ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE OF GIRLS’ SCHOOLS (AUSTRALASIA) LTD Monday 23 May 2016 BRANCH REPORTS: WESTERN AUSTRALIA All ten girls’ schools in Western Australia are members of AGSA. This year we welcomed two new principal’s to our schools at the beginning of 2015; Kim Keipe at St Hildas Anglican Girls School and Kerrie Fraser at Mercedes College. In Term 4 we also welcomed Dr Kate Hadwen as Principal to Presbyterian Ladies College. In welcoming new principals, we also said farewell to Beth Blackwood who has been Principal at PLC for 18 years. Beth has been a generous contributor to AGSA serving on the National committee during her time at the school. She has been an inspirational leader of a girls’ school in Western Australia. We are fortunate that we will maintain our contact with Beth as the new Executive Officer of AHISA another important educational group. We try and hold at least one AGSA event each term during the year. In Term 1 we held a Year 12 leaders afternoon which was opened up to 6 members of each School’s student leadership team. This event was run by Senior Staff and Student Leaders of Perth College. It provided a rich opportunity for the girls to connect and share their ideas and thoughts on student leadership especially following the Student Leadership Conference that many of our schools sent girls too. In Term 2 we held a networking and dinner at Penrhos College for senior staff. There were approximately 100 people in attendance and we had the opportunity to hear from Cynthia Griffin, US Consul General based in Perth. She shared her leadership journey and experiences during her career. We were fortunate to have two Bond University representatives join us at this dinner. In Term 3 a breakfast was held at St Hilda’s aimed at Year 9 and 10 girls. Lilly Barrymore, St Hilda’s Old Scholar (2009) spoke to the girls on the theme Explore. Dream. Discover. Lily shared her insight on what she has done since leaving St Hilda’s including her travels through Central America, studying Spanish in Guatemala and her work in a medical clinic and made the comparison with the challenges faced in rural Australia. In Term 4 we held Christmas drinks at Perth College where we had over 70 educators come together to celebrate the magic they had created throughout the year at their schools. In keeping with the theme, a magician ‘The Magnificent Mario’ entertained and helped bring the joy to this function. I would like to thank my colleagues for being such willing supporters of the AGSA events offered in WA. Jenny Ethell, Principal Perth College and WA Representative VICTORIA International Women’s Day Breakfast: The IWD breakfast was held on Monday 7 March in Queen’s Hall Parliament House. This event brought together students from Years 10 - 12 and teachers to celebrate the importance of International Women’s Day. The event was very quickly soldout as it is each year. Georgie Crozier, MLC, hosted the event. The guest speaker was Debra Knight, a former student from MacRobertson Girls’ High School. Debra is the Managing Director of Crivelli Fine Coffee. She gave an excellent presentation focussed on her journey from school to her present position. The feedback from the student leaders who attended was very positive. Term 2 Branch Meeting The Term 2 Branch network meeting was held on Wednesday 22 April and was hosted by St Catherine’s School. The guest speaker was Andrea Cincotta who spoke on why financial literacy matters to girls. The feedback from those who attend was very positive. There was a large number of staff from a number of schools in attendance. Term 3 Branch Meeting The Term 3 Branch network meeting was held on 22 July and was hosted by Melbourne Girls’ Grammar School. The guest speaker was Judith Locke who spoke about parenting of girls with a focus on helicopter parents. Again, it was a highly successful event with many staff in attendance. The feedback on the presentation was extremely favourable. Science Breakfast The annual Science Breakfast for Science students in Year 11 and 12 was held on 13 August and hosted and organised by Mentone Girls’ Grammar School. The guest speaker was Nicole Brown, CEO of Robogals. The breakfast was highly successful and a sold out event. Term 4 Branch Meeting The Term 4 Branch Network meeting was held on Wednesday 4 November and hosted by Our Lady of Sacred Heart Bentleigh. The guest speaker was Andrea Clarke who spoke about being the CEO of your career. Her presentation was moving at times, humorous and fully engaging. The event was very well supported by many staff from across all member schools. Partners The Alliance partners have been invited to all Branch events and there have been a number in attendance each time. There has been an opportunity for them to talk with staff and to speak briefly to the group. It has been a very successful year for the Alliance in Victoria. Members know that there are a set number of events each term and that the speakers and presentations are relevant, interesting and engaging. This has meant that the Branch meetings are very well attended. We are always every grateful to the schools that offer to host an event. Mary Cannon, Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College and Fran Reddan, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School, Victorian Representatives TASMANIA Change of Tasmanian Representative: Tom Dorey will finish as Principal of St Mary’s College at the end of 2015. I am pleased to advise that I have been appointed to the Alliance Executive and attended my first meeting on 22 October in Sydney. The most recent Tasmanian Branch Meeting took place on 6 August at St Michael’s Collegiate School – the following matters were discussed: The Launch of the Girls Gotta Know website: This was a wonderful event organised by Julie Bird, Principal of Ogilvie High School on Friday 19 June. The event was well attended by Alliance Schools and we were fortune that The Honourable Professor Kate Warner, AM, Governor of Tasmania was the guest speaker. Parliamentary Morning Tea: This event hosted by Elise Archer, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly took place on 30 July at Parliament House. Thank you to Susan Ryan from Mt Carmel College for organising this event. Next year’s event will be organised by Jacqueline Conboy from St Mary’s College. World Challenge Trip: Despite the late change in location from Nepal to India, this was a rich and rewarding experience for the 9 girls who attended from various Alliance Schools. The combined school approach really does provide a great opportunity for our students to be able to participate in opportunities that may not be provided by individual schools. Annual Dinner: This was held at Fahan School on 14 October and was well attended by all Alliance Schools. Guest speaker was Elizabeth Jack, former Olympic diver and international diving coach. Liz is the former Chair of the Fahan School Board and current CEO of the Macquarie Point Development Corporation. Liz was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and is an inductee of both the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame and the Tasmanian Honour Roll for Women. Christmas Drinks: Our annual Christmas Drinks get together were held on Thursday 19 November following an Executive Meeting which focused on 2016 calendar dates. St Michael’s Collegiate School were the hosts for this networking function which was well attended by principals, senior members of staff and board members from the five Alliance Schools. The event doubled as a farewell for Tom Dorey, Principal of St Mary’s College and Alliance of Girls’ Schools Tasmanian Chair and National Executive Member. Tom has been a strong advocate for the Alliance and he leaves St Mary’s College after ten years of distinguished service. Tom commences a part-time position in January at the Catholic Education Office working to develop policies and procedures. Special guests in attendance included Peter Franks and Vanessa Lee from Bond University. 2016 Calendar of Events: After discussion at our Executive Meeting on 19 November it was decided to consolidate our meetings for the 2016 year so that Executive Meetings will occur immediately prior to scheduled events. Judith Tudball, Principal St Michael’s Collegiate School and Tasmanian Representative NEW SOUTH WALES In 2015, the Term 1 dinner was held at Abbotsleigh on 17 March. Dr Sarah Locke was our guest speaker who shared her research on how Middle School girls imagine their future. Her longitudinal study tracked girls from Year 8 through to their early university years to see how initial aspirations might have been modified or stretched as the girls matured. She had some interesting findings about their view of being a woman and the future possibilities of motherhood. For the first time we invited some of our students from the Student Alliance Network to join the staff dinner. The girls spoke about the interesting topics they have been exploring and how inspiring the network has been for them. With Judith Poole’s NSW Executive Committee term ending at the 2015 AGM, nominations were held for her replacement and Dr Maree Herrett from Santa Sabina College joined Vivienne Awad from Domremy College in representing NSW. The Term 3 ‘twilight’ event was held at Wenona, with guest speaker Dr Judith Loch who spoke about her research on the nature and impact of ‘overparenting’ on today’s adolescent girls. At this event, the Alliance partner, iVicon, launched the exciting Space School initiative for Alliance schools. There are two programs – a junior one for years 7-9, and a senior one for years 10-12.