The Benedictine Sisters of Jamberoo Abbey are a group who spend their time organising and holding quiet or even silent retreats where Retreat Cottages are rented to members of the community regardless of religion, heritage, culture or belief.

This Wednesday 27 September they held an art exhibition at the old Kiama Fire Station to show the fruits of their labours in between holding retreats with items such as hand painted candles, soaps, jams and cards for purchase. Noted for their candles, they also sell traditional Christian items of worship such as crucifixes. The Abbey sisters are also noted for their original praise music available on CD composed by them and performances by Sister Hilda Scott and Father Paul Gurr.

The Catholic Abbey Sisters hold a long history with Australia arriving in the 1840’s and have been located in Jamberoo for over half a century. 

The Abbey starred in a three part reality series on ABC TV in 2007 where five ordinary women were invited to live in their cloister for a month and perhaps learn the helping benefits of silence, The art exhibition also supported indigenous artists of the Santa Teresa Mission, 90 kilometres south east of Alice Springs, with works including native flora, native art techniques and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders flags.

Also coming up at the old fire station are other exhibitions like the 28 September’s Soul Clay Studios exhibition and Painting Kiama on the 5 October.