Acting Principal
Mrs Genevieve Gordon
Celebrating Our Grandparents and Elders
We could not let the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly pass us by without acknowledging the profound impact grandparents and grand-parent figures play in the lives of our students and our College.
Instituted by Pope Francis in 2021, this special day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. On July 26, we took the opportunity to give thanks for the wisdom, love, and guidance of our elders.
Our grandparents lived in a much simpler era, long before the internet, mobile phones, social media, or even widespread car ownership, relying instead on handwritten letters and rotary phones. Reflecting on this always brings back fond memories of my own maternal grandfather. He was a diesel mechanic who worked on locomotives and diesel bowsers; to this day, whenever I hear the whistle of a steam train, my heart fills with memories of him.
A wonderful reminder of these simpler times is currently featured in our Primary Learning Centre. Our Year 1 and 2 students are developing a captivating “Then & Now” display, showcasing fascinating items from yesteryear.
Grandparents are a precious blessing, and we thank them deeply for everything they do for our students and community.
Exciting Global News: ACU School Leaders Program
I am thrilled to share some fantastic news with our College community!
Earlier this year, our senior students were invited to apply for the prestigious ACU School Leaders Program, a three-week immersion through Rome and London designed to deepen faith, explore Catholic tradition, and study the history of Western civilisation.
Across all Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), the selection process was extraordinarily rigorous, requiring detailed written responses and personal video submissions. Ultimately, only 10 students and 3 staff members were selected state-wide.
It is an incredible honour to announce that:
Hamish Melville has been successfully selected as one of the 10 students! He will depart for this unforgettable journey on November 13th.
Mrs Loretta Shannon, Director Faith & Mission, has been chosen as one of the three supervising staff members to accompany the cohort!
Having both a student and a staff member represent St Mary’s on a global stage is a true testament to the strength of our College. Please join us in congratulating Hamish and Loretta, we have suggested that they leave a little extra room in their suitcases for the rest of us!
Supporting our staff while planning for the future
Currently, all Catholic schools are working through planning and budgeting activities for 2027 to ensure we are well placed to support our staff, students and school communities in the coming year. This includes looking at how we can accommodate the changes likely to flow from a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) with school staff.
We recognise the significant financial pressures many households are facing, and we are making a conscious effort to ensure these costs are not passed on through significant fee increases.
We will continue to keep our parent community informed throughout this process. As always, our focus remains on maintaining strong school communities and continuing to deliver a high-quality Catholic education for every student.
Inspiration on the Court: Old Collegian Gerard Murphy
On Monday, several of our students travelled to the State Hockey and Netball Centre in Melbourne to represent St Mary’s in the annual School Netball Championships.
Our students were fortunate to receive a special visit from Old Collegian Gerard Murphy (Class of 1998). After leaving St Mary's, Gerard studied Biomedical Science and Osteopathy while pursuing a deep passion for netball. A passion that was first ignited by his mum, Christine Murphy, who herself was a long-serving staff member of St Mary's College, working alongside Gail Davey as our library assistant.
Gerard's journey took him from those early days to representing the Australian Men’s team and earning Netball Australia’s highest coaching accreditations. He now serves as the Head Coach of the Melbourne Mavericks in the Suncorp Super Netball league.
Gerard is living proof that when country kids dream big and follow their passion, anything is possible.
We are enormously proud of his achievements and deeply grateful to him for taking the time to inspire our current generation of St Mary's athletes.
As today marks Australia Principal’s and Deputy Principal’s Day, I wanted to take a moment to share a brief reflection with you all.
First and foremost, I am extremely grateful to be a teacher and a leader here at St Mary's College. Teaching is my true passion, and I never take for granted the immense responsibility we carry in shaping and supporting our students and their families. Witnessing the incredible dedication of my colleagues each day, and seeing the profound, positive impact our work has on developing our students as people, is constantly rewarding.
I feel a deep, enduring connection to St Mary's, and it is a privilege to watch generations of families grow, thrive, and be educated within our community. St Mary's is a genuinely special place to learn, work, and belong.
Mrs Genevieve Gordon
Acting Principal
BAppScPE (RMIT), BExScHons (UB), MEdWellbeing (ACU),
GradDipCathStud (ACU)