With the completion of the Hall refurbishment this year, it was wonderful to celebrate our Speech Night back on campus, sharing the successes of our students, together as a community. On nights such as this, the sense of School spirit is tangible. For our Year 12 girls, their formative years have been immersed in this spirit. The spirit of belonging, the spirit of community, the spirit of family.  

The annual Speech Night provides an opportunity to share with each other the pride, excitement, and joy of acknowledging the achievements of our students throughout this year.  

It was a pleasure to listen to Mr Marshall announce St Catherine’s Head of Sport, Mr Nick Racina as the tenth recipient of the St Catherine’s Teaching in Excellence Award. This Award is peer-nominated and recognises: 

• Consistent and dedicated service to teaching;
• Excellent student outcomes; and
• A willingness to share successful teaching and learning strategies.  

Mr Racina has been a pillar of support to his students and colleagues, developing excellent and trusting relationships over seven years at the School. His work culminates in our most successful year to date in GSV participation with St Catherine’s reaching 15 finals across a large range of sports.  

Creating a culture of inclusion, participation, skill development, and teamwork has been Nick’s mantra, in addition to building expertise through his coaching staff to build technical skills and game awareness.  

Nick has also led the development of St Catherine’s Athlete Development Academy, providing students with sports-specific individualised strength and conditioning sessions for our elite athletes. 

On Speech Night we congratulated Nick for the significant value he has added to St Catherine’s Sports Program and applauded his ability to harness a culture of participation, skill development, and achievement. He is indeed a worthy recipient of the Excellence Award in 2023. 

Speech Night provided our final opportunity to also acknowledge our Class of 2023. Once again, the strength of leadership from the 2023 School Co-Captains, Ava and Flora was displayed with a heartfelt address, a representation of every student at our School. 

There are so many moments within one’s school days that stay in the memories of Old Girls and are retold with affection when they return to their School for SCOGA reunions, or as parents themselves. I know our Year 12s will reflect on the fun had with friends, sporting wins (and losses), House Arts, concerts and drama productions, the quirks of different teachers and subjects, and the daily chatter of moments spent together in their common room.  

During the evening, we acknowledged the 2023 recipient of the SCOGA Fellowship, Miss Alexandra Dvorscek (’12) and also welcomed our guest speaker, Miss Nakita Wilson (’13). Both women shared with the audience their fond memories of School life and reminded the students to step into the unknown beyond School with confidence, encouraging our 2023 graduates to be comfortable with not always knowing their destination but appreciating the journey. 

Miss Alexandra Dvorscek (’12)

Upon graduating from St Catherine’s, Alexandra completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, followed by achieving First Class Honours in her Bachelor of Science (Immunology). The Fellowship has enabled Alexandra the opportunity to travel to Canada and the UK, to meet with world leading researchers in the field of immunology. Alexandra’s research focuses on antibody responses and vaccinology to disseminate and discuss the findings of her PhD project. Alexandra was selected to give a presentation at the “T and B cell Collaboration in Geminal Centers and Beyond” Keystone Conference in Whistler, Canada in October this year.  

Miss Nakita Wilson (’13)

Nakita was equally impressive with her post School achievements. Nakita studied Arts/Law at Monash University, and upon graduating she worked as a Judge’s Associate at the County Court of Victoria and was soon admitted as a lawyer. A Law degree can take people in many directions and Nakita now works at the National Gallery of Victoria in projects and communications in fundraising.  

During the evening, I was touched by the expression of gratitude to me for my work over the past 10 years as Principal. The privilege of leading St Catherine’s has been both an honour and a joy, and I share my heartfelt thanks for the unwavering support of the School Council, parent and SCOGA communities, our talented staff, and every student over the past 10 years.  

With two weeks of school remaining for the year, we have time to now enjoy a different pace. I noted on Wednesday evening my enjoyment of the rhythm of the school year, which is so apparent in Term 4, with the first five to six weeks so academically heavy, focused, and intense, and then, after Melbourne Cup, the roses bloom, and we step into the Head Start Program, and everyone takes a breath. Then our spirits lift as House Arts Week commences. To the unsuspecting outsider, House Arts can look somewhat chaotic but to those on the inside, we know what awaits.  

This rhythm is so familiar to me, and it speaks to the St Catherine’s generosity of spirit and knowing the balance of working hard but also being able to see the good in life and enjoying it.  

As I step into the next chapter of my life, I carry with me the memories of shared successes, challenges overcome, and the incredible spirit that defines our School. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this community, and I look forward to witnessing the continued success and achievements of this remarkable School for years to come.