PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

One day soon I hope to be able to begin a letter, or email or newsletter article without reference to the current COVID-19 situation.

As we head into the Mother’s Day weekend, it is difficult to imagine a stranger Mother’s Day scenario – I can’t see my mum as she lives in Queensland. My brother lives on an island in Moreton Bay – just a few kilometres from the mainland and is unable to get off the island to visit and while my sister is able to drive to see her, the amount of physical contact she will be able to have is limited. But…we will all adapt – our family is now very proficient in using WhatsApp so it is possible to all be together at one time, albeit online – this is our new reality. This does, however, make this Mother’s Day tinged with sadness.

When I think of my mum, often it is associated with familiar aromas – baking chocolate peanut cookies, burnt toast, quiche, roast chicken, curried sausages and hair spray. These childhood associations have lasted all my life and continue to spark wonderful memories of love, holidays, adventures, school, weddings, parties, haircuts, family dinners and so on. All things we reminisce about whenever we visit. All the simple, everyday things we have taken for granted…until now.

To all the mums in the College community – I wish you all the very best for this Sunday and I hope that you have the opportunity to be with your family in some form. Over the past months, mums (and dads) have had a colossal job in trying to keep the family composed, healthy, learning and happy…and while it is important to appreciate and treasure our parents every day, Mother’s Day in 2020 can be seen to be that little bit more special as we do all we can to connect and come together – in a wide variety of ways to say what is most important:

“I love you mum and thank you for all you do”.

Paul Humble | Principal