by Isla Huffadine

Director of Development Report

Old Girls’ Association

We would like to welcome the newest Old Girls to the Association – the Class of 2020. We encourage you to get involved with the Association and hope you will find it a supportive network.

It’s been a quiet year for the Old Girls’ Association, with our usual programme of events disrupted by COVID 19. We were lucky to hold our Company of Strangers event at Akarua in February and enjoyed having our ‘Devonshire Tea’ stall at the Fair in March, and we will finish the year with a Dunedin Old Girls’ Christmas Function in December. Hopefully we will be able to hold further Old Girls’ events around the country next year.

Company of Strangers event at Akarua — Image by: Isla Huffadine

Over lockdown we profiled a number of Old Girls working in essential services and featured these on the Old Girls’ website – you can find them at www.sthildasoldgirls.nz. While it has not been the year we had planned, we are looking forward to reconnecting with a number of our Old Girls at the 125th Anniversary Celebrations in March 2021. Old Girls are encouraged to join the Association by emailing aburke@shcs.school.nz.

Building Heart Campaign

We were very fortunate to receive two major donations towards the Building Heart Campaign earlier this year - $30,000 and $25,000 – and we wish to thank our supporters for their generosity in what has been a difficult year for fundraising.

The Blue Ribbon Installation was unveiled in September at a lovely event attended by Old Girls, Board Members and Staff. This fundraising project is ongoing – please contact Amanda Burke if you would like to purchase a plaque.

Image by: Isla Huffadine

125th Anniversary Celebrations

The 125th Anniversary Celebrations will take place on March 19-21, 2021. There are several events happening over the weekend such as a Cocktail Function, Gala Lunch, 125 Years of Inspiring St Hilda’s Women Panel Discussion, Chapel Service and Tolcarne tours. We welcome all current and past families, Old Girls, Board Members, Staff, Tolcarne Staff and friends of the school to attend. You can find more information about the weekend and the link to register here:

https://www.sthildasoldgirls.nz/125th-celebrations