Celebrating Year 12 and our community

A warm hello, from all of us here at your alma mater.

Whether you left the College in the last five or fifty years, I’m sure you remember your last few days as a Pymble girl. You might recall the anticipation of something new and promising being just up ahead for you to grasp. Perhaps you had mixed emotions or felt like you were in limbo; not quite sure of your next steps or where they would take you.

Term 3 is always a bittersweet time as we celebrate and say farewell to our Year 12 students before their HSC exams begin in Term 4. While sad to see our leaders go, we know it’s just goodbye for now, not forever. We are equally excited for all that lies ahead for them on their post-school journey and grateful to share our much-loved graduation traditions – Final Chapel Service, Speech Day and Valedictory Dinner – with students and families now that restrictions are a thing of the past.

We wish our Class of 2022 all the best and that their hard work pays dividends as they approach their final exams before joining your ranks as our newest Pymble alumnae.

It’s fair to say our community is in full flow again after a cautious start to the year, and we have loved welcoming families and friends to a wide range of Pymble events in Term 3. A few of the many highlights include a magical production of Peter Pan by our Co-curricular Drama students in Years 7 to 9, a Father’s Day lunch for Pymble dads and their daughters, hosting our third annual Research Conference, partnering with Macquarie University to create the inaugural [EX]plore conference for Science Extension students and teachers, and launching our first Think Pymble careers event. The latter is the first in a series of events for our community to find out more about working in academic, operational and administrative teams at Pymble. For those who may be interested, you can always find our current employment opportunities on our main College website. If you’re thinking of a career change, we’d love to hear from you!

Of course, the big news story of Term 3 is the triumphant return of our Garden Party – our first since 2019! Thank you to all who were involved in making the stalls and activities such a success, and to those who returned to Pymble purely to enjoy the fun and festivities. While we are still crunching the numbers to determine our net profit, this will shortly be donated to our three beneficiaries, The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter, Pymble Parent Association and Boarding Scholarship.

A common refrain was how special it was to share this day with family and friends for the first time in three years. Garden Party is a showcase of the strength of our community, and it lifted my heart to witness the outpouring of care and gratitude for each other as we rejoiced in being together again at this much-loved Pymble tradition.

Our next major community event on the calendar is a parent information session called Speaking of Teens: Holding On to Love, which will be held tomorrow at the College on Wednesday 12 October.

All parents of girls aged 10 or older are warmly invited to join the conversation with four experts on different aspects of adolescent health and wellbeing, led and moderated by Associate Professor John Vassiliadis, Emergency Medicine Specialist at Royal North Shore Hospital. John is also a Pymble parent and a member of our Health Care Advisory Group which meets with our leadership team on a termly basis to discuss and inform us on various topics related to our student wellbeing agenda at Pymble.

The panel will discuss key issues including: the role of sleep and nutrition; healthy screen time habits, gaming and social media; managing risky behaviour; and maintaining important relationships and connections.

The event is free and open to the public, but bookings are essential and can be made by clicking on the image below. We look forward to continuing this conversation for and about our teens, with love.

Speaking of teens, we hope you enjoy this video featuring music and lyrics of a famous Beatles song performed by 150 co-curricular music students in isolation during last year’s lockdown. Set to footage of students having fun with the theme following their return to campus, the message from our Pymble girls rings loud and clear – all you need is love.

Goodbye for now and remember to stay in touch!

Dr Kate Hadwen 

Principal

Keeping Up With Our Boarders – Spring 2022

News From the Pymble Alumni Team

Today marks the beginning of Term 4 at Pymble, meaning we are well and truly nearing the finish line of 2022. And what a year it has been! 

For students, staff, parents and the wider Pymble community, it has been wonderful being able to return to in-person teaching and school events, having a sense of normalcy in our lives and getting back to doing the things we so dearly missed over the last two years. 

Evidence of this was on full display at Garden Party; our first since 2019 and undoubtedly our biggest and best one yet. For the most part, the sun shone down on Pymble, but even a few passing showers couldn’t dampen the day as the College came alive with radiant smiles and a sense of pent-up energy due to the cancellation of the event two years running. 

It has also been fantastic hearing so many lovely stories from the school reunions that have taken place over the last few months. We were thrilled to welcome the Class of 1954, 1961, 1962, 1972 and 2006 back to Pymble to celebrate and reminisce on the many beautiful memories they made during their time at the College. I know how hard the cancellation of reunions over the last two years has been for some, however the smiling faces I see in the photos really does affirm that regardless of how much time passes, once a Pymble girl, always a Pymble girl. 

I am thrilled to report that this past term has also featured vast amounts of sporting success from three younger members of Pymble’s alumni. Brittany O’Brien (2016) and Mackenzie Little (2014) both won silver medals in the diving and women’s javelin, respectively, at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and Sarah Hunter (2021) scored a goal and played a pivotal role for the Young Matildas at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. It is so inspiring to watch ex-Pymble girls see the fruits of their labour and triumph on the world stage. Congratulations, girls! 

