Thumbing through historic records, brothers Des and Dave Farraway were transported back to their childhood at the former Saint John's orphanage.
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Dave was seven when he was taken out of Temora primary school and sent with his then four-year-old brother via a court order to the Goulburn institution.
"We were dragged away for nothing," Dave explained to The Post.
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The passage of years has put fresh perspective on their time at the Mundy Street orphanage. The Farraways were among 36 former residents of Saint John's and the old Saint Joseph's Girls Home who gathered for a reunion on Saturday. Fittingly, it was held at Saint Joseph's on Taralga Road, which owners Maggie and Darryl Patterson have restored over the past seven years.
"If it wasn't for Saint John's anything could have happened to us," Dave said.
"I think the Sisters (of Mercy) were there for us. There were some bad memories but we're here today because of them. Some boys didn't make it because of the trauma they'd gone through."
There were 154 boys at the facility when they arrived in 1964. He recalled many physical fights over belongings, and going to church each morning.
The pair have visited the old orphanage, now extensively fire damaged and awaiting demolition under a council order.
"It's traumatic seeing what it's like today," Dave said.
"It's like a part of your life has been ripped away and you'll never get it back."
Des conceded the building was "too far gone" to save.
"But it's really nice coming to these reunions, seeing old friends and all of this stuff (historic records)," he said.
The brothers travelled from Ganmain and Junee respectively but people also came from Sydney, Canberra, Cessnock, Gulgong and the Riverina for the event.
Organiser, Newcastle man Phil Merrigan, said few of former Saint John's residents wanted to see the fire-ravaged building.
"They have graduated here (to Saint Joseph's) because so much good is happening," he said.
"The boys are really starting to feel welcome here."
Mr Merrigan thanked the Pattersons for hosting the joint reunions over several years.
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Mrs Patterson said it was lovely to share the 1905 building.
"It helps with the healing," she said.
"It's different for everyone. People have different memories but the place may not appear as austere as when they were children. I feel with each reunion, people get to know each other in different ways."
The couple has continued restoration work on the EC Manfred designed structure. More recently they have renovated the former ablutions block into a three-bedroom cottage. Improvements to the old toilet block are almost complete. In addition, 70 "dangerous" trees have been removed and more than replaced with 400 others.
"We are here for the long haul," Mrs Patterson told the gathering.
That's a comfort to people like South-West Rocks woman Shirley Washbourne. She arrived at Saint Joseph's as a four-year-old in 1955 and spent five years there. Her sister was just two.
"I was last here in 2003 and it brings back memories. Some are not all that good but you have to come back for healing," she said.
"This time is easier. I'm glad I came."
She swapped stories with Goulburn district woman, Gail Favaloro, who was at Saint Joseph's from 1957 to 1961.
On Saturday, Father Allen Crowe of Young re-presented a framed photo and history of his aunt, Sister Calasanctius, after whom a street in the Saint Joseph's Gate subdivision was named.
She was a 'domestic sister' in the kitchen and spent time at Saint Joseph's around the war years and in the 1960s and 1970s.
Born at Ivy Emmeline (Theresa) Crowe Murringo Flats, one of 12 children, she entered the Sisters of Mercy at age twenty-two. She was popularly known as 'Cal.'
"She really loved it here," Father Crowe said.
"To me she was a very generous, prayerful, kind and caring person. We used to visit her here a lot as children."
Sister 'Cal' died age 94 at Young in 1989.
Mr Patterson described it as a wonderful gift of service over 40 years.
Both orphanages closed in 1974/75.
Mr Merrigan organises the reunions every two years.
"Everyone was happy to catch up," he said.
"What's important is that they get to see each other again because every two years the numbers are reducing."
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
