A common theme over the past fortnight has been how well our students have presented themselves and the College while out in the community. As well as players on our sporting teams who have demonstrated sportsmanship and integrity, students taking part in excursions, incursions and extracurricular activities have represented the College in ways that bring credit to themselves and our staff.

This newsletter shines a light on just some of the many achievements among our students, including Macey Rye’s courageous trip to South Korea, our musicians’ committed approach to their recent performances and our student leaders’ generous fundraising for Mercy Works.

Now past the halfway mark of Term 3, we are looking forward to some beloved College events to come, including Musician of the Year (next Thursday), Book Week (next week) and Mercy Day (on the last day of Term 3).

A reminder to all parents and carers that Student-led Conferences will be held throughout the day on Monday 7 September. All meetings are held online, and it is a pupil-free day to enable these important conversations. Bookings will open early next week. An SMS will be sent to families to advise once bookings are open in Parent Access Module (PAM). These meetings between teachers, parents and carers and the student are a great opportunity to develop the home/school partnership and build positive relationships in learning.

Catherine’s Café Warms Hearts and Supports Mercy Works

On Wednesday 19 August, the Senior Seeds of Justice team opened Catherine’s Café, serving hot chocolates and cinnamon donuts to students and staff. With the winter chill well and truly upon us, the warm drinks were a huge hit and proved to be the perfect treat on a rainy day.

Thanks to the wonderful support of our school community, the café raised a profit of $102, which will be donated to Mercy Works to support vulnerable communities both in Australia and overseas.

A big thank you to everyone who purchased a hot chocolate or donut and helped make Catherine’s Café such a success. Your generosity will make a difference to those in need.

On the morning of Monday 10 August, 35 students from Years 7 to 12 travelled to the Waurn Ponds campus of Christian College Geelong to compete in the annual Victorian School Music Festival (VSMF). 

This competition is open to all schools in Victoria, and the sections range from Novice through to Advanced. Our bands competed in the Intermediate section and the Junior Concert Band section, which is for students who have performed at fewer than two competitions of the VSMF. Criteria involved presenting works of contrasting genres and a work selected from a compulsory list.

Our students have been working on this music since the end of Term 1 and showed incredible musicality on the day, working with their Chief Adjudicator, Dr Rob McWilliams. Students represented the school admirably, showing their appreciation for the other schools performing on the day with enthusiasm and peer respect. 

The journey home involved the singing of many hit songs at volume, which only got louder when we received the news of our results. The Junior Concert Band received a Yamaha Performer's Award and the Senior Concert Band received a Gold Award for their section. Thanks to all of the families who have supported our students by getting them to rehearsals and the various performance events we have had so far this year. 

Congratulations to the instrumental teachers of all these students, as well as to their conductors: Ms Ingwersen and Miss Parry (Junior Concert Band) and Ms Ross (Senior Concert Band).

Arts Spectacular 2026: Creativity, Courage and Hard Work on Show

Arts Spectacular 2026 brought together students, families, staff and friends of Catherine McAuley College Bendigo to celebrate the works of our young artists and performers. The evening showcased a wide range of artwork, performances and creative projects, reflecting the talent, effort and commitment of our students under the direction of our passionate staff.

A special thank you to our Year 10 Hospitality students for preparing refreshments for guests, which were well received.

The evening also marked the launch of the Hector Miller Memorial Creative Industries Prize. Hector was a highly respected teacher whose passion for creativity, innovation, and learning had a lasting impact on many students. The new annual award will recognise a Year 10 student who demonstrates creativity, initiative and dedication in the creative industries. This award will be further promoted within the College in the coming week, with Arts staff encouraging all our creative students to apply.

The visual arts exhibition featured works from students in Years 7 to 11, while our Winter Concert featured performances from some of our co-curricular Instrumental Music students as well as our Junior and Senior Concert Bands and other ensembles. This was the perfect opportunity for our Junior and Senior Bands to prepare for their competition at the Victorian Music Schools Festival the following week.

Thank you to all students, staff, families and community partners who continue to support the arts at Catherine McAuley College Bendigo. Congratulations to every student who shared their work and helped make the evening a success.

We look forward to 2027 and already have plans for ways to improve the event so that more students may contribute. We hope to include outstanding work from our growing range of arts opportunities at the College, including Year 9 Introduction to Creative Industries, the Year 9 Arts Development Program, Year 9 Dance, and VCE VET Visual Arts pathways.

Please look out for information related to the CMCB annual Music Camp in December.

Awards and Prizes
We also acknowledged the College's key arts awards, including the Musician of the Year (27 August), the JRS Award, and the College Art Acquisition Prize, which recognises exceptional work by graduating students. These later awards will be presented at the College Laureate assembly early in 2027.

