WOMENREMARKABLE an audience with Jessica Rowe – 2018 PROGRAM – MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL MRS FRAN REDDAN elcome to the 2018 Today, we continue to live and breathe At each biennial event, we induct a small Remarkable Women Series that ethos through our new Mission for number of ‘Remarkable Women’ into WGala Dinner. This year we 2018 to ‘empower our students to aspire our ‘Hall of Fame’; alumnae who have are honoured to welcome Australian to excellence, to make a difference and, been nominated by our community journalist, author, television presenter as enterprising global citizens, rise boldly in recognition of their exceptional and women’s rights and mental health to the opportunities of their times’. We contribution to their field of endeavour advocate, Jessica Rowe. believe it has never been a better time for in Australia and beyond. women to thrive and take their place as Since the first day of class in 1899 when role models and leaders in our society. Tonight, we are honoured to induct just five Mentone Girls took their place And in doing so, we should celebrate three very special, unique women. in history, to today’s thriving community their achievements along the way. of over 7,000 students and ‘Old Girls’, I thank you for your engagement and we have held fast to the philosophy of the We have a long history of pioneering support of our School and we hope you founding Simpson sisters, “to be bold, to women, and our Remarkable Women enjoy this wonderful evening. do one’s best and to never give in” and Series is designed to bring their stories Mrs Fran Reddan this year we are calling on our students to to life, to inspire our students and our Principal “believe, achieve and succeed”. community through their achievements. GUEST PRESENTER JESSICA ROWE s we celebrate the remarkable are not the perfect mother, wife or cook. women in our School community, With humour and honesty, Jess shares her Awe are delighted to welcome amusing misadventures with fans. Australian icon, Jessica Rowe, as our special guest speaker. Jess is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, having herself Jessica Rowe is an accomplished journalist, experienced post-natal depression. television presenter and three-time Jess is an ambassador for beyondblue bestselling author. A co-host on Network and a patron of Mental Health Australia. Ten’s morning talk show Studio 10 until In 2015, Jess was honoured as a Member recently, Jess also writes a column Dear Jess of the Order of Australia for her every Sunday in Fairfax Media’s Sunday mental health advocacy work and her Life magazine and dailylife.com.au. contribution to Australian media. A self-confessed ‘crap housewife’, Jess Jess is married to Nine News Sydney has gathered a strong and loyal following presenter Peter Overton and together with her #craphousewife movement, they have two daughters, Allegra (10) uniting and celebrating other mothers and Giselle (8). who, like Jess, sometimes feel like they REMARKABLE WOMEN SERIES | 2018 INDUCTEES “I was fortunate that music teacher John Browning allowed me to conduct the school’s concert band, including some of my own compositions and arrangements. I have since offered similar experiences to my students.” CONDUCTOR, DIRECTOR AND LECTURER DR KATHLEEN McGUIRE [ 1982 ] r Kathleen McGuire has carved she served as the Music Director at by survivor’s true stories of family an extraordinary career path St Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Boulder, violence. It was composed by Kathleen Din the music industry since Colorado (1996 – 2000) and Minister in collaboration with another MGGS commencing at Mentone Girls’ Grammar of Music at the Congregational Church Old Girl of renown: singer-songwriter on an academic scholarship in 1977 and of San Mateo in California (2011–2013). Christina Green (1981). leaving in 1982 as House Captain of “With its Anglican tradition and St Margaret’s, Dux of the School and the Christian principles, Mentone Girls’ “This highly personal work is about the inaugural recipient of Music Colours. Grammar influenced my motivation positive outcomes that can occur when for using music as a means for change – we stop making excuses. We don’t want Kathleen has enjoyed a career spanning for finding ways to help those in need.” excuses from people who are committing more than three decades in six countries. violence and we don’t want society or She has worked extensively as a conductor Living in San Francisco for 13 years victims to make excuses for those people. of orchestras and choirs, as well as ballet, (2000 – 2013), Kathleen directed the opera and musical theatre companies, 200-voice San Francisco Gay Men’s “Without exception, all the women including performances at the Sydney Chorus and the Community Women’s Christina and I interviewed in gathering Opera House, the Kennedy Center and Orchestra, and founded Singers of the stories for the songs wanted to Carnegie Hall. the Street- a choir for people at risk leave audiences with a message of of homelessness. She led a program hope, encouraging others to stand up She has earned multiple qualifications in that raised $500,000 for health service for themselves and share their stories,” conducting, composing and education, organisations and volunteered as a rider said Kathleen. including a Master of Music degree with and roadie in the AIDSLifecycle, which No Excuses! has been performed multiple Distinction at the University of Surrey raised millions of dollars. Recognising (UK) as a Rotary Ambassadorial Fellow, times since the premiere in November her contributions to the community, 2015, including performances in and Doctor of Musical Arts from the “Kathleen McGuire Day” was designated University of Colorado at Boulder. Brisbane, Bendigo and Traralgon, twice, by San Francisco mayors Gavin introduced by Rosie Batty at Melbourne Newsom (2010) and Ed Lee (2013). Kathleen started honing her conducting Recital Centre, and on ABC’s skills at the age of 15 at St Augustine’s After returning to Australia permanently program ‘Breaking the Cycle’. Further Church in Mentone and also at Mentone in 2013, she was residential Director of performances are planned in the United Girls’ Grammar. Music at Queen’s College – University States.In 2017, students at Mentone of Melbourne, co-directed the School Girls’ Grammar were fortunate to hear “I was fortunate that music teacher of Hard Knocks, and conducted Voices Kathleen’s post-school journey and her John Browning allowed me to conduct Without Borders – a choir of refugees. many achievements, challenges and the school’s concert band, including In 2014 she was the inaugural conductor aspirations since leaving. some of my own compositions and of the Hallelujah Gospel Choir, which arrangements. I have since offered similar “It was an enormous honour to speak at debuted at the Melbourne International experiences to my students. The music Mentone Girls’ Grammar’s assembly on Singers Festival, and in September 2016 program was fledgling when I arrived at the topic of Action for Impact and also she conducted one of her pieces, Street MGGS in 1977 and I’m proud to have to enjoy the choir’s lovely performance Requiem, at Carnegie Hall. Today, she been part of its growth as a student and of one of my compositions. My 12 years lectures in the Faculty of Education and then as a teacher in the early 1990s.” at the School as a student and a teacher Arts at Australian Catholic University and paved the way significantly for the years Since then, she has participated as directs the Tudor Choristers and the Star that were to follow in my career; being a church musician, leader and teacher Chorale. One of Kathleen’s most notable able to share my story with the students in schools and churches of multiple projects is No Excuses! – a choral suite for meant a great deal.” Christian denominations. For instance, women’s choir and instruments inspired REMARKABLE WOMEN SERIES | 2018 INDUCTEES BARRISTER, LEGAL ADVOCATE AND TEACHER CHRISTINE MELIS [ 1998 ] eventeen years after leaving No brief equals no work and no work A couple of years ago Christine also Mentone Girls’ Grammar, equals no money. But not only that, started teaching Trial Practice and SChristine Melis (1998) still finds the Bar is a place where day in day out Advocacy at Monash University. She herself reminiscing about her days you are on your feet addressing a judge, also taught advocacy in the Victorian at school. conferencing with clients who depend and NSW Bar Readers Course and was on your advice and preparing paper a teacher with the Australian Institute of Her memories flood back. “…sitting work to be filed with the Court. The Advocacy. “I loved the teaching but what in the sun in the Rose Garden; singing buck stops with you.” changed my life forever was teaching songs from Aladdin in choir; doing law students and lawyers in Papua New imitations from last night’s episode of One of Christine’s biggest matters Guinea and later Vanuatu with other the comedy show Full Frontal in the Year was the Victorian Bushfires Royal barristers from the Victorian Bar.” 12 centre; dressing up at House Athletics Commission as Junior Counsel for Carnival as one of the Jackson Five; and the State of Victoria. That brief led to When Christine first travelled to PNG leaving the classroom after my last VCE inquests on behalf of Victoria Police. in 2014 she was immediately drawn to exam. So many images and sounds. Christine also worked on a negligence learning more about the culture of this But what is loudest in my mind is the class action involving the spread of a society, its complex societal structures laughter – so much laughter.” herpes-like virus carried by abalone and the many barriers faced by women.