Principal

Welcome Back

This is our first Newsletter for Term 4. I wish everyone had a safe, restful and enjoyable break.

Farewell, Class of 2026

Thursday, 15 October, was the final day of formal classes for our Year 12 students, and on Friday, 16 October, they attended their last College Assembly. To celebrate the Class of 2026’s time at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, we have had several events.

These included “Anything but a drink bottle”, “Crazy Hair” day, and a Year student versus Staff and Siblings Netball game, the opening of time capsules they made in 2021 when they were in Year 7, among other fun activities.

On Thursday, the Class of 2026 planted their Graduation Tree on the driveway, leading up to the school. This relatively new tradition began in 2018, and each tree is marked with a plaque that includes the College's annual theme, which this year is

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

Love and bear with one another'

MM, 1889

On Friday, 17 October, students began at 7.00 a.m. with a staff-prepared breakfast, then gathered to share memories and acknowledge each other. A moving, joyous whole-school assembly followed. The Year 12s entered Pioneer Hall, dancing and celebrating on the stage to the applause of the staff and Years 7 to 11 students. The highlight of the assembly was each student being called individually to be acknowledged by the community and to receive a commemorative gift.

That night, the students gathered for the last time, first at the Graduation Mass at St Joseph’s, Wonthaggi, and then at the Silverwater Resort in San Remo for dinner.

Below is an edited version of my address to the students at the College assembly on Friday:

To the graduating class of 2026, on behalf of the entire Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College community, we are proud of you. We want you to know that you have done exceptionally well this year. We are proud of your achievements, and we hope you are proud of yourselves for what you have accomplished over the last 13 years of primary and secondary education.

You have faced challenges, seized opportunities, supported each other, and become genuine role models with a strong sense of community.

It may be trite to say this, because everyone does, but it remains true that you have left the College a better place for having been here.

So, we have two hopes for you.

First, we hope that you continue in your life to be the epitome of the key elements of our College Vision, Mission and Strategic Intent as you journey into the wider world, and these are:

Be a person who is welcoming to others.
Strive to keep learning throughout your life.
Be guided by the inspiration of St Mary of the Cross, MacKillop and the Josephite charism, particularly that challenge to “Never See a Need Without Doing Something About It”; and to
Live out our motto Sapientia Domini Docet Nos, The Wisdom of the Lord Teaches Us, by remembering the past, honouring the present and inspiring the future of all those you love and work with throughout life’s journey

Second, we hope you come to understand that a successful life is not measured simply by the wealth we accumulate, the positions we hold or the recognition we receive, but by the positive difference we make in the lives of others.

As Aristotle, the Greek philosopher who lived from 384 to 322 BCE, reminds us,

“Goodness lies not in abundance: abundance lies in goodness.”

And, in the words of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, “Find happiness in making others happy.”

These words hold great wisdom, especially as you stand at the beginning of the next stage of your lives.

You will undoubtedly have ambitions. Some of you will pursue careers, further study, travel, business opportunities or other personal goals. We hope you are successful in whatever paths you choose, and there is certainly nothing wrong with aspiring to financial security, professional achievement or personal recognition.

But these things alone will never define the quality of your life.

The real measure of a life well lived is found in the relationships you build, the kindness you show, the integrity with which you act and the willingness to make a difference when you see someone in need.

It is found in being a good friend, a caring family member, a trustworthy colleague and someone who can be relied upon when circumstances become difficult.

As the years pass, you may discover that your greatest achievements are not those that appear on a résumé, but those remembered in the hearts and lives of others.

The people who have the greatest influence on our lives are rarely remembered for what they owned. We remember them for how they treated us, encouraged us, and made us feel valued.

So, as you leave us, I encourage you to consider this: will you measure the richness of your life by what you accumulate for yourself, or by the good you bring into the lives of others?

As graduates of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, I hope you choose to build lives rich in meaningful relationships, generosity and service, leaving a positive legacy wherever life takes you.

Before I conclude, I want to point out something to everyone gathered here today, if it hasn't already dawned on you.

This is the last time we will see this group of fine young people gathered with us as College students.

Furthermore, this is the second-to-last time they will all gather together as the Class of 2026. The final occasion will be this evening at our Valedictory Mass and Dinner.

So, can I ask everyone here to join me in acknowledging and congratulating the Class of 2026?

Finally, to our graduands of 2026, I congratulate you once again and thank you most sincerely for your contribution to our College community.

We wish you every blessing and every success in the years ahead.

Please remember that you will always be welcome here. You remain part of the Mary MacKillop story, and we will always be delighted to hear of your future achievements and the lives you go on to lead.

God bless and go well, Class of 2026.

School Captain Selection 2027

We have now commenced our selection process for College Captains and Vice Captains, as well as other leaders. We began the process at our Year 11 Retreat earlier this term.

After the Retreat, students nominated themselves for student leadership roles, and those seeking to be considered for Captain and Vice-Captain positions submitted a detailed application.

Interest was strong, and all candidates’ submissions were high quality. After senior staff discernment, we invited eight students to present a speech to the community today. Our senior student leaders for 2027 will be chosen from: Thalia Baker, Samantha Carmichael, Claudia Croatto, Jasleen Dhillon, Julia Lindsay, Chloe McRae, Lily Reid, and Lily Smairl,

All presented themselves well, and I have no hesitation in writing that all of the students will be outstanding representatives of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.

Students and staff voted immediately after our assembly, and we will announce the successful candidates next week.

Thank you to Scott Belencowe for preparing the students and organising the process to date.

