OGA News
Jack of all Trades
The Old Girtonians’ Association was delighted to bestow on Mrs Trudy Matthews, an Honorary Associate Life Membership for achieving twenty years of service to Girton Grammar School in 2020.
Clarity of content is one of the greatest gifts a teacher can give students, and for twenty years, Trudy Matthews has led her students with a sense of purpose that has allowed them to excel.
Trudy is known for being hard-working and well-prepared in all manner of teaching duties, and colleagues describe her knowledge of curriculum areas as second to none.
Trudy has supported students of all ages in all areas of the Senior School as a Teacher of English, Psychology, Mathematics, Legal Studies, History, Geography, Personal Development and Business Management. In all of these fields, Trudy has modelled excellent course organisation, working with a variety of students and bringing them to the same level of excellence in the understanding of subject content.
Trudy is respected for the time and effort that she has always dedicated to helping other teachers, especially those with limited experience in teaching her subjects. She has taken many pre-service teachers under her wing, demonstrating the dedication and commitment that is required to make an excellent classroom teacher. Her specific and practical guidance on classroom management and direct instruction has set a course for many grateful young people starting careers in education.
To her colleagues, Trudy is a reliable sounding board, providing honest advice and often being relied on to ask the hard questions. She is known for sharing resources and materials generously, wanting the best out of both herself and of her colleagues.
With a strong work ethic and clear determination for her students to do well, it comes as no surprise that Trudy has developed special expertise teaching at the VCE level. Trudy has a knack for appealing to the sense of maturity in VCE students and tapping into their hope for the future. She is able to work seamlessly alongside our oldest students to help them become lateral thinkers, problem solvers and to generate new ideas. This is perhaps best evidenced by repeated success in competitions such as the National Plan Your Own Business Competition, in which many of Trudy’s students have competed, excelled and won, after first exhibiting in the School’s Annual Business Expo, which Trudy has driven for many years. As well as supporting the students who excel, Trudy sees student issues through and ensures no students in her classes are left behind.
Outside the classroom, Girton is indebted to Trudy’s contribution over twenty years. She has spent countless hours on the sidelines of a court of some sort, somewhere, in Bendigo. Be it Volleyball, Netball or Basketball, Trudy has supported students in their passions and helped them build confidence and resilience through competition. These sports have been instrumental to the success of Girton’s much-loved co-curriculum programme, and it is because of the dedication of staff like Trudy that so many students have found their place at the School.
Trudy has also undertaken the important position of Head of Transition, guiding Year 7 students as they commence their journey through the Senior School as well as MiC of Peer Support. At various times, and especially as the Assistant Head of Riley House and the Acting Head of Riley, Trudy has undertaken the role of student pastoral care, with building student independence and resilience always the goal.
Setting attainable challenges for students and a high standard so that the bar can be ever increased has been a hallmark of Trudy’s teaching, from which countless students have benefitted. Trudy has high expectations of behaviour and personal presentation in students, supporting the values of the School and always encouraging students to be the best they can be.
While confronting issues and speaking out about what matters most to her, Trudy has been a role model to many, all the while creating a sense of fun in her classes.
Mrs Trudy Matthews, for twenty years of outstanding service to Girton Grammar School, we thank you.
Forthcoming OGA Reunions
In light of the current COVID-19 situation in Victoria along with the uncertain nature of border closures, lockdowns and event restrictions, the OGA has come to the very difficult decision to cancel all reunions for the remainder of the year.
This affects the following reunions:
Saturday 11th September – Class of 2016
Saturday 16th October – Class of 2015
Friday 22nd October – Class of 1970 & 1971
Saturday 30th October – Class of 1980 & 1981
Friday 5th November – Class of 1960 & 1961
Saturday 13th November – Class of 1990 & 2001
A decision on the 'One Year Out' reunion scheduled for Friday 10th December will be made closer to the date.
Despite our best efforts to deliver a number of reunions this year, it has proven challenging with the ever-changing landscape that Covid restrictions have brought, especially with a large number of Old Girtonians residing in Melbourne and interstate. We are incredibly disappointed on behalf of our alumni and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation of reunions.
We are anticipating setting new dates for the reunions in 2022 once developments in relation to COVID-19 have improved, and there is stability with travel, events and gatherings. The reunions that have been cancelled will most likely be amalgamated next year with the relevant 2022 event.
We thank you for your understanding and support.
We look forward to reconnecting with you in person in the future.