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REMINDERS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:

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Monday 20 May - 9:30am-11:00am:  Enrolment / Morning Tea Tours

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Monday 20 May:  Edible Book Festival - LRC

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Tuesday 21 May:  NAPLAN Online - Catch up

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Monday 27 May 3.30pm-7.00pm:  Year 10 into Years 11-12 2020/2021 - Subject Selection Information Evening.

9.00am  Monday 20 May:  Bookings open online for Year 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews. 
Midnight Sunday 02 June:  Bookings close for Year 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews.

Monday 03 June 3.30pm-7.30pm:  Year 10 2019 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews (see Mrs Mano's letter emailed to Year 10 parents 16 May). 
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Friday 24 May:  Year 10 Vaccinations - Please ensure that permission notes are returned as soon as possible next week via Student Services.

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Thursday 30 May:  College Athletics Carnival - E S Marks Field

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Rockwall Crescent Gate:  Since Monday 13 May the College's entrance driveway at Rockwall Crescent is being completed, therefore, the pedestrian entrance cannot be used during the construction period.  

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SVC Uniform Shop - Orders Now Online  

Monday     8.00am-2.00pm  /  Wednesday   12.00pm-5.00pm  /  Friday   8.00am-2.00pm           

Phone:  02 9161 7979  Email:  SVC@noone.com.au  

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Dear Parents and Carers

One of the things that I often muse about is the sharp contrast between the assemblies I attended long ago while at school and those I now have the privilege to attend as Principal of St Vincent's College.  This Wednesday, our College Assembly was a mixture of reflection (three of our students sharing their lived experience of Ramadan); challenge (our environmental leaders challenging us to be aware of our decisions regarding our fragile planet); information (our Boarders' sharing their experiences of boarding during National Boarding Week); humour (with our Year 11 Drama students promoting their play, ominously titled "The Staff Room"); leadership (as our College Leaders reported on their respective portfolios).  It was an impressive and engaging presentation brought to a conclusion with a rousing rendition of "Flow'rs and Sunshine".  The assembly was a great capture of the busy and productive first three weeks of the term.

It has been National Boarders' Week, and it was fitting that the assembly featured a video of families and familiar places left behind when a new term starts.  We remembered the 135 year history of our Boarding House with great affection, and admiration for the independence and resilience they show us every day.  In our photo of the week you will see boarders and friends marking this milestone by accessorizing in pink (the House colour of Boarders).

The United Nations commemorated the 'International Day of Families' on Wednesday 15 May, and this is a very good reason to express my appreciation to the wonderful families of this College.  Your nurturing of your daughters with love, trust and forgiveness makes the work we can do as educators of the College so much more effective.  Being genetically related doesn't make us family.  Love, support, trust, sacrifice, honesty, acceptance, protection, security, compromise, gratitude, respect and loyalty are what make us family.  It was wonderful to see that family love in action and word last Friday as we celebrated at the Mother's Day Dinner.  The dance floor told the story as mothers and daughters danced the night away.

The cycle of family life continues to reveal its joys and sorrows.  This week we celebrate with Stefanie and Ben Matthews, as they welcomed their baby son, Bo; and we mourn with Mrs Natalie Fletcher, as she said goodbye to her 100 year old great-aunty, Lena Goldstein.  Ms Goldstein visited our College often to share her powerful story of being a Holocaust survivor.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Anne Fry
Principal

Photo of the Week: Boarders forming 135 (years) and above, with their pink 'hair'

The College community offers its condolences to the following who has lost a loved one recently:

Ms Natalie Fletcher (staff) on the death of her beloved Great-Aunt, Lena Goldstein.  Lena was a survivor of the Holocaust and bravely and powerfully shared her stores with our students over many years.  

This week the entire College staff have been instrumental in the successful SVC NAPLAN online operation for Years 7 and 9.  Despite a few state-wide technological hitches about which NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) have been notified, the operation ran seamlessly, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Ms Alanna Rose, Head of Learning Support and the entire Years 7 and 9 teaching staff.  I congratulate the students in Years 7 and 9 too, for their careful preparation each evening to ensure their laptops were fully charged and for their punctuality to school each morning to ensure that the tests were not interrupted.  The new NAPLAN online operation ensures that reports are sent to schools from mid-August to mid-September.

