Deputy Principal - Identity and Religious Life of the College
Immersion to Bunya Mountains and Cherbourg
From Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October, seven students, from Years 7, 9, and 10, participated in an immersion experience to the Bunya Mountains and the Ration Shed in Cherbourg. The purpose of this immersion is to provide students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Indigenous culture and First Nations People’s experience of injustice. The students entered the experience with a positive attitude and their reflections on what they experienced, saw, and heard were most insightful.
I would like to share a couple of these with you:
The Bunya Mountains and Cherbourg was an incredible experience and one I will never forget. The Bunya Mountains is a beautiful place especially in Spring. All the wallabies had joeys and some even let us feed them by hand. It was also a great experience feeding the king parrots and rosellas and being out in nature. We learnt about the Bunya trees and the significance they had to the Traditional Owners. In Cherbourg I gained a deeper understanding of the injustices that Aboriginal people faced not that long ago. In Cherbourg I learnt the significance of the ration shed and, if a male didn’t turn up for work for any reason, they didn’t get their rations for a week. Being in the boys’ dormitory and hearing about what some people had to go through - how they were taken from their parents and put to work - was touching and made me feel thankful for the life I have.
Lara Vico, Year 7
The immersion to the Bunya Mountains was a wonderful experience. Over the course of the three days we were able to take time to relax and laugh but also to learn a lot about Aboriginal culture and history. We participated in a variety of activities, including scenic bushwalks, Aboriginal art, and a museum tour. Our visit to the Ration Shed Museum in Cherbourg was something I will never forget. The history of trauma experienced by this small community is unbelievable. I am very grateful to have been part of such a mind-opening, thought-provoking opportunity.
Hannah Lowe, Year 10
I extend my thanks to the students for their engagement in the immersion experience and to Ms Sarah Porchak and Mrs Darlene Dreise for their support over the weekend. I look forward to offering this experience again in 2021.
Mission Sunday
On Sunday evening, a group of students represented the College at the 5.30pm Mass at Little Flower Church, Kedron for Mission Sunday. Maggie Roche welcomed parishioners to the Mass, and Hannah Lowe and Sofia Poy presented the focus of the Catholic Mission Appeal for this year: the Arrupe Centre in Cambodia. Maggie Roche, Jessica Chripczuk Morales, Harriet Shailer, and Mia James led the Prayers of Intercession. Thank you to all of these students for giving so generously of their time to promote the work of Catholic Mission. They were all wonderful ambassadors. To find out more about the work of the Church in Cambodia or to donate to Catholic Mission, please go to https://www.catholicmission.org.au/.
Saint Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers
Currently, each Home Room is collecting gifts, food, and toiletry items for the Saint Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers. This is an annual collection the College undertakes in support of the Saint Vincent de Paul Conference of Kedron and individuals and families in our local area who are in need at this time. I thank all families who have contributed to the collection so far. The collection will be finalised in the last week of term.
Encounter Program
The next Encounter evening will be held on Sunday 8 November at Little Flower Church, Turner Road, from 6.30 to 8.30pm. If students would like to attend, they will need to register online by using the QR Code on the flyer attached. Encounter Kedron is a partnership between Kedron Parish, Mount Alvernia College, and Padua College, that is designed to engage young people with the Catholic faith in a way that is relevant, life-giving, and compelling.
Election Statement
The Catholic Bishops of Queensland have released a State Election Statement, The Common Good in a COVID World, calling on Catholics to consider Catholic social teachings as they prepare to vote on 31 October. This is an important opportunity to use our voice and our vote for the benefit of the whole community. The Bishops write, “We have no monopoly on truth, but we offer these reflections in a spirit of solidarity, as people who also have to consider our vote carefully, who can draw upon a deep wisdom concerning the common good and who are called to care for the most vulnerable in our community… We can point to clear and enduring principles which can help us make the kind of responsible judgements that allow us to be both faithful Catholics and good citizens.” You can access the statement here. Additional information, including the launch video and prayer, can be accessed here.
Richard Rogusz
