THE NORTH SYDNEY SISTERS OF MERCY CAME TO ASQUITH FROM WAITARA IN 1958 TO ESTABLISH A PARISH SCHOOL FOR THE SEVEN YEAR-OLD PAROCHIAL DISTRICT. FOR THE NEXT ELEVEN YEARS THE SISTERS COMMUTED FROM THE WAITARA CONVENT DAILY TO TEACH AT THE SCHOOL. THEN IN 1969 THE SISTERS MOVED INTO A SMALL COTTAGE OPPOSITE THE SCHOOL AND FOR THE NEXT SEVENTEEN YEARS THIS WAS TO BE THEIR CONVENT. IN 1971 THEY EXTENDED THEIR APOSTOLATE BY OPENING A NEW PARISH SCHOOL AT BEROWRA HEIGHTS. IN THE LATE 80's DECLINING NUMBERS FORCED A RATIONALISATION OF CONGREGATIONAL COMMITMENTS AND THUS IN 1986 THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM ASQUITH. TODAY THE CHARISM OF CATHERINE MACAULEY IS CARRIED ON IN BOTH SCHOOLS BY A DEDICATED STAFF OF LAY TEACHERS.

THE ASQUITH CONVENT OF MERCY WAS AN ORDINARY COTTAGE JUST OVER THE ROAD FROM THE SCHOOL. IT SERVED ONLY BRIEFLY AS THE CONVENT HAVING BEEN OBTAINED ON BEHALF OF THE SISTERS IN 1969 AND THEN CLOSED IN 1986. THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS JUST A DOMESTIC STYLE BUNGALOW WHICH SERVED MAINLY AS A HOME BASE FOR THE ASQUITH SISTERS.

THE ORIGINAL PARISH SCHOOL WAS COMMENCED IN THE CHURCH / HALL IN 1958. IN SEPTEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR A SCHOOL BUILDING WAS BEGUN COMPRISING AN INNOVATIVE RIGID STEEL FRAME DESIGN THAT PLACED A FLEXIBLE CLASSROOM AREA UPSTAIRS AND A COVERED PLAYING AREA DOWNSTAIRS. THE LATTER COULD THEN BE CONVERTED INTO ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS WHEN REQUIRED. THE SCHOOL WAS EXTENDED IN 1961 AND 1967 TO CATER FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS. AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW CHURCH IN 1971, THE OLD WAS CONVERTED INTO CLASSROOMS, A LIBRARY AND A STAFFROOM. IN 1986 THE LAST RELIGIOUS PRINCIPAL WAS WITHDRAWN AND TODAY IT HAS BECOME THE TASK OF THE LAY STAFF TO MAINTAIN THE MISSION AND CHARISM OF THE MERCY SISTERS WITHIN THE SCHOOL.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING BY CARDINAL GILROY TOOK PLACE IN 1958 (ABOVE LEFT) AND ITS UNUSUAL TUBULAR STEEL DESIGN CAN STILL BE VIEWED TODAY (ABOVE RIGHT). THIS BUILDING HOUSES THE ADMINISTRATION CENTRE OF THE SCHOOL (BELOW).

THE OLD CHURCH WAS REDEVELOPED IN 1971 AFTER COMPLETION OF THE NEW AND A SECOND FLOOR ADDED ( SEEN ABOVE LEFT). SEVERAL OTHER ADDITIONS HAVE ALSO HAD TO BE MADE TO THE SCHOOL TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH IN SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS (ABOVE RIGHT).

SCHOOL WEBSITE

ST BERNARD'S PARISH SCHOOL

ST BERNARD'S PARISH SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN 1971 FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW PAROCHIAL DISTRICT OF BEROWRA AND WAS STAFFED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY BASED AT THEIR CONVENT IN ASQUITH WHO MADE THE TRIP EACH DAY BY CAR UNTIL 1986 WHEN THE SISTERS WERE WITHDRAWN FROM BEROWRA AND A LAY STAFF TOOK ON BOTH THE LEADERSHIP AND TEACHING DUTIES OF THE SCHOOL.

^^^ THE ADMINISTRATION BLOCK AND MAIN CLASSROOM BLOCK >>>

THE MODERN STYLE OPEN-PLAN SCHOOL IS TYPICAL OF ITS TIME WITH SPACIOUS GROUNDS LOCATED IN A LOVELY BUSHLAND SETTING. THE BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNED IN JUST SUCH A WAY AS TO BLEND HARMONIOUSLY WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE LOCAL FLORA.

THE SISTERS OF MERCY CAME TO BROOKLYN ALMOST BY ACCIDENT OR PERHAPS THROUGH DIVINE INTERVENTION. IN FACT PRIOR TO 1907 THE SISTERS WERE ALREADY WELL KNOWN IN THE VILLAGE DUE TO THE MONTHLY VISITS BY TRAIN TO PROVIDE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND VISITATION TO THE SICK AND NEEDY IN WHAT WAS THEN A STILL LARGELY ISOLATED SETTLEMENT. IN 1907 A YOUNG SISTER AT THE MERCY CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE IN NORTH SYDNEY INHERITED A HOTEL IN BROOKLYN FOR WHICH SHE HAD NO USE. SHE GAVE IT TO THE ORDER WHO CONVERTED IT INTO ST CARTHAGE'S COLLEGE FOR YOUNG LADIES. IN 1931 THE COLLEGE WAS CLOSED AND THE FOUNDATION BECAME ST CATHERINE'S ORPHANAGE. A NEW COMPLEX COMPRISING ST CATHERINE'S GIRL'S HOME, A CHAPEL AND A NEW CONVENT WERE ERECTED BETWEEN 1959 AND 1967.SADLY DURING 1990 AFTER EIGHTY-THREE YEARS DEVOTED WORK, FIRST IN EDUCATION AND THEN IN HELPING THE ORPHANED THE SISTERS CLOSED THE FACILITY FOR WHICH OUR MODERN OBSESSION WITH REGULATION MUST TAKE MUCH OF THE BLAME.

THE ORIGINAL CONVENT OF MERCY IN BROOKLYN WAS THE HOTEL WHICH WAS THE INHERITANCE OF THE YOUNG SISTER. THIS WAS A COLONIAL STYLE BUILDING (<<<<) FACING THE WATER WHICH ALSO SERVED AS THE HOME FOR THE BOARDERS AT THE GIRLS COLLEGE AND LATER FOR THE ORPHANS. IN 1959 THE ORPHANS WERE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR OWN HOME WITH THE SISTERS CONTINUING TO RESIDE IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONVENT.

BY 1967 THE FIRST CONVENT NOW OVER EIGHTY YEARS OLD HAD BEEN DECLARED UNSAFE. ACCORDINGLY THE BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED AND A MODERN NEW CONVENT OF MERCY WAS CONSTRUCTED IN ITS STEAD. BY THAT TIME THE BUILDING HAD GONE THROUGH SEVERAL CHANGES IN USE AND HAD GIVEN GREAT SERVICE TO BOTH COMMUNITY AND CHURCH.

THE NEW CONVENT (>>>) WAS AN ATTRACTIVE THREE-STORIED BRICK BUILDING WITH OPEN VERANDAHS FACING TOWARDS THE WATERS OF THE HAWKESBURY RIVER. THIS BUILDING SERVED AS THE CONVENT UNTIL THE CLOSURE OF THE GIRL'S HOME IN 1990. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE HOME THE CONVENT BUILDING ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE COMPLEX WAS SOLD AND CONVERTED INTO A POPULAR TOURIST RESORT FACILITY.

IN 1967 WHEN THE NEW CONVENT WAS BEING BUILT IT WAS DECIDED AT THE SAME TIME TO BUILD A NEW CHAPEL FOR THE CONVENT AND GIRLS HOME. IN PART THIS WAS PROMPTED BY THE STEADY DECAY OF THE OLD CHURCH / SCHOOL WHICH WAS CLOSED SOON AFTER. THE CHAPEL WAS A TYPICAL BUILDING OF THE TRANSITIONAL 1960's, BEING TRADITIONAL IN ITS LAYOUT WITH A DISTINCT CHANCEL YET BUILT WITH MODERN MATERIALS. IT HAS A PLAIN EXTERIOR AND LONG NARROW STAINED-GLASS SLIT WINDOWS. AN ADDITIONAL 60's TOUCH IS THE LARGE FEATURE WINDOW AT THE SANCTUARY END OF THE BUILDING. A SLIM SPIRE PROCLAIMS THE BUILDINGS PURPOSE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL CONTINUED THE MINIMALIST STYLE OF THE EXTERIOR AS CAN STILL BE SEEN BELOW RIGHT DESPITE THE CONVERSION TO A HOLIDAY FLAT. THE SANDSTONE REREDOS, THE STONE ALTAR, THE SHELF FOR THE TABERNACLE AND THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS ARE ALL STILL IN EVIDENCE. THE CHAPEL WHICH WAS SOLD ALONG WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE COMPLEX IS PART OF THE TOURIST FACILITY.

THE INITIAL APOSTOLATE OF THE SISTERS IN BROOKLYN WAS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. THE OLD HOTEL (BELOW LEFT) PROVIDED AMPLE SPACE FOR A CONVENT AND SMALL BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS OF THE ISOLATED FAMILIES OF THE HAWKESBURY VALLEY. ALTHOUGH THE SCHOOL WAS INTENDED ONLY FOR GIRLS THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE YOUNG BROTHERS OF SOME OF THE BOARDERS WERE ALSO ACCEPTED.

THE SCHOOL WAS CHRISTENED ST CARTHAGE'S COLLEGE FOR YOUNG LADIES AND DULY OPENED IN 1907 BY CARDINAL PATRICK MORAN. IN ADDITION TO THE BOARDERS IT PROVIDED FOR THE VILLAGE CHILDREN AND SERVED AS A WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY HOME FOR THE OCCASIONAL STUDENT OF MONTE SANT'ANGELO COLLEGE IN NORTH SYDNEY OR FOR A CHILD WITH 'NOWHERE TO GO', PREFIGURING THE LATER APOSTOLATE.

IN 1914 A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL WAS ERECTED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE CONVENT (LEFT & ALSO IN THE BACKGROUND BELOW RIGHT) AND WAS USED FOR THE NEXT SIXTY YEARS AS THE SCHOOL / CHURCH / HALL FOR THE VILLAGE. IN 1967 THE CHURCH WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CONVENT CHAPEL AND IN 1971 THE SCHOOL ALSO CLOSED. AS IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE THE OLD SCHOOL WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DEMOLISHED.

THE CONVENT OF MERCY WITH ST CARTHAGE'S COLLEGE BEFORE 1910. THE ORIGINAL HOTEL SIGN IS SHOWING IN THE BACKGROUND.

THE CONVENT AND COLLEGE AROUND THE 1920's. THE HOTEL STABLES AND SIGN HAVE DISAPPEARED AND THE NEW HALL CAN BE SEEN BEHIND.

ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY BY CATHERINE MACAULEY THE FOCUS OF THE SISTER'S APOSTOLATE IN BROOKLYN MOVED TO THE CARE OF CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF A NORMAL FAMILY LIFE. IN THAT YEAR ST CATHERINE'S ORPHANAGE (ABOVE LEFT) WAS OPENED BY THE SISTERS AND APPROPRIATELY NAMED IN HONOUR OF THEIR FOUNDRESS, CATHERINE McAULEY. REGISTERED FOR FORTY CHILDREN, THE ORPHANAGE ALSO CATERED FOR MANY CHILDREN WHO WERE MORE OR LESS EDUCATIONALLY HANDICAPPED. AT ST CATHERINE'S THEY WERE NOT ONLY ACCEPTED BUT ALSO ATTENDED SCHOOL AT A TIME WHEN THERE WERE FEW SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THESE CHILDREN. OVER THE YEARS ADDITIONS WERE MADE TO THE STILL LARGELY ISOLATED ORPHANAGE INCLUDING A HALF TENNIS COURT (ABOVE LEFT) WHICH TOGETHER WITH AN OLD TIDAL POOL ON THE RIVER PROVIDED ACTIVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE CHILDREN. IN 1959 THE FIRST SEPARATE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FOR THE USE OF THE ORPHANS WAS ERECTED BEHIND THE OLD CONVENT (ABOVE RIGHT).

IN 1959 A MODERN BRICK HOME (ABOVE) BUILT TO PROVIDE A NEW LEVEL OF COMFORT, PRIVACY AND FACILITIES WHICH HAD BEEN LACKING BEFORE WAS COMPLETED. THE PROVISION OF PRIVACY WAS AN ESPECIALLY APPRECIATED BOON. ALSO IN 1959 AN OLD COTTAGE NEXT DOOR WAS BOUGHT AND RENOVATED AS CLASSROOMS AS IT HAD BY THEN BECOME UNSAFE TO CROSS THE ROAD TO THE OLD HALL. IN 1967 ADDITIONS INCORPORATING A LAUNDRY, DRYING ROOM AND CHAPEL WERE BUILT ONTO THE HOME. CHANGES IN PRACTICES CAME ABOUT IN THE 1970's WITH INCREASING REGULATION BY THE STATE AUTHORITIES. THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN 1971 AND ADMISSIONS WERE GREATLY REDUCED. ACCOMODATION WAS CONVERTED INTO SELF CONTAINED FLATS AND A PERMANENT INGROUND POOL WAS CONSTRUCTED. FINALLY IN THE LATE 1980's GOVERNMENT REGULATION BECAME INCREASINGLY ONEROUS AND THE COST OF HIRING LAY STAFF PROHIBITIVE THUS MAKING THE HOME UNVIABLE. IT WAS CLOSED IN 1990 AND SOLD. IT WAS THEN CONVERTED INTO POPULAR SELF-CONTAINED HOLIDAY FLATS.

(<<<) THE OLD ORPHANAGE COMPLEX AS IT APPEARS TODAY. THE GIRL'S HOME CAN BE SEEN AT RIGHT REAR, THE CHAPEL AT LEFT REAR WITH THE CONVENT AT THE FRONT. (^^^^) THE DEDICATION STONE WHICH WAS LAID BY NORMAN CARDINAL GILROY IN 1959.

THE ENTRANCE TO THE FORMER ST CATHERINE'S HOME AS IT IS TODAY.

A CLOSE-UP OF THE REAR OF THE FORMER GIRL'S HOME TODAY.

INFORMATION AND HISTORICAL PHOTOS WERE PROVIDED BY THE ARCHIVES OF THE NORTH SYDNEY SISTERS OF MERCY AND ARE HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ARCHIVIST, Ms JOANNA NG, FOR HER ASSISTANCE.