Principal's  Message

 

Year 12 Valete Mass and Graduation

Our senior class finished with distinction on this special night. Our evening began in the College Hall where we gathered as a prayer Community to give thanks and to recognise the gift of one another. Following the Mass, I had an opportunity to farewell the group on behalf of staff. There were some special awards given and the College Captain, James Hickey, spoke for the final time. The social part of the evening was held in a transformed Sports Centre where all families and students were able to mingle. Thank you to a number of families who wrote to the College expressing their appreciation for the night.

Given below is part of my talk, for your interest:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. The full quote being:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent”

As a mother, father, or guardian, you understand all too well the notion of persistence. You decided to have children, determine where they should live, how they should be raised, which school they should attend and what influences they had when they were young. Yes, your own family has a very refined definition of what persistence means to you. There are many fine examples of persistence in action, some distant and some local.

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.

St Bede’s has had two groups of Year 11 students, accompanied by staff, who have worked with their Lasallian partners in Thailand. No one would have thought that it was possible to build a school near the Thai / Burma (Myanmar) border as it was considered a militarized zone. The De La Salle Brothers thought otherwise because they realized that there was a large, and Stateless, group of young people who lived in Southern Burma that no one wanted to give a Nationality to, let alone an education.

Through persistence and belief that every child deserves to be educated, the Brothers now bus many children back and forward through the military zone each day. This gives education and hope.

Nothing takes the place of persistence.

A number of young men here tonight will soon travel to India upon completion of their VCE commitments. When the Brothers first went to India they were told that it was not possible for a Christian Community to be formed there. Many years later they constructively work with families to ensure that they have basic sanitation, housing and employment and are spread throughout a number of areas.

They are persistent. Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence

In Year 12, simply growing up to be a man of worth, substance and honor needs persistence in itself……………….

………………..To the Graduating Class of 2018, we thank you for your gentle natures, sense of camaraderie, strong loyalty, endeavour and optimism.

May the change you experience, through your own perseverance, be fulfilling

May the Lord look upon you with kindness

May the lives of St John Baptist de la Salle and St Bede give you inspiration for great passion and commitment

Debating

I am delighted to advise that our Year 9 Debaters have become State Champions. This is an outstanding achievement for these young men as they began with hundreds of teams in their category. We are pleased that St Bede’s has a large number of very competent public speakers, who are developed and encouraged through both classwork and co-curricula activities. It is always good to acknowledge young men who tackle any task with great enthusiasm.

Old Collegians

There have been two functions of late. The “Old Boys” from the Classes of 1938-1959 gathered at the RACV Club in Melbourne. They were a delightful group of men who reminisced, told some tall stories and showed great interest in the College of today. The guest speaker, Paul Steinfort, is himself an Old Collegian. He spoke of the many amazing projects he had managed in far way places that were experiencing great difficulty through natural causes or war. Paul was inspirational.

The other recent event was the Finian Foundation Golf Day. A lovely Melbourne Spring day greeted all of us as we began with breakfast at Woodlands Golf Club. It is very encouraging to see a wide range of former students across the generations supporting the College. Peter Sumner, the St Kilda Football Club President, spoke to the group about the highs and lows of managing an AFL Club.

Examinations

We wish all of our students in Year 7-11 well as they approach their examination period over the coming weeks.

Per Vias Rectas

John Finn

Principal