The former governor general and past students Mary Delahunty, ABC news director Kate Torney, Dr Michelle McIntosh and astronomer Dr Emma Ryan-Weber spoke at the bi-annual conference uniting Loreto schools from across Australia, held at the school’s new facility, the Mary’s Mount Centre.

Dame Quentin said she intended for her presentation to be a two-way dialogue as she “shared experiences and listened to those of others”.

“Storytelling is how we talk to one another and how we feel like we belong to something bigger and wiser than ourselves,” she said. “It is instinctive and powerful.

Stories identify us and make sense of who we are, showing us ideas in human action. They inspire us to change and to want to change.”

School principal Judith Potter said it was inspiring to hear the stories of past pupils from Loreto schools across Australia who had had the courage to speak out against injustice and had worked proactively and collaboratively towards a more just world.

“Mother Gonzaga Barry’s vision for Federation led to the very first national gathering in Melbourne in 1955 and now, 60 years later, the 29th Federation took place in the year we celebrate 140 years of Loreto education in Australia and the centenary anniversary of Mother Gonzaga’s death.”