FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

It was wonderful to gather last week as a community, welcoming many families to celebrate excellence in diligence, effort, and academic studies. We are very proud of these young women and in what they have achieved. I am always particularly impressed with the increasing number of students being awarded Diligence awards, as this speaks volumes to the positive and empowering learning culture we strive to foster in this College.

We were also able to recognise Catholic Education Week acknowledging and celebrating how in Catholic school ministries, which are communities of faith, hope and love, we seek to empower everyone to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society. We were also able to congratulate Adelaide Burke, our Faith & Mission Prefect who was awarded the 2024 Deus Caritas Award for our College at the Townsville Catholic Education Mass held at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Monday of this week. Adelaide demonstrates a deep love for God, others, and self.  She exemplifies the Gospel values through thought, deed and action and is always prepared to listen to and empathise with others, showing dignity and respect to all. Her passion for social justice is undeniable, regularly organising and supporting a myriad of Mercy Girls in Action activities and events. Adelaide truly shows “love for God and others” and is a “gift of self” for others.  She demonstrates the Mercy values of compassion, justice, dignity, respect and hospitality in all that she does and we are very proud of her and all that has achieved and no doubt will achieve in the future. 

We also celebrated the nominations of Joanna Pacey and Gayle Walkom for the 2024 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards. These nominations recognise staff members in Catholic school ministries that enliven Catholic identity and ethos to support flourishing and thriving communities of faith, love, and hope. I am so grateful to Jo and Gayle, who through their very different roles are helping to cultivate a deeper sense of belonging within our community, fostering an environment where our students and their families feel valued, understood, and supported. Through collaborative efforts with students, staff, parents, and community members, Jo and Gayle create opportunities for connection, understanding, and empathy, thereby strengthening the bonds that unite our Catholic community. They are both so humble in their ways of working and would never seek public recognition for what they do, but this nomination is recognition of their invaluable impact and contribution they make to this Mercy community.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise and thank Amy Byrnes and Chris Pacey for organising and facilitating the 2024 STEM Trek to the US over the holiday break. From all accounts it was very successful. I also thank John Goulter, Rachel Cairns and Conni Mosch for organising and facilitating the World Choir Games Tour in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand a few weeks ago. Our incredible International Choir Group earned a Silver Diploma Level IV. Competing in the Youth Choir Category with singers aged 13 to 25, our College was the highest-ranked high school choir from Australia in the Open competition during week one. Congratulations to all involved!

I am looking forward to the semester ahead, full of possibilities and opportunities to bring our 2024 College theme to Live and Learn with Courage and Heart.

God bless.

Amber Hauff

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL