From the Principal
Of the many traditions we hold dear at Pymble, Jacaranda Day has an extra special place in our hearts. First held in 1983, the idea stemmed from one of our Science teachers at the time, Mrs Raj Ram, who linked the beauty of the tree in full bloom in spring with the beauty of humanity and selflessness. It was such a gift to gather on Tuesday as a whole school – our first Jacaranda Day service since 2019 and a first-ever for our Year 1 and Year 2 students.
There really is nothing like seeing the sea of hats across Gloucester Lawn and the feeling of joy that comes from reaffirming and celebrating our community’s commitment to being of service to others. Our grateful thanks go to all who donated to our Jacaranda Day food drive for the Rev Bill Crews Foundation (Exodus) and OzHarvest. We have already amassed an impressive stack of non-perishable items for those experiencing homelessness and hardship, and we still have all of November to continue to donate. Thank you to our Junior School students who have ensured children spending Christmas at the Sydney Children’s Hospital will receive a gift wrapped with love.
In addition, we had the huge joy of presenting a giant cheque for the whopping amount of $36,973.60 to the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter (HKWS). This represents the sum of funds raised through our Garden Party, Mother’s Day Morning Tea and various student-led initiatives throughout the year. Thank you to all who played a part in achieving this fabulous outcome, which will go towards paying for a case worker to support the women who arrive at the shelter seeking refuge from unsafe homes, according to the Chair of the HKWS Board and Pymble alumna, Mrs Catherine Knox (1977). By supporting HWKS, together we are making a difference to these women at a critical time in their lives.
On that note, a special shout out to the incredible efforts of our 2022 Service Prefect, Maddie Lyster, along with our Community Prefects, Nina Breckenridge and Isabelle Ho and the committee of Year 7-12 service leaders who organised a whole array of events that contributed to this total. We send our best wishes for our Prefects for 2023 and everything they will do in their roles as service leaders at Pymble.
Pymble Gives Back in 2023
Jacaranda Day was the perfect opportunity to flag our College theme for 2023, Pymble Gives Back, which is a name many of you will remember fondly from lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, Pymble Gives Back will focus on intentionally and meaningfully using our individual gifts and talents, along with our collective power, to be of service to others.
We are blessed with a ready-made ‘kindness army’ of students, staff and families who I know we can call on to take part in the many ways we are planning to change the world through helping others. In fact, when brainstorming ideas for 2023 with our Uniting Church of Australia (UCA) family, I felt a great sense of pride and joy in knowing that whatever opportunities are presented, so many of us will say ‘Yes, please pick me because I want to be of service to others in our community’.
In the meantime, I have charged each student to think about what their service could look like. Dancers and performers could entertain residents at aged care facilities. Bakers and cooks could collaborate with friends to regularly deliver meals/baked goods to our friends at HKWS. Our keen learners could offer study help to young people who have newly arrived in Australia from non-English speaking countries.
There are so many examples of students (and staff) who quietly go about being of service to others in different ways, from extending a hand of friendship to someone new, lost or lonely, to standing in for another student or colleague who can’t run an event due to an inconveniently timed bout of Covid. Thank you to all our girls who don’t think twice about stepping up when required or responding to current events to make a difference to communities in need. I’m thinking of Lauren Korenblyum (Year 9) who initiated a ‘buy a badge’ fundraiser for Ukrainian refugees and our beautiful Boarders, including Abigail Ballhausen (Year 11) and our Boarding Prefects, who continue to take action to support our regional friends and families doing it so tough after years of drought, bushfires and now the horrendous floods. Thank you to everybody who supported the recent Boarding Bake Sales for flood relief. The worst is not over for our families in the Central West, with the Lachlan River peak looking set to continue through the weekend and threaten more areas nearby. The UCA floods appeal is still open should you wish to contribute to the massive, heartbreaking job of cleaning up and recovery when the water eventually subsides.
This week, my thoughts have also turned to the wonderful service of current and past members of our College Council, now known as the College Board following our recent incorporation. It is a great responsibility to take on these voluntary roles, which have such an impact on the life of the College and our community. Our Board members are unsung heroes, gifting their time and professional expertise behind the scenes to guide and support us in creating the best opportunities and outcomes for your daughters.
Vale David Blackwell
On Monday, we were advised by our former Principal, Mrs Gillian Moore, of the death of our former Council Chairman, Mr David Blackwell, for whom our Music School is named. David served on Council from 1965 to 1992, the last five of which were as Chairman, and he was proud to claim 11 family members as students of the College since 1917. These include his two daughters and his niece, Catherine Knox of HWKS who is mentioned above. Truly, he was a life-long member of our Pymble family.
David’s daughters wanted to let us know that a service of thanksgiving for their father will be held at 4.00pm on Friday 18 November at Killara Uniting Church, 29A Arnold St Killara. Family and friends wishing to pay their respects and celebrate David’s life are all welcome to attend.
It seems fitting to end here on a quote shared by our very special guest speaker at Jacaranda Day, Fiona Walmsley (1996), who inspired us all by sharing her career journey in sustainability and the work being done today for the benefit of Pymble girls tomorrow and in the future.
“Blessed are those who plant trees in whose shade they know they will never sit.”
Dr Kate Hadwen