OSA CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER

Dear Old Scholars,

Welcome to our August newsletter. We are looking forward to an enjoyable second half of the year. The OSA Calendar is full of wonderful opportunities to connect, network and enjoy a catch up with friends.

This edition of the newsletter includes highlights from the recent OSA Careers Expo, many thanks to Lizzie Warburton, Kellie Hasluck and all of the Old Scholar mentors who made this event such a success. We so appreciate the time our members give to assist the senior students. It was also lovely for the participants to have the opportunity to catch up informally at the end of the day in the Heritage Centre. Many thanks to Yolande Dick (1960), Jill Binning (Mansel, 1960) and other members for their assistance in hosting this gathering.

The OSA Committee has been busy organising some exciting events for Term 3, including the inaugural Women Lifting Women Summit, our annual OSA 70+ Morning Tea, the OSA Pin Presentation, OSA Art Exhibition Opening Night and Art Exhibition weekend. Thank you to the Community Engagement team and the OSA Committee for all of the hard work that continues behind the scenes.

If you are able to assist at the OSA 70+ Morning Tea and over the OSA Art Exhibition weekend, please email oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au or call Lizzie Warburton on 9285 4228.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank Scarlet Roxby (2016) for her wonderful contribution to the OSA over the past few years. Scarlet is moving to Launceston, Tasmania, for work and so is stepping off the OSA Committee. We wish her all the very best for this next stage in her career. If you are in Launceston, you may like to get in touch!

Congratulations to Old Scholars Holly Fraser (2002) and Amber Stepatschuk (2002) for their successful participation in the Scotch Global Accelerator Programme. It was such a fantastic experience for both of them. Thank you to Katrina Chalmers (Black, 1985) for her assistance in facilitating the OSA Career Accelerator Award for our younger Old Scholars.

The OSA Ammonite (Year 11 entry) Scholarship is now open to applications. For more information on the scholarship and the application process, please see below.

As always, we would love to hear from you. Please send us your news via oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au, and if you need to update your contact details you can do so at the link below:

Click Here to Update Your Contact Details

致以最美好的祝愿、

阿曼达-伯特博士（科德，1989 年）
President of the GHS & St Hilda’s Old Scholars Association

If you’re looking to take the next leap, pivot or re-ignite your career, register now for this exciting new summit.  Speakers will dive into topics such as financial planning, career mapping, work-life balance and leadership.  We have a few spaces left.

The inaugural Women Lifting Women Summit is being presented by the Old Scholars Association and St Hilda’s in August. Designed by career women for career women, this alumni-exclusive event is sure to inspire you.

Elevate Your Career
Join a powerful network of trailblazing alumni for a transformative summit designed to ignite your career. At the Women Lifting Women Summit, we’ll help you to shape a path that aligns with your personal, professional and financial goals. This is an Old Scholar exclusive event.

• Lizzie Landels (2002), Director and Chief of Staff, Microsoft – Keynote Speaker
• Julie Colvin (Stephen, 1989), Managing Partner, Derwent Recruitment – Know your Worth
• Amanda Boyce, Head of Advice at Euroz Hartleys – Establishing Financial Security
• 菲奥娜-约翰斯顿, Principal at St Hilda’s – Leaning into Leadership

For more information about this Summit click below:

More Information 

时间:   4pm to 7pm, Wednesday 6 August 2025

会议地点: Euroz Hartleys, Level 37 QV1, 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Cost:   $50 including post-summit function.

We are extremely pleased that Lizzie Landels is returning to Perth this month and will be our keynote speaker at the 妇女提升妇女峰会 on 6 August (see above). We asked Lizzie about her career path on leaving St Hilda’s (as Head Prefect) in 2002 to today, as the Chief of Staff and Director of the Business Enablement team for a newly formed team at Microsoft – the Trusted Technology Group.

Lizzie’s career has spanned law, diplomacy, and technology, culminating in her current role as Chief of Staff in Microsoft’s Trusted Technology Group. Her journey, from the halls of Una Mitchell to the forefront of AI, exemplifies the power of generalist skills and adaptability in a rapidly changing world.

Foundations in law and public service.

Lizzie began her career as a Judge’s Associate at the Supreme Court of WA and later joined Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons). These early roles taught Lizzie to think critically, communicate clearly, and handle high-pressure responsibilities. “My legal training taught me discipline and clarity of thought,” she reflects, “and it gave me a strong platform to jump into international affairs.”

Diplomatic adventures
In 2011, Lizzie embarked on a new path as a diplomatic officer in Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Over seven years, she took on several assignments at home and abroad. A highlight of her time in Canberra at DFAT headquarters was being part of the core team working on Australia’s successful United Nations Security Council bid.

During her three years posted to Brazil, Lizzie had the opportunity to lead Australia’s economic, legal and development portfolios and run several high-level government visits. “Every position at DFAT pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Lizzie reflects, “but that’s where you grow the most. I learned to thrive by being curious and being adaptable.”

2023 with her nephew and brother exploring the Minecraft Education World that Lizzie helped design.

Pivot to technology
In 2018, Lizzie made a leap to Microsoft’s headquarters in Washington state, joining as a Senior Crisis Manager in the Core Services Engineering team, covering events from major cybersecurity breaches to hurricanes. In this role Lizzie managed 60 Crisis Management Teams worldwide, building a network of responders across multiple continents. In 2020, Lizzie became a core leader in Microsoft’s pandemic response, using data and analytics to drive decisions. She developed a system to monitor COVID-19 status across 106 countries, aggregating over 150 data signals into dashboards and reports for the company’s senior leadership. This data-driven approach ensured Microsoft’s response was swift and informed. “It was incredibly intense work, but deeply rewarding,” Lizzie says of leading Microsoft’s crisis response.

This experience taught her that the core leadership traits needed as a diplomat – clear communication, decisiveness under pressure, and empathy – were just as vital in the tech world.

Championing responsible innovation
In early 2022, Lizzie joined Microsoft’s Democracy Forward team, first leading a global literacy program helping people spot misinformation and disinformation online, then as Director of Business Management and Strategic Projects for the Tech for Fundamental Rights team. She helped launch the Munich Tech Accord, signed by 19 other tech companies, which sought to protect democratic elections from the emerging threat of AI-generated deepfakes.

Most recently, Lizzie has moved into the role of Chief of Staff and Director of the Business Enablement team at Microsoft – the Trusted Technology Group. In this role Lizzie is helping shape Microsoft’s approach to responsible innovation.

2025 Lizzie with her husband Dan and daughter Tilly celebrating U.S. Independence Day.

Lessons from an unconventional path
Lizzie openly admits her career path has not been linear. And that, she believes, is precisely its strength. “My career has zigzagged through law, diplomacy, and tech. At each turn, I worried I was ‘starting over’, but in hindsight each chapter gave me new skills and perspectives that build on each other and make me more effective in the next.” Her unique ability to translate between different domains has become her signature asset. It allows her to connect the dots in ways others might miss.

Lizzie also emphasises the importance of core values and soft skills. Traits like adaptability, curiosity, and empathy have been constants in her journey.

What’s next? As for the future, Lizzie is excited to keep learning and hopes to one day bring her experiences back to Australia. “Australia, and in particular Western Australia, is a special place. While it’s physically quite isolated, it’s a place of global thinking and innovation, and the cultural attributes are hard to beat. WA is well-placed to emerge as a key beneficiary in the era of AI.”

Lizzie currently lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and daughter. We are honoured that Lizzie has agreed to be the keynote speaker at the inaugural 妇女提升妇女峰会 and hope that you will register above.

It is time for our largest Old Scholar event of the year when 150 Old Scholars, over the age of 70, return to the School Hall to enjoy catching up with their peer group, raffles, sandwiches and slices made by the current Food & Technology students.  This year, the Class of 1972 and older are invited to attend.

Date: Wednesday 13 August at 10am – 12pm

Please register by clicking on the link below and enter the name of every person you are registering.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Or email oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au or call Lizzie Warburton on 9285 4228.

PARKING: Please note that due to the surface being under repair, we cannot offer parking on the front lawn.  We ask you to make alternative travel arrangements for drop offs or we have made arrangements for parking on the northside of the Mosman Park Bowling Club, on Bay View Terrace, where a shuttle bus will deliver you to the front of the School.

The Annual OSA Art Exhibition has been moved forward to Term 3, and the doors will open on a stunning selection of original artworks from 30 artists on Thursday 18 September.

Please join us on the Opening Night of the 2025 OSA Art Exhibition for a wonderful evening celebrating the artists and the unveiling of their works. This extraordinary renowned event extends over three levels of the stunning Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre and this year showcases new works from 30 established and emerging artists. The works range from paintings, mixed media to sculpture, weaving and ceramics. Talented St Hilda’s musicians will provide live classical music throughout the evening.

OSA ART EXHIBITION OPENING NIGHT

Date:    Thursday 18 September 2025
Time:    6.00pm – 8.00pm
Where:  St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, The Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre

Tickets are $60pp (which includes Vasse Felix wines and canapés).

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET

Art Exhibition Weekend Opening Hours

展览整个周末向公众开放。

• Friday 19 September 3.00pm – 6.00pm
• Saturday 20 September 10.00am – 4.00pm
• Sunday 21 September 10.00am – 3.00pm

Bay Café 

Whilst visiting the exhibition over the weekend pop into the new St Hilda’s Bay Café for refreshments and delicious morning and afternoon tea from 10am – 2pm.

A percentage of all sales from the exhibition will go towards future OSA Scholarships.

This year, we will be celebrating the arrival of 32 students across the Senior School who are the daughters, granddaughters, or great-granddaughters of Old Scholars in a special School assembly during Year Time on Monday, 13 September. St Hilda’s is proud of its history, spanning over 129 years and intertwined with generations of families.

The students are presented with a commissioned Ammonite Pin for their lapel and their mothers and grandmothers are invited to a light lunch afterwards.  Invitations will be sent out next week, but if you believe your daughter has been overlooked, please notify us by emailing oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au, and we will update the records accordingly.

We look forward to welcoming as many Old Scholars as possible to these upcoming events.

WOMEN LIFTING WOMEN CAREER SUMMIT
Date:  Wednesday 6 August
Time:  4.00pm
Venue: Euroz Hartleys, Level 37 QV1, 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth

70+ MORNING TEA
Date: Wednesday 13 August
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm
Venue: School Hall

PIN PRESENTATION & LIGHT LUNCH
Date: Monday 15 September
Time: 12.20pm – 2.00pm
Venue: JSPAC followed by Heritage Centre

ART EXHIBITION OPENING NIGHT
Date: Thursday 18 September
Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: JSPAC Foyer

ART EXHIBITION
Date: Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 September
Venue: JSPAC Foyer

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Date: Tuesday 14 October
Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Heritage Centre

COUNTRY LUNCH
Date: Thursday 16 October
Time: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Venue:  New Norcia

CIGS GOLF DAY
Date: Monday 22 September
Time: 8.30am – 2.00pm
Venue: Royal Perth Golf Course

SOCIAL GOLF DAY
Date: Friday 7 November
Time: 7.30am – 2.00pm
Venue: Mosman Park Golf Course

CHRISTMAS SERVICE & END OF YEAR SUNDOWNER
Date: Monday 1 December
Time: 5.00pm
Venue: Whitby Chapel. Heritage Centre for refreshments

We are enormously grateful to the 26 mentors who attended on a Friday afternoon during their working week to share their experiences with the Years 10, 11, and 12 students. A huge thank you to our wonderful professional Old Scholars who returned to School on a very wet and windy day.

The aim of the event is to support our senior students in making informed choices for their subject selections or university pathways as they reach a key milestone on their educational journey. We hope that by hearing stories from our Old Scholars, they might gain some insight into their own professional pathway.  For some students, it might be reassuring to learn that few individuals leave school with a fully defined plan and that many ultimately pursue unexpected paths.

Thank you to the Old Scholars who attended, and also to the St Hilda’s staff who adjusted their schedules to accommodate the event. We are most grateful.

Date: Friday 15 August 2025
Time & Venue: 12.00 Lunch in the Heritage Centre, Bay View Campus

Organisers: Joan Newton (Coulsell) & Lenny McCall Rush (McCall)

Please RSVP to Niamh Fitzpatrick on 9285 4229 or by email to oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au.

Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Times & Venues:

10.00am Ceremony of Remembrance and Support in the School Chapel
10.30am Heritage Centre & Optional School Tour
12.00pm Lunch at Mosman Park Bowling Club

Organisers: Susanna Bessell-Browne

Please RSVP to Susanna by email: susanna@sbbenterprises.com

Date: Saturday 25 October 2025
Times & Venues:
4.30 – 6.00pm  Heritage Centre & School Tour
6.00pm  Sundowner at The Claremont Hotel

费用: $50 (includes canapes)

RSVP by Saturday 18 October   https://www.trybooking.com/CZLDN

Organisers:  Katie Gardner & Rowena Walsh (Keall)

