Catherine McAuley established the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin in 1831 from funds she had received as an inheritance. When the six Sisters of Mercy set sail in 1859, on that 84 day and 10,000 mile voyage from Dublin to Australia, Catherine McAuley said, “We should be shining lamps giving light to all around us.”
Little did Catherine McAuley realise that with the opening of Sacred Heart College in 1860 by those Nuns, this Shining Irish lamp would not only shine on those many Irish, then resident in Geelong and district, but would continue to shine even more brightly today, on the descendants of those Irish immigrants, and today’s migrants from many countries.
In the 1860s shortly after the Sisters of Mercy reached Geelong, my Irish forebears migrated from County Clare leaving behind the potato famine, and poverty, to seek their fortune on the goldfields near Rokewood.
When my great-grandmother married at St Mary’s Church Geelong in 1865, she would sign the marriage certificate with a cross – she was illiterate. However the Sisters of Mercy’s shining lamps would one day give the light of education to me, so that I would not be illiterate like my great-grandmother, but would have opportunities beyond the imagination of that illiterate Irish immigrant girl.
Over the generations the girls at Sacred Heart College have had educational opportunities because of the standard of teaching by the Sisters and teachers, because of the continuing expanding subject base provided by Sacred Heart, and because of the sacrifices of their parents, and/or the generosity of others.
In the 1950s in Geelong, Michael and Mary McNamara made scholarships available to those girls who would otherwise leave school on finishing Years 8 or 9. I did not realise I had any ability, but I loved learning, and reading, and knowledge. I was attending St Marys Senior Girls School, and was being taught by Sister Lucina who must have realised that I had ability, and put me forward for a scholarship to attend Sacred Heart College. Had I not received that scholarship, I would have then left school, and most likely worked in a shop.
This scholarship was life changing for me. Subjects such as History, Geography, Art Appreciation - studying artists and their works and also Greek and Roman Architecture, and then Music Appreciation - being exposed to composers, music and orchestral works, and English literature – studying Shakespeare and Dickens. Another world had opened up for me.
The Nuns who taught me were dedicated teachers and taught their subjects with enthusiasm. Sister Mary Aquinas taught us in Year 10, in one classroom of 75 girls, and even with that number of students in the class, she inspired me, and encouraged the continuing love of learning and knowledge. I had to leave school on finishing Year 10, but because I had been given that further educational opportunity at Sacred Heart College, and because I had done the commercial subjects of typing and shorthand, I obtained work as the office junior, at Birdsey, Dedman & Bartlett, a law firm in Geelong which was established in 1898. My desire for education continued, and I attended night classes to further my knowledge in typing and shorthand.
I progressed from office junior, and as a teenager began working for Eric Bartlett, one of the partners in the firm, as his Legal Secretary. There was never a question I asked of him which went unanswered. He would often say “have a look at that law book” or “have a go at drafting this document” He was quiet, unassuming and encouraging. The area of Probate law and wills was a large part of the practice, and to me was of great interest, so much so that when I married, and left work to have children, I continued to work for the firm on Probate document preparation at home.
The love of learning had never left me. I was pregnant with our last child and suggested to my husband Anton that I wanted to go to night school and do a Certificate of Business Studies in Law. Not many men in those days would have been agreeable to such a proposition, but Anton was. Off I went to the Gordon Technical College to night school, took two weeks off classes when Damian was born, then back to night classes, while Anton looked after the children until I arrived home. I finished the course and became a Legal Executive.
By the time I completed that course and Damian had commenced primary school, Eric Bartlett suggested I return to work on a permanent basis, but with the qualification that I should work school hours so it would not affect the children. So return to work I did. During the ensuing years the desire to extend my knowledge, and to better enable me to assist the clients, saw me complete a Diploma of Financial Planning off-campus at Deakin University. I worked as a Legal Executive in the firm, met Eric Bartlett’s clients, did more and more of the work for these clients, while Eric gradually worked less, until he announced he would retire and I should just move into his room.
Although working in a senior capacity as a Legal Executive, I did not have a Law Degree, and some senior lawyers in Geelong did not always make it easy in my dealings with them.
Damian had finished secondary school and was now at University studying Commerce. My desire for knowledge had not abated, and also the desire to be recognised in the Legal Profession for the legal work I carried out.
When Deakin University opened their Law Degree in 1992, I applied for one of the six places which were available for applicants who did not have university entrance qualifications, but who had worked in the law field for an extended period of time.
On interviewing me, Professor Phillip Clarke granted me a place as a mature age student on the basis of my law work experience. I attended classes and tutorials on campus at Deakin, and worked full time scheduling my work appointments around university classes.
