From the Boarding School
It has been a wonderful week celebrating all things Boarding and fabulous to see the love of pink extending itself across the College! Boarders’ Week is special for so many reasons, not the least it is a beautiful recognition of the wonderful family of 146 incredible young women who live here on site.
Boarders’ Week also celebrates the wider Pymble family who make living at Pymble so special. Our heartfelt thanks go to the entire Pymble staff, students and families who go out of their way to make living at this beautiful College so special.
Along with the Boarding houses, it has become a wonderful tradition that the school offices ‘dress themselves up’ for Boarders’ Week and this year the frivolity has extended itself to various departments, including Performing Arts and Out of School Hours Care. My heartfelt thanks go to these special people who are the frontline supporters of our Boarders, not just during Boarders’ Week but every day!
One of the favourite activities of the week is the day girls verses Boarders sport matches, and there was plenty of action on and off the field. While the day girls certainly edged us out in water polo and volleyball, the Boarders were triumphant in touch football and netball. There’s no doubt the Boarders were the winners with cheering, and despite their relatively small numbers, they created much noise, fun and spirit.
Boarders’ Week was also the opportunity to learn from our past Boarders and on Tuesday night we were delighted to welcome Jen Tighe (Head Boarder 1993) to our Tuesday night chapel service. Jen boarded at Pymble for six years and was honoured to serve as Head Boarder in her final year. Her daughters, India (2024) and Olianna (Year 11), are the third generation of her family to attend the College.
After university, Jen began her career in finance, working with NAB and later Macquarie Bank as an associate director. An opportunity with Macquarie took her to Asia, where she spent seven years living and working across Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, all while raising three young children.
In 2016, Jen and her family moved to Bali, where she founded The Garden Early Learning Centres and Good Living Asia. She now lives in Sydney and travels regularly to Indonesia to oversee her businesses.
A strong believer in community and giving back, Jen also co-founded The Bali Mother and Baby House, a safe haven for abandoned babies and single mothers in crisis. I hope you enjoy reading the transcript Jen’s inspiring presentation.
I arrived at Pymble on 29 January 1988. Like all Year 7s at the time, I spent my first year living in Hammond House — now the Health Care Centre. I’d come from Forbes Primary School, and like many of you, was suddenly thrown into a whole new world. The biggest plane I’d ever been on was a crop duster, the furthest I’d travelled was Queensland, and somehow Forbes Primary had managed to not explain what a decimal place was! I was on a steep learning curve.
As you get older, six years can feel like the blink of an eye — but the six years you spend here are deeply formative. Living away from home, growing up alongside your peers, and learning to navigate life with a new level of independence — it all leaves a lasting mark.
You’ve probably heard it before from other ex-Boarders, and yes, we do love to bang on about how much better you’ve got it now. But honestly, some of it is true. When I was here, the balconies were open, and our beds were stacked all around them. Winters were freezing — especially on nights when someone would toss your doona off the balcony for a laugh, leaving you shivering on just a mattress. We were allowed out only two weekends in a term, and it wasn’t until Year 12 that we were permitted to walk to Pymble shops for one hour on a Friday afternoon.
There was one pay phone per house — in Goodlet, it was under the stairs. On Sundays, we’d write our names on the board to take turns using it. A bunch of us would pool our coins and call Baker House at Kings or Robson House at Shore, and we’d talk to the boys until a senior girl kicked us off. We were always hungry — we spent most lunchtimes trying to convince a day girl to swap her meal for one of our revolting baked bean or jam sandwiches.
So yes, times have definitely changed as for the past five years. I’ve asked Rosie or Phoebe (current Boarders) if they need anything from Woolies, and their answer is always, “No, we’re fine, Jen.” That would not have been my answer back in the day. If a day girl’s mum had offered me a Woolies run, I’d have had a list ready, from tampons to Tim Tams.
