Mercy Regional College eNewsletter

Prayer

Merciful make my heart,

O God,

Mercy full as Yours,

with space for need and time to pause,

right for love and pledged to good.

Merciful make my heart.

Mary Wickham

Principal's Message

It has been an exciting start to the term, and I want to acknowledge the many ways our students have contributed across the College. From shining in theatre, tackling new learning challenges, representing us proudly in chess, and stepping back in time through the Medieval experience, to giving their all in sport and serving the community, our young people have embraced every opportunity. Added to this has been the creativity and service of the VET Hospitality Pop-Up Canteen, the professionalism shown through their lunch services, and the courageous preparation for Mercy’s annual Junior Oratory Competition and Mercy Education Limited’s Frayne Speech Festival. Together, these efforts show that the spirit of Mercy Regional College is alive and thriving, reflecting not only talent and hard work but also the vibrant culture of our College, where every gift is valued and celebrated.

These opportunities are only possible through the dedication of our staff and the generosity of our wider community. We are grateful for teachers and support staff who give so much of their time and energy, parents and carers who assist with coaching, umpiring, and scoring, backstage hands who work quietly behind the scenes, and former students and staff who continue to share their gifts with us. This spirit of generosity and collaboration is what makes Mercy such a special place, ensuring our young people have every chance to grow, learn, and succeed.

Shining brightly last week were the cast and crew of our 2025 School Production, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Youth Edition). Our students poured their talent, energy, and joy into every rehearsal and performance, both on stage and behind the scenes, and their efforts lit up the hearts of all who attended. Alongside the performers, many students contributed through backstage support, hair and make-up, lights and sound, set construction, and catering – each role vital to the success of the show.

Guiding and encouraging them were staff member Toby McKenzie as Director, Nikki McKenzie as Assistant and Music Director, and Madidi McKenzie as Choreographer. We are also grateful to staff member Jeremy Baker for the amazing set creation; to staff member Tessa Williams and Michael McKenzie, Peter MacDonald and Demby McKenzie for their steady backstage guidance; and to Camperdown Theatre Company members Tony Dupleix and Alex Baker for their superb work on sound and lighting. Special thanks also go to Kim McKenzie and to Laffs for their generous support with ticket sales.

Behind the curtain, many staff gave their time generously through rehearsal supervision, front of house, box office, program production, administration, and the “bump in and bump out.” Together, students, staff, families, and friends brought to life a truly memorable production that our community felt privileged to experience and celebrate. In total, 39 students were directly involved in the cast and crew, supported by several classes including VET Furnishing, Building and Construction, Hospitality, and VCE VM Work Related Skills and Personal Development. The scale of this collaboration reflects the strength of our community, and we are already looking forward with excitement to our 2027 Production!

See more photos later in the newsletter.

On Tuesday, we had the joy of welcoming grandparents and special people to our O’Keeffe Campus in Noorat for the annual Year 7 Grandparents and Special Persons Day. This occasion is always a highlight, as it brings together the generations who play such an important role in shaping the lives of our young people. Sharing stories, prayer, and time together reminds us of the deep connections between family, community, and faith that enrich our College. The presence of grandparents and special people not only strengthens the bonds of support around our Year 7 students but also reflects the heart of our Catholic tradition, where community and shared faith are celebrated as gifts to be cherished. See some photos later in the newsletter.

Our BAS netball team had a fantastic result in the semi-final against Damascus College Ballarat, coming away with a strong win – MRC (41) v Damascus (24). The team, made up of students from Years 9 to 11, has been supported by the dedicated coaching of Ms Emily Stephens. Leading up to the semi-final, the players worked hard and recorded impressive victories in pool games against Ballarat and Clarendon College, Ballarat Grammar, and Ballarat High School. It has been wonderful to see their teamwork, determination, and spirit shine through each game. The team is now excited to take the court in the Grand Final on Wednesday 3 August, and we are so proud of how they represent our College.

On Monday we will have the great joy of welcoming to Discovery Day our newest students and community members – the Year 6 students who will become our Class of 2031. This is always a special occasion in the life of our College as we open our doors to the next generation of Mercy students. Over the past week, these young people and their parents/carers have already begun their journey with us by meeting Mercy teachers for their Welcome and Learning Interviews. We look forward to walking alongside them in the years ahead as they become part of our story, and we become part of theirs.

