Farewell Ms Fernandes After 50 Years!

Guard of honour for Ms Fernandes as she retires after teaching at the school for 50 years.

Current and former staff, students, ex-students and friends gathered in Mercy Square for a 5pm Mass in the Mercy Chapel, followed by supper in Mercy Square.

The Very Rev Father Robert Riedling EV opened the Mass by acknowledging Ms Fernandes and her service to Catholic Education at Catherine McAuley Westmead. “We are grateful for her many God given gifts that have helped our school become the place of learning that it is today,” Father Riedling said.

We give thanks especially for her gift of faith and creativity.

Ms Mary Refalo, School Principal spoke following Mass and presented Ms Fernandes with a gift from the school. 'We thank Indira for her very many years of service to the Catherine McAuley community,” Ms Refalo said. “Both as an educator of women and as a practising visual artist, she has been inspiring, modelling such warmth, competence and confidence in her work and in her relationships. She will remain in our memories for many years to come.”

Ms Kate Picone, Leader of Learning Creative Arts and former School Principal Sr Barbara McDonough also both spoke to those gathered and thanked Ms Fernandes for her service and commitment. “Although the school may have been started by the Sisters it has been carried forward by dedicated staff such as yourself,” said Sr Barbara.

The speeches concluded with Ms Fernandes speaking and thanking all who had attended the event to formally mark her retirement. ‘It was a privilege and honour to be part of this institution. Once a Mercy girl, always a Mercy girl.” Ms Fernandes spoke of migrating to Australia in 1973 from Mombasa, Kenya and of being the only brown person to walk down the street. After spending two years teaching kindergarten at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Seven Hills Ms Fernandes said that although she loved the younger children she was pleased to start at Catherine McAuley at the beginning of the 1975 school year teaching Visual Arts, and later also Religious Education.

“With so many years of service in Catholic education, and McAuley in particular, it goes without saying that there were many, many, highlights,” said Ms Fernandes. “One highlight for me was when I initiated a group exhibition made up of three ex-students who had been Art Express recipients and four art teachers. This group exhibition was called ‘Come Full Circle’ and was a success. It was an absolute delight to collaborate with them.”

Ms Fernandes continued, “It brought me great joy to have touched young lives to become successful adults, nurturing their creative spirits, and giving them opportunities to flourish to their full potential.” She concluded that her endeavour was always to impart to the students in her care that “art is life” and to live an ordinary life in an extraordinary way.

Students formed a guard of honour for Ms Fernandes as she left the Mass to the claps of appreciation by all those in attendance. The evening concluded with supper in Mercy Square.

Farewell Ms Fernandes and congratulations on your retirement!