Mary MacKillop Catholic College | Mary MacKillop Catholic College

Today is the Feast Day of St Anthony of Padua.

When I was a child, St Anthony was a minor celebrity in our house. Anytime ANYTHING was lost, we were encouraged to appeal to him. This tradition began after a valuable book belonging to Anthony was stolen and later returned after he prayed for its recovery. He remains my mother’s favourite saint due to his ability to find all sorts of things.

St. Anthony was a revered Franciscan friar and Doctor of the Church. He is remembered not only for his profound knowledge of Scripture but also for his deep compassion for the poor and marginalized. His life was a testament to humility, service, and unwavering faith—qualities that remain urgently relevant in our world today.

In an age marked by division, materialism, and social inequality, St. Anthony’s example continues to challenge us to live with integrity and purpose. He used his voice to advocate for justice and his actions to uplift the downtrodden. Today, we face global issues such as poverty, displacement, and environmental degradation. Like St. Anthony, we are called to respond not with indifference, but with empathy and action.

In our classrooms, we strive to cultivate not only academic excellence but also hearts that are open to the needs of others. St. Anthony reminds us that true wisdom is not measured by knowledge alone, but by how we use that knowledge to serve and heal the world.

I want the community to know that this will be my final newsletter for Semester 1. I am taking a mixture of family leave, professional learning with the Association of Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools and Long Service Leave. My last school day this term will be Friday, 20 June (end of Week 9) and I will return on Monday, 21 July (beginning of Week 2).

Mr Richard Coe will be Acting Principal in my absence.

I wish you all the very best for the remainder of the term and a really restful and safe break.

Mr Chris Gabbett

College Principal

Boy! I thought the Poms liked to talk about the weather, but over the last few weeks all I’ve heard, all everyone talks about, is the weather! Some of us (mostly Pommie expats or Victorians) seem to be ‘happy as Larry’ (I’ve just found out that the origin of this phrase is Larry Foley, an Australian boxer who never lost a fight. I never knew that! And how did that phrase travel ten and a half thousand miles across the sea, I wonder? Anyway, moving on...), many are incredibly upset by this cold weather. I’ve heard people upset about the cold, the wind, the lack of rain, the useless insulation. I’ve seen poor Mr Watson dressed up like Scott of the Antarctic (he’s from Mackay way), and a parent who I won’t name, coming in as usual in shorts, a t-shirt and a pair of thongs! I’ve upset Mrs Tyrrell by opening a window in my office because it blows cold air into hers, and if I had a dollar for every person who has remarked to me “you must be loving this weather”, I’d be able to get a pretty decent round in.

But it’s true - I’m loving the Highfields winter, minus the ‘useless insulation’ (that one was me), and I actually enjoyed some aspects of it back in Blighty. I love the freshness of the air. I love the changing colours in the trees. I love the feeling of getting cosy under a blanket or sipping on a hot chocolate. I love going to the ‘footy’ and watching the steam coming from my breath and that of the players. I also love the food – shock, I know. The roasts, the stews, chillies, curries and steaming hot pies – yes please!

These are all ‘cold comforts’ when the weather might be a challenge. Seemingly little things that make life better, make us feel better. But it doesn’t have to be winter to gain ‘comfort’ and this is my message this week. As adults and children, we crave comfort. It’s in our DNA. We have become so used to grand gestures in this TikTok and Instagram world that we are at risk of forgetting to look out for others in need of comfort. In need of a little thing, a gesture, a sign that we care about them. This week I’ve been pretty under the pump to be honest, we all have - staff and students alike. What has got me through it? A cuppa and a ‘bickie’ that lands on my desk (just for spelling purposes, I asked 5 admin staff how to spell bickie and this was the consensus); colleagues simply asking ‘how are you?’ and really meaning it; jokes and karaoke in the admin office; chatting all things Man United while on duty; being forgiven for missing stuff (more than once). These all brought comfort at the coldest of times.

Let’s ensure that, as friends, as parents, as teammates in this collective school union, we keep bringing comfort to one another - regardless of the weather.

Just in case this hasn’t ‘warmed you up’, a reminder that the solstice is nearly here!

In the sunny blue sky just a few clouds of gray
On June the twenty first the southern year's shortest day
For the southern Winter solstice a forecast high of fifteen degrees
A pleasant day out of doors of scarcely any breeze
A magpie lark in the green paddock is calling pee wee
And a magpie is warbling on a sunlit gum tree
Such beautiful weather for the time of year
To Earthly Utopia this place has to be near
Brown storm-water flowing in the roadside drain
And the tiny frogs singing for to tell us of rain
But for the southern Winter Solstice the weather sunny and clear
And with every new dawn the calendar Spring draws near
And a voice once heard one never again does get wrong
The gray shrike thrush is whistling his beautiful song.
Frances Duggan

Richard Coe

Deputy Principal

Your official role at the College:
I’m a Teacher, primarily working in Music with Years 7 - 10

What does a typical day really look like:
My day is often filled with the joys of Music. All students take Music in Senior College in Years 7 - 8, so it’s wonderful to get to know the students and see them grow in their knowledge and practical skills of Music. I’m also leading music for Liturgies and Assemblies, two days a week I lead the Mary MacKillop Collective rehearsal, which is our new College ensemble. It’s been great to see this grow this year with students from across the Junior and Senior College singing and playing such a wide variety of instruments. You will also see me performing in assemblies with this group and as part of Liturgies, most recently the Stations of the Cross just before the Easter holidays.

Secondary School attended:
All Hallows’ School Brisbane

What do you like about working at Mary MacKillop?
I like the community spirit – I’ve been warmly welcomed by staff and students and it’s just great to be involved!

What are your hobbies/Interests?
Music, of course! My main instrument is the Piano, my second instrument is the Trumpet, but I love singing and playing a few other instruments. I love going to see live Music whenever I can, it’s such an inspiration! For sport, I love to swim and have my own Kayak.

Other interesting facts about yourself or anything else you would like to share with the MMCC community:
I am actually Australian – I think after living in the United Kingdom for 22 years my accent may have changed just a bit! Before I went to the United Kingdom I was fortunate to study my bachelor's degree at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with some brilliant teachers and performers.

How is your work related to the 6 Ps?
Passion – to share my love of Music with students as inspiration, and to encourage students to achieve their best in Music.
Prayer – to champion Music as an essential part of liturgies and to encourage collective singing.

We are so excited to announce that, in collaboration with Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office, we now have an application where students can record their hours of service and reflect on their good works. The "Footsteps of Jesus" service application will be accessible for students in Years 5 to 12. Service Learning is a crucial pillar of Catholic education, whereby students are not only encouraged to use their gifts, talents and willingness to serve to the community, but are also given a chance to engage in experiences of 'encounter'. Described by Brother Damien Price, service is "intimately linked to the culture of encounter" that was so frequently promoted by the late Pope Francis. Importantly, when we "come as guest" into an encounter, it should be a reciprocal relationship that "focuses on the innate dignity of the one encountered" in a way which liberates both parties.

There are many ways that students in the MMCC community can show servant leadership, by serving both inside and outside of our College. In the coming weeks, the "Footsteps of Jesus" service application will go live to students in Years 5-12. Importantly, this is a platform through which students can record their hours of service and write a meaningful reflection on their service experiences.

"Footsteps of Jesus" enables students to record hours for the following categories of service: advocacy and awareness; cultural; fundraising; health and wellness; liturgy and prayer service; school community service; sporting service (such as coaching); and stewardship of the environment.

While some students have trialled the application, we are still waiting for the link to be able to 'go live' to all students. But, watch this space! From the beginning of Term 3, students in Years 5-12 will be given tutorials on how to use this program, understand its benefits for them, and be taught how to write meaningful reflections. There will also be some videos for parents to help you to support your children with using "Footsteps of Jesus".

We are really looking forward to walking alongside our students while they navigate this service learning opportunity.

Leisa Radley

Director of Formation and College Culture (Year 7-12)

Toowoomba Career Expo - Wednesday, 16 July

All Year 10 students will be attending the Toowoomba Career Expo in Term 3. Students in years 11 and 12 can also attend if they choose. This is a great opportunity for students to see the offerings of many career paths. Students are encouraged ask questions and seek clarity around trades, university's, accommodation and institutions.

