MyallaOfficial Journal of the Old Girls’ Association

November 2017

Message froM the editor

The Myalla has been the link between old and new, past and present, and now my aim as Editor is to give it a modern and agile focus – what do our Old Girls want to hear? What do they wish they knew or did or saw when they were PC graduates? What would they do differently now? And for the parents and grandparents amongst us, what knowledge and wisdom do we wish to impart to our own daughters as a by-product of our experience at PC?

Let this be an open invitation. We want you to engage with us in our endeavour to speak openly about ‘hot topics’ that touch each and every one of us as Old Girls of this exceptional school. We want to add value to your lives by perhaps showcasing Old Girls who have a story to share – or a view to air – that might resonate with you also. We are, after all, a community and like any social group or professional network, it takes commitment and nurturing to gain the ultimate collegiate benefits.

Women need to support other women. Life has its ups and downs

but from experience relationships grow stronger. We might not see each other that often, but amongst my very own PC alumni, there is a silent understanding that ‘we are there’. As the OGA, we want to encourage this sisterhood. We need to identify the tools and tactics available to all women. What can we do to ensure we support each other?

We need to recognise our value. The measure of success is a heavily debated topic. For the CEOs of global organisations amongst us, we might feel we have reached the pinnacle of (corporate) success. For those of us with multiple children, tending to their daily home and school needs whilst keeping them fed, clothed and socialised, we too might credit ourselves with (domestic) success. Neither scenario is more successful than the other. It is up to us to celebrate the milestones and the resilience in our peers and those who are yet to follow in our footsteps. We want the Myalla to be a vehicle for open dialogue between generations to foster a sense of community and free console for us all.

I want to give back to a school that framed my critical years from the age of five through to 17 – after all, it has been the largest proportion of my life in one place! I have three beautiful children and whilst PC taught me that I can do anything because I am a remarkable woman, I didn’t really have a true concept of how parenting is the hardest gig in the world particularly when paired with a professional career… How women can support other women is a topic for discussion and we invite you to comment on your views with respect to women in leadership and business via our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

For now, sit back, relax and enjoy turning the pages to follow.

Charissa xo

Submit Your News and Photos

If you have something to share for inclusion in our May 2018 issue, please email myalla@pc.wa.edu.au or call Director of Development, Natalie Swannell, on 9471 2124. Deadline for submission is Wednesday 28 February 2018.

Charissa Mitsikas-Beasley

oga MeMbership

• Eligibility to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting

• Become an OGA committee member and join sub-committees

• Life time subscription to the Myalla magazine, published twice a year

• Subscription to The PC Wire e-newsletter, published three times a year

• Subscription to the Heritage magazine, Perth College’s biannual magazine

• Join the Perth College Old Girls’ Association LinkedIn group

• Like the Perth College Facebook page

• Follow the Perth College Instagram

• Copies of your school records

Established in 1913, the Old Girls’ Association’s (OGA) purpose is to engage Old Girls with their school after graduation and foster a sense of community.

Every student who has ever attended Perth College* (regardless of whether you left in Year 5, Year 10 or Year 12) is eligible to join the OGA. In fact, from 2014 you are automatically a member from the time you enrolled as a student.

Your OGA membership gives you:

CoMMittee involveMent

publiCations and soCial Media

• Class Reunions

• Invitations to OGA events

• Chapel available for weddings, baptisms and funerals (conditions apply)

• Myalla House available to hire for events

events

• Eligibility for the Old Girls’ Association Sisters’ Memorial Bursary for your daughters and granddaughters

sCholarships

• Opportunities to be a mentor and access to mentoring from fellow Old Girls

Mentoring

The OGA is an active and vibrant community that supports its members and we encourage you to get involved and make the most of your membership.

*Refer to our website for the OGA Constitution and Membership terms.

The OGA is onlineConnect with the Old Girls’ Association through your favourite social media. Send information and updates, keep up-to-date with events and news, like photos and share articles and connect with your school.

What’s been happening?

2017 Corporate Breakfast A diverse group of Old Girls and current Year 11 students recently attended the OGA Corporate Breakfast complete with penthouse views at The Western Australian Club. Our guest speaker, Wendy (Hine) Michetti, attended Perth College from Years 4 to 12 and graduated in 1989. Wendy is the owner of Museo, Perth’s premier day spa, skin clinic and hair salon (conveniently located just down from Perth College in Mount Lawley). With her ‘industry shaker’ personality in tow, Wendy inspired us with talk about challenges in the world of small business, imparting the following key advice to both the students and Old Girls in the room: “your school years do not define who you are in regards to your capacity to achieve”.Wendy’s creative and artistic nature has seen her traverse study at WAAPA through to beauty therapy and her prized qualification in Shiatsu massage. Her holistic approach to life has given Wendy the agility to adjust with the times and to naturally want to “mentor” her own employees – and to be a role model for her two daughters

(both of whom are fortunate to attend Perth College). Through her work at Museo, her position as a Director on the Board of Hair & Beauty Australia, and her leading role in the charity Families Building Bold Futures, Wendy certainly fits the mould of remarkable women that Perth College is so proud to have as part of our OGA.Many thanks also to Belinda Varischetti (1987 Leaver) for offering to MC the event and equally share her experience as an Old Girl, an ABC radio presenter and a mother.Bursary Lunch At the end of July our five current Old Girls’ Association Sisters’ Memorial Bursary recipients joined OGA committee members for lunch at Myalla House. The afternoon was enjoyed so much, the girls did not leave until well after 3.00 pm (I hope their teachers did not mind!).NAIDOC DinnerPerth College held its annual NAIDOC Dinner in July. The MC for the evening was 1992 Leaver Rishelle Hume. The evening’s guest speaker was Tori Oakley (2010 Leaver).

Rishelle (who many would remember from the 2016 Corporate Breakfast) was awarded the 2016 Western Australian of the Year Award – Aboriginal Category. Tori recently graduated from WAAPA, with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Voice, and is the first Aboriginal person to do so. Rishelle and Tori are proud Aboriginal women who are outstanding role models for Perth College girls.Off to OxfordAfter taking a year out and spending six months doing marine conservation in Fiji and becoming a certified dive master, Laura Bishop (2014 Leaver) has been accepted into Oxford University, United Kingdom, to study Earth Science. She will be starting in October 2017. 2017 ReunionsOver 200 Old Girls have returned to PC so far this year to attend their class reunions or get-togethers. This included the Vintage, 60, 50, 40, five an 18-month Reunions, and two 1958 Leavers events. Peruse the photos on the following page.

Venues for Hire

Perth College has two venues for Old Girls to hire. For weddings, baptisms or a funeral consider the Chapel of St Michael and All Angels. If you require a function space for your next event, the newly refurbished Myalla House has a fully-equipped kitchen and a spacious room and courtyard.

Contact Events Co-ordinator, Meghan Franzinelli, on 9471 2119 or email meghan.franzinelli@pc.wa.edu.au.

Bursary Lunch - Front Row L-R: Isabel (Year 11), Jasmine (Year 10) and Kalicia (Year 7) Back Row L-R: Georgia (Year 12), Linda (Meyers) Hyland, Bev (Roche) Butters, Beverley (Gordon) Ireland, Dot (Sommerville) Stewart and Mia (Year 8)

Corporate Breakfast - Wendy (Hine) Michetti

Front Row L-R: Christine (Hoar) Tognolini, Leith Tegart, June (Hayles) Smith, Felicity(Robotham) Bailey, Macca (Harvey) Goyder, Charmian (Robinson) Brigden, Mary Chape, Marie (Briggs) Cook and Constance (Hayward) Chapman Second Row L-R: Jennifer Rigg, Annette (Cambridge) Anderson, June Walker, Lynley (Birt) Morris, Jennifer (Colombo) Grieve, Prue (Adamson) Frame, Elise (Knott) Stratford, Lyn Yelverton, Athene (Truman) Baugh, Penny (Archer) Bonifant Back Row L-R: Elizabeth (Cousins) Eastman, Gaye (Ellis) Collins, Susan (Mazza) Kappel, Sally (Murray) Connelly, Robyn (Grey) Hancock, Pamella Toster, Veronica (Lee) Trenorden, Dorothy (Henshilwood) Altmann, Sandra (Moir) Bailey

