DARAMALAN MEMORIES, BEGINNINGS TO THE PRESENT
This is a special posting for past staff and students of Daramalan MSC College, Canberra - and for the present and those in-between.
This note was written on October 22nd 2018, the day after Chevalier Day (the anniversary of Jules Chevalier’s death).
As part of Chevalier Day celebrations, Daramalan’s two original female teachers came back to revisit and reconnect with the school after fifty-six years. Mrs Jean Reid (seated) – who will be 103 next month – returned to be part of Chevalier Day along with Mrs Mary Barton, both of whom commenced work at Daramalan on 2 February 1962 the opening day of the College. At the time they were the only women on staff as the remainder of Daramalan teachers were all men, mainly MSC priests and brothers.
A snap of Jean Reid at only 100
Both women went on to develop a dedicated Learning Support unit at Daramalan, which at the time, was quite revolutionary for the less enlightened 60s. Jean and Mary are pictured here with the current head of Inclusive Education at Daramalan Ms Dale Seaman. Between the three of them they represent an unbroken line of inclusive education support at Daramalan College since 1962.
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