FROM THE PRINCIPAL AND CEO
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From the Principal
Welcome to the 2025 school year.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new and returning families and staff to BMG. It has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces pass through the gates at both our Maddingley and Woodlea campuses over the past few weeks. A new year is always an exciting time, filled with fresh beginnings and new challenges.
This is a particularly special year for the school with the transition of Mr Andrew Neal into his CEO role and my appointment as the next Principal. I am extremely excited for this opportunity to serve the community and to continue to build upon the school’s strong foundations while also embracing new growth opportunities.
This year will be one of continuity. Our values, our traditions and our shared commitment to excellence remain the same. The school remains focused on delivering high-quality education, maintaining high standards, and ensuring consistency in our approach. Our expectations, our dedication to student success, and our focus on strong teaching and learning will continue to drive our school forward.
This week’s Commencement Ceremonies at each campus welcomed our 2025 School Captains and Prefects. I congratulate all students on their appointment and look forward to working alongside them throughout the year.
With our Woodlea campus expanding to Year 11 for the first time, there is a lot to be excited about. With our new STEM building and library now finished, our senior students have fabulous facilities at their fingertips to further support their studies.
‘Education for life’ continues to be at the heart of everything we do. All students are encouraged to immerse themselves into the life of the school and embrace the opportunities that are made available to them.
This year, we are excited to introduce Chartwells as our new school catering and canteen provider. Committed to delivering fresh, nutritious, and high-quality meals, they will offer a diverse menu that caters to a range of dietary needs while ensuring students have delicious and balanced food options.
Education is a partnership, and we encourage communication between parents and the school. Parents are encouraged to contact their child/s classroom teacher or tutor group teacher as their first point of contact with any questions that may arise throughout the year.
Thank you for being part of our school community and I look forward to the year ahead.
Mrs Debra Ogston – Principal
From the CEO
I am writing to the School Community to inform you of the passing of Peter O’Day after battling several years of illness.
Peter may truly be regarded as one of the founders of this school. He was one of the original parents who came together with a desire for greater choice in education in the outer West of Melbourne. He was the School Board Chair during a difficult period and a tireless worker to obtain appropriate Government funding for this school. He provided wonderful encouragement and support to me as Principal, as well as my predecessor Baxter Holly, It is reasonable to say that without his efforts, this school would not exist.
Peter never left you guessing what he thought and was enormous fun. That directness, mixed with a wonderful sense of humour and a keen pragmatism, were exactly the characteristics required to get a young school off the ground. Peter loved life and this school; there were few rooms that he did not brighten. Bacchus Marsh Grammar will miss him.
Our thoughts, at this time, are with Peter’s wife Liz who was this school’s Deputy Principal, for almost a quarter of a century. Peter and Liz’s children (Kelly, Paul, Mark, Michael and Christie), their children and partners, all have some relationship with the school.
Mr Andrew Neal – CEO