BCE recognises exceptional staff

Excellence Awards

​Winners of the nine Excellence Awards with BCE Executive Director Pam Betts and Archbishop Mark Coleridge

BRISBANE Catholic Education recognised staff who went “above and beyond” to teach, challenge and transform students’ lives at the annual Excellence Awards gala evening. 

More than 500 family, friends and special guests gathered at the Brisbane Convention Centre to witness Archbishop Mark Coleridge and BCE Executive Director Pam Betts congratulate the outstanding winners who were picked from hundreds of nominations. 

The annual awards recognise the excellent ways in which nominees worked to nurture the growth of students in Catholic schools, either in teaching, leading, mentoring and governance. 

During the evening a total of nine awards were on offer with the Archbishop’s Award for Leadership going to St Joseph’s College, Coomera, Principal Paul Begg while Eryn Gower from St Mary’s College, Ipswich, taking home the ACU Award for Excellence as an Early Career Teacher (<5 years).

Diane McClure from St Mary’s School, Beaudesert, claimed top spot in the QIEC Super Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching in Primary School, and Kathryn Flint from Seton College, Mt Gravatt East took out the QIEC Super Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching in a Secondary School.

Jacqui Winmill from Siena Catholic Primary School, Sippy Downs, won the ACU Award for Excellence in Religious Education or Building Strong Catholic Identity with Shaun Lendrum from St John’s College, Nambour, claiming the ACU Award for Excellence in Creating a Sustainable Future by Developing Colleagues.

In the TUH Health Fund Award for Excellence in Supporting Learning and Teaching in Schools Julie O’Connell from All Saints’ School, Boonah, topped the nominations and Mary Smith from School Service Centre North, North Lakes scored the TUH Health Fund Award for Excellence in Supporting Learning and Teaching through a BCE Office Role.

Our Lady of Fatima Primary School, Acacia Ridge, Principal Damian Gambley accepted the Teachers Mutual Bank Award for School Excellence in Learning and Teaching on behalf of the whole school community.

Damian said the award was recognition of all the great work being done at the school.

“The award for us is a great symbol of our hard work as a community to believe that every child can succeed,” he said.

“It has been a very positive experience for all of the staff and a great motivation to keep on going.

“It was very fitting to receive this award on the eve of the feast of Mary of the Cross being a proud Josephite school.

Archbishop Coleridge congratulated the winners and said all the nominees had been recognised by their peers as exemplary.

“They should feel justifiably proud of their nomination,” he told them.

Miss Betts said every year the awards event just got bigger and bigger and that was a testament to the outstanding effort and achievements of staff in BCE schools and offices.

She said the number and quality of the nominations this year had far exceeded all expectations, with 69 schools and office departments represented.

“This year we have had our largest number of nominations of 154 across nine awards and I thank those who have travelled some distance to be with us,” she said.

She congratulated the winners and all the other finalists who attended, saying it was important to acknowledge those who shone in their endeavours. 

“Recognising those in schools, and in support of our schools, who go above-and-beyond; individuals and teams who have exceptional leadership, contribute to excellent learning and teaching and strong Catholic identity and who superbly demonstrate the BCE values, we wholeheartedly thank them for all the amazing and transformational work that they do,” she said. 

“It is so fabulous to see so many staff and their guests here this evening.

“Too often in our society we focus on the negative rather than the positive and there is so much positive in our staff to celebrate,” she said. 

Miss Betts thanked staff who took the time to nominate a colleague or team, principals and senior leaders for providing references and the judging panels for their discernment.

She also thanked sponsors, ACU (Australian Catholic University) TUH Health Fund, TMB (Teachers Mutual Bank), ACU and QIEC Super for their support of the awards. 

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