ALUMNI PROFILES

My six years at Kilvington were wonderful – the tight-knit community that surrounded us every day at School made for a fun, nurturing and welcoming place to be. I felt that I had a great wealth of academic and co-curricular opportunities and personal connections available to me that made my time at School enjoyable and nourishing. A highlight was the House system at Kilvington. I loved being able to socialise with fellow students of all year levels and found competitive House events to be unifying. My teachers, especially during VCE, were incredibly generous with their time – something I found to be crucial to success and engagement in my studies. Since leaving Kilvington four years ago, I have spent the majority of my time pursuing my studies in Medicine at Monash University, alongside part-time work where possible. In spite of a year of online studies in my second year, I have gained invaluable experience throughout clinical placements over the past two years; it has truly been a process of learning through exposure and practice. I have found it to be a challenging but fulfilling experience. It has been a privilege to meet people every day and to learn from their life and healthcare-related experiences. I look forward to a year of intermission next year where I plan to take the time to gain further work and life experience, and then will proceed to my final year of medicine. It has been a long pathway, but I am excited to graduate, be able to serve the community and expand my knowledge through clinical practice.

I have very fond memories of my time at Kilvington.   Starting high school was daunting, it's a big step from primary. However, what stood out for me so much were the teachers; a little scary, though very helpful in Year 7. By Year 12, those 'scary' teachers were closer to a group of friends who were really supportive of your success.   My time at Kilvington also provided such a wide range of opportunities. As a keen musical student, I was able to participate in a number of school productions such as Anything Goes and Guys & Dolls. Not to mention the House musicals where Barrett House won for their 'Streets' themed production!   Later, I joined the Madrigals and as school pianist supported the choirs at various church event and concerts.   Since secondary school, I graduated from RMIT with a Bachelor in Accounting and went on to become a Chartered Accountant. Those qualifications allowed me the opportunity to live in the UK, from where I was able to visit many other countries as well.   My career has morphed and changed over time, moving from accounting to IT and data. However, it was the foundations of focus, teamwork and knowing how to mix hard work and fun, along with a healthy dose of 'girls can do anything they want', that I got from Kilvington that has seen me lead large teams and hold senior management roles in Financial Services.   I still love music and have been able to share that with my husband and two boys. 

I started at Kilvington in Year 7 and vividly remember being sent to the Principal's office by a prefect in my first week as I was not aware that I had to wear a blazer over my school uniform while travelling on the train. I never made that mistake again and aside from this event, I remember immediately feeling welcome even though I knew only one other student. As Kilvington was a small girl's school, I was given the opportunity, and encouraged, to participate in anything I chose which gave me the confidence to try many things such as debating and performing arts, etc. I particularly enjoyed sport and played in every team I could and was Athletics Captain and Fethers House Captain in Year 12 where I fondly remember the support and mentoring of Miss Cleghorn. I can still hear the team chants and buzz of House and interschool events. After leaving Kilvington, I completed a Bachelor of Science at Monash University, majoring in Biochemistry, and then completed a Masters in Health Science. I have since spent most of my career in commercial roles at Pall Laboratory including sales, marketing and business management. I am currently the Sales Director for Asia-Pacific and lead a business that works with scientists and researchers in filtration and separation applications. I live in Melbourne with my husband and two teenage daughters and am truly grateful for the experiences Kilvington provided me, the friendships I made and educational foundation I received. Happy 100th birthday Kilvington!

Kilvington is an incredible school that I was very fortunate to attend. I really cherished the small class sizes alongside the reliability and helpfulness of the teachers as it created an encouraging and supportive environment. Moreover, the school's size and culture allowed for stronger relationships between students which I experienced first-hand as my closest friends are still those who I met at Kilvington. The activities and opportunities provided were also remarkable. I thoroughly enjoyed all the camps, the EISM competitions particularly hockey, PE classes (I really loved Year 10 when we learned to play squash!) and the Year 9 City program. Also, I found the extracurricular opportunities were very rewarding with my favourites being Guitar Ensemble, Annual Concert and House Arts (Go Fysh!). Overall, I found Kilvington lays an amazing groundwork for its students which allows them to excel in further endeavours and life in general.   After Kilvington, I was lucky to explore university completing a Bachelor of Biomedicine at Monash in 2020. The best part about university is the diversity. You will meet so many people from so many different backgrounds and experiences that it truly astonishes, humbles and betters you. I do admit Biomedicine was not my first choice out of Year 12 as I did want to pursue Medicine like a lot of people, but I did not receive a spot. However, Biomedicine came as a surprise as I really did enjoy it and it became crucial in further enhancing my social skills, maturity and resilience.   Ultimately, Kilvington provided me the foundational skills to persevere and motivate myself toward achieving my goals with Biomedicine heightening these skills further. I am grateful for both my journey through Kilvington and Biomedicine as they have allowed me to achieve my dream of starting a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine degree at Monash.

I first started at Kilvington in the ELC in the three-year-old program in 1998. My family moved to Singapore in 2005 when I was 10 where I attended The Overseas Family International School with my younger sister Dom Duce, also a graduate from Kilvington. In 2010, we returned to Australia and I continued my education at Kilvington from Year 10 in 2010 to Year 12 and graduating in 2013. One of the greatest experiences I enjoyed at Kilvington were the friendships I made. I continue to enjoy a wonderful relationship with my best friend Ellen Massuger. We were joint winners of the St John Ambulance Australia Cadet National Champions in 2013 and interestingly we both went on to careers in the health sector. I also enjoyed the role of Barrett House Music Captain which came in handy at the Senior School Swimming Carnival House Cheers segment where Barrett House won with a Michael Jackson themed Beat it Barrett performance! I was fortunate to receive an early acceptance into my preferred bachelor degree (paramedicine) at The Australian National University. Once graduating, I had an opportunity to work as a paramedic in Sydney before transferring to country NSW, and then transferring to Northern NSW living and working as a paramedic on the Northern NSW coast. While I was living in Sydney, I married my long-term partner Dan. We have settled in Northern NSW together and have started a family with the arrival of our little boy Luca in 2022. 

I was a Kilvington student from 2002-2007, and still have many long-lasting friendships and memories from my time there. I loved being part of the annual school productions and House Arts competitions – the excitement of rehearsing for weeks, and then performing in front of the audience in Dalton Hall was a definite highlight each year.   After I left Kilvington, I spent a year at Brighton Bay Art, Design & Photography program studying a range of fine art and design disciplines, before enrolling at Monash University to study Architecture. After graduating uni I worked for an architecture firm in Melbourne, but soon realised that architecture wasn't my real passion, and went back to uni to study a Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design at RMIT.   After working as a graphic designer at a small design studio in Melbourne for several years, I relocated to San Francisco in 2016. Moving to the US (and Silicon Valley in particular) opened up a whole new world of professional opportunities for me, and I began working in the tech industry as a UI/UX designer. Over the past six years I've worked at tech companies such as WhatsApp and Google, which has been an incredible experience.   Earlier this year, after years of COVID restrictions and working from home in San Francisco, I took a leap of faith and made the switch from working full-time at Google to working as an independent designer, which has given me the ability to spend the past several months travelling in Spain, the UK, South America and the US with my partner, while working remotely for clients around the world.   My path since graduating has definitely taken some twists and turns that I wouldn't have expected, but it's been really rewarding both personally and professionally, and I'm excited for whatever adventures come next!

After leaving Kilvington, I completed medical school at Monash University and trained as a general practitioner after an intern year in Alice Springs. I have worked in rural and remote medicine all over Australia and have worked largely in refugee health, sexual health and HIV medicine. I am currently living in Melbourne and working as a sexual health general practitioner.  I married my husband Nigel in 1997, after we met at Monash University, and we have four children aged 23, 21, 17 and 15 years. Music played a big part in my life at Kilvington and has continued to be a large part of our lives.  All my children play musical instruments and our eldest son currently plays the cello with Opera Australia orchestra in Sydney.  I have played viola in many community orchestras and in local music theatre productions.  I owe my love of music to Mrs Patsy Venn and think of her often, particularly when it comes to musical theatre which she introduced into my life and I continue to love today! Sport was also something I enjoyed at Kilvington although I don't remember winning many games against the bigger schools!  My children have all participated in sports including hockey, soccer and swimming. I valued the broad education I received at Kilvington and the exposure to music particularly, which I am forever grateful for.

My name is Christa Hill and I am a TV producer, photographer and videographer. Since completing Years 7 - 12 at Kilvington Grammar, I have graduated from Swinburne University with a Bachelor of Film and TV (Honors). In my final year of secondary school, I started my own photography business - Christa Hill Photography is now in its 6th year. I have loved managing my own business and building relationships with my clients. I have had the wonderful opportunity to photograph families, births, weddings, engagements, you name it! The videography portion of my work is predominantly with Melbourne-based wineries, providing corporate services. In 2021, I produced Navigating Dyslexia for ABC News; a story featuring fellow Kilvington alumni, Miles Nathan. The piece discussed the challenges dyslexic students face in the education system. As a dyslexic person myself, seeing Mile's story air on national television was the proudest moment of my life. I am so thankful to have been commissioned to tell it.  Since producing Navigating Dyslexia, I have gone on to produce for ABC TV's Q+A, a flagship program I am very proud to be a part of. Having influence over national discussions isn't something I was expecting when I walked out of Kilvington's gates but here we are.

Highlights at Kilvington included the fact that ALL teachers knew who ALL the students were due to the relatively small cohorts. Most students also knew who ALL the teachers were as well, which was great! I also really enjoyed House Arts and the feeling of community within the House system.   I have always particularly enjoyed Arts, and after finishing at Kilvington, decided to do a Bachelor of Visual Arts/Education (Secondary) at Monash University. I majored in Animation and also did painting, drawing, sculpture, screen printing, and photography. I was lucky enough to get a full-time job straight after university teaching Visual Arts/Visual Communication Design at a secondary school in the south – eastern suburbs. I have really enjoyed it so far. There is certainly a lot to do and a lot to learn! I am also able to do pursue my independent practice as well with whatever free time I have.  Overall, Kilvington has provided me with the opportunity to make lifelong friendships and pursue my interests. As someone who is usually quite reserved, the small nature of the School allowed me to feel included across all aspects of my schooling, whether that was inside the classroom or out. 

Fond memories of our class 1991 included school sports carnivals, House Arts festivals and our school camp to Central Australia.  During my Kilvington years, my athletics career was also developing, winning many national schools championship medals in shotput and discus.  In Year 11, I was selected in my first Australian Team to compete at the Junior World Schools Championship in Belgium.  I loved being Fethers House Captain and Athletics Captain, but the best part of School were the friendships that I made that I still have today, and going to school with my two sisters Vicki (1993) and Kelley (1995). I went onto to study a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) - Human Resources and Sports Management at Deakin University, while continuing to win national championships in the developing event for women - the Hammer Throw.  My selection in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpa was the highlight of my athletics career.  I finished 5th in the Women's Hammer Throw.  While competing and training, I developed my HR career and have worked in many industries, some amazing companies in many states and countries.  I am currently the Head of People & Culture at Carr.

If life was the ocean, then Kilvington was the shipyard that prepared me for the voyage. The nourishing environment of the small cohort enabled me to become the person I am today. From when I was a wee little Year 7 student, too afraid to even pick up the phone, to now a soon to be doctor, leading and managing multiple non-profit organisations, I have experienced exponential growth during my adolescent years at Kilvington. My love for sustainability and community engagement was inspired by the Year 8 and Year 9 programs, and it's wonderful to look back and to see just how much I've grown. Some memorable highlights from Kilvington include stinking up the whole corridor with a smelly fish in my bag and getting my House Dean to climb into the giant industrial rubbish bin because I accidentally threw my laptop charger away. Other highlights include representing Kilvington in national competitions for robotics, which sparked my interest in science and innovation. I am now in my sixth year of my seven-year university course to become a doctor. I also got to do a diploma of Sustainable Living for fun over the last two years, run two startups, and generally have fun giving back to my community. In the future I look forward to becoming an anesthetist with a special interest in sustainability 

Starting at Kilvington in 1991, my seminal childhood memories are from spending up to 100 minutes a day on the school bus. It was here that I learned the value of relationships that has sustained me throughout schooling and my career.  Kilvington was a special place for me – every time I put my hand up, there was space for me to join every sport, debate, orchestra, choir, eisteddfod and performance available, and Kilvington helped me feel like I could do anything if I tried.  I was honoured to receive the Caltex Best All Rounder award in 1999, and acting as Kilvington Vice Captain, Debating Captain and Swimming Captain. I recall my first Monash Uni lecture hall holding more students than the whole of Kilvington (at the time) and feeling completely overwhelmed. I soon found my feet at a smaller campus to pursue my passion for participation and sport, accepting my first full-time job before I graduated. I have since worked in commercial, government, sport and non-profit sectors, with highlights including an amazing trip to the USA representing Aussie Tourism with a few famous Aussie celebs, and a stint as the live-in volunteer caretaker at Tamarama Surf Club in Sydney for three years.  My values were largely shaped by Kilvington: - Relationships. - Putting your hand up. - Not for our own, but others' good. These values shape the work I now do with leaders and teams across Australia, helping them become high performing.  I live just down the road with my daughter, Daphne, who I hope will wear the royal blue, magenta and gleaming gold one day.  I am so grateful for the connections, opportunities and belief that the staff and community at Kilvington shared with me. 

I found Kilvington to be a really nurturing school and I appreciated the encouragement and one-one support that I was able to get from my teachers there as a result.  My favourite subjects were English, Legal Studies, French and History. I loved the focus that Kilvington had on music as well. I have fond memories of being Madrigals Leader and performing in a range of school musicals.  Finally, I always admired the social conscience that Kilvington aimed to instil in its students. Giving back to others was always encouraged and celebrated at Kilvington and I have endeavoured to continue this in my own life since finishing school. For example, I chose to take a gap year after Year 12 and completed a volunteer teaching placement at a disadvantaged school in Varanasi, India.  Throughout my Arts/Law degree at Deakin University, I always sought out opportunities to make a positive difference in my community, such as participating in the Frocktober fundraiser for ovarian cancer research and by volunteering at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and the Disability Discrimination Legal Service.  Since finishing university, I have also worked as a Support Coordinator at Melbourne City Mission. This role allowed me to make a positive difference in the lives of people with disability by connecting them to important NDIS services, such as allied health providers, advocacy and social groups, and employment support organisations.  My current role is as a Lawyer at Djirra. I am finding it incredibly rewarding to use my legal skills and knowledge in this role to help and advocate for Aboriginal women who have experienced family violence.  Some other personal highlights for me since I finished at Kilvington have been the amazing travel that I've done to destinations such as the Netherlands, Scandinavia, South America and Japan, as well as the passion that I've developed for food and cooking. I enjoy sharing this passion with loved ones and finding new ways to explore it further.

A highlight from my time at Kilvington was how close and supportive my cohort and the staff were. There was always someone you could turn to for help, advice, support, or a laugh.  We felt like one big family! I feel lucky to have been taught by some of the best teachers I could have asked for, they always made classes fun, engaging and interactive.   I finished secondary school with no clear idea of my career path, simply knowing that I was interested in science and had particularly enjoyed psychology.   During my time at Kilvington, I was encouraged to follow my interests, so starting university I did just that. I completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physiology, and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Behavioral Studies, before completing Honours in Psychology.   Having found a love for understanding human functioning, I decided to keep following my interests and begin a PhD. I am currently in my first year of my clinical PhD, undergoing clinical training to become a Neuropsychologist, while also researching how we can use exercise to enhance neuroplasticity and cognitive functions, specifically motor skill learning and memory. A highlight so far has been being awarded the Monash Ross Day medal for exceptional achievement in a Psychology Honours Program.   I never thought I would end up here, but I am so glad I followed my interests and found my way into a field that I love! 

I am the person I am today because I was surrounded by a supportive, caring and empowering community at Kilvington.  I lived a full and enriched life, taking every opportunity to participate in all areas of school life including programs in music, sport and cultural activities. My highlights include performing and competing at competitions with the Madrigals, playing with the orchestra and being in a number of School musical productions. I also fondly remember enjoying GSV (Girls School Victoria) competitions, weekly fitness sessions and camps.  I was honoured to be on the School leadership team in 2011 and meet the Dalai Lama at a function.  Since graduating, I have completed a double degree in a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Music at Monash University and was awarded a Monash University Community Leadership Scholarship. Furthermore, I completed a specialised Choral Conducting qualification at Gondwana National Choral School in Sydney.  In 2018 I commenced a Head of Primary Music position at Waverley Christian College and thoroughly enjoyed my role conducting and directing large scale ensembles, enhancing curriculum and leading new initiatives and programs.  Recently, I have taken the next step in my career and commenced teaching at St Kevin's College, Toorak. Throughout my studies and working life I have continued performing in a number of ensembles like Exaudi, where I toured and performed in Scotland and Ireland in 2019. I've also enjoyed performing in the Melbourne Fringe Festival with Choral Edge and being part of Crescendo Music Australia's YouTube Orchestral series.  A personal highlight since leaving school would be founding the community organisation 'Flourish Programs, High School Preparation and Resilience Program' in Sandringham. In addition to my passion for music, I am devoted to empowering, encouraging and mentoring teenage girls. Several hundred girls from across the Bayside, Kingston and Glen Eira areas have accessed our Year 6 Program and Junior Leadership Development Programs. As a result of this work, it was a huge honour to be named Bayside City Council's 2020 Young Citizen of the Year Award and be a finalist in the 7News Victorian Young Achiever Awards in leadership and community service categories. 

The Music School and Mrs Patsy Venn were the absolute highlights of my schooling - choir and being part of The Mikado & The Boyfriend.  The Year 12 Geography excursion was a lot of fun. Who can forget the night spent at the Shepparton Pub with the local boys doing donuts in the main street as we hung over the first-floor veranda.  With post graduate studies in community health, I spent the first 20 years of my career working in midwifery, women's health and sexual health counselling. Now I channel much of that experience into writing fiction that focuses on social issues and how they impact on women's lives. I'm currently published by Harper Collins Australia and have produced a novel once a year for seven years with an eighth due in 2024.  The life of an author is not at all glamorous; it's a job. I spend a lot of time in pyjamas at the computer either writing, editing or staring into space desperate for words. The fun bit is meeting readers during book tours. Personally, I overcame seven years of infertility and finally was blessed with two sons and am currently loving watching them embrace their adult journey as doctors.  I'm ably supported by the same bloke I met 42 years ago, straight out of school. Yeah, I'm stunned by that too. The love of theatre, travel and a shared sense of humour helps, as does the good fortune of health and a comfortable life, which are a blessing I am aware can vanish in a heartbeat.

I currently work as a medical doctor and scientist interested in researching the immune response to viral infections.  My fascination for science began during my time at Kilvington, where I had science teachers who encouraged me to follow my interests. I found academic success in science (finishing Dux of the Year and winning Premier's awards in Biology and Chemistry). But a real highlight of my time in Year 12 was creating a musical representation of meiosis, a process involved in cellular replication with my Kilvonian classmate, Annie Zheng. Our video was a finalist in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Sleek Geeks Science Prize – and we used the money to set up the Martin-Zheng Science prize which continues to be awarded at Kilvington to students who show curiosity and enthusiasm for science. I also had the opportunity to compete for Australia at the International Biology Olympiad where I won a bronze medal.  I loved the breadth of activities I was able to be involved in at Kilvington – taking part in debating, several musical groups and running the lighting / sound for productions and school assemblies.  After I left school, I studied medicine at Monash University. I knew I was interested in a research career and chose to complete a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) at the University of Oxford (United Kingdom). I was lucky enough to win a John Monash Scholarship to support my studies overseas. My research focused on the immune response in early HIV infection and how this could be used towards curative efforts.  My time overseas also gave me lots of opportunities beyond my study. I love to bake and spent time refining my skills in pastry (and French language) at the Cordon Bleu in Paris.  I learnt to play AFL as the Oxford women's team was in its infancy – and had the opportunity to play in local and overseas tournaments.  Since coming back to Australia, I have returned to work as a doctor. I am training as an Infectious Diseases specialist and have worked in hospitals in Melbourne and regional Victoria during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.  In the future, I hope to to combine clinical practice with translational research into immunity to infections. 

