We have experienced a very smooth start to what we know will be a hectic Term 4.

There are many milestones fast approaching, such as the Year 12 final day, commencement of VCE exams, Bendigo and Melbourne Cup Days, as well as the day-to-day teaching and learning and multitude of co-curricular activities.

Some Year 12 students have already commenced exams, with Languages and Arts oral and performance exams taking place in the past two weeks. Written Examinations will commence on 28 October.

We look forward to gathering as a whole College next Wednesday 22 October, to farewell the Class of 2025 cohort. We wish all students well throughout this period and look forward to the Graduation Mass and Celebration on 20 November.

This week, we are celebrating Mental Health Week at Coolock with a variety of fun and meaningful lunchtime activities happening around the school. These offered opportunities to connect, relax, and support student and staff wellbeing. Thank you to all involved in organising and participating in the activities, including a free BBQ lunch, headspace visit, movie ‘Inside Out 2’ in the library, yoga/mindfulness, shooting hoops, golf hole-in-one, Rock in the Square and the annual Staff v Student Netball Match.

Catherine McAuley College Bendigo is excited to announce the launch of our new website!

We’ve moved to a new domain — www.cmcb.vic.edu.au — to reflect our updated name. The new Catherine McAuley College Bendigo website offers a fresh look, improved navigation, and easier access to the information you need.

This week, we’re also excited to introduce this new-look newsletter, designed to keep our community informed and engaged with the latest news and events.

We invite you to explore and discover all that Catherine McAuley College Bendigo has to offer.

Year 7: Welcome to Term 4!

Welcome to the final term of the year, where students can finish off strongly, celebrate achievements and reflect on their first year at Catherine McAuley College Bendigo. Please note that we have some upcoming events and student achievements to showcase.

Uniform - reminders

Please be aware that we have now transitioned to the summer uniform and require your child to be in summer uniform. This includes wearing a school bucket-style hat. If this is lost, please order and pay for a new one from the General Office, or visit the Noone uniform shop.

Community in Action

On Wednesday 3 December, your child will participate in a range of community service activities to give back to the community. They will be required to attend College for the full day. A range of activities is being organised, so please familiarise yourself with these and the dress requirements for the day. These include, but are not limited to:

• BARC (Bendigo Animal Relief Centre)
• Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged
• Bendigo Foodshare Farm
• Bendigo Foodshare Cooking
• Primary school sports
• Primary school volunteers

Stay tuned for more information as the term progresses.

Bendigo Tech School Visits

In Weeks 2 and 3, all Year 7 students will attend a day at the Bendigo Tech School at La Trobe University as part of their Humanities Unit ‘Future Cities - Bendigo 2040’. The students have been exploring liveability and how to improve standards for all from a local and global perspective, with an emphasis on sustainability. The Tech School visit allows students to engage with a range of technologies and applications to create virtual future cities, which they can then view using a VR headset.

“On Monday our class went to the Bendigo Tech School at La Trobe University. We made our own future cities and then we explored them in the VR headsets. It was good to see what our future cities might look like. The people at La Trobe were very helpful and helped us learn new things about technology, which without them we would never have learnt.” (Grace and Lola)

Have a great Term 4!

Mrs Sarah Cody, Mr Stephen Evans and Mrs Hayley Lethlean, Year 7 Leadership Team

Bendigo Tech School

In Term 4, the College focuses on supporting our local Bendigo community. In recognising that many do it tough during the Christmas and New Year period, we will be supporting our local community by partnering with Bendigo Foodshare. 

We are asking our community to donate pantry items to support Bendigo Foodshare, who help those in need.

Different items are allocated to families at each year level - see poster for details.

Elevate Education - Free Parent Webinars Term 4, 2025

We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education will be hosting a free webinar for our parents and carers on time management on 29 October 2025.

Elevate works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you’ll learn how you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they’re learning at school.

Sign up for the session below to learn how you can help your child to stay focused and prioritise revision when it matters most.

