Inspiring Women of CGGS

Last week we were so thrilled to be able to host the Inaugural Inspiring Women Ceremony at school to officially honour our 18 inspiring women.

The Inspiring Women program established in our Centenary year was designed to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by women affiliated with Camberwell Girls Grammar School since its inception. Our intention is to honour women each year, with 100 honourees in total to acknowledge the 100 year history of the school.

Below is a list of the inspiring women honoured and their graduating year.

Ms Sarah Boyd (1998)

Prof Louise Brearley Messer AM (1957)

Ms Linda Bull (1985)

Ms Vika Bull (1983)

Colonel Michelle Campbell (1988)

Dr Evelyn Chan (2003)

Mrs Roma Drummond OAM (1943)

Dr Jackie Graham (1989)

Ms Frankie Layton (2006)

Mrs Bronwyn Lincoln (1981)

Ms Emma Race (1993)

Mrs Wendy Rainbird (1959)

Dr Julia Rhyder (2005)

Miss Margaret Schofield OAM (posthumous) (1931)

Ms Kate Sommerville (1988)

Mrs Jenny Vadiveloo (1982)

Mrs Noel Waite AO (1945)

The Reverend Doctor Raewynne J. Whiteley (1984)

Our CGGS Inspiring Women honourees will serve as a reminder of the inspiring women connected to the school and their profiles will inspire our current students. Their biographies now hang on a prominent wall at the school for all to see.

We congratulate our inaugural Inspiring Women.

The 2021 honourees will be announced shortly, to read more about the women honoured for 2020 and to nomination for 2022 click the button below.

Event Postponement

Due to the current lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the CGGS Centenary Gala.

While we know this is disappointing, especially for those who purchased tickets, we hope you understand this is a necessary step to help keep each other safe in these unprecedented times. Ticket holders have received an email today with details regarding refunds.

We will reschedule this event to take place in 2022 and will communicate a new date.

We’d like to thank all our silent auction supporters who came forward to help create what would have been a fantastic evening, they are listed below.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kate Daffy in the school’s Foundation Office.

Contact
Kate Daffy
Community Programs & Events Coordinator
daffyk@cggs.vic.edu.au

JOIN US AT THE EVENT OF THE CENTURY!

We hope you will join us as it will be a magical evening of celebration, entertainment and commemorating 100 years of our fine school!

DETAILS
Saturday 31 July 2021
6.30pm – 11.00pm
Leonda by the Yarra

TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT AN EARLY BIRD PRICE!

Early Bird Pricing available until Friday 25 June 2021.

Individual tickets $195
Tables of 10 $1850

We encourage you all to make your ticket bookings by close of business Friday to ensure you benefit from the discounted ticket price. Everyone who purchases at the Early Bird price will automatically go into the draw to win some great prizes.

There will be two lucky winners!

GOLDEN TICKET WINNERS

We are thrilled to announce some of the winners of the Golden Ticket promotion!

Ellie Li in Grade 2 received a Golden Ticket for her parents! Hanna Lindsay in Grade 4 also received one for her parents! Charlotte Pang in Year 7 was third lucky winner!

Year Level Social Gatherings

The recent lockdown lead to many Year Level Rep activities being postponed. As the restrictions eased, the Year 9 Reps were able to hold Sunday afternoon drinks at a local bar.

In accordance with the Victorian Government regulations, Year 9 parents enjoyed a relaxing afternoon socialising with each other. Many of the postponed year level events will be rescheduled in Term 3.

Look out for emails from your Reps and for event details in the Junior and Senior School Weeklies.

Celebrating our CGGS Parent Volunteers!

The Parents and Friends Association was proud to celebrate our wonderful CGGS parent volunteers during National Volunteers Week.

The PFA would not operate without volunteers as committee members, year level reps and/or event helpers. We acknowledge the time and commitment they give to cook sausages at a BBQ, decorate a venue for a PFA function, serve food and refreshments to guests, organise year level events, assist in the Second Hand Uniform Shop, provide icy poles and cakes at sporting events, assist with fundraising projects and/or as PFA Committee members.

During the recent PFA Annual General Meeting, we welcomed parents from both junior and senior school to the PFA Committee.

