The Ruyton Reporter - Spring 2016

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17 spring 2016
From the ORA President
Dear Ruyton Community,
I am delighted to present the President’s Report in
this Spring Edition of the Ruyton Reporter. The activities
and events organised by the Old Ruytonians
Association (ORA) mentioned in my report illustrate
the work being undertaken by the ORA to facilitate
the renewal of old friendships and build a stronger
network of Old Ruytonians.
NGV GALLERY TOUR
In April, a group of ORA members and their family and
friends visited the Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei
exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. Prior to
the tour, attendees met for a drink before exploring
the international exhibition together.
If you are interested in becoming involved in or
assisting with the co-ordination of ORA events relating
to the arts, please contact Natasha Anderson at
THE SOUND OF MUSIC BACKSTAGE TOUR
In May a group of ORA members who came from all
over Victoria attended a matinee performance of the
world’s best-loved musical, The Sound of Music.After
spending the interval together for drinks and ice cream
in a private room, attendees were treated to an
exclusive ORA only behind-the-scenes tour with an
opportunity to meet two cast members after the
performance. Cast members Jacqueline Dark (Mother
Abbess) and David James (Max Detweiler) met the
group and gave attendees an insight into the show
behind-the-scenes.
MEET THE AUTHOR WITH DAVID NYUOL VINCENT
In July the ORA invited David Nyuol Vincent, author of
The Boy Who Wouldn’t Die, to present at our annual
Meet the Author speaker series. David’s book recounts
his inspirational story as a Sudanese refugee and
eventual immigration to Australia, where be obtained
a humanitarian visa. As a child, David walked for three
months across Sudan and the Sahara Desert into
Ethiopia with his father in search of a better life after
civil war broke out in his village, Wau. He was trained
as a child-soldier and spent 17 years in refugee camps.
Since settling in Melbourne in 2004 David has
completed a Bachelor degree, has pursued his passion to
support refugees via extensive community work, and is
a UN Ambassador for the peace process in South Sudan.
He also works closely with Peace Palette, a non-
governmental community organisation that advocates
for a resilient, harmonious community free of conflict in
South Sudan. Fifty percent of proceeds raised on the
night were donated to Peace Palette.
ORA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
After launching the ORA Professional Development
Programme in February earlier this year, the ORA held
the second event in a series facilitated by external
consulting firm Kru Consulting. The Programme
provides members with the opportunity to network
with other Old Ruytonians and aims to support Old Girls
in their personal and professional development.
The second career-enhancing event held in August
explored the importance of networking and provided
attendees with opportunity to develop their networking
skills. The practical and hands-on session provided
participants with the tools to diagnose and evaluate
their own network and to create one which was more
potent and valuable. The conversation held amongst
the group was candid, meaningful and impactful.
Participants highlighted the value of normalising
experiences in a unique, safe and friendly environment,
where everyone was connected through the joint
experience of being an Old Ruytonian.
For regular updates about the ORA please follow
our Facebook page
and LinkedIn group
If you have any queries relating to the ORA or would
like to register for any of our events please contact
Natasha Anderson at
Ms Sarah Blyth(’07), President of the Old
Ruytonians’ Association
DAUGHTERS OF OLD RUYTONIANS 2016
Row 5:Cassie Grieves (Sarah Chew ’88),Aimee
Henderson (Tracy Sinner ’91),Lucy Richardson (Sally
Driscoll ’90),Sarah Goucher (Cathryn Spratling ’84),
Bridie O’Callaghan (Kerry Godson ’87),Samantha
Bendall (Jacqui Patterson ’85), Issy Fry (Stephanie
Backhouse ’88),Sophie MacIsaac (Katie McNeil ’84),
Victoria Magoutis (Kathy Alysandratos ’88)
Row 4:Pippa Angliss (Millie McLeish ’89),Alicia Jones
(Susan Hagger ’80),Eliza & Sophia Marsh (Serena
Dougall ’83),Saffrey & Phoebe Brown (Anna Long
’88),Charli Kerr (Fiona Cowie ’97),Amber Barry (Lisa
Logan ’91),Lucy Laird (Libby Law ’90),Zoe
Boussioutas (Claire Ferguson ’85)
Row 3:Justine & Matilda Cook (Susie Jarman ’80),
Jessica & Eliza Lamb (Melissa Flanders ’85),Emily
Johnson (Caroline Candy ’89),HannahWilson (Nikki
McClure),Emily & Holly Murray (Fiona Mardling ’86)
Row 2:Teresa & Isabel Caligiuri (ElisaTrotta ’98),
Matilda Ancarola (Julia Goodsall ’84),Charlotte &
Lucy Gillon (Georgina Candy ’92),Phoebe Johnson
(Caroline Candy ’89),MiaWilson (Nikki McClure ’86),
Konstantina Kafasis (Christina Dardalis ’01),Amelia
Osmond (Fiona Griffiths ’87)
Row 1: Sarina Hughes (Emma Hughes ’96),Olivia
Michelini (Julia Goodsall ’84),Mia Power (Fiona
Sidwell ’96),Millicent Gillon (Georgina Candy ’92),
Harriet Charlesworth (Bridget Langley ’91),Olivia
Thompson (Simone McClure ’89),Alexia Kafasis
(Christina Dardalis ’01)
Old Ruytonians’ Association