Live Parent Webinar: How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time

Wednesday 29 October 6.30-7.30pm

Click here to register for free

Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:

✅ Aligning expectations on homework with your child

✅ Helping your child balance their schoolwork and social life

✅ Setting up a weekly planner tool with your child

Elevate’s upcoming Term 4 Parent Webinars:

1. How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time - 29 October 6.30pm
2. How To Help Your Child Alleviate Stress - 12 November 6.30pm
3. How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child - 26 November 6.30pm
4. How You Can Set Your Child Up for Success - 10 December 6.30pm

Within the classroom, Catherine McAuley College Bendigo has implemented the Elevate Education study skills program, grounded in seventeen years of global research into student performance. Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. This leads to more effective learning outcomes and improves overall academic performance. Students sequence through all of the program across Years 11 and 12.

CMCB Bus Travel for 2026

Catherine McAuley College Bendigo students can access four bus networks.

CMCB Charter Services

This service is run by the College for students in the areas of Eppalock, Axe Creek, Mandurang, Sedgwick, Strathfieldsaye and Junortoun. It provides support to the country services in these areas and allows a direct route to the Junortoun campus.

Families wishing to access the Charter Bus service in 2026 are asked to complete the form below.

Expression of Interest for CMCB Charter Bus

Country Bus Travel (School Bus System)

Students who reside in areas serviced by the School Bus Program, including some areas of Strathfieldsaye, are eligible for country bus travel. Travel on the country bus network is free to eligible travellers.

Term 1, 2026 Applications are now open and travel allocations for 2026 will be sent from mid-November onwards. Travel applications can be made at the STAP portal:

Student Travel Assistance Portal

Urban Bus Travel (suburbs of Bendigo)

Further information about the urban bus route will be provided in upcoming newsletters, following recent changes to the Youth Myki pass application system. View the Urban Bus Routes and Services below.

Urban Bus Routes and Services

Castlemaine Bus Travel

Castlemaine and district travellers are able to access the Castlemaine direct service. Please complete the Castlemaine Bus Service Application Form.

Castlemaine Bus Service Application Form

Click below for full information about travel options to and from Catherine McAuley College Bendigo in 2025.

Students will receive an email from ‘CMCB Timetable’ with individual subject timetables for 2026 (excluding Year 7 2026 students) during the week of 13 – 17 October. Please see further information below relevant to your child’s year level.

YEARS 10 – 12, 2026 HEADSTART REQUIREMENTS (for current Years 9 – 11 students)

• To guarantee students are provided with their learning resources prior to Headstart and the summer holiday period, all orders for Years 10 – 12, 2026, will need to be placed by Monday 3 November 2025.
• Orders for Years 10 – 12, 2026 received by this above cutoff date will be delivered in the week ending Friday 21 November 2025.
• There is an expectation that students in senior year levels will have access to their English texts over the summer break in preparation for their 2026 English classes.

BOOKLIST ORDERING

Order from Campion Education (access code B46T)

Campion Education

• Booklist items are available to be purchased from Campion Education (access code B46T).
• Online ordering and home delivery only.
• Orders placed by Friday 19 December 2025 with Campion will be posted to your nominated address, free of charge.
• Every effort will be made to deliver to your nominated address by 23 January 2026.
• Orders can still be placed after the due date by visiting the Campion website or Retail Service Centre. Full stock availability cannot always be guaranteed for orders placed after the due date.
• Due to supply chain challenges, your delivery may arrive outside of the original estimated delivery timeframe.

PLEASE NOTE: the Campion platform may suggest additional resources that are related to studies. If they are not on the booklist, then these are not texts that the College has recommended and families should not feel obliged to purchase them.

Other Suppliers

• Year 10 – 12, 2026 students may be required to purchase additional items from other suppliers. Refer to the 2026 Booklist Flyer below for full information.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the College by phoning 5445 9100.

Booklist Links

A huge congratulations to Greg and Roy (Murray Grey Cattle) from Wattledene Murray Greys on a successful Melbourne Royal Show!

Throughout the year, CMCB students have been preparing Greg and Roy for the Carcase Competition — and their efforts paid off. Both were selected for the prestigious Borthwick Trophy, awarded to the best team of three steers in their breed, recognising excellence in their breed.

