St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’. I bid you a warm 2008 greeting on the auspicious occasion of the
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celebration of the school’s 120 birthday. We are all blessed to have come from such an incredible school – one steeped in
rich heritage, and a colourful, cultural background; a school that positively stands out; a school committed to upholding a
strong Christian ethos; a school with a passion for developing young women as society’s ambassadors of tomorrow. We as
the Old Girls salute what can only affectionately be known as the ‘Grand Old Lady’!
Raising the school flag in honour of the 120th birthday year (from left): Margot Leger (Deputy Head Girl),
Charlotte Slabbert (Head Girl), Kagiso Mthethwa (Deputy Head Girl) and Meg Fargher (Senior School Headmistress).
We welcome Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland as our newest members of the Old Girls’ Committee – we are particularly
happy to have some ‘younger blood’ on the Committee to assist with communicating with some of our younger members.
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The year of our 120 celebrations started off on a particularly sad note with the sudden passing of one of our Old Girls,
Ashleigh Callie. We mourn her passing and yet celebrate all that she achieved in the short time we were fortunate enough to
be graced by her presence. “Ashleigh played the role of Leigh Haines in Isidingo for some time, received the Safta Award for
best actress, appeared in TV productions such as The Invited Guest, Homeland and Natural Rhythm as well as in Peter
Toerien’s, Things you Should not say Past Midnight” (as written by Sheenagh Harris). When chatting to Meg about Ashleigh,
Meg likened her to Princess Diana – “an eternally youthful spirit that will forever be missed”.
We are also saddened by the passing of Georgina Wurr, daughter of Karolina Andropoulos (1982). Georgina was a Grade 1
pupil at St Mary’s and has had an uphill battle with cancer since the age of 2. Our thoughts and prayers are with Karolina
and her family.
Some of our members have also achieved success in their respective endeavors in 2008. We firstly commend the matrics of
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2007 on impeccable results and a fitting platform on which to launch the 120 birthday celebrations. St Mary’s was the only
local independent school to achieve 100% matric endorsement (university entrance pass). Kimberley Hochreiter and
Natasha Zlobinsky each achieved eight distinctions and were placed among the IEB’s top 50 achievers. Besides their
exceptional achievements, the overall results and numerous ‘A’ aggregates are testimony to the hard work of last year’s
matric students and their teachers. Congratulations must also go to Victoria Griffiths, who has recently been accepted at
Oxford University to study an MSc. Victoria made this comment about her entrance interview: “The interview was absolutely
terrifying and everyone on the panel gave me such a grilling, especially the degree director Dr. Shotton. My presentation
went really well but the questions afterwards were tough.” Then we have plenty to be proud of with our current national
hockey team. Four of the members are St Mary’s Old Girls including Shelly Russell (2005), Cindy Brown (2003), Roxanne
Turner (2005) and Lisa Deetlefts (2005). Congratulations on a significant achievement!
Victoria Griffiths
Shelly Russell (2005), Cindy Brown (2003), Roxanne Turner (2005) and Lisa Deetlefts (2005)
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
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On the 19 March, a number of Old Girls gathered to celebrate the school’s 120 birthday, with a cocktail party hosted by
Meg and the School. We had a good turnout from the Old Girls despite the dismal weather! The function was also in honour
of the newly officially named St Mary’s Rose. Mrs. Sheenagh Harris gave us a delightful account of how our special rose
was expertly cultivated on a rose farm in France. We can be proud to finally have such a beautiful rose that we can call our
own. We also enjoyed addresses by Meg Fargher and Gillian O’Shaughnessy on the launch of the Foundation (see below).
Thanks to Eugenie Protopappas and the PTA for decorating the marquee so beautifully and providing champagne for all the
guests; to Meg and Nigel Carmen (Chairman of the Board) for hosting us; to Ros Howell for being MC; and to Sue Cock and
the jazz band for the entertainment. The Old Girls were most appreciative of the event and proved the great net-working
potential of an evening cocktail function such as this.
