Winter 2024
Congratulations and farewell to the class of 2023
PRINCIPAL’Snote
e are in the second year of implementation of our current Strategic Directions Statement. The introduction to this Statement reads:
Our Catholic Identity is integral to everything we do at the College – who we are as a Catholic community should be experienced in every facet of school life. This has been reflected in the development of these Strategic Directions – our aspirations for Faith, Mission and Identity will be realised through our work across each of the remaining pillars: Learning Teaching Wellbeing; Leadership for Mission; Environment and Resources; and Community Relations.
Our Faith Mission and Identity Pillar, which sits within each of the other four pillars, names our aspiration to be a “Synodal Community”. Taking our lead from Pope Francis, we are committed to deep listening as we respond to the needs of the students, staff and families who are a part of the St Columba’s College Community. As we faithfully follow in the footsteps of the Sisters of Charity, we read (and listen to) the signs of our times, as we strive to be a faithful, contemporary and innovative community, delivering an exceptional education program for all of our students.
This means that we place a high value on review and evaluation at St Columba’s College, emerging from a firm commitment to never rest on our laurels to ensure that the education we provide remains relevant and engaging. The reviews we undertake are characterised by deep listening, achieved through consultation. This is especially important in our context as a school providing for the education of girls. Student voice is a priority, as we seek to develop confident, informed, and articulate young people who are not hesitant to lend their voices to the important debates of our time.
It was an absolute pleasure to accompany students on our first overseas trip post-COVID. While the sites we visited were awe-inspiring, I was deeply impressed by the young people on the journey – respectful, diligent, engaged, articulate, faithful, committed to the trip as a learning opportunity. It fills me with joy and hope to know that St Columba’s College continues to positively influence each generation of young women who come through our College gates, who carry with them our values of Love, Hope, Compassion, Justice and Truth.
Ms Rita Grima St Columba’s College Principal
PATHWAYS to ST COLUMBA’S COLLEGE
St Columba’s College offers extensive support for our senior students to help them successfully complete their secondary education. Students have the option to pursue the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) ATAR Major, VCE Major, or VCE Vocational Major, with the additional opportunity to include Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects in any of these programs.
WE SPOKE TO TWO STUDENTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2023
who have gone on
TO TWO VERY DIFFERENT PATHWAYS...
My first year as a Radiography student has been fast-paced but also immensely interesting, as I am constantly extending myself in new areas, such as the physics of X-ray production and anatomical patient positioning. My final years at St Columba’s College prepared me well for this environment, encouraging me to be a curious and resilient lifelong learner. While I did not decide on this career until my third term of year 12, the Pathways team had since year 11, stressed the importance of selecting subjects that were broad, relevant to the general field you are inclined to study, and most importantly, that ignite your passion. Due to this guidance, I was fortunate to be equipped with the prerequisite subjects to study Radiography. This created a smooth journey and allowed me to solely focus on doing my best. I strongly recommend this profession for those who wish to interact and help others whilst simultaneously applying scientific and analytical skills.
My name is Brielle Sankovic, and I graduated year 12 in 2023. Throughout my duration of high school, I always found myself lost in what career I wanted to pursue. I had completed many courses and certificates, and worked in numerous work placements to try and get a feel for what I would like. Towards the end of the year, I thought I had finally found the perfect pathway for me, therefore I applied for positions at different universities. Soon after graduating and hearing back from my applications, something in my gut told me this wasn’t what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. After weeks of confusion and endless doubt in my future, the thought of becoming a flight attendant crossed my mind. It was very spontaneous and I still wasn’t 100%, although I still applied for the job. It was a lengthy and challenging application and training process, however I got through it and am now working in the most rewarding job. I am finally so pleased with where I am at this point in my life and needless to say I am ecstatic to see what my future holds and how much more I can grow. This whole process has taught me that it is okay to feel lost and confused. Everyone’s journey will result in a different outcome, but this is how mine worked out.
Ava Curran
Brielle Sankovic
trip EUROPE
After saying goodbye to our families and loved ones we tackled a 14 hour flight to Dubai. Many girls were comparing what movie they watched and the snacks they ate before the second flight to Paris which was an extra 6 hours.
After what felt like days of travelling we hopped on a bus and arrived in Albert, a neighbouring town in the Amien region. We were all able to enrich ourselves in the beautiful French countryside and catch some much needed rest before our first big day of touring – which we all knew we would have to soon adjust to throughout all 17 days. The first day, we were jam packed with a welcoming tour of Amien, visiting the extravagant Notre Dame Cathedral built in the 12th Century with gothic architecture we rarely see in Melbourne. It was so interesting to see all the history of it, with extraordinary efforts to obtain it despite the WW1 efforts close to Amien. After the town tour, we were taken to the battlefield tour, being able to see Newfoundland communication trenches, German bomb sites, and many memorials; it was great to be able to reflect on Australia and how our ancestors had made their livelihood over the region.
Our first stop on the outskirts of Paris was ‘La Défense’, being one of the major business districts in Europe. Whilst in the district, the Contemporaine Museum visit was great in discovering a wide variety of an incredibly rich collection of items from modern history of the First World War. After this, we all encountered our first metro experience; taking the train to the Eiffel Tower. The
Eiffel Tower ascent, (although having many stairs, until we caught a lift from the second floor to the top) was an experience Group B collectively agreed was one of the most memorable, especially since we skipped out on dinner; and can account for a lot of spontaneity that night, going to bed 20,000 steps later (which is what ultimately happened most nights).
Our first day in Paris was much busier as opposed to the calm restful Amiens. After climbing to the top of the Eiffel tower and arriving at the hotel close to 11PM, all of us knew that this was in fact not a holiday. On Easter Sunday, we were all lucky to attend the Sacre Coeur Easter Mass. Juxtaposing the wonderful experience of Mass at a world renowned Cathedral, we took a long stroll down the street of the Moulin Rouge. The long day of walking turned into a great night, a Seine River Cruise, where we experienced an amazing tour of all the architecture across Paris. The next day, we saw the Louvre, luckily enough being provided with four long hours to explore. However, the three of us (plus Chiara) became lost and ended up in the sculpture area multiple times; driving us all insane. Soon we learnt we should have stuck close by to Mr Taylor who had been to the Louvre three times. On our last day in Paris, we climbed our second landmark and went up the Arc de Triomphe. After many stairs, but still not as many as the Eiffel Tower, we got to the top and were taken aback by the amazing views. We were there at sunset which made it even more spectacular. I (Meg P) was encouraged to do something a bit different and speak to a stranger and to start with the line ‘nice view, isn’t it?’ I undertook this as a bet and ended up meeting a really nice student who was from Mexico and also in his final year of high school. He had been to Melbourne before so we chatted about that and about how we were finding Europe. Glad to have made a friend, I didn’t accept the one euro I was owed from the bet. Shortly afterwards, the Eiffel Tower’s lights sparkled and we got to see its dazzling lights for the third time which was so special and just as breathtaking as the first time.
As history students, being in France, especially Paris, allowed us a comprehensive understanding of what life would be like during historical events such as the French Revolution, World War I and World War II. It was so interesting to visit places that we are currently learning about in class such as The Champ de Mars, the Conciergerie, Versailles, the National Archives (seeing many relevant documents to our studies), and the Salle de Jeu famously known where the Tennis Court Oath took place that many say ultimately projected the fundamentals of the 1789 Revolution. The group was constantly collectively overwhelmed by stunning architecture, mind blowing facts, but also the cultural differences of being overseas.
After a jam-packed week in Paris, we had an early wake up call at 3am. It was safe to say that not everyone’s faces were bright on the morning trip to Berlin. The plane ride was memorable with a rather bumpy landing, scaring more than a couple of people. Upon arrival it was interesting to view how different life was like in a country that was right next to the one we had just previously been in. Although Germany still has stunning, old architecture just like France, much of it was new and modernised and it was very educational to learn that the city is like that because of how much had been destroyed previously during wars.
