From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Transformation

In the city of Asuncion in Paraguay lies the largest dump in the country – Cateura landfill. The people in Asuncion, who are typically very poor, are known to use the rubbish and scrap material from the dump to make the houses in which they live. Further, they make musical instruments with this same rubbish - violins, cellos, drums and the like all from rubbish and scrap material. Everything that is thrown away is transformed into providing others with the pleasure of music. The instruments are used to teach music to the children in Asuncion and they have also formed an orchestra that is famous worldwide. Known as the ‘Recycled Orchestra’, they have performed internationally with the likes of Stevie Wonder and the band Metallica. Their principle is “The world sends us garbage, we send back the life of music.” This is an inspirational story of appreciation and transformation. I refer you to this video.

Lent too is a time for transformation. A time to change our hearts – thinking less of our own needs (dying to ourselves) and giving and loving others in need (life to others) as symbolised through the metaphor of Christ’s death and resurrection. Our search through life to find Christ and transform our lives is an endless one. As St Augustine says – “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” It is an adventure to grasp in some way the transcendent that transforms and connects us and our everyday lives with the sacred. Like transforming garbage into beautiful music, our hearts need to be transformed through Christ into life and love.

This week’s readings direct our attention to repentance during this Lenten season. Repentance to a God who is all merciful, kind and compassionate. Through this repentance and forgiveness, we can be transformed to change anew.

God of the Journey, may all members of the Marist College Ashgrove family be transformed by your love and compassion, reaching out to others to give new life this Easter season. Amen.

Exams Commence

Best wishes to all boys as they commence their term 1 exam block. Our primary students have already completed several subject exams and on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Year 5 students will complete their mathematics tests and on Thursday and Friday, the Year 6 boys will do the same. All secondary students commence their exams later in the week with the Year 12 boys commencing with Economics on Wednesday. The Year 12 Exam Block starts on Thursday. All Year 10 and 11 students will remain on campus in class during their exams. Students who require any adjustments or provisions to their assessments are to do so through the studies office. They can approach their curriculum leader or the studies office for assistance to ensure that all QCAA regulations are followed. Best wishes to all students in their revision, preparation and undertaking of these exams. Good luck, gentlemen.

Year 5 Parents Function

This Friday, 28th March our Year 5 parents are invited to the tower for their Parent Function. I warmly encourage all Year 5 parents, especially our new parents, to attend this event. The night is always a friendly social evening of confraternity, connections, good food and drink. My thanks to extended to our wonderful Parents and Friends Association who generously organise these events for our parent body. I look forward to meeting up with Year 5 parents on Friday evening.

Boarding Schools Touch Football Tournament

Marist College Ashgrove will again be hosting the Boarding Schools Touch Football Tournament in 2025. Most boarding schools in southeast Queensland attend this day of touch football where boarding students from their representative schools are encouraged to make lots of new connections and friends, while attempting to take home their respective championship year level trophy. Some of the boarding schools that have accepted invitations to attend this tournament include: Brisbane Grammar School, Brisbane Boys’ College, Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Clayfield College, Somerville House, Stuartholme School, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, Ipswich Grammar School, John Paul College, The Southport School, St Hilda’s School, SCOTS PGC College, Fairholme College and The Glennie School. The place is always buzzing with energy and excitement on this day. My thanks are extended to Blair Whitlock for his organisation and facilitation of this event, and to our Assistant Head of College – Boarding, Mr Jim Noble and all boarding staff in attendance.

1st XI AIC Cricket Premiers 2025

Congratulations to the Marist College Ashgrove 1st XI Cricket Team who were crowned Premiers for 2025 after their final and decisive victory versus Padua College. This team, under the guidance and coaching of Michael Abbott and Tom Gibson have continued to learn, improve and represent the college with great dignity over the course of the year. They were joined by a very committed and friendly group of parents and volunteers, for which we are all very grateful. Marist College Ashgrove congratulates Iona College who were joint premiers with us. Congratulations also to our cricket coordinator Mr Derek Lennon who has guided our cricket program in term 1 with Mr Matthew Millward. With their hard work and guidance, Marist College Ashgrove took out the aggregate best school in cricket for 2025. This included premierships by our 1st XI, 3rd XI, 10A, 8A, 8B, 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D. The following Primary teams were undefeated 6B Blue, 6C Gold and 5B. Congratulations First XI Marist College Ashgrove Cricket Team and the overall outstanding Marist Cricket Program.

Primary AIC Swimming Champions 2025

Congratulations to our Primary Swimming Team who took out the 2025 AIC Primary Swimming Championship last Friday night at the Chandler Aquatic Swimming Pool. I congratulate all their dedicated parents and professional coaches namely - James Boyce, Damian Bromley, Lachlan Gough, Cath Geraghty and John Lambourne. My hearty congratulations also to our Secondary Swim Team who singlehandedly pushed St Peter’s Lutheran Swim Team to their limits achieving a fine runner’s up position. Well done Marist Swim Team and congratulations to all the coaches involved in this elite swimming program at Marist College Ashgrove.

Marist College Rosalie Tribute Day

On Saturday 29th March, Marist College Ashgrove will host the annual Marist Rosalie College Tribute game. On this day, it is tradition that our First XV wear the Marist College Rosalie ‘White Knight’ jerseys during the game and are presented with these by the loyal Rosalie Old Boys (12:15pm). Marist College Rosalie commenced in 1929 and was the foundation school in Queensland of the Marist Brothers. The Rosalie boarding school became too small, so a larger site was sought at Ashgrove in 1940 and hence the commencement of Marist College Ashgrove. Marist College Rosalie closed in 2000. Essentially, Marist College Ashgrove was born out of Marist College Rosalie, so we are proud to host the Rosalie Old Boys each year. We look forward to these Old Boys joining us in the Cyprian Pavilion on Saturday where our First XV will be playing St John’s College Nambour (2:15pm) and our Second XV, Ambrose Treacy College First XV (1:00pm).

1929 History of Marist College Rosalie

January 20th – blessing and official opening of Monastery of the Marist Brothers at Rosalie by Archbishop J Duhig [Dean Lee, Br Osmund, Br Campion, Br Athanasius, Br Denis representing the Provincial were in attendance]
January 21st – Brothers took possession of the Monastery
January 28th – school opened in old wooden first Parish church which had been moved to present site in 1918 – 135 students enrolled [Grades 4 upwards and mostly from the Parish School] – Br Osmund Rice [Director] – temperature was 100 -110 degrees F – no blackboards, no protection from the elements on the verandah and no playground
John Sweeney was the first enrolled student

Marist Basketball Carnival 2025

Best wishes to the Marist College Ashgrove First V Basketball Team who will be participating in the Marist Basketball Carnival in Bulleen (Melbourne) from Sunday 30 March - Friday 4 April. The boys have been preparing well for this carnival which is a pre-season carnival leading us to the AIC Competition, commencing in Term 3. My thanks are extended to James Lymer (Coach), James O'Hara (Assistant Coach) and John Lambourne (Manager) who will be accompanying the boys. We wish all the boys well in the Marist Basketball Carnival for 2025.

Marist Mother's Retreat Day

Tickets are still available for the annual Marist Mother's Retreat Day to be held on Sunday 30th March in the Cyprian Pavilion. This retreat day is always a lovely opportunity for mothers to slow down, gather in friendship, reflection and prayer together. Brother Neville Solomon fms, past Headmaster of the College, along with Mrs Clare Locke, College Campus Minister, will be facilitating this retreat day for our mothers. The day will include a morning tea and light lunch together. For tickets, please click this link. I highly recommend the Mother's Retreat Day to all our wonderful mothers at the college.

Year 6 Parliament House Visit

Best wishes to our Year 6 boys who will be visiting State Parliament House as part of their studies. Two groups will be attending – 6 White, 6 Silver, and 6 Maroon on Monday 31st March and 6 Gold, 6 Violet, 6 Blue, and 6 Red on Tuesday 1st April. This excursion is a culmination of their studies in politics, voting, and the electoral system that exists in the local, state and federal domains. My thanks are extended to Mrs Catherine Barnett, Acting Primary Learning Leader, who has organised and will be accompanying the boys on this excursion along with Year 6 teachers - Ms Molly Keir, Mrs Rachael Carter, Mr Anthony Sharp, Mr Jim Midgley, Mr Richard Coles and Mr Mick Morley. Enjoy, gentlemen.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.