A moment with Mrs Terrie Jones At the recent Valedictory Service, the Harrison Choir performed a beautiful choral rendition of the song, ‘Be A Light’. The lyrics resonate at this time, but have relevance for all times. Thomas Rhett’s lyrics call upon us to consider the good we can do, the change we can bring if we choose to ‘be a light’. The chorus refrain, In a world full of hate, be a light When you do somebody wrong, make it right Oh, don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine In a world full of hate, be a light. I was also reminded of the hope and challenge in Amanda Gorman’s powerful spoken word poem, The Hill We Climb which closes with the lines, For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it. The human stories across the pages of this edition of The Crest are examples of the light that continued to shine brightly, from within and without the School this semester. As we headed into the second half of 2021, we were cautious and concerned about the likelihood of further lockdowns and the challenges they would pose. At year’s end we have emerged from a time when most of us experienced moments of darkness, mayhap even close to despair, but the important point is we have emerged with greater self-awareness of the need for connection and community. So much is not of our choosing and beyond our control. Often the dark and difficult moments are to be endured alone; however, the collective experience of the pandemic, although not uniform in its impact on our lives, has been a kind of shared experience. Like both world wars, other pandemics, or the Great Depression – this has been a common threat to our health, to our way of life and to many livelihoods. It has also been, and will continue to be if we let it, a threat to the social contract and community connectedness. The very protective factors that have enabled us to emerge stronger than ever, thus far. When I moved to Melbourne, the stark difference between it and my place of birth, Sydney, was all about community and culture for me. I have been deeply
saddened to witness some of that fray in the wake of the pandemic and I wonder how long it will take to repair, restore and reconnect the threads that have come loose. There are valuable lessons for us in the fine examples of lives well lived in Dr Janette Gordon-Clark and Mr Allan Pizzey. Both volunteers that gave so much of their lives in service to our school. They stand as models of selflessness, fierce intellect and tenacious commitment to something larger than themselves – the shared values, the educational project and the strength of community of St Michael’s Grammar School. Both faced considerable personal health challenges over the course of their lives, but they kept on – stoic and resolute that they would continue to lead lives of purposeful endeavour that would have an enduring legacy. I am so deeply grateful to them both for sharing their expertise, their hearts and their minds with the School. In particular, Jan’s 81 years of connection to St Michael’s and her active love for the School is likely never to be matched for length of service and scope of involvement. She will be dearly missed by all, and remains the person from whom I have learned most about being a Michaelian and the unique gift of belonging to this wonderful school community. Jan always chose to be a light. As did my own grandmother, Alice Agnes who introduced me to the Stoic philosophers that have kept me company these past two years. I acknowledge now, when in my youth I probably could not, that we can always choose how we see the circumstances that surround us and choose to be a light. Surely that is what the resilience of spirit is, a choice– borne out of lessons that are difficult to learn, situational – in that it takes adverse circumstances for it to be practised and honed and, hard because of the bravery it requires of us and the relentless self-discipline it demands. I hope you will enjoy the stories from The Crest this semester. It chronicles and evidences many moments and examples of our community bringing forth its light for its own benefit but also for constructive pursuit of the common good. Thank you to all of contributors to its pages, may it serve as a source of light to generations of Michaelians that will follow.
The Crest Issue 6 2021 | 1