Attending university was a marvellous time, with tertiary study stimulating and challenging, but with much support and sharing of knowledge from fellow students. Damian finished his Commerce Degree and then commenced the Law Degree at Deakin, and we graduated in Law together.
Having completed the Law Degree I did further study and became an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates. I am now a partner in the firm of Birdsey, Dedman and Bartlett where I commenced as the office junior.
There has been a special richness in this life in the law, with clients across so many walks of life, and across so many generation of families from grandparents to their children, and their grandchildren. The area of practice in wills and estates law is a particularly sensitive area, although very rewarding when advising clients at times of stress, listening to their sorrows and on occasions sharing their joys, and endeavouring to assist them through often stressful times.
The opportunity given to me by the scholarship I received to attend Sacred Heart College, and the education the college provided, has profoundly changed my life, and the life of my family, for without this beginning all the other steps along the way of educational and professional opportunities would not have been possible. My life has been enriched by that scholarship, giving me opportunities of which I would never have been able to dream.
That inheritance used by Catherine McAuley has been a shining Irish lamp emanating from Dublin, that has continued to give light to all those girls who have attended Sacred Heart College for the past 162 years. Helen Keller said “alone we can do little, together we can do much” and this sums up what has been achieved from those beginnings in Dublin, and will continue at Sacred Heart College through future generations, by the belief and generosity of those who see benefit in scholarships and education.
Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.
Named in honour of our school’s foundress, Mother Mary Cecilia Xavier Maguire, the bequest program was established to recognise, acknowledge and thank our community members who name Sacred Heart College as a beneficiary in their Will.
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I was recently invited to speak at the launch of the school’s bequest program ‘The Cecelia Circle’ to speak about wills and bequests. I am a former student and a Wills & Estates lawyer, so it was a fitting topic for me to speak about. Bequests to the school help to fund scholarships, maintenance of the heritage buildings and new programs. These charitable contributions, whether large or small, leave a lasting legacy for the school community. In anticipation of the event, I reflected on my school years and the impact that the school had on the direction of my life.
My parents immigrated to Australia in 1984. I grew up in Corio, my father worked as a fitter and turner and my mother worked in administration at Ford. I attended Norlane West Primary School. It was a very multicultural school and I had a positive school experience, but the school was in a low socio economic area and many children did not go on to have the education and work opportunities that I have been fortunate to enjoy in my life.
Even though my family wasn’t Catholic, my parents believed that Sacred Heart College would provide an environment where I would thrive. My enrolment application was initially rejected. However, my primary school principal telephoned Sister Carmel and asked that the decision be reconsidered. He told Sister Carmel that I was a good student and that I would take advantage of all the learning opportunities that the school could offer. I got my place at the school and I am grateful to him for the potential he saw in me.
I started at the school in 1996. I loved my high school experience, I made great friends and excelled academically. The school values of social justice and courage inspired me to pursue a legal career. I graduated in 2001 and enrolled in Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University. After completing my degrees, I commenced my legal career as an articled clerk at the firm Harwood Andrews in 2007. At that time, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer, but I did not know what area of law I would practice in.
My father died in 2008, after having a heart attack. It was sudden and devastating. Around that same time, I had started working in the Wills & Estates practice area. I was meeting clients every day who were going through the most difficult season of their lives, having lost a loved one, were facing a serious health issue or dealing with family conflict. I now really understood and could empathise with their experience.
The school’s values transcend the high school years and apply equally to my work and life now. My area of practice is a personal one. Compassion, respect and hospitality are at the core of what I do. Clients entrust me with some very personal information about their families, financial situation, their health and even their fears about the future. It is both rewarding and challenging to be a lawyer. It is a career where your learning is continuous; you are always expanding your knowledge and learning new skills.
I am now one of the shareholders of Harwood Andrews and work with a team of 10 in the Wills & Estates practice. I have a partner and son who is 8 years old. Our firm has 20 shareholders, of those 7 are women and 5 of us are mothers who work part-time.
My career in the law has enabled me to serve as a director on the boards of Barwon Health, Barwon Youth (now known as Barwon Child Youth & Family) and Baysa Housing. I have enjoyed being able to apply my legal skills to oversee the governance of these organisations and influence the strategic direction of the organisations for the benefit of our local community.
I truly believe that representation matters. In the time that I have practiced law, the profession has changed considerably and continues to become more diverse, with more graduates from different cultural and social backgrounds and many more women progressing into positions of leadership. Some of my high school friends now have daughters of their own attending the school. I am excited to see to see them flourish and enjoy their school experience as I did.
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