Visiting many museums such as the Holocaust Memorial, the Gestapo ‘Topography of Terror’, the Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Centre, the Jewish History Museum and even ‘Museum Island’. By this point, it was safe to say the trip was catching up to everyone; constantly absorbing new information into our brains everyday. On the third day of Berlin, we visited the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and Memorial. Walking through the Camp and all of the memorials relating to the Holocaust was truly eye opening as many of us have only read about or heard about certain things, seeing it with your own eyes is a completely different experience. The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was extremely interesting to visit but it left many students with a pit in their stomachs, reflecting on the tragic past events of our world. Observing the overall eerie feel, it allowed us to deeply reflect on how lucky we are today in Australia.
Whilst we were away, we found that fresh fruit and vegetables were hard to come by, something I (Meg P) struggled with as an avid avocado enjoyer. I was used to my daily avocado and suffered some severe withdrawals. I was fortunate enough to find an avocado and salad roll in Belgium which cost 6.10 euros and had revived me. I (Meg C) also ate an entire jar of salsa due to the lack of fresh fruit and veg in supermarkets (with chips).
After saying goodbye to Berlin we took our last short flight to Belgium, Brussels. Our only activity for this day was visiting Waterloo, most famous for Napoleon and the French being defeated by opposing countries. Many of us were rather surprised by the array of entertainment that Waterloo had on offer; the same ABBA song playing on repeat in the gift shop, three men in different army gear as well as a live cannon demonstration. This was also the night where we had the choice of our own dinner – the kebabs in Belgium did not disappoint.
On our second day in Brussels, we went to the Museum of the European Union Parliament, however they were fully booked and only half of our group were able to go in. Fortunately, the museum was surrounded by a gorgeous park, with a lake where we got to
watch some swans and ducks. The lake was surrounded by tulips and looked absolutely majestic. Afterwards, we visited the European Parliament, finally the Global Politics students were able to come into play after cluelessly studying history for two weeks. The European Parliament was especially exciting as we had studied the European Union and the effectiveness of its power in class. It was fascinating to see the Parliament during session and we noticed how quickly they voted on issues. Furthermore, we were extremely lucky to have seen a protest, which we heard were extremely rare. The protest entailed a group of people in matching shirts chanting ‘this vote kills; vote no’ in regards to immigration policy and they threw paper planes into the Parliament Chamber. This was of significance to the politics students as we had a case study last year regarding the EU’s handling of a migration crisis and it was very interesting to see.
When visiting the city of Brussels we encountered the ‘Grand Place’ which is now a major tourist destination within Brussels, with many restaurants and most importantly chocolatiers. Taking a walking tour of La Grand Place, this old part of Belgium reminded a lot of the girls of Paris, the mix of different architectures was truly something to take in and remember about Europe.
Our last night of the trip was one full of many different emotions. We were lucky enough to have a group liturgy that Ms Grima had spent time planning where we all had the opportunity to speak about something that we wanted to take home with us or something we wanted to leave in Europe. The flights home were much quieter than the ones on the way to Europe, many of us were ready to lay in our own beds and be reunited with our families.
Not only was it useful for me (Matilda) in learning about both my history and politics studies, I was able to immerse myself in the French language that I have so long wanted to have this high school experience, talking about it with my Grandma before going to St Columba’s. Although it was not an exchange, we all still feel incredibly fortunate to have such great teachers such as Ms Valenzuela, Ms Symthe and Mr Avery who tackled the long planning and were able to get an international trip going ahead, which had not been done since 2021.
Overall, this trip was definitely worth it and one to remember. Not only did it benefit our learning as year 12 VCE students, but it was also so fun to make memories with all of the other girls and the accompanying teachers. This experience is something we were all grateful to have, ultimately opening many windows to express our independence and we recommend it for any future students who are interested in studying History or Politics.
