General News
13 February, 2026
Memories of Highview College — with Val Dwyer
I was a member of the parents’ club at St Joseph’s Brigidine College Maryborough, in 1973. My son Gavin Menz aged 13 was in form one that year, so as a parent I had connections with the Christian Community College before its inception.
I volunteered for all sorts of activities, school camps, hearing reading and showing kids how to use a sewing machine. Along with other parents and volunteers, I helped to build the mudbrick building — making the bricks on site.
In 1972, the Brigidine Sisters made the difficult decision that they were unable to continue operating St Joseph’s College. The Brigidine Convent building had been in existence at 21 Kars Street since 1903.
At the same time Canon John Lever, Anglican Rector of Christ Church, Maryborough discussed with Father Peter Claridge of the Roman Catholic Church the possibility of founding an ecumenical school. After receiving the support of the Bishop of Ballarat, the Superior of the Brigidine Congregation and other Anglican and Protestant church leaders, a public meeting was called in Maryborough.
By 1973 considerable support had been shown and the Methodist and Church of Christ joined the Anglicans
and Roman Catholics on the interim council. By the end of the year a foundation principal and staff had been recruited. The collaboration of the four churches, despite their differences in doctrine and traditions, was a progressive, brave and dedicated quest to ensure Maryborough had a school founded on Christian values and commitment.
The Christian Community College opened its doors on the site of the convent in February 1974 ensuring that St Joseph’s students could continue their education there. The college commenced with 126 students and was the first ecumenical school in Australia and possibly the world.
As student numbers grew during 1975-1976, seven more classrooms and a science room were added. In 1977, the convent building was purchased and remodeled into an administrative centre with an upstairs library complex replacing the previous sleeping quarters of the Brigidine Sisters.
As Maryborough’s college flourished so did the idea of ecumenical education. In 1976, a committee in Woodend used the Maryborough experience as a model for the establishment of Braemar College. Another ecumenical school opened in Portland in 1978 and during the 1980’s five other Victorian locations took up the challenge of ecumenical education.
I was employed as laboratory assistant in 1989 and worked there for 19 years. I loved it from the beginning, although I was a bit overcome on my first day and resigned on the second day, but the science coordinator Joe Mathew took me into one of the classrooms and gave me a good talking to. Thanks Joe, it was great working with you.
Geoff James was a great principal to work with. All the staff were into fun, high jinks and jollification, dressing up at the drop of a hat. Every daily morning tea in the staff room was like going to a party, with sandwiches and savories served by the ever faithful Dulcie McDowell, who had worked as an assistant when the school was a convent. Birthdays were always celebrated with a special cake.
In 1990, the trading name of ‘Highview’ was added to the college title and a site was cleared for the construction of a further science laboratory, multi-purpose classroom and flexible chapel area.
My two children Gavin and Carol Menz attended Highview, also my stepdaughters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and a great grandchild is now in year eight. When my husband Brendan retired from Damascus College in Ballarat, he did lots of emergency teaching at Highview, so at times it was a real family affair
From its inception the college was into theatre productions commencing in the school hall (the present library) and progressing over the years to the ‘Geoff James Theatre’ completed in 2001 and named after Geoff James left the College at the end of 2006. Many of the original scripts were written by the staff.
I am now a very keen member of the history committee. I love delving into the past. The history committee was formed in 2017, with a view to starting to compile historical information which could be used as a number of resources for the future.