MDEVILLIAN Registered by Australia Post, Publication Number VBH 7636 Vol 3, No 2, May 1988
THE RUMOUR IS
Board. It is little wonder that she took the
ALIVE ...
entire organisation of this year's
- ANNE MUIRHEAD Dancing with the boys at Turana Youth Training Centre; tallying the scores via mental arithmetic at countless sports
meetings wearing the green of Mornane;
settin up a Physics Prac long before the
arrival ot the Mandeville mases, the lone;
loyal guitarist at every Thursday Eucharist...these are just a few of the myriad of images that I carry with me of mv
teacher, friend and colleague - Sr Efizabeth Donnan, IBVM.
of past and present pupils, staff members and friends of Loreto, a special tribute of thanks to Sr Elizabeth, who has finished at
Toorak after eleven years of extraordinary service. Herself a past pupil of Mandeville, Sr Elizabeth rekindled her association with
Toorak in 1977 and since that time has been
a veritable dynamo in and out of the
classroom. Although Sr Elizabeth runs the most tangential meetings, had the most chaotic-looking work area in the staff room and even turned up late to Hawthorn for
TO BE A PILGRIM
Mass earlier in the year after having spent twenty minutes looking for her glasses, she is the ultintate "behind-the-scenes"
organiser. During her time at Mandeville, Sr
- DEIRDRE ROFE I.B.V.M. PR INCIPAL
Elizabeth must have organised and run well over a hundred camps for senior R.E. classes and recent past pupils, she virtually built the
John Bunyan's Christian classic Pilgrim's Progress inspired the writing of a wellknown hymn, "To be a Pilgrim". In preparation for the Mass at Yulara on 23rd
April, the school learnt the hymn which, with its resounding refrain, became one of the themes of our journey. What did it mean for us "to be a pilgrim"? It meant that we approached the 11 days away together with a special attitude. We were no
ordinary tourists, "doing the Centre". Rather we would travel - conscious of our
ignorance of this vast land and our
inexperience in the ways of the world of the Aborigines. We were also aware that we
washing machines of the Alice Travellers Village. We were moving fast but the land exercised a strong fascination over all of us. Our large group moved through vast stretches of land, leaving no impression; rather the impression was made on us. This awareness was strengthened by the
unique experience of being "one in mind
and heart'. It was this aspect which earned
Aboriginal community one of the most
the expedition the name of pilgrimage - we journeyed miles as a school community and
therefore, with a sense of unease, anxious to
as individuals.
be reconciled and hopeful that in the short
As we were well aware, the journey was not
time we had, we could strike a new
without risk. Many of us, before the event, spared more than a passing thought as to what might happen. It was our awareness of God's providence and the finely tuned organization which enabled us all to accept
"Not only did I make new friends within the
the risk involved. We felt confident that the
school, but I feel now I am able to call
ties that existed in the Loreto school
myself a true Australian with a much greater
knowledge of our country and its people."
community were strong enough to face the risk and also the consequences. It is a
(Year 11 student)
blessing that this trust was not misplaced.
"Two things which highlighted our trip were
Pilgrims of old had to contend with attacks from brigands, illness often unto death and
the meeting with the Aborinal children and "The Rock Concert". I tound the
a motley group of companions. The worst
Aboriginal people extremely friendly and they were eager to find out how we lived."
attacks we faced were from the flies; any
(Year 10 student)
"The trip we made to the Centre of our land, Australia, has taught me the true meaning of the saying 'The Aborigines don't
illness was speedily halted by the skilled medical team and somehow, miraculously, our "motley" became strangely harmonized into seventeen strongly affiliated groups,
own the land, the land owns the
composed of people of all ages and interests. To belong to Bus 17, to name just
Aborigines'. The Aborigines see no need to stake out their land or display 'Keep Out'
was an identity!
signs." (Year 7 student)
To be a pilgrim meant to be on the move. In
one, was not just an organizational tag. It Many stories have been shared, photos exchanged, and reunions organized. What
a very short space of time, we became quite
occurred in our school between 17 - 27
skilled at erecting a tent citv and within half
April is the tip of the iceberg. It was long in
an hour sitting down to a three course meal. In an equally short space of time, we could strike camp, with tents folded flat and bed
immeasurable faith in young people. In her Summary at the 1986 Loreto Education Conference, Sr Elizabeth inadvertantly
described herself: "For many young people, the school is becoming the most significant experience of Church. The witness of the various manifestations does much to reinforce the rumour that God is alive".
A delightful story from the recent pilgrimage encapsulates the powerful witness of Sr Elizabeth - a student in
describing where she had found God during the journey to the Centre, said she had seen God present in Sr Elizabeth. Thank you Lizzie, for the love you extend to your students, for your interest in those of us who have moved beyond the walls of Mandeville, for your comitment to the young and to the future - so evident in your compassion towards the young men at Turana. In response to all that you have given us, we offer you our prayers and
long-distance support as you experience the next stage of your own pilgrimage on tertianship in Kenya.
