Avila College
Encyclopedia
Avila College is a Roman Catholic Independent
school for girls located in the Melbourne
suburb of Mount Waverley
. The school was established in 1965 by the Presentation Sisters
who accepted an invitation from the parishes in the Waverley area to establish a Catholic Girls' College.
From an initial enrollment of 110 girls in Form 1 and 2 (Year 7 and 8) the college has grown to become one of the largest Catholic secondary schools in the state with an enrollment of about 1100 students, and 100 staff.
Avila moved to its current location in Charles Street, Mount Waverley, in 1966. The school community fitted into what is now only part of the Middle School.
The college motto is ‘Ecclesiae Filia’ (Daughters of the Church).
Refrain: Let nothing frighten you nor worry you
For God is unchanging in His love
His peace and wisdom will enlighten you,
Respond now to His ever faithful love.
Lord, You walk on the wings of the wind
You are present in the air we breathe,
Your love is all around us in all we see and do,
As we live our lives according to Your Word.
Lord, You hold us in the palm of Your hand,
No darkness is stronger than Your light
If God is here within us we will want for naught,
Our God will fill us with His peace and love.
Lord, we pray for each other here at Avila
May You guard us wherever we may be.
May Your love encircle us whatever life may bring
And may we be Your witnesses of peace.
Inspired by Saint Teresa of Avila’s writings, the Avila College hymn was written by Sister Josepha Dunlop, Principal at Avila from 1974 until 1979, while Sister Joan Marshall composed the music.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
school for girls located in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Mount Waverley
Mount Waverley, Victoria
Mount Waverley is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash...
. The school was established in 1965 by the Presentation Sisters
Presentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are an order of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland by Nano Nagle in 1775....
who accepted an invitation from the parishes in the Waverley area to establish a Catholic Girls' College.
History
Avila College began in 1965 in temporary classrooms in the grounds of St Leonard’s Catholic Primary School, Glen Waverley.From an initial enrollment of 110 girls in Form 1 and 2 (Year 7 and 8) the college has grown to become one of the largest Catholic secondary schools in the state with an enrollment of about 1100 students, and 100 staff.
Avila moved to its current location in Charles Street, Mount Waverley, in 1966. The school community fitted into what is now only part of the Middle School.
The college motto is ‘Ecclesiae Filia’ (Daughters of the Church).
College Hymn
Refrain: Let nothing frighten you nor worry you
For God is unchanging in His love
His peace and wisdom will enlighten you,
Respond now to His ever faithful love.
Lord, You walk on the wings of the wind
You are present in the air we breathe,
Your love is all around us in all we see and do,
As we live our lives according to Your Word.
Lord, You hold us in the palm of Your hand,
No darkness is stronger than Your light
If God is here within us we will want for naught,
Our God will fill us with His peace and love.
Lord, we pray for each other here at Avila
May You guard us wherever we may be.
May Your love encircle us whatever life may bring
And may we be Your witnesses of peace.
Inspired by Saint Teresa of Avila’s writings, the Avila College hymn was written by Sister Josepha Dunlop, Principal at Avila from 1974 until 1979, while Sister Joan Marshall composed the music.