Brigidine College is a living story, shaped by the generations who have gone before and carried forward by those who follow. The Lamp of Learning is grounded in the story of St Brigid and is a clear metaphor for the continued passing on of light from year to year in the College. This light is wisdom, compassion and hospitality, grounded in our founders and in the fabric of the community over many years.
This year, the Pioneers and Golden Girls Day was a wonderful celebration of the women who have been part of the Brigidine story across generations. It brought together former students whose experiences at the College may have been separated by decades, yet whose memories revealed a powerful sense of connection. Celebrating 50 years since graduating, the Class of 1976 became Golden Girls this year. On Tuesday 25 August a lunch in the College was an opportunity to remember friendships, teachers, traditions and experiences that have remained with them long after they left the College. While classrooms, technology, uniforms and many aspects of school life have changed, there are familiar qualities that remain recognisably Brigidine.
The stories shared on the day reminded us that heritage is not simply about looking backwards. It is about understanding who we are, where we have come from and the values that have shaped our community. It was great for the former students to speak with our current school leaders and share their experiences with a tour of the College.
That same sense of continuity was evident as we commissioned our 2027 Student Leaders on Wednesday this week. As emphasised by our Principal, Mrs Quinane, in her inspirational address to the community, leadership is about much more than holding a position or wearing a badge. It is about accepting a responsibility that has been entrusted from one generation to the next and showing leadership in the quiet moments and the important moments in life’s journey. After the student leaders were badged and commissioned for their new roles they participate in a Handover Lunch. This gathering provides a particularly meaningful moment of transition. Outgoing leaders share their experiences, wisdom and encouragement with those who will follow them, while the incoming leaders accept the responsibility of carrying the story forward.
In this sense, leadership is a passing on of the light. Each group of student leaders adds something of their own to the story while remaining connected to those who came before.
Pioneers and Golden Girls Day and the commissioning of our 2027 Student Leaders may appear to celebrate different moments in the life of Brigidine. One looks back across generations; the other looks towards the future. Yet together they remind us of something fundamental about our community: we are connected by a shared story. Our heritage gives us a sense of identity and belonging. Our horizon calls us to imagine what is possible and to take responsibility for creating the future.
This is the beauty of a school community such as Brigidine: we honour what has been, celebrate what is, and look with hope towards what is yet to come. The light of St Brigid continues to be passed on.
Mr Brian Loughland
Deputy Principal
