# St. Bernard's College, Melbourne

St Bernard's College is an independent Catholic secondary school for boys, located in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon West, Victoria, Australia. The college is named after its patron saint, Bernard of Clairvaux, and is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges. It is also part of Edmund Rice Education Australia, a series of schools that focus on teaching the pupils in the tradition of Edmund Rice. The current Principal as of 2025 is Dr Michael Davies, and the current Vice-principal is Ms Therese Wilson.

## History

St Bernard's College traces its origins to the establishment of St Monica's at Moonee Ponds in 1917, by Brothers C. O'Keefe and T. Quinn. Students at this school were taken from Grade III to Intermediate (Year 10).
In 1940, during the war period, not only were the students sent away to help in Ireland, the school was also extended to take the Leaving Certificate (Year 11), and this necessitated the building of the first St Bernard's on the Strand Moonee Ponds, with Brother Cregan as the first Headmaster.
In the mid-1950s, Brother Brendan Murphy organised the purchase of the West Essendon property. While initially used as sporting grounds, building work began at this site in the mid-1960s. Since then, the site has developed with all classes being located at West Essendon by 1995, at which time the Moonee Ponds site was sold. In 2001, the college set up its Santa Monica campus on the Great Ocean Road near Lorne. This campus is most notably used by year 9 students where they live, study, and undertake outdoor education for four-week periods as part of the standard curriculum.

## Curriculum

St Bernard's College offers its senior students the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
VCE results 2012-2023 :
| Year | Rank | Median study score | Scores of 40+ (%) | Cohort size |
| 2012 | 95 | 32 | 10.4 | 284 |
| 2013 | 98 | 32 | 11 | 297 |
| 2014 | 109 | 32 | 8.7 | 304 |
| 2015 | 95 | 32 | 10.5 | 384 |
| 2016 | 97 | 32 | 10.2 | 367 |
| 2017 | 139 | 31 | 8 | 314 |
| 2018 | 130 | 31 | 8.8 | 327 |
| 2019 | 172 | 30 | 7.5 | 339 |
| 2020 | 181 | 30 | 6 | 320 |
| 2021 | 201 | 30 | 5.3 | 299 |
| 2022 | 146 | 31 | 6.3 | 302 |
| 2023 | 198 | 30 | 6.5 | 347 |

## Term dates

For the 2025 Victorian school year, the current term dates are as below.
* Term 1 - Monday, 3 February (Years 7, 9, 11 & 12)/Tuesday 4 February (Years 8 & 10) - Friday, 4 April
* Term 2 - Tuesday, 22 April - Friday, 4 July
* Term 3 - Tuesday, 22 July - Friday, 19 September
* Term 4 - Monday, 6 October - Friday, 5 December

## Activities
### Sports

St Bernard's is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges and competes against twelve other schools in sporting fixtures and carnivals. Students play week-end sport with the Old Collegians. St Bernards is particularly successful in Australian Rules Football, winning the Herald Sun Shield in 2017 and 2018. A number of boys from these sides have been drafted into the AFL like Noah Balta to Richmond, Xavier O'Halloran to Greater Western Sydney, (in the first round of the AFL draft) and Lachlan Sholl to Adelaide.
St Bernards had a record twelve straight Athletic championship wins from 2003 to 2014, under the coaching of Gerard Brown, a teacher with years of experience in the role as head coach of the Athletics squad and Cross Country team.

#### ACC premierships

St Bernard's has won the following ACC premierships.
* Athletics (18) – 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
* Basketball (2) – 1991, 2016
* Cricket (5) – 1979, 1997, 2005, 2018, 2021, 2024
* Cross Country (10) – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
* Australian Rules Football (15) – 1961, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2021
* Golf (3) – 2014, 2015, 2016
* Handball – 1956
* Hockey (7) – 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2018
* Lawn Bowls – 2021, 2024
* Football (6) – 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2021, 2024
* Swimming (3) – 1995, 1998, 2012
* Table Tennis (4) – 2001, 2002, 2010, 2013
* Tennis (12) – 1952, 1954, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2024
* Triathlon – 2018
* Volleyball (4) – 1995, 1996, 1997, 2013

### Performing arts

The college has musical productions and music programs. It has combined with St Columba's College, to stage shows annually.

