HOGA Newsletter - 2025

The Hermitage Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, Geelong

Office Bearers and Committee 2024–2025

PRESIDENT:

Elizabeth Bennett mob: 0407 040 471

SECRETARY

Jill Nicholls mob: 0400 800 136

TREASURER:

Pauline Greaves mob: 0407 439 861

COMMITTEE:

Rosalind Leigh mob: 0439 391 380

Sue Callahan mob: 0408 641 707

Allison Rhodes mob: 0400 194 941

Janny Ryle mob: 0426 238 208

Deidre Griffiths mob: 0414 216 160

Pauline Greaves mob: 0407 439 861

Felicity Hocking mob: 0400 931 475

Kristine Mellens mob: 0407 392 918

Desiree Cohen mob: 0408 576 012

ARCHIVES:

Sue Callahan

Liz Bennett

Felicity Hocking

Janny Ryle

LIGHT BLUE & NEWSLETTER COORDINATOR:

Jill Nicholls

GOLF DAY:

Sarah Tallent mob: 0417 407 776

POSTAL ADDRESS

The Secretary GPO Box 591 Geelong Victoria 3220

EMAIL AND WEB ADDRESS

hermitagegirls@gmail.com www.ogg.org.au

Pictured opposite: (Back Row) Susan Barrett, Susan Hodgson, Robyn Markovits, Annie Chalmers, Susan Francis, Elizabeth White, Sally Hooper (Middle Row) Wendy Hubbard, Edna Steffenhagan, Susan Mann, Jennet Quickmire, Andrea Gray, Elizabeth Day, Susan Richie, Anita Fisken, Sheryl Hunt (Front Row sitting) Rachel Gordon, Birgitta Henderson, Deborah Brooks, Nicola Stewart, Melanie Willis, Melanie Houghton, Judy Robbins, Mary Buntine (Front Row kneeling) Jane Grove, Isabel Buntine, Suzanne Power

Dates for Your Diary 2025

AUTUMN LUNCH

Thursday 1st May 2025 at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, Melbourne

ADELAIDE GATHERING

Thursday 22nd May, at Costello’s, 123 Fisher St, Fullerton.

CASUAL LUNCH

Thursday 19th June 2025 at the Waurn Ponds Hotel

OLD GIRLS’ DAY

Saturday, 4th October 2025

Annual General Meeting:

11.00 am, Darling Hall, Geelong Grammar School

Drinks: 12 midday

Lunch: 12.45 pm

GOLF DAY

Monday 27th October 2025 at Barwon Heads Golf Club

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Monday, 1st December - Venue to be advised.

For information concerning these functions contact:

The Secretary

Jill Nicholls tel: 0400 800 136

For the Golf Day contact

Sarah Tallent tel: 0417 407 776

From the Editor

2024 has been a very successful year in our Old Girls Calendar. All of our functions have been very well supported, and we are finding more younger members are now showing interest in catching up with their friends from school days. This could also be as they have more time on their hands, as children grow older and they retire.

This year marks the 50 year mark of the last year of the existence of the Hermitage standing alone as a Church of England Girls Grammar School. Although this is very sad in many aspects it was not the end of the Hermitage spirit, which still lives on.

This year our visit to Barwon Park Mansion was a great success and we hope to follow this with a couple more visits to National Trust Homes in the future. We have again introduced the Autumn Luncheon, which this year will be held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, on the 1st May.

We have also welcomed two new members of the Alumni Office. Alex Hocking, who is a Hermitage (House) Old Girl, is the new Head of Alumni and Community Relations, and also Rylie Menzel (Jabornik) who is the Alumni and Events Coordinator. Both of these ladies have quickly adapted to their new roles, and I must say, we are the recipients of their amazing support and assistance.

We thank these two wonderful ladies for their hands-on approach, as they have attended our events, assisted us in the preparation of these events, even to the point that Alex was our guest speaker at Old Girls Day, and Rylie our photographer. We look forward to this ongoing relationship with GGS through the Alumni Office.

We are fortunate that ladies come forward and offer to organise reunions for their year. This is what keeps the spirit alive. If anyone is interested in organising a reunion, please notify the Secretary and she will assist in any way possible.

I would like to thank Claire Robson, who helps so much in the formatting of this Newsletter. I thank her for her professionalism and personal assistance that she offers.

Email: hermitagegirls@gmail.com

Address: The Secretary, GPO Box 591, Geelong, 3220 Jill Nicholls (Holmes)

The Hermitage Old Girls’ Association Awards

Tenable at Geelong Grammar School:

The Hermitage Old Girls’ Association Prize for Service

Willow Smith

Willow Smith joined Geelong Grammar School in Year 9 at Timbertop (2021) and has been an important member of Garnett House. She is compassionate and driven, and achieved strong VCE results, having completed 3/4 VCE Health & Human Development in Year 11 with a Distinction and earning a Distinction Prize in Year 12. As Senior Prefect for Service, she led initiatives including a UNICEF fundraising bake sale and a partnership with local food bank charity The Aviary Café, where she organised student volunteers to prepare and serve meals for disadvantaged community members. Her commitment was recognised with the Hermitage Old Girls’ Association Prize for Service. A dedicated member of the House, she earned House Colours for her contributions to boarding life. A keen swimmer, she received Half Colours for Swimming and also played AFLW football.

Tenable at Geelong Grammar School:

The Hermitage Old Girls’ E V Krome Cup for Sportsmanship –

Pippi McIntyre joined Geelong Grammar School in 2023 as a Year 11 student and has been an integral part of Fraser House, serving as House Captain and earning House Colours for her leadership. Academically, she has demonstrated diligence and perseverance, undertaking a university-level subject alongside her VCE studies and receiving multiple accolades, including the Psychology Prize, the Geelong Grammar Foundation Prize for Service, and Full Colours for academics. Beyond the classroom, Pippi is an outstanding athlete who has balanced elite representative netball with her school commitments, excelling in First netball, athletics, and touch football, and earning Full Colours in both netball

and touch football. She was also a member of the APS representative touch football team and was awarded The Hermitage Old Girls’ E.V. Krome Cup for Sportsmanship, recognising her excellence in sport and integrity. Highly respected by peers and staff, she brings energy, determination, and maturity to all her pursuits, and I have no doubt she will continue to thrive in the future.

Tenable at The Geelong College:

The Hermitage Old Girls’ Association Prize for all round leadership.

Sophie Roderick

Sophie made an outstanding contribution to The Geelong College over many years. She was a cheerful and friendly presence in Shannon House, participating with great passion and enthusiasm in a myriad of activities, and always encouraging those around her. As a College Prefect, she capably fulfilled her responsibilities and thrived with the opportunity to be a leader and role model within the student community. She participated in formal College events, as well as helping organise a variety of fundraising and social events. Sophie represented the College with immense pride and talent in Tennis where she was a member of the 1st team, receiving School Colours in her final two seasons. She was also a valued member of the 2nd Netball team during the winter APS season. In addition to her many co-curricular contributions, Sophie diligently applied herself to her academic studies, maintaining a very high standard through the middle years of her education and her VCE studies. As well as receiving the Hermitage Old Girls’ Association Prize in 2024, Sophie won a Citizenship Prize in 2021 for consistently demonstrating positive citizenship.

The Hermitage House Report

It has been an incredibly dynamic and rewarding year in The Hermitage, full of accomplishments, spirit and community. The year started well with the arrival and enthusiasm of our new Year 10s. With little fuss, this year’s new Hermi girls quickly found their feet and jumped onboard with the culture and expectations that the senior girls valued and wished to see carried forward.

Family Day saw many attendees at the ‘Taj’ marquee warmly welcomed and, most impressively, willing to participate in the Fun Run. This was the beginning of what was to be a great year. As always, Term 1 was a whirlwind. Many of the girls committed to their summer sports and established sound study routines. This was balanced with regular evening House Music rehearsals and early morning House Swimming training. Right from the beginning, our Year 12s were incredibly busy, all while experiencing the challenges of directing fatigued teenagers! All this work was well worth the effort when they found themselves as winners of the House Music competition with a terrific performance of Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies”. Our captains, Bella and Tri, then contributed their vocals to the small group and solo performances respectively. Tri’s solo was moving and memorable, resulting in a win in the section.

In the pool, there was some outstanding swimming from many, but notably age champion Gemma Bond. The afternoon was one of good spirits and excitement.

Living in a community provides so much fulfillment and giving to each other. This year, our Birthday Captain, Lizzie Morrison, took her role to new heights, crowning each girl and baking a cake for them on their special day, thus providing regular celebrations throughout each term.

Whilst accomplishments seem to be announced on a regular basis, it is those that take the efforts of a team that are often the most memorable. The hidden talents of a number of the girls provided an enthralling win in the House Basketball. Soon after, The Hermitage House Athletics team truly excelled under the leadership of our Athletics Captains, Ruby and Gali. A tremendous amount of effort during both the training and team selection process was undertaken. Each competitor performed magnificently on the day, as too did our supporters; the Hermi cheer squad was by far the loudest and most enthusiastic!

Our Year 10 and 11 students proudly presented the Year 12s with an impressive “super supper” to celebrate the culmination of their classes and time in Hermi –always an emotional time as friends say goodbye, pass on the baton and reflect on what

they know will be an unforgettable period of their lives.

This brief summary does little justice to what occurs on a day-to-day basis and the interactions which occur at every level are so valued. There is a pride in wearing the green. We are forever grateful to have a group of staff that value the growth of The Hermitage students, and thankful for the students who we get to laugh with, support, and see mature every day.

Ms Pauline Frasca and Mr Guy Begley

Annual General Meeting 2024

At our Annual Meeting and Luncheon we had a lovely number of Old Girls attend, which was wonderful. Our Service and Meeting took place in the Darling Hall, at Geelong Grammar School, and we had the privilege of being able to use our very own Sanctuary, which we all came to love when we were at school.

President Elizabeth Bennett, welcomed everyone present, especially our Guest Speaker Alex Hocking and then invited our newest Committee members, Felicity Hocking and Kristine Mellens to open the sanctuary doors and light the candles.

We then sang the Hymn “Now thank we all our God”, with our very own organist, Kristine Mellens accompanying us. Elizabeth then gave a short service, reflecting on our school days, and how we started our day in the Assembly Hall with our sanctuary service embracing our whole school community. Reflecting on the paths we’ve walked since our time together at school. We came from many different places, and our journeys have taken us in different directions, but the foundation we built at school remains a common thread that connects us all.

