What a wonderful concert celebrating Merici College over 60 years!
We sincerely thank our community for coming along to our concert on Friday 9 August and Saturday 10 August. Both nights were booked out and the crowds were amazing and very supportive of all the different acts and performances. Our students, staff and alumni members worked very hard to present a snapshot of Merici’s life over the last 60 years and its journey from Canberra Catholic Girls’ High School, through to Braddon Catholic High School, to Braddon Catholic Girls’ High School, and to Merici College. On Sunday 22 March 1959, His Grace Archbishop O’Brien formally blessed and opened Canberra Catholic Girls’ High School. As the first Catholic secondary College for girls in Canberra, Merici was and remains unique. Moving away from the usual Australian custom of placing a school under the direction of nuns from one religious congregation, the first 15 members of the school staff were drawn from six Orders: the Good Samaritan Sisters, Brigidine Sisters, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St Joseph, Presentation Sisters and Ursuline Sisters. Sister Clare Slattery was the first headmistress. In the words of Naomi Turner, formerly Mother Campion and Merici teacher 1959-1968,
“To determine a new direction in any field requires imagination which abandons traditional thinking and courage which will put consequent decisions into operation. When the leaders of six religious congregations accepted Archbishop O’Brien’s challenge to collaborate in staffing the new College, they possessed both imagination and courage.”
We hope that our guests enjoyed the evening as we walked down memory lane, revisiting each decade through dance, music, drama performances, alumni reflections and current students highlighting life at Merici College.
We would like to thank all our students and staff who have assisted with program details, speeches, photos, fundraising events and setup. We extend special thanks and appreciation to our alumni members who have presented special reflections, performed with our band and solo musicians, as well as video messages, our Dance, Music and Drama students, our Vocal Group, models, speakers, backstage crew, front of house, hospitality students and staff, sound and lighting technicians and student assistants.
We would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of Laura Pearce, Jennifer Wright, Trish Young and Tookie Capezio, Ros Parisi, Susan Anderson, Clare Freeman, Corinne Preston, Mark Fritz, Vincent McLeod, Chayla Ueckert-Smith, Liza Laird and Jacqui Smith.
