After the overwhelming success of the first issue of Conanti Corona, I am thrilled to welcome you to the second edition, which continues to celebrate the triumphs and achievements at St Mary’s College.
Entering into 2019, we continue to offer quality boys’ education, providing various relevant and modern learning experiences and extracurricular opportunities. Our Vision Statement remains our priority to form young men of faith, integrity, action and excellence.
In this edition, you will read of our pride in launching the new St Mary’s College website, students talking about their new leadership roles, welcoming our newest students and supporting their growth, announcing major events, improvement in all areas of the College and other pieces including academic, culture and sport.
We were thrilled to learn of the excellent results of the 2018 graduates in their QCS test, and their OP results. 88% of Year 12 OP students received between an OP 1-15, 100% of students received their university
preference, 100% received QCE and two students achieved their ultimate goal of an OP 1. Our NAPLAN results saw a 100% increase from Years 5 to 7 and Years 7 to 9 in all areas of Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy compared to ‘like’ schools on the My School website. In recent weeks, our boys have just won the Gen (in) Innovation Competition, a state-wide event with a digital tool promoting Indigenous Culture and Languages.
These stories are just a glimpse of the wonderful achievements here at St Mary’s College from the end of 2018 to the middle of 2019 school year. I trust you will enjoy reading the second issue of our Conanti Corona publication.
May our loving God walk with all members of the St Mary’s College family.
Mr Michael Newman College Principal
We are proud to welcome our student leadership team for 2019.
Already, they have made such a positive impact to the College this year. St Mary’s College believes such roles enable students to gain valuable leadership experience, grow in confidence and become responsible citizens and positive role models for others.
Senior Leader Student
College Captain Nicholas Kuhnemann
College Vice-Captain Sam Elara
Academic Captains Jesse Campbell and Edward Witherspoon
Identity Captains Preston Weatherall and Mitchell Newell
Cultural Captains Karne Young and Patrick Upton
Digital Captains Connor Welke and Brody Murphy
Sport Captains Henry Adler and Sam Neale
Bowdler Captains Jack Boland and Michael Dowe
McGoldrick Captains Harrison Gates and Lincoln Walk
Purcell Captains Jake Lance and Tristan Voll
Waterford Captains Coby Fechner and Lachlan Thom
Junior Leader Student
Primary Leaders Charlie Barnes and Harrison McCarthy
Sport Leader Frazer Trapp
Identity Leader Alastair MacLachlan
Academic Leader Kagan Cumming
Cultural Leader Noah Burke
SRC Representatives Darcy Dann, James MacAvoy and Riley Brown
After the announcement of funding for the new Cultural Centre in 2018, the St Mary’s College Finance Committee have been working hard to work through the details of this amazing development. It is expected construction to commence mid-2019, and weather permitting,
St Mary’s College should cut the red tape and celebrate its opening 12 months later.
The Cultural Centre will be built to a size required to cater for full College assemblies. It will include a modern archives display, toilets, tiered seating for the oval, modern change sheds, a state-of-
the-art weights room and storage. Stage two of this project will see an adjoining Art, Drama and Music facilities, that will complement the construction. At the same time, the T.P. O’Brien Hall will become our new library and the present library will be converted into four classrooms.
With the construction of the Cultural Centre, the St Mary’s College History Archives are receiving a remodel!
All items, which date back to the opening of the College in 1898, are being digitally catalogued, and a new, state-of-the-art archive room will be built. St Mary’s College is reaching out to all Old Boys and their families to let the College know if they have any items that could be donated to the History Archive.
In the event that material is found, please contact our Public Relations and Foundations Officer, Bronte Latham, at lathamb@stmaryscollege.com.
A huge congratulations to 2018 Year 12 graduate Patrick Coleman who has been named the St Mary’s College 2018 Dux of the College. Patrick says his Year 12 experience was one of his greatest years, as he served as the 2018 College ViceCaptain. Patrick gained excellent results across his school subjects, and subsequently achieved an OP1. We wish Patrick all the best with his studies at the Australian National University in Canberra.
The 2018 Year 12 graduates of St Mary’s College should be proud of their fantastic achievements in their studies and results. St Mary’s was proud to learn it gained two OP1 students, Matthew Armanasco and Patrick Coleman. Patrick has begun his study of a double degree in Arts and Science at the Australian National University in Canberra, while Matthew has delved into his studies of Electrical Engineering and Physics at the University of
Southern Queensland. All senior students are to be commended for their exceptional effort, with 100% of students gaining a qualification at the end of Year 12, 100% of students achieving a Queensland Certificate of Education, 88% of students achieving an OP between 1 and 15, and 100% of students who applied for tertiary study through QTAC being offered a place, with 81% of students offered their first preference.
St Mary’s College students have achieved highly in the 2018 NAPLAN test, ranked as the most improved High School in Toowoomba.
