Where are they now?

Alumni

Where are they now?

(Left to right) Anita Halpin (Brooks), Alice Halpin and Barbara Driscoll (Brooks)

THE BROOKS SISTERS

In 1954 the College opened its doors to its first students, now fondly known as our Pioneers. Two of them, the Brooks sisters, Barbara Driscoll and Anita Halpin, tell us about their lives and how the tradition of a Brigidine education continues in their family today.

Barbara told us “Sixty-seven years ago, Ruth Bridger (Gardiner), Angela Hendy (O’Connor), Maureen McCallum (Dalton), Tessie Quinn (Lynch), and I began our secondary education at Brigidine College St Ives. We were among the ‘Pioneers’ taught by Mother Romuald and the lovely Mother Adrian. During our first year, we were joined by the late Geraldine Slattery (Links) and the late Marie Duff (MacNamee). We were all members of the Class of 1958.”

After the ‘Leaving’, Barbara trained at the Mater General Hospital and then joined the staff at the Mater Private Hospital as a Registered Nurse. In 1964 she married Michael Driscoll and shortly after, they purchased The Urunga Pharmacy and made the wonderful ‘sea change’ to the North Coast. In 1994 Barbara studied Social Welfare and says she was fortunate to be employed by Coffs Harbour Legacy as Field Officer, assessing the needs of War Widows in the surrounding districts. Barbara and Michael have been blessed with seven children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Barbara told us “now I am retired, I am enjoying family, exercise and Mah-jong.”

Anita Halpin Class of 1961 shared her story too: “I attended Brigidine between 1957 and 1958, Year 7 and 8 and I remember there being only 30–40 girls at the College during that time. While there, I had friends from Corpus Christi, Christine Nemes (Collins) and the late Julie Robinson (Floyd). Christine and I have remained friends. On leaving the College in 1958 I completed my education at boarding school.”

When Anita left school, she worked in a bank. She was married at Corpus Christie Church in 1969 and has two children. She told us, “When I returned to work, I had a wonderful career in Aged Care Administration. I loved talking with the residents and hearing their stories, which meant I had to bring a lot of work home with me!”

Anita now has four grandchildren, one of whom is Alice Halpin. Alice joined the College in Year 7 this year. Anita said “I was thrilled when Alice’s dad told me he was sending Alice to Brigidine. It is a beautiful school and I know Alice loves it.”

Barbara also spoke of Alice, “I know my grand-niece Alice is very happy and proud to be at Brigidine College and I know she will make many lifelong friends, as I have.”

And what of Alice and continuing the Brigidine tradition in her family? Alice’s mum said, “Alice is thrilled to have joined the Brigidine community and has been overjoyed at the wide range of extracurricular activities, both academic and sporting. She has loved making new friends at the school and is looking forward to the Brigidine adventures to come.”

We are looking forward to hearing all about those adventures and how Alice continues the family tradition.

ZOE GOUGOUSIDIS CLASS OF 2019

Young Alumni, Zoe Gougousidis Class of 2019, tells us about studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Whilst at Brigidine I was heavily involved in music, both in academics and cocurricular. I completed HSC Music 2 and Music Extension (Composition), and performed in many groups, including the concert band, stage band, brass band, rock band and musicals. I was the Music Captain and the recipient of the Marie Duffy Service to Music Award in 2019.

Since graduating from Brigidine, I’ve been working towards my Bachelor of Music (Composition) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, which has been an incredible experience so far. I have been lucky to study under some of Australia’s most accomplished composers, which has helped me refine my skills and understanding of compositional practice, as well as find new ways to think about how music is written. In my almost two years studying here, I have written for a variety of ensembles, from solos, homogeneous ensembles, and jazz ensembles to a full-sized brass band. My most recent works include a large-scale piece for brass band, a solo trumpet work using mathematical processes gleaned from a chocolate milk carton, as well as a jazz quartet focussing on the unlucky number 13.

I have also been able to continue my study in euphonium, performing with the Conservatorium’s excellent ensembles, and refine my skills in sound recording, including being the head audio engineer of the half-yearly composer’s concert.

Outside of University, I have been participating in competitions, most recently being selected for the Artology Fanfare Composition Competition, in which my piece was workshopped with professional composers and will be premiered by the Sydney Youth Orchestra later this year. With two more years to go in my degree, there is plenty more to learn (and much more music to write), and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me.

You can listen to Zoe’s jazz quartet composition “Better Luck Next Time” by scanning the QR code.

VALE ANNETTE SIDGREAVES

In 2020 we sadly farewelled one of the Brigidine Pioneers, Annette Sidgreaves (Thompson) Class of 1959, who died peacefully on 11 June following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Annette was the 13th student to be registered at the College in our pioneering years and in 1959 was our third College Captain. Her mother, Winifred (Win) Thompson (Manders), had a long and close association with the Brigidine Sisters following her years as a boarding student at Brigidine Randwick. Living at Roseville, Annette was educated by the Brigidine Sisters at Holy Family Primary School, Lindfield, so the new Brigidine College at St Ives was the natural choice for her secondary education. Like Win, Annette maintained lifelong friendships with her school friends, the Brigidine Sisters and College staff, many of whom attended her funeral at St Joseph’s College Chapel on 24 June 2020.

Annette was the embodiment of a Brigidine girl. She lived our values of integrity, courage, and compassion. As a Pioneer, Annette truly embraced our motto of ‘Strength and Gentleness’, undertaking her education at a time when girls’ education was not as rigorous but had the benefit of the Brigidine Sisters who recognised that quality education and academic pursuit was an essential element for each girl’s future.

After leaving school, Annette trained to be a primary school teacher and later taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Forestville, and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour School, West Pymble. She married Bryan Sidgreaves in 1964 and together they raised nine children and became the proud grandparents of 22 grandchildren. Their eldest daughter, Donna, is the wife of former staff member, Richard Quinn who was Director of Mission in the 1990s. The links with Annette’s family continue, with the main furniture items in St Brigid’s Chapel (altar, ambo and presider’s chair) designed and manufactured by Sidgreaves & Co., commercial designers and shopfitters. Annette and Bryan’s second daughter, Louise Sidgreaves, designed these items and they were made by one of the Sidgreaves’ furniture makers.

As the first anniversary of Annette’s death passes, the College treasures having her friendship and the memories and legacy of her time as one of our first student leaders. As a community we hold Annette and her family in our hearts and prayers, and we give thanks for her life and dedication to family and the Brigidine community.

Annette as College Captain

Annette and Anne Lomas