Order of Australia

We are proud that our string program’s founder, Liz Bonetti, has been honoured with recognition in the 2025 Australia Day Honours with the Medal of the Order of Australia for Services to Music.

The program Liz has developed here at Ivanhoe Primary School is special for its broad engagement, warm sense of belonging and high retention rates. It is extremely rare for a government primary school to have such a program.

Before I came to IPS, I had worked in many schools including independent, Steiner, Catholic and government; in both primary and secondary. I had worked in Sydney, Armidale (regional NSW) and Melbourne, as well as observing in Austria and Finland. String teaching fits differently into each school context. Everywhere there are things working well and things not ideal. 

What struck me as I got to know the program Liz has developed here at IPS, is the positivity of the children to playing music together. Being able to sound so much better as a group rather than each person on their own is a huge factor in motivating the children to continue as well as being a beautiful way for them to learn about interacting with others cohesively.

What continues to strike me when I see Liz take her Start Up Strings class is how important every child’s experience is to her. Her belief in the value of string playing for the development of each child motivates her to continually work at providing opportunities for them to grow as people as well as string players. She delights in seeing the children light up when they achieve the sound they are looking for.

When Liz works with individual students, it is inspiring how she strives for high standards of technical accomplishment and efficient posture whilst not losing sight of making music. The magic and wonderment of creating musical sound is never far away despite the multi-faceted difficulties of playing a musical instrument.

The way Liz has constructed the pathway through the Start Up Strings, onto the Corelli Strings and then up into the Orchestra is beautifully supportive and inspirational. She has established traditions such as the bow arch of honour for the graduating Year 6s that are so special the students look forward to them for years prior.

Liz is widely known as a gem and it is fitting for her decades of work engaging young people in musical education to be acknowledged in this significant way.

Margaret Butcher

Strings Co-ordinator

Liz has built a legacy of string education at Ivanhoe Primary School. Her expertise and dedication has made an incredible impact on our community, and she is incredibly deserving of this recognition. I am so grateful to have been a student in the strings program at Ivanhoe Primary School, and that I am now able to give back to the program and share the passion for music that Liz installed in me. 

Lachlan Harris

Former IPS student, now IPS string teacher

In my heart Liz Bonetti has always had a medal. So I think it’s about time Liz has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Truly, I owe so much of my successes in life to her. I began the violin for the first time in her string program, and she happened to be my teacher. Liz was the one who laid the foundation for my technique and skills, and who instilled in me my love of musical expression. Without it, I wouldn’t have pursued music as a career. I would have had a very different life without her care and expertise. I am so grateful to Liz Bonetti!

Sophia Shaw

Former IPS student, now IPS string teacher