The school has seen some impressive women walk through its doors over the years, and the school's "old girls" have gone on to various occupations from actors, lawyers and musicians, to diplomats, authors and academics to name a few.

Toni Ffrench, who was at the school from 1977-82, said she wasn't the "most academic student", but a St Clare's career fair in year nine put her on the path to her current career.

"I saw this little stall saying makeup artistry – I didn't even know it was a job. In the blurb it said you should go and do your hairdressing and I did exactly what it said and have never looked back," she said.

Her 28 years working in the film and television industry has included working in hair and makeup on The Thin Red Line, The Great Raid, The Code and TV mini-series The Pacific which she won an Emmy Award for.

"I have a gold statue that sits in my house and that makes me smile every time I look at it," she said.

"Every time I get up at four o'clock in the morning to go into a makeup truck I think how some people do this forever and don't get one. So I feel pretty blessed."

Dr Liz Gallagher was also a student for two years in the '80s, and has gone on to work in private practice as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. She is also the ACT branch president of the Australian Medical Association.

One of her strongest memories is of a change that happened between year and 11 and 12.

"We changed principals and we went from having a male principal to a female principal – sister Joan," she said.

"Before that we all had to wear pantyhose all the time the whole year, and she let us wear socks some of the year – that was a big deal."

A decade later, Georgia Gleeson was at the school from 1995-2000, and has gone on to become a marathon runner.

"I was in the public service for about 12 years and had a bit of a moment after the birth of my fourth child in 2012," she said.

"I decided to chuck in the public service lifestyle and I wanted to run and work in the fitness industry so I had a big lifestyle change."

She ran the New York Marathon in 2013, and has plans to run the Boston Marathon next year. In between her own training, she's passionate about helping train others and is involved in Robert de Castella's Indigenous Marathon Project.

Rachael Campbell (nee Reeves) was also at the school from 1995-2000, and is now a singing teacher and works with the Australian Rugby Choir and Woden Valley Youth Choir.

"I did musicals and things at school and they became a big part of what I became to be, and same as the chorale. Most of my memories are around the performing I did," she said.

Like Liz, one of the memories that sticks most in Rachel's mind relates to uniforms.

"[I remember] wearing our pyjama pants under our skirts in winter. They can't do that now because the girls wear their winter skirts short."

Rachel will perform as part of the special chorale at the celebratory mass on Sunday May 31 from 11am at the college. It will be followed by the fair from 12-3pm, which has food, children's entertainment, sideshow alley, performances by students and local band Drawing North will also hit the stage.

The gala dinner is on Saturday 30 May at the National Convention Centre Canberra from 6.30pm. Tickets are $95 and on sale until midnight on Sunday May 24 from stcc.act.edu.au.

Coming to town

Our cold weather usually keeps people away, but next week two national TV programs will be visiting to film in our fair city.

WIN morning program Today is next week hitting the road and broadcasting live from every state and territory across the country.

Weatherman Stevie Jacobs is on Canberra duty, heading to the Royal Australian Mint on Monday May 25. If you're up bright and early, head along to catch the action or try and get on TV.

Also visiting is the Saturday Disney crew from Prime. They're filming an entire episode of the long-running kids show from Monday to Friday and visiting places like Questacon, the National Zoo and Aquarium, the AIS, Canberra Glass Works, the National Museum of Australia and Cockington Green.

Keep an eye out for presenters Teigan Nash, Nathan Morgan and Candice Dixon (pictured) out and about, or tune in to Prime during August when the episode is scheduled to air.

What's On

- If you work in Civic, you might want to plan to pop out of the office next Friday May 29. To celebrate the opening of The Green Shed cafe in Garema Place, they're giving away free gelato and free rides on the carousel. The fun starts at 10am and continues until 9pm. They're claiming there's heaps of gelato to go around, but it won't hurt to get in early.

- Art Song Canberra's recital Love Blossoms in May is on May 31 featuring baritone Alexander Knight and pianist Kimberley Steele. From 3pm at the Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest. Tickets adult $35/concession $30/members $25 including program and light refreshments, available at the door.