If I had said ‘no’ I would have been unfaithful to grace.
- Mother Gonzaga Barry
150 Years of Loreto in Australia
Being Faithful to Grace
In 2025, we proudly celebrated 150 years of Loreto in Australia and South East Asia, honouring the vision, courage, and faith of the ten pioneering Sisters who arrived in 1875 to establish a transformative education for young women. Guided by the charism of Mary Ward and the leadership of Mother Gonzaga Barry, their mission of seeking truth, doing justice, and empowering women laid the foundation for generations of Loreto students. Throughout the year, Loreto Normanhurst continued this tradition, embracing our shared values of Verity, Justice, Sincerity, Freedom, and Felicity, and reaffirming our commitment to shaping a future in which young women lead with wisdom, compassion, and strength.
Celebrating 150 Years of Loreto in Australia Travelling Exhibition at Loreto Normanhurst
Reflections from Mother Gonzaga Barry
During the celebratory year marking 150 Years of Loreto in Australia and Southeast Asia, we paused to reflect on the gift of Mother Gonzaga Barry’s letters to her dearest children, published in the school magazine 'Eucalyptus Blossoms'
Loreto Sister Sandra Perrett cj prepared a series of monthly meditations reflecting on pearls of wisdom drawn from Mother Gonzaga Barry’s letters, sourced from the Loreto Australia and Southeast Asia Archives.
February Reflection
March Reflection
April Reflection
May Reflection
June Reflection
July Reflection
August Reflection
September Reflection
October Reflection
November Reflection
150 Artwork
Evie Davidson
A proud Dja Dja Wurrung woman from the outskirts of Ballarat and, at the time, a Year 10 student at Loreto College Ballarat. In 2023, her group participated in an inspiring session with Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann from the Northern Territory and were invited to create a small painting.
Evie chose a eucalyptus branch with blossoms beneath a night sky. This artwork later became the foundation she worked from, under the guidance of Lua Pellegrini, to design the logo for the 2025 celebrations.
Lua Pelligrini
A proud Wiradjuri woman who grew up on Darug Country and an alumna of Loreto Normanhurst, Class of 2019.
Lua graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Arts, majoring in Indigenous Studies, from the University of NSW. She also worked as Artist in Residence at St Andrew’s College within the University of Sydney.
Lua shared that it was a pleasure to work with and mentor Evie, observing her growing self-efficacy and confidence in her ideas and artistic practice throughout the process of designing the artwork for the 2025 celebrations.
