Old Collegians' Club History
The Old Collegians’ Club was established in 1904.
During the first meeting, which was attended by over 200 former students, the goals and objectives of the club were established. These continue today and include: to preserve old college ties and friendships, to provide social opportunities amongst each other, and to maintain sentiments of loyalty and affection towards the College.
OCC President’s Message
I am thrilled to step into the role of OCC President. My time at MLC has left me with countless memories, from playful moments on the playground to camaraderie in the tuckshop and corridors. These cherished memories continue to shape who I am today, and I'm certain many of you share similar sentiments.
This school holds a significant place in my heart, it is a place that binds us together as MLC students. Upon graduation, we are warmly embraced into the MLC Old Collegians Club, a network spanning over a century and comprising more than 25,000 members worldwide. Our aim is to foster enduring friendships and community spirit through bespoke events, regular communications, and programs tailored to benefit our alumni.
Recently, we've introduced initiatives such as a mentoring program to navigate the complexities of careers and a fellowship program offering grants of up to $9,000 to support not-for-profit ventures empowering women. This community is truly special, and I extend a warm invitation to each of you to join us. I eagerly anticipate connecting with you at our upcoming events.
Warm regards,
Alex O'Keefe (1999)
President
OCC Council
The OCC is led by generous volunteers and the support of MLC. The Council comprises Old Collegians from across the generations who work together to implement the OCC events and programs to connect Old Collegians with each other, the College and their communities.
2023 Executive Council Members:
- Alexandra O'Keefe (1999) – President
- Sarah Mote (2007) – Vice President
- Bridget Ward (1991) – Treasurer
- Adrika Sri Bawan (2013) – Secretary
- Alex Waddell (2010) – Immediate Past President
Applications for the 2024 Council are now closed. We look forward to opening the nomination process again in late 2024.
Please find a copy of the OCC Constitution here.
OCC Events
The Old Collegians’ Club host several events per-year that bring together alumnae from across our community. Please check the events calendar to see this year's events.
OCC Programs
The OCC run two empowering programs - one that provides financial support to an Old Collegians’ not-for-profit endeavour whilst the other connects recent school leavers and early career Old Collegians to those more experienced.
Val Kerr Fellowship Grant
Our Val Kerr Fellowship Grant Program supports Old Collegians who are planning to undertake a not-for-profit venture that aligns with OCC values and promotes the empowerment of women, female leadership, education or social entrepreneurship.
The program includes financial support to assist the recipients in their endeavours. Examples of suitable ventures that may benefit from the Fellowship Grant include undertaking a research project, developing a business case for a social enterprise, providing outreach activities or adapting an existing program offering/approach.
Financial support is provided up to $10,000 for a not-for-profit venture.
About Val Kerr:
Val Kerr (1937) was a much-loved and respected member of the MLC community. Val had an impressive 84-year connection with MLC, attending as a student from 1932 to 1937. She later returned to the College as a teacher, Chief of Staff, Deputy Vice Principal and Acting Vice Principal before retiring in 1983. Val was a devoted member of the Old Collegians’ Club and served as President in 1960. Val was named patron of the Club in 2001 where she continued her dedication to the College until her passing in 2016.
Naming the grant program after Val is in recognition of her contribution to the College community and in particular to the Old Collegians’ Club over many years.
Key Dates
February–June: Applications Open
July: Selection Process
August: Outcomes Notified
Please ensure you read the information below:
2019:
Steph Cousins (2000): Empowering refugee women to find safer futures through international employment.
2020:
Nicole Bishop (Butcher 1996): Evaluation of the effectiveness of a not-for-profit training program aimed at improving the lives of widows in Northern India.
N'Deane Helajzen (1994): Marking 25 Years since the Srebrenica Genocide: To see, to know, to remember – An online exhibition to combat Historical Revision and Genocide Denial.
Alana Schetzer (2000): 'Get Lippy', a social enterprise selling limited edition lipsticks to raise awareness and funds for organisations that work to prevent violence against women.
2021:
Sarah Cavenagh (Brook 2007): Quilts of Love, with quilters donating quilts to show care and support for those caught in a natural disaster.
Jocelyn McCallum (Houghton 1965): The Supporting Women to Create a Positive Future, assisting 16 vulnerable women to be job ready and gain employment.
Alexandra Murphy (2005): SMART-BREAST, helping in the development of a smartphone-based app for cardiovascular risk reduction in breast cancer patients.
