Clonard College

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Clonard College is a girls' secondary school located in Herne Hill, Victoria, Australia.Founded and owned by the Brigidine Sisters in 1956, Clonard College draws its rich heritage from the traditions of Brigidine order.In 2010, Damian McKew was appointed Principal after spending four and a half years as Principal of Trinity College Colac.Clonard - as a school - came into existence (officially) in 1956. At the invitation of Father John Tresidder (Manifold Parish Priest), the Brigidine Sisters acquired the Clonard property and retained the name "Clonard" because of the association between Saint Brigid and Saint Finnian of Clonard in fifth century Ireland. There was a crisis in Catholic education at the time as Sacred Heart, Geelong's only Catholic college, was severely overcrowded.Early in 1956, a group of founder sisters, including the much lauded Sister Lelia Grant, began taking classes at Clonard. In its initial year, Clonard College boasted 40 students.Clonard College was officially opened on February 9, 1958.Key moments in the College's development included the simultaneous construction of an assembly hall and library, in 1977, partly funded by the first Federal grant. In 1983, Mr John Shannon became the first full-time lay Principal. In the late 1990s Clonard's leadership followed the example of some other Brigidine schools in adopting Co Principalship model when Mrs Vicki Myers (a former Clonard student) joined Mr Michael Doyle in the Co Principal positions.The late 1990s and early part of the 21st century saw revitalised enrolment growth, accommodated by expansive building programs, delivering a theatre, design education centre, materials technology room, expanded office space, refurbished science facilities, a gymnasium and multi purpose court within the school grounds.