Volume 6, 2024

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Term 2. This term is one that celebrates community connection. I write this newsletter, having been within our own broader community this Sunday, where we opened our gates to prospective parents who were curious about what we mean when we say This Is Rosebank!

The turnout was fantastic, with over 2,000 people joining us for the day. We thank the 100 parent volunteers whose contributions made the event a success, as well as the families and local businesses whose generous donations supported us.

The day highlights what we truly treasure here and, while we have wonderful facilities, there is no doubt that the people make a difference. Savvy parents watched our students carefully, discerning how they interact with each other when they think they are not on show. What you see on Open Day is a testament to not just a great co-educational setting but young men and women leading, laughing and learning together with respect and pride. Once again, our students proved themselves to be exceptional ambassadors for our school, whether by guiding hundreds of tours or showcasing their musical talents and dance moves (to name a few). I thank our extraordinary staff who gave up their Sunday to meet and greet and to answer questions. Thank you, Rosebank.

Earlier this term,  I had the privilege of representing Rosebank at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, where we laid a wreath in anticipation of ANZAC Day. I extend my thanks to Sarah Waldie and Aiden Milligan for accompanying me and embodying the spirit of our College with grace and respect.

Continuing our commemoration, congratulations to April Emdin and Anastasia Macan, both Year 10 History students, for their participation in the ANZAC Activity Schools Competition hosted by the Five Dock RSL Sub Branch. Anastasia placed third, and April won the President’s Award. I look forward to celebrating their achievement with our prize winners and Mr Scalia, History Coordinator, at the prize-giving event later this week. 

Last Sunday, it was my privilege once again to represent Rosebank at the 25th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination for Rev. Fr Sebastian Savarimuthu at All Hallows Catholic Church, Five Dock. Mass was celebrated by the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP and was graced by Bishop Danny Meagher and Bishop Terry Brady. The Mass highlighted the depth of support and solidarity within this wonderful community and, in particular, the strong bond between Fr Sebastian and his parishioners. 

Finally, a big shout out to Mikayla Duong, Year 11,  for making the U17 Women's Squad for the Matildas! We are very proud of you, Mikayla. 

Stage 5 Assessment Block

Students in Years 9 and 10 will complete their first Assessment Block during Week 4. Students will be spoken to about this assessment block next Friday during their year assemblies and they will be provided with their assessment timetable. 

HSC Exam Timetable

The 2024 Higher School Certificate Examination timetable has been released today. Students in Year 12 and those in Year 10 or 11 completing an accelerated course can access their schedule via Students Online. It is every student’s responsibility to be familiar with the key dates and ensure they are present for each of their examinations. The College will continue to remind students about the Higher School Certificate as the year progresses. 

• HSC Written Examination Timetable
• HSC Practical and Performance Examinations
• HSC Language Oral Examinations (information regarding locations and timing will be made available to students later in the term)

Unlocking Your Brain's Potential - Harnessing Neuroplasticity

Have you ever wondered how your brain adapts and evolves in response to your experiences and environment? Welcome to the fascinating world of neuroplasticity – the brain's remarkable ability to form and reorganize connections, particularly through learning and experience.

Here's what the latest brain science tells us about neuroplasticity and its implications for your learning journey:

Dynamic Brain Growth: Your brain is not a static organ; it's a dynamic powerhouse that constantly evolves based on your experiences and surroundings. Every interaction, every lesson learned, and every challenge overcome shapes the structure and function of your brain.

Use It or Lose It: Just like a muscle, your brain requires regular exercise to stay strong and healthy. If you neglect certain skills or cognitive abilities, your brain may "prune" those neural connections, leading to a decline in proficiency. In other words, if you don't use it, you might lose it.

The Power of Brain Rewiring: The exciting news is that you have the power to "rewire" your brain to enhance your abilities and intelligence. By engaging in targeted activities and deliberate practice, you can strengthen neural pathways associated with specific skills and knowledge.