In Class 1 of the Carcase Competition, Greg and Roy placed 13th and 16th out of a strong field of 39 entries.

Thank you to our dedicated CMCB students and to Phil Hogan of Wattledene Murray Greys for all the hard work behind the scenes!

The inaugural Kitty Mac (Catherine McAuley) Reading Challenge was held throughout Term 3, at Coolock. Each week a different topic was posed, leading to enthusiastic discussions about books, authors and reading. Participants shared their current reads and favourite authors, and what it is they enjoy about them - no two were the same. Themes for why an author was favoured included such things as the range of vocabulary used, the descriptive notes to readers, the way the story is built up, the number of volumes, and the poetic use of language. As a group, Kitty Mac Challengers also considered what might make a classic with ideas including the year published, the popularity of the book, whether it was original, the genre, and if it was a best seller.

Encouragement to read and finish books was a special aspect of the supportive nature between the participants, with recommendations for new authors and genres being shared. Sharing creative endeavours such as drawing in response to reading fantasy and non-fiction was another way readers demonstrated their reading engagement.

Participants were provided with a small booklet to maintain a reading journal, a bookmark and templates to colour in as they completed books. As well as the weekly catch-ups, students were encouraged to complete quizzes on Renaissance Reading. Words read and quizzes completed on this platform were another aspect of participation.

In the final week of Term 3, presentations were made by Mrs Marine Snyman, for the Kitty Mac Reading Challenge.

Congratulations to Ellie-Rose Reidy (1st place), Addison Keller (2nd place), Emily Bullock (3rd place) and Riozelle Sawit. Thank you for your fabulous participation in each of the topics for our inaugural Kitty Mac Reading Challenge. We encourage you all to keep reading and to continue to share your passion for reading. Your feedback for future challenges was invaluable.

On the last day of Term 3 the Coolock Library had their first ever Mercy Day stall. Badges celebrating reading and writing were available for purchase. Badges included ‘Cool Kids Read and Write’, ‘Read an Adventure - Explore the World’, ‘Fast Reader’, ‘Bikkies and Books - My Favourite!’, ‘I am a Real Reader’ and badges about banned books. They were so popular that all badges were sold. That means 138 badges celebrating literacy can now be worn proudly, with $69 raised. 

Banned Book Week happened to occur in the week of the Mercy Day celebrations so we had a range of titles on display that have been banned or challenged around the world. We also had Dr Seuss titles for students to relax and read over the course of the celebrations. We thank all students who took time to peruse and purchase badges, to view the displays and to read. You demonstrated recognition of the importance of books and reading at our College. Well done.

Mobile Dental Health Van Visit

We are pleased to inform you that Victoria Mobile Dental Health will be visiting Catherine McAuley College Bendigo on Tuesday 25 November to provide free dental services for eligible students.

Have you completed the consent form yet?

Please consent via the QR Code on the flyer before Monday 17 November. Hard-copy consent forms can be collected from the General Office if you prefer.

This initiative aims to promote good oral health and provide essential dental care to our students. More information about the Victoria Mobile Dental Health services is available on their website.

For any questions, please contact Mrs Monica Westbury, Healthcare & First Aid Coordinator, by phoning the College on 5445 9100 or emailing mailto:mwestbury@cmcb.vic.edu.au

School Sport Victoria - Loddon Mallee Regional Finals

TRACK & FIELD

On Thursday 9 October, twenty-six students from CMCB proudly represented the school at the Loddon Mallee Regional Track and Field Championships in Bendigo.

Despite a bit of wind, the weather was otherwise ideal, with a comfortable 20 degrees making for a great day of competition. The standard was high, and our students rose to the occasion, delivering fantastic performances. Many achieved personal bests and secured podium finishes—a testament to their hard work and determination.

A special mention goes to Mila Childs, who had an outstanding day with four individual first-place finishes and a win in the relay. She also broke the 14 Year Girls Long Jump record, jumping 5.33m, surpassing the previous record of 5.15m set in 2018.

