Edmund Rice Outreach

Edmund Rice Outreach this year was led by Samuel Hadfield (12.7), Colin Rapkoch (12.8), Conor McCarthy-Rymer (12.6), Justin Lawrence (12.6) and John Pisano (12.6).

Mrs Marya Stewart Director of Christian Service

There was a large group of senior students involved in Red Cross Soup Patrol this year, with at least three students and one staff member serving soup and bread from the Red Cross van one night per week during the term. This is always an eye-opening and rewarding experience and many students request to be put on the roster a second and third time.

This year we had a large contingent of students volunteer to help out with the Anzac Day Parade. It was a dark and cloudy morning and just as all the students were in position, holding signs to indicate the areas where people were to gather for the march, it began to rain and for the next two hours, it poured. Any chance of keeping the paper notes they had been given to help direct people to their places, dry was impossible and the ponchos provided to keep their clothes dry were no protection. The students remained cheerful and helpful to the end despite being completely drenched. Many of them commented that it had been a moving experience to see so many people gather to commemorate all those who have given service in defense of our country.

The Winter Sleepout was one of the highlights of the year with 75 senior students taking part in the overnight sleepover in the grounds of Trinity College. Students brought cardboard to sleep on and many of them constructed ingenious shelters for the night. During the evening, Year 12 leaders conducted a series of activities to raise awareness of homelessness in Perth and soup and bread were served from the Red Cross Soup Patrol for the evening meal. Mr Peter Stewart spoke to the group about the work of the Christian Centre for Social Action which provides daily meals and comfort and support to homeless and marginalised people. Students were in their ‘beds’ by 12.00am — it was a long and cold night but everyone enjoyed the experience — and over $1800 was raised for the Christian Centre for Social Action.

As a follow-up to our campaign to end the death penalty which collected over 500 signatures from the College community last year, an early morning vigil was held outside the Indonesian Consulate by a group of senior students and several Old Boys who were involved in the collection of signatures. The occasion was the announcement that several more people on death row in Indonesia were about to be executed. The group was invited into the Consulate and listened very respectfully to the representative of the consul. The students put forward their views on the issue, very thoughtfully but emphatically. Although she presented the official line of the Indonesian government, on its need to ‘go hard’ on drug dealers, she gratefully accepted our petition and invited the students to visit again.

Several of the key leaders gave time during the year to make presentations, to groups within and outside the College, of the impact of Christian Service on the College. Colin Rapkoch, Trent Piccicacco (12.2) and Joseph Turner (12.2) spoke to a group of student teachers at the University of Notre Dame. John Pisano, Samuel Fasolo (12.1) and Samuel Hadfield spoke to the EREA Heads of Junior Schools. And John Pisano, Joseph Turner and Colin Rapkoch made a presentation to College staff on their Christian Service professional development day.

Congratulations to all students involved in these activities. Their enthusiasm and commitment is a positive reflection of the College mantra of being a Man for Others.

Mrs Marya Stewart

Director of Christian Service