Foundation
RFPA AGM – Thursday 29 October 7.30pm
Our Parents and Friends Association has a long history and 2020 marks 60 years since this Association was established. Volunteers are greatly appreciated as they contribute to our community, creating opportunities for parents and friends to come together as well as lead School community initiatives including the Welcome Twilight Drinks and Second Hand Uniform Sales.
If you wish to hear more about the role and achievements of the RPFA, become involved and join the dynamic and friendly team, please visit the RPFA section of this Note Day.
Redlanders AGM
The Redlanders Association (Old Boys and Girls Union) AGM took place on Wednesday 23 September via Zoom. The following members were elected to the 2021 Committee:
President: Jennifer Farrell (Knight, Class of 1962)
Vice President: Helen Chady (Taylor, Class of 1990)
Treasurer: Robyn Brown (Duschke, Class of 1974)
Secretary: Pip Tame (Class of 1974 and current Redlands staff member)
Committee Members:
Kim Flatman (Burgess, Class of 1991, current Redlands parents and staff member)
Annie Flynn (Taylor, Class of 1990, current Redlands parent)
Jon Harsem (Class of 1992)
Vicky Kvisle (Charody, Class of 1974)
Annabel Pegus (Class of 1987 and current Redlands parent)
Tiffany Wong (Class of 2014)
Congratulations and thank you for your contribution to support the School to further engage with our Alumni community. For more information about the Redlanders Association click here.
Book Week – Acknowledging our Literary Alumni
There are many activities scheduled for our students this week at Redlands for Book Week. At this time, we pay tribute to a selection of Alumni – historically and currently – forging careers across Literature.
Eleanor Dark (O’Reilly) AO, Class of 1919 – Author
An award winning author whose writing not only changed the shape of Australian literature but also influenced Australian history when she became one of the first writers to introduce the indigenous point of view in her historical fiction trilogy, The Timeless Land (pictured at top), first published in 1944. At Redlands she was involved in cocurricular activities and was in the cohort of boarders evacuated to Wentworth Falls during the 1919 Spanish Influenza epidemic. This experience forged her lifelong connection with the area, and her Katoomba home ‘Varuna’ is a national Writer’s Retreat.
Dr Thistle Stead AOM (Harris), Dux Class of 1920 – Author, Botanist, Environmental Scientist, Activist
Influenced by her Redlands education, Stead was introduced to her husband, botanist David Stead, by Redlands botany teacher and long time Redlands staff member, Miss Constance le Plastrier. Thistle’s book Wildflowers of Australia (1938) was in print for decades and profoundly influenced the way Australians view flora today. One of her first jobs was as a school teacher in Broken Hill, where she was able to study flowers of the desert.
Lisa Nicol, Class of 1986 – Author and Documentary Maker
Lisa’s feature Wide Open Sky won the Audience Award for Best Documentary – 2015 Sydney Film Festival and screened globally. Her novel Dr Boogaloo and The Girl Who Lost Her Laughter was a 2018 CBCA Notable, currently being adapted for screen and as a stage musical. Her 2019 modern classic novel Vincent and The Grandest Hotel on Earth has drawn comparisons to Roald Dahl and Kate DiCamillo. Lisa’s next published novel for 2021 is The What on Earth Institute of Wonder.
Elizabeth Allen, Class of 1995 – Poet and Short Story Writer
Allen’s work has found frequent publication in journals and anthologies locally and internationally, including Cordite, Ajar, Bodega, Overland, Southerly, Meanjin, Australian Book Review, and SAND. Her poetry includes Body Language, 2012 and Present, 2017. Elizabeth won the Dame Leonie Kramer Prize in 2001 and the Anne Elder Award in 2012.
Meryn Cooper, Class of 1995 – Children’s Author (pictured at top)
Journalist Meryn Cooper with a passion for children’s literature is a Theatre and Media university graduate and qualified teacher. Meryn has produced several children’s plays and is currently Brisbane City Publicity Manager and author of A Pony named Taffy.
Mrs Dana Casimaty
Director of Development
dcasimaty@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9858