Term 4

On Thursday, December 4, our Senior School community gathered in the Dorothy Knox Centre (DKC) for Speech Day - a celebration of our girls' academic achievement in 2025. 

We also recognised an amazing 25 years of service by our Co-Head of Boarding Miss Margaret Latham.

Those gathered were entertained by a special world premier 10th anniversary Bel Canto Voices performance of an original composition by Mr Warwick Dunham to mark the event, this was followed by a Jazz Band performance before Senior School Year Group completion certificates were handed out to each student and the announcement of our special prize recipients for 2025. 

Our guest speaker was Mrs Julie Turner (nee Kaehler), 1984-1989

Julie is a PLC Armidale old girl, mum to three grown children, wife to one husband, and owner of one dog. She is currently the Manager of Special Events for Talanton, an investment fund that aims to create jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Emily Blake, our 2025 Head Prefect, thanked her for demonstrating how focusing on being the best you can be in your profession can allow you to use your success to follow your passion and serve others.

In her parting address, our 2025 Head Prefect, Emily Blake, spoke about the privilege of a PLC Armidale education.

"Being Head Prefect this year has been one of the greatest honours," she said.

"I have met many new people, I have been challenged, I have grown, and I have learnt that being a leader means you rely on the leaders around you, it is for this reason that I have come to recognise that PLC educates girls in lessons of leadership, making PLC a place where leaders are born."

"I’m sure you’ve often heard the list of various appealing attributes that are given to PLC. 

The special relationships between the girls, the freedom our girls have to express who they really are, or even the plethora of opportunities provided despite our small size. These qualities bring a precious experience to everyone in the PLC community and I urge you not to forget this; but as the school year of 2025 comes to a close I ask you to now look at our school through a simpler lens. 

I arrived here 6 years ago, back in the days where the dining hall used styrofoam cups. For 6 years I’ve received invaluable advice from the PLC teachers. Like Mr Minter's encouragement to “prioritize getting marks” in exams or Ms Burney’s wisdom that without gloves in the wilderness, one’s chances of survival are, in fact, very low. For 6 years I diligently submitted assessments and took part in the drama of receiving marks. But for 6 years I also forgot to frequently recognise the privilege it is to be educated, the way we are at PLC Armidale. 

Did you know that in 2024, 16% of the global population had no access to education. While millions of children are unable to attend school, you sit in a classroom everyday. You are taught English, math and science, but you are also given lessons in resilience and friendship. You are taught how to survive the wilderness, exposed to diverse cultures and challenged to try new things. 

PLC, the education you receive here is not to be taken for granted. 

In 2024, women were 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than men. At PLC you are gifted with an education equal to men. You are not given less opportunities, but PLC even fights to give you as many experiences as possible- ranging from eating snails in Thailand to dinner with the Prime minister. 

PLC, the equality received here is not to be taken for granted. 

 In 2024, 20% of students were being taught by unqualified teachers. PLC is a place, we are taught by tireless, highly qualified teachers. You have teachers who are willing to help you out of hours. You have teachers who will mark piles of your essays over a weekend. You have teachers who would run ultramarathons with you. 

PLC, your teachers are not to be taken for granted.

Though it's not only the teachers that work endlessly to support your education. The Maintenance team consistently maintain the school grounds. The Admin constantly keeps PLC life running smoothly. And our tech team continually fix the endless stream of technological problems. The Boarding staff face late night tech time debates, and patiently nurture and love each girl even when they're caught having a midnight chat. Beyond that, there are the PnF workers, Dining hall staff, Bus Drivers and Cleaners who dutifully and kindly continue to support your education in their respective areas. 

And then there are our parents and carers. Girls, the education you are receiving here at PLC is unbelievably precious. This is possible because of your Carers who are constantly making massive sacrifices for you to receive what you do. Thankyou to these special people in our lives who drive us places, who help with homework, who give us hugs when we’re down, who fund our schooling and who never stop supporting us. 

Being Head Prefect this year has been one of the greatest honours. I have met many new people, I have been challenged, I have grown, and I have learnt that being a leader means you rely on the leaders around you, it is for this reason that I have come to recognise that PLC educates girls in lessons of leadership, making PLC a place where leaders are born. Each year I see girls who dislike public speaking get up on stage for guild drama, girls who would never swim in their free time jump in the pool for the individual medley, girls who can only play a few notes on their instrument get up on stage for the year 7 band. In these moments I see girls becoming young leaders, a leader who takes initiative, a leader who cares for others, a leader who is creative, and a leader who takes time to be a role model, for their peers and for the younger girls. 

As I finish today I encourage you to be thankful for the opportunity you have to be educated, beyond the scope of ordinary education, at PLC. Psalm 9:1 says: 

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;

    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Let us thank the LORD for all he has given. Be thankful for our education by trying your hardest. Be thankful for our teachers by treating them with respect. And be thankful for each of the opportunities that you receive here by making the most of these. 

Let thankfulness be your constant companion, let it guide how we learn, how we lead, and how we lift one another. Let it make our PLC community shine. 

Ad Astra PLC."

Emily Blake - PLC Armidale Head Prefect 2025