Co-Curricular

Fortius – The Strength to Endure

Over the past two weeks, I have reflected on the Olympic mottos Citius and Altius; calls to readiness and aspiration. These ideals challenge students to discover richer meaning and purpose in their co-curricular lives at St Patrick’s College. 

This week, we complete the trilogy with Fortius – the strength to endure.

The Latin fortius is the comparative form of fortis, meaning strong, brave, and steadfast. Of course, it is often inspiring to witness athletes perform feats of strength in sports like weightlifting, shot put, gymnastics, and even tug of war (did you know, an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1920?). Fortis goes beyond the physical; it is fortitude – the kind of strength forged through discipline, struggle, service, and resilience. 

Fortius is not about overpowering, but about the capacity to carry weight – the weight of burden, expectation, and responsibility.

In my view, the enduring appeal of J.R.R. Tolkien – literary scholar and storyteller – lies in his exploration of this deeper form of strength, or the absence of it, within his characters. Consider Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: hardly the embodiment of physical might, perhaps even its antithesis. And yet he is entrusted with the burden of the Ring, carrying its weight and temptation with a resilience that endures to the very end. Alongside him stands Sam, another unimposing physical presence, whose loyalty and courage prove as vital as any warrior’s. Then, in direct physical contrast to the pair, there is Aragorn. A seasoned fighter, yes, but his true strength lies in his humility, patience, and reluctant acceptance of kingship. 

In each of these characters, Tolkien shows that the greatest victories are won not through domination, but through the spirit of truth and perseverance. As George F. Kennan – two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and U.S. military and foreign policy strategist – once said, “Heroism is endurance for one moment more.” 

In our College crest, strength is represented by black, the colour of the simple and humble cassocks worn by Blessed Edmund Rice and the first Christian Brothers. It symbolises their strength of faith and commitment to providing a holistic education to young men despite many challenges.

Black is not only a primary marker of our identity but also a colour reserved for those who endure: the black blazer of Year 11 and 12 students, the black tie of our graduating class, and the black jerseys of our Firsts teams. This tradition honours the sacrificial strength of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers. A strength that does not seek the spotlight but remains constant.

This week, our students showed strength in many forms. 

In Rugby, our 14As were crowned ISA Champions, which was the culmination of a long, drawn-out season marked by weather disruptions and sustained effort and focus. This victory secured the U14 ISA Football-Rugby double, painting an exciting picture of the future of those winter sports. 

At the Tournament of the Minds held on Sunday at Barker College, our Senior Social Science team not only represented the College with excellence but won their regional division, progressing to the finals held at UNSW in two weeks’ time. We were also so proud of our Senior STEM and Primary Language Literature teams who received excellent feedback from the judges for their presentation and conduct. Mrs Surekha Chander was thrilled to receive such praise for the boys and their representation of the College values. Well done boys!

Sydney Olympic Park hosted more than 70 of our athletes who competed in the Invitational Athletics meet, with many achieving personal bests. In the coming weeks, as we build towards the ISA Championships, our athletes will proudly compete in the Blue, Black, and Gold. A fitting echo of our current reflection on the Olympic motto.

What unites all these recent events is not just the levels of success and development, but the strength behind them. The willingness to keep showing up.

I encourage our young men to reflect on the importance of fortitude each time they wear a black item of our uniform – whether it be the College hat, PE shorts, playing socks, or even their school shoes! For our current Year 11 students, may this reflection deepen as they prepare to receive their Year 12 ties, and for our Year 10 students, as the Senior Blazer will soon rest upon their shoulders.

The black of our crest will continue to call us toward a deeper strength. The strength to endure, to uplift, and, through the examples of Jesus Himself and Blessed Edmund Rice, to lead lives of purpose and service.

“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” 

J.R.R. Tolkien

Adam Watson

Director of Co-Curricular

Tournament of Minds

On Sunday 31 August, students from both primary and secondary participated in the Tournament of the Minds, a state-wide competition where students propose or act out solutions to given problems in the disciplines of STEM, Social Sciences and Language Literature. It was an incredible opportunity to develop our confidence, utilise critical thinking skills, employ general knowledge, and foster teamwork skills. The competition challenged us to think quickly and perform in front of judges. Overall, it was a great experience to participate in and pushed us all out of our comfort zones. 

The Secondary Social Sciences team were successful in achieving first place in the regional competition, now progressing to the Nationals on Sunday 14 September. 

We congratulate the following secondary students for all their hard work and preparation in their respective fields:

On behalf of all teams, we are incredibly grateful to the staff, Mrs Chander and Mrs Sinadinos who were involved on the day and are grateful to have the opportunity to participate in such tournaments. 

Year 8 Students | Marcus Gregory and Zachary Nguyen