From the Deputy Principal

By Chris Shaw

Term 3 Begins

As we journey through our 150th year, Term 3 has arrived with a sense of service and spirit. July serves to remind us of the journey of Mother Gonzaga and her nine companions as they travelled to Ballarat, arriving in Melbourne on the 19th of July, 1875. Not long after they celebrated her birthday on the 24th of July. In Assembly, students heard from our archivist Rebecca Lawry who spoke of the challenging trip and what the group faced as they arrived in a foreign country full of new horizons. 

Planning is underway for the 150 Gonzaga Barry Day at the end of this term, and students will work together to raise much needed funds for Mary Ward International. Further details about this day will be shared in the coming weeks. 

Students have been engaged in active service participating in tree planting, the Senate Netball match against the St Patrick's raising money for Breast Cancer, and our VM students continue to serve the Ballarat community through Diocesan projects such as the community garden, as well as working with BotaniKids and numerous other active volunteering and service projects.  

The House Arts Festival preparation is taking shape and student voice and spirit is everywhere. Rehearsals for the Loreto Arts Festival are now underway, Royal South Street debating teams are competing, our Year 10’s earned 3rd in the Ballarat Science and Engineering Challenge and our amazing Cross Country team won the BAS Road Relays by 1 point.  

Last week Mary Ward Connect brought Year 10 students together from Loreto College Marryatville and Loreto Normanhurst. This program brings to life the connections between our schools in the spirit of Mary Ward’s open circle of friends. The demonstrated spirit of connectedness between students from the three schools encapsulated the aims of the program and it was hard to farewell new friends.  

This term we begin planning for 2026 with student leadership and subject selection processes soon to begin and we are reminded to take every opportunity in front of us.  As we prepare for Term 4 and the culmination of our sesquicentennial year, we carry forward the lessons that service is not just an action, but a way of being; and that the Loreto spirit lives in every student who dares to dream, lead, and serve. 

“We must be women of action, not for ourselves, but for others.” MGB

Welcome to our new staff   

Sam Pullin - Head of Rowing 

Naomi Hrymakowski - Human Resources Manager 

Sue Hinchliffe – Teaching Year 9 &10 English