Liz Crothers, Paul Shire, MSP Photography, H Studios, Eric Sebastian, David Barker, Staff and Student photos and Loreto Province Archives.
Design
Narelle Mulrooney.
Print Revolution Print.
14
25
28
Contributions to Verity can be sent to:
Loreto College Ballarat
Marketing & Development Office 1600 Sturt Street Ballarat VIC 3350 or verity@loreto.vic.edu.au
74
Mother Gonzaga Barry and her nine companions arrived in Ballarat in July
of the Wall, Front Gate, Residential Wing, Administration Building, Infirmary and Refectory
St Michael’s Novitiate building constructed
of Loreto College Ballarat
1998
Anne Fry becomes the first lay principal of Loreto College Ballarat
2005
Little Flower Church purchased First Loreto Ring made
2012
Loreto College opens it’s first official Social Media account on Facebook
2015 Blessing and opening of the Mary’s Mount Centre
2016 Blessing and opening of the Mulhall Centre
2021
Pants and shorts introduced to the official uniform
The Little Flower Church is renovated and becomes the home for the VCAL/VCE-VM program
2025
150-Year Celebration Events
Opening of St Anne’s Wing Lift and redeveloped courtyard
1999
First Intranet implemented at Loreto College
1996 Gonzaga Barry Centre opened
2007
Year 7-12 amalgamate on the Mary’s Mount campus
2006 Dawson Street closes
2020
COVID-19 forces online learning, cancellation of all live events and wearing of face masks in class
From the Principal
Words by Michelle Brodrick
Mother Gonzaga Barry’s legacy was formally recognised in 2025 through her inclusion in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women as a trailblazer.”
What a magnificent year it has been, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Loreto education in Australia.
Throughout 2025, the Loreto Community has come together for major events such as the travelling exhibition and the 150th Mass in the beautiful gardens of Mary’s Mount. Loreto Colleges around Australia collaborated to design logos and exhibition pieces, perform plays and honour Alumni and the achievements of those who came before us.
This special edition of Verity is a celebration of our rich history – the memories, the people, the occasions and the transformative education that has shaped generations.
The year 2025 marks 150 years since Mother Gonzaga Barry made the courageous decision to journey to Australia, believing that to stay behind would be ‘unfaithful to grace’. Her vision and determination laid the foundation for Loreto College Ballarat, the first school for girls established by the Loreto Sisters in Australia in 1875.
Mother Gonzaga Barry was a woman of remarkable depth – described as having ‘the mind of a child and the intellect of a theologian’. Her idyllic childhood was filled with nature, song, games and prayer, and she carried that joy and strength with her to Australia. Upon arriving in 1875, Mother Gonzaga and her companions wasted no time.
Michelle speaking at the 150 Year Mass.
They began the work of establishing schools, echoing the mission of Mary Ward, who in the 1600s founded schools for marginalised Catholics across Europe. Mary Ward fought for the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) to be ‘unenclosed’, allowing Sisters to work beyond convent walls to educate girls and serve communities. Though the Vatican resisted her vision, it eventually prevailed, and 200 years later Mother Gonzaga Barry continued that fight for justice, education and freedom for girls and women. Her legacy was formally recognised in 2025 through her inclusion in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women as a trailblazer.
Thank you to the staff and members of the Loreto Community who contributed to this special edition of Verity. The Marketing Team, led by Kellie Rudlin, has worked tirelessly over several years to make our 150th events truly memorable. The creativity and flair of Narelle Mulrooney is evident across every page of Verity. Jayde Harrington continues to strengthen connections with our alumni, students and staff while coordinating most of the events.
Special thanks also to the Archives Team, Rebecca Lawry and Robin Scott, for their assistance with research, photos and memorabilia.
I hope you enjoy reflecting on our past and present.
Top Left: Michelle and Deputy Principal Christine Shaw at the 150 Year Gala Evening. Top Right: Kellie Rudlin, Jayde Harrington, Narelle Mulrooney, Kirsty Ridley, Michelle Brodrick and Vice President of the Past Pupils’ Association Sally Eastwood at the Gala Evening.
Bottom Right: Michelle with the College Captains Bethany and Isabella in the Loreto College front gardens.
Eva Cummins, Year 9, accepts the award in honour of Mother Gonzaga Barry at the award ceremony.
From the Board
But this year is more than a celebration of what has been. It’s also a time to ask: what do we want the next 150 years of Loreto College Ballarat to look like?”
Words by Melanie Robertson – Board Chair
Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future
This year marks an incredible milestone; 150 years of Loreto education in Australia. It’s a moment to pause, to honour the past that has brought us here and to look forward with courage and a sense of purpose.
The Loreto story is one of bold beginnings, strong faith and the belief in the power of educating young women. From those early days, generations of students, families, staff and leaders have given so much of themselves to build a community grounded in values and the vision of Mary Ward. It’s this shared commitment that has shaped Loreto College Ballarat into the thriving, values-driven school we know today. But this year is more than a celebration of what has been. It’s also a time to ask: what do we want the next 150 years of Loreto College Ballarat to look like? What legacy will we leave for the generations who will follow?
As Chair of the Board, I am deeply mindful that our role is to both honour the richness of our history and act boldly to shape the future. One of the most important ways we do this is through the College Masterplan. This vision goes beyond buildings and infrastructure. It’s about creating spaces where every student feels welcome and inspired. Places that foster curiosity, connection and a deep sense of belonging. Spaces that reflect the spirit of Loreto: open to the world and grounded in hope.
Of course, legacy is about much more than bricks and mortar. It’s about forming young women who are curious, engaged, confident and compassionate. It’s about ensuring that when our students leave Loreto College, they are not only wellprepared academically but also resilient, thoughtful and ready to lead lives of purpose, justice and service.
This year also gives us the opportunity to acknowledge and thank our Principal Ms Michelle Brodrick for her extraordinary leadership and dedication over many years. Her energy, vision and unwavering commitment to the mission of Loreto have guided our Community with clarity and purpose. Under her leadership, Loreto College Ballarat has grown in confidence and has continued to nurture the potential of every student. For this, we offer our heartfelt thanks.
As we look ahead, we take inspiration from those first Loreto Sisters who arrived in Ballarat in 1875 with courage, determination and faith. Their story reminds us that meaningful change is always driven by vision and determination.
As we celebrate this milestone, may we continue to walk boldly in the footsteps of Mary Ward, ever seeking truth, ever striving to do good and ever committed to the education and empowerment of young women who will lead and serve their communities with courage and compassion.
The 2025 Loreto College Ballarat Board
Farewell Michelle
In addition to our many 150th year celebrations, the end of this year will also mark the end of a significant chapter in our history as we farewell our Principal Michelle Brodrick.
Since joining the College in July 2020, Michelle has been a guiding light, leading with compassion, integrity, a strong sense of fun and a deep commitment to the values of Loreto education. Michelle’s tenure began during COVID-19, yet she quickly established strong relationships with students, staff and families. Her leadership has been marked by deep compassion, resilience, warmth and a great sense of Felicity and Justice.
Michelle’s wealth of experience from previous roles has been a huge asset to innovation and change across the College. This has ensured a strong and multifaceted commitment to inclusion and diversity and a progressive plan for lasting impact in both education and modern facilities for the next generation of Loreto learners.
Throughout her time at Loreto, Michelle has championed the holistic development of young women, believing in the transformative power of education, and she has worked tirelessly to ensure every student felt seen, supported and empowered to be their best. Her focus on the purposeful growth of staff has opened up many opportunities for agency through professional development and a collective understanding of a shared vision for Loreto College.
Michelle’s legacy is one of strategic vision and unwavering care. She leaves behind a strengthened leadership structure, a vibrant school culture, a strong and robust plan for the future and countless memories of encouragement for both staff and students. Her positive impact will continue to shape Loreto College Ballarat for years to come.
As she steps into her next chapter, the Loreto Community offers heartfelt thanks and blessings to Michelle, her husband Ric, and their children Olivia and Jack. May the road ahead be filled with joy, purpose, and the same grace she brought to Loreto College Ballarat.
We set out to be Captains that were inclusive and approachable listeners, creating an environment of long-lasting memories.”
As we look back on our 150th Year as a Loreto College Ballarat Community, we are filled with immense pride and gratitude to have been provided the opportunity to be College Captains in 2025, leading the College throughout such a significant milestone.
During this year we have honoured our past, celebrated our present and looked forward to our bright future together as a community. The focus of our 150th Year was ‘being faithful to grace’ embodying Mother Gonzaga Barry’s row of goodly pearls connected through eternal love and pride for the Loreto Community. Reminding individuals every day how relationships and encounters invite us to see goodness, to recognise graciousness, kindness and humility in ourselves and in others. This has resulted in regular reflection upon ways we can continue to nurture and support students to enthusiastically engage in all aspects of the College.
In the year of Verity at Loreto, we were called to ‘dare to be true’. We strived to empower all students to share their unique gifts, encouraging them to embrace daily endeavours wholeheartedly and live the example of Mary Ward – acting not out of fear, but solely from love. As leaders we strived to encapsulate this in our everyday approach as positive changemakers within the College.
From the beginning of our journey, we developed goals not only for ourselves as leaders, but for how we wanted students to feel among the College. We set out to be Captains that were inclusive and approachable listeners, creating an environment of long-lasting memories. We promised to be genuine leaders overcoming any hurdles or setbacks that might have come our way. We kept the ultimate goal in mind to promote Loreto spirit and pride, which is unique and unlike any other.
Throughout the year we placed a large focus on ‘servant leadership’. Embodying
the idea of Mary Ward’s open circle of friends. We created an inclusive environment where everyone felt supported and guided throughout their own unique Loreto College journey. Together as a united team we strived to ensure every student felt empowered to be whomever they wish to be, establishing support for those in need and ultimately aiming to grow the bond between students across all year levels.
The year of 2025 has brought many action-packed moments for all students, who as leaders we are incredibly proud of. This ranged from celebrating all forms of love on Valentine’s Day, filling the front gardens with laughter and smiles, to raising close to $3000 for the 4EK Foundation and watching a sea of purple run around the lake. In addition to winning the highly-anticipated Breast Cancer Awareness Netball game, transforming the GBC into a pink-filled competitive atmosphere followed by the Gonzaga Barry Day traditional celebrations, full of fun and sugar! We feel, together, we have achieved these goals and couldn’t be more thrilled with the amount of involvement, enthusiasm and positivity shown throughout each and every student this year.
We both would like to acknowledge the guidance and support we have felt from all the staff at Loreto College including Ms Brodrick, Mrs Shaw and the Leadership Team, along with our families for allowing us to be the leaders we set out to be. We would like to especially mention our Senate Leadership Coordinator Ms Slater. We have appreciated the time and ongoing endless efforts you have contributed to making our Senate the close-knit community we have become.
Thank you to our special Senate. We have loved and appreciated having you work alongside us this year. You have each brought something unique to our team, and your respective portfolio role, supporting us through this year, which has enabled our captaincy to be such a memorable and enjoyable journey. We can’t thank you enough for the dedication you have shown, and we will always be grateful for the friendships we have made. We wish the new 2026 Senate all the best as they start their new chapter in leadership, leading the College. We know you will all make incredible leaders, and we can’t wait to watch from afar and see what you accomplish together.
Best wishes to our 2026 College Captains, Bonnie Burt and Jemima Knobel, who have such exciting times ahead. These two girls fully encapsulate the Loreto values in their daily endeavours. We know the College is in safe hands and their qualities will help them lead with Loreto Spirit and passion in the Year of Felicity. We know that they will be inspiring and kindhearted leaders.
To the Year 7s, we hope we have made this first year at Loreto College a memorable and exciting one. We can remember our time sitting where you are now and we ask that you embrace and try new things, because time really does go by so quickly.
To every other student, we hope you continue to contribute to life at Loreto College and appreciate all of the privilege that come with attending such an incredible school.
To our incredible Year 12 cohort, who we have shared numerous wonderful times with. As we approach the final stop of this crazy roller coaster together and begin to look forward and embark on our futures, as College Captains we couldn’t have asked for a more supportive and encouraging cohort to stand by our sides during this final chapter. The endless memories made will be cherished forever, and we look forward to seeing and hearing about the terrific things in store for such a united and loving group.
As we approach our final days as not only Captains but as ‘Loreto Girls’, we would like to finally express our eternal gratitude to each and every individual for giving us the opportunity to serve Loreto College in its 150th Year. We can both honestly say this has been the most rewarding and wonderful experience yet that will remain special for many years to come. As we step down with full hearts, we know the future of the College is in excellent hands.
The 2025 Loreto College Senate (Top L-R): Caitlin McConchie, Amelia Burgess, Bronte Molloy, Tilly Stringer, Meg Clark, Sophia Dalton, Mia Quinlan. (Bottom L-R): Isabella Jungbauer, Ava Hirth, Bethany Ryan, Isabella Rossato, Grace Bales, Chelsea Templar, Summer Ottini.
Left: Evie holding the 150-Year badge for Loreto College Ballarat. Above: Lua Pelligrini.
A Nation United in Story and Spirit
Words by Narelle Mulrooney and Loreto Ministries
As part of the nationwide celebration of 150 Years of Loreto in Australia, a powerful and symbolic visual identity was created by Evie Davidson, a Year 10 student from Loreto College Ballarat. Her design was selected to represent all Loreto schools across Australia and has become the official branding for this historic milestone.
members of the Loreto Community to reflect on the legacy of Mary Ward and Mother Gonzaga Barry, and to continue building a future rooted in faith, integrity, and courage.
“The final logo incorporates the blue waters of Lake Wendouree, adjacent to Loreto College Ballarat, which was integral to the traditional owners, the Wadawurrung People. The seven clusters of stars represent the seven professed sisters who accompanied Gonzaga Barry to establish Loreto,” Evie explained.
Evie’s artwork weaves together themes of heritage, Country, and unity –encapsulating the spirit of Loreto.”
Evie’s artwork weaves together themes of heritage, Country, and unity –encapsulating the spirit of Loreto and the value of Verity that underpins the 2025 celebrations. She was mentored throughout the creative process by Lua Pelligrini, a proud Wiradjuri woman, artist, and Loreto Normanhurst alumna (Class of 2019), who has recently completed her Fine Arts and Indigenous Studies degree at UNSW.
Evie, a proud Dja Dja Wurrung woman, was deeply influenced by a workshop led by renowned Aboriginal elder Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, where she explored the concept of Dadirri – deep, spiritual listening. This experience shaped her approach to the design, allowing her to tell a story that speaks to both her own cultural identity and the Loreto values of truth, justice, and compassion.
Loreto Ministries described the artwork as a visual embodiment of the anniversary’s theme ‘Being Faithful to Grace’. This theme invites all
“The elements are brought together by symbolic songlines dotted with yarning circles throughout time, depicting the shared journey we are all on together.”
This national artwork featured across banners, websites, print materials, and celebrations throughout all Loreto schools, uniting the network in a shared moment of reflection, pride, and purpose. A badge was also created and distributed to every Loreto student nationally, with a special edition specifically designed for Ballarat as the founding College celebrating 150 years.
Right: 150-Year badge designs for Australia and Ballarat.
150 Years of History
Words by Rebecca Lawry and Loreto Ministries. Historical images supplied by Loreto Province Archives.
It was Mother Gonzaga’s view that offering girls a rounded education, including the sciences, would bring about reforms and improvements not yet dreamt of.”
Loreto’s Arrival in Ballarat
Loreto College Ballarat was the first Loreto school in Australia, established by Mother Gonzaga Barry and her community of Sisters in 1875 following an invitation from the Bishop of Ballarat to establish a school for girls.
Mother Gonzaga Barry had come to Australia from Ireland instilled with the educational vision of Mary Ward, who more than 400 years ago was committed to education for women built on ‘the qualities of freedom, justice and sincerity’. Mother Gonzaga and her nine companions were invited to come to Ballarat from Ireland by the newly appointed Bishop of Ballarat, Bishop Michael O’Connor. Bishop O’Connor wanted the Loreto Sisters to establish a school for the Catholic girls in his new diocese. The group left Rathfarnham in Ireland on 20 May, 1875 arriving in Melbourne on 19 July, 1875 and in Ballarat on 20 July.
Holding close her faith and these ideals, Mother Gonzaga Barry established Loreto schools in Ballarat vowing to ‘educate the whole child’ so that every girl, despite her background, was given ‘… a chance of distinguishing herself…’
It was Mother Gonzaga’s view that offering girls a rounded education, including the sciences, ‘would bring about reforms and improvements not yet dreamt of’. Her educational endeavours came to include two schools for girls in Ballarat, at Mary’s Mount and Dawson Street, as well as primary schools. From these beginnings, Mother Gonzaga Barry’s extraordinary vision and ability also saw Loreto schools established in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
The Wynne residence on Lake Wendouree in West Ballarat was purchased in 1875 for a boarding school and the Rowland house in Dawson Street was purchased for a day school.
East elevation of the original Wynne House, 1875.
This Ballarat foundation was to become Loreto College Ballarat with the amalgamation of Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount and Loreto College Dawson Street in 1978. Years 7 and 8 were held at Dawson Street and Years 9 – 12 at Sturt Street (Mary’s Mount).
In 2007, Loreto College’s junior and senior campuses were combined on the one campus at Sturt Street following the construction of the Mary Ward Centre – built specifically for Years 7 and 8.
The Mary’s Mount Centre (MMC – The Abbey Theatre), a performing arts centre housing a 500-seat theatre, music and dance studios, classrooms and multimedia labs, was opened in 2015. The building of the Mary’s Mount Centre provided space for the redesign and development of a new contemporary learning space, the Mulhall Centre. Year 9 students commenced classes in the Mulhall Centre in 2016.
Loreto’s Printing Press
Mary’s Mount once housed a printing press that played a key role in Loreto’s history.
Acquired around 1890 as part of the technical education program, the press initially operated in the Sloyd Room and later moved to the cottage. Managed by Sr Helen Margaret Mary Hughes, one of the founding companions of Loreto in Australia, the printing press became a centre of innovation. Sr Helen, who arrived in 1875 as an 18-year-old postulant, oversaw the production of pamphlets and booklets, honing this valuable skill as part of the broader technical training at Mary’s Mount. Under the guidance of Mother Ignatius Raftery and the novices, the press produced its first book in 1912, Meditation on the Passion, alongside countless religious pamphlets and Mother Gonzaga Barry’s letters.
Around 1937, the press was sold to Harry Brown & Co. Ballarat Printers, where it continued to be used for small printing jobs. Ernest Brown, Harry’s nephew, fondly recalled visiting Loreto Abbey as a messenger boy, where Mother Ignatius would offer him a refreshing glass of lemonade on hot days.
The printing press has since changed ownership and is currently owned by Vanessa Ross and located in Murrumbeena, Victoria. As we celebrate 150 years of Loreto’s history in Australia, we reflect on the significance of this printing press – a tool of learning, creativity and innovation that shaped generations of Loreto students.
Top Left: North East elevation of the original Wynne House, 1875. Top Right: Residential building added to the original house, 1882. Bottom Left: Mary’s Mount front entrance, c1902-1913. Bottom Right: The Loreto printing press.
Mother Gonzaga Barry
Mary Barry (1834 – 1915)
Mary was a much-loved child of a middle-class family, well educated in Loreto schools and capable and successful in her vocation.
She was born in Wexford on 24 July, 1834, the eldest of seven children, and grew up in Enniscorthy where her father was the first manager of the National Bank of Ireland.
Mary chose a vocation with her teachers, the Loreto Sisters, and in 1853 at 19 years old went to Rathfarnham as a postulant and was
received as a novice in February 1854.
Whilst still a novice, Mother Gonzaga Barry became Mistress of the Day School at Rathfarnham, and at 25 years old she was appointed Mistress of Novices at Gorey.
In 1867 she was appointed Superior of Gorey and in 1872 founded the Loreto Convent in Enniscorthy.
Only two years after founding Enniscorthy, the newly-appointed Bishop of Ballarat, Bishop Michael O’Connor, invited the Loreto sisters to establish a school for Catholic girls in his new diocese.
Chosen because of her experience and success in strong leadership roles and her charismatic personality, Mother Gonzaga Barry was asked if she would go to Australia.
Mother Gonzaga Barry arrived in Ballarat in 1875 with nine companions to begin a school for girls. Loreto Convent Mary’s Mount (Loreto College) was founded in the first year as well as Loreto Dawson St, a day school for girls.
In December 1890, Mother Gonzaga Barry wrote an essay for the school magazine, Eucalyptus Blossoms, titled ‘A Sensible School for Girls’, in which she defined the education of the whole child as follows:
...there is no subject of greater, perhaps of as great, importance to a nation as that of its women’s education”
‘First of all, some person or persons having ample means should endow a college that would be a kind of university for the education of women … Side by side with this, and on an equal footing with it, should stand a domestic college where all kinds of manual work suitable for women would be taught … Within the walls of this woman’s university, room might be found for a school of art, a school of music, an astronomical observatory, a chemical laboratory, a library, museum and gymnasium. The college grounds laid out in lawns and gardens would afford scope for the study of botany; whilst a small dairy and poultry farm would be an excellent practising school for the students of domestic economy. Thus our sensible school would eventually develop into a truly comprehensive university worthy of a great country and its women.’
By the time of her death in 1915, Mother Gonzaga Barry had established Loreto convents and schools in Portland, Hamilton, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, as well as parish schools, kindergartens and teachers’ training colleges. She was convinced that ‘there is no subject of greater, perhaps of as great, importance to a nation as that of its women’s education’.
Her vision for the education of girls contributed to a broad and rich curriculum which led to Mother Gonzaga Barry’s significant influence on the development of education in the country.
Today, there are six Loreto Schools in Australia and over 70 throughout the world. The Sisters also taught in more than 20 parish schools, opened the first free Catholic kindergarten in South Melbourne (1912) and provided commercial training for school leavers in Ballarat and South Melbourne.
In Ballarat, there are over 950 students attending the College with plans for further development to increase student numbers.
Above Left: The cover of Eucalyptus Blossoms and Science Class, 1909. Top Right: Graduates, 1899. Bottom Right: Graduates, 1901.
The Heart of Loreto: The Sisters’ Living Legacy
...their presence has remained deeply felt as mentors, spiritual guides, and faithful custodians of Mary Ward’s vision within our community.”
Words by Jayde Harrington
For 150 years, the Loreto Sisters at Loreto College Ballarat have journeyed from being the daily stewards of school life to becoming its spiritual and symbolic heart. From the pioneering vision of Mother Gonzaga Barry in 1875 to the continued inspiration of contemporary leaders like Sister Trish Franklin, the Sisters have shaped generations of confident, compassionate women.
In the early 20th century, the Sisters expanded educational opportunities for girls, building a strong academic reputation while nurturing faith, leadership, and a spirit of service. As society evolved, so too did the College, embracing a curriculum that reflected broader societal changes and increasing access to education for women.
By the mid-20th century, as the Loreto Sisters’ educational influence grew, the national Loreto network also expanded. The Sisters established teacher training programs, kindergartens, and additional schools across Australia, sharing their values and vision with thousands more students.
In later decades, the Sisters gradually stepped back from direct teaching and governance, entrusting day-today leadership to lay staff. Despite this transition, their presence has remained deeply felt as mentors, spiritual guides, and faithful custodians of Mary Ward’s vision within our community.
In 2025, it was a privilege to have the Sisters join us for our 150th Anniversary Mass in March. This milestone provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect alongside the Sisters on all they have achieved and to thank them for their continued commitment to Mother Gonzaga Barry’s vision, celebrated in the historic setting of the Loreto Abbey. Over the course of the weekend, Alumni and former staff shared heartfelt stories of the Sisters, recalling their warmth, their discipline when needed, and above all, their unwavering belief in each student’s potential to thrive.
Following the celebrations, the recent induction of Mother Gonzaga Barry into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women served as a formal recognition not only of her legacy, but also of the many Loreto Sisters who followed in her footsteps. This honour highlighted their profound and lasting impact on education and Australian society.
Though their roles have changed over time, the presence of the Loreto Sisters remains at the heart of our community. These remarkable women are more than believers in Mary Ward’s vision. They are the very foundation of who we are as Loreto people. For many, the Sisters are a guiding presence, offering not only knowledge and wisdom, but also kindness, a deep sense of social justice, and a care for others that continues to shape the soul of our community.
The Pioneer Sisters, 1903.
Standing: M. Dorothea Frizelle, M. Berchmans Stafford, M. Bruno McCabe.
Sitting: M. Boniface Volker, M. Xavier Yourelle, M. Gonzaga Barry, M. Aloysius Macken.
Front: M. Margaret Mary Hughes. Absent: M. Gertrude Quinn (died 14 December, 1882) M. Joseph O’Brien (absent from photo)
Anastasia Mornane at 18 Years.
Mother Stanislaus Mornane was born in Melbourne in 1858, christened Anastasia and called Annie by her family. In 1876 she began at Loreto Mary’s Mount, Ballarat, where she met Mother Gonzaga Barry. In 1879, Annie joined them as the first Loretoeducated Australian to become a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM). Upon entering the IBVM, she took Stanislaus as her religious name. After 64 years as a nun, she died in 1943.
Mother Stanislaus Mulhall.
Mother Stanislaus Mulhall, one of the 13 children in her family, was born in Carlow, Ireland in 1851 and christened Barbara. She was a boarder at Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham, Dublin, at the same time as Mother Gonzaga Barry. Barbara entered the IBVM and was professed in 1871, followed by her long appointment as Mistress of Novices, a title she took with her when she arrived in Australian in 1883. Following the death of Mother Gonzaga Barry in 1915, she was appointed Provincial. Mother Stanislaus Mulhall died in 1923 and is buried in Ballarat.
Antoinette Hayden at Normanhurst, 1954.
The Hayden family has a long history with Loreto. Laura Hayden, Mother Antoinette, particularly as she was a Principal of Mary’s Mount Ballarat and Provincial, or Province Leader. Mother Antoinette was a student at Loreto Convent Dawson Street in 1917 before moving to Loreto Mandeville Hall, where she was Head of School. In 1970, Mother Antoinette became the 8th Provincial of the IBVM in Australia. In this leadership role, she was a builder and a communicator, seeing to an expansion and redevelopment of the Mary’s Mount site. Soon after her death, the new library in the Mary Ward Centre was opened and named in her honour on 13 June 1975.
A past student wrote, ‘She gave much to all girls placed in her care; most of her gifts came from her inner sanctity, self-discipline and deep respect for the integrity of each person. She set high standards for a Loreto Girl, and her displeasure if we failed was not that we were failing her, but that we were failing ourselves. Her respect for us taught us respect for ourselves and for one another. Mother Antoinette was what she hoped each one of us would grow to be, a compassionate, concerned, committed woman.’
Sr Bernadette Ziesing.
A former Principal of Loreto College Ballarat, Sr Bernadette entered the Loreto Novitiate in Ballarat in 1948, going on to become Principal of Loreto Claremont, Deputy Principal of St John XXIII College and Principal of Loreto College Ballarat from 1981–1989. Her time at Loreto College Ballarat saw considerable refurbishments and modernisation of buildings and restructuring away from boarding and primary education to secondary day school.
Farewell to Sr Denise Desmarchelier, 1976.
Sr Denise Desmarchelier entered the Loreto Novitiate in 1955. She was Principal of Mary’s Mount (Loreto College Ballarat) from 1967–1976, also teaching Geography, French and Religion.
Sr. Denise provided leadership for the restructuring of the College and for extensive building projects. She held numerous leadership roles in education, contributing widely to the development of Loreto schools and the broader educational community.
Sr Presentation Marnell and Sr Pressie and the School Dog, c.1970s.
For more than 45 years, Sr Presentation’s smile greeted visitors at the front door of Mary’s Mount, and then she prepared beautiful tea trays for them. She was a special friend of homesick boarders, cheering them up with a biscuit and drink of milk.
Sr Mary Wright c.1977.
In 1977, Mary was appointed Principal of Loreto Mary’s Mount Ballarat, marking the start of a long and distinguished career in leadership and administration. Throughout her journey, she not only embodied the spirit of Mary Ward but also served as both Province and Institute Leader.
Loreto Sisters Maureen Burke, Tess Lowery, Jan Barlow, Elizabeth Johnson and Noni Mitchell Walk for Peace, Palm Sunday, 1980.
Sr Maureen Burke, Class of 1962, spent significant time in South Sudan working as a Maths teacher at Loreto Rumbek. Over her years as a Loreto Sister, Maureen taught a range of subjects including Maths, Physics and Chemistry at various Loreto Colleges and also in Diocesan Youth Ministry. Maureen had a passion for Pastoral Care and tutored disadvantaged women in English and other subjects to assist them to complete TAFE courses. She was the last serving Sister as Principal of Loreto College Ballarat in the late 1990s.
Sr Christine Burke Locking Door for Last Time at Dawson St, 2007.
Sr Christine Burke has been a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary for over 54 years. Sr Christine has held many leadership roles and worked in the areas of adult education, theology and feminism in the Church. She was Province Leader, 2005–2011.
Sr Trish Franklin at the International Women’s Day Breakfast, 2023.
A former student, Sr Trish Franklin ibvm AO, Class of 1968, has been referred to by many as a saint because of her total dedication to the poor and disabled, in her work in refugee camps and in Vietnam. Locally, she is also an adored Loreto Community Leader and inspiring contributor to our College. She worked in the Thai/Cambodia border camps, radiating hope to many refugees, and founded the Loreto Vietnam Australia Program (LVAP), helping over 90,000 poor, disadvantaged and special-needs children to develop a love of learning and gain an education. Her courageous work with LVAP implemented programs across eight remote Provinces where no other charities were operating, and saw her receive the Friendship Medal, the highest recognition that a foreigner can receive from the Vietnamese Government.
Sr Trish received an Order of Australia (AO) in 2005 and was inducted into the Loreto College Ballarat Women In Time – Inspiring Alumni in 2023.
The Loreto Sisters in Ballarat after the 150–Year Celebration Mass, 2025.
Our Leaders
Mistresses of School/Principals at Loreto Convent, Loreto Abbey, Mary’s Mount/Loreto College Ballarat
Year
1875 – 1884
1885 – 1889
1890 – 1895
1895 – 1902
1902 – 1905
1906 – 1908
1909
1910 – 1912
1915 – Sept 1915
Oct 1915 – Dec 1915
1922 – 1924
1925 – 1927
1932 – 1936
1937 – 1941
1942 – 1945
1946 – 1949
1950 – 1954
1955
1956 – 1960
1961 – Easter 1961
Mistress/Principal
M. Gonzaga Barry ibvm
M. Berchmans Stafford ibvm
M. De Sales Field ibvm
M. Bertrand Lalor ibvm
M. Margaret Mary Hughes ibvm
M. Barbara McDonald ibvm
M. Margaret Mary Hughes ibvm
M. Catherine Goddard ibvm
(M. Goddard was still at Mary’s Mount in 1913 so it is assumed that she may have still been Mistress of Schools)
M. Borgia O’Shaughnessy ibvm
M. Philomena Doherty ibvm
M. Magdalen O’Hagan ibvm
M. Barbara McDonald ibvm
M. Agatha Donnelly ibvm
M. Stanislaus Wright ibvm (Mary Lea Wright)
M. Bernarda Suffern ibvm
M. Judith Sullivan ibvm
M. Aquin McPhee ibvm
M. Clare Birrane ibvm
M. Antoinette Hayden ibvm
M. Thomas Aquinas Manion ibvm (Margaret Manion)
1961 M. Josepha Little ibvm (Josephine Little)
1964 – 1966
1967 – 1976
1977 – 1980
1981 – 1989
1990 – 1994
1995 – 1997
1998 – 2005
2006 – June 2020
July 2020 – 2025
M. Thomas Aquinas Manion ibvm (Margaret Manion)
Sr De Montfort Desmarchelier ibvm (Denise Desmarchelier)
Sr Mary Wright ibvm
Sr Bernadette Ziesing ibvm
Sr Diaan Stuart ibvm
Sr Maureen Burke ibvm
Mrs Anne Fry
Ms Judith Potter
Ms Michelle Brodrick
Mistresses of School/Principals
at Loreto Dawson Street
Year
1875 – 1914
Mistress/Principal
M. Gonzaga Barry ibvm
1915 M. Baptista Bell ibvm
1916 – 1917
1918 – 1920
M. Gertrude Mooney ibvm
M. Margaret Mary Fields ibvm
1921 M. Gertrude Mooney ibvm
1922 – 1923
M. Nuala O’Donnell ibvm
1924 – 1940 M. Aluigi Bell ibvm
1941 – 1942 M. Bernarda Suffern ibvm
1943 – 1944 M. Aluigi Bell ibvm
1945 – 1948 M. Andrew Bell ibvm
1949 – 1957
M. Juliana Coughlan ibvm
1958 – 1959 M. Canice Woods ibvm
1960 – 1963 M. Anne Carter ibvm
1964 – 1969 Sr Magdalena Hynes ibvm
1970 – 1975 Sr Jennifer Collins ibvm
1976 – 1977*
Sr Yvonne Lamerand ibvm
*In 1978 Loreto Dawson Street amalgamated with Loreto Mary’s Mount to become Loreto College Ballarat
Betty Celebrates in Style
At 99 years old, Betty Grigg is Loreto College’s oldest living Alumni and has attended every reunion since leaving school around 1940. She was especially thrilled to take part in the College’s 150-Year Celebration events. The weekend celebrations, especially the Mass were amazing, just overwhelmingly beautiful... ”
Words by Narelle Mulrooney and Michelle Smith (The Courier)
Previous Page: Betty with her daughters Gabriella and Elizabeth at the Loreto College 150-Year Gala Evening.
The 150-Year celebration meant so much to me. With my family making five generations schooled by the Loreto nuns. ”
In the months leading up to the celebration weekend, Betty prayed earnestly that she would live to see and participate in the milestone festivities, including the commemorative Mass and Gala Evening.
Betty’s primary years were spent at St Aloysius, which the Loreto nuns had established and taught at, and she then attended Loreto College in Dawson Street, leaving in 1940 to take a job as a post office telephonist.
In all, she had nine years of a Loreto education, and her love for the College has been a pivotal part of her life.
It has been part of her whole family story, with Ms Grigg being the middle of five generations of her family to attend.
‘I loved every minute of school but my report always said I could do better,’ Ms Grigg said.
Then known as Betty Gallagher or Forbes-Gallager, she thought the nuns teaching the classes were quite old, but later realised they were probably only 10 years or so older than she was.
‘I was always late for school even though I lived quite close. I was a naughty girl but I loved school.’
After moving to Loreto Dawson Street from St Aloysius, Ms Grigg would return back to her first school to read to the ‘bubs’ and help the nuns.
A few years ago in her retirement village, a fellow resident approached her and said she was one of the bubs Ms Grigg read to.
Ms Grigg has been to every reunion since leaving school, including the 100th anniversary celebrations in 1975 and now the 150th celebrations.
‘Every year, I would meet up with schoolmates, but they have all gone bar me,’ she said.
Ms Grigg’s daughters Elizabeth and Gabrielle also went to Loreto College at Dawson Street, but hadn’t attended many reunions until they started coming with their mum about 10 years ago.
‘She talks about it non-stop,’ Elizabeth said.
Betty was among 1200 staff, students and invited guests at the Mass on Friday 28 March – a far cry from the seven students the school opened with in 1875 after Mother Mary ‘Gonzaga’ Barry arrived from Ireland with her nine companions to establish a school for girls. She then attended the celebrations held on Saturday 1 March, including the Gala Evening where she was able to chat with other Loreto Alumni members.
‘The 150-Year Celebration meant so much to me. With my family making five generations schooled by the Loreto nuns,’ Betty said.
Betty with Loreto College Captains, Bethany and Isabella after the Mass.
‘The weekend celebrations especially the Mass were amazing, just overwhelmingly beautiful, and I was blessed to be able to celebrate these events with my daughters, Gabrielle and Elizabeth, who also attended Loreto College. The Loreto Girls (or ladies as we were called) were all so respectful throughout the celebration. A lifelong memory for all who participated in the true spirit of Loreto.’
Everyone who had the opportunity to talk with Betty over the 150-Year Celebration weekend were inspired by her energy and love for Loreto College.
We use Betty’s words to sign off... ‘God Bless and thank you, Betty.’
Betty with fellow Alumni Trudi Kannourakis at the Gala Evening.
Betty and fellow Loreto College Alumni gathered after the Mass including her daughters, Gabrielle and Elizabeth.
Seated at the Mass.
Betty Grigg during her school days at Loreto College.
150-Year Celebration Mass
Words by Jarrod Ryan and Felicity Knobel
The 150-Year Celebration Mass at Loreto College Ballarat on 28 February, 2025 was a powerful and moving tribute to our rich history and mission. Marking Mother Gonzaga Barry’s courageous arrival in 1875 to establish a school for girls, the Mass honoured her vision with reverence and joy in the magnificent surrounds of the College’s front gardens.
Alumni, current students, past staff, and present staff all took part in the celebration, embodying the ‘strong and sure’ cord that binds our Loreto Community together.”
Fr Justin Driscoll holds the Loreto College Holy Bible.
Dhurrung students entry dance.
Students carry gold cloth symbolising the triple cord.
Held in the presence of around 1200 students, staff, Loreto Sisters, Alumni and Community members from Ballarat and beyond, the liturgy, offered by Fr Justin Driscoll, captured the spirit of faith and grace that defines our Loreto identity.
The beautifully prepared music, thoughtful prayers, and symbolic rituals reflected the essence of our values – especially Verity, our focus for 2025. The storytelling of Mother Gonzaga Barry’s journey inspired us all to be people of courage and purpose, with students bringing colourful energy to the celebration through readings, prayers and movement that connected our past, present and future.
Mother Gonzaga Barry once wrote, ‘This set me thinking and wishing, our dear Loreto children were also a row of goodly pearls…I would string these pearls on a triple cord strong and sure.’
This triple cord – gold, silver and white – was woven through the Mass in many ways. From our Dhurrung students and First Nations Alumni performing a powerful Welcome to Country with the haunting sounds of Tristan Harris ‘Pancakes’ playing the didgeridoo, to the symbolic procession of students carrying the three colours, and the words of Mother Gonzaga Barry spoken by Ms Denise Dunne echoing across the gardens, the imagery was vivid and meaningful.
Music was another golden thread, with the talents of our choir and band complemented by the voices of past students Laura Fitzgibbon (2019) and Kate Robinson (2020) in the Responsorial Psalm and the beautiful sounds of Jacinta Dennett (1983) on the harp. Alumni, current students, past staff and present staff all took part in the celebration, embodying the ‘strong and sure’ cord that binds our Loreto Community together.
Above: Loreto College Captains processing the Cross to the Altar, leading the offical party.
Left: Narrator and staff member, Denise Dunn. Middle: Harpist, Jacinta Dennett (Class of 1983). Right: Tristan Harris and the College band.
The Mass was not only a tribute to 150 years, it was a call to continue the work begun by Mother Gonzaga Barry: to educate, empower and nurture young people with compassion and sincerity. It reminded us that we are part of something greater than ourselves, and that the spirit of Mother Gonzaga Barry lives on in every step we take today with faith, grace and blessing.
A Celebration for the Loreto Community
We came together as a Loreto Community to celebrate something truly special: 150 years of Loreto College. From the moment guests arrived, you could feel it was going to be a significant day. The front gardens looked stunning, and there was this quiet buzz of excitement as students, staff and Alumni took their seats.
It’s hard to describe just how much effort went on behind the scenes to bring the Mass together. The lead-up involved so many moving parts: our liturgy team, musicians, leadership group, and so many other students and staff working in the background to make it all happen. What made it so memorable, though, was how inclusive it was. No matter your year level or role in the College, there was a way to be part of it. Whether that was reading, welcoming guests, or simply just being in the audience.
As a Year 12 student, it was especially powerful to see the entire school united – from the Year 7s to the Year 12s –all proudly wearing their limited edition 150-Year ribbons. It felt like we were part of something much bigger than ourselves.
The Mass began with a powerful procession led by Dhurrung students and First Nations Alumni. The didgeridoo created a moving atmosphere, and the Welcome to Country was one of the most meaningful moments of the morning. It was a strong reminder of Loreto College’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and respect for First Nations cultures.
Fr Justin Driscoll led the Mass, and throughout it, you could feel the pride in Loreto’s long and rich history. What stood out most was that it wasn’t just about looking back. It was about celebrating how the spirit of Loreto lives on in all of us today. There were reflections and readings from past and present members of the College, and you could hear just how much Loreto has shaped people’s lives.
I feel so lucky to have been part of the special day. Out of all the memories I’ll take with me after I graduate, this one will definitely stay with me. A huge thank you to all the staff, students and organisers who worked so hard to make the 150-Year Mass such a beautiful and meaningful celebration.
Caitlin McConchie –Year 12 Liturgy Captain
Above Left: The Celebration choir.
Above Right: Students carry silver cloth symbolising the triple cord.
Right: Hana Nelson, Year 8, carries the new Loreto College Holy Bible into the Mass.
Left: Kate Robinson (Class of 2020) and Laura Fitzgibbon (Class of 2019). Middle: Dhurrung students performing the opening dance. Right: Students stand for prayer.
The Travelling Exhibition
Words
by Loreto Ministries, Ellie Cowland and Sandra Perrett ibvm
From Ballarat to Brisbane, Marryatville to Mandeville, Portland to Perth and between Kirribilli and Normanhurst, the Loreto network of schools continues to remain faithful to that founding vision...”
Threads of Tradition: A Tribute to 150 Years of Loreto in Australia
and South East Asia
As part of the Travelling Exhibition that toured Australia throughout 2025 to celebrate 150 Years of Loreto in Australia and South East Asia, the six Loreto schools and two associated schools have crafted breathtaking mannequin skirts that are a vibrant blend of Loreto’s heritage and bold vision for the future.
This part of the Travelling Exhibition draws inspiration from the Good Shepherd Sisters’ ‘Feminine Fortitude’ exhibit at Abbotsford Convent, which several Loreto Sisters visited during its showcase.
Each 10-foot mannequin with its colourful designed skirt tells a unique story through beautifully designed bands, honouring:
1. A tribute to First Nations cultures
2. Iconic buildings and architecture
3. Inspiring figures in the College Community
4. Creative expressions of each College’s identity
Beginning at Loreto College Ballarat on 28 February to 14 March, 2025, the Exhibition then travelled to seven other Loreto locations around Australia including:
• Loreto Toorak - March/April
• Loreto Kirribilli - May
• Loreto Normanhurst - May/June
• Loreto College MarryatvilleJuly/August
• Bayview College (Portland)August
• Loreto College CoorparooSeptember
• John XXIII College - November. Along with the mannequin skirt, each school also contributed a 30cm Perspex cube, interpreting possibilities of the future of their Loreto Community as they follow in the footsteps of the generations of Loreto Sisters and students before them. This component of the exhibit was titled ‘Planets, Pearls & Possibilities’ and was a homage to the Mother Gonzaga Barry quote:
‘Leave something behind on which others can build.’
Left: The towering mannequins dominate the Loreto College Ballarat Chapel Cloister as part of the Travelling Exhibition. Below: Three Perspex box designs.
The Loreto College Ballarat Mannequin Skirt
At the beginning of 2024, a handful of students from the Year 12, 2025 graduating class were chosen to create a wonderful skirt/banner design for Loreto College’s 150-Years celebration. We were all excited for the project, ready to help represent Loreto College Ballarat in new forms.
After completing a brainstorming session with help from our excellent teachers, Alessandra Bourke-Finn and Helena Spencer, we created a vision of a blue background wave, a nod to the beautiful Lake Wendouree we are
so lucky to be able to look at every day, as well as the blue in our wonderful Chapel.
From there, we painted the wave and started building the design, adding elements from the College itself, the local Ballarat community, Indigenous artwork from our Dhurrung students, lino print stars to represent the Chapel, the iconic front gates, elements of our College’s crest and many more.
While all the student’s artworks were very different, we used this to our advantage, mixing various art styles to create the wonderful skirt.
The project was so much fun, as not only did the girls explore on their own creative ideas, but we were able to grow from each other and create a wonderful representation of Loreto College Ballarat.
Ellie Cowland – Year 12
The Loreto College Ballarat mannequin skirt design.
Crazy Ideas and Creative Responses
150 years ago, Mother Gonzaga Barry possibly thought her superiors had lost the plot with a crazy idea – the idea to send her with nine companions to the ends of the earth! We know she had to be asked twice (as if not quite taking it in the first time), and would reflect many years later that this move to Ballarat cost her heart ever so dearly.
‘I suppose no one will ever know what it cost me to leave Ireland and my many Irish friends. It nearly broke my heart, though I was told by Superiors that I would not be sent against my will, I felt I had to do it, or be unfaithful to grace; and when Reverend Mother told me that if I had not consented to go, she would not have allowed any of the Sisters to go to Ballarat, I felt grateful to God who gave me strength.’
Nevertheless, she trusted and took that step onto the boat that would deliver the 10 brave women to our goldfields.
This year celebrates that first step and the millions taken since by others
across the country and nearby regions. From Ballarat to Brisbane, Marryatville to Mandeville, Portland to Perth and between Kirribilli and Normanhurst, the Loreto network of schools continues to remain faithful to that founding vision, albeit with constant creative responses necessary for the changing times.
2025 sees an amazingly beautiful Exhibition travelling this network, conceived as a crazy idea and birthed with creative responses from all communities.
In a letter Mother Gonzaga Barry wrote to her students in 1896 from Mary’s Mount, Ballarat, she highlights the esprit de corps she experiences across the network and her desire that individual and community talent find expression and appreciation within the evident diversity and without spurious comparison.
‘Certainly wherever I go, to Melbourne, Sydney, or Perth, I find dear old pupils ready and willing to devote their best energies to their Alma Mater, and whilst believing that their own particular Loreto is far superior to any other, they still will cheerfully do all in their power
to forward the interests of the Loreto near at hand. This esprit de corps is a pleasant thing to meet, and it is very noticeable in our young Australians. May they never lose a characteristic which is so evident a sign of a grateful heart and of a due appreciation of the pains taken with their education.’
The celebrations began against the backdrop of Mary’s Mount Children’s Chapel, with an Opening Eucharist in the gardens, the Exhibition in the Chapel, a play in the Abbey Theatre, tours of the Open Gardens and Archives, and spirited Alma Mater gatherings. These events echoed Mother Gonzaga Barry’s earlier advice:
‘Use your young eyes and store away pictures of all that is beautiful in God’s creation…’
From the oldest Alumni to the youngest new students, this milestone year has offered gifts and memories to treasure. Loreto College Ballarat, thank you for being Faithful to Grace for 150 years and for the many more to come.
Sr Sandra Perrett ibvm
Sr Sandra Perrett with Felicity Knobel - Loreto College AP: Faith and Identity, and students who designed the Ballarat Travelling Exhibition items.
Serious Business
Words by Loreto Ministries, Beatrice Robinson and Narelle Mulrooney
Serious Business offered audiences at the Travelling Exhibition a fresh way to engage with Loreto’s story.”
The play Serious Business, was part of the Travelling Exhibition that toured Australia throughout 2025 to celebrate 150 Years of Loreto in Australia and South East Asia. Each Australian Loreto school contributed a theatrical performance of the play.
The play, reimagined for this milestone year, blended history, creativity, and modern perspectives in a thoughtprovoking way.
In the opening scene, Mother Gonzaga Barry tuned to a student glued to her phone and remarks, ‘You seem to look at a lot of pictures.’ The moment is both humorous and deeply relatable, prompting the audience to reflect on the role of images in sustaining memory and connection. These ‘noble, beautiful, pure and good’ memories are embodied in other exhibition pieces too, such as the vivid Ballarat mannequin skirt and the whimsical box of Planets, Pearls and Possibilities, all created by students across multiple year levels.
Playwright Brigid Coleridge describes the work as an exploration of listening, presence and perception:
‘The connection between composer, performer and listener is integral to one’s capacity to hear, reflect and respond. Serious Business presents a unique challenge: one actor appears live on stage, the other exists only as a voice. In a world saturated with visuals, we ask – what happens when a voice has no face, no physical form?
How does this shape our understanding of presence, absence and connection?’
The result was an invitation to lean in, listen differently and embrace a performance that was as much about the audience’s attention as it was about the actors themselves.
Loreto College student Beatrice Robinson worked behind the scenes and reflected on the collaborative spirit of the project:
‘This year, to commemorate 150 Years of Loreto in Australia, we staged a refurbished and modernised version of the play first performed at the 100-year celebration. Serious Business was almost entirely student-run, with Alumni Alyssa Moloney (2022) and Sophie John (2023) directing. I worked on the technical side, managing sound for mics and Mother Gonzaga’s voice, as well as designing elements with the marketing team. Seeing it come to life on performance days was both entertaining and rewarding –it felt good to be part of something so significant and see what our combined efforts could create.’
