Alumni News
Celebrating a diverse and rich history of Catholic education in Bendigo since 1876. St Mary’s College, Marist Brothers’ College, St Vincent’s College and Catholic College Bendigo are the proud predecessors of Catherine McAuley College Bendigo.
Welcome
The Catherine McAuley College Bendigo Alumni program aims to provide meaningful opportunities for past students to stay connected through reunions, special events, sharing milestones, mentoring and social networking. In addition, our students benefit from positive interactions with our alumni, whether recent or more experienced.
We hope you enjoy catching up on the news and updates from this year, which has been a very positive one for alumni engagement. Please take the opportunity to scroll through the articles below or click 'Read more' to visit the Alumni page on our website.
We welcome updates regarding achievements and celebrations from our extended community.
On behalf of the Catherine McAuley College Bendigo community, we wish you joy and peace for Christmas, a safe, restful holiday season and every success for 2024.
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Welcome to the Alumni community - Catherine McAuley College Class of 2023
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Mollie Sandner Cup celebrates 80 years
Earlier in the year, our Intermediate Girls Tennis Team took part in the Mollie Sandner Cup, winning all games to claim the trophy. 2023 marks the 80th time this prestigious cup has been awarded and the 28th time it has been secured by this school. To mark the occasion, we have looked back at the history of the Mollie Sandner Cup and some of the teams who have brought it home.
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Maree Pearce recognised for outstanding contribution
Congratulations to Maree Angove Pearce (1987), Sports Coordinator at Catherine McAuley College who was awarded the Secondary School Sport Coordinator of the Year Award 2022 by School Sport Victoria for her contribution to and making a difference in Victorian school sport.
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End of CCB Uniform
Class of 2022 were the last students at CMC to wear the old CCB uniform, and together with the school community, they helped divert 347kg of textiles from landfill by recycling the unwanted clothes. Thanks to our uniform provider Noone and the textile recycling company Upparel, the redundant uniforms and backpacks were transported to Melbourne to be turned into fibre and used to make new products.
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Music Mentors
A highlight of the annual performance calendar is the prestigious Musician of the Year event. In 2023, our students were again supported by alumni who take a strong interest in the music program. A special treat for the audience was a performance by 2022 Musician of the Year, Grace Elliot, who performed Queen's Dreamer's Ball while the adjudicators were deliberating.
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Tim Ledwidge Memorial Medal
Once again, our Alumni came out to support the annual Tim Ledwidge Memorial Medal Vote Count which was held in October. It was wonderful to have nine previous winners attend, demonstrating the importance that these former students place on the award, as well as the connection they maintain with the College. Congratulations to Maggie Burke and Jack McMahon, the winners of the 2023 Tim Ledwidge Memorial Medals.
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St Vincent's College awards
Two awards are presented in the name of the St Vincent’s College Past Students Association to promising Year 9 students, to encourage them with their studies. The 2023 recipients are Brock Seiler - St Vincent’s Agriculture Award and Xavier Kirke - St Vincent’s Technology Award.
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JRS award
Last year, the annual JRS Award was presented to Chelsea Tobin (Class of 2022). The JRS Award is presented by artist and past student, Marcia King (1995), to a graduating Year 12 student who demonstrates strong talent in folio development and very high skills in the production of their final artwork. The award is named for art teachers Josie Lowerson, Rhonda Alexander and Sharon Cruise who inspired and helped ignite Marce’s passion for the arts. Marce King is a portrait and figurative artist, currently utilising drawing and painting mediums.
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Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct Completed
On Friday 8 September 2023, the Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct (MJSP) was officially opened after almost ten years of vision, plans, negotiations and hard work. This major project will provide much-needed facilities to the community through the joint-use arrangement and benefit our students for years to come.
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Naming of the ovals at MJSP
A significant part of the Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct development was the construction and upgrade of five ovals. To honour the legacy of the Vincentian fathers who were the teachers and sporting coaches at St Vincent’s College between 1955 and 1977, all five ovals have now been named after Vincentians.
- Fr Michael Howard CM: Foundation President of St Vincent’s College.
- Fr Thomas Finn CM: Final President of the College who took a particular interest in athletics and swimming.
- Fr John O’Keefe CM: Oversaw a major project to establish new sporting ovals and an athletics oval, modelled on Melbourne’s Olympic Park and was Sports Master for a number of years.
- Fr Walter Quinn CM: A foundation staff member of the College, originally appointed as Bursar and later served as President.
- Fr Kevin Canty CM: Coached the Under 18 football team to many premierships and the First XI. A spin bowler who played in the College’s senior team at weekends.
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Sesquicentenary in 2026
In 2026, Catherine McAuley College Bendigo will celebrate 150 years since the arrival of the Mercy Sisters in Bendigo and the foundation of our College. We would love to hear from our past students about what form they think those celebrations might take and if they would be interested in taking part.
CLICK HERE to have your say.
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Class of 1974:
49-year reunion (Leaving Class of 1973 50-year) Sunday 15 October 2023
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Barb Collins
50 years of teaching
Past students and colleagues gathered on Sunday 29 October to celebrate the golden jubilee of Barb Collins' teaching career. Many students of her first Year 7 homeroom - Form 1C 1973 attended and enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with each other as well as Barb.
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Barb Collins' Golden Jubilee: many past students and colleagues caught up over lunch at the Queen's Arms.
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Class of 1983:
40-year reunion, 11 November 2023
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Class of 2013:
10-year reunion, Saturday 11 November 2023
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SVC Hall of Fame Dinner
The St Vincent’s College 68th Anniversary and Hall of Fame Dinner was held on the weekend of 20 and 21 May 2023. This was a wonderful event and enjoyed by all who attended. There was a great atmosphere on the night, with many connections made and friendships renewed, Click on the links below to READ MORE.
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CCB Class of 1993 - 30-year reunion:
30-year reunion, Saturday 18 November 2023
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In addition to having fun, the Class of 1993 used their reunion to raise funds to support the College. They generously raised $938 which will be used to purchase uniforms for a family seeking asylum from Kuwait who recently arrived in Australia.
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CCB Class of 2003:
20-year reunion, Saturday 2 December 2023
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Patrick Savage
Internationally acclaimed violinist Patrick Savage (1991) performed a sell-out concert with Elyane Laussade (pianist) at Langley Hall earlier this year. The program featured music from Vienna to Hollywood. Patrick is a freelance concertmaster, soloist, session player and West End musician.
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Lilly Skipper
Monash Art, Design and Architecture Graduate Exhibition 2023 showcases original and dynamic work from emerging artists, curators, designers and architects. This year's exhibition includes an installation by Lilly Skipper (2019). "Lilly contemplates what it is to cultivate a practice of vulnerable disinterest in resolution, leading to a rushed fuelling of ideas, represented as immediate interventions that unfold in response to a site’s conditions of access, material convenience and situatedness."
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Kate Fogarty
Former CCB staff member, Kate Fogarty (2006-2008) has been appointed Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst. Kate was Director of Catholic Identity at CCB before serving as Principal of St Joseph's College Echuca, followed by Principal of Assumption College Kilmore.
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Matthew MacDonald
Matthew McDonald (2018) is completing his Master of Theatre Writing at the Victorian College of the Arts under prolific Melbourne playwright Raimondo Cortese. Matthew wrote and directed theatre works throughout his Bachelor of Arts (Gender Studies/Creative Writing) and is on track to stage a play about dying faith in a regional Catholic parish. He has continued his passion for Indonesian and was invited to Bangko Palut, a village in Lombok, where he supported children in their English classes. Matthew returned to CMC earlier this year to share his experiences with Year 9 language students.
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Mons Peter Jeffrey
At the end of July, Monsignor Peter Jeffrey (who attended St Mary's from 1943 to 1946) celebrated his Diamond Jubilee of ordination to the priesthood with several special events, including a Jubilarian Mass in Wangaratta and a joyful community event in Shepparton.
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Jacinta Allan
The Hon. Jacinta Allan (1991) was sworn in as Victoria's 49th Premier of Victoria in September 2023. In March, Jacinta visited the College to enrich Year 8 students' learning about politics in Australia and in July she returned to take part in the opening of the Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct.
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Tahlia Isaac
In July, Tahlia Isaac (2022) was recognised in the Premier's VCE Awards. Tahlia received top honours for her outstanding VCE results for Health. Current student Noah Layton also received an award for his achievement in Further Mathematics. The annual awards recognise students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in VCE.
