Principal
Dear Mary MacKillop, Catholic Regional College Community,
Feast Day and Forty-Year Mass and Celebration Day
On Thursday, 6 August, our College community gathered for one of the most significant occasions in our 40th Anniversary year—the celebration of the Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the first forty years of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.
It was, above all, a celebration of gratitude.
Throughout this anniversary year, we have taken opportunities to reflect on God's blessings, remember those who had the vision and courage to establish our College, and acknowledge the countless people whose faith, generosity and commitment have shaped our community over four decades. Their contributions have become part of our shared story and have laid the foundations upon which we continue to build.
A Community Gathered in Thanksgiving
We were especially honoured to welcome The Most Reverend Greg Bennet DD, Bishop of Sale, as Principal Celebrant for our Mass.
Joining Bishop Greg were Fr Stanly Devasia, Fr Peter Kooloos, Fr Aju Varghese, Fr Darren Howie, Fr Aneesh George IVDei, Fr Manny Lomagno and Fr Denis O'Bryan. Collectively, these priests represent many of the parishes and communities that have supported our College throughout its history.
We were also delighted to welcome Mr Paul Velten, Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale and Chief Executive Officer of DOSCEL, who delivered an address reflecting on the significance of the College's forty years of Catholic education and its place within the Diocese of Sale.
Among our other special guests were Mrs Kate Lindsay, Chair of the College Advisory Committee, current parent and past student; Mrs Jill Carmody, wife of our founding Principal, the late Mr Ed Carmody; members of the Carmody family; Mr Michael Delaney, Principal from 1999 to 2014; and Mr David Leslie, Principal from 2014 until 2021 and previously a member of staff.
It was also wonderful to welcome many past students, former staff, former parents and friends of the College, including several of the students who were here when Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College first opened its doors in February 1986.
Their presence was an important reminder that the history of our College has always been about far more than buildings—it is, above all, about people.
A Leap of Faith
A particularly moving part of our gathering was the address by Mrs Renae Littlejohn, past student, parent and former Chair of the College Advisory Committee.
As the daughter of our founding Principal, Mr Ed Carmody, Renae offered a unique and deeply personal reflection on the early years of the College. She spoke about her father and family, the pioneering staff, the first students and their families, and the extraordinary "leap of faith" required to establish a new Catholic secondary school in South Gippsland.
Those first families were being asked to entrust their children to a school that was still being created around them. Sixty-six students commenced on 5 February 1986, supported by families, staff, parishes and a wider community prepared to believe in what Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College could become.
Forty years later, we are the beneficiaries of their courage.
Renae's full address will be included in the next 40th Anniversary section of the Newsletter, and I strongly encourage members of our community to take the time to read it, when published.
Honouring the Past and Creating the Future
One of the recurring themes of our anniversary celebrations has been that this is not simply an exercise in looking backward.
We rightly honour those who have gone before us because our history helps us understand who we are today. Every generation of students, staff, parents, priests, parishioners and supporters has added another chapter to the story of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.
However, those of us who are part of the College today are also writing its history.
Our current students, staff and families are creating the stories that will be remembered by future generations. The decisions we make, the relationships we build, the opportunities we create and the values we live will become part of the inheritance we leave to those who follow.
As a community inspired by Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the Josephite charism, we place our trust in God's providence as we continue that journey.
This made it particularly fitting that our celebration was centred on the Eucharist: giving thanks for what has been, celebrating what is, and entrusting the future of our College to God.
As part of the day's proceedings, we were also pleased to recognise staff and students through the Josephite Spirit Awards. These awards are particularly significant on our Feast Day because they recognise members of our community who demonstrate through their actions the values of service, compassion, faith and care for others that lie at the heart of our Josephite identity.
A Genuine Community Effort
A celebration of this scale does not happen without an extraordinary amount of work behind the scenes.
My sincere thanks go to Nicole Dudman and Scott Blencowe for their preparation of our beautiful liturgy, and to Cate Kavanagh and others who supported Bishop Greg, our priests and guests throughout the day.
