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Sacred Heart Reefton
The history of Catholic schooling in the area developed through the following stages:
1875: A Catholic primary school was first established in Reefton by a lay teacher, Mr. Skerrett.
1876: Father Denis Carew converted an old building into a boys' school.
1888: Arrangements began for a formal "convent school," and a teacher from Napier arrived to serve at the existing girls' school while preparations were completed.
1891: The Sisters of Mercy from Singleton, New South Wales, officially opened the Sacred Heart School and took charge of the schools,
1965. The original Sacred Heart Catholic School building was eventually replaced by a new structure.
Whites Aviation 1951
Towards the end of 1890 Father Rolland appealed to the Sisters of Mercy, Singleton, New South Wales to send Sisters to Reefton. There were many volunteers but only four could be spared. They were, Sister M Regis Murray, Superioress, Sister M Josepha Nowland, Sister Teresa Mahon and Sister M. Wilkinson. Miss Zillah Simmons, a postulant, joined the group. Mother M Stanislaus Kenny and Sister M Eavier Ryan accompanied them and remained long enough to see the foundation established. Sailing from Sydney on the SS Tekapo at midnight Christmas Eve 1890 they eventually welcomed the sight of land after a rough voyage.
Re-embarking from Wellington they encountered an even rougher journey but were eventually welcomed in Greymouth by the Sisters of Mercy there, some of whom were known to them. After a memorable coach journey from Greymouth, crossing flooded rivers on the way, they were met by many Reefton people who had come out to welcome them. These Sisters were joined by Sister M de Sales and Sister M Benignus in September 1891. At that time there were two schools, one for the boys and one for the girls. The boys school was under the charge of a master. The Sisters taught boys up to standard two as well as girls,numbers varying from 120-140. After some time a high school was opened. The first building was a little cottage which eventually became a stable for the priest's horse. In February 1894 the Reefton Sisters opened a branch Convent in Westport. The journey from Reefton to Westport was made via Greymouth, the trip from Greymouth to Westport by boat. In November 1895 the Sisters took charge of the boys school which in 1896 became a mixed boys and girls school.
At the turn of the century a community of ten Sisters of Mercy were teaching one hundred and ninety pupils. Fifty children of all denominations were being taught music and painting - these pupils being both from the primary and high schools.
SISTERS OF MERCY, REEFTON
1981, Following the departure of the Sisters of Mercy the school continued under lay leadership.
New Convent School
In 1962 Father Leuthard and the then school committee decided that the old school building was beyond repair and that a new one would have to be built. With the help of the local Sisters and an architect friend in the North Island they very quickly designed the present building. Before building commenced, Father Leuthard left the parish and his place was taken by Father Jones.
Built of reinforced concrete and concrete block and comprising three classrooms, library and staffroom it withstood the 1968 earthquake without any damage, reflecting much credit on both designers and builders. The construction took five months and much of the work was done by voluntary labour. The builders were Frank Hampson and Brian Rosanowski ably assisted by some of the largest working bees held in the area and comprising members of all denominations. During the pouring of the foundations and floor, forty men using wheelbarrows were kept busy by a mixer fed by a front end loader. Other working bees led by Ken McMahon and Eddie Story made thousands of steel stirrups, links, etc. for the reinforcing.
The building was done under the control of a strong works committee comprising of Messrs. George Lockington, Bill Blair, Jack Collis, Father Jones and Ken McMahon. Mr. Joe Panckhurst had the task of laying all the block and they are a credit to his workmanship.
The completed school, which was opened free of debt, was a fine example of community spirit and will stand to the lasting credit of all those whose efforts made its construction possible.
Setting foundations of the new school 1963, Fr Jones
Old and new School 1964
SISTERS OF MERCY END 90 YEAR TIE WITH REEFTON (a 1981 Report)
After over 90 years of devoted service in Reefton, where a primary school has been conducted, the Sisters of Mercy will leave shortly after the end of the school year.
A short statement on the move said the decision had been made reluctantly because of a lack of religious vocations and added that the Sacred Heart Catholic Schools would continue with a staff of lay teachers.
The two present sisters there, Sister Patricia and Sister Joan, are both going to Wellington. Sister Patricia, who comes originally from Miramar, has been at Reefton for about five years and Sister Joan, born in Lower Hutt, has been at Reefton for four years.
They have carried out parish work, including visiting the sick and aged, and have taught Christian doctrine at secondary level to young people at evening classes.
Sisters Patricia and Joan will continue to teach, but in different parts of Wellington, when they return there.
The Catholic primary school at Reefton was established in 1875 by a Mr Skerrett, who came from Europe, and the Sisters of Mercy became established in early 1891, when four sisters came to Reefton from Singleton in New South Wales.
Since that date there have been a total of 70 sisters at the convent at Reefton up to the present day. The greatest number at any one time is thought to have been 17 early this century.
Part of the establishment was a novitiate in those days and the large wooden building constructed in 1897, also housed a secondary school, St Francis Xavier, in the early days.
The future of the building, is not known.
On Saturday, December 19 a Mass of thanksgiving will be held at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church at Reefton followed by a farewell function in the hall.
Sister Patricia and Sister Joan saying farewell to the Reefton convent garden.
School Memories
Scrapbook
work still in progress
work still in progress