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ISSUE NO.58 DECEMBER 2017

Spotlight on Performing Arts2

An environment where students thrivePage 4

Shooting for the 2024 Summer OlympicsPage 22

Since 1897 Meriden has produced confident and articulate young women, renowned for making their marks

academically and in the global community.

Celebrating120 years

Fidelis

Front cover: Marina Kojevnikov as Beatrice, Lucy Lukabyo as Carmen and Isobel Murdoch as Albienne in Meriden’s production of This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing, 16–18 November 2017.Editor: Anne-Maree MarczanPhotography: Dyan Hallworth, Bryan Fisher, Kate Disher-Quill, Paul Krivoshev and Anthony Khoury Sports Photography.

From the Principal 2

WriteOn! 3

Caroline’s talent earns her a coveted award 3

Creating an environment where students thrive 4

The Foundry 5

Meet our Assistant Chaplain in the Junior School 6

Meriden girls amongst Australia’s best Science students 6

TED-Ed Club’s first year 7

Skills for a changing world 7

Prep School success! 8

Meriden students demonstrate their scientific ingenuity 10

Spotlight on Performing Arts

Music ensembles honoured with top awards 12

Hairspray, the Musical 13

A contemporary fable 14

Wending through the West End 15

Music under the Stars 16

A new focus for music in the Junior School 17

Sports Notes

Violet Apisah: Taking on the Grand Slams 18

Carla Traplin: Sports Girl of the Year 18

Seven-times Australian School Tennis Champions 19

Water Polo and Diving make a splash in the Junior School 19

Meet our Head Athletics Coach 20

Badminton taking Meriden by storm 20

The Junior School’s backstroke queen 21

Shooting for the 2024 Summer Olympics 22

‘Olympus Futures’ leads to exciting opportunites overseas 23

A fond farewell... Mrs Elizabeth Stevens 24

A warm welcome... Mrs Julia Anstey 24

Meriden students collect top awards in Science, English and Mathematics 25

The mark of excellence 25

Fiji: Taking our learning outside the classroom 26

The Story of Christmas 28

Old Girls’ News 30

Contents

10Scientific ingenuity on showMeriden girls collected an impressive number of Young Scientist Awards at the University of Wollongong.

20Meet our Head Athletics CoachThree-time Olympian Nicole Boegman-Stewart has helped raise the profile of Athletics at Meriden.

28The Story of ChristmasOur K–2 students shone as they told the story of Christmas through word, song and dance.

8Prep School success!It has been a wonderful start on the journey of life-long learning for our 2017 Prep School students.

From the Principal

This year, we celebrated the 120th anniversary of the School by opening of the new Wallis Auditorium and English Department. The School Council and I always knew that this new building, together with the new Sports Centre and all their associated spaces and facilities, would make a big difference to the School. However, none of us realised the extent of the positive impact that these new buildings would have on the educational opportunities afforded to the girls.

As you will be able to see through these pages, the levels of excellence and participation in music and sport have never been greater; the opportunities for creativity and adventure have never been broader; the capacity for performance and presentation has never been higher. Watching our recent end-of-year plays, concerts and prize-givings for both our Junior School and Senior School girls has further highlighted the value of these new spaces. These new facilities have led us to restructure our school-based music program so that there is a seamless development of music for the girls from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, under the expertise of our Director of Music, Mrs Spooner Ryan.

One of these new spaces is the Foundry. Over the past few years, we have introduced subjects that allow for inter-disciplinary and creative learning that is reflective of 21st century education. Much of this exciting learning in the Senior School is taking place in this maker space. We are eagerly looking forward to the completion of the COLA at the back of the refurbished Cottage in the Junior School which should provide a similar facility for our younger students.

The movement towards 21st century learning will be our focus in 2018. We look forward to the future with happy anticipation.

Dr Julie Greenhalgh Principal

As you will be able to see through these pages, the levels of excellence and participation in music and sport have never been greater; the opportunities for creativity and adventure have never been broader; the capacity for performance and presentation has never been higher.

2Fidelis Magazine / December 2017

Caroline’s talent earns her a coveted rewardYear 11 Visual Arts student, Caroline Huang, was selected to attend the National Art School’s HSC Intensive Studio Practice this year. With the opportunity to work with a great mentor, it is easy to see why this was such an anticipated experience for Caroline. A highly selective and prestigious course, the National Art School’s HSC Intensive Studio Practice only accepts thirty applicants annually. The course is designed to enhance and extend students’ technical, conceptual and intellectual skills under the direction of experienced, practising artists, through intensive practical study within a specialised discipline.

Caroline participated in the Life Drawing discipline, which focused on draughtsmanship and the technical side of art. “We learnt a lot about the human anatomy, proportions, and perspective by drawing nude models in class and looking at works of old masters. We also experimented with a range of materials and techniques including charcoal, graphite and collage,” Caroline said.

The name of the course aptly describes the level at which the participants work. “The course was extremely intense as we went to the studio and did art for seven and a half hours every day during the two weeks of the program. However, it was an amazing experience as I got to meet other students who were passionate about art and I also had a great mentor,” she said.

At the end of the course, the participants gain practical skills in preparing for, mounting and curating an exhibition. “My works, along with my classmates’ works and works of students from other disciplines, were exhibited and it was cool to see what everyone else had produced during their time at the school,” Caroline said.

Caroline will soon commence her HSC Major Project in Visual Arts. She has her sights set on a career in the artistic side of film production.

WriteOn!Imagine being a published author before you leave primary school! Ella Coady, Year 5, and Olivia Kim, Year 2, have achieved exactly that.Ella and Olivia are the recipients of Gold Awards in the annual WriteOn! competition conducted by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the State Library of NSW. The competition is designed to support the teaching of writing and promote the development of imaginative writing skills.

This year, students in Years 1–6 were asked to respond to a photograph from the Library’s collections with an imaginative text of up to 500 words in length.

The Gold Award in the Stage 3 section was awarded to Ella for her written composition called the Eye of the Dragon and Olivia received the Gold Award in the Stage 1 section for her entry entitled A Chinese New Year of Change.

The work of the award winners will be published in an anthology, which will be catalogued and housed in the State Library.

WriteOn! 2017 Gold Award recipients, Olivia Kim and Ella Coady with Mr David de Carvalho, CEO of NESA

Caroline Huang

It was an amazing experience as I got to meet other students who were passionate about art and I also had a great mentor.


1. 2017 Head Prefect, Katerina Mesterovic, and Prefects Maryann Gou, Hannah Powell and Georgia Dimitriades

2. Service of Thanksgiving in Wallis Auditorium

3. Former School Council member, Mr Leigh Bray, Mrs Deirdre Bray, former Meriden Principal Mrs Denise Thomas, AM and Mr Chris Thomas

4. Ms Jodi McKay, Member for Strathfield, Rev Andrew Katay, Chairman of School Council, Dr Julie Greenhalgh, Rt Rev Dr Michael Stead, Bishop of South Sydney, and The Hon Craig Laundy, Member for Reid

5. The Senior Singers conducted by Mrs Jodie Spooner Ryan

6. The Right Rev Dr Michael Stead cuts the ribbon to mark the opening

7. Mrs Lisa Brown, Dean of Cocurricula, Dr Julie Greenhalgh and Mr Milton Cujes, Headmaster of Trinity Grammar School

8. Esther Wu prepares a Claymation model

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Creating an environment where students thriveOver the past three years, the Senior School campus has been transformed to create an environment where our students, current and future, will continue to develop and thrive. The final stage of the Senior School’s extensive building program was completed this year, delivering a revitalised and engaging campus with first class learning facilities.

A key part of the building program was the extension of Wallis Hall to accommodate an additional 500 people. Now known as Wallis Auditorium, this magnificent space has tiered seating, state-of-the-art audio visual facilities, a large stage, hi-tech lighting, green room, and performing arts spaces. It also includes an exhibition space, named The Gallery.

The Chapel was rebuilt using the original design and the beautiful stained glass windows were restored to their original positions.

Other highlights of the building program include:

— Landscaped grounds and seating where students can relax and socialise during recess and lunch times

— The addition of an upper level which includes four large classrooms, a maker space known as The Foundry, an area for public speaking and debating practice, Year 12 Common Room, offices for

the Year 12 Coordinator and Tertiary Adviser and a covered outdoor area suitable for study

— An undercover walkway which connects the Wallis building to Turner and Hope Houses, the Science laboratories, the Sports Centre and Lecture Theatre

— A new staff common room

— Refurbished Chapel

— Refurbished Library

In May, the Meriden community came together for a Service of Thanksgiving which marked the official opening of Wallis Auditorium.

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9. Shameen Gaffoor and Charlotte Lai work with robotics during an iSTEM class

10. Physicist-in-Residence, Mr Terry Werner, explains braking systems in transport to Year 11 Engineering students

11. Jasmin Ghamraoui designs and builds an aeroplane

12. Kirsten Chu works with 3D models in Tinkercad design tool

13. Music teacher, Mr Oliver Cameron, assists Amayah Ryan with a music installation

14. Elisha Chanan, Alice Lim and Eva Tarbox work together in a Free Making activity

15. Charlotte Lai and Shameen Gaffoor collaborate and build an aeroplane to understand the engineering design of aeroplanes

16. Christie Kafiris works on a music installation

17. Madeleine Low enjoys a Free Making activity

18. Mr Jonathan Chan and Physicist-in-Residence, Mr Terry Werner, collaborate to teach students (Madeleine Whip pictured) about the engineering of modern brushless AC motors

19. Jasmin Ghamraoui, Madeleine Whip and Annalise Tran watch a work-energy transformation experiment to understand the design of wind turbines, facilitated by Mr Jonathan Chan, DaCA teacher, and Physicist-in-Residence, Mr Terry Werner

20. 3D prints made by students

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The FoundryThe Foundry was established to support Meriden’s commitment to engaging and inspiring girls in STEM studies. More than just a new learning space, it is a hub for exploration and hands-on, project-based learning, creation and invention. The Foundry enables students to work collaboratively to test out ideas and carry out investigations that foster critical thinking and problem solving. A visit to The Foundry

may find our students delving into electronics, robotics, computing, 3D printing, e-textiles, prototyping, digital fabrication, mechanics and aeronautics, to name just a few activities.

Filled with natural light, The Foundry features an open-plan industrial design with striking features such as high ceilings, louvred windows and a large industrial ceiling fan. It is the perfect environment to create, design, engineer and build. The space is equipped with the latest technology, 3D printers,

soldering irons, power tools, circuit boards, textiles, and even a drone.

In addition to subjects such as Physics, Engineering, iSTEM and Technology, The Foundry is used as an interdisciplinary space by teachers across all subjects within and beyond the curriculum. It is also the home of the Maker Club, a cocurricular activity that gives students the opportunity to begin new creative experiences. The Maker Club meets in The Foundry at lunchtimes and after school.


Meet our Assistant Chaplain in the Junior SchoolHello! In May 2017 I started working as Assistant Chaplain in the Junior School. Like any new job it has been both a challenge and joy to get to know new staff, routines and procedures, programs and many, many, new names and faces of girls and their families! It is wonderful to feel increasingly at home here and excited about the contribution I hope, under God, to make in furthering the great work of sharing the good news of Jesus with the girls, staff and families of Meriden as part of the chaplaincy team.

Getting to know the girls in the Junior School has been an absolute highlight of my work so far. In my week I teach and lead girls of all ages from Kindergarten to Year 6. I enjoy precious moments with the littlest ones in Kindergarten to Year 2, many of whom are hearing about and

being amazed by our great big, promise-keeping God for the first time and whispering their first tentative, heartfelt prayers. The older girls are increasingly asking deep and insightful questions about the Bible and Christian faith as they are confronted by the life-changing claims of Jesus. It is wonderful to see them thinking more deeply about their faith, and their questions keep me on my toes as I think through how to answer them in a way that is clear, faithful to the Bible and respectful.

We have various opportunities to connect with students and their families – in weekly classes, Chapel, CRU and miniCRU, Year 6 Bible study, prayer groups, in the playground and other informal moments – and we enjoy great freedom and support from the School leadership to be sharing the gospel with our school community.

Particularly in light of the shifting cultural climate in Australia, I am deeply thankful for this freedom and support. I’m very much looking forward to 2018 and the opportunities it will bring.

Ms Elisabeth Wise

Ms Elisabeth Wise

Meriden girls amongst Australia’s best Science studentsEsther Wong and Alicia Lieng will join Australia’s top science students at the prestigious Science Olympiads Summer School. The two Year 11 students were selected to participate in the Summer School after placing in the top ten percent in the Australian Physics Olympiads held earlier this year. Alicia and Esther will study a course which covers the equivalent of first year university studies in physics and includes topics such as electromagnetism, circuits, relativity, thermodynamics, fluids, waves and oscillations. The participants will also receive their first taste of quantum physics.

In addition to her selection to the Science Olympiads Summer School, Esther Wong is one of only 140 Science students selected from countries across the world to attend the Professor Harry Messel International Science School at Sydney University in 2018. Esther will meet and learn from inspiring scientists about cutting-edge research, and experience university life in the research and teaching laboratories and lecture theatres of the University of Sydney.

Esther Wong and Alicia Lieng


TED-Ed Club’s first yearThe TED-Ed club is all about supporting students to discover, explore and present their big ideas in a TED-style talk.Established this year, and run under the auspices of TED-Ed in New York, our TED-Ed Club members spent the early sessions getting to know each other, sharing their interests and exploring what makes a good TED talk.

In later sessions, students began to brainstorm ideas for their own TED talk and identify areas for further research. A highlight of the club has been witnessing the students develop friendships across year groups and encourage each other by offering constructive feedback on each other’s ideas. Students have been exposed to the differing perspectives and viewpoints of their peers and have been able to benefit from a wide range of feedback.

When students finished their talks in early Term 4, they were videoed and sent to TED in New York to upload to the TED-Ed YouTube channel. There are a range of topical and engaging talks on issues such as gender stereotyping, the lack of females in the film industry, the rise of the celebrity through social media, the need for a greater understanding of introverts and the need for law reform in Australia, especially in regards to Indigenous peoples.

Some TED-Ed club members attended the TEDxYouth@Sydney talks. Performances were held at the Sydney Town Hall, where they heard from a range of speakers on the theme Shifting the Future. This was a valuable opportunity for our students to

hear from some inspiring speakers as well as focus on developing their own public speaking skills.

We are excited to run the Club again in 2018.

TED-Ed Club members at the TEDxYouth@Sydney event

Skills for a changing worldUber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular social media site, creates no content. Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate. The world is changing at a rapid rate.

From 2018, Year 8 students will have the opportunity to explore these and other issues that are shaping our society in a new elective subject titled News and Contemporary Studies. The course will examine a broad range of topics contained in modern news media and will help students gain an understanding of different political systems, the changing nature of business marketing through Facebook and Instagram, the impact of retail mega giants such as Amazon and Alibaba, current affairs and world news.

Meriden’s Head of Social Science, Miss Anita Kondichetty, said that the course is highly relevant to the fast-changing world in which we live. “It will provide insight into the way our world and society function today and equip students to become competent lifelong learners by expanding their knowledge base, and developing skills to solve problems, think critically and make decisions,” she said.

A highlight of the club has been witnessing the students develop friendships across year groups and encourage each other by offering constructive feedback on each other’s ideas.


Prep School success!In a wonderful start to their education journey, the Prep School students have shown significant changes and personal development since they began at Meriden.Seeing the children flourish both inside and outside the classroom has been affirming for the Prep School teachers to witness. Throughout the year, the curriculum, learning experiences and environment have inspired the minds of the students. The Science unit of work, Paddock to Plate, helped them to learn where our food comes from and how it gets to us from farms and factories. They also gained valuable hands-on experiences and made their own bread and butter. Planting vegetables in the Prep School garden was another successful project.

It has been rewarding to see the children develop into skilled communicators. Children Around the World, which is part of the History and Geography unit,

gave them the opportunity to explore how people around the world do things. They compared it to the way they live and they enjoyed discussing similarities and differences.

Using technology and the internet enabled the children to learn about others. Using Skype, they were delighted to meet and speak with children of their own age who live in Vietnam.

The children enthusiastically participated in Inquiry units of work and extended their learning beyond the classroom through excursions and incursions. They visited Wild Life Sydney Zoo in Darling Harbour as part of their Science unit, Living Things, and they welcomed the animals from Kindy Farm to the Prep playground.

The ride on the Meriden bus to analyse the local Strathfield community was a major highlight for them.

With the support of Meriden’s Chaplain, Rev Clayton Moss, and Christian Education teacher, Mrs Katanasho, the children learnt about grace, faithfulness and love and they were able to better understand themselves, the world they live in and how to participate with meaning and wisdom within it. There were plenty of opportunities to put all these values into practice and they did, creating a loving and joyful environment for all to enjoy.

We thank the Prep School children for a wonderful year.

1. The Prep School children walk through Darling Harbour to visit Wild Life Sydney Zoo

2. The Prep School children skype with children from ABC International School in Vietnam

3. The Starfish children ready to board the Meriden Bus to explore the Strathfield community

4. The Dolphin children cut the tomatoes they grew in their garden

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5. Cayman So, Kaitlyn Xi and Georgiana Temme feed a calf

6. The Starfish knead dough to make bread

7. The Dolphins with farmer Brendon and the Kindi Farm animals

8. Jaiyanna Sayed, Zoe Tu, Chloe Low, Iris Tuo and Molly Greenhalgh feed the animals

9. The Starfish sing songs during Chapel

10. The Dolphins learn about the Christmas story in Christian Education lessons through collage characters made in class

11. Photo opportunity in the Kangaroo Walkabout Zone at Wild Life Sydney Zoo

12. The Dolphins make bread with Mrs Stepan

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1. Young Scientist Award recipients (L–R) Crystal Zhao, Helena Yan, Clare Spicer, Freja Newman and Rena Tang

2. Young Scientist Award recipient, Liyang Yu

Meriden students demonstrate their scientific ingenuityMeriden students collected an impressive number of awards at the Young Scientist Awards held at the University of Wollongong in November, showcasing their originality, creativity and scientific smarts.Organised by the Science Teachers’ Association of New South Wales (STANSW), the Young Scientist Awards encourage the process of scientific investigation and innovation. The competition attracts hundreds of entries from across the state each year. This year, six Meriden students achieved top placings for their scientific investigations across a broad range of areas.

An investigation into nitrate, phosphate and pH levels in Sydney waters won first place for Freja Newman in the Year 7–9 Chemistry category. Freja also received the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Award.

In the Year 7–9 Earth and Environmental category, Liyang Yu won second place for her sulphur dioxide and soil pH investigation and Rena Tang placed third for her investigation into Global Worming: The Solution or Complication to Global Warming. Rena also received the Broadcom Honourable Mention Award which has her on the reserve list to attend the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

The Effect of Species on Bacterial Growth earned Clare Spicer third place in the Year 7–9 Biology category.

