Mackay Christian College principal Barclie Gallogray resigns

Anger is building over the shock departure of a respected principal, with the school community caught by surprise on the eve of school holidays.

Mackay Christian College has a secondary and junior campus in Mackay.

Anger has erupted on social media following the shock resignation of a widely respected private school principal.

Dr Barclie Gallogray resigned from Mackay Christian College on Friday afternoon, reading out a statement to staff that was allegedly preapproved by the school’s board.

A staff member present said “every single person in that auditorium cried” and the reaction from others associated with the school has also been intense.

Writing on Facebook, Colleen Harris said students would be “devastated”.

“As a family of the school we are devastated to find out this way and very angry this has happened,” she said.

Mackay Christian College (MCC) principal, Dr Barclie Gallogray.

“He is an excellent principal and the students are going to be devastated.”

Tish Scholtz, an employee at the college, said “we need to pray for guidance”.

Melissa Turner slammed what she called “an absolutely horrible decision”.

“He is the best principal that school has ever had and will be very missed,” she said.

Madalyn Barrett said she was in the dark about what had happened.

“Shocked we haven’t even heard anything from the school that we pay thousands of dollars in fees to attend?!”

Much is still unknown about the resignation.

It is understood Dr Gallogray stood his ground but later learned the board was rescinding his position as principal of the school which has both junior and secondary campuses in Mackay.

Mackay Christian College.

“He couldn’t even read (the resignation statement),” the staff member said.

Dr Gallogray’s resignation has left the MCC community in lurch as it heads into Term 2 school holidays without a leader to return to.

The concerned staff member said school staff had discussed making demands to the school board that it reinstate their principal.

“No one wants him to go,” she said.

“There’s no email to parents yet … (but the news) is going to spread like wildfire.”

A parent also contacted this publication to say she had “grave concerns” for the school’s future.

“As a parent I’m absolutely furious about it and also devastated because he was a really positive influence on the school,” she said.

The parent said she, like many others, were waiting for an email to confirm Dr Gallogray’s exit.

This publication has contacted MCC requesting an urgent response to a series of questions regarding Dr Gallogray’s resignation.