College houses

Montessori House - Squadra Montessori

Maria Montessori - Italian educator (1870 - 1952)

Originator of the educational system that bears her name

Maria Montessori became the first woman doctor in Italy in 1896. After graduating, Dr Maria Montessori worked in a psychiatric clinic for unfortunate children. Through Dr Montessori's compassion and intelligence, she sought a solution to help the children. She observed that these children had no toys to manipulate or use their hands on. Dr Montessori also observed that children had a great sense of order. She always emphasised respect, for even the youngest. Her educational system, known as the Montessori approach, spread worldwide with Montessori societies, training programs and schools established.  She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in three consecutive years: 1949, 1950 and 1951.

Majella House - Squadra Majella

Saint Gerard Majella - patron of mothers (1726 -1755)

Italian saint, known popularly as 'the mothers' saint' 

St Gerard Majella was a kind and prayerful man of great depth and insight. Always seeking to be perfectly obedient to the will of God, he was a mystic and a reader of hearts. St Gerard Majella suffered ill health during his life and died at the age of 29. Expectant mothers, those who long to be mothers or who already are mothers pray to St Gerard Majella for his intercession. St Mel's Parish has a long affinity with the saint through its Majellan Club - a dedicated group of mothers who support each other and build social capacity.

Cooper House - Squadra Cooper

William Cooper - Aboriginal Elder (1861 - 1941)

Social advocate, founder of the Australian Aborigines' League

A leader of leaders, William Cooper was a mobilising force in the early fight for Indigenous rights. He spent most of his life near the junction of the Murray and Goulburn rivers, in the Yorta Yorta nation of his mother. During the 1930s his measured political lobbying was an important precursor to the more radical rights movement that followed. William Cooper believed that Aboriginal people should be represented in Parliament, and he continued to pursue this outcome despite disheartening results in his lifetime. In 1938, he lodged a personal protest against the treatment of European Jews in Nazi Germany. It was one of the first protests in the world against the Nazis' actions. 

Charles House - Squadra Charles

'Nanny' Nora Charles - Aboriginal midwife

Yorta Yorta woman, one of the earliest and most renowned local Aboriginal midwives

During a time when Aboriginal women were not permitted access to hospitals or medical professionals, 'Nanny' Nora Charles was known throughout the region for travelling up and down the Murray to camps and missions to assist in the delivery of babies. 'Nanny' Nora participated in the Cummeragunja walk-off and lived on The Flats on the Goulburn River located between Mooroopna and Shepparton, where she continued to deliver babies as a midwife. 'Nanny' Nora would later become a Shepparton resident, where she continued to support the local Aboriginal community. She died at the age of 89.