News on Mercy College and its students is added to this page on a regular basis. Also available is the calendar of events and the school newsletter.

The Mercy College Choir students joined four hundred other choristers for the KMEIA 21st Regional Choral Festival last month from 24 to 26 March. Our students, Mr Jim Ford and Mr Val Mackenzie participated in a series of choral workshops including opening the Festival with a handbell ringing performance. Brisbane guest Conductors included the energetic Mr Anthony Young from St Laurence’s College and Dr Debra Shearer-Dirie, Director and Conductor of the Brisbane Concert Choir and the QLD Conservatorium. Eight of Mr Young’s students from St Laurence’s College also joined in the festivities.
Thank you to students and parents/guardians for a wonderful weekend of song.
Miss Libby Courtice, Choir Coordinator
Last Wednesday Mercy College swapped their uniforms for an orange outfit to celebrate Harmony Day and Close the Gap day. The day began with an assembly jam packed with activities to celebrate the cultural diversity of our school. The flag ceremony was a definite highlight. A procession of flags from all over the globe, showed the students just how many different countries our Mercy College community come from. The assembly ended with a couple of dances from the Slade Point mob.
After assembly it was time for the Year 8’s to participate in a range of cultural activities from painting boomerangs to having chopsticks races. The Year 9 French students had a picnic of snails and crackers with camembert, played baguette javelin and finished with a few rounds of petanque. The Year 9 Japanese students learnt about the famous Japanese Tanabata festival and wrote down their wishes in Japanese to hang on the school bamboo. The Year 10 French students visited The Creperie to taste some authentic French crepes. The Year 10 Japanese students learnt about Sadako and the 1000 paper cranes, and the impact of the bombings on Hiroshima. The students have started making their 1000 paper cranes and will send them to Japan for the peace festival later in the year.
At lunch time there were kangaroo kebabs on sale as well as Indigenous games being played in the pavilion. Overall it was a fantastic day, and it was great to see everyone participating and enjoying being together.
Miss Shai Eather, Languages Coordinator
Thank you to staff, students and parents who came along to the annual 'Clean-Up Australia Day' on Sunday 2 March.
It was a wet and windy morning at Mackay Harbour, however, that didn't stop us from making a huge effort to clean up the local environment.
After two hours and many filled recycling bags, we all enjoyed the hot BBQ breakfast supplied by Mackay Bulk Ports Authority and the 'Clean-Up Australia Day' organisation. This is a very worthwhile and fun event that Mercy College will continue to support in the future!
Mercy Chess Club participation amongst students is strong and we are looking forward to a thrilling year. The following students participated in the Mackay Regional Chess Competition for primary and secondary students, held at Victoria Park State School on Monday 25 February.
Mercy Buccaneers – Asten Jago, Lincoln De Thomasis, Pierce Donnelly, Nick Hilder
Mercy Pirates – Nina Rillera, Purav Bhandare, Armaan Kundall, Lachlan Stevens
Solo Sailor – Jackson Armstrong
Congratulations to Mercy Pirates taking out 2nd overall place in Teams, Lincoln De Thomasis 3rd overall Individual and Nina Rillera and Purav Bhandare received merit ribbons (in the secondary schools events).
Mercy Chess Club is on every Wednesday in the Library at lunchtime – new players are always very welcome to join.
Upon returning from the 2010 Western Music Tour I thought, it’s going to be hard to top that tour, but I’m definitely going to try. It was then, that I set out on my journey of planning and preparation for this year’s Mercy Music Tour to Brisbane and Gold Coast destinations, and what a tour it eventually became!
On Saturday 16 September, a group of 56 students and 5 staff left Mercy College on a week-long adventure. We had the privilege of performing with the QLD Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony by invitation (what an honour), as well as wowing audiences at local primary schools and at Dreamworld. Their response was overwhelming and the feedback was, that our musicians are ‘world class’- not a bad rap.
There was also plenty of time for students to see the sights and have some fun along the way. Some of the highlights included: a backstage tour of the QLD Performing Arts Centre, a tour of Suncorp Stadium, the chance to abseil, kayak, or rock climb at Kangaroo Point, a spectacular laser and lights show, a river cruise complete with all you can eat buffet, a day at Dreamworld, some shopping, and a mind-blowing concert played by James Morrison. As well as all of this, students had the opportunity to participate in an African Drumming Workshop and the choir attended an exclusive workshop at St Laurence’s College. No wonder everyone was so exhausted when the tour returned!
Above all, the success of this year’s tour, was because of the wonderfully talented students who displayed exemplary behaviour and manners, at all times during the trip. Students, I would like to congratulate you on your professionalism and enthusiasm displayed on tour, it was more than I could have ever imagined. To the staff who attended - Mr Brendan Gunning, Miss Libby Courtice, Mrs Kerri Davidson and Mrs Beth Madden - your support for my grand tour plans and your efforts to make them a reality is greatly appreciated! A huge thank you also goes to our tour sponsors who made this trip possible.
Look out Northern QLD - we’re heading your way in 2012!
