From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Service and Love

This Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 10: 38-42) tells of the story of Martha and her sister Mary. Martha was busy with the preparations and hospitality when Jesus visited their home. Mary, on the other hand, was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening and engaging fully and personally with him, making him feel comfortable and welcome. Although these women performed different roles when Jesus visited, both were intent to serve their guest – through action and presence. Being in the service of others is at the heart of being authentic Christian people. This message of service inherent in this Gospel story reminds me of the goodness of two wonderful associates of the College, who died recently.

Patricia (Pat) Maloney worked at Marist College Ashgrove for twenty years. Her major secretarial roles were complimented with the free time she dedicated to college events and the Marist Brothers. Pat’s commitment was recognised by her Award of Affiliation to the Marist Brothers which is recorded on an honour board in the College Chapel. Pat’s sons John, James and Michael attended Marist, as did many of her grandsons and together, they spoke elegantly at her funeral about her role as a mother, dedicated family member and her enthusiasm for Marist Ashgrove. Her life was one of service and commitment along with an attentive presence towards all those whom she met.

Andrew Cole refereed thirty-one international Rugby Union test matches and forty-four Super Rugby matches, including two Rugby World Cups (1999 & 2003) and also the 2005 All Blacks v British & Irish Lions. He was known as a dedicated family man, a nurturer of his refereeing fraternity, being good humored and a highly respected person by his peers. In 2021, he was acknowledged for his services to his sport with the World Rugby Referee Award. Andrew, was an Old Boy of Marist (1977) along with his brothers. His father, the long-standing and ever-generous doctor of the Marist Brothers and boarding students, and his mother were affiliated by the Marist Brothers, with their names also on the Honour Board in the College Chapel. Andrew’s life epitomised service and what it means to have a wonderful sense of the other.

Similarly, we remember the many other wonderful associates and contributors to Marist College Ashgrove during my time as Head of College, 2021-22 -

Noel Kavanagh (1955), Paul Girling (Old Boy 1991), Tony Prain, Timothy McGahan (Old Boy 1970s, medical specialist), James Truscott, Barry Garvey (Old Boy 1950s), Greg Dux (OB 1964), Jack Laracy (1953, former President of Old Boys and on the Marist Alumni list), Frank O’Hare, Peter Naylor (1972), Leo Hartley (1972), Paul Mitchell (1972), James Truscott (1973), Conor O’Donovan (Old Boy 2014), Blake McKeiver (Old Boy 2004), George Ah-Ken (Old Boy 2010), Fr Bob Barber SM, David Cameron (staff member), Terry Connolly (father of Michael), Br Cyrinus Fisk, Sharon Gillett (wife of Brett and mother of Austin and Isaac), Madeleine Farrelly (mother of Br Mark Farrelly RIP), Br Redmond Casey, Marie Klowss (former Marist staff member), Nikhil Kent (Old Boy 2006), Darrell Beveridge (Old Boy 2012), Jill Serone (mother of Peter Serone), Travis Randle (son of Russell and Bev Randle) and Pat Lee Long (mother of Janelle Lee Long, staff member). Our College has truly blessed by their presence and service.

God of the journey, we thank you for the lives and goodness of the many close associates of Marist College Ashgrove over the years. May all members of the Marist College Ashgrove family model their sense of service and goodness towards others. Amen.

New Primary Building

Building plans have been finalized for the new Primary classrooms. These plans are all part of our Masterplan for the Future, with construction due to commence in Term 4 this year. These classrooms will be of modern design, enabling the best possible pedagogy and teaching and learning experiences for our boys. I thank our Construction Committee for their input into these new and exciting classroom designs. The tender process will commence shortly, followed by the much-anticipated construction.

Interviews for the 2024 Year 5 cohort will be commencing in August. With this new Primary building and new positions available due to the construction of extra classrooms, enrolment applications have been extended until 1st August. A reminder that into the future, Year 5 will be our major intake of students from 2024. Only minimal numbers of enrolments will be taken from Year 7 and these will be principally boarding student enrolments. So, enrol now for Year 5 2024, to ensure your son’s enrolment at Marist. These are exciting times for the College as our Masterplan gets underway.

New Primary School Classroom. Artist impressions only.

Drugs, Vaping and Alcohol Presentation

Marist College Ashgrove is pleased to welcome Mr Paul Dillon, Director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA). Paul will speak to our Year 10, 11 and 12 students separately and annually, directing his talks to their age appropriate issues. Paul will speak knowledgeably and wholeheartedly about how to keep young people safe in the world of drugs, vaping and alcohol. He will provide the boys with full knowledge on this important topic so that they can make informed decisions. Paul is frequently in the media, including morning breakfast shows and is a regular speaker to the elite sportsman and women from the various sporting codes – Rugby League, Cricket, Football and AFL. I have personally heard Paul speaking to school groups on numerous occasions and I can highly recommend his engaging address to young people. Paul will speak to the boys on Thursday, 21st July. Be sure to discuss Paul Dillon’s presentation with your son on Thursday night. I thank Mr Peter Serone who has organised this excellent presentation for the boys.

Boarding Parent Network Meeting

This Tuesday, 19th July at 5:00pm, all boarding parents are invited to an online meeting addressing everything that is boarding. Chaired by Kath Nolan and attended by Mr Jim Noble (Head of Boarding), Mr Ty Casey (Hermitage Residence Boarding Coordinator and Assistant Head of Boarding) and myself, this gathering is an opportunity to hear the latest boarding and college news and to voice any requests for the boarding students. To date, these meetings have been successful in enabling positive change for the boys lives in the boarding school. Do join us on Tuesday evening and future planned meetings, for these worthwhile discussion platforms. My thanks are extended to Kath Nolan (Chair), Jim Noble and Renae Lewis for organising and making this meeting a reality.

English Speaking Union Senior Public Speaking Competition

This Thursday, 21st July, Sam Allpass 12G, Joseph Lewis 11F and Isaac Lynn 11G will be competing in the English-Speaking Union Senior Public Speaking Competition. The topic for their 5-minute speech is "The duty of a newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Anon. My thanks are extended to Ms Majella Stevens (Co-ordinator Gifted Education Program) for her organisation and preparation of the boys. Good luck, gentlemen in this public speaking competition.

Year 9 Parent Function

The Parents and Friends Association will again be hosting a parent function in the Tower Function Room and adjacent courtyard, this Friday 22nd July. All Year 9 parents are encouraged and welcome to attend this gathering. These functions are a great chance to socialise with your parent peers and to hear the latest news regarding the College and your year level. We will listen to addresses from Mr Peter Serone (Head of Students), Mr Jim Gordon (President of the P&F) and myself. Tickets can be obtained by following this link: https://events.humanitix.com/2022-year-9-parent-function

My thanks are extended to the P&F for their organisation of this social event. I look forward to seeing the parents of our Year 9 boys, on Friday night.

Rugby Trip

A fun trip is planned for our junior rugby boarding students. Our Year 6 and 7 boarders who will venture to Yamba on Saturday 23rd July to play a game of rugby against the Yamba Buccaneers. This will be a chance to enjoy the company and hospitality of the locals, many of whom have strong connections with Marist College Ashgrove. My thanks are extended to Mr and Mrs Tim and Camilla Sedgwick and Mr Jim Noble (Head of Boarding) who will be accompanying the boys on this rugby trip.

Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention

Best wishes to a group of Year 7-10 boys who will be participating in the Qld Schools Constitutional Convention on Tuesday, 26th July. The purpose of the convention is to select a team of 23 student delegates to attend the National Schools Constitutional Convention. Students from Queensland State, Catholic and Independent schools will explore resources on the Australian Constitution and engage in keynote presentations.

They will also work in groups to discuss the following topics:

i. The Constitution;

ii. Our rights;

iii. Experiences of a Bill of Rights in another country;

iv. Qld’s Human Rights Act

Each school is invited to nominate one student to give a 2-3 minute presentation addressing the question of whether or not Australia needs a Bill of Rights. Joseph Lewis 11F is Marist College Ashgrove’s nomination.

Good luck - Archie Bathe 11H, Joseph Lewis 11F, Isaac Lynn 11G, Daniel Cusack 10G, Harrison Dyer 10D, Remy Versace 10E, Tristan Woods 10I, Ben Hartfiel 9G, George Kettle 9S, Max Reibelt 9I, Elliot Schanzl 9I, William Davis 8S, Angus Shay 8E, Fletcher Wessling 8E, Hamish Ansell 7G, Connor Campbell 7E, Joshua Jones 7E, Joseph Niere 7G and William Stigter 7G who will also be participating in this convention.

We thank Ms Majella Stevens (Co-ordinator Gifted Education Program) who has organised and will be assisting the boys at this Constitutional Convention. Good luck gentleman.

School Sport Australia National Swimming Championships

The Australian National Swimming Championships will be held in August. Good luck to Noah Coco, Archer Mellifont, Nick Osborne and Angus Bathe who will be competing in these Championships. The boys continue to train hard during the winter months in the fully heated Marist Swimming Pool with our dedicated and professional coaches. Thank you to Head Swimming Coach, Mr James Boyce and his team for preparing the boys.

Father’s Day Breakfast

Marist College Ashgrove fathers and their sons are invited to the Father's Day Breakfast at 6:45am on Tuesday, 23rd August 2022 in the McMahon Oval Grandstand. Tickets are $15.00 per person and include a breakfast box and a donation to a chosen charity. To purchase your ticket, please follow this link:

https://events.humanitix.com/2022-father-s-day-breakfast

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.