IN 1971 THE PARISH OF ARCADIA WAS FORMED AND COMITTED TO THE CARE OF THE SYLVESTRINE MONKS OF ST BENEDICT'S MONASTERY. IN 1987 THE MONKS INVITED THE GOOD SAMARITAN SISTERS TO COME TO ARCADIA TO HELP THEM IN THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE PARISH AND PROVIDED A HOUSE AS A CONVENT. TODAY THE SISTERS CONTINUE A RANGE OF TASKS IN LINE WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL APOSTOLATES.

WHEN THE SISTERS ARRIVED IN ARCADIA, THE MONKS PROVIDED THEM WITH A COTTAGE ON MONASTERY LAND WHICH HAD ONCE BEEN A RESIDENCE FOR A FLOWER FARM. THIS SIMPLE DOMESTIC BUILDING NONETHELESS PROVIDES ALL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE RELIGIOUS LIFE. THE LITTLE WOODEN BUILDING LOCATED BEHIND THE COTTAGE IS THE CONVENT ORATORY WHERE THE SISTERS PRAY IN COMMUNITY.

THE STORY OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITANS IN AVALON PARISH BEGINS IN 1959 WITH THE OPENING OF MARIA REGINA PARISH SCHOOL. UP TO THAT POINT AVALON HAD BEEN PART OF THE PARISH OF NARRABEEN AND IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT THE SISTERS WHO RAN THE SCHOOL IN THAT PARISH SHOULD BE ASKED TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NEW SCHOOL AT AVALON. ACCORDINGLY A CONVENT WAS ESTABLISHED AND THE SCHOOL OPENED ON FEBRUARY 20, 1959. FOR THE NEXT 36 YEARS THE SISTERS AT FIRST STAFFED AND THEN, WHEN LAY STAFFING BECAME THE NORM FOR PARISH SCHOOLS, PROVIDED THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE SCHOOL. IN 1995 HOWEVER THIS PROCESS WAS FURTHER EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND THE FEW REMAINING SISTERS WITHDREW FROM AVALON.

THE CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN IN AVALON COMPRISED TWO HOUSES LOCATED TO THE REAR OF THE SCHOOL. ONE WAS A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDING (ABOVE RIGHT), THE OTHER AN OLD HOLIDAY COTTAGE (ABOVE LEFT) OF WHICH THERE WERE MANY ON THE PENINSULA IN THOSE DAYS. THE TWO HOUSES WERE JOINED BY A COVERED WALKWAY TO MAKE A SINGLE COMPLEX. THE SITE NOT ONLY HAD MAGNIFICENT VIEWS OVER THE SANDHILLS TO THE OCEAN BUT WAS CONVENIENT FOR THE SISTERS DAILY WALK TO THE SCHOOL.

THE MAIN PORTION OF THE CONVENT (LEFT) WAS A LARGE COMFORTABLE HOUSE THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN BUILT ON STEEPLY SLOPING LAND BELOW THE CHURCH AND BACKING ONTO THE SCHOOL. THE OTHER BUILDING, A SMALL HOLIDAY HOME, SERVED TO EXTEND THE CONVENT AND ENSURE ADEQUATE SPACE FOR BOTH THE PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL LIFE OF THE SISTERS WHO STAFFED BOTH THE SCHOOL AND CONVENT.

AS WAS GENERALLY THE CASE WITH GOOD SAMARITAN CONVENTS IT WAS SIMPLICITY AND CONVENIENCE WHICH WERE THE MAJOR KEYNOTES OF WHAT WAS ESSENTIALLY A SUBURBAN RESIDENCE FOR THE SISTERS. THE CONVENT WAS TO BE THE 'GOOD SAMS' HOME THROUGH THE THIRTY-SIX YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE AT THE PARISH SCHOOL.

THE FIRST SCHOOL AT AVALON WAS HELD IN THE BASEMENT OF THE CHURCH (BELOW LEFT) WHICH HAD BEEN BUILT TO SERVE THIS DUAL FUNCTION FROM ITS INCEPTION. THE ORIGINAL INTENTION HAD BEEN TO OPEN THE SCHOOL IN 1958 BUT DELAYS IN THE COMPLETION OF THE LOWER SCHOOL BUILDING FOCED ITS DELAY UNTIL FEBRUARY 1959. FROM ITS EARLIEST DAYS THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SPACE FOR CLASSROOMS AND FOR SEVEN YEARS THE UPPER CHURCH WAS USED FOR THIS PURPOSE DURING THE WEEK. AFTER THE SCHOOL OPENED, THE QUESTION OF THE PLAYGROUND NEEDED ATTENTION. THE SITE SLOPED STEEPLY AND MUCH TERRACING HAD TO BE DONE TO ALLOW FOR THE STUDENT'S PLAYING AREA. IN 1965 THE SCHOOL WAS EXTENDED BY THE PURCHASE OF TWO DEMOUNTABLES FROM THE AVALON PUBLIC SCHOOL. THESE WERE USED TO CONSTRUCT THERRY HOUSE (BELOW AND BELOW RIGHT) AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH / SCHOOL. BY 1972 WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE SUBURB ALL AVAILABLE BUILDINGS WERE NEEDED FOR THE SCHOOL AND ACCORDINGLY PLANS WERE MADE TO ERECT A NEW CHURCH AND CONVERT THE FIRST CHURCH (SEEN ABOVE BEHIND THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING) TO SCHOOL USE.

