Men's Dinner
Our annual Men's Dinner is a great opportunity for the fathers in our community to get together, and bring along friends and colleagues.
The 2009 Dinner, held at Champions at Federation Square, was very well attended. Our fathers enjoyed a beautiful meal accompanied by fine wines, and were entertained by guest speaker and St Catherine's parent, Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun Journalist and our School Captain, Susannah Guthrie (see speech below).
‘St Cath's is definitely one of a kind'
My personal motto is "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well." Coincidentally, I believe this motto also summarises the St Catherine's mentality perfectly. As a small School, we go for quality over quantity. We are a community in which every talent, whether big or small, is applauded and showcased to the highest degree; a place where it's easy to find your niche and develop into all that you could, and should, be.
It's very hard to appreciate the things that make St Catherine's so special if you have not experienced other schools, like me. I have been lucky enough (or unlucky enough, depending on your perspective) to have attended six different schools in my lifetime, each one completely different from the first.
I have to admit, when my family relocated to Melbourne from Sydney in 2007, I chose to attend St Catherine's merely based on appearance. I wasn't overly happy to be leaving my friends and life in Sydney, so my decision making process wasn't exactly developed. St Cath's was the first school I visited, and I liked it because the grounds were pretty, the uniform was flattering, the girls in the photos all looked happy, and I liked the big friendly smile of the Registrar. I informed my Dad that this would do, until we could all end this madness and return to Sydney.
Thankfully, I soon discovered that St Cath's was one of the few books you could judge by its cover. The friendly smile of the Registrar was, I found out, shared by the rest of the staff. I still remember walking through the School during my first term and being startled when a teacher smiled and said hello to me. I would always look behind me to see if there was someone else more important whom they were greeting.
The uniform is, most definitely, one of the most attractive in Melbourne. And thankfully, my love for pale blue was rewarded further when I became School Captain, and I received this beautiful blazer. I still get stares on the tram; I just don't think many people can believe that someone is able to wear that much pale blue.
It is obvious to anyone walking through the School that the grounds are pretty. The fountain, surrounded by red and white roses, reminds me of something out of Alice in Wonderland. And of course, walking into Sherren House makes me feel like I'm a character from the Harry Potter films. If ever your daughter doesn't feel like going to School one day, tell her what I just said and it may make her feel a little bit more enthusiastic.
And finally, the smiling, happy girls I saw in the photos on my first ever visit to St Cath's can still be found in the classrooms, sporting fields and grounds of the School. Of course, I am not saying we all walk around with a constant grin on our faces. Girls can get stressed, tired and overwhelmed as I'm sure most of you know.
If one entered the Year 12 common room before an English SAC, they would be surprised by how much it resembles a kindergarten classroom at the Early Learning Centre: some girls run around screaming and throwing paper, other girls cry and chuck tantrums, and most girls just wish it was nap time already.
St Cath's is definitely one of a kind in the best way possible and I suppose that's the message I wish to send to you all in my speech tonight. My dad will be disappointed, as he told me that, since it was a dinner for the fathers of St Catherine's, it would only be fitting that I spoke about my own father. I think he was hoping for a five minute tribute to his good looks and intelligence, and a sincere thank you for all the amazing things he has done for me in my life.
Dad, I'm sorry, but my only excuse is that five minutes simply wasn't enough time for me to speak about all of your brilliant personal attributes, so I chose not to mention them at all.
However, I do feel it is my duty to thank you for at least one of the amazing things you have given me - and that is my St Cath's education. That goes for all the other fathers in the room.
Some of you may be totally incapable of helping your daughter with her maths homework; some of you may not fully comprehend the importance of a School formal, and some of you may be completely lost when dealing with an emotional pre-SAC Year 12 girl.
But you can rest assured knowing that, by giving your daughter a St Catherine's education, you have put her in truly capable hands.