FROM THE ARCHIVES

SANCTA’S COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Community has always been an important part of Sancta’s make-up. The sense of community that exists is something many students – past and present – remember when they reflect on their time at Sancta.

One aspect of ‘community’ which has been evident throughout Sancta’s history has been the College’s involvement with community-based charity work. In the early years of the College, students supported the work of St Anthony’s Home Croydon, which was run by the Society of St Vincent De Paul. It was a home for unmarried pregnant women and cared for them and their babies for up to 12 months after the birth. Mothers then chose whether to keep their child or adopt the child to the Home. In 1928, Sancta students instituted a “Poor Box” at the beginning of the year, and the proceeds were donated to St Anthony’s. Voluntary contributions, and “involuntary contributions made by late-sleepers on the Sabbath” amounted to £2/9/3 raised by Easter (which was used to purchase “woollies for the babies”), and a further £2/7/3 between Easter and October from which toys, sweets and cash were donated to the Home.

The College Magazine of 1935 reported that the “activities of the Committee for Charities were… again directed towards a successful afternoon’s entertainment for the children of St Anthony’s Home, Croydon.” Sancta students took gifts of sweets, toys and fruit to be distributed to the children. In 1945, students went to great lengths to make toys for the

children: Sophomores made wooden toys, while Freshers and Seniors “engaged in more ladylike tasks” making felt rabbits and rag dolls for their annual visit to St Anthony’s.

Fast forward a few decades and the College’s connection with St Vincent de Paul Society remained strong. The 1998 Magazine reported that Sancta students were involved with a number of projects including volunteering at Matthew Talbot Hostel, and preparing Christmas hampers (containing toys and food) for underprivileged kids in Glebe. Sancta’s other charitable works included raising money for the Suicide Prevention Centre in Sydney and the Rape Crisis Centre and collecting for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.

Perhaps Sancta’s community spirit can be best summed up by these words from Hannah Tancred, Social Welfare Secretary 1998: “There are so many ways the ladies of Sancta express their concern for others on a day-to-day basis. It is one of the wonderful things about living at Sancta.”

Dr Tracy Bradford

Archivist

CELEBRATING THE 0s

Throughout 2020 we will be celebrating and sharing memories of our alumni cohorts who commenced at Sancta in years ending in ‘0’. Tables for these cohorts have been reserved at the Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards on Saturday May 23 2020. Get your friends together and purchase tickets at sancta.edu.au