Front Row L-R: Ann (Partridge) Lefroy, Suzanne (Groat) Hayes, Gay (Pallister) Goonewardene and Sarah ReynoldsSecond Row L-R: Robin (Von Paleske) Barrow, Elizabeth (Park) Marsh, Cynda Johnston, Leonie (Growden) James and Alison (Heaton) StewartBack Row L-R: Susanne Kimpton, Roslyn (Terry) Brennan, Annette Wilson, Helen Taylor, Julia Hoare, Michelle (Gale) Bruining

Jordee Koblenz, Lana Murphy, Isabella Jackson, Eloise Avison and Ilse Sibma Penelope Teudt, Emma Thorne and Kathryn Harding

Front Row L-R: Deborah (Tomlinson) Lennon, Lesley (Dunstan) Keen, Wendy (Groat) Scudder, Susan (Stinton) Lawrence and Leta (Rogers) LiwszycSecond Row L-R: Christine (Keay) Carter, Bev (Roche) Butters, Merrilyn (Bodinner) Black, Karen (Klem) Bessell-Browne and Jillian (Langford) GreenThird Row L-R: Rosslyn (Mattiske) Gray, Judith (McLean) Page, Rosie (Viveash) Thunder, Caroline (Johnson) Pembroke, Joy (McCusker) Churack and Margaret (Hatcher) Lane Back Row L-R: Philippa (Paice) Wiggins, Jenny Eyres, znd Wendy (Roberts) Jones

50-Year Reunion

40-Year Reunion

Five-Year Reunion

1958 Leavers Get-Together

Five-Year Reunion

Gemma (Ridgway) Bassett (2005 Leaver) and boarder married Troy Bassett on 20 January 2017 in a beautiful ceremony at Old Broadwater Farm in Busselton. Gemma’s bridesmaids were her two sisters, Hollie (Ridgway) Scoon (2003) and Ashlyn Ridgway (2012), and friends Susan Young and Portia (Ridout) Chambers (2005 Leavers). As Gemma and Troy both grew up on family farms, Gemma in Beverley and Troy in the neighbouring Brookton shire, the wedding venue was absolutely perfect for the two “country kids” to share their very special day with family and friends.

Naomi Laugharne (2009 Leaver) married Ronan Brown on 19 March 2016. Emma Hoft (2009) was bridesmaid, and maid of honour was Essie Laugharne (2011). Emma Halse (2009), Bethany Andres (2009), Bethany McGrechan (2008) and Maddy (Andrews) Waugh (2012) also attended.

Jessica Karainski (2003 Leaver) was married in the Perth College Chapel on Saturday 1 July 2017.

Verity Newton-Burriss (2006 Leaver) married Scott Patrizi (Old Guildfordian) on Saturday 22 April 2017 in the Guildford Grammar Chapel. Groomsmen were Daniel Gibb (GG), Ryan Armstrong (GG), Nick White and Chris Turrell (GG). Verity’s sister Eve Newton-Burriss (2000) was her Maid of Honour and bridesmaids were Alex Cogan (2006), Jasmine Donni (2006) and Jane (Patrizi) Donnelly (2007), sister of Scott.

Charissa Mitsikas-Beasley (1995 Leaver) and husband, Shane, forgot to announce that they had gone from one child to three beautiful children in recent years. They now have Trinity (9), Pepper (4) and Blake (3) and still feel tired...

Danielle Chard (2006 Leaver) had her first baby on 28 May 2016. He is named Mason James Rossi.

Karen (Ludeman) Parker (1979 Leaver) became a grandmother in September 2016, with her two grandsons born in the same week.

Jessica Brass (2006 Leaver) had a baby girl in May called Julia – at a week old Julia was enrolled at PC!

Caitlin (Griffiths) Crees (2006 Leaver) welcomed the birth of her baby boy Harry John Crees in June 2017.

