On Saturday 2 May, Catherine McAuley College Bendigo celebrated 150 years since the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in Bendigo, 150 years of providing Catholic education in the region and 150 years since the foundation of the College at Barkly Street.

To mark this special occasion, a wonderful celebration was held that included past and present students, staff and members of the College community.

The day commenced with a Thanksgiving Mass, providing visitors with a rare opportunity to experience Mass in the beautiful, historic Chapel.

Over the past six months, the Boarders’ Chapel (also known as the ‘Side Chapel’) was refurbished in preparation for the Sesquicentenary. After removing the carpet to reveal the original cypress floorboards, the floor was sanded and polished to bring out the honey tones, while the room was finished with a fresh coat of paint. A new booklet has been created to document the history and unique features of the Chapel. This has been enhanced by a new display cabinet that brings artifacts out of storage.

At the Mass, which was celebrated by Fr Jake Mudge and concelebrated by Fr Jackson Saunders – both past students of the College, extra chairs were required to accommodate the many people who took part. 

It was particularly special to have the College Choir lead the singing from the Choir Loft under the direction of Ms Deb Ross, with music provided by organist Dr Paul Taylor taking full advantage of the glorious acoustics of the Chapel.

After Mass, visitors enjoyed Mercy hospitality in the St Mary’s Courtyard in what turned out to be the last perfect autumn day of the year. Inside the Hall, a comprehensive display of memorabilia and photos delighted past students.

Guests of honour, Sr Anne Cossar, Sr Kathy Ryan and Sr Pam Barlow cut a magnificent cake on behalf of all past students.

The next event was the launch of the history book, celebrating 150 years of Mercy in Bendigo, Mercy in every moment. From Swinford to Sandhurst: A Story of Courage, Faith and Education. Principal Brian Turner said the book highlights the extraordinary service the Sisters of Mercy have dedicated to our community since arriving in 1876, noting the hardships the Foundation Sisters endured and the way their legacy was sustained and developed throughout the decades that followed.

The book brings together first-hand memories and reflections of past students, some previously printed in other publications: The Souvenir Centenary, 1976 and The Belles of St Mary’s, 1983, as well as those gathered in recent years from reunions and biographies. It also contains many rarely seen photos as well as plenty of favourites to bring the memories flooding back. 

The book is a fresh telling of the College's story, giving new life to words written by those who have gone before, shining a light on forgotten heroes and bringing the story together in a way that current and future generations may enjoy and benefit from.

Another highly anticipated event on the day was the Jubilee Community Art Show exhibition. The ‘incognito’ style show featured artworks from members of our community, of all levels of experience and skill. The art demonstrated a great range of interpretation, and the anonymity added an extra element of discovery and delight. The artworks were on sale on the day and remain available until 25 May, when the artists will be revealed.

Throughout the afternoon, student tour guides helped visitors enjoy a nostalgic walk through the school grounds, to peep into former classrooms and to marvel at the changes that have occurred in the intervening years (depending on how long that has been).

Many thanks to the past students, past and current staff, members of the wider community and families who came along to enjoy a memorable day. Thank you also to the staff who helped out on the day (including hard work behind the scenes) and the student guides and helpers. Thanks also to Fr Jake Mudge, Fr Jackson Saunders and Dr Paul Taylor for their time and expertise.

The next event will be the Performance Gala to be held in the Marian Theatre on Friday 22 May. This joyful concert will pay homage to the role that music and performance played in shaping the early days of the College, as well as the importance of music and the arts in our community. It will also be a wonderful reunion of members of the 'music family'. MORE DETAILS

What they said :

I loved reading about the early days and, in particular, the hard work and dedication of the Sisters to make (and leave) their mark in Bendigo. It seems performance and dance were the key to making money and, therefore acquiring property! And the kids relished being part of the evolving school. I wish we had learned about all this when I was there.
Sam Kane, Class of 2016, current Advisory Board Member

Any book that starts with seven women travelling to the other side of the world with possessions including two pianos, a harp, banjos and bolts of black cloth to build a convent school that they had not quite paid for … is a story that needs to be told
Julie Holden (Grogan) Class of 1985

It was great to see all the developments that have popped up since I left. I think I would get lost now.! Reliving all the memories from some great times at St Mary’s. Thank you.
Sue Nielsen (Crawford) Class of 1971

What a great day! The displays in the hall of the College through the years were excellent. Thank you to all.
Margaret Watson (Dooley) Class of 1968

Thank you so much for putting today on. (It was great) meeting up with some old classmates and looking through the old photos. Thank you, Fr Jake Mudge and Fr Jackson Saunders, for celebrating a beautiful Mass. God bless you all.
Mary Murphy (Burtonclay) Class of 1970

Thank you for the 150 years celebrations we loved the day. Mum was excited to see a photo of herself. We walked the school grounds recounting memories of our time there and engaged with others on our tour, listening to their stories. Congratulations on a spectacular event.
Jennifer Clarke (Suell) Class of 1982