Thank you to Beth Winterhalter and Meg Doherty for preparing our College Choir. Their work, together with Matthew Van der Velden, a former staff member who returned as our cantor, greatly enriched the liturgy and helped create its reverent and joyful atmosphere.
I was also very proud of our students for the respectful and prayerful manner in which they participated in the Mass, and I thank our student readers and all who took an active role in the liturgy.
Transforming Pioneer Hall into a sacred space was itself a considerable undertaking. My thanks go to Bekk Anthony, Scott Blencowe, Ken Myors, Robert Damon and Boyd Robertson for their work in preparing the Hall.
Thank you also to Alison McIntyre, Claire Cassidy, Beth Montgomery and Tracey Bugbird for preparing the Providence Learning Centre and organising hospitality for our guests, and to Jayde Trappett and Scott Blencowe for their work with the audio-visual elements of the celebration.
Particular thanks must also go to Alison McIntyre and Kerri Sutherland for coordinating invitations, communications and so many of the organisational details associated with bringing together such a significant event.
Celebration Day
Following the formal proceedings, the atmosphere changed from reflection and thanksgiving to community celebration.
My thanks to Bekk Anthony, Nicole Dudman and Scott Blencowe for coordinating our Celebration Day activities, and to the many staff and students who operated stalls, organised student-led activities, prepared food and items for sale, volunteered for the dunking tank and contributed in countless other ways.
Importantly, proceeds from the day's activities will support Mary MacKillop Today, Trinity Families and the St Vincent de Paul Society, connecting our celebration with Mary MacKillop's enduring commitment to responding to the needs of others.
Feedback from students, staff, guests and visitors was overwhelmingly positive.
One guest observed that it takes an enormous amount of planning and effort to make a day such as this appear effortless. I could not agree more.
What people experienced on Thursday was the result of planning, generosity, teamwork and a willingness by many people to contribute wherever needed. To everyone who played a part—thank you.
Our Story Continues
Finally, on an occasion such as this, we remember every student who has walked through the gates of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College over the past forty years; every parent who has entrusted a child to our care; every staff member who has served this community; and every priest, parishioner, benefactor, volunteer and friend who has contributed to our story.
Many were able to join us on Thursday. Many others could not be with us. Some have gone before us into eternal life. We remember them with gratitude and commend them to God's loving care.
Our fortieth anniversary is not a conclusion.
It is another point on a continuing journey.
We honour our past because it provides the foundations for our future. Those of us who are here today are the custodians of what others have built, and we have a responsibility to strengthen it before entrusting it to those who will follow.
As Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop wrote:
"Remember we are all but travellers here."
Celebrations such as Thursday's are never the work of one person or even a small group. They are the work of an entire community.
Thank you to everyone who made our Feast Day and Forty-Year Celebration such a memorable occasion, and thank you to all who have been part of the Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College story.
The first forty years have given us much for which to be grateful.
Now we continue to write the next chapter together.
Our Stories, Our History – Watch the First Oral History Interview
As part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations, we are delighted to launch the first instalment of the Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Oral History Project.
Led by John Ryan and supported by Edson Letendrie, this important project is capturing the memories of the people who have shaped our College—not simply dates and milestones, but the voices, experiences and personal stories that bring our history to life.
It is fitting that our first professionally produced interview features Jenny Shea, who commenced at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College in its foundation year of 1986 and, remarkably, continues to serve our College community forty years later.
Through Jenny's memories, we gain a wonderful insight into the early College, how it has changed and grown, and the people and experiences that have shaped its character along the way.
We warmly invite students, families, staff, alumni and friends of the College to watch Jenny's interview and share in this very special part of our story.
Jenny Shea: https://youtu.be/NNJxGyHuF7Q
And this is only the beginning.
Interviews with Jill Carmody, Ken Myors, Josie Bleeser, Christina Lomagno, Maydia Parry, Margaret Thomas, Rachel Rosse, Amelia Ellen and Boyd Robertson have already been recorded or are being prepared for release.
Importantly, the Oral History Project will not conclude with our 40th Anniversary year. It is the beginning of a living archive that will continue to grow, preserving the stories of our College for generations to come.
If you have a Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College story to share, we would also love to hear from you.
The Josephite Spirit Award
An important new tradition was established as part of this year's celebration of the Solemnity of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, with the presentation of our inaugural Josephite Spirit Awards following the Feast Day Mass.
Developed by Nicole Dudman, Scott Blencowe and the Student Mission Team, the award will become an annual part of our College's celebration of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and will be presented in two categories: the Josephite Spirit Award – Student and the Josephite Spirit Award – Staff.
Unlike many awards that begin with achievement, the Josephite Spirit Award begins with a story—a story of someone recognising a need and choosing to respond. To do the right thing.
It asks four simple but important questions:
What need did this person notice? How did they understand what was required? What did they do in response? And what difference did their actions make?
At the heart of the award are words attributed to Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop that have become synonymous with the Josephite tradition:
"Never see a need without doing something about it."
These words express something fundamental about the life and mission of Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Mary's response to need flowed from her faith in Jesus Christ and her conviction that faith must be expressed through action.
Mary and the early Sisters noticed people and communities who were being overlooked. They discerned what was needed and responded through education, dignity, faith and practical support.
The Josephite Spirit Award seeks to recognise this same pattern within our College community: noticing, discerning and acting.
The award also reflects the Josephite Foundational Framework for Mission values of Intentional Inclusivity, Mutual Respect, Conscious Compassion and Creative Courage, together with our College School-Wide Expectations of Responsibility, Wisdom, Respect and Courage.
Our Inaugural Recipients
We congratulate the first recipients of the Josephite Spirit Award:
Student – Mia-Rose Witteveen, Year 12
Staff – Sarah Roscoe-Smith
Mia-Rose's nomination, presented by Samantha Florence, provided a wonderful example of the purpose of the new award.
As a Year 12 student undertaking VCE English, Rosie understands the importance of her own learning, but also recognises when those around her need support. Her nomination described the quiet and unassuming ways she assists classmates who may be struggling or uncertain—explaining ideas differently, helping others revise concepts, offering encouragement when someone becomes overwhelmed or sometimes simply providing a reminder, a highlighter or a pen when needed.
Her diligent work ethic and contribution to class model a commitment to learning, but it is her willingness to use her own strengths to help others that particularly reflects the Josephite spirit.
As her nomination observed, when Rosie sees a need, she chooses to do something about it.
Through her clarity, maturity and compassion, she has made a meaningful difference to the learning and confidence of others, helping classmates recognise their own capacity and, at times, helping them "get over the line" together.
Sarah Roscoe-Smith was recognised as the inaugural staff recipient, with her nomination presented on behalf of the students by Gabriella Davidson. Her selection is an important reminder that the Josephite spirit is expressed not through position or recognition, but through the everyday ways in which we notice, support and respond to others.
In introducing the staff award, Gabriella captured beautifully what we hope this new College tradition will recognise:
Living the Josephite spirit is not about seeking recognition. It is about choosing, every day, to notice the person who has been overlooked, to listen with genuine care, and to act because it is the right thing to do.
That is ultimately what these awards are intended to celebrate.
The Josephite Spirit Award is not primarily about extraordinary achievements. It recognises something that can sometimes be much quieter—the person who notices; the person who listens; the person who responds; and the person whose actions make a difference in the life of another.
Congratulations to Mia-Rose Witteveen and Sarah Roscoe-Smith, our inaugural recipients.
Thank you for seeing the needs of others and, through your example, reminding us what it means to live the Josephite spirit at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.
Condolences
Please keep in your prayers Dom Beale’s father, Tony, who passed away recently on Wednesday, 29 July, after a battle with bile duct cancer. Tony is mourned by his wife, Vilma; his four children and their partners; and his grandson, Julian.
Dom described his father as a devout Catholic who worked tirelessly to support his family and provide his children with every opportunity.
Please keep Tony, Dom, and the entire Beale family in your prayers during this difficult time.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.
Sapientia Domini Docet Nos
John M Freeman