MMCRC 40th Anniversary
This photograph is an aerial view of the College grounds taken in 1989.
MMCRC from 1987 to 1991
The following is a brief history of the College from 1987 to 1991. Information is primarily informed by a “Leap of Faith” by Willma Walls and the College Yearbooks:
Between 1987 and 1991, Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College moved from its fragile beginnings into a more stable and expanding secondary school, gradually developing its curriculum, facilities, and enrolment base.
In 1987, the College was still in its formative stage. Enrolment growth required the appointment of additional staff, including Sr Briege Buckley RSJ, who taught Religious Education, English, and Geography, and helped promote the College. The school community continued to operate with limited facilities and relied heavily on the commitment of staff, families, and supporters. The Parents and Friends Auxiliary played an important role in fundraising, generating funds through events such as raffles, street stalls, and the College Ball to purchase equipment for sports, library resources, and classroom technology.
The year 1988 marked a significant turning point. The College expanded academically to include Year 9, requiring a broader curriculum and more specialised teaching spaces. Students continued to study a core set of compulsory subjects but could now select electives such as Italian, graphics, and music. Technology also began to play a role in learning through a Computer Awareness course that used Apple IIe computers. The College leadership simultaneously pursued government support, applying for capital funding and for an extension of recurrent grants so that the school could eventually offer Years 11 and 12.
By 1989, the College experienced its strongest enrolment growth to that time. The Year 7 intake reached 83 students, requiring three streams, although accommodation shortages meant that future intakes had to be restricted. Despite financial pressure and limited borrowing capacity, a major milestone occurred when construction of the first permanent buildings began in April 1989. These facilities included a library, science laboratory, staff areas, and student amenities. The construction also required relocating and developing a new oval for sports and athletics.
In 1990, the College prepared for another major academic development: the introduction of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). Staff participated in professional learning to prepare for the new senior secondary qualification that the College hoped to offer as it progressed to full secondary status.
By 1991, the completion of the first permanent brick buildings marked a significant transition from a temporary campus to a more established and enduring school. These new facilities greatly enhanced teaching and learning conditions, providing the infrastructure necessary to support the College’s continued growth. After years of operating with limited resources and uncertainty, the community could now see tangible evidence that the vision for a regional Catholic secondary school in South Gippsland was becoming a lasting reality. Importantly, 1991 also marked the introduction of the College’s first Year 12 cohort, further affirming its development into a fully-fledged secondary school.
Overall, the period 1987–1991 was characterised by expansion, perseverance, and consolidation. Enrolments increased, the curriculum broadened, permanent facilities were constructed, and the foundations were laid for a full secondary program, positioning the College for the next stage of development.
1991 Aerial photo
