Board Chairman John Harris

Dear Students and Friends of John XXIII,

The last six months have been quieter and less frantic for the College Board, almost since Covid first started, it seems unusual to have no crisis, no deadlines to chase and no major catastrophe to avert. Let’s hope it stays that way.

The Board, the staff, invited guests and senior students were delighted to formally open the new College buildings during first term. We are even more delighted to see the regular heavy use of the new facilities in the great variety of ways in which your student body has claimed that space. With no major problems to resolve, it has been a time to start thinking about the future of the College and start planning our fresh challenges.

After a major building program, finance is always a priority. Happily, the new building works met their (revised) budget and we ended with a few dollars left in the bank. We are now concentrating on re-paying several millions of dollars in construction loans but it looks as if we can meet and exceed our target repayments. It is likely that there will be no major refurbishment projects in the College over the next couple of years, but the staff and the Board are actively investigating a whole series of minor ones. The continual upgrade of common facilities in the accommodation block will not stop. Bathrooms, laundry, hallways and facilities will be improved and maintained. As soon as finances permit, a much-cherished goal will be to commence double glazing all student rooms and upgrading the windows to a modern design. Our buildings had their 50th birthday in 2020 and we are determined, as with the admin building, to maintain their distinctive design while upgrading them to best practice current standards.

A College is not just about its buildings, it is about its people. It is very pleasing to see that the 2023 academic year got off to a good start and all the normal student activities have been so far successfully undertaken and well patronised. The Board is very seriously interested in student welfare on every level and will do everything it reasonably can to enhance the student experience. We really do want all students to enjoy their stay in College and to prosper here.

With all that in mind, the College is undertaking a new venture in 2023. We hope to establish a regular annual student expedition to one of our Dominican sister institutions in the Solomon Islands. We hope that a group of senior students and staff will visit there each year with a view to spending a few weeks working in the parish, meeting and mixing with our Solomon Island friends in the communities, and engaging in a cultural immersion experience. The “work” may be teaching and it may be building or maintenance with opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the locations and gaining insights into the Australian commission and challenges faced by the nation. The experience should be cathartic and give our students a whole new perspective on Pacific Nations life.

I am so enthusiastic that I would really like to go myself. The Head of College tells me that I would have to meet his rigorous assessment criteria and he is not sure if I will make the grade. In any event, if we can bring the idea to fruition it will provide students with an opportunity to be of service to others while learning an enormous amount about themselves and our close Pacific neighbours.

Let’s hope we can make it a success.

Regards, John Harris John XXIII College Board Chairman