2 minute read
Time Capsule – Flash Forward 100 years
One hundred years in the future, the 2120 caretakers of our Loreto tradition will unearth the Time Capsule that was buried in our gardens on the last day of Term 4, as we concluded a historic year in the life of Loreto Normanhurst.
The accompanying plaque explains that the Time Capsule was “buried in December 2020 to commemorate the lived experiences of the Loreto Normanhurst school community during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mark a time when life was disrupted and the future uncertain.” During the period of remote learning, students were asked to contribute to the Time Capsule in a range of ways including journaling, stories, videos, images, letters and drawings of the ‘View through my Window’. These items were included in the capsule from students, as well as from staff, alumni and families. Inside the capsule is also a glossary of COVID-19 terms, and two staples of the pandemic – an empty bottle of hand sanitiser and a roll of toilet paper! The burial site – between the grotto to Our Lady and the statue of St Michael present in all Loreto schools – is a special one as it is near the place of the first Oak Tree planted in 1897 when our School was established.
The Time Capsule project was launched by the Pastoral Team and coordinated by Records Manager, Ms Rachel Vaughan. Thank you to the Pastoral Team and Rachel who worked patiently to collect and preserve the contents sealed inside the Time Capsule. The finished product was a fascinating and comprehensive snapshot of the year that was, and a wonderful glimpse of the Normo community spirit, grit and determination that prevailed in 2020. MEMBERS OF THE ANDERSON FAMILY RECOUNTED THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN LETTERS BURIED IN OUR TIME CAPSULE. ENJOY THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS FROM THEIR REFLECTIONS.
In this time of COVID-19, I have been thinking of long ago during the Second World War. I was a boarder at Loreto Normanhurst. We had rationing books for food, clothes and petrol. I often went to a school friend’s home in the country and took petrol coupons for them and in exchange I was always given a case of fresh meat from my country friends to bring home. It was a case of everyone helping each other in whatever way they could.
Joy Anderson (nee Foley ’48)
The COVID-19 experience in Melbourne has been a roller coaster. One of the highlights during the severe Stage 4 Lockdown was tuning in online to an interview with Sr Deirdre Browne IBVM. It was delightful to hear some of the hymns that Deirdre composed for us when I was a little girl in the Junior School at Loreto Normanhurst.
Annemaree Jones (nee Anderson, ’75)
Regardless of how long you have lived in the U.A.E there is no path to citizenship. After living in Dubai for 28 years, we had to leave in September with Brisbane as our new home. After two weeks of quarantine, we slowly settled into our new life. We are hopeful of spending time with family when borders open.