#### Recognition by Music Theatre Guild of Victoria

The college has a reputation for its musical productions and music programs. It has combined with St Columba's College, to stage shows annually, which have included Pirates of Penzance (2000), Fiddler on the Roof (2001), Anything Goes (2002), West Side Story (2003), Guys and Dolls (2004), Oklahoma (2005), Cabaret (2006), Bye Bye Birdie (2007), Jesus Christ Superstar (2008), The Sound of Music (2009), The Wiz (2010), High School Musical (2011), Jekyll and Hyde (2012), Once Upon a Mattress (2013), Shout! The Legend of The Wild One (2014), The Pajama Game (2015), The Boy from Oz (2016), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2017), The Addams Family (2018), The Wedding Singer (2019), Grease (2020), Mary Poppins (2021), Strictly Ballroom (2022) and have recently finished performing Little Shop of Horrors (2023) and Chicago (2024). The productions of Grease and Mary Poppins were both impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during the rehearsal process, leading to both being cancelled. The college has many avenues for its students to explore the arts, including the College & ACC Art and Technology Exhibition, Battle of the Bands, Choir, Music Ensembles and Theatre Productions in collaboration with St Columba’s College. The college also has an annual 'Kick Arts' along with St Columba's College and Ave Maria College which comprises dramatic, musical and dance acts by each school.
St Bernard's College productions in conjunction with St Columba's College have been recognised by the prestigious Music Theatre Guild of Victoria, a not-for-profit organisation for the ongoing support, encouragement and development of non-professional music theatre in the state of Victoria.
2024 – "Chicago"
* Commendation for Junior Production of the Year
* Linda Henderson, Nominee for Direction of a Junior Performance
* Linda Henderson, Kira Neilson & Monique Zammit, Nominees for Choreography
* Ed Chan, commended for Musical Direction of a Junior Production
* Cooper Marin, Recipient of Best Lead Performer in a Male Presenting Role as Billy Flynn
* Sienna Alexander, commended for Minor/Cameo Role as Emcee
2023 – "Little Shop of Horrors"
* Commendation for Junior Production of the Year
* Brittany Crane, Commendation for Direction of a Junior Production
* Chris Smith & Ed Chan, Commendation for Musical Direction of a Junior Production
* Lucas Bonnici, Nominee for Best Lead Performer in a Male Presenting Role as Seymour Krelborn
* Cooper Marin, Recipient of Best Supporting Performer in a Male Presenting Role as Audrey II
2016 – "The Boy From Oz"
* Nomination for Junior Production of the Year
* Brooke Sullivan & Brendan Tollitn Nominees for Best Direction of a Junior Production
* Ben Kelly, Nominee for Best Musical Direction of a Junior Production
* Katherine McWaters & Jess Barlow, Nominees for Best Choreography
* Liam McWhinney, Recipient of Best Lead Performer in a Male Presenting Role as Peter Allen
* Nesceda Blake, Nominee for Best Supporting Performer in a Female Presenting Role as Judy Garland
* Brigid Hanley-Leonard, Nominee for Best Supporting Performer in a Female Presenting Role as Marion Woolnough
2013 – "Once Upon A Mattress"
* Nomination for Junior Production of the Year
* Catherine Ohlsen, Recipient of Best Direction of a Junior Production
* Laura Danby, Nominee for Best Musical Direction of a Junior Production
* Ben Hargreaves, Nominee for Best Supporting Performer in a Male Presenting Role as King Sextimus the Silent
* Jeremy Deutscher, Nominee for Best Supporting Performer in a Male Presenting Role as Jester
* Jasmine Romanin, Nominee for Best Supporting Performer in a Female Presenting Role as Queen Aggravain
2012 – "Jekyll and Hyde"
* Award for Excellence
2010 – "The Wiz"
* Award For Excellence

### Student leadership

The students are involved in electing their student leaders every year. A nomination from a student or from their peers is verified by the staff and senior leadership team. Staff will then endorse students from Year 11, and for specific leadership roles for Year 12 students.
The senior leadership team will then review the potential candidates based on student and staff endorsement and select the Year 11 and Year 12 members of the Student Council. The Year 12 portion of the Student Council is composed of eight council members, five House Captains, five Portfolio Captains (Arts, Sports, Ministry, Wellbeing and Academic) and the College Captain.
Year 12 Student Council members who wish to undertake House, Portfolio, or the College Captain role must undertake an interview with the Senior Leadership Team, who will decide the student for the position. The Student Council helps facilitates many important events throughout the college such as the college's Feast Day and various whole school assemblies throughout the year.

## Notable alumni

* Noah Balta – Australian rules footballer for Richmond Tigers
* Jude Bolton – Australian rules footballer for Sydney Swans
* Joseph Camilleri – Professor of International Relations, La Trobe University
* Michael Carmody – Australian Federal Commissioner of Taxation
* Ben Carroll – Labor Politician
* Jordan Schroder – Australian rules footballer for Geelong Cats
* Joe Daniher – Australian rules footballer for Essendon Bombers & Brisbane Lions; son of Anthony Daniher
* Garry Foulds – former Australian rules footballer for Essendon Bombers
* Andrew Johnston – Australian rules footballer for Fitzroy
* Brad Lloyd – former Australian rules footballer for Hawthorn Hawks
* Matthew Lloyd – Australian rules footballer for Essendon Bombers
* Francis Leach – Australian radio personality & sports commentator. Host of the drive show on SEN 1116 with fellow St Bernard's alumnus David Schwarz
* Hayden Kennedy – Senior Australian Rules Football Umpire
* Patrick Kisnorbo – Australian professional football manager and former Socceroo player who is currently the manager of Ligue 1 club Troyes
* Justin Madden – former Australian rules footballer for Carlton Blue and Essendon Bombers; former Member of the Legislative Assembly for Essendon in the Victorian Parliament
* Simon Madden – former Australian rules footballer for Essendon Bombers
* Michael Malouf – former chief executive officer of City of Melbourne Council; Former Chief Executive Officer of the Carlton Football Club
* Liam McBean – Australian rules footballer for Richmond Tigers
* Brian McNamee – Director and Chair of CSL Limited
* Paul McNamee – former Davis Cup tennis player
* Brian Mannix – Singer, musician, actor, director, author
* Luke Mitchell – Australian rules footballer
* Steven Morris – Australian rules footballer for Richmond Tigers
* Christopher Mullins – Gold medal-winning Paralympic athlete
* Xavier O'Halloran – Australian rules footballer for GWS Giants
* Jake Riccardi – Australian rules footballer for GWS Giants
* Ben Ronke – Australian rules footballer
* Lachlan Sholl – Australian rules footballer for Adelaide Crows
* Dane Swan – Australian rules footballer for Collingwood Magpies
* Ziggy Switkowski – former CEO of Telstra
* Rohan Welsh – former Australian rules footballer for Carlton Blues

## Notable staff

* Eleni Glouftsis, the first female Australian rules football umpire