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1899
23 September 1899
ST. MATTHEW'S CONVENT.
St. Matthew's Convent, Mudgee, was founded from Bathurst in 1874. Writing of the establishment of the Sisters of Mercy at the time, the local chronicles under date November 6, 1874, says:- "On Wednesday last the nuns, six in number, arrived here about 6 o'clock in the evening, having been driven from the railway station at Wallerawang by the Rev. J. O'Donovan (now Monsignor O'Donovan), whose expertness as a 'whip' is so conspicuous that we feel constrained to say the ladies in question could hardly have been committed to the care, during their travelling tour, of a more able driver. "' The nuns, five in number, were under the supervision of the Rev. Superioress of the Bathurst Convent, Sister Ignatius, a sister of Most Rev. Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel. The premises temporarily used as a convent and school were situated in Court-street, in the west end of the town. The building, which was owned by Mr. S. A. Blackman, J.P., was a single-storied brick cottage of twelve rooms, with a verandah in front, having a neat little railing, and another verandah behind. "With one of the ablest masters in the Western, district (Mr. C. Kevin)," writes the same local authority at the time referred to, "in command of the Catholic denominational school, and such zealous and experienced teachers as the nuns to impart instruction to the feminine sex, it may truly be said that the educational requirements of the Catholics of the Mudgee district are well looked after, and although the consciousness of having achieved a good work and an approving conscience are the best rewards for having done so, it is a matter of simple duty to state that it is chiefly owing to the persevering efforts put forth by Father O'Donovan that a convent has been established in Mudgee. Many a clergyman less fertile in resource, less energetic in character, would fear to attempt an undertaking involving so many serious considerations." The writer at the time bears testimony to the zealous and praiseworthy efforts made by Father O'Donovan, and Miss O'Donovan (afterwards Mrs. James Loneragan, whose death was so recently recorded), and a contingent of Mudgee young ladies, to render the new home of the nuns attractive. As years rolled on, Monsignor O'Donovan laboured hard towards the erection of a convent suitable to the growing needs of our Catholic people. His efforts have been crowned with success, and the fine convent-schools, and handsome church and presbytery stand out as an enduring monument to the worthy efforts put forth by Monsignor O'Donovan and the laity. In the company of his reverence and the Rev. Mother we were shown through the convent and various schools, and I must say that these schools - boarding and day schools - are well equipped. The Sisters of Mercy have been eminently successful in teaching all branches of knowledge requisite to the proper education of young ladies. The convent is a fine two-story edifice with slate roof. As the Rev. Mother led us through the convent schools and described the purpose of each, she told the routine of each day's scholastic work. Then the Rev. Mother led the way upstairs where, in snow-white dormitories, the young girls slept at night, beneath the calm eyes of pictured saints. On going along the corridors we caught glimpses of the narrow cells, very simply furnished. There is here a nice chapel, and, small though it is, it is tastefully fitted up, into which the sun was pouring rich rays through the stained glass windows. A glimpse through the plainly furnished sitting-room upstairs revealed a splendid view of the town, and through each window crept the odour of flowers and the sweet spring air, which makes the birds build and the blossoms break. The ladies' high school is on the ground floor; here the young ladies were busily engaged at their lessons. Retracing our steps through the fine stained glass door leading from the high school into a wide passage to the front entrance, we enter the spacious garden. Here are nicely-laid-out walks and flower beds, shaded and scented. At one end of the grounds is a neat oratory of rustic woodwork, and right against the convent wall a tall pepper-tree kept silent sentinelship. Out on the open we noticed one Sister surrounded by a group of girls, energetically talking (it was play hour), all grouped around her like wind-tossed white flowers. We next went through the primary schools. They are roomy and well ventilated. There are over 200 pupils attending the convent schools, which are four in number, namely: - The Ladies' High School, the Sacred Heart School, and St. Joseph's Primary Schools for boys and girls. We must congratulate the Sisters of Mercy on the signal successes they have achieved with their pupils at the Sydney University and Sydney College of Music Examinations. Master Charles Wilton, a pupil of St. Matthew's Convent, won the badge last year in connection with the Sydney College of Music, though the blundering authorities gave the credit to a private Mudgee school. On their attention being drawn to this lapse, which deprived for the time being the Sisters of Mercy of the honour due to them, one of the professors or the registrar, it does not matter very much, wrote an apology to the Rev. Mother. Amongst the pupils of the Convent who achieved distinction is Miss B. Carden. This young lady, who has just passed 'sweet sixteen,' was one of the ten who competed for the position of pupil teacher for the Redbank Public School, near Mudgee, and needless to say she was the successful candidate. In fact, the teaching capacity of the Sisters of Mercy, Mudgee, is ao well known and highly valued that to say any more in praise of it would be waste of words. I should add that in the curriculum a special feature is the teaching of modern languages. One afternoon Monsignor O'Donovan very kindly drove me along the Gulgong-road in his buggy, drawn by two of the best ponies I have seen in my travels. I had had an opportunity of seeing the country for five miles. It is a great place, this Mudgee. On either side were vast green flats, speckled by browsing cattle, and here and there windmills, the river to the right, and trim houses with a great air of comfort and neatness. We passed the residences of Mrs. Marks, Messrs, W. Smith, Carleun; H. Crossing, Frank Cox, Menah Flat; Mr. Mordant Lowe, Tingi; Cecil Cox, Ellerslie; Mrs. Lowe, Urundry1
.
1900
1 June 1900
St. Matthew’s Convent,
Mudgee.
Boarding and Day School
For Young Ladies.
Under the Patronage of the Bishop of Bathurst, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, but open to Pupils of any Religious Denomination.
Mudgee is much recommended by the Medical profession for the excellence of its climate. The health of the Pupils is made an object of special attention.
The course of Education comprises English in all ats branches, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Book keeping, Physics, &c., Latin, French, Italian and German Languages, Calisthenics, Dancing, Music (Violin and Piano, &c.), Singing, Theory of Music & Harmony, Drawing (Freehand, model, &c.), Painting in Oils, Water Colors,China Painting, Oriental and Poenah Painting, &c.
Needlework (plain and ornamental) Fretwork, Wax Modelling, &c.
Adults desirous of receiving tuition in any of the above mentioned subjects should apply to the mother superior.
For further particulars apply to MOTHER SUPERIOR2
.
1927
5 December 1927
St. Matthew's
MUDGEE CONVENT SCHOOL.
EXAMINATION RESULTS.
As well as the scholastic results at the examinations this year: - four intermediate passes, a State bursary, sixteen diocesan examination passes, and twenty-six commercial passes, the pupils of the Mudgee (St. Matthew's) Convent School made a more than ordinarily creditable showing at the Conservatorium of Music examinations. The results show: -
Grade III., Piano - Dorothy O'Brien, 75, credit.
Grade III., Violin - Nancy Kennedy, 77, credit.
Grade IV., Piano - Jessie Farrelly, 70
Grade V. Piano - Jessie Foley and Marjorie Dunne, 69.
Grade V. Violin - Grace Shaw 78, credit; Edith Cover, 76, credit; Harold Marsh, 70; Geoffrey Raper 69.
Grade VI., Piano (Maximum Marks 50) - Bettie Sherin, 43; Clare Sheridan, 40; Helen Cox, 39; Myrle Rayner, 39.
Grade VI., Violin - Barry Cameron. 38.
THEORY OF MUSIC.
Grade III. - Marie Bow, credit; Bessie Muller, Dorothy O'Brien.
Grade IV. - Jessie Farrelly.
Grade V. - Credit, Mary Carroll, Nellie Mahon, Nancy Kennedy, Clare Sheridan, Eileen McPherson, Kathleen Greenhalgh, Pass, Geoffrey Raper, Marjorie Dunne.
At the Sydney College of Music the results of the examination were: -
Intermediate Singing - Honors, Edna Dowd; 82; Essie Wall, 74; first-class pass.
Intermediate Piano - Jessie Foley honors 80.
Junior Singing - Phyllis Britten, honors, 84; Eileen McPherson, honors, 80; Kitty Gleeson, first-class pass, 77; Jessie Farrelly, 76.
Preparatory Violin - Roma Whitford, 74.
Initiatory Piano - Annie Halpin, honors, 81; Pat Sherin, honors, 80; Reg. Twentyman, 77; Patricia Bourke, 76; Doris Clayton, 74; Ena Bourke, 72.
Initiatory Violin - Barry Cameron, honors, 83; Gerald Wall honors, 80; Stan. Collier, 77; Lambert McKay, 77; Jack Cover, 75; Nora Hoss, 74; Elva Dray, 72; Melvie Cox, 70; Joyce Collass, 69.
The singing class was a special feature of the examination3
.
1946
24 January 1946
Intermediate Certificate
Successful District Candidates
SYDNEY, Wednesday.
The following is a list of pupils who qualified for the award of the Intermediate Certificate in 1945.
Under the new conditions of award the certificate is issued to pupils who have followed a course of not less than six nor more than eight subjects, of which English must be one. The subjects must be drawn from three subject groups. Candidates for the certificate must sit for three of these subjects (one being English) at a public examination. The remaining three, four or five subjects are examined within the school and are assessed on an estimate which takes into account the complete record of the pupil in each subject. To receive the certificate a pupil must reach a standard acceptable to the Board of Secondary School Studies in at least four subjects, of which at least two have been taken at the public examination.
A certificate will be issued at a later date to each pupil who has qualified for it, and will specify the subjects in which the pupils have reached an acceptable standard and who have otherwise complied with the regulations.
The Department's purpose in issuing these lists is to indicate the pupils who have been successful. Details as to subjects in which an acceptable standard has been reached will be supplied by the principal of the school concerned, to whom the parents should apply for information of this nature. The Department cannot answer inquiries on these matters.
Appeals
Any appeals for a review of the decision concerning the whole examination or a subject taken at the external examination must be made in writing and forwarded to the Director-General of Education through the school at which the pupil is in attendance. Appeals will not be entertained unless they are supported by the principal of the school. Any appeal involving a review of a paper taken at a public examination must be accompanied by a deposit of 10/- per subject. Appeals must be lodged at the Department by the principal not later than 22nd February, 1946.
Intermediate Bursaries
Nominations for bursaries available on the Intermediate Certificate results must be forwarded by the principal of the school at which the applicant is in attendance not later than 7th February, 1946:-
St. Matthew's High School, Mudgee.
Anderson, Elizabeth J.
Brown, Dawn, Bryant, Fay J. (Continued at foot of next column)
Burke, Mary.
Carroll, Patricia E.
Gaffney Moya A.
Jones, Shirley M.
Langtry, Leo J. M. Lawson, Ann G.; Leonard, Norman F.
McCallum, Carmel K., Mara, Carmel E., Matis, Rita., Munday, Carmel4
.
2016
31 January 2016
St Matt's welcomes first Year 12 class
St Matthew's Catholic School is embarking on a historic year in their 100-plus year history with their first ever Year 12 cohort who will become their inaugural Higher School Certificate (HSC) students.
Principal Jason Hanrahan said that this is an 'exciting time' for the school and 2016 is set to bring a series of new experiences.
'Having a full K-12 school is fabulous,' he said.
'We've got a great group of teachers, our school grounds are growing, and it will be a very exciting time at the end of this year getting those first HSC results.
'It will be an emotional time at the end of the year, not only for the students who have been here since kindergarten but for some of the teachers that taught them who are still here.'
These sentiments were echoed by student well-being co-ordinator/Stage 6 co-ordinator, Justin McCarney, who added that they are well prepared for the new stage.
'It is a great time in the school's history, to be able to see a child arrive at the school as a five-year-old and to watch them grow and develop into young adults who graduate with the HSC,' he said.
'We are fortunate to have such wonderful support from the Catholic Education office in Bathurst to enable smaller class sizes which contributes to teaching tailored to all students' needs.
'We are also fortunate to be able to offer a wide range of subjects taught by experienced teachers of the HSC.'
Newly appointed assistant principal secondary, Neila Darrough, joins the school this year and said she is looking forward to starting at a unique moment in time for the school.
'It's a great opportunity to really put some structures in place to help every student to achieve their best,' she said.
'And actually it's quite interesting because I went to a school where I was in their first Year 12.
'St Matt's is just such a dynamic place. You can feel the energy and the staff are so committed to what they do.
'I'm excited about sharing my experience with them and I'm looking forward to continuing to learn as well, as a lifelong learner it's a good journey to be a part of.'
Transition co-ordinator, Blaney McCarthy, said that the new structure of the school to include Stage 6 fosters a special kind of environment.
'The kindergarten to Year 12 model is quite unique and from a transition point of view research shows us that the less children change from place to place there are benefits academically and with self esteem and confidence,' she said.
'The possibility of staying in the one place and having that familiar environment and support network, and we see that here5 ."
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