From the OGA President - OGA eNews Issue 3, 2025

Giving Day was a huge success, raising a total of $1.2 million for the school across the Building Fund and needs-based bursaries. Thank you to all Old Girls who donated. At the heart of the Old Girls’ Association’s purpose is the support of the school and the holistic education of each girl, much as the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent did. I feel very fortunate to witness the generosity bestowed by many Old Girls on days like this.

For those of you who returned to the everchanging campus this year for our Reunion Weekend and Old Girls’ Day, I hope you had a fabulous time reconnecting with old friends and teachers, exploring the newly restored Community House or modern Canopy Café, as well as reflecting on your time as students. Thank you to the reunion co-ordinators and the school’s Development and Community Office for their tremendous efforts in making Reunion Weekend such a success.

There are many achievements, milestones, and lives to be celebrated. In this edition of the OGA Newsletter, we celebrate Keri Craig-Lee OAM (’75), who was inducted into the Queensland Business Leader’s Hall of Fame. We hear from Elise Gane (’04), who returned to St Margaret’s in May to speak at the first Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast for 2025, enlightening students to her stellar career as a Physiotherapist, Health Services Researcher, Principal Project Officer, and much more. We also speak to three other Old Girls who have recently reconnected with St Margaret’s for different events – Meleia Richardson (’21) returned to perform at Classics in the Cathedral, Ria Bhagat (’12) as the 2025 Young Past Student of Distinction at the Past Student Awards, and Amanda Lacaze (’76) as the second speaker at this year’s Professional Women’s Network Breakfast series. We also celebrate the Australian Education Excellence Awards, the Founders’ Leadership Award of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools bestowed to Principal, Ros Curtis AM, through to the school’s fifth consecutive year as The Educator magazine’s 5-Star Employer of Choice. St Margaret’s, its leadership team, but also all staff and students continue to excel.

Please note that the Old Girls’ Association Committee will have its Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Thank You Celebration on Tuesday 4 November. We welcome any and all Old Girls to join us in person or online to hear updates on the OGA and to join our dynamic committee, as well as say thank you to the volunteers who help with our reunion outreach and much more.

In the meantime, please submit your nominations for the 2026 Past Student Awards to celebrate an Old Girl who you think would be a most worthy recipient. Nominations close Friday 14 November at 5pm AEST. Details on how to nominate can be found within the newsletter.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the OGA Newsletter and all of the exciting updates on fellow Old Girls and St Margaret’s.

Per Volar Sunata

Natasha Harris (’94)
President, St Margaret’s Old Girls’ Association