The Hallowian 2022 Vol1 - Flipbook - Page 16
SISTER STORIES
Sister Stories
The Murdochs:
Going pink for
the Mater
Past Pupils’ Association Past President (2000-2003)
and Class of 1979 School Captain, Catherine Murdoch
(Arnold) and her daughter Annie (Year 12), supported
by Catherine’s husband Jim, have raised over $44,000
for Mater Chicks in Pink.
Working through the Mater Foundation, Chicks in Pink
provides invaluable support to women diagnosed with
breast cancer through practical, personalised services
along with hope for the future by investing in breast
cancer research.
Catherine was first diagnosed with breast cancer in
2013, and in 2021 she decided to share her story
publicly to raise funds and awareness. The family’s
efforts have resulted in Annie and her supporters, who this year included a team from AHS, raising over $37,000 in
the RACQ International Women’s Day Fun Run. In both 2021 and 2022, Annie topped the leader board as the event’s
highest individual fundraiser and, this year, Annie also captained AHS XC, the highest fundraising school team.
In October 2021, Catherine initiated her fundraising idea ‘Catherine’s Comfortable Cuppa’, for the Mater, as part of
Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This virtual event, which encouraged supporters to gather with family and friends
to enjoy a comfortable cup of tea in the spirit of Catherine McAuley, raised over $6,300 for Mater Chicks in Pink.
Catherine says:
Linda Neil:
The Joy of Re-discovering
Her Creative Self
Linda Neil (Class of 1976) is a writer, songwriter, musician and documentary producer. The richness and
range of her creative output has been quite extraordinary.
She has a PhD in creative writing, and has taught university-level creative writing, cultural and media studies,
and film and television. Having also trained as a classical violinist, Linda has performed, toured, and recorded
with orchestras, rock bands and leading independent artists. In addition, her radio documentaries have won
numerous awards at the New York Radio Festival and been shortlisted for the United Nations Association of
Australia (UNAA) Media Peace Awards.
Linda’s first book, Learning How to Breathe, a
profoundly beautiful and touching biographical
‘love letter to her mother’, was published in
2009 to much critical and popular acclaim.
However, after Linda was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s Disease in 2013, she began to
question whether she would be able to
continue or sustain her creative endeavours.
Fortunately, she was able to access support
through the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS) and it has been a life-changer
for her. Linda is once again expressing herself
creatively, but this time more through visual
artistry.
When Linda started walking her local
(Sandgate) Esplanade to maintain her health,
she decided to take photos on her phone along
the way.
In just 12 months (her self-titled ‘year of
discovery’), Linda went from being a novice
photographer to entering and winning local
art competitions, and subsequently holding
her first photography exhibition, ‘Detritus:
Fantastical Tales of the Mulch’, made possible
with support from the NDIS.
“Sadly, 1 in 7 women in Australia is diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s a disease that strikes at the very core of
family life. Most women undergoing chemotherapy are obliged to give up work, imposing financial burdens on
families already struggling to cope with watching their loved one suffer treatments that are traumatic, invasive and
debilitating. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the Mater Hospital provides exceptional care to those diagnosed with
breast cancer and our family is proud to support its work.”
Linda’s photos have been developed into a hardcover picture book for adults, with assistance from her
support worker, Bella. She then branched out from taking photos to making films – also with her phone – with
some amount of success (winning international online festivals), by combining the footage with music she
recorded many years ago as a violinist.
Congratulations Catherine and Annie and thank you for your wonderful support for women affected by breast cancer.
Linda is cherishing her newfound creative freedom and the opportunity to channel it again in different and
surprising ways is, in her own words, ‘giving me my joy back’.
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The Hallowian | 2022
2022 | The Hallowian
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