Derby’s Holy Rosary School Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

30 Oct 2014

By The Record

Sisters of St John of God during the Heritage Day celebrations at Holy Rosary School, Derby. Photos: Courtesy SJOG Heritage Centre

The students and staff of Holy Rosary School, Derby had much to celebrate as the school’s Diamond Jubilee sparked a number of commemorative events that began on 22 August and ended on 24 August.

Festivities opened with a special assembly on Friday, 22 August which saw Year 7 students put on a performance depicting the school environment from the 1950s through to the 1980s.

The students portrayed remarkably those Sisters and Brothers who dedicated their lives to establishing and running the school in its first three decades.

On Saturday, 23 August, the Diamond Jubilee Committee organised a bus tour for the visitors who returned to Derby for this special event.

More than 35 ex-staff, a number of principals and numerous families from different parts of Western Australia, as well as from New South Wales and Western Victoria, travelled great distances to commemorate the milestone reached by the school.

Descendants of the original principal, students from the first class in 1954 and one of the founding teachers, were also present.

On Saturday evening, the Sisters of St John of God generously hosted a delicious dinner for current staff and ex-staff, thus creating a wonderful opportunity for guests to speak about times both past and present.

Following the meal, Miss Anne O’Loughlin, the current Year 7 class teacher, delighted those present by playing a song she specifically wrote and composed for the Diamond Jubilee.

Leading the final day of celebrations was a special Mass of Thanksgiving concelebrated by Bishop Christopher Saunders, Monsignor Paul Boyers, Fr John Purnell and Fr Peter Serman from Portland, Victoria.

Fr Peter is related to the Founding Principal of the school, Sr Ignatius.

Before the Jubilee concluded with a school fete, the unveiling of a new garden in front of the school grounds took place.

This was a highly significant moment for the history of the school as the garden was adorned with 37 Desert Roses, representing the 37 Sisters of St John of God who worked at Holy Rosary.

Yellow marigold flowers surrounded and intertwined with the roses, symbolising the numerous students who enriched the school and helped it reach the status it has now.

As if to give one final nod to the grandeur of the Catholic school, Bishop Saunders bestowed a blessing on the refurbished school shield and two symbolic plaques.