What You Made Possible in 2026 – Thank You

Our Old Girls' community continues to make a difference in the lives of the next generation of St Margaret’s girls.

So far in 2026, St Margaret’s has received 581 donations from 553 donors, with 191 of those donors being Old Girls. Of our 5,375 contactable Old Girls, 3.6 per cent, or around one in every 28 Old Girls, made a gift this year.

Our current families have also embraced this culture of giving, with 306 current parents supporting the school. This represents approximately one in four current families.

It is heartening to see this spirit of paying it forward in action.

But the contribution of our Old Girls extends well beyond financial giving. Thank you to everyone who has donated, volunteered as a mentor, shared their experience through our careers programs, attended an event or simply remained connected with the life of the school. Each of these contributions strengthens the St Margaret’s community.

The involvement of our past students is particularly special. There is great truth in the saying, “If you can see it, you can be it.” By sharing your experiences, careers and life journeys with our students, you provide something incredibly powerful: the opportunity for girls to see what might be possible for their own futures.

A year of philanthropic impact

This year has also seen some significant milestones made possible through the generosity of our community.

Earlier this year, we turned the soil on the Performing Arts Precinct, marking an exciting moment in the life of the school. Construction is now well underway on what will become an inspiring new home for music, drama and performance, benefiting generations of St Margaret’s students.

Our needs-based Bursary Program continues to provide life-changing educational opportunities for girls whose families may be experiencing financial difficulty or hardship. In 2026, 43 students have been supported through needs-based bursaries, 14 of which were funded by donations.

These bursaries do much more than provide access to a St Margaret’s education. They help girls to continue and complete their education when their families need support most, while also enabling them to participate with dignity in the activities, experiences and important rites of passage that form such a meaningful part of school life.

Our Endowment Fund, which remains somewhat unique for a girls school, has also reached an important milestone. From its beginnings with a $500 donation in 2012, the Endowment Fund, together with its named bursary sub-funds, is now valued at just over $1 million.

The vision is simple but powerful: to invest the capital and use the income it generates to support bursaries and other important school initiatives into the future. A gift made today can therefore continue creating opportunities for generations to come.

We are also deeply grateful to those Old Girls and members of our community who have chosen, or intend, to leave a gift to St Margaret’s in their Will. Through the Eton Society, we have the privilege of recognising and connecting with this very special group of supporters, providing opportunities for members to remain involved in school life and to see the difference their future legacy will make.

Your giving today has an impact for a lifetime

Education has the power to change the course of a young person’s life, and as a community, we are privileged to play a part in making those opportunities possible.

Whether you supported a bursary, contributed to the Performing Arts Precinct Capital Campaign or Endowment Fund, included St Margaret’s in your Will, volunteered your time, mentored a student or simply stayed connected with your school, thank you.

Our students’ aspirations, opportunities and hopes for the future are shaped by the experiences and foundations a St Margaret’s education provides. Your generosity helps make those experiences possible.

To all our Old Girls who have supported St Margaret’s in 2026, thank you for continuing the tradition of giving back and paying it forward. Your connection to St Margaret’s continues long after your school days are over, and its impact can last a lifetime.

Lara Pickering

Director of Philanthropy & Stakeholder Engagement