Louisa Macdonald Oration and Dinner

Every two years in May the College holds a very special formal dinner in honour of its founding Principal, Louisa  Macdonald. As part of the celebrations a distinguished speaker addresses guests in our candle-lit dining hall. On 29 May 2009 former Women's College student and chairman of the New Zealand Securities Commission Jane Diplock AO gave the fifth Louisa Macdonald Oration. Click here to read the 2009 Oration.

Previous speakers:

2001 by Dr Dale Spender AM
2003 by Dr Liz Dennis
2005 by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO
2007 Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC

In February 1897 Louisa Macdonald wrote to her close friend and mentor, Eleanor Grove, Principal of College Hall University of London:

A great hope of mine is to make the College as much of a living thing as possible, not only for its own sake as a College, but for the help it might be to the women and the education of the country as a standard and centre of influence and mutual help.

In conjunction with the Louisa Macdonald dinner and Oration the College presents two Alumnae Awards in recognition of the achievements of former students. In 2009 Dr Janet McCredie AM and Ms Cassandra Kelly were given alumnae awards in the open and yound alumna categories respectively. Click here to read more about the 2009 nominees and award winners.