As Dr Hadwen mentioned in her column, the Year 12s currently have their heads down studying and are no doubt counting down the days until they sit their final exams for the Higher School Certificate. You probably remember the levels of stress, anxiety and expectation you felt during this time of your life, so we ask that you keep the soon-to-be newest members of the Pymble alumni in your thoughts as they navigate this tricky period. 

Lastly, while we try our best to keep up to date with the news and success of ex-Pymble girls, if you have any stories or updates you would like to submit to this newsletter and share with your alumni, we welcome you to do so. If you have any questions or would like to contribute, please contact me at kcorcoran@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or on +61 2 9855 7304.  

All’ Ultimo Lavoro. 

Mrs Katrina Corcoran (Hum, 1987)

Alumni Relations Manager

ESU President Update

I am writing this piece on the Sunday after this year’s Garden Party – and what a day it was! After three years, it was fantastic to see the Pymble community enjoying each other’s company in the sunshine. The Ex-Students’ Union (ESU) ran the traditional Chicken & Champagne stall, with the new addition of cheese platters this year. Thank you so much to the Committee, particularly Lou Kellaway (Sutton, 1988), for making this year’s stall such a success. Thank you also to the lovely ex-students for volunteering at the stall throughout the day.

We also held our Commemoration Day service for the first time in person after two years of online services. The service was wonderful and Emma Maple-Brown (McWilliam, 1991) was an excellent guest speaker. I am so happy that this long standing tradition has returned to its prominent position in the College calendar.

In other news, we have approved our first ever Passion Project grant for the ex-students’ dance group. The group will be running open classes on a trial basis at the College and plans to perform in open age eisteddfods in 2023. We hope to be able to support other groups to start up to keep our alumni connected with each other and continuing to pursue their passions beyond school.

What about an ex-students’ concert band or string ensemble? Or a sports club? You bring the passion and some friends, we’ll help you out with a monetary grant to subsidise the costs of setting up the group. For more information, please reach out to the ESU committee at pymble.exstudents@gmail.com.

It has been a wonderful year having the opportunity to connect in person once again, whether at a networking event; Commemoration Day; reunions or Garden Party. I am handing the President’s baton over in 2023. We have had a strong committee this year, many of whom (including myself) will be staying on next year in some capacity. New committee members are always welcome. If you are ever interested in finding out more about the ESU Committee or any of our events and services, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Mrs Zoë Wang (Moore, 1994)

ESU President

Brittany O’Brien (2016) claims silver at the Commonwealth Games

Brittany O’Brien (2016) OLY was a champion diver in her Pymble days and now she has excelled on the world stage, taking home the silver medal in the women’s one-metre springboard at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham! 

After saying she was “very done” with diving one year ago and almost quitting the sport completely, Brittany transitioned from platform to springboard and made it onto the podium in her first international one-metre competition.

She is the epitome of resilience, and we are so Pymble-proud. Congratulations, Britt!

Reflections of a retiree

Over my 37 years of teaching at Pymble Ladies’ College, I have worked for four principals; Miss Jeanette Buckham, Mrs Gillian Moore, Mrs Vicki Waters and Dr Kate Hadwen. What an incredible journey that has been and I am blessed to have been given so many amazing opportunities and experiences, both professional and personal, by these significant women.

I have led 14 overseas Music Performance Tours to Europe, Scandinavia, UK, USA, Japan and China, performing with the girls in significant venues around the world, worked with world acclaimed musicians, artists and performers, directed and produced countless musical productions, shows and concerts but most importantly facilitated hundreds of students to explore, experience and develop their own musical journey.

I started as a Kindergarten to Year 11 classroom music teacher in 1990, then shifted focus to the Junior School for a while until Miss Buckham finally agreed to introduce music as an elective subject into Year 9, inviting me back to the College to teach it. I returned again in 1973 at Rosalie Ramsay’s request to bring singing to life in the Junior School, accepted the position of Director of Music K-12 offered to me by Gillian Moore in 1999, and last but not least created the role of Director of Co-curricular Performing Arts. Over all these years, I have witnessed extraordinary growth and development, progressive and adventurous change and had the rewarding pleasure of teaching hundreds of girls over several generations.

The privilege and responsibility of having such an influence and impact on the lives of so many, introducing them to music and its boundless pleasures, or witnessing a young student find her singing voice for the first time, eyes wide with wonder as she experiences that joy of lifting her voice either solo or joined with many others in a choir is truly humbling and very rewarding. Music particularly, but all the arts have been guiding passion and it is this that I have always tried to transfer to the girls.

So what has kept me at Pymble?

The physical beauty of our Campus, the beautiful gardens and grounds and the stature of the architecture have been my “haven in the trees” (Luke Byrne Aurora 2016) for so many years, and the history, foundations and spirit of the College have sustained me.

But a haven needs people and they are the lifeblood of such a place. The staff, so professional, collegial but also many over the years who have become true and steadfast friends, the students, the parents and the whole Pymble community are what truly makes Pymble such a special place and one in which I have thrived.

