On the last weekend of last term, a long overdue reunion which was planned before lockdown, occurred at Kilbreda. The Kelly family have been supporters of the College since its inception, having had students in all but 15 of the 120 years.

The grand nephew and niece of foundation pupil, Eileen Dempsey, Michael and Susie Arendsen, represented what we call the purple branch of this huge extended family, taking the connection back to 1904.  Their grandfather Frank Dempsey (1907) was one of Kilbreda’s earliest male pupils and mother Wendy Arendsen (nee Dempsey) was here in the 1930s.

Most of the crowd was made up of representatives of the gold and green branches, most of whom remain relatively local, including organiser Sr Bernardine (Maureen) Kelly csb (1961) and Greg and Judy Kelly, whose five daughters attended Kilbreda and who are the grandparents of current student Jaime McCabe.

Former College Captain, Trish Stabb  (nee Chapman) (1969), from the blue branch and Kath O’Connell (1961) grandmother of current pupils, Bridhi and Kasey, have both been school Principals around the district. Kath was ‘encouraged’ by Mother Margaret Mary Bourke to attend the Brigidine Teachers’ College. Being the eldest daughter in a family of 15, Kath had intended to go to business college, but Mother Margaret Mary managed to organise a scholarship for her and the rest as they say is history. Her daughters, Kelly, Kerry and Karen all attended Kilbreda too, in the 80s and 90s.

Among earlier Kilbreda past pupils were John Chapman (1940s) whose mother Mary (dec) was a pupil in the 20s, Maureen Kelly (nee Reid) (1952) and Margot Pearce (nee Shannon) (1955). From the 1970s was Christine Kelly (1975) and from the 1960s Theresa Ventura (nee Kelly) (1967), Mary Sayers (nee Wallace) (1964), Margaret Kelly (nee Diamond) (1966), Colleen Kay (nee Kelly) (1969) and Denise Frost (nee Hall) (1965). From the 1980s Kerrin Smith (nee Kelly) (1982) and Bernadette Yodgee (nee Hall) 1983 and Julia Smith (2010s).

We were delighted to welcome 96 year old Gwen Kelly from South Oakleigh, who would suggest she’s going on 57 rather than 97, but not a former pupil of good old Kilbreda. The photo below shows those present who were past pupils.

Damian Smith
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