We are thrilled to present our latest edition of the Ravenswood Alumni Newsletter.

Our Class of 2022 and newest Alumni achieved exceptional results in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. One HSC student achieved a perfect score of 99.95 (one of just 48 students across the state who achieved this ATAR) with five HSC students achieving ATARs above 99. Four IB students achieved a perfect score of 45, equivalent to an ATAR between 99.90 and 99.95, placing them in the top 1% of IB students in the world. This is the highest number of perfect scores achieved by a Ravenswood IB cohort since the commencement of our IB Diploma Programme in 2005. You can read more about their academic achievements here.  

This edition is filled with exciting Alumni news, up-and-coming events and 2023 reunions. 

You are a treasured part of the Ravenswood community, and we hope you are all safe and well. If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact the Ravenswood Community Engagement team at alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au.

Semper Summer 2022

The Summer 2022 Semper (edition #62) is out now. The issue showcases extraordinary student and Alumni stories and achievements while highlighting recent community news and reunions. If you live overseas or didn’t receive a copy, you can view the digital version of Semper #62 Summer 2022 here.

Award Honours

Ravenswood has been named one of Australia’s most innovative schools for the fourth year by The Educator, selected on the 5-Star Innovative Schools 2022 list. This list recognises 46 schools from across the country at the forefront of change and innovation. From teaching approaches to learning spaces and curriculum design, the report looks at schools reshaping the future of education. 

Ravenswood Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, has been recognised on the 2022 The Educator Hot List. This list, which is in its eighth consecutive year, recognises educators who represent the cutting edge of educational excellence in Australia. 

Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, also received the prestigious 2022 Phyllis Evans Medal at the Teachers’ Guild NSW Awards Dinner on World Teachers’ Day in October. The award recognises a ‘distinguished educator of high standing’.

Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize Open

The Ravenswood Australian Women's Art Prize is an annual acquisitive prize that was launched in 2017 to advance art and opportunity for emerging and established women artists in Australia. It is the highest-value professional artist prize for women in Australia – receiving double the entries of The Archibald Prize.

There are three prize categories: The Professional Artist Prize of $35,000, the Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000 and the Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000. There is also a People’s Choice Award of $2,000 plus a Derivan art pack valued at $500. Artists are asked to enter an artwork that best reflects their art practice – there is no theme. Entries close on Wednesday 15 February 2023 at midday (Daylight Saving Time – Eastern Australia). For more information or to enter, visit our website.

Thank you to our partners: Marshall. Chan. Yahl. and Trippas White Group (Gold Community Partners), R.M. Williams OUTBACK and Active Networks (Gold Media Partners), The Tritton Family (Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize), Reed Family Foundation (Emerging Artist Prize), Edwina Palmer and Derivan (People’s Choice Award), The Art Scene, Buildcorp and Clarke Murphy Print (Silver Partners) and Architectus, EPM Projects Pty Ltd, Olan Living and Optus (Bronze Partners).

Ravenswood’s 120-Year History Book – Kindle the Flame

In 1901, visionary educator Mabel Fidler founded Ravenswood School for Girls with eight students, and a vision to educate and empower young women. Now 122 years later, Ravenswood’s new coffee table history book Kindle the Flame by Sophie Church, celebrates our School, which is loved by generations of women and their families. The 256-page book recounts the milestones of the School by Principal eras with a colourful array of archival photos and ephemera that brings the history of Ravenswood to life.

Pre-orders of Kindle the Flame are now available. Purchase your copy for $49.95 now. 

You can also attend the launch of Kindle the Flame and hear from Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, and Kindle The Flame author Sophie Church at a special Senior School Assembly on Friday 24 February. This will be followed by a light canapé lunch. Seats are strictly limited. For more information and to RSVP, click here. 

Save the date: Ravenswood Singapore Community Event on 24 May

Chair of Ravenswood Council Dr Gail Kelly, Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, and Chair of Ravenswood Foundation Mr John McLean, cordially invite all Ravenswood Community members (past parents, current parents, prospective families and Alumni) to save the date for the Ravenswood Singapore Community Cocktail Reception, which will be held on Wednesday 24 May from 6.00pm. To register your interest, please email community@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au. Event details will be available soon.

