Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College has a proud educational history spanning over 40 years.
All students, current and past, form a bond based on where they have come from. By keeping a connection with the past, we can build on our future. Many students develop friendships and memories during their time at the College which they carry with them into their adult life.
We are now seeing many of our current students whose parents are proud members of our Alumni and take a keen interest in the changes that have occurred over the College since their own time as students.
We invite any past students to contact the office and speak to the Principal’s Personal Assistant if you are interested in a tour of the College.
MacKillop Achievers
Our MacKillop Achievers Award was started at our thirtieth anniversary celebrations where 12 former students were recognised for their accomplishments since graduating from Mary MacKillop College.
The MacKillop Achievers Award recognises alumni who have demonstrated outstanding success and distinction in their chosen field, while embodying the values of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.
Matt Brosnan 1986 – 1991: Engineering
Matt was one of the inaugural group of students at the College in 1986, and in the first graduating class in 1991. Following his Secondary education, he went on to study Civil Engineering through Monash University, Gippsland and later studied through Griffith University.
Matt worked as a Design Engineer within South Gippsland before establishing Brosnan Engineering Solutions in 2008. His business has successfully worked on projects with private developers and local government authorities throughout Gippsland and Melbourne.
Matt was College Captain in 1991.
Robert Linford 1995 – 2000: Business
Robert graduated from the College in 2000 and went on to study Commerce/Arts (Accounting, International Relations & Philosophy) at Deakin University, and a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting.
Robert has held a number of leading positions in the Finance Industry, managing important business clients both in Australia and Internationally. He works as the US Reporting Manager for GE Capital, responsible for managing the financial controllership processes in the central Operational Controllership function across Australia and New Zealand.
Robert was College Captain in 2000.
Nella Combe 1996 – 2001: Nurse
Nella graduated from the College in 2001. She then went on to study Behavioural Neuroscience and Nursing at Monash University, and Clinical Practice: Oncology at the Australian Catholic University, earning several awards and scholarships for her excellence.
Nella has held important nursing positions in Oncology with the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She has also worked as a Support Nurse and educator for Myeloma Australia.
Nella was College Captain in 2001.
Sarah Norton 1997 – 2002: Medical Specialist
Sarah was a student at the College from 1997 to 2002. She then went on to study Medicine at Monash University, undertaking placements in Samoa and remote central Australia. Sarah has gone on to specialise in Surgery and most recently, in Urology.
Sarah has worked as a doctor in many locations across Australia both in city and remote rural locations, in Victoria, New South Wales and in Western Australia.
Kaila McKnight 1999 – 2004: Olympian
Kaila went to study Commerce at Deakin University, after completing her studies at the College. She worked as an accountant, and also completed her teaching qualifications and worked as a teacher. She was also the recipient of an athletics scholarship from the Victorian Institute of Sport.
She has enjoyed a successful career as a middle distance runner, competing in many Australian and International athletic events. She completed in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, and represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 1500 metres event.
Kaila has returned to her educational roots and is now the Business Manager at the College.
Janelle MacLean 1999 – 2004: Nurse
Janelle completed her schooling in 2004 and went on to study Nursing at Deakin University, earning a Deakin-Alfred fellowship. She specialised in Intensive Care nursing, through La Trobe University, and in Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support, and Epidural Analgesia.
Janelle has worked passionately for the Intensive Care Unit of the Alfred Hospital, as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Coach and Preceptor. She has also held leadership positions within the Heart and Lung Transplant Services at The Alfred.
She is a Clinical Nurse Consultant and one of three Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Coordinators at The Alfred Hospital. She specialises in the management of mechanical heart pumps for patients with end-stage heart failure and also contributes to Heart and Lung Transplant Coordination, facilitating the transplantation process for patients awaiting donor organs.
Larissa Argento 2000 – 2005: Statistician
After completing her schooling at the College, Larissa went on to study a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics and Finance at the University of Melbourne.
Since graduating, Larissa has worked for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in Canberra, in the economic statistics field.
James Newcome 2000 – 2005: Aerospace Engineer
James graduated from the College in 2005 and then studied Aerospace engineering, Applied Mathematics and Astrophysics at Monash University, earning several awards for excellence.
He has been heavily involved in the Australian Youth Aerospace Association. He has contributed to many exciting and important engineering projects across Australia, working for the Institute for Railway Technology, Delta Helicopters, and also as the Australia Pacific Project Manager and Design Engineer for GVH Aerospace.
James was College DUX in 2005.
Angus McLaren 2001 – 2005: Actor
During his time as a student at the College, Angus was already acting in various roles in local theatre and in a number of television productions. Since leaving school he has appeared in numerous productions, achieving notable success in the award winning comedy/drama series ‘Packed to the Rafters’.
Angus returned to study, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, in Perth.
Jarryd Blair 2003 – 2008: AFL Footballer
The boy from Wonthaggi is a remarkable football story. Jarryd won the Morrish Medal as TAC player of the year in 2008 but was overlooked in the main draft. As a rookie he became an AFL premiership player in the space of 13 weeks in 2010. Jarryd Blair has always done it the hard way. As one of the shortest players in AFL, sometimes giving away thirty centimetres to his opponents, he has never shied away from giving every contest his absolute best.
Known for his strength over the ball, fierce tackling and clever side-step that fools most of his opponents, Jarryd has achieved multiple top ten placings in the Copeland trophy for Collingwood best and fairest.
Megan Ryan 2006 – 2011: Humanitarian
After graduating from the College, Megan studied Fine Arts at Monash University and a Master’s Degree of Primary Education at Monash University.
Megan has a passion for life and has achieved success in areas as diverse as athletics, writing, visual arts, film, travel, and human rights. She has lived and worked on several occasions with the impoverished children of the Philippines, and has determined that through teaching she can bring about change in the world.
Eleanor Patterson 2009 – 2014: Olympian
Whilst still completing her schooling Eleanor competed as a High Jumper in a range of athletic competitions from States, to Nationals and later in International competition. In 2013 Eleanor competed in Ukraine and became the World Youth (U18) Champion. Later that same year she also jumped an U18 World Record of 1.96m.
She took Gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, then went on to compete at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Nominate an Achiever
Eligibility Criteria
Nominees must:
- Be a graduate of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College; and
- Have distinguished themselves through high achievement, defined as conspicuous merit demonstrated either by level of excellence or sustained contribution over time, in one or more of the following categories:
- Academic Achievement
- Service or Humanitarian Work
- Community Involvement and / or Leadership
- Career or Professional Achievement or Leadership
- Business Achievement and/or Leadership
- Sporting Endeavour / Success at an Elite Level
Character Requirement
Recipients of the MacKillop Achievers Award must be persons of exemplary character, worthy of recognition as role models for current students. Their conduct and achievements should reflect the values and ethos of the College.
Nomination Process
- Nominations may be submitted by any member of the College community.
- All nominations must be submitted in writing using the nomination form below
- Nominations will be considered by a selection panel comprising:
- The Principal
- The Advisory Council Chair
- The Parish Priest
- A nominee of the Principal (who is not employed at the College)
Nominees should be at least five years post-graduation to ensure achievements reflect sustained development and maturity.
If you would like to nominate a former student to receive a MacKillop Achievers award please complete this form. The MacKillop Achiever Nomination Form can be completed either online, or downloaded for completion: