Late last year, we were pleased to welcome back to campus past students John and Harry de Wit for a tour of their old school. John and Harry attended CBC up until 1972, when their family chose to return to their parents’ hometown Eindhoven, Netherlands. At the time John was 15 and in Form IV, and Harry was 13 and in Form I.
John and Harry’s family may be remembered by many as they had a local cleaning business in Warrnambool: De Wit’s Cleaning Service. One of their clients was CBC, and John in particular recalls helping his family with the task of cleaning the campus at the end of the school day.
With both boys attending CBC from Grade 3 they had many vivid memories of the classrooms and the Brothers, particularly the stark contrast in education style they met on arrival in the Netherlands.
John spent a long time working for electrical giant Philips where he became a Software Engineer. This ended up leading to working for many different companies all over Europe, and most recently has brought him back to Australia to live.
Younger brother, Harry started out life post school as a chef, before moving into working as a labour negotiator. Harry has held several senior positions with union FNV Horecabond (Hospitality & Catering Union) and is currently the head negotiator for the collective agreements in contract catering.
Over recent month visitors to the Warrnambool Art Gallery have been able to see a world class exhibition LISA GORMAN + MIRKA MORA: To breathe with the rhythm of the heart.
A celebration of both Australian art and fashion history, the contemporary design exhibition drew together colour and textiles to show illusion, other worldliness, and experimental production techniques, all while highlighting the pivotal role fashion and textiles played in both artists’ daily lives.
The exhibition featured select garments from their iconic 2016 and 2018 collaborations, together with Mirka’s rarely exhibited tapestries and neon ink works from the 1980s, renowned hypofictional doll-like creatures and beloved soft sculptures, works on paper and never-before-seen paintings directly from the Estate of Mirka Mora. When walking through the displays of colour and tapestry, it took all of your self-control to no reach out and touch them.
We congratulate Lisa for not only bringing this extraordinary collection together, but for premiering it here in Warrnambool.
Lisa Gorman founded fashion label Gorman in 1999. Her vibrant and collaborative designs lead to her becoming one of Australia’s most recognisable fashion labels.
Earlier this Term we helped support a unique anniversary – the reunion of a trio of staff with a unique bond that began on February 6, 1974. Karen Kelly, now Karen Kelly-Kiss, had been recruited to teach at St Ann’s College by Sr Eileen Ann Daffy during a trip to the US.
Ms. Kelly, then 25, always up for adventure, applied and soon found herself on the other side of the world in Warrnambool. Here she taught English and History to Year 9 & 10, along with Year 11 American History. She then returned to the US for a year and a half. Later, she came back to Australia, spending time in Shepparton before settling in Geelong, where she married and had children.
Joined by Sr Eileen Ann on her reunion tour of the College, the pair recounted many treasured memories, including flight experiences from the 70’s, fellow staff Pam Fleming and Delma Clapp, and how students had taught her how to pronounce the word Viscount.
“I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains…” — these immortal lines, penned by Dorothea Mackellar, have remained with us for generations. Yet, while her words are etched into our collective memory, the story of the poet herself has remained largely unknown – until now. Deborah FitzGerald (Class of 1981) has brought Mackellar’s story to the forefront with her latest literary work, a biography titled, “Her Sunburnt Country: The Extraordinary Life of Dorothea Mackellar.”
Approached by Mackellar’s family to write her official biography, Deborah quickly discovered a gap in literary exploration. “I was surprised to learn there had been very little written about the poet who gave us the iconic line ‘I love a sunburnt country’,” she remarks.
Deborah’s journey into Mackellar’s life began during her pursuit of a Doctor of Arts at the University of Sydney. Her resulting thesis and work garnered acclaim from the university and beyond, paving the way for this groundbreaking biography.
Throughout her research, Deborah was granted unprecedented access to Mackellar’s diaries and letters housed at the Mitchell Library (part of the State Library of NSW). The contents revealed that Mackellar from a young age having a fascination in the Australian landscape. Deborah was also able to delve into the myths surrounding the origin of Mackellar’s iconic poem, “My Country.”
Reflecting on the enduring impact of Mackellar’s work, Deborah notes, “It’s still quoted today despite being over 100 years old.” Her biography not only sheds light on the woman behind the words but also reaffirms the significance of Mackellar’s contribution to Australian literature.