Bulletin

See Mrs Fry's 'Principal's Message' and article from the LRC.

Sunday 05 September:  Father's Day

===============================================================

Foxford Term 4 2021 - Summer Timetable

Year 7 join vertical Tutor on Fridays

Lesson Start Finish

Tutor                  8.40am-8.55am

Period 1             8.55am-9.45am            50min

Period 2             9.45am-10.30am          45min

Recess                10.30am-11.00am       30 min

Period 3             11.00am-11.45am        45min

Period 4             11.45am-12.30pm        45min

Lunch                 12.30pm-1.20pm         50 min

Period 5             1.20pm-2.10pm            50min

Period 6             2.10pm-3.00pm            50min

Dear Parents and Carers

This week we have celebrated the great gifts that books bring and continue to re-give over their long shelf-life.  I have one book I treasure from my Father’s childhood collection.  I barely knew my Father as he died when I was very young, but sharing the same stories from that book always made me feel so incredibly close to him.  The book is “A Boy’s Own Adventure” and it contains some unbelievably outdated understandings of the world.  The book is of archival and deeply sentimental value to me and I know my adult children look at often as a link to a Grandfather and a world they never knew.  I am sure your bookshelves at home contain such treasurers, and I encourage you all this weekend to re-read a book from your childhood, or one you read to your children when they were tiny, little pre-readers.  I have several of these ready for a potential grandchild - my favourite that I have read so often it is etched into my memory is “John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat”.  A gentle story of love with the most exquisite illustrations of an old man, his devoted but jealous dog and a stray cat.

Book Week like everything else this year is different and virtual.  I hope that the photos included in the newsletter give you a glimpse of some of the beloved characters created through the ingenuity of bits and pieces found in our “locked-down” wardrobes.  I transformed myself (easily I confess) into the very nasty Ms Trunchbull, who was the villain in “Matilda”.  She has been responsible for the terrible PR Principals have borne in the imaginations of children … one of her often quoted lines is both prophetic and poignant in our COVID times of locked down schools:

“My idea of a perfect school is one with no children” - Agatha Trunchbull

An enormous thank you to Mrs Jody McDonnell, for championing a week of activities to promote reading and literacy this week.  The Spelling Bee took us to dizzying heights of difficulty!  The book parade released the inner-child in all of us - maybe you could make this a family activity over the weekend.  Books have always been great companions and never more so than right now as we endure our continuing lockdown.

I have listened to the press conference today and the comments of the Premier and Minister of Education.  Best I can say is it seems the plans are written in pencil, not in pen!  There is clearly much more detail needed before we can make real sense of the plan for Term 4 and the HSC.  As soon as I understand them, I will communicate how we best continue to care for our students and staff.  We will not let our care for our community be derailed by the expediency of politicians at press conferences.

Happy reading!

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal 

Below:  Mrs Fry aka Ms Trunchbull

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

Emily Emmett (Year 8) - Beloved Grandmother. 

May she rest in peace.

Perception is shaped by circumstance.  Yesterday’s inclusion of the state’s chief psychiatrist, Dr Murray Wright, in the 11.00am press conference was described as a ‘somber appearance’ lamenting loss by one media source I was reading today.  This surprised me.  It’s not how I heard his words.  For me he was a voice of empathy, understanding and encouragement.  He validated the feelings of many who would be experiencing loneliness and confusion at this time and struggling with mental health.  But in doing so, he also identified the human need for connectedness and encouraged that we look out for and prioritise these people in our lives through our active decisions by way of adhering to the safety guidelines and by engaging in activities that let others know we are there for them.  I felt the message was refreshing to hear at the 11.00am conference.  This difference in perception has allowed me to reflect on my circumstance within our community, and I realise how abundantly I am surrounded by people doing their absolute best to keep connected and bring joy and hope to each other.  This is not through empty promises - but simply through being in authentic relationship in the present.