The culture, the pursuit of doing your best, knowing that in the end you have given it your very best shot – even if you haven’t ‘won’ – that you can learn from your mistakes, re-evaluate, take on feedback and have another go, and the defining core values that underpin all that we do, allow the freedom and courage to dream big, act big and achieve big.

This past month or so has been so re-affirming but also very humbling from the mountains of emails, cards and good wishes I have received from current and past students and parents. For those who have done so, my heartfelt thanks for your good wishes and kind and generous words. I am truly grateful. Maybe I have made a difference and left a legacy that has served the girls and the College well. I hope so. In the words of Pericles “What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others”.

So now that I have turned the page and am about to embark on a new chapter in my life – one which contains more time with my family and grandchildren, expanding my marriage celebrancy work, more time for concert and theatre going, golf, gardening, travelling and doing all those things I’ve never had time for – I look to the future with excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead, but also look back with gratitude and humble thanks for all Pymble has given me in my life.

Written by Mrs Sabina Turner (Scales, 1975)

Sophia Mitchell (2019) wins prestigious music prize

Sophia Mitchell (2019) and her musical partner Jamie Wilson combined their talents to take out the University of Tasmania’s Ossa Music Prize and People’s Choice Award for 2022. This includes prize money and an all-expenses paid tour around Tasmania.

The duo impressed the judges with their amalgamation of French horn and percussion (specifically vibraphone, marimba and junk percussion) in a chamber ensemble not commonly seen.

Sophia has always had a passion for music, learning to play the French horn at age eight and playing the piano and singing in choirs from a young age. She continued her musical endeavours throughout high school, playing with school and community bands and orchestras across greater Sydney. Sophia also received first place prizes in advanced HSC music subjects and was the recipient of the Dame Joan Hammond Music Award.

Now at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) Conservatorium, Sophia enjoys studying under Greg Stephens, principal horn player of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and is a member of the TSO Chorus and the UTAS Brass Quintet.

Sarah Hunter (2021) shines at U-20 Women’s World Cup

In the last edition of the Jacaranda Post, we were pleased to announce that Sarah Hunter (2021) had earned selection in the Young Matildas for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rice.

This edition, we’re even more pleased to report that Sarah had an absolutely fantastic World Cup and made her country and the supporting Pymble community extremely proud.

The Young Matildas had their backs against the wall before the tournament even began, being pitted against host nation Costa Rica and footballing powerhouses Brazil and Spain in the group stage. Not many people gave them a chance – but this clearly didn’t phase Sarah.

In their opening match of the tournament, Sarah scored a goal to help the Young Matildas cause a massive upset by toppling Costa Rica 3-1 in their own backyard. Sarah started in the following two games against eventual tournament winners Brazil (lost 2-0) and third-place finisher Spain (lost 3-0), but although the Young Matildas were outclassed, they definitely were not out-enthused, putting in effort for the full 90 minutes and earning the respect of their opponents.

Congratulations Sarah on a fantastic campaign. We can’t wait to see where your bright future takes you!

Mackenzie Little (2014) throws personal best, wins silver at Commonwealth Games

From the Pymble sporting fields to the world stage, a huge congratulations to our 2014 Athletics captain Mackenzie Little (2014) who won the silver medal in the women’s javelin at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022.

To add icing on the cake, Mackenzie’s powerhouse performance also landed her a new personal best of 64.27 metres, surpassing her previous best by over a metre. Congratulations Mackenzie on this incredible achievement!

Margaret Coleman (1946) returns to Pymble

It was a delight to welcome Margaret Coleman OAM (1946) back to our Pymble campus to celebrate her 94th birthday!

Margaret is an ex-student and daughter of a foundation pupil, and has written two books to preserve the history of our College. Published in 1991, This is Pymble explores the school’s first 75 years, and her second book, The Heart of the College, details the building of the College Chapel.

Happy birthday, Margaret, and thank you for your wonderful contributions to Pymble!

Commemoration Day Chapel Service wrap-up

It was wonderful to see so many of our ex-students and community on campus for our annual Commemoration Day chapel service to celebrate the dedication of the College, which took place on 31 July 1919.

We all enjoyed listening to our guest speaker, alumna Emma Maple-Brown (McWilliam, 1991), and a performance by the Ex-Students Union (ESU) choir before sharing a delicious morning tea kindly provided by the ESU.

Thank you to all our ex-students for continuing to be an important part of our Pymble family. Our College has enjoyed many wonderful years since its dedication, and may there be many more to come!

Reunion Updates

Class of 1972 – 50 year Reunion

The Class of 1972 met in style on 31 July, a beautiful sunny Sunday for drinks and canapés in the David McFarlane Centre, to celebrate 50 years since leaving school. And it was made more special because it was also Commemoration Day.

The vibe on the day was so warm and friendly! There were 82 of us, and it was brilliant to catch up with the girls – for some it had been more than fifty years. Ex-students had travelled from Sydney, rural NSW, interstate and even New Zealand to attend our gathering.

Thank you Pymble for hosting such a great catch up for the inimitable Class of 72!

Written by Inga Scarlett, Janette Stewart and Bronwen Sidaway

Class of 1954 – 68 year Reunion

On Sunday 31 July, a group of lovely 1954 leavers gathered to celebrate 68 years since they finished at the College.

Unfortunately, a few couldn’t attend at the last minute, however the ladies who could attend were thrilled to have a lovely luncheon in one of the colonnade classrooms, evoking many beautiful memories of their time at Pymble.

Melbourne Reunion

It was an extremely special day as 13 ex-Pymble students caught up at our annual Melbourne Reunion at the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club. No matter where you live: once a Pymble girl, always a Pymble girl!

Class of 1961 – 60+1 Reunion

On Saturday 3 September 2022, we were able to celebrate our 60th school reunion (mind you one year later) which was really our 61st year of leaving school, as like so many events our 60th reunion was cancelled due to COVID.

We were finally able to come together and celebrate with each other and we were fortunate enough to have it at the College, however our numbers were down due to COVID, other ailments, geographic distance and plain old age! Realistically, we have a group email of around 60, so with two dozen alumni attending it was really just under half.

Over the years, we have bonded together and met up three or four times a year. It is very nice to have friends we have known for most of our lives. Our day was a great success and I can recommend the David Macfarlane Centre (DMC) and the College for your reunion or other functions.

The hall was beautifully laid out and welcoming on a damp and overcast cold day. The staff were excellent and really looked after us and the food was exceptional. We really had a wonderful time.

Before our lunch, we did a tour of the new facilities as well as a walk down memory lane to the Chapel, the Jacaranda tree and the colonnade. The slideshow of photos of our school years kindly put together by Enid O’Carroll, the College Archivist was a great hit and source of much laughter and delight.

Many of the attendees were amazed and astounded by the exceptional new sports facilities compared to what was available back in the day. As you can imagine, we all had a wonderful day remembering our time at Pymble and enjoying old friends’ company which we treasure as we age.

Written by Lindy Major (de Saxe, 1961)

Class of 2006 – 15+1 Year Reunion

On Saturday 24 September at the David MacFarlane Centre, we held the 2006 15+1 year school reunion, rescheduled due to Covid in 2021. We had a lovely group come to the College, with some returning for the first time since finishing school.

The atmosphere was very enjoyable and we all connected through our Pymble ties. A big thank you to Pymble for hosting such a special afternoon.

Written by Amelia McCarthy (2006)

Class of 2012 – 10 Year Reunion

The Class of 2012 had a wonderful time celebrating their 10 year reunion at the Woollahra Hotel this September. For some, it was a chance to catch up with old friends and to enjoy retelling school-day stories of classroom antics and mischief. For others, it was an opportunity to see the faces of people whom hadn’t seen each other for an entire decade, and chat as if no time had passed.

For all the school leavers, everyone had achieved something incredible over the last ten years. Some had pursued incredible careers in law, medicine, dentistry, teaching, engineering, arts, environment and finance. Some had travelled far and wide. Some were advocates for human rights, others relished in the arts and creative spaces, producing amazing works. Some had started small families (and we were even lucky enough to meet them!).

We missed the girls who couldn’t make it but hope to see them soon! It was a beautiful night, and I think we all left with big smiles on our faces, grateful for the friendships we formed at Pymble and very much looking forward to seeing what more amazing goals we can achieve. 

Written by Nikki Raftopulos

Support for our Alumni

PymConnect is our online mentoring platform, designed to link our Pymble alumni, parents and carers to facilitate mentoring opportunities that help create a culture of shared learning, and enhance personal and professional growth.  

Since the launch of PymConnect last year we have received an enthusiastic response from our community. We currently have 177 mentors and 159 mentees making connections and building a sense of belonging.

The past 18 months have been extraordinary with lockdowns and restrictions impacting the lives of everyone – including our current Year 12 students. As they prepare to complete their HSC studies and embark on their next life journey, this is a time where connections and support are important. In preparation for our newest graduates joining PymConnect, we would like to invite you to participate in this program as a mentor.  

A special thanks to those of you who have signed up to join the program following our last invitation. 

To express your interest or to ask us a question, please feel free to reach out to us at pymconnect@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or phone +61 2 9855 7799.

Benestar is a confidential wellbeing support service, thanks to the generosity of our Ex-Students’ Union (ESU). 

You will always be a Pymble girl and we want you to know that the Pymble family continues to care about your wellbeing, even after you leave the College. This program gives you easy access to wellbeing support when times are tough or whenever you feel like you need a helping hand. 

Our Ex-Students’ Assistance Program (EAP) is provided by Benestar under the MyCoach personal and confidential coaching program. MyCoach offers a team of professional coaches trained to assist you with everything from mental health to relationships to exercise and sleep, in face-to-face sessions or over the phone. 

Ex-students who access the service will be offered up to three funded one-hour coaching sessions. To access the service, you can call the numbers below and inform them you are a Pymble ex-student:  

Australia: 1300 360 364 

New Zealand: 0800 360 364 

International: +61 2 8295 2292 

Benestar also has a wide range of tools, blog posts, podcasts and learning modules available on the BeneHub at www.benestar.com or via the Benestar app. To register for access to the information, simply visit www.benestar.com and go to the BeneHub Login and enter the ID: PLCA and the Token: PLCA01. 

All sessions are confidential and neither the College nor the ESU Committee will be provided with the names of ex-students accessing the service.   

We know that many of you will already have good existing relationships with your local GP. In the event that you need mental health support, you may prefer to talk to your GP about a plan which enables you to access Medicare funding for six to ten counselling sessions with a Medicare-approved mental health professional. Please know that the EAP offers an alternative path for support, however, should not replace the clinical care provided by your GP and other health professionals. 

Damaged Pymble panoramas brought back to life

Some years ago, the College Archivist stumbled upon a panorama of Pymble taken in 1927. Part of a collection of images taken by John H. Enemark and held by the National Library of Australia, it takes in the Avon Road vista of Pymble Ladies’ College. Zooming in to the image, there is a steam train at the station; the front gates and Sufferance entry ways lined with saplings.

The Heritage Archive holds a number of panoramas of early whole school photos and some of the grounds circa 1927. Sadly, these had been damaged over time, mounting boards cracked and one splattered with ink. However, with the benefit of technology, these images have been recreated to their original majesty.

The Archivist worked with Cie-Elle Digital Imaging who specialise in artwork scanning and fine art printing. The damaged boards were scanned at high resolution, digitally corrected and printed. They were then transferred to Art Scene West Ryde for framing. 

One image depicts the buildings on the site at the time, the three boarding houses (Goodlet, Lang and Marden), the Hall, dining and Colonnade buildings and hospital. The other was taken from the far side of the oval towards the flagpole with a hockey match in progress and buildings in background. 

The images now hang in the Heritage Archive. A beautiful exhibition of panoramas from all around the globe, titled Grand Vistas: Panoramas is currently on display at the State Library of NSW.

Written by Enid O’Carroll, College Archivist

Reunions and Events

Upcoming 2022 Reunions

2017 – Five Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 15 October

Venue: ‘The Loft’ Barangaroo

Contact: Amy Graham amygraham114@gmail.com

2002 – 20 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 19 October

Venue: David MacFarlane Centre, Pymble Ladies’ College

Contact: Georgia Lovell georgia.f.lovell@gmail.com and Felicity Graham felicitykingsbury@gmail.com

1967 – 55 Year Reunion

Date: Friday 21 October

Venue: Killara Golf Club

Contact: Sue Macdonald suemacdon@yahoo.com

2001 – 20.5 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 22 October

Venue: Cargo Bar, Darling Harbour

Contact: Fiona Tyler fiona.tyler@mlc.com.au

1970 – 50+2 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 22 October

Venue: Killara Golf Club, 6.00pm

Contact: Jo Beverley (Buckle) jo@mjblaw.com.au

2007 – 15 Year Reunion

Date: Friday 28 October

Venue: The Oaks Hotel, Neutral Bay

Contact: Sophie Hordern sophie.hordern@gmail.com

1992 – 30 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 5 November

Venue: The Oaks Hotel, Neutral Bay

Contact: Annabelle Ashwin Annabelle_ash@hotmail.com

1987 – 35 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 5 November

Venue: David MacFarlane Centre (DMC), Pymble Ladies’ College 

Contact: Katrina Corcoran kcorcoran@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

1982 – 40 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 5 November

Venue: Colonnade Classroom, Pymble Ladies’ College

Contact: Jenny Garlick (Thorpe) jennyg@asquithvet.com.au

1996 – 25.5 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 5 November

Venue: Palm Bar @ Cabana Bar, 25 Martin Place, Sydney

Contact: Eve Kirby – 0438 619 899

2015 – 5+2 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 5 November

Venue: The London Hotel, 85 Underwood Street, Paddington

Contact: Amelia Jang – amelia.jang1@gmail.com

1957 – 65 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 12 November

Venue: David Macfarlane Centre (DMC), Pymble Ladies’ College

Contact: Margaret Scott (Wright) trevorwill@bigpond.com

1981 – 40.5 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 26 November

Venue: David MacFarlane Centre, Pymble Ladies’ College

Contact: Margot Murden mmurden@tpg.com.au, Alison Knox alisonknox1@tpg.com.au and Kristin Siebel (Gissing) kristinjane1963@bigpond.com

1977 – 45 Year Reunion

Date: Saturday 3 December

Venue: David MacFarlane Centre (DMC), Pymble Ladies’ College

Contact: Christine Bartlett christine@bartlettandcoles.com.au

2023 Reunions – Save the Date

1956 – 65+2 Year Reunion – Saturday 4 March 2023

1983 – 40 Year Reunion – Saturday 25 March 2023

1953 – 70 Year Reunion – Sunday 29 July 2023

1963 – 60 Year Reunion – Saturday 2 September 2023

1958 – 65 Year Reunion – Saturday 23 September 2023

1973 – 50 Year Reunion – Saturday 4 November 2023

Follow us on Instagram!

