101 Years of the MacLaren Legacy: Nessie Hall (Fairholme Old Girl 1941)

March 25, 2025

Nessie Hall  |  1941  |  Stephens House  |  Boarder

The MacLaren tartan has long been woven into the fabric of the Hall family, its threads connecting generations through time. For 101 year old Nessie Hall - Fairholme College’s oldest living Old Girl - the legacy began in 1938 when she started Fairholme as a Year 9 Boarder.


Nessie, born in 1923, arrived at Fairholme from Croydon, via Roma. With few educational opportunities in rural Australia, Nessie and her sister

Joyce, began Fairholme as fresh-faced teenagers with the chance to receive the all-girls’ education their parents had wanted for them. The sisters attended Fairholme at a time in history that was both pivotal and difficult - the Great Depression.


Under the leadership of Miss Daisy Culpin, Principal from 1922-1940, Fairholme not only survived the challenging economic climate but thrived, providing a school for young girls to receive a quality education.


While sitting under the Jacaranda trees in Daisy Culpin Courtyard recently, Nessie recalls one of her favourite memories - walking Miss Culpin’s dog through the College grounds.


‘Miss Culpin was my favourite teacher. I would walk her dog - his name was Tuppence! - around the gardens, in fact, around this very spot where I am sitting.’


Nessie was at Fairholme to witness the graduation of her great-granddaughter, Maggie, from Middle School to Senior School. She marvels at how much the school has changed, and yet how much is the same. ‘The buildings are, of course, very different, but the feeling is just the same,’ Nessie

says. ‘The things that made this place special when I was here - it’s still here. I can feel it.’


Nessie’s legacy has flourished over the years as her granddaughters, Tamie Devine (1992), Angela Hall (1991), Camilla Hall (2009) and

Mikala Reardon (1993), all attended Fairholme, and today her great granddaughters, Maggie Reardon (Year 10) and Pippi Reardon (Year 8)

- Mikala’s daughters - proudly attend Fairholme.


In a moment that connected the past and present, Nessie returned to the school with her grand-daughter, Mikala, to see Maggie graduate Year 9.

She says as they walked up Palm Drive to the Assembly Hall, it was clear that the traditions and community spirit of Fairholme had left a mark on them both.


‘I love that I was able to bring Nessie again to see Maggie graduate Middle School. I have grown up listening to stories about Fairholme, was lucky enough to attend myself, and now with two daughters here, I feel it has come full circle,’ Mikala said. ‘I think my grandmother’s time at

Fairholme helped shape her values and principles that she has carried throughout her life - values she passed down to her children, grandchildren, and now, her great grand-daughters.’


The graduation ceremony was a poignant reminder of the bonds that tie generations together, each standing on the shoulders of those who came before them. Mikala said for Nessie, it was a moment of immense pride - seeing the legacy of learning, strength, and resilience continue in her family.


Nessie’s visit is a reminder that the bonds of Fairholme extend far beyond the school’s walls. As a great-grandmother, Old Girl, and matriarch of a family deeply rooted in Fairholme’s history, she embodies the timeless values that continue to shape the school community.


Her return was a celebration of both the past and the future - as the tartan is woven into their lives, so too is a legacy that will last for years to come, that of a remarkable woman, who walked the same halls a century ago.


1938 - Fairholme friends - Jill Winchester (later Jones)(L) and Nessie Walsh (R) in front of Homestead and bungalow classroom block

More News…

Victory for our Debaters

By Sarah Richardson • August 29, 2025
This year’s Queensland Debating Union (QDU) Toowoomba Secondary Schools Competition saw Fairholme teams deliver an outstanding season of debating, showcasing sharp thinking, quick wit, and true Fairholme spirit. ‘We have such a wonderful culture of debating at Fairholme, with a great number of students keen to participate every year. The growth I observe in our debaters is extraordinary, from their confidence in speaking, to their exceptional teamwork and critical reasoning when preparing arguments on a wide range of contemporary issues’, says our Debating Co-ordinator, Mrs Kim Scudamore. A special congratulations goes to our Year 7.4 team, who claimed the Grand Final victory against Toowoomba Grammar School. They successfully argued the affirmative on the topic: ‘That we should actively encourage the use of Artificial Intelligence in classrooms.’ Their ability to build persuasive cases and respond confidently to rebuttals was a testament to their hard work and teamwork throughout the season. Our Year 8, Year 10 and Senior teams also impressed, each reaching their respective Grand Finals and finishing as runners-up after tightly contested debates. Their efforts reflected not only strong debating skills but also resilience and camaraderie in high-pressure settings. In total, 16 Fairholme teams competed this season, with 12 teams making it through to the finals. Congratulations to every debater who took part in this year’s competition. The future of debating at Fairholme is certainly in good hands. Fairholme Grand Final Debaters: Team 7.4 - Sophie Cussons, Suzana Yusaf, Abigail Walker, Norah Joseph and Bella Cherry Team 8.2 - Tanishka Chaudhary, Annabelle King, Claire Fischer and Elaine Mutsando Team 10.1 - Sophie Haller, Richa Vimal, Brooke Johnson, Caitlin Schultheiss, Isabella Kentish and Georgia Nicholls Team 12.1 - Ayesha Saleh, Rori Zimmerman, Chanudi Dissanayake and Mabel Galbraith

Ella's Holme Run

By Sarah Richardson • August 29, 2025
Year 8 student Ella Phillips has returned holme after an unforgettable tour of the United States, where she proudly represented Australia in the Babe Ruth Softball World Series as part of the Aussie Drop Bears team. Ella’s journey began in Dallas, Texas, before heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she participated in a high-level training camp with local college softball coaches. The team also competed in warm-up matches to prepare for the main event in Florence, Alabama. Competing in the Under 14 division, Ella and her Australian team made it all the way to the double elimination final, narrowly missing out on the championship title by just one run in a nail-biting 8 - 9 loss. Despite the result, their second-place finish is a highlight achievement for Ella. Ella’s individual performance was nothing short of outstanding. During the closing ceremony, she was named in the Under 14 All World Series Team and the Under 14 All Defensive Team, a testament to her talent and consistency on the field. She also ranked in the top 10 for both batting and fielding statistics across the entire tournament. Reflecting on her journey, Ella shared that her softball career began humbly at home in Taroom encouraged by her mum and PE teachers to trial for the South West state team. That experience sparked a passion for the sport and she now plays for Dodgers Softball Club in Toowoomba. ‘I’ve been really lucky with the support I’ve had,’ Ella said. ‘The stats don’t say everything, but they’re the best I’ve ever had. I’m really proud of how I played in America.’ Boarding since Year 7, Ella has ambitions to study veterinary science but also has her sights set on a softball career. With aspirations to play in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Ella is already planning her next steps, including a trip to Japan in 2026 to further develop her skills.

Performance in Every Arena

By Sarah Richardson • August 29, 2025
Preparing the next generation of athletes for success both on and off the field. Fairholme is proud to be part of an exciting new partnership with the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), through their 2032 Brisbane Olympics Student-Athlete Empowerment Project. This forward-thinking initiative aims to educate and support student athletes across all areas of sport, health, and performance. As part of this project, our High Performance Sport athletes and Sport Physiology students are taking part in ‘Girls 2 Win’, a specialised program dedicated to the education and empowerment of young female athletes. Led by UniSQ experts in female health and performance, Girls 2 Win focuses on the unique aspects of female physiology and how these can influence wellbeing and sporting success. Students are gaining vital knowledge about the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception and the ways in which physiology can impact athletic performance. Fairholme’s Head of High Performance, Miss Casey Reynoldson, said the benefits of the program reach far beyond the sporting field. ‘By equipping our Middle and Senior School athletes with tailored strategies and practical tools, the program ensures they are empowered to make informed choices - supporting their health, confidence, and performance in every arena.’ With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, initiatives like Girls 2 Win play a key role in shaping and inspiring athletes of tomorrow. In addition, our Sport Physiology students are also involved in the UniSQ’s ‘Mind 2 Win’ program. This program explores the crucial role of the mind in health, wellbeing and performance. Through interactive workshops and practical exercises, students are developing key psychological skills such as focus, resilience, self-awareness, and mindset strategies. These tools will help them manage stress, build confidence and perform under pressure, while also supporting their mental health and long-term success. ‘At Fairholme, we are delighted to provide our students with access to world-class education and research in partnership with UniSQ - helping our young athletes take bold steps towards their sporting goals, and perhaps even towards the Olympic stage in 2032.’
All News