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As I take the Year 7 students on their school history tours each year, I point out to each group a sign above the door of the Principal’s Office. It reads, St Lucy. I tell them that there are three such signs still in existence in the school and that, when they have found them, to come and tell me. In nearly 20 years, no student has yet done so. As they may not be reading this article, I will let my readers in on the secret.

Our College has names for everything. However, many of these names have fallen out of use. That’s where I come in. I believe that at Killester in Springvale, they still use saints’ names to refer to classrooms. This was also the practice here long ago and some students can still remember their classes according to those names. 

Marian Le Bas was only telling me recently that she was a student in Lourdes, which is now known as Room 25. Terrie Murphy wrote about this room in 1966, thus: 

“LEAVING- LOURDES

Form Mistress: Mother Aquin

Form Captain: Marlene Hannan

The sign on our door claims entrance to the Leaving, physics-chem room. We are confident that Our Lady watches over us personally here and feel that with our effort and her help our studies will be successful.

Situated halfway between the ground and the main science rooms, we find ourselves climbing endless flights of stairs and longing for an escalator. Otherwise, most of us enjoy our lives as Lourdes’ V.I.P.’s (virtuous, intelligent, pupils). Within our walls dwell several champion tennis players, runners, swimmers, actresses and debaters. We also claim talented linguists, nine Y.C.S. leaders …who have ignited phosphorous in air, dissected sheep’s eyes, and painted several masterpieces. We feel very justified therefore in acclaiming ourselves as V.I.P.’s and advise everyone to prepare for the influx of talent which will explode from St. Anne’s wing at the end of 1966.” 1

Near Room 25 is a similar sign from a similar era, marking the 'Delany Wing' which includes VCAL and Science Labs 29 to 32. St Cecilia’s, fittingly, was the name given in the 1920s to The Parlour in which music lessons were given. This room is the half of the main office which includes Sr Lia’s office currently.

Damian Smith

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1 Kilbreda Annual 1966, p 18