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From the President’s Pen
From the President’s Pen
Welcome to the Winter Newsletter! We are cooking with gas in our second renewed edition and are thrilled to introduce our 2025 mentoring program for school leavers and highlight an update interview with Mrs. Maureen "Geography" Brown. Don't miss the recap of the 50-Year Reunion Get-Together and our new section on births, deaths, marriages, and milestones.
Join us for the 2024 reunion weekend, packed with exciting events and opportunities to reconnect. We are also excited to announce the OGU will subsidise former students entries inaugural PLC Acquisitive Art Prize.
Thank you for reading and staying connected with your fellow PLC Armidale alumnae.
Sincerely,
Peta Jeffery
Old Girls' Union President 2024
Mentoring Program
Mentoring Program
We are excited to launch our 2025 mentoring program for school leavers. This year, we seek mentors for ladies finishing school in 2024, with plans to expand to include those up to 5 years out of school in the future.
Mentors will meet with their mentees twice a year (in person or via Teams) and be available via email as needed. The goal is to help with workforce adjustment, university choices, networking, and offering a broader perspective on life after school, including the importance of hobbies and community involvement.
Our goal is to support various career paths by welcoming mentors from all fields, including stay-at-home parents, agriculture, trades, academia, and professions.
PLC Armidale Stories
PLC Armidale Stories
Mrs Maureen Brown
Mrs Maureen Brown
When did you work at PLC Armidale, and in which roles?
1987 - 2018 I was employed initially to co-ordinate the PLC Pageant - 100 years celebration. I taught Drama Yrs K -10, English Yrs &-10, Geography Yrs 7-12, Co-ordinator of HSIE.
Are there any memories of your time at PLC that stand out to you?
The Pageant, the fieldwork, the GIRLS, the GIRLS, the GIRLS!! Warrumbungles, Wellington Caves, Dubbo Zoo, Canberra, Moree, Rangers Valley and Of course the wonderful colleagues.
What have you done since you left PLC?
We have been spending 3 months every year in France, on the border of the Lot and Dordogne. One highlight has been walking the French Camino. It is a pilgrimage of 780kms to the tomb of the Apostle St. James. The walk is from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port at the base of the Pyrenees in France to Santigao de Compostela in Spain.
What are some of your interests and hobbies?
Travelling is a great interest with languages intertwined with that experience.
Hiking is a joy
Photography - a picture speaks a thousand words and enhances the narrative amazingly.
Gardening is a year round pleasure.
Class of 2004 Year Reunion
Class of 2004 Year Reunion
Many 2004 alumnae enjoyed a walk down memory lane this month when they came back to campus for a morning tea and tour of Senior School. The boarders in the group enjoyed seeing Miss Latham again - she was here when they were!
There was much excitement as pavers, trophies and other memorabillia was discovered from the girls time at PLC Armidale.
Among the group was Allirra Briggs ,the grand daughter of Pat Dixon, who was very proud and pleased that Dixon Guild was named in her Gran's honour.
The group also kindly donated a Tasmanian Blue Gum to the College along with an engraved plaque that reads:
Eucalyptus Globulus - Tasmanian Blue Gum
A gift of the Class of 2004 - planted on 10 August 2024
"A society grows great when old people plant trees in whose shade they know they'll never sit." Greek Proverb
Class of 1974 Reunion Get-Together
Class of 1974 Reunion Get-Together
A group of 13 cohorts from the 1974 graduating year got together on a perfect autumn day in Sydney to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
The day started with coffee at the Quay, followed by a short ferry ride to lunch at the Fenwick in East Balmain, chosen for its spectacular harbour views, and ending the evening with drinks on the rooftop of the YHA the Rocks.
A few ladies chose to relive their school days by sharing a dorm room and bunk beds at the YHA. Peels of laughter were heard coming from the room as the many stories were vividly recounted.
1. Group photo: Helen Cox, Deb Clift, Anne Webb - nee McEachern, Jenny Williamson - nee Davidson, Jai Bonnefin, Gaynor Eggins-Bell - nee Wood, Jude Ross - nee Clark, Dinty Wilson, Cas Ingham - nee McIntosh, Debi Howarth - nee White, Alison Leith, Alison Crawley - nee Fardon and Abbie Dickson - nee Munro.
2. Anne Webb in her blazer
3. Debi Howarth rocking her tam-o-shanta.
There was an appearance of a school blazer (Anne Webb) & a tam-o-shanta (Debi Howarth) both modeled with aplomb. A photo album was produced and the evidence of fun times were recounted by the ladies.
A booklet capturing each individual's 50 years since PLC was generously compiled by Gaynor Eggins-Bell. as a fitting memento.
It may have been 50 years since our school days but it was evident that time did not diminish those friendships started all those years ago.
Thank you to Deb Clift for sharing the details of this lovely gathering and supplying these photos.
Share your story! Or dob in a friend!
We value the input of our community members and have a simple form for sharing their stories and life milestones. We're not just looking for world beaters; we invite all former staff and students to provide an update for inclusion in Green Tartan. Please share these links widely!
PLC Armidale Signature Art Prize 2024
PLC Armidale Signature Art Prize 2024
PLC Armidale is holding its first Acquisitive Art Prize during the reunion weekend, with $10,000 in prize money available and an auction to be held during the Signature Event.
All artists are encouraged to enter, and we are particularly reaching out to Old Girls as the school has suggested we could have a special section in the exhibition devoted to Old Girls’ artworks.
In celebration of its first year, the OGU Committee has voted to fully subsidise the entry fee of all Old Girls who wish to enter ($35/entry). There are three distinguished local artists who are the judging committee, cash prizes for winners, and the opportunity to have your artwork sold during the event, with part of the proceeds of that sale being contributed to the PLC Armidale Scholarship Fund.
If you have already entered, please contact us directly to discuss.
If you are interested to learn more about the art prize, please visit the website, or contact us directly. Entries close online on 30 August 2024, however, if you are interested in displaying an artwork on the day outside of the prize, the school will take contributions right up until Saturday 12 October 2024.
Births, Deaths, Marriages & Milestones
Births, Deaths, Marriages & Milestones
In memoriam
In memoriam
Sister Gwen Armstrong (24/09/1938 -03/05/2024)
Many of us remember fondly Sister Armstrong and the care she provided ladies throughout their schooling over a number of decades, from the 1980s, before retiring in the 2010s. Sister Armstrong provided vaccines, reassurance, and seemed like a font of knowledge for our young ailments. Many of us on the Committee even remember her going into battle with our mothers to insist that we were, in fact, unwell enough to go home! We send our best to her family and friends at this time.
Mrs Jan Patterson (14/11/1947 - 24/05/2024)
Mrs Patterson taught at PLC Armidale in a number of positions over many decades, including English, English as a Second Language and Speech and Drama. She also had a background in science and psychology! Mrs Patterson saw many of us through our speech and drama qualifications, culminating in the Certificate of
Voice and Communication, and has helped us to refine our pronunciation and clarity when speaking. All committee members studied under Jan, and we all agree that her influence has been instrumental during our careers and lives.
Both current and past students played a large part in the magnificent service and celebration of Jan's life - which she had planned and requested. It can be viewed here.
Births
Births
There was a baby boom in the 2009 cohort during winter 2024, with Samantha Clark welcoming her first (Rex), Jacqui Masters (nee Skelton) welcoming her second daughter (Sophia), Paige Pearson (nee Durham) welcoming her third son (Clay) and Amanda Fillingham (nee Hensen) wecloming her seond, . Congratulations to all these new arrivals!
Rex
Sophie and Lily
Clay, Cooper and Luke
Amara
Weddings
Weddings
On March 9 2024 Old Girl Giorgia Jackson (2013) married TAS old boy Charlie Sutherland. The ceremony took place on the Sutherland family property, Deeargee, followed by a reception at the Jackson Centre. Congratulations to Giorgia and Charlie!
Giorgia and Charlie Sutherland
Milestones
Milestones
Congratulations to our Old Girl Catherine Nugent who was recognised for her many contributions to the Australian country music industry with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June.
Congratulations also to old girl Eliza Scott who was recently appointed as full time violinist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Reunion weekend information
Reunion weekend information
We are pleased to announce our 2024 reunion weekend! While this is a big one for our 5, 10, 20, 30+ ladies, we wish to encourage all old girls who are interested to attend to come along, whether you know you have friends attending or not.
Here is a preliminary schedule of events:
Friday:
17:30 PM: Drinks in the Rose Garden for early arrivals, including school tour
Saturday:
Evening dinner with your year group or PLC Signature Event and Art Prize evening
Sunday:
9:00 AM: Service at St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
From 10 AM: Morning tea and lawn games, tour of the school (approx 10.30 am), followed by AGM with catered morning tea and unveiling of Old Girl Mentoring Program
If you are stuck for accommodation and would like something nostalgic, PLC has opened Hilton Boarding House for use that weekend. For more information please contact us directly. If you are looking for suggestions on restaurants, accommodation or local Activities, please contact us, our local members would be happy to help you.
AGM & call for committee nominations
AGM & call for committee nominations
It's that time of year again! Join us at the Old Girls' Annual General Meeting during the reunion weekend on 20 October 2024. All positions are open, and we’re considering new roles for Communications Managers and we are looking for volunteers so please consider putting your hand up!
Meetings are remote so you can join from anywhere. We meet every few months and the current committee hopes for the new year that we can strengthen connections with a wider range of former students, kick off the mentoring program, build a more active social media presence, and share more stories.
We are hoping the 2025 committee will have a range of year groups and talents, and encourage you to give it a go. To nominate yourself, please email us or complete this form.
Update your details
Update your details
If you have changed your contact details or been forwarded this newsletter by a friend, you can update your contact details with us directly or through the following link: https://forms.gle/HpdHFe56PjtQjttq8
We are also able to print and post the Green Tartan for any alumnae who do not use email. If you know of someone who may be interested, please contact us.
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Our upcoming events for the balance of 2024 include:
Reunion Weekend (18 - 20 October 2024);
Christmas Catchup in Armidale (Friday 27 December 2024).
If you would like to organise a catch up in your area this year, please contact us to discuss how we can assist you. We have a small package available to assist with catering costs, provided the meetup is open to participation from all interested old girls.
Please note, in response to feedback from you, we have asked PLC Armidale to stop sending the Lion's Roar to every Old Girl, and instead will work with them to share alumnae-specific content within our quarterly Green Tartan editions.
If you still want to know what is happening at PLC Armidale you can check out the latest issue of the Lion's Roar HERE
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