Principal

Dear Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Community,

I wish everyone a safe, happy, and holy Christmas break.

I hope it is a time of joy, a time to replenish and to be with those you love.

Theme for 2026

Each year, our student leaders are asked to recommend a theme for the coming year. I had the opportunity to observe part of our students' discernment process, led by Nicole Dudman and Scott Blencowe, and it was clear that the choice to be made would be thoughtful and relevant to us in 2026. Following this process, I met with two of our 2026 College Captains, Gabriella Davidson and Henri Bott, who presented the theme and provided a clear rationale for their choice. Accordingly, there was no doubt for me following this process that our theme for next year will be:

“'Remember on this Earth that no one is perfect;

Love and bear with one another'

MM, 1889

There is much to consider with this statement from St Mary of the Cross. And I offer a few of the words spoken by our Captains at our end-of-year College Mass as something we can all reflect upon:

“It is a simple message with a powerful meaning: nobody is perfect – all make mistakes – and that is okay. What matters is that love for one another is shown and that there is a willingness to “bear with one another,” meaning patience and understanding of each other’s faults. Everyone will easily understand this caring reminder that we are all learning and growing together.

At the heart of this theme is the way of Jesus. In the Gospels, Jesus does not gather perfect people around him. 

He calls tax collectors, doubters, and deniers. 

He eats with those others avoid. 

He forgives those who fail him. 

On the cross, he prays, “Father, forgive them,” even for those who are hurting him. He loves and bears with very imperfect people – including us – and shows what this theme looks like in real life.

This is the kind of love the theme is inviting the College into. In the Catholic tradition, love is not just a feeling. A classic definition from St Thomas Aquinas says, “To love is to will the good of the other.” In other words, truly loving someone means wanting the best for them, and then choosing words and actions that help that good to happen – in the classroom, on the yard, at home, online.

Hand in hand with that kind of love is the call to “bear with one another.” Think of “bearing with someone” as cutting them some slack. If a friend talks too much, or a younger sibling accidentally breaks something, the invitation is to stay calm and understanding. Everyone has “rough edges” and little faults; bearing with one another means accepting each other as we are, and kindly helping each other improve over time. It is like saying, “I know you’re not perfect (and neither am I), but I won’t give up on you. I’ll be patient.”

By the year 1889, when she wrote “no one is perfect; love and bear with one another,” Mary had been through many challenges. She had seen conflicts, even been wrongly excommunicated and faced sharp criticism, but she consistently responded with forgiveness and patience. In all of this, she was trying to follow Jesus closely: to forgive as he forgave, to hold communities together, and to keep lifting up those who were discouraged.

In 2026, this theme will sit alongside the School Wide Expectations of Respect, Responsibility, Wisdom and Courage. Remembering that no one is perfect calls the community to respect the dignity of every person, to take responsibility for words and actions, to seek the wise and loving response rather than the harsh one, and to show the quiet courage it takes to apologise, to forgive and to keep including those on the edges.

End of Year Mass and College Awards Assembly

On Friday, 5 December, we gathered for our end-of-year Mass and Awards Assembly.

On behalf of the College, sincere thanks are extended to Nicole Dudman and Scott Blencowe for their preparation of our End-of-Year Mass. Also, my gratitude to Beth Winterhalter and Meg Doherty for their work with our wonderful choir, and to the students who provided entertainment during the break. As always, we are blessed by the support of our Parish Priests, Fr. Stanly Devasia and Fr. Darren Howie, in concelebrating the Mass. Some of you may be aware that Fr. Darren is moving from the Wonthaggi and Inverloch Parishes to the Yarram and Foster Parishes. However, he will not be disconnected from us as he is very keen to be part of major celebrations and class masses.

We began our Awards Assembly with more than 200 family members in attendance. Details of the award recipients are in the Newsletter. This was a great way to end the year, and all students in attendance were attentive and demonstrated outstanding support for their peers as they were recognised. 

These events require extensive planning, and I would like to thank Scott Blencowe, Beth Winterhalter, Chris Spencer, Laura Higgins, Michelle Krohn, Di Malloy, and Laura Kew for their significant work in preparing and organising the Presentation Assembly. Thank you as well to all the presenters and sponsors.