Our much-loved and eagerly anticipated Mercy Regional College Car Raffle will be launching in the coming weeks, with sales starting on 1 September! This annual tradition is always a highlight in our calendar, bringing our community together in a spirit of fun and support. Keep an eye out for the car on display and for the launch of ticket sales – you won’t want to miss the chance to be part of it. We are deeply grateful for the generous and ongoing support of our families, friends, and wider community, with this year’s funds going towards a special project that will benefit our students and College for years to come. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our prize sponsors, whose generosity makes this raffle possible and helps ensure its ongoing success.

We will finish this week with our Staff Catholic Identity and Culture Professional Learning Day, Mercy Beyond Our Gates. This is a wonderful opportunity for staff and our Year 12 students to deepen their understanding of Mercy in action and to be inspired by those who carry forward Catherine McAuley’s vision today. We look forward to welcoming Angela Scarafilo from Young Mercy Links, who will share YML as a Mercy pathway for young people; Sr Veronica Lawson RSM, who will guide us through Bible Stories as Mirrors for Mercy Identity; Sr Sally Bradley RSM from Mercy Works, reflecting on 25 Years of Walking Together. Changing Lives; and Hayley Marriott from McAuley Community Services for Women, presenting on Pathways to Safety and Stability: Addressing Family Violence and Homelessness.

We are grateful for the chance to learn from their wisdom and experiences as we continue to grow in our own Mercy identity and bring it to life in our community. We thank our staff and Year 12 students for their openness to this learning and for the way they bring Mercy to life each day. A special thank you also to our Director of Catholic Identity and Culture, Melanie Bourchier, and Assistant, Robyn Johnstone, for their care and organisation in making this important day possible. May this day of learning strengthen our shared mission of Mercy beyond our gates.

⭐ Celebrating our Young Achievers! ⭐

⭐ Year 10 student, Pippa B., had outstanding success in the Country Swimming Championships in Bendigo last week, achieving top 20 in the following age 14/15 events: 100m: Backstroke (7th), Breaststroke, Freestyle, IM.200m: Freestyle and Open 200m Backstroke. Pippa was only just out of the top 20 in 100m Butterfly. ⭐

⭐ Congratulations to Indi C. and Tayla B. who, two weeks after playing in the Hampden League Grand Final, will run out for the first time with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels this weekend in a game against the Dandenong Stingrays. Good luck Indi and Tayla! ⭐

⭐Congratulations to Daisy C. of Year 8 who achieved a Distinction in the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians.⭐

⭐ Jensen K. of Year 9 has had an outstanding sailing season! ⭐ Jensen won the 🏆 Perpetual Pennant Championship Trophy 2024 - 2025 🏆 along with taking out first place to win the Post-Christmas Perpetual Trophy 2024 - 2025. If that was not enough, he also took out the trophy for the Most Capsized of the Season! (87 times) Well done Jensen!

If you know of any students doing great things in the community, please let us know at office@mercy.vic.edu.au

With kindness,
Sharon Gillett - Principal

Learning at MRC

SENIOR SCHOOL

This term is flying by, and our Year 12 students are now on the home stretch as they begin preparing for their final exams.

Kym Penry has been supporting students planning to pursue further study through their VTAC applications. In addition to these applications, students are also completing scholarship forms and special consideration documentation. It’s a particularly busy and often stressful time, both at school and at home. If you need any guidance on how to support your child through this important decision-making process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself, Berni, or Kym.

It’s been fantastic to see many students staying after school to use the senior rooms for study and to seek help from their teachers. This extra support can be especially beneficial, as motivation often dips during this final stretch of the year. Encouraging your child to remain engaged in their studies is key.

A timetable outlining Term 3 holiday classes and revision sessions will be released shortly. This period is a valuable opportunity for focused preparation—not a time for taking a break. Students are encouraged to attend the school’s sessions and to consider revision lectures offered by external education providers.

Our Year 11 students have received their subject allocations for next year, but changes can still be made if needed. Their Year 12 studies will commence during our transition program, which takes place in the final weeks of Term 4.