As a school, we finished 3rd overall out of 45 schools, which is an impressive effort.

Eighteen students have now qualified for the SSV State Finals in Melbourne on Monday 20 October. We congratulate all students who have progressed and wish them the very best of luck. We look forward to seeing how they perform on the state stage.

Students who finished in the top 3

1st Place

• Eliza Evans – 16 Year Girls – Discus
• Mila Childs – 14 Year Girls – Triple Jump, Long Jump (Event Record 5.33m), 200m, 400m
• Grace Mulqueen – Open Girls – 3000m
• Chelsey Bennett – 13 Year Girls – Long Jump & Hurdles
• Emmett Kong – 15 Year Boys – Hurdles
• Abby Colt – 13 Year Girls – 100m
• Henry Kleinert - 13 Year Boys – High Jump
• April Wainwright – 14 Year Girls – 800m & 1500m
• Imogen Brown 15 Year Girls – 800m & 400m
• Jensen Sawyer – 13 Year Boys – Discus
• Lucy Pollock – 13 Year Girls – Shot Put
• 14 Year Girls 4x100m Relay – Marlie Skinner, Mila Childs, Sienna Raco, April Wainwright
• 15 Year Girls 4x100m Relay – Lilly Teuma, Imogen Brown, Etta Place, Abby Colt
• 17 Year Girls 4x100m Relay – Ruby Bath, Grace Mulqueen, Charlie McInerney, Hannah Guo

2nd Place

• Eliza Evans – 16 Year Girls – Javelin
• Mila Childs – 14 Year Girls – Shot Put
• Ellie Macumber 14 Year Girls – Hurdles
• Duncan Strachan – 15 Year Boys – Long Jump & Triple Jump
• Ruby Bath – 16 Year Girls – High Jump
• Grace Mulqueen – 16 Year Girls – 1500m

3rd Place

• Poppy Carter – Open Girls – 3000m
• April Wainwright – 14 Year Girls – 100m
• Etta Place – 14 Year Girls – Discus
• Ruby Bath – 16 Year Girls – Long Jump
• Lilly Teuma – 15 Year Girls – Shot Put
• Mitch Hannaford – 14 Year Boys – 400m
• Kahl McInerney – 14 Year Boys – Hurdles

Grace Mulqueen, Cash Caldis, Imogen Brown, Marlie Skinner, Jensen Sawyer, Jaxon Speirs, Henry Kleinert, Emmett Kong, Kahl McInerney, Duncan Strachan, Mila Childs, Ryan Packer, Etta Place, Mitchell Hannaford, Eliza Evans, Ruby Bath, Chelsey Bennett, Lucy Pollock, Abby Colt, April Wainwright, Poppy Carter, Ellie Macumber, Sienna Raco, Lilly Teuma, (Absent from photo: Hannah Guo, Charli McInerney)

School Sport Victoria - State Finals

SENIOR BOYS CRICKET

The Senior Boys Cricket Team continued their progression through the SSV tournament after qualifying for the semi-final back in Term 1. After some excellent performances throughout these games, the group were keen to get back together and rekindle some of that good form from earlier in the year.

Semi-final – CMCB vs Catholic College Sale

CMCB were pitted against Catholic College Sale in their semi-final match at Elgar Park in Box Hill, a fast outfield that was likely to produce high scoring. CMCB won the toss and batted first. Openers Xavier Grant and Oscar Cail got the team off to a blistering start with multiple boundaries in the opening overs. Xav was particularly devastating in racing to his fifty within the power play, as he found the boundary with ease. Oscar quickly got in on the act as well and reached his own half-century shortly afterwards. The carnage continued for the pair, as they constantly put the bowlers under pressure before Xav eventually fell for a sparkling 89 off 44 balls, with the score on 141 in the 12th over. This outstanding opening partnership provided a fantastic platform for the team.

Max Thompson was next to crease and continued to stay busy, whilst Oscar continued to keep the foot down, before being dismissed for a well-made 67 off 40 balls in the 16th over. Wickets fell regularly towards the back end of the innings as CMCB chased quick runs, with the score finishing on an impressive 5/207 off 20 overs.

