Letter dated January 28, 2006
“Monte Pio – Memories of Daily Life in a Maitland Orphanage”.
I was upset when I read this thesis. It does not speak for me or my sister. In the 1950s, we were placed in Monte Pio due to a broken home, while our brother briefly stayed at Mayfield with the Daughters of Charity. My sister and I lived at Monte Pio for several years. The nuns did so much for us and helped us cope with life the best they could. Our father had two jobs to pay our way at Monte. He visited us once a month on visiting day and always came with a cakebox of lollies which Sister St Anne shared with all the girls. Sister St Anne was in charge of us girls during my stay at Monte Pio and did a great job of it. We were treated well. There were days when the tears would come – we cried together, and we laughed together. My aunt gave me a Brownie camera, and I took many photos during my time at Monte Pio. My father paid to get them developed. I had a bike and would do the messages for the Sisters at the Maitland Shopping Centre. We went to the Dentist at Maitland Hospital for check-ups. We were cared for, but it was lonely, and we missed our parents. During the 1954 floods, we picked vegetables on the farm in swimsuits because food was scarce. Give the Sisters a break; they were young and did their best.
Coral