MLC Collegians

Class of 1965 Collegians - you’re invited back to MLC ☕💜

We are delighted to welcome the Class of 1965 back to campus for a special morning tea and guided tour. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends, revisit cherished memories, and see how the College has grown and evolved 🏫🌿

🎟️ Tickets available here: https://events.humanitix.com/class-of-1965-mlc-morning-tea

We always love welcoming our Collegian community back to campus. If you have a year group or group of friends who would like to return to MLC for a visit, please send us a message or contact [email protected] - we would love to hear from you 💜

Meet your 2026 Collegians’ Association President, Jemma Richmond (nee Holt, Class of 1997) 💜💚

A proud MLC Collegian, parent, lawyer, global traveller and passionate community connector - Jemma brings a deep love for MLC and the Collegian network to her role as President in 2026.

After graduating in the year MLC celebrated its 90th anniversary, Jemma’s journey has taken her across the world, living and working in Copenhagen, London, Montreal, Singapore and beyond before returning home to Perth in 2020. Along the way, she built a career in law, completed her Master of Laws at UWA, and is now also studying Auslan.

Jemma joined the Collegians’ Association Committee in 2025 and quickly embraced the opportunity to become even more involved, stepping into the President role this year with energy, warmth and a genuine passion for bringing Collegians together.

As both a Collegian and MLC parent, Jemma treasures the lifelong connection shared within the MLC community. In her words, “there is always a welcome and open door with the Collegians’ Association should you wish to become involved or reconnect.”

One of Jemma’s passions for 2026 is launching our new Collegians in Conversation series - creating opportunities for Collegians to connect, network and share their experiences with one another. The first event takes place on 11 June ✨

We are incredibly grateful for Jemma’s leadership, dedication and enthusiasm, and cannot wait to see all the wonderful things the Collegians’ Association achieves under her guidance this year and beyond.

Thank you, Jem 💜

MLC staff are always on the move - from organising staff events, to teaching in the classroom, to generously volunteering at countless after-hours events. We simply couldn’t keep the wheels turning without them 💚

We’ve put together a snapshot of just some of your former teachers - flick through and see how many familiar faces you recognise 📸

We’d love to hear from you in the comments: what’s your favourite memory from your time at MLC?

Calling all MLC Collegians with little ones 🌈⁠
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Looking to connect with fellow Collegians while your child enjoys a morning of fun, play and discovery? Join us for our final Play Days session for Term 2 in the MLC Early Learning Centre! 🧸📚⁠
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We would love to welcome you and your little learner for a relaxed morning of connection, community and play 🫶✨⁠
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📅 Thursday 11 June 2026⁠
⏰ 10.00am–11.30am⁠
📍 Early Learning Centre, MLC⁠
🎟️ Complimentary - https://events.humanitix.com/play-days-at-mlc-june-2026
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Bring a friend, catch up with familiar faces and make some new connections along the way 💜💚⁠
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Congratulations to Sarah Newton (Class of 2020) on her incredible success in Surf Boat Rowing 🌊🚣‍♀️

In just over 12 months with North Cottesloe, Sarah and her crew the “Glossies” have already made a huge splash, winning both the Interstate Final and U23 ASRL Championship while representing the Western Suns State Team in Cronulla 🏆

They then backed it up at the 2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - “The Aussies” - on the Gold Coast, where they were crowned U23 Australian Champions 🥇

Off the water, Sarah is just as impressive - coaching rowing at MLC and serving as Club Captain of the Western Australian Rowing Club (WARC), while still competing at a high level 🚣‍♀️✨

A standout journey so far - well done Sarah 💚💜



Photo Credit 1-2: Malcom J Trees
Photo Credit 3: A Newton

What a fantastic day on the court at the recent Old Girls’ Tennis Tournament🎾⁠
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With a full team to take on the competition, MLC finished an impressive 4th overall against fellow IGSSA Alumni teams 👏🏆⁠

A huge congratulations to all our incredible Collegians who participated - your teamwork, spirit and sportsmanship made us so proud 💫
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We can’t wait to see you back on the court in 2027 💚⁠
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From The Collegian Archives 📖✨

Recently, MLC welcomed back Collegians Jenefer Blackwell and Joan Wardrop from the Class of 1965 - prompting a wonderful look back through The Collegian archives at their time as students.

