Principal

Life Lessons 

Dressed in steel capped boots, hi viz shirt and hard-yakka work pants, the owner of a small plaza of shops supervised a couple of labourers and tradies as they went about renovating the complex. Inside, false ceilings were being installed, new gyprock attached to walls, concrete laid and painting completed. New fixtures and fittings were also part of the renovation. Outside, a new colourbond roof was being fitted. 

As the man went about his business, a late teen approached him, also dressed in work gear. “Hey mate, are you the owner?” he inquired. The man acknowledged that he was. The teen then asked if there was any work going. The owner informed him that at this time he was not in need of any help. The young man insisted that he was looking for labouring work of any kind, and that he was willing to work. The boy slunk away somewhat disappointed. After a beat, the man called him back and asked if he was willing to do any kind of work including fairly menial stuff like sweeping up, sandblasting concrete floors, and plugging holes in walls. The boy smiled. 

The man gave him one day’s work. At the end of the day he was impressed. He invited him back the next day, instructing him to arrive at 7.00am and not to be late. The boy arrived promptly but then disappeared to have a smoke and get a coffee. The man applauded him for arriving on time but advised him that 7.00am was start time, not arrival time. If he wanted coffee and a smoke, then the next day he might need to arrive at 6.50am. The days turned into a week. And then another. 

The boy was a good worker. He learned fast and was curious. He had a shortfall of social graces, and there were conversations to be had between the man and the boy about appropriate language to use, and in front of whom, about manners at the lunch crate (no table I am afraid!), and about the type of music he was listening to and the volume at which it was played. The man asked about his preferences of music. The boy explained that he loved thrash metal and punk. The man indicated that at nearly 60 years old, it really was not what he wanted to listen to as they worked in the same space. There were compromises to be had. The next day, they listened to some Beatles, RnB and some contemporary pop. 

The boy asked questions. He listened and learned. As they got to know each other a little more, the man learned that the boy had been raised by mum. Dad had shot through when he was a toddler. They were better off without him. The boy had left school during Year 11. He had been asked to leave. “School and me just didn’t agree” he admitted. Notwithstanding, the boy was a good conversationalist, he was willing and eager to work, he didn’t spit the dummy when he was corrected, and he had had a fairly humble life to date. The man also taught him how to clean up as he went, how to use some simple tools and machinery and he gave him some tips on earning and saving money. They chatted about schooling, skills, and the need to get a qualification of some description. Up until this point the boy had enjoyed only sporadic work cleaning bricks. 

The work the man gave him was only ever going to be short-term. The gig only stretched for a few weeks. At the end of the time, the man said he would be pleased to offer him a reference, and that he would make some calls to a few work partners and colleagues to see if they needed anyone. The boy had rough edges, but he was teachable. He also had gumption. He turned up. He turned up ready to work. He turned up with the right attitude. And he turned up not already knowing more than the man. 

The boy took far more from the few weeks’ work than a pay packet. As this tale was relayed to me, it seems that the man offered him an education that was for life. It was real-world learning, practical and sensible. It was social as much as it was skills-based, and it was personal as well as professional. It was sensible and sensitively delivered. The boy listened attentively. The man and the boy were both the beneficiaries of each other’s gifts.

This is a true story. 

Last week saw the resumption of Friday morning Mass, albeit in a modified format. It was wonderful to gather as a community of worshippers to pray for our world, together, and to share in the Eucharist, which as described in Vatican II documents is the “source and summit of the Christian life.” Our Catholic community gives us strength when we worship together, and the Eucharist nourishes us for our life! What a joy to return to the familiar rhythm of the Catholic Mass. 

Thanks to all of our parents for their support of us this term and this year. Thank you for your trust in the decisions we have taken at short notice and without any previous point of reference. We have all experienced this for the first time. Thank you to the boys who never fail to delight, entertain and impress us. Please stay safe during the holiday period and enjoy a rest. We look forward to welcoming all boys back to the College on Monday 20 July. I will be taking a few weeks leave at the beginning of next term. Damian Chase will be Acting Principal in my absence and Gillian Daley will be Acting Deputy Principal. I know they will both do a splendid job.  

We recently had a brief video made which you can access here (view video) to celebrate our College community. We will place this video on our College website so that others can also enjoy our special place.

My hope is that it spreads just a little more positivity and connection with our College family this year.

Craig Wattam

Principal