Recognising deserving secondary school students through the 2024 CDF Father James Wall Bursary

Blog Layout

February 21, 2025

For over two decades, CDF has directly supported the next generation of Catholic leaders through the Father James Wall Bursary. The award, established in honour of CDF’s founder, Father James ‘Jim’ Wall, continues his legacy of fostering faith, leadership, and service within our Catholic school communities.

Each year, seven Year 10 students from across the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale, Bunbury, and Ballarat are recognised for their outstanding contributions to their schools and communities. The bursary provides each recipient with $5,000 to support their Year 11 and 12 school fees, helping the students continue their education journey in a Catholic secondary school.

This year seven remarkable students, who embody the values of service, commitment, and faith-filled leadership were celebrated at school presentation ceremonies across the country. Notably, this year marks another milestone for the bursary as CDF extended the award to the Diocese of Ballarat.

Meet the 2024 Recipients

Mitchell – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill

Mitchell’s passion for literature and academic excellence is matched by his deep commitment to service. Whether assisting the elderly, volunteering at his local club, or contributing to school initiatives, he leads with humility and a strong sense of purpose.

Pictured: Mitchell and his father with Michelle Heusler (Principal St Mary MacKillop College), Matthew Byrne (Deputy Director DOBCEL), and Michelle Ross-FitzGerald (CDF Partnerships Manager).

Jemma – Marist-Sion College, Warragul

Jemma’s leadership extends beyond her school as she actively engages in social justice initiatives and parish events. Her participation in the Santa Teresa Immersion experience has inspired her to pursue a future in education, with a focus on working in Aboriginal communities.

Pictured: Brendan Hoy (CDF General Manager, Client Services), Jemma and Lisa (Principal, Marist Sion College).

Owen – St Ignatius College, Geelong

A dedicated leader and all-rounder, Owen has served as Ignatian Leader, Student Council Representative, and Academic Captain. His commitment to social justice is evident through his involvement in the Vinnies Sleep Out and Indigenous Immersion, while his dedication to coaching and charity work further showcases his servant-hearted leadership.

Pictured: Gerard Bibile (CDF Executive Manager, Client Relationships) and Phil Gard (CDF Relationship Manager) and Michael Exton (Principal, St Ignatis College).

Anria – Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill

Anria lives her school’s motto, “Truth in Love,” through her leadership roles in social justice, St Vincent de Paul, and liturgical services. Her talents span across academics, music, and community service, making a lasting impact in every space she enters.

Pictured: Anria with Brendan Hoy (CDF General Manager Client Services) and Milton Balazs (CDF Relationship Manager)

Cacharel – Bunbury Catholic College, Bunbury

Cacharel has been a passionate advocate for her peers, leading initiatives such as the Push-Up Challenge and "Give a Damn, Give a Can." She is also deeply involved in tutoring, coaching, and youth ministry, embodying servant leadership through her unwavering commitment to her school and local community.

Pictured: Cacharel and her family with Kerrie Merritt (CEWA), Deb Garbutt (Vice Principal, Bunbury Catholic College), Sally Brand (CDF Relationship Manager).

Aira – St Monica’s College, Epping

Aira’s leadership is rooted in inclusivity and service, from coaching and championing social causes to welcoming international students. Her contributions to sustainability initiatives and advocacy for Autism awareness reflect her dedication to creating positive change.

Pictured: Aira with Matthew Cassin (CDF CEO), and Nic La Rosa (St Monica's Business Manager).

Elaina – Sacred Heart Girls College, Hughesdale

Guided by her school’s motto, "Always Striving Upwards," Elaina is a dedicated leader involved in faith, liturgy, and social justice initiatives. From supporting the elderly to mentoring young swimmers, she consistently uplifts those around her.

Pictured: Elaina and her parents with Brendan Hoy (CDF, General Manager, Client Services)

Congratulations to all the 2024 CDF Father Wall Bursary recipients. We look forward to witnessing the continued impact of your leadership in the years to come.

As we celebrate this year’s recipients and their achievements, we invite you to learn more about the Father James Wall Bursary and the impact it continues to have on young Catholic leaders. Visit the official bursary page: Father James Wall Bursary.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Share this article:

Congratulations to Bishop George Kolodziej, the new Bishop of Bunbury

March 24, 2025

Catholic Development Fund (CDF) congratulates Bishop George Kolodziej SDS on his ordination and installation as the fifth Bishop of Bunbury. The ceremony took place on March 19, 2025, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, at St Patrick's Cathedral in Bunbury. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), presided over the ceremony as principal consecrator, and was joined by more than 19 bishops from across Australia, including CDF’s Board Member Most Rev. Anthony J. Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne. Tim O’Leary, CDF Deputy Chair of the Board, and Matthew Cassin, CDF Chief Executive Officer, were also in attendance amongst distinguished guests. Apostolic Nuncio Charles Balvo presented the Papal Bull during the ceremony, which brought together the entire Bunbury Catholic community—clergy, seminarians, acolytes, altar servers, musicians, choir members, Salvatorian priests from across Australia, and representatives from Catholic Education Western Australia Ltd and Catholic Religious Australia. In his poignant homily, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted the significance of Bishop George's middle name being Joseph, noting, "Perhaps today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, we might look to him as a model of this tender and compassionate presence to others, a model especially, though not only, for our soon-to-be Bishop George."

Transforming STEAM at St Columba's College's new Foxford Innovation Centre

By Michelle Ross-FitzGerald • March 24, 2025

Last month, St Columba’s College celebrated the blessing and official opening of its brand new Foxford Innovation Centre. The state-of-the-art facility is the result of a 20-year vision, designed to transform educational opportunities for students through a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. Supported by a $13 million loan from CDF, the Centre blends modern innovation with the heritage architecture of the College campus; it features cutting-edge facilities, including food technology kitchens, maker spaces, arts and science classrooms, specialist labs, a canteen, and a competition-grade sports court. The Centre is named after the Foxford Woollen Mills in Ireland, honouring the legacy of Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, a Sister of Charity who founded the mills in 1892. Her vision and leadership transformed a struggling community, embodying the values of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration.

Catholic Connect Workshop Bridges Leadership and Hope

March 12, 2025

Catholic Development Fund (CDF), recently hosted its first Catholic Connect Workshop for 2025 exploring ' Leading with Hope in Uncertain Times.' The event, brought together in partnership with Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) , united Catholic organisation leaders to explore the intersection of leadership, formation, and hope. The workshop's theme aligned perfectly with both International Women's Day and the Jubilee Year theme "Pilgrims of Hope," creating a timely opportunity to reflect on cultivating hope within communities and organisations. The heart of the event featured an impressive panel moderated by Josh Lourensz, Executive Director of CSSV. The distinguished speakers included: Micaela Cronin , the Inaugural Federal Commissioner for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, whose career began in social work with organisations like St. Vincent De Paul Society and MacKillop Family Services, Annie Carrett , the Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Melbourne and first female Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, bringing over 35 years of experience within the Catholic Church; and Sr. Joan Healy , a 90-year-old author, activist, and pioneer in family and child support models whose work over five decades continues to influence current practices.

CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.