The Staff Journal Of Marist Schools Australia Volume 19 .

MARIST NORTH SHOREImmersion in the OutbackThis year, the College embarked on annew Immersion in the AustralianOutback with the Wadeye – a tribalAboriginal community on the westernedge of the Daly River Reserve, five to sixhours southwest of Darwin. Wadeye isthe Australia’s largest Aboriginal townconsisting of 2,200 Aboriginals citizensand 200 non-indigenous citizens.Below is an account from our 2013College Captain, Daniel Boyle whoserved Wadeye on his Immersionexperience:“The 2013 Northern TerritoryImmersion enabled me to establish anunderstanding on the Indigenoussituation in outback communities.Regardless of the issues, the people are quickto smile and laugh. The community was veryaccepting and welcoming of our presenceand was very pleased with the successfulcompletion of our group project, whichinvolved painting their Church. Thecommunity, including the heart-warmingchildren, and the educational elders allowedus to understand the cultural and spiritualsignificance of the Indigenous population.Overall, the NT Immersion has left me withan experience that was greatly enriching”.A SCHOOL RESOURCE.StoriesofHopeStories of Hope is a collection of the lifestories of ten residents connected withthe Olympic Village Exodus Communityin Heidelberg West, Victoria. This suburbis recognised as the 6th poorest in Victoria.The stories are written as told to Exodusvolunteer and sensitive writer, AnneDoyle. All are enriched by beautifulphotography created by a well-respectedphotographer, Meredith O’Shea.The publication of over 90A4 pages hasbeen created with considerableprofessional support of the Melbournearchdiocese Office of Evangelisation8Lavallawhere Br. Mark O’Connor is Director. Theyhelp mark the Year of Grace and Faith.This publication could be a rich resourcefor faith and justice education and usefulin exploring issues of poverty anddisadvantage. Teacher notes will beavailable on line.Stories of Hope can be purchased for 5 postage through the ExodusCommunity. Ph 94577593 orharry.prout@marists.org.au. Packages often books will be available at a reducedprice.

OLSH COLLEGE ALICE SPRINGSPrimary schoolstudents busy atwork and playLavalla9

MARIST VOCATIONS MINISTRYPromoting and Growing FutureMarist LifeMarist Vocations Team: Br Greg, Br Doug,Br Patrick and Br Rod.The Marist Vocations Team has beentaking the good news about beingMarist to a number of schoolsthroughout the three MSA regions.So far in 2013, the team has giventhirty-five presentations ineighteen schools to studentgroups in Years 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12.Comprising of Br Greg McDonald, Br Rod Thomson, Br PatrickConnell and Br Doug Walsh, the Vocations Team encouragesstudents to reflect on God’s personal invitation to live their livesto the fullest, and in a particular way, consider how being a MaristBrother or Lay Marist can be a great way of living the Gospel.Key Themes in PresentationsThe Vocations Team offers multi-media presentations to studentgroups based on four keys themes: Year 6: “Called By Name”; Year7: “Being Brothers and Sisters”; Year 11: “Stepping-Up” and Year 12“My Life-List”. Each presentation looks at vocation and serviceBr Greg commented on the team’s core mission: “We want toencourage [senior] students to not only pursue their individualaspirations for the future, but to also invite them to reflect critically onhow they might do that within the Christian context of service toothers, by using their gifts and talents for the building up of God’sKingdom, as future members of the Australian Marist Community.”10Lavallathrough the lens of Marist Brotherhood and being a Young Marist.Br Rod offered a rationale behind the presentation themes: “thethemes invite students to think about how ‘being Marist’ might be agood fit for them. Whether as a Brother or a Young Lay Marist, thereare plenty of ways for students to live the Good News today. Our

Young Marist activities in their region; (3) to invite and affirmsenior students who they believe are open to considering avocation to the consecrated life or priesthood. The team hasreceived positive feedback from staff who participated in recentworkshops.presentations help paint a broader picture of Marist life and connectstudents beyond their school community.”“Marist Life Mentors” workshops commence in schoolsThe Vocations Team recently launched their Marist Life Mentorsprogram, focused on providing teaching and non-teaching staffin MSA schools with basic skills for vocationally mentoring seniorstudents. The program has three aims: (1) to encourage andaffirm senior students who show a passion for faith, justice, orministry activities; (2) to connect senior students to post-schoolFor further information about the Vocations Team conductingthis workshop at your school please contact Br Greggreg.mcdonald@marists.org.au or Br Rodrod.thomson@marists.org.au.Br Greg and Br Rod with Yr 12 students at St Augustine’s College, CairnsWith Yr 12 Students from Marist College EastwoodBr Rod with Year 9 students at MaristCollege AshgroveMarist Life Mentors workshop with staff at St Augustine’s College, Cairns.Lavalla11

