With Year 12 Exams approaching, it reminded me that it is 80 years since students began studying for Matriculation at Kilbreda, and indeed across Victoria. Our first Matric students had classes in the Library, which is currently the Principal’s Office. Mercy Black was Dux with First Class Honours in Italian, much to the delight of her teacher Mother Margaret Mary, Second Class in English Literature, French and European History and a pass in English Expression. Peggy Fennessy, who went on to join the Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd, achieved Second Honours in Literature and History, a pass in Matric English Expression and passes in Leaving (Year 11) French and Geology. Mother Marg would have been overjoyed with Patricia Lannan, who not only received First Class Honours for Italian, but was placed first in the state. Patricia also got Second Class Honours in French and passes in English Expression and Literature.

Peggy, Pat and Mercy are pictured below in 1944.

A number of Matric exams feature in our Heritage Room courtesy of Mrs Louise Stevens. By 1955, the Matric class still only numbered 10, and they have remained in touch over the years, mainly due to the fact that five of them entered as Brigidines, including: Mary Broderick, Pauline O’Callaghan, Angela Ryan, Maureen Titford and Reba Woodwiss and classmates Patricia Eagle, Toni Nuttall, Antoinette Ryan.

The classmates are pictured below at their annual get together a few years ago.

Matric continued in Victoria until 1969, when it was replaced by HSC which continues in NSW. VCE was introduced in Victorian schools in 1990. An alternative to Matric existed in the late1960s and VCAL (now VCE VM) was introduced in 2002.

Damian Smith

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