Principal's Message

Resilience and Commitment Shines Through

Mr Darren O'Neill
Mr Darren O'Neill

What an extraordinary week! With the rise in COVID-19 cases moving through our wider community, the effect on College events and our daily operations at school has certainly been felt. 

 

Throughout this week, our own College community has felt the direct impact of Coronavirus. Several students, staff and their respective families have tested positive for COVID-19. The College has closely followed the directions from WA Health in investigating each case and pastorally communicated to those affected, and to those identified as being a close contact. The protocols and parameters set by WA Health for investigating each case has served as a clear reminder that everyone in Western Australia should continue to follow the WA Health advice and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. As we continue to stress to all of our boys (Years 4–12), it appears that within our school setting, the correct and consistent wearing of masks is vitally important in this regard. 

 

Given the ever-increasing caseloads expected within our wider community over the coming weeks, general communications to all families about positive cases and/or possible close contacts are less likely. Rather, targeted communications to affected students and their families will be required. Please be assured that the College will continue to follow WA Health guidelines and, as always, keep the health, safety and wellbeing of all as a priority.

 

Despite all of this, the busy nature of Trinity College has continued, albeit somewhat modified in some cases. The Year 7 Becoming Brothers ‘Camp’ was held at the College and OLNA testing was successfully completed. Our College teamed with Caritas Australia in hosting the launch of Project Compassion, streaming live interactive sessions and a liturgy with over 70 Catholic schools and organisations throughout the state. Similarly, our own Ash Wednesday Liturgy was successfully streamed to all classes on Wednesday morning. 

 

This week also saw our College compete in two significant PSA events. Last Saturday, our rowers performed magnificently in retaining the Hamer Cup as part of the Head of the River Regatta. Similarly, our Swimmers were wonderful in achieving fourth place at the Inters Swimming Carnival on Tuesday night. In a COVID affected season in which planned training and preparation was compromised by a shortened program, our boys and their coaches, provided a very real example of resilience, striving for personal excellence and the commitment to hard work that is required to achieve such levels. Such a commitment adds greatly to their own formation as young men, benefits our College community and sets an example for others to follow. 

 

Over these past few weeks, months and for some, even the summer holiday break, members of our College Swim Squad have trained long and hard, trailing the lonely path of a pool lane to share their talents and represent all of us at the PSA Carnival. I thank them for their example, praise them for their efforts and acknowledge their commitment to achieving their personal best on Tuesday. 

 

The intrinsic value of commitment and effort is certainly experienced by the rowers within our College. They work incredibly hard, usually in the very early twilight hours, to practice and hone their skills. Rowing is often considered as one of the purest forms of team sport as it requires the synchronised and full effort of every individual in the boat to bring about team success. There is really no room for one crew member to be a little off, or not work as hard as the others. For the crew to achieve success, the group must have a common purpose, support each other, share the same commitment, and ultimately perform as one.

We thank them for their example, praise them for their efforts and, as always, wish them their personal best. 

 

I hope everyone enjoys a relaxing long weekend and stays safe!

 

Live Jesus in our hearts.