On Friday 17 June 2022, Korowa officially opened the new Sports and Wellbeing Centre. We are delighted to honour important and valued members of our history and community in this Centre as namesakes.  

The Roslyn Otzen Sports and Wellbeing Centre 

Dr Roslyn Otzen served as Principal of Korowa from 1991 until 2003. During this time, she introduced many innovative programs and cemented Korowa’s reputation as one of the leading independent girls’ schools in Australia. Amongst her many achievements at Korowa were the establishment of the Early Learning Centre, the Cripps Centre Middle School and the Korowa Foundation of which she is a former Director and Fellow. Dr Otzen also introduced the now iconic Trek program that teaches students teamwork, resilience and an appreciation of the natural world.  

Dr Otzen has always been a passionate advocate for girls’ education. In 1991, along with Sylvia Walton, Principal of Tintern, Dr Otzen established the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia, which is still the foremost voice for the advancement of girls’ education and represents Australasian girls’ schools at international conferences. She served as President for a number of years and in honour of her contribution to the Alliance, The Roslyn Otzen Award for Exceptional Teaching is awarded annually. 

In 2001, Dr Otzen was a driving force behind the establishment of Girls’ Sport Victoria (GSV) that saw the formation of one of the largest sporting associations for girls in Victoria when the 24 independent girls’ schools combined into one sporting association that expanded and enhanced sporting opportunities for girls. This is a legacy we continue today, with Korowa involved in 16 sports. 

Korowa’s new Sports and Wellbeing Centre now proudly bears Dr Otzen’s name – The Roslyn Otzen Sports and Wellbeing Centre.  

 

Wendy Millar Sports Hall 

Mrs Wendy Millar (Malfroy, Class of 1964) has had a lifetime association with Korowa. She attended the School from 1960 until she graduated in 1964. In her final year, she was a Prefect, Jamieson House Captain, and Sports Captain. She excelled at sport being a particularly talented tennis player who represented Victoria and Australia in several teams. Mrs Millar went on to study Physical Education at university.  

In 1978, Mrs Millar was appointed as Head of Physical Education and Sport and played a leading role in the planning and opening of Korowa’s new sporting complex opened in 1985, the original site of new The Roslyn Otzen Sports and Wellbeing Centre. She was also instrumental in gaining the services of former Olympic Coach, Henri Schubert, as Korowa’s athletics coach, which saw the School win the AAGGS Combined Athletics Trophy for a record-breaking 10 years from 1982. 

In 2001, she was appointed the inaugural Chair of the newly formed Girls’ Sport Victoria Heads of Sport Committee and helped to create the breadth and depth of sporting opportunities that we enjoy today. 

Mrs Millar served many roles in her time at Korowa in addition to Director of Sport, she was appointed Director of Administration in 2000, and was later appointed Acting Head of Senior School. In 2004, she was appointed Chief of Staff, a role she performed with distinction and with her customary efficiency until her retirement in 2009 after 32 years of distinguished service to the School.  

In 2010, she served as the Korovian Club President after having given many years of service on the Committee.  

Mrs Millar’s lifelong passion for sport and its importance in the curriculum, combined with her loyal and dedicated service to Korowa as a student, member of staff and Korovian will now be recognised in the naming of the sports hall in her honour to be known as the Wendy Millar Sports Hall. 

 

Sandra Ivory Café and Piazza 

Mrs Sandra Ivory (Clark, Class of 1967) attended Korowa from Year 5. Friendship is her enduring memory of Korowa and sitting with her friends in the school grounds at recess and lunchtime were the personal highlights of her day. 

Mrs Ivory commenced her early working life with AMP and then travelled extensively overseas for two years, part of which involved living and working in Israel. Upon her return to Australia, she took up a position in human resources and then became a commercial property manager. This sparked a renewed interest in property and she went on to become a licensed real estate agent for several years. 

Mrs Ivory’s father, Stannard Clark, was philanthropically minded and she came to share her father’s vision of giving back to the community to benefit others and she saw the power of education to make a difference in people’s lives. 

Mrs Ivory is a Director of the Launcestonian Foundation, Governor of the Geelong Grammar Foundation and has been a Director of the Korowa Foundation since 2014 and Chair of the Korowa Foundation since 2015. Due to her philanthropic support of the School, Mrs Ivory is one of only two Benefactors of the Korowa Foundation.  

In 2020, she retired from the Board of Ivanhoe Grammar School and was made a Life Governor of that school in recognition of her years of service and generous support. She has also served on the vestry of Christ Church, South Yarra, which remains her parish church and recently retired from the Board of Christ Church Grammar School.  

Mrs Ivory’s ongoing commitment to our School, her years of active community service in the educational sector and her continued stewardship of the Korowa Foundation afford the honour of the Sandra Ivory Cafe and Piazza.  

 

Amy Tennent Theatre 

Amy Tennent (Cripps, Class of 1995) entered Korowa in 1985. In Year 6, she was appointed House Captain of Akehurst. In her senior years, she was heavily involved in the School’s drama and music programs. She gained a Distinction in Speech & Drama in 1993, 1994 and 1995, was Social Service Captain in 1994 and a Form Captain in 1995.  

Mrs Tennent attended the University of Melbourne where she gained a Bachelor of Arts. She also holds a Master of International Business from Swinburne University of Technology. 

She is a director of the Cripps Foundation, a philanthropic foundation established by her grandfather Sir Humphrey Cripps. The Cripps Foundation have made substantial gifts to universities, colleges, schools, churches, hospitals, charitable organisations and museums around the world. 

Mrs Tennent has carried on this family tradition and alongside many other interests, is deeply committed to advancing the cause of our first nation’s people.  

With a strong belief in the power of education to make a difference in people’s lives, the Cripps Foundation have been Korowa’s most significant philanthropic supporters having generously contributed to the construction of the Cripps Middle School Centre opened in 2002, the Music School and the transformative building; the Roslyn Otzen Sports and Wellbeing Centre.  

In addition to being a Director of the Cripps Foundation alongside her father, she is a Director of Minsmere and Executive Vice President of Chartwell Industries and is the Chair of Velcro Industries.  

In 2014, she became a member of the Campaign Board for the University of Melbourne and in 2015, she was appointed to the Trinity College Foundation. In addition, Mrs Tennent has played a vital role in supporting the Cambodian Children’s Fund. 

As a tribute to Mrs Tennent’s distinguished career in the philanthropic sector combined with her interest in the performing arts and service to Korowa, we officially name The Amy Tennent Theatre.  

Hannah Macdougall Swimming Pool 

Dr Hannah Macdougall did her entire schooling at Korowa and graduated in 2005. Dr Macdougall was born with a disability, but this has never held her back and she credits Korowa with encouraging her to fulfil her academic and sporting ambitions. 

Dr Macdougall has an impressive swimming career, competing in both state and national titles. In 2002, she broke the world record in her classification in the 50-metre backstroke. She has represented Australia at an international level and has captained the Australian Swimming Team at both the World Championships and Paralympic games.  

After retiring from her swimming career, Dr Macdougall took up cycling and in 2018, she won two silver medals at the UCI Cycling Road Para World Championships, and is currently training for Paris in 2024.  

She has also completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Sport Management in 2011 at Deakin University. Dr Macdougall also completed a PhD in Sport Management with a focus on athlete wellbeing at La Trobe University in 2017. 

Dr Macdougall has won many awards for her achievements both sporting, community and academic.  Highlights include the Young Citizen of the Year for the City of Stonnington in 2001, the Victorian Institute of Sport Sarah Tait Spirit Award in 2017 and in 2019 the Disability Sport and Recreation Female Sportsperson of the Year. 

Dr Macdougall also has the record of being the longest holder of a Victorian Institute of Sport Scholarship. 

Away from training, Dr Macdougall is an ambassador and inclusion advocate for non-profit organisations such as Women’s Sport Australia, Travellers’ Aid Victoria, Just BU, Smiling Mind, and is in the Leadership team for Paralympics Australia. 

After 20 years of achievement at an elite athlete level, she truly personifies the School’s motto ‘no reward without effort’.   

Dr Macdougall’s story of courage, resilience and determination is inspirational and it is fitting to name our swimming pool – the Hannah Macdougall Swimming Pool.