Elizabeth Wilkes – A Legacy of Leadership and Hospitality
In this blog, Elizabeth (Libby) Wilkes (Woodgate, 1984) reflects on her deep connection to Santa Maria College, shaped by nearly five decades of involvement. From her early days as a Year 4 student in 1976 to becoming a valued contributor to the Parent Network and College Advisory Council, Libby’s journey exemplifies leadership, service, and a commitment to the value of hospitality.
As one of our inaugural Mercy Award finalists, how does this recognition resonate with you personally?
I was very honoured to be recognised as a Mercy Award finalist.
I first commenced at Santa Maria in 1976 as a Year 4 student and over the ensuing 48 years I have been so proud of the Mercy Sisters and our beautiful College. To be recognised as having made a contribution to our College is humbling, particularly among the other deserving Mercy Award finalists.
I was especially touched to receive the award in the category of hospitality as I believe in the importance of a welcoming community where everyone belongs. The benefits of a connected community are many.
How did your experiences as a student at Santa Maria shape your approach to leadership and service within the College community?
During my school days at Santa Maria (1976-1984), there were many parent volunteers in nearly every area of the school (tuckshop, library, uniform shop, sporting carnivals, drama productions, camps, fundraising events, fetes, Masses and even school socials where they cooked/served the food and supervised the entrances).
Parents had great respect for the Mercy Sisters and were grateful for the education and opportunities the sisters offered their daughters at Santa Maria. Parents were keen to give back to the Mercy sisters and the College in any way they could. To this day, I can see the faces and remember the names of many of those wonderful parent volunteers who had a positive impact on me.
So, when my daughters commenced at the College in 2009, it felt natural to become involved and give back. I found volunteering rewarding and enjoyable.
As a lawyer, how have your professional skills supported your work within the College’s various councils and networks?
I have worked with incredibly diligent and devoted principals – Ian Elder & Jennifer Oaten, staff, students, and parents over the years. My professional skills in governance, due diligence, identification of issues, analysis and problem-solving supported my work as a member of these diverse and dedicated teams.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your involvement with the Parent Network and the College Advisory Board?
I loved the vibrant energy of our faith-based College and being surrounded by passionate people who were keen to make a positive difference in the lives of our students.
The motto of the Parent Network was Friendship, Service and Hospitality. It was run by volunteer parents with the aim of bringing our parent community closer together by promoting a sense of belonging and familiarity whilst offering valuable assistance to the school. I found it very rewarding to see the wonderful conversations, connections and friendships that emerged as a result of the initiatives and hard work of the Parent Network – particularly through the parent friendship lists, regular social occasions and parent forums. The assistance the Parent Network offered to the school was more hands on than it is today, for instance among many other tasks, our team of volunteers would wash and dry hundreds of cups and saucers by hand after each school function. These types of tasks gave parents an opportunity to work as a team, socialise and get to know each other while giving service to the school. We had many volunteers keen to donate their time, roll up their sleeves and get the job done, which was also very rewarding.
Likewise, on the College Advisory Council, I loved learning from and working with talented people from such a wide background of careers, skills and interests, all of whom came together in a culture of Mercy, respect, honesty and transparency for the benefit of our students and the betterment of the College. This sense of community and commonality of purpose was very rewarding.
As a parent whose daughters have also attended Santa Maria College, what changes or developments have you noticed within the College community over the years?
It is only natural that the look and feel of volunteering and involvement have evolved over the years, and I commend the College for continually implementing new and engaging ways to involve parents.
What has not changed over the years is that our daughters commence at Santa Maria as children and leave as young women. Being involved as an active member of the Santa Maria community allows you to be more closely connected to your daughter’s school journey and offers a further opportunity to get to know her friends, interests, challenges and achievements.
A connected community reminds our students that they are a part of something very special, a place where they are well supported and people care about them and the College
Looking back at your time both as a student and an active member of the College community, what advice would you give to current students and parents who want to contribute to and be more involved with the school?
Start with small steps and branch out from there. Attend a function or meeting and find your area of interest. Don’t be shy about offering your time, gifts and talents to the school; it benefits our students and is rewarding to know you are making a contribution. You will also have fun and meet fabulous, like-minded people along the way.
I believe Catherine McAuley would be delighted that SMC students are supported by a connected community and encouraged to develop their talents in a faith-filled College where they are inspired by values and empowered by opportunities.
Thank you, Libby, for taking the time to share your remarkable journey with us. Your legacy of leadership, service, and dedication to fostering a welcoming community at Santa Maria College is truly inspiring.
- AlumniSpotlight, CollegeAdvisoryCouncil, ElizabethWilkes, Featured, Hospitality, leadership, MercyAwardFinalist
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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