitor.

Angela was required to resign on marrying. She and her husband Bob raised three children, and she built a successful thirty-year career with Tupperware, eventually becoming a manager. She particularly enjoyed the leadership, friendships and opportunities to travel that came with the role. She retained a lifelong interest in learning and reading, and was delighted that her children had educational and professional opportunities that had not been available to her.

Angela died on 9 July 2026, aged 88. She is remembered by her family with affection and gratitude, and we and she appreciated the education and opportunities St Hilda’s gave her as a young woman.

One of St Hilda’s most dedicated Old Girls, Claire Macaulay (1969), died in June after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Claire was a stalwart of the Old Scholars’ Association and was the 1969 Year Representative for most of her life. In this role she helped to keep her former classmates in close contact right to the end.

Claire was born into the St Hilda’s fold as the daughter of Old Girl Sylvia Margaret “Dinah” Brockman (1934) and was followed there by her younger sisters Ann Goode (1970) and Cathy Cornish (Macaulay, 1972), and her niece Rachel Goode (1996). As well as enjoying her school life, Claire had fond memories of learning ballet. She was a pupil of WA Ballet founder Kira Bousloff and continued to dance into adult life.

Claire studied science at UWA and the then WA Institute of Technology and had a long career working for PathWest in Nedlands. When at home in Cottesloe she tended her flower garden and grew vegetables. She delighted in being close to the beach and would walk there early each morning for a swim.

Claire played pennants for Lake Karrinyup Golf Club and combined sport with her love for travel, going to England to watch the British Open Golf. She was an intrepid traveller and headed off to Taiwan and Japan in the 1970s. She also travelled extensively in Europe and Russia.

Claire was loved by her St Hilda’s classmates for her kindness and gentle courtesy which she combined with a wicked sense of humour.

She is sorely missed.

Congratulations to Tessa Hewitt who was voted in as the 2026/27 Head Girl on Thursday 10 September.

Tessa’s mother Dr Andrea Hewitt (Cussons,1990), her grandmother Rosemary Cussons (Arrantash, 1964), sister Evie Hewitt (2024), aunts and several cousins all attended St Hilda’s. Tessa was also the 2025 OSA Ammonite Scholarship recipient.

Other prefects, including the daughters, or granddaughters of Old Scholars, are:

Deputy Head Girl – Molly Phillips (daughter of Dr Sarah Phillips (Richardson, 1996)).

Academic Prefect – Lucy Baston (granddaughter of Susan Hill (Barrett-Lennard, 1967)).

Arts Prefect – Maia Gelencser (daughter of Maria Gelencser (Bontempo, 1992)).

Drama Prefect – Lara Davies

Music Prefect – Elizabeth Hahn

Service Prefect – Grace Ratneser

Sport Prefect – Clementine Castleden

Spirit Prefect – Charlotte Di Latte

Head Boarder – Evie Buderus von Carlshausen (daughter of Sophie Buderus van Carlshausen (Keogh, 2000) and granddaughter of Meredith Carlshausen (Forsyth), great granddaughter of Gloria Inverarity (1947)).

Deputy Head Boarder – Pia Caporn (daughter of Sarah Caporn (Anderson, 1997) and granddaughter of Judy Anderson (Nottage, 1972)).

Boarding Officials – Sydney Hardingham, Jasmine Nichols, Priscilla Smith (daughter of Kate McCormack (1992))

Fitzroy Prefect – Sabine Kirk

Fitzroy Officials – Holly Harris, Zara Hart, Grace He, Evie Macgregor (daughter of Denby Roberts (1993) and granddaughter of Angela Roberts (Egerton-Warburton 1959)), and Sanchia Wardle (daughter of Tory Wardle (Pyman, 1993)

De Grey Prefect – Lucy Phillips (daughter of Susannah Phillips (Baker, 1998) and granddaughter of Bronte Phillips (Stuart-Smith, 1963)).

De Grey Officials – Tessa Beashel, Sophie Cripps, Devyn Edmiston, Tallis Lloyd and Olive May

Blackwood Prefect – Phoebe Egerton-Warburton

Blackwood Officials – Charlotte Atkins, Stella Babon (daughter of Gemma Babon (Carroll, 1996) and granddaughter of Kathryn Carroll (Monger, 1968)), Vivian Chen, Isobel Renouf and Sophie Wood

Gascoyne Prefect – Adelaide Ludlow

Gascoyne Officials – Phoebe Brauer, Kate Caccetta (daughter of Dr Cristin Voss (1998)), Marlie Hodgkinson, Isabella Hutana and Mille Honnens.

Congratulations to all of the above students on the 2027 Student Leadership Group.

The Junior School Music Festival (Pre-Primary to Year 6) took place over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week featuring over 200 performing students, and we were thrilled to welcome back Old Scholar Kelly Lovelady (1997) as the official adjudicator.

Kelly Lovelady (1997)

Kelly, based in the UK, is a conductor-curator and cultural activist with a passion for experimental programming concert dramaturgy and composer advocacy. She is the founding Artistic Director of Ruthless Jabiru; a chamber orchestra of Australasian musicians, in the UK, forging projects which explore humanitarian and social justice stories through New Music.  Kelly has devised, self-produced and conducted massed musical and cross-artform projects for festivals around the world and is in demand in the UK and abroad as a Musical Director and Guest Conductor with a focus on contemporary repertoire and composer collaboration.

We feel so fortunate to have had Kelly as the event adjudicator for this special event, and this opportunity for the students to learn from a world class performer and producer.

We recently welcomed the ‘UWA Girls in Engineering Outreach’ program to work with our Year 10 Engineering class.

Tania Elliot, Katie Low (2024), Helen Walker and Lily Taylor (2023).

The program aims to encourage and inspire young women to explore engineering pathways by connecting them with current engineering students, providing insight into university study and careers in the field.

Adding to the occasion, the session was facilitated by two Old Scholars who are current UWA Engineering students:

Katie Low (2024) – Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance.

Lily Taylor (2023) – Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical).

The Year 10 students thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their journeys from graduation to UWA, and learning about the diverse opportunities available within engineering.

It was also particularly special for Helen Walker, Head of Science Department, as both Katie and Lily were in her class, making it a wonderful full-circle moment.

Tania Elliot, Gifted & Talented Coordinator

Since its founding in 1896, St Hilda’s has built a proud legacy of academic excellence and leadership.

For 130 years, St Hilda’s has been shaping generations of young women who go on to make meaningful contributions in their fields and communities.

At St Hilda’s, leadership is intentionally cultivated in every girl, every year, through a holistic approach that spans curriculum, cocurricular opportunities, service learning and wellbeing. Grounded in a deep understanding of identity, voice and agency, students are empowered to lead with confidence and compassion, continuing a tradition of excellence that has defined the School for more than a century.

Today, this legacy is reflected in the 130 St Hilda’s trailblazers who have emerged from the School; women distinguished not only by their achievements, but by their character, courage and purpose.

View our 130 Trailblazers Book

Discover the inspiring stories of our remarkable 130 Trailblazers.

There are a number of positions being advertised at St Hilda’s.