TOORAK BREEDS THEM STRONG
Ritchies
M o u n t
If the adage that we are all a product of
our environment is true, then Toorak
College old collegian Carolyn Such must
have had one heck of a good education. At
the ripe young age of 63, Carolyn has been
heavily involved with the college since the
early 60’s when she would walk to school
from her Mt Eliza home.
“It was like walking down a country lane back
then. There was no dropping off at school as
it was very safe to walk,” says Carolyn who
started at Toorak College in grade three.
And Carolyn still holds the school in very
high esteem, having covered the gamut of
school experiences from being a student,
then teacher, then parent sending her own
daughter there and eventually being on the
Board of Governors.
“I have taken on a lot of roles at Toorak
College and am now involved with organising
the archives and going through our historical
records, putting together a book for our 140th
anniversary,” says Carolyn . “I have always
loved the comradeship that the school has
brought me and my daughter and researching
the book which is on inspirational women from
the school has made me realise the incredible
influence Toorak has had.”
The book which will be launched in October
is titled “Tradition, Belonging and Sprit - A
Selection of Inspirational Collegians.” As
Carolyn explains it is an example of the type
of women borne from their Toorak College
experience.
“We were surrounded by strong female role
models, from the teachers to collegians and
other students. All women together are very
strong and at Toorak College it was instilled in
us that we could do anything we wanted to.”
The book is a fine example of a cross
section of women from the early 1900’s
to today, whose achievements span from
barristers, doctors and scientists to women
APRIL 2014 (30)
E l i z a
in the arts who have all reached the top of
their chosen field.
“The common denominator is that, not only
have they exceeded in their careers, they have
all done some F