Boarding News

What a year 2021 has produced. 

Boarding has certainly once again embodied the notion of a home away from home for our boarders who call Marist College Ashgrove ‘home’. When looking back on the year there is certainly a long list of highlights, challenges and lessons learnt along the way, by both boarders and staff alike. Sitting amongst our most recent Old Boys at Graduation Dinner on Friday evening I had the pleasure of listening to Nikki Macqueen. Nikki was asked to respond on behalf of the parent body to the Graduating Class of 2021. Whilst a lot of what Nikki spoke about resonated with me, I couldn’t go past a reflection (written by a boarding parent some 10 or more years ago) which she shared in closing. I leave this reflection for you to ponder as we draw 2021 to a close. A wonderful insight into the life of our boarding families.

My Boarding School Boy

Come take my hand and I’ll take you home. 

We shall cross the divide and go to the west. 

The roads will thin out and become gravel at last. 

The trees will creep in and crowd at the car. 

We won’t say much, we’ll just look ahead, but we’ll tick off the names of the towns that we pass,

There’s Goondiwindi, Toobeah and Talwood at last. 

The trip is long; we’ve been traveling for hours. 

There’s no sound except that of the car, as it rushes along, into the night and closer to home.

You’re quiet, too quiet.

I want you to talk, to chat like you used to, when we’d go to into town.

Your answers are short and the silences long. I worry.

Has the city dampened the life in you? 

Has it crowded you in? Did you miss the sky? Did you fly home at night in your dreams to us and go to the fields that you helped plant with seed? 

We would talk on the phone but it wasn’t enough. 

The questions you’d ask. 

Where’s Dad? How’s the wheat? Did we get much rain?

 As if knowing, would bring you a bit closer to home. 

We wanted you here, but it just couldn’t be. 

We know about soil and tractors and rain, the price of wheat, nothing else. Would that be enough for you later on? 

It hurt you I know, when we sent you away. 

You wanted to stay, but trying to be strong and to be a man, you said you’d be fine, that you’d be okay. 

You’re only a child; you should be here with us still.

Then we’re on the home stretch, not long to go. 

You’ve been dozing I think but sense the bump of the last grid and the turn of the car as we head down our drive. 

The lights of home come into view. 

It’s nearly midnight, will Dad be awake? 

Of course, my son, he’ll be waiting for you. 

We come to a stop and there’s the squeak of the door and the man we both love comes out to the car. 

There’s a kiss for me, a handshake for you, and a hug for us both. 

You’re both home, safe at last, he says with a smile. 

He then gathers our things and takes them inside. 

Our old house by the river feels right again, for you are home at last.

Your bed is all ready, there’s food in the fridge and ‘Millie’ has pups that you haven’t seen. 

Give me your suitcase and I’ll wash all your clothes, so that when you go back they will smell like home. 

You take off the clothes that you’ve worn from school and hop in your own, that are old and clean.

Forgive me, my son, you’re breaking my heart, because now you look happy in your old clothes at home.

Can I send you back?

I have to. I will. 

Margaret Harrison

Mungindi

For permission to use or share this poem please contact Margaret at 0407 678 892 or mmh3@bigpond.com

Wishing all families, a joyous, safe and prosperous holiday break. Looking forward to what 2022 will bring for our boarding and College community.

Year 12 Graduation Celebrations

Boarders Christmas Dinner

Boarding Recreation - Mr Blair Whitlock

It was a busy final weekend on the rec front with boys juggling their study commitments between various activities. On Friday the Year 11’s fired up the BBQ in the Br Terence Courtyard to take over the traditional BBQs ahead of next year. The younger lads went up to the gym for some basketball and volleyball before heading down to the pool for a night swim.

We loaded up the bus on Saturday morning and headed over to Churchie to support the 1st volleyball boys. The boys certainly made themselves known with some vociferous support and beautiful renditions of ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Sweet Caroline’ which garnered some interesting looks from the Churchie parents. The boys put up a great fight and had a quality Churchie team under some real pressure before eventually going down. The Year 11’s have taken over the boarders hive seamlessly and we look forward to supporting the Term 1 sporting codes.

Later that afternoon we headed over to Chermside for some early Christmas shopping before heading to ice skating for our traditional end of term skate. With the majority of boarding schools in attendance, we got plenty of Term 1, 2022 rec planned! There’s plenty of exciting things planned and ‘touch wood’ we don’t have too many interruptions next year!

Sunday started with an early Mass before heading up the coast to Mooloolaba. It was a little overcast but the boys made the most of the day before a quiet bus ride back home. Many of the boys have their final exams on Monday and Tuesday and will be heading home throughout the week. It’s certainly been a turbulent year and everyone’s looking forward to a well-earned break!