All Hallows' School
Encyclopedia
All Hallows' School is a Catholic
day school
for girls, located close to the central business district
of Brisbane
, Queensland.
Founded in 1861, the school follows in the tradition of the Irish Sisters of Mercy
, and caters for over 1,300 girls from years five to 12. The school was the first permanent home of the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland, and is the oldest surviving secondary school in Brisbane.
All Hallows' is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australia, and the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association.
The school's motto
is in French, Dieu et Devoir (English: "God and Duty"). This motto was formulated in 1911, 50 years after the school opened. The French language was chosen for the motto on the basis of the strong French influence in the school's early years.
In 1860, the year before the foundation of the school, however, landmark legislation
was passed by the Queensland colonial parliament providing for the functioning of the first private "grammar school
s" within the colony
. This legislation allowed for the foundation of secondary schools by both Catholics and other non-state bodies. As a result of this legislation, Ipswich Grammar School
was established to become the first grammar school in Queensland in 1863.
In a time of deep sectarian
divisions, the legislation worried the Catholic hierarchy of the colony, especially Bishop Quinn who believed that the wealthy of the colony would be greatly advantaged under the new legislative regime. Under the Grammar Schools Act (1860), the provision of ₤1000 by a new grammar school's governing body to develop the school would then result in various forms of government aid. Wealthy members of the community were able to raise such a subscription with relative ease and, as such, would be able to perpetuate a cycle of affluence. Demographically, many of Queensland's poorest residents at this time were both Roman Catholic and of Irish immigrant stock – reflecting a worldwide pattern at this time.
Queensland historian Ross Fitzgerald
points out that until well into the twentieth century "the majority of (Queensland Catholics) ... belonged to lower socio-economic groups" (1984, p. 12). As a result of the legislation, grammar schools opened throughout the 1860s and 1870s in, not only Ipswich
but also, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Maryborough
, Rockhampton
and Townsville. Little under the legislation was specifically targeted to relieve the burdens of educating the poor of Queensland and among these, the poorest and most disadvantaged were often women who had yet to receive the franchise
.
Contrary to the development of most schools, All Hallows' School, as the first Catholic secondary school in Queensland, sought to serve those less fortunate in colonial society while operating under the same legislative framework as the more affluent grammar schools. Serving poorer, often Irish, Roman Catholic, immigrant women in the area of Fortitude Valley, the School did not raise the required subscription for government aid and, in a time of bitter sectarianism
within Queensland, the school maintained fierce independence in curriculum
from what was seen by many within the Catholic community as attempts by a hostile secular government at interference. A leading supporter of the Sisters of Mercy in this approach was Bishop James Quinn.
The early Mercy Sisters and their students at this time played a significant role in the development of women's rights within Queensland. The details of the origins of All Hallows' highlight the concerns of the Sisters of Mercy
for the plight of the working poor
in colonial Queensland. All Hallows' began in 1861 as a plea from a future student to Mother Vincent Whitty
of the Sisters of Mercy to become a boarder
in the cottage
s next to the convent
on Charlotte Street, where the Sisters were residing. Mother Whitty's desire was to create a community united under the goal of promoting "Dieu et Devoir" – "God and Duty" in Queensland's young women. This student, along with 16 other boarders from various socio-economic backgrounds, had become the pioneers in a long tradition of the education of women within Brisbane.
In the World War II the schools Main building held the USA Army Core.
from high upon Duncan's Hill.
Mother Vincent Whitty
marvelled at the position of the new house in a way that many visitors to the school have done since 1863. Writing to Ireland with news of the move to Duncan's Hill she stated:
for Dr. George Fullerton (Mahoney, 1985 p. 6). The school was given the of All Hallows' by Mother Whitty who, while well acquainted with All Hallows College
in Dublin, named the new Brisbane school after a seventh century church – All Hallows-by-the-Tower
in London, England. All Hallows-by-the-Tower is the earliest parish church
in London and Mother Vincent Whitty was aware that the Dublin College was named for the priory
on which it was built, which in turn was named after this other famous London landmark.
Adderton House, is still present on the school grounds along with other heritage buildings such as McAuley Hall, Main Building (a prominent turreted structure) and St Ann's.
. Every student and staff member belongs to one of the eight houses which are named after people or places within the history of the school. Each house is given a color.
