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Kathleen pictured with Suzanne<br />
(Kennealy L: 84-89) and her<br />
husband Tim Blennerhasset<br />
Where Are <strong>The</strong>y Now?<br />
Kathleen Leach (L: 84-89)<br />
I have recently read the<br />
LEXSA magazine and<br />
enjoyed reading the stories of<br />
the other students. So a little<br />
about me:<br />
<strong>The</strong> day after my Year 12<br />
Chemistry examination I<br />
took a flight to the USA,<br />
and enjoyed a three month<br />
round the world trip until it was time to come back<br />
to Australia for my Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral<br />
Science at Latrobe. After completing my undergraduate<br />
degree, I did a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied<br />
Psychology at Swinburne and then worked for a while<br />
before doing a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology<br />
at Flinders University. After living in Adelaide for<br />
about 5 years I came back to Melbourne and worked<br />
in brain injury rehabilitation for about 7 years and<br />
also completed a Doctor of Neuropsychology at La<br />
Trobe University. My CV is kind of eclectic, with roles<br />
as a pizza delivery driver, child protection worker,<br />
relationship counselor, quality manager and auditor,<br />
clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist.<br />
Ryann with fellow intern<br />
Fanny.<br />
Ryann Shiers (L: 04-09)<br />
In the April school holidays<br />
of 2008 I travelled to France<br />
on the <strong>Loyola</strong> <strong>College</strong> Study<br />
Tour. I stayed with the Mayard<br />
family, on their vineyard estate<br />
in Châteauneuf-Du-Pape.<br />
During my stay an offer was<br />
made for me to return to France<br />
after I finished Year 12 to undertake a working holiday,<br />
by Didier Mayard, the head of the family.<br />
I arrived in Paris’ Charles De Gaulle Airport in January<br />
after a 23 hour flight then took a TGV train to Avignon,<br />
where Didier Mayard escorted me to my apartment he<br />
had arranged for me in a small village called Châteauneuf-<br />
Du-Pape, with a population of about 2000 residents. On<br />
commencement at the Wine Brokerage I was greeted by<br />
Didier and introduced to his staff. My responsibilities<br />
would include taking samples of the vendors wine to<br />
laboratories for analysis and also to prospective buyers.<br />
Besides my delivery role, I am also assistant to a wonderful<br />
lady, named Marie-Angèle, my tasks involve: filing<br />
invoices; internet research; running to the post office<br />
I currently work at a physical rehabilitation centre<br />
with adults with chronic pain and neurological<br />
conditions (such as MS, stroke, brain injury and<br />
vestibular conditions). I have recently completed<br />
a 12 month contract as a Neuropsychologist at the<br />
Royal Children’s Hospital with children who have<br />
Cancer; a most rewarding job. I was privileged to<br />
work as a volunteer for Medicins Sans Frontieres in<br />
the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the Gaza Strip<br />
in 2008 and in September will be going to Sri Lanka<br />
to provide mental health training and support for<br />
approximately 6 months.<br />
However my true passions are skiing and travel. Over<br />
the past 20 years I have visited every continent and<br />
have circumnavigated the planet at least 3 times,<br />
culminating in a trip in 2010 in which I managed to<br />
camp and swim in the Antarctic, really it wasn’t that<br />
cold. After Sri Lanka, who<br />
knows but I hope to have<br />
a chance to ski on every<br />
continent at some point<br />
before I die.<br />
Kathleen in Gaza with a patient,<br />
when with MSF in 2008<br />
and database entry of sales. Undertaking these tasks is<br />
made more interesting with entertaining and interesting<br />
conversations as I continue to fine tune my French.<br />
I share a meal with the Mayard family weekly and<br />
like to evaluate how much of the conversation I have<br />
understood and participated at the end of the evening. I<br />
believe that my French has improved in the two months<br />
that I have currently been here.<br />
I have joined a local volleyball team - my intermediate<br />
knowledge of how to play (I played socially at <strong>Loyola</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong>) came in handy. Each week we train and play, I<br />
appreciate the advice I receive in order to improve upon<br />
my current abilities.<br />
I recently caught up with Mrs. Gorey and Mr and Mrs<br />
Favrin who were here on the 2010 LOTE Study Tour. I<br />
enjoyed telling them what I have been doing, and hearing<br />
about the developments of the <strong>College</strong>.<br />
I am very grateful to the Mayard family for making this<br />
trip possible for making my stay in France so enjoyable<br />
and for introducing me to a great first place to work.<br />
Although, I do miss all my friends and family, I am<br />
having an incredible time.<br />
Apology: Thank you to Toula Smith of Mill Park for bringing to our attention an error in “<strong>The</strong> <strong>Companion</strong>” May 2010, page 14 article “St Ignatius Medal”. <strong>The</strong><br />
lovely Gemma Bastiani was not 2008 Captain of Christian Services. <strong>The</strong> two 2008 Captains of Christian Services were, Jasmine Panthaki and David Smith. Our<br />
apologies to both Jasmine and David.<br />
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