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Reminiscing on Kilbreda Days
Former student Marlene Wall fondly recalls her time at Kilbreda:
鈥淚 thank God for the education Kilbreda gave me! I remember learning French from Grade 5 with La Vie de Madame Souris and the heavily Aussie-accented Mrs Edgar- mother of Judith, who was a few years ahead of me. Mrs. Edgar even sent me on errands to buy her ciggies!鈥�
Marlene later discovered a surprising family connection鈥攈er father was related to Judith Edgar! This revelation came while speaking with an elderly relative, who mentioned a family member working at a school in Mentone.
鈥淲hich school?鈥� I asked.
鈥淎 big brick one in the centre of town.鈥�
鈥淜颈濒产谤别诲补?鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 it,鈥� he confirmed.
Beyond French, Kilbreda offered German and Italian, taught by the elegant Signora Astolfi. Christian Doctrine classes included Apologetics and even sex education – remarkably progressive for the time.
In Year 8, Mother Winifred introduced a Question Box, allowing students to anonymously submit queries. One brave student asked, 鈥淲hat is the marriage act?鈥� prompting Mother to announce, 鈥淲ould the girl who asked this please see me after school.鈥�
Another asked about the right age for lipstick. Mother Winifred鈥檚 response? 鈥淎t 18, a little rouge would be permissible.鈥�
A glimpse into the past – where tradition met quiet rebellion.
Damian Smith
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