Dear Old Scholars

As I sit reflecting on the last three years as the OSA GHS President, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the OSA and the School community for the support, time, and friendship I have received. The St Hilda's OSA is in a wonderful, thriving and ever-growing space.

Many thanks to Fiona Johnston and her team for all their support over the past three years. The OSA is extremely appreciative of all the assistance given by Kellie Hasluck and the School Development team, especially Lizzie Warburton, and earlier in my role, Sascha Hill, for all their work, personal support and friendship as the Alumni Coordinator.

A very warm welcome from our Old Scholars' community to Father Philip Schonken and his wife Tracey. We are so excited for him to begin his chaplaincy.

So many of our much-loved events continue to grow and thrive thanks to the OSA Committee and all their work that goes on quietly behind the scenes.  We look forward to seeing many Old Scholars at our film fundraiser, featuring the film ‘Runt’, as well as our much-loved OSA Art Exhibition. If you are able to assist over the Art Exhibition weekend, please sign up as a volunteer via the link later in Connections.

Our AGM is on at 6:00pm Tuesday 8 October 2024, in the Heritage Centre,  all OSA members are welcome to attend.

Warmest wishes for a wonderful rest of 2024.

Jane Barker (1986)
President of the GHS & St Hilda's Old Scholars Association

We look forward to welcoming as many Old Scholars as possible to these events throughout the year. OSA Networking Events will be published nearer the time.

OSA PIN PRESENTATION ASSEMBLY
Friday 20 September
7.30am:  8.15am (Breakfast)

Venue:    The Gallery, Heritage Centre
8.25am:  9.30am (Assembly)
Venue:    JSPAC

OSA FUNDRAISER Showing of Craig Sylvie's new WA movie "Runt"
Sunday 6 October
Time:  9.30am Morning Tea

Movie starts at 10.30am

Venue: Windsor Cinema, 92 Stirling Highway, Nedlands

OSA AGM
Tuesday 8 October
Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Venue: Heritage Centre, St Hilda's Bay View Campus

OSA ART EXHIBITION

Thursday 24 October
Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm (Opening Night)

Exhibition Open Times
Friday 25 October 3pm - 8pm

Saturday 26 October - Sunday 27 October
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm (Exhibition)
Venue: JSPAC Foyer

OSA COUNTRY LUNCH - TBA

OSA GOLF SOCIAL DAY
Friday 8 November
Time: 8.30am - 2.00pm
Venue: Mosman Park Golf Club

OSA XMAS DRINKS
Monday 25 November
Time: 5.00pm - 7.00pm
Venue: Heritage Centre Veranda, St Hilda's Bay View Campus

OSA CROCHET CLUB T3
2nd Wednesday of each month term-time

Time: 12.00pm - 2.00pm

Venue: Old Scholars Sitting Room, Heritage Centre

Beginners are most welcome.
Enquiries to Treffina Dowland 0413 948 255

The GHS & St Hilda's OSA present the family movie 'Runt' which is an adaptation of Craig Silvey's gorgeous book by the same name and follows eleven year-old Annie and Runt, her stray dog, as they attempt to win the Agility Course Championship at the Krumpets Dog Show in London, in order to save their family's farm from drought and misery.

This will be a wonderful movie to bring the whole family to. The OSA is raising money for scholarships and other activities to support the school.

Please join us on

Date: Sunday 6 October

Times: Morning Tea from 9.30am

Movie starts at 10.30am

Venue:  Windsor Cinema

98 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, WA 6009

Adults: $35

Children (under 18) $25

(Prices include morning tea)

We warmly invite you to join us for the Annual General Meeting on 8 October in the Heritage Centre, followed by drinks and nibbles.

As well as voting in our new committee, we will review the year that has been and share our exciting plans for 2025. We also welcome new members to the OSA Committee in a formal or in a co-opted status, and any offers of support throughout the year.

If you would like to attend please let Lizzie know for catering purposes at oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au .

That time of the year is rapidly approaching and we’re on the hunt for St Hilda’s players for this year’s Combined Independent Girls' Schools (CIGS) Golf Day.  Jan Grimoldby (1970) is organising this event again for 2024 and would love to welcome some of our talented younger old scholar golf players to this year's CIGS Golf Day.

This will be a partner game at the beautiful Kwinana Golf Club, a quick hop, step and jump down the freeway or the Coast Road.  The details are as follows:

Date:        Monday 21 October 2024

Time:        8.30am shotgun start

Location:  Kwinana Golf Club https://www.kwinanagolfclub.com.au/cms/club/about-us/

Cost:          $85 including lunch

Right:  Photo of the 2023 CIGS St Hilda's Team

If you are interested in playing, please let Jan know as soon as possible and if you have a playing partner, send those details too.

For those of you who played last year, Jan has all your information (golf link #, mobile number, graduating year and food intolerances).  If you didn’t play last year, then please include those details (see below):

And if you have a playing partner lined up, let Jan know that too.

Information that Jan requires:

Name, golf link no, mobile, email, graduating year, food intolerances, golf cart required?

Once Jan has assembled the team, she will send you the payment details.  Please note that Jan's email address has changed to a gmail account. If you have my old iinet address, please delete it…

jangrimoldby@gmail.com

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Jan Grimoldby (1970)

Mob: 0411744270

Please join us on the Opening Night of the 2024 OSA Art Exhibition for a wonderful evening celebrating the artists and the unveiling of their works. This extraordinary event extends over three levels of the stunning Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre and this year showcases new works from 29 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.

Date: THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER
Time:    6.00pm - 8.00pm
Where:  St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls, The Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre

Tickets are $60pp and include beautiful Vasse Felix wines and canapés.

Weekend Opening Hours

The exhibition is open to the public all weekend.

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER  3.00pm-8.00pm

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER  10.00am-4.00pm

SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER  10.00am-3.00pm

Exhibiting artists include:

Belinda Jeanes, Chrissie Hogan, Cy Rocchi, David Green, Ella Holme, Emilie Maguin, Emma Dodds,

Emma Lipscombe, Francesca Gnagnarella, Gail Dell, Hana Fry, Jacqui Armstrong, Jasmine Raisbeck,

Jen Mellor, Jina Lee, Kathryn Haug, Kristie Rowe, Laura Newbury, Lindy Hall, Melissa Boughey,

Mikaela Castledine, Narelle Higson, Pippin Drysdale, Rebecca Koerting, Roslyn Hamdorf, Simon Greetham,

Tania Spencer (Artist in Residence), Teresa Fernandez and Waldemar Kolbusz.

We are proud to have three old scholars exhibiting: Pippin Drysdale (Carew-Reid, 1961), Cy Rocchi (1986) and Emma Lipscombe (Maxwell, 1992).

Artist in Residence

Visit over the weekend to see our Artist in Residence, Tania Spencer, in action as she creates one of her stunning wire sculptures. Tania has recently participated in the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial with her highly regarded ‘Ghosts of the Wheatbelt’ exhibition. She was also a much loved exhibitor in this year’s ’ Sculptures by the Sea’ Cottesloe event.

Bay Café

Whilst visiting the exhibition over the weekend pop into our new 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.

Follow us on Instagram: @sthildas_osaart

VOLUNTEERS WANTED TO HELP AT THE ART EXHIBITION

This event is a highlight of the OSA Calendar and a key fundraising event but it is also a great opportunity to view original and affordable art, and to catch up with your friends in the stunning setting of the JSPAC.  If you have a few hours to spare from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 October, please sign up to one of the many roles that listed on the sign up sheet below.    Many hands will make light work and it is great fun.

It was wonderful to welcome back 150 old scholars to St Hilda's in August.

The event was more special than we realised with the very sad news that Jennifer Kempton (Ladyman, 1959) passed away a few days later.  Jenifer will be greatly missed by her school friends and family.

Congratulations to Jill Murdoch (Hatfield, 1957) on winning the raffle (left). Thank you to everyone for buying tickets enthusiastically and supporting the OSA Scholarships.  Over $2,000 was raised.

Many thanks to the wonderful volunteers of old scholars who both set up the Hall the day before, organised the raffles, flowers and attended to the visitors serving teas and coffees.

We are so fortunate to have wonderful catering staff who prepared the sandwiches and kept the coffee flowing (over 400 cups of coffee, 600 sandwiches).  Thank you also to the Year 11 Home Economics students who made the traditional lemon and chocolate slices.

Left: We also wanted to acknowledge some of the former members of the OSA Committee who have steered the Association and run events and fundraised over many years.  Now they are free to sit back and relax, except for Jill Binning (Mansell, 1960) (front row - right side) who is still the longest serving OSA Committee Member having been the President in 1969-1971 and again in 1985.

Right:  Jane Barker (1986, OSA President and Yolande Dick (1986) OSA Vice President.

The years spanned from 1942 (Vivienne Jackson (Johnston) to the Class of 1971 (Judith Lauri). The Class of 1957 were the largest table with 14 old scholars present, and that was nearly matched by the Class of 156 with 13 old scholars present.

