Geraldton bishop and community visit Three Springs for opening ceremony of Dominican Park

The Shire of Three Springs hosted an opening ceremony for the newly constructed Dominican Park built around the rich history of six nuns who arrived in Geraldton in 1899. The park opening ceremony on Saturday saw Aboriginal elders and Sisters join the Three Springs community to celebrate the new public open space and the history behind it. Part of the motto of “to give to others the fruits of our contemplation”, Dominican Park contains a citrus grove where visitors can pick a piece of fruit and reflect on the history of the Dominican Sisters. Local elder Elaine Walley gave a welcome to country before the ceremony started and resident of Three Springs Anthony Thomas was presented with an honorary freeman award. Representative of the Dominican Sisters of WA Sister Mary Ryan and Geraldton Bishop Michael Morrissey both gave speeches. Shire of Three Springs community development officer Raman Virdi said more than 50 people joined the ceremony, most of them from Geraldton. “We had a good turnout,” he said. Dominican Park is located next to the former Dominican Sisters Sacred Heart Convent, St Paul’s School and St Paul’s Church. The Dominican Sisters regularly travelled to Three Springs to provide religious education to children until the establishment of the Sacred Heart Convent in 1917. School was taught in the corrugated iron church where students from surrounding farms would drive or ride horses to school. The horses were kept in Glyde’s paddock across from the convent. A light brunch was served after the ceremony by the Shire with help of the Lions Club, CAG and council members.