A year in the making, the bronze relief of Catherine McAuley and students now gracing the wall near the entrance to College reception tells a story for many future generations of MLMC students to appreciate. It was officially unveiled on Wednesday 13 September, during Mercy Week.
Once the idea for the relief was formed and artist Christine Sage, from Hullabaloo Studio in Malmsbury, was selected, Deputy Principal — Mission Miss Elizabeth Keogh and her then Year 11 Ministry Group worked with Christine to ensure the interpretation was unique to our community. It was a wonderful collaboration, and the students and Miss Keogh enjoyed working with Christine as a team.
“I hope that when people visit the College they will stop a while, even a few nano seconds, to be mindful of what has gone before them and the great possibilities of the future,” Christine said. “It tells the story of Mount Lilydale and the beautiful Yarra Valley but it also portrays Catherine just before her calling to her ultimate vocation. She is depicted as a young woman, strong, committed, intelligent and compassionate. She extends one hand in prayerful invitation and the other in a natural welcome, symbolic of hospitality. The child at foot represents family and community and the ultimate symbol is one of perfect trust.
“People will bring their own story of school life or being touched by Mercy and the space therefore becomes a sacred limen, a portal to the story and to the front doors of learning. I hope young people will think about what their own life calls them to. Thank you for the enormous privilege to be part of this special project.”
The plaque next to the relief has the following inscription:
Catherine McAuley graces our entrance, accompanied by two students, the young woman representing the past and the young boy, the present. The young child nestled in Catherine’s dress is a symbol of community, family and trust. The wave below describes the journey of the Mercy Sisters across the seas from Ireland to Australia. It also tells our local story of the Yarra Valley and its rich heritage of viticulture. The vine and its fruits, is a metaphor of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community with Christ at the centre. The eagle, representing Bunjil and the power of the Holy Spirit, stretches its wings across the land as the ancient protector. Our faith tradition is told through the familiar symbols of wheat and vines, reflecting our Eucharistic story.
Christine said the design process took about three months. It involved sketching design options, including possible symbols, and research into aspects of the life of the College and Catherine. She said that she was “fortunate enough to visit Baggot St (in Dublin) and the Sisters and to have a greater understanding of the foundation of the Mercy Sisters and Mercy works”.
The students involved also had ownership as their creative inspiration was met. “We came to the College a few times and on one occasion workshopped with the senior students. They were simply wonderful,” Christine said.
Due to the complexities of working upright with the relief, Christine chose to use plasticine instead of clay. Mal Wood and his foundry in Reservoir then took about five months to finish the piece. “The work is first replicated in wax and then produced using the lost wax method,” Christine said. “This method has great integrity and is an age-old technique. There is a lot of work to be done after it is cast, including the patination, of which Mal Wood is a master craftsman.” Studio manager Regina Byrne, a previous Mercy Principal, also contributed her wealth of knowledge and was integral to the project.
