Mater Maria Catholic College
Encyclopedia
Mater Maria is a Catholic
High School
in Warriewood, New South Wales
, Australia. It was founded in 1962 by the Sister of the Good Samaritan. John Ducker, the former president of the Australian Labor Party
, the Australian Council of Trade Unions
, and a member of the NSW Legislative Council, was the first chairperson of the Parent's Board. One of the school buildings is named after Ducker.
Over the next decades, new facilities were built concurrent with developments in curriculum and soaring enrolment figures. The Commonwealth and generous contributions from the five feeder parishes of the College financed five new buildings that were opened in the period from 1974 to 1990. Many people were involved in the College's development, most especially a strong and dynamic Parents' Association, a supportive and nurturing staff and the Sisters who in 1980, donated the land to the College in perpetuity.
In 1990, Mater Maria welcomed its first Lay Principal. The 1990s heralded significant changes in management, pastoral care and curriculum. Courses were revised, new courses were introduced and an extensive co-curricular program was developed, establishing Mater Maria’s commitment to rich educational opportunities.
In 2002, the Bush `log' Chapel was officially closed and decommissioned in preparation for the largest building works at the College. Today, as we move towards our Jubilee celebrations in 2012, state of the art facilities and the latest learning technologies enable Mater Maria to offer our students exciting opportunities for the future.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Warriewood, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. It was founded in 1962 by the Sister of the Good Samaritan. John Ducker, the former president of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
, the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
, and a member of the NSW Legislative Council, was the first chairperson of the Parent's Board. One of the school buildings is named after Ducker.
History
The story of Mater Maria Catholic College began in January 1962, when the Sisters of the Good Samaritan founded a secondary school for thirty-eight Catholic girls at Narrabeen. In 1964 the College moved to Forest Road at Warriewood. The modest facilities matched its youthful size and in the secluded bushland of the Warriewood valley, the priority of the Sisters was to educate the girls in a peaceful environment. By 1979, the local population growth and demand led to the decision to expand and establish the College as co-educational. In 1984, students sat for the Higher School Certificate for the first time at the College. The majority of these students had been the pioneers of co-education at the College in 1979 and had become the founding members of the new senior school.Over the next decades, new facilities were built concurrent with developments in curriculum and soaring enrolment figures. The Commonwealth and generous contributions from the five feeder parishes of the College financed five new buildings that were opened in the period from 1974 to 1990. Many people were involved in the College's development, most especially a strong and dynamic Parents' Association, a supportive and nurturing staff and the Sisters who in 1980, donated the land to the College in perpetuity.
In 1990, Mater Maria welcomed its first Lay Principal. The 1990s heralded significant changes in management, pastoral care and curriculum. Courses were revised, new courses were introduced and an extensive co-curricular program was developed, establishing Mater Maria’s commitment to rich educational opportunities.
In 2002, the Bush `log' Chapel was officially closed and decommissioned in preparation for the largest building works at the College. Today, as we move towards our Jubilee celebrations in 2012, state of the art facilities and the latest learning technologies enable Mater Maria to offer our students exciting opportunities for the future.
Principals
| Years | Principal |
|---|---|
| 1962–1964 | Sister Pius McMahon (SGS) |
| 1965–1966 | Sister Cecily Pullen (SGS) |
| 1967–1977 | Sister Honorius Fitzmaurice (SGS) |
| 1978–1984 | Sister Therese Marie Fleming (SGS) |
| 1985–1989 | Sister Marie Julie Duffy (SGS) |
| 1990–1994 | Mr Bernard Edwards |
| 1995–1998 | Mr Ross Cleary |
| 1999–2005 | Dr Tony Bracken |
| 2005–2010 | Mr Ray Werren |
| 2011- | Mrs Julie Terry |