We finished the service with the Lord’s Prayer, the ladies then extinguishing the candles, but this time the Sanctuary doors were left open so we could all reflect on our time at school.

Minutes of the previous Annual Meeting were read, as were all of the Committee Reports. President Elizabeth Bennett then invited Naida Hutton to take the chair for the election of the Office Bearers for the coming year.

President: Elizabeth Bennett

Secretary: Jill Nicholls

Treasurer: Pauline Greaves

Committee Members: Susan Callahan, Deidre Griffiths, Rosalind Leigh, Alison Rhodes, Janny Ryle, Felicity Hocking, Kristine Mellens

Archives: Elizabeth Bennett, Susan Callahan, Janny Ryle, Felicity Hocking, Kristeen Hunter (Advisor)

Newsletter and Membership Records: Jill Nicholls and Kristine Mellens

It was resolved that HOGA continue banking with the Commonwealth Bank and that Dean Miller audit the books. Elizabeth thanked everyone for their attendance and then closed the meeting. A very enjoyable time mixing with friends for a pre luncheon refreshment was held, and then everyone was invited to enjoy a lovely meal together. Our Guest speaker Alex, held us spellbound with her reflections of her amazing career, which you will read about later in the Newsletter.

Our next Old Girl’s Day and Annual Meeting will be held on the 4th of October 2025, Darling Hall, Geelong Grammar School.

Archive Report 2024

Once again it is a pleasure to report on our Archive Collection. This collection is forever growing, with even more interesting and diverse donations. We are so very fortunate that families keep us in mind when they discover memorabilia from school days, whether their own, or a relative.

This year we had the pleasure of assisting Kate, Personal Assistant to the owner who has bought and undertaken a painstaking restoration of our own Armitage House. She has assisted the owners who have gone to great lengths to find relevant information on the building and internal decoration of the house etc. She contacted Archives to seek assistance in finding any photos that we may have in our collections. Kristeen and myself spent time searching through the Archive collection to find the most relevant items. These were then copied and added to a beautifully crafted box with other treasures, and then presented to the owner on his significant birthday. She told us that he was absolutely thrilled with the find. So it shows us that not only is our collection important for people researching their family history; but also provides important information to help keep our historical houses alive and as close to the original as possible.

Darren Watson, Geelong Grammar School Archivist, is a wonderful guide and mentor for us. We are also so very appreciative that Kristeen Hunter is still our guiding light by keeping the collection up to date, and somehow she knows what and where everything is. As usual, space is running out, but somehow we manage to fit most things in. If anyone is interested in borrowing a flag for a special occasion, we do have one available for this purpose, so please contact us if required.

Jill Nicholls (Holmes) on behalf of the Archive Committee.

Opposite: The Sanctuary and a piece with the names of the girls who embroidered the Altar Cloth

Above: Hilary Davies, Gillian Spittle, Sue Callahan (Holmes)

Below left: Christine Mellens, Felicity Hocking

Below right: Diane Wolff proposing the Toast to the Hermitage, Elizabeth Bennett (McDonald), President

President’s Report 2024

I am pleased to present this report on the last year of activities, which have been filled with great experiences and fellowship.

A special mention goes to our Christmas luncheon which was a wonderful way to celebrate together. We enjoyed a delicious meal and the joy of singing carols together added a festive atmosphere that left everyone in high spirits. Thanks to Janny who saved the day when our singer was unable to attend. It was so heartwarming to see everyone embracing the Christmas spirit.

Our visit to Barwon Park was a highlight, thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. The tour of the historic mansion was both educational and fascinating, thanks to our guides. Afterwards we lingered over a delightful lunch, savouring each other’s company. It was a truly memorable outing.

Our June luncheon at the new venue, Waurn Ponds Hotel, was a success. The change of location was well received, with good food and an inviting atmosphere that everyone appreciated. I look forward to our next June luncheon.

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the committee, Jill, Sue, Janny, Ros, Felicity, Pauline, Allison, Diedre and Kristine for their ongoing support in organising these events. Without their dedication and behind the scenes efforts, none of this would be possible. Also a huge thank you to Brioche cafe who allow us to hold our meetings there over a delicious lunch. A special note of gratitude to Jill, our incredible secretary, who puts in countless hours managing inquiries and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Her tireless work is deeply appreciated by all of us. I also want to thank our treasurer Pauline for diligently keeping our finances in order. We have been learning together the complexity of doing our transactions online. Her careful oversight has allowed us to enjoy these events without worry, and we are grateful to her.

I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Grammar community for their ongoing support, which has been invaluable to our association. Their continued partnership plays a vital role in the success of our initiatives.

Also a special thank you to Garry Pierson and Helen Beasley for their outstanding contribution to our scholarship program. Their dedication in preparing a comprehensive booklet to introduce our scholarship winners is greatly appreciated, and it showcases the hard work and achievements of these deserving students. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of these students and their families and I am so proud that they are benefitting from our great legacy. The booklets are on the

tables for you to take with you and enjoy getting to know these students.

Lastly and by no means least, I want to thank all our fellow students who are part of this association. Your enthusiasm and participation make our events special, and I am so grateful to the community we have built together.

Thank you all for your continued support, and I look forward to even more wonderful events in the coming year.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Bennett

Secretary’s Report 2024

It is once again my pleasure to present the Secretary’s Report for The Hermitage Old Girls Association for the year 2024. This year has once again been a busy year. There is always something in the planning pipeline, and the challenge to find the right venue, caterer or new ideas, has kept the committee busy.

During the year we have held some successful events, with a diverse range of ladies attending, which is very gratifying. Our first activity was a visit to Barwon Park Mansion, which is an amazing example of early Australian architecture, and especially interesting to The Hermitage community as it belonged to the Austins. We were fortunate to have one of our very own old girls, Alison Rhodes (Webster), guiding us through this amazing house. Because of the wonderful response to this, we are planning to again tour another National Trust building in the near future.

The casual lunch was once again very well attended, this time held at the Waurn Ponds Hotel. Unfortunately I missed it as I was away.

I was very fortunate that at last year’s Annual Luncheon I was able to speak to Sally Cohen, and discuss that the Autumn Lunch hasn’t been held for a couple of years. She kindly offered for us to use her membership of Kooyong, so that we could use their facility. I am very happy to announce that the Autumn Lunch for 2025 is to be held on the 1st of May 2025, in the Presidents Room at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. So we are very excited about this event, and hope we get a wonderful attendance.

During the year many old girls have very kindly organised their year reunions. The 1964 year group came together on 16 November 2024, to celebrate 60 years since leaving school.

The 1965 year group have organised their 60 year reunion for 19 March 2025. I am sure the level of noise will be elevated when dear friends come together after such a long time apart, and catching up with everyone’s latest news. So if anyone is interested in organising a reunion, especially the years of 1955, or 1975, I would love to hear from you, and assist you in any way possible.

Adelaide held their gathering, although numbers are not large, those that attend always have a lovely time. I received a lovely letter from Margaret Daly (Bland) who always attends and she was both a student and a teacher at The Hermitage.

The Golf day this year was a little different from the usual format. Due to renovations to the Barwon Heads Golf Club building, unfortunately only Golfers are able to attend, as there is only a marquee available for meals. Sarah Tallent was the organiser this year, and she was only able to have 20 players. It is with girls putting their hands up to organise different functions that the friendships that were developed at school, can continue to grow. I really appreciate Sarah’s assistance with the Golf Day.

Of course our Christmas Lunch is again being held at All Saints Hall, on Monday 2nd December, we look forward to seeing you all there; it is always a very happy occasion, and a great opportunity to catch up with friends before the busy time of year really takes hold. You will find invitations on your table.

This latter part of the year, we (me in particular) have been most fortunate to have assisting us in the Alumni and Events Department, Alex Hocking, our guest speaker this year, and the daughter of an Old Girl, Felicity (Waterman), and Rylie Menzel (Jabornik), who have given me so much guidance and assistance with everything that I ask of them. I really appreciate that Rylie goes out of her way to help, even on weekends when I have picked up books from her front door. They are both here today. A big thank you.

We must also thank The Old Grammarians Association who very generously fund the printing of our Newsletter and to Geelong Grammar School for paying for the postage. I have some extra Newsletters with me today, if anyone missed out on receiving one earlier this year. Please notify us if you have, or know of anyone that has changed address, as it is only if we are notified can we keep track of everyone.

Once again I would love to hear any stories and see any photos that you have that I can include in the coming Newsletter. It is you who make the Newsletter interesting and without you there is no Newsletter.

I look forward to hearing from you and wish you all a healthy and safe year ahead.

Jill Nicholls (Holmes)

Treasurer’s Report 2024

It is my pleasure to present the Treasurer’s report in the 115th year of the Hermitage Old Girls’ Association. The Hermitage Old Girls’ Association is an independent, incorporated, not-for-profit community organisation. I am providing the Treasurer’s Financial Report within the legal requirements placed upon me as Treasurer of the Hermitage Old Girls’ Association, to provide members and regulatory authorities with a detailed account of our organisation’s operating and financial performance over the accounting year July 2023 – June 2024.

I would like to thank Mr Dean Miller for generously giving up his time to conduct a review of the financial statements of the HOGA.

Financial Report

2024

This annual report includes the financial statements referred as the Income Statement and Balance Sheet for the year ended 30 June 2024. The opening balance in our operating account as of 1 July 2023 was $5984.31

Income – $5808

Income was derived from sources being the AGM Lunch, the Barwon Mansion Tour, Golf Day, Sales of Raffle Tickets, Books and Mugs and The Christmas Lunch.

Expenditure - $4834

Expenses were derived from costs of running our main events such as Catering and Hall hire, Golf Day, Reunions, Postage and Stationery.

Net Income - $974

Current Assets - $22,028

Representing monies in the General Account, Cash on Hand and the Term Deposit.

Closing Balance - $22,028

Our Guest SpeakerAlex Hocking

I am so delighted to join you today both in my capacity as the newly appointed Head of Alumni and Community Relations, and also as a former Hermitage House girl. My connection to the Hermitage, like many to Geelong Grammar School more broadly, is familial. My mother is a Hermitage Old Girl and I’ve always been aware of the link between my mother and the House that bears its name, however my connection to Hermitage predates Corio.

