Archives 

In this edition, I take you on a little trip down memory lane, fifty years ago to 1970!

On page 37 of the 'Kilbreda Annual' is the report on 'The Social' (Form 111). “When you first arrived, you were greeted by tables of food, potato chips, peanuts and such. Inside the Hall you could hear the 'band' tuning up. Already most of the boys were there. The girls were in groups talking and ‘checking out' the boys. Nobody dances until they are told by the singer of the group. A few boys started to move in among the girls and choose a partner. The 'band' played songs like 'Proud Mary' and 'The House of the Rising Sun'.

After a while Mrs. Challingsworth had us doing some 'Ballroom Dancing'. Most of the time we were dancing to the music of the 'Cardinal Silk' (how original)! We then had supper and a drink (which the boys so kindly supplied). There were a few more dances after which we had to say goodbye and thank Mrs. Challingsworth for her patience with us and thank the band members for their great playing and choice of songs”.

One of the Form 111s at the time was Mary-Anne Waterman, known to many of us as Kylie Mole from the 1980s TV program, 'The Comedy Company'. She is pictured with her four sisters (far right) and in the class notes for St Ursula’s, we read “’Stars-of-the-future’ include Mary-Anne Waterman, Linda West, Fran Docherty, Frances Monaghan, Jennie Robinson and Julie Walker”. 

Jenny Robinson is also included with her four sisters, but it interesting to note that it was her younger sister Bernadette, who went on to be a star of the future, performing the hits of famous singers such as Judy Garland and Edith Piaf. Bernadette is pictured far right in her family group. 

Two stars of the future on one page, all those years ago!

Some staff may recognise Melinda Oglethorpe, a former staff member and classmate of Carolyn Callaghan in the front of her family group. Melinda’s Prep uniform, pictured, is the smallest uniform in Kilbreda’s Archives.

Damian Smith

Archivist