The NAPLAN external assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN is just one aspect of SVC’s assessment and reporting process - it does not replace ongoing summative (formal) and formative (informal) assessments made by teachers about student performance.  Our new student reflective process ensures students understand the skills they need to work on post assessments, to continue to grow their learning.  The NAPLAN individual student performance is shown only on a national achievement scale for basic literacy and numeracy skills, yet our practitioners can provide a much fuller picture of your daughter’s learning for you as part of our College priority to know our students as learners.  Once NAPLAN data is analysed at the College, we contact parents of students falling below the national minimum standards in literacy and numeracy to offer them a targeted intervention program tailored to each student’s individual needs.  I hope all our Years 7 and 9 students enjoy a well-deserved rest this weekend.

Yesterday, as part of our CP program (Cura Personalis - care of the whole person), I was delighted to have had the privilege of escorting a small group of our Year 12 students on a walk to the beautiful shore of our City Harbour as part of our Wellness Program that reminds our HSC students of the importance of looking after the body as well as the mind.  What a pleasure it was to pause under an old fig tree and look out at the beautiful Sydney Harbour, alive with ferries making their way to Sydney sites, and to take in the calm that the sea often brings us.  I invited the students to send their HSC dreams out across the water to the universe to take care of and I offered them my own blessings for the fulfillment of their deepest desires for this year and in their future.  I pondered, in this quiet and reflective moment, just how privileged we are as educators of young people, to be able to contribute to the shaping of our students’ adult minds.

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

Things are hotting up!

In Term One, the Social Justice Advocacy group have been working with the SRC and BRC to explore ways of reducing waste at the College and it culminated this week in a series of thought provoking conversations and invitations to be ambassadors for our Earth. At the Assembly on Wednesday we had a powerful sharing of what is really happening to our Common Home by leaders of the College Environment Committee (I encourage you to read it below).  Students have been invited to be part of the compost campaign which is a roster of students who walk the playgrounds collecting the left-overs at recess and lunch to turn them into healthy soil for our gardens.  Conversations were started about how to have ‘nude Tutor lunches’ where students bring in their own cutlery, cups and plates and avoid foods that are packaged in single use plastic.  Membership of the Environment Committee TRIPLED as the students committed to ensuring our planet is habitable for their grandchildren.  I am excited by the passion of so many of our students and staff and look forward to sharing with you in the next few months what others changes will be happening as the College demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint.

Sacramental Programs

Throughout Term 2 and the beginning of Term 3, Sr Anne Talyor rsc will be running a Sacramental program for students who would like to receive any of the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Holy Communion.  Students will explore the sacraments and their context within our Catholic Faith.  The program will culminate for the students when they receive their sacraments at either their Year Mass or at St Canice’s Parish (depending on the Sacrament that the student wishes to receive).  If you would like to discuss the program or register your daughter, please contact Sr Anne via email taylora@stvincents.nsw.edu.au   

Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission

Wipeout Dementia

As Australia’s second-leading cause of death, dementia is close to the hearts of many people across the country.  On 25 May at Queenscliff Beach, Stella Holt, Year 11, and her Dad are competing in a surfing competition called Wipeout Dementia, an initiative from UNSW’s CHeBA (Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing).  The competition aims to raise money for research and increase awareness about the benefits of exercise in preventing early-onset dementia.

They will be competing against Wayne Bartholomew (1978 World Surfing Champion) and his son as well as other inter-generational teams.  So far, they have raised $10,660, and would really appreciate any further donations or spreading of the message!  All money goes towards research into treatments and any amount helps!

If you would like to donate, please visit:  https://cheba2.everydayhero.com/au/tony-stella-holt

Interfaith Dialogue - Breaking Fast

Below is what Sabrene Assad, Aneesa Abrahams and Mia Chaaya, Year 12 and Year 11 students who represented the College at Taste of Ramadan, shared with the College at our Assembly on Wednesday.  The presentation began with Mia and Sabrene speaking in Arabic about the Holy Month of Ramadan...please enjoy their thoughtful and generous reflections that moved us all as we celebrate and stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Sabrene and Mia:  As-salamu alaykum w Ramadan Mubarak.

Aneesa:  Peace be upon you and Happy Ramadan.

Sabrene:  Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is the third pillar of Islam (there are five pillars which are religious duties).  Common questions I get asked in regards to Ramadan:  So you really don’t eat food for thirty days?  You can’t even drink any water?  What about gum?  So, Aneesa is going to tell us what Ramadan is all about.

Aneesa:  It is a month of fasting, charity-giving and self-reflection for the Islamic community globally.  Fasting is from sunrise to sunset and is a period of enhanced religious spirituality and self-contemplation.  It is also a time to gather as a family and community and detach from bad habits.  Many Muslims wake up early in the morning to eat, known as suhoor and will break our fast after sunset with a meal known as iftar.

