St George Girl’s High School

30 year reunion: 24 October 2015

Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel, 7pm

Welcome…

To our 30 year school reunion celebration at the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel function room. This event’s organising committee have updated the newsletter compiled by the 20 year reunion organising committee, with the great assistance of Miss Anne Field (Social Science teacher 1977 – 2011) and smart design organised by Rosanna Mazzucco (Bonanno) (thank you!). This will give you some good conversation starters with those familiar faces from the 1980s. We hope you have a fantastic night and put your hand up to organise the next one!

From the 30 year reunion organising committee (in last name alpha order):

Dianne Dayhew, Lauryn Fisher (Haines), Nicole Lee, Sue Macbeth-Fisher (Wiggins), Larissa Reed (Warwick), Louise Roe, Lynda Wake.

How our high school has changed since 1985…

STGGHS now has an online presence: http://www.sgghs.com.au/
Students now have ID cards, and timetables are computer generated.
Seniors (11 and12) now have swipe cards for flexible attendance.
Roll call is electronically marked at the end of period 1, and an SMS is sent automatically to the parent of an absent student.
A public phone that was present at the time of our 20 year reunion has been removed as most students now have mobiles.
Mobile phones are confiscated for exam time in the assembly hall and are collected into a large pile on a front table.
TVs and VCRs in classrooms have been replaced by interactive whiteboards.
WIFI is now in each block and every classroom.
All staff have new desks and laptops connected to school and Departmental networks.
Canteen was renovated in 2012 and a gymnasium was opened in 2011.
Duty of care by staff has been extended to compulsory training in the use of epipens for anaphylaxis.
15 prefects are now elected by Year 11 peers.
School camps are now part of the program for years 7, 9 and 11.
New subjects are: Information Systems Technology (Junior School) and Information Systems Technology Processes (Senior School), 4 unit English and English as a Second Language (ESL), Software Design, Japanese and Drama.
Technology and Applied Studies (TAS) Faculty includes Technology (years 7 – 8 mandatory), Food Technology (years 8, 9 and 10 elective), Textile (years 8, 9 and 10 elective), Information and Software Technology (years 9 and 10 elective).
The new National Curriculum has now been implemented for English, Mathematics, Science, and History, with changes for Geography and some other subjects to be phased in from 2016.
French students have an excursion to New Caledonia and Japanese students visit Japan.
Music students visit New Zealand and regional NSW periodically, and in 2014 they visited China.
“Food labs” (old home science rooms) were refurbished in 2011. Red piping gone now on the white aprons (now called “technology” aprons).
There are 3 computer rooms, with computers in classrooms and “banks” of laptops.
Year 9 students were issued with laptops under a 2009 Federal Government program but this finished in 2013. The school has now moved to “BYOD” (bring your own device).
There is now a water fountain in the lower senior quadrangle with funds raised by year 12 in 2003, with a new garden established along the walkway to the assembly hall. New seating for the year 12 quad was installed in 2004.
There is no longer a “School Certificate” for year 10. The last one was in 2011. This has been replaced by the “Record of School Achievement” (ROSA), and students stay at school until they reach 17 years of age.
An assessment policy was introduced in the 1990s which supplemented the HSC final marks.
A “Summer Festival of Music” is now scheduled annually, and a Multicultural night is held each November.
The “Inspired” exhibition has been running at the end of Term 2 for the past 9 years, showcasing Year 12 textiles and design work
Theme days have been introduced “Green Day”, “Enviro Club”, “EnviroInspiro”, “Support Rose” (the koala).
Student clubs to join include the Amnesty Club, and Chess Club.
World Vision 40 hour famine still going, and raised approx. $20 000 in 2012.
Duke of Edinburgh -100 bronze; 50 silver; and 20 gold candidates
In 2002, a new senior uniform was launched, and pants are now allowed in winter.
The wearing of a hijab is now mentioned in the uniform requirements, and if worn, must be plain white or navy.
Navy sun hats and red, blue, or white winter scarves are permissible.
Sport options are now more varied, including cricket, self-defence, ballroom dancing, touch football, lacrosse, soccer and table tennis.
No more red bloomers! Sports and PE uniforms now include navy shorts, navy red and white microfibre school tracksuit jacket and pants, white polo shirt (short or long sleeved) with embroidered emblem, white socks and predominantly white joggers, school badge (!), and blue school baseball cap.
Peer support is provided by Year 11 to Year 7 to help their transition to STGGHS.
An “Old Girl” is invited to give the occasional address at Speech Day, and the first was Rena Sofroniou (completed year 12 in 1983 and now a barrister based in Melbourne).
German and Indonesian are no longer offered as language subjects. Only Japanese, French and Latin.
Library has been fully refurbished with seminar rooms, senior study rooms, 20 desktops, 30 notebooks and a garden atrium. They also call their school intranet site the “virtual library” with access to online resources.

