ALUMNI NEWS
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(AFTRS) in 2022, where she served as the student-elected board member and Chair of the Student Representative Council.
just to reconnect with old friends — although hugging those women again was deeply special — but to acknowledge the legacy that place gave me. Because places matter. People matter even more. And sometimes the seeds of who we become as leaders are planted long before we ever realise it. Those early experiences taught me something I carry into my work with nurses today: everyone needs to feel safe. Everyone needs to feel seen. And everyone needs a place where they belong. Looking back now, I realise St Catherine’s gave me that. And the friendships formed there remain very dear to my heart. Sometimes returning to where we began helps us understand who we have become.”
Advancing Change Through Research It was a pleasure to reconnect with Dr Francesca Earp (STC2014) at our recent London event celebrating 170 years of St Catherine’s. During the evening, we learned that Francesca had recently completed her PhD, adding to an impressive academic record that now includes four advanced degrees. Francesca began her career in Laos, supporting agricultural programs for women in marginalised communities. Today, she continues this work as a development scholar and practitioner, focusing on gender equity, cultural sensitivity and sustainable rural livelihoods. Her dedication to creating positive social impact through both research and practice is so inspiring. Returning to where it began Michelle Deroubaix (STC1976) shared her reflections on returning to St Catherine’s for her 50-year reunion: “This week I attended my 50-year school reunion at St Catherine’s. As I walked through the gates, I realised something quietly powerful… Somewhere deep inside, I already knew I needed to come back. So much has changed. And yet, strangely, so much hasn’t. The quadrangle is still there. The old dining room where we gathered as boarders is still there. The timber floors may have been polished many times over, but that room still holds the echoes of laughter, conversations, and friendships that shaped us. Walking through those spaces, I realised something about myself. Inside me is still that little girl who arrived there at eleven years old — unsure of herself, longing to feel safe, wanting to be surrounded by people who truly saw her. When I first came to St Catherine’s, I was carrying pain that felt unbearable. Like many young girls navigating the world,
I didn’t know how to express it. I simply held it quietly inside. But something interesting happened there. I began to feel safe. Our Headmistress ran a very tight ship. She was strict — and at eleven years old I was definitely a little afraid of her. But looking back now, I realise that structure and discipline gave me something incredibly important at that time: stability. I spent two years as a boarder and four years as a day girl. Those boarding years were special because the girls became my new family. When I moved to being a day girl, it was harder than I expected. I didn’t quite belong with the boarders anymore, but I also didn’t fully belong with the day girls. Eventually, I found my place again with Christine and Phyllis. And that reminded me of something fundamental about being human. We all need a place to belong. It shapes who we become. St Catherine’s in those days was very simple. There were no creature comforts. But that isn’t what I remember most. What I remember are the girls. Their personalities. Their quirks. Their laughter. Slowly, without me even realising it at the time, that laughter began to wash away the pain I had been carrying. Looking back now, I can see clearly that it was the beginning of my healing. Healing doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it takes decades to truly understand the experiences that shaped us. Perhaps that’s why returning there felt so important. Not
SAVE THE DATE
Join us on Saturday 5 September as we celebrate 170 years of St Catherine’s. On this special day, we will be hosting: • Magnolia Fair • Back to St Cath’s Day • Class of 1996 Reunion • Class of 1986 Reunion
Other milestone reunions in 2027: •
Class of 2006: Sat 26 Sept
• •
Class of 2016: TBC Class of 2021: TBC
SCAN TO LEARN MORE We would love to share more about our alumni events this year.
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