Kate Popplewell, Meg Fargher and Sheenagh Harris
Ros Janisch, Dodo Pitt and Gilly Haagensen
Fiona Hoernle , Kerry Mundy-Castle, Sue MundyCastle
Sam Fee, Georgina Davidson (MacRobert), Colleen
Frost (Webber), Lesley Beynon (Webster).
This year is going to be a busy one for the Old Girls’ Association as we prepare for a momentous Old Girls’ Day in
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celebration of the 120 Birthday of the school. Old Girls’ Day will be held on Saturday 27 September and once again we
are planning an entertaining and enjoyable programme for the day. We hope that many of you, especially reunion groups,
can join us for a truly magnificent day spent reminiscing. Please look out for the invitation and programme of events that will
be sent to you in early July, but in the interim, save the date! Once again we will be focusing on those special years
celebrating reunions in 2008. If you are one of these members, please ensure you make contact with you respective
committee member:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
1998 (10 years) – Kate ([email protected]; 082 561 9417)
1993 (15 years) – Kate ([email protected]; 082 561 9417)
1988 (20 years) – Yumna and Megan ([email protected]; 072 986 4555)
1983 (25 years) – Justine and Nicole ([email protected]; 082 864 2728)
1978 (30 years) - Gail ([email protected]; 082 462 6775) and Koo([email protected]; 083 557 2420)
1973 (35 years) – Gail ([email protected]; 082 462 6775
1968 (40 years) – Sue ([email protected]; 082 781 5681)
1963 (45 years) – Moyra ([email protected]; 083 308 9328)
1958 (50 years) – Gail ([email protected]; 082 462 6775
Below are other key dates. Further information regarding these events will follow shortly.
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•
•
•
1st June – ’Make a Note of It’ Musical Picnic (the Old Girls will once again be hosting the tea garden)
17th July – 120th Black Tie Dinner (further information regarding this school event to follow)
31st July – Old Girls’ Matric Cocktail Party
26th September – Old Girls’ Sports Dinner (Please contact Ros Howell for more information)
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
This year sees the launch of our first ever Old Girls’ Achievement Awards. We would like to formally acknowledge those Old
Girls who have excelled in various areas of our community. The awards are divided into 4 categories, namely: arts, drama &
culture; commerce, business & politics; teaching, medicine, law, community upliftment & social responsibility; and role
models. We will shortly be launching the nomination process on our website and do encourage nominations either via the
website or by using a nomination slip that will be included with the Old Girls’ Day invitation you will be receiving in July. We
urge you to put forward nominations for the awards that will be acknowledged at this year’s Old Girls Day.
We would also like to welcome Mrs Gillian O’ Shaughnessey, who has been appointed to the position of Foundation Officer
in the school. The rising costs of education together with escalating capital expenditure costs have prompted the need for
additional funding required for the future development of the school. Gillian’s role is to co-ordinate the fund-raising efforts of
the school to ensure future capital projects, such as the current development of the new Aquatics Centre and future
development of a Performing Arts Centre, can be undertaken. For more information regarding contributions to the school,
please contact Gillian directly. This year the Association is focusing on two special fundraising projects. An Old Girls’ bursary
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fund to enable an underprivileged child to attend St Mary’s; and the other for a 120 Bursary Fund. We ask for your support
of these two initiatives.
We would like to bid Nicky Whall a fond farewell and thank her for all of her support and assistance with the Association.
Nicky has played an integral part in the running of our Association and we wish Nicky all the best with future endeavours.
Nicky’s role as Marketing Manager will shortly be filled by Mrs Lindy Grobler, who joins us from the Cape where she was the
Head of ISMA and Herschel’s School Marketing Portfolio. We welcome Lindy and look forward to her contribution to the Old
Girls.
We will also be saying a fond farewell to Mrs Meg Fargher at the end of the year. Meg has decided to retire from St Mary’s
after her fruitful and inspirational leadership of the School. We congratulate and thank Meg for her pioneering role in leading
the school through challenging times in the education world. We will say a formal farewell to Meg later on in the year. The
process of finding a suitable successor to Meg is under way and we will be notifying our members as soon as a placement
has been made.
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On the anniversary of the school’s 120 birthday, we prepared a few pertinent questions regarding the school and have
asked some of our members to share their thoughts. We trust you will enjoy this trip down memory lane!
I leave you with a quote from one of our Old Girls, Sam Fee:
“Being a young South African right now is incredibly challenging, and the paths you all choose will be different and
personal. Instead of dwelling on the uncertainty, look for the opportunities…and be grateful…one thing is certain,
you could not have been at a better school!”
Warm regards
Kate
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
When were you at St
Mary’s and when did you
leave? Can you recall
who the Headmistress
was at the time of your
stay?
What is the highlight of
your time at St Mary’s?
What is your favourite
building or part of the
school?
Sue Grant-Marshall
(Cardross Grant)
Sam Fee
Gilly Haagensen
Mahlape Nyakane
I and my two sisters,
Jane and Anne Cardross
Grant arrived in 1961
and I matriculated in
1966. Sister Irene
Benedict was the head
and after her Miss
Walmsley – so I had two
heads.
Winning hockey matches
especially when I was
captain. Such an
adrenalin rush. Also
representing the school
when I was head girl.
I was at St Mary’s from
grade one through to
matric- I matriculated in
1987. In the junior
school our
headmistress was Mrs
Whitford, and Mrs Pitt
in the senior school.
In 1963 my mother, Mrs.
Pitt arrived at St Mary’s
to teach Latin, thus
enabling her to enroll
her four daughters at a
school established in
1888 for the education
of young ladies’!
I was at St Mary’s
from 1987-1999.
In Primary School –
Mrs. Rossouw. High
School – Mrs. Brown
I was fortunate to be
Head Girl of my year
and I do remember that
feeling of great honour
and personal
achievement. The
Interhigh Gala at Ellis
Park was also an
annual highlight- we
had won for a ridiculous
number of consecutive
years- and the stands
were full of parents
dressed in red and
white, as well as the
entire school, all there
to cheer us on.
This has to be the
bottom hockey field. So
many memories- goals
scored, matches won
and lost. If I sit down
there now I can still
remember specific
passes and moves as if
it was yesterday.
Happy happy times.
At that time the hall was
the center of activity, it’s
walls, wooden floors
grand old piano bulging
with memories –
Gym mistress, Miss
Mackenzie coaxing us
with the aid of a whistle
to take our vertically and
sometimes horizontally
challenged bodies,
dressed in large grey
bloomers over the
‘horse’ or up the ropes –
purgatory for some!
School plays and
looking for costumes in
the dusty cupboard
under the stage which
echoed with past
performances from
Shakespeare to Gilbert
and Sullivan
Scottish dancing classes
with Miss Mackenzie on
the weekend to the
sound of the haunting
bagpipes
Movies on Saturday –
entertainment for
boarders – black sheets
on the windows blocking
out the light while we
were entertained with an
interesting selection
from the drama of ‘The
Nun’s Story’ to the
carnivorous mating
habits of the praying
mantis!
The school dance –
choosing a theme and
transforming the hall
with painted sets and
crepe paper – this and
the after dance’ gossip
was often more fun for
some of us than the
dance itself where
disastrous hairstyles and
disappointing blind dates
had to be endured!
Good memories – the
quiet solitude of an
empty chapel where
incense still hung in the
Being elected as the
Deputy Mini Mayor of
the Johannesburg
Mini Council when I
was in Std 5 (grade
7). Being a prefect in
Matric.
The Close because of its
majestic trees especially
when the jacarandas are
out in October and
November….and the
incredible view down to (
what was ) the swimming
pool and the sense of
peace engendered by
the expanse of sky and
gracious old buildings.
The Queens Path
leading to the
swimming pool.
Always beautifully
well kept
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
Sue Grant-Marshall
(Cardross Grant)
Can you recall a key year
in the history of South
Africa and how it
impacted on the school?
What is your favourite
time of the year at the
school and why (or
maybe it’s a favourite
Season?!)
The aftermath of the
Sharpeville Massacre
and my parents’ concern,
even a year after it about
the safety of our drive
from Botswana to
Joburg. The
assassination of
Verwoerd and the (futile)
hope after it that SA
would be a happier, safer
place to go to school.
The Prison’s Trial when
the Rand Daily Mail
newspaper was taken to
court for publishing the
horrendous conditions in
prisons. The newspaper
was stuck up in the
corridor for us to read –
and read it I did with
huge interest and
concern for the brave
journalists who
challenged the dreadful
apartheid government.
(I guess you mean…
what “was” my favourite
time? ) Any meal time, as
a boarder I was always
starving and the food
was good I thought.
Anything compared with
the Mafeking Convent
was good which is where
I’d been a boarder
before. The end of term
was my best time when
we headed back to the
wild freedom of the
Botswana bush.
Sam Fee
I was never particularly
good at History- this is
now abundantly clear.
In my defence, it was a
very long time ago.
Yes, I do realise that is
why we call it history!
I loved it when the
many large Jacarandas
around the school were
in full bloom. They also
reminded us that
exams were around the
corner and we would sit
for hours beneath them,
willing the blossoms to
fall on our heads and
bring good luck.
Another very personal
favourite time of the
school year is the end
of year assembly, the
whole school belting
out “Dear Lord and
Father of Mankind” with
pre-holiday enthusiasm.
Gilly Haagensen
air, dabbling with paint
and creativity in the art
room, the occasional
cheese and biscuit
supper among standard
boarding school fare –
meatballs, chips, lumpy
porridge, thick skinned
custard….
November – when the
jacaranda trees erupted
in clouds of purple
blossom which
squelched underfoot a
reminder of exams but
also the end of the year
– carols, Christmas
holidays, no school.
My mother, Mrs. Pitt
took over the school
during a political era
representing great
challenges. Under the
apartheid government
employing an African
Zulu teacher was
somewhat daunting –
requirements by the
state stipulated separate
toilet facilities; teaching
in a class room only
permitted in the
company of another
teacher, otherwise
classes must be
conducted under a tree!
Mum persevered and
Mrs. Selele arrived, a
symbol of the beginning
of change.
See above.
Mahlape Nyakane
I was still at school
when the first
democratic elections
took place. The great
thing about being at
St Mary’s is that when
you were at school
the outside
happenings did not
affect us. We
continued being
children and school
life consumed us
When the Jacaranda
petals fell and the
whole school became
a sea of purple. At
that time of the year
you knew you didn’t
have much time
before the year end
exams
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
How do you think the
education you received
at St Mary’s prepared
you for your career and
life ahead?
Is there a particular
member of staff that
stands out in your mind,
and why (either
negatively or positively!)?
Sue Grant-Marshall
(Cardross Grant)
Sam Fee
Gilly Haagensen
Mahlape Nyakane
It was an excellent
education and we had
really good teachers. On
reflection, I think it was a
broad based education
and one that certainly
prepared me for life as a
journalist. It’s not dear
Mrs MacPhail’s fault I
couldn’t do maths, hard
as we both struggled to
make it otherwise. I loved
English and drama with
Dodo Pitt and have fond
memories of doing
Macbeth and Julius
Caesar in the close
under her direction. The
negative for me was the
emphasis on religion
because as a boarder we
had no choice but to
spend hours on our
knees. It was
understandable because
the nuns left only two
years after I got there.
Naturally, their influence
was huge.
Dodo Pitt was brilliant.
She burnished my love of
writing, of English, of
drama. As a boarder and
then as head girl, she
was always there to
support me at difficult
times when I didn’t feel I
knew what was the “right
thing to do.” And then,
after I left she wrote the
most stunning CV about
me when I was being
interviewed for The
Argus School of
Journalism and that
helped propel me into my
career. The current
headmistress, Meg
Fargher, is one of the
best things that has ever
happened to the school.
She’s vibrant, youthful,
and incredibly supportive
of the girls, extends their
minds, challenges their
perceptions and
promotes the school by
being what she is, an
outstanding human
being. She’s modernized
the school, both
physically and
intellectually.
My husband swears he
can spot a St Mary’s
girl from across the
room. He says we have
a quiet confidence, a
calm capability. He
says we are different,
and I agree. I know now
that St Mary’s taught
me skills that I use daily
as a mother, as a
doctor, as a society
member. Skills far more
valuable that anything I
was ever examined on.
St Mary’s was more
than a curriculum or a
facility- it taught me the
value of showing up,
taking part and doing
my best. It gave me
what I needed to
believe in myself utterly
and completely and
was a perfect
springboard to the rest
of my life.
My mother has always
had an awareness of
social injustice and to
quote her from a speech
given in 1988, the
centenary year, she
stated that the most
significant change has
been the privilege of
having pupils of all races
in the school and
learning to know more
closely the people who
share this country.
It taught me that
being a woman can
never be seen as a
challenge or that can
you do less than a
man. Being
surrounded by smart,
driven girls built my
own courage. I’ve
learned that who I am
and how hard I work,
determines my
success and nothing
else.
As a hockey obsessed
16 year old the arrival
of Ros Howell, the
Springbok Hockey
captain at the time, was
beyond my wildest
dreams. We knew by
her reputation, what a
superb player and
coach she was. What
we did not know was
what a truly remarkable
woman she is. To this
day, Ros remains an
integral and passionate
part of the school. I
have yet to hear a
pupil, past or present,
speak about her with
anything but respect
and adoration. Without
a doubt one of the most
influential people in my
school career.
We had an interesting
group of teachers – Ms
Richardson, teacher of
Latin, would arrive in
class with her corgi
dogs, who provided far
more entertainment than
amo, amas amat... Ms
Boomker taught
Afrikaans with an iron
fist but at the end of
term she mesmerized us
with stories about her
years in Holland under
Nazi rule! Ms Macphail
tried to instill in us an
enthusiasm for algebra
and geometry – her end
of term treat was
entertaining her pupils
with the magic of Lewis
Carroll and the
adventures of Alice!
Mrs. Rossouw was a
strong
pillar
of
strength to me when
my mother passed
away. She became a
mother figure to me at
school. At that time
she also instilled in
me a love for reading.
Reading from then
became my refuge
and a passion I will
always have.
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
Sue Grant-Marshall
(Cardross Grant)
What do you think have
been the biggest positive
changes that have taken
place in the school?
What have you gone on to
do since leaving the
school?
Sam Fee
For me it is not so much
Today the school is
change, at St Mary’s
virtually unrecognizable
that has been positive,
compared with the one I
but that the school has
attended. It’s set in a
managed to stay
luxurious garden, rich
inherently the same.
with flowers and
abundant with great trees With basic values and
grounding intact, and
and the new buildings
are so tastefully done. Of with grace and ease, St
Mary’s embraces
course I left about 100
educational progress
years ago…. so it would
and continues to
have changed a lot. I
successfully produce
served on the School
girls full of integrity and
Board for seven years –
self-belief, appropriately
departing in 2002 – and
equipped to enter
in that time I realized
today’s ever-changing
how many people give of
world.
their precious time, to
make the school the
wonderful academic,
sporting, cultural
institution it is today.
What I love best now
about going back there is
the friendliness, warmth
and courtesy of the girls
who really do care about
each other and SA
society. I also love the
mix of races and income
groups at the school
which makes it a
fascinating place to be at
and visit.
I became a journalist
After matric, I studied
straight after school on
medicine at Wits. I then
The Argus and then
spent almost 7 years in
came to The Star in
London where I
Joburg. I served in
obtained further
senior positions on both
qualifications in
newspapers and then,
Trauma, Emergency
when I had my baby,
Medicine, Sports
Amy and wanted to
Medicine, Obstets and
spend more time with her Gynae, and finally a full
than the frenetic world of
specialisation in Family
Medicine. We returned
the newsroom would
to South Africa in 2001
allow, I was headhunted
with our son Max, and
to join Fairlady
in 2003 Abigail was
magazine. I was there
until 1999 as Joburg
born. My life now is a
Bureau Chief and have
slightly chaotic juggle
between my busy
freelanced since for
General Practise and
magazines such as
Maverick, the Financial
my family. Like all
working mums, there
Mail and newspapers
such as Business Day,
are days when the
The Weekender and the
balance is perfect and
Sunday Independent.
there are days when I
I’ve co-authored two
get it wrong on all
books, published by
fronts.
