From the Principal

This week we farewelled Ms Andrea McGurk, Director of Development and Community. This kind of change can be challenging for close-knit environments but schools are perfect places to celebrate growth: Ms McGurk has accepted the position of Executive Director with the Perth Eye Surgery Foundation; this role affords her the opportunity to lead a health care team of 50 staff, deliver eye surgery to over 3,500 patients and manage a $4million expansion plan. The organisation is philanthropically based with 80% of the profits ‘gifted’ to research, education and medical services to those in need of improved vision.   

Ms McGurk’s nine years of committed service deserves warm praise. Whilst I cannot list all of her varied contributions, I can confidently attest to Ms McGurk’s exemplary problem solving skills.  As a strategic and creative thinker, MLC has benefited from her entrepreneurial flair and optimistic attitude.  Her passion for major projects is legendary, most notably evidenced during the Centenary celebrations and the opening of the Meredith Taylor Health and Sports Centre.  The latter was a significant transition for our College, representing a much needed re-engagement with a philanthropic culture that had lapsed following the Hadley Hall campaign 20 years prior.  Indeed, Ms McGurk has been a strong advocate of our Partnering for their Future Campaign; her leadership in the field has helped reinvigorate individuals’ passion for giving.

At this time of the year our minds often turn to the notion of giving. I especially think about the story (author unknown) of the wise traveller who found a precious stone.  Another traveller spied the gem and asked the woman to bequeath it to him; she did so, without hesitation.  Days later he returned and said to the woman, ” I know how valuable the stone is but I return it to you hoping for something far more priceless. Please gift to me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.”

I wish to acknowledge the significant number of MLC families who have gifted to our Foundation this year. Your generosity enables MLC to offer scholarships (recognising academic and musical excellence), bursaries (offering our education to girls who, due to financial reasons, would not otherwise attend MLC) and outstanding facilities (capital projects such as the Meredith Taylor Health and Sports Centre). If you are keen to learn more about the necessity of our Foundation, please join me for one of our upcoming Evenings with the Principal or read about the Partnering for Their Future Campaign.