I first met Cathy Spence when I started Year 9 at Presentation Convent Windsor in 1958. We both lived in St. Kilda prior to my becoming a boarder at the convent when my parents went to Papua New Guinea for two years. A group of us spent our remaining school years together until we went our separate ways in pursuit of different careers. Cathy became a passionate primary school teacher and I a biochemist. We had one interest above all else which maintained our friendship and that was being passionate supporters of St. Kilda football team in the then VFL. Thus, we remained in contact through our tertiary education and our work lives up until marriages, children, travel and life took over. Apart from the occasional contact at school reunions, we eventually lost touch completely.
However, while attending the Australian Open with some colleagues from work in the 1990s, we met up again. While eating lunch, a woman approached me and said she recognised me by my laugh! So, we reconnected. With both of us still working and living in different parts of the state, we were still not meeting face to face, but kept in touch via phone calls, emails and Christmas letters. The one part of our lives that had not changed was our continued support of the Saints.
Cathy and her husband always took off to Northern Australia over the winter months. They enjoyed the warmer weather, whereas we enjoyed the four seasons. Also, as my parents were living in Ireland, our travel plans usually included an overseas trip every two years, once our children had fled the nest. We had great plans to catch up properly once we retired as we were sure we would have SO much free time. However, as most people know, life in retirement turned out to be busier than ever and so arrangements made were changed by one or other of us as family demands always come first.
Eventually we decided that 2020 was to be our year and, as the school we had both attended was closing down, we pencilled in various dates throughout the year for various reunions. Of course, as you all know, The Pandemic arrived and one by one these activities were cancelled. A similar pattern reoccurred in 2021. As I write this, we have still not had a face to face meeting. We continue to stay in touch via phone calls and emails. I realise she is the one friend I made at school with whom I have regular contact. All my other friends are from work situations, sporting or community groups.
Maybe this year we will make it! Wouldn't it be nice if we could see our football team win the Grand Final before our final curtain.
Marg McCrohan
May 2022
However, while attending the Australian Open with some colleagues from work in the 1990s, we met up again. While eating lunch, a woman approached me and said she recognised me by my laugh! So, we reconnected. With both of us still working and living in different parts of the state, we were still not meeting face to face, but kept in touch via phone calls, emails and Christmas letters. The one part of our lives that had not changed was our continued support of the Saints.
Cathy and her husband always took off to Northern Australia over the winter months. They enjoyed the warmer weather, whereas we enjoyed the four seasons. Also, as my parents were living in Ireland, our travel plans usually included an overseas trip every two years, once our children had fled the nest. We had great plans to catch up properly once we retired as we were sure we would have SO much free time. However, as most people know, life in retirement turned out to be busier than ever and so arrangements made were changed by one or other of us as family demands always come first.
Eventually we decided that 2020 was to be our year and, as the school we had both attended was closing down, we pencilled in various dates throughout the year for various reunions. Of course, as you all know, The Pandemic arrived and one by one these activities were cancelled. A similar pattern reoccurred in 2021. As I write this, we have still not had a face to face meeting. We continue to stay in touch via phone calls and emails. I realise she is the one friend I made at school with whom I have regular contact. All my other friends are from work situations, sporting or community groups.
Maybe this year we will make it! Wouldn't it be nice if we could see our football team win the Grand Final before our final curtain.
Marg McCrohan
May 2022
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