Happy 100th Birthday, Mary Pearson (nee Honey) – Jennifer Oaten
On 28 June, Santa Maria College will mark a remarkable milestone. The 100th birthday of one of our inaugural students, Mary Pearson, who grew up in Kulin.
I recently had the privilege to visit Mary in Busselton and to hear her story firsthand. Listening to her rich memories of life at Santa Maria in the 1930s and 1940s was a true gift. Her reflections offer a vivid glimpse into our College’s earliest days, told with warmth, gratitude and some cheeky humour.
Life as a Santa Girl in the 1930s
Mary began boarding at Santa Maria in 1938 as a 13-year-old country girl, joining a close-knit community of about 100 boarders and 20 day students at the time. Only eight girls from her cohort would eventually graduate in what they called the Leaving Year. Her memories of daily life were filled with vivid details, including the simple routines that shaped each day.
Students had to make their beds and keep their cubicles tidy. The Sisters did the rest. They worked tirelessly to keep the College running. While luxuries were few, there was no shortage of community spirit.
Mary’s recollections were particularly sharp when it came to what every girl wore. Uniforms were simple but smart. Each girl wore a green tunic, white shirt, green jumper and a protective pinafore. Prefects proudly wore a badge. For sporting activities, tunics and long bloomers were worn.
Seasonal accessories were equally important in the well-ordered school life. In summer, white Panama hats were worn; in winter, green felt hats with the school badge. Cotton swimwear was standard, although Mary chuckled at how it clung when wet.
Mary, a proud Red House member, which was called ‘School’, loved the energy of interhouse competitions. Santa Maria frequently claimed victory in interschool swimming carnivals. The girls also competed in Leader Ball and Pass Ball at Leederville Oval.
Beyond her own experience, Mary remembered the care extended to the youngest students. She recalled sewing costumes for the youngest girls, some as young as four. This skill would serve her well throughout her life. Mary was a master with sewing, and when she married, she sewed all of her children’s clothes.
Her talents extended to knitting and embroidery, skills she continues to practice today. Remarkably, at 99, she submitted an embroidery piece to the Busselton Show last year and received second place. Over the years, she has won numerous first prizes at both the Perth and Sydney Royal shows. Her work was so admired that the Embroiderer’s Guild made one of her possum designs into a card.
The facilities at Santa Maria themselves held their own stories. Mary laughed as she recalled that the Sisters built the swimming pool before the chapel. After lights out, some of the Sisters would sneak in for a swim. The girls, from time to time, had to scrape slime off the bottom with spades to clean the pool.
Among her memories, it was the people who left the deepest impression. She spoke fondly of Sister Mary Claude, a kind, energetic presence who was always surrounded by girls.
Hardship, Resilience and Joy
Yet beneath the spirited competitions and community activities, life wasn’t without its challenges. Students never went home at Easter or mid-term but returned home for other holidays. To reach the train, they hauled their luggage up to the shops (Moreing Road), a one-mile journey still to this day remembered as ‘the mile.’ If they were lucky, the milkman would help carry their bags on his horse and cart.
The weekly routine included walking the same mile to collect mail. The Sisters read every letter in and out. Mary’s father sent her newspapers from home, but she was never allowed to read them.
Behind these daily restrictions lay significant financial pressures. Money was tight. Mary’s family paid £13 every three months to send her to boarding school, an enormous sacrifice at the time. To put it in perspective, her husband later earned just £5 a week. It was a significant financial commitment that reflected her father’s deep belief in the importance of girls getting an education.
The College itself faced similar financial realities. The building had cost £30,000 to construct. The Sisters handled all the housekeeping while managing this significant debt, allowing families to focus on giving their daughters a catholic education. Their tireless efforts behind the scenes made a lasting impact.
These financial pressures were soon compounded by larger world events. The war brought additional challenges including food rationing, air raid scares and Australian and American soldiers nearby. At one point, the Army considered converting the school into a hospital, but the lack of lifts ruled it out. Many girls went home during that uncertain time.
The war’s presence was felt in daily life when a searchlight was positioned just outside the College on the Figure 8, to spot enemy planes.
The food reflected wartime. Meals were plain and far from appetising. Mary remembered fried polony, cabbage and pumpkin. To this day, she cannot stand cabbage. Afternoon tea was bread and butter with jam. If they were lucky, there was cake on Sundays.
Despite these hardships, the war years brought unexpected moments of excitement. An Army camp at Point Walter brought soldiers to Sunday Mass in the College chapel, a highlight for the girls. Some were sent home for being a little too friendly, she laughed.
The Sisters and Their Influence
The pioneering sisters had a progressive mind set. Mary spoke warmly of the women who shaped her journey, including Sister Mary Newman, Sister Consilli, Sister Margaret, Mother Aquinas, who taught music, and Sister Mary Claude, her favourite.
Sister Mary Martha also left an impression. She cared for the kindy children and ensured they felt safe and supported.
These women were true pioneers, championing education for girls at a time when it was far from guaranteed.
The broader community that supported the College also featured in Mary’s memories. A friendly policeman would ride in on horseback, and Father Smith, the local priest, was remembered for having the only bath on campus. When he was away, the girls lit the furnace to heat water for a rare warm bath. This was a luxury compared to their daily cold showers.
A Life Well Lived
The foundation laid at Santa Maria served Mary well in the years that followed. She became a nurse at Mount Hospital, a role she cherished. However, once she married, she was required to leave her job, a common rule at the time. She poured her energy into raising her family, and with seven children, there was always something to do!
Mary’s talents extended well beyond nursing and sewing. She was active in the Country Women’s Association for 47 years and sang in the Applecross/Mt Pleasant choir and the State choir. She served as music librarian for 12 years. Every two years, she auditioned for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra choir and continued performing with them until age 70, mostly at the Perth Concert Hall.
Today, Mary is the proud matriarch of seven children, twelve grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Her time at Santa Maria remains a treasured part of her life, and with the Mercy spirit woven throughout her story.
As Mary celebrates her 100th birthday, we honour her legacy. Her story reminds us that the values we speak of today, Hospitality, Compassion, Justice, Service and Excellence, have been lived out by students and Sisters alike, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Happy 100th birthday, Mary. Thank you for paving the way.
- Boarding school memories, Catholic education history, Centenary celebrations, Featured, Inspiring alumni, Mary Pearson, Mercy Values, Santa Maria College alumni, Santa Maria history, Student life 1930s
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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