Taryn (Smith) Darroch (1995 Leaver) has recently welcomed her fourth daughter into the world, Allira May. The family is all thrilled and Allira’s big sisters are a huge help!

Gemma and Troy Bassett

Verity and Scott Patrizi

Harry John Crees

Allira May

Weddings and births

Penelope Teudt, Emma Thorne and Kathryn Harding

I grew up on our family farm, 18km from Beverley; a Wheatbelt town located less than 2 hours from Perth. When the school bus dropped me home from attending the local primary school, I would often follow dad around the farm and ‘help’; checking the merino sheep, being the gate opener or going on crop inspection tours with mum and dad.

The decision for where to complete my high schooling was an obvious choice Perth College! I had every intention of following in the footsteps of my older sisters Hollie (2003 Leaver) and Gemma (2005 Leaver). In 2008 I started as a Year 8 boarder, and I was very excited to commence my own PC journey as I had heard so many fantastic stories from my big sisters, and always enjoyed visiting them at the Boarding House.

One thing I had learnt from my sisters was the positive influence participation in extra-curricular activities had on your schooling. So, I knew the first thing I was going to do was sign up to play IGGSA sport, and I continued to play throughout my five years. Involvement in sport and other activities was so much more valuable than the obvious fitness benefits, as it assisted in my transition into boarding life and helped form lifelong friendships. Not to mention the fantastic stress outlet it became in the later years of schooling.

In my final year at PC I was fortunate to receive a Year 12 leadership position, becoming Head Boarder for 2012. I found this to be a very fulfilling and

enjoyable role. The Boarding House had become my second home and this gave me a chance to make a positive contribution for all boarders. It was nice being the rural voice of the School, and to play an active role in the decision processes which affected the boarders.

After Year 12 I continued my education in Perth, attending Curtin University. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Agribusiness. At this point I knew I wanted to remain involved in the agricultural industry, although I was unsure of what capacity this would be in. The agribusiness course gave me flexibility with future employment, as it taught not only essential business skills but also scientific methods and background context.

The final semester of my Bachelor of Agribusiness was completed in 2016 as a Curtin University exchange student at the University of Guelph in Canada (a university town less than an hour from Toronto in the province of Ontario). Surrounded by agricultural industries, Guelph was an appropriate town and the university offered many agriculture courses and majors. When my parents visited, Dad was even roped in to do a joint talk about our farming operation in Western Australia!

After Guelph I travelled for several months in the United States before returning home for graduation. Since then I have worked on the family farm, for Co-operative Bulk Handling as a seasonal employee for my sixth season, and as a Quality Assurance Supervisor

for a grape export company - all providing me with an opportunity to decide which direction to pursue within the agricultural industry.

I am now working back in the country, four hours from Perth, in a farming town called Lake Grace. I have been very lucky to find a job I feel not only passionate about but enjoy every minute of; it doesn’t feel like work at all! I am an Agronomist, working for Landmark, an agricultural company which farmers look to for assistance in bettering their agricultural business.

Where do I come in, you may ask? As the “agro” I assist farmers to achieve their full crop production potential using scientific and technological methods to ensure the crops grow as best they can. Sometimes this involves nutrient testing, chemical application at safe rates, or using different equipment at the end of the growing season when the crop is harvested to control weed seeds.

If you have any interest in agriculture at any capacity, I highly recommend following this into an agricultural career. There are many career opportunities in a wide range of roles and plenty of people in the industry haven’t come from a farming background like I have. Agriculture is essential to all of our futures, even if the only connection you can make is the food you eat. If you ate today, you needed a farmer!

