ESU REPORTS

Reunion Luncheon
After all the rain we have experienced this year the weather was kind and delivered a splendid warm sunny day for our Reunion Luncheon at Souths Merewether on Saturday September 13.
234 Ex-students booked for the luncheon but unfortunately 11 were unable to attend on the day. The Bar and Tea/Coffee Station were open from 11.00am till 5.00pm and encouraged many to stay long after the formal proceedings to catch up and renew friendships from their school days.

Guest Speaker
Our Guest Speaker, Rhonda Scruton OAM, delighted the gathering with memories of her school days and shared her passion for Surf Life Saving. 30 years tirelessly working and pioneering the way for women in Surf Life Saving. Rhonda Scruton was the first female CEO  for Hunter Surf Life Saving. We were pleased to be able to keep the luncheon cost to $50.00 and to have the Red VIP Carpet entry into the Windsor Terrace once again. Changing from round to rectangular tables and the different room orientation with the setting facing west made movement between tables easier for all concerned. Leanne Grahame collaborated with Carolyn Rigby assisting with the online Invitation and Ticketing process which ran very smoothly.
Linda Goura, Marilyn Stone and Erica Rowley greeted  our guests in the foyer using their Christian names resulting in fast and efficient entry. Our event received many glowing compliments about the service, the food, the table arrangements, the organisation and the venue. Our guests were each given a bookmark with the NGHS Badge and website address and were encouraged to visit the site. Paper and pencils were provided on the memorabilia table in case any of our guests would like to share memories or stories about their school days for the website.

Planning 2026 Luncheon
We booked Souths Merewether Saturday September 12 for our 2026 NGHS Ex-students Reunion Luncheon.

Memorabilia
The NGHS memorabilia that was housed in NHS Staff House was removed and placed with the Newcastle Museum for safe keeping during the NHS rebuild, thinking we would be able to retrieve items for display at our luncheon. Unfortunately this was not possible this year even following a meeting between Carolyn Rigby and the Museum Staff. Thank you wonderful committee members for providing your personal memorabilia so we had a display at the luncheon. We received a precious document at the luncheon from which I was able to read a short
section. A foolscap page report that NGHS Principal Val Wells gave to the P&C regarding the 1972 Higher School Certificate. One Ex-student present was delighted as her sister was mentioned as 1st in the State pupil.

Dr Janene Rosser – Morning Tea in Cultural Centre
Dr. Janene Rosser, Principal of NHS hosted a morning tea in the Cultural Centre from 10.00am till 12.00noon on Sunday September 14. We had 125 Ex-students booked to attend. Janene explained the rebuilding process to date and answered questions about the building site. The Ex-students were then able to wander through the Library and the NGHS heritage building and reminisce about their days in the classroom.  Much has changed since our last  morning tea in 2023. Janene has extended the invitation for a return visit in 2027 when most of the rebuild is expected to be completed. Janene presented the Ex-students with a momento of their 2025 visit – an A4 card with the NGHS, NHS and Cooks Hill Campus Badges on the front and a September 1928 sketch of the NGHS building and its floor plans on the back.
Some of the details include –
Contract Price – £34,120 exclusive of furniture
Contractors – Messers Baker & Lamb have 18 months to complete

Website Contribution
The NGHS Ex-students Committee voted to donate $500.00 to the NBHSOBA towards the ongoing costs of the website.

2025 Awards
In September Joy Conner represented the NGHS Ex-students at the NHS Year 12 Graduation Ceremony and presented the 2025 awards to the School Captains and Outstanding Academic Achiever. The Committee decided to again present boxed Medals engraved with the NGHS Badge  and a $150.00 cheque to each recipient.

Thank you for supporting Carolyn, Joy, Robyn and myself as we strive to preserve the memories of our school days at NGHS and the memorabilia housed at NHS.

I wish you all a healthy, happy and relaxed Christmas season with your families.

Colleen Potts OAM
President
Newcastle Girls High School Ex-students Union