A publication for the community and friends of Iona College
VOLUME 20 | NO 1 | MARCH 2022
This term, we celebrated our Commitment Mass and our commitment to grow both as individuals and as loving and nurturing members of the Iona community. This special Mass provided us with the opportunity to commit to supporting our Year 12 students as they embark on their final year at the College. We give thanks to all those who have provided support to these boys and pray that together we continue to help them navigate the pathway ahead. Congratulations gentlemen.
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
Inspired by the Iona College Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025. Photograph by Andrea Thompson Photography.
Photography
Alexandra Lowson, Andrea Thompson Photography, Georgia Manion, Pat Hoelscher Photography, Studio Kirby, 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 6 7 8 10 12 13 14 18 19 20 22 24 26 30
FROM THE RECTOR FROM THE PRINCIPAL CATHOLIC FAITH AND MISSION OBLATE IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY CORPORATE SERVICES DEAN OF COLLEGE LEARNING AND TEACHING STUDENT SERVICES PRIMARY YEARS IONA PRODUCTION IONA SPORT FROM THE ARCHIVES SPOTLIGHTING IONIANS ILEGENDS SEAGULLS SATURDAY
from the
REC TOR FR MICHAEL TWIGG OMI
On behalf of the Oblate Community of Fr Lewy Keelty OMI (College Chaplain), Fr Meno Basti OMI (Parish Priest of Cannon Hill/Tingalpa) and Fr Joe Antony OMI (Rosies Chaplain), I welcome you all to Iona’s 2022 academic year. This community is enriched with many new members and our belief that it therefore becomes a brand new community. While we don’t live in the past, the past lives in us and this heritage and culture continues to grow. Our student community numbers have grown to 1,810, making this the largest ever cohort. Alongside the inevitable staff increases, we are a community of more than 2,000 people who gather each day at the College’s beautiful Lindum campus. Our Iona family community has also grown and is as diverse as life itself and it is this richness that brings us incredible joy. The enthusiasm for the start of the school year was tempered by the Queensland Government’s declaration that the start would be delayed by two weeks with the next wave of COVID-19 reaching our society. This decision, coupled with significant COVID spread and severe flooding in February and March meant that resilience was a strength that required great nurturing.
I would like this article to express the College’s profound gratitude to each and every Ionian who worked hard to adjust to the seemingly ever changing circumstances. The highest priority has been the safety and well-being of the boys, their families and also staff. Each of the decisions made tried to reflect that very important balance. I would also like history to record the College’s appreciation for Mr Trevor Goodwin, our Principal and the entire Leadership Team for their due diligence and dedication to our community. Momentum and flow are very important factors in building capacity in communities and organisations and this has been very difficult for some of our boys, families and staff given the challenges listed above. It is also true to say that we have still found a way to celebrate our culture, faith and identity through House Masses, the P & F Colour Run, Strive to Achieve Assemblies, Commitment Mass, Oblate Student Leader’s forum, Launches of our Year 11 and 12 Catholic Studies Programmes (3:16 and 10:10), resumed AIC fixtures, Debating, College Production, Sailing, P & F Meetings, student tutoring and flood recovery work.
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One of Iona’s strengths lies in our commitment to community. This community is both within Iona and beyond. We sincerely believe that while the boys have entered Iona to learn … they leave Iona to serve and that is not just at the end of Year 12. Every single day offers that invitation and challenge.
Our Catholic Christian tradition is founded on a loving relationship with God that is fully celebrated through the Easter mysteries that we are now experiencing. Even if you read this article at another stage of the year, we are essentially always an Easter community celebrating Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Our belief is that LIFE is bigger than death and that the promise of eternal life is made to all. I sincerely wish you all a safe, happy and holy Easter and invite you to consider attending some of the religious services in your area. Some of the local services can be found on the following page. Take Care and God Bless.
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Local Parish Easter Service Timetables 2022 Birkdale – St Mary MacKillop Parish 12 Hardy Road Holy Thursday 6.00pm Mass Good Friday 3.00pm The Passion Holy Saturday 7.00pm Easter Vigil Easter Sunday 8.00am Mass Bulimba – Sts Peter and Paul Parish 25 Main Avenue Holy Thursday 7.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday 10.00am Stations of the Cross 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Holy Saturday 7.00pm Easter Vigil Easter Sunday 8.00am Mass 5.30pm Mass Camp Hill – St Thomas’ Parish 31 Perth Street Holy Thursday 7.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday 10.00am Stations of the Cross 3.00pm Passion of the Lord Holy Saturday 6.30pm The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night Easter Sunday 8.30am Mass of the Resurrection (No 5.30pm Mass) Cannon Hill – St Oliver Plunkett Parish 21 Beauvardia Street Holy Thursday 7.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday 9.30am Stations of the Cross followed by confessions 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Holy Saturday 6.00pm Easter Vigil Easter Sunday 9.30am Mass Carina – Our Lady of Graces Parish 100 Mayfield Road Holy Thursday 7.00pm Good Friday 10.00am Stations of the Cross 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (Dominic Centre - beside the Church) 7.00pm Italian Stations of the Cross Holy Saturday 7.00pm Easter Vigil Easter Sunday 7.00am Mass 9.00am Mass 10.30am Italian Mass (No Evening Mass on Easter Sunday and NO bookings) Gumdale – St Jude’s Church New Cleveland Road Easter Sunday 7.00am Mass
Hemmant – St Joseph the Worker Church Cnr Youngs Road & Peplow Street Easter Sunday 8.00am Mass Lindum – Iona College Chapel 85 North Road Good Friday 10.00am Stations of the Cross 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Easter Sunday 7.30am Mass Manly – St John Vianney Parish Cnr Ernest Street & Koorangin Street Holy Thursday 6.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday 9.00am Stations of the Cross 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Holy Saturday 7.00pm Easter Vigil Easter Sunday 9.30am Mass Wynnum – Guardian Angels Parish 198 Bay Terrace Holy Thursday 6.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday 10.00am Stations of the Cross 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Holy Saturday 6.00pm Easter Vigil Easter Sunday 7.00am Mass 9.00am Mass Manly – St Paul’s Anglican 99 Ernest Street Maundy 7.00pm Eucharist Service Thursday Good Friday 8.30am Recognition of the Cross Easter Sunday 8.30am Family Easter Celebration Wynnum – St Peter’s Anglican 77 Charlotte Street Maundy 7.00pm Eucharist Service Thursday Good Friday 8.00am Mass of the Pre-Sanctified Easter Sunday 5.30am New Fire 8.00am Eucharist Service
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from the
PRINCIPAL
MR TREVOR GOODWIN
In this article I would like to thank and acknowledge the work of all members of our community through what has been an interesting and challenging term. Students, parents, staff and volunteers have had to adjust several times this term in order to support one another as we began the 2022 school year. Despite having to do this, people banded together to assist one another throughout the term. Our on site start to the school year was delayed two weeks due to the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. However, our Year 11 and 12 students began their learning in our At Home Learning mode. This meant that teachers of these year levels adjusted quickly to prepare lessons which students could successfully undertake from home. For our other year levels, the College made a deliberate decision to wait until students eventually joined us on campus to begin their learning for 2022. We know that relationships are an important ingredient in learning and the College made decisions, where we could, to prioritise those relationships as the starting point for our learning and teaching program.
