From the Chair of Council
Friends for Life The Whole of School Commencement Assembly is a wonderful event at the start of the School year. All of the students and the staff of Barker College, Darkinjung Barker and Ngarralingayil Barker are gathered together. For this year’s Assembly, on 29 January, everyone was accommodated in the excellent Rosewood Centre - just as well because it was raining outside! The Assembly is a great opportunity to warmly welcome all of the new students and members of staff to the Barker community. This year, we were joined by the Archbishop of Sydney, The Most Rev Dr Glenn Davies, who is the President of the Council of Barker College. In my opening remarks to the Assembly, I reminded everyone that each of us has a first day at Barker and that it is a welcoming spirit which characterises the culture of the School. Within a versatile and vibrant community, every person’s contribution at Barker is acknowledged, treasured and celebrated. Referencing JRR Tolkein’s Fellowship of the Ring, I drew attention to the importance of friendship and fellowship in the context of a shared cause. At Barker, our shared cause is to carry into effect the School’s Mission, Vision and Values. The cause is expressed (for instance) in the aspiration to look Beyond the Mint Gates, our iconic Pacific Highway entrance. It is also manifest in Barker’s call to inspire global hope through the acts of kindness and humility of its community members, consistent with the School’s motto Honor Non Honores. All of us come to Barker from many places and of different backgrounds. We bring our own story and our own hopes and aspirations. As a community at Barker, we find unity in diversity. The unity is underpinned by friendship and fellowship. The fellowship happens among friends committed to a cause and then it flourishes through their common pursuit of the cause.
The commencement of a new year brings fresh momentum to the Barker cause. We can be grateful for new buildings and facilities in 2021, including: • Refurbishment of a number of general purpose classrooms to provide ten additional Science laboratories as well as preparation rooms; • The Junior School East Extension (with learning spaces for Year 5 and Year 6 students); • Conversion of the underutilised C Block theatre to two classrooms; • Further improvements in the Junior School, such as artificial turf in the Undercroft, sandstone seating and even a new kennel for therapy dog, Peachy; • The fitting out of the kitchen in the Rosewood Centre with commercial equipment suitable to cater for functions in the Sue Field Room. Through the dedication and skill of its teaching and support staff, Barker’s principal focus continues to be on our current students, in academic outcomes, in sport and other co-curricular activities, and in pastoral care and wellbeing within Barker’s Christian framework. The Barker way is making sure all are welcomed, loved, supported and helped to be the best person they can be. Friendship and fellowship flow naturally in the Barker community. It is a place of belonging where you can have friends for life, not just a summer or a spring. David Charles (75) Chair of Council
Autumn 2021 • Issue 130 • The Barker • 3
