Archives
1980s
The 1980s began with Sr Rosemarie Joyce as Principal and a busy Christmas holiday period, which saw the ground floor of the Convent transformed into classrooms, ready for the start of the school year, 1980. “The lovely old ‘Drawing’ Rooms had become large, bright classrooms.” 1 The upstairs changes were delayed until 21 March, when the Year 11s were able to occupy Rooms 5-12, now the staff area and staffroom. “During the building operations, great care had been taken to preserve the old world splendour of the late 19th century – the beautiful staircase, the stained glass decorations, the brass handrails and ornamental plaster ceilings. The valuable antique furniture was, for the present, stored away with great care. Sr Maria (on visitation) commended the Sisters for their courageous acceptance of these radical changes, especially as some Sisters had spent most of their lives in the Mentone Community and could not but feel the wrench of leaving their well-loved home.” 2
February 1981 saw the celebration by the Sisters of St Brigid’s Feast Day for the last time at 118 Mentone Parade. 1981 also saw the arrival of a new Principal, former pupil, Sr Angela Ryan. The student newsletter of the year, “Within These Walls”, includes an article by the editor, later College Captain, Jenny Nielsen, entitled “The Principle Personality” (sic), in which she provides a very detailed history of Angela’s life to that point. Angela comprehensively reviewed the whole school curriculum, resulting in the introduction of studies such as Human Development, Home Economics (which was taught in the former convent kitchens, where the Well Being Centre is now), Psychology, PE, Accounting and Economics. EFL, or Education for Living, was introduced in Year 7 in 1982 and drew on the interests of staff to pass on skills in a particular field. In 1985, forty different activities were offered. I taught macramé, calligraphy and a 6-week introduction to computers course in the early 90s in EFL.
Angela’s election as Victorian Province leader in 1983 saw her departure and replacement for one year by Sr Catherine Kelly, during which time plans for a new hall, to be built on the former petrol station site, were finalised. The building was completed in 1985 under the supervision of new Principal, Sr Mary Dalton. Mary had exceptional organisation and management skills and is remembered by former teacher, Frances Brook, as applying “her own standards of excellence to those working in her school and would not accept second best. Members of staff, however, who experienced trouble in their lives were overwhelmed by her care and consideration”.3 After a period of relative instability, with no Principal staying longer than three or four years, Mary established Kilbreda once again as a forerunner among local colleges.
In 1987, Politics teacher and current staff member, Mr Tony Grosso, organised for the visit of then Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Bob Hawke, to visit Kilbreda’s newly opened Hall, where he spoke to senior students from Kilbreda and neighbouring colleges, before enjoying a game of volleyball on the oval, planting a tree and visiting Kilbreda’s landmark tower.
A number of current staff members were employed during this decade, including Jo O’Dowd, Claire Bennetts, Trish Moloney, Tony Grosso, Lucia Liberatore, Joe Gallo, Cathy Maloney, Bernadette Clark and Kath De Bruin. Throughout the 1980s, Year 12 French students were given the opportunity to participate in a French immersion weekend with other schools. In the early 1980s, when I attended as a student, Kilbreda, St Bede’s and De La Salle were involved. In 1988 and 1989, I was present as a language assistant. By this time, students from Xavier, St Kevin’s, St Margaret’s in Berwick and MacRob also attended. Originally held at St Bede’s Cypress Lodge property at Phillip Island, the later camps took place at Shoreham. Br Finian from St Bede’s also introduced a French Mass, in the St Bede’s Chapel for St Bede’s and Kilbreda students.
As a student here from 1950-1955, Sr Angela Ryan probably had no inkling of the major part she would later play in the Brigidine story. The first of five Ryan sisters to attend Kilbreda, Jan was elected House Captain of Lisieux in her final year. Her sister Margaret (Mrs Underwood), who was Captain of Padua the following year, was a long time Kilbreda staff member and author of Kilbreda’s centenary history 'A View from the Tower'. Margaret was followed by Leonie (Mrs Kennedy), Captain of Kilbreda House, Annette (Mrs Cope), Captain of Lisieux and Angela (Mrs McKail) who was College Captain in 1973 and is the mother of current staff member Mr David McKail.
On leaving Kilbreda, Angela entered as a Brigidine sister and was professed in 1958. Sr Angela’s first love in teaching was Maths and she taught this at numerous schools to students at various levels. Angela returned to Kilbreda as Principal from 1981-3. Mid-year 1983, Angela left Kilbreda to become Leader of the Victorian Province, a position she held until 1988 and during which time she met Pope John Paul II. Angela then moved into the Brigidine International Leadership Team from 1989-93, a period which included involvement with the Catholic Education Office in Melbourne. Angela’s appointment as Principal of St Ives from 1994-5, necessitated a move to Sydney. This was followed by her final stint as Principal, returning to Kilbreda from 1996-99.
Sr Angela then became Executive Officer of the National Committee for Professional Standards in the Catholic Church from 2000 until 2012. Since vacating that position, Angela been based at Clayton and has maintained a connection to that organisation as a consultant.
Notes
1& 2 Mentone Convent Annals 1981
3 A view From the Tower p 191
Damian Smith
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