SAC鈥檚 Archives Are a Treasure Trove of Mercy
Mercy Light: Connecting
In a progressive learning environment, a moment鈥檚 pause to reflect on the past may be hard to come by. However, through the lens of history, we learn valuable stories of people, places and events that influenced the present day. These stories are the bedrock of communal identity.听 A city location means that much has changed structurally, both inside and outside the gates of 吃瓜网. History, though, tells volumes about what hasn鈥檛 changed within the school: just ask Carol Grantham, one of SAC鈥檚 longest-serving staff members. As Head Archivist, Carol devotes her time to collecting, preserving and sharing memorabilia and information that are integral to SAC鈥檚 great history of educating girls in the Mercy tradition over nearly 145 years.听
鈥淚 began working at SAC in 2002 as teacher-librarian and library coordinator, a busy and rewarding role, which brought me into contact with every staff member and student. There鈥檚 nothing quite like the joy of pairing a young reader with the perfect book, especially when that book ignites a passion for reading,鈥� Carol enthuses.
鈥淎fter retiring from the library several years ago, I had hoped to volunteer in the Archives with Neville Stapleton, who worked here for decades as a teacher, then later took on the role of Head Archivist. Sadly, that wasn鈥檛 to be, as Neville passed in 2022. Neville had an amazing knowledge of SAC and I鈥檝e missed being able to tap into his expertise.鈥�
SAC鈥檚 Archives are suitably located in an historically rich part of the school, The Cloisters. Standing on the lawns outside it, beneath the red spire of the adjoining Cunningham Memorial Chapel, you can imagine the swathes of Mercy Sisters who once called this space 鈥榟ome鈥�, delivering Catherine McAuley鈥檚 vision of educating girls. And if you enter The Archives tucked just inside The Cloisters鈥� entrance, Carol will happily show you some real images from that time.
鈥淐an you believe the girls used to play PE wearing these uniforms?鈥� Carol says smilingly, pointing to a 1900鈥檚 photograph of a student wearing a thick, ankle-length dress. Carol鈥檚 with a handful of visiting Year 8 students, who laugh and in unison agree 鈥淣o way!鈥�
Sprawled on a table before them are accessories including a beret, a straw hat and a carry-bag. Aged, but carefully preserved, and still originally stamped with the SAC鈥檚 iconic, purple fleur de lis.
鈥淪tudents always love seeing the old uniforms. My focus at the moment is collecting those, especially hats. We have quite a good collection from the 1980s onwards, but not many of the earlier uniforms. If anyone has any of the white, mauve or purple summer dresses from the 1960s and 1970s lurking in their wardrobe, or hats from any era, I will happily give them a good home in the Archives!鈥�
In addition to collecting and preserving physical artefacts, Carol dedicates much of her time to Old Scholars鈥� records and stories, and has carried forth Neville鈥檚 legacy of the popular #ThrowbackThursday segment shared on SAC鈥檚 Old Scholar social media networks.
Carol says, 鈥淭he posts I enjoy researching and writing are often generated from comments written by Old Scholars. The Fish Pond, which was located in the Jordan Courtyard until 2008, is fondly remembered by many. It鈥檚 recalled as a quiet and contemplative space鈥�. but everyone also seems to know someone who had fallen in!鈥�
Carol recently shared a remarkable five-generation legacy at SAC that began in 1882 with Sarah Gunter.
鈥淪arah was enrolled as a boarder when SAC was known as St Angela鈥檚 Select Intermediate School for Girls.
Sarah鈥檚 daughter, Eva, followed as a boarder from 1907 -1908. Eva lived in the western end of Dunlevie building. Sarah鈥檚 granddaughter, Mary-Beth, went on to attend, and the legacy continued with Sarah鈥檚 great-granddaughters, Therese and Janette who attended in the 1960鈥檚, followed by her great-great-granddaughters: Miriam in the 1980s, Elizabeth and Frances in the 2000s.鈥�
Another highlight of Carol鈥檚 work involves Sister of Mercy, Mary-Anne Duigan, who volunteers in the Archives.
鈥淢ary-Anne lived in The Convent here for many years and has so many stories to tell! If Mary-Anne doesn鈥檛 know the answer to a question, she knows someone who does.鈥�
Carol adds, 鈥淚 have enjoyed researching the stories of the Sisters of Mercy and their brave journey in 1880 from Argentina to Adelaide. They were strong, independent and courageous women. Those qualities are evident in the students who graduate from SAC.鈥�
The legacy of those Mercy Sisters thrives today in a campus which, though quite aesthetically different from how it appeared over 100 years ago, is, as it鈥檚 always been, a centre of Courage, Compassion, Hospitality, Justice, Service and Respect.
If you are interested in learning more about SAC鈥檚 fascinating history, you can explore the SAC History website, curated by Carol Grantham, Neville Stapleton and Christine Simpson. You can also arrange a visit to the Archives to view or donate SAC memorabilia.
Ms Maddie Kelly
Marketing & Communications Team
