McAuley Catholic College

Coordinates: 29°42′22″S 152°57′23″E / 29.7062377°S 152.9564614°E / -29.7062377; 152.9564614
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McAuley Catholic College
Location
Map
Grafton, Northern Rivers, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates29°42′22″S 152°57′23″E / 29.7062377°S 152.9564614°E / -29.7062377; 152.9564614
Information
Type
MottoTo Know Wisdom
Religious affiliation(s)Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association
DenominationRoman Catholic
Established1990; 34 years ago (1990)
OversightRoman Catholic Diocese of Lismore
PrincipalKate Thomson[1]
ChaplainJoseph Holloway
Staff~60
Years712
Enrolmentc. 550
Colour(s)Maroon and navy   
Websitewww.grafslism.catholic.edu.au

McAuley Catholic College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational day school located just outside Grafton in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia.[2][3] It is located on Gumbaynggirr land.[4]

The College is affiliated with the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA)[5] and is administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lismore.

The school was founded in 1990 as, as an amalgamation of St Mary's College, St Aloysius' College and Holy Spirit College. It was named after Catherine McAuley founder of the Sisters of Mercy.[3]

Principals[edit]

# Name Term start Term end Time in office Notes
1 John Mullins 1990 1995 4–5 years
2 James McDougall 1996 2001 4–5 years
3 Gerald Crooks 2002 2008 5–6 years [6]
4 Leon Walsh 2009 2015 5–6 years [7]
5 Mark O'Farrell 2016 2018 3 years [8]
6 Aaron Beach 2019 2019 1 years [1]
7 Kate Thomson 2020 Incumbent

Controversy[edit]

In 2016 the school received media coverage when during an assembly, principal Mark O'Farrell shared an image of a man holding a sign reading "peace on earth" while standing behind his daughters and wife, who were gagged and tied up.[9] Parents and students complained about the image to the school and an apology was later given.[9]

In 2023 the school was investigated after it failed to report a student being sexually assaulted to the police.[10][11]

Notable alumni[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Meet the Principal, McAuley Catholic College
  2. ^ "McAuley Catholic College – Clarenza NSW | Private Schools Guide".
  3. ^ a b Schoolzine. "Home - McAuley College Grafton". McAuley College Grafton Website. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  4. ^ Schoolzine. "Welcome to Country - McAuley College Grafton". McAuley College Grafton Website. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  5. ^ "New South Wales". Member Schools & Colleges. Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  6. ^ "Leadership Team - St James College". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Mission accomplished for college principal" by Thoward, The Daily Examiner, 18 December 2015
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ a b Bagshaw, Eryk (8 October 2016). "NSW principal outrages parents by using 'inappropriate, offensive' image during speech". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Principal accused of failing to report sex assault allegation". Herald Sun.
  11. ^ [New update on ‘possible threat’ to elite Sydney girls’ school "New update on 'possible threat' to elite Sydney girls' school"]. The Daily Telegraph. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  12. ^ "Shining star: Local lad sets sights on Super Rugby" by Matthew McInerney, Sunshine Coast Daily, 15 February 2013

External links[edit]