Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to congratulate St Gregory's College Campbelltown as it celebrates its centenary this year. St Greg's opened during the difficult years of the Great Depression, with just three Marist Brothers as teachers and 10 students. The college was established on land generously donated by local landowner Thomas Donovan, whose vision to support the education of boys from rural areas was great. Mr Donovan's generosity extended beyond the land itself. He provided the classrooms, the chapel and the first dormitory—facilities which established a strong foundation for the school. That dormitory proved particularly important during the Second World War, when enrolments grew as families sent their sons to board while parents served our nation.

Today, St Greg's has grown into a renowned and respected K-to-12, co-educational school with more than 1,500 students and over 200 staff across teaching, administration and support roles. It's a cornerstone of education in our region and an icon of Campbelltown. The college is known for its proud agricultural and sporting traditions and for producing remarkable alumni, including NRL players James Tedesco and Alex McKinnon, former chief of the defence force General Angus Campbell and my colleague in this House the member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie. As someone who firmly believes in the power of education, I thank St Greg's and the teachers and staff for a century of service to our community and congratulate the entire St Greg's family on this extraordinary milestone.

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