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President's report
Welcome to 2021 from your OWCA. We are pleased to report it’s looking extremely optimistic with regard to doing what we do best – bringing OWs together – for the remainder of the year. Our event schedule is a continuous ‘work in progress’, moving with changing restrictions, but we are hopeful that our reunions, dinners, networking events and celebrations will be in full force again by the middle of this year.
To cater for those OWs who missed out on their reunions last year due to the pandemic, we are combining year groups so that you all have the opportunity to #stayconnected. Our St Kilda Road 1995/1996 Combined 25 Year Reunion was a successful combo in March.
I had the wonderful honour of attending the iconic Boat Race Dinner in March for the first time, which celebrated the 2021 First VIII rowers at Leonda by the Yarra. We also acknowledged and celebrated the 2020 Firsts who missed out on their Boat Race Dinner last year and awarded the OWCA Paul Guest Rowing Medal for both years on the night. Many thanks to the Alan Mitchell Club for continuing their sponsorship of such a treasured annual event.
Guest speaker on the night was Noel Donaldson, Head Coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport and Victorian Performance Pathway. Noel was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1999 having represented Australia in the rowing eight at the 1979 World Championships. It was great to hear him speak about his great passion for rowing, his 30 years of rowing experience and his fond memories, and his thoughts about the future of the sport.
With virtual events such as the Women of Wesley (WOW!) Women in Sport and other online opportunities to showcase OWs, this year we will explore what we have learnt about community in 2020, and how a new suite of experiences can mould our future.
OWConnect, our alumni directory app, has been in play now for a good six months, made possible by our partnership with Incarta. We strongly urge all our OWs to create a profile and upload your business details and imagery. It’s an invaluable opportunity for you as an OW to link up with OW businesses, discover employment, mentoring and career opportunities, social networking and support – all in a positive, safe and secure environment. To register, visit OWConnect.net.
We continue to keep the graduating ‘Class of 2020’ top of mind and we are workshopping ideas as to how we can support them as they transition into the next stage of their life. Stay tuned 2020 leavers – and keep your eyes peeled for special opportunities we will create specifically for you, so we can formally welcome you into the OWCA, and so we can celebrate and commemorate this special moment over the next few months. Your unique perspective and experience now form an important chapter of Wesley’s amazing 155 year history – let’s read that chapter together!
Once again, we remind you all to reach out and check in on a fellow OW you may not have seen in a while to #stayconnected. Whether that be via phone, mail, email, text, FaceTime, Zoom or social media. Let’s continue to look after each other and ensure our connections to associations such as the OWCA stay strong.
See you all at Founders’ Day Dinner 2021 at Myer Mural Hall on Saturday 8 May. After our ground-breaking online event last year, this year’s in-person Dinner is sure to be one to remember!
Kate Evans (OW1998)
#oldwesleycollegians #bleedingpurpleandgold #WomenofWesley #FDD2021 #stayconnected
>> Discover your alumni community, find contact details and connect
OWCA Executive | |
|---|---|
| President | Kate Evans (OW1998) |
| Vice-President | David Kennedy (OW1966) |
| Treasurer | Chris Foster-Ramsay (OW1999) |
| College Head, OWCA | Ian Thomas (OW1982) |
| Executive Members | Jack Ayerbe (OW1963) Belinda Danks-Woodley (OW2004) Anastasia Malishev (OW1995) Amy McAlister (OW2003) Thomas Pewtress (OW2018) Rob Wilde (OW2004) |
| Director, Foundation and Alumni | Jack Moshakis (OW1973) |
Interested in becoming involved in the Executive?
Contact Ian Thomas (OW1982) | College Head, OWCA
ian.thomas@wesleycollege.edu.au +61 3 8102 6475
OWCA Key Contacts | |
|---|---|
| Cam Evans | Alumni Relations | Lion Stories | Social media | OW Connections | Transcripts | OW Updates | Bereavements | Club enquiries | Grant enquiries from Affiliates | Club advice |
Prue Lowther | Administration | Membership records | Lion toys |
Natalie Krug (OW1991) | Event enquiries | Calendar enquiries |
