TEACHING staff at Seton College, Mt Gravatt, are living the school ethos of generosity and caring.
School development and promotion manager Julie Whitehouse said teacher Bronwyn Barac was recently presented with a quilt handmade by fellow staff to keep her warm during her recovery from cancer treatment.
Ms Whitehouse said the school year began as usual for Bronwyn with professional development days and preparation for the new student intake.
“Little did she know that within days she would be diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and undergo massive surgery,” she said.
“Now, several months down the track to recovery, and enduring the last of her chemotherapy treatment, she is now looking forward to returning to teaching later in the year.”
Ms Whitehouse said that throughout Bronwyn’s treatment the staff at Seton College had supported her, her husband Steve and their seven-year-old daughter Phoebe with meals, visits and weekly hampers of goodies.
“The quilt was the idea of home economics teacher Kathleen Dunnett who had visited Bronwyn and noticed that she was really feeling the cold as she spent hours immobile during her recovery,” she said.
“Kathleen approached the staff of fifty teachers and support staff.
“She was ‘mildly apprehensive’ as to whether they could pull off such an ambitious task, but everyone was enthusiastic and the project was off and running with each volunteering staff member being given a package of fabrics in Bronwyn’s favourite colours and instructions to ‘do your best whatever your best may be’, which just happens to be one of the beloved sayings of Seton.”
Ms Whitehouse said both male and female staff of widely varying skill levels tackled the challenge of designing and machine or hand stitching the squares.
“And what a range of designs there were once all thirty blocks were arranged and pieced together, borders were added and binding attached and hand sewn by many willing hands.
“The queen-sized quilt was assembled and sent to a professional quilter to embellish the surface and everyone on staff was thrilled with the result and very excited to present it to Bronwyn when she came for morning tea at the college.”
Assistant principal for religious education Helen McNamara said the quilt was made for Bronwyn because she was a unique and beautiful part of the school’s community.
“We present it to you with our best wishes and may you always be wrapped in Seton love,” she said.
Ms Whitehouse said Bronwyn was all smiles when she saw the quilt that now had pride of place on her bed at home.
“She told us ‘I feel wrapped in Seton kindness and generosity when I snuggle into it and can feel the strength and support of everyone back at school’.
“That’s the beauty of working at a school with an ethos of generosity and caring for others.”
