Principal’s Address

Administration

2004 has marked a number of significant milestones in the life of all Catholic schools in the tradition of Edmund Rice, but especially in the life of Trinity College. Following on from the wonderful developments at Trinity in the previous ten years, the Executive and Board of the College have in 2004, set about securing the future.

Charter

At the beginning of Term Three this year, Trinity College attended the launch of the Charter – a proclamation of an authentic expression of Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition.

This charter was the culmination of some two years of work where the eleven defining cultural characteristics of the thirty eight Australian Edmund Rice schools were distilled and refined. This Charter has become the blueprint for the College in ensuring that we remain true to the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice and to the wonderful legacy given to us by the Christian Brothers.

Mr Peter Bothe

Risk Management /Safe Schools Framework

The College has been at the forefront of an initiative of the Christian Brothers to assess the risk factors endemic in any school’s operation. Our risk management process has reassured us of the safety of our school and put us well ahead of the Federal Government’s National Safe Schools Framework.

Staff Welfare – Human Resources Officer

East Perth Regional Development Authority

We have had a long standing dialogue with the East Perth Regional Development Authority and I am delighted that Trinity College is well positioned to be a major player in the East Perth redevelopment. The College will benefit from the surrounding improved infrastructure. While there will be a number of challenges, there will also be significant opportunities in the way that we find ourselves positioned at the gateway of this magnificent city in future years.

Strategic Plan

During this year, the College Board also undertook a strategic planning process facilitated by Dr Liz Pattison. Staff, students, parents and community members helped define a vision for the future of Trinity College.

Management Structure Review

The College undertook a management structure review during 2004. This review was designed to examine the current model of management at Trinity College in the light of the future demands of schooling. The implementation of the Curriculum Framework in the Middle School years and the full implementation of the Courses of Study within the Post Compulsory Framework will be addressed in our new structure. Our continuing vision is to be the leader in boys’ education, and to enhance our teaching and learning by leading best practice in the Middle Schooling movement. For these reasons the College will be organised in 2005 into three sub-schools: a Junior School encompassing Years 4 to 7; a Middle School for Years 8 and 9 and a Senior School for Years 10 to 12.

Both the management structure review and the Strategic Plan identified the need for the provision of enhanced staff welfare services in the future. We will appoint a Human Resources Officer who will have a major role in assisting the College management in the professional formation of all of the College’s staff.

Community Relations Officer

The Strategic Plan also identified the role of a Community Relations Officer as being significant in the future of the College. This role will be mainly about ensuring the communication between the various agencies in the College, including our parent body, former students and each of the College’s other identified key stakeholders.

Staffing

Some long serving staff members had a change of position during this year. Mr Rob Marshall has been associated with the College for over twenty one years in various capacities. Mr Marshall’s incredible dedication to Trinity College over so many years has left a fine legacy. Mr John Geekie, currently Head of the English Learning Area has been promoted to the position of Dean of Students at Newman College from the beginning of 2005. John has been a wonderful advocate of the Trinity experience for many years. Mr Greg Hill retired during the year after 18 years of dedicated service to the College. In addition, Mr Mark Duffy will take up a position at Waverly College in Sydney after six years of fine service to Trinity. Mr Ray Kosovich has led Trinity College Rowing for the past 14 years. He will step aside from this role in 2005. During the last three years, Mr Kosovich has presided over successful Hamer Cup teams, culminating this year with the Hamer Cup, Challenge Cup double.

Anyone close to rowing will know the enormous amount of time that is required in this area. Anyone who knows Mr Kosovich will also know the level of dedication that he has brought to this role and we are indebted to him for the wonderful rowers that the College has produced in the last few years.

Four Pillars

The four guiding pillars of Trinity College are Faith Development, Academic Excellence, Music and Sport

Faith Development

The College’s faith development, our model of Head, Heart and Hands, meaning Religious Education instruction, retreat programs and Christian Service is a model that is admired and has been adopted by many other Catholic schools in Western Australia. The College has committed resources to these three pivotal areas of the College’s education. The number of students completing their Senior Project in Christian Service and the level of demand for the Kairos retreats is an indication of the worth of these programs.

Academic Excellence

Our new management structure is designed to enhance the academic outcomes for every one of our boys, not just those who aspire to the TEE. Trinity College has been a leader in providing vocational education to the whole range of students. The development of the Senior Enterprise Programme provides another avenue for students to achieve the best possible outcomes for their future.

