Redlands School: Top 15 alumni from Cremorne college
Musicians, athletes, sporting stars and architects are among the high achievers to have come through the doors of Redlands School in Cremorne over the decades. FIND OUT THE TOP 15 FORMER STUDENTS.
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Award-winning musicians, poets, sporting stars and environmental campaigners are among the high achievers to have come through the doors of Redlands school in Cremorne over the decades.
The North Shore Times this week looks at 15 notable former students from the college who have gone on to achieve recognition in fields ranging from sport to law and media to architecture.
ELIZABETH ALLEN
Before taking the literary world by storm, Elizabeth Allen was a budding student at Redlands College. Since graduating, Allen has gone on to publish more than a dozen poems as well as three books including Body Language which won the Anne Elder Award in 2012. Along with her writing, Allen also works as an events manager at Gleebooks and an associate publisher at Vagabond Press.
RACHAEL BECK
One of Australia’s most well-known stars of musical theatre and television, Beck has worked with actors such as Hugh Jackman and in hit shows ranging from Cats to Les Miserables. After graduating from Redlands in 1989, Beck landed a role in Home And Away before appearing in one of the most successful Australian TV shows of all time, Hey Dad! Earlier this year, Beck told NewsLocal her time at Redlands – where her father worked as the head of drama – inspired her to follow a career in the arts. Beck now lives in Bondi with her family and two daughters.
SOPHIE CAPE
The multi-talented former Redlands student has achieved recognition as both a champion athlete and award-winning artist. After graduating from Redlands in 1993, Cape became an elite downhill skier but retired from the slopes following a serious fall. After a break from the sporting field, Cape went on to become a sprint cyclist for the Australian Institute of Sport before turning her sights to art in 2010. Cape, who grew up in Cremorne, continues to exhibit works across Australia and has been awarded with honours including the Portia Geach Memorial Award for her striking mural of fellow north shore resident and actor Dan Wyllie in 2014.
EMMA COLENBRANDER
A 2006 graduate of Redlands, Emma Colenbrander has gone on to shine a light through her work at Pollinate Energy – a social justice start-up bringing sustainable light and energy to villages and slums across India. Since its launch in 2012, Pollinate has installed thousands of sturdy solar lights to replace kerosene lamps which can lead to respiratory and other health problems in confined spaces. Ms Colenbrander, through her work at the group, also works to deliver water purifiers, solar fans and other equipment to those in need. In 2018, the entrepreneur told NewsLocal the group has reached more than 46,000 people across India. “It seems like such a small thing but the impact (light) has on your life for those living in darkness is just massive,” she said.
AMY DICKSON
Acclaimed saxophonist Amy Dickson made her concert debut while studying at Redlands at the age of just 16. Now a Grammy nominated artist, the musician has produced nine albums and performed in iconic venues including the Sydney Opera House and London’s Royal Albert Hall. While growing up in Sydney’s north, Dickson juggled her school studies and passion for music with volunteer work as a surf lifesaver at Manly Beach. The musician now lives in the UK where she is an ambassador for the Australian Children’s Music Foundation. Her recent works include Amy’s Solo Sessions featuring saxophone pieces by composers from around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
KARYN GOJNICH
Karyn Gojnich began sailing at the age of just eight and has gone on to feature in three Olympic Games including Beijing. The 1978 Redlands graduate was one of the first female sailors to represent Australia when she competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, placing sixth – the best result of the Australian Sailing team at the event. Looking back at the achievement, Gojnich last year told NewsLocal that representing Australia opened a whole new world. “That probably ignited a fire that kept me going back for 20 years,” she said. Gojnich still sails with her father and adult children and serves on the committee of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
JANUSZ HOOKER
The grandson of one of Australia’s most famous real estate pioneers, Janusz Hooker now runs the LJ Hooker brand and has also achieved glory as an Olympic medal winning rower. Hooker, who graduated Redlands in 1987, grew up in Mosman and credits his early years at the school and Mosman Rowing Club for instilling him with work ethic and discipline. Hooker won a bronze medal as part of the quadruple sculls at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics before taking the reigns of LJ Hooker as the company’s chairman. Reflecting on his school years in 2017, he said: “I got lifted up into this amazing group of people and that really changed my life.” Hooker now lives in Cammeray with his wife and daughter.
DIANA HORVATH
Highly respected within the health sector, Diana Horvath’s extensive career includes serving as a commissioner for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and becoming the first woman appointed as chief executive of the South Western Sydney Local Health District. After graduating Redlands, Ms Horvath began her early career at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital – the same hospital where she later became assistant director of medical services. In 1993, Ms Horvath was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for her work in healthcare management and research.
ANNA LUNOE
Growing up in North Sydney, DJ and songwriter Anna Lunoe spent her formative years playing guitar while attending Redlands, graduating in 2000. Lunoe is now recognised as one of the world’s top DJs, having also worked as a vocalist, songwriter, producer and a host at independent youth broadcaster FBI Radio. In 2016, Lunoe made history by becoming the first solo female DJ to perform at Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas and has headlined some of the world’s biggest festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza. The chart-topping artist has also collaborated with musicians including Flume and Skrillex and now lives in Los Angeles.
LACHLAN MACKAY
Representing the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union while at Redlands, MacKay went on to captain the Australian under-21 team before making his debut for the Wallabies in 2005. MacKay, who overcame two serious injuries early in his career, has also played for the NSW Waratahs and the Western Force before relocating to Europe to join French club Brive. Lachlan, now aged 39, signed with Leeds Carnegie as the squad’s coach in 2010.
HELEN MURRELL
Helen Murrell was admitted to the legal profession in 1977 after graduating Redlands and went on to become first female Chief Justice of the ACT Supreme Court in 2013. Murrell, who grew up in Seaforth, has also worked as a NSW District Court judge, served as the president of the NSW Equal Opportunity Tribunal and founded the first drug court in NSW in 1998. As well as her continued work for the ACT Supreme Court, Murrell also serves on the committee of the National Judicial College of Australia in Canberra.
ELLICE NOSWORTHY
One of Redlands school’s earliest achievers, Ellice Nosworthy forged a career as one of the first female architects in Australia. From her early years growing up on the north shore, Nosworthy went on to register as an architect in 1923 and established her own practice at the family home in Lindfield. Nosworthy, who died in 1972, left behind a legacy of designing some of Sydney’s most well known homes as well as public buildings including St Andrew’s College, the Women’s College in Newtown, the Ku-ring-gai Council building and housing for the Ku-ring-gai Older Peoples’s Welfare Association. Nosworthy was also a member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects.
VICTORIA ROBERTS
Victoria Roberts is a dual Olympian and three-time world champion in the sport of rowing. Roberts, who graduated from Redlands in 1995, began her career sailing at the Haberfield Rowing Club before competing for NSW in state championships from 1999 to 2004. In 2000, Roberts achieved her dream of representing Australia on the global stage by qualifying for the Sydney Olympics where she captained the Women 8 team. Roberts’s impressive resume also includes competing in the 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Rowing Championships.
CATRIONA ROWNTREE
A familiar face on TV screens across Australia, Catriona Rowntree has worked as a television presenter, host and journalist in a career spanning almost 30 years. After graduating Redlands in 1989, Rowntree went on to work as a researcher for BRM, 2GB and Prime before trotting the globe as a reporter on travel series Getaway. As well as her television work, Rowntree has published books including Catriona’s Australia: My Favourite Aussie Locations and a Grandmother’s Wisdom. Born and bred in East Lindfield – a short drive from the Channel 9 Sydney headquarters – Rowntree now lives in Victoria with her husband and two sons.
RUEL
Not many 17-year-olds have clocked up 300 million streams for their songs, but musician Ruel Vincent van Dijk – known as Ruel – has achieved just that. Born in England before his family relocated to Sydney’s northern beaches when he was aged four, Ruel studied at Redlands and went on to produce songs including Don’t Tell Me, Younger and Painkiller. His achievements in the field have included an ARIA Award for best breakthrough artist in 2018 for his single Dazed & Confused. The talented singer and songwriter is continuing to take the world by storm, along the way winning praise from his peers including Elton John and Khalid.