The Ruyton Reporter - Spring 2016

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19 spring 2016
Imago Mundi
We congratulate and celebrate with
Jo Roszkowski, teacher of Design and Technology
in the Senior School Art Department, on the
inclusion of one of her pieces of artwork in an online
collection curated by Luciano Benetton in Italy. The
piece, Geostrata, is made of mixed media bitumen,
plaster, paint and shellac. Jo says, ‘The piece
represents the geological substrata that bury our
past and the secrets that can be exposed because
of our urge to dig deep.’ Her creative inspiration
comes from the natural elements and her
surrounding environment. Jo is mainly concerned
with the traces humanity leaves behind, and their
impact on our planet.
Jo completed her Bachelor of Education (Visual Arts) in 1989 at Melbourne University Institute
of Education. She has taught design, technology and art across a variety of mediums, and was
the artist responsible for Ruyton’s Heritage Tree, which is located in the Foundation Building.
Other exhibitions where Jo’s work has also been displayed include Brighton Artists’ Society,
and the Kingston Arts Centre. Most recently, Jo has been appointed as Bayside Artist in
Residence, commencing in July 2016.
Weddings
Caroline Maslen (Jarrett ’05)
married Jono Maslen (Trinity
’96) at their family farm,
Barooga Station in January
2016. The bridal party included
Old Ruytonians Natalie Pullan
(’05) and Stephanie Pratt (’05).
Congratulations and best
wishes to the happy couple.
Caroline is the immediate past
President of the Old
Ruytonians’ Association.
We congratulate Old Ruytonian Anne Griffiths(’60) who received a Medal (OAM) of the Order
of Australia in the General Division for service to nursing and to organ transplantation
programmes. Anne worked at the Alfred Hospital for 52 years in a variety of areas, but is best
known for her role as Transplant Co-ordinator.
Shalini Ponnampalam (’14)
During my study of Medicine at Monash University I have been fortunate to spend time
volunteering in Swaziland, sub-Saharan Africa, with the organisation Possible Dreams
International. With 27.4% of the population infected by HIV, comprising the highest prevalence
of HIV/AIDS worldwide, the already limited health resources in Swaziland are susceptible to
being overwhelmed and stressed. When this is coupled with the current extreme drought,
families are undoubtedly trapped within a vicious cycle of poverty.
Possible Dreams International is a Swazi-led organisation with a vision to empower
families living in extreme poverty by equipping them with skills and opportunities to increase
their autonomy.
As we visited families who live in the Lubombo mountains, it became apparent that
individuals cannot escape poverty without assistance to address the fragility of their health
ecosystems. Possible Dreams International achieves this by providing emergency relief and
sustainable development solutions through Income Generation Projects (IGP), agricultural
support and water access schemes. By facilitating the attainment of basic necessities within
homesteads, we are reaching into the community, as we believe that health is more than
practising medicine. To facilitate an empowered future for Swaziland, sustainable health
outcomes must provide the scaffold for change.
The suffering present in Swaziland is riddled with startling inequalities and pervasive
social injustice. In Australia we are the unconscious recipients of extraordinary privilege.
Acknowledging this privilege can be the first step to improving the suffering of others.
By raising our voices for justice and equity we can join the conversation of change.
My trip to Swaziland offered me the
smallest glimpse of the tangible hope
offered by development programmes
which are holistic, grass-roots and offer
long-term, sustainable solutions to the
deeply complex issues of poverty and
endemic disease. All donations to Possible
Dreams International are greatly
appreciated and will assist us in reaching
the families of Swaziland. For more
information, please visit
Births
Vale
At Epworth Freemasons
on 20 July, Year 6 teacher
Sarah Gowland and husband
Al welcomed twin boys, Jack
Cooper and Harry John into
the world. All are doing well.
Caroline Carr (Burke ’98) and Nick are delighted to announce the safe arrival
of their son, Hamish William Hardie, born on 4 May. Old Ruytonian
grandmothers, Belinda Burke (Hardie ’70) and Sue Carr (Franklin ’62)
commented that they were not doing much of a job ‘breeding’ Ruyton girls
– this is the sixth grandson for Belinda and the second grandson for Sue!
It is with great sadness that the Ruyton Community notes the passing
of the following Old Ruytonians:
Doreen Ashley-Brown (’31)
lived a long and rewarding life,
passing away at the age of
103 years in May this year. A
proud ORA member, Doreen
attended two Golden Girls’
reunions after she turned 100
and unveiled the plaque at the
opening of the ORA’s Heritage
Trail in November 2012. At her
funeral service, which was
held at Holy Trinity in Kew,
mention was made of her
generosity to the Church, and
also to Scope (formerly the
Spastic Society) in establishing
a particular centre for severely
disabled people.
(Dorothea) Anne Ogier (Hedley ’62) passed away
on Saturday 25 June 2016 after a short battle with
cancer at the age of 70. Anne was a student at
Ruyton from 1950 to 1962 and she maintained
a strong friendship group from Ruyton, as well
as from St Paul’s Church in Canterbury. Anne
leaves behind her husband and her three children,
Juliette, Grant and Jacqueline, as well as
stepchildren, Tania and Melissa, and
grandchildren Jai, Lachlan, Rory, Leo and Hector.
She will be missed.
Submitted by Penny Taubman (current parent)
We love to share news of the exploits of Old Ruytonians in whatever field
they may be engaged. Please send all news to The Editor, Mrs Elizabeth Beattie,
at or direct at