Meet our Community – Ms Ann McAllister, PFA President

What are the main objectives of the PFA for 2018?

The most important objective of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association is to create opportunities for the St Catherine’s community to come together in an environment that is warm, vibrant, caring and welcoming. In this way, we build a connected community. With ‘friend-raising’ as our focus, we have a PFA calendar of events that provides many opportunities for parents to meet and engage with each other and with members of staff.

When our School families are joined in this way, we enhance the growth and wellbeing of our children. This PFA objective is the foundation of our community and inspires lifelong connections and engagement.

What have been the key achievements of the PFA during the past year?

In August 2017, the PFA took over the second hand uniform shop when the Uniform Centre was sold to Bob Stewart. This has been a most satisfying and worthwhile decision and was the PFA’s most significant achievement last year. PFA volunteer, Mrs Lisa James has taken ownership of this new venture and is doing an amazing job; not only supporting and engaging with our families, but also providing a valuable resource for our community. By recycling our School uniforms, the PFA can meet its fundraising target without needing to ask the community directly for money. This means we can concentrate on our primary aim, which is friend-raising.

What does the PFA hope to achieve during the coming year?

Most importantly, the PFA has pledged to support the Her Future Begins Here campaign, which is one of the most significant endeavours undertaken by our members in recent years. Integral to the design of the new Junior School is a superbly designed play and sports precinct. This area will be known more commonly as the Village Green and will be named in honour and recognition of the $100,000 donation by the PFA to the campaign. The PFA has committed to raising $25,000 each year, over four years.

The Village Green will feature a perimeter jogging track, strength and agility equipment, a vegetable garden, quieter reflection spaces and a large grassed oval. This space will also be a place for our students to play, run or kick a football as well as a key community venue for our major PFA events such the Christmas Fair.

Landscaping works for the new Village Green will commence once the existing Barbreck building has been demolished, which is planned after the Term 2 holidays when the girls have moved into their new Junior School campus. The new Village Green will open at the commencement of the 2019 School year.

What are the key events taking place for the PFA in the coming 12 months?

This year, we have combined the New Parents’ Social Evening with the Junior and Senior Parent Information nights. Hosted by the PFA in the Mary Davis Centre, this event provides a fabulous opportunity for new and existing parents to get to know one another in a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Our annual Ruth Langley Luncheon is planned for Friday 25 May. This is a PFA signature event each year and is always well attended. We will let the School community know when we have our guest speaker organised but in the meantime, put the date in your diary.

Our Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls will include a selection of impressive gifts for purchase. In addition, the PFA will host the Mother’s Day Breakfast on Friday 11 May and the Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday 31 August.

Finally, our most important event will be the St Catherine’s Christmas Fair on Friday afternoon, 30 November from 3.00pm till 8.00pm. We hope to be hosting this special celebration in the new Junior School campus.

Why do you think volunteering is so important? How can people contribute?

Volunteering at St Catherine’s has provided me with an opportunity to meet and interact with an enormous number of wonderful, inspiring and interesting people. I never cease to be amazed by the number of unassuming, gracious and talented women in our extended St Catherine’s community.

Volunteering has allowed me to use some of my professional skills without the demands of the workplace and while I’ve also been juggling small children. I love a challenge and enjoy sharing ideas and learning new skills.

Volunteering time is equally as valuable as financial donations. The character of the people and the quality of the relationships is what determines the health and wellbeing of our children. It is what binds our community together.

I encourage all our parents to volunteer. You can become a Class Rep, join the Sporting, Music or Drama Auxiliaries, join the PFA or help with the Past Parent’s program. You could also just send me an email. I will always be able to find something for you to do.

Have you been involved in other roles at St Catherine’s?

I have been a parent at St Catherine’s since 2012 and prior to that, I spent many years visiting the School to collect my nieces, who were in the Boarding House. When my daughter Bridget commenced in Year 7, I volunteered to be a Class Rep and met some wonderful parents from Grimwade and from many of the local primary schools. Many of these women are now my good friends. It was a great experience and I volunteered to be a Class Rep again in Year 8. Bridget was involved in the School productions and Music, in Rowing and Sport so it was easy to get involved. I joined the PFA in 2015.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

I trained as a journalist in NSW in the days when you could smoke and drink alcohol in the office and no-one cleared the ashtrays or the bottles; when newspapers were printed and stacked in piles to the ceiling and we used typewriters and yellow Spirax note pads. It was sexist. I watched as a fork lift delivered the first word processing computer to our office.

Prior to that, I did Graphic Design at Swinburne and Communications at RMIT.

I was required to learn typing and shorthand in Year 9 and it’s remarkable how something I was so against – because I was NOT EVER going to be a secretary – has become so useful.

Tell us something our community does not know about you. What is your favourite book, hobby, movie or meal?

My husband, Andrew Maughan and I have four children, including three boys. Our daughter Bridget finished at St Catherine’s last year and is now in the UK working at a Prep school called Pinewood as a GAP student. She is loving it. Our son Sam is at RMIT and living at Queens College and our two younger boys, Will and Oliver are in Years 7 and 8 at MGS. I’m feeling the relief of having two children finished VCE and now, only two boys at home.

Andrew and I are both from the country. Andrew is from a farm near Kyabram and while I grew up on a farm in Deniliquin, my parents now live on the Macquarie River, near Dubbo.

I’m reading, The Dry by Jane Harper. The first few pages have been fantastic. It’s very ‘Deniliquin.’

Do you have a favourite joke or party trick you are famous for?

I can’t tell jokes, but I can tap-dance.

If you could eat one food every day for the rest of your life what would it be?

Scroggin – a mix of nuts, good quality chocolate and dried fruit. It’s great to take hiking or skiing.