The My Schools website has now been updated with the 2018 results, showing great results particularly in grammar, numeracy and reading. Within Queensland, out of around 400 schools, St Mary’s College Toowoomba
88% of students achieving an OP between 1 and 15
100% of students achieving a Queensland Certificate of Education
was ranked 26th. St Mary’s College had 100% improvement of students in all areas tested: reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy from Years 5 to 7 and Years 7 to 9. St Mary’s College is above the National and Queensland Average in 13 of 15 categories. St Mary’s College was ranked in 5th place against Toowoomba Schools in both Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN (% above National Minimum Standards).
It was fantastic to have all student age groups participating in the debating this year. St Mary’s College has a very strong Debating Program, culminating in our College Open Debating Team winning the Darling Downs Schools Competition for two of the past five years. Each Wednesday, a different age group undertakes debating against secondary schools in the Darling Downs region. We thank coaches, Mrs Lilliana Cowen, Mr Benn Tracy, Mr Stephen Sowter, Mr Jack Muller, Mrs Judy Barbe, Mr Pierce Hardy, Ms Emma Chalmers and Mrs Jo Jaenke for their generous efforts in preparing and coaching and accompanying the students.
U13
Liam Dawes
Elliott Thomas
Jared Fry
Ethan Payne
Harry Skobe
U14
Alex Fisher
Ryan Coleman
Hayden Baxter
Isaac Lee
Metias Wood-Crocket
U15
Jaisal Narsey
Harrison Clancy
Anshul Shiju
Bailey Fry
Khai Van Heerden
U16
Theo Chappell
Zachary Lasserre
Will Thomas
Alex Myers
Declan Perry
Congratulations to all boys who were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze certificates at the Academic Awards ceremony at the Opening Mass in the Clive Berghofer Stadium. Their academic efforts and the example they demonstrate to other students are admired. Congratulations, gentlemen. In particular, we congratulate the Gold Award winners as stated below. Well done, gentlemen – keep up the great efforts with your studies.
Charlie Barnes
Jeremy Collins
James MacAvoy
Harrison McCarthy
Jared Fry
Ethan Payne
Cohen Stockwell
Charlie Biggar
Tom Campomayor
Ryan Coleman
Harrison Clancy
Alexander Eddie
Alex Fischer
Isaac Lee
Aaron Picker
Daryll Quijas
Dominic Rice
Bailey Fry
Riley Hood
Jaisal Narsey
Kobey Timms
Khai Van Heerden
Declan Coleman
Joseph Doljanin
Bode Ferguson
Scott Forknall
Matthew Hess
Blake Jones
Jacob Madden
Connor McGinty
Nicholas Morgan
Alexanda Myers
Connor Nicholls
Declan Perry
Kyle Regan
Ryan Regan
Craig Danckwerts
Alastair Doljanin
Tikiri Lamb
Dhairy Shah
Dhyey Shah
Open
Dhairy Shah
Dhyey Shah
Shahil Narsey
Tikiri Lamb
Alastair Doljanin
St Mary’s College students have been privileged to be visited by Old Boy Lech Blaine, who graduated from the College in 2009. Lech not only was the guest speaker at the Year 12 Formal, but also supported students during some English classes. After graduating from St Mary’s, Lech has worked with politicians, managed a hotel and has published a book, Car Crash: a Memoir in 2020. As a writer, Lech’s stories have been published in the Best Australian Essays, The Griffith Review, The Lifted Brow and The Monthly. He was the inaugural recipient of the Griffith Review Queensland Writers Fellowship and in 2017 was co-winner of the Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Award.
We sat down with College Psychologists and Career Development Practitioners, Tanya Dickenson and Loe Stanford, and asked them questions about career development, and their new Men at Work Program.
Career development is important for individuals of all ages, with proven economic and social benefits for the country as a whole. These include:
• Effective learning: If individuals make decisions about what they are to learn in a well-informed and well-thought-through way, linked to their interests, their capacities and their aspirations, and informed realistically about the opportunities to which the learning can lead, then they are likely to be more successful learners. Additionally, the huge sums of public money invested in education and training systems are likely to yield much higher returns.
• Effective labour market: If individuals construct career paths and secure employment which use their potential and meet their own goals, they are likely to be more motivated and more productive, and therefore contribute to enhancing national prosperity.
• Social equity, equal opportunities and social inclusion: Career development services can raise the aspirations of disadvantaged groups, giving them access to opportunities that might otherwise have been denied.
Individuals need help to develop their career management skills. Schools in partnership with universities, training institutions, workplaces, and support services have an important role to play in developing students’ career development knowledge and skills.
The aim of a contemporary career development service is no longer to assist students to make a single career choice, but to equip them with career self-management skills that will enable them to respond flexibly to changing opportunities and circumstances across their lifetime. In this changing environment, career development practitioners may work within a wider student careers support team, potentially comprising of counsellors, teachers, vocational education teachers and community members.
St Mary’s College, our students and stakeholders can benefit from an approach to career development that is based on the latest thinking about the nature of careers, and about how to deliver services in a way that more effectively meets our school and student needs.
