President of the Sacre Coeur Association, Josephine Giaouris, shares her President’s report delivered at the recent 49th Annual General Meeting of the SCA on Wednesday 27 November 2024.
It has been a busy year and I feel very privileged to be working with this committee. We are a great team with everyone contributing in their own way while we honour, celebrate and continue to build this community.
I would like to acknowledge the work of my predecessor Georgina Senes. Georgina worked tirelessly on the SCA for 6 years and she is a big part of not only the SCA but the entire KRB Community. The work Georgina did setting up our own SCA bursary has put us in a great position so we can focus on keeping it going and adding to it, thus giving girls the opportunity to receive a KRB education for years to come.
It was my great pleasure to welcome Maryanne Doman (nee Ward 1986) and Charlotte Norfolk (parent of 3 KRB girls) to the Committee this year, it has been fun working with you at our events and we really appreciate your contributions.
2024 EVENTS
Charity Events
Hot Cross Bun Day (26 March 2024) – A charity event for Project Compassion
Donut Day (Tuesday 27th August) – Great fundraiser and we were able to make a generous donation to Bowraville school
Both worked well, especially the donuts and were a lot less work than the BBQs we have organised in the past. We will do similar events in 2025. It is great when we can involve the girls in these events.
New Events
Drinks at The Oak, Double Bay – Classes of 2021, 2022, 2023
This event was held on Thursday, 28 March and was the second year of hosting this event. We hosted approximately 40 girls and it was a fun evening. It is wonderful to host events for our newest alumnae to keep them in contact with each other and the SCA.
Alumnae/Current Parent Drinks
We hosted 40 people on Thursday, 8 August and it was a fantastic evening. Alumna Serena Sanderson (199) generously allowed us to use her Café & Car showroom space and catered for the event. We received much positive feedback, even those who couldn’t make it were talking about it and are looking forward to attending next year. We will hold this event again before the Long Lunch which hopefully will enable our country Alumnae to attend.
Reunion Weekend
Our second annual Reunion Weekend, held on Saturday 12 October, was a great success. Classes of 2004, 2009 & 2014 began their reunions at school with a tour and we served drinks on the Harbour Terrace. It was lovely to see the girls and hear all their news. Many other classes hosted their reunions on this same weekend which is a lovely tradition in the making.
Traditional SCA Calendar Events
Memorial Mass
Our Annual Memorial Mass was held on Sunday, 26 May and was a beautiful celebration of love, life and our community. The mass was so beautiful and moving; it is a privilege to be able to gather together to remember our loved ones. We extend our sincere thanks to all those who helped prepare the mass. Special thanks to Victoria Dalton who organised the day, and Brennan Sharpley who organised the mass – it was magnificent. Thanks to Mary Cook, Erica Thomas, Trish Brennan for their ongoing support.
Thank you to our committee members who attended, greeted guests and served cups of tea. The “oldies” really loved seeing us there.
Card Day
Our annual card day was scheduled for Monday, 1 July however sadly this year we had to postpone this event. We will look to moving the date from the winter months and school holidays to a more suitable time of the year.
Organ Recital with Dr JJ Mitchell
The Puget Organ Recital was held on Sunday, 14 July. Ann Henderson, along with Victoria Dalton did a fabulous job organising this event. We had a great turnout and we had many generous donations to the bursary. Ann’s enthusiasm for and knowledge of the Chapel and our Puget Organ is infectious.
Sandwiches & Song
This is a special day on our SCA calendar. On Monday, 11 November, we hosted over 80 ladies and it was a lovely day. Fabulously organised by Mary Cook, Victoria Dalton, and Brooke King. The Committee who were able to attend did a fabulous job serving the food and drinks as well as selling raffle tickets. Thanks to those who donated prizes. We received many lovely messages of thanks.
Merchandise
We have developed a website so people can buy merchandise direct without having to buy through Aspire. I will further develop it in the holidays so we can offer shipping to increase our reach. We have some new products and more on the way. To date, we have collected just over $20K in sales.
We also created a line of stationery with 2 Alumnae (Sarah Smith 2013 and Phoebe Gazal 1988) collaborating to produce the most beautiful cards and gift tags.
We donated several merchandise packs to school events – P&F Raffles, Long Lunch and a lucky door prize at Mother Daughter Dinner
Welcome new Committee member
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Elissa Wills (Santamaria, 1993) to the committee. Elissa has a daughter in Year 7 and is very engaged with her Year Group. We look forward to working with you in the year ahead.
In appreciation
Thank Maz Creagh for her service to the SCA. Maz has been a committee member and our Public Officer for 4 years, she was part of the team who started our line of merchandise and has always been a regular volunteer at all our events. Thanks Maz we will miss you.
I also wish to thank the committee. Sarah Mullan has been a great sounding board as VP.
Harriet Wilson is so reliable and works hard on the financials, and Annie Debelak a most efficient Secretary, keeping on top of all the paperwork. Phoebe Malouf has been a great asset in the merch department as well as generously donating prizes and wrapping our Merch Donations. Thank you to Maz Creagh, Jacinta Spurrett, MaryAnne Doman, Pip Baker, Michelle Bookallil and Charlotte Norfolk for donating prizes, assisting at events, engaging with our Alumnae both at events and in the general community. It is really important to us that our community is aware of what we do and wants to engage in and support our events and fundraising.
Thank you to everyone at KRB, especially Mary Cook, Erica Thomas, Liz Clark, Victoria Dalton, Trish Brennan, Katy Forbes, Brooke King and of course Greg who is always there to assist. Your support is greatly appreciated.