Principal’s Message

Dear Friends of St Ursula’s

Welcome to our third issue of Piazza for 2025. As this term draws to a close, I am delighted to share with you a celebration of the significant events that have taken place in this vibrant College.

Farewell to the Class of 2025

In the final week of Term 3, we bid a heartfelt farewell to our Year 12 Graduates. As Serviam women, they have embraced our College motto in both word and deed. Their strength of character, compassion, generosity, gratitude, school pride, and infectious sense of fun have left an indelible mark on our community.

It was a privilege to celebrate this exceptional cohort through a series of graduation events. The festivities began on Wednesday 24 September with a Graduation Assembly honouring the Class of 2025’s many achievements. We were delighted to welcome several distinguished guests who joined us in recognising and applauding the accomplishments of these remarkable young women:

• The Honourable Ms Courtney Houssos MP, Acting Minister for Education for NSW
• The Honourable Mr Mark Coure MP, Member for Oatley
• Mrs Danielle Cronin, Executive Director, Sydney Catholic Schools
• Mr Kevin Carragher, Director Education and Research,  Sydney Catholic Schools 
• Ms Jodie Alvaro Specialist, System Performance & Finance, Catholic Education Foundation
• Mr Ian Todd, Chief Executive Officer, Kingsgrove RSL Club
• Mr Bernie Deady, President of Kingsgrove Conference St Vincent De Paul
• Fr Casey, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Fatima Kingsgrove
• Sr Leone Pallisier osu (College Principal 1976 to 1982)
• Sr Frances Milledge osu
• Ms Louise Maguire, Principal Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Kingsgrove

The Assembly concluded with a moving Guard of Honour, as the entire College community came together to send off our graduates.

In the evening, Year 12 students and their families gathered for a beautiful Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, followed by a celebratory Supper in Merici Hall. It was a magical day from start to finish, and we were thrilled to see so many parents and family members join us.

Upgrade to facilities

The refurbished student amenities block, near the Canteen were completed, and they truly look stunning. Our Year 12 students were thrilled to be part of the official opening ceremony, marking a new chapter in College comfort and design.

Book Week Brings Joy and Imagination to the College

Week 5 was a vibrant celebration of literature as Book Week swept across the College, thanks to the creativity and dedication of our Library staff. The campus came alive with storytelling, costumes, and a shared love of reading that united students and staff alike. The highlight of the week was Friday 22 August, when the College staff came together in red-and-white stripes for a spirited “Where’s Wally?” dress-up day. From classrooms to the playground, Wallys popped up everywhere, sparking laughter and delight. The Library hosted a lively parade and engaging activities that captured the imagination of all who participated. It was a joyful reminder of the power of books to inspire, connect, and entertain. 

St Ursula’s Day Celebrations

Our College came together in joyful celebration for our Feast Day, honouring the legacy of St Ursula. We were especially delighted to welcome our Ursuline sisters who joined us for our special Mass, making the occasion even more meaningful:

• Sr Kari Hatherell, Ursuline Provincialate
• Sr Leone Pallisier, Principal 1976–1982
• Sr Mary O’Neill, Principal 1989–2007
• Sr Frances Milledge
• Sr Joan Brennan
• Sr Patty Andrews
• Sr Venera Nicolosi

Their presence was a beautiful reminder of our rich Ursuline heritage and the enduring spirit of service and community.

Following the Mass, students and staff embraced the sunshine with a spirited walkathon to raise funds for the Mother of Peace Primary School in Cambodia. The generosity and energy on display were truly inspiring. Once back at the College, our Year 10 Commerce students showcased their entrepreneurial flair by running vibrant market stalls for lunch—an impressive effort that added flavour and fun to the day.

The celebration concluded with a concert that, true to tradition, was full of talent, heart, and joy. It was a fitting finale to a day that brought our community together in faith, purpose, and celebration.

In the Footsteps of Angela Merici

At the start of term 4, I will be travelling to Italy on a pilgrimage, In the Footsteps of Angela Merici, with Ursuline sisters and leaders from Ursuline schools around the world, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you in the next Piazza.

Regards

Vivienne Awad
Principal

St Ursula’s Day

St Ursula’s Day is a wonderful day of celebration at the College and 2025 was no exception. As a community we celebrated the lives of St Ursula and St Angela Merici, who have inspired us to live a life of Serviam. The day began with Mass, followed by the Walkathon and food stalls in the Piazza. The day concluded with a wonderful concert.

We extend our great appreciation and thanks to the following organisations who contributed to the success of the Year 10 commerce student’s food stalls that took place after the Walkathon.

• Oiboba Bubble Tea Australia
• Woolworths Rockdale
• Woolworths Marrickville Metro
• Aldi Wolli Creek
• Coles Brighton Le Sands
• Muffin Break Burwood
• Fruit World Roselands
• Coles Oatley West
• The Burg Five Dock
• Coles Clemton Park
• Coles Earlwood
• Lloyd’s IGA South Hurstville

Walkathon and its connection to Cambodia

I have been asked a few times this week why we walk on St Ursula’s Day in solidarity with our Cambodian community? The see-judge-act method is a three-step process for social analysis and action and this formed the foundation of our immersion. First, one sees the social issue by immersing themselves in the situation and gathering facts. Second, one judges the situation by reflecting on it using moral and ethical principles such as those found in faith traditions. Finally, one acts by developing and implementing a concrete plan to address the root causes of injustice. The following is the presentation shared by three of our remarkable Yr 10 students who travelled to Cambodia. I hope their hearts may be heard as you read their reflections. 

SEE…

When we arrived at Mother of Peace Primary School in Cambodia, we were filled with a mix of emotions that are hard to put into words. There was joy in the way the kids ran up to us with open arms and even bigger smiles. They threw themselves into our laps, held our hands, played games and laughed with us. Even though there was a language barrier, connection came so easily. It was so pure and so real. Being there opened our eyes.

One of the biggest takeaways we gained from the immersion was learning the true meaning of PERSPECTIVE. Perspective means being able to see life through someone else’s eyes and recognising that our way of living isn’t the only way. We saw perspective by witnessing the true realities of life for the people in the community: through our time with the students and sisters at Mother of Peace Primary School, conversations and dinner with university students, and being welcomed into the homes of four families. We saw that while they had little in a material sense, they were rich in spirit, hope and kindness.

I want to share the story of a girl in Year 5, Chan, who deeply impacted me. We had the privilege of visiting her home and witnessing the true reality she faces each day. She brings so much joy and energy to the classroom and it became clear that school is her safe space, a place where she can have fun and learn. But at home, the sadness in her eyes told a very different story. Sister Kresnthia who accompanied us informed us of her situation at home. Her father, who separated from her mother when Chan was very young, lost his vision and became reliant on his two kids, a 12 year old and a 10 year old, to do daily tasks. Sister suggested that, to lift the cost burden off the father’s shoulder, she could put Chan into a scholarship program to allow her to continue her education. The father’s response broke our hearts. He said “But who will be my eyes?” In that moment, we saw his deep love and growing dependence. Letting her go meant losing his connection to the world.

Her story was a powerful reminder that her education is not just hers, it’s her family’s hope. Walking away from that home, I realised that perspective isn’t just about seeing life through someone else’s eyes, but also about carrying their stories with you. Chan’s courage, her father’s love and the resilience of the community will forever shape how I view the world and what truly matters in life. I am deeply and forever grateful to have witnessed firsthand what life is truly like in a third world country. We arrived in Cambodia hoping to change the children’s lives but what we didn’t expect was how much they would change ours. The love and strength we felt touched our hearts deeply and with that, we opened our hearts. A piece of us will forever remain with the courage and hope of the people we met.

JUDGE…

Being in Cambodia and seeing the suffering started to make us question everything. It opened our eyes not only to joy, resilience and kindness, but also to the deep injustices. We were truly humbled. We found ourselves asking very difficult questions that we’d never considered before. How can a country so full of spirit and community be healing from so much pain? We saw the lasting scars of Cambodia’s history. The devastating effects of the Khmer Rouge genocide still leaves its mark. More than four million lives were lost and entire systems were destroyed. Education, health and Government were impacted brutally. Old aged citizens living in Cambodia still had to work long hours to eat at least one meal a day and to pay for things. From our bus we drove past pollution and many street-side stores which was heartbreaking. Most of us may have never heard of landmines before but unfortunately for Cambodians, it’s a deadly legacy. 

At least 10 million landmines remain buried beneath the soil and continue to injure hundreds of thousands of people, especially those in rural areas. We met countless people with disabilities as a result of the landmines. We are lucky to live in Australia. Our government provides ramps, mobility aid, and healthcare. In countries like Cambodia, that’s practically non-existent.  The immersion gave us such great insight into not just life in Cambodia, but the systems of poverty and inequality that exist all over the world. In fact, the average income is $6 a day and most families live on less than $150 a MONTH. The more we saw, the more we questioned. Why is basic education still considered a ‘privilege’ and not a reality in many of these communities? Why is there such a lack of government support for those living with mixed abilities? Why is the burden of genocide still being carried by children who were never apart of it? Why are children being forced to grow up too soon to support their families? These are uncomfortable truths but ones we can no longer ignore. 

Even in the face of these hard truths, what stood out the most in these communities was love. Pure and honest bubbling love. At the Mother of Peace Primary School where we were surrounded by children so full of joy and laughter, we were reminded that happiness doesn’t come from what you have but from who you choose to be as a person. Even though we felt sadness at the hardship they faced, we felt inspired.

We returned home as changed women with fresh eyes. Things we once saw as normal, like school, clean water, a safe home, we learnt are actually privileges that many people live without. And yet, the people we met still found a reason to smile, to hope and to love. We all left a piece of our hearts in Cambodia. We’ve all grown not just as individuals but together as Cambodian sisters. So today from my heart to yours, let’s walk with appreciation, compassion and open hearts. Because together we can really go out and make a difference in the world. 

ACT…

For most of us, when we think about the Walkathon we think of a day of mufti, food stalls, walking – just another event on the calendar. But it’s so much more than that. 

It’s a chance to act for change and use our privilege for good. To help you understand more about your potential for change, I’d like to share a part of a poem we heard whilst we were on immersion. It goes like this:

“It’s not just what you’re born with, it’s what you choose to bear. 

It’s not how big your share is, it’s how much of it you can share.

It’s not the fights you dreamed of, it’s those you really fought.

It’s not what you’ve been given, it’s what you do with what you’ve got.

What’s the use of two strong legs, if you only run away?

What’s the use of the finest voice, if you’ve nothing good to say?”

We all have the power. We all have the privilege. We need to become the sources of change our world needs. So I urge each and every one of you to partake in the upcoming Walkathon for the sake of change. 

With each dollar we raise, a child is able to continue their education, a family is supported and a future is made so much brighter and filled with possibilities. In fact, if you donate just $15, the cost of breakfast and a coffee, you can fund a month’s worth of schooling for a child. School is a gift, a source of opportunities. More often than not, we take school for granted. But for someone else, it’s a dream. A chance for a brighter future. That’s why we must make the most of what we have, embrace every opportunity school provides, and do what we can for others, because in doing so, we hold the power to transform another life. 

For us, the Walkathon is no longer just something we do, it’s something we believe in. This year, as ‘Cambodian Sisters’, we will be walking in solidarity with all the people we met, with the children and the families whose lives touched ours so deeply. We will be walking, not just with our feet, but with our hearts, knowing that love and compassion can travel across oceans and create real change. Let today be a reminder to be grateful. To maximise all the opportunities we are given. And to commit ourselves to using our privilege to uplift others. Because together, we rise. This is what it means to be Serviam in the world. 

Keira Yazbeck, Indiana Udit & Liana Kazzi 
Year 10

Please click here if you wish to donate to this worth cause.

Shinead Surmon – Weapons Electrical Engineer!

Former student, Shinead Surmon from the Class of 2018 tells us her exciting story of how she discovered a wonderful career in STEM and became a Lieutenent in the process!

Can you share your study/career journey since leaving St Ursula’s?

I joined the Royal Australian Navy in January 2019 where I moved down the HMAS Creswell, in Jervis Bay to begin my military career at the Royal Australian Naval college. I spent the first 6 months completing initial officer training where there was a  focus on leadership development, resilience, physical fitness, sea survivability and core military skills.

Upon completion of this course I then moved over to Perth, Western Australia, for three months where I got to work alongside the electronic technicians at the fleet support unit, before getting the opportunity to move once again to Cairns, to join my first ship HMAS Melville. I spent the last three months of 2019 onboard Melville and had some incredible opportunities including sailing across to Tonga and Fiji to assist with hydrographic training for their respective navies. 

In 2020, I moved to Canberra to join the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) to begin my tertiary studies. ADFA is a military tertiary education institute where members from the Navy, Army and Airforce complete a degree through the University of New South Wales, whilst continuing their military training. I undertook a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Honours) , completing my thesis in the comparison and design of different machine learning neural networks for electrical load forecasting. Outside of studies, ADFA offered a wide range of different sports and extracurricular activities. I had the opportunity to compete in sports such as sailing and snowboarding, representing the Navy in inter-service competitions against the Army and Air Force.  

Upon graduation from university in December 2023, I moved down to HMAS Cerberus, located on the Mornington peninsular in Victoria where I completed the Engineering Officers Application Course. In this course I learnt the fundamentals of how to be a Weapons Electrical Engineer, translating what I learned through university into the naval environment. 

In July 2024, I moved to Perth to join the ship, HMAS Toowoomba which is where I am still posted to today.

Weapons Engineering is such a specialised field. Was this always an interest and something you aspired to do? Or is it a field that you discovered along the way? Who/What inspired you?

I never considered joining the military, let alone becoming a Weapons Electrical Engineer in the Navy—until Year 12, when I began applying for university. While exploring different scholarship opportunities, I came across the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) pathway. As soon as I discovered that I could receive a fully funded university degree while being paid to travel the world and take part in incredible experiences, I applied straight away—and I’ve never looked back.

What does an average day on a Naval ship look like?

My role onboard the ship is the Assistant Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer. I am still in training so spend a lot of time studying, however my job consists of leading a department of 30 sailors to maintain the capability of the sensor systems, communication systems, combat system and weapons onboard the ship. I also manage all of the explosive ordnance onboard, and act as the radiation safety officer.

Each day at sea can look completely different. Some days we will be sailing along the coastline, with free time to play sport on the ships flight deck out in the sun. On other days the ship will conduct warfare exercises, where I will be located in the operations room, using the combat system to engage with targets by firing weapon systems.

I have spent time at sea deployed on Operation Saville, where my ship responded to the Chinese warships that circumnavigated Australia in early 2025, and also Operation Resolute which contributes to Australia’s border protection and maritime security efforts. 

Are there any words of advice you would offer to students or anyone who may be interested in a similar career path, particularly in such a male dominated field? 

Engineering, especially in the military, is an extremely male dominated field. My course had 20 students, with only 3 of us being females. Despite the ratio, I have had an incredible experience and have been provided the same opportunities and support as my male counterparts. For any student even considering going down the STEM path I highly encourage it. There are so many unique opportunities available, and being a female should not be a barrier at all. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I have had so many incredible opportunities since joining the Navy. Two of the most memorable experiences include: 

• Being directly involved in the firing of missiles during exercises – this provided me the opportunity to work with some of the most advanced capabilities that Australia has to support our defence’s lethality. 
• Attending multiple international cocktail functions, where I’ve had the chance to engage with military personnel from around the world. A particular highlight was aboard a Japanese frigate, where I used the Japanese I learnt back in Year 8 to introduce myself.

What are your fondest memories of your time at St Ursula’s?

When I look back on my time at St Ursula’s, what I remember most are the people. The girls that I made friends with in 7.4 are still some of my best friends to date and every time I get an opportunity to come back to Sydney they are the first people I want to see.  

Freedom Rides – the protest that changed Australia

Archbishop Awards 2025

As a College community we are proud to celebrate the 2025 recipient of the Archbishop of Sydney Award for Student Excellence – Stephanie Paino. 

