Anecdotes from the Archives

Mementos of a missionary life 

Recently, Sister Frances McShane, of the Missionary Sisters of Service, retired to a nursing home, and as part of her move she bequeathed all her mementos and artefacts from her life as a student of St Mary’s College to our archives. 

Frances belonged to the McShane family of Broadmarsh and was first educated at the Elderslie State School, before following her elder sisters to St Mary’s College, where she was a boarder from 1948-52. The artefacts which Frances kept in such a careful way for over 72 years provide an evocative and poignant snapshot of school life in that period. 

Aware of the sacrifices made by her parents to ensure her education, Frances took all opportunities offered in a thoughtful and conscientious way. From her composition and test exercise books to her exquisite book of sewing samples and her proudly kept Prefect blazer pocket, the determination and quiet focus of Frances can be discerned. 

On leaving the College, Frances returned home to help her mother, attend classes in pottery and public speaking, as well as to help her father in his position in local council. As a member of Junior Farmers, Frances travelled to Sydney and later worked with the Adelaide Town Planners for three years. As a rural family, the McShanes were probably acquainted with the Missionary Sisters of Service (MSS), whose mission was to take faith education and the Sacraments to the furthest outreaches of Tasmania (and other states). It was a young Order, having been founded locally by Father John Wallis in the 1900s. 

During her time in Adelaide Frances followed the call in her heart to return to Hobart and join the MSS, and she made her final vows in 1962, becoming Sister Veronica MSS. As an active MSS, her work took Frances all over Tasmania and New South Wales. Highlights of her religious life were setting up a foundation mission in Whyalla, where she spent four years. From 1975 onwards, Frances became very well known in Hobart as the gentle, smiling and very helpful manager of the Catholic Bookshop in Macquarie Street. There are many people who remember her with love from the 28 years she spent in that position.

Following on from her bookshop years, Frances spent 10 years as the full-time Pastoral Assistant at Beaconsfield, making herself a much-loved member of that community, especially during the Beaconsfield Mine Disaster. It is to be hoped that Sister Frances continues her retirement in comfort in her new residence. 

As a footnote to the MSS story of Sister Frances, it is significant that two of the founding members of the Missionary Sisters of Service in 1943/4 were Alice Carroll and Kathleen Moore, educated at St Columba’s School and St Mary’s College respectively (Kathleen was both Head Prefect and Dux of the College in her time). They were to serve out their vocations as Sisters Monica MSS and Vianney MSS for the rest of their lives.