A Long Time Ago…
The year was 1950 yet I remember very well how I felt as a five-year-old girl walking into the Convent of Our Lady of Victories (OLV) in Moratuwa, my beloved primary school for the first time in school uniform, accompanied by my dear mother. A strong foundation was laid over the years leading to O-Level. Since there was no A-Level Science medium at OLV those days, I was transferred to Holy Family Convent (HFC) Bambalapitiya from where I entered the then University of Ceylon (Peradeniya) to do my BSc (hons) in Agriculture.
Anne’s First Day at School (1950)
An International Career…
School Chapel at OLV
After serving as an Assistant Lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry, I was off on an FAO scholarship in 1970 to do my MSc in Food Tech and later a PhD in Food and Nutrition… A career that extended into seven countries, paved the way to serve academic, research industry and volunteer sectors, along the way collecting a few national and international awards leading to a Member of New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Food & Nutrition in the New Years Honour list in 2024…
The Prize Giving…
Dr. Anne welcomed by Rev. Fr. Gamunu Dias and Rev. Sr. Chamila Fernando, the Principal.
On the 6th September this year (2024), I had the privilege of returning to my beloved Primary School in Moratuwa, as the Chief Guest at the Annual Prize Giving. The journey of almost 75 years after starting my primary education at OLV replayed in my mind as I prepared my speech to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers and the school for laying a strong foundation on which I had the chance to build my international career.
The Drum Set …
The Drumset of late Conrad Perera Jr. (Condy)
On another note…. A few years ago, after hearing that OLV was going to start an Orchestra, we offered to donate the drum set of our late son (Conrad Jr or Condy) who was the Percussionist of the Aotea Youth Orchestra in Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand those days. The OLV Principal, Rev Sister Chamila Fernando was delighted. Thanks to Transco Shipping Service in Auckland, and our grandnephew, Shaktha Wickremasinghe who used it to learn drumming, the set was carefully delivered to my beloved school in Moratuwa.
I was so touched seeing the full use of the drum set at the 2024 OLV Prize Giving. There was a sense of joy and a great satisfaction thinking that the same drum set that had a special place in our home in Auckland, NZ for years will continue to beat in my own school, OLV in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, long after our hearts cease to beat.
May God Bless OLV !!
By Dr Anne Doloras Perera, MNZM – Auckland