The 1965 editions capture snapshots of a vibrant school life filled with science, music and academic curiosity. Jenefer was recognised for her award-winning Biology project, A Twelve-Month Survey of the Bird Population at Shenton Park Lake, while also featuring prominently throughout the Heather Lamont Festival for her achievements in piano and vocal performance.

Both students would go on to remarkable careers in academia and research -Jenefer becoming an internationally respected scientist in genetics, infectious diseases and global health, and Joan building a distinguished academic career in history, anthropology and social sciences.

To conclude their recent visit to campus, the pair recreated a photograph taken together in the MLC science lab more than 60 years ago - a very special Then & Now moment (see the recreation in the last two images) 🧪💜

Collegians in Conversation ✨📚⁠
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Meet your fourth (and final) guest speaker: Jessica Racklyeft (Class of 1997) 🎨💚⁠
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Jess Racklyeft is an author and illustrator of children’s books, creating beautifully detailed work from her studio at Abbotsford Convent, near the river and a little farm 🌿✨⁠
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Her illustrations blend collage, watercolour and digital techniques, often inspired by the natural world and a love of environment and conservation 🌏🖌️⁠
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Before becoming a full-time illustrator, Jess worked in publishing sales for almost a decade - before taking the leap into a creative career that has now seen her illustrate and write more than 50 picture books 📚💫⁠
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Her work has been recognised with major accolades including the CBCA Picture Book of the Year for Iceberg and an Eve Pownall Honour Award for Australia: Country of Colour 🏆✨⁠
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Her books can be found in libraries and bookshops across Australia - including right here at MLC 📖💚⁠
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Join us as Jess shares her creative journey and the stories behind her illustrations 🌿⁠
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Tickets are available now via the link: https://events.humanitix.com/collegians-in-conversation
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’sBooks

Collegians in Conversation ✨🎬⁠
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Meet your third guest speaker: Kate Downie (Class of 1997) 🎥💚⁠
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Kate Downie is an Executive Producer and Founder of Beautiful Pictures — one of Western Australia’s leading production companies 🌏✨⁠
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Her passion for storytelling began at just 10 years old, when she watched a live news broadcast being assembled and realised there were people behind the scenes bringing it all together 🎬💡⁠
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While at MLC, Kate combined INSTEP and TEE to keep her pathways open, before stepping straight into the industry at Editel in Perth - starting as a receptionist and working her way through production roles across Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and internationally 🚀⁠
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Through Beautiful Pictures, Kate has led campaigns for brands including Google, La Mer, RAC and Tourism WA, with a career spanning agencies, production companies and freelance work across Australia and beyond 🌍🎞️⁠
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Now expanding into Asia, she continues to bring calm leadership, technical expertise and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of producers 💫⁠
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Join us as Kate shares her journey through the creative production industry and the stories behind the screen 💚⁠
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Tickets available now via the link: https://events.humanitix.com/collegians-in-conversation
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Collegians in Conversation ✨🌸⁠
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Meet your second guest speaker: Hannah Etherington (Class of 1998) 💐🎨⁠
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With more than 25 years in floristry, Hannah has built a career inspired by colour, texture, nature and creativity 🌿✨⁠
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In 2003, she opened Hannah Etherington Flowers in Claremont, specialising in weddings, retail floristry and corporate arrangements 💒🌷⁠
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Before pursuing her passion for flowers, Hannah studied Production Design (Set and Costume) at WAAPA - a design background that continues to shape her floral style today 🎭💫⁠
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Her career highlights include installations for Art in Bloom at the Art Gallery of WA, Perth Fashion Week and Subi Blooms, with her work also featured in Broadsheet, Hello May and Perth Bride 🌸📰⁠
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Join us as Hannah shares her creative journey, inspiration and experiences building a flourishing business 💚⁠
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Tickets are available now via the link: https://events.humanitix.com/collegians-in-conversation
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