2023 in Review
Image: Members of the Kilvonian Alumni Committee ran the Alumni Stall at the Centenary Fair and Open Day 2023
(L-R: Ann Cleghorn, Sarah Lim, George Crossingham, Rachel Cetrola and Peter Yu)
Bianca Lapins, Community Relations Officer
What a wonderful year of events and activities we have had in 2023, with many opportunities for our alumni to commemorate and celebrate 100 wonderful years of Kilvington Grammar School.
We kicked off the schedule of events in February with a VIP Morning Tea for members of our Kilvington community. Three of our eldest Walsh Club members (former students who left Kilvington 50 or more years ago), Cecily Close, Jean Harley and Rosemary Wright entertained guests with reflections from their time at school and shared their hopes and predictions for the future.
Centenary VIP Morning Tea
Centenary VIP Morning Tea
Our two Walsh Club Luncheons, held in March and October, both featured a centenary element. At the first event, our Junior School leaders delivered handwritten messages to each guest, thanking them for their individual contribution to Kilvington’s history and culture. Our second event was the largest Walsh Club on record where members were invited to contribute an item into the centenary time capsule, now placed in the Centenary Garden and due to be opened in 2048.
Maintenance Team members Pete (L) and Frank (R) help lower the time capsule into the Centenary Garden
Maintenance Team members Pete (L) and Frank (R) help lower the time capsule into the Centenary Garden
At our reunions we welcomed former students back to Kilvington, providing the opportunity for them to reconnect with others from within their cohorts, to catch up with teaching staff and enjoy a short tour of the School. Thank you to all those Kilvonians who travelled far and wide to attend, and to our student ambassadors for joining the events and representing Kilvington so professionally.
It was wonderful to see our Kilvonians turn out in large numbers to take part in the special centenary events including the Centenary Fair and Open Day featuring an Alumni stall, the Centenary Foundation Day service including a keynote address by alumni Michelle Crawford (nee Sainsbury, Class of 1988) and the Centenary Annual Concert where over 45 alumni joined vocal and instrumental performances.
Centenary Foundation Day service
Centenary Foundation Day service
We would like to thank all alumni who partied the night away at the spectacular Centenary Gala on 9 September. Guests really embraced the Roaring Twenties theme with vigour and dressed up in wonderful array of outfits and 1920s flourishes.
Kilvonians embrace the Great Gatsby theme for the Centenary Gala
Kilvonians embrace the Great Gatsby theme for the Centenary Gala
Most recently, we held the all-peer Centenary Kilvonians ‘All Star’ event featuring past and present teaching staff sharing memories of the school, and highlighting the attributes that have made, and continue to make, Kilvington such a wonderful school. We also hosted a Young Kilvonian Catch Up for students who left school within the last 10 years.
Panelist at the Kilvonian 'All Stars' event
Panelist at the Kilvonian 'All Stars' event
We look forward to the Kilvonian Walking Club, now a firm fixture on the Kilvonian calendar, continuing in 2024, as well as the Mentor Matching Program where alumni are paired with Year 11 students.
Kilvonian Alumni Committee
A big thank you to the Kilvonian Alumni committee members for their time, effort, and expertise this year: Sarah Lim - President, Class of 2003; Ann Cleghorn, Class of 1977; Sarah McSwiney, Class of 1999; Charan Naidoo, Class of 2017; Peter Yu, Class of 2017, Rachel Cetrola, Class of 2018; Mitchell Cole, Class of 2019 and Elisabeth Yeo, Class of 2019.
We also welcomed two new committee members - Ellie Pietsch, Class of 1999, and George Crossingham, Class of 2017.