Old Collegians - Welcome

Did you know that when a student graduates from Mount Lilydale Mercy College they automatically become an Old Collegian? In 2011 an Old Collegians' Association was formed and we need your help! We are still updating our database and require updated contact details. Please contact us if you are not receiving your copy of the Newseltter or alternatively you may submit your details through the Old Collegians Contact Details Tab.


The Old Collegians’ Newsletters shares stories of past student achievements and what they are up to now. These articles have attracted much interest from our readers far and wide. Mount Lilydale Mercy College has a long history and we would love to share your story with the wider community.

 

If you would like to share your story, please send us a short paragraph outlining your achievement, as well as Engagements, Marriages and Births involving ‘College Couples”. Please include dates of attendance at the College if possible. We would also appreciate photos and these will be returned to the owner within a week. High quality digital photos accompanying the article are acceptable.

 

Newsletters are available by clicking on the links below:

 

OLD COLLEGIANS' GALA DINNER AND MERCY HONOUR ROLL

On Saturday June 1, the Old Collegians hosted a Gala Dinner in Centennial Hall at which five members of the College Community were inducted to the Mercy Honour Roll. Catering for the evening was provided by Old Collegian, Sean Robinson and entertainment included performances by past and present students. Profits from the evening are used for an Old Collegians’ Scholarship.

 

Hosted by President, Peter Ruscitti, who was ably assisted by a sub-committee of Old Collegians, Ayesha Desai, Andrew Delahunt, Anne-Marie Italiano, John-Michael McLindon, Lucia Tabacchiera and Luke Stephens, the following inductees were presented with a Certificate and Gift by Principal, Mr Philip Morison.

 

MONICA LAWSON (nee Carolan) RIP. Monica was nominated in recognition of her leadership as the inaugural president of the Old Collegians’ Football Club as well as her courage and character confronting terminal illness. Monica’s father, her brother and sisters and her daughter Zoe, currently in Year 8 attended the dinner. Monica was President for 7 years and was the only female Club President in the VAFA. Monica wrote a children’s book on her experience with cancer to provide guidance for families seeking to explain parental loss. Monica attended the College in the late seventies and early eighties.

 

ROHAN SPONG was nominated especially for his work in the Arts. Rohan commenced his education at St Mary’s in Mount Evelyn and was in the College Top 10 in 1999. He is a lecturer in Visual Communication at RMIT and spends six months of the year filmmaking in New York. In 2012 his self-backed independent lyrical documentary “All the Way through Evening” was screened to sell out audiences at the Nova. The documentary was the winner at the New York City Downtown Film Festival, winner (audience choice) Birmingham Short Film Festival as well as chosen for the closing night film at the Gaze Film Festival in Dublin.

 

HON JAMES MERLINO MLA Monbulk, Deputy Leader Victorian Labor Party. James graduated from the College in 1990 and attended Melbourne University studying Political Science. He has been involved in public office in the local area for over 15 years. James served as a Councillor on the Shire of Yarra Ranges from 1997-2002 when he was elected member for Monbulk in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Re-elected in 2006 and 2010, James is now the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party and Shadow Education Minister. James has been a strong supporter of the College and his parents were delighted guests at the induction dinner.

 

ANGELA DI GIANDOMENICO (nee Pacetti) was School Captain in 1976. She trained as a teacher at ACU and was a foundation staff member at St Mary’s Mount Evelyn for 6 years before moving to St Patrick’s in Lilydale. In 1985 Angela’s daughter, Jessica was born with cerebral-palsy and Angela determined to make sure Jessica had as much a normal life as possible surrounded by love and affection. Angela is closely affiliated with the Cerebral-Palsy Institute and has participated in many activities and fund raisers to help the institute raise awareness and money. When a very well-known local business (Trevor Dudley’s) burnt down, Angela was the main instigator behind organising support.

 

JEANETTE SUHR OAM was nominated for establishing the Road Trauma Support Services. Jeanette worked at the College for many years. In 1991 her daughter, Tanya, was tragically killed in a road accident. Jeanette saw the need for grieving families to have specialised, personal contact with others and together with a team of 21 volunteers, a mobile phone and $5,000 working capital, Jeanette began her great work. Jeanette was appointed CEO of RTSSV and held this position for 10 years. She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2000 and in 2007 received an OAM for her work with road trauma. Now retired, Jeanette is a volunteer for Healesville Tourism, the Heritage Centre at the College, HICKEY in Healesville as well as various Rotary Projects and arranges funds to purchase school books for St Catherine’s School, Kilbera, Kenya.

 

Pictured L-R: Jeanette Suhr, Angela Di Giandomenico, Hon James Merlino, Zoe Lawson, Rohan Spong

 

 

 

 

2013 UPCOMING EVENTS

 

A MEMORIAL MASS will be held at 2.00pm in the Our Lady of Mercy Old Collegians Memorial Chapel on Sunday November 17.


For any enquiries please contact olsont@mlmclilydale.catholic.edu.au or ziolkowl@mlmclilydale.catholic.edu.au or Phone 9237 1356

 

Memorial Roll

 

A memorial booklet has been placed in the chapel and all members of our community, past and present, are invited to submit names of people for inclusion by contacting Leonie Ziolkowski ziolkowl@mlmclilydale.catholic.edu.au or Phone 9237 1356.