Meanwhile, our VCE-VM students have been working on building their resumés and portfolios. By the end of this term, our Year 12 VM students will complete their education at Mercy, equipped with updated resumés to present to potential employers.

Melanie Kavanagh - Learning Leader Senior School

Hospitality Luncheon

Congratulations to our VET Hospitality second year students, who did excellent work completing one of their required service sessions on Friday 8 August. Supported by teacher Mel Simmonds, the students ran their restaurant and prepared all food for an order-from-the-menu style luncheon. Mentors were invited to attend with their Mentees. These experiences allow students to gain experience in a full-service restaurant setting and it helps to make a connection between learning and the workplace. Great work!

ODE Snow Camp

At the start of August, our adventurous VCE Unit 2 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students are embracing the winter chill in the high country, at Mount Buller, taking part in both cross-country and downhill skiing. Impressively, their first night was spent camping in the snow—a unique and challenging experience that few can claim!

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Junior Oratory Competition

Over the years, MRC has built a tradition of involvement in public speaking and debating competitions, including the Oratory Competition - a great MRC tradition that began in 1988. Having the ability to speak clearly and confidently and to express your ideas in a way that others will understand is an essential skill for life. This year our Junior Oratory Competition again featured excellent speakers. Congratulations to our Winner - Zoe R. of Year 8 and also to Etti G. of Year 7, who received a Special Commendation from the judges.
Thank you to our judges: Mrs Lesa Thornton, Mrs Joanne Saunders and Mr Michael Saunders. Well done to our other finalists from Year 7, Edie M. and Mali M. and from Year 8, Malka S. and Cristianna C.

Medieval Incursion

O’Keeffe Campus students experienced a Medieval Incursion Day on Monday - a hands-on learning experience to complement their studies in medieval history. Students were immersed in various aspects of daily life in medieval times through interactive activities and presentations. They were able to handle weapons and armour, wear medieval-style clothing, learn more about the roles of different social classes (serfs, peasants, knights, nobility) and try their hand at archery.

AP - Wellbeing and Engagement

Last week, our school proudly participated in Bullying. No Way! Week – a national week of action promoting respect, kindness, and safety in schools. As part of our awareness campaign, students were invited to take part in Mercy’s Bullying. No Way! video, a visible sign of our community standing together against bullying.

At Mercy, we believe this important issue is best addressed through education, open conversations, and opportunities to build empathy and understanding. Our Wellbeing Team worked closely with students to create displays across the school that reflected student voice, reminding us all of the power of speaking up and choosing kindness. A heartfelt thank you to the many young people who bravely volunteered to be part of this initiative—you have helped shine a light on an issue that matters deeply to us all.

https://mercy.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/bullying

Alongside this, our Pulse Wellbeing Check-ins continue to play an important role in supporting student wellbeing. Every Wednesday, and indeed at any time, students are encouraged to use this platform to ‘check in’, reflect, and reach out for support if needed. We are encouraged to see so many students engaging with the system, and the insights gained will guide us in shaping future wellbeing initiatives.

Together, we continue to build a safe, supportive, and caring school environment for every student.

A huge congratulations to the cast, crew, and directors for their outstanding performance of Cinderella. It was truly heartening to see our young people shine on stage, embracing their creativity and passion for the Arts.

Special recognition goes to Toby McKenzie and his dedicated team of helpers for the enormous effort, patience, and creativity that went into bringing this production to life. Their calm leadership and vision ensured that every detail came together seamlessly.

Every student involved—whether on stage, behind the scenes, or supporting in other ways—should feel extremely proud of their contribution. At Mercy, we are all immensely proud of the talent, courage, and teamwork shown throughout this production.

Emily Stephens - Assistant Principal - Wellbeing & Engagement

Useful Wellbeing Links:

MRC SchoolTV

Faith at MRC

Tindley House Day

Tindley House Day celebrated the staff and students in Tindley House. Students and staff were treated with a Yellow Donut. The house is named after MRC’s first Principal, Mr John Tindley. Mr John Tindley was appointed as the first Principal of the newly formed Catholic Regional College in 1973. He was an innovative and brave man, never giving up hope that he could ensure the growth of Catholic education in the region. Although John Tindley began with limited resources, his hard work and dedication ensured the success of the school from its first days. We hope the future of our school, and the lives of our students, take on some of Mr Tindley’s resourcefulness and ethics of working hard.

Seeds of Justice Retreat

Last week, six Year 9 students traveled to Anglesea to participate in the Mercy Education Limited Seeds of Justice Middle Years Conference. Alongside seven other schools, from across the state, students were able to learn about the importance of ecojustice and Indigenous reconciliation.

Juliet Talarico from Terra Leaders ran a workshop with the students that outlined the importance of ecological spirituality and the interconnection between people and the earth. Juliet joined the students on our beach walk where they were able to experience Dadirri, an indigenous connection to land. The afternoon and evening were spent reflecting on the learning from the day and how this may be brought back to school.

Friday morning students heard from Lisa Moloney, from the FIRE Carrier Program at Open the Doors Foundation. Students were able to learn more about how the FIRE Carrier Program can be implemented in different ways to have an important impact on reconciliation.

The students are looking forward to implementing their learning in our MADJAM group and throughout our school.

"The Seeds Retreat was an inspiring and empowering experience that helped me step out of my comfort zone, connect with amazing people, and think deeply about how I can make a positive impact in the world." – Violet.

“The SEEDs retreat was an engaging experience which pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop new leadership skills while learning how to properly care for the environment.” - Lily.

Special Person’s Day

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of hosting family and friends of our Year 7 students at their Special Person’s Day. Those in attendance were celebrated as close friends and mentors to our year seven students. We celebrated our friendships with a liturgy. Our visitors enjoyed a lovely morning tea before heading into classrooms and around our outdoor space to be interviewed by their younger friend. During the interview, the Year Sevens learnt about the early life and schooling of their visitor as well as what has inspired them in their life. It was particularly special to have visitors with us that had attended the O’Keeffe Campus as students themselves.

Many students reported the advice their special friend had imparted to them, including “always grow in confidence and compassion”, “help others no matter who they are”, “always start the day with a smile and breakfast”, and “always put the correct fuel in the car”.

Students spent the final part of the day piecing together their interviews for their assessment and writing a letter for their future selves that they will open on their Year 12 Retreat.

Upcoming Retreats, Faith Days, Seminar Days

Friday 22nd August - Year 12 Seminar Day
Monday 25th August - Year 8 Retreat

Term 3 is a busy time for Retreats, Faith Days & Seminar Days. These are an essential part of our Religious Education program and our identity as a school. Each retreat is developed to enhance students’ understanding of themselves, others, and the world. Each day is a regular school day and attendance is expected. Many students speak with great fondness and memory of their retreats throughout their time at Mercy. Please check the school calendar and watch your inbox for information regarding your student’s retreat day as it approaches. These days are compulsory for attendance and for learning in Religious Education. Non attendance may result in an additional task for the student, as well as jeopardise future involvement in extra curricular activities.

Focus for Term 3 - Mercy Works

Throughout Term 3 we will be focusing our fundraising efforts for Mercy Works. Details about what Mercy Works offers can be found on their website: https://www.mercyworks.org.au/

On Friday, we will have the Executive Director Sally Bradley RSM visit and speak to our staff and year 12 students about the work the Mercy Works completes in Australia and neighbouring countries for the most vulnerable.

Melanie Bourchier - Director of Catholic Identity & Culture

Sports Report

GWR Netball

Last Thursday our Senior Girls and Boys and Intermediate Girls Basketball teams participated in the GWR Competition.

Our Senior Girls team made it to the Grand Final and were defeated by Ballarat High School.

Well done to all the teams on their excellent efforts!

State Cross Country

On Thursday 24 July Mercy Regional College was represented by four students who travelled to Yarra Glen Racecourse to run in the State Cross Country. It is a great effort to make this level alone and our four runners ran very good times over the 3km course.

Boys 13yo : Oliver C.54th/ 93 in a time of 12.22mins

Girls 14yo: Maddie M. 20th /100 in a time of 13.16mins

Boys 14yo : Issac L. 46th/ 96 in a time of 12.04mins

Girls 15yo: Lucia C. 47th /89 in a time of 14.08mins

GWR Year 7 Football

On Wednesday 30 July our Year 7 boys travelled to Ballarat to participate in the GWR Football Competition. In a round robin format Mercy Regional College played against Trinity College Colac, Horsham College, Emmanuel College Warrnambool and Ballarat High School.

The team put in a huge effort to finish second overall in the GWR Football.

We have never had a football team go through to the next stage in SSV and this team was extremely close. A draw with Emmanuel College meant that it came down to percentage.

Emmanuel College won their final game 37-0 which boosted their percentage past ours. We finished with 3 wins and 1 draw with a percentage of 311%.

Well done to all the boys who represented the school.

HSSSD Intermediate and Senior Basketball

On Monday 4 August we had four MRC Basketball teams representing the school in the HSSSD Basketball Competition.

Both of our girls teams were able to win through comfortably against the other local schools and qualified for the GWR Competition in Ballarat.

Our Senior Boys team also went through undefeated, but the Intermediate boys competition had three very even teams and eventually Terang College were able to win through to the next level.

Thanks to all the coaches for their time on the day.

GWR Intermediate and Senior Basketball

On Thursday 14 August MRC had three teams represent the school at the GWR level in Ballarat.

The Senior girls won “Pool B” to make it through to the grand final. Unfortunately the team were well beaten in the grand final by a very slick Ballarat High School.

Senior boys had wins over Trinity College and Mortlake College and then were close but got beaten by Ballarat High in the pool games. They played off for 3rd place and won against Portland Secondary College.

The Intermediate girls had a good day but had no wins and no finals.

Students were fantastic and played in excellent spirit and represented the school well.

GWR Table Tennis

On Monday 18 August our school sent 6 teams to play in the GWR Table Tennis in Warrnambool. The amount of teams entered in the various competitions varied and some teams played multiple schools whilst others only had one opposition team to play.

Our four boys team (Year 7, 8, Intermediate and Senior) did well to win 3 pennants and both the girls teams (Year 7 and Intermediate) were also able to win the day.

All students represented the school well.

BAS Chess

Tuesday 19 August saw our first competitors in the Ballarat All School Chess Competition. Eleven students competed against Ballarat Schools and performed well. We had numerous wins throughout the day, but not enough to have any students finish in the top 2. It was great to see our students giving their best efforts and interacting with other students. We look forward to participating again next year.

Netball Victoria School Championships

On Wednesday 20 August we had both Year 7 and 8 girls proudly representing their school at the Victoria School Netball Championship in Hamilton, showing strong sportsmanship and upholding school values throughout the day. The Year 8 team finished with 3 wins and 2 losses, while the Year 7s recorded 4 wins and 1 loss. We will find out the overall results on Friday. A great day was had by all.

College Notices

2026 Enrolments

The link to the 2026 enrolment form can be found on our website https://www.mercy.vic.edu.au/join-our-college/enrolment-information/

2026 Year 8 - 12 Enrolments are most welcome.

If you require any further assistance completing the form please do not hesitate to contact our Registrar Nicole Darcy on 5593 2011 or office@mercy.vic.edu.au

Careers

Please see the latest editions of Careers News below.

Weekly Career News 18th August 2025.pdf

Weekly Career News 11th August 2025.pdf

Useful Careers Links:

Mercy Careers

https://studyworkgrow.com/

https://vtac.edu.au/

Kym Penry - Careers and Pathways Leader

Canteen News

Orders to the Canteen at both Campuses can be made online via the Spriggy Schools app: https://www.spriggyschools.com.au/

McAuley campus orders will be processed by our on-site canteen, and O'Keeffe campus orders will be processed by 'The Shed' in Noorat.

2025 Production 'Cinderella'

Congratulations to our cast and crew of Cinderella on a brilliant season last week at the Theatre Royal!

We sincerely thank the huge team of MRC students, staff, parents, alumni and friends that came together to produce this experience and we thank all those in the community who came along to watch.

It was a true show of teamwork, dedication and resilience over many months, culminating in an exciting season at the Theatre. Our young performers, creatives and technicians really rose to the challenge.

The production directly involved 39 students from across the district in the cast and theatre crew, plus several classes including VET Furnishing, VET Building and Construction, VET Hospitality, VCE-VM Work Related Skills and VCE-VM Personal Development Skills students involved in set construction and making items for the canteen.

Production Feedback: We welcome any feedback on the production via the Google Form below to help us guide future productions.

Cinderella Feedback Form