Welcome Diana Nicholson, Chair of Council

We are happy to welcome Old Grammarian Diana Nicholson (1979) to the position of Chair of School Council in 2024. Diana is a senior partner in the Mergers and Acquisition practice in the Melbourne office of King & Wood Mallesons with over 25 years’ experience as a partner of the firm. Diana is a market expert in mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and corporate governance. Amongst other roles in the firm, Diana leads King & Wood Mallesons Financial Services Sector.

Diana is also a member of the Takeovers Panel (and an acting president), a trustee of Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, a director of Care Australia Limited and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Diana is an Old Grammarian, as are many in her family, including her late mother Fay Nicholson (1949), her sister Fiona Nicholson (1985) and her nieces Emma (2011), Lucy (2014) and Sarah (2008) Nicholson.

Farewell to Carolyn Clark

Carolyn is a community-minded and passionate member of the Melbourne Girls Grammar family who has been involved with the School since 2010 when her daughter Emi started at Merton Hall in Year 7. Carolyn contributed meaningfully to the MGGS community during her time as a parent, as a Representative on the Parents Association, later becoming President for two years. Carolyn then joined the School Council, becoming Chairman of the Governance Committee in 2016 until she took on the role of Deputy Chair of Council in April 2020.  

In 2023 Carolyn spoke at the Year 12 Valedictory Assembly and at Speech Night, both times touching on how despite not being an Old Grammarian herself, through the experience of her daughter Emi and her involvement with the School Council and the Parents Association, she has come to discover what is so very special about Melbourne Girls Grammar – its community. Carolyn has gladly given much of her time, energy and care to the School and the Grammarians who have attended Merton Hall during her time involved. Carolyn is particularly passionate about the importance of the special and lifelong friendships and connections our community facilitates.  

Carolyn’s daughter Emi was a wonderful role model during her Senior Years and contributed widely to the School, particularly in sport. Emi was a gun on the slopes during Snowsports season, where she was no doubt fully supported by her mother. Emi also represented the student body on the Student Executive Council during Year 12.  

Carolyn’s exceptional contribution to a number of organisations through her voluntary work, in particular to women’s welfare, public health and education, has earned her the honour of Order of Australia.

We thank Carolyn for her commitment and service to the school over many years. Carolyn’s dedication to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment has made Melbourne Girls Grammar a stronger community and she has helped shape not just the academic integrity of our students but given considerable attention to the development of character in our Grammarians, encouraging them to strive for excellence while remaining compassionate and kind.

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Farewell to Anna Permezel

Anna (Johnson, 1981) and her family are proud to have been associated with Melbourne Girls Grammar for almost 100 years. Anna’s Mother Prue (Holmes, 1953) and Grandmother Joan (Elvin, 1926) are Old Grammarians and Anna began her MGGS journey at Grade 5, graduating Year 12 in 1981. Anna’s daughters Samantha and Sophie also attended MGGS, finishing up in 2011 and 2017 respectively.  

During her time as a parent, Anna was heavily involved in the School and supported MGGS through service to the Parents Association, the Merton Hall Foundation Executive Board, and generous contributions to the Artemis Centre project and other fundraising efforts. Anna joined the School Council in 2015 and served until April 2023.  

Over the years Anna has lent her support to Friends of the Arts and was a great supporter of the Snowsports community. Anna’s daughters Sammy and Soph were both active participants in Snowsports, in addition to other sports and school life. Anna has been a wonderful role model within our community and a friendly face at many MGGS events over the years.  

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Anna for her past and ongoing service to our School. From her time as a student, to the education of her daughters and beyond, we acknowledge the care, effort and generosity of Anna’s involvement. Anna’s insight and guidance has enriched our community and helped share the future of Melbourne Girls Grammar.  

We say farewell to Carolyn and Anna with our deepest appreciation for their contributions to MGGS.

Farewell to Trudie Horsfall, President of the Old Grammarians Society
_{Written and delivered by Libby Jones, Secretary, Old Grammarian Society, at the MGGS International Women's Day event, March 2024.}

It is so important to acknowledge, celebrate and document the achievements of women; our history books are pretty thin on women’s achievements. In keeping with the UN’s theme for Women, in 2024, ‘Count Her In’ the OGS Committee would like to honour an industrious Old Grammarian, Trudie Horsfall, on her retirement as President of the OGS.

Trudie has made a significant contribution to both the School and Old Grammarians Society over the past 15+ years. Accordingly, the Committee felt that Trudie’s service needed to be celebrated by a wider School audience of Old Grammarians, parents and friends.  

Her roles have included:

• President of the Snow Sports Auxiliary 2008–2010
• Vice President of the Parents Association 2011–2015
• Parents Association rep to the OGS Committee 2011–2015
• And President of the OGS Committee from 2017–2024

The role of OGS President is full on and it includes:

• connecting regularly with OGs,
• meeting with the Principal and other key staff members,
• attending OG reunions, local, intra and interstate plus School functions and meetings.

There are the usual tasks of organising meetings, writing articles and reports for School committees and publications, and importantly, ensuring the OG Society is included and connected to the major school events and projects. Under her leadership the Committee has completed a range of projects:

• Completing a review and revision of the OGS Constitution
• Reviewing all the OGS procedural documents and transferring them from a paper-based system to an online platform
• Planning and fundraising for the installation of the DJ Ross Memorial window in the Chapel
• Contributing to the establishment and growth of the Emily Hensley Award
• Contributing OGS funds to School projects, such as the bridge connecting the Artemis Centre to the Chapel and to the Old Grammarians Scholarship funds
• Revising and re-publishing the Gilman Jones Scholarship Book

Trudie has an open and direct manner, she does not flinch from saying what is necessary, but manages to deliver her message in a non-threatening way.  Trudie has been a positive, active and vocal advocate for the OGS. These remarkable achievements demonstrate an enormous dedication to the School and the OGS. A big task for anyone, but when you consider Trudie also commutes regularly to attend many of these activities, not just from say the Peninsula, but from Merrijig, a good three hours from Melbourne; it is an enormous commitment.

As a mark of our esteem, the Committee has voted unanimously to award Trudie, an Honorary Life Membership of the Old Grammarians Society.

Trudie, there is not much more to say, except thank you for an amazing innings. I cannot imagine you will retire, as such, but good luck in whatever the next chapter offers you.

Farewell to Pip O’Connor
_{Written by Lynn Broadway, Deputy Principal}

Pip O’Connor, a second-generation Grammarian, commenced at the School as Pip Farrer in 1954 and completed 13 years as a student in 1965. She went on to train as a teacher and forged a long and fine career in teaching and educational leadership.

In 2005, Pip returned to MGGS as a teacher of English. In 2006, she joined the Old Grammarians Society Committee and began teaching Year 7 History. She and fellow teacher Fiona Kearney were responsible for introducing a one-term project on the history of the School in the Year 7 History curriculum, which involved the students interviewing Old Grammarians and research tasks delving into the School’s archives. This ensured that the history of the School was embedded in the Year 7 curriculum.

In addition to teaching, in 2007 Pip was appointed as the MGGS Historian and undertook an oral history project on the 1942-3 evacuation of the School to Marysville and Doncaster during World War II. She finished teaching in 2007 to take on a part-time role, working alongside the School Archivist, Helen Moylan for the next 17 years.

This role enabled Pip to embark on various projects alongside a comprehensive examination of the war years and the evacuation to Marysville and Doncaster through interviews and research of archival material, including official records such as Council minutes; this culminated in the 70^th Anniversary Return to Marysville in 2012 and the publication of Marysville Memories, a detailed history of the evacuation and its participants, including staff, often in their own voices. The reunion at Marysville was a massive logistical task and a personal highlight for Pip.

As a gatherer of the School’s social history from 1893, Pip has created an invaluable digital archive through researching, interviewing, filming and creating historical summaries, in written form, in video and in photographs. These have captured and preserved many aspects of our history, including various faculties, prizes and scholarships, sporting groups, Old Grammarian biographies, the story of all the school buildings and much, much more…

As a member of staff, Pip realised the significance of the influence that amazing educators and leaders have in maintaining traditions, as well as transforming an innovative School. To document this legacy, Pip has built a comprehensive record of staff service (and photographs) from the earliest days of French teacher, Madame Liet to the present day.  

Over the years, Pip has continued to educate new staff, students, school groups and Old Grammarians with presentations at events and special occasions, like anniversaries and countless reunions. Every year, for the 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 Year reunions, Pip has prepared a slideshow of photographs which evoke memories of the relevant peer year’s time at school, staff, events and what the School looked like.

Pip has been a longstanding committee member of the Old Grammarians Society and her commitment and understanding of the importance of alumnae to the School has been crucial in maintaining the relationship between the School and the Old Grammarians. Pip was named an Honorary Life Member of the Old Grammarians in 2022 and the Society, through the OG Committee, is indebted to her for her support and all her contributions in time, person, leadership, publications and wise counsel.  

As Pip prepares to retire from her role at MGGS, we are delighted that she is keen to continue to support the School in a voluntary capacity and we wish her well for the future as she spends more time at the farm with her family.

Farewell to Margaret McNaughton
_{Written by Clare Fitzgerald, Community Engagement Manager in collaboration with Pip O'Connor.}

As we bid farewell to Margaret McNaughton (Atkins, 1955/6) from her official roles in the Old Grammarians community, we reflect on a lifetime dedicated to service to our School. A cherished member of our school family, Marg attended MGGS from 1946 to 1956, laying the foundation for decades of continuing involvement.

Marg joined the OG Committee in 1957, the year after she left School, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey of contribution. Her commitment and leadership were evident, serving as President of the Old Grammarians Society in 1976-77, and later holding roles as Vice President and Treasurer.

Marg played a pivotal role in shaping our school community. From 1982 to 1984, with her two daughters at the School, she served as President of the Parents Association and also represented parents' interests on the School Council. In 1997, Marg continued her service, this time as an Old Grammarian representative on the School Council's Property & House Committee. She was for many years Treasurer of the OGS, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to the financial well-being of the organisation. One of her most significant contributions has been as Chairman of Trustees of the Gilman Jones Scholarship. For many years she held the responsibility of the management of the funds and has been pivotal in the awarding the Scholarship each year.

Marg was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Old Grammarians Society in recognition of her service to the Society and the School. In 2019, the Principal, Dr Meath, created a prize in her honour which is awarded every year at Speech Night to a Year 11 Grammarian who has made a positive influence in her local and wider community.

Marg’s contributions span generations, leaving an enduring legacy of service and leadership.

As Marg moves on from the Old Grammarians Society Committee, we extend our deepest gratitude for her countless hours of selfless dedication. While she may be stepping back from official roles, her influence and impact will continue to resonate within our community.