History
The Foundation of Holy Trinity School: A Vision Realised in 1963
Holy Trinity School was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Armidale, Dr. Doody on Sunday, March 31, 1963, before a crowd exceeding 1000. The Parish Priest at the time was Monsignor James Healey.
The architect for the building was Mr. Terence A Daley, a former Fulbright Scholar whose practice was in Sydney. The building was erected by Ben Wade and Sons, well-known local builders and was called at the time “a fine example of local craftsmanship”. The total cost was 80,000 pounds ($160,000) – 61,000 pounds for the actual building, the remainder for furnishings and equipment. The first buildings were the two-story block and the current library/food technology block. Together they comprised seven classrooms, a library, a science laboratory, a gymnasium, a tuckshop, a principal’s office and a staff lunchroom.
The Evolution of Catholic Education in Inverell: A Journey of Growth and Unity
The De La Salle Brothers, who already had a college in Armidale, were asked to staff the school. The first principal was Brother James Thomas who welcomed the 110 boys from fourth class primary to first form secondary on the first day, Tuesday, February 5 1963. Other brothers were Brother Bernadine Brell and Brother Arnold Lees. In 1966, three lay teachers joined the secondary staff. They were Mrs. Hayden, Mrs. Joan Hockey and Mr. Barry Slamon.
At the official opening, Monsignor Healy said that the next project for the Inverell Catholic community would be to build a secondary school for girls. At that time girls were educated up to the level of the Intermediate Certificate (Year 9) at Sacred Heart School (located where the new church and presbytery now stand). Within four years, however, the secondary department was to become co-educational. Since 1964, the secondary girls from Sacred Heart had been coming by bus to Holy Trinity for science lessons to use the better laboratory facilities. In 1967, the move was complete with secondary girls attending Holy Trinity for all lessons. Three Sisters of Mercy joined the staff at this time. They were Sister Mary Thomas (later Sister Maureen Heffernan), Sister Mary Bonaventure and Sister Mary Christopher.
Expanding Horizons: The Growth and Development of Holy Trinity School
In 1968 a new block was built to house an Industrial Technology room and a new library. Once again, these extensions were funded by the Parish. In the early 1970s further accommodation was found necessary and with the assistance of Commonwealth Government Grants, two science labs were built.
By this time Catholic education in Inverell was split between three campuses. Holy Trinity consisted of boys from Years 4 to 6, with the secondary department from Forms 1 to 4, co-educational. The original Sacred Heart School catered for both boys and girls from Kindergarten to Year 3, while St. Mary’s on Ross Hill catered for girls from Years 4 to 6. In 1975, Sister Mary Vianney (Principal of St. Mary’s Ross Hill) and Brother Vincent Keating (Principal of Holy Trinity) could see that Catholic education would be best served if all primary classes were taught on the one site.
The proposal was enthusiastically supported in the Parish, so timber buildings from Copeton Dam were purchased and converted into six primary classrooms. In 1976 all primary classes were moved to the Holy Trinity campus with Sister Vianney (later Sister Mavis) as Primary Coordinator. The two departments (Primary and Secondary) were administered separately but liaised closely.
A Legacy of Growth: Holy Trinity’s Continued Expansion and Future Vision
At this time, plans were also being made to move the K-2 students from the original Sacred Heart School to Holy Trinity. The building of the infants’ department commenced in 1978. The six classrooms and the Administrative block cost $350,000, $110,000 of which was a grant from the Commonwealth Government. The new buildings were officially opened by Senator J. L. Carrick, Minister for Education, and solemnly blessed by Bishop Kennedy on February 11, 1979. Sister Mary Bernard continued as principal of the Infants’ Department. Thus by 1979, all classes from K to Year 10 were located on the one campus and Holy Trinity School as it is now was a reality.
More changes occurred at the end of 1978 when the De La Salle Brothers withdrew from the school. Mr Jim Doran was appointed, as the first lay principal of the Primary and Secondary Departments in 1979. The concept of a central school from K-10 had been developing and in 1981 Mr Laurie Breen was appointed principal of the whole campus.
Also in 1981, the building commenced to replace the old Copeton Dam buildings in the Primary Department. Eight new classrooms, a Primary Co-ordinator’s office, an AV room and an upgraded canteen block were constructed at a cost of $350,000 of which the Commonwealth Government contributed 80%. The classrooms featured concertina doors in adjoining rooms, while the AV room provided tiered seating and special lighting for use in drama, assemblies and liturgies. The 185 students from Years 3-6 moved into the new rooms in September 1982. Bishop Kennedy officially blessed the buildings and then opened by Mr Ian Sinclair on November 28, 1982. In 1987, further renovations provided a new library where the old gymnasium once stood.
Mr Breen retired at the end of 1987 and was replaced by Mr Tim Newberry in 1988. During his time as principal, Mr Newberry was responsible for considerable upgrades to the facilities at Holy Trinity, the most notable being the provision of a multi-purpose hall, which opened in 1991. This provided facilities for musicals, liturgies, assemblies and indoor sports. Other improvements included the provision of extensive ICT facilities, air conditioning of classrooms, office extensions, upgrades to the school oval and Infants playground and beautification of the front school grounds. These improved facilities, combined with an excellent standard of education contributed towards a steady increase in school numbers, necessitating the building of two new classrooms in 2003.
In 2005, Mr Tim Newberry retired after being Principal for 17 years. Mr David McNeale replaced Mr Newberry. Holy Trinity continued to grow under the stewardship of Mr. McNeale and the Science Laboratories were renovated in 2007.
Plans were initiated for a new Industrial Technology and Food Technology block, a Performing Arts Centre and a Library and ICT classroom. The refurbishment of the Administration block, the old Library block, which has become classrooms and offices and the Primary Office, which is now the Student Support classroom, completed the development.
In 2009, Mr McNeale resigned to take up a Principalship in the Townsville Diocese and Mrs Val Thomas was appointed as Principal from 2010. Mrs Thomas had previously taught at the school from 1980 to 1985.
The building project began in May 2010 with a Turning of the First Sod Ceremony and was completed in the second semester of 2011. The Agriculture Plot was improved in 2011 with renewed fencing, drainage and an equipment upgrade. The K-2 classrooms were refurbished in 2013 providing Holy Trinity with excellent facilities for K-10. In 2014 the Sapphire Schools Agriculture Trade Training Centre was opened at the Agriculture Plot. In 2015 Mrs Jillian Rainger, a former student, was appointed Principal. In 2023 Holy Trinity School celebrated its 60th year. Two statues were commissioned for the front lawn of John Baptiste de La Salle, founder of the de La Salle brothers and Catherine McAuley founder of the Sisters of Mercy. The first Founders Day was celebrated in this 60th year.
In July 2024, Mrs Regina Menz, Director of Armidale Catholic Schools announced that from 2026 Holy Trinity School would be delivering Stage 6 curriculum to students in Year 11 for the first time. In 2027 students will sit the HSC at Holy Trinity School.
