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A new program will help out students set goals and grow both academically and personally. Read about our new INSIGHTS program.

10 minutes with Fairholme Principal Dr Hobart.

The MacLaren tartan has long been woven into the fabric of the Hall family, its threads connecting generations through time. For 101 year old Nessie Hall - Fairholme College’s oldest living Old Girl - the legacy began in 1938 when she started Fairholme as a Year 9 Boarder.

Amanda Barwick’s path to becoming a leading voice in the rural industry is rooted in her formative years at Fairholme College, where she first experienced the power of connection. As a Boarder from Inverell, the Boarding House not only became her home, but her community, which she says was instrumental in shaping her perspective on life. ‘The sense of belonging and support within the Boarding House was something I never took for granted,’ she reflects.

Fairholme College’s Class of 2014 reunion brought Belle Ronnfeldt (nee Thelander) a wave of nostalgia, as she reunited with old friends and celebrated cherished memories. ‘It was a wonderful reminder of my incredible time and the amazing friendships I built at Fairholme,’ Belle shared.

‘The importance of women supporting each other cannot be overstated. When women come together to support and empower one another, we create a ripple effect of strength and inspiration that extends far beyond the workplace. It’s about lifting each other up, sharing knowledge, and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive.’ Dietitician and Fairholme Old Girl, Rhiannon Stone (2013), walks the talk, exemplifying the power of women supporting women. This year, Rhiannon returned Holme to mentor Senior girls who were about to walk down Palm Drive for the last time, offering guidance, encouragement and wisdom as they approached a pivotal moment in their lives. It was a testament to her commitment to fostering a community where young women feel empowered, supported and ready to step confidently into the next chapter of their journey. ‘I was once told that “Mentors aren’t there to make us better—they’re there to help us uncover the greatness that’s already within us”.’ Rhiannon said the true value of mentorship lies in the knowledge of those who have walked the path before us. ‘They’ve encountered the speedbumps along the way, and while their insights can’t eliminate every challenge, they offer us the tools to navigate them with greater confidence and purpose. Mistakes, after all, are invaluable lessons. Reflecting on those experiences and using mentorship to forge your unique path is what shapes your identity and empowers you to thrive in any field. By embracing mentorship, Fairholme students can gain not just knowledge, but the courage to write their own extraordinary story.’ She says what truly sets Fairholme apart is its remarkable ability to foster lifelong connections and a true sense of belonging. ‘Even though it’s been 11 years since I graduated, the relationships I built there feel as fresh and meaningful as if I had left yesterday.’ Fairholme, in tandem with the Old Girls’ Association, is deeply committed to mentoring current students, inviting past students to return and share their experiences, insights, and wisdom with the Senior girls as they prepare to step into the next phase of their lives. Rhiannon was one of a number of Old Girls who returned to school this year to take part in a mentoring luncheon. ‘Walking back into the school and being greeted by familiar teachers or chatting with students who share nearly identical experiences to my own creates an unbreakable bond,’ Rhiannon said. ‘The shared traditions, the mutual support, and the understanding that we’re all part of something greater make it truly unique. There’s a profound sense of connection that Fairholme instills in every student, one that continues to inspire and uplift long after graduation.’ Rhiannon, who has built a thriving dietetics business in Toowoomba, Balance Nutrition, said her pathway since school was shaped by many small yet meaningful experiences. ‘It all started with my love for sport, which was a big reason I came to Fairholme in the first place. I knew I wanted a career in health and fitness, but a Year 10 work experience placement quickly taught me that anything involving bodily fluids wasn’t for me—I fainted at the sight of blood! ‘That’s how I landed on dietetics, a health-focused path that aligned perfectly with my passions.’ Concurrently, Rhiannon saw how nutrition directly impacted her performance in sport, which in turn fueled her desire to learn more. ‘Reflecting on it now, I think another key driver was my personal experience as a teenager trying to navigate the often confusing and conflicting messages about food. Like many young women, I was bombarded with advice from magazines and social media about what to eat and what to avoid. This curiosity—combined with a desire to cut through the noise and help others, particularly young women—became the foundation of my career in dietetics.’ When Rhiannon returned to the Homestead for her mentoring session with current girls, she was suffused with a deep sense of pride and fulfillment, knowing that her journey had come full circle and that she could now offer the guidance and support she had once received. ‘While I often work with Fairholme students to help them understand nutrition and fuel their bodies for success in school, sport, and life in a more clinical setting, returning to the college to offer mentorship was different,’ Rhiannon explained. ‘It was an opportunity to share my journey, the influences that shaped my career, and the parts of my job I truly love. What made it even more meaningful was the chance to remind the girls of something I’ve learned since leaving school: what you aspire to now doesn’t define you forever. ‘The pathways we traditionally think of after school don’t have to be the ones you follow. Life is incredibly short, and the best choices are the ones that truly fill your cup—not the ones you feel you ‘should’ make. For example, I took a gap year at 23. Was that traditional? No. Was it one of the best decisions I’ve ever made? Absolutely. Life is full of career opportunities, and the key is to pursue the one that brings you joy.’ But what if that changed down the track? ‘That’s okay, too!’ Rhiannon said. ‘Mentoring the girls reminded me of how important it is to guide and inspire the next generation, showing them that the possibilities are endless and that their journey is uniquely their own. Giving back to Fairholme in this way was an incredibly rewarding experience.’ Rhiannon’s connection to Fairholme extends well past mentoring. Some of her best friends today are from her school days. ‘I absolutely keep in contact with friends from school, and those connections are truly special,’ she explained. ‘We share in the big milestones—weddings, babies, career achievements—but it’s the smaller moments, too, that really matter. The everyday challenges where you just need a friend to talk things through.’ Boarding, in particular, gave Rhiannon friendships that she says are unlike any other. ‘It’s a unique bond built on shared experiences and long-lasting memories, and it’s something I’ll always cherish. ‘These friendships are more than just school ties—they’re forever connections, and I’m eternally thankful for the opportunity to have formed them.’ ___________ Rhiannon is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with Balance Nutrition, with over six years of private practice experience. Upon finishing Boarding school at Fairholme and relocating from Roma, she completed a Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics at Griffith University in 2017. After living and working in London, Rhiannon returned home in 2020 to work with Balance Nutrition, where she continues to develop her clinical practice alongside her personal values of compassion, curiosity and mindfulness. In 2021, Rhiannon completed further training to become an Accredited Sports Dietitian and has since become a qualified eating disorder clinician through ANZAED. Rhiannon loves connecting with women who are going through times of change in their lives, such as during adolescence and as young adults. A believer in taking a practical, no-nonsense approach in guiding clients towards better health, Rhiannon is skilled at building relationships with those who may be overwhelmed and seeking to simplify their approach to nutrition.

