Generations of Inspiration

Mary Halstead, Georgia Halstead’s mum, thought it was only fitting that Georgia’s grandmother be with her on the day she received her Women in Time Student Award, so she tucked the framed picture into her bag for the Breakfast event. ‘I must admit I was overwhelmed when I received the call that Georgia was to receive this special award, and that those exact words chosen were engraved onto the picture is just incredible!’ Mary said.

The photo pictured above is of Patricia Carmel Troy, Georgia Halstead’s grandmother, dressed in her full Loreto College uniform at Manderville Hall, Toorak. She was approximately 14–16 years old (Circa 1944-46).

Mary explained ‘My mum gave this picture of herself with Mary Ward’s words on the plaque to Grace and Georgia (Mary’s daughters) the year they started at Loreto in 2019. Mum died in July of that year, and we all miss her, she loved Loreto and ‘Did Much’ with her life to honour her school and education.’

Patricia married a Ballarat boy (William, Bill Hart) in 1956 at St Mary’s in Melbourne. Mary being the youngest of the five children that her mum raised on her own after her dad passed away of an epileptic seizure at just 33 years old.

The Loreto Ballarat Nuns, namely Sr Antoinette Hayden, reached out to Patricia and offered to educate all five children. Mary’s brothers Michael and Philip both attended kindergarten with Mother Brendan and the sisters Kate, Anne and Mary all thrived at ‘Mary’s Mount’ for 13 years respectively.

‘We have never taken the generous gift of our Loreto days lightly!’ Mary reflected, ‘Like Mary Ward, mum was extremely ahead of her time and many things she talked about came to fruition during her lifetime and beyond.’

Georgia Halstead was awarded the 2023 Women in Time Student Award, presented annually to a senior student who demonstrates the qualities and potential to personify Mary Ward’s vision, to encourage them to continue their path. She is a third generation Loreto College student who is certain to ‘Do Much’.