For Nanette D’Arcy (a Parishioner of St Bernadette’s in Castle Hill for more than 50 years), preparing to attend the Mary MacKillop’s Canonisation in Rome on 17 October has brought back a flood of fond memories of her school days with the Sisters of St Joseph.
Learning & love: memories of the Brown Joeys
 |
| Nanette D'Arcy's pictured during her days at St Joseph’s Boarding School Glen Innes between 1941 and 1945. |
I am looking forward to attending the Canonisation of Blessed Mary McKillop in October, travelling with the eldest of my eight children, Ruth.
In 1934, at age four and living in Tenterfield, the Sisters of St Joseph suggested I come to kindergarten as my mother was the fundraiser organiser for the new Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church and the extension to the Tenterfield District Hospital.
‘Every Little Helps’ was the slogan and the fundraising was achieved mainly through euchre parties, bingo and dances, so Srs Flannan and Conleth from Ireland became my 'sitters' at St Joseph’s Primary School Tenterfield over the next seven years, where I learnt about God, to say “yes sister and may God bless you”, saying my prayers, knowing the green catechism answers, caring about others and reading and writing – not to mention tap dancing to Irish Eyes are Smiling (I can still demonstrate), maypole dancing, hopscotch, jacks and skipping. Sr Bede gave me my first piano lesson.
As there was no Catholic High School in Tenterfield, I went to the St Joseph’s Boarding School – or ‘Brown Joeys’ – at Glen Innes, 60 miles of non-bitumen gravel road away. We returned home for Easter, mid-winter and Christmas holidays by train.
It was the war years, so the borders quarters were packed with ‘refugee city girls’. Sr Pius was working overtime to nurture, console and organise the boarding house, as well as teach.
Srs Pauline and Peter taught First and Second Year high school. I heard in later years that they also gave lessons at night to other nuns teaching primary school, who hadn’t had the education opportunities they had had.
Sr Bonaventure taught the Intermediate and Leaving Years AND kept the toilets, taps and hot water systems working, as the tradesmen were all at the war.
I especially remember 15 August 1945 when the war was declared over. We were at Mass celebrating The Assumption of Our Lady when the news came – we were all excited, but Sr Bonaventure sent us all to study. I realised later that Sister was horrified at the devastation the atomic bomb had caused.
The nuns were all good teachers and I knew what a grounding in English grammar I had had, when in the early 80s, I found myself teaching 'situational English' to Vietnamese refugees.
Sr Isabelle organised music, especially choirs, plays, dancing routines and concerts, although not for the same reason as Nunsence (burying the dead nuns), but rather to support those who could not afford school fees, even though they were minimal.
Costumes were made from whatever was available, especially crepe paper, by Srs Edwardine, Elenore, Roche, Lola and Mark. All talents were encouraged.
Sr Cecilia did the cooking. Butter was rationed, so morning tea was bread and jam – everything tastes good at 13, even sago.
Chores were allotted each term. One was filling the hot water bottles from an open boiling copper. It wouldn’t pass 'Duty of Care' today, but with temperatures often in minus, we didn’t worry. Tins of condensed milk were also caramelised in the water and baked beans heated for snacks.
Every Saturday night, Sr Hermes taught us how to sit, stand and walk like ladies, which piece of cutlery to use first, and how and where to place it to indicate whether we were finished or not.
My dad paid tribute to the Sisters at both my and my sister’s weddings and now I pay tribute to Blessed Mary and these amazing women that took up the challenge.
I hold lots of happy memories of the rattle of rosary beads approaching!!