Susan Merrit (Nicholson, 1956) and Ann Arndt (Dungey, 1956)

Class of 1964

Anne Szczecinski (Cooper, 1962) & Jennifer Campbell (Levinson, 1963)

Special thanks also to Sandra Naude, the Guardian of St Hilda's Legacy, who put together the slide show of photographs.

As many of you will know, Sandra has worked at St Hilda's since 1982 and she now manages the archives and displays in the Heritage Centre.  Sandra was thrilled that so many of the morning tea visitors went over to the Heritage Centre afterwards.  You are warmly invited to visit again, to peruse the many displays, open drawers and look through archives when you have a little more time.  If you would like to revisit the Heritage Centre either on your own or in a group, just drop Sandra a line on sandra.naude@sthildsa.wa.edu.au.

Class of 1962

Class of 1963

Class of 1960

Thank you to everyone both organisers and visitors, all of you have contributed to the wonderful community and traditions of the OSA which continue today.

Our thanks to Lauren Cramb (2002) for being a guest speaker at the G irls Lifting Girls Series on Friday 2 August.  Students and parents attended the talk in the Junior School Cortile to hear Lauren's inspiring story as to how she travelled the world as a young graduate, and eventually returned to Perth with the inspiration to establish the Bike Bar in Claremont.

On leaving St Hilda's Lauren went to UWA to study Economics, where she majored in money, banking and management.  Having graduated from university her first job was with the NAB but after 12 uninspiring months there, she packed her backpack and jumped on a plane, travelling to the Amazon where she lived with a tribe in remote Ecuador.  It was here that she was inspired, and her life changed direction forever.

Lauren returned home to study community development and finally found something she was passionate about.  Her first job was at Curtain University running programs in remote indigenous communities and from there she landed her dream job starting the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) in WA.

With that experience under her belt, Lauren then moved to New York, USA, to work for a start-up in Manhattan as the Head Collaborator.  This eventually led to her moving back home to Perth where, drawing on her experience and inspiration from her travels and working in community development, she founded the Bike Bar in Claremont.  She now owns two studios, manages over 20 staff and has created an wonderful community that she is proud to call family.

On Saturday 7 September the Class of 1994 gathered for their 30 year reunion which started with fourteen old scholars returning to School to enjoying a drink in the Heritage Centre and a tour, before moving onto the Claremont Hotel where they joined another fifty of the year, and coincided the event with the CCGS 30th Reunion.

We were really pleased to welcome old scholars back to revisit old haunts and to show the new school buildings and facilities; the Swimming Pool area, PAC, ESSTEAM and Heritage Centre.  One of the Class of 1994 had returned from London especially for the reunion, and three were visiting from Sydney.

It was was great to welcome you all back.

Date:

Time:

Venue:

Time:

Venue:

Contact:

Saturday 26 October 2024

3.30pm - Tour of the School

St Hilda's, Bay View Campus, Heritage Centre

5.00pm Drinks & Reunion

Mosman Park Bowling Club

Jacqueline Rowell and Amy McKerracher

Date:

Time:

Time:

Venue:

To Register:

Friday 20 September 2024

4.30pm Drinks at the Heritage Centre, St Hilda's Bay View Campus

6.00pm Drinks & Reunion

Claremont Hotel

www.trybooking.com/CSCVY

Email Sascha Hill

Email Fiona Webster

Please update your contact details on the link below:

Date:

Times:

19 October 2024

10.30am Morning Tea in the Heritage Centre

11.00am  Service in the Whitby Chapel

11.30am  Class Photo

11.45am  Tour of School

12.30pm  Lunch in the Heritage Centre

Valerie Lapinski (James) and Cynda Van Der Stryf (Joel)

Date:
Time:

Venue:

Thursday 7 November

10.00am Morning Tea in Heritage Centre, Bay View Campus

Lunch at Mosman Park Golf Club - Details to be confirmed.