Still the same since 1985…

Still no jewellery to be worn other than watches, ear studs or Dragon or School Badges.
Red and white tie still part of the junior winter uniform.
An Annual Art Show is still held to highlight Year 12 Visual Arts body of works each August.
Year 10 still do work experience each July.
Palmerston Street traffic remains chaotic at school bell time, and the front entrance of the school in Victoria St is still out of bounds to students.
The Mock Trial team is still running (and lives on past Miss Field’s retirement).
Debating is still a school activity and public speaking still runs for junior and senior school.
School dance is now held with Sydney Technical High School in Marana Hall in Hurstville.
The STGGHS Year Book has been intermittently published and had a break between 1986 and 1994. It now continues.
The Year 12 Mock Assembly remains a rite of passage.
Speech Day remains a formal occasion, with a formal student invited as a guest speaker.
P&C, Mothers Committee and St Georgians continue to support the school.
ISCF and Student Council still both run.
Swimming Carnival is still at Bexley Pool and Athletics Carnival still at Sylvania Athletics Field.
Year 12 and Year 10 Formals are still held, and the Year 11 formal has been introduced.
Scripture is still first period each Thursday.
The School Walkathon is held each May for SRC fund raising, with the walk from school to Dolls Point. A BBQ is put on and students run stalls to fund raise and make sand sculptures on the beach.

Staff Update:

Still at St George since 1985:

Social Science: Mr K. Allum, Ms L Brown. Visual Arts: Ms K Ruck.

Line of Principals:

Mrs Woyde retired in 1985. Ms Rowse 1985-1992, Mrs Murray 1992 – 2002, Mrs Carole Knott 2002 – 2015. Principal is now Ms Betty Romeo.

What happened to our teachers?

Miss Anne Field is retired and is writing the History of Moorefield Racecourse, Kogarah (1888-1951) for publication in 2016. She plans to turn her You Tube, Anne’s Adventure into an e-book, then write her political biography detailing her 17 years in local politics.

Miss Mikes lives in Trunkey Creek near Bathurst and not teaching.

Mr Allum on is currently on leave and will retire in the near future.

Miss Adams married and then?

Mrs Ratcliffe is retired.

Mr Greg Bondar lives in Blakehurst, Chairman of the Home Based Businesses Network and driving an Uber (SMH article “How I became an Uber driver” April 2014).

Miss Renton (“Mr Men”) lives in Oatley and retired (friends with Miss Field).

Madame Malliate lives in a retirement village in western Sydney.

Mrs Kolts lives in Manly.

Mr Coe did a PHD.

Mr Reis retired in 2014.

Mr Milner is retired.

Mrs Rontidis lives in Earlwood and is retired.

Mrs Keam remarried and went to Central West NSW to live.

Mrs Voss is retired and lives near Bulli on the South Coast.

Mr McAlpine is retired and lives in Bexley.

Ms Cummins is retired and lives in Tweed Heads.

Miss Brown (Social Science) is retired but still teaching temporarily this year.

Mrs Willison is retired.

Mrs Hatton is retired.

Wish you were here…

Arini Poutu (Gray)

In 1986 during schoolies week I met the love of my life, Paul Rolfe, on Great Keppel Island – in a bar! Next year in January 2016 Paul and I have decided to celebrate spending 30 years together by finally getting married! We have three gorgeous kids, Tane (16) Kahu (11) and Pania (10) and we live in Wellington, New Zealand.

After high school I travelled the length of NZ in search of my Maori heritage. When I found it I decided to change my surname from my dad’s to my mum’s, which was Poutu. This is why I am now Arini Poutu. In my work life I have been blessed to do many creative and varied things, and have had some very cool jobs and experiences – I haven’t really decided what I am going to do with the next thirty years but I know it will be fun and creative.

These days I spend my days raising my kids (you know – taxi driver, netball coach, chief operating officer of the home). I also work part time for Paul who has his own architectural business. I also teach kapa haka (Maori Performing Arts) to teenagers at my son’s high school. I take Maori language lessons, create Maori contemporary artwork, am on the Board of a theatre company, enjoy yoga, bushwalking, eating healthy and just being with my family. Wish I was there celebrating 30 years with you all!

Nga mihi

Arini

Ingrid Holtz

Ingrid lives in London with her husband Dave and three children (2 boys, 1 girl). She was working for a celebrity magazine and left this to become a full time mum. She now volunteers as an adviser for an “advice” organisation. Her sister, Diana, is living in Papua New Guinea and her other sister, Heidi, lives on King Island in the Bass Strait with her husband and 3 sons. Her mother also lives on King Island, and her brother lives in New Jersey with his wife and 2 daughters. Her family is very spread out.

Stephanie Tassell (Halyard)

Stephanie met her husband in the UK when she lived in London in the late 80s. They live in Perth and have a son and daughter, both now in their late teens. She worked as a secretary for some years and after her children had grown up she retrained as a remedial massage therapist and runs her own mobile business which she loves. Her parents retired to the south coast and her brother and sister are both still in the Shire. She was still playing rep softball and baseball until recent years and is as beautiful and warm hearted as she was in high school.

Melissa Stevens (Hubbard)

Melissa lives in Canmore, Canada with her husband and their beautiful fur baby, Meika the Husky. She has been involved in extreme sports over the years such as heli skiing and mountain biking. Melissa still enjoys mountain biking although has sustained a few injuries over the years and has recently taken up paddle boarding. She generally enjoys the outdoor lifestyle in a beautiful part of the world. She worked for years as a ski instructor and now works full time as an administrator in Real Estate.

Gina Merino (Kandalepas)
Gina cannot be here tonight as her stepson is getting married. She remarried 2 years ago a “beautiful Frenchman” who has 3 adult children together with her own 3 teenage children so now has her own Brady bunch. Gina works as an accountant part time and lives in Sylvania. Her first husband passed away 11 years ago so life has been challenging raising 3 kids on my own who were very young at the time until recently when she met her husband. She says “Thanks for organising and for sharing those great pics (on Facebook) from our school days. Brings back those wonderful memories we shared. School days were some of the best years of my life.”

Mary Joy Lu

I was hoping to make the reunion, but our new project in the States has taken off so I will be here (the US) until mid-Nov. I am still great friends with Monica Varga and Roslyn Baker. (Brief life synopsis) … NY 12 years, then Sydney 2, now back in NY Adirondacks. My husband Alex and two boys Charlie 13, James 11. Our company is called Rail Explorers USA … Before that in film production and visual effects… Much love MJ xxxx

Caitlin South- Martin (Martin)

I live in Sutherland with my partner Josh, been married & divorced & all that – 2 beautiful girls Sarah 29, who has a divine baby boy & the light of Granny Cait’s life, Harrison, and my 20 yr old Emily who plays 1st grade cricket & totally sports crazy. I work in child protection with children removed from abuse & neglect, in the out of home care sector. Before that I worked at Boystown with adolescents with challenging behaviours. Apart from that I make candles & other yummy things like lip balm, that keeps my inner hippie content. Very happy with life and still catch up with Natalie & Pam for a chin wag. Enjoy your night everyone.

St George Girls Centenary Luncheon

2016 marks 100 years since STGGHS was established. A special luncheon is being planned with dates and venue still to be announced. Our own Facebook page will post details, so make sure you spread the word, or contact The St Georgians through the school. Some of you who had mums that attended the school may also be interested.

We are still looking for more girls!

These people are still missing from our reunion network. If you find them, please invite them onto our Facebook page. We will keep this page going as a site we can hook into now and then, and keep having a laugh and smile about our school days. Next reunion’s organisers will then find it easier to get in touch with people.

ADAMS Michelle; ANASTAS Christine; BERIOS Mary; BOSEVSKA Suzi; CHEW Alysia; COMINOS (Milios), Pamela; COOGAN Sharon; EARDLEY Leanne; FREEMAN Lisa; HASSMAN Eve; HATZISEVASTOS Freda; JOHNSON Kaye; KAPORIS Antonia (Ann); KHAW Ee Lin; KHOURI Sonya; KIM Sunny; MAITLAND Lynne; MCDONALD Wendy; MILIONIS Popi; MILNE (Hemmington) Julie; MOORE Linda; MOUSTAFA Ghada; NAEVE Nathalie; NG Kim; NOWAKOWSKI Jenny; O’BRIEN Vicki-Lee; PAGONIS Souzie; PHILIPS Linda; POLLARD Katherine; POSTILL Sharon; PRESLAND Lynette PSIROUKIS Jennifer; RISTEVSKI Connie; ROWE Anne; RYAN Belinda; RYAN Susan; SEABORN Tracy; SELF Yvonne; SIE Angela; SIU Angela; SMYRNIS (Cartwright) Angela; STATHOPOULOS Gia; STOJIC Angela; TAYLOR (Mourd) Jessica; THORNCRAFT Kylie; VOURANTONIS Paula; WALKER Katherine; WEBBER Sharon; WEBSTER Karen; WILLIAMS Karen; WONG Margery.