Alumni and Renowned Artist Celebrates her 100th Birthday

Esteemed Alumni, Ruth Faerber (Levy, 1938), turned 100 in October 2022. Ruth is a world-renowned artist, a pioneer in the Australian lithography practice, and developed a unique form of paper relief sculpture. Her art was selected for over 40 exhibitions across the world during her 60-year-long career. She welcomed two of Ravenswood’s Community Engagement team members into her home in December and shared very fond memories of her days at Ravenswood, which included memories of boarding and Reverent Hynes, whom she greatly admired. Congratulations Ruth on this momentous milestone.

Alumni Visiting Ravenswood

Rosemary Badman (Raymond, 1950) and her daughter Alison Harmer visited Ravenswood for a tour of the school in December. It was the first time that Rosemary had returned to Ravenswood since 1948. Walking around the School, Rosemary reminisced about her schooling days in the 1930s and 1940s, delighted with how Ravenswood had changed in the past 70 years. 

Alumni Sue (Suo-Hyun) Kim (1998) also visited Ravenswood with her daughter Han-Byeol Park in November. Sue was a Boarder at Ravenswood and was visiting Australia from South Korea for her brother’s wedding. 

Alumni and UK Labour MP Catherine West Receives Award

The Patchwork Foundation, a UK not-for-profit organisation that promotes, encourages and supports the active participation of young people from disadvantaged and minority communities in British democracy, presented Alumni and UK Labour MP Catherine West (1984) with the prestigious Overall MP of the Year Award in December. Catherine received the award, as nominated by the public and chosen by an independent panel, for her work on a variety of issues and advocacy for different communities. 

Ravenswood Alumni Committee Hosts Finance Commentator Effie Zahos Seminar

The Ravenswood Alumni Committee welcomed Effie Zahos, one of Australia’s leading personal finance commentators, who visited the School to present to Years 10-11 girls as part of the Ravenswood Alumni Committee financial literacy initiative. Effie specialises in making money matters simple. A regular finance commentator on TV and radio, and the author of several financial literacy bestselling books, she spoke to the students about understanding their finances, budgeting and investing.

RPA Ravenswood Carnival Bigger and Better Than Ever

After a six-year hiatus, the Ravenswood Carnival, organised by the Ravenswood Parents’ Association (RPA) and proudly sponsored by Luschwitz Real Estate, Gordon Doctors and Snap Fitness returned. Thousands of members of the Ravenswood community and general public were welcomed onto school grounds for the largest community event on the school calendar. The campus was buzzing with excitement, with festive carnival rides, mouth-watering food options and an array of market stalls for visitors to enjoy. The entire School community was enthusiastically involved in this family-friendly day. Ravenswood Alumni, Fidler Fellows and special guests enjoyed Devonshire tea with Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, Alumni authors engaged with the community and Ravenswood Alumni donated baked goods for the Alumni Committee Cake Stall. The Alumni Committee promoted alumni authors at the Carnival, with a stall featuring The Bodyline Fix: How women saved cricket by Dr Marion Stell (1974); The Resilient Leader by Dr Amanda Nickson (1977) and books  illustrated by Yvonne Low (1979); LOLA and Grandpa, Jack of Spades and The Fastest Ship in Space.

Thank you to all Alumni who volunteered in the lead-up or on the day, and thank you to all Alumni and their families who attended the Carnival. You can watch the Ravenswood RPA Carnival highlights here.

Share Your News

We love to celebrate special milestones of Alumni and include these celebrations in Semper and the Alumni Newsletter. Whether you have recently married, had a baby, an important professional or personal achievement, please feel free to send it to alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au. We look forward to hearing from you!

New York Alumni Reunion

In November, Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, was delighted to host an Alumni Dinner in New York for nine Alumni residing in the USA. Alumni from 1973 through to 2021 re-connected and reminisced over a four-course meal and drinks. 

Celebrating our Golden Girls

At the end of 2022, Ravenswood welcomed back on campus our esteemed Alumni Golden Girls (Alumni who graduated from Ravenswood 50 years or more ago) and welcomed the newest Golden Girl cohorts from the Classes of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 at the Golden Girls' Luncheon. Held for the first time since 2018, 140 Golden Girls reconnected and celebrated the Ravenswood sisterhood over lunch, sharing fond and entertaining memories with one another. 

Commemorative Paver Program

In September 2022, Alumni, current students and parents came together over afternoon tea to view their newly-purchased personalised inscription pavers laying in the Old Girls' Courtyard. It was an opportunity to celebrate their connection with the School in an enduring way.

Open to all members of the Ravenswood community, the Commemorative Paver program is an opportunity to create a memento of your Ravenswood days by securing a personalised Commemorative Paver through a philanthropic and tax deductible donation of $500 to the Ravenswood Building Fund.

The 2023 Commemorative Paver Program is now live. If you would like to celebrate your connection with the School in an enduring way, find out more by viewing this page.

Class of 2021 Recent Leavers Reunion

Are you an Alumni from the Class of 2021? We would love to invite you back to the Ravenswood campus on Tuesday 7 February 2023, to catch up and reminisce with friends from your class over drinks and canapés. Registrations are open – RSVP now.

Class of 2003 Reunion

Georgie Hale (Gapes) is looking for helpers from the Class of 2003 to assist in organising the cohort’s 20 Year Reunion. If you would like to help or find out more, please email Georgie on ggapes@gmail.com Once the date and venue are confirmed, an invitation will be sent to 2003 alumni and the booking link and details will be available on the Ravenswood website.

Class of 1990 Reunion

We invite our Class of 1990 to rekindle, foster friendships and reconnect with the School for the 30+ Years Reunion, which will be held on Saturday 18 March 2023 at The Greens, North Sydney. Susan Austin is the event organiser (susanaustin@ymail.com). RSVP now

Save the date – Golden Girls' Luncheon

Have you graduated from Ravenswood 50 or more years ago? Mark your calendars – save the date for our annual Golden Girls' Luncheon on Thursday 16 November 2023. Invitations will be emailed and posted later in the year. 

Call Out for Reunion Organisers

Would you like to organise your Year Group’s reunion? We are looking for organisers for the following reunions:

• 5 Years – 2018 Leavers
• 10 Years – 2013 Leavers
• 30 Years - 1993 Leavers
• 40 Years – 1983 Leavers
• 50 Years – 1973 Leavers
• 60 Years – 1963 Leavers

Email Ravenswood Alumni Community Engagement at alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au.

24 February 2023 - Launch of the School's 120 Year History Book

Attend the launch of the School 120-Year history book Kindle the Flame and hear from Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, and Kindle The Flame author Sophie Church at a special Senior School Assembly on Friday 24 February. This will be followed by a light canapé lunch. Seats are strictly limited. For more information and to RSVP, click here. 

28 April 2023 - Open Day

Do you have family members or friends who might be interested in enrolling their daughter at Ravenswood? Invite them to our 2023 Open Day on Friday 28 April.

From 9.00am–1.00pm, it’s a chance to discover why Ravenswood is an award-winning Positive Education and wellbeing school – and one of Australia’s top schools academically, as well as the only school on the upper north shore to offer a choice between the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

Prospective families will meet our award-winning Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, and Head of Junior School – Deputy Principal Ms Sarah Guy, explore our world-class, award-winning facilities on student-led campus tours and experience some of our huge range of sports, performing arts and co-curricular offerings. Registrations are now open.

2 May 2023 - ANZAC Morning Tea and Service

Ravenswood’s annual ANZAC Service is a treasured event. This service and morning tea will be held on Tuesday 2 May 2023.  If you or a family member have served our country, we would love you to attend our service where we honour the men and women who have sacrificed for us all. To be added to our invitation list please contact the Ravenswood Community Engagement Team at alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au or phone (02) 9498 9995.

12 May 2023 - Ravenswood Australian Women's Art Prize Opening Night & Exhibition

The Ravenswood Australian Women's Art Prize is an annual acquisitive prize that was launched in 2017 to advance art and opportunity for emerging and established women artists in Australia. It is the highest value professional artist prize for women in Australia with double the entries than The Archibald Prize. With $47,000 in prize money available and artworks available for sale, save the date for Opening Night on Friday 12 May 2023. Tickets will be available from 28 March 2023. The Exhibition of Finalists is a free exhibition open Thursday through to Sunday from 13 May 2023 to 28 May 2023 at Ravenswood and artworks will be available for sale during this time. Find out more or keep in touch with the Ravenswood Australian Women's Art Prize by joining our Art Prize mailing list.

24 May 2023 - Singapore Community Event 

Chair of Ravenswood Council Dr Gail Kelly, Principal Mrs Anne Johnstone, and Chair of Ravenswood Foundation Mr John McLean, cordially invite all Ravenswood Community members (past parents, current parents, prospective families and Alumni) to save the date for the Ravenswood Singapore Community Cocktail Reception, which will be held on Wednesday 24 May from 6.00pm. To register, please visit this page.

2 June 2023 - Love RAVO Giving Day 

On Love RAVO Giving Day in 2021, over $566,600 was raised for impactful bursaries and scholarships, and to fund a new Wellbeing Path. The Wellbeing Path will be opening in the middle of 2023, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Our community's generosity will leave lasting legacies and transform the lives of Ravenswood girls, now and in the future. We look forward to inviting the Ravenswood community to once again celebrate Ravenswood and Giving Day 2023 on Friday 2 June. More information will be sent soon.

7 June 2023 - Careers Networking Night Volunteers

Ravenswood Careers Networking Night, on Wednesday 7 June 2023, is an incredible opportunity for Alumni to share life and career lessons with senior students as they study toward their HSC or IB Diploma and make some big decisions about their next steps after Ravenswood. Our Careers team needs you! If you would like to participate on the night and are able to volunteer your time to share your career experience and expertise with our students, the Ravenswood Careers team would be thrilled to hear from you: careers@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au.

20 July 2023 - Alumni Generations Breakfast

We look forward to welcoming current students, their Alumni mothers and Alumni grandmothers to the Alumni Generations Breakfast on Thursday 20 July 2023. Invitations will be sent in the coming months via email.  

31 August 2023 – RPA Chantry Golf Day

Please save the date for our Ravenswood Parents’ Association (RPA) Chantry Golf Day which is open to all Ravenswood Community members and friends. This year the event will be held at the newly renovated Killara Golf Club with 18 holes of golf, lunch, prizes and lots of fun. More details to follow. 

Debating Teams Coaches 

We are seeking experienced debating coaches to join our Ravenswood Co-curricular team on a casual basis. The available debating coach roles work at a variety of levels, providing instruction in the development of a range of debating skills to individuals, small groups, or large groups of students ranging in age. This includes assisting in the planning and coaching of individual and group debating sessions, and the preparation of students for competitions. For more information, and to apply, visit our website.

Casual Sport Coaches

We are seeking enthusiastic, reliable, and knowledgeable coaches for the following sports that are conducted at various times throughout the school year: Atheltics, Basketball, Cross Country, Diving, Football, Gymnastics (Artistic), Hockey, Netball, Strength and Conditioning, Swimming, Tennis and Touch Football. For more information, please contact the Ravenswood Sport Department at sport@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au or apply here. 

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Members

Lisa Boyce (Clancy, 1990) President

Georgia Vanos (2001) Vice President

Soriah MacLean (2013) Treasurer

Vivienne Yang (2020) Secretary

Anne-Katrine Goulston (Sundell, 1990)

Rachel Fife (Newton, 1997)

Sarah Robinson (Newton, 1992)

Melissa Munn (1988)

The Committee is currently focusing on a number of initiatives and if you are interested in assisting or have suggestions, please contact alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au.

Initiatives

Our last edition of the September Alumni Newsletter contained information on the Committee's key areas of focus.

AGM Notice

The Ravenswood Alumni Committee 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 1 May, 2023 at 6.00pm. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. To attend the AGM, please email alumni@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au