It’s all in the Family: MacCallum/Siemsen Family

MacCallum/Siemsen Family

Below is a reflection from both Vicki McLachlan (MacCallum) class of 68 and her granddaughter Ruby Siemsen (Class of 2024) on their time at Vinnies

Vicki McLachlan (MacCallum)

I started at St Vincent’s College in 1963, not knowing a single person but by the end of the year I had formed many new friendships, two of which are still part of my life 62 years later, Denise Michael and Trudy Kelly. At the recent Golden Afternoon tea which the three of us attended at the College, we met up with Annette Baron who has included us in the SVC Class of 1968 “WhatsApp,” and it has been so lovely catching up on news and photos from old schoolmates.

I have wonderful memories of my six years at St. Vincents — sports carnivals that we shared with all of the Sisters of Charity schools, the honour of leading our school marching by carrying the school banner, our annual school picnics at Nielsen Park, our school excursions like the one to Adaminaby in the Snowy Mountains,  tennis with Mr Ferguson, music with Sister Francis Xavier, and elocution and drama with Miss Coyle. These are only a few of so many memories to treasure.

We had such a fantastic, talented group of girls in our class, from the boarders to the day girls. As a day girl, a group of us would gather to walk through the Cross every day to catch our buses home. We would see many colourful people who would treat us as locals and we always felt safe.

We also had many Sisters of Charity nuns who provided us with a wonderful education — from our Principal Sister Reparata, to Sister Majella, Sister Mark, Sister Aquinas, Sister Baptist, to name a few. And of course Miss Dalgleish, Miss Rolfe, and Miss Pyke, who for some of us were the first lay teachers we ever had teach us. They all provided us with a great legacy based on the school motto “Scientia Cum Religione,” influencing me to become a primary school teacher.

We received a well-rounded education and the values that we took with us and still have today.

I worked in Catholic schools for 42 years — a job which I loved and am thankful for. One of my proudest moments was when my eldest granddaughter Ruby Siemsen started at St  Vincent’s in 2019 and later became joint school captain in 2024, 55 years since I had been Head Prefect in 1968. To say that I was a proud grandmother is an understatement, and I was able to pass my Head Prefect badge on to her.

We both have had the honour of calling ourselves Vinnies girls and are very appreciative of the legacy and values we share.

Ruby Siemsen Class of 2024

My years at St Vincent’s College shaped me into the confident, courageous and passionate woman I am today. I walked through those gates as a girl, unsure of who I would become, and I left as a woman defined by strength, compassion and purpose — qualities nurtured by a community that continues to live in my heart.

I was guided by extraordinary women, none more influential than Ms Elizabeth Brooks, who showed me the true meaning of leadership. She taught me that power is not about authority — it is about example. It is about standing tall with pride, carrying yourself with purpose, and holding relationships at the core of every decision you make. Her impact on me is immeasurable, and her lessons are embedded in the way I lead, the way I work and the way I show up in the world.

Being part of St Vincent’s water polo unlocked another side of the Vinnies spirit — a fierce sense of teamwork, sisterhood and resilience. It connected me with girls across year groups, proving that age never defined being a Vinnies girl. What united us was a shared heart, a shared loyalty and a shared understanding of what it means to belong to this community. Some of my strongest, most beautiful friendships were formed in those waters and hallways — friendships that held my hand in the hard times, pushed me to rise higher and shaped the woman I am proud to be.

In 2024, I was honoured to be appointed Co-Captain of the College — an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. It was especially meaningful as I followed in the footsteps of my grandmother, who was College Captain in 1968. Sharing this legacy with her opened a deeper layer of our relationship — a connection built not only on family, but on a mutual love for a place that shaped us both. Her leadership lives through me, a thread that ties our stories across generations.

One of my fondest memories was sitting in the leadership room as my Co-captain and I officially handed over to the next group of girls. The session had wrapped up, and we offered our final words of advice. I remember looking at their faces — wide-eyed, passionate, eager to honour the Vinnies spirit — and realising they were holding onto every word we said. That moment returns to me whenever I doubt myself. It grounds me. It reminds me of where I come from and who I am.

Because no matter where life leads me, I will always be — proudly and wholeheartedly — a Vinnies girl.