The Senior School Speech Night, celebrated at the Melbourne Recital Centre last Friday, was the culmination of a wonderful year of student achievement in 2018. Throughout the evening, students from Years 7 to 12 were acknowledged for their commitment and achievement in academic, co-curricular and service pursuits at school. It was also a pleasure to welcome Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Kate Jenkins, to provide an inspiring keynote address on the evening.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Kate Jenkins, delivered the keynote address.

In recent years, the School has not included our Year 7 and 8 girls for this evening of celebration, but I feel it is more important than ever that we continue to strive to showcase the achievements of young women, in front of young girls. The inclusion of our whole Senior School community celebrates a ‘trajectory of learning’ that starts significantly before VCE; we come together to recognise this journey and the learning that unfolds over many years in a student’s life. You can view the full list of Award recipients here.

It was also my delight to announce the fifth recipient of the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award to our Head of Performing Arts, Mr James Brown. This announcement was met with rapturous applause from the School community in acknowledgement of Mr Brown’s significant contribution to the life of St Catherine’s. This Award is peer nominated, and recognises:

• Consistent and dedicated service to teaching.
• Achieves excellent student outcomes.
• A willingness to share successful teaching and learning strategies.

Mr James Brown was awarded the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award.

Over six years, Mr Brown has dedicated himself to teaching at St Catherine’s. A lover of literature, he teaches text in a passionate manner, often acting scenes in class in order to bring texts alive in his senior English classes. Last year, in his Year 12 Theatre Studies class, he successfully had a student earn a Perfect Score and a Premier’s Award, and two students selected for Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) Top Class and Top Design.

The quality of Mr Brown’s musical productions are notably outstanding and certainly highlight his dedicated professionalism. As recently as this week, Year 12 student Demi Markakis, under the Direction of Mr Brown, was identified and acknowledged by the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria for her exceptional performance in our 2018 School Musical, Crazy For You.

On behalf of all attending Speech Night, I congratulate the students and staff for their brilliant showcase of musical performances. The Melbourne Recital Centre provided our students learning musical instruments and singing in choirs an opportunity to perform in one of Melbourne’s leading venues with the girls certainly rising to the occasion. Mrs Lyn Henshall, Ms Liv Cher, Mrs Lisa Cook and Mr Tim Collins directed the most fabulous arrangement of music, featuring the combined choirs of Sherren Singers and Viva Voci singing The Snow (Op. 26, No. 1), in addition to outstanding performances by the Senior Concert Band, performing Red from Krisanna’s Colours and the Jorgensen Orchestra, performing Great Gate of Kiev and Hopak. Undoubtedly, the Senior String Quartet featuring Year 12 students in their final performance as St Catherine’s girls were mesmerising in their performance of Allegro di molto by Joseph Haydn. Congratulations to Isabelle Binsted, Stephanie Ferrali, Sophie Karunaratne and Demi Markakis.

To conclude the evening, 2018 School Captains, Annabelle Motteram and Stephanie Ferrali, each provided an address that gave an insight into the talent of students at St Catherine’s, yet coupled with a dignified humility and unique sense of self and others. I provide for your own reading a section from each girl’s speech.

2018 School Captains Annabelle Motteram and Stephanie Ferrali.

Stephanie Ferrali
Being fearless however, involves more than finding the mental or moral strength to conquer one’s fear; it also has a great deal to do with attitude. The sculpture of Fearless Girl erected in 2016 in New York’s Financial District has been truly inspirational for the girls in the Senior School this year.

Chest out, chin up, hands on hips, and boldly staring down the 28 year-old Charging Bull, she symbolises, in the words of New York Mayor, Bill de Blasio, “standing UP to fear, standing UP to power, and being able to find in yourself the strength to do what is right.” With a ponytail and ribbon in her hair, she even looks like a St Catherine’s girl.

Those of us who rowed during the 2017-18 season were deeply touched to learn a few weeks ago that the School now has a Fearless Girl of its own; a beautiful Empacher boat, gifted generously through the Heyington Club Auxiliary, so-named Fearless Girl, to acknowledge the strength we gain from every experience (however disappointing at the washed out Head of School Girls event in 2018) and to reflect the grit and spirit of the St Catherine’s rower.

This poignant gesture is worth more than any speech we could make this evening for it reinforces what the history of St Catherine’s has always shown – that achievement depends on a community of people working together – students, teachers, parents and Old Girls – all united by a fierce belief in what we can accomplish together. St Catherine’s is synonymous with individuality rather than individualism. It encourages us to develop our own unique gifts and to pursue our goals in life; but we never do so alone here. I believe the process of being with people who really care in a safe, supportive environment can change who we ‘think’ we are because our community guides us to tap into a greater and deeper reservoir of courage, wisdom and productivity, thus creating young women who will be empowered to become catalysts for change in the wider community.

Of course, change is inevitable, and St Catherine’s will undergo endless waves of transformation over time, but we will forever be connected by our history together. Although our school is willing to share its Old Girls, it never quite lets them go. It is with certain sadness that the Class of 2018 farewells St Catherine’s this evening but it will always have a place in our heart. We know that the guidance that has been provided here will carry us as we move into the next phase of our life and, that this very special community will continue to engage, inspire and support generations of girls who will follow in our footsteps so that its traditions and values are never lost, and never forgotten. Integrity, kindness, generosity, determination and courage. This is what St Catherine’s girls are made of.

Annabelle Motteram
We no longer belong in the world that resides within 17 Heyington Place. For the first time in a long time, our identity is no longer defined by school. For me, I feel uneasy at the thought of not having a concrete plan, being directionless and essentially, a little bit lost. So, then I must ask myself; who am I?

But what St Catherine’s has taught me is to have faith in what the future holds and have faith in your ability to deal with ambiguity. Winston Churchill once said after World War One that “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”, and this resonates with me in ways I cannot explain.

J.K. Rowling spoke about in her address to Harvard graduates the defining nature of failure. She explains how it provides us with the “knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger, as you are now secure in your ability to survive”. I am not implying that we have failed, I actually believe the opposite is true. But rather, this idea of having the knowledge that you are capable of surviving, even after adversity, failure, defeat and disappointment is far more empowering than any degree or certificate. St Catherine’s this year has taught me this. We have made it through weeks we never thought we would, achieved goals we never thought possible and above all, we have made friendships that will endure a lifetime.

It is no accident or coincidence that the Fearless Girl statue, an emblem of fortitude and resilience has persevered with us throughout our year because in her we see ourselves. However, that bull she is confronted with, will manifest in different forms for each of us, but from St Catherine’s we know how to be brave yes, but above all, we know how to be vulnerable. I am so proud to say that I am a leader of this school, because I have witnessed girls transforming into the men women were once told to marry. I am so excited that I can say that when the Year 12s departed the Heyington Gates in October, we were and are, women of the future gifted mentally, morally and physically; a vision conceived in the imagination of Jeanie Hood, founder of St Catherine’s School.

Growing up as a girl, I have noticed a culture of perfectionism that I believe lies unintentionally, in every girls’ schools. Each school does, and should, encourage its students to strive for excellence, to achieve ambitions of the highest calibre. However, one message I wish to convey to all girls tonight, is not to strive for greatness or excellence because excellence is too closely related to perfection. A wise friend once told me to strive for my personal best instead, and I have done so ever since. Individuals who measure their success by the successes or losses of others almost always, walk away feeling unfulfilled, unchallenged and ultimately, unchanged.

In our final moments as School Co-Captains, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the girls who believed in our potential to lead the School this year and for your ongoing support throughout 2018. Thank you to every teacher who gave us that reassuring smile when we appeared overwhelmed; it meant more than you know. Thank you to our super heroes, our parents for your dedication this year. When Stephanie and I were voted into this role, so were the four of you. Most importantly, thank you to the Class of 2018. Thank you for being so unapologetically yourselves that no one can tell you who are you are and what you should be. Finally, thank you St Catherine’s for providing us with a foundation that will enable us to go and do anything, we are eternally grateful.

Forthcoming Events

Friday 30 November 2018, PFA Christmas Fair 4.00pm-8.00pm
I encourage all members of our School community to support the PFA Christmas Fair this evening. An enormous volume of work has been completed by the PFA to ensure a wonderful occasion for all. The PFA need your support through attendance to ensure a fabulous evening.

Monday 3 December 2018, Thank You Evening for Volunteers 6.30pm-8.30pm
I look forward to acknowledging and thanking our many parent volunteers who participate so generously through the PFA, Co-curricular Auxiliaries, School Council and Council Sub Committees.

Tuesday 11 December 2018, House Arts Festival 6.00pm
A highlight on the School calendar and an enjoyable showcase of our students, culminating work of musical performance, student led choirs, creative art, dance, singing and drama. Not to be missed!