1985

Good Shepherd Catholic College, Mount Isa

1985 – PRESENT

Good Shepherd Catholic College was established as Mount Isa Catholic High School in 1985 from utilising buildings and resources from San Jose Secondary School for girls and St Kieran’s Christian Brothers College for boys. This took place as part of the rationalisation of parish facilities undertaken from 1984. San Jose had been operating since 1964 and St Kieran’s since 1960, and in the process of amalgamation, many of the characteristics of both schools were retained and extended to build a new identity for Mount Isa Catholic High School. In 2004 the school commenced its first senior class of Year 11 students who continued on to become the first Year 12 class to graduate in 2005. A period of major refurbishment and transformation took place between 2003 and 2005, culminating with a change of name to Good Shepherd Catholic College.

St Kieran’s Catholic School, Mount Isa

1985 – PRESENT

After the closure of St Kieran’s Christian Brothers College a new primary school took the name St Kieran’s in 1985. The establishment of the school was a result of the rationalisation of Mount Isa’s existing Catholic schools and the closure of St Kieran’s Christian Brothers College. A new St Kieran’s School was opened on Short Street, but this time as a primary school. Sisters of St Joseph operated the school and continued to teach in the region, serving at St Kieran’s until 1987.

Sr Mary McDonald, RSJ, PhD 1985 – 1993 Director

Mary McDonald was born in Ayr, North Queensland and later lived in Townsville. She was educated at St Mary’s College, Charters Towers. After leaving school Mary worked in a children’s library and entered the Good Samaritan’s Novitiate in 1955. Her early teaching years were in secondary schools in Sydney and later in primary schools. Sr Mary moved back to Queensland in the late 1960s as Principal of St James School, Coorparoo and later, at St Joseph’s School, Nambour. It was at Nambour that Sr Mary McDonald become actively involved in environmental issues and community environmental organisations. She became involved in the establishment of the Najara Centre for Spirituality and Ecology in 1977. In 1985 Sr Mary McDonald was appointed Director of the Townsville Catholic Education Office and she was the first woman in Australia to have such a role. In addition to the complex responsibilities as Director of Education, Sr Mary established the Gumburu Environmental Centre at Paluma. After nine years in Townsville Sister Mary returned to the Najara Centre where her many skills and remarkable educational background were put to good use. Sr Mary has been awarded Bachelor degrees in Arts and Education. She has Masters degrees in Theology, Education and Environmental Education and a Doctorate of Philosophy. In 1994 Sr Mary won the position of the Georgia Harkness International Scholar at Northwestern University Illinois and, in 2006, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Australian Catholic University.