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Births

• Daniel and Jacqueline Burrows (Hang 2001) welcomed Isabelle Rosalind Burrows on 19 July 2021.

Celebrations

•  Margaret Spring (Colclough, 1939) celebrated her 100th birthday in November. 
•  Jessie Smith (2004) has secured a barrister's pupillage at Doughty Street Chambers, the leading human rights set in London. At the conclusion of her PhD at Cambridge, Jessie will join eminent Australian lawyers including Geoffrey Robertson QC and Gillian Triggs - United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, alongside Amal Clooney, Sir Keir Starmer - leader of the UK Labour Party, Sir Howard Morrison - former UK Judge to the International Criminal Court and Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein - former UN human rights chief. She will be practicing in criminal law, human rights law and international criminal law. 
• Elizabeth Spry (1998) has been awarded an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Fellowship, commencing at Deakin University in 2022, for her research into intergenerational health. Elizabeth is currently working in a postdoctoral role with Deakin University.

Marriages

• Vivienne Crompton (2005) married Marcus Brown on Friday 9 April 2021 at St John's Anglican Church, Toorak, with the reception at the Alexandra Club.

Vale

Acknowledging, celebrating and paying tribute to the women who make up our Melbourne Girls Grammar community is important to us. Graduates of Melbourne Girls Grammar and other community members have gone on to do incredible things with their lives.

If you'd like to pass on an obituary for an Old Grammarian or past staff member for IE, please email community@mggs.vic.edu.au

• Robin Benjamin (Williams 1959) 4 August 2021
• Margaret Bourke (Cumpston 1961) 7 August 2021
• Cynthia De Lisle (Ferguson 1945) 15 October 2021
• Faye Ennis-Harris (Hunt 1950) 22 August 2021
• Sarah Harry (1990) 27 March 2021
• Pat Hocking (Stillman 1940) 26 July 2021
• Janet Jones (Balderstone 1980) 27 October 2021
• Barbara Lovell (Lee 1950) 23 January 2021
• Prudence McColl (1962) 15 July 2021
• Natalie Peate (Wagner 1950) 13 April 2021
• Nola Plackett (Pierce 1954) 5 January 2020
• Hazel Spiller (Beswicke 1939) 12 April 2021
• Antoinette Russell (Kirkpatrick 1944) 29 May 2021
• Catherine Wileman (MacDermott 1956) March 2020
• Alison Webster (May 1950) 1 May 2021
• Margaret Wesley (Redfearn 1948) 8 May 2021

Robin Benjamin (Williams 1959)

Robin spent 12 years at MGGS, commencing in kindergarten. The philosophy of D.J. Ross appealed to her paediatrician father Stanley, and mother, Joy. Robin’s sisters Jan and Belinda followed. She had happy memories of school and made several lifelong friends. Robin’s love of literature and her enquiring mind continued her whole life, enjoying 35 years at the same book club. She was a regular theatre and NGV attendee. She chose Mercer House for teacher training and continued to teach until retirement. She loved her rural experience at Mt Buller where she was the first teacher on the mountain, as well as at several centres in Melbourne, in London when travelling and her secretarial work at the Australian Defence Department. Robin and her gemologist husband, Frank, cherished their three children and six grandchildren. The children each experienced living overseas and Robin visited them in London, Germany, China and Finland, where one son resides.

Robin was a long-serving committee member and volunteer at the Princess Hill Community Centre, where she was very much valued. Before she became unwell from breast cancer, Robin regularly helped a homework group of refugee children, often joined by their grandparents. In her 80th year, she died peacefully at Peter McCallum Hospital.

Written by her sister, Jan.

Margaret Bourke (Cumpston 1961)

Margaret graduated in 1961 with excellent results. A keen bridge player, success came early, representing Victoria at the ANC for the first time in 1973. By the time she and husband, Tim Bourke, moved to Canberra in 1989 to join the Commonwealth Public Service, Margaret had represented Victoria in the Women’s Team 13 times at the ANC, winning six times. Margaret was proud of her 47 continual years of attendance at the ANC. However, her best performance was representing Australia on 31 occasions, currently more than any other player. Margaret and her husband were prolific collectors of bridge books and donated part of their collection of nearly 10,000 items to the State Library Victoria in Australia creating "the most extensive collection of books on the game of bridge in any public institution of the world” (Des Cowley, State Librarian). Once retired, Margaret threw herself into voluntary work, both at ABF headquarters in Canberra, and the Canberra Senior Citizens Book Fair for which she was the chief organizer for many years. Margaret died after a three-year battle against melanoma.

Written by her husband, Tim.

Cynthia De Lisle (Ferguson 1945)

Throughout our time together, Mum often told me of her very happy years at MGG. She often spoke of the many close friendships developed through those years, friends with whom she kept quite close contact over the 93 years of her life.

Throughout that life, Mum worked hard to help create a very happy life for myself, my sister and my two brothers. We always were a very happy family and Mum's life was rich and fulfilling in every way. Rest in peace Mum, with my fondest love.

Written by her son Chris.

Cynthia lived in Montville for many years where her husband, Gordon, had an art gallery. They were very much involved in the art world. Cynthia left school in 1945 as did Anne Browne (Nevitt) and I (Betty Darby). We kept in touch all those years – we had 13 children between us so were quite busy!! All 93 years old!

Written by school friend, Betty Sharp (Darby 1945).

Faye Ennis-Harris (Hunt 1950)

Faye attended MCEGGS for her secondary education and was School Vice Captain in her final year, 1950.

She went on to do an arts degree at Melbourne University, and some years later, when her children were young, completed a Diploma of Education followed by a Masters of Education.  She taught secondary school French and English for many years, and then moved into teaching trainee language teachers at Melbourne University. She was involved in the Modern Language Teachers Association of Victoria for some years. In semi-retirement, she taught adults English as a second language.

She spent her last year in aged care in Townsville close to her daughter’s family.

Written by her daughter, Sally Cavalieri (Ennis 1978).

Sarah Harry (1990)

Sarah was a champion in the eating disorder, body positivity, yoga and HAES (Heath at Every Size) space. She was one of Australia’s leading body image and eating disorder specialists and her voice publicly heralded the body positivity movement in Australia. She co-founded Body Positive Australia and pioneered yoga for bigger bodies. 

Sarah was the author of the book Fat Yoga – Yoga for All Bodies, was on the Board of HAES Australia, regularly presented at universities and conferences, and was a past Board Member and Vice President of Eating Disorders Victoria. Sarah was a proud Ambassador for Vic Health Australia’s “This Girl Can” Campaign. Her activism and media commentary will leave a lasting legacy in the broader community.

In her personal life, Sarah was a devoted mother to two boys – Charlie and Max, sister to Pip, Nicola (both OGs) and Michael, and daughter to Mary and John. She was beloved by her friends and private clients. Her life was dedicated to smashing stereotypes, caring for others, and creating safe spaces for people to think differently about their bodies and lives – to know they were enough. She will be missed beyond measure. 

Written by her sister, Pip

Hazel Spiller (Beswicke 1939) 

Hazel was in her 99th year living and enjoying life in an aged care facility in Orange NSW when, quite suddenly, she became ill. Just days prior to her death, she was out and about spending time with her family. Hazel always had fond memories of her boarding days and the enduring friendships made. After leaving school she enrolled in a deportment course which resulted in becoming a mannequin for Berlei where, at age 17, she modelled undergarments for the various department store buyers who just happened to be men. She completed a dress design course at Emily MacPherson College which fostered her love of style. She sewed her own garments well into her 90's. Hazel and husband, Willis, farmed in Western Victoria before moving to Geelong. In her 90's she moved to Orange NSW with her only child to be closer to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a follower of Jesus and was grateful for her long life.

Written by her daughter, Fiona