College Board

Administration

2003 was a year of challenges and changes. The biggest change on the board was the retirement of Damien Bowen after nine years of dedicated service and my appointment as the new chair of Trinity College Board. We also welcomed two new members to our board – Robyn Jennison and Darren Taggart – both current parents and one a past pupil of our college. All members of the board are active on various subcommittees: Marketing, Landscaping and Finance. Other members of the Trinity School Community also serve on these committees. I thank every one of them for their dedication and contribution.

After ten years of fantastic service, our principal Tony Curtis is retiring. While it is an occasion tinged with sadness to see such a great ambassador leave our community, it is also a time of great excitement as we begin a new adventure and look to the future. At this point, it is fitting that I should pay tribute to the contribution that Tony has made to our school over the past ten years. As the College’s first lay principal, Tony trod a path that was uncharted, and what a marvelous job he has done. Our College has grown in many ways. The growth of the College is wonderful, current and future enrolments are very strong. Tony’s leadership, dedication to staff, students and parents and his personal attention to all levels of school life is a true reflection of the calibre of the man. Of course, his wonderful wife Elizabeth has been there to support him and the Trinity College Community and I personally thank Elizabeth for sharing her husband so generously and allowing Tony to give his all to Trinity College. I, on behalf of the Board, wish them both a wonderful retirement together. After a great deal of time, effort, prayer and consultation, we appointed Peter Bothe as new Principal effective January 1 2004. Peter’s outstanding attributes make him the ideal successor to the position of Principal of Trinity College. Thank you to the hardworking succession planning committee who spent many months in consultation and preparation before the interviewing process even began. On behalf of the Board and the Finance Committee, I thank all those families who are currently and who have recently been involved in the two capital development campaigns. The Design and Technology Centre is testament to the financial support that our families give to our college. Our most recent campaign – the new Pool Development – has also been a most rewarding campaign. The support from existing, new and incoming families is outstanding and we look forward to the continued support. This ongoing financial support makes it possible to plan ahead for future developments. We have had many discussions about the redevelopment of the East Perth Precinct. Rest assured Trinity College will not be moving from its current location and will continue to have active dialogue with all parties in relation to the redevelopment of this part of our city. The board is determined to keep all parties well informed. The challenges that we face as a board, as parents and as members of the Trinity community remain unchanged. We must at all times be aware of what it means to be part of the Edmund Rice Family, and the responsibility we all have in making sure that our children are given the greatest opportunity to learn and experience all that Trinity College can give them. I hope that we are able to set good examples and show our young men at Trinity College that to be part of this community is a special privilege and one that they should always acknowledge, remember and appreciate. Finally, I would like to say thank you to the wonderful members of the Board for their support and continued dedication to the college and community and for assisting me in my first year as chair.

Leanne O’Dea Chair of Board