The Coonamble Independent Friday April 5 1907 Departure of Rev. Mother John St Brigids, Coonamble The Rev Mother left by Tuesday morning's train en route to Ireland where she will take part in the General Chapter of the Congregation which will take place in the County Carlow in September. The Rev Mother will be accompanied from Sydney by the Rev Mother Allacoque who intends to be present at the General Chapter. The Rev Mother has been in Coonamble for 24 years so that we may well term her a pioneer in character building. We would ask some of the older residents to just look back at the Rev. Mother's landing in Coonamble, and just view the position of the place now. It was quite interesting to listen to the to the description portrayed by her life in Coonamble. When she came here first the heat was something terrific and the place all round seemed parched up. We can imagine how things must have been at that particular time when water was tenpence per pint. The Rev. Mother mentioned that just at that time there was a fair amount of sickness and the Convent was quite bare from the outside view, no trees or anything about to make the place cool; the heat seemed to pierce right through the roof, fairly raising them from the floor of the House. The Rev Mother speaks in the warmest spirit of the hospitality of which she received just at that time and speaks in the same strain now as far as the liberal hospitality of the Coonamble people is now towards the convent. The Rev. Mother is quite anxious to return to Coonamble and will only be too pleased to report when she arrives in Ireland of the hospitable people she has been associated with during her 24 years in Coonamble. The g rounds at the convent reflect great credit on the Rev. Mother who has had the garden nicely laid out giving a far different approach to the place now on her departure clearly showing that her ambition has been accomplished by leaving a nice home which she has expressed her desire to return again to if spared. Quite a number were at the station to say goodbye, and wished the Rev. Mother a safe journey. ------------ Comment: We can imagine how things must have been at that particular time when water was tenpence per pint. Rod Warnock Kilaben Bay NSW Australia rwarnock@idx.com.au