Together Vol 26 No 1

Togetherthe journal of the Women’s college

Within the university of sydney

volume 26 / number 1 /

winter 2010 /

A ctivities within College in the first half of 2010 continue to provide ample opportunities to extend our knowledge and experiences.

The WATSA fundraising breakfast was an inspiring example and I am confident WATSA’s outreach trips, leadership camps and mentoring programs will provide truly meaningful opportunities for many young Indigenous women.

This year Council will deliberate upon a number of long-term strategic issues including the future size and diversity of College. The University has a goal to increase accommodation for students and it will be vital The Women’s College maintains its position as the pre-eminent destination for women who shape the future.

The results of these discussions will have implications for sub-committees of Council. The Building and Development Committee will explore opportunities within our current physical footprint to expand facilities as well as options to adjust the format of some of our rooms. The Marketing Committee will be focused on effective strategies to ensure women coming to Sydney University consider becoming part of The Women’s College. The Scholarships Committee will work with the University to provide opportunities for a more diverse range of talented students to attend College. And of course, the Foundation and Finance Committee will be carefully working through the impact of these discussions on funding and current business activities such as conferences.

2010 will be a pivotal year and I thank my fellow Council members in advance for their unwavering support.

Lucinda WarrenChair, The Women’s College Council

chair notes PrinciPal points

W e pride ourselves on our vision to be the leading College for women who shape the future and we

seek to ensure this aspiration through leadership activities for young women.

On 28 May we welcomed over 140 senior students from NSW High Schools to our Leadership Day, Girls Leading Social Change. Amongst the case studies was the work of College alumna, Rebecca Ordish, who has established the Mitrataa Foundation to support the dreams and aspirations of deprived Nepali girls.

Similarly, participants learnt about WATSA (Women’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Alliance Project) and the outreach programs it runs to promote and encourage the educational opportunities of young Indigenous women. The day concluded with participants utilising on-line technologies to address a social issue and recognising the power of such connections for leadership purposes as well as for fun!

In line with our intention to develop young women leaders, we will also be inaugurating a Leadership Program for our continuing students in Semester Two. The aim is to identify and enhance the skills of our students in ways that will contribute to their individual employment potential and ensure that we have a cohort of effective and empowered student leaders as we move into 2011.

Jane Williamson Principal, The Women’s College

2 / The Journal of The Women’s College / winter 2010

Content s

Chair notes & Principal pointsChancellor’s dinner galleryThérèse Rein visits CollegeCollege careers dayGretel MacdonaldLavinia ChrystalLucy Sheppard’s bright future2010 House CommitteeUBS Leadership AcademyBridget Murphy on exchangeNew Senior RAWEW & WATSA galleryCara Edgeworth DavidFrom the Alumnae President3 peaks 3 weeks challengeBest friendsStaying connectedValeProfile: Ingrid PearsonEvents calendar

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/ The Journal of The Women’s College / 3

on 22 march college celebrated our scholarship and prize winners and unveiled a portrait of distinguished alumna, her excellency Professor marie Bashir ac cvo. CloCkWise from floWers: vice chancellor dr michael spence speaking at the unveiling; indigenous scholarship holders cassandra macfarlane and Paige miller (centre) with michelle Blanchard and lilon Bandler; chloe simpson; suzanne sherrington with her excellency; her excellency with her portrait, by artist gillian dunlop; new college council member, senate rep. ros Bohringer with dick Persson.

2010chancellor’sdinner


College Careers Day7am–1pm friday 15 october 2010

Would you like to promote your graduate program, company or workplace to a group of high achieving leaders of the future?

As part of our commitment to nurturing outstanding women graduates, and to exposing our students to the world of work, the College is hosting a careers morning on friday 15 october 2010.

Program7.00–8.30am Employers’ Breakfast and Panel

9.00am–1.00pm Careers Market in the Menzies Common Room

exPressions of interestIf you would like the details of exhibiting at our careers market, please contact: dr tiffany donnelly, vice Principal the Women’s college e: [email protected]: 02 9517-5005

joBs for the girls

thérèse reinvisits college

At the invitation of 2010 charity convenors, lara meers and celeste Buckley, thérèse rein was guest speaker at college’s special charity formal dinner on 31 may. the successful businesswoman spoke about the opportunities she has had to meet with inspiring charities run by australians in africa in her role as wife of Prime minister Kevin rudd. she described in particular the work of Kathryn hamlyn’s ethiopian fistula hospital and gemma sisia’s school of st jude in tanzania.

ms rein spoke of her belief that “charity is about giving of yourself,” and challenged students to use their signature strengths and competencies to make a difference in people’s lives.

G retel Macdonald has a special relationship with College. Not only have several of her cousins and aunts resided here (second cousin Catherine Dawson is currently in second year studying Arts Commerce), Gretel is related to the first Principal Louisa Macdonald. Miss Macdonald was Gretel’s grandfather’s aunt

on her father’s side, a fact she feels contributes to her kinship with College. More than that, though, Gretel says “there’s a really strong sense of family at Women’s – not just because my family has been here – it extends right through the community. I feel really proud that Louisa created an opportunity that girls are still benefitting from today.” Gretel is in the first year of her arts languages degree, majoring in Spanish.

Louisa’s great-great-niecemeet

slAlom ChAmpion

n ational slalom champion lavinia chrystal has been on skis since age three. she joined a race team at twelve and was selected for

the nsW team at fourteen. now in the third year of her economics and social sciences degree, lavinia maintains elite athlete status, travelling the world in university semester breaks.

Lavinia was one of three students sponsored by Women’s College and Sydney University Sport & Fitness to attend the 6th World Conference on Women and Sport, held in Sydney in May. An array of international speakers met to discuss strategies for increasing the number of women in sports leadership positions internationally.Lavinia says that as well as opening doors for future career and sport options, the conference opened her eyes to some key issues: “Athletes work so hard to get to elite level and it’s tragic

that there’s more media coverage of misbehaving footballers than of women’s sporting successes.”Lavinia has been a member of the Australian ski team for the past three years. In 2009 she won the Australian National Slalom Championships and qualified for the World Junior Championships in Germany, achieving the best result from the southern hemisphere in ten years. She is now in training for the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup, and has her sights set on the 2011 World Championships.As well as keeping up a schedule of training, competing, and studying, Lavinia has found time to participate in intercollege swimming, tennis and softball. “My sport lets me travel, use my languages [Spanish, German and French], meet amazing people, as well as doing the thing I love. You can’t have it any better than that really. But being at College gives me a normal life. Everyone is so special here; I’m just Lavinia. College keeps me grounded.”

college rap

in april college hosted the sixth annual uBs young Women’s leadership academy (yWla). fifty female students from public high schools in the act, nsW and victoria, were billeted at college in our students’ rooms and given the chance to explore the possibilities of further education and a career in business.

Over five days participants covered topics such as team building, physical and vocal presence, goal setting and leadership styles, as well as enjoying several excursions including a visit to UBS and a formal reception in the Chifley Tower boardroom with UBS staff.

2010 YWLA participants composed a rap song to perform at their graduation dinner on 16 April which summed up their busy week:

Wake up in the morning and I’m going to Sydney. Got my suitcase, got my ticket. Gonna hit the city. Before I leave brush my teeth. Grab my UBS pack. ‘Cause when I leave for the day, I ain’t coming back. Wo-men with a cause (CAUSE!) Breaking all the laws (LAWS!) Sleeping on their floors (FLOORS!) Getting up at six (SIX!) We didn’t get to pick (PICK!) And getting really tiiirrreeeeddd…

Women’s College YWLA coordinator, fourth-year psychology student Holly Hart, felt the program gave students a sense of independence in coming to Sydney. “By the end of the week some of them had changed what they want to do after they leave school. They all loved College and many of them said they want to come back when they’re at uni to experience College life more fully.”

lucy passes muster

Third-year agricultural economics student lucinda sheppard spent part of last summer on three properties in Queensland, owned by cattle farmer Graeme Acton. After hearing Acton speak in scone at a dinner for the Upper hunter Beef Bonanza, lucy was determined to spend some time on the almost four million acres of grazing land owned by the Acton land & Cattle Company.

l ucy spent four weeks in November – December 2009 working up to fifteen hours a day as a jillaroo, fulfilling the professional experience requirement of her university degree. There were long days in the saddle but the work was extremely varied: “One day you’d be in a genetics lab with a vet working with

$40,000 a head cattle and the next day you’d be out de-horning cattle with ringers or mustering with a chopper.”

On her return to College this year Lucy was keen to investigate her career options further with a professional mentor. Through the College mentoring program, Lucy has been matched with alumna Debbie Leader (1997–98), Senior Marketing Planner, Regional Banking for Westpac.

“I always thought banking would be a little mundane,” says Lucy, “but my discussions with Debbie about potential career opportunities in regional banking have made me think again. Debbie has also given me ideas about options I didn’t know were available to me, like consultancy roles and research opportunities at different companies. The mentoring program has been one of the best aspects of College I’ve experienced.”

Our House Committee executive for 2010 are a committed trio. Pictured with College Principal Dr Jane Williamson, they are (left to right):

house Committee

2010

treasurer Emily James 3rd year Commerce

senior studentAnna Wright-Hands 3rd year Arts

secretaryKaren Muller 3rd year Science/Medicine

winter 2010 / The Journal of The Women’s College / 5

Bridget takes on Congress

Commerce liberal studies student Bridget murphy is one of a number of Women’s College students on exchange this year.

B ridget has spent the past two semesters at Georgetown University in Washington DC: “Georgetown is so different

to Sydney as it has only six thousand undergraduates,” Bridget reports.

“The ratio of students to professors is very low – in one of my economics classes there are six students and the professor, so everyone knows you. It’s similar to Women’s College in that way, and it’s been very easy to make friends.”

