More than 3,000 people gathered at the Adelaide Convention Centre for the International Women’s Day breakfast last Friday. I was pleased to attend with colleagues and a number of our students to hear from keynote speaker and Australian of the Year 2026, Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
Remarkably, Australia is the only country in the world whose first astronaut is a woman. Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s story shows what can happen when ambition is matched with persistence. As a high school student, she was once asked to list three possible careers. She wrote down just one: astronaut. It was a bold decision that required years of study and determination to pursue.
Her achievement also reflects the path forged by generations of women before her. Many women scientists made important contributions to discovery and innovation, often without the recognition they deserved. Their persistence helped open doors so that young women today can pursue fields that once felt out of reach.
During her address, Katherine Bennell-Pegg spoke about the importance of encouraging more girls to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As she explained, “Engineering creates order from chaos. It is the how to science’s why.” Despite progress, women remain under-represented in many STEM fields, particularly engineering. Her message was clear. When girls can imagine themselves in these fields, they are far more likely to pursue them.
This message resonates deeply with us at Wilderness. One of the great privileges of girls’ education is the freedom it gives students to explore interests without limitation or stereotype. Whether in our science laboratories, technology workshops, mathematics classrooms or robotics activities, our students are encouraged to ask questions, take risks in their learning and discover what genuinely interests them. These experiences help girls build the confidence to contribute as innovators and problem solvers in fields where their perspectives are urgently needed.
International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women past and present. It also invites us to reflect on how we continue to support young women to pursue their ambitions with confidence. At Wilderness, this begins in the classroom, where curiosity is encouraged and girls are reminded that their ideas and aspirations matter.
Head of the River
This Saturday, 14 March, our rowing crews will compete in the Head of the River Regatta at West Lakes. The regatta marks the culmination of months of commitment from our students and coaches and is always a highlight of the school sporting calendar.
We warmly encourage our Wilderness families to come along to West Lakes and support our crews as they race for the final time this season. Please note that girls attending as spectators are required to appropriately wear their full summer school uniform. The full program is available here.
Mother’s Day Classic
Wilderness will once again take part in the Mother's Day Classic on Sunday 10 May. Families are invited to join the Wilderness team and walk or run together to raise funds for breast and ovarian cancer research. Every step taken and every dollar raised contributes to research that saves lives.
Early Bird registrations are open until Sunday 22 March, and you can register here.
If you are unable to attend on the day, you may wish to support the team by making a donation via our School’s fundraising page.
Thank you to Jen Guest and the Parents and Friends Committee for their organisation of this team, bringing our community together on this special day. We would love to see many members of the Wilderness community come together in support of this important cause.
