Discovery - September 2006

Sleep books

Two out of five teenagers admit they watch television to help them fall asleep, but find it keeps them awake longer and leaves them perpetually tired, a study shows. Researchers in Belgium interviewed more than 2500 Flemish children aged either 13 or 16, and discovered 37 per cent use TV as a sleep aid. More than 20 per cent played computer games, particularly younger boys, and 60 per cent listened to music to get to sleep.

But the study, published in the Australian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, showed the technology was not having the desired effect. Books were the only medium found to have a positive effect at bedtime, sending young readers to sleep earlier and for longer. The authors said their results proved popular media had a “concerning effect on the sleeping patterns of a large percentage of the adolescents”.

- FAMILYEDGE

CFFFL logo competition open

You have to enter to win!

Students at Irene Mc Cormack College in Butler are keen to win any or all the prizes available in the Committee for Family and For Life Logo Competition

Karen Wilson, Art Teacher and Community Services Co-ordinator at the school said, “I am encouraging all my students to enter. It’s a wonderful idea”.

The Committee for Family and for Life (CFFFL) is looking for a logo to be used on all its publications, including the Web.

Kerri Sorgiovanni, State Chairperson said, “The Archdiocesan Committee has embraced the mandate of the Bishops’ Committee for Family and for Life to encourage and promote the vocation and spirituality of marriage and the Family and respect and love for human life from conception to death.”

“We inform the bishops and leaders of the Archdiocese on the challenges and issues in public life affecting the ideas of marriage, family and the defence of human life,“ she said, “And we help to develop networks with family oriented movements, pro-life organisations and other agencies.”

Bishop Don Sproxton is a member of the Archdiocesean Committee for Family and Life and is also a member of the National Bishops’ Committee.

Barbara Harris, Co-ordinator

Discovery

Catholic magazine for families

EDITOR PETER ROSENGREN Letters to: cathrec@iinet.net.au

JOURNALISTS SYLVIA DEFENDI sdefendi@iinet.net.au

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587 Newcastle St, Leederville Post: PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902

Tel: (08) 9227 7080

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Discovery is a bimonthly publication distributed through parishes and schools of the dioceses of Western Australia.

of the Committee for Family and for Life Newsletter Sub Committee said, “We were delighted with the response we received from businesses to our request for prizes for our Logo.”

The total prize pool is $800. John Hughes from John Hughes Mitsubishi said “It is a pleasure to sponsor a prize for the Committee for Family and for Life Logo Competition so that they may promote their services within the Archdiocese of Perth.”

“Without a strong family basis in society there will be not be a strong community,“ said Joe Stefanelli from Stefanelli Sawmillers, another prize donor.

“We are concerned that in today’s society the family is under enormous pressure.

“The demands placed on families are often so great that they lead to the eventual breakdown in relationships within the family unit.

“That is why The Knights of the Southern Cross were only too pleased to support the logo competition”, said Chris Hunt, State Executive Officer.

“We believe that the work of CFFFL is so vital. It epitomises the essence of Christian teachings.”

Paul Stinson, speaking on why Gatto Christian Shop supported the Logo competition was more personal.

Paul firmly believes in the importance of family and supports it through his own involvement in the area of Marriage Encounter.

Barbara Harris said, “Of course there can be only one outright winner, but we want to make some acknowledgement to those who take the time to enter the competition.

“The winning design will incorporate elements like ‘family’, ‘faith’, ‘commitment’, ‘life’.

“The design will be easily recognisable and preferably not more than two colours. While

ENTRY FORM

SURNAME:

FIRST NAME:

ADDRESS:

simplicity will be an important part of the design, the logo will convey warmth and welcome.”

There are a number of Categories catering for different age groups.

Categories:

• Primary School – years 1-7

• Secondary School – years 8-12

• Open.

Prizes

First prize is $300 donated by John Hughes Mitsubishi Dealer.

Second prize is $100 donated by the Knights of the Southern Cross will be given to the entry that is considered by the judges to be very worthy. The logo will not be the official logo of the CFFFL.

Barbara said, “there will be a number of encouragement prizes given to those entrants whose work shows a very high standard.

The designs will be selected from the following categories:

Encouragement Prizes

1. $100 donated by Stefanelli Sawmillers for entrants from Category 1:

Primary School – years 1 - 7.

2. $100 donated by Gatto’s Christian Shop for entrants from Category 2: Secondary School –years 8 – 12.

3. $100 donated by Knights of the Southern Cross for entrants from 4. $100 for Best Entry from a Country Parish or School also donated by Gatto’s Christian Shop. Each entry in the Logo Competition must be accompanied by an entry form.

Designs can be submitted on disk or hardcopy. By entering this competition you accept that the decision of the judges is final.

The competition closes on Friday, September 29, 2006.

Entries need to be posted to: CFFFL Logo Committee, L J Goody Bioethics Centre, 39 Jugan St, Glendalough WA. 6016.

TV control

POSTCODE:

TELEPHONE:

TO WHICH PARISH DO YOU BELONG?

Category: Primary School – years 1-7;

Secondary School – years 8-12;

Vigorous physical exercise is associated with better academic performance in a study of sixth-grade children by US researchers. While the school physical education class made no difference, the vigorous activity of organised sports like football, or non-organised after-school activities like skateboarding, was linked with a 10 per cent improvement in core classes such as maths, science, English and social studies.

Overweight children who had to “win” TV and video game time by exercising increased their physical activity by 65 per cent, cut their TV time by nearly two hours a day and reduced their snacking, a study led by Dr Gary Goldfield of the University of Ottawa found.

Striving to design: McCormack students lay their ideas down on paper.

Broome students show their colours

■ By Sylvia Defendi

Students from St Mary’s College in Broome have faced a few substantial obstacles over the last 14 weeks, in order to participate in this year’s Performing Arts Festival.

Most of the 16 students, who visited Perth for ten days, had never left the Kimberly region of Western Australia, and none had ever participated in a performing arts festival of such calibre.

The first-timers were catapulted into rehearsals 12 weeks before they were due to perform on August 1 and 3, managed to raise over $18,000 to fund the adventure and are now in the running for one of the 31 perpetual shields for outstanding performances.

“It has been a whirlwind adventure and I’m still shocked that we did it. It was greater than anything I had hoped for and we made it back with accolades,” said St Mary’s College dance and drama specialist, Vicki Thompson. The troupe entered two categories for this year’s festival – Christian drama and Christian dance, for which they performed a liturgical dance that resonated their respect for indigenous culture.

“The next morning I opened the critique sheet and was surprised to read what was written - it said the performance was prayerful and clearly demonstrated that they understood the meaning of the dance. We received a score that was one point off from being perfect,” Mrs Thompson said.

Three other students from the college also submitted DVD entries for solo performance, which will be judged on September 1.

Having worked within the Catholic education system for 15 years, Mrs Thompson said that since she began working at the Broome college, six months ago, there was a marked change in the 14 to 16

year old students, who had worked towards the festival performance.

“This has truly been a confidence building exercise for the girls. They have learnt that they have great potential, that they are indeed very good at what they do and that the dance community is varied and far greater than what they had previously imagined,” she commented.

Having traveled 4,800km to participate in the festival the class took advantage of some leading dance venues across Perth, including the King St Theatre, and visited three metropolitan schools, where they received an open welcome.

Mrs Thompson said that while coming to Perth did take some settling in, the students looked out for each other and presented themselves very professionally during the visit.

“The night before we left for Perth, I thought to myself – they are either going to fall apart or band together during this trip. Needless to say, they did the latter,” she said.

From a teaching point of view, Mrs Thompson believes the festival gives students a rare opportunity.

“Students get to play professional pieces at professional venues with a supportive audience and great critique that is very positive,” she said.

Students and staff of the Broome college will find out in the first week of September whether they were awarded a shield and will have the opportunity to perform at the closing ceremony held at the Perth Concert Hall on September 18.

“The festival has provided the class with a good start on which we intend to build. The students learnt a lot from this experience and are very motivated to continue. It will definitely become part of our annual calendar,” concluded Mrs Thompson.

Practice makes perfect: Students of St Mary’s in Broome rehearse at the King St Theatre.

Enjoying the sights: Most of St Mary’s students who visited Perth, had never been out of the Kimberly Region.

Website for Sofia says thanks to all

Site thanks the world for its love for girl and family

■ By

Sherrilee Kingston

Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia Shu’s family have published a memorial website through the Mater Christi Primary School site. The website has been set up to acknowledge and thank the public for their overwhelming support and love, after Sofia was murdered on June 26.

On the website Sofia’s family, in

Boys’ school

Boys’ education: Is there a “boy problem” in education? Not if you make some rather obvious changes in schools, says one British education official. “Over the past 15 years school has become a more narrow and drier kind of affair for some pupils,” says Chris Ford, director of Bradford’s Excellence in Cities Action Zone, which is running the project. “The pressure is all on literacy and numeracy. There is less time for a broader curriculum. But if you have a rich curriculum, hands-on learning, a rich life beyond class, and behaviour policies that are firm and plain, then boys and girls achieve equally.”

- FAMILYEDGE

a thankyou letter, comment, “since the loss of our special little girl, we have received overwhelming and incredible moral support from the community all over Australia, and relatives and friends from overseas.”

Although they were unable to personally thank everyone for their support and care through the time of grief, their website offers thanks to those who sent the family their condolences.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Australian

community for their condolence cards, flowers, teddy bears, angels, rosaries, letters and pictures.

“We have received all kinds of wonderful presents, letters and emails that have given us the strength to deal with this difficult time.

“We have read everything that has reached us,” commented the family on the website.

The website acknowledges those who have supported the family through this traumatic time but with Sofia’s photos shown throughout the

website it also acts as a memorial for the community to remember young Sofia.

Sofia’s family in their letter said, “we need all prayers in the world to help us follow the only road that matters towards Heaven to be with God and our dear Sofia.”

Everyone is invited to look at the website that not only thanks those that supported the family but gives the community a chance to contact and leave messages for Sofia’s family.

www.mcps.wa.edu.au/home/sofia

Program helps conquer dyslexia blues

SuccessMaker was introduced to St Joseph’s School, Busselton in 2005.

It has become an exciting and valuable learning tool used primarily in the Support Program.

Students involved with SuccessMaker have shown enthusiasm towards the programs in the learning areas of English and Mathematics. Their increased confidence and motivation for learning has been evident to the Support teachers.

In the Support room, 8 computers are networked to student profiles allowing independent login by students for the use of SuccessMaker. It is used daily by students from PrePrimary through to Year 7.

All children complete a Reading/ Spelling and Mathematics program each week tailored to individual needs. At the conclusion of a session children choose to participate in Story Painter or First Adventures Bookshelf, which are the fun components of the program. This sequence is highly motivating and rewarding for the students.

This year has seen the introduction of ‘Early Bird Sessions.’ These sessions are designed to encourage students to use their organisational and

time management skills to arrive ready for the early session, and having participated in a session of SuccessMaker, they are switchedon and ready for learning at the beginning of the school day.

Parents have been invited to an Open Day in Term 3 to watch their children use SuccessMaker and discuss reports with the teacher. The reports generated by the program are of interest as they help track the students’ journey through the learning process.

Some of the comments from our SuccessMaker students include:

“I love going on SuccessMaker because its fun!” Matthew Year 3.

“I like SuccessMaker because it teaches me to spell and to do better maths” Sophie Year 6.

“It’s a computer and I like computers” Joey Year 3.

“Its fun and learning. I like Readers Workshop the best”

Tristan Year 3.

“Its fun and I like the activities but don’t like the American voice” Josh Year 7.

The first and foremost comment from every single student asked, was that SuccessMaker is FUN. This is a very important part of our Support program at St Joseph’s, and SuccessMaker has been a welcome addition to our educational activities.

Family time management

A typical working parent spends just 19 minutes a day looking after their children, a time use survey published by Britain’s Office of National Statistics shows. A further 16 minutes is spent with the children during other activities such as supermarket shopping.

The survey looked at nearly 4950 people over the age of 16 to find out what they do all day. It looked specifically at working women to create a typical “Diary of a Working Mum”. It found this mother gets nearly 40 minutes less sleep every night than a full-time mother, who gets more than nine hours, and the working mother spends five hours a day at her paid job (that is, with working hours spread over weekends and holidays).

A recent survey of working mothers by Prima magazine shows just 6 per cent wanted to work full-time, half wanted to combine bringing up their children with a part-time job, while more than a quarter wanted to be a full-time mother.

The ONS survey shows life is also tough for fathers with young families, particularly those whose youngest child is under the age of four. Such dads typically get less than eight hours sleep a night and do more than three hours of domestic chores every day. They also work one hour a day longer than male colleagues who do not have children.

All the same, the ONS survey shows a typical person has time in the day for television. On average, a woman will spend 8.3 hours asleep, 2.4 hours watching TV, DVDs or videos, and 2.2 hours working. A man will spend eight hours asleep, 2.8 hours watching media and 3.5 hours working. Just 24 minutes in 24 hours is spent reading, a figure which drops to just 10 minutes for younger people.

