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and unimaginative for the cooking was done by young lay-sisters who had little experience, and

with the limited means available, found the going difficult. A small farmyard at the back of the
convent housed hens, chickens, ducks, geese and a pig, which died when the “hokkie”constructed

for him collapsed - much to the anger of father Duignam.

Thus the arrival of the weekly “Springfield cart”, which brought fresh fruit, vegetables, bread,
butter and milk, was most welcome. Hamper presents from the local hoteliers, especially Mr.

Stansfield of the St. James Hotel and Mr. Scowen of Scowens Hotel, Muizenberg - both of whom

had daughters in the convent in 1909 - were also most welcome. The local Filipino fisherfolk
also provided fresh fish, curries, pickled fish and other marine delicacies, which were greatly

appreciated.

There were between 15 and 20 sisters at the Convent and, although the recreational facility was

important, it gradually gave way to the educational requirements. These requirements made
significant inroads into the Convent almost from the day the building was completed, and it

within less than 4 years of opening the Convent only housed nun teachers and boarders. The
recuperation by the sea for weary sisters from the “dry wastelands of the north” ceased, and by

1914 Star of the Sea was a fully fledged school from kindergarten to matric.

The Educational Convent

The educational aspect of the Convent was never initially planned by Father Duignam or Bishop

Rooney. It simply occurred once the facility of a Convent was available. Father Duignam’s
drawing of 1906 did not provide for any facilities for classrooms and, when the small white

private school of about a dozen children opened in 1908, the dining room was used for these

morning classes. He never conceived of the idea of anything larger. The result was that as the
Convent changed from recreational to educational considerable improvisation and adjustments

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