From the Principal

Last Friday, it was my great privilege to welcome our school community to our Foundation Day service – an event that holds unique significance in our calendar. While we are a non-denominational school, it is always moving to see our community united within the splendour of the Sacred Heart Cathedral – a building with a richly layered history that, in many ways, mirrors Girton’s own. 

In honour of our ‘Year of Mattering’, my Foundation Day address paid tribute to the many individuals and groups whose contributions have enriched our school over the decades. I highlighted the transformative changes led by each successive head; the stewardship of our founders, which continues to be upheld by today’s Board; and the benevolence of Girton’s original ‘patroness’, Mrs Charlotte Frew, which lives on in the passionate fundraising and volunteer efforts of our current staff, students and families. These stories remind us that the drive to give back, pitch in and add value is a common thread that runs through Girton’s history – and that every moment holds the potential to become one that matters. The service left me feeling deeply grateful – not only for the visionary individuals who established our school, but for all those who continue to shape and strengthen it today. 

Foundation Day was the highlight of a particularly eventful fortnight at Girton, with other memorable moments including the Junior School and ICCES Athletics Carnivals, and the awe-inspiring live conversation between our students and the commander of the International Space Station. It was also a pleasure to welcome parents and carers to our Senior School campus for the first round of Parent-Teacher Conferences, as well as the Co-curriculum Focus Groups facilitated by Mr Kieren Noonan, our Executive Director of Strategy and Operations. Thank you to all those who attended these events, both of which provided an opportunity for valuable two-way dialogue that will no doubt prove beneficial for our students.  

Over the past fortnight, we have also seen the results of the federal election unfold, following a campaign in which Independent Schools Australia (ISA) strongly advocated for the preservation of school choice. ISA CEO Graham Catt has congratulated the Albanese Government on its re-election and welcomed its formal response to the sector’s key policy priorities, which include stable funding arrangements and cross-sector collaboration. He also extended his thanks to the independent schooling community for their support throughout the campaign period across electorates nationwide. With recent ACARA data showing that independent school enrolments have increased by more than 30% over the past decade, there is a clear and growing mandate for governments to ensure education policies support students and families across all sectors. 

In relation to another important federal matter, I also wanted to take this opportunity to inform you that Girton Grammar School has committed to participating in the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced historical institutional child sexual abuse. The scheme commenced on 1 July 2018 in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. While Girton was not named in the Royal Commission, we recognise the importance of providing appropriate and trauma-informed avenues for addressing institutional child sexual abuse. Our participation in the scheme, which will commence within the next 12 months, builds upon the range of strategies the school has already put in place to demonstrate our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. For more information about the school’s commitment to student safety and wellbeing, including how concerns may be raised and will be acted upon, please visit the Girton website.  

Looking ahead now to the upcoming fortnight, I am excited to start the week by welcoming prospective families to Girton for what promises to be one of our largest Open Days yet, and to end it with both our Junior School Cross-Country and Senior School House Singing competition on Friday. Then, over the weekend, our students and families will take to the streets of Bendigo and Castlemaine in support of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal. A centrepiece of Girton’s community service program over the decades, this event is yet another expression of the spirit of mattering that links today’s school community with those of generations past.  

To reiterate my sentiments from Foundation Day, thank you for your ongoing contributions to our school, and I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead with your family. 

Dr Emma O’Rielly 

Principal