Our Lady of Mercy College, Burraneer

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer (also OLM or OLMCCB) is an all-girls 7–12 school situated on Burraneer Bay, in Sydney's southern suburbs, Australia. Our Lady of Mercy College, Burraneer is a Newman Selective Roman Catholic School. It was founded by in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1960, the college moved to its current location in Burraneer Bay. The current enrolment is ~550.

Our Lady of Mercy College
Location
Map
Burraneer, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates34°03′14″S 151°08′08″E / 34.05396°S 151.135574°E / -34.05396; 151.135574
Information
MottoLatin: Sub Tuum Praesidium
(Under Your Protection)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Established1932
PrincipalChristine Harding
Grades7–10
GenderGirls
Enrolment~550
HousesBaggot, Coolock, Doyle and Frayne
Color(s)Red, green, blue and yellow
SloganEncouraging Girls, Empowering Women
Websiteolmcburraneer.syd.catholic.edu.au

The college is affiliated with the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA),[1] Shire Combined Catholic Colleges (SCCC), Southern Sydney Combined Catholic Colleges (SSCCC)[2] and NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC).

History

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The college was established in 1935 by the Sisters of Mercy (Parramatta) in a cottage at 6 Coast Avenue, Cronulla. The earliest known enrolment was sixteen girls. OLMC operated as a small boarding school until 1939 when it was closed during World War II. It was reopened in 1945 as a small day school, and boarding was discontinued in 1951.

In 1959, the Sisters of Mercy purchased the college's current property at Burraneer Bay, which was officially opened and blessed in 1960. In 1972, the college acquired the property on the northern side of Dominic Street. In the early 1980s, the Sisters of Mercy moved out of the Convent, allowing the school to extend into this part of the building.

In 1989, the College introduced a new uniform, replacing yellow and brown with the current uniform and school colours of blue, red and white.

Extensive building work on the northern side of the grounds was completed in 2003 with the opening of a new multi-purpose centre, The Mercy Centre, along with new music and practice rooms and four general classrooms. Major building work in 2014 and 2015 transformed the Marcy Centre into a performing arts centre with a new stage and two recording studios. The Catherine McAuley building was completed in 2016 and officially opened in 2017, with three science laboratories, four design and technology rooms, five flexible general classrooms and an open learning space.[3]

In 2024 the school will welcome their first Year 11 cohort.

Principals

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Period Details
1945–1946 M Casimir Callachor
1947–1952 Jude Cashman
1953–1962 M. Alphonsus Stanley
1963 Agatha Dunne
1964 Anne Ryan
1966 Paulinus Hartigan
1967–1971 M. Immaculata Hegarty
1972–1976 Pauline Smith
1977–1980 Margaret Doyle
1981–2000 Loreto McLeod
2001–2006 Deslee Browne
2007–2010 Christina Trimble
2011–2017 Gilda Pussich
2018–2020 Ann Freeman
2021–2023 Leonie Pearce
2024–Present Christine Harding

Houses

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There are four houses at Our Lady of Mercy College, Burraneer: Carita, Coolock, McAuley and Mercedes. Each house is named in reference to the Mercy Tradition.

  • Carita – (Red)

Motto: Actions speak louder than words

Carita is named after the word 'Caritas' meaning charity. The emblem of two hands holding a heart is a symbol of charity and almsgiving.

  • Coolock – (Green)

Motto: Friendship, love and loyalty

Coolock is named after ‘Coolock House’, situated in Dublin, Ireland and inherited by Catherine McAuley. It provided a site for McAuley to protect and educate poor women and children.

  • McAuley – (Yellow)

Motto: Strength through compassion

McAuley is named after Catherine McAuley who was the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. The emblem for McAuley is the lotus flower, which symbolises compassion, courage, mindfulness, peace, and wisdom.

  • Mercedes – (Blue)

Motto: Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly

Mercedes ('mercy' in Spanish) house was named after the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, which was established by Catherine McAuley in 1831 for the visitation of the sick, poor and the charitable instruction of women. The emblem is the Irish trinity knot.

References

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  1. ^ "Member Schools & Colleges". amssa.mercy.org.au. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Members – Southern Sydney Combined Catholic Colleges Sports Association". www.ssccc.com.au. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  3. ^ "PHOTOS | State-of-the-art facility at school in Burraneer". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
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