Laureate Presentation 2024

On Thursday 1 February, our Laureate Presentation was held at Coolock following the Opening Mass. It was attended by the entire College as well as special guests.

The Laureate is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the outstanding creative and academic achievements of many students from the Graduating Class of 2023. Quite deliberately, each year we have this celebration on the same day as our Opening Mass, so that we may share these significant achievements in front of the entire student body. It is hoped that by highlighting and celebrating these outstanding achievements with all students, they will be encouraged and inspired to achieve their very best.

Students and families witnessed a significant number of our graduates and current Year 12 students receive recognition for their outstanding achievements in their VCE Units 3 & 4, VCAL, VCE VM and VET studies.

Our College Dux for 2023 is Tess Rule who received an ATAR score of 95.25. She was the Subject Dux of Geography, Literature, Legal Studies and Sociology. Tess intends to study law at La Trobe University, Bendigo

We were fortunate to have Tess address the audience and her speech reflected on her path through school. At the conclusion of her speech she said, “At school I was able to see the people I care about every day, to learn new things, to be educated, which is something I know I took for granted. It’s easy, especially during the earlier years of high school, to absolutely dislike school. I know I did. But once you develop a passion for what you’re learning, grow a supportive group of friends, and an interest in how well you do, not for other people – but for you, because you want to do well – I promise it’s not that bad. You might even find yourself doing better than you thought, and who knows? Maybe even duxing.”

Read full speech here.

The special guest at this year’s Laureate Presentation, Ryan McNaught, is better known as ‘Brickman’ from Channel Nine’s reality television show LEGO Masters. Since premiering in 2019, the show has gone on to enjoy phenomenal success with its massive brick-building challenges and LEGO-mad contestants and has made Brickman a household name.

Ryan is one of only fourteen LEGO-certified professionals in the world. He was a huge LEGO fan as a child and returned to his passion as an adult, combining his professional skills with his creative instinct. He attended Catholic College Bendigo from 1990 to 1992 and his visit to attend the Laureate Presentation was his first visit since his graduation.

In an emotional speech, Ryan reflected on how much his time at the College had meant to him and the impact that his education had on his future success. He was impressed by the growth and development at the Coolock Campus and pleased to be welcomed back to the College as someone who had found fame and success following his dreams.

And of course, it just wouldn’t be Brickman unless he shed a tear or two.

Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching, Ms Gina Giblin said that the Class of 2023 had received outstanding results and the College was proud of their collective achievements. Indeed, many of the award recipients were not able to be present to receive their awards as they had already commenced their tertiary studies.

The Term 4 2023 Spirit of Catherine Awards winners for Year 12, Bryde O’Rourke and Abuk Yai, were announced before the Subject Dux awards were presented.

Other impressive achievements, scholarships and awards were also recognised including the 2023 Musician of the Year, Art Acquisition and JRS Award, Australian Defence Force (ADF) Long Tan Youth Leadership Award and ADF Future Innovators Award.

For the full list of recipients, please see the download box below.

Our most esteemed College community award is the Bishop Noel Daly Memorial Award which is awarded to a 2023 graduate who has been an exemplary role model throughout their six years at Catherine McAuley College Bendigo. This year the Bishop Noel Daly Memorial award is awarded to Sophie Giles. Throughout her time she has held various student leadership roles and has always been happy to help out in all aspects of College Life, nothing is too much trouble for her. She has been a conscientious and diligent student who always strived to do her best. Sophie has a kind and caring nature and has been very inclusive of all students within the College. We congratulate Sophie on winning this prestigious award.

Thank you all our Year 12 Graduates of 2023 who came back so that we could celebrate their successes and we wish them all the very best in the future.