News From the Pymble Alumni Team

It’s almost impossible to fathom that we are finishing another year at Pymble.

As always, it has been a full year of growth and learning at the College but most importantly, a beautiful year of Pymble spirit and camaraderie, within our alumni community.

In particular, I would like to thank you for your time, energy, and effort in contributing to the recent proposed new uniform survey. We were overwhelmed by your interest as well as the thoughtful consideration taken with so many of your responses. We are so grateful for your ongoing support and continued unwavering assistance to our community.

I’m looking forward to sharing another productive and fulfilling year in 2025.  Speaking of which, do consider joining me at the Pymble Foundation’s Gala Ball which will be held on Saturday 5 April 2025 at Doltone House, Hyde Park. The Gala Ball celebrates Pymble spirit and  philanthropy. Your presence will help support the Pymble Foundation’s Bursary Program including supporting young girls facing adversity, displaced by war, or impacted by other catastrophic events to access a Pymble education.

The Ball is also a wonderful celebration of Pymble and the perfect opportunity to connect with Pymble friends in honour of a wonderful cause. Learn more about the Pymble Foundation and purchase your tickets here.

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a safe and restful holiday.

All’ Ultimo Lavoro. 

Mrs Katrina Corcoran (Hum, 1987)

Alumni Relations Manager

2024 HSC Results

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 for completing their Higher School Certificate. Have a read about their amazing results and achievements.

ESU President Update

2024 has continued to be busy for the Ex-Students’ Union (ESU).

Following our successful Garden Party stall in September, we prepared for our 95^th Annual General Meeting which took place on Monday 18 November 2024 at the College.

Our 2025 Committee Members were elected as follows:

President: Rowena Ditzell
Vice-Presidents: Victoria Muller, Amy Graham
Treasurer: Susan O’Sullivan
Secretary: Louise Kellaway
General Committee Members: Zoe Wang, Natalie Reid, Kris Graham.

We welcome two new members to the General Committee in 2025: Jenny Makeham and Jane Makeham.

Over the last twelve months, the ESU Committee, in partnership with the College, has undertaken a rigorous review of our legal and governance structure, our Constitution and the evolving regulatory, political and legislative landscape. During the review period we have identified increasing complexities to our structure, a difficulty in remaining current with best governance practices and ongoing legal and accounting implications for our volunteer committee members.

Since July, the Committee has run three consultation sessions with members regarding these potential changes to our structure and constitution. The meetings have been well attended and have included interesting debate. We have also sought independent legal advice to determine our course of action. Over the last few months, we have been reviewing draft documents that will underpin our new structure including an updated Constitution and Relationship Charter with the College. We are planning further member consultation for Quarter 1, 2025 so look out for communications on this if you are interested in participating.  We look forward to delivering a reinvigorated ex-student offering in partnership with the College in 2025.

Rowena Ditzell (1986)

ESU President

From the Archives

I think we often make comments about how time passes by so quickly, but I think that saying rings true so poignantly for 2024!

It was another big year at Pymble Ladies’ College with the girls participating and contributing to so many amazing things. And it was my first year working here at Pymble as the College Archivist. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here this year. I particularly enjoyed meeting so many of you and exploring your stories and times at the College.

Thank you to all of you who have reached out, or sat down with me and shared a yarn, or offered your personal memorabilia to add to the heritage collection of the College or even just read these very words. The role you have all played in the ever-evolving story of Pymble is so valuable and I love to lean into (and learn from) your colourful experiences and personal insights.

I thought for my final post for the year, I might share some of the treasures that have come to light this year. Prior to now, these specific items were not part of the historic collection of the College. Each forms part of the rich tapestry that is Pymble. Perhaps some of these items may spark your curiosity or transport you back in time with a trip down memory lane … or perhaps excite or surprise you! This is just a taste of a very small number of the artefacts and connections made this year with the Archives, with many more behind the scenes adding up to reflect more of our story.

New acquisition: Excursion Bag

This bag was offered to me for the Heritage Collection/Archives by an alumni – an excursion bag used by students in the past to head offsite for adventures. In delving into the experiences of this ex-student, she divulged how she tried to utilise this non-regulation school bag on a normal school day, instead of having to carry the hard school case to school. If she was seen with said bag by a prefect, on a non-excursion day, it was a detention for her! There were sometimes elaborate stories shared with the prefects to try and convince them that she was indeed going on an (fake) excursion and hence the bag was necessary! She recalls legitimately using this bag for an excursion to Warragamba Dam and afterwards seeing lions get fed at what we assume would have been the African Lion Safari. I wonder how many of you remember a bag like this?

This bag dates to c1970 and has soft presentation, a comfortable long strap and a hard inner base. There is no longer an excursion bag for the Pymble students of today.

New acquisition: Library key

This is the key to the McIlrath Library – which was once located in the base of the Chapel building. This very key was used at the official opening in 1953, by a family member of the Governor of NSW who performed the official duties. For all these decades, this key has resided in a bedside drawer of that original user, until a family descendant found it and offered it for the College’s archives! The key making its way to become part of the Archives is a testament to the power of people keeping things (if even by accident rather than by design!) and then to those who see the value in things and come forward to offer them for our collection.

The Archives comes alive: Year 12 Major Work

This is a story about a student who wanted to incorporate archival material into her major art work. It was delightful to work with year 12 student Imogen Hawkins and hear of her vision. Together, we delved into the Archives to unearth historic architectural plans, photographs and letters which Imogen then wove (literally) into her artwork to reflect her experience as a Pymble boarder. In describing her artwork (entitled ‘Home Away from Home’), she says that “Every element contributes to the richness of our boarding house community throughout history, as we girls bring our unique experiences to add to the beauty of our shared space. This work is a testament to the resilience of sisterhood as we navigate the complexities of life together, intertwined.” Imogen’s artwork shows the value of history to the students and to Imogen’s school journey – a shared experience that boarders have been experiencing since Pymble began in 1916. Through her major work, she was also able to learn even more about the history of her school and go behind-the-scenes to see the storage collection area that holds a broad range of the Archives. The end result is her story, which is part of our story.

Collecting and recording today too

It’s not just the past that is being collected … current day College life, along with day-to-day life is also being recorded for posterity … trucks lined up along Avon Road for the new building works; the hedge on campus shaped to say ‘Pymble’; lettuce grown onsite; Turi – one of the College wellbeing dogs; chalk drawings on the asphalt with the sunlight streaming in … the story of Pymble continues …

Many treasures …

Pocket squares from a blazer, a bag of ephemera from a previous principal, a leather-bound marriage registry from the College Chapel (referencing ‘bachelor’ and ‘spinster’ inside), a modern-day winter hat that was recently phased out of the College uniform, an end-of-year book prize with a hand written book plate inside … these are just some of the objects that I have gathered or been given just this year to form part of the continuing story of Pymble … and there are many more.

For every object we do have, there are many more thousands of moments shared and felt in the hearts of you, our alumni, that are priceless memories of your Pymble days that remain with you forever. We value the physical objects and I am privileged to have some of you share your stories with me too.

I look forward to meeting many more of you and hearing your own accounts in the years ahead – please reach out to me at any time if you’d like to share at kmurray@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.

Kate Murray
College Archivist

Where are they now?

Kate Fessey (2012)

I finished at Pymble in 2012 and in the years since I left school I have had some pretty amazing adventures both through work and play. Thanks to my work I have travelled across Australia and lived in Canberra, Darwin and more recently Alice Springs. I have also been lucky enough to have travelled to Europe, road-tripped through America, done pro-bono work in Uganda, hiked through Patagonia and backpacked through South and Central America.

