Principal's 

Message

May, Month of Mary

As we enter the beautiful month of May, our Brigidine community pauses to celebrate the Month of Mary, a time of honoured tradition that holds a special place in our hearts. For us, Mary is more than a historical figure; she is the ultimate model of the Brigidine spirit demonstrating profound strength, quiet contemplation and an unwavering "Yes" to God’s calling. 

In the busyness of College life, this month invites our students and staff to look toward Mary’s example of resilience and grace. By reflecting on her journey, we are reminded to act with empathy and to find extraordinary purpose in our daily lives. I encourage all families to join us in this season of prayer and reflection as we celebrate the woman who continues to inspire our commitment to Strength and Gentleness.

Inquiry & Review

Term 1 concluded with Sydney Catholic Schools conducting their formal Inquiry and Review process here at Brigidine College. This evaluation occurs every four years, providing us with a valuable opportunity to reflect on our achievements and map out our trajectory for the future. The insights gained from this review are instrumental in building a strategic plan focused on the continued improvement of the College. 

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the parents, students and staff who participated in interviews for this process. The College received exceptionally positive feedback regarding our strategic direction over the past few years. As we move forward, we are excited to continue developing our BRAVE Framework of Excellence, which is on track for full implementation in 2027.

Duke of Edinburgh

I recently met with a number of students who are currently finalising their 2026 Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. Following Ms. Robson’s departure at short notice, several students had outstanding components left to complete to secure their awards. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Pineda, who has completed the necessary training and stepped in to manage this process. 

We are currently in the final stages of processing all 2026 awards before we begin our journey with the 2027 participants. Once the majority of students have cleared their outstanding work, we will host an information evening for all new participants. You will be given plenty of notice regarding the date and time for this upcoming session.

Ex-Students’ Reunion

On Sunday the 3rd of May, the College hosted our Ex-Students’ Annual Reunion. This event is a true highlight of our school calendar, and it was made all the more special this year by the attendance of thirteen Year 11 students.

Our current students offered valuable insights into how education has evolved since our alumnae were students here. They were outstanding representatives of the College and I would like to personally thank them for the positive attitudes, warmth, and the genuine enthusiasm they showed while chatting with our ex-students. For many of our guests, connecting with these young women was the highlight of their day. 

I was deeply honoured to be in the company of three Order of Australia recipients, each of whom embodies the spirit of service we strive to instill in our students. We celebrated Sr. Sheelah, recognised for her profound humanitarian work. As many of you know, our Founder’s Day fundraising specifically supports her mission to provide education for women in Kenya. We also acknowledged Mrs Mavis Pirola, honored for her dedication to youth through the formation of Antioch groups; and Prof. Denise Lawrence, a world-renowned cellist, for her extraordinary contributions to music.

The College is particularly privileged to have received the donation of a portrait of Prof. Denise with her cello. This stunning piece was a finalist in the Archibald Prize a few years ago. As Prof. Denise is an ex-student of the College, this portrait will hold pride of place in our new music area, serving as daily inspiration to our burgeoning musicians. 

Our student representatives were also thrilled to meet another distinguished ex-student, Ms. Philippa McDonald, a renowned ABC journalist. Philippa regaled us with stories of her incredible career and spoke warmly about how Brigidine College helped shape the foundations for her professional life. Currently, she is working closely with the Timor-Leste government to establish an English-speaking media organisation. The College is deeply honored to have an award named in her honor, celebrating the trail she continues to blaze in international journalism.

Student Achievements

We congratulate  students for their achievements recently in U15 AFL, Tough Football U15 and those students who competed at the National Swimming championships. their names are listed in detail in the sport article.

In fantastic news, Brigidine College has recently won the Table Tennis Competition in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior sections, securing a clean sweep. Our Dance troupe performed exceptionally well, winning the Jazz section and receiving Runner Up in Hip Hop; while Yianna K won the Individual Secondary Hip Hop section of the Eisteddfod. Outstanding efforts from all. 

Additionally, at the end of last term, we celebrated a number of students who competed at the National Surf Titles at our end-of-term assembly. These achievements continue to show our College community in a positive light; and we are honoured to have this talented group of students representing our community.

Congratulations to our age champions who shone on a brilliant day at our recent Athletics Carnival. Their names and specific achievements are featured in the Sport Report later in this newsletter. The entire College community is to be commended for the wonderful participation and enthusiasm displayed throughout the day. It was a joy to see so many students giving their best and supporting one another with such spirit.

NIDA performance

I was treated to an exceptional performance on the evening of the 8th of May, which featured five of our students performing as part of The Shakespeare Project, a collaboration between Sydney Catholic Schools, Bell Shakespeare, and NIDA. We were proudly represented by Tayla C, Sofia C, Freya L, Lulu M and Lucy M. They were truly the stars of the show, proving through their vibrant performances that musical theatre is very much alive and well. Well done and congratulations to all our students for their continued efforts in making our wonderful College the vibrant community it is today.

Mother’s Day Breakfast

The College recently hosted our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast, with an incredible turnout of over 600 guests. Our community celebration began with a beautiful Mass led by Fr. Michael; followed by a shared breakfast where mothers and their daughters enjoyed time together. The feedback from the morning was overwhelmingly positive, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the organisation of such a large-scale event. In particular, I want to acknowledge the Executive and Support Staff, as well as Ms. Lauren Madeleine (Media & Marketing) and Ms. Monica Ribeiro (Director of Religious Education and Mission) for their dedicated efforts. Seeing so many smiling faces was a wonderful reminder of the strength of our community. I hope all of our mothers and grandmothers had a truly joyous Mother’s Day.

College Musical

The College is incredibly busy preparing for our production of "Shrek: The Musical", which will take place at the end of this term. A large number of our talented students have been rehearsing diligently two nights a week and all day on Sundays. I am certain parents are excited to attend and witness the fruits of the students' hard work. Please keep an eye out for booking details, which will be advertised very soon. We expect tickets to sell quickly!

Building Update

We are edging ever closer to the completion of the Connolly-Williams Building. We are hopeful that classes will be able to commence in this new space by Tuesday, 9th June. This is a truly exciting time for the College as we witness this significant progress. These state-of-the-art facilities are shaping up to be the envy of other schools, and will provide our students with an exceptional environment in which to learn and grow. More details such as library changes and canteen organisation will follow in due course.

Adrian Eussen

College Principal

Ex-Students Association Report

On Sunday, May 3rd, the College was delighted to welcome our alumnae back to Cullen Hall to celebrate the 103rd Ex-Students’ Reunion. More than 65 ex-students, joined by several of the Brigidine Sisters, enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea while reminiscing about their formative years at the College. One of the afternoon's highlights was undoubtedly the guided tour, which allowed our guests to see how the school has evolved.

This occasion also marked a significant transition for the Ex-Students’ Association. After nearly a decade of dedicated service, Dianne Mullin has retired from her role as President. Dianne has led with immense enthusiasm, insight, and forward-thinking; ably representing our alumnae at many formal College occasions. We are pleased to announce that Tracey Neaverson (née Agius, Class of 1983) has stepped into the role of President.

The Ex-Students’ Association extends its sincere thanks to Mr. Eussen and the Year 11 students who generously volunteered their time to support the event.

The reunion is an annual highlight of our calendar. Any ex-students wishing to attend next year’s function or reconnect with the College are encouraged to contact the Association through the "Brigidine Randwick Ex-Students Community" Facebook group; or via email at bcr.exstudents.association@gmail.com.

Tracey Neaverson

President of the Ex-Students' Association