2020 Anthology

Year 11 Literature Class -Anthology

Last year, teacher Nicole Everett (née Davies) - Class of 1993 and her Year 11 VCE Literature students developed an Anthology consisting of poems, essays, songs, art work and other ways in which people have expressed both their time spent in lockdown during 2020 and feelings of isolation. 

An invitation was extended to Kilbreda staff members, students and past pupils to contribute to this book. In this issue we are featuring the articles submitted by past pupils Ella Allen  - Class of 2019, Catherine Wensley (née Hardham) and Yvette Fergus - Class of 1988 and thank them for their participation in this project.

We look forward to seeing the published Anthology later this year. It is intended that the publication will be available for purchase with a percentage  being donated to a chosen charity. 

For enquiries regarding the publication please contact Nicole Everett at Nicole.Everett@kilbreda.vic.edu.au

Life in Lockdown

I am often envious of those that have the time to learn a new skill or spring clean the house! Life in lockdown has been busier than ever in my household. I do realise that we are the lucky ones as it’s much better to be busy than to have an abundance of free time and nowhere to go. Lucky to have stable jobs, lucky the kids are old enough to be independent workers but young enough to not be seeking independence from the family. My heart goes out to those at home juggling jobs with toddlers and teenagers. Lucky that we have a comfortable home (although room for a swimming pool would be nice) and technology/internet that works well, most of the time. Lucky to have a family I enjoy spending time with (again, most of the time) and beautiful friends that help keep me sane. 

So I may wish to have a few more spare moments to enjoy reading a book and I certainly miss getting out and about, but I have had the time to reflect that life is pretty good (COVID excluded) and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.

Catherine Wensley (née Hardham)

Class of 1988

From the Frontline  

When the second wave of Coronavirus hit Melbourne I was working on a general medicine ward at one of Melbourne's public hospital campuses.  Staff from my ward were asked to volunteer to be redeployed to work on the COVID ward with the anticipation of increased cases requiring extra beds thus staff. I happily put my hand up.  

Whilst initially frightened of the prospect of working amongst positive patients, I soon felt safe and grateful to be working in a facility that had the correct resources, enough staff and plenty of support from the entire team.

Working on the frontline it was easy to get frustrated and angry with all the conspiracy theorists and those that could not follow the lockdown rules.  I would have loved for one the non believers to join me on night shift and hold the hand of someone struggling to breathe but not to be wearing the protection of gowns, gloves, masks and face shields, I’m not sure I would have got many volunteers!

During the whole COVID experience in Melbourne it has been so nice to have the recognition of big companies for our health care workers and the hard work that we do. To be offered discounts and free coffee was a lovely gesture, but I always paid any discount offered forward as I was still lucky still to be working and earning an income.

Yvette Fergus 

Class of 1988

The graduation in 2019 brought on much excitement  to become more independent and experience more of the world. I have focused on working during quarantine, two jobs, giving me the ability to communicate with a large group of my local community. To keep myself busy I have started a new hobby of embroidery, in which I try to recycle different materials found around the house.

Ella Allen 

Class of 2019