Thinking back to my time at Pymble, sport was definitely a highlight for me. I played all the sports I could fit into the year and I remember the struggle of only being able to pick one Saturday sport each term. Netball, Basketball, Rowing, Touch Footy and Tennis were some of my top picks. Sport is still a huge part of my life and I still play competitive Netball and AFL. I am very jealous that Pymble girls now get to play AFL at school! I wish I got into it earlier.

After completing a Masters in Health Communications in 2017 at Sydney University, I was lucky enough to land my dream job working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in Canberra. Since then, thanks to my work I have had the opportunity to see much of this vast country; from tiny towns on the rugged West Coast of Tasmania, to the heart of Outback Australia, to remote islands off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

Throughout my time at the RFDS I worked on some amazing projects to either improve health outcomes for rural and remote Australians or make the RFDS service delivery more efficient. Some highlights included; working on the RFDS Reconciliation Action Plan to provide better health outcomes and access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Assisting with the rollout of covid vaccinations throughout the top end of Australia, partnering with Share the Dignity to get free menstrual products out to women in remote communities, attending the National Press Club for addresses from the Prime Minister and the Rural Health Commissioner, launching a new Dollar Coin & 20 Dollar Note featuring the Flying Doctor, re-creating the first flight of the RFDS for their 90th birthday, flying in a Tiger Moth Plane across Outback QLD, taking Australian Geographic out to the remote communities to increase awareness of remote health issues, providing defibrillators to medical chest owners in South Australia, supporting the RFDS TV drama that aired on Channel 7 and attending the 2024 Garma Festival in East Arnhem Land.

In 2019, seeking new challenges and further experience I took some time off to do pro-bono work in rural Uganda with the School for Life Foundation. It was here I saw first-hand the impacts of the social determinants of health and the power of education to overcome poverty sustainably. It is no surprise living as the only foreigner in a rural East African village had its challenges and I developed a new appreciation for electricity and running water. But despite poverty, the people were some of the most generous, welcoming and resilient people I had ever met. Whilst in Uganda, I had some wild adventures including tracking mountain gorillas through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on the boarder of the Congo.

When I returned to Australia I moved to Darwin as I knew not only would the outdoor, adventure lifestyle suit me but that the health outcomes and access in some places in the Northern Territory are just as bad as third world countries. Being in Darwin not only provided me with so many work opportunities and experiences but I also got to live the most amazing lifestyle – every weekend would be spent sleeping under the stars, swimming in waterfalls, hiking to the top of mountains, and having cheeky dips in the croc infested ocean.

I am so grateful for all the opportunities and adventures I have had. The work of the RFDS is vital and I will forever be proud to have contributed and been part of the RFDS family.

After seven wonderful years with the RFDS I have just started a new role based in Alice Springs with Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation, better known as the Purple House. Purple House is a very special, innovative organisation, working to get Aboriginal people with Kidney failure back home by providing dialysis on Country in communities in the NT, SA and WA. I am very proud and excited to be able to contribute to such important work and love the new challenge and adventure.

Looking back, I am so grateful for the skills, experiences and network I have from my time at Pymble. My Pymble friends are still some of my best friends and even though we all ended up doing very different things all over Australia and the world we still talk most days and catch-up regularly. Even in Alice Springs I ran into a Pymble girl just last week!

Melissa Deally (Bates, 1985)

Integrative Health Practitioner & Podcaster Transforms Setback into Success—Empowering Listeners to Take Control of Their Health

Whistler, BC, Canada – After being let go from a 24-year corporate career, Melissa Deally faced an unexpected turning point that led her on a profound personal and professional journey. Today, she is the host of the popular health podcast “Don’t Wait for Your Wake-Up Call!” which recently earned her the prestigious “Inspiration and Motivation” award at the 2024 Women in Podcasting Awards. (https://womeninpodcasting.net/winners-2024/?sc=2582284658acbaa607224a578d4b5d1f2d2018d4a)

Nine and a half years ago, Melissa found herself suddenly out of work when her company was acquired by a much larger corporation. “I had been through multiple buyouts, thinking my job was always secure—until one day, I had an hour to pack my things and leave,” she shared. While the shock of the layoff was significant, it ultimately opened a door to a passion-driven career that is now changing lives.

Melissa’s shift began with a personal health crisis involving her two daughters, who both suffered concussions within two months of each other. Helping them through recovery led her to discover health coaching , a field she knew little about but quickly realized was her calling. “I started learning things about my body that I had no idea about—simple, small steps that can drastically improve health. It made me think, ‘How do I not know this in my 40s?’” This revelation sparked the creation of her podcast and continued education to become an Integrative Health Practitioner and Trainer of NLP, Time Line Therapy®, Hypnotherapy and NLP Results Coaching.

Her podcast, “Don’t Wait for Your Wake-Up Call!” was born out of a desire to share easy-to-implement health tips, highlight holistic healing modalities, and showcase stories of individuals who have healed themselves. “When you’re on your own health journey, it can feel overwhelming, lonely, and sometimes even hopeless,” Melissa explains. “But hearing the stories of others who have healed brings hope and inspiration, proving that if they can do it, you can too.”

Over the past three and a half years, Deally has interviewed experts, health professionals, and everyday people who have overcome health challenges, creating a community that uplifts and educates listeners. She is also using her platform for a greater cause – the podcast serves as a fundraiser for her non-profit organization, Girls Matter, (https://girlsmatter.ca/board-members/) which works to keep girls in school in Uganda and Kenya, breaking the cycle of poverty, 1 girl, 1 family, 1 village at a time.

Podcast Highlights:

The show covers a variety of topics, from peak performance and burnout recovery to energy healing and stress management. Some of the most popular recent episodes include:

• Episode 184: Dr. Bruce Lipton – “Energy, Programming, and Healing: Bruce Lipton’s Guide to Transformation”
• Episode 187: Dr. Jill Rosenthal – “Thriving No Matter What Life Throws at You”
• Episode 183: Edit B Kiss – “Raise Your Vibration to Lose Weight and Heal”
• Episode 186: Dr. Kimberly Gordon-Achebe – “Burnout to Breakthrough”
• Episode 188: Kitti Andrews – “Clear the Clutter, Calm the Chaos”

Awards and Recognition: Deally’s passion for spreading the message of self-healing and empowerment has earned her the 2024 Women in Podcasting award in the “Inspiration and Motivation” category. She attributes her success to her loyal listeners, incredible guests, and a relentless drive to inspire others to take control of their health and well-being.

Tune In: Listeners can explore these transformative stories on their favorite podcast platform or by visiting https://yourguidedhealthjourney.com/podcast/.

Join Melissa Deally in uncovering the power of healing and how anyone can take the first step toward optimal health.

Follow Melissa Deally:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadeally/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/melissadeally

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MelissaDeally

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guidedhealthjourney/

Reunions and Events 2025

For further information about the reunions below, please visit our website – https://www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/community-and-events/events/#/reunion

Saturday 1 March – 1990 – 35 Year Reunion

Saturday 22 March – Canberra Reunion

Saturday 17 May – London Reunion (TBC)

Thursday 22 May – Alumni Networking Event

Sunday 27 July – ESU Commemoration Day Service

Sunday 27 July – 1960 – 65 Year Reunion

Saturday 13 September – 1995 – 30 Year Reunion

Saturday 20 September – Garden Party

Saturday 27 September – 1965 – 60 Year Reunion

Saturday 8 November – 2000 – 25 Year Reunion

Saturday 8 November – 1985 – 40 Year Reunion

Saturday 15 November – 1955 – 70 Year Reunion

Convenors Needed!

We need convenors for the following 2025 Reunions:

2020 – 5 Year Reunion

1980 – 45 Year Reunion

Please contact Katrina Corcoran, Alumni Relations Manager on kcorcoran@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au if you would like to convene your reunion.

Reunion Updates

1974 – 50 Year Reunion

A 50-year reunion was held on Saturday 9 November at the College, for the alumni of 1974. Over 60 alumni from 1974 attended a happy and noisy reunion after a grand tour of the school. Some had travelled from interstate and others from the country.

