Hi I’m Annabel and I’m Genevieve and we are proud to belong to the sisterhood of Loreto Coorparoo. We represent the 2024 Year 7 cohort, and our year level has been integral in the Coorparoo skirt design which celebrates Feminine Fortitude. In our first semester at the College, we learnt about the history of our founders; Mary Ward, her companions, Teresa Ball and Mary Gonzaga Barry. We took photos of our College and surroundings and developed these images into digital drawings, some of which you will recognise in the skirt bands. We researched historical images and discovered intriguing stories including how the college was moved temporarily to Glen Innes in WW2 due to safety concerns. Let us take you on the journey of Loreto Coorparoo in this the 150th year celebration of Loreto in Australia.

The Loreto Coorparoo story begins with country and our connections to the Yaggera and Turrbal people. Current first nations students worked collaboratively to depict Mary Ward’s five virtues, represented through concentric blue circles and framed by rows of students. The rich culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions are represented through the patterns and hatching which connect to the meandering Brisbane River.

Sitting high on the hill, our view extends to the mountains of Mt Coot-tha and the Brisbane city skyline, which has grown and changed significantly through the years. Like the city, our Coorparoo history is connected to many buildings, the oldest being the original home, Kemendine built in 1885 and from which much of the furniture in our Chapel comes. Today, our buildings are numerous and include Cruci, Mulwith, the administration building, Crescentia and Babylon which features the values and sayings of Mary Ward in colourful mosaic murals. The Casket building, purchased through the winnings of a Golden Casket ticket, will sit proudly beside the newly renovated chapel and state of the art building on Dale Street. We are blessed with beautiful gardens, colourful native flowers and tall trees which attract the native birds such as curlews, lorikeets, butcher birds, kookaburras and some of the healthiest magpies in Brisbane.

Look closely at the silhouettes of our Year 7 students and discover glimpses into the lives and activities of the Loreto Coorparoo community. Students, teachers, sisters and principals reveal our stories throughout the decades until the present day. Our love for the music, art, sport, camps and spirituality days is clear. The highlight of the Loreto Coorparoo calendar is Mission Day; interhouse dancing and choir competitions feature all students and the staff act is always a crowd favourite. Mission Day is festive with stalls and games, although it is the incredible amounts of money that we raise for charities such as Mary Ward International Australia that embodies the true spirit of the day.

As Loreto Coorparoo grows and changes, we remember our past and honour the fortitude of those who have gone before us. Happy 150 years Loreto!