Persona

Kennealy, Charmian

Feb 1926 -

Mrs Kennealy joined the BP staff in 1969 (to 1981, BC from 1972). She attributes the development of Art in the College to the BP first Headmaster, Walter Macfarlane. In 1969, the Std V and Art teacher who was the wife of the Chaplain, Rev Ian Bellis, became ill. Macfarlane asked Mrs Kennealy, a parent of two BP boys (Roger and Martin) at the time, to take over temporarily. Her temporary stay at the College lasted for 13 years! Macfarlane realised the importance of Art education and invited Mrs Kenneally to teach Art "all the way through, two periods per week".
Mrs Kennealy sculpted the statue of St Francis which may be seen in the BP at the head of the pond near the herb garden. She introduced the prayer of St Francis which was adopted by the BP as one of their favourites and is incorporated in the Five Stones prayers.
In 1972, she was invited to introduce Art as a subject in the BC and amongst her students acknowledged in the Art world for their talents are Simon Parking (water-colourist), Mark Posnett (designer), Owen Wood (knife-maker), David Tilley (machinery designer) and her son, Martin (furniture designer).
According to Mrs Kennealy, it was a very creative time in which "art inspired lateral learning". She resigned in 1982 and continued with her own work as an internationally recognised miniaturist painter. She came back to the College in 1982 to complete a series of four intricate pencil drawings of the College which were issued as a series that is still available.
Mrs Kennealy expresses her continuing fondness for the College: "I am one of the most fortunate women I know and hold wonderful memories of my time at St Stithians". She is now 95 and still lives in Randburg.

BP Art Teacher 1969 - 1982
BC Art Teacher 1972 - 1982

Stythian magazine (various)
MR interview with CK February 2018

Mother of Roger (Class of 1974) and Martin Kennealy (Class of 1977)

Founder of the Miniature Art Society of SA in 1992

Record created by MR 20210318