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Last Wednesday, I had a visit from past pupil Kathleen Dillon (née Bell), who finished Intermediate (Year 10) here in 1962. She is pictured third from the right second row of the class photo. Among other things, Kathleen was keen to see if we had a photo of her Debutante Ball group from 1962. Unfortunately, in my searching, I have uncovered loads of Debutante Ball photos, but not that one. Most annoyingly, those for 1960 and 61 are there and included here. 

During Sr Mary Dalton’s time, annual Debutante Balls were held here in the Hall, now named in her honour. The 1986 photo includes our own Suzanne Grima.

Kathleen also brought in a document, probably written by Mother Margaret Mary Bourke, from 1962, which is as relevant now, 60 years on, as it was then, in the Swinging Sixties with the Beatles and all that that era entailed. 

“In our report 12th December, 1962, we stressed the need of discipline. We define ‘study’ as a discipline which requires students to sacrifice pleasures- even legitimate if necessary- during the school year, if they are to cope with the syllabi prescribed. The modern age is so dedicated to self-gratification that unless girls are trained in self-discipline they fail to distinguish between what is of permanent value and what is relatively unimportant- possibly detrimental.

In the noisy whirl of modern distractions, allowing no time for thought, the girl, untrained in habits of what is correct, deteriorates in taste, dress and general behaviour. She has a slavish urge to copy the undesirable, rather than to concentrate on intellectual values. She becomes, unless she wakes up to herself, the victim of her weakness, untidy hair style, unsightly in dress sense, artificial, she lacks poise and feminine dignity, she ends a frustrated- ‘couldn’t care less’ type. Parents who ‘hush’ discipline or divorce it from affection, breed in their children a softness of character that wilts under pressure- utterly lacking restraint.

The following helps to personal restraint and a correct attitude towards authority are therefore in practice at Kilbreda:

1. The Uniform neat and correct in each detail- cleanly habits.
2. Behaviour during transport to and from the College- self-respect.
3. Courtesy and deference towards authority irrespective of persons.
4. Control of voice, deportment …”

Mother Margaret Mary’s log book contains a section relating to the role of leaders which is included here too, in her distinctive ‘Kilbreda Hand’. 

Damian Smith 

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