The full list year 7 in 1980 through to year 12 in 1985

AARTS Joanne ADAMS Michelle ADAMS Sheree ANASTAS Christine ANTONIOU Fili ARCHIBALD Lorraine ARGENT Megan ATHANASOPOULOS Dora ATKINS Sharon ATKINSON Megan BAILEY Tanya BAKER Roslyn BARKER Sally BASS Annette BERIOS Mary BLACKER Wendy BLAKEY Gayle BONANNO Rosanna BOND Rachael BOSEVSKA Suzi BRENT Suzanne BROWN Lisa BROWNE Jacqueline BURNETT Mandy BYRNE Marguerite (Dolly) CANLIS Helen CASSIMATIS Mary CHEW Alysia CHU Evelyn	COMINOS Pamela COOGAN Sharon COOPER Elizabeth CRAFTER Jane DAVIES Kristen DAVINAJacqueline DAWES Catherine DAYHEW Dianne DELANEY Jo-Anne DIAKODIMITRIOU Meni DOGIAS Anna DOWSEY Paula DREW Angela EARDLEY Leanne ECCLESTON Susan EDWARDS Melinda FLYNN Melissa FLYNN Jenny FRASER Suzanne FREEMAN Lisa GELUK Anita GIANNAK Sophia GIBSON Karen GORMAN Vanessa GRANTER Esther GRAY Arini GREEN Sharon GREEN Jodie GRIFFITHS Felicia GRINHAM Ann	HABASHY Heba HAINES Lauryn HALYARD Stephanie HASSMAN Eve HATZISEVASTOS Freda HEWITT Sandra HICKS Justyne HILL Michele HILL Catrina HOLDER Kerrie HOLTZ Ingrid HUBBARD Melissa HUGHES Merran HUGHES Bronwyn IANUZZI Maria IVERS Rebecca JANJIC Dana JOHNSON Kaye JOHNSON Vivienne JONES Sharon KANDALEPAS Gina KAPORIS Antonia (Ann) KARPOUZIS Fay KHAW Ee Lin KHOURI Sonya KIM Sunny LAWRENCE Pamela LEE Nicole LU Mary Joy LUSTY Kylie LUSTY Megan

MAIR Julianne MAITLAND Lynne MANLEY Anissa MARTIN Diana MARTIN Caitlin MCDONALD Wendy MCKERN Melinda MEADER Vicki MILIONIS Popi MILNE Julie MINCHER Jennifer MINGLIS Diana MOORE Linda MOUSTAFA Ghada MYERS Christine NAEVE Nathalie NEMETH Susan NG Kim NISBET Adele NOWAKOWSKI Jenny NYGARDS-NILSSON Barbara O’BRIEN Vicki-Lee OLSEN Sandra PAGONIS Souzie PATERSON Julie PETRAS Georgette PHILIPS Linda POLLARD Katherine POOLE Jodie POSTILL Sharon PRESLAND Lynette	PRIDEAUX Katrina PRITCHARD Natalie PRYTOCKY Vera PSIROUKIS Jennifer PUOPOLO Maria QUILL Stacey RAVINDRAN Deepa REDMOND Lisa RENOUF Debra RICKETTS Jacquelyn RISTEVSKI Connie ROE Louise ROWE Anne ROYE Katherine RYAN Belinda RYAN Susan SARGENT Megan SCOTT Lissa SEABORN Tracy SELF Yvonne SHARP Jennifer SIE Angela SIU Angela SIU Sadie SMITH Joanne SMYRNIS Angela STARK Caroline STATHOPOULOS Gia STEELE Rhonda STOJIC Angela SYME Julie	TAYLOR Jessica THOMPSON Kylie THORNCRAFT Kylie TIERNAN Amanda TRITTON Fiona TYLER Tiffany VARGA Monica VINCENT Sharyn VOURANTONIS Paula WAKE Lynda WALKER Katherine WALTERS Nicole WARWICK Larissa WATSON Tracey WEBBER Sharon WEBSTER Karen WEEDEN Jacqueline WHEATLEY Meredith WIDDICOMBE Jodie WIGGINS Susan WILLIAMS Karen WILLIAMS Samantha Winitana Jacqueline WONG Margery WONG Kathryn WRIGHT Lynette YANG Ilian ZIAZIARIS Marina

1985 – 2015