From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Where Marist Spirit Abounds

What do the Wallabies and Marists have in common? Firstly, Marist schools like St Joseph’s Hunter’s Hill, Marist Ashgrove have produced 71 Wallabies between them. Secondly, the Wallabies were given three options for their World Cup base and decided on Saint-Etienne, the small city where they will play their second and fourth pool matches, against Fiji and a qualifier, at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Saint-Etienne is just 10 minutes drive south of the Hermitage which Marcellin Champagnat and his Brothers built at St Chamond. This is where it all started for Marist education. Some of the Marist old boy Wallabies should feel very at home at this location.

St Marcellin Champagnat was a priest in Southern France who established an order of Brothers in 1817 creating educational opportunities for young people in that rural area. The boys and the Marist family celebrated this feast day today, with a College Mass, awards, celebratory lunch, games and theatre sports. There are many writings and reflections of St Marcellin Champagnat which enables us to understand and remain authentic to his vision of Catholic education in France and around the world, including Australia and Ashgrove (1940). The Marists set up their first school in 1872 at The Rocks in Sydney, marking the sesquicentenary in 2022. Marist College Ashgrove is part of a worldwide educational system – some 80 countries, 40,000 staff and 500,000 students, including 54 establishments in Australia.

One of the earliest pieces of wisdom Marcellin shared with the Brothers was, “You are Gospel workers, and it is up to all of us to be living the Gospels as you might be the only Gospels students read.” This statement was true for the southern country areas of France post the French Revolution, but this statement has also become a relevant message to our educators today. There is no doubt that our society has become more secular and young people less educated in relation to the Christian faith, particularly within the churched family. As a result, the importance of education, of witnessing Christ through our actions and educating young people in the faith within the Catholic School context, has become even more important today. In the same breath, Marcellin had Mary as his strong role-model as it was Mary who brought Christ to birth as we are expected to also bring Christ to birth in our lives. Marcellin reminds us that “Mary is helping us, and this is enough.”

In the times of the French Revolution, when the Church was fractured and discredited, Champagnat emphasised love as a means of overcoming ill-will. When he died, he was surrounded by his Brothers and he told them, “you must love them and love them all equally”. Champagnat believed that love would bring the church and its people back to life – love conquers death. We, as Marists, should be Mary to the world – bringing Christ to birth by our actions and voice.

God of the Journey, may Marist College Ashgrove be a place where the Marist spirit abounds - a place of love, where we authentically live the Gospels, share our faith and bring Christ’s message to birth. Amen.

Champagnat Awards 2023

Today at our Champagnat College Mass, we recognised staff who have given long-standing generous service to the College. We congratulate:

Traditionally, we have also recognised members of the Marist College Ashgrove family who have lived the attributes that Marcellin Champagnat exhibited himself - a member of our community, a staff member and to a Year 12 student. We congratulate these recipients and I share a little of their story -

Our first Champagnat Award went to a member of the broader Marist community. While he may be not be readily known to our student body, the work this recipient has done has enriched the lives of the students and staff over many years and assisted in the development of Marist College Ashgrove. This recipient has been an outstanding contributor for 25 years to the financial development of the College with his membership of the College Foundation, including time as Chair as well as a member of the College Finance Council. He has never sought the limelight in this essential service but always given honest, substantive opinions about what the financial implications of any college developments might be. He has provided dispassionate, clearheaded advice, quiet reflection, considered opinion, and sound advice to the Trustees. This gentleman has always put the needs of the students first but with the provision of sensible, safe opinion as to the financial implications.

Our Community Award recipient is Mr John Stubbings.

The 2023 Champagnat Award recipient for a staff member goes to someone who joined the Ashgrove staff in 2007 and like our community recipient may not be known to our student body in the way a teacher front and centre of class would be but has, with quiet and dedicated determination, worked for the good of the College. One of Champagnat’s great characteristics was his dedication to, and love of work and our recipient has proven time and again this trait in his working life. Our recipient works hard to ensure perfect outcomes for the College, is always willing to assist and nothing is ever too much trouble. In his work the recipient is constantly focused on the College and the outcomes, always conscious of costs and workmanship to ensure we get the best possible cost outcome for the job. He is happy to project manage onsite and treats each job like he is building his own property, with attention and care to cost, detail and with greatest benefit to the College always in mind. He is known to respond to fire alarms at 2:00am, is the person behind projects like the refurbishment of the Champagnat Centre, the addition of the lockers and currently the rebuild of the Cyprian Pavilion – these and so many other projects are often completed while staff and students are on break. His humble, quiet nature behind the scenes, and his work ethic is a credit to him and has been an ongoing and wonderful contribution to the College.

Our Staff Award recipient is Mr Russell Randle.

The Champagnat Award to a Year 12 student is made to a boy, who, in himself and in his relations with others, typifies the very best of what Marist College Ashgrove is about – developing the whole individual to become the best person he can be, becoming the person God calls him to be. Our Year 12 student embodies what St Marcellin promoted amongst his followers - the virtues of simplicity, modesty and humility. Our Year 12 student demonstrates these qualities in ways observable by all those who come into contact with him. Our Year 12 awardee never seeks out attention or recognition for his actions. He is hard-working, conscientious and focused upon achieving his best in everything he puts his mind to and every task he is given, found at his desk or in the library each night during study or assisting his peers in a gentle, productive manner. Our student recipient is industrious, diligent, determined, independent, courteous and always considerate of others. He is supportive of his peers and an excellent role model for the younger students. Quietly spoken and responsible he, like all our 2023 recipients does good quietly. College life takes priority and is a way to offer back. He has with quiet determination mastered the Pipe organ and offers his service weekly at the boarding community Mass. He is part of our College music program and sporting co-curricular, balancing all the College has to offer without compromising or shirking his responsibilities.

