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Normanhurst in Lockdown – 100 years ago
AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO AFFECT THE WAY WE LIVE AND LEARN, WE LOOK BACK TO WHEN OUR LORETO NORMANHURST SCHOOL COMMUNITY EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY. The Spanish flu pandemic emerged at the end of the First World War. Although the strain did not originate in Spain, it was the first country where the disease was widely reported as soldiers travelled throughout Western Europe in 1918. Cases of the Spanish flu appeared in Australia in early January 1919, with the first diagnosis in Melbourne. NSW and South Australia were quick to follow, announcing outbreaks within their state borders.
Despite a swift quarantine response by state governments – intercepting ships, setting up emergency hospitals and introducing public health measures – about 40 per cent of the population fell ill with what was commonly referred to in Australia as ‘influenza.’
An article by The Cumberland Argus (1 February 1919) instructed Hornsby Shire residents on best hygiene practices, echoing the health advice of this year: “The advice of the Department of Health to all citizens is to wear a gauge respirator… [in] enclosed spaces which are also occupied by any other persons… Keep in the fresh air…Wash your hands and face immediately upon reaching your home.” As Loreto Normanhurst stood away from metropolitan Sydney, the School was relatively protected from exposure. To adopt a key phrase from this year, the School was good at ‘social distancing’ from the general public. Typically, the Sisters only left the grounds for significant appointments, produce was grown onsite and most students were boarders. During the outbreak, the NSW Government restricted travel to country areas and boarders remained at School across the holidays. The few Day girls appear to have been sent home from school or were withdrawn early in the year.
An excerpt from the Normanhurst Diary 1919 reads: “The children spent the Easter holidays at Normanhurst and cheerfully made up their minds to spend a pleasant week in reading, outdoor games and picnics, ending with a most enjoyable Fancy Dress Ball.”
Mother Stanislaus Mornane IBVM was the Mother Superior of Loreto Normanhurst at the time. The 19 sisters in the Normanhurst community provided reassurance and stability for the School at a time without the possibility of remote learning or instant news updates. Similar to this year, girls busied themselves with extra-curricular pursuits such as music, art, fitness and reading. Boarders enjoyed picnicking, exploring the bush behind the school and spreading out on the lawns. There seems to have been little interruption to their learning, with records indicating the girls sat their examinations as usual (and performed quite well!). A typical school year would have involved a visit from the Provincial Leader or other Loreto Sisters, as well as special guests and families. No visitors were admitted to the school until the last term of the year. The Normanhurst Visitation Book entry for 1919 simply reads: The Normanhurst Pupil Register 1919 mentions that the Corpus Christi procession could not take place. The annual reunion of the Past Pupil’s Association (now ExStudents’ Association) in 1919 was rescheduled. Like this year with its restrictions on gatherings, only two weddings were recorded for exstudents in 1919, occurring towards the end of the year. The Sacrament continued to be administered on the first Sunday of the month, and several children received their first communion.
Volunteer-driven organisations, such as the Red Cross, were instrumental in providing the families of the unwell with groceries and blankets. A local emergency relief centre was established in Hornsby which, at the height of the pandemic, had 150 persons per day seeking medical assistance. This year, Loreto Normanhurst supported the House of Welcome and Kuring-gai Neighbourhood Centre in providing supplies to those who faced extreme difficulty with unemployment or isolation. It seems that, 100 years later, the spirit of our Loreto Normanhurst community still stands strong in the face of adversity as we adapt to a ‘new normal’. To commemorate the experiences of students, staff and the wider school community, a Loreto Normanhurst Time Capsule was buried in December 2020. As we have drawn inspiration from those who endured similar hardship a century ago, it is hoped that in 100 years’ time the capsule will be valued by our successors as they reflect upon the lived experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MS RACHEL VAUGHAN, RECORDS MANAGER
MS LYNNETTE FOLEY-JONES, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate. ‘To Avoid Influenza.’ 1 February 1919. p.12. The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate. ‘Influenza at Hornsby.’ 21 June 1919. p.14. National Museum of Australia. ‘Defining Moments: Influenza pandemic.’ Updated 7 October 2020. Normanhurst Visitation Book. 1898-1995. Loreto Normanhurst Archives. Record of Boarders – Normanhurst Pupil Register. 1908-1942. Loreto Normanhurst Archives. School Diary. 1897-1966. Loreto Normanhurst Archives.