A look back over this week celebrates our commitment to be people in relationship with others and doing acts of service and love for others.  I enjoyed my stroll through the online House Assemblies.  It was wonderful to hear from our boarders from Bourke to Coonamble to Armidale - it keeps us connected. Aikenhead shared Aikenhead achievements during lockdown - from watching sunrise to quilt making.  Cahill House prompted us to keep fit and stay fit. Cater cheered their House Award recipients.  De Lacy House prompted intrigue about this week’s Mystery Stepper and Book Week competitions.  O’Brien delighted students with the talents of their Tutor teachers - Ms Thomas’ Guess the literary title movie, Ms Brown’s coconut slice recipe for lemon and coconut bliss balls (yum!), Mr Taylor’s stunning photos of the coast and Mr Anderson’s tragically funny Dad jokes.  And Williams House inspired students with a quote about our year’s value of Generosity - “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life out of what we receive.”

Year 12 amazed us with their spirit of sensible care for each other and their delight in each other’s company during their wellbeing days on Monday and Tuesday.  Year 11 students have shared aspirations about how they may contribute to leadership in the year ahead.  Students in every year have been invited to contribute their artistic talents to brightening the walls of Westmead Children’s Hospital this past week.  Literacy and Numeracy Week activities have been enjoyed all week through quizzes and class activities.  Today we have another Mystery Stepper winner and at lunch we have enjoyed a virtual Book Character parade.  I think Mrs Fry’s Trunchbull’s really deserves a mention - but scary - please bring the children back!  For all those students - from the sublime to those of us who were the ridiculous - a good dose of creativity and humour goes a long way in a school!

Life is challenging but not somber at Vinnies.  I encourage us all to keep looking for the good and say it out loud to someone who needs to hear it.  Thank you to all for nurturing the connections we enjoy in this community. 

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

At SVC we know our students and how they learn.  Whilst this is testament to our Vinnies way of knowing our students as whole people, as; learners, sportswomen, seamstresses, graphic designers, writers and STEMinists, it is also the first of seven principles of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.  I think we meet this standard professionally, authentically and with genuine spirit - Vinnies spirit!  Part of teachers understanding how our students learn is dependent on what they show and tell us and then we judge:

‘What they know?  What they want to know?  How will they know it?

A teacher's judgment is part of our daily work.  Daily, we are assessing where students are in any one episode of learning and then working out what still needs to happen to grow their outcomes.  We call it reflective learning and the reflective learning culture at St Vincent's stems from our learning framework and our Ignatian pedagogical approach.  We establish context (curriculum), experience (teaching and learning), reflect (feedback) and act (set goals).  In doing so, we inform, transform and empower our students to reach their fullest potential as courageous women of action. 

Throughout our Foxford program, whilst we remain physically separated, we remain connected pedagogically, to ensure the continuity of learning for students in relationship with their teachers.  Our Google Classroom and Google Meet environment allows us to do so.  An agile relationship that brings human connection as well as learning, at a time we most need to feel connected to those that care about us most.  My colleagues and I have been finding many innovative ways to ensure that the students are receiving the valuable feedback that they need to continue to make gains in their learning this year. We are ‘snail-mailing’, ‘mail-merging’, ‘scanning and sending', Google ‘doc-ing’ and ‘Google-forming’ our feedback out to our students and the students are receiving it wholeheartedly.  We are indeed a dynamic reflective learning community at present.  I take this time to thank my colleagues for their innovation and creativity in online assessment design, invigilation and feedback strategies and I would like to thank parents and students for their patience and good-humour, when sometimes we hit the odd glitch in the technology!  What’s wonderful to see - is just how purposeful the feedback is for the students as they then determine, based on their feedback, their next ‘learning moves’.  In partnership with you, our parents, I encourage you to ask your daughters to share some of our feedback with you, so that you too gain insight into their learning progression.  I also thank you for your patience as we may need to allow a little more time to be tacked onto our 2-week-turnaround for marking and feedback, during the Foxford period.

