Aquinas College Foundation Newsletter - Issue 5 - 2020

AQUINAS COLLEGE

Foundation News

AQUINAS COLLEGE

Foundation Issue 5 - December 2020

Merry Christmas!

The Aquinas College Foundation wishes everyone a safe and happy Christmas.

Foundation News generous Aquinas community for your support during 2020 across all our appeals and activities – we simply could not do it without you.

Despite disruptions due to COVID-19, the Foundation continued its valuable work for the College and was able to conduct Council meetings virtually during lockdown. Some of our more notable achievements this year are highlighted below: • Developing and adopting our new 10 year Aquinas College Foundation Strategic Plan 2021-2030

Welcome Message from the Chair While we have suffered major challenges this year due to COVID-19, we are pleased to report that we have still been able to successfully progress the Foundation’s strategic priorities.

I would like to sincerely thank our Foundation Council Members - Ashley Bacon (Deputy Chair), Jonathan Murray (Board Chair), Michael Hughes, Julia Schortinghuis, Caroline Bryndzej and Matthew Noonan-Crowe - for their support throughout the year, together with the Investment and Fundraising Sub-committees. Our Executive Officer, Louise Symonds, continues to do a sterling job in promoting and driving all of the Foundation’s initiatives and we really appreciate the contribution she has made again this year. Thank you also to our

• Successfully running the 2020 Annual Appeal (including a $50,000 Major Gift) • Gift in Will Program continuing to grow, with the Veritas Society receiving three publicised new members and three anonymous new members • Donating $358,000 to fully support the College Bursary Program • The Class of 2020 Scholarship Gift donation • The successful online auction of the 20AQ Licence Plate • Funds raised for the new River Centre through the annual Building Fund Appeal and Boatshed Renewal Appeal transferred to the College

Moving Forward In 2021, we look forward to implementing the new Aquinas College Foundation Strategic Plan 2021-2030, focusing on our two key priorities: the provision of bursaries for boys who would otherwise not be able to attend Aquinas and the provision of funds for College capital projects (as required from time to time).

We will also seek to identify alternate income sources to aid the College.

Early in the New Year, we will formally welcome a new Foundation Councillor, Fiona Gebauer, who will add considerable depth to our fundraising and marketing capabilities.

Of course, one of the highlights of next year’s calendar will be the 2021 Foundation Ball (postponed this year due to COVID-19). Further details will be provided in due course, but for now be sure to ‘save the date’ - 4 September 2020.

On behalf of the Foundation, thank you again for your support this year. I would like to wish you all a happy and safe festive season and I look forward to working together with you again in 2021.

Julian Lodge Chair Aquinas College Foundation

• The successful staging of our annual Foundation events pre-and postlockdown, including the Annual Thank You Sundowner in late November

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Foundation News confidence, a 0% increase in tuition fees in 2021. While the immediate future is secure, what of the long-term future?

How does the College plan for a future of volatility and uncertainty?

The College Foundation - central to the future of Aquinas College Recent studies from CEWA and others have highlighted five increasing difficulties facing all Catholic Schools in Perth: 1. Decline in local Catholic demographics 2. Decline in economic status of middle classes 3. The disconnect between increase in wages and education fees 4. Future school government funding model 5. Changing nature of future employment A number of these threats have been accelerated this year, with the COVID crisis affecting current and future parents’ income and well-being. Out of this challenging period, the Aquinas College Foundation has ensured that no boy has had to leave due to financial hardship.

The security provided by the Foundation enables us to continue to support our families during this COVID disruption and assists the College Board to set, in

The Sydney Morning Herald on August 26, 2020 ran the headline: “Wealth, not faith drives most Australian students to religious schools”. The article was reporting on the publication of the Cardus Education survey, the first of its kind conducted in Australia. The survey analysed how ‘millennials’ who finished high school between 1998 and 2011 were faring, both materially and in a range of life matters, including relationships and community connections. The report noted that those who went to religious based schools were faring markedly better but the findings did raise concerns about the increase of advantage and inequality that threaten social ties across Australia.

The so-called meritocracy our Australian societies aspire to, with the claims that anyone should be able to rise in accordance with their talent and be rewarded for it, is a destructive delusion.

