of the 60s
Memories
"Memories of my six secondary years are of happy days and the shock of constant hard work. I found the pace quite strenuous, and yet this was all part of being a school girl, someone who was maturing towards some sort of personal independence. Miss Patrick was my form 1 teacher, and she was my first introduction to the lay staff. We all thought she was beautiful as she energetically made our Australian History live for us. Then there was Mrs Horgen, with a strong Scottish accent teaching us French. How grown-up to be learning another language. It was a shame that I had trouble enough with English grammar and found French almost impossible. Sr Aquinas, who tackled my friends and me the following year, was rather sweet. It’s hard to guess, but she wouldn’t have been much older than the girls doing Matric in Mother Theophane’s class - or ‘Theo’, as we all called her in the confines of the locker room! Back then the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions had a rather restricting headdress. Sr Theresa, of whom I have many fond memories, must have constantly asked for God’s assistance when attempting to quell the emotional, adolescent girls. One of my most lingering memories centres around the Beatle book episode. My friends and I, having reached that rather hysterical age of puberty, had all endeavored to outdo each other in our scrap book collection. Consequently we all had these mammoth tomes positively brimming with photos of the Beatles, and naturally thoughts of working toward our Leaving exams were virtually nonexistent. It was soon nipped in the bud by a diligent Sr Theresa, and normality returned. Naturally I joined many of the school activities, one of which was basketball. YCS was another group to join. I think in the 60s many of us were beginning to question certain aspects of our faith. In was at this stage that we had a series of retreats and a Franciscan friar impressed me greatly, because questions disturbing my friends and me were answered in a way that was new to us. Perhaps this new approach was to form some basis for Church changes to come in the 70s. Singing entered my life in my final two years, and, even though it meant arduous practices even on Saturdays, it was worth it when the choir, under the skilful tuition and guidance of Miss Walshe and her sister Mrs Crehan, won the Dandenong Eisteddfod for the third year in a row. Thinking back to those years I feel a sense of fulfillment. Whenever I drive along Warrigal Road I always sneak a quick look at the grey building containing a rainbow of coloured bricks with a certain fondness, hoping the girls there now were as content as I was."
- Denise Hutchins