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Journal of the Slade and St Catharine’s Past Students Association Volume 200 Issue
REUNION REPORT
Amazing as it may seem, a group of sixties graduates from St Catharine’s met recently in Warwick to satisfy a fetish to experience a Nun’s life. Not only did they act out that experience, they also re-enacted how the Sisters must have coveted a life outside their roles of service to God and the girls of St Catharine’s CEGS Warwick. The following photographs taken by a private detective reveals the true desires of the Secret Society of Sisters of the Sacred Advent as channeled by these past students.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Sister Lois (aka Jimi Hendrix)
ARE YOU LONELY TONIGHT?
Sis. Rowena (aka Elvis Presley) - Photos by Staff Photograper – Helen (Robb) Moloney
Official media photograph sent to Kinawah to cover the real purpose for their desperate mission. (Note: Golden Labrador at bottom right)
The motley crew of Sister Wannabes mill outside the doors of the Abbey unaware they are being photographed by a Golden Labrador “plant” with a camera hidden in its nether regions. Next Issue: The true nature of this creepy venture will be revealed.
The official version (by Margaret (Ree) Stewart is as follows:
We needed 16 girls for our Hollywood Murder Mystery Night at the Abbey of the Roses in Warwick. The Abbey is where the Catholic Nuns used to live. It is now a wedding and function centre surround-ed by peaceful well kept gardens. After booking in, we strolled down to Mytton House past Glover House and the Office House. Here we were met by Edwin and Suzanne Ridley. Their young daughters served us a Devonshire Tea with lovely fruit scones with jam and cream. A reporter from the Free Times Newspaper arrived to photo-
THE ROSE BY NO OTHER NAME
Sis. Angela (aka Janis Joplin)
THAT’S THE MOST REDICULOUS THING I’VE EVER HEARD
Sis. Moira (aka Groucho Marx)
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Sis. Julian (aka Judy Garland)
(Above Photos – Helen Moloney)
graph us. Edwin warned us when we arrived not to creep around the back due to onging restoration work. However, we all wanted to see where the laundry was and where we lined up for meals so we grad-ually found our way there. The Ridleys have restored the dining room beautifully and it is just as we remembered only smaller (How did we all fit in?). Later we stood on the verandah, remembering the exact spots where our beds were when we were Juniors. Back at the Abbey, lots of giggles could be heard in the corridor as we all dressed up for dinner. Guests included Elvis (Jean Gordon), Janis Joplin (Helen Robb), Bruce Lee (Judy Gillam), Groucho Marx (Helen Jack-son), Judy Garland (Jocelyn Wright), Jimi Hendrix (Lyn Stower), John Wayne (Lesley Baker-Finch), Bob Marley (Pam Aldridge), Fred Astaire (June Yates), Ginger Rogers (Jan Aldridge), Patsy Cline (Margaret Ree), Rita Hayworth (Margaret Stabler), Lucille Ball (Margaret Fraser) and Marilyn Monroe (Tina Richards). All the girls did a great job with wigs and costumes. During the meal, we were given parts to read. Apparently, we were all invited to a party by a millionaire who was murdered just before proceedings began. The doctor (Gloria Cooper) examined his injuries and we were all sus-pects. Everyone said what they thought of the victim. No one had kind words for him as he had ruined reltionships and bought celebrit-ies with his money. After a delicious first course, we had to say why we had props with us. Bruce Lee was a prime suspect as his hard kung-fu balls were obviously used to kill the victim. The policeman (Djanen McDougall) did a marvellous job trying to extract information from us all. Elvis was a hot suspect as he had a wooden heart. Everyone then burst into song (Kitty Gladwell would have been so proud of us) Lyn Stower then lead the singing of Pedro the Fisher-man ( A Crothers House song). She amazed us by knowing every word of every verse. After taking copious notes, we had to name the murderer, best actor and best dressed. Gloria Cooper was the only one who guessed Jimi Hendrick did it. Best dressed was Elvis and best actor went to Jimi Hendricks. “Buck Toothed Mandy” with rollers in her hair did a great job keeping the show moving. French waiters (accents included) served us at the table. Next Morning, breakfast (bacon eggs) was served in another section. It was a lovely casual atmosphere and we were able to catch up more with friends. Some wandered through the Abbey's grounds where there were local mar-kets. Marg Fraser spotted a Patsy Cline CD so she purchased it for me to remember the night by. On parting, everyone agreed the occasion was well worth the travelling. Full points must go to Margaret Stabler who drove all the way from Rocky.
The Sydney “Push” Reunion.
From Left: Brian Self, John Casey, Steve Rowan, Niel Quirk and Richard Harvey
Photograph supplied by Cub Reporter – Steve Rowan
(From Page 3) Sunday, 8th February, I had Steve Rowan along with John Casey, Richard Harvey, Brian and Denise Self at our abode for lunch. Unfortunately, Glynn & Margaret Blackwood and Ted & Leonie Ross could not join us. Whilst here, Steve called Keith Dan and Adrian Charles and we all had a talk with them. Quite a reunion especially as we have not seen John Casey for a number of years.
John came to Slade in 1942 from All Souls Charters Towers (this school like Slade no longer exists) Editor’s Note: The school was pur-chased by the town council, like Slade, and was made into a private school which runs successfully today.
When war/Japanese threatened Australia, John did his Senior at Slade and went on to the University of Queensland (UQ). Normally he lives in Canberra but came to Sydney for a break.
(Report by Cromer Corres-pondent, Niel Quirk)
COMMITTEE REPORT
The next meeting won’t be scheduled until May when full details about the AGM Reun-ion on the Sunshine Coast will be revealed. Meantime, please email Margaret Stewart on or call Margaret on 07 4630 7229 to reserve your seats on the bus.
NEWS FLASH
PAPER SHREDS JOBS
The largest newspaper con-glomerate in the world is re-sponding to the global finan-cial crisis in a predictable man-ner. “RUPERT MURDOCH has flagged more job cuts at News Corp and a 30 per cent slide in profits this year, warning the company is witnessing ‘the worst global economic crisis’ since he start-ed building his global media empire more than 50 years ago.” – Sydney Morning Herald (07/02/2009). Behind every corporate announce-ment is a human consequence soon forgotten and rarely seen in context. It is widely known in Queensland Newspapers’ circles that twenty people will lose their jobs in Brisbane alone and many, par-ticularly middle management, are waiting in trepidation for the inevitable axe to fall. There are four methods in which a business can cut its workforce – voluntary redundancies, forced redundancies, resignations and sackings. In order, voluntary redundancies are the most expensive with resigna-tions being the least expensive. It is well-known that management of corporations, large and small, often make life difficult for those it wishes would leave in the hope they will voluntarily pack up and go. And it sometimes works especially if a worker does not have a union who will back him or her up. Those who have found work elsewhere often resign in anticipation of finding a happier workplace. For those that hang on, management’s next option is to set up a series of complaints of incompetency against those they wish to remove. Through the process of “three strikes and you’re out”, they are able to lawfully fire their longest serving and highest paid employees so avoiding expensive redundancy payouts. This stick is usually accompanied with a carrot – e.g., an offer of a few extra weeks pay if a letter of resignation is received, a tacit agreement to accept the bribe and move on. Under these circumstances management have even been known to offer a glowing reference to help their now past employee find another job as long as he or she leaves quietly. All this is done to avoid protracted and costly court battles and to avoid the huge redundancy packages they would otherwise be obliged to pay. In mass retrenchments as presently envisaged by Murdoch Papers, this would cost many millions of dollars as Fairfax discovered recently.
One of the longest serving journalists of a large circulation newspaper in Queensland was recently sacked for “incompetency” after over forty years with the same newspaper. Not only did he serve as sub-editor for a major section of the newspaper, but had his own column , which ran for a record thirty-five years continuously - so much for incompetency. A past student of Slade and the highest academic achiever of his graduation year, his superannuation now reduced to half its value, a result of the global financial crisis; his retirement not due for several years; he has been thrown on the employment scrap heap in the most brutal and reprehensible manner by a newspaper that is not backward in coming forward to declare its moral virtues as an advocate for human rights and society’s democratic values. Even the Australian Journalists Association to whom he loyally paid his dues for his entire career, offered no support. In fact, its representative advised our old boy to send the requested letter of resignation and collect a paltry pound of his own flesh without passing “Go”. This came at the same time as receiving advice by his union not to bring a wrongful dismissal action against the newspaper, as the AJA rep stated, “It is unlikely the case would be won because of the weight of legal resources available to the newspaper and the fact that none of your co-workers would have the courage to stand up and support you.”
Even Kinawah is fearful of naming the newspaper involved due to its reputation for silencing critics. Is this newpaper so powerful, it can even muzzle a large representative union? Has the newspaper done a deal with the union? Surely the union’s responsibility is to look at all cases of wrongful dismissal. There have been two other recent cases of dismissal from the same newspaper with similar MOs already and no doubt there will be more. So much for a union that accepted its members’ dues without reservation and shows absolutely no support in their moment of greatest need. It seems everyone surrounding this sorry tale hasn’t the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing. An action for wrongful dismissal should be pursued with vigour for all our sakes. As the corporal in “Dad’s Army” used to say, “They don’t like it up ‘em!” (Editorial)
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Journal of the Slade and St Catharine’s Past Students Association Volume 200 Issue
YOUR URLWWW.SSPSA.COM.AU
THE ‘GOSS’
Make The Goss more inter-esting and informative by contacting the Editor on 07 3206 2777 or by email: to let us know what’s doing with our past students.
Rumour that a past St Cath’s student has been taking advantage of Queensland’s “State of the Art” hospital system has been confirmed. Since rents have escalated, Gwenda Sorensen has found that hospital has proven a much cheaper option and has been taking advantage of long waiting lists, short operating schedules and subsidised rent since last May. Thank heavens for health insurance. The bill would have been well over $30,000! Finally gaining upmarket accommodation at the Wesley, Gwenda topped off her stay with a hip replacement on Boxing Day. After several weeks rehab at the Canossa Rehabilitation Centre, Gwenda was finally launched in a walking frame and sent back home on the 1st March. Two months of junk mail, bills and other commun-ications spread over Gwenda’s kitchen table may convince her to return from whence she came. However, with the aid of Transition Care, Gwenda is sure her now, at long last, painless mobility is rapidly improving. On yer, Gwenda! We look forward to catching up with you soon.
Also good news that another past student, Alex Kidd, is on the mend after a difficult op. Alec has also been doing it tough, but we look forward to catching up with him in the near future. The boys from Sydney, Self, Quirk, Casey & Co send their best wishes.
Word has it that a chaplain of some fifty-five years ago recently made a return visit to his old prayer ground at The Southport School to celebrate the Centenary of Delpratt House where he was also housemaster. Delpratt House was named after Maurice Delpratt, a WWI hero, a past student of TSS and resident of Warwick. Our chaplain had already done a stint as house-master at Slade’s Highfields House before he was ordain-ed. Oh, how time moves on! While at the Centennial Celebrations, he met the grandson of one of his stu-dents. I bet he was surpised his grandfather’s minder was once Bishop to the Australian Defence Force! I hope he didn’t think you held that position during Delpratt’s time, Patron.
SLADE CAMPUS
Despite rumours to the con-trary, Slade is a going con-cern. Kel Williamson reports that there has been lately a plethora of bookings for the campus’ use. And plans con-tinue on track for the facilities to be used as a base for a flying school.
MUSEUM REPORT
Secretary Helen Moloney, accompanied by the Museum Curator, made a flying visit to the museum to finish polishing some shields and take down an Honour Board for updating the day before she was due to fly out of Austalia for a well-earned three months tour of the world. Now that’s dedic-ation for you. El Presidento Margaret is taking the Honour Board, which lists all the past presidents of your association in to a signwriter for updating. The board has not been maintained since Marion Mackenzie was President in the early ninties. These boards are important primary sources of historical inform-ation and it’s important we keep them current.