30 April 2024

The community at St Mary’s School, Malvern East, celebrated the completion of their building refurbishment with an opening ceremony and blessing.

The building works have completely invigorated a school with a history going back more than 100 years. Refreshed learning and administrative facilities have brought new life to the school, and a new lift means that all parts of the school are now accessible.

‘School buildings, both old ones and the newly refreshed ones, have but one master plan: they are to provide an environment, an atmosphere and a zone of comfort and safety in which both students and teachers can flourish’, said Bishop Anthony Ireland. ‘Only when teachers are providing excellent teaching and students are engaged in excellent learning do these lovely new buildings the craftsmen and women have made achieve their purpose and potential. School buildings are made to be full of inquiry, creativity and education at its very best.’

Guests at the opening included Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Director of Risk, Infrastructure and Assurance, Terry Mulvaney; Parish Priest, Rev Michael Gallacher JCL; and Member for Malvern, the Hon Michael O’Brien MP. ‘The refurbishment here is magnificent and the works undertaken have reinvented the school for a contemporary learning experience’, said Terry Mulvaney. ‘At MACS, we talk about lighting the path of all learners and, today, St Mary’s in Malvern East is a shining beacon of light and hope.’

The refurbishments at St Mary’s School were made possible with a $2.3 million Supplementary Capital Fund grant from MACS.