From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This week, St Augustine’s College farewelled the graduating class of 2022. For my newsletter this week, I would like to share with you the speech I read to our students. On behalf of the St Augustine’s Community, I wish our students the best of luck and every success in their life.

I would like to welcome you all here to farewell the graduating class of St Augustine’s 2022. I would like to commence by paying tribute to each of the Year 12 students. The achievements of this class have been many. My pride in the class of 2022 is not however because of the outstanding achievements, but because of the values they have demonstrated in their decisions to participate in the life of the College. It is in the choices we make today that determines our character of tomorrow. You have proven yourselves to be self-directed, lifelong learners who have the confidence to create your own path to reach your full potential.

To the parents of these outstanding Graduates, congratulations on your role in nurturing your child into young adulthood and developing the excellent young people we have before us today. You have raised a generation of resilient, self-reliant and respectful individuals who are leaving us today to become the contributing citizens of our future. Our next generation of minds, hearts, and hands.

Education cannot happen without the involvement of others. Our staff at St Augustine’s have played an integral role in the education of these students and I know that they are present with us today, standing alongside you with pride. May I personally acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of all our enthusiastic and caring staff and recognise the wonderful role they have performed in your education.

I would now like to speak directly to our Graduates who are leaving us today. Ladies and Gentlemen - I want each of you to know that we also, are very proud of you. Myself, your parents, your families, your teachers. We are proud of your successes and accomplishments and we sincerely wish you well. However, know that the results you receive at the end of the year do not define or limit you. Your true success in life is not determined by exam results or qualification. What really matters, what really counts is not your success at school. But how you live your life now. It is the choices you make as a graduate from St Augustine’s with a sense of hope, integrity, dignity, and compassion that counts.

What I have learnt is the seemingly little things are what matter most. The way you greet people. The way you treat people. The way you care for others by demonstrating a social conscience and Gospel values. Understand that a truly meaningful life is made up of a series of daily acts of decency and kindness, which add up to something truly great over the course of a lifetime. In the end, it is not what we have done in our lives that is of ultimate importance. Rather, it is the positive difference made in the lives of others.

Peter Pan said, “To live would be an awfully big adventure.”

So, I say to our Year 12 Graduates – be Peter Pan and go and live your awfully big adventure.

Go discover your passion. It will lead you to your life’s purpose.
Go and adventure. The purpose of life after all, is to live it. To taste new adventures to the utmost.
Don’t be afraid to fail – when we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time, give ourselves permission to excel. Always remember that our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.
Remember … to get something you never had; you must do something you never did.
Be courageous - is one of the greatest qualities of the mind.
Take journeys to everywhere and to nowhere.
Have your heart broken so you truly know what love is.
Start over, time and time again. You have a lifetime of adventure ahead of you.
and finally, in a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Your life is like a circle and your future is always just beyond the curve. You’ll never quite be able to see what is around the corner, but you must keep moving forward to reveal it little by little. So, keep moving forward. Keep discovering your real potential.

Graduates, your proud families join you today to celebrate and congratulate your achievement. Take the time to acknowledge and appreciate them for their support, guidance, and wisdom. They will continue to be by your side as you begin on the next stage of your journey.

It is time for St Augustine’s College to say farewell to the class of 2022.

May God bless you on your journey.

Jay Sutton

Principal