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| M A R Y I MM A C U L AT E PA R I S H E AG L E VA L E
Yes, we did it together: mission possible. I pored
over the Newsletters for 1986 and drew out a few
significant points, unable to elaborate details here,
but written and lived in the lives and hearts of all the
wonderful foundation parents, priests, staff and of
course the very lucky foundation year children.
However, just a few thoughts: Fr. Jones coming
to help turn the first sod of soil, (I supplied the
Champagne!), beginning school at St Greg’s, using
College facilities, very slow building of the first stage
of the school, school fees $35 per child, $112 per
family per term, working bees (first one March 15,
1986), welcome certificates, birthdays, plant parties,
1st Spring Fair (Made: $5418.09 – with 120 families),
Blessing and Opening of School and Hall/Mass
Centre on the 15th August 1986 by Bishop Murray,
disco nights, car rallies, fashion parades, school
assemblies, bonnet parades, sport carnivals, Green &
Gold Cabaret, delivery of telephone books, developing
school based curriculum and many school ‘religious
based’ celebrations. St. Mary’s was alive and well –
history and tradition were in the making.
So what we began as an educational and parish faith
mustard seed has grown and developed into a mighty
vineyard of what we see and celebrate now in 2016.
Yes, we have much to celebrate, much to remember,
much to be thankful for in a special way this year.
To conclude, I’d like to recall what I wrote in 1986:
“Christ is the foundation of the whole educational
enterprise in our Catholic school. The challenge to
us as a school is to make Christ a reality to children,
the parents, local community and ourselves. We are
a school of faith, a community of believers united in
Christ.”
May St. Mary’s School continue to live and celebrate
the school motto and make it a reality for future
generations as we say together: “Christ, be our Way
and Life.”
B
irthdays, anniversaries, jubilees are very
important in the life of us all. We need to
celebrate; we need to remember to appreciate
just where we have been and the importance of
beginnings.
In 1985 Br. Kieran, Provincial of the Marist
Brothers came to St. Thomas More School in Ruse
where I was teaching. He said: “Phil, we want you
to begin a new school in Eagle Vale.”
A simple request from on high. I was of course
very honoured, surprised and excited at the
challenge of such a venture.
I immediately set to work. I can recall getting a
rather large piece of paper and prepared a diagram
trying to identify just what constitutes a school.
These days of course there would be committees
and task forces for all these functions.
Schools are about people, not buildings and so I
needed to advertise and interview interested staff.
That exercise alone would fill up pages. Eventually
I had a team of wonderful, creative, energetic
and talented people who we will never forget:
Teresita Borthwick, MaryWells, Tricia Rogers,
Tina Murray, Sister Margaret Lanigan and Debbie
Meddows. Then of course in the new parish we
had wonderful priests, Fr Tony Maher OMI and Fr
Vince Ryan OMI. And the list goes on….
I knew I wasn’t alone – I had the support of the
Marists, Wollongong CEO, Education Department,
local Priests and an amazing group of excited
foundation year staff, parents and children.
This was a joint family effort of beginning both
a new parish and school. So 1986 was a Year we
will never forget – a year of beginnings, creating
community, celebrating and working hard as
a team. We can be extremely proud of those
foundation efforts.
Mr Phil Slattery
Foundation Principal St Mary’s Primary School Eagle Vale (AKA: Br Philip)