DescriptionThis interview consists of two audio recordings and transcripts (in progress). Julie Bjazevich was interviewed on 20 August 2010 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod. Interview SummaryJulie Bjazevich was born in Fairfield Hospital. She grew up in Cabramatta, Edensor Park and Fairfield and now lives in St Claire. She has a younger brother and two younger sisters. Her mother worked in a bank and her father worked for Sydney Water.
Julie went to primary school at the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Cabramatta followed by high school at Mary MacKillop College in Wakeley. She particularly enjoyed the humanities subjects, including history, English and Legal Studies. After school she enrolled at the University of Sydney in a combined Arts/Law degree, but after three years she dropped her law degree and graduated with arts. Following this, she received a Diploma of Education from the Australian Catholic University. During her teaching course she taught at Patrician Brothers College in Fairfield and John Therry Catholic School in Campbelltown.
At the time of the interview Julie has been a teacher for seven years at Mary MacKillop College. She teachers humanities subjects like Modern History and English, but Studies of Religion. She has also worked as a lifeguard and customer service provider at a leisure centre.
At the time of the interview Julie is planning to get married to a fellow teacher. She plans to get married in the newly-built chapel at Mary MacKillop College.
The interview also discusses Julie’s views on the Catholic Education sector and the programs at Mary MacKillop College. Mary MacKillop College has students from different cultural backgrounds including African and Assyrian. Not all its students are Catholic; there are a number of Buddhist students. There are also a small number of students with disabilities. Sport is part of the curriculum for years 7-10, where all students and teachers participate in sports as diverse as swimming, cricket, soccer and yoga. Julie, from her personal experience, also believes in single-sex schools.
At the time of the interview Mary MacKillop College is planning events to celebrate the canonisation of Mary MacKillop. Julie is going to the Vatican to witness the occasion.
