Boarding News

Last weekend a group of our boarders and staff travelled to Chinchilla for what was planned to be a fantastic opportunity to connect with the local community through rugby league. The trip included an exhibition match as well as a rugby clinic for local junior players, and our students were looking forward to sharing their passion for the game with young athletes in the region. Unfortunately, heavy rain in Chinchilla on Saturday night and continuing through Sunday meant that the fields were unplayable, and the decision was made to cancel both the exhibition match and the junior clinic. While this was understandably disappointing for the players and staff who had made the effort to travel, everyone handled the change of plans with great positivity. Despite the weather, the trip itself was still a valuable experience. Road trips like this are a great way for our boarders to spend time together, strengthen friendships, and represent the school. We remain committed to supporting regional communities such as Chinchilla and look forward to returning in the future. 

On Tuesday morning our boarders proudly continued a long-standing school tradition by providing a guard of honour and war cry send-off for the Marist Swim Team as they departed for the AIC Championships. Despite the early start, all of our boarders were up and ready at 6:25am, dressed in their school uniforms and eager to show their support. While most of the school community was still at home, the boarding community was full of energy as the boys lined up to cheer on the swimmers as they left for this important event. These traditions play a key role in building school pride and reminding our students that they are part of something bigger than themselves. Thanks to our boarders, plus a number of our Year 12 dayboy leaders for their support which helped create a memorable start to a significant day for our swimmers.

Last Sunday at Boarders’ Mass we were joined by a special guest, Mrs Susan Shay (mother of Liam in Year 12). Susan was invited to offer a reflection after the Gospel, where she connected the readings with the Marist values of humility and family spirit. She also reflected on the significance of it being International Women’s Day and spoke about how vital it is for all our young men to respect and cherish the women in their lives. We continue to value hearing from a variety of speakers at Boarders’ Mass, as well as experiencing the Eucharist in different venues and at different times. These opportunities enrich our gatherings and help strengthen the sense of faith and community within our boarding house.