Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2015

/ 13

OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION

AUTHOR Mrs Janine Schmidt AM

(Hogg, 1964) OGA President

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION (OGA) WAS HELD IN MARCH at which two long-serving members stepped down from their roles. Sue Meeking served as Treasurer for sixteen years and has been the public face of the OGA. Her knowledge and hard work have ensured the smooth flow of the work of the Association. Sue has kept a tight rein on expenditure and her vitally important and effective personal touch dealt with many individual enquiries and concerns. After twenty-three years, Dorothy Bourguignon relinquished the role of Secretary. She has faithfully kept the minutes and recorded the Association’s activities with enormous dedication and will continue as a member of the OGA Committee. A huge thank you goes to both Sue and Dorothy for their commitment and diligence. We are delighted to announce the members of the 2015 Committee elected at the AGM: Janine Schmidt (Hogg, 1964) as President, Jenny Gray (Vallis, 1969) as Vice President, Leigh Fielding (Gow, 1984) as Secretary, Ann Stubbs (Westaway, 1982) as Treasurer and Dorothy Bourguignon (Scotney, 1958), Ann Caston (Pressland, 1958), Pauline Harvey-Short (Harvey, 1971), Sue Jordan (Squire, 1967), Sylvia Pegg (Gaulton, 1965), Salliann Powell (Johnson, 1986), Donna Scott-Young (Horton, 1985), Grainia Schmelzer (King, 1981), Kirsten Whip (Macallister, 1981) and Diana Wood (Thacker, 1975). The annual event Everything Old is New Again was held in the new Research and Learning Centre in March. The evening provided an excellent opportunity for current mothers at the School who are also old girls to reconnect, reminisce and meet other old girls with common interests. Eight Year 11 girls assisted and wore ‘muck-up’ uniforms suitably amended with enormous creativity and imagination.

Old girls Maria Clark (Tambakis, 1987), Lisa Sugg (Wood, 1985), Danielle Murdoch (Pherous, 1989) and Anastasia Samios (Anastas, 1989) celebrating at the Everything Old is New Again event.

Chair of the Board of Trustees Ms Elizabeth Jameson and OGA President Mrs Janine Schmidt AM thank OGA members Dorothy Bourguignon and Sue Meeking for their service.

The keynote speaker was current parent and old girl Jessica Bindon (Axelsen, 1983). She talked about the challenging role of parenting girls — nurturing, loving, guiding, driving and feeding them, listening to them, being complained to and about, and accepting them as they are. While many things are changing, many remain the same. The School continues to provide the best in girls’ education — cutting-edge facilities, a nurturing environment, and a culture that encourages personal involvement, giving to the community, following traditions and creating new ones. Old girls have their memories of the School; their daughters will make their own with fresh insights and experiences.

Alaya McPherson (11R), Eloise Owens (11O), Ciaran Greig (11B), Sally Nicklin (11W), Rose Gunn Burr (11M), Alexandra Wilson (11H), Senjuti Maitra (11M) and Erica Schmelzer (11E) wearing old girl muck up uniforms.

AUTUMN ISSUE / 2015