Estelle Blackburn, Tian Beckett, Jenny Twine and Valerie Davies at the breakfast.
Camera IconEstelle Blackburn, Tian Beckett, Jenny Twine and Valerie Davies at the breakfast. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Graduates lend their voices to celebration

Sarah Motherwell, Western Suburbs WeeklyWestern Suburbs Weekly

The 18-year-old is the youngest woman featured in the school’s 100 Collegian Voices book, which documents the sisterhood of success that has followed many of the school’s graduates.

Some notable contributors to the school’s legacy attended Tian’s speech last week at a breakfast that acknowledged the achievements of ‘amazing women’.

‘Even now it’s hard to believe that the same kid that built mud huts in freezing conditions in Xinjiang is actually me on top of the podium, on top of the world,’ Tian said.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Principal Rebecca Cody said Tian’s story of overcoming adversity despite all odds was a great example to help inspire other students and young women to remain determined and succeed.

For 100 Collegian Voices, class of 1968 graduate Valerie Davies chose to write about transitioning through her own personal challenges in life including the sudden death of her brother when she was 15 and the loss of her 13-year-old son in a car accident.

The former WA Telstra Businesswoman of the Year said her most significant achievement in life was meeting challenges with resilience and optimism.

Walkley Award winning journalist Estelle Blackburn said her experience at MLC showed her that women could do and be anything.

Jenny Twine, who wrote the entry for her mother Ethel Peet (Gordon), said that during her research she discovered she had 20 direct relatives who had all attended MLC.

Mrs Twine said MLC had afforded her family great opportunities in life.