I sometimes stop to think about why schools invest so much time, energy and resources into sport. It is a complex area, it is not measured on report cards, it doesn’t provide entry to university or a trade, it takes up valuable time that could be spent studying. Why do schools invest so much in sport.

While academic outcomes are central to a school’s mission, sport remains a vital pillar of education because it cultivates qualities that traditional classroom learning cannot fully replicate. Schools prioritise sport not for direct academic gains, but because it builds character, resilience, leadership and social maturity. Participation in structured extracurricular activities such as sport significantly strengthens students’ sense of belonging and engagement at school, which in turn contributes to improved wellbeing and long-term life success even when academic performance is held constant. Similarly, the Australian Sports Commission highlights that sport helps students develop discipline, emotional regulation, teamwork and decision-making under pressure, capabilities that underpin success far beyond assessment results. In essence, schools invest in sport because it shapes the whole person. It teaches young people how to collaborate, overcome setbacks, lead with humility and contribute to community culture. These are foundational human skills that sit at the heart of education, even if they do not appear on a report card.

Playing sport offers far-reaching benefits that extend beyond game day. Physically, regular participation significantly strengthens cardiovascular health; for example, it was found that participants engaging in recreational sports such as cycling, running and swimming had marked reductions in mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer risk.

In addition to heart health, sports participation builds musculoskeletal strength, improves bone density, enhances coordination and supports weight management, all of which contribute to long-term functional wellbeing.

Mentally and socially, the advantages are equally compelling. Being part of a team or community through sport fosters a sense of belonging, purpose and social connectivity, with research showing that sports participants spend substantially more time interacting with others than those who do non-sport physical activity.

These social connections, combined with the mood-boosting effects of physical activity (such as via endorphin release), can lower anxiety and depression, improve resilience and build confidence.

Moreover, in educational settings, students involved in sports often demonstrate improved concentration, resilience, goal-setting skills and overall academic engagement, further reinforcing the holistic value of sport for youth development.

In summary, playing sport is a powerful investment in physical health, mental wellbeing and social capital, whether for children, adolescents or adults. For schools and sporting programs, embedding inclusive, value-driven opportunities for students to engage in sport can therefore deliver dividends far beyond the field.

When considering societal trends, it is my belief that organised sport in a school context will continue to grow in importance and value to society. Having fit, healthy, well-adjusted young men who understand the value of working with others, maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle, getting regular exercise while dealing with pressure and stress will make our young men assets to the wider world into the future.

Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Track and Field | Records Tumbling

Two school records were set last weekend at the QLD Athletics Shield Meet (Gary Brown Shield).

In the U14 discus, Dilpreet Sharma threw a big personal best of 56.19m surpassing his past record by over 1m. He is preparing for All Schools Nationals in December 2025.

Hayden Lockhart (U15) managed to get everything working on his runup and it clicked perfectly on the day with another personal best of close to 0.50m. He jumped 6.89m which is one of the Top 2 jumps ever recorded by a Marist Ashgrove school age athlete at the age of 15.

14 Years Discus - Dilpreet Sharma

Old Record - Dilpreet Sharma 54.75m (2025)

New Record - Dilpreet Sharma - 56.19m (2025)

15 Years Long Jump - Hayden Lockhart

Old Record - Ross West 6.47m (1991)

New Record - Hayden Lockhart - 6.89m (2025)

Congratulations to both the old school record holders and new record holders for their fantastic performances that cover Marist Ashgrove's entire 85-year history.

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

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Term 4 | Preseason Training

We’ve reached the final week of our optional five-week preseason program for current Year 9-11 students. Attendance has been outstanding…….and a massive thank you to all the students who have committed and pushed themselves this term. You have set a new standard and we congratulate you for that.

These sessions are a great opportunity to build smart training habits and behaviours, improve skills and vision, and lift conditioning both on the field and in the gym.

With exams becoming a focus, we’ll conclude preseason on Friday. The final session will connect our Year 9–11 group with our current Year 5 students and the Year 4 students who will join the College in 2026. Building connections across the rugby program is a key part of our culture, and we look forward to seeing our youngest Bumblebees and welcoming our newest Bumblebees on the day.

A huge thanks to Mr Chris Daykin and Mr Charlie Taylor for their commitment to creating an environment on the field where every student can reach their potential. They are both outstanding role models for our students and I appreciate the work they do in our program. Similarly, thank you to our exceptional Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Mr Adam Earnshaw and Drew Smith for their fantastic work educating the students and pushing some limits in the gym.

