St. Anthony's School

When the church/school was opened in 1934, the school was run by the Sisters of Mercy who travelled each day from their convent in Ryde. It was a typical country school with about 10 pupils, but it certainly grew. By the time the Daughters of Charity took over on 31st January 1939, there were about 40 pupils. The first teachers were Sister Mary Fagan and Sister Josephine Polley. Sister Polley returned to the Seminary in a few weeks and was replaced by Sr. Xavier Piggot who was in turn replaced by Louise Dilley in 1941. Sister Louise remained at St. Anthony's until 1948.

Sister Agnes Murphy DC in her classroom

 

Sister Mary Fagan

Many dedicated teachers passed through St. Anthony' s in the 47 years that it was run by the Daughters of Charity, but one seems to stand out as leading if not "life of heroic virtue" then it certainly seemed that way to her former pupils. Sister Mary Fagan D.C. was principal from 1939 to 1947 and on the staff until shortly before her death in 1959. At the School Jubilee Dinner at Curzon Hall in 1984 Kevin Ferrari, one of her former pupils recalled the early years: "Sister Mary WAS St. Anthony'.s in those days (Jack of all trades), teaching all the classes, training first communion classes, training altar boys, then confirmation classes (when they came around) and yet still had time to visit the homes of parishioners for a cup of tea and a chat. Of course every visit was made on foot, cars were few and far between in the 1930's."

"Those were the days when the Daughters of Charity were synonymous for their flying winged hats, heavily starched and brilliantly white. Furthermore, the nuns in those days did tremendous penance - teaching, gardening, walking to Eastwood Station in 110 degree temperatures dressed in the thickest, pleated skirts ever invented which must have weighed a ton! Naturally designed for Europe where they have only one hot day of summer, it took a long time for the traditional habit to be changed and I am sure the change was appreciated by all." "The winged hat, as we know, was revived for the younger generation later on by Sally Field on the "Flying Nun" television series. I am sure the Flying Nun series brought back memories to the older ex students at St. Anthony's as Sally Field, with her hand firmly holding her hat, flies off in the stiff breeze. I can certainly remember Sister Mary and Sister Agnes walking swiftly everywhere they went they were nearly flying away!"

As well as her teaching duties, Sr. Mary also taught music, played the church organ and sang. She also learnt Italian so that she could converse with the Italian mothers of her pupils who couldn't speak English. Her legend lives on.

When the Vincentians took over the Parish in 1942 they said mass daily so that all the school furniture had to be packed up and re arranged every day. During the war years school numbers increased to about 85 when many Italian families came to stay with their Marsfield relatives due to the invasion scare. To cope with the increase the shelter shed in the playground was utilised as a classroom.

During 1950, the first school building for the Primary classes was erected, by voluntary labour, adjacent to the Church School. It consisted of two classrooms, a small staff room and a small storeroom leading onto an open verandah. This building has been used for the Library, Staff Room and Class I in recent times.

1952 saw two classrooms added to the first building thereby releasing the Church from being used as a school.

A second Primary School building was built in 1957 consisting of three classrooms, an office, a music room and a tuck shop. The first school building then became the Infants building. The latest building has served as Classes 3, 4 and 6, tuck shop, Principal' s of fice and storeroom over the past few years.

The building of the new Church in 1969 enabled the division of the old Church into two classrooms to cater for the increase in pupils caused by the rapidly expanding settlement of the locality.

The latest school building was commenced in December, 1976 and consists of 4 classrooms, tuck shop and large covered areas. The classrooms will house Kindergarten, Classes 1, 2, and 3 allowing Class 5 to be incorporated into the existing primary building and freeing the old Church for use as a Parish and school hall.

The infants block was renovated to cater for a larger library, larger staff room and a sick bay. The existing Kindergarten and Class 2 can be used for special classes or purposes. The existing tuckshop was converted to a Secretary's office.

The "Daughters" celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the school in 1984 with a dinner at Curzon Hall. It was a sell out performance with 530 people present.

The Daughters of Charity left Marsfield in 1986 to take up a more demanding and challenging role. A farewell "Merci Beaucoup" dinner was organised by the Parents and Friends and held in Curzon Hall on 12th September 1986. The sisters were presented with a Papal Blessing and a copper plaque in commemoration of their years of service to the Parish.

Since 1986 the school has been run by the Catholic Education Office. The first lay principal was Miss Jeannie Hunt and the present principal is Mrs Woods. The school caters for 222 pupils.

In 58 years St. Anthony's has progressed irom 10 to 222 pupils and from slates to computers but some things have remained intact from 1934. They are the dedication, devotion, love and sheer hard work that goes into that most important work, the education of our children. We may not say it very often but believe me we truly appreciate it.

Unfortunately, space does not permit a listing of all the teaching stalf who have served the School since its opening. However, the various Principals of the School have been as follows: