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YOUR LARGEST GLOBAL NETWORK
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OGA LIFE MEMBERS
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EVENTS PER YEAR
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GIVING BACK EACH YEAR
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Class of 1995: 30 Year Reunion
The Girton Class of 1995 and those who would have graduated in these years are warmly invited to the Brougham Arms in Bendigo for a night of friendship and fun. The event will officially start at 6pm on Saturday 11th October, in the function room. Enjoy a sit down meal where you can select your meal from the menu (pay on the night), plus drinks are available to purchase from the bar at bar prices. Partners are most welcome. For those interested, a school tour will run from the Peppercorn Tree at 4.00pm for those interested in a walk down memory lane. Family members most welcome. Date: Saturday 11th October, 2025 Time: 6:00pm til late Venue: Brougham Arms Hotel Tickets available HERE
Class of 2024: 1 Year Reunion
The Girton Grammar Class of 2024 and those who would have graduated in 2024 are warmly invited to the GPO Bar and Restaurant in Bendigo for a night of friendship and fun. The event will officially start at 6pm with finger food provided until 8.30pm, after which time you are welcome to remain at the venue and enjoy each other’s company. OGA members are free and non-members are $20. Drinks at bar prices. Date: Friday 12th December, 2025 Time: 6:00pm til late Venue: GPO Bar and Restaurant Tickets available soon!
The Making of a Violin Virtuoso: Evie Matthews’ path from classrooms to stadiums
When Evangeline (Evie) Matthews graduated from Girton in 2014, she knew her passion for music and performing arts would shape her future. Now, with a viral video performance to her name and a dynamic career as a musician and business owner, the former Frewian reflects on how her journey has unfolded with unexpected turns and remarkable milestones. Evie’s recent performance of ‘Seven Nation Army’ at the A-League Men’s Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park caught her by surprise. Booked through her corporate manager, she had no idea she’d be playing to a roaring crowd of over 20,000 fans at one of Australia’s biggest football matches. Her electrifying rendition went viral, drawing over 2 million views and catapulting her into a whirlwind of media attention, including an interview on The Today Show. “It was absolutely invigorating,” she shares. “Never in a million years did I imagine performing in a stadium, let alone going viral. It’s been a tremendous blessing for both my work and my brand.” The performance has since led to multiple invites to perform with the A-League and an ongoing partnership with Melbourne Victory FC. Reflecting on her path to success, Evie credits the encouragement and guidance she received from the staff in Girton’s Arts Faculty. “It truly takes a village,” she explains. “Each teacher brought their own unique strengths and perspectives, nurturing my development and honing my craft in different ways. Their ongoing support throughout my schooling – and even after graduation – has been invaluable, shaping not only my musical journey but also my passion for the arts.” After Girton, Evie pursued further studies in the arts at the University of Melbourne, spending her first year at the Victorian College of the Arts in a foundation course for music theatre, followed by four years in the Bachelor of Music Performance program at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, majoring in violin and viola. This training equipped her with a solid foundation and the technical skills needed to thrive in her industry. Alongside her studies, Evie participated in Orchestra Victoria’s mentorship program and performed as a freelance violinist, gaining experience performing in orchestras, bands, musicals and operas across the state. This led her to a range of exciting opportunities, such as being the on-stage violinist for the premiere season of Ned: A New Australian Musical; working with creatives from the National Institute of Circus Arts and Cirque Du Soleil; and performing alongside top-tier artists Damien Leith, Conrad Sewell and, more recently, Kygo and Tiesto. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift in focus. During lockdown, Evie became a certified health and fitness coach and worked with clients online to help them achieve their fitness goals. This role proved to be a “game-changer”, giving her the skills and confidence she needed to take the next step in her music career. After restrictions eased, Evie took a leap of faith in founding her business, Evangeline Victoria Music. It was a risk that has proven immensely rewarding, with the business winning ‘Victoria’s Best Wedding Musician’ at the Australian Bridal Industry Academy Awards for the last three years. Evie’s dedication to her craft and her adventurous spirit have continued to open new doors. Most recently, she completed a European tour that saw her perform at 17 weddings and events in 23 cities. She is already planning next year’s Euro tour, while working towards her goal of owning her own home by 2025. As she and her partner focus on their careers and business, she remains excited for the journey ahead and is deeply grateful for the countless connections and experiences her career has brought her. “The opportunities that have come my way have been overwhelming in the best possible way, and I am beyond grateful,” she says. “I’m incredibly excited to see where this journey leads next!” www.evangelinevictoriamusic.com.au
20. Nov 2024
Jenna Strauch: Girtonian turned Olympian
On Friday 30 August 2024, Girton Grammar School had the privilege of welcoming back former student and Olympic silver medalist Jenna Strauch during her first visit to Bendigo after her remarkable achievements in the pool at Paris. Following a tour of the school, Jenna attended a special assembly at the senior campus as the guest of honour. She received a warm welcome, with introductions by Principal Dr Emma O’Rielly and her former Head of Jenkin House, Mrs Winsome Wastell, who has remained in touch with her over the years. “I knew Jenna was destined for greatness, but didn’t guess it was going to be in the pool – it was just going to be greatness,” Mrs Wastell told those in attendance. “It’s been an absolute pleasure for me to watch quietly over Jenna’s career and to know that I was, and Girton is, part of Jenna’s story.” As part of her address, Mrs Wastell shared vision of the thrilling 4 x 100-metre medley relay in which Jenna and her teammates clinched the silver medal. When Jenna took to the stage, she revealed that it was the first time she had watched a replay of the event, and she was deeply moved to experience it at her former school. Jenna began her address by presenting her gleaming silver medal to the audience, explaining that it symbolised much more than the victory itself, but rather the journey that had led her to that moment in her career. That journey began at age 13, shortly before she entered Year 7 at Girton, when she first commenced competitive swimming and quickly discovered her natural talent. Jenna also spoke candidly about the challenges she has faced throughout her swimming career. She revealed the sacrifices she made – including leaving her hometown, school and friends at a young age – as well as her battle with an illness that nearly ended her career. Her key message to the students in attendance was to embrace challenges rather than fear them. “Every single one of you in your life is going to face adversity, but in those moments, it’s those who choose to not let their adversity define them but shape them who will make it far – whether in swimming or any venture you choose. For me, those moments really taught me what it would take to get to an Olympic games.” Jenna also highlighted the importance of finding balance in life, which she has managed in her career as an elite sportsperson by completing a degree in biomedical science and now pursuing a masters in bioethics while working for a consultancy firm. She credited her Girton education for setting her up for success in these pursuits. “The education you receive at Girton is like none other. It really set me up in my early years to progress, so I’m very grateful for that,” Jenna disclosed. At the conclusion of her address, Jenna expressed her gratitude to those in attendance for their support – not only during her Olympic campaign but throughout her school years. “Many of you may have never met me before, but you are part of a community that I’m a part of, and I just can’t thank the Bendigo and Girton community enough for the support you have given me on my journey,” she said. “This medal wasn’t me alone. This medal is my family, it’s my supporters, the sacrifice we made to move away. But it’s also the likes of my teachers back here at Girton, who allowed me to continue my studies and be the best that I could academically while also giving me the leeway to pursue something extraordinary.” “I urge you to strive for excellence because one day you too could be standing up there and wonder how you got there. You could be me, because I was you.” Following Jenna’s address, School Captains Miffy Fisher and Charlotte Bett ascended the stage to present her with a token of the school’s appreciation. They then hosted a student Q&A session that saw Jenna delve into everything from her fondest memories of Girton, to her future career aspirations in the health sector. Following the assembly, Jenna stayed on for some one-on-one time with students from the school’s thriving Sports Excellence Program. Run by Head of Athletic Development Mr Ben Furphy, this program has been specifically designed to help young athletes develop the strength, mobility, coordination and movement patterns needed for success in their chosen sport. Girton is deeply grateful to Jenna for generously offering to visit the school during her return to Bendigo. The school could not be prouder of her achievements or the remarkable person she has become. Her legacy at Girton will endure – not only through her unbroken school Swimming Carnival records but in the inspiration her visit has instilled in this generation of Girtonians. NANTERRE, FRANCE – AUGUST 04: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a robotic camera positioned above the field of play.) Gold Medalists of Team United States (C) celebrate as Silver Medalists of Team Australia (L) and Bronze Medalists of Team People’s Republic of China (R) applaud on the podium during the Swimming medal ceremony after the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay Final on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on August 04, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
30. Aug 2024
From Strength to Strength
On any seemingly normal day, a sliding door moment can range from insignificant to momentous, but regardless of how it feels at the time, it can be a moment that alters the trajectory of our lives. For Old Girtonian, weightlifting champion and founder of Australia’s first women’s only fitness club, Diana Williams, her sliding door moment was the latter – just another day. After 15 years as a stay-at-home mum, her decision to join the gym would reveal a strength she never could have imagined. “I was amazed about the fact that working out with weights could have such a positive impact on me physically, emotionally and metabolically,” said Diana. “However, the gym was not a place I felt comfortable, and not many women went for that reason. “If they did go, they didn’t do any weight training because that part of the gym was thought to be for men and not ladies.” This sparked the idea of opening a gym for women – where women could work out with weights and not feel intimidated or embarrassed. A place where women felt comfortable with “the little touches that women appreciate”. With two young children and no formal qualifications, Diana opened her first club in 1989 with second-hand equipment in Bendigo. “I never intended it to be a proper business, it was more of a lifestyle hobby where I could share my discovery of the benefits of weight training with other women,” Diana said. “This is probably when my ambitiousness kicked in. My vision started to crystalise, I could see how this concept could really take off and I was like a dog with a bone – never leaving it alone, making improvements, working on every aspect of both the business and my own personal development as I embarked into the business world.” Fernwood Fitness now has almost 70 clubs and more than 70,000 members throughout Australia and enjoys a reputation as one of the most respected brands in the Australian health and fitness industry. Diana has been awarded Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, has been invited to sit on a number of Boards, and has been acknowledged in honour rolls and halls of fame for her great business achievements. Despite her success, Diana still considers herself the quiet girl who started her business without any aspirations for greatness at the time. Diana attended Girton from 1959 to 1963 as a Boarder and a member of Aherne House. Her favourite subjects were Biology and History. “I especially loved Biology and naturally because I loved it – I always did well,” she said. “I also enjoyed the maths subjects, and regret not choosing to study physics, but I didn’t understand what it was when I was choosing my subjects and we didn’t get a lot of advice on which subjects to select that students get today.” Diana fondly remembers one of her teachers in particular. “Miss Jean d’Helin probably influenced me more than any other teacher at the time,” she said. “Although she was very intimidating to me, she had a kind and caring side. Overseeing a school of teenage girls must have been quite a challenge, and she certainly was up to any challenge we girls threw her way, although as teenagers we really didn’t appreciate that at the time.” Back then, Diana said teachers and parents didn’t focus on further education and careers for girls, with most school leavers accepting roles in clerical, nursing, teaching and retail areas. “The 60s was a time of fantastic change for women but there was still a huge gap between men and women being accepted into senior management roles, Board positions and business ownership,” Diana said. “My mother was also very strict in her beliefs that women should not work after they had children and that their role in life was to be a homemaker for their husbands and family. She was not overly impressed with me for starting my own business. I had no real ambition to take on any particular career when I left school – I think the ambitious side of me took many years to develop.” After completing Year 11, Diana worked in an administrative role at Hospital Benefits Association in Bendigo, followed by five years as the Program Manager’s secretary at a tv station called BCV8, now WIN. She had two children and embraced the role of mum, supporting her husband who ran a retail store. After Fernwood came to fruition, Diana completed a Degree in Business Management, and other short courses in accounting, leadership, and company directors courses. However, she believes her main education came from the “university of hard knocks”. “I had a crash course in operating a successful business over the first few years,” she said. Today, while Diana is CEO of Fernwood, she considers her job to be easy – with a strong team of highly regarded professionals doing the heavy lifting. She travels regularly with her husband Larry, and is making up for lost time during the height of the pandemic with domestic and European trips in the calendar. She enjoys family time with her two grandchildren and great-granddaughter. “When women say to me that they couldn’t do what I do, I think to myself how wrong they are,” she said. “When something lights a flame of inspiration, you find your passion to work on it and become better and dedicate time and commitment to nurturing it – then anything is possible.”
