History
The school, dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians, was blessed and dedicated by Most Rev. J. P. O'Collins, Bishop of Ballarat, on Sunday, October 15th, 1961. Its establishment could be viewed as the response of the Ballarat Cathedral Parish to problems of overcrowding within the existing parish schools and the concern of parents, who sought a Catholic Primary School, within this locality.
Our Lady Help of Christians School opened with four Sisters of Mercy and 176 children. 134 of the 176 children moved to Our Lady Help of Christians from St. Columba's in Ballarat North.
These sisters travelled to and from school each day by taxi from Ballarat East. The school was originally built with six classrooms and two cloakrooms. Four of the classrooms were used to accommodate the initial enrolment. Facilities and equipment consisted of the bare minimum - enough to seat 176 children; a box of chalk and a blackboard ruler for each classroom; beadframes for the junior classes and ink wells for the seniors. There was no parish church.
The founding nuns were:
Our Lady Help of Christians School opened with four Sisters of Mercy and 176 children. 134 of the 176 children moved to Our Lady Help of Christians from St. Columba's in Ballarat North.
These sisters travelled to and from school each day by taxi from Ballarat East. The school was originally built with six classrooms and two cloakrooms. Four of the classrooms were used to accommodate the initial enrolment. Facilities and equipment consisted of the bare minimum - enough to seat 176 children; a box of chalk and a blackboard ruler for each classroom; beadframes for the junior classes and ink wells for the seniors. There was no parish church.
The founding nuns were:
Sr. Anne Gardan, Sr. Anotoinette Russo,
Sr. Paulinus Setford and Sr. Austin Connellan
The spiritual needs were cared for by the Ballarat North Parish priest, who also acted as the school's chaplain and visited the school on a regular basis. In July 1964 Our Lady Help of Christians became a Parish with Father Coley McKenzie being the first Parish Priest. In 1965, Sr M. Ambrose became Principal.
In June 1966, a renovated Air Force hut became the first church at Our Lady Help of Christians. Sr. Connie Walsh became Principal in 1969 and a modern - style brick veneer residence was built adjoining the school as a home for the Sisters of Mercy in Wendouree.
In 1971 the attendance rose to 322. Four new classrooms were built and the teaching staff increased to 10. Sr. Carmel Setford became Principal in 1979.
In 1983 Sr Marg Mahoney was appointed Principal and it was during this time that the south side of was extensively built upon and refurbished adding classrooms and office space to the original building. The refurbishment of the existing toilets was included at this time.
Sr Carmel Setford returned to OLHC in 1989 where she remained Principal for 6 years. Our new church was built during this time, replacing the much loved, but outdated aerodrome building. The new structure further celebrates the relationship between our school and Parish.
In June 1966, a renovated Air Force hut became the first church at Our Lady Help of Christians. Sr. Connie Walsh became Principal in 1969 and a modern - style brick veneer residence was built adjoining the school as a home for the Sisters of Mercy in Wendouree.
In 1971 the attendance rose to 322. Four new classrooms were built and the teaching staff increased to 10. Sr. Carmel Setford became Principal in 1979.
In 1983 Sr Marg Mahoney was appointed Principal and it was during this time that the south side of was extensively built upon and refurbished adding classrooms and office space to the original building. The refurbishment of the existing toilets was included at this time.
Sr Carmel Setford returned to OLHC in 1989 where she remained Principal for 6 years. Our new church was built during this time, replacing the much loved, but outdated aerodrome building. The new structure further celebrates the relationship between our school and Parish.
Anthony Clifford became the second lay Principal at OLHC starting in 1996. The office area, as it is today, was built and the existing office space became a staff area with alternative spaces for smaller groups.
Stephen Russell was appointed Principal in 2002. A variety of projects were undertaken to improve the classroom and school facilities. In addition to our existing gymnasium a Performing Arts Centre, with state of the art lighting equipment and a dance room facility, was built. At the same time funding was granted to move the existing school library to a beautiful space at the eastern end of the school. This extension allowed for a dedicated art room and ICT facility to be constructed.
In 2016 Patrick Ryan and Leigh Bradshaw were employed as Co-Principals to continue to lead and serve the community with the same dedication and enthusiasm for learning as those before them.
2018 saw Leigh Bradshaw become solo Principal. A Capital Grants building project begins late 2018 which will see the redevelopment of office spaces and our Junior classrooms. This redevelopment focuses on the learning spaces for all children, supporting the learning of each child. School Wide Positive behaviour in Schools and Professional Learning Communities continue to thrive at Our Lady Help of Christians with our 3Rs, Respectful, Responsible and Resilient at the centre of our learning.
Stephen Russell was appointed Principal in 2002. A variety of projects were undertaken to improve the classroom and school facilities. In addition to our existing gymnasium a Performing Arts Centre, with state of the art lighting equipment and a dance room facility, was built. At the same time funding was granted to move the existing school library to a beautiful space at the eastern end of the school. This extension allowed for a dedicated art room and ICT facility to be constructed.
In 2016 Patrick Ryan and Leigh Bradshaw were employed as Co-Principals to continue to lead and serve the community with the same dedication and enthusiasm for learning as those before them.
2018 saw Leigh Bradshaw become solo Principal. A Capital Grants building project begins late 2018 which will see the redevelopment of office spaces and our Junior classrooms. This redevelopment focuses on the learning spaces for all children, supporting the learning of each child. School Wide Positive behaviour in Schools and Professional Learning Communities continue to thrive at Our Lady Help of Christians with our 3Rs, Respectful, Responsible and Resilient at the centre of our learning.
