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Class of 2025 - Head Prefect address
Class of 2025 - Head Prefect address
What an honour it is to be standing here holding in tears because I have been blessed, we, year 12, have been blessed. Today we do not just congratulate our peers, we congratulate our sisters; we do not just farewell our teachers, we farewell our friends; we do not just thank our school community, we thank our family. Thank you, PLC for blessing us with undeserving love, patience and support as we have pushed through the schooling marathon, thank you for moulding us into the women we are, ready for a life of significance.
PLC has watched the class of 2025 flourish. From the first time we put on a school shoe to the first time we put on our red jumpers this school has nurtured and rejoiced in each of our disappointments and achievements. PLC stood by us in our first school exams way back in year 7, and now they stand by us as we prepare for our last. PLC stood by us when we first performed ‘Power Rock’ in our year 7 band and now you stand by us as we perform our last as part of Jazz band today. You stood by us when we lost our first sporting match and you rose to cheer as we won our last. PLC you have been by us as we have fallen and risen, from the beginning you pushed us to be what we are sitting in our last school assembly. Thank you.
This place is often recognised for its plethora of opportunities, for the beautiful relationships between the girls and the widespread talent throughout each area but often the underlying spark to life at PLC is forgotten. To our wonderful teachers, we will miss you. We will miss your looks of approval when we do well, and sometimes looks of disapproval when we talk a little too much. We will miss the prep talk you give us before handing back assessments. We will miss the fierce encouragement you give us when you know we want to quit and the words of wisdom you impart when life gets hard. Thank you for the hugs and the glares and the smiles and the patience, for the time you take each day of each week to care for us and push us to do the best we can. PLC is built around your dedication to making the girls here flourish so thank you for pushing the cohort of 2025 to bloom.
A long overdue thank you goes out to our Boarding staff, particularly Mr J and Ms Latham. Ms Latham, from walking through our year 8 dorms at 1am with a torch because we’ve talked a little too loud, to sitting with us as we’ve cried, abnormally to ‘The Notebook’ you have been a mother to us. We know that your job is not always easy but you have supported us graciously and undeservingly from our first timid yet eventful experience night in the boarding house. Thank you for your endless love and care, life without you feels a little daunting. Mr and Mrs J. Since you took the role as Head of Boarding the boarding house has flourished with your tireless hours working to make boarding a home. Thank you for campfire BBQ’s and dress up nights, for listening to our opinions and receiving our feedback graciously. You have maintained the precious essence of boarding, nurturing the care and joy that makes boarding at PLC so unique.
I feel a great thank you needs to go out to Mrs Taylor, supported by a tireless team of people, hold PLC together. Mrs Taylor, you bring life to PLC, your gracious leadership, your endless commitment and your dedication to every aspect here is not unnoticed. You are a role model for each girl at PLC as you encourage each of us to live, not only by the PLC values but by the christian values. This thank you extends to Mrs Clynch, the team of teachers and all of the PLC admin, tech team, maintenance men, cleaners and dining hall staff who are dedicated to making the beautiful PLC culture stand out from behind the scenes.
While our teachers are the spark to PLC our parents and parental figures have held us upright from the beginning. Standing here, a sense of inadequacy overwhelms me as I try to capture our gratitude to you in a speech. You tied our shoelaces on our first day of school, made our first bookweek costume, helped us with our first school assessment, watched us march at the athletics carnival and prance across the stage in guild drama. You listened to our teary phone calls and calmed us when we were angry. You cheered for us when we did well and gave us advice, even when sometimes we didn’t want it. Mum; Dad; thank you. On behalf of each girl here, thank you to all our parents and every other parental figure who have supported us through thick and thin; laughed with us, helped us, challenged us and loved us. Thank you.
Finally, thank you year 12 of 2025. Over my years spent at PLC I have come to find a sister in each of the girls here. Class of 2025, I love you. I feel proud to say that you have imprinted your childish humor, extreme intelligence, musical passion and sporting prowess into the future cohorts watching you graduate today. You bring life to the community at PLC. I might be a little biased, but year 12, I think life will feel a little empty without you. I have no doubt that the next years will be wonderful for each of you. Each of you will grow from strength to strength, will achieve and succeed in each thing you put your mind to because that is the PLC way.
Jeremiah 29:11 in the bible says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Let these words reassure you year 12. In these next chapters my prayer for each of you is that you will look forward to goodness, I pray that these years ahead will be blessed and joyful. But when life isn’t easy I pray that you will find a community as loving and supportive as this at PLC.
Today it’s easy to see it as the last of the lasts however, today is not the day that marks the end but this day, this day marks the beginning. PLC you have equipped us for a life of significance and I have no doubt that these 25 ladies before me will live up to this. Today as we say goodbye to the endless classes and many recesses scrambling for bread rolls and the choir rehearsals and the sporting matches and all the other moments that make PLC, PLC, we welcome the life you have prepared us for. PLC, when we are not here, look for us flourishing beyond the walls of PLC, look for us doing what you have pushed us to do, look for us making a difference. Now, just as you look for us beyond the walls of PLC, we will look back and we will say ‘thank you PLC community, thank you for equipping us for a life of significance.’
So thank you PLC. Thank you for being just as you are.
Emily Blake - Head Prefect 2025
Emily Blake - Head Prefect 2025
SCHOOL SISTERS: Amelie van der Werf, Sophie Young and India Smith have been together at PLC Armidale since Pre-K.
Friends from PreK to Year 12
Friends from PreK to Year 12
Three of our 2025 graduates (Amelie van der Werf, Sophie Young and India Smith) have spent the past 14 years together. We asked them how it felt to be graduating and what the future holds for their friendships.
Can you remember your first impression of each other?
Can you remember your first impression of each other?
Amelie: I remember loving Pre-K because of Mrs Kennedy, who made learning so much fun. We did so many incredible activities with her that I never wanted to leave PLC!
Sophie: I can't remember.
India: I have actually known Amelie since I was two days old, so naturally I don't remember our first moment together, although what I do remember from those young ages was our never-ending bond. We have never argued, and we are always here for each other.
How has your relationship with each other changed over the years?
How has your relationship with each other changed over the years?
Amelie: Although our interests may be quite different, we have stayed friends throughout our time at PLC.
Sophie: We've always all been friends
India: Actually, I really think our relationships are quite special, because over the years, we all grow both together and in separate ways too, but what is so wonderful is that no matter how long we go without running into each other (for example if we don’t do many subjects together), when we do finally have the opportunity to see each other/spend time with one another, it is exactly how it was when we were little. We are all able to hold engaging conversations, and detail learn new things about each other, no matter how long we’ve known each other, and I think that is really quite beautiful.
What are the best things about spending 14 years at school together?
What are the best things about spending 14 years at school together?
Amelie: Getting to see how much we grow and change over time.
Sophie: To reminisce on how long we've known each other.
India: Witnessing Amelie and Sophie grow into the gorgeous girls they are has been truly inspirational and rewarding. I have loved knowing them for this time (and Amelie for my entire life), as we have seen so much of each other's lives, the ups and downs, the good and the sad news, and we’ve seen how we’ve all matured, in both similar and contrasting ways.
Is there anything challenging about it?
Is there anything challenging about it?
Amelie: Not really – we have managed to stay good friends.
Sophie: No.
India: I find it so hard to think that we now have to just not see each other every day. I mean, of course there are days where we don’t see each other or don’t speak to each other if we don’t have the same subjects or activities etc, but I know that they are always there if I need to chat or need someone to spend some chill time with. It’s really just quite sad that they won’t always physically be there. I mean, for Amelie, since the second day of my entire life, I have known she’s existed, and (well, when we were conscious enough), I’ve always been able to spend time with her, and so I’m just very sad that we won’t always be able to do that. Of course, whenever we’re in the same city, we will definitely catch up!
What would you say is your main passion? Has this brought you together?
What would you say is your main passion? Has this brought you together?
Amelie: I love the outdoors, so the Duke of Edinburgh program has been a great experience to share with friends. I also enjoy science, maths, running, and playing the cello, which has given me opportunities such as attending music camps and going on science excursions. While our interests are different, we’ve shared some of these experiences, as well as many with other PLC friends.
Sophie: Mine is sport, and it has brought India and me together, but not Amelie and me; however, Amelie and I still chat every once in a while.
India: Absolutely! Amélie and I have always enjoyed doing a lot of music together, and all three of us have always participated in a variety of sports, especially netball. Through this, we’ve been able to spend time with each other outside of school, strengthening all of our friendships, and I think it has definitely brought us together.
Over the years, we’ve all definitely found out special interests, especially considering future study and career paths, which has, of course, meant there’s had to be some prioritising and fading out of things, while joining/beginning other things, but I don’t actually think this did much to our relationships. One of the wonderful things about our relationships is that we understand, accept, and appreciate that we may have differing interests, so we let each other do what we like, have other friends, and so on. It’s so freeing, because when we do finally have time to spend with each other, we get to update each other on the different things happening in our lives, and it’s so exciting!
Do you think your friendship will continue once you leave PLC Armidale?
Do you think your friendship will continue once you leave PLC Armidale?
Amelie: Definitely! We’ve been friends for so long, and I’m sure that will continue.
Sophie: I think we will keep in contact, yes.
India: Well, of course, I hope so, but I really do think that whenever we catch up for coffee/lunch/dinner, it will be ‘like old times’. We’ll be able to share how our lives have been going, and we'll be excited to do so. It will be a lot of fun. I think it will be like this for lots of people in our year group.
Please describe each other in three words.
Please describe each other in three words.
Amelie:
India: enthusiastic, kind, musical
Sophie: funny, sporty, energetic
Sophie:
India- loud, funny, joyful
Amelie- funny, quiet, intelligent
India:
Amelie - Beautiful, humble, intelligent
Sophie - Gorgeous, caring, hilarious
What are your best memories at PLCA?
What are your best memories at PLCA?
Amelie: I really enjoyed the early years of Senior School at PLC, where there was a great balance between academic, sporting, and musical opportunities that helped me grow. One of my best memories is the Year 10 ESJ camp.
Sophie: My time at Senior School and graduating.
India: Well, I loved how much time we got to spend with each other in Junior School, and of course, there was less time spent studying at a desk, more time spent outside playing games and sports, which was really, really fun. And then on the other hand, it’s been so wonderful to see them grow into the beautiful girls that they are. One of my favourite memories at PLC with Amelie was performing in Matilda the Musical, and my favourite memories with Sophie have been all the IGSA trips and playing netball with her! I love these girls so, so much, and I am really going to miss them!
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