After a very successful term 1 we head into the winter sport season for chess, football, cross country and rugby. It is a busy time with lots on for the boys to keep them active.

Holiday Activities

We had a busy holiday period with basketball, rugby and football tours and carnivals. The basketball team went to Melbourne for the Marist Basketball Carnival. The team performed well over the four days, finishing 13th out of 22. Thank you to John Lambourne, James Lymer and James O’Hara for your leadership, guidance and coaching. The open rugby squad toured northern NSW in a very successful team building exercise focusing on playing, building the team values and principles and spreading the good word of Marist. Thank you to Richard Graham, Chris Daykin and Adam Earnshaw for leading this tour. An under 12 tour took part in the Armidale Rugby Carnival. The team performed well, finishing third in this prestigious event. Thank you to Anthony Graham, John Lambourne, James Trebbin and Richard Graham. The 1st XI football squad participated in the TSS football carnival on the Gold Coast. This is a highly competitive event with teams from all over Australia and New Zealand participating. The boys were slightly disappointed to finish 8th in a terrific hit out before the AIC season. Thank you to Blair Whitlock and Willem Baines for your guidance, leadership and coaching the boys.

Marist Sport Key Performance Indicators

With the start of the new term it is timely to remind everyone of our key performance indicators for sport. While winning is good, and we do strive to win every game, we are a school and our purpose for playing sport is about so much more than the results. The staff are mindful that sport is vehicle to assist in develop in our young men character, discipline, respect, integrity and teamwork amongst other values.

Every team to be top 3 in their division and the program to be 1st or 2nd in the aggregate. All First teams to be competitive, aiming for a premiership at least every 3 years.
Every boy develops a love of the sport through their experience at Marist. That we provide opportunities for boys to develop skills, represent the college and play with their friends.
Every boy develops life skills through playing sport. These include being a member of a team (with boys they may not be friends with), setting goals, dealing with adversity (including being dropped, disagreeing with a referee decision), learning how to win with grace and lose with dignity and respect and challenging ourselves to get out of their comfort zone.

Uniform At Sports

It has been great to see that the message of we train in the Marist training shirt has been well received this year. It really has been wonderful to see the blue and gold across our fields in term 1 and it has so far continued well with football, cross country and rugby. There are a number of reasons why we want this. Firstly it builds a sense of belonging and unity and we are all together as one. Secondary to this it also equalises everyone (which is important when trialling teams) and thirdly, it makes life a lot easier operationally for coaches in organising opposed training activities. Well done gents, keep it up.

On Saturdays when we play fixtures it is important that we present the college in a positive light as we are representatives of the college wherever we go. Boys are to turn up to matches either in playing kit or school uniform, getting changed to play. All boys must have covered shoes (no slides, thongs or Birkenstocks) and if it is a bit cooler the outer wear must be Marist apparel, either tracksuit jacket, school hoodie or school jumper. No random jumpers or jackets should be seen.

All spectators, including those boys who have played already need to be in full college uniform. This will include getting changed into school uniform at the completing of your match if you intend to stay and support others. If you are involved in games before the firsts and you are staying to watch, unless you are involved on the bench with the team you must get changed. No longer can boys use the excuse of I played the game before, it only takes five minutes to get changed. Boarders will need to take their change of clothes with you, similar to a day boy would need to do, in case the dorm is closed when you need to get changed.

Representing Marist

It is a wonderful thing to be able to play sport with your mates and represent the college. It builds character and resilience, develops skills and fitness, and should be a fun and enjoyable experience. This is a reminder to all boys, some of whom are playing sport for the first time this year of our expectations and standards around behaviour to make sure we are allowing everyone to enjoy the opportunity of AIC sport. We represent our College with pride, with respect for the officials, our opponents and the game.

What does that look like? We accept the referees decision, regardless of what we think of it. We respect our opponent at all times, we do not sledge, swear or get into arguments, we keep our hands to ourselves and we do not retaliate regardless of the provocation.

AIC Code of Behaviour - Players

Fundamental to the AIC, is our belief in inclusion and fellowship. This means that as a player you are welcoming to everyone and treat them with the greatest levels of respect, protecting the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability/disability, sexual orientation, cultural background, or religion.

As a player who will be representing their college and playing under the auspices of AIC, you play an important role in upholding the values of the AIC and the College. Players need to demonstrate the following behaviours regarding their conduct:

Exhibit a high standard of conduct and sportsmanship on and off the field including appropriate language, social media posts, and interaction with officials and opposition players.
Respect your opponents by displaying humility in victory and graciousness in defeat.
Play in the correct age group and commit to and respect the team that you are selected in.
Play hard and competitively, but always fairly and accept the official's decisions.
Cooperate with your coach, teammates, opponents, officials, and spectators.
Do not sledge, abuse, or threaten opponents or officials.
Be punctual to games and have the correct equipment and College attire.
Acknowledge the opposition before and after the game with a handshake and thanks.
Adhere to host school requirements when playing at their venues.
Take pride in representing your College and the AIC.
Do not act in a way that may adversely affect or reflect on, or bring you, your team, College or the AIC, into disrepute or discredit.
Do not use drugs, including pain killers, to improve or maintain performance.

Marist Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Marist Rugby Union | Sign On

Please go to Parent Orbit and see information regarding sign on. All students who wish to play Term 2 sports are asked to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup via Parent Lounge and edit or update any medical details. 

This assists the College in organising the appropriate number of coaching staff and to deliver the necessary resources.

NOTE – If your son isn’t registered, you will NOT receive any information via the Parent Orbit regarding the rugby union program, including schedules and relevant information.

Rugby Union Training and Trials | Week 1 vs Villanova

Welcome back to Term 2. After a disrupted end to Term 1 due to Cyclone Alfred and ongoing wet weather, this week is a vital one as we prepare for our full school trial fixture against Villanova College on Saturday, 26 April.

With school not resuming until Wednesday, 23 April and Friday marked by the ANZAC Day public holiday, we are again working within a shortened week. Given these constraints, it is important that students attend all scheduled training sessions and trial games. This will assist Year Level Coordinators and coaches in finalising team selections for the upcoming AIC competition.

Please check Parent Orbit and other College communication platforms for updated training and trial information.

Rugby Union Tours | Easter Holidays

Marist 1st XV and 2nd XV Rugby Tour – Northern NSW, Easter Holidays

During the Easter break, from April 4–9, the Marist College Ashgrove 1st XV and 2nd XV squads embarked on a successful rugby tour through Northern New South Wales. The first stop was Lennox Head, where both teams took on the Far North Coast representative sides on Saturday. Despite an interrupted preparation due to Cyclone Alfred and ongoing rain, both teams produced two strong performances against a physical and determined opposition. It was an excellent way to kick off the tour, with noticeable growth and development in both squads.

That evening, the teams were treated to a home-cooked meal at the Lennox Head Surf Club, thanks to Old Boy Mr Andrew Hoolihan. This gesture was a fantastic reminder of the strength and support within the Marist rugby community and provided a special moment of connection for the touring group.

The second leg of the tour took the squads inland to Armidale for a set of trial matches against The Armidale School (TAS) 1st and 2nd XV. These games were another step forward in performance, with the Marist teams displaying a physical, attacking style of rugby and defending with impressive connection and resilience. The improvement and growing cohesion across both teams was evident in their performances.

A sincere thank you goes to all students for the way they represented themselves and the College throughout the tour. Their conduct, attitude, and effort was outstanding. Special thanks to our Year 12 students for their leadership, assistant team manager Evan Smith for his contribution, and injured Year 11 student Archie Searle for his efforts around the matches.

We are also incredibly grateful to Mr Chris Daykin and Mr Adam Earnshaw, who selflessly gave their time and energy to ensure the tour was a memorable and enriching experience for all involved. They are both fantastic men and we are fortunate to have them as a part of our program.

Finally, thank you to all the parents for your ongoing support – it is deeply appreciated.

The tour was a fantastic way to begin the 2025 campaign and set a strong foundation for the season ahead.

U12 Rugby Tour to the TAS Rugby Carnival – April 11–13

Over the weekend of April 11–13, our U12 rugby squad travelled to Armidale to compete in the TAS Rugby Carnival – the largest junior rugby carnival in Australia. The tour marked the culmination of a development journey that began in Week 5 with the Rugby Ready Program and included a match against Nudgee College in Week 10. Much like our senior squads, the preparation was unfortunately disrupted by Cyclone Alfred and consistent rainfall. Despite the setbacks, the team was excited to get on the road.

The tour began with a bus trip to Armidale, with a welcome stop at the Warwick Rugby Union Club for a training session and BBQ lunch. Our genuine thanks to Mrs Tess Cullen for generously allowing us to use the club’s facilities and to Mr Dave Hutchinson for supplying food and drinks – your support is deeply appreciated. The bus journey proved to be an excellent bonding experience and a great way to connect as a team.

Day 1 of the carnival was a true test of resilience and effort, with five games played – the boys recorded two wins, two draws, and one narrow loss. It was a physically and mentally demanding day, filled with valuable lessons and growth. On Day 2, the team capped off the tour with a strong 5–0 win, rounding out what was a memorable and rewarding rugby experience.

The team finished third overall in Division 1, a great result and a testament to the boys' dedication and teamwork across the weekend. 

A huge thank you to Mr James Trebbin (Team Manager), Mr Anthony Graham, and Mr John Lambourne for their selfless commitment, coaching, and leadership. Thanks also to the many parents who travelled to Armidale to support the team – your presence helped create a wonderful community atmosphere. Special mention to Head of College Mr Michael Newman, whose son was part of the team and who provided incredible support throughout the weekend.

Well done to all involved!

Marist Rugby Union | Social Media 

A massive thank you to Ms Antonia Svenson for her incredible contribution to the Marist Rugby Union Program. Antonia has generously committed her time, effort, expertise, and genuine passion to growing and showcasing the program through our social media platforms. Her work has been of an exceptionally high standard, highlighting the talent, spirit, and involvement of players across all year levels. Thanks to her creativity and commitment, there is now a stronger awareness and connection to the Marist rugby journey within the broader community. We are extremely grateful for all she has done and wish her every success and happiness in her new endeavours. You will always be a part of the Marist rugby family.

Marist Rugby Union | Year Level Coordinators

Please contact your year level coordinator for all non-selection matters such as lateness, unavailability and timings.

Opens Mr Peter Gaiter - gaiterp@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 10 Mr Michael Abbott - abbottm@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 9 Mrs Liz Walsh - walshe@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 8 Mrs Sharon Davidson - davidsons@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 7 Mr Damien Nelson - nelsond@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 6 Mrs Sam Marsh - lolis@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 5 Ms Ella Graham - grahame@marash.qld.edu.au

Marist Rugby Union – Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

In 2024 the College delivered some wonderful rugby memories through our social media pages. From the smallest bumblebees in Year 5 through to the biggest bumblebees in Year 12, all of it was captured in wonderful colour.

To stay connected with Marist rugby and with all the program’s achievements, please follow our Instagram page @marist_ashgrove_rugby.

Marist Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Track and Field | Sign On

Please go to Parent Orbit and see information regarding sign on. All students who wish to be involved in the Track and Field program are asked to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup via Parent Lounge and edit or update any medical details. 

This assists the College in organising the appropriate number of coaching staff and to deliver the necessary resources.

NOTE – If your son isn’t registered, you will NOT receive any information via the Parent Orbit regarding the Track and Field program, including schedules and relevant information.

2025 Australian Junior Track and Field Nationals | Perth

After having at least 12 Marist athletes qualify for the Australian Junior Track and Field nationals in Perth 2025, due to some illness, injury and holiday logistics only 7 were able to take up the opportunity with this small group being the smallest Marist contingent to visit an Athletics Nationals in at least 4 seasons.

However, this group punched above their collective weight bringing back the most medals from a Nationals since I have been involved in the program. 5 medals at national level was a far better return than many school teams with larger squads and big budget programs. Marist again punched above its collective weight to show what a team with persistent training and dedication to hard work can achieve.

Day 1 started well with Hugo Lockhart in Event 1, jumping at his first Junior Nationals and surpassing all expectations to work well with his coaches and support group to pick up the bronze in a competitive field just missing silver on countback at the same height. His older brother Hayden Lockhart was also having a good day in the 100m hurdles, just missing the final with a fast 14.3s time.

On Day 2 we had the second of the Lockhart family complete an incredible day with Hayden Lockhart coming off some recent challenges with his runup, managing to jump well and manage the harsh windy conditions to sail to a 12.86m jump winning bronze. Hayden then returned later in the day as part of the 4x100m relay team for u16 running the 3rd leg brilliantly and setting QLD up for the silver medal. A two medal day is rare but a fantastic feat for Hayden.

On day 3 we saw many heats and finals made with Connor Campbell and Isaac Ting both performing well in the 110m hurdles with Hayden Lockhart also running the hurdles well to make the final of the 200m hurdles where he performed well on Day 4 to run a 0.5s Personal best after only competing in this race for the 4th time ever. Isaac made the 110m hurdle final to be in the Top 8 in Australia.

Day 4 was where we saw many athletes compete to make finals with Connor Campbell recording the fastest time in the 400mh heats as he prepared for the final. Hugh Sutton had a brilliant run showing no fear and after a busy school term of sport he still managed to run at Nationals level and reduce his personal best time under 15s for the first time. Bringing his PB down to 14.76s. Lyndon Maynard also worked hard in the windy conditions with a brilliant 6.23m in the long jump final.

With 3 medals already meeting recent national meet totals, anything else would be an incredible bonus. Connor Campbell stood very tall on Day 5 winning the National gold medal in the 400m hurdles. Connor took the early effort staying with the pack of leaders but was not being mentioned by commentary despite having the fastest seed time. He worked hard and then late on bend 2 decided to make a move which took him around the corner into the lead and with 3 athletes descending late he managed to hold them off on the line with less than 0.2s separating the first 3 places. Well done Connor! Connor was later asked to join the 4x400m relay where he ran a typically gutsy 3rd leg setting up the team well as the QLD team ended up with a silver medal with Connor leaving Day 5 with 2 medals – a Gold (400mh) and Silver (4x400m relay).

Riley Hansel also was at one stage in 5th place at his first nationals working his way through the heights adjusting his runup before ending up 9th on countback but 7th based on height clearances. His PB height this season would have put him into Top 4 and he was only 9cm from 1st place. A new athlete to track and field with plenty of potential for the future with his first Nationals under his belt.

Isaac Ting was also on fire this day running a personal best on fast track conditions where Isaac recorded a super quick 10.96s, 3rd in his heat and just missing out on the finals. One of the fastest 100m sprint times seen in recent years by a Marist athlete. Lyndon Maynard also competed in High jump and competed well in a stacked u18 high jump final. A summary of all results is below.

Gold Medal:

1st - Connor Campbell – u17 400m Hurdles – National Champion 55.14s (Personal Best)

Silver Medal:

2nd – Connor Campbell –  u18 4x400m relay (3m19.01)

2nd – Hayden Lockhart –  u16 4x100m relay (43.71)

Bronze Medal:

3rd – Hayden Lockhart – u16 Triple Jump (12.86m)

3rd – Hugo Lockhart – u13 High Jump (1.55m) (Personal Best)

Additional Performances:

15th Hugh Sutton – u14 90m hurdles – 14.78 (Personal Best)
9th Riley Hansel – u17 High Jump – (equal 7th height at 1.88m)
8th Isaac Ting – u18 110m Hurdles – Final 15.09
11th Isaac Ting – u18 100m – 10.96s (Personal best)
11th Lyndon Maynard – u18 Long Jump – 6.23m
15th Lyndon Maynard – u18 High Jump – 1.75m
9th Hayden Lockhart – u16 200m Hurdles – Final 26.47s (Personal Best)
12th Hayden Lockhart – u16 100m Hurdles – Final 14.32
15th Connor Campbell – u17 110m hurdles – 15.67 (Personal Best)

A big thank you to Marist coach Tim Castley who ran many warm ups for the boys in sprints and jumps and also was there providing support, guidance and coaching to all the squad in attendance while also aiding myself in Sprints and hurdles across the 5 days.

With this contribution from a small but dedicated team, it has setup the Marist Track and Field season with a great core group of athletes. Along with our cross country squad and middle distance runners who are in preparation at this time we look forward to a great season on the track and in the field for the Blue and Gold.

Well done to this squad and all the best for the upcoming Track and Field Season

Mr Rob Martin - Marist College Ashgrove Head Coach, Track and Field

Sunday Sessions

This year, Marist College with be looking to win its’ 11th successive AIC Track and Field Championship. To be successful, a lot of planning, commitment and effort goes into the program across the calendar year. The focus at this early stage is Sprints / Hurdles / Throws / Jump plyometrics. Please see below details -

For all students wanting to train, Mr Rob Martin will continue to run his usual Sunday sessions. Please see below details -

Included: Running – sprints and jumps / Throws – early pre-season fitness and cross training, along with throwing.

When: Sunday afternoons

Where: Hayden Oval

Time: 3:15 - 4:45pm

Dress: Marist sport shirt, Marist sports shorts, white or blue socks.

Marist Track and Field – Social Media

@marist_ashgrove_sports

Marist College has continued to showcase incredible moments in Track and Field again this year, from Year 5 victories to exceptional feats by our Year 12 students, all vividly captured on our social media pages.

Follow us and stay up-to-date with Marist Track and Field on Instagram - @marist_ashgrove_sports

Marist Tennis

Mr Andrew Ward - Director of Tennis

Welcome back to Term 2 and I hope every student is ready to go for a big push now for AIC starting in Term 3.

We have one term to prepare ourselves for team selections and preparing each individual ready to do battle in our competition.

Reminder that all coaching will begin on Monday in week 2. Due to all the holidays and pupil free day.

Term 2 Coaching

All coaching will begin Monday the 28th April.

For all bookings for Squad and also group lessons please contact us at MCATennis@marash.qld.edu.au

First IV training squad

Wednesday the 23rd of April ( tomorrow ) will be the last try out day for the First X training squad. Team will be announced Thursday for free training in term 2, which will run every Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 3.30-5pm.

Billie Jean Cup Day Out

Star-Spotting & Screaming: A Day to Remember

Our boys had the chance to rub shoulders (and snap a few cheeky selfies) with some of the biggest names in women’s tennis — none other than Elena Rybakina and Ajla Tomljanovic. Special shoutout to Gus and Andre, who managed to look cool while chasing after the ladies.

Also in attendance were Leo, Ted, and Hardy — the latter taking out the unofficial title of “Australia’s Loudest Fan”. Seriously Hardy, thanks for the electric atmosphere… and the mild hearing loss.

Big thank you to our coaching crew: Liam, Henry, Louie, and yours truly — who all generously gave up their time to wrangle the boys and make sure no one tried to challenge Rybakina to a hit.

This day was my small way of giving back to the tennis legends of tomorrow. No charge, just good vibes, world-class talent, and a few unforgettable memories.

Check out a few snaps from the day below!

AIC Trials

AIC Trials for all year levels will commence in week 6 starting Monday the 28th May this term.

Times and days will be advertised shortly.

Co-curricular Arts News

Dr Andrew Butt, Program Leader - Co-curricular Arts