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• The pastoralist, Patrick Durack, had built this home in 1886 and named it Maryview. Some of you will know that Patrick Durack had links with the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
• The well-known architect of the time, John Cohen, was commissioned to build the ‘mansion.’
• By 1890, Durack was forced to sell the property and it was purchased by Frederick Horwood who renamed the house ‘Roslyn’ (a great name!)
• It passed into news hands very quickly, purchased by John Dunmore Campbell and renamed Donatello in 1900. John Dunmore Campbell had also lived in Mooloomburram after it was sold by the Petrie family. When Campbell died in 1909, St Margaret’s purchased the property. It is at this time it was renamed St Margaret’s House and by 1912, St Margaret’s Church of England Girls School became the new name of the school, previously Church of England Girls School and Eton High School for Girls.
• The boarders and the Sisters slept upstairs and downstairs was used for school business, classrooms, and offices. At this time, the school had a population of 47.

We are so blessed to have this wonderful building on campus.

Ros Curtis

Students in Year 7 will receive their online subject selection form early next term, and are to choose two of the following subjects to study in Year 8 2024: Drama, Music and Visual Art.

Students in Year 8 are to choose two minors and one major subject they would like to study in Year 9 2025.

Students in Year 9 are to choose two majors they would like to study in Year 10 2025.

Students in Year 10 are to choose their pathway for Years 11 and 12 2025.  They should be choosing subjects according to what they enjoy and what they are good at; these are the ones that will put them in the best position to achieve well in years to come. We also have set criteria in terms of groups of subjects students should choose from – this is to give our students the best possible chance of achieving their potential and open up as many pathways as possible after Year 12 and beyond.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me, or our Dean of Academics and Dean of Studies.

Karen Gorrie

Yesterday, I attended a PD at which I was reminded of the concept of “ubuntu,” a South African concept expressing the interconnectedness of humanity: “I am, because we are.”

 “One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu — the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness … We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

We are wired for connection. It is in community that we know ourselves and find strength for life’s journey.

Upcoming events:

Years 7 and 8 Family Service
Once every year we invite the parents, family, and friends of students in the secondary school to join the school community for a Family Service. This year, Years 7 and 8 will gather for their Family Eucharist on Wednesday 29 May at 6.00pm in St Margaret’s Chapel.

Confirmation Service

Our annual Confirmation service will take place, with our Regional Bishop in attendance, on Monday 10 June, 6pm, in our school Chapel. If you or your daughter would like to be confirmed please complete

Rev’d Jazz Dow

One book that is recommended for the girls to read is Atomic Habits by James Clear. In this book, Clear explains how your habits define your life and teaches us how to amplify or create good habits and knock down the bad ones. He teaches the reader to start your habit changing journey with the tiniest changes to your routine and thinking, and that you will be amazed at the strides you take in your life. Forming a habit is about repetition and persistence. The more often you repeat your habit, the easier it becomes.

Within boarding we help the girls to change some of their habits that are not working for them and replace them with a new habit. This can be as simple as changing a habit during prep and how they approach their work. This is what Clear refers to as having systems in place to achieve your goals. 

We emphasise to the girls that a good habit is to do the most difficult task first, the one that they keep putting off. Some of the girls who have incorporated this habit into the way that they structure their approach to homework have seen many positive changes in the amount of work that they now can do in prep. We encourage all girls, particularly in the senior years to read Atomic Habits as there are many benefits that they can gain from this book.

Lesa Fowler

Year 10 SET Plan Meetings

All students will have received a meeting appointment with their SET Plan interviewer.

For those students selecting an ATAR pathway, we recommend students back themselves and select five subjects. By selecting five subjects, students will have an Independent Learning Option (ILO) line, giving her 4.5 hours of school time each week to dedicate to her remaining subjects. With the additional time afforded by this line, there should be no need for a “back up” subject. If a student wishes to take a sixth subject then this can be discussed with me following their SET Plan meeting.

If students and parents have any questions regarding subject selection these can either be asked at SET Plan Meetings or directed to the appropriate teacher, Head of Faculty or myself in the lead up to these meetings.

