Assistant Principal - Learning and Wellbeing - Happening Events

Farewell Terry and Mrs Patrick

I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge two fine contributors to O'Connor and indeed the education of many students over a long period of time and wish them well in retirement.

Mrs Ruth Patrick became a full time teacher at O'Connor in the Year 2000. This followed a number of years of working with and educating students at other schools in the area. She has served on leadership teams for the majority of time at O'Connor as the Leader of Learning in PDHPE. Mrs Patrick's leadership in that faculty enabled many young teachers to grow and hone their craft in a key learning area that often became the focus of what was the latest issue in society. Mrs Patrick led by example. She is an expert PDHPE teacher and her lessons have always been a model of how lessons should be structured and explicitly taught. Mrs Patrick has contributed to the community in many ways but notable was her impact on the netball teams and players that were influenced by her coaching and management. Mrs Patrick is a generous person. She took leave from O'Connor for two years to volunteer in Nepalese schools without pay, specifically to help train teachers to best serve the education needs of their students. Ruth is currently a strong advocate and campaigner for research into brain cancer. The O'Connor community know the contribution Ruth has made and she will be missed but we wish her and her family well in her retirement from teaching. 

Mr Terry McMillan has served the community as being responsible for the grounds and maintenance of O'Connor including fields, gardens and buildings for the last 12 years. Terry came to O'Connor with a building background and has transferred these skills to reimagine the role description for his position. The grounds at O'Connor remain the envy of many visitors with immaculate ovals and beautiful gardens. Incredibly this is still the case with multiple building works in progress. Terry has redesigned classrooms, repaired and replaced furniture and fittings and created spaces where learning can flourish. Terry has been always accommodating to the plans of a number of principals and he has provided wise counsel to what is possible and been able to better solutions. Any major event that O'Connor has hosted from parent evenings to athletics carnivals to presentation days has only been possible due to Terry's hard work and planning. Every student and teacher knows who Terry is and he is well loved and respected. Again he will be greatly missed but he has served O'Connor well and he will always be a part of the school. 

The Spiller Cup

On the eve of Founders Day it is worth remembering that our great houses; Benilde, Merici, Ursula and La Salle compete for the Spiller Cup. The Spiller Cup is awarded to the house that accumulates the most points on Founders Day. Opportunities for points include participation in the festivities including the concert. Points are also awarded for the traditional Capture the Flag competition between houses.  It is quite the spectacle if you ever have the opportunity to witness it. The Spiller Cup is named after a great educator, Tony Spiller. Tony fulfilled many positions at O'Connor and indeed around the Diocese including Principal. Tony taught with the Uruline Sisters and the De La Salle Brothers and his career reflected the charisms of those great religious orders. It is fitting that Tony has a cup named after him that symbolises the fullness of life including cultural, sporting and service pursuits.

Mr Damian Roff

Assistant Principal - Learning and Wellbeing

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