CELEBRATING FIRST NATIONS CULTURE
News from Bryan Carswell
Indigenous Liaison Officer
St Augustine's College Cairns
St Augustine’s College has an enduring relationship with families from the Torres Strait, Cape York region and other First Nations communities from northern and western Queensland. This relationship with families and students from these areas has continued for over 45 years.
The Principal and all our staff have a deep respect for these ancient cultures and their traditions. This is evident in the applause at traditional dance performances in Lennon Hall during significant celebrations.
The College is a community where your son can, if he has the desire and energy, fully realise his potential. It is a place where he can succeed. Here he can make you proud of his hard-earned efforts and academic pursuits.
Our First Nations students have held every possible position that a senior or junior student leader could hope to hold. We have had a First Nation’s college captain, vice-captain, liturgy captain, boarding captain, sports house captain as well as First Nations students on the Student Representative Council. They have been sportsmen of the year, age-group champions and captains of our premier league and union teams. They have been orators of the year.
First Nations students have attended university after graduating from St Augustine's College. I know of one doctor and two other former students who are now studying medicine. Many have joined the Australian Defence Force, many are highly skilled tradespeople or work in a wide variety of professions.
If you have taught your son to accept challenges, set goals and keep going when the going gets tough; if he has persistence, courage and dedication; if he can solve problems, work well with others and wants to be the best he can be; then Saints is the place for him.