Thank you for keeping the rumour of God alive!
new P.E. Centre and has held key positions
the families who prayed at home. We shared
intentioned efforts, has left the Australian
wrote:
Sr Elizabeth's untiring and cheerful giving, without stopping to count the cost, must always be seen in the context of her
for land and identity. This solidarity in prayer was supplemented most tangibly by with the early Christian community that
can only quote what some of the students
Donnan.
the traditions of all pilgrims, we prayed - for a safe journey, for a deeper appreciation of the gift of this glorious country, for a spirit of understanding of the Aboriginal desire
majority, part of a system that despite well-
relationship between black and white. Who can judge whether this was achieved? We
even seemed to thrive on the process, earning the affectionate title - Brigadier
daily period of prayer and reflection. True to
were, as members of the white Australian
deprived groups in the world. We came,
Bicentennial Pilgrimage in her stride and
members of our school communities in its
It is with a deep sense of love and gratitude that I record, on behalf of literally thousands F
on al! schoc! Faicy bedic: ar ' tl- 0 Institutes's Central Education Advisory
the preparing: I suspect that it will be long
in the memory of each of us. At a more
rolls neatly piled. And so into the coach -for
significant level, I believe it has shaped our consciousness quite profoundly. Despite our
the next few hundred kilometres. We
differences, we know we can live and work
learned to cope with the misty coldness of an early morning on the Murray, with the
and play together. What remarkable
dusty starkness of Coober Pedy and so to
foresight the present Year 12 group showed when they chose as our theme for the year
appreciate all the more the green lawns and
"We are Family"!
Sr Elizabeth in Kenya
The Bicentennial Pilgrimage The Bicentennial Pilgrimage to Central Australia must have been the event of the
year for the Senior School! We felt that it would be appropriate if we devoted a considerable portion of this Mandevillian to articles and photos on this incredible achievement. We have selected a number of
different pieces of writing about the
Pilgrimage. There are articles or essays by students, excerpts from parents' letters, reflections by members of staff, volunteers and strangers. We hope that you will be able to share with us the extraordinary experience which was the Loreto Bicentennial Pilgrimage.
LORETO
TO BE A PILGRIM
FROM ALICE
- FIONA KELLY, YEAR 7
SPRINGS
I looked out of the bus window and saw the
TERM 3
vast desert in front of me. It was my home for eleven days. There was little vegetation and the soil was dry and sandy. The desert has such indescribable beauty. We came into
a one-horse town, but we did not stop. We
1988
continued on our journey, towards our destination, the centre ot Australia. We were
miles away from urban life. We seemed to be the solitary moving creatures on this
JULY 11 Mon
earth.
k
I looked around at the other girls. Some
were sleeping, some were talking and others
Staff In-Service day for Senior
just sat, gazing out of the windows, like me.
and Junior School 12 Tues
I turned back to the world outside. There
Students return
were a lot of mines around the area. The big
Visit of Loreto, Marryatville school group
r
product is so beautiful. Suddenly I heard the murmur of
19 Tues 8 pm: Meeting of the Social Committee of the Mothers' and
"aborigines". I looked out of the window and saw a large group of Aboriginals. We
Fathers' Associations 21 Thurs
1 pm: Mothers' Association Committee meeting
The Australian Lamington featured at the
7 pm: Year 8 Parent-Teacher
Junior School Aussie Sports Day
meeting 2 pm: Meeting of the Victorian
22 Fri
Bursars' Association 24 Sun
Frep, Years 1&2 FatherDaughter Mass
26 Tues
Mothers' Luncheon at Hyatt-on-
waved at them and some waved back, we all stared out of the windows.
"We must look like a group of tourists", I
MEANWHILE, BACK AT TOORAK - PAT O'HALLORAN
meeting 27 Wed
8 pm: Fathers' Committee Meeting in the Senior Staff Common Room
28 Thurs 7 pm: Year 11 Parent-Teacher Meeting 31 Sun 9 am: Year 7 Father-Daughter Mass
AUGUST
Unable to gather as a whole to farewell the pilgrims on Sunday, 17th April, the Juniors assembled two days earlier, to record their farewell message. The travellers were assured that the entire Junior School
community would be with them in spirit and in prayer. These were not just empty words!
The pilgrims' progress was charted daily on various maps throughout the Junior School. Little sisters relayed news from older sisters. Staff members added items received from
2 Tues
8 pm: Loreto Advisory Board meeting
4 Thurs
Interhouse Drama Competition: Junior Section
5 Fri
Interhouse Drama Competition: Senior Section
Victorian Inter-School Skiing Championships 8 Mon
Year 10 Work Experience Week
Year 11 Christian Living Camp commences
Year 12 Exam Week
11 Thurs 1 pm: Mothers' Association Committee Meeting 13 Sat T? ·.2 7. ins CUL - .e ·1·,v walk Mandevullan 64/ 0 14 Sun
Loreto Rowing Regatta
Sunday Seminar No. 2 15 Mon
16 Tues
8 pm: Year 10 Parent Information Night 7.45 pm: Past Pupils Reunion and Mass
18 Thurs Year 7 Parent-teacher meeting "The Boyfriend" musical with St Kevin's at Kew High School 19 Fri
"The Boyfriend" "The Boyfriend"
20 Sat
O'Connor Cup Fencing Competition
21 Sun
25 Thurs 1 pm: Mothers' Association Committee Meeting 7.30 pm: Year 11 Turana Dance 9 am: Year 9 Father-Daughter
26 Fri 28 Sun
Mass 29 Mon
Student sporting group photos
7.45 pm: Past Pupils' Annual General Meeting 31 Wed
Careers Evening
SEPTEMBER Gala Concert at the Robert
2 Fri
Blackwood Hall
Tennis night at Knox Indoor
3 Sat
Tennis Centre 5 Mon
Induction of Councillors for
8 Thurs
School Feast Day
1988/89
- Loreto Leadership Seminar ---
their Senior School daughters. The telephone "hot line" was utilized. The
Third Term concludes
10 Sat -
Bushwalking Club three day walk to Wilsons Promontory
12 Mon
"Eleven AM" program on the appropriate day. The travellers were "prayed on their "
Aborigines of the Arrernte tribe.
Alice Springs 'locals' - bus drivers - staff those back home who participated from afar .... each of us with a story. Here is one shared with me by a Mandeville student:
"It was good to be at Amoongana. I will
never forget it. When we went into the bush, I carried little Samantha on my back. She showed me some of the bush food and
told me the proper Aboriginal names. After a while Samantha told me about three
of her people who had died in the big floods and about the man who had
drowned. She kept on telling me about this."
Yes, there were facts learnt - Arrernte
tourists, but pilgrims. We are ali pilgrims on
words, places to be seen, new experiences.
"
But there was so much more. There was that
Pilgrimages used to be when groups of people went off together in reflection. We were doing this, but also we were searching for a new understanding of our country. We were pilgrims of the world. Through us,
deeper understanding gained sometimes through something as simple as a piggyback ride - or through the gentle words and
others would learn by listening to our
Congratulations and thanks to everyone
experiences. We were lucky to have gone as a school family. We have become a closer family through this experience. I stopped writing in my journal and looked at what I had written. I felt a secret pleasure as I read my feelings and ideas of what I had discovered that day. I had discovered a new and deeper meaning of the Pilgrimage. It was not a holiday, but a chance to learn and grow. I had never really understood it
involved. I believe that minds were
the silence expressed in telling about the loss of a loved one.
enlightened and hearts were blessed. Please remember that Aboriginal minds were also enriched and hearts deeply blessed by the warmth and simplicity of your presence among us.
Pilgrimage in this way, but now I did. I put down my pen and journal and gently
asked myself, "What will the next day hold for me?"
At the same time, we were busy with varied may not have moved at quite as frantic a pace as life on the Pilgrimage, but move it certainly did! We enjoyed a whole-school excursion on Puffing Billy - "Our , Pilgrimage't as the Year 4 Blues called it. The sight of over 300 pairs of blue tracksuited legs, dangling from Puffing Billy as he chuffed through the hills, was indeed
something to behold. The juniors were invited by the Mothers to their parade of children's fashions and sleep-wear, some as models, some as audience. The senior gym was transformed for the occasion by the Juniors' art work brilliantly coloured clowns, decorating the walls and the cat-walk.
The gym was also the scene of some very energetic Australian bush dancing, which concluded our "Aussie Sports Day". During a fun-filled day we gathered around a giant
lamington-covered map of Australia (complete with candles), to sing "Happy Birthday Australia". A sausage-sizzle lunch
FROM A STRANGER " (When) we visited Ayers Rock we were entertained by a "free concert". We grew up in Melbourne and we have never met any pupil or past pupil of Mandeville.
The most impressive thing about the concert was the amazing discipline which obviously exists at your school. The girls were very excited on that night, but even the School Captain had complete control of the situation - it was marvellous!
Visiting the Catholic High School, Alice Springs
At Daly Waters the publican had heard of the eighteen coach event!
Congratulations on what must be fantastic leadership." Frank Hurst.
and the lamingtons provided the energy for the afternoon's activities. Green and gold clad juniors converged on the oval for their Aussie sports, which included such items as "Crossing Sydney Harbour't thong throwing, damper carrying - and of course, not to be outdone by the seniors, our own version of climbing Uluru.
For the Seniors, the Pilgrimage was obviously an experience which provided them with a deep sense of belonging belonging to the Loreto Family and to our great family of Australia. Physically, the
Juniors remained behind, but in spirit they accompanied their elders, cementing their sense of belonging to the Loreto Family also, and enjoying experiences which enhanced their sense of identity as Australians.
PILGRIMAGES TO THE WHITE TENT - KATH RIDDELL Looking back on our bicentennial tent city, I can clearly remember a prominent feature. Strategically positioned each evening in the centre of the campsite were two white tents. One belonged to Sr Deirdre and Sr Elizabeth, and the other signified the medical station.
Believe it or not, the medical tent saw much
action during the Pilgrimage. As a result of the number of travellers and the natural
stressors of such a trip, life for all medical
PUPILS' ASSOCIATION ··.3 U?,
personnel was generally hectic. A typical evening at this torch-light clinic saw cases ranging from minor cuts and
abrasions, asthma, constipation (acute to chronic!), sore throats (from over-use?) and,
MEETING
'423 ?4
positions, as well as for the Committee. Please contact our Secretary, Mrs Caroline
of course, homesickness. Thus, the medical
9 Huntingfield Road Toorak, 3142 TEL: 20 6539
amidst the crowd.
I feel I must congratulate the school and its most dedicated staff on succeeding in planning and implementing a tremendous
pilgrimage. As a past-pupil and volunteer I feel priviledged to have been involved in
on
Tuesday 16th August 1988, at 7.45 pm Climbing Uluru - Junior School Style
- LUCY BONGIORNO, YEAR 11 The Pilgrimage was, to me, everything I had expected and more. It was an unforgettable experience in which I certainly learnt more
to say exactly what it was that made the trip
nine were the moraI support entourage! We
The Annual Reunion and Mass will be held
... AND MORE
application of remedies.
soon became adept at finding the patient
MASS
IEXPECTED
about myself as well as other teachers and
girls approach. I was relieved to learn that
ANNUAL REUNION AND
EVERYTHING
team members learnt quickly to be creative in their use of diagnosis and in the Initially, a visit to the medical tent was, for most girls, quite an adventure. Generally, it was a visit made out of curiosity. It gave me quite a shock one night to see a mob of ten
Collie,
R.S.V.P. Mrs Julienne Scarff: 818 7094
Students from South.
activities of our own. Life for the Juniors
,ey'·4
Nominations are called for all executive
Pilgrimage meant. Each of us has his/her own story.
way.
LORETO TOORAK PAST ANNUAL GENERAL
"It is hard to say what - how much - the
when the teachers had talked about the
televisions were tuned to Channel Seven's
commences in Adelaide 9 Fri
REYNOLDS, OLSH
thought. But then 1 realised, " We are not a pilgrimage.
Collins
7 pm: Year 11 Parent-Teacher
clumps of rubble looked so ugly, yet the
-SISTER ROBYN
such a memorable experience.
"unknown" students at the school. It's hard
so successful, but to begin, I feel that
composing buses of mixed year levels was one important factor. Only two of my close friends were on my bus and at first, I admit that I wasn't too keen on this. However, by the second day I realised the importance in mixing the buses when we all began talking to each other. By Day 7 many new friendships had evolved and it was with great sadness that we said goodbye and prepared to change buses. I became good friends with many Year 8 and 10 girls, as
well as some other Year 11 girIs, which was again a great and important experience.
The Bicentennial Pilgrimage MY REFLECTIONS
THE PILGRIMAGE
ON THE
AT HOME
PILGRIMAGE
"I must admit I was apprehensive about the trip, but was most impressed with the organization on departure. As my daughter had never camped out before, I was stunned by her obvious enjoyment of the experience. I would say that it will be an event in her school life that will stand out in the years to
- ELISABETH NEALES The picnic at the Telegraph Station, climbing Uluru, the Rock Concert ... these would
inevitably be for most people the highlights
come as one to be remembered with much
of our Pilgrimage, and of course these achievements had a profound influence on us all. However, for me the most lasting
.?*44*.
memory of the Pilgrimage will be something
much more intangible - the closeness that was achieved by travelling together for eight
la
f
44
In theory, travelling huge distances for eight days in a closely packed bus sounds dreadful, and before we left my friends
Year 8 Parent
"We are most grateful for the planning and care you all took to make the pilgrimage the
through the sound system.
%
obvious success it was. It enriched the lives
Four Year 12s, eight Year 11s, sixteen Year
of our children in many ways and opened
9s, nine Year 79, two elderly teachers (one was me!), one young teacher, one young
doors to other horizons and another culture.
The bus trip itself proved to be great fun and a successful integration of ages and personalities.....It was heartening to be greeted with such glowing and happy stories on (our daughter's) return and then to see all the photographs."
volunteer nurse, and three crew members
who had never travelled together before -
this hardly sounded a promising recipe for a Momane gave us a taste of "Heaven" at the Rocl
And yet - a miracle happened. Within days,
this disparate group knitted itself into a real
ROCK AROUND THE ROCK!
extended family. We all learnt to enjoy shared experiences in the campsites, to accept each other's idiosyncracies, to care
PATRICIA RIDDELL, SCHOOL CAPTAIN
for those who felt insecure, to include those
temper or weariness. After a day or two, all year levels intermingled spontaneously in the bus, age barriers disappeared, and there was an atmosphere of goodwill, affection and esprit de corps. Above all, these mixed
age groups had fun together, whether it was teasing the rourier, tryirry to hit the top notes of "Tonight't decorating the coach (a positive hubbub of activity for an hour or two), holding mock interviews over the
microphone, or discussing the constipation problems of some of our group!
Imperceptibly, we had become united; not islands in ourselves, but part of a strong, caring (if temporary) community.
The proposal to hold the annual Performing Arts Festival on the Bicentennial Pilgrimage, was met by the House Music Captains and
the level of audience participation and, I'm sure, the enjoyment of the girls performing.
Year 12 with mixed feelings. Perhaps the two most prevalent of these were
and students, but also the bus crews who
excitement and trepidation. Little did we
this audience, were members of the public
dream of the huge spectacular which was to eventually transpire! Indeed, the
staying at Yulara. These unexpected observers, it seems, were as entertained by
I
....
I
_i
after the performance further electrified the
Mistresses and Master and House Music
Rock Concert for me was the singing of "We Are Family". The four Houses were brought
Captains, that no rehearsals were to be held prior to our departure. We also decided to eliminate the competitive element, emphasising fun, rather than the high standards obtained in previous years. The
ordinate 200 girls situated on buses, at times
the fit had assisted the less active, the
up to 100 kilometres apart, meant that this was an extremely different event to the normal annual performance.
returned to our year levels, to our own
However, this did not adversely affect the eventural outcome. In my opinion, it merely served to heighten the excitement and, at times, the element of surprise for both
families and eventually to our normal classroom relationships. Sadly, just like the
audience and performers! I had never experienced the school spirit
end of an ocean voyage, those with whom
and electrified atmosphere which I felt at
we had shared so many experiences went
the Concert as the members of the
It was deemed by the Rock Concert SubCommittee, comprising mainly of House
our Pilgrimage tee-shirts; during the climb
even a girl with a sprained ankle managed to reach the top, to be there with us all. After eight days, Bus Ten disbanded. We all
came to support "their girls". In addition to
Pilgrimage.
fact that each House had one week to co-
group we had achieved something together;
Not only was the occasion enjoyed by staff
Yulara Amphitheatre, was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip.
Perhaps the most moving moment for me was when we stood together for a photograph at the top of Uluru, all wearing
confident had encouraged the timid and as a
the Rock Concert. It was incredible! Each
their separate ways; yet I am sure that something precious remains with all of us -
House produced half an hour of thoroughly
a memory of that closeness we achieved and a realisation that reaching out to others results in shared happiness.
including much ad-libbing and unplanned humour. The relaxed atmosphere, produced by lack of competition, served to increase
entertaining song, dance and drama
Presentations to Sr Elizabeth and Mr Staiff
"Observing the girls arrive home it was obvious that they had had a great time, and later discussions with our daughter
confirmed that the Pilgrimage had achieved all its goals, You may be interested to know that through
the daily prayers and the telephone reports on your progress we were able to share with you . As a family we felt very much
part of the Pilgrimage. I have never found the re-dial button more useful. The fact that
the Flignmage line was 00 01©y maae me
aware of the Mandeville spirit in Melbourne
supporting you in your endeavour." Year 11 Parent
together in the amazing rendition of this song and the entire student body surged onto the stage. For Jackie and I, our theme,
"We Are Family", came to life at the Rock Concert.
NEW
EXPERIENCES, NEW FEELINGS Campsite Dinner
- MICHELLE FLORENINI, YEAR 8
FACE TO FACE
Feeling the red, sandy, infertile soil, I really
WITH THE REALITY
only taken a few days to reach the centre but I felt as if I had seen every animal and
every plant that could survive the heat and the loneliness of Australia's desert. I felt I
OF OUR LAN D - SUSIE HOARE, YEAR 12
had made a journey, not just a holiday with
The Loreto Pilgrimage to the centre of
a bunch of school friends, but a real journey
Australia, where I discovered the beauty of
to find out my feelings for my native country. The main feeling I had while travelling through Australia, was knowing I
our land, was an experience that is beyond description. The dream which became a reality was certainly an event never to be forgotten by the students, staff, volunteers and crew, who took part in this wonderful adventure. At first I was pessimistic about the Outrageous Proposal but during our journey I realised the significance and the
was all a part of this land; knowing I lived here and realising that whatever affected our S
Year 11 Parent
atmosphere. Perhaps, the highlight of the
knew I was in the heart of Australia. It had
land would also affect a part of me. I encountered one very special moment or
feeling, in Alice Springs while at the Telegraph Station. Meeting with the
reality of our Pilgrimage.
Aboriginal people gave me a very special feeling. Finding out where they lived and also how they lived showed me how unique they really were. While talking to the
Many of us for the first time had a chance to come face to face with the beauty of our country and the gtnerous smile of the original inhabitants of Australia - the
children, you could see they were already
Aboriginal people. Each day we travelled to
getting to know the traditional stories as
a different part of our country - one day we were in the Northern Territory and the next day in South Australia. The excitement, energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved created a unifying spirit. We, the group of pilgrims, will now share for the
well as their customs and laws, also their
beliefs. Although most of the children attended school and nearly all of the children wore what would be to us normal
clothing, they were still truly Aboriginal. 1 felt strange knowing how some of them lived and parts of their culture, but I also felt like a real pilgrim knowing and seeing The windswept Bus 10 group on top of Uluru
maturing and beneficial effect on our
of family within the Loreto community."
operative students, homesickness, a difficult crew and, over it all, loud music blaring
make allowances for bouts of sickness, bad
"We especially feel the trip has had a
particularly of the Aboriginal community, appreciation for the vastness of this great country and above all a very strong feeling
commiserated with me, imagining all sorts of exhausting situations - noise, travel sickness, boredom, cranky teachers, unco-
who worried about being left out, and to
Year 12 Parent
daughter. She has expressed feelings of excitement, fellowship and understanding,
days in a Centralian coach.
happy Bus Ten.
pleasure."
rest of our lives the memories and
experiences of the journey of a lifetime. Every one of us felt a great pride in
different people and their lifestyles
belonging to the Loreto community and in
compared to mine.
sharing in this discovery of our country.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
SUNDAY SEMINAR
4
IN BRIEF
- SR MARGARET
YEAR THREE MAGIC
CALLAGHAN, I.B.V.M. On Sunday, 29 May, the first of the 1988
Year 3, over the past few weeks, has been
Sunday Seminars was held at Mandeville.
bursting with branches of gum leaves, with scarves flying around in the air, minties, and carefully guarded plates of Anzac biscuits.
The topic was: "Supporting the Values - The Network of Parish, School and Home" with
the purpose being to investigate how each of these aspects of our lives helps to build up the values we hold for our students.
There has been considerable interest in
vegemite sandwiches, Australian bush
animals, and the meaning of words such as
About 50 parents participated in the Seminar which began with Mass at 8.30 am.
'visible' and 'invisible'.
"And what," you may ask, "Does all of this
Bishop George Pell, our Regional Bishop, celebrated the Mass and later participated in a panel of speakers who presented their
mean???" The answer is a wonderful book, 'Possum
Magic' by Mem Fox, which has captured the imagination of Year 3 girls and enabled them to explore the story in many media.
views on the topic. Bishop Pell spoke on
behalf of the parish, Mr Julian O Connell spoke on the support given by the home
Their interest has led them through dance,
mime, poetry and song. The magical quality of the book is contagious, and the final result has been a performance for Preps,
and Miss Rosemary Williamson and Sister
4
Margaret Callaghan, the Co-Ordinators of Religious Education in the Junior and Senior
Schools, presented views from the
Ones and Twos, as well as for parents of
perspective of the School. Mr John Little, a
Year 3.
parent, facilitated proceedings most ably. Following the speakers and discussion in
small groups, quite an interested and lively question and answer session took place. One of the main concerns seemed to centre
around the role of the parish in the girls' lives. Their attendance at Mandeville was
COMPUTERS IN THE
seen to make it difficult for the girls to keep in touch with friendships in the parish and
JUNIOR SCHOOL Major changes have recently taken place with the computer area in the Junior School.
With the purchase of 5 Apple computers we were able to set up a computer room which houses 15 computers. This allows the girls to have quality time and hands-on experience in this area. It is an exciting tool
which can be used to integrate many areas of the curriculum into varied and stimulated
learning.
PAST PUPIL AHOY! -BREDA ANNESLEY
Hundreds of Junior School children were
seen running laps of the oval and the school block. In this energetic outburst, the girls were making their contribution to the
Catholic Family Welfare Bureau fund raising week. The Lap-a-Thon was a great success. Thank you for your more than generous response. The $5,300 raised is our contribution to a most worthwhile
institution. The Catholic Family Welfare Bureau offers support to any family in need and, as the family unit is the basis of our community, by nourishing and supporting families we are nourishing and supporting our community.
The Junior School did not simply raise
money during Family Week, each class spent time tocussing on family life. The week's activities culminated with a mass and a
picnic to which all our Junior School families were invited.
1988
Life at sea was not all hard work however,
setting, with the oak hull creaking and the
he said, are "full-blooded Catholics". At the
"This is it," I thought. The voyage I had
rigging constantly rattling, gazing at the
been waiting months for was actually taking place. There was a time when I thought the "First Fleet Re-enactment Voyage" may not make
multitude of stars in the sky. Excuses for
same time among those present were some very concerned parents who expressed the great difficulty in giving their children a deep personal love of God quite apart from the question of regular attendance at Mass.
barquentine "Our Svanen't heading south of Fremantle, the voyage had begun. Crossing the Great Southern Ocean proved to be more treacherous and rough than any of us had imagined. The swell was huge for
parties were easy to find, and as our ship was sponsored by "Mainstay Rum", in the true sailor spirit, rum flowed freely! There was also plenty of excitement when any form of wildlife was seen. We sighted flocks of albatross (sacred to sailors), seals
who were most entertaining, pilot whales,
and of course, the gracious dolphins who
nearly a week, with the masts frequently
played around out bow, particularly spectacular at night, as they were streaked
rolling as much as 40 degrees either way -
with luminous plankton
not ideal conditions for most of us new
After a relatively calm trip through Bass Strait, we had our first sighting of land at Wilson's Promontory. AIong the Eastern Coast, we had a number of stops and on such occasions, the entire fleet would gather and "hit the town" - first the ice-cream shop
trainees who were still finding our 'sea legs',
and the mere thought of climbing to the top ok the masts was daunting. Within a short
time, however, our confidence improved, and soon climbing the rigging was a natural as climbing stairs. Anyone who had expected a luxury cruise was in for a big surprise. Conditions on board were anything but luxurious! Showers were cold, salt water, and until calmer,
and then the pubs! Crew members from all ships mixed on these occasions, and whilst anchored, there would be 'pirate raids' between the ships. There was a great feeling of comradeship and achievement among us
spectacular welcome. Each boat was a party, and excitement filled the air. The only way
quite a challenge, as was pouring milk onto
to describe the fireworks was 'magical', for as we sat, anchored by the Opera House,
your cornflakes before they all blew away!
watching the fireworks explode above us,
The ship worked around a strict watch system, and everyone worked a minimum of 8 hours a day. This may have, for example, begun at 3 o'clock in the morning, or even worse, it may have been the "graveyard
there was an indescribable sense of awe in the harbour.
Australia Day also meant that my once-in-alifetime adventure was nearly over. I had fallen in love with this lifestyle - how could I possibly leave it? I knew I had to say
we were taught all aspects of running the
returned. The voyage exposed me to another world and, since my return, I have integrated the experience and thereby enriched my life.
ship. Classes were held on a regular basis,
ana we were expected to learn the names of
CHALLENGE CUP
morning's discussion and, although no ready solutions were formulated, issues were
raised and examined quite openly and honestly. As always, the social interaction was helped by the Mothers' committee's provision of a lovely breakfast. Thanks go especially to Sue Rennie and Angela Arthur. It is hoped that a further Sunday Seminar
1925 - 40 REUNION
camaraderie pervaded the gathering. Four Past Pupils travelled from Brisbane to be with Sr Ruth Winship. They were Joan Crosbie (Barry), Sybil Bryan (Douglas), Joan
Garrett (Hooper) and Elaine Broad (O'Mara) who was Head of School in 1936 and 1937.
The strong bonds formed over the years were felt when everyone linked arms and sang "Auld Lang Syne" and "Queen of Loerto".
Iife'.
But it is a different life to which I have
•8r
BIRTHS Congratulations to the following on the birth of their children.
Sue O'Bryan (Leahy) Jan Naufal (Ryan) A Boy to:
SENIOR SCHOOL
Kristin Roberts (Allen)
IN BRIEF MARRIAGES
IT'S A MIRACLE! There were suggestions that we had
CREDITS
Sarah Cameron to Daniel Hess
Address: "The Mandevillian" Loreto, Mandeville Hall
Choir won the Dandenong Eisteddfod. Everyone was shocked - the choir included. After all, how could the choir possibly win a
Editorial Committee:
competition on the week after the
Editor: Gabrielle McKinnon
Pilgrimage? They hadn't practised for over
Community: Sr Carolyn McSwiney
Miss Cathy Bailey to Christopher Ferrari
Toorak, 3142
Miss Linda Head to Peter George
Senior School: Russell Staiff
When "Choir 7" was announced as winner,
Junior School: Pat Olialloran
no one from Mandeville moved. Not even
Challenge Cup was held at Metropolitan
the teachers, Miss Hill and Mrs Elliott
Golf Club on Monday, April 18th, The winning score of 136 was achieved by Ruyton - their first win ever. Mandeville's team, consisting of Jenny Carr, Frances McCartney, Margaret Pit Patricia Forrest,
recognised that "Choir 7" was, in fact, Mandeville. Needless to say there was great excitement and revelry when knowledge of
Ann Madden and Di Lowe scored 118. Next
Choir, to Mrs Anne Elliott, their
the win was finally realised.
Congratulations to all the members of the accompanist and to Miss Karen Hill, Music Director, for their miraculous performance.
Louise Mullany to Florian Greene
10 Mandeville Cres
two weeks!
The Sun 59th Annual Inter-School Golf
year the Sun Cup will be played at Green Acres Golf Club on Monday, April 17th.
mah,ri:17
All present were most interested in the
Girls to:
witnessed a miracle when the Senior School
THE SUN
There was some concern expressed on how one inculcates values in teenagers while allowing a degree of choice or decisionmaking which must go along with growing
The 1925-40 Reunion was held on Saturday, 30th April 1988. After attending Mass celebrated by Fr John Begley, SF, 116 ladies proceeded to the Mandeville Dining Room, where an incredible spirit and feeling of
on 9th May 1988, when 38 golfers took part in the Stableford Competition. The Loreto
May 1989
the home.
1987. The atmosphere on Sydney Harbour was exhilarating, as vessels of all shapes and sizes took to the water to give us a
traditional sextants. The list was endless, for
any new players to our day on Monday, 8th
communicated with parents so that meaningful discussion could take place in
will follow later this year.
poodbye to my shipmates and return to
The Golf Sub-Committee would welcome
school and the need for these to be
Australia Day, 1988. The day Jonathon King (project founder and historian) had been planning for years; the day Captains and crews had been working towards since May
improved however, we were able to dive overboard (with shampoo in hand) into the deep, crystal blue ocean, whilst those not swimming kept shark watch. Meals were served on deck, for the dining table only sat eight (there were 36 on board). Thankfully, everyone's sense of
manning the helm, doing bow watch, furling and changing sails, scrubbing decks and taking navigational measurements with
inception, and we are indebted to her for her outstanding contribution.
religious education programmes in the
all.
The twentieth annual Golf Day was held at Peninsula Country Golf Club
associated with the Loreto Golf Day since its
Other concerns raised were the content of
showers were taken at all. Once conditions
watch" (i.e. 11 pm to 3 am). Duties included
from the Committee. She has been
basic faith and belief in God. What we need
warmer waters were reached, very few
- JENNIFER CARR
Cup was won by Mrs Carmel Hughes. It was pleasing to see many new golfers participating, including the President of the Loreto Toorak Past Pupils. We are sad to be losing Mrs Joan Bryan
to get these activities under way in some parishes. He felt strongly that we have fallen down in presenting to young people our
chorused in celebration.
"Hang loose, man! We're sailing!" cried the
holding a dinner plate in rough seas was
PUPILS' GOLF DAY
the sails. Definitely no holiday!
Jamaican third mate, and the whole crew
balance improved by the end of the voyage:
LORETO PAST
the ninety ropes and how they controlled
and many evenings were spent dancing on the decks, or gathered around our guitarist singing sea shanties and ballads - a perfect
it to Australia, but now, on the Canadian
FAMILY WEEK
it was felt that if more parishes provided activities for teenagers and the post-school age group this might be rectified. Bishop Pell recognised the need for lay people to become more involved in parish life, particularly as their help is probably needed
Breda Annesley on board "Our Svanen"
Mothers' Association: Mary Sheehan Past Pupils' Association: Julienne Scarff and Jane
Ann Lee to Michael Cockburn
DEATHS
Nathan
Sincere sympathy to the families and friends
We offer our special thanks to the Past Pupils'
Veronica Josephine (Jo) Farley, who was at
Association, the Mothers' Association and the
Mandeville in 1924-25 and the first Border
Fathers' Association for their generous financial
Prefect. Sister of Sister Margarita
support of this issue.
Typesetting: The 'Iype Gallery Printing: Vital Instant Print
of:
Frank Hill, father of Miss Karen Hill
"Pray earnestly for the departed friends, for
it is in a time of need that true friendship is proved."