MARIST COLLEGE PENSHURST1.2.DiamondJubilee 2013This year Marist College Penshurst celebrates its DiamondJubilee and we acknowledged the occasion with a Mass in StMary’s Cathedral and a dinner. This will be one of the lastoccasions we will celebrate as a Years 7 to 10 boys’ school, forwe are embarking on our transition to a Years 7 to 12 coeducational college, taking effect with Year 11 boys and theintroduction of girls into Year 7 in 2015.Our Mass in the Mother Church of Australia was held on 16June, a magnificent Sunday afternoon, with some 1500students, their parents, past and present teachers, formerprincipals and many well-wishers. Bishop Peter Comensoli,Auxiliary Bishop of the Sydney Archdiocese, celebrated the12LavallaMass for us. The singing was prepared and conducted by CaSPAwho enabled our boys to fill the huge space of the cathedralwith a glorious sound – our boys sing well under normalcircumstances and managed to excel themselves on thissplendid occasion. The Mass was followed by a generousafternoon tea in the adjacent hall.The following Friday about 170 guests enjoyed a fine meal at theConca d’Oro restaurant, Riverwood, where we are always welllooked after. It was a simple evening for a number of exstudents old and young, plenty of former teachers and manyparents. Later in the evening there was an entertaining talkabout the early years of the college by our local ancient historian.

3.NEWAPPOINTMENTSBr Mark Paul4.Br Mark Paul is currently a member ofthe Mission and Life Formation Teamof the Marist Brothers. His educationalexperience in Australia has crossedfour states teaching at primary,secondary and tertiary institutions.Having a commitment to solidaritywith marginalized youth he establishedMarist Educational Welfare Services inMelbourne that grew into a specialised school for youth. Thisservice was instrumental in making significant educationalreforms within the Juvenile Justice system of Melbourne. Markwas strategic in establishing the REMAR Program, and in morerecent years, established and directed the Catholic TeachersCollege in Baucau Timor-Leste.Mark holds Bachelor’s degrees in Education, Theology and SocialWork with a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies.5.As he takes up the leadership of the The John Berne School hetakes with him his experience and passion for youth to empowerthem with good opportunities to learn how to take their placewithin society.Angela HayThe boys also enjoyed a day off to celebrate the jubilee.Photos: 1. Marist College Penshurst Vice Captain ConnorRobinson; 2. Deputy Principal, Marist College Penshurst:Carmelina Eussen3. Former Principals of Marist College Penshurst: Brothers JohnMacDonnell, Kevin Blyth and Thomas More. Current Principal:Mr Tony Duncan; 4. Ancillary Staff, Marist College Penshurst:Carol Bresnahan, Virginia Harty; 5. Teachers, Marist CollegePenshurst: Reg Soares, Michael Way, Joseph Lynch, AnthonyMunro, John Lloyd; Background: View of St Mary’s Cathedral,Marist College Penshurst Diamond Jubilee MassAngela is currently Assistant Principalat St Andrews College, Marayong andhas been there since 2009; previouslyshe was a member of leadership atGilroy College, Castle Hill from 1998.Angela brings experience indeveloping and leading whole schoolinitiatives and advanced leadingtechnology skills.Angela has a vision for education that delivers a personalisedcurriculum, encouraging creativity and innovation, supported bytechnology, producing young people with a firm conviction offaith who will be agents of change in their world. She is lookingforward to working with the staff, parents and parish communityto meet the needs of the students St Patrick’s Marist College,Dundas.Lavalla13

SOLIDARITYMATTERSAN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE KEY PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONALAID AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN MARIST BROTHERS SEPTEMBER 2013Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) Marist Asia-Pacific Solidarity (MAPS) Marist Volunteers Australia (MVA)Unlocking potential in AsiaOur mission in the Maristworld brings with it aneed to access financialsupport. Without this,development cannotcontinue and muchneeded education andsupport for localcommunities wouldcease to exist.At the end of 2012 theneed for better financialsupport of the MaristMission in Asia was raised.A decision was made towork with Marist projectmanagers in Asia to buildtheir capacity for sourcingfinancial support for their projects. As aresult, the Funding and Project ProposalWorkshop presented by Br Allen Sherry,Executive Director of MSol, and hosted byFMSI was born.After months of planning the workshop,thirty-three Marist Brothers and laypartners from one district and twoprovinces across Asia gathered in Bangkok.The participants came from Pakistan, India,Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh,Thailand, Philippines, Korea and one othercountry.Over six days the workshop coveredMarist Brothers and lay from across Asia gather around for a group session at the Funding andProposal Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand.project types, development cycles, projectfunding and project proposal writing. Theknowledge gained will enable Brothersand Lay Marists to access the muchneeded funds to secure the future of theirministry.Marist Brother César Henriquez, from ElSalvador currently on mission inBangladesh, reflected on the experiencesaying he would return to Bangladesh andis confident that he would be able to workwith the community and move his projectforward significantly. Responses such asthese give great encouragement andremind us that the work we support withthe help of Marists in Australia is crucial.The passion of all participants reflectshighly on the local desire for forwardmovement in our mission. It is a privilegefor our team to support such a movement.In solidarity,Michael ColemanMarist Solidarity Team, BrisbaneOur core value is solidarity with young people, respectingtheir dignity and developing their capacity to transform theirown lives and communities.14Lavalla

La Valla School 2013 Graduates – CAMBODIAOn the 31st of July twenty-six students from the La Valla School inTakmao, Cambodia, graduated from year 6. These students havecompleted the accelerated three year schooling program at La VallaSchool that enables them to catch up and enter into secondaryschools in Cambodia or to continue onto further training.MSol and it’s donors have been supporting the La Valla School sinceit’s humble beginnings in 1998. If you would like to support thisproject contact our office below.Construction Project for Vanga Point COMPLETEDConstruction of the desperately needed new toilet block, classrooms andstaff housing at St Dominic’s Rural Training Centre in Vanga Point, SolomonIslands began last year. It is now complete with staff moving in and classesready to begin. The project was a wonderful collaborative effort with thelocal community culminating in fully functional facilities that will ensure thecontinuation of the education opportunities in the area. Thank you to all ofour donors for your support.Samut Sakhon – Marist Centre for Burmese MigrantsThe Marist Centre for Migrants (MCM) has a major focus on the young people of theBurmese migrant community. A variety of education programs on language andcomputer skills are provided throughout the week. On Saturday and Sunday asimilar course is run for the parents and young adults in the migrant community.Here they learn language and computer skills giving them the opportunity to gainbetter paid work and to better support their families. To support this projectcontact us below.No better time than now to volunteerWant to be a volunteer? There is no better time than now to support ourfellow Marists in the ‘District of Asia’ as a volunteer. You are invited toconsider the prospect of working with Marists in north Vietnam or inThailand to assist children of a range of ages in a variety of educationopportunities. For more information or to register, contact Marist VolunteersAustralia: e: mva@marists.org.au p: (02) 9218 4033 m: 0409 636 116Solidarity Matters is a bimonthly publication that Marist Solidarity (MSol) produces tokeep all of our supporters up to date on the work of MSol and the most recent projectinformation coming from the field. If you are interested in receiving these publicationsplease email us at msol@marists.org.au or call us on ( 617) 3854 0600.For more info on how you can support Marist Solidarity projectsvisit our website (www.maristsolidarity.net.au) or contact:Marist Solidarity TeamBrisbane PO BOX 273 Ashgrove West, QLD 4060, AUSTRALIAemail: msol@marists.org.au phone: ( 617) 3854 0600Lavalla15

MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE The College has been very busy and two very successfuChina TourThe 2013 Music Tour to Beijing China toattend the Tutti World Youth MusicFestival was an unqualified success withthe boys experiencing a variety ofmusical and cultural experiences thatwill last them a lifetime.Highlights included visiting iconiclocations such as the Summer Palace,Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden Cityand The Great Wall. From a musicalperspective the boys performedwith students from across theworld in a diverse range oflocations including the ChinaConservatory of Music. Thespirit of sharing musical talentsCricket Tourwith other students was prevalentthroughout the nine days and it wasgreat to see the boys appreciate thetalents of others and also berecognised by their peers. Arguablyone of the highlights was the standingovation the boys received at the endof their performance at DulwichCollege Beijing. We look forward tothe next international tour in 2016.The Oval, LondonWhat a great tour!!27 boys and 4 staff, including the Headmaster,Mr Peter McLoughlin, embarked on a trulyamazing experience on the U15 UK CricketDevelopment Tour during the Term 2 break.EdinburghFollowing months of preparation andtraining the group departed on theevening of the last day of school. Thefirst few days were based in London,where games were played againstschools that were almost 500 years old.The group also visited the famous sitesof the city, including Lords, of course.16Lavalla

l overseas tours held along with the annual Blue & Gold Ball with a ‘Bollywood’ theme.2013 Blue & Gold BallThe 2013 Blue and Gold ‘Bollywood’ Ballon 3 August was an brilliant success, with500 people enjoying a night of glamorousfun, feasting and dancing amid theambience of a Maharaja’s Palace, completewith giant statuesque elephants. Mostguests donned Bollywood fashionscreating a kaleidoscope of colourful silksand stunning jewels. And itwasn’t just the ladies bitten bythe Bollywood bug: plenty ofdashing men sporting turbans,scarves, and traditional Indiancelebration fashions alsorelished the chance to releasetheir inner ‘Bolly’.After a delicious gourmet Indian meal andinspiring Bollywood dance performancesby Dance Marsala, popular party band HotSauce had guests crowding the dancefloor until the small hours. A great nightwas had by all while the proceeds fromthe Blue and Gold Ball help finance theBrother Alexis Turton Science Centre.Foundation Chair Mr TonyHogarth, Foundation Directorand Ball Convenor Mrs JoanneCollins and Mr PeterMcLoughlin, Headmaster.Over the two weeks of the tour the teamsmoved through the cities of Nottingham,York, St Andrew’s and Edinburgh; playing atotal of 14 games of cricket and visiting theamazing grounds of The Oval, Trent Bridgeand St Andrew’s Golf Course.Two evenly matched teams wereformed for the games and bothsides won 3 of their 7 gamesagainst quality school and clubteams.Overall, the tour saw pleasingdevelopment in cricket skills;the forming of new friendshipsand enjoying a lifetimeexperience that will not bequickly forgotten.Lord’sBall Convenors leftto right: Mrs DonnaO'Toole, Mrs SharaMohr, Mrs Kay Wells(College CommunityRelations Manager),Mrs Joanne Collinsand Mrs RachelStewart.Left to right: Mrs PaulaMcLoughlin; Mr PeterMcLoughlin(Headmaster); Mrs LisaNewman andQueensland Premier, MrCampbell NewmanLavalla17

MARIST YOUTH CARECate Sydes CEO MYC, MichelleRowland Member for Greenway andAdjunct Professor Jim TaggartBreaking Bread forthe Homeless ProjectMarist Youth Care (MYC) through itsAffordable Housing for Life Projectinitiated the Breaking Bread for theHomeless (BBH) project in August 2013 tohighlight the chronic issue of youthhomelessness and to promote MYC’ssolution to the problem.The inaugural event for the BreakingBread for the Homeless project was abreakfast at Blacktown whererepresentatives from schools, businessStar Foster Care team - Karina, Tammyand Jamieand community leaders met tobreak bread for the homeless and alsocontributed to raising the first 6,000towards a fund to build accommodationfor homeless young people.The Breaking Bread for the Homelessproject aims to raise 60,000 to cover thebasic building costs of one dwelling fora homeless young person. Every dollarafter that will assist with the set upcosts for homeless young peopleidentified as needing communityhousing support.Marist Youth Care provides housingsolutions and support to over 1500at risk young people each year,many of whom are homeless dueto unstable family life. MYCrecognises that if young peoplehave homes to return to each night,they have a much higher chance ofremaining engaged with education,creating a pathway to employmentthen gaining social and economicindependence.18LavallaMYC are planning a Christmas Event inDecember and hope to raise a further 30,000 for the Breaking Bread for theHomeless project in 2013.Steve Phillips and Adjunct ProfessorJim TaggartBelow: Dan Lynch, students f

19 St Joseph’s College 20 From the archives 22 St Augustine’s College, Cairns 23 Galen Catholic College 23 REMAR! 24 Marist College Ashgrove! 25 Trinity Catholic College Lismore 26 Assumption College, Kilmore 27 St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown 28 Directory of Marist Schools 28 St Francis Xavier