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SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH |
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| CONGREGATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | ||||
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| CARDIFF | KENDALL | PORT MACQUARIE | WAUCHOPE | |
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| 1917 | CARDIFF | |
| THE FIRST SISTERS OF ST JOSPEH ARRIVED IN CARDIFF IN 1917 AT THE INVITATION OF FR HUGH O'LAVERTY, PARISH PRIEST OF LAMBTON WITHIN WHICH PARISH CARDIFF LAY. THE THREE SISTERS, PATRICK COMERFORD, AGATHA BUSSELL AND MADELINE O'BRIEN, QUICKLY SETTLED INTO THE CONVENT PREPARED FOR THEM AND OPENED ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE OLD CHURCH CLOSE BY. THIS BUILDING CONTINUED TO BE USED AS THE SCHOOL WHEN THE NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1927. IN 1942 THE OLD SCHOOL WAS BURNT DOWN AND THE NEXT YEAR A NEW BRICK SCHOOL WAS OPENED. IN 1958 A NEW BRICK CONVENT, NECESSITATED BY THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SISTERS TEACHING AT THE SCHOOL, WAS OPENED AT A COST OF £15,000. IN 1980 THE CONVENT WAS CLOSED WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR THE SCHOOL BUT IT WAS SOON APPARENT THAT IT WAS UNSUITABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND THE SISTERS RETURNED IN 1981. THE LAST RELIGIOUS PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL LEFT IN 1992 AND FROM THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SCHOOL HAD AN ALL-LAY STAFF. THE SISTERS REMAINED IN THE CONVENT AS THEY DO TODAY UNDERTAKING VARIOUS ROLES INCLUDING PARISH ASSISTANCE, SCHOOL PASTORAL WORK, THE CHAPLAINCY AT JOHN HUNTER HOSPITAL AND WORK WITH THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT. CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH | ||
 | CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH |
| THE ORIGINAL CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH WAS A WEATHERBOARD COTTAGE THAT STOOD ON THE SAME SITE AS TODAY'S CONVENT. HOWEVER BY THE 1950's IT HAD BECOME TOO SMALL FOR THE NUMBER OF SISTERS AND IN 1958 IT WAS MOVED ROUND THE CORNER TO 16 NEWCASTLE STREET. SADLY IT BURNT DOWN IN 1998. MEANWHILE A NEW TWO-STORY BRICK CONVENT (LEFT) HAD BEEN BUILT IN ITS PLACE AND IT IS THIS BUILDING WHICH IS STILL IN USE TODAY. THE CONVENT WAS A PLAIN SQUARE STRUCTURE WITH A LARGE GLASSED-IN VERANDAH. IT IS VERY TYPICAL OF THE SEVERELY PRACTICAL STYLE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH CONVENTS OF THE LOCHINVAR SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH. NEXT |
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| ^^^^ THE OLD COTTAGE CONVENT BEING MOVED TO ITS NEW SITE AND THE NEW BRICK CONVENT ERECTED IN ITS PLACE IN 1958 >>>> | |
| ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL | |
| ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL |  |
| WHEN THE SISTERS FIRST ARRIVED IN CARDIFF THE CATHOLIC 'COMPLEX' CONSISTED OF THE ORIGINAL WOODEN CHURCH OF 1906 AND THE CONVENT AND IT WAS IN THE WOODEN CHURCH THAT THE SISTERS BEGAN THEIR TEACHING OF THE CHILDREN OF CARDIFF. WHEN THE NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1928 THE ORIGINAL CHURCH (THE CORNER OF WHICH CAN BE SEEN TO THE LEFT OF THE PHOTO) BECAME THE FULL-TIME SCHOOL UNTIL IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1942. DESPITE THIS DISASTER SCHOOL RECOMMENCED THE FOLLOWING MONDAY USING AN OLD TIN SHED, THE A.L.P. ROOMS AND A NEW TIN SHED ERECTED FOR THE SIXTH CLASS. DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY THE WARTIME SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SCHOOL BUIDING WAS COMMENCED IN 1943 AND THE COMPLETED SCHOOL OPENED ON 18 JUNE 1944. NEXT | |
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| THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1943 IN MORE DURABLE BRICK AND WITH GREATER SPACE THAN THE OLD WOODEN HALL THAT HAD SERVED AS THE SCHOOL SINCE 1917. THE SITE OF THE SCHOOL WAS VERY CRAMPED AS CAN BE SEEN ABOVE AND BELOW. NEXT | |
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| ST KEVIN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL | |
| ST KEVIN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL | |
| THE SCHOOL WAS EXTENDED IN 1969 AND IN 1992 TO CATER FOR INCREASED NUMBERS AND A WIDER CURRICULUM. ITS NAME WAS CHANGED IN 1989 TO ST KEVIN'S IN LINE WITH THE REST OF THE PARISH AND IN 1992 THE LAST JOSEPHITE PRINCIPAL LEFT AND A LAY PRINCIPAL WAS APPOINTED FOR THE 1993 SCHOOL YEAR THUS ENDING 75 YEARS CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL BY THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH. THE SCHOOL MAINTAINS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE INTRODUCING A 'SATELLITE CLASSROOOM' CONDUCTED BY THE AUTISM ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA IN 2005, THUS CONTINUING THE PROUD TRADITION BEGUN BY THE LOCHINVAR SISTERS IN 1917. | |
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| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION | |
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| 1952 | KENDALL | 1982 |
| WHEN KENDALL PARISH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1939 IT WAS NATURAL THAT THOUGHT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARISH SCHOOL AS THE NEAREST ALTERNATIVE WAS AT TAREE. NONETHELESS IT WAS TO BE 13 YEARS BEFORE A SCHOOL WAS OPENED AND THE LOCHINVAR JOSEPHITES ASKED TO STAFF IT. ON ARRIVAL THE SISTERS WERE GIVEN THE THEN PRESBYTERY BY THE PARISH PRIEST AS THEIR CONVENT AND RETAINED IT UNTIL THEIR DEPARTURE FROM THE TOWN THIRTY YEARS LATER. IN 1976 WHEN MOVES WERE UNDERWAY TO TRANSFER THE PARISH CENTRE TO LAURIETON, THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDING WAS MOVED TO A NEW SCHOOL NEXT TO THE LAURIETON CHURCH. FOR SOME YEARS THE SISTERS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE STAFFING FOR THE TRANSFERRED SCHOOL BUT WITH THE INCREASING LAICISATION OF PARISH SCHOOLS THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM KENDALL AND THE CONVENT WAS CLOSED IN 1982. FOR FOUR YEARS AFTER THAT TWO SISTERS TRAVELLED DOWN FROM WAUCHOPE EACH DAY BUT IN 1986 RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP CAME TO AN END WITH THE RETIREMENT OF SR MARIE JONES AS PRINCIPAL AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRST LAY PRINCIPAL TO THE SCHOOL. THOUGH THE SISTERS LEFT IN 1982 ONE SISTER MAINTAINS A SMALL BUT ACTIVE PRESENCE AT LAURIETON ON BEHALF OF THE CONGREGATION. CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH | ||
 | CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH |
| THE HOMELY LITTLE KENDALL CONVENT WAS OPENED BY BISHOP DWYER IN 1939 AS THE PRESBYTERY OF THE PARISH OF KENDALL. JUST 13 YEARS LATER THE PARISH PRIEST MOVED INTO ANOTHER HOUSE TO ALLOW THE SISTERS TO USE THIS BUILDING AS THE CONVENT. THE FIRST COMMUNITY, SISTERS BRENDAN RULE, VERONICA AND MARK NICEY BEGAN TEACHING TWO DAYS LATER. THE SIMPLE DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF THE FORMER PRESBYTERY IS IN KEEPING WITH THE BASIC JOSEPHITE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMBLE SIMPLICITY AND FROM THIS BASE THE SISTERS STAFFED THE SCHOOL, TAUGHT MUSIC AND MADE VISITATIONS WITHIN THE PARISH. IN 1982 THE SISTERS LEFT THE CONVENT AND IT WAS SOLD. THE BUILDING IS NOW A PRIVATE HOME. NEXT |
| THE CONVENT AS IT WAS WHEN STILL IN USE BY THE SISTERS. | THE CONVENT AS THE PRIVATE RESIDENCE IT IS TODAY. |