Mia:  On 9 May, 12 students from St Vincent’s from Years 11 and 12, accompanied by Mr Weaver and Ms McLean, embarked on a journey to Amity College in Auburn, and if you don’t know where that is, ask Ms Parish to share a meal and gain ‘A Taste of Ramadan’.  We heard the beautiful adhan (call to prayer) broke our fast with dates and water then watched the congregational Maghrib prayer conducted by the students of Amity College.  We shared a lovely meal, dessert and conversation with people from different schools, faiths and backgrounds.  Various students from different schools, Muslim and non-Muslim, shared what Ramadan means to them.  This event is a true representation of inter-faith dialogue and empathy.  A special thank you to Emily O’Brien and Sabrene Assad who pushed this initiative forward.

Sabrene:  Ramadan for me means many things.  Ramadan is never a burden.  It is a period of time that Muslims globally await for in anticipation and excitement.  It is a month of collective celebration.  It is remembering and giving to the less fortunate.  I am continuously reminded to be patient as my name derives from the Arabic word ‘Sabr’ meaning patience.  Patience is something I am always trying to achieve especially in Ramadan.  Patient on hunger and patient on thirst.  Everything becomes clear when I’m fasting.  It is a chance for both receiving forgiveness and forgiving others.  It allows me to break out of my habits to create and maintain a better routine.  It means increased prayer and devotion.  Part of this for me is memorising Quran and educating myself about my deen (faith).  Ramadan means family and community.  The best part of my day in Ramadan is going back to sleep from suhoor and hearing my dad beautifully and soothingly recite the Quran.  It is a time for acts of selflessness, kindness and generosity, big or small.  A time of tranquility, self-reflection, perspective and gratitude.  It is through this month every year that I am able to gain a true sense of love, patience, kindness, goodness and peace.

Mia:  Every Muslim on the face of the earth is fasting from dawn to dusk, no food, and no water.  Across the globe, 1.8 billion Muslims break their fast at iftar with a mindset of togetherness and sharing.  For me, Ramadan is sharing not only food but also prayer, humanity and our compassion with those in our household and those around the world.  The best bit is not only the month itself but I find my favourite part is the nights of Ramadan, the gathering of our harmony, the sense of community and unity.  It is the feeling of belonging in getting together with family.  It is also a break from the 11 months of routine to stop and think.  To reorient myself and reflect on how I can better myself.  It is Allah willing us to find that connection, no matter where we are, what colour, what race or creed we come from.  It is that at the end of Ramadan it is not the end of Ramadan, it is rather a beginning of a new way of life.

Aneesa:  I hope this has allowed you to gain some insight and understanding into what Ramadan is about.  As a Lebanese Christian, as a Lebanese Muslim, and as a South African Muslim, there is no difference between us.  Our religions and our cultures do not separate us, if anything, they break down stereotypes and allow us to bond together over our differences, learn about each other, and share with others.  Our journey to life A Taste of Ramadan was the perfect opportunity for this and I could not recommend the experience more for students in the next few years.

Shukran.

Sabrene Assad, Aneesa Abrahams and Mia Chaaya
Year 12 and 11 students who represented the College at Taste of Ramadan

Refugee Support

North Sydney Parish Peace and Justice group, Jesuit Refugee Service, and Jesuit Mission have invited us to a screening of the documentary, The Staging Post, which follows two Afghan Hazara refugees stranded in Indonesia.  The refugees did not have access to education so they started a school which has become very successful, the Cisarua Learning Centre.  Many Aussie teachers now go and volunteer at the Centre.

The documentary is uplifting and shows the resilience of this group of people waiting indefinitely for resettlement to a third country.  After the 60 minute film,  a panel discussion moderated by Carolina (JRS Director) and involving Muzafar Ali (educator, activist and the main protagonist in the film), Lars Stenger (JRS Indonesia) and Hayat Akbari (Hazara youth leader who spent time in Indonesia), will be held.   

The movie tickets are only $10 and can be booked using this link. Here is a 15 minutes Youtube clip to learn more about The Staging Post.  Students love it!

Thank you for your time and support of Jesuit Refugee Service.  

JRS team at North Sydney

UNSW

Exploring STEM Careers Holiday Program Registrations are now open FOR THIS PROGRAM.  Join Science 50:50 and UNSW Women in Engineering for a one-day holiday program exploring careers in STEM.  Attendees will visit various organisations, meet professional scientists and engineers, discover where they work and what they do.  The program runs Monday 8 July or Tuesday 9 July for female Year 10 students with an interest in STEM.  Apply at:  UNSW STEM Careers

Sydney Design School

Sydney Design School, Level 2, 40 Oxley Street, St Leonards, is hosting an Open Day on Saturday 25 May 2019 for anyone interested in studying Interior Design.  Find out about SDS courses, explore the design studios and meet their educators.  Registration is essential online at Sydney Design School Information Sessions

International Screen Academy

International Screen Academy 'The Screen Actors’ home, is inviting students and parents to register for a personal tour of their Sydney studio.  If you are interested in visiting ISA at their Waterloo studios please email:  ruth.tobin@isasydney.edu.au .

Patrick Careers Academy

Information session On Thursday 13 June, from 4.30pm-7.00pm at  Level 7, 451 Pitt Street, Haymarket.  Patrick Careers Academy (formerly St Patrick's Business College) will be hosting an Information Session for students and parents about their Diploma of Business Administration, Diploma of Hospitality Management and Diploma of Social Media Marketing.  Go to www.pca.edu.au. or telephone 8252 9951 to register.  Registrations are essential.

Ms HELEN MARSHALL
CAREERS ADVISER

The College Cura Personalis Program for Term 2 - an overview

The College CP program is underway this term for every Year Group.  Meeting once a cycle (twice for Year 7), it is ably co-ordinated by our Heads of House pastoral team.  Year 7 students are preparing to engage in the Peer Support Mentoring program with their Year 10 'big sisters'.  Year 8 has been focused on identifying the character strengths of their self and of others and will move next week to the ‘Power of thinking’, in particular, Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. 

Year 9 has been discussing the theme of Respect for self and others.  Preparation has been made for a guest speaker in Week 5, Ms Kris Bobetic - a paramedic.  Her presentation uses the attached research from DARTA (Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia) and reinforces positive, healthy norms 9CPDartaWorkshop .  Year 10 is moving into Peer Support Leadership or social justice action projects, whilst Year 11 students are hearing inspirational stories from recent ex-students.  Furthermore, Year 11 girls are aspiring to be more, incorporating teacher feedback from their assessment activities and reflecting on their teachers' feedback to formulate their smart goals.

A recent incursion from a range of universities has inspired Year 12 to start planning ahead and investigating potential future courses.  This Year Group will focus on wellbeing during study time, taking care of oneself and being safe, and creating a positive online presence.  

Mrs Jo Anderson
Director of Pastoral Care

A Reminder from Student Services

Mrs Francine Shanahan at Student Services is here to assist students and parents with their queries.  Student Services direct telephone number is (02) 8324 6630.  The office is open during the hours of 8.00am-4.00pm.  For any queries 4.00pm-4.30pm please call the College's main telephone line 9638 1611 to speak to Reception (Mrs Dianne Forster).

Absentees/Lates

If your daughter is going to be absent or late, please call the absentee line on 8324 6630 and speak to Student Services or leave a clear voicemail message.  An email to collegesecretary@stvincents.nsw.edu.au is acceptable with the reason for your daughter’s absence. 

Please note that all absences and lates are required to be followed up with a note, either by email or a handwritten note which can be sent in with the student on her return to school.  Rolls are taken at Tutor, and at all of the six periods during the day. 

A text/SMS message will be sent to parents by 10.30am if a student is absent and if we have not received notification of her absence that morning.

Early Leave

If your daughter is leaving early - she must have a note/email (ie written confirmation) to enable her to leave.  Email to collegesecretary@stvincents.nsw.edu.au.  Requests for early leave by phone need to be followed by an email or note to allow the student to leave. The student will need to sign out at Student Services before she is permitted to leave the College.  If the student returns to the College, she is required to sign back in at Student Services.

Lost Property

All lost property is kept at Student Services.  Student Services will list named items in the Daily Admin Notices or students will receive an email requesting them to pick up their lost item.  Please ensure all uniforms, text books, drink bottles, lunch boxes and other items are labelled - which will help ensure items can be returned if misplaced.

Requesting Leave

If you require leave of three or more days, please complete an Application for Student Extended Leave or Exemption from Attendance at School on the website  https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/student-services/ . 

Please Note:   Leave does not exempt a student from her responsibility to adhere to the College Assessment Policy.  This form is to be completed by a parent/carer when three or more days of leave OR an Exemption from Attendance at School are requested.  Please submit and return this application three weeks before the proposed leave, with supporting documentation, to the College Principal via:  collegesecretary@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Jo Anderson
Director of Pastoral Care

Co-ordinator of Sport: Ms Jacinta Jacobs: 0418 416 663 / jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Ms Vanessa Brown:    0412 979 599 – Football
Ms Jacinta Jacobs:      0418 416 663 – Athletics/Cross Country
Ms Kat McGrath:        0411 697 195 – Netball
Ms Laura Wiggins:     0418 329 929 – Hockey

Website details:    https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/sport/

For all draw and venue information visit this website. 

Cross Country

The IGSSA Cross Country Carnival was held on Friday 17 May at Frensham.  Our small team of 24 runners had a great day of competition in chilly Mittagong.  Our 13 and 14 years age groups were the strongest with six competitors in each, but it was good to see we had a runner in every age division. Well done, girls!  (see four photos at the bottom of Sport Report).

Congratulations to the following girls who are now the College Age Champions:

12 years - Tyler Ellis - Year 7

13 years - Jaz Walker - Year 7

14 years - Chloe Cook - Year 8

15 years - Mia Timbs - Year 9

16 years - Tess Webster - Year 10

17 years - Shea Donohoe - Year 12

18 years - Ashley Preston - Year 12 

A special mention to our senior students Sidney-Morgan Mulholland, Shea Donohoe and Ashley Preston, who completed their 6th IGSSA cross country for the College. 

Training:  After the Athletics Carnival on 30 May, training on Wednesdays will change to E S Marks Field and Mondays will remain at Rushcutters Bay. 

Inter-House Athletics Carnival at E S Marks Field - Thursday 30 May

The highlight of the term will be the Inter-House Athletics Carnival which is being held on Thursday 30 May.  All students are encouraged to compete in as many events as possible for their House.  Girls wishing to compete in the first event, the 800m, are to be on the first bus.  

The Inter-House 1500m will be held at fitness training on Monday 27 May, and any girls interested in competing for their House must register with Ms Jacobs via email.  There is also a copy of the carnival program and records on the noticeboard for those who would like to get prepared for the carnival, and relay teams will be selected at the next House meetings. 

The College Athletics team is chosen from this carnival, with one girl permitted to compete in each event at the IGSSA Carnival at Homebush on 28 and 29 August, next term.  The fitness sessions on Wednesdays will change to E S Marks after our carnival and all girls selected in the squad are to attend as many of these sessions as they can.  The College team will compete in two lead up twilight meets at Homebush, on Friday 9 and 16 August.  More information will be given to the team once selected.

SEHA Hockey

St Vincent’s hockey had a good start last week with the girls excited to play after Round 1 was cancelled due to the weather.  Our Year 7, team consisting of beginner hockey players, all played extremely well against Ascham with an unfortunate 1-0 loss.  SVC2 had an amazing game against Loreto and eased back into their hockey skills with a 6-1 win.  SVC1 played an experienced Ascham team and lost 5-0, however, have points to build and improve on during the rest of the season. Good start girls! 

Ms Laura Wiggins
Head Hockey Coach

IGSSA Basketball

Basketball has kicked off to a great start!  Each training session challenges students to look at and practice different set plays they can use on Saturdays.  It has been an absolute joy to watch the girls perform and showcase their talent, with every team securing a win last weekend!  The girls performed with the highest level of sportsmanship, interacting with their peers, opponents and coaches.  All teams have had lots of laughs and I am looking forward to more fun filled weekends of basketball.

Below  Year 7 basketball

Ms Molly MacQueen
Head Basketball Coach

IGSSA Football

Please make sure that all team members are in attendance at all training sessions and games. If some girls are not at training, it is not fair on the rest of the team and it makes it difficult for constructive sessions to be run.

SVC 1:  Training Wednesday mornings  7.15am-8.15am

SVC 2 and SVC 3:  Training Thursday afternoons  3.15pm-4.45pm

SVC 4:  Training Friday afternoons  3.15pm-4.45pm.

Ms Vanessa Brown
Head Football Coach

TERM 3 SPORTS TRIALS

IGSSA HOCKEY TRIALS

Hockey trials/training will be held on Wednesday 5 June at David Phillips field Daceyville, 4.00pm-5.00pm, instead of our normal training.  This is for all girls who have registered to play in Term 3.  The bus will leave Victoria Street at 3.15pm sharp.  Please make sure you bring your hockey stick, shin pads, and mouth guard.

FIVE-A-SIDE FOOTBALL 

There will be no trials for football for next term.  These teams are to be nominated to Ms Brown by one person per team and must have 7/8 names.  Any girls who do not have a team organized are to see Ms Brown.

IGSSA NETBALL TERM 3 TRIALS 

With so many enthusiastic netballers, we are giving you plenty of time to get organized.  Please ensure you wear your correct sports uniform (no black tights) and bring lots of water.  Please be diligent to your trials and ensure you can attend with limited excuses.  Any questions please email Molly MacQueen  mollygmacqueen@gmail.com 

Year 7 Trials:  Thursday 23 May  - 3:15pm-4:45pm.

New to SVC Netball Years 8-12:  Those who haven't played IGSSA netball before, please attend both trials so we can submit the correct initial grading to IGSSA, Friday 24 May 7:20am-8:20am. 

SVC Seniors 1-3:  Please only attend if you believe your skill level to be of this standard, 31 May 3:15pm-4:30pm.  (The sign up sheet is on the netball sports room door (outside the PDHPE staffroom).

Junior Trials (Years 8-9):  Monday 3 June - 3:15pm-4:45pm. 

Senior Trials (Years 10-12):  Tuesday 4 June - 3:15pm-4:45pm. 

*** Please plan ahead with informing your other commitments that you are required to be at these trials.

Ms Molly MacQueen
Head Netball Coach

Below:  St Catherine's Netball - talking tactics

SPORT STARS

Congratulations to Frances Shires, Year 12, who placed 2nd in the 800m and 1500m freestyle at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships this week.

Congratulations to Domenica Mitchell, Year 11, who was successful in making the Open IGSSA football team again this year.  We wish her the best of luck at the NSWCIS Championships on 27 and 28 May. 

Please keep the Sport staff informed of any good sporting results held outside of the College.  Information and photos can be emailed to jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-Ordinator of Sport

Year 9 Parents and Carers Social Evening

Year 9 Parents and Carers are invited to a social function being held on Friday 31 May 2019.

The event will be hosted by Arabella Joseph, Katrina Skinner and Penny Wright.  The cost of $25 per head includes light finger food.  Drinks for purchase at The Bellevue.

For more details, please direct enquiries to Katrina Skinner on 0438 933 319 or email mackinnon-5@bigpond.com, or Arabella Joseph on 0409 845 558 or email arabella_joseph@bigpond.com.

Venue:  The Bellevue Hotel, 159 Hargrave Street, Paddington

Come and join in the fun! 

Book by 28 May by clickingHERE.

(Our Book Reviewer, Ms Suzanne O'Connor, is now living in Timor Leste working in a volunteer capacity with the Loreto Sisters).

THE SPLENDID TITLE:  COCKTAIL HOUR UNDER THE TREE OF FORGETFULNESS

Alexandra Fuller certainly has a talent for creating interesting titles for her memoirs.  The first volume was called Let’s Not Go to the Dogs Tonight.  Her mother called Volume One “That Awful Book”.  It was not a book she had ever read but which many well-meaning friends told her how her naughty daughter had depicted childhood in Kenya.  Admittedly, that book was a little severe on her parents’ behaviour which at times could be kindly described as “carefree”.  However, the focus of this second book is more even and indeed compassionate.  Amid the often hilarious adventures of her parents trying to find a place to live in various newly independent African countries, Fuller, by now a mother herself, contemplates the tragic story of her parents’ loss of three of their children to disease and accidents.  As well, a wiser contemplation of her mother’s often outrageous high spirits reveals her struggle with mental stability.  Her mother spent months in a psychiatric hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, and longer months in her bedroom at her lowest point.  Her devoted husband nursed her with great kindness, without really being aware of the nature of his wife’s collapse.  The Tree of Forgetfulness of the title is on their current farm in Zambia, and where they drink what their daughter calls “boxed South African wine” which grows both fish and bananas.  Fuller’s parents regard themselves as African and each time they try to settle in England, they fail miserably:  they find the country cold and dull.  For example, there are no herds of hungry baby elephants destroying their crops in the Home Counties.  Alexandra Fuller married an American and lives in Wyoming but visits her parents frequently and often anxiously.  This second book is imbued with deeper understanding and compassion for two people who toast each other with “There’s none like us!”  You finish the book believing that the world is a greyer place without more rambunctious, eccentric and loveable people like them.  Fuller has since published a book about her father and her first novel which is set in Wyoming.  Luckily, they are all available on Amazon.com.au and I am anticipating reading them with pleasure.

By Ms Suzanne O'Connor