Each house is divided into seven "home groups" led by teaching staff. These home groups meet each morning and for regularly timetabled extended periods. Each of the Houses is led by a House Co-Ordinator who, in turn, work closely with the Deputy Principal and other support staff.
Throughout the year, interhouse and intrahouse competitions are held. The most significant interhouse competitions include: swimming
, cross country
, debating
, House choir
and athletics
. Each house holds its own range of intrahouse activities largely organised and led by students. These activities include: Girls' Nights In, social justice work, team building activities and initiative challenges. Student house leaders encourage home groups to compete for intrahouse trophies (such as the "McAuley Cup" and the "Gorry Grail").
The School takes part in competitions including the:
Parent Support Groups at All Hallows' include:
Student based clubs and societies at All Hallows' include groups such as Amnesty International
and the Mercy Action Group.
The All Hallows' formal school uniform consists of a blouse and skirt (coulottes for the All Hallows' Middle School) predominantly sky blue in colour with fine white pin-striping. Piping on the collar of the blouse is in the traditional rust brown. This uniform is worn with a white straw hat with sky, white and rust band which incorporates the school crest and motto. This uniform is worn with brown leather shoes and white socks for the secondary school and blue socks for the middle school.
The All Hallows' School sports uniform consists of a white polo-style shirt with sky blue collar and either a sky blue netball skirt or shorts.
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
for girls, located close to the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland.
Founded in 1861, the school follows in the tradition of the Irish Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
, and caters for over 1,300 girls from years five to 12. The school was the first permanent home of the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland, and is the oldest surviving secondary school in Brisbane.
All Hallows' is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australia, and the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association.
The school's motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is in French, Dieu et Devoir (English: "God and Duty"). This motto was formulated in 1911, 50 years after the school opened. The French language was chosen for the motto on the basis of the strong French influence in the school's early years.
19th century
The story of the foundation of All Hallows' School must be set against the rudimentary "pioneer" education system and bitter sectarian disputes in Queensland education during the 1850s and early 1860s. According to Johnston (1982, p. 104), until 1860, "secondary education tended to receive a fairly low priority in state thinking – which was not surprising since the provision of a primary level was so difficult, to difficult to manage". He continues:
"There were no state initiatives to provide its own system until 1912. Secondary education, seen as a perquisite of middle-classMiddle classThe middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
life, suitable for the children of business and professional men and established pastoralistPastoralismPastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
s, was allowed to be offered by private and church bodies" (1982, p. 104)
In 1860, the year before the foundation of the school, however, landmark legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
was passed by the Queensland colonial parliament providing for the functioning of the first private "grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s" within the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
. This legislation allowed for the foundation of secondary schools by both Catholics and other non-state bodies. As a result of this legislation, Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Ipswich, a city situated on the Bremer River in South East Queensland, Australia...
was established to become the first grammar school in Queensland in 1863.
Sectarianism
Sectarianism, according to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement.The ideological...
divisions, the legislation worried the Catholic hierarchy of the colony, especially Bishop Quinn who believed that the wealthy of the colony would be greatly advantaged under the new legislative regime. Under the Grammar Schools Act (1860), the provision of ₤1000 by a new grammar school's governing body to develop the school would then result in various forms of government aid. Wealthy members of the community were able to raise such a subscription with relative ease and, as such, would be able to perpetuate a cycle of affluence. Demographically, many of Queensland's poorest residents at this time were both Roman Catholic and of Irish immigrant stock – reflecting a worldwide pattern at this time.
Queensland historian Ross Fitzgerald
Ross Fitzgerald
Ross Fitzgerald is an Australian academic, historian, novelist, secularist, and political commentator.Author of 35 books, in 2009 Professor Fitzgerald co-authored "Made in Queensland: A New History", published by University of Queensland Press and also "Under the Influence, a history of alcohol in...
points out that until well into the twentieth century "the majority of (Queensland Catholics) ... belonged to lower socio-economic groups" (1984, p. 12). As a result of the legislation, grammar schools opened throughout the 1860s and 1870s in, not only Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
but also, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Maryborough
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
, Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
and Townsville. Little under the legislation was specifically targeted to relieve the burdens of educating the poor of Queensland and among these, the poorest and most disadvantaged were often women who had yet to receive the franchise
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
.