P.S. Shout out to Lizzie Billen who will make Ms V redo the risk assessment for future years.
By Matilda Anderson, Meghan Price and Meg Carmichael
CLASS OF RESULTS 2023
UNIVERSITY COURSES
FURTHER RESULTS
College Dux, Tara Werden, achieved an ATAR of 99.65
Median ATAR of 76.87
14.4% of students achieved an ATAR over 90
41.6% of students achieved an ATAR over 80
One perfect study score in Health and Human Development
Two study scores of 49 in Chemistry and Religion and Society
Median study score of 31
7.5% study scores over 40
VM STUDENTS COURSES
All course offers in Areas of Interests VCE VM Students Destinations
TOP 5 DESTINATION
2023 STORIES FROM OUR STUDENTS
What are you currently studying and where?
I am currently studying a Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne.
What has your first semester been like?
At first, I felt very overwhelmed by the big change of moving into university, given that it is so different to high school. After a couple of weeks I started getting settled in and felt more comfortable when I knew my way around and had met a few people. Since then, I have really enjoyed university, specifically the freedom to choose subjects that I am interested in, such as psychology and biology. In my course, I have been given the opportunity to try new things such as animal dissections and participating in psychology research studies. I have also enjoyed meeting many new people from all around Melbourne, as well as other states and other countries. The flexibility of my timetable has also enabled me to find more of a study-life balance compared to high school. I am looking forward to seeing what else the university experience entails!
Tara Werden, VCE DUX
OUR HouseINTRODUCING LEADERS
Our House Leaders play a pivotal role in supporting students’ wellbeing during their time at the College. They are integral members of our community, working tirelessly to advocate for our students. Introducing:
OUR 2024 HOUSE CAPTAINS
Towards the end of 2023 a group of eager Year 11s put forward their interest in becoming House Captains in 2024. The candidates presented their thoughts and ideas to their House, before waiting for the votes to be tallied. We are pleased to introduce the 2024 House Captains, who join our Specialist Captains and College Co-Captains on the Student Executive Team.
David Arthurson Buton House Leader
Rebecca Spiteri de Lacy House Leader
Shannon Borg Cater House Leader
Alistair Bloom Wiliams House Leader
Georgia Seymour Cahill House Leader
Rachel Lang O’Brien House Leader
Mariya Saric Cunningham House Leader
In order from Left-Right Emy Augson (Cunningham House Captain) | Meg Carmichael ( Cater House Captain) | Caitlin Rodgers (Bruton House Captain) | Poppy Gallaughar (de Lacy House Captain) | Mila Kordic (Cahill House Captain) | Matilda Jeffries (O’Brien House Captain) | Meghan Price (Williams House Captain)
On Monday 12 February, our Year 7s and their families gathered for House Welcomes. Each House presented their Year 7s with their House Badge, acknowledging the newest members of our community. Once the formalities were complete, students, staff and families gathered in the learning courtyard to share refreshments and get to know each other. It was a wonderful occasion and a great way to start the year.
HOUSE DAYS
celebration
This semester, we proudly celebrated the legacies of Bruton, Cahill, and O’Brien Houses at St Columba’s College. Each house gathered to honor their patron’s life and contributions. The celebrations began with a liturgy led by house members, followed by inspiring speeches from house representatives and, for some, a former house Captain.
After the formal proceedings, students enjoyed delicious house-themed cakes and pizza in GAY-BIIK. These celebration days are a vital part of life at St Columba’s College, offering students the opportunity to connect, reflect, and celebrate the remarkable women who have left an enduring impact on our College and the broader community.
Year 7 2024 families gather for the House Welcomes
Year 7 students from Cahill House
Bruton – red | Cahill – yellow | O’Brien – orange
SnapshotSEMESTER
MEET OUR DIRECTOR OF STUDENTS
Last year the College undertook a review of the House System. The review presented a number of opportunities for the College, which have begun to be implemented in 2024. One of the opportunities which arose was the development of a new role to support House Leaders and House Group Teachers, in their work with students. We are proud to introduce Kate Macpherson as our new Director of Students. Kate was our de Lacy House Leader in 2023, and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in supporting students.
(Right) Kate Macpherson, Director of Students
OUR 2024 COLLEGE CAPTAINS
Our College Captains are integral members of the Student Executive Team. Not only do they promote and grow their speciality area in the College, they also contribute significantly by being role models to students and promoting and being engaged in the school community.
As part of their role they attend a wide variety of school events, encourage students to work together and fulfil the school values as well as support a wide range of causes the College supports.
2024 College Captains
Taylor Navarro College Co-Captain
Charlotte Mollica Liturgy Captain Kathy Vo Justice Captain Mia McKinley Arts Captain
Madison Camburn Sports Captain Maja Jugovic SWAT Captain Minuki Hewa Thondilayge Environment Captain
Caitlin Rodgers Bruton House Captain Mila Kordic Cahill House Captain
Meg Carmichael Cater House Captain Emy Augson Cunningham House Captain
Poppy Gallaughar de Lacy House Captain Matilda Jeffries O’Brien House Captain
Meghan Price Williams House Captain
Siena Rumoro College Co-Captain
OPENING MASS AND HIGH ACHIEVERS ASSEMBLY
MULTI SPORTS DAY
On Thursday 14 February, we officially opened the College school year with Opening Mass. With special guests, alumnae, families, staff and students in attendance, the morning was spent in reverent celebration, led by Fr John Hannon. Following our mass, we celebrated the achievement of our 2023 unit 3 and 4 students. College Dux, Tara Werden, and VCE VM High Achiever, Maddison McCoy-Blanco, spoke to the assembly of their experiences at the College. Many awards were received, successes acknowledged and of course, morning tea enjoyed, it was a memorable morning for all.
This semester we hosted two major school-wide events: the Multi Sports Day and the Athletics Carnival. The Multi Sports Day saw Years 7 and 8 swimming at the East Keilor Leisure Centre, Years 9 and 10 playing volleyball at MSAC, and Years 11 and 12 enjoying various fun activities and sports at the Westgate Sports Centre. It was a fantastic start to the year with high participation levels once again. Congratulations to Cahill House for emerging as the overall winner of the day!
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
On March 21st, we hosted our House Athletics Carnival at Aberfeldie Athletics Track. This event is always a fantastic opportunity for the entire school to come together and celebrate sports. With the sun shining, our Year 12 students enjoyed dressing up and taking a lap of honour to mark their final year. Students eagerly participated in various sports throughout the day, culminating in the inaugural year-level tug-of-war games. Congratulations to Cunningham for winning the day, with de Lacy coming in second and Bruton taking third place.
(Bottom right) VCE VM High Achiever, Maddison McCoy-Blanco, with Principal, Rita Grima, and College Dux, Tara Werden
(Top left) The College community came together for the Opening Mass.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8TH MARCH
On Friday, March 8th, we had the pleasure of welcoming guest speaker and alumna Joanne Gerstner. Joanne shared her inspiring journey from her early life, including being diagnosed with glandular fever during high school, which caused her to miss significant school time. Upon returning to St Columba’s College, she faced the challenge of making new friends in a different year level and restarting her academic journey. This pivotal moment led her to focus on her passions for Chemistry and Science, eventually leading to a successful career as a forensic scientist at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
The day was celebrated by all students with a dress-making activity in the afternoon and a fun roaming Instagram caption activity at lunchtime, where our mascot, Lily the Lion, made an appearance.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK
Five students represented the College at the Mass of St Patrick for Schools for Catholic Education Week - In the light of Christ. Our Liturgy Captain, Charlotte proudly brought our banner into St Patrick’s Cathedral to join representatives from Catholic primary and secondary schools in the Melbourne Archdiocese. It was an honour to be part of such a tremendous celebration.
