eNews Archive Issue 14 14 May 2026

WHOLE SCHOOL

From the Principal

Unearthing gems in the school archives

This week, my enews article takes a look into the school archives, which is managed by long standing member of staff Mary Surtees. As you are aware, St Margaret’s has always tried to maintain strong connections with its past students, and we often refer to them as wonderful role models for our current students. Post Anzac Day celebrations, I was reminded of one of our past students – Blanche Hempsted (’24).

Her story relates to the sinking of the 'Vyner Brooke', a significant event in Australia’s WWII history. Just prior to the fall of Singapore, February 1942, the 'Vyner Brooke' was one of the last ships to leave Singapore. The last 65 Australian nurses in Singapore were among the passengers. On February 14, the 'Vyner Brooke' was attacked by Japanese aircraft. Within half an hour, she had sunk, but 150 survivors made it to shore over a period of between 8 and 65 hours in the water. The Japanese already occupied the island, and the survivors were taken captive.

The fate of those 65 nurses was as follows: 12 were killed during the air attack or drowned following the sinking; 21 were murdered on Radji Beach, and 32 became prisoners of war, 8 of whom subsequently died before the end of the war. Sister Vivian Bullwinkel – a name synonymous with heroism of the highest form – was the sole nurse survivor of the actions on Radji Beach.

One of those 65 nurses was Captain Pauline Blanche Hempsted, who preferred to be known as Blanche. Blanche is a St Margaret’s Old Girl and attended, firstly, another SSA school, St Catharine’s in Stanthorpe and then St Margaret’s from 1922 to 1924. At the end of 1923, at our school’s prize giving ceremony, Blanche received a 'General Average' prize for her work in Form Lower V. She was active in the Old Girls’ Association. After school, she decided on a career in nursing. In 1940, Blanche applied to join the AANS – Australian Army Nursing Service. Reading first-hand reports, Blanche was a no-nonsense, humorous, hardworking, fun-loving person.

Following her capture after the sinking of the Vyner Brooke, Blanche would be held for over three years. She was moved several times but returned to Muntok on Bangka Island in late 1944. This was the worse camp yet, where fever, beriberi and malaria were rife. Blanche entered the hospital in January 1945, maltreated, malnourished, and full of disease. She died on March 19, having apologised to her fellow nurses for taking so long to die!

Blanche was 36 when she died. She is buried in the Jakarta War Cemetery in Indonesia.

Lest We Forget.

PS Can you imagine in this era calling a speech night prize – ‘General Average?’

Ros Curtis AM

From the Deputy Principal

The habit of asking 'why?'

One of the most valuable habits we can develop – both at school and beyond – is the confidence to ask a simple question: why.

For students, asking ‘why’ helps to clarify thinking, deepen understanding and strengthen learning. It moves learning beyond memorising information or completing tasks, and instead encourages curiosity, reasoning and ownership.

In the classroom, this might sound like:

Why does this method work?
Why did I get this feedback?
Why do I need to approach this task differently next time?

These questions help students make sense of what they are learning and how they can improve. They also build resilience, as understanding the why behind feedback makes it easier to act on it positively rather than feeling discouraged.

As Deputy Principal, I use ‘why’ every day in my work. When faced with challenges or complex decisions, asking why helps me seek understanding, listen more deeply to different perspectives, and look for constructive ways forward. It supports reflection, learning and growth—for individuals and for our community as a whole.

For parents, encouraging your daughter to ask ‘why’ is an important way to support her learning. When she receives feedback – whether academic, co-curricular or pastoral – gentle questions such as Why do you think that feedback was given? or What is it asking you to work on? can help her process it thoughtfully and confidently. This approach shifts feedback from something that simply happens to students into something they actively engage with.

Asking ‘why’ is not about challenging authority or questioning for the sake of it. It is about seeking understanding, developing confidence, and learning how to move forward with purpose.

When students are encouraged – at school and at home – to ask why, they become more reflective learners, stronger thinkers and young people who are equipped to grow from both success and challenge.

Nicole Devlin

Chaplain

Celebrating the Sacraments

Congratulations to the students who took part in the St Margaret’s and Churchie joint Baptism and Admission to Holy Communion service at St John’s Cathedral on Tuesday night. It was a wonderful celebration. Thank you to the catering and facilities staff for helping us make the event happen.

Archbishop Jeremy Greaves preached at the service. He caught everyone’s attention as he carried a large stack of books down to the centre of the aisle to begin his reflection – ‘The Treehouse’ series, by Andy Griffith. He drew the analogy that just like the treehouse always grows, adding more levels and wonders – there is always room for more. So too is faith spacious and welcoming – there is always room for more – more people, more love, more grace, more joy. The evening demonstrated the abundance of faith in the joy present.

