Community
16 May, 2025
Learning together, from one site
EMMANUEL College Warrnambool is celebrating its first year together on one site, for the first time, in the history of Catholic secondary education in Warrnambool.
With former times as Christian Brothers College and St Ann’s, the two schools amalgamated in 1991 and Emmanuel College was established.
Using both schools’ sites and operating as two campuses since that time, the closure of the Canterbury Road site at the end of 2024 and the opening of the new, state-of-the-art Edmund Rice Centre in 2025, marked the beginning of a new chapter for Emmanuel College.
This new chapter saw all year levels and learning delivered to more than 1300 students from the Botanic Road address.
Bordering Botanic Road, Ardlie Street, Hopetoun Road and Crawley Streets, the college offers dedicated learning centres, providing a community feel and supportive environment for students.
Newly appointed principal Ms Rachel McGennisken commenced in term two after the retirement of long-term principal, Peter Morgan.
Raised and educated in the Wimmera before studying and working in regional Victoria, Ms McGennisken has an intrinsic understanding of both the challenges and benefits of education in regional areas.
“I understand the importance of the sense of community surrounding Catholic schools and I aim to foster the already strong culture of faith, hope and love built by the generations before me,” Ms McGennisken said.
“My long-term affinity with education, coupled with an upbringing and love of living on the land, has led to a grounded and balanced approach to work life, and I am so privileged to be in this position to lead Emmanuel College into the future.
“Emmanuel College is in a great position as we head into the next chapter with excellent academic outcomes, strong growth with student enrolments, amazing facilities, great teaching staff and most importantly; we’re producing wonderful, well rounded graduates on completion of their schooling.”
