LAFFEY, Catherine

Catherine Mary Laffey was born on the 14th April 1941 in Ballarat to parents Mary Frances Dunn and Ernest Reginald Parrot.

She attended school at Loreto Convent in Dawson Street, catching the Mt Pleasant tram and even returning home for a cooked lunch.  She left Loreto after Grade 8 and attended SMB for shorthand and typing as it was the era when girls had limited opportunities and expectations.  In 1955 she began her working career as a junior message girl at the Ballarat Brewing Company.  Catherine progressed to the Ballarat Mental Hospital, and then to the State Electricity Commission where she worked on ledger machines.  Whilst working here a young Catherine met Tom Laffey who worked for the Country Roads Board.  Tom's father at the time was the Farm Manager for the Ballarat Mental Hospital.

After the obligatory 12-month courtship Catherine and Tom married at St Alipius on the 8th May 1965 and moved into their first home in Ivanhoe Street, Wendouree.  They raised a family of five boys Nicholas, Paul (dec), Simon, Sean, and Julian.  Catherine was not in paid employment for nine years whilst raising her family but undertook a little temp. typing.  Catherine was aware of her lack of education and Tom was wonderfully supportive of her need to attend to the lack.  She completed HSC at night school at Ballarat High and in 1979 she was one of the first to be able to opt for an off-campus degree through Deakin University.  It took her six years to complete and in 1990 Catherine did teacher training at Aquinas, Ballarat.  She later undertook a Masters Degree in Education and a Masters Degree in Management.  Catherine was involved in setting up Pinocchio's Toy Library and was involved in bringing to Ballarat Noah's Ark, a specialised toy library for children with disabilities.  

From 1979 to 1990 Catherine worked as a financial counselor with the Ballarat Children's Home.  In the years 1987 until 1990, Catherine was a councilor in what was then the City of Ballarat.  A highlight at the time was the restoration work of Her Majesty's Theatre.

in 1994 she went to SMB (later to become the University of Ballarat) and 15 years later Catherine progressed from casual teacher to full-time teacher, and program manager to Head of the School of Human Services.  Bereavement is a subject close to Catherine as Tom died in August 2004 and her son Paul died a mere nine weeks later on the first of November, aged 35.  This was a very difficult time for her.

In addition to her Council duties, Catherine was Chair of the Restoration Committee for Her Majesty's Theatre and has been involved in many other committees, including ones at the University.  She believed her greatest achievements besides raising her family, civically were being a Councillor with the City of Ballarat and being on the Board of Management of Ballarat Health Services.  Catherine Laffey stood as a candidate for the Australian Labour Party in the Legislative Council Province of Ballarat at the Victorian State Election which was held on the 30th March 1996.

Catherine passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family at Ballarat on the 17th July 2016.   She will be remembered with great affection.  Catherine is buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery in Lawn L Row 11 Grave 1 with her beloved husband Tom.