Marist Rugby Union | U12 The Armidale School Rugby Carnival

Thank you to all students who attended the recent U12 training and trials for The Armidale School Rugby Carnival 2026. Special thanks also to Mr John Lambourne, Mr James Trebbin and Mr Anthony Graham for leading the sessions and guiding the selection process. These three men have delivered another excellent block of training and will continue to support the students through to the 2026 carnival.

As Australia’s largest junior rugby carnival, it offers a fantastic opportunity to tour regionally and play a tournament format, and we’re excited to prepare a team to represent the College in 2026.

In April 2025, Marist performed exceptionally well, finishing third in Division 1. The tour provided outstanding playing experiences, forged strong connections, and created wonderful memories for the students across the different year levels.

Marist Rugby Union | Scrum Ready Program

We now enter the final week of our five-week Scrum Ready Program. Attendance has been strong! Thank you to the many students who have committed across the block, and to those new students who joined last week’s sessions. This program is a key part of our education and safety approach for scrum engagement and forward play.

Any students still interested, the finals sessions are listed below -

Tuesday 3:30–4:30 pm

Years 9–11

Wednesday 3:30–4:30 pm

Years 5–8

Dress: Marist sports shirt, Marist sports shorts, white/blue Marist socks, rugby bootsWhere: Des Connor Fields, Flat 5

The aim of the training sessions is to educate students on key strengthening exercises, correct technique and the ability to maintain a safe, strong and stable body position.

The five weeks will consist of:

Core and body strengthening exercises
Solo with no opposition – on knees
Solo with no opposition – on feet
Solo against a machine / tackle bag
1 v 1 / 3 v 3 body shape

Students should complete the program with knowledge that will allow them to continue their own training across the remainder of Term 4 and into the school holidays.

A big thank you to our staff leading the program this term - Mr Chris Daykin, Mr Doug Perrers and Mr James Trebbin. Your guidance and care for our players have been outstanding.

Marist Rugby Union | Social Media

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

During the 2025 rugby union season, 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.

Cricket

Mr Matt Milward - Cricket Coordinator

Week 6 serves as our final week of cricket trials for 2026, following this week, we will look to announce tentative squads for trial rounds early in 2026. Please note all teams will have further trials and trial games in January 2026.

Please check the trial schedule below for timings and locations for this weeks training. Please note, schedules may change and will be communicated if/when this occurs.

Expectations

This week all boys at training have been aware of some expectations that will be in place within the cricket program this season.

PUNCTUALITY
Boys are expected to be at trials/training on time and be dressed and ready to start at 6:45am (morning) and 3:30pm (afternoon).
COMMUNICATION
Boys are expected to communicate to Mr. Millward or their relevant year coordinator (not their coach) if they have any issues in relation to attendance at trials/trainings or games.
UNIFORM
All cricketers must wear the correct uniform to training. This includes Marist Training shirt, Training Shorts and blue or white Marist socks. Boys who are not wearing the correct uniform will not be permitted to participate.
RESPECT
All boys are expected to demonstrate high levels of respect for their coaches and their peers at all times.

Equipment Storage

Please note the storage location for secondary school cricket kits has now changed. ALL secondary school kit bags are to be stored under the outdoor cover of the Br Terence boarding house at the top of Cameron Oval stairs. Please ensure kits are neatly stored within this area. Please see the attached photo. Primary kit bags are to be stored under the primary building as usual.

Specialist Sessions

We are pleased to announce that our specialist sessions are now underway! Wicketkeeping with Brad Murphy, Pace Bowling with Joey Laner, Spin Bowling with Brett Henschell and Batting with Michael McNamara. There are a few spaces available for these sessions – please contact Mr Millward for more information.

Holiday Clinics

Our December holiday camp has been confirmed. Brett Henschell will return with his coaching crew to deliver his camp for boys currently in Years 5-8. The camp will take place from Wednesday 10 December – Friday 12 December, 8:30am – 12:00pm. Sign up is now open via the events/payments portal on Parent Orbit.

Term 4 Trial/Training Schedule – Week 6

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

With only a few weeks of the term remaining, I want to congratulate all the boys on their excellent attendance and commitment throughout the season. As we move into the exam and assessment period, I understand that schedules become busier, but I encourage the boys to attend training whenever possible.

We will continue training through the holidays until Friday, 19 December, and resume on Monday, 5 January. Sessions will run Monday to Thursday, 8:00–9:30am. Maintaining consistency over the break will be key to achieving improvements ahead of racing in Term 1.

Best of luck to all the boys in their upcoming exams.Please see this week’s swimming schedule attached.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at swim@marash.qld.edu.au.

Marist Swimming | Sign On

For full details, please visit Parent Orbit. Students must sign up via the Student Café, with parents or caregivers confirming registration through Parent Lounge and updating all medical details.

