Page 23 - Bulletin 13 2009

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that school was established. It was Springfield which footed the bill for the construction
of the convent, at a cost of £5400-12s-8d. This amount did not have not to be repaid,

nor had any interest to be paid. Bazaars and fetes were held regularly at Springfield to
augment the building fund.

On 24 January 1908, a mere eleven days after the opening of the convent, Mother
Joseph (principal) and Sister Benignus agreed to open a small white private school,

which took place without pomp or ceremony. There were a total of ten children, who
were placed in a small dining room, for morning classes only. The ten children who

attended that day were: May & Rose Scowen (from Scowen’s Hotel), Lily, Nellie and
Tommy Heath, Eric and Ethel Sauerlander, Rita Spence, Daisy Pillow and Rhoda

Bailey (eight girls and two boys who were brothers of the girls).

Within a year the class of 1908 had increased to twenty-one, with a further seven girls

and four boys giving a school roll of fifteen girls and six boys. The staff was increased

to three nuns and a few secular teachers, with additional art, drawing and elocution
classes.

In 1910 Monica Dolphin was admitted as the first girl border. Another four boarders

followed later that year. In 1911 Jack - (surname unknown) became the first boy
boarder. The sluice-gates were now open and after 1912 the entire concept of the

convent changed - it was no longer a convalescent centre for sick sisters, but a feeder

school for Springfield. Classes were extended past Standard Two, and twelve boy
boarders and twenty girl boarders now occupied the original sleeping apartments

(‘cells’), the dining-room was converted into a dormitory, and the balcony, with the use
of heavy sailcloth, was converted into a dining-room which was used between meals as

a class-room.

Still the children arrived and as the facilities became more crowded so instructions were

given to Mother Hyacinth, the Principal, to send away boy boarders. They were to board