About Us - Past Pupils' Association

Our Vision

To foster lifelong relationships and build a passionate community of Past Pupils to support the greater good of our beloved Alma Mater and the wider community.

Our Mission

While being deeply rooted to the traditions and culture of Hillwood College, we shall connect and lead the Past Pupils together in fellowship to promote physical, intellectual and social development and welfare of our school and drive for social service activities that benefit the wider community at large.

History

Source: Hillwood College Kandy Centenary Souvenir, article written by Ranee Abeyratne and Indrani Kehelpannala

The Hillwood Old Girls’ Association was founded in 1922 by Principal, Miss Lena Chapman. The first President was Miss Lena Chapman and the first Secretary was Mrs. Carene Wijenaike. The committee consisted of 12 members with 55 members on the roll.

Miss Lena Chapman (Left) and the first Secretary, Mrs. Carene Wijenaike.

The primary objective of the OGA was to help the children of a free school started by Miss Chapman which later became Gregory’s school and where most of the children from the Evelyn Nurseries were educated. One third of the OGA annual subscription of Rs 2 (later Rs 3) per month was given to the Nurseries to support the children.

The Annual General Meeting of the OGA, Members Reunion Day and the Evelyn Nurseries ‘Pound Day’ were all held on 26th July which was also Miss Chapman’s birthday. The day commenced with a thanksgiving service, a visit to the Evelyn Nurseries where each member gave a gift of one pound of dry rations to the Nurseries. Lunch in the school dining hall, was followed by the AGM. The proceedings ended with a concert by the Hillwood students. The ‘Old Girls Day’ was an important event in the school calendar.

With the adoption of a new Constitution, the name of the Association was changed to Hillwood College Past Pupils’ Association on 26th July, 1946.