Welcome to Bunbury Catholic College

Ex-student 50th Anniversary Reunion

The Bunbury Catholic College 50^th Anniversary Reunion created a buzz of excitement as old friends reunited in the College Gymnasium on Saturday October 14, with approximately 400 people attending during the afternoon.

The reunion brought together ex-students from Bunbury Catholic College, along with the two schools that preceded the College – St Joseph’s Convent run by the Mercy Sisters and St Francis Xavier College run by the Marist Brothers.

A Reunion Panel of ex-students spoke about their own memories of their school days, answering question put by the MC, former Bunbury Catholic College Board Chairman Danny Griffin.

Reunion Panel

David Mazza credited his English Teacher, the late Pat McDonagh for giving him self-belief and being his inspiration for a career in teaching.

Head Boy for 2021 Scott Tuia said he encouraged students to make the most of their time at the College. His favourite cafeteria food was a chicken nugget roll called a ‘Yummy Drummy’.

Rhiannon Shine said that Head of English Cally Yates had been a fabulous teacher who was pivotal in her decision to pursue a journalism career at the ABC. She advised students to “Be kind to yourselves and to others”.

Inaugural Year 9 student in 1973 and now Clinical Psychologist, Dr Pia Broderick, remembered Sister Cabrini standing four boys in front of a class of girls and explaining that the boys would ask them to dance at the first social.

Graduate from the 1960s Joe Caruso remembered the lovely canteen food, available on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which required ordering a few days beforehand. At the time, Roy Orbison was singing ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ on radio station 6TZ.

For Ivan Banks, who was the Principal for 10 years and had two sons attending classes, the sense of community at the College was most remarkable and he shared memories of the ordination of Bishop Gerard Holohan in the Gymnasium in 2001.

The reunion was a wonderful celebration for the College which opened in 1973 as one of Western Australia’s first coeducational Catholic high schools.

A new time capsule will be filled with memorabilia from the 50^th celebrations this year.

Art Extraordinaire

New BCC Logo for 2024

The launch of the new Bunbury Catholic College Crest took place on Feast Day—August 24 2023.

This crest is the result of an extensive process of design and ideas from staff, the Student Leadership Council and the College Advisory Council and will be implemented in 2024.

• The Red M symbolises our commitment to the Marist charism. Red is one of the colours traditionally associated with Mary, especially Eastern iconography, and is often seen in the colour of her veil or cloak. The colour red is associated with love, humanity, witness, and the divinity of God.
• The green in the base symbolises the Irish Mercy Sisters foundational role in our school’s journey. The Mercy Sisters established the first Catholic school in Bunbury in 1883, and Bunbury Catholic College was established in 1973 following the amalgamation of St Joseph’s Secondary School for Girls with St Francis Xavier College for boys which was established by the Marist Brothers in 1954. Green is a symbol of the earth, fertility, humanity, hope and life, and a reminder of the mission of the Church in the world.
• The gold cross symbolises Jesus as being central to the faith of our school and our challenge to live according to the Gospel. The colour also symbolises hope, love, joy and the Glory of God.