Welcome to the second edition of our Link for 2025. I am sure many of you, like myself, cannot believe another year has flown by and that we are once again preparing to celebrate the Christmas season. I invite you to read the various articles included in this publication, which will provide an insight into the year that was for your Past Pupils’ Association, as well as a glimpse into life at the College in 2025.

The second half of this year has been busy. We have hosted the Careers and Networking Evening, our Riverfire event, and our Mass of Remembrance. Articles expanding on each of these activities are included.

The Past Pupils’ Association has continued to support the inspiring work of the Good Sams Foundation, with targeted financial assistance to the Kinder Program in the Philippines, as well as allocating additional funds to help with the rebuilding of infrastructure after the devastating storms in this region.

Our perpetual awards to current Lourdanians continue to grow as we endeavour to inspire our future members to excel both in their studies and in their contributions to the life of the College.

For those of you who may be unaware, Lourdes Hill College will celebrate 110 years in 2026, and alongside this milestone, we will be marking our Past Pupils’ Association Centenary. One hundred years of an association such as ours is a remarkable achievement. I want to pay homage to all Lourdanians who have gone before us. To all the women who put their hands up for committee positions to carry on this tradition, your contributions have not gone unnoticed. As our world changes and the role of volunteers continues to shift, it is a credit to all involved that our alumni community has not only survived but flourished throughout our first 100 years.

I now seek your assistance, as our members, to ensure that our centenary celebrations are marked appropriately. We encourage each and every one of you to participate in some way during 2026. We will host our Lourdes Day Mass, High Tea, Careers and Networking Evening, Riverfire celebrations, and Mass of Remembrance, all our usual festivities, but with a little extra sparkle. We will also launch, early in 2026, a brand-new range of Centenary Merchandise including tote bags, scarves, caps, mugs, tea towels and our commemorative Centenary Pin. Please look out for notifications on how and where these items can be purchased, and if you attend an event they will be readily available. For any questions, please reach out to the PPA via lhcppa@lhc.qld.edu.au. 

I wish to thank Kay and the College leadership team for not only the time but the energy they dedicate to ensuring our membership continues to grow with the highest calibre of young women. To the staff of the College, thank you for inspiring current students to excel in all they undertake. To the College Maintenance Team, thank you for your unfailing support of all Past Pupils’ Association activities. To the Communications Team, thank you for your patience and assistance with all things Past Pupil.

To the Past Pupils’ Committee, a big thank you for your dedication to ensuring this association enters its second century strong and committed. And to all our members, wherever you may be in the world, please update your details if needed, and thank you for your continued contributions to this association. I hope you can all be part of our centenary celebrations in one way or another. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May we share lots of laughter and love with family and friends. May we each reach out to someone and do something small for them that may not have been on our to do list. May we show friendship and kindness to all who cross our path in the coming weeks. May we all enjoy a safe and happy new year.