Bridget is taking senior units in economics and government, and is living on campus in a shared dorm room. She says campus life is vibrant and the hype around sports is incredible: “Georgetown is a big basketball school. We recently played arch rivals Duke University and Obama and Joe Biden came to the game!”

While in Washington Bridget has also been working as a legislative intern with the National Council on Problem Gambling. With Council Director, Keith Whyte, Bridget has spent time on Capitol Hill speaking to Congressmen lobbying sponsorship for the Comprehensive Gambling Act.

If passed, the bill will change the American Public Health Act to include gambling addiction: “There’s a federal tax on gambling winnings in the US and none of it is going into public spending. The bill is asking for a quarter of a percent of these tax takings to go to competitive grants so health organisations can fund their gambling addiction programs.”

Bridget says her internship, organised by Women’s College before she left, has been an invaluable experience: “You can be on campus for a couple of weeks and not leave Georgetown so the internship has given me something else to focus on. It is quite hard to find contacts when you’re settling in and only in the city for a short time, so using the College contacts was really important. I’m also used to working and as I can’t work in the US this has kept me stimulated. And working on Capitol Hill has been amazing.”

Bridget has spent the past two

semesters in Washington DC.

louise ProWse: new senior ra

A fter gaining a bachelor of arts with honours in history while living at Women’s college from 2003 to 2006, louise Prowse

has returned to college this year as our new senior resident assistant. louise worked for the cancer council after graduating, looking after their state retail merchandise and corporate accounts before travelling across australia and then abroad for five months, zigzagging her way from london to greece. on her return to australia louise took a graduate job in the department of veterans’ affairs, researching the intergenerational effects of vietnam service on families.

louise has returned to sydney university to undertake a doctorate in history. her thesis will examine the notion of identity in australian country towns and will look at how towns such as her home town, Tamworth, have redefined their relevance in a post agricultural environment. as the research will involve visits to local archives and libraries in inland

country towns in nsW, louise will be rediscovering her country roots.

louise takes over from dean of students amy chaffey, who is working in Western australia for construction firm Laing O’Rourke after completing her engineering degree last year. asked how she feels about returning to college, louise says: “each year i’ve been at Women’s i’ve had a different role – from being a ‘fresher’ in first year, to o Week and spring cocktail committee member in second year. i was on house committee and produced fresher revue in third year, and in fourth year i was a resident assistant. i’ve enjoyed seeing the college from different perspectives as it always seems to offer new challenges.” of her new position heading up the resident assistant (ra) program, louise says: “the ras are a fantastic team and they really impress me with their ideas and the way they contribute to college. i’m also excited about working with the girls who have just started first year, and look forward to seeing them come into their own over their time at college.”lo

uise

Pro

wse


/ The Journal of The Women’s College / 7

Clockwise from left:

Women’s education Worldwide conference hosted by College in January: International delegates enjoy a cocktail reception on the Museum of Contemporary Art terrace; the American contingent; keynote speaker Professor Denise Bradley; student delegates from Women’s College Sydney and Brisbane.

WATsA breakfast 30 march: Susan Matthews facilitates a remembering of Indigenous history; guest speaker Maureen Wenzel; Suzanne Young (1987–89) and Shanise Lawrence.

andWeWWatsa breakfast

like louisa macdonald

she combined high academic qualifications

and a reputation for energetic

commitment to her work. Both women were to devote much of

their energies to improving the

status of women in colonial society.


canberra historian Jennifer Horsfield is currently writing abook, entitled “The David Women,” about cara edgeworth david and her two daughters.

L ouisa Macdonald, the founding Principal of The Women’s College, was at the very centre of a group of liberal intellectuals

who dominated Sydney’s cultural life from the 1890s onwards. Until the Great War destroyed their hopes, they saw the new century as ushering in a more enlightened, kindlier age. They believed that the young Commonwealth could lead the world in its care for women and children and in its enlightened social and educational arrangements. Many in the group were disappointed in the failure of the established Anglican church to work alongside them in their mission for social change and regeneration. For this reason the Theosophical Society under its charismatic founder, Annie Besant, drew many thoughtful people to its cause, among them many of Louisa Macdonald’s friends. Louisa, however, kept her distance from what she called ‘foolish’ versions of spiritualism, though like the Theosophists she was troubled by the complacent materialism of colonial middle-class society.

From the time of her arrival at Sydney in 1892, Louisa became involved in a wide range of voluntary organisations through which she met a circle of men and women who shared her beliefs in the power of education to bring about social change. One of these women was Cara David (née Mallett), the wife of T. W. Edgeworth David, Professor of Geology at the University. Cara Mallett was an orphan from a working class background in England, but having gained a scholarship to the prestigious Whitelands College in London she trained as a teacher. A gifted and intelligent student, Cara went on to become a lecturer on the College staff. In 1882 she was interviewed in London and personally appointed by Sir Henry Parkes as Principal of the new Hurlstone

Women’s Training School in Sydney. This was the first such teacher training school for women in the colony. Cara Mallett was to receive a salary of £300 per annum and was to become one of the colony’s first independent, highly qualified professional women. Like Louisa Macdonald she combined high academic qualifications and a reputation for energetic commitment to her work. Both women were to devote much of their energies over the coming decade to improving the status of women in colonial society.

After Cara Mallett married the young mining surveyor, T.W Edgeworth David, in 1885, she was required to resign her teaching position. Edgeworth David’s appointment in 1891 as Professor of Geology saw the family settled permanently in Sydney where Cara became involved in voluntary work for the welfare of women and children. Along with his wife, Edgeworth David supported the suffrage movement and was in advance of his time, both in encouraging women to study geology and employing women on the staff of his department.

In 1892 the Davids helped found the Australasian Home Reading Union, which was something like a Victorian version of an Open University. The recently knighted Sir William Windeyer, Professor Francis Anderson of Sydney University and Miss Louisa Macdonald were also involved in its formation. For a small subscription of half a crown a year, people could enrol in a course of their choice, receive a list of recommended books to read, and in the monthly journal find articles of interest related to their home study. Louisa wrote an article in the 1892 edition on ‘A Visit to Greece’. There were courses of reading and study in science, history and general literature, and ‘assemblies’ were organised

where people in one area could meet for monthly discussions, readings and social exchange. The NSW branch of the union prospered for a number of years, gaining members throughout the colony’s townships and rural centres. In the end, though, it failed to attract the very people whose needs were greatest, the poor and uneducated. Given that the 1890s were a time of economic depression and labour unrest, it would have been hard to attract working people to a group like this which they would have seen as a club for the rich and privileged.

However, Cara David and Louisa Macdonald were also committed in very practical ways to the welfare and education of children. Together with their friend, Maybanke Wolstenholme, they supported the introduction of free kindergartens in the inner city, and both Cara and Louisa were involved in introducing proper courses of training for young women in this field through the Teachers’ Association. They shared the belief, common to their circle of friends, that the key to social reform and a better future for humanity lay in the provision of a healthy, nurturing environment for all citizens from babyhood on. For this reason they also supported the Ashfield Infants Home, where illegitimate children and their mothers were cared for. Both women deserve greater recognition for their role in the early feminist movement in Australia.

main photo, on oppositie page: Cara, as Miss Mallett, Principal of Hurlstone College (Photo courtesy of Anne Edgeworth).

inset photo, on oppositie page: The young Miss Mallett (Photo courtesy of Anne Edgeworth).

inset photo, above: Louisa Macdonald, Principal of The Women’s College.

Louisa’scircle


From the alumnae President

o nce again, our year started with a bang. This time it came from the happy hubbub of delegates settling in to College

for the Women’s Education Worldwide Conference ‘Empowering Women: The Economic Imperative’.

Your committee and our ever-willing alumnae volunteers staffed the registration desk and a stall offering College merchandise, helped out with guiding on the memorable ‘Skirting Sydney’ bus tour, and developed the alumnae strand of the program which focused on mentoring and alumnae participation.

Our special thanks go to Wendy McCarthy of McCarthy Mentoring, Tracey Beck, this University’s Manager of Alumni Relations and Tiffany Donnelly whose superb contributions to the program held the delegates’ attention to the final minute on the final day.

WEW 2010 was a great success and is a tribute to Dr. Williamson, to Yvonne Rate, and to all members of the College staff whose efficiency, good humour and imperturbability ensured that all participants, whether temporary residents or in for the day, felt thoroughly at home.

The conference gave us the opportunity to meet some remarkable colleagues from five continents, and we hope that this is just the beginning of continuing relationships with them. There is nothing that matches personal contact.

Alumnae enthusiasm for personal contact was clear at the Morning Tea on 10 April. Thanks to our ‘patrons by appointment’ Helen Oates, Alison Holland and Rachel Grahame the event was as popular as ever, with more than forty of us from the 1940s to 1970s congregating in Main Common Room for a good talk and delicious food.

mer

ilyn B

ryce

There will be more chances to get together at other reunions which are planned for this year including the Londoners’ luncheon in July, our AGM on 31 July and the Wisteria Lunch on 18 September.

We’re heading to Canberra in September and the Riverina in early October. Do check the events calendar on the back cover and the web for details.

Finally, have a peek at the University’s Green Paper, which notes the value of the college experience but laments the limited availability of places.

A suggested solution is the ‘virtual college’ – is this the ‘personal contact’ of the future? www.usyd.edu.au/about/strategy/green_paper/index.shtml

merilyn Bryce

Women’s College alumnae continue to prove their mettle, sometimes by climbing mountains. Jess esslemont (2004–07) and lucinda Watson (1997–2000) have both completed the 3 peaks 3 Weeks Challenge, an annual all-female climbing event which aims to summit three of Africa’s highest peaks: mt kenya, mt meru and mt kilimanjaro, in three weeks, raising money and awareness for the three key issues currently facing Africa: environment, education and health.

J ess, who completed a bachelor of science and is now studying for a masters of nursing, raised more than £16,000 and undertook the climbs in January 2010 with an international team of eleven climbers.

As well as climbing mountains, Jess’s team visited the three organisations supported by 3 Peaks 3 Weeks: the Laikipia Wildlife Forum, The School of St Jude, and AIDS charity Support for International Change (SIC). “Summiting the mountains was an amazing challenge,” says Jess, “but the best things about the experience was seeing where the money we raised was going.”

Lucinda Watson completed the 3 peaks challenge in January 2009. She states: “It really takes you out of your comfort zone and coming home is a bit of a reality check after a year of working towards that goal. It makes you re-evaluate and reflect on what’s important.”

Lucinda studied arts with honours in government and is now Assistant Director in International Policy at the Department of Defence in Canberra. She is keen to set up an Australian arm of SIC which would send student volunteers to Africa to help administer their projects, chiefly free HIV testing . “It’s amazing to see how such a small organisation can achieve so much,” says Lucinda. “Their outreach is incredible and has made a positive difference to so many lives – especially women.”

For further information visit: www.3peaks3weeks.org

Weeks3peaks 3

Jess Esslemont at the summit of

Mt Kilimanjaro in January 2010.


JANENicola and I have known each other since we were seven and I moved to Lismore Heights Primary School. Nicola was tall; an intellectual giant – in second class she could read the biggest words I’d ever seen. She was already a leader in the class. I was immediately attracted to her and wanted to be her friend. We were both fair with dark hair and freckles and we were often taken as sisters. She grew taller and I grew wider! When we were nine I moved schools and later my parents relocated to Perth and Nicola moved to Wollongong but we kept in touch.

The three years at College cemented our friendship. I can remember going uninvited to other colleges’ events, raiding Andrew’s and John’s, and Nicola’s expertise in five hundred. Her room was the centre of card activity at College – she would take on anyone and everyone. We also ran shop and as we were on the rowing team we had to keep our weight under 60kg. After the lightweight intervarsity rowing four final on Lake Burley Griffin we ate a whole box of caramel butters from shop and I haven’t been able to eat one since!

Nicola is vivacious and has a great laugh – you know when she’s at a party. I’m much quieter so we complement each other. She used to be a share trader in the futures markets but hasn’t worked in that field since she was married. She has such a quick mind and acerbic wit; if she was unleashed on the business world again she’d make a huge impact. For now though we both channel our extra energies

into our chooks – I have two chooks Nicola has bred and we’re both very interested in being self sufficient. Nicola’s also producing honey on her property in Ourimbah.

Nicola has been there for every single major event in my life – my parents were overseas for my graduation but Nicola was there. She threw me a surprise 21st birthday party but I had glandular fever so the party went on without me while I was in bed at College. We shared a house together in our twenties and were each other’s bridesmaids. And our children are the same age. I regard Nicola as a family member – she has always been and will always be a part of my life. Every year in November we meet up for the weekend with six of our close friends from Women’s. I often say we should all move into a college style arrangement when we’re eighty and look after each other in our dotage.

NICOLAJane and I had made friends instantly at school and at College we just picked up where we had left off. I went to Women’s because my sister had been there. Jane’s mum had been at College too. Jane was a pioneer in sport – soccer, kayaking, rowing – and she was real house committee material [Jane was senior student in her fifth year]. If you went into Jane’s room there was always someone in there. She was making tea and being sociable. Her nickname at College was AAP Reuters because she always knew everything that was going on – she was a great information source. She was quite a reluctant five hundred player; some of us would happily take the afternoon off uni to

play. Jane was more of a Scrabble girl. She is genuinely interested in people and her network is amazing. She’s perfect as a recruiter and she must be great in her role at SydneyTalent.

Jane’s quite a thoughtful person. She’s really mild mannered and it’s sometimes hard to know when she’s upset. She doesn’t ever whinge. She’s also a great listener and gives good advice. I can honestly say we’ve never had a fight or a falling out – not even over the washing up when we lived together. She’s an easy friend.

Jane has a lot more social skills than me – I’m rather tactless and loud and she’s a good listener. I think she’s had to cover up for me a lot. She’s quietly spoken and doesn’t say the wrong thing. She’s a wonderful friend in that way – she has always backed me up and put a positive spin on things. All Jane’s geese are swans.

Jane’s my oldest friend and when someone knows you so well you don’t have to tell them the whole story or explain the situation. We always have fun when we go out together and we have similar ideas about life. Right now I’ve got plenty of time and Jane’s got no time. She’s stretched pretty thin with a career and three children. I feel like I’m not stretched at all – from working in the money markets to working at home. But I made that choice with my eyes wide open and I don’t regret it.

tell us your best friend story. email: [email protected]

Jane oAkeshoTT and nicola TAYler met in primary school in the 1960s and reconnected at College in 1979. Jane is Client engagement manager at sydneyTalent, the University of sydney’s new initiative connecting students with employers and developing their work-readiness skills. nicola lives on a rural property on the Central Coast of nsW where she keeps bees and poultry. They are both married with three children.

Best friends

Always there for each other: Jane as bridesmaid at Nicola’s wedding.


60sjenny chillingworth(CHAPMAN: 1964– 67) BVScJenny has retired from private veterinary practice to enjoy life and concentrate on her other interests: dragon boating, bird watching, theatre and music.

margaret flynn(HENSHALL: 1969) BSc DipEd MSc After four years at Bourke High School Margaret is now teaching at Ungarie Central School and finding living out west challenging and invigorating.

lucinda Wright(1965–67) BA LLBLucinda has retired from the public service where she worked in foreign affairs and immigration but continues to consult for a legal firm on migration matters. She was a member of the Migration Review Tribunal from 1999-2007.

70sKerry dunne(1970–72) BA MA PhD DipEd Kerry is professor and director of the Language Centre, Faculty of Arts, University of Wollongong.

fiona Place(1976–78) BA Fiona has recently republished Cardboard: A Woman left for Dead (Odyssey Books, 2009), the story of a woman’s life threatening eating disorder.

merrion tom(1979 – 80) BPharm After twenty years working part-time in hospitals and as a consultant in home medicine reviews, Merrion is working full-time for SCR Pharmacy in Sydney. She plans to retire to the country when her three daughters are independent.

80srachel cameron(1989–96) BSc (Hons) PhD Rachel is business development manager, ProScribe Medical Communications, an internationally recognised Australian company providing medical writing services.

melissa clift(1987–90) BEc Melissa left Sydney in 2009 for a sea change and is currently building up her own management consulting business in Tuncurry.

svetlana grozdanov(MITREVSKA: 1983–85) BPharm Svetlana is senior oncology pharmacist at Wollongong Hospital. She has two teenaged children.

janine Kermode(O’DONNELL: 1987– 89) BSc LLB After a brief stint in Sydney in a large CBD law firm Janine moved to Orange where she works as a government lawyer for the NSW Department of Industry and Investment.

michelle sander(1987–89) PhD Michelle is working as a sonographer on the South Coast of NSW. She has two children.

At the 1970s BBQ lunch in December 2009 (left to right):

Sally SEDGWICK (1977–79), Jane Pattinson (KEIR: 1976–79),

Jenny Griffiths (MASSIE: 1977–79), Bethanie Hosie

(HAMMOND: 1977–79), Sally PATON (1977–79), and

Alice Wood (WETTENHALL: 1977–79).

NEWS FROM SOME OF OUR ALUMNAE

staying connected

50sjan haskins(RALSTON: 1953 –58) MBBSJan is working as a locum and enjoying the change after 29 years in medical practice at Wahroonga.

Please send us your news for the next issue of Together: [email protected]


90santhea Bryant(COSIER: 1999–01) BNursAnthea is a research nurse at the Western Australia Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care, Curtin University and in the Day Surgery Unit at Peel Health Campus, Mandurah, WA. She was married in October 2009.

alexandra crossing(1993–94) BEcSocScAlex is portfolio manager with Global Multi Manager division of CBRE Investors, located in Singapore since May 2008. She has two children.

alexis elbourne(WARD: 1999–02) B DentistryHaving recently bought a vineyard, Alexis is living and working in the Hunter Valley and trying to make wine.

Kerryn gamBle(1996–97) BAppScKerryn is a project manager working with major metropolitan hospitals in Melbourne managing patients at risk of VTE (Venous thromboembolism). Her daughter Mia was born in 2009.

rebecca graham(1994) BA LLB After five years working with the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, Rebecca has returned to Sydney and is working in coronial law for Legal Aid.

melissa heazlewood(OBERMAN: 1994–96) BSpPathMelissa is part-time senior speech pathologist with the acute stroke unit at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. She has two children.

georgina hutchings(ASHTON: 1997) BSc Georgina is a psychologist with the mental health crisis team, drug and alcohol unit and eating disorder clinic with ACT Health and Prison ACT.

gemma young(WILSON: 1999–02) BA LLBAfter three years as an institutional stockbroker at Morgan Stanley, Gemma is now at FD Third Person in Perth. She was married in February 2010.

00smegan BlaKe(2000–03) BLibStudies Meg has taken up a new position as an associate site start up specialist with pharmaceutical company Quintiles. Her previous position was clinical coordinator at the Institute for Eye Research.

linda giBBons(2000–04) BA LLB Linda is an associate lawyer at Herbert Smith London.

jane negline(2000–02) Bec Jane lives in Los Angeles, California and works in personal publicity, looking after actors for Platform PR.

rebecca smith(2005) BA LLB Rebecca is working as a legal assistant at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London.

michelle Waterham (McCORMICK: 2001–05) MBBS Hons FRACP Michelle is paediatric registrar at Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Her daughter Elizabeth was born in December 2009.

With thanks to all who supported the College in the first half of 2010. this column recognises our donors and celebrates the diverse range of support that the college receives. no matter how small or large, each gift makes a difference to our students and the projects we support.

scholarshiP fundingAssisting those in need to complete tertiary education.

Yvette Black Philippa Childs Wayne & Sandra Culph Primrose Moss

further donations John Copeland Janet McCredie

Women’s college aBoriginal & torres strait islander alliance (Watsa) Contributions will be used for an outreach trip to Western nsW in July 2010, a leadership Camp for indigenous girls planned for october 2010 and a mentoring program for sydney based indigenous schoolgirls.

Lilon Bandler Judith Barbour Ann Booth Elizabeth Elliot Julia Featherstone Robin Fitzsimmons Janet Flint Jill Forrest Denise Fung Rachel Grahame Jacquei Hicks John Highfield Libby Jones Susan Knights Janet McCredie Wendy McCarthy Lisa Muir Ros Ogilve David Ojerholm Belinda Piggott HH&JM Ralston Catherine Rothery Victoria Russell Leonie Starr Susan Steggle Ros Strong Suzanne Young

of our donors

in APPreciation



sue copland (russell: 1962– 65)

1 February 2010

College friend Jeanette Beaumont writes:

Sue Copland’s life embodied

all that the founding members of The Women’s College would have desired. She was scholarly, socially and politically well informed, had great strength of character and was able to maintain lasting friendships. A country girl from the Mudgee District, Sue was home schooled until her senior years at St Catherine’s Waverly where she matriculated with the maximum Leaving pass in 1959. She enrolled at Sydney University, entered College, and joyfully embraced undergraduate life.

Her honours degree in classical archaeology led to two years working with a British archaeological team excavating on the Persian Gulf. Sue married Dr John Copland and like many women, followed his career. From Port Moresby she wrote notes on the news for the ABC and taught at the Administrative College. In Benalla Victoria, where John established a new regional laboratory, Sue undertook a Diploma in Education, did further incisive reporting for ABC Radio and taught English.

She pursued studies in current Middle Eastern politics and economics. Thus, when John’s work took them to Canberra, she worked with the Office of National Assessment as a Middle Eastern Analyst, then in the Houses of Parliament assisting various committees. In 1987 she moved to the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (later AusAID) working for the South Asia sector.

In 2005 ill health forced Sue to retire. In spite of the cancer that plagued her, she continued to exercise her formidable intellect by taking courses in Art History and literature at ANU. She was a brilliant conversationalist and up to the end kept her friends delighted with her wit and wisdom.

Katherine anne jacobs oam (Baldry: 1947– 49)

11 December 2009

Katie Jacobs was a fourth generation descendant of a pioneering pastoralist Australian family. Born at Wallandoon,

Wallendbeen in 1929 she was educated at home by correspondence and later boarded at Kambala Church of England School for Girls in Sydney. She gained a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Sydney where she was a resident of The Women’s College. At College she played intervarsity tennis, and developed life-long friendships, notably with Pamela Jack (LYTTLE: 1947–50).

In 1952, on the completion of her degree, she set off for Europe with two close friends. Katie married veterinarian Ashley Jacobs in 1953. They settled in Wallendbeen East where they brought up their four children.

Katie’s life was distinguished by her commitment to the Red Cross. Her fundraising activities and her service to the Wallendbeen branch continued for over sixty years. In 1996 she received an OAM for her services to the Red Cross, with particular mention of the role she played in establishing a blood bank in Nepal in the 1970s.

Katie loved art and architecture; her house at Wallendbeen, designed by Pam Jack, was filled with paintings and objects she and Ashley had collected together. Her home enabled Katie to share her love of beauty and life with many special friends.

Following her diagnosis with breast cancer, Katie gained a deep understanding of living with an illness, which she then used to give strength to many others. Katie was a person of boundless energy, enthusiasm and warmth. She lived for family, friends, art, music, and community service. She inspired others with her enthusiasm and love of life.

Sources: Sydney Morning Herald, Cootamundra Herald, Katie’s daughter Susan JACOBS (1977–78).

alexandra Pianoff (1975)

28 October 2008

College friend rosemary Jean page writes:

Known to her friends as Alex and to her family as Sonia, Alex

was the daughter of a Russian father and Australian mother. She grew up in Buenos Aires, London, rural New Zealand and Sydney and attended North Sydney Girls High School where she showed a strong aptitude for literature, languages and for ballet. She enrolled in an Arts degree in 1972, and lived at Women’s College during 1975 while completing her Honours year in French (awarded First Class).

Alex won a Mâitrise ès Lettres scholarship to the Sorbonne in Paris to undertake her Master’s Degree. The several years she spent in Paris were a source of great stimulation but also serious health set-backs, later diagnosed as the onset of Hodgkins’ disease. One of the highlights of her time in Paris was spending time with her Russian grandmother.

On her return to Sydney Alex taught at various secondary schools in Sydney, and the Adult Migrant Education Service, where she developed a publication English for Nurses. In 1985 Alex married Jim Franklin, then a tutor in Mathematics at the University of New South Wales.

Alex developed a strong interest in psychology, and completed a degree in cohort studies at Macquarie University.

During the 1990s deterioration in health prevented her from continuing her paid work. From her peaceful family home in Lane Cove she maintained her love of reading, swimming and yoga. She worked to complete a manuscript based on her student years in Paris (published posthumously as City of Anticipation).

