Giving
WHERE UNSTOPPABLE BEGINS
Responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic:
Strathcona Family Support Fund
The significant economic ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic have spread worldwide and our Strathcona community has not been left untouched. In addition to the assistance pledged to families already by the school, an emergency fund has been created specifically to support Strathcona families experiencing significant financial hardship.
We understand that times are tough for many right now and some parts of our community will not be in a position to give. However, if you can contribute, no matter the size of the gift, it will help make a difference to a Strathcona family.
Why Give?
Our mission is to give each girl the life shaping momentum she needs to be a truly unstoppable woman. To do this we need to remain forward thinking and responsive to an increasingly complex world, always looking for better ways of nurturing and cultivating the talents and interests of each individual.
Giving to Strathcona allows us to stand firm in our mission, inciting action, strength and courage. Whilst school fees and government grants cover the operational costs of the school, it is giving that transforms it, ensuring Strathcona girls the kind of education that leads to a life of meaning and fulfillment.
Strathcona is proud of its long history of philanthropy. Our founders, Mrs Livingstone and Miss Hughes believed in and were committed to a woman’s right to the kind of education offered to her male counterpart and her ability to make good use of it. With this resolve and plenty of grit, they financed the school through the sale of Mrs Livingstone’s house, along with Miss Hughes’ modest capital.
Again, in 1969 the generosity of another two women, the Mellor sisters, allowed the School to purchase the historical property Tay Creggan, situated on the banks of the Yarra River in Hawthorn. In 1970 Tay Creggan opened its doors to our Year 9 students, a revolutionary step as Australia’s first designated campus for Year 9 girls.
Whether giving of voice, time, talent or money, generations of Strathcona’s community have followed the lead of these extraordinary women, investing generously in the place our girls benefit from and thrive in today. Our donors love Strathcona and they are proud of the people it produces. They are part of a community that has deeply set values, honoured over generations; community that is warm, compassionate, welcoming and genuinely connected.
Our community gives to provide our girls the opportunity to find their voice and identity. Giving inspires our girls to pursue novel ideas, take prudent risks, retain a positive outlook and challenge the status quo. They know that being a Strathy girl is about so much more than just being the best.
With your financial support, we can offer life-changing education to girls who would not normally be able to access it. You can help envelop our girls in a cutting-edge physical environment, help us continue to attract exceptional educators, pursue big projects and even bigger ideas.
Unstoppable girls start at Strathcona, and unstoppable people are behind them.
Your Impact Areas
There are many ways to support Strathcona. Whether large or small, all gifts support Strathcona’s future and are gratefully received. Your gift will assist the School’s vision to create the kinds of unstoppable teaching and learning experiences that nurture and cultivate the talents of each individual girl. Select an impact area below to learn more about the difference your gift could make to Strathcona students.
The Ruth Bunyan Scholarships and Bursaries Fund
(tax deductible)
For many talented students, a Strathcona Education is out of reach due to a family’s financial circumstances. It was the dream of past Strathcona principal (1990-2000) Ruth Bunyan to be able to provide opportunities for girls from all backgrounds and circumstances, access to the high standard of education that Strathcona can provide. And so, with great joy, upon her retirement, the Ruth Bunyan Scholarships and Bursaries Fund was established.
Giving to the Ruth Bunyan Scholarship and Bursary Fund allows us to continue building an environment rich in diversity and inclusiveness. It provides opportunities for talented young women, whose family situation would otherwise prevent them from experiencing the life-changing education only possible at a school like Strathcona. The fund also assists families already at the school who, for reasons outside of their control, are experiencing financial hardship. Your gift will mean these families can be supported through these troubling times, ensuring their girls can remain within the safety of a Strathcona education.
Inspiring Buildings
(tax deductible)
A gift to the Strathcona Building fund allows us to reimagine and reform our learning environments, transforming them into the kinds of contemporary spaces that inspire our teachers and embolden our student’s biggest dreams. Our current students benefit from Tay Creggan, the historic Year 9 campus, the Wheelton Knowledge Exchange and our Creative and Performing Arts Centre; all buildings that would otherwise not have been possible without the generosity of our community.
Library Program
(tax deductible)
Strathcona girls and staff alike are fortunate to access a wealth of learning resources available across the senior campus’ ‘Wheelton Knowledge Exchange’ and the Junior School’s Library. The Strathcona Library Fund exists to accelerate the purchase of exceptional literary materials and resources plus the technology to access them. Gifts also allow the school to attract high profile visiting authors and speakers, learning experiences that further enrich our library program. Supporting this impact area is truly giving the gift of learning, supporting, and expanding intellectual growth within our community.
Unstoppable Sport
(tax deductible)
Sport matters at Strathcona. It connects our students, creates opportunities for leadership and offers diversity in skills and knowledge. Strathcona is proud of the performance and diversity of its sporting teams, clubs and individual athletes. Our ongoing vision is to provide opportunities for students to participate in a broad range of activities at all levels that both encourage excellence and a lifelong love of health and physical activity to support healthy lifestyles.
A gift directed to sport will help us to attract talented athletes, it will support the purchase of large-scale equipment, the appointment of amazing elite level coaches and the development of high performance programs for our girls.
Bequests
Leaving a gift (Bequest) to Strathcona in your Will is an incredibly personal, powerful way of supporting what you value most about a Strathcona education and the discovery of knowledge. After taking care of those closest to you, we invite you to consider leaving a lasting legacy that will enrich the lives of future Strathcona girls. Past gifts bequeathed to the school have helped fund exciting and valuable projects, such as the Beth McLaren Smallwood Scholarship for hearing impaired students, a program that has now assisted many hearing impaired students access a Strathcona Education. A bequest is often the largest gift that someone will ever make, but it can also be relatively modest. Whether large or small, Strathcona cherishes any gift made in a will as it reflects something that has been dearly important to a person in their lifetime. A gift in your Will may be the most profound gift you ever give.
If you are considering leaving a gift to Strathcona in your Will and would like information on how this could best be worded, please contact us. By informing Strathcona about your intended bequest, you assist the School’s long-term planning to support important future initiatives. Importantly, this also gives us the opportunity to thank you in your lifetime and invite you along to important Strathcona events (should this be of interest).
All bequest correspondence with the School is confidential. For more information on bequests, or for a confidential discussion on how you could make the greatest impact to the lives of Strathcona girls, please contact Strathcona Development Manager, Mrs Eliza Goding by email or by phone (03) 8779 7500.
Tailored and Special Gifts
If you would like to talk to us about making a special gift or would like to know more about how you can maximise your impact in a specific area, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please reach out to Development Manager, Mrs Eliza Goding via phone 03 8778 7500 or email egoding@strathcona.vic.edu.au to learn more about special or tailored gift.