2021 PFA COMMITTEE

PFA Executive

President – Rob Webster (SS)

Vice President – Terry McAleenan (SS)

Secretary – Krys Pekin (SS)

Treasurer – Jeremy Khaw (JS)

PFA General Committee Members

Jo Ellingworth (SS)

Patricia Stocca (SS)

Jenni Webster (SS)

Jennifer Bignold (SS)

Meredith Spencer-Jones (SS)

Cindy Wong (JS & SS)

Ray Barmby (SS)

Fiona Nicholson-Stocker (JS)

Viv Noffs (SS)

Sakthi Navaneetharaja (JS)

Fiona Robertson (SS)

The PFA is extremely grateful for the significant contribution and vital role every volunteer undertakes to help the PFA serve the CGGS Community. We look forward to supporting the school with our new committee by continuing to friendraise at events and fundraise to purchase items for the school.

For more information about the PFA or to register to volunteer, please contact Susannah Jepson, Community Relationships Coordinator on jepsons@cggs.vic.edu.au

Old Grammarians visiting CGGS

Iman Balla (2014)

Last week, in our Senior School Assembly, we were privileged to hear from Iman Balla, 2014 CGGS School Captain. Iman was invited to share her reflections on her time at school and the journey she has taken since graduating.

Iman generously prepared three videos to share with the CGGS community, each on a distinct topic. The first video was shared in our assembly on May 18 and the remaining two will be used as part of our Career Education program later in the term. In assembly, Iman shared her perspectives and experiences as a Muslim woman attending an Anglican school. She highlighted the warm and welcoming nature of the CGGS community and expressed gratitude for the education she received around Christian traditions and the Anglican faith, explaining that these lessons have helped to broaden her understanding and better appreciate the role that spirituality and religion plays in people’s lives. Iman also shared some advice with our students, stressing the importance of being proud of who you are and where you have come from. Iman’s messages were powerful and complimented the themes and activities held across last week’s CGGS Diversity Week, which is a significant event in our school calendar.

Thanking Our Volunteers

Over the years many people have contributed to the development of the historical archives in the school through donations of items, photographs, uniforms and so on. We have volunteers who have a strong association with the school who tirelessly give of their time to assist with keeping the donated items in order and in good condition. Josephine Atkinson (1970), Lois Brunt (1950) and Barbara Richmond (1950) donated many hours of their time over the past years in assisting with cataloguing and identification of historical photographs.

Last week we were delighted to host a morning tea to thank them for their time and dedication to the school and the archives. Mrs Dunwoody, along with past Head of Junior School, Glenda Bushell, six of our senior students, and current archivist Marian Jenkinson, shared stories with Josephine, Lois and Barbara about the similarities and differences of school life. Lois recalled the father’s coming in on weekends to dig air raid trenches across the school grounds during WWII and the girl’s having drills to practice getting to the trenches quickly and having to bite on a rubber disc as part of their training. She also discussed the fact that many of the girls rode bikes to school, with Barbara adding that she and her best friend would go riding along the river and through the parks on the weekend, making sure to get home before dark.

Our current students recounted to our visitors what is was like for them to study during lockdown and how they have enjoyed being back at school this year, as well as their ambitions for the future. It was a wonderful exchange of ideas between generations and our visitors were delighted to meet the girls and spend some time with them. Afterwards our visitors spent time in the archives office looking at some new archival projects. We thank them most sincerely and we look forward to welcoming them back again soon to assist with these.

In Conversation with Caitlin Kuo (2020)

Last week we were delighted to have former student Caitlin Kuo (2020) join her sister Megan and the Year 11 English Language class. Caitlin is currently studying Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University. After Megan observed many similarities in the content of Caitlin’s studies and the English Language course that she is currently studying, Caitlin joined the class for an intimate in-conversation event.

Head over to the Senior School section of this edition of CamNews to read about this intimate and insightful event.

The PFA seeks nominations for 2021 committee members

The Parents & Friends Association will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 13 May at 7.30pm in the Senior School Boardroom.

The PFA is seeking nominations for positions on the PFA Executive and General Committee. The term of each position is one year with a maximum of 3 years.

What is the PFA and what does it do?

The PFA is a parent body that exists to support the CGGS community. Being involved in the PFA is a great way to meet other parents, support the school and show your children that you are proud of their school.

The purpose of the PFA is to two-fold – friendraising and fundraising

Friendraising

The PFA runs social events for the whole school to build relationships and a sense of community.