Bomber’s haunting question

Priest who ministered to McVeigh speaks of God’s transforming grace

■ By Priscilla Greear

When he ministered to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, Divine Word Father Charles Smith found that his faith, instilled in him by loving parents despite the childhood pain of discrimination, enabled him to be Christ’s representative even as the inmate verbally assaulted him.

“When I first came in (to see him) I thought ‘God is the owner of my life,’ and I went to him and he threw his faeces on me and called me all types of names and said, ‘You can’t be a priest because I’ve never seen a you-know-what as a priest,’” Father Smith said on August 5, adding “The devil was messin’ with me.”

He made the comments in a workshop he led during the 2006 Interregional AfricanAmerican Catholic Evangelisation Conference, which was held on August 4-6 in Atlanta.

Other priests and Southern Baptist ministers had previously worked - unsuccessfully - with the man found guilty of bombing the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995 and murdering the 168 people who died from the blast.

But Father Smith persevered in his ministry to McVeigh and the convicted murderer, who was a baptised Catholic, began to repent.

“He did a lot of things, but in the end we had confession, reconciliation. In the end he asked me a question a lot of people ask me. He asked, ‘Father Charles, can I still get to heaven?’”

The priest said he responded, “I am not your judge,” but reminded McVeigh that he had told him, “You must submit your will and ask God for true forgiveness. ... You knew there were a lot of innocent people and children in that building.”

McVeigh asked Father Smith to walk with him to his June 11, 2001, execution.

“And the tears came running down. He was crying, I was crying

because he did something that changed my life, too.

“As a man it’s hard to ask but for him to ask for God’s love and God’s grace, that did something to me,” he recalled, reflecting on how God’s grace can transform even the worst evil.

As he walked with McVeigh, Father Smith remembered how, when he was a child, a porter in an Illinois train told his light-skinned parents that he couldn’t serve their “wicked children,” who had darker skin, and how Mississippi restaurants refused to serve them.

“I remember my mum and dad say, ‘Just be patient. God is going to make a way. God is going to change you. God is going to rise, and you’re going to be raised up. Your life will be redeemed and your people (will be).’ ... I remembered all of that, being with Timothy McVeigh.”

Father Smith and his brother, Divine Word Father Chester Smith, were the first black Catholic twins to be ordained priests. Both priests are in residence at St Rita’s Parish in Indianapolis.

In his workshop presentation, Father Charles Smith encouraged people to speak the truth in love and humility, never pressuring anyone to join the church and avoiding a superior attitude to anyone.

“I know if God can call two little black boys from the South Side of Chicago to live 16-17 years in

an international religious order, to go around the world and to come back home to be with his people to teach and to preach and be free in the Spirit, I have nothing to fear,” he said.

“I’m not worried about what any man says. And my eyes are on the sparrow. God is with me, and I know God is with you and we shall be free forevermore.”

He encouraged his audience to be bold but gentle as they speak up for what they believe is right, even if it’s controversial.

But “don’t be afraid to use prophetic dialogue ... in teaching us how to live, ... in ministry, catechism, Bible study. Use what is there to speak the truth.”

He prescribed for them “oldschool spirituality” of morning, noon and evening private prayer, recalling how, when he was told as a youth that he couldn’t learn and shouldn’t go to college, his grandmother would say, “Child, you just pray and God will make a way.”

He went on to graduate from college as dux.

“You are a child of God. If you give your all to God he’ll give his all to you so we’ve got to be people of prayer,” he said. “Pray for God’s perfect timing in your life. He’s going to give you the revelation that you need.”

- CNS

Father Smith remembered how, when he was a child, a porter in an Illinois train told his lightskinned parents that he couldn’t serve their “wicked children,” who had darker skin, and how Mississippi restaurants refused to serve them.

Destroyed: The Oklahoma bombing in ‘93 was the biggest terrorist act in America prior to 9/11

Photo:CNS

Sydney here we

World Youth Day is getting everyone enthused

■ By Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, Coordinator of WYD 2008

Why is there a boy in the highlands of New Guinea standing outside the Cathedral selling ice-cream after every Mass? He is saving a few toea (cents) each week towards his dream of attending World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.

So the bishops of Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and more than a dozen Pacific Island nations were told at a recent meeting of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania held in Suva, Fiji from 7-11 August.

The Conference had on its agenda issues as diverse as evangelisation in

at a World Youth Day. All have announced their intentions to send as big a group of young people as possible to Sydney in 2008.

Other countries – such as American Samoa, French Polynesia including Tahiti, New Caledonia, Palau, Samoa and Wallis and Futuna – which have had a handful of pilgrims at recent World Youth Days are planning a much bigger representation.

Papua New Guinea, which has rarely had more than 10 pilgrims is planning to send 1,000 to Sydney.

The bishops are talking about an epic journey from the highlands and coastlands of PNG via plane to North Queensland, then by a convoy of buses through the parishes and dioceses of Queensland and Northern NSW.

New Zealand, which normally sends around 100 young people to WYD is planning for up to 10,000 young Kiwis to cross the Tasman for the great youth festival.

The excitement is palpable throughout the Pacific at the prospect of hosting the first World Youth Day in this region

the Oceania region, secularisation, communio and youth – but whatever the subject, the bishops found themselves discussing the forthcoming World Youth Day.

The excitement is palpable throughout the Pacific at the prospect of hosting the first World Youth Day in this region since Pope John Paul II began these pilgrimages more than twenty years ago.

Countries such as the Caroline Islands, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands, Nauru, Norfolk Island, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have never had registered pilgrims

The Pacific Bishops echoed their aspiration at the time of the Synod of Oceania (1998) that “Above all, the Synod Fathers wanted to touch the hearts of young people.

Many of them are searching for truth and goodness… The great challenge and opportunity is to offer them the gifts of Jesus Christ in the Church, for these gifts alone will satisfy their yearning.

But Christ must be presented in a way well adapted to the younger generation and the rapidly changing culture in which they live.” (Ecclesia in Oceania §15)

Back in 1998 when the Pacific Bishops met with the Holy Father in the Synod of Oceania they signalled “the importance of the World Youth Day as an opportunity for young people to experience genuine communion… There they come together to listen to God’s word presented in a language which they understand, to reflect upon it prayerfully and to take part in inspiring liturgies and prayer meetings.”

Pope John Paul II joined them in praying: “May the glorious mystery of Jesus Christ bring unending peace and joy to the young people of Oceania!” (Ecclesia in Oceania §44).

Getting ready: Sydney World Youth Day 2008 organiser Bishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney speaks to approximately 800 young people at Notre Dame University in Fremantle recently on preparations for an event which will be bigger than the Sydney Olympics.

Photo:PaulBui

Presentation: CYM’s Rob Hiini presents Bishop Fisher with a present after he spoke about preparations for WYD 2008. Photo:PaulBui

come! The gymn built by Balgo

One decade later Pope Benedict XVI has answered that prayer by inviting the youth of the world to gather in Sydney in July 2008.

The many WYD08 matters discussed by the Pacific bishops included: how and where the WYD08 Cross and Icon might travel around Oceania after it arrives in our region next February; how the poorer parts of Oceania might be assisted to bring significant numbers of pilgrims to Sydney; how best to prepare young pilgrims through evangelization, catechesis and prayer; the establishment of local WYD08 committees all around the Pacific; Pacific participation with Indigenous Australians in ceremonies of welcome and in

Papua New Guinea, which has rarely had more than 10 pilgrims is planning to send 1,000 to Sydney

cultural exchange; and how to give WYD08 not only an Aussie but a Pacific ‘look’ and ‘feel’.

The Bishops recognised that young people of our region need the Church in their search for meaning and communion. But the Church also needs young people!

The Bishops renewed their earlier efforts “to assure the youth of the Church in Oceania that they are… a vital part of the Church today, and that Church leaders are keen to find ways to involve young people more fully in the Church’s life and mission. Young Catholics are called to follow Jesus: not just in the future as adults, but now as maturing disciples…” (Ecclesia in Oceania §44).

Youth in the Pacific were encouraged to join the ePilgrimage by logging on at www.wyd2008.org and registering. There have already been more than 5 million hits at the WYD Sydney site and online resources for spiritual preparation for World Youth Day are proving to be very popular not just for Australians but for young people all over the world.

The Organisers of WYD-SYD undertook to offer to the young people of the region a moving and sanctifying pilgrimage in faith; an experience of the power of the Holy Spirit; an opportunity to rediscover the centrality of the Word and Sacrament; and every encouragement for young to be witnesses to Christ.

For Oceania World Youth Day 2008 is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to reconnect young people with our Church and to renew every aspect of Church life in our region.

For further updates on World Youth Day visit: www.wyd2008.org

An initiative based on unity, cooperation, health, motivation and spirit is starting to materialise in the Kimberley community of Balgo as the Luurnpa Catholic School Gym starts to take shape.

Stimulated by an acquisition of four exercise machines and a punching bag, the Luurnpa Gym project has generated a lot of interest in the community, particularly from the students who are making very good use of the equipment in their makeshift gym-shed.

So enthusiastic was the initial response, it soon became apparent that more equipment and a greater space to work out were essential for the ongoing success of the project that will be made accessible to the entire community.

As a result, a larger gym space is under construction and a number of second hand machines are being sourced from Halls Creek. The new facility will provide a safe, purposedesigned area for a larger cohort of students and community members to undertake gym work on a regular basis.

Project objectives

The establishment of the gym is expected to encourage the students to:

• Attend school on an increasingly regular basis.

• Elevate their cardiovascular fitness.

• Improve their strength and coordination.

• Identify and apply the links that the gym has to learning areas such as health and physical education. It is anticipated the students may also use their cooking and health classes to develop a nutrition program to accommodate their fitness goals.

Similarly, the school expects to benefit through:

• Interaction with members of the

community such as senior football players and coaches who could contribute to the development and facilitation of gym sessions.

• Cooperation between teachers, Aboriginal Teaching Assistants, Garnduwa Sports Representatives and Community Youth Workers who will all help ensure the continual progression, efficiency and operation of the gym.

• Motivation for all students, teachers, community members and other contributors to foster the successful initiative.

Once completed, the school hopes to fit out the gym with a range of equipment suitable for

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

1910-1997

feast – September 5

Born in Macedonia, Mother Teresa helped India’s destitute for more than 50 years and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. In answering a call to serve “the poorest of the poor,” she became known as “the saint of the gutters.” The former Loreto sister founded the Missionaries of Charity, which now has more than 4,500 nuns worldwide, and co-founded the Missionary Brothers of Charity. Since 1952 her Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart) Home for the Dying has cared for thousands of people abandoned on Calcutta’s streets. She was beatified in 2003.

cardiovascular and strength related activities, and that’s where the broader Catholic education community is invited to participate.

With students (aged five to 16 years), teachers and community members all expected to utilise the gym, the donation of any such

equipment that is sturdy and still in working order would be gratefully received.

Further information can be obtained from teacher, Michael Brown, on 9168 8506 or brown. michael@cathednet.wa.edu.au

- Catholic Education Circular

Getting in shape: a Luurnpa student practices with a punching bag. The gymn is expected to have many benefits for students.

Why Choose Notre Dame?...

When buying a car, we look for a number of things. The car has to work well so you can always get where you’re going; most of us want it to look good so we’re comfortable being seen in it; and very importantly, the car should come with a good after sales care program so you keep it running well.

Choosing a University is similar in many ways.

You need to pick a University whose qualifications are recognised not only in Australia, but around the world – so that if you do decide to be a mobile member of the global community, your hard earned qualifications will be recognised wherever you go.

You should always pick a University where you can be comfortable and be yourself. Being able to express your individualism is a big part of maturing into an adult, and you want to choose a University that allows you the flexibility to do this. It could mean being able to combine courses of study or the flexibility to pursue a degree part time. Perhaps it could be in picking a University that provides its students with personalised attention, where you get to be in a small class with enough personalised attention to ensure that you can develop to your full potential; rather than just be another number in a large soulless lecture theatre. The jump from High School to University is fraught with many challenges. You’re going from a highly structured system to one where the onus to attend class and study is definitely on you. You’re moving into a system where you may not know many people and where classmates differ dramatically from one unit to the next. To make your transition

smooth, you need your University to provide you with the best possible care program so you can proceed with your studies with minimal fuss – and yet not miss out on the great social opportunities that going to University provides.

Does such a University exist?

Where is it? Who is it for? How do get in? Why should I choose it?

Yes, there is just such a University and it’s right here in the port city of Fremantle – The University of Notre Dame Australia. Australia’s only private Catholic University has been around since 1989 and has admitted students just like you since 1992.

Notre Dame is committed to the provision of university education within the context of the Catholic faith and values. While it is a Catholic University, Notre Dame is also a multicultural University, where people of different faiths, creeds and nationality are welcomed into the unique community that is The University of Notre Dame Australia.

At Notre Dame, students are not admitted purely based on their academic achievements, important as they are. A combination of academic results, community involvement and leadership skills are all taken into account before a student is admitted to the University. This helps Notre Dame provide opportunities for great contributors to their community (be it through sport, volunteering, Church involvement or other contributions) to pursue a University education.

With strong links to its sister University, The University of Notre Dame USA, and an extensive Study Abroad program, there are also exciting opportunities for you to spend part of your University life overseas, living and experiencing a different culture first hand.

Imagine learning about the American politics while studying in Washington DC or walking the same streets Al Capone did in Chicago . Those are just a couple of the myriad of overseas study opportunities available to you through The University of Notre Dame Australia.

With all these great opportunities, you’re probably thinking the cost of studying and Notre Dame would be very high. Well, it’s not.

Not only are there some Commonwealth supported places available, students can also apply for FEE-Help, so the cost is not dissimilar to that of a public university. You can even study part, or all, of your course at either of our Broome or Sydney campuses, where you get to experience a different part of this great country.

A University isn’t just about the educational qualifications that you come out with once you graduate. It’s also about the friends you make and the personal development you undergo in order to get there. This is where you really notice the difference at

The University of Notre Dame. Being a smaller University (in numbers anyway) means you get known as an individual, not just a number. It means that when you want some assistance you always get seen by a friendly face and your welfare and well-being is paramount in the eyes of the University community.

The University of Notre Dame isn’t the largest University in the country or even the State. What it is, though, is a University that prides itself on giving its students the best possible education and pastoral care package to help them on their journey through life.

So what would you choose? I know I’d go for The University of Notre Dame Australia.

For more information, contact the University on (08) 9433 0533, future@nd.edu.au or visit their website: www.nd.edu.au

1 Shaving for Charity Health Sciences senior lecturers, Mr Malcolm Gilbey, Dr Hugh Pinnington and Mr Tim Doyle happy to be supporting the fundraiser.

2 Enrolment Day Notre Dame’s Executive Dean of Education, Associate Professor Michael O’Neill and Admissions Manager, Mrs Rommie Masarei assist Lauren McBroom (Seated - Lumen Christi College), Tristan Forsey (Trinity College), Amy Toye (Mercedes College) and Cahal Di Gregorio (Trinity College).

3 Study Abroad Experience Executive Dean of Arts & Sciences, Professor Simon Adams and students on the steps of the Washington Federal Hall Monument on Wall Street, New York. Sitting where George Washington took his oath as first President of the United States.

4 Nursing Notre Dame has been granted 90 extra Commonwealth Supported Places (formerly called HECS) in nursing, taking the total to 175, which includes 20 mental health nursing places.

A month of performances, in various prestigious venues across Perth has seen that the hard work of over 65 Catholic schools is recognised and awarded.

call State Wide 1800 819 841

www.woomb.org

■ By

Sylvia Defendi

The end is near for this year’s annual Performing Arts Festival.

The month of August has hosted the unique performances of students in Catholic primary and secondary schools from across the State.

Approximately 17,500 students have entered the 2006 Festival, with entries coming from as far as Broome, Albany and various areas of the South West of Western Australia.

Commencing with opening Mass celebrations on July 28, the festival has continued with daytime and evening performances.

The five-week festival continues to display the overwhelming artistic talent of youth and has prompted performances in liturgical dancing, choral singing, biblical recital, music, drama, speech and dance.

A highlight of the festival (pictured) were the performances held at Burswood Theatre for the festival’s creative dance section on August 8.

A total of 1738 students participated in this event,

representing 29 primary and 36 secondary schools.

“The sell-out performances included hip-hop, jazz and contemporary routines - all choreographed and performed with great professionalism,” said executive officer for the Catholic Arts Office, Claire Duncan.

The festival will conclude with a final performance at the Perth Concert Hall on Monday, September 18 at 7.15pm.

The concert will showcase a selection of performances chosen by adjudicators, from the recipients of the 31 perpetual shields for outstanding performances.

“The evening is always hugely entertaining and showcases the diverse range of talent in music, dance, drama, choral and speech in Catholic schools, with a program of outstanding items from the festival season,” Ms Duncan said.

Stillness: Our Lady of Good Counsel in Karrinyup perform at Burswood Theatre.

Photo:WinningSportsPhotos.com

It was her: Students from St Jerome’s of Munster point the finger.

Photo:PhilBayne

Lumen Christi College

Photo:WinningSportsPhotos.com

Primary school drama takes to the stage at St Jerome’s Primary in Munster.

Photo:PhilBayne

Arts Festival

Yee-Ha: Cowgirls from Currambine Catholic Primary School perform.

Photo:PhilBayne

Photo:WinningSportsPhotos.com

Photo:WinningSportsPhotos.com

Photo:WinningSportsPhotos.com

■ By Sylvia Defendi

Presenting renowned and emerging Western Australian artists, the 3rd annual Trinity College Art Exhibition will be welcoming the talents of prominent Western Australian artist Nick Economo.

Over 400 artworks, including paintings, jewellery, ceramics, glassware, pottery and sculptures, will be on display from September 15 to 17, at Trinity College’s Gibney Hall, East Perth.

“Previous exhibitions focused primarily on the works of established artists from across the state, but this year we are proud to introduce an exhibition that will fuse the renowned expertise of established artists with the innocence and depth of works from our junior school students,” Anna Gingell, executive officer for the Trinity Old Boys Association commented.

Junior students, led by Trinity College art teacher John Lambourne, will be showcasing their talents through 260 exhibited works.

“The Trinity College Art Exhibition is primarily about bringing the community together, through the recognition that students as young as this can have such extraordinary talent,” Ms Gingell said.

Expecting 400 attendees throughout the exhibiting weekend, Trinity College will be offering canapés accompanied by a selection of wine and champagne to be enjoyed on the opening night, September 15 at 6.30pm.

Tickets for the exhibition’s opening night will be available via the Trinity College Online Store (www.trinity.wa.edu.au) or from college reception for $25 per person.

For further information contact Anna Gingell on9223 8132.

Trinity showcases artistic talent discovery Catholic magazine for families

Historic moment for Marist school

■ By Sylvia Defendi

Perth Marist school, Newman College, was delighted to receive an inaugural visit from Marist Brother Superior General, Br Sean Sammon, on August 11.

The college of 1800 students welcomed Br Sammon, who was touring Australia from Rome, with a series of formal and informal meetings to introduce staff and students.

Key to the visit was the re-naming ceremonies for each of Newman College’s three campuses.

The pre-primary to year 3 Campus, was officially named the Newman College Marian Campus,

the year 4 to 7 Campus became the Lavalla Campus and the year 8 to12 will be now known as the Marcellin Campus.

“It was very special to have students from our three different campuses experience the individual naming by Br Sammon.

“Each name represents a small part of the history of the Brothers, from their foundation by Marcellin Champagnat through his dedication to educate youth under the patronage of Mary, Mother of God,” Mrs Veronica Carey, head of secondary at Newman College commented.

Br Sammon, who is responsible

Fun-run for charity

■ By Sylvia Defendi

Trinity College staff, dressed as Yoda, Minnie Mouse and Zorro, joined over 950 middle and senior school students for this year’s 13th annual fun-run for India, on August 18.

College students and staff ran or walked 12km along the river front to the Narrows Bridge, around the South Perth foreshore and back to Trinity via the Causeway Bridge to raise funds for charity.

“This is the College’s major fund raiser for the year and all the money raised goes to support projects in India, many of which involve the work of the Christian Brothers who care for poor and destitute people of India,” said Marya Stewart, director of campus ministry.

One of the Christian Brothers’ projects that benefits from the College fun-run is St Mary’s Orphanage in Kolkata, which provides education for over 300 boys who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be educated.

Every student at the College was encouraged to aid the charitable works by raising at least $50, through friends, family and local

for the educative works carried out by 51,500 Brothers and lay teachers in Marist schools across the globe, addressed the students at Newman College, stating their good fortune at having grown up in such a beautiful and affluent country.

To the senior students, Br Sammon posed the challenge of how best to use their good fortune in the service of those not so blessed.

“We were very fortunate that Br Sammon was able to make time on his extremely busy agenda to come and visit us. It will be an event remembered for many years in the history of the college,” Mrs Carey said.

parishes in sponsorship for the run.

Having raised $15,000 last year, Mrs Stewart said she was confident the College could raise over $30,000 as a result of this year’s fun-run.

The recent event is part of various on-going projects at the College in support of those who are impoverished in India. “In December a group of Trinity College students will travel to India on a pilgrimage, to experience the reality of life on the margins. They will be immersed in the culture of

India and through service to others in need, put their faith into action,” Mrs Stewart said. Principal at Trinity College, Robert Henderson said that the fun-run event was a terrific way of involving students in the Indian pilgrimage venture.

“It is important that our students can see a tangible benefit from their fundraising efforts through our direct links to India. It can also encourage more of our students to embark upon further Christian service initiatives,” he said.

Primary head Joscelyn Hansen, Br Sean Sammon and primary head girl and boy, Kate Lee and Jonathon Russo.

Doing their part: Trinity College students ran to raise funds for the poor in India.

■ By Adela Lo Celso and Alegria Duran-Ballen

Developing an authentic personal style requires both self knowledge and the education of taste.

Adolescents like to think that they are in charge of themselves and their image. But all too often they are slaves to fashion, unhappily conforming to trends that do not reflect their own values and feelings. In this interview with MercatorNet, Maria del Carmen Bernal, a Professor of Education at the Panamerican University in Mexico, talks about the need for teenagers to get to know themselves and to find their own authentic style. Dr Bernal presented a paper on this theme at the international Congress on the Emotional and Sexual Education of Adolescents held recently in Mexico.

MercatorNet: When a teenage girl gets into her tight jeans and skimpy top and hits the streets with her snazzy little cell phone, what is she intending to say about herself?

Dr Bernal: The reasons are quite variable. Sometimes they do it to imitate their friends or simply because they want to show off their body and feel accepted in their social group. In either case we are not learning very much about who she really is, and neither are her friends.

MercatorNet: On the other hand, could the way she presents herself reveal something she is not aware of and doesn’t really intend?

Dr Bernal: Yes, indeed. Fashion is one of the main ways of expressing how we feel towards others and how we want to relate to them. These feelings include desire, love, hatred, passion, admiration, seduction and rivalry. Our body language, especially the way we dress, may express these things without our saying a word, or even without our admitting these feelings to ourselves.

In this way our appearance has a major influence on how others perceive us. It also has a big influence on a person’s self-esteem. This explains why some people who feel ugly or unattractive choose a more sensual look through their clothes in order to feel more attractive.

Opening the eyes of young people to this connection between feeling and fashion is an important part of education. They need help to develop an authentic personal style.

MercatorNet: Fashion itself reflects broader cultural trends. How would you describe this wider environment today?

Dr Bernal: We are living in an environment that entices us all the time with external things.

Fashion from the inside

Developing an authentic personal style requires both self knowlege and the education of taste

It stops people getting in touch with their own feelings and thinking about things deeply. People are looking for a playful approach to life, to make fun and pleasure a way of life.

MercatorNet: How does this show up in the world of fashion?

Dr Bernal: The constant search for new sensations leads to an unrealistic look. The way people appear has less and less to do with their personal identity, and this is a very worrying issue. Anxiety among young people to achieve the “right look” while suppressing their natural inclinations leads to loss of self-esteem, dissatisfaction and permanent frustration.

At the same time as they are losing touch with their inner selves, they develop an obsession with the physical self - with their health, diet and exercise, which is all part of this obsession with appearance as a medium to connect with others and feel part of the group.

A perfect example would be tattoos and piercing. The theory is that among youth this is more than a fashion statement, it’s a statement about control over the body, another symbol that one is capable of having his or her own suffering under control. Adolescents are driven to follow this trend even if it is not consistent with their personal identity.

MercatorNet: What problems do you see arising from the trends?

Dr Bernal: I see different consequences taking their toll on many people’s lives. There is a pervasive infantilism, a refusal to grow up that is seen in the irrational eagerness to consume, in the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia, and in various addictions, especially to sex. There is emotional dependency, weakened willpower and a confusion about the meaning of such key concepts as love, sexuality and personal identity.

We urgently need an educational approach that includes reflection on these areas. Developing and creating a personal lifestyle is essential to counteract the seductive power of popular culture.

MercatorNet: How can you get teenagers to see through the manipulation?

Dr Bernal: We have to educate children in aesthetics, or taste. This means facilitating contact with nature and the arts. Developing their powers of observation and the capacity for amazement. Feeding the imagination and memory by means of literature and good movies. Encouraging self-knowledge. And helping young people to be original, not letting them fall into the uniformity that exists today.

Along with this we have to show children

A singer in search of British star sets himself apart from the crowd with his

british Soul singer Kenny

Thomas is a publicist’s dream

■ By James Hastings

During a European tour, he disappears from his hotel in the heart of Paris. Finding him sitting in a bar would guarantee a story on page four of any tabloid. If he’s seen wandering the streets in the early hours, that’s the lead in the gossip columns. Discovering him in a nightclub with Paris’ hottest actress would generate front page headlines. But hold the press pack. Kenny is finally spotted - in the chapel at Rue de Bac buying a Rosary. He then spends half an hour in prayer before the body of St Catherine Laboure to whom Our Lady appeared in 1830. A sympathetic news editor might give Kenny’s publicist two paragraphs on page sixty-seven.

In some ways, Kenny Thomas is not your typical music star. The first thing he asks when arriving at a new hotel is not the name of the best club, but the address of the nearest Catholic church. In some ways, he is a typical music star. Kenny has enjoyed a string of chart hits and numerous television appearances and is regarded as one of Britain’s best home-produced soul singers. He speaks passionately of his love of music, especially artists such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. But while some singers like Madonna use religion as a marketing ploy, Kenny’s take on his Catholicism, like his singing, comes from the soul.

“I’ve always been Catholic, never left it,” he says.

“My mum was Spanish and devout and I got my faith from her. No matter where I’m touring, I ask the hotel or venue where the nearest Catholic church is and make sure I get to Mass.

“The Rue de Bac was amazing. I bought a Rosary and just sat there thinking what had taken place in that small building. Back at the hotel, everyone asked where I’d been and I replied, ‘church of course’ Born in Islington in 1968, he comes from a large family. His two early loves were boxing and music, finding room in friends’ garages to do a bit of both. He had over 40 fights but decided singing was where his heart truly lay.

“I was eighteen when I first got into a professional studio and I thought that was it, I’m going to be famous,” he laughs.

“But the time was not right. You

need to work and work at your art. A lot of kids today want instant fame, even just to be famous for being famous. I looked at people like Stevie Wonder and saw how hard he worked and that was my route.”

Kenny’s big break came in 1991 with when his debut single Outstanding went to number 12 in the UK charts. His next four singles were also chart hits while his debut album, Voices, became a UK best seller, reaching number three.

The next step when a new singer finds himself at the height of fame, is usually to marry a Page 3 model, and wreck a few hotel rooms in between divorcing the Page 3 wife. Kenny opted to nurse his dying mother.

“Mum got cancer in 1998. She accepted it and her faith grew stronger. Personally, my faith grew stronger watching her. No other religion apart from Catholicism tackles pain and suffering head on.

“I tell people that if my mum was a flower all her life, during her eighteen month illness, she blossomed. Where she went in spiritual terms was not of this world.

“I gained so much as her carer. To the world, being a carer is crazy,

because it ties you down, puts your own life on hold in a way. But Jesus said when you lose your life, you gain it. When you care for others, you find out about yourself.”

“The philosophy is simply, someone’s eating into my life, my time - so get rid of them. They’re a burden and holding you back. If you can find out while the baby’s

As his mother was dying, the debate about euthanasia was gaining ground in Britain. For Kenny, socalled mercy killing is the “ultimate act of selfishness.”

in the womb that it has a problem, then get rid of it in advance.

“Can you imagine if doctors discovered when Stevie Wonder was in the womb that he’d be born

blind so they advised he be got rid of? Wow. I don’t even want to go there.”

Shortly after his mother’s death, Kenny’s dad developed a form of Alzheimer’s, so he became his major carer. It was his father, a non-practising Anglican, who gave Kenny his love of boxing, then through a music producing friend, got his son a recording session. Despite launching his first soul album in seven years, Kenny still makes his father his number one priority. “It’s great to have a new album out and touring and promoting and everything else that comes with it,” he says.

“I’ve got some great help with dad so that gives me some time. Prayer is also very important and that’s why I make sure I get to Mass. I’ve discovered some lovely Catholic churches around the country. There’s one in Manchester called the Little Gem where I always go whenever I’m in the area. On tour in Germany, I went to Cologne Cathedral and was just in awe at its beauty.”

His fellow musicians are aware of his faith but he is careful not to be seen as a Bible basher. However, Kenny is always on the alert for opportunities to evangelise, even in seedy stripclubs in Bangkok.

“Some music people think they are doing you a favour taking you out to strip clubs and arranging for girls to come to your room or leaving drugs for you.

“In Bangkok they took me to this club where most of the girls around the bar did not start off life as girls. I turned to the publicist who’d brought me and told him I was leaving as this wasn’t my scene. When I told him I’d rather go somewhere else, his eyes lit up and he asked to come. Then he explained he was in the process of converting to the Catholic Church and hated the part of his job when he had to visit clubs. We just laughed, but it showed me the power of quiet evangelisation. No need to Bible bash, people see what you do and how you live and that is often enough.”

On a tour of the Middle East, Kenny was amazed at the strength of the Church in the heart of Islam. At one church, there were two altars and Mass was said simultaneously to cope with the large numbers attending each Sunday.

“We can sometimes take our Catholicism for granted,” he adds.

“Maybe it’s poor quality music or a hurried celebration. When I was a kid, I loved the smells and bells and the drama of it all. The priest used words I didn’t understand but that gave me a sense of respect and mystery for what was happening on

Different kind of performer: In a business famous for using up those who become involved with it, Kenny Thomas has turned the tables by keeping focussed on real spirituality and fulfilment. The popular singer nominates Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder (opposite) as his big musical influences.

Photos:JamesHastings

own style soul

the altar. Today there are kids’ Masses. I mean, what exactly is a kids’ Mass? This is the Church, not a fast food restaurant. We do children a diservice if we talk down to them or sing stupid songs that have no real meaning.

The Mass is something we should look up to, not dumb down.

“Saying the Rosary is a big part of my prayer life but I don’t hear many Catholics encouraging it. Thank God for Pope John Paul and his example.”

He is excited about his new album and the critical reviews are certainly fulsome. But he tries to live his life without fear. “I let the Spirit take care of things. As long as I’m God-cenetred everything else will be fine.

“I mean, what would be the point of enjoying an amazingingly successful career if it led to my spiritual downfall? I think you are either a Catholic or you’re not. I get angry when I hear some pop star or actor going on about Catholic guilt. It’s become a phrase without meaning. But if they do feel guilty, maybe they really are and they should take stock. Not just moan about it.”

Which brings us full circle. Kenny Thomas is a typical singer. His new album features funky photographs and a song dedicated to his girlfriend. But then Kenny Thomas is not a typical singer. Among the footnotes where he thanks different people, is one to a close friend, a Benedictine monk, Dom John Davies OSB and the message “thanks for all the knee-work.”

This is NOT the news

■ By Paul Gray

“Still to come - a round-up of our reminders of all the news still to come so far ...”

Recognise the words? If you’ve been watching the new series of satirical comedy on the media, Broken News, on Monday nights on SBS TV, the chances are you will.

But even if you haven’t been watching it, the completely nonsensical and virtually meaningless drivel voiced by the show’s announcers in the name of “news” should strike some sort of chord.

After all, how often have we looked at our TV news, particularly on those non-stop news networks that pride themselves on being the first with the latest, and been subconsciously impressed by how the modern media manages to make the totally trivial seem like a matter of life and death?

I first turned the volume up on this program one Monday night a few weeks ago when I saw headlines on what seemed to be a news show proclaiming the 60th anniversary of “Half Way Day.”

Earnest news presenters were crossing live to reporters in the field, in Britain and America, interviewing ageing World War II veterans on what their feelings were on this day, Half Way Day, six decades earlier.

None of the interviewees, including old soldiers and air pilots, could remember a thing about it. The reason, of course, is that the date, exactly half way

between the beginning and the end of World War II, was entirely a modern media concoction that had no meaning to people who actually lived through that war.

No-one, back then, even knew the war was half over. How could they? This piece of satirical “news,” a gentle dig at the media’s saturation over-coverage of dates of real importance, impressed me nicely.

Over the next few weeks I tuned in for more and more doses. And in doing so, I began to realise, more than ever, just how mentally deadened we so easily become to what is really going on when we’re watching the media’s “news.”

What is often going on isreally, not much at all. Rather, to take a cynical view of the content of the news, what we’re watching is an elaborately staged piece of factional fiction that conveys no real information of importance at all.

Broken News is a British (BBC) program which presents made-up news and current affairs stories in a broken and disjointed format. It employs a large cast of actors who pose as journalists and “real people” telling their stories.

Reporters with names like Melanie Bellamy and Richard Harbinger discuss ominous events with long faces. Usually the reporters know nothing at all about what they are reporting on, reverting constantly to lines like: “Well, we don’t know a great deal more about it at this stage, Melanie. But we’ll keep you posted as soon as anything comes to hand.”

A continues line of ticker-style

news headlines crawls across the screen throughout each episode, just like the TV news programs in Australia, bringing updates on the latest (untrue) natural disasters and celebrity gossip scandals.

There is the “embedded” reporter in space, Nick Burnham, who holds the world’s record for weightless journalism. Burnham is frequently asked for comment on the latest news from earth, being asked: “What’s the perspective from where you are, Nick?” His replies are as significant as most replies from TV reporters in reallife news programs. Then there are smashing stories like the recent report on a British town where people have unusually high levels of being worried, the scientific study warning of wind shortages if wind farms are allowed to spread further and the spread of a deadly new super-virus called the Tomato Flu.

The story from America of a “Cross-Eyed Shooting,” in which a man with a squint tries to end

his life with a rifle, misses and kills a horse on the neighbouring property, with the owner of the horse subsequently collapsing and dying from a heart attack on discovering the dead animal, also says something about the media’s fascination with the trivial and the bizarre. SBS TV should be lobbied for a repeat of this six-part series which not only entertains, but tells it like it is about today’s media.

Fan base spreading: The team from SBS’s comedy hit series Broken News have won a growing army of admirers for their razor sharp satire. Photos:SBSPublicity Marvin Gaye

Stevie Wonder

Bridging into University

The Tertiary Enabling Program is an alternative entry program to undergraduate studies at The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle or Broome Campuses.

No Cost TEP Option

Students who elect to complete their TEP at the Broome Campus will be able to access a Commonwealth Supported Place which means that no tuition fees will be charged. Successful completion of the Broome TEP program will give students the opportunity to complete further studies at both the Broome and Fremantle campuses.

What does this mean?

By successfully completing the Tertiary Enabling Program students will have an opportunity to study for a degree in most undergraduate studies at Notre Dame. [EXCEPT for Biomedical Science, Physiotherapy or Law]

The program is suitable for those who:

• did not reach the University entrance score in the TEE; or

• completed year 12, but did not undertake TEE subjects

• wish to broaden their horizons.

The Tertiary Enabling Program is completed over one semester full-time, it gives students an introduction to university and provides a comfortable and rewarding environment in which to learn new skills.

Australian students studying the program have access to FEE-HELP. This no upfront fees option makes Notre Dame more accessible than ever before. Applications for 2007 are still being accepted, but hurry places are limited!

Applications for semester 1 2007 are due 27 October 2006!

For an Application Package please contact: Prospective Students Office | 1800 640 500 future@nd.edu.au | www.nd.edu.au

Up-coming events...

EVENTSDATE VENUE

Admissions Information & Courses Expo 5 Sept, 6-8pmFoley Hall 19 Mouat St Fremantle

• Admissions into all undergraduate and postgraduate courses • Tertiary Enabling Program • Study Abroad • All Courses Expo

COURSE INFORMATION EVENINGSDATE VENUE

Postgraduate (ALL program areas incl Medicine) 7 Nov, 6-8pmMedicine Lecture Theatre, 38 Henry St Fremantle

Broome 28 Nov, 6-8pmFoley Hall 19 Mouat St Fremantle

Medicine 5 Dec, 6-8pmMedicine Lecture Theatre, 38 Henry St Fremantle

Applications for semester 1 2007 due Friday 29 September 2006

Admission to Notre Dame

The admissions process is personal. Every applicant is considered on an individual basis. Prospective students apply directly to the University for admission.

Notre Dame seeks to enrol students who wish to make a special contribution to society. To identify such students the University applies a comprehensive admissions process, which goes beyond the use of a single score. Entry is based upon a range of factors: personal qualities, individual motivation, academic records, contribution to school, community service, recommendations by schools and employers, an interview and Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER).

Please contact the Admissions Office at any stage of the admissions process.

Genevieve Sadleir 9433 0538 or gsadleir1@nd.edu.au | David Phua 9433 0540 or dphua@nd.edu.au

Tertiary Enabling Program

In 2005, I studied the Tertiary Enabling Program bridging course in order to gain entry into Notre Dame as a Bachelor of Education student. It was always a clear decision for me to attend a Catholic university as I did my schooling in the Catholic system. Once I enrolled in the Tertiary Enabling Program I could see that Notre Dame was a multicultural campus and community. I made new friends of all ages, from different backgrounds, educations and faiths.

At Notre Dame you feel like an individual and there are supportive staff members available to help you along the way if you ever feel stuck or in trouble. The small class sizes enable students to have more time with their specific lecturer, thus giving more of a personal learning experience. In finishing my degree I hope that I would have gained experience both in my career and as an individual.

I was also lucky enough to be involved in the Notre Dame Basketball team. This activity helped me meet new people in different stages of their degree and enabled me to compete against other universities. The Tertiary Enabling Program is a great way for you to enter university life, meet new friends and be part of sporting and social activities.

“

The Tertiary Enabling Course is a great way for you to enter university life... “

CASEY HAGGAR Tertiary Enabling Program,Graduate