Past Pupils' Association Centenary

On occasions, such as our recent Centenary of the Past Pupils’ Association, I relish the opportunity to hear the stories of our alumnae. On that occasion, three women at my table had interesting Kilbreda connections.

The first, Madeleine Fenwick, nee Sierakowski, is the eldest of twelve, ten of whom attended Kilbreda. The 1961 College Captain and former Secretary of the Past Pupils’ Association, Madeleine and her sisters repeated Matric, not because they had performed badly, but because their father Ralph, a local hotelier and supporter of Kilbreda, wanted them to receive a broader education. As a result, Madeleine studied English Expression, Literature, British and Modern History and then in 1961, Christian Doctrine, Italian, Biology and Modern History, gaining four passes and First Class Honours. Interestingly, Madeleine, who lived locally in Milan Street, was a boarder in her final three years as it was a more conducive environment in which to study.

Also on our table, from the previous Matric group, was Trish Collins (nee Cleal) the 1959 Dux. Trish’s grand-daughter Jessica Collins, has the distinction, like my own daughters, of being a fourth generation Kilbredian; her mother Simone Ryan having been also on staff here and Trish’s mother, Nell Cleal was a student in the 1920s. Trish also has the dubious distinction of having taught me French at St Bede’s in Year 10! Fortunately, she speaks positively of the experience!

Accompanying Trish was her classmate Judy Bell (nee Kennedy). Judy also has far-reaching connections with Kilbreda, her mother Ena having finished here in 1917. Ena was one of six Matthiesson sisters, the others being Marie, Margaret, Kath, Jean and Eileen, who were students here from 1915-23. Among them, Kath, who joined the Brigidine sisters and was known to many locally as Mother Clement, was professed in 1929 and died in 1992.

Damian Smith

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