First Catholic secondary school in Queensland
Sectarianism
Sectarianism, according to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement.The ideological...
within Queensland, the school maintained fierce independence in curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
from what was seen by many within the Catholic community as attempts by a hostile secular government at interference. A leading supporter of the Sisters of Mercy in this approach was Bishop James Quinn.
The early Mercy Sisters and their students at this time played a significant role in the development of women's rights within Queensland. The details of the origins of All Hallows' highlight the concerns of the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
for the plight of the working poor
Working poor
- Definition in the United States :There are several popular definitions of "working poor" in the United States. According to the US Department of Labor, the working poor "are persons who spent at least 27 weeks [in the past year] in the labor force , but whose incomes fell below the official...
in colonial Queensland. All Hallows' began in 1861 as a plea from a future student to Mother Vincent Whitty
Mother Vincent Whitty
Ellen Whitty , better known by her religious name of Mother Vincent Whitty, was an Irish nun known for her work in the Australian state of Queensland...
of the Sisters of Mercy to become a boarder
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in the cottage
Cottage
__toc__In modern usage, a cottage is usually a modest, often cozy dwelling, typically in a rural or semi-rural location. However there are cottage-style dwellings in cities, and in places such as Canada the term exists with no connotations of size at all...
s next to the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
on Charlotte Street, where the Sisters were residing. Mother Whitty's desire was to create a community united under the goal of promoting "Dieu et Devoir" – "God and Duty" in Queensland's young women. This student, along with 16 other boarders from various socio-economic backgrounds, had become the pioneers in a long tradition of the education of women within Brisbane.
In the World War II the schools Main building held the USA Army Core.
Relocation to Duncan's Hill
In 1863, with pupils and Sisters growing in numbers, it was soon realised that a suitable place for a convent must be found. It was envisaged that a small House of Mercy would be established on the site of what would become All Hallows' School. 1 November 1863 saw the transfer of the party from a small structure adjacent to what is now Saint Stephen's Cathedral to 'Adderton House' overlooking the Brisbane RiverBrisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
from high upon Duncan's Hill.
"The Bishop has lately purchased the finest house and situation in Brisbane for a convent. The purchase money is 6,000 – where it is to come from I know not – but I trust God will send it. As soon as we get into it, we are to commence a House of Mercy ... The constant influx of Emigrants renders a House of Mercy desirable but it will not be a big one ..."
Mother Vincent Whitty
Mother Vincent Whitty
Ellen Whitty , better known by her religious name of Mother Vincent Whitty, was an Irish nun known for her work in the Australian state of Queensland...
marvelled at the position of the new house in a way that many visitors to the school have done since 1863. Writing to Ireland with news of the move to Duncan's Hill she stated:
"I wish I could give you an idea of the beauty of the situation of this house. The view of the river from the Balcony is lovely and in the distance the thick bush, is here and there cleared away, with the town at one side of the River, it certainly is very beautiful."
Adderton House
Adderton House was constructed in 1858 by John PetrieJohn Petrie
John "Jocky" Petrie was a Scottish football player who played for Arbroath F.C..He holds the record for the most goals ever scored in a senior British football game with 13 goals. This occurred during Arbroath's famous 36–0 victory over Bon Accord F.C...
for Dr. George Fullerton (Mahoney, 1985 p. 6). The school was given the of All Hallows' by Mother Whitty who, while well acquainted with All Hallows College
All Hallows College
All Hallows College is a Roman Catholic college located in Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland. All Hallows is one of six linked colleges of Dublin City University, meaning that the college's degrees are validated and accredited by the university.-History:...
in Dublin, named the new Brisbane school after a seventh century church – All Hallows-by-the-Tower
All Hallows-by-the-Tower
All Hallows-by-the-Tower, also previously dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, is an ancient Anglican church located in Byward Street in the City of London, overlooking the Tower of London.-History:...
in London, England. All Hallows-by-the-Tower is the earliest parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in London and Mother Vincent Whitty was aware that the Dublin College was named for the priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
on which it was built, which in turn was named after this other famous London landmark.
Adderton House, is still present on the school grounds along with other heritage buildings such as McAuley Hall, Main Building (a prominent turreted structure) and St Ann's.
House system
All Hallows' has a mixed age house structureHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
. Every student and staff member belongs to one of the eight houses which are named after people or places within the history of the school. Each house is given a color.
- Adderton – green, named after Adderton House building on the school grounds.
- Coolock – blue, named after the house in Ireland where Catherine McAuley lived.
- Gorry – gold, named after Queensland born Mercy Sister Jane GorryJane GorryJane Gorry was the first Queensland postulant of the Sisters of Mercy and entered the order in Brisbane at All Hallows' School in 1863....
. - Loretto – pink, named after long serving school principal Sister M. Loretto Flynn. Principal: 1916, 1933–1959.
- McAuley – silver, named after the founder of the Mercy Sisters, Catherine McAuleyCatherine McAuleyThe Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831...
. - Mercedes – orange, pronounced mɛərˈseɪdɛs as per the Spanish word for 'Mercy'.
- Tighe – indigo, named after the first enrolled student at AHS, Annie Tighe.
- Whitty – red, named after the first principal of AHS, Mother Vincent WhittyMother Vincent WhittyEllen Whitty , better known by her religious name of Mother Vincent Whitty, was an Irish nun known for her work in the Australian state of Queensland...
.
Each house is divided into seven "home groups" led by teaching staff. These home groups meet each morning and for regularly timetabled extended periods. Each of the Houses is led by a House Co-Ordinator who, in turn, work closely with the Deputy Principal and other support staff.
Throughout the year, interhouse and intrahouse competitions are held. The most significant interhouse competitions include: swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, debating
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
, House choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and athletics
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. Each house holds its own range of intrahouse activities largely organised and led by students. These activities include: Girls' Nights In, social justice work, team building activities and initiative challenges. Student house leaders encourage home groups to compete for intrahouse trophies (such as the "McAuley Cup" and the "Gorry Grail").
Associations and competitions
All Hallows' is a member of sporting and other associations including:- Brisbane School Girls' Sports Association
- Queensland Debating Union
- Queensland Netball
- Independent Schools' Soccer Association
- The Associated Schools' (Junior)
- Gateway District Sports Association
- Metropolitan East District Sports Association
The School takes part in competitions including the:
- Duhig Cup (swimming)
- Beirne Cup (athletics)
- Knowles Cup (tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
) - Queensland Schoolgirls Water poloWater poloWater polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
Championships - Queensland Schools FutsalFutsalFutsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
Championships - Uhlsport Cup (football)
- Queensland Swimming Championships
- Catholic Tennis Championships
- Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association rowingRowing (sport)Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
- Queensland All Schools volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- Queensland Catholic Schools TouchTouch football (rugby league)Touch is a field sport also known as Touch Football, or in some countries as Touch Rugby. Touch is overseen worldwide by the Federation of International Touch . Touch has traditionally been played in Australia and New Zealand but the sport has expanded internationally and features many regional and...
Championships - Queensland Catholic Music Festival
- Queensland All Schools Touch Championships
- Queensland Individual Schools' Fencing Events (fencingFencingFencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
) - Brisbane Waterpolo (Waterpolo)
Clubs and societies
All Hallows' School supports the activities of parent support groups which act in a similar way to community groups or clubs within the AHS school community. These support groups encourage parental assistance in the running of school groups and fundraise for their clubs. Support groups act under the auspices of the Parents' and Friends' Association.Parent Support Groups at All Hallows' include:
- AHS Water Polo
- All Hallows' Touch Football
- All Hallows' Netball
- All Hallows' Hockey
- All Hallows' Rowing
- All Hallows' Football and Futsal
Student based clubs and societies at All Hallows' include groups such as Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
and the Mercy Action Group.
Traditions
Some traditional aspects of the school daily life include:- Students celebrate each other's birthdays with gifts of a single flower (often a gerberaGerberaGerbera L. is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family . It was named in honour of the German botanist and naturalist Traugott Gerber who travelled extensively in Russia and was a friend of Carolus Linnaeus....
). The origins of this tradition are unclear but this tradition continues to this day. Gerbera flowers have grown on the school campus in a variety of areas around the convent for many years. - The school AngelusAngelusThe Angelus is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ The Angelus (Latin for "angel") is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus...
bell rings to this day at midday. The bell is rung by year 10 students and is rung to a distinctive pattern. The bell (called "Charles BorromeoCharles BorromeoCharles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
" in honour of the saint by the same name by boarders in the 1880s) was donated to the Sisters of Mercy by Dublin lawyer Charles Cavanagh and was hung in its current location in 1882. - Senior Badge Swapping. On the final day of school for graduating seniors, a ritual of senior badge swapping takes place in which the outgoing Year 12 students "commission" their successors in the current Year 11 classes.
- Jumping Jive. The unofficial warcry of All Hallows', this chant is performed by students at, before or after significant school events. It is especially common as a "wishing" of good luck or congratulations. Jump'n'Jive is performed by groups of students with arms linked over each others shoulders to form a circle. As the chant is performed, students bounce to the rhythm of the words. Occasions when this warcry is performed include at swimming carnivals, after athletics and cross-country meets, prior to rowing regattas, on the final day of graduating students, after significant group victories or individual achievements, after most victorious sporting events, and following the Senior Graduation Mass.
- Inaugural Mass and Commissioning of School Leaders. Originally held in St Stephen's Cathedral, the Inaugural Mass is now annually held during February at the Brisbane City HallBrisbane City HallBrisbane City Hall, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the seat of the Brisbane City Council. It is located adjacent to King George Square, where the rectangular City Hall has its main entrance. The City Hall also has frontages and entrances in both Ann Street and Adelaide Street...
. This is a formal Eucharistic celebration incorporating commissioning of staff, parents and students into their roles. This event marks the formal commencement of period of office for school captains and house captains as they receive their badges from the Head of the Queensland Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. - All Hallows' Day Mass and Picnic Day. Since 1861, All Hallows' Day (All SaintsAll SaintsAll Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
Day) has been observed with a formal school Eucharistic celebration (now held in Brisbane City Hall) and with the informal student-based picnic day. The picnic day has on occasion been held at locations such as Caloundra and Mt Cootha National ParkNational parkA national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
. In recent years, the entire school has celebrated its foundation with an excursion to Amazons and more recently at the Wet'n'Wild Water WorldWet'n'Wild Water WorldWet'n'Wild Water World is a large water park situated in Oxenford, Gold Coast, owned by Warner Village Theme Parks. In 2009, the park received 1,095,000 visitors ranking it first in Australia and eighth in the world. Wet'n'Wild Water World is located adjacent to Warner Bros. Movie World, a...
aquatic theme park on the Gold Coast, QueenslandGold Coast, QueenslandGold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
. - Singing the Angeli. The school song (La Toussaint) is sung in LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
at the commencement of school assemblies and significant events. Senior students graduating at the close of their final school year are farewelled from the school with a mass singing of this song. - The Mother's Day May Morning Tea. Every year the All Hallows' Ladies committee hold a morning tea in May to celebrate Mother's Day. Many old girls attend, and the event has become so popular that in 2008 it was moved from the school grounds to the Brisbane city hall to accommodate the amount of people wanting to attend. In 2008 the guest speaker was Maxine McKewMaxine McKewMaxine Margaret McKew , is a former Australian politician and journalist; she was the Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in the Rudd Ministry and the First Gillard Ministry. Between 2007 and 2010, she was the member of the House of...
.
School uniform
The school uniform, designed by a committee of parents, students, past-students and staff in mid 1990s, incorporates the white, sky blue and rust colours associated with AHS' history.The All Hallows' formal school uniform consists of a blouse and skirt (coulottes for the All Hallows' Middle School) predominantly sky blue in colour with fine white pin-striping. Piping on the collar of the blouse is in the traditional rust brown. This uniform is worn with a white straw hat with sky, white and rust band which incorporates the school crest and motto. This uniform is worn with brown leather shoes and white socks for the secondary school and blue socks for the middle school.
The All Hallows' School sports uniform consists of a white polo-style shirt with sky blue collar and either a sky blue netball skirt or shorts.
Notable alumnae
Former students of All Hallows' are known as "Old Girls"; they may elect to join the 'Past Pupils' Association'.- Elizabeth Alexander, actress and dramatist
- Thea AstleyThea AstleyThea Astley was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She was a prolific writer who was published for over 40 years from 1958. At the time of her death, she had won more Miles Franklin Awards, Australia's major literary award, than any other writer...
