From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Human Dignity for All

The federal election is done and dusted. Regardless of the result, I think we can all let out a collective sigh of relief that it is all over for another three years. The policies, the debates, the advertisements, the journalists, the news briefings, the reminders are all consuming and seem endless. In all seriousness though, we should reflect on how lucky Australia is to have a truthful, honest and democratic election process where all individuals are given a voice. At the end of the day, it seems a few simple policies or key messages break through the overflow of rhetoric and have a sway on who Australians vote for.

Last week, the annual Marian lecture was held on-line for all Marist associates and friends to attend. This year, the lecture was given by Fr Frank Brennan (SJ). Fr Brennan (SJ, AO) was born in 1954. He grew up in Toowoomba, became an Australian Jesuit priest, a human rights lawyer and is an academic. He is known for his 1998 involvement in the Wik debate and the National Trust classified him as a National Living Treasure. Fr Brennan has a longstanding reputation of advocacy in the areas of law, social justice, refugee protection, Aboriginal Reconciliation and human rights activism.

During this lecture, Fr Brennan reminded us of the four key statements of Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato si' (Praise Be to You) with the subtitle "on care for our common home". In this writing, the Pope calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action". Fr Brennan believes that when we are making decisions, we should always reflect on the four key messages or policies of this encyclical, namely: Does my decision accept the responsibility I have for the planet? Am I deciding with an eye on those at the margins? Am I considering the common good with my response? Also, Am I considering my response through my own sense of interior peace and wellbeing i.e. prayer? Pope Francis goes on to explain that relationships are key, interdependence is required where I understand the social situation of someone else, and solidarity is vital where I relate heart to heart with another.

Like politicians and their key messages communicated during election campaigns, this is the crucial message Pope Francis emphasises in his recent encyclical to consider when we make decisions in our individual parts of the world today.

As Easter people, may all members of the Marist College family seek to always defend the human dignity of all. Amen.

The Arts – Creative Industries Week

The Tower Art Show is fast approaching. This annual Art Exhibition will be held from Friday 3rd June – Sunday 5th June. We look forward to viewing the works of professional artists along with our student works at this show.

The Creative Industries Week will be held from Monday 30th May - Friday 3rd June. During this week plans include:

Drama: stage combat workshop, Bunraku puppet workshop, mafia role play-game and theatre sports training.

Music: mixing workshop, DJ workshop, live band performances throughout the week in the Draney Forecourt and Battle of the Bands after the Walkathon.

Visual Art: Photograms in the darkroom, Live Paint and DJ session, Tower Art Show (student work displayed) and ASHCAM competition. The ASHCAM Photography Competition is an opportunity for the boys, staff and wider community to engage in the medium of photography.

I thank Mrs Christine Larsen (Head of Art), Dr Andrew Butt (Head of Music) and Mrs Rebecca Taylor (Head of Drama) for providing these opportunities for our boys.

Pornography Education

Next Monday, 30th May at 6:00pm, all parents are invited to a very important night unpacking the world of pornography which your sons are clearly capable of accessing on-line today. Melinda Tankard-Reist is an author, media commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls. She is a renowned expert in the commentary regarding pornography. Melinda will provide parents with direct and helpful advice regarding the world of pornography and its effects on young men and women today. She addresses the topics of sexualisation, objectification, harm of pornography, sexual exploitation, trafficking and violence against women. This lecture will be presented in the Champagnat Centre for approximately one hour.

To book a ticket to this presentation, please click here.

I thank Mr Peter Serone (Head of Students) for organising this informative and very helpful presentation. I highly recommend this presentation to all parents.

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

Marist College Ashgrove pays its respects to all Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students and their families and elders. We wish to celebrate the oldest living culture in the world. National Sorry Day will be held this Thursday, 26th May. National Sorry Day recalls the Australian Government offering an apology to Indigenous Australians for forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families in the past to “assimilate” them into white Australian culture. This will be followed by National Reconciliation Week from Monday 30th May - Friday 3rd June. The theme of the 2022 National Reconciliation Week is ‘Be Brave. Make Change.’ The meaning of the theme is to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can make change for all.

To celebrate, we will acknowledge these occasions at the College Assembly and our Senior Football and Rugby Teams will wear Indigenous themed clothing this Saturday at the AIC Indigenous Round Game. On Wednesday, 1st June, students from Years 10, 11 and 12 will attend an event hosted by St Augustine’s College to recognise National Reconciliation Week. This event includes a liturgy and Reconciliation Week activities. Last Saturday, Marist College Ashgrove’s First XV game at home, commenced with a Welcome to Country, prayer and Indigenous dance by students and friends of the College.

I thank Ms Melissa Orcher (Indigenous Support Officer) for organising these activities to mark this important occasion for the College and our country.

Year 10 and 11 (2023) Information Nights

Next Tuesday, 31st May, Marist College Ashgrove will be holding its annual information nights for students moving from Years 9 to 10 and Years 10 to 11 in their academic studies. At this evening, there will be an opportunity for all parents to hear about the study opportunities for their son and to speak with the Head of Department regarding the possible subjects he can study moving forward.

These nights are very important and I highly recommend each boy and at least one parent attend. The Year 10 evening will commence with a presentation at 6:00pm and the Year 11 presentation will commence at 7:00pm, both in the Champagnat Centre. For boarding parents, the presentation will be recorded and placed on the parent portal to view.

I thank Ms Jen Smeed (Deputy Head Learning and Teaching) and Mrs Roxanne Rosenberg (Head of Middle School Curriculum) for their organisation and facilitation of this evening. I look forward to seeing parents and their sons on Tuesday, 31st May.

Year 5 Camp

Best wishes to our Year 5 students who will be attending a camp at the Gold Coast Recreation Centre Tallebudgera from Wednesday 25th May - Friday 27th May. At this camp, the boys will be undertaking a range of activities including bodyboarding, orienteering, rock climbing, aerial adventure, archery, beach games and a visit from the Sky Lab. This is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to build further friendships and develop as young men. I take this opportunity to thank Mr Liam Beatty (Head of Primary), Mr Michael Connolly (Pastoral Leader Years 5 and 6) and Mr John Lambourne (Head of Sport Years 5 and 6) who have organised and will be accompanying the boys on this camp. Enjoy boys.

Head of College Tours

Our second Head of College Tour for 2022 will be held this Friday, 27th May. This tour is fully booked; however, tours later in the year for prospective students and their families include the dates: June 19th, July 29th and October 14th.

This tour will allow future parents the opportunity to gather information, tour the facilities and ask questions. I invite parents to inform prospective students and parents of upcoming dates for later in the year. To make a booking, please contact our enrolments team: enrol@marash.qld.edu.au.

Jazz Night

For all you Jazz lovers out there, Marist College Ashgrove will be holding its annual Jazz Night this Thursday 26th May at 6.30pm in the Experimental Theatre (Draney Theatre). This concert will feature all the College’s Big Bands as well as a performance from Guest Artist, Shannon Marshall.

My thanks are extended to the following music teachers and staff who make this high standard of musical performance a reality, namely: Andrew Butt, Janelle Lee Long, Megan Harmston, Brodie McAllister, Enrico Le Mura and Vanessa Mitchell.

Tickets can be obtained from the following website https://events.humanitix.com/marist-jazz-night-2022.

I look forward to joining you all on Thursday evening.

Year 10 Dance

Congratulations and best wishes to our Year 10 boys who will participate in their final dance at Brisbane City Hall this evening, Tuesday 24th May at 7:00pm. The boys will be accompanied by the girls from Loreto College, Coorparoo and Mt St Michael’s, Ashgrove. This dance program has not only provided the boys with the opportunity to learn traditional dancing but also to mix with and get to socialise with girls from other schools. My sincere thanks go to a very dedicated number of staff who have facilitated this excellent program for the boys, namely: Majella Stevens, Julia Wilken, Christine Larsen, Mena McLean and Anntoinette Restell. Enjoy, gentlemen.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.