4 MAGNOLIA MAGAZINE / JANE BARKER LUNCHEON
A LUNCH FOR THE AGES Now in its 12th year, the Jane Barker Luncheon
FAMILY TIES
a part of the school,” she said. Linda also fondly remembered participating in Clubs and Choirs, a beloved St Catherine’s tradition that began in 1963. She recalled being the conductor for her house in her final year of school where they performed Cabaret , which was one of her favourite St Cath’s memories. She was delighted to learn that this event, run by the girls and for the girls, continues to this day. But what resonated with her most was St Cath’s passion for girls’ education. “The school had a real zeal for women’s education. You took it for granted at the time but other schools weren’t like that. All of us left St Catherine’s thinking we could do anything. It was such a gift,” she said. As per tradition, our Year 4 students acted as ushers on the day, welcoming our alumni at the gates before guiding them into the Multi-purpose Hall for lunch. The Year 4 girls could barely contain their excitement chatting with our alumni, bursting with questions about Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE (STC1943) and swimming lessons at Bronte Baths. One student was fascinated by the prospect of one day attending this luncheon herself, where she hoped hot dogs would be on the menu. The Year 4 students also kindly helped present our Magnolia pins to the Class of 1974, to officially welcome them into the Jane Barker Luncheon for the first time. We can’t wait to catch up with everyone again at next year’s event!
“The stories you tell keep our mission alive.” This was how Headmistress Judith Poole began her address to alumni at this year’s luncheon, where we welcomed back over 70 alumni from the Classes of 1954 to 1974. As our alumni settled in for lunch, the stories of St Catherine’s began to flow, aided by a series of special interviews by our Year 9 students. The girls, all daughters and granddaughters of Old Girls, interviewed alumni about their time at school. It was especially fascinating to hear about their favourite teachers, including Ms Ruprecht, Ms Stephens and Ms Parker. Josephine Hanney (Makim, STC1968) was one of many to share that she had loved being a boarder. “In the boarding school, you were all staying together so you were more family than even family because you saw each other through the thick and the thin. I loved being a boarder,” she said. Lucy Churchill (Boddington, STC1974) remembered starting her first day of school feeling like a fish out of water because she wasn’t in proper uniform. At the time, St Catherine’s was in the process of changing their uniforms, so Lucy had to make do with her old Claremont attire. But all nerves about being dressed differently vanished when she was reunited with a childhood friend, Margaret Gardiner (STC1974) who made her feel at home. Linda D’Bras (STC1974) also recalled being put at ease when she started St Catherine’s after moving from Singapore. “The amazing thing was the way the girls included me and went out of their way to make me feel welcomes back our alumni who graduated from St Catherine’s School 50 years ago or more.
Jeannette Collins Pope (STC1974) was thrilled to attend this year’s event with her beloved granddaughter Coco L (Year 9). Jeannette said it was “one of the most special days of my life,” and felt blessed that Coco was studying at St Cath’s just as she had done 50 years ago. “In a sense, she has given me the chance to relieve my school days all over again. I have watched her grow and flourish here and I am sure she is in the right place, just like I was.” For Coco, it was a priceless opportunity to hear about her grandmother’s school days. “It was really nice to learn about all her special experiences from her time here and how they were similar to mine,” she said.
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