From the Archives

Honourable Charges

Honourable Charges used to be allocated at a formal ceremony at the beginning of each term and were designed to teach responsibility, duty and the honour of service and covered most areas of school life – for example time keeping, games, care of the chapel or the library, presiding at table in the refectory. 

According to the School Rule:

“the time keeper gives notice of all changes of occupation by the sound of the bell. On her exactitude depends in part the order of the school.”

“the Sacristan who has the privilege of sometimes approaching the altar should be distinguished among her companions by her modesty and piety. The School Sacristan decorates the statues in the school according to feasts and seasons.”

The cards symbolising duties were hand made by the Sisters and are wonderful small works of art. The practice of awarding Honourable Charges stopped in the late 1960s.

NB: the coin in one of the photos is just there to show scale! As you can see the Charges were very small.

Barbara Kowalski | School Archivist

Mondays and Wednesdays 8.30am - 4.30pm

Phone: 9835 2782 

Email:  Barbara Kowalski