St. Matthew’s School ~ Mudgee

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t. Matthew’s recently held their Centenary Games, with students dressing in period costume for the day. Proceedings began with a short history of the School, delivered by Sister Mary Joseph (otherwise known as Mrs. Atkinson). We were also graced with the presence of her Majesty the Queen! It was amazing how much she looked like Chisholm Captain, Glenn Cowper. She had a police escort, arrived in a special car and gave an informative speech about the games. There was also a special visit from the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard (looking incredibly like our School Captain, Laura Fergus). House representatives arrived carrying an Olympic torch to begin the activities which included maypole dancing, hoola-hooping, butter making, reading, writing and arithmetic for the boys and sewing for the girls. A great day of fun and information was had by all. Information supplied by Olivia Slack-Smith and Grace Hush (6D)

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Sister Mary Joseph, PM Julia Gillard and Her Majesty enjoyed the Games

Holy Family School ~ Kelso

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oly Family School Kelso students Ethan Ivory, Y6 and Mitchell Falcke, Y5, have returned from the NSW CPS Polding Cross Country Selection Trials at Eastern Creek with a swag of Polding Gold Medals. The boys represented the Diocese of Bathurst following trials at Coolah. Both competed in the 3km 11 Years Event. with around 70 competitors. Following great success in the individual event in 2011, Ethan has put together back to back Gold Medals in a very impressive performance. He blitzed the field to win by over 100m in an impressive display of middle distance running. “I put in my best effort at Eastern Creek and tried to pace myself at the start and then nail the finish,” he said. Ethan progressed to the NSW PSSA State Carnival held recently at Eastern Creek. This State carnival pitches students from all school systems against each other in a true state event. Ethan was once again a member of the Polding Team. Kevin Arrow

Mitchell Falcke and Ethan Ivory with their Polding Gold Medals

Vale Sister Kathleen Murnane, rsj February 1920 ~ March 2012

hree days before she died, Kath indicated clearly that she knew what was happening. “God”, she said, “is holding me by the hand and taking me to heaven.” When asked if she was afraid Kath said, “No”. Kath’s going was a specially graced time as was her life. Kathleen was born on 11th February 1920 at Wallerawang, the daughter of Owen and Irene Murnane, and grew up in a family with four sisters and one brother. While all but her sister Bessie predeceased her Kath maintained a special loving relationship with her extended family. Educated at St Joseph’s Portland and St Joseph’s College Perthville Kath returned to Perthville on her 18th birthday, in February 1938 to join the Sisters of St Joseph and was professed in November 1941. Her commitment to God in religious life was central for Kath and her golden jubilee in 1991 was a particularly grand and joyous day with Bishop Kevin Manning, her former pupil from Coolah, a special guest. That commitment in religious life took Kath, for many years known as St Louis, to many centres in this diocese as a secondary teacher: Oberon, Coolah, Blayney, Molong, Canowindra, Yeoval, and Coonabarabran. She also lived and taught at Perthville and later was on the staff of what was then the Diocesan School, now MacKillop College. In 1975 Kath became a qualified teacher librarian and returned to the Diocesan School for a year before moving to what is now the Diocesan Resource Centre where she worked for over 20 years. Kath’s years at the Resource Centre are well remembered and the imprint of her years there are still visible in the labeling and arrangement of much of the material. The blue Laser became known to many as she came in from the centre each day to have lunch at the Chancery office in George Street and to do the mail in the afternoon. During those years at the Resource Centre Kath began to have some difficulties with memory and cognition; there was in effect a very slow but very graceful decline masked by the fact that Kath had a regular routine to follow. However the time came in 1999 when Kath was no longer able to continue to work at the Resource Centre. After retirement Kath continued to live at Perthville at Tenison and then St Anne’s until she transferred to St Catherine’s in Bathurst.

Kath’s growing disability made even clearer the gentle, kind and generous person she had always been. Never focused on herself there was always a looking outwards to others. She had a good eye for what was beautiful, not just the visual, but people and she was always appreciative of the generosity, talents and accomplishments of others. Her graciousness extended to all who cared for her; she always had a word of thanks to the staff at St Anne’s, and later St Catherine’s for whatever they did for her, no matter how small the service, and she left an enduring impression of gentleness. Never diminished in her disability Kath saw goodness in others and beauty around her because God’s life and love in her was unimpeded; that love made her death, on 2nd March, a moment of gentleness and peace. She was farewelled by her Josephite Sisters, many relatives and friends, priests of the Diocese, staff of the Catholic Education Office and her exstudent, Bishop Kevin Manning, at a requiem Mass at Perthville on 9th March. Kathleen Luchetti, rsj

Blankets for Vinnies

At their June morning tea, St Raphael’s Ladies donated a blanket to St Vincent de Paul towards their Winter Appeal. Margaret Wade accepted the blanket on behalf of Vinnies. Margie Ryan

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