There is no level playing field, only a race heavily fixed in favour of those who already have the most. The roles of luck and advantage are ignored. Wealth and success are melded with worth. A solution offered is education.Yet, is our education a solution if it is inaccessible to the marginalised?

touchstone’s requirement to “demonstrate a preferential option for the poor by standing in solidarity with those who are powerless and marginalised, and strives to provide access to those who otherwise would not seek enrolment”.

Aquinas College needs to ensure its mission in relation to inclusivity both as an EREA school and as a member of the Church. It is only through the wonderful work of the College Foundation that we are able to offer a Foundation Bursary Program, which provides an Aquinas College education to boys from families who are unable to afford a Catholic education.

We believe, as did Blessed Edmund Rice, in the divine agency and liberation that comes with a strong faith and good education, so the true value of these Foundation Bursaries are found in the young lives that are changed. I would like to acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed to the College Foundation and those who serve on the Foundation Council. I hope the generosity and hard work of our community will continue in 2021.

David McFadden Principal Aquinas College

Aquinas College, as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition, follows an adherence to four key touchstones.

Our current environment increasingly challenges the College to fully align with the core elements of the ‘Inclusivity’ touchstone. In particular, to meet the AQUINAS COLLEGE

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Foundation News Old Aquinians & Friends Reunion Tour Lunch The Foundation and the College were delighted to welcome back the Old Aquinians & Friends Reunion Tour for their annual thank you luncheon, held on Wednesday 22 January 2020 in the Waterford Room.

This year, our intrepid travellers presented Principal David McFadden with a cheque for $5,120, the proceeds of their 2019 bus tour to Esperance.

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David thanked the group for their significant and ongoing support of Aquinas College, which has boosted our Bursary Program by a massive $57,000 over the past fourteen years.

Thank you to the Old Aquinians & Friends 2019 Reunion Tour group for helping more boys to receive the benefits of an Aquinas education.

P.S. Anyone interested in joining the group’s next adventure should contact Jack Bana (‘54) on 9275 2883 or j.bana@ bigpond.net.au

Foundation News Welcome Back Class of 2019 The Foundation welcomed back the Class of 2019 on Friday 9 October 2020 for the annual Aquinas College Foundation Leavers’ Function – with a twist: instead of the usual breakfast in the Churack Pavilion, the boys enjoyed an evening sausage sizzle in the Staff Common Room.

he said. “Last year you guys were good enough to put a contribution into the Scholarship Fund by way of the Class of 2019 Scholarship Gift – that gift is now helping a boy to be at Aquinas this year.”

their lives and we look forward to many more opportunities in the years ahead to welcome them back.

We wish the Class of 2019 all the best as they navigate the next exciting stage of

The event kicked off with a tour of our new River Centre conducted by Head of Rowing Nick Collins before heading back to the Staff Common Room to catch up with class tutors and classmates and to check out their last College Annual.

Peter Robertson warmly welcomed the graduates back to Aquinas, congratulating them for their generous contribution to the College by way of the Class of 2019 Scholarship Gift.

“This year, as I’m sure you’ll appreciate, has been an unusual year,” said Mr Robertson.

“One of the significant impacts this year for the College has been the way we have had to support families. There are now a whole lot of families who simply cannot afford to have their sons at school here,”

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Foundation News Welcome Parents Evening On the evening of Friday 4 November, more than 100 new parents, College staff, Foundation Councillors, representatives from the Parents and Friends’ Association, the Ladies’ Auxiliary and our 2021 College Captains, gathered on the balcony of the Staff Common Room for the annual Welcome Parents Evening.

While the Foundation has been an integral part of the Aquinas landscape for more than 20 years, new families who join our community every year are often unsure of our role within the College. The annual

Welcome Parents Evening provides the Foundation with the opportunity to introduce our pending new families to the work of the Foundation before they commence their Aquinas College journey.

Foundation Deputy Chair Ashley Bacon warmly welcomed everyone on the night, outlining the role of the Foundation in assisting the College to secure a sound financial future, while P&F President Mat Scott detailed the roles of the various parent support groups available at the College.