Calling all Pymble alumni! We’re now on Instagram. If you haven’t already, follow us at @pymblelcalumni to stay up to date with all the latest news and events.

Births, engagements, marriages and vale notices

Vale: Diana Rose (Ferguson, 1963)

Diana passed away suddenly in Taree in June 2022 at the age of 75.

Diana started at Pymble Ladies’ College in Year 3 in 1955. She enjoyed her time at Pymble, finishing in 1963 as a prefect and Head of Lang House. Di used to tell great stories about her Pymble days, her teachers and friends, many of whom she kept in contact with her whole life. Di graduated from Pymble and attended Sydney University achieving a B.A and started working with a mineral and exporting company in North Sydney.

In 1972, she married Dr Colin Rose and they built a life together in Taree. Colin and Di had three children: Andrew, Alex and Tim. Di became heavily involved in the Taree community as a doctor’s wife and through many organisations such as Meals on Wheels, family day care and in the children’s school. Diana was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) in 2015 for her service to the Taree community.

As her children grew older and became boarders at the Scots College and Pymble, she enjoyed involving herself in the Boarders Parents Associations, attending lots of sporting games and Garden Parties. Di loved her garden, travelling and, above all, her five grandchildren.

Diana was a true Pymble lady, continuing a long family history with the College and its beginnings. The Reverend John Ferguson was the founding chairman of the college from 1913 to 1923 and George Ferguson, his grandson, was Chairman of the College whilst Diana was a student. It gave Diana great pleasure when her daughter Alex Walker (Rose 1995) attended the college as a Boarder in Marden House and to see two of her granddaughters, Catherine Walker (Year 10) and Emily Walker (Year 8), currently attend the college.

Di will be dearly missed by her family and many friends.

Written by friend Edwina Maher (Dight, 1963) and daughter Alex Walker (Rose, 1995)

Vale: Jean Heather Baalman (Frater, 1951)

26 December 1934 – 9 August 2022, aged 87 years. Late of Narraburra.

Jean Heather Baalman – daughter of Andrew Keith Frater and Elsie Elizabeth Mary Schleibs, and mother of David, Malcolm, Elspeth and Penny – passed away on Tuesday 9 August 2022 at the West Wyalong Waratah Retirement Village.

Rebecca Reardon (Scott, 1989)

From as early as I can remember, I knew I was going to Pymble Ladies’ College as a boarder. It was just the way it was.

My great aunt Isabel McKinney, known as Auntie, was the first of our family to go to Pymble in 1924. She was one of those high achievers, attaining her leaving certificate in 1928 while holding the role of head prefect and winning the Marden Prize, Gold Medallion and dux of her year.

The old oak desk she was given as a prize stands in my hallway today and Pymble’s administration centre is named after her. She went on to be a trailblazer for women in her day, including obtaining a BA with Honours in 1933, being one of the first three women on the Pymble Ladies’ College council (from 1933 to 1977) and captaining the Australian hockey team.

Auntie never had children, so I was like a granddaughter to her. She died in 2008 and was honoured by the school who allowed her funeral to be held in the War Memorial Chapel at her beloved Pymble Ladies’ College.

My grandmother also attended Pymble in 1928, although she lasted only a year. Being a country girl at heart, she was extremely unhappy and left to go to New England Girls’ School in Armidale. Despite this, she subsequently still sent her only daughter away to attend Pymble, my mother.

My mum, also named Isabel McKinney, started boarding in 1954 at the tender age of six. Now as a mother myself, I can’t imagine sending my child away at such a young age. Coming from the outback in southern Queensland, Mum could barely read. She was always a bit of a wild child, so she threw herself into sports instead.

Mum spent 11 years in boarding and graduated in 1964. She married Leigh Scott in 1969 and together they farmed and raised a family in Cootamundra where they still reside today.

I started my boarding journey at Pymble in 1984, and at the time I was completely oblivious to what my parents had given up sending my three brothers and I to boarding school. It is something we don’t realise until the time comes to send our own children.

I always knew I was going to Pymble. Maybe this is the reason why I don’t remember being homesick or having a good cry until about Term 3. Sport was always my escape. I played hockey, tennis, cricket and did athletics, and if I was playing sport, I was self-content.

I was in Goodlet House and in those days we sometimes slept on the veranda. I remember the veranda was left open except for when it rained, mind you it was not desirable to have a bed near the edge as rain invariably found its way through the gaps of the canvas blinds. But this was considered normal at the time, and no one complained.

We ate in same dining room the girls eat in today, but I remember there was a table up the front on a stage from where Headmistress, Miss Buckham, Head of Boarding, Miss Ollerenshaw and other mistresses would eat and look down on all of us.

The food was awful in my time compared to the delicious meals the girls receive today, and I have to say the gorgeous house mistresses that care for the girls today are exceptional compared to my day where pastoral care did not exist.

After school, I went off to study at Sydney University where I completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics Honours while living on one of the college’s campuses. I loved my university days and everything they had to offer.

