The Ruyton Reporter - Autumn 2016

18 / 20

18 the ruyton reporter
News
News of Former Students & Staff
Georgina Austin (Sutton ‘97) spent
13 insightful years at Ruyton, with a
passion for art and photography, always
encouraged by wonderful teachers.
She was thrilled to be accepted into
the Bachelor of Design (Graphic Design)
at RMIT.
Georgina graduated in 2001 and worked
at Country Road as their Apparel
Graphics and Textile Designer. Having
gained valuable experience, she felt
confident enough to start her own
knitwear brand, Cable Melbourne, and
released a small capsule at the 2007
Australian Fashion Week. She wanted
the brand’s style ethos to centre on
modern, timeless pieces, which
transcend seasons and provide women
and children with unique, elegant
wardrobe options through the
knitted form.
Her innate understanding of the unique qualities of wool seems to be part of her DNA.
Georgina’s great, great grandfather was the founder of a wool buying company, and a
leader purchasing Australian superfine merino for fashion houses around the world,
the starting point of four generations of wool buyers. With quality and durability
central to the brand’s uniqueness, she is committed to keeping as much production
as possible in Australia, supporting the local Australian merino wool industries.
Georgina remembers her time at School as one of progressive thinking and
empowerment. Ruyton gave all the girls the conviction to believe women could
do anything and be whoever they wanted to be, something that has equipped her
to become an independent woman, with strength and confidence to run her own
business, be a mother, a wife and able to juggle everything else life has thrown at her.
Greta Gurry graduated from Ruyton
in 2010. Greta began tertiary studies
at Monash University in 2011, studying
a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
After completing three years of this
degree Greta deferred to undertake
further studies in a research capacity
by completing a Bachelor of Medical
Science (Hons) in 2014. Greta’s research
was performed through the Infectious
Diseases Department at Monash
Medical Centre and explored the
relationship between HIV and latent
infections in an immigrant population.
This is important research, given
Australia’s growing immigrant
population and the increasing
availability of preventative medicine.
Greta has had research published in
medical journals, including the Medical
Journal of Australia (MJA) in March 2015
and AIDS in September 2015.
Greta has also been fortunate to spend time volunteering in an Indigenous
community in Arnhem Land, as well as in rural Kenya. These experiences have
inspired Greta to work with marginalised communities in the future. She has now
completed her fourth year of medicine and is due to graduate at the end of 2016.
She will also be undertaking a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, while
also hoping to continue to undertake research in the area of infectious diseases and
preventative medicine.
Greta has fond memories of attending Ruyton from Year 5 and her time here instilled
in her a sense of community and belonging. She was taught the value of balancing
her time between academic commitments and extra-curricula pursuits. Through this
teaching, along with fostering a love of learning and interest in discovering new ideas,
Ruyton provided Greta with an excellent foundation for her studies, future career and
whatever else the future may hold.
Congratulations to Alice Kennedy (‘11) for being named as a finalist in the Virgin Australia
Melbourne Fashion Festival National Graduate Showcase, presented by Target and
supported by Fashion Journal, for her collection, Leila. The VAMFF programme is seen
as a launching pad for young designers and the judges handpicked the 12 finalists from
design institutions across the country. The winner receives a $25,000 grant and the
opportunity to design a one-off Target capsule collection, available in selected stores.
Jacqui Pitt (’03) has been named as a
2016 Zelman Cowen John Monash
Scholar. Jacqui has a Bachelor of Arts
(Honours), with First Class Honours, and
a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the
University of Melbourne. She is currently
the senior legal adviser in the Family
Violence Reform Unit of the Victorian
Department of Premier and Cabinet. She
will undertake a Master of Laws in the
United States of America with the goal
of becoming an expert and innovator
in the field of legal responses to family
violence. In 2014 Jacqui was named one
of 50 ‘rising stars’ of the Australian legal
profession by Australasian Lawyer
magazine and was a finalist for the Law
Institute of Victoria’s ‘Rising Star of the
Year’ award. While studying, Jacqui was
the National Head of Fundraising for the Oaktree Foundation, where she led campaigns
to raise over $500,000 to reduce extreme poverty. Outside her profession Jacqui loves
every aspect of the theatre. She was the founding President of a not-for-profit theatre
company for the legal industry and has produced several critically- acclaimed comedy
shows. She is also a classically trained singer. Mr Walter Zavattiero was one of Jacqui’s
teachers. ‘I remember Jacqui as an exceptionally gifted student in my Year 12 English class
who, quite simply, loved delving into the themes and ideas of each and every text. Both
her empathy for the underdog and her capacity to appreciate the nuances of any issue
were always apparent and it is no surprise that she has dedicated herself so
wholeheartedly to protecting the rights of the vulnerable in her professional life as a
lawyer. That we can continue to celebrate her success is a wonderful thing. Go Pitti!’
Rebecca Starkins (’09) made a splash in
the news in January for her personalised
tote range, Little Makes Big, when Pippa
Middleton, sister of the Duchess of
Cambridge, was spotted carrying
one of her bags. Little Makes Big
is an online business selling leather
and canvas monogrammed totes and
Rebecca sent one to Pippa. The celebrity
influence works as a marketing strategy
for the brand, which Rebecca started at
16. Little Makes Big employed women
from Destiny Rescue Sewing Production
House, giving them an opportunity to
support themselves. Rebecca is studying
commerce, entrepreneurship and
innovation. ‘We use social media as a
platform and also try to secure coverage,
or a tick of approval, from some
influencers who complement our brand.’