For St Mary’s College, this means that:
• Career Development program is mapped to the Australian Blueprint of Career Development
• Students will have opportunities to develop in areas such as personal management, learning and work exploration and career building.
• Students are provided with career development opportunities to realise their potential so that each boy has the chance to be the best that he can be.
• Students are more motivated and engaged in learning because they will have clearer goals in mind in terms of their subject selection or post-secondary options.
• Students transitioning to other educational and training pathways will be more motivated and will have a better match between their interests and capabilities and their areas of study or training.
• Students transitioning to employment will be better suited to their role and clear about why they have chosen that job.
• Student self-esteem improves as career development provides them with the opportunity to create meaning from their learning and supports the development of their identity and where they “belong” in the world.
• The school community, especially parents, are better informed and more involved in student career development, and are influencing students’ career development in positive and realistic ways.
• The Career Development Program supports more students, more effectively, by having a clear continuum of services on offer – providing less costly and less intensive services to those students who might just need information or referral, supporting parents, teaching staff and industry partners to play a greater role in career development, and targeting their specialist skills for those students that need more intensive guidance.
What if you have a child that is really stuck with what they wish to do after school?
The career development program is designed to assist boys who find it difficult to decide what they want to do post school. Individual career counselling will help them with their thinking about career pathways and options. This can be complemented by work experience, the Men at Work mentor program, social justice placements, volunteer work, Student based apprenticeships and casual jobs etc. All of these activities are informing our boys about themselves, their skills, abilities and values, the world of work and what they like and what they do not like. Part of the exploration of themselves and a career is also discussing their thoughts with parents and exploring different careers and jobs on the internet and talking about what a day in that job might look like.
Tell me about the new Men at Work Program about to be launched?
Mentoring is a relationship between two people with the goal of professional and personal development.
The St Mary’s College Men at Work program is a part of the College Career Development program. It combines Old Boys with current students based on a shared experience at the college and a shared interest in a chosen industry.
Recognising the value of networking and building relationships, mentoring provides a key
opportunity for emerging professional development as student’s transition from study into the workplace. Participating in a mentoring relationship is a complement to ongoing training and education.
The St Mary’s College Men at Work program, provides students with opportunities to network, connect, build professional relationships and engage with Old Boys and the wider community.
Tanya DickensonHow will this benefit both the student and the mentee?
The Men at Work program provides students with:
• opportunities to develop relationships with employers and industry
• a chance to enhance their personal development
• assistance at the ‘coal-face’ to develop professional career goals
• networking opportunities to enhance career knowledge
• a mechanism to develop employability skills
It will provide mentors with:
• Enhancement of leadership and interpersonal skills
• Personal satisfaction and self-development
• Positively enhance a student’s professional development
• Investment in the future of the workforce
• Networking opportunities
• Give back to your school community through your experiences and reflections
• Establishment or maintenance of links with St Mary’s College.
Parents, staff and Old Boys are always welcome to get in contact with us. For enquiries about the Men at Work program email menatwork@stmaryscollege.com
For general enquiries, you can email dickensont@stmaryscollege.com or stanfordl@stmaryscollege.com
St Mary’s College Future Solutions students have been crowned champions of the Community Award at the Gen[In] Student Innovation Challenge Finals in Brisbane.
Students, Joseph Doljanin, Alex Myers, Declan Coleman and Connor Nicholls, developed an innovative idea that solves real world problems in the local community; in this case, a digital application which promotes Indigenous culture and languages throughout the Darling Downs. The boys, along with other finalists, had two days to pitch their innovation to judges consisting of government, university and industry representatives. The boys walked away with $4,000 prize money.
Gen[In] is Queensland’s first-ever internationally focused student innovation challenge. Gen[In] brings international and globally-minded domestic students (aged 14-21 years) together to bring innovative ideas to live through ideation
and collaboration. Passionate about helping young people build real world skills and make lifelong connections with fellow aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs, Gen[In] delivers a unique online experience to all students that register for the challenge.
Students also were successful at the Science and Engineering Challenge at the University of Southern Queensland, winning day 3 of the competition. St Mary’s College students
competed against other school students, where they were provided a challenge and a set of materials to complete a specific task. The event, aimed at allowing the students to engage in fun, yet competitive activities involving elements of science, engineering and technology, encourages the students to explore scientific principles, rather than being guided to an answer.
Students, staff and family members participated in the Opening Mass in Term 1; an opportunity to ask God’s blessing on the 2019 academic year. We were blessed to have Fr Ray Crowley to lead our Opening Mass and after the Mass, Primary and Secondary Leaders for 2019 were inducted. This was followed by our Academic Award Ceremony; acknowledging those students who received Gold – (6 As and no less than a B), Silver (5 As and no less than a B), Bronze (3 As and no less than a B) Awards.
