New Sports Hall for St Dominic's College

New development: St Dominic's College principal Carol Coddington is excited about the opportunities the Gabriel Gill Sports Centre will give her students.

Photo: Western Leader

By Justin Latif

A new $3.5 million sports centre at St Dominic's College is named after Mother Gabriel Gill, the Catholic nun who founded the order in New Zealand.

The building includes conference and kitchen facilities to complement its full basketball and netball courts.

The Waitakere Licensing Trust contributed $277,000 towards its cost and college principal Carol Coddington says the centre will be available for wider use because it has been partly community funded.

Mother Gill brought nine nuns with her to Dunedin from Dublin, Ireland, with the intention of educating the growing Catholic population.

"She was a feisty lady," Mrs Coddington says. "She arrived in 1871 and had set up a school within two days. "She went on to Western Australia where she founded another branch."

Mother Gill is thought to have become a nun after running away from home to avoid an arranged marriage. She went on to become a tough leader who ensured that her schools had a high standard of teaching.

The Dominican sisters are still involved with the school, attending functions and providing tuition for students.

"We've still got that connection happening for us which is important," Mrs Coddington says. "Sister Maria was the original principal of this school in 1967.

"She still comes in and does individual tuition with the girls."

Western Leader