Wednesday, 5 March 2025

Loreto College Ballarat

Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (09:38): Loreto College has celebrated their 150th anniversary, recognising the arrival of Mother Gonzaga Barry and the nine sisters in Ballarat in 1875. These trailblazing Irish nuns laid the foundations for what would become an enduring legacy of education, community and leadership through the Loreto tradition in Australia and South-East Asia. As a past student and current parent, I was honoured to be one of 1200 guests to celebrate mass with Father Justin Driscoll in the school’s historic gardens on Friday. It was a very special welcome to country from Wadawurrung traditional owner and class of 2019 alumni Macaylah Johnson after she led the Dhurrung students in the opening procession.

The breadth of the school community was well represented throughout the mass, with contributions from Loreto sisters, current and former staff, students and school captains from across the decades. It was a joyous occasion reflecting Mother Gonzaga Barry’s advocacy and commitment for education and the importance of the Loreto values of verity, felicity, freedom, justice and sincerity. Well done to principal Michelle Brodrick; deputy principal Christine Shaw; assistant principal, faith and identity, Felicity Knobel; liturgy coordinator Jarrod Ryan; and everybody who contributed to making Loreto’s 150th celebration a success. Congratulations, Loreto, on 150 years.