Turning of sod at St Francis Xavier College Berwick 

22 August 2023

Work has begun on a major construction project that will transform St Francis Xavier College’s Berwick Campus.

A sod turning ceremony was led by the Catholic Bishop of Sale, Most Reverend Greg Bennet to mark the beginning of the works. 

The Bishop was joined by the State Member for Narre Warren South - Mr Gary Maas MP, Parish Priest - Fr Jeff Kleynjans, Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale - Mr Paul Velten, Principal of St Francis Xavier College - Mr Vincent Feeney, Directors of Bellemo & Cat Architects - Mr Michael Bellemo and Ms Cat Macleod, Contracts Administrator for Devco Construction - Mr Shabab Salahuddin. Also attending were College staff, student leaders from Saint Francis Xavier College Berwick Campus and St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, Berwick.

Mr Feeney said the College was delighted to begin the Stage 2 development which will be transformative for the Berwick Campus which caters to Year 7-9 students.

“The project will create 24 general learning areas, collaborative spaces, digital technology facilities, a green room, offices and amenities. This will create contemporary, vibrant learning spaces and expand campus facilities to meet the needs of the growing school community now and into the future.”

Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Mr Paul Velten, said the project represented Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited’s ongoing commitment to providing high quality learning and teaching environments and investment in school communities.

“This development represents an exciting new chapter for the College and for the Berwick Campus for future generations.

“We look forward to the construction of these new facilities which aim to create contemporary faith-filled environments to inspire learning and empower students to reach their full potential.”

The Stage 2 St Francis Xavier College Berwick Campus project is part-funded by a Catholic Development Fund (CDF) loan and the Victorian Government’s Non-Government Schools Capital Fund.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

Photo at top of page: From left: Ms Cat Macleod and Mr Michael Bellemo - Directors of Bellemo and Cat Architects, Mr Shabab Salahuddin - Contracts Administrator for Devco Construction, Mr Vincent Feeney - Principal St Francis Xavier College, Evan - Student leader St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, Berwick, Fr Jeff Kleynjans - Parish Priest, Ryan Koelldorfer - Captain St Francis Xavier College Berwick Campus, Most Reverend Greg Bennet - Catholic Bishop of Sale, Cheyenne Connor - Captain St Francis Xavier College Berwick Campus, Mr Gary Maas MP – State Member for Narre Warren South, Ms Collette Bond Deputy Principal and Head of Campus, Mr Paul Velten – Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Marley - Student leader St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, Berwick and and Mr Conor McAleese -  Business Manager St Francis Xavier College.

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