Catholic Education Week 2024 Awards 

MAY 2024

Outstanding Catholic teachers and students recognised

Outstanding staff and students from local Catholic schools have been recognised for their commitment to Catholic Education across the Diocese of Sale as part of Catholic Education week which is celebrated from 17 May to 24 May 2024

A Leadership Eucharist was held at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church on Friday 17 May followed by an Awards presentation at St Peter’s College Clyde North’s Geode Centre to launch the beginning of Catholic Education Week in the Diocese.

A second Leadership Eucharist was held on Wednesday 22 May at St Mary’s Cathedral Sale followed by an awards presentation at Catholic College Sale to recognise staff and students from Catholic schools in the Eastern part of the Diocese.

Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Mr Paul Velten, congratulated the twenty-five award recipients for the wonderful work they do.

“We are proud to have such exceptional individuals in our Catholic school community, and we are grateful for their leadership, service, and excellence.

Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for Catholic Schools to welcome people to attend open days and events and see the inspiring activities happening in Catholic schools every day. 

Catholic Education Service Awards

Service Awards are presented to staff members who have provided at least 25 years of service to Catholic Education in Australia.

Award recipients:

·         Mr Dominic Arcaro          St Clare’s Primary School, Officer

·         Mrs Joanne Coldebella           St Joseph’s Primary School, Wonthaggi

·         Ms Kathleen Egan                  St Joseph’s Primary School, Wonthaggi

·         Mrs Alisha Johnston               St Clare’s Primary School, Officer

·         Mrs Patricia Lloyd                   St Therese’s Primary School, Cranbourne

·         Mrs Rosetta Osthmuller     St Therese’s Primary School, Cranbourne

·         Mr Joshua Pickett                   Marist-Sion College, Warragul

·         Mrs Alison Phillips                   St Gabriel’s Primary School, Traralgon

·         Mr Robert Tarraran                  Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon

·         Mrs Helen Watson                   St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Morwell

Spirit of Catholic Education Awards

The Spirit of Catholic Education Award for Inspiring Faith is awarded for significant contribution to the development of students’ faith lives.

Inspiring Faith

Award recipients:

·         Mrs Robyn Lewry - St Ita’s Primary School, Drouin

·         Mrs Lizabeth Privitera - Mary MacKillop Primary School, Narre Warren North

Inspiring Learning

The Spirit of Catholic Education Award for Inspiring Learning is awarded for significant contribution to student learning.

Award recipients:

·         Mr Michael Ling - St Peter’s College, Cranbourne

·         Mr Bradley Scammell - St Peter’s College, Cranbourne

Daniel Ahern Bursary

Daniel Ahern began his teaching career at Nar Nar Goon in the 1850s as a private tutor to the O’Brien family but evolved over time to be the head teacher at a local Catholic school. Daniel continued teaching in the Dandenong area for many years and became one of the most well-known and respected Catholic teachers and laypeople of the last century.

The Daniel Ahern Bursary is directed at non-teachers currently employed in primary and secondary schools in the Diocese of Sale, who are presently undertaking teacher education studies.

The Bursary provides financial support to the recipients for 12 months.

Award recipients:

·         Mr Christian Bertacco         Marist-Sion College, Warragul

·         Mrs Terryn Burley                    St Mary’s Primary School, Sale

·         Miss Brianna Buza                  Columba Catholic Primary School, Bunyip

·         Miss Shevaun Lazarus            St Agatha’s Primary School, Cranbourne

·         Miss Tiena Lyons                     Immaculate Heart of Mary Primary School, Newborough

·         Miss Jasmyn Selmes               Immaculate Heart of Mary Primary School, Newborough

·         Miss Molly Semmens              St Mary’s Primary School, Sale

·         Ms Zora Popovich                   Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Cowes

·         Mrs Amanda Wignell               Don Bosco Primary School, Narre Warren

Elizabeth Hunt

Each year, DOSCEL offers teaching scholarships to support current Year 12 students entering a teaching degree.

The Elizabeth Hunt Scholarship provides a contribution to the cost of teaching studies for each year of the course with the aims of supporting graduates to pursue a teaching career in our Catholic schools.

The successful recipients who completed Year 12 studies in 2023 are: 

·         Summer Freeman                    St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield

·         Miss Kiara St Mart                   St Peter’s College, Cranbourne

Photo: Congratulations to all Catholic Education Award recipients presented awards at the Clyde North ceremony.

Back row from left: Mrs Joanne Coldebella - St Joseph’s Primary School, Wonthaggi, Mrs Kathleen Egan – St Joseph’s Primary School, Wonthaggi, Ms Zora Popovich - Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Cowes, Mrs Robyn Lewry – St Ita’s Primary School, Drouin, Mrs Alicia Johnston – St Clare's Primary School, Traralgon, Mr Dominic Arcaro – St Clare’s Primary School, Officer, Mr Bradley Scammell - St Peter’s College, Cranbourne

Front row from left: Miss Tiena Lyons – Immaculate Heart of Mary Primary School, Newborough, Mrs Patricia Lloyd – St Therese’s Primary School, Cranbourne, Mrs Rosetta Osthmuller – St  Therese’s Primary School, Cranbourne, Miss Jasmyn Selmes - Immaculate Heart of Mary Primary School, Newborough, Miss Shevaun Lazarus - St Agatha’s Primary School, Cranbourne, Mr Michael Ling - St Peter’s College, Cranbourne, Lizabeth Privitera – Mary Mackillop Primary School, Narre Warren North, Miss Kiara St Mart - St Peter’s College, Cranbourne. 

Photo:  Congratulations to all Catholic Education Award recipients presented awards at the Sale Awards ceremony. Front row from Left: Mrs Alison Phillips - St Gabriel’s Primary School, Traralgon, Miss Molly Semmens – St Mary’s Primary School, Sale, Mrs Terryn Burley – St Mary’s Primary School, Sale, Mr Christian Bertacco – Marist Sion College, Warragul, Miss Brianna Buza – Columba Catholic Primary School, Bunyip.

Back row from left: Mr Paul Velton - Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Ms Debra Punton – Deputy Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Miss Summer Freeman – St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield, Mrs Helen Watson - St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Morwell,  Most Reverend Greg Bennet - Catholic Bishop of Sale.

Media Inquiries:

Media and Communications Adviser

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited

0417 534 232