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OWCA
President's report
I simply must kick off this report by opening with the Association’s favourite annual event, the Founders’ Day Dinner. This night is so special, and it means so much to so many people. Personally, I have made lifelong friends at this dinner from across OW years, across campuses and across generations.
This year we had 230 in attendance, a considerable increase on last year. With formalities very brief, the night quickly moved onto what we were all there for – conversation and catch-ups, the amazing dining experience at our new and decadent venue, the Plaza Ballroom, and the rousing school singing.
A big group of OWs kicked on at the 'Toff in Town' continuing the fun with many staying until the wee hours!
This annual event is a huge undertaking, with months of planning and organisation needed and credit must go to our OW Executive, who were all superb in getting the word out there. It’s an event that needs each and every one of you in our Wesley community to attend in order to keep it alive. There is no other event on our calendar that brings together cohorts across our community who have our common bond. Wesley is one of only a few of the APS schools who still have an annual dinner for their Old Collegians.
We are so lucky to have this network, and it is worth celebrating. I would like to thank everyone from our community who attended the event this year. The OWCA Executive are keen to keep the tradition of this dinner alive for many more years to come. We hope to see you next year at #FDD2023!
Our traditional Founders’ Day Lunch was finally able to go ahead after two years, and what a special day it was. See our story about the lunch on page 33.
I also had the pleasure of attending the 14th Annual Business Breakfast, proudly presented by the Wesley College Foundation. An utterly entertaining panel of guest speakers addressed the very topical issue of ‘Business Post-Pandemic’. Katie Page, Harvey Norman CEO, Anthony Eisen, Afterpay Co-Founder and Michelle Jablko (OW1990), Transurban CFO shared their strategic views around what the workplace should look like now that we are living ‘COVID-normal’. Moderated by the ever-fabulous Graeme Samuel AC (OW1963), it was an entertaining and informative morning.
It's worth acknowledging that we as an organisation are very alive to the fact that many OWs missed their reunions due to lockdowns. Unfortunately, the OWCA is unable to produce the many reunions that were missed. However, we encourage those who have missed their reunion to pull together a table of their year group to attend next year’s Founders’ Day Dinner, which will be held in May 2023.
Kate Evans (OW1998)
#oldwesleycollegians #bleedingpurpleandgold #WomenofWesley
