Principal's Post

Dear Parents,

Last Friday the Mothers’ Day Dinner was held at the Mulgrave Country Club. The Mothers' Association has always organised an event to be enjoyed by both current and past mums. As well as dinner and live music, a panel which included Ms Tina Giacco, Mrs Margaret McCulloch and Mrs Margaret O’Sullivan reminisced about the Mothers' Association of past years. Margaret’s son, Gerard McCulloch, kindly accepted the invitation to host the evening and conduct the interviews. Gerard was introduced to the audience as a comedian and renowned comedy writer. He is currently working on Hard Quiz and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering. He has previously worked on shows like Full Frontal, Rove, The Project and Dirty Laundry Live. Gerard won the first Public Speaking Award at the College and it was noted that the second title went to another Gerard, Gerard Whateley, who has also made outstanding contributions to Australian Media as sports writer, caller, TV and radio host. Mums on the night enjoyed an array of prizes kindly provided by sponsors and connections to the College. The major prize of a Mercedes Benz from Mercedes Mulgrave, supplied for the weekend, was very much appreciated. The Mothers' Association has been a dynamic organisation for many years but the responses on the panel clearly highlighted many of the changing constructs to family life and the difficulties enlisting parents to committees, are becoming more challenging.

The College’s initiative to establish a role of Development Manager, who will facilitate events on behalf of the Parents' and Friends' Association, the Mothers' Committee or the Fathers' Committee is very timely. Ms Michelle Symss is our Development Manager and is poised to manage the necessary communication and administration related to our community networks. We hope to enlist the support of parents to the various activities and the fact they will be part of a specific project rather than an ongoing committee will hopefully encourage more parents to get involved at different times throughout the year.

Earlier in the year, at the Parents' and Friends' Launch, we acknowledged Kayleen McLean who was our most recent President of the Mothers' Association and I would like to thank her and all the mums who raised money over the last few years to support your sons at the College. Because of the generosity of our mums and the fine work of the Association we have been able to offer support to a Year 12 student who is continuing his battle with leukaemia this year.

The Mothers' Association’s sizeable donation to the College will also be used to enhance various programmes. The most recent donation is $4000 to the new Mazenod Stem Facility, which will purchase consumables such as 3D printing filaments and wood/plastics for the CO2 laser cutter. The 3D Printers and Laser Cutters currently service Years 8-9 Design and Technology Programmes as well as Years10–12 VCE Visual Communication and Design. STEM hardware systems allow students to produce 3D prototypes created from CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software.

The Association’s finances will contribute to the Visible Wellbeing Programme. We are hoping for a large crowd to experience the Parents' Evening next Thursday 20th May at 7pm in the Provence Centre. Professor Lea Waters will be presenting Visible Wellbeing and Positive Psychology to parents from Year 7 to Year 12. Please take this opportunity and register your attendance. A night not to be missed.

Registrations can be made using the link:- https://forms.gle/B3dF9Vk3boLvw7rC8

Further details are also shown on the Parents' & Friends' Association page of this newsletter.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Tony Coghlan

Principal