Boarding has been a part of life at St Catherine’s School since its doors opened in Templeton Street, Castlemaine in 1896. Our first Principal, Jeannie Hood valued the boarders by stating in her first prospectus that, “the health and comfort of Boarders receives special attention from Mrs Hood”. [St Catherine’s A Centenary Celebration 1896-1996 (1996) edited by DE and IV Hansen]. This care of the boarders continues to the present day.

Illawarra, St Catherine’s current Boarding House is home to 53 boarders. Our boarders arrive from far and wide – within Melbourne, regional Victoria, and across other states. International boarders journey from Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and one of our families even live as expats in Kazakhstan. This term we have also hosted an exchange student from Canada and from the USA. In keeping with our Wellbeing motto – weShare – we definitely share our home, our stories and our world.

At the beginning of the year it is important to support our new boarders discover life at Illawarra. Our two Boarding Co-Captains, Zoe Hall and Yi Qian (Elena) Tan, together with our Year 12 cohort play an essential part in assisting our new girls to adjust to boarding life. Every home has its own idiosyncrasies and our boarding house is no different. Learning our set routines and sharing bedrooms and bathrooms are all part of communal living. Our first weekend activity was a visit to the wave pool at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

This term has also has had its challenges and the boarders have been wonderful in adapting to changed circumstances. A lesson on hygiene earlier in the term has certainly been adopted by the girls and regular handwashing and sanitising are now part of our daily routine. Our boarders have continued their participation in all areas of the Co-curricular Program of the School and some boarders are enjoying the opportunity to study in the School Library until dinnertime.

Recently, a number of the girls volunteered for the Red Cross Doorknock. Last month over 30 boarders also attended the Melbourne Grammar School’s Boarders’ Social. Additionally, we have shared meals through our Annual Chinese Banquet and a special Pasta Dinner. And now, each Thursday a special themed dinner with an attached activity will be part of the Illawarra community. During the last weekend of this Term 1, the Boarders will be celebrating their delayed Closed Weekend. The Boarding Captains have organised an afternoon of special activities that include all the boarders.

A Friday evening craft session is being offered to the boarders who are interested in learning new skills. This complements the community service activities that support local and international charities that have been operating on a Sunday evening since last year. We are also looking at ways that we can support the activities of the local Country Women’s Association branch in Lansell Road, Toorak.