Our School motto, ‘Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum’ meaning, ‘nothing is great unless it is good’ is upheld by many of our exceptional Old Girls.

The Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum (NMNB) project embraces the motto and recognises some of the amazing achievements of past students of the School.

The list includes women from Academia, the Arts, Philanthropy, Medicine, Law, Business, Entrepreneurship and Sport.

Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum Project

In 2006, the 110th Anniversary of the School, St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) highlighted the achievements of some of our alumnae. SCOGA formed a sub-committee and began searching into the history of many past students and selected 25 to be honoured in the first phase. Together with the School, the first 25 profiles were produced and the Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum Project was launched in November 2010. In 2013, a further 10 women were profiled, another 15 in 2015, and a further 10 in 2021. A total of 60 women have been profiled to date.

Over the course of the coming weeks we will share and celebrate the 10 new Old Girls profiled in 2021. To read all our NMNB Project profiles click here.

Ms Lisa Roet (’84)

Lisa Roet (‘84) is a visual artist who exhibits in Australia and internationally. For 30 years her work has focused on the image of the ape and monkey as humans’ closest relative. Lisa uses visual art and design to explore environmental issues and genetic discoveries. She sees the ape as a mirror in her work, reminding us of the necessity to re-evaluate our position within this increasingly urbanised world.

Taking an interdisciplinary approach to her art practice, Lisa works with arts, design and science communities. She has undertaken field studies of orangutans in Borneo and worked with museum archives, conservation facilities and zoos in Brussels, London, Berlin and Sydney researching and developing ideas. She expresses these ideas through a range of mediums including sculpture, photography, video art, drawing and painting.

Lisa has held over 30 solo exhibitions and participated in over 50 group exhibitions. Her large-scale public artworks have been exhibited in major cities including Beijing (Skywalker), Hong Kong and Chengdu (Golden Monkey), and in the Netherlands (Baboe). In 2020, her nine meter by twelve meter inflatable sculpture of the chimpanzee, David Greybeard, was launched at Arts Centre Melbourne. It was designed to raise awareness of the conservation efforts of the Jane Goodall Institute. Lisa hopes that exploring habitat and species protection through large-scale public art will bring a new perspective to sustainability and act as a vehicle for change.

Lisa’s work is held in prestigious collections including the National Gallery of Australia and the National Geographic Museum in Washington. An edition of Lisa’s bronze Chimpanzee Hands sits in the grounds of St Catherine’s School.

Lisa is the recipient of the Geelong Acquisitive Print Award (2013), the Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award (2012), the Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award (2011), the McClelland Sculpture Survey Award (2005), the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery’s National Works on Paper Award (2003) and the National Gallery of Australia National Sculpture Prize (2003). She sits on the Board of Trustees for McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery and often contributes to federal and state government initiatives and grant assessments.

Lisa’s interests include food, travel, science, bird watching and forensic documentaries. She also likes to hug trees.