Hello! I’m Ryan Baines and I’m the new Cross Campus Chaplain for St Mary’s College, Mary MacKillop Catholic College - Highfields, St Saviour’s College and the Youth and Community Learning Centre. I’ve come into this role in direct response to the strategic direction of all of these four schools who want to respond more readily to the pastoral needs and spiritual wellbeing of students and staff. Around the grounds, I’m known as ‘Bainesy’, and will respond to the needs of each campus as they arise – as well as ‘walking in solidarity’ with those who are more vulnerable in our community. One of my key goals is to look for opportunities whereby students can apply their knowledge and understanding of the ‘Catholic Social Teachings’ often through advocacy opportunities that equip students with the critical thinking skills to thrive in the 21st century. This year I seek to partner with a myriad of non-for-profit organisations, most recently, Catholic Missions (Caritas) and explore new opportunities for young people to encounter God’s message for us all: to love one another; it’s as simple and as complex as that!
The Chaplaincy role has knitted together these four distinct Catholic schools and the new partnerships brokered with Service Learning
agencies has been one of the most exciting aspects of the role. For our young men to be able to access the United Nations State Conference, have the opportunity to learn about software utilised by Orange Sky Australia, attend the World Vision Youth Conference in Brisbane, be a part of the ERA 4 Change Social Justice Day and attend the St Vincent de Paul Society, Buddies Days, Youth Camps and fundraising initiatives has been inspiring. Through Chaplaincy our boys have been given opportunities to volunteer alongside students from other Edmund Rice schools across Australia. The Advocacy Day hosted by St Joseph’s College, Nudgee College – enabled our men to work alongside students from Gregory Terrace, St Laurence’s, St Patrick’s Shorncliffe. Here, our boys intellectually wrestled with the challenges of modern society; from climate science to international peace treaties, our boys had the opportunity to sharpen their skills in advocacy and embolden their commitment to servant leadership.
I also hosted a successful Q&A session with United Nations Youth Ambassador Kareem El-Ansary during the United Nations Youth Ambassador Public Address at CUA Bank. Mr
St Mary’s College students and staff ventured to Papua New Guinea as a part of the Immersion trip, where they are guests to the people of Kavieng. The boys understood, embraced and formed new friendships and understandings of the lives of local people in Kavieng. During their time, students built new toilets, cleaned and repainted the local ANZAC memorial and donated vital items to the locals. The students undertook much preparation and fundraising before heading off, hoping to make a significant difference.
El-Ansary spoke to the Toowoomba Mayor, councillors, MPs, school representatives, students and the public about how United Nations are encouraging local youth to give themselves to social justice.
In 2019, I aspire to recontextualize faith-driven experiences so that the young people from of St Mary’s College, St Saviour’s College, Youth and Community Learning Centre and Mary MacKillop College, Highfields can make Jesus’ core message a lived reality for our world.
An incredible $2,084.55 has been raised for Caritas Project Compassion, through donations, a free dress day, and an Easter raffle. Caritas Project Compassion works to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Primary and Secondary students participated in the Caritas
Before Cross Country at the end of Term 1, students participated in the annual Easter Liturgy. Students gathered to recall the story of God’s saving work, from creation through to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A number of students enacted the story of Jesus Christ, and were accompanied by the College choir.
‘Just Leadership’ Day earlier in the year. Every year, our boys undertake leadership training through developing skills of understanding, compassion, justice and service in a Catholic environment. From this training, the boys will be involved in service and fundraising throughout
the year. Staff and students also observed Ash Wednesday, which provided the school community the opportunity to commence Lent. These liturgies always most meaningful and symbolic occasion to commence our season of Lent.
We sat down with the Director of Sport and HPE, Rob Anderson, to ask what kind of sporting options students have at St Mary’s College. Students at St Mary’s have numerous sporting opportunities. These range from elite state and national competitions, to local interschool competitions and social sport options. St Mary’s College students currently participate in sporting competitions for the following sports:
• Cricket
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Futsal
• Touch
• Rugby League
• Rugby 7s
• Hockey
• Softball
• Mountain Biking
• AFL
• Oztag
• Athletics
• Cross Country
• Swimming
We value sport and try to cater for all students sporting interests and ability levels.
If a student is interested in a certain sport that isn’t currently offered at St Mary’s, what happens?
The school sport system across the region provides a vast array of sporting options. If a student expresses an interest in a sport, we endeavour to support them as much as we can through the regional trial process. In some cases, we look to upskill staff to provide new sporting options for the boys if there is sufficient interest. The explosion of Mountain Biking over the past three years is testament to this.
Do students have the option to take their sporting talents to state and national levels?
Absolutely. From school representation, students are provided with the opportunity to trial for their sport at a representative level for Zone, Toowoomba, Darling Downs, Queensland and Australia.
Why should students get involved in sport at St Mary’s?
If nothing else, for their health and well-being first and foremost. Sport is a great way to
socialise and exercise with mates and to make new friends. Study can be stressful, so sport is a great weekly outlet for the boys to just de-stress or satisfy their competitive needs.
We are very proud to announce that the St Mary’s College First XIII Confraternity Shield Team 2018 won the Team of the Year award at the Sports Darling Downs Awards this year.
It was a major achievement for the students when they were victorious at the Confraternity Shield event in July last year.
This win broke a 20-year drought for the College.
Well done boys and staff on this amazing achievement.
For the first time in the history of the College, every single St Mary’s College Rugby League age group has qualified for the highly competitive Hancock Cup Brisbane Schoolboys Competition in Rugby League for
Year 12 student Coby Fechner was amongst Queensland’s top schoolboy talents to have their chance to impress scouts and kick start their NRL dreams at the Allan Langer Cup.
Six schools participated in this year’s competition, with Marsden State High School, Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, St Mary’s College Toowoomba, Keebra Park State High School, Wavell State High School and Ipswich State High School contesting the division.
The Allan Langer Trophy was originally established in an effort to help make Queensland schools more competitive in the National Schoolboy Competition. The idea was conceived by two former teachers, the late Cyril Connell and John Dixon, who were both employed by the Brisbane Broncos.
While at the launch, we were able to see old boy Cory Paix’s locker in the main Broncos’ change rooms.
St Mary’s College students also attended the launch of the very first Indigenous round of the Allan Langer Trophy, ahead of the St Mary’s College vs Marsden State High School game in Term 2.
While there, the boys met the Queensland Origin Team during a training session, and also saw Old Boys, Jake Simpkin and Tristan Powell, who were selected in the Queensland U18s side, playing before the State of Origin game one.
Congratulations to Bowdler House on their win at the College’s annual Cross Country Carnival at Kearney Springs.
The day was a great success with many wonderful performances from all the students.
The sun was shining and it was the perfect day to hold the annual St Mary’s College Swimming Carnival at Milne Bay Aquatic Centre, during the first week of Term 1. All boys participated wholeheartedly, and it was encouraging to see the senior students loudly encouraging the younger boys, especially with some boys being at the College for less than a week! Congratulations to our winning House, Purcell, and to their Year 12 Leaders - Jake Lance and Tristan Voll.
Congratulations to the following age champions at this carnival:
2
4
The following records were broken: Lachlan Parker broke three College Swimming records - U/10-50m Freestyle/50m Backstroke/50m
and William Downs broke the U/16-50m Breast stroke record.
In 2018, St Mary’s College saw high representation of students at Zone, Toowoomba, Darling Downs and State level sporting events. Over 80 St Mary’s students represented Darling Downs School Sport across a number of different sporting pursuits with twelve students going on to represent Queensland and two earning the highest of honours in being named to represent Australia. These students are Lincoln Walk for Softball and Blake Cesari for Rugby League. This is a wonderful achievement, demonstrating the dedication of so many of our students in the sporting arena.
Drama students from Year 8 through to Year 11 participated in the St Mary’s Drama Showcase. The boys presented a selection of different scenes, showcasing the work they have created in Drama classes and performed at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. The Drama Showcase provides students an opportunity to showcase all the performing skills and knowledge they have acquired over the semester of formal study. Additionally, this opportunity gives the boys a chance to experience live theatre in a structured and safe environment. The substantial attendance by parents, staff and friends allowed the boys to perform to a full-house. This contributed to the authentic and educationally-rich experience that can only be obtained from performing in front of a live audience.
The students of St Mary’s are achieving in the classrooms, on the sporting fields and once again, over the chess board. The resurgence of chess at St Mary’s over the past few years has led to outstanding results in recent Toowoomba Regional Inter-school Chess Tournaments in both Primary and Secondary competitions. Each week, over twenty students gather after school for the Academic Extension through Chess and are taught to consider consequences for actions, identify alternate solutions to problems and are challenged to think logically and laterally whilst playing and learning about chess. Students continue to prepare for regional and potentially state championships throughout the year. Students also participated in the inaugural St Mary’s College Inter-House Chess Competition in June.
While we are forever proud to have Jonathon Thurston as one of our St Mary’s Old Boys, the former NRL superstar continues to ensure he can support his old school. St Mary’s students were personally invited to attend the launch of the JT Academy in Brisbane. The Academy aims to develop and deliver high quality programs to individuals while equipping them with the right skills, knowledge and attributes to make a significant and positive impact in the future. Our Year 12 student, Sam Elara, was then named the very first JT Star, as the academy shared stories of rising stars amongst our students who are completing programs with the JT Academy. Representatives from the JT Believe program have since spoken to a number of our students, aiming to support our boys onto the path of success in the areas of education, healthy living, employment and sport.
During the launch of the very first Indigenous round of the Allan Langer Trophy, students Sam Elara and Karne Young presented Johnathon Thurston with a St Mary’s College Indigenous Jersey, designed by Year 12 student Karne Young.
The group of boys, consisting of the Marching Band, Drumline and Colour guard, performed at the opening of the Toowoomba Show, before the Governor-General of Australia, General Sir Peter Cosgrove, and then were privileged to participate in the Queensland Commemorative ANZAC Day March in Brisbane. The Governor General made a point of personally congratulating them on their excellence as they passed, thanking them for making the effort to attend.
The St Mary’s College
Band have had an exceptionally exciting start to 2019.
Congratulations to the boys who successfully auditioned to be a member of Drumatic 2019. They are already shaking the walls with not only the sound of their drums but also with their energy and eagerness. The line-up features boys from as young as Year 6 through to Year 11.
William Delaforce, Matthew Neville, Lauchlan Voss, Nicholas Morgan, Luke Davis, Matthew Morgan, Khai Van Heerden, James MacAvoy, Bailey Fry and Luke Tully.
These boys will be involved in events such as Masterclasses, combined school workshops, various Eisteddfods, The Relay for Life, Carnival of Flowers and sporting events. Please congratulate them and show your support and encouragement if you see them around.
Congratulations to students Abraham Ajak, Harerimana Ndayishimiye and Coby Rose whose artworks were selected for exhibition at the annual Future Visions Exhibition. This exhibition, curated by Dr Kyle Jenkins from the University of Southern Queensland, features the best and brightest artworks from senior Visual Art students in the Darling Downs region. Abraham’s artwork consists of a diptych of paintings; one has been painted manually while the other one has been completed digitally. Harerimana also completed a diptych of paintings entitled ‘The Passing of the Torch.’ Coby’s scratchboard triptych is entitled ‘The Reality of Time and Space.’
Congratulations to St Mary’s College Year 11 student Tikiri Lamb who represented St Mary’s College in the Lions Youth of the Year Competition at The Glennie School. The Lions Youth of the Year is aimed at all young people who seek to improve their skills in a number of areas before entering the workforce or other endeavours. The qualities sought, apart from academic attainments are those of leadership, personality, sportsmanship, public speaking and good citizenship. The students meet in fellowship and have the opportunity to participate in open discussion, exchange ideas and meet the professional people of a community service Club organisation. Tikiri was the only Year 11 student in this competition opposing Year 12 students from other Darling Downs Secondary Schools. Tikiri received special congratulations from the judges for his outstanding impromptu interview.
All new families to St Mary’s College were welcomed to a meal at the College in February. This was an opportunity for us to formally welcome new families into the St Mary’s College community and to offer any assistance and answer any questions that may have arisen during their first few weeks at the College. At the conclusion of a liturgy, families were invited to the Centenary Courtyard to enjoy a delicious meal together and to socialise with staff, students and other new families.
The Year 12 St Mary’s College students and their partners had a fantastic time at the 2019 Formal at Picnic Point, in April. This occasion was an opportunity for the boys to socialise, enjoy a formal sit down meal and dance. The evening also included an address by Old Boy, Lech Blaine.
The young men of St Mary’s College again demonstrated much maturity, aplomb and sensitivity as they hosted the returned exservicemen and Old Boys to the College during our annual ANZAC Day ceremony. This was followed by our boys marching in Toowoomba, laying wreaths at ceremonies throughout the Darling Downs and our College Band performing before the Governor-General of Australia at the Queensland ANZAC Day March in Brisbane. At the College Anzac Day ceremony, students and staff were blessed to listen to an address by Fr Kerry Costigan, a retired Royal Australian Navy Chaplain and Sergeant Russell Saffron (Army).
“Their legacy to us is to be people of hope – not to allow ourselves to get bogged down with sadness and pessimism with all the violence and hatred around today. God made us to make the times, not the times to make us. We are the subjects of history not its objects. We have to accept the challenge of ANZACs to do our
best to try and make this world, our world, a better place. We do that of course, by our love, service and sacrifice for others in the name of Christ.” Fr Kerry Costigan
‘The spirit of ANZAC is about mateship. Being there for your brothers and working together for a common goal. This is a quality that you should strive for each and every day. Taking the time to check on your mates to make sure they are ok ensuring that the spirit of ANZAC lives on. We have the need of the qualities of the ANZACs still, and we should continue to draw on them, for they can only make our community better and our nation more confident. Let us all remember ANZAC. In particular, we should pass on the significance of the occasion to our youth. The ANZAC spirit exists in each of us so therefore let us be guided by the ANZAC spirit in facing the national and personal challenges ahead and let us strive to be worthy of the memory of those we honour today.’
Sergeant Russell SaffronIt was fantastic to see so many students inviting their mums to our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast.
More than $2,500 was raised for our chosen charity, Young Care, which supports young people with high care needs, who are being left behind in aged care, hospital rooms, rehabilitation centres – inappropriate accommodation that is not suitable for their age. This is also to support Old Boys Paul Giuffrida and Leon Williamson, who are undertaking the Simpson Desert Challenge in an effort to raise vital funds for the charity.
The St Mary’s College Mother’s Day Breakfast was a wonderful morning and a chance to acknowledge and say thank you to the mothers and female caregivers, who are so important in the educational development of each boy at St Mary’s College.