THE CHURCH SCHOOL WAS ERECTED IN 1959 WITH THE CLASSROOMS LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. THE UPSTAIRS SECTION SERVED AS A SCHOOL ON WEEKDAYS AND THE CHURCH ON SUNDAYS. IN 1972 BOTH THE UPSTAIRS AND BASEMENT WERE CONVERTED INTO SCHOOL USE.

THE FIRST EXPANSION CONSISTED OF TWO SURPLUS DEMOUNTABLES PURCHASED FROM THE AVALON PUBLIC SCHOOL WHICH WERE THEN ASSEMBLED AS THERRY HOUSE. THE EXTENSIVE TERRACING OF THE SCHOOL SITE WAS UNDERTAKEN WITH VOLUNTEER PARISH LABOUR.

THE HISTORY OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN IN BALGOWLAH PARISH BEGINS IN 1929 WITH A REQUEST FROM FR BOND, NEWLY APPOINTED AS PARISH PRIEST, TO THE SUPERIOR-GENERAL OF THE ORDER FOR SOME SISTERS TO STAFF THE NEW SCHOOL. A SECOND CONNECTION WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE GOOD SAMARITANS IN THE NAMING OF THE CHURCH AFTER SISTER M CECILY WHO WAS WELL KNOWN TO FR McDONALD PARISH PRIEST OF MANLY. THE SISTERS ARRIVED IN 1930 TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN A HOUSE PURCHASED FOR THEM IN SEAVIEW ST AND THIS WOULD BE THEIR CONVENT FOR THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS. THE 1930's WERE A TIME OF DEPRESSION AND NEED WITH MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN TENTS IN CLONTARF, A NEIGHBOURING SUBURB. THE SISTERS VISITED HOMES AND WELCOMED POOR CHILDREN INTO THE SCHOOL. OFTEN THEY THEMSELVES WERE IN GREAT NEED. THE SCHOOL OPENED IN 1930 AND WAS ORIGINALLY HELD
IN THE CHURCH /SCHOOL. IN 1950 THE SISTERS PURCHASED A HOUSE IN WEST STREET TO USE AS A CONVENT AND THREE YEARS LATER THEY OBTAINED THE NEIGHBOURING PROPERTY AT AUCTION. A CHAPEL WAS BUILT CONNECTING TO BOTH HOUSES AND THE CONVENT
WAS BLESSED BY CARDINAL GILROY IN 1954. IN THE SAME YEAR A NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT AND THE OLD CONVERTED INTO A NEW TWO STORY SCHOOL BUILDING. BETWEEN 1973 AND 1977 THE TWO SISTERS WHO STAFFED ST KIERAN'S SCHOOL AT MANLY VALE WERE ALSO IN RESIDENCE AT BALGOWLAH CONVENT. WHEN THE FIRST LAY PRINCIPAL WAS APPOINTED TO ST CECILIA'S IN 1976 THE TWO SISTERS WHO THEN REMAINED ON THE STAFF TRAVELLED EACH DAY FROM MANLY CONVENT. IN 1999 THE CONVENT WAS DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED BY FOUR TOWNHOUSES, THREE OF WHICH ARE STILL IN USE BY THE SISTERS WHO CONTINUE TO DO MUCH WORK IN AND AROUND THE PARISH.

THE FIRST CONVENT TO BE USED BY THE GOOD SAMARITAN SISTERS IN BALGOWLAH WAS A HOUSE THAT WAS PURCHASED AT 53 SEAVIEW STREET. BOUGHT IN 1930, THIS WAS USED AS THE CONVENT FOR 20 YEARS.

IN 1950 THE SISTERS WERE ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE AT 49 WEST STREET AND IN 1953 THE NEIGHBOURING HOUSE CAME UP FOR AUCTION AND WAS ALSO PURCHASED. A SEPARATE CHAPEL WAS BUILT CONNECTED TO BOTH HOUSES WHICH THEN BECAME THE GOOD SAMARITAN CONVENT (LEFT) IN 1954 WHEN IT WAS BLESSED BY CARDINAL GILROY. FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE NIECE OF MOTHER BERCHMANS, MRS M MUNGOVAN, LIVED IN THE HOUSE AT 47 WEST STREET.

THE ORIGINAL BUILDING (ABOVE) BOUGHT BY THE SISTERS IN WEST ST WAS AN ART-DECO BUILDING OF THE 1920's IN CONTRAST TO THE FEDERATION STYLE BUNGALOW NEXT DOOR (BELOW). THE CONVENT CHAPEL (SEEN AT REAR IN THE PHOTO BELOW) WAS ADDED LATER BEING THEN LINKED TO BOTH HOUSES BY A GLASSED-IN CORRIDOR.

IN 1999 THE TWO HOUSES AND THE CHAPEL WERE DEMOLISHED AND THE SITE REDEVELOPED WITH FOUR TOWNHOUSES CONSTRUCTED ON THE SITE. TWO OF THESE TOWNHOUSES SERVE AS CONVENTS AND A THIRD AS A HOLIDAY HOUSE FOR THE SISTERS OF THE ORDER. THE FOURTH HAS BEEN SOLD AND IS NOW A PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSE.

THE PLAIN YET ATTRACTIVE CHAPEL OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY (BELOW) WAS BLESSED AND OPENED IN 1954. LOCATED BEHIND THE OLDER OF THE HOUSES IN WEST ST AND CONNECTED TO IT BY A GLASSED CORRIDOR IT FORMED THE SPIRITUAL HOME OF THE SISTERS. THE RE-ORGANISED 1970's INTERIOR SEEN IN THE PHOTO AT THE RIGHT HAD A SPARE AND ELEGANT BEAUTY TO IT.

THE SCHOOL AT BALGOWLAH WAS OPENED IN 1930 WITH 84 PUPILS IN THE CHURCH / SCHOOL (INSET BELOW LEFT) WITH THE BUILDING HAVING TO BE CONVERTED EACH FRIDAY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WITH THE BUILDING OF THE NEW CHURCH IN 1954, THE OLD BUILDING WAS MADE OVER WITH A NEW SECOND STORY ADDITION TO PRODUCE THE PRESENT DAY SCHOOL APPEARANCE (LEFT).

THE SISTERS STAFFED THE SCHOOL FROM ITS OPENING IN 1930 UNTIL THE 1970's WHEN A LARGELY LAY STAFF TOOK OVER. IN 1976 CAME THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRST LAY PRINCIPAL AND, APART FROM TWO OF THE SISTERS WHO REMAINED ON THE SCHOOL STAFF FOR SOME YEARS, THE 'GOOD SAMS' WITHDREW FROM THEIR TEACHING DUTIES.

THE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS FOR THE EXTENSIONS TO THE SCHOOL IN 1954 SHOWING THE OLD CHURCH / SCHOOL IN THE INSET TOP RIGHT.

THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING SHOWING THE RENOVATED FACADE AND THE ADDITIONAL SECOND STORY WHICH WERE CONSTRUCTED IN 1954.

THE MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING AS IT IS TODAY. AS CAN BE SEEN IT IS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED FROM THE RENOVATED STRUCTURE OF 1954.

THE VIEW FROM THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND SHOWING PART OF THE SOUTHERN ADDITIONS WHICH WERE LATER MADE TO THE SCHOOL.

WITH A GROWING NUMBER OF PARISHES AND THEREFORE NEW SCHOOLS IN THE DIOCESE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY BISHOP CARROLL WAS HARD PUT TO FIND RELIGIOUS TO STAFF THEM. ACCORDINGLY HE MADE APPROACHES TO SEVERAL ORDERS NOT THEN INVOLVED IN THE DIOCESE TO PROVIDE SISTERS FOR THESE SCHOOLS. AMONG HIS SUCCESSFUL APPEALS WAS ONE TO THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN TO STAFF THE NEW PARISH SCHOOL AT COFFS HARBOUR. IN 1913 FIVE SISTERS UNDER MOTHER MARY CECELIA ARRIVED ON BOARD THE S.S. ORARA AND WERE CONDUCTED TO THE FORMER PRESBYTERY WHICH WAS TO BE THEIR CONVENT FOR NEARLY FIFTY YEARS. THE SISTERS OPENED THE PARISH SCHOOL IN THE OLD CHURCH IN FEBRUARY BEGINNING SIXTY YEARS OF SERVICE TEACHING THE CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT. AT FIRST THE SISTERS TAUGHT ONLY TO PRIMARY LEVEL BUT OVER THE YEARS THE SCHOOL WAS EXTENDED UP TO MATRICULATION LEVEL. IN 1961 A NEW CONVENT WAS BUILT FOR THE SISTERS BY THE PARISH. IN 1971 DECLINING NUMBERS FORCED A RE-ORGANISATION OF THE ORDER'S COMMITMENTS AND IN THAT YEAR THEY ADVISED THE BISHOP THAT THEY WOULD BE CLOSING THE SECONDARY HALF OF THE SCHOOL WHICH THEN REVERTED TO PRIMARY ONLY. THEY ALSO ASKED TO BE RELIEVED OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN 1972. IN DECEMBER OF 1972 THEY WITHDREW AND THEIR PLACE WAS TAKEN BY THE GRAFTON SISTERS OF MERCY.

THE FIRST HOME USED BY THE SISTERS ON ARRIVAL WAS THE OLD PRESBYTERY WHICH HAD BEEN BUILT BY FATHER O'GALLAGHER OPPOSITE ST AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH IN 1907 (BELOW LEFT). THIS HAD NOT BEEN USED BY HIS SUCCESSORS AND IT WAS CONVENIENT FOR THE SMALL GROUP OF FIVE SISTERS. OVER THE YEARS AS THE NUMBER OF SISTERS INCREASED THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS (SEEN BEHIND IN THE PHOTOS AT LEFT AND BELOW RIGHT) WERE EXTENDED AND AN EXTRA WING ADDED (IN THE FOREGROUND LEFT AND BELOW RIGHT). THE BUILDING WAS TYPICAL OF MANY RURAL CONVENTS BEING FAR MORE DOMESTIC THAN INSTITUTIONAL, BUT WAS EQUIPPED NONETHELESS WITH ALL THE NECESSITIES FOR THE RELIGIOUS LIFE.

ALTHOUGH IT WAS CLEAR BY THE 1940's THAT A LARGER MORE MODERN CONVENT WOULD BE NEEDED AND FUND-RAISING COMMENCED IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1961 THAT THE BUILDING WAS REPLACED. IN THE MEAN TIME THE OLD CONVENT CONTINUED TO SOLDIER ON AS THE HOME OF THE SISTERS. EVENTUALLY A NEW CONVENT WAS BUILT AS PART OF FR McEVOY'S RENEWAL OF PARISH INFRASTRUCTURE. THE ORIGINAL CONVENT BUILDING OF 1907 WHICH CONTAINED A FRONT ROOM, CHAPEL, KITCHEN AND REFECTORY WAS MUCH DELAPIDATED AND SO WAS DEMOLISHED WHILE THE SOUTHERN WING ADDED IN THE 1920's AND COMPRISING THE COMMUNITY ROOM AND NUN'S CUBICLES WAS MOVED ACROSS THE ROAD TO THE SCHOOL. FOR SOME MONTHS IT WAS USED TO HOUSE THE SISTERS WHILE THE NEW CONVENT WAS BEING BUILT. IT WAS LATER DIVIDED INTO CLASSROOMS AND TODAY, KNOWN AS 'THE WHITE HOUSE', IT CONTINUES TO SERVE THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

IN 1961 FATHER McEVOY THE NEW PARISH PRIEST OF COFFS HARBOUR UNDERTOOK A RENEWAL OF THE PARISH INFRASTRUCTURE AND AMONG THE MANY PROJECTS INVOLVED WAS THE BUILDING OF A NEW CONVENT COMPLETED IN 1962. THE CONVENT WAS A PLAIN TWO STORY BUILDING WITH A SHADED FRONT VERANDAH AND A SMALL CHAPEL TO THE REAR (RIGHT) AND SERVED THE SISTERS UNTIL 1972 AT THE END OF WHICH THEY WITHDREW FROM TEACHING DUTIES IN THE PARISH AND THE CONVENT WAS THEN PASSED OVER TO THE GRAFTON SISTERS OF MERCY.

ST AUGUSTINE'S PARISH SCHOOL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 1913 IN THE OLD PARISH CHURCH. THIS WAS AN UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION AND IN 1916 THE FIRST MOVES WERE MADE TO PROVIDE MORE ADEQUATE QUARTERS FOR THE SCHOOL. IN 1918 FR HANLEY SET ABOUT OBTAINING THE OLD SOCIAL HALL ONCE USED BY WORKERS ON THE RAILWAY AT RED HILL AND IN 1919 THIS HALL WAS RE-ERECTED IN GORDON STREET AS THE NEW SCHOOL (BELOW LEFT). IN 1932 A NEW INFANTS SCHOOL (BELOW RIGHT) WAS ADDED AND FURTHER MAJOR EXTENSIONS WERE CARRIED OUT DURING 1966 (BELOW). THE SCHOOL WHICH BEGAN AS A PRIMARY SCHOOL SOON EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SECONDARY STUDENTS. THE SECONDARY SECTION CLOSED IN 1971 AND THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE SCHOOL IN 1972. THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE GRAFTON SISTERS OF MERCY.

THE FORMER RED HILL SOCIAL HALL WHICH WAS MOVED TO GORDEN ST IN 1919 AND THERE ERECTED AS THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING.

THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING FOR THE SCHOOL WAS THE NEW INFANTS SCHOOL WHICH WAS ERECTED IN 1932. IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1976.

IN 1961 THE DORMITORY WING OF THE FORMER CONVENT WAS MOVED OVER THE ROAD TO THE SCHOOL SITE AND USED FOR CLASSROOMS.

IN 1966 THE PARISH SCHOOL UNDERWENT A MAJOR EXPANSION BY FR McEVOY WITH NEW CLASSROOMS AND SCIENCE LABS BEING BUILT.

THE CONVENT SCHOOL AT DEE WHY HAD BEEN FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY FROM GOULBURN IN 1923 BUT AT THE END OF 1932 THEY HAD WITHDRAWN AND FOR TWO YEARS THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED. THEN IN LATE 1934 THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN ARRIVED IN DEE WHY TO RECOMMENCE THE SCHOOL. THEY ESTABLISHED A CONVENT IN TWO FEDERATION HOMES OPPOSITE THE CHURCH IN OAKS AVENUE AND COMMENCED CLASSES IN THE OLD CHURCH. IN 1954 THE FORMER PRESBYTERY ON PACIFIC PARADE WAS CONVERTED INTO CLASSROOMS AS THE FIRST 'SCHOOL'. TRAGEDY STRUCK IN 1959 WHEN THE SCHOOL BURNT DOWN. A NEW SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN 1960. IN THE EARLY 1980's THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM TEACHING DUTIES AND THE SCHOOL PASSED TO LAY LEADERSHIP. IN 1988 THE SISTERS REMODELLED THE CONVENT AS THE HOUSE OF SACRED SPACE TO PROVIDE RESPITE ACCOMODATION FOR CARERS. IN 2007 THE SISTERS FINALLY ENDED SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OF PRESENCE IN THE AREA WHEN THEY SOLD THE PROPERTY TO THE PARISH FOR THE NEW SCHOOL.

IN COMMON WITH A NUMBER OF SAMARITAN CONVENTS OF ITS AGE THE DEE WHY CONVENT WAS NOT PURPOSE BUILT BUT CONSISTED OF TWO EXISTING HOMES THAT HAD BEEN JOINED BY AN ENCLOSED PASSAGE. BOUGHT IN 1934 THE CONVENT WAS TO BE DEMOLISHED IN 2007.

THE SISTERS CONTINUED TO USE THE CONVENT FOR A FEW YEARS AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL FROM TEACHING THEN IN 1988 THE BUILDINGS WERE REMODELLED TO PROVIDE RESPITE ACCOMODATION FOR CARERS. IT WAS THEN NAMED THE HOUSE OF SACRED SPACE AND OPERATED UNTIL 2007 WHEN IT WAS DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR A MODERN STATE OF THE ART SCHOOL.

INITIALLY CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE OLD CHURCH. AROUND 1954 THE FIRST PRESBYTERY ON PACIFIC PARADE WAS CONVERTED INTO CLASSROOMS AND THE PRIMARY CLASSES WERE MOVED THERE. KINDERGARTEN CLASSES WERE THEN HELD IN THE CONVENT. IN 1958 A NEW CLASSROOM CALLED THE BLUE ROOM WAS BUILT NEAR THE SCHOOL. THIS BUILDING ALSO SERVED AS A CHAPEL. IN JUNE 1959 THE SCHOOL BURNT DOWN ALTHOUGH MIRACULOUSLY THE BLUE ROOM WAS VIRTUALLY UNTOUCHED. A NEW SCHOOL (ABOVE) WAS BUILT ON THE SAME SITE IN 1960. AROUND THE SAME TIME AN INFANTS SCHOOL WAS ERECTED NEXT TO THE CONVENT (SEE ABOVE). THESE BUILDINGS SERVED THE PARISH SCHOOL UNTIL 2008 WHEN A MODERN NEW SCHOOL ON OAKS AVENUE WAS OPENED. ALTHOUGH THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE SCHOOL IN THE EARLY 1980's THE DEDICATED LAY STAFF CONTINUE IN THE TRADITION OF THE GOOD SAMARITANS TO THE PRESENT DAY.

(ABOVE LEFT) THE CHARRED REMAINS OF THE FORMER PRESBYTERY AND FIRST DEDICATED SCHOOL BUILDING AFTER THE FIRE OF JUNE 1959. (ABOVE RIGHT) THE REAR OF THE BURNT OUT PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDING AT RIGHT AND THE ALMOST UNTOUCHED BLUE ROOM ON THE LEFT.

(ABOVE LEFT) THE INFANTS SCHOOL BUILT AROUND 1960 AND LATER DEMOLISHED DURING THE 1990's. THE SITE HAS NOW BEEN SOLD. (ABOVE RIGHT) THE PRIMARY SCHOOL FROM THE PACIFIC PARADE ENTRANCE AS IT APPEARED IN 2007. THE OLD SCHOOL IS NOW TO BE DEMOLISHED.

IN 2007 AN AGREEMENT WAS WORKED OUT BETWEEN THE SISTERS AND THE PARISH WHEREBY THE SITE OF THE FORMER CONVENT WAS PURCHASED AND A MODERN NEW SCHOOL ERECTED ON IT. THE FORMER SCHOOL SITE ON PACIFIC PARADE WAS SOLD TO FUND THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT AND THE SCHOOL DEMOLISHED. TODAY ST KEVIN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL IS A TRULY STATE OF THE ART EDUCATIONAL FACILITY.

THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN ARRIVED IN MACKSVILLE IN 1918 FOLLOWING THEIR EARLIER OPENING ON THE NORTH COAST AT COFFS HARBOUR. THEY HAD BEEN INVITED BY THE PARISH PRIEST OF BOWRAVILLE TO COMMENCE A PARISH SCHOOL THERE. A HOUSE WAS PURCHASED AS A CONVENT AND CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE CHURCH. A NEW SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN 1928. IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD THE STRAINS ON THE ORDER TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR AN EXPANDING SECONDARY SCHOOL SECTOR LED TO A RATIONALISATION OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN'S COMMITMENTS TO PARISH SCHOOLS AND SO THE SISTERS WERE SADLY WITHDRAWN FROM MACKSVILLE IN 1953 AFTER GIVING THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE PARISH. IN THAT SAME YEAR THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE GRAFTON SISTERS OF MERCY.

WHEN THE SISTERS FIRST ARRIVED IN MACKSVILLE IN 1918 THERE WAS NEITHER A SCHOOL NOR A CONVENT. FORTUNATELY A TIMBER HOME BECAME AVAILABLE SHORTLY AFTER IN BENT STREET (NOW CALLED WALLACE STREET) CLOSE BY THE CHURCH AND THIS WAS SOON PURCHASED BY THE PARISH TO PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE HOME FOR THE SISTERS WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO MACKSVILLE.

THE CONVENT WAS QUITE LARGE WITH TWO WINGS AND A WIDE VERANDAH AROUND IT, IMPORTANT IN THE HEAT OF AN AUSTRALIAN SUMMER. THE STYLE WAS TYPICAL OF MANY SMALL RURAL TOWNS WITH ITS HIGH-PITCHED ROOF AND LARGE AIRY WINDOWS. THIS CONVENT (ABOVE) SERVED AS THE RESIDENCE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN SISTERS FOR 36 YEARS UNTIL THEIR WITHDRAWAL FROM THE TOWN WHEN IT BECAME THE CONVENT OF THE GRAFTON SISTERS OF MERCY. IT WAS LATER DEMOLISHED IN 1963 WHEN THE NEW CONVENT OF MERCY WAS BUILT.

DURING THE INITIAL TEN YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE ST PATRICK'S PARISH SCHOOL WAS LOCATED IN THE PARISH PRIEST'S CAR SHED AND THE OLD CHURCH. BY THE LATE 1920's HOWEVER THE INITIAL 46 PUPILS HAD GROWN TO OVER 100 AND THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SPACE FOR CLASSES. IN 1928 THEREFORE A SIMPLE YET UTILITARIAN BUILDING ( ABOVE ) WAS ERECTED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE CHURCH AND OPENED BY BISHOP CARROLL. THIS BUILDING, STILL IN USE TODAY, WAS TO BE THE PARISH SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE 'GOOD SAM' YEARS.

THE PARISH SCHOOL BUILDING WAS BUILT ON PRACTICAL LINES IN WOOD WITH A WIDE OPEN VERANDAH. IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN RESTORED TO USE AS STUDENT NUMBERS HAVE AGAIN GROWN FUELED BY A NEW NORTH COAST POPULATION BOOM.

WHEN THE NEW PARISH OF MANLY VALE WAS ESTALISHED IN 1952 THE FIRST PRIORITY WAS TO SET UP A PARISH SCHOOL. TO THIS END THE FIRST CHURCH / SCHOOL WAS ERECTED AND THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHO ALREADY STAFFED THE NEIGHBOURING SCHOOLS AT BALGOWLAH, MANLY AND NARRABEEN WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE SISTERS TO TEACH AT THE SCHOOL. ST KIERAN'S SCHOOL OPENED IN 1953 AND FOR TWENTY YEARS WAS STAFFED FROM THE CONVENT AT MANLY. FOR FOUR YEARS FROM 1973 UNTIL 1977 WHEN THEY WITHDREW TWO SISTERS TRAVELLED DAILY FROM BALGOWLAH.

ST KIERAN'S MOVED TO LAY LEADERSHIP IN 1974 AND BECAME FULLY LAY STAFFED FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE LAST SISTERS IN 1977. ST KIERAN'S SCHOOL CATERS TO A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUES TO BE SUSTAINED BY THE CHARISM OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHO FOUNDED IT OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO.

THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL WAS A SINGLE-STORY BRICK BUILDING WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONVERTED TO TWO STORIES IN 1959 (RIGHT). THE GROUND FLOOR CONTINUED TO SERVE AS THE PARISH CHURCH UNTIL 1972. THIS BUILDING CONTINUES IN USE TODAY (BELOW LEFT). OVER MANY YEARS THE SCHOOL HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND IN THE PROCESS HAS ABSORBED SEVERAL BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE FORMER PRIORY. A NEW WING WAS ADDED IN 1983 AND ANOTHER BLOCK WAS BUILT TO PROVIDE GREATER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE SCHOOL IN 2002 (BELOW RIGHT). TODAY ST KIERAN'S IS A FINE SCHOOL WITH A THOROUGHLY UP-TO-DATE EDUCATIONAL SPIRIT.

FROM THEIR LONGSTANDING BASE AT MANLY THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN WERE INEVITABLY DRAWN ALONG THE PENINSULA AS NEW PARISHES FORMED AND HARRASSED PARISH PRIESTS BESEECHED THE SISTERS FOR HELP IN ESTABLISHING NEW SCHOOLS. THE FIRST OF THESE NEW ESTABLISHMENTS WAS AT DEE WHY WHICH WAS TAKEN OVER FROM THE GOULBURN SISTERS OF MERCY IN 1935. FROM THIS CONVENT TWO SAMARITAN SISTERS ARRIVED IN 1939 TO FOUND A NEW PARISH SCHOOL AT NARRABEEN AND FOR THE NEXT 13 YEARS THE SISTERS MADE THE DRIVE DAILY FROM DEE WHY TO NARRABEEN UNTIL A COTTAGE WAS OBTAINED FOR THEM TO USE AS A CONVENT IN 1951. IN 1962 THE SISTERS OPENED ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL IN THE GROUNDS OF THE PARISH SCHOOL AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION PENDING THE COMPLETION OF MATER MARIA COLLEGE IN 1964. IN 1971 THE SISTERS RATIONALISED THEIR CONVENTS ON THE PENINSULA AND WITH WARRIEWOOD CLOSE BY THE CONVENT AT NARRABEEN WAS CLOSED AND THE SISTERS WITHDRAWN. ALTHOUGH NO LONGER IN RESIDENCE THE SISTERS CONTINUED TO TEACH AT THE PARISH SCHOOL FOR SOME YEARS UNTIL IT BECAME FULLY LAY-STAFFED IN THE EARLY 1980's.

WHEN THE SCHOOL POPULATION INCREASED AND WITH IT THE NUMBER OF SISTERS ON THE STAFF THE NEED TO PROVIDE A LOCAL CONVENT BECAME OBVIOUS AND LED TO FUND-RAISING IN THE PERIOD 1949-50. TOWARDS THE END OF THE LATTER YEAR THE PARISH OBTAINED THE FORMER HOLIDAY COTTAGE OF MRS WILLIAM MONIE, A PIONEER PARISHIONER, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE CHURCH / SCHOOL. IN JANUARY 1951 THE SISTERS WERE ABLE TO MOVE IN AND ON APRIL 6 IT WAS FORMALLY BLESSED AND OPENED. THE SIMPLE LITTLE WEATHERBOARD COTTAGE ACCOMODATED FIVE SISTERS AND SERVED AS THEIR HOME FOR TWENTY YEARS UNTIL THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM NARRABEEN IN 1971. IT WAS LATER DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY IN TURN FOR AN ICE-SKATING RINK AND THEN A LARGE MODERN WOOLWORTHS RETAIL COMPLEX.

THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING WAS THE FIRST CHURCH BROUGHT FROM CAREEL BAY IN 1917. WITHIN A YEAR THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE MUCH LARGER CHURCH / SCHOOL EQUIPPED WITH SLIDING PARTITIIONS TO FORM CLASSROOMS DURING THE WEEK. IN 1949-50 TWO WOODEN CLASSROOMS (ONE CAN BE SEEN BELOW LEFT) WERE ERECTED WITH VOLUNTARY LABOUR TO CATER FOR THE INCREASED ENROLMENTS. IN 1958 THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING WAS COMPLETED AND WAS THEN EXTENDED DURING THE 1960's AGAIN USING PARISH LABOUR TO DESIGN AND SUPERVISE THE CONSTRUCTION. SOME FURTHER EXTENSIONS WERE CARRIED OUT IN 1978 AND TODAY THE SCHOOL THE SISTERS FOUNDED CONSISTS OF A MODERN SCHOOL CAMPUS (cf RIGHT & BELOW RIGHT).

STAGES IN THE BUILDING OF THE SCHOOL - THE FIRST PURPOSE BUILT CLASSROOMS WERE ERECTED IN 1949-50 (SEE BELOW LEFT IN THE RIGHT FOREGROUND) FOLLOWED IN THE LATE 50's / EARLY 60's BY THE FIRST BRICK BUILDINGS (ABOVE LEFT BEHIND THE CHURCH) AND STILL IN USE TODAY (ABOVE RIGHT). MORE MAJOR EXTENSIONS WERE CARRIED OUT IN 1978 LEADING TO TODAY'S ATTRACTIVE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

IN 1962 THE GOOD SAMARITAN SISTERS COMMENCED PLANS FOR A GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ON THE UPPER PENINSULA. IN PREPARATION FOR THIS SEVERAL CLASSES WERE HELD USING A PORTION OF THE PARISH SCHOOL BUILDINGS AT NARRABEEN. THESE CLASSES WERE CALLED COLLECTIVELY ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT BY SISTERS FROM THE NARRABEEN CONVENT. TWO YEARS LATER WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE MATER MARIA COLLEGE AT WARRIEWOOD ALL STUDENTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW SITE.

TOP	CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION

WITH THE FOUNDING OF PARISH SCHOOLS AT NARRABEEN (1939) AND AVALON (1959) THE NEED FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL ON THE UPPER PENISINSULA WAS EVIDENT AS THE NEAREST SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS STELLA MARIS AT MANLY. TO MEET THIS NEED ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL OPENED IN 1962 IN THE GROUNDS OF ST JOSEPH'S PARISH SCHOOL AT NARRABEEN PENDING THE BUILDING OF A NEW COLLEGE. A SITE HAD MEANWHILE BEEN PURCHASED IN WHAT WAS THEN THE LARGELY BUSH SUBURB OF WARRIEWOOD AND BUILDING OF THE NEW SCHOOL COMMENCED AT THE SAME TIME. IN 1964 MATER MARIA COLLEGE, LOCATED MIDWAY BETWEEN NARRABEEN AND AVALON OPENED ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THOUGH CONDITIONS WERE INITIALLY MODEST THE SCHOOL PROSPERED AS THE SUBURB GREW. IN 1965 THE SISTERS AT WARRIEWOOD ALSO FOUNDED AND STAFFED THE PARISH SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART AT MONA VALE THUS PROVIDING A NEW FEEDER SCHOOL. IN 1979 THE SCHOOL BECAME CO-EDUCATIONAL AND IN 1984 THE FIRST SENIORS GRADUATED. IN 1990 THE 'GOOD SAMS' WITHDREW FROM THE SCHOOL WHICH THEN BECAME FULLY LAY STAFFED ALTHOUGH CONTINUING THE GOOD SAMARITAN TRADITION.

THE BLONDE BRICK CONVENT OF MATER MARIA COLLEGE WAS PURPOSE BUILT TO HOUSE THE SISTERS STAFFING THE COLLEGE AND LATER SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL AT MONA VALE. ITS PRACTICAL DESIGN IS BOTH IN KEEPING WITH 60's ARCHITECTURE AND A REFLECTION OF THE MODEST BEGINNINGS OF THE SCHOOL. WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SISTERS THE BUILDING WAS HANDED OVER FOR SCHOOL USE.

(ABOVE) THE GOOD SAMARITAN CONVENT SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETION. (BELOW LEFT) THE CONVENT AND SISTER CECILIA IN THE CONVENT CAR. (BELOW RIGHT) MASS IN THE CONVENT CHAPEL WHICH IS ALSO SEEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CONVENT IN THE PHOTO ABOVE LEFT.

MATER MARIA COLLEGE OPENED IN 1964 WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS MOVED FROM ITS TEMPORARY BEGINNINGS IN NARRABEEN. IT WAS AMONG THE EARLIEST CATHOLIC COLLEGES TO BE PURPOSE BUILT IN THE STYLE THEN BECOMING FASHIONABLE FOR SCHOOLS WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON OPEN SPACES AND DECENTRALISED CLASSROOMS. AS THE POPULATION OF BOTH THE SUBURB AND SCHOOL GREW NEW BUILDINGS WERE ADDED WITH FIVE OPENING BETWEEN 1974 AND 1990 THE LAST YEAR OF THE SISTERS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL. IN MAY 2002 THE ORIGINAL BUSH 'LOG' CHAPEL WAS CLOSED TO MAKE WAY FOR AN AMBITIOUS NEW BUILDING PROJECT WHICH INCLUDED A NEW CHAPEL. THIS WAS NECESSARY TO ACCOMODATE NOT ONLY THE INCREASING GROWTH IN ENROLLMENTS BUT EXTENSIVE CHANGES IN THE CURRICULUM AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL. TODAY MATER MARIA IS RIGHTLY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE PREMIER HIGH SCHOOLS ON THE PENINSULA.

(ABOVE & BELOW) THESE HISTORIC PHOTOS SHOW VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL DURING ITS EARLY YEARS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE GOOD SAMS. THE LATER PHOTO BELOW RIGHT SHOWS AN AL FRESCO SCHOOL ASSEMBLY BEING HELD AMIDST A BUSHLAND SETTING.

UNTIL 2002 THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF THE COLLEGE WAS CATERED FOR BY A SMALL BUSH 'LOG' CHAPEL. IN THAT YEAR HOWEVER, THE OLD CHAPEL WAS CLOSED TO MAKE WAY FOR SEVERAL NEW BUILDING PROJECTS AND IN 2003 THE MATER MARIA CHAPEL WAS OPENED WITH A SUPERB VIEW THAT OVERLOOKS THE COLLEGE GROUNDS.

THE MODERN CHAPEL WITH ITS ANGULAR STYLING IS DESIGNED TO OPEN OUT INTO AN AL FRESCO AUDITORIUM WHEN NEEDED FOR LARGER SERVICES (ABOVE) AT THE DOOR IS A BAS-RELIEF OF THE STATUE OF MATER MARIA THAT STANDS WITHIN THE GARDEN NEAR THE CHAPEL (BELOW). THE CHAPEL IS AVAILABLE FOR THE USE OF BOTH STUDENTS AND FORMER STUDENTS.

LOCATED ON THE SLOPES CLOSE TO THE CHAPEL IS A SMALL GARDEN WITH A STATUE OF MOTHER MARY, PATRONESS OF THE SCHOOL AND THE CHAPEL. THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL (ABOVE LEFT) IS SPARSELY DECORATED IN THE STYLE OF ITS TIME WHICH FOCUSES ON THE ESSENTIALS RATHER THEN ON THE PERIPHERALS. THE TWO GLASS WALL PANELS GIVE AN ATTRACTIVE VIEW OVER THE COLLEGE TO THE SEA BEYOND. THE SANCTUARY IS FURNISHED PLAINLY WITH A TIMBER ALTAR, AMBO AND CELEBRANT'S CHAIR BACKED BY A SMALL CROSS PLACED WITHIN A LARGER GLASS CROSS FRAME WHICH IS ITSELF FRAMED WITHIN A SIMPLE CONCRETE FEATURE WALL (ABOVE RIGHT).

WHEN THE PARISH OF MONA VALE WAS ERECTED IN 1960 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARISH SCHOOL WAS ONE OF ITS FIRST PRIORITIES. FR KEENAN PURCHASED LAND IN DARLEY STREET BUT IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DECLARED INDUSTRIAL AND WAS SOLD TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. IN 1964 A BLOCK OF LAND WAS PURCHASED IN WARATAH STREET AND IT WAS HERE THAT THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING WAS ERECTED. IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN SHOULD BE ASKED TO ESTABLISH THE PARISH SCHOOL. NOT ONLY WERE THEY CLOSEST IN LOCATION BUT THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE AREA AS PART OF NARRABEEN PARISH. THE SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN FEBRUARY 1965 IN A ONE-STORY BUILDING CONTAINING THREE CLASSROOOMS, A STAFF ROOM, A SMALL CANTEEN AND TOILETS (BELOW LEFT). INCREASING ENROLMENTS MADE EXTENSIONS NECESSARY AND IN 1970 THE TOP STORY OF A TWO-STORIED BLOCK WAS COMPLETED THE BOTTOM STORY BEING LEFT OPEN AS AN UNDERCOVER PLAY AREA. IN 1974 THIS AREA WAS ENCLOSED AND A NEW HALL AND CANTEEN BUILT. IN 1982 AN ADDITIONAL TWO-STORIED BLOCK (BELOW RIGHT) WAS CONSTRUCTED AND MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE ORIGINAL BLOCK. SINCE THEN SHADE SAILS AND LANDSCAPING HAVE DONE MUCH TO BEAUTIFY THE ENVIRONMENT. AT THE END OF 1989 THE SISTERS WITHDREW AND THE SCHOOL BECAME LAY STAFFED THOUGH IN THE TRADITION OF THE SCHOOL'S RELIGIOUS FOUNDERS.

(ABOVE) THE OPENING OF THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL BUILDING IN 1965 & (RIGHT) THE OPENING OF THE TWO STORY 1983 CLASSROOM BLOCK.

I AM INDEBTED FOR MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND SEVERAL PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE TO THE GOOD SAMS BY MARGARET WALSH AND THE WHEELING YEARS THE CENTENARY BOOK PUBLISHED IN 1957 BY THE SISTERS. THEY ARE HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. I AM ALSO INDEBTED TO SISTER LIA VAN HAREN, CONGREGATIONAL ARCHIVIST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS WELL AS MANY OF THE HISTORICAL PHOTOS. HER HELP AND UNSTINTING SUPPORT ARE ALSO HERE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED. SOME ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL PHOTOS WERE PROVIDED AS FOLLOWS: MATER MARIA COLLEGE PROVIDED BY THE COLLEGE; ST AUGUSTINE'S CONVENT SCHOOL COFFS HARBOUR PROVIDED BY THE PARISH; SACRED HEART SCHOOL MONA VALE FROM THE BOOK SACRED HEART SCHOOL, MONA VALE: SILVER JUBILEE 1965-1990. ALL ARE HEREWITH ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE.