Alumni Reps Quarterly Meeting | August 2024

Posted on August 26, 2024

The Friends’ Alumni Reps met on 7 August 2024. Another vibrant and energetic discussion, these were the topics discussed: 

  • Alumni Rep initiatives continue to make good progress. Planning is well underway for a Marimba reunion in 2025 and we hope to hold a Chess reunion (please get in touch if you are an avid alumni chess player and would like to help). The Past Staff reunion is proving to be a very popular event for November and the Class of 2029 school pins were awarded. Friends’ Alumni Mentoring via Friends’ LinkedIn was launched, collaborating with the School’s Pathways team to support and connect senior students and alumni.
  • We heard from Community Engagement about the stewardship, giving, reunions and events currently being undertaken including reunions for the Classes of 2014, 2004, 1994 and 1984. We will round out 2024 with the Classes of 2019 and 2023 later in the year. Visit Reunions & Events on our website for more information and to book. Annual Giving this year is raising funds for The Friends’ Fellowship with over $100,000 already raised. Donations are still open.
  • Principal Esther Hill spoke about all the good work done by staff and students in transitioning to new spaces and formats under L@F24+. The changes made have not been without their hurdles but they are being addressed as we move forward. A Strategic Plan for The Friends’ School is an upcoming focus aiming to engage the whole community in a collective vision for the future of the School. International Student Exchanges are starting to be implemented again after the global pandemic.
  • We recently farewelled retiring Alumni Rep Riley Curtain (2020) and welcomed new Reps Mark Nicholson (1971) and Susie Cretan (2010). We are always grateful to alumni that volunteer and particularly thank Riley for helping to launch Friends’ Alumni Mentoring. Mark and Susie have hit the ground running having already visited the School to award school pins to the Class of 2029 (currently Year 7).

Next Meeting: 30 October 2024

Friends’ Alumni LinkedIn Community

To access mentoring opportunities, join the The Friends’ School LinkedIn group by going to your profile and adding (using the drop down list) The Friends’ School in the ‘education’ section of your profile. There are over 480 alumni now active in our LinkedIn community. Browse the community to find a suitable mentor, or contact us at stayconnected@friends.tas.edu.au

Your Alumni Representatives

You can learn more about the Alumni Reps on the Schools website, or by getting in touch with any of the Reps:

Lucy Loney (Ogilvie) (1988) Convener
Gryff Connah (2022), Melbourne
Susie Cretan (2010)
Tessa Fink (1999), Germany
Jade Galbally (1995), Melbourne
Alex Given (2009), London, UK
Trish Groom (1966)
Roly Hill (1959), Perth
Mark Nicholson (1971)
David Ovens (2017)
Roger Stilwell (1956), British Columbia, Canada