We are well into the 2022 academic year. While we still are following COVID safe protocols, we have now begun to enjoy more of the events and activities that were on hold during the past two years. With all that has happened, we are very aware of the need to rebuild connection and community while at the same time, ensuring the health and safety of students and staff remains paramount. While COVID continues to have its challenges this year, with impacts on staff and student attendance, students are participating in a range of activities and programs both within and external to the community.

2022 is a milestone year for the College as we celebrate 120 years of Catholic Ladies’ College. Established in 1902 by the Sisters of Charity in East Melbourne, CLC has a rich and proud history. On Friday 15 July we celebrated the 120 year anniversary mass. It was the first time since Term 1 2020 that the College community came together in the same space. We warmly welcomed special guests, Sisters of Charity; Mr Richard Haddock AO, Chair of Mary Aikenhead Ministries; Mrs Margaret McKenna and Ms Janet Freeman, Trustees of Mary Aikenhead Ministries; Professor Marie Emmitt, Chair Mary Aikenhead Education; Mr Peter Kelly, Ministry Leader Mary Aikenhead Education and Mr Christopher Blake, College Board Chair and Board members and Bec Naim, President of the Parents’ Association.

Father Terry Kean celebrated this special mass for us. In his homily Father Terry spoke about the story of the first five Sisters of Charity who arrived in Australia in 1838, commencing their ministry of outreach and care to the vulnerable in the community. He acknowledged all members of the Catholic Ladies’ College community both past and present who have contributed to the life of College over its 120-year history and called each one of us to be thankful for the blessings that being part of this community has and continues to bring us.

In his address after mass, Mr Richard Haddock AO, Chair of Mary Aikenhead Ministries honoured the Sisters of Charity, acknowledging and expressing his appreciation their many contributions, their courage, leadership and deep faith and their commitment to education, which saw the establishment of Catholic Ladies’ College in East Melbourne in 1902. For our special milestone year, the Trustees of Mary Aikenhead Ministries gifted the College a piece of artwork that depicts the story of the first five Sisters of Charity when they arrived in Australia in 1838. The Sisters story is a story of faith, courage and service which is inspiring for all within the CLC community. A story which continues to challenge us, our thinking and ways of being as we are called to live the values and charism of Mary Aikenhead in the everyday. The artwork has taken pride of place in the College foyer, which is the first place of welcome for all who come to CLC.

Our 2022 College theme focuses on ‘Justice' which is one of four Mary Aikenhead Ministries foundational values. Mary Aikenhead Ministries describe justice as being:

… born of love. Justice seeks to ensure that all people are treated in accordance with their unique dignity. Inspired by Jesus Christ, our ministries seek to challenge oppression and injustice, always giving due priority to those who are poor.

Vision, Mission & Values, Mary Aikenhead Ministries

Each one of us in the CLC community this year is especially called to act with justice in daily interaction.

It was with sadness that we shared with the community the news of the passing of former Principal of CLC Eltham, Patricia Ryan OAM on 1 June. Patricia commenced in 1987 as the first lay principal of CLC. Prior to this, Patricia held the position of first lay Principal at Avila College, Glen Waverley for seven years. During her fourteen years at CLC, three Deputy Principals supported Patricia: Margaret Barratt (1987-1988), Christopher Blake (1989-1997) and Margaret McKenna (1998-1999). Patricia was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000 in recognition of her service to Catholic Education.

Patricia was a member of Catholic Education Commission Victoria (CECV) and the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC); a member of Committees for the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) and member of Committees for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board (VCAB). After retiring from principalship she supported new Principals in her role as Executive Officer of the Principals’ Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS) and was inducted as a Life Member in 2004. In 2010, Patricia completed her nine-year term as a member of the MSEI Board of Management, having led the Board as Chair for five years.

What follows is an extract from the Catholic Ladies’ College, The First Hundred years book

… Patricia Ryan was the first of the congregation’s secondary schools to appoint a lay principal, though both Mount St Michael’s in Brisbane and St Vincent’s, Potts Point would do so in the next few years.

It was perhaps not surprising that the principal appointed to CLC was one with very strong Sisters of Charity connections. Patricia Ryan, like her predecessor, had attended St Columba’s College, as had her three sisters. Her mother had been a student at CLC, East Melbourne, and two of her aunts, Sisters Paulinus and Peter Fennessy had been Sisters of Charity, the former was principal of CLC from 1950 to 1955. She also had the experience of succeeding a religious principal, Sr Josepha Dunlop PBVM, at Avila College, Mount Waverley, where she was in her seventh year as principal when she was appointed as principal of CLC.

Patricia was committed to providing a rich and inclusive curriculum, to consultative processes and to valuing good relationships with students, staff and parents … Patricia worked with the College advisory Committee to prepare draw up a masterplan for the College and to implement the first stage of it in a building programme to commence in 1990. The Committee continued its advisory role until the incorporation of the College in 1993, when it was replaced by a Board of Directors.

The first year of Patricia Ryan’s principalship, had seen the completion and the opening by Archbishop Sir Frank Little of the new Religious Education Centre. This building with its beautiful stained-glass windows, to reflect the theme of the Eucharist, brought a new dimension of prayer and reflection to the College.

Patricia Ryan was the longest serving principal of CLC in its first 100 years. In 2000 she was awarded the Medal of Order of Australia for services to Catholic Education. In the Collegian of December 2000, Margaret McKenna and Mary-Anne McCudden paid this tribute to the first lay principal of CLC: “Patricia’s leadership has been characterised by a love of humanity and a strong belief in the leader’s responsibility to empower and enable individuals to grow. Her strong faith and her commitment to values such as open-mindedness, tolerance, integrity and compassion have inspired those with whom she worked”.

Our strong alumnae connections have seen involvement with former students at our Future Expo, for Careers and pathways session, participation in a Masterclass cooking experience, an ink art class and in a new initiative this year, the Human Library. It was wonderful to see a number of past students, many from CLC East Melbourne come along to share their stories with our Year 7 students.

Enjoy reading all the exciting things that have been happening at CLC so far this year.

Stephanie Evans

Principal

Memory Lane

War and CLC