Episode 4 | Helen Thomas

Felicity is the Assistant Principal of Faith and Identity at Loreto College, Ballarat. Originally from North East Victoria, Felicity spent time living and teaching overseas before making her home in Ballarat with her husband Gerard and two children Jemima and Joseph. Felicity has completed her Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Certificate in Religious Education, Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching and a Masters in Education Leadership, further study is on the horizon. Felicity is the beneficiary and appreciative of an education from the FCJ, Brigidine and Mercy sisters who were role models of strong, intelligent and determined women. She uses this inspiration in her role at Loreto College Ballarat with the guidance of Mary Ward and Gonzaga Barry and the many good people that have and continue to form the Loreto charism.

Michelle is the Director of Mission and Student Leadership at Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak. She is originally from Ballarat and a proud past pupil of Loreto College. Michelle's qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Student Wellbeing from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma in Education and Masters of Leadership from ACU. Michelle teaches Australian Politics and Religious Education at Loreto Toorak alongside her school leadership role. She is deeply committed to the Mary Ward network in Australia and globally and to the values and formation at the heart of Loreto education.

Libby is the former Director of Faith and Identity at Loreto Normanhurst and has worked in education for over 30 years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education and shortly after completed her Master in Theological Studies. Her strong commitment to girls' education has focused on Justice within the Ignatian paradigm and has been evident throughout her career. Libby has extensive experience in teaching roles across various subject areas, most notably Religious Education. She has taken lead roles in programme development, policy writing, professional review and development and has a comprehensive understanding of pedagogy and curriculum design in religious studies.

Roger was raised on a wheat farm in the Wimmera region of Victoria. He attended various Catholic schools in the area until he went to boarding school at St Patrick‘s College, Ballarat. After completing Yr. 12 he attended Aquinas College, Ballarat (now ACU- Ballarat) to study for a Bachelor of Education. Having completed his Bachelor he took up his first teaching position at Loreto College (Ballarat) where he taught for 41 years before he retired at the conclusion of the 2022 school year. Roger and his wife Sally now intend to enjoy a good deal of travel internationally and in Australia.

Casey Dodd was the 2021 College Co-Captain at Loreto Ballarat and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at ACU. With gratitude and passion, Casey shares how her Loreto education has shaped the young woman she is today and hopes to be in the future. She explores how growing up surrounded by love and opportunities has instilled a desire to help others through her studies, work, volunteering and life.

Mary Ryllis Clark is a writer and historian who moved to Melbourne from the UK in 1974. She taught European History at Loreto Mandeville Hall in 1975 before returning to England for three years. During that time she published her first book, Crown of a Thousand Years. She and her family came back to Melbourne in 1980 and have lived here ever since. Mary went back to teaching at Mandeville Hall before going back to writing, her first love. She is the author of several books including; In Trust: The First Forty Years of the National Trust in Victoria 1956-1996, Timbertop – Celebrating 50 Years and Loreto in Australia. From 1992 to 2005 she wrote ‘Historic Victoria’ - a fortnightly column in The Age. Her latest book is Turning Points: 25 Remarkable Australians and the Moments that Changed Their Lives. Mary lives in a converted factory in Fitzroy and has three children, Nico, Margery and Quentin.

Suzanne O’Connor taught English for fifty years before retiring to teach English in person, and later to Zoom teach English to students in Ukraine. In her spare time, she reads and talks to her rescue cat, Thelma-Louise.In this episode, Suzanne shares her experience growing up in a mixed-religion marriage with a Protestant mother and a Catholic father. The discussion revolves around the impact of these diverse faiths on Suzanne's childhood and how it shaped her beliefs and philosophy.

Margaret Sculley has been a Loreto Sister for the past sixty-five years. Margaret grew up in Ballarat, Victoria and from an early age became familiar with Mary Ward the foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The Loreto Sisters). Following the Novitiate in Normanhurst NSW Margaret began a long time of teaching both in Secondary and Primary Schools, then moved into leadership roles both in the schools and in the Loreto community. For some years Margaret worked in Pastoral Care at the Brisbane General Hospital. Margaret remains very grateful for her gift of faith that has strengthened her, and her trust in God firstly encouraged by her parents' example and then fostered by her many friends along the journey.

Currently studying in Melbourne, Harper shares insights into her upbringing, shaped by a philosophy of kindness and hard work instilled by her family and community.From a small Catholic school in Sydney to an international school in Singapore, she reflects on how diverse experiences have moulded her into a person who values connection and hard work.Harper emphasises the importance of being kind to others, a principle she carried into her time at Loreto, where she not only excelled academically but actively engaged in philanthropy and charity work.The episode explores the deep generational connection Harper's family has with Loreto, portraying it not just as a school but as a lifelong community that has influenced her life since day one.

Helen Thomas is currently the Director of Mission at Loreto Kirribilli. Her qualifications include; Bachelor of Arts, Diploma in Education and Masters in Education from Sydney University and a Masters of Arts (Theological Studies) from the Catholic Institute of Sydney. Helen has been a Catholic educator for over 35 years, working in Independent and Catholic Systemic schools across Sydney. She is married and has two daughters.