Penguin Books, on the
gap between
generations. I’m happily
married, we’ve just
celebrated our 25th
Gilly Haagensen
Mahlape Nyakane
The school we attended
from 1963 to 1967 was
an institution in dire
need of modernization
steeped in rather old
fashioned ideals and
rules which were
restrictive and
sometimes downright
ludicrous! Our head was
Miss Walmsley not
known for her
people/pupil skills and
we were both somewhat
relieved when our
school years came to an
end.
The integration of
more pupils of
different races
The years since – a
degree in Psychology
and English in the
sleepy town of
Pietermaritzburg,
shorthand and typing in
a dusty school above
Oxford Street in London,
an interest in things
medical resulting in a
diploma in Radiography.
Employed as a medical
photographer at Wits led
to the growing
awareness of the need
to become computer
literate – today I’m doing
graphics involving the
design and presentation
of posters, leaflets, book
illustration etc for all
disciplines in the
medical school.
I completed my Bsc
Honours from the
then RAU. I have
since moved on to the
world of Marketing. I
am currently the
Brand Manager of
beverage brands such
as Halls Juice, All
Gold Juice and KOO
juices. I work for Tiger
brands
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
April 2008 Newsletter
‘Celebrating 120 years of educating young women’
Sue Grant-Marshall
(Cardross Grant)
What words of wisdom
for the school (or current
pupils) do you have on
th
the eve of the 120
celebrations?
wedding anniversary and
our daughter Amy who
also went to St Mary’s
(her choice!) is now
doing Honours in Food
Governance Systems at
Wits.
I think that I receive far
more wisdom from the
young women and girls
of today than I could
really give them! How
self-assured, aware and
articulate they are.
However, my message
would be: you are going
to live to a great age - so
study as much as you
can for as long as it’s
affordable.
Sam Fee
Gilly Haagensen
Mahlape Nyakane
Being a young South
African right now is
incredibly challenging,
and the paths you all
choose will be different
and personal. Instead
of dwelling on the
uncertainty, look for the
opportunities….and be
grateful….one thing is
certain: you could not
have been at a better
school.
‘”Wisdom doesn't have
the most perfect
definition. Wisdom is
gained through life
experiences and is then
applied to life situations”
Each generation leaving
school is challenged –
our parents had a world
war; we had political
unrest; our children face
a planet in crisis and a
country deeply affected
by crime, disease,
poverty. These issues
can overwhelm us,
make us forget the
beauty surrounding us. If
we are to live here we
have to deal with them
and try and make a
difference. At least we
have something to talk
about – my son pointed
this out to me – residing
in one of the safest cities
in the world –
Copenhagen, he said
that last year the
greatest problem facing
the Danes was a sudden
influx of giant snails
(destruction in the
garden).
And that’s the choice –
live here in a country
teeming with different
cultures, people,
religions, languages,
problems or go fight the
slugs!
Live
your
school
career to the fullest.
Your school life is the
foundation for your
future
and
the
stronger it is the more
equipped you are to
deal with the outside
world. Be the best
you can be at all
times.
St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association
Chairlady: Kate Popplewell; Secretary: Gail Joseph; Treasurer: Monique Adams; Committee: Koo Montgomery, Sue Mundy-Castle, Moyra Wainwright, Lynn Bath,
Justine Fargher, Nicole Gundelfinger, Yumna Laher and Megan Sharland
Cnr. Athol & Burn Streets, Waverley, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 (11) 531 1800 Fax +27: (11) 786- 9652
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 981, Highlands North 2037
Website: www.stmary.co.za