McAuley House is named after the remarkable Catherine McAuley. Born in Dublin in 1778, Catherine McAuley used her inheritance to establish the House of Mercy in 1827, a sanctuary for homeless women, the sick, and impoverished girls. Her vision for education centred around empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives and nurturing their talents for the betterment of society.
Catherine's love for each student and her dedication to their holistic development resonates within McAuley House. McAuley House continues Catherine McAuley's mission of fostering personal growth and celebrates the unique gifts of every student.
The McAuley crest features the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, the Red Kangaroo Paw, and a candle with the Mercy Cross.
The Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo represents our compassion and respect for nature. In Aboriginal culture, it represents spiritual strength and power.
The Red Kangaroo Paw, a native plant to the southwest region, is a symbol of love and friendship. It also represents uniqueness and individuality. McAuley students have the courage to show their individuality and compassion by building deep friendships and love for everyone.
Finally, the candle with the Mercy Cross is directly associated with our House patron, Catherine McAuley. Catherine, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, designed the “cross within a cross”. She chose the cross because of her deep faith in Jesus and imposed a second cross as a way of symbolising the sisters’ dedication to love, as Jesus did. This element is significant in showing our commitment to do the same. As Catherine was the light in the darkness for many, we remain faithful to following the Mercy Way so that we, too, can provide light to others.
The colour red is linked to courage, passion, love, and strength, so our motto is Courage, Compassion, and Commitment.
