St Mary's College, Ipswich Explained

St Mary's College
Motto:Latin: Deo Et Virtuti Fidelis
Motto Translation:"Faithful to God and Integrity"
Type:Catholic, secondary, private
Gender:Girls
Principal:Paula Goodwin
Coordinates:-27.6093°N 152.755°W
Enrolment:~650
Grades:7–12
Colours:Maroon, white & mercy blue

St Mary's College, (known colloquially as Marys), is an Australian Catholic secondary school for girls, located in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.The school accepts girl students from year 7 to year 12, drawing from a wide area of Ipswich, Queensland. The total enrolment is approximately 650. The school is a member of the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls' Sports Association.

St Mary's School was established by Sisters of Mercy in 1863 as part of St Mary's Parish for the parish's primary-aged children. In 1913, St Mary's College was established as a separate secondary school exclusively for the higher education of girls in the Mercy tradition. The College and its pupils were now distinct from the Primary School students. The Sisters of Mercy ceased administering and teaching at the school in the early 1990s. The college is owned by the Parish and is now administered and staffed by Brisbane Catholic Education.

Musical and drama productions

Each year, since 2007, a full musical production is conducted, in conjunction with St Edmund's College, Ipswich. The host school alternates every year.

Students also participate and perform at various musical and drama evenings and lunch-time theatre and theatre sports groups.

School houses

St Mary's College has four houses: Gorry, Horan, Murphy and Whitty.

Houses

Name Colour Name origin
Gorry Yellow/gold
Named after Jane Gorry, one of the Sisters of Mercy who Mother Vincent Whitty sent to create the school.
Horan Red
Named after Father Andrew Horan who came to Ipswich in 1875. He was originally meant to fill in at the school's church for Father Brun but ended up staying the rest of his life.
Murphy Green
Named after Sister Mary Joseph (Bridget) Murphy who worked at the school. With her Irish heritage the house colour is green.
Whitty Blue
Named after Mother Vincent Whitty who came out from Ireland in 1861. She sent some Mercy Sisters out to establish the school.

Notable alumnae

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical . 2024-07-07 . 2024-07-12 .
  2. https://localipswichnews.com.au/events/st-edmunds-college-and-st-marys-college-present-addams-family/
  3. Web site: Addams Family - Ipswich Civic Centre . 2024-07-15 . www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au . en-US.
  4. Web site: St Mary's and St Edmund's Colleges' production of Disney High School Musical . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220711220314/https://www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au/event/high-school-musical/ . 11 July 2022 . 18 October 2022 . Ipswich Civic Centre.
  5. Web site: Newsletter - 18 June 2021 . 2021-06-18 . 2021-07-19 .
  6. Web site: Roald Dahl's MATILDA the Musical . 2019 . 2022-05-21.
  7. Web site: Rock Of Ages 101: High School Edition . 2018 . 2022-05-21.
  8. Web site: Hairspray . 2017 . 2022-05-21.
  9. Web site: St Edmund's and St Mary's The Wiz . 2016 . 2022-05-21.
  10. Web site: Beauty and brains in Legally Blonde . 2015-07-16 . 2022-05-21.
  11. Web site: Classic boy meets girl show from St Edmund's and St Mary's . 2014-07-10 . 2022-05-21.
  12. Web site: The Belles of St Mary's- the Musical - St Mary's College . 2015 . 2022-05-22.