But despite the differences, some things stay the same. You live with a group of girls for years, all of you sharing one fundamental experience: living away from home. And through that, you become deeply connected. You rely on these girls – they support you, give you advice, hold space for you when you’re shaky, laugh with you when you are not. But just as importantly, you learn that you can rely on yourself. If something needs doing, you figure out how to do it. That quiet independence is something every Boarder builds — and trust me, it will serve you for life.
You’ll hear this a lot, but I’ll say it again: there is so much on offer at Pymble. And people keep telling you to take advantage of it because once you leave school, you’ll understand how much harder it is to try new things. Joining a sporting team in the real world? Sure, it’s possible — but you’ve got to find the club, check the level, sign up, pay, show up on your own and hope it’s not a total dud. And if you want to be in a musical or play? Even harder. So if you’re even vaguely curious about trying something — being in the chorus, working backstage, playing basketball for the first time — do it here. You won’t regret it.
One of my only regrets from my time as a Boarder is this: I wish I’d asked more questions. I wish I’d been more curious about the other girls around me — especially those who came from different places and backgrounds. I was friends with everyone but for some I didn’t delve deep enough. By Year 12, we had 44 Boarders in my year. Some were from Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam — and one had even been homeschooled on a yacht. It wasn’t until I started travelling in my 20s that I realised how much knowledge and perspective I had missed out on by not asking these girls more questions about their childhood. What were their families like? What did weekends look like for them before Pymble? How did they celebrate birthdays or cultural events? There was so much richness right beside me that I didn’t tap into. So, if you’re not already — get curious. Be interested in each other. Ask, listen and share.
When I left Pymble, I wanted to be a doctor. I didn’t get into med, so I picked the next course on the list I could get into — diagnostic radiography. Not the smartest way to choose a degree. And, unsurprisingly, not the right fit for me. I ended up in finance, which might sound random, but what I discovered along the way is that what I loved was – people. In finance, that meant I moved more towards management — building teams, solving problems, working with others. I now own Early Learning Centres in Bali, another completely different path.
So my advice on careers is this: don’t just choose a course because you can get in. Try to find subjects that actually interest you. But also, don’t stress too much. If you get it wrong, it’s not the end of the world. Most of you will end up in jobs that don’t even exist yet. The better questions are: What lights you up? Are you someone who loves being around people? Or do you prefer working solo? Do you love the outdoors? Or literature? Work backwards from what energises you, not from a job title.
That winding path in finance took me overseas — first to Japan, then Hong Kong, then Singapore, and finally Bali. And I can honestly say: if I hadn’t been a Boarder, I don’t think I would’ve had the confidence to take those leaps. When you’ve spent years making decisions for yourself — without your family there every day — you develop a strong sense of independence. You get better at weighing up risks and backing yourself. So when the job in Japan came up, I didn’t hesitate — I knew I’d be okay. That kind of self-assurance is something boarding gives you in spades. It’s not as easy to build when you go home every afternoon to your family. After five years in Singapore, we decided to take a “one-year break” in Bali… which ended up becoming seven years.
Everyone said it was “brave” to move to a developing country, especially as I had three small children. But to me, it didn’t feel brave — it felt like the next adventure. And that confidence — to adapt, to try new things, to figure it out — started here, in boarding. While in Bali, we built two early learning centres and cafés. Do I use diagnostic radiography now? Not even a little. But that’s the beauty of it — every step still leads you somewhere valuable. Nothing is ever a waste of time.
And finally, I want to say something about community. I think being a Boarder instils this instinct to look out for others — whether it’s younger years, your peers, or someone struggling. Living in Bali made me more aware of the privilege we’re born into, and how many people around the world will never have those same chances. I ended up helping to fund and build a charity called the Bali Mother and Baby House, supporting babies abandoned due to the stigma around unmarried motherhood in Indonesia. That sense of responsibility to others — it doesn’t leave you. And it starts here, in Boarding.
So wherever you are in your boarding journey — keep showing up for one another. Keep giving back. Stay curious. Give things a go. And trust that you’re far more capable than you know.
View From My Window
My name is Mataya, and I’m a Year 9 Boarder who started at Pymble this year. I live on a rural cherry farm just two hours west of Canberra in a small town called Wombat (15 minutes from Young). My house is always crazy with four energetic brothers (Riley, Oliver, Kynan and Henry) as well as my mum and dad. I am the only girl which is so fun to me but can be tough at times.
Since moving to Pymble it has felt like a dream to have sisters who are there for me and be the sisters I never had. I was born in Young and always hoped to move to our cherry farm that I grew up working in the packing shed, we recently moved to our property in Wombat and have loved every minute of the outdoor experiences.
When I look out my window, I witness the rows of cherry trees that are lined perfectly. The green crop that spreads nicely in front of our house (which sits on the hill). I can see the dam water which sparkles under the sun, creating a beautiful scene that I do miss whilst I’m gone.
Living on a cherry farm is an adventure in itself! There’s so much to learn and so much to do, and so many cherries to eat in season. You can see Dad driving tractors spraying through the rows at night with the bright lights reflecting into our house. Looking through our big glass window you can see my mum working diligently on the grass and garden, adding her own touch of care to our home and our little area within the farm.
Whilst cherry harvest is on, you can imagine how crazy it is with Mum and Dad working tirelessly to make sure our fruit is quality for the markets up here in Sydney. I enjoy getting to meet and learn about all the different cultured people from all over the world during the cherry season.
Other than the cherry farm there are a few more things that I miss about my crazy home. I miss having my little brothers who are my best friends – we do everything together. I miss our little backyard competitive rugby games that always turn out with someone hurt, but that’s just a part of being siblings.
I miss the beautifully cooked steaks that Dad does for the family. I miss playing sardines in the pitch-black packing shed and having the best spot to hide my little brother. I miss playing and taking my fluffy brown Cavoodles on walks through the orchard. I miss my older brothers and our late-night rips through the farm on our motorbikes.
During the holidays our family loves to go on our boat on a hot summer’s day and enjoy the nice cold water. My brothers and I love the fun adrenaline that comes along with being pulled behind the boat. Most of all I miss having my parents around who support me in anything and everything I do, making me feel loved and cared for all the time.
Even though Pymble is not the same as the cherry farm, it’s now made me realise it’s a very fun and supportive home away from home that offers many opportunities and experiences that I will be forever grateful for.
Boarder of the Week
Congratulations to Year 8 Boarder Havana who we celebrate as our Boarder of the Week in our most special week of the year!
Havana joined us in Marden House at the start of 2025 from Wellington in Central West New South Wales and it feels as though she has always been with us. An old soul, always donning a beautiful smile and perfect uniform, Havana is an exemplary Boarder who we are proud to call one of ‘ours’.
Despite managing the challenges of living away from home for the first time, Havana always puts the needs of others before her own. She is kind and thoughtful and goes out of her way to help out her Boarding sisters. Havana keeps an immaculate room and works hard in our Learn It program.
Always ready for a friendly chat, her presence never fails to brighten our days.
Save the Date
Sunday 11 May to Sunday 18 May – Boarders’ Week
Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May – Boarding Schools Expo Dubbo
Thursday 29 May – Boarder Parent Group (BPG) online meeting 7.00pm
Sunday 1 June – Event to be confirmed 10.00am and 3.00pm*
Wednesday 4 June – Boarders’ Jersey Day
Friday 6 June – Long Weekend Boarders’ Travel Day**
Monday 9 June – Boarders return from 5.00pm
Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Griffith
Friday 20 to Saturday 21 June – Boarding Schools Expo, Wagga Wagga
Tuesday 24 June – Boarders’ End of Term Chapel Service*
Friday 27 June – End of Term 2 Boarders’ Travel Day**
* All Boarders required to be in attendance, no leave during this time.
** All Boarders to be collected by 4.00pm.
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding