The article below is a copy of a feature article in the June 2024 edition of The Melbourne Anglican – about one of our long term members.


Ridley College librarian Ruth Weatherlake has recently retired after 32 years of service.

by Hannah Felsbourg

In her decades at Ridley, Ms Weatherlake has witnessed – and supported – many changes at the college. She considers it an honour to have con- tributed to preparing students for Christian life and ministry in her role as librarian.

Ms Weatherlake took on the role shortly after graduating from Ridley College herself. She said she valued her everyday interactions with the Ridley community, particularly the satisfaction of helping students and faculty find the precise resources they need

When Ms Weatherlake took on the role in 1992, she was the sole librarian managing the library with a card catalogue system. A couple of years later she assisted in transitioning to an automated library system and the team has grown to have three librarian positions.

She feels privileged to have played a role to help equip students and others for Christian life and their future ministries.She shared that a small way she helped make students feel welcome was to encourage them to bring coffee and other drinks into the library which made it a more hospitable place to study.

In retirement, Ms Weatherlake plans to continue her active involvement in her church, spend time with friends and family including her granddaughter, and explore volunteer opportunities.

She deeply values the connections she made at Ridley and hopes to maintain these relationships into the future.