Digital Edition | January 2023 Connect.
Rediscover Avila College in 2023. Tour the school campus, meet students and chat to staff at Avila College's school tours. For upcoming dates and bookings, visit avila.vic.edu.au
Digital Edition 1 As a Presentation inspired school and named in honour of one of the first female doctors of the church, Avila College has a rich foundation of inspiring, trailblazing women. The Venerable Nano Nagle and St Teresa of Avila were individuals who challenged convention, transformed lives and responded to a calling to be the hands and feet of Christ. They were women of action, women of faith and women of vision. Their courage, compassion and character continues to inspire hundreds of years later and we are so proud to be part of that legacy. As women of Avila we share a spirit of curiosity, daring and optimism that builds confidence and the ability to be our best selves, both individually and collectively as a community. It is an absolute delight to discover where our former students are today and the impact that they are having in the twenty first century world. I trust that you will enjoy reading the profiles featured in this edition of Avila Connect as much as I did. Our Alumnae are making a difference across a diverse range of sectors and offer a constant source of inspiration to our current students. Just as Nano Nagle shone a light from her lantern, you too illuminate a path for us all and demonstrate that an Avila education really can take you anywhere. Wishing you all the best for the year ahead. Dr Michelle Cotter | Principal WELCOME CONTENTS Avila College Principal | Dr Michelle Cotter WELCOME From the Principal 01 Ballygriffin Opening 02 SHREK The Musical 04 OUR ALUMNAE Yvanah Hernandez 06 Jane Kanizay 10 Stephanie Cooper 15 Alumnae Panel 18 IWD Breakfast - Jess Box 19 Lucy Wales 20 Stephanie Wales 23 Jacinta Dague 26 Kelly Huang 28 Ciar Foster 30 Monica De Rango 32 EVENTS & ARCHIVES Reunion 36 Avila Archives 40 Get Connected! Follow the latest from Avila Alumnae on our digital network.
2 Inspiring today for tomorrow Ballygriffin Blessing and Opening Ballygriffin Senior Learning Centre Opening The flexible spaces, tiered seating options and bright classrooms were greeted with exclamations of joy by the Class of 2022 who were able to enjoy the new facility during their final weeks of school. Year 11 students joined them in Ballygriffin soon after, creating a vibrant buzz of community connection and collaborative learning within our senior cohorts. On Tuesday 15 November 2022, Ballygriffin was officially blessed by Fr Justel Callos and Sr Maria Lazarro pvbm and formally opened by Mr Matt Fregon MP, Member for Mt Waverley. During the ceremony, Dr Michelle Cotter shared the vision for Ballygriffin as one that allowed students and teachers to surround themselves with ‘a spirit of learning’ and a place where ‘expertise is grown through conversation and collaboration’. Following the blessing, a custom-made Celtic cross inspired by the Irish heritage of Ballygriffin was placed in each classroom. Ballygriffin is named in honour of the birthplace of Nano Nagle in County Cork, Ireland. The contemporary building was carefully designed to maximise natural light, showcase the natural environment and encourage sustainable and environmentally conscious behaviours. It offers a tertiary style environment that encourages collaborative learning, connections and flow of movement. The Avila College Learning Captains also played an integral role in selecting furnishings and providing insights into positive learning spaces from the student perspective. In October the Avila College community was thrilled to see the doors of the new state-of-the-art Ballygriffin Senior Learning Centre officially open.
Ballygriffin Senior Learning Centre Opening Ballygriffin Blessing and Opening Digital Edition 3 Take a look at the new Ballygriffin Senior Learning Space.
4 Inspiring today for tomorrow SHREK The Musical SHREK The Musical 2022 After a two year hiatus (due to the pandemic), it was a pleasure to see this year’s Avila Mazenod Musical production of SHREK come to the stage once again. With enthusiastic audiences, well rehearsed performers, polished musicians and a dedicated backstage crew, the musical truly brought Broadway to Burwood. Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquaad and the ensemble cast combined to bring the Besen Centre to life.
SHREK The Musical Digital Edition 5
6 Above | Rachel Terkelsen Left | I'm Change Climate campaign – PUSH Collective Insert | Yvanah (4th from left) with Wahana Visi Indonesia Head Office Managers and colleagues in Jakarta, Indonesia. Above | Bumping into Kevin Rudd at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly week. Can you tell us a little about your pathway after graduating from Avila College? Your time as an intern at the UN sounds fascinating. After graduating from Avila, I wasn’t sure what career I wanted to pursue. I did however have an interest in global studies as I wanted to understand more about the world. This curiosity led me to complete a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University, double majoring in International Studies and Human Rights. An Arts degree stood out to me because it teaches one how to think analytically and look beyond the ‘black and white’ of situations. It also offers a selection of majors for those with indecisive yet curious minds. During my bachelor course, I was introduced to the world of anthropology, the study of human cultural diversity, which instantly became my favourite subject. I learnt about leveraging cultural differences and conflict into transformative development for positive societal change. After graduating, I wanted to gain hands-on experience in sustainable development from civil society and institutions that advocate for gender equality, quality education, clean water, sanitation and good health and well-being. This prompted me to apply for a range of internship opportunities with civil society organisations in Southeast Asia, mainly in the Philippines due to my Filipino heritage. YVANAH HERNANDEZ Country Impact Officer | World Vision ALUMNAE Inspiring today for tomorrow Yvanah Hernandez
Digital Edition 7 ‘...the overall humanitarian and development sector is an incredibly inspiring place to work. It keeps you on your toes and expands your mindset.' Working with grassroots organisations in the Philippines throughout uni breaks put me in a position to apply for an internship with the World Health Organisation. In 2017, I was fortunate to intern for the World Health Organisation in their New York headquarters during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly, an important forum for all Member States to partake in multilateral discussions on pressing global issues. As an intern, I supported side events on ending tuberculosis, supporting migrant health, and advocating for universal health coverage. I was also fortunate to observe or participate in meetings on humanitarian emergencies hosted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Walking through the halls of the United Nations Headquarters on 42nd Street in Manhattan as an early 20-year-old taught me that global leaders are humans too and that anyone with a passion for humanity, equality and equity can be a productive or influential global citizen. This experience confirmed my passion for sustainable development leading me to graduate with a Master’s in International Development Practice at Monash University at the end of 2019 and gain research experience and employment with the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Save the Children Australia and World Vision Australia. You are currently working at World Vision as a Country Impact Officer. What does this involve? I manage World Vision Australia’s portfolio of development and humanitarian projects in Indonesia and Vietnam. This involves building collaborative working relationships with the Field Offices and project teams in both countries. I support their compliance with institutional donors like the European Union and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, while also assisting with the quality of Area Programs funded by child sponsorship. This involves report writing, completing compliance checks, supporting sustainable measures, ensuring tangible impact in target communities, monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of results and knowing donor contracts back to front. But that’s the boring part. The fun part is travelling and connecting with passionate, diverse, and feminist colleagues I also get the privilege to call friends. I’m fortunate to work with global veteran development practitioners and academics who work endlessly to implement evidence-based models and technical programs that have been tested by strong monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the sustained well-being of children, especially the most vulnerable. With Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus in 2017, Director General of the World Health Organization, and a fellow intern. Yvanah Hernandez
8 Due to the global nature of the organisation, walking into the Melbourne Burwood Office makes one feel like they’re working at the United Nations. My Australian colleagues come from across the globe. Several are leading academics, First Nation Elders, or technical specialists in their field like economic empowerment, market systems and food security. My Indonesian and Vietnamese colleagues have deep roots with the rural and urban areas we work in and support me in understanding the intersectionality of gender, class, and ethnicity in target areas. I’m lucky to be mentored by them all. If you can’t tell, World Vision and the overall humanitarian and development sector is an incredibly inspiring place to work. It keeps you on your toes and expands your mindset. I learn something new every day at work. The best thing I’ve learnt thus far is that it is okay to make mistakes. What is a typical day in the life of Yvanah? Great question. A typical day would include logging or driving into work (thanks to COVID for the hybrid work lifestyle); making sure I don’t message my Indonesian or Vietnamese colleagues before 12:30pm; failing to drink two litres of water a day; visiting my parents’ Pomeranian (she’s the love of my life); going on Duolingo to uphold my daily streak; and trying to forget about work by hitting the gym in the evenings. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? While the humanitarian and development sector is incredibly rewarding, it can also be challenging with long hours and several deliverables. Therefore, it is important to maintain a good work/life balance to avoid burn-out. For me personally, I go to the gym almost every day after work to train or stretch and do some yoga. Exercise helps me transition from work to home life. Boxing and yoga are my favourite classes as they both push me mentally and physically. I also love walking my family’s dog. I think dogs and pets overall are great therapists. They give love 24-7 and help you forget about life’s troubles! Favourite Avila memories? Too many! But if I had to narrow it down, my favourite moments were being part of clubs and sporting groups. It helps you make friends with like-minded people. I don’t like public speaking but joining the Public Speaking and Debating club each year forced me to get out of my comfort zone and improve my speech writing and speaking skills. One highlight was winning my first public speaking competition in Year 8 with Melbourne Legacy. In Year 12 our team made the DAV quarter finals, meaning we were in the top 8 of 300 Year 12 A Grade debating teams in Victoria (thanks to Bridget Jackson, Gen Townsend, Paige D’Souza, and Emily Pupic). At a village gender equality workshop in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia with local partner staff, community participants, and colleagues. Inspiring today for tomorrow Yvanah Hernandez
Digital Edition 9 Were you involved in social justice activities at school? Not as much as I would have hoped. I became more curious and involved in social justice issues at university. However, the foundations of my curiosity certainly stemmed from the exposure I had at Avila, whether it was learning from others in the Reconciliation Group, guest speakers, or through topics in our Global Politics and other humanities classes. My key take-away is that Avila helps build the foundations of a young curious mind. Whether one likes photography, music, sport, drama, comedy, public speaking, social justice, design, history etc… Avila is so well-rounded that it caters for any young student's interest. It also has passionate staff that care for students after graduation. I will never forget getting lovely messages from a few teachers after graduating. Avila is certainly more than a school when you find your crew; it is a community. What advice would you give to current students interested in international development? Magic happens when one feels uncomfortable. Put yourself out there. Apply for internship or ethical volunteering opportunities (but make sure you do your homework on white saviourism and western imperialism). Network with people in the industry on LinkedIn or join social networks (there are heaps in the development industry like The Development Circle). It is also important to remember that one doesn’t have to study development to be in the development and humanitarian sector. The sector requires the skills and talents of medical, accounting, journalist, legal, engineering, marketing, fundraising and data professionals, in addition to those specialising in sustainable development. Lastly, sustainable development is broad. It helps to find what topic interests you most and explore it further, whether it is quality education, gender equality, disability inclusion, agriculture, microfinance, nutrition, peacebuilding, disaster risk reduction, early warning, disaster management etc. If you’re unsure, it always okay to ride this wave called life and see where it takes you. Yvanah Hernandez Clockwise from top | With World Vision Vietnam National Director (CEO) and Head Office Managers in Hanoi, Vietnam With Wahana Visi Indonesia colleagues during a field monitoring trip in a target village in East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia | With Julia Gillard at UNGA in 2017.
10 Inspiring today for tomorrow Jane Kanizay ALUMNAE JANE KANIZAY Artist, Mountaineer, Educator
Jane Kanizay Digital Edition Digital Edition 11 From Mount Waverley to Mount Everest ... Jane Kanizay (nee Robertson, Class of 1987) recently climbed Mount Everest with her 19 year old daughter Gabby and their Sherpa team - Pasang Sherpa, Tendi Sherpa, Lhapka Sherpa and brothers Kusang and Namgel Dorje. Following my journey at Avila, I studied a Diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering drafting at TAFE. I enjoyed being a female in STEM, a minority back in the 80/90s, so I hope that more and more women continue to take their space in male dominated fields. I will always be grateful that I was encouraged to study maths and science at Avila. Engineering allowed me to work overseas in Hong Kong on Chek Lap Kok Airport and in Fiji on a Youth Ambassadors for Development project in 1999. My greatest joy comes from being a parent and helping my 4 kids - Sam, Gabby, Joe and Anna - achieve their individual dreams. They are all very active running, playing soccer, in triathlon and acro, and the best moments are when they are all laughing together. Following one of my children’s dyslexia diagnosis, I retrained as a specialist literacy educator working specifically with children with dyslexia, dysgraphia and learning difficulties. It brings me great satisfaction teaching young students to learn to read so that they can read to learn. I strongly believe in the importance of evidence-based, explicit instruction and it’s so rewarding to be a part of their progress towards literacy with struggling students. Skydiving, trapeze, ultra running and mountaineering are just a few of your active pursuits - where did this sense of adventure come from? I grew up in Scouts, joining Venturers at 14 years old, and that introduced me to a sense of adventure that constantly pushed my boundaries. Our group were experienced in kayaking so that took us paddling down many white water rivers in Victoria and white water rafting in New Zealand. It was with these friends that I explored many of my other pastimes, including trekking, skydiving, scuba diving and obtaining my motorbike licence. Talking recently about my climb to my friends local Venturer Unit, it is great to see a new generation of Scouts coming through experiencing risk in the outdoors. Family beach holidays planted childhood seeds as we explored our own Mornington Peninsula hideaways in the 70s and 80s. Then later watching my younger sister Susan Michelsson (athletics) and brother Peter Robertson (triathlon) both represent Australia showed me that anything is possible with self belief and hard work. Susan introduced me to running and we have been training together with the same female squad since Gabby was an infant.
12 How has summitting Mt Everest with Gabby redefined your mother-daughter relationship, if at all? Gabby and I became a strong team as climbing partners. When she began training on climbing expeditions at 15 years old, I found my role as mum was to be supportive and encouraging. On this most recent expedition, now that Gabby is 19 years old, the tables often turned and she was the one supporting me. My constant challenge was to retain that bond between all four of my children, and to ensure that they are supported to explore their own talents, skills, personalities and express their kindness. The strongest sense of support came from Sam, when I asked if he was OK for me to be away for five weeks during his VCE year. He responded with “Climbing is not what I want to do but it would be the coolest thing if Gabby climbs Mt Everest; I will just be so proud to be her brother”. I always hoped the pride I felt in my own siblings would be the same amongst my own children and they have rewarded me overwhelmingly. What was the biggest challenge and highlight you faced with the training and final ascent of this climb? High altitude mountaineering is considered one of the deadliest sports in the world so to be embarking on this journey with my daughter, I took it seriously to ensure we gained the necessary experience and skills to protect us both and keep our climbing team safe. Our journey began when at 14 years old Gabby told me she dreamt of one day climbing Mt Everest. So we started this journey with a trek to Everest Base Camp in 2018, then travelled to New Zealand to complete a mountaineering course; learning rope and harness skills, how to use crampons and ice axes, avalanche safety and other essentials. We successfully summited mountains at 4000m, 5000m, 6000m plus a summit of Cho Oyu (8201m), Tibet, in September 2019 to prepare for the extreme environment of Everest, considered to be in the ‘death zone’ above 8000m where oxygen content is only 34% compared with sea level. Training in Melbourne through Covid lockdowns was incredibly difficult. Many of our usual training locations, were off-limits to us for long periods of time. Staying motivated within a 5km radius was particularly challenging. When we arrived at Everest Base Camp in April 2022, Gabby and I both felt well prepared, and were the only team members to have a successful 8000m summit already under our belts. This gave us great confidence. I faced greater physical challenges, without Gabby’s youth on my side, and these showed more on the descent as the altitude and extreme cold affected my eyesight and I suffered low oxygen hallucinations through the night at Camp 4 due to altitude sickness. Our summit bid took four days, ascending via the Khumbu Icefall, across the immense snowy landscape of the Western Cwm and up the sheer, steep ice of the Lhotse Face to Camp 4 South Col at 7900m. Inspiring today for tomorrow Jane Kanizay
Jane Kanizay Digital Edition Digital Edition 13 The greatest challenge for me was emotional. Living apart from my three other children for two months at base camp often saw me questioning my reasons for climbing. I had always been the constant presence in their lives so I missed them desperately. Having a message to take to the summit gave me strength on the days I felt I'd hit my limits. I climbed with the message of @TeachUsConsent, the campaign begun by Chanel Contos to introduce holistic, age appropriate consent and sexuality education in every Australian school. I will always be a strong advocate for gender equality. I want all young people to arm themselves with the language of consent and to understand coercion. I encourage everyone to follow @teachusconsent, young and not so young; I acknowledge I am still learning. In between climbing mountains, raising a family of four adventurers, portrait painting and being involved in social justice activities, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? These are the activities of my spare time! I do love spending time with my children, particularly now as a single Mum. I realise that those early years are over in the blink of an eye, and I still love watching my kids, my nieces and nephews and children of my friends as they grow from toddlers into teens and young adults. I realise that you never get back those early years so embrace them. Enjoy the laughs and the tears. Support one another. Prior to climbing, running and painting were my main passions and took me to South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia to race and to Rome to a portrait painting workshop. Sadly I lost a fellow artist and friend to domestic violence and that helped resolve my advocacy to help keep women safe. I want to continue to raise awareness for the red flags of coercive control and financial abuse. I also believe in the importance of volunteering and was as active as I could be in my kids’ primary school and now with the River Nile School for refugee and asylum seeker women. What were the most memorable moments from your time at Avila College? My friends. I still savour my friendships from my days at Avila and have renewed many friendships attending school reunions. Never underestimate the healing journey that comes from reunions, as we realise that we navigated these relationships through the dramas of teenage angst. I made friends across many areas as my closest friends didn’t study my subjects, so I always had ‘my maths, science friends’ and ‘creative, artistic friends’ . I am proud that my time at Avila encouraged me into a technical career, working in Engineering and Architecture until I stepped away for time at home with my family. I particularly enjoyed debating with Mrs Vadi, the movie making van with Sr Joanne and was part of Avila’s first computer club - would you believe playing Paddle and Frogger at lunchtimes!?! I always felt supported to try new things at Avila.
14 ‘I will always be a strong advocate for gender equality. I want all young people to arm themselves with the language of consent and to understand coercion. ’ What is next for Jane Kanizay? Gabby is now an Ambassador for the Australian Himalayan Foundation, the charity established twenty years ago by some of Australia's early mountaineers to support the developing nations of the Himalayas. We plan to return to assist with one of their three pillars; Education, Health and the Environment. For me, my involvement with social justice and education is a reminder that it’s time to give back to the country that has given me so much by using my skills as an educator in Nepal. I hope to return mid next year to visit the home village of my friend and guide, Pasang Sherpa, to share my knowledge and learn more about their lives. We can all learn much about resilience when we have an open mind. One further goal is my own lifelong dream of cleaning high-rise windows. I did the required training in September which was so physical yet so exhilarating. As a drafter, I would always stop in my tracks in the CBD watching the lucky cleaners abseiling down the side of the multi storey towers where I worked. I helped Gabby to fulfil her mountaineering goals, so now I want to use these high altitude skills hanging on the outside of the corporate world. I think I have always enjoyed living life just outside the margins! So if you see me one day through your window, just wave and say hello. See Jane's artwork on Instagram: @jane_kaniz Learn more about Teach Us Consent here: www.teachusconsent.com Listen to Jane and Gabby discuss their expedition on the Mothers & Daughter podcast here: Apple Podcasts Inspiring today for tomorrow Jane Kanizay Year 11 in 1986 L-R: Jane, Meredith Newland, Lisa Edwards, Jacqui Thompson & Joanna Wood
Digital Edition 15 ALUMNAE STEPHANIE COOPER Fashion & Design | Hugo Boss Stephanie Cooper Digital Edition 15
16 Inspiring today for tomorrow Inspiring today for tomorrow Stephanie Cooper Can you tell us a little about your journey since graduating from Avila in 2019. It is hard to sum up the past three years into a paragraph, we were all thrown into countless lockdowns and our lives shifted to online platforms. As I travelled to the US with my family after graduating, I knew I wanted to be back in New York shortly working in the big city. For me, in 2020, I began my first year in a Bachelor of Fashion Enterprise course at RMIT. With a growing passion for the fashion and business industry, I knew this course was going to support my future goals as a fashion buyer. It became challenging in COVID-19, to balance work and university assignments, as my mind was always thinking about work commitments and a drive for success. Once Melbourne began reopening late 2021, I saw an opportunity to gain experience in retail to have knowledge of how the retail side of the industry operates. I began as a Christmas casual at Mimco and after one shift I was appointed full time. An array of emotions were experienced during this peak trade period. I knew if I better educated myself on retail functions and operations, I would gain deeper insight later on. I was at Mimco for eight months finishing in July 2022. At this time, I just finished my 3rd year and 1st semester of university. Most graduates can tell you, university is nothing like school. You have to be independent and the support is nothing compared to Avila. I was fortunate to win two major awards in my final year at RMIT, one was awarded by an industry partner project, Hugo Boss and another awarded by Okkular, specialising in augmented reality data. Winning these awards gave me the confidence to kickstart my career in the fashion world. After contacting HR at Hugo Boss I was presented with an internship in their merchandise management team, being given the responsibility of allocations for Australia and in-season work for South-East Asia. Aspects of the job include direct communication to stores, liaising with key stakeholders such as our team in Germany, E-commerce and Marketing and tracking airfreight shipments. I am so grateful for the opportunity Hugo Boss have provided me with this incredible experience. I love working closely between the buyers and planners and travelling to stores to communicate directly with staff. It is rewarding to know the work you are doing is being recognised and provides you with further responsibility for other important tasks. Stephanie accepting an award for the best sustainable new brand solution from Okkular.
17 Inspiring today for tomorrow Madeleine Pape Digital Edition 17 What are your favourite memories from your time at Avila? It becomes difficult to pinpoint your favourite memories of high school when there were so many, and you only realise once you leave Avila how incredible the community is. It was very challenging to leave a place full of support, and inspiration to starting university online, knowing absolutely no one. To this day, I miss the connections and community Avila provides, the closeness and friendship between staff and students, and the bond that is created between one year of learning or six. Were there any teachers or students who had a significant influence on you? It goes without saying I had a passion for design and fashion. I was incredibly fortunate with the teachers I had throughout my time at Avila, each influencing me in different ways. Lisa Walsh without a doubt has always influenced me to pursue a career in fashion, she recognised my work and always challenged me to do better. Similarly, Jane Fleming, who always saw value in my work and consistently guided me to do better inspired me to continue my creativity past the Avila gates. Overall, I honestly think I am the person I am today from the teachers who influenced me whilst my time at Avila, and I personally thank Lisa and Jane for their ongoing support, otherwise I may not be in the field I am today. What does the future hold for Stephanie Cooper? As 2023 approaches, I have been asked to continue working for Hugo Boss, and am awaiting a new contract. I am excited to see where my role leads and where it can take me. I am eager to continue growing at Hugo Boss with plenty of travel opportunities available within the growing role. A big goal of mine is to work overseas and explore the industry in different markets. I think the experience would be incredible, and with my growing connections I am excited to turn that dream into a reality and to see where each experience and role takes me. I am only at the beginning of my journey and I could not be more thrilled with how my story is already turning out; with more adventure, growth and travelling ahead. Stephanie Cooper Digital Edition 17
18 One Step Beyond Avila College was delighted to welcome Sinead Coulter, Tamara Ryan, Georgia Pitt and Maeve Gill from the Class of 2017 to participate in the Year 12 Retreat. Hosted by current students, our Alumnae reflected on their experiences since graduation and compared their different pathways. For 2022 Valedictorian Stella Hicks, the discussion helped change her paradigm and "released stress" because the panel members demonstrated how "everyone's journey is different". Across the three days in Warburton, Year 12 students were invited to consider how they can engage in 'something bigger than themselves' through group activities, a liturgical celebration and also heard from guest speaker Isaiah Lahai on his journey as a refugee and how he is giving back to Australia. Inspired by Nano Nagle's call to action, the 2022 Year 12 Retreat encouraged students to 'go one step beyond' and to use 'deeds rather than words'. One of the highlights was the panel discussion from Avila Alumnae about how they continue to be the hands of Christ post school. Inspiring today for tomorrow Year 12 Retreat
International Women's Day Digital Edition 19 The Avila Community was delighted to come together to celebrate International Women's Day at our annual breakfast and explore the fostering of female leadership. Guest Speaker Jessica Box (Class of 2008), Managing Director at Girls Tech in Australia discussed how to inspire and encourage girls to participate in STEM opportunities. Jess's experiences in creating more diverse prospects for women were enlightening and insightful, and exhibited just how far an Avila education can take you in the world. International Women’s Day Natasha Perera Year 11
LUCY WALES AFLW Player | Hawthorn ALUMNAE After debuting for the Hawthorn AFLW team in 2022, Lucy Wales received a Rising Star nomination in Round 7.
Elly Morgan Digital Edition 21 How are you balancing football, work, study and a social life? What does a day in the life of Lucy Wales look like? I’ve always really loved being busy, so I think that helps. When in the off season, I’m pretty flexible with when I can train so that makes it fairly easy to juggle all my commitments. In season looks a bit different as there are set training times, however they are usually at night, so I can complete all my other responsibilities during the day. A day in the life for me would generally see me go to work at Kmart in the morning, or if I’m not working I would have uni that day. After work/uni, I usually would get a bit of a rest around early afternoon, where I might see my friends, then I would head to training around 3.30 and be there until around 9.30pm. Our training is made up of getting treatment/physio, gym, training, meetings and dinner. This is a typical training day, however game days and off days look a little bit different! What does it mean to you to be playing in the AFLW and what are some highlights thus far? Playing in the AFLW is really special and means a lot to me as being a professional athlete was something I had always thought about. I think doing what I love as a job is really exciting and rewarding. A few of my highlights would be playing in Round 1 at Marvel Stadium against Steph and winning our first game against Sydney Swans in Round 5. These were really exciting moments that have shaped my footy journey so far! 21 Twins Lucy and Stephanie Wales were both drafted to the AFLW in 2022 for Hawthorn and Essendon respectively.
22 Inspiring today for tomorrow Lucy Wales What are your favourite memories as an Avila student? My favourite memories from Avila would have to include Year 9 camp, the athletics carnivals and all the after school sport and tournament days! These times were the most enjoyable for me and contributed towards my Avila experience! As well as all the friendships I’ve made from being at Avila. What advice do you have for Avila students interested in a career in football? I would say just make sure you enjoy what you do before pursuing it completely, and also make sure you keep your other interests outside of footy. Having footy as a career just ultimately wouldn’t work if I didn’t enjoy the sport to begin with. In regards to having other interests, becoming obsessive over footy and it being your only passion can be detrimental in the long run, so I think it’s really important to maintain your social connections and other interests, as well as other sports, and ensure you fit them into your schedule. What does the future hold for you? At the moment, my future involves playing at Hawthorn next season which is really exciting and studying at Deakin (Sport Science and Sport Management). I’m really passionate about sport in general and to be playing footy and studying in the sport sector is what I want to continue to do.
ALUMNAE STEPHANIE WALES AFLW Player | Essendon
24 ALUMNAE Tell us about the AFLW draft experience... It was a pretty cool night when Lucy and I both got drafted. It was nerve wracking knowing that I had put myself out there and might be disappointed with the result however, when my name was called out, I was very relieved and excited. What is it like playing against your sister in such a handson, competitive environment? It was very weird playing on Lucy considering we have played together throughout our whole lives. I don’t think it made me change the way I wanted to play however, it was definitely strange seeing her on an opposing team. Overall we just want each other to play our best footy and have fun. How does your family support your competing teams? Our family being mum, dad, 2 brothers and Lucy and myself originally had quite a lot of teams in the mix being Carlton, Melbourne, Geelong and Western Bulldogs so adding two more teams wasn’t a problem at all. For Round 1 when we played each other, the family was very fair and wore scarves for both of us! For the rest of the season, they supported both of us at all of our games. What does a typical day look like for you now? I am currently studying a Bachelor of Nutrition (Dietetics Pathway) at Deakin University. Juggling this with footy and work is sometimes difficult but overall, my course is going well. Waking up at 8am, I go to class from 9am-12pm, have weights from 12pm-1pm and then team training from 1:30pm-3:30pm. After training I do homework, eat dinner, go to sleep and then repeat it all again the next day. What new skills have you learnt? Joining a team that is filled with very different people of a variety of ages has helped me develop my confidence. It was quite daunting joining the team but I was able to connect with the girls and build friendships quickly. In between training sessions, I organise meetings with coaches, extra skills sessions and physio/nutrition appointments. In order to fulfil all these things, I have to have good time management skills and use my initiative well. You’re on your way to becoming a recognisable face in the sporting world – how does this feel? It feels nice to get recognition for my achievements and continuous support along the way however for now I am just focused on improving my skills and being a good teammate at Essendon. Fondest memories of your time at Avila? My fondest memories are spending time with my friends and the SCSA sports days. Inspiring today for tomorrow Stephanie Wales
25 Inspiring today for tomorrow Digital Edition 25 Stephanie Wales was selected as the Round 8 NAB AFLW Rising Star nominee
26 Can you tell us a little about your pathway after graduating from Avila College? In high school I didn’t know definitively what career I wanted to pursue so undertook a Bachelor of Arts/ Commerce at Deakin University. I enjoyed writing and chose to major in literature and marketing. In one of my long university holidays I spent time working in Vermont at a ski resort, and later like many Aussies I worked and share housed in London for 2 years. There I had a variety of administrative and marketing temping jobs. Between contracts I’d travel to a different part of Europe, it was a fabulous experience. Upon returning to Melbourne I took up an Executive Assistant position at EY knowing it was a global firm with lots of career pathways. Life took me to Tasmania for a few years and my daughter, Lily Mae, was born there. When we moved back to Melbourne I returned to work at EY and eventually transferred into the marketing and events team where I’ve been in various roles for the past 7 years. What attracted you to Marketing as a career? Marketing is a broad field but I recognised it as a creative space. It combines my love of writing, problem solving and creating amazing experiences. I’ve worked in the campaign team, social media team, brand team and client experience team and I feel like I’m always learning. I work with a range of interesting, intelligent people on a variety of programs; it’s quite a fast paced environment which I enjoy. What have been the highlights? A career highlight was working on a 3 day conference held on Cockatoo Island in the middle of Sydney Harbour. Delegates arrived at Circular Quay unsure of where they were headed, boarded ferries and got off on the island. They entered the industrial buildings to be immersed in a variety of spaces with speakers including Sir Bob Geldof, Julie Bishop and Stan Grant, and entertainers from Cirque du Soleil. It was an out of the box experience! I’m currently really enjoying working on our sponsorship of the NGV and running unique after hours events there. I love collaborating with staging companies selecting florals, furniture and performers to create an experience that aligns with the exhibitions. Earlier this year it was The Picasso Century, so we had lots of Spanish theming. Food and wine tastings are always fun too! What is a typical day in the life of Jacinta Dague? On a daily basis I interact with people all around Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. I work in the office once a week and the rest from home. JACINTA DAGUE Marketing Manager | EY ALUMNAE Inspiring today for tomorrow Jacinta Dague
Digital Edition 27 On any given day I might be talking to an external agency, pitching in a brief to the creative services team, having a webpage designed, developing thought leadership, writing copy for a social media post, speaking to Partners to develop questions for a ‘fireside chat’, mentoring new staff, on a site visit for an event or undertaking a training course. There’s lots of variety and flexibility at my workplace which is appealing. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I love to re-charge by walking and listening to podcasts up in the Dandenongs or at St Andrew’s beach where my parents have a house. This year I purchased a house, renovated and discovered gardening which I’m enjoying! I’m also into supporting the arts, reformer pilates classes, spending time with friends and family and always planning my next holiday. Favourite memories from Avila College? I have fond memories of Avila. I got involved in lots of things at school including the orchestra where I played the cello (badly!), the choir, the Reconciliation group and the school magazine. I remember many a day sitting under the trees on the school oval chatting non stop with a group of friends. Many of my closest friends to this day are my Avila friends. I had some wonderful, inspiring teachers who really challenged and encouraged me. The Year 10 trip to Uluru was one I haven’t forgotten, nor the school camps, community service, or the fun feeling of our final week at school. My daughter begins at Avila in 2023 and I’m excited for the educational journey that lies ahead for her. What advice would you give to students interested in a career in marketing? I would say pursue something you enjoy. Spend time building relationships with those you encounter because you never know when you might need to work together. Always stay curious and keep adding to your skillset. Marketing is really broad and can take you in many different directions, depending on the company and the people you work for. It’s a really creative, innovative space. Clockwise from left Photos from Future Realised event, Jacinta and Lily Mae, memories from Avila Day and the last day of Year 12. Jacinta Dague
28 KELLY HUANG Mechatronics Engineering Student, Monash Nova Rover What have you been up to since you graduated from Avila? Since graduating from Avila, I’ve been pursuing a degree in Mechatronics Engineering at Monash University, specialising in automation and minoring in artificial intelligence. What type of work have you been doing with Monash’s Nova Rover Team? I joined a university robotics team last year, called Monash Nova Rover. It’s a team of Monash University students working together to build mars and lunar rovers which we take to compete in robotics competitions. Some technical stuff I’ve done within the team include working on the core software systems of the rover and the robotic arm. I also made some parts for the rover using CAD software, 3D rinting and manual machining. Some non-technical stuff I’ve been involved in include business and marketing, and women in STEM directed outreach. Were there any teachers or students who had a significant influence on you? Mr Francis had a huge impact on me during high school. I hated maths and physics up until Year 11, which was when I had Mr Francis as a Physics teacher. He was so passionate about the subject and he was able to not only teach the concepts in a way that was comprehensive, but he managed to make all the concepts he was teaching fascinating and exciting. He set me on the path that I’m on right now, and I don’t think I would be where I am currently without him. Thanks Mr Francis! I’d also like to mention Mr Kennedy and Mrs Gilfeder. Year 12 Physics and Methods was taught so well. That’s when I realised that I really liked Maths and Physics. They gave me the tools and confidence to pursue engineering. Passionate teachers really change lives! Inspiring today for tomorrow Kelly Huang
Digital Edition 29 What advice would you give to Avila students interested in STEM subjects and areas of work? Here are the things that I’ve learned: 1. Having an intrinsic motivation to pursue STEM will make your life much easier and keep you motivated. Find passion and curiosity within the content you’re learning. Envision a future that you’d want to help create. 2. Look at real world applications of the concepts you learn. Not only will it solidify your understanding, but you’ll also see that the stuff you’re learning is going into something applicable in real life which gives you a sense of purpose. 3. Have fun in class and annoy the teacher with any questions that spark your interest. 4. Find female role models doing the things that you aspire to do - who you could see yourself being in the future. 5. Stay true to yourself. STEM is still quite male dominated. Try not to compromise your identity or self-expression as a woman. 6. Do extracurricular STEM stuff – join a robotics team or enter a competition. Look outside of the stuff offered at school. Step out of your comfort zone as that is the fastest way you’ll learn, get the most enriching experience, and develop invaluable skills that you’ll need in university and once you enter the workforce. 7. Stay vigilant, STEM is difficult at times. It will involve putting your head down and studying hard to wrap your head around concepts. Make use of your teachers and extra resources on the internet. Practice makes perfect! What are your favourite memories from your time at Avila? My favourite memories are mucking around in Physics class and all the fun experiments we did. Launching rockets, making handmade motors. In Year 12, my Physics class was very close knit and I looked forward to every lesson. Other fun memories include singing the Year 12 version of the Avila Hymn, the meme wall and Dr Cotter walking around in a cookie monster costume. What does the future hold for Kelly Huang? There is a budding space industry in Australia. I’m hoping to find a career there to bring the first Australian built robots to the moon, and to also influence the industry to be an inclusive environment for women. Kelly Huang
30 CIAR FOSTER 30 Inspiring today for tomorrow Ciar Foster ALUMNAE Principal | University High School
Digital Edition 31 CIAR FOSTER Principal | University High School Ciar Foster Tell us about your journey after graduating from Avila? I went to Monash University to study an Arts/Economics double degree, then switched to a double Arts Major in English Literature and Politics. After graduation I took what I thought would be a year off to travel. In that time I completed a Certificate II in Commercial Cookery which led me to taking up a Chef Apprenticeship. I spent ten years as a chef, working as a Sous Chef (second in charge) in various kitchens in Melbourne and Perth; then had the wonderful opportunity of spending a year living and working in Rome as the private chef to the Australian Ambassador. Upon return to Australia I decided to pursue Education as a career and undertook a Graduate Diploma of Education, again at Monash University. What motivated you to enter education as a career path? I was thinking about what I believed in and how I could make a difference in the world. I loved cooking, food and the energy of kitchens but I couldn’t see myself doing it for my whole career. I have always had a belief in the civic and transformative power of education so I followed my values in that respect. It also allowed me to re-engage with the things I had loved studying. What have been the highlights along the way? In my first teaching placement I realised that, as much as I loved the subjects I taught, it was the relationships with students and seeing how I could support so many unique and varied individuals to learn and grow that was the really rewarding part. I knew I had made the right choice. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to work and have leadership roles in schools with great communities, undertaking interesting work in terms of the schools’ educational direction and cultural change. What is the most rewarding aspect of your role as a School Principal? The pride you feel when you see the amazing things that students do, especially those who didn’t at first think they could. And the opportunity to develop, with your leadership team and school community, a vision for learning and to work towards improvement. The last three years have seen schools pivot dramatically to deliver remote learning. What have been the positive impacts that you have witnessed? I took on the Principal role in July 2020, just as Melbourne moved to a long lockdown. It made connecting on a human level, demonstrating and understanding vulnerability and providing support, really important. I think the experience of lockdown helped us to see the importance of work/life balance; and remote learning created some opportunities to work and learn more flexibly, some of which we’ve been able to hold on to. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I love running, although I’ve been a bit slack in that area recently! I enjoy travel and am so happy that the world is opening up again for that, and I’m currently learning French. Favourite memories from Avila? The strong role-modelling of female leadership and empowerment. I genuinely felt like we got the message that we could do anything we set our minds to. And the never-ending smile and support of Mrs Vadi, especially in debating competitions! What excites you most about the future? Our young people. First day on the job at University High School.
32 Inspiring today for tomorrow Monica De Rango MONICA DE RANGO Engineer ALUMNAE Can you tell us a little about your journey after graduating from Avila College in 2014? After graduating from Avila, all I really knew was that I loved Maths and Science. I was unsure of what studies and career I wanted to pursue and was shuffling various uni course preferences around until the last minute. I ended up enrolling in a double degree of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Science at Monash University which turned out to be a good choice. Pharmaceutical science was incredibly interesting and I enjoyed studying physical chemistry and physiology, but I enjoyed the maths and problem solving aspects of engineering even more.
Monica De Rango Digital Edition 33 As part of my engineering degree, I was required to complete a minimum number of hours of professional development outside of the classroom, and this was a fantastic way to see what real world jobs in the field could look like. I completed an internship with Pfizer in their R&D department as well as internships with two engineering consultancies - Beca and GHD. I thoroughly enjoyed these opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills I was learning at uni to real projects and found it was a great way to learn from experienced people working in the pharmaceutical and engineering fields. I was also lucky enough to score a graduate job at Beca out of it, where I have been working as a process engineer for two years. At Beca I’ve had the opportunity to work on a huge variety of industrial projects, including a major upgrade to a water recycling plant, a new $400 million beverage plant in Queensland and a decarbonisation study for a pulp and paper mill in Tasmania. I also completed a year-long secondment as a project engineer at Mars Wrigley’s chocolate factory in Ballarat for their $30 million project to upgrade the chocolate bar line. What have been the highlights along the way? Studying abroad when I was at university was an amazing experience. I completed a semester exchange at Monash's campus in Malaysia and it was incredible to live in a foreign city and explore Malaysia and nearby countries every weekend. Another highlight was working at Mars - it was surreal to be leading two multi-million dollar projects and to see them progress from concept design through to installation. And of course, working in a chocolate factory and scoring dozens of kilos of free chocolate was pretty cool too. Your time in Malaysia as a volunteer sounds really interesting, can you tell us more? When I was studying in Malaysia, I took part in a ten day program for engineering students to extend their leadership and community engagement skills beyond the classroom. This program included volunteering through EPIC (Extraordinary People Impacting Communities) Homes, a non-profit organisation that builds houses for the Orang Asli as the majority of these indigenous peoples live below the poverty line and are in need of housing aid. EPIC Homes have developed a modular building system so that volunteers with no building expertise are able to construct sustainable and durable houses very quickly. After half a day of training on safety, scaffolding and basic hand and power tools, our team of 30 constructed a house for a family of five in just three days of hard work. The build itself was a lot of fun and it was so special meeting the family and seeing how much this meant to them.
34 Inspiring today for tomorrow Monica De Rango Favourite Avila memories? I was lucky enough to go on the Italy study tour when I was in Year 10, which was a once in a lifetime experience thanks to Signora Cornell. To this day I’m not sure if the teachers on the study tour were lucky to travel to Italy or unlucky to have to manage thirty 15-16 year-old girls running amok on too much gelato. In day-to-day school life I loved getting involved in everything from orchestra to debating to sports teams to leadership roles; I remember my friends complaining they never saw me because I attended a different group at lunch almost every day. The tradition of screaming two specific lines in the Avila hymn as loud as possible was always fun too. How has your time and experiences at Avila shaped or influenced your career path? I think Avila equipped me with the skills and confidence to pursue whatever I wanted to do. I had fantastic teachers who helped me to develop fundamental knowledge and skills in Maths, Chemistry, English and other subjects which I continue to utilise and build on to this day. Being on the SRC and having the role of College Vice-Captain greatly improved my leadership, collaboration and public speaking skills which have been critical throughout uni and work. What advice would you give to Avila students interested in engineering and STEM areas? Go for it! An engineering career is interesting, rewarding and diverse. Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can that come your way as you never know where they will lead, who you will meet or what you will learn. Avila Alumnae Network Join us today at alumnae.avila.vic.edu.au
Digital Edition 35 Avila Alumnae Network Join us today at alumnae.avila.vic.edu.au
36 Avila Whole School Reunion | November 2022 After a two year hiatus Avila College was delighted to welcome former students and staff back to school for the 2022 Reunion. Is your cohort celebrating a Milestone Year? Contact the College via the reunion request form on the Avila website and we can assist with the planning and/or hosting on our 2023 Avila Alumnae Reunion Day. Reconnecting at the Reunion 36 Inspiring today for tomorrow Whole School Reunion
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40 Inspiring today for tomorrow Avila Alumnae Network AVILA ARCHIVES Delving into our shared community history. The Avila Archives are a fascinating showcase of artefacts that represent and celebrate our shared school community history If you have any items you wish to donate please contact the Avila Archivist Anne Stephens via email [email protected] or call 9831 9600. 1981 Avila College straw hat. 1984 Sweet Temptations Recipe Book typed by students participating in the Year 11 Model Office Program. From 1975: School shoes. Headband from 1974. 2008 Illustration From 2011: Tech Angel badge.
35 Charles Street, Mount Waverley, Victoria 3149 | T 03 9831 9600 [email protected] | avilacollege.vic.edu.au alumnae.avila.vic.edu.au