Fr Peter Joseph Award

St Joseph's inaugural award-winner

Pre-primary teacher Andrea Lewis, who has taught at St Joseph’s since 2002, has been awarded the inaugural Fr Peter Joseph Award.

The honour recognises a staff member from St Joseph's who has gone above and beyond to support the community of St Joseph's in 2019. One staff member described Mrs Lewis’s dedication and commitment to all of her students as “boundless’’.

“Her dedication to giving a solid religious and educational foundation to each child is immeasurable,’’ the nominee said.  “Andrea treats everyone she meets with dignity and respect and demonstrates compassion, peace, tolerance, forgiveness and mercy in all that she does.’’

St Joseph’s Principal Mr John Rose said the idea to implement the Fr Peter Joseph Award was inspired by the College’s Br Patrick Doolan Award, inaugurated in 2006 and awarded this year to Head of Year Seven, Miss Carrol Abel.

“After attending the 2018 St Norbert Presentation Night and seeing the staff being recognised with the Br Patrick Doolan Award, I thought it would be nice to recognise a staff member and honour Fr Peter for his amazing support and service to the St Joseph School community,’’ Mr Rose said.

As well as receiving a plague and glass cross, Mrs Lewis has been invited to participate in St Norbert College’s 2020 Kimberley Immersion.

“In 2019 the Leadership Team nominated Mrs Drummond Hay to support St Norbert College with their service learning in Indonesia and I thought it would be more reflective of the whole staff if the Fr Peter Joseph Award winner was offered the opportunity to attend the service learning the following year,’’ Mr Rose said.

“This award is an opportunity to recognise the many staff who go above and beyond for the students of St Joseph’s and honour a man who has dedicated his life to the Norbertine Queens Park community.’’

                                                                                                                      Mrs L Quartermain  (Community Relations)