As an extra treat for new parents, our 2021 Student Captains joined us, welcoming guests as they arrived on College grounds, escorting them to the venue and chatting with them throughout the night.

Welcome to our newest members of the Aquinas College family. We look forward to working with you as you journey through the College.

Save the Date: Aquinas College Foundation Ball Following the Covid-related postponement of the 2020 Foundation Ball earlier this year, the Foundation is pleased to confirm our much-loved Ball will now take place on Saturday 4 September 2021 at Crown Perth.

Mark your diaries now and keep an eye out for further communications in the New Year.

If you would like to support the Ball in any way – auction items, corporate tables, etc.

- please contact Louise Symonds from the Foundation office at foundation@aquinas. wa.edu.au or 9450 0799.

Save the Date AQU I N A S C O L L E G E

Arts Plus Foundation Ball Saturday 4th September 2021 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

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Foundation News Annual Thank You Function The 2020 Thank You function for College volunteers and Foundation supporters was held in the Waterford Room on Friday 27 November 2020. Jointly hosted by the Development Office and the Aquinas College Foundation, this event affords the chance to thank members of the College community who have given back to the College during the year.

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, and the College and the Foundation are

sincerely grateful and thankful for the amazing support we have received from the Aquinas community throughout the year.

Reinforcing the notion of giving thanks, our College Leadership Team, including Principal David McFadden, donned aprons to serve the canapĂŠs. Guests were delighted with the format 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 and excellent bar service.

Finally, thank you to our wonderful College community for all your support during 2020 – we could not do it without you.

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Foundation News Giving 2020 In what has been a difficult year for many in our community, the Aquinas College Foundation is sincerely thankful for your generous support - current and past parents, Old Aquinians, staff and friends of the College – throughout 2020.

Every contribution –whether large or small – has been received with gratitude, helping us to build on the generosity of previous benefactors to provide for the students of today and tomorrow.

Annual Building Fund Appeal Thank you to those families who were able to continue to support the Annual Building Fund Appeal during a turbulent 2020. Your tax-deductible contributions to the Building Fund have enabled the College to continue with important capital works projects across the campus, including the new River Centre.

Commencing in 2021, the annual fee statement will provide current families with the choice of contributing $500 (or

any amount they are comfortable with) to either the Building Fund or the Scholarship Fund.

Whilst contributions to the Building Fund support our educational buildings and facilities, contributions to the Scholarship Fund enable the College to offer bursaries to families who would otherwise be unable to afford an Aquinas College education.

2020 Annual Appeal for Bursaries – your gift will help!

Thank you to those members of our community - alumni, current parents, past parents and staff – who generously supported our 2020 Annual Appeal for bursaries. Now in its fourth consecutive year, the Annual Appeal has become a regular fixture on the Foundation calendar, raising much-needed funds to grant more bursary opportunities to boys who would otherwise not be able to attend Aquinas College.

With the catch phrase – Your gift will help! - Support for the 2020 Appeal greatly exceeded our expectations, despite launching in the middle of a pandemic. Expansion of bursary offerings to the College is a key objective of the Foundation and it was gratifying to see that our donors also identify closely with the importance of bursaries as life-changing gifts. Donations received and the number of donors participating increased by 269% and 15.5% respectively, compared with 2019 figures. Increased participation from College staff was noted and particularly welcomed.

All bursaries resulting from the Appeal will be awarded on a case-by-case basis, according to the financial needs of the family and the boy’s capacity to make the most of an Aquinas College education.

Thank you for supporting our 2020 Annual Appeal Total funds received for Bursaries $81,262 Total number of donors 72: alumni, current parents, staff and past parents.

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Foundation News Giving 2020 Boatshed Renewal Appeal Thank you to all our supporters - over many years - who have helped make our new River Centre a reality, whether by contributing your time, expertise, dollars, AC Rowing memorabilia or simply your opinion.

Completion of the number one rowing facility in Western Australia has been a very long time coming, but will most definitely be worth the wait. The rowing community is excited about the prospect of a facility that adequately caters for our flourishing Rowing and Outdoor Education Programs.

