From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

More Meaningful Lives

Emily Esfahani Smith is a writer, editor and speaker in Washington DC who draws on psychology, philosophy and literature to reflect upon the human experience. She spent five years reading the research in neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and interviewed hundreds of people to try to figure out how we can each lead more meaningful lives. She believes that meaning can be created by focusing on four pillars:

Belonging: Belonging comes from being in relationships where you are valued for who you are intrinsically and where you value others as well.

Purpose: The key to purpose or what drives you forward, is using your strengths to serve others.

Transcendence: Is when you are lifted above the hustle and bustle of daily life, your sense of self fades away and you feel connected to a higher reality.

Storytelling: It is s about reflecting on the experiences that have shaped us, the things we have lost, and the things we have gained and to tell a story about who we became from those experiences.

It is interesting that a modern-day writer includes the importance of the transcendent, or the spiritual, as a key ingredient to what gives us meaning in life. This is very different to the usual secular views that society presents to us. Today, opposite ideals of humanism and intellectualism - where the rationalist’s decisions, systems, ideas and outcomes can be determined by humans rather than God and the divine – form the basis of modern thinking. The transcendent, on the other hand, is the recognition, that another existence or a God is at work within and around each of us.

St Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers commenced his teaching order and schools to teach young people in the south of France about the transcendent. He told his first teachers to love all students and love them equally, as modelled by Jesus in the scriptures. Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 17:11-19) reiterates this message as God demonstrates his kindness and love for the downcast and downtrodden of his time. This scripturally based ideal reflects a transcendent God who gives us an eternity of love. We are co-creators of love with God in this world - like our sesquicentenary theme of Marist Education states: ‘We are to be known and loved’.

God of the journey, may we all, as members of the Marist College family have meaning in life through love of the transcendent, as this is key to our happiness and lives. Amen.

Congratulations Marist College Ashgrove Athletes

Congratulations to both the primary (second year in a row!) and the secondary athletics teams (8 years in a row!) who won the 2022 AIC Track and Field Championships. The secondary team won particularly decisively by some 128 points. This is an outstanding effort by all the boys and their dedicated and professional staff. Well done on a wonderful athletics season and many thanks to our coaching staff including – Rob Martin (Head Coach), Derek Lennon (Co-ordinator), John Lambourne (Junior Co-ordinator), Des Davis (Head Throws Coach), Josh Mulligan (Shot Put Coach), Lee Martin (Shot Put Coach), Corey Anderson (Javelin Coach), Eric Brown ( Jumps Coach), Paul Kearney (High Jump Coach), Laurie Boustead (Long/Triple Jump Coach), Meagan Cook (Jumps Coach), Maddie Spann (Jumps Coach), Cam Pfeffer (200/400m Coach), David Meehan (Sprints Coach), Carl Martin (Hurdles/Junior Coach), William Burkett (Sprints/Relays Coach), Jeremy Davis (Sprints/Junior Coach), Dan Drew (Sprints/Relays Coach), Harry Hunter (Middle Distance Coach) Brendan Saunders (Middle distance Coach) and Bill Prole (Middle Distance Coach).

Awards and Night of Celebration

Congratulations staff and students on a wonderful evening of awards and entertainment last night at QPAC. Joined by a large gathering of Marist students, parents and associates of the College, the evening was most enjoyable and a suitable recognition of the year achieved. May I take this opportunity to thank our many generous and professional staff who made this night such a wonderful success – Madeleine Tong, Bruce McPhee, Rebecca Taylor, Dallas Williams, Andrew Butt, Megan Harmston, Alison Braidwood, Catherine Wasserman, Melanie Stewart, Sean Flynn, Alex Hides, Bonita Gerry, Dylan Gower, Jerry Mutagubya, Jack Johnson, Denver Jensen, Christine Larsen, Jen McNamara, Tamara Sheedy, Julia Wilken, Jasmine Wilton, Dane Rowe, Sean Fry, Matthew Tarlinton, Jen McNamara, Alicia Lee, Amy Grounds, Madonna Spillane, Carolyn Smith, Steve Littleton, Jen Smeed, Peter Serone, Liam Beatty, Adam Knight, Luke McMahon, Sharon Ortiz, Liz Spry, Jim Noble, Peter Serone, Kelly Byrnes, Rebecca Jorquera, Linda Pettit, Academic Care Team, Sport Department, Mission, Student Administration and Music, Drama, Art and FTV for the provision of awards data, Bethany Halpin, Damien Zoomers and Annabel Cocks.

I particularly would like to recognise our final award recipients – the best and fairest in the areas of academic, spiritual, wellbeing, culture and sport, namely:

The Father Tom Maloney Medal for Marist Ministry and Service – Braden Querido
The Father Walter Cain Memorial Prize for Contribution to Religious Tone of the College – Samuel Mead
Sportsman of the Year – Andrew Crook
P&F Creative Arts Award – Jeremy Vanderbyl
The Doctor Alban J Lynch Character Cup – Ethen Tsiamalili
The Thomas Foley Memorial Prize for Second Aggregate in Year 12 (based on Internal Assessment results) – Douglas Cowlishaw
The Brother Terence Heinrich Memorial Prize for First Aggregate in Year 12 (again, based on Internal Assessment results) – Frank Baker

The remaining awards and recipients will be published in this year’s Blue and Gold Magazine. Well done students on your achievements for 2022.

Head of College Tour

This Friday, 14th October from 8:45am, Marist College Ashgrove will be holding its final Head of College Tour for the year. These tours, held each term, welcome prospective families to the College to hear and see for themselves all that Marist has to offer. The morning includes a presentation in the Draney Theatre, tour of college facilities with students and a light lunch. I thank Meagan Loane, Jake Toulson and Carmen Mapri who have organised and will facilitate this tour. Do let prospective families know of these tours and advise them to contact enrol@marash.qld.edu.au for more details.

Theatre Ash Performance

This Thursday, 13th October, Theatre Ash presents ‘Scattered Lives’ by Sally McKenzie. ‘Scattered Lives’ tells the stories of refugees coming to Australia, and the adjustments they have had to make in adapting to a whole new culture. Using real words from actual refugees combined with fictionalised action, ‘Scattered Lives’ gives us insight into the many immigration stories and experiences within our own community. This performance will be held in the Draney Theatre. All are welcome. For tickets, please book via the following link: https://events.humanitix.com/theatre-ash-performance-of-scattered-lives-by-sally-mckenzie

Term 3 Sports Dinner

The final Sport’s Dinner for 2022 will be held this Friday, October 14th at the Cricketers Club. Sports to be celebrated include – track and field (AIC Champions), tennis (Runners-up), rugby league and basketball. I wish to thanks the First Coaches and their co-ordinators of each sport for their generous, energetic and professional care and coaching of the boys, namely: John Lambourne (Basketball Co-ordinator), James Lidstone (Basketball Coach), Ryan Apps (Rugby League Co-ordinator), Wayne Treleaven & Trevor Bailey (Rugby League Coaches), Andrew Ward (Tennis Co-ordinator and coach), Derek Lennon (Track and Field Co-ordinator) and Robin Martin (Track and Field Coach). Sports commencing in term 4 include: touch football, water polo, Esports and pre-season rugby, cricket, volleyball, AFL and swimming. Enjoy, gentlemen.

Year 12 Farewell Dinners

The Year 12 boys are farewelling their Houses and pastoral teachers early this term. Meals have been organised at local restaurants for each House group to acknowledge the Year 12 boys. This commences the farewells for our senior boys prior to the graduation ceremonies which occur after the ATAR external examinations. My thanks are extended to all Heads of House for organising these gatherings.

Graduating Art Exhibition and Awards Night

The annual Graduating Art Exhibition and Awards Night will be held this Monday, 17th October from 6:00pm in the Draney Theatre. The aim of this evening is to recognise those Year 12 students who have completed high-level art over the year and to recognise them. The evening will begin with an exhibition and light refreshments followed by the formal presentation, drama performance and film screenings. I thank Tamara Sheedy, Julia Wilken, Jasmine Wilton, Rebecca Taylor, Pierce Hardy, Jack Johnson and the services and catering staff.

For tickets, please follow this link: https://events.humanitix.com/2022-graduate-arts-exhibition-and-awards-night

Year 12 Boarders - Staff Dinner

The annual Year 12 Boarder and Staff Dinner will be held this Tuesday, 18th October in the Cyprian Pavilion. The night includes a number of speeches and presentations where the Year 12 boys express their gratitude to the key staff who have helped them over the years. Thanks to Anthony Mathison and Renae Lewis who have done an immense amount of work to organise this special occasion for our Year 12 boarders. This will be followed by the Year 12 Boarders and Parents Dinner on Thursday, 17th November.

Year 11 Parent Function

On behalf of the P&F Committee, all Year 10 parents are invited to a social event in the Tower Function Room this Friday, 14 October from 6:30pm – 9:00pm. I thank the P&F for providing this opportunity for parents to socialise and enjoy each other’s company and to listen to addresses from the President of the P&F, Jim Gordon and myself.

To book your tickets, please go to: https://events.humanitix.com/2022-year-11-parent-function

I look forward to seeing parents on Friday.

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