From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Celebrating Marist and Catholic Education

This year, in Australia, we celebrate 200 Years of Catholic Education. The story is rich and is one of generosity and persistence in striving for the highest of educational faith-based standards to provide a liberating and relevant Catholic education for the people of its time and into the future. The first Catholic school was founded in 1820 by Irish Catholic priest, Fr John Terry. Paramatta Marist School, located in Westmead NSW, traces its origins back to this first school, relocating in 1837. The development of Catholic Education throughout Australia and Queensland is an amazing story, one which we celebrate with our original brother school at Marist Paramatta where later, Marist College Ashgrove was founded in 1940. Today, Catholic Education boasts some of the most outstanding esteemed Colleges throughout Australia, including Marist College Ashgrove and educates 1 in 5 students (770,000 students) in some 1,755 schools and employs 100,000 staff.

On Friday, I witnessed my first Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch at Marist, another example of how Catholic Education unites people to provide learning opportunities for young men, including those who are disadvantaged. Led by two most generous patrons and old boys, John Eales and Matthew Hayden and supported by an honourable team of volunteer helpers and supporters, this luncheon has gone on to raise some $2.2 million and provide some 82 boys with a Marist education over the past 17 years who would otherwise not have been able to afford it. I sincerely thank our generous supporters, organisers and sponsors who made this lunch such a success, namely: Erin Menyweather, Kath Brassington, Tony Byrne, Brett Gillett, Sandra Poon, Rebecca Pini, Bethany Halpin, Jack Johnson, Dylan Gower, Oatley Fine Wine Merchants and Stone & Wood, BDO, Austcover, Lead Institute, Hogarth Law, Sourced Solutions, Qube Logistics, Alinta, Wil Valor and McKims Jewellery Design, Brisbane Broncos, GPS Rugby Union, The Wine Tradition, d’Arenberg, Walter’s Steakhouse, Ordanga Construction Services and Casella Family Brands. Your contributions have continued to make this event flourish.

St Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers in Southern France, with the assistance of his brothers, taught young people about God and provided them with a liberating educational opportunity. This is our origin and story. I am privileged to belong to a College which continues to have this Marist charism and values as central to its beliefs and functioning. The young men at Marist Ashgrove are also privileged to have two old boys as role models in John Eales and Matthew Hayden to look up to, admire and witness these values.

God of the journey, we pray in thanksgiving for the opportunity to be associated with Marist Catholic education. Bless all the young men and all members of the Marist College family and embrace them with your unconditional love. Amen.

Examinations & Final Assessments for Semester 1

Best wishes to all boys as they complete their all-important examinations and assessments at this time. I encourage the boys to be totally focussed on their studies at this time of term. Thank you to their dedicated teachers who are professionally assessing, marking, and reporting. I look forward to reading about your son’s progress in his Semester 1 report.

Victorious 1st XI Football

Congratulations to our 1st XI Football Team who took out the AIC premiership title in their last game of the season on Saturday. Well done boys and to their coach, Andrew King and his assistant Corey Lucas. Our 1st XV Rugby Team were runners-up to St Laurence’s College and our 1st IV Chess Team finished third. Well done to all boys in every grade for your sportsmanship and the positive manner in which you played each week. I list below the Premiership winning teams and their coaches – well done.

Rugby Union:

2nd XV – Tim Sedgwick and Oliver McCall

3rd XV – Coach Peter Gaiter

4th XV – Coach Glenn Wright

10B – Coaches Simon Price and William McQuinn

10C – Coach Kabel Dawes

9D – Coach James Walton

8C – Coach Brad Neilson

8D – Coach Williem Michelmore

7C – Coach Damien Nelson

6C – Coaches Lachlan McKarzel and Lachlan McKinnon

5D – Coaches Riley O’Connell and Cameron Wightman

Football:

1st XI – Coach Andrew King and Corey Lucas

2nd XI – Coach Richard Aplin

9C – Coaches Jackson Barrick and Will Gullo

9D – Coaches Will Mulvenna and Simon Mifsud

8B – Coach Alfie Green

8D – Coaches Jem Corrish and Tom Vosper

7A – Coaches Terry Quain

7B – CoachNick Sgroi

7D – Coach Joel Burgin

5C – Coach Mathew Jones

Chess:

Senior A – Coaches Dan Bull, Tim Humphry and Murray Campbell

Senior B – Coaches Dan Bull, Tim Humphry and Murray Campbell

Each of the 1st Teams of Rugby Union, Football and Chess and their families and coaches will gather to celebrate an end of season meal together on Friday at the Cricketers’ Club at the Gabba. On this occasion, we will congratulate the boys and sincerely thank their coaches, managers, assistants and parents on what has been a tireless and dedicated season of commitment to their respective sports. Congratulations one and all on a fine winter season of sport. We now move onto the Tennis, Basketball and Rugby League trials and season ahead in Term 3. Term 2 was a successful term with the aggregate results seeing Marist win Rugby, Cross Country and Football and placing second in Chess.

Marist Art Show 2021

The annual Marist College Art Show is planned for the weekend of 20 - 22 August. The venue is our beautiful iconic refurbished tower block – now the main administration building. The Art Show will feature displays from artists spanning Brisbane and its surrounds. The weekend commences with an official opening on Friday 20 August where speeches, a light supper, drinks and art works can be purchased. Saturday and Sunday will allow for further viewing and purchases to occur. All funds raised go towards the College Foundation which provides an opportunity for families who are disadvantaged to access a Marist education. I call upon parents interested in being part of the organising and welcoming committee to please come forward. Please email both newmanm@marash.qld.edu.au (myself) and artmarist6@gmail.com (convenor) with your interest and details. All new parents to the College are encouraged to either become involved in this committee and/or attend this social event together. I look forward to attending the Annual Art Show in August with you all.

Online Safety

Marist College Ashgrove continues to offer our boys an education in online safety. Unfortunately, there are some immoral and unsavoury people living in the cyber world and we must keep our boys aware and safe from their unlawful practices. On Tuesday, online safety talks will be presented to our boarding students by Acting Sargent Paul Bagnall. This will be followed by a cyber safety talk for all boys in October during the ‘Day for Daniel Program’, by both Kirra Pendergast (Safe on Social: Cyber Safety Education and Training) and Acting Sargent Paul Bagnall. These presentations will include a discussion with the boys on the importance of ensuring that they create only a positive digital footprint going forward in their lives.

Band and String Concert

Thursday 17 June marks our final music concert for Semester 1. The quality of all music concerts has been impressive from beginning musicians right through to our senior bands and ensembles. This Thursday the College will showcase our Band and String concert. I thank the following music staff for all their efforts and preparation of the boys, namely: Andrew Butt, Melanie Stewart, Janelle Lee Long, Catherine Wasserman, Megan Harmston, Alison Braidwood, Darian Johns, Carmen Hooper, Rachel Andrews, Enrico Le Mura, Kerri Engstrom. I look forward to joining you all for this concert. Good luck and enjoy, gentlemen.

Game Changers

We are pleased to announce the re-emergence of our Game Changers Program. This has been largely on hold due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Game Changers is a comprehensive Catholic Youth Ministry program for students in Marist schools. The Game Changers Program explores our shared Marist story, especially St Marcellin Champagnat’s life, to see how their lives might also inspire, influence and impact their peers and their community. Highlighted by a strong sense of family spirit and community, regular meetings, faith formation experiences and service opportunities, students are invited to become game changers and leaders through their participation in the program.

Meetings and gatherings will commence this Thursday for Years 8, 11 and 12. I thank Adam Burns, Clara Sandona, Sam Priddis and Mena McLean for organising and providing this important opportunity for the boys.

End of Term 2

Term 2 concludes for all boys on Tuesday 22 June. Classes continue on Tuesday until 2:45pm, concluding with an end of semester assembly at 2:45pm on Tuesday. All students are expected to attend school until the end of term at 3:10pm.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.