My Leave

First, I would like to thank Chris Spencer, who served as Acting Principal, and the Leadership Team for leading and supporting the College during my recent Enrichment Leave. I am grateful for their commitment and leadership, and for all staff's support during my absence.

My Enrichment Leave was busy, rewarding, and fulfilling, offering an opportunity for personal reflection, spiritual renewal, and professional learning. I spent much of this time participating in the Footsteps of St Paul pilgrimage through Greece and Türkiye with a group of fellow Catholic school Principals.

The pilgrimage offered a remarkable opportunity to explore places associated with the early Christian Church, deepen my understanding of St Paul's life and teachings, and reflect on the lessons his example offers for leadership, teaching, and our work in Catholic education.

Below is a brief summary of the experience and a short reflection on what I took away from the experience:

During September, I was privileged to join a group of Catholic school Principals on a pilgrimage following in the footsteps of St Paul through Greece and Türkiye. This journey was part of my Enrichment Leave and offered a wonderful opportunity for personal reflection, spiritual renewal, and a deeper understanding of Christianity's origins.

Our pilgrimage began in Athens, where we visited the Areopagus, the site of Paul's famous address to the Athenians about the "Unknown God" (Acts 17). We also travelled to ancient Corinth, where Paul spent considerable time establishing and teaching one of the earliest Christian communities.

Travelling north through Greece, we visited the extraordinary monasteries of Meteora, perched high upon towering rock formations, before continuing to Berea, Thessaloniki and Philippi. These places were central to Paul's missionary journeys and the spread of Christianity into Europe. One particularly moving experience was celebrating Mass beside the river at Philippi, where Paul baptised Lydia, recognised as the first Christian convert in Europe.

Our journey continued to the island of Patmos, where we visited the Cave of Revelation, traditionally associated with St John and the writing of the Book of Revelation. From there, we travelled to Türkiye and the ancient city of Ephesus, where Paul spent more than two years teaching and establishing the Christian community. Walking through this Roman city's remarkably preserved streets brought the world of the early Christians vividly to life.

We also visited Smyrna and Pergamum, two of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation, before travelling to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Celebrating Mass at Lone Pine Cemetery was a particularly poignant experience, providing an opportunity to remember the sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women and to reflect upon the importance of peace and reconciliation.

Our pilgrimage concluded in Istanbul, where we explored significant sites including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, gaining a deeper appreciation of this remarkable city's rich religious and cultural history.

Lessons from St Paul for Our College Community

While the historical and religious sites were extraordinary, the pilgrimage's greatest value was the opportunity to reflect on Paul's example as a leader, teacher, and person of faith.

Throughout his journeys, Paul did much more than travel from one community to another.

He spent time with people, developed relationships, taught patiently, encouraged others, challenged them when necessary, and remained hopeful despite considerable adversity.

Reflecting upon his letters, I identified seven lessons particularly relevant to our work as educators and, more broadly, to our College community:

Build relationships: Take time to know people, understand their circumstances, and build genuine relationships grounded in care and respect.
Teach with patience: Recognise that learning and personal growth take time, encouragement and perseverance.
Recognise the gifts of others: Every person has unique talents and something valuable to contribute to the community.
Have the courage to correct with compassion: Sometimes we must challenge others, but always with fairness, gentleness and the intention of helping them grow.
Be adaptable while remaining true to our purpose: Meet people where they are, recognising their different needs and circumstances without compromising our values.
Build communities of mutual care: Support one another, share responsibilities and recognise that we achieve more together than individually.
Remain hopeful: Even in times of difficulty, maintain faith, resilience and confidence in the possibilities ahead.

Perhaps one of Paul's most powerful messages comes from his Second Letter to the Corinthians:

“We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair.” (2 Corinthians 4:8)

This message of hope and perseverance is especially relevant to education. Our responsibility is not simply to impart knowledge, but to help young people develop the character, confidence, compassion and resilience to navigate the challenges of life.

As we celebrate the College's 40th anniversary, Paul's example also reminds us of the enduring importance of community, service and faith. His approach to leadership resonates strongly with the Josephite tradition of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, particularly her commitment to recognising the dignity of each person and responding to the needs of others.

I returned from the pilgrimage with a renewed appreciation of the remarkable history of our Christian faith and, more importantly, of the responsibility we share in helping young people become thoughtful, compassionate and hopeful members of society.

Free parent webinar for Parents and Carers: How to Think About AI in Your Child’s Education

CSPV wants to share this free webinar opportunity from Catholic School Parents Australia, exploring an issue many families are beginning to navigate: the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in our children’s education.

Join education researcher and author Dr Simon Breakspear for a webinar on: How to Think About AI in Your Child’s Education: Practical guidance for parents who want to raise thinkers.

This calm, evidence-based session will explore what AI means for how children and adolescents learn, work and grow, and how parents can help ensure they continue to build genuine knowledge, skills and character.

This learn and lunch session is free, but registration is required.

Date: Monday 26 October

Time:12:00-12:45 AEDT

Staff News

Sienna Falkingham has advised that she is resigning, and she and Nathan are also expecting their second child next year.

Congratulations to Cade Maskell on his appointment as the Senior Coach for the Leongatha Parrots.

Congratulations to James Forrester, who has recently completed a Bachelor of Education (Primary). This is a significant achievement, as he completed it while on the Learning Support Team throughout his studies, reflecting hard work and talent.

Condolences

Emma Blunt’s mother, Jude, passed away earlier this week, surrounded by her family, following her illness with cancer.

Please keep Emma, Finton (Year 8), and their family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

Eternal rest grant unto Jude, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

Amen.

John Freeman

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos