MARY MacKillop College, Nundah, proudly celebrates 50 years of Josephite secondary education – and the rich heritage which precedes it – on August 10.
In July 1915, Archbishop James Duhig purchased the convent property and invited the Sisters of St Joseph to come from Sydney to open a school at Nundah.
The Sisters arrived in January 1916 and opened a primary day and boarding school soon afterwards.
The college was opened in 1964 under the principalship of Sr Vincent in response to the growing need for Catholic girls’ secondary education throughout Queensland as a result of the abolition of Scholarship.
In the spirit of St Mary MacKillop never seeing a need without doing something about it, the Sisters provided an innovative education for local girls.
The college embraced a full secondary school syllabus for junior and senior students including home science, science, academic and commercial streams.
About 180 students were enrolled at the school, some coming from as far away as Caboolture although most came from the Nundah, Windsor, Northgate, Banyo, Wavell Heights, Zillmere and Bald Hills areas.
In the 1970s, under the leadership of Sr Paul (Evelyn Pickering), the college was re-named Corpus Christi to avoid confusion with St Joseph’s Primary School and St Joseph’s College Nudgee.
A hallmark of the principals of Corpus Christi College, Sr Bridget Moloney and Sr Janet McDougall, has been their ability to embrace contemporary educational and curriculum changes.
The first lay principal Niall Coburn was appointed in 2004.
During his first four years, Mr Coburn collaborated with the Sisters to consolidate and strengthen the MacKillop and Josephite identities at the college, resulting in the development of the “Principles of Josephite Ministry”.
These principles, together with the “Educational Framework” established, became the foundation for the development of the three elements of the “Strategic Plan: the Pastoral, Curriculum and Strategic Development Frameworks”.
A momentous change occurred in 2009 – the year that marked the centenary of the death of Mary MacKillop.
To commemorate this event, Corpus Christi College’s name was officially changed to Mary MacKillop College.
At the beginning of the following year a transition ritual formally instituted the new symbols including a new uniform for the college.
College justice captain Laura Mulherin recently noted that while there had been many changes, from buildings to the uniforms during her five years at the college the most important aspects had stayed the same.
“Every day that I have strolled through the gates I have been in the presence of some of the best people I have ever met, people who encompass the spirit of our college within them in everything they do,” Miss Mulherin said.
Donna Griffiths is a staff member who has witnessed many changes in the 30 years she has been at the college.
Teaching at Mary MacKillop College has been a large part of her life and she has remained not because it is safe or comfortable but because the students give her a sense of hope.
In addition to working with many high-achieving students during her time at the college Ms Griffiths said “the young women of this college embrace difference, assist those with learning difficulties and accept those with different cultural or religious background”.
“In a word, attending Mary MacKillop College means you are part of a community, a family,” she said.
Past staff and students will gather together with the Sisters of St Joseph, Brisbane Catholic Education representatives and invited guests on August 10 to celebrate this sense of family with a Golden Jubilee Mass at 10.30am followed by morning tea and a walk down memory lane with the help of photographs, past uniforms and other memorabilia.
All past community members are welcome to the celebrations.
The college will then open its doors to the public for its Open Day from 1-4pm.
