The Connection Newsletter | October 2012 | Number 49

Reunion Weekend

Daffodil Day

Celebrations

at Cathedral

Tickets on sale now for

- a new musical

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL OF ST ANNE AND ST JAMES

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H OCTOBER 2012 H NUMBER 49

Principal’s Report On 31 July 2012 The Courier Mail published an article on the most improved schools in Queensland over the last five years. Schools were ranked according to how their 2011 results improved over their 2007 effort in terms of the percentage of OP eligible students who received an OP1 to 15. The Cathedral School ranked in the top ten for most improved schools with more than 30 OP-eligible students and schools with more than 50 OPeligible students. This result is a testament to the considerable hard work from our dedicated and supportive staff and I thank them for all the help they have given our students to reach their potential in an environment that values excellence and a life-long commitment to learning. For students on non OP pathways there have also been considerable advances with more VET offerings being made available to students as well as the opportunity to begin apprenticeships while still enrolled at school.

While the academic successes of the school are important and impressive, one of the contributing factors that makes Cathedral the dynamic school that it is, is that there is an ever increasing list of outstanding extracurricular accomplishments by our students of all ages and in all fields. I would like to share some of these recent accomplishments with you. They are:

Athletics: •Katelyn Lucey (Year 11), Wes Mooka (Year 10) and Romeny Holt (Year 8) have been selected in the North Queensland team to participate in the State Titles in October.

Some individual efforts are: •Cara Koenan – State Secondary Schools representative for Netball.

•Stephanie Prizeman – Secondary Schools Swimming Championships won one Gold, two Silver and three Bronze. National Schools swimming championships three 4th places, a 7th and 9th.

•Daniel Carman, Doug Rayment, Jim Lord, Jarrod Pickering and Clay McLean – represented Townsville Rugby Union Region in a Japan Tour.

•Melanie Selman – selected in the North Queensland Netball team to play in the State Championships.

•Jane Wallace – tour of New Zealand with the Queensland Maroons Softball team.

•Breanna Koenen – was a representative in the AFL Under-18 Queensland side at the National Championships •Antony Ballarino – competed in the Australian Championships for skeet shooting and was a multiple medallist in the Open competition, competing against adults.

•Oliver Bellwood – won the Public Speaking section at the District Final for Lions Youth of the Year.

Tournament of the Minds (Junior School Science & Engineering team):

Visits from other schools:

•Fourth in the State final.

•Iwaki (Japan) and Foshan Number 1 Middle School (China) schools have visited the school this term and all students had a wonderful time.

Year 8 Maths Competition: •First in the Regional final •Second in the State final (by one point)

Mr Ian Gamack Principal

Year 8 Optiminds: •Heading to the State final in October.

Year 8 Aurecon Bridge Building Challenge: •Oliver Atkinson, Jack Bryant and Kyle Randolph won this competition coming back to school with a cheque of $1500 for the school.

Pictured on the front cover: Eliza Sen Gupta and Alana Toll,Year 12, get in the spirit for the Daffodil Day free dress day on Friday 24 August.

Rowing:

contents

•NSW State Championships – 1 Gold, 3 Silver, 3 Bronze

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Touch Football: •Year 7 Girls Touch Football team won their Grand Final.

•Townsville Head of The River Regatta – 15 first places, 17 second places and 7 third places (out of a total of 20 finals) .

Netball: •Seven teams out of the 18 entered in the Wednesday Night Competition were in their respective finals.

Rugby: •Open Schoolboys team won the North Queensland final to reach the semi-finals of the Ballymore Cup. •Open Schoolboys Seven’s team will travel to Brisbane in October to play in the Queensland finals.

•Year 7 Boys Rugby Union team won their Grand Final.

Eisteddfod: •Many of our choirs, ensembles and bands have placed in the top three of their competitions, with the percussion ensemble and the Junior School clarinet & flute ensemble achieving first place. Many individual performances throughout the school have also done very well.

Equestrian: •The school equestrian team won the Highest Scoring School Trophy for the second year in a row at the Interschool Horse Sports competition.

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BRIDGE BUILDING COMPETITION SUCCESS 13 - A NEW MUSICAL YEAR 10 OUTDOOR EDUCATION ADVENTURE DAFFODIL DAY AT CATHEDRAL CATHEDRAL CELEBRATES 95 YEARS AND FAREWELLS MRS JUDY NEWMAN PAST STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S REPORT STAFF PROFILES RAVENSWOOD REVISITED REUNION WEEKEND PAST STUDENTS V CURRENT STUDENTS TOUCH FOOTBALL CHALLENGE

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Bridge Building Competition Success!

In August, Mrs Flannery was very busy preparing her teams for the Aurecon Bridge Building Challenge. The three groups of students all did a fantastic job at the competition representing Cathedral and the team of Oliver Atkinson, Jack Bryant and Kyle Randolph won the competition coming back to school with a huge cheque of $1,500 for the school.Their well-constructed bridge was able to hold up to a whopping 38.2kgs! Well done to Mrs Flannery and to all the students who participated.

Music Department’s

Spring Concert

On a beautiful Spring evening, the Music Department held their annual Spring Concert on the Function Lawn. Guests enjoyed the soothing sounds of the Senior Choir, the upbeat drums from the Marching Band and the catchy jazz tunes from the Stage Band.

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Cathedral contests the Ballymore Cup Cathedral’s Open Boys Rugby Union had a great season on the field competing in the state-wide schools rugby union competition, the Ballymore Cup. The series sees the best regional schools compete against the metropolitan teams.

The team made it through to play against the winner of the Central Queensland battle after a nail biting win against St Augustine’s of Cairns in the North Queensland final. The score of 13 – 12 was secured with a penalty goal from Flyhalf Joshua Fletcher.

Unfortunately the next game didn’t go Cathedral’s way with a loss to Rockhampton Grammar.

Well done to all the boys who competed during the series!

A NEW MUSICAL A grown up story about growing up!

Tickets on Sale now!

Scan here to purchase

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Chinese Visitors

In July, the school played host to 18 students and four staff members from Foshan Number 1 Middle School in China.This is a very large and prestigious school in the south-east region of mainland China.

As well as sampling some typical Australian classes, the Chinese students practiced their English skills and visited some of Townsville’s attractions during the week.

Foshan is one of Townsville’s Sister Cities, and this year a six member delegation from the Foshan Municipal Government accompanied the school group. They were very impressed with our school and our city, and have promised to return.

Such visits are important in developing friendships and understanding between people and countries. Foshan Number 1 Middle School has issued an invitation to Cathedral students to reciprocate with a visit to their school in the future.

Thank you to the many school families who took these students and staff into their homes, and to the Senior School students who offered to be their buddies during their time at school.

Year 10 Outdoor Education Adventure Recently the Year 10 students attended their annual Outdoor Education adventure sailing the seas aboard a tall ship, The South Passage. They spent their nights camped out on the tropical islands of Orpheus, Pelorus and Gould Island and all had a wonderful time.

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Wakakirri

On Thursday 23 August, 86 students from Prep to Year 6 travelled to Mackay to participate in the National Wakakirri competition. This competition encourages students to learn through the creation and sharing of stories, through a range of arts mediums. It also encourages sustainable approaches to all stages of creation, including the creation of any props, sets and costumes.

The awards included:

The Story Dance category, which the Junior School entered, combines music, dance and drama to provide a wonderful opportunity for kids to develop teamwork and performing skills, culminating in an exciting performance in front of thousands of people.

SILVER AWARD: Music

Schools can tell any story they wish and are limited only by imagination.

Stories can be about people, culture, environment, relationships or history. They can also have humour, adventure, love and/or drama.

This year, our students chose to tell the story of “The Gingerbread Man” and the importance of remaining confident, without becoming arrogant or conceited. They performed exceptionally well and were presented with the highest two level of awards in all five judging categories.

GOLD AWARD: Dancing GOLD AWARD: Sets, Props and Costumes GOLD AWARD: Reduce, Reuse and Recycling SILVER AWARD: Story In recognition of their exceptional behaviour the students were also presented with two additional awards for Best School in Public and Best Teamwork. The students did extremely well to receive these awards as they were also the largest group with some of the youngest participants.

Congratulations to all participating students and a huge thank you to the teachers that helped make it happen!

Mrs Penny Dellapina Wakakirri Coordinator

Daffodil Day

at Cathedral

The Cathedral School was like a bright yellow sun on Ross River Road on Friday 24 August as more than 600 students dressed up to raise funds for Daffodil Day. The students from both the Middle and Senior School were allowed to wear free dress for the day as long as they wore yellow and were prepared to chip in a gold coin for the Cancer Council.

The range of outfits was very impressive – from the oversized, yellow duck beanie worn by one Year 7 student to a sea of tutus sported by a group of Year 8s.

Between the gold coin donations and a sausage sizzle, The Cathedral School was able to raise an incredible $1,900 for the Cancer Council.

One in four people know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer and have been through a lot of tough times to overcome it.

The money raised by the students will help fund research to reduce the chances of cancer for future generations and help those burdened by it now.

