The Columba Old Girls' Association has experienced another successful year, with our profile within the school and Dunedin community continuing to grow.

The continued success of our new Pre-Loved Labelled Clothing and Garden stall at the school fair held on 4th of April 2009 was breath-taking. The generoursity of the school community in supporting our stalls is greatly appreciated.

The third Business Hall of Fame Awards evening was held on November 9th, with laureates Helen Anderson and Ann Kennedy-Perkins being honoured at the ceremony held in Constance Hall. Drinks and nibbles were enjoyed by an audience of approximately 100 Old Girls and their partners, former staff, and friends/family of Old Girls and Columba, with lots of socialising and networking taking place after the awards ceremony. The names of last years' laureates:- Barbara Anderson and Julie Aspinall were added to an honours board in the "Business Hall of Fame" alcove in the hall. A full report on the evening appears in this newsletter.

We were deeply honoured and grateful to Natalie Ellis-Wilson who donated the funds to commission a magnificent display cabinet which was unveiled during the evening and is situated in the Business Hall of Fame alcove in Constance Hall and will contain information pertaining to current laureates and relevant memorabilia.

Don't forget to nominate some of your classmates/friends to be considered for future years by by clicking here. I would also encourage you to update your personal information to ensure that our database is as accurate as possible.

Flowers were presented to the Dux and Head Girl at the prizegiving held in the Town Hall in December and a gift of a COGA cookbook and a COGA lapel pin, were presented to all leavers at the Leavers Service in November.

The Old Girls Committee member numbers have been depleted this year with resignations accepted with sadness from Sue Jones, Sophie Barker and Margie Stevely. An article about Margie features in this newsletter. A big personal thank you to the on-going support of Viv Eason, our Secretary, and Bronwyn Whitaker, our Treasurer and to all of the committee members.

Best wishes for 2010.

Jennie Hughes
President