Thank you to the following staff – Mrs Nicole Villani (Arts and Technology Technician), Mrs Kaye Crapper, Mr Noah Rawlings, Ms Deb Ross and Ms Penny Ingwersen.

Our annual prestigious music event, Musician of the Year, will be held on Thursday 27 August at 6pm in the Marian Theatre at St Mary's. 

All members of our community are warmly encouraged to join the audience and be enthralled by our students' musical talent.  

This year, we are thrilled that international performer Alana Conway is joining the adjudicating team.

New Photo Management System: Pixevety

We are pleased to inform our school community that we have introduced Pixevety as our new photo management system.

The safety and privacy of our students are of the utmost importance to us. This change has been made to enhance the security of how student photographs are stored and managed by the College. Pixevety is a secure platform designed specifically for schools and education settings, offering improved protection of student images and personal information.

Pixevety incorporates robust privacy and security measures, and its practices align with guidance from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). By moving to this platform, we are strengthening our processes for the secure storage and management of photographs taken during school activities, events, and programs.

Important Information for Families

At this stage, Pixevety is being used for internal College purposes only. Families will not have access to the platform, and photographs will not be available for parent viewing or downloading through Pixevety at this time.

The system will simply provide a more secure way for the College to store, organise, and manage photographs of students for approved school-related purposes.

Photo Consent and Opting Out

We recognise that some families may prefer that their child's image is not stored within this system.

If you do not wish for your child's photographs to be stored in Pixevety, please notify the College in writing via info@cmcb.vic.edu.au. We will ensure that your preference is recorded and respected.

If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you consent to your child's photographs being managed through Pixevety in accordance with the College's existing photography and privacy policies.

If you have any questions about Pixevety or our photo management practices, please contact the College.

Thank you for your support as we continue to strengthen the security and privacy of student information and records.

Local author and past student, Amy Doak, visits Coolock

On Monday 17 August, we were fortunate to have local author and past student Amy Doak visit the Coolock Library.

Amy presented to a select group of students across Years 7, 8 and 9. She spoke about her journey to being published and her sources of inspiration. Her presentation was engaging, inspiring and thought-provoking, especially for budding authors in the audience.

Thoughts from Year 9s: 

‘Really interesting and informative, made me want to get back into writing!’ - Alice Bibby

‘I enjoyed the workshop because it showed what goes into writing a book and what we can do to write a novel. How we could plan the plot with the Who and How.’ - Sachleen Ladher

‘I learnt so much and can’t wait to read the series!’ - Hadley Green

Review by Xavier Rykers, Year 8:

On Monday 17 August, I got the incredible chance to meet Amy Doak. Amy is the author of the young adult mystery series ‘Eleanor Jones', and her standalone YA novel, ‘What have they done to Liza McLean?’. It was an amazing experience to hear about the process of writing a novel, and we were even given some tips and tricks for writing our own YA novel and becoming future writers. Overall, it was so unimaginably great to meet one of my personal favourite authors and get an insight into how she writes her books. On behalf of everyone who went, thank you to Amy and CMCB for this incredible opportunity.

Review by Philipa (Pip) Sibly Year 8:

On 17 August, Amy Doak, author of 'Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer', (also a former CMCB student), visited Catherine McAuley College Bendigo and gave students from each year level a talk about writing. She shared her experiences as an author and the struggles of writing a novel. She taught us that everyone writes differently, how important it is to find your voice when writing, and how everyone has a different thought process when writing. She also told us about her upcoming book, which is only just being looked at by publishers. It was a wholesome experience and highly inspiring.

On Monday 3 August, 25 Year 9 students attended a 'Come and Try Allied Health' day at Bendigo Tech School along with other Year 9 and 10 students from across Bendigo. 

The hands-on experience gave students the opportunity to explore a range of allied health careers, including Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology, Social Work, Allied Health Assistance, Podiatry, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy. 

Our students also visited La Trobe University, where they sat in a lecture theatre and heard from past students and industry professionals about the clients they work with, the pathways into these rewarding careers, and real-life case studies. The day provided valuable insight into the diverse opportunities available within the allied health sector and was an engaging experience for all involved.

While they were at Bendigo Tech School, two of our students were interviewed by WIN News.

Mercy Day 2026: Living Mercy Together

On Friday 18 September, our Catherine McAuley College Bendigo community will come together to celebrate Mercy Day, a special occasion that honours the legacy of Catherine McAuley and the values of compassion, service and justice that continue to guide our College. This year will be especially special as we also celebrate our Sesquicentenary.

This year's Mercy Day will be a vibrant day of celebration, community and fundraising in support of Mercy Works, our Term 3 awareness and fundraising focus. Mercy Works supports life-changing programs both in Australia and overseas, including community laundries in remote Aboriginal communities and initiatives that empower young people with disabilities in Timor-Leste.

Students are encouraged to:

• Wear their house-coloured clothing or costumes
• Bring a gold coin donation for Mercy Works
• Participate in our Mercy Day Liturgy
• Enjoy a range of fun activities and food stalls throughout the day

Purchase Your Mercy Day Wristband

To make the most of the day, families are encouraged to purchase a Mercy Day wristband via CDFPay before the event.

The wristband provides students with access to food and activities throughout the day and helps us streamline purchases and maximise our fundraising efforts. Purchased wristbands will be distributed on Mercy Day.

Every wristband purchased contributes to our Mercy Day fundraising efforts and helps support the important work of Mercy Works.

Thank you for your generosity and support as we come together to celebrate what it means to be Living Mercy in our community.

Please purchase your Mercy Day wristband via CDFPay before Friday 18 September.

In July 2026, I spent a week in South Korea on a program called the UN Youth Peace Camp. 

This program was designed to bring the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Korean War Veterans together. People from each of the 22 sending states have the opportunity to apply and potentially go to Korea. 144 participants were included in this year's camp, from 13 different countries. 

Each of us was allocated to a group of ten people (I was proudly Group 5). As part of our itinerary, we stayed in Seoul and Busan. We experienced many incredible things, including visits to Camp Greaves, Gyeonggi Province, the Korean Folk Village, Seoul National Cemetery, and the War Memorial of Korea. In Busan, we explored Taejongdae, the United Nations Peace Memorial Hall, the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, and Gwangalli Beach. We even got a live performance from ‘Hook’, a Korean dance group. 

However, the most enthralling aspect of the Camp was that within our individual groups, we were tasked with designing and presenting a product of our own design, meant to promote awareness of the program and the Korean War or, as it is commonly known, the Forgotten War. What was truly incredible about the Hackathon Project was that if you came first in the judges’ rankings, the South Korean government would manufacture and distribute your design. 

The most invaluable experience I had whilst in Korea was making amazing memories with amazing people that I will never forget. Overall, we were brought together to continue the collaboration and friendship our grandfathers and great-grandfathers began between each diverse nation 75 years ago in the same place. I believe we did them proud.

As we move through Week 6 of Term 3, we encourage all students to take a moment to reflect on a simple but powerful question: "Have you been your best self this week?"

Being your best self is not about being perfect. It is about making positive choices, showing respect to others, taking responsibility for your actions, and giving your best effort both inside and outside the classroom. Throughout this term, our focus has been on the behaviours that help create a positive learning environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and able to succeed.

We have been pleased to see many students demonstrating our school values through their actions, whether it is showing kindness to peers, staying engaged in learning, or contributing positively to our school community. We encourage students to continue reflecting on their behaviour each day and considering how their choices impact those around them.

As always, thank you to our families for your ongoing support in reinforcing these important messages at home. Together, we can help our students develop the habits and behaviours that will set them up for success both now and into the future.

Have you been your best self this week? If not, tomorrow is another opportunity to make a positive choice and start again.

Extended Leave Forms and Sports Permission Forms

Don’t forget to have your teachers sign your forms to suggest work you may be able to do while you are on extended leave, and also get your teacher’s feedback about whether you are up-to-date enough in class to participate in our sporting teams and extra-curricular activities.

Your friendly YLCs will collect your forms - come and see us any time!

Recognition of Achievement Awards- A Focus on Academic Growth

Congratulations to the following students for their terrific start in their Technology subjects this Semester:

• Pania Hargreaves-Peita
• Matilda Kearns
• Finn Scott
• Lucy Ludeman
• Axis Wharton

Kyabram Fauna Park

Over the past two weeks, all Year 7 classes have been to the Kyabram Fauna Park to support the learning they are currently doing in STEAM. It has been a worthwhile experience, bringing together the theory taught in school and practical experience gained on the excursion.

When we went to Kyabram Fauna Park, we saw many different animals, including peacocks, dingoes, meerkats, and pigeons. My favourite part was that they had an old house that belonged to the people who used to live in that area, and lots of old machinery and blacksmithing tools around the house. It gave us an insight into how the people lived back then, as it said on the house that it was built in 1867. Harriet

I enjoyed the fauna park because we were able to learn about animals that we would not usually come across in Victoria. My favourite animals were the Wombat and the Tasmanian Pademelon. Tessa

The meerkats were fun and were friendly. The dingos were also nice. Harrison

Learning Focus: Small Group Music Sessions

This week we provide a glimpse into the small-group classes that our Year 7 students participate in as part of their music program. It was a privilege to move through each space and listen to the excellent tuition provided by each music teacher as they learn to play their instruments. How lucky are our Year 7 students to have this opportunity!

Mrs Kim Greenwell, Mr Sebastian Greene, Mrs Sarah Cody and Ms Alyssa Lemon, Year 7 Leadership Team

Welcome to Week 6 of term 3. The time is really flying by. Most classes will have completed one assessment task and be working towards their formative assessments. Please make a routine of checking your PAM account and SIMON with your child to ensure there are no overdue tasks.

Commendations

Our latest Bronze (10 or more) Commendations are awarded to Eddie Mansfield, Tommy Harrop and Solly Baker. Well done boys, you are all ‘shining lights’ as Catherine McAuley would say!

Mercy Day

As part of the school’s major fundraising event, all staff and students are asked to donate prizes. This year Year 8s are running the Balloon Dart Throw. Students will volunteer their time via a roster system. Also, students are asked to bring in single chocolates, small prizes or lollies for Mercy Day Prizes. Please hand them in to the General Office or the YLC’s office.

Any donations are greatly appreciated.

Book Week

• Book Week will occur in Week 7 of Term 3. Some activities happening in Book Week are:
• Movies during Break 2 in the Library
• Dress up day
• Amy Doak, author of the ‘Eleanor Jones’ series, visited the school ahead of Book Week

COMPETITIONS

• Cake Competition
• Playlist on your favourite books - 8 Songs
• A3 Poster on the theme of Book Week this Year: ‘Symphony of Stories’
• Teacher shelfies - Pictures up in the library match the bookshelf to the teacher.
• Summarise a Novel in 6 Words

We cannot wait to showcase some of the amazing contributions in future editions of our Year 8 newsletter.

Out and About

Year 8 Food Technology students made sushi and Banh Mi. It looked fantastic. Note the words spelt out in food on the plates. Well done!

Sports Updates

School Sports Victoria: Sandhurst Division Year 8 Basketball

On Monday 10 August, the Year 8 Girls and Boys Basketball teams represented the College at the Sandhurst Division tournament held at Red Energy Arena. Both teams had a fantastic day.

School Sports Victoria: State Quarter Final: Junior Girls Football

Our Junior Girls Football team travelled to Ballarat on Tuesday 11 August, to take on Maribyrnong Sports Academy in the School Sport Victoria State Quarter Final. They worked hard in windy and damp conditions, their effort, resilience and determination against a very strong Maribyrnong side never wavered, and they represented the College exceptionally well.

Well done to all staff and students for contributing to our latest newsletter.

Have a wonderful fortnight

Mrs Hayley Lethlean, Mr Josh Hann and Mrs Marine Snyman

Throughout Semester 1, our Year 9 Active for Life students participated in a range of community-based activities, designed to provide real-world insights into the physical activity opportunities available to people at different stages of life. These experiences included Pitch and Putt, Lawn Bowls, Croquet, Squash, Roller Hockey, Disc Golf and Ten Pin Bowling.

Our Semester 2 classes are currently enjoying the same opportunities, with these hands-on experiences helping to bring their classroom learning to life. By exploring a variety of activities within the wider community, students are developing a greater understanding of the importance of lifelong participation in physical activity and recreation.

It has been particularly pleasing to hear the positive feedback received from community members and volunteers about how our students have conducted themselves. They have represented the College with pride, demonstrating the Mercy Values through their respectful interactions, positive attitudes and engagement within the community.

Designing for Dignity, Independence and Inclusion

Product Design Technologies – Unit 2

Our VCE Product Design Technologies Unit 2 students recently welcomed Claire Murray (Catherine McAuley College Bendigo Occupational Therapist), who shared how human-centred and inclusive design can improve the lives of people living with disabilities. Through real-world case studies, students explored how thoughtful design solutions can remove barriers, promote independence, and create greater participation in everyday life.

Claire's presentation highlighted the strong connection between design and allied health, demonstrating how skills developed through Product Design Technologies can contribute to careers focused on improving health and wellbeing.

The students were set a challenge to come up with design options that would suit one of the individuals presented in the case study. Students are now using this information to investigate their own case study and apply their findings to Semester 2 design projects, developing innovative solutions that support dignity, independence, and inclusion.

Year 10 Art, Painting Unit 2 

Year 10 Art students again had the opportunity to work with guest artist Grace Murphy.

Grace returned to CMCB to speak to students about her work and professional practices as a full-time studio artist.

Grace is a young Victorian artist working between rural Victoria and Melbourne. After studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts, Grace now paints in her studio with oil paints on wood panels. By 23, she had held multiple solo and group exhibitions across the state. Her work is held in private collections, and one of her portraits hangs in an academic dining hall.

Determined, inspiring, talented and ambitious, Grace is building a very impressive artistic career.

