ST CATHERINE’S OLD GIRLS’ UNION 21
A year of connection
2024 was a busy year for the Old Girls’ Union, writes St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Union President Mrs Cathy Ridge (Ward, STC1983).
Our social secretaries, Sue Henderson-Smart and Helene Galettis, organised two theatre parties and a cooking class. Death of a
valuable and extensive knowledge of the school to the School Foundation over the last 3 years as the Old Girls representative. Evangeline Galettis OAM who works tirelessly to ensure that the Old Girls’ Union runs efficiently and spends so much of her time keeping in touch with our older Old Girls. This was her 50th AGM which is an amazing commitment. Finally, a special call out to Beryl Cato and Kay Magnay who are regulars at our AGM and up until a few years ago were active members of our committee. They both left school 70 years ago and are still dedicated to the Old Girls’ Union. “ One of Deb’s values that she spoke about at the meeting was the importance she places on community, and this is something that resonated particularly with the Old Girls’ Union. PLANS FOR THE REST OF 2025 The Old Girls’ Union again has a busy social year planned. We have booked two theatre parties for the rest of the year — Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and MJ the Musical . We also have a Jazz Harbour Cruise planned for Saturday October 18 and our annual lunch is to be held at The Homestead in Centennial Park on Saturday November 15. All Old Girls are welcome at these events — please let Evangeline know if you are interested in attending so we can send you more details closer to the time (contact her via email at egalettis@stcatherines.nsw.edu.au ). We will also be assisting the school at the Back to St Cath’s Day on Saturday September 6 and hope to see many Old Girls on that day.
Salesman , starring the amazing Anthony LaPaglia, was a very profound play that had the audience spellbound, and on a lighter note, Sister Act had us all laughing along as Deloris goes undercover as Sister Mary Clarence at the local convent. Finally, our Italian cooking class was a great success, some of us making pasta for the first time and then sharing in the delicious food we had made. Each of these activities, as well as being great ways to get together with other Old Girls, add to our fundraising for the school. The Old Girls’ Union provides 14 prizes at Speech Day each year and updates the Honour Boards in the Sports Centre. For the last two years, we have also donated funds to the Faith Patterson Scholarship Fund as well as donating the beautiful Magnolia panels for the new building. Our annual function was held last year at the Fullerton Hotel in Martin Place in the city. We had 40 Old Girls for lunch covering each decade from the 1950s down one end of the table to the 2000s at the other. Judith Poole was unable to make the lunch, however, the following week we presented her a farewell gift from the Old Girls’ Union — a print of Bronte Beach and a beautiful hand-painted card from Old Girl Robyn Chadwick — both of which Judith loved. It was with great pleasure that the Old Girls’ Union welcomed Ms Deb Magill, our new Headmistress, to her first Old Girls’ Union AGM and Chapel Service in March of this year. One of Deb’s values that she spoke about at the meeting was the importance she places on community, and this is something that resonated particularly with the Old Girls’ Union. We look forward to working closely with Deb over many years to come. At the AGM, we also took time to thank some of our committee who give tirelessly to the Old Girls’ Union. Our very talented pianist Patricia Wong who has been providing the music at our Chapel Service as well as other functions for most of the last 40 years since she left school. Jenny Monaghan who has provided her
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