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| ST JOSEPH'S PARISH SCHOOL | |
| ST JOSEPH'S PARISH SCHOOL |  |
| ON JANUARY 19th 1952, JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST SISTERS, THE HARD WORK OF THE PARISH PRIEST, FR JAMES MORRISON, CAME TO FRUITION WITH THE OPENING OF THE LITTLE PARISH SCHOOL OF ST JOSEPH KENDALL THUS REMOVING THE NEED FOR THE CHILDREN OF HIS PARISH TO TRAVEL THE LONG JOURNEY TO TAREE EACH DAY. AFTER 24 YEARS SERVICE THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDING WAS MOVED TO LAURIETON WHERE IT WAS RENOVATED AND REFURBISHED FOR USE BY THE PRESENT SCHOOL. NEXT |
 | THE WOODEN TWO-ROOMED SCHOOL STOOD BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND CONVENT AND OPENED WITH 43 STUDENTS ON JANUARY 29, 1952 (THE PHOTO AT LEFT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE INAUGURAL CLASS) CONTINUING WITH FLUCTUATING INTAKES UNTIL 1976. ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL |
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| ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, LAURIETON | |
| BY 1976 THE SHIFT IN POPULATION TOWARDS THE COAST MADE A MOVE INEVITABLE AND THE OLD SCHOOL WAS TRANSFERRED FROM KENDALL TO A NEW SITE IN LAURIETON WHERE A NEW AND LARGER SCHOOL WAS SOON UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO CATER FOR THE RAPID GROWTH IN ENROLLMENTS. RENAMED ST JOSEPH'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL (LATER ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL) IT CONTINUED FOR SOME YEARS TO BE STAFFED BY THE SISTERS BUT INEVITABLY THE SCHOOL FOLLOWED THE TREND AND IS TODAY FULLY LAICISED. NOW A MODERN SCHOOL IN A DELIGHTFUL BUSHLAND SETTING AND FULLY IN KEEPING WITH THE TIMES ITS LINK WITH THE PAST IS RETAINED THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF THE REFURBISHED OLD SCHOOL STANDING PROUDLY AMONGST ITS YOUNGER NEIGHBOURS. | |
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| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION | |
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| CATHOLIC SCHOOL, GRETA MIGRANT CAMP | |
| AT WORLD WAR II THE FORMER ARMY CAMP AT GRETA FIVE MILES WEST OF LOCHINVAR WAS CONVERTED INTO A MIGRANT CAMP FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FLEEING THE DEVASTATION IN EUROPE. AS MANY OF THESE REFUGEES WERE CATHOLIC SOME PROVISION HAD TO BE MADE FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL WELFARE AND IN 1949 THE EX-C.U.S.A. HUT WAS CONVERTED INTO A CHAPEL AND A FULL-TIME PRIEST APPOINTED TO CARE FOR THE FAITHFUL IN THE CAMP. MANY MIGRANTS HAD FAMILIES AND TO CATER FOR THE CHILDREN A CONVENT SCHOOL WAS SET UP IN THE CONVERTED CHAPEL AND STAFFED BY THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH FROM LOCHINVAR CONVENT WHO MADE THE TRIP BY CAR TO GRETA CAMP DAILY. THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN 1960 WHEN THE CAMP WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT. | |
| TOP CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION | |
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| 1913 | PORT MAQUARIE | 2005 |
| DURING THE FIRST DECADES OF THE 20th CENTURY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE DIOCESE OF LISMORE WAS UNDERGOING A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION AND THERE WAS A GREAT NEED FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. DUE TO CONSTRAINTS ON THE EXISTING ORDERS WORKING IN THE DIOCESE THE BISHOPS OF LISMORE AND MAITLAND IN DISCUSSION WITH THE SISTER-GUARDIAN OF THE LOCHINVAR JOSEPHITES AGREED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCHINVAR CONVENT IN THE THEN SOUTHERNMOST PARISH OF THE DIOCESE AT PORT MACQUARIE. LATER EXTENDED TO WAUCHOPE. PORT MACQUARIE WAS THUS THE FIRST FOUNDATION MADE OUTSIDE THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND. THE FOUNDING COMMUNITY OF SRS ROSE PHILSON, DOMINIC BARRY, ALACOQUE GALLAGHER AND DOROTHEA KEALY ARRIVED IN PORT MACQUARIE ON JULY 5, 1913 AND QUICKLY TOOK OVER THE NEWLY FOUNDED PRIMARY SCHOOL AND SHORTLY AFTER ESTABLISHED A BOARDING SCHOOL WHICH LATER GREW INTO THE SECONDARY SCHOOL. FOR SEVENTY YEARS THE SISTERS MAINTAINED THEIR EDUCATIONAL WORK IN THE PARISH SEEING IT EXPAND INTO A WIDE RANGE OF SCHOOLS, INCLUDING SUPER PRIMARY CLASSES, SENIOR SECONDARY CLASSES AND VOCATIONAL CLASSES. TODAY THE EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE OF THE PARISH OWES AN ENORMOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH FOR THEIR PIONEERING WORK IN THIS AREA. THE SISTERS ALSO UNDERTOOK MUSIC EDUCATION AND VISITATIONS AND IN LATER YEARS PASTORAL WORK AND A MINISTRY TO THE AGED. IN 2005 THE SISTERS MOVED OUT OF THE CONVENT INTO UNITS WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PARISH AS TIRELESS WORKERS TO THIS DAY. CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH | ||
 | CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH |
| THE CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH WAS BUILT IN 1913 ON THE CORNER OF HAY AND HAYWARD STS FOR THE ORIGINAL COMMUNITY OF SISTERS. IT WAS A LARGE SQUARE WOODEN BUILDING IN TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN STYLE WITH A WIDE VERANDAH AROUND IT TO PROVIDE SHELTER FROM THE SUMMER HEAT. DURING THE MIDDLE YEARS 0F THE 20th CENTURY CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE CONVENT INCLUDING THE ENCLOSING OF THE VERANDAH AND THE BUILDING OF AN APSIDAL EXTENSION TO THE ORATORY TO ACCOMODATE THE BOARDERS. WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SISTERS IN 2005 THE CONVENT WAS CLOSED AND HANDED OVER FOR PARISH USE. NEXT |
| THE CONVENT AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1913. | THE CONVENT AS IT IS TODAY. |
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 | BETWEEN THE CONVENT AND THE SCHOOL BUILDING WAS (AND IS) A SMALL LAWN AREA CONTAINING TWO OF THE CONVENT TREASURES. THE FIRST IS THE LOVELY STATUE OF ST JOSEPH, PATRON OF THE INSTITUTE, CENTRALLY POSITIONED AND SET IN A DIAMOND SHAPED BRICK GARDEN. ON THE PLINTH IS A SIMPLE PRAYER - ST JOSEPH, PRAY FOR US. BEHIND CAN BE SEEN PART OF THE LATER EXTENSIONS TO THE SCHOOL. OVER TO THE RIGHT AGAINST THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDING IS THE LOURDES GROTTO ALMOST HIDDEN AMONG THE GREENERY WITH ST BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS KNEELING IN THE GARDEN BEFORE THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY SURROUNDED BY A HALO OF FLOWERING PLANTS. ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT SCHOOL |  |
| ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT SCHOOL | |
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| THE INITIAL MINISTRY OF THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH WAS OF COURSE EDUCATIONAL, THE APOSTOLATE FOR WHICH THEY HAD BEEN FOUNDED. ON THEIR ARRIVAL IN 1913 THEY FOUND A SMALL PRIMARY SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE OLD PRINTING OFFICE IN HORTON ST. A SHORT TIME LATER A LARGE BUILDING WAS ERECTED NEXT DOOR TO THE CONVENT TO HOUSE THE SCHOOL. LIKE THE CONVENT IT WAS SURROUNDED BY A WIDE VERANDAH TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM THE SUMMER HEAT. THE SISTERS ALSO TOOK ON BOARDERS WHO STAYED IN THE CONVENT. GRADUALLY THE WORK OF THE SISTERS EXPANDED. SUPER PRIMARY CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE EARLY 1930's AND AT THE SAME TIME THE FIRST STUDENTS WERE PRESENTED FOR THE INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATE. WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CLASSES NOW THE SCHOOL WAS EXPANDED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF SEVERAL WINGS. IN THE PHOTO ABOVE THE ROOF OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING CAN STILL BE SEEN MARKED BY THE VENTILATION STACK. DESPITE THE ADDITIONS THE BUILDING WAS STILL TOO SMALL FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND IN 1969 THE SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS MOVED TO SETTLEMENT SHORES. SIX YEARS LATER THE INFANTS SCHOOL WAS ALSO MOVED TO THE NEW SITE, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL FOLLOWED IN 1980. | |
| ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL VOCATIONAL CAMPUS | |
| WITH THE FINAL TRANSFER OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SECTIONS OF THE OLD SCHOOL TO THE NEW SITE AT SETTLEMENT SHORES THE FORMER SCHOOL BECAME THE ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL VOCATIONAL CAMPUS UNTIL 2007 WHEN IT WAS CLSOED FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT-BUILT TECHNICAL COLLEGE. IT IS INTENDED TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING FOR PARISH USE. NEXT VOCATIONAL COLLEGE WEBSITE | |
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| THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL BUILDING WITH THE CONVENT IN THE BACKGROUND. THE VERANDAH WAS LATER REMOVED. | PART OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING MARKED BY THE TWO VENTILATION STACKS CAN STILL BE SEEN FROM THE CONVENT. |
| ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL | |
 | ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL |
| IN 1980 THE PRIMARY SCHOOL JOINED THE INFANTS SCHOOL AT THE NEW SITE IN SETTLEMENT SHORES (NOW CALLED SETTLEMENT CITY). THE SISTERS RETAINED CONSTROL OF THE SCHOOL UNTIL 1986 WHEN THE LAST JOSEPHITE PRINCIPAL LEFT. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN LAY STAFFED IN ITS ENTIRETY. THE MODERN STYLE BUILDINGS, ATTRACTIVE TREE-FILLED GROUNDS AND OPEN PLANNING OF THE SITE ARE A FAR CRY FROM THE CRAMPED LITTLE SCHOOL BUILDING WITH WHICH THE SISTERS STARTED THEIR EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE AMONG THE CATHOLIC CHILDREN OF PORT MACQUARIE. NEXT |
| THE ATTRACTIVE TREE-STUDDED ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL. | PART OF THE MODERN BRICK BUILDINGS OF THE NEW SCHOOL. |
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| SCHOOL WEBSITE ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL | |
| ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL HASTINGS REGIONAL CAMPUS |  |
| THE SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE OLD ST JOSEPH'S TO MAKE THE MOVE TO SETTLEMENT SHORES IN 1969. HERE AN ATTRACTIVE MODERN BRICK SCHOOL WAS BUILT WITH LOTS OF OPEN SPACE AND PLAYING FIELDS IN CONSTRAST TO THE RESTRICTED FACILITIES OF THE OLD SITE. THE SISTERS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL UNTIL 1985 WHEN THE FIRST LAY PRINCIPAL WAS APPOINTED. WITH THE OPENING OF ST PAUL'S HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH PORT MACQUARIE, ST JOSEPH'S BECAME THE HASTINGS REGIONAL SCHOOL CAMPUS OF ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. NEXT |
| THE OPEN PLANNING OF THE SCHOOL SEEN HERE IN THE SINGLE STORY CLASS ROOMS BUILT AROUND A CENTRAL QUAD. |
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| SCHOOL WEBSITE ST AGNES PRIMARY SCHOOL |
| ST AGNES PRIMARY SCHOOL | |
| THE RAPID GROWTH OF PORT MACQUARIE IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY STRAINED THE RESOURCES OF THE EXISTING SCHOOLS AND SO IN 1982 A NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN BORONIA ST. APPROPRIATELY THE SCHOOL WAS NAMED FOR THE PARISH PATRON, ST AGNES. ALTHOUGH THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH PROVIDED THE FOUNDATIONAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL BUT IN 1983 IT WAS HANDED OVER TO LAY LEADERSHIP. NEXT |  |
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| AS WITH THE OTHER SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTED IN THE LATE 20th CENTURY, ST AGNES MAKES EFFECTIVE USE OF SPACE WITH SINGLE STORY BUILDINGS SET AROUND AN ATTRACTIVE CENTRAL QUAD. EXTENSIVE USE OF PLANTS GIVES THE SCHOOL A RESTFUL ATMOSPHERE. |
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| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION |
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| 1928 | WAUCHOPE | 2003 |
| WHILE WAUCHOPE WAS STILL A STATION OF PORT MACQUARIE PARISH BISHOP CARROLL REQUESTED THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH TO EXTEND THEIR WORK IN PORT MACQUARIE TO A NEW PARISH SCHOOL AT WAUCHOPE. THE SISTERS AGREED AND IN 1928 SRS TERESA KAUTER, DOMINIC BARRY, PERPETUA McDONNELL AND BAPTIST GREER ARRIVED TO ESTABLISH A CONVENT, A PRIMARY AND A BOARDING SCHOOL. A NEW CONVENT HAD BEEN BUILT FOR THEM BEHIND THE THEN STATION CHURCH WHICH, FOR MANY YEARS, DOUBLED AS THE PARISH SCHOOL. THE SISTERS ALSO RAN A BOYS BOARDING SCHOOL UNTIL 1961. OVER THE YEARS THE SCHOOL EXTENDED INTO LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLING UP TO THE INTERMEDIATE (LATER SCHOOL) CERTIFICATE. THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM SECONDARY EDUCATION IN 1968 BUT MAINTAINED THE PRIMARY SCHOOL UNTIL THE EARLY 80's. AFTER FINALLY WITHDRAWING FROM THE SCHOOL, THE SISTERS CONTINUED IN THE CONVENT WORKING IN PORT MACQUARIE AND IN THE PARISH UNTIL 2003 WHEN THE CONVENT WAS FINALLY CLOSED. CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH | ||
| CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH |
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| THE ATTRACTIVE COLONIAL STYLE CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH WAS BUILT IN 1927-28 AND EXTENDED IN 1962. IT IS A TYPICAL RURAL JOSEPHITE CONVENT IN ITS SIMPLICITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED OF WEATHERBOARD AND DESIGNED TO MIMIMISE THE HEAT OF AN AUSTRALIAN SUMMER WITH A HIGH PITCHED ROOF AND EXTENSIVE VERANDAHS AND IS CLEARLY MARKED OUT BY ITS ROOF CROSSES AS A RELIGIOUS BUILDING. TO THE RIGHT CAN BE SEEN THE CHANCEL OF THE LITTLE CONVENT CHAPEL. NEXT |
| THE CONVENT WAS ORIGINALLY ERECTED IN AVONDALE STREET TO THE REAR OF THE OLD CHURCH / SCHOOL ALTHOUGH TODAY IT SITS NEXT DOOR TO THE NEW PRESBYTERY AND CHURCH. THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CONVENT BUILDING WITH ITS VERANDAH, ATTRACTIVE WOODWORK AND HOMELY GARDEN MAKE IT A GEM OF RURAL DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE. UNLIKE THE CONVENTS OF MANY OTHER ORDERS THE JOSEPHITE CONVENT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED AS SIMPLY A RESIDENCE FOR THE SISTERS WHOSE WORK WAS IN THE PARISH SCHOOLS AND IN PARISH VISITATION. WAUCHOPE CONVENT IS ONE OF THE BEST PRESERVED OF THESE COUNTRY CONVENTS. NEXT |  |
| THE CHAPEL MARKED BY A LARGE CROSS AND COLOURED WINDOWS. | HISTORY |
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| WHEN THE CHURCH WAS MOVED TO AVONDALE ST IT WAS OUTSIDE THE TINY DEVELOPED AREA OF THE TOWN AND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE 'IN THE BUSH'. THE PREVALENCE OF TREES CAN BE SEEN IN THIS EARLY PHOTO OF THE CONVENT (ABOVE) WHICH WAS BUILT BEHIND THE CHURCH. TODAY'S FRONT PORCH WAS THEN ORIGINALLY THE BACK OF THE CONVENT. THE BOARDERS DORMITORY FOR BOYS ONLY CAN BE SEEN AMONG THE TREES AT THE RIGHT. THE FENCE IN THE FOREGROUND SEPARATES THE CONVENT FROM THE SITE OF TODAY'S PRESBYTERY PURCHASED LATER BY FR FILLODEAU. NEXT | |
