OLA

OLA Committee

 

Meet the OLA Committee

Anna Wilson (Murray, 1990)

OLA President

Anna Wilson (Murray, 1990)

OLA PRESIDENT

After Year 12 Anna went on a GAP year to the UK, living and working in boarding schools. Once she returned, she completed a Bachelor of Education at Deakin University and started teaching at Melbourne Grammar School, Grimwade House and Lauriston.  

 Anna has three gorgeous children - Jack 18, Maddy 15 and Bella 14. Since having the children, Anna has worked at Breast Cancer Network Australia in Corporate Development and now continues volunteering at BCNA and in the kids' schools.  Anna says she loved her time at Lauriston and is very proud to be a current parent (both her girls are at Lauriston). She joined the OLA Committee to give back and to be part of a group of passionate Lauristonians who want to engage the wider OLA community.

Rachel Irons (Polke, 1989)

OLA Fellowship and Financial Sub-Committee and School Council Representative

Rachel Irons (Polke, 1989)

OLA FELLOWSHIP AND FINANCIAL SUB-COMMITTEE AND SCHOOL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

Since graduating Lauriston in 1989 Rachel studied Arts Law and practiced as a Barrister. She also studied Interior Design and Visual Arts and moved into Property Development. She has been a Director of her own business Spring Developments for 30 Years with her husband Peter. 
Together they have raised two daughters Emily (2nd year University) and Jessica Irons (Year 12 Lauriston). 
Rachel is passionate about the Arts and Education and has been involved with the Lauriston Arts Association for 6 years, being in the role of President for 3 years.  She looks forward to working together with fellow OLA alumnae and representing the OLA in the wider community.  Rachel says Lauriston gave her the confidence to achieve her goals and stand up for her beliefs.  She is also excited to engage with young alumnae to help them achieve their best beyond the school gates.

Hibah Jamal (2015)

OLA General Committee

Hibah Jamal (2015)

OLA GENERAL COMMITTEE

Hibah finished Year 12 at Lauriston in 2015. She studied Commerce at Melbourne University and now works at Evans and Partners in Private Wealth, working with the family office and not for profit clients.

Hibah is a new member of the committee in 2022 and is keen to get involved in the school community having only been at Lauriston for a short time after moving to Melbourne from the UK.  

Hibah's skills in the finance sector will greatly support our future investment decisions and will be working with the finance subcommittee to advance our association.

Alex Harvey (2002)

OLA General Committee

 Alex Harvey (2002)

OLA GENERAL COMMITTEE

After the completion of her IB and a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne, Alex spent two semesters at La Universita per Stranieri in Siena, Italy. 

Alex chose to pursue a career in the corporate world of media with roles at APN Outdoor and Southern Cross Austereo. She is currently working in the family business, an engineering consultancy. Alex has fond memories of her time at Lauriston and joined the OLA committee in 2017. 

She says Lauriston helped her become the woman she is today, and her commitment to the OLA is a reflection of her gratitude to her teachers, peers and the School. She also says being part of the OLA is a way of giving back to the Lauriston community and to reconnect with like-minded individuals.


Jacqui Jiang (2015)

YOLs Portfolio

Jacqui Jiang (2015)

OLA YOLs Portfolio

Jacqui graduated in 2015 and is grateful for the opportunities, friendships and supportive teachers at Lauriston. She joined the OLA in 2020 and is one of the main contributors to the Young Old Lauristonians portfolio. Jacqui is currently studying Medicine at the University of Melbourne. 


Amanda Smith (1993)

OLA General Committee

Amanda Smith (1993)

OLA General Committee

After finishing Year 12, Amanda completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws at Monash University. She then joined the graduate program at Telstra and spent the next 16 years moving through a variety of sales, management and operational roles. 

Amanda has three lovely children, Alice (who started in Year 5 at Lauriston last year), Lucy, 9 and 5 year-old James. 

In addition to being a member of the OLA Committee, Amanda also volunteers at Lucy's school where she is School Council President. 

Amanda is passionate about Lauriston, (particularly Kirkhope!) and loved the opportunities and experiences the School provided her. 

She was inspired to join the committee after having met OLA President Anna Wilson (Murray, 1990) at a previous school. Amanda is also keen to ensure that a strong OLA community continues into the future.

