Damascus College Ballarat

Damascus College is Ballarat’s only Catholic co-educational secondary college. It was established in 1995 after three separate Catholic colleges, St Martin's in the Pines, Sacred Heart College and St Paul's College amalgamated. The college is located on a treed 20 hectare campus in Mount Clear, 7 km from Ballarat's central business district. Damascus College is a day school for secondary students in years 7 to 12. Origins Sacred Heart College In 1881, the Sisters of Mercy established Sacred Heart College in Ballarat East for students from Preparatory to Year 12. The primary students were later moved to St Francis Xavier College in 1906. St Paul's Technical College When the Bishop of Ballarat, James O'Collins established St Paul's Technical College in 1948, he invited the Christian Brothers to continue their work for boys through the provision of technical education. In 1987 the school moved from Lydiard St to the former Ballarat Orphanage on Victoria Street. St Martin's in the Pines Alice Fanning, who had been looked after by the Sisters of Mercy for several years, bequeathed the Mt Clear property to the Sisters of Mercy on her death in February 1960. The land was used by the Sisters to grow vegetables and raise cattle, and following the decision in 1964 to develop the site for the senior school of Sacred Heart College, the foundation stone was laid in 1966. In 1967, the separate campus for Year 11 and 12 girls was developed at Mt Clear to form St Martin's in the Pines. In 1988, this campus became co-educational, with boys mainly from St Paul's Technical College. St Martin's in the Pines remained an all girls boarding school for students, the majority who came from country Victoria. In beginning years, all 4 floors of the boarding house were utilised as bedrooms (cells). Over the years, the need for a boarding school was reflected in the reduced numbers of students who resided in the boarding house. In 1994, only one floor was used by students, and each had access to two rooms, one a bedroom, one being a study. Sister Elizabeth Maloney was the last Head Boarding Mistress 1992-1994. Amalgamation In 1995 Sacred Heart College, St Martin's in the Pines and St Paul's Technical College amalgamated to form Ballarat's only co-educational Catholic secondary school. Year 7 to 9 students were located in Victoria St at the former St Paul's site and Year 10 to 12 students were located in Mt Clear at the former site of St Martin's in the Pines. In 2011 all students were relocated to Mt Clear. Damascus College is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and the parish priests of Ballarat, Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Bungaree, Cressy, Creswick, Daylesford, Gordon, Linton, Redan, Sebastopol, and Wendouree. In 2016 the college was named the Sustainability Victoria Biodiversity Secondary School of the Year. Curriculum The college's curriculum is informed by a number of key documents including the College Vision and Mission Statement, Teaching and Learning Policy, the Australian Curriculum, the Victorian Essential Learning Standards, VCAA and the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority. Students have the opportunity to learn French or Indonesian from Year 7 to 12. Physical Education and Health are taken from years 7 to 10, while Religious Education is taken for all years. Damascus College offers VCE, VET and VCE Vocational Major to Year 10, 11 and 12 students. Extracurricular activities Mercy and Justice Timor-Leste Immersion Program – students are given the opportunity to raise funds for Timor-Leste and visit the college's sister school Santa Maria in Ainaro Edmund Rice Camps – students are trained to become camp leaders for disadvantaged children and families Seeds of Justice – a Mercy Schools Project which allows students to deepen their awareness of justice Mercy Works – projects supporting local and overseas relief and development activities Justice Action Group (JAG) – social justice group Christian Personal Development Award (CPDA) Sustainable Racing Team (SRT) Since 1998 Damascus College students have designed, built and tested Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs). The team trains and competes annually in the Energy Breakthrough challenge in Maryborough. The competition involves a 24-hour non-stop endurance race where teams gain points for the most laps travelled as well as their demonstrated knowledge of the vehicle and the technology used to make the vehicle. SRT is offered as a after-school extra-curricular activity that requires students to build the vehicles in an effort to engage them in energy efficient technologies that may make up the future of transport and manufacturing. Additionally, the team competes in the Victorian HPV Grand Prix Series and Australian HPV Super Series. The college won the World Future Cycle Challenge in 2005 and 2007, a 1200 km journey from Ceduna to Adelaide. In March 2008 Damascus College rode 1009 km in under 24 hours from Sydney to Ballarat to raise awareness of solutions to greenhouse emissions and to raise funds for sustainable energy and food programs. In 2009, SRT rode a 3775 km journey by solar vehicle from Darwin to the steps of the Victorian State Parliament from 23 November - 9 December, just as the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen opened. Their Outback Rode RAGE (Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions) campaign aimed to raise awareness about climate change and how individuals can reduce their environmental footprints. Seven students took turns on the hi-tech vehicle. The vehicle was 30 per cent powered by solar electricity and 70 per cent by pedalling and hit a top of 115 km/h. Formerly known as Energy Breakthrough Team (EBT), in 2019 it was renamed to Sustainable Racing Team (SRT). In May 2024, SRT rode 1085 km from Broken Hill to Ballarat to raise money for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute. Drama Students can join the senior or junior Drama Club, can participate in the annual production and the biannual Easter production the Final Hours. Sport Each year school swimming, athletics and ball sports carnivals are held for all students to participate in. Damascus College is a member of the Ballarat Associated Schools through which students can choose to represent the school in: BAS premierships Damascus has won the following BAS premierships. Premierships won prior to 1995 were done so by the pre-amalgamation schools. Combined: Athletics – 1995 Badminton (2) – 2006, 2007 Lawn Bowls – 1997 Boys: Badminton (4) – 2006, 2008, 2009, 2019 Cross Country – 1990 Soccer – 2003 Girls: Athletics (6) – 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1995 Badminton – 2017 Basketball (10) – 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1982, 1997, 1999, 2000 Football (2) – 1999, 2000 Hockey – 1976 Netball (7) – 1961, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1991, 1992 Soccer (3) – 1999, 2000, 2003 Softball (2) – 1965, 2008 Volleyball (2) – 1989, 1992 Other Debating and Public Speaking SRC (Student Representative Council) French and Indonesian Language Study Tours Skiing trips Youth-Tutoring-Youth Program Green Group Book Club Campus wings Damascus College is divided into several school wings Sacred Heart Wing (Building 2) – year 9 and 10 classrooms named for Sacred Heart College Catherine McAuley Wing (Building 4) – year 7 and 8 classrooms named for Sister Catherine McAuley Genevieve McDonald Wing (Building 3) – Science classrooms named for Sister Genevieve McDonald John Shannon Centre – gymnasium named in honour of first Damascus principal, John Shannon Mercy Wing – administration and visitor reception named in honour of the Sisters of Mercy Our Lady of Mercy Chapel – Catholic chapel for students and staff to use during school St Martin's Resource Centre (Building 1) – library, named for St Martin's in the Pines St Paul's Arts and Technology Wing (Building 5) – art, metal and woodwork rooms named for St Paul's Technical College Valda Ward Auditorium – drama auditorium and rooms named after Sister Valda Ward Damascus Events Centre – a multipurpose building primarily for hosting events and exams Xavier Flood Centre (Building 11) – senior wing featuring multiple studying spaces, classrooms and courtyard areas Edmund Rice Wing (Building 7) – classrooms, drama and music rooms named for Edmund Ignatius Rice Houses Rice: Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice founded the Christian Brothers in Ireland in 1802 to educate the sons of poor and oppressed Catholic families. The brothers provided education by which these boys gained some control of their lives. Currently, the Rice House Captains of 2026 are Oaklee Burge, Jess James, Jorga Lewis and Lyna Begbie. McAuley: Venerable Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy, who had their formal beginnings in Ireland in 1831. In response to the needs of the time, Catherine McAuley established an institution for the care and education of less advantaged girls and young women. The congregation has continued to act in response to contemporary needs in society. Currently, the McAuley House Captains of 2026 are Declan Newman, Emerson Vallance, Will Busuttil And Jack Leech. Xavier: Mother Xavier Flood was one of the founding sisters of the Convent of Mercy, Ballarat East and the first principal of Sacred Heart College. Currently, the Xavier House Captains of 2026 are Samuel Handreck, Chloe Valentine, James McCarty and Matilda Bushell. St Martin: Saint Martin de Porres (formerly O'Collins House) – Saint Martin de Porres was a Peruvian lay brother who was canonized in 1962, he is most remembered for his work on behalf of the poor. The house name was changed to St Martin after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that Bishop James O'Collins received complaints about Gerald Ridsdale but did nothing to act on them. Currently, the Saint Martins House Captains of 2025 are Lucy Gravell, Kate Birkin, Lachlan Reus and Archie Staley. Principals Notable alumni Sacred Heart College Karen Overington (1969), Member of the Victorian Parliament for Ballarat West Judith Myrea Brewer (1979), Officer of the Order of Australia St Paul's Technical College Mick Malthouse (1971), AFL footballer and coach for Footscray, West Coast Eagles, Collingwood and Carlton Val Perovic (1971), former AFL footballer for St Kilda and Carlton Maurice O'Keefe (1972), AFL footballer for St Kilda and Geelong Geoff Cunningham (1977), AFL footballer for St Kilda Daryl Cunningham (1978), AFL footballer Sean Simpson (1987), former AFL footballer for St Kilda and Geelong Anthony McDonald (1990), former AFL footballer for Melbourne James McDonald (1992) AFL footballer for Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney St Martin's In the Pines Helen FitzGerald (1984), novelist and screenwriter Rachael Taylor (1994), olympic medalist for rowing Damascus College Darren Jolly (1996), dual AFL premiership winner with Sydney and Collingwood Shayne Reese (2000), Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer Cameron Richardson (2005), former AFL footballer for North Melbourne James Frawley (2006), Melbourne Football Club Jordan Roughead (2008 school captain), AFL premiership winner for the Western Bulldogs Aislinn Prendergast (2009), orienteer for Australia Shaun Reeves (2011), member of band Kuchi Kopi Sam Rizzo, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athlete Shelby Sherritt, ceramicist See also Catholic All Schools Sports Association (CAS) Education in Ballarat List of schools in Victoria List of Christian Brothers schools List of schools in Ballarat List of high schools in Victoria Sacred Heart College, Ballarat Victorian Certificate of Education References External links Damascus College website