St Pius X College Newsletter

Pastoral Care 

  • Bill James History Lecture
  • Buddies Not Bullies Beachwalk
  • Farewell Flynn Paveley
  • Narragunnawalli RAP
  • Thank You

Bill James History Lecture

Year 10 History students had the privilege of listening to author and historian Bill James (Old Boy Class of '67) last week when he recounted his research and writings on the lost battlefields of the 1942 Kokoda Track campaign.

Bill started his entrepreneurial career as a businessman in London founding Top Deck Travel with his business partner “Screw” Turner, before they returned to found The Flight Centre in Australia.

Having hiked the Kokoda Track in the early 1990s Bill began researching and consolidated the history of the Kokoda Track as a part of the 1942 Defence of Australia. He wrote the “Guide to the Kokoda Track” and his son Andrew an ex-SAS Officer wrote the “Kokoda Wallaby” story of Stan Bisset who buried his brother during the desperate 39th Militia and 2/14th AIF Bn Defence of Isurava Village.

Bill’s sons, Andrew and Richard, supported our Kokoda Expeditions in 2014, 2016, 2018 and now for 2024, while Bill himself was so impressed by the pastoral care and positive culture across the College in the late 2010s, that he provided for the multi-million dollar James Fellowship which facilitates St Pius X College Staff international research and study grants.

Bill spoke eloquently to our Year 10 History Elective students on his research on the Lost Battlefields of the Kokoda Track. Thank you to Sophie Casimento, Dennis Lee, and Nick Westhoff who helped me welcome Bill and supported this event and made it a rich respectful learning experience for the Year 10 History students. For the love of learning and celebration of community!

Buddies Not Bullies - Student Empowerment Team Beachwalk

Our Peer Mentoring program celebrated the connection between our Year 5, 6 and 7 mentees and their senior mentors with a Buddies Not Bullies Beachwalk last Friday afternoon. We were graced by the great company of our newly retired inspirational College Counsellor EREA legend and national Touchstone award winner Mr Rick Russo who supported the walk from Long Reef to Dee Why.

Thank you to Mr Ticli and special mention to Oisin Whooley who returned from Year 13 post HSC celebrations to support his mentee. Year 12s Riley Seeto, Ethan Li, Fergus Fung and Rory Squires were there also leading the program in support of their mentees.

A great initiative which has consolidated our Boxercise and Peer Mentoring programs over many years.

Farewell Flynn Paveley, St Pius X College Year 10, recruited to develop his basketball talents at the Australian Institute of Sport

Congratulations to our 1st V Basketball who sent out Flynn Pavely of Year 10, who has been newly recruited to the Australian Institute of Sport, a 73-67 winner over SCEGGS Redlands last Saturday.

Our A Basketball teams did well across the board right down to our Year 7 Development Teams where Oli Mitchell, James Hocking and Oscar Byrne led the scoring, while our Cricket Teams worked hard to persevere with some great performances in spite of the weather.

Best wishes to all the intrepid Snowy Hikers who departed on Monday morning for this great tradition and adventure which, for many students, caps their Pastoral Care journey through the school! We have experienced some wet and snow-filled experiences over my years at the College, but each journey is a unique adventure from which our students and community grows enormously.

Narragunnawalli RAP

I met up with EREA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Leader Andrew Kirkpatrick last Thursday night and he was glowing with gratitude for the efforts of the St Pius X College community through our commitment to our Reconciliation Action Plan. The work continues this week as we consolidate this practice of consolidating our sense of self and capacity to listen deeply and learn richly from the culture, story, heritage, and history of every member of our community. 

Thank You

Lastly, as I spend my last full week at the College on the Baradine Immersion with 20 Year 10 students before my leave next year, I undergo required shoulder surgery on 6 December, allow me to thank you all for the privilege of sharing the journey with you over the past 24 years. It’s been a richly energising one, full of great and rewarding experiences.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care