I met my husband shortly after university, and it’s a rather corny story. I was a bridesmaid for my old school friend, Megan McAlpine, and my husband-to-be was a groomsman for Megan’s new husband. 

We did not marry for another ten years as I was too busy chasing my career. In that time, I also spent a year travelling overseas through Africa and Europe. I am a believer that if you are meant to be together, things will work out, and you shouldn’t live to regret not doing something.

I ended up working in the grain industry for 20 years in trading and management roles. This was a heavily male-dominated industry but to this day some of my best friends are those I made during my time living in Sydney.

During this time in 2003, I moved to Moree with my husband-to-be so he could return to his family farm. We had also started buying up our own land a few years earlier. We went on to have two gorgeous boys and a treasured girl in a four-year window. Having grown up with the freedom of being in the country, I would not have wanted to bring up my children anywhere else. Life was good.

But it was not all sunshine and roses. In 2011, my eldest son, aged five, fell ill with a disease known as aplastic anaemia and required chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, it was quite a miracle that his little brother happened to be a perfect match.

It was a difficult period having to take things one day at a time while missing our other two children who had to live away from us whilst we spent several months in Sydney. People often say how unlucky we were – his condition affects approximately one in 500,000 people.

But we did not have time to wallow, nor have we ever felt unlucky. In fact, despite our challenges, we have always felt lucky. Our child survived and today he is a thriving teenager in perfect health who carves up the rugby field.

These difficult times taught us a few key lessons that will stay with us forever. Firstly, that life is not always fair. Secondly, that there is always someone worse off than you, and lastly, adults have a lot to learn from children and the way they approach adversity.

Today, my husband and I are still farming in Moree whilst I do boardroom work which I love the challenge of. My three children are at boarding school at Shore and Pymble.

My daughter Alex (aka Cabbage) only started boarding this year in Year 7. It was pretty much a forgone conclusion that she, like her mother and great aunty, would go to Pymble. I can picture the look of horror on both of their faces had I not sent her there.  

Like me, Alex always knew she was going to boarding school and has taken it in her stride. I look at all the opportunities Pymble offers today and quite often think to myself how lucky she is.

Fiona Dalton (1984)

I grew up in Newcastle in the 1970s and near Merewether Beach in the early 80s, and it was a very happy childhood. When I was 15, my parents asked me if I would like to spend my final two years of school at Pymble as a boarder, given my Mum was a Pymble girl in the 50s. Always being up for an adventure, I said yes.

And so, in 1983, we packed the car and drove to Sydney for the start of a two-year journey that fundamentally changed the course of my life.

I remember being quite homesick for a few weeks; however, the Year 11 Boarders in Lang House were incredibly welcoming. I was grateful for their friendship with so many new rules to learn. Some of those girls are still my closest friends nearly 40 years later, and together we’ve laughed, cried, loved, supported and lived. In those days, the Year 8 to 10s still slept out on the balcony – thankfully, I was spared that. Our beds were to be changed weekly and we were given one fresh sheet to perform the task. The rule was top to the bottom and the bottom one out. 

Life at Pymble as a boarder suited me, and I thrived. The academic standard was much higher than I was used to and I probably didn’t work as hard as I should have, but there was always so much to do. I loved playing sport at Pymble and was quite involved in Netball. At the end of Year 11, the school announced the office bearers for Year 12. I didn’t think being a prefect would be an option for me, as I thought only girls that had been at the school for longer than a year could be chosen.

However, I was chosen, and no one was more surprised than me. Being a prefect has had a profound impact on me. It was the first time in my life that I realised I was capable of much more than I thought, and I was so proud to be entrusted with such an honour. I ended my schooling years with the inaugural Senior School Entrance Award, many happy memories, a good grade and a swag of pals I’ve been so grateful to call my lifelong friends.

Looking back, the environment at Pymble supported me to become resilient and independent. As a result, my career has never been defined by my gender, nor has my gender defined my career. The world didn’t owe me a living; I knew I had to carve out my own. I know I am tenacious, and I know I owe that to Pymble.

Upon leaving school, I deferred my place at university to study geology and serendipitously got a job in stockbroking. More to allow me the option to remain living in Sydney than because I was passionate about finance, but it opened many doors that, over the next few years, led to becoming a trader with Rothschild.

I was the only female bullion trader in the southern hemisphere in the late 80s at the tender age of 21. I worked the graveyard shift, as it was called, from 4.00am till about 1.00pm each day. From Sydney, I went to work for Rothschild in London, still in bullion, working through a challenging and volatile time that included the Gulf War.

I had a fantastic career in investment banking, however it wasn’t my passion. Travel had stolen my heart, so I started again at age 26 in travel and tourism, and over the last 29 years, I have worked my way into some relatively senior roles. I’ve been the GM of Sales for Qantas Holidays, the Managing Director for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, the CEO of The Travel Corporation and currently, in my favourite role of all, the General Manager for Australia and New Zealand for Virtuoso, the world’s largest luxury travel community.

I’m also a Non-Executive Director of Destination Sydney Surrounds and North, the tourism region that spans from Port Stephens in the north to the Upper Hunter, Lower Hunter and Central Coast in the south. I’m excited to play my part in giving back to the visitor economy in my spiritual and childhood heartland over the next few years.

