The Convent by Stuart Kells

Author:Stuart Kells
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melbourne University Publishing

14

Coming and going

ALARGE PART OF life at the Abbotsford Convent revolved around arrivals and departures. New inmates, novices, students, visitors: people were always arriving—and there was an outward flow, too, of graduating students, reformed penitents, mature-age orphans and, occasionally, nuns who had given up their vows.

Of the many additions to and subtractions from the convent population, some were especially dramatic. Infants were left at the convent gates. Inmates broke out by scaling the wall or otherwise escaping. One escape, reported on 9 May 1878 in the Kilmore Free Press, the Portland Guardian and elsewhere, sheds invaluable light on life at the convent.

Mr and Mrs Moorfield lived across the road from the convent. One morning, Mrs Moorfield was at home alone when she heard a ‘hasty knocking’. She opened her door and:

two females, in what appeared as nuns’ habits, rushed into the room, and begged for protection. They stated they had escaped from the convent by climbing over the fence and that they were pursued. In a few moments two other women knocked at the door, and called upon the two refugees by their names, Winifred and Joseph, to come out. This they refused to do, and crouched down into corners, showing great terror, and imploring Mrs Moorfield not to give them up. Mrs Moorfield was requested to do this by the two persons at the door, and on refusing, she asserts she was threatened with a policeman. This altercation was put an end to by the appearance of the butcher on his morning round, the pursuers then returning to the convent. Tea was then given to the two women, who told Mrs Moorfield that they were ‘finally consecrated sisters,’ and that they had escaped in the way they had done because there was no other way of getting out. They expressed the utmost terror at the idea of going back, saying they would be severely beaten for having run away. Their dress consisted of black gowns and aprons, a white cloth over the hair, and a black hood. They also wore broad leather belts, with beads and crucifix attached. After staying till about half-past 10 at Mrs Moorfield’s, they, very inconsistently with the terror they expressed, went round to the front entrance of the convent to ask for their clothes. They presently returned to Mrs Moorfield’s, bringing their clothes with them, as well as 20s. each, which had been given to them by the rev. mother. After exchanging their dresses, they left, telling Mrs Moorfield they were going to St Kilda, where they had friends. This was the last Mrs Moorfield saw of them

Instead of going to St Kilda, however, they went no further than to the house of a Mr Aitkin, who lives close to the convent, and is employed by the institution as a driver of one of the laundry wagons. Mrs Aitkin said the women came to her house at about 11 o’clock on the Friday morning, and that after staying a short time they went into Melbourne, and returned in the evening before dark.

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