This process allows the College to plan for the appropriate number of coaches and resources.

Important: Students who are not registered for AIC Unallocated will not receive emails regarding swimming program, including schedules and updates.

For any enquiries, please contact: swim@marash.qld.edu.au

Swimming Timetable for Term 4 – Week 5

Year 5 - 2026

	Monday 3/11	Tuesday 4/11	Wednesday 5/11	Thursday 6/11	Friday 7/11
AM
PM	3:30 – 4:15		3:30 – 4:15

Year 6 - 2026

	Monday 3/11	Tuesday 4/11	Wednesday 5/11	Thursday 6/11	Friday 7/11
AM					7:15 – 8:00
PM			3:30 – 4:15

Year 7 – 12 – 2025

	Monday 3/11	Tuesday 4/11	Wednesday 5/11	Thursday 6/11	Friday 7/11
AM		7:15 – 8:00	7:15 – 8:00		7:15 – 8:00
PM

Rugby League

Mr Cam Mabey, Sports Coordinator – AFL & Rugby League

Rugby League Pre-Season Opportunity

Wests Junior Rugby League club have reached out and extended an offer to Marist College students to attend a series of training clinics, running again this Saturday morning.

Last Saturday saw over 40 Marist boys at this session, I’d encourage all boys aged 13 – 17 to give these sessions a go.

Please see the attached flyer for further details.

AFL

Mr Cam Mabey, Sports Coordinator – AFL & Rugby League

Trials

This is the third and final week of the 3-week trial block for all grades. A big thanks to all the 2026 AFL coaches for dedicating their time to run these trial sessions and create the framework for a promising 2026 season.

Week one of 2026 will allow students the opportunity for 1 or 2 more training sessions, as well as a game on Saturday the 31st of January, which will all be treated as trials. Squads will be named on Monday the 2nd of January, allowing boys a full week to purchase a jersey before the first round of the AIC competition on the 7th.

Trial Matches

This Thursday our Opens are playing a trial match against St. Patricks College. The match will be played as a game of 6 quarters, giving 60 MCA boys in current Years 9 – 11 the opportunity to get some match practice in preparation for the 2026 season.

Thanks to Matt Beattie and fellow coaches Brett Gillett, Jack Thompson, Simon Dobbie, Adrian Borwn and Tony Stevens, for the last month of Trainings they have put on for the Opens. This has been complimented by a weekly gym session, run by Marist’s Strength & Conditioning Coordinator, Adam Earnshaw.

We wish our Opens AFL players well for their trial against St Patrick’s College this week.

Summer Training

Starting December 2nd, there will be Tuesday and Thursday morning Fitness and Speed sessions open to any MCA boys. These sessions will be run by the Strength and Conditioning coordinator, Adam Earnshaw. I’d encourage any boys playing AFL in 2026 to attend as many of these sessions as they can. Building on and maintaining fitness levels over Summer will put you in the best position to perform well and enjoy your Football when we return in January.

General Reminders

While the standards have been excellent over the last 3 weeks, a reminder there is strong expectations for all boys involved in the Marist AFL program.

Boys are expected to be at all Trial, Training, Gym, Game and team events. If you do fall absent, let your coach and myself know as soon as possible.
Boys should always be on the field, full training kit and boots on, ready to train at the announced time.
Boys should always have a mouthguard and water bottle with them in the occasion of a training or match.

Volleyball

Mr Blair Whitlock – Volleyball Coordinator

Please see the Week 6 schedule below and a reminder to let the Volleyball coordinator (whitlockb@marash.qld.edu.au) know if you are unable to make your trial.

Saturday 15th November – Trial Matches vs St Patricks College

There are a round of trial matches against St Patricks College on Saturday 15th November for the following teams – 7A, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11A, 2nd VI & 1st VI.

Team lists for these matches will be posted on the Orbit app on Thursday afternoon and the schedule for the day is below:

Volleyball Registration

2026 Volleyball Season Sign On is now available on Parent Orbit and Student Cafe.

All students interested in playing Volleyball in 2026 are encouraged to sign-on ASAP, so you do not miss any information surrounding the season ahead.

1st Break Sessions

As a way of increasing court time the Champagnat Centre will be opened regularly during 1st break to give all Volleyball players an extra opportunity to practice. This will be open from 11:20am to 12:05pm and all students looking to attend must bring a pair of trainers to avoid scuffs from school shoes.

It’s been brilliant to see numbers gradually increasing over the last two weeks with 40+ boys using the gym on Thursday and Friday last week. Get a couple of your Volleyball mates together and come along for some extra practice!

Christmas Prawns and Ham Fundraiser

Brett Gillett - Pastoral Leader - Gilroy