, author and novelist - Fran BaileyFran BaileyFrances Esther "Fran" Bailey is an Australianpolitician and Liberal member of theAustralian House of Representatives from 1990 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 2010, representing the electorate of McEwen in Victoria.-Personal life:...
, member of the House of Representatives, Parliament of AustraliaParliament of AustraliaThe Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress... - Nina Clarke, Camp Orange contestant 2007Camp Orange: The Mystery of Spaghetti CreekCamp Orange: The Mystery of Spaghetti Creek is the name of the third season of the children's reality series Camp Orange. It was aired on Nickelodeon Australia in May 2007...
- Sarah CraneSarah CraneSarah Crane is an Australian operatic soprano.-Education:After attending All Hallows' School in Brisbane, Sarah Crane graduated in 1997 from the Queensland Conservatorioum of Music and received the Brisbane Lord Mayor's Performing Arts Fellowship...
, opera singer - Ellen FanningEllen FanningEllen Fanning is an Australian journalist and was the last host of the Nine Network's Sunday television program.She was born in Brisbane, Queensland, and attended All Hallows' School, in Brisbane. She later graduated with a communications degree at the Queensland University of...
, journalist - Diane FingletonDiane FingletonDiane Fingleton is a former Queensland Magistrates Court judge, most notable for being appointed Chief Magistrate and later being convicted of the offence of intimidation of a witness, before the conviction was quashed on appeal to the High Court of Australia....
, first female Chief Magistrate of Queensland - Teresa Gambaro, member of House of Representatives, Parliament of AustraliaParliament of AustraliaThe Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
- Miranda KerrMiranda KerrMiranda May Kerr is an Australian model. She is best known as one of the Victoria's Secret Angels since mid-2007. She is the first Australian to participate in the Victoria's Secret campaign and also represents Australian fashion chain David Jones...
, model - Mary Emelia MayneMary Emelia MayneMary Emelia Mayne , was an Australian philanthropist.-Early life:Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Mary Emelia Mayne was the second youngest of five children of Irish parents, Patrick Mayne, a butcher and grazier, and his wife Mary McIntosh Mayne. She attended All Hallows' School in Brisbane...
(1858–1940), philanthropist - Maxine McKewMaxine McKewMaxine Margaret McKew , is a former Australian politician and journalist; she was the Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in the Rudd Ministry and the First Gillard Ministry. Between 2007 and 2010, she was the member of the House of...
, ALPAustralian Labor PartyThe Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the House of Representatives seat of BennelongDivision of BennelongThe Division of Bennelong is an Australian electorate in New South Wales. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Bennelong, an Aboriginal man befriended by the first Governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip... - Tracey WickhamTracey WickhamTracey Lee Wickham MBE OAM is an Australian former middle distance world champion swimmer. Despite her success in the pool, Wickham has battled financial hardship and personal tragedy throughout her life....
, Australian swimmer (Olympics and Commonwealth Games)
Sources
- Fitzgerald, R.Ross FitzgeraldRoss Fitzgerald is an Australian academic, historian, novelist, secularist, and political commentator.Author of 35 books, in 2009 Professor Fitzgerald co-authored "Made in Queensland: A New History", published by University of Queensland Press and also "Under the Influence, a history of alcohol in...
(1984) A History of Queensland: 1915 to the Early 1980s, Brisbane: UQP. - Johnston, W. Ross (1982) The Call of the Land: A History of Queensland to the Present Day, Brisbane: Jacaranda.
- Mahoney, J-M (1985) Dieu et Devoir: The Story of All Hallows' School Brisbane, 1861–1981. Brisbane: Boolarong Publications
- Mercy Women Making History: From the Pen of Mother Vincent Whitty (2001) Brisbane: Corporation of the Trustees of the Order of the Sisters of MercySisters of MercyThe Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
in Queensland. - State Library of QueenslandState Library of QueenslandThe State Library of Queensland is a large public library provided to the people of the State of Queensland, Australia, by the state government. Its legislative basis is provided by the Queensland Libraries Act 1988...
, Picture Queensland: All Hallows' School - Women Making History: A Heritage Exhibition Celebrating the First 40 Years of the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland 1861–1901 (2000), Brisbane: Sisters of Mercy – Brisbane Congregation.