St Mary’s College students are continuing to have positive interactions with students from The Glennie School, Fairholme College, St Ursula’s College and St Saviours College. The students gather to enjoy a BBQ, games at the local arcade, or at a disco, which all the students report they very much enjoy. We find it highly beneficial to have these socials often to support students with positive friendships and social skills.
St Mary’s College students were extremely fortunate to be able to be involved in YellowBridge’s project ‘Wise Humans of the Downs’. The project aims to uncover, record and celebrate the lived experiences and stories of people aged 60 years and over across the Darling Downs region. Our students interviewed
participants, each having unique and fascinating life stories, which the students documented into written stories. The final stories and interviews will be shared in a printed book, which will be launched during Seniors Week in August 2019.
St Mary’s College student leaders joined other leaders from secondary Colleges on the Darling Downs and members of the local community for the 2019 Domestic and Family Violence Summit. Toowoomba Together hosted the session, educating attendees around the enormity of the domestic and family violence surge. St Mary’s College Captain Nick Kuhemann spoke at the event about the initiatives taken at St Mary’s through the ‘Good Man Plan’ Nick explained the program includes a range of activities, encouraging the young men of St Mary’s to act with kindness and tolerance, stating ‘A good man is a man who doesn’t resort to violence to solve his problems. A good man is a man who builds positive relationships with his mates. A good man is a man who doesn’t control their partner or friends. A good man is about being the best person you can be.’
Senior students Jesse Campbell, Edward Witherspoon and Sam Spencer ventured to the United Nations Summit in Term 1 at QUT to join other like-minded students to discuss the complex problems associated with climate change on both a national and global scale. This was a wonderful educative experience for the boys and a chance to share ideas with other students from Brisbane Edmund Rice Colleges and experts in the field.
Q. You’ve had time now in the leadership role as the College Captain for 2019, what does it mean for you to be in this role?
A. It’s a privilege and an honour to have been presented with the College Captain Role. I’ve called St Mary’s College home since I was in Year 5, back in 2012. All the boys in Year 12 this year started at the College as boys and I’m proud to say we have now all grown into young men. Since day dot, it was my dream to lead St Mary’s as College Captain, and I couldn’t be more proud of the College and the boys.
Q. What are your goals for the rest of the year?
A. As the College Captain, I am aiming, along with the support of College Vice-Captain Sam Elara, to make 2019 a memorable year. I will try my best to support and encourage each of the boys, so that every student feels a part of the St Mary’s College family. In doing so, we will be proud of this inclusive community. I look forward to experiencing the rest of 2019 with all the students.
Q. What does 2020 look like for you?
A. As scary as it is to think about next year, I intend to go to university to study business and law in 2020.
Q. What piece of advice would you give to other St Mary’s College students?
A. A piece of advice I’d like to give to all the boys at St Mary’s College is to stay true to themselves. In life, there will be hurdles that will knock you down, and some days will be hard. I ask you to just keep going, to continue to be the best that you can be and to not let the hard times hold you back.
Nick KuhnemannQ. You’ve had time now in the leadership role as the College Vice Captain for 2019, what does it mean for you to be in this role?
A. Being the College Vice-Captain for St Mary’s College means a lot to me because I have been at this College for 7 years and the school has done a lot for me and my family. It is my pleasure to give back to the College and be 2019 Vice-Captain. I can now show how much passion I have for the blue and white and hopefully I will pass on how much passion I have for the school to others around me.
Q. What are your goals for the rest of the year?
A. In 2019, Nick and I are strongly encouraging the boys to get involved. We urge them to get involved in anything; whether it be academic, sporting or cultural pursuits. We are here to move the boys forward to strive
for the crown, and we are encouraging students to embrace the passion of wearing the blue and white in the classrooms and on the sporting field. My own goal, for the rest of the year, is to lose my voice every time someone tells me to lead the war cry at any event!
Q. What does 2020 look like for you?
A. In 2020 I will be finishing off my SBA at RW Joiners, which will take me about 3-4 years to complete. I’m also studying a Certificate 3 in Fitness and a Certificate 2 in Hospitality, so when I do complete my SBA I hope to get into the fitness industry.
Q. How has St Mary’s College supported you to grow into this leadership position?
A. St Mary’s College has helped me a lot with my confidence, whether it is speaking into the microphone proudly or standing up
straight when I talk. This has been a huge help to ensure I can fulfil the Vice-Captain role.
Q. What piece of advice would you give to other St Mary’s College students?
A. I know students hear this a lot, but I encourage the boys to get involved and make 2019 one that myself and the 2019 seniors will remember. Don’t be too worried about others beside you when we do a war cry and don’t hold back at any College event. Remember, you only get out of St Mary’s College what you put in, so don’t hold back. 2019 is the year to get involved.
Sam Elara
At our Old Boys Annual Meeting in Toowoomba held on the 1st April 2019, Rev Brother Kevin Dwyer cfc was re-elected Patron, Joe Guerrini – President and James Dixon (Yr 12 – 2004) – Vice President. Matthew Booth (Yr 12 – 2006) was elected Secretary, Tom Vonhoff (Yr12 –2012) – Treasurer, and Paul Canning (19681975), David Fitzpatrick, Robert Thomas, and Damien Wilson as Committee members.
Rev Fr Hal Ranger (1943 -1952) will celebrate the 60th Year of his Priesthood on the 29th June 2019. Fr Hal who is currently Associate Pastor at St Patrick’s Cathedral, has had a wide range of appointments since his ordination He
As a part of a liturgy on All Saints and All Souls Day, ten Old Boys returned to the College to be led in the Eucharist by Old Boy, Father Ray Crowley, joined by some of our 2019 Student leaders, for our first Old Boys Mass, which we will hold annually. Sitting together in the Brothers’ Chapel, a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, listening to the traffic outside with the breeze gently blowing through the open stained glass windows, and listening to the stories rolling out from the Old Boys, it was a special moment. For one man, he realised that it was 70 years ago that he left the College, but here he was back remembering those who had died, and sharing tales and laughter with those who were left.
served as Associate Pastor in Toowoomba in 1960/61 and 1972/73 and at St Mary’s Warwick between 1962 and 1972. From 1973 to 1979
Fr Hal was an Australian Army Chaplin and then for seventeen years from 1980 to 1997 lived and worked in the Saint Kilda area of Melbourne. Returning to the Toowoomba Diocese he was appointed Parish Priest at St Joseph’s Dalby (1998-2004) and then Parish Priest at St Mary’s Warwick from 2005 to 2008.
Bryan McSweeney
The graduating class of 1989 caught up for a fantastic night of old stories and catching up with old class mates. The men were treated to a tour of the College grounds, making many comments of how the campus has changed since their time at the school, before enjoying dinner and drinks.
St Mary’s College Old Boys 120 Year Celebrations
October 2019
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information and a date for this event.
St Mary’s
Old Boys Golf Day
Friday 30th August 2019 at City Golf Club
Contact Andrew Webb at golf@citygolf.com.au for further details
Class of 1979, 40 Year Reunion
22nd- 24th November 2019
This reunion also welcomes past pupils who attended the College during the period of 1972 - 1979 (Year 5 - Year 12) but may have left prior to year 12.
Contact Craig Ball at craig@seplanners.com.au for further details
Class of 2009, 10 Year Reunion
5th October 2019
Contact Nicholas Strickland at StricklandN@stmaryscollege.com for further details
Class of 1981, Annual Meet Up
26th October 2019 at Clifford Park for the Cox Plate Day.
Contact Michael O’Neill at oneillmp@bigpond.com for further details
Mrs Samantha Parle, who has been working at St Mary’s College for more than 25 years, had a wonderful reunion with a former student, as she said goodbye to his son at the Year 12 Valedictory last year. Sam Parle taught Brian Horrex, who graduated from the College in 1996, and as a part of the graduating class’s gift that year, they presented Mrs Parle with a beautiful silver plate, which unfortunately was incorrectly engraved with ‘Mrs Pearl’! Mrs Parle then went on to teach Brian’s son, Zach, who graduated last year. Mrs Parle has placed the special silver plate in her office, and it is always filled with sweets for her visiting students to munch on! If you are wanting any help or advice on reunions, or to book a tour of the College, contact Public Relations and Foundations Officer Bronte Latham at lathamb@stmaryscollege.com or on
JULY:
1st
Confraternity Shield in Bundaberg
15th – NAIDOC Week
– 1500m and Hurdles
OCTOBER:
8th – Term 4 Commences
9th – Year 11 Camp Leaves
16th – Year 12 Retreat Leaves
17th
Athletics Day
18th – NAIDOC Week Dinner
22nd – Year 6 Canberra Trip Leaves
29th – Catholic Education Week
AUGUST:
2nd – Pupil Free Day – Bishop’s In-Service Day
9th – Grandparents’ Day Morning Tea
12th – National Science Week
15th – Assumption Mass & Academic Awards
27th – St Mary’s College Student Art Show
30th – Fathers’ Day Breakfast
SEPTEMBER:
3rd – QCS
4th – QCS
5th – Twilight Showcase
9th – Year 12 Exam Block starts
17th – Mother and Son Luncheon
19th – Term 3 Concludes
17th – Orientation Day
22nd – Year 9 Camp leaves
25th – Plain Clothes Day – Mrs Chantler’s Pink Day
30th – Year 12 Exam Block starts
NOVEMBER:
1st – Old Boys’ Mass 11.00am
6th – Presentation Night
11th – Remembrance Day
12th – Year 12 Memories Day
13th – Year 12 Final Assembly – Year 12 Valedictory Dinner
15th – Year 12 students conclude school and sign out
28th – Year 5-11 Christmas Mass
Year 6 Reflection Day
29th – Year 7-11 Conclude School
DECEMBER:
4th – Year 6 Graduation
5th – Year 5 & 6 students conclude school
End of School Year
Reports Issued
