I fondly remember my time here at Merici. While here I was involved in lots of dance and drama activities. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Rock Eisstedfods and Drama productions. Towards the end of my time at Merici I made a massive move into the world of art and after finishing school went on to the Campus of Art and undertook the study of ceramics at the ANU.
I have fond memories of my time at Merici College and made lifelong friends during my years there. It is hard to believe that it has been nearly 15 years since graduating from Merici, but sharing milestone life events with those friends makes it hard to believe that more time hasn’t elapsed.
Merici College ex-student Caitlin Figueiredo addressed the school community at the Academic Awards Ceremony on Monday 6 August. Caitilin is a proud multicultural Australian, social entrepreneur, activist, and Merici Alumni. She sits on three United Nations Task Forces with her work spanning five continents. At 20 years old, Caitlin was named one of Australia's 100 Most Influential Women and an Obama White House Changemaker for Gender Equality by the President and Michelle Obama.
Sadly we remember Maria Bernice O’Sullivan who died suddenly on Sunday 25 June, 2017 aged 89.
Bernice joined the staff of Braddon Catholic Girls’ High School (the original name of the College) in 1961 as an Art, History and Literature teacher. She retired at the end of 1992.
#MericiMoment Wall of Words – This week we reflect on the word Family provided by Katherine Keir, Class of 2016. “From teachers to my fellow students in my cohort, I always felt a great sense of family and community in the way I both received and provided support, academic and otherwise, throughout my time at Merici, from year 7 to 12. Through bonding over experiences at Merici, I’m still really good friends with quite a few of the girls I went to school with, and consider them as close as sisters.” Thanks Katherine! #mericialumni #mericipride
Sisterhood is priceless and rare, support of the wider community doesn't fade, Merici teachers instil a sense of community and a way of holding yourself with pride as young women.
After graduating from Merici College in 2014, Zufi Emerson moved to Sydney to complete a 3-year acting degree. She continued work as advocate for children in need of a permanent home as an ambassador for Adopt Change and became an active voice in addressing gender equality with Future Women and now, as a trained, working actor.
It was an absolute honour for the Merici community to welcome a very special guest speaker, Sr Jane Keogh, to the College in August 2019. Sr Jane was a foundation student of the College in 1959 and is remembered for arriving to school on the first day of term in 1959 one day early and is recognised as the first pupil of Merici College. She went on to become Sr Jane Keogh, a Brigidine Sister (a member of one of our Founding Orders), a teacher and school principal for many years. For the past 17 years, she has made friends with and championed the cause of Australia's refugees.
It was with great pleasure that our community welcomed the Hon. Justice Janine Pritchard as our Academic Awards guest speaker in February 2020. Janine Pritchard was a student at Merici College from 1983 to 1986 (Year 9 – Year 12).
Janine holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Australian National University, a Master of Laws degree (with Distinction) from the University of London, and a Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies from Murdoch University.
Ellie graduated from Merici College in 2003. The Merici College community were thrilled to welcome Ellie back to the College to present at our Academic Awards held in February 2021. Ellie spoke to the students about her life experiences since graduating from Merici College. Ellie was the House Captain of Balgo. Her love for radio began when she was 15. Her dream was to one day work at Canberra’s Hit 104.7 or 104.1 2DayFM in Sydney. By the age of 24, she accomplished both!
We recently asked members of our Alumni to provide a word that describes Merici College. Keep a look out for our #MericiMoment blogs as we will, over the next few months, share these words with you.
