Time for some Newman Nostalgia! It’s our last for the term, but we’ll be back in a couple of weeks!
One of Newman College’s antecedent schools was Our Lady of Victories (Brigidine) Primary School on the corner of Simper and Cambridge Streets, Wembley. Built in 1948 this parish school opened in February 1949 with 135 children from Kindergarten to Year 6 (soon extended to Year 7), staffed by Brigidine Sisters and lay teachers.
With its name shortened to OLV, this school holds a very special place in the hearts of our alumni. Many little ones called it LOV - and love their school and teachers, they did!
The girls' uniform was a two-pleated dress of royal blue with a matching blouse, white socks and black shoes. The boys wore a grey melange suit, tie and white shirt, grey socks and black shoes.
Former teacher, Sister Eileen Creagh, who taught at OLV from 1949 to 1953, shared her memories with Sister Dorothea Hickey only last year:
"Sister Dolores taught First Year and Kindies ... She also taught Piano and the School Choir. Mother Joan was Principal with a solid background of training and experience in the State system. She was fair and just, an excellent teacher of low-voiced discipline, and a no-nonsense character. She expected, and got, the best."
The building's facade, parallel to Cambridge Street, was about 20m from the road. In the space between the school and the road Sister Eileen used to take between 60 and 80 pupils for drill every day at 11am, with her black habit tucked up at the waist to show her feet. "Motorists would pull up [at the intersection] and see me doing 'Jumping Jacks'!"
Sister Eileen said they were incredibly lucky - spoilt by beautiful students who’d work hard to earn a shiny gold star on their homework. They all had lovely parents, and their priest constantly assured them they were doing well. "We seldom needed to punish a pupil, and Mother Joan had a good system of allowing the class with the most percentage of homework done well, to go home fifteen minutes early on Fridays."
Sister Eileen returned to Sydney in 1953 after five years with OLV. "We were a happy group,” she said, "and lived in accord with Our Holy Founder, Daniel Delaney’s motto: 'Love God, and live together in peace and charity'. I loved those years, and I hope my pupils did too, and lived profitable, happy lives."
The Wembley school continued educating local children until 1982 when OLV and St Joseph’s Brigidine School on the corner of Station Street and Salvado Road, Wembley, closed their doors. All students and staff from both schools were then relocated to the old Brigidine College site in Peebles Road, Floreat, where, in 1983, they amalgamated and reopened as St Joseph’s School, Floreat, under Principal Sister Bernice Tonkin, an alumni of Brigidine Secondary School, Wembley.
In 1984, the school reopened as Newman College Junior School (now Newman College Marian Campus).
The church next door to the old OLV is still there, but not the school itself. Brigidine Sisters and former staff were invited to a farewell event held there before it was demolished for housing in 2004.
Are you one of our former students of Our Lady of Victories Primary School? Tag, comment below, or email archives@newman.wa.edu.au - we’d love to be in touch!
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With thanks to Sister Dorothea Hickey (1955), Sophia Gatti (Wisniewska 1961) and the Town of Cambridge Local History Collection, for these stunning photos!
