For more than a century, Melbourne's Abbotsford Convent was occupied by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and the "wayward" girls and orphans they took care of. Patricia Sykes was one of those girls.

She was dropped off at the orphanage with her three sisters in the early 1950s after their mother died.

Their father couldn't afford to take care of four girls at home, but wanted them to stay together, so an orphanage felt like his only option.

As a girl, Patricia, a gifted student who loved music and words, desperately wanted to escape the convent.

But later in life, after finally finishing school and then university as a mother and mature student, Patricia returned to Abbotsford Convent.

As a poet in residence, Patricia went back on her own terms to hear and to tell the stories of dozens of women who passed through its doors, and to interrogate her own understanding of her time with the nuns.

Patricia's collection of poetry is called The Abbotsford Mysteries. You can find information about all of Patricia's books online.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer was Eliza Kirsch.

It explores religion, Christianity, Catholicism, Australia of yesteryear, modern history, Melbourne, Victoria, nunnery, orphanages, grief, sisterhood, education, women's rights, motherhood, losing a mother, the Queen, writing, books, late life career change.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

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