From the OGA
Welcome back!
In the spirit of connectivity, the OGA is delighted to be bringing the annual OGA newsletter, ‘Under the Peppercorn Tree’ out of hiatus and sharing stories about alumni, school news and tidbits from the archives with its members. We have featured some stories that have previously been shared via our social media pages, as well as plenty of fresh information for you to enjoy.
We have touched base with former School Captains, a Head Prefect, high school sweethearts and alumni around the globe who share their experiences over the last 2 years. For those who are keen to keep on top of the latest school news, reported in this issue are some highlights from this year.
The OGA has been creating opportunities for past students and staff to reconnect and reminisce about their old school days since its inception in 1914. This year, the OGA had a stop-start reunion season and managed to squeeze in four reunion events between lockdowns and state border closures. It was clear that the desire to rekindle friendships was strong between alumni with some of our biggest reunions to date.
The OGA anticipates hosting reunions missed in 2020 and 2021 next year. Dates have been set and venues have been booked, you will find a calendar of events for 2022 listed within this newsletter.
The annual OGA Careers event for Year 12 students was held on 19th May, 2022. Guest speakers were Old Girtonians’, Dr Bethany Cunning (Orthodontist), Zac Clarke (First Fleet Officer) and Khayshie Tilak-Ramesh (Legal Advisor and Victorian Commissioner for Multicultural Youth).
Year 12 students with an interest in the relevant field introduced each speaker, hosted them throughout the event, and as always, the students were full of questions for the speakers and received sage advice related to their futures, professionally and personally.
Each year, awarding the OGA Departing Girtonian Scholarship is a difficult task. More often than not, judges spend days deliberating on the final two candidates who can barely be split. In 2021, the decision about who should win became impossible, and so, two students have been awarded a $2,000 Scholarship; Erin Collins (12 Jones) and Sanjana Jijo (12 Frew) are the proud winners of a 2021 OGA Departing Girtonian Scholarship.
The OGA Scholarship will assist both Erin and Sanjana in undertaking further education which they hope to do next year and the OGA wishes them well on their journey.
This year, Board members, Mr Andrew Hosking, Ms Fleur Jackson and Mrs Carolyn Starr, received a Life Membership to the OGA in recognition of 3 years of service on the Board.
Three staff members, Mr Graham Crickmore, Mrs Laura Dusseljee and Mrs Christine Phillips were welcomed as Honorary Associate Life Members for 20 years of service to the School.
The OGA was delighted to award academic prizes to 11 students who were awarded at the virtual Speech Night and will continue to support students in their pursuit of academic excellence.
The OGA remodelled its website and launched the new look earlier this year. The OGA website, Facebook and Instagram page are great places to visit regularly for stories about Old Girtonians’ and to find out about OGA events. The OGA and Girton Grammar School LinkedIn pages are wonderful ways to stay informed about career, work experience and intern opportunities.
One of the OGA’s roles is to protect the history of the School. The School’s history was recorded and published for the School’s Centenary in a book titled “From Hardship to the Stars” which covers the period from 1884 to 1984. This history is now being compiled into an electronic timeline which will be made available via the OGA website.
Wishing all of our members a happy festive season and a safe new year.
Ms Kristi Mitchell
OGA Alumni Manager