I first began at Kilvington as one of the 2011 pioneer boys in Year 6. The environment was nurturing with staff who were committed to guiding me from youth to early adulthood. The best times at Kilvington came from the vast opportunities for responsibility and leadership that I was entrusted with, including Burman House Co-Vice Captain in 2016 and leadership roles for House Arts video presentations throughout my senior years.  Competing and placing 4th in the Ainger Public Speaking Awards held by the Richmond Rotary Club, was definitely a highlight of my Year 11 studies – a quality that I didn't know I possessed until it was identified by my English teacher.  Whilst at Kilvington, I also attended a co-curricular Air Force Cadet SQN, which further allowed me to develop my skills in public speaking as an instructor of cadets. By Year 12, I had achieved the rank of Cadet Sergeant and had held the positions of Section Commander, Flight Commander, Chief Instructor and public relation officer, in addition to attaining my squadron's Academic Dux of advanced cadet training stage for 2016 - achievements which Kilvington recognised throughout my studies by encouraging me to partake in ANZAC and Remembrance Day services for the School in cadet uniform.  I first began tertiary studies in a Bachelor of Arts, where I delved deeper into areas of study associated with political science, criminology, sociology, film and media studies and forensic psychology. In 2020, I made the decision to transfer into a double degree in Law and Criminal Justice at Swinburne University of Technology, incorporating the majority of the studies from my Arts degree as well as an accredited LLB degree opening the door to eventually practice law in Victoria. Since then, I have competed for Swinburne in the Australian Law Students Association competition for witness examination, as well as internal university mooting challenges.  Non nobis, sed omnibus, (Not for our own, but others' good) is a philosophy which was reflected in the quality of the students' wellbeing every day.  Kilvington was a school environment where a student could enjoy learning in their studies and about themselves, providing a solid foundation for academic excellence and wellbeing.

Ah, the memories of my time at Kilvington Girls Grammar School! How they linger like a haunting melody in the depths of my soul. But not without its moments, for the fire brigade was called for our Year 9 Volcano submission.   I served as both Hockey Captain and House Music Captain, adding to the cacophony of my days. I even had the honor of filming the Year 12 Assembly Video as the crocodile hunter. And the bonds formed with my dear friends, including Teri, who I met in pre-prep, remain unbreakable to this day. It was there where I wrote an original play about a Chicken Crossing the Road, which won House Arts and marked the end of my Kinvington journey. And what a journey it was, to be one of three to start in pre-prep and complete Year 12 (even with a few years in Scotland in between). Following my time at Kilvington, I completed my Bachelor of Social Science and then embarked on a journey across the world. The first phase of my career was in higher education. It included working at various educational institutions including Melbourne University, RMIT, Deakin, Swinburne, UBC in Vancouver, Imperial College in London, and an educational company in Tokyo. While in Japan, I played the drums in an underground band known as the Night Owls. I later released an album with my Melbourne band Peter Dickybird. I completed my MBA as the highest achieving graduate and co-founded a company with my partner that was featured in Opera Magazine, the front page of Reddit, and product hunt, and continues to have distribution partners worldwide.  As the co-founder and CXO of an award-winning Ed Tech company HEX (startwithhex.com), I have launched thousands of businesses and student careers and have been selected for multiple international trade missions with the Australian Government. We were the first provider to run a University program in Singapore post-covid, which I did with my seven-week-old baby in tow. Though the future is uncertain, I still hold onto the dream of opening a brewery at some point. But for now, I am content to bask in the shadows of my past experiences and achievements, as I reflect on the tale of my journey thus far.

Jane has amazing memories of her time at Kilvington and was part of everything from sporting teams and events, to debating and musical theatre. She also held the position of House Captain of Burman House in her final year – her memories of Senior School are such great ones! Since leaving school, she studied a Bachelor of Arts and has built multiple organisations to successful exit across the media, martech, fintech and digital health sectors. Jane's experience includes founding and exiting communications agency Undertow Media to the Bastion Group, and creating digital platform Shout which was acquired by ANZ Bank in 2015. She was also Director at the Melbourne Football Club from 2015-2020. Jane is also an investor and advisor to high profile start-ups and was an early stage investor and advisor at Tribe, Expert360, Brandcrush, Sorted and Unlockd, eventually leading the latter as CEO. Jane is Chair and Co-founder of the globally recognised health tech platform Smiling Mind which delivers online Mindfulness Meditation programs to young people. The non-profit organisation has had over seven million downloads and is used in two thirds of Australian schools. Most recently, she has been appointed Portfolio Advisor to the Commonwealth Bank's x15 ventures, assisting the country's largest bank with its digital innovation strategy via venture development, investment and acquisition, and holds the position of Chief of Staff at Linktree.

I started at Kilvington in Prep in 1965. There was only me and two other girls in the class, so we were in a composite class with Grade 1. Before writing this, I got out my old school photos and reports. My reports show that although I was very capable, unfortunately, I was not the most committed student.  Initially, I wanted to become a teacher after leaving School, however, my career took a change of direction when I didn't get the marks required. I also realised I was only choosing teaching to be with my friends, so I decided what I really wanted was to become a motor mechanic. As it was a male dominated industry, I was very lucky someone took a chance on me, and I commenced an apprenticeship working for a Volvo dealer. I also had to go to apprentice school where I was the only girl amongst all the boys which at seventeen, coming from an all-girls school right from Prep and not having any brothers, was quite daunting.  It was at this time, I realised that to prove myself amongst my peers, I needed to become a committed student and subsequently my efforts resulted in me winning an award in my technical studies and an award from Volvo Australia. A few years after finishing my apprenticeship, I took up a position as a Service Advisor. I got married in 1984, started working for Mercedes- Benz Australia in their head office in 1988 and had a daughter in 1992.  In 2005, my husband and I bought a small business and began working for ourselves. Then in 2010 we bought a garden supplies business which we sold in 2022. We have now retired and are looking forward to travelling.

After graduating from Kilvington, I completed my registered nurse training at Prince Henry's Hospital in 1983. I then went on to complete my critical nurse training at Southern Health in 1985. This led me to working in ICU and emergency departments in Victoria and Tasmania.  In 1987, I had my first son. I then went onto have twins (boy and girl) and another son whilst I was working in Tasmania. After having my family I completed my training in chemotherapy nursing at Peter MacCallum Hospital. However, I had a dream to work as a flight nurse with The Royal Flying Doctor Service. To do this, I needed Midwifery. Thus, I completed a Grad Dip in Midwifery at Deakin University. These qualifications led me to working for the RFDS at Yulara and then in the Kimberley in Western Australia, as well as part of the RAMSI mission for the Solomon Islands. Still not finished with studying, I completed a Master of Nursing at Monash University and a Grad Dip in Child, Family and Community Nursing at Latrobe University. My children then suggested I stop studying. While I have stopped gathering pieces of paper, I remain curious and continue to keep abreast with the most recent evidenced-based practice. I blame Kilvington for encouraging my curiosity and love of learning and encouraging me as a young woman to reach out and explore the world. Kilvington nurtured my love of classical music. I believe the root cause of this love lies in the compulsory musical appreciation classes and participation in the School opera and choir. I thank Mrs Patsy Venn for giving me the joy of music for day's end. Thank you Kilvington for telling me that a young woman can go and explore the world.

