Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Families and Friends,

There are a large number of people who dedicate an enormous amount to St Philip’s College because they believe in our school and embrace the vision of our founder Fred McKay.  Fred’s vision was to provide a high-quality education to students in Central Australia.  Our College Board members voluntarily give a great deal of their time and energy and provide St Philip’s College with good governance.  We could not operate well without their professional guidance. 

When a person gives to St Philip’s College over an exceptionally long period of time, they are awarded the status of Life Governor.  This week we honour Libby Prell who has given a substantial proportion of her working life to help St Philip’s College develop and evolve.  Libby joins four other Life Governors. There is no higher acknowledgement of service.

Alice Springs has been home to Libby since 1980 – the fascination of this ancient spiritual land resonates as strongly with her today as the day she arrived on the Old Ghan. Since that time Libby has become a well-known community and businessperson in the Territory. 

In 2006, Libby was a new parent representative council member, and St Philip’s College made a major step in its maturation by endorsing a constitution that gave the then College Council some delegated authority from the Uniting Church Northern Synod.  It was a new century and Wesley College in Melbourne set the precedent within the Uniting Church independent schools by becoming a company limited by guarantee and garnered ownership of school property; all the time retaining strong ties to the Uniting Church through practice and culture. Under Libby’s determination and guidance, St Philip’s College achieved incorporation in 2020; a proud moment for the Uniting Church and St Philip’s College. It was a huge effort.

In her sixteen years on the Board, Libby served as inaugural Chair of the Planning & Infrastructure Committee, Chair of Governance & Remuneration Committee; and her business acumen allowed the Business Manager to seek her counsel as member of the Finance Committee. 

There were many highlights in Libby’s sixteen years: supporting Chris Tudor in construction projects - the Bruce Reid Sports Centre, Chris Tudor Centre, classroom and group upgrades and improvements, strengthening the balance sheet, the acquisition of the ‘old’ RSL, embedding a strong skill-based Board and ensuring staff felt supported. Libby has always had a deep respect for educators and she felt the best way for her to contribute was to create a sound governance framework for educators to feel safe and thrive. 

St Philip’s College Academic dinners, end of year Assemblies and the Year 12 Graduation were highlights on Libby’s annual calendar. She would always remind graduating students of the privilege of growing up in the outback and attending St Philip’s College. 

Libby retired as Chairperson of the Board in June 2022, and this week we honoured her with an investiture as a College Life Governor. 

Be Kind Always.

~ Roger Herbert

  Principal