Since 1991, Mercedes College has bestowed an annual Mercy Award on a member of the College community who demonstrates the lived spirit of the Mercy Keys.
Nominations open in Term 3 for presentation after our Mercy Day Mass on the last day of term.

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The annual Mercedes College Mercy Award recognises the lived spirit of the Mercy Keys: Mutual Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, Compassion, Loyalty, and Justice.

Since 1991, this award has been bestowed upon a member of the College community who demonstrates the Mercy Keys through their contributions in study, research, paid work, or community service. The award recognises effort that is ‘above and beyond’. Many past recipients, in addition to the six Mercy Keys, also demonstrate humility, leadership, warmth, and hospitality.

For the Mercedes College community, Mercy is a verb. A call to action. As a community we are inspired by the work of Catherine McAuley, who used all her means to establish a House of Mercy to safely shelter homeless women, reach out to the sick and dying, and provide free education for those in need. This action provided hope, opportunity and enabled the voice of marginalised people to be heard.

Nominations for the 2026 Award will open on Monday 20 July.

If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact Helen Ayliffe, APRIM +61 8 8372 3200.

  • All nominations undergo an initial assessment to ensure all required details have been provided, before being considered by the College’s Executive Leadership Team and APRIM.
  • The decision to award or not is primarily based on the impact of nominees.
  • Each nomination is a starting point in the process.

The Mercy Award celebrates a person or people making an outstanding contribution to the community at the local, national, or international level by drawing on the Mercy Keys.

Applications assess a person’s actions, achievements, and the difference they make. People who are recognised go ‘above and beyond’ what is reasonably expected (or could be expected) to make life better for others.

To be eligible, a nominee must:
  • Be alive at the time their nomination is received.
  • Be a member of the Mercedes College community: an Old Scholar, family member of a current student or Old Scholar, staff member, volunteer, or friend.
  • Not be an enrolled student.
  • Not be a previous Mercy Award recipient.
Nominees may:
  • Be a volunteer whose service is above and beyond the contributions of other volunteers.
  • Have made an outstanding contribution within their professional field (whatever that is).
  • Have done both.

Usually, recipients have contributed in many ways.

Nominee details

The details about your nominee are used by us to identify them. We also use the details you provide us to contact them, if your nomination is successful, and confirm they are willing to accept the award. You are asked to provide the following details about your nominee.

  • Full name.
  • Age range (estimated if unknown).
  • Contact details.
  • Any qualifications, honours or awards they have previously received.
    • This can include trade or academic qualifications, mindful that your nominee does not need to have a qualification or another honour or award to be recognised.
  • What your nominee has done that is above and beyond.
  • You don’t need to know every detail about them; provide as much information as you can.
  • How you know the person you are nominating.
    • If you know them personally, describe your relationship to them.
    • If you don’t know them personally, briefly tell us how you know of them.
  • A statement about why you think your nominee should be recognised. Give examples of the good work they have done and describe how they have made a difference.

Referee details

This information helps us confirm the details of your nomination. When seeking referees, please ask for your nomination to remain confidential. Provide the names and contact details for at least one, and a maximum of four referees.

  • Full name.
  • How they know the nominee.
  • Contact details.

Your details

We use this information to:

  • Acknowledge receipt of your nomination.
  • Get in touch with you if we need more information or clarification.
  • Let you know the outcome of the Award Presentation.

Please provide:

  • Full name
  • Contact details

You will then be asked to confirm that the information you have provided is true and correct to the best of your knowledge.

Begin Your Nomination Now

  • 1991 | Rossi von der Borch
  • 1992 | Rosemary Shevlin
  • 1993 | Belinda Winter
  • 1994 | John Fanning
  • 1995 | Leonie Barker
  • 1996 | Sister Mary Marra RSM and Sister Monica McKee RSM
  • 1997 | Anne Cox and John Cox
  • 1998 | Sister Mavis McBride RSM (Sister Mary Phillip)
  • 1999 | John Gibson
  • 2000 | Penny Penhall OAM
  • 2001 | Mark Cooper
  • 2002 | John Dyle and Marie Doyle
  • 2003 | Anne Morse
  • 2004 | Tony Davis
  • 2005 | Cora Nankivell
  • 2006 | Peter Williams
  • 2007 | Bill Gaynor
  • 2008 | Prue McEvoy
  • 2009 | Amanda Liston-Mwate
  • 2010 | Sam Arnold
  • 2011 | John Brazzatti
  • 2012 | Bill Deegan
  • 2013 | Mavis Waddington
  • 2014 | Ward Family
  • 2015 | Sister Kate Conley
  • 2016 | Tony O’Doherty
  • 2017 | Michael Fitzgerald
  • 2018 | Chris McCabe
  • 2019 | Sister Maryanne Loughry
  • 2020 | Henry Parham
  • 2021 | Dr Emma Tippett
  • 2022 | Helen Connolly
  • 2023 | Catherine Edwards
  • 2024 | Sister Margaret Adams
  • 2025 | Jenny Brinkworth