From the Head of School Operations - Acting

Mrs Susan Lazenby

How good it is to welcome our students back to school without masks this week, although I must say that the vibrant, creative designs certainly added a brightness to the rather unexpected change in circumstances.

Part of being a school in the city is also about being good neighbours. We have to be mindful of those around us as we move through the city in classes or small groups to the Cathedral, lessons at CQU, hopping on the buses waiting outside the school to go to Physical Education lessons, up to the Art Gallery, the State and City Libraries, down to Elizabeth Quay, Langley Park and Supreme Court Gardens. Quite a considerable list, isn’t it? And I have only mentioned some of the outings! Unlike suburban schools where almost all the activities happen on campus, our campus is vast and shared. In the same way, within the vertical school buildings it is also about sharing spaces respectfully and considerately. These features of St George’s provide our students with many opportunities to be good, empathetic and compassionate neighbours, a transferable skill for community living.

Australian social researcher Hugh MacKay’s book Australia Reimagined, is subtitled: ‘Towards a more compassionate, less anxious society’. In a public lecture at the University of Newcastle referring to his book, he explained the personal and social impact of compassion. On a personal level, compassion ‘shifts the focus away from ourselves and onto others.’ MacKay believes that socially, the impact of compassion is ‘like a high octane fuel that runs the machinery of social capital’. He adds that it is the ‘crucial ingredient in the life of any healthy, functioning community, especially the local neighbourhood.’ He defines compassion as the discipline of developing a disposition towards kindness and respect towards anyone we meet, even though we may not agree with them or even know or like them. If we practise this, he says that we can treat our neighbours, or whomever we encounter, kindly and respectfully. You can well imagine how transformational this attitude is.

As I go about the School, speaking to students, teaching, observing what is happening, I see many instances of kindness, respect, inclusivity and compassion. New students tell me that they feel welcome, at home and have been treated kindly. This of course makes me even prouder to be part of the St George’s community. However, we need to be vigilant and continue to be mindful of our neighbours too. Over the next weeks, I will be reminding students of this as they go between the buildings where they have lessons, go on outings, attend Chapel, and especially in the CQU building which houses several tenants.

Being good to our neighbours is fundamental, and we read of it in both the Old and New Testaments. As we reflect on what it is to be an Anglican school, we remember that being good neighbours is very much part of that identity and practice, as is developing the discipline of compassion. Already we can see this in the fundraising events our students enter with enthusiasm and joy, with their desire to be good, compassionate neighbours to the community wherever the need may be.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming School events and especially meeting the new families at St George’s.