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MANDI*ILLIAN Registered by Australia Post Publication No. VBH 7636, Vol. 7, No. 2,1992

OPEN DAY ! On June 3rd Sr. Deirdre Rofe, IBVM, offi-

cially opened and dedicated the new Junior School buildings. This happy event coincided was open to the public from 11.00 in the morning until 3.30 in the afternoon. The day was very successful in all respects and greatly enjoyed by participants and visitors

face.

alike.

N ANGEL or, .4-. . ...1.-

forts since 1924. Learning happens better

This school, and now these extensions, rep-

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resent a commitment to excellence in learn-

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ing that has characterised Mandeville's ef-

Sr. Deirdre's address for the opening of

and makes a less bloody entrance in sur-

the Junior School building extensions is

roundings where teachers can teach better

printed below.

and students can study better. The list of

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improvements to learning facilities at this

BUILDING EXTENSIONS AT LORETO,

school is impressive, indicating an ongoing

MANDEVILLE HALL TOORAK. JUNE 3RD

belief in the value of educating girls to their

1992.

full potential. There is a lot of discussion

A home is not just a place where we live, it

around about co-education these days. I won't

is an experience through which we grow.

buy into the argument at this stage but suf-

Thus I was pleased to see the Junior School

fice it to say that the IBVM (the Loreto

(and by extension the Senior School) devel-

Order) has had long experience in this field

opments described in our liturgy in terms of

(education) and believes it is an enterprise

home. For a school is, par excellence, an

worthy of our best efforts. If"by their fruits

experience of growing. As students advance

you shall know them" then I believe the

through each year level, it is easy to meas-

effort has been well vindicated! It has been

ure their physical growth. A student in Prep.

my experience that the vast majority of girls

is able to look up to a Year 12 student and

at this school flourish and actually enjoy,

see in that person a model ofwhat she might

even love, school.

Sr. Deirdre Rofe addressing the guests on Open Day.

To engender this response is the work of

Physical growth occurs naturally but any

many people, all fired with the same vision

good school is interested in growth of a more

of education. To the Principal, Mrs. Anne

important kind. Here, at Loreto, Mandeville

Hunt and Head of the Junior School, Sr.

Hall, we are interested in girls growing to

Helen Murphy, I say congratulations on the

become women, women of deep, personal

completion of phases 1, 2 and 3 of the cur-

faith, women with informed, balanced judge-

rent building project. You, the staff and stu-

ments, women of compassion and under-

dents, have endured many inconveniences

standing and women who believe they can

as buildings were refurbished. I hope you all

contribute something important and worth-

feel delighted with the end product. May I

while to Australia. They may well come to

echo John Arthur's thanks to the project

redress the balance of women in an exhibi-

managers, architects and builders on the

tion such as Uncommon Australians at

quality of their work (and the timeliness of

the Gallery.

it).

How can a school become a home for

I want to make special reference to a group

growth? A true home is a place of acceptance and

of parents here at Mandeville who have given

understanding. Individuals feel known,

long span of time, certainly well before the

extraordinary service to the school over a

appreciated and encouraged. Faults are not

present project. I refer specifically to the

glossed over, but they are readily forgiven

Planning, Finance and Fundraising Com-

and among all members there is a pride in

mittees of the Advisory Board. While it is

each other's achievements and a recognition

always invidious to settle upon individuals,

that variety is life-giving.

I could not let this event pass without thank-

A school measures its success in terms of

ing in particular and most warmly, Mr.

collective achievement. It's a multi-coloured,

Howard McCorkell. As chairman ofthe Plan-

variegated picture where academic excel-

ning Sub-committee, Howard has brought to

lence, artistic creativity and sporting prow-

Mandeville skill, imagination, competence,

ess flower side by side, held together by an

sympathy for this special environment and

attitude to life that recognises that achieve-

unfailing good humour. We have been truly

ments must be put into the context of serv-

blessed in this association.

ice. Individuality (not individualism) natu-

It is always a pleasure to come back to

rally leads to a broader commitment to be at

this school, because Mandeville was home

the service of others, not just oneself.

for me for eleven years. In its near 70 years

For a home to work effectively people have

on this site, the school has undergone some

to work together. Have you ever watched a flight of migratory birds? There is clearly a leader and each bird seems to have a special place in the formation. Occasionally they

very significant changes. Perhaps one that

'aar

40 i

The String Orchestra playing for the opening and dedication of the new Junior School buildings.

ne to Open Day .' 1 at

Mandeville Hall

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does not draw much comment is the contri-

bution made by parents, perhaps because it is taken for granted. But it can be said, with

change places but the forward flight is not interrupted. If a bird chooses to fly off, the pattern is not affected and, one suspects, the individual is in danger of losing her way!

absolute conviction, that parents can be

The pattern of flight is not cramped or con-

nel to set the school on its feet. This ar-

stricted but seems to borrow something from the fluid, billowing air-currents. Among the many other qualities of a home that could be drawn upon, I would like to finish with the idea of a home as a place of self-knowledge. Meeting and at times confronting, one's own self can be a daunting experience but a school can, (in fact, must) provide for such experiences. Self-knowledge based on reflection, dialogue with others and occasionally merited correction is part of that

rangement continued well into the mid

growing to fullness in Christ of which St.

Paul speaks in his letter to the Ephesians.

qualities of adaptability, innovativeness and seeking for excellence which have charac-

We at Loreto are interested in helping stu-

terised its history thus far.

dents' hidden selves grow strong so that they are able to appreciate the gift they are to the world and the gift they have in God's love.

flit/

ally do become empty gongs and clashing cymbals. With it, learning keeps its human

become.

Self-knowledge is the indispensable companion to all other learning. Without it, we re-

with the School's Open Day when the School

ADDRESS FOR THE OPENING OF THE

. -1 4.!4 4'jit' -1f Ill",imiwi.51 EK i

called the new founders of the school. At its

Maria Spitaliorakis welcomes visitors to Open Day.

beginning, the Loreto order purchased the site and provided the resources and person-

1970's. Now we see a talented lay staffand a

committed band of parents carrying on the work; in a real sense they continue to found the school.

The establishment of a School Council at

Mandeville in August 1992, marks the beginning of another phase of the IBVM's com-

mitment to the school. We endorse and will

contribute to this new phase, confident that the school will continue to exhibit those same

Deirdre Rofe IBVM

Provincial Superior 3rd June 1992

Visitors being guided around the School.

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