The first campus I attended as a Geelong Grammar student was Highton, and before proudly wearing the Hermitage Green, I wore the Morres Purple as House Captain, like my brother before me. As a senior school student, the House you were in, especially if there was a family connection, elicited a great deal of pride and territorial vigour – none more so then for House Music or on Sports Carnival Days, particularly the swimming carnival. Despite trying to be neutral in my current role, that strong connection and sense of pride hasn’t seemed to diminish – I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when Hermi won the Athletics Carnival this year.

The Hermitage School Honour Boards in Hermitage House and the furniture in the Darling Hall that used to be at Highton, not only represents my mother’s history with the School but my history as an Old Geelong Grammarian – simply put, it is part of who I am, and I am so proud to be part of the Hermitage School legacy, from Year 7 through to Year 12 – I even still have my Hermitage mug!

This history that I was surrounded by as a student, was nurtured during school and pursued further afield during university. I travelled to Florence to study Renaissance history and up to Dimboola to work on an archaeological dig. This led to a Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies, and eventually working for the Melbourne Cricket Club Museum. The benefits of working at the MCC included free members tickets to games, including the AFL Grand Final, and I soon found that I was becoming more involved in the sporting events scene in Melbourne. Museums and sports, I can hear you thinking – where are the Princes that we were promised? Well, during this period, I was concurrently being invited to a different type of event, those hosted by the Victorian Premier for visiting dignitaries. The mother of a school friend of mine, Nancy Staub, had a job that was a bit of a mystery to me, and whenever I asked her

son, Gordon, what she did, he gave a vague response. What I did know was that she attended a lot of events with royals and high profile dignitaries, and she frequently invited Gordon’s friends to them to increase the youth quota. I was very happy to oblige, attending the State Receptions for Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

The museum and arts industry is a very competitive, small, unstable and underpaid sector, and on discovering that planning events required transferable skills to working in museums (including organisation and attention to detail), and that there was an entry level job in the area Nancy worked, I jumped at the chance to apply. I discovered that Nancy was the Director of Protocol and Special Events (PSE) in the Department of Premier and Cabinet. I was appointed a Protocol Officer and my role was in the hospitality section of the team, which effectively meant that I would manage any special event being hosted by the Premier that had catering attached –this included diplomatic lunches, the Paddock Club at the Grand Prix, the Premier’s table at the Australian Open, Community Cabinets and receptions for visiting dignitaries.

While I could apply my transferable museum skills into the events role, protocol required a whole new layer of knowledge. The first book on protocol I received was a thin book with a green cover. Every protocol officer had this book on their desk, and despite being written in 1991, it was considered our source of truth. Throughout my career, I accumulated many books on protocol. All these books offer information on different aspects of the protocol world, such as flags, toasts and US Protocol, and all were invaluable as reference documents for my work. However, the primary and most important protocol document was the table of precedence.

The Victorian table of precedence from this green protocol book has many red mark ups, which are the notes that I took on my first few days in the role. These red mark ups are translations for all the new words and phrases that were being explained to me, like Members of the Victorian Executive Council under summons.

Whether it was the Victorian, Commonwealth or the Diplomatic Corps, I would soon come to rely on the tables of precedence as the basis for every acknowledgement, seating plan, guest list, Christmas card list and more over the course of my career. When later working at the US Embassy, the table of precedence served as the basis for almost every discussion I would have with the Regional Security Office when negotiating the balance of security versus protocol for events at the Ambassador’s residence. There were very strict protocols about who could drive on to the US Mission due to security concerns and threats – all vehicle entrances to the compound were double gated and required vehicles to turn off the engine and be

swept for explosive devices when driving onto the compound.

While I had an understanding with the Regional Security Officer (RSO) regarding who could and could not drive onto the compound for events and meetings with the Ambassador, a new RSO was posted to the Embassy and I was required to renegotiate the terms of this arrangement. The easiest way for me to work through with the RSO who should have drive on access and who shouldn’t, was using the Commonwealth Table of Precedence and explaining the US equivalents on the list, so that they understood the seniority and position of those needing privileges. Why this was important was not due to hierarchy or status but to ensure security for people in these senior positions, such as those with protective detail, like the Israeli Ambassador, the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. But from a protocol perspective, drive on access was important to avoid unnecessary offence and a diplomatic incident that would require an apology from the Ambassador and reporting back to Washington.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, back to being a very green protocol officer in Victoria – in addition to working in the hospitality team, I was also serving as the flag protocol officer and in charge of congratulatory messages, and it was a steep and quick learning curve. I often learnt protocols by putting post-it notes on my computer. I will never forget that an ambassador is an Ambassador of a country, while a High Commissioner is a High Commissioner for a country. For example, Ambassador of the USA and High Commissioner for Canada.

Hospitality events, flag protocol and congratulatory messages weren’t all that the PSE team looked after – there were teams planning State Visits to Victoria, overseas official travel, and State Funerals and Memorials. It was during the planning of the Premier’s Anzac Day Luncheon, however, that I was first introduced to the Governor’s Office and his Aide, Kate. In addition to talking through the event, protocols and completing the necessary paperwork, the next question I had for Kate was one I would later become very familiar with “What does an Aide do?”. Kate was a delight and her description of being an Aide seemed like a dream job. Within the next 12 months Nancy retired, so with my first mentor no longer managing me, and with the encouragement of a colleague, I decided to apply to be an Aide.

Being an Aide is perhaps the most interesting protocol job I have had and was so important in preparing me for all subsequent protocol roles. The delegation of days and duties between the Aides was based on a three-week roster and when you weren’t delivering or supporting another Aide’s event or facilitating callers or House Guests, you were either at your desk writing briefs and speeches or on the road conducting recces for an upcoming visit.

While the work was gruelling, it also had its perks. Aides accompanied the Governor to every event, so I frequently went to concerts and the ballet, the AFL Grand Final, the Melbourne Cup, Australian Open Tennis Finals, and observed the Anzac Day Dawn Service from the balcony of the Shrine. I also met the most remarkable people, both from the community and dignitaries, like Princess Anne - the Princess Royal, Dukes of Kent and Gloucester, Prime Minister Rudd, US Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich, and the Governors of every state and the Administrator of the Northern Territory. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is because of this job and the people I met that I secured my next three jobs.

One of the greatest highlights of my career was the visit of Prince William to Australia in 2010. His visit to Victoria was not official, and the primary purpose was for him to meet communities affected by the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires. However as part of the visit he would speak at the Government House Australia Day Reception. Prince William would arrive in Victoria and go directly to visit the communities before returning to Government House, where he would meet with the Governor, have a photo with the Government House staff, attend the reception and then plant a tree in the grounds, before departing. I was the Duty Aide and therefore responsible for planning this visit to Government House, and all the events involved within it. The interest in this visit from the public and media was huge, and it was like planning a military operation.

Every staff member had a role on the day and were crucial to the successful delivery of this visit. I worked straight through the night before the visit and at approx. 6am, decided to have a quick 30 mins power nap in the Aides Flat, before showering and getting back to work to deliver the final brief. There were 900 people attending the reception, the capacity of the Ballroom, and from the morning of his visit, people started to line up on the Government House Drive in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Prince William when he arrived. The media interest was unlike anything we had seen at Government House during my time there.

Following the reception, we moved Prince William to the Fountain Court. There were a lot of meetings about this set up, with the Fountain acting as a natural barrier, and the two rings of staff around Prince William, acting as human barriers trying to filter people and hold them back. The surge of people pushing forward to meet him was quite phenomenal and difficult to control.

I am going to jump ahead here but remain at Government House. Eight years later I was a Senior Protocol Officer at PSE and my role was planning State Visits, this included the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit. I had to propose an itinerary for the Sussex’s, and liaise with all of the relevant stakeholders, including the Prime Minister’s

Department, venues, dignitaries and Victoria Police. The Sussex’s had agreed to a meet and greet with the public (something I proposed for the itinerary following the interest in Prince William in 2010). For the meet and greet and all of the visit, we had to consider the security overlay as well as the balance of public access. We also had to consider placement of the fencing due to the guttering and potential Health and Safety Hazards, as well as the flower beds to the side of the roads and the process for gifts. For the gifts, I’d organised a van to be at the end of the Government House driveway. The Sussex’s would be handed flowers or gifts from the public, which they would then pass to Palace officials, who would then pass to me, and then I would pass to one of my team, who would run it down to the van. Royals are unable to accept gifts, it was one of the few pieces of strict protocol that we received from the Palace. It’s also not practical for them to take flowers with them, so the vans would run the gifts and flowers to nursing homes, hospitals and shelters.

There was fencing about halfway up the driveway that was yellow. This yellow fencing was a visual cue for the Sussex’s. Due to time limitations, we knew that they wouldn’t be able to greet everyone along the whole fence line, so we arranged for there to be yellow fencing and briefed them to walk up the driveway until they reached the silver fencing, and then start greeting the public. Another behind the scenes tid-bit was whether the Sussex’s would walk or drive up to Government House following the meet and greet. Anyone that’s been to Government House knows that once you reach the Gates, you still have quite a long walk to the House.

I advised the Palace advance team and later the Prime Minister’s Department that we should have the vehicles parked inside the Gates to drive the Sussex’s up to the House following the meet and greet. Initially the Palace advised that the Sussex’s would walk but, noting that the Duchess often wore very high heels, I kept advising against it, even creating a map demonstrating the distance and route. I think that the Palace were concerned about perception but after I assured them that the vehicles couldn’t be seen where they would be parked, all agreed this was the best solution.

Part of planning these visits includes informing local businesses as the police and Councils need to secure the surrounding buildings, manage temporary street closures or any other aspects that may impede on the businesses. Unfortunately, no matter how discrete you ask them to be, news of the visit always leaks. While the Sussex’s were having lunch at Charcoal Lane, a crowd gathered outside the restaurant, hoping to see and meet them. Some impromptu fencing on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy was erected to help manage this crowd.

There are more stories I could tell about the Sussex visit, including why we had lifeguards at South Melbourne Beach, coordinating trams, the efforts we went to

beautify areas and sometimes this going too far, the transportation issues from the airport to Government House and a quick wardrobe change required to prevent a dress code faux pas – that involved the Duke, the Governor’s husband and the Premier! But I need to go back to 2010, when it was time for me to leave the Office of the Governor. Back then, Aide’s could only be contracted for two years and I had stayed on a little longer, so when the opportunity to extend myself in a career that I adored was offered to me, I relocated to Canberra to work for the Governor-General.

Working for the Governor-General was the same but different. My world expanded living in Canberra and I was now dealing with all Heads of Mission, Federal Members of Parliament, the Australian Defence Force, and travel beyond the borders of Victoria. Flying in the RAAF VIP jets was part of the job that I never took for granted. The benefits of travelling in these jets was that you didn’t have to go through airport security and could take full size bottles of shampoo and conditioner in your hand luggage. Occasionally the need would arise for us to also take helicopters, such as the one we took to a property during the 2011 Queensland Floods. As we were visiting in the days following the floods, it was impossible to get there by road, so our only option was to fly in. Everything at this property was covered in mud. There were tarpaulins on the ground with items from the house on them and family and friends painstakingly cleaning everything. One of the property’s owners showed us around her land, where the flood waters had almost reached the roof of her house. I still recall her breaking down in tears from the destruction, emotional toil, and the unimaginable cost as a result of the flood, and the Governor-General disappearing with her to inside the house, so they could speak privately, without staff around. Sadly, this wasn’t my first experience visiting communities affected by natural disasters or human tragedies and wouldn’t be my last – protocol isn’t all dignitaries and sporting matches.

In addition to going to Queensland twice to visit communities affected by the floods, I also planned and accompanied the Governor-General on a trip to Tonga to mark the King’s birthday in 2011. On the first night in Tonga, the Governor-General attended a State Dinner. Remaining staff were all going to eat at the hotel but much to our surprise, the King’s sister, the Princess Royal, sent over a traditional Tongan feast for us to dine on. While initially delighted, to my horror, as a vegetarian, a full pig was placed in the centre of the table, with its head positioned directly in front of me. I ate very little for the three days we were in Tonga.

The Tongan Royal family had very strict protocols, which were based on traditional British Royal Protocols. The first hurdle I encountered was prior to us departing for Tonga. After much consideration, the Governor-General and I settled on gifting the King an Akubra hat for his birthday but this would require me knowing his hat size.

Unfortunately, it was against protocol to ask the King his head size, so we had to diplomatically navigate this with the Australian High Commission and the Palace. We were also told that no photographs of the King could be taken nor could the Communications and Media Adviser go into the Palace. This was going to cause issues for us because contrary to this protocol, the Office required a photo of the Governor-General and the King. Thankfully the Communications and Media Adviser is both discreet and incredibly polite, so was able to slip into the Palace with the Governor-General and take a photo. While we breached Royal Tongan protocol, we assessed the risk of offence and made a judgement call – which can be part of the job of a protocol professional. Sometimes the principal is less fussed about protocol than the staff around them. The King didn’t appear to mind and actually requested a copy of the photograph.

While I facilitated trips interstate and overseas on occasion, I was primarily responsible for any event being hosted by the Governor-General at her residences in Canberra or Sydney. The variety of events was huge – such as morning teas with veterans for the Battle of the Coral Sea. A reception for Ronald McDonald House attended by the original Ronald McDonald. And a dinner to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012 at Admiralty House with Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. At the end of 2012, following this visit, I farewelled the Governor-General and Government House Canberra and joined the US Embassy as the Chief of Protocol and manager of Protocol and Events.

I had first met Ambassador Bleich and his wife, Becky, when I was an Aide to the Governor. Every time I subsequently saw them, they were so warm and affectionate towards me. I thought they were wonderful and to this day, they are still two of the best people I’ve ever known and ever worked for. The respect and affection they both had for Australia, Australian culture, people and protocol, was unmatched. Working at the US Embassy added once again, another dimension to my protocol training and experience. Frequently the term and application of “protocol” is misunderstood. I believe that this stems from a misuse of it. Diplomatic Protocol can best be related back to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 but the first attempt to codify diplomatic immunity was in Vienna in 1815. This treaty defines the framework for diplomatic relations between countries – it’s most frequently used in movies when the good guys find out that the baddie has diplomatic immunity, and they can’t charge them for a crime. The purpose of this treaty is to ensure that when diplomats are posted to a host country, they will have the freedom to represent and communicate with their home country without persecution based on the laws of the host country. To not have this freedom would restrict the ability to represent, advocate and conduct business on behalf of their home country and citizens in the host country freely and fairly.

Each country has their own cultural observances and customs, which in one country may have no significance, while in another country can be deemed offensive. For eg. when I visited Tonga with the Governor-General, I was wearing my hair down and was quickly told by the Australian High Commission staff that in Tonga, hair is considered sacred and should be worn up. To wear it down had negative social and cultural implications. This is why diplomatic protocols are so important amongst the diplomatic community, and why every government around the world will have a Protocol Office who will frequently be leading the planning and delivery of visits and events by their Head of State and Government. Like any profession, protocol officers also gather, exchange information and attend conferences, such as the Protocol Education Forum, which is attended by protocol representatives from around the world, including NATO, the Australian Embassy in the US, the US State Department and the US Embassy in Australia.

In America, the Chief of Protocol position is so highly valued that it is considered a diplomatic posting and an Ambassadorial position. In Australia, it is usually diplomats who have held the rank of Chief of Mission that are assigned the position of Chief of Protocol. These diplomatic protocols equalise countries and distinguish them, not based on power, wealth or population but on alphabet and date of arrival in a host country. Diplomatic protocols are not in place to create hierarchies but to ensure that there is a universally accepted arrangement, which every diplomat and government follows, so offences between cultures and countries, and possible diplomatic incidents, can be minimised or avoided.

When the Governor-General was attending a tree planting ceremony at the US Embassy, I had to navigate the US/Australian protocols. A plaque was being created to mark the planting and there was much debate between me and the Embassy staff about whether Honourable should have a “u”. The Embassy staff argued that as the tree planting ceremony was on US Embassy grounds, the American spelling should be used, while my argument was that as it was the spelling of an Australian officials title, the Australian spelling should take precedence. It is universally recognised that when there are no diplomatic protocols to follow, diplomats will follow the protocols of their host country. As a result, I won that round.

But it’s not about winning all the time, often diplomacy is about finding a compromise, and this includes protocol. At the event the US Ambassador hosted for the September 11 Memorial Museum in 2016, Ambassador Berry presented John Howard with a flag that had flown over the US Embassy. This is considered both a very symbolic gesture and mark of respect in American culture – similar to the custom of gifting a challenge coin.

These flags are presented in a flag box with a plaque and rather than going through the debate of US vs Australian spelling, I simply wrote “Hon”. Navigating these protocols at the US Embassy wasn’t uncommon and educating new diplomats and Ambassadors, as well as sceptical public servants, was part of my job. They were also not just restricted to Australia/US relations but Mission to Mission relations.

Some of the topics of conversations I had over my career include, the significance of Anzac Day and attending the Dawn Service, even though we didn’t win the battle. How not turning up to the swearing in of the Governor-General, after RSVPing that you would be there, would be seen as a significant slight to both the Government and the new GG. The difference in protocol around the order of precedence for speeches and how in Australia, unlike the US, the most senior person speaks first and not last. And how using the Commonwealth table of Precedence for seating arrangements at President Obama’s remarks during G20 will avoid any reasonable backlash amongst Australian dignitaries.

Ultimately, the importance of protocol and diplomacy is that regardless of whether you’re born into a role, elected or appointed, you are holding a position until another person comes along. In a democratic country like Australia, the role is larger than the person but the ramifications can be generational.

After five years, and working on visits by President Obama, Vice Presidents Biden and Pence, the late Senator John McCain, AusMin, and several terrific events, including a Hawaiian themed Christmas Party, the call of home was too strong, and I returned to Victoria. I continued working in Protocol, managing the Visits of the President of Poland and the aforementioned Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as the Bourke Street Memorial, State Funeral of Ron Walker and 10 year Anniversary of the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires, but after 13 years, I wanted to explore a new career path that ultimately led me back here.

In sum, working in protocol was the most diverse, engaging, overwhelming, exhausting and exhilarating job all at once (if only I had time to tell you about the G20 with President Obama and Vice President Biden’s visit!) but fundamentally what you realise is that it’s about demonstrating sound judgement, respect and manners, to speak a universal language and that’s a life skill I’m so grateful to have acquired.

Thank you.

Changes To Our Alumni Office

This year we are very excited to welcome two new members to the Alumni Office. Joining Alex Hocking, who is the Head of Alumni and Community Relations and was guest speaker at Old Girls’ Day, is Rylie Menzel (Jabornik) as the Alumni and Events Coordinator.

Both ladies have hit the ground running, and have been just so supportive of our Hermitage Old Girls Association. They have assisted and attended all of our events and this makes us really feel part of Geelong Grammar School. They have been attentive to all our needs and have offered advice when requested.

We thank both Alex and Rylie for their support and friendship.

Rylie Menzel (Jabornik) ALUMNI AND EVENTS COORDINATOR

Rylie joined the Geelong Grammar School Alumni Office in May 2024 as the Alumni and Events Coordinator. With over 12 years of experience in event management and community engagement, Rylie has managed a diverse range of events, including major events, weddings, corporate functions, and fundraising initiatives - in locations as far north as the picturesque Port Douglas. Outside of work, Rylie is passionate about ceramics, both teaching and creating her own pieces in her home studio. Having had the pleasure of connecting with many of the Hermitage Old Girls at the 2024 HOGA AGM and Christmas Lunch, Rylie looks forward to continuing to build relationships and hearing more inspiring stories from the community.

Alex Hocking HEAD OF ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Alex is an Old Geelong Grammarian, who was Captain of Morres House at Highton and boarded in Hermitage House during her senior school. Following Year 12, she took a GAP year in the UK, working at Roedean School in Brighton. She completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies at Monash and Deakin Universities respectively.

Alex pursued a career in Museums working as a Cataloguer and then a Collections Assistant at the Melbourne Cricket Club Museum, before pivoting into the world of Protocol and Events. Between 2007 and 2019, she worked in various protocol roles at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Government House Victoria, Government House Canberra and the Embassy of the United States of America.