Thanks are also extended to our Maintenance and Administration teams who have set up and decorated the hall and staging, straightened chairs, supported our performers and award recipients, and taken on the many less visible but essential tasks that have allowed today to run smoothly. This quiet, faithful service is very much in the spirit of Mary MacKillop, who acted out of love for Jesus and a desire to serve others.

Year 7 2026

On Tuesday, 2 December, we welcomed our Year 7 students for 2026 to the College. Based on our conversations with staff who worked with our new students, it is clear that they will all be great members of our community. Many students have siblings at the College, and every class included several students whose parents attended Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College. Therefore, thank you to all families who continue their longstanding family connections.

Additionally, about a third of the students are the eldest child, and I thank those families for trusting us to educate their children over the next six years.

Thank you to Jackie van Dillen, Jessica Stein, and Erica Masters for all their work in organising the day, and to all the staff who worked with students. 

Additionally, a big thank you to our Senior Student Leaders for working with the students throughout the day. They contributed positively, served as role models, and ensured the day's success.

Rock on the Lawn

Congratulations to Beth Winterhalter and her team on the successful organisation of the Rock on the Lawn Event on Wednesday, 3 December, from 6.00 pm. We had a fantastic turnout from families and staff. Everyone there enjoyed the performances by groups and individuals.

It was a great showcase of talent at MMCRC.

VCE 2025 Results

On Thursday, 11 December, our students received their VCE and VCE Vocational Major Results.

Below are details already shared and additional achievements I can now recognise:

Congratulations to the Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College class of 2025! We are very pleased and proud of our students’ VCE results. Fifty-seven sat for VCE exams, and all have succeeded. The class of 2025 has done well.  Most will gain entry to their first- or second-choice university. There are lots of excited students and happy families today. We are proud of them all.

Number of students presenting for VCE exams: 57

Number with satisfactory completion: 57

High Performers' scores:

• Median Study Score of 29
• Overall Study Scores of 40 or above 4.4%
• 14.04% of ATAR scores above 80. (2022: 25%)
• 29.82% of ATAR scores above 70. (2024: 38.46%)

A massive thank-you to all our teachers. You have worked very hard to help our students do so achieve these results. It is worth noting 59.62% of students have scored 60 or above, which will give them access to a range of tertiary courses. There is more to be done, but your efforts are bearing fruit.

Congratulations to every teacher who had a student score 40 or more: 

Ben Abbott (Health and Human Development -1), Michelle Hackett (General Maths -1), Mairead Johnson (English -1), Cade Maskell (Physical Education -1), Cassie Raschle (Biology – 3), Sarah Roscoe-Smith (English -1), Stephen Ross-Bryant (Agricultural and Horticultural Studies -1), Mary Tye (Psychology -3), Rahne Widarsito (English – 1)

There are a number of classes where the class median was above state average (30.0); 

Ben Abbott (Health and Human Development), Legal Studies (Bekk Anthony), Michelee Hackett/Kate Dwyer/Lisa Hogan (General Maths), Lisa Hogan (Math Methods), Cade Maskell (Physical Education), Darren Besanko (Physics), Mary Tye (Psychology), Chris Spencer (VET Sport and Recreation), Carly Johnson (Theatre Studies)

Our VCE Vocational Major students have also done very well. 15 students were pursuing applied pathways, and with notable success, of the 15:

• 2 have secured places in their preferred TAFE courses 
• 4 have gained traineeship/apprenticeships
• 6 have begun employment 
• 3 are seeking TAFE / Employment

Congratulations to all students and teachers on the 2025 results.

Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College is proud of you and of your achievements.

Staff News News:

Farewell to staff

Other staff who have completed their time with us at the end of this year:

• Nicole Buccilli
• Carly Johnson
• Pat McCarthy
• Bryan Smith
• Ben Stein

The following staff will be on extended Leave

• Leanne Soderlund for all of 2026
• Robyn Scouller for all of 2026

Condolences

Finally, please keep in your prayers the family and friends of Colin McKenzie-McHarg, who passed away recently. Colin is the loving husband of Christine (Chris) McKenzie-McHarg, a founding member of the College staff who joined in 1986.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos

John M Freeman