At 83, Fairholme Old Girl, Rosemary Shipton’s career in publishing is still going strong, and her story is anything but ordinary. Filled with chapters on resilience and determination and success, Rosemary’s story is a bestseller in its own right. From her early days as an assistant editor at the University of Toronto Press to her current role as an executive editor at Simon & Schuster in Canada, Rosemary has woven a tapestry of remarkable achievements, each more interesting than the last. With a career spanning decades, multiple facets of publishing, and a still-growing list of editing bestsellers and award-winning works, her passion for books and storytelling remains as steadfast as ever. But it’s not just her impressive resume that makes her stand out - it’s t he way she’s navigated a constantly-evolving industry, mentored hundreds of aspiring editors, and tackled the challenges of a female pioneer in a predominantly male-dominated field. Now, as she wraps up full-time work in Canada to focus on a few final projects, Rosemary reflects on a career that’s been as fulfilling as it has been groundbreaking, proving that age is truly just a number when you’re doing what you love. ‘You may wonder why I am in Canada. In a way, it’s connected to Fairholme. In the late 1950s, we first knew our results in the state-run Senior exams when they were published in the Toowoomba Chronicle. I was astonished by mine, so much better than I expected, and that got me a scholarship to University of Queensland,’ Rosemary remembers. ‘There I enrolled in the four-year History Honours program, graduated with First-Class Honours, and won an Australian National University Scholarship to ANU in Canberra. From there I won a Commonwealth Scholarship, and, wanting to follow the American system of a combined seminar and thesis degree, chose to come to Canada. After three years here, I married a Canadian – and began my first job in publishing at University of Toronto Press (UTP). ‘The prerequisites for this UTP job - a scholarly publisher - were a minimum of an MA in History, a reading knowledge of French, and the confidence and ability to work mostly with academic authors. In other words, university professors and researchers. After an interview, I got the job and began in August 1968.’ Rosemary, who attended Fairholme in the late 1950s when Nancy Shaw was Principal, continues to embody the spirit of curiosity and lifelong learning that defines a successful career in publishing. The world of trade publishing, where firms like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins reign, is one that demands constant adaptability and enthusiasm, she says. It’s a realm where no two books are ever alike, and no two authors ever present the same challenges. Yet, for this seasoned publishing veteran, meeting those challenges head-on with diplomacy, respect for deadlines, and passion has been the key to her rewarding career. ‘People who love a career in publishing tend to be curious, to thrive on lifelong learning. Every book is different, so you never repeat yourself. Every author is different, too, so it’s essential to be able to meet whatever challenges spring up and make a success of them.’ Rosemary’s love of books and reading was nurtured at Fairholme (she was Dux of the College in 1959) where she says she was lucky enough to have some inspiring teachers guide her path. ‘My years at Fairholme taught me that if I applied myself, I could succeed. the Principal, Nancy Shaw, was a big influence, as were a couple of teachers, such as Judith Green, who went on, as Judith Rodiquez, to be a well-known poet and university lecturer in Australia. I kept in touch with her sporadically and met up with her once in New York and later in Toronto, just a couple of years before she died,’ Rosemary remembers. ‘At Fairholme, I liked the routine of the morning assembly, sports days and the annual fair.’ One of the strengths of attending a girls-only school, according to Rosemary, is that it encourages students to take on all responsibilities, without the constraints of traditional gender roles. In the 50s - a time when societal expectations often dictated what males and females could do - she says Fairholme allowed young women to break free from those boundaries. ‘One of the advantages of a girls-only school is that the students have to do everything. There is no division of responsibility along ‘traditional’ lines between males and females (as there often was in the 1950s!).’ Similarly, the Fairholme values of seeking excellence, perseverance, integrity and kindness all continue to guide Rosemary’s professional and personal journey. ‘I hope all these characteristics will stay with me to the end of my life.’ When asked about the secret to her career longevity, Rosemary credits enthusiasm and a commitment to staying fit and healthy. Similarly, her passion for her work, combined with a willingness to embrace new opportunities, has kept her at the forefront of the publishing industry for decades. ‘I hoped to make my life as interesting and fulfilling as it could be, to be kind and supportive, and to enjoy my family and my friends,’ she reflects. ‘It’s important to have good friends and to be loyal to them. Also to respect experts and people who know more about some things than you do!’ ‘I think Fairholme’s focus on fostering creativity and resilience guided my ability to take risks and embrace new challenges.’ Even as she reflects on her decades-long career, Rosemary is staying firmly in the moment. ‘My final in-house position has been at Simon & Schuster as Executive Editor – and I have a most interesting group of books on the go (including the memoir by the current Governor General of Canada). ‘Recently, I turned 83, so I’m going to resign from full-time work and finish off my projects on a contract basis over the next 15 months. I don’t want to plan beyond the end of 2026 simply because I don’t think that’s fair to authors (who tend to develop a close relationship with their editors). ‘As I look back on my career, yes, I’ve enjoyed it to the full – especially having ventured into so many different aspects of publishing. I’ve also been well rewarded: in 2007, Trinity College, University of Toronto, granted me an honorary doctorate for my contribution to publishing in Canada, and I’ve won two awards given by Editors Canada.’ Having mentored hundreds of students throughout her career, Rosemary’s offers these insights into leadership and nurturing talent in the publishing industry - in fact, for any industry: ‘A good leader leads by example, so be positive, cooperative, creative, and always do your best work.’ And advice to the next generation of Fairholme Old Girls? ‘Be curious, embrace lifelong learning, and never stop trying to make a difference. If you do that, success will follow.’

Cheval Liberté the Label is turning heads in the equestrian world for its unique blend of sustainability, style, and performance. The brains behind the brand? Liberty Clark, a former Fairholme College Equestrian Captain who has turned her childhood passion into a thriving business. ‘Being part of the Fairholme Equestrian team was such a rewarding experience,’ she says. ‘It deepened my love for riding and also gave me an appreciation for how much quality gear matters. That understanding became a cornerstone of Cheval Liberté.’ Her idea for an equestrian fashion label first emerged in 2019, when she was a Year 9 student at Fairholme. ‘I’d spend hours sketching designs and pinning them to my wall. At that stage, it was just a dream,’ she recalls. By Years 11 and 12, the dream became more tangible. She credits Fairholme’s fashion program and her teacher, Ms Mandi-Joy Miese, for helping bring her vision to life. ‘We had a project to create a brand in Grade 12, and that’s when I thought, “Why not use my equestrian label idea?” Ms Miese was incredibly supportive,’ she says. After graduating, she decided to take a gap year to save money and focus on her vision. ‘It was scary at first, but I thought, ‘What have I got to lose?” ’ Cheval Liberté’s mission is simple: to provide eco-friendly, high-performance equestrian wear. From sourcing sustainable fabrics to using biodegradable packaging, the brand is designed with the planet in mind. ‘I wanted every aspect of the label to reflect my values,’ she explains. ‘Fairholme taught me a lot about the importance of responsible practices in fashion, and I carried that with me.’ The brand’s baselayers are a testament to her commitment. Offering UV50+ protection and moisture-wicking technology, they’re designed for comfort, safety, and durability. ‘Sourcing sustainable fabrics that meet the performance needs of riders wasn’t easy,’ she admits. ‘But the challenge has been worth it.’ The journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. During the sampling phase, she had to find a new manufacturer when her original partner couldn’t meet her design expectations. ‘It was a major setback,’ she says. ‘But it taught me resilience and adaptability—key lessons I learned at Fairholme.’ Launching her brand has brought many proud moments. ‘Seeing riders at events wearing my designs is surreal,’ she says. ‘Hearing positive feedback, especially about the quality of our fabrics, makes it all worthwhile.’ With plans to expand into men’s equestrian wear and offer inclusive sizing, the future looks bright for Cheval Liberté. ‘I’d love to open a boutique one day,’ she says. ‘For now, I’m focused on creating designs that help every rider feel confident and comfortable.’ She hopes her journey inspires others to pursue their passions. ‘Life is short. If you are reading this and thinking about creating your own brand or pursuing a career that’s outside the traditional path, that’s perfectly okay,’ she advises. Reflecting on her time at Fairholme, she credits the school for giving her the tools to succeed. ‘Fairholme taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and organisation,’ she says. ‘Those lessons have been crucial as I’ve juggled university, running my label, competitive riding, and part-time work.’ For Liberty, blending her love of fashion and equestrian sports with a focus on sustainability has been a dream come true. Cheval Liberté the Label isn’t just a business; it’s a reflection of her values and a way to make a meaningful impact. As she looks to the future, Liberty remains driven by her belief that with passion and determination, even the boldest dreams can become reality. To explore Liberty’s designs and learn more about her journey, vis it Cheval Liberté the Label online at chevallibertethelabel.com or follow the brand on social media for the latest updates and collections.

It's not lost on Georgia Stafford (2008) the value of an excellent education. Nor is it lost on her the profound value of a quality, empowering, all-female school experience. ‘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. ‘It was heartwarming to share our current career journeys and Fairholme friendship story, whilst answering questions from current Fairholme students who may be considering a legal or advocacy career.’ Georgia says Fairholme Old Girls have always had a deep connectedness to the College, long after graduation, many often returning to the campus to share their stories, their passions, their successes – those which were developed and nurtured during their time at Fairholme. ‘While Fairholme Old Girls have always had a strong bond with the college, the opportunity to support and give back has evolved through the numerous events and special occasions over the years,’ Georgia says. ‘FOGA is growing and transforming to include mentoring sessions with current students, guest speaking opportunities at the College, one-on-one guidance and coaching, and networking events where Fairholme girls - old and new - can get together. As Fairholme Alumni, we have a unique opportunity to reconnect with the College and ensure the gift of a Fairholme education can be passed down to the next generation of Fairholme girls through the generosity of our time, resources and mentorship.’ Georgia says meaningful ways that Fairholme Alumni can contribute to the College community simply starts by being involved. ‘I think current Fairholme girls appreciate and value the opportunity of hearing from Old Girls firsthand about their Fairholme and career journeys, often with a little bit of House rivalry thrown in for good measure! Our Old Girls are forever linked by the unbreakable bond of being ‘Once a Fairholme girl – always a Fairholme girl’.’