From the Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and Friends of Mazenod College,

“This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15: 12 – 13).

The latter part of this scripture reference forms an essential reflection on various war memorials and services to honour those who have given their lives in war. I have, on numerous occasions, visited the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and distinctly recall how the sun’s light gleans across the inscription from John’s Gospel.

It is essential that we create opportunities for our young people to pause and dedicate their thoughts and reflections to times of war and those who have served and ANZAC Day, is as important as any of those opportunities.

I was very lucky to attend the City of Kalamunda Dawn Service yesterday morning and thank all of those members of our College community who made the effort in the dark hours of the morning, in the chilling wind, to gather at the cenotaph near Kostera Oval. We were represented by many students, including a group of our boarders, staff, families and in a formal sense, by our College Captains Lachlan Scanlan and Wellington Chiwawa who laid a wreath on our behalf.

The key address at the service was presented by Senator Linda Reynolds, who served in the Australian Army and has been a long-time member of the Kalamunda RSL. In her address, Senator Reynolds wanted all present to be reminded, to never forget and to always have in our mind that crucial message on any ANZAC Day service, “Lest We Forget”. We must never forget those who have served and continue to serve, our country in defence of our freedoms.

We were fortunate then to be able to host our own ANZAC service today, prior to our Cross-Country carnival. In the prayer shared at the commencement of the service, our College Captain Lachlan Scanlan read;

“May the sacrifices of the brave men and women who served our nations be eternally honoured, and may their courage inspire us to build a world filled with Your peace”

We must always, all of us, strive for this in our daily lives, not just on special commemorative days like ANZAC Day. I thank Mrs Scanlan, Mr Graham, Mr Hemley and Mr Vallis who dedicated much time and effort to ensuring today’s service was a respectful one, and to our students who presented; Lachlan, Wellington, Joshua M, Blair and Joshua L, Merrick and Andre, our College band and Oscar for the National Anthem and to Joel for the playing of “The Last Post” and “The Rouse”. 

Following the ANZAC Day service, we celebrated our annual Cross-Country carnival. Too often, sections of our community are criticised for or criticise others, for linking the ANZAC spirit with sporting endeavours. I don’t wish to do that because I feel it inappropriate to compare the sacrifices and characteristics needed for success on the sporting field, with the battlefield of war.

I was heartened though, by the determination and spirit shown by so many of our students and perhaps it was the spirit of the ANZACS and the feats of those who have served our country which inspired our students to try as hard as they could on the cross-country course. Congratulations must go to Albini House, Captain Cameron Bidstrup and the Albini students for their success today. Thank you to Mr Grabski, Mr Mason, the HPE team and all staff for facilitating this event.

My message to you all today in conclusion is that we may not know who these soldiers are, our generations are becoming distant from those of the past (including our original ANZACS) but it is because of those servicemen and women, past, present and future, that we have the freedoms in our Australian society today. Freedoms we’ve become accustomed to, but freedoms that should be reflected upon and never, ever, be taken for granted. “Lest We Forget”.

“Be grateful for all the good the Lord helps us to accomplish” 

(St Eugene De Mazenod).

God bless.

Simon Harvey

Principal