Loreto Launchpad
Changing the world, one nappy at a time Words by Laura McConville (Eastwood) & Katharine Brennan (Francis) Class of 2006
Tell us about your friendship and your time
culture and values we experienced during
Laura and asked, “Do you want to start a
at Loreto:
our time at Loreto play a big part in this.
cloth nappy rental business?”
I think our friendship really solidified
Laura: We both followed a similar path since
Laura: From that point there was back
in Year 9 PE when we won the table
school – I studied Nursing/Midwifery and
and forth, research and planning. At one
tennis championship under the name
Katharine did Nursing/Arts. We have given
point we decided ‘maybe this is all just
‘Francewood’ (a combination of Francis
speeches at each other’s 21st’s, been each
too hard’, but the next day I just started
and Eastwood). In Year 12 we did five of
other’s bridesmaids, and I was even the
posting on our Instagram page with the
the same six subjects so were together a
unofficial doula when Katharine gave birth
attitude of ‘Let’s just give it a try!’. That was
lot! We remember Loreto as always being
to her first daughter Adeline two years ago!
in September 2020, and since then we have
Laura: We had a great time at Loreto.
had steady interest from clients who are
a place where girls were told we could do anything, encouraged to do so and
Tell us about your joint business –
keen to give cloth nappies a go. We know
frequently did!
Australian Cloth Nappy Rental - how did it
we’re not going to take over the business
all come about?
world any time soon, but if we can keep a
Katharine: I remember being surrounded by
Katharine: I think we are quite similar in our
few disposable nappies out of landfill, for us
so many strong female role models - both
approach to many things in life, and trying
that makes it all worthwhile.
teachers and older students. We probably
to be more environmentally conscious is
just took it for granted at the time, but upon
definitely a value we share. When I was
For people who might be curious about
reflection it was, and still is, very unique and
pregnant, Laura asked me if I was going
using cloth nappies can you tell us a bit
special. That strong, pioneering, feminist
to use cloth nappies. I was definitely
more about how it all works?
spirit of women like Mary Ward and Mother
interested, but I also had no idea where
Laura: Starting out can definitely be a bit
Gonzaga Barry obviously continues to run
to start!
overwhelming. There are so many different
through the culture of the school all these years later.
brands, fits and styles, it can be challenging Laura: Katharine did end up using them
to know which is going to work for you and
with Adeline, and then I also used them
your baby… so that’s where we come in!
Tell us about your lives since Loreto:
when my son Billy was born in August 2019.
We do trial packs of different types so you
Katharine: Laura and I, along with most of
We had actually planned to share nappies
can test them out - at $1 each per week to
our Loreto friendship group, have continued
as our babies were 7 months apart - but
rent. This also takes away an initial financial
to remain very close, keeping in touch,
that didn’t really work out as Billy grew very
outlay of around $30 for a brand new cloth
sharing major life events and regularly
quickly and they were soon the same size!
nappy, which can be another barrier to
catching up (or trying to…) around kids,
getting started.
work and different locations - from Ballarat,
Katharine: When COVID started to really
Geelong, Melbourne and Wycheproof to
impact Australia in March 2020 and toilet
Katharine: People might question the
New York! I have learnt since leaving school
paper and baby formula were suddenly
concept of renting re-usable nappies at
that not everyone remains this close with
selling out, I thought that nappies may go
first, but I encourage them to think about
school friends, and have no doubt the
the same way. So, one day I messaged
the way we use cutlery and crockery at
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