Music

The College has a phenomenal participation rate in music and artistic activities. This year, for the second time, Trinity College was awarded the Zenith Shield for the most outstanding school in the Western Australian Catholic Education Performing Arts Festival. This is a wonderful credit to all of the musicians, to their tutors and especially to Dr Robert Braham in his role as Director of Music of the College. Our Strategic Plan clearly identified the need for a Community Arts Centre as the most urgent building requirement at the College. The College will work with EPRA and various other groups in Perth in planning for an iconic riverside structure that will enhance both Trinity College and the gateway to the city.

Sport

Our College is all about providing opportunities for each student to be the best they can be in every way. For many of our boys, sport happens to be one of these ways. 2004 was the College’s equal best sporting year ever with the Challenge Cup and Hamer Cup victories in Term One followed by the Alcock Cup victory in football, the undefeated run to the Peter Moyes Cup for Cross Country and Alcock Shield victory in athletics in Term Three. Trinity teachers make it a “badge of honour” to coach the boys they teach, and teach the boys they coach, not only in the skills of sport, but in the manner of sportsmanship and team play that have seen Trinity’s reputation on the sporting field reach enviable proportions in the last few years. The College now has a wonderful new aquatic centre that will assist us in providing a quality aquatics program for each of our boys.

State of the College

At the end of 2004 Trinity College is in a very strong position. The College Board has adopted a ten year financial strategy which will ensure the strong financial viability of the College, while keeping our fees at an affordable level and providing the level of service expected by our community. Enrolments are at capacity and sadly, many fine young Catholic students are unable to gain a place at the school of their choice, Trinity College. Our reputation is at an all time high due to the great work of every single representative of the Trinity College community during the past few years. Trinity has shown its capacity to be a school that truly produces “Men for Others.’ The balance of our programs ensures that we are a truly inclusive school. We will proudly continue to provide places for the aboriginal boys who do so much to enrich our lives. Our commitment to the Mary Rice Centre is also an indication that we will not lose sight of the mission of our Founder, Blessed Edmund Rice to minister to the poor and marginalised of our society. The most important reason why Trinity College is so strong at the moment is because of the quality of the staff that are currently employed at the College. From the grounds, maintenance, teaching, support, administration, canteen, clothing shop and Chaplain, the level of dedication and professionalism of the Trinity College staff is peerless. Their willingness to work beyond normal expectations to ensure the

Administration

Administration

welfare of each individual student is a magnificent example to every educator in this country. The College Board, are charged with the onerous responsibility of the ongoing and future welfare of the College. I am grateful for their willingness to complete their tasks with such insight. The Ladies’ Auxiliary provides wonderful support for so many of the College’s functions throughout the year. The Parent Council provides great support in consultation on educational matters and in many social activities. The 2004 Family Fair was an indication of the passion and energy of this group. The “Friends” of each of the sports and activities in the College community are quite unique to Trinity College and it makes us truly the “family” school. The Friends of Music support our Music program and the parents who assist us so generously in the canteen and clothing store make the provision of these services possible. The Trinity Old Boys’ Association concern themselves about the future welfare of each Trinity graduate and support the ongoing operation of the College. Trinity’s young men are exceptional people. By any measure this has been a stunning year of success for Trinity. The leadership of our seniors, the “Class of 2004.” has been inspirational in many College endeavours. From Kairos to the classrooms to the Concert Hall, from the Canning River to Perry lakes to the sporting fields we have witnessed their unapologetic pursuit of excellence. The class of 2004 has gone where there was no path and blazed a trail for future generations of boys to follow. The Prefects have made a fabulous contribution to the culture of the College. David Rossbach (School Captain) and Ronan Fahey (Vice Captain) have led the community admirably this year. They have contributed to securing our future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I thank each member of the College staff and the College Executive for their spirit, the gifts, the talent, the inspiration and dedication that they bring to their roles every day. Ours is truly a most welcoming community, full of creativity, fun and Christian selflessness.

Back row:Mr Philip Jurjevich (Coach of Cross Country), Mr Ray Kosovich (Director of Rowing), Mr Peter Bother (Principal), Mr Stephen Leahy (Sportsmaster), Mr John Montagu (Coach of 1st XVIII Football)

Front row: Rhys Grant (Captain of Boats), Benjamin Russell (Captain of Athletics), Preston O’ Keefe (Captain of Football), David Rossbach (Captain of Cross Country), Challenge Cup (Head of the River), C A Hamer Cup (PSARowing Champion School 2004), Alcock Shield (Athletics), Alcock Cup (Football), P M Moyes Cup (Cross Country)