From the record-breaking heights of 2019, the pandemic has hit our industry probably the hardest of all sectors. It’s been an incredibly tough time for travel and tourism operators. The world came to a standstill, our borders were shut and many tourism businesses forcibly could not trade. Over 60 per cent of employees across the industry were stood down and had to find work in other sectors, and a lot subsequently have not returned. Many travel and tourism businesses did not survive, and the uncertainty meant many previously successful small business owners lost their livelihoods. It’s been both heartbreaking and devastating to watch.

We knew that travel would bounce back, we just didn’t know when. The pent-up demand was extraordinary, and wow, since the border has reopened the industry recovery is in full swing. Despite the current economic and inflationary fears, forward bookings for outbound travel are solid and Australians are back out exploring the world again. The silver lining from the pandemic for me is that newfound love we all have for Australia and a chance to rethink, putting conscious and purposeful travel first.

Often the tourism industry gets a bad rap. We’re frequently seen as counterproductive to sustainability goals and a large contributor to climate change. There’s always a view that over-tourism results in overcrowding and damage at the world’s most sacred sites.

But I know that travel can be a force for good. With a tread lightly approach to how we travel, we can easily see the difference travel can make – on the planet, on animal conservation and our people. By travelling, you’re investing in local economies, helping preserve ancient cultures and artisans’ crafts and aiding wildlife protection. Making a difference is as easy as choosing a knowledgeable advisor who can help guide you on eco and sustainable tourism options and support you to offset your travel arrangements purposefully.

Travel also helps us be better humans. Travellers are, overall, more understanding, more tolerant, and more embracing of cultural diversity, and travel plays an important role in teaching us acceptance.

As for me, coinciding with the pandemic, I took nine months away from full-time work in 2020 to finally attend university. I studied full-time and completed a master’s in Business Administration with a major in Managing and Leading People at SCU. I graduated in June 2022. 

Despite being involved in leadership over the last decade, my MBA has given me the confidence and completeness in the workplace I knew I was missing. At times I admit I felt the all too familiar imposter syndrome, believing I wasn’t worthy of success without qualifications. I think I’ve always regretted not going to university straight after school, but now that I have my post-grad degree, I am finally at peace. I know now that I am more than worthy and, in fact, always was.

More recently, I’ve been actively mentoring the next generation of leaders across the travel industry and spent three years volunteering on the board of a mentoring not-for-profit called TIME (Travel Industry Mentor Experience). I get great personal satisfaction from mentoring the bright, capable, ambitious cohort coming through the industry today, and I know the industry will be in good hands.

And finally, my most important role of all: I am the proudest mum to Alistair (23) and Lucy (20). I’ve been a single Mum since they were 5 and 2, and supporting them to grow up and find their place in the world has been my greatest privilege. That I could also offer Lucy the gift of a Pymble education was an important moment for me as a parent. As the generations continue, I know Pymble will always hold a very special place in our family.  

We want your recipes!

Do you have a favourite recipe for a mouth-watering mud cake? Are you a connoisseur at making a chicken casserole? Perhaps you’re well known for being the master of margaritas.

Whatever your go-to dish or drink is, we’d love for you to share the recipe with your fellow Pymble alumni! Be sure to include a list of ingredients and a method of how to cook/make it.

Please send your recipes to kcorcoran@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au and we will include all submissions in the next Alumni newsletter that will be going out over the Christmas holidays.

Illuminate

Pymble Ladies’ College publishes its research and innovation journal twice a year that features a diverse range of articles written by staff members and guest writers. You can read the latest edition of the College’s research publication, Illuminate: Research and Innovation, below or by clicking here.

Edition 7 includes many insightful pieces spanning across a wide range of topics, providing insight into current issues in Pymble’s classrooms and staff rooms.

Highlights from this edition include:

• Journeys of curriculum innovation in Geography education with articles from Ray Howells (focus on agriculture) and Liam Hume and Deb Owens (focus on interdisciplinary learning); all of whom are members of our Geography, Business and Economics team;
• Mapping a college-wide approach to internal teacher accreditation and reward by Kerryl Howarth, Director of Professional Learning;
• Starting a kindness revolution through research and student leadership by Kate Brown, Head of Junior School;
• Looking at local history through a First Nations perspective by Ryan Stewart, History and Aboriginal Studies teacher and PhD candidate;
• Other articles including research into HSC teaching strategies, research cultures in schools and teachers’ experience in global mentoring programs.

The Magazine

We are excited to share a digital copy of The Magazine 2021 with you. This is our yearly school magazine, compiled with the help of our students, providing an overview of the events, activities and achievements of our girls from Kindergarten to Year 12. 

Look out over in the coming weeks for the opportunity to order a hard copy version. Happy reading!

This is Pymble College – Celebrating 105 years

Pymbulletin

The Ex-Students’ section of Pymbulletin reports on the achievements of Pymble alumni, news items and engagements, weddings, births and vale notices.