Past students enjoy big gathering

16/10/2019

St Mary’s College Intermediate Class of 1959 Saturday 5 October

Former students of the Intermediate (Year 10) Class of 1959 gathered at the Marian Centre to celebrate 60 years since many of them completed their schooling. The past students enjoyed morning tea and a display of memorabilia before heading over the Boundary Hotel for lunch.

The former students were very interested to see the changes to the St Mary’s campus and thrilled at how the College has grown.

Well done to Mary Pianta for helping to organise this reunion.

Boarders Reunion, Sunday 6 October 2019

Over 100 former St Mary’s College boarders descended on Bendigo for a reunion at the National Hotel. Those who were able to arrive earlier toured the former boarders’ area of the school including former bedrooms, refectory and classrooms.

Sunday’s Reunion included former students who boarded from as far away as Booroorban via Deniliquin in New South Wales or Manangatang in the Mallee and as close as Axedale, Colbinabbin and Maldon. Many boarders also came from towns such Quambatook, Chinkapook and Pyramid Hill.

Boarders have fond memories for travelling by train together at the start and end of term or sharing a ride with other families. Many boarders faced homesickness when they commenced boarding at St Mary’s College but most found that the camaraderie that developed between boarders meant that they became family to each other. On Sunday boarders enjoyed reminiscing about parcels from home, favourite (or least favourite) teachers, friendships formed and the mischief some students got up to.

The women were thrilled at the opportunity to catch up with so many old friends and classmates. One former boarder who made the trip to Bendigo on Sunday was Mrs Mary Gastin who attended St Mary’s College as Mary O’Brien from Tennyson in 1933. Last January Mrs Gastin celebrated her 101st birthday. Mrs Gastin was accompanied by her daughter Carmel Gill who was also a student at St Mary’s College in the 1950s, although not a boarder.

Many thanks to Mrs Kathie Priestly Bone and Mrs Maureen Doyle Connolly for helping to organise the reunion.

Click here for more information on any of these reunions.