Mary MacKillop Catholic College | Mary MacKillop Catholic College

I hope you are all well.

You may have seen in local media on our social media pages that we had an event this week to formally bless and open the new Penola building.

As in all events like this we follow a pretty strict protocol that requires invitations to particular people, and everyone speaking and sitting in a certain order. We were fortunate that many dignitaries and officers from the Diocese did attend.

As I announced in my vote of thanks though, one person I was so happy to welcome was our Foundation Principal, Mrs Donaugh Shirley.

Mrs Donaugh Shirley with Fr Brian Noonan

When Mrs Shirley had her first interview for the new Mary MacKillop Catholic School (as it was initially known) in 2002, the site we are now on was a field. When she did open the following year there were 49 students. It was through her leadership that the school grew quickly to become the biggest primary school in the Diocese. Eventually, the momentum she had built encouraged Toowoomba Catholic Schools to establish secondary provision in Highfields.

The Toowoomba Chronicle reporter asked Mrs Shirley what she saw yesterday that was the same as the school she established. I am so proud that she spoke of the attentiveness, deportment and behaviour of the students. It is a measure of the expectations so many of them set of themselves.

Thank you so much for the contribution you make to our success. I stressed to the students yesterday that we are able to open new buildings and facilities because they are forming a community that other people in Highfields want to be a part of. That starts with you as parents and carers and I very much appreciate that.

I wish you all the best as the weather starts to warm and we gently push towards Spring.

Mr Chris Gabbett
College Principal

I don’t know if Chumbawamba’s anthem ‘Tubthumping’* made it big in Australia but it certainly was a massive hit in the UK. Putting aside the bit about excessive drinking (!), it’s a rousing song that champions the underdog and overcoming adversity and the title of the song is an old British term for ‘ranting loudly’ or giving a ‘passionate speech – usually in a political context.’

Its main refrain was “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you ain’t never gonna keep me down” and I often sing it around the home and/or workplace when things don’t go exactly to plan. And let’s face it, things in life often fail to go exactly the way we want or indeed expect them to.

There are countless stories of sporting giants being humbled by so-called lesser teams or individuals. Mike Tyson being knocked out by Buster Douglas, The Miracle on Ice (if you watch Netflix) in 1980, or the Cowboys being hit for 82 last week all come to mind. There are also major disappointments for music and film makers – can you believe Michael Jackson never won Album of the Year, Record of the Year or Song of the Year at the Grammies as a solo artist despite record-smashing albums such as Thriller or Bad? The Shawshank Redemption, often voted as one of the great movies of all time (it is rated #1 on IMDB Top 250 films) lost nearly $10 million when it was initially released at the box office and only later found success through video rental.

I am sure you can think of hundreds of other examples and anecdotes of upset and disappointment. But these stories often have a flip side, don’t they? Very often we see disappointment turn to determination, which in turn moves to success or victory. I suppose what we need to keep thinking about is that when things don’t go our way, we take stock, make a plan and come back stronger even if that means deviating from our expected path as the situation evolves.

School life for our young people can often be like this. Assessments or reports that come back lower than they hoped; elective choices that they had set their heart on, just don’t work or can’t work; teachers they love, leave or move to another class; friendships they once counted on, move in a different direction; the team or cast they wanted to be picked for doesn’t include their name. We’ve probably all ‘been there’ and as parents it can often be hard for us to see out children go through this or we can get frustrated because they don’t ‘ride the wave’ as we think they should. Truth is, every one of us will deal with setbacks differently and the indomitable human spirit means that more often than not we all WILL get back up again – it might just take some of us a bit longer or we might need that extra bit of help.

Luckily for students at Mary MacKillop Catholic College, there is help in abundance. We are blessed to have dedicated pastoral, learning support and administration teams who spend their working lives looking out for those who ‘get knocked down’ - I have seen firsthand how our staff rally and go above and beyond to ensure they don’t stay on the floor for long. I want to thank them for their hard work, dedication and care of the young people at the College. Their work reminds us all of Mary MacKillop’s belief that we should never ‘never see a need without doing something about it’ and further highlights a subtle aspect of the song this article is loosely about – people. “I thought it mattered” the vocalist says. “But does it?” “Not compared to how people matter.”

As parents, as teachers, as people – let’s make sure that we remain ‘there’ for our young people and one another as the inevitable travails of life take their course and when it feels a bit much just hum to yourself … "I get knocked down…but I get up again.”

*footnote – don’t play the song to younger children. It’s not appropriate!

Mr Richard Coe
Deputy Principal

As a Catholic College community and our namesake, we are blessed by the example of Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop), Australia's first saint. Mary lived a life of extraordinary courage, faith, and determination. Her story reminds us that courage is not about never being afraid; it is about trusting God and doing what is right, even when life is difficult.

Born in Melbourne in 1842, Mary saw the struggles faced by many families, especially those living in rural and remote areas. At a time when education was not available to all children, she courageously dedicated her life to ensuring young people had access to learning and opportunities. Along with Father Julian Tenison Woods, she founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph, a congregation committed to serving the poor and educating children throughout Australia.

Mary's journey was far from easy. She faced criticism, misunderstanding, financial hardship, and even excommunication. Yet through every challenge, she remained steadfast in her faith. One of the most well-known sayings used was:

"Never see a need without doing something about it."

These words continue to inspire people today. Mary recognised that faith is not simply something we believe; it is something we live through our actions, kindness, and service to others.

As parents, you model courage for your children every day. Whether supporting them through challenges, making difficult decisions, showing compassion to others, or standing up for what is right, your actions teach valuable lessons that will stay with them throughout their lives.

Saint Mary MacKillop's example encourages all of us to:

Trust in God during uncertain times.
Persevere when faced with difficulties.
Show kindness and compassion to those in need.
Stand up for fairness and justice.
Use our gifts to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

This week, we invite families to reflect together on where courage can be shown in everyday life. It may be helping a friend, trying something new, admitting a mistake, or supporting someone who feels left out. Small acts of courage can have a lasting impact.

As we continue to celebrate the legacy of Saint Mary MacKillop, may we be inspired by her faith-filled courage and her unwavering commitment to serving others. May her example encourage us to build a community where every person feels valued, supported, and loved.

Happy Feast Day.

Today we celebrated Saint Mary MacKillop with Mass or liturgy followed by a day of activities and World's Greatest Shave. Look out for the photos from today on our social media pages.

Prayer to Saint Mary MacKillop

Saint Mary MacKillop, you trusted God in times of challenge and uncertainty. Help us to be courageous in our daily lives, to care for those in need, and to follow Jesus with faith and hope. May we, like you, never see a need without doing something about it. Amen.

Together in faith

Mrs Paula O'Rourke
Assistant Principal Mission and Identity

Our Year 2 students recently embarked on an exciting STEM adventure through STEM Explorers: Mission Possible!, a hands-on evening of learning designed to spark curiosity, problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.

Throughout the evening, students took on a series of engaging challenges that encouraged them to think like scientists, engineers, designers, and inventors. Each mission required students to test ideas, make improvements, and persevere when faced with challenges, reinforcing the important message that learning often comes through trial and error.

Among the many activities, students explored engineering concepts by building newspaper towers, designing marble mazes, constructing spaghetti-and-marshmallow structures, and creating working catapults. They investigated scientific principles through a rain cloud experiment, discovered the power of air propulsion with balloon rockets, and explored forces and motion by testing paper helicopters and floating foil boats.

A highlight of the evening was the strong emphasis on the STEM Explorer Pledge, where students committed to using their curiosity, creativity, teamwork, perseverance, and passion throughout each challenge. Families worked alongside their children, creating a wonderful opportunity for collaborative learning and shared discovery.

The missions not only developed STEM knowledge and skills but also nurtured important learning dispositions such as resilience, communication, critical thinking, and innovation. Students enthusiastically embraced every task, celebrated their successes, and learned valuable lessons from designs that did not work as planned on the first attempt.

It was a joy to see our young learners so engaged, asking thoughtful questions, making predictions, and confidently sharing their ideas. The enthusiasm and determination displayed throughout the evening demonstrated that our Year 2 students are well on their way to becoming capable and creative problem-solvers.

We congratulate all of our Year 2 STEM Explorers for their outstanding effort and thank the staff and families who helped make this memorable evening possible. We look forward to seeing where their curiosity and innovation take them next.

Natalie Adler
Assistant Principal Teaching & Learning P-12

Your official role at the College:

English and Religion Teacher

What does a typical day really look like:

I'm not sure that there really is a typical day in the Senior School. The only consistent routine is that I start my morning at school with a coffee and then look through and review my lessons for the day. After that it varies within my English classes with a dollop of reading novels, short stories or poems, to a smattering of practicing persuasive presenting Skillings. Add in a splash of writing wildly creative stories, and perhaps finish with a drizzle of analysing texts to understand the deeper meaning of the devices an author uses to capture the reader's heart and mind.

In contrast, in my Religion classes there is a more reflective attitude as we explore and tend to the various injustices faced by refugees and asylum seekers today. This branches out towards enacting change as we discuss what we can do for the homelessness and disadvantaged within our community. Though we also dig deeper into the life of the Old Testament Prophets, as well as our early church movers and shakers, all of whom have made a positive difference in their world.

All of which leaves me somewhat exhausted but definitely fulfilled by the end of the day.

Secondary School attended:

Gin Gin State High School

What do you like about working at Mary MacKillop?

I think it is in a beautiful location and I have enjoyed getting to know the staff and students. There is a genuine friendliness and joy within the Mary MacKillop Catholic College community.

What are your hobbies/Interests?

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, and travelling.

Other interesting facts about yourself or anything else you would like to share with the MMCC community:

I actually really don't enjoy winter, and every winter wonder why I moved to Toowoomba from Brisbane. And now I'm at Highfields at the windest College in the district... seems I need a few more jackets

How is your work related to the 6 Ps?

The 6 Ps are part of what I try to bring into my classroom every day. For me, it's really about building positive relationships with students, encouraging them to persevere when things get challenging, and helping them discover their purpose and potential. I love seeing students grow in confidence and realise they're capable of more than they thought.