ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
A recent graduate of Betoota Grove’s exclusive St Gretel’s School for Girls has elected against taking a gap year doing charity work in a third world country – breaking the mould of those who’ve come before her.
Olive Stetson, daughter of Dr Hannah and Mark Stetson of Grenache Road, accepted a position at a prominent boarding school on the outskirts of London, the armpit of Great Britain.
The worldly 19-year-old told The Advocate today that she’s both ‘excited’ and ‘nervous’ for what the rest of this year brings.
“England is a gorgeous country,” she said.
“But it’s deeply troubled. That’s why many of them are here; why it’s so easy for them to get citizenship in Australia compared to people from brown people countries. I hear many survive off scotch eggs from a place called Pret, some kind of government soup kitchen – or so I’m told. The crime rate is through the roof. Dad is worried,”
“But I’m not worried. The people are so beautiful, I can’t wait to help their little faces! I’m gapping at Marlborough College, which is like a hostel for kids who live too far from school to go home each day. It’s pretty sad but I’m going there to help. I’m sooooo [sic] excited!”
Olive’s parents, however, have expressed concerns about their intrepid daughter’s choice to gap in such an ‘inhospitable’ like England but they’re remaining supportive.
Her father, Mark, a global financier specialising in emerging markets, said that there’s not too many reasons why one would go to London any more.
“Back in the day, it was quite a nice place to visit. Great place to do business,” he said.
“Things were a bit more laid back. They had great music there. All the greats from yesteryear. Stone Roses, George Michael, they were all grand,”
“But times have changed now. There’s been a few revolutions or something. Now even my firm is looking to move offices to Dublin or Amsterdam. I’d be lying, too, if I wasn’t worried about Olive moving there for a year. It’s a dangerous place,”
“At least it’s not as bad as America, I guess.”
More to come.
