The St Margaret’s community comprising students, staff, parents and guests gathered at QPAC’s Concert Hall on Tuesday 8 October for the 127th annual Speech Night and Prize Giving Ceremony.

The guest speaker was Old Girl and public health practitioner Dr Amber Willink (’02), who shared that her years at St Margaret’s gave her an important foundation, not just in learning her ABCs as she did in her early primary years but in developing important life skills such as A – adaptability, B – bravery and C – curiosity.

“Good evening, the Right Reverend Sarah Plowman, members of the Society of the Sacred Advent, Principal Ros Curtis AM, distinguished guests, members of staff and students.

I can’t fully express what a thrill it is for me to be standing here today. Twenty-two years ago, I was in your shoes –my heart full of excitement, anticipation, and uncertainty for the future, ready to step into the world, and more than eager to finally take off that Panama hat and leave it behind.

But here’s the thing: the further you journey beyond this moment, the more you’ll come to realize how much these years, these experiences, and this community truly shaped the foundation of who you are.

I joined St. Margaret’s in Year 2. Quite literally, it’s where I learned my A, B, Cs. But beyond the alphabet of letters, there’s another set of A, B, Cs I learned here – an alphabet of life skills that have made all the difference in my own journey. Those A, B, Cs are Adaptability, Bravery, and Curiosity. I could probably work through the rest of the alphabet, but given the impact of social media these days, I’ll stick to these three to hold your attention.

I share them with you tonight because I believe they’ve been instilled in you, too, during your time here – whether you’ve realized it or not.

Let’s start with Adaptability. Life is unpredictable. If there’s one thing we’ve all learned in recent years, it’s that the world can change in an instant. You might have a well-laid plan today, but tomorrow, the ground beneath your feet may shift.

Adaptability is the ability to embrace change – not as a setback, but as an opportunity. In both your personal and professional lives, there will be moments when the unexpected happens. Maybe the job market won’t look like what you expected, or you’ll face personal challenges you hadn’t anticipated. The key is not to resist those changes, but to adapt, pivot, and grow with them. When you’re adaptable, you don’t just react to the world – you actively shape your own path.

In my own journey as a public health practitioner, my career has been far from a straight line. If you looked at my CV, you might think I have multiple personalities – one moment I’m working on HIV/AIDS with the World Bank in East Asia, the next I’m on faculty at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore researching healthcare for older adults, and mentoring audiologists and dentists! It’s a bit of a whirlwind, but I can be all of these things because I’ve embraced change and followed what intrigued me.

St. Margaret’s gave me the foundation for that adaptability. There wasn’t one thing on offer here that I wasn’t encouraged to try – whether it was going on exchange to Germany, taking extension Maths, or learning the drums in Mr. King’s music class (though he may have regretted that decision when I muddled my way through the Blues Brothers’ Minnie the Moocher in the Jazz Band!)

Which brings me to my next two letters: Bravery and Curiosity. It’s hard to be adaptable without these two.

By bravery, I don’t mean climbing Mt. Everest or diving with sharks. I’m talking about everyday bravery: stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks when the outcome is uncertain, and raising your hand even when you don’t have all the answers.

Bravery means you’re willing to fail, because you understand that failure is just another step toward success. It doesn’t mean you won’t feel fear – it means you won’t let that fear stop you from moving forward. For me, bravery took practice. I remember the first time I was asked to provide technical advice to the US Senate Finance Committee on a policy change we had proposed. I remember at the time feeling incredible imposter syndrome and wondering, why on Earth would the Senate Finance Committee listen to a young Aussie? But they did.

Being brave got easier with time because I knew I had the support of the people around me. Many of my primary support network I met here. Twenty-two years on, this community is still a huge part of my life. I’m sure Mr. King is still giving me the same encouraging look now that he gave me when I first played the drums.

This school isn’t just a chapter in your life – it’s a foundation. And that foundation will continue to support you, no matter where life takes you.

Speaking of foundations, I think this is the opportune time to recognise the parents and families who have been the full-time support network for these girls. Your efforts and unconditional support have not gone unnoticed. As a grateful recipient of that familial support (in fact I have my parents, my aunty and cousin in the audience tonight), I can attest that there will be a time when your child will turn to you years down the track, often when they have their own families, and thank you for all of the time and love you have given them. At least I have to keep telling myself this as I take my three children to their 5am swimming training, football games, and dance recitals.

Finally, let’s talk about Curiosity. This is the spark that keeps the fire of learning alive long after you’ve walked out of these doors. It’s the desire to ask questions, seek out new experiences, and dive into the unknown.  The most successful people I’ve met aren’t those who think they know everything – they’re the ones constantly asking, “What can I learn next?”

Curiosity guided me through a time of great uncertainty when I needed to adapt and be brave. When I finished my contract with the World Bank in Washington DC, I knew that working in international development was not the area I wanted to continue working in but I wasn’t clear what my next professional step was. At the time, I was in a relationship with my now husband who is from Argentina. My understanding of the world at that time was very skewed towards languages, cultures, and issues of Europe, and Asia. My curiosity to understand more about Latin America was what galvanized us to take a year to live in Buenos Aires where I focussed on studying Spanish. I got so much from this time. It gave me greater perspective for my next professional step, another language which has enabled me to connect with more people (including my in-laws), and has opened my eyes to the world. 

So, to the graduating class: this moment represents the culmination of years of hard work. But it also marks the beginning of something exciting and new. As you step into this next chapter, I encourage you to remember the A, B, Cs: Be adaptable. Be brave. Be curious. These are the traits that St Margaret’s has encouraged within you which will help you navigate life’s inevitable twists and turns.

Seize the opportunities that come your way. And never forget that you are part of a community that will always be here to support you, wherever you go.

Per Volar Sunata.

Thank you.”