Archives Report
Last Saturday, Kilbreda welcomed back past pupils from 10, 30 and 50 years ago. Interestingly, much had changed, even for the 2013 cohort, who left before the building of both the Kildare Centre and the Auditorium. The story was much the same for the other groups, only on a grander scale as the Delany Building, Atrium and Art Precinct were not there when they attended. The Chapel, too, was markedly different from when the earlier groups were here.
A small group of the 1973 graduates, including Mary L’Huillier, great aunt of Lily (Year 12), had a longer connection to Kilbreda, commencing in Prep in what is now Room 23, more than 60 years ago. Three photos emerged of their Grades Prep, 1 and 2 classes, thanks to Di Mitchell (nee Cavanough), who, incidentally, is the wife of actor and comedian Mark Mitchell, known to many as ‘Con the Fruiterer’.
Another connection to The Comedy Company, in which Mark starred, was Mary Ann Waterman, who, while a member of the 1973 class, did not attend on the day. Her character ‘Kylie Mole’ would be known to many in the community. Di not only shares acting in common with her husband, but also teaching, as both embarked on teaching careers.
Among the group were two Past Pupil of Distinction Nominees, Clare Rhoden (nee Knuppel) from the class of 1973 and Kate Ingram (nee Smyth) from the class of 1993. Mayumi Purvis, a PPOD Inductee from the class of 1993, was also in attendance. Mayumi and a number of others were members of my Australian Studies class in 1992 and recalled the father of another attendee, Sigrid Trajer, coming to speak to us in Room 5 (above the office) about his work in Antarctica. Sigrid tells me that in the interim, her father has had a ridge there named in his honour.
Another connection on the day was Rhiannan Marie-Jean, one of our current Year 9 students, being a Student Ambassador for the cohort of which her sister Caoimhé Conlon, was part. Caoimhé was College Captain in 2013, and I’ve always found it funny, that her complicated first name appears twice in the Hall, spelt perfectly correctly both times. Her less complicated surname, Conlon, however, has an ‘an’ on one side of the Hall and an ‘on’ on the other. I’ve never bothered to have it changed as I enjoy the story.
Damian Smith
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