Charlotte Varcoe
A PROMINENT figure in local Aboriginal history has been recognised at a Melbourne catholic college.
Boandik woman Annie Brice is known within the community for her involvement with Australia’s first saint and Penola-based school teacher Mary MacKillop.
Annie was originally born in 1849 at an Aboriginal camp near Penola station.
She was the second child of a Boandik woman and an English-born man who was sent to Van Diemen’s Land as a convict.
It was not until 1860 when Mary MacKillop arrived at Penola station as a governess did Annie first meet her at 11-years-old.
Taking a liking to the young child, Saint Mary bathed her, combed her hair and forged a close relationship.
She then taught Annie how to read and write before being confirmed as St Joseph’s by Bishop Laurence Bonaventure Sheil.
Saint Mary eventually became a Sister Mary of the Cross, leaving Penola and Annie behind.
More recently, descendant of Annie and a Boandik Elder Aunty Michelle Jaquelin-Furr attended the official opening of the Annie Brice building in Broadmeadows.
Penola Catholic College welcomed Aunty Michelle, labelling the naming of the building as a step forward in reconciliation.
The opening celebration began with an Acknowledgement of Country from Aunty Michelle with others descendants travelling from Sydney, Adelaide and Penola to be a part of the ceremony.
Jacki Thorpe, Vicki Castorina and Lia Castorina represented the Jacquelin line while Margaret and Teresa Hanel represented the Holmes line.
Bishop Terry Curtin led the blessing of the building with Broadmeadows Member of Parliament Kathleen Matthews-Ward officially opening it.
Aunty Michelle said the naming of the building was not only important for the family but also for the Boandik people in general.
“This is a college that has had a lot to do with Mary MacKillop and the way she set up schools,” Aunty Michelle said.
“They have now recognised there was a very strong connection with Annie to the young Mary MacKillop who then went on to be Australia’s first saint.”
She said by naming the building after Annie, it was seen as a way to respect Aboriginal people.
“They named the Year 12 building for their senior students after Annie who was an Aboriginal girl taught by Mary MacKillop,” Aunty Michelle said.
“It is the Penola Catholic College and Mary MacKillop opened lots of different schools and churches so this one is an off-shoot of the one in Penola.”
She said it was the “close connection” of the school to Mary MacKillop and due to her strong connection to Annie, the school decided to name the building after her in respect for Aboriginal people.
“It really just blew our minds, they talked about how this was reconciliation in action,” she said.
“We saw a school in Broadmeadows actually saying they respected Aboriginal people and they were going to show this by naming this building after Annie which was very powerful.”
Aunty Michelle said after the result of the Voice to Parliament referendum last year, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were starting to see steps in reconciliation and moving forward.
“This is just one of them and it is so important for the Boandik people,” Aunty Michelle said.
“It would be great if more schools did this and maybe we could go back to talking about having statues around the area of significant Aboriginal people.
“This is showing it is possible and opening the way because we need to start doing something.”
