We are proud to announce that Melbourne Girls Grammar has been awarded as an excellence awardee for the Australian Education Awards 2026 in the category of Secondary School of the Year – Non-Government. The Australian Education Awards are Australia’s leading independent education awards, celebrating excellence across schools, principals, department heads, and teachers nationwide. The nomination for Melbourne Girls Grammar addressed a range of criteria including excellence in educational outcomes, management of facilities, finances and human resources, communication links with the wider community, and commitment to innovation and improvement. Being awarded is a testament to the work of all MGGS staff who we thank for their commitment to excellence. You can read more about the Awards here: https://educatorawards.com/. From the schools shortlisted as excellence awardees, a National Winner will be announced in August.  

It is always a privilege to hear from our interesting and accomplished graduates. At the June Fowell Dinner, attended by Year 12 students and their mothers and other mother-figures, we were delighted to hear from Steph Vizard (2007), award-winning writer and lawyer. Steph spoke about the connection between women, telling the story of her mother’s pride as she spoke as a Year 7 student at Speech Night. Steph’s career journey from studying Literature at Oxford, to Law, to publishing two novels with Harper Collins, was inspiring for many present. Last week we also heard the annual DJ Ross oration. The DJ Ross Annual Oration was established in 2013 to celebrate “DJ’s” vision and progressive philosophy that education was the key to a better world, especially for girls and women. Organised by the DJ Ross Trustees, this year’s oration was delivered by Dr Maggie Kirkman (1964). Dr Kirkman is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in women’s health at Monash University, a storyteller, and psychologist whose most recent work celebrates the richness of later life. She spoke about the women who appear in her book, Time of Our Lives, highlighting the achievements of women in their seventies, eighties and nineties, and challenging the stereotype of the helpless older woman as a burden. Dr Kirkman’s address continues the tradition of DJ Ross Orations as invigorating, challenging, intelligent discussions connecting past and present Grammarians.  

Recent celebrations of National Boarding Week, followed by Languages Week, highlighted the richness and diversity of the Melbourne Girls Grammar experience. We congratulate and thank our First Nations students for their dancing at our Reconciliation Assembly on Monday. The dance was created with Rheannan Port, who is an MGGS parent, a Lecturer in Dance (Indigenous) at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development, and a former professional dancer with Bangarra Dance Theatre. We are grateful for the time taken by Ms Port to enrich the students’ connections to their heritage and for the generous act of sharing with our wider student body. We also thank Mr Kyle Vander-Kuyp for his generosity in speaking at the assembly. The School is privileged to draw on our parent body to enrich the educational and cultural experience. Students participating in the AFL Indigenous Round on Friday also represented the School proudly.

We’ve celebrated a number of successes from the co-curricular programs recently. Kathryn Ye (Year 12) represented Victoria in at the National Schools Debating Championship and has been chosen to trial for the Australian Schools Debating team. Kelly Liu (Year 11) has reached the final in this year’s Ainger Peck Public Speaking Competition. In the Ethics Olympiad, Melbourne Girls Grammar students in Years 10 and 12 took gold and bronze position in the Senior Section. In the Interschool Chess Competition, hosted at MGGS, Ariana Fais (Year 8) placed first in the Secondary School section. The Secondary team placed second overall, with recognition of the top 5 players: Ariana Fais, Loukya Balasuriya, Mel Wang, Stephanie Ngo and Liz Yun. The Primary team also performed well, placing fourth overall. Individual players who received recognition were Taya Wang (Year 4) and Cindy Wang (Year 5). The Morris Hall Science Fair was a huge success and it was exciting to see the engagement in the sciences from our young Grammarians.  

Finally, we wish Lynn Broadway all the best for her Long-Service Leave that commences this week. Mrs Broadway will return in Term 3, possibly with a tan from her Mediterranean adventures. During her absence, Kerry Oldman will be Acting Deputy Principal: Wellbeing. Ms Oldman will continue to work in her substantive role as Executive Director of Middle Years, with assistance from Billie Staples, Deputy Head of Middle Years, as well as the Year Level Co-ordinators, Home room and Wellbeing teachers.  

Lynda Wall
Deputy Principal: Educational Leadership, Academic