Our
Community

In 2021 we acknowledged the 200th anniversary of Catholic Education in Australia by celebrating Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral alongside the Brigidine Sisters.

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Covid-19 impacted the world throughout 2020, and at Brigidine we adapted to learn from home and continued to connect throughout the year.

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Taking its name from the Irish Cill Dara, meaning Church of the Oak, Kildare Ministries was launched in March 2014 and oversees the educational and community works previously governed by the NSW and Victorian Provinces of the Brigidine Congregation along with the Presentation Congregation on Victoria. A land ritual completed the transfer to Kildare Ministries in 2018.

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Named after our longest serving Principal, Sister Anita Murray (1975-1989), the Anita Murray Centre was officially opened by then Governor of NSW Dame Marie Bashir in July 2014.

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Sports Aerobics was introduced at Brigidine in 2012 by our Head of PDHPE Mr Holmes. A high intensity cocurricular activity Sports Aerobics combines aerobics, dance and gymnastics, and is loved by students and spectators alike.

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Centrally located on campus, Bowie Hall was opened in 2005. As part of the development, Romuald Hall was refurbished into the art studios used by our students today.

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2004 was our Golden Jubilee year, celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the College opening. Events to mark the occasion included mass at St Mary’s Cathedral and a Golden Jubilee Ball.

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At the heart of the College stands St Brigid’s Chapel and Religious Education Centre. With over 600 people in attendance, the Chapel was opened on 23 December 2001, by Bishop David Walker and Sister Anita Murray.

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Annual musicals and plays continued throughout the 1990s, with our students first completing the HSC drama course in 1996.

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In 1991 the Gymnasium was opened by Australian netballer Anne Sargeant. Designed by architect and College parent Andy McElhone, who designed many of the buildings at the College during this time.

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During the 1990s the College transitioned to a new colour scheme incorporating maroon and light blue. Formal uniforms were introduced in 1990, before updates to the sports uniforms in 1993 and 1996.

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Sport has always been a feature of a Brigidine education and expansion in the 1980s enabled the number of sports available to more than double.

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Music has been offered to students since the College opened, and in the 1980s the music programs available increased to include multiple bands, a madrigal choir and in 1988 the school song ‘Strong and Gentle’ was written by teachers Marcella McAdam and Andrew Miles.

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By the 1980s the College had over 500 students and mostly lay staff. Our first lay Assistant Principal, Barbara McCammon retired with two new Assistant Principals, Pat Moran and Moira Spiteri appointed.

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With more students and a greater range of subjects on offer, more buildings were needed. The 80s was Brigidine’s building era, with new builds, extensions and rededications all occurring during this decade.

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In 1979 the College celebrated it’s 25th anniversary with a number of Silver Jubilee events including a community mass and Principal’s dinner.

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In the 1970s the College commenced interstate and international cultural tours. Along with local excursions, these tours expanded our students understanding of the natural environment and other cultures around the world.

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Now an annual tradition, the first College musical, The Mikado, was performed in 1977. Two more Gilbert and Sullivan productions followed in 1978 with The Gondoliers and The Pirates of Penzance in 1979.

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In 1970 a new sports uniform was introduced. Originally worn with a tassel belt, the sleeveless cotton tunic made it easier for students to participate in the growing variety of sports available at the College.

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From the earliest days of the College, students have enjoyed celebrating and cheering on their friends in sport and cocurricular activities.

In this photo from Sports Day 1964 we see girls dressing up and pinning coloured ribbons to their sports dress in support of their house.

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In our early years the College colours were fawn and cherry taken from St Brigid’s Convent School, Denbigh North Wales. Seen here is the sports uniform, winter uniform including compulsory headband and the new summer dress.

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The 1960s was a time of rapid building development at the College. In 1964 Romuald Hall, a canteen and classroom were completed and 1968 saw the opening of the Murray and McMahon wings, science block, library, five additional classrooms and staffrooms.

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With the new Convent and Novitiate complete, St Ives became a thriving hub of learning for the Brigidine sisters. A larger campus and growing reputation enabled the College to expand student numbers with around 300 students enrolled by the end of the 1960s.

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In September 1954 the P&F formed a committee to raise funds for the Novitiate Appeal. Students helped lay the bricks and by 1959, our second building, the Convent and Novitiate was ready for the Brigidine Sisters to move in and begin training new teachers.

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Founding Principal, Mother Romuald Walz, had a love of sport and quickly introduced tennis and vigaro to students. Our first lay staff member was Mr Henry Lindo, our tennis coach for 35 years. In 1959 students initiated the introduction of our first sports houses, Fortiter and Suaviter, which developed and expanded during the 1960s into the four houses (Fatima, Kildare, Lourdes, Prague)  that continue at the College today.

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The College opened its doors on 9 February 1954, with Principal Sister Romuald Walz, teacher Sister Adrian Small and 9 students.

On 13 June an official opening was held. As the College was blessed by Cardinal Gilroy, over 1000 guests attended the celebration, watching from both outside and upstairs from the building windows.

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Construction of a two story building commenced on 3 August 1953 and contained two classrooms, a music room/chapel, along with living quarters for the sisters upstairs, whilst downstairs housed a domestic science room, chemistry lab, admin area and a student cloak and wash room.

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