Following several secondments, including as a Senior Policy Adviser in International Engagement, Senior Adviser to the Office of the Governor on the 10 Year Anniversary of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, and Senior Departmental Liaison Officer in the Office of the Premier, Alex joined the Department of Justice and Community Safety as the Manager, and later Director, of Ministerial Services. During this time she also held the role of Honorary Aide to the Governor of Victoria.

Alex commenced in her current role as Head of Alumni and Community Relations at Geelong Grammar in June 2024, and is also employed by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as a Transit Protocol Officer.

HOGA Webpage

If you had asked me thirty years ago that I would carry in my purse a small rectangular object which was my phone, my calculator, my camera and which would allow me listen to podcasts; read books; listen to audio books; see movies and television; to remotely set my alarm; to buy my groceries; to give me directions by car, foot or bus; to give me the weather forecast instantly; to reserve library books; to do my banking; order a taxi or a meal; to convert currency; to learn a foreign language and was also a torch, I would probably say that you were fantasist, thought you were in a James Bond movie or had read too much science fiction.

Thirty years ago, I knew that a mouse was a rodent; a safari meant Africa, elephants and lions; an apple was a fruit; a net was used for catching fish and a spider spun a web. I had never heard of memes, emojis, emails, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter much less Google. Now, Google is not only a noun but a verb, to ‘google’ or ‘googling’, and is the first thing I do whenever I need to find out about anything.

If you were to google The Hermitage Old Girls’ Association, you may be pleasantly surprised to see that we have a presence, under the banner of the ogg.org.au. Tap on that entry and up pops either the lovely Ingpen drawing of The Hermitage or the heading, ‘Reunions & Events’, and if you go to the Main Menu, you will see that HOGA has its own page. Here are listed several subheadings; About, Committee, Reunions, the History Book, Archives and Contact Us.

Our project for this year is to upgrade progressively our web page so that it will be an easily accessible resource for our Old Girls to find out about a social event or reunion, scholarships, what to do if you think you have a ‘treasure’ which might be suitable for the Archives, how to let the Association know of a death or bereavement, update your details or to send information for the Newsletter. Perhaps in the future our Newsletter will be on line. This will take time but already the Alumni Office has updated our social calendar for 2025. Please check it out.

If you look at the OGG update/eNewsletter online edition, which includes photos of all the OGGs alumni events reported in chronological order, you will find photos and reports on our events, for example the October 2024 edition contains a report of our AGM, plus photos, and the December 2024 edition features a report on our Christmas Lunch and lots of photos of very merry Old Girls. Instagram and Facebook are also a great way to see our events shortly after they have occurred. I encourage you to explore what is there online as we work on improving and enhancing our web page.

Felicity Hocking (Waterman)

The Year That Was

BARWON PARK MANSION – 21 MARCH 2024

On the 21st March 2024, twenty members of HOGA gathered at the grand entrance of Barwon Park Mansion in Winchelsea for a memorable visit. We were warmly welcomed by our guides, Doug Burns and fellow Old Girl, Allison Rhodes.

Our tour began with a brief introduction to the fascinating history of Thomas and Elizabeth Austin, whose vision and wealth led to the construction of this magnificent 42 room bluestone mansion in 1869. As the doors were opened, we stepped inside to explore the grandeur and legacy of one of Victoria’s most significant historical homes.

Walking through the mansion, we marvelled at the high ceilings, elaborate furnishings, and beautifully preserved features that reflected Austin’s status and lifestyle. As Thomas died six months after the completion of the mansion, our guides shared stories of Elizabeth Austin’s significant contributions to the community, including her philanthropic efforts, particularly in establishing the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.

Highlights of the tour included the elegant drawing room, the impressive dining room, and the grand staircase, each offering a glimpse into the opulence of the era. The well preserved servants quarters and kitchen area provided an interesting contrast, showcasing the working life behind the scenes.

After exploring the house, we were able to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the grounds and stable, appreciating the sweeping rural views that still echo the grandeur of the past. The visit concluded with a delightful lunch provided by local cafe Sweet Thyme where we shared reflections on the day and the usual chatter catching up on each other’s news.

It was a wonderful outing, made all the more special by the company of fellow Old Girls and the expertise of our guides, Doug and Allison, for their engaging storytelling and insights, which brought Barwon Park’s history to life.

HOGA CASUAL LUNCH – 20 JUNE 2024

The HOGA Casual Luncheon is always an enjoyable affair, a chance to catch up with friends before Winter drives us indoors with the cold, the dark, the rain and the sniffles.

This year we met at the Waurn Ponds Hotel on the Princes Highway and which had the advantage of having copious amounts of parking and being easily accessible to Geelong, to the Western District & being just off the Western Ring Road. The hotel made available their Alfresco Function Room for us which was probably wise given the level of chatter.

Elizabeth graciously introduced Geelong Grammar School’s new Head of Alumni and Community Relations, Alexandra Hocking, who is of a new generation of Hermitage girls as she is a Hermitage House girl. She was excited to meet and chat with the Old Girls and become more familiar with the history of the school.

As we had been given a piano stool presented to Mrs Valerie McDowell nee Bendle, an Old Girl and later a Form 3 class mistress, on the occasion of her wedding in 1952 by Margo Goss, we brought this along to see if anyone could add to its history. Both Bev Foster (Smith) and Jane Caldwell (Newman) remembered Miss Bendle with great fondness and from those memories other memories flowed.

These memories are so precious; if you have stories to tell of your Hermitage days, please write to us. Our next Casual Lunch will be on 19th June 2025 at the Waurn Ponds Hotel. The HOGA social dates for 2025 are also available on the HOGA page of the Old Geelong Grammarians web site.

HOGA CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

This was once again held at the All Saints’ Hall in Newtown. For some of us, this will be familiar from Year 9/Form 3 Dancing Class but at our Christmas Luncheon it looked totally different and was decked out in Christmas decorations, a glorious red and white floral display and Christmas crackers and at each place setting, there was a candy cane with a photo of The Hermitage. Each year since COVID we have seen the numbers attending slowly rising and it is a delight to see friends gather together before the hullabaloo of Christmas consumes our days and thoughts. It is always a happy event.

Ros Leigh remembers how the occasion evolved from the committee’s end of year drinks and carol singing at her home to the occasion it is now. The carol singing might not be up to the King’s College, Cambridge, standard but thanks to the wonderful playing of Kristine Mellens, we sounded pretty good.

And we looked pretty good. The photographic evidence is in the most recent Light Blue. The array of photos were taken by Alex Hocking (GGS Head of Alumni and Community Relations) and by Rylie Jabornik (GGS Alumni and Events Co-ordinator) who both came along and both were made very welcome by the Old Girls. Big thanks to the Committee who put a lot of thought into this event and a lot of their time. Usually that means arriving a couple of hours beforehand and leaving a couple of hours later so that no-one would ever know that we were there.

Next year’s Christmas Luncheon will be on 1st December 2025. The venue is still to be decided but once it is, it will be posted on the HOGA web page which is part of the OGGS web site. All of our functions are listed on our web page.

At the Hoga Christmas Lunch were:

1. Janny Ryle (Bone), Michelle Butcher (Stevens)

2. Ros Claringbold (Firth), Sally Horne (Jaques)

3. Isabel Murfitt (Sleeman), Lorraine Gready (Reynolds), Vera Johnston, Ros Leigh (Tayler), Priscilla Laird (Kyle)

4. Bev Foster (Smith), Lesley Robinson (Donaldson), Jenny Jordan (Gray), Deidre Griffiths, Jill White (Baker)

5. Jillian Murray (Cameron-Murch), Sue Callahan (Holmes), Alex Hocking, Kristen Mellens, Hilary Davies, Belinda Blake

6. Victoria Hickman (Carlyle), Glenda Barr (Holmes), Catherine Hallam (Kirby), Gail Oswell (James) , Felicity Hocking (Waterman), Rylie Menzel (Jabornik)

Reunions to be held in 2025

1965 YEAR GROUP – WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH 2025

1965 Year Group are meeting for their 60 year reunion on Wednesday 19th March 2025 in Melbourne. Organisers are Ann Andrew (Gooch) email: ann@froggully.com. au and Prue Taylor (Thomson) email: pruetaylor@mac.com

ADELAIDE GATHERING – THURSDAY 22 MAY 2025

Yvonne Little (Thomas), has once again kindly offered to organise a casual catch up in Adelaide on Thursday 22nd May, 10.30 at Costello’s, 123 Fisher St, Fullerton. She would love to see all the girls who live in the Adelaide area. Please give her a call on 0421 917 954, to let her know if you are coming, so that she can book.

1975 YEAR GROUP — AUGUST

Michelle Coventry (Macauley) is organising a casual afternoon for Hermo girls who were in ‘form 5 in 1975’ when the school closed and amalgamated. It will take place at the Fyansford Hotel in the Riverside Room on Monday August 4th, 2025 starting at 12 o’clock. Lunch, drinks and snacks available for purchase. There is a Whatsapp group called Hermos’75. We would love people to share the event to fellow classmates by any means available, especially including the Whatsapp group, or texting Michelle on 0424 043 865 with their name, phone number and email address. There is the availability to project any material we think will be hilarious. Please check you photos!

RSVP by July 25, 2025 to Michelle Coventry (Macauley) via text message mobile: 0424 043 865

INFORMATION REGARDING REUNIONS

We would love to hear from anyone interested in organising a reunion. It doesn’t have to be a significant year, just a casual get together is a very rewarding occasion for all.

Could all girls who are making reunions happen please email the date and a contact email address to: hermitagegirls@gmail.com. These dates can be printed in the Newsletter and Light Blue, so girls, particularly those overseas, can have some advance warning. Please also email us with the updated contact lists you make up from your reunions so that our database for year groups can be updated with correct details for all Old Girls.

May I also ask that the girls organising the reunions please send in a group photo and a written report for the Newsletter. Over the last couple of years some have not been reported on as no information has been received. Girls who were unable to attend do like to read of their year group reunions.

Photographs for Light Blue and the Newsletter need to be 1mgb. Photos are much clearer with a camera rather than an iPad. Girls who are not currently listed as Old Girls can be added by forwarding details.

All girls that attended the Hermitage are Old Girls.

Reunion Reports

CLASS OF 64 — 60 YEAR REUNION

On Saturday 16th November 2024 our reunion luncheon was held at St Lords in Newtown, Geelong. 19 fellow class friends gathered from near & far including Queensland, NSW, Tasmania, Western District & Cathy Goodier (Forsyth) made the trip from the U.K.

On arrival, many of our girls were grateful to be handed name badges, which made renewing old friendships easier. It wasn’t long before everyone was mingling amongst each other, chatting, laughing & catching up on the past six decades.

Over a lovely meal & wine, many girls were exchanging contact numbers & email addresses with the intent of keeping in contact.

When it was announced that our next reunion, being our 70th, would be held in 2034, everyone said “No, no, no! In five years (2029)!

12 stayed on into the evening for dinner & continued with more laughter & reminiscing before calling it a day at 9pm.

On Sunday morning, those who were still in town gathered on the waterfront for brunch, before everyone dispersed on their different roads home. An enjoyable and full weekend was had by all. We look forward to repeating the above again in five years time and we hope those who were unable to attend can join us then.

A small group of us meet twice a year, usually March & September, in Queenscliff or Sorrento. Anyone who would like to join us are most welcome.

Marie Jordan (Hill) and Sue Rickarby (Parramore)

1974 HERMITAGE CLASS REUNION

As the class of 1974 said their goodbyes at the Hermitage ending their secondary schooling, Cyclone Tracy hit soon after on Christmas Day, devastating Darwin: a lasting memory for many of the girls. The class of ‘74 has continued to come together to share many memories and celebrate their bond every 10 years to our current 50th anniversary.

Our gathering of 25 met at the Sawyers Arms Hotel in Geelong for a luncheon where we enjoyed catching up, reliving memories, sharing lots of laughs and old photographs. For some, it was their first opportunity to participate at a school reunion whilst others had travelled long

distances, from as far as South Australia and Queensland. Future reunions will probably take place every five years so we can enjoy one another’s company more regularly. Thanks go to Barb McDonald, Karen White and Wendy Tuechler for organising and making this reunion possible.

At the 1974 reunion were:

1. Alison Simmons (Ross) Helen Barton (Ranken) Georgina James (McGuiness)

2. Amanda Currie, Lorraine Van Gemert (Lyon) Ella Maynard (Baum) Helen Thompson (McGregor), Sue Parratt (Kelly)

3. Emma Pell, Barbara McDonald, Karen White

4. Emma Pell, Jane Salter (Swinburne), Amanda Currie, Libby Taylor (Koch), Diana Markovits, Cathy Hallam (Kirby), Lorraine Van Gemert (Lyon), Lindy Allen (Vizard), Adrienne Henderson

5. Wendy Tuechler (Dennis), Camilla Hodgson, Jane Threadgold (Hinchliffe)

ADELAIDE GATHERING

Yvonne Thomas (Little) again kindly organised this reunion. There was only a small group that attended, but those that did make the effort thoroughly enjoyed themselves and had a lovely catch up. Yvonne hopes that more ladies in the area make the effort to attend this event and have the opportunity to meet old and new friends there.

GOLF DAY REPORT

The Hermitage Old Girls Golf Day was played at Barwon Heads Golf Club on Monday 14th October. It was a very successful day. The golf was fun, on a day when the rain stopped before we started and the sun shone when we were finishing. Whilst the day was all about golf, the bond between the old girls always feels very special.

Congratulations to Jan Embling on being the individual winner and to the winning team consisting of Jan Embling, Pam McDonald, Cath Bell and Jan Curtain.

Naida Hutton and Angie Worthy both won a nearest the pin. Well done everyone.

Next year’s Old Girls Golf Day will be held on Monday 27th October 2025 at Barwon Heads, hopefully in our newly renovated clubhouse. This will mean we can accommodate those who wish to only come to lunch. It would be great to have even more golfers so please ask another friend to join you. See you then.

Sarah Tallent

Left: Jan Embling (Bell), individual winner of the day with 35 points, and Sarah Tallent (Calvert)

Top right: A happy lunch together in a lovely marquee Opposite (bottom): The winning team, including Jan Curtain (Schofield), Pam McDonald (Philip), Cath Bell (Irvine), Jan Embling (Bell)

INTER SCHOOL GOLF DAY REPORT

The 95th Women’s Inter School Golf Challenge Cup was held at Yarra Golf Club on 18th March. This year, 29 schools competed in the charity golf event, raising more than $2,000 for McAuley Community Services for Women. The Hermitage team, pictured below, was well represented in the 18-hole stableford competition by Lib Nicholson (Calvert, The Hermitage ‘ 68), Sarah Tallent (Calvert, The Hermitage ‘72), Suzanne Hurley (Jones, The Hermitage ‘73) and Sandy Fraser (Bell, The Hermitage ‘72).

Sandy Fraser

FOR SALE

We have two beautiful mementoes of our wonderful school.

Our beautiful mugs are now with an easy to grip handle and have our emblem on them. They are dishwasher proof and enjoyable to drink out of. The price is only $15.00 plus postage.

We also have our amazing book, Proud to be Women: A History of The Hermitage, which has every students name and dates of attendance included in it. The price of this masterpiece is only $50.00 plus postage which is $15.00 within Australia.

If you live in the Geelong or Ballarat region we can assist with delivery or pick up from one of the Committee members homes.

Don’t miss out on these special items!! To order either of these special items, please contact Jill Nicholls on: Tel: 0400 800 136 Email: hermitagegirls@gmail.com

Payment Details

Account name: The Hermitage Old Girl’s Association Inc. BSB: 063551

Account Number: 1041 0644 Look forward to hearing from you.

What’s in a name

Sometimes we do not know, realise, or understand where names for certain places or objects originate from.

Here is a story that involves one of our amazing Old Girls, who is a local groundbreaking legend.

There was a competition with hundreds of submissions, to name two new Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) for the new 6.5 km North East Link Tunnels.

One was named Gillian after our one and only Dr Gillian Opie, who is a neonatal paediatrician at the Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg.

Dr Gillian Opie also founded Australia’s first breast milk bank more than 10 years ago, providing sick and premature babies in Melbourne’s neonatal intensive care units (NICU) with safe, screened and pasteurised donor milk (PDM), ensuring that every baby has the best start in life.

Dr Gillian Opie emphasises the significance of providing this service when a mother’s own supply is low, and how breast milk has unique infection providing properties that infant formula does not provide.

Since opening in 2011, the Mercy Health Breast Milk Bank has had over 400 milk donors provide more than 4,232 litres of breastmilk to thousands of recipients.

The service expanded in 2019, opening satellite sites at Monash Children’s Hospital; and the Royal Children’s Hospital; and a site at the Royal Women’s Hospital.

Gillian was selected from hundreds of submissions of “Local Legends” as a part of a TBM naming compilation with her name now adorning one of the two massive machines that will dig the North East Link tunnels. Each TBM is 90 metres long, 15.6 metres wide and weighs more than 4000 tonnes.

Both TBMs will be operated 24 hours a day by a crew of up to 20 people. When complete the North East Link unbelts will take 15,000 trucks off local pads every day and reduce travel time by up to 35 minutes.

Tunnelling tradition dictates a TBM cannot start work until it has been given a female name, a sign of good luck for the project ahead - so the competition sought suggestions that recognised inspiring or ground-breaking women with a connection to Melbourne’s north eastern suburbs. The tradition of naming TBM’s

after women can be traced back to the 1500’s when miners and military engineers working with explosives for underground excavation, prayed to Saint Barbara for protection.

Cooeegrams

Wonderful memories of a special friend – Jennifer Stewart (Speirs)

I feel very privileged to have been invited to speak at Jen’s special memorial. Our friendship goes back a long way, we were at boarding school together, finishing our education in 1968. We did our nursing training at the same time, Jen at the Royal Melbourne and myself at the Royal Children’s hospital. Jen’s nursing training later led to nursing posts in remote parts of Australia and also internationally. All of her past nursing colleagues remember her fondly both for her care and compassion shown to her patients but also friendships she made wherever she worked and travelled.

In this era, we attended many of the same parties. The well known B&S balls were a must on our social calendar, but there were numerous “end of year” parties which was always a “be there, be seen” occasion.

As soon as we left school we got a casual holiday job at the Quamby Hotel in Lorne. This entailed waitressing in the hotels dining room for breakfast and dinner. We had to be dressed entirely in black. Jen was reprimanded on her first morning in the dining room for wearing “those noisy Dr Scholl’s wooden sandals” which made her presence known on the bare timber floors. We were not allowed to write down the customers orders from the menu which was a bit tricky especially when there were tables of mum and dad with four or six kids, all ordering something different. We also had to do cleaning and room service at the hotel, which included washing many guest towels in a tiny twin tub washing machine with only a hand operated wringer. Usually 50+ towels over a couple of hours, while longingly eyeing off the beach we were dying to get to.

I think Jen’s early inspiration and desire for travel started a couple of years after she left school. Jen asked me if I would like to go with her to QLD. I asked

her “What, fly or drive?” Her response was “Oh hell no! I’m thinking more of hitchhiking Jan!” So in 1971, with minimal preparation and final destination in Queensland undecided we headed off in my brand new mini minor to Sydney, where we would leave the car then start hitching rides as far north as we could get. We mainly camped in a tent Jen had borrowed from a friend, but on odd occasions booked into budget motels when we needed a good sleep and shower.

Most of our rides were with truckies, happy go lucky, friendly characters. We experienced a few long haul night drives, but mostly 2-6 hour day trips. On one ride well into NSW a man with his school aged son stopped to give us a ride as we were standing on the side of the road in pouring rain. We were both saturated! We piled into his little VW and he invited or rather insisted we came to spend the night with his family as he didn’t want to leave two young women on the side of the road late in the day. Dinner was served at the kitchen table, some sort of vegetarian grainy porridge like concoction. A religious type meal we thought.

A bed on the fold down sofa was made up for us and we were about to go to sleep when organ music started to play with the woman’s voice chanting some religious mantra. Next morning this kind family man drove us out onto the highway to continue our hiking.

We took a few days off hiking and camped at Surfers Paradise, hiring a Mini Moke and being self-sufficient. Another ride in northern QLD took us to a small town called Home Hill. When you are hitchhiking and get in a car after accepting a ride, you have not got much option to change your mind once you are in the car. We quickly realised this particular ride was not a great choice. The young guy was so weird, not only his appearance and mentality, but I think he thought he’d won the lottery to have two young females in his car. A bit of speed and hooning in his clapped out Holden further enhanced my idea that a Greyhound bus service may safely get us to far north QLD. As soon as we got to Home Hill we asked if he could drop us off, fortunately for us close to a Backpackers Accommodation, but as we later discovered this was a bad decision to reveal where we may be staying. We booked a room on the second floor, a typical Queensland building with all rooms opening onto the upstairs veranda. All rooms had louvre doors and no locks!!

After we had a fascinating time adjusting our mosquito nets over each bed, we settled for the night, full of plans for the next day. About midnight, there was a commotion out on the veranda with a number of noisy males, yelling out and rattling all the bedroom doors. It was the mad driver of our previous ride returning

with several of his mates looking for us. To our relief, the manager appeared and told the group to leave as they were disturbing all his guests.

Our return trip from Cairns back to Sydney was uneventful, but I must say I was glad to get home in one piece.

Of course this early trip only fueled Jen’s adventurous spirit and it has been wonderful to read of all her amazing trips around the world, complete with a detailed description of each photo posted.

Jan Koch

Marg Daly (Bland)

What a pleasure to recall the wonderful and priceless years I was able to attend at The Hermitage, not only as a student, but later a staff member.

I wonder who still remembers, Term 3, 1938, two 10 year old American girls joined as day girls. Both my sister Catherine and I were taken under Pam Renton’s wing and made this great beginning for us so easy. My first run in with The Head Mistress was for buying sweets at the corner store for boarders!! So many memories of those days in Newtown, but now find the school out at Corio, so inspiring.

My sister (Kate) died in September last year after living in Canberra for many years, then recently in Sydney with her son. As for the Daly clan, we have 2 boys, 1 girl, 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, with one on the way.

The past 18 months have proven no one is invincible due to heart problems, but 12 months ago I had a trans-aortic valve implantation which I feel is a miracle of today’s world. Now keyhole, and has allowed me to again sleep lying prone, and walk with a small walker for at least an hour, travel on the bus, do aqua aerobics and seniors keep fit class every week. I have been so blessed. Giving up driving has been the worst, but my husband who’s a few years younger can still drive, thank goodness.

Yvonne Thomas took me to our Adelaide Old Girls get together earlier this year, one of my ex-pupils Jenny Oldfield (Pope) and I managed to catch up for lunch which we had not been able to do lately.

Thank you for keeping we “old girls” still in the loop.

Marg D.

Johanna Beasley

Dear Committee,

I have finally returned to Australia after 23 years working and living in Fiji.

Initially l volunteered for the Fiji Council for the disabled in Suva. I then moved from Suva to Nadi to work at the International School heading their art department. My final position was at the University of the South Pacific in Suva where l worked as their visual arts coordinator at the Oceania Centre for the Arts.

I recently moved to Lamb Island, a small island off Redland Bay in Queensland.

Last week l caught up with Val Clark who has lived on nearby Stradbroke Island for many years.

Earlier whilst waiting to move into my new home I visited Victoria. I was fortunate to catch up with Rae Gawley when Rachel Cumming arranged a visit to stay with her in Geelong. We had a drive past the school and checked out our old haunts.

I also caught up with Sarah Brown and we had lunch together.

I did manage to attend our last reunion but had limited time. lt is so good to take the time to remember our shared experiences.

My new address:

26 Leonie Crescent

Lamb island

Queensland 4184

Judith Read

I just wish to say how much I enjoyed the HOGA AGM on Saturday. It was a thrill to see friends and discover associations and even to find the School Sanctuary installed at Grammar. I had forgotten about that and not seen it there before.

The meeting was so well presented and Alex proved a most interesting speaker. The luncheon too was very generous. My thanks to you and all who keep the Association alive.

With best wishes, Judy Read (Tucker)

Janet Macdonald

Dear Hermitage Old Girls and Old Geelong Grammarians,

It is with a sad heart that I am letting you know that my mother Ruth Christian Macdonald known as Chris Macdonald passed away on Monday 12 February 2024. She was 97 years old. She is survived by 3 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, 5 grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren.

She attended The Hermitage for her late primary schooling and her secondary schooling as Christian Hamilton. Her older sister, Lucy Hamilton, also attended The Hermitage. Two of her older brothers attended Geelong Grammar School, Alexander Hamilton and David Hamilton.

She enjoyed attending the various Hermitage Old Girls events and the Tower Luncheons over the years. I acted as her chauffeur over the last few years when she stopped driving. The last Hermitage event that she attended was the Christmas lunch in 2022. She attended all the Tower Luncheons except the last one in 2023 when she was unable to attend. Although she has probably outlived her classmates, there will be some of you who will remember her attending the Hermitage and/or Tower events.

Regards, Janet Macdonald

Janet M Dykgraaff (nee Ross)

Dear Editor,

My older sister Prudence Jean Ahlquist (nee Ross) died of Covid in Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland on the 5/6/2023.

Sporting House was Morres. Headmistress was Miss EV Krome. Married in England 1962, to Gordon Ahlquist, a Marine Engineer, with whom she had two daughters in Rabaul PNG, Louise Anne and Kate Marjorie, and subsequently two grandsons, who settled in Queensland. My family and I were very close and supportive of Aunty Prudie after the divorce in Brisbane, and when she was living for so many years in Sydney. Sadly missed.

RIP Sis! PJ, aka Prudie.

In the Lord’s eternal Hands.

Janet M Dykgraaff (nee Ross) Morres, 1953-1959.

The four Purnell sisters

Many families have had the privilege of all their daughters being able to attend The Hermitage throughout their school days. There are not many that have continued on that connection and commitment to their school like the Purnell sisters. Each of these ladies have held the position of President of The Old Girls Association during their lifetime.

In the following photo which was taken in 1986, from left to right:

Beverley Kroger (McCracken) Secretary, who was also President in 1990-91

Jillian Buchanan (Purnell) 1949-1956, President -1985-1986

Margaret Dyson (Purnell) 1906-1913, President 1920

Ruth Hoskin (Purnell) 1914-1922, President 1935

Judy Llewellyn (Purnell) 1950-1959, President 2003-2008

Two of these ladies, both Margaret and Ruth, took on the role of President, even before they were married. We certainly thank these dedicated ladies for showing the love and desire to ensure that the Old Girls Association lives on.

Rosemary Duplieux

Ro Duplieux is now living in a beautiful sun filled apartment in the Deborah Cheetham Retirement Village, in a Ryman Villa, in Ocean Grove.

She has only been there for 2 months and is thoroughly enjoying her new surroundings. She knows a few people there, and is meeting new people with the different activities etc that are available. She is still driving, and says she would love friends to pop in and visit her at her new home.

Her phone number is the same.

Catherine Mann

Dear HOGA,

I write to inform you of the death on 31 March 2022 of my mother, Margaret Anne Mann (nee Scott) who boarded at The Hermitage from 1947 - 1949 inclusive.

She was in Austin House and became a House Prefect. She did also mention Salisbury - was this another house?

Mum attended many Old Girls’ lunches - most recently just before Covid, but found that most of her contemporaries had passed on. She very much enjoyed meeting up with old girls from the 1940s and early 50s.

Right: Mum in summer uniform with hat and gloves, 1947

Next page (top): Sunday afternoon at Austin House, 1948

Next page (bottom): Senior girls, 1949Mum is back row, second from left

Obituaries:

MARJORIE ELIZABETH LILIAN LINCOLN (nee LAWRENCE)

This note was sent by her daughter Judith Lincoln

Marjorie Elizabeth Lilian LINCOLN 31/7/37 – 18/1/2022 (nee LAWRENCE) formerly of Mannerim and Portarlington. She attended Hermitage in the late 1940s, early 50s.

One of mum’s best friends was Tammy Beggs, of whom she spoke of often as great tennis pals. My mother was known by many as just ‘Marj’, named after her father’s sister Marjorie Lawrence, the 1930 world famous Wagnerian Opera singer from Winchelsea and Deans Marsh, who later suffered polio and sang to WWII troops from a wheelchair.

1952-1954 Marjorie trained as a Registered Nurse at Geelong Hospital under Matron Taylor. In late 1957 she married and left nursing for a period of 12 years. In 1970 Marjorie completed a nursing refresher course and returned to the workforce. She went on to hold the position of Deputy Matron at two nursing homes in Leopold and Grovedale. Her final position was Night Duty Supervisor at Grace McKellar for many years until being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She was forced to retire at age 57.

1957 Marjorie married ‘Mick’ A.J.A. Lincoln (of Portarlington) at St Mathew’s Anglican Church, East Geelong November 1957. Marjorie had four children, Judith, Lindsay, Vicki and Sheryl and was President of the Kindergarten Committee and the Mother’s Club of the Portarlington State School. Adept at sewing she made hundreds of stuffed toys as prizes for children at fundraising events for both organisations.

Work as a farmer’s spouse was unpaid. However, she was just as adept at managing the farm as she was managing a nursing home. Her passions were horses and outdoor living. She could, milk cows, handle a set of electric shears or toss a bale of grass hay onto the bale elevator as well as any strong worker. But it was all the farm and pet animals she enjoyed the most. The horses especially were a true love who provided her with the greatest outlet, involvement and creativity.

1975 Marjorie was the driving force in setting up the Portarlington and District Pony Club and remained District Commission of the club for many years. The club grew from a small gathering of riders and their scrubby little ponies to a highly

accomplished club with many successful riders in different spheres and in pony club events.

Showing horses took on new meaning with four children to keep entertained. During the next 20 years Marjorie competed herself as well as supported and encouraged her children to participate in all forms of horse eventing ranging from flat riding to showjumping, cross country, harness and unusually rodeo eventing such as barrel racing. Wherever there were floats or gathering of horses under saddle or in harness Marjorie was not far away.

At age 57 she contracted Multiple Sclerosis, this life sapping disease process extinguished a life filled with enormous activity and social engagement. Life riding around in a wheelchair never sat well. Marjorie was cared for by ‘Mick’ for many years at home before both would enter Palmerston Nursing Home Drysdale where they were together until ‘Mick’ died in January 2018 age 92 and then Marj in January 2022 age 88.

JENNIFER LESLEY STEWART (NEE SPEIRS) “A LIFE WELL TRAVELLED”

Jen was born to Roy and Lesley Speirs of “Satimer” Casterton on the 14th of March 1951 in the Coleraine hospital. The 4th of 5 children. The eldest was Helen, then Mary, Bill, Jen and Jack. That’s me, the baby of the family.

The development of Jen’s independent nature started early; this was to shape her future.

Our mother, a nurse, contracted TB on the boat to England in the late 1930’s. After convalescing in the U.K. for six months, she returned to Australia, married Roy and came to live at Satimer. The TB returned when Jen was around 4 and Mum again convalesced for the next two and half years in the Grange at Hamilton. Jen and I went to live with Dad’s sister and family. It was a challenging time for Jen as she took the blame for many misdemeanours that weren’t of her doing but she always looked after for me. For two and a half years once a month we would sit on the lawn at the sanatorium and wave to Mum, character building stuff that we could have done without, but Jens independent traits held us both in good stead.

Jen’s primary school years were at Wando Heights, four miles away. We travelled to school riding ponies or bikes, driven by the teacher who lived at Satimer or Mum and later a bus.

“Satimer” is an old homestead with a wide veranda all the way around, many an evening was spent whizzing around on three-wheel bikes. Jen loved yabbying in the dams, catching Prickly Backs in the river, mustering sheep with Dad on her pony and playing in the woolshed at shearing. A typical country girl.

Growing up at Satimer in a loving environment had many happy memories for Jen; she enjoyed Highland Dancing, attending all the local shows but as she often danced to her own tune, she didn’t salute the judges too often. Jen had piano lessons in Casterton with Miss Lambourne, her grey hair tied in a bun and a stern look on her face. I sat outside and often heard the ruler being used across her knuckles by a very frustrated teacher because Jen was playing to her own rhythm.

Summer holidays were at the beach in Portland with Granny and it was here that Jen’s love of fishing started and was to continue all her life.

Jen headed off to the Hermitage in Geelong as a boarder in year 7. We always travelled in the back of Dad’s Ute, under a canopy and on a mattress, imagine what would be said about that today.

Jen loved her time at the Hermitage although the independent streak saw her frequently fronting the house mistress. Jen’s ready smile and infectious nature enabled her to make lifelong friends at the school.

Mum regularly sent food parcels down to the Hermitage. I was at Geelong College and would walk down on Sunday to see Jen and sometimes pick up my share, which was not always there. Like the time the fruitcake being sent from home and not being handed over as it was wet. Another time she said the biscuits were broken and had thrown them out. I think we all know where they went.

Our oldest sister Helen took us to the Melbourne Show along with a couple of Jen’s mates. All I remember is the Hermi girls screaming all the way around the mad mouse roller coaster ride.

Jen followed her mother’s footsteps and trained at the Royal Melbourne Hospital gaining her nursing certificate in 1973.

Fate intervened again. When riding her motorbike home from work she was involved in an accident where she nearly lost her leg and was left with a serious scar. After a long recovery, she was advised to move to a warmer climate for better healing and lessen the aches and pains.

So, Jen packed her bags and headed North to Wyndam in the Kimberly to work as a nurse. This was the first of many times that Jen would pack up and head to places unknown and with her ready smile and generous nature she would endear herself to all around her.

Jen embraced everything the Kimberly had to offer, becoming a very keen fisherwoman, catching bulls for the meat works, attending rodeos with big John Underwood, and meeting “Wattle” her future husband. Steve, a friend of Wattles, was very scarred by burns and so Jen grew in confidence to not worry about hers as they seemed insignificant, Steve was very protective.

Jen had many happy times as a Kimberly woman living on Home Valley Station on the Gibb River Road. She was taught to be proficient with the throw net, to catch bait for Barramundi fishing by John Watson, a Kimberly Aboriginal Elder. Again, Jen made friends with all she met. I stayed with Jen and Wattle in 1974 at Home Valley Station and she was in her element.

Jen and Wattle were married in Hamilton on the 7th January 1977 and Callum was born two years later on the 9 Feb 1979.

All was not well in the Kimberly. In 1981 Bill drove to Wyndam to collect Jen and Callum and brought them home to Satimer. A highlight of this trip being Callum throwing his dummy out the open window: it was too hot to have it shut, with Jen saying “well that’s it, no more dummy”.

Jen and Callum stayed at Satimer for a while but the cold weather and itchy feet saw her take up a nursing position at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, a brave move. Jen took it all in her stride, never afraid of hard work whilst making new friends of all she met.

Bowral came next, renting, then buying a house that was to become her base with Callum for many years. Community nursing with her loving smile again saw her develop many new friendships, the small town loved her. She would always bring Callum to see us when we visited family in Sydney, family was very important to Jen.

I visited Jen in Bowral, and a lasting memory was walking down the main street and being greeted by everyone. As a nurse in a small country town with a happy face and welcoming smile, Jen was loved by all.

Jen and Callum came home to Satimer to visit many times. Lots of Christmases with our parents, and attending many other special occasions.

Jen left Bowral to start a new era of nursing and travelling, to care for the royal family in Brunei and then the royal family in Saudi Arabia over the next 18 years.

In 2012 Jen returned from Saudi Arabia to live in Coburg before taking a nursing position on Thursday Island.

Suzie and I were in Cyprus when Jen rang to tell us the terrible news that her son Callum had died in August 2013 aged 34. This was a very sad period of Jens life but she returned to Thursday Island and continued to put her energy into nursing and caring for others

Jen delighted in telling me that, after putting together a large wine order on behalf of all the staff at Thursday Island, she would ring BWS, as they offered free freight, she would give them the address, a little silence as they worked out there wouldn’t be any profit on this order.

Jen travelled extensively whilst working on Thursday Island, where she continued her love of fishing, catching coral trout, groper and barramundi. She often joined the islanders for a feast after a traditional hunt for fish or turtles.

After buying a house in 2017, just around the corner from us in Ocean Grove Jen retired from nursing. She continued to travel to all parts of the world, visiting friends from days past and making new friends along the way. She would only be home a couple of days before beginning to plan the next journey. The planning always involved either roast lamb, lamb chops or her favourite grassfed Aldi sausages and a few wines with us at Paris Court.

Jen helped care for our sister Helen and supported Helen’s children Stuart and Airlie in Helen’s last months. Jen then travelled extensively with Stuart across Europe, the US and South America. Jen also travelled with Airlie to Mexico and they all had a Christmas together in Mexico City.

Jen had reconnected with many old school mates around the area and loved her tennis group.

In late June, Stuart returned from his holiday to live at Jens and assist Jo, Mary, Annette, Lyn and Sal in keeping Jen comfortable at home, for as long as possible. This also allowed many friends and family to come to visit. I would like to acknowledge the beautiful relationship that Jen shared with Suzie for nearly 50 years and Suzie’s loving care for Jen in her last weeks, being with her in the evenings and early mornings till the end. Jen loved having her own Florence Nightingale at her side.

Jen loved nothing better than friends or family, a glass of wine, good food, colourful clothes and the odd puff. Her beautiful smile, inclusive nature, her natural thoughtfulness and enthusiasm ensured she was the life of every party.

Jen had many treasured friends, some all her life while others have joined at various points in her journey. She really did love you all.

Fly High Jen and watch over us.

Jack Speirs

Deaths

Joan Frances Barron (Thornton), 1963. Died 14th May 2024

Margaret Ruth Baylis (Haydon), 1954. Died 20th January 2025

Elizabeth Were Caillard (Hopkins), 1953. Died 20th May 2024

(Errol) Stephanie Day, (Aikman), 1948. Died 28th August 2023

Suzanne Duly (Dubois), 1954. Died 1st April 2024

Diana Louise Evans, (Middleton). 1954. Died 6th June 2023

Reita Fowler (Richardson), 1948. Died 10th November 2023

Angela Robyn Hope, 1970. Died 19th April 2024

(Jo) Jocelyn Eleanor Kelly (Gilpin), 1955. Died 13th January 2024

Marjorie Elizabeth Lilian Lincoln (Lawrence), 1950. Died 18th January 2022

(Chris) Ruth Christian Macdonald (Hamilton) 1943. Died 12th February 2024

Valerie May McDowell (Bendle), 1944. Died 9th October 2024

Catharine Kent McLennan (Bland), 1945. Died 19th September 2023

Margaret Ann Mann (Scott) 1950. Died 31st March 2022

Margaret Eveline Milne (Neil) 1966. Died 23 April 2024

Gillian (Jill) Anne Mohr (Donald) 1948. Died 13th January 2024

Heather May (Piper) 1970. Died 25 April 2024

Lolita Wallace Steingrube (Cooke) 1955. Died 2024

Jennifer Lesley Stewart (Speirs) 1968. Died 11th August 2024

Noelene Dawn Thomson (Green) 1953. Died 27th April 2024

(Lainey) Elaine Webster, 1966. Died 20th April 2024

Bereavements

Wendy Potter (Beilby) - Husband

Adele Ellis (Costin) - Sister

Margaret Lawrence, Elizabeth Morgan, Janette Curtain, Ruth (Dec) (Schofield) - Brother

Victoria Marles, Liz Marles and Jennifer (Green) - Mother

Michelle Cleary (Virtue) - Husband

Margaret Daly (Bland) - Sister

Sarah Manifold (Hope) - Sister

Jan Fabinyi (Piper) - Sister

Carolyn Brockman (Crawford) - Son

Cooee

To school fellows near us or distant, We send out our Cooee today; Wherever you be may you hear it, Whether hard at your work or at play. In our own sunny home or in lands far away Do you hear it? Just listen! We greet you today.

Cooee! Cooee! Long live the School!

Australia’s own call to her daughters is the call of your school now as well: May its echoes ring cheerily round you, Making feelings of gratitude swell. May it be that your conduct will aye prove the worth Of the love of your school and the land of your birth.

Cooee! Cooee! Long live the School!

May lessons you learn in your school days, Through life make your path ever bright, May you grow in all virtue and beauty Gentle, honest, and strong in the right. In all games that you play, in all work that you do, Do the work, play the game, as a girl straight and true.

Cooee! Cooee! Long live the School!

May our song in far days waken mem’ries, Of comrades and friends tried and true, Days bright with the freshness of morning, Pleasures many and sorrows but few. Then here’s to you, schoolmates, young, old, far and near, Accept our glad greeting and ring it back here.

Cooee! Cooee! Long live the School!

The Hermitage Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, Geelong NEWSLETTER 2025