CLEVER CATHOLIC GIRLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 29, 5 May 1893, Page 15

CLEVER CATHOLIC GIRLS.

(Sydney Freeman's Journal, April 22.)

Three of onr Sydney Catbol'C young ladies c rried (ff the highest honours at the recent University examiaalions. Miss Izi Coghlan ■nd Miss Grace Fairley Robinson were presented at the commemoration as the first'of the female students at the University who have won the medical degree at our University, and Miss Maggia D mond was accorded the honours belonging to a full-fledged Bachelor of Arts. St Vincent's College (Sisters of Cbarit}) claims M»b Robinson •nd Miss Dimond, and it is gratifying to be able to sate that both the new " lady doctor " Bnd the " youDg bachelor " wi h " their blushing honours thick upon them " called at their old fc^ool in Victoria Btreet to receiva the congratulations of the Sisters tn tbe day of tbe publication of tbe pass list at tbe University. Grace Fairley Robinson, who is a grand-daughter of the late Alderman James Bntler, of Woolloomooloo, is a native cf Sydney. Bhe was educated at St Vincent's school, and afterwards at the college established by the Sisters of Charity. After p«seing the junior university examina'ion, Miss Robinson left St Vincent's to take np tbe higher grades of study, and while very yonrg matriculated at the Sydney University. There she acquitted herself well, passing the first year in artß -then a necessary step for sudents proceeding to a degree in medicine. There Bhe took up tbe study in which, after five years' succefsful toil, she now comes rut in flying coknrs. Her university course has betn remarkable for its unerring success, and she has tbe brilliant record of having taken in our university a medical degree without a failure. Besides that of Bachelor of Medicine this clever girl is qualified for tbe degree of Master of Surgery. An intimate friend writes :— " Although she has undergone a severe trial, she still retains all her feminine and delioat c qualities. This is undoubtedly a model to be copied by all who intend taking up a similar study, bhe is a credit to her early training, showing its lasting stpmp in her character and in her work." It is, we believe, Miss Robinson's intention to have a " gooi rest" before going into the profession in any capacity. It is not improbable •be will attach herself to one of tbe city hospitals. J^^Miss Izi Frances Josephine Cogblan, like ber "brother doctor," is a native of New Sooth Wales. Her parents were Irish, and needless to add, Catholics. Two of her brothers have also won distinction. Dr Charles Coghlan, well known in Sydney legal circles, is an old Bt John's College boy. He was for tome time one of the prcfi ssors of the Sacred Heart College, Weßt Maitland, and subsequently a lecturer at St John's Ct liege. The other brother, Mr T. A. Coghlan, for many years a big gun in our Sydney Catholic li'enry societipa, is now tbe Government Statistician. Mi?s Coghlan has had a singularly successful career at the Univeisity, and it must have been a peculiar pleasure to her to be " presented ' on the tame day aa her fucci sstul Catholic companion in the medical and surgical study-balls. Miss Coghlan, who, by the way, is an excellent amateur artist, come frum the Univ rsi y not on y with the degree cf Bichelor of Medicine, but also with the qualification of Master of Surgery. It is, we understand, Miss Coghlan'B intention to join the st. ff of the Sydney Hospital. Tbis lady, of whom the Sitters of Chanty are very proud, is the daughter of Mr P. Dimond, of William street. She is a native of Sydney. Miss Dimond was educated »t St Vincent's College. She had no difficulty while at St Vincent's in parsing the Matriculation Examination, and after a successful course of three years at the University without one failure against her name she steps forth very modestly with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Concerning Miss Dimond, an " €x-pupil" writes—" A.t Fcbool she was remarkable for sterling goodness, a high sense of honour, and untiring perseverance. Her simplicity and affectionate good nature made ber a great favourite with all her companion", and the attaining of a degree which might well fill anyone with not a little pride leaves ber still the same simple, pure-minded girl.'" In recording the success of the three Catholic girls whose names we have mentioned, appropriate refererce may be made to the fact that Miss Sarah Octavia Brennan, who received tbe greater part of her tra ; ning with the Good Samaritan Sieters, was the first of tbe female students at our University to win the degree of Master of Arts. In Melbourne a pupil of the Loretto Nuns, Miss Bella Guenn (now the wife of Henry Halloran, C.M.G ), was the first amoDg all " the sweet girl " competitors to win the cap of the Master of Arts. All things considered cur Catholic schools have a fairly good record at the Sydney and Melbourne Universities, and as far aa "our girls ' are concerned, they have in the two colonies carried c ff the blue ribbon both in tbe arts and the sciences.