Deputy Principal

Class of 2024

As we come to the close of another term, it is time to say goodbye to the Class of 2024. Having been here for three years now, I have really enjoyed getting to know them and spending time with them in the yard. Making connections is something that all people thrive on, and I appreciate their honesty, respect, and leadership of the College.

I must admit it is with some sense of sadness that I say goodbye to this group as last Friday was the last time I got to teach the best class I have ever taught in my 27 years of teaching. It is a privilege to serve as the Deputy Principal of one of the finest schools in Australia and I do not take that for granted. In the role of Deputy Principal, there are days that are more challenging than others and sometimes you do question whether you are making a difference in the lives of our young men and their families. What sustains me on those days is when I walk into my Year 12 Economics class. In every lesson they give me life and remind me of why I chose this career. I am passionate about Economics, and I have found my students this year to be equally as passionate. Thirteen young men who are all on their own journeys of which I was privileged to share with them. They bring their own stories, their own challenges and indeed their own gifts to every lesson. They were a class that understood me, and I feel like I understood them.

This class was a shared experience, it was not just me standing and delivering and getting through the syllabus. I always had students sending me articles on Economics that they had found and questioning everything our politicians said as they understood the economics behind the decisions that our politicians made, sometimes I think better than our politicians themselves. We are always teaching our young men to be grateful. Well today it is about me being grateful. I am grateful that I work here at St Patrick’s College, I am grateful to be a part of a wonderful HSIE B Faculty and most of all, I am grateful that I got to help guide young men who will go on and ‘let their light shine’ to benefit others. 

So, to Luke, Alex, Joel, Anthony, James, Hamish, Tadhg, Justin, Michael, Christopher, Christian, Simon and Sam, I am grateful to all of you for all that you have done for me, and I look forward to hearing about the next chapter of what I am sure will be an amazing future.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal