Foundation
Platinum Luncheon – Celebrating 140 Years of Redlands
Redlands Hall was brimming with warmth and excitement as 120 guests celebrated 140 Years of Redlands’ rich history at this year’s Platinum Luncheon. This annual celebration welcomes those who attended Redlands 50 years or more ago, and this we were honoured to gather with the classes of 1954, 1964 and 1974 who celebrated milestone reunions. It was particularly special to speak with Jenny Wilson from the Class of 1949, and hear how the school has changed in the 75 years since her graduation.
This was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the rich history and development of our Redlands programs and facilities. Keynote Speaker Coralie Amos OAM, a Redlander from the Class of 1964, talked about the incredible advancements she has noticed. She was somewhat surprised to see white tables and walls that students are actively encouraged to write on, enhancing collaborative learning, the different gardens across the campus to encourage and support experiential learning, the increased scale of our science labs, and of course our transformational Redlands Learning Hub.
Honoring Lynette Fahl and naming of Fahl Garden
As we reflected with the Class of 1964 on the life of their classmate, the late Lynette Fahl, after whom our Senior Campus Garden (in front of the Redlands Learning Hub) is named, a deep sense of gratitude was felt. The redevelopment of the Science Block were made possible by a bequest Lynette’s family left Redlands to help achieve the vision the School has for its advancement, and to honour their daughter’s legacy.
Coralie Amos OAM RL 1964 Scholarship Appeal
To acknowledge and honour Coralie’s dedication for Service and helping communities in many different areas, we have launched Coralie Amos OAM Scholarship Appeal.
Her commitment goes from the Australian national Museum of Education, Meals on Wheels, the local hospital to more than 37 years promoting golf as a healthy sport for women and girls at the club and district level, she has given her time and passion freely without seeking recognition or reward. In 2021 Coralie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community.
How can you join and make a difference?
Make a tax deductible donation
Purchase multipurpose Greeting cards (a packet of five) specially designed to support this cause.
Continuation from Previous Week
Part 2: The Post-War Era, SCEGGS Redlands 1945 – 1975
By 1945, after two world wars, a flu epidemic and a Depression, the School was struggling financially by 1945. When Miss Roseby retired at the end of that year, the Old Girls’ Union gave generously to establish the new Roseby Library. The new Headmistress of SCEGGS Redlands, Mrs Isobel Humphery, was a war widow and herself a daughter of a war widow, having attended Church of England Girls Grammar School, Cremorne, an independent school set up in 1919 for the children of War widows. She came to her new role at SCEGGS Redlands with a keen sense of social awareness and worked with the SCEGGS Council, Old Girls and staff and welcomed the parents on campus with the establishment of the Mothers’ Canteen in 1958 (with an initial focus on second hand uniforms and the canteen) and the Redlands Parents’ Association in 1960. Mrs Humphery worked tirelessly, building a new post-war school community at Redlands. As the child of a single parent and a single parent herself, Redlanders have noted that she was particularly sympathetic to students whose parents were widowed or divorced and she had a mutual respect for her staff and a loyal band of parents, who gave their time to raise funds for the school, raising money to build a new library in 1955 and science labs in 1957. Students and their parents also gave generously to various charities including the Central Australia Mission during the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1961, the school fair was organised by the parents for the first time and a major campaign was launched money for a school assembly hall, the fundraising managed by the school, predominantly volunteer parents. The Hall was opened in 1966 and a canteen, operated exclusively by parent volunteers, opened underneath in 1968. In 1971, it was reported that 325 Mothers had volunteered their time in the canteen that year, while all unsold food was sent to Dalwood, Chesalon and Baptist homes to help the charities and avoid wasted food.
Fundraising continued throughout the 1970s with the first named Spring Fair held in 1973. Money raised included the purchase of musical instruments, allowing the school to start its first full school orchestra, and fit-out for the new Roseby Library in the Humphery Building.
The students did their bit for the Junior Red Cross and other charities with cake stalls and yo-yo competitions and selling Christmas cards, raising funds, in aid of schools and hospitals and the Vietnamese Orphans’ appeal. By 1979, students were sponsoring animals at Taronga Zoo and raising money for Multiple Sclerosis by holding fashion shows. In the mid-1970s, however, the School came to the brink of closure as a result of some ill-advised financial decisions by the SCEGGS Council and was saved from being sold by a dedicated band of parents on the Redlands’ Parents Association.
Mrs Dana Casimaty
Director of Development
dcasimaty@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9858