Class Notes

Many years ago, students’ HSC marks were recorded in the annual. No regard for privacy in those days. But then, they also appeared in newspapers, too, so it wasn’t considered such a big deal. While I’m glad to see the end of that practice, another which I loved, was the class notes which appeared here at Kilbreda and in other schools from the 1930s right through to the 70s.

I have chosen to go right back to 1933, to see what was recorded about our pupils 90 years ago, as I’m sure I won’t be impinging on the privacy of anyone I mention.

Let’s start with Moya (Allman) “Our Prefect No. 1, who pursues her unruffled course of College discipline along the sheltered paths of exact observance and utmost integrity. Serene alike in calm and danger, yet uncompromising and generally popular.” This comment relates directly to the role of prefects to maintain discipline through modelling leadership. I can vouch for Moya, as this apt description was so fitting of her as my former OLA Principal, Sr Roch. “Norrie- Our Captain. In the sporting realm she holds place of honour- cela va sans dire. She is our champion swimmer”.

It goes without saying as the French suggests. “Marge (Heaphy) our medallist. First on the list of exhibition dancers. We admire Marge’s constancy in exact collection of daily bath and bus fares”. I imagine this is a reference to the boarders’ visits to the nearby Mentone Baths.

“Eileen (Cooke) – A vocalist and instrumentalist of no small achievement. We see her happiest when arranging flowers on our classroom altar and on Our Lady’s Shrine.”  I visited Eileen in the 1990s at her home in South Road Moorabbin. Fascinatingly, she had been married to a spy and had the most incredible collection of original artworks. I also visited Olive O’Dwyer in Kew, a descendant of the local horse training family. She is remembered thus: “Olive maintains the O’Dwyer tradition in loyal support of our College interests.”

Monica L (Lawlor) later College Captain twice “combines literary and commercial studies and acquits herself creditably in both”. I have a tradition of having a photo taken with College Captains, Monica being the earliest from 1936. Monica can be seen third from the right in the middle row of the group photo, Joan Smith is third from the left. Nan (Johns) who later became a nun at Tay Creggan, was welcomed in 1933, finishing the year after. “Our joy was great in welcoming Nan into our midst again at beginning of term. Her long illness has proved the truth in the saying ‘Sickness discloses the Character.’ Sickness leaves Nan even more gentle and attractive than it found her.” Joan (Smith, no relation) “alias ‘Dignity’ impersonated. Her dramatic talent varies to mood, now comic, now tragic- entre nous, the dramatic sometimes ends in tragic.”

Betty (Johns) – “’Old Father Time,’ in our annual concert, spoke eloquently her words of wisdom”. Last I heard, Betty was still living at Point Lonsdale and even at the age of 96 would drive from there to Toorak once a week to visit her sister. Betty is the grandmother of Sarah Mercer (Class of 1998). Betty can be seen seated in the centre of the front row of the group photo, the girl with glasses is Gertrude Allman, sister of Moya, and to her right is Geraldine Cotter.  

Finally, about Geraldine Cotter later Mrs Rush, who was the President of the Past Pupils association for a number of years and came in annually to speak about her school days to the Year 12s, mother of Jack Rush QC (1958) AO RFD, the following was written: “This wee maiden has a decided ‘Dux’ propensity- c’est assez dire.”

Enough said.

Damian Smith
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