General News
12 June, 2026
Sister Reba Part 1 by Val Dwyer
Recently on March 22, former and present members of staff — and former board members of Highview Christian Community College in Maryborough, gathered at the Bull and Mouth restaurant to meet with our much loved Sr Reba Woodwiss, who now lives in Melbourne.
Reba agreed then for me to write an article about her association with Highview.
She started at Highview in 1985 when Rev Peter James was the principal. She came from Horsham where she had been in charge of the boarding school — and taught at St Brigid’s College.
Retelling of her highlights and memories, Sr Reba said:
“It’s hard to know where to start, I have so many happy memories of my time at Highview Christian Community College. Deputy principal, RE coordinator, ecumenical director and pastoral carer,” she said.
“The roles changed over the years but through the relationships I’ve had the privilege of experiencing with staff, students, parents and those associated with the school community, it was a positive and supportive place to be a part of.
“The school community was homely and friendly as well as being very professional, creative and innovative educationally. I felt the total wellbeing of students and members of the school community came first which was how I believed was how it should be and hopefully still is.
“The school leadership was exceptional. The principal, Geoff James, and members of the leadership team all treated everyone with respect and fairness. As a community despite the commitment, dedication and hard work there was always time to celebrate and have some fun and relaxation together.
“I particularly remember my 60th birthday. Being in November, we were interviewing job applicants. For some reason Geoff asked me to come to school early to interview someone from Ballarat and apologized as he knew it was my birthday.
“I was quite oblivious of any mysterious goings on, as something else had been suggested for a celebration. So compliantly I turned up early and went to Geoff’s office, but found no-one.
“All was quiet so I went to the staff gathering room next door and walked into a joyful chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. A great group of staff, parents, my home community and friends, even from Ballarat filled the room. They had prepared a champagne breakfast (only for those able to imbibe) and a huge cake.
“Much fun and laughter followed, even an interview by one of the students in the role of “Uncle Arthur (a well known Australian TV personality).” Believe it or not school did start on time.
“It is always heart warming to meet up with ex students and discover the wide variety of opportunities in the study or job field they were able to take up since leaving school.
“Even now in Melbourne it’s great to meet up with ex Highview students and chat. To enable each student to reach his or her potential was a strong value at Highview.
“I taught Maria Lacey at Kilbreda College, Mentone. This was my first teaching appointment after being professed as a Brigidine in 1959. I was in my 20s. I very much enjoy meeting up with Maria and her friends each year. Much reminiscing, laughter and exchange of news takes place.
“I retired in 2006. I had to move to Melbourne and live at Malvern to be part of the leadership team of the Victorian Province of Brigidine Sisters. I did part time work at Clonard College, Geelong for two days each week. I worked with the years 7 and 8 coordinator and home group teachers in a pastoral care role — home school liaison person for the year 7 and 8 students.”
Maria Lacey’s memories of Sr Reba:
“Sr Reba, then known as Sr Goretti taught me in form 3 in 1966. We all loved her. She taught me English, RE, Italian and other subjects. I remember her chatting with us at lunchtimes about football (she barracked for Fitzroy), the Bee Gees and the Beatles. In a lesson about sex education, her face was as red as a beetroot.
“Years later, she was going to a grand final to watch Brisbane (Fitzroy merged with them) with family members. Bags were being searched and she commented that the searchers should be careful of the thermos. One of the family hissed, once inside the gates, ‘the champagne is in the thermos!’
“She told me a story about coming home late when she lived at Horsham. The police had been following her and when she pulled in to the convent, they asked why she was there. ‘I live here’, she replied. The policeman said, ‘I’ll have to ask the Mother Superior’. ‘I AM the Mother Superior, and I’d like you to hurry up because the boarders might soon be looking out the window.’”
A similar incident happened when Reba was still living in Maryborough. Taking her usual walk around dusk, a police car stopped and the driver called out to her, ‘You’re not going to do anything silly are you?’