There are many memorable events and traditions that mark the Loreto calendar, but one of our yearly highlights is visiting the regions many of our boarder families call home. Each year, Ms Marina Ugonotti, Principal and Mrs Kate Kovacs, Director of Boarding, travel across NSW to reconnect with Loreto families and friends and learn more about their communities. We relish this opportunity to get to know our country families better, catch up with alumnae, and meet new faces considering a Loreto education. No matter where we go, we are always greeted with the utmost hospitality.

This year, the road trips were of particular significance as we celebrate our 125th anniversary of Loreto Normanhurst. For over a century, we have had a boarding connection, with girls from all over NSW and beyond choosing Loreto Normanhurst as their home away from home. Boarders are a big part of our identity, and we recognise and appreciate the unique value they bring to our school. In visiting some of the places our girls hail from, these annual road trips allow us to immerse ourselves in the regions and communities which have played such a pivotal role in our school’s 125 years of history.

Marina and Kate covered huge distances on their three-stage 2022 Principal’s Road Trip. The first stage saw them travel north to Scone, Newcastle, and Port Macquarie. The second leg took them to the beautiful towns and cities of Canberra, Mudgee, and Orange, and, for the final stage, they visited Moree and Tamworth. In each of the regions they visited, past, present, and future families were invited to celebrate our 125-year milestone through numerous events and dinners. Together they shared meals and stories, reflected on the school’s rich history, and talked about all the exciting things yet to come. It was a wonderful opportunity for Marina and Kate to catch up with the families and friends of current students, and to reunite with alumnae and hear where life after Loreto is taking them.

The road trips were also a wonderful time to meet prospective new families and students, both in the towns visited and at the Boarding School Expos in Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Moree and Tamworth. These well-run events were a valuable experience and we were delighted to attend in person after two years of disruption. Meeting potential future students and their families face to face meant questions could be answered to hopefully help make this life-changing decision that little bit easier.

We thank everyone who joined the Loreto Normanhurst events for a meal or a chat, and for so warmly welcoming them into their towns and, in some cases, even their homes. Many families travelled quite some distance to see us, and we’re truly humbled by the effort. We are endlessly proud of the strength and breadth of our Loreto community and so grateful for the opportunity to strengthen these ties even further.