But what does this mean for you in practical terms? Here are some actionable strategies for students to leverage neuroplasticity and maximize your learning potential:

1.) Commit to Short, Regular Practice Sessions: Consistency is key when it comes to brain training. Instead of marathon study sessions, aim for shorter, focused practice sessions spread out over time. This approach not only prevents burnout but also allows for better retention and skill development.

2.) Ensure Correct Practice: Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. When you're practicing, pay attention to the quality of your efforts. Focus on precision and accuracy, and seek feedback to ensure you're on the right track.

3.) Embrace Intense Practice Sessions: Intensity breeds progress. Rather than passively going through the motions, challenge yourself with intense practice sessions that push your limits. Pushing beyond your comfort zone stimulates neural growth and accelerates skill acquisition.

4.) Create a Mimicked Environment: Context matters. Whenever possible, practice in environments that mimic the conditions in which you'll need to perform. Whether it's a quiet library for studying or a simulated exam setting, familiarising yourself with the context can enhance your performance when it counts.

By incorporating these strategies into your study routine, you can harness the power of neuroplasticity to achieve your academic goals and unlock your full potential.

Remember, your brain is a remarkable organ capable of extraordinary growth and adaptation. With the right mindset and approach, you can cultivate a learning environment that nurtures your cognitive abilities and fuels your success.

All the best in your learning.

Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
Congratulations to the following students who have recently completed their Bronze Duke of Ed Award, what a fantastic achievement! 

Ciara Kilbane, Irene Kostopoulos, Claudia Peterie and Matilda Ryan

Club Netball Season Season off to a Flying Start
After a washed out Round 1, the Inner West Netball Association winter competition season was able to get underway with Round 2 on Saturday, 13 April, which saw 20 Rosebank teams hit the court. It was great to see 50 students able to play their first game for Rosebank Netball Club alongside their returning teammates and we look forward to seeing the continued progress of all of the teams throughout the season.

A big thank you also to the 24 students who umpire, run and mentor umpires each week, allowing the games to proceed, whilst also developing their skills and knowledge in a different aspect of the game.

PERDITTA ( DITTA ) MARJORIE McCARTHY (1916 – 2012 )

Ditta McCarthy, an army nurse in the Korean War in 1953, might well have been likened to Florence Nightingale, especially when, with no electricity, she and her colleagues went round the wards at night with lamps and candles.


(Photo: Determined… Ditta McCarthy served as an army nurse from 1941, eventually reaching the rank of brigadier. Credit: Lucy Osburn-Nightingale Museum)

The medical staff at the hospital in suburban Seoul, in a bombed-out former school, had to take in the most dreadful battle casualties without sophisticated medical or general anaesthesia equipment and no instrument sterilisation unit. They could not do major surgery except in emergencies when they used local anaesthetics. But the wounded kept coming, some strapped to the bonnets of jeeps and in the backs of trucks, to be washed and deloused, many of them filthy with their combat clothing riddled with vermin.

Ditta McCarthy joined the services in 1941 and went on to serve in World War II, Korea, Malaya and Vietnam, reaching the rank of brigadier, making her the first woman ever to reach a general rank in the army. She became Matron-in-Chief of Army Headquarters in Melbourne, a position that also made her an honorary nursing sister to the Queen and was Matron-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps.

Perditta Marjorie McCarthy was born in Wagga Wagga on May 21, 1916, daughter of a businessman, Charles McCarthy, and his wife, Kathleen (nee Molloy). She attended St Clare’s College, Waverley and Rosebank College, Five Dock, in Sydney. Ditta enrolled at Rosebank on 9 June, 1931.

McCarthy trained at the Sydney Hospital, graduating in 1939. She went on to train in Obstetrics at the Crown Street Women’s Hospital. When war broke out, many underage women, including Ditta, signed false declarations about their age and signed up to “get into the action.” On June13, 1941, she joined the Australian Army Nursing Service and was posted to Darwin, then Adelaide and Cairns. She was then sent to Aitape in New Guinea. “My God we worked hard!” she said. A man shot through the thigh had called for a bedpan and when she retrieved it, it was full of blood. “The man had been bleeding but could not feel it,” she said. “We had all the infectious diseases. The scrub typhus was the first ward I landed. You’d go off for lunch, the boy was sick – there’d be a row of them – and you’d think it wasn’t too bad. You come back and the bed would be empty and carbolised to put someone else in. Then you’d have a little cry.” The murderous conditions continued.

“For about three days after the end (of the war) was declared, they were still bringing in boys and some were brought in dead.”

McCarthy then worked on the troopship MV Duntroon, transporting Australian military personnel, stores and equipment between Australia and Japan. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, she was with a detachment of nurses seconded to King George V Hospital in Camperdown, Sydney. In 1951, she was posted to Japan and took up duties at the British Commonwealth Occupation Force General Hospital at Kure, southern Japan. McCarthy recalls: “the real horrors of the Korean War were “brought home” to me when I was allocated for duty in the Burns Ward of the BRITCOM Hospital… Many were bandaged from head to foot, with only slits for their eyes and mouths, and obviously in great pain, which we attempted to alleviate with what “pain killers” were available at the time. Rarely – if ever – did they complain. Their youthful eyes would “light up” as we bent over them to dress their wounds or to apply medication. Their eyes also revealed their suffering and pain, their stoicism under such traumas had to be witnessed to be believed. As we approached the Burns Ward to report for duty, the stench of putrefying flesh was overpowering, the memory of which remains with me to this day.”

McCarthy returned to Australia briefly before returning to Japan and Korea in early 1953 for a posting to the British Commonwealth Communications Zone Medical Unit in the outskirts of Seoul, the capital of Korea. The hospital was in a bombed out, two storey school building, and the nurses lived and worked under Spartan conditions, with no fresh running water and few personal comforts. McCarthy recalled the initial opposition and resentment the women experienced in what had formerly been perceived as a male domain so close to “ the front”

“There were some very heated verbal confrontations and even the “pulling of rank”, which is virtually unknown in Nursing Corps. Drastic situations demand drastic action. All we wanted to do was to nurse and care for our wounded. All problems were eventually resolved and we slowly became accepted as an integral part of “the team”.”

Despite the lack of facilities and equipment, Matron McCarthy and her nurses determined that their “hospital” would be “the cleanest, most hygienic, germ and bacteria free establishment in Korea. This entailed the continual scrubbing and washing down of floors, walls, beds, etc. with what soap, detergents and antiseptics we could beg, borrow or steal.”

(Photo: Honoured Ditta McCarthy, centre, as colonel of the RAANC, visiting Sydney Hospital in 1971)

McCarthy believed that humour was the element that allowed us to retain our sanity. It came from the staff and from our patients, who, despite serious wounds, would continually tell jokes and take “the Mickey” out of their fellow diggers and officers.

With a long and distinguished career as a military nurse, McCarthy held many appointments, her last being as Matron-in-Chief of the RAANC ( Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps). In this capacity, Ditta visited several hospitals in Vietnam during 1971. Before her retirement, she was promoted to Brigadier, the only nursing officer to reach such a rank. She was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross in 1954 and the Royal Red Cross in 1972 for her dedication and service to nursing. 1972 saw her retirement after 31 years of continuous service.

Never one to remain idle for long, Ditta kept busy for many years in her retirement working as a volunteer at the Army Museum in Victoria Barracks, Sydney. She was also responsible for the research and writing of several biographies of colleagues and predecessors from the Army nursing fraternity.

Of the late Brigadier Perditta McCarthy, it can be genuinely said that “she served the Army with distinction” with great credit to her alma mater.

Information from Obituaries Australia by Malcolm Brown, and from Robyn Siers.

The College photos will be on Monday, 27 May 2024. 

To order online go to www.advancedlife.com.au and enter code 7YV16XQDP

Click on the ‘Order Photos’ and complete your details and choose your package, then follow the payment process. During this process you can place orders for additional children and any sibling photos.

Please note that students will be required to wear their College winter uniform, including the blazer. As per the uniform grooming code on page 18 in the College Diary.