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Holly Byrne
Wool-classer Holly Byrne (2010) is one of many young women carving out a career in the shearing and wool industry. She was recently appointed as the industry relations officer for Australian Wool Innovation. She took part in a panel discussion during the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo in July that shared inspiring stories of young people in agriculture.
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Margaret Hickey
Author Margaret Hickey (1989) released her next novel "Broken Bay" earlier in 2023. She was at The Capital Bendigo to promote the novel featuring Detective Mark Ariti, described as a 'chillingly atmospheric crime sensation'. Margaret is a previous winner of the BAD Danger Prize and a Ned Kelly Award nominee.
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Claudia Scott
Claudia Scott (2022) was selected in Top Class Drama as part of VCAA’s 2023 Season of Excellence to perform her solo on stage at the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne. As part of her studies in 2022 VCE Drama, Claudia researched, devised and rehearsed her original 7-minute solo performance based on the character Yuki Onna. Claudia delivered an engaging and symbolic performance that earned her top marks.
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From the Archives
This photo taken in 2001 to celebrate the naming of the Junortoun campus to La Valla (now known as Coolock) contrasts with our header photo to show how much has changed at Coolock. Students can be seen standing on the oval to spell out "La Valla 2001" and the effects of the millennial drought are also evident in the unirrigated sections of the grounds.
If you have a photo or memory to share, please contact the Alumni Office.
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Farewell Sr Denise Doyle rsm
In March, we farewelled Sr Denise Doyle, a former student and boarder at St Mary’s College. She enjoyed a lifetime of service as a Sister of Mercy and a highly accomplished teacher, including thirteen years teaching at her own former school, St Mary’s College. Sr Denise died peacefully in the 70th year of her Religious Profession.
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Farewell Sr Irene Elizabeth Monigatti rsm
Sr Irene died peacefully in Ballarat, aged 85 years, in the 67th year of her religious profession. A much-loved Sister of Mercy and teacher, she was the daughter of Paul and Peg Monigatti, sister of Mary, Margaret, Frank (dec), Sr Teresa Monigatti rsm, Joan, John and Kathleen. Her motto was “I know the one in whom I have trusted”.
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We remember
We remember and acknowledge members of our community who have passed away. Catherine McAuley College would like to pay tribute to members of our community who have recently died and extend our condolences to their family and friends.
To add remembrances or notify us of the passing of a member of the CMC community, please contact us at the Alumni Office.
- Norma Florence Wee Hee FAWDRY (31.12.2022) – SMC Proficiency Class of 1945
- Robert James PRITCHARD (December 2022) – SMC Class of 1963
- Margaret Teresa DRAKE (20.05.44 – 29.01.23) – SMC Class of 1961
- Judy Anne Bonazza GANE (26.11.1942 – 18.2.2023) – SMC Class of 1960
- Robyn Annette JAMES (20.2.2023) – SMC Class of 1961 (boarder)
- Desmond Patrick SHEEDY (26.9.2023) – First student enrolled at St Vincent’s College
- James ‘Jim’ Connelly KENNEDY 8.11.1947 – 27.7.2023 – SVC Class of 1965
- Birgit HUSS (8.5.2023) – Teacher of French at St Mary’s College 1976-1978
- Paul Francis MCNAMARA (3.3.1949 – 10.7.2023) – SVC Class of 1967
- Dean Joseph MANNES (12.7.1977 – 28.3.2023) – CCB Class of 1995
- Dr Madeleine ‘Maddy’ Grace TAYLOR (4.1.1996 – 18.8.2023) – CCB Class of 2013
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Alumni coming events
A noticeboard of coming events is maintained on our website. Click through for details of reunions and events.
- SMC Class of 1974
- SVC Class of 1974
- CCB Class of 1984
- CCB Class of 1994
- CCB Class of 2004
- CCB Class of 2014
Please note: reunion dates have not been set at the time of publishing this news update. A regular event noticeboard is posted on our Facebook page and website. If you are planning a reunion, make sure you contact the Alumni Office for inclusion on the noticeboard and for help with the promotion of your event.
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Stay in touch
To make sure you don't miss out on information about coming events, please keep the Alumni Office up to date with contact details. We also welcome details of Alumni news and achievements.
Follow us on Facebook: just click on the link and then like our page.
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