Written by Luci Jodrell Young Reporters Club

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Lagoon Dash

Runners

WINNERS Boys – Langton House Girls – More House Past Students BOYS INTERHOUSE Bede: Ben Talbot – Year 6 Peter Mangolini – Year 9 Harrison Slogrove – Year 12 Chatham: Tomas Muguira – Year 6 Jack Johnson – Year 9 Alex McDonald – Year 12 Langton: Conor O’Reilly – Year 6 James Dale – Year 9 Oliver Bellwood – Year 12 More: Callum Maher – Year 6 Clayton Pedracini – Year 9 Doug Rayment – Year 12

GIRLS INTERHOUSE Bede: Kierleigh Drane – Year 6 Isabella Stanton – Year 9 Breanna Koenan – Year 12 Chatham: Madeleine Gamack – Year 6 Janaya Emery – Year 9 Jane Wallace – Year 12 Langton: Alanna Morton – Year 6 Meghan Maguire – Year 9 Doreen Repu – Year 12 More: Anya Myers-Gommers – Year 6 Lilyana Rayment – Year 9 Juanita Whaleboat – Year 12

Cathedral celebrates 95 years and farewells

Mrs Judy Newman

The Cathedral School community celebrated 95 years since the school was first opened on Friday 20 July at the annual Foundation Day ceremony as well as farewelling long-standing staff member of 33 years, Mrs Judy Newman.

STAFF/PAST STUDENTS/ CURRENT STUDENTS RUNNERS Staff: Tania Morton Rachel Grotherr Scott O’Neill Floyd Gillan

Past Students: Alexendra Kanowki (2011) Emma Josselyn (2011) Lachlan Porter (2011) Edward Dawson (2010) Current Students: Megan Adkins (More) Hamish Atkinson (Langton) Edward Osborne (Chatham) Stephanie Prizeman (Bede)

The Foundation Day ceremony included a full school service, a tribute to Mrs Judy Newman from past student Angela Pulvirenti (1988), music performances, the much anticipated Lagoon Dash and a morning tea, at which more than 1,200 pieces of cake were served to every student and staff member.

Mrs Judy Newman (nee Brumm) has a long history with the school.

She was interviewed by the last of the Sisters of the Sacred Advent, Sister Chasely in October, 1978 and was employed to commence teaching at the school in January, 1979.

Over the years Mrs Newman has worked in a variety of roles within the school and finished her time at the school as Deputy Principal – Academic Dean, a position she has held since 1994. She has ensured that the ethos of the founding Sisters of the Sacred Advent, compassion and caring for the individual, has continued over the past 33 years. Mrs Newman’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the school, its people and its history will be missed.

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community and a lady with whom I have had a very strong bond.

Angela Pulvirenti spoke about the times she had with Mrs Newman and her speech entertained the whole school audience.

The annual Lagoon Dash was held and it was great to see the Past Students team win the trophy!

Then it was time to eat the birthday cake where 1,200 pieces were served to the students and staff.

Past Students’ Association

President’s Report

As the school year comes closer to the end, we get ready to welcome the Class of 2012 as the newest Past Students of The Cathedral School.

This time of year is always an exciting and nervous one for the Year 12 students who have spent many years at the school. I look back and remember my years at this wonderful school with so many great memories.

Then it was time for my reunion on Friday evening - the Class of 2007.

I cannot believe that I graduated 5 years ago. Where has all the time gone? We had a wonderful night of fun and fellowship as we reminisced about our years at the school. Many of us have not seen each other since we graduated. I would like to personally thank all my school friends who came to our 5 year reunion.

The Saturday afternoon was the school tour and the Annual General Meeting of the Past Students’ Association, where we elected the new committee for the upcoming year. We welcome Karen Lane (Class of 1993) and Tristan Davey (Class of 2007) to the committee.

The school came alive in July with the annual reunion weekend. It was great to meet so many new faces and hear their stories about their time at The Cathedral School or St Anne’s.

The night of all nights is the Reunion Dinner where we come together and celebrate as Past Students of the School. We heard from our scholarship winner Felicity Doyle who presented a wonderful speech and captivated the audience. We also heard from Principal Mr Ian Gamack, and I spoke on the achievements of the PSA committee and what’s in store for next year. It was a wonderful night and I must thank everyone who was involved. I must also make a mention to the wonderful boarders who waited on the tables and did a fantastic job.

The weekend kicked off with the Foundation Day Service on Friday morning, when the PSA Lawn was officially opened and blessed by Bishop Bill Ray. At the service, we farewelled Mrs Judy Newman - she is a very special person who has been a part of The Cathedral School

On the Sunday morning we headed out to Ravenswood with some of our older past students. We loaded them on to the school bus and travelled back through time to reminisce about Ravenswood back in 1942, where the school was located due to the outbreak of war.

Principal’s Assistant Ms

Johanna Richardson

You could say that The Cathedral School is a big part of Johanna Richardson’s (nee Bragg) life, not only is she a staff member but she is also a Past Student and a Past Parent of the school. Johanna graduated from school in 1979 just as the first lay Principal was introduced and both of her daughters, Cara (2008) and Hannah (2011) have graduated from the school.

Johanna works very hard in her role as the Principal’s Assistant but also finds time to be involved with the school’s Parents & Friends’ Association and Past Students’ Association.

How long have you been a staff member at The Cathedral School?

Four and a half years.

What is a typical day like in the Principal’s Office?

BUSY! There is no typical day.

What do you like the most about your job?

That there is no typical day and that my role covers many aspects of school life. I also enjoy working with the great team of people in Administration and the wider school community.

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Being also a Past Student of the school, what is your favourite thing about Cathedral?

The sense of community and the caring nature of people here. I feel very fortunate and grateful that my daughters Cara and Hannah did their schooling here. Now as an employee I feel lucky that I can be a part of a wider group that nurtures and supports school families. I am proud that St Anne’s/The Cathedral School has been such a big part of my life.

How has the school changed since you were as student?

I graduated in 1979 and there were 24 in my Year 12 class. Things were a lot different then – you only have to listen in to the stories told at the reunion dinners to marvel at how far the school has come. I was a student here for the last years that the Sisters of the Sacred Advent ran the school and was in Year 12 when we got our first Principal. Building wise there has also been a lot of change but to me the iconic lagoon will always be the focal point of the school grounds.

Describe yourself in three words?

Mother, Patient, Happy.

We unveiled 2 signs at the historical sites of Wilson’s House and the Railway Hotel. We have included an article in this edition of the Connection. I must say it was a successful day with mixed emotions.

I would like to thank everyone for their hard work in making the day possible, especially Toni Lanphier who did all the ground work and put together the commemorative booklet. I would also like to thank Dorothy Murray for her support to myself and her friendship since we have started working on this project.

It’s pretty amazing when an email pops up in your inbox from an unknown person who becomes a treasured acquaintance – that lovely lady is Ruth Duncan (nee Stayte). Ruth emailed me at the start of the year saying she was writing her memoirs about her time at St Anne’s in Ravenswood. It was so lovely having Ruth and her daughter Margaret fly up from Melbourne for the Ravenswood tour.

The annual Past Students versus Current Students Touch Football Challenge is on again – on Sunday 4 November this year. We are calling out to any past students who would like to play, check out the back page of this Connection for details and RSVP. We will supply a BBQ and drinks and a great time. We really need to take out the title this year as current students seem to have their names all over the trophy.

It’s been a great year for the Past Students’ Association and I am looking forward to leading the upcoming year. I am always looking for suggestions to improve the Past Students’ Association and if you would like some input please don’t hesitate to email me tomporter@iinet.net. au. If you are interested in coming back for a look at your old school, drop in - we would love to show you around.

Tom Porter President Past Students’ Association Class of 2007

O’Neill Goes

Over for a Try

We are calling for information about you, as we have decided to bring back Past Student News in the Connection magazine, so if you have just got engaged or married, graduated from uni, got a new job or anything else of interest, please let us know and we will publish a selection of news in each edition of the Connection magazine. Photos are also welcome!

We are also talking about holding a reunion early next year in Brisbane where we can get together and celebrate as a school community as it often seems hard for past students to make it back to Townsville to celebrate so stayed tuned for more information.

I am very lucky to work at The Cathedral School and was very privileged to be able to attend Year 10 camp last term. I was the group leader for the Orpheus Island hike. It was great being able to participate in Outdoor Education which really shaped me as a person being taken out of my comfort zone in my years at Cathedral. The Year 10s this year were a wonderful bunch of students, even though the hike was not high on their ‘to do’ list, I kept telling them I had to do it 6 times. It all paid off for them though, as they also got to spend time on the 100 foot South Passage sailing ship, going snorkelling and taking a tidal walk on Pelorus Island and having an Olympics competition on Gould Island.

Well done to Past Student, Justin O’Neill (Class of 2008) who plays for the Melbourne Storm and scored a try during the 2012 NRL Grand Final on 30 September.

The Past Students’ Association should ask Justin to be on their team for the Past Students V Current Students Touch Football Challenge on Sunday 4 November!

