MMCRC 40th Anniversary

This photograph is an aerial view of the College grounds taken in 1989.

The following is the full text of the Principal’s Address I prepared for our 40th Anniversary formal proceedings. On the day, I chose to deliver an abbreviated version. After almost two and a half hours gathered together for the Mass and formal celebrations, it was appropriate to respect the time of our students, staff and guests and, importantly, to allow the voices of others to remain at the heart of the occasion.

In particular, Renae Littlejohn’s outstanding and deeply personal reflection on her father, our founding Principal Ed Carmody, her family, and the pioneering students, staff and families of the foundational years captured the spirit of those early years far more powerfully than I could have done. Her address was one of the highlights of a very special day.

I therefore provide my full address here, not as something that was missed, but as a further contribution to our 40th Anniversary story—a reflection on what we have inherited, what we are building today, and some hopes and challenges for the next forty years of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.

Principal's Address

Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and 40th Anniversary Celebration

Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, 6 August 2026

Bishop Greg, Father Stanly, Father Peter, Father Aju, Father Dareen, Father Aneesh, Father Manny, Paul, Kate, Jill, distinguished guests, former principals, past and present staff, students, parents, alumni and friends of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.

Today is first and foremost a day of thanksgiving.

On this Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, we gather to give thanks to God for the first forty years of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College. We celebrate not simply the anniversary of a school, but the journey of a community of faith—a community that has educated young people, supported families and served South Gippsland and the Bass Coast since 1986.

Anniversaries invite us to pause and consider why we exist. They invite us to remember where we have come from, to appreciate where we stand today, and to reflect on where God is calling us next.

As we do so, it seems fitting that we allow Mary MacKillop herself to guide our reflections.

Throughout her life she encouraged those around her not simply to dream of a better future, but to act with courage, faith and hope. Her words continue to inspire us because they are not merely historical quotations; they are an invitation to live the Gospel.

One of her best-known sayings was:

"Never see a need without doing something about it." (1871)

Those words capture, perhaps better than any others, why this College exists.

Long before there were classrooms, uniforms or timetables, there was a need.

Catholic families throughout South Gippsland recognised that while their parish primary schools provided a strong foundation, many young people had limited opportunities to continue their Catholic education close to home. Families faced long journeys, boarding away from home, or difficult decisions about their children's future.

The people of this region could have accepted that reality. Instead, they chose to do something about it. Inspired by faith and sustained by hope, parish communities came together. Committees were formed. Plans were developed. Countless hours were devoted to meetings, advocacy and fundraising. There were setbacks and disappointments, but there was also remarkable perseverance.

Their vision was never simply to establish another secondary school. Their vision was to create a Catholic learning community where young people could flourish academically, spiritually and personally. That vision became reality on 5 February 1986 when Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College welcomed its first sixty-six students.

Those first sixty-six students represent much more than an enrolment figure. Behind every student stood a family who believed in a vision that was still unfolding. They entrusted their children to a new school because they believed that Catholic education mattered. They took what has rightly become known as a leap of faith.

Earlier today, Renae Littlejohn shared memories of those pioneering days and the extraordinary commitment shown by the founding community, in particular her father Ed Carmody. Those stories remind us that every worthwhile achievement begins with people who are prepared to believe in something before they can see its full potential.

Today we honour that faith. We honour every student who has learnt here. Every parent who has entrusted a child to our care. Every member of staff who has shared their gifts. Every parish priest, volunteer, benefactor and supporter who has strengthened this College over the past forty years.

Mary MacKillop also reminded her Sisters:

"We must teach more by example than by word." (1867)

Perhaps that has been one of the defining characteristics of this College. For forty years, generations of teachers and support staff have taught far more than curriculum. They have demonstrated compassion, integrity, perseverance, justice, charity, service and faith.

Parents have shown unwavering commitment to their children's education. Students have learnt that success is measured not only by academic achievement but by character, kindness and respect. Our parish communities have continually reminded us that education is a partnership grounded in faith.

The real legacy of this College has never been its buildings. It has always been its people. People who quietly gave of themselves. People who believed in young people. People who understood that every act of encouragement, every lesson taught, every conversation, every rehearsal, every sporting event and every prayer contributed to forming the lives of others.

That is the legacy we celebrate today.

Yet anniversaries should never become museums. If all we do is look backwards, we have misunderstood why we are here.

Mary MacKillop wrote in 1866:

"Remember we are all but travellers here."

Those simple words are profoundly important. None of us owns this College. Each generation receives a precious inheritance. Each generation enriches that inheritance. Then each generation passes it to those who follow.

That understanding has shaped the way we have chosen to celebrate our fortieth anniversary. This has never been intended as a single day of celebration. Nor has it been simply about remembering the past. It is an evolving celebration.

It is about preserving our story, strengthening our identity and ensuring that future generations understand the remarkable foundations upon which this College has been built.

Earlier this year, every student and every staff member received a commemorative fortieth anniversary badge, blessed as a reminder that each of us is part of this continuing story.

We have reinvigorated and relaunched the MacKillop Achievers Awards, recognising former students whose lives and achievements reflect the values of faith, service, leadership and excellence that have always been central to this College.

We have reinstated the honour board recognising the names of the original sixty-six students who commenced here on 5 February 1986. That honour board is much more than a list of names. It is a visible reminder that the opportunities enjoyed by today's students exist because others were prepared to take that first courageous step.

Another significant initiative has been the naming of buildings and spaces throughout our College. These names are not merely labels. They tell stories. They connect our everyday learning with our Catholic identity, our Josephite heritage and the people and values that continue to shape our community. As students walk through the St Joseph the Worker Centre, the Providence Centre, the Magnificat Centre, the Gathering Lawn and the Heritage Lawn, we hope they will ask questions about the stories behind those names and discover something of the rich tradition they have inherited.

Perhaps the initiative closest to my heart is our Oral History Project. Led by John Ryan and supported by Edson Letendrie, this project is capturing the memories of those who have shaped this College. Not simply dates. Not simply milestones. But the voices, experiences and stories that bring history to life.

The first professionally edited interview, featuring Jenny Shea, who commenced at the College in 1986 and continues to serve our community today, will be available on our website next week.

Many more interviews have already been recorded or are nearing completion, including Jill Carmody, Ken Myors, Josie Bleeser, Christina Lomagno, Maydia Parry, Margaret Thomas, Rachel Rosse, Amelia Ellen and Boyd Robertson. And this project will not finish when our anniversary year concludes. It will continue to grow.

If you have a story to tell, we invite you to become part of this living archive. Because our history is still being written.

Mary MacKillop wrote towards the end of her life:

“Find happiness in making others happy.” (1899)

Those words capture the spirit we hope every student carries from this College.

Success is important. Achievement matters. We celebrate excellent VCE results, vocational pathways, apprenticeships, university offers, sporting success and artistic accomplishment.

But ultimately our measure of success is much deeper. We hope our graduates become people who use their gifts in service of others. People who strengthen families. People who enrich communities. People who make the world a little better because they have been here.

To our current students, I want to say this.

You are not simply attending a school with a proud history. You are now part of that history. The founders of this College did not dream small dreams. They did not persevere simply so future generations could settle for "good enough." They believed young people could flourish.

Now that responsibility belongs to you. One day another generation will gather to celebrate eighty years of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College. They will look back on us. They will ask what we valued. How we cared for one another. Whether we strengthened this College.

Whether we remained faithful to our Catholic identity. Whether we had the courage to build on the foundations we inherited. That challenge belongs to every one of us: Students; Staff; Parents; Alumni, and Friends. Each of us has the opportunity to add another chapter to this remarkable story.

As we look to the future, perhaps there are no better words than those Mary MacKillop offered during difficult times:

"Be calm and full of hope." (1871)

Hope sustained those who dreamed of this College long before it opened. Hope sustained the sixty-six pioneer families who enrolled their children in 1986. Hope has sustained every generation since. And hope will continue to guide us into the future.

Today we give thanks for forty remarkable years. Tomorrow the story continues. May we honour those who came before us by building wisely upon the foundations they laid. May we continue to teach more by example than by word. May we never see a need without doing something about it. May we find happiness in making others happy. And may we always remain calm and full of hope, trusting—as Mary MacKillop did—in God's providence.

May God continue to bless Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, all who have been part of its story, and all who will write its next chapter.

Thank you.