Earlier this week, I had a visit from Mrs Mauricette Hamilton (nee Duffy), who had come to Kilbreda as part of some research she was undertaking and, as she lives quite a distance away, near Bacchus Marsh, she let me know she’d be here as I had a job for her.

We took a walk around the school chatting about the various classrooms she had been in while a pupil here from Grade 5 in 1955 to Matriculation (Year 12) in 1962. Mauri appears in a famous Kilbreda photo, taken on St Patrick’s Day 1962 in the city, marching along behind the school banner. She is pictured far right in what I believe is the front row.

Year levels were not necessarily associated with different areas of the school in those days. Class sizes determined room choice, as a larger cohort would obviously require a larger room. As you walk along the corridor from the Year 11 corridor towards the Library, you pass Rooms 24, 24a, 25 and 26. If you are observant, you will have noticed the LOURDES sign outside Room 25.

Each classroom had such a sign and only three still exist in the school. Another, that many students might have noticed is St Lucy’s above the door to Ms Mangelsdorf’s office, which, in Mauri’s day was the Matric classroom. Further up towards the office were two parlours, one of which was used for the teaching of Music and was aptly named St Cecilia’s. It is opposite the harp downstairs. Next to it, of course, was the Chapel, where Student Reception currently is. Out on to the Colonnade, Rooms 15 to 18 were as follows: St Breda’s, St Joseph’s, St Ursula’s and St Monica’s.

Getting back to Rooms 24 to 26. Room 26 was our first dedicated Science room and remained one until the late 1990s. Room 24 was Fatima and 24a housed a toilet block and a ‘locker’ area.

Damian Smith
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