Director of Teaching and Learning Senior School Mr Allan Mr Allan Carman has been with The Cathedral School for eight years. Previously the Head of Department for Science, Allan is enjoying the challenges presented to him in a newly created role to the school as Director of Teaching and Learning – Senior School. Allan says the best thing about Cathedral is the sense of community the staff, students and parents create and he really enjoys attending a variety of the Outdoor Education experiences the schools provides to students.

How long have you been a staff member at The Cathedral School?

This is my eighth year at Cathedral. (It feels like only yesterday that I started).

Carman

Working with students to achieve positive outcomes in both school curriculum and career goals and the challenge of providing relevant curriculum for all students.

What were your favourite subjects at school?

Chemistry and Maths.

If you weren’t working for a school, what do you think you would be doing?

Working as a stand-up comedian. Just ask my Chemistry and Mathematics classes!

Describe yourself in three words?

‘Down to earth’.

What hobbies do you enjoy doing outside of school?

All camping and outdoor activities.

What is a typical day like in your role?

A fair bit of administrative work. Solving curriculum issues and staying abreast of current developments in State and National education, and then the fun part, teaching my classes.

What do you like the most about your job?

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Ravenswood Revisited

The much-anticipated trip to Ravenswood to mark the 70th anniversary of the school’s evacuation during World War II was a most memorable and successful day. A total of 28 people took part in the commemorations; amazingly, 8 of them had attended St Anne’s in Ravenswood all those years ago.

The group set off in the morning of Sunday 22 July, and after a brief stop at the site of the Mingela railway station, arrived in Ravenswood for morning tea in the gardens of the Railway Hotel. This was an occasion to recognise the birthdays of two of the ‘Ravenswood girls” –Ruth Duncan (Stayte) was celebrating her 88th birthday, and Dorothy Murray (Smith) would be 83 later that week.

A tour of the town and a visit to the museum filled the rest of the morning, and many memories were shared as the group examined the sites of the old school buildings. Lunch at the Railway Hotel was enjoyed by all – especially those who were brave enough to choose the Goat Stew, prepared especially to re-create the war-time experience.

I doubt that the stew was as tasty in 1942 as it was on this occasion!

The highlight of the day was definitely the unveiling of the commemorative signs at the two principal locations of the school during the war years.

Mother Eunice SSA and Ruth Duncan (Year 12, 1942) unveiled the sign at Wilson’s House which was the school headquarters and home to the Sisters. Dorothy Murray and Delma Ward (Homer) unveiled the sign at the Railway Hotel – Dot attended classes in the front bar and slept in the dormitory accommodation upstairs; Del was one of the younger girls under the care of Sister Dominica in ‘Green Gables’, the house next door.

St Anne’s School is finally ‘on the map’ as far as Ravenswood history is concerned. Visitors to the town will see our signs and read our story, and future generations will have some understanding of the experiences of our former students. Special thanks go to everyone who contributed to the compilation of the history, and to those who came on the day to make it such a special occasion.

A small commemorative booklet of the Ravenswood history has been produced. Please contact the School if you would like a copy.

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Reunion Weekend

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Past Student VS Current Students

Touch Football Challenge

When: 3.00pm Sunday 4 November Where: The Cathedral School Main Oval Unfortunately, the Past Students have lost the shield two years in a row to the Current Students but hopefully they can claim it back this year!

Stay on after the game for a sausage sizzle and a well-earned cold drink.

Scan here to visit the Past Students’ Association Facebook page to RSVP to the event.

2013 REUNION WEEKEND DATE CLAIMER Mark in your diaries now for the 2013 Foundation Weekend Friday 19 - Sunday 21 July 2013 (Reunion Dinner is on the Saturday night, 20 July).

Class of 2008, Five Year Reunion on the Friday night.

The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James PO Box 944, Aitkenvale QLD 4814

154THE Ross River Road, Mundingburra 12 CONNECTION

Get in touch with others from your year group and plan to meet up at the school the reunion activities.

Class of 1973 - Sue Wallace 0412 810 972 or sewallace@optusnet.com.au Class of 1983 - Libby Soderholm (nee Jamieson) 0400 249 832 or libby@grangephysiotherapy.com.au Class of 1993 - Karen Lane 4722 2006 or karen.lane@cathedral.qld.edu.au Volunteers are required for all other year groups (2008, 2003, 1963) to help spread the word and encourage your class mates to attend.

If you would like to help out, please send your details to Mrs Toni Lanphier, registrar@cathedral.qld.edu.au Telephone: (07) 4722 2000 Facsimilie: (07) 4722 2111 Email: tcs@cathedral.qld.edu.au Web: www.cathedral.qld.edu.au