I went to two fantastic high schools. The first, "Our Lady of Good Counsel College" was never referred to as anything but "The Range". Or, supposedly "The Fridge on the Ridge". It was years before I had any clue what the local boys were on about . My mum, two aunts and my mother-in-law all boarded there. My great aunt and my great aunt-in-law were nuns who lived in the convent at one stage, they were best of friends.
The centre of the school was a beautiful, old hall built of wood with a tower surrounded in filagree iron lace. If we were lucky enough we were allowed up to the tower to look out across the school and the town. When we were in Grade 10 a group of us that liked to call ourselves 'The Rejekts' (because we figured we weren't) wrote our names in niko pen on the walls of the spiral staircase that took us upwards. I suspect they were painted over and don't remain for posterity.
On the eve of my last day there my brother went up to the school in the late of night. He carried with him a scarecrow that I made out of wood, one of my uniform dresses and a stuffed head I carefully sewed. The scarecrow was hoisted up the flagpole, ready for my last day. It stayed there long enough to get a laugh and cause some comment and I was never discovered as the culprit. I wonder if the teachers had a drink or two around a bonfire later that day, as they watched their 'student' burn?
Now, as a teacher, the thought makes me laugh as much as it did to think up the whole silly prank in the first place.
Ha, not me boarded: we'd moved to Agnes St when I was nine, and I went there when I was in Year Six, under the dubious care of Sr Thecla who locked us in the room . We did zero sport, and held our arms in crucifex position to pray.
ReplyDeleteAnd your Great-Great Aunt Zita went to the Range too. She worked as a nurse on the Hospital Ships of Gallipoli, then later pioneered as the Nurse in charge of Brisbane's Radiation Unit. She lived in a flat which I think was in Kangaroo Point. I remember visiting her once with my mum and dad when we were in Brisbane. I found Zita's name written in a book at the Range.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I didn't know GG Aunt ZIta went there as well. I did know about Gallipoli but not the Nursing in Brisbane. They were such brave women.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Lightening struck a cross on top of Genazzano the other night and split the ceiling above a few frightened boarder's heads. Fortunately, all was well. Perhaps they had better re-start praying in the hands out position again?!
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