Date: Saturday 15 November 2025
Time & Venue: 4.30 – 6.00pm at the Heritage Centre & Tour of School
Next Venue:  Sampson’s Paddock, Glyde Street, Mosman Park

Organisers:  Susie Neate (Hill), Sharni Tietzel and Kerry Pallas

Date: Sunday 14 December 2025
Time & Venue: 4.00 – 6.00pm – Heritage Centre & Tour of School / Sundowner at TBC
Next Venue: Sundowner at Mosman Park Bowls Club
Cost: $40 (includes one drink and food).
Booking Link: https://events.humanitix.com/st-hilda-s-class-of-2015-10-year-reunion

Organisers: Alexandra Finlay-Jones and Georgia Sturgeon

Antonia Naarstig, Year Rep for the Class of 1991, is organising a free event in Fremantle which is open to the Year Group.  Live Music and light refreshments will be provided.

Date:  6 September 2025
Time:  7pm
Venue:  Buffalo Club, 54 High Street, Fremantle

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

For enquires, please email Antonia on creativeantonia@y7mail.com

Class of 1980 – 45 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 20 September 2025
Time & Venue: 2pm – 5.30pm
Next Venue: “Spring in the Swan Valley”, 16 Bordeaux Lane, The Vines
Cost: $35 Afternoon Tea and Spritzers
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DBUOG

FACEBOOK Event link – https://fb.me/1WLYNsAHjqt9Z2F

Organisers:  Michelle Popplewell (Pritchard) & Joanne Connor (Robinson)

St Hilda’s CIGS Golf Day Team 2024

Jan Grimoldby (1970) is organising the 2025 CIGS Golf Tournament on 22 September, and would very much like to encourage younger Old Scholars to participate (there is an opportunity to subsidise younger players).

Date:  Monday 22 September
Venue:  Royal Perth Golf Club
Start:  8.30am
Cost: $100pp (including lunch)

The team will play Canadian Foursomes (both drive, both have a second hit using their partner’s balls, then select one to finish the hole with).

(Parking is available both in the carpark and on the street, and both areas need an authorisation slip, which Jan will obtain in advance.)

Carts are VERY limited. If you need a cart, please call the Royal Perth Pro Shop to book and notify Jan when you register. The cost will be $100 per player, excluding a cart but including lunch. There is also a $40 lunch-only option.  If you are interested, please email Jan directly with the following information:

• Your Full Name
• Golf link number.
• Partner (if you have one, and if not, I’ll pair you up)
• Any special dietary requirements?
• Do you require a cart and have successfully booked one OR do you have your own cart and plan on bringing it?
• If you haven’t played before, please give your graduating year.

Email Jan Grimoldby

SAVE THE DATE

The 2025 OSA Country Lunch will take place on Thursday 16 October.
Details are still being worked out, but the main information is as follows:
Tour of New Norcia ($15 per person) followed by midday prayers with the monks.
Lunch in the historic St Ildephonsus’ College (price yet to be determined, approximately $35 per person).

The September OSA Connections Newsletter will include a link for registration.

The St Hilda’s Junior School has occupied a few locations since the first Girls’ School was opened in 1896.  When the Misses Allens took over in 1898 and renamed the School the Claremont Ladies’ College and Kindergarten, classes took place in the Congregational Hall in Claremont.

In February 1905, Miss Parnell changed the name again to the Girls’ High School, although it was also advertised as a Boys’ Preparatory and Kindergarten School.  The register lists the names of 26 students aged from four to fifteen years of age.

In 1930, at the height of the Depression, St Hilda’s moved to a new site in Mosman Park under Miss M Rooney, who was Headmistress from 1927 – 1930.

In 1931, Miss Catherine Small arrived in Perth from England at the age of 26 as the new Headmistress.  The financial difficulties continued with a shortage of everything, including staff, and World War II.

Despite these austere times, St Hilda’s grew, and when Miss Small retired in 1946, there were over 100 girls enrolled from Kindergarten through to Senior School.

We are very sad to announce the passing of the following Old Scholars:

23 November 1948 – 11 July 2025

On Friday 11 July, Helen passed away peacefully. Helen was the only child of Noelle and Don Chipper, and attended St Hilda’s from February 1958 until graduation in December 1965.

