Sister Margaret Cassidy csb

Kilbreda has lost yet another stalwart supporter, in the person of Margaret Cassidy csb, who died quietly on Saturday August 26.

Margaret was Kilbreda College Captain in 1952, involving herself in all sorts of activities whilst a boarder here in the 40s and 50s. In addition to her inclusion in various sporting teams including softball, she was most noted for her musical ability, being an accomplished pianist. Margaret also loved to sing and among many choirs she trained over the years, two of note were the Kilbreda Centenary Choir and the ‘wedding choir’, where students were often called upon to sing at the weddings of local past pupils, including my mother.

Margaret was a boarder, coming from Cobram in 1948 in Year 8. In 1951, Margaret was House Captain of Lourdes, and achieved the highest honours in Kilbreda for piano at the Conservatorium of Music at Melbourne University. She was one of three YCS leaders in 1951, and was a member of the College Orchestra, pictured in Sr Cecilia’s Music Room, where the office is now. Margaret matriculated twice, earning passes in Christian Doctrine, English Literature and Expression, German and British History and Honours in Music, having been a member of the Matric class the year before. In 1951, she was awarded a Government Scholarship which probably enabled her to stay on.

Margaret entered the convent at Malvern in 1960 and will be remembered by many past pupils as Mother Consolata, teaching here from 1966 until about 1972. Past pupils remembered her relating religious thought and conviction to contemporary politics and everyday life. She returned as a teacher alongside Pauline O’Callaghan csb and the pair were in charge of Musical Studies and, among other things, trained the aforementioned wedding choir. In the Jubilee Year, 2000, Margaret, as Province Leader, spoke at the Carriers of the Flame Conference held here.

Margaret conducted the choir for the Centenary of the arrival of the Brigidine Sisters in Victoria in 1986. She was one of the pioneers of Christian Community College Maryborough in the 1970s. Margaret lectured at Christ College ACU for many years from the 1990s and was province leader, commissioning our first Stewardship Council in 1997.

In the 2010s, Margaret took leave to care for her brother but always took interest in all matters relating to Kilbreda.

Damian Smith
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