News and Updates 

Class of 2003 casual catch up

Some members of the Class of 2003 enjoyed a quite catch up in June this year. 

L-R: Gaya Wignarajah, Merridie Boxer, Diana Neale, Alex Sara (nee Lester), Sarah Lim and Gemma Davenport.

News from Cathie Schwarz (Class of 1992) 

While Cathie was unable to attend her 30 Year Reunion due to caring responsibilities, we are grateful she took time to send an update on what she has been up to since leaving Kilvington.  Thank you Cathie. 

After leaving school I went to RMIT and did a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Tourism. I then went on and did a Master  by Thesis, for which I studied the experience of recreational walkers in the Grampians National Park. Unfortunately, I didn’t follow on with it and work in the industry. Instead, I did voluntary work for several years, doing fundraising for a local Scout Group in Bentleigh East. 

When my Dad first became sick, I spent more time at home and then became his carer, when things became difficult for him at home, and I am now a full-time carer for my Mum.

For leisure, I do dance classes every week of the school term (Zumba and Classical Ballet), and sing in a community choir group, called Pop Choir. 

I am a Member of the MCC and I enjoy going to footy games and the cricket with my brother. I am also a member of the Carlton Football Club and I’m very happy to see them doing so well after so many years at the bottom of the ladder. 

Our family has a holiday house in Gipsy Point, which is a little town on the Genoa River in Victoria’s Far East near Mallacoota. Mallacoota township was put on the map due to the Black Summer bushfires that roared into town and sadly destroyed many homes. We came very close to losing our beautiful home but thankfully the fire stopped at our doorstep. 

While visiting Gipsy Point, we enjoy fishing, going for picnics by boat and day trips to Mallacoota and up to Eden and Merimbula on the NSW South Coast. We also make time for local walks in the bush, around the town and along the beaches. In the warmer months, we go swimming in the river, lake and at the beach. 

My pet cat is an Egyptian Mau named Monet after the French impressionist artist. I have always had a fascination with Egypt, it’s history and culture, which I learnt all about at Kilvington. 

So overall, I lead quite a busy life, despite not being employed in the workforce. With caring for my Mum, looking after my cat and doing my dance classes and singing with Pop Choir. 

I still am very musical and creative and one day may start my own business in one of these areas.I do hope the reunion goes well and happy Centenary to the School in 2023!

Greetings from Sweden

We were delighted to hear from Meaghan Kelly (nee Stokie, Class of 1981) who is currently living in Sweden with her partner Claes. She writes: 

Things are going well here in Sweden; I love the nature, traditions, music culture, food, the proximity to central Europe and the peace and quiet on our farm. There are many things I am missing though, like Australian mangoes, big avocados, sausage rolls and iced coffee. But most of all I miss my long-time Aussie friends. 

I still wear my apron that I made in Year 7 when baking. And my tapestry box we made in Year 8 sits on my bedroom dresser. I constantly use time management skills I learned in home economics classes at School. And my geography is still sharp thanks to Mrs Lower’s wonderful Year 12 classes, and many years in the travel industry. I failed Year 9 French and yet I know it has helped me learn a third language; Swedish. I’m very happy to say that it’s a lot easier than French!

Alumni winning awards 

Huge congratulations to two of our Alumni who were recently awarded prestigious prizes from the Faculty of Medical, Nursing and Health Sciences at the Monash University Student Award Ceremony 2022.

Emily Brooks (Class of 2016) was awarded the Ross Day Medal for exhibiting exceptional achievement in the Psychology honours program.

Rachel Martin (Class of 2018) received the Malcolm Macmillan Prize awarded to the student who achieves the highest aggregate mark in third year psychology core subjects.

Well done Emily and Rachel!

Opportunities for alumni to host international students

Kilvington Grammar has a number of international students who are supported with accommodation via the Homestay Program. 

Expressions of interest are sought from alumni who might consider hosting students from China and Japan in 2023 and beyond for either short-term or long-term stays.  

Hosting involves welcoming a student into your home and caring for them as 'one of your own', by providing them with all meals and helping them to adjust to daily life in Australia. 

Hosting a student from another country can help your own children gain a fresh perspective on the aspects of their life they may take for granted, while also learning about another culture.

Families hosting international students need to apply for a Volunteer Working With Children Check (free) for all household members who are over the age of 18, and read and abide by Kilvington’s Child Safe policies.

An international student’s family currently pay a host family $350 a week to cover food, electricity and other expenses incurred by the host family. Hosting one or two international students is considered volunteer work by the Australian Taxation Office so this income is tax-free.

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact International Student Coordinator, Alan Clarke, via clarkea@kilvington.vic.edu.au.