On 27 February 2026, a new chapter for Catholic education in Victoria began as community leaders, families and Church representatives gathered in Mount Duneed, Geelong, for the official sod-turning ceremony of Mary Glowrey Catholic Primary School.
The moment marked more than the start of construction. It celebrated the beginning of a school community inspired by the life of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey; a Victorian-born doctor, religious sister and missionary whose life was defined by faith, courage and service.
Supported by a $10.5 million loan from Catholic Development Fund (CDF), the new project will deliver a vibrant new Catholic primary school for the rapidly growing Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek communities in greater Geelong. When complete, the $21.6 million development will provide contemporary learning spaces designed to nurture both academic growth and the formation of young people in faith.
Faith based, yet modern day education
The school will welcome its first students in 2027, beginning with Prep to Year Six. Enrolments are expected to reach 222 students in the opening year, growing to approximately 742 students by 2031 as the surrounding community continues to expand.
Located on Feehans Road in Mount Duneed, the school is being developed across multiple stages and will include a new administration facility, two learning centre wings, an art hub, a resource centre, specialist learning spaces, a canteen and amenities buildings and outdoor learning areas, sports spaces and landscaping including a rain garden.
The broader vision also includes the Mary Glowrey Children’s Hub, an integrated kindergarten delivered in partnership with
MACSEYE, opening in 2028. With 10.6% of the Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek population currently preschool-aged, the school and early learning hub will play an essential role in supporting the region’s young families.
A Community Gathering to Begin
The sod-turning ceremony brought together the many partners who have helped bring the project to life, including representatives from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA), architects Minx Architecture, builders Magellan, and members of the local community.
A particularly meaningful moment was the presence of Mary Glowrey’s extended family, including her niece, who attended to honour the legacy of the woman whose name the school proudly bears. Mary Glowrey herself was born nearby in Birregurra, making the school’s location especially significant.
Inspired by Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey
Mary Glowrey’s life continues to inspire Catholics around the world.
Born in rural Victoria, she became one of Australia’s first female doctors and surgeons in 1910 before entering religious life with the Society of Jesus Mary Joseph. She later served as a missionary doctor in India, dedicating her life to caring for the sick and vulnerable.
In 2023, Pope Francis recognised her heroic virtue and declared her Venerable, formally acknowledging the extraordinary witness of her life of faith and service.
To honour this legacy, the school has adopted the motto: Fidem et Fortitudinem — Faith and Fortitude
The words capture both the spiritual foundation of the school and the resilience Mary demonstrated throughout her life.
A Crest that Tells Mary’s Story
The school’s visual identity was carefully developed through a collaborative process involving Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, the Fuel Agency, and Damascus Parish Priest Fr Joel Peart and foundation principal Sarah Kelly.
“One of the most memorable moments of this process was sitting with Fr. Joel Peart at a rustic outdoor cafe in Torquay. Together, we reflected on the design and identified the specific elements of Mary’s life we wanted to immortalise for generations to come.” Sarah Kelly
The result is a traditional crest designed to act as a visual narrative of Mary Glowrey’s life and mission.
The crest is divided into four symbolic quadrants:
The Sacred Heart — honouring Mary’s religious name, Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey
- The Rod of Asclepius — the ancient symbol of medicine, reflecting her vocation as a doctor and healer
- Wheat and Grapes — representing the Eucharist and acknowledging the vineyard land on which the school now stands
Together, the upper quadrants form the shape of an open book, symbolising both the Word of God and the medical knowledge Mary used to serve those in need.
Supporting a Growing Catholic Community
Mary Glowrey Catholic Primary School will serve one of the fastest growing regions in Victoria, providing a place where families can gather, learn and grow in faith.
Through its $10.5 million loan, CDF is supporting the delivery of the school’s first two stages and helping ensure the facilities needed for Catholic education are in place as the Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek communities continue to grow.
When the school opens in 2027, it will stand as a lasting reminder of the legacy of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey and the role Catholic education continues to play in building strong communities.
To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Mount Duneed and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.
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CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