ENGAGING FUTURE MINDS: SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS AT ST COLUMBA’S COLLEGE
Each school holidays, St Columba’s College invites Grade 5 and 6 students from local parish primary schools to explore various high school subjects through engaging activities. This semester, we hosted two sessions—one during the April school holidays and another in June—featuring a Writers Workshop and a STEAM-A-Thon.
These workshops give students a glimpse of the subjects they will study in high school. Additionally, participants enjoy a mini-school tour to help them become familiar with the campus. These sessions provide a fantastic opportunity for students from different schools to meet and get a taste of secondary school life.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK
Cultural Diversity Week is a time dedicated to honouring and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our vibrant community. Throughout the week we had a variety of activities that outlined our vast array of heritages across our school community.
It was a wholesome week organised by our justice community to promote multiculturalism in our society
PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY STEAM PILOT PROGRAM
The Year 11 Systems Engineering class and their teacher Mr Frank Rowland embarked on their first collaboration with Belgrave’s iconic Puffing Billy Railway through an immersive pilot education program.
On March 22nd, 12 STC students undertook a journey of discovery, exploring the workings of steam locomotives firsthand. From boilers to pistons, valves to wheels, they gained invaluable insights into these marvels of engineering.
The program underscores the importance of practical skills and diverse perspectives in today’s workforce, fostering confidence and innovation.
NUNAN CUP
CGSAV BASKETBALL COMPETITION
Our College tennis tournament, The Nunan Cup, was held over two very successful afternoons at St Bernard’s College. We had three categories participate; Juniors, Intermediates and Seniors. In our juniors tournament we had Amy Conroy and Josephine Mezzetesta as our Junior champions and Madeleine Thompson as our Intermediate Champion. Our Senior Champion was Minuki Hewa Thondilayge. It was an incredible competition and a great day had by all.
FOXFORD INNOVATION STUDENT WALK THROUGH
On April 18th and 23rd, we took six basketball teams to the CGSAV Competition. While both days were exhausting, they were also incredibly fun for everyone involved. Four of our teams advanced to the semi-finals, with three moving on to the grand finals. We celebrated two victories, with our Junior A and Intermediate teams winning the Division 1 titles. Additionally, Maddison Crotty was awarded Best Player of the Match for the Intermediate team. Everyone gave their absolute best and should be extremely proud of their achievements.
A fortunate group of Year 10, 11, and 12 students were granted the chance to tour our highly anticipated Foxford Innovation Centre. This state-ofthe-art building will accommodate our new food technology labs, science labs, STEAM facilities, and creative spaces. The students were amazed by the design and features of the space, particularly the specialised facade crafted from concrete.
YEAR 7 CAMP MILLIE – OUR WELLBEING DOG
This semester, we welcomed Millie, our Wellness Dog, to St Columba’s College. Millie has been spending a few days a week on the school campus, getting to know her new surroundings. She is set to embark on her journey as a wellness dog, providing support to those experiencing anxiety and offering companionship to aid in the social and emotional development of our students.
YEAR 8 REFLECTION DAY
MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST
On Thursday, May 9th, we hosted a Mother’s Day Breakfast for our St Columba’s College community. We were thrilled to see so many wonderful mothers and mother figures join us bright and early to celebrate their special day with a delicious breakfast. It was a fantastic morning dedicated to showing support and gratitude to all who attended.
Our eager and excited Year 7 students embarked on their camp adventure on April 22nd, spending three days immersed in the great outdoors. They enjoyed hiking, canoeing, and completing a high ropes course. Each evening, they gathered around the campfire to share stories and create lifelong memories.
The Year 8 Reflection Day proved to be an unforgettable experience for our students as they discovered ways to create positive changes in the lives of others. The day began with an engaging game of charades, followed by a drama activity where students showcased their talents to earn recognition from their peers.
Such events hold a special place in our College community, nurturing growth and promoting respect for every individual, regardless of appearance, race, or background. Guided by faith, our students gained insights into responding to the needs of others with compassion and empathy.
