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Recipients of the 2008 St Mary’s Old Girls Awards,
As the Old Girls’ Association of St Mary’s, we believe it is important to acknowledge and pay tribute to those Old Girls’ that have made a significant contribution to society. During the 2008 year, the Old Girls’ Committee conceptualised the idea of the annual Old Girls Awards, a way of recognising those Old Girls that have made a difference either in a profound way or in a smaller, more personal manner. The awards have been categorised according to 4 areas namely, the arts; business; community development; and role models. The Old Girls Awards and nominations for the awards were launched in July of 2008.
When we conceptualised the Old Girls’ Awards, we did not anticipate the number of nominees that we would receive. Prior to the annual Old Girls’ Day at the end of September, the Committee set about judging the nominations fairly on the number of votes each candidate received. Each winner and runner-up within each of the four categories will be receiving a newly launched St Mary’s rose to plant in their garden as an ongoing reminder of what they have achieved on the back of a strong education at St Mary’s.
The winners of the 2008 Old Girls Awards were:
Category 1 “The Arts”: drama, culture, literature and music:
Winner: Kate Carlisle (1980)
Started Moonshine and Mustardseed in 1992, Hand making Botanically Correct Porcelain Crockery. Kate started her business Moonshine and Mustard Seed (named after the sprites in Midsummer Night’s Dream) in Cape Town in 1992, creating and making high fired botanically correct earthenware such as plates, cups and saucers, ramekins, platters, salad bowls and teapots. All the earthenware clay is rolled by hand, and the individual petals and leaves cut out, painted and glazed by hand. Kate employs 35 dedicated and inspired staff and apart from supplying selected outlets in SA, she exports to the UK, Europe, USA, Scandinavia, Russia, Nigeria and Botswana. Her work is represented in collections throughout the world including the Musee National de Ceramique de Sevres.
Runner Up: Ashleigh Callie (1990)
We pay tribute to Ashleigh Callie and celebrate all that she achieved in the short time we were fortunate enough to be graced by her presence. “Ashleigh played the role of Leigh Haines in Isidingo for some time, received the Safta Award for best actress, appeared in TV productions such as The Invited Guest, Homeland and Natural Rhythm as well as in Peter Toerien’s, Things you Should not say Past Midnight” (as written by Sheenagh Harris). When chatting to Meg about Ashleigh, Meg likened her to Princess Diana – “an eternally youthful spirit that will forever be missed”.
Category 2 “Business”: commerce, business, law & politics:
Winner: Helen Zille
Helen Zille has been instrumental in the political development of the Western Cape. Helen is the mayor of Cape Town and also heads up the Democratic Alliance. We are most pleased that Helen will be returning to the school at the end of the year as the guest speaker for the Senior School Prize giving.
Runner Up: Jen Rowland (Kark)
She is an official at the department of Sport and Recreation, Arts and Culture Eastern Cape where she promotes the growth and development of the craft industry. She is involved in accessing facilities and resources, developing emerging skills and talents to levels of excellence, conserving cultural and natural heritage of the province, job creation and alleviation of poverty, and transforming the public service to address the needs of the people.
Category 3 “Community Development”: teaching, medicine, community upliftment & social responsibility:
Winner: Marylyn McManus
Marylyn started the stoma therapy Association of South Africa, although she had no medical background and she pioneered the use of stoma therapy in hospitals. She did sterling work to get stoma therapy going in this country.
Runner-Up: Celia Petyt
Celia has read for Tape Aids for the Blind for many years. Once a week Marilyn teaches less privileged children to read and to learn English at an Orange Grove School.
Category 4 “Role models”:
Winner: Lize-Mari Retief; Shirley Russell; Cindy Brown and Lisa-Marie Deetlefs
For being included in the Beijing Olympic Squad 2008 for swimming and hockey respectively.
Runner-Up: No runner up was awarded |
Old Girls' Awards 
