Principal Delaney moves on
MICHAEL Delaney is not keen to talk about himself.
After 15 years as principal of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, Leongatha, he would rather talk about the college’s supportive educational environment, and teaching in the 21st century, and his students.
Mr Delaney, who is moving on from the college, insists his work has always been about the students.
“It’s just about teaching them and helping them go out into the world with a good sense of who they are and that God loves them,” he said.
Mr Delaney started his career as a maths teacher then rose to year level coordinator, department coordinator and further until he secured the role of deputy principal at Mary MacKillop College in 1996.
He began 1999 as acting principal of the college and was made principal in July.
He has enjoyed watching the school’s facilities grow and improve during his tenure.
“We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of grants,” he said.
Since 1999 the college has gone from 80 per cent portable classrooms to 80 per cent brick buildings.
Mr Delaney said one of the school’s main strengths was its culture of learning and pastoral care.
He said young people applying to the college often hear from college students that at Mary MacKillop College, if you want to learn, you can learn.
“As the principal, that’s what you want the community saying: students are learning and getting looked after,” he said.
Mr Delaney nominated a span of four years, from 2007 to 2010, as highlights of his time at Mary MacKillop College.
An event called the Journey of the Cross and Icon took place in 2007, which was the precursor to World Youth Day in 2008.
“Those were real celebrations of being part of the worldwide Catholic church,” he said.
Then in 2009 the college celebrated 100 years since Mary MacKillop’s death, not realising in 2010 she would be canonised.
Mary MacKillop had been the school’s inspiration but in 2010 she truly became its patron saint.
He also loves to see former students living out the values the school seeks to foster.
“It’s bumping into grown up students and seeing they’ve turned into fine, upstanding citizens,” he said.
The recent state election brought more good news for the school.
Before the election, both major Victorian parties agreed for the first time to give capital buildings grants to non-government schools.
“One of the big problems this country has is that education is a political football,” Mr Delaney said.
“If we could get both sides of parliament wanting the same outcomes for students, education would be a lot more settled.”
The best thing about Mary MacKillop College, Mr Delaney said, is the college community.
“It’s the way the parents, staff and students all work together. It’s been a privilege serving all the families and students,” he said.
Mr Delaney acknowledged the work of the school board, the Parents and Friends Group, volunteers in the canteen and second hand uniform shop and other helpers.
As for the next step, in his career Mr Delaney has taken the job of principal at St Joseph’s College in Echuca, where he and his wife Shauna will soon be moving.
He said they like the area and, with the youngest of their three children having recently completed Year 12, they felt the time was right for a change.
Mr Delaney does not know who his successor at Mary MacKillop College will be or when the Catholic Education Office will make its decision.
He said going from 560 students at Mary MacKillop College to 900 students at St Joseph’s College will be a challenge.
However, he will take his experience as a principal and his faith commitment with him.
He expects his ties with Mary MacKillop College to remain.
“I’m sure we won’t be strangers to South Gippsland,” he said.
Goodbye, Mr Delaney: from left, Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College students Jack Battaglia and Kimberley Hill, principal Michael Delaney, and students Aidan Richards and Jack Norton in the college’s grounds.
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