Welcome Back

During the holiday break I wrote to our community of the death of Thomas English (Year 12) following a car accident while travelling along the Kings Highway.  Our prayers have been with Thomas’ brother Geordie (Year 9) and his parents Terri-Ann and Dixon (staff member and Dean of Patrick House) in this grievous loss.  Thomas’ tragic death has had a profound impact on everyone who knew him and his family. 

It has been a great privilege to witness the wonderful support, love and care extended to the English family from our Marist community. I would like to acknowledge the role of so many of our staff, our parents and their sons who have accepted the office in caring and comforting the family. At the end of the day our community defines ourselves, very simply, by the way we care for those in times of greatest need.

Boys can be affected in a range of ways when they hear about the death of someone. Grief is a natural and healthy response to loss and may get expressed in different ways. We encourage you to take this opportunity to check in with your son to see how he is feeling and ask if he is struggling. Should you have any concerns you are encouraged to make contact with the College via email directly to your son’s House Dean or Junior School classroom teacher.

An accidental death reminds us of how fragile life can be. It prompts us to reflect on what we do in our living years and encourages us to say ‘forgive me’, or ‘thank you’, or ‘I love you’ often. It reminds us of what is important.

As a community we offer our most heartfelt sympathies to all of Tom’s relatives and family, to his friends, and to all those who loved him and mourn him.

May he rest in peace.

The College also expresses our deepest sympathy on the passing of Mrs Pauline Kinnane who died peacefully on 24 September 2022 aged 92 years. Since the College’s inception in 1968, there has continuously been a member of Pauline and Patrick Kinnane’s extended family at the College. Pauline worked at the College for a number of years and her husband Pat was a tireless volunteer. She was a much-loved mother of Trish, Michael, Peter, Judy, Terry, Gary, Brian, Steve and Dave and was a cherished grandmother of 35 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. 

Current staff members Paul Mead and David Mead are part of the collection of grandchildren and the following great-grandchildren are currently at the College, Jake Mead (Year 12) and Declan Kinnane (Year 5). Pauline and Pat had 5 sons who all attend the College and Terry Kinnane was in the first Year 12 Graduation class of 1975.  

In addition, our 2022 theme ‘Known and Loved – Dignity of All,’ was further explored. Its premise goes to the heart of our important work, in partnership with parents, in the formation of our young men.  We live in a time when around the world so many lives seem not to matter. Our theme reminds all that we are not isolated individuals but are bound in relationships to one another and to our world. That interconnection, at the heart of our humanity and the gospel message, draws attention to the precious humanity of each person.

The day drew on research from author and psychologist Hugh Mackay, who has written at length of the need for social connections for our emotional and physical security, for our sense of well-being and for that all important sense of belonging. As the Russian developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky put it: ‘Through others we become ourselves.’ Whilst the most interesting thing about each of us is the individual differences, it is our interdependence, our interconnectedness that is far more significant than those differences.

One of the characteristics of a Marist education is the gift of presence. Put simply, our mere presence is one of the most potent symbols of being ‘known and loved’ and has defined the Marists since the origins of the order. 

The Marist Brothers’ Rule of Life, entitled Wherever You Go, describes the pedagogy of presence as follows:

Go out to meet the children and young people
Where you find them.
Draw close to them, taking and interest in their lives
And welcoming them into yours.
Journey with them in their struggles, their searching, their suffering.
Be a brother to each of them.:
Close, accessible, human.
You will win their confidence by your attentive and hospitable presence,
Create a climate that facilitates dialogue in their education
And integration in their personal growth.

As a Marist school, we want to be present with a Marian face. Mary was a loving, educative presence throughout the life of Jesus. She was a serving presence to Elizabeth, staying with her for about three months. When Jesus carried out his public mission, Mary was a discreet and silent presence. At times, she was an active and direct presence as in the case of the wedding at Cana. Her way of being present among the disciples was reassuring after the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

Our Marist community, based on Mary, reveals itself as a serving presence; care in relationships and how we show ourselves to others, beginning with listening to and understanding the various realities and always giving first place to the dignity of all. 

Matthew Hutchison
Headmaster