ALUMNI STORIES
17
2023
Kayla Heng (STC2023)
Who was your closest friend at school, and what made that friendship special? My closest friend throughout high school was Abbey Lissenden. Our friendship began in Year 7 on Orientation Day when we happened to sit next to each other in our first house meeting and I think that was a huge part of why our friendship just blossomed and grew so quickly. Being in the same house as Abbey meant that no matter what there was always a time in the school day that we got to see each other and just have some laughs. The friendship I have with Abbey is so special because through everything you go through during Senior School and your teenage years Abbey is someone who is always by your side cheering you on, and to think that started with two awkward Year 7 Casterton girls bonding over their fear of immunisation needles makes our friendship so special to me.
What’s your favourite memory from your time at St Cath’s — and why does it still stay with you? One of my favourite memories from St Cath’s would probably be all the cadet camps I was able to go on. These camps were some of the most fun and memorable times I had
during Senior School! It still stays with me to this day as cadets was something that allowed me to form lifelong friendships with girls from a range of different year groups as well as some of the Waverley boys. More specifically the bonds and shared experiences we had over these camps made our friendships so much stronger.
1998
Nicola Breakspear (Cardamis, STC1998)
“ In Senior School, there were so many teachers that helped shape and mould my journey.
What’s your favourite memory from your time at St Cath’s — and why does it still stay with you? Gosh, this is hard as I spent 13 years here! Most of my junior school memories include the little moments, like playing ‘Stuck in the Mud’ around a big Magnolia Tree, the Weather Shark, singing around Mrs Seally’s piano, Mr Shelley and his cartoon Biblical drawings, Mr Rogers throwing us in the pool to teach us how to swim, Friday Friends Assembly (and yes, they still sing the same birthday song today!), and watching the Museum getting lifted by a crane to make way for the DJSC building. In Senior School, there were so many teachers who helped shape and mould my journey. Our French classes with Madame Hilmer were always a weekly highlight (and were even better when they involved excursions or croissants). Debating in the Archdale team was a highlight as we weren’t the most knowledgeable about current affairs, but we could argue well! Reaching the Archdale grand final, or debating against the Prime Minister’s son
Nicola Breakspear (Cardamis, STC1998)
When I left St Cath’s, I completed a Communications Degree at UTS and worked as a public relations consultant in a global firm. After a few years, I realised that it wasn’t for me and education was where my passion really lay. I retrained to be a primary teacher at Macquarie University and then completed more special education qualifications. I’m currently completing my Master of Education in Language and Literacy through La Trobe University, so I guess you could say I haven’t stopped learning since leaving school!
without realising are memories that remain. Being in many different productions in the DJSC was a highlight despite the long rehearsals. It was a great way to have fun and meet people across years and in different schools. What are you up to now? I’m a mum to four children (two girls are currently at St Cath’s). I also currently work as a Learning Enrichment Teacher in a primary school and focus on helping students with learning difficulties. I wasn’t always a primary school teacher.
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