Sarah Smith (1989)

OLA Community Relations Portfolio

 Sarah Smith (1989)

OLA COMMUNITY RELATIONS

After graduation in 1989, Sarah completed a Science degree (Hons) at Monash University and did her Honours year at the Baker Health and Diabetes Institute. 

Sarah took the opportunity of travelling overseas after completing her degree and returned home to work in scientific research at Fauldings Pharmaceuticals. During this time Sarah completed a Graduate Diploma in Business Management at Monash, and decided to switch careers to work in the family hotel business. 

Sarah has 3 daughters and continues to work part time for the family. Sarah joined the OLA because with three daughters and three nieces currently at Lauriston, she would like to get more involved with the School and help support the growth of the OLA.

Committee Roles

If you are an Old Lauristonian and would like to join the OLA Committee, please email ola@lauriston.vic.edu.au with your expression of interest.

OLA Portfolio Groups

The OLA Committee recognises the importance of providing wonderful and diverse opportunities for alumnae to stay connected with each other, and to be involved in many ways, with the School.  

The Committee focuses on the growth of the following portfolios: 

  •  Business Networking 
  • Community Relations 
  • Chapter Relations 
  • Communications 
  • Young Old Lauristonians (YOLs) 

 If you would like to contribute to the growth of our outstanding alumnae program, please email ola@lauriston.vic.edu.au.

Past OLA Presidents


  • 1914-1915 Miss Margaret Irving 
  • 1916           Miss Lilian Irving 
  • 1917           Miss Daisee Booth 
  • 1918           Leura Andrews 
  • 1919           Ruby Stewart/Strahan 
  • 1920           Mary Barker 
  • 1921           Myria Sykes 
  • 1922           Beatrice Gilbert 
  • 1923           Elizabeth Kirkhope 
  • 1924           Enid Gilbert 
  • 1925           Amy Syme 
  • 1926           Jo Gilder 
  • 1927           Daisee Booth 
  • 1928           Nora Bowden 
  • 1929           Beatrice Gilbert 
  • 1930           Mary Kirkhope 
  • 1931           Mary Merrifield 
  • 1932           Mary Lowe 
  • 1933           Betty Thompson 
  • 1934           Marjorie Irving 
  • 1935           Kathleen Walter
  • 1936           Dorothy Player 
  • 1937           Edna Lowe 
  • 1938           Dorothy Wellington 
  • 1939-40     Jo Cuming (Gilder) 
  • 1941-42     Amy Johnston (Syme) 
  • 1943-44     Phyllis Matthews (Barkley) 
  • 1945-46     Judith Phillips 
  • 1947-48     Elsa Hallenstein (Marks) 
  • 1949-50     Ida Aitken (Rudd) 
  • 1951-52     Elizabeth Kirkhope 
  • 1953-54     Edna Wark (Lowe) 
  • 1955-56     Mary Halliday (Lowe) 
  • 1957-58     Dorothy Steel (Wellington) 
  • 1959-60     Elieen McFarlan (Ward) 
  • 1961           Gladys Davies 
  • 1962-63     Stella Lancy (Ward) 
  • 1964-65     June Alenson (Ramsay) 
  • 1966-67     Frances Mackay 
  • 1968-69     Mary Halliday (Lowe) 
  • 1970-71     Lilian Michael (Fitzpatrick) 
  • 1972-73     Margaret Sloan (Browning) 
  • 1974-75     Wendy Coghill (Foote) 
  • 1976-77     Lilian Michael (Fitzpatrick) 
  • 1978           Janette Ray Lee) 
  • 1979           Pat Grace 
  • 1980-81     Gail Tulloch (Seyforth) 
  • 1982-83     Margaret Conigrave 
  • 1984-85     Jane Manton 
  • 1986-87   Rosemary Matthews (Miller) 
  • 1988          Gail Tulloch (Seyforth) 
  • 1989          Dinny Downie (Gillespie) 
  • 1990-91    Anthea Hone (Milne) 
  • 1992-93    Sally Wallis (Mason) 
  • 1994-95    Judy Rex (Barrett) 
  • 1996-97   Jenny Gaylard (Plenderleith) 
  • 1998-99    Helen Gibbons (Officer) 
  • 2000-11    Vicki Redwood (Canning) 
  • 2012-15    Prudence Barker 
  • 2016                Kate Wipfli 
  • 2017          Kate Wipfli & Melinda Rea 
  • 2018          Melinda Rea 
  • 2019 -           Anna Wilson (Murray)