Crystal Zhao’s investigation titled The Change in Strength of Plastic in Response to Seawater and Soil won second place in the IIAS Commercialisation and Entrepreneur category.

Helena Yan’s Sleeper invention was awarded third place in The Year 7–9 IIATE Models and Innovations category.

Highly Commended awards went to Georgia Batson, Angela Shan, Tilda Stafford, Madeleine Whip and Lily Yang.

Young Scientist Awards encourage the process of scientific investigation and innovation. The competition attracts hundreds of entries from across the state each year.

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1. Isabella Wan (right) discusses her investigation into whether hydroponic plants grow faster than soil based plants, with Dunja Dudic

2. Jacinta Pham, Year 8, investigated the quantity of worms required to decompose household green waste

3. Georgia Batson, Year 10, shows her smart bicycle helmet invention to Amber Broadbent

4. Grace Blomfield placed first in the Year 9 Investigation category

Scientific innovation on display at STEM ShowcaseThe ingenuity of the Young Scientist Award winners and many other Meriden students was on display at the 2017 STEM Showcase held during National Science Week.

This annual Showcase is an opportunity for students in Years 8 to 10 at Meriden to undertake a scientific experiment or design an original invention.

Demonstrating creativity, application and perseverance, this year’s exhibits ranged from innovations in robotics and environmental sustainability to an investigation of the manufacturing industry’s claims about everyday products such as orange juice, coffee and tea bags.

Experts from several fields of STEM spent time discussing the individual projects with the students before collaborating to decide on the best projects in each category. Following is an overview of the judges’ top picks.

First place in the Year 10 Investigation category was awarded to Ananya Deshpande. Ananya was interested in the ability of natural waste, such as vegetable and fruit peels, to decontaminate and improve water quality.

First place in the Years 9 and 10 Innovation category was awarded to Tilda Stafford for her invention of a moss panel building material, similar in shape to a brick, which uses moss to filter out pollution from the surrounding air.

In the Year 9 Investigation category, first place was awarded to Grace Blomfield for her investigation into the effect that microwaving seeds has on the growth of radish plants. Through good experimental technique, Grace showed that the longer the amount of time that radish seeds are exposed to microwave radiation, the lower their growth rate.

First place in the Year 8 Investigation category was awarded to Dunja Dudic who tested the claims that magnetic water has many health benefits. She investigated the growth of soya beans and found that magnetic water was more beneficial in the growth of soya beans than normal water.

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Music ensembles honoured with top awardsIt has been a phenomenal year for Meriden’s musicians, whose exceptional talent has been recognised with a number of notable awards.After winning the John Lamble Foundation Australasian Championship for Youth Choirs (19/u), the Senior Singers were invited to participate in the prestigious Australasian Choral Grand Prix, where they collected two major awards. Exemplary performances of a new American choral work, The New Colossus by Kevin Memley, and Dubula by Stephen Hatfield earned the ensemble the People’s Choice Award, while their performance of Deep Sea Dreaming by Elena Kats-Chernin won Best Performance by an Australian Composer/Arranger Award. The ensemble also claimed first place

in the Sydney Eisteddfod’s Female Youth Choir (19/u) section.

Several of Meriden’s music ensembles excelled at this year’s Sydney Eisteddfod including the Symphony Orchestra which won first place in the Premium Youth Orchestra (19/u) and the Junior Chamber Strings which won the Primary String Ensemble division. The newly formed Meriden Sinfonia performed magnificently to claim third place in Intermediate Youth Orchestra and the Senior Concert Band and Chamber Strings were awarded Highly Commended in their respective sections.

Meriden’s Director of Music (P–12), Mrs Jodie Spooner Ryan, said, “The outstanding results in this year’s eisteddfod highlight the Meriden girls’ consistent and dedicated approach to rehearsals. The girls in the ensembles work hard and are guided by our passionate and committed Music staff. The repertoire choices are very important and they really showcased the strengths of each group. The standard of every ensemble, from strings, to bands, to orchestras and choirs is getting higher every year. It was very rewarding to be recognised in the Sydney Eisteddfod in so many sections”.

1. Senior Singers perform at the Australasian Choral Grand Prix

2. The Symphony Orchestra takes a bow after performing at Meriden’s 120th Anniversary Concert

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Spotlight on Performing ArtsFrom orchestral concerts and eisteddfods, to drama and musical productions, Meriden’s Performing Arts students have shone all year.


Hairspray, the MusicalHairspray, the Musical bounced on to the stage of Wallis Auditorium in May for six sell-out performances. A stellar cast of seventy girls and six boys gave outstanding performances as they danced, sang and acted their way through the upbeat musical. Behind the scenes, the crew was as large as the cast, with more than eighty students and staff involved in roles such as stage management, backstage crew, costume team, a wig dresser, hair team, makeup team, props, ushers and a media team. Thirty musicians made up the vibrant Hairspray band.

Set in 1960s Baltimore, the musical follows the dance-loving teenager Tracy Turnblad as she auditions for a spot on The Corny Collins Show and wins. When she becomes an overnight celebrity, she sets out to use her newfound influence to advocate for racial integration on the show.

Meriden’s production of this popular musical brimmed with high-energy, exquisite comic timing and tremendous talent. And it left the audience beaming!

1. Lillian Smith as Wilbur joins Mutsa Mushangazhike and Isobel Murdoch in protesting equal rights

2. Wilbur embraces his wife

3. Alexandra Gonzalez as Tracy and two of the Baltimore Babes, Grace Blomfield and Alice Lim

4. Yara Hadid with the Dynamites, Isobel Murdoch, Tanisha Thayaparan and Julia Krivoshev

5. Elyssa Saville, Saffron McKeown, Emma Carbone and Alice Morling as the Council Members

6. Chi Chi Ireanus as Little Inez with Amber (Skye McLeod) and Velma (Sophie Laundy)

7. The fierce PE teacher (Freja Newman) sets the rules for Amber (Skye McLeod) and Tracey (Alexandra Gonzalez)

8. Katerina Mesterovic as the Matron with a confused Velma (Sophie Laundy) and Amber (Skye McLeod)

9. Baltimore Babes set the scene

10. Mr Pinkies’ helpers show Tracey (Alexandra Gonzalez) what fabrics they have

11. The Hairspray Cast

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1. Pavitra Ravi as the infamous Badger

2. Beatrice (Marina Kojevnikov) talks of her birthday song

3. Beatrice entertains the boring city

4. Holly Stein leads the Vikings into battle

5. Isobel Murdoch, as Albienne, leads the villagers into battle

6. Carmen’s house is over full

7. Isobel Ivison knocks Viking, Holly Stein, down as the battle begins

8. Marina Kojevnikov and Annie Lacoba make use of an old lighthouse

9. Nirmataa Vakeeswaran, Brydie Arkell, Isobel Murdoch, Pavitra Ravi, Natalie Megalli and Tanisha Thayaparan tell stories about adventures

10. The city people dance

11. The animals make life difficult for Carmen (Lucy Lukabyo)

12. Marina Kojevnikov, Lucy Lukabyo and Isobel Murdoch, as the three sisters, talk to their step mother (Kate Jacobs)

A contemporary fableThe Drama production of the Finegan Kruckemeyer play, This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing, brought to life a contemporary fable of three sisters who were abandoned in the forest and forced to find their own way in the world. One sister goes one way, one the

other, and the third stays right where she is. Twenty years later they meet and share what they have learned.

Presented by Drama students in Years 9–11, the play tested the skills of all as they learnt not just performance techniques but also how to stage,

produce and compose for live theatre. With a mixture of styles and a unique narrative style, the cast worked tirelessly to ensure transitions and moments of magical realism were fully developed to take the audience on this journey of what it means to be a woman in the world.

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1. Combined classes perform ‘A Musical’

2. Isabella Saville, Madeleine Herro, Chanel Nguyen, Aimee Hall and Yasmin Safvat perform ‘Born to Boogie’ from Billy Elliot

3. Annabel Tan, Celeste Valiozis, Helena Stefani, Liliane Spratt and Tishona Thayaparan perform

‘Donch’a Pinch Me Charlie’ from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

4. Eden Crain sings ‘A Musical’ from Something Rotten

5. Class A performs ‘A Musical’

6. Emily Seeto and Ornina Rammo sing ‘Who Will Buy’ from Oliver

7. Sabrina Boonaursoontorn performs ‘We Own the Night’ from Finding Neverland, the muscial

8. Classes A and B Kick Line

9. Eden Crain and Elise Anderson perform ‘Step in Time’ from Mary Poppins

Wending through the West EndAs forty-five students took to the stage for the Year 8 Musical Theatre Showcase, there was no doubt that it was going to be an uplifting and entertaining experience for everyone.Wending Through the West End took the audience on a journey through many of the famous musicals written in and inspired by London’s West End including Oliver, My Fair Lady, Billy Elliot and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Musical Theatre is an elective course for Year 8 students. It is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills involved in the experience of making musical drama. “Central to the

course is practical experience,” said Meriden’s Musical Theatre teacher, Miss Annemaree McLeod. “At the end of each year, the Musical Theatre Showcase provides an opportunity for the students to perform their works for an audience. It’s a joy to see the girls develop their skills in singing, dancing and acting.”

It was a joy for the audience, too.

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1. Senior School Choir

2. Senior School Percussion ensemble

3. Stage Band with Mrs Fienberg

4. Symphony Orchestra with Mrs Spooner Ryan

5. Madrigals

6. Tula Vuong, Penelope Dawson, Anneka Tan and Jemima Votier in Rock Band

7. Year 5 and 6 Choir

8. Intermediate Singers with Miss McLeod

9. Clarinets in Symphonic Wind Ensemble

10. Dunja Dudic and Tammy Koo in Senior Concert Band

11. Chi Chi Ireanus with Senior Singers

12. Mingxi Shen, Olivia Bonanno, Annie Dong and Helena Huang in Symphony Orchestra

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Music under the StarsA momentous year of music culminated in a concert that brought together 240 musicians in eighteen different ensembles to perform Music under the Stars. From the beautiful voices of the Madrigals singing Away in a Manger to the majestic sounds of the Symphony Orchestra performing Medley from West Side Story, the evening was a showcase of talent, skill and entertainment.

Since its introduction in 2015, the annual Music under the Stars concert has quickly developed into a must-see family event. Mrs Jodie Spooner Ryan, Director of Music (P–12), explained, “One of the really special things about this concert is that it showcases the talent of our musicians right across the school.”

As the sun set and the crowds arrived, the concert opened with the Rock and Stage Bands turning up the sound to entertain the audience with favourites like I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Love on the Brain, Satin Doll and Flip, Flop and Fly.

Once again, the hardworking members and volunteers of the Parents’ and Friends’ Committee and Old Girls’ Union were on hand to provide the refreshments, while everyone relaxed to the music resonating through the Senior School grounds.

As evening fell, the concert moved to Wallis Auditorium, which had borrowed the stars from the skies to create a backdrop for the performers. The audience was treated to performances by the Year 3–6 Choir, Junior School Wind Ensemble, Sinfonia, Junior School Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Madrigals, Junior Chamber Strings, Senior School Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Intermediate Singers, Senior Chamber Strings, Senior Singers, Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra in a repertoire ranging from Spanish Dance No. 5 and Double Violin Concerto in D minor to Rhapsody in Blue and City Called Heaven.


A new focus for music in the Junior SchoolDuring the past year, Meriden has been developing a carefully crafted, and already popular, progression of music education from Prep–Year 12.Director of Music (P–6), Mrs Jodie Spooner Ryan, shared the importance of establishing a clear progression of musical development. “Music education starts from birth and does not cease throughout our lives and it is important to establish a clear progression of musical development. Through consultation with our Junior School Music staff, new classroom programs are being planned and will be progressively implemented to ensure that we offer our students the very best in their music education,” she said.

A thriving strings program is underway in the Junior School, led by Mrs Angela Cassar and assisted by Mrs Madeleine Retter. From 2018, the Year 3 strings program will expand to an instrumental program to include violin, viola, cello and double bass, along with

trumpet, trombone and French horn. An instrumental ensemble will run concurrently for those students who are already learning an instrument.

Sinfonia, an orchestra for musicians from Years 5 to 9, has been highly successful since it was established in 2016. In addition to opening up opportunities for intermediate level students to be part of an orchestra, this new ensemble has enabled musicians across the Junior and Senior School campuses to work collaboratively.

Two new staff members joined the Music Department this year. Mr Christopher Retter, Coordinator of Wind and Brass, will oversee the progression of wind and brass from the instrumental programs, develop the Junior School Wind Ensemble into

a larger Junior School Concert Band, and assist the band program in the Senior School.

Mr Oliver Cameron, Composition and Music Technology Administrator, works with our elective Music students and our HSC students in Composition. In addition to arranging and composing for our ensembles, he will be working with Year 4 girls in a newly developed program using music technology.

In a first for the Junior School, Miss Annemaree McLeod, our specialist Musical Theatre educator, will direct the Junior School musical, Mulan, next year. This will facilitate collaboration between the Junior School and Senior School Music staff and utilise our specialist staff in their areas of expertise.

We look forward to more musical collaboration across all three campuses and a fluid development of skills offered to all our musicians.

1. Junior Chamber Strings in concert

2. Sinfonia performs at City Recital Hall

3. Junior String Orchestra

4. Strings section of Sinfonia

5. Junior School Wind Ensemble

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Sports Notes

Violet Apisah: Taking on the Grand Slams Already ranked at number 45 in the ITF junior rankings, Violet Apisah is emerging as a force to be reckoned with in Australian tennis. Violet continued her dazzling rise through the tennis ranks this year by adding three Grand Slam tournaments to her achievements. These tournaments are considered the most prestigious events on the tennis calendar and attract the top players from around the world.

After competing in the Australian Junior Open in January, with her sister Patricia, Violet travelled to England to take on the most renowned of the four Grand Slam tournaments, Wimbledon. During the September school holiday break Violet headed to Flushing Meadows in New York to compete in the US and Canadian Junior Open. Well done, Violet.

Carla Traplin: Sports Girl of the Year2017 Sports Girl of the Year, Carla Traplin, is an accomplished Water Polo player who has represented the School at state and national level. Earlier this year, she captained the NSW state team which won gold at the Australian All Schools Water Polo Championship. The victorious NSW team contained six Meriden students – an unprecedented number of players from one school.

In July, Carla was selected to the Born 2000 Australian Water Polo team together with four Meriden colleagues, Inde Halligan, Hayley Ballesty, Brooke Mather and Abbey Freeman. The team travelled to Europe to represent Australia in a series of matches and competed in the Pythia cup tournament in Itea, Greece.

Carla was selected to participate in a training camp with the Senior National Water Polo team at the Australian Institute of Sport. The training camp included workshops and intensive training sessions, where she learnt the structures and systems that will become the building blocks of Australia’s campaign for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In November, Carla was crowned 2017 Local Sports Star of the Year at the Inner West Courier’s Sports Awards presentation.

Violet Apisah

Carla Traplin


Seven-times Australian Schools Tennis ChampionsMeriden claimed its seventh Australian Schools Tennis Championship title with another standout performance at the Albury Tennis Centre in November. This tournament brings together the rising stars of tennis from across Australia to compete for the coveted national title. Meriden’s two teams played magnificent tennis throughout the tournament and, after three days of gripping action, Meriden Blue team secured the national title and Meriden White placed fourth.

Meriden holds the record for the most national title wins in this tournament. The Australian Schools Tennis Championship is the qualifying event for the biennial World Schools Tennis Championship that Meriden won in 2015.

Team Meriden, seven-times National Schools Tennis Champions

Water Polo and Diving make a splash in the Junior SchoolSince their introduction to the Junior School cocurricular program in 2016, Water Polo and Diving have proven very popular and we are beginning to see some rising stars.Meriden has been quick to make its mark in Diving with some stunning results at the IPSHA Carnival. In addition, several Meriden students have won selection to the IPSHA and CIS teams. Ms Vynika Arlow, from the NSW Institute of Sport, coaches the diving clinics at Meriden’s pool and at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

While Meriden is renowned for the success of its senior Water Polo players, many of whom are state and national representatives, Junior School students are now discovering that Water Polo is an exciting game to play and lots of fun. “It’s a dynamic game which combines speed, strength, fitness and teamwork,” said Miss Sarah Jauncey, Director of Sport (P–6).

“The aim of the program is to help the girls develop the skills they need to compete in the sport. Water Polo is a Term 1 sport in the Senior School, so our girls will be

skilled-up and ready to compete in the Saturday Sport competition by Year 7. Ultimately, we aim to join the primary schools’ local competition,” she said.

In addition to the cocurricular program, both sports were introduced this year into the Junior School PE program to give all students the opportunity to try them out. Diving commences in Year 3 and Water Polo commences in Year 5.

Year 6 students learn the basics of Water Polo from Coach Isobel Bishop during a PE lesson


Meet our Head Athletics CoachWith a passion for developing the sporting skills of all Meriden students, it is easy to see why three-time Olympian, Ms Nicole Boegman-Stewart, has helped raise the profile and participation of Athletics and Cross Country at Meriden.Over the past two years, Coach Nicole has been strengthening the Athletics and Cross Country programs across the Junior and Senior Schools, as well as being involved in PE lessons in Years 7–10.

Under the leadership of Coach Nicole, participation numbers in these sports have increased significantly within a short time frame. We have also seen a significant improvement in Meriden’s placings at the IGSSA Athletics and Cross Country Championships.

Whilst being committed to the School, Coach Nicole remains as a National Junior Coach for Athletics Australia and has been involved in several national training camps in 2017. Last year, she was a team coach for the World U20 Athletics Championships in Finland and, more recently, she was a coach at the World University Games in Taiwan (where several former Meriden students also competed).

1. Coach Nicole (left) with former Meriden student Mollie Williams (Class of 2016) at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei

2. Meriden’s medal and ribbon recipients at the 2017 IGSSA Athletics Championships with Coach Nicole

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Badminton taking Meriden by stormWith ninety students enrolling in the sport as soon as it was introduced this year, Badminton has proven a surprising favourite in the Meriden sports program.Badminton is the fastest racquet sport in the world and was admitted as a full-medal sport at the Olympic Games in 1992. When played at a competitive level, the shuttle can travel faster than a Formula 1 car. It is also one of the most played sports worldwide.

Badminton is a great way to increase fitness and improve reflexes and hand-eye coordination. A match consists of constant highly concentrated action such as running, jumping, stretching,

running backwards, throwing and striking. In a typical match the athletes cover every inch of the court and travel well over two kilometres.

In light of its growing popularity worldwide and its fitness benefits, Meriden added Badminton to the portfolio of fourteen sports in the Senior School this year. When coaching began in Term 3, the ninety-plus registrations from students interested in the sport took everyone by surprise.

