![Sue Bradley and Sister Barbara Webber at Mount Erin Heritage Centre ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters. Picture by Tom Dennis Sue Bradley and Sister Barbara Webber at Mount Erin Heritage Centre ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters. Picture by Tom Dennis](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/337bb772-6415-47d8-8551-de58a05705c9.jpg/r0_517_7265_4602_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
At the ripe age of 16, Barbara Webber made the decision to devote her life to God and become a sister.
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Six decades later, and the Wagga Catholic still spends every day helping those in need.
But for the past few months, she's been preparing Mount Erin Heritage Centre for the 150th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters in Wagga.
![An early orchestra run by the Presentation Sisters at Mount Erin in Wagga. Picture supplied An early orchestra run by the Presentation Sisters at Mount Erin in Wagga. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/7f84e0e7-f892-40b6-a36e-202583bf2f25.jpeg/r0_51_1280_771_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Sister Barbara said the sesquicentenary is particularly special because the sisters know their time is coming to an end.
"We didn't want that story to die with us, so we decided to set up this heritage centre," she said.
"The story is such a wonderful story, we want it to continue on."
A lasting legacy
That story is a story of the five Catholic sisters who arrived in Wagga from Kildare, Ireland, to set up a convent and school in 1874.
The convent was Mount Erin which is now part of Kildare Catholic College, and is known among the Presentation Sisters as "the motherhouse".
![Mount Erin Convent, Wagga in 1910. Picture by Anthony Brunskill, Museum of the Riverina Mount Erin Convent, Wagga in 1910. Picture by Anthony Brunskill, Museum of the Riverina](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/713888c6-1a3f-471a-9908-3af2f427bf5e.jpg/r0_0_1920_1079_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Over the years the sisters also founded Mater Dei Catholic College, Kildare Catholic College, Mount Erin Boarding School, Henschke Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, Kooringal Public School, St Joseph's Primary School, and Wagga Wagga Public School.
The sisters grew in number and eventually established school throughout the Riverina - including Hay, Tarcutta, Berrigan, Ganmain, Urana and Young - and around Australia.
![Presentation Sisters on the steps of Mount Erin in 1962. Picture supplied Presentation Sisters on the steps of Mount Erin in 1962. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/1c025fa9-b300-43ad-b64d-3fb476c0a431.jpeg/r0_0_4719_2653_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"In celebrating 150 years, we are really celebrating the lives of all those women who had the courage to come and establish Mount Erin," Sister Barbara said.
"But each one of those women have given of their best and their talents to spread the word of God."
Sisterhood coming to an end
Since 1874, there have been approximately 250 Presentation Sisters in Australia. Yet only 33 remain today - the oldest being 100, and the youngest 64.
"I just feel very honoured and proud to be a Presentation Sister and to be here able to celebrate 150 years," Sister Barbara said.
![Sister Barbara Webber become a sister in 1958 when she was just 16 years old. She helped establish the Mount Erin Heritage Centre. Picture by Tom Dennis Sister Barbara Webber become a sister in 1958 when she was just 16 years old. She helped establish the Mount Erin Heritage Centre. Picture by Tom Dennis](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/a23f0902-a401-4ba7-b890-dbd1b248f909.jpg/r0_482_6200_3968_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Although she says there's a natural sadness to the Presentation Sisters coming to an end, the sisters are still active members in their community and continue to care for others.
"There is a certain amount of sadness, but we really haven't got time to feel sad, we're too busy living today, and who knows what tomorrow brings," Sister Barbara said.
"We are facing the ending very courageously and with a lot of enthusiasm and gratitude of what has been and what is still to come."
We are facing the ending very courageously and with a lot of enthusiasm and gratitude of what has been and what is still to come.
- Sister Barabara Webber
Celebrating caring for the needy
Sister Susan Miller lives in Sydney but has travelled to Wagga to join the sisters in celebrations.
Like Sister Barbara, she has recognised that the Presentation Sisters won't be around in another 150 years.
![Students of the Presentation Sisters performing in the 1940s at Mount Erin, Wagga. Picture supplied Students of the Presentation Sisters performing in the 1940s at Mount Erin, Wagga. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/6446f34c-82a3-426b-99b9-f46d6e782ebf.jpg/r0_106_900_612_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
She said they want to continue to do whatever they can do, for as long as they can.
For many of the sisters, this means working with women and children who experience gender-based violence.
![Wagga Presentation Sisters in habit in the 1960s before Vatican II. Picture supplied Wagga Presentation Sisters in habit in the 1960s before Vatican II. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/de5eb375-de7f-4e41-8aa2-016cd1a5e738.jpeg/r0_764_12736_7924_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"Ministry is different in the sense that it's what the individual sister believes she should be involved in," she said.
"Caring for the and working with those who are marginalised ... that kind of beckoned to me."
Centre archivist Patrick Donohue said that this devotion to helping the vulnerable is derived from the sisters' founder Nano Nagle in Ireland.
The sisterhood focused on giving education to young girls because until then, girls education was not valued in society.
"They've always had a very strong focus on defending and sticking up for the rights of minorities," he said.
"They've always self identified in being defenders for people who can't defend themselves."
They've always self identified in being defenders for people who can't defend themselves.
- Patrick Donohue
A weekend to remember
On Thursday May 30, Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout has invited the sisters to a mayoral reception to celebrate their 150 years.
![Mount Erin in 2024, 150 years after it was built. Picture by Tom Dennis Mount Erin in 2024, 150 years after it was built. Picture by Tom Dennis](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/231014648/39eb31c5-82dc-4468-8626-ab8bbc899c94.jpg/r0_426_7988_4917_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The following day, schools affiliated with the Presentation Sisters are sending representatives to Mount Erin grounds to have a tree planting ceremony.
A public ceremony will be held in Kildare Hall for before an afternoon tea at Mount Erin on Saturday, June 1.
The public festivities take place from 1 to 5pm.