I do hope the weekend brings rest and renewal for all and an opportunity to reflect on what each of us is most grateful for in our lives.  As I reflect on a week of ‘cooking the books’ as we embarked on a fabulous Book/Literacy/Numeracy week that culminated in our fabulous book parade at lunchtime, I am buoyed in genuine awe of our students' commitment to their learning, whilst keeping their sense of humour.  I do hope that those that make political decisions about our HSC learners, adopt our reflective learning model to make decisions that are right and just.  As Mrs Fry stated, as soon as we know the crystal clear path forward, we will communicate it to our community.  Meantime, this weekend I hope you enjoy the early spring blossoms and those precious family moments as we continue to support each other to navigate the pandemic, courageously.

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

Thinking ahead to Father's Day next week, I have received some really great videos of Dads having their say and some beautiful father and daughter shots.  It’s not too late to upload via the link.  I will use the photos and video to put an online liturgy and prayer together where we contemplate the relationships of fathers, grandfathers, uncles and significant people who take on that caring role that Dads have.  All students are invited to upload a brief video of their Dad and a couple of photos to the link below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11CmLgFtlERgx0jk9pbCCHuDdSU31s3dFLEbYs-lGph8/edit?usp=sharing

Dads, if you haven’t been asked to share your thoughts on video yet, give your daughter a prod.  It will be great to see you and hear your ideas.

We received some gorgeous artwork which has been sent off to the COVID ward at Westmead Children’s Hospital as we try to 'Wow the walls' of Westmead.  We will send off another bundle of art work next week.  I encourage any students who would like to write a little card or note instead of drawing or painting, to get onto it over the weekend.  Pop them in the post to St Vincent’s College and we will get the collection out to Westmead.

Click on the link below for details.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rBH7dxPGJ-ONBC8tlOxgGSaDZ6OOkz852EN7bLMl-U0/edit?usp=sharing

At 4.00pm today a merry band of 16 movie buffs will gather together apart, on screen to watch the big small screen and get our heads and hearts around “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café".  This most beautiful movie from 1991 deals with racism, grief, love, family, danger, dysfunctional relationships and the glory of friendship that transcends time and place.  I know the girls will love it.  It is a three tissue movie.  I’ll let you know how our conversation goes next week.  Years 10, 11 and 12 are invited to join the Friday Afternoon Movie Classroom and join the Google Meet at 4.00pm.  Parents and siblings are welcome to join too; parents may need to just check the rating if younger children are in the room.

Click on the link for all the info.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R__0s5iQJ0bsGgPC2do29ukY44XFonjRQsCV2Po-8Fs/edit?usp=sharing

Spring is coming.  The rains have been a gift and I have spent the day in Ignatian prayer and Spiritual conversation with other heads of Mission and Religion faculty heads from the other Mary Aikenhead Schools in Brisbane and Melbourne.  It has been a really great day.  I am blessed to be part of the enterprise. 

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

Thank you to the fun students who dressed up today in our remote Book Week parade.  We had some great entries - congratulations to our winners. 

Antonia Sanchez - First Place                               Florence Gordon - Second Place

Alex Simec and Lucy Rice - equal Third Place

Kitchen Chemistry for Science Week!

The theme for Science Week this year is ‘Food - Different by Design’.  Students enjoyed quizzes to test their knowledge of food science and technologies. They also conducted experiments in a ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ activity, exploring chemical reactions by making plastic using milk, and testing substances for their food preservation abilities.

Below:  Zoe Burke and Lola Clapshaw enjoy some Kitchen Chemistry

Year 8 students also got out into the garden to explore the world of bees.

Class 8G were tasked with investigating their gardens and neighbourhoods to see where bees obtains sustenance.  We are very aware that without bees and other insects to pollinate our flowers, biodiversity, horticulture and the food supply for many animals are at risk.  If you don't have a flower garden, putting a small amount of sugar water onto a teaspoon (or according to Saskia Muscroft - a soft drink cap is better) goes to helping our furry winged friends. 

Charlotte Ballinger also said ‘Bees are our top pollinators, and by doing this activity we are helping the bees to keep their energy sources high.  Without bees, our whole ecosystem would be dramatically altered and less plants would be growing, which is why it is crucial to keep bees alive'.

The A-Z of Sporting Pursuits

The PDHPE Department

Ms Sheenagh Doran
Head of Department PDHPE

For the recent screen-free day, Year 7 were asked to make a Viking necklace and to write their name in runes.

Ms Maria Geracitano
History Teacher/ HSIE Department

By Lily O’Loghlin

In Year 8 English, we are currently studying Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.  We are mainly focussing on the themes of humour and love.  These are explored through many aspects of the play, such as ‘the lovers’ (Hermia, Helena, Demetrius and Lysander).  One example of a lesson we can learn from this part of the play is the danger of relying solely on our emotions.  This is highlighted through Helena’s character and the way she acts toward Demetrius. Helena appears desperate to the audience, as a result of her devotion to Demetrius.  She in no way hides her love for him, even upon rejection.  This leads to her humiliating herself, which, to an audience, is humorous and entertaining, however, also cringey and uncomfortable.  In this scenario, Shakespeare uses humour to teach us about the dangers of relying on our emotions, all while entertaining us.  We also recently created a ‘news report’, including an interview with a character from the play, which was very fun.  I chose to ‘interview’ Egeus, Hermia’s father, about the scandal of his daughter running away to elope.  It was very fun to write the script in Elizabethan language and pretend that I was really talking to him!  Overall, this topic has been very fun and interesting to learn about.

‌

Competition deadlines have been extended to 17 September 2021

‌

University of Sydney

Open Day

On Saturday 28 August from 10.00am-2.00pm, discover online what USYD is like.  Meet lecturers and academics, discover USYD’s campus and facilities, and get study and admissions advice.  Registration is required here

ARTiculate Series

Geography with Political Economy

On 1 September commencing at 5.00pm.  Everyone is welcome to attend a lecture that focuses on the global economy.  From the food we eat to the mobile phones we use to connect with our friends, our lives are linked to the global economy.  This talk will focus on the everyday life of the economy, exploring how everything places us within a global web of economic relationships while introducing an 'economic geography' perspective.  Participants will be encouraged to think critically about themes such as globalisation, inequality, technology, work and climate change while reflecting on their own experiences as consumers.  For more details go here

French Continuers and Extension

La Francophonie

On 8 September commencing at 4.00pm.  Everyone is invited to join an interactive webinar based around the “French-speaking communities” theme of the French Continuers Stage 6 Syllabus.  It will be delivered in French and participants will be invited to engage in activities during the session.  La Francophonie (the French-speaking world) will be explored in this webinar including its meaning, origins manifestation in different continents and legacy in contemporary France.  Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions (in English or French) during the Q&A session at the end of the 30-minute webinar.  For more information on how to register go here

UNSW

Open Day

On 4 September from 11.00am-3.00pm, online.  Discover the many opportunities at UNSW via Open Day from faculty talks, scholarships, portfolio entry and adjustment factors.  To build your itinerary go here

Zero Carbon World

On 13 October at 6.30pm.  UNSW’s world leading Science faculty will investigate the age of zero carbon.  This talk will investigate whether the hype is getting ahead of science and technology.  What are the big-ticket items that could hasten a zero carbon future?  What are the risks and rewards of this new age?  To register your interest for this event go here

UTS Sydney

OPEN DAY

Join UTS virtually for Open Day on Saturday 28 August and Tuesday 31 August, for a chance to explore your course and career options.  UTS Open Day will include a range of online information sessions, virtual tours, 1-1 live chats and on-demand content.  To register for the event go here

UTS EARLY ENTRY

The last date to apply for the UTS Early Entry program is Sunday 12 September by 11:59pm.  The UTS EE program recognises that students are more than just a number at the end of Year 12.  EE provides students with the opportunity to enter a UTS course based on their Year 11 academic achievements. Applications are direct to UTS.  For more information on how to apply go here.

