College Board

On behalf of the Trinity College Board, I am pleased to report a year of great progress on many fronts.

Mr Christopher Sutherland (’81) Board Chair

We have witnessed significant development made by all students of the College covering the Four Pillars of a Trinity education, through our Faith, Academic, Cultural and Sporting programs. The growth of each student across these Four PIllars is the most important goal we strive to achieve each year.

As this was my final year on the Board of Trinity College, I thought I would share with you some insights into the Board’s role, challenges and plans going forward.

At the time of joining the Board, seven years ago, the College faced some significant challenges. Costs were rising about six percent a year, government funding was falling in real terms and the College was operating without any operating surplus to fund sustaining capital works or able to build any capacity to fund the replacement of its aging infrastructure. Significant development was about to occur around the Trinity boundaries which provided both opportunities and threats.

At the same time, the Board wished to ensure that the College community could continue to be representative of the broader community with the maintenance of diversity a key challenge. They believed that parents would support the concept of some contribution to assist people less fortunate than themselves with strong educational benefits flowing to all students.

Over the past seven years, the entire Board has worked hard to put the building blocks in place that will meet the challenges the College faces and the maintenance of diversity of the school community for the next 25 years. Key building blocks now set in place include:

• releasing a 25 year infrastructure plan to enable the orderly replacement of existing aging buildings, as well as improvements to meet the future needs of the College • finalising a land swap/purchase deal procuring new land to the north of the College to provide for future expansion opportunities • re-zoning some land in our southern corner to enable a future commercial/income source to be developed thus lessening some reliance on government/parent funding sources in the future • refreshing a separate Trinity Foundation which seeks donations to provide scholarships to students who would otherwise not be able to attend the College.

Over time this will enable the diversity of the College community to be maintained. Recently our first refugee scholarship was provided by the Foundation • strengthening Board and the Board

Committee processes • continuing best practice in all Four Pillars of the education experience at Trinity.

Throughout the year, the Board has been an active participant in dialogue with the school’s parent entity, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA).

I wish to thank all Board members for their significant and valued input this year. Mr John Driscoll (’79), Mr Andrew Whitechurch, Br Pat Kelly, Mr Chris Ellison (’71), Mrs Margie Tannock, Mr Tony Metcalf, Ms Jane DeykinO’Dea and Mr Andrew Watson (‘83) all volunteer their time and bring a range of specialist skills and knowledge to the table. In particular, I wish John Driscoll all the best as he takes on the Chair role in 2015. Andrew Watson is also departing the Board after securing a new role as Principal at Mandurah Catholic College and we wish him success in this new challenge.

Trinity College Board 2014 Back Row: Mr Chris Ellison, Mr John Driscoll, Mr Michael Burgess (Secretary), Br Pat Kelly, Mr Andrew Watson, Mr Tony Metcalf Front Row: Ms Jane Deykin-O’Dea, Mr Ivan Banks (Headmaster), Mr Christopher Sutherland (Chair), Mrs Margie Tannock Absent: Mr Andrew Whitechurch

I also thank the significant contribution of Headmaster, Mr Ivan Banks as the executive on the Board and Mr Michael Burgess as the Board Secretary. They perform their Board duties, often after hours, with efficiency and to a high standard whilst still managing the day-to-day operations of the College.

Finally, I thank all staff members who make extra efforts every day to improve the experience of our students.

I now leave the Board but not the College or its community. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Board and the goodwill shown by other Board members, staff, students and parents over this time.

Thank you Trinity for giving me this opportunity.

I wish the Trinity community a safe and rewarding 2015.

Mr Christopher Sutherland (’81) Board Chair