Mudgee Reunion 2008- Sunday July 20

The Mudgee Reunion was kindly hosted again this year by Tony and Debbie McKendry of Vinifera Winery. It was a really lovely day and a great chance for Karon di Francesco, our new registrar Cheryl Smith, and Cathy Back to meet and chat with some of our country Wenonians and boarding families. We warmly thank Tony and Debbie for their wonderful hospitality, superb food and fabulous wine (though sadly the 'Sydney girls' weren't able to experience the wines too fully as we had a long drive home!!).

Foundation Day 2008 - Friday June 27

All Wenonians are invited to attend Foundation Day on Friday June 27.

Time: 9:45am meet in the courtyard of the Miller Street building where you will be taken to the gym for the ceremony starting at 10am. We would then invite you to join other Wenonians for a morning tea which will be followed by entertainment in the gym.

Wenonian Photo
Wenonian Mothers/ Grandmothers/ Sisters and Aunts of current Wenona pupils are invited to be involved in a photograph with their daughter/ granddaugher/ sister or niece which will be taken just after the morning tea at approximately 11:15 am in the courtyard on Miller Street. This photograph will then be available for purchase in term 3.

We are thrilled to announce that the Guest Speaker for Foundation Day 2008 is Sally Manion (Aldrich 1978). Sally is the Director of ipac Financial Planning and is the mother of current year 12 student and school Netball Captain- Penny Manion . You can read more about Sally's career and life since school by going to the Where are They Now? page.

Archive

2006
Aug
October
December

2007
March
June
October
November

2008
April 2008
Class of 2007

Class Web Pages
1948
1958
1967
1968
1978
1979
1988
1998

Memorial Service for Miss Jackson

The memorial service for Miss Jackson was held at St Thomas's Church on Wednesday May 28. Miss Jackson's sister Norma flew out from England to attend the service and many ex-students, their parents, current students who have parents who are Wenonians, as well as friends of Miss Jackson were present, filling the Church to capacity. Wenonians Inc would like to thank Wenona - Dr Wilde and the staff and girls of Wenona, for their considerate and thoughtful planning of this service, which was very moving and which I am sure would have pleased Miss Jackson.

The Eulogy at the memorial was presented by Dr Judith Dey and both John Ralston and Michelle Sloan presented their memories of Miss Jackson. Please click here to read the full copy of MIchelle's speech which brought back so many vivid memories of Miss Jackson.

The choir performed beautifully and then Kim Lemon sang " Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep" and her performance was absolutely stunning and very moving. As the School Song was sung at the end, there were many tears and much pride in being a Wenonian. Land of Hope and Glory followed as we left the church, rounding out a wonderful, personal service for a much loved Headmistress of Wenona.

Miss Jackson influenced all our lives in so many ways - she was a wonderful role model who made us believe that we were capable of anything if we really set out to achieve our goals. Rest in peace, Miss Jackson.

Miss Jackson's sister Norma Simon, Rebecca Cavenagh (year 8) and Dr Kerrie Wilde

Report from the Funeral of Miss Jackson held in the UK on Wednesday March 26, 2008
from Fiona Geddes (Shaw 1979)

It was a freezing, raining, grey, dull, typical Manchester morning. Temperature 5.5!! The church was a beautiful, old stone 'picture postcard' English rural church - dating from about the 18th Century. Inside it was small with old wooden pews, original stained glass windows, and an ornately painted pipe organ, which was played for the hymns in the service.

The Minister was a retired gentleman who lived across the road from Norma and Barbara in recent years so had got to know them quite well. Before the service the Minister greeted some members of the congregation and when he came to me he asked what my connection to Miss Jackson had been. I told him about being a student at Wenona and he asked for any recollections or comments. I mentioned a few things and he was so pleased to hear that I knew Miss Jackson back in Australia during her teaching days. He referred to some things that I had said in his address.

The picture on the order of service was a classic portrait of the Miss Jackson I remember - immaculate hair in a swept up style, roll neck jumper, tailored blazer and those large framed glasses. I think a copy is being sent to you by her sister.

The congregation was small - about 20 - mainly ladies from her local community, church, neighbours etc. I sat down next to a lady who immediately recognised my old Wenona school badge that I had pinned to my coat lapel. She was also wearing one!!! - but she was from Miss Ralston's era!! It turned out that she is Australian but has lived in the UK since the 1960's and lives two roads away from me - so we had lots to talk about. Bizarre where life takes you - I meet a fellow Wenonian / now neighbour - 12,000 miles from home!

The service was simple and intimate - and we all learnt just how many lives Miss Jackson had touched and impressed - Wenona school pupils in particular. I was quite moved and sat there reminiscing about my youth and life back in Sydney - seems another lifetime but memories are still so sharp and personal, as if it were yesterday.

After the service we went to the Crematorium for the committal and then back to a local Hotel for refreshments and greetings. I met Norma, Miss Jackson's younger sister (she is 70), and she was so pleased to meet me and hear about the Wenona side of Barbara that those in England weren't so familiar with. We have swapped phone numbers and I intend to keep in touch - a very charming, gracious lady.

My Australian connection was most welcome and everybody was interested to hear about Wenona and Sydney. I learnt that she died of Motor Neurone disease and had deteriorated very quickly in the last few weeks. Her sister Norma was relieved that Barbara's suffering was over and she wants everybody at Wenona to remember 'B.J.' as she was at school.

No doubt the Memorial Service will be well supported and I am glad that Miss Jackson's 30 years at Wenona will be celebrated in such a way. She had a huge impact on many of us as young girls, and I think it is only now as grown women and as mothers, that we can fully appreciate what kind of person she was and how privileged we were to go to such a quality school and to make such great friends whilst there.