Principal

Year 12 Farewell Address From Today's Assembly...

The future starts today, not tomorrow.

Pope John Paul II

Year 12 2025

'From 2019 to 2024 our senior students had tears of sadness because they could not finish Year 12 at St Mary’s

Now there is the joy of solidarity and the feeling of wonder and for the adventure of the world that awaits. 

It has taken St Mary’s 40 years to return to this day, Friday 17th October 2025 and to this significant moment in time in St Mary’s College’s history – the final Year 12 Farwell Assembly.

From little things, big things grow.

Year 12 since the day you first enrolled at St Mary’s you have been immersed in the values, spirit and belief in this lady, Catherine McAuley – a woman of immense belief in service to others. Could Catherine have ever imagined that from her humble beginnings, bigger things would grow into schools, hospitals, universities and health care systems around the world, particularly in Australia and one of those is St Mary’s College Seymour!

Venerable Catherine McAuley was a woman of action, courage, service, forgiving, sacrifice, welcoming, strong on unity and so sincere about that one precious word that you and we all know at St Mary's can change a student’s day, perhaps even their life – that word is kindness. 

You have been a senior class of action by taking up the challenges to do and giving your best.

You have been a senior class of courage to accept the challenge of seniority and setting example.

You have been a senior class of service being there and helping younger peers – they will never forget that, and your role modelling will live in your younger peers’ memories. 

You have been a senior class that like all of us has learnt that it is more empowering to forgive than hold on to hurts.  No student, no staff member, no parent is perfect, but we can all learn from mistakes, we all learn so much about ourselves when we forgive. 

You have been in the senior class that has understood sacrifice and what is required to succeed because success comes from the doing – you have heard me say many times this year when it comes striving for success, we usually get what we deserve. 

You are certainly a welcoming senior class – you enjoy a laugh, are loyal, have a sense of humour and respect advice when it is given. 

You have been a senior class of unity. Catherine said, “unity must always dwell among us and what a blessing unity is."  You are together – you are one and that is special quality.

Thank you to Sophie and Cooper who have been wonderful College Captains and indeed to the entire leadership team for your service and that pride you have shown in the positions you have held. Peer leadership is essential in secondary as it is in primary – we are one together, one College.

Year 12 thank you for sharing the journey with us. It has been one that has seen much laughter, humour, wit and a few tears along the way, but that is OK too, life will always have its ups and downs, and your College experiences will in the future enable you to offer wisdom to others in need. 

Year 12 every Catholic College needs a reason – we all need a reason, and God gives us that reason because God is in all of us, God is love and God is hope.

The St Mary’s reason is in the story of Jesus Christ, in how Fr Eugene so warmly reminds us through his sermons, his conversations and through his presence. Our story, your story is influenced by the charism of the Sisters of Mercy and in the actions St Anthony of Padua.

It takes a village to raise a child.

It is in the College staff, and I thank them for their modelling, standards they expect and the care they give to all students and especially to Year 12. Year 12 you have been guided by very wise, intelligent and experienced teachers and non-teaching staff.

Please give all our staff primary and secondary school, and Ms McLaughlin, our College VCE Coordinator, a well-deserved round of applause. 

Year 12 never forget that you will always be a 'St Maryian' and in the future years of your life when someone asks you where you went to school/? . . . speak with pride when you say I went to St Mary’s College, Seymour – my College, the Catholic College that helped mold who I am today. 

Always know that St Mary’s is here for you and deep down in your being you know that sacrifice, standards, respect, integrity and the excellence build characters, changes lives and make the world a better place.

I thank your parents for the faith they placed in St Mary’s. Our school is indebted to our parents who have made the sacrifice for a Catholic education. 

It is your time for the Final Walk a Rite of Passage Guard of Honour that began in 2019. When walking through the guard of honour feel proud and be proud of what you have given to St Mary’s College Seymour and the legacy you leave for our wonderful primary and secondary students to follow.

Our Foundation to Year 11 students and all our staff wish you God Speed Year 12 and in 2026 and every year that follows when a senior student or member of staff walks into the study room of the Sacred Heart VCE Centre, they will see up on the wall the quote from the class of 2025, the group that heralded a new beginning for St Mary’s - back to where the College belongs, a quote that reminds us all that actions speaks louder than words. '

The future starts today, not tomorrow.

Pope John Paul II

Year 12 2025

VCE Exams – PA Announcements

A reminder that PA announcements will not be made during class time in order to minimise disruptions and maintain a focused learning environment. Announcements will only take place during Recess and Lunchtime.

With Year 12 VCE exams commencing shortly, we appreciate everyone’s support in helping to create a calm and focused atmosphere across the College.

We understand that unexpected situations may occasionally arise, and we thank you for your patience and understanding as we manage these requests.

Best wishes

Wayne Smith

Principal

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