The chase was always going to be a difficult one for Sale, particularly when Max took the first wicket of the Sale innings, as Angus O’Brien hung onto a high ball in the 2nd over. A sharp chance was then taken by Max in the next over off the bowling of Hugh Behrens to really emphasise the great start with the ball. Then CMCB applied the clamps and took regular wickets to bowl Sale out for 104, and progress through to the final with a comprehensive win. Multiple bowlers were used throughout the innings, with Max Thompson, Seb Rossi and Darby Whatley each collecting two wickets.

Final – CMCB vs Rowville Secondary College

CMCB won the toss in the final against a highly touted Rowville team and batted first. The start wasn’t as promising as the semi-final, with Oscar (3) and Xavier (14) falling early and putting the top order under pressure. Max was able to provide some resistance with the bat in scoring 27 along with Hugh (12), as Rowville put the clamps on. At 3/55 in the 8th over, the game was in balance, but a calm Harvey White (34) and Finn Millar (15) produced excellent knocks to keep the scoring board ticking over. Regular wickets fell throughout the second half of the innings as CMCB finished all out for 121 on the last ball of the innings - a score which was felt to be below par.

A great start with the ball from Hugh and Max got the CMCB into the contest, which proved to be the catalyst for setting the match up for a close finish. Two absolutely spectacular catches from the skipper Hugh, got the energy up early, and the confidence was high. Although Rowville were slightly behind the required rate at the midpoint of the innings at 2/47, the game was evenly poised. 

Two handy wickets from Oscar with his crafty off-spin were pivotal in stemming the flow of the Rowville innings. With three overs to go, 25 runs were required, and some cool heads were needed. Max was given the ball for the final over with Rowville requiring 12 to win the game. A wicket on the final ball of the innings, which sent the stumps flying, was a perfect way to end the day, with CMCB the winners by 5 runs.

A State Title is no mean feat, and the players should be extremely proud of their efforts and commitment throughout the tournament.

The team was also awarded the School Sport Victoria Spirit of Sport Award!. The Spirit of Sport bannerette is presented to the school that best exemplifies positive values, as chosen by the event Convenor and Umpires.

The criteria for the award include:

• Spirit of Sport: Demonstrating a positive attitude, love of sport, celebration of others, and inclusivity.
• Respect: Showing respect for opponents, teammates, officials, coaches, and spectators.
• Integrity: Practising fair play, honesty, and accepting mistakes.
• Leadership: Motivating others, setting a good example, and supporting teammates.

Congratulations to all team members! Winning the Spirit of Sport Award is a remarkable achievement that the entire school community can be proud of. Thank you for representing our community in such a respectful and positive way.

A big thank you also to Maree Pearce for organising, supporting and driving the bus and to Julieanne Hewitt for scoring throughout the tournament. You both make it very easy for the players to go out and perform.

Congratulations once again, boys on a sensational 2025 Campaign

Mr Winter-Irving (Coach)

Mr Mitch Winter-Irving (Coach), Finn Millar, Miller Armstrong, Angus O’Brien, Sebastian Rossi, Lachlan Wilson, Harvey White, Darby Whatley, Gus Hay, Xavier Grant, Hugh Behrens, Max Thompson, Oscar Cail

School Sport Victoria - Sandhurst Division

On a stunning Spring day, Term 4 Sport began with the Intermediate Girls Cricket Competition at the Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct ovals on Wednesday 8 October.

With five teams in the competition, the results of each game would determine how teams would progress through the rounds.

In Game 1, the CMCB team played Crusoe College in what turned out to be a thrilling match. The girls bowled first and did a great job restricting the talented Crusoe lineup to 67 runs off 13 overs, with Dempsey McDonnell, Layla O’Brien, Maddy White and Lexie Fennell all taking wickets. Mia Behrens (4) and Zara Mould (22*) started well with the bat and set a good foundation, taking quick singles and putting the pressure on the fielders. Maddy White (25*) then joined Zara at the crease as they batted brilliantly together to tick over the 68th run in the last over to secure the win. It was a great start to the day.