Tonight, we continue the celebrations with Bishop Sarah Plowman at our Confirmation Service. Congratulations to each of the Candidates. Over the past four weeks we have met and discussed the abundance of God’s love and how we are called to reflect God’s love in the world. As the busyness of the middle of Term 2 abounds, remember that you are loved and that you have the capacity to love.

In my love, you have your beginning.

In weal and woe, you rest in my love.

If you would know your Maker’s meaning,

Know it well: My meaning is love.

I who made all things for love; By the same love keepeth them and shall keep them without end. And all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be exceedingly well.

Julian of Norwich, 14^th century mystic

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Head of Boarding

Happy National Boarding Week!

This week has been a celebration of all things boarding with National Boarding Week, a special opportunity to showcase our amazing boarding community, the individuals who make it so special, and the important role that boarding houses have to play in wider school communities. It is common to hear that at St Margaret's, the boarding house is the heart of the school – quite literally because of its central location on campus, but also because of our strong boarding tradition that has been running for over 130 years. It truly is the heart of the school community, contributing to the diversity of backgrounds our students come from and how this diversity enriches the student experience.

The 2026 theme for National Boarding Week is 'Echoes from Home', reminding us that boarding houses are more than simply dormitories, common rooms and the routines that constitute our day-to-day. Rather, boarding houses function as a second home, and are built on the stories, experiences and traditions each student brings from home. We honour each individual and what home means to them each and every day through the sharing of stories, traditions and customs that transcend the vast distances our girls travel to be boarders at St Margaret's.

The St Margaret's Boarding House finds its strengths in the diversity of all of those who call it home. From our rural and regional students to our city students, international students, First Nation students and beyond, we are so lucky to be a beautiful tapestry of so many different backgrounds and the unique experience this communal living affords each student.

Moreover, this week is a time to thank all of those who make our boarding house such a strong, connected and unified community: Gracemere Mataia and Kelli Boucaut, who support me and the housemothers each and every day; the housemothers, both senior and junior, who support, care for and nurture the students in their care; the kitchen staff who feed our girls each and every day; the cleaners, who keep our boarding house tidy; the facilities team, who are always more than happy to jump in and fix an issue, and most importantly, to Ros Curtis AM and the wider Senior Leadership Team, who recognise the central and strategic role the boarding house plays in the wider school community.

To our boarding parents: thank you for trusting us with the care of your daughters and for constantly working with us. To those who give their time on the Boarders Support Group, thank you for your support of our boarding community.

To celebrate National Boarding Week, we have had a wonderful array of activities take place, which have included:

Boarding bonfire night
Open boarding house lunch tours for staff and students
Morning yoga with Pip and homemade facemasks and pamper hampers
Building a boarding family tree
Homemade cards to housemothers and staff

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful, diverse and vibrant boarding house at St Margaret's.

What a wonderful element of our school community to celebrate.

Lesa Craven

Dean of Academics

Plan your term

It is hard to believe that Week 4 of Term 2 is drawing to a close. Term 2 goes notoriously quickly, and I encourage girls to ensure they have planned out the remainder of the term so that due dates do not catch them by surprise. As autumn sports draw to a close and winter sport training begins, it’s a good time to revisit weekly planners to see how they may need to be adjusted. Getting sufficient sleep each night is key to a productive and successful day, and realistic planning is the best way to ensure this happens.

Years 11 and 12 Exam Blocks

Years 11 and 12 both have short blocks this term. Year 11 start with a Study Day on Friday 12 June, followed by Block exams on Monday 15 June and Tuesday 16 June. Year 12 have an Exam Morning for English on Tuesday 2 June, followed by a study day on Thursday 11 June and four days of block.

Year 11 Academic Progress Meetings

Over the last two weeks, I have been meeting with Year 11 students to discuss their academic progress in Term 1 and goals moving forward. I will be meeting with all Year 11 students for this discussion and still have meeting times available next week for those who have not yet booked in.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest … one hour of productive study is always going to yield better results than six hours of unfocused study.
Luci Sprott, ’25.

Caitlin McCluskey

Dean of Studies

Study Hall and Continuous Reporting

Years 9 and 10 Study Hall

As we draw closer to the halfway mark of Term 2, this also means the Study Hall days for Years 9 and 10 are fast approaching. A reminder that during these days, normal classes are suspended for these year levels, and students may have examination and performance assessments scheduled (please refer to your daughter’s Assessment Calendar on the POD).

