From the Principal - Edition 16 - 2019

Thank you to all who supported the Foundation’s All Stars Ball last Saturday evening.

It was a fantastic night and a real chance to showcase the wonderful community to which we belong. Just like the students’ Green and White formal, guests spent the night dancing and enjoying the fantastic community spirit that we have at Westminster.

In a few weeks, we will have another opportunity at our Speech Day to come together as a community. Thursday 21 November, 1.30 pm for a 1.45 pm official start, will be our great occasion to celebrate the year that has been, reflecting on the successes, trials and challenges of 2019. Importantly, it is a day to mark the graduation of our Year 12 students to become Old Scholars and acknowledge those who have won prizes through their efforts.

I have noted in previous years that our community does not attend Speech Day as well as it could. Given that we are recognising the successes of our School and senior students, it would be fantastic to see the Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts full of students, parents, friends and extended family to enjoy this formal celebration.

Furthermore, we always aim for an outstanding guest speaker, a leader in their field, to address our community. This year will be no exception with our guest speaker being Commodore Katherine Richards. Commodore Richards is currently the Chief of Staff for Navy Strategic Command. She is one of the highest-ranking officers in the Royal Australian Navy and clearly a leader with great emotional intelligence and fortitude to rise up through the ranks in the manner that she has. Not only is Commodore Richards a leader and role model, she is also an Engineer and, previously, the Director General of Naval Engineering.

With our Innovation and Inquiry Hub construction under way, and anticipating the incredible learning opportunities it will bring, we believe it is timely to have a speaker like Commodore Richards at our Speech Day. Commodore Richards will be an outstanding role model for all students, particularly young women contemplating leading careers in the engineering and technology fields.

In 2012, the media recognised Katherine and her husband Bernie as a high-powered couple who successfully managed their work and careers. At that time, Katherine was a Captain in the Navy and Bernie, a Colonel in the Army. Since then, Katherine has been promoted to the rank of Commodore and Bernie to Brigadier. Understandably, with their young family to look after, Bernie can’t join us for Speech Day, but we sincerely hope that you will.

It will be a rare opportunity to hear one of Australia’s genuine, quiet achievers inspire us all with her insights, advice and wisdom.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Simon Shepherd
Principal