AQUINAS COLLEGE
Foundation News
AQUINAS COLLEGE
Foundation Issue 3 - December 2019
Thank You! The Aquinas College Foundation Council would like to thank and acknowledge the support of our very generous school community throughout 2019. Your ongoing support of the Foundation directly assists the College to provide the best possible facilities and learning environment for our boys and to provide significantly more educational opportunities for young men from challenging financial situations.
Foundation News Welcome Message from the Chair As we near the end of another busy year for the Aquinas College Foundation (ACF), I take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to this year’s success. My sincere thanks to: • Our many generous donors and supporters across multiple appeals and events throughout the year • Our hard working and talented team on the ACF Council: Ashley Bacon (Deputy Chair), Jonathan Murray (Board Chair), David McFadden (ex-officio) Michael Hughes, Caroline Bryndzej, Matthew Noonan-Crowe and Julia Schortinghuis • Mrs Louise Symonds, Executive officer of the ACF, for her day-to-day activities that ensure the smooth running of the Foundation • Peter Robertson, Dean of Development, for his ongoing support • College Staff for event and appeal support • Our hard-working Sub-committees - Investment Sub-committee - Fundraising Sub-committee - Boatshed Renewal Appeal Subcommittee • Rowing Appeal Launch Committee • 2020 Rowing Season Launch Committee - 2020 Arts Plus Foundation Ball Committee
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• Our parent volunteers throughout the year - LAX, PSG, P&F, Alumni - who help our events to run smoothly • Our wealth manager,Vantage Wealth Management, for their prudent and successful management of Foundation Funds The financial results for 2019 reflect a steady increase in our corpus of Endowment funds (see Financial Management on page 7), thanks to the expertise of Vantage Wealth Management and our dedicated Investment Subcommittee. The Foundation has been able to provide significant financial support to the College during 2019, including $500,000 for the Chapel renovation and a substantial gift towards the reduction of College debt. We are proud to be able to help the College in this very meaningful way. During 2019, new directives from Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) have produced tangible financial challenges for the Foundation, directly impacting our traditional income streams. However, the new order provides the Foundation with a unique opportunity to diversify and I look forward to helping the Foundation realign over the coming months.
2019 Key achievements • Annual Appeal to Alumni – our most successful Annual Appeal to date, with more than 70 contributions received • Building Fund Appeal – consistent results achieved over the last 3 years
• Peer Scholarship Program – Class of 2019 and 2015 gifts received • Boatshed Renewal Appeal launched – more than $50,000 received so far • Foundation gift to College to reduce debt • Website upgrade I sincerely thank everyone involved with the Foundation’s work and successes during 2019 and invite all members of the Aquinas community to join us in supporting the work of the Aquinas College Foundation during 2020. Julian Lodge Chairman, Aquinas College Foundation Inc.
Foundation News work of the Foundation Council headed by Chair, Julian Lodge, and supported by its very capable Councillors (mentioned in the Chair’s message above) and College staff contributors. I would also like to thank our departing Year 12’s for the Class of 2019 Scholarship Gift. We are very proud of the Peer Scholarship Program, an initiative that exemplifies the teachings of Edmund Rice. The Program provides our boys with a tangible lesson in giving back whilst enabling a deserving young man to experience all the benefits of an Aquinas College education.
Principal’s Report In this our 125th year of educating boys in the tradition of Edmund Rice, I am mindful of the wonderful privilege it is to be part of this warm and generous community and I thank you for your support this year. In so many ways, the Foundation embodies the spirit and values of our Edmund Rice origins: by its actions and the generous support of our donors and volunteers, the Foundation is able to contribute to the education of boys who will go on to make a difference in their community and the world. The College continues to be grateful to the Foundation for its astute management of its corpus of funds. The Foundation has responded this year to new governance structures implemented by Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) with relation to income streams and will continue to work through these changes over the coming months.
There is much exciting work ahead for the Foundation Council as they seek to enrich and guide the Foundation in its support of the College mission - to educate good young men. The ongoing success of the Foundation is made possible through the generosity of our College community. Every individual gift, whether small or large, makes a difference to the lives of students at Aquinas, but it is the collective power of gifts from the whole community that makes the biggest difference of all. Thank you to all those who supported the 2019 initiatives. I hope you will again support the Foundation in 2020 and inspire others to join us. David McFadden Principal, Aquinas College
On behalf of the College, I extend my thanks to the dedicated and informed AQUINAS COLLEGE
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Special thanks to Mat Scott and members of the PSG and to LAX President Janine Stanley and her ladies from the LAX for giving up their Friday night to serve the food and drinks.
Foundation News
Thanks also to Peter Robertson (Dean of Development), Nichole Rowson and Michelle O’Neil from the Development Office and Louise Symonds from the Foundation Office for organising the event, and to the College staff who mingled with parents throughout the evening. We welcome our new members to the Aquinas College community and look forward to working with you as your family journeys through the College.
EVENTS
Welcome Back Class of 2018
Welcome New Parents’ Evening
The Class of 2018 returned to the College for the annual Aquinas College Foundation Leavers’ Breakfast in the Churack Pavilion on Wednesday 29 May 2019. As the boys viewed their final College Annual, they relished the opportunity to catch up with their peers over a delicious cooked breakfast.
On a very warm evening in November, more than 250 new parents, College staff, Foundation Councillors and representatives from the P&F, Parent Support Group (PSG) and Ladies’ Auxiliary (LAX) gathered for the annual Aquinas College Foundation Welcome Parents’ Evening. This event continues the Aquinas tradition of welcoming new families to our wonderful community and inviting them to be part of their son’s educational journey. Official proceedings included a welcome speech from Foundation Chair Julian Lodge and a run-down of the various groups available to parents across the College by P&F President, Mat Scott.
Dean of Development Peter Robertson welcomed the graduates back to Aquinas, emphasising the importance of the Annual Leavers’ Breakfast as a means of reconnecting with the College and their peers. He went on to congratulate them for their life-changing gift to another boy by way of the Class of 2018 Scholarship Gift. Old Aquinians’ Association (OAA) President Matthew Noonan-Crowe also addressed the boys, encouraging them
Karen Cousins, Rachael Gardiner, Nicole Woodward and Janelle Walford
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to join the OAA to take advantage of the wonderful social and networking opportunities available to them through membership. We wish the Class of 2018 the best of luck in the next stage of their lives and look forward to many more opportunities to welcome them back to Aquinas College.
2019 Thank You Sundowner The 2019 Thank You function for volunteers and donors was held in the Waterford Room on Friday 29 November 2019. Jointly hosted by the Development Office and the Aquinas College Foundation, the event was an opportunity to thank members of the College community who have given back to the College during 2019. Reinforcing the notion of giving thanks, canapés were served by members of our College Leadership Team, whilst Principal David McFadden displayed his impressive skills behind the bar. Guests were delighted with the unique format for the evening, which enabled staff to interact with every guest throughout the evening. Thank you to: Nichole Rowson (Development Office) for organising the event; our talented College Leadership Team for helping to make it a memorable and fun night; and Steve Lewis and staff for providing the delicious food. Finally, thank you to our wonderful College community for all your support during 2019 – we could not do it without you.
Evette Charlton and Hon Eric Charlton (’55) at the Thank You Sundowner
Foundation News 2020 Arts Plus Foundation Ball off and running! The countdown is on for the highlyanticipated 2020 Arts Plus Aquinas College Foundation Ball. For the first time in its 10-year history, the Foundation’s signature event will be held off-campus at the Crown - one of Perth’s premier Ball destinations - on 5th September 2020.
Save the Date AQU I N A S C O L L E G E
With Diamond Road Band signing on again to provide the dance track for the evening, a surprise pre-dinner drinks double act, and an exciting main act collaboration between Aquinas College music staff and Freeze Frame Opera, this is a Ball not to be missed. The ticket price for the 2020 Arts Plus Foundation Ball has been reduced from the 2018 price of $240 to a more affordable $210, with all proceeds to benefit the Arts Plus Project, which includes the creation of a Performing Arts Centre to cater for the thriving Arts curriculum at Aquinas College.
We Need Your Help! Once again, we are seeking support from organisations and individuals within the Aquinas community to enhance our fundraising efforts on the night. Major Sponsor rights are still available, providing an array of sponsorship benefits for the winning candidate, including naming rights for the event and publishing rights across all College media in the lead up to the Ball, at the venue on the night and throughout the evening. We are excited to announce that Soklich & Co have signed on again to provide a stunning, bespoke jewellery piece for the Major Auction. We look forward to
Arts Plus Foundation Ball Saturday 5th September 2020 Crown Perth Standard Table of 10: $2,100 Corporate Table of 10: $5,000 Note: Special Crown accommodation rates will apply For more information please contact Louise Symonds Aquinas College Foundation 9450 0799 foundation@aquinas.wa.edu.au
bringing you updates from Soklich & Co and other auction sponsors throughout 2020.
Sponsorship opportunities include: • Major Sponsor of the 2020 Arts Plus Foundation Ball (Cost: $20,000) • Corporate Tables (maximum of 10 available. Cost: $5,000) • Major and/or Silent Auction and Raffle Items Further information about sponsorship opportunities can be found in the attached flyer or by contacting Louise Symonds in the Foundation Office on 9450 0799 or foundation@aquinas.wa.edu.au
Tickets for the 2020 Arts Plus Foundation Ball will be available for purchase at the beginning of the 2020 school year. To avoid disappointment, tables of ten can be reserved now by forwarding an email to Louise Symonds at foundation@aquinas. wa.edu.au
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Foundation News Waterford Room Luncheon a Huge Success On Friday 26th July, eleven Old Aquinians from the Class of 1977 enjoyed a sumptuous three-course luncheon in the Waterford Dining Room, courtesy of Brad (’77) and Lisa Sinclair who successfully bid for the luncheon at the 2018 Foundation Ball Silent Auction. The classmates thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon at the College and were amazed at the ‘beyond-restaurant quality’ served up by Steve Lewis and his staff.
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“Everything was fabulous and I had a most enjoyable afternoon catching up with our ’77 group,” said Brad Sinclair. “The meal was nothing short of amazing … a far cry from back in our Aquinas days.” “We all thoroughly enjoyed a very special day back at Aquinas and all felt so privileged to have attended such a wonderful school and to have such longstanding friendships from our time spent at Aquinas.”
Following the success of the luncheon, the boys have booked the Waterford Room for a follow up event in 2020.
Giving 2019
Foundation News
2019 has been a big year for philanthropy at Aquinas College and we sincerely thank all our Foundation supporters for their generosity. Your ongoing contributions, whether financial or physical, help the College to provide facilities and educational opportunities for our boys.
Building Fund
2019 Activities
Contributions to the Aquinas College Building Fund have remained constant over the past three years, despite a challenging economic climate. These tax-deductible gifts from the 2019 giving year will be applied to eligible building projects at the college during 2020, including the boatshed redevelopment. As well as providing up-to-date facilities and increased space for our thriving rowing cohort, this muchneeded development will also incorporate an Outdoor Education facility and a well-equipped weights room, vital to the ongoing success of our curriculum. All donations to the Building Fund are allowable tax deductions under the name of ‘Aquinas College Foundation Inc.’ ABN 93 078 219 075, with receipts issued before the end of the financial year. Thank you for your generosity. Together, we can continue to improve our school for today’s students as well as future generations.
Financial Management A major part of the Foundation’s work is the stewardship of funds. Since May 2017, the Foundation Investment Subcommittee has worked closely with our appointed Investment Manager, Vantage Wealth Management, to review and refine our investment processes. All investment recommendations put forward by Vantage are carefully assessed by the Investment Subcommittee before lodgement, providing an extra layer of investment confidence.
Despite considerable slowing in global growth this year, on the back of the ongoing trade war between the US and China,Vantage’s investment offerings have seen the Foundation’s two portfolios continue to grow. Portfolio 1, comprising short term, cash and fixed interest investments, has averaged a return of 2.54% against a target of 1.9% for the 12 months ending 31 October 2019. Over the same 12-month period, the longer term
Portfolio 2, comprising some cash, fixed interest, and Australian and International equities, has averaged a 6.61% return against a target of 4.67%. Vantage has responded well to the challenges of the global market to date, and we are confident our funds will continue to grow under their careful management in 2020.
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Foundation News Annual Appeal for Scholarships - Alumni The 2019 Annual Appeal to alumni has been our most successful Annual Appeal to date, with more than 70 contributions to the Scholarship Program received since the May launch. Thanks to the generosity of our Old Boy community, two deserving young men and their families will enjoy the benefits of an Aquinas College education, commencing in 2020.
Sean Henderson, Acting Deputy Principal, Head of Boarding and Class of 1981explains why he contributed:
The success of the campaign was due, in no small part, to the inspirational stories of past scholarship recipients Sam Shales (’04), Jonas Aranda (’13) and Jiah Reidy (’16), three deserving young men whose lives were altered forever, thanks to the gift of an Aquinas College Scholarship, and who are now making a positive impact on their communities – and the world.
“And, in today’s economic climate, more and more families are struggling to acquire the choices they desire. A contribution to the Aquinas College Scholarship Appeal is one way of helping these families to obtain a sound education for their sons.”
Thank you to our 2019 Annual Appeal donors for helping us to grant more scholarship opportunities to the next generation of Aquinians.
“The history of Edmund Rice Schools revolves around helping out those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to receive a quality education,” said Sean.
“My connection to Aquinas dates back to 1974 when I commenced at the School as a Year 5 student. Aquinas was instrumental in giving me opportunities in the fields of education, sport, and personal growth, and returning to the College as a staff member has been a little like returning home. It just made sense to me to give something back to the College.”
Your gift, their future! “A gift in your Will can be an incredible and considered gift of generosity. People from various backgrounds with different professions, incomes and passions use their wills in various ways - to show gratitude, make a difference or simply to enable others to share some of their own good fortune.” David McFadden, Principal. Whatever your reason, we invite you to perform a considered act of kindness and join the Veritas Society by making a gift to the Aquinas College Foundation in your Will. Your gift, whether large or small, will have the power to change lives. For further information about leaving a gift to the College in your Will, please contact Louise Symonds at foundation@aquinas.wa.edu.au or telephone 08 9450 0799 for a confidential conversation, or visit our website.
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Vice-Captain Sean Henderson (’81) at the Prefects’ Commissioning Ceremony, early 1981
Foundation News Artist’s impression of the new boatshed
Boatshed Renewal Appeal The Foundation has supported the Boatshed Renewal Appeal throughout 2019, with the help of a capable committee, including Committee Chair Peter Bowler, Peter Hutchinson (‘72), Julia Schortinghuis, Nick Collins (’96, Director of Rowing), David McFadden, Peter Robertson (Dean of Development) and Louise Symonds (Foundation Executive Officer). The Foundation thanks you all for your valuable input, with special thanks to Julia Schortinghuis for pulling together two very successful fundraising events (launch of Boatshed Renewal Appeal in May and Launch of 2020 rowing season in November) with her rowing peers, details below.
Appeal Chair Peter Bowler provided additional entertainment with the auction of three oars from the successful ’94 & ’95 crews. Thank you to our rowing community and to our sponsors for supporting this event.
Launch of 2020 Rowing Season The 2020 rowing season kicked off in early November with a fundraising sundowner in the Br N.N. Wilson Boathouse. Thank you to our generous sponsors on the night and to our rowing parents for again supporting our fundraising efforts for the new boatshed. If you would like to support the Boatshed Renewal Appeal and receive a tax receipt, please visit our Online Store.
Launch of Boatshed Renewal Appeal An extraordinarily warm Autumn evening in early May saw the launch of the Boatshed Renewal Appeal at a cocktail party in the Br N.N. Wilson Boathouse. Inside a transformed boatshed,Year 11 jazz band ‘Frankie and the Five’ provided easylistening background music for guests to mingle, view rowing memorabilia, inspect the proposed building plans and artist’s impression of the new boatshed, bid on silent auction items and purchase fresh honey from the honey bar. Later in the evening, auctioneer and Boatshed Renewal
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Foundation News Aquinas welcomes back rowers from the 1950’s On Friday 21st June, rowers from the 1950’s reunited for a special luncheon in the Waterford Room. Head of rowing, Nick Collins, commenced the reunion with a bus ride down to the river to view the N.N. Wilson Boatshed, followed by an inspection of the remnants of the original boatshed - the rowing home of our 1950’s rowers - now just a few pylons in the water. With a captive audience, Nick Collins took the opportunity to explain the case for the new boatshed, citing the poor
John Scott (’59) and Ray Sims (’51)
state of the current shed, the lack of amenities in the shed (toilets, showers, change rooms) and the desperate need for more space to cater for a robust rowing community: we have 180 boys involved in rowing in 2019 compared with 40 boys in 1969 (when the boatshed was built). With the ever-present Canning River in the background, the boys adjourned to the Waterford Room for lunch. College pride and comradery were more than evident amongst the group - despite the passage of more than 60 years - as stories of their
Aquinas College rowing days were shared around the table with much vigour. Thank you to Max Cunningham (’54) for his diligence in tracking down his peers from the 1950’s, thank you to Appeal patron Brian Tonkin for attending the event and thank you to all our rowers from the 1950’s for your generous contributions to the Boatshed Renewal Appeal.Your support will have a significant impact on our rowing endeavours.
Max Cunningham (’54) and Nick Collins (’96) Director of Rowing
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Foundation News Scholarships - The Life-Changing Gift! “When we make a gift to a scholarship or bursary, we invest not only in an individual, but in their future ability to support a family, help others through their profession and contribute positively to their community.The flow on effect of a bursary is substantial,” David McFadden, Principal.
Peer Scholarship Program – Giving back to the College Thanks to the generosity of our leaving classes from 2017, 2018 and 2019 - and a gift from the Class of 2015 received earlier this year – the Peer Scholarship Program has enabled an additional four young men to receive the life-changing gift of an Aquinas College education. Launched by the Class of 2017, the program sees each leaving class raise funds throughout the year to provide a two-year half-scholarship for a boy as their parting gift to the College.
Past Captains Jeremy Burke (’17) and Tim Bodlovich (’18) and 2019 Prefect Matthew Clarke at the commissioning of the Peer Scholarship Program plaques for the Classes of 2017 and 2018 on 3 May 2019
Plaques commemorating the gifts from the Classes of 2015, 2017 and 2018 now take pride of place on the north-facing wall of the Heritage Room, with plenty of space for future contributions.
canola, which was subsequently sold and the proceeds given to the Aquinas College Foundation.”
Rural Community Assists College Life
“The idea of being able to somehow contribute to a young man’s education is very appealing to our entire family. Donating to the College Foundation has meant we have been able to make this a reality. ”
Thank you to the Clune family from Wongan Hills who surprised the Foundation with a very generous grain donation in late December 2018, with the proceeds earmarked for the Aquinas College Scholarship Program.
“In the future, we would love to grow our cropping program at New Norcia so that it can provide more funds on a yearly basis to the Foundation.We are very grateful to local farmer, Adrian Brennan, for his generous help with the cropping.”
“There was a portion of land adjacent to the New Norcia town site sitting vacant, so we cropped it with canola,” said Mel Clune. “2018 was a particularly good year in our district and the land yielded 20 tonne of
School Captain, Ben Darbyshire, explains how and why his peers supported the Class of 2019 Scholarship Gift. “The Scholarship gift to the school wasn’t about buying a fancy item for the College, but rather it was about giving another boy the opportunity to enjoy an Aquinas education and bask in the experiences which shaped the men of the Class of 2019,” said Ben
Contact the Foundation 58 Mount Henry Road, Salter Point WA 6152 T: 08 9450 0799 E: foundation@aquinas.a.edu.au
“The boys seriously enjoyed giving back to the College, through sausage sizzles, donations and other fundraising events.” “Our gift back to the College was also an opportunity to say thanks. To say thanks to the College that helped shape us; to say thanks for all the experiences, memories and friendships it left us with. It is our wish, the Class of 2019 that is, that the money raised go toward letting someone else enjoy what we enjoyed, and thus be filled with the same pride when they call themselves Aquinians.”
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