Fundraising

Funds are raised to purchase items that will help make the girls’ experience at CGGS special and unique.

Roles within the PFA Committee

The following roles are open for 2021 nominations.

President:

The role of the president is to work with the executive and provide leadership and direction to the Association and ensure the committee fulfills its responsibilities to the school. There is an expectation that the president chairs PFA meetings and attends PFA events.

The role includes the management and distribution of PFA funds to the school, in agreement with the PFA treasurer and committee, in accordance with the Principal’s requests.

Vice President:

The Vice President supports the president with his/her duties. The Vice President can preside at general or executive meetings and act as the president, in his/her absence or when the president is unable to act in that role.

Secretary:

The secretary’s role is to be the guardian of the process of meetings and the maintainer of the official business records. He/she manages communication before meetings and keeps formal records of the group’s process and decisions: the minutes of the meeting.

Treasurer:

The PFA Treasurer is responsible for the financial management and oversight of PFA funds. The role includes the management and distribution of PFA funds to the school, in agreement with the PFA president and committee, in accordance with the Principal’s requests.

The treasurer liaises with the school’s bank, manages funds and reconciles bank statements and presents a Treasurer’s Report at PFA meetings.

General Committee Member:

A general committee member provides support to the president and other PFA committee members to ensure the PFA meets its goals and objectives. There is an expectation that committee members attend PFA meetings and events. Social engagement and planning events and activities with all committee members for the school community, is both an exciting and enjoyable part of all of these roles.

To nominate for one of these roles, please complete a Nomination Form via the button below and return to the school by Monday 10 May.

See above a nomination form.

For more information about any of these roles please contact PFA Secretary, Krys Pekin via email pfa@cggs.vic.edu.au.

A Century of Stories – CGGS Centenary Book

We are very pleased to announce the CGGS Centenary Celebration Book – A Century of Stories has been delivered and is available for purchase. To celebrate this wonderful addition to our centenary celebrations, a launch was held in the Senior School Library with the writer Dr Jacqui Ross and publisher Neil Montagnana-Wallace from Hyphen (formally known as Bounce Books) in attendance. Special guests including School Council, Life Governors, Old Grammarians, staff and students enjoyed a wonderful evening hearing about the creation of the book.

So much has happened within the walls of our beloved school to make it the institution it is today. The launch was a wonderful way to acknowledge the Schools 100-year history as it includes 100 stories we wanted to share with our community.  We are so proud to bring you this collection of stories, of moments in time, the highlights of our history and interesting insights.

A Century of Stories is for sale for $50, including GST. You have the option of collecting your book from CGGS Main Reception or having it delivered at a standard shipping fee of $15.

To purchase a copy, please click the button below.

St Marks Marriage Course

A wonderful opportunity to enhance your marriage begins on Monday 26 April at 7.45pm. St Mark’s Camberwell is hosting a free, 7-week online Marriage Course. Learn how to listen better, resolve conflict and build a stronger relationship.

The course is done online at home (over wine if you wish!), hosted by Phil & Yvonne. There is no group sharing – so it’s totally private. All connected to CGGS (& CGS) are welcome to join.

To register: trybooking.com/BQKLF

CGGS Dads Event – the first of many to come!

It was wonderful to welcome so many fathers at the recent CGGS Dads BBQ. Fathers and father-figures came together in a relaxed social setting and enjoyed an evening of delicious food and refreshments while meeting other dads from the school. This was the first event held by the newly formed CGGS Dads Group.

This group is run by CGGS dads for CGGS dads and they have planned at least one event each term for dads, and dads and their daughters.

To become apart of the CGGS Dads Group and to learn more, click the button below.

Old grammarian shares her journey with Year 9 students

As part of their media unit titled “Fake News, Filters, Feeds and Followers”, the Year 9s were fortunate during the week to have Annabelle Lee (2015) visit the school to give them a perspective on these issues.

Annabelle, who is a podcast producer at Shameless Media, gave the students a professional prospective on the media industry and the challenges that come with representation, ethics and bias. She spoke about sensationalist media, gender bias, how to deal with generational divide and working through disagreements on key issues.

Annabelle shared her journey to becoming a podcast producer and journalist, whilst continuing her law degree and gave the students some advice on how to navigate balancing commitments when they finish school.