Again, please accept our apologies for the rescheduling of the River Centre Supporters’ Function, originally planned for Thursday 29 October 2020: bureaucratic red tape has held up the issuance of our Occupancy Certificate. Invitations for the revised function have been issued and a reminder will be sent out after the Christmas break.

The College looks forward to showing off the River Centre in the New Year.

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Foundation News Giving 2020 20AQ Licence Plate In the absence of the 2020 Foundation Ball and associated auctions, the Foundation decided to host an online auction for the 20AQ Licence Plate. Launched on the EBAY platform – with the help of IT Manager Trevor Lee - two weeks out from Graduation and advertised across our social media platforms, the auction provided a bit off fun and some healthy competition between bidders in the lead up to the big day. The campaign received a total of 45 Bids and a top bid of $3,650.

Congratulations and thank you to outgoing parents James and Nicky Richards who placed the winning bid, gifting the plates to their graduating – and very lucky - son, Ethan (’20).

The proceeds of the auction will be put to good use, providing more bursaries at the College.

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Foundation News Giving 2020 Gift in Will Program During the year, the Aquinas College Foundation Gift in Will Program welcomed three new members to the Veritas Society – established to thank those who leave provision for the College in their Will.

At a morning tea ceremony hosted

by Principal David McFadden and the Foundation just before lockdown – John (’65) and Bella Perry and the late Nick Garratt (represented by his brother Chris Garratt (’62) were thanked for their generous gifts to the College and presented with Veritas Society pins.

In September, various members of Geoffrey Cowcher’s (’56) extended family, including his brother Max Cowcher (’50) and his sister Kath Carr, gathered for morning tea as David McFadden and the Foundation thanked Geoffrey for his generous gift to the College in 2014, welcoming him posthumously to the Veritas Society. As Geoffrey’s surviving siblings, Max and Kath were presented with Veritas Society pins.

Your Gift, their future!

If you would like to learn more about including a gift to Aquinas College in your Will and joining the Veritas Society, or you would like to notify us that you or a late family member have already included the College in your Will, please contact: Louise Symonds at foundation@aquinas.wa.edu.au or 9450 0799 or visit our website.

Thank you to all our Veritas Society members – including those who choose to remain anonymous: your support of Aquinas College will be treasured and will help the College well into the future.

A special thank you also to our Veritas Society Patron, Justice Eric Heenan, for his ongoing stewardship of the Gift in Will Program and for his wise counsel.

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Foundation News Giving 2020 2020 Peer Scholarship Gift Once again our Leaving Class have boosted bursary opportunities at the College, raising funds for the Class of 2020 Peer Scholarship Gift.

Despite limited time to raise funds throughout the year – thanks to the Covid-19 lockdown – the boys and their families raised an incredible $8,000 towards the 2-year half-bursary which will support another boy and his family during Years 11 & 12, commencing in 2021.

The Peer Scholarship Gift Program, launched in 2017, has so far received gifts from the leaving classes of 2015 (received in 2019), 2017, 2018, 2019 and now 2020, opening up an Aquinas education to an additional 5 boys and their families. Thank you to the class of 2020: your gift will change lives and communities.

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A word from the College Captain, Kynan Ganza This year has objectively been one of the hardest I’ve known, let alone a year in which to finish year 12, maintain co-curriculars or organise council/school events.

On the matter of organising ourselves to support the Peer Scholarship Program, a proud tradition among leaving classes, our councils (not only year 12’s, but younger members as well) poured a great deal of thought and effort into designing ways we could work toward this goal. As the year turned out, however, running fundraisers became very difficult, despite all the planning that we had put in. Luckily, in the end, we were able to reach out to our very generous parents and community in seeking fundraising support.

Indeed, we have our parents and community to thank, not only for our own ability to partake in the Aquinas life, but also for the privilege of being able to, as a leaving class, offer our funds raised toward a 2020 Peer Scholarship. Although the work we put into planning other fundraisers within our councils may have gone amiss this year, the nature of the councils means that the work is not lost. With this in mind, we are thankful for the many contributors to our Class of 2020 Scholarship Gift fundraising efforts and are equally optimistic for the continuation of the program’s legacy through the councils and the newly appointed 2021 College Prefects.

Foundation News Aquinas College Bursary Program 2020 The Foundation is proud to have supported the College’s Bursary Program during 2020 with a substantial gift of $358,000. Providing opportunities to boys who would otherwise not be able to afford a life-changing Aquinas College education is a major focus for the Foundation.

An Aquinas bursary unlocks a boy’s full potential, boys like Corey Sellars (’19) whose life was changed dramatically when he was awarded the Terry Burke Family Scholarship for Years 11 & 12. Corey, who is now studying an undergraduate degree in physiotherapy at Notre Dame Fremantle, shared his story and the impact his education at Aquinas College has had on him and his family.

What did achieving an Aquinas College Scholarship mean for you and your family?

Receiving the Terry Burke Scholarship made a significant difference to my parents in particular, allowing them to not have to worry about how they were going to pay all my school fees and making the whole process much easier and less stressful for them.

Why did you and your family choose Aquinas?

I had my mind set on Aquinas very soon after deciding I wanted to go to Perth (from Katanning) for my last two years of school. After looking around on the internet and talking to a few people associated with Aquinas, my decision was made. I remember our first visit to the school: we were really impressed with the welcoming staff, the facilities and programs

available and believed it was the best place for me to develop in all aspects of my life.

XVIII football team, 2nds basketball as well as athletics.

How do you remember student life at Aquinas?

What do you think about the Aquinas College Scholarship Program?

I have many great memories from my 2 years as a student at Aquinas. I remember at the beginning struggling to cope with the different expectations and standards that came along with attending such a prestigious school. However, I soon formed a great group of friends to work with and get through it together, pushing each other along the way, whether that was in the classroom, on the sporting field, completing extracurricular activities or as a person. This would all come together to create the unforgettable experience I had at Aquinas.

What did your years at Aquinas teach you?

In my 2 years at Aquinas the major thing that stands out to me in terms of what I learnt is that nothing beats hard work and that in order to reach the lofty goals that I’d set for myself a lot of hard work and dedication would be required. This lesson is something that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life.

The Aquinas College Scholarship programme is a fantastic way to provide a much needed opportunity to those who would otherwise not be able to come to Aquinas. I believe it has the ability to completely change the course of your life through all the opportunities Aquinas provides during your time at the College to help you get the very best out of yourself.

Above photo: Corey Sellars (’19), Undergraduate, School of Physiotherapy, Notre Dame.

Corey’s story highlights the value of bursaries and reinforces the reasons why the expansion of bursaries at the College is a major focus for the Foundation.

What were your achievements at Aquinas?

Whilst at Aquinas I well and truly achieved more than I ever expected to, earning three ATAR subject awards in year 11 and another three in year 12, as well as academic merit awards. I was also awarded the Saint Thomas Aquinas award upon completion of year 12. In addition, I represented the College through the 1st

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Foundation News Financial Management From its earliest days more than 20 years ago, the Aquinas College Foundation has been focussed on growing its capital base through steady investment returns and community donations to build longterm security for the College. In 2020, the Foundation Council undertook the important process of completing the Aquinas College Foundation Inc. Strategic Plan 2021-2030 to reflect the needs of the College as outlined in the Aquinas College Strategic Plan 2021-2030.

The planning process has enabled the Foundation to refine its focus to two key College priorities: the increased provision of bursaries to support families whose boys would otherwise not be able to attend Aquinas College; and the provision of funds for capital projects, as required by the College from time to time.

Since May 2017, the Council has worked closely with our appointed investment manager,Vantage Wealth Management, to prudently grow our fund capital and earnings and to continually review and refine our investment processes.

All investment recommendations put forward by Vantage continue to be carefully reviewed by our Investment Sub-committee, providing an extra layer of investment confidence.

For an overview of our investment portfolio performance for the 12 months ending 31 October 2020 please see the Vantage Wealth Management Report.

With the fallout effects of Covid-19 on Australian and global markets expected to continue well into 2021, the Foundation recognises that we must maintain our vigilance. In 2021, we will continue to work closely with our wealth manager as we work towards our bursary and capital project goals in support of the College.

Contact the Foundation 58 Mount Henry Road Salter Point WA 6152 T: 08 9450 0799 E: foundation@aquinas.wa.edu.au

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