A group of nine women were present who had been at the school from Kindergarten through to Year 12 and another group of 11 had attended Ingleholme Junior School together.

Fourteen boarders were able to make it and spent a fun weekend catching up together.

The College provided a lovely lunch which was followed by dinner at the Greengate Hotel on Saturday evening and lunch at the Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay on the Sunday. There was good attendance at each event.

A wonderful catch up and celebration of old and continued friendships.

Karen Fessey (Turner) and Jane Ellis (Pardey)

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1964 – 60 Year Reunion

The 1964 leavers met on a glorious Saturday afternoon in October at Jenny Hooper’s (Fox) home in Gordon. Thirty girls came for bubbles and canapés and loads of catching up was done, especially with those we hadn’t seen for many years. We reflected on and laughed about things we remembered from our schooldays with our memories prompted by a slide show of old school photos. The consensus was, that we all had such a great time that we would meet again at Jenny’s in five years’ time.

Jenny Hooper

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1989 – 35 Year Reunion

The 1989 leavers came together on Saturday 30 November at 400 in North Sydney to celebrate 35 years since our graduation. Just over 50 of us reconnected and renewed old friendships, shared stories and memories as well as many laughs. A huge shout out to our unofficial archivist, Tina McIntosh, who took us all on an incredible trip down memory lane sharing her photos of school days, excursions, expeditions out at Camp Knox and Quindalup and lots of hilarious 80s hair and formal fashion.

Thank you to everyone who came along and made it a reunion to remember.

Mel Gilmour (Whelan)

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1994 – 30 Year Reunion

We had a delightful catch up last month. We had people travel from all over the country (I flew in from QLD). We had a lovely afternoon at the Union Hotel with chats, drinks and canapes, and some of us kicked on for dinner afterwards. It was wonderful to see everyone and hear about all the adventures and challenges of the past few years. We settled on another get together in five years… consensus was that 10 years would be too long between catch ups!

Amanda Keeling

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2003 – 20 Year Reunion

It was a great afternoon reuniting with the lovely ladies from class 2003. We all caught up on everyone’s careers, kids (trading war stories) and recalled some of our greatest memories from our school days. For those who hung around we did an impromptu tour of the school marvelling at all the new buildings – I think the performing arts building impressed the most having been completed just after we finished school.

Ellie Jeffery

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2014 – 10 Year Reunion

On Saturday 19 October, we held our much-anticipated 10-year reunion. The event brought together about 70 former classmates for an afternoon of reconnection and nostalgia – fittingly accompanied by margaritas and tacos.

The Class of 2014 met at Neutral Bay’s SoCal, which was the perfect backdrop for everyone to catch up and share their experiences from the past decade.

It was impressive to see the diverse paths our classmates had pursued. From doctors and lawyers to Olympians and corporate high-flyers, our year group has embarked on a wide range of exciting careers and life-journeys.

The evening flew by as we indulged in food and drink, and many expressed eagerness for the 15-year reunion.

Overall, the reunion was a great success, and we, your event organisers – Hannah Buchner, Natalie Reid and Hannah Gray – thank everyone who made the effort to come and attend!

We hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did, and we look forward to seeing you at our next reunion.

Hannah Buchner

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Newcastle/Hunter Valley/Port Stephens Reunion

A small group of Pymble ex-students living in the Newcastle/Hunter Valley/Port Stephens areas, met up in mid-November at the historic Stanley Park homestead in Fullerton Cove. The event was the start of a group that hopes to become a regular gathering for alumni in that area.

Though small in number, the group were from the leaving years of 1963, 1967, 1973 and 1974 , and all had a great time chatting and reminiscing about our PLC days.

Plans are for the next one to be a Hunter Valley winery lunch, in May 2025. For information, email organiser Jill Taylor (1973) on jilltaylor1212@gmail.com.

Births, engagements, marriages and vale notices

Births

Sarah Maloof (1999) and her partner Peter Olanda were thrilled to welcome their first baby, Audrey Rose, in August. “She is so perfect, adorable and cute. Everyone is doing well and very much in love”.

Congratulations Sarah and Peter!

Ex-student Tour

Are you interested in visiting your old school grounds for a walk down memory lane? Every term we hold our much-loved Ex-student Tours where our former students tour the campus, share some funny stories along the way and admire how much the College has grown and changed since they left.

If you would like to join one of our Ex-student Tours in 2025, please email our Alumni Relations Manager, Katrina Corcoran (1987), kcorcoran@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au to save your spot.

From the Principal

Hello, and welcome to your final edition of The Jacaranda Post for 2024. As families embark on Christmas celebrations and holidays, locally and around the world, my hope is that you and your loved ones are safe and well.

It’s been another action-packed year at Pymble, which was designated by our Prefect body as the year of ‘2024 Hear Us Roar’, inspired by the Lion King movie. Our students certainly brought their roar to ’24 to achieve outstanding success across academics, sport, robotics, dance, drama, music, and language arts, and to demonstrate the values of our Pymble ‘pride’.

It was wonderful to see our community working together to raise an incredible $74,900 for communities in need this year, of which $41,650 was gifted to The Barbara May Foundation to provide critical maternal health services for young girls and women in East Africa. As this Newsletter went into production, the College was hosting 26 children with a disability on our annual three-day SONY Camp held in partnership with the Shore School, and staff have just returned from our Pymble Gives Back Day of service with a range of organisations all over Sydney.

Service has been an integral part of a Pymble education for many, many years and we are incredibly proud of the life-changing opportunities we have established and supported.

New to Pymble in 2025

In 2025, we look forward to launching our official Service Framework to formalise the College’s approach to service, make it more meaningful, and open the door for all in our community to work together for practical, respectful and lasting change in the world, especially in relation to outcomes for girls and women.

Next year will also see a community-wide focus on the College value of Respect. This follows work conducted throughout 2024 to define Behaviour Statements for each of our five values:

Care – I am kind to myself and others.
Courage – I am open to new experiences to learn and grow.
Integrity – I do the right thing even when no one is watching.
Respect – I value diversity, my worth and the worth of others.
Responsibility – I take ownership of my actions.

These statements will provide the framework for all interactions between members of our community and ultimately become a component of accepting a place at Pymble. This is a positive move forward for the College, recognising that each member of our Pymble family deserves to feel valued for who they are, and that we all share a collective responsibility to make that happen.

In terms of academics, in 2025 we will be working on implementing several new courses under our new Framework for Teaching and Learning, which encompasses skills, knowledge, character, and metacognition. In addition to becoming a Cambridge School and offering IGCSE Mathematics for selected students in Year 10, we are working in partnership with the Centre for Curriculum Redesign in Boston to develop a new elective, Biotechnology, for students in Years 9 and 10.

As for sport, our playing field is about to get even bigger. Building on our recognition this year as an official Olympic Pathway School – the first Independent School in Australia to achieve this status – we have forged partnerships with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in England and the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Spain to give our students opportunities to train and learn with the best in field, internationally.

And last but by no means least, next year at Pymble will mark a significant world-first, with two-thirds of students in Years 4 and 5 and all students in Years 6 and 7 choosing to join our Pymble Wise Phone Initiative. In case you missed the news, the College has offered all students in Years 4 to 8 a ‘Wise Phone’, which will give them access to age-appropriate features, including camera, tap payments, SMS, geo-tracking and other tools, while disabling social media apps and internet browser until students reach 16 years of age. This is in response to research and extensive consultation with students and parents confirming the negative impact of social media and endless scrolling.

It’s a bold step, we know, but one our community is taking together to reclaim childhood for our girls. Our hope is that by going down this pathway, other communities will follow suit and help us create a better world for all our young people.

