Sr Lia Returns to Balgo

Kilbreda has had a connection to Luurnpa Catholic school in Balgo for nearly 15 years. As they are celebrating 40 years since the establishment of the school, this week Sr Lia returned to the remote community to join the celebrations.

The school was founded by brothers of the De La Salle Order and Sisters of Mercy, who  agreed to take over the school at the beginning of 1984. Brother Leo Scollen was the first Principal. 

“Today year groups are divided into the following; Kindergarten and Pre Primary, Grades 1 and 2, Grade 3 and 4, Grades 5 and 6, Grades 7, 8 and 9. The Upper Secondary attend the Kutjungka Trade Training Centre. Each class has a teacher and one or more Aboriginal Teacher Assistants. Every year the school is fortunate to have volunteers such as Share The Mission volunteers (De La Salle Volunteers) to support student learning.” 1

Former staff member, Anthony Cormick, was one such volunteer and, following the death of his highly esteemed father, Shane Cormick, a Kilbreda legend, Anthony led a group of nine Balgo students along with Br Rick and Indigenous teacher aide, Cathy Lee to Melbourne. As it was holiday time, they stayed at Kilbreda, sleeping from memory in the Function Room.

The following year, Anthony’s mother Genevieve, was keen to visit her son at Balgo and asked Sr Lia to accompany her. So, from October to November 2011, the two intrepid explorers made a nine-hour and 25 minute flight over two days from Melbourne to Hall’s Creek, via Perth and Broome, followed by a 250km trip on dirt roads to Balgo.

Over the next few years, a number of groups from Kilbreda made the trip to Balgo, including staff members, Cathy Maloney, Tony Dalton, Chris Ryan, Loretta Cormick, Brid Bennett and Maree Clark. The students who accompanied them, including Maree’s daughter Jess Clark, had a life changing experience working with the children in the remote community.

“I was blessed by the church community on arrival and departure, and by the school community on departure, and indeed, I was richly blessed by my experience at Balgo and beyond.” 2

Damian Smith
Archives

1 https://luurnpa.wa.edu.au/history/
2 Sr Lia Commadeur November 2011