Principal's Update

Dear families,

It was fantastic to have the Ski Trip back on again for the first time since 2019. The students and staff who attended enjoyed perfect conditions for most of the time and although returning a bit sore and tired they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The extra-pleasing feedback was about how well the students represented their school with staff reporting that they received accolades about their manners and behaviour from every person or organisation they came into contact with.

This week our Year 9 students headed to Melbourne for three days and two nights to experience life in the city and take part in a variety of different activities.

I would like to thank our families for their support of this trip as I know many organised accommodation and took time off work to supervise, not only their own children but others as well. I would also like thank the Trinity College staff who accompanied the students on this trip as well as the Ski Trip.

The increasing compliance and risk requirements that come with all extra-curricular events do create a lot of extra work for staff who organise these trips and they do it in order to provide great experiences and lasting memories for our students. 

While on the topic of extra-curricular activities, the Year 10 Top End Tour departs next week, and I know the staff and students are looking forward to escaping the current cold and wet weather.

There is often talk in the community about the timing of our Top End Tour as it does clash with local football and netball finals.

The trip needs to coincide with school holidays and typically September is the optimum time to head north. We did run a trip in June last year and the feedback we received was that it was far too cold until the group made it just about to Darwin.

We also ran a trip in April this year, which was a lot better weather-wise, however, mosquitos were a problem in some areas as the timing meant that the trip was on the fringe of the wet season. As a school we will explore ways that we might be able to provide students with this opportunity without impacting on local sporting fixtures.

Staff member Daniel Rodway has taken on the role of Director of Faith and Mission this year. One of his key goals has been to make the faith life of the school more relevant to our students and he has been doing this through the lens of the religious identities our Houses are named after.

Currently our Houses are named after Edmund Rice – founder of the Christian Brothers and a man who gave up a wealthy life in business to educate impoverished boys in Ireland; Mary Glowrey, who was born in Birregurra, became a nun and also a doctor and spent her life caring for the poor in India; Catherine McAuley was the founder of the Mercy Sisters and provided educational, religious and social services for women and children at risk of homelessness through poverty and exploitation.

Our final House, Gleeson, is named after Monsignor Gleeson, who was the Parish Priest of St Mary’s at the time the Christian Brothers started Trinity College. There was no doubt that Monsignor Gleeson was important in establishing our College, however, we don’t know very much about him and he hasn’t left the same legacy as the namesakes of our other Houses. 

We spent time discussing the Houses with the current student leaders and the feedback they provided was that it was difficult to associate with story of Monsignor Gleeson and they felt they didn’t know anything about him.

We questioned the students about what would help create more House spirit and enhance our Catholic identity and they felt that changing the name of Gleeson House would help. We presented this possibility to our staff and also to Fr Michael and the vast majority were in agreement.

Fr Michael suggested that we name the House McKillop after Mary McKillop. Father went on to mention that not only was Mary McKillop from the Western District, it is also stated in her book that she visited Colac. Not to mention she is Australia’s first and only Saint. Before making any change we wanted to give our parent/carer community the opportunity to provide feedback.

If you or other members of your family or community contacts have strong opinions one way or the other about changing Gleeson House to McKillop House, please make contact with me at the College.