L-R Helen Burke, Jo Ahern (Johnston), Allison Clifton and Margaret Davies-Slate (Collard)

A cherished mother to Heidi Whitfield (Burke, 1991) and a devoted grandmother to Willow, Charlie, and Alice, Granny was the heart of her family.  She brought love, warmth, and a touch of magic into the lives of her grandchildren, who were her greatest joy.

Helen lived life fully and with immense generosity, always placing others before herself. Her energy, kindness, and sense of fun and adventure touched all who knew her. She was loved by her many friends and the community and will be profoundly missed and remembered with love and admiration.

14 February 1943 – 11 July 2025

Patricia (Pat) Rowe (Stevenson) was a boarder at St Hilda’s, her home town being Toodyay. Pat is seen here with the 1959 House Prefects.

Back L-R: R Blythe, J Tredwell, A Gillam, R Jackson, P Stevenson, A MacDonald, A Treloar, H Cox, P Fowler. Front L-R: J Salmon, H Smart, W Rudduck, A Buttsworth, D Gamble.

Pat achieved her Junior Certificate in English, History, Geography, Maths, Physiology and Hygiene, Biology, Art and Home Science. And her Basketball critique reads “Pat has played well as defence but could use her height to better advantage“.

22 May 1948 – 10 May 2025

To the great sorrow of her family and friends, Rosemary Collard passed away at home in Launceston on 10 May this year, just short of her 77th Birthday.

Donelle Missen’s 7th Brithday party, 1955. Front L-R: Penny Mudie, Lanie Canning, Rob Gillett, Sue Bessell-Browne, Marg Collard, Ro Collard, Donelle Missen, Roslyn Gulley (behind), Janet Redford, Jolin Edmondson, Lorraine Leyland.

Rosemary was the twin sister of Margaret Davies-Slate (Collard,1965) and the younger sister of Suzanne Collard (1962).  The Collards lived just a few doors down from St Hilda’s on the corner of Johnston Street and Bay View Terrace. Rosemary and Margaret started in the St Hilda’s kindergarten just after their 4th Birthday in 1952. They were the first of their eventual year group to come to the School, but were soon joined by 4 year olds Fiona Lee-Steere (Nattrass,1965) and Penny Green (Mudie, 1966), who became their first friends. Rosemary and Margaret continued on at St Hilda’s until their leaving year in 1965. During that time they made lifelong friends who, in the last months of Rosemary’s life provided great comfort.

Rosemary’s particular interest and talent was art, which she pursued through her school years and took as a Leaving subject in 1965.

Rosemary in 2014, Launceston

After her marriage and when her three sons were still quite young, Rosemary completed an art course at Claremont Technical College and became an accomplished artist. She gained recognition through exhibitions and competitions and had work hung in public spaces. In later years, Rosemary pursued digital art and gained recognition internationally as a result.

Rosemary remained connected with St Hilda’s and, for several years, was the Class Representative for her 1965 Year Group. She will be greatly missed by her many school pals.

28 November 1973 – 9 July 2025

Rebecca was a St Hilda’s girl all her life.  She was the very first baby christened in the School Hall, using the Marching Cup as a baptism font, and she then attended St Hilda’s Kindy.  Bec attended Cottesloe Primary and then returned to St Hilda’s where her mother, Mrs Pamela Rutledge, then known as Mrs Orifici, taught science.  Rebecca was a standout student, graduating in 1990, and was then awarded the Rotary Scholarship to spend a year in Germany before undertaking a degree in Politics and German.  She did not complete her degree but opted for the vagaries of the business world and fashion.

Rebecca married Simon in 2004 and moved to Dunsborough where Georgie was born. They moved back to Perth to be closer to family, and soon after Olivia arrived.  Both girls are now students at St Hilda’s Senior School.

Rebecca made wonderful friends and her life was celebrated by friends and family at The Whitby Chapel on Saturday 26 July.

The OSA Ammonite Scholarship provides support in Years 11 and 12 to a daughter, granddaughter or great-granddaughter of a financial member of the Old Scholars Association.

This scholarship is a fixed financial amount per annum that approximates one term’s fees per year. The winner is determined by a panel of two or three Financial Members of the OSA based on an application and an interview at the discretion of the scholarship subcommittee.  Students are selected after consideration of achievements across a breadth of activities, including academic, co-curricular, leadership and service, as well as the student’s ability to contribute to a variety of activities at St Hildas.

For more information or to apply, please click on the link below:

OSA Ammonite Scholarship

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There is currently one position available.

• Junior School Visual Arts Teacher