TCEC Awards to Dominic personalities

During Catholic Education Week, the Tasmanian Catholic Education Commission (TCEC) recognises people who have given significant and dedicated service to Catholic Education in Tasmania.

We would like to congratulate the Chair of our College Council and former Dominic Principal, Fr Bernie Graham SDB who last night received the highest and most prestigious TCEC award for Exemplary Contribution to Catholic Education.

We are also delighted that our College Librarian Mrs Christine Donnelly received the highly valued TCEC award for Outstanding Service as an Employee within Catholic Education.

Saluting Mrs Christine Donnelly – College Librarian

Mrs Donnelly has given 31 years of service to Dominic College and Catholic Education, committing and dedicating herself in service to the College. She has been responsible for many key improvements in Library Services throughout her time at Dominic in response to the needs of staff and students.

Mrs Donnelly moved the Dominic College library from a manual operating system to a modern, complex networking system providing easy access and management through digital records.

Mrs Donnelly has played a significant role in developing Information Management Systems at the school for both students and teachers and has been a leader in developing Information Communication Technologies.

All who meet Mrs Donnelly are struck by her great love of literature and she has a wonderful enthusiasm with many students to find just the right book to engage them in reading and continue their personal love of reading. She is a dedicated, diligent teacher and passionate librarian who has worked tirelessly for Dominic College. Mrs Donnelly’s TCEC award is a commendation of her wonderful and generous work.

Fr Bernie Graham SDB – Exemplar Leader

Fr Bernie Graham SDB has devoted over 25 years of his life in the service of Catholic Education in both Tasmania and across NSW and Victoria. During his 10 years at Dominic College as Religious Education Coordinator, Deputy Principal and then Principal, Fr Bernie was dedicated not only to Dominic College but also to the growth and development of all Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Hobart.

With the establishment of Guilford Young College (GYC) in 1995, Fr Bernie was called to lead Dominic College as Principal, in the first five years (1995-1999) of its new identity as a Prep-Year 10 school and then as a K-10 school. This context required extensive change management and astute leadership. Fr Bernie undertook this very significant challenge with integrity, courage, dedication and steadfast belief in Dominic College and the Tasmanian Catholic Education system.

After a ten-year absence from direct involvement in Tasmanian Catholic Education, Fr Bernie returned to the state in 2010 in three different but interrelated leadership roles on behalf of the Salesians of Don Bosco. These three leadership roles comprised representative membership of the Association of Catholic Colleges of Tasmania (ACCT), representative membership of the Governing Council of Guilford Young College and as Chairman of the Dominic College Council.

Fr Bernie continues to be a visionary leader, reading the signs of the times and tirelessly responding to the changing needs of children and young people. His contribution to wise leadership, excellent planning and astute decision making in past and current roles at Dominic College and in Tasmanian Catholic Education has been exemplar and most worthy of this award.

Ms Beth Gilligan - Dominic College Principal