On Friday 27 June, the Ravenswood School for Girls community paid tribute to departing Principal, Dr Anne Johnstone, after an incredible decade of inspiring leadership.
Commencing after the lunchtime bell, the entire School – students from Prep to Year 12, teaching and non-teaching staff – lined the much-loved Wellbeing Path as Dr Johnstone, her family and Chair of Council Mr Peter Roach, walked the 800m Path loop and handed each student and staff member a silver bookmark, commemorating her tenure as Principal. The bookmark was engraved with her 10 themes and ‘Words of the Year’, a galvanizing initiative which Dr Johnstone announced at the beginning of each academic year to inspire collective focus. From Grit, High-Quality Connection and Hope to Resilience, Inspire, Actualise and Grace, the words of focus reflected the School’s mission to draw on Ravenswood students’ strengths and skills, empowering them to fulfill their potential. The Wellbeing Path farewell was a special tribute to Dr Johnstone, who designed and opened the first-of-its-kind Path in 2023.
Commencing with Prep students and staff, Dr Johnstone thanked every student as she walked past, personally handing them the bookmark. In turn, two students from each year level presented Dr Johnstone with a sentimental, home-made gift, designed and created by their cohort. The Junior School students also gave Dr Johnstone specially-chosen David Austen rose bushes – the Thank You rose, the Grace rose, the Gift of Grace rose, the Dove rose, the Heart of Gold rose, the In Appreciation rose, the Children’s rose, and the Blossom Time rose – symbolising Dr Johnstone’s unswerving commitment to education and the blossoming and flourishing of every Ravenswood student.
The Senior School students also presented her with rose bushes, as well as a beautiful hand-sewn quilt, crafted by each year level and presented by the 2025 student leaders. Each section of the quilt reflected one of Dr Johnstone’s Words of the Year, with each cohort expressing how each word inspired them individually and collectively.
As Dr Johnstone completed her Wellbeing Path walk, and with the students and staff passionately singing her unofficial anthem ‘10,000 Reasons’, Ravenswood’s tenth School Principal waved goodbye to the students and staff on campus for a final time.
Later that evening, the wider School community came together at brother school Knox Grammar, for an evening of performances, speeches and tributes in honour of Dr Johnstone’s remarkable tenure.
Heartfelt tributes were presented by Junior and Senior School leaders on behalf of Ravenswood students, Rhea Zhu (Year 6) and Zara West (Year 12), and Deputy Principals, Ms Sarah Guy and Ms Jennifer Richardson, who addressed the community on behalf of staff and gifted her with coffee table book filled with hundreds of messages of thanks, written and drawn, from the Ravenswood community. Head of Senior School Mrs Pamela Elliott and School Chaplain, Pastor Anna White-Atkins also read inspiring bible readings.
Lisa Boyce (Clancy, 1990 and President of Ravenswood Alumni) and Dr Johnstone’s first School Captain from the Class of 2016, Jessica Williams, spoke on behalf of the almost 14,000 Alumni. Jessica reflected on the values and leadership qualities she learned under Dr Johnstone’s tutelage and how they continue to inspire her to this day. Katie Brown, President of the Ravenswood Parents’ Association, then spoke from the perspective of a parent, and hailed the positive effect Dr Johnstone has had on a generation of daughter, saying, ‘Her unwavering commitment to student wellbeing has become the heartbeat of Ravenswood, shaping not only the school’s culture, but the kind of people our girls are becoming. And as a parent, that is a gift beyond measure.’
A beautifully written poem titled ‘Within and Beyond: An Ode to Dr Johnstone’ by Year 11 students and 2025 Poets Laureate, Leda Subasi and Abby McCutcheon, was also read and presented in a frame to Dr Johnstone.
Following each of their testimonials, the guest speakers presented Dr Johnstone with an olive tree, emblematic of her Greek heritage, Christian faith, the deep roots of strength and leadership she embedded at Ravenswood, and the campus gardens she created during her tenure. As Ms Sarah Guy noted in her speech, the olive tree was symbolic of how Dr Johnstone ‘nurtured resilience and growth through every season, strengthening our School culture by fostering the Fruit of the Spirit on our campus – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.’
Musical performances were another highlight of the evening, with special choral songs for Dr Johnstone, Grit, Grace and In Our Hearts, written and conducted by Director of Music Curriculum and Co-curricular Dr Michael Varecka, and performed by the Ravenswood Symphony Orchestra, RAVO voices and the Years 5-6 Choir under Director of Performing Arts, Mrs Heather Aird. Stunning dance performances were also staged by the Years 3-4 Dance Company (Contemporary and Lyrical) and Years 9-12 Hip-Hop Crew.
Mr Peter Roach, Chair of Ravenswood Council, paid special tribute to Dr Johnstone’s achievements as Principal. He also had the honour of revealing Dr Johnstone’s official portrait, painted by Ravenswood Visual Arts staff member and 2024 Archibald Prize finalist artist, Mr Tim Owers. The portrait, which depicts Dr Johnstone within the School grounds surrounded by her flourishing gardens, will hang in the Centenary Centre Atrium foyer, alongside her nine predecessors stretching back to 1901.
Following a 15-minute video tribute to Dr Johnstone, including messages from current and former students, staff and Council members, Mr Roach gifted Dr Johnstone with an artwork on behalf of the School Council and School Foundation. The colourful Indigenous painting, called Minymaku Inma (Women’s Song) by 2024 Professional Artist category finalist, Elder and senior knowledge-keeper from South Australia Betty Cambell, was gifted to Dr Johnstone to thank her for her founding and unswerving support of the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, Australia’s highest valued art prize for women, which launched in 2017.
Mr Roach also made a special announcement on the night, announcing the renaming of the new Wellbeing and Sports Centre to be The Anne Johnstone Wellbeing and Sports Centre, in honour of Dr Johnstone’s vision, guidance and dedication to Positive Education, academic excellence, and student and staff wellbeing during her time as Principal.
Dr Johnstone then addressed the Ravenswood community, thanking them for embracing her vision and application of the Master Plan, including the School’s ground-breaking commitment to Positive Education. Dr Johnstone reflected on the success of the school’s strength-based approach to ‘kindling the flame’ and the way this has nurtured and enriched the sense of connection, belonging and other-person centredness in our community. ‘Our students are our greatest inspiration,’ said Dr Johnstone. ‘Sometimes while sitting in my office with a significant pile of paperwork, I look out the window and feel this energy and inspiration, this wonderful sense of why we do what we do… to recognise the inextricable link between learning and wellbeing, to optimise the educational experience and outcomes, and infuse everything with Grace. That is why the RAVO sculpture stands on our Campus, an echo of the LOVE sculpture at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadephia – the city of brotherly love – because Ravenswood is a school of sisterly love. I hope that, as you walk past our sculpture, you are reminded of something epic – that we keep moving forward together with love.’
Following a standing ovation by attendees for Dr Johnstone, the evening concluded with a blessing, led by Pastor Anna White-Atkins and members of Dr Johnstone’s family and School leaders, and a special guard of honour for Dr Johnstone by Ravenswood members of the Knox Ravenswood Cadet Unit.
Years 7-9 Wellbeing Conference
Semper – Winter 2025