ACU

​​Talk with Series

Talk with Teachers

On 5 October at 6.00pm, join online to hear from ACU’s teaching alumni who are working in education.  Take part in a Q&A session with ACU’s graduates and learn about their experiences going from the lecture halls to leading their own classrooms and how they make a difference to young people’s lives.  For more information go here

Talk with Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists and Physiotherapists

On 6 October at 6.00pm, join online to hear from ACU’s alumni about their experiences improving people’s quality of life.  Take part in a Q&A session with ACU’s graduates and learn about the rewarding and challenging careers of occupational therapists, speech pathologists and physiotherapists.  Allied Health practitioners help us live life to the fullest.  You can diagnose, treat and rehabilitate patients, and help improve their quality of life.  For more information go here

Talk with Exercise Scientists

On 7 October at 6.00pm, join online to hear from ACU’s alumni about their experiences working as exercise scientists and clinical exercise physiologists. Learn from ACU’s graduates who have worked in community or private practice as accredited exercise physiologists.  A career in sport and exercise science will allow you to help people achieve peak performance and optimal health and wellbeing.  Take part in a Q&A session about what a career in exercise science is like and where it could take you.  For more information go here

Sydney Actors School

New Musical Theatre Diploma

The Musical Theatre Diploma is aimed at musical theatre performers, singer songwriters and contemporary vocalists who wish to become ENTREPRENEURIAL CREATIVE ARTISTS.  Sydney Actors School has partnered with TDP to create this program.  TDP has been developing and mentoring young creative artists for 30 years.  For more information go here.

Sydney Actors School Applications now open for 2022

Applications to Sydney Actors School are now open for the January 2022 intake. The school is about providing personalised, hands-on practical training in acting.  Entry to the accredited programs is by a strict audition and interview process.  Find out more at www.sydneyactorsschool.edu.au and about the audition process here

Police Force Recruitment Procedure

University Certificate in Workforce Essentials

If any student is considering a policing career with the NSW Police Force, one of the first steps is completing a foundation level program - the University Certificate in Workforce Essentials (UCWE).  The UCWE replaces the previous minimum academic requirement and is a mandatory requirement for all future NSW Police Force applicants.  Successful students will be awarded a University Certificate which contributes to the NSW Police Force recruitment selection ranking score.  Read more about ranking scores.

NSW Police Application Process

Once potential candidates have successfully completed the University Certificate in Workforce Essentials (UCWE), they may be eligible to submit an application to the NSW Police Force.  Read more

1. Background Checks - Upon receipt of your police application, your recruitment case officer will conduct a number of background checks including detailed background vetting, employment checks and a more thorough investigation of your history.  Read more

2. Physical and Medical Assessment - As a police recruit applicant, you will be required to undertake a number of physical tests to determine your ability to perform the physical demands inherent to operational policing.  You will also be invited to attend a full medical assessment including a complete medical history.  The assessment will be conducted by an external provider and will assess your medical fitness to perform the inherent role and functions of an operational police officer.  Read more

3. Interview - The final stage of the recruitment process is a formal face to face interview.  The interview will be conducted by a three member panel and will provide an opportunity for the NSW Police Force to assess you against a number of core qualities.  The interviews will be conducted at a number of metropolitan and regional locations.  Read more

4. Ranking and the Eligibility Pool - Successfully completing all requirements of the recruitment process will see candidates progress onto the eligibility list to await an offer for placement into the Associate Degree in Policing Practice.  Read more

Police Recruitment Home Page:   https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/recruitment/home 

Careers at Council

Local government offers a huge range of jobs and career paths in professional, trade and administrative roles.  Most of the 128 councils in NSW employ trainees and apprentices.  Check out the entry level job opportunities on Careers at Council here

J P Morgan’s Traineeship Program

Students looking for an alternative Gap Year experience might like to apply for J P Morgan’s Traineeship program.  Trainees are paid and work within J P Morgan’s Securities Services business covering custody, fund services and market operations.  For more information go to Careers Home | JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

Sport Staff Contacts for Term 3 2021:

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

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

For all draw and venue information go to:   www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/sport/weekly-sports-draw/

What a great start Australia has had in the Paralympics this week.  It’s great to have something so inspiring on television to keep us all motivated to exercise during lockdown.  

TERM 3 SPORT

Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, all Term 3 Sport has now been cancelled or postponed.  The IGSA Saturday competition has been cancelled.  Please be aware that fees paid for Term 3 Sport will be credited to your account.  There is no need to directly contact Mrs Pauline Martin.  

There are some great home training sessions on the College website for those girls who are missing their Saturday Sport, and lots of good Tutor Challenges being organised by Ms Jacobs.

TERM 1 (2022) SPORT REGISTRATIONS

We are now preparing for Term 1/2022 Sport.  The Term 1 Sport Registrations have been extended until Friday 17 September (last day of Term 3).  Please go to the Registration section on the front of the Sport page on the College website.  The sports offered for Terms 1/2022 are:  EASTS Touch, IGSA Water Polo, IGSA Tennis, Santa Sabina Volleyball.  Please make sure you would be available and committed to all training sessions and Saturday matches before enrolling.  The registrations will close at 3.00pm on Friday 17 September.  

VINNIES OLYMPIC CHALLENGE

In keeping with our Olympics theme and to try and keep everyone fit and healthy during lockdown, we have been running a Mystery Stepper competition each week for the past few weeks.  This week was our final week and we had two amazing ex-students as our Mystery Steppers.

We have had some great prizes donated by Running Bare, Olivia Jean Bags, The Storeroom Vintage Shop and Let’s Go Surfing, and I would like to thank these businesses for their support.

SPORTS STARS OF THE WEEK 

Congratulations to all those who entered the Mystery Stepper Competition for our final week.  Ms Linda McCabe in Boarding was clever enough to work out who both the steppers were this week!  Also to Phoebe Roach in Year 11 for guessing Melinda Gainsford-Taylor.  A special big thank you to our two Mystery Steppers this week - Elizabeth (Liz) Doherty (2013) and Olympian Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (1989).

Liz Doherty actually only attended the College for her two senior years but definitely left her mark, as both the College soccer and De Lacy House Captain. Since finishing school, Liz has been studying a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Physical Education (Honours) at the University of Queensland and playing soccer in Brisbane.  She is now working as a PDHPE teacher and is completing her Masters of Sports Coaching.  Her younger sister Maggie (Margaret) who graduated in 2016 is pictured with Liz below).  Maggie is also living in Brisbane and still doing lots of drama, dance and playing football.  She is working as a childcare worker and studying childcare at TAFE.

Liz said that she was inspired by our own PDHPE teachers during her time at Vinnies.  After school she spent a lot of time on the football field.  She has played in the QLD National Premier League since 2013, has won a premiership and reached her 100th senior game milestone.  She has also pursued coaching and currently works with the Queensland Academy of Sport with the junior girls football squads.  I was lucky enough to run into Liz when I was up at the Nationals with my daughter Charlie and we had a lovely catch up.

I asked Liz her favourite quote - “A life lived for the good of others is a hero’s journey”.  I can’t recall who or where I heard this, but it has always stuck!  If you are familiar with Simon Sinek’s work on ‘finding your why’, you will understand the power of being motivated by something more than yourself.  When you are determined in your career and particularly in high performance sport, it is easy to get caught up in winning and accolades.  Reminding yourself WHY you are doing what you are doing is important to staying on track. 

Liz was also very keen to come back to St Vincent's for a Dodge Ball competition against Mr Bradley - so I definitely think I will have to organise one now!

Below from left:  After beating SCEGGS in the school soccer final in 2013; coaching at the Nationals - pictured with Ms Jacobs and her daughter; with her sister Maggie (class of 2016).

Some of you may not be aware that three time Olympian Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (AM) was a Boarder at our College and graduated in 1989.  Mr Ken Devlin, from our maintenance staff, is actually the only current staff member who was at the College during Melinda's time here.  Mel’s family was from Narromine and she now lives on the Northern Beaches area of Sydney with her husband and two children.  Whilst at the College she started training with her coach Jackie Byrnes and represented the College at IGSSA, CIS, NSW All Schools and the Australian All Schools Championships.

In 1989, Mel won the first of three consecutive Australian junior 100m titles, also winning the junior 200m championships in 1989 and 1991.  At the 1990 World Junior Championships, Melinda reached the semi-finals of both the 100 and 200 metre sprints and assisted the Australian 4 x 100 metre relay team to a new national junior record of 45.01 seconds.  Although Melinda became a world champion in 1995, her senior career really began when she won the first of five 100m/200m sprint doubles at the 1992 Australian National Championships and won selection on the Olympic team where she made the semi-finals of the 200m.  During 1994, Melinda won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games behind her arch-rival Cathy Freeman and set an Australian record for 100m of 11.12s.  A year later, she won the 200m at the 1995 World Indoor Championships in athletics and took home a bronze medal from the 1995 World Championships in athletics as part of the Australian 4 x 400m relay team.

In 1997 whilst defending her World Indoor crown, Melinda was disqualified for accidentally running out of her lane in the semi-final of the 200m. Later in the year she made up for that disappointment with a new Australian record of 22.23 seconds.  Soon after, Melinda reached her first individual outdoor final at the Athens World Championships, placing 7th in the 200m final.  Unfortunately, the latter part of her career was hampered by injury.  Running with knee problems she famously broke down just metres before the finish when in first place during the 200m race at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.  During her career Melinda won a total of thirteen individual open titles - two at 100 yards, six at 100 metres and five over 200 metres.

Below:  A fantastic shot of Melinda running at the Olympics

Below:  Melinda Gainsford-Taylor with Ms Jacobs at our 2007 College Sports Awards, and below right, at a SVC Athletics Carnival with her Mother. 

At her third Olympic Games at Sydney 2000, Mel made the final of the 200m sprint placing 6th and assisted the Australian 4 x 400 m relay team to a fifth-place finish and a new national record.  Still holding Australian records at 100m and 200m, and sharing in 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay records.  Melinda retired in 2002.  In 2007 we were honoured to have Melinda as our guest presenter for the College Sports Awards, where her advice to young inspiring athletes was “work hard, stay patient; there is plenty to look forward to”.   Melinda now works with Little Athletics New South Wales visiting schools and also provides expert commentary for Australian TV Channel One, during their coverage of the Australian Athletics Tour.  She is a fan of the National Rugby League team Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, and is a former board member of the club.  In 2017 Melinda was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to athletics as a sprinter at a national and international level, and as a role model for young athletes.  She now coaches many athletes at her MELGT Explosive Speed Clinics, which focuses on speed and agility across all sports at the Sports Academy in Narrabeen.  We were honoured that Mel was our Mystery Stepper this week, and thank her for her time and support of the College.

FINAL WINNERS OF THE MYSTERY STEPPER  COMPETITION

Congratulations to Linda McCabe in Boarding who guessed our Mystery Stepper was footballer, Liz Doherty (2013) and to Phoebe Roach (Year 11) who worked out our second stepper was Olympian, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (1989).

Not many of us got close to our Mystery Steppers this week as they were both pretty active with their jobs!  But, the person who had the closest number of steps to Liz's 108,963 steps was Amelia Johnson again, in Year 12 (Cater) with 90,932 steps.  And the person who had the closest number of steps to Melinda's 113,112 steps was Lily O’Reilly in Year 8 (Cater) with 104,962 steps.  Well done, Cater!

Well done to staff member Ms Alana Santi, for getting the closest to Mystery Stepper, Liz Doherty, with 87,288 steps.  The closest to mystery stepper Melinda Gainsford-Taylor was Mr Mark Bradley again, with 106,728 steps!  Maybe he could give Melinda a race over 100m!

Prizes will be given out when we are back at school.  Well done everyone!  Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the Paralympics!

This section is to make the College community aware of some of the exceptional athletes we have in the College.  If your daughter has represented her state or country recently in her chosen Sport, please send us any results, photos or blurbs on her performance to jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au 

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport