• Pope John Paul clarifies the situation with a stateme nt on circumstances when general Absolution Is possible. See page 6.
PERTH, WA. May 8, 1986
Number 2478
LOCATION: 26 John St, Pertl (off Fitzgerald St POST ADDRESS PO Box 50 Perth Aberdeen St WA. 6000
TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388
PRICE 50 cents
• Papal tour organisers give seal of approval for arrangements organised In Perth for Pope's November visit. See page 2. A
• To her students, Sister Margaret at Morawa has become the singIng nun. Sister Margaret is achieving renown as a songwriter. See pages 6 and 7.
youth groups' annual riverboat cruise has again resulted In a resounding success. See speclal picture spread, page 13.
The new John XXIII College represents the Church's long term commitment to Catholic education and its buildings were designed not for 10 or 20 years but for 1 00 years ahead, the chairman of the Catholic Education Commission, Dr Peter Tannock said this week. This weekend, staff, students and parents are engaged in a massive relocation of classroom equipment from the former Loreto and St Louis sites to the new Graylands College. 'The move is a major landmark in Catholic Education in WA," Dr Tannock said. "It is the largest secondary Catholic school enterprise in the history of the church in WA, with an enrolment of 1260 pupils and a staff of 100. Special 'The new college is the culmination of the vast amount of creative energy of the past five years, built on the traditions and sacrifices of the people responsible for the development of the original schools. "People probably said the Loreto Sisters were mad when at the turn of the century they bought the fashionable honeymooner's Hotel 0sborne on Freshwater Bay as their boarding school." This vision and that of the Jesuits in buying the Stirling Highway prop-
erty in the 1930's had come together in the new college.
Chairman of Catholic Education Commission Dr. Peter Tannock
Their generosity in passing over the properties without cost should not be forgotten, Dr Tannock said "The estimated cost of the new project was $11-12 million but the school was accomplished not by spending that amount of money but by the exchange of land and a fund raising campaign which had raised about $1 million. "Thus the school had been able to make this shift by building on the labour and enterprise of the past without raising its school fees. "In this way the school maintains the broad access of the community, which is what a Catholic school is all about." Dr Tannock said the complex was unique in the function and quality of its buildings but far beyond the
Reporter
point of view of aesthetics and function is the value for money that has been achieved. "The facilities are well within the guideline standards costs laid down by the Commonwealth Schools Commission and what has been achieved is a very comprehensive complex at bargain basement costs." The types of buildings and their location had been designed to reflect the particular philosophy of the Church in education. he said. Dr Tannock paid particular tribute to the school board, to its chairman Mr O'Connor, the principal Sister Denise and the architect Mr Tony Brand.
Archbishop Foley dedicating the Clontarf Aboriginal Training and
Educational College. Seated behind
him is Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Ernie Bridge who unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Another 'chapter'
The Clontarf Aboriginal Education and Training College was another wonderful chapter in the 80 year Christian Brothers' history of giving help and opportunity to those who needed it, Archbishop Foley said last week. He said the Catholic Church supported the development of the project which offered young Aboriginal people a chance to find their place in society without denying their own aboriginality. At a ceremony to dedicate the new venture, the interim board chairman Mr Tony Lee outlined the two year history of the
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venture following the closing in December 1983 of the former Clontarf program for residential disturbed adolescents. A Christian Brothers' working party had investigated possibly catering for: young offenders, intellectually handicapped, truanters, unemployed and homeless youth, and Aboriginal youth. The focus of the current program, he said, was to help up to 50 15-18 year old Aboriginal youth who found it difficult to
stay ill the formal education system. It would support their Aboriginal identity, present them with a Christian way of living. help them take responsibility for their own lives and to acquire skills needed for further education or employment. Archbishop Foley said this new program answered a need for young Aboriginals "to feel at home, where they can feel they can be what they are so that they can become what they are called to be." "Staff, parents and students
will find an 11,ironmut to support the Aboriginal identity without which they can not find the courage, dignity and confidence to go out into the wider community." Archbishop Foley said the white community had to learn the importance of the vision in which youths will have a college to meet their needs. "The success of this college will require a lot of courage, a lot of determination and above all a lot of time, including learning from mistakes that may have to be corrected," he said.