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10 December, 2020, marked the 60th anniversary of the profession of a group of Brigidine sisters, many of whom have associations with the College.

Past pupils, Margaret Cassidy, who did Matric here in 1952, Loretta Brennan, Aileen Vear (dec) along with classmate and one of our Past Pupils of Distinction, Professor Judith Kinnear (who is no longer a Brigidine sister), were Matric students in 1956 and Deidre Malone and Veronica Joyce who matriculated in 1957. Sisters Barbara May (dec) and John Spurr spent periods on our staff, while Alexia Riddington and Rosemary Kerlin make up the rest of the group.

They were professed at St Joseph’s Malvern, returning there, 60 years later, for a celebratory Eucharist followed by lunch at a restaurant by the beach. When the Brigidine sisters gathered for the 2021 St Brigid’s Day, the jubilarians were feted and cut the Jubilee cake. From left to right, they are John Spurr, Margaret Cassidy, Veronica Joyce, Deidre Malone, Rosemary Kerlin and Alexia Riddington.

Sr Loretta Brennan joined the group via portal a few days before the celebration as she is currently lecturing in Kenya, at Tangaza University College, Nairobi.

In February, I was honoured to represent the College at the funeral mass of local historian and author of “Mentone Through the Years” and “St Bede’s College and its McCristal Origins”, Mr Leo Gamble. The father of staff member Jennifer Gamble, Leo was of great assistance to us in the compilation of the College’s history “A View from the Tower” and in the centenary production “Spirit of Kilbreda”. A long-time past President of the Mentone Historical Society, Leo spoke to Year 7 History classes when they visited the Bakery Museum over the way. I was pleased to be able to offer Leo small contributions to "Mentone Through the Years", and was chuffed that Leo, on occasion, would run articles by me, prior to their being published on the City of Kingston Local History Website. 

Despite not being born locally, Leo, who taught at St Bede’s for more than 40 years and was its Dux, Captain of the Athletics team and student athlete, certainly adopted the place as his own, living only a stone’s throw from Kilbreda. Leo attended St Patrick’s Mentone and was a classmate of both my father and father-in-law. His knowledge, honesty and integrity will long be remembered. 

Damian Smith 

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