Past Alumnae Events

Did you miss out on attending Sancta Sophia College's Alumnae events. Read about each event and browse event photo galleries:

• 2010 Alumni and Alumnae Events
• 2009 Alumni and Alumnae Events
• 2008 Alumni and Alumnae Events
• 2007 Alumni and Alumnae Events

2010 Alumni and Alumnae Events

• Alumni Committee Extraordinary General Meeting: Tuesday, 4 May 2010
• Alumnae and Alumni Faculty Dinner: Wednesday 26th May, 6pm-7.30pm
• Year 1990 Reunion (Saturday, 27 March, 7pm onwards)
• Alumnae and Alumni Champagne in the Quad (Saturday, 27 March, 5–7pm)  

Sancta Sophia College Alumni Committee Extraordinary General Meeting
Tuesday, 4 May 2010

During the recent Champagne in the Quad event the college was very proud to announce it’s Interim Alumni Committee:

1. Caroline Stewart, President
2. Dr Louise Trott, Secretary
3. Kath Twomey, Treasurer
4. Joanne Seve, Committee Member
5. Bernadette McNamara, Committee Member
6. Sarah Steele, Committee Member

An Extraordinary General Meeting was held on Tuesday, 4 May 2010 to take nominations and votes for the official 2010 Alumni Committee. All past Sancta Sophia College students were invited to attend the meeting.

Sancta Sophia College Alumnae and Alumni Faculty Dinner
Wednesday 26th May, 6pm-7.30pm

Alumnae and Alumni dined with Sancta's current students and shared some of their experiences and wisdom gained throughout their professional life. They helped develop Sancta's current young ladies into women who will shine in their chosen fields. Students were matched with Alumnae who have successful careers in similar fields of interest to their study choices. The evening included pre-dinner drinks in the Lower Common Room, formal dinner in the recently redecorated Dining Room and finish with stimulating conversation, coffee and port in the Lower Common Room. This was the first Faculty Dinner at Sancta Sophia College for 2010.

Year 1990 Reunion
Saturday, 27 March, 7pm onwards

Sancta students who lived at the college in 1990 celebrated their 20 year anniversary on 27th March (following Champagne in the Quad). Many thanks to Kate Maher (nee Cluff) for organising the dinner. Over 23 past residents attended the dinner, some travelling quite a distance to attend. Former Principal Sister Mary Shanahan also attended the dinner. View photos from the reunion

Sancta would like to see more reunions in 2010, so why not get your year group and old friends together and celebrate?!

Alumnae and Alumni Champagne in the Quad
Saturday, 27 March, 5–7pm

Over 45 Sancta Alumni gathered for the annual ‘Champagne in the Quad’ on 27th March. As well as catching up over drinks and canapés in the stunning Sancta Quad, alumni and friends were entertained by current Sancta students, guitarist David Behm and opera singer Emily Murphy putting on a breathtaking performance that left everyone speechless. Many thanks to all who attended.
View photos from Champagne in the Quad

2009 Alumni and Alumnae Events

• Sancta Alumnae and Alumni Memorial Mass and Lunch (Sunday, 15 November)
• 2009 Fundraising Lunch and 2010 Scholarship and Bursary Fund launch with special guest the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP (Tuesday, 6 October)
• Sancta Alumnae and Alumni Faculty Dinner (Monday, 21 September 2009)
• Sancta Alumnae Reunion in London (Tuesday, 7 July 2009)
• Sancta Alumnae Reunion in New York (Thursday, 2 July 2009)
• Sancta Alumnae Faculty Dinner (Tuesday, 12 May 2009)
• Champagne in the Quad (Saturday, 28 March 2009)

Sancta Sophia College Alumnae and Alumni Memorial Mass and Lunch
Sunday, 15 November 2009 (11:30am Mass, 12:30am Lunch)

Sancta Sophia College’s students and staff, fellow alumnae and alumni and friends joined to remember in prayer Sancta’s ex-students who have passed away. Mass was said in their memory in the Sancta Sophia College Chapel by Father Baron and was followed by lunch in the College Dining Room.

Remembered in prayer
At the Memorial Mass we will remember and pray for each of the Sancta alumnae and alumni who have passed away in this year as well as others who you would like remembered. If there is anyone you would like to be remembered in prayer, please email their name and details tomarketing@sancta.usyd.edu.au to have their name added to future services.

2009 Fundraising Lunch & 2010 Scholarship and Bursary Fund Launch
Tuesday, 6 October 2009, 12pm for 12:30pm lunch

It was wonderful to welcome over 65 ex students, friends of Sancta and Sancta staff to the College on Tuesday, 6 October for Sancta’s 2009 Fundraising Lunch. It is always a delight to see Sancta alumnae of all ages meeting up with old friends, making new friends and meeting Sancta staff.

It was the College’s great pleasure to welcome the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Housing and the Status of Women and Federal Member for Sydney, who encouraged all present with her informed talk on ‘Women and Leadership: Opportunities and challenges’. Photos of the day are now available on the Sancta Sophia College photogallery.

The Fundraising lunch raised over $2000 in donations, over $700 from the Raffle and more than $300 from merchandise which will go towards the Fund. Thank you again for your continued generosity.

Other ways to participate
If you were unable to attend this year, you may consider making a tax-deductible donation to the 2010 Scholarship and Bursary Fund (MS Word document). We thank you for any contribution made.

Who is the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP?
Tanya was elected to the Federal Parliament as the Member for Sydney in 1998 and became a shadow minister in 2004. During her time as a shadow minister, Tanya was responsible for a wide variety of issues including childcare, work and family, community, women, youth, human services and housing. Following the election of the Rudd Government in 2007, Tanya was appointed the Minister for Housing and the Minister for the Status of Women. Tanya and her husband Michael have a daughter, Anna and a son, Joe. Read more about the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP

Sancta Alumnae and Alumni Faculty Dinner
Monday, 21 September 2009, 6pm–8pm
Sancta Sophia College

Thank you to the Sancta Alumnae who dined with current students and shared some of the experience and wisdom gained throughout their professional life. Their participation is helping to develop Sancta's current young ladies into women who will shine in their chosen fields. Students were matched with Alumnae who have successful careers in similar fields of interest to their study choices. The evening included pre-dinner drinks in the Lower Common Room, formal dinner in the recently redecorated Dining Room and finished with stimulating conversation, coffee and port in the Lower Common Room. This was the second of several Faculty dinners Sancta is hosting in 2009. If you are interested in attending future Faculty Dinners, please contact Tamara Sutton, Dean of Studies. Phone Tamara on +61 2 9577 2331 or email deanofstudies@sancta.usyd.edu.au. Please include details of what degree/s you have studied and what field/s you have and currently work in.

Sancta Alumnae Reunion in London
Tuesday, 7 July 2009, 7:30pm for pre-dinner drinks, 8:30pm for dinner
Notting Hill, London

Almost 20 ex-Sancta students and current Principal Dr Marie Leech gathered in Notting Hill on Tuesday, 7 July for drinks and a light summer buffet .

You are invited to attend an informal gathering of Sancta Sophia College Alumnae in London on Tuesday, 7 July. Sancta’s Principal, Dr Marie Leech, will be in London briefly and is very keen to meet with College Alumnae. Sancta ex-student, Marie-Louise North and her husband Vincent, graciously hosted the Alumnae gathering at their home.

Sancta's Principal, Dr Marie Leech, was thrilled with the evening, saying: "I think the evening was a spectacular success. Marie-Louise and family were such perfect hosts, beautiful home, wonderful food, staff on hand to keep glasses filled etc etc. The Sancta women were amazingly interesting and nostop talkers! The only challenge was not having enough time – midnight arrived all too soon and people simply had to get away. A wonderful seed sown here in London, and I have put in place suggestions that they continue to meet. "

Australian-based ex-student Louise Trott, who was holidaying in London, said of the evening: "The function at Marie-Louise's house was so good it could not have been better. Nobody wanted to leave, and time simply flew by. Suddenly it was 11.30pm and time to go home for public transport. I am sure most people would have liked to have stayed much longer. The hospitality was incomparable, Marie-Louise & Vincent made everyone feel extremely welcome, and the food and drink was fantastic. Many thanks to you [Sancta] and Marie for organising such a special evening."

UK ALumnae/Alumni Email List
Those present requested the creation of an UK-based Sancta ex-students email list with the aim of keeping in touch and having regular gatherings. If you would like to be included on this list please email Suzanne Geraghty (marketing@sancta.usyd.edu.au).

Sancta Alumnae Reunion in New York
Thursday, 2 July 2009, 6:30pm for drinks, dinner to follow
The Penn Club of New York, 30 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036(visit website)

On Thursday, 2 July 2009, Sancta’s Principal, Dr Marie Leech joined two Sancta 'old girls' at the Penn Club of New York to catch up and talk about their time at Sancta. Due to the Reunion's proximity to the US holiday, 4th July, the numbers for the evening were small, but Dr Leech said: "I enjoyed the gathering here. Two really interesting women (attended) and we went on chatting for about three hours".

One of the students who attended, Jane Dwyer, said: "It was a wonderful evening at the Penn Club in New York with interesting discussions and lots of laughs!"

Make sure you hear about future Alumnae events. Please email your name, current phone number and email address to marketing@sancta.usyd.edu.au

Sancta Alumnae Faculty Dinner
Tuesday, 12 May 2009, 6pm–8pm

On Tuesday, 12 May, Sancta Alumnae and Post Graduates with prior professional experience, dined with Sancta's current students, sharing some of the experience and wisdom they had gained throughout their professional life. Their participation will help develop Sancta's current young ladies into women who will shine in their chosen fields. Students were matched with Alumnae and Post Graduates who have successful careers in similar fields of interest to their study choices. The evening included pre-dinner drinks in the Lower Common Room, dinner in the recently redecorated Dining Room and finished with stimulating conversation, coffee and port in the Lower Common Room. Thank you to all who attended.

Champagne in the Quad
Saturday, 28 March 2009, 5:30pm–8:30pm

Over 90 Alumnae and guests attended Sancta Sophia College's first Alumnae event of the year – Champagne in the Quad on Saturday, 28 March 2009. It was fantastic to see so many of Sancta's ex-students catching up with old friends in the beautiful Sancta quadrangle, with bubbles and canapés. Special guests included current Principal Dr Leech and former principal Sister Shanahan, who reminisced about years gone by and encouraged the Alumnae to continue to support Sancta and maintain their friendships.

During the evening Principal Dr Marie Leech was pleased to announce the bringing together of all Sancta alumnae and alumni (including the Sancta Sophia College Ex-Students Association and the Sancta Sophia College Foundation) under the one umbrella – Sancta Sophia College Alumnae. Sancta Alumnae aims to maintain the ties and bonds forged during the time spent at the College, create interest in and support of the activities of the College and promote the welfare of the College along all lines of activity and development.

Sancta would like to say a special thank you to Caroline Stewart and the Ex-Students Association for organising the evening.

View photos of the evening on Sancta's Flickr Gallery

2008 Alumni and Alumnae Events

2008 Foundation Fundraising Lunch
In the company of a self-made couple, Helena and the Hon Bob Carr

Sancta Sophia College was pleased to host special guests Mrs Helena Carr (nee John), a Sancta Alumnus and her husband, the Hon. Bob Carr, at the 2008 Foundation Fundraising Lunch, held on Friday, 31 October 2008. During the lunch, the Hon. Bob Carr shared his words of wisdom and reflections of a public life.

The Foundation Fundraising Lunch is Sancta’s most important annual Alumnae fundraising event. Over 50 Alumnae and Alumni, College friends and staff attended to hear the Hon. Bob Carr, exchange fond memories of Sancta and share news. All profits raised went towards the much sought after Scholarships & Bursaries for 2009. The Raffle raised over $600.

View photos of the 2008 Foundation Fundraising Lunch on Sancta's Flickr Gallery

2007 Alumni and Alumnae Events

2007 Ex-Students Cocktails and Canapés
Friday, 24 August 2007

On Friday, 24 August 2007, Sancta’s ex-students came together for cocktails and canapés at the Clarendon Hotel in Surry Hills. Despite the rain, it was a wonderful turn out from a variety of year groups.