Alumni Spotlight: Carly Tornatora

Some of my favourite memories from my time at Servite are:

• School camps were great – Pickering Brook, Rottnest – I remember playing piano and singing in the dorms at Rottnest.

• Servite had some amazing opportunities for students – I was lucky enough to go to Broome for the Catholic Education Festival for ten days with an amazing bunch of students and to South Africa and Anaheim California on The Servite Student Exchange Program for 6 weeks with 4 other students and our Art teacher Mrs Baker. Both magic trips!

• I loved theatre sports at lunchtime, the sports carnivals cheering people on, my brother was two years older than me and a great sportsman so I cheered loud for him too, the assemblies were great, St Phillips Day Festivities were fun and the Year 12 Muck Up Day we watched each year group have theirs and then we did ours and paid tribute to some wonderful teachers. We were lucky, we had great fun teachers with character and who could teach you but also have fun and laugh with you, Mr Charlwood, Ms Di Faria, the late and wonderful Ms Speranza, Mrs Hassel, Mr Papas, Mrs McAuliffe, Mrs Hansen, Mrs Barton to mention a few.

• I loved how involved my family were with the school, my folks regularly volunteered and in my last year my beautiful Dad ran the new Servite canteen that had just opened that year. Loved having him there every day.

• I was Head Girl and St Mary Priory Captain, and I learnt so much about life in those roles, I organised so many events, and fundraising too, plus I organised the Yearbook and Leaving shirts. One of my favourite events which I coordinated was the Year 12 Leaving Breakfast at La Villa in Osborne Park. Teachers were invited too and I have never heard the school anthem sung with so much pride as on that day. I remember Mr Branson and Mr Franchina (another 2 great teachers) commenting on that too. We gave out fun awards, had speeches and great food together. We had a great year group and I have only happy memories from Servite.

I am now a Mum to two gorgeous long haired boys Charlie and Luca who both love soccer and family time together and I’m a wife to a funny Irish man named Luke – they are my blessings and my magic. I am a Marriage Celebrant, I also work part time at the City of Subiaco, and I am almost finished a Diploma of Project Management. I still sing on the odd occasion and tinkle on the piano when I get the chance.

My oldest son plays for Floreat Athena Football Club so we volunteer there, I’m sure my youngest will play there eventually too. I am on the P & C at my boys’ school and also on the School Board. My husband is the President of IPWEA WA so we are involved in their events and are big fans of STEM programs coming into schools.

Life has been a wonderful adventure! Blessed!

After Servite, at the age of 19 years, I took off to London to try and crack it as a Rockstar! I loved every moment as a singer– music was everything I did. I played in bands in Perth, did some TV, was lucky enough to do back-ups for Kate Ceberano, went to the Logie Awards and wherever I could find a stage I’d be on it singing and entertaining. I wrote and produced my own CD called Sprinkles of Chapters and at the age of 23, I signed a deal with a company in Melbourne and was with them for 3 years with lots of hopes and promises, lots of writing and ending up gaining airplay in Germany of all places. However, it was not my time to have world-wide success and surprisingly I ended up being ok with that and trusted whatever the universe had next for me.

I had spent about 6 years in the UK and would fly to and from Perth regularly for several months working and travelling back on repeat. I visited some awesome countries in my time there and made some friends who became like family who I still keep in touch with today. I became a Contiki Tour Guide (Europe) for a time being too which was interesting and in amongst that time also became a Personal Trainer and Gym Instructor. I have done several health and wellness courses over the years too.

I met my husband Luke while picking up a tent to camp out in Margaret River to see Stevie Wonder with my Mum. Long story short – my car rolled into the lounge room of a friend where the tent was and it was Luke, the very funny Irish engineer, who came to rescue me. Luke has been my Knight in Shining armour ever since – funny and my best support in whatever I do. We have two gorgeous boys who fill my heart, we live behind my mum and dad – I thank God every day for my precious family.

I loved my time at Servite and whenever I bump into someone from Servite, we have a good old chat and even years later we still say …well once a Servite always a Servite! What a great chapter that was!