Nagle Centre at Holy Rosary officially opened

FEDERAL Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, was the guest of honour at the official opening the Nagle Centre at Holy Rosary School on Monday as part of a special blessing and ceremony.

Ms Chesters said the project was funded with $1 million from the Commonwealth Government’s Capital Grants Program.

“This project has delivered a combination of new construction and renovation to an existing building to create new classrooms, a reception area, administration offices, staff facilities and storage,” she said.

“These facilities will provide school staff, teachers and students at Holy Rosary School with better, more modern spaces in which to work, teach and learn.

“The Australian Government is committed to providing all schools with appropriate funding so that all students, get the best possible education.”

Ms Chesters said the new facilities would benefit the students currently at the school, as well as the many who will follow in future years.

The centre is named in honour of Honora “Nano” Nagle, founder of The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ireland in 1775.

Presentation Sisters came to Australia in 1866 and to Heathcote in 1926 where they established the Holy Rosary School with boarding for girls in a convent.

School principal Paul Dullard said planning for the new facilities started six years ago.

“It is a credit to everyone involved who pulled together to make this happen,” he said.

“The staff and school board, students and families have all helped to bring this vision to reality.

“We are very grateful to the Australian Government for providing the grant through the Capital Grants Program.”

An official plaque on the wall of the centre was unveiled by past student Bet Tobin and her grandson Jack Tobin who is a current Prep student.

Following the opening, The Nagle Centre was blessed by the Most Reverend Shane Mackinlay, Bishop of Sandhurst.

The opening was also attended by Paul Desmond who is the chief executive director of Catholic Education Sandhurst, Heathcote Parish priest Father Peter Ferwenda, and Sisters Helen Carboon and Anne Young from the Presentation Sisters of Victoria.