From a young age, Stephanie has been actively involved in parish life at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Peakhurst. She is an altar server, Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, cantor, musician, and Children’s Liturgy assistant. Since its inception, Stephanie has been a member of the OLF Youth Choir, helping teach younger members, promoting worship through music. Stephanie regularly attends the Oasis Youth Group for Bible study and volunteers as a Holiday Bible Club leader, guiding kindergarten children in religious activities. 

She contributes to the faith life of the school by participating in Masses as a cantor, musician, lector, and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. A personal highlight was when she sang the Responsorial Psalm at the Cathedral for the school’s Opening Mass this year. For three years, Stephanie has volunteered with OneMeal Kingsgrove, providing meals to the underprivileged, and also participated in the Zonta Birthing Kit Day, helping prepare kits for women in developing countries. Stephanie truly exemplifies the spirit of ‘Serviam’ through her faithful service.

We thank Zara Sly, College Captain for reading the citation and Ms Awad and Ms Martinez who accompanied Stephanie and her proud family to St Mary’s Cathedral to receive the award.

Zonta Young Women In Leadership

On Tuesday night, I attended the Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award ceremony, joined by five other inspiring finalists,  where I was also joined by Ms Awad, Ms Bosnich, Mrs Nadar, Miss Martinez and Mrs Monk for the evening. This award works to recognise young women, ages 16-19, for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes. 

The application process for this award included filling out a nomination form that detailed my community service involvement, such as volunteering as a netball coach and school leadership opportunities. I then had to attend an interview with Zonta members. I also took part in an interview with members of Zonta, where I spoke about my aspirations in international relations, my passion for social justice and the inspirational women who have influenced me.

That night, I was also asked to give a speech about how I believe AI will impact my future career in international relations, which I am passionate about as I will get to work in communities and I aim to promote social justice. Each finalist gave a speech, passionate about similar things, including advancing healthcare for women and increasing female representation in leadership. Their passion and dedication for empowering women left me inspired and reinforced my own commitment to community service.

Being nominated as a finalist was a big honour, as I was recognised for the hard work and commitment I have shown through community service. More importantly, this achievement has encouraged me to continue to work to support women and serve the community. In particular, as I finish high school, I wish to carry with me the inspiration of Zonta and the value of Serviam, committed to creating meaningful change.

Zara Sly
College Co-Captain

Zara’s Finalist Speech:

Good Evening, My Name is Zara Sly, a year 12 student from St Ursula’s College. After this year, I wish to continue on to university where I will complete a degree in International Relations. At a time where Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is constantly evolving and fundamentally transforming the workforce, it will provide both opportunities and challenges in this field. The future of AI is no longer a futuristic fantasy. We are living and working with it now. Bill Gates predicted that AI will “render many jobs obsolete,” with only coders, energy experts, and biologists as continuing careers. As Stephen Hawking warned, “Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.” There is so much unknown about AI’s trajectory, but I do believe that it will reshape the world of diplomacy. While there are concerns on a global scale with ways in which AI will be used for misinformation, and manipulation of surveillance, we need to ensure that policymakers and international organisation cooperate to develop ethical frameworks, working together to understand and address these risks. In my future we will need to understand both humanity and technology to navigate these challenges. One of the primary reasons I wish to engage in International Relations is to be able to work in communities with others to promote humanity. While AI does pose a threat to many careers, it can not substitute for cultural sensitivity, emotional intelligence, or the trust built through genuine human connection. These are areas where human intuition remains irreplaceable, and these human qualities form the foundation of successful diplomacy. No technology will be able to replicate this. AI will be able to complete administrative tasks such as creating communications, assessing and recommending policies, negotiation, and decision making processes. So, rather than being buried in paperwork, I believe that AI will allow me to engage more deeply with people on the ground – by listening to them and representing their needs on a global stage. AI might help us better understand global challenges, but it will still take humans to respond to them with compassion and wisdom. Thank you

Orbispace Pitch for the Planet

The Orbispace Initiative is a six-month program for Year 8 girls that teaches STEM and innovation skills through weekly lessons, workshops and mentoring from women in the industry currently. It finishes with a “Pitch for the Planet” where students present their solutions to real-world problems. Last Wednesday (September 17) 14 Year 8 Newman students had an amazing opportunity to attend Orbispace’s Pitch for the Planet to pitch their solutions to real female innovators. As soon as we entered, the room was filled with many students wearing a t-shirt with their logo on it showcasing their own brands and innovations. Upon seeing this we were excited to have a day filled with innovations and watched others pitch their solutions.

Watching other schools’ pitches inspired us and sparked creativity in our minds. Teams chose one of the following sustainability problems, urban heat and the need for greening, stormwater and flooding, walkable and climate- resilient communities and each team had their own unique way of tackling the problem. Watching them pitch demonstrated how, throughout that past 6 months, each team put lots of work, effort and passion into their presentation and innovations. Although only one winner was chosen from each heat, we were all winners in each other’s eyes.

A highlight of our day was being able to meet Delta Goodrem. Her speech was very moving as she spoke of how she never gave up and kept trying no matter how many times she was told no. Hearing her speak really motivated us to always keep going no matter what situation we are in because in the end it all works out. 

Our team, Cool Paths, was thrilled to be announced as the winner of The Orbispace Initiative Pitch for the Planet competition 2025, but winning didn’t really matter. We were all inspired by the incredible ideas shared and the six month journey leading up to the event helped us build important qualities like teamwork, creativity and the confidence to make a difference.

Cassandra Bashaw, Arianna Tahhan, Arianna Fisicaro and Madeleine Forwood
Year 8

Knitting for the Children’s Hospital

On Monday 22 September, five girls from the Knitting and Crochet Club went with Mrs Lansdown to the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick to donate the baby beanies, blankets and toys the club had made this year. 

Each girl carried two bags filled to the brim with crocheted items. The entire club had contributed baby beanies, blankets and toys for premature babies at the Sydney Children’s Hospital for this annual donation. We hopped on the train from Kingsgrove Station and got off at Central Station.

We then caught the L2 light rail to Randwick where we walked the short distance to the entrance of the hospital. We were met by our contact Jess, a member of the Sydney Children’s Hospital public relations team. We took a few pictures, handed the items to Jess and left the hospital.

It was an amazing morning, and we are all incredibly grateful to the fabulous library staff who have continually supported the Knitting and Crochet club. A big thank you to all of the girls who have attended and contributed to the Crochet Club, and we hope to see you next year!

Olivia Holt
Year 11

Upcoming Reunions

Class Reunion 1961 – 1965

Wednesday 19 November 2025
Inner city venue TBC
Contact: Monica Phillips (nee McGill) for further details:

monmcgill48@gmail.com

10, 20 and 30 year reunions?

We imagine that in 2025, there might be a 10 year reunion for the Class of 2015, a 20 year reunion for the Class of 2005 and a 30 year reunion for the Class of 1995 and a 40 year reunion for the Class of 1985! Perhaps there are other years planning get-togethers?

If you are involved in planning any of these reunions, please do let us know the details so we can include them in upcoming issues of Piazza.

We are always delighted to notify Alumnae of upcoming reunions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to include something in the next issue.

Remembering Diane McGirr (nee Dixon)

Central to Catholic Social Teaching is to give voice to those on the margins of our society – the ones who feel overpowered by the dominant culture. One ex-student, Diane McGirr (nee Dixon) dedicated her life to doing just that. Diane was enrolled in the first class of St Ursula’s Kingsgrove in 1957.

She was a keen student, excelling in all subjects especially those which enabled her to study journalism. So, after completing the Leaving Certificate in 1961 Diane began a cadetship with the Sydney Morning Herald.

Years later she reflected that those early years of working with the Herald were some of the most exciting in her life – writing stories and working through the night to meet the deadlines set by an unforgiving editor. One of her daughters, Sarah remembers her saying that she would step out of the office at 2 am after filing a story, and walk down Broadway in the city, tired and exhausted but with a spring in her step because she felt so happy, alive and thrilled to be doing what she loved.

After raising her family, Diane decided to study law at Sydney University. Her impetus for doing so came from a deep desire to give voice to people who were deprived in a range of ways of doing this for themselves. In her later years Diane took on a voluntary position helping children in the juvenile justice system. This entailed taking calls at any time of day or night and driving to the outskirts of Sydney to sit with a child in a police station when there was no other responsible adult available. Diane embodied compassion especially for those vulnerable and unsupported.

Her long career in journalism where Diane always offered a women’s perspective, was nurtured by her love for good literature. One poem which inspired her was Judith Wright’s “Woman to Child.” In these beautiful verses we hear how the gift of new life is celebrated as it grows from within. Despite the birthing of a new child, “dancing in the living light,” the bond between mother and child is never broken. Diane lived life with this perspective of connectedness to her family and to others.

Her life of love and enthusiasm was lived with a consistent desire to enable others to flourish. She was a true daughter of St Angela Merici who encouraged us to “welcome them all” (8th Counsel of St. Angela) and to “keep the flame of love burning in our hearts.” (Rule of St. Angela Ch. 10).

Rest in Peace, dear Diane.

Sr Patty Andrew OSU

Vale Marguerite (Margo) Buckingham (nee Erskine)

We are saddened to hear about the passing of Margo Buckingham, Class of 1978. We thank Mark, her husband of 38 years, for this reflection on her life. We extend our sympathies to Margo’s family and friends.

Margo left this world on the 26 October 2022, but her light, the radiant heart of our universe, still glows in every life she touched. We were married for 38 years, a partnership that brought us five beautiful children and countless shared moments stitched together with laughter, challenge, and deep love.

She held her time at St Ursula’s profoundly close, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of her friends from there, women who share a quiet strength and enduring grace that Margo carried into everything she did.

She lived with courage, stepping boldly from each success into the unknown, never fearing the next chapter. Her story hasn’t ended, it simply continues in a different form, written in the hearts of those who loved her.

We Love Hearing from YOU!

Announcements and stories of interest

Please keep in touch and let us know about any weddings, births, deaths or other news. We are always looking for interesting stories to share with our Alumnae, including career milestones, life events, personal reflections and memories.

School Socials

Members of the school community are invited to follow St Ursula’s on Facebook and on Instagram. Our social media platforms feature photos and videos of our students’ many achievements and learning experiences, latest events and other exciting news from around the school. Our handle on both Facebook and Instagram is @stursulascollegekingsgrove

Alumnae Socials

The St Ursula’s Alumnae Facebook page is a private group run by a former student who volunteers her time to manage the page. Whilst the College is not directly responsible for this page we appreciate the effort involved in maintaining such a group. You can find this group by searching for St Ursula’s College Alumnae on Facebook and you will need to answer questions about your schooling to be accepted into the group.

Reunions

If you are organising a reunion and would like to promote it in our newsletter, please do get in touch and provide us with the following details:

• Venue
• Date
• RSVP date and contact details
• And anything else you would like to add!

After the event, don’t forget to send us photographs! We would love to include these in the next edition of the Piazza.

Mailing list

The College maintains an opt-in email database of our Alumnae for the purposes of sending out this newsletter and for other important announcements. Please do let us know if your email address changes. Bounced emails will be deleted and unfortunately we are not able to contact individuals to get their updated email address. As we try and refine this database we may from time to time ask you to confirm your graduating year. This information is especially helpful when we are are asked to email reunion details to a specific cohort. Our database is completely confidential and not shared with anyone.

Contact details

Email: info@stursulakingsgrove.catholic.edu.au
Ph: (02) 9502 3300

Buy a College Key Ring

Carrying the Spirit of Serviam: Serviam keyrings are now available to purchase.

If you would like the St Ursula’s crest on your keys as a reminder of our culture of service, connection and lifelong learning, we encourage you to visit the College Reception, where keyrings are available to alumnae for $5.00 each.

If you can’t drop in to the College, you can email us to arrange your purchase and a keyring will be posted to you.

Please email us at: info@stursulakingsgrove.catholic.edu.au