At Wilderness, we unashamedly apply a modern feminist lens to all that we do.

We provide an education that prepares each girl for the challenges and choices she will face as a woman and citizen of the future.

This begins with exposing our girls to a range of women who have made a significant impact in their field of employment and have overcome the gender barrier. The notion that ‘you cannot be what you cannot see’ underlies many of the programs offered at Wilderness and is essential in breaking the discrimination mould that currently exists in the corporate world today.

As stated so eloquently by Amelia Earhart, ‘Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others’.

Last Friday, the 2022 SRC attended the virtual Adelaide International Women’s Breakfast. The guest speaker for this event was Grace Tame, who was interviewed by the Hon Penny Wong. One of the key messages shared was the impact of COVID-19 and gender equality. Grace shared her ongoing battle to raise awareness of sexual assault which unfortunately is far too prevalent in Australian society.

There is a constant stream of stories showing gender disparities and sexual assault both in the workplace and at home. Recent research (2021) highlights that COVID-19 has increased the current rate at which gender inequality is being closed. It will take 135.6 years to close the gap worldwide. In 2020, the World Economic Forum had calculated gender parity would not be attained for 99.5 years!

As a male in a leadership position at an all-female school and a father of two girls, I believe strongly that all men must stand up and become part of the fight for gender equality and call out unacceptable behaviour. It is not the job of a woman to convince a male of the importance of this; men should be responsible for their own prejudice and that of other men. It is only then that we will have a truly equitable society and one in which there is no reference to gender or sexual assault in society and the corporate world.

Appreciation Week

The Student Representative Council (SRC) theme for this year is Adventure, Ambition, and Appreciation or Triple A. One of their initiatives this term that connects to their theme is Appreciation Week.

Our SRC Executive has shared their aim of the week:

Appreciation Week will involve showing gratitude for our teachers, friends, family, and ourselves. To start the week, we would like to extend our appreciation to the families and support networks of the girls - grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles, mums, and dads, for the continuous support and encouragement that you provide to the girls and the School community.

Throughout the week, Teacher Appreciation Day will occur where the staff members will receive messages written by the girls. Next is Friend Appreciation Day, where the girls will be given the option to play sports and giant board games on the Running Track lawn together.

Girls will be able to purchase ribbons to give to their friends to show their appreciation for demonstrating particular qualities. Each colour of the ribbons represents a different strength: Kindness, Humour, Supportiveness, Creativity and Determination.

Finally, self-appreciation activities will occur on Friday. We can often get caught up in schoolwork, extra-curriculars and busy day to day events, so we believe it is important to remind ourselves what we are capable of - and what we have achieved - by appreciating ourselves and our abilities.

Rowing Finale

Finally, we wish all the Senior girls the best for the Head of the River Rowing Regatta tomorrow. The girls and coaches have done an incredible amount of training and they race with the whole school behind them for a successful final event.

A reminder also that the Inter House Swimming Carnival will take place on Tuesday 29 March (Week 9) at the SA Aquatic Centre.