Gill Johnston (Forbes)

1949 Rottnest Island. Suzette Gawler, Georgie McKenzie and Kath Meyer.

1955 Rottnest, August 26. Evangeline Ang, Robin Paterson, Susan Nicholson and Chrys Lee.

1955 Rottnest Island. Helen Griffiths, Elizabeth Gillespie, Davilia O'Connor, Carolyn O'Connor.

1956 Girl Guide camp at Rockingham.

1956 Girl Guide camp at Rockingham.

1956 Girl Guide camp at Rockingham.

1964 Point Peron. Donated by Gillian Johnston (Forbes, 1964).

1963 Point Peron Camp. 2-5 August, Gill Forbes, Les ?, Di Freeman, Beth, ??.

1987 Year 11 Geography Field Day at Point Peron.

1971 Thoroughly worn out and bedraggled after a weekend at camp - Upper VI Camp.

1987 Years 11 & 12 Art Camp at Nanga. Back L-R: Sophie Rosser, Bridget Walsh, Janelle Swinney, Suzanne Wyllie, Claire Shallcross, Emma Davies, Roslyn Meney, Dimity Hector, Penny Meecham, Tessa Ipp. Front L-R: Emily Cunningham, Emma Habermann, Anne MacDermott, Arianne Smalley, Georgie Gardiner, Josie Lee.

We are always grateful to know more about these photographs so please contact us if you can help fill in the names of others or memories.

Recent Donations to the Heritage Centre

Gill Johnston (Forbes, 1964): 1963 De Grey House Diary; photographs

Sue Crocker: Photographs

If you wish to help, please do pop into the Heritage Centre for coffee and help identify photographs.

My email Sandra.naude@sthildas.wa.edu.au

Many thanks to all our contributors.

Sandra Naude

The Guardian of St Hilda's Legacy

Lyn Purser (Cornish) was a dedicated Sports Mistress and Physical Education teacher at St Hilda’s in the 1950s. Miss Cornish, as she was known back then, taught Physical Education and was a keen Fencing and Athletics coach. There are many fond mentions of Miss Cornish in the 1955 Chronicle and the high regard that students held for her.

Lyn initially left St Hilda’s to travel to Europe and work in London. She later returned to the school for a year before marrying David Purser, a sheep farmer from Mogumber. They had three children, and their daughter Romola was named after Old Scholar and acclaimed artist Romola Clifton (1952), whom Lyn taught.

Left: Lyn in 1955 at Rottnest

Lyn was also a very generous donor, often giving to Annual Giving campaigns and contributed to the refurbishment of the Heritage Centre.

One of Lyn’s final acts of kindness was a generous donation to St Hilda’s. The School is indebted to past staff like Lyn, who give not only of their time, but leave a tangible legacy to future generations.

We were so very fortunate that Jenny enjoyed one of her last days amongst her school friends at the OSA 70+ Morning tea.  Jenny returned to St Hilda's one last time on Wednesday 4 September where she was farewelled by her friends and family in the Whitby Chapel.

Jenny passed peacefully away in Quindalup on Saturday 17 August.  She was the loved wife of Robin, to whom she had been married for 61 years, a cherished mother to Stuart, Cindy and Linden, and mother-in-law of Peter, Kat, Kait, Jeff and devoted granny to Tim, Mac, Katie, Susie, Carlo, Mollie, Tilly and Braiden.

Jenny had known her husband when he was a student at Scotch.  When he became a jackaroo in the Kimberly, Jenny would travel up to see him on holidays, it was a romance starting in their teens. A beautiful story.

1958 House Prefects. Back L-R: N Chomley, J Rose, J O'Halloran, J Rutter.

Front L-R: J Ladyman, J Easton, M Dunnett, E Smyth

Jenny was a boarder St Hilda's where she was a great hockey, tennis and softball player, appearing in the first teams for each.  It was reported in the 1959 Chronical by the hockey coach that

" Jenny Ladyman and Sandra Patterson were always reliable, untiring and intelligent in their approach.  Helen and Lyn proved to be very good combination by the end of the season .... and played with determination and often spectacularly" .

Jenny's daughters Cindy Kempton (1986) and Linden Regina (1992) are also Old Scholars, and her grand daughters Mollie and Tilly are current students at St Hilda's.

1992 Year 12 Induction. Linden Kempton with her mother Jennifer Kempton (Ladyman, 1959)

Jenny with her Class of 1959 attending the OSA 70+ Morning Tea on 14 August 2024.

Judith Clark (Lamb, 1948) passed away on 11 May 2024 aged 93, she is remembered for being a very talented sportswoman, a devoted mother to Janet, Ian and Susan and a loving grandmother, and a great grandmother.

Judith arrived at St Hilda's on the 13 February 1939.  Her father A.C.L. Lamb was a share broker who was also the Chairman of the Perth Stock Exchange for 20 years.

Whilst at School Judith was an outstanding athlete particularly on the tennis court, she was in the "A" team tennis in 1946, 1947 and 1948.

Judith was the captain of the tennis team when they won the Slazenger Cup in 1947, and she was also on the team that won the Wansborough Shield for St Hilda's in 1946 and 1947.

