Mac.Rob Portrait Gallery Induction 2022
Mac.Rob's Portrait Gallery was introduced in 2008 to honour our alumnae and inspire our students - to allow them to demonstrate that they can and will have the big lives they aspire to. On Thursday, June 2nd, members of the Mac.Rob community - including students, staff, Mac.Rob Foundation members, and representatives of the alum association, the Palladians - gathered to induct five new portraits to the gallery, and honour the achievements of these fabulous women.
As our Principal, Sue Harrap, succinctly wrote in her introduction to the Portrait Gallery Program:
The conception of the Portrait Gallery arose from the school’s centenary celebrations in 2005, and the importance of it was underscored in Pauline Parker’s ‘The Making of Women: A History of The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School,’ (2006). It is vitally important we capture and acknowledge the mark made by former students and that we recognise the unique and vital contribution Mac.Rob plays in the education system to support such success.
The Portrait Gallery has two main purposes – inspiration and connection. It aims to inspire our current and future students, serving as a tangible example of how the learning and leadership foundations built at school, along with intrinsic drive and determination, can lead to big and multifaceted lives that have significant influence and impact. It is a tangible way to inform the whole school, as well as the outside community, of the many achievements of Mac.Rob graduates.
One of our four school values is Community. We recognise that a vibrant school community is far greater than just those who attend at any particular time; it is also made up of all of those who have come before. We aim to foster an ongoing love for and connection to the school, and the Portrait Gallery allows us to maintain and strengthen our extended community.
Following informal music performances by Mac.Rob instrumentalists, the biographies of our 2022 inductees were read aloud by our Vice Captain, Aditi Talwar, and SRC Co-Presidents, Jessica Oon and Gaatri Mandalapu, and inductees were invited to respond with a short speech. Inductees (or their family members, on behalf of them) spoke about the profound influence Mac.Rob has had on their future careers and successes, and offered sage words of wisdom to current and future students of our school.
Congratulations to our 2022 inductees:
Anna Brown, OAM
Sarah Davidson (nee Holloway)
Krystina Emmanouilides
Alida Sempill (nee Glasbeek)
Dr. Judith Smart, AM, FRHSV
To paraphrase our Principal, it has been an honour to induct these truly outstanding graduates of Mac.Rob to the Portrait Gallery, and we’re certain this stories will inspire generations of Mac.Robbians to come.
To read the full professional biographies of our inductees, please download the event program below, or watch the full recording of the event, including speeches by our Principal, Mac.Rob Foundation Chair, and Palladians Association representatives.