Our student award recipient is Alex Masel.

Congratulations to our Champagnat Award recipients and Long Service recipients for 2023.

For 10 years of service to Marist Education:

Alison Braidwood 10 years

Sean Flynn 10 years (In his absence)

Phill Holding 10 years

Mohamed Ismail 10 years

Scott Minogue 10 years (In his absence)

Peter Watts 10 years

For 20 years of service to Marist Education:

Beverley Randle 20 years

For 25 years of service to Marist Education

Anna Nasr 25 years

Rebecca Taylor 25 years

Happy Champagnat Day!

Year 7-10 and Year 12 Examinations

The Year 7-10 Semester examinations will be held from Friday 9 – Thursday 15 June. The Year 12 examinations will commence on Monday 12 June, concluding Thursday 15 June. These exams will form part of the boy’s accumulative results and will provide significant marks towards their Semester One reports. The examination timetable can be found on the Parent Portal under the Exam and Assessment Schedule information tile. I wish all boys the best of luck with their lead-up studies and the examinations. My thanks are extended to all our professional teachers as they prepare and correct these exams. Good luck, gentlemen.

Men’s Health Week

Men's Health Week takes place from 12-18 June 2023. Marist College Ashgrove will recognise this week with the boys and hold a free dress day on Thursday 8 June to raise money for this important cause. This event is celebrated every year around the world, and in Australia it is organised by the Centre for Male Health at Western Sydney University, a partner of the Australian Men's Health Forum. The following link enables you to find helpful tools and resources - Men's Health Week Australia - AMHF - Australian Men's Health Forum. This year, the focus for Men’s Health Week is Healthy Habits and aims to raise awareness of Men’s Health issues in Australia. Activities planned for the week at Marist College Ashgrove include: an official launch, a push-up challenge, education sessions and a sausage sizzle. I thank Luke Mifsud, Wellbeing Captain and the Student Wellbeing Captains who have organised this week and the free dress day, with the assistance of Phill Holding – Pastoral Leader Senior School.

Mass and Reconciliation

Each Sunday evening at 6:00pm, the Boarding students celebrate Mass together. Each week, all boys also have two opportunities to celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist - Wednesday 8:00am and Friday 11:30am. I thank our College Chaplain – Fr Alatini Kolofo’ou SM who celebrates these Masses for the boys each week. The sacrament of Reconciliation is also available for all boys on Tuesday morning at 8:00am. These sacraments are held in the Chapel of Our Lady and St Marcellin Champagnat. Parents and supporters are also welcome to join us as we celebrate these sacraments.

Marist Guitar Summit

The Marist Guitar Summit will be held on Thursday 8 June at 6:00pm, in the Draney Theatre. Returning after its success in 2022, the Marist College Ashgrove Guitar Summit will provide an opportunity for all of the College’s Guitar Ensembles to experience a combination of workshops and sectionals under the guidance of a guest director, Dr Anthony Garcia, concluding with an early evening concert. My thanks are extended to Dr Andrew Butt – Program Leader Co-curricular Arts, Catherine Wasserman, Enrico Le Mura, Alex Hides, Vanessa Mitchell, Joe Rabjohns and Tony Vandermeer for all their preparation for this event.

Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-guitar-summit-2023

Champagnat Trust Sport’s Lunch

This Friday, 9 June at the Brisbane Convention Centre, is the 2023 Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch. Marist College Ashgrove, together with the Marist College Ashgrove Foundation, is proud to be hosting the 19th annual Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch. The Sports Lunch began in 2005 to help the College and the College's Foundation raise valuable funds to honour this legacy of Saint Marcellin Champagnat. St Marcellin Champagnat commenced an order of Brothers to teach neglected young people from country Southern France, providing them with a spiritual and academic education. Enabling these young people to have this gift of education is the ethos upon which this Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch is grounded. All money raised at the event goes towards Champagnat Trust Bursaries, which provide a Marist education to boys who otherwise could not financially access such an opportunity. This event is a wonderful display of the generosity and kindness of the Marist College family. Since its inauguration, the Sports Lunch has raised over $2.5 million dollars and has provided over 100 students with a Marist education, giving them the opportunity to live the College motto - 'Viriliter Age'.

We welcome Co-patron John Eales along with Lawrence Mooney, our MC to this event and the Sports Panelists, Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Herbert and Nova Peris who will be joined by guests Steve Waugh and Noel Pearson, all to be interviewed by John Eales. Guest host, Pat Howard will interview Lance Peatey, a relative of a past Champagnat Trust Bursary recipient. Due to the generous contributors, sponsors and especially our co-patrons, John Eales, and Matthew Hayden, this lunch continues to be a beacon of hope for many future young Marist men.

May we offer our humble ongoing Marist support by ‘digging deep' to provide a real and transformative educational opportunity to many more boys in the future. Thank you for your generous support and attendance.

Due to popular demand tickets are available for purchase until 9:00am tomorrow morning 7 June. Last chance – book now!

Boarders’ Family Day and Super Reunion Day

This Saturday, 10 June is our final home rugby game. We welcome to the College our boarding families who will have a tent on McMahon Oval. This is a great opportunity to watch your son play, socialise with other parents, and enjoy a light lunch and a few drinks together. During this day, we also welcome back to the College our many old boy reunion groups at the BBQ area on the far side of McMahon Oval, to enjoy our Marist hospitality. We look forward to our final rugby and football games together, versus St Edmund’s College and welcoming back to Marist Ashgrove our boarding families and Old Boys. See you all on Saturday.

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