As Principal, I have always known how truly lucky I am to be surrounded by incredibly capable and generous girls whose kindness radiates beyond the walls of their classrooms, well into the Wilderness grounds.

On Tuesday, I was equally surprised and humbled to learn that this year’s SRC Big Lunch was indeed a farewell, held in my honour. Secretly crafted and perfectly timed, the girls went out of their way to create an exceptionally special event.

I would like to congratulate all the girls who organised such a delightful afternoon. From the music performances, scones, jam and cream, and Welsh Corgi appearance, I could not have dreamed of a better way to say farewell to our Middle and Senior students. Thank you girls, it is an occasion I will cherish forever.  

We have reached a point in the final term when we start preparing for the transition into 2022.

New Girls’ Day is a time-honoured event that sees the girls immersing themselves in fun activities and conversations which resonate with all four of our school values. I was especially proud to see our girls practicing Respectful Relationships as they welcomed the upcoming and new Wilderness students into our community during their transition visit.

During the day, the new girls were given a glimpse of what life will be like next year as they move up to their next year level, and for some, to a new school. The whole school looks forward to welcoming them into our community and watching them flourish throughout their Wilderness journey.  

I am delighted to share that Dr Rhiannon Giles has accepted the role as Interim Head of Middle School for Semester 1, 2022 while Mrs Belinda Arnfield takes on the role of Interim Principal. I know Rhiannon will bring her warm and caring nature to the role and will serve as a familiar face to the girls, having been Head of Cedar House for the last five years.  

Last week was an exciting time for the Creative Industries as they showcased our girls' talents in many formats.  

Newman Theatre hosted a series of performances, including a rendition of Roald Dahl’s ‘The Witches’ from our Year 9 Girls. Hender Hall was transformed into an art gallery with colourful creations, from honey pots, realistic looking Australian foods made from clay, bright planter bags and handmade plates and platters resembling items you would purchase in a store.  

We look forward to watching even more performances in the coming weeks as we honour our girls’ achievements and celebrate our end of year.

Jane Danvers

Principal