Outstanding staff from local Catholic schools have been recognised for their commitment to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Sale.
A Leadership Eucharist and Awards presentation launched the beginning of Catholic Education Week in the Diocese which ran from 19 May to 26 May.
Three staff members from St Peter’s College Cranbourne each received a Service Award in recognition of 25 years or more of service to Australian Catholic education.
They include Mr Barry Fisher, Ms Carolyn Ellul and Ms Kathleen McCormick.
Mr Barry Fisher has been teaching in Catholic schools in Victoria for 42 years, and has been at St Peter’s College for 24 years.
During his career, Mr Fisher has held numerous teaching and leadership positions in the Science, Physics, Chemistry and Information Technology areas.
Ms Ellul‘s career in Catholic education has spanned 28 years and includes various teaching and leadership positions at schools in Melbourne, Lilydale and now St Peter’s College where she is Senior Years Curriculum Leader at the Clyde North campus.
Ms McCormick has been teaching for 30 years in Catholic education and the majority of that time has been teaching in Catholic Primary Schools.
In 2022, she made a change to Secondary teaching at St Peter’s College where she is enjoying teaching English and Literature.
Mrs Joy Andrews of St Therese’s and St Agatha’s Primary Schools in Cranbourne and Miss Fiona McKenna of St Peter’s College were each awarded with a Spirit of Catholic Education Inspiring Faith Award.
The award recognises staff who make a significant contribution to the development of students’ faith.
The Diocese of Sale says Mrs Andrews has shown exemplary dedication to the Catholic school communities at St Therese’s and St Agatha’s at Cranbourne.
They say she is described as an exceptional teacher and an extraordinary person who lives her faith and expresses it in her day to day to life.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she commits her time during her lunch and recess times to teach TEIKO drumming for Year 3 to 6.
Miss Fiona McKenna is the Deputy Principal Catholic Identity and Mission at St Peter’s College.
The Diocese of Sale said the award recognised her leadership in mentoring Religious Education staff, introducing Twilight Theology sessions for staff and in raising the profile of the Liturgy and Social Justice student leaders’ program.
The Cranbourne awardees were among 13 people from Catholic schools across the Diocese of Sale to receive awards on the night.
Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Mr Paul Velten, congratulated the award recipients for the wonderful work they do in inspiring faith and learning.
“We are proud to have such exceptional individuals in our Catholic school community, and we are grateful for their leadership, service and excellence,” he said.
The Diocese of Sale covers 38 Catholic primary schools and seven Catholic secondary schools in a geographic area that spans from Melbourne’s outer south eastern suburbs from Narre Warren and Cranbourne, to Phillip Island, and throughout Gippsland to Orbost in the east.
