Bunbury Catholic College ‘punches above weight’ with Olympic alumni

With a long history of educating some the best athletes in Australia and on the world stage, the team at Bunbury Catholic College are celebrating their sports-program success. Four members of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic squads attended Bunbury Catholic College — Kookaburra Jake Harvie, BMX champion Lauren Reynolds, swimmer Kyle Lee and Paralympian Alex Saffy. Reynolds was also in the same graduating class as rower Alex Hagan, with the pair both competing in the London 2012 games in a unique school reunion. Bunbury Catholic College principal Michael Pepper said the sports program at the school was proving to be one of the best in the regions. “I think there must be something in the South West region that’s been providing all of our students with amazing skills and talents,” he said. “We’ve had a very strong history of sport at this school, we’ve got a fantastic sporting program with the elite sports program that runs out of the college and we’ve got an awesome health and phys-ed department. “I believe Bunbury Catholic College certainly punches above its weight when it comes to representation in both State, national and international competition.” The school has been getting around the Games by promoting the event in the daily bulletin, with the cafe and libraries running highlights and coverage throughout the week. Mr Pepper said he thought the Games was a brilliant way for the school to foster a sense of cohesion and unity among students. “I think it’s a fantastic way of building community and also to support both our Olympians and Paralympians who we’re so very proud of,” he said. Mr Pepper said the school would be congratulating past students on their efforts in Paris and would be hoping to hear from them upon their return. “We’ll certainly be sending messages of congratulations to let them know how proud we are,” he said. “We’ve just been watching the highlights of the heats with Lauren (Reynolds) which made the hairs stand on the back of our necks. “We’d be delighted to get them to come back and get them to share with us some of their pearls of wisdom from their experiences and also what it really takes to make the Olympics and Paralympics team.”