From Barbara Kowalski, Archivist of the Area of Australia
In January we Australians tend to flock to the beach for our holidays. Since 1973 FCJ Sisters have enjoyed holidaying at their house “Ackworth” in Sorrento. Before then they often rented a house by the sea or in the countryside or stayed in other FCJ communities. Frankston was particularly popular after it was purchased in 1967.
In the mid 1940s the Annals note that houses were rented in Sorrento during the long January summer holidays, accommodating Sisters from Genazzano, Richmond and Benalla Communities (top photo: Benalla Sisters heading off on holiday, January 1967). According to the Genazzano Annals of 1945:
The early days of January found us installed happily in our little seaside cottage, “Malbrook”. The dimensions were, unfortunately, no more commodious than in 1944. However, we were able to secure nearby a habitation somewhat in the proportions of a doll’s house, where sleeping quarters were allotted to some of the Benalla and Genazzano communities. Meals, readings, recreations were held at “Malbrook”, while a steep climb of about 100 yards brought us to the chapel of the Vaucluse community in their spacious property, “Sylvia Park”.
Again in January 1946 FCJ Sisters holidayed in Sorrento:
The immediate future held out to us Sorrento and all that our delightful holiday there means. This year, as our little bungalow, “The Wattles”, has not sufficient sleeping accommodation for all, some of us slept at another small villa, “St. Paul’s”, about ten minutes’ walk away through the thick scrub. One of the joys of the “St. Paul’s contingent was the early morning walk through the bush down to the “The Wattles”, with morning prayers aloud as we went, and the arrival in chapel just in time for the first points of the meditation. At that early hour, and, indeed, often at later hours too, the whole beautiful Peninsula seemed to belong to us, so far we seemed from the haunts of men. One of ours distinguished herself these holidays by making a necklace from the backbone of a snake. Bleached white, with big black beads at intervals, it certainly was a handsome decoration, and the designer hopes to meet with more snakes on future occasions, which hope is certainly not shared by her companions! (Genazzano Annals 1946)
Not sure how many snakes are to be found in Sorrento these days. The town is no doubt very much busier today than it was in the 1940s but it still provides a change from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne and a welcome opportunity for rest and relaxation by the sea.
