WEIR, Helen

Helen Weir 12th March 1952 to 19th February 2023 aged 70.

On 19 February 2023, our former teacher and colleague, Mrs. Helen Weir, sadly passed away due to Ovarian Cancer.

Helen was fortunate to teach thousands of Loreto College students over her 36 years of teaching, which began in 1978 after she had recently arrived from Scotland aged 25.  Over the years, Helen fulfilled many leadership roles at the College including classroom teacher in Religious Education and Humanities, Year Level Coordinator, Head of House, member of the College Leadership Team and Loreto Schools Australia Committee, and finally Head of Campus Dawson Street. In these positions of leadership, we remember that Helen brought her own unique Scottish wisdom, humor, and expertise into the lives of her students and colleagues.

Helen began teaching at the College at the time when there were a considerable number of nuns on staff, and it was from these fine women that Helen said she ‘caught the Loreto bug.’ In the years that followed she would learn, read, listen, and develop a good knowledge of all things Loreto. She soon discovered the true meaning of the Loreto values from these nuns. Helen said her favorite value was Felicity, ‘isn’t it wonderful to value joy, fun, and laughter.’ Helen’s colleagues remember her for her generous and very practical nature. She would freely give her time to mentor young teachers, and to pass on the ‘Loreto bug’ to the new staff, just as the Sisters had done for her.
One of Helen’s passions as a geography teacher was that she loved to travel. A highlight for her was being
a part of the inaugural Loreto Ballarat Pilgrimage trip to the United Kingdom, Europe, and Ireland. Combining her love for travel and her love for Loreto was a highlight for Helen. She once wrote that her Loreto College students over the years were ‘friendly, compassionate, generous and open-hearted.’ Her former students say that is how they remember her, a teacher who was kind and generous, compassionate to others, and who had a love of all things Loreto.
May she rest in peace.

Helen was cremated at the Ballarat New Cemetery and her ashes were collected by her family.