***With regard to the below petition as of 2 May 2024 a zoom link has now been provided for members to attend the SGM on 7 May 2024***

I oppose and request rescission of the Kambala Council’s decision outlined in this petition and request a consultative review of the current and future strategic direction for boarding at Kambala, including representation from all key stakeholders within the Kambala community.

In December 2023, a new boarding strategy was announced by the Kambala School Council, without consultation of major stakeholders, to cap future Kambala boarding numbers to only 50, almost half the number traditionally offered, with all boarders moved from Tivoli to be housed only in the current senior boarding house, Fernbank.  

In response, Kambala Old Girls will hold a Special General Meeting (SGM) next Tuesday, 7 May at 6pm at Kambala to consider resolutions proposed by Old Girls concerned about this decision and hence the future of boarding at Kambala and the potential impact on the fabric and diversity of the whole school.

The meeting is NOT being made available to the members for Zoom participation, unlike their February AGM which called for the SGM.  

Many Old Girls who are unable to attend the meeting in person due to issues of mobility, disability or the tyranny of distance have expressed concern that they will not have access to the information provided at the meeting, have their voices heard or their votes counted on this important matter.  

Others in the wider School community share similar concerns and have expressed their desire to have their voice also heard on the importance of a strong boarding model as part of a diverse school offering education opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to girls from regional, remote and international communities. 

To best represent views of the whole school community, not just Old Girls, this petition seeks to confirm the level of support from the whole Kambala community for rescission of this decision and support for a comprehensive consultative review of the boarding model involving all key stakeholder groups.

The School Principal, Jane Danvers, School Council President, Ainslie Van Onselen and KOG Executive Representatives are to attend the meeting and address: the level of dissatisfaction amongst members as to the management of Boarding at Kambala since 2017; reasons for the decline in numbers and economic viability of the School’s boarding model; the apparent lack of a detailed plan or strategic document outlining the reasons behind this decision and the methodology that will be adopted to work on the program of 50; and the current boarding community’s uncertainty of their girls’ immediate circumstances.