As we embark on the new Quay’s project, we're unearthing the future and laying the foundation for endless possibilities!

On Friday, 20 June, we celebrated the official groundbreaking of the exciting new Quay’s building project. We were honoured to have former St Bernard’s College student, Deputy Premier of Victoria, Minister for Education, and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, the Hon Ben Carroll, join us for the ceremony. He assisted in the groundbreaking alongside College Principal Dr Michael Davies. Also in attendance were members of the College Senior Leadership Team, the School Advisory Council, including Chairperson Ms Pauline Duggan, Mr Andy Kuppe from EREA, Ms Linda Vaughan from the Department of Education, and representatives from 2Construct, Connect PM, and Chandler Architects.

The Quays Project aims to renovate existing spaces to better serve our community's needs. This includes a modern cafeteria, quiet study areas, and breakout rooms in the Tobin Building that will be open from dawn to dusk. Outside, a new Piazza will replace the Year 9 Building, featuring a Yarning Circle, River Bed, and Scholar’s Walk. The Forecourt will be redesigned with terraced seating, and the College Arts & Recreation Centre will be refurbished along with several toilet facilities. These improvements will provide students with enhanced learning environments, better study facilities, and more opportunities for community engagement, benefiting all current and future students.

This is a milestone event for the College and further proof of our commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities for our students. To learn more about the Quay’s project or to make a donation to support projects like this for our students and the community, please visit https://www.sbc.vic.edu.au/community/how-you-can-give.

Last Thursday afternoon, our VCE Vocational Major (VM) Semester One Student Expo took place in the College O’Brien Hall. Students showcased their semester of VCE VM, TAFE, and Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) achievements. This event provided a great opportunity to view their progress and share in their successes over the semester.

Students also organised their own catering for the expo, sharing it with staff, students, and their parents and caregivers, who were all invited to see their presentations. From students working in commercial kitchens, at stables, local radio and TV stations, to even working in trades in Ballarat, it was fascinating to hear about the array of opportunities our students have boldly taken up as part of their educational journey.

We wish them the best in their continued work across the year and thank them for putting on this amazing afternoon.

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by the Australian Bishops more than ten years ago.

Run over three days, the Festival provides young people, from all across Australia, with the opportunity to come together to connect, deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to live their faith in the world and experience the breadth of the Church in Australia. 

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is excited to be hosting ACYF from 30 November – 2 December 2025 and is looking forward to welcoming thousands of young people to Melbourne.

Click the following link for information about the festival. https://acyf.org.au/

Click the following link for information about the program of events. https://acyf.org.au/program/

¡Hola a la Comunidad de St Bernard’s!

The South America Immersion 2025 is officially underway, and it has been an incredible journey so far! The group began their adventure by exploring the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, diving into its rich history and remarkable story of independence. Highlights included visits to iconic landmarks such as Casa Rosada, the Obelisk, La Catedral de Buenos Aires, San Telmo, and La Boca. The students also had the incredible opportunity to tour the legendary Boca Juniors Stadium, the heart of this colourful and passionate neighbourhood, which they continued to explore afterwards.

After soaking in the culture and history of Buenos Aires, the boys crossed the Río de la Plata and arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, via the charming and historic town of Colonia del Sacramento. They were ready to begin a four-day immersive experience with the Edmund Rice partner school, Colegio Stella Maris.

Day 1 in Montevideo has been a powerful start! The students stepped into the daily life of the EREBB partners—visiting classes, giving presentations about life at both schools, and even running a high-energy AFL clinic for the little ones! Over the next two days, the students will continue their journey of service learning, engaging with inspiring community-based outreach projects alongside their new Uruguayan friends—projects that strongly reflect their own commitment to justice and solidarity.

The group is excited to spend the next few days collaborating with their Global Classroom partners at Colegio Stella Maris, learning about their school life, and taking part in their amazing outreach programs. After this enriching experience, they will return to Buenos Aires to continue their immersion.

¡Hablamos pronto!

On Saturday, 14 June 2025, the Essendon Football Club Academy (EFCA) students had the incredible opportunity to participate in a Game Day experience at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Invited to be part of the pre-game Guard of Honour, the students proudly stood on the field as Essendon entered the playing arena, forming a Guard of Honour as the team ran through the banner during the Essendon vs Geelong match.

This memorable experience highlights the authentic and growing connection between St Bernard’s College and the Essendon Football Club (EFC). We extend our heartfelt gratitude to EFC representatives Ms Kristen Bull and Mr Mark Bolton, as well as teaching staff Mr Paul Groves and Mr Francis Camenzuli, for making this event possible. Such opportunities not only enrich our students' experiences but also strengthen our community ties.

On Friday, 30 May, the St Bernard’s College Foundation celebrated its 2025 Gala Dinner in style at the State Library Victoria. We had the pleasure of seeing three outstanding gentlemen of the College inducted into our Hall of Fame – Mr Terry Tobin KC, Dr Anthony Slavin, and our inaugural Rising Star Dr Jameson Trainor.

Terry (Class of 1960) is an exemplary figure in both law and faith, with decades of success in the legal profession as a King's Counsel. He also contributes greatly to the Catholic faith and education, having worked closely with charities and universities and recognised with the papal award of Knight Grand Cross.

Anthony (Class of 1985) has built an outstanding medical career, leading the way in creating multiple clinical medicines, and his work in immunology has been a vital contribution to the understanding and treatment of autoimmune disorders.

A worthy winner of our first-ever Rising Star Award, Jameson (Class of 2014) achieved his doctorate of medicine at the University of Melbourne and has worked as a doctor for some of the country's top sporting leagues. He is now training in Anaesthesia and Retrieval medicine, providing vital care to people in critical conditions. 

It was truly inspiring to hear each of these men describe what drives them and humbly share valuable stories and advice. They also reminisced fondly on their time at St Bernard’s, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements thus far. We congratulate them on their well-deserved induction to our Hall of Fame.

In an incredibly special moment of the night, one of our guests spoke up during Anthony’s speech to thank him for one of the medicines he worked on, saying that it saved his life.

The event was superbly hosted by our MC Simon Madden, as we also had the pleasure of hearing from Foundation Chair John Hughes, SBOCA President Jasper Brettell, 2025 College Captain Hayden McDonald, and our Principal, Dr Michael Davies. From all our speakers, the passion of our school and the importance of our community was clear to see. The evening ended with an exciting auction and raffle, and some of our fantastic music students performed throughout the night.

An event showcasing excellence, community, camaraderie, a giving spirit and a bright future – a heartfelt thank you to all who attended!

Our VCE Vocational Major students have been hard at work this morning creating breast care cushions for individuals (both men and women) recovering from breast surgery in Australia. They are also assembling birthing kits, which will help provide a clean and safe birthing environment for women without access to professional medical care in developing countries.

This project has been made possible thanks to Zonta International, a leading global service organisation dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. Zontians in District 23 (including the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia) support a variety of service projects and awards at the International, District, and Club levels to empower women both locally and globally.

Interestingly, this coincides with Men’s Health Week, a great opportunity to raise awareness about men’s health issues, including breast cancer. 

We extend our gratitude to Zonta International for partnering with our students on this remarkable project. This collaboration provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on how initiatives like these can create a significant and lasting impact, both within our local community and on a global scale.

We extend heartfelt congratulations to our distinguished St Bernard’s College old collegians, Professor Mark Rose and Mr Natale Cutri, on their remarkable achievements! 

Professor Mark Rose has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his extraordinary contributions to Indigenous tertiary education and community health.

Mr Natale Cutri has received the Public Service Medal (PSM) in recognition of his outstanding advocacy and leadership for people with disabilities.

Both of these exceptional individuals inspire us and remind us of the incredible impact that our alumni can have on society. Their work not only enriches our community but also reinforces our commitment to the core principles of inclusivity, justice, and spirituality that we strive to instill in our students.

As a College, we are proud to foster such exemplary role models who shape the path for our current students, guiding them to become tomorrow's leaders. We look forward to witnessing the continued impact of your inspiring work in the years to come!

Our talented students have taken on the incredible 'Doco in a Day' challenge, where they create a short film about pressing global issues like gender equality, access to education, and sustainability—all in just one day!

But this challenge is more than just a learning experience. Our students are using their films to raise funds for life-changing educational opportunities in some of the world's poorest communities.

We need your help to make a difference! By making a donation using the link below, you can support our students' efforts and contribute to a brighter future for children around the globe.

And there's more! The team that creates the 'Best Doco' will win an unforgettable immersion trip abroad, where they will witness the impact of their fundraising first-hand.

Let's come together as a community to support our students' incredible work and help us make a global impact!

Click here to donate

Moonee Valley City Council is excited to offer school holiday activities this July for young people aged 12-25 across Moonee Valley!

The calendar of activities is attached below.

Activities include a Fantasy Cosplay workshop, Battle of the Bands, Terrarium workshop, Game Off, and Jurassic World: Rebirth screening and more. 

Students can register here: https://mvcc.vic.gov.au/youth/youth-events/ Places are limited. 

Our partner school, St Columba’s College, will be hosting its first-ever Mid-Year Alumnae Indoor Pop-Up Market on Sunday, 20 July 2025, and they’d love for the St Bernard's College community to be part of it.

This vibrant event will bring together a curated mix of stalls run by alumnae, local makers, and small businesses, featuring everything from handmade creations and boutique fashion to homewares, art, beauty, and delicious treats.

Event Details:
🛍️ Date: Sunday, 20 July
🕙 Time: 10 am – 3 pm
📍 Location: St Columba’s College Multipurpose Centre
🎟️ Entry: Gold coin donation – all welcome!

It’s set to be a fantastic community day, and they hope to see you there!