When girls are not sitting assessment during Study Hall, they are afforded time to undertake independent study, where they can continue with other schoolwork and assessments.

Term 2 Study Hall dates are as follows:

Year Level Dates

9 Tuesday 2 June; Wednesday 3 June

10 Thursday 4 June; Friday 5 June; Monday 8 June

Study Hall schedules will be made available through the Years 9 and 10 POD Pages next week.

Continuous Reporting

A reminder to parents in Years 7 to 12 that Continuous Reporting comments are progressively released throughout the semester on the Learning Analytics Parent Portal. These comments offer personalised feedback to students about their performance in the assessment task, and most importantly, provide insight into where their next steps should be to improve for next time.

We encourage students and their parents to discuss this teacher feedback as it is released, to help ensure a plan is formulated for academic development and growth. Further, girls can use their Term 1 grades and feedback to help evaluate their progression towards the academic goals they set earlier in the year with their Form Teacher or Academic Advisor.

To access these results, please log into the Learning Analytics Parent Portal (via the POD) and click on the Continuous Reporting Quick Link button.

Chris Dunn

Dean of Students

Why sleep matters more than we think

Sleep is one of the most overlooked foundations of wellbeing for young people. During adolescence, the brain undergoes rapid development, making quality sleep essential for learning, emotional regulation and physical health.

According to the Sleep Health Foundation, teenagers require 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Yet many students regularly fall short due to inconsistent study plans, social activities and late‑night screen use. As neuroscientist Matthew Walker states, 'Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do each day to reset our brain and body health.'

Insufficient sleep is linked to increased anxiety, low mood, difficulty concentrating and reduced academic performance. Establishing healthy sleep routines – consistent bedtimes, limited screen use before bed and calming wind‑down rituals – can significantly improve wellbeing.

At school, we talk openly with students about the importance of sleep hygiene and realistic scheduling. Parents can support this by maintaining consistent nighttime routines and modelling healthy digital boundaries.

Encouraging students to value sleep is not about limiting independence; it is about empowering them with knowledge. When young people understand that sleep strengthens resilience and learning, they are more likely to make choices that support their wellbeing now and into the future.

Reference
Sleep Health Foundation (Australia). Walker, M. Why We Sleep, Raising Children Network

Nikki Townsend

eNews new feature photo 11 June 2019 Angela Drysdale_HoP

Head of Primary

Finding Joy in Connection: Celebrating the special women in our lives

In last week’s newsletter, I shared how finding joy isn’t just about feeling happy in the moment, it’s also an important part of building a strong, resilient brain and a healthy, positive life. Joy helps our brains grow in ways that support emotional regulation, wellbeing, and meaningful social connections.

At St Margaret’s, we are proud to be a nurturing school community, where everyone is connected through shared values, kindness, and faith. This strong sense of relatedness is central to the St Margaret’s Way and is one of the reasons our students thrive socially and emotionally.

Last week, we had the joy of celebrating Mother’s Day, a special event in our school calendar. It’s a day to honour not only mothers, but all the remarkable women who shape the girls’ lives with love – grandmothers, aunties, godmothers, carers, our teachers and any woman who plays a guiding and supportive role.

Celebrating these special women is more than a tradition; it’s a way of reinforcing connections that are so important for our students’ development. Social relationships that are rich in love and trust help to release oxytocin, the ‘bonding hormone’, which plays a powerful role in building a child’s sense of safety and belonging.

This celebration is an opportunity to show appreciation, say thank you, and simply spend time together, whether it was through the beautiful handmade gifts, shared smiles, or special breakfast. The joy of the morning was enhanced by the girls’ excitement at presenting their gift, created with so much love, under the guidance of Donna Free and Macey Devitt. Thank you to Annette Box for her organisation of the event, the teachers for contributing to this special event, and Donna Langford for conducting Bella Voci for the beautiful performance. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the raffle. I know this was a wonderful way to start the weekend celebrations.

As we continue nurturing our joyful school environment, let us keep looking for those small but powerful moments of connection, celebrating the people who make our lives truly special.

Andrews Cup Cross Country

The Andrews Cup competition continues at a fast pace, and the cross country competition this week was no exception. Congratulations to the all the members of the team for their training and commitment on the day.

Congratulations to E. Noonan, C. Fuhrmann and Z. Frost on their outstanding performances in the Noel McBride Relay achieving first place.

Years 11 & 12 division – 1^st
Year 9 division – 3^rd
Years 8 &10 division – 4^th

Overall, St Margaret’s placed first in the Aggregate Cup – a fantastic result!

Angela Drysdale

Assistant Head of Primary

National Reconciliation Week

Throughout the year, there are several exciting initiatives and days of celebration which serve as learning and fundraising opportunities for the girls. This term, National Reconciliation Week takes place in Week 6. The week includes a number of meaningful events including National Sorry Day on Tuesday 26 May, when we hold a special Sorry and Mabo Day assembly so students can hear from members of our school community about their experiences as First Nations and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as learn about the historical events that put this day on the calendar.

In addition to this, our Term 2 Free Dress day will occur during this week, which will once again be ‘Jersey Thursday’ on Thursday 28 May. This is a day to celebrate inclusivity and identity by wearing your team colours. This could be a team jersey, jumper, shirt, or scarf, and all gold coin donations on the day will go towards the ‘Pay It Forward’ program to support future Yalari Scholarships along with our 2026 charity, . Girls are encouraged to show their ‘team colours’ and join in the celebrations on Circular Drive at morning tea, including art, entertainment and more. If girls do not think they have a team to support, they can show their house colours and wear their house shirts (or Year 6 shirt), socks, and ribbons with their sports tracksuits. We look forward to seeing the primary school students participating in the many events on offer throughout this significant week in our school calendar.

Annette Box

Head of Performance

Classics in the Cathedral

Classics in the Cathedral is fast approaching with the performance to be held in St John’s Anglican Cathedral next week on Friday 22 May. Please note the start time this year will be 6:30pm (with refreshments available from 5:30pm). This is an evening of beautiful music, performed by St Margaret’s music ensembles within a spectacular setting and is one of the school’s very special performance events.

We are also thrilled to welcome back Old Girl Annabelle Traves (’14) who will perform solo on the violin. Tickets are now on sale and must be purchased online via . The cost for an adult ticket is $30, with no charge for children/students. Please print your ticket or download on an electronic device (e.g. mobile phone) to present upon entrance at the concert. All tickets must be pre-purchased as tickets will not be available at the door. We look forward to having many in attendance at this special event.

Music Support Group

Classics in the Cathedral is one of the most special evenings on the St Margaret’s Music calendar, and it simply wouldn’t happen without the incredible support of our parent community. There are many ways to be involved, whether it’s by donating a 'plate', lending a hand on the night, or helping behind the scenes. Every contribution, big or small, makes a genuine difference and helps create a memorable evening for our students, staff and guests.

For food donations, please click here:

To volunteer your assistance, please click here:

Thank you for your support!

Support Our Steinway Piano Fundraising Raffle

We are now approaching the halfway mark in our fundraising journey towards a beautiful Steinway Piano for the new Performing Arts Complex and with your help, we can reach the finish line.

Our raffle is packed with incredible prizes, including:

A tropical 2-night getaway to Tin Can Bay
Award-winning wine
Tickets to The Australian Ballet and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, with fine dining experiences
A Crosley Vinyl Turntable with a selection of albums
An adorable Jellycat collection
And more!

Every ticket purchased helps support the future of music at St Margaret’s while giving you the chance to win something special. To purchase raffle tickets, please click here:

Thank you for your ongoing generosity!

Parents Support Group POD

Keep up to date with all the Parents Support Group activities here by joining this POD group:

Meeting dates

The next meeting date is Tuesday 2 June. All primary and secondary parents are welcome. Meetings will be held in the Canopy Café at 5:00pm.

Brad King

Director of Sport

Winter Sport Registrations and Interhouse Cross Country Results

Registrations are now open for 2026 QGSSSA winter sports in Hockey, Tennis, Netball and Volleyball. QGSSSA winter sports take place across Term 3. Student sign-up is essential to ensure the effective planning and preparation of each sport. Sign-up ensures that all students will receive the most up-to-date information regarding the trials and training for the commencement of the new season. Failure to sign-up may result in a student being unable to participate in their chosen sport/s.

Students should go to the following POD pages to sign up.

Important notes:

Student may only select to participate in one QG Winter Sport in any given season. This is a QGSSSA Association rule. Students may participate in both QG Winter Sport and QG Athletics.

Students participating in Rowing are unable to participate in QG Winter Sports, due to a clash in Saturday fixtures. Rowers may participate in QG Athletics.

Club netballers should consider their prior netball commitments before signing up for a QG Winter Sport. QG Winter Fixtures are played on Saturday morning across Term 3. Club Netballers may participate in QG Athletics.

This week at Whole School Assembly, we announced the results for our 2026 Interhouse Cross Country. Congratulations to Lawson for taking out the overall aggregate trophy in 2026.

The official results are listed below.

Place	Points	House
8^th	817	Bede
7^th	790	Chaucer
6^th	777	Kendall
5^th	712	Milton
4^th	698	Herrick
3^rd	693	Tennyson
2^nd	651	Spenser
1^st	609	Lawson

The STM sport team are happy to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students’ participating a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. Please directly contact Ms Williams via awilliams@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

A reminder to all families that students should be bringing student ID cards to all trainings and fixtures for bus travel. If you have misplaced your card, please visit school support for a new one.

For the latest sport news and information please check out the following Secondary School Sport POD Pages:

Basketball (Autumn Sport) - (
Soccer (Autumn Sport) - (
Touch Football (Autumn Sport) - (
Cross Country -
Club Netball - )

Anne Louise Williams

Lara Pickering Development and Community 2018

Director of Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement

Giving Day 2026 – The World Is Her Stage

St Margaret’s annual Giving Day will be hosted on Wednesday 27 May and for 12 hours, from 9am-9pm, your donation will be DOUBLED by our generous Matching Donors. This Giving Day, we ask for your kindness and generosity once again to help St Margaret’s thrive. Your tax-deductable donation to the Building Fund will help to support the realisation of our new Arts Precinct. Or alternatively, your donation our Panama Fund will provide the gift of education through financial needs-based bursaries.

Our students, led by our House Captains, have an exciting day of fundraising activities planned in celebration of Giving Day including a house dance-off, sausage sizzles, bake sales and a coin drive in the Philip Harris Gym (so please save your gold pennies, but notes may stretch further!) It is wonderful to see the culture of philanthropy on show within our current students.

We are also looking for volunteers to help us in the Operations Room, which will be located in the ACF. Our volunteers play an important role in raising awareness on Giving Day by making phone calls to members of the St Margaret’s community. If you have an hour or more to spare, we would love to have you.

For more information or to volunteer in our Operations room, please contact the Development and Community Office on 3862 0822 or visit to complete the Volunteer Registration Form and learn more about this year’s Giving Day priorities.

P&F General Meeting

Want to know what your P&F (and Support Groups) are working on for 2026? Join us at the next P&F General Meeting and find out.

Meeting Details

Date: Monday 18 May 2026
Time: 6.30pm to 8.00pm
Location: Circular Drive Classrooms, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
RSVP: Please email the P and F for catering purposes, P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

There is also an option to join this meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams for those unable to attend the meeting in person.

A link to the meeting papers will be available on

P&F Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast

Rug up and join us for the Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast with a view. Students in Years 7-12 and their fathers are warmly invited to join us for breakfast with coffee from Tipple and Tamper.

We understand that it is not possible for all girls to invite their fathers. Girls are welcome to invite a relative or family friend, boarders are welcome to 'adopt a dad' for the event.

Tickets will be available to you to purchase online from 9.30am Tuesday 28 April 2026, or from 9.30am Monday 27 April for Year 12 and boarding families.

Event Details

Date: Thursday 18 June 2026
Time: 6:45am for a 7:00am start. Concludes at 8:00am
Venue: Circular Drive and Arts Centre Terraces

Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast - with guest speaker, Brittany Luhrs (’13)

Join Brittany as she shares her journey from St Margaret’s to the creative industries and offers an insight into what a passion for the arts, combined with the right skills, can lead to.

We invite parents and senior students to join us at the first Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast event of 2026 to hear from Brittany Luhrs (’13), a creative and driven marketing professional who has built a dynamic career at the intersection of digital strategy and the arts.

After leaving St Margaret’s, Brittany went on to earn a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Creative Industries, both with a focus in Marketing, from QUT, followed by a Master of Business (Marketing). Brittany’s early career saw her channel her entrepreneurial spirit into founding The Social Flamingo, her own bespoke social media consultancy, while simultaneously developing her skills across a range of marketing and communications roles. Her work spanned content strategy, digital campaigns, graphic design, copywriting, and large-scale social media campaigns reaching millions of people.

Now in her eighth year at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brittany has grown from intern to Senior Marketing Coordinator, playing a key role in promoting one of Australia’s most celebrated arts destinations. Her work encompasses strategic marketing campaigns, digital and e-commerce initiatives, and audience engagement across both traditional and digital channels, most recently as part of the team behind the highly anticipated launch of the Glasshouse Theatre, the largest performing arts centre under one roof in Australia.

Date:                   Thursday 28 May 2026
Time:                   6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am
Location:            Eton Hall, St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:              Continental style breakfast
Tickets:               $38 Adults/Student

To purchase tickets please .

We thank our series sponsors and the .

Lara Pickering

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