Where are they now?

Monica Meldrum (Waters 1989)

For those of you who attended Small Pleasures function in 2016, you would recall hearing Monica Meldrum (Monica Waters, Class of 89) speak about her amazing business Whole Kids. Whole Kids provides Australia’s largest range of Certified Organic, Additive Free and Allergen Friendly snack foods for children, the proceeds of which are helping to fund programs to improve social equity for children and equality for girls. In addition to being named in Westpac AFR’s Top 100 Women of Influence for her contribution to children’s health, last year Whole Kids was named in Westpac’s Top 20 Businesses of Tomorrow.

At the luncheon in 2016, Monica announced a partnership with Plan International that would see the delivery of over 500,000 breakfasts to school children in Cambodia, giving them to the opportunity to attend school and receive the nutrition they needed to thrive.

Last year, having reached her goal, Monica embarked on the first ever Girl Led visit by an NGO, travelling with six Australian girls to visit the project to learn about life in Cambodia and how they too could make a difference to effect change in the world. The project was such a success that the Cambodian Government have since committed to rolling it out nationally.

Monica and her team are passionate about using their business as a force for good. In addition to their commitment to providing the healthiest options available to parents and children, while campaigning on important social and environmental issues, this week in another first, Whole Kids has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign. Monica and her team are inviting investors big and small across Australia to come on the journey with them and purchase shares in the company for as little as $100.

According to Monica “As a Certified B Corporation that is committed to providing healthy options for parents and children, we believe in the power of community. We also believe that everyone should have a chance to invest in the brands they love. This campaign is an opportunity for our incredible community to come together to be part of the next growth phase for Whole Kids, and a real and tangible way to be part of creating a healthier world for children."

To find out more about how you can join the campaign please visit theWhole Kids Website

Gail van Zeist (McNamara 1955)

It was wonderful to receive news from Gail van Zeist recently about her journey since leaving school when she wrote to the Principal.

To Principal Anna Masters

As one of Sacré Cœur's many literally “Old Girls” being in my early 80’s, I enjoy receiving your emails having spent my entire schooling with the nuns. My first years, as a boarder were at Kerever Park, (together with my older sister)

near Bowral, NSW. 

My father, a pharmacist, was in the RAAF at Richmond Base near Sydney as it was during World War Two.

After that, when World War Two ended in 1945, we moved to Victoria and as my family lived near Lilydale, once again together with my sister Mignon, we were boarders at

 Sacré Cœur until we both completed our final year – then called Upper First Class.

The choice of school/s we attended was the choice of our mother, who had attended

Kincoppal - Rose Bay.

I loved my school years, and still maintain some close friendships, particularly with two fellow boarders who were in my year. My sister Mignon, went on to do nursing at St Vincent's, and I went on to do Pharmacy, and with that I enjoyed a long and happy career, spending many years as a locum pharmacist, in the local

Shepparton area. My daughter Mignon was born in 1975. Sadly she never attended Burke Road as boarding was a thing of the past.

Hence my husband Will, together with myself became very involved in the establishment

of GVGS (Goulburn Valley Grammar School) and I can happily say it has gone on from

strength to strength. Obviously our lives have thus revolved around the Goulburn Valley area.

I married a Dutchman who was an accountant in 1970 and in early March this year we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary with an eight day trip to Tasmania returning just prior to the “Tassie” border being closed. 

I continue to enjoy emails and other information about Sacré Cœur and I wish you and your 2020 students well, particularly Year 12,  with this current uncertainty with school attendance.

Best wishes from

Gail van Zeist (McNamara – Year of 1955)

Helen Brasier-Cooper (1977)

After finishing Year 12 I went into Psychiatric Nursing Training at Larundel, Royal Park and Kew Mental Hospital. From then on I studied further at La Trobe University in Behavioral Science and at Rusden State College Diploma of Substance Abuse. 

I worked for many years in the area of psychiatry at psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse at Pleasant View in the Methadone Clinic and counselling in psychiatric government and non-government sectors. 

I moved to Cairns in 1985 and travelled back and forth to Melbourne to work and study. In Cairns I worked in the State Government as a consultant to assist disadvantaged youth into employment and training. I then went onto Case Management with Adults. During this period I studied a short Youth Sector Training Course at James Cook University. 

I lived in an area  commonly known as the Daintree, Cow Bay for 20 years with my husband, my son Andrew and on occasion my step-daughter Bonny. 

Andrew is now qualified as a Security Electronics Technician. He looks after the security on the Coal Seam Gas Mines in Chinchilla, Roma and Dalby. 

David and I went to live in Melbourne during the wet season for six months for at least eight years after I left the government. I therefore returned to work in the area of Psychiatry mainly at The Melbourne and Victoria Clinic. I also worked at Forensic Thomas Embling and other acute areas. I was employed a lot too with Psychiatric Care Consultants. 

I am 61 years old and retired living in a country area called Malanda. We sold our property at Daintree Cow Bay and built a house four years ago. 

I married David in 1989 and we remain together. Old age is creeping in.

I remain very active in my community, specifically in the Performing Arts Sector. I am on the Atherton Performing Arts Committee and a member of the Malanda Theatre Company. My role in the Arts Council in Atherton is to assist in a voluntary capacity to deliver quality performances to the Atherton Tablelands Community.

As part of this community, I helped to list a World War 2 Igloo to prevent it from being bull dozed for a car park. In the North, few buildings remain due to termites or destroyed in cyclones. This is similar to the fires where we lose our history and heritage. 

My cousin Kristin Stegley who went to Sacré Cœur received an OAM for saving and working with Victorian Heritage area to save historical buildings from bring destroyed too. 

My memory of  Sacré Cœur is a positive one and some of the girls I have only thought about recently.

I visited Sacré Cœur with my husband David and showed him the amazing school I went to, showing him the Chapel, mural on the wall and the outside grotto. My husband's area is architecture though he is retired now. He was thrilled to see the staircase and the older buildings so well kept.

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We are always thrilled to be able to share your alumnae news.

Please don't forget to send us your updates, special birthday celebrations, anniversaries and any events you would like to promote by contacting Melinda Adams