We have much to look forward to, and much to be grateful for. So, as we head into the holiday break, I wish you all Hakuna Matata (“no worries”) and a very Merry Christmas until we connect again next year. Take care.

Signing off with all best wishes, until we meet again.

Dr Kate Hadwen
Principal

Jacaranda Day

In November, the College gathered for our annual Jacaranda Day service.

Jacaranda Day is a day of giving where we celebrate the service we have done and will continue to do in the future.  We were delighted to welcome back to the College, ex-student Katherine Halliday (2017), Advocacy Coordinator, Baptist World Aid Australia to talk to the students about ethical fashion and how our everyday choices about our clothes reflect our values and our hopes for the world.  We were also delighted to welcome back to the College several special members of our alumni to enjoy the service.

We spoke to our 2024/25 Service Prefects, Juliette and Jessica, about this special event what service means to them.

Spotlight on a Teacher

Meet Nikki Wyse – Head of Senior School 

1. How long have you worked at the College?

I’ve been part of the Pymble community since 1998, starting as a relief Modern History teacher while the regular teacher was on long service leave. After a short stint at Hills Grammar, I was fortunate enough to secure a permanent position in the English faculty, and I’ve absolutely loved teaching here ever since.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being involved in the Boarding community, serving as Head of Lang House for five years and living in Joan Hammond House. In fact, two of my three boys were born while we were living onsite at Pymble, and I truly cherished the sense of family and fun that comes with being part of the boarding community.

In 2008, I became Head of Upper School (Years 10–12), and a few years later, I took on the role of Head of Senior School in 2012 (I think it was then) when the secondary school was restructured. I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside three incredible principals—Gillian Moore, Vicki Waters, and Kate Hadwen—and I’ve learned so much from each of them along the way.

2. What is a standout memory from your time at Pymble?

There are countless standout memories from my time here, and it’s difficult to choose just one. I thoroughly enjoyed the Centenary celebrations, which beautifully blended the rich history of Pymble with its exciting future. It was truly a privilege to be part of such historic milestones. I have also had the opportunity to travel with students on tours and with colleagues to conferences. Pymble has allowed me to see the world; walking through the trenches on the Western Front, sitting in the lecture halls at Cambridge University and touring Shakespeare’s Globe with students have all provided amazing memories. Equally, whilst I was living in the boarding community, Pymble hosted the US women’s gymnastics team during the Sydney Olympics. Having the opportunity to meet some of the athletes and watch them train, was also a once in a lifetime experience.

However, the memories I hold most dear are the moments shared with the girls – whether in the classroom, the boarding house, or simply through conversation. They bring so much joy, reminding me to appreciate the little things in life. I am continually inspired by their kindness, their perspectives, and the way they challenge me to think differently. It is a genuine honour to play a small part in their individual stories of resilience and hope. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow and learn alongside such wonderful young people.

Equally inspiring has been the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated and talented group of colleagues. The collaboration and camaraderie I’ve shared with them over the years has been a constant source of motivation. Their passion for teaching, their support, and their commitment to the students make every day rewarding. I’ve learned so much from them and am grateful for the chance to be part of such an amazing team.

One of the greatest joys has been the sense of community created through the wonderful events we share throughout the year. Whether it’s Garden Party, Year 12 trivia nights, formals, or valedictory dinners, these occasions bring us all together in celebration and reflection. They’re a reminder of the strong bonds we share as a school and the lasting impact of our time together.

3. What is the biggest change you’ve seen to the College?

In many ways, while much has changed, the central focus of working with students and their families has remained constant and continues to be at the heart of my work. Over the years, I’ve seen a number of new buildings and facilities built at Pymble, all of which have enhanced the experiences of the girls. The addition of Vision Valley as an outdoor campus and the significant impact of technology have all brought about notable changes in the opportunities and processes we can offer our students.

Technology has certainly presented many challenges, but it has also brought more opportunities, particularly in how we teach, learn and connect with one another. Despite these changes, the core of my experience at Pymble has always been the relationships – the connection between student and teacher. These relationships remain largely unchanged and continue to bring deep purpose and meaning to my work.

