Last Friday, we celebrated our annual Old Girls’ Day at Marsden, welcoming back alumnae who were in Year 10 (formerly 4th Form) in a year ending in ‘6’. It was a wonderful day of reconnection, celebration and reminiscing, with Old Girls gathering from near and far to share in the special occasion.
The celebrations began on Thursday with our inaugural Generations Breakfast, bringing together students and their mothers, grandmothers, aunts and great-aunts for a special morning of connection. Celebrating 21 generational connections, current students enjoyed the opportunity and received their new Generations badges. Some family members had travelled from out of town to be part of this special occasion, making it a wonderful celebration of the generations of women who share a connection with Marsden.
On Friday, Old Girls' Day began with Communion in the Baber Memorial Chapel, followed by our All Saints’ Day Service and Old Girls’ Assembly. For the first time, the assembly was livestreamed, allowing Old Girls from across the globe to join us virtually and be part of the celebrations.
A special highlight of the assembly was the annual Old Girls’ roll-call, read this year by Community Relations Manager and Old Girl Katherine Priddle, who was celebrating her own Decade Year.
We were delighted to announce our 2026 scholarship recipients, with Hermione Esperenza-Hiku, President of the Marsden Old Girls’ Association, announcing Old Girls’ Scholarship recipient Alice Nicolson and Nell Clere Music Scholarship recipient Yani Jiang. Yani then performed Nocturne in B Major, Op. 9 No. 3 by Frédéric Chopin, showcasing her musical talent.
After the assembly, Old Girls had the opportunity to reconnect over morning tea and enjoy a glimpse of Marsden today, before the celebrations continued into the evening. Guests gathered for drinks in the Foyer and Decade photos, followed by dinner in the old Boarders’ Dining Room, now the Cultural Centre.
There was a happy buzz throughout the day, as old friends reunited, new connections were made and the enduring spirit of the Marsden community was celebrated. It was a wonderful reminder that, while the school continues to evolve, the connections formed at Marsden last a lifetime.
2026 Hall of Fame Laureates: Dr Anusha Ganeshalingham, Elaine Muller accepting on behalf of her daughter Dr Catherine McIntosh, and Lauren Quaintance
Marsden Hall of Fame Inductions 2026
A highlight of Old Girls’ Day was the induction of three outstanding alumnae into the Marsden Hall of Fame, recognising their remarkable achievements and contributions to health, journalism, media, business, public service and international diplomacy.
Dr Anusha Ganeshalingham (Marsden Years 1990–1991)
Anusha was recognised for her outstanding contribution to health and paediatric medicine. After graduating from Marsden with University Bursary in five subjects, she studied medicine at the University of Otago before undertaking specialist paediatric training in New Zealand and London. Today, Dr Ganeshalingham is a paediatric intensivist and Clinical Director of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship Children’s Hospital, where she leads highly specialised teams caring for some of New Zealand’s most critically ill children. She is also a respected educator and researcher, with an international reputation for her work in paediatric intensive care and neurocritical care.
Lauren Quaintance (Marsden Years 1986–1991)
Lauren was honoured for her outstanding contribution to journalism, media and business. A talented writer and debater at Marsden, Lauren went on to build an international career as an award-winning journalist and editor, working in New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. She later held senior leadership roles with Fairfax Media and Sky Television New Zealand before founding Storyation, an innovative content marketing agency that became one of Australia’s fastest-growing start-ups and was acquired by News Corp. Today, Lauren continues to contribute to business, media and sport through a range of governance roles, including as a director of two NZX-listed companies and Chair of ChristchurchNZ.
Dr Catherine McIntosh (Marsden Years 1989–1995)
Catherine was recognised for her outstanding contribution to public service and international diplomacy. A highly accomplished Marsden student, she was Joint Dux in 1995 and represented New Zealand at the International Science and Engineering Fair after winning the National Science Fair. Following degrees in Arts and Science and a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Oxford, Catherine embarked on a distinguished career with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has held senior roles in trade, Pacific policy and ministerial advisory work, including leading a cross-government team during the COVID-19 pandemic that helped reopen borders between New Zealand and Pacific nations. In 2024, she was appointed New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Philippines, where she continues to represent New Zealand and strengthen the relationship between the two countries.