Red Bend Catholic College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational secondary day and boarding school located in in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The college is run by the Marist Brothers, a religious institute. Established in 1926, the college has enrolled approximately 960 students from Year 7 to Year 12.
The College is situated within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes. The Diocesan Bishop, Columba Macbeth-Green is also an ex-student of the College
History Marist Brothers' College, Forbes had a School building in Johnson St, Forbes. In 1939, the Bishop purchased the now current site along the Lachlan River. WWII prevented any building.
On the 6th of November, 1955 the first classes commenced at the Red Bend site as the location of Marist Brothers' College, Forbes.
Prior to 1977, the Catholic education of students in this region was provided by three secondary schools; Our Lady of Mercy College, Forbes; Our Lady of Mercy High School, Parkes; and Marist Brothers' College on Johnson St, Forbes.
In February 1977, these three schools combined to form one co-educational High School from years 7-12, with the name of Red Bend Catholic College, at the site of the former Marist Brothers' College, on the banks of the Lachlan River. This merger brought together the teaching traditions of the Mercy Sisters and the Marist Brothers.
In July 2026, Red Bend Catholic College celebrated 100 years of Marist Education in Forbes.
Principals The following individuals have served as College Principal: Ordinal Officeholders Term start Term end Time in office Notes Br John Hillet 2003 2012 years Br Michael Flanagan 2013 2019 5-6 years Mr Stephen Dwyer 2019 incumbent incumbentFirst lay teacher to become Principal
House system In 1943, four houses were established (Basil, Denis, Loyola and Xavier) at the Johnson Street School, this was prior to College's move to Red Bend. In 2014, two new houses (Chisholm and McAuley) were introduced. In 2025, an additional two new houses (Mackillop and O'Connor) were introduced.
+HouseColourMottoName originMascotBasilGreen"Action Not Words"Br Basil MonchalinBullfrogsChisholmOrangeCaroline ChisholmCheetahsDenisRed"Second to None"Br DenisDragonsLoyolaYellow"Leading the Way with Strength and Honour"St Ignatius of LoyolaLionsMacKillopLight BlueSt Mary MacKillopMavricksMcAuleyPurpleCatherine McAuleyCobrasO'ConnorPink"Pride in Excellence"Eileen O'ConnorPanthersXavierBlue"Determination, Participation, Success"Francis XavierSharks
See also
List of Catholic schools in New South Wales Catholic education in Australia
References
External links Red Bend Catholic College Website