St. Mary's College, Ipswich
St Mary's School was established by Sisters of Mercy in 1863 as part of St Mary's Parish for the parish's primary-aged children. In 1913, St Mary's College was established as a separate secondary school exclusively for the higher education of girls in the Mercy tradition. The College and its pupils were now distinct from the Primary School students. The Sisters of Mercy ceased administering and teaching at the school in the early 1990s. The college is owned by the Parish and is now administered and staffed by Brisbane Catholic Education.
Musical and drama productions
Each year, since 2007, a full musical production is conducted, in conjunction with St Edmund's College, Ipswich. The host school alternates every year.
- 2024 (SMC) - 'Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical'
- 2023 (SEC) – 'The Addams Family'
- 2022 (SMC) – ‘High School Musical – on Stage’
- 2021 (SEC) – 'School of Rock'
- 2019 (SMC) – 'Matilda the musical'
- 2018 (SEC) – 'Rock of Ages 101: High School Edition'
- 2017 (SMC) – 'Hairspray'
- 2016 (SEC) – 'The Wiz'
- 2015 (SMC) – 'Legally Blonde: The Musical'
- 2014 (SEC) – 'West Side Story'
- 2013 (SMC) – 'The Bells of St Mary's'
- 2012 (SEC) – '13'
- 2011 (SMC) – 'Fame'
- 2010 (SEC) – 'Footloose'
- 2009 (SMC) – 'High School Musical'
- 2008 (SEC) – 'Grease'
- 2007 (SMC) – 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'
- 2006 (SEC) – 'Beach Blanket Tempest'
- 2005 (SMC) – 'little Shop of Horrors'
- 2004 (SEC) – 'The Outsiders'
- 2003 (SMC) – 'Now and Then'
- 2002 (SEC) – 'Back to the 80s'
- 2001 (SMC) – 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
- 2000 (SEC) – 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'
- 1999 (SMC) – 'Open Season'
- 1998 (SEC) – 'SherWoodstock'
- 1997 (SMC) – 'Worlds Apart'
- 1996 (SEC) – 'Evita'
- 1995 (SMC) – 'Macbeth – The Rock Opera'
- 1994 (SEC) – 'Bye Bye Birdie'
- 1993 SMC) – 'Half a Sixpence'
- 1992 (SEC) – 'The Pirates of Penzance'
- 1991 (SMC) – '¡Viva México! (El grito de Dolores)'
- 1990 (SEC) – 'Pippin'
- 1989 (SMC) – 'Oklahoma'
Students also participate and perform at various musical and drama evenings and lunch-time theatre and theatre sports groups.
School houses
St Mary's College has four houses: Gorry, Horan, Murphy and Whitty.
Houses
| Name | Colour | Name origin |
|---|---|---|
| Gorry | Yellow/gold |
Named after Jane Gorry, one of the Sisters of Mercy who Mother Vincent Whitty sent to create the school. |
| Horan | Red |
Named after Father Andrew Horan who came to Ipswich in 1875. He was originally meant to fill in at the school's church for Father Brun but ended up staying the rest of his life. |
| Murphy | Green |
Named after Sister Mary Joseph (Bridget) Murphy who worked at the school. With her Irish heritage the house colour is green. |
| Whitty | Blue |
Named after Mother Vincent Whitty who came out from Ireland in 1861. She sent some Mercy Sisters out to establish the school. |
Notable alumnae
- Jessie Christiansen, NASA astrophysicist
- Leah Neale, Australia swimming silver medal Olympian
- Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland premier (2015–2023)
References
- ^ "Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls' Sports Association History". Fox Sports. 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ^ "Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical". 7 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "The Addams Family (Musical) - Local Ipswich News".
- ^ "Addams Family - Ipswich Civic Centre". www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "St Mary's and St Edmund's Colleges' production of Disney High School Musical". Ipswich Civic Centre. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Newsletter - 18 June 2021". 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Roald Dahl's MATILDA the Musical". 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Rock Of Ages 101: High School Edition". 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Hairspray". 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "St Edmund's and St Mary's The Wiz". 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Beauty and brains in Legally Blonde". 16 July 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Classic boy meets girl show from St Edmund's and St Mary's". 10 July 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "The Belles of St Mary's- the Musical - St Mary's College". 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
External links
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