Speech Night 2018 was particularly special – a celebration of achievement but equally a moment to look back and recognise the people who made those achievements possible. At the heart of that recognition was the unveiling of a portrait of founding principal Reg St Leon, a man whose belief in bilingual education brought IGS into being. .
In the School’s early years St Leon and a band of dedicated teachers worked to sustain IGS, guided by a belief that bilingual education belonged in Australia and should reflect the richness of its multicultural community. It is a vision that continues to shape the School today.
Commissioned by Principal Shauna Colnan and painted by internationally renowned artist Dave Thomas, the portrait was unveiled before the wider community by two foundational staff members, Rita Morabito and Manuela Bachmann, whose own contributions are a vital part of the School’s story.
IGS is a school that values its history deeply and that commitment was very much present that evening. A poignant moment of recognition, the unveiling served as a reminder that the achievements we celebrate are built on the dedication and belief of those who came before us.
The portrait now hangs in pride of place in the IGS Bibliothèque, quietly anchoring the School’s present to its beginnings.
