On Friday 27 October, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education The Hon James Merlino MP visited Mount Lilydale Mercy College to announce that the State Government was granting our College $2 million via Round 3 of the Non Government Schools Capital Fund as a co-contribution.
This money is to help us build stage one of our new masterplan - the VCE Learning Commons. Planning is well underway for this project, with building works taking place during 2018. This building will provide a new Learning Commons (Library) and ten general purpose learning areas.
We are most grateful to the Minister and the State Government for their contribution.
Mercy Day to us is a day that we spend celebrating the Sisters of Mercy, our foundress Catherine McAuley, and the opportunities we have here at Mount Lilydale Mercy College. All the proceeds from this event go straight to the charity, Mercy Works.
This year we were very lucky to have had the weather hold up and there was no rain until homeroom at the end of the day. Throughout the day we were given the opportunity to walk around and go on rides, eat food from all the different stalls that were set up, and play carnival-like games.
The school holds a talent show called ‘Mercy Idol’ and there were two separate sessions. It drew a large crowd this year with singing, acting and dancing performances.
House performing arts is a really cool way for students from any Year level to get involved. It also allow students to meet new people from different Year levels, and the performances were great.
Another big attraction was the Year 12 parade where each Year 12 class competes against one another in a battle of creativity. This was a fantastic end to a fun-filled day.
Traditionally on the Wednesday before Mercy Day we hold a short liturgy at the Lilydale Cemetery where many of the Mercy Sisters are buried. This year was particularly special as it is 160 years since the Mercy Sisters arrived in Victoria. Despite the wind and the rain we had a beautiful liturgy remembering the wonderful work and example of the Sisters who have gone before us. We were blessed to have many current Mercy Sisters in attendance.
The weather was certainly kinder to us on Friday 15 September when we were able to hold our Mercy Day celebrations. The Year 12 CSYMA group facilitated a liturgy for the whole College, reflecting on the message of mercy from the time of Catherine McAuley to the present day. Through music, dance, drama and story-telling they were able to deliver a very meaningful message about our story and our responsibilities to others. A day of activities, food, fun and talent then followed.
A huge thank you to all who contributed to the day. It takes an enormous amount of work to run such a successful day and the Mount Lilydale Mercy College Community certainly would have made Catherine McAuley proud. The great teamwork of students, staff, parents and friends of the community resulted in us raising approximately $14,000 for Mercy Works.
Adventurous Journey - Cathedral Ranges
This year saw the introduction of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to the College. This Award encourages young people to participate in a range of activities and become active citizens of their community. It builds their skills and equips them for life and work.
During the first week of September, the College Duke of Edinburgh group headed to the Cathedral Ranges for an overnight camp. This was the group's second Adventurous Journey and this activity formed the qualifying journey for the students. The camp began with typical winter weather despite being in spring! Cool temperatures and rain added to the challenge of climbing the steep slopes of the Cathedral. Once at the ridge, lunch was had in rather damp conditions. In the afternoon, the group continued hiking along the ridge where, when the clouds parted intermittently, views across the valley below were enjoyed. Once off the ridge it was all downhill until camp.
The next day the group woke to improved weather and some much appreciated sun at times. The students were involved in two activities - a hike and a rock climb. Climbing on the rocky cliffs of the Cathedrals was the highlight of the camp for many students. This unique activity was a fun but rewarding challenge.
This was the final outdoor activity for the 2017 Bronze Duke of Ed group. Over just a few short months, the students' skills, confidence and resilience has grown immensely. They have developed essential skills and knowledge which will equip them for the years ahead. If your child is currently in Year 8 and would like to be a part of the Bronze level Duke of Edinburgh program at the College in 2018, please stay tuned to future newsletters for details on how to apply. For more information visit www.dukeofedvic.org.au
On Monday 18 September, the College was lucky enough to welcome The Honorable Tony Smith MHR Federal Member for Casey, who presented us with three flags to be raised outside Dublin House on our brand new flag poles - an Australian flag, an Australian Aboriginal flag, and the Torres Strait Islanders flag.
The ceremony consisted of Miss Keogh welcoming our guests to Mount Lilydale, followed by the raising of the flags individually by student representatives. Miss Keogh spoke about the importance of Reconciliation not just in words but in our actions and what can be achieved when we all work together.
Jackie Wandin then spoke about the Aboriginal community and their flag and the ways in which they live their lives through their teachings and community.
It was a very special ceremony as it represented the many lands that come together to make up our great nation and to always remember that our land belongs to the Wurundjeri people who are the traditional custodians of this land.
Some weeks ago we had one of the most amazing experiences of our lives on the Jigalong Immersion visit. We learnt so much and have so many memories that we will never forget. The teachers at the local school welcomed us with enthusiasm and we were just as excited to join them in their classes to truly experience the lifestyle of this community. We were still nervous about how the local people might feel about us visiting, as we know so few people get to visit Jigalong, yet we were made to feel very welcome.
We went there thinking that we could teach the students at the school a lot about our culture and lifestyle, but we now see that there is so much that our world could learn from them. The children don’t care about how people dress or look, or what possessions they have. They accept everyone and like you for who you are. Many of the people in the community don’t have as much as we do but they are all grateful for what they do have rather than wishing they had more. We are extremely grateful to have had this opportunity, and have come back changed people - inspired, energised, and thankful for all that we have.
Young Farmers Show Their Potential
In an exciting holiday break, Molly Henderson, Ivy Ferguson-Mayer, Isabella Green and Andrew Ward spent the majority of the first week at the Royal Melbourne Show, exhibiting cattle in a national beef competition that they had spent the past six months preparing. Their results, from a field of 240 young handlers, were simply astounding. Molly Henderson and Ivy Ferguson-Mayer placed second and fifth in their handlers classes, respectively. Andrew Ward exhibited the school Steer which took third place in the ‘on the hoof’ competition and Bella Green received a Team H Handlers medal.
The students (inaugural participants in the Team H sponsored program), lived at the showgrounds for five days, spending 14 hours a day caring for and presenting their cattle. Although they have benefited immensely from the opportunities in the Young Farmers program, the work required to secure these results was exhaustive.
Our students were up against others from Western NSW, Central Victoria and South Australia - the competitors included students from Agricultural Universities and TAFES. Our students have rapidly made a name for themselves. These students are now firmly fixed on a potential career in the exciting world of Agriculture. I would like to especially thank Valmai Hicks, Sally Wingett and Anne Collins who took it in turns to join me over the five days of the competition and provide the necessary supervision and exceptional support for our students.
On the final Saturday of the holidays, several of our Young Farmers and wonderful parent volunteers also attended the Seymour Goat Show. In a hotly contested competition against many other young handlers from across Victoria and NSW, Abbey Wheeler secured a first place in the handlers classes and Ebony Damen a second. Well done to Molly Henderson, who as well as spending a total of 11 days at the Royal Melbourne Show, still found the time and energy to support our Young Farmers in Seymour and secure a first place for herself in the senior handlers section as well.
Young Farmers is a program focussed on getting the most out of animals, the land and life by being the best you can be. Students interested in the program should contact myself or come down to the farm any Friday and find out about all the amazing opportunities that exist.
