In Hoc Signo, Volume 20, No 2, June 2022

A publication for the community and friends of Iona College

VOLUME 20 | NO 2 | JUNE 2022

Students from Years 10 to 12 participated in our annual Rosies Sleep-Out Experience. After school they headed down to Rosies and helped sort and box some donated new clothes and cleaned out their drains. The next part of the experience took place in Oblate Hall, where they were served a dinner similar to the food shared with Rosies patrons. The evening ended with a reflection and then the boys had to make a shelter or find some cardboard to sleep on.

After a cool night sleeping without their usual comforts, the group celebrated Mass together in our College Chapel. During this experience, the students raised enough money to buy 21 sleeping bags for Rosies patrons.

OLD BOYS, PAST PARENTS, STAFF AND FRIENDS We invite you to stay in touch with Iona College and let us know where you are and what you are doing in your family and working lives.

If you are aware of any births, deaths or marriages in the Iona Community please inform us by emailing communications@iona. qld.edu.au, or phoning 07 3893 8888.

If you are an Old Boy and would like to update your contact details, please submit the ‘Old Boy Contact Form’ available via the Old Boys’ page on the Iona website www.iona.qld.edu.au.

In Hoc Signo is a publication of Iona College.

Editorial Team Alexandra Lowson and Brayden Teece Design

Alexandra Lowson

Front Cover

Year 7 Mother-Son Evening Year 8 Father-Son Evening

Photography

Alexandra Lowson, Gaynor Begley, Laura Benitez, Pat Hoelscher Photography, students and friends of Iona.

If you have feedback or an enquiry about this issue please contact Alexandra Lowson on 07 3893 8888 or email communications@iona.qld.edu.au.

85 North Road, Lindum Q 4178 PO Box 351, Wynnum Central Q 4178

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CONTENTS 3 4 6 7 8 10 12 13 14 16 18 22 23 24 26 30 34 36 38

FROM THE PRINCIPAL FROM THE RECTOR CATHOLIC FAITH AND MISSION PRIMARY YEARS OBLATE IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY CORPORATE SERVICES DEAN OF COLLEGE FAREWELL TO BILL KELLY STUDENT SERVICES LEARNING AND TEACHING IONA SPORT IONA MUSIC IONA PRODUCTION ARTFORCE BRISBANE FROM THE ARCHIVES HERITAGE PRESERVATION MOVEMENT SPOTLIGHTING IONIANS ILEGENDS PRODUCTION GALLERY

from the

PRINCIPAL MR TREVOR GOODWIN

Recently I read an online post from a person I used to go to school with. The posts I have read from him over the past few years have indicated a very significant interest in weight-lifting.

However, although the item related to his interest in the sport, this is not what drew my attention this time. The post read: “Life lesson 317 - trust the process

Last couple of months gym has been a struggle, lack of motivation, injuries, poor sleep, weird sore bits, etc. Should have trained yesterday but didn’t. Forced myself to go today. Body felt old and like grinding gears no matter how much I stretched. And then pulled out my best C&J (clean and jerk) since 2020.

Walking home reflecting on it. Thought I would share as a reminder that sometimes things don’t seem to be going smoothly. Sometimes you just have to persevere, do what is right, do what you know is good for you and the outcomes still happen. That helps you get back to a good place. So, trust the process.

Also happy because there was a pelican on the river. And pelicans are awesome.”

I found the message interesting because it shows the importance of perseverance and the need to stop and appreciate the beauty around us. Two of the character strengths we encourage our students to develop.

Developing these, however, in our fastpaced society which at times appears to value, or at least reference, the busy-ness rather than the purpose for that busy-ness can be a challenge. Of course, for us at Iona the purpose of that busy-ness is for great outcomes for our students.

As I write this term’s article I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the College staff who have made their contribution to the best possible outcomes for our students and the Iona community.

We have had grounds and maintenance staff work hard over the past few weeks in order to keep the grounds in top shape despite the setbacks of significant rain events. Nurses in our Health and Wellness Centre have continued to work with the challenges presented by COVID and other illnesses prevalent at this time.

Office staff have worked through a busy time with the comings and goings of parents and students, and teachers continue to work with students in order for them to grow into their potential. There are also many others who make their contribution.

Students and parents too contribute to the culture and offerings at Iona. Their contribution occurs in the spiritual, academic, cultural, sporting and wellbeing spheres of College life.

No matter what, despite at times things not going smoothly or as we had planned it, people in our community persevere so that at some point in the future we might be able to achieve an outcome that we haven’t been able to realise for some time. This outcome may not be immediate. It may be the result of ‘grinding gears’ for a period of time but, unless we are willing to work that little bit harder and ‘trust in the process’, we may not achieve our desired outcome.

It is when we achieve these desired outcomes that the moments of beauty around us (those pelican moments) are easier to see. At the end of this term, I would like to acknowledge and thank our staff for their role in helping our students, your children, engage in the process of perseverance and creating opportunities for them to appreciate the beauty around us, whether that is now or in the future.

Just like for parents and community members at home, I hope our staff can enjoy the break and have a sense of satisfaction with the term, despite its challenges, and can appreciate those ‘pelican moments’ as they are walking by the river.

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from the

REC TOR FR MICHAEL TWIGG OMI

There is an old saying that “it doesn’t rain … it pours” and this has been very true of our recent climate circumstances. After dealing with the pandemic and its associated rules, regulations and restrictions, we have faced extraordinary rain that has played havoc with facilities, sporting fixtures and indeed lives.

The launch of the College’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 ‘Space to Grow’ provided us with a unique opportunity to bring together the very many voices that make up our community.

While the weather has impacted greatly on the term, there have still been some very wonderful experiences that are worthy of recording for us to share.

We don’t know exactly what the future will hold, which is why it is important to celebrate the many opportunities held at the College.

Our Catholic faith invites us to be people of hope that see in Jesus a role model, guide, friend and saviour. The presence of Jesus is one of the many supportive aspects of the culture of the College and one that is constantly nurtured.

Our Faith, Music, Sport, Arts and Curriculum departments have all had extremely busy terms in Term 2 and this has led to some very memorable experiences.

The Senior Production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ was a clear example of the talent, dedication and attention to detail that a production needs to have in order to bring it to life. The students, staff and audiences are all to be commended on their roles in this very good production.

The Music Department have also undertaken many concerts and performances and held their first ever concert in our new Provence Centre during the term. The standard and dedication were exemplary.

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This document will influence and fuel the next stages of our development. I recommend its contents to you and invite you all to keep us in your prayers during this next wonderful era for Iona.

Term 2 also saw the support of Rosies, Darkness to Daylight Domestic Violence Awareness, Ukraine Oblate Missions and Shave for a Cure Leukemia Foundation, highlighting again just what a tremendous amount of generosity and goodwill is present within our community. All of these charities sit alongside the many other opportunities of kindness.

The College celebrated a positive and productive Open Day at the end of May and welcomed approximately 1,300 people to the College. This day helps families in their decision making process of where to send their sons to school and we are indebted to the great service provided by the student guides.

These guides really do help bring the College to life and I thank everyone involved in the smooth running of the day.

I give thanks to all of the staff who have provided dedicated service to the students and families over the past term. This era holds particular challenges for everyone and teaching is no exception. I am proud to work alongside so many dedicated staff and hope that they enjoy the mid-year break and come back refreshed for the rest of the year. Our non-teaching staff serve the College in so many ways and I would like to also express my thanks to them for the term as well.

A feature of the Masses is an attempt at authentic participation and liturgical appreciation and celebration. We try and ensure that the students are invited into the prayers of the Mass in order to have the best possible chance for their heart to be open to the Word of God and the love of Jesus.

This is a truly missionary outreach and one that is very counter cultural and not normally experienced by adolescent young men. We believe that we are planting seeds of faith that we hope will continue to grow throughout the rest of their lives and future.

To the families and friends of Iona, I wish to thank everyone who has made a positive contribution to our College culture over the past term. It is deeply necessary and appreciated.

The celebration of beautiful and meaningful Masses and Liturgies has been a highlight of Term 2 as well. Our whole school Mass for the Feast of St Eugene de Mazenod and the House Family Masses for Chisholm/Cebula, Long, Albini, Gerard and Grandin have all been wonderfully supported and celebrated.

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Catholic Faith and

MISSION

MRS LIZ MADDEN, DEAN OF CATHOLIC FAITH AND MISSION

MISSIONARY PEOPLE This term we journeyed through the season of Easter which culminated in the celebrations of the Ascension of Jesus and the birth of the Church at Pentecost.

In the readings of the Church, we heard about the acts of the early apostles. This was a time when the foundational Church was finding its voice, its identity and its feet. Such feet would take the likes of Paul and Barnabas across the Roman Empire to establish and support the growth of new communities of believers.

In this way, they were fulfilling their founder’s dream, when Jesus instructed them to go out and make disciples of all the nations. Before Jesus returns to the Father, he entrusts his followers with the responsibility of carrying on his mission of proclaiming the Good News and of establishing the Kingdom of God. This ordinary group of men and women are the ones who were chosen by Jesus to be the heralds and witnesses of the power of God’s love.

Through their words and actions, the world came to know that Christ is alive and present. As Jesus’ earthly life ends, their mission and ministry begins. But they would not be abandoned. Jesus promised to be with them in a very personal and intimate way - forever. He promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit as strength, guide and advocate.

Today, that responsibility and promise now belongs to us. We are the descendants of these early disciples. It is up to each of us, in our own way, to carry on the mission and ministry of Jesus. St Eugene de Mazenod and his Oblate brothers embraced this mission with zeal and determination.

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Sent to far-flung places, they too established and supported the growth of new communities of believers in places such as Canada, Africa and Asia. It was during our annual Founder’s Day Mass and many of our House Family Masses that we remembered and celebrated these humble and spirit-filled beginnings of the Oblate mission.

At Iona, we continue to fulfil our founder’s dream. Through us, the world will know that the God of love is alive, present and active in our world. It was through our ongoing support of the work of Rosies this term that we made present the love of God in an authentic and tangible way. As Pope Francis says to each of us:

“Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus … every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelisation; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love.”

We have hope that Jesus has not deserted us. He is with us when we gather to break bread with each other. He is with us when we reach out to help and support each other. These are the signs that Jesus is in us and with us, today and forever.

PRIMARY

Years

MR PETER HOLMES, ACTING HEAD OF PRIMARY YEARS

Term 2 in the Primary Years generally sees our Year 5 students begin to settle more comfortably within their Iona College environment. They have learned where most of the important places and people (nurses, tuckshop ladies and Mrs Vardanega’s HUB) are at Iona and are far less likely to be found ‘wandering’!

They have learned how to navigate travel on public transport or how the hustle and bustle of the pick-up zone works. Year 5’s have made friends with each other and are slowly becoming ‘friends’ with their laptops, Compass, OneNote, Math Pathways and so much more which was new to them earlier in the year.

Year 5 have worked through the Iona version of NAPLAN and faced The Provence Centre ‘Student Progress Meetings’ for the first time.

They are still mastering the use of locks and lockers but have become much better at looking after each other, their equipment, tying ties (still some work to do here) and being on time to their various specialist lessons.

In Term 2, we often witness a great growth in our youngest Ionians - both figuratively and physically! The boys begin to display more independence and resilience, become braver and more aware of their surroundings and manage time, responsibilities and challenges with greater confidence and care.

This is indeed a most important term in the first year of their Iona journey and thanks to wonderful family support, staff care and the boys themselves, our 181 Year 5 Ionians are seemingly ‘growing’ with each and every experience they encounter! Well done young men.

I have not forgotten our Year 6 students and will certainly speak of them and their many accomplishments at a later date.

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Oblate Identity and

COMMUNIT Y

MR BRAYDEN TEECE, DEAN OF OBLATE IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY

Connection to our Iona community is what unites us, brings us together, supports us during times of challenge, and drives us to be genuine contributors.

Our commitment to serving our community is part of our ‘DNA’, it is a key value of the Oblates, and it characterises our mission. During Term 2 we have shared in a number of experiences that are expressions of this commitment.

OLD BOYS’ DAY We welcomed back many Old Boys to the College to share in a day that has become a wonderful tradition.

Generations of Old Boys enjoyed supporting the 1st XI football and 1st XV rugby matches, were involved with College tours, attended a special Mass, and shared many stories over a meal and a drink at the annual reunion dinner.

Congratulations to Old Boys from the class of 1972 who celebrated their 50 years reunion and a special mention to the classes of 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012 for their turn out.

OPEN DAY On 30 May we welcomed over 1,300 visitors at our Open Day experience.

This is one of the most important events on our College calendar and provides an opportunity for our local community and beyond to absorb aspects of our culture, tradition, mission and values.

P&F LADIES’ LUNCH The Iona P&F Ladies’ Lunch took place on Sunday 5 June and was attended by over 500 Ionians. The lunch provided a wonderful opportunity for our community of ladies to come together to share in conversation.

Thank you to the P&F organising committee for their efforts in creating what was a wonderful experience.

YEAR 7 MOTHER AND SON AND YEAR 8 FATHER AND SON ENGAGEMENT EVENINGS These evenings provided an opportunity for parents to connect with their sons through an experience that promotes open dialogue, sharing and connection.

Over 600 Ionians joined together in Oblate Hall across two events to find ‘Time & Space’ to celebrate, challenge and extend their relationships.

These events focus on transition and the importance of open conversation as participants discussed the joys and challenges of change.

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Community engagement is a wonderful vehicle to developing, in partnership with families, young men who leave Iona to serve and to make a positive difference. Our special connection is a God-given strength that has enabled us to achieve so much during the most recent period of time.

CONDOLENCES Our prayers are with the families of these Old Boys who have recently passed: Mr Alan Casey Old Boy (1972) Jack Wilson Old Boy (2014) IN HOC SIGNO | VOLUME 20 | NO 2 | JUNE 2022

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CORPOR ATE

Services

MRS SUSAN BOBAN, MANAGER CORPORATE SERVICES

The main Iona College campus and our Outdoor Education Centre, Glendalough at Peregian Beach, are situated on more than 107 acres of land and encompass over 50 different buildings across two sites.

The ownership of these comes with many opportunities for our students and wider community, but also comes with responsibility in a shared sense of stewardship for the resources we have been blessed with.

Through responsible use of our resources, harnessing modern technologies and the reduction of waste, our aim is to not only teach our students about respecting the environment but also demonstrate through action and example.

Recently through the College Board, Iona College engaged 1Circle (Specialist Energy Management Consultant) to help us in the design and implementation of a Net-Zero Energy Plan.

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Our goal at Iona is to become more sustainable in a wide range of areas including: • Energy (electricity use, solar initiatives and provision of shade across the campus) • Water, sewerage and storm water • Waste, recycling and composting • Food and catering (environmental impact of food production, food waste, packaging, etc.)

• Transport (students to/from school, excursions, camps, staff, buses, planes, cars, trains, bikes, walking) • Procurement/suppliers (including paper, printing, books, stationery, art supplies, cleaning chemicals and consumables, uniforms, building materials, etc.)

• Indoor environment • Urban ecology/biodiversity • Sustainability rating programs (Carbon Neutral, Climate Active, Sustainable Schools Qld/NSW/Vic, etc.)

This plan will enable us to take a large step forward towards our strategic priorities and will be an opportunity for us to grow on works and initiatives that are currently in place at the College.

Earlier this term, the College applied for a grant via the Planting Trees for the Queen’s Jubilee Program to provide food and habitat for koalas and native birdlife.

We are also partnering with BMD to move the 110-year-old Wynnum Baptist Church from its current location to Iona. Restoring and repurposing this important historic building will not only honour its earlier life, but sustainably creates another learning space at the College, reutilising existing materials.

Our ICT Department recycles batteries of all kinds and toner cartridges, and works with an accredited recycling partner to recycle student laptops. Most recently, 129 student laptops were reused and recycled, avoiding 187kg of landfill and saving over 29,000kg of CO2. Our next target is to report on and reduce our printer and paper usage by 10% each year.

Our grounds team are finding ways to reduce resources by mulching, recycling, utilising tank water, and propagating plants. They are also currently looking at replacing our fleet of grounds machinery with hybrid models, using less fuel and reducing emissions.

Our students have been involved in many sustainability activities, including container and stationery recycling projects, and most recently took part in the Oblate Sustainability Forum via the De Mazenod Family Education Network.

In the coming weeks, we look forward to taking receipt of twenty 240L bins for the collection of 10c containers as a part of the Containers for Change initiative.

While there is no doubt that there are many more things we could be doing to improve in this space, our efforts so far have shown how important it is for us to continue to drive a holistic approach to achieving a more sustainable outcome on our campus, while also educating our young men in how to best care for our planet in the future.

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Dean of

COLLEGE MR JOHN FRARE, DEAN OF COLLEGE

Iona is blessed to have many dedicated and talented Drama and Music students, and this was on display recently at the College through the Music concerts and the Senior Production, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’.

The breadth and depth of our excellent Performing Arts Department was represented by fine performances at an individual level in some cases, but more importantly, as they came together as groups.

The benefits include an increase in confidence and self-esteem and the opportunity to develop teamwork skills.

Moreover, recent research in the realm of developmental psychology highlights the significance of the ‘creative mind’ and the performing arts provides an arena for creativity and expression.

It also requires great courage to perform on stage or in public, and this is a skill that all of our students will invariably require throughout their lifetime.

The performing arts at Iona encompasses both a curriculum component, through subject areas of Music and Drama, as well as a significant co-curricular dimension. This includes numerous music ensembles, bands, choirs and orchestras, as well as a range of theatrical stage productions, such as theatresports, plays and musicals.

The performing arts is an area of the co-curricular program that is abundant with opportunities for genuine personal growth. We strongly encourage boys to make the most of what is on offer as part of their overall education. While not all boys will play an instrument at Iona, there are many ways for them to be involved in the variety of productions each year, in a range of capacities.

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Our musicians and drama students faced their fears, controlled their nerves and drew upon their many hours of practice to perform in front of peers, family and the wider community this term.

I was delighted to witness first hand this tremendous personal growth opportunity that the performing arts provides. I look forward to further experiencing great performances at upcoming events, where students have similar opportunities to display courage and eloquence in the sphere of performing arts.

Farewell to the voice of

IONA BINGO

MR DAMIAN COURTNEY

Our Oblate community was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Bill Kelly in February this year. Bill, aged 96, was an Iona parent, a proud returned serviceman and a popular member of the Wynnum community.

As the owner/operator of the Day and Night Driving School, Bill helped many Iona students secure their driver’s licence.

Bill and his wife Margaret became Iona parents in the 1960s and their son, Wayne, graduated from Iona as a senior in 1973.

In 1985, Bill returned to the Iona community as the caller of ‘Iona Bingo’ which was held in Oblate Hall on a Sunday afternoon.

Father John Sherman OMI was the Rector of the College at the time and with the support of numerous Iona parents and friends, bingo became an important fundraising arm of the College.

Sunday afternoon bingo became popular with local residents, and it was not uncommon for hundreds of people to be playing. A local bus supplied transport for some elderly from the Wynnum, Manly and Capalaba areas.

Bingo ran for 17 years and funds raised over that time were used for the construction of the Iona Performing Arts Centre.

During this time hundreds of parents generously volunteered to either set up Oblate Hall, support the game activities or assist in pulling down tables and cleaning up to ensure the hall was ready for use by students and teachers on a Monday.

The ‘bingo era’ is another chapter in Iona‘s history where parents bonded together to support the Oblate Fathers and the growth of College facilities for the students. Voluntary support from parents and friends commenced in 1957 when local families gathered for working bees and rallied behind Father Tim Long OMI and his fellow pioneer Oblates of Iona College and their legacy remains strong in our community today.

For many years Bill Kelly generously gave of his time to support Iona College.

Very sadly, Wayne Kelly was tragically killed in a car accident in 1987, but Wayne and other deceased Old Boys are prayed for at our College Masses, particularly the Deceased Ionians Mass of Remembrance which this year will be held on Saturday 5 November at 5pm in the College Chapel.

The Iona community passes on its prayers and condolences to Bill and Margaret’s remaining son, Keith and to the wider family and friends.

If you have any photographs or memorabilia related to Iona bingo, please consider donating items to College Archives.

T: (07) 3906 8941 or E: mamminor@iona.qld.edu.au.

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Student

SERVICES

MR MARK HARVEY, DEAN OF STUDENTS

For the first time in the history of the College, our student leadership structure now includes three College Captains.

PREFECTS

CAPTAINS’ REFLECTION

Jordan Gooding

Albini

Harry Wieland

McAuley

Kallum Rogers

Mazenod

Max Jolly-Perrett

Albini

Lachlan Connelly

Grandin

Tom, Sage and Pat are excellent role models for younger students and are true servant leaders. The character strengths of gratitude, love, kindness, social intelligence, teamwork, bravery, honesty and leadership are all prominent in their character strengths profiles. Their reflections on their year in leadership are outlined below.

Cayman Poole

Anthony

Corey Tearle

Albini

Gabriel Cevallos

Albini

Rhys Joiner

Mazenod

Aiden Peach

Chisholm/Cebula

Gabriel Lohmann

Chisholm/Cebula

Caelan Read

Grandin

Jeevan Cody

Chisholm/Cebula

Pat, Tom and Sage have been greatly supported by the five College Vice Captains and Lead Prefects who lead the service portfolios of Academic, Primary Connect, Spirit and Events, Faith and Mission and Community and Wellbeing.

Drew Smith

MacKillop

Thomas Mitchell

MacKillop

Asher Berrill

Chisholm/Cebula

Caleb Sheppard

Grandin

In a school of 1,800 students with ever increasing demands, expectations and events, there was a need to expand the senior leadership role to three captains.

Recently, the College inducted the following seventeen young men as College Prefects. These students were acknowledged for their selfless work in supporting their House and one or more of the portfolios mentioned above. It is our hope that this group will grow in the second half of 2022.

We congratulate these Ionians.

The appointment of College Co-Captain, which I share with two of my best mates, has resulted in both struggles and rewards.

The additional duties that come with such a significant position have enabled me to observe the school from a different perspective and I now have a deeper appreciation of how much energy, hard work and devotion it takes to run Iona. The possibilities to engage with the community are endless, whether it’s leading chants at AIC fixtures or attending meetings with fellow leaders.

This year’s leadership path has also privileged me with the opportunity to share my experiences and thoughts with our younger students. I believe connecting with the younger Ionians has given them a sense of belonging and a feeling of comfort as they navigate their way through their first years at Iona.

As a result, the opportunity to lead Iona in 2022 with two of my best mates has affirmed my goal to ensure Iona College continues to be the best school for the community.

Sage Van Balen

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iGROW is our theme at Iona this year and one that I can really relate to. I feel grateful to have witnessed life return to what it was like in early 2020, before we really knew much about the pandemic and what it would mean for each of us.

It has been great to return to normal classes, normal activities and normal sport for the majority of our year! So far as a College Co-Captain, I have really enjoyed being able to help younger students, especially Primary boys, experience Iona as I did years ago, having an impact on maintaining the positive environment around the grounds.

Not only has being a role model for young Ionians been important to me, but also for people of the wider community.

Welcoming families to our outstanding school on Open Day and sharing with them many of the experiences and opportunities I’ve had through my eight years of being a part of Iona was a wonderful experience.

Patrick Sullivan My first day as College Co-Captain was a true privilege, walking through the front gate for the last ‘first day’, I was full of ambition, hope and excitement for the year ahead.

So far as Co-Captain, the year has presented many challenges and triumphs.

Throughout Term 1 I truly gained an understanding and appreciation of the way in which the school functions and the impact the Senior leaders of our College have on the younger students.

Attending meetings every day, planning the next initiatives and monitoring those currently in action was an eye-opening experience for me. Contributing to College student lead events and being able to facilitate them alongside my fellow leaders has been a true privilege.

Interacting with both younger students throughout our College as well as fellow leaders from other Oblate Colleges, including Mazenod Victoria, has also been a highlight for me. I have strived to continually be a role model for the younger Ionians and to promote my school with pride.

St Eugene de Mazenod is the patron saint of struggling families and those in crisis, and by living out his desire to support those in need, my focus this semester has been the launch of a

domestic violence prevention initiative called Darkness to Daylight.

Iona College has taken a stand against domestic violence, raising funds towards preventing domestic violence in our community and educating young men at an early age. Collectively Iona has raised over $12,000 dollars towards this initiative and I am privileged to be involved in such a worthy cause.

Thus far being a Co-Captain has been a new and exciting experience, through encouraging Iona school spirit, participating in mission initiatives like Rosies Outreach and embracing the many sporting and music opportunities that I am privileged to be a part of.

I have truly enjoyed my year so far and I can’t wait to continue leading my fellow Ionians for the rest of the year.

Thomas Segger

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LEARNING

and Teaching MRS DONNA ELKINGTON, DEAN OF LEARNING AND TEACHING

REVIEW OF THE AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Teaching and learning programs for students in Prep (Foundation) to Year 10 is based upon the Australian Curriculum. The national curriculum is designed so that students in these year levels can become life-long learners and informed citizens.

The review aimed to “improve the Australian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 10 by refining, realigning and reducing the existing content of the curriculum”1. The review of all eight learning areas is now complete, however, the review of all 16 languages will take longer.

The first version of the Australian Curriculum was released in 2010 and was last reviewed in 2014. To align with the goals of the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (December 2019), Education Ministers believed it was timely for a review.

Throughout 2020-21, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) undertook a review of the Australian Curriculum. Our teachers participated in webinars and forums during 2021 to contribute to this review process and provided valuable feedback.

Some of the key changes in Version 9.0 include2:

The feedback gathered from this review resulted in an updated curriculum, Version 9.0, and this was endorsed on 1 April 2022

by Commonwealth, State and Territory Education Ministers.

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• the removal and reduction of content so the curriculum can be taught with depth and rigour, including a 21% reduction in the number of content descriptions, which describe what is to be taught and what students are expected to learn • a stronger focus on phonics in English • a stronger focus on students mastering the essential mathematical facts, skills, concepts, and processes, and being introduced to these at the right time • making clear what mathematical computations need to be done without a calculator, reinforcing the importance of achieving proficiency in foundational skills

• prioritising Australian history within a global context in Years 9 and 10 • deepening students’ understanding of First Nations Australian histories and cultures, the impact on - and perspectives of - First Nations Australians of the arrival of British settlers as well as their contribution to the building of modern Australia • strengthening and making explicit teaching about the origins and Christian and Western heritage of Australia’s democracy, as well as about the diversity of Australian communities • strengthening the explicit teaching of consent and respectful relationships from Prep (Foundation) –10 in age-appropriate ways • addition of privacy and security in the Digital Technologies curriculum • strengthening the focus on students being physically active and increased content with a focus on activity in natural and outdoor settings.

State and Territory Curriculum Authorities will develop their own timelines to transition to Version 9.0 of the curriculum. Queensland will continue to deliver Version 8.4 of the curriculum during 2022 and throughout this year the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) will develop resources to support schools with the transition.

This review provides an exciting opportunity for the College to review our teaching and learning plans and to ensure that we are incorporating best practices for the boys’ education. If you would like more information about Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum, it can be found at https://v9.australiancurriculum. edu.au/ 1

Source: https://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/curriculum-review

2

Source: https://v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/stories/curriculum-changes

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Iona

SPORT

MR KEITH HARRON, HEAD OF SPORT

SWIMMING WITH THE DOLPHINS

1ST XI CRICKET – 11TH TAS/AIC 1ST PREMIERSHIP

Benjamin Goedemans has been selected in the Australian Junior Dolphins swim team to compete in the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii in August. This international racing experience with the best young swimmers in Australia is a reflection of Ben’s talent and dedication. It is also a reward for the long term coaching of Ben by Iona swim coach, Michael Lewandowski.

A triumphant 1st XI team won the 2022 AIC premiership in a sterling team performance. A combination of excellent coaching, organised hard training and talented players were the key factors in their success. It was most enjoyable for all.

RESULTS

V Villanova College: won 5/211 – 8/210 V St Patrick’s College: lost on run rate V St Laurence’s College: won 8/171 - 117 V St Edmund’s College: washout V Marist College Ashgrove: washout V Padua College: won 8/214 - 175 V St Peters Lutheran College: won 2/99 – 98 Ben has had an incredible season of swimming at elite levels.

He recently won the Australian Under 17 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle titles in Adelaide. Earlier in the year, at the Queensland Schools Championships, he won five gold medals and a silver medal in individual freestyle events – the best ever effort by an Iona College student at a State Schools Championship.

In addition, Ben was awarded the MVP in 1st VI volleyball.

It is all a result from his hard training, relentless willingness to perform and reliability. Perhaps it is the humility that he possesses that makes his success even more distinct.

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TEAM MEMBERS

Cayman Poole (C), Zayne Thomas, Hunter Ellis, Liam Johns, Liam Carter, Harley Malpass, Xander Thierry, Lachlan McClure, Lachlan Bragger, Adam Richter, Daniel Linning, Archer Andersen, Jack Milligan, Thomas Segger, Hamish McKeon.

COACHING STAFF

Matt Martin, Tom Biggs, Matt Jagga, Daniel Payne, Sean Pearce, Brendan Allen. All contributed under the careful direction of Mr Wayne Niven, Head Coach.

The 1st premiership was supported by undefeated seasons by the 2nd XI, 3rd XI, 10A, 10B, 8B, 8C, 8D, 7B and 7D teams. All involved deserve hearty congratulations and it is hoped that the friendships and memories earnt will linger for many years.

Winter results have been strong across all year levels despite willing opposition and continuing distractions from health and weather perspectives. The resilience developed will grow our boys.

VOLLEYBALL PREMIERSHIPS ABUNDANT In summer, volleyball continued to be one of Iona’s strongest sports. The College was undefeated in the 10B, 10C, 10D, 9D, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 7B and 7D AIC competitions. The 1sts team achieved 3rd place. Elite teams will now prepare for Qld Schools Cup tournaments and national competition.

AFL AND SAILING ENTHRALL Iona College fielded 11 AFL teams in 2022 in a sport that is becoming more popular by the year. The 1st XVIII gained 5th place after some narrow losses in difficult conditions.

PRIMARY CROSS COUNTRY AWESOME AGAIN

Our Primary cross country team led the way with a shared winning performance at the AIC Championships. The runners again won their aggregate competition (equal with Villanova), our 18th win in the last 23 years.

Leigh Harding, former North Melbourne player and experienced coach, continues to guide our teams. AFL momentum is building!

Sailing saw dominant performances from our 1sts and 2nds teams which won gold and silver respectively in the Brisbane team racing regatta. At the State Schools Championships, our team achieved bronze, but nevertheless qualified for Nationals in Sydney in July. It will be the College’s 12th appearance at Nationals.

RUGBY, FOOTBALL, CHESS AND CROSS COUNTRY – HUGE PARTICIPATION DESPITE THE RAIN Winter sport was again huge. 28 rugby union teams, 28 football teams, 7 chess teams and approximately 100 runners in our cross country team – it is testament to the provision of healthy competition for many students.

At the annual Ballymore Cup, the 15 years rugby team won its division for the 2nd year in a row, while the 13 years team were runners up. It was a large tournament featuring schools from all over Queensland. All involved enjoyed the experience.

Year 6 also won their age competition. In the Seniors, Iona achieved 2nd place behind Marist and won the 12 years and 16 years age divisions. It was a terrific team effort.

Individually, the following athletes made the podium: Year 6: 1st Cameron Cox 12 years: 1st Aiden Kelly, 2nd Kohen Loskill, 3rd Ted Borg 13 years: 1st Hamish Cox 15 years: 2nd Lachlan McClure 16 years: 1st Darcy Pratten, 2nd Noah Carter

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Iona

MUSIC

MR BRIAN L’HUILLIER, HEAD OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

FROM IPAC TO PROVENCE When I first arrived at Iona as a three day a week guitar teacher, I was taken on a tour of the facilities. First stop was IPAC, the Iona Performing Arts Centre. I was blown away.

Built in 1998, it was an acoustically designed 500 seat theatre, complete with full lighting and sound capabilities, dressing rooms, a green room, large rehearsal spaces and the piece de resistance – an orchestra pit.

An invention from the late 1800s that allows musicians to be hidden from the audience below the stage but allows the conductor to see everything on stage.

Common in theatres such as QPAC and the Sydney Opera House, but not so common in schools.

In May this year we held our first concert in The Provence Centre across five performance areas and stages.

It was the first time that we didn’t have to worry about having enough seating for parents and we didn’t have to change any stage set-ups throughout the evening.

The versatility of this space to cater for activities as diverse as a Catholic Mass, basketball, volleyball, music concerts and assemblies reminds me of the wonder and awe I first experienced walking into IPAC 15 years ago.

Almost 25 years later, IPAC is still one of the best theatres of its kind. There are still no theatres quite like it in the area and very few in South-East Queensland.

With the newly built Provence Centre, another bold and exciting building, now providing the Iona family with a space where 2,400 people can gather, it was a great opportunity to see how such a large space could cater for the Performing Arts.

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Our sights are now firmly set on Music Gala 2022. A celebration of all our cocurricular ensembles. For the first time, our families will have the opportunity to see all our ensembles together in the one place. This would not have been possible without The Provence Centre and the visionary attitude of the Oblates.

THE IMPORTANCE

of being Earnest

MR DAVID COOKE, PRODUCER

Last month, Iona College had the privilege of finally presenting Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ to rave reviews. After months of hard work, sweat and tears, the community was finally able to experience the rhythmic timing, farcical comedy, and cool restraint of the characters on stage.

I sat back and watched as the audience came alive with laughs and applause. I felt a pronounced sense of pride for the amazing students who commanded the stage and brought this wonderful story to life.

Iona has a rich and proud history when it comes to theatre and the Arts; including the Iona Passion Play – one of the oldest continuous theatre productions in Brisbane – first written and performed in 1958. Forty years later, the Iona Performing Arts Centre opened; a leader in community theatre.

Now, as another yearly production closes, we are reminded that live theatre still holds a strong and powerful place in the hearts of Ionians.

It is vital to remember all the cast and crew who made this amazing performance happen. It has been a pleasure working with everyone on this list. I would like to thank: Director - Mr Michael Ware, whose vision and creativity helped bring the play to life.

Assistant Director - Mrs Aimee McDonald Rehearsal assistants - Mrs Bernadette O’Leary, Ms Rebecca Stevens, Old Boy Harry Leis and Old Boy Nicholas Hurford Backstage crew - Reilly Patterson and Chase Melville IPAC Manager - Mr Sam Ould Lighting and sound crew - Kristen Matthews, Zac Shaw, Phillip Whittaker and Henry Carter Set creator and designer extraordinaire - Ms Josie Broughton

Media and marketing team - the wonderful Julia McDonald, Al Lowson, Gaynor Begley and Laura Benitez All of the parent volunteers The cast, of course - Charlton PrussPlanck, Benjamin Cole, Jordan Gulisano, Alistair Mylne, Joel Waycott, Lucas Colton, Caitlyn Sutherland, Flo Farrar and Jessie Kempnich.

Iona College productions are a wonderful tradition and a way to build confidence, have fun, make friends for life and be a part of this wonderful community. If you haven’t experienced the thrill of an Iona production, I highly suggest you do. You won’t regret it!

I leave you with some great reviews for The Importance of Being Earnest: “Such a great production.

Congratulations to the cast and crew.

Well done!”

“Amazing show ... well done everyone!”

“Fantastic performance by the students, very professional”

“Just home from a great night at Iona Brisbane’s production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ with Patrick Oliver. So good! Congratulations to all involved. I may be biased, but Iona is just so impressive as a school! I’d say that’s the best acting I’ve seen in a school play.”– Tom Oliver IN HOC SIGNO | VOLUME 20 | NO 2 | JUNE 2022

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Artforce

BRISBANE

MRS KATIE WOOD, ACTING HEAD OF FACULTY - ARTS

A CONNECTION OF PEOPLE AND PLACE Many in our community will know of Graham’s Crossing on North Road. This is used by our students to cross from the sports fields and carparks to the main College grounds. This special place, sadly, has a tragic history.

In 1981, 6-year-old Lindum State School student, Graham Blachford, was killed crossing North Road. In 2019, Fr Michael Twigg OMI and Iona College funded a traffic light signal box to make the popular crossing safe for current and future students. In memory of the soul lost, it was named Graham’s Crossing.

ArtForce Brisbane is a community program run by Brisbane City Council, designed to give local residents the opportunity to strengthen culture in the way that only art can, by painting their original artworks on traffic signal boxes around Brisbane suburbs.

This long-standing and inclusive community program is part of Brisbane City Council’s plan to strengthen Brisbane’s liveability as a vibrant, creative city. The artworks celebrate the relationship between people and place and add to the character of local neighbourhoods.

Traffic signal boxes become a creative vehicle to express positive social messaging and diverse perspectives about age, gender, ability, and cultural backgrounds. It also helps reduce graffiti and vandalism and makes us feel proud when our public spaces are more beautiful – win win!

Iona Mum, Melissa Clifton, secured the rights to paint the box at Graham’s Crossing as part of the ArtForce Program and thus began the perfect collaboration of connecting people to place.

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A number of current Indigenous artists were asked to contribute their talents to the project including Kyetonn Boah, Bailey Manix, Tyler Pereira, Cordell Boah and Riley Muir.

This project represented a special opportunity to use our gifts and talents to leave a lasting reminder of who we are on the place we inhabit. I am equally as proud of the work as I am of its underlying message and the recognition received.

The bringing together of the life and memory of Graham, as well as the deep and rich Indigenous art expressions has culminated in the very beautiful artwork that now stands on North Road.

This work was recognised by Artforce and the Brisbane City Council as the winner of the Secondary School art installations across Brisbane which brought two beautiful stories into focus and is something that should give us incredible pride.

During the design process, a number of ideas were vetted, including using images of the local migratory birds to symbolise the migration of students to and from Iona throughout their schooling life and beyond.

A connection between our school, traditional owners of the land we have the privilege to teach our young men on, and recognition of a young soul.

We hope to inspire all and remind our young school men, as they use this crossing every day, of the importance of respect to our traditional owners and to watch out for each other and follow the school motto of ‘Live, Learn, Lead and Serve’.

However, when the opportunity came to work with Indigenous Old Boys Ambrose Killian and Matt Robert of Ngalin Ayeye, we knew just the project.

The final work symbolises the connection between Iona College, the Bayside, the Quandamooka people and the current community. We all come together as one, in Graham’s memory, to take care of each other.

‘Graham’s Crossing’ represents the Bayside region and features water, the coming together of communities, and the journeys between these communities. The artists’ handprints represent belonging, and the light blues and white colours of the water patterns represent the Quandamooka region where the Iona College grounds are located.

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From the

ARCHIVES

PRIMARY RUGBY LEAGUE AT IONA TO THE YEAR 2000 MRS ROSEMARY MAMMINO, COLLEGE ARCHIVIST MR DAMIAN COURTNEY, HEAD OF PRIMARY YEARS Iona College has had a tradition of playing rugby league at both Primary and Secondary levels, despite some years when it was not played competitively at the school. In the College’s diary, the Codex Historicus, which includes notes about activities from 1959 to 1974, both rugby league and rugby union codes are mentioned being played in the 1960s. It appears that the dominant code of football at the Primary level was rugby union while at the Secondary level, it was rugby league.

rugby league teams with the opportunity to play in an organised rugby league competition. This became an evolving process. However, once part of a regular competition, the Primary rugby league teams experienced much success.

IONA PRIMARY RUGBY LEAGUE COMPETITION FROM 1969 In the early years it had been challenging as a non-State School to participate in the local State School competition.

However, a combination of persistence

Mr Gary Coghill and Mr John McConnell who helped establish Primary Rugby League at Iona

However, from 1969, the dominant football code for the Primary levels became rugby league. From the start, the challenge was to provide Primary

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and dedication by several members of the Primary staff ensured that the College was able to eventually join the local rugby league competition. Primary

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School teams appear to have played in an organised rugby league competition for the first time in 1969.

Fr McMahon OMI’s entry in the Codex Historicus in 1969 indicates that the Primary School, in their first year of rugby league competition, won two premierships in the 7 stone and 5 stone 7 pound divisions.

Old Boy Mr Damian Courtney clearly remembers playing rugby league in Year Five in 1969. He noted that all Primary level boys played rugby league.

However, there was a House competition at the school level for those who did not make an inter-school team. Such teams were decided on the basis of weight. All players caught a bus to Wynnum Central State School where they were officially “weighed in” on arrival.

Imperial weight divisions were used then including 4 stone, 4 stone 7 pound, 5 stone, 5 stone 7 pound, 6 stone and 7 stone. At this point, Iona had been excluded from joining the broader local rugby league competition. Local organisations offered Iona’s Primary teams a game here and there, but no regular games or premiership.

Mr Brian Phillips, who had taught for a number of years in the State system and was actively involved in the Brisbane and Queensland State Primary Schools Rugby League Association, joined the Iona staff.

He began advocating for Iona teams to be allowed to represent the district. Mr Neil Carmichael, who had been teaching at a local State School also joined the staff and was Secretary of the Wynnum District Primary Schools’ Rugby League Association.

12A Metropolitan Grand Finalists runners up with coach Mr Neil Carmichael -1980

1972 TO 1979 According to Iona’s first Primary Sportsmaster, Old Boy Mr Gary Coghill was given the responsibility to enter Iona into the local Primary rugby league competition. Iona aimed to join the Wynnum-Manly State Primary Schools Rugby League competition but this goal was met with resistance from local State Schools.

During the 1970s, Iona sides would compete against the local State School teams in the Wynnum zone. However, while the College kept an unofficial record of results, Iona teams were not able to score any points and thus were not eligible to represent the Wynnum zone in the Metropolitan finals which were held at the end of the local season.

At this time, no Iona students were allowed representative district honours.

However, Iona staff members contributed significantly to the district organisation with both Mr Coghill and another teacher, Mr John McConnell, voluntarily coaching a Wynnum representative team of State School students which included no Iona students in 1974. Attendance at meetings and voluntary coaching demonstrated that Iona was prepared

to help representative teams and do whatever was needed to open further competition doors to Iona Primary rugby league teams.

Iona’s success in Primary rugby league grew in the 1970s and beyond. By 1973, seven Primary teams competed in the Wynnum District Primary Schools Rugby League. The 7 stone rugby league team won the premiership despite heavy opposition. Other Primary teams experienced some success, including the Iona 5 stone 7 pound team which was undefeated, taking out the premiership.

Their division consisted of only four teams but Iona’s team went through the season with only three points scored against them.

It was Mr Neil Carmichael who initially organised the Patrons Trophy Finals, the inaugural year being 1977. This night of football was played at Kougari Oval the Friday night after the season ended, with the top two teams from each division playing under lights for a Patron’s Shield.

The evening showcased rugby league in the district with Year 3 and 4 students from schools playing display games before the 10, 11, 12 and Open Years finals were held.

The night enabled many parents who worked on a Friday afternoon an opportunity to watch their sons play.

Primary Iona Rugby League player charging for the line -1980

By the late 1970s, the College had a cohort of Primary teachers who were supporters of an expanded rugby league competition for Primary teams.

Younger teams from Guardian Angels and St John Vianney’s schools participated and during the 1980s, a few girls were playing in mixed teams.

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playing soccer or rugby league on a Friday afternoon.

During this time Mr Damian Courtney, Mr Dennis Sacre and Mr Andrew Ricketts joined the Primary teaching staff and these gentlemen added greater depth and Open A team runners up Open Competition with enthusiasm to the coach Mr Brian Phillips -1982 coaching of rugby 1980s league. Mr Dennis Sacre also coached the Queensland Iona’s Primary rugby league teams 12 year old rugby league team and eventually gained acceptance to was later rewarded for his services with represent the Wynnum zone in the life membership to the Queensland Metropolitan finals and Iona students State Primary Schools Rugby League were now eligible for selection in district Association. teams.

By 1985, seven teams and more than In 1980, Iona fielded seven Primary one hundred boys participated in the teams, including two ten years, two local Primary Schools Rugby League eleven years, two Primary Open and a Competition. Both the 10A and 11A further team, the 12A Metropolitan Grand teams won the Finalists. Having won the premiership premierships. over all teams in the Wynnum district, The year 1989 Iona won the right to represent the local marked a huge area in the Metropolitan finals. milestone in Iona’s The Metropolitan finals were a series Primary rugby of knock out games where the premiers league success. from the eight zones across the greater Over one hundred Brisbane region met in quarter-finals and twenty boys and semi-finals with the two undefeated participated in teams meeting in the prestigious final held matches on Friday at Lang Park. afternoons.

The year 1980 was in fact the first occasion that a non-State School was entitled to play in these finals.

Iona shared this “first” with Padua, but were narrowly defeated by them in the grand final.

There was great growth in the Iona Primary School during the next few years and students now had a choice of

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1990s In the 1990s, more Primary boys participated in the rugby league competition and accolades continued for teams and individuals.

In 1990, from a total Primary enrolment of two hundred and seventy-one students, over one hundred and thirty boys (ten teams) took part in league fixtures. The 10A team won the local premiership and Patron’s Trophy Final while the 11A and B teams remained undefeated the entire season.

Two players of the 12A team were selected for the Brisbane South team and one player for the Queensland twelve year old team. Nine teams participated in the local competition in 1995 with the Open A team enjoying a successful season, winning the Patron’s Trophy Final.

The Iona A eleven year old side won the Metropolitan final.

The 10A, 11A and 12A sides won 10A Metropolitan Rugby League team winners with coach Mr Damian Courtney -1989 their respective Wynnum zone Iona’s teachers continued to give premierships and advanced to the generously to students in the district by Brisbane play-offs. All three teams made coaching or managing district teams or the finals, winning all three games and by voluntarily accepting executive roles. making Iona the first school in many Mr Neil Carmichael, after many years as years to accomplish this distinction. district Secretary, took on the position of

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This meant that the Iona Primary School would now play sport in the CIC competition where sport was played on a Saturday and opportunities were greater for boys to represent the College in a wider field of sports, including rugby union in Term 2.

Thus, after 32 years of involvement, the curtain was drawn on Primary School rugby league.

Nineteen years later, rugby league returned to Iona as a sport available for Primary students and is now currently played on a Saturday in the AIC competition in Term 3. Teams from Year 5 and Year 6 competed that first year and beyond.

Open A team played in Patrons Trophy Final with coach Mr Peter Holmes -1993

President, Mr Gary Coghill was District Treasurer for many years and Mr Damian Courtney (1983-1992) and Mr Andrew Ricketts (1992-2000) took on the challenging role of Secretary.

Mr Peter Holmes and Mr Glenn Heazlett became new staff members who coached successful rugby league teams.

With increased enrolments, the number of Primary rugby league teams continued to grow, but games became harder to find in the local competition. By the year 2000, 162 boys were coached by six Primary teachers.

Finding suitable games for all Iona teams was becoming more challenging.

In 1993, Iona was accepted into the Combined Independent Colleges (CIC) Primary sporting competition. In addition to playing rugby league on a Friday afternoon, a few Primary teams now played rugby union on a Saturday in the new competition.

Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of this account from the available records in College Archives.

Material for this article was sourced from information in “The Codex Historicus”, from the former Dean of Staff, Mr John Carroll, the Head of Sport, Mr Keith Harron, the first Primary School Sportsmaster, Mr Gary Coghill, the Head of Primary Years, Mr Damian Courtney, the Acting Head of Primary Years, Mr Peter Holmes and from “The Ionian”, 1973-2001.

After prolonged discussions, the decision was eventually made to leave the Wynnum District competition.

At this point, the Iona Secondary School was well established in the TAS Association where rugby union was the predominantly played winter code. There was a plausible argument for rugby union to be played from Year 5 at the College.

Iona’s Primary School continued to grow to the point where Iona was fielding more teams than any other school in the district.

While numbers were growing within, some State Schools were struggling to find teachers to coach rugby league and their team numbers were declining.

Under 11A Metropolitan Rugby League Runners Up team with coaches Mr Glenn Heazlett and Mr Dennis Sacre at Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park) - 2000

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Iona College joins

HERITAGE

preservation movement CAYLIE JEFFERY AND KERRY FORSYTHE, SNAPSHOT STORYTELLING

The protection of heritage sites has been a global movement since the World Heritage Organisation opened its doors in 1972. A huge amount of research has been done since then into the community significance of historic sites in Australia, including finding solutions to the problems involved with preservation.

Just to be clear, ‘heritage’ is about the traditions, languages, events, stories and experiences inherited from the past, revolving around ‘place’. Heritage is moveable and ever-changing; its very nature and historic influence shapes who we are now and points us in the direction of where our society is headed.

LET’S GO BACK IN TIME A LITTLE …

The Baptist Mission was established in the Bayside area in 1910, initially supported by a small congregation in the Shire Clerk’s office, and later, at the Old Town Hall.

A few years later, Rev. W. Richer and Mr J. Figgis drew up the initial plans to build the Wynnum Baptist Church, after they purchased two allotments of land in Edith Street.

The life story of any place is remembered by preserving the spaces that contribute to the telling of that story. Once an old building has gone, the significance of a place can be lost in people’s memory … have you ever visited a house you once lived in, only to find it gone?

SO WHOSE ‘JOB’ IS IT TO PRESERVE?

That duty has to fall upon the very community whose stories are wrapped up in that place.

The belief in the value of conservation and preservation, rather than demolition, is inherent in the Iona College community.

They know that historic sites are not replaceable and that the cost of preserving a heritage building as a multi-use resource is sometimes more sustainable than engaging in new construction.

Early in May of this year, the historic Wynnum Baptist Church buildings on Bay Terrace were cordoned off with builders’ fencing, indicating an imminent development - but it’s not a demolition that locals will see. It’s relocation. It’s conservation.

It’s preservation they’ll be witnessing.

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The original building, constructed by J. L. Sands, and fitted out in Siberian and British oak by J. L. Oakley, was small and unlined, with only three windows on each side. Later, it was lined and extended to five windows on each side, to cope with the increasing congregation.

In 1914, the Constitution of the Wynnum Baptist Church was formed, and the Rev. R. Lauchlan became the first Pastor of the Church. He went to serve in World War One as a private soldier and sadly, never returned. A handsome Pulpit Bible, suitably inscribed, was placed in the Church in his memory.

After significant growth of the congregation in the 1920s, a decision was made to find a bigger site, preferably on Bay Terrace. In the interim, Mr G. Leggett designed and supervised the construction of a Sunday School Hall and the Pastor’s Vestry, which were added at a cost of £500.

In January 1930, two congregation members, Mr and Mrs E. R. Humphreys, donated two blocks of land in Bay Terrace to the church on the condition that it be relocated there as its permanent home. Here, the Wynnum Baptist Church “could stand as a witness in the busy street of the town”. The buildings were then removed from Edith Street in two parts to its present site where the buildings were fitted together and the front modernised.

Unbeknownst to them, Bob had been captured after the fall of Crete, and held as a Prisoner of War at Stalag 17 POW Camp in Germany. When the telegram arrived from Bob on 18 May 1945, to say that he was alive and fit in England, having been released, the joy was celebrated by the whole Baptist community.

The Pastors of the Wynnum Baptist Church were active community leaders, who served their parishioners in many ways.

Not unlike the school leaders at Iona, who provide care, support and education to their school community, the Wynnum Baptist community received the same.

The removal and alterations cost approximately £650 and were then able to provide seating for 200 parishioners.

In 1975, a new, larger, brick church was built, “not a wasteful over-decorated specimen of architecture, but rather a warm yet practical and functional worship centre,” according to the local media at the time.

The original building, no longer used as a place of worship, became a space for various community activities over the years to follow, and was offered to various local organisations to keep up the property’s maintenance for the people of the Bayside.

FAST FORWARD TO THE 1940s …

Parishioner Bob Hunt, of Wynnum, had gone to serve in World War 2, as a Private, with his parents’ blessing and the support of his community. Towards the end of the war, Private Hunt was classified as Missing in Action, much to the distress of his parents.

If those church walls could talk, they would tell you about decades of communities that have worshipped, danced, prayed, learned, sung and gathered within them; the leaders who have provided pastoral care for the Bayside community; the parishioners who have taken solace from the Sunday sermons; the fund-raising events run by the Girls’ Brigade to assist those in need; the lively dance classes provided by a local dance studio; and the innumerable social occasions that have graced the church since it was built 110 years ago.

Unfortunately, the church sat unused for over a decade before the final destination was decided, and the buildings fell into disrepair.

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Iona College knew what was at stake because they already prioritise the need to preserve stories, spending quality time instilling a sense of historical pride in their students. This includes educating Iona’s young men and families about their Oblate heritage, as well as ensuring that they value and develop an understanding of their local history.

Development and redevelopment are an unavoidable necessity in our world, and on many occasions, significant heritage sites like the Wynnum Baptist Church have come under severe pressure from several directions.

As one can imagine, there are many project stakeholders wrapped up in a heritage restoration, namely, project owners and clients, project financiers / sponsors / grant-givers, project managers, contractors and builders, architects, heritage consultants, engineers, quantity surveyors, superintendents, heritage administrators, tradespeople, conservators and archaeologists.

The most currently accepted way to maintain a heritage-listed building is through adaptive reuse. This involves finding a new use for a place in order to bring new life to the building and attract investors.

The BMD Group was the developer that had purchased the land under the church buildings and had gained council approval to build a residential / commercial building on the site.

After discussions with the locals, and the Wynnum Manly Historical Society, BMD CEO, Scott Power, agreed it was important to relocate the original church building to a local Bayside site.

When Iona College got wind that the historic Wynnum Baptist Church needed relocating, they reached out to the BMD Group to see what they could do to help. Iona and BMD suddenly became an integral part of the heritage conservation movement when they started discussions about moving the Wynnum Baptist Church onto the grounds of the school.

For BMD, it was common practice before any of their developments take place to look at the potential impacts of their projects on historical sites.

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“BMD is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate, working with organisations who embody our values to achieve long lasting benefits in areas including arts and culture, job creation, environment, and social and community development.”

Scott Power, CEO of BMD, and past student of Iona College.

SO WHAT WILL IONA DO WITH THE BUILDING ONCE IT’S RESTORED?

The building has a Christian and Arts Heritage and its future will also be in those realms. The original church was connected to many families from Iona College. The stories that live within the Baptist Church will eventually become part of our story and will serve as a constant reminder that we exist as part of our local community.

The relocated church will be renovated on a plot of land that students will walk past each day on their way to and from the train station, a constant reminder of their historic connections to the Bayside community. Located in close proximity to their new indoor gathering space (The Provence Centre), it is the vision of the school that the former church will serve multiple purposes.

Obviously, the main challenges to retaining heritage places, for both the public and the heritage professionals, are related to the financial aspects of heritage projects. The state of the current building, as well as ongoing maintenance after renovation, also played a major part in the decision-making process.

“The stories that are contained within the walls of this building become our responsibility. Iona is a school that exists not just in a community, but for its community.

Our commitment to service extends to the preservation of our local history that is both proud and valued.”

BMD and Iona’s Church Preservation and Relocation Project shows a commitment that should influence the overall construction landscape in Brisbane. The preservation of historic buildings protects important environmental, cultural, social, aesthetic, architectural and spiritual values.

The future use of these buildings has been designed in such a way that it does not deviate far from the original use of the building, while at the same time satisfying Iona College’s needs.

The pleasing view of the church in its new position on the Iona College grounds and the harmony that it will create are going to be irreplaceable. It will be recognised as a landmark and will symbolise a bygone era from the Bayside area with its special character imprinted on the renovated buildings.

REFERENCES The Impact of Retention of Heritage Places by M. Perovic, V. Coffey, S. Kajewski and A. Madan A new version for Australia’s Heritage. 2013, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Media release Araoz, G. F. 2011. Preserving heritage places under a new paradigm.

Australian Heritage Strategy State Library of Qld Archives Wynnum Manly Historical Society BMD Website https://heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au/

Brayden Teece, Dean of Oblate Identity and Community.

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Spotlighting

IONIANS

MR LANCE COASSIN TEACHER - ENGLISH & HUMANITIES What motivates you to work hard and give your best?

The knowledge that what I do matters. Whether it’s the small things or actions yielding big returns for myself or others. Life is hard if we don’t work together and if what I do helps at least one other person then what I have done and what I do is justified – it matters.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Becoming a teacher. I’ve done a lot in my life, working in hot, sweaty kitchens in the middle of heatwaves, travelling the world playing music and learning the hard way that life isn’t fair as I pushed through hard times which I couldn’t see ending.

When I became a teacher, it was the culmination of all the stories and experiences I have lived through. Now I am blessed to share those experiences with my students, helping them to grow and prosper at Iona College. I hope that I can show them that perseverance is worth it, even if they can’t see that end goal yet.

As you reflect on your time at Iona, is there one person or action that has particularly influenced you?

In my short time here at Iona, I’ve had the privilege of being welcomed by a loving community that looks out for everyone. In particular, I am blown away at the generosity and humility of students and teachers who support the Oblate missions and the work of Rosies so selflessly. The culture of looking out for each other and for those in need bleeds into everyday life. At Iona, I see how everyone looks out for each other and it is contagious, as I find myself falling head first into this mindset as well.

How would your friends describe you?

That guy who talks a lot. I always seem to have something to say and it takes all of my objective willpower to close my mouth lest I say something without thinking. I love to have a chat, so if you’re in that mood, come find me and say hello!

What makes you laugh?

Authentic silliness. Not the type to get attention but the type that is unintentional - good natured. The type that makes you realise that we are all human and shouldn’t be taking ourselves so seriously. The type of silliness that makes sure everyone in the room has a smile, because we all must grow old, but growing up should be optional.

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MR MAURIZIO PICCARDI GROUND STAFF I arrived in Australia on holiday 40 years ago, having left my job in a bank in Chile, and ended up staying four years. When I arrived, I had to learn how to speak English and cook, clean and iron - it was not easy. I had many different jobs, including milkman, car wash attendant and salesman, concrete works and fibreglass pools. I also had the opportunity twice to work in PNG, as a BHP contractor.

When I married my wife, we moved to Switzerland for more than a decade and my son was born there. While in Switzerland I worked in five star hotels and in UBS Private Banking.

What motivates you to work hard and give your best?

It is a pleasure to work here, simple or difficult tasks are easy because I enjoy everything about this place. I am always happy to learn new things and to try different foods, sports and jobs. My heart is full, I work with some very nice people.

Who inspires you in tough situations? Who do you inspire?

The people I work with inspire me, we have a good team on the grounds. I hope to inspire my son to make the most of his opportunities in life.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I love tennis and have had the chance in Australia to coach a small group of young boys. At the Queensland Tennis Centre we practiced alongside Ash Barty. She had a photo with the boys I coached and it was a very proud moment.

As you reflect on your time at Iona, is there one person or action that has particularly influenced you?

Mark Robba, the Maintenance Manager, inspires me to work hard.

He has lots of energy and keeps us motivated. He takes an interest in my family and team and helps when someone is having a tough time.

How would your friends describe you?

Passionate and honest. Someone who appreciates the simple things in life and values family.

What’s your favourite family tradition?

Every Sunday we have a meal together, lunch or dinner, it doesn’t matter as long as we make that family time. We catch up on all that is happening and stay close over a home cooked meal - delicious.

DARCY STILL YEAR 5

JOSHUA ROSEWARNE YEAR 5

How have you been feeling about your first weeks at Iona?

How you have been feeling about your first weeks at Iona?

I have felt proud to be an Ionian and I feel like I have settled in well.

My teachers, fellow students and everyone who works at Iona have all been incredibly welcoming and supportive.

I feel like I have really started to fit in well at Iona. The teachers are helpful and the school work is challenging. There are lots of play areas and space to run around and spend time with my friends.

How is Iona different to your previous school?

How is Iona different to your previous school?

Iona is different in many ways to my old school. SJV has less students and a much smaller campus with just two play areas. Iona has so many fields and so many sports that I get to try with my friends.

Iona is definitely a lot bigger than my previous school. Iona is teaching me to be more independent and getting me to try new sports and it also pushes me academically.

What is something you are really proud of?

What is something you are really proud of?

I am proud of how much I have learnt since starting at Iona and was so excited when we all got our very own laptop. Competing in the AIC Swimming Championships was exciting and a little scary.

I am proud that I have set my goals high to finish my schoolwork ahead of time and I’m determined to do my best at this school.

What is something that challenges you?

Something that challenges me is how little break time we have. The work is also very challenging.

What are your goals for 2022?

I am working hard to be the best student I can be. Learning Japanese is interesting and fun and I hope to be able to speak it one day.

Is there someone special who has influenced you in your life?

I was mainly influenced because my Mum and Dad heard great things about the school. We heard Iona had lots of opportunities, including sport, and I also live very close which is super handy.

What is something that makes you laugh?

I mainly laugh at my Dad’s jokes. They are just so bad I can’t help but giggle. My Mum’s aren’t much better, but they think they’re hilarious.

How would your friends and family describe you?

My family describes me as their baby boy or “Sporto”, because I love sports. They tell me how proud they are and if I’m trying my hardest, they are happy. They also tell me to clean my room all the time and that is probably something I should work on.

Do you have a favourite family tradition?

On my birthday, my Mum makes a mud cake with Peppermint Crisp and sparklers on the top and we all sing happy birthday as a family.

What is something that challenges you?

I find the level of sport quite a challenge. We have so many boys who are excellent at sport and I think it challenges me to do better.

What are your goals for 2022?

My goal for 2022 is to get straight A’s on my report card. I try my hardest each week to achieve this goal and I hope I make it.

Is there someone special who has influenced you in your life?

My Dad was an absolute genius in math and spelling and he inspires me to be more like him every day. He always wanted me to attend Iona and he would be very proud of how I’m going.

What is something that makes you laugh?

My friends make me laugh when they goof around and I love telling jokes and awkward stories to make my friends laugh too.

How would your friends and family describe you?

My family would say I am very focused on the things that interest me.

Specially things like LEGO! I love creating motorised cars and other creations I imagine up. My family would say I am very creative.

Do you have a favourite family tradition?

My favourite family tradition is pizza and movie night on Fridays. It was even better on the days my Dad would do a BBQ or roast for us.

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S D N E G iLE JAMES HOLLANBY CLASS OF 2006 I attended Iona from 1999-2006. My interests included art, graphics, physics and competing in many sports such as volleyball, cross country, soccer and rugby. I was fortunate to have many supportive teachers, the most influential of which was Michael Doyle, who always encouraged me to meet my full potential in both study and sport. My time at Iona allowed me to grow my passion for health and fitness and develop the analytical and artistic skillset which led me down my chosen career path.

After graduating from Iona, I directed my focus to pursuing a career in architecture. I enrolled at the University of Queensland where I studied a Bachelor of Architectural Design and after a year of experience in architectural practice, returned to complete a Master of Architecture. It was a challenging course, but one that aligned well with my interests, challenged my way of thinking, and introduced me to a diverse cohort of creative and open-minded individuals.

I have been practicing architecture for 12 years now, predominantly working in the education sector designing schools, early learning centres and various commercial buildings. I hold architectural registration in Queensland and New South Wales and have enjoyed the opportunity to work across many parts of Australia and New Zealand.

I am now well established in Hutchinson Builder’s education team contributing to the planning and delivery of many school projects, including large scale vertical schools.

Since leaving school, a reliable outlet for me has been my interest in running and fitness. A passion that developed during my time in the Iona Cross Country team has since motivated me to stay active, take on physical challenges and engage with the local community. I have competed in many running events and triathlons, including one of my proudest achievements, running sub 3-hours at the Melbourne marathon in 2017.

I spent seven years as a volunteer run director at local running event, Wynnum parkrun, where one of my regular joys was seeing black and white Iona caps out in force, setting the pace and encouraging others along the way. Contributing to such a welcoming community-based event was very humbling and taught me to appreciate all personal achievements, regardless of how big or small.

In August last year I had the pleasure of marrying my amazing wife Caitlin. We have bought our first home together in Manly West and are excited to launch Caitlin’s business, Little Blooms Speech Therapy.

Last year I made a significant career shift, moving from a design-based role in architectural practice to a coordination role in construction.

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Reflecting on my life since school, many of my proudest achievements have been a result of pursing interests developed at Iona. If I were to give any advice to current students, it would be not to underestimate the value of opportunities offered at a school like Iona. Whether your pursuits be in academia, the arts, sport, or community - give everything that appeals a go. What starts small could develop into a rewarding passion later in life.

If you have news you would like to share in the next edition of the In Hoc Signo, please let us know by emailing communications@iona.qld.edu.au.

JEFF LACOSTE CLASS OF 1990 Within two years I was a Supervisor, progressing to Site Manager, Contracts Administrator, Senior Project Engineer and since 2011, Project Manager with a Tier 1 company, delivering major infrastructure projects here in Brisbane. I still love building and have been able to use my position to help a few other Ionians obtain placements within the industry.

Iona also taught us to give back to the community and over the years I’ve really enjoyed helping out charities through various fundraisers and working bees. The current program 3:16 is a great initiative by the school, ensuring these values are delivered for many years to come.

It does not seem that long ago that I graduated from Iona, even though it was 1990 - wait, that is 32 years ago! I arrived at Iona in 1989 in Year 11, having relocated from interstate. I remember my first days walking up from the station and into homeroom. I didn’t know anyone that first day, yet have many friends I still talk to, have a beer with, go fishing with or just catch up for birthdays all these years later.

Married 23 years with two sons, my real enjoyment over the past seven years has been watching my boys attend the College and watching them grow as they move through the grades.

During these recent years I found a new connection with the school as an Old Boy. Helping out with sporting teams and working closely with Mr Harron (and other parents) to establish the Mountain Bike Program. Designing the MTB clothing was also really fulfilling. What started out as half a dozen boys racing Enduro together and representing Iona at the National Schools Competition has now grown to over 60 boys racing for Iona! Iona MTB on Team App for anyone wanting to join.

When we had our 30 year reunion a few years ago, it was like a weekend party with all the boys back together. No one had really changed, everyone was still true to themselves and living life to the fullest.

Iona is definitely a special place for me and watching my boys attend the College, I look back on my time and the teachers who influenced me. Careers Councillor - Joe Kantor, Commerce - Mr Leadbetter, Woodwork and Metalwork - Mr Briggs and Mr Syd Salisbury who all pushed me to make the most of my time at Iona.

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a carpenter.

Apprenticeships were hard to find and I started off as a cabinet maker at a local business in Wynnum. During my apprenticeship I also studied at night to achieve a Diploma in Building for my builders registration / licence - by the time I completed my apprenticeship I was licensed! I resigned from the joinery business and commenced contracting to a local builder. From there my career really took off.

I really enjoy mountain biking (as you can see) and have great memories of taking all of the boys riding prior to the school program.

Iona is a place where I can reflect on the new life I started after moving interstate all those years ago. A place that generated many friendships I still maintain today. A place where I’ve watched my sons grow and a place I will always feel part of.

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Iona PRODUC TION

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