Dr Phyllis Fu, MBBS, FACEM, MClinEd (Class of 1991) is an emergency physician (emergency medicine specialist) and co-director of emergency medicine training at the Northern Hospital, Melbourne.

Phyllis went to the University of Melbourne after State High and graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1997. She went on to train as an emergency physician, obtained her specialist qualification in 2006 and completed a Masters in Clinical Education in 2017. Taking on the role of co- director of emergency medicine training and being accepted as a board examiner for the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine has been a career highlight. Phyllis is also an educator and plans to continue training generations of emergency physicians to become humane and effective clinicians. Her goal is to continue the job she loves as a doctor, while also finding the time to enjoy other passions like reading, yoga and whisky "(not mutually exclusive in any way)".

Phyllis attended State High with her siblings, Christine (1988), Kent (1988-1989) and Dennis (1991-1992). "Many teachers at State High left an indelible mark on me. Mr Jell, who taught me Year 11 and 12 English, imbued a life-long love of English in me. His last words to me before graduation, "Never stop reading", stayed with me to this day. I always go back to those words when I need to take a break from the complex medical world I work in. Ms Tierney, who taught me Maths in Year 12, gave me the liberty and confidence to work at my own pace in her class. "You just keep going in the textbook, Phyllis, I don't care if you don't listen to the class". The indomitable Miss Best, who taught me Japanese, had so much trust in me that she never blinked an eye when I skipped her classes! All these teachers and so many more, gave me the conviction and self- belief that were invaluable in those turbulent teenage years". Phyllis was on the Volleyball B team with Mr Hunter in Year 9 and 10 and recalls losing most games but a trip to Canberra in a minivan was a highlight after having had to fundraise by waitressing and selling chocolates to get the team on the road!

Her special memories of State High are plentiful, but Phyllis says her friends were a highlight. "Friends made my life just that much easier when I first stepped into the school as a new kid in year 9. I had a heavy Singaporean accent, was a bit of a geek, came from an all girls' school and had no idea who Kylie Minogue was. Tran Lam made the effort to sit next to me in Japanese classes despite her bemusement at my oddity and apparent lack of knowledge of Aussie stars. Melissa Fanshawe (nee Forrester), with her gorgeous smile, was always happy to tell me which boy was simply "yummy" and made sure I was included in social outings during our Canberra volleyball trip. Smart kids like Megan France and Kirsten Scrimshaw (nee Hume) with their dark humour always made classes that much more enjoyable (or tolerable- yes, those Chem classes!!). My daily trek to the ferry was with eccentric Christine Choi, dreaming and giggling about our future and beyond".

Phyllis advises current students to "savour every minute. Don't just work hard, play hard. The friendships and memories you build at State High will last you for life".