Our community is at the heart of our school, establishing and maintaining lifelong connections. We strive to create a sense of belonging through our culture, events, activities and network. We connect our students to inspiring stories and real-world experiences through our alumni and our broad NEGS community.
Our community is at the heart of our school, establishing and maintaining lifelong connections. We strive to create a sense of belonging through our culture, events, activities and network. We connect our students to inspiring stories and real-world experiences through our alumni and our broad NEGS community.
There is a famous ancient proverb that says, it takes a village to raise a child. At NEGS, we believe our School is that village, a strong, dynamic, empathetic community where every single one of our students is given the opportunity to flourish.
Since the School’s inception in 1895, it is this sense of belonging and collective investment that has been critical to the continuing success and longevity of NEGS. Our community is made up of many diverse groups that work seamlessly together. These include our wonderful teachers and staff, our current students and their families, and our treasured Old Girls’ network.
Academic research indisputably demonstrates that community, connection and a sense of belonging is what gives us meaning in life. Recognising and fostering this sense of belonging informs the many decisions made by our Board and Executive team, from building upon our nationally recognised Well-being program to developing a strong sense of commitment from the girls and their parents on all aspects of school life.
At NEGS, we believe our community is one of our defining strengths, so we continue to invest in the welfare and vitality of all members of our NEGS family, ensuring that the culture of NEGS is one of positivity and empowerment.
NEGS girls, past and present, reside around Australia and around the world and their success, resilience and enthusiastic participation in life is evident wherever you go. As NEGS is predominately a boarding school, with a strong sense of community, many essential livelong bonds are forged and highly revered within their lives. Established in 1913, (18 years after the school began) the NEGS Old Girls’ Union (NOGU) was formed to maintain and pass down traditions of the school, unite past students with the present, and help keep members and all old girls connected. The NOGU has over 6000 members and financially supports Scholarships and Bursaries to future students. We have branches in Armidale, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne where volunteer committee members help develop connections and organise events.
The close ties Old Girls have with one another and NEGS can be seen in their enthusiastic participation in many of the school’s activities. Old Girls return each year in September near St Michaelmas Day (Old Girls’ Weekend) to attend their 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, year unions to walk down memory lane. They are also invited as guest speakers and as guests to many of the school functions and mentoring programs each year.
They say there is something special about the friends you make in childhood. The friends you make at NEGS will be part of your life and will stay connected, where ever you are across the world.
Bridget Hyem (nee Bridget MacIntyre – Class of 1949) competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. She was the first-ever female to represent Australia in an Olympic Equestrian event and was a trailblazer for all female riders who have come after her. It was 20 years before another woman competed in an Olympic event.
NEGS Old Girl Olivia Gossip (class of 1999) is a Senior Assistant Parliamentary Counsel at the Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
NEGS Old Girl Julia Lynch (nee Julia Hargreaves – Class 2004) and her horse ‘Vedor’ represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympic Games. At 26, Julia was the youngest Australian show jumping competitor ever to compete at the Olympics. Julia placed 35th in the individual event and equal 10th in the team event. She also became the 4th Olympian NEGS Old Girl.
NEGS Old Girl Margaret (Meg) Early (class of 1969) is an artist and prize-winning author of 6 children’s books. After NEGS Margaret attended Sydney University majoring in Fine Arts, Archeology and Anthropology. She then went on to Shillito Design School for another 3 years and did a Post-Graduate year at St Martins School of Art in London. Margaret moved to France after spending
This year, NEGS Old Girl Rechelle Leahy (Class of 92), was listed on the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence 2019 for the Local and Regional category, and was nominated for a Pro Bono Australia IMPACT25 Award recognising her work creating a positive impact for women and girls in rural, regional and remote Australia. Rechelle is a co-founder of RegionalCollab and a
Our NEGS Old Girl is Georgie Rogers Class of 1993. After living an adventurous life travelling the world, Georgie was inspired to start Gathered Goods, a bespoke hamper service which sources beautiful goods from regional Australia.
Georgie grew up on a family property in Guyra and started boarding at NEGS in 1988. Her family has a long history associated with the Armidale region and NEGS.
NEGS Old Girl Jessica White (Class of 1995), is both an author and an academic. She is the author of A Curious Intimacy (2007), Entitlement (2012) and Hearing Maud (2019). Her short stories, essays and poems have appeared widely in Australian and international literary journals and she has won awards, funding and residencies.
Edwina Corlette (Class of 1981) is the owner and director of the Edwina Corlette, a commercial art gallery in New Farm, Brisbane.
On describing how six years at NEGS has informed her journey in life, Edwina says:
‘NEGS girls are pretty down to earth and resilient. A lot of us came from country backgrounds, hard working families who valued a broad education for girls.’
Ursula Hope McConnel (1888 – 1957), anthropologist, was a student at NEGS from 1904-1905 during the very early years when Miss Florence Green, the founder of NEGS, was the headmistress. Ursula was one of 10 born on a grazing property in Queensland. She was one of the many Queensland students who were sent to boarding school at NEGS. During her time at NEGS
If you are a NEGS Alumni and would like to connect with our Old Girls, reach out to us and we will connect you.
Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and we understand that you may have questions or concerns. Our dedicated staff are here to help you navigate the enrolment process and answer any questions you may have. We invite you to visit our campus, meet our students and staff, and experience the NEGS community firsthand.