Alex is remembered by her husband, family and friends for her vivacity, her beauty, her intelligence and enduring love for life.

ingrid pearson is Deputy head of the Graduate school at the royal College of music (rCm), london. Born in newcastle, Australia, ingrid began her clarinet studies at newcastle Conservatorium. she lived at Women’s College in 1992 and graduated from the University of sydney with a Bachelor of music honours in performance and a Diploma of education in music.

i n 1995 Ingrid travelled to the U.K. to undertake doctoral studies in performance practice at the University of Sheffield. She has performed as an historical clarinetist with the English Baroque Soloists, The English Concert, Gabrieli Consort and Players, The Hanover Band, Orchestra of the Age of

Enlightenment, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and The Symphony of Harmony and Invention. Recent concerts include appearances at the BBC Proms, Lincoln Center Mostly Mozart Festival, The Barbican and Wigmore Hall. In addition to lecturing, supervising postgraduate students, and managing the doctoral program at RCM, Ingrid undertakes her own research activities, as well as keeping up her rigorous performance schedule.

Ingrid is always keen to assist young Australian musicians who are aiming to study at RCM. “Most musicians who undertake study abroad are acknowledging that to reach one’s full potential, you have to test yourself on the international stage” she says. “Australia is a great place to study and indeed the musical experiences that profoundly shaped my life were those I encountered as an undergraduate. But for those of us who perform and study Western Art music, the UK/Europe is the place to be. I came to the UK in October 1995 with not much more than four clarinets, a couple of scholarships, and a large amount of determination. Since that time I’ve been treated with nothing other than a high level of respect and have enjoyed working with some wonderful people. So, to summarise: fortes fortuna adiuvat (fortune favours the brave)!”

Profile


sybil susan reynolds (edWards: 1947–48)

28 October 2009

Sybil Susan Reynolds was born in 1926 of humble migrant heritage. She attended

Greenacre Public School and earned a place at St George Selective High School at Kogarah. Sue was a gifted musician in her earlier years, attending the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, attaining an A.MusA. in pianoforte. She could hear a piece of music once, and could then play it almost note perfect, and she could pick up and play almost any instrument.

During 1945 to 1949, after graduating with honours from high school, Sue had a brief stint in the RAAF, worked at the taxation office and Qantas, and completed two thirds of an arts degree at The University of Sydney. Of her time at Women’s College she recalled being terrified of being caught by “the Admiral” (Principal Betty Archdale) whenever she stayed up all night working on essays. The dressing down was apparently worse than failing the assignment.

Sue married Derek Reynolds in 1949 and returned to the workforce in the final year of her degree to support Derek at University. The couple moved to Newcastle and had three daughters. Sue worked in her husband’s dental practice before the marriage broke down in 1977–78. She moved back to Sydney and settled in Glebe, where she took over the local garden shop and emerged as a confident businesswoman. She dabbled in the share market and set herself up as a self-funded retiree.

Sue had a passion for knowledge. She stressed to her daughters the importance of education and the belief that as women they must make a place for themselves both in the workforce, and financially.

braveFortune favours the

ingrid PearsonBMUS (HONS), PHD, DIPED, LTCL, LMUSA

Photo credits:Maja BaskaStaff, students and alumnae of The Women’s College

editor: Tiffany Donnelly

designer: Regina Safro

our cover:First-year Gretel Macdonald with a portrait of her great-great-aunt, first College Principal Louisa Macdonald.

Designed and produced by The Women’s College within The University of Sydney in June 2010.

for details of all events, see the website: www.thewomenscollege.com.au/events-list.php

or contact Kathryn Wyss Phone +61 2 9517–5008

email [email protected]

all events take place at the Women’s college unless otherwise stated.


events

calendar

This publication is printed on ENVI Silk Carbon Neutral paper. ENVI is manufactured in Australia by Australian Paper and is certified Greenhouse Friendly™ by the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change under the Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative.

contact details:the Women’s collegeThe University of SydneyNSW 2006 AustraliaPhone: +61 2 9517 5000Fax: +61 2 9517 5006www.thewomenscollege.com.au

uK reunionsunday 4 july 2010 hosted in london by susie flook. Contact: [email protected]

alumnae agmsaturday 31 july 2010, with lunch in the main common room.

Women in Business dinnerthursday 19 august 2010, with faculty of economics and Business. speaker linda nicholls.

oPen day tours of collegesaturday 28 august 2010 Welcoming prospective students and their families.

Women in sPort dinnerfriday 3 september 2010 tBc.

father daughter dinnersaturday 11 september 2010 invitations will be sent early in semester two.

mentors’ BreaKfastfriday 17 september

canBerra reunionWeekend of 18–19 september during floriade.

Wisteria lunchsunday 19 september 2010 for alumnae who entered college in 1970 and before.

riverina reunionsaturday 9 october 2010 lunch at Walla Walla, via albury.

joBs for the girls The Women’s College Careers Dayfriday 15 october 2010 [email protected]

Documents

Together Vol 26 No 1