AROUND THE COLLEGE & BEYOND 

Law Experts Get the Men of Saints Thinking About Topical Legal Issues

By Aiden Cridland and Alex Leng - Year 11

Professor Anthony Gray of the University of Southern Queensland visited  on 20 July and spoke with the Year 10 Business classes and the Years 11 and 12 Legal Studies classes. He discussed topical legal issues such as the treatment of asylum seekers in mandatory detention and negligence in sport. These topics are relevant to what  the senior Legal Studies classes are studying and exposed the Year 10 Business class to what a university law tutorial is like. Professor Gray posed many thought-provoking questions and provided us with different perspectives of the law and society. After his visit we discussed, at length, a variety of sentencing options for criminal charges. This was a worthwhile experience, and we thank the Professor for visiting St Augustine's.  

 Meanwhile, later in the week, the Years 11 and 12 Legal Studies students along with those from other schools  participated in the annual Breakfast with the Law at Rydges Esplanade Resort. The breakfast was hosted by the Business Liaison Association (BLA). We heard from guest speakers Professor  Gray and solicitor Ms Helen Driscoll. She presented her story of becoming a lawyer, and spoke about international humanitarian law, which deals with international affairs and what the military is allowed to do during wartime.

Ms Driscoll's presentation was followed by the Professor's who sparked an interesting debate about the sentencing of a 17-year-old who drunkenly killed a man and his pregnant wife. Various perspectives were presented regarding the sentencing of the young man.

Overall, the breakfast was informative and served to show us topics or perspectives we may not have considered before. We thank the BLA and their sponsors for organising this great event. 

Year 7s  and their Amazing Marble Mazes 

We have now had our third rotation of Year 7 Technology. The Design Technology unit looks at the process involved in designing, producing and evaluating a new product. The focus in Year 7 is a marble maze. The students design their own layout, construct the marble maze in the workshop and then evaluate the process and product.

In addition, the best maze from each rotation will be entered into the Design and Technology Teachers' Association (DATTA) competition at the end of the year. Ziggy Groot was the winner from the second rotation and Issac Whiteside from the third. These boys are to be congratulated on their effort.

Languages – Italian

The incredibly successful Italian Festival was recently held in Cairns, and to add to that triumph Benjamin Wellby wrote and presented a two-minute speech in Italian. Auguri Ben! He has added another trophy to Saints' collection after winning the Junior School Division Year 9 Cairns Italian Speaking Competition. The competition hosted judges from Brisbane, including the Italian Consul, listening to speeches. Bravissimo lavoro!

Year 7s Experience the Joy of Cooking - Some for the First Time

Our new rotation of Year 7 students started cooking in Food Technology this week.  Students learnt not only how to cook omelettes and pancakes but also developed team working and communication skills in the kitchen.  It is always a pleasure to hear comments such as, “I didn’t know cooking omelettes was this easy” and, “I’m going to try this at home!” from students, some who cooked for the very first time.

Who is God?

By Chaz Nelder

This term, as part of the Who is God? unit, the Year 11 Religion and Ethics classes are learning about the many different Christian denominations. On Wednesday 27 July, Year 11 students travelled to the Salvation Army church in Manunda. There, leader of the Cairns Salvation Army, Major Ben Johnson, guided us through the ins and outs of his church. Through his insightful presentation, we learnt that his is an evangelical protestant church and a worldwide charitable organisation. 

Personally, learning about the Salvation Army in the flesh allowed me to gain a clearer and more direct understanding of the organisation as a church and as a charity. I could recognise some differences and many similarities to Catholic worship and practices. 

Major Ben enlightened us on the given name Salvation Army, which is metaphorical for a united front that brings salvation to destitute people, and he talked about the many practical ways the Salvos help people beyond just their second-hand shops. 

We are very grateful to Major Ben for his warm welcome and are looking forward to our next excursion to the Greek Orthodox Church.