From the Acting Head
The celebration last week at Foundation Day of 138 years of continuous school operation, and nearly 30 years since formation as a Grammar School, is a remarkable milestone that represents the strength and versatility of the Girton tradition.
Not only was Girton one of the first all girls’ schools in Victoria, but we were one of the first all girls’ schools in the country to offer the same high quality of education to girls as was available to boys at the time. We continue to uphold that mission by striving for excellence in all that we do, and since 1972, when the school became co-educational, this has been our mission for all young people.
A focus at Girton has always been on community and compassion, and this weekend, students in the Castlemaine district will participate in the annual Red Sheild Appeal. On Sunday, their peers will be volunteering at the Million Paws Walk for the RSPCA at Lake Weroona. Next weekend it will be the Bendigo students’ turn to door knock for the Salvation Army, as they have done for 28 years, including a Digital Doorknock in 2020 that accommodated a lockdown. There have been occasions where Girton has raised more money than any other Victorian school during the Red Shield Appeal. This kind of determined service to others is a defining feature of the Girton journey. As I mentioned in my Foundation Day address, during World War 1, Girton girls knitted in earnest winter ‘woollies’ for soldiers on the frontlines. A sign of the times and a gesture of compassion and care that continues in many forms to this day and that we will continue to encourage in all students.
Concerning building on our traditions, also during my Foundation Day address, I said:
“What our history and traditions do is give us something to fight for, a solid foundation on which to build, and an innate sense that we can fortify against future challenges we cannot foresee.”
I relate well to the sentiment of Miss Hardy, who was Headmistress of Girton in 1971, when she said;
“It’s an old school with a lot of tradition, and the tradition will be kept intact, but at a modern pace.”
Miss Hardy’s “modern pace” resulted in the School becoming co-educational in the Junior School in 1972 and in the Senior School in 1974. This was a radical change in response to economic recession and reduced Government funding, with a far-reaching effect on the future life and development of the school, and yet Miss Hardy’s values of hard work, good decision making and positive attitude live on in our school.
As we find our feet after more than two years of disruption, we intend to return to the comfort of what we know and build on our strengths while embracing the versatility that has allowed the school to progress and meet the needs of modern students. To do this, we need a strong team. I posted on Astra earlier in the week the good news that our Head of Junior School has accepted an appointment to the position of Acting Deputy Head. Mr Don Thompson is an exceptional school leader and strategic thinker. I am delighted that he has agreed to spend more time in the Senior School while I am Acting Head while retaining his Head of Junior School duties. The Senior Leadership Team (depicted below) is a close-knit team of diverse professionals with a wealth of Girton experience and a healthy balance of diverse and fresh perspectives. It is a pleasure to work with them each day, along with all Girton staff and especially our students, who make our work fulfilling and meaningful.
Dr Emma O’Rielly
ACTING HEAD
Below: Members of the Senior Leadership Team:
Left to Right front row: Mr Don Thompson; Dr Emma O'Rielly; Ms Dawn Davis
Left to Right back row: Mr Rod Smith; Ms Alex Fisher; Ms Anita Briggs; Mr Mark Beever
Absent: Ms Tanya Hilgert; Mr Dave Martin; Mr Graham Crickmore
