Dear Old Scholars

Welcome to the March edition of the OSA Connections Newsletter.

First term is a busy start to the year. Throughout this newsletter there are some lovely photos including the wonderfully well attended Year 13 Reunion.

Thank you to those who attended the Ash Wednesday services held at the school chapel. Please read a message from Father Philip below.

Also, we hear of news from our Old Scholar community, and of another historic win by the 2025 IGSSA St Hilda’s Swimming Team. Congratulations on a wonderful start to the year.

The Old Scholars committee is looking forward to the Bridge and Mahjong Day being hosted in the Heritage Centre on Wednesday 26 March, 10.00am – 2.30pm.  If you haven’t signed up there is still time. A special thank you must go to Treffina Dowland for all of the preparation for what will no doubt be a wonderful day.

Our Year Representative Evening event will be hosted at the Heritage Centre on Thursday 10 April, 6pm – 8pm where Sandra Naude will be the guest speaker to provide a lively history of Arts Festival. We so appreciate the efforts your year representatives give to keep everyone informed and connected, and we look forward to the evening catch up. We encourage each of you to contact your year representative and update your details.

The OSA Committee is busy preparing the upcoming Mother’s Day Bazaar on Saturday 10 May, 9am – 3pm. It is a great day of fun with activities, stalls, flowers and food. There will be lots on offer just in time for Mother’s Day.

The OSA is again offering two full scholarships to attend the Career Accelerator Programme at Scotch College from 29 June to 4 July 2025. Please see further details below.

We look forward to seeing many of our OSA members soon.

Enjoy reading this edition, and we look forward to seeing many of our OSA members in 2025.

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

The GHS & St Hilda’s Old Scholars’ Association invites you to the annual Bridge and Mahjong Day.

The OSA Year Representatives are a vital part of our network and we appreciate all that you do to keep your year groups in touch with one another and to help to update the School on contact details.

We would like to thank you for your contributions and warmly welcome you to an evening at the Heritage Centre with refreshments and a lively talk by Sandra Naude on the history of Arts Festival from its origins as Culture Day in the 1970s.  There will be photographs, videos and the opportunity to contribute your own stories.

Thursday 10 April
6.00pm – 8.00pm
遗产中心 

If you are able to come, please register by the link below (for catering purposes), but also, please do spread the word and bring along any other person who might like to share your Year Representative responsibilities.

RSVP Here

We would love to see you.

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

BRIDGE & MAHJONG
Date: Wednesday 26 March
Time: 10.00pm – 2.30pm
Venue: Heritage Centre

CIGS OLD GIRLS’ TENNIS
Date: Thursday 3 April
Time: Please contact organiser
Organiser: Susannah Phillips (Baker, 1998)
Mob: 0407 772 193  /  Email: susannahphillips18@gmail.com

OSA CROCHET WITH STUDENTS
Dates: Wednesdays: 9 April, 7 May and 11 June
Time: 12.45pm – 2.00pm
Venue: OSA Sitting Room

YEAR REPRESENTATIVE EVENING
Date: Thursday 10 April
Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Heritage Centre, including refreshments

MOTHER’S DAY BAZAAR
Date: Saturday 10 May
Time: 9.00am – 3.00pm
Venue: Bay View Campus

OLD SCHOLAR MENTOR CAREER EXPO
Date: Friday 20 June
Time: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Venue:  Bay View Campus

OSA COMMITTEE THANK YOU
Date: Friday 20 June
Time: 3.30pm – 5.00pm
Venue:  Heritage Centre, refreshments

NETWORKING SUMMIT (WOMEN LIFTING WOMEN)
Date:  Friday 8 August
Time:  TBC
Venue: TBC

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: Friday 17 October
Time: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Venue:  New Norcia (Details TBC)

CIGS GOLF DAY
Date: Monday 3 November
Time: 7.30am – 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

DATES YET TO BE CONFIRMED:
OSA Pilates
Young OSA Drinks

Year 7 Boarders: Ella Piesse, Ruby Brockway, Sophie Scanlan

The 2025 Woolorama in Wagin in March is always a great opportunity to meet new families, connect with our current boarding families and to meet with current students and old scholars.

I travelled to Wagin with Rachel Stenslunde, Head of Boarding, and enjoyed meeting old scholars.  Amongst those we saw were Chelsea Robinson (2009), Pip Gooding (Shields,1998), Rechelle Marwick (Fairclough,1976), Emily Webb (Toster, 2000), Margot Siemer (Finlayson, 1956), and Anna Zacher (Webb, 1999).

Thank you to our Year 7 boarders, Ella, Ruby and Sophie for supporting the stand in their uniforms on a very hot day.L

Lizzie Warburton, Alumni Coordinator

Class of 1965 – 60 Year Reunion

Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Times & Venues:
10.30 am 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

Class of 1985 – 40 Year Reunion

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)

Class of 1995 – 30 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 3 May

Times & Venues:
4.30 – 6.00pm  Heritage Centre & School Tour
6.00pm  Sundowner at The Claremont Hotel, Courtyard

Organiser:  Nell Gillett. 

RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/DADMP

Class of 2005 – 20 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 15 November 2025
Time & Venue: 4.30 – 6.00pm at the Heritage Centre & Tour of School
Next Venue:  TBC

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

A Look Back In Time To …  Arts Festivals

Internship Opportunites for Current Students and Old Scholars

Portflio Pathway Opportunities

We have been asked by Craig Doyle, Head of Careers and Pathways, for support for Year 12 non-ATAR portfolio pathway students.

Craig is looking to match students with Old Scholars for short term intensive work experience and possibly site visits, hands-on experience in the areas of:

• Business
• 健身
• Veterinarian work.

If you feel that you could offer such a place, please contact Craig directly.

Old Scholar 3rd Year Environmental Engineering Student (Melbourne)

One of our Old Scholars is studying in Melbourne and about to start her third year of an Environmental Engineering degree at RMIT.

She is now looking to gain practical experience in the field whilst she is studying.  If you can offer her an internship or any work experience in Melbourne she would be very pleased to hear from you.

Please reach out via oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu and we can put you in touch or supply you with a little more information.

New Year 10 Elective Pre-Medical Course Work Student Support

Helen Walker, Head of Science, would like to hear from medical old scholars who might be available to talk to the Year 10 students about their work/research and career pathways.

Class 1 – Tuesday 8 April 12.20 – 1.05pm 或 Wednesday 9 April 12.20 – 1.05pm

This would be during class time and the audience would be approximately 20 students (one class) of Year 10s. It would ideally be an informal presentation/chat with the students followed by some time for questions and may work best if we were able to get a couple of presenters in at a time to share the load.

If you might be available to help, please contact oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au.

(Roxana) Anne Cooke (Bushell,1949)

14 December 1932 – 23 December 2024

Anne passed away peacefully last December just after her 92^nd birthday. She was the loving wife of John (deceased), mother of Jayne Hammond (Cooke), Julie Roche (Cooke), Angus, Grant and

1949 Prefects. Back Row: F Egerton-Warburton, S Taylor, J McKellar-Hall, M Reilly, J Egerton-Warburton. Middle row: L Byass, S Johnson, H Smith, B de Bruyn. Front Row: S McRae, A Bushell, J Orr, I Watters.

Miranda Nikolich (Cooke, 1992)

Anne was a significant contributor to the Class of 1949 both as a Prefect and as an athlete.  Anne was listed in the Softball Team, Slazenger Cup Tennis Team, and the Basketball Team.  The 1949 Chronicle singles out Anne’s contribution as the Basketball Attack Wing as follows: ‘Handles the ball well and a very steady member of the team’.

Later in life Anne was a great supporter of the School as a member of the Old Scholars Association and, when she became a parent, she sat on the School Board (as the Boarder’s Representative) whilst Miranda attended St Hilda’s from 1987 to 1992.

Anne Catherine King (1975)

10 September 1958 – 13 February 2025

1975 Upper Six Blue. Back L-R: L Mann, A Johnston, S Grant, F King, J Lockhart, R Hayles, T Milner, H Leslie, A Mitchell. Middle L-R: J Harry, M Holland, A Hunn, A Hebbert, S Howes, A King, R Leach, J Gould, J Kerr. Front L-R: J Johnson, P Larke, B Jones, A Lancaster, C Lacy, S Hodder.

Anne passed away peacefully on 13 February 2025, surrounded by her family, after a long illness. She was the much loved mother of Scott, Jason, Lauren and Abbey, mother-in-law of Jack, Kim, Alina and Patrick and Nanna to Elaura, Scarlette, and Hazel.

She was a country girl from the Wheatbelt region of Goomalling, near Northam, and entered St Hilda’s Boarding House on 10 February 1971.  She is remembered fondly by the Class of 1975 whose 50 Year Reunion took place on 14 March, particularly for the Upper 6 Boarder theme songs “Country Girl”, and for participating in the Senior Hockey and Tennis Teams.

Jacqueline Tuffin (De Witt, 1959)

18 May 1942 – 2 February 2025

Jackie was born in Leonora on 18 May 1942 and spent most of her childhood in Busselton and Perth. She joined St Hilda’s in February 1956 and graduated in 1959. Jackie’s younger sisters Liz Bell (1960) and Cathy Hohnen (1967) also attended St Hilda’s.

Following graduation, Jackie spent a year in the East Kimberly as a station governess, before taking up a place at the Claremont Teachers’ College. She began teacher training the following year and then interspersed travel with teaching. After spending just one year at the Università per Stranieri (University for Foreigners) in Perugia, Italy, Jackie was fluent in Italian.

She met her husband John Tuffin, also a high school teacher, in Geraldton and they married in London in 1969 and had two boys, Giles and Huw. The family lived in Kambalda, Northam, Geraldton and Perth, and they also spent 1986 in the UK on exchange, and then in 1988 they travelled around Australia. Jackie taught primary school, high school (Italian) and later, after settling back in Perth, she lectured in Women’s Studies at TAFE; a course about which she
was passionate.

Jackie enjoyed a full and very healthy lifestyle and died peacefully with John, Giles and Huw at her bedside, on 2 February 2025. On 16 February more than 100 people attended a celebration of her life where there was much laughter and talk of Jackie as a wonderful person, wife and mother.

Caron Marlis Little (1975)

1958 – 27 October 2024

Caron Marlis Little was the beloved partner of Brett, mother of Max and Alex, grandmother of Odysseus, Leo, Lani and Malu, daughter of Winn. Mother-in-law of Praew and Hikari. She passed away peacefully at home with family on 27 October 2024.

June Lloyd (Derry, 1946)

1 June 1928 – 7 October 2024.

June passed away peacefully on 7 October 2024 aged 96. She was much loved and adored by all her family, Kim, Tony, Peter and Jen.

Phyllis Hilary Gibson (Hodgson, 1945)

18 July 1928 – 24 November 2024

Phyllis Gibson came from a farming background in Dalwallinu and boarded at St Hilda’s.  She was amongst those boarders who were moved to Bencubbin in 1942 during the War.

1945 Connie Saunders, Phyl Hodgson and Marnie Kelso relaxing in the Prefects’ Study.

After graduation in 1945 Phyllis was accepted into nursing training, where she excelled and made lifelong friends.  Having achieved a registered nurse status she returned to the farm in Dalwallinu to care for her mother who was terminally ill and to assist with the farm.

1992 50th Bencubbin Reunion. Back L-R: Ann Nicholas (Troup), Zoe Whitehead (Kelly), Rosemary Gill (Cullen), Frances Moran (Eagleton), Margaret Chambers (Miss Gorie). Middle L-R: Vivienne Haynes (Duce), Dorritt Foster (Tresidder), Edith Campbell (Ball), Nancy House (Richardson), Elizabeth Goode, Phyllis Gibson (Hodgson), Seated: Miss Ellershaw, Miss Seacombe.

