Newington Citation 2021: Ms Shelagh Doyle The Newington Citation recognises the significant contribution to the College made by members of the community. In 2021, the Citation was awarded to Ms Shelagh Doyle. Shelagh’s association with Newington College began in 2012, when her eldest son Vincent (ON 2017) commenced in Year 7. He was soon joined by his brothers Morgan (ON 2019) and Leo (ON 2021). Shelagh has degrees in history and law and has many years of experience as a manager in oversight bodies in the state and federal public sector, with a major part of her work focused on improving service provision to vulnerable communities. Shelagh is a passionate advocate of the benefits of volunteering, and has a deep appreciation for the ability of the creative arts to inspire and unite communities, to communicate ideas and reflect our sense of wonder about the world, and to document its history. With her boys joining College music ensembles and keen to study visual arts, Shelagh was drawn to the Creative Arts Association (CAA), and was excited to join a small and dedicated group of parents supporting the creative arts program at the College. Shelagh began assisting the CAA in 2014, became Vice President in 2016 and was elected as President between 2017 and 2021. The CAA now supports and fundraises at more than a dozen events across the school year including the Middle Ensembles, Founders and Rockfest Concerts, the Theartresports and Drama Showcase evenings, the HSC and IB Visual Arts exhibitions, the Litfest and CineArts Festivals and the CAA stall at Back to Newington Day. Newington Citation recipient Ms Shelagh Doyle at Prize Giving. Through the monies raised at these events, the CAA fund various creative arts prizes and activities, and sponsor a range of creative work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Year 10 students in 2022 arts projects across the College. to create a permanent public fixture on Newington College campus. The aim of the project is to build respect and understanding of As President of the CAA, Shelagh and the CAA executive worked with First Nations cultures among Newington College students and the Department heads and coordinators to progress many important broader community. creative arts projects for the College. In 2018 the CAA liaised with the Visual Arts department on the installation project for the new Shelagh’s energy and enthusiasm have been an inspiration Drama Centre and sponsored the spectacular Mikala Dwyer flag to many, encouraging participation in the broad range of CAA works – a collaboration between Mikala Dwyer and visual arts activities. The last two years have meant a lot of stops and starts, students, developed when the artist was in residence at Newington. but Shelagh worked hard to keep the CAA community connected Mikala Dwyer commented at the time that ‘a flag often celebrates and to make the most of any opportunity to provide support, something universal and, in this case, it stands for the creativity of fundraise and drive the completion of key CAA projects. the individual boys and their collaborative work, and the creativity of Newington College.’ Volunteering has always been a big part of Shelagh’s life – in 2009, she was recognised for her contribution to the community with In 2019 the CAA was consulted on and agreed to sponsor an exciting an Australia Day award. She says the one thing her experiences joint drama script and production project spanning two years. Drama volunteering have taught her is that for every hour you offer to students from Newington College and PLC Sydney collaborated with help, you gain an enormous amount back. She has been inspired each other and esteemed playwright Lachlan Philpott to create an and humbled by the generous support given to the CAA by a broad original play, taking part in the initial workshopping stages, drafting, range of volunteers within the Newington community, and promoted rehearsal and performance. the message that volunteering should be completely flexible – individuals should feel comfortable contributing as little or as much In 2021 the CAA funded the purchase of unique theatrical masks for as they like in whatever way they can. For her, volunteering with the the Drama department. Sourced from the United Kingdom, they are CAA has provided treasured connectedness and given her a unique used by the department in classes, workshops and for performance. exposure to the impressive array of creativity generated at the The CAA also liaised with the Visual Arts department to sponsor a College − a valuable journey in itself. mural project. First Nations Wailwan Elder Kevin ‘Sooty’ Welsh will 52 | Curiosity | News Autumn 2022 |Alumni, Community and Development