ROGU - Then and Now

Mabel Fidler, vitally interested in her former students, formed the Ravenswood Old Girls’ Union in 1908 so that she and her ex- students could keep in touch. She remained President of the Union until 1938. Ravenswood was her passion and as a result of that passion an institution has grown with a network reaching over six thousand Old Girls annually.

Our Past

Over the past 100 years, ROGU has been active in so many different ways. Our earliest activities included sponsoring a Ravenswood cot at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital thus setting the precedent for the charitable fund raising efforts of Ravenswood students known still today as ‘Cot Efforts’.

During the 1920s and 30s the Surry Hills Day Nursery Circle was formed and raised funds for the nursery through social events, theatre parties, afternoon teas and the ‘Annual Ball’. Plaques still exist today from the Day Nursery and Children’s Hospital archives recognising the work of the Ravenswood Old Girls’ Union.

The war brought a different focus for the Union with money raised directed to the Belgian Fund and gift parcels for the Military Hospitals. Old Girls who served in the Second World War and other conflicts are welcome guests at the annual Ravenswood ANZAC Service.
Post war, the Union had a very strong social base even extending to a ‘younger set’ that held separate functions. The Annual Ball, reunions and fundraising for the Mabel Fidler Library and needy charities continued to draw the Old Girls together.

The 60s and 70s was a time of enormous social change whereby the parameters and choices for women widened far beyond anything that the women of 1908 could have ever imagined yet the spirit of friendship and giving by the Union continued.

ROGU Today

The most important role of the Union is to keep an ongoing connection with Old Girls. This has certainly been enhanced by Old Girls Online and assistance from the Community Relations office at Ravenswood. Networking through our online service has been a great help to Old Girls especially in areas such as relocation, job opportunities and mentoring. The Union has a representative on the School Council and at the All Schools Ex-students Association. ROGU provides an annual scholarship to a daughter or grand-daughter of an Old Girl entering Year 11 and gives a number of academic prizes and House medals each Speech Night.

ROGU financed the Old Girls Courtyard, gave financial support to the Strength and Conditioning Centre, hosts the Annual Old Girl mothers and current Ravenswood daughters’ breakfast, presents each Year 12 girl with a ROGU pin at her final assembly, hosts a reunion for the most recent HSC/IB group, assists at the annual Golden Girls’ Luncheon, has run the cake stall at the school fair and more recently hosts a cocktail evening for Old Girls to come back to the school and view the current HSC Art Major works. Mabel Fidler would be proud of the direction the Union has taken.

ROGU - Message from the President

It is an honour to be President of the Ravenswood Old Girls Union in 2009, our 101st year. The Union will continue to maintain and foster friendships amongst Old Girls, and between Old Girls and the School. This network is a valuable community of wonderful women. Stay connected, and keep in touch!

Liz Cameron. (Kellaway 1980)
President, ROGU