Whilst there, she became aware of David Gibson, who was share farming with a friend. They eventually married and had three children; Michael, Marian (Gibson , 1974) and Richard.  David was a Christ Church Old Boy, so the three children were schooled at their parents’ old schools.

Phyllis and David left Dalwallinu in 1956, moving into dairy farming in the South West before David eventually followed a lifelong dream to learn to become a pilot.  Phyllis supported him by returning to nursing, but once David had qualified as a commercial pilot, Phyllis also changed careers and became a grower of cut flowers for the commercial market.

In later years they lived in Canning Vale, where they enjoyed watching their four grandchildren grow up and then many more step grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Phyllis Hilary Gibson (Hodgson) passed away on 24 November 2024.  She was a very strong role model and influencer all her life and remained stoic to the end, in spite of the illness which took her life at 96 years old.

Leaving a gift in your Will is a simple way to make a lasting impact.

As someone who has committed to making a bequest, you are acknowledged as a Custodian of St Hilda’s and become a member of the Offer Society. Bequests of any size are welcomed and appreciated.

If you’d like to join other Custodians in making a bequest, please contact the School Development team at philanthropy@sthildas.wa.edu.au or by phone on 08 9285 4229. You may hear from us inviting you to learn more.  We thank you for taking our call.

Niamh Fitzpatrick, Stewardship Manager

On Friday 14 March the IGSSA schools met at the HBF Stadium to battle out the highly competitive swimming trials.

The St Hilda’s IGSSA swim team dominated the evening and made history with one of the extraordinary displays of athleticism. For the third consecutive year, the Saints secured each year level pennant and the overall Champion School, making it five in a row! 

Notable mentions: 

• There were 124 personal bests (PBs) posted from 136 events (including relay legs). 

• Several students selflessly swam events outside their “pet” event to strengthen our overall team position.  

Three of our coaches are alumni, demonstrating their ongoing commitment and passion for St Hilda’s beyond their school years. 

• The team set four new records: 

• Eloise Sheldrick (Year 10) - 50m Freestyle: 26.64  

This time not only set a record but would have won both the Year 11 and Year 12 races. 

• Lucy Porter (Year 12) – 50m Breaststroke: 32.93. 

• Year 9 Medley Relay – Bronte Campbell, Emma Lam, Zara Callo & Georgie Curnow: 2:07.64. 

• Year 12 Medley Relay - Piper Lloyd, Lucy Porter, Tamzyn Laverack, Maddie Bogust: 2:05.41. 

Our team was strongly led by staff Clare Hart and Kobie McGurk, with support throughout the season from: 

Jack Swainson (Lead Swim Coach), Kai Els, Lexi Smith (2021), Liberty Sheldrick (2024), Louise Barton (2024)

A huge congratulations to the team on a phenomenal season. 

International Women’s Day Lunch for Engineering Australia hosted by OS Judith Uren (1973)

Year 9 students with Judith Uren (1973) and Capt Mona Shinda and Renee Sheridan (Science Teacher

On Tuesday 4 March nine Year 9 students and a member of staff attended the International Women’s Day Engineering lunch at Optus Stadium.

The event is open to people in the engineering industry and our students were able to attend for the second year running thanks to the generosity of Old Scholar, Judith Uren (1973).  Judith was St Hilda’s first engineering student and is still working in the industry whilst also being a hands-on grandmother.

The Year 9 students were truly inspired by the keynote speaker, Captain Mona Shindy (CSC), who faced many challenges in her life. She was born in Egypt and later became the first Muslim woman to wear the uniform of a senior officer in the Australian Navy as a decorated engineer, strategic advisor and advocate for change.

With degree qualifications in Engineering, Commerce (Advanced Major in Organisation and ManagementStudies) and Arts (Masters in Politics and Policy), Mona has been a trailblazer in male dominated environments, consistently delivering outstanding organisational outcomes.

To read more about Captain Mona Shindy, click here.

Our thanks to Judith for facilitating this inspiring event.

Lizzie Warburton, Alumni Coordinator

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