From the Chair

Welcome to Issue 10 of Tower Talk

2020 has been a year like no other. We are now enjoying the easing of restrictions and celebrating reconnecting with family members and friends as we move to a 'COVID normal' way of life. Whilst COVID-19 remains a factor in our lives, we are hopeful that 2021 will bring a return to a more normal way of life and a vaccine available to all.

We congratulate our past pupils who continue to work in essential areas, both in Australia and overseas, and we thank them for their ongoing efforts on behalf of their communities. 

Unfortunately the Past Pupils’ Network Committee was unable to host any of the planned reunions for 2020 due to the situation we found ourselves in. Despite this disappointment, so much has changed and continues to change from what we considered normal. We are hopeful that we may be able to reschedule reunions during 2021 as well as celebrate the milestone reunions that will occur next year.

An important part of our role is to assist you to connect/reconnect with former students from your time at Kilbreda and with the Kilbreda community. We look forward to receiving your enquiries and assisting with your reunions. Please contact me at denise127@optusnet.com.au

The Past Pupils’ database is essential to communication and requires ongoing updating. Please forward changes of contact details to us, especially email addresses. This can be done by emailing pastpupils@kilbreda.vic.edu.au

2021 Past Pupils of Distinction 

Members of the Kilbreda Past Pupils’ Network Committee, together with the Kilbreda College Community, are delighted to continue the celebration of Kilbreda women as part of the Past Pupils of Distinction program. Nominations for induction to Past Pupils of Distinction are now open for the 2021 program, the third in this biennial program. Please consider nominating a Past Pupil who meets the stated criteria of  having achieved outstanding success and excellence in their category / categories of nomination and who has made / is making a positive difference in the lives of others and in doing so is embodying the College motto, Strength and Kindliness. Nominations close on 14 May 2021 at 3.00pm. The Nomination Form can be found on the College website at https://www.kilbreda.vic.edu.au/ Community Page. Further details are published in this issue

For enquiries please contact me at denise127@optusnet.com.au

Thank you, Pam

The members of the Committee take this opportunity to publicly express our gratitude to Pam Mornane (née Burke) who has resigned from the Committee as of 2020. Pam has generously given of her time, shared her wisdom, organisational skills, sense of humour and her offering of hospitality to the Kilbreda Past Pupils. Her flair in styling has come to the fore in the presentation of settings for our major events. Pam will be missed as a committee member. Thank you, Pam, for your valuable contributions and friendship.

Vale Joan Therese Butler

The family of Mrs Joan Thérèse Butler (née Cronin) notified us of her passing on 19 August 2019 aged 96 years.  Joan Butler was a Secondary Teacher at Kilbreda College for over twenty years, teaching art and craft and Dressmaking/Needlecraft from the late 1950's to retirement in the early 1980s. Joan taught concurrently at Genazzano College, Kew and St Columba’s College, Essendon. As one of her students in the 1950s, I well remember attending her classes in ”The Cottage”, the former Mentone Post Office as the story goes. The skills learnt have stayed with me throughout my life. 

We remember Joan Butler and our alumnae members who have died and pray that God will hold them gently in the palm of His hand.

Members of the Past Pupils Network Committee wish you peace, hope and love this Christmas.

Denise Leonard (née Morrissey)

Chair 

Kilbreda Past Pupils’ Network Committee