I must admit that when I came onto the SCOGA Committee, I had had little to do with the Association in my time since I left St Catherine’s. I had been asked over the years to join, but was always too busy studying, too busy at work, too busy raising a family, just too busy doing ‘stuff’.

When my youngest daughter finished up in 2011, my long list of ‘stuff’ shortened and my time became mine. I had pretty much had 50 years of contact with St Catherine’s, either as a student or a parent, so to not be travelling to Heyington Place on a near daily basis was bizarre.

In 2016, I was approached again to join SCOGA. Why not…I’ll just sit in and listen to what they’re up to and if I could offer any advice or help, I’d speak up. A year later, I became President. What a ride it’s been.

I was clear that I wanted SCOGA to emerge from the wings and stand in the spotlight. SCOGA has for 100 years been a support network for St Catherine’s Old Girls and now was the time to make that well known to its members and the wider School community. We needed to dream big and set goals. To plan the steps needed to reach them and make those goals a reality, and we did it.

Initiatives such as the SCOGA Fellowship, the Mentor Program, Prep bag-tags, Red Steps Badges for Year 6 graduates, Heyington Hubs, social media pages, worldwide SCOGA Chapters, and the revamping of our reunion program. A footy and netball team is on the drawing board, and now that we are more open to be able to launch these offerings, they won’t be far away.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work of an extraordinary Committee. Old Girls who give up their time for other Old Girls and current students. Their support has been unwavering, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

To Michelle Carroll – how fortunate we all are to have you as our Principal. St Catherine’s continues to stand strong despite a global pandemic trying to knock us all down to our knees. Thank you for never hanging up on me when a call to say that “I’ve had a thought…” or shutting your door on me when I ask if “I can run something by you?”

After four fabulous years, it’s time for me to step aside, and allow fresh eyes to oversee SCOGA. Sarah O’Brien (‘02) will be absolutely brilliant as our incoming President, and I look forward to working with her as she places her stamp on the role.

Thank you everyone…it’s been a blast.