BY A STRANGE TWIST OF FATE THE TINY BUSH TOWN OF COONAMBLE WAS TO ASSUME A SIGNIFICANCE OUT OF ALL PROPORTION TO ITS SIZE IN THE AUSTRALIAN BRIGIDINE STORY. IN 1876 COONAMBLE PASSED BRIEFLY FROM THE DIOCESE OF BATHURST TO THAT OF MAITLAND. LIKE HIS COUSIN BISHOP QUINN OF BATHURST, BISHOP MURRAY WAS EAGER TO ENCOURAGE THE EDUCATION OF HIS FLOCK. BLESSED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF CONTACTS BISHOP MURRY SOUGHT OUT SEVERAL ORDERS TO ACHIEVE HIS GOAL. AMONG THESE WERE THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS OF MOUNTRATH. IN 1883 AS A RESULT OF BISHOP MURRAY'S PLEAS A SMALL GROUP OF BRIGIDINES SET FORTH FROM MOUNTRATH TO MAKE THE BRIGIDINES FIRST FOUNDATION OUTSIDE OF IRELAND. EXACTLY WHY BISHOP MURRAY CHOSE THE DISTANT AND ISOLATED SETTLEMENT OF COONAMBLE AS THE SISTER'S FUTURE HOME IS UNKNOWN, ESPECIALLY AS AT THAT TIME THE IRISH ORDERS TENDED TO BE CHOSEN FOR THE LARGER TOWNSHIPS, BUT CERTAIN IT IS THAT THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE COOL GREEN OF IRELAND AND THE HOT DUSTY BROWN OF AUSTRALIA MUST HAVE STRUCK THE SISTERS IN THEIR VOLUMINOUS SERGE HABITS MOST FORCIBLY. THERE WAS NO ACCOMODATION FOR THEM ON ARRIVAL AND SO THEY WERE HOUSED IN THE PRESBYTERY WHICH BECAME THEIR FIRST CONVENT. IN SPITE OF THE INAUSPICIOUS START THE SISTERS SOON SET ABOUT TEACHING THE CHILDREN IN ST BERNARD'S PRIMARY SCHOOL AND THE LITTLE CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL WHILE DEVOTING THEMSELVES TO MAKING THE BEST OF THEIR SITUATION. IN 1884 THEY ESTABLISHED A BOARDING SCHOOL NEXT DOOR TO THE CONVENT. IN 1893 THIS TINY CONVENT BECAME THE MOST UNLIKELY MOTHER HOUSE OF THE AUSTRALIAN PROVINCE AND THREE YEARS LATER OF THE NSW PROVINCE WHEN THE AUSTRALIAN PROVINCE WAS DIVIDED. THE NOVITIATE WAS OPENED IN 1889 BUT LATER MOVED TO COWRA. IN 1901 THE PROVINCIAL HOUSE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED RANDWICK AND COONAMBLE REVERTED TO JUST A SIMPLE RURAL FOUNDATION. IN 1909 A MAGNIFICENT CONVENT, BOARDING AND HIGH SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED FOLLOWED BY A NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL IN 1939. IN 1966 THE NEW BRIGIDINE HIGH SCHOOL OPENED. SADLY THE AGE OF DECLINE FOR THE ORDERS WAS JUST ABOUT TO DAWN AND BY THE 1980's THE HIGH SCHOOL HAD CLOSED AND THE PRIMARY HAD BECOME LAICISED. WITH FEWER SISTERS THE OLD CONVENT WAS TOO LARGE. IT WAS SOLD IN 1990 AND MOVED TO THE HUNTER VALLEY WHERE IT MAKES A LOVELY GUESTHOUSE. UNTIL 2009 A FEW SISTERS REMAINED TO WORK IN THE PARISH AND WERE ACCOMODATED IN A NEW CONVENT CONTINUING THE LINK TO THE TOWN.

WHEN THE SISTERS ARRIVED IN COONAMBLE NO CONVENT WAS READY SO FR MAGRATH MOVED OUT OF HIS FIVE-ROOM PRESBYTERY TO ALLOW THE SISTERS TO HAVE WHAT NOW BECAME THE FIRST CONVENT. THE SISTERS' PROSPERED AND IN 1884 THE BOARDING SCHOOL WAS BUILT NEXT TO THE CONVENT. A NOVITIATE OPENED IN 1889 (LATER LOCATED TO COWRA) AND THE CONVENT THEN BECAME THE AUSTRALIAN (1893-1896) AND NSW (1896-1901) PROVINCIAL HOUSE. IN 1909 THE SISTERS WERE BLESSED WITH A MAGNIFICENT NEW CONVENT WHICH SERVED ADDITIONALLY AS THE BOARDING AND HIGH SCHOOL. BY 1990 THE RESIDENT SISTERS HAD BEEN REDUCED FROM THIRTEEN TO FIVE AND THE BUILDING WAS SOLD AND LOCATED TO THE HUNTER. A SMALL HOUSE WAS OBTAINED AS THE SISTERS NEWCONVENT AND THUS IN THEIR END WAS THEIR BEGINNING.

