SPIRITUALITY

Shared values, stories and songs

The stories of our lives are myriad and unique.

For each member of our Perth College Community through its history, only God and the individuals concerned know the depth and complexity of their own stories. And yet, for all our particularities, we, as humans from this community share so much in common. We have shared values, shared stories, shared songs and shared understandings of what it means to be a member of the Perth College Community.

During Term Three Chapel Services we have been reminded of the particular story of Sister Rosalie and her strong sense of calling. How, as a young woman, she resisted the distractions her father placed in front of her to follow her calling to become a member of the Community of the Sisters of the Church.

We have also reflected on the way she lived out that calling, in her care of the students here. Sister Rosalie demonstrated that she was capable, courageous and caring in all her dealings with members of our community. She too appreciated each individual’s story and encouraged students to be the best version of themselves in this world.

REVEREND JOANNA COLGAN, ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN; VICTORIA (YEAR 12), OUR 2022 SACRISTAN; BISHOP KATE WILMOT; MAGGIE MCPHEE (ACTING HEAD OF STAFF GROWTH AND ENGLISH TEACHER) AND REVEREND LINDA PILTON, CHAPLAIN OUTSIDE THE PERTH COLLEGE CHAPEL AFTER THE BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION OF VICTORIA AND MS MCPHEE.

One of the privileges of my role in this community is that I get to encounter and guide current and past students during significant parts of their stories. This year it has been an honour to organise and conduct services of baptism, confirmation, marriage and even funerals.

As we grow, as we celebrate and as we grieve, the individual threads of our own stories are interwoven into the narrative of the whole community. Each thread supporting and giving meaning to the next. May we continue to value each other's stories.

Reverend Linda Pilton

CHAPLAIN

As we grow, as we celebrate and as we grieve, the individual threads of our own stories are interwoven into the narrative of the whole community. Each thread supporting and giving meaning to the next. May we continue to value each other's stories.

Striving for inclusion

Kay Goldsworthy blazes a trail from Chaplain to Archbishop

This year Perth College celebrates trailblazers, including honorary Old Girl Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy, one of a group of 10 women who were the first to be ordained Anglican Priests in Australia 30 years ago.

Archbishop Kay moved to Perth from Melbourne in 1988 to become Chaplain of Perth College. The Perth College Principal was Judith Cottier, Archbishop Kay was training for ministry, was newly married and had no school experience.

According to Built on Faith, Principal Judith Cottier, who regarded the term “eccentric” as a compliment, was thrilled to welcome then Deacon Kay Goldsworthy as new Perth College chaplain.

“I believe it is very appropriate that a school, whose founders pioneered women’s ministry in Western Australia, should have a woman as chaplain,” Mrs Cottier said then. Fast forward four years to 1992 when then Archbishop of Perth, Dr Peter Carnley, made history as a great supporter of the “amazingly strong” movement to ordain women.

The very first ordination of women priests in the Anglican Church in Australia, scheduled to take place in Canberra in February 1992, was delayed by a court challenge.

In WA, however, an 11th hour challenge was not upheld. Dr Carnley was able to ordain one man and all 10 of his WA women candidates, including Archbishop Goldsworthy and PC Old Girl Judith Peterkin (1959). And after the first 10, the floodgates opened. “Around the country, 92 women were ordained in 1992,” Archbishop Kay says. “It was a pretty significant step.” In her more recent reflections, Archbishop Kay says the Church is always calling us to live in the future. “Patience and persistence are two hallmarks of leadership,” she says. Archbishop Kay says she loves the story of the courageous Sisters arriving at Fremantle with nowhere to stay and starting Perth College.

“I don’t think Perth College has lost its audacity – (it has produced) a lot of audacious, strong women working in so many areas around justice and inclusion, opening new spaces for women as leaders and caring and striving for good in the world,” Archbishop Kay says.

Helen Shield

THEN PERTH COLLEGE CHAPLAIN KAY GOLDSWORTHY WITH PC STUDENTS AND HER NEWBORN TWINS IN 1990.