From the Presidents

Get to know your new Presidents 

Co-President – Marianne Cassin (1977)

(pictured above, fourth from left )

My French connection with Sacré Cœur and the RSCJ community began when I was only one week old.  In September 1960 I was taken into care by the nuns at St. Paul’s Orphanage in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.  This orphanage was founded by four French Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres who arrived from France in 1848 to educate and care for the increasing numbers of orphans at that time.  St. Paul’s is no longer an orphanage, however the French Sisters’ legacy lives on as St. Paul’s is now an established Catholic private girls’ school community.

In January 1962 I was fortunate enough to be adopted into the Cassin family who lived in the seaside town of Opunake, New Zealand.  My Dad, Phillip Cassin was adamant that all his children be given a good Catholic education and so our journey to Melbourne in 1968 saw my sister Teresa (1975) and I enrolled at Sacré Cœur, Glen Iris.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being Secretary for the Alumnae Association for the past five years and I see my new role as Co-President with Kerry Bergin as a continuation of the spirit and values passed on by the French Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres and the RSCJ. I am proud to be part of the Alumnae Association and look forward to developing with Kerry, the wonderful work left by our past President, Marisa Reid.  May the Alumnae Association continue to flourish and encourage both the younger and older Alumnae for many more generations!

Co-President – Kerry Bergin (Feely 1960)

(pictured above, sixth from left )

My first day at Sacré Cœur was the start of Third Term, September 1948, in the Elementary Class. Adrienne Connaghan (Steedman) was charged with caring for me. We were both four years old! She moved to Sydney, and Kincoppal, in the 9th Class, and we remained friends. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding in 1965 and, much to my horror, skidded down the highly polished Chapel aisle! Those compulsory Junior School ballet classes failed me!

My first daughter, Eliza (1991), was fortunate to be blessed in Mater’s Chapel by Sister Mary Arthur, in December 1973. Sr Arthur loved consecrating alumnae babies. It was a joyful and memorable ceremony, more meaningful for me than her Baptism. Sadly, these consecration ceremonies were not available when Alice (1996) and Priscilla (1998) were born.

Sr Arthur asked me to be Alumnae Association President, in 1975-76. Our committee had a busy and fun time, with fund-raising activities. In consultation with the HSC girls, we resurrected an End-of-School Social Function, a Dinner Dance at the Windsor Hotel. The girls had free choice with their dress colour and style and the boys did not wear dinner suits! A liberated 70s début! 

Eliza, Alice and Priscilla certainly made the most of their years at Sacré Cœur. They carry the spirit and ethos of their RSCJ education into their professional, and personal lives.

I was pleased to have time to return to an active Alumnae Association role in 2016, initially on the ASCA Committee, and now as Alumnae Co-President with Marianne Cassin. Marianne’s zeal and enthusiasm for the alumnae makes my president-reincarnation an enlivening renewal.