Year 12 Graduation Photos

Ordering is now open for Year 12 Graduation Photos. Orders will remain open until Friday 16 October 2026.

Year 12 Group photo will be taken on Tuesday 15 September at 9.00am in the Marian Centre.

Individual portraits will be taken later in the morning in the St Mary's Hall. Students must be in full academic uniform for all photos. Gowns for the individual photos will be supplied.

This term Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. You're invited to join their parent webinar series, where you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they're learning at school. Register via link below.

Term 3 Webinars

1. How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!) – 2 September 6:30pm 
2. How You Can Support Your Child During Exams – 16 September 6:30pm 

Register for Elevate Education Term 3 Webinars

Register for Elevate Education Term 3 Webinars and learn some great practical strategies to help support your child this year.

ABOUT Elevate Study Skills Program

Within the classroom, CMCB has implemented the Elevate Education study skills program, grounded in seventeen years of global research into student performance. Elevate has identified the habits that distinguish top-performing students, and its seminars and resources are designed to help students of all abilities adopt these habits. This leads to more effective learning outcomes and improves overall academic performance. Students sequence through all of the program across Years 11 and 12.

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA STATE QUARTER FINAL

Junior Girls Football

Our Junior Girls Football team travelled to Ballarat on Tuesday 11 August to take on Maribyrnong Sports Academy (MSA) in the School Sport Victoria State Quarter Final.

In windy and damp conditions, the girls started the contest strongly, with our midfielders getting first use of the ball and driving it forward. MSA had an incredibly strong team out on the park, cutting the ball off across half-back and enabling them to kick three first-quarter goals. Lucy Pollock and Scarlett Woodmore did their best to stop the attacking play from MSA and held up our backline well.

In the second quarter, our midfielders, led by captain Zara Grieve, started to link up with handball and get some further run-and-carry going into the breeze. Macaila Bannan and Layla Hand moved in to support the backline, and the girls did an excellent job of wrestling back the momentum in the second quarter, but were unable to hit the scoreboard. Annaleise Bergman continuously cut off the attacking play from MSA, giving our girls plenty of rebounding chances.

To the girls’ credit, the positive energy remained high, and they came out in the second half and kicked three goals in quick succession. Two goals to Lola McGrath and another to Phoebe Pederesen capped off the great teamwork up the ground against a formidable MSA team.

At the beginning of the last quarter, the girls still believed they could make a game of it, especially off the play of Perry Westley, Macaila Bannan and Layla Hand in the midfield. Stella Rooke gave us a good target on the wings and Eden Rooke battled hard in and under the packs throughout the whole contest. Unfortunately, the MSA girls were able to kick several goals with the breeze and run away with the win.

Our Junior Girls team should be incredibly proud of the hard work, effort and commitment they showed during their entire campaign. A big thank you to Etta Place, April Wainwright and Evie Gretgrix who helped out during the campaign, along with Mrs Speed for all her amazing work as our Team manager and Sports co-ordinator.

Final Score: Maribyrnong Sports Academy 8.5 (53) defeated CMCB 3.5 (23)
Goals: Lola McGrath 2, Phoebe Pedersen
Best Players: Macaila Bannan, Zara Grieve, Layla Hand, Annaleise Bergman, Eden Rogers, Perry Westley

TEAM: Mr Lee Coghlan (Coach), Millie Balic, Phoebe Pedersen, Scarlett Woodmore, Darcy Rodda, Lucy Pollock, Layla Hand, Isabel Baker, Emily Harris, Lola McGrath, Stella Rooke, Cammie Fitzgerald, Greta Pollock, April Wainwright (Helper), Etta Place (Helper), Thea Hulls, Eden Rooke, Colbie O’Bree, Zali Barry, Macaila Bannan, Zara Grieve, Florence Lapthorne, Indi Saunders, Elsie Gretgrix, Ayla Nihill, Perry Westley

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA STATE QUARTER FINAL

Intermediate Girls Football

Our Intermediate Girls Football team travelled to Ballarat on Monday 10 August to take on Maribyrnong Sports Academy in the School Sport Victoria State Quarter Final.

The day began with less-than-ideal conditions after heavy rain overnight. We arrived at White Flat Oval to find large pools of water across the ground, and after an inspection the oval was deemed unsafe for play. As a result, all players and officials were relocated to Eastern Oval, where the other quarter-final was being played. While the new venue was in better condition, it was still extremely wet and boggy. Due to the conditions, games were shortened to two 20-minute halves.

We knew Maribyrnong would provide a tough challenge and the game started with plenty of intensity. The tackling pressure from both teams was outstanding, and with the difficult conditions, our focus was on gaining territory and avoiding overusing the ball.

