I hope all students and families have settled well into the start of the school year. There is a really positive vibe around school, indicating to me that it has been a good start.

This week we celebrate our 150-year anniversary with a number of celebratory events. We are looking forward to many special people joining us, including our Bishop, Ken Howell; Dr Patrick Coughlan, Executive Director Toowoomba Catholic Schools; Sister Peta Goldberg rsm, Congregation Leader Sisters of Mercy Brisbane; Sr Maureen Keenan rsm, past principal of St Joseph’s School; and other past principals, staff and students.

The story of St Joseph’s School is a long and rich one. With a humble and challenging beginning, the school has evolved into a highly successful Catholic school catering for the educational and spiritual needs of students in the Granite Region.

We are all proud of who we are now and all who have shared in the journey to get us here.

The beginning of St Joseph’s Convent School Stanthorpe

The first tin mining claim was pegged at Four Mile Creek on 2 February 1972, and within a short time Stanthorpe was established. With the miners, came the Catholic Church.

At the time, Father Stephen McDonough was the Parish Priest of Allora, Warwick and Stanthorpe.

Much of the current land the Secondary Campus and Parish exist on now, were purchased during the government land sales on 5 August 1872. St Joseph’s Catholic Church was officially opened on 8 December 1872. Further land was purchased in April 1875.

(St Joseph’s Church Stanthorpe – erected 1872)

Father McDonough opened a Catholic school in October 1872 and although he tried to secure nuns for his school, he was unsuccessful. This school, St Joseph’s Parish School, was originally known as “The Old Globe School’, because it was located in the old Globe Hotel building which was acquired for the purpose.

In June 1973, Father Jerome Davadi was appointed as curate to assist Fr McDonough. Shortly afterwards, the growth in population in Stanthorpe lead to Fr Davadi being appointed resident priest in July 1974.

Father Davadi and local parishioners put forward a petition to Bishop Quinn for a religious order of nuns to be permanently appointed at Stanthorpe and take charge of the existing Catholic school. Although Quinn was hard pressed for nuns at the time, he agreed to send four Sisters of Mercy to Stanthorpe. This welcome news created an urgency to find adequate permanent accommodation in Stanthorpe for the arriving nuns.

Father Davadi's humility and charity came to the fore. He volunteered to vacate the presbytery at the back of the school and pay for his own rental accommodation at one of the nearby hotels. The building had originally been used as the over-night sleeping place by the Warwick priest when visiting the Stanthorpe Parish. Arrangements were then made for the transformation of the rustic cottage presbytery into a suitable convent building. External improvements were also made to the convent, which included a verandah, front paling fence and gate. The work was undertaken diligently to ensure that the convent accommodation was ready upon the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy.

Towards the end January 1875, three professed Sisters of Mercy and a young novice left All Hallows Convent, Brisbane and proceeded by train to Stanthorpe. On Monday, 25 January, they were aboard the steam train heading for Warwick when a disastrous hurricane interrupted their travel. They had left Toowoomba at 4.25pm and were due to arrive in Warwick at 7.45pm when, about three miles south of Cambooya railway siding, the train was struck by a blast of wind of hurricane force. The fierce wind gust was accompanied by a deluge of rain and hail.

The railway train 'comprised the engine and tender, four carriages containing 45 passengers, five goods trucks and break van'. The wind struck the train with such intensity that it derailed the carriages turning the saloon and adjoining carriage on their side. Miraculously, no passengers were killed.

When the force of the wind had abated, the passengers either made their exit from the train doors, or were assisted out through the windows. The frightened Sisters of Mercy were able to safely leave their carriage. Yet, the ordeal of the passengers was far from over. The rain continued to pour down in torrents as darkness enveloped them. Suddenly, a large flash of lightning followed by a boom splitting sound of broken tree limbs and uprooted trees created pandemonium as the terrified passengers scampered back to the safety of the carriages.

Two railway trollies were dispatched by the Cambooya Station Master to pick up and return the rain soaked and distraught passengers to the small siding station and then a special train was sent to return to safety in Toowoomba.

Once the railway line was cleared of debris, the four Sisters of Mercy recommenced their journey. On Wednesday, 27 January 1875, they departed from Toowoomba on the noon train and upon their arrival in Warwick, they obtained respite at the newly established Warwick Convent. After regaining their strength, the Sisters continued onto Stanthorpe by Cobb & Co coach.

The four founding Sisters of Mercy in Stanthorpe are Sisters M. Agnes (Mary White), M. Emilian (Julia Daly) and M. Malachy (Mary Gracey)  and the 24 year old novice, Mary Cecilia Ford, who had taken the religious name of Sister Mary Muredach. They were joyfully welcomed at St Joseph's Parish by Father Davadi and the parish community upon their arrival and were officially received on Tuesday, 9 February 1875.

The 9 February 1875 is recorded as the foundation day for the Sisters of Mercy in Stanthorpe and the foundation day for St Joseph’s School. The school was referred to from thereon at the St Joseph’s Covent School.

(The first school building – “The Old Globe School”)

The Sisters had their work cut out for them when they arrived in Stanthorpe. In Semester 1 1875, 150 students were enrolled at St Joseph's Catholic School. The Sisters of Mercy approached their tasks of catholic education in the town with a quiet dignity and dedication that forms part of their established trademark.

Young Sister Mary Muredach quickly endeared herself with everyone she met. Unfortunately, the cold winter and quite possibly the heavy work toll contributed to her becoming unwell. She began to show signs of recovery before having a relapse one month later. Sister Mary Muredach died on Tuesday 10 August 1875, six months after the foundation of the Convent School. Her body was buried in the Convent ground but in later years her remains were exhumed and interred in the Stanthorpe Cemetery. Today her grave can be visited in the cemetery and is maintained and care for my members of the school.

(The grave of Sister Mary Muredach in Stanthorpe Cemetery)

NB: This material is taken predominately from Ignatius (Ian) Bonaccorso’s book

Davadi: Fruit, Wine and Religion, an expectational story of the life of Father Jerome Davadi and beginning of the Catholic Church in Stanthorpe).

Have a wonderful 2025.

God Bless