Game 2 saw the girls play Marist College Bendigo. This match was played in great spirits, as many of the opposition were new to the game. Marist batted first and made 44 runs in the allotted time, as all CMCB girls bowled at least 1 over. The girls were then clinical with the bat as Lexie Fennell, Dempsey McDonnell, Macey Pinner, and Chella Fitzgerald got the job done, reaching the target in just 8 overs.

These two wins secured the girls a spot in the final which just happened to be against Crusoe once again. However, this time around, Crusoe brought a new intensity and batted with flair as they raced to a score of 76 off 11 overs. With a massive total to chase, the girls started slowly, losing a quick wicket; however, Mia Behrens (8) was steady at the crease and formed a good partnership with Maddy White (22) as they set about chasing down the total. Macey Pinner (2) and Layla O’Brien (21) then added valuable runs and helped the team close in on the target. Sadly, the girls fell just short of the total required, finishing on 5/72.

It was a terrific effort by all.

The girls finished the day as runners-up and should be very proud of their efforts and the way they played and supported each other across all games played.

Special thanks to Callan Orr and Sienna Barnett for umpiring and scoring, and Mikayla Gladman for running the scoreboard. Your help was invaluable and appreciated.

Sienna Barnett, Mikayla Gladman, Mia Behrens, Rania Jackson-Leahy, Lexie Fennell, Zoe Reynolds, Madeline White, Callan Orr (umpire), Dempsey McDonnell, Macey Pinner, Bella Cail, Zara Mould, Layla O’Brien, Ty-Rae Warren, Chella Fitzgerld

School Sport Victoria - Sandhurst Division

JUNIOR GIRLS CRICKET

On Tuesday 8 October, the Year 7 and 8 Girls Cricket team proudly represented the College at the Sandhurst Division Girls Cricket Competition, facing off against Eaglehawk Secondary College and Bendigo South East College (BSE)in two 15-over matches at the MJSP.

In the opening game against Eaglehawk, the girls won the toss and chose to bowl first. The bowlers delivered an outstanding performance, restricting Eaglehawk to just 10 runs and bowling them out by the 10th over. Evie, Eden, Bethany, and Chelsea each claimed two wickets, whilst Macey kept the pressure on by bowling several maiden overs. The batters were clinical in the run chase, scoring the required runs within two overs. The only downside to this amazing win was that the match finished early, and batting opportunities were limited.

The second match saw the girls take on a strong BSE side. After losing the toss, the girls were sent in to bat. Macey led the charge with an impressive unbeaten 41 runs across two stints at the crease. Chelsea provided excellent support, holding her wicket and finding gaps on the offside, while Greta and Indie showcased smart running between wickets. The girls went on to post a competitive total of 78 runs.

In the field, the team maintained high standards, limiting BSE to 27 runs. Eden was a standout in the covers, taking three catches, and Chelsea continued her good form with two wickets. Greta, Elle, Evie, and Paige rounded out the bowling attack, each claiming crucial wickets.

Overall, the team demonstrated terrific skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the competition, making us proud of their efforts and results.

Thanks to our helpers on the day for scoring, umpiring and helping with our warmups. Charlie Macamber, Tayte Frawley, Beau Rosa and Solly Baker.

The team now progresses to the Loddon Mallee Regional Final, to be held once again at the MJSP on Thursday 16 October.

Evie Gretgrix, Sienna Raco, Elle Gilchrist, Macey White, Indie Kramer, Paige Kristiansen, Mrs Rachel Winfield (Coach), Chelsea Wilson, Bethany Ryan, Lucy Pollock, Eden Rooke, Greta Pollock

School Sports Victoria - Sandhurst Division

YEAR 7 BOYS CRICKET

On 13 November, the Year 7 Boys Cricket Team represented CMCB at the Sandhurst Division, taking on Eaglehawk Secondary and Bendigo South East Colleges in a thrilling day of cricket.

Game 1 - CMCB vs Eaglehawk Secondary College

CMCB won the toss and chose to bat first. Co-captain Jed Mannix wasted no time setting the tone, smashing a six off the third ball of the match. He continued his explosive form, racing to a quick-fire 50 before retiring. At the other end, opener Thomas Marasco played a steady hand, compiling a well-crafted 31.

Jensen Sawyer kept the momentum going after Jed’s retirement, adding a valuable 37 runs to the total. The team finished their 12 overs with a commanding score of 128.

With the ball, Solly Baker and Nash Campbell opened the attack with precision, taking 1/8 and 1/2 respectively. Max Carmichael chipped in with a wicket, and Patty Ingram delivered a brilliant direct-hit run-out. The total proved too much for Eaglehawk, and CMCB cruised to a dominant 75-run victory.

Game 2 – CMCB vs Bendigo South East College (BSE)

The second match saw the two undefeated teams face off for the Sandhurst Shield. BSE won the toss and elected to bowl. Jed Mannix once again led from the front, scoring 10 runs in the first over, including a flick off the pads for six from the second ball. He was dismissed in the third over with the score at 1/17.

Jensen Sawyer and Thomas Marasco then built a beautiful partnership, adding 77 runs and taking the total to 94 from the allotted 12 overs.

Jed and Jensen opened the bowling and executed their plans perfectly, restricting BSE to just 1/8 after four overs, effectively putting the game out of reach. Solly and Nash continued the disciplined bowling, and soon BSE required 15 runs per over from the final four overs. Thomas, Miller, Archie, and Isaac closed out the innings with tight bowling, sealing a 44-run victory for CMCB.

The boys displayed outstanding skill and sportsmanship throughout the day. Co-captains Jensen and Jed led by example, not only with their performances but also with their leadership. The team will be back in action with a short turnaround, returning to the field next Wednesday, 22 October.

We would also like to thank Callan Orr for helping on the day.

Callan Orr (umpire), Thomas Marasco, Nash Campbell, Isaac Manley, Patrick Ingram, Jensen Sawyer, Jed Mannix, Mr Xavier Dunham (Coach), Yuvraj Suri, Archie McCullough, Isaac Ely, Amos Edwards, Solly Baker, Miller Fletcher, Max Carmichael, Hamish Baker

School Sport Victoria - State Finals

SENIOR GIRLS

On Thursday 18 September, the Senior Girls Basketball Team participated in the SSV State Finals day at Parkville Sports Centre. After winning the regional and divisional levels to qualify for the finals, the girls were eager to begin their campaign.

The first game against Ballarat High School saw the girls fighting hard to score off turnovers and rebounds. They established a lead early and were able to maintain this going into the second half to secure a great first-up win.

The second game against Northcote High School was a tougher match, with an increase in physicality. Despite the close attention of the opposition, the girls were able to keep composed, score off turnovers, and gain many defensive rebounds, all of which led to their success. Team cohesion grew as a result of the win.

The third and final pool match against Western Heights Secondary College saw the girls start slowly and found themselves down at the first break by 6 points. After grouping at the break, the team's focus was to work hard defensively. This strategy paid off instantly as they were able to capitalise on steals, rebounds, and fouls, taking the lead early in the second half. With valued possessions, the girls were able to maintain their lead and progress through to the Grand Final with a 5-point win.

Going into the final against Box Hill Secondary College, who have won the tournament for the last three years, the team knew it would be a tough fight. The first half was close, and, despite a lot of shots not dropping, the girls went into the half-time break trailing by just 7 points. The second half was full of intensity as the girls did their best to try and peg back the margin. However, Box Hill proved too strong, firing up in the second half, hitting several 3-point shots whilst the CMCB girls once again couldn’t seem to land a basket. Although Box Hill won by 20 points, the CMCB team never gave up and hassled their opposition for the entire match, ensuring it was a tough fight for them.

We are extremely proud of the girls for their efforts, finishing as State Runners-up in a highly competitive competition. Thanks to Ms Dowling for coaching, Mr Hogan for his support throughout the day, Mrs Pearce for her photography skills, support, lollies, and driving the bus, and Kelly McDermott for scoring across the entire day.

Aubrey Holden, Jorja Brown, Ciarah McDermott, Lila Kelly, Mrs Madeline Dowling (Coach), Mia Harvey, Charlize Pinder, Lacey Nihill, Jaida Raco

SENIOR BOYS

Having clawed their way through the regional rounds, the Senior Boys Basketball Team were keen for the State Finals in Melbourne at the end of Term 3. The squad had some rotations due to the local football finals and player availabilities. Knowing that the boys would have to top the pool to be able to make the final, the team was eager to get into the action.

In the first game, the boys played against Ballarat High School in a regional rival clash. From the tip off, it was a tight game with each team scoring after the other, keeping the lead at halftime to only 2 points. Then in the second half, there was a bit more action with Cooper Cunnington, Josh Mundy and Jake Schubert hitting back-to-back-to-back threes to gain CMCB a larger lead. In the final couple of minutes, Ballarat pressed hard for a late comeback, but the boys held on to win the game 67-59

Game 2 against Sacred Heart College, Kyneton started at a high intensity with the first five minutes being extremely low-scoring and with nothing separating the two sides. The boys fought hard on the defensive end, stopping Sacred Heart’s runs of hot shooting, which enabled them to finish the half with a small lead.

Keen to build on their lead in the second half, the boys started well. Sacred Heart, however, increased the pressure and roared home with a strong scoring run, hitting any shot they put up and snagging the win in the dying minutes of a tight contest, despite the great defensive effort from the CMCB boys.

Game 3 was against Galen College, Wangaratta, and from the start, it was a challenge for the boys as they were all exhausted from the previous two games. The first half started slowly with Galen taking an early lead. After a bit of feedback and recovery time at the halftime break, CMCB came out firing with Jake Gribble hitting a tough 3-pointer, hyping everyone up. Sam Gibson rotated off the bench for his debut, and the boys then went on a rally, scoring through Tom Davie, Nick Harvey and Jake Schubert. They then continued to keep their composure, knuckling down in defence to take the lead and the win.

While the team missed qualifying for the final, they maintained consistent effort and application throughout the day and can be proud of making it this far in the competition. A huge thank you to Mrs Pearce for grabbing the wheel and steering us to the competitions throughout the year.

Thomas Davie, Jake Schubert, Gil Neilson, Nick Harvey, Mr Colin Hogan (Coach), Sam Gibson, Cooper Cunnington, Joshua Mundy, Jake Gribble

ALUMNI - ONLINE PLATFORM

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance and strengthen the CMCB Alumni community for the long term, all past students are invited to join our new Alumni network for improved engagement opportunities and a more enriching experience that is fun and private. The new platform provides endless opportunities to connect, engage, reminisce and stay informed. It will be the main way to promote upcoming events and reunions.

CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL DISCOUNT

A Catholic Primary Discount of $150.00 applies to families that have two or more children at Catherine McAuley College Bendigo (CMCB) and are paying Catholic primary school fees. This will be applied to fee accounts in Term 3.

Please complete the form linked below and have the Principal of the primary school your child/children attend authorise this application.

APPLICATION FOR EXTENDED LEAVE

As part of our ongoing commitment to support students in balancing their academic responsibilities with personal, family, and extracurricular commitments, we’d like to remind parents and carers about the process for notifying the school of extended student absences.

If your child will be away from school for an extended period - whether due to family matters, sporting commitments, travel, illness, or injury - please complete the Application for Extended Leave before their departure.

COLLECTING STUDENTS DURING THE DAY

The College is aware that families may need to collect their child from school during the day due to appointments or family emergencies. We ask parents and carers to please ensure that:

the General Office is notified in advance (this will be entered as a Leave Pass)

students are collected in the appropriate break time prior to the appointment.

To reduce the impact of class disruptions, preferred collection times are:

• St Mary's: 10.33 - 10.58am OR 1.10pm - 1.50pm (5445 9100 | absencesstmarys@cmc.vic.edu.au)
• Coolock: 11.17 - 11.42am OR 1.10pm - 1.50pm (5445 9100 | absencescoolock@cmc.vic.edu.au)