SpotlightALUMNAE
My name is Lynette Heasly and I was Head Prefect in 1957 in a year when there were only seven girls in the Matric class.
Friendship and loyalty were two qualities instilled in us during those years. I have kept in touch with those seven classmates, although one has now passed away and another lives interstate.
I never sought to draw attention to my leadership ability but in each step of my career I found myself as group leader, responsible person, organiser etc. St Columba’s nurtured those talents and allowed me to mature over the years.
Initially I became an Infant School Teacher until I had a family of four children, I then started working for AMES where I taught English to Adult Migrants for 26 years. I have worked voluntarily in community positions and now find myself retired and a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Recently whilst visiting a Johannesburg school in a project area, I found myself leading a group of children in song.
Should I be asked, I am always very proud to respond that I was a student of St Columba’s.
Sr Josephine Cannell was on the staff at the College on three occasions in 1941 and again from 19731977. Josephine taught mainly Art and Jewellery making. From 1980 until her retirement in 2002, after a few years teaching, she set up the College Archives and wrote the first history of the College ‘The Seed that Grew’. On leaving St Columba’s Josephine returned to Tasmania and in retirement wrote a History of the Sisters in Tasmania ‘To the Beckoning Shores’ book. She returned to Melbourne and the College community regularly welcomes her back to hear her stories of College life throughout its history. She recently celebrated her 106th birthday.
We were lucky enough to have Sr. Josephine visit us on Wednesday 15th of May where she recounted stories from her early life, especially her time introducing lapidary and ceramics into the College curriculum in the early 1950’s.
Lynette Heasly (nee Holbery) Class of 1957
Sr Josephine Cannell
CommunityOUR
REUNIONS
Our annual school reunion for students who graduated in the years ending in ‘4 will be held on October 13 at the College. Nibbles and drinks will be provided.
For more information and to RSVP to our reunions please visit columba.vic.edu.au/alumnae
APPLICATIONS FOR ENROLMENT
Applications for Enrolment for Year 7 2026 are now open.
Did you know that enrolment applications from College Alumnae are a priority 2 ranking according to our Enrolment Policy Criteria?
Applications for Enrolment for Year 7 2026 close Friday 16 August 2024 and can be made via the College website.
If you require enrolment information or assistance, please contact our College Registrar, Mrs Tammy Colson at registrar@columba.vic.edu.au
INTRODUCING THE PARENT ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE’
The Parent Engagement Committee acts as a bridge between the College and wider community, through participation, communication and connection. Introducing the Parent Engagement Committee Executive for 2024:
Co-Presidents
Karen Bell & Tracey Cotroneo
Secretary
Miralem Mehmedbegovic
Treasurer
Karen Bell
The Parent Engagement Committee meets every third Tuesday of the month. All Welcome. Visit our website for further information about meeting dates and times.
Link to alumnae page columba.vic.edu.au/columba
Bowl
For a significant time in the story of our College, we enjoyed the view of a large Moreton Bay Fig tree that sat along the fence line near the Gates at the corner of Buckley Street and Leslie Road. The tree had been on the block since the Sisters purchased the Gillespie Mansion and and refurbished it into St Columba’s College in 1897.
It saw countless students pass through the College and huge change over its 100-year life, always present in the College’s evolving story.
In the 1990s, the tree became diseased. Pruning efforts were attempted in an effort to save it, but unfortunately this did not work, and the College’s beautiful Moreton Bay Fig tree was eventually removed.
Peter Stacey, husband of Anne Stacey who was a staff member at the time, took a piece of the Fig tree and created a bowl. This lovely bowl now lives at the College as a tangible connection to the Sisters who began our College and the first 100 years of our history.
Our memorable Moreton Bay Fig tree will continues to be a part of the St Columba’s College story, one we hope will last another 100 years.
The Moreton Bay Fig tree in 1966
The bowl, made by Peter Stacey, from the St Columba’s College Moreton Bay Fig tree
The fig tree pruning in 1995
The fig tree is removed in 2001
