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We usually wait a few years post-graduation before profiling our alumni, but we really wanted to share this story of success with you all while you can still check out the Pulse exhibition featuring Bridie’s work! 

Bridie Le Cornu graduated as part of the Carramar Class of 2023, after coming to St Stephen’s School in Year 5. It’s clear that her time at school was a positive, life-affirming experience.  

“I felt like there were always opportunities available to me. I tried to do as much as I could, and I felt like that made my time really enjoyable,” said Bridie. 

“I got to do so many sports days – both playing and coaching, carnivals, Outdoor Ed camps and activities which were always great fun, too. I also loved the arts, I got to be creative and explore materials and ideas. Both were great outlets from the more stressful subjects.” 

Year 12 in particular was a time of great success and accolades for Bridie. She was the Fusion 2023 winner in the Year 10-12 Visual Art category and was also the 2023 recipient of the St Stephen’s School Award which recognises one student in each graduating class who embodies our core values including service, faith and care. 

Bridie reflected, “Being the 2023 St Stephen’s School Award winner made me really happy. It was lovely knowing that my efforts had been seen by others and acknowledged in that way. Being told I was deserving of the award was amazing and seeing my friends, family and my fav teachers smile when I walked on stage was awesome.” 

The work that won her the Fusion 2023 award, entitled Identity Fare is also part of the AGWA “Pulse” exhibition which celebrates WA’s most talented young artists. 

“I was so excited when I found out my work was going to be part of the exhibition! My Art teacher, Mr Pattni had talked about the Pulse exhibition and the opportunity to submit our work. I was really lucky to have such intelligent, passionate and skilled people in the art department to help me bring my ideas to fruition,” said Bridie. 

Identity Fare is the culmination of many months of work by Bridie, both in exploring the themes behind the concept as well as the crafting of the ceramics. 

“I love ceramics, I love working with clay and building pieces, so that was the path I wanted to take,” said Bridie.

The themes explored in Identity Fare were in part inspired by a family trip to Europe. 

“I was very lucky to go on that trip! I saw so much history, art and culture that in many ways was so unlike Australia. However, I did recognise parallels with Australia in the colonial history and its influence on art. At the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, I saw huge, glorious paintings of ships and delicate ceramics from the Dutch East India Company but there was no depiction of the hardships faced by those oppressed by the Dutch – the innocent people who became slaves and died in their thousands.” 

“I saw direct links to our history. As a white Australian, I can’t speak on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Through my art, I could comment though on the lack of political effort to make any real, necessary change. I could also comment on our shallow identity and how our laid-back nature isn’t always such a great thing. Mr Pattni helped me to reframe my angle in these ways, looking at our identity as a country.” 

Bridie far right

On the opening weekend of the Pulse exhibition, Bridie and the other featured artists had the incredible opportunity to speak to the AGWA visitors about their works. It was an exciting and humbling experience for her. 

“I’m so grateful. I had meaningful discussions with some really lovely people. They asked me interesting and thought-provoking questions and listened so intently when I spoke about my ideas and processes,” said Bridie. 

As we publish this story, Bridie is continuing her travels, heading to North Carolina to work at a summer camp before a few weeks of travelling in the United States and Europe. 

“I accepted and deferred an early offer from UWA for politics, philosophy and economics to start in 2025, though I’m not actually sure that’s what I want to do. I thought I was using this year to work out what I want to do at uni or with my life, but I think so far it’s been working out what kind of jobs I don’t want to do for the rest of my life!” 

It’s clear that the idea of a gap year is one that Bridie has embraced with both arms. 

“I couldn’t recommend a gap year enough. There’s no other time in your life where you have so few responsibilities, and you can spend your money on travel and gain some life experience. So that’s exactly what I’m doing!”  

We wish you all the best and safe travels, Bridie! 

The Pulse Exhibition is open at AGWA until 6 October 2024.