Ashlyn Ridgeway (2012 Leaver)

refleCtions of an old girl

Ashlyn Ridgway (2012 Leaver) (bottom right) with members of the 2012 Boarding Executive

11

birthday Club over 90’s

Mrs Marle (Arundale)Fellowes-Gordon (1942)Mrs Mary (Vetter) Lobascher (1940)

Mrs Joyce (Franklin) Acol (1924)Mrs Merle (Bailey) Packham (1941)Mrs Bernice (Thompson) Mathews (1944)Mrs Dorothy (Dale) Redman (1938)Mrs Mary (Smith) Blechynden (1946)Mrs Audrey (Payne) Craddock (1941)Mrs Sylvia (Overheu) Wells (1945)Mrs Barbara (Thompson) Anderson (1946)Mrs Dene (Bateman) Craddock (1944)Mrs Margaret (Broadhurst) Brinsden (1944)Mrs Dorid (Finkelstein) Shub (OAM) (1943)Mrs Dorothy (Gardiner) Allen (1938)Mrs Barbara (Cooke) Bushell (1943)Mrs Lorraine (Barden) Puddey (1936)Mrs Rosemary (Nicholls) Higham (1942)Mrs Judith (Henning) Chiffings (1943)Mrs Lillian (Chipper) Lambert (1942)Mrs Judith (Williams) Raymond (1931)

Mrs Shirley (Wright) Willcock (1939)Mrs Joy (Cowper) Palmer (1940)Mrs Mary (Dempster) Colero (1940)Mrs Merle (Giese) Best (1944)Mr Basil Best (1940)Mrs Mary (Webb) Bradbury (1944)Mrs Lesley (Wall) Greagg (1943)Mrs Gladys (Combs) Clark (1944)Mrs Rachel (Carey) Rosenthal (1942)Mrs Shirley (Robin) Jose (1944)Mrs Frances (Russell) Nicholls (1936)Mrs Peta (Hayes) Horton (1945)Mrs Colleen (O’Sullivan) Scott (1945)Mrs Carol (Harper) Ferguson (1937) Ms Thurza James (1944)Mrs Colin (Crowther) Edwards (1938) Mrs Sheila (Gill) Kimpton (1934)Mrs Margaret (Rohrs) McCart (1945)Mrs Elsie (Dale) Fairthorn (1942)Mrs Muriel (Ellis) Ahern (1934)Mrs Marion (Fyfe) Wood (1939)

Mrs Allison (Stone) Shanahan (1942)Mrs Doris (Roberts) Mossenson (1942)Mrs Olga (Winning) Keech (1942)Mrs Thelma (Shepherd) Manners (1943)Mrs Mary (Stokes) Evans (1941)Mrs Kathleen (Smith) Metcalf (1941)Mrs Mary (Morrell) Melot (1941)Mrs Beryl (Fowler) Haneman (1941)Mrs Elizabeth (Broad)) Hopkinson (1941)Mrs Eve (Atkinson) Prinsen (1941)Mrs Hazel (Broad) McPherson (1943)Mrs Rona (Taylor) France (1945)Mrs Irene (Grove) Kirkpatrick (1946)Mrs Diana (Pocklington) Williams (1947)Mrs Pamela (Nelthorpe) Holywell (1944)Mrs Yvonne (Davis) Brooks (1946)Mrs Audrey (Davis) Fairchild (1941)Mrs Shirley (Purslowe) Rippin (1945)Mrs Elizabeth (Lukin) Ogston (1943)Ms Sonia Grant (1942)Miss Marion George (1942)

Happy Birthday to our Old Girls who are celebrating a birthday of 90 or more in the next six months:

Robin (Kruger) Heenan (1962 Leaver) passed away on 12 December 2016 from pancreatic cancer. Robin always looked forward to receiving her copy of the Perth College Old Girl’s magazine and catching up with news and stories about her old school friends.

Verity (Curtis) Ginger (1990 Leaver) passed away on 30 May 2017. Her funeral was held on Friday 9 June at St George’s Cathedral with a wake at Myalla House. Verity’s daughter is in Prep at Perth College and is supported by family and staff.

Lita (Masel) Goldflam (1945 Leaver) passed away on 17 May 2017, at the age of 88. Lita was a student at Perth College from 1941 to 1945 and was Dux in her final year.

Condolences to Elspeth (Shearwood) Jones (1978), Cathy (Shearwood) Osan (1980), Jessica Osan (2010), Laura Shearwood (2005) and Claire Shearwood

(2009) on the passing of their mother and grandmother Olga Shearwood on 24 June 2017.

