The Significance of Being a Fairholme Girl: Georgia Stafford (Fairholme Old Girl 2008)

‘It means something special to have worn the Maclaren tartan and to have walked down Palm Drive,’ she says.

‘It is also priceless to have had the values of ‘burning yet flourishing’ instilled in me and to have had the opportunity to grow and thrive in a place that values young women and truly believes that Fairholme girls ‘can’ and ‘they will’.’

She goes on to admit that she doesn’t think she fully appreciated her Fairholme education whilst at school. ‘However, throughout my professional and personal life and in the decade and a half since graduating, my Fairholme education continues to be a treasured gift,’ Georgia says.

Now, as a mother herself with a young daughter and baby son, she says she can truly appreciate the decision her parents made to send her to Fairholme.

‘The realisation that many of my closest friendships and greatest opportunities in life came to me through my time or connection with Fairholme has instilled a strong sense to give back to the College.’

As this year’s President of the Fairholme Old Girls’ Association (FOGA), Georgia is fulfilling her commitment to giving back to the school, and to empowering the next generation of Fairholme Old Girls.

‘Fairholme has always been more than just a school; it is a community where values, excellence, and lifelong bonds are cultivated,’ she says. ‘It means something significant to be a Fairholme Girl. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education and the potential to succeed that is in each and every one of our Fairholme Girls irrespective of their background or circumstances.’

Georgia says the story of FOGA is one of connection and celebration, where the past meets the present, and generations of Fairholme women come together to honour their shared history.

‘As the world evolves, FOGA continues to adapt, but its core values remain rooted in the strength of community and the bonds forged during school years,’ Georgia says.

‘It’s about bridging the past and the present, creating a space where both old and new girls can come together,’ she says. For her, FOGA isn’t just an association—it’s a living, breathing part of the Fairholme experience that continues to offer support, networking, and a sense of belonging long after graduation.

‘Recently, I attended a Fairholme Old Girls mentoring luncheon held in the beautiful Homestead. I was able to share with current Senior girls my experiences after graduation, along with FOGA secretary Sarah-Jane MacDonald, who has been my good friend for many years. We were able to reflect and share the story of our different career paths in the legal field and how various opportunities that came along the way have given us both very fulfilling and different paths in our careers - Sarah-Jane as a legal practice Director and myself working in an advocacy role for a peak body and as chairperson of a Queensland Community Grants program.