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| THESE TWO PHOTOS SHOW THE GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENT. ABOVE IS THE CONVENT IN THE 1950's NOW MINUS THE TREES AND SEPARATED FROM THE SCHOOL BY A NEAT PICKET FENCE. THE BOARDER'S DORMITORY IS STILL IN PLACE TO THE RIGHT OF THE CONVENT. BELOW IS THE CONVENT AFTER THE 1960's EXTENSIONS WERE MADE TO IT. THE DORMITORY HAS BEEN REMOVED AND A NEW BLOCK BUILT TO ACCOMODATE THE SISTERS. A CLOSED PASSAGEWAY JOINS THE OLD CONVENT TO THE NEW SLEEPING QUARTERS. ST JOSEPH'S PARISH SCHOOL |
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| ST JOSEPH'S PARISH SCHOOL |
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| WHEN THE SISTERS FIRST ARRIVED IN WAUCHOPE THE SCHOOL WAS CONDUCTED IN THE CHURCH. AS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS GREW THE ORIGINAL SACRISTY ON THE LITURGICAL SOUTH SIDE OF THE CHANCEL WAS CONVERTED INTO A CLASSROOM FOR THE INFANTS CLASS. THIS WING WAS LATER CONVERTED INTO THE SCHOOL TUCKSHOP. A NEW SACRISTY AND PRIEST'S ROOM WERE ADDED TO THE NORTH SIDE TO BALANCE THE INFANT'S WING AND THESE TOO WERE LATER JOINED AND CONVERTED TO A CLASSROOM FOR THE SECONDARY PUPILS. A THIRD SACRISTY WAS THEN ADDED TO THE CHURCH. IN 1954 AN ATTRACTIVE NEW BRICK SCHOOL WAS OPENED NEXT DOOR TO THE CHURCH. NEXT |
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| MEANWHILE A LARGE SQUARE ROOM WAS BUILT BEHIND THE CHURCH AS A MUSIC ROOM (BELOW LEFT). THIS JUMBLE OF BUILDINGS CAN STILL TO BE SEEN TODAY AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH HALL REFLECTING THE SCHOOL'S AD HOC GROWTH. TO THE RIGHT OF THE CHURCH IS THE OLD DORMITORY WHICH WAS MOVED HERE IN 1961 AND CONVERTED INTO A CLASSROOM AND LATER A LIBRARY (BELOW RIGHT). NEXT | |
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 | THE SISTERS COMMENCED THE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN 1928. AT THE SAME TIME THEY OPENED A BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS FROM THE OUTLYING FARMING COMMUNITIES. BY 1930 SUPER PRIMARY CLASSES HAD BEEN ADDED AND IN 1931 INTERMEDIATE CLASSES. THE BOARDING SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN 1961 BUT THE JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS EXTENDED AND IN 1965 THE FIRST SCHOOL CERTIFICATE CLASS WAS PRESENTED. DECLINE IN NUMBERS AND THE PROXIMITY OF PORT MACQUARIE LED TO THE CLOSURE OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL IN 1969. IN 1982 THE LAST RELIGIOUS PRINCIPAL WITHDREW AND IN 1984 THE LAST TEACHING SISTER. SINCE THEN ST JOSEPH'S HAS BEEN FULLY LAY STAFFED. THE SCHOOL HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE UPPER HASTINGS VALLEY AS A PRIMARY SCHOOL SINCE 1984 RETAINING THE SPIRIT OF THE 'BLACK JOEYS' WHO FOUNDED IT 60 YEARS AGO. NEXT |
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| IN 2006 THE OLD BRICK EXTENSIONS TO THE CONVENT WERE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED BY NEW MODERN CLASSROOMS (BELOW). |
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| TOP SCHOOLS WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION |
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| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| I AM INDEBTED TO SISTER MARGARET GEATCHES, CONGREGATIONAL ARCHIVIST FOR BOTH THE INFORMATION AND THE MANY HISTORICAL PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE. HER HELP AND UNSTINTING SUPPORT ARE HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY PARISH HISTORIES THAT HAVE PROVIDED BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE. |