St Catherine’s is an amazing community. We have many examples of students, staff and parents who provide leadership excellence and become role models for everyone in our community. In this context it is a pleasure to congratulate Dr Lee Naylor OAM, mother of Lilli Holmes in Year 12 and President of the St Catherine’s Sports Auxiliary, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to Athletics in the General Division in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List.  

Lee is a past Olympian and Commonwealth Games representative. She qualified for the quarter-finals in the 400 metres at the 1996 Olympics and ran in the national 4 x 400 metres relay. At the 2000 Olympics she again qualified for the quarter-finals. 

At the 1995 World Athletic Championships her relay team captured the bronze medal and in the 1998 Commonwealth Games Lee won gold in her relay.  

Lee also holds a Doctorate in Neurochemistry from the University of Melbourne.  

I am sure you will agree that Lee represents what we hope our students can aspire to. Not only has Lee achieved excellence in her life but she has demonstrated a long-term commitment to serving the community including her role supporting our School in the Sports Auxiliary. 

Leadership appears in many ways within our community. Last week we held an Open Morning for prospective families planning to enrol their daughters at St Catherine’s. The best possible way to introduce new families to our School is for them to meet our students. My task was to make a presentation to the families gathered. It seemed a far better use of their time, rather than listening to me, to have our students do the talking. We have two special leaders in our School – the 2022 School Captains – Madeline (Maddie) Powell and Angela Yu.  

Unfortunately, like so many of us at the moment, Angela was unwell last week and could not attend. However, Maddie fronted up to speak with prospective parents. She spoke eloquently with passion, enthusiasm and included a good measure of humour, as she shared her experience of what the St Catherine’s community means to her. Prompted by questions without notice from me, she displayed her leadership qualities admirably. At the conclusion of the presentation, as the parents moved off to participate in tours, I overheard one parent comment, “That is what I want. I want our daughter to be just like that girl Maddie when she is in Year 12.” High praise indeed and a most worthwhile aspiration. There is no doubt in my mind that Maddie, along with Angela and the rest of our class of ’22, will go on to make their mark in the world beyond school. 

In the recent Federal Election, we saw the success of the ‘Teal’ candidates, heralding a new force in Australian politics. The eight successful candidates were all women. Each of these women are intelligent, charismatic, and forthright with their views on various social, economic, and environmental issues. It is difficult not to be impressed by their leadership qualities. 

There was an article in The Age on Monday, Why girls’ schools succeed at producing women who lead written by Loren Bridge, Executive Officer, Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia. Bridge highlights that “of the eight female independents who will take their place on the crossbench of this Parliament – Dr Monique Ryan, Dr Sophie Scamps, Dai Le, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall – are graduates of girls’ schools.” In her article, Bridge asks the following question: 

“So, what is it about a girls’ school education that ignites in young women the determination, inspiration, and motivation to lead? What gives them the courage and grit to be change-makers in a world that continues to squeeze women onto the edges of the centre stage positions that men carve for themselves?” 

Bridge contends the environment in girls’ schools provides confidence and self-belief, “Girls’ school graduates are more likely than co-ed school counterparts to be involved in political activities, demonstrate social and political agency, and be supportive of societal improvements. They are more likely to be change-makers.” 

Over its 125-year history, St Catherine’s has produced many fine graduates who have achieved excellence and success in their chosen fields of endeavour.

If you visit the St Catherine’s website, there is a section called the Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum (NMNB) Project which embraces the School’s motto and recognises some of the amazing achievements and leadership of past students of the School. The list includes women from academia, the arts, philanthropy, medicine, law, business, entrepreneurship, and sport. A sub-committee of SCOGA (St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association) has curated the list of 60 women who have been profiled to date. These women are the ones whose photographs and profiles adorn the walls near Reception in Sherren House. The next time you pass through Sherren House, take a moment to pause and read some of the profiles. It is an admirable collection of fine leaders. The full list of women acknowledged can be found here.  

I expect in the years ahead, we will find portraits of members of the class of ’22 gracing the walls of Sherren House. I suspect we will need to find some extra wall space such is the quality of the young women who will graduate from our School. There is no doubt in my mind they will become leaders who can inspire and transform the world they live in. Their journey started at St Catherine’s, an immensely proud girls’ school. Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum’ – Nothing is great unless it is good!