Photo:  1946 "A" Tennis Team. L-R Sue Gawler, J Orr, J Lamb and A Mackie

Judith was also in the Hockey "A" team in 1948.

The hockey sports coach wrote: " J. Lamb (LH) excellent drive, tackles well, could back up forwards more and be quicker in doubling back to defend."

Judith was also a School Prefect and the Sports Captain for Gascoyne in 1948.

Judith adored her time at St Hilda's and her daughters, Janet Wilderspin (Clark, 1973) and Susan Moriarty (Clark, 1978), were also students at St Hilda's.

If you have any questions, stories or updates, or want to send news of Old Scholars: deaths, weddings and newborns, please contact:

Alumni Coordinator
oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au
T: 9285 4228

Father Philip Schonken has joined St Hilda’s as our new full time Chaplain arriving from Gordonstoun School in Scotland. Please do not get a shock when you hear him speak, as he was born and raised in South Africa, but he has spent the last 24 years in the UK.

Father Philip trained for ministry with the Scottish Episcopal Church (Anglican) and obtained his BA (Theology) from the University of Durham.  Philip is also a teacher, having taught at various independent schools in the UK and in South Africa.  He is married to Tracey, who will be arriving in Perth and joining him at the Bay View Campus at the end of October, with and their black Labrador, Suzie, (via a month in quarantine in Melbourne).  Philip and Tracey also have two children; Benjamin (22) and Anna (19) who will remain in the UK to complete their university studies during term time.

While serving as Chaplain at St Hilda’s Fr Philip hopes to connect with the community through services, events, reunions, gatherings and informal chats.  There will be opportunities for Old Scholars, parents and students to get involved in the life of the chapel from attending community services, providing flowers for the chapel, helping with sacristy duties and praying for the school, students and staff.  Fr Philip and Tracey will both be teaching at St Hilda’s across all the campuses.

If you would like to contact Father Philip for any reason, please drop him a line on chaplain@sthildas.wa.edu.au .

Please see below our Year 12 Student Leadership Group for 2025.

Our congratulations to all these students who have been voted into positions by their peers and by staff.  Those students who are the daughters of old scholars have been asterisked.

Head Girl - Angelie Lakshmi Narayan

Deputy Head Girl - Stella Ebert*

Academic Prefect - Hannah Warren

Arts Prefect - Freya Campbell

Drama Prefect - Ivy O’Brien*

Head Boarder - Annie Buckman

Music Prefect - Hamie Lyu

Service Prefect - Sophie Boxshall*

Spirit Prefect - Claudia McIntosh*

Sports Prefect - Grace Powell

Blackwood House Prefect - Chloe Bull

De Grey House Prefect - Sofia Samie

Fitzroy House Prefect - Stella Hauff

Gascoyne House Prefect - Alexandra Fleming

Blackwood House Officials

Charli Jones, Lucy George*, Meg Lamond*, Mimi Barnaba, Stella Armstrong

De Grey House Officials

Annabel Hurst, Eva Smith*, Joyan Zho, Maddie Bogust, Poppy Aristei

Fitzroy House Officials

Alicia Chen, Alya Ahmad Khalif*, Ava Edwards*, Charlotte Wee, Olivia Murray*

Gascoyne House Officials

Anna Colgan, Chloe Shaw*, Eve Brodie-Hall, Lykke Honnens, Pippa Hills

Deputy Head Boarder Tahnee Ransfield

Boarding Officials

Heidi Seymour*, India Quartermaine, Lucia Smith, Stella Bagley*

If you are an Old Scholar looking for some work, part-time, voluntary or paid, please contact oldscholars@sthildas.wa.edu.au .  One current job opportunity at the School:

1.  Junior School Education Assistant.

2.  Junior School Visual Arts Teacher (Semester 1, 2025).

3.  Health and Physical Education Teacher (Semester 1, 2025).

To keep abreast of all job opportunities, please visit the website here or scan the QR code.

As many of you will remember the Year 10 students begin their Work Experience Programs on Monday 20 November until Friday 24 November.

We are urgently looking for placement positions for students.  If you feel that you could offer a Year 10 student some experience in your place of work, then please email Craig Doyle, Head of Careers .

And finally, we are striving to create a valuable network of Old Scholars through LinkedIn . If you have not already done so, we would appreciate you adding St Hilda's as your place of education and join the Alumni section to extend our Old Scholar community.

To read previous editions of the OSA Connections Newsletters click here . Or forward to anyone who would like to receive a copy.