Nhill’s Karen Rintoule and Horsham’s Fiona Combe won recognition for their contributions to their school communities during Catholic Education Week.

Ms Rintoule is administration and business manager at Nhill’s St Patrick’s Primary School.

Principal Kingsley Dalgleish nominated Ms Rintoule for her ‘exceptional stewardship, operational leadership and tireless commitment to supporting the sustainability and success of both the school and wider Nhill community’. 

Horsham’s St Brigid’s College deputy principal, Ms Combe was nominated by principal Gerard Raven for ‘fostering a school culture where students, staff and families feel included, respected and empowered through authentic relationships, student voice and collaborative leadership’. 

During a mass and awards dinner at Damascus College in Ballarat last month, significant terms of service were also recognised. 

Among 28 staff members to reach a milestone 30 years in Catholic education were Ararat Marian College’s John Coghlan and Edenhope’s St Malachy Primary School’s Rosemary Johnson.

Mr Coghlan worked all three decades at Marian College, while Ms Johnson has worked at other schools, including at Warracknabeal.

Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education executive director Tom Sexton said Catholic Education Week remained an important opportunity to celebrate the people and communities who brought Catholic education to life across the diocese each day.

“Catholic Education Week is a chance to pause and give thanks for the students, staff, families and communities who make our schools such vibrant and hope-filled places,” he said. 

“It was a special privilege to gather for this year’s mass and awards dinner, and to welcome bishop Mark in his first year leading and sharing in this important celebration as Bishop of Ballarat.”

The entire June 10, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!