4. What do you love the most about your role?

For most teachers, it’s no secret that our students are what we love most about our work. Over the years, thousands have passed through the doors of the Senior School at Pymble, and I’ve been continually inspired by the energy, passion, occasional cynicism, and, most of all, the joy that students bring. I love the breadth of characters I encounter, from the quiet and thoughtful to the bold and spirited. The unpredictable nature of the work keeps me on my toes and ensures every day is unique.

It’s truly a privilege to walk alongside them in the final leg of their high school journey, and I am intensely aware of the responsibility that comes with being part of this important chapter in their lives. As an English teacher, I also find great joy in discussing literature with the girls and, in turn, trying to ignite that same passion for reading and writing in the next generation of young women. The subject lends itself to a sharing of the human spirit and invites us to share our inner thoughts, insights and dreams.

One of the greatest joys is hearing from graduates, sometimes 20 years after they’ve left Pymble, and learning about their life stories and reflections on their time at school. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how their experiences here have shaped them, and to hear about the paths they’ve taken. Each day is different – never quite the same as the one before – and that is what keeps the work vibrant and challenging, ensuring I continue to grow alongside them.

5. What is it about Pymble which has kept you here?

That’s both a difficult and an easy question to answer – it’s the people. The grounds here are truly beautiful. I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of the most respected schools around the world, but none have matched the physical beauty of Pymble. The opportunities available to students are vast, and the world-class facilities are certainly impressive – but these are all added extras in comparison to what truly makes Pymble special.

What stands out most to me, and what has made Pymble feel like a second family, is the wonderful ‘unending stream’ of girls, the incredibly clever and kind colleagues, many of whom have become trusted friends, and the supportive parents who are always ready to engage with the school community. I arrived here as a relatively young newlywed and have had the privilege of raising my three adult sons while working at Pymble. Life has unfolded around me, with the College being a constant source of support and strength through all the ups and downs. I have faced some of the most challenging times in my Pymble journey, and I have confronted the saddest days alongside my colleagues and the girls. Pymble has taught me, in a very concrete and enduring way, about the power of community and healing powers of kindness and care.

I genuinely couldn’t be prouder to be a small part of the history of this remarkable school. It has truly been a place where my personal values align so closely with the school’s. When I think about my time here, I realise that the real question is less about ‘why stay?’ and more about ‘why would I ever leave?’

Year 10 Future You Festival

The Year 10 Future You Festival 

With support from the Upper School, the Futures Department is proud to share with you the program of events for the 2025 Future You Festival. You can view the program here. 

This large scale event is the culmination of the Futures program for Year 10, preparing them with skills and knowledge to start planning for their post-school pathways.

Each student in Year 10 finished the year with a Cliftons Strengths Top 5 Report. This helps them to identify and use their strengths for:

• Self-Awareness: Identify your natural talents and use this knowledge to build confidence, focus on your strengths, and achieve personal growth.
• Career Success: Align strengths with career or academic goals to improve performance and satisfaction. For example, strengths like Achiever can drive productivity, while Learner supports thriving in growth-focused environments.
• Effective Relationships: Use strengths to work effectively with others. For example, Harmony fosters collaboration, Empathy builds understanding, and Strategic helps in leadership and problem-solving.

Thank you to our keynote speakers, workshop facilitators, alumni, industry representatives, parents and staff who engaged in the program to allow us to deliver it to the year group.

Careers at Pymble

Are you interested in working at Pymble and want to learn more about how we value diversity?       

Watch the video below to hear our staff and College leaders share how valuing a diversity of backgrounds and embracing inclusion are central to our culture at Pymble.       

For more information or to apply for one of our current job opportunities, click here to head to our dedicated Careers website.  

Follow us on Instagram!

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

Pymbulletin

Pymbulletin is our magazine-style publication covering student, staff and College news, initiatives, events and achievements.

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, Edition 10 2024 below: