This week, students have cherished the opportunity to complete their co-curricular activities for Term 3. For many of our Year 12 students, this ends many years of rehearsals, training, and preparing Debating speeches with their school friends. Hopefully the girls carry this variety of participation into their adult lives through community clubs, opportunities offered in the tertiary sector, or as individual pursuits.  

Gala Concert

I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all students and staff involved in the Gala Concert this week. It was a joy to return to the Melbourne Recital Centre and be a part of what was visibly an exciting performance opportunity for all our musicians.  

Our Barbreck girls were beaming when they graced the stage with their radiant smiles and contagious enthusiasm. Watching them perform alongside their big sisters in the Massed Choir was a sight to behold, bringing joy to all in the audience.  

Congratulations to Head of Music, Mr Nick Grunden, for his coordination of such a large event involving over 180 students. Months of meticulous planning, music selection, and tireless rehearsals culminated in an evening of sheer musical brilliance. The effort from every corner was astounding. The vast array of equipment both on and off the stage hinted at the magnitude of what was happening behind the scenes. 

In addition to the brilliance of each performance, I enjoyed watching the skill and expertise of our staff in their conducting roles. In particular, the skill of Mrs Lisa Cook leading the Jorgensen Orchestra playing Jupiter Symphony, First Movement Abridged by Mozart, and Ms Liv Cher, who captured the girls’ attention by conducting our Sherren Singers in their performance of Joy by Andy Grammer.  

Our Choral Program, involving Barbreck girls through to the Senior students, is demonstrably going from strength to strength, through the work of Head of Choral, Ms Juliana Kay. Our stunning Senior Choir, Viva Voci, performed the a cappella piece Light of a Clear Blue Morning by Dolly Parton with precision and mastery. 

The Jazz, Percussion, and Concert Bands also provided great energy and vibrancy throughout the night with the girls clearly enjoying the selection of music and the opportunity to be on stage. The toe-tapping Cold Duck Time, by Eddie Harris, directed by Mr Harrison Merrifield and Mr Luke Dema provided an enjoyable return from Interval and set the pace for an exciting second half of the evening.  

We also celebrated the long-standing contributions to the Music Program of our departing Year 12 musicians this year:

• Ava Colosimo
• Keyue (Karen) Deng
• Flora Du
• Charlotte Henderson
• Anise Imam
• Hin Ting Mavis (Mavis) Kwok
• Gia (Sue) Nguyen
• Jo-Jo Patterson
• Charlotte Rowe
• Yifei (Angela) Tang
• Andrea Ting
• Caitlin Wang
• Miranda Ware
• Pia Wilson
• Christina Wu

All are highly committed students whom I have enjoyed watching on stage over many years. They each deserve our significant praise for their commitment, contribution, and leadership of Music this year whilst balancing their VCE program. 

The Gala Concert was a significant event in our School calendar and contributes enormously to the character development and confidence of each student involved. For months, students quietly participate in individual music lessons or after-school rehearsals, often requiring a level of academic care and juggling of the many pressing commitments of School. The Gala Concert this week was an opportunity for these girls to shine! 

To view and download images from the Gala Concert visit our myPhotos Album here.

GSV Athletics Finals Evening

With an unavoidable clash of events in the School calendar, our finest athletes were also competing in the GSV Finals for Track and Field. With only 15 students selected to compete in the Finals evening, St Catherine’s proudly posted sixth place on the medal tally. An extraordinary effort by our Team. 

Congratulations to Lily Taylor (Year 12) who won gold medals in the 100m and 200m, posting a personal best on the 200m. This places Lily as the fastest senior sprinter across the 24 GSV schools. It is a just reward for her years of training and dedication.  

Year 9 student, Paloma Gattino also performed exceedingly well, winning gold in the 100m and 200m. Violetta Capanni, fresh off the back of a national hockey tournament, won the javelin with a personal best throw.  

To the best of our knowledge, only one other student has recorded wins in sprint double, which occurred back in 2003. 

My congratulations to the following students who also medalled at the event: 

GSV Badminton

Our Senior Badminton Teams also enjoyed a fabulous win on Monday evening. In exciting news our Senior B Team set a record for St Catherine’s, winning the Badminton Grand Final. Congratulations to:  

Victorian Evatt – 2023

Over the weekend, four students competed in the semi-finals of the Victorian Evatt 2023, Australia’s premier debating and diplomacy competition. Congratulations to Ava Colosimo, Kaitlin Chan, Olivia Hargrave and Rhea Werner for their diligence and execution during the event. 

For the first time, we have had a team selected through to the Finals – Year 11 students Olivia Hargrave and Rhea Werner. 

The Evatt Competition places students in the shoes of UN Security Council nations to debate on issues of international security, human rights, and current affairs. Students from Years 9 to 12 compete in teams of two from their own school, with the aim of passing a resolution which suits the interests of their state.  

We wish Rhea and Olivia the very best for the Finals that will be held at Victorian Parliament House Legislative Council next Friday 15 September.