From the Presidents
Excerpt from the Presidents Report at the AGM in May 2019
The Co-Presidency of Kerry Bergin and
Marianne Cassin has proven to be most beneficial during its first year in office. The sharing of skills, ideas, tasks and responsibilities has been both productive and enjoyable. Many people have supported us in our role. The President ex-officio, Marisa Reid, is always generous with her advice, support and tireless dedication. We have a Committee from a broad range of class years who willingly share their talents, experience and knowledge. Our thanks, in particular, to our current Secretary, Genevieve Grabau, who has been assisted by Steph Quinn and to our Treasurer, Charlotte Stoltz, assisted by Simone Eason.
We have an exceptional Alumnae Relations Manager, Melinda Adams. As well as being a highly skilled and innovative Manager, Melinda’s loyalty and enthusiasm for the Alumnae is immeasurable. Marian Andrews willingly extends her role as The Foundation Executive Administrator to ensure the success of our functions and activities. Mark Oski creates meaningful liturgies for our two Annual Masses and many other School staff contribute to ensuring our visibility and involvement in the School.
Our most sincere thanks to our School Principal, Mrs Anna Masters, the Leadership Team and the School Board for their generous support and encouragement of the alumnae. Anna instantly became a quasi-alumna when she arrived at
Sacré Cœur. We are delighted that Anna has become integral to our Association and that she affirms our active presence in the School Community.
As Co-Presidents we attend Alumnae Association facilitated functions and participate in a number of School activities, either together or separately. We do our best to continue the tradition of the RSCJ with bereavement support to alumnae, in the form of letters and attendance at funerals where possible. We are reliant on alumnae to inform us of deaths in their family or friendship networks.
Activities and Functions
The Annual Generations Afternoon Tea.
There were three generations of families attending this 2018 event and soon we will be inviting four generations!
In September we met the Year 12 Class for an introductory “Welcome” to their Association.
The Mass of Remembrance for deceased members and/or family of members and RSCJ and was held in November, followed by a morning tea in the Kirby Centre. It was very well attended.
We were entertained by a great number of talented musicians and singers who performed at the School Concert in August, and likewise,
had the honour of sharing a most beautiful School Carol Service.
A new School initiative in 2019 was the Opening of the School Year Cocktail Party. This provided another opportunity for alumnae presence and inclusion in the life of the School.
The French Village Fair was held in October 2018 and the Association had a dedicated Stall with a percentage of proceeds going to Sophie’s Farm. The Committee created a beautiful booklet, One Heart: Treasured Memories of Sacré Cœur Alumnae, to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of Sacré Cœur and for sale at the Fair. One of our committee, Charlotte Stoltz, provided delightful illustrations and another alumna, Marnie Haddad took the photographs. Celeste Medcalfe spearheaded this project with assistance from a dedicated group of committee members. Our special thanks to Celeste and Charlotte.
Class Reunions: underpin our main raison d’être; attendances are increasing as is the noise level, both good indications of the enjoyment level of coming back to School! The committee willingly give their time to host these reunions and share the joie de vivre.
Small Pleasures: Once again, a sell-out crowd packed Leonda, Hawthorn, on October 27 2018 for this fabulous annual event. There was a Cup Day theme with everything Racy, except live horses! There was even an hilarious radio broadcast involving “horses” with symbolic Sac names!
The Small Pleasures Fund supports members of the Sacré Coeur alumnae community living with a debilitating illness or injury or experiencing life-changing trauma.
The Fund was set up by a group of former
Sacré Coeur students who identified the importance of reaching out to alumnae going through difficult times and reminding them they are part of a strong and compassionate community.
A variety of ‘small pleasures’ are offered to alumnae of all ages including spa treatments, holiday accommodation, gift vouchers, cleaning services, gourmet food hampers or a special lunch or dinner. Careful consideration is given to ensure every ‘small pleasure’ is appropriate for the recipients and their circumstances.
Alumnae representatives were invited to the Melbourne RSCJ Dream Catcher Gathering, in March 2019. This meeting was one of many held across the world in RSCJ institutions, aimed at garnering ideas from lay personnel as to how they envisaged the RSCJ of future generations.
Our most sincere thanks to the Committee of 2018-19 who have worked together with congeniality and collegiality and in the spirit Cor Unum: Charlotte Crowley, Nicola Duggan, Simone Eason, Gabrielle Garlepp, Genevieve Grabau, Sophie Jackman, Lizzie Joyce, Virginia Kennedy, Helen McCormack, Celeste Medcalfe, Jane Murfett, Steph Quinn, Marisa Reid, Charlotte Stoltz and Sarah Rudd-Coyle.
Kerry Bergin and Marianne Cassin