The Ullmer Family Foundation’s recent gift in support of the new Sports and Wellbeing Centre is one of the largest the School has received and demonstrates its commitment to girls’ education. 

The Ullmer family has a long history with Lauriston across multiple generations. Jenny and Michael Ullmer AO joined the Lauriston community in 1985 when their daughter, Jane, commenced in Prep. Michael served as Treasurer of the School Council for two years after having previously sat on the Lauriston Foundation Board from 1989-1991. 

Jane Ullmer (1997), who now lives in New Zealand, attended Lauriston through to the completion of Year 9, leaving only due to the family’s relocation to Sydney, and recalls her formative experiences while at Howqua fondly. 

Michael’s son, William, and daughter-in-law, Jenny Ullmer (née Chu, 1999) have three daughters currently at Lauriston, Victoria (Year 5), Elizabeth (Year 4), Charlotte (4yo kinder) and Catherine, who will commence 3yo kinder next year. The children are keen participants in a wide range of sporting activities on offer at Lauriston and are excited about the new programs that will become available once the building is complete. 

This is the Ullmer Family Foundation’s first major gift focused on girls’ education. It has previously supported youth education, classical music and arts programs for communities with lower access and participation levels. On behalf of the family Jenny Ullmer (Chu, 1999) said, ‘This gift helps to address the inequality in funding and participation rates in girls’ sports as compared to boys’.