From the Principal

A very warm welcome to Term 2 and I hope everyone had the opportunity to spend some precious time with family and friends over the break. I would like to particularly welcome our new families to our College.

I commence this Newsletter by extending my own thanks for the welcome I have already received since commencing at the College; your warmth and generosity are greatly appreciated. I am deeply humbled to be leading a College with such a long, well-established history and tradition and one that I have been following for years, albeit from the other side of the College fence. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the legacy left by the expert leadership of Mr Rob Henderson and more recently, Ms Kath Negus. 

Over the years, I have heard a great deal about our relational College, a College that understands the importance of deep relationships and genuine care for each other. What better way to gain a sense of the real depth and contrast that exists within our College community than through this week’s Anzac Day Service and College Musical? Depth and contrast indeed.

Firstly, as we know, Anzac Day is a significant day that marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces. It is also a day to reflect on the many different meanings of war. During our Years 3 to 12 Anzac Day Service, I was particularly impressed by the students’ demonstration of respect and understanding of the solemnity of this special occasion. I extend my thanks to College Liturgist, Ms Lumley, for her expert organisation of our special Service. Thanks are also extended to our College Captains, Yvie and Ben and our Faith and Mission Captains Ava and Nick, our student readers, musicians, choir and trumpeter, Mr McCamley. Particular thanks is extended to CPO Nick for his impactful Anzac Day address. 

During our Anzac Day Service, I shared the following story:

As a child, I found it difficult to understand the purpose of war. A teacher from long ago tried to help me understand by explaining that war was all about sacrifice, freedom and liberty. Reading the skepticism in my eyes at the time, he went on to tell me a story, a story I often recall on Anzac Day and one I told at our Anzac Day Service – the story of prisoner #16670.

It was in the Auschwitz concentration camp during 1941 when, after the escape of 3 prisoners, the Deputy Camp Commander Karl Fritzsch chose 10 prisoners to be severely punished in an underground bunker to deter further prisoner escapes. As Fritzsch passed along the lines of prisoners picking one from another, one of the selected men Franciszek Gajowniczek, a young husband and father cried out: My wife! My children!

In response to this cry, prisoner #16670 stepped forward saying quietly, I will take his place!

Fritzsch was so taken aback by this selfless act that he consented and so it was that prisoner #16670 was sent to his own death.

In 1982, prisoner #16670, or better known as Fr Maximillian Kolbe, was canonised as a Martyr of Love in a ceremony attended by Franciszek Gajowniczek, the man who owed him his life 41 years earlier.

As way of background, Fr Kolbe had spent time as a missionary in China and Japan in the early 1930’s. He also built a monastery in India before returning to Poland where he was eventually arrested in 1941, becoming prisoner #16670 in Auschwitz and stepping forward to say: I will take his place.

Sacrifice, freedom and liberty.

An ANZAC Day Prayer

God of love and liberty,

We bring our thanks for the peace and security we enjoy which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their lives in time of war.

We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit may live on in us and in the generations to come.

That the liberty, truth and justice which they sought to preserve may be seen and known in all nations on earth.

Amen

Secondly, I extend my thanks and congratulations to all students, staff and families involved in this week’s celebration of the performing arts during our College Musical, Legally Blonde. A particular thank you is extended to our Director, Mr George Tsakisiris, who so expertly led our talented student Cast; all superbly supported by the Production Crew, Musical Band, Backstage Crew, Technical Crew, and others assisting with Make-Up, Costumes, Hair and Front of House.

I am unsure whether I could have asked for a better insight into our College’s spirit than through what was a real celebration of individual talent and community involvement. A triumph indeed!

Daniel Mahon

Principal