“I know very well that not a single flower was drawn, that they’re just little licks of colour, red, yellow, orange, green, blue, violet, but the impression of all those colours against one another is nonetheless there in the painting as it is in nature.”

Vincent Van Gogh, Arles 1888

It was a privilege to meander through the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces at the NGV last Friday evening. The annual St Catherine’s School Foundation Thank You Evening provided an opportunity for more than 100 members to enjoy a private viewing of the exquisite Van Gogh and the Seasons exhibition; a stroll through with friends whilst the Gallery lay quiet before the public opening for the Friday evening entertainment. With over 60,000 visitors to the Winter Masterpieces exhibition in the first two weeks, Van Gogh and the Seasons is certainly a drawcard for Melbourne and proved to be a wonderful opportunity for our Foundation members. Thank you to Foundation President, Mrs Anne Court, Foundation Board Chair, Mr Wayne Kent and Foundation Board member, Ms Fiona Menzies, for their instrumental role in enabling such a successful evening.

Parents and community members will have received in the mail this week, an invitation to contribute to the School’s Annual Giving Program. Any gift to the School is greatly valued, and the School and the Foundation Board, ensure that our many donors are honoured and recognised and that any gifts to the School are greatly valued. Over the past 12 months, the Foundation Board has welcomed 67 new members to the Foundation.

Undoubtedly, our current students are the beneficiaries of past philanthropy as well as ongoing support from current and past parents, staff, Old Girls and friends of the School, who have given generously to enable buildings and facilities for future generations of St Catherine’s students. I witness the impact of this giving each and every day at the School; girls who love their involvement in the Aquatics program – Swimming, Diving and playing Water Polo, students experiencing the colour and vibrancy of the resources in the Nicholas Library, the warmth of the Mary Davis Centre for a lunch on a Winter’s day and children seeking some adventure in the recently refurbished ELC Outdoor Learning Space, an integral part of The Ilhan Family Centre, and fondly known as Campbell House.

As construction of the new Junior School commences in the coming week, the ‘Her Future Begins Here’ campaign is building momentum. The School seeks to raise $3million dollars to contribute to our new Junior School, and I am delighted to announce that to date we have successfully raised $2.5 million – almost at our target. St Catherine’s prides itself on its approachable and friendly culture, whereby every gift of any size is a powerful demonstration of our support for exceptional education. We ask that community members make a gift at the level they feel comfortable and appreciate this varies according to circumstances.

Our Head of Junior School and ELC, Mrs Alana Moor, and I are immensely excited and committed to ensuring the new building will create a vibrant learning experience for our Barbreck girls, fostering the education, growth and creativity of young minds. As experienced educators, we are fully aware our ‘all girls’ environment in the Junior School flourishes with effective learning strategies tailored for primary-aged girls and we believe this education will be further enhanced by the new facilities and resources enabled through the architect’s design.

The development of our new Junior School is, undoubtedly, a powerful expression of our commitment to girls’ education in the formative years.

Further information on the St Catherine’s School Foundation can be found on the School website or by contacting Mr Stuart Galbraith in the Development Office.

Our Year 2 cohort, also had the opportunity to enjoy the Exhibition at the NGV this week

Main image :

Vincent van Gogh
Dutch 1853–1890
Wheat Field with Cypresses
Saint-Rémy, early September 1889
oil on canvas
72.5 x 91.5 cm
The National Gallery, London