THE FIRST CONVENT (BELOW RIGHT) WAS A FIVE ROOMED COTTAGE WHICH HAD BEEN THE FIRST PRESBYTERY. HERE THE SISTERS LIVED AND TAUGHT THE SECONDARY GIRLS. SPACE WAS SO LIMITED THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR THE SISTERS WERE PETITIONING BISHOP MURRAY FOR PERMISSION TO BUILD A DORMITORY FOR BOARDERS AND THIS WAS DULY COMPLETED IN EARLY 1884 (TO THE RIGHT IN THE PHOTOS ABOVE AND BELOW LEFT). AN ADDITIONAL COTTAGE WAS ERECTED IN 1887. AS AN INDEPENDANT FOUNDATION (UNTIL 1893 WHEN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WAS INSTITUTED FOR THE BRIGIDINES), COONAMBLE WAS ABLE TO ACCEPT NOVICES AND IN 1884 MOTHER MARY ALACOQUE BECAME NOVICE MISTRESS, INTRODUCING THE NOVITIATE TO THE FOUNDATION. IN 1893 COONAMBLE BECAME THE GENERAL NOVITIATE FOR AUSTRALIA BUT WITH SPACE LIMITED IT WAS MOVED TO COWRA IN 1894. THREE YEARS LATER IT RETURNED TO COONAMBLE UNTIL THE OPENING OF THE NOVITIATE AT RANDWICK IN 1901. THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD (1893 - 1901) THE CONVENT WAS ALSO THE PROVINCIALATE, FIRSTLY FOR AUSTRALIA (UNTIL 1896) AND THEN FOR NEW SOUTH WALES. DESPITE THE ADDITIONS THE CONVENT REMAINED INADEQUATE TO HOUSE THE COMMUNITY, BOARDERS AND HIGH SCHOOL. ACCORDINGLY IT WAS REPLACED BY A MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE IN 1909.

IN NOVEMBER 1909 THE FOUNDATION STONE (BELOW) WAS LAID FOR A NEW CONVENT HOME FOR SISTERS, BOARDERS AND HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED ENTIRELY OF WOOD AND WAS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF RURAL CONVENT ARCHITECTURE EVER TO BE BUILT IN AUSTRALIA. WHEN OPENED IN 1910 (ABOVE LEFT) IT COMPRISED TWO WINGS, A CENTRAL JOINING SECTION AND AN ATTRACTIVE VERANDAH. IT CONTAINED THE SISTER'S AREA, CLASSROOMS AND DORMITORIES. LATER AN UPSTAIRS VERANDAH WAS ADDED TO THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE CONVENT TO BE USED FOR CLASSES EVENTUALLY BECOMING ENCLOSED. WITH A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF SISTERS AND THE CLOSURE OF THE BOARDING AND HIGH SCHOOLS THE CONVENT WAS SOLD IN 1990 TO PEPPERS WINE ESTATE AND MOVED TO THE HUNTER VALLEY WHERE IT HAS BEEN REBUILT AS A SPLENDID HOTEL (BELOW).

AT FIRST PRIMARY CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE OLD CHURCH BUT IN 1892 AS THE SECOND CHURCH WAS BEING BUILT IT WAS DECIDED TO CONSTRUCT A NEW SCHOOL ALSO. CONSIDERED AS QUITE SUBSTANTIAL IN ITS DAY THE BUILDING WAS LATER TO BE THE HIGH SCHOOL WHEN REPLACED IN 1939 BY A SUPERB NEW SCHOOL (LEFT) BUILT IN SPANISH STYLE TO BLEND WITH THE THIRD CHURCH BEING CONSTRUCTED AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE HIGH SCHOOL CLOSED IT WAS CONVERTED TO THE INFANT'S SECTION OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL. TODAY THIS FINE BUILDING STILL STANDS AS MAGNIFICENT AS WHEN FIRST ERECTED.

IN THE 1990's, AFTER OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE IN THE TOWNSHIP THE BRIGIDINES WITHDREW FROM THE SCHOOL TO FOCUS ON PARISH WORK. IN 2003 TO HONOUR THE WORK OF ALL THOSE DEDICATED SISTERS WHO HAD SELFLESSLY TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL IT WAS NAMED IN HONOUR OF THE BRIGIDINE'S PATRON A FOUNDER IN HER OWN RIGHT.

WHEN THE HIGH SCHOOL CLOSED THE BUILDINGS WERE REORGANISED WITH THE FORMER PRIMARY SCHOOL BECOMING THE INFANTS SECTION AND THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL THE PRIMARY SECTION. ABOVE CAN BE SEEN THE LAST ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL'S INVENTORY OF BUILDINGS.

THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS COMMENCED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PRIMARY SCHOOL WITH CLASSES BEING HELD IN THE COMMON ROOM OF THE CONVENT (ABOVE LEFT). THIS LARGELY UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION WAS TO CONTINUE FOR NEARLY 27 YEARS TILL THE NEW CONVENT WAS BUILT THOUGH THE ADDITION OF A SECOND COTTAGE IN 1887 EASED THE SITUATION A LITTLE. FROM 1910 UNTIL 1938 THE HIGH SCHOOL FORMED PART OF THE SECOND CONVENT BUILDING, INCLUDING THE WESTERN VERANDAH ERECTED BY THE CHURCH COMMITTEE IN 1912 TO PROVIDE SHADE TO THE BOARDER'S DORMITORY. IN 1938 THE NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS BUILT AND THE 1892 PRIMARY SCHOOL, A SIMPLE WEATHERBOARD BUILDING, BECAME THE HIGH SCHOOL. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE WYNDHAM SCHEME WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON SCIENCE IN PARTICULAR FORCED MAJOR CHANGES ON ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND SO IN 1966 (BELOW LEFT) A MODERN BRICK HIGH SCHOOL (ABOVE RIGHT & BELOW RIGHT) WAS OPENED. SADLY THE TIMES WERE CHANGED AND WITH A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF SISTERS THEY HAD TO WITHDRAW. 1N 1974 THE HIGH SCHOOL CLOSED DOWN AND THE OLD SCHOOL IS NOW USED AS THE PRIMARY SECTION OF ST BRIGID'S SCHOOL.

ST BRIGID'S BOARDING SCHOOL BEGAN IN 1884 WHEN BISHOP MURRAY IN RESPONSE TO AN URGENT REQUEST FROM M JOHN SYNAN GAVE PERMISSION FOR A DORMITORY FOR BOARDERS TO BE ADDED TO THE CONVENT. THE BUILDING (SEEN ON THE RIGHT IN THE PHOTO ABOVE) WAS EXTENDED IN 1891 SO GREAT WAS THE DEMAND FOR PLACES AT THE SCHOOL. ON COMPLETION OF THE 1909 CONVENT THE BOARDERS WERE PROVIDED WITH COMFORTABLE AND SPACIOUS LODGINGS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD TO SHARE THE CONVENT WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL. AMONG THE FACILTIES BUILT FOR THEIR USE WAS THE RECREATION HALL (LEFT) AT THE BACK OF THE CONVENT. THIS OLD PHOTO, TAKEN PRIOR TO 1938 (THE TOWER OF THE SECOND CHURCH CAN BE SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND), SHOWS ALSO A PART OF THE BOARDING SCHOOL DORMITORY AND A PORTION OF THE WESTERN VERANDAH ADDED IN 1912 TO PROTECT THE DORMITORY FROM THE HOT COONAMBLE SUN. DESPITE ITS SUCCESSFUL REPUTATION THE SCHOOL EVENTUALLY HAD TO BOW TO CHANGING TIMES. IN 1974 THE SCHOOL, ALONG WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, WAS CLOSED THUS BRINGING TO AN END A PIECE OF COONAMBLE'S TREASURED AND MUCH LOVED CATHOLIC HISTORY.

THE COMING OF THE BRIGIDINES TO COWRA DID NOT FIT THE USUAL PATTERN OF PRE=20th CENTURY RELIGIOUS FOUNDATIONS IN AUSTRALIA IN SO FAR AS THE SISTERS WERE ARRIVING IN A TOWN WITH A WELL-ESTABLISHED CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, A THRIVING PARISH SCHOOL AND A SUBSTANTIAL BRICK CONVENT ALREADY IN PLACE, THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH HAVING TAUGHT THERE FOR FIFTEEN YEARS. BY THE 1890's HOWEVER COWRA HAD GROWN INTO A SUBSTANTIAL TOWN AND LOCAL CATHOLIC PARENTS WANTED MORE FOR THEIR OFF-SPRING THAN JUST A PRIMARY EDUCATION. AS THE APOSTOLATE OF THE JOSEPHITES DID NOT EXTEND AT THAT TIME TO THE PROVISION OF HIGH SCHOOLS THE CALL WENT OUT TO THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS AT COONAMBLE FOR THEM TO TAKE OVER THE EDUCATION OF COWRA'S YOUNG. THE SISTERS ARRIVED IN 1894 AND QUICKLY SET ABOUT ESTABLISHING A CO-EDUCATIONAL PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOL, THE LATTER A RARITY IN THOSE DAYS BUT ONE WHICH HAD BEEN PIONEERED BY THE BRIGIDINES IN COONAMBLE. AT THE SAME TIME THE PROVINCE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE COMPARATIVELY SPACIOUS CONVENT TO MOVE THE GENERAL NOVITIATE TO COWRA PENDING THE FINDING OF A SUITABLE LOCATION IN SYDNEY. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT EVENTUATE FOR ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS AND AS BISHOP BYRNE WAS OPPOSED TO THE NOVITIATE BEING LOCATED IN COWRA IT WAS RETURNED TO COONAMBLE IN 1897. MEANWHILE WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF A BOARDER IN SEPTEMBER 1894 A BOARDING SCHOOL WAS ALSO COMMENCED. ST RAPHAEL'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND BOARDING SCHOOL SOON DEVELOPED INTO OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE SISTERS CAPABLE LEADERSHIP. BY 1970 HOWEVER CHANGED TIMES AND A FALL IN THE NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS TO STAFF THE SCHOOLS WERE LEADING TO A REAPPRAISAL OF THE CHURCH'S EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE. THE BOARDING SCHOOL CLOSED IN 1966 AND BY THE END OF THE CENTURY THE SISTERS HAD WITHDRAWN FROM TEACHING ALTHOUGH THEY CONTINUED WITH PARISH WORK. WITH THE DAWN OF THE NEW CENTURY THE LAST BRIGIDINE LEFT COWRA LEAVING BEHIND AFFECTIONATE MEMORIES OF THEIR PRESENCE AND A DEVOTED LAY STAFF TO CARRY ON THE WORK SO ADMIRABLY BEGUN BY THEM A CENTURY EARLIER.

MOST RELIGIOUS ORDERS BEGINNING A NEW FOUNDATION DURING THE 19th CENTURY EXPERIENCED A TIME OF AD HOC ARRANGEMENTS BUT THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF THE PARISHIONERS AND THE PIONEERING EFFORTS OF THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH THIS WAS NOT THE CASE FOR THE BRIGIDINES ARRIVING IN COWRA IN 1894. INSTEAD THEY WERE WELCOMED INTO AN ESTABLISHED CONVENT WHICH WAS TO BE THEIR HOME FOR THE NEXT CENTURY. IT WAS ALSO THE NOVITIATE FOR THREE YEARS (1894-1897). BY THE EFFORTS OF THE PARISH THE CONVENT WAS OVER TIME EXTENDED AND BEAUTIFIED BECOMING ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST IMPRESSIVE RURAL RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS (ABOVE). WITH THE CHANGES BROUGHT BY VATICAN II HOWEVER THE NUMBER OF SISTERS DECLINED TO THE POINT WHERE THE CONVENT WAS NO LONGER NEEDED. TODAY IT HAS FORTUNATELY BEEN PRESERVED FOR POSTERITY THROUGH INCORORATION INTO ST RAPHAEL'S CENTRAL SCHOOL.

THE BRIGIDINE CONVENT AT COWRA WENT THROUGH FIVE DISTINCT BUILDING STAGES. THE ORIGINAL TWO-STORIED CONVENT BUILDING WAS ERECTED IN 1879 FOR THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH WITH THE FORMER FIRST CHURCH (USED AS THE SCHOOL) ATTACHED (ABOVE LEFT). THIS WAS THE CONVENT AS THE SISTERS FOUND IT ON ARRIVAL IN JUNE 1894. JUST ONE MONTH LATER FR O'KENNEDY RAISED THE WALLS OF THE OLD CHURCH TO THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE CONVENT (ABOVE RIGHT) THUS ALLOWING FOR A HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS A PRIMARY. WITH THE FOURTH AND FIFTH STAGES THE CONVENT WAS EXTENDED TO THE NORTH (1902) AND NORTH-EAST (1912) (BELOW LEFT). THIS WAS DONE TO ACCOMODATE THE BOARDERS AND EXTEND THE HIGH SCHOOL, BOTH MATERIAL EVIDENCE OF THE SCHOOL'S HIGH REPUTATION. FINALLY IN 1938 THE FACADE WAS DRESSED WITH RED BRICK AND A NEW VERANDAH OF COLONNADED ARCHES WAS ADDED FOLLOWED BY THE IMPOSING CHAPEL OF ST BRIGID (BELOW RIGHT) WHICH TOGETHER WITH THE THIRD ST RAPHAEL'S PRODUCES A MOST PERFECTLY HARMONISED VISTA.

(<<) THE ORIGINAL STONEWORK OF 1879 CLEARLY DISCERNIBLE FROM THE BACK OF THE CONVENT AND (>>) THE RED-BRICK FACADE OF 1936.

THE CONVENT'S REALLY OUTSTANDING FEATURE IS THE MAGNIFICENT CHAPEL (LEFT) ERECTED IN 1938 TO HONOUR THE BRIGIDINE PIONEERS WHO HAD ARRIVED IN COWRA FORTY YEARS EARLIER. IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE SAME ARCHITECT WHO PLANNED THE THIRD CHURCH AND FINISHED WITH THE SAME RED BRICK TO FORM A UNIFIED VIEW. ERECTED AS A DUAL-PURPOSE STRUCTURE WITH THE CHAPEL ITSELF ABOVE AND CLASSROOMS UNDERNEATH THE IMPOSING BUILDING SERVED SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF COWRA'S CHILDREN. WITH THE CLOSE OF THE CONVENT THE CHAPEL WAS PRESERVED FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS OF THE PRESENT ST RAPHAEL'S CENTRAL SCHOOL.

THE ELEGANTLY LOVELY CHAPEL INTERIOR IS A FITTING MEMORIAL TO THE SISTERS. THE NAVE WITH ITS CLEAN LINES, WESTERN GALLERY AND BARREL VAULT CEILING LEADS TO A DELIGHTFUL APSIDAL EAST END DOMINATED BY THE ALTAR, CENTRAL TABERNACLE AND A BRONZE CRUCIFIX.

THE SANCTUARY IS THE CHAPEL'S REAL GLORY WITH ITS STAR-SPANGLED BLUE CEILING, TWIN EYE WINDOWS AND STATUARY NICHES THERE IS A WONDERFUL SENSE OF PERFECTION IN ALL ITS PROPORTIONS. THE LATER REORDERING OF THE SANCTUARY TO ACCOMODATE THE 1969 MASS OF PAUL VI WAS DONE SYMPATHETICALLY THUS SUCCESSFULLY PRESERVING IN ALL ITS BEAUTY THE ORIGINAL ASTHETIC FEEL OF THE CHAPEL.

THOUGH THE CLOSE OF THE BOARDING SCHOOL FOLLOWED BY THE DEPARTURE OF THE SISTERS COULD HAVE ALLOWED THE CHAPEL'S NEGLECT, THIS WAS AVERTED THROUGH INCORPORATION INTO THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE SCHOOL THUS INSURING THAT A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF OUR HERITAGE WAS KEPT FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS.

(LEFT) THE BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED SANCTUARY. (ABOVE RIGHT) THE SCHOOL'S MOTTO AND (BELOW RIGHT) THE NAVE LOOKING WEST.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) THE HISTORICAL AMBO, THE ATTACTIVE TABERNACLE ON ITS MARBLE PLINTH AND THE UNUSUAL MODERN BRONZE CRUCIFIX.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) CHANCEL STATUES - THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, OUR LADY, ST JOSEPH, AND ST BRIGID, PATRONESS OF THE BRIGIDINES.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) NAVE ORNAMENTS - OUR LADY, SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR, THE STATIONS AND ST THERESE OF LISIEUX.

A HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE REASON THE BRIGIDINES HAD BEEN INVITED TO COWRA AND SO IT WAS THAT THE FIRST STUDENT WAS ENROLLED AND THE FIRST CLASS TAUGHT IN THE EXTENDED CONVENT BUILDING WITHIN A BRIEF TIME AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE FIRST BOARDER ARRIVED AND THE BOARDING SCHOOL WAS COMMENCED. THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS CO-EDUCATIONAL SOMETHING PIONEERED BY THE BRIGIDINES IN COONAMBLE THOUGH THE BOARDING SCHOOL WAS ONLY FOR GIRLS. BY 1902 NUMBERS HAD INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE NEW EXTENSIONS TO THE CONVENT BUILDING WERE NEEDED. ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS WERE MADE IN 1912 (ABOVE). FOR THE NEXT SEVENTY YEARS ST RAPHAEL'S COLLEGE DELIVERED AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION FOR COWRA'S CHILDREN. IN 1966 HOWEVER THE BOARDING SCHOOL WAS CLOSED. THE HIGH SCHOOL AND PRIMARY SCHOOL WERE AMALGAMATED INTO ST RAPHAEL'S CENTRAL SCHOOL IN THE 1980's.

ST RAPHAEL'S PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS STARTED OVER FIFTEEEN YEARS BEFORE THE BRIGIDINES' ARRIVAL. IT WAS STAFFED INITIALLY WITH LAY TEACHERS AND LATER WITH THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH. TOWARDS THE END OF THIS TIME A WOODEN HALL WAS BUILT BEHIND THE CONVENT TO ACCOMODATE THE EXCESS STUDENTS. IT WAS THIS BUILDING NEWLY EXTENDED AND ENCLOSED WHICH NOW BECAME THE BRIGIDINES PRIMARY SCHOOL IN 1894. AT THE TIME THE SCHOOL CONSISTED OF SIXTY PUPILS BUT BY 1905 NUMBERS HAD INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE A NEW SINGLE STORY PRIMARY SCHOOL HAD TO BE ERECTED. THE BRIGIDINES' REPUTATION WAS SO HIGH THAT BY 1924 THE SCHOOL HAD GROWN TO NEARLY 400 PUPILS AND REQUIRED THE ERECTION OF A NEW BUILDING (LEFT) COMPRISING SIX CLASSROOMS TO CATER FOR THEM. IT WAS TO REMAIN THE SCHOOL TILL 1965 WHEN THE PRESENT PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED AND OPENED BY BISHOP THOMAS (BELOW). TODAY THIS CONSTITUTES THE INFANTS AND PRIMARY PORTIONS FOR THE PRESENT ST RAPHAEL'S CENTRAL SCHOOL.

DURING THE 1980's FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SISTERS FROM THE SCHOOLS THERE WAS A REORGANISATION WHICH LED TO THE FOUNDING OF ST RAPHAEL'S CENTRAL SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL, WHILE LAY-STAFFED, CONTINUES TO TEACH IN THE SAME TRADITION AS THOSE DEVOTED SISTERS OF ST BRIGID WHO GAVE SO MANY YEARS TO COWRA.

SINCE ITS FOUNDING THE CENTRAL SCHOOL HAS CONTINUED TO GROW. NEW SECONDARY CLASSROOMS WERE ERECTED (BELOW RIGHT) AND A MODERN ADMINISTRATION BLOCK WAS COMPLETED IN 1987 (BELOW). BY CONTRAST THE OLDEST BUILDING STILL USED BY THE SCHOOL STARTED AS A 'TEMPORARY' CLASSROOM (BELOW LEFT). A STATUE OF ST BRIGID (LEFT) DISPLAYED ON THE MAIN BUILDING ANNOUNCES THE SCHOOL'S HERITAGE.

CUNDLETOWN WAS THE FOURTH AND ALSO LAST OF THE BRIGIDINE FOUNDATIONS MADE IN THE 19th CENTURY IN NEW SOUTH WALES. IT WAS UNIQUE AMONGST THOSE FOUNDATIONS BEING MADE ON THE INITIATIVE OF THE ORDER ITSELF RATHER THAN IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM A PARISH. THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE FOUNDATION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A COMMON ONE AMONGST RURALLY BASED RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF THAT TIME, NAMELY THE DESIRE FOR A LOCATION ON THE COAST WHERE THE SISTERS COULD OBTAIN SOME RELIEF FROM THE HARSH INLAND CONDITIONS. SUCH FOUNDATIONS WERE NOT HOWEVER HOLIDAY HOUSES IN THE SENSE WITH WHICH WE ARE FAMILIAR TODAY, BUT RATHER WERE WORKING FOUNDATIONS AND CUNDLETOWN WAS NO EXCEPTION. THE SISTERS APPARENTLY INTENDED TO ESTABLISH AN EXCLUSIVE GIRL'S BOARDING SCHOOL THERE FREE OF PARISH ENTANGLEMENTS (THERE WAS IN FACT NO PARISH SCHOOL AT CUNDLETOWN) AND SO THEY PROCEEDED TO OBTAIN A HOUSE FOR USE AS A CONVENT AND SCHOOL. SADLY THE VENTURE PROVED TO BE A FAILURE WITH THE NUMBER OF BOARDERS REACHING A PEAK OF EIGHT AND THE FOUNDATION WAS CLOSED IN 1906. IT WAS NOT HOWEVER THE END OF THE CHURCH'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION IN CUNDLETOWN AS THE CHALLENGE WAS LATER TAKEN OVER BY THE LOCHINVAR SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH.

TOP	CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION

IN 1954 THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS ARRIVED IN ST IVES FROM RANDWICK TO ESTABLISH A NEW NSW PROVINCIALATE ALONG WITH A GIRL'S HIGH SCHOOL IN THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NORTHERN SUBURBS OF SYDNEY. TYPICALLY THEY ALSO AGREED TO OPEN A PARISH SCHOOL AT THE NEARBY CHURCH. IN 1955 THE NOVITIATE FOLLOWED THE PROVINCIALATE TO ITS NEW HOME. AFTER FIVE YEARS OF TOUGH LIVING IN AN OLD FACTORY A MAGNIFICENT NEW CONVENT AND NOVITIATE WERE BUILT FOR THE SISTERS IN 1959. THE ST IVES FOUNDATION SOON BECAME AN IMPORTANT CENTRE FOR THE BIGIDINES EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE WITH NEW PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOLS BEING OPENED AT NARRAWEENA AND FORESTVILLE (1962) AND AT DAVIDSON (1980), ALL STAFFED FROM ST IVES CONVENT. MEANWHILE AS ST IVES GREW IN SIZE THE GIRL'S SCHOOL, BRIGIDINE COLLEGE, GREW WITH IT UNTIL IT BECAME ONE OF THE PREMIER SCHOOLS ON THE NORTH SHORE. SADLY THE DECLINE IN VOCATIONS IN THE LATE 1900's HAD SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FOUNDATION. THE MUCH REDUCED NOVITIATE CLOSED IN 1978 WHILE THE LEADERSHIP OF ALL THE PARISH SCHOOLS WAS IN LAY HANDS BY 1987. DURING 1991 THE PROVINCIALATE WAS MOVED TO CLOVELLY AND THREE YEARS LATER THE LAST SISTERS WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CONVENT. IN 1995 THE FLAGSHIP BRIGIDINE COLLEGE PASSED TO LAY LEADERSHIP AND THE LAST BRIGIDINE MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE STAFF LEFT IN 1997. DESPITE THE PASSING OF THE BRIGIDINE ERA AT ST IVES THE SCHOOLS FOUNDED BY THEM, NOT LEAST BRIGIDINE COLLEGE ITSELF, PRESERVE THE BRIGIDINE SPIRIT OF FORTITER ET SUAVITER.

WHEN THE SISTERS FIRST ARRIVED AT ST IVES THE FACILITIES WERE VERY SPARTAN. A PLAIN "FACTORY" STYLE BUILDING SERVED AS BOTH CONVENT AND SCHOOL. FOR FIVE YEARS THIS SINGLE BUILDING SERVED ITS DUAL FUNCTION UNTIL 1959 WHEN A SEPARATE CONVENT WAS CONSTRUCTED AT WHICH POINT THE ORIGINAL BUILDING REVERTED TO USE AS CLASSROOMS.

IN 1959 AN IMPOSING NEW CONVENT WAS CONSTRUCTED AS THE PROVINCIALATE FOR THE NEW SOUTH WALES PROVINCE AND LATER THE HOME OF THE NOVITIATE (ABOVE). AS THE PROVINCIAL HOUSE PLANS WERE FURTHER PREPARED FOR AN IMPRESSIVE CHAPEL BUT THIS WAS NEVER REALISED BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE FORMS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE FOLLOWING VATICAN II. INSTEAD A 'TEMPORARY' CHAPEL SERVED THROUGHOUT THE SISTERS STAY IN ST IVES. IN 1994 WHEN THE SISTERS LEFT IT WAS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL AND AFTER REFURBISHMENT IT WAS CONVERTED INTO THE NEW SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION CENTRE THUS PRESERVING A CLOSE HISTORICAL LINK TO THE COLLEGE'S PAST.

IN TODAY'S SECULARISED WORLD THIS FINE BUILDING CONTINUES TO SHINE FORTH AS A BEACON OF FAITH RECALLING THE ABIDING DEDICATION SHOWN BY THOSE SISTERS OF ST BRIGID TO THE TEACHING APOSTOLATE AMONG YOUNG WOMEN AS ENVISAGED BY DR DELANY FOR THEIR FOUNDATION IN 1807.

(BELOW) THE CHAPEL IN THE NEWLY BUILT CONVENT IN 1959. ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY A TEMPORARY CHAPEL IT SERVED THE SISTERS THROUGHOUT THEIR STAY AT ST IVES.

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE WAS ESTABLISHED AS A GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL IN 1954 WITH JUST NINE STUDENTS. IT WAS BOTH ADMINISTERED AND STAFFED BY THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS FOR ITS FIRST TWENTY YEARS, REFLECTED IN THE ATTRACTIVE STATUE OF ST BRIGID, HOLDING HER MONASTIC FOUNDATION IN ONE HAND AND RESTING THE OTHER ON THE SHOULDER OF A YOUNG SCHOOLGIRL, BUT BY THE LATE 70's IT WAS BECOMING CLEAR THAT WITH THE DECLINE IN VOCATIONS GENERAL THROUGHOUT THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS GREATER LAY INVOLVEMENT WAS NEEDED, FIRST IN STAFFING THE SCHOOL AND THEN FROM 1998 ONWARDS IN RUNNING THE COLLEGE. IN THAT YEAR GOVERNANCE OF THE COLLEGE WAS TRANSFERRED TO A PRIVATE COMPANY TO ADMINISTER THE COLLEGE ON BEHALF OF THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS. FOR THE FIRST TEN YEARS THE SCHOOL COMPRISED THE SINGLE BUILDING WHICH HAD ORIGINALLY SERVED AS THE CONVENT AND SCHOOL BUILDING. BEGINNING IN 1964 HOWEVER THE COLLEGE EXPANDED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HALL, A SCIENCE BLOCK, A LIBRARY AND ADDITIONAL CLASS ROOMS. FURTHER BUILDING BETWEEN 1971 AND 2001 ADDED A NEW EDUCATIONAL WING (1971), A FREE-STANDING LIBRARY (LATE 70's), THE McCAMMON WING (1986 - 1988), A COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS WING (EARLY 90's), AND THE CHISOLM CENTRE (2000) AS WELL AS THE EXTENSIVE SPORTING FACILITIES. IN 2001 A NEW CHAPEL DEDICATED TO ST BRIGID WAS COMPLETED AND OPENED. IN 2005 THE MAGNIFICENT BOWIE HALL, VIEWED ABOVE BEHIND THE CHAPEL, WAS COMPLETED AS A JUBILEE PROJECT ADDING A FIRST CLASS AUDITORIUM TO THESE FACILITIES AND THUS ALLOWING FOR THE COMPLETE REFURBISHMENT OF THE ROMUALD HALL AS THE ROMUALD VISUAL ARTS CENTRE.

THE CHAPEL OF ST BRIGID WAS ERECTED IN 2001 FOR THE DUAL PURPOSE OF A SCHOOL CHAPEL AND ALSO A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CENTRE. APPROPRIATELY IT WAS DECIDED TO DEDICATE THE CHAPEL TO ST BRIGID IN RECOGNITION OF THE DEVOTED WORK OF THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS IN FOUNDING AND STAFFING THE SCHOOL OVER MANY YEARS.

THE OCTAGONALLY SHAPED CHAPEL WITH ITS PROMINENT AND NOTICEABLE CHANCEL IS CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORD WITH MODERN LITURGICAL IDEAS WHICH PROMOTED THE PARTICIPATION OF THE LAITY. THE MODERN SCULPTURE SEEN ON THE CHANCEL'S EAST WALL REPRESENTS A FAMILIAR MATERNAL SYMBOL, HERE REFERRING NATURALLY TO THE MOTHERHOOD OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. THE CHAPEL FITTINGLY IS LOCATED PROMINENTLY AT THE ENTRANCE AS A SIGN OF THE SCHOOL'S SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE.

THE CHAPEL INTERIOR SHOWS CLEARLY THE CHAPEL'S UNDERLYING DESIGN PREMISES. THE OCTAGONAL NAVE (ABOVE RIGHT) PROVIDES A LARGE AND AIRY AUDITORIUM-STYLE CONGREGATIONAL AREA WHILE THE DISTINCT CHANCEL SIGNIFIED BY TWO BEAUTIFUL STAINED GLASS STRIP WINDOWS FORMS A SHARPLY DIFFERENTIATED 'HOLY OF HOLIES' IN KEEPING WITH THE CHURCH'S SACRAMENTAL ETHOS. THE SCHOOL ITSELF IS REPRESENTED BY A CANDLE WITHIN THE SANCTUARY (ABOVE LEFT). THE PRESENCE OF THE LARGE GLAZED DOORWAYS ALONG ALL SIDES AND THE LIGHT GREY COLOUR SCHEME HELPS TO FASHION AN ETHEREAL WORSHIP SPACE WHICH BLENDS BOTH MODERN IDIOMS AND TRADITIONAL FEATURES INTO A SINGLE HARMONIOUS WHOLE THAT QUITE CLEARLY BESPEAKS A CHAPEL IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH TRADITION.

THE SIMPLE MINIMALLY FURNISHED YET ELEGANT SANCTUARY (ABOVE LEFT) IS THE VISUAL FOCAL POINT OF THE CHAPEL WITH ITS SIMPLE WOODEN TABLE ALTAR AND A GLASS CROSS WITH THE CORPUS GLAZED ON IT. LOOKING BACKWARDS FROM THE CHANCEL (ABOVE RIGHT) THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE IS THE CEILING WITH RECESSED LIGHTS CREATING AN EFFECT OF A STAR-FILLED HEAVEN OVER THE EARTH BELOW.

COLLEGE WEBSITE

CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH SCHOOL

ST IVES, WHEN THE BRIGIDINES FIRST ARRIVED, WAS AN OUTPOST OF PYMBLE PARISH WITH A RECENTLY ERECTED CHURCH. IN KEEPING WITH THEIR APOSTOLATE THE BRIGIDINES ACCEPTED A CALL TO ESTABLISH A PARISH SCHOOL WHICH LATER BECAME CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL. THE SISTERS LED THE SCHOOL UNTIL 1987 BY WHICH TIME A FULLY LAY TEACHING STAFF HAD TAKEN OVER. THEREAFTER THE SCHOOL CONTINUED WITH LAY LEADERS ALL THE WHILE MAINTAINING THE TRADITIONS AND CHARISM OF THE FIRST FOUNDING SISTERS.

THE CHURCH AT ST IVES HAD BEEN OPEN ONLY A YEAR BUT ALREADY FAR-SIGHTED PARISHIONERS OF PYMBLE COULD SEE THAT THIS WAS DESTINED TO BECOME A BOOMING RESIDENTIAL SUBURB. IN 1954 THEREFORE THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS WERE ASKED TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL IN THE CHURCH (LEFT), THIS COMBINATION OF SCHOOL AND CHURCH BEING QUITE COMMON IN NEWLY OPENING AREAS. DUE TO AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR PLACES IT WAS OBVIOUS BY 1958 THAT THE BUILDING WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE GROWING SCHOOL'S NEEDS SO A MODERN PURPOSE-BUILT SCHOOL WAS ERECTED WHILE THE OLD ONE REVERTED TO THE CHURCH HALL.

IN 1958 WHEN THE STATION CHURCH BECAME A PARISH CHURCH, IT WAS DECIDED TO CONSTRUCT A NEW LARGER PURPOSE-BUILT SCHOOL ON AN ADJACENT SITE IN LINK RD. THE SCHOOL CONTINUED TO BE STAFFED BY THE BRIGIDINES UNTIL THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBERS OF SISTERS IN THE 70's LED TO AN INCREASINGLY LAY STAFF. IN SPITE OF SUCH LAICISATION THE BRIGIDINES MAINTAINED THEIR LINK WITH THE SCHOOL PROVIDING THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP UNTIL 1987 WHEN THE FIRST LAY PERSON WAS APPOINTED AS PRINCIPAL. TODAY CORPUS CHRISTI HAS GROWN INTO A MODERN SCHOOL WITH EXTENSIVE FACILTITIES AND GROUNDS (RIGHT).

SCHOOL WEBSITE

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL SCHOOL

DURING THE 1960's A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TOOK PLACE IN THE STAFFING SYSTEM OF PARISH SCHOOLS DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF CARS AND THE EASING OF THE RULES OF ENCLOSURE. THIS LED TO A DISPERSAL OF SISTERS FROM ONE CONVENT TO SEVERAL SCHOOLS. THUS IT WAS THAT IN 1961 THE NEW PRIEST FOR FORESTVILLE ASKED THE SISTERS AT ST IVES TO ESTABLISH A NEW SCHOOL IN HIS PARISH. THE SISTERS WERE AGREEABLE AND TWO SISTERS TRAVELLED EACH DAY FROM ST IVES TO FORESTVILLE. THEY TAUGHT THE SCHOOL FOR FOURTEEN YEARS UNTIL 1975 AFTER WHICH AN ALL LAY STAFF TOOK ON AND CONTINUED THE WORK DONE BY THE SISTERS INTO THE PRESENT.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS INTENDED FOR THE SCHOOL TO BE ERECTED ON WARRINGAH ROAD BUT THE SITE WAS TOO SMALL AND SO IT WAS DECIDED TO BUILD ON A NEW SITE IN CURRIE ROAD. THIS LATER IMPACTED THE WHOLE PARISH WITH THE REST OF THE PARISH BUILDINGS BEING MOVED TO THE SCHOOL SITE. THE SCHOOL (>>>>) WAS BUILT MAINLY USING A SYSTEM OF VOLUNTARY LABOUR. THE FIRST BLOCK OF 4 CLASSROOMS AND AN OFFICE WAS FINISHED IN 1961 IN TIME FOR THE 1962 YEAR. AN EASTERN BLOCK WAS ADDED IN 1963 AND A NEW WESTERN BLOCK IN 1965. IN 1967 THE OLD CHURCH ON WARRINGAH ROAD WAS USED AS AN INFANT'S SCHOOL (NOW THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL). LATER IN 1975/1978 TWO BRICK CLASSROOM BLOCKS WERE BUILT AND THE INFANT'S SCHOOL WAS THEN MOVED BACK TO CURRIE ROAD. DURING 2006/2007 THE SCHOOL ENTERED A BRAND NEW ERA WHEN THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED TO BE REPLACED BY A MODERN NEW SCHOOL AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE SEQUENCE OF PHOTOS BELOW.

IN THE SAME YEAR THAT THE BRIGIDINES AGREED TO OPEN THE SCHOOL AT FORESTVILLE, THEY FURTHER AGREED TO STAFF A NEW SCHOOL AT NARRAWEENA, ST JOHN THE APOSTLE. CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE INITIAL CHURCH/SCHOOL CONSTRUCTED IN 1959. THE SCHOOL, A QUITE TYPICAL LATE 50's STYLE BUILDING, SOON REQUIRED EXTENSIONS WITH A SECOND WING BEING ADDED IN 1966 AND THE THIRD FOLLOWING IN 1970. MODERN ADDITIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN PUT IN PLACE AS SEEN IN THE REVAMPED LIBRARY FINISHED IN 2007. IN 2009 THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED AND A MODERN NEW ADMINISTRATION AND CLASSROOM BLOCK ERECTED. THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS WERE GRADUALLY REPLACED IN THE 1970's UNTIL THE SCHOOL BECAME FULLY LAICISED IN 1980.

IT WAS A FEW YEARS AFTER THE FOUNDING OF THE NEW DAVIDSON PARISH BEFORE MOVES TO ESTABLISH A PARISH SCHOOL BORE FRUIT. IN 1980 THE INITIAL STAGE FOR THIS NEW SCHOOL WAS ERECTED AND THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS AT ST IVES AGREED TO PROVIDE THE STAFF IN SPITE OF WITHDRAWING EARLIER FROM SCHOOLS AT FORESTVILLE AND NARRAWEENA. THE SISTERS PROVIDED THE SCHOOL'S LEADERSHIP TILL 1987 WHEN THE SCHOOL BECAME FULLY LAY STAFFED. SEVERAL NEW ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS WERE UNDERTAKEN IN 2007. TODAY ST MARTIN DE PORRES SCHOOL PROVIDES A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS ACHIEVED BY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN AUSTRALIA.

IN 1918 A SMALL COMMUNITY OF BRIGIDINE NUNS FROM COWRA TRAVELLED THE SHORT DISTANCE TO THE FORMER MINING SETTLEMENT OF WOODSTOCK TO OPEN A CONVENT AND PRIMARY SCHOOL THERE. A LOVELY TWO-STORY HOUSE WAS PURCHASED AS THE CONVENT AND THE GAMES ROOM AT THE REAR WAS CONVERTED INTO A SCHOOL BUILDING. FOR FIFTY YEARS THE BRIGIDINES PROVIDED A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE TOWNSHIP BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF EFFICIENT TRANSPORT INTO COWRA SCHOOL NUMBERS DECLINED AND SO IN 1964 THE SISTERS LEFT. THAT SAME YEAR WOODSTOCK BECAME A PARISH AND THEIR PLACE WAS TAKEN BY THE PERTHVILLE JOSEPHITES.

THE SISTERS WERE FORTUNATE TO OBTAIN AN ATTRACTIVE TWO STORIED HOUSE FOR THEIR CONVENT AND SCHOOL (vvv). THIS CONVENT (<<<) LATER SERVED THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH AND EVENTUALLY BECAME THE PRESBYTERY. WHEN THE PARISH WAS CLOSED IN THE EARLY 1970's IT WAS SOLD AND IS TODAY A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

THE SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE FORMER GAMES ROOM (BELOW LEFT) TO WHICH AN ENTRANCE WAS ADDED TO ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO ENTER AND EXIT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE CONVENT. THIS GAVE THE BUILDING A 'CHURCHY' APPEARANCE WHICH STOOD IT IN GOOD STEAD DURING THE TWENTY YEARS IT WAS ALSO USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. AROUND 1930 THE GALVANISED IRON BUILDING (BELOW) KNOWN AS THE 'ACADEMY' AND CONSTRUCTED BEHIND THE CONVENT FROM MATERIALS FROM THE OLD CHURCH, SERVED AS THE SEPARATE INFANT'S SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL ALONG WITH THE CONVENT PASSED TO THE JOSEPHITE SISTERS IN 1964 BEFORE CLOSING IN THE EARLY 70's.