Planned by LSAC (Loreto Schools Australia Committee) – through its inventive staging and student-led production, Serious Business offered audiences at the Travelling Exhibition a fresh way to engage with Loreto’s Story – reminding us that connection, creativity and shared heritage are very much a ‘serious business’ indeed.
Beatrice Robinson – Year 10
Loreto Open Gardens
Words by Narelle Mulrooney and Rebecca Lawry. Historical images supplied by Loreto Province Archives.
Nine signs were erected in the Loreto College front gardens as part of a self-guided walking tour.”
As part of the 150-Year Celebrations, Loreto College Ballarat opened its magnificent gardens to the community for a glorious morning as part of a self-guided garden walking tour.
On 1 March, 2025, a beautiful sunny morning was enjoyed by over 300 guests who were able to freely explore the grounds – enjoying both the rich history and the stunning surrounds.
As part of the self-guided walking tour, nine signs were erected in the front gardens showcasing various areas of the College and highlighting the transformation over the years.
Each sign displayed a historic photograph relevant to its location, accompanied by a QR code linking visitors to a website with additional historical insights and stories.
The following pages replicate the garden tour experience, offering a glimpse into 150 years of Loreto College’s heritage and the evolution of its spaces.
Welcome for Duke & Duchess of York, 1927
The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) stopped in Ballarat on Friday 29 April, 1927 for just one hour, however the Loreto Abbey students were determined to mark the occasion with a spectacular display of their art and music, organised by Lucy Kerley (student) and M. Catherine Goddard.
In 1927, the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) visited Australia. They passed through Ballarat on Friday 29 April, 1927, for approximately one hour on their way from Melbourne to Adelaide. In that time they visited the Town Hall and the Arch Memorial. The people of Ballarat lined Sturt Street to watch the royal procession pass, including the students from each school. At Loreto Abbey, Lucy Kerley (student) and M. Catherine Goddard organised for the painting of murals and decorating of the front gates in celebration. Large arches also lined the front drive, and student musicians played in honour of the royal visitors.
Loreto Abbey front gate, painted by M. Catherine Goddard (Loreto Province Archives).
Our Histor y YOUR FUTURE
The scene stopped the procession, as documented in The Age newspaper the following day:
A few seconds later the procession deviated, and momentarily paused to witness one of the features of the welcome, a magnificent display arranged [by] the reverend mother, nuns, and students at Loreto Abbey, Mary’s Mount, in Sturt-street. Lending itself admirably for the purpose, the old Tudor gateway was decorated with Tudor roses as the motif. From the parapet above the centre of the main arch hung the coat of arms of the Duke, while the design in the spandrels was a large Tudor rose, kept in position by sprays of royal blue columbine, similar designs filling the lower arches. The arms of the Commonwealth were held on one buttress. The lower portions of the buttresses was painted to represent an avenue of successful signs of welcome. Probably the most imposing feature of this unique effort was the decoration of the ten-foot brick wall which turns in towards the gateway. On one side was a picture of the entrance of the City of York, and on the other a view of Windsor Castle, with the Royal Standard floating from its tower to complete the effect. The students, with garlands of Columbine, lined the roadway in front of the Abbey, and as the royal car paused the students’ orchestra played the National Anthem. The Duke made acknowledgement, and the procession was resumed amid enthusiastic cheering and loyal enthusiasm.
ARRIVAL AT BALLARAT. (1927, April 30). The Age (Melbourne, Vic:1854 - 1954), p. 16. nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205802547
Loreto College Front Gates & Wall
Built in 1881 around three sides of the grounds. The original wooden fence was falling down, and the Loreto Sisters and their students were feeling ‘considerable annoyance’ regarding the ‘curiosity of passersby’. Designed by W.B. Tappin, it was built thanks to community donations.
The fence required some restoration works in 2011 and extra lighting was added to the front gate and fence line in 2024 to make Loreto College more accessible at night for after-hours activities, mainly held in the new MMC theatre.
Lights were added to the gates and fence in 2024.
Laying the bricks during the fence restoration, 2011.
The Rosary Way
To the left of the entrance is the Rosary Way. This is a walk to be taken while saying the prayers of the Rosary. The Rosary Way was constructed in 1981 with donations from Agnes McLean and other Loreto College friends and was modeled on the Rosary Way in the Aylesford Priory Gardens, Kent.
Archery Club, 1899
This photo is one of the earliest images of women practising archery in Ballarat, and was part of a broad physical education curriculum that also included tennis, basketball and calisthenics. The ‘Paddock’, beside the Chapel and Novitiate building, was also the site of the Infirmary and occasional livestock.
Physical exercise, including games, sports and dancing, was considered an important aspect of a girl’s well-rounded education.
Physical activities in early Loreto schools included calisthenics, croquet, tennis, cycling and horse riding, dancing, archery, hockey and basketball. The ‘Paddock’ (now the College oval) was a designated recreational ground, with only an Infirmary built on the site during the 1880s.
Loreto College students were some of the earliest players of women’s basketball (now called netball) after it was introduced to Australia in the 1890s.
Swedish Drill was a form of women’s gymnastics that was popular in the late 19th century. It emphasised precise movements designed to promote balance and physical health.
Tennis was a popular sport at Loreto Abbey, and was played at least as early as the 1880s. In the 1920s, two more tennis courts were built on the ‘Paddock’.
In 2025, students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sporting activities including AFL football, soccer, hockey, basketball, netball, running, volleyball, golf and tennis to name a few.
The Loreto College Ballarat Rowing Program was introduced in 2010, and in 2025 is a very successful program with students representing the College in local, state and national regattas.
The Loreto Girls AFL Team on the College Oval - ‘I AM LORETO’ campaign, 2021.
Basketball, 1901 (Loreto Province Archives).
Sweedish Drill and Calisthenics, 1898 (Loreto Province Archives).
Rowing in the Head of School Girls Regatta, 2025.
Lourdes Grotto
At the end of the Rosary Way is the Lourdes Grotto, built in commemoration of the Grotto in Lourdes where Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. A more elaborate two-storey structure was first built in 1895, and was moved to make way for the Chapel and rebuilt in this location. The current Lourdes Grotto was built in 1973 when the old grotto had become structurally unsound. It contains a small stone from Lourdes brought back by Mother Gonzaga Barry from her journey to Europe in 1894.
The Lourdes Grotto, 1915 (Loreto Province Archives).
The Lourdes Grotto after relocation (Loreto Province Archives).
The Lourdes Grotto, 2022. Top Right: Students gathering at the Lourdes Grotto, 2022.
Laying of Chapel foundation bricks, 1899
The Chapel, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, was built thanks to the generous gift left to the Loreto nuns by a former pupil, Countess Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich. During construction of the foundation, each of the Mary’s Mount students were invited to lay one of the bricks. The Mary’s Mount Chapel was officially opened and blessed in 1902.
The Loreto Chapel was long desired by Mother Gonzaga Barry, who wished to be able to replace the original temporary (and very small) chapel built for the College.
Aided by the generous donations of Past Pupils and the local community, a chapel was designed according to Mother Gonzaga Barry’s vision and work began on the Chapel foundations in January, 1898. Sadly, work soon needed to be paused when the available funds ran low.
That same year, Countess Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich attended Mary’s Mount as a parlour-boarder after spending time visiting friends in Australia. Although determined to enter the convent as a novice, she was encouraged to return home to her family for their blessing first. She died in April 1899 en route back to Germany, and in her will left a bequest to complete the chapel.
When construction recommenced, each of the students were invited to lay a brick in the foundation.
Visible in the background of the photo is St. Michael’s Novitiate (the three-storey red brick building built in 1895) supporting the St Michael’s Novitiate Bell on top and the original Wynne residence (the current gothic façade and second-storey extension were added c.1913).
The Countess (Loreto Province Archives)
Opening of Chapel, 10 December, 1902
Four years after the first bricks were laid, the Mary’s Mount Chapel was officially opened and blessed. Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, it was usually referred to as the ‘Children’s Chapel’. The children pictured below are the students who performed a procession around the outside of the chapel and school grounds, following the Mass held inside. White dresses and veils today are usually associated only with the celebration of First Communion, but were common dress for Mass in the early 20th century.
Building of the Chapel
The Loreto Chapel, or Children’s Chapel as it was known, was built between 1898 and 1902. The architect was William Tappin and the builder was George Lorimer. It is built in an English Gothic style with French influence. The stone is Barrabool Hills mudstone from near Geelong with white Oamaru and New Zealand limestone detailing. The inside of the Chapel is decorated in soft pastel colours with artwork and statuary donated to the Sisters by Ballarat and Irish families.
Opening of the Chapel, 1902 (Loreto Province Archives).
Interior of Chapel (Altar), c.1902–1905 (Loreto Province Archives).
The Chapel in 2018.
The Rose Window over the Organ Gallery depicts St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, surrounded by symbols of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The windows over the altar depict the instruments of the Passion of Christ. The marble altar features the Nativity scene as was requested by the children.
The interior of the Chapel was restored in 1999 through the bequest of Past Pupil Lucy Kerley, and maintenance is continued with a bequest from Past Pupil Eileen Macintyre (McGrath).
Today, the Chapel is used for College Masses as well as weddings for our Past Pupils.
The Loreto College Chapel in 2025.
Ella Pipkorn (Class of 2013) married Thomas Mooney in 2023 in the Chapel Photographer: Ebony – Pretty Flamingo Photography.
The Loreto Choir in the Organ Gallery - ‘I AM LORETO’ campaign 2021.
St Michael’s Novitiate Bell Fountain
St. Michael’s Novitiate was built at Mary’s Mount in 1892. The building contained cells (bedrooms), classroom and recreation areas. This building continued to be the novitiate for the Loreto Sisters in Australia until the building of the new novitiate at Loreto Convent Normanhurst in Sydney in 1956.
The novices’ cells can still be seen in the top storey. The roof had a deck where novices could have some private recreation and where the school telescope lived.
In 2025, the bell that once stood on top of the building is featured in the front gardens of the College.
Novitiate with dairy and windmill supporting the St Michael’s Novitiate Bell (right) (Loreto Province Archives).
Pupils with telescope on the roof of the Novitiate, c.1890s (Loreto Province Archives). The St Michael’s Novitiate Bell features in the front gardens of the College.
Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount opened on 29 September, 1875, one week after the Loreto Sisters took possession of the original house on this site. Within a month, 11 students aged 11–17 were in residence, expanding to more than 30 students in 1876. The students initially came from Western District Catholic families and later from across Australia, prompting the expansion of Loreto schools.
The original school building, pictured behind the students, was owned by E.A. Wynne and built c.1868. The Loreto Sisters purchased the property in 1875 (and later the field beside it) and moved in on 23 September.
The house quickly became too small for the growing numbers of students. In 1876–7 a wooden dormitory building was built, followed by the tall stone ‘Residential Wing’ in 1881.
A neo-gothic façade was added to the main house in 1914 to match the beautifully-constructed chapel.
First Students
Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount opened as a boarding school on 29 September, 1875, enrolling 10 students. A further 21 students enrolled in 1876, and numbers grew each year. The majority of students came from Ballarat and the surrounding Western District of Victoria, although later they travelled from all across Australia, prompting the Loreto Sisters to open further schools in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Boarding Life
Students slept in large dormitories, with dressing rooms (wardrobes and washstands) on the floor above. As the school grew in size and new buildings were added, senior students were given their own personal cubicles in a dormitory known as ‘Rue Celeste’.
Dormitory, 1890s (Loreto Province Archives).
Original Wynne House (South), 1875 (Loreto Province Archives).
Dormitory, 1890s (Loreto Province Archives).
Front doorway of original Wynne House, 2025.
Junior Students, 1901
Younger students pose for a photo with a variety of accessories, showing some of the broad extra-curriculum that Mary’s Mount offered. Students were encouraged to study religion, literature, mathematics and science alongside the arts, cooking, gardening, and sporting activities.
Mother Gonzaga Barry’s vision of education was that of a ‘Sensible School for Girls’, which would teach both academic and technical skills to each individual student based on her interests and needs.
From the beginning, Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount students participated in technical and academic classes, as well as physical education, music and the arts, and religious education.
Science Class, 1909 (Loreto Province Archives).
Senior Students, 1901 (Loreto Province Archives).
Our Histor y YOUR FUTURE
Academic Education
Students were able to study a variety of academic subjects to a level that would enable them to pursue higher education at university. The Loreto Sisters themselves were highly educated in the areas they taught: literature, languages (eg. French, German), Latin, mathematics and the sciences (Botany, Geography, Chemistry and Physics).
Technical Education
Mother Gonzaga Barry and the Loreto Sisters were interested in progressive educational ideas, such as the Scandinavian ‘Sloyd’ Movement that promoted handicrafts and applied learning.
‘Mary’s Mount, whose motto would appear to be en avant, so eager is dear Rev. Mother to keep her young people abreast with all the latest educational movements, now boasts among its environments a ‘Sloyd’ room. Lest this uneuphonious odd-looking word should puzzle our readers, we must explain that it is taken from the Scandinavian word slöjd, signifying ‘cunning’, ‘clever’, ‘handy’, and that the ‘Sloyd’ system of education aims at implanting a respect for work in general, even the courser forms of manual labor, and develops activity, order,cleanliness, neatness, and accuracy. Our ‘Sloyd’ room already contains a printing press, which has turned out some exceedingly good work, a washing machine, a cooking range – where our Domestic Economy Class prepare all kinds of delicacies – a sewing machine and in the near future we are to have there a class for wood carving, and another for fine art house painting and decoration under the supervision of competent artists, or should we rather say artisans?’ (Eucalyptus Blossoms June 1889)
Loreto students also studied music, fine arts and the performing arts. They participated in orchestras, created detailed tableaus and performed in stage productions held in St Cecilia’s Hall. Students also participated in Physical Education in a range of sports.
150 years on, students still engage in a range of similar subjects, with a modern twist adapted for a digital age. In 2025, every Loreto College student is provided with a personal laptop device to research and to complete assignments. Coding for computers and robotics are now part of the curriculum.
campaign 2021.
Cooking class, 1898 (Loreto Province Archives).
Art class, 1909 (Loreto Province Archives).
Dawson Street 1875-2006
Originally called ‘Convent of Our Lady of Loretto’, Loreto Convent Dawson Street opened in November 1875 as a day school for local students. The site was also the location of St Joseph’s Parish Primary School (1877–1985), a teacher’s training college (1884–1905), and the Loreto Commercial College (1962–1996). After amalgamation with Mary’s Mount in 1978, the site became the Year 7 and 8 campus for Loreto College Ballarat. Dawson Street closed in 2006 with all students moving to a unified Loreto College Ballarat.
Loreto Convent Dawson Street opened on 4 November, 1875 when Mother Gonzaga Barry realised the need for a day school for the town community. Originally the Loreto Sisters travelled from Mary’s Mount to Dawson Street each day, until the convent community was established in 1882. Officially the school was called ‘Convent of Our Lady of Loretto’, but was generally referred to as ‘Loreto Ladies’ College’, ‘Loreto Convent’, or simply ‘Loreto Dawson Street’.
1874 Ballarat, from ‘Ballaarat Golden City’ by John Reid and John Chisholm (1989).
Dawson Street (Loreto Province Archives).
In 1922 the South Wing was built, which included the front entrance hall, parlour, library, dining room and cells on the ground floor, and the chapel, classrooms and cells on the first floor. The stained glass windows were also installed. These are now located in the Mary’s Mount Centre, Loreto College.
Loreto Convent also included a school for younger students; this primary school was closed during the 1970s.
During this time, it was also decided that Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount and Loreto Convent Dawson Street would amalgamate to form one school: Loreto College Ballarat. Leaving and Matriculation classes had already been transferred to Mary’s Mount in 1958.
In 1978 the Dawson Street site became the junior campus of Loreto College Ballarat, for students in Years 7 and 8.
St Joseph’s School, 1877–1975
St Joseph’s, the local parish primary school, moved to Lyons Street in 1877, with the students to be taught by the Loreto Sisters. Previously it had been taught by secular teachers at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
In 1975, St Joseph’s was amalgamated with Dawson Street Junior School, and then in 1985 it merged with the Christian Brothers’ Primary School to become St Patrick’s Primary School in 1985, and moved to Drummond Street.
Training College for Catholic Women Teachers, 1884–1905
By the 1880s, the need for trained teachers in Catholic schools was increasing rapidly. Mother Gonzaga Barry opened the Catholic Training College for Teachers at Dawson Street in 1884. Trainee teachers were able to practise in the classrooms of St Joseph’s Primary.
The Prospectus stated that the aim of the Catholic Training College was ‘to supply efficient teachers for Catholic schools, by training young girls who intend to adopt teaching as a profession.’ Students started at the age of 14 and trained for five years.
The Training College closed in 1906 when the Archbishop encouraged a Melbourne college, the Central Catholic Teachers College in Albert Park (also run by the Loreto Sisters).
St Joseph’s students at lunchtime, 1974 (Loreto Province Archives).
Dawson Street Primary School classroom, 1951 (Loreto Province Archives).
Commercial College, 1962–1996
Loreto Commercial College opened in 1962, and taught classes in Typewriting, Shorthand, Bookkeeping, Business English and Office Practice to women looking to start work in the business sector. Subjects expanded to include Arithmetic, Deportment, Speech and Ethics. The College closed in 1996 when changes in technology, the increasing need for University degrees in Business, and the new two-year VCE course meant that the Commercial College was no longer viable.
Loreto College Year 7 and 8 Campus, 1978–2006
From 1978 to 2006, the Dawson Street school was the Year 7 and 8 campus of Loreto College Ballarat.
In 2007, the Year 7s and 8s moved to a new building on the Mary’s Mount campus, and the Dawson Street site was closed and sold.
Loreto Commercial College, typing lessons (Loreto Province Archives).
Students at Dawson Street about to embark on amalgamation to the Mary’s Mount campus on Sturt Street, 2006.
Students sitting on the front steps at Dawson Street, c.1990s.
Sports Day, c.1940s (Loreto Province Archives).
10 St Joseph’s Grotto, Memorial Gardens and Cemetery
Memorial Gardens and Cemetery
The founder of Loreto Sisters in Australia, Mother Gonzaga Barry, was buried in this cemetery in 1915. During her lifetime, Loreto was established in Ballarat, Portland, Hamilton, South Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. Mother Gonzaga Barry believed in giving girls a liberal education from kindergarten to tertiary level. She was at the forefront of education in Australia with her establishment of kindergartens and teacher training colleges.
Also buried in the cemetery are Sister Gertrude Quinn (c.1820–1882), who came to Australia with Mother Gonzaga, and Sister Scholastica Manning (1867–1886) who had only been at Mary’s Mount for two years and was professed on her death bed.
A memorial to a student who died while at school in 1890, Ethel Cameron, is also in the cemetery, as is a memorial to the Pioneer Sisters.
The statue of Mary is a memorial to the second Provincial, Mother Stanislaus Mulhall.
St Joseph’s Grotto
Next to the Cemetery is the little Cemetery Chapel, built in around 1882. This is dedicated to St Joseph for whom Mother Gonzaga Barry had a special devotion. The honour boards inside the Chapel list the deceased Loreto Sisters (these names are now recorded on honour boards inside the front building).
Mother Gonzaga Barry’s grave, 2000.
Loreto College Ballarat and Toorak students pay their respects on Let’s Connect Day (Year 7), 2024.
Students enjoy breaks in the garden near St Joseph’s Grotto, 2019.
Aerial of Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount c.1930
Originally on the far edge of the town, Mary’s Mount has seen the city of Ballarat grow around it. To the west of the Chapel is the Infirmary, surrounded by the open space and new tennis courts of the ‘Paddock’. Along the lake side is St Cecilia’s Hall, a space for music, art and theatre. Extensive vegetable gardens provided fresh produce for the nuns and students.
This aerial photo of Loreto Abbey, Mary’s Mount is estimated to have been taken c.1930, possibly as early as the late 1920s. The tennis courts that can be seen in the ‘Paddock’ on the northern side were built in 1923. An aerial photo of Wendouree taken later in 1934 shows all the houses built on the land to the west of the school.
The central part of the College is still clearly recognisable in a current aerial photograph. The Chapel and front façade consisting of the Abbey building and Residence building frame the circuit of the front drive.
Aerial photo of Mary’s Mount, 1964.
Aerial photo of Mary’s Mount, 2005.
Other Key Features:
• St Anne’s Primary School (Kindergarten) in the southeast corner, with a fenced-in garden. The Gatekeeper’s Lodge is just in front, beside the school gates.
• Extensive vegetable gardens filled the rest of the eastern side of the grounds.
• The low, narrow buildings beside the three-storey Residential Wing are the music cells. These were relocated in 1953 to make room for the new St Anne’s Wing, which was opened in 1955.
• Behind the Residential Wing is the ‘old’ tennis court.
• At the back, along Wendouree Parade (hidden behind trees), is St Cecilia’s Hall. Built in 1903, it would eventually be replaced in 1974 by the Gonzaga Barry Wing, which housed the library, science rooms and a hall with a stage and music rooms. This was in turn partly replaced by the Mulhall Centre, opened in 2016.
• The ‘Paddock’ (where the current school oval is) housed more tennis courts, and the Infirmary (an 1880s brick building in the southwest corner).
In 2025, many of the old buildings remain with the addition of a few more over the years, including the Gonzaga Barry Centre (Gym) 1996, St Anne’s Wing 1955 (next to the three-storey Residential Wing), Mary Ward Centre (Years 7 & 8) 2006, Mulhall Centre and the Mary’s Mount Centre (Abbey Theatre) 2016.
Aerial photo of Loreto College Ballarat, 2020.
Aerial photo of Loreto College Ballarat, 2015.
Aerial photo of Loreto College Ballarat, 2020.
The Kindergarten, 1969
The Kindergarten, run by Mother Brendan Regan, opened in 1941 in the small red brick building that was originally St Anne’s Primary School (1908–c.1920). When the Kindergarten closed in 1978, the ‘Cottage’, as it was known, was used for Religion and Drama classes. It is now the Loreto Archives Centre.
Just inside the front gates of Loreto College is a small building that has served many purposes throughout its history.
St Anne’s Primary School, 1908–1920
The building was originally constructed as St Anne’s Parish Primary School in 1908 for local Catholic students who could not easily access the schools in central Ballarat. A small gate in the wall was built allowing the primary students easy access to their school, where they were taught by Loreto Sisters and novices. The school closed circa 1920.
St Anne’s Primary School (Loreto Province Archives).
Kindergarten pupils, 1969 (Loreto Province Archives).
Finishing School, 1920s–1930s
During the 1920s and 1930s, the building operated as a Finishing School led by accomplished artist and teacher, Mother Catherine Goddard.
Kindergarten, 1941
In 1941, the old primary school building became a kindergarten. In 1962–63 extensions were added to the existing brick building to accommodate the growing numbers of students. Girls who graduated from the kindergarten became the first-day students at Mary’s Mount.
The kindergarten closed in 1978, with most of the equipment given to other local kindergartens.
The Cottage, 1978–2011
After Loreto Abbey and Loreto Convent schools amalgamated to form Loreto College Ballarat in 1978, the kindergarten buildings became known as ‘The Cottage’. At first it was used for Year 11 retreats and Religious Education classes. Later the building became a space for both drama classes and retreats.
Loreto Archives Centre, 2012 – present
In 2012, the buildings were renovated once more to become the Loreto Archives Centre.
Loreto Archives Centre, 2025.
Kindergarten reopens after renovations, 1962 (Loreto Province Archives).
‘The Cottage’, 2011.
The Orchestra, 1957
Music has always been an essential part of the curriculum, alongside other forms of the arts. Many of the Loreto Sisters were accomplished artists and musicians, sharing their skills through their lessons where students were encouraged to learn to paint, draw, dance and act in theatrical performances and visual tableaux.
A Loreto Education always included the Arts: Music, Dance, Theatre and Fine Arts. The Loreto Sisters who taught these lessons had extensive educations and experience themselves prior to joining the convent.
The 1901 Loreto Abbey Prospectus features several photos of the school orchestra and individual musicians.
In addition to performance arts, students were also encouraged to write articles, poems and stories for the school publication, Eucalyptus Blossoms
Mary’s Mount Orchestra, 1908 (Loreto Province Archives).
Mary’s Mount musicians, 1899 (Loreto Province Archives).
Our Histor y YOUR FUTURE
Music
Students were taught both individually and how to play as part of an ensemble. Music examinations were held at the College, with students achieving university certificates.
Theatre
Dramatic performances took the form of religious tableaux, carefully costumed and posed to depict significant biblical and historical events. Later, with the building of St Cecilia’s Hall, the school staged theatre productions that involved all students, from the primary school through to matriculation years.
In 2025, students have the opportunity to participate in all areas of music and performing arts. In Year 7, students are required to learn a musical instrument for one year and then can specialise within the co-curricular program. A theatre production is produced each year (in conjunction with St Patrick’s College) where students can perform on stage or work backstage in areas of stage management, lighting and sound production.
Loreto College Ballarat and St Patrick’s College production of Newsies, 2025.
Scene from ‘The Life of St Patrick’, 1905 (Loreto Province Archives).
Controls in the Bio Box – Lighting and Sound design, 2022. The senior band at the Mid-Year Music Showcase, 2023.
Cast of ‘Pied Piper’, 1957 (Loreto Province Archives).
Mary Ward Statue
Upon entering the College through the front gate, you are greeted by a cast bronze sculpture of Mary Ward, the founder of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Irish foundations of which are known as Loreto.
Mary Ward was a 17th Century Yorkshire woman who lived during the period of Catholic persecution. She went to St Omer in Northern France and established the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1609, also known as the Loreto Sisters.
In Europe, torn by religious division where individuals were defined by their faith, her strength lay in her belief that women had ‘direct and open access to God’. Her ideal of an active congregation of religious women governing themselves was too advanced for the Church at the time. Her work was suppressed and she herself denounced as a heretic. No charges were ever brought, but she remained under the shadow of the Inquisition.
Her vision was to establish a community of self-governing women free from the traditional cloister with a mission to educate girls in the spirit of ‘freedom, justice and sincerity’.
Unofficially, her Institute continued and was finally recognised by the Church in 1877.
The sculpture was created by Melissa Judge and installed at Ballarat at the beginning of the school year in 2008. Each Loreto school in Australia now has the same Mary Ward sculpture.
Since 2009, the Loreto Australia schools participate each year in a program called Mary Ward Connect – an opportunity for Year 10 students to connect with fellow Loreto pupils from around the country. The program offers students the chance to share in the kindred spirit of Mary Ward and the legacy she has left for us all.
Students inspect the new Statue, 2008.
Students from varying Loreto schools gather at the Ballarat Mary Ward Statue as part of Mary Ward Connect, 2023.
Ballarat students gather at the Coorparoo Mary Ward Statue as part of Mary Ward Connect, 2023.
The Mary Ward Statue unveiling ceremony, 2008.
Loreto Reunions
On 1 March, we hosted our 2025 Reunions.
It was a fabulous day for our 2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 (Dawson St ) year reunion Alumni, inlcuding a special staff reunion, to reconnect, explore the College and see how it has changed over the years. Over 200 class-mates and exstaff members returned for this special event, to enjoy a glass of bubbles in our front gardens and reminisce about old times. It was fantastic to see so much laughter throughout the day and everyone having a great time catching up.
CLASS OF 1975
CLASS OF
CLASS
CLASS
150-Year Celebration Gala Evening
Words by Faith White
On Saturday 1 March, the Loreto College Past Pupils’ Association proudly hosted our 150-Year Gala Cocktail Evening at the historic Mining Exchange in Ballarat.
Old friends reunited, cherished memories were shared, and together we honoured the history and connectedness of our Community.”
We were delighted to welcome Past Pupils, current and former staff, families, and friends of Loreto College Ballarat, who filled the venue with warmth, laughter, and the Loreto Spirit.
Old friends reunited, cherished memories were shared, and together we honoured the history and connectedness of our Community. The evening was expertly emceed by Erin Gordon (Class of 2001), and the venue was buzzing with excitement as guests enjoyed performances by Freya (current student) & Tom McGowan, Motor City Sounds, and the Loreto Choir led by Simone Jans, whose nostalgic renditions of ‘Queen of Loreto’, ‘Cruci Dum Spiro Fido’, ‘Holiday Hymn’, and ‘She’ had the crowd singing along and reliving treasured moments.
This memorable night would not have been possible without the generous support of our wonderful suppliers. Our heartfelt thanks go to Angie Tasic (Class of 1995) for transforming the venue with beautiful theming; Shay McInerney (Class of 1992) for capturing the evening through stunning photography; Tracey Charlton for the delicious catering, assisted by our hardworking Loreto College students; Brian Taylor for supplying the drinks;
SLC – Sound & Light Concepts for the production; Bespoke Balloons; and our ever-reliable security guard, Julian Prendergast. Your contributions helped make the night truly unforgettable.
I would especially like to thank our Past Pupils’ Association Committee for their tireless effort in bringing this event to life over many, many months.
Faith White – President, Past Pupils’ Association
The oval came alive with activities, games, and stalls organised to raise funds for Mary Ward International Australia.”
GB Day
Words by Felicity Knobel
As part of our 150-Year Celebrations at Loreto College Ballarat, we continue to honour the remarkable woman whose vision shaped our College and the Loreto network across Australia – Mother Gonzaga Barry.
Mother Gonzaga Barry Day focuses on our partnership with Mary Ward International. We at Loreto College Ballarat are privileged to receive a Loreto education. On this day every year we raise money so that the Loreto Sisters can continue this mission throughout the world. We continue to work closely with Mary Ward International. The women and children that benefit from this work are all considered to be Loreto People, and we are focused on ensuring that many more people benefit from being part of the Loreto Community.
Our day began with a Mass celebrated by Fr Justin Driscoll. Fr Justin is a great friend of Loreto College, and he spoke of the enduring legacy and spirit of Mother Gonzaga Barry and her nine companions. In our 150th year, we have spoken about ‘leaving something behind upon which others can build’. We are asking all in our community to think beyond ourselves in the here and now, and look to the future of Loreto College Ballarat and ultimately outside our gates as we constantly strive to work towards the common good.
This year’s celebrations carried a special anniversary theme: ‘150 Years on the Screen’. Students embraced the fun wholeheartedly, dressing up as iconic characters from film and television, filling the school with colour, laughter, and creativity. The oval came alive with
activities, games and stalls organised to raise funds for Mary Ward International Australia. Our success this year was due to the generosity of our students and families as we raised nearly $13,000 through our newly-initiated Loreto Wristband that gave our students full access to all activities throughout the day. The money raised is significantly larger than last year, this money will go to a variety of projects that are much in need throughout the world that you can read about in the Mary Ward International Sustain magazine. mwia.org.au/sustain-magazine/ Gonzaga Barry Day is a day of much fun, colour, laughter, noise, music, great food and plenty of sugar. It is a day that will be remembered by our students in the years to come. We are people that bring sincerity, freedom, verity, justice and we can do these things by also being a community that celebrates the value of felicity.
As we celebrate 150 years of Loreto education, we honour Mother Gonzaga Barry for being faithful to grace, to saying yes to coming to Ballarat. Mother Gonzaga Barry wanted her students’ horizons to stretch beyond the here and now – to imagine and help create a world of wholeness, compassion, and justice. On Gonzaga Barry Day 2025, we did just that.
A Living Legacy
...the tree planting is a reflection and commitment to our ecological stewardship, something Mother Gonzaga Barry demonstrated throughout her life.”
Words by Christine Shaw
The Loreto Schools Australia Committee decided that every Loreto school would plant a tree in 2025 as part of the 150th anniversary to celebrate not only our rich history, but also as a commitment to a flourishing future.
Aligning with the principles of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on care for our common home, the tree planting is a reflection and commitment to our ecological stewardship, something Mother Gonzaga Barry demonstrated throughout her life. She was a very strong lover of nature and cared for the earth.
‘We know from her diary that she carried with her from Ireland, a Yew Tree, a Strawberry tree and a small garden box of seedlings which no doubt were planted here in the Ballarat gardens. All her writings, and especially her letters to her dearest children, reference what she was seeing all around her in nature. No doubt the Australian
sounds, smells and sights were very different to Ireland.’ Words adapted from the Liturgy provided to all schools by Sr Sandra Perrett ibvm
Year 12s planted the Dwarf Yellow Bloodwood (Corymbia eximia nana) which was blessed by Fr Justin Driscoll in our Mass on Gonzaga Barry Day, in the southwest corner of the MMC. The event and Liturgy honoured the pioneering spirit of Mother Gonzaga Barry and the Loreto Sisters who arrived in Ballarat in 1875, and the strong belief in the beauty and sacred nature of all living things, especially plants and trees.
2025 Women in Time
In 2025 we once again celebrate three truly inspiring women at our annual Women’s Day Breakfast.”
Words by Jayde Harrington
As we wrapped up our 150-Year Celebration Weekend, it wasn’t long before we celebrated another momentous occasion at our annual International Women’s Day Breakfast. Within this significant year, we had the honour of inducting three more incredible Alumni to our Women in Time - Inspiring Alumni initiative. Collectively, these three graduates have had a significant impact on the community and more broadly, society.
Championing Leadership and Representation
The Hon. Mary Delahunty GAICD (Class of 1968) has carved a remarkable path in journalism, government, and advocacy. Beginning her journey as a boarder at Loreto College, she went on to become an award-winning ABC journalist and television presenter, best known for leading the news and current affairs programs ‘The 7.30 Report’ and ‘Four Corners’, where she received the prestigious Gold Walkley Award for her international reporting.
Her journalism career then took her into public service, where she served for seven years as a Victorian state
– Inspiring Alumni
government minister in senior portfolios. Mary saw this time as a tremendous privilege where she carried significant executive responsibility and a high-level media profile as Minister for Education (1999 – 2002). She is Victoria’s longest serving Arts Minister (1999 – 2006) and the first female Planning Minister (2002 – 2005).
In addition to this, Mary is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an experienced Board Director, running her own communications and strategy business. She is a mentor and facilitator for the AICD’S Director Nexus program and chairs Central Highland Rural Health and the country’s only women’s museum, Her Place: Women’s Museum Australia, which she co-founded in 2014.
Mary has also found the time to be a published author, her second book Gravity: Inside the PM’s Office During Her Last Year and Final Days was published in 2013.
Above Left: the 2025 Women in Time Inductees, Anna Pipkorn, Marea Breisch, Bonnie Burt and Mary Delahunty.
Above Right: Mary Delahunty with College Captain Bethany Ryan and Assistant Principal: Faith and Identity, Felicity Knobel.
In 2002, Mary was awarded the Centenary medal for services to Government.
When reflecting on her time at Loreto College, Mary recalled how the influence of strong female leadership shaped her own values:
‘What shaped me here was an understanding that women should lead, that women can do anything they set out to do, provided they do the work beforehand.’
At our International Women’s Day Breakfast, we were proud to honour Mary for her outstanding contributions to society in the categories of Community Service Leadership and Academic & Professional Excellence.
Redefining the Fashion Industry
Anna Pipkorn (Class of 2010) has become a creative force in the Australian fashion landscape and is the founder of one of Australia’s emerging fashion brands, Lovaan. After graduating from Loreto College in 2010, she studied a Bachelor of Fashion Design at RMIT University, achieving first-class honours and receiving the Forever New Scholarship, which launched her career as a womenswear designer.
Her path took her to London, where she worked for a major high-street retailer and before taking on a careerdefining role at a sustainability-focused start-up, both experiences that shaped her approach to fashion and her drive to challenge fast-fashion norms.
Returning to Melbourne in 2022, Anna co-founded Lovaan, a premium womenswear brand built on timeless designs, sustainability, and quality garments. Anna partnered with four UK-based industry visionaries to address a gap in the premium womenswear market. Under her leadership as Founder and Creative Director, Lovaan has secured global stockists, celebrity endorsements, and a growing reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting labels based in Prahran, Melbourne. It was for this innovation and drive that Anna was recognised in the category of Young Achiever and Entrepreneur.
This year, Anna also received the Melbourne Fashion Festival’s People’s Choice Award. Lovaan continues to be celebrated for its innovative contributions to Australian fashion, commitment to sustainability, and distinct market presence, driven by Anna’s creative vision and leadership.
Courage, Creativity and Resilience
Marea Breisch nee McMahon (Class of 1971) embodies resilience and the power of art to heal. As an accomplished teacher and artist, Marea is an inspiration to all who know her. Her love of teaching art and for developing the talents of her VCE students led her to run a drop-in centre where her students would often spend their lunch breaks making creative pieces. However, Marea’s life changed dramatically following a devastating accident in 1995 where Marea required life-saving surgery. Doctors removed her left temporal lobe, the brain’s language centre. Against all odds, Marea survived; however, her injuries left her with an acquired brain injury.
Though her injuries prevented her from teaching, Marea turned to her own creativity as a source of recovery. Fortunately, the right side of her brain, where the artistic side is centred, was largely unaffected. With determination, she relearned how to walk and talk and began painting again.
Her works have since been exhibited, sold, and awarded, becoming a testament to her spirit and artistic vision. At this year’s Breakfast, Marea was inducted into both Arts & Cultural Excellence and the prestigious Verity Award, recognising not only her artistic achievements but also her extraordinary courage and perseverance.
Through her art, she has reclaimed her identity and found purpose in her transformed life, facing challenges with courage and a relentless determination. Her message to students is clear: always give your best effort, no matter what your goals may be.
This year’s inductees, Mary, Anna, and Marea, all represent the depth and diversity of our College Alumni. Each has embodied the values of courage, creativity, leadership, and service, leaving an impact that extends far beyond their time at Loreto College Ballarat.
Watch the full interviews with our 2025 inductees here: LINK
Their stories remind us that Loreto College Ballarat graduates truly do go on to shape the world, in ways both bold and deeply personal.
Anna at the Breakfast.
Marea at the Breakfast.
2025 Student Award
As part of our Breakfast, we always look forward to celebrating one of our current students with the Women in Time – Student Award. Sponsored by past Women in Time Inductees, this award aims to recognise and encourage a senior student who exemplifies the vision of Mary Ward throughout their journey at Loreto College.
This year’s well-deserved recipient is Bonnie Burt, a Year 11 student who has made significant contributions across many areas of the College, all while maintaining a positive attitude and uplifting those around her.
During her time at Loreto College, Bonnie has earned the Mary Ward Prize, Endeavour Award, and Ward House Award. She has been actively involved in the performing arts as a member of the Loreto Blues Choir and has participated enthusiastically in a variety of cocurricular sports. Beyond the College Community, Bonnie is dedicated to making a difference, volunteering for the Ballarat Foundation’s Run for a Cause and the 150th Gala Evening hosted by the Past Pupils’ Association.
Bonnie is a tremendous asset to the Loreto College Community and a truly deserving recipient of the 2025 Women in Time Student Award.
More recently, Bonnie Burt has been elected as a 2026 College Captain, and we look forward to following her future achievements and all she will accomplish.
Continuing the Legacy – Nominate now for 2026
Is there someone you know who deserves special recognition for their positive impact on society since leaving Loreto College Ballarat? We want to celebrate their achievements!
Nominations for 2026 are now open in the following categories:
• Arts and Cultural Excellence
• Sporting Excellence
• Community Service Leadership
• Religious and Social Justice Leadership
• STEAM & Innovation Excellence
• Young Achiever & Entrepreneur
• Verity Award
To learn more about these categories or to nominate someone you know, please visit www.loreto.vic.edu.au/alumni/women-in-time for more information.
Above: Alumni Ebony Monson (Class of 2010), with the 2025 Student Award recipient, Bonnie Burt.
Graduates line the isles of St Patrick’s Cathedral wearing their flower crowns, 2023.
Our Histor y YOUR FUTURE
Jubilee Flower Crowns
Our Jubilee crowns that will be given to our graduates this year have a long history. They were traditionally given to Sisters reaching significant anniversaries. Sisters were presented with a crown of flowers and a staff to represent their achievements of age and wisdom. This tradition didn’t come from Ireland and therefore must have been an innovation by Mother Gonzaga Barry with the first mention in the school magazine Eucalyptus Blossoms in December, 1887.
Traditionally Loreto College students who had been students for seven years would become the student Jubilarian at the end of the year and were crowned at a Jubilee ceremony. The first mention of jubilarians being crowned with a floral wreath was made in Eucalyptus Blossoms in 1910.
In 1966, the Provincial (Province Leader) considered altering the requirements to achieve the all-important Jubilee as it was becoming out of many people’s grasp. She proposed that it be focused on the group of school leavers as a whole. Therefore in 1966, Jubilarians came to include those who had been to Loreto parish primary schools, those who came to Dawson and those who were six years as boarders.
In 2025, any student who graduates Year 12 at Loreto College Ballarat will participate in the end-of-year Graduation Mass ceremony held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, and will proudly wear their Jubilee Flower Crown. They will also receive a special graduation candle that is lit and carried during the Mass.
Jubilarians wearing the flower crown, 1962.
Principal Judith Potter placing the crown on the head of a graduate, 2017.
Hand made crowns, 1972.
Graduates wearing the flower crown and holding their candles, 2024.
Words by Rebecca Lawry.
The Loreto Ring
Words by Gary Martin – Loreto Ring
The first Loreto College Ring I made was back in 2002 for Cheryl Hamilton, Principal of Loreto College Marryatville and a Past Pupil herself.
At the time, my daughter was a student at Loreto, and I had donated some jewellery to the annual Family Day silent auction, an event aimed at raising funds for College projects.
Afterwards, Cheryl approached me and asked if I could make her a ring with the Loreto crest. That was the very first.
The following year, she asked to make graduation rings for the Head and Deputy of Year 12, and again in 2004.
Then in 2005 I received a very surprising request from Loreto Australia – graduation rings for every Year 12 student, not just at Marryatville, but across all Loreto Colleges in Australia –about 750 rings in total!
Since then, I’ve crafted them for graduates, staff, Past Pupils and as replacements for those lost. I’ve kept records of every order since 2005, so each ring can be recreated if needed.
What has been most special to me are the stories I hear. The Loreto Ring has become more than a piece of jewellery –it has become a symbol of belonging. I’ve heard stories of the ring creating instant connections all over the world, with Alumni recognising it and immediately knowing they share the bond of being a ‘Loreto Girl’.
Now, in 2025, I find myself marking 20 years of making Loreto Graduation Rings. It is a humbling milestone. What began as a small gesture has grown into a tradition that connects generations, reminding each wearer of where they come from and the global Loreto Community they will always be part of.
Jeweller
Our Histor y YOUR FUTURE
Our Histor y YOUR FUTURE
Lapels Full of Badges
Words by Narelle Mulrooney, Rebecca Lawry and Loreto Province Archives.
...they are treasured symbols of belonging, achievement and tradition.”
At Loreto College Ballarat, badges are far more than simple accessories – they are treasured symbols of belonging, achievement and tradition.
Although no official record pinpoints when this custom began, archival photographs show students proudly wearing badges as far back as the 1950s – and it’s likely the practice began much earlier. In past decades, many students wore a Loreto Crest badge fixed neatly to their hatbands, a small yet powerful sign of their connection to the College.
Medals have also played an important role in Loreto’s story. From the earliest days, members of the Children of Mary were presented with medallions on ribbons, often worn with sashes or capes. The tradition begins with the special assembly at the start of the year, where the newest cohort of Year 7 students receives their very first House badge.
This simple yet meaningful ceremony marks their official welcome into the Loreto Community and their House family, creating a lifelong link to College life and spirit.
The tradition continues with a badge reflecting the College’s guiding values of Justice, Freedom, Verity, Sincerity, and Felicity – distributed to every student each year as a daily reminder to live out these principles in both action and spirit.
In Year 12, students are presented with their final senior and value badges, adding to the substantial collection often built over six years.
Whether pinned to a blazer or tucked safely in a keepsake box, every badge tells its own story, weaving together Loreto College’s rich heritage and its dynamic present.
Our focus is on nurturing confidence, agency, and a spirit of leadership, as we continue to be transformative leaders in education.”
Our Future
Words by Michelle Brodrick
In recent years, the development of the College’s Strategic and Master Plans have laid a strong foundation for the next chapter in our story. Guided by a clear and bold vision, we are committed to providing an innovative, contemporary, and student-centred education – one that empowers young women to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our focus is on nurturing confidence, agency and a spirit of leadership, as we continue to be transformative leaders in education.
Exciting plans are underway to create dynamic learning spaces that reflect our rich heritage and values. These spaces will honour our First Nations history and Loreto story and traditions, demonstrate our care for the environment, and respond to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.
Long before the College was established, the stories, culture, and wisdom of our First Nations peoples shaped this land. We acknowledge and respect the deep connection the Wadawurrung people have to Country, and we are committed to learning from both Elders and our young Dhurrung students. The word Dhurrung, meaning ‘heart’, reminds us that education is not only about knowledge – it is about connection, community, and belonging, which are central to all we do.
This year, we celebrate 150 years since Mother Gonzaga Barry and her companions arrived in Australia and began Loreto education at Mary’s Mount. Their belief in the goodness of life, their trust in God, and their desire to build something lasting continue to inspire us today. 150 years later, this believing and building continues in our students, staff, community and environment.
Education is our key to imagining and shaping a better world together.
Plans of the new Loreto College Lift and Courtyard project completed in 2025.
The Ultimate Gift of Giving
A gift to Loreto College in your Will means your memory will live on
How do you want to be remembered?
Is there something you would like to pass on to the next generation?
Throughout our lives we are influenced by the actions of the generations that came before us and our esteemed Loreto College history is one of the finest examples. Mary Ward, the Founder of the Loreto Order, embarked on a lifetime devoted to the recognition of women and girls as valuable human beings and important contributors to society.
Continuing the legacy is our Loreto Community. The Countess Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich’s goodness and
generosity famously enabled the completion of Mother Gonzaga Barry’s Loreto Chapel, which was restored in the 1990s thanks to a gift from Past Pupil Lucy Kerley, and is currently maintained with a gift from Past Pupil Eileen Macintyre. The Coghlan family have recently supported students who would otherwise not be able to attend the College through the establishment of the Dora O’Sullevan Bursary.
As we celebrate 150 years of Loreto College in Australia, there have been many Past Pupils, staff and parents who have left a lasting legacy towards the education of young women at Loreto College, and to each of them, we are eternally grateful.
You too can continue Mary Ward’s mission by remembering Loreto College in your Will.
You may like to support our scholarship program to develop academic and gifted talents, or our bursary program to support students who may not otherwise be able to attend the College. Or, perhaps you would like to support our gardens, buildings and grounds, or our exciting new future projects.
To learn more about how you can leave a lasting legacy, please contact our Principal, our Marketing and Development Team or visit the Loreto College Ballarat website today.
www.loreto.vic.edu.au/community/ giving
2025 Annual Giving
We sincerely thank the following supporters of our 2025 Annual Giving Program along with those who have donated at each reunion. Their generous support will ensure our Scholarship, Building and Bursary Funds are maintained for the future.
Thank You:
Meg Barry (Class of 1962)
BJT Legal
Janet Canny (Class of 1972)
Garry and Margaret Carswell
Jessica Cooke (Class of 2000)
Joyce Currie
Margot de Deugd (Class of 1964)
Suzanne Dooley
Jill Fenwick (Class of 1964)
Dr Sarah Flynn (Class of 2007)
Elizabeth Gyory (Class of 1953)
Anne Halloran (Class of 1972)
Belinda Haymes
Dr Margaret Heffernan OAM (Class of 1970)
The Hurley Family
Trudi Kannourakis (Class of 1972) and Rebecca Kannourakis (Class of 2009)
Loreto College Ballarat Past Pupils’ Association
Louise Leighton (Class of 1959)
Maggie Lynch OAM (Class of 1964)
Deborah McArdle
Linda McDonald
Margaret McGeever (Class of 1964)
Pauline McKenzie OAM (Class of 1963)
Veronica Micich (Class of 1997)
Prudence Midgley (Class of 2007)
Noela Morgan (Class of 1958)
Morton+Co Architects
Don & Sharon Moss (Class of 1976)
Kate Moss (Class of 2005)
MSP Photography
Ann Nathan (Class of 1961)
Anne Purser (Class of 1954)
A Community for Life
To remain up-to-date with Loreto College Ballarat news and events, visit the Loreto Alumni Hub online where you can update your details, view alumni news and publications, as well as explore other areas. Scan the QR code or visit: www.loreto.vic.edu.au/alumni
For those on Facebook, join our group! A community space to reconnect, generate conversation and share information.