2022:
Mil Truscott (1990): Attended the "Rethink Addiction Convention in Canberra" to assist with her role as a AOD counselor with a Women's Recovery Group.
2023:
Kate Gore (1991): Conducting research groups to further understand the mental health needs of autistic working mothers.
OCC Mentor Program
The Mentoring Program provides a structured pathway for MLC alumnae to support, encourage and inspire each other - both personally and professionally, as they move through different ages and stages in life. The program places a strong emphasis on encouraging relationships across different groups and alumna years of the MLC alumnae community.
It achieves this through two in-person networking events each year, as well as providing younger Old Collegians the opportunity to develop a one-on-one working relationship with a more accomplished MLC alumna.
The program hopes that participants will also develop a stronger sense of camaraderie and connectedness with the MLC alumnae community, while contributing to a broader goal of women supporting women.
“The importance of women supporting each other cannot be overstated. The bonds
we developed as students go beyond mere friendship; they formed the foundation
for a supportive, empowering and nurturing community.”
Principal Julia Shea
Participants come from a wide range of professional backgrounds - for example academia, design, education, health, law, science and more.
- Mentees must have completed their tertiary studies and have been working in their chosen field or have started their own business for at least three (3) years.
- Mentors are further along in their career, having gained work and life experience, as well as having built up their skills, confidence and accomplishments along the way.
All attend our first Meet Your Match networking event to meet and mingle with other participants in the program.
At the end of the evening, mentees and mentors submit a preference form in which they express their preferences for whom they would like to be matched with.
All the information provided in the application forms, alongside the data collected in the preference form, is then reviewed by our Program Facilitator to help identify suitable pairs based on their goals, experience, and preferences.
Applicants are then provided with details of their match and are supported throughout the program with a scaffolded structure of topics and themes to explore together in their one-on-one meetings.
Note: It is not always possible for us to provide all applicants with a suitable mentor/mentee. Applicants who are not successfully matched in this year’s program will be invited to participate again in the future - and will be given priority in finding a suitable match.
Application Dates
Applications for the 2025 Mentoring Program open on 1 January 2025. The closing date for applications is Sunday 16 March 2025.
Old Collegians interested in participating in the Mentoring Program are invited to apply via our online Application Form.
Mentoring Program Events
The Mentoring Program is bookended by two face-to-face networking events with all participants expected to attend both evenings.
The first networking event in 2025:
Meet Your Match Networking Event
6pm - 8pm
Wednesday 19 March 2025
This is an opportunity to meet and mingle with others, before submitting your Preferences Form to help us find you a suitable match.
After mentees and mentors have been matched, they are encouraged to arrange at least four one-on-one meetings. These private meetings are held on days and times that suit both parties and may take place in person or remotely.
As the program draws to a close, participants are expected to attend our second face-to-face networking event:
Reconnections and Reflections Networking Event
6pm - 8pm
Thursday 18 September 2025 (TBC)
This is an evening to share your experiences with others and then join the annual OCC Celebration Evening with the wider community of MLC alumnae.
If you are unable to attend both events in person, you'll be unable to participate in the 2025 Mentoring Program, and we warmly invite you to apply again in the future.
To participate in the OCC Mentoring Program, please complete the Application Form.
Applications open on 1 January 2025 and close on Sunday 16 March 2025.
If you have any further questions, please contact us at occmentoring@mlc.vic.edu.au.
OCC Patron
OCC Patrons hold a special position within the MLC community, acting as ambassadors for the College and its alumnae, wherever in the world they are located.
We acknowledge and pay tribute to former OCC Patrons who have passed away: Joan Forster (1934), Val Kerr (1937) and Fran Keller (Woolhouse 1948).
In 2018, MLC’s Old Collegians Club was delighted to appoint Anne Scott OAM (Simpson 1957) as its Patron.
Anne Scott OAM (Simpson 1957) attended MLC from the age of six until she completed her Leaving Certificate. Her daughter and granddaughter are also Old Collegians. Anne served on the OCC Council for almost 20 years, including as its President from 2009 – 2010.
Anne says her long history of community contribution – beyond MLC she has made an enormous impact on the Girl Guides Association/Guides Australia, International Guiding, The Order of Australia Association and Rotary International – reflects the life lessons taught at MLC and Dr Wood’s famous reminder that “from those to whom much is given, much will be required.”