Two recent deaths at New Norcia will leave their own marks.
Abbot Placid Spearritt Memorial scholarship attracts strong support
Public funding for the Abbot Placid Spearritt Memorial scholarship -- in honour of the New Norcia Abbot who died in 2008 -- closed at the end of 2009, although the scholarship fund will remain open indefinitely for bequests and other donations.
It is hoped the inaugural scholar will be named in the latter half of this year.
The Benedictine monks of New Norcia established the scholarship in honour of their late Abbot, Placid Spearritt, who died suddenly while in England.
The scholarship aims to bring a scholar to New Norcia on an annual basis to work in the monastery's archives, a spot of New Norcia which held a particular place in Dom Placid's mind and heart.
While Australia's only monastery town is known for its buildings and its cultural heritage, its library and museum hold valuable art collections and a deep layer of heritage including diaries, letters, chronicles, records, photographs, maps and music that pre-eminently holds the story of New Norcia.
The monastery's archives, research and publications committee is establishing a special sub-committee to manage the scholarship.
"The appointment of a scholar will be a major step forward in the history of the archives and great news for everyone interested in Australian history," said Dom Christopher Power, Head Friend of New Norcia. "The success of the fund-raising is a truly wonderful result and, on behalf of Abbot John and the other monks, I sincerely thank all those who have given so generously."
Dom Christopher Power and new Friends coordinator Hilda Edmonds with the special Donors Book that will record the names of all people and organisations who have contributed to the scholarship. The book will be kept in the monastery archives as a permanent record of the project and the generosity of all who have contributed to it.
The Benedictine town of New Norcia's last living link with its Spanish foundation was broken with the death of Dom Paulino Gutierrez OSB.
Aged 99 years, he died on January 18. He had been a monk for more than 82 years and had been at New Norcia for 81 years.
As Dom Paulino was the last Spanish monk at New Norcia, the final living link with the Spanish foundation of New Norcia is now gone. He also was New Norcia's oldest and longest serving monk.
Dom Paulino was born in Villaespasa, Spain, on June 22, 1910. He entered the monastery in El Pueyo in 1924, aged 14.
He arrived in New Norcia in August 1928. He was the baker for 50 years and baked an estimated one million loaves in the famous bakery. He was also the monastery infirmarian (caregiver) and the town's shoemaker.
On retiring from baking bread and making shoes, he took over care of the olive grove, picking the olives with the help of monks, staff and volunteers; pickling some and crushing the rest for oil.
Dom Paulino attributed his longevity to olive oil and bread, but it must also have been in his genes: his father died aged 96, his mother at 88, his sisters at 90 and 94. Two brothers, aged 93 and 91, are still alive.
Described as a model monk, he was a man of simple tastes and frugal lifestyle. He was a keen fisherman and rabbit catcher during the community's annual holidays and for many years he was a keen stamp collector, too.
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Public funding for the Abbot Placid Spearritt Memorial scholarship -- in honour of the New Norcia Abbot who died in 2008 -- closed at the end of 2009, although the scholarship fund will remain open indefinitely for bequests and other donations.
Dom Paulino was born in Villaespasa, Spain, on June 22, 1910. He entered the monastery in El Pueyo in 1924, aged 14. 