2025 Exhibitor List

ADF Careers
AgCAREERSTART
Aurizon
Australian Performing Arts Conservatory APAC
Australian Retirement Trust
Axial Training
Boeing Defence Australia
Breakthrough Centre
Brick & Block Careers
BUSY At Work
Compass Group Australia
Contour MedPrep
Demi International
Department of Education, Queensland
Department of Youth Justice
FIT College
Glencore
Grace College
Griffith University
Griffith University Village
Hastings Deering Australia
Hunter Valley Operations
Iglu Student Accommodation
James Cook University
JMC Academy
Kath Dickson Institute of Early Childhood Studies
Landscape Queensland
Master Plumbers’ Association of QLD
Mater Misericordiae Limited
MedEntry UCAT Prep
MedView Education
MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees
MRAEL/Mas National
MTA Queensland
North and West Remote Health (NWRH)
PCYC Queensland
People First Bank
QTAC – Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre
Queensland Police Service
QUT – Queensland University of Technology
Queensland X-Ray
REIQ – Real Estate Institute of Queensland
Safe Places for Children
Sarina Russo Job Access
Savanna Energy Services
SFC / Pilot Academy Tamworth
Queensland State Emergency Service SES
Southern Cross University
St Albert’s College
Students of the World
Student One Accommodation
TAFE Queensland
Tenancy Skills Institute
The National Institute of Dramatic Art
Toowoomba Community Care
Torrens University Australia
Trinity College, The University of Melbourne
Union College, UQ
The University of Melbourne
The University of Queensland
The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School
UQ Skills
University of New England
University of Southern Queensland
University of the Sunshine Coast
University of Tasmania

All details regarding this Expo will be released through EdSmart.

Andrea Goddard and Christie Richardson

Career Development Practitioner and Career Support Officer

Mary MacKillop Catholic College was proudly represented by five teams at the recent Brisbane Kokoda Challenge. Our teams competed in three separate endurance events on the day - the 18km, 30km and the 48km. The MMCC Blue Team achieved an outstanding result by winning the 18km challenge outright, while our 48km team finished as the second school team to cross the finish line, becoming ultramarathon runners in the process. As a College, we raised an impressive $3,371 to support the Kokoda Youth Foundation and its youth development programs. The event was a powerful demonstration of the Kokoda values - courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice - and a proud moment for our school community.

Congratulations to all students who participated and endured the physically demanding course, which included significant elevation and rugged terrain. The Kokoda Challenge is widely regarded as “Australia’s toughest team endurance event,” pushing participants through some of Southeast Queensland’s harshest landscapes and testing both physical strength and mental resilience. It not only honours the legacy of the Kokoda veterans but also instils life-changing values in all who take part.

Carmen Campbell

Teacher

Mary MacKillop Blue Team 18km	Mary MacKillop White Team 18km	Mary MacKillop Pink Team 18km	Mary MacKillop Green Team 30km	Mary MacKillop Black Team 48km
Malcolm Langerak	Annabelle Perrignon	Kylie Ormiston	Denes Hamerli	Jess Burke
Max Doveton	Erin O'Rourke	Olivia Ormiston	William Kennedy	Noah Burke
Jackson Clark	Eleisha McInnis	Tamika Case	Noah Herlaar	Alex Booth
Jonas Vandersee	Chloe O'Rourke	Katherine Preston	Beau Morris	Riley Mackenzie
Lucas Ward	Remi O'Donoghue		Aiden Stokes	Archer Turner

The countdown has officially begun! We are thrilled to announce that the Mary MacKillop Catholic College Primary Wakakirri Team will be taking to the stage at the Logan Entertainment Centre on Thursday, 21 August 2025.

Under the creative direction of Mrs Karan Chambers, our talented team of 29 students have been working tirelessly each week, guided by two experienced Senior dancing students. Together, they’ve crafted a powerful and imaginative story-dance that explores the theme of ‘Mind Over Matter - Tales of Inner Strength', a performance that promises to captivate and inspire. Behind the scenes, the excitement is building! Props are being built, costumes are coming to life, and the final touches are being added as we prepare to bring our story to the stage. We cannot wait to share this special moment with our school community. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to show day. Chookas to our amazing performers!

“Mind Over Matter – Tales of Inner Strength” The story behind our performance

This year, our students have taken on a powerful and thought-provoking theme for Wakakirri: “Mind Over Matter – Tales of Inner Strength.” Through expressive dance and storytelling, our performance explores the emotional journey of a young girl whose world shifts dramatically after receiving a smartphone for her birthday.

Once deeply connected to her friends and the joy of real-life interactions, our lead character slowly becomes consumed by the digital world. As she scrolls endlessly through social media, the vibrant connections she once cherished begin to fade. Her friends, ever-present in the background, refuse to give up on her. They fight to bring her back from the isolating grip of technology, reminding her - and the audience - of the irreplaceable value of genuine human connection.

This performance is a haunting reflection of today’s society, where screens often replace conversations, and curated content overshadows authentic companionship. Yet it is also a story of hope, resilience and the strength of friendship.

In keeping with Wakakirri’s commitment to sustainability and protecting our planet, our performance proudly embraces minimalism. We have consciously reduced our use of sets and costumes, proving that powerful storytelling doesn’t require excess, just heart, creativity and a message that matters.

We can’t wait to share this moving performance. Join us as we celebrate the strength within and the bonds that bring us back to what truly matters.