Principal's Message

Summer Sports Assembly

At our Whole College Assembly scheduled for next week, we will have the opportunity to gather as a community to celebrate and give thanks for our Summer Sports season. It will allow the College to formally congratulate our very committed Rowers who recently completed their very successful season by retaining the Hamer Cup (shared) – for an amazing fifth consecutive year; to congratulate our First VI Volleyball Team who won the Brother Carrigg Shield (shared) - the first time since 2016; and to acknowledge our College Swim Squad who performed so well at the recent PSA Carnival. 

Importantly, our assembly will provide us with an opportunity to acknowledge all students who played and enjoyed our season of summer sport with some individual students awarded trophies for their consistent effort and service throughout the season. Each respective Sport Captain will reflect on the season past, acknowledge team members and thank coaches and parents for their ongoing support. 

Our Summer season of Sport consisted of 12 rounds of fixtures, commencing in Term 4 and finishing only last week. Over Thursday and Friday afternoons, and on Saturday mornings, we have had over 75 teams and nearly 1300 students proudly representing the College across six different sports and in Swimming. This certainly allowed for a thorough test of skills and teamwork and a deep examination of commitment across all sports and within teams, often in very hot conditions. 

Throughout this term, I have had the great pleasure of getting around to see most teams and at all levels, across all sports. What I always enjoy the most is the way our students, representing the blue and green of Trinity College, have participated. They have done so with a real sense of pride, commitment, a determination to compete well and with an attitude of supporting teammates and playing fairly. It is that sense of respecting each other and the contest that I am particularly proud of. Only last week, I was approached by a parent from a visiting school who made comment on the respectful manner and strong sense of teamwork displayed by our Trinity team. Sincere praise indeed!

As part of a holistic education, Trinity College prides itself on offering a great variety of opportunities for all students. It is in this sense of developing the whole person and the young TC man, where the College values the place of sport as one of our four pillars. Sport is a medium by which important lessons for life can be learned. Things such as respecting authority; the value of competition; commitment and perseverance; appreciating the reward that comes through hard work and commitment; and valuing the importance of teamwork and cooperation - all have parallels within sport. While the pursuit of winning is in itself a worthy goal, it is the valuable lessons learned on the way that should be most prized. 

To play and work alongside your ‘Brothers’ – at whatever level, is a privilege that not every school student is provided. As has been mentioned previously, you only get out of school, what you put in. This is particularly true at Trinity College. Those boys who consistently apply themselves and commit to all aspects of College life, unsurprisingly, are the same boys who achieve great success, have purpose and become leaders amongst their peers. As we look to commence our Winter season in Term 2, all boys are reminded to stay true to their character, respect the TC Spirit of playing hard, but fair, commit fully to their team and team-mates, and to apply themselves in a way that allows them to gain the most from such opportunities.

I would like to sincerely thank the large number of staff and external coaches that have taken on a coaching or managers role throughout this summer season. The manner in which our coaches engage with our boys, and the tone of respect and sportsmanship that they insist upon, is wonderful to see and greatly appreciated. I would particularly like to offer special thanks to Mr Ryan Lockyer (Director of Sport) and Mr John Black (Sports Administrator) who oversee all of our PSA Sport and carry much of the responsibility to ensure that teams, fixtures, venues, umpires and buses are organised every week. 

Sport can be a great teacher if we are open to the lessons it presents. Thank you for your ongoing support of all the boys and we look forward to the upcoming Winter season of sport. 

Live Jesus in our hearts.

Mr Darren O’Neill 

Principal