Principal's Message

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a celebration of respect, love and care towards women. Every year, in early March, it is celebrated globally in a variety of ways, across many cultures and within very diverse communities. It is wonderful that this special day has an increasingly important place in our own College and the wider community. I am particularly proud that it forms an essential part of the curriculum and formation programs within Trinity College, and that teaching and talking about respectful relationships forms part of our holistic education of our students. Our boys are respectfully challenged to examine and fully appreciate the historical struggle of women to find equality, to be aware of the empowerment of women, to celebrate their many achievements and to develop a genuine and deep respect for all women. All have been encouraged to open some sincere, honest and developmentally appropriate discussions on this theme if such an opportunity arises.

As a College we always look forward to hosting our Breakfast event and listening to various speakers to mark this significant day. Our annual event featured wonderful guest speaker Miriam Borthwick, celebrated journalist and current Deputy Chair of Healthway WA, who spoke about practical ways that we can make a difference in this important space. We also heard from Gemma Wooltorton who outlined the incredible work carried out by ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Human Trafficking), our nominated charity for this year.

Trinity College is first and foremost a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition. As a school, we are largely responsible for the education and formation of young men who, amongst other things, engage in respectful relationships with women. Of course, we do this in the spirit of partnering with families to educate and raise young men (and women) who will make a real difference in their own ‘Balance the Scales’ so that our graduates, and those boys who are at school now, will stand up and speak up; and will promote and expect equality, dignity, and respect.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge all the women who lead, teach, work and volunteer in our College and thank them for the amazing and essential work they do in teaching, supporting, coaching, mentoring, leading and advising our young men. Our College Community must be representative of our broader society in that our students must see women in positions of influence as well as care, in positions of leadership as well as service, and in support of all our endeavours as educators of knowledge, values and faith.

I believe it is most significant that, in an all Boys’ school, we take the opportunity to celebrate the special women in our own lives and, most importantly, to celebrate women everywhere. Happy International Women’s Day.

Live Jesus in our hearts.

Mr Darren O’Neill 

Principal