Our President, Rita Browning (de Souza) has been out and about visiting her family, her news follows.

A Visit to Australia.
When I left Heathrow last March on my way to Australia I did not think that I should stay there for six months, though my ticket was valid for that time. I thought I should be satisfied with about three months away from home but on the contrary, I felt so much at home in that lovely country that I left it very reluctantly in September wishing I had another six months in which to go on exploring.

Although our own little island has so much beauty packed into a small space there is great fascination in the vast expanses of forest or completely barren land and then the miles and miles of roads bordered with every type of wattle (mimosa) from tall bushes to little ones about one or two feet high - interspersed with lovely graceful gumtrees (Eucalyptus).

Lovely houses, mostly colonial design surrounded with vivid blossom - camellias, wisteria and countless others.

I spent the first five months in N.S.W. 18 miles out of Sydney in the beautiful hills, district with Gay and her husband John Donlevy and Emma, then nine, Timothy 62 and James 4 - also newly arrived Luke Edward.

We spent a happy Easter holiday touring Victoria, nearly as far as Melbourne in a caravan. I had difficulty in tearing myself away in August to spend the last few weeks of my stay in Western Australia at Safety Bay, nearly 30 miles from Perth, where Patricia lives with her husband Jack Barr.

Different scenery, different history but equally beautiful and fascinating. The people I met everywhere were so kind and hospitable and interested in England - either remembering past visits or looking forward to coming one day - they are mostly drawn by the antiquity of this country, after all they can only go back about 150 years and their museums are full of the bygones of those years.

I long to go back - perhaps I will one day - I promised to include addresses of some of the family who would welcome letters.

Gay & John Donlevy.
28, Sherwin, Ave. Castle. Hill 2154. N.S.W.

Patricia Barr,
15 Watts Road, Saftey Bay, 6165, W.A.

Christine and Michael Scott.
5, Marsh Court, 9 Clifton Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 5BT.

Maggi Donlevy: (Mrs T. Moreno Alba)
Conjunto Solhosierra 3-2B Las Rozas. Madrid.

News of some Past pupils :-

Letters have been received from:-

Katherine Browne (Downing) a boarder who left school in 1956 and hopes to visit the Convent soon.

Christine Kerr (Wajdeczho) who now lives in Gloucestershire and works for Leyland Cars managing the Managers!

Veronica Skerman (Burton) living near Blandford who keeps in touch with many, old friends.

Celia Joyce (Court) now living in Oxted, Surrey.

Diana Dixon (Brownrigg) visited the school and saw Sister Bernardine. She was in school about 20 years ago, trained for teaching at Digby Stuart College, Roehampton and is now teaching French in Tonbridge.

Ann Timins (Turner) called with her husband last May she was on holidaying in Bournemouth from California. Ann was a day girl from 1941 to 1952, she married in 1960 and has four children. She now lives in San Juan Capistrano, California, the home of a very beautiful Mission founded by a Franciscan Monk.

Last year they celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Mission which is used as the Parish Church. It is located on the coast between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Ann related that the Mission is well known for the swallows which fly south every October but return to the Mission every year on March 19th - St. Joseph's Day.

She wished to be remembered to Mother McEvoy, Mother Howe, Mother Keys, Mother Wallace, Mother Eganand and Mother Lenaghan.

All past Pupils will be very sorry to hear of the very recent death of Sister Mary Joseph (Mother Briggs). She moved from the Convent at Cowes to Bedhampton last September and died on February 4th, during her last months she was very anxious to go to OUR Lord.

Mother Briggs was always very interested in all past Pupils and often attended our meetings.
May she rest in peace.

All those who knew Mrs. Evans at Boscombe Convent will be very sorry to hear of her death last November. She had been troubled with high blond pressure for sometime and had a sudden relapse at the beginning of the September Term followed by several weeks in hospital in intensive care.

Many of the Senior Pupils, Staff and Nuns attended her funeral service at Branksome. Mr. Evans had asked for contributions to Kidney Research instead of floral tributes and over £400 was donated by her many friends and relations.

We report also the death of Sister Maria Jesus of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart.

Please remember all in your prayers.

Those of you who knew reverend Mother Ruth at Boscombe will be interested to know that she has moved to Rome and Sister Kathleen Garrod has returned to Boscombe 2s Reverend Mother.