Maribyrnong made the most of their opportunities in the first half, kicking several excellent goals despite the wet, slippery conditions. Our girls competed strongly around the contest and worked hard defensively, but we went into halftime trailing by three goals.

The second half was much more even, with CMCB controlling more of the football and spending longer periods in attack. The girls continued to work hard and created opportunities going forward, but found scoring difficult in the challenging conditions. Despite their efforts, we could only add three behinds to the scoreboard.

While the result didn't go our way, the girls should be proud of the way they competed throughout the match. Their effort, resilience and determination against a very strong Maribyrnong side never wavered, and they represented the College exceptionally well.

Final Score: Maribyrnong Sports Academy 4.2 (26) defeated CMCB 0.3 (3)

Best Players: Macey Pinner, Poppy Eaton, Etta Place, Marlie Skinner and Sophie Healy

TEAM: Amelia Brown, Ella Saunders, Etta Place, Elke Fletcher, Georgia Bray, Lexi Jones, Molly Doherty, Marlie Skinner, Forest Jackson-Leahy, Sienna Raco, Macey Pinner, Mr Leigh Millard (Coach), Milla Dalton, Ruby Kelly, Zara Mould, Sophie Healy, Poppy Carter, Elle Gilchrist, Poppy Eaton, April Wainwright, Layla Burn

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA SANDHURST DIVISION

Basketball

Year 7 Girls

The Year 7 Girls Basketball team enjoyed a highly successful tournament, showcasing immense growth, dominant play, and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day.

The competition began with a tough, physical match against Crusoe College, where our girls took some time to gel and settle into their structures before securing a hard-fought 20-14 victory. From that point on, the team truly found their groove. They unleashed a suffocating full-court pressure against Bendigo South East College (BSE) to win 27-2, followed by commanding performances against Marist College Bendigo(43-3) and Castlemaine Secondary College (53-2).

In the final round game, the girls defeated Victory Christian College 28-8, setting up a grand final rematch against the same side. The team continued their strong dominance in the grand final, using great defence and fast play to outclass Victory once again and secure the Sandhurst Championship title with a 34-8 win.

Well done to all players, Chloe, Perry, Eme, Eily, Ariah, Shylah, Makayla, Eden and Lyra, who contributed throughout the day in what was a fantastic team effort. A huge thank you also to our helpers Lilly, Lexi, and Lucy.

TEAM: Mrs Julie Fennell (Coach), Lucy Beasley (Helper), Shylah Whittle, Eily Ellis-Fedke, Chloe McSwain, Makayla Jackson, Lyra Haythorpe, Eden Rogers, Emerson Arundell, Perry Westley, Ariah Whittle

Year 7 Boys

The Year 7 boys represented the College with great enthusiasm throughout the Sandhurst Year 7 Basketball Competition. Across all matches, they displayed excellent sportsmanship, encouraged one another, and competed with a positive attitude regardless of the result. Their teamwork and resilience were evident throughout the day, and it was pleasing to see the enjoyment they took from playing together.

In Game 1, the team faced a strong side from Victory and despite their efforts, they went down by 10 points. Despite the loss, the boys remained positive, worked hard defensively, and showed great character against quality opposition.

The team responded strongly in Game 2, defeating Eaglehawk Secondary College by 33 points. The boys moved the ball well, communicated effectively on the court, and played with confidence, resulting in an impressive team performance.

Game 3 was one of the closest contests of the day. The boys narrowly lost to Marist College Bendigo by just 1 point in a hard-fought match. While the result was disappointing, the boys showed incredible determination and composure in a highly competitive game.

In Game 4, the boys battled hard to earn a draw against BSE. It was an evenly matched contest throughout, and the team demonstrated persistence and teamwork to stay in the game until the final whistle.

The boys returned to winning form in Game 5, defeating Castlemaine Secondary College by 20 points. Their defensive pressure and willingness to work for each other were key factors in this victory, and they played with great energy throughout.

In their final match, Game 7, the team finished on a high with a convincing 24-point win over Crusoe College. The boys played with confidence, shared the ball unselfishly, and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to finish the tournament with a strong performance.

Overall, the boys should be commended for the way they conducted themselves throughout the competition. They demonstrated respect for their opponents, officials, and teammates at all times, while also showing incredible pride in representing the school. Most importantly, they enjoyed the experience, supported one another, and contributed positively both on and off the court. Their efforts resulted in a successful and enjoyable day of basketball.

Thank you to James Everton, Year 9, for taking the lead with refereeing for the day; without him, the competition could not have gone ahead.

