Our celebration of Santa’s favourite day, the Feast of St Dominic, who founded the Dominican Order of Preachers in the 12th century, was held in glorious sunshine around ‘the Plot’.
This year in a particular way the school community – staff, parents, students and friends acknowledged those pioneering women who travelled on the Martha Birnie, from Kingstown in Ireland to Australia, a journey of 88 days which commenced on June 8, 1867.
The small wooden sailing ship, which was replicated on ‘the Plot’ for this year’s celebration, measured just 57 metres long. It carried 18 passengers and a crew of 28; livestock and provisions for the long voyage were also on board, as was a piano for the school the Sisters would establish. The weather and the sea were often harsh. We celebrated the faith and courage of those ‘can do’ women whose spirit lives on in our community here in Strathfield 118 years later.
Our collection to support one of the ministries of the Dominican sisters was this year for the Catherine Sullivan Centre, housed at Del Monte. It supports and educates children with a hearing loss from birth to school age through an early intervention program The collection raised over $4000.
Year 12 danced on ‘the Plot’ and crowned St Dominic ‘wonder-woman’ style, and students enjoyed a concert featuring students and a staff act.
The day was another wonderful celebration of community!
