Finishing well

In sporting circles, we often hear the phrase ‘finish well’.  But what does that mean?

In the recent Women’s Football World Cup competition, if the Spanish team hadn’t finished well, they probably wouldn’t have won. However, finishing well is not actually about winning.

The Matildas may not have won the World Cup, but they finished well. They persevered, they gave themselves every opportunity, and they played hard but fair.  Similarly, on the running track or in the pool, we applaud those who give their very best, even if they don’t win.

And it’s not just sports. I’m sure many students have been encouraged – by teachers and parents – to finish their school year well. What that might look like in practice is ….. to persevere, keep putting in the hard work, do your best, not give up, not get distracted, and keep your eye on the objective.

This applies even more clearly to the HSC. Our Year 12 students have been encouraged to finish high school well in the same way – putting in the work, sticking with it through challenges, not getting distracted, and keeping an eye on the prize.

Then what?  Maybe it’s a university course or TAFE training, followed by employment, a career and more.  Now we’re talking about life as a whole.  So when we talk about life, what does it mean to finish well?

The answer is ... it depends.  It depends on the objective.  What’s the target?  We can be very clear on the objective of the HSC, which might be to gain entry to a particular course.  But how often do we think about the objective of life?  

Well, we should, because it affects the way we live.

If the objective of life is to accumulate stuff, then life becomes a competition of “he who accumulates the most toys wins”.  Or the most ‘likes’.  Or the highest ratings.  Or the most awards.

So, what is the objective of life?

There is a man who is regarded as one of the best people who ever lived. He cared about people, he spent time with the disadvantaged, he comforted the depressed.

He healed the sick, he gave sight to the blind, he even brought people back from the dead.  He lived about 2000 years ago, and his name was Jesus.  When he died, he didn’t have a pile of money, or a stack of possessions; he didn’t have a CV of leadership appointments, or Academy Awards, or ‘likes’.

But he changed the world.

His resurrection from the dead proved he wasn’t just good, he was God. When he was asked what human beings were created for, he didn’t talk about achievement or accumulation or acclaim.  He talked about loving God with all our hearts, and caring for our neighbours the way we care for ourselves.  In other words, living life in a way that honours God as being in charge of the universe, and that helps the people around us, our communities, our cities and our planet.

If this is what the God of the universe says is important, then that’s our best guide to how we can finish well – by loving God and caring for those around us.

Doing that, says Jesus, brings life in all its fullness. It’s doing what we were made to do, and it connects us back to God.

As we move into the Christmas season, let’s remember that Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection showed us how much God loves us and wants us in a relationship. For each of us, finding that relationship with the living God is indeed finishing well.

Ocean Gates Titan submersible imploded during an expedition to the wreck of the Titanic, 

India became the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon following in the footsteps of Russia, China and USA, Australia voted on ‘the voice to parliament for our First Nation peoples’, Donald Trump became the first American President to have a mug shot taken. Michelle Yeoh became the second woman of colour to win best actress at the Oscars, Barbie opened in cinemas taking home a staggering $162 million in its first weekend, making it the highest grossing opening weekend ever for a film directed by a woman, Australian Matildas captured our hearts on an amazing run to the semi-finals at the women’s soccer world cup, … and we joined in the fun, with a Matilda’s Day at school. 

In 2023, Microsoft founder, Bill Gates…  

… said the development of artificial intelligence (AI) was the most important technological advance since the graphical user interface (GUI) in 1980. Twitter became known as X, and the most used search engine for finding information for our young women moved from google to YouTube and now to… TikTok… I know! As a Gen Xer, this continues to baffle me. 

Interestingly also, the incoming technology for 2023 was quantum computing and the outgoing technology for the year was… … your wallet and in 2024, I understand from McCrindle research, that the outgoing technology is most likely to be … the analogue clock!  Who knew?! 

In 2023 Miley Cirus released the song, Flowers. 

The song broke all female streaming records on all platforms and became an anthem of empowerment for many young women. Harry Styles visited Australia… Girls, did you go? Are you up there on the screen? Beyonce toured the globe with her Renaissance World Tour and Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets to Sydney went on sale…Yes, when you miss out on Taylor Swift tickets… Sweden won Eurovision, King Charles the third was coronated, The Opera House turned 50 and, Danebank turned 90. 

We are mostly aware of the facts surrounding the inception of Danebank - when Miss Edith Roseby Ball began the school in 1933 in a classroom on a verandah with five Kindergarten students.  

What is less well known, is what is at the heart of our school - the Danebank heart. 

• Where our motto came from 
• Why she chose our name and 
• What she valued most in creating a Danebank education for girls.    

Miss Ball chose the Danebank motto from her own school, Woodstock (now Wenona) which she attended for three years having won a scholarship.

Edith Hooke, the founder of Woodstock, chose the motto Ut Prosim, that I may serve which became the school’s guiding philosophy.

Taking this and making it her own, Miss Ball chose Ut Prosim for Danebank - to ensure it became a school dedicated to egalitarian leadership, diverse opportunities, the development of strong character and a commitment to service - making a contribution in the world.   

To equip our girls to fully do this, Miss Ball grounded our teaching and learning - and the provision of an outstanding education for young women - and indeed the culture of our school, in the good news of Jesus Christ.  

The name Dane Bank came from her travels to England with her father where she stayed with Mr Wolfenden and his family in a white farmhouse built by Mr Wolfenden Senior and named by him as Dane Bank House. Miss Ball received great kindness and friendship from the Wolfenden family in Dane Bank. In naming our school she sought to create a place with a family atmosphere, a culture of warm embrace, generosity of spirit and loving kindness. 

This heart - of service, community, faith, learning and high standards of personal excellence - formed the culture and platform from which our precious girls are given opportunities and experiences to grow. 

To illustrate further what I mean by our Danebank heart, I share the following conversation I had a few weeks ago with the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel.  

The day before Lilie James’ memorial service at our school, we spoke together. Kanishka prayed for our community, thanked us for our compassion, kindness and care - shown to our alumna and the James family - and also expressed his appreciation for the way we were pointing others to Christ, shining His light into the darkness. 

He remarked that in times of difficulty or immense challenge, the true heart of a person or a community comes forth. 

As we walked through this difficult and unimaginable time together, the Danebank heart came pouring forth with kindness, compassion, a warm embrace and quiet acts of service.  

We cared for one another, loved one another and were patient and supportive. We reached out to others, were selfless and gave of ourselves for the greater good. 

Our true character, our heart shone brightly. 

God places great value on what is in our heart - our faith and trust in Him. He chose David to be king, not because of outward appearance or status, but because David’s heart was turned towards God. 

In our context, the heart of our school is reflected not just in who we are, but in who our girls are becoming.  

Eleni Mamasioulas and Eve Koutros who serve the homeless every Monday evening in Surry Hills without fanfare or acknowledgement, but with a heart to serve. 

Aleeya Waterhouse who organises Christmas presents for children in Randwick Children’s Hospital each year as they spend Christmas away from home. 

Tilly and Estelle who volunteer to teach our Roseby Class dance and provide other support - the work they do comes from their heart of service and care.  

Year 9 and our Ut Prosim leaders who hosted 150 Nursing Home residents and guests for a Christmas concert and afternoon tea at Danebank. The girls (and staff) were wonderful - they cooked biscuits, rehearsed, packed bags, performed, served with a smile, patiently guided our guests, holding umbrellas over them when it rained. 

And, our Alumnae…

Stephanie Sekulovska who has worked with disadvantaged children to improve literacy outcomes and is the Chief Education Officer of the UN Youth Australia making an extensive contribution to others. 

Seema Hyne who, among other things, has championed diversity and inclusion, coordinating A Girl and Her World - and its initiatives to walk alongside girls in the Pacific Islands through education, small business and health and wellbeing. 

And, Lindsay Melbourne. 

I met Lindsay Melbourne at an Open Morning in the PAC foyer. Lindsay was there with Luke and two beautiful daughters, inquiring about the possibility of a Danebank education for her girls.  

Over a cup of tea and a sandwich, Lindsay began to share the story of her life with me. She shared that she was an Old Girl of the school from 1987, that her Mum and parents were heavily involved in the P & F and that she was Captain of the school in 1999. We talked about our academic excellence, love of learning and the joy of being at Danebank. The thing she really wanted me to know about was her faith in Christ - she shared that at school she learnt about God, experienced the nurture and inspiration from caring expert teachers, and heard the message of the gospel many times. She shared that it wasn’t until she left school and went to university that she realised what an incredible and nurturing environment Danebank was, and that the seeds of Christian living began to make sense. Lindsay went on to give her life to Christ and serve the community as a Speech Pathologist with kindness and strength of character.

Earlier this year, we received the very sad news that Lindsay had passed away after a long journey with cancer. In honour of Lindsay Melbourne (nee Wagner), through the generous donation of her family, Danebank has established the Lindsay Melbourne (nee Wagner) Memorial Award for Character Values: the Danebank heart. The award is to be given to any student across P-12 who exhibits a commitment to living Danebank's character values.  

I would like to invite Mrs Wagner, former President of the P & F and now life member of the P & F, to the stage to present this inaugural award for 2023 to Isla Duffy from Year 6. 

Isla consistently radiates loving kindness, creating a supportive environment where peers feel valued and understood. Her sense of responsibility is not confined to the classroom but is extended through her interactions within the school community, showcasing maturity beyond her years.

What sets Isla apart is her unwavering pursuit of personal excellence.

In every aspect, Isla exemplifies the values of this award, making her an outstanding candidate and a true asset to our school.

These girls and young women - Isla, Aleeya, Eleni, Eve, Tilly, Estelle, Year 9, Ut Prosim leaders, Stephanie, Seema and Lindsay - and every one of our treasured girls across our community - experience a Danebank education imbued with our unique Danebank heart. 

This is a place: 

• Where girls have been encouraged to be themselves, celebrate their uniqueness, and explore their passions;
• Where academic excellence and wellbeing aren’t mutually exclusive;
• Where the development of faith and character is core; 
• Where life skills, dispositions and habits of mind required to cope with uncertainty are explicitly taught and developed; and
• Where we are future proofing our girls to flourish and develop a sense of purpose and meaning in order to serve and shape the world. 

This is a place of community. This is a place of inspiration - where dreams become reality and where our girls are becoming all they are purposed to be, under God. 

For decades now, Dr Richard Sharp has held, shaped and guarded the integrity of our unique learning community: he has held our Danebank heart. As a governor for the past 24 years, including the last 10 years as Chairman, Dr Sharp has led our community with great distinction. 

His unswerving focus on maintaining our Christian foundation and message, the need for high quality teachers, commitment to the improvement of our facilities and the provision of an outstanding education has been remarkable. He is respected and gracious and his focus has always been on our people.  

In his tenure, Dr Sharp governed major learning and facility developments at Danebank, at a time education was in one of the most transformational eras of our history. He has ably guided the school through educational change, including through our most recent unprecedented times of the Covid pandemic. As Chairman, he has developed a strong governance team, overseen several iterations of Danebank’s strategic planning and design, supported steady enrolment growth, ensured strong fiscal management including the acquisition of several adjoining properties, construction of Stages 1 and 2 and has guided the recent development of the aspirational 2023 Master Plan. He will leave our school in a strong position for the future.  

Dr Sharp oversaw my appointment in 2019, and has been a gracious, wise and exceptional Chair, whom I will miss. He leads with integrity, intellect, clear vision and a heart to serve and develop our girls, staff and community, under God. I consider it an honour to have begun my time at Danebank under Dr Sharp’s leadership, thank him for his support, and do pray for every blessing in this next phase of his and his family’s life. 

I would like to invite the Chairman of the ASC Board, Mr Philip Bell, to the stage to present Dr Sharp with a gift.  

Mr Mark Daly, our incoming Chairman, would like to pray for Dr Sharp now. 

Danebank is different. 

• We’re a Christian learning community with a truly unique culture.
• We are a learning community with heart. 
• We hold our traditional values dear while embracing the modern world.
• Putting our girls at the centre of everything we do.
• Inspiring them through courageous optimism, creative collaboration and loving kindness. 
• An education here is about feeling safe and supported
• Taking those critical steps along the journey.
• Towards living out your purpose. 

It begins here...

• Feeling connected to your community.
• Empowered by your faith.
• Shaped by the Danebank heart. 
• Ready to fulfil your desires and make your mark.
• Here, you will hone your character.
• Here, you will grow, excel and flourish.
• Here you will prepare to serve and shape the world.
• In wonderful, extraordinary ways…  

Because here, you belong. 

Join me now as we enjoy some of the highlights of our endeavours this year as we have enriched our learning for our girls.  

Danebank’s value of service sparks the inherent bond between us. Striving to not only serve outside in our community, but to serve each other as well. When we serve others we recognise that a unique bond is created, service becomes the bridge that connects us, providing a platform for us to express our care, empathy, and commitment to making a difference. Every English class, CONNECT room, and year group has a form of its own Sisterhood. Engaging in service creates lasting memories and connections as individuals work together towards a common goal. The bonds formed through shared service experiences contribute to lifelong relationships. Hence, we stand alongside the prior generations of Danebank students who put on their uniform just like us, through our instilled value of service within our school.

Danebank’s Sisterhood utilises the connections from service to create a supportive environment. In a world that can be competitive and demanding, the support of fellow women becomes crucial. Whether it's navigating the choices of year 9 electives, auditioning for the school play, or deciding what you want to pursue outside of highschool, the foundation of Sisterhood propels us forward. Sisterhood is a source of unwavering support, a network of shoulders to lean on and hands to lift us up when we stumble. 

Support takes many forms. It is the encouragement from friends and teachers, the collaboration with like-minded students, and the backing of communities that understand the value of service. This support provides the momentum needed to overcome challenges and to sustain the spirit of service in the face of adversity. It is the unseen force that fuels resilience and perseverance, reminding us that our contributions matter. Danebank’s Sisterhood supports our initiatives to serve others, guiding us from the very start of our journey.

Being a part of the Danebank Sisterhood holds a significant aspect of empowerment. Empowering each other within the green gates of Danebank, and further into the outside world. To serve effectively one must be empowered; empowered by our community and peers, our school motto, or by the example of individuals such as Jesus. Jesus provides a shift in perspective from a world that glorifies power and privilege to one that exalts the virtue of serving others. Jesus doesn't merely set a standard for service; he empowers us to partake in this sacred endeavour. Danebank’s Christian values have continued to guide us in serving others for 90 years, an aspect that has forged such an interconnected community and has allowed the Sisterhood to flourish.

So it's clear what an achievement 90 years of Danebank truly is! With its values that impact its students for generations, a community that fosters growth, and a school that strives for rich relationships and excellence in academic fields. Danebank’s Sisterhood and service permeate through every tradition, value, and year. 90 years marks an achievement for a school that has inspired and empowered women for past generations and for those generations to come. The number 90 holds a lot more significance than one might think!

Being your School Captain for 2023 has been a privilege, I hope that I have encouraged you to be your authentic selves whilst upholding our school motto “Ut Prosim”. It has been my pleasure and an absolute honour to serve Danebank and be a part of the Sisterhood! Thank you. 

However, this all changed when I came into school just a few weeks ago to get the final papers signed to exit year 12, to officially finish at Danebank. As I walked out of the pac foyer I was leaving just in time to catch the rush of the junior school dismissal. It was a blur of smiling faces, vibrant laughs, gigantic backpacks on little bodies and the hands of girls intertwined with the hands of their parents.

It was then that I realised that my experience at Danebank could be described in one word: family.

On the first day of kindergarten, when we apprehensively said goodbye to our own family for six hours, we unknowingly entered a new one. One of compassion, one of unending support and one of understanding. Whether it was Mrs Larkin’s warm demeanour and pretty butterfly chart or Mr Abrahams’ amazing guitar skills, Danebank created a little cocoon of safety where we could learn to grow and flourish as young women.

Now, thirteen years later, thirteen of us have had the unique experience of being in this beautiful family since the very beginning.

Together, we took on the world through a certain curiosity and playfulness that I will never forget. From conducting daily handstand competitions, to trading shopkins, to making loom bands for each other, to creating short lived massage businesses, we were given the freedom to express ourselves the way we truly wanted to without limits. Now, as we are about to enter our different paths in life, we can continue to express ourselves knowing that our ideas and our minds will always hold value in this world.

One thing that Danebank also knew how to do was host eventful trips. Whether it was a twelve hour bus ride to the gold mines of Ballarat where we all coincidentally found gold or going to Questacon for the iconic slide and then backing out at the top when seeing how steep it really was. These trips formed connections that strengthened our own little family, exposing us to different facets of each other and ourselves that we may not have known.

When we took the big step into highschool, I cannot tell you how comforting it was to be around the same familiar faces that shaped a large part of my childhood. This special group of girls taught me that you didn’t need to be the best of friends to help someone. Simply sharing the same experiences built a special understanding between us. To my fellow K-12 peers, I cannot thank you enough for this safe space you have given me since kindergarten. When growing up, I became more aware of the world and its inherent flaws. However, during high school, Danebank taught me the importance of empowering both ourselves and each other in the face of adversity. Now, being on the other end of my school life, I reflect on how lucky I have been to grow and graduate amongst a group of such strong young women who each have the power to make such a difference in this world.

Danebank has truly taught me to never leave behind the spirit, the mind and the soul of the same little girl that nervously walked through those green gates thirteen years ago.

To every girl here today, let me leave you with this piece of advice: as you tackle the hardships of your own world, always keep your younger self in mind. The one who was brave, who would do handstands every day, the one who would see challenge as an opportunity. Savour her ideas, her playfulness, her eagerness, her confidence. Because she is strong. She is powerful and it is her that can change the world.

But your main gift to the school has been your spiritual leadership. You have a real faith, a deep love for people, and a true hope of heaven. 

We’ve been friends for a long time and I have been seen your commitment to explain Jesus to people - including to members of my own family. Only a few people here will be aware that just this year Richard and Adele helped my skeptical, 83 year old mother to believe in Jesus’ resurrection for the first time.

It’s one small example; representing a broader reality of spiritual leadership for many. Danebank would certainly not be the school it is today without your spiritual leadership over these decades. 

I would also like to thank Richard’s partner Adele - Adele you have been supporting Richard and Danebank across the whole of the last 24 years and we want to thank you for the many sacrifices you’ve made to enable Richard to act as Danebank chair. 

As an aside, if you’ve never looked into the resurrection before, it’s never too late. If my 83 year old skeptical, perhaps a little cynical, mother can make such an investigation, you can too. Both Richard as outgoing chair and myself as incoming chair would like to encourage you to do this, if you’ve never looked into it before.

Please join with me as I pray:

• Our Father, we thank you for our brother Richard Sharp and his service to Danebank over many years.
• We thank you for his faith in your son, Jesus.
• We thank you for his love for other people, his kindness and his gentleness to all.
• We thank you for his true hope of heaven and his willingness to lead others towards that hope.
• We pray that you would bless Richard and his wife Adele and their family, in the years ahead.
• For each of us here, we ask that you would increase our faith in your son Jesus; increase our love for others; and give each of us a true hope of heaven.
• And we pray these things in Jesus name, Amen.