From the Principal

By Michelle Brodrick

Principal's Retreat in England

Earlier this month, I was able to join the Principal’s Retreat in England and attend the Loreto Global Voices Forum in London. All seven principals from Loreto schools in Australia participated. They began in Ireland focussing on Mother Gonzaga Barry and Teresa Ball, before travelling to York and London to follow the Mary Ward story. It was such a privilege to be led by Sr Sandra Perrett ibvm and spend time with the other principals. The trip culminated in an evening with alumni in London.  A student from each of the Colleges participated in a panel discussing their time at Loreto, what they are doing now and how their time at Loreto shaped them. 

The person representing Loreto College Ballarat was a student who graduated in 2012, Rebekah Leviston.  Rebekah studied law after Year 12 but then took off to Edinburgh, Scotland on a one-way ticket to find a job one month after graduating. She began working as a paralegal in a law firm in the specialist area of corporate tax. It was during this time that she asked herself how she could give back.  She had always wanted to support asylum seekers and refugees and began a charity in 2020 to resettle Syrian refugee families. This led her to transition to the charity arm of the law firm. It was through this that led her to work as an inhouse legal advisor for the International Rescue Committee in Berlin. Her work is in governance creating consistency in its values. 

Rebekah spoke of her time at Loreto and recalled being on the Social Justice Committee and how she remembered Mary Ward’s open circle of friends and how it is an open invitation to welcome others in. It was truly memorable to hear her talk about her memories of this College and how it has inspired her to think of others in her work. 

This is particularly apt now as our Year 12s mark the end of their schooling and think towards the future.  Last week marked their last day of formal schooling, which was celebrated with the Celebration Assembly, meeting with Year 11s to pass on ‘buckets’ of good will, lunch time garden concert and a beautiful Graduation Mass at the Cathedral. 

As the Class of 2025 take the next step, I wish them well and hope they find their path that leads them to find the best version of themselves. 

Plea Hearing

On 1-3 October a plea hearing was held in relation to the September 2022 Pentland Hills bus collision involving Loreto College Ballarat staff and students. Mr Brett Russell, the truck driver involved in the collision, pleaded guilty to all charges.  and will be sentenced at a later date. At the plea hearing, families, students (both current and past) and staff read their Victim Impact Statements. 

The College is incredibly grateful for the support of Victoria Police from the Major Collision Investigation Unit (MCIU), the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP), Child and Youth Witness Service (CYWS) throughout the three-year investigation and legal proceedings. We also want to acknowledge and thank the bus driver from Little’s Coaches.

Hearing the particulars of the case and the lead up to the collision was a stark reminder that the wearing of seatbelts saved many lives. It also highlighted the need for higher safety standards for heavy vehicles. 

It has been a long and very difficult time, and our thoughts and prayers are extended to everyone involved in the proceedings.