The initial plan was to introduce a small program to develop the girls’ skills in the lead up to 2018 when the fast-moving game would be introduced as an option in the Saturday Sport program. The rapid growth in interest from our budding Badminton champions led to the development of a squad program and the utilisation of an off-site facility at Silverwater.

In October, Badminton NSW invited Meriden to enter a team in the NSW Badminton Novice Teams event and we won our division!

It has been an exciting start to the sport at Meriden and the future of our Badminton players looks more than promising for 2018 and beyond.

We look forward to continued growth and success in our Athletics and Cross Country programs.


The Junior School’s backstroke queenYear 6 student, Scarlett Brown, is a force to be reckoned with in the pool. Along with her favourite swimming style of backstroke, Scarlett has clocked up some remarkable results in all the strokes.Named 2017 Junior School Swimming Champion, Scarlett represented the school at NSWCIS Carnival this year where she swam back-to-back races in three styles – a demanding schedule for any swimmer. After flying through the heats in the 11 years division, she took on the finals and placed first in backstroke and third in the 50m freestyle. Despite competing in the butterfly final immediately after her backstroke heat, Scarlett managed to touch the finish line in fifth place. This year, Scarlett also swam in the freestyle and backstroke events at the NSW PSSA Championship with fantastic results.

In addition to representing her School, Scarlett has experienced success at many Metropolitan meets this year. In the NSW Speedo Sprint Series finals she placed second in backstroke and smashed her qualifying time by 1.36 seconds. Scarlett also qualified for the NSW State Age Championships which will be held in December.

Scarlett first entered the pool at just three months of age and has loved it ever since. Her first real swimming lessons were in the Meriden pool.

Her swimming ability comes from her father who was once an Australian representative swimmer and is now a Swimming Coach. Scarlett says that she loves chatting to him about the swimmers he coaches.

“What I love most about swimming is the feeling that I get when I first dive in the water. And I also like the way I feel after I have trained hard,” Scarlett said.

Being part of the Australian team for an Olympic Games is a dream for most swimmers and Scarlett agrees that it is a very special event. “It would be amazing to be part of the Australian swimming team but I know how difficult it is to qualify for the Olympics. For now, I am focussing on being the best I can be and I will save the Olympic dream for a few years down the track,” she said.

Scarlett Brown

1. The winning Badminton NSW Novice Team

2. Kate Zhong in action

3. Sheryl Singh, 2018 Badminton Captain

What I love most about swimming is the feeling that I get when I first dive in the water.

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1. Participants in the Olympus program display the variety of sports represented in the program

2. Grace Kim

3. Belinda Ji

4. Katherine Li

5. Jayfel Lee

6. Chevyone Cheah

Shooting for the 2024 Summer Olympics Meriden has an amazing array of talented sportswomen. The Olympus program, which was established at Meriden in 2008 to cater for the academic and sporting needs of student-athletes, has attracted young women who compete at national and international levels in a diverse range of sports.

The sports in which Meriden girls compete at an elite level are wide and varied. It includes the likes of Athletics, Basketball, Swimming, Tennis, Water Polo and Rhythmic Gymnastics, and also includes some of the less traditional Australian sports, such as Archery, Golf, Table Tennis and Taekwondo. Many of our athletes are quietly going about their training, but all have a big goal in mind – to represent Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Here are some of the students working hard to achieve their dream.

Jayfel Lee – TaekwondoJayfel Lee was an Australian National team member at the Canberra Invitational Taekwondo event in 2017. After placing second in this year’s National Championship, Jayfel has been selected to attend the AIS Emerging Athlete Program in 2018.

In December, she will train with Junior and Senior World Champions and she hopes to qualify to compete at the 2018 World Senior Championships in Korea. Jayfel is committed to making the national Olympic selection in either 2020 or 2024.

Katherine Li – Table TennisKatherine Li competed at the NSW Open, Australian Junior National Championships in Hobart and Australian Senior Championships in Adelaide in 2017. After placing at each event, Katherine hopes to compete overseas in further open level competitions in 2018 and has her sights firmly on Paris 2024.

Grace Kim and Belinda Ji – Golf Grace Kim is the current No. 1 Amateur Girls’ Golf player in Australia. She has competed across the globe in 2017 and will compete against the world’s best players in the Australian Open in Adelaide in 2018.

Fellow Meriden student, Belinda Ji, has been earmarked as an outstanding golf talent and is closely following in Grace’s footsteps. Belinda was crowned the 2016 NSW and South Australian Girls Champion and was the youngest player to compete in the NSW Women’s Open at the age of twelve.

Both girls are coached by Khan Puller, a well-respected identity in the golfing circles.

Chevyone Cheah – ArcheryIn 2017, Chevyone Cheah broke one national record and eight NSW records in Archery.

After winning the State Indoor Championships, Chevyone went on to compete at National level and placed second. This year, Archery NSW awarded Chevyone the State Target Championship Youth Perpetual trophy to conclude a very successful year for the target shooter.

Next year is shaping up to be a big year for Chevyone as she aims to compete at the Trans-Tasman Championship, and to continue building on her 2017 results.

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1. Inde Halligan

2. Zoe Tanti

3. Abbey Freeman

‘Olympus Futures’ leads to exciting opportunities overseasEstablished by Meriden, the Olympus Futures program is creating opportunities for Meriden’s elite sports girls and assisting them in directing their learning to achieve their tertiary study goals.

The program provides advice and guidance in selecting a suitable tertiary institution, and identifying and applying for international university/collegiate scholarships. It also assists girls to accelerate development in their sport for national and international representation. The guidance is tailored to the individual needs and goals of each student.

Since its introduction, the program has facilitated opportunities for an increasing number of Meriden graduates to study at leading overseas universities. To date, thirteen Meriden graduates have been accepted to prominent universities in the USA.

This year, three graduates from the Class of 2017 have been awarded scholarships to study at universities in the USA, also enabling them to compete in the highly competitive world of college sport under the banner of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Inde Halligan Harvard UniversityInde Halligan has been admitted to Harvard University, which is recognised as one of the leading universities in the world. Harvard boasts 48 Nobel Laureates, 32 heads of state and 48 Pulitzer Prize winners amongst its alumni. Harvard accepts 2,000 prospective freshmen annually from a pool of more than 35,000 applicants, and Inde is one of only five Australians to be admitted in 2018.

Together with her outstanding academic record, Inde has achieved top results in her sport of Water Polo while studying at Meriden. Now she will play Water Polo for the Harvard University Crimsons.

Abbey Freeman Arizona State UniversityNational water polo representative, Abbey Freeman, will take up study at Arizona State University in 2018 and play water polo for the Arizona State Sun Devils team. The Sun Devils team has been a consistent top-five Water Polo team over the last four seasons in the NCAA. Abbey is a nationally recognised centre forward in Water Polo and was selected for Water Polo Australia’s Born 2000 Australian team that toured Europe this year, competing in the Pythia Cup tournament in Itea, Greece.

Zoe Tanti University of Southern UtahZoe Tanti, a rising star in tennis, has been awarded a full scholarship to study at the University of Southern Utah. Zoe will play tennis for the renowned SUU Thunderbirds. Zoe is an outstanding tennis player with an Australian ranking of 114. She has been an integral member of Meriden’s victorious tennis teams, which have won the National Schools Tennis Challenge seven times and the Tildesley Tennis tournament eight consecutive times.

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A fond farewell… Mrs Elizabeth StevensMrs Elizabeth Stevens joined the Meriden staff in Term 2 2008 having come to us from Thomas Hassell School where she had been the Director of Pastoral Care for eight years and Danebank School where she had been Head of English for ten years. There are many features of Mrs Stevens which have contributed to her success as our Head of Senior School. Firstly, Mrs Stevens has confidence in the capacity of girls. She knows that girls can, and should, be leaders in all areas of life, both at school and in the community. For this reason, her advocacy of girls’ schools and her enthusiasm for the education of Meriden girls have been unwavering.

Mrs Stevens shares my belief that schools have a primary responsibility to develop the intellect of young people. Her own classrooms are great places of learning, and her students frequently attest to the fact that Mrs Stevens is an excellent teacher.

Notwithstanding this passion for the classroom, Mrs Stevens truly believes in the value of holistic education. When compiling the School calendar, all approved cocurricular activities have been treated equally and given advantageous time in the school year. Coordinators of other areas of school

life are among those people who refer to her as “firm but fair”; sport coaches have appreciated her support from the sidelines on Saturday mornings.

Of course, as the Head of Senior School, Mrs Stevens’ prime role has been the welfare of the girls in the Senior School. Many girls have sought solace in her office, while many other girls have been gently shown a better way. Those girls who have had the opportunity to get to know her well – such as those on overseas tours where Mrs Stevens really comes into her own – have marvelled at her sense of humour and her problem-solving skills. I know that our Ti Tree girls will miss her very much indeed.

I was thrilled that Mrs Stevens accepted my invitation to be the Meriden archivist from 2018. This will involve collating, storing and displaying the archives and other records of the School. She will work one or two days per week, so there is a change that the girls and staff will see her around the corridors of the School.

Mrs Stevens has faithfully prayed for Meriden girls and staff regularly over the past years. I hope she continues to do this! And it is our prayer that the next stage of her life will be blessed with good health, safe overseas travel and joyous family times.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Dr Julie Greenhalgh

A warm welcome… Mrs Julia AnsteyWe extend a warm welcome to Mrs Julia Anstey who will take up the role of Head of Senior School from the commencement of 2018.Mrs Anstey, a Meriden Old Girl, was a teacher and Head of Languages at Meriden from 1998 to 2006. She returns to Meriden after an eleven-year hiatus during which she was Head of Languages, first at Columba College in Dunedin, New Zealand, and more recently at Pymble Ladies’ College.

Mrs Anstey also spent a year as an English language assistant at the Lycée International de Ferney-Voltaire in France where she developed a love of snow sports. She has taught a range of subjects including Christian Studies, French, Italian, Latin and Classical Greek. She has also held positions of leadership in pastoral care and

governance. In New Zealand, Mrs Anstey was the staff trustee on the Board of Trustees, which oversaw the academic program at Columba College.

Strongly committed to the education of girls in the 21st century, Mrs Anstey brings a wide range of experience to the role of Head of Senior School. She believes that schools have the responsibility, in partnership with parents, for cultivating the intellectual and moral outlook of students and inculcating a love of learning and character dispositions that will prepare them for life in our fast-paced and technological world.

Mrs Elizabeth Stevens

Mrs Julia Anstey


Meriden students collect top awards in Science, English and MathematicsThis year, three Meriden students achieved the honour of being awarded the University of New South Wales Medal. This commendation is awarded to students who attain the highest score within their year level in a subject during the annual ICAS assessment.The top scores across New South Wales were achieved by Helena Yang in Year 9 Science, Rebecca Starling in Year 7 English and Tilda Stafford in Year 10 English.

The University of NSW also conducts the UNSW Annual Mathematics Competition, which is now in its fifty-sixth year. This rigorous three-hour exam is designed to assess mathematical insight and ingenuity. The competition attracts the top Mathematics students from across the state. Aileen Wang, Year 10, achieved a High Distinction in this challenging exam, which put her in the top three per cent of the 300 students who entered the competition.

Congratulations to all the award winners.

1. Helena Yang

2. Aileen Wang

3. Tilda Stafford

4. Rebecca Starling

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The mark of excellenceThe attainment of an AMusA (Associate in Music, Australia) is recognised internationally as a mark of excellence in music. It is awarded by examination to outstanding students in the fields of Performance, Theory of Music and Musicianship.

Six of Meriden’s talented musicians were awarded their AMusA diplomas by the Australian Music Examinations Board this year. They were violinists Heather Kim (Year 7), Annie Dong and Helena Huang (Year 11), clarinettists Tina Ma and Karen Chen (Year 11), and trumpeter Anneka Tan (Year 10). Heather Kim and Annie Dong attained their diplomas with Distinction. Annie Dong, Anneka Tan, Heather Kim, Tina Ma, Karen Chen and Helena Huang


Fiji: Taking our learning outside the classroomAt Meriden, we encourage our girls to experience learning in a range of contexts beyond the traditional classroom. Recently, a group of Year 9 students went to Fiji to contribute to purposeful community projects.In Year 9, Meriden’s annual camp program expands to include opportunities to contribute to service projects locally, nationally and internationally. It is a powerful way to connect students with the world and helps them to understand that they have the capacity to make a positive difference in society.

For many years, Meriden girls have made a pilgrimage to Ti Tree in remote Northern Territory as part of this program. This year, a new destination was added which saw twenty students travel abroad to work in local communities in Fiji.

Anna Moran, who made the journey to Fiji, described the group’s activities, “We participated in two construction projects. We helped construct a house for a woman and her children in the Momi Bay area. They had lost their home in a fire which was started by a fallen lantern. We spent the afternoon mixing and laying cement and cutting wire.”

“The single mother and her three children had been living in a makeshift house made from materials that their neighbours had donated. Knowing this backstory made the hard labour of mixing and smoothing cement, cutting wires and hammering wood in the scorching sun more rewarding as we could see the impact we could make,” explained Freja Newman and Ainslee Bakunowicz.

The group’s second construction project was completed in a local village called Bavu. “We plastered and painted walls and chiselled a septic tank for a new bathroom,” Genevieve McKeown said. “We also laid cement which enabled us to complete two footpaths around the village.”

A visit to two schools gave the girls the chance to teach art and craft lessons to 172 children from Years 1 to 4. “It was an amazing opportunity to work with the children and make strong connections with them. We made customised kites that they could fly in the playground, we showed them how to make paper planes and then organised a paper plane competition, and we created animal masks which the children used to develop plays. We also made bracelets out of clay beads,” said Freja and Ainslee.

1. Outside Momi Bay church

2. Sunset at Momi Guns lookout

3. Local children in Momi village

4. Working in Bavu village

5. Construction work in the village

6. Bavu village

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Two afternoons were spent cooking food with a local woman named Shalini. “Our group’s favourite food was Shalini’s crispy finger donuts and her chai tea,” Lili Nabavi-Tabrizi said. “After we had cooked the food, we delivered and served it to residents at the HART house in Navaki which is a shelter for abused women and their children and Loloma House which supports single mothers.”

The final service activity was regeneration of the trees in the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park where a fire had recently destroyed a large section of the park. “Each of us planted our own tree and we named the forest the Fidelis Forest as we were the first to plant in that area,” Lili said.

Despite the busy schedule and physical activity involved in the projects, the group made time to experience the culture and lifestyle of Fiji. “After our daily service activities we participated in cultural Fijian dances and music, as well as fun activities such as mud baths, kayaking and going to the beach where we drank mango smoothies and had our hair braided by local women.” Anna said.

“On the final day, we went island hopping where we visited the cloud break surfing spot, snorkelled in pristine waters, watched dolphins swim alongside our boat and had lunch at the Funky Fish hotel. That night, we had a goodbye Karva ceremony which left the group in tears. We are grateful for this amazing opportunity,” said Freja and Ainslee.

Meriden is looking forward to more community service pilgrimages in the future.

It was an amazing opportunity to work with the children and make strong connections with them.

7. Painting inside of a toilet block

8. Kayaking

9. House construction

10. Concrete smoothing

11. Planting trees in Sigatoka

12. Island hopping on the last day

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The Story of Christmas

1. Angela Safian as the Donkey, Chloe Papageorgiou as Mary and Nikita Garg as Joseph

2. Chloe Papageorgiou, Angela Safian and Nikita Garg in the Nativity scene

3. The Three Kings, Katya Abouchrouche, Anna Rammo and Amelia O’Farrell

4. Year 2 Away in a Manger dance

5. Year 2 shepherds and villagers

6. Innkeeper Tarishi Srivastava with Angela Safian and Chloe Papageorgiou

7. The Year 1P innkeepers

8. Dancers from KK in the finale

9. KC dancers Estella Yan, Caitlin Kwok, Mikayla Thich and Mikaela Tyacke

10. K–2 Finale, A King is Born

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11. Year 1S dancing to Gospel Angels

12. Calypso Kings Anna Rammo and Farrah Chami

13. Hannah Mathew

14. Alyssa Wahhab as Curious Sheep, and Giaan Aulakh, Emma Huynh and Kimberley Jee as shepherds

15. Amelia Von as the shining star

16. Year 2G dancers Nikita Garg, Sonya Grigaliunas and Lizzie Ellis

17. KB dancers Parvati De, Angela Safian, Sheryl Zhang and Laura Jin

18. KK sheep dancing to Hey Ewe

19. Year 2 Nativity scene

20. K–2 Finale, A King is Born

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Old Girls’ News

From the Principal2017 has given us an opportunity to focus on the traditions that have been features of the School for the past 120 years. For example, Meriden has always been a school that has fostered a love of learning, particularly in the arts and the mathematical sciences. One only has to see the level of enrolment in the Sciences and in Mathematics at the School to know that the emphasis on a rigorous, liberal and mathematical education that was written into the School’s constitution in the 1920s is alive and well. In 1997, Meriden was once described as “a school without pretence”. This remains true today. Many visitors to the School comment on the unaffected nature of the girls. They are referred to as “down to earth” and “grateful”. Yes, this characteristic is unchanged over the years.

A few years ago, we compiled a list of the values and attitudes that are important to us at Meriden. This list includes words such as thankful, compassionate, joyful and upright. The history of the School shows most clearly that these are adjectives can be used to describe Meriden girls down through the ages, and they are ones that we continue to acknowledge and celebrate today.

And most importantly, Meriden has always had a strong emphasis on the Christian gospel. The God who is the same yesterday, today and forever, and who is revealed through His Son, Jesus, is still presented to the girls today.

It seems to me that the things that really matter have remained consistent. While the fabric and size of the School may have changed over the past 120 years, the holistic education and the emphasis on charity that motivated Mrs Monkton (1900s), the Christian faith that was modelled by Miss Turner (1910s), the academic rigour and school spirit that were fostered by Miss Overy (1920s and 1930s), the confidence in the ability of young women that was shown by

Miss Hannam (1940s and 1950s), the belief in the importance of well-rounded education as shown by Miss Morton (1970s) and the contribution of Meriden to the state and national discussion of education that was strongly encouraged by Mrs Thomas (1980s and 1990s), are all still evident today. Meriden’s body may have changed but its heart is the same.

We give thanks and praise for the past 120 years.

Dr Julie Greenhalgh Principal


Opening of Wallis Auditorium

1. Rev Andrew Katay speaks at the Service of Thanksgiving in Wallis Auditorium

2. Emily Halloran (2016) (centre) with Year 12 students Yuan Yuan Wang and Josephine Barlow

3. Jacqueline Ruston (mother of Sally, 1978 and Jane, 1980), Valda Bray (Pickett, 1959) and Janice Vince (Pickett, 1957)

4. Willa Wynn Jones (Maughan, 1957), Roger Vince and Anne Crossman (Cooke, 1951)

5. Gillian Taylor (1977), Dr Paul Bennett and Mrs Vicki Sheahan, Dean of Staff

6. Rt Rev Dr Michael Stead and Catherine Wynn Jones (1980)

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Old Girls’ News


Where are they now?Arunnjah VivekanandarajahI graduated from Meriden in 2010 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Medical Science, majoring in pathology at The University of Sydney in 2013. Due to my interest in pathology, I was passionate about doing research in the field of neuropathology. I undertook my PhD under the supervision of Dr Rita Machaalani and Professor Karen Waters within the SIDS and Sleep Apnea Laboratory at the University of Sydney from 2014-2017 (awarded May 2017). My PhD involved studying the hippocampus of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) infants and in animal models of the risk factor of cigarette smoke exposure and its effects on brain nicotinic receptors. I also work in the Sleep unit at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead where I help perform sleep studies both for clinical and research purposes.

At present, I’m undertaking my postdoctoral research fellowship training in the world renowned “Kinney” laboratory at Boston Children’s Hospital through Harvard Medical School. My current research project investigates the nicotinic receptor abnormalities in the SIDS brain with the aim to further my research and understanding on the hippocampus in SIDS and to determine the mechanism(s) for abnormal hippocampal findings in these babies.

Other than my research interests, I was involved in the wider aspect of the university life by taking up many leadership roles throughout my candidature. I was involved in a number of mentoring and tutoring programs within the university such as AIME, Science Student Transition Workshops and the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme. This gave me an opportunity to use my university experience to help students overcome any difficulties they may be facing.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all my wonderful teachers who have inspired me to persevere against all the struggles, which has taught me so many invaluable lessons and still keeps me going during my tough times.

Arrunjah Vivekandarajah (Class of 2010)

Simone ChanTime flies, it seems like it was only yesterday when I graduated from Meriden. I still remember visiting the Science staff room almost every afternoon asking endless questions. Mrs Richards and Mrs Maurice are always so patient and supportive. Without their encouragement, I would not have been able to get to where I am today, so thank you!

I am currently studying the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Program in The University of Hong Kong. It is an intense but intellectually stimulating course with case studies and clinical skills sessions starting from Year 1. Recently, I joined the Health Exhibition Organising Committee as Internal General Affairs Secretary. We will be promoting health education, and providing free health checks and consultations all around Hong Kong, which I will undoubtedly enjoy.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Dr Greenhalgh and all the teaching staff at Meriden, who have put tremendous effort in making Meriden a place where young women flourish and make their marks.

Simone Chan (Class of 2016)

Elizabeth OwenIn 2017, we were delighted to welcome another Old Girl to the Meriden teaching staff. Elizabeth Owen (Class of 2007) has joined our Digital and Creative Arts Department as a Visual Arts teacher.

Following my graduation from Meriden, I studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Sydney University, majoring in Performance Studies. I then completed a Bachelor of Art Education, majoring in painting and drawing, at the University of NSW College of Fine Arts (now UNSW Art and Design). I appreciated the many opportunities that university life opened up for me including the chance to be part of the campus Christian groups as well as opportunities to exhibit my work.

I have also enjoyed meeting new people while travelling and studying overseas. I spent six months on a university exchange in Canada, as part of my Fine Arts degree, where I managed to survive the cold winter and skied for the first time. I then travelled for six months through eastern and western Europe.

After finishing my studies in Education, I taught at a Christian school in Canberra and also took the opportunity to spend time in my studio and serve at a church in Wanniassa.

Since graduating from Meriden in 2007, I have enjoyed travelling, meeting new people, and discovering outdoor hobbies such as rock climbing, all of which have led to wonderful friendships and unforgettable experiences. I am looking forward to sharing my skills and knowledge with the creative students of Meriden.

Elizabeth Owen (Class of 2007)

Arunnjah Vivekandarajah Simone Chan Elizabeth Owen

Old Girls’ News


ValeThe Meriden community extends its condolences to the family and friends of Old Girls who have passed away this year.Lillian Gibson (Dent, 1936)

Dr Judith Wardell (McArthur-Brown, 1943)

Jenny Eggleton (Vaness, 1969)

Ruth Gall (Lack, 1941)

Associate Professor Ruth Edna Gall, University of Sydney, passed peacefully at her retirement home on the Gold Coast on 10 July 2017, aged 93 years.

Ruth Lack served in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) during World War 2 then studied Science at the University of Sydney under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme. She was employed in various chemical industry positions in Sydney and London before accepting a place in the CSIRO Coal Division. Encouraged by then Dr Sev Sternhell, she took a Teaching Fellowship at the University of Sydney to pursue PhD studies in Organic Chemistry, where she researched under the supervision and mentorship of Professor Shoppee, renowned steroid chemist. Ruth then joined the faculty at Sydney where she became a female trailblazer and role model for academic women.

In 1970 Dr Lack became Sydney University’s first Associate Professor in Chemistry and in 1977 was awarded DSc in Organic Chemistry, the first woman to be so honoured at the University in this field. Ruth served with distinction as Head of School following her election to the role in 1978 (another first for women), and retired in 1982 after making substantial contributions in the field of steroids and related substances, including mechanistic and spectroscopic studies.

Extracted from RACI e-News, published by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, September 2017

Class of 1954 Reunion

Back row Helen Terrett (Crookes), Sue Mardarga (Dowling), Jill Dawkins (Heath), Joy Ruddy (Dixon), Thelma Beechey (Milling), Jenny Figtree (Sheppard), Janice Rohr (Green)

Front row Beverley Tickle, Ann Kearney (Alexander), Mary Woods (Blumer)

Canberra Reunion

Gloria Walter (Barnsley, 1951), Debbie Mattiuzzo (1986), Jan Dash (Grinham, 1955), Mary Sheppard (1952), Robin Wood (Spence, 1956), Deirdre Woodger (Grigor, 1951) and Carolyn Blanden, former Meriden Principal

Four Meriden girls

Janet Goodlet (Matthews, 1956 Senior Turner Prize); Jennifer Tinsley (Muir, 1959 Head Prefect); Amelia Schreuder, Year 7; and Amelia’s grandmother, Dr Robin Morrow AM (Matthews, 1959 Senior Turner Prize) at a family gathering.

Class of 1957 Reunion

Back row Helena Hicks, Janice Vince (Pickett), Helen Boyce (Parkhill), Willa Wynn Jones (Maughan)

Middle row Valda Bray (Pickett, 1959), Helen Williams (Hoffman), Susan Coad (Roberts), Jeanette Soames (Skinner, 1955), Jenny Dobell (Woods, 1955), Naomi Wilson (Wynn Jones), Pat Mackey (Holmes)

Front row Beverly Sturrock (Beecroft), Jane Wynn Jones (1980), Jennifer Wearne (Marr, 1956)

Reunions

Old Girls’ News


(L-R) Lilly-Anne Pepperill, Quaneisha Williams, Leah Carter-Rankine, Laneesha Campbell and Phillipa Bartlett

Meriden Indigenous BursaryThe Meriden Indigenous Bursary was established in 2008 and is coordinated by a committee of Meriden Old Girls who share a passion for education and social justice. The Bursary is dedicated to the financial support of Indigenous girls from remote communities to facilitate their education at Meriden. In 2015, the Meriden community celebrated a milestone in Indigenous education when Anthea Joe, a student from the Ti Tree community who commenced at Meriden in Year 7, completed Year 12. Anthea graduated as only the second person, and first female, from the Tanami Desert region to acquire a high school credential, in this case the HSC. We are proud of her commitment and of this achievement.

Through the generous support of the Meriden community, and in conjunction with the Ngurra Jirrama Foundation, there are currently five Indigenous students studying at the School.

Quaneisha Williams, Year 11Quaneisha has been studying at Meriden for six years and has recently been awarded a Qantas traineeship. This requires her to work one day per week at Qantas as well as attend TAFE one afternoon per week. During the rest of the week, Quaneisha attends her classes at Meriden and enjoys participating in sports such as Softball, Hockey, Touch Football and Basketball. Her favourite subject is Visual Arts

which she uses as a medium to express herself. Quaneisha says that Meriden has taught her independence and perseverance and she has appreciated the opportunity to learn new skills, both mental and physical, and make friends.

Leah Carter-Rankine, Year 10Leah believes that Meriden has helped her to understand that you can make new friends anywhere you are, you just need to make the effort. She loves the way that everyone at Meriden is different from one another. They come from many different cultural backgrounds and different areas of Sydney and they all get along well together. Leah is a keen sports girl. This year she was accredited as a Netball Australia Foundation Accredited Coach. As Leah loves to cook, it is no surprise that Food Technology is one of her favourite subjects.

Phillipa Bartlett, Year 8Phillipa has three sisters and a brother and enjoys spending the holidays in Alice Springs with her elder sister. They often go camping together and visit Rainbow Valley. One of the highlights for Phillipa this year has been the Independent

Learning Skills course which she says has helped her immensely with her school work. She was particularly delighted when she discovered how to find the hypotenuse in a right-angle triangle! Phillipa says that the teachers at Meriden have been very helpful and always friendly and it has made the transition to the School much easier for her.

Laneesha Campbell, Year 7Despite commencing at Meriden at the beginning of this last term, Laneesha has already settled in well. She has managed to score some tries for her team in Touch Football and her favourite subject so far is Geography. Laneesha says that one of the important things that she has learnt at Meriden is that there is a lot to learn at school and you must be committed if you want to succeed.

Lilly-Anne Pepperill, Year 7Lilly-Anne is a keen writer and her favourite subject is English. She has been at Meriden for twelve months and likes the way she learns new things every day. She had not realised until now that learning could be interesting! Last term, Lilly-Anne spoke to Kindergarten students about the importance of her home in Ti Tree. Her presentation linked to the geographical concepts that the Kindergarten girls were learning about and the girls appreciated hearing Lilly-Anne’s stories. She also taught them a song in her language, Anmatjere.

Old Girls’ News


Donor Details

Meriden Indigenous Bursary Donation Form

TITLE Ms Mrs Miss Mr Dr Prof Rev

SURNAME

GIVEN NAME/S

BUSINESS/ORGANISATION NAME (IF APPLICABLE)

ADDRESS P/CODE

PHONE H

W

M

EMAIL

RELATIONSHIP TO MERIDEN Current Meriden Parent Friend of Meriden Old Girl

IF OLD GIRL, YEAR OF LEAVING MERIDEN MAIDEN NAME

Payment Options

Credit Card Donations

NAME ON CARD

TYPE OF CARD Visa Mastercard AMEX

CARD NUMBER

EXPIRY AMOUNT $ SIGNATURE

Please return this form to Meriden Business Office, PO Box 78, Strathfield NSW 2135

If you have any questions about the Meriden Indigenous Bursary, please contact Dr Julie Greenhalgh, Principal, on (02) 9752 9444.Meriden recognises that individual circumstances vary. All support, irrespective of the amount involved, is gratefully received. All donations will be exclusively used for the purpose of this Bursary.

Cheque

I/We enclose a cheque made payable to 'Meriden Indigenous Bursary' for the amount of:

Please provide an official tax deductible receipt in the name of

$

10-12 Redmyre RoadStrathfield NSW 2135Telephone 61 2 9752 [email protected]

August 2014

Donations are tax deductible

Donor Details

Meriden Indigenous Bursary Donation Form

TITLE Ms Mrs Miss Mr Dr Prof Rev

SURNAME

GIVEN NAME/S

BUSINESS/ORGANISATION NAME (IF APPLICABLE)

ADDRESS P/CODE

PHONE H

W

M

EMAIL

RELATIONSHIP TO MERIDEN Current Meriden Parent Friend of Meriden Old Girl

IF OLD GIRL, YEAR OF LEAVING MERIDEN MAIDEN NAME

Payment Options

Credit Card Donations

NAME ON CARD

TYPE OF CARD Visa Mastercard AMEX

CARD NUMBER

EXPIRY AMOUNT $ SIGNATURE

Please return this form to Meriden Business Office, PO Box 78, Strathfield NSW 2135

If you have any questions about the Meriden Indigenous Bursary, please contact Dr Julie Greenhalgh, Principal, on (02) 9752 9444.Meriden recognises that individual circumstances vary. All support, irrespective of the amount involved, is gratefully received. All donations will be exclusively used for the purpose of this Bursary.

Cheque

I/We enclose a cheque made payable to 'Meriden Indigenous Bursary' for the amount of:

Please provide an official tax deductible receipt in the name of

$

10-12 Redmyre RoadStrathfield NSW 2135Telephone 61 2 9752 [email protected]

August 2014

Donations are tax deductible

I WOULD LIKE MY DONATION TO BE USED FOR:

SCHOOL FEES ACCOMMODATION UNIFORMS AND TEXT BOOKS OTHER (e.g. camps, sport and/or music lessons)

OGU President’s ReportI am very pleased to have been elected for a second year as President of the OGU and would like to thank all Old Girls for the confidence and trust you place in me.Due to the extensive building works undertaken by the School in recent years, our previous two Annual General Meetings and OGU lunch have needed to be held offsite. I was thrilled that this year we were once again able to gather at the School, not only for the AGM but an opportunity to explore the grounds with their significant improvements, whilst we also reconnected and enjoyed our time together. It was wonderful to welcome many of you to our combined 2017 AGM and Back to Meriden Day at the end of August.

In September, for the third year running, I had the great pleasure of attending the Prep School to Year 12 dinner. This gives me the opportunity to present each girl with a specially embossed Bible as a gift from the OGU, and to encourage them on their journey as they prepare for the HSC and beyond.

Amy Taylor, a third generation Old Girl and one of the youngest OGU Committee members, represented the OGU at the Year 12 Valete Dinner. Our Secretary, Gillian Taylor, and Treasurer, Genevieve Routh, held an information session in September with the Year 12 girls to introduce them to the OGU and all we have to offer.

One of the key purposes and objectives of the OGU is to support the girls as they transition from being students of the school to the wider world, and to continue that support through mentoring. I am delighted that Old Girl Louise Kershaw (Newby, 1977) has

offered to work with the OGU and the Tertiary and Careers Department of the School to develop a more formal mentoring program for both current and past students. Stay tuned for more developments on this initiative in 2018.

We continue to provide our annual Vocational Prize (a monetary award) to a Year 12 student to assist with their future studies. This year there were nine applications and the winner of the OGU Vocation Prize for 2017 is Kristi Plavsic. Kristi has been widely involved in many aspects of school life, demonstrating leadership in her House (Warwick House Captain), sporting teams and through her involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Kristi is keen to pursue a career in Environmental Engineering and was runner up in both Engineering Studies and Design and Technology through the University of Wollongong Design Awards. Congratulations Kristi!

We wish Kristi and the Class of 2017 all the very best for their HSC examination results and every success in their future studies and endeavours.

Throughout the year we received an increasing number of enquiries for assistance with reunions, as many of the year groups looked to connect. The Canberra reunion took place in October and for the first time a Central West NSW regional reunion was held in Orange in late February with girls from across many year groups taking the opportunity to meet together.

A number of Old Girls attended the Service of Thanksgiving and opening of the Wallis Auditorium in May this year. There were a few us who attended and loved the 120th Anniversary Celebration of the School – a wonderful evening of fine music performed by students from across all ages and held at the City Recital Hall in Angel Place – it was a fabulous night and an incredible showcase of the musical talents of current Meriden girls!

For the last two years we have enjoyed working with the Parents’ and Friends’ Association supporting Music Under the Stars at Meriden – another musical feast and a way for us to connect and support the wider school community.

On behalf of the committee and the Old Girls’ Union I would like to thank the Principal, Dr Greenhalgh, and the Deputy Principal, Mrs Christine Roberts, for their continued support, along with other members of the office staff who provide valuable assistance when liaising with events and activities.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the OGU Committee members for their efforts and service over the past

OGU Committee 2017-2018

President Jane Ruston

Vice President Brooke Taylor

Treasurer Genevieve Routh

Secretary Gillian Taylor

School Council Representative Barbara Horsfield OAM

Committee Members Anne Crossman Charlotte Green Vanessa Murray Paula Savvides Amy Taylor Gloria Walter

OGU President, Jane Ruston, presents Elyssa Saville (Class of 2017) with the Old Girls’ Union’s gift of a Bible

Jane Ruston

Old Girls’ News


1. Class of 1977: Gillian Taylor, Michelle Snowden (Bluett), Gillian Edmonson-Jones, Margaret Own (Olenick), Alison Garlick (Fallon), Barbara Jones (Dummer), Kerri Hayman (James), Lynne Podgorski (Sproule), Heather Williams (Walsh), Julie Elliot (Hyam), Jane Manning, Louise Kershaw (Newby)

2. Back to Meriden Day Chapel Service led by Rev Clayton Moss, Meriden Chaplain, and accompanied by Jenny Whiteman (Rawlinson, 1982)

3. Gillian Taylor (1977), Barbara Horsfield OAM (Bourne, 1963) and Jane Ruston (1980)

4. Jennifer Wearn (Marr, 1956), Pamela Collins (Hall, 1949) and Elizabeth Corbett (McCusker, 1964)

5. Lesley Ransley (Bailey, 1956), Beryl Prideaux (Huggett, 1962) and Robyn Wheatley (Huggett, 1967)

6. Michelle Campisi (Arguilla, 2000) and Carla Gagliano (2000)

Back to Meriden Day

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year, with particular mention to Gillian Taylor, our Secretary, who works tirelessly to keep us all connected and is the main organiser of Back to Meriden Day.

In this the 120th year of Meriden and the Centenary year of the OGU, we are pleased to be able to continue to support the many traditions of the School and to play a part in continuing to foster the friendships, careers and wellbeing of Meriden girls, long after they have left the School.

Jane Ruston President – Meriden Old Girls’ Union

Old Girls’ News

Past Meriden students are invited to keep in touch with the Meriden community by sending news and updates to include in Fidelis.

Please email 200 words and a photograph to [email protected] or write to: Old Girls’ News, Meriden, PO Box 78, Strathfield NSW 2135

Old Girls’ News


10–12 Redmyre Road, Strathfield NSW 2135Telephone 61 2 9752 9444Email [email protected] www.meriden.nsw.edu.au

Coming up…

TERM 1 COMMENCESFeb 1

COMMENCEMENT OF SCHOOL YEAR FAMILY CHAPEL SERVICEFeb 7

SENIOR SCHOOL PARENTS’ EXPOFeb 16

PARENTS’ PRAYER BREAKFASTMar 8

JUNIOR SCHOOL TWILIGHT PICNICMar 10

JSA MOTHER’S DAY STALLMay 9

P AND F SENIOR SCHOOL MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFASTMay 10

MERIDEN FOUNDATION’S BLUE-TIE DINNERJune 23

spotlight on performing arts€¦ · · 2017-12-15spotlight on performing arts page 12 an...

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