Caitlin McCluskey

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in a variety of subjects.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online result report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised.

We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. The dates and prices are below, and these are able to be purchased directly from the ICAS website.

Parent page link:

School access code: XDF041

Subject Selection Evenings

Thank you to the parents and students who attended the Subject Selection Evenings this week, either in-person or online. If parents or students wish to watch a recording of any of these evenings, the videos will be placed on the Subject Selection POD Page, which can be accessed via your daughter’s Year Level POD Page.

Chris Dunn

Our service learning program, under the umbrella of our pastoral care program, addresses the importance of giving of time, money and resources to help others. Students learn that this is a profound expression of empathy and social responsibility. When individuals volunteer their time, they create meaningful connections and offer direct support to those in need. The school encourages the act of service which fosters a sense of community and shared purpose which in turn strengthen bonds. Whether it’s mentoring younger students, assisting in the preparation of food for the homeless, door knock appeals or participating in environmental cleanups, the impact of time given is immeasurable. It not only addresses immediate needs but also empowers recipients and volunteers alike, fostering mutual growth and understanding. The time students volunteer is recorded in their Community Passport for Years 7 to 10 and in St Margaret’s Plus for Years 11 and 12.

In addition, donating money is equally vital, providing essential resources for various causes. Financial contributions enable organisations to sustain their operations, expand their reach, and implement programs that can effect long-term change. From funding educational scholarships to supporting medical research, monetary donations have the potential to transform lives and drive social progress. Moreover, philanthropic efforts help bridge gaps in services that government programs may not fully cover, ensuring a more inclusive support system.

Both forms of giving, whether time or money, are complementary and crucial. They reflect a commitment to improving the collective wellbeing and creating a more equitable society. By sharing our resources, we contribute to a cycle of generosity and compassion that benefits all members of the community and in this case St Margaret’s for years to come. A big thank you to all those involved on Giving Day - it was a sensational day enjoyed by all.

Nikki Townsend

For those of you who may have recently joined the school community, this biennial festival is named in honour of prominent sculptor and St Margaret’s Old Girl Daphne Mayo (1908) one of Australia's finest sculptors and, throughout her life, an energetic and tenacious advocate of the Arts in Queensland. The MAYO Arts Festival has, since its inception in 2008, built a reputation for showcasing local artists as well as engaging the wider community in the vibrant and inspiring atmosphere. This year the event will be opened by renowned artist Lindy Lee.

The family friendly art-themed festival offers a range of creative activities, rides, and entertainment for all ages. Throughout the day, attendees can follow an artistic trail from the performance stage to the drama theatre, to student artwork as well as admiring the sculpture dotted around our school environment. Attendees can also browse, and shop artisans works in the Arts Centre Foyer (Design Market) and market stalls in Eton Hall (Market Hall), and purchase quality handcrafted gifts, jewellery, artwork and homewares. Adding to the festival atmosphere will be a street filled with rides, an animal farm and activities in the Barley Sugar Garden including face painting, lob a choc, lucky dip and putt putt. Sweet food options and gourmet food will be available from a variety of food trucks on Circular Drive positioned alongside the Comiskey Distillery sponsored pop up bar. Attendees can enjoy food and drink and the onstage musical entertainment into the early evening as the sun sets and the city lights up.

Thank you to the families and businesses that are supporting this year’s festival including our Mayo Supporters: Comiskey Distillery, All Clear Print & Signs and Village Voice as well as our Stall Sponsors: Aspire Mortgage and Finance, HLB Mann Judd Advisory and Accounting, Patona Property, Evercare, Resource Innovations, Clear Insurance, Aspiring Talent, Manana Pastoral, Golf Central and Brisbane Festival.

Crucial to the festival’s success are the volunteers from our community who help run stalls and activities. The class ambassadors are busy planning different stalls. If you are interested in being involved or helping during the festival, please contact your daughter’s year level class ambassador. Listed below are the year level stalls:

In the coming week we will make requests to the school community for donations for the different year level stalls. I encourage the school community to support this event through making a donation, volunteering and attending the event with family and friends. This is a significant school event which brings many people together and provides an opportunity to raise funds which will go towards enriching the arts education experience of St Margaret’s students, both now and in the future, through the acquisition of new artwork and the maintenance and restoration of the school’s existing art collection.

Angela Drysdale

The platform features access to interviews with a range of specialists including Neuroscience Experts, Authors and Media Commentators, Cyber Safety Educators and Psychologists. It is endorsed by organisations such as the Butterfly Foundation, ySafe, Smiling Mind and Kids Helpline, along with a number of educational institutions.

SchoolTV is a highly reputable platform and an excellent point of reference to help guide you through your parenting journey. Topics explored through the carefully developed and informed resources are Cultural Diversity, Bullying, Understanding Adolescence, Raising Girls, Online Gaming and Managing Screen Time, among other relevant areas. These resources can be a useful starting point for initiating conversations with your daughters and can help provide you with up-to-date research and data to support you as you navigate these often challenging moments. The website and resources are updated frequently to ensure currency of information and content, aligning with our ever-changing world. You can access these resources by visiting the on The POD.

Annette Box

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in a variety of subjects. Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online result report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised. Information on how to sign up to these assessments will be posted to The POD this week.

Kate Frewin

Beath String Quartet Performance

Congratulations to Beath String Quartet on their performance at the Primary Chapel Service this Friday. The students performed a beautiful rendition of Coro by George Handel which was enjoyed by staff and students. Thank you to the students for their hard work in making a special contribution to the service with the help of their director, Mr Ng.

Performance Presentations

Performance presentations have been occurring throughout Week 6. It has been fantastic to hear students practising hard as they prepare to present what they have been learning in lessons this semester to their teachers. This year the semester reports have been modified to provide parents and students with more concise and constructive feedback. Reports will be uploaded as a PDF to Parent Lounge at the end of semester (and will sit alongside the Academic Report).

Brad King

Championship cross country racing, though an individual event, is defined by overall team performance. The great basketball coach Phil Jackson once said, "The strength of a team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." Led by Year 12 captains Annabel B. and Gemma H., our team exemplified this mantra, demonstrating courage and teamwork to achieve outstanding results and support each other every step of the way.

The age group placings were as follows:

• 12 years & under – 6th place
• 13 years – 6th place
• 14 years – 4th place
• 15 years – 7th place
• 16 years – 3rd place
• 17 & over – 5th place

Aggregate Cup – 5^th Place overall

Percentage Cup – 4^th Place overall

Individually, St Margaret’s witnessed some outstanding performances, most notably the 16 Years race. Maggies runners Coco F. (Year 10) and Charli S. (Year 11) ran in a league of their own, pushing the pace early to create a race of only two. In what proved to be an exciting race for St Margaret’s, Coco emerged victorious, and Charli claimed honourable 2^nd place. We are extremely proud of these performances, in addition to Year 8 runners Zara F., Georgiana R and Year 12 runner Ginger C. who all finished in the top 10 within their respective races.     

Individual top 10 finishers:

14 years – Zara F. (5th) and Georgiana R. (8th)

16 years – Coco F. (1st) and Charli S. (2nd)

17 & over – Ginger C. (5th)

A big thanks must be given towards our Cross-Country staff, led by Head of Athletics and Development, Josh Partridge. The work of Josh and his team created a great environment for our girls to enjoy their running. Similarly, we would like to thank all the spectators, parents, students and staff who came along on the day and created a great atmosphere all over the course.

Sporting Achievement

It’s with great pleasure that we can recognise the outstanding sport performance and representation of St Margaret’s students at a national and international level. I would like to highlight and congratulate the follow students on their recent achievements:

• Congratulations to sisters Daisy Y. (Year 11) and Ivy Y. (Year 10) who represented their home the Northern Territory at the recent U16 National Hockey Championships in Hobart. Despite some chilly conditions for the NT team, they performed extremely well with Daisy saving some outstanding shots in goal and Ivy doing some great work in the field. Well done girls on your representations.
• Congratulations to Year 8 student Nicole McNeil who was recently selected and represented Queensland at the Australian Gymnastics Championships. Nicole performed extremely well throughout the comp, with her Queensland team coming away with the national win. We congratulate Nicole on her outstanding achievement.

We would like to continue to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students’ participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. I look forward to continuing to hear from our community regarding such outstanding achievement. Please me at lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Latest Sport News and Information

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

• QGSSSA Hockey -
• QGSSSA Netball -
• QGSSSA Tennis -
• QGSSSA Volleyball -
• Athletics -
• Rowing -
• Rhythmic Gymnastics -
• Club Netball -
• Club Swimming -

Lloyd Knight

"Cassandra’s artistic expression embodies the essence of (The unit of work). Through her implementation of watercolours, she captures the soul of Brisbane, highlighting its unique features and landmarks. Her use of fine details and bold colours delicately juxtaposes Australian agriculture with vibrant urban life." Awarded by the Visual Art Captains - Sara Jo, Amy and Amelia

Like all milestones, St Margaret’s wants to make its mark - by moving the overall fundraising needle to the million-dollar mark! It’s a bold target, so we are calling in the cavalry. We have raised more than $700,000, in nine years, so our goal is to raise close to $300,000 this year to reach our target.

To achieve this, we are calling for the involvement not only of students to cut their hair and donate, but also any other family members and alumni who’d like to #rockthechop – whether they live locally or outside of Brisbane.

If you are an Old Girl or past or current parent and would like to help us reach our target, we are asking you to register your interest so we can keep you up to date with the 2024 event. And some of you might need to start growing your mane now!

Can’t get to Brisbane? You can still be involved wherever you are by joining the fundraising page and getting your local hairdresser or a trusted friend to lop off your ponytail or consider holding your own event in a regional area or international city!

We’d love to connect our boarding families keen to be involved from afar – perhaps to even host a morning tea on the day.  

If you are interested in becoming involved, we have set up an Expression of Interest form where you can indicate what type of involvement you are interested in, and if you are in another town, we could connect you with other’s keen to be involved.

Ready to join the cause? You can register to participate in this year's Ponytail Project .

If you have any enquiries, please email Wendy Johnston, Director of Marketing and Communications, on wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or call (07) 3862 0837.

We have fun-filled and exciting activities planned for our June/July Holiday Program. Further details of the program can be found here (PDF 323.8KB). Boys and girls, siblings, friends and family welcome!

Please refer to the attached Information Guide for full booking terms and conditions. We are unable to accept bookings via email or text message. The OSHC registration and Debitsuccess form must be completed, signed and sent back to us to finalise your booking. Please read the information guide carefully as some information has changed. OSHC Registration and Debitsuccess can be completed via the My Family Lounge.

PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR VACATION CARE BOOKING FORM VIA THE MY FAMILY LOUNGE APP

We are very excited to inform you that St Margaret’s OSHC has subscribed to a fantastic online Booking and Waitlist management program called QK Enrol. This program will give you access to manage your own account information, where you will have the ability to make bookings requests and allows you to complete and submit an online enrolment form for your child. You can do this and much, much more all within a parent portal called ’My Family Lounge’.

How do I log in?

Please navigate to the link below and either sign in with your existing My Family Lounge account or Register for an account if you do not already have one. Please note all families who have previously submitted an enrolment form will have an account already set up; all you will need to do is click ‘forgotten password’ and use the email address you used to receive this form.

When making a Vacation Care booking please select Casual bookings, not Permanent.

What is the cost?*

Fees: $68 per day*

Bookings close: 7 June 2024

*Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCS.

What are the hours of operation?

The service is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm.

How can I obtain more information?

If you would like further information regarding our OSHC Program or if you would like to make a booking, feel free to contact me on 0423 547 653 or email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Palu Ingram

Your gift to our Panama Fund will help us to support young women to access or complete a St Margaret’s education through needs-based bursaries – an opportunity that some girls thought wasn’t possible – while those who supported the Building Fund will help us to refurbish Community House and help it to become a student wellbeing centre for our students. It truly was a whole community effort, and we thank each and every one of our 545 donors for your wonderful support.

A special thank you to our Matching Donors, who matched donations dollar for dollar right through to the completion of our Bonus Round at 9pm. We would also like to acknowledge the amazing efforts of our students who danced off, held coin drives, sausage sizzles, bake sales and manned the phones to help us spread the word about Giving Day far and wide.

Thank you to all of you who donated on the day. We are so grateful for your support. Our ambitious goal was no match for the St Margaret’s spirit! We could not have done it without you.

2024 St Margaret's Secondary Mother Daughter Luncheon - Wrap up

The P&F Association was proud to host the 2024 Secondary Mother Daughter Luncheon on Sunday 19 May at Howard Smith Wharves with over 320 mothers and daughters in attendance.

We sincerely thank our Guest Speaker, Susie Taaffe (secondary parent), and interviewer Shea Morrison ('96) (primary parent and Old Girl,) for showcasing their talents and sharing their message of body positivity for our girls.

Thank you to our 2024 Mother Daughter Luncheon Maggies Supporters: ,  and , three more organisations led by St Margaret’s Old Girls and mothers, Julie Christophers (past parent), Jimena Kotsomitis (’01) and Louise Bellchambers (secondary parent).

The 2024 Mother Daughter Luncheon raffle and its proceeds were made possible thanks to the generosity of the following families and organisations: KAILO Medispa, Jimena Alejandra, Kieser, Ascot Living, Herves Restaurant & Bar, Number Works 'n Words, P & F Association, and Deep Grey Photography.

The P&F would like to specifically thank event organiser Melanesia Carson and parent volunteers who gave their time in the lead up to the event and on the day. Melanesia (primary parent) has instigated a tradition this year where primary parents lead the coordination for this event to allow secondary mothers to enjoy the day with their daughters. An event of this scale requires months of planning, and we thank the Melanesia and the P&F Committee for their commitment to delivering such a special day. If you would like to volunteer to help organise this event next year, please email P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Professional Women’s Network Breakfast – Featuring Emma Covacevich (‘93), Chief Executive Partner of Clayton Utz

Tickets are available for the third Professional Women’s Network Breakfast on Tuesday 20 August, with Guest Speaker Emma Covacevich (’93). 

Emma is the Chief Executive Partner (CEP) of Clayton Utz - a leading Australian law firm, and recently celebrated 25 years with the firm.

Emma has deep expertise in the energy sector in Australia and New Zealand, and has advised major energy companies and supported new entrants establish themselves in the Australian energy market.

Prior to being appointed CEP, Emma was the Deputy CEP from 2020 to 2023, a Clayton Utz Board Member from 2017 to 2022, and has been a Partner of the firm since 2007. Emma was on the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Board from 2017 until late last year and is a member of Chief Executive Women.

Event Details

Date:               Tuesday 20 August 2024
Time:             6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am
Location:        Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:          Sit down breakfast  
Tickets:           $85 Adult, $40 Student (Years 10-12/Tertiary). 
Corporate tables: $850 (10 seats), includes company logo displayed on table and acknowledgement during event.
To purchase tickets: 

We thank our series sponsors, Major Sponsor: , Supporting Sponsors: , , , and .

P&F Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast - Reminder

A friendly reminder that students in Years 7-12 and their fathers are warmly invited to join us for the P&F Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast.

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.

Due to the popularity of this event, we are delighted to announce that we have been able to increase the number of tickets available in 2024.

Tickets are available to purchase online: 

Date:               Thursday 13 June 2024

Time:              6:45am for a 7:00am start. Concludes at 8:00am

Venue:            Circular Drive and Arts Centre Terraces

Cost:               $45 per adult /$35 per student (Years 7-12). This is a stand-up event, with a hot breakfast offering, fruit and yoghurt cups, tea, coffee and orange juice.

RSVP:             9.30am, Thursday 6 June 2024, unless sold out prior.

Enquiries:       p&f@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Georgia Mitchell