Parents and Friends

As we approach the end of what has been an incredibly busy and fulfilling term, I’d like to take a moment to reflect and express heartfelt thanks to our wonderful St Patrick’s College community. 

First and foremost, I wish all our families a happy, safe, and well-deserved break. It’s been a term full of activity, energy, and strong community spirit, and I hope the holidays bring you rest and time with loved ones. 

This term, we’ve been blessed with so many helping hands—whether it was wrapping roses, firing up the barbeque, or lending your time behind the scenes. Every act of support has made a difference, and we are truly grateful. A special thank you must go to all those who helped at the barbeque on Saturday 14 June. We were absolutely inundated with volunteers. What a joy it was to see such a turnout! It speaks volumes about the community we’ve built here at the College—when there’s a need, we show up. We support one another. I honestly cannot articulate how powerful that is. We have something truly special here at St Patrick’s.  Special mention must be made to our School Property Department, Mr Chris Hughes and Mr Richard Cramb who ensure that our barbeque facilities are up and running for us every week.  A lot goes on behind the scenes to organise our Supporters’ Days and we are so lucky to have a department who works to ensure everything is smooth running for such a big day.  Thank you! 

Another highlight for the P&F this term was attending the Founder’s Day Mass and celebrations on Friday 6 June. What a day! I was honoured to be there with fellow committee members, and we were deeply moved by the experience. The Mass, so thoughtfully planned by Ms Gillian Daley, Mr Mathew Herro, and Mrs Brittany Fogliani, was both beautiful and meaningful. Thank you for the time and care you put into it. 

For me personally, the highlight was hearing our boys sing throughout the Mass. Sitting just in front of the Year 12 cohort, we could feel how proud they were to be part of this College. Their voices, full of pride and unity, brought the message of the Homily—“Love one another as I have loved you”—to life. A simple message, yet so timely and profound in the world we live in today. 

Following the Mass, we had the pleasure of watching the much-anticipated Students vs Teachers Football match. As we stood on the balcony of the Scientia Building, watching the game unfold, it truly struck us—what we have here at St Patrick’s is rare. A strong sense of belonging, care, and camaraderie flows through this community—not just among the students, but the teachers as well. The match was competitive, yes, but also friendly, supportive, and filled with good humour. It was especially heartwarming to see students cheering one another on. 

To our teachers: thank you for your dedication, for always putting our students first, and for living out the Edmund Rice tradition so faithfully. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. 

And to our College Leadership Team including Dr Vittoria Lavorato, Mr Adrian Byrne, Mr Alex Sinadinos and Mr Stephen Cooper, thank you for providing the vision, structure, and guidance that empowers our teachers to do what they do best: educate, inspire, and support our children. Your leadership lays the foundation upon which our vibrant and caring learning community is built. We are so grateful for your commitment to excellence and to the values that make this College a place we’re proud to be part of. 

Lastly, a big thank you to the Year 11 Parent Representatives who organised the social night on Friday 20 June at The Palace in Mortlake. The feedback has been nothing but positive, and it’s clear that nights like these continue to strengthen the bonds between our families. 

That’s all from the P&F for this term. Wishing you all a safe, restful break—see you next term! 

Parents' and Friends' Committee