Parents & Friends ____________________________Page

Parents & Friends

2020! What a year for our community. For our College to celebrate 85 Years in 2020, was a year in which our community groups did not get to have the ongoing impact we hope and wish for each year. From our wonderful Josephine's dinner and SJOCA Golf Day that were both held in March, to not long after hosting Zooms, live streaming and facetime seemed to be a constant in our world.

But everyone rallied around and while we could not host our community in person, the support the community gave to our "A Step Towards His Future" campaign was outstanding, given the environment which we faced. The need was still great to support those in need, and for our Foundation to also contribute $30,000 to families experiencing financial hardship due to COVID, a great example of support in the College community. Our community groups work tirelessly to support the ongoing vision and mission of the College, and there is a remarkable opportunity for you all to be involved in College life by volunteering on one of our many committees, be it Parents and Friends, canteen and Men's Association. We hope you enjoy reading the highlights and successes of 2020 and we look forward to your participation and presence as we hope to return bigger and better in 2021. If there is one thing 2020 taught us, be grateful for what we have, and for what is yet to come, it can change in an instant. Kristen Gleeson - Director of Community & Development It goes without saying that 2020 was a year out of left field. This became evident quite quickly as we postponed and then progressively cancelled what was to be a calendar full of events. Our Comedy Night with over 150 tickets purchased, the Trivia Night, Fun Food Friday, Old Collegians Reunion, TriUMPH and the Annual Fashion Dinner. However, we look forward to reinstating these events in 2021 – COVID permitting! This is particularly important as the funds raised by the Parents & Friends are distributed to worthy causes within our school community and also our global community. We remain committed to the parishes in Uganda, the St Joseph’s Bursary Program and, especially after such a year as 2020, our Mental Health and Wellbeing programs and activities. All going to plan, we will be holding our Comedy Night in Term 1 as by then we will all be in need of a good laugh! Our thoughts and prayers are with those of our school community who have been directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic this year. We take this moment to thank all those who attended the first meetings of 2020 in person and then via zoom. More than ever we wish you a safe, happy and healthy New Year.

Michelle Watkins & Sam Norris

St Joseph’s College Geelong

Parents & Friends

Continuing our connection with Uganda We can’t wait to start holding events like the Fashion Dinner again!