Mrs Jan Amarasekara’s connections to the School are many and varied. Her two sons – Thindika (OM 1991) and Sanjeeva (OM 1993) – are both Old Melburnians, and she also has three grandchildren currently attending Wadhurst and Grimwade House. In addition, Jan’s daughter, Rosheeka, is married to Andrew Field (OM 1998). Jan has also served the School as both Vice- President and President of Friends of Grammar at the Senior School.
Having emigrated to Australia from Sri Lanka in 1980, Mrs Amarasekara says she found the School’s emphasis on service, respect and loyalty to be closely aligned with her own cultural and family values. These values are encapsulated by one childhood memory in particular. “When I was growing up in Sri Lanka, there was a huge mango tree at the front of our house,” she explains. “In mango season, the branches got so heavy they almost touched the earth. One day my grandfather and I were sitting on our verandah looking at the tree and he said: ‘It’s so full, but it’s bending towards the earth. That’s what we need to be like in society – grateful for what we have and always looking for opportunities to give and share.’ It’s a simple message that still holds true today.”
For Mrs Amarasekara, membership in the Witherby Tower Society is both a recognition of how much the School has provided her family and an investment in Melbourne Grammar’s future. “As a family, we will continue our tradition of maintaining an association with Melbourne Grammar for many years to come, so I want the School to thrive,” she says. “I don’t think I can do enough for the School to help make it the best it can be.”
“Being part of the Witherby Tower Society also gives me the chance to meet other like-minded people,” Mrs Amarasekara adds. “When I meet other parents, wherever I am, there’s that immediate connection. We recognise that we’re part of a community with the same ideas and the same ambitions for our children.”
Mrs Amarasekara’s pride in Melbourne Grammar is clear, as is her continued energy for involvement with our community. “My experiences here have been of absolute positivity,” she says. “Melbourne Grammar School has been an integral part of our family and this is another way we continue our love and loyalty to the Bluestone.”