20. Dec 2023
Vale Mr Les Evans, former Senior Master
The Girton community was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Les Evans, former Senior Master and teacher of Mathematics, on 18 August 2025. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Leonie, his daughters, Brigid and Laura, his son-in-law, Chris, his granddaughter, Melody, and their families and friends. Mr Les Evans commenced at Girton as a teacher of Mathematics in 1998, having taught previously in Catholic Schools around Victoria and in the Northern Territory. Following his appointment, Mr Evans’ intellect and organisational ability were soon evident, and he was appointed Head of Curriculum in 1999. He was appointed Senior Master in 2004 and remained in that important role until his retirement at the end of Term Four in 2019. During his 22 years at Girton, Mr Evans proved himself as an outstanding teacher of Mathematics. His students enjoyed his teaching style and dry sense of humour. He was always willing to help a student who struggled with a subject, and his students performed very well at VCE level. As Senior Master, Mr Evans drove curriculum development and was responsible for the complex task of timetabling. Ever the mathematician, Mr Evans made extensive use of data and statistical analysis to assist in ensuring that student learning was tracked and monitored appropriately. His ability to extrapolate information from data was crucial in helping the school’s curriculum leaders understand the learning styles and learning needs of the students in Senior School. In 2011, Mr Evans led the school’s adoption of Yale University’s RULER program, introducing the development of emotional intelligence throughout the school community. Teams of teachers were sent to Yale for intensive training in the RULER approach based on Mr Evans’ recommendation. RULER is now part of the fabric of Girton’s Junior School thanks to the leadership and vision of Mr Evans, with Girton having been named a RULER Spotlight School for 2025. One of Mr Evans’ most important roles was to advise students and their parents about learning pathways and subject selection. This was a task that Mr Evans took very seriously, and his advice was greatly valued. Ever an understanding and logical thinker, Mr Evans was an intelligent problem solver who could always be relied upon for clear analysis and sound advice. Girton Grammar School was lucky to know and have Mr Evans, and to benefit from his calm, professional manner, his care and precision, and his bottomless reserves of good humour. A funeral service for Mr Les Evans will be held at 1.30pm on Friday, 29 August 2025 at The Conservatory, All Seasons Bendigo.
25. Aug 2025
What a fantastic weekend it was for the Class of 2005! On Saturday 9th August, a vibrant group of Old Girtonians returned to their old stomping grounds for their Twenty Year Reunion. The afternoon kicked off with a school tour, where familiar faces and fond memories filled the halls once again. The celebrations continued at the Brougham Arms Hotel with delicious finger food and plenty of laughter. The energy in the room was unmistakable – a delightful gathering of old school friends reconnecting like no time had passed. A heartfelt highlight of the evening was a touching speech by former teacher Mr Rick McWaters, who spoke warmly about the spirit and character of this wonderful group of Old Girtonians. Thank you to everyone who joined us – your presence made it a truly memorable occasion! See you at your 30 Year Reunion!
11. Aug 2025
Forty Year Reunion: Class of 1985
On Saturday 9th August, we were thrilled to welcome the Class of 1985 back to Bendigo for their Forty Year Reunion! The event began with a nostalgic tour of the school grounds, where memories of former teachers and old classmates were shared. The celebrations continued into the evening with a relaxed dinner at the Brougham Arms Hotel Bistro, where friendships were rekindled and the spirit of Girton shone brightly. Thank you to everyone who joined us – it was a truly special occasion. Here’s to lifelong connections and cherished memories!
11. Aug 2025
Kuala Lumpur Reunion for the Classes of 1985 and 1986
A group of 19 international students reunited in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 19, 2025. This occasion was particularly meaningful, as many overseas Old Girtonians from the classes of 1985 and 1986 came from near and far to reconnect—including Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei. Many alumni who studied at Girton College in 1985 have reconnected in recent years, which inspired the idea of organising a ‘grand’ reunion. Co-ordinating the event was a considerable challenge, described by Annie Wan (1986) as a ‘mission impossible.’ She began planning over a year ago by gathering representatives from each country. Those interested in participating then voted on preferred locations, with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, receiving the majority of votes. Local Old Girtonians, Sharon Ng (1985) and TK Chooi (1985), living in Kuala Lumpur, excelled in sourcing the venue, recommending hotels, arranging accommodations, organising transportation, and designing commemorative souvenirs. The reunion was held at the Grand Imperial Restaurant at The Club. The set course meal was exceptional, and attendees sang karaoke into the night. The atmosphere was filled with hugs, lively conversations, joyful tears, and laughter, as if no time had passed. The celebration continued the next day at Sharon’s home, where we savoured a Malaysian feast and played some fun games before concluding with a scrumptious dinner and karaoke at a seafood restaurant. It was a weekend filled with so many unforgettable moments, and many of us continue to cherish those memories. A heartfelt thank you to all the organisers and attendees! We are pleased to share a few photographs from our reunion with fellow Old Girtonians. Pey Mei Liong (1985)
29. Jul 2025