TheHallowian-2021Vol2 - Flipbook - Page 24
The Art of Modesty
Gwenyth Cutler, Class of 1955
Year 12’s: 0
Sister Mary Borgia: 1
Those doing Senior (grade 12) did physics on
Saturdays. Dorothy and I did Art that day. It
was a relaxed time in Sister Mary Celestine’s
room. Sometimes she produced art books
for us to look at. I remember being intrigued
by some colourful books of pictures by the
French Impressionists, Degas, Monet and
Renoir. They were draped in strange towels
or bathing costumes which could be partially
removed by scratching with your fingernail.
So our eyes would not see naked bodies,
Sister Mary Celestine had painted on the
swimming costumes and towels to cover
them.
Cathie Neil, Class of 1974, Head of Culture
Last Day, First Swim
One day we arrived at school and noted that the
garden had grown overnight with the addition
of many new flowers and stems, which on
second glance seemed to be of non-organic (as
in plastic) origins. A quick investigation must
have followed as a couple of days later, to our
collective amusement and newly found respect
for Sr Mary Borgia, we observed several of our
peers assisting, somewhat sheepishly, with the
watering, weeding and general maintenance
of the new ‘flora’ that had appeared so
mysteriously!
Alexandra Clem, Class of 2008
Our cohort had watched for more than a
year the building of the Claver, pool, gym
and piazza area but due to delays we never
got to use any of these facilities before we
graduated.
After Final Assembly and Guard of Honour
through the school, which ended in the
newly completed Piazza, the Year 12 students
spontaneously jumped fully clothed into the
new pool. We were determined to have one
swim before we left.
Dr Perry said though she was disappointed,
she could understand the students’ actions.
The teachers has a chuckle at those students
who forgot to remove their mobile phones
from their pockets before jumping in.
Mrs Florey, however, seemed more preoccupied with trying to save our watches.
22
The Hallowian | 2021
When I was in Year 12 in 1974, the Year 12
classrooms were on the ground floor of Aquinas.
My class teacher was the very gentle and quietly
spoken Sr Mary Borgia, one of whose passions
was looking after the gardens around the school,
and in particular the sloping terraced garden
that separated the Terrace and Aquinas. You
would often see her early in the morning or late
in the afternoon, (if you had netball training or
music practice as I did) watering and tending
the various seasonal plants and flowers she had
sowed so lovingly.