I attended Kilvington from 2008-2013 and was part of the first ever co-ed year to graduate. During my time at Kilvington, I was involved in Choir, rock band, tech crew, and the student creative writing publication. In year 12, I was the inaugural Tech Captain. After completing year 12, I studied a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Visual Art at Monash University. I then studied a Graduate Diploma of Journalism and a Master's of Media at RMIT. I moved to Canberra in March 2020, and I now work as a journalist at News Corp covering local news in Canberra and Queanbeyan. I'm passionate about crime and local politics reporting. One key experience at Kilvington, which probably set me on the course I'm on now, was going to a Melbourne Press Club talk. During the event, I met then-Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews. It was so cool. I remember there was a picture taken with us… somewhere out there there's a picture of teenage me doing a duckface with Dan Andrews!

I had six very happy years at Kilvington and particularly remember fun times in the debating club, the Year 12 drama production The Crucible with Haileybury College, wearing crazy costumes to House swimming and athletics carnivals, and great times with life-long friends. There might have been some classes in there, as well. After Kilvington, I completed economics and law degrees at Monash University and, later, a Doctor of Juridical Science at the University of Melbourne, completed part-time whilst working. My professional journey has taken me from working part-time in a large accounting firm whilst studying at Monash, to qualifying as a chartered accountant, to working as a solicitor for a large law firm, and then two years as senior tax advisor to the Federal Assistant Treasurer during the introduction of GST.   Since 2002 I have been a barrister and also sit on a number of government Boards.  Career highlights include appearing in the High Court, being appointed Queens Counsel, being the first woman awarded The Tax Institute's Chartered Tax Adviser of the Year from an eligible membership of over 7,000, and in 2021 being invited to give the annual Justice Graham Hill Memorial Lecture.

I have many fond memories of Kilvington - mainly about the teachers and my friends. Mr Kazenwadel and Mr Osborn for Math and Physics are a big part of my becoming a Math /Physics teacher later in my career. They were so caring and very good teachers – they made learning fun. Also, I had lots of fun with friends; the formals, getting changed in the 'dungeon' for sport and dressing up as yobos for our final day – What were we thinking!? I was School Vice-Captain in my final year- a role I was honoured to have and it taught me about leadership and service. I studied Civil Engineering at the University of Melbourne and worked in that field for several years. I then studied teaching at Monash University. I have worked at Haileybury ever since. I have had many roles including the VCE Coordinator, Head of Systems Engineering and, for the past 12 years, Dean of Staff - a staff welfare role I have really enjoyed. I have mentored the VCE in overseas programs in East Timor and China - involving travel to those countries. I competed a Master of Leadership at Monash and have been a VCE Physics assessor for VCAA for many years. I married Paul and we have three daughters and two grandchildren. Happy 100th Kilvington!

Kilvington created the foundation for a fabulous life. A love of learning, great friends (who are still my best friends today) and a passion for believing we can achieve anything. I still remember fondly sitting in the quadrangle at lunchtime, performing in the 'King and I' in Dalton Hall and walking to EE Gunn Reserve for softball, hockey (and every other field of sport!)  After completing a Bachelor and Masters in Marketing Management, I enjoyed branding and marketing roles in large corporates including ANZ, Coca-Cola and Pernod Ricard.  Moving to Adelaide in 2000, I yearned to create my own future and became a small business owner. For the past 18 years, I've owned a number of endota spas joining endota when there were four locations. Today, there are more than 100 locations around the world. I was the first endota marketing manager, became a shareholder of the endota group and led the creation of their first endota organic products.  In 2014, itching to create my own business and brand from scratch, I created Aleenta Health Club. A space for women to re-fuel and have fun whilst moving their bodies. We run boutique Pilates studios, Teacher Trainings and an online e-commerce business. Central to my businesses is supporting and nurturing women. I'm a daughter, wife, sister, and mum to Angus and twins Christian and Jasper. And step mum to my husband's three children. 

My sister and I started at Kilvington in 2000 (Year 5 for me). I have very happy memories of my time at Kilvington - playing four square at recess, the excitement of House Arts, spending time with friends in the Treehouse during Year 12.  School camp was a yearly highlight, music featured heavily through orchestra, and cheering on Barrett at House competitions (athletics, swimming) were always fun days.  Kilvington provided me with a supportive learning environment, diverse opportunities, and life-long friendships. I was encouraged to ask big questions, embrace curiosity and extend my thinking. The teachers managed to artfully combine learning with fun, which is probably where my love of learning stemmed from. Having teachers believe in my abilities, yet challenge my thinking instilled personal growth and confidence.    After Year 12, I studied occupational therapy at Monash University and worked clinically at Alfred Health in the neurosciences. I'm passionate about optimising health outcomes for people after brain injury, and in 2020 completed a PhD which focused on how to implement evidence-based interventions in neurorehabilitation.  In my current role as the Allied Health research Lead at Peninsula Health, I support clinicians to conduct and use research clinically. I also lead my own program of research, and lecture at Monash University. I feel very fortunate to work with internationally recognised leaders in rehabilitation research, and to present my research nationally and abroad.  In Year 6 (2001), everyone in the graduating year of 2007 wrote an essay on where we hoped we might be in 20-years' time (2021). Whilst my career predictions weren't accurate, I reflect back with happy memories, and remain excited about the potential for what is to come. 

The first day I attended Kilvington – halfway through Year 6 – I knew I'd stepped into a different world. School was no longer around the corner but an hour from home by bus and train. Jeans and jumpers were replaced with a navy blazer and beret with a badge on it. My fellow students – all girls back then – were lively, smart, funny, and friendly. The work was much harder – I went from being bored to being awed, overnight. It felt special, exciting, because this was where my mother and aunt had been students. My grandparents lived next door and as a little kid I'd peered over the fence, waiting for when I would one day belong. My year was filled with great characters and I made good friends. I especially loved Literature, Art and History, and was encouraged by teachers including the wonderful Ms Penwill, Ms Quirk and Ms Lotherington. After VCE, I undertook – unsurprisingly, with those interests! – Arts at Melbourne University and went on to work as a journalist, and eventually fulfilled the lifelong aim of publishing fiction. In my personal life, I've lived in rural Australia, the UK and mostly in Melbourne, and raised a family. When I started at Kilvington I was shy and found it hard to speak up but found an atmosphere here that invisibly fostered learning – people seemed genuinely interested in my development. I felt it. I grew in confidence and am grateful to have learned what a 'high' standard looks like – something I enjoy striving for in all projects. Kilvington remains a place of happy memories and the love of learning I gained here sustains me to this day. 

How fortunate was I to win a scholarship which gave me the ticket to an education at Kilvington. Yes – there were stringent uniform and behaviour codes and yes – the teaching methods were traditional and there was even an absurdly designed summer hat! However, the overarching radical (for the late 60s) philosophy was for each girl to achieve her full potential and excel. And I grasped it with both hands! Amidst the teachers in black gowns who sailed down the corridors, Lynne Folley swept into Kilvington. She became my inspirational teacher; she opened my eyes to the world around us and she gave us the tools that enabled me to become a passionate geographer. I was Vice-Captain of the School, Fysh House Captain and Dux of Humanities, but Kilvington also taught me the important life lessons of respect and kindness, being a team player (remember circle gap and overhead and cross!) and to live by the mantra of "not for our own, but others' good". Following an arts/teaching degree at Monash Uni, I loved teaching Geography in secondary schools – commencing at Donald High School, in the middle of the Wimmera wheat fields, and then in schools of all denominations in the metro area. Appointed senior mistress in my second year, I met the love of my life Peter (another first year out teacher assigned to a country position via a studentship). The geographer within has so loved travelling the world and seeing the textbooks come alive. Our two children (the second being one of the early pioneers of IVF) have had to put up with endless lessons en route. Juggling children at school, I returned to paid employment in schools and ultimately undertook the best job in the world as Executive Officer of the Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria. Currently, that passion imbued by Lynne Folley still burns as strong as ever, as I am part of a passionate team who is working hard to establish Geography Victoria – a not-for-profit organisation for people of all ages with a love of Geography.

My time at Kilvington can only be described as transformative; as a young student beginning in the Junior School, I was timid and afraid to explore new experiences. I couldn't see it at the time, but Kilvington provided me with the space and nurturing encouragement that allowed me to develop a strong sense of identity. I loved participating in music ensembles, choirs, debating and school leadership. Personally, it is the small moments that have stuck with me, like the smiles from teachers as I walked in early to band practice, or the conversations between peers on the bus to a debating tournament. As a recent graduate, I am so grateful for the way that Kilvington prepared me for life beyond school. Compared to the shy, scared girl who began her time at Kilvington all those years ago, it is incredible to reflect on where I am now. I have always wanted to become a vet, and my Year 12 journey set me up for a guaranteed pathway into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Melbourne. Being veterinary students, myself and my peers are in a unique position; we bring the fresh perspectives of young adults, while being consistently confronted with the highs and lows of the industry. It is intimidating to think of the immense challenges that vets face every day, and the resulting mental health crisis that is unfolding before our eyes. Ultimately, working with all kinds of animals - from donkeys and cattle, to dogs and rabbits, to Australian wildlife - has inspired me to pursue this challenging career pathway. And in the end, it is the relationships fostered with the people who love their animals that is truly rewarding. 

I loved Mrs Patsy Venn, my music teacher in Year 5 and 6 and was sad when she left to have a family. (She returned to Kilvington after I'd left school) I loved 'Madrigals', and with my friend Marilyn also started up a folk group at School. We learned guitar chords from a book, added a tambourine, and sang in harmony! Miss Johnston encouraged us, and we played at a Speech Night. Miss Johnston also organised the first House Choral competition. With Marilyn, I taught Barrett House Rhythm of Life, showed our House Captain how to 'conduct', and accompanied on piano. We won!  Although enthusiastic about sport, I was never a star, but Mrs Walke sent me to learn hockey, and I became the first ever hockey captain.  My career was predicted in the Kilvonian of 1970, when my stated goal was to become a music teacher.  Completing a Music Education degree at University of Melbourne, I taught at PLC, later completing a postgraduate degree in vocal performance.  Professional work as soloist and chorus singer in London and locally has been part of my journey alongside teaching, which also expanded to include pre-school and tertiary music pedagogy. Later came music leadership roles - Head of Music at Wesley College Glen Waverley, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, MLC, then Wesley St Kilda Road for another 14 years. During those years, I was a member of the Association of Music Directors in Independent Schools and proud to be alongside my old teachers Patsy Venn and Carol (Johnston) Cousens.  Now Curriculum Manager for all Foundation-Year 10 Music in the Victorian Curriculum, and VCE Music studies, I remain passionate about music in education and the community. 

My Kilvington journey began in Grade 6 and I have many special memories.
The Principal, Mrs McKie, was very strict about the school uniform, with regular uniform checks at the gate and for those old enough to remember 'witches britches' - picture Mrs McKie standing under the old wooden stairs checking that none of her girls were wearing them under their dress/tunic.  
I chose the Commercial course at Form 7 as I really did enjoy the subjects offered and achieved good results.  After leaving Kilvington, I successfully completed an Advanced Diploma at Hales' College.  
My working life began in the publishing industry, followed by the advertising world.  I moved on to the radio and television industry where I have many special memories working for Bert Newton at Radio 3UZ and Channel 9 assisting his morning radio program and his night-time role on the Don Lane Show.  His radio program was show business-based and I got to meet some amazing people and speak with many more.  Debbie Reynolds and James Mason come to mind as well as many local celebrities.  Some years later I also worked with Steve Vizard on Tonight Live/Fast Forward/Full Frontal shows on Channel 7.
Married for 49 years next December - we have two amazing daughters, one married with three children and the other a free spirit living in Queensland.
Twenty years ago, I became involved in local government and was elected to Glen Eira Council.  Since then, I have served as Mayor five times, Deputy Mayor twice and a Councillor right up to the present day - an interesting journey that was completely unplanned and unexpected, given that I am NOT a political person in the 'party' sense.

I had six of the best years of my life at Kilvington. I loved it from day one and made many life-long friends who I still see today. The small size of the school back then meant that you knew everyone. I loved craft classes the most and have kept all the items we made. I no longer wear the brown corduroy blazer that I sewed, but my aqua apron with the red machine embroidery is in my kitchen drawer and my tapestry box sits on the bedroom dresser. Cookery classes were always fun. We got into such trouble one day after having a flour fight.  Taking part in the many musical productions and other concerts was so enriching. Sport was a big highlight too and I loved being part of netball and tennis teams. Geography was my favourite academic subject and I loved Mrs Lower and Mrs Shorland's classes. I know I still today use skills learned back then in those classes. After leaving school, I spent seven years at William Angliss College studying tourism and hospitality. I've very much enjoyed working in many different roles in both the tourism industry and the event ticketing world since 1982. The Victorian Arts Centre was a favourite workplace and through this I got to work at big events such as the Melbourne Cup, Grand Prix and Australian Open tennis. But my 21 years with Qantas Airways shaped me the most. Working in the reservations office for 12 years had its ups and downs but prepared me well for a further nine years at Melbourne Airport. I never believed I could have such fun at work, and often thought, "they want to pay me to do this?".  Travel has dominated my life since childhood. I fell in love with Europe during the first visit in 1985 and particularly the Nordic countries. Much later I fell in love with a Swede - we are now living in south-east Sweden running a forest farm and renovating a 400-year old house. Plans to build a holiday rental cottage on the property are taking shape.  

My time at Kilvington was highlighted by the many and varied activities I was able to experience, music, hockey, athletics and stage lighting for the school musicals My first overseas trip was with the School in Year 11 to New Caledonia. As School Captain I was thrust into a leadership role which I now reflect served me well for my career.   My science degree led me to a career in pharmaceutical research.  After roles in industry, I established the Victorian office for a US research company. The 90s were great for the industry as we traveled frequently which has continued throughout my life.   In my early 30s I established a consultancy. I was fortunate enough to have two great business partners who enable me to juggle work and three children under three. We grew the business for nearly 15 years before being presented with an offer "too good to refuse", and sold to a US multinational. 

Kilvington provided me with immensely important opportunities in music, academia and in leadership, all within an environment where it was safe to challenge myself, and to explore and achieve beyond boundaries I otherwise would not have ventured past.  Our teachers were hugely committed to our success, striking an incredible balance between supporting our learning at every step, whilst ensuring we earned absolutely every assessment mark through our own hard work!  Respecting our fellow learners was non-negotiable, and deeply entrenched in the way classes and events were run.  It was a time in my life where I felt like I could pursue anything and be anything; everything our school years should be! After attaining a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Business (Management), I ventured into IT Consulting with a major consultancy firm and have worked in a wide variety of IT analyst, consulting and leadership roles ever since. Although I had never considered myself a 'technical' type, the grounding Kilvington gave me in being curious, pursuing answers, respecting others and striving for excellence have served me immensely. Along with the professional journey that I didn't realise I was being prepared for, was the personal journey. Life does not go to plan for any of us, and the challenges I encountered through becoming a single parent to two fantastic children were not ones I anticipated.  Again, my Kilvington experience continues to beautifully inform my way through – 'one foot in front of the other' progress, feeling safe to ask for help, and prioritising acts of service, knowing that as I receive help, I am also responsible for providing it.  My deepest thanks to the Kilvington family – you have crafted, and are crafting, experiences that have massive ripple effects and lifelong value. 

I'm a technical writer living in Barcelona. I've worked in IT for most of my working life, which is strange since I wasn't keen on computers at school and wanted to be a lawyer. But with technical writing, I get to indulge my main passion, which is writing. I write in my spare time too, and in 2017 published my first novel With the Music. My second novel will be coming out at some point too.   I lived and worked in London in the early 2000s, and the rest of my time has been spent in Melbourne. I'll definitely be coming back at some point as I still call Australia home.   At Kilvington, I loved my English, Literature and History classes. Sadly, I've forgotten the six years of French I took as I needed to make way for Spanish! The best part of Kilvington was the friendships I made. These friendships are alive and well 30 years later. Another highlight was when they removed the beret from the winter uniform!

My fondest memories are those shared with the wonderful friends I made throughout my high school years - we were always there to share in the fun times and support each other through the challenges of teenage life. Although we have not kept in touch as often as we had hoped, when we do catch up it is as if we were never apart. Academically and personally, I was supported by some amazing teachers whose words of wisdom continue to inspire me (Mrs Me, Mrs Wake, Mr Kazanwadel and Mrs Venn to name a few!) I was privileged to be offered many opportunities at School and enjoyed debating, being in the musical productions (Years 7-10), choir and Madrigal groups, as well as being as a Prefect. I married the love of my life, Theo, as soon as I completed my BAppSc at Swinburne (we started dating the summer before I entered Year 11 and are still together 29 years later). I then embarked upon my career in clinical paediatric sleep medicine at Monash, where I continue to work now as the Chief Clinical Scientist of the Paediatric Sleep Centre. Along my professional journey, I have completed a GradDipSc (Sleep Medicine) and MSc (Sleep Medicine); and was co-director of a private paediatric sleep unit for 10 years alongside my role at Monash. 

I was a student at Kilvington from 1969 - 1975 (Year 6 to Year 12), back when Kilvington was a small girls' school and in an entirely different educational era - an era when few women did Sciences. When I expressed my desire to become a doctor, I received a great deal of support from all staff. Kilvington allowed me to develop and grow as a person, by encouraging my aspirations or goals.  As a girl from an Indian background growing up in Australia in the 1960s-70s, I experienced racism from the general community on several occasions. However, the counterbalance to these negative experiences was the complete acceptance, encouragement, warmth, dedicated caring and empowerment I received at Kilvington.  There were so many highlights: getting my first Kilvington uniform and being so thrilled I slept in my school jumper the night before starting School; sitting in the room at the top of the main staircase to watch the moon landing in 1969. I still remember the Headmistress (Mrs McKie) saying that she knew that we would all see lots of great things in our lives and that we could make great things happen. Those words remained with me and indeed Mrs McKie was correct! I was part of the first musical production at Kilvington - HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan. Mrs Patsy Venn was the Director and we put on this performance to mark the opening of Dalton Hall in 1974. Suzanne Johnston, who went on to become an internationally renowned opera star, was 'discovered' by Mrs Venn at the auditions for the musical.  After VCE, I studied medicine at Monash University from 1976 to 1981, when fewer than one in three students was female. I worked in emergency medicine for some time but then became interested in Psychiatry. Working as a young Registrar at the former Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital, I was drawn to the plight of mothers who had developed mental illness after giving birth. This led to me investigating the relationship between hormones at varying life stages and women's mental illness.  In 2002, I established the Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) - based at the Alfred Hospital. MAPrc now has more than 100 staff and conducts world-class research on women's mental health, neuropsychiatric technology, psychopharmacology, psychiatric services and cognitive psychiatry. In 2012, I joined Kilvington as Chair of the Board and remained until 2021. It was a privilege to work for the School in that capacity and collaborate with the wonderful Board directors, brilliant Principal and the whole school community. In 2019, I was recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours with an AM for my services to Medicine, particularly Psychiatry.   I have two adult daughters with my neurologist husband, Associate Professor Ernie Butler. Both our daughters attended Kilvington. Ernie and I will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in December 2022.   Kilvington gave me self-confidence, inspired me to go for my dreams and instilled a sense of compassion for others. I am truly indebted to Kilvington for the wonderful start I got in life.

I was at Kilvington from 2013 until 2018, during which I made so many wonderful connections and lifelong friendships. I really loved the emphasis on House activities at Kilvington, and some of my fondest memories come from engaging in activities such as House Cheers and House Arts. The music program at Kilvington was definitely a highlight for me; I loved participating in the School production, choirs, and the Fethers house band. Not only did Kilvington allow me to flourish socially, but it also supported me academically, providing me with the resources to apply and gain entry to the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Monash University. I am now in my Honours year, as the student representative for my cohort, and I am conducting research into social functioning and ADHD as part of my thesis. Alongside this, I am working as a research assistant on a project investigating anxiety interventions for children. Completing this degree has made me realise my passions for both clinical and academic domains of psychology. In the future, I am hoping to complete a clinical PhD in psychology with the goal to enter a dual researcher-clinician career. 

Starting school at Kilvington felt like entering another world. Shadowing behind four older sisters, who all attended the School, I was the smallest, the most unsure, but also the 'naughty' one. It was a tough journey. With learning and reading difficulties, I felt like I never fitted in.  My first day is etched in my memory; a shock, matching uniforms, and what felt like an entire school, teachers included, walking past to stare – at the triplets!  This incredibly difficult beginning was the start of an amazing journey, and some amazing teachers who showed us just who we could be, and that despite being 'one of the triplets' we are all individuals with something to contribute to our world. 'Not for our own, but other's good' is still part of my everyday mantra; in the service that I give to others is where my worth lies. I feel I have come full circle in my journey from the 'girls' school', I didn't want to attend, to teaching at MLC, an all-girls school in Kew. There are teachers in our lives who make a huge difference to the perception we have of ourselves and what we are capable of - Mr. Lower, Dr Wilmoth, and Ms Coats are a few of the teachers that (pretended) not to notice the 'fighting me' and found something more.  I hope I see that in my students. Today, I am sure the 12-year-old me might be shocked to know that I became a teacher, teacher librarian, and recently completed a second Master degree in Education. 

Kilvington was a great school for me – the emphasis on music, in particular, allowed me to grow my passion for music and singing. Highlights were definitely the school productions and musicals – lots of Gilbert & Sullivan, The Boyfriend, the Madrigals and choirs. They gave me the opportunity to perform, which was a great foundation for what was to come. I also have very strong memories of the school trip to Central Australia in 1978. Great teachers like Patsy Venn and Julie Lotherington had a big impact on me. As School Captain, I also had the opportunity to take on a leadership role, which was a real privilege. After school I completed an Arts degree at the University of Melbourne (honours) studying music, history and French. I then joined Myer and began my professional career in business roles before moving into training, organisational development and human resources. Meanwhile I kept singing, and eventually went to opera school at the VCA. I sang in the Victoria State Opera Chorus and even had my own company for a while. I have one son. He married an American girl and lives in New Jersey. I am now a grandma as well. 

My journey at Kilvington began in 2013, and at that time it was quite thrilling to find that there were only about eight boys in Year 5! Twelve months later, my brother, Xavier, joined me at the School.  The wonderful friendships I formed over the years with teachers and peers were, and still are, a valued part of my school life, and I gained so much from embracing the small and caring community.  I took every opportunity to be involved in a wide range of co-curricular activities. I have fond memories of percussion lessons with my teacher, Steve Falk, and performing at Annual Music Concerts in the orchestra, concert band, string ensemble and percussion ensemble.  Robotics competitions were always a fun and intense experience, where we were given the opportunity to test our skills in problem solving, programming and creative thinking.  Competing at the Athletic Carnivals and EISM Championships at Lakeside Stadium are experiences I will never forget. The best part was having my family there, cheering me over the finish line.  My favourite year was Year 9, when once a week we caught the train to the city to explore and find new places. Visiting Bayside Special Development School each week as part of the Year 9 program taught me so much about life. Finishing my final year as School Co-Captain was an honour.  I am currently studying a Bachelor of Science at Monash University and hope to study physiotherapy in the future. I am currently employed as Head of Athletics and Cross Country at Star of the Sea College and sprints coach at Kilvington and other APS and GSV schools. My spare time is spent with family and friends, and I train at Sandringham Athletics Club, competing in amateur and professional running events.  I would like to thank Kilvington Grammar and my teachers for a wonderful education and engaging learning environment.

What stands out about Kilvington is the beautiful close-knit community that I am really pleased to say is still present today. There were friendships forged not just within year levels but across year levels.  One example that demonstrates the close bonds and friendships forged was one afternoon in Year 12. Our teachers had organised for TV presenter Jules Lund to run a session with us. Our 17 to 18 year-old brains were just so excited to have someone famous spend some time with us. Jules Lund ran an exercise to imagine that this moment would be the last time we would see the person we sat next to ever again in our lives. He wanted us to exchange words of admiration or something that we wanted the other person to know. The exercise highlighted each persons' strengths and their contributions to our community. The words exchanged that day were unforgettable and so special and there was not a dry eye in Dalton Hall that day. Since leaving Kilvington, I completed my degree in Biomedical Science in 2007.  I was awarded a Women in MBA scholarship and graduated in 2019.  I have been lucky to have had a diverse career having worked in a range of sectors including medical research, banking and state and local government.  It wasn't until I moved to a regional town that I realised the importance of being a part of a cohesive and diverse community. Community is really special and should be nurtured because you get much more out of it that you put in.  I am part of the Kilvington Alumni Committee and I want to continue to build a community that fosters lifelong connections to the School and among each other. 

My favourite memories as a student at Kilvington involve cross-country, participating in the House musical and a Year 9 camping trip that involved copious amounts of mud. I left Kilvington at the end of year 10 to pursue a career in classical ballet and was fortunate enough to dance professionally in Canada, Austria and Germany.   In my last year in Germany, I completed Year 12 by correspondence and commenced a Bachelor of Laws at Monash the following year - graduating with first class honours in 2004. I subsequently obtained a Masters of Law from Melbourne University and was made a Fellow of INSOL International in 2016. During my 12 years of practice as a solicitor at MinterEllison and Arnold Bloch Leibler, my husband and I welcomed a daughter and son (now 11 and 8 respectively). In 2018, I joined the Victorian Bar and commenced a new career as a commercial barrister specialising in insolvency, regulatory and general commercial litigation.   I am presently a member of the International Women's Federation and the Insolvency and Restructuring Committee of the Law Council of Australia and am a Sessional Lecturer with the Faculty of Law at Monash University.   I am forever grateful for the academic foundation and inner resilience I gained from my years at Kilvington.

Kilvington was such a tiny school. It was like a family. Life was simple and our teachers were committed and warm.  The highlight of the School was the science room and although not academically proficient I still recall the excitement of exploring Petrie dishes and tubes sometimes with unexpected dramatic results.  However, our careers counselling was limited.  I was keen to become a corsetier (I didn't) after hearing a refined lady exhorting the joys of following that path.  The regular school assemblies left me with a great love of singing the Lord's Prayer.  I've always loved singing.  Travelling by ship to England furthered my secretarial experience followed by marriage, children, part-time work with the National Trust of Victoria and now retirement with much loved grandchildren.  I still meet some of the class of '59 regularly until COVID struck, but hope to resume soon.

I have fond memories of my days at Kilvington. Twenty-five years later, some of my closest friends are my Kilvington classmates.  Sport features heavily amongst my highlights at Kilvington. I was proud to win Kilvington's first Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta rowing title in my single scull. I also participated in every sport I could including netball, basketball, tennis and volleyball.  As the Fysh House captain, I enjoyed leading the green team in various sports carnivals, debating and House Arts. Another highlight was learning French and travelling to New Caledonia where we put our skills to the test. I always wanted to be a journalist, so I studied a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications at Swinburne University. I was then selected for a cadetship with Leader Newspapers where I worked as a reporter. Several years later I branched into broadcast journalism, learning my skills at WIN TV in Albury.  When I moved back to Melbourne, I worked for 3AW and Channel 7. I spent a decade at 3AW as their crime reporter, which saw me travel interstate and overseas to cover major breaking stories including earthquakes, bushfires, floods and a mine explosion.  These days I work in the ABC Melbourne newsroom, predominately as a radio and TV reporter and radio newsreader. My personal journey since leaving Kilvington has involved a lot of rowing – competing at state and national championships, as well as world masters events. I have also been a surf lifesaver and raced  surf boats – winning a national title along the way.  It was through rowing that I met my wonderful partner Conrad. Our three-year-old daughter Charlotte attends the ELC and is currently the youngest student at Kilvington.  It's so lovely to be back at the School and occasionally see one of my favourite teachers and mentors from when I was a student - Kerryn Warburton.