The 2025 beginning of the school year at Emmanuel College has been a milestone occasion bringing the entire College together as ‘One’ for the first time in history.

With the very exciting opening of the new Edmund Rice Centre as home for the 9@RICE program, we farewelled the Canterbury Road Campus which has been part of the fabric of Catholic Education in Warrnambool since 1902, when it was established as the Catholic boys college before amalgamating with St Anns in 1991 to form Emmanuel College.

The new contemporary building sits proudly at the rear of the Botanic Road campus and as you will see featured in these pages, was officially opened by the Most Rev. Bishop, Paul Bird and Senator for Victoria, Raff Ciccone on Friday 7 March.

Congratulations goes to the team whose management of the project ensured delivery of the Centre on time and favourable to budget. Special thanks also go to the many donors who contributed more than $1 million to the Edmund Rice Centre Capital Appeal helping the college realise its goal of consolidation upon a single site.

This edition also acknowledges the Farewell to Canterbury Road at the end of 2024. One element of the Canterbury Road story in recent years was the recognition of the impact of sexual abuse upon young and vulnerable students by a small number of past staff members. Addressing the audience gathered for the farewell event I spoke these words:

This school is the site of memories both joyous and damaging. We know this place was a source of life, it was indeed lifegiving for the majority. We also know it stole the innocence of some whose lives were impacted for evermore. There are some who carry wounds that may never heal and in this closing chapter we express our deep sorrow and extend our sincere apology.

As a thriving school community today, we know we cannot reverse the damage experienced in the past. We are very pleased however, to hear from one of those young people in this edition of the College Connection. Thank you to Ashley Eccles who writes about his experience and his journey through this time. Link here.

One of the most pleasing ceremonies for me each year is the annual Academic Awards Assembly, held in February to recognise the top academic results achieved by students in the previous year.

The awards ceremony recognised many outstanding students for their dedication and hard work in their 2024 studies. Both the Graduating class of 2024 and current students who have excelled in their studies were acknowledged.

With an ATAR of 99.1, introducing 2024 Dux of the College Satwika Sivasankar to the whole school audience was an honour as she gave a moving speech, thanking her family, friends and teachers for their support in achieving her results and sharing her insights into how a balance throughout her education was a major factor to her success. The next two highest scores were received by Claudia Tutt 98.2 and Robert Morden with a score of 98.

Emmanuel College students led the South West Region and their results are evidence of the ongoing incremental improvements in the academic results of Emmanuel students. The College seeks to achieve continuous improvement and provide the guidance that impacts students’ motivation and desire to succeed with 13.4% of students achieving an ATAR score above 90.

The VCE VM Dux was awarded to Ella Gapes who also received the VET Excellence award in recognition of her outstanding achievements as a VET in Schools student.

As a new school year commences and the new future for Emmanuel College as one gets underway, my time as college Principal comes to an end, with this piece in fact the last formal address to the alumni community.

Much like a student graduating, I am both excited for the future and sad to be leaving. I know, like alumni, my connection and pride in the College will remain strong even after I’ve left the buildings. The College is in an extremely strong position; it is thriving, and firmly focused on becoming “the leading provider of secondary education in South West Victoria” (ECW Strategic Plan 2023-2026). It is the right time to be concluding my time as Principal and allowing the next generation to take Emmanuel College into the future.

I am extremely grateful to all who have supported me to lead Emmanuel College since 2013. I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary support of my wife Marie; without whose support and generosity I could not have done what I have. I congratulate incoming Principal, Rachel McGennisken, and welcome her to the team, knowing she will be warmly received into the Emmanuel College Community.

Whenever speaking to students at school assemblies I have always referred to us as belonging to the Emmanuel family. Membership of the Emmanuel family continues long after leaving school and for all those who are alumni. Institutions, including schools, come and go while families endure generations of growth, the ups and downs of life, and they aspire to be a place of love and nurture that enables each generation to discover and be at one with themselves and find their way in the world. This is the story of Emmanuel College; long may it be the story of Catholic secondary education in Warrnambool.

Farewell and God bless!

Peter Morgan | Principal