Connecting with the Old Melburnian community brings me great joy. Melbourne Grammar School has always been part of my life. I am deeply proud of my family’s long history of service to the School. Our children are the fourth generation to attend, and they are proud to continue this legacy, by maintaining this connection to their ancestors and a strong sense of service and belief in helping others.
The Old Melburnian Women Sub Committee focuses on building connection with girls who attended Grimwade House. We do this while upholding the core value of the Council – to connect generations of Old Melburnians, young and old, to create better futures.
In 2022 we held a function to celebrate reaching 1,000 women who have attended Grimwade House and now belong to the Old Melburnian community. The sense of reconnection and happiness at this event has been a catalyst for many initiatives. Supporting friendships between our girls to continue on after leaving Grimwade is an important starting point for opportunities – outlined below – that we are now developing for Old Melburnian women.
At the end of Year 6, students and their parents attend a Graduation Ceremony, where we say goodbye to our Grimwade girls. The Old Melburnian Council presents each child with a memento of their time at Grimwade House as a symbol of their future connection to the community.
A highlight of the Grimwade House calendar is the Year 6 Musical in June. This year, Grimwade girls in Years 9-11 were invited back to watch the show and be part of the hair and makeup team, while boys and girls in Year 7 and 8 flocked to a ‘Pre-Show dinner’ before the Wednesday performance. This special night helps continue the strong bonds created between the students from their time at Grimwade House, regardless of which school they went on to after Grimwade.
Another important initiative is the Year 12 Breakfast – all students who attended Grimwade House are invited back to a breakfast before they sit their final exams. This is an extremely nostalgic morning for students and their former teachers!
Once our girls finish school, they will hear from The Old Melburnians regularly, with news, opportunities to participate in sports coaching at the School, or to share their life adventures and achievements with our students. We will encourage them to join our mentoring program, attend our events, and continue their involvement with each other, and the School.
Through the Sub Committee, our goal is to ensure every Old Melburnian feels a continued sense of belonging, no matter where life takes them. We look forward to welcoming Old Melburnian women, as we continue to support and engage with this wonderful community. We encourage others to reach out to us if you would like to become involved.
Penny Apted (OM 1994)
Chair, The Old Melburnian Women Sub Committee