TEAM: Jake Gribble (Year 12 Coach), Samuel Gee, Harry Rees, Hunter Horby, Jude Place, Mr Sebastian Greene (Coach), Oliver Clarke, Henry Macnee, Lenny Anderson, Archer Griffin, Mitchell Manley, Maxwell Kingdon

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA SANDHURST DIVISION

Basketball

On Monday 10 August, the Year 8 Girls and Boys Basketball Teams represented the College at the Sandhurst Division tournament held at Red Energy Arena. Both teams had a fantastic day and their results are below.

Year 8 Girls

The Year 8 girls demonstrated outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the day. Their campaign began with a commanding victory over Eaglehawk Secondary College. They finished with a score of 31‍-6‍, which not only saw them play some terrific team-focused basketball, but it also gave them some confidence to build on across the day.

In Game 2, the team continued their strong form, defeating Weeroona College, 38-6.

Despite a determined effort in Game 3, the girls fell short of another win to a formidable Marist College Bendigo team, who simply outclassed them at times, which proved to be the difference, going down 15-25.

The girls bounced back in Game 4, securing an impressive win against East Loddon P-12 College, 18-6.

Although the team narrowly missed out on a Grand Final berth, finishing second in their pool behind eventual champions Marist, their commitment and spirit were evident in every match. Special thanks to Emily Harris and Greta Pollock for their invaluable help with scoring.

Congratulations to the team members: Darcy Rodda, Macey Nielsen, Arie Dean, Lucy Pollock, Colbie O’Bree, Eliza Main, and Indianna George, for representing the College with pride.

TEAM: Mrs Rachel Winfield (Coach), Darcy Rodda, Lucy Pollock, Indianna George, Arie Dean, Emily Harris, Colbie O’Bree, Eliza Main, Macey Nielsen, Greta Pollock

Year 8 Boys

Our Year 8 Boys Basketball team had an outstanding day at the recent Sandhurst tournament, winning four of their five matches and finishing as runners-up.

The boys started strongly with a 35-7 victory over Eaglehawk Secondary College. Isaac led the defensive effort with some tough defence, while Jessie impressed with several intercepts and Chetty moved the ball well with some excellent passing.

In Game 2, the team defeated Weeroona College, 24-4. Eddie dominated the boards with strong rebounding, while Gus helped control the game through smart playmaking.

A hard-fought third match against Marist College Bendigo saw the boys come away with a 10-5 win. Jensen produced a huge defensive performance, Josh showed excellent ball control, and Will scored some crucial baskets at key moments.

The team finished the pool matches with a convincing 35-4 win over East Loddon P-12 College. Tommy was outstanding in finishing scoring opportunities, while Archie sealed the victory with calm free-throw shooting late in the game.

In the final against Victory Christian College, the boys battled hard against strong opposition. Will was dominant in offence, while Isaac and Josh applied constant pressure to the opposition ball carriers. Despite their efforts, the team went down 9-18 to finish as tournament runners-up.

A big thank you goes to Marcus for scoring throughout the day, Jake Gribble for helping coach, as well as the umpires and parents for their support and encouragement. The boys represented the school with pride and displayed great sportsmanship and teamwork. They should be very proud of their efforts.

We would also like to thank our Year 9 Leaders, James Everton, Aaron Crewes and Lilly McMaster, who refereed for the day; they were very professional and ensured the day ran smoothly.

TEAM: Marcus Thomas, Chetty Ferguson, Jesse Cox, Eddie Mansfield, Jensen Sawyer, Will Shadbolt, Jake Gribble (Year 12 Coach), Isaac Manley, Gus Ritchie, Joshua Prowse, Tommy Harrop, Archie Walsh, Mr Dan Arnott (Coach)

SESQUICENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Throughout 2026, we have been celebrating and honouring the pioneering spirit of the founding Sisters and the thousands of children and educators who have been part of the Mercy story.

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 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.

Other Reunions in 2026

Class of 1976 50-Year Reunion (SMC & MBC)
Saturday 3 October
Shamrock Hotel Bendigo
BOOK

Class of 1991 35-Year Reunion
Saturday 24 October at 7pm
Rifle Brigade Hotel, View Street, Bendigo

Class of 1996 30-Year Reunion
Saturday 17 October
Details to be confirmed

Class of 2006 20-Year Reunion
Saturday 3 October from 5pm
Rifle Brigade Hotel
RSVP

Class of 2016 10-Year Reunion
Saturday 7 November from 5pm
Rifle Brigade Hotel
RSVP

The 2026 College Home Handbook is now available. 

This comprehensive resource has been designed to support all our families by outlining the wide range of opportunities our College provides. Inside, you will find clear information about our academic and pastoral programs, as well as easy access to key policies, procedures, and helpful links.

The Handbook aims to assist families in understanding how we support students at every stage of their learning journey, from their first day through to their senior years. It brings together the essential details you may need across all year levels, ensuring you feel informed, supported, and connected with College life.

We warmly encourage you to take the time to read through this document and download a copy as a reference throughout the year.

Mrs Suzie Kemp and Mr Len Watson, Assistant Principal Campus Directors

Key Dates for 2026

Important dates for your calendar, including Pupil Free Days, camps and major College events. Click on the link below and download the poster for the current term.

Information is correct at the time of publication, but families are advised to log in to the Parent Access Module (PAM) for the latest College Calendar updates.

Class Times 2026

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.

As a school community, we remain committed to providing a safe, supportive, and focused learning environment for every young person in our care. In recent years, personal digital devices have become an increasingly prominent part of students’ lives – particularly for students in Years 7 to 9 - and with this has come a range of challenges for schools and families.

The Federal Government has recently implemented a social media ban for children under the age of 16, aimed at protecting young people. However, currently, many students’ daily online behaviours remain unchanged.

UPDATED ARRANGEMENTS AT COOLOCK FROM TERM 2

In response, and to better support student wellbeing, learning, and safety, Coolock will be implementing small, but important adjustments to the Student Use of Personal Digital Devices (PDD) Policy and Procedure, effective from the start of Term 2.

These changes apply only to students at Coolock and do not apply to students at St Mary’s.

The updated Policy, Procedure, FAQs, and a student poster are linked belowfor your reference.

What we are seeing in Years 7–9

In these year levels, we are experiencing:

• A significant increase in online bullying occurring during school hours, often through hidden messaging apps
• Unauthorised photos, videos, and recordings being taken and shared without consent
• Students filming incidents rather than seeking support from staff
• Social conflicts escalating as messages sent during class or breaks impact learning time

These behaviours can have serious emotional, social, and legal consequences for young people.

Reducing access to personal devices during the school day supports students to:

• Focus on learning
• Build healthier friendships
• Feel less anxious
• Take a break from constant online pressures
• Engage more fully in real‑world conversations and experiences

Key adjustments for families and students

A PDD includes mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, wireless or Bluetooth headphones/earbuds, and any emerging voice or data device that connects to a commercial mobile telecommunications service.

From Term 2

• Students must not enter the Coolock campus with phones in hand; Personal digital devices must be in bags on arrival.
• Phones must be locked in lockers upon arrival and remain there for the entire school day. These are to be switched off.
• Students may access their phones only at the end of the school day.

Our partnership with families

We appreciate your support as we implement these changes. We ask parents and carers to:

• Talk with your child about responsible and respectful device use.
• Reinforce the seriousness of recording others without permission.
• Support the school when devices are restricted or removed.
• Model healthy digital habits at home.
• Trust the school to manage student safety and wellbeing during the school day.

Together, these measures will help create a calmer, safer, and more focused learning environment for all students.

“Families and the College working together always builds stronger partnerships.

In Terms 2 and 3, all students wear the winter academic uniform, with exceptions granted on days designated for specialist or co-curricular activities where the sport uniform is approved.

Students are required to wear the correct sports uniform on their designated sports days. This includes the approved sports top and correct tracksuit pants. Students who wear an incorrect sports uniform will receive a uniform infringement.

On all other school days, students are expected to wear their full academic uniform, including their blazer.

We appreciate your support in maintaining high standards of uniform, which contributes to a sense of pride and belonging within our school community.

To ensure clarity, we’ve summarised key aspects of the uniform expectations in the Uniform Update linked below.

Please note:

• The College blazer is a compulsory winter uniform item and is worn as a top layer (with or without the jumper underneath).
• Blazers must be worn to and from school in Terms 2 and 3. At school, blazers are to be worn for Mercy Homegroup and classes through to recess. After this, they can be stored in students' lockers for the rest of the day if they are too hot. The blazer does not need to be worn during break times.
• Students must wear the College tie and appropriate leather lace-up shoes with academic uniform, rather than sports shoes.
• Long sleeve or short sleeve shirts to be worn, tucked in.
• Long pants or shorts may be worn.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT UNIFORM IN PAM

• Log in to Parent Access Module PAM for the Student Code of Conduct and Uniform Policy, or visit the Uniform page on the College website.

The College has been advised by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) that changes are being made to School Town Special buses from the start of Term 3. This will apply to several buses on the Urban Bus Network. The changes are designed to improve services by increasing capacity and efficiency to meet growing demand.

More information, including updated timetables and maps, is included in the attached letter.

The Country Bus, CMCB Charter Bus and Castlemaine Bus Networks will not be affected by these changes and will continue to run as normal.

Sandpiper E-News

Sandpiper e-News is the official communication platform for the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst. It features news from the Bishop, the Chancery, the Mission and Pastoral Life Team, parishes, schools and Catholic entities across the Diocese of Sandhurst.