Abbotsford Convent gets a wrap in The Australian; goes on tv; gets a history book

It’s true what The Oz says, it was a stroke of genius to get Kenny to open the newly renovated toilet block at the Abbotsford Convent. The handy summary of things Abbotsford Convent is here, really worth a read. I learnt with interest that the pictured massive oak tree was planted in 1857 and is known as the Separation Tree. It is as old as the state of Victoria, being planted to celebrate the secession from New South Wales. That makes it just shy of 150 years old. (The Age’s version is here, the Herald Sun’s here).
Meanwhile, an article from The Age highlights a new show, Tripping Over, which was filmed in part at the Convent.

And a book has been published on the history of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti. Authored by Catherine Kovesi, historian, author and senior lecturer at Melbourne University (pictured), its title is Pitch Your Tents on Distant Shores. Friends of the Abbotsford Convent can get a pre-publication special (save $15) for $55 (plus $10 postage unless you pick it up from the Convent): call Kate on 9419 5773 like today or tomorrow. The offer has already officially expired.
And here’s The Age’s review of the Convent version of Lentil as Anything.

Jesuit Social Services’ Abbotsford Biscuits

Now I thought up this story before The Age did. I thought I’d give the Jesuits a plug, but they declined my kind offer, saying they would shortly depart Abbotsford. Apparently The Age is still a more credible journal than this organ of citizen mediacrity. There’s Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen then there’s Loretta Sartori’s work at Abbotsford’s Jesuit Social Services teaching hospitality industry skills to youths visited by the troubles. Part of what they do is make Abbotsford biscuits, which are very good, and should be regarded as a very pleasant way to donate to charity rather than as being very expensive. Sartori’s quite a renowned pastry chef. Of course there’s also Know One Teach One (KOTO) in Hanoi, and Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden project which has just won an NAB Volunteer Award (website here).)

A concise history of the Abbotsford Convent

I went again for a walk to the Convent today and wandered for the first time in the main gardens. The parents of the Steiner primary school were out in force again forging a garden around the school building. This evening, I found a nice little summary of the Convent’s history in a 2003 Sydney Morning Herald article. It talks of the pictured English Oak, thought to have been planted (if I read the article right) by Edward Curr, the owner of St Hellier’s cottage in the 1850s. The article says, in part:

Continue reading “A concise history of the Abbotsford Convent”