Jessica and Courtney Chamberlain on family, farming, and St Margaret's College's legacy

St Margaret’s College Old Girl Courtney Chamberlain describes her experience in the school boarding house as warm from the beginning, a home away from home. Courtney, along with sisters Jessica and Hannah, are third-generation SMC boarders. Currently farming Hadstock Farm in the Selwyn district, Courtney and Jessica are featured in the latest edition of Shepherdess magazine, talking about their school days and about working together farming over twenty hectares of spring bulbs and flowers.

Talking of their time at St Margaret’s, they reflect on lifelong friendships and offer an example of how Jessica’s children are now friends with her school friends' children, creating many more generations of SMC connections. 

While sister Hannah works in viticulture in Cromwell, the family remains close-knit. All three girls credit their parents for instilling their strong can-do attitude and their schooling for firing their passions. From early morning rowing training to state-of-the-art performing arts, the Chamberlain girls embraced every opportunity at St Margaret’s College and are a resounding example of hard work and integrity, generating excellence, resilience, and higher purpose on the land.   

To read more, pick up the summer edition of Shepherdess.