From the Head of College

An Aussie Role Model

Last Sunday we celebrated our Australian saint, Mary Mackillop. Mary commenced her life a Melbourne girl. Born in 1842 of Scottish descent, Mary had three sisters and four brothers. Mary began her career as a teacher in the South Australian country town of Penola. In 1866, she started the first St Joseph’s school with Father Julian Tenison Woods for the poor children of the area and established the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart Congregation. By 1877 the Sisters of St Joseph expanded to operate more than 40 schools. Mary died at North Sydney on 8 August 1909. At this time there were 750 sisters in the congregation, 117 schools operating and some 12,400 pupils. Her schools had expanded to both city and country Queensland where Mary was known to have visited on horseback. No doubt many of you, as I did, attended one of her primary schools. Mary Mackillop was canonised as the first ever Australian saint on October 17, 2010. She is our very own special saint - a very tangible and real Aussie. 

We are lucky to have so many of the writings of Mary Mackillop available to us all. As a role model, we have her pictures adorning our college, including this special painting in the Marist College Ashgrove chapel, commissioned by artist, Jan Williams. She was a person who lived her life for the poor and for all people, as is evident in this painting and in her many reflective writings. I share with you some of her words which are a wonderful source of inspiration for us all in the good and difficult times of our journey.

At Marist, we always finish every prayer that we say with the following:

Mary our good Mother - Pray for us

St Marcellin Champagnat – Pray for us

Mary of the Cross Mackillop – Pray for us

Let us always remember - To pray for one another

As we recall Mary Mackillop in every prayer we recite at the college, we implore our patron saint of Queensland, role model and intercessory to our God, to pray for every member of the Marist College family. Amen.

Welcome Back – Post the Lockdown 

It was great to welcome back all the boys and staff on Monday, 9 August. The next two weeks are very important as we strive together to consolidate the good work we have completed in maintaining the health of every boy, staff and family member of the college and beyond. The rules and expectations regarding schools are becoming clearer as authorities understand how these changes are to be practically implemented.  Further details following on from the guidelines explained in my letter/email on Sunday are as follow:

• Masks are to be worn by all staff and students. If a student is having trouble understanding a teacher, the teacher can take their mask off quickly so as to explain, but then must return the mask immediately. 
• When eating at the college, the boys may remove their mask but must be seated.
• Sport during physical education classes can continue and masks may be removed during vigorous exercise.
• Sports training with the usual employed Marist staff can continue after school, on the Marist ovals, following all Queensland Health regulations.
• All music, wind and voice lessons are being conducted with boys and staff in separated spaces via Teams. All other music lessons that do not involve blowing or singing are being conducted with both teachers and students wearing masks, separated by 1.5 metres or alternatively being conducted via Teams. 
• Academic tutoring can continue at the college with the usual employed Marist staff in the classrooms, following all Queensland Health regulations.
• Private academic tutors or coaches are not permitted on campus. 
• If you are too unwell to go to school, then it is assumed that you are too unwell to do school work and you, therefore, need to focus on getting better. 
• Online learning is only available for those boys in quarantine.

In these difficult and uncomfortable circumstances, I ask all members of the Marist College family to continue to work together. Do stay healthy and safe.

Cancellations and Postponements due to Covid-19 

Over the next two weeks, the following events have been cancelled, postponed or moved onto Teams due to the restrictions placed upon all schools in Queensland -

• AIC Sport versus other colleges - cancelled
• Assumption Day Mass - online
• Blessing of the newly refurbished Marist Technology Design Centre - online
• Father and Son Camp – cancelled
• Old Boys Vintage Blue and Gold Lunch – postponed until Friday 22 October 
• Old Boys Committee Meeting on Tuesday 10 August – cancelled  
• Year 10 Game Changers Leadership Camp (including meetings) - cancelled
• Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival - cancelled
• Wednesday Mass in the Chapel - cancelled
• GreenAsh - cancelled
• SVdP Sausage Sizzle – cancelled

Queensland Orienteering Representatives

Recently, Adrian, Paul and Sam Garbellini participated in the Queensland Schools Orienteering Championships. Over 100 students from all around Queensland took part in three events: a sprint distance event at Albany Creek State High School, a one-person Hageby relay at Samford and a bush event at Kurwongbah.

Sam came 1st in the sprint, 2nd in the Hageby and 2nd in the Long Distance; Adrian competed in the sprint, Hageby and long-distance while Paul came 2nd in the Sprint and 2nd in the long-distance, all in their respective age-groups. Well done Adrian, Paul and Sam! Results from these events were used to select the Queensland Schools Honour Team of 20 students. Congratulations to Paul and Sam who will represent Queensland at the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships scheduled to be held in Tasmania in September.

Australian Census Tuesday 10 August 2021

Marist College families are reminded of the importance of completing the Australian Census this Tuesday, 10 August. An important feature of our Australian democracy is the information Government seeks to learn about its people. Every five years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics counts every person and household in Australia. It is known as the Australian Census of Population and Housing.

The Census is the most comprehensive "snapshot" of the country and tells the story of how we are changing. It includes around 10 million households and over 25 million people. Census data tells us about the economic, social and cultural make-up of the country. Census data is used to plan and deliver services across Australia. The Census isn’t just numbers, but what those numbers tell us – every statistic tells a story. As explained on the Census website, Governments, businesses and not for profit organisations, use the information gained from the Census to make important decisions about transport, schools, health care, roads and buildings and help plan local services for individuals, families and communities.

The Census invites Australians to nominate one's religion. You are encouraged to respond to this question. As Marists, we are members of the Catholic faith community, whose important contributions to society are for the common good of all Australians. 

Building Fund Finances

We thank all Marist families for their contributions to the Foundation Building Fund via the levy. As a result of your generosity over many years, the new college pool has now been paid for in full. This facility is a wonderful asset for all boys at the college. This pool is used daily for the enjoyment and use of the boys. A thriving Marist Swimming Club also enjoys this facility on a daily basis. On behalf of the College Foundation, thank you to all Marist families who have contributed to this fund.

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

Coming Events

Tuesday 10 August

• Year 12 Exams - continue
• Reconciliation - Chapel
• House Meetings
• College Assembly - Virtual

Wednesday 11 August

• Father and Son Camp - Cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions
• College Captain Speeches - Postponed due to COVID-19 Restrictions

Friday 13 August

• Assumption Mass - Virtual
• Year 5-6 AIC Basketball - Cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions
• MCA Hockey v Padua - Cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions
• Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival - Cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions
• Old Boys’ Vintage Blue and Gold Lunch - Cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions
• Year 10 Game Changers Leadership Camp - Cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions

Sunday 8 August

• Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• 6:30pm Boarders’ Mass  - Cancelled due to COVID-19 Restrictions