of our community. Again, teaching staff, students and parents had to move to the At Home Learning mode, which was an increase in work load for staff and parents. Our Grounds and Maintenance staff were of course kept busy by the repair, restoration and inspection work created by the enormous volume of water which fell on our buildings and rose across our ovals. Office staff too were kept busy at times with phone calls from parents needing to pick up their children for fear of being cut off from homes. Once more, I would like to acknowledge the work of all of our staff through this challenging period, not only for us as a College but for many of them on an individual level. Parents and families also experienced their own challenges and as a community we worked together to
Providing an additional challenge this term was the rain and flooding experienced in Brisbane in late February and early March which saw the College closed for several days as we looked to protect the health and safety of members
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be supportive and understanding of the rapidly changing circumstances. Throughout all of these challenges we were able to run a successful Term 1 of co-curricular activities. AIC sport were able to run all but two weekends of games, sailing has been able to continue with a brief pause and we have just enjoyed the first of our Music Concerts for 2022. In addition, our Senior Production continues rehearsals for their performance in May. So, despite an interrupted and challenging term, Iona continues to be a busy place but most importantly, a supportive and caring community. I hope those who are able to have a break over the Easter holiday period are able to spend it with family and friends and remember the message of hope that Jesus’ resurrection symbolises for us.
Catholic Faith and
MISSION
MRS LIZ MADDEN, DEAN OF CATHOLIC FAITH AND MISSION
Each year Christians spend the six weeks leading up to Easter Sunday reflecting on the event that changed the future of humanity – Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Our college began its Lenten journey with our Ash Wednesday liturgies when we were reminded that rich personal and spiritual growth takes place when we acknowledge our shortcomings and ‘repent and believe in the Gospel’.
Whether it involved giving up some luxury, or food indulgence, including extra prayer in our day, offering some service to someone in need or donating to the annual Project Compassion appeal – Ionians were invited to spend time in the ‘desert’ with Jesus, creating more space for him in their lives. The resurrection of Jesus shows that suffering, disappointment and death can be transformed into new life. Christians believe that they live this pattern now and that it will continue after death. Easter gives us a hope that promises fullness of life.
Christians are Easter people. In fact, the Easter season is considered the high-point of the Church’s liturgical calendar. During Easter, we immerse ourselves in the mystery, joy, and hope of Christ’s resurrection – alleluia! This continues for the fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, and beyond. During this season, and every season of the Church’s year, prayer can nurture our relationship with God and one another. Prayer life is integral to the life of our Iona community. It provides the context and means for us to celebrate and enter more fully into our lives, relationships and community. Prayer life and liturgy create a sense of purpose and identity, reflecting the uniqueness our community whilst developing an understanding of our shared humanity. It links us with the wider Church and Oblate community throughout the world and calls us to share the good news. Our community was invited to take up acts of penance during Lent, in the form of prayer, making sacrifices and going without (called fasting) and giving to others (called almsgiving).
As a Catholic community, we invite all members to live the gospel of Jesus Christ as hope-filled, creative, active and informed agents of change, who are empowered to shape and enrich our world.
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Oblate Identity and
COMMUNIT Y
MR BRAYDEN TEECE, DEAN OF OBLATE IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY
Our community is reshaped and refreshed every time a new student begins their journey at Iona. Local families continue to trust the Oblates with the education of their young men, and it is pleasing to know that Iona remains a preferred option for so many families who are seeking a faith-based education. In 2022 Iona has continued to grow and currently exists with a healthy student population of 1,810 students. After a staggered and delayed return to school, 306 excited new students have begun their Iona journey and climbed the Iona Hill for the very first time. I look forward to working alongside these young men and their families as they leave their mark on our community and shape the future of our college. SONS OF OLD BOYS Each year we welcome a growing number of second and third generation Ionians. This growth demonstrates the value that our Old Boys place in an Iona education. The concept of following in the footsteps of their father and upholding the traditions that they have heard so much about is something that these young men take very seriously and are very proud of. Our Old Boys remain an integral part of our Iona community. OLD BOYS DAY It gives me great pleasure to announce, on behalf of the Old Boys’ Association, that our 2022 Old Boys’ Reunion is scheduled to take place on Saturday May 28. I look forward to welcoming many Old Boys home to Iona on what is a special day in the calendar. P & F COLOUR RUN Over 800 Ionians gathered to share in a colourful morning of fun, laughter, comradery and physical fitness at the Iona Colour Run hosted by the Parents and Friends Association. Current and future students, parents, staff, old boys, friends, and community members joined together to enjoy each others’ company in what was a wonderful celebration of community. 8
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WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS @ IONA Following on from the success of 2021, HostPlus Rugby League returned to Iona College on Saturday 26 March with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls taking on the Northern Pride. This event was a wonderful acknowledgement of the strong relationship that has existed since the foundational years of both community organisations. Iona is a College that exists for the community, not just within the community, and this event was just one expression of our commitment to this pledge. The Seagulls had a great day in front of a supportive crowd, winning all four games. Thank you to the many volunteers who gave of their time and energy to enable this wonderful community event to be a success. CONDOLENCES Our prayers are with the families of these members of the Iona community who have recently passed: • Ian Pottinger (Old Boy 1979) • Tim Donovan (Old Boy 1965) • Felix Grayson (Old Boy 1968)
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CORPOR ATE
Services
MRS SUSAN BOBAN, MANAGER CORPORATE SERVICES
The need for organisations to be focused on long and short-term strategic planning has risen tenfold over the past few years. We are becoming more and more aware of disruptions to not only our day-to-day lives, but impacts felt on our economy, mental and physical wellbeing, and the global environment.
Our College theme this year is “Grow” and the last few months have certainly been demonstrative of that! We have seen the installation of two large primary classrooms, the resurfacing and expansion of the staff and visitor carpark, and office reconfigurations to cater for our increase in staff.
According to the WEF Global Risks Report 2022, some of the top short-term global risks over the next two years include extreme weather, infectious diseases, social cohesion erosion, and mental health deterioration. Many of these issues also appear on their long-term global risks list – some of these risks will be around us for the next five to ten years.
We have seen growth in teaching and other professional staff numbers and have begun to expand the hire of our facilities to our wider community. Staff professional development is also an area that is seeing some renewal as the COVID-19 related restrictions begin to ease.
These risks, while evoking concern, are at the forefront of our minds as the College embarks on our 2022-2025 Strategic Plan which will be published very soon. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded this school, and their Mission is and has been centered around important focus areas of Daring, Passion, Community and Service. In managing and driving our recent growth, we are determined to ensure that we are not only aware of these risks in our current and future landscape, but we are ensuring that we continue to align risks and incentives, collaborate, focus on long-term strategy, and build capacity of our staff. Committed to our Catholic faith, values and these characteristics, the whole College staff is doing everything possible to help to mitigate and reduce the impact of the risks and events felt by students and families. At Iona, we as a staff seek to develop a happy, caring and safe environment in which learning can take place, and as a Corporate Services Team, our role is to support all areas of the College to achieve these goals.
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There have also been some changes in the Corporate Services Management team recently, and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce the people who often work quietly behind the scenes.
Matthew Holland, Business Manager Matthew started as our Business Manager in 2021. He leads the Finance Team and is responsible for the delivery and management of all financial services and assets.
Rachael Hazell, Human Resources Manager Rachael commenced in January 2022 and works across all levels of the organisation, providing an informed, professional and efficient service on all aspects of human resources management and strategy.
Laetitia Hockings, PA - Corporate Services Laetitia started in 2021 and coordinates, organises and manages the day-to-day functions of the Manager Corporate Services and the Corporate Services team, ensuring a welcoming, quality, efficient and high-level of administrative support.
Justin Lim, Risk and Compliance Manager Justin has been with us since 2020 and manages Iona’s Workplace Health & Safety (WHS), compliance and incident management framework. Justin works with Iona’s Risk & Compliance Committee, Executive Team, and Teaching and Support staff to continue to develop Iona’s risk and compliance culture.
Patrick Zietsch, Technical Events Manager | Sam Ould, IPAC Manager Patrick and Sam are responsible for ensuring the smooth and successful operations of Iona events and event venues including IPAC and The Provence Centre. They both have many years of industry and school experience and are supported by a wonderful team of technical events casual staff.
Karen Grifferty, Canteen & Catering Manager Karen has been a part of our community since 2016 and is responsible for the management of the College catering and canteens. Karen and her team are dedicated to providing nutritious, healthy food at an affordable and reasonable price.
Vanita Hammane, Uniform Shop Manager Vanita has been working with us since 2016 and has been managing the uniform shop since 2020. Her and her team pride themselves on their customer service and personal connection to our families.
Stuart Booth, Data & Analytics Officer Stuart is our newest member to the team starting this month. Stuart supports the output of timely, authoritative and accessible information relating to College statistics and data, student performance and wellbeing, outcomes of teacher practice and the effect of school programmes. Welcome Stuart!
Pat Thierry, ICT Manager Pat started at Iona in 2018 and is an important leader responsible for all areas of the College’s ICT infrastructure and service portfolio. Pat and his team are service focused and ensure that ICT systems and infrastructure meet the curricular, co-curricular, administrative and strategic needs of the College.
Mark Robba, Maintenance Manager | Dragan Glucina, Operations Manager Mark and Dragan work collaboratively with all staff to support the operations and maintenance related to the College’s infrastructure, maintenance, greenkeeping and service provision. They both lead and work with a highly skilled and dedicated grounds and maintenance team who produce quality ovals and facilities that are the envy of anyone who visits our campus.
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Dean of
COLLEGE MR JOHN FRARE, DEAN OF COLLEGE
Recently, I was fortunate enough to conduct a series of interviews for prospective parents and students, who are seeking enrolment at Iona in either 2023 or 2024. A fundamental aim of this process is to ensure there exists congruence between the values of the College and the family, as there is a clear and most important partnership between these two parties in terms of the education of the boys. This relationship has been perpetuated somewhat by the most recent research in developmental psychology and sociology.
The emergence of a ‘systems theory’ approach to understanding development has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary research and literature. Central to this is the belief that an individual is not simply the product of a process of development but is rather an active agent in this process. Moreover, this process involves all the systems in which the individual functions, such as school, the co-curricular settings, home and in neighbourhoods.
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At a more micro level, this involves the teams in which the boys are involved, the classrooms in which they learn, the family setting in which they live, as examples. Obviously, the individuals (boys in our case) affect these settings in which they exist, as well as be affected by them – that is, the relationship is bi-directional in nature. Interestingly though, the dynamic of the systems can also affect the boys. If there is great disparity between the values of these systems, then this can lead to difficulties for the boys and this is supported by scientific research. For example, when there are significant differences in cultural and ethical values between a school and the family, then this can be hard for an adolescent to reconcile. From a school standpoint therefore, it is important that all the settings in which the boys function represent a set of values that are congruent with the classroom setting or the home setting for instance. To this end, it is important that all staff and coaches are educated in terms of understanding the responsibility attached to teaching our students – a role that transcends the mere impartation of a prescribed curriculum, physical lessons, or technical skills.
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In an ideal world, these values would be modeled strongly and consistently. However, this is not always the case and these can become opaque when the emotion attached to the involvement is put into the equation. Despite this, I am clear that we, as adults in this context, have the responsibility for ensuring that the boys’ value the real efforts of their endeavour and that they realise it is, ultimately, a component of their overall education. As an example, comments directed at boys from other schools in a rugby match compromise this process, as does the ‘heckling’ of referees, by either parents or coaches. I am clear that in relation to the latter group, it is the College’s responsibility to provide an effective induction and education program for our staff. However, we acknowledge that there is a shared responsibility for ensuring that there is congruence between the values of the various systems in which the boys’ function – a utopian pursuit one may argue, but a worthwhile one, nonetheless.
LEARNING
and Teaching MRS DONNA ELKINGTON, DEAN OF LEARNING AND TEACHING
CELEBRATING THE ‘CLASS OF 2021’ The ‘Class of 2021’ worked hard and certainly exemplified our 2021 theme of ‘Let Your Light Shine’ during their Senior year. During this term, we were able to celebrate the successes of our newest ‘Old Boys’. The College usually acknowledges the achievements of our Seniors during a full school assembly early in Term 1, however, the COVID guidelines for the first few weeks of the school year would not allow for a ceremony in this format. Instead, we invited the 2021 cohort and their families for a special celebration in IPAC. We know figures relating to academic outcomes are not the only measure of a school’s success. However, they do contribute to an understanding of the school’s offerings and while these figures below do not define the cohort of 2021, we are proud that: • 99.5% of our students in the Year 12 cohort received the Queensland Certificate of Education • 120 of our students gained one or more vocational education certificates • Nine students commenced school-based apprenticeships • Thirteen students were amongst the just over 1,000 students (out of over 50,000 who completed Year 12 state-wide) to receive the Certificate of Academic Commendation for achieving A’s in six or more General Subjects
• 78% of our students who applied for tertiary study received their first or second preference • We had eight students achieve an ATAR of over 99.00 and one student achieve the highest possible ATAR of 99.95 Since finishing school at the end of last year, our 2021 students have moved into a range of pathways. Some have moved into the workforce, some into apprenticeships and trade pathways, some into the Australian Defence Force, and others have undertaken further study at university. In regards to tertiary study, our 2021 cohort have moved to a variety of different fields, with Management and Commerce areas the most popular. Engineering and Health fields were also very popular choices. A large majority of our students have headed to QUT for their tertiary studies, while many others have headed to The University of Queensland, Griffith University, and the Australian Catholic University. Congratulations to the Year 12 cohort of 2021. We wish them the very best for their future!
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Student
SERVICES
MR MARK HARVEY, DEAN OF STUDENTS
WHAT IS VISIBLE WELLBEING (VWB) AT IONA COLLEGE? A reflection and understanding courtesy of Professor Lea Waters AM, PhD.
There are some basic, easy to learn techniques that help us get better at reading another person’s state of wellbeing. Most teachers are already doing this at an intuitive level. Neuroscientists have shown us how sensitively and expertly our brains pick up on the emotional states of others through our mirror neurons and the ‘empathy centre’ located deep in the brain. The trick then is to take what we are doing instinctively and do it more intentionally so we can see wellbeing more clearly and utilise it more consistently.
While teachers understand that wellbeing is a key resource, many find it difficult to see this resource clearly. In other words, many would suggest that wellbeing is an important, yet invisible, resource, thus making it hard to work with. It’s true, to a degree, that wellbeing is invisible, given that it sits inside a student’s inner landscape. For teachers, it may be difficult to know the state of wellbeing of each of their students. Yet, given that wellbeing so deeply affects a students’ ability to engage and learn, it seems fruitful for us to find ways to take the invisible and make it more visible.
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Finding ways to make wellbeing more visible allows us to see when wellbeing is low, and hence intervene earlier to support the individual student, or the class, before the problems spiral downwards. Importantly, it also allows teachers to see when wellbeing is high and use this as the time for extended learning, growth, risk-taking and engagement. The theme of visibility in teaching has gained a lot of traction over the past decade with movements such as Visible Thinking (Ritchhart, Church & Morrison, 2011), Visible Learning (Hattie, 2009; 2012) and Visible Classrooms (Clinton & Hattie, 2015).
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All three of these movements are aligned in the call for teachers to more clearly see how their pedagogy impacts student learning and are aligned with a call for students to see more clearly how their own thinking and learning impacts their academic achievement. BUILDING WELLBEING THROUGH BRIEF PRACTICES RATHER THAN A FORMAL CURRICULUM VWB is not a curriculum, instead it is a toolkit of practices. This is where VWB differs from other programs because it is not a curriculum with lesson plans. Instead, staff are given (via ongoing training and the VWB manual) a range of wellbeing practices and activities that they can deliver at any point in the day and in any subject (e.g., teachers can run these activities in a wellbeing class, a science class, an English class or a mathematics class). By running these wellbeing activities with students during classes, teachers can equip students with activities and practices that they can use in their everyday life. Students are being shown that maintaining and building their wellbeing doesn’t have to be arduous or difficult, it is simply a matter of developing some small wellbeing habits and practices that are used each day.
SEARCH: THE UNDERPINNING FRAMEWORK FOR VISIBLE WELLBEING
WHAT IS PROSPER? PROSPER is our taught wellbeing curriculum at Iona that is delivered to students once per fortnight in a 45 min lesson, prior to the College Assembly. This program commenced in January 2015 and is developed and overseen by the Heads of Wellbeing and was based on the PERMA model for wellbeing developed by the “Father” of positive psychology, Professor Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania.
SEARCH is a data-driven, wellbeing framework developed from a multi-year, multi-study project led by Professor Lea Waters AM, PhD, based on science from positive psychology and positive education. The SEARCH framework has been developed and published in academic journals and has been adopted by schools in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. SEARCH covers six overarching pathways to wellbeing as shown below.
STRENGTHS EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT ATTENTION & AWARENESS RELATIONSHIPS COPING HABITS & GOALS The SEARCH framework is the result of three key stages of scientific research conducted by Professor Lea Waters: 1. A large scale published bibliometric review of the field of positive psychology that analysed 18 years of psychological research from 18,400 studies to see what the science tells us about higher-order pathways to wellbeing (Rusk & Waters, 2015),
IS THIS DIFFERENT TO VWB?
2. An action research project involving ten schools to road test the datadriven, meta-framework (Waters, 2017), and 3. A systematic review of school intervention studies involving 35,888 students from Australia, NZ, Europe, the UK, Asia and North America demonstrating the effectiveness of the framework and each individual pathway on student wellbeing and student learning (Waters and Loton, 2019).
No, in that both are based on the principles of positive psychology. The concepts, ideas and activities of VWB are being continuously embedded and intertwined into the PROSPER curriculum since our journey with VWB commenced in 2019. VWB has enabled cultural change in that the principles of wellbeing can be embedded in all lessons and activities throughout the College at any time. The Heads of Wellbeing and I are always available to support any thirst for knowledge that our families and old boys may have for the VWB approach to sustaining positive wellbeing.
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It is my pleasure to share with you the experiences through the first months of 2022 of the two new College Houses, McAuley and Long, through the eyes of their Heads of House, Mr. Sean Pearce and Ms. Samantha Stockton. MCAULEY HOUSE SEAN PEARCE As the first Head of McAuley House I am both humbled and excited by this opportunity. We are in a unique position where there is not an already established House Culture. It is ours to forge, to ensure the future generations of McAuley staff and students know what it means to be a part of this House. Our House Patron, Sister Catherine McAuley, was an incredible lady who always dedicated herself to others over her own needs. Sister Catherine established the Sisters of Mercy, women who would dedicate their lives to the care of the poor, the sick and educationally disadvantaged.
“It is for God we serve the poor, and not for thanks” - Sister Catherine McAuley
McAuley House leaders
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She received little thanks from the clergy at the time, and many of her actions were recognised only after her death. Sister Catherine knew, however, that she should continue to serve those in need. Her humility was on show each day of her life. When designing the McAuley House logo, it was clear we needed to encapsulate what Sister Catherine stood for in her life. Three distinct words are permanently inscribed at the bottom of this logo: Service – Integrity – Respect. • Service – the action of helping or doing work for someone. • Integrity – the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. • Respect – due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others. It is our duty as the first members of McAuley House, here at Iona College, to always remember these values and to live each day reflecting them through our interactions with others.
LONG HOUSE SAMANTHA STOCKTON It is an honour and privilege to introduce myself as the first Head of Long House. Our House is named after Fr Timothy Long OMI, founder of Iona College. We are fortunate enough to call Long Block ‘home’ as we settle into our new routines, begin to build connections, and establish new traditions. It is an exciting time for the College with the addition of two new houses.
The words highlighted are found on our House crest. During the design process, a lot of time was spent reading through archives to learn about our Patron. The words; gratitude, faith, vision and courage are the strengths and actions that reflected the life Fr Long led. Gratitude was also included in the crest as the top character strength of the surveyed members of Long House. It is my sincere hope that for generations to come, members of Long House will strive to live by these values and actions.
We have been given the opportunity to establish a brand-new culture and a community that will inevitably provide us all with a deep sense of belonging and House pride. Fr Timothy Long OMI, founder of Iona College, was born on 22 April 1896 in Ireland. He was a headmaster of exceptional leadership who displayed the character strengths of gratitude and kindness in all that he did. He was a man of distinction, deep piety, calm judgement and unruffled patience. Fr Long was a man of faith and a motivator who fired others with enthusiasm. He believed sincerely that everything was possible and that the impossible took only a little longer. Fr Long left an imprint of greatness on everything he touched. He had a vision for our college and the establishment of Iona College is a lasting reminder of his courage and optimism.
Long House leaders
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PRIMARY
Years
MR PETER HOLMES, ACTING HEAD OF PRIMARY
Welcome all to 2022 and the first of our In Hoc Signo offerings. Most of us genuinely expected that the beginning of the 2022 school year would be much simpler than that of last year. As it has panned out however, students, staff and families have been beset with challenges requiring patience, flexibility, understanding and a great deal of resilience!
These young men have displayed great sportsmanship (triggering a new Primary award: the Iona Legend Award for sportsmanship, teamwork and effort) a hallmark of Iona sports.
Whilst Primary has been significantly impacted by a late start to the year, COVID absenteeism and truly incredible weather, we have also had many wonderful moments in these first weeks. Our Year 5 students finally managed to take part in the age old tradition of ‘the walk up that hill’ and then took in the sights, sounds and vastness of the Provence Centre for their introductions and welcomes. Then it was off to class and all that awaited the boundless enthusiasm with which they had arrived. Primary students are also recipients of Prosper Commendation Awards, recognising student behaviour, contribution, effort and teamwork within their individual classrooms and within the Primary environment. A much sought after award. We have just had the opportunity to announce the ten House Leaders for 2022. Our congratulations to Archer Young, Oliver Lord, Tate Firmin, Orson Cooper, Max Urquhart, Ben Doust, Colby Simpson, Joseph Kelly, Max Armstrong and William Fuller. We wish these young leaders every success in their 2022 endeavours. Our Year 6 lads, whilst being much more ‘experienced’ in the ways of commencing a school year, still had to navigate new classrooms, teachers and for some, a new House (as we welcomed Long House and McAuley House into our ranks). Many boys have already had the opportunity to represent Iona on sports fields during an interrupted AFL, Cricket and Swimming season. 18
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As we enter the season of Lent, I encourage all of our students to make the most of an opportunity that Fr Michael described as a time to “reflect, pray, plan and prepare for the most Holy of all Christian occasions … Easter”.
THE IMPORTANCE
of being Earnest MR DAVID COOKE, PRODUCER
It seems like yesterday we welcomed enthusiastic boys and girls for the auditions to our College Senior play, The Importance of Being Earnest. The atmosphere was wonderful, the talent was amazing and the passion was incredible.
The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic of Oscar Wilde: a farcical comedy which takes the audience on a journey to 18th Century Victorian England and encompasses Wilde’s cutting commentary of society and the English class system. It is often described as one of the hardest plays to act in – alongside Hamlet – and standing back, watching the rehearsals, I can see why! The dialect, the humour, the satire, all combined makes for an amazing show, but it is not for the faint of heart. Hence why I am so humbled by the stellar talent we have bringing this production to life. THE CAST INCLUDES:
It was such a hard task to narrow down our choices to only nine cast members, however, over a month later and already many hours of rehearsals under our belt, those cast members have proven they are a dedicated and talented bunch.
• Charlton Pruss-Planck as Jack Worthing
• Benjamin Cole as Algernon Moncrieff • Alistair Mylne as Lady Bracknell • Jordan Gulisano as Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. • Caitlyn Sutherland as Cecily Cardew • Jessie Kempnich as Miss Prism • Flo Farrar as Gwendolen Fairfax • Lucas Colton as Lane • Joel Waycott as Merriman We have completed our last rehearsals of the term as we head into the school holidays. Upon return, we will start to see the set take shape and the play enacted from start to finish. I hope the cast and crew have a welldeserved rest before we begin again in Term 2. The Importance of Being Earnest will be performed in IPAC on 19 and 20 May 2022.
2022 marks the first year in over a decade in which Iona has chosen to have two productions in the one year – a Senior production and a Junior production. This enables us to spread our wings and highlight the talents of students across the College. IN HOC SIGNO | VOLUME 20 | NO 1 | MARCH 2022
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Iona
SPORT
MR KEITH HARRON, HEAD OF SPORT
The roots of our 2022 Iona College sporting growth are simple: • • • • •
Be organised Coach to the standard of the player and train with intensity Play hard Humbly celebrate as a team Be respectful and thankful for all the opportunity
With swimming, sailing, volleyball, AFL and cricket completed as well as rugby union, football, chess, cross country and mountain biking beginning – there is much to play and appreciate. INTENSITY: THE INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS The desire for success is dependent on the intensity delivered at training. Our summer sport coaches endeavoured to coach better in 2022, including the push to work harder at fitness, skill, team work and psychological preparation. Intensity was vital. At 1st level, high level training was even more essential. The experience of Zane King (swimming), Hayden Barney (sailing), Rolf Vogelbusch (volleyball), Leigh Harding (AFL) and Wayne Niven (cricket) guided these elite teams. Our initial performances have been strong, led by a 1st XI Premiership and that in itself is the reward for training effort. Additionally, the value of “black and white” passion in all aspects of College life should never be forgotten! HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT Iona College sport has long been a contributor to district, regional, state and national school sport. The list of representative sportsmen is long. Iona College generally provides 80 representatives to Met East regional teams each year, and while state representative numbers vary, 12-15 annual state selections is not uncommon.
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National schools team selections and medalists always occur, with swimmer Ben Goedemans leading the way in 2022 with medals at the national age swimming championship and Liam Millar medaling at nationals in sailing. Bodhi Dusha and Rhys Wellings have also excelled at track cycling and mountain biking respectively.
IONA OPEN SWIM TEAM – GALLANT IN 2022 Within our 93 strong Iona swim team, it was the open team who led the way, as our swimmers strove for excellence in high standard competition. While our senior team achieved 3rd and primary team 5th in AIC aggregates, it was the fight of the open team that was encouraging in gaining 2nd place. Ben Goedemans led the way with victory in the AIC open 100m freestyle in a College record time of 51.90 seconds. Ben also set a College record of 4.00.40 secs in the open 400m freestyle. Kyan Muir and Matt Von Euw produced numerous top three placings at AIC, and Zahn Percy equaled his own College open 50m breaststroke record of 30.11 seconds. Ben, Kyan, Matt and Zahn also established a College record in the 4 x 50m medley relay in a time of 1.48.21 seconds. Historically, the great Iona swimmers have been part of The Beasts, the open freestyle relay team. Ingersole, Callus, McGregor, Larder, Barrett, Bruin, Swan, Thomas and Wasiak have all been members of the respected relay team.
The fastest time of 1.36.97 was set in 2008 by Ben Talbot, Tom Barrett, Tim Black and Ed Quirk – it is standing the test of time. This years Beasts of Ben Goedemans, Kyan Muir, Mat Von Euw and Zahn Percy should be proud of their 1.37.34 time which is the second fastest Iona time ever achieved. All members of the Iona College swim team deserve congratulations. It is not an easy sport to be involved in. Nevertheless, the benefits are significant, including being part of a long tradition of teamwork and competition.
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From the
ARCHIVES
65 YEARS OF IONA COLLEGE MRS ROSEMARY MAMMINO, COLLEGE ARCHIVIST
IONA COLLEGE IN ITS 65TH YEAR Iona College was founded on 1 October 1957. This date marks the arrival of the first Oblates to the site of the College at Lindum. The land had been given to them by the Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr James Duhig. The first Rector, Fr Tim Long OMI and Fr McCarthy OMI arrived with little money, some household items and food from the Sisters at Nazareth House as well as materials needed for Mass from the Sisters at All Hallows.
Two more Oblates joined the first priests to complete a staff of four by the opening of the College. Sixty-seven primary students were enrolled and commenced their education on 28 January, 1958. The first purpose built classroom block, Long Block was completed and occupied in the following year. It also housed the first College Chapel at one end of the building.
They had just a few short months to prepare the site and buildings for school to start in the following year. The first building used as a school was a refurbished farmhouse, which was both the first priests’ residence on the top floor and two classrooms on the ground level. Sixty-five years on and the College has increased substantially in both enrolments and facilities designed to accommodate students and staff in a 21st century learning environment. EARLY BEGINNINGS From earliest times, the Oblates established a wonderful working partnership with the local community. Enormous support was received from families who worked willingly weekend after weekend at working bees to ensure the College was ready for opening. Working bees continued regularly for some years, with priests and parents working together to develop the site. Fundraising began and also continued in various forms for many years through fetes, bottle drives, walkathons, weekend bingo and other events.
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Opening Day, 1958
ENROLMENTS AND GROUNDS Enrolments grew steadily to 1,208 students by the year 2000. The current enrolment is over 1,800 students. Improvements to the grounds have continued regularly. Playing fields on the College site were developed and land across North Road purchased in the 1980s. This new land was redeveloped into additional playing fields and tennis courts. A new Tennis Centre with the Barton Family Show Courts was built in 2017.
BUILDINGS Parallel with the increase in enrolments has been the construction of many new buildings and the refurbishment of relocated and existing buildings.
College Chapel, 2014
Administration and Science buildings, 1974
An expansive building programme has continued over many years while the grounds have been regularly improved. This year, in 2022, students are offered a broad range of subjects from which to choose as well as participation in an increasing number of co-curricular activites.
These included the science building (1965, now refurbished Duhig), the relocated Drill Hall (1970) later renovated and used for drama and the swimming pool and squash courts (1974). The following year a purpose built Library and Chapel were opened and later, the Shorthall building (1980), Oblate Hall (1984), Sherman building (1988), Lecture Theatre (1992), IPAC (1998), McCarthy and McFall buildings (2007) and the IDT and Daly buildings (2014). Most recently the new Provence Centre was opened in October 2021 and can accommodate the whole school. Since 1958, several thousands of students have passed through the College gates and there have been enormous changes to the College since then.
First match on the new tennis courts, 2017
The Provence Centre, 2021
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Spotlighting
IONIANS
MRS RACHAEL HAZELL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
MS WENDY PERERA TEACHER - ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
What motivates you to work hard and give your best?
What motivates you to work hard and give your best?
I’m motivated to work hard to help staff feel valued, appreciated, and listened to. I believe that when we take care of each other we can achieve so much more. I’m also motivated by my hard-working parents. They worked so hard to provide a great start in life for my three brothers and I, and they still help us so much now.
For me, motivation is an internal process and goes hand in hand with self-discipline. Having a supportive husband and children who ‘fill my bucket’ plays a large part in sustaining the motivation.
Who inspires you in tough situations? Who do you inspire? Often in my work I meet with people who are facing tough challenges in either their professional or personal life, and I am always inspired by their resilience. I can’t help but put myself in their shoes and wonder if I would be so strong. As for who I inspire, I find that really hard to answer, but I aim to inspire my children. As you reflect on your time at Iona is there one person or action that has particularly influenced you? The general ‘buzz’ of Iona is exciting. I’m really enjoying working with so many members of the next generation around me. I feel part of a community here. How would your friends describe you? I’m not really sure what my friends would say about me, however I’m very lucky to have some really fun friends. When I’m with my close friends my face is always sore from laughing.
Who inspires you in tough situations? Who do you inspire? My parents. When I was young my father would tell me stories of his poverty-stricken childhood. Even after his passing, his hard work and commitment to lift not only himself but his entire family out of poverty inspires me. My mom continues to inspire me through her constant ability to reflect, learn and change. I am blessed to have had such role models to learn from. I hope I inspire my own children and the students I teach to always reflect and aim to be the best version of themselves. What is your proudest accomplishment? I ran a successful dance school for more than three years while completing my degree. It is an accomplishment I look back on with pride as I did everything from teaching and choreography to marketing and directing large scale performances. Now, my proudest moments come when I see my children achieving their potential. These moments fill me with great pride and joy.
What makes you laugh?
As you reflect on your time at IONA so far, is there one person or action that has particularly influenced you?
My husband and his general silliness, my brothers, my friends and my kids. In particular, my 14-year-old daughter has a very sharp sense of humour that I find hard to keep up with!
Margaret Bailey, Head of Faculty - English, has always ensured I am supported in many ways and for that I am very grateful. Her passion and commitment to her work is inspiring.
What’s your favourite family tradition?
How would your friends describe you?
Every year we go to Hobart for two weeks to visit my husband’s large family, and it is honestly the best two weeks of the year. We spend long Tassie summer days out on the water, camping on Bruny Island, rounding up cattle on my father-in-law’s farm and enjoying time with what feels like a thousand relatives.
Kind, enthusiastic and energetic were the words that were used when I asked around.
We spent the first seven years of our marriage in Hobart and all three of our children were born there, so it is our second home. In a perfect world we would spend summer and autumn in Tasmania and winter and spring in Brisbane. If only…
What’s your favourite family tradition?
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What makes you laugh? My husband, always. Since moving to Australia, we have made it a tradition to see the ‘City Hall Lights’ in King George Square and visit the ‘Enchanted Garden’ every Christmas. It is always a lovely family evening.
HAMISH GREEN YEAR 5
THOMAS ARMSTRONG 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 was feeling quite nervous in the first two to three weeks but now at the end of term I’m feeling quite comfortable at Iona. I’m happy I have come here. Most of my friends have come to Iona and my teacher is also really good, Mr Allen has helped me settle in.
I have been feeling great about starting at Iona. There are kind teachers and I have made many new friends. The teachers and Iona community have been very welcoming and helpful towards my classmates and I in the first few weeks.
How is Iona different to your previous school?
How is Iona different to your previous school?
The biggest difference is that Iona is massive compared to my old school and there are way more sporting opportunities. My favourite difference is everyone gets really involved in everything.
The main difference between my previous school and Iona is it’s size, both in the number of students and how large the campus is. This means there are more opportunities to try different subjects and activities.
What is something you are really proud of? The amount of sport that I have played in my life. I have played AFL, golf, cricket and I used to swim. My achievement in maths is something I’m really proud of as well. Most importantly, I’m really proud of my family. My dad, mum and I are a team! What is something that challenges you? My mum! I think at times we challenge each other. I’m also challenged by trying new things. I overthink it and starting ‘um-ing’ and ‘ah-ing’ the decision. I overcome it by getting in and doing it! What are your goals for 2022? My main goal is to improve my writing skills. I would also like to try some new things, like tennis and I’ll do indoor cricket to improve on my cricket skills in the winter. I’m working to build my family’s house in Minecraft - I have already started taking measurements of the house. Is there someone special who has influenced you in your life? Mr Kay, my Year Four teacher. He helped me a lot with my school work, especially narrative writing and maths. He was a fun and fair teacher and a kind, caring person. What is something that makes you laugh? My friends - the funny comments they make or something silly they might do. We all have a good laugh together, they make me happy. How would your friends and family describe you? Kind, happy, fun to play with. Clever and a little bit silly at times. My mum says I’m handsome and cheeky, my dad says I’m inspiring because of my willingness to give things a go.
What is something you are really proud of? One thing I am proud of is that each week I have been able to represent the black and white colours for Iona when I play AFL. What is something that challenges you? At first, I was challenged by tracking my timetable, managing my specialist lessons and getting to different buildings. I am now becoming more organised and enjoy moving about the school. What are your goals for 2022? One of my goals for 2022 is to have a more positive attitude when things get challenging. Is there someone special who has influenced you in your life? My sister would like me to say she inspires me (and she does), however, my mum is inspiring to me because she always stays positive and happy even when she was very unwell a few years ago. What is something that makes you laugh? Hanging out with my friends on the handball courts always makes me laugh. We have lots of fun and be silly together. How would your friends and family describe you? My family and friends would describe me as thoughtful, fun, loving, kind, funny and sensitive. Do you have a favourite family tradition? One of my favourite family traditions is when we go to the beach each year.
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S D N E G iLE OLIVER CAINE CLASS OF 2013 Next year will mark 10 years since I graduated from Iona. It doesn’t feel like it has been that long. I still remember my first impressions of Iona during a tour of the school as part of an open day in 2008, the year before I would start. At the end of the tour, I sat in the Performing Arts Centre to listen to Ted Goener, the School Captain, make a speech. Ted spoke of all the things he had been empowered to do at Iona, ranging from performing in music ensembles to playing high-level sport. I still think that Ted’s speech encapsulates the reasons I remain so fond of my time at Iona. Particularly during my senior years, I felt so fortunate to have had the opportunity to play rugby and cricket with my mates, to be a part of a debating team under the expert tutelage of Stephen Tait, to play a leadership role, and all the while to feel supported in my academic pursuits.
There were so many fantastic teachers and staff that made my time at Iona so fulfilling – too many to name individually. However, a few that immediately come to mind are Anthony Simmers, Brendan Merrotsy, Mai Kajimoto, Rebecca Adamson, David Cockburn, Stephen Tait, and Mark Harvey. All made enormous contributions to my school life and were instrumental in any success I had. After school I completed a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Economics and International Relations) at The University of Queensland. Although I enjoyed breaking up my legal studies with a dual degree, the law was ultimately what I was most passionate about and what I pursued after graduating in July 2019. I’ve worked in a few different law firms during and following university, but I now have the privilege of working in the Disputes team at Herbert Smith Freehills, where a colleague, Brandon Barrio, is also an Iona Old Boy. My work predominantly consists of complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution. The firm acts for many of Australia’s most valuable and well-known companies, and the work is varied, challenging and interesting.
Some of the many fond memories I have include winning a First XV premiership at Ashgrove, and setting up a FIFA competition for OMAD Day.
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Outside of work, I enjoy keeping fit through a mixture of running, weights and social sport, seeing my mates, and spending time with my family and loved ones (including pets). Perhaps the most enduring legacy of my time at Iona is my friendship group – I feel very fortunate to have remained very close with many of the boys I went to school with, all these years later.
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.
MATT LYNCH CLASS OF 2018 While four years may seem like a long time it seems like only yesterday that I finished my schooling at Iona. Thankfully through old school mates, coaching opportunities and the ever-welcoming arms of the College, Iona never seems that far away. I can still remember my first days back in 2011 feeling like such a tiny little grey shirt - struggling to walk up the hill from the drop off zone with my oversized new shoes and my seemingly heavy backpack. In Year 5 my memories drift towards the weekly maths / spelling bee battles in Mr. Fielders class for the everacclaimed Tootsie roll reward. Upon my first steps into Iona, I was immediately in love with the overwhelming number of opportunities thrown my way. Whether it was soccer, volleyball, debating, music, cross country, athletics - you name it, I gave it a go. Even attempting AFL for the first time in my final year in 2018 ... I can confirm I was nothing special there.
Some of my greatest memories from Iona undoubtedly come from sport – such as winning the AIC Open 800m, back-to-back 1st XI Football premierships, Cross Country Championships – but these memories are nothing without those mates and teachers who I shared them with. The brotherhood fostered in my time at Iona was something truly special – I still reminisce with mates about old school memories. I also can’t thank Mr Merrotsy enough for the impact he had on me over the years at Iona – a teacher who encouraged me in my sport and someone I knew I always could and still can reach out to. Following my schooling I began a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the Australian Catholic University and I now find myself in my fourth and final year of study. During the first three years of study, I was lucky enough to remain actively involved with Iona – through coaching Cross Country and Athletics. It was very rewarding to give back to a school that had given me so much. I also work at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane as a Physiotherapy Assistant and have just finished up working as a receptionist at another local physio clinic. I am still in love with my running and continue to try new things – such as my first triathlon a couple of weeks ago. Iona gave me so much in the time that I was there and if there is one thing it taught me, it’s that it doesn’t matter if what you face in your day is confronting or overwhelming, take a leap of faith and give it a go. You’ll never know where you will end up if you don’t take the first step.
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S D N E G iLE AMBROSE KILLIAN CLASS OF 2011
“Touch the damn floor!” I still vividly remember some of Mr (Tom) Lonergan’s enthusiastic sprays we as young twelve and thirteen year old boys copped when running basketball drills on the old, sloped, outdoor basketball courts in 2008. I’m not quite sure how some of the old methods of coaching would sit these days, but I know that personally these stern lessons and mottos would still faintly echo in my ears fourteen years later. When you want to do something, do it right and give 100%. No shortcuts. That extra 1% each session accumulates and manifests itself into life-long habits.
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I was fortunate enough that Iona provided me with these lessons both on the sporting field and in the classroom. It’s a true privilege and luxury to learn what hard work and consistency can do for you through these environments, which I am starting to understand more clearly as I edge my way closer to 30 years of age. It wasn’t until an unfortunate injury on the basketball court in early 2017 where I suffered a grade 2 ACL & MCL tear, fractured tibia and ruptured baker’s cyst that led me to fully reigniting my passion for art outside of school.
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.
Myself and my wife had our first child shortly after beginning the business, Matt explored his cultural identity for several months up in North Qld, constant cancellations and postponements since March 2020 when COVID hit – there has been no shortage of challenges.
Not being able to move around and involve myself in sport like I had since before I can remember turned into a blessing in disguise – painting after work and learning as much as I could about my Aboriginal culture mitigated any, if not all the stress of being stuck on a chair and crutches for a few months. In 2019 myself and Matt Robert (a fellow 2011 Iona graduate) started our business – Ngalin Ayeye (formerly MA Deadly Art), an Aboriginal Art and Cultural Education company.
We now have contracts with businesses such as Urban Utilities and the Brisbane Correctional Centre where we provide programmes to engage with the public on cultural education and rehabilitation through the prison system for inmates. It has by no means been an easy pathway to get to the stage where I am now full-time with the business. Two years negotiating my way through life while in a management role during the day and working on the business at night meant long days and a poor work-life balance.
However, it’s the life lessons taught to me through my experiences and from several staff including Sean Devlin, Gary Coghill, Mark Harvey, Michael Doyle and the late Dennis Sacre (to name a few) at Iona which have slowly revealed themselves and helped keep me on the straight and narrow through these challenging times. Two things I would tell my younger self if I could – • If you believe you can or believe you can’t do it, you are probably right. • Pain nourishes courage. You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you – embrace the challenging times as that is when you will experience personal growth to the fullest.
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Seagulls SATURDAY
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for what was a huge and successful event and an incredible day of community rugby league on Saturday 26 March. The Seagulls went 4/4 in a day that featured many highlights and will be long remembered.
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