Condolences to 1948 Leaver Noele (McLean) Radford on the death of her husband Frank on 15 May 2017. Frank was the brother of Joan Radford (1941 Leaver) who is also deceased.

Condolences to 1981 Leaver Marie (Chappell) Smith on the death of her mother Norma (Pierre-Humbert) Chappell (1950 Leaver) in June 2017.

1930 Leaver, Isobel (Fraser) Day, passed away 10 August 2017 aged 104.

Condolences to the James family with the passing of Pamela (Smith) James (1972 Leaver) on 18 August 2017.

Jennifer Medcalf-Moore (1965 Leaver) passed away peacefully at Hollywood Hospital, comforted by her sister Gwendoline, on 17 August 2017 after a long battle with cancer. She is survived

by her sister Gwendoline Dawes and nieces Samantha (Dawes) Terriaca (1985 Leaver) and Alyson (Dawes) Vinciguerra (1981 Leaver) and their children. Jennifer will be much missed by the group of ’65 Leavers. Rest in Peace Jenny.

Lesley (Pearce) Doust (1935 Leaver) passed away on Thursday 5 October, nearly two months after celebrating her 100th birthday.

1967 Leavers send their condolences to families of their fellow classmates who have passed away:

• Carey (Ayckbourne) Drake-Brockman • Peta (Bright) Bartlett • Anne Cranston• Anne Cruikshank• Margaret Haywood• Pat (Lloyd) Thomas • Sue (Tucker) Yule

obituaries

UpcomingEvents

UpcomingEvents

17 March 201850-Year Reunion - 1968 Leavers

Time: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm

Chapel service, School tour

and lunchVenue: Perth College

Cost: FreeBook: www.trybooking.com/SSSF

25 March 2018

OGA AGMTime: 10.00 am Chapel Service 11.00 am OGA AGM 12.00 pm Light LunchVenue: Perth College Chapel and Myalla HouseCost: ComplimentaryRSVP: OGA@pc.wa.edu.au

14 March 2018

60-Year Reunion - 1958 Leavers

28 February 2018

Submit Your News and Photos

If you have something to share for inclusion in our Myalla May 2018 issue, please email: myalla@pc.wa.edu.au or call Director of Development, Natalie Swannell, on 9471 2124.

Time: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm Chapel service, School tour and lunch Venue: Perth CollegeCost: $40Book: www.trybooking.com/SJYM

Garden Lovers

Visit the Blackwood Valley and nearby

towns for the annual Festival of Country

Gardens when Anne (Trigwell) Palmer

(1961 Leaver) opens her cottage garden.

Visit:

http://festivalofcountrygardens.com

for full details.

Glass Artists of WAThree Old Girls - Jill Yelland (1965), Belinda (Daw) Kay (1973) and Judy

(Best) Willock (1973) were part of a recent glass exhibition held at Zig

Zag Gallery in Kalamunda in August. They are all part of an organisation

called Glass Artists of WA (GAWA) whose aim is to promote glass art and

collaborate on exhibitions, events and all things glass. Each has their own

particular style and this was the second year GAWA has held an exhibition

at Zig Zag. The theme of each year’s exhibition has been Glass+ - which

enables all the contributing artists to explore the theme of the

” + ”. Some artists used metal, cement, silver, clay, material, wire, tin and

electrical components to name but a few - which resulted in some very

different pieces. Belinda was also the curator of the exhibition. Next years’

exhibition will be in July 2018.

9 March 2018

Time: 11.00 am to 2.30 pm Chapel followed by a sit-down lunchVenue: Perth College Chapel and Judith Cottier Theatre FoyerCost: $40Book: www.trybooking.com/SJYE

Vintage Reunion1957 Leavers and earlier

15 September 2018

Save the Date

‘Step Back in Time’ - Vintage Day

A day to celebrate all things vintage with a

variety of vendors showcasing their wares,

including food, clothing, jewellery, games

and fashion parades.

Venue: Myalla House

Stall space: oga@pc.wa.edu.au

2-6 November 2017

July 2018