Sr Sylvia Williams RSM

Rina Prinzi (left), Sr Sylvia Williams (middle) and College Principal Mary Farah (right) at the 135 Year St Aloysius Day Celebrations Sylvia Williams, St Aloysius School Ball, 1960 (when school balls were Girls Only!)

Alumni Profile

SR SYLVIA WILLIAMS RSM

I commenced at St Aloysius College as a Year 9 student in 1959. At that time the College was 72 years old – just over half of the age it is today. Yes, it was a long time ago. So, what was it like? There were not as many buildings as there are today. The site was not as attractive as it is today. The uniform was different – we wore pale blue dresses in summer, navy tunic with white shirt & college tie in winter, blazers, hats, gloves and stockings, and we wore a wrap-around pinafore every day while at school. I travelled to school as you do – by bus from Footscray – it was a white bus and we called it the hospital bus, as after it dropped us at school it continued on with passengers going to the hospitals around the city – or by train to Flemington Bridge station after my family moved to Fawkner. On commencing Year 9, we had to choose either an Academic course (Science or Humanities) or a Commerce course (Typing, Shorthand and Accounting at Year 11 & 12) and courses could not be mixed.

Some subjects did not exist. Physical Education, Outdoor Education, Information Technology, Food Technology, Wood Technology, Physics, Drama, Instrumental Music and Electives did not exist. And of course, there was no Torquay or any school camps in those days and very few excursions. But most schools were the same.

Class sizes were large – between 50 & 60 students in each and teachers taught all day – all preparation and correction was done outside of school hours. There were many Sisters on the staff. Not all staff were Sisters, however all were female. I can remember the excitement when a man joined the staff when I was in Year 11, to replace a Sister who was ill. He taught Maths, but it must have been difficult for him.

On St Aloysius Day, we were privileged to host Sr Sylvia Williams. Sr Sylvia has dedicated her life to the Mercy values. First as a student of St Aloysius College, then as a Sister of Mercy and after that spending 30 years as a school principal in various schools. Sr Sylvia has been the Director of the Board of Mercy Education for the past 6 years and Chair of the Board for the past 4 years and announced her retirement in 2022. Below, Sr Sylvia reflects on a life of Mercy.

We did have athletic sports held in Royal Park and the College had netball teams that played at the weekends. I was in Padua House. There were lunchtime activities – I belonged to a drama group and a social justice group. I enjoyed being at school and was never bored.

When I left school I worked in a bank. I had never thought of joining the Sisters of Mercy when I was at school, however after six months or so of working in the bank I decided that there must be more to life. I really wanted to do some work where I could make a difference and so decided that I wanted to be a teacher. Some months later I decided that I wanted to be a Sister of Mercy as well. That was a decision that I have never regretted. Sisters of Mercy have been involved in Education in Australia for over 175 years, starting with their arrival in Perth in 1846. Eleven years later some Sisters came to Victoria and started by opening the Academy in Fitzroy, and then St Aloysius College followed in 1887 – 135 years ago. Since their arrival in 1846, Sisters of Mercy have taught in at least 540 schools across Australia. We are all part of that amazing history. I am very happy that I attended St Aloysius College and I hope that each member of the College community, be it as a student, parent or staff member, is very proud that they too are part of the rich history of St Aloysius College. I have been a Director and Chair of the Mercy Education Board for the past six years. One of the most important decisions we made during that time is to introduce co-education to St Aloysius College from next year. Planning has been underway for four years, the announcement was made two & a half years ago, and detailed planning has been happening ever since. Now co-education is only two terms away and families in this part of Melbourne will now have the choice of co-education – a choice they have never had.

I would like to especially say to the current students of St Aloysius, that the Mercy Education Board, the College Advisory Council and the staff are aware that for the next five years, all of you as you advance to Year 12, will still be in classes with girls and will not be greatly impacted by the boys who enrol, or co-education as such. Everyone is committed to you to make sure you receive the best education

Sylvia Williams, St Aloysius College, Year 9, 1959

Sylvia Williams (The Ghost!) and Joan Roper. St Aloysius College 1960 or 1961, Drama Group Activity

Sylvia Williams, St Aloysius School Ball, 1961 possible with as many opportunities as possible. So as the College gradually changes, the long and proud history of offering an excellent education to young women will not change. You will however, be part of a special period in the history of the College as it changes from girls only to co-education. For 30 years I was privileged to be Principal of four different schools – all those schools were co-educational. Each school mirrored real life where women and men work together, study, socialise and make up families. It has been my experience that by sharing classes and other school activities, young women and men learn to appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They come to realise that they are equal, but different; learn to listen to each other and to treat each other with respect. You the students here today have all been presented with Mercy values of compassion, courage, hospitality, justice, respect and service – it is my hope for you that you carry these values with you through life, in your family situation, in whatever work you do, with your friends and with all whom you come in contact. These Mercy values do not change or become obsolete, and are just as applicable to boys as to girls. Thank you for the invitation to be part of your celebration of 135 years and your College Feast Day. Best wishes to each person for the rest of this year and a special thank you to staff members for your commitment & efforts during the past two & a half years.

I look forward to hearing about St Aloysius College and its students in the years ahead. Remember the College motto “Born for Higher Things” and as on your website ‘Be curious, become brilliant’.