Roll Call - May 2007

Contents Defining Our Future

From the Editor

Welcome to the third special one-off editions of Roll Call. The first focused on the Centenary of the Brothers. A Day in the Life of De La Salle, our last for 2006, focused on the educational life of the College. The positive feedback was tremendous, thank you. This issue, The Lasallian Footprint focuses on the social justice work that the boys and staff are involved in. As you will read, the Footprint spreads far and wide and impacts on the lives of thousands of people. In many ways the social justice component of the education of a De La Salle student is the most valuable component of what they learn at the College. At some stage every boy will be involved in some aspect of the College’s social justice program whether it is the annual Mission Action Day or the Year 12 Coolies program. The experience gained by the boys from these programs is sometimes life changing but overwhelmingly it is empowerment and human dignity. There is also a feature on plans for a new building including a chapel and theatrette. I hope you enjoy this issue and the last as much as I have enjoyed being involved.

Kerry Martin Editor

“Watershed” moments occur when we come to a sudden realisation that change has occurred imperceptibly, that there has been shift which we may not have realised was actually happening - until now, at this moment.

I experienced such a moment a couple of years ago when a senior student innocently asked me a simple question:

“You write a lot”, he said. “Do you write it yourself or get it off the internet?”

That someone would think this way was a new notion to me but it dawned on me that this was commensurate with the limited experience of the current student

Front Cover Photo: Mitch Smith, who won the Lasallian Award in 2006, at the Children’s Village in G Kallupatti, India

Proposed Chapel and Theatrette, corner of High and Dalny streets

Jon Hewett

generation. Yes, I write a lot and, yes, I do use the internet for ease of access to information but, no, I don’t plagiarise and I still try to think clearly, make my own informed judgements and express myself as well as I can.

Thinking back to when I attended De La Salle as a young student, I recall a strong emphasis was placed on learning “mental arithmetic”, being able to calculate sums quickly in ones head. I don’t know exactly when mental arithmetic gave way to calculators but I guess at some point, the realisation that there had been a significant shift dawned on many educators. I still think mental arithmetic was valuable but it doesn’t get the same

hearth, if you still have one, now have to compete with all kinds of ideas, some rational and some quite disturbing, which are promoted through the very effective, modern, communication media of the world in which we live. Yet we cannot be modern day luddites. We simply have to recognise and adapt to the reality of the society we are in and do all we can to promote the values and attitudes we consider to be important. So it is that we have invested heavily in computer technology at De La Salle College, not to supplant an education in which children are taught to think and make judgements within a sound framework of values, but so that we provide the most efficient

been rendered obsolete by newscasting on the internet. Further, it would appear increasing numbers of people depend on computer spellcheckers rather than actually knowing how to spell. Such is a consequence of technological development. So when the student asked me did I write myself or get it off the internet, it alerted me to yet another shift which I had not noticed, until then.

It would be disturbing if education became a process of collecting the thoughts of others rather than learning to think for ourselves, to make our own judgements and to express ourselves. There is no doubt that values taught around the family

recognised that although demand for places in the College is as strong as ever, fewer of the boys come from families in close contact with their local parish. Whereas once it could be assumed that education in the Christian tradition grew out of a strong partnership of parents with the parish and the Catholic school, the reality now is often quite different.

An increasing number of parents are less certain how to answer questions on the existence of God, heaven, hell, angels, let alone on such matters as

divorce, the place of women in the Church, euthanasia and any number of other issues, especially in the complex field of bioethics. Fewer families are regular participants in Sunday mass. This is the reality of a significant shift which has occurred, like it or not.

The consequence is that for many boys the Catholic School is now their prime exposure to the Catholic faith. For many boys, their time in primary school and at De La Salle College will be their principal time of formal contact with Christian teaching - although we would hope that many can be led to make a stronger connection.

So what of the future for De La Salle College?

De La Salle must be, firstly, a school that delivers a quality education in all subjects, preparing students, and providing them with the skills, to be successful citizens in today’s society. So we must provide, and utilise, the best of modern technology to assist the process of learning.

Enhancement Centre, the addition of Materials Technology teaching space to the senior campus, expansion of the music and drama programme and redeveloped primary facilities.

The addition of retractable seating to our PAC (Performing Arts Centre) has been a great boon in facilitating the assembles of year level groups of students but there is an urgent need for more flexible space of this kind on both campuses for assemblies, drama, Rock Eisteddfod rehearsal, Rock & Water programme and so on.

Secondly, De La Salle must be a community which provides a vibrant faith experience. To do this successfully, we must:

l provide a nurturing environment which fosters faith, hope and love, in a caring, compassionate and just atmosphere where there is mutual respect for legitimate personal differences;

In practical terms, our determination to provide a quality education is demonstrated by the recent significant expansion of our computer and data projection facilities, updating of all photocopiers throughout the school, implementation of a new telephone system with increased capabilities, introduction of a new computer administration system, reshaping the timetable and the manner of providing co-curricular activities to ensure maximum academic focus, provision of expanded access to assistance for boys with learning needs through our Mary McKillop

l deliver a quality religious education programme which provides comprehensive knowledge of the gospels, and all Christian teaching, and which encourages the students to think and to make sound judgements;

l educate the students in the value of being men for others, who know the importance of acting to help their neighbour by participation in a highly developed programme of social justice activities.

l encourage participation in the liturgical life of the Church through the experience of sacramental

Proposed Kinnoull lecture theatre and canteen

programmes, well-prepared rites of celebrations of key occasions during the year and an appropriate daily emphasis on prayer.

This edition of Roll Call provides a comprehensive overview of our expanding social justice programme. The Christian notion of helping others is a challenge to the idealism of all young people and most will respond well to it. The formal practice of religion today may be less obvious but by being good people who act towards others with generosity and compassion, our love for God must be expressed.

We are also attempting to engage parents more directly in the education of their sons at De La Salle by such initiatives as the recent series of barbecues at Jan Juc for parents of the Year 7 boys on camp. The response has been very positive. (See article page 20).

I believe the increasing significance of the role the school must take on as a faith community, highlights the urgent need for an iconic chapel which will serve as a symbol of the values of the College, which will be conducive to quality liturgical celebration and which will draw Old Collegians back into contact for important events such as their weddings. The College is at a watershed moment. We need to adapt to changing circumstances in the Catholic community while preserving our precious heritage.

A key step on our path forward will be to undertake a major fund-raising appeal to provide new facilities.

We need to:

l build a Chapel of Saint John Baptist de La Salle on the corner of High St and Dalny St which will make a powerful identity statement by this school community to mark the centenary of the College in 2012.

l provide flexible lecture theatre/drama spaces on both campuses

l continue to develop our Information and communication Technology facilities

l develop an underground car park to help ease the parking problems on the Tiverton Campus.

My intention is to conduct this fund-raising appeal myself so that all money raised will go to the projects and none into the pockets of professional fund-raisers. I have done this successfully before but will need many volunteer helpers. It is not that I am looking for work. I simply believe we need to get full value out of money raised as we try to provide the best for present and future generations of students. The Appeal will

be officially launched on 30th August. Before that two other significant meetings will occur.

On the 2nd August, the first meeting will be held of a working party to establish an Incorporated Board which will guide the strategic directions of the College in the years ahead. The De La Salle Brothers, as proprietors of the College, are taking this practical step, in each of the Colleges we own in Australia, of extending governance to Boards comprised largely by Brothers, parents and former students.

As a prelude to these events and in an effort to tap most effectively into the College network and further strengthen our College community, we are planning to re-establish an active Old Collegians Association on 22nd May. I would urge all Old Collegians to consider coming along in support, even if you do not wish to be a member of the Executive.

We need to move forward energetically. We cannot just be carried by the tide of modern society. We must shape this moment for present and future generations. The challenge is to work together to define the future of De La Salle College.

Br Bill

“A key step on our path forward will be to undertake a major fund-raising appeal to provide new facilities.”

INDIA

What happens when 12 young men, with no special building skills, spend a month in a small rural village in India? They build homes for 12 families.

That was the challenge of Coolies Month, an end of year excursion with a twist for Year 12 De La Salle students graduating in 2006. Br Denis Loft, from De La Salle College Malvern, the brains behind Coolies Month, developed the program in lieu of the usual round of “Schoolies” parties. Here Br Denis recounts the adventures of the “Coolies”.

The 12 had just completed their final year of schooling at De La Salle College Malvern, and had agreed to act as “coolies”, unskilled labourers, to help in an aid project to build houses for the disadvantaged Indian families. The 12 houses were to be built at G Kallupatti, a village of about 9000 people in rural Tamil Nadu, in India’s south. While their mates headed off for “Schoolies Week” at the Gold Coast, these young men were heading for India.

Prior to departing, the group had to raise enough money to pay for all the materials for the houses. They were also warned that they would be expected to live in a village, eat the local food, with no access to many of the luxuries to which they had become ac customed. They were to work with “Reaching The Unreached” (RTU), a project established

and run by Br James Kimpton, an 82 year old English Brother, committed to looking after abandoned children in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu, India.

After travelling from Melbourne via Bangkok and Chennai to G Kallupatti, the boys were given an overview of the RTU project. RTU has four children’s villages, each with 20 families with a home for a mother and seven or eight children. In addition, they run schools for 2000 students, hostels for those too old for the villages, and various employment projects, which produce hollow blocks, roof tiles, and doors, weaving, batik designs, sewing and cooking. RTU also sponsors over 100 village based women’s groups with micro credit schemes, and provides support finance for families that have a very low income in order to encourage them to keep their children at school. Their com munity development programmes drill water bores, and build schools and homes. This was where we were to work.

Left: Jack Morwood, Mitch Smith (2006) and Michael Herkess (2004) with school children.

Above: A load of building materials arrive at the village

Below: Cheesy grins were the norm in the Children’s Villages

First day we met the 12 families that had been selected by RTU. They were all young local families with low incomes. They already owned their own land but lived in very primitive shelters and had little pros pects of improving their lot by themselves.

One was a single mother with two boys. Three others had one of the parents physically disabled.

At first the work was difficult, adapting to the temperature, the food and the lack of Eng lish.

We would begin work at 8.30 and finish at 4.30 everyday except Sunday. Our task was to work with the owners and other coolies, under instruction from the supervisors and masons. Digging foundations, carrying hollow blocks, sand, cement, and rocks, were the main tasks at first. As we became better acquainted with the masons, and our skills improved, we were allowed to lay blocks and do more of the plastering. The houses were constructed of hollow blocks, cement tiles and steel roof struts — no wood, even the windows and doors were concrete. Blocks, tiles, windows and doors were all made at RTU.

It didn’t take long for us to get used to plod ding off to work through the village. We formed close relationships with many of the children, both in the Children’s Villages, and at the house sites. Without exception they were friendly, happy and welcoming. We also had ample opportunity to get to know the boys and Brothers from Boys Village, one of the places looking after the older boys from RTU.

By Christmas we had completed 12 houses and had another two ready for the roof. Each house had a small opening ceremony to which we were invited as special guests. Houses were named after each of the boys or the various groups that had helped us raise funds for them.

Christmas was a great celebration, particu larly when we had found a supply of large

“We would begin work at

and finish at

everyday except Sunday”

G Kallupatti

Above left: William Carey and Jack Morwood with a little helper moving bricks and tiles.

FAr left: Br Denis with Ajit, Lakshmi and Surya. left: Mitch Smith buiding a wall.

Above right: An original family home. right: Br James Kimpton, RTU founder.

FAr right: Michael Herkess, Mitch Smith, Gerard Nolan and friend bAck row: Michael Herkess, Mitch Smith, Br Denis, Callum Vass, Alex Phillipos, Jack Morwood

Middle row: Chris Shaw, Tim Arbon front row: Paul Ryan, Chris Howard, Charles Cattermole, Gerard Nolan and Will Carey.

fireworks on a visit to nearby Tuticorin. All the RTU villages gathered at G Kalliputti for a four day camp. We joined them and managed our own celebration with gifts, a makeshift Christmas palm tree, and a few mes sages from home. The food unfortunately was not the usual Christmas standard!

After Christmas we travelled to Kerala and Karnataka where we managed to have a glimpse of the cultural, spiritual, and geographical spectrum that India offers. A final stopover at Bangkok, staying at La Salle College gave the boys a further insight into some of the works and the hospitality of the Brothers in Asia.

Coolies was an experience to be remembered — and plans are already underway for “Coolies” 2007.

Balgo Life

Balgo

De La Salle Malvern has long been involved in the Lasallian Vocations and Youth Ministry programs, including the Balgo Lasallian Summer Program and the ‘Share the Mission’ program.

Old Collegian Ryan Scanlon, class of 2006, is currently working as part of ‘Share the Mission’ in Balgo.

Located in the Kimberly Region of Western Australia, Wirrimanu or Balgo Hills is the most remote mission of the De La Salle Brothers in Australia. Balgo offers an experience of a poor, remote indigenous community of the Kukatja people. The Brothers run the local school, which is vital to the entire community. Students suffer from many social problems, including high absentee rates from school as well as poor hygiene and nutrition.

“Sharing the Lasallian Mission in Balgo Hills”

Lasallian Volunteers working as part of ‘Share the Mission’, traditionally are recent graduates from Lasallian schools with a passion for helping others. They usually live in pairs for nine months of volunteer service, living and working with the De La Salle Brothers (late February till mid November). De La Salle Malvern has produced volunteers for ‘Share the Mission’ as well as hosted a Lasallian Volunteer in 2005.

Ryan Scanlon is part of the Balgo community, working as a teacher’s aide at Luurnpa Catholic School and helping around Balgo. He is well suited to Balgo Hills, as he loves the outdoors and has a strong interest in all things Lasallian.

‘Share the Mission’ provides Lasallian Volunteers with unique opportunities, which allow volunteers to participate in exciting and critical ministries in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, develop their individual values, spirituality and direction in life, experience living in a Lasallian community and deepen their experience of being Lasallian.

The annual Balgo Lasallian Summer Program gives young people the opportunity to visit Balgo Hills and work as part of the community for two weeks. Volunteers share their experience with

the local young people in the community, providing them with recreation activities and stimulation during the summer holidays. Staff members, Mary Finn and Peter Riordan, are soon to visit Balgo Hills as a first step in developing a cultural exchange programme for Balgo and De La Salle Year 10 students which we hope will lead to the participation of Balgo students in the annual De La Salle Rock Eisteddfod production.

The popularity of the Balgo Lasallian Summer Program has been so strong in recent years that in the summer of 07/08 three Summer Programs will be run in Balgo Hills. Participants cover their travel costs and other small project fees. Applications for this exciting program close on Friday June 15. For more information visit www.lasallianyouthmistry.org or speak to Tom McIlroy on 95082100.

de la salle

goes MAD

It is early February and students have been back at school for a week or so. A group of about 10 enthusiastic staff are to have their first MAD (Mission Action Day) meeting for the year. Ideas are put forward for new and different ways to promote the day in order to achieve the maximum possible amount of money to be raised for charities. Thoughts include: to display posters and photos of the previous year’s event throughout the College, colouring competition for Primary and Year students with the MAD theme, photos on the Intranet home page, a musical band performing, scrolling images on TV screen and guest speakers to speak to the students to give them a clearer picture as to the importance and significance of raising money for those so much in need.

De La Salle College, along with other Lasallian schools, has a long tradition of generous support of the Missions. MAD is the College’s major student fundraising project for the year and now has over a twenty year tradition associated with it. It is one of the few times throughout the school year that the whole school community works together to achieve a common goal.

Last year over $60,000 was raised and, over the last five years,in excess of $260,000. Some year levels have raised in excess of $12,000 within one year, with the not uncommon total of $2,000 being reached in some classes.

There have been some extraordinary student totals attained — last year one student raised $433 and, in 2005, a student managed an incredible total of $744. The College has been able to send a significant donation to the LaSallian Foundation, the Sacred Heart Mission, as well as contributing to various Aboriginal and African projects and other charitable organisations. The target for the entire College community to raise somewhere in the vicinity of $60,000 this year was exceeded by $7,000.

MAD is a walk of approximately 12 kilometres on the last day of the school term, or on Holy Thursday, whichever is the more appropriate day. The walk commences near Kooyong tennis courts, winds its way through to T.H.King Oval in Glen Iris and returns to Kooyong. Over 50 staff are scattered along the path to greet and guide the students. Most students complete the course inside 2 hours. Over 1300 students from Years 4 to 12 (aged 8 to 18) and 140 staff are involved.

The atmosphere on the day is relaxed and low key, and the interaction between the staff and students is most positive. It has been a wonderful way for everybody to complete the first term and commence their first term holidays.

MAD gives us all the opportunity to think of the needs of others and to then, as a community, do something practical to help that situation.

Mr Ian Oliver

Giving More than Money

total

This year a record number of boys gave blood with the Performing Arts Centre becoming a mobile blood bank as part of the annual Red Cross Blood Bank appeal at De La Salle College.

Mr Kevin Hunter, the organiser of the day, was delighted with the response from the College community.

Manila Exchange

For the past ten years De La Salle College

Malvern has run a cultural exchange with its sister school Green Hills, in Manila, in the Philippines.

Last year a group of 26 boys from Malvern visited the Philippines as part of the exchange and, as Roll Call goes to print, we are expecting a group from Green Hills at De La Salle, Malvern.

The exchange gives students the opportunity to experience a culture vastly different from their own.

In Manila, De La boys were involved in a variety of social programs, including a day of manual labour at the Conception Village, where they mixed concrete and carted it in buckets to build a staircase for a poor family whose house in the village needed to be rebuilt. The boys commented on the happiness of the families, even though they had relatively little in the way of material things.

The boys also spent a day at the East Avenue Medical Centre where they entertained a group of children who were suffering from cancer. They played games, talked, read books and danced with the kids. For a short while, at least, the children forgot about their afflictions and enjoyed the company of their new Australian friends.

Other activities included a day with former street children. The bonding that took place was extraordinary. The street children spoke very little English and our boys spoke only a few words of Filipino, but they were able to express themselves by way of drawing posters that expressed a real understanding of belonging to the same Lasallian family.

Mr Murray Enniss

“Whenever you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matt 25:40).

Jesus’ words are put into action in many different ways every day at De La Salle. One of the more visible ways that we see his words is through the Social Justice Mass, which is celebrated every year in August. The Mass brings the whole school community together and students are encouraged to bring food items which as part of the Mass are donated to those in need.

Over the years, the response has been tremendous, with tens of thousands of items donated to the Sacred Heart Mission and the Malvern Emergency Food Bank. The boys and their families are very generous. Every year boys donate dried foods and household items. The food items collected on the Kinnoull campus go to the Food Bank, while those from the Tiverton campus go to the Mission.

our

The success of the program has been largely due to the hard work of David Hale and his volunteers on Tiverton campus and Graeme Lawler and the St Vincent de Paul group on the Kinnoull Campus. (see article on page 11)

During the Mass members of the St Vincent de Paul group report to the school community on where the donations from the previous year have gone.

This year, as a part of the special thrust for social justice at De La Salle, the efforts of each of the year levels will be highlighted as part of the Mass. The Social Justice Mass and the collection are a good opportunity to remember what Jesus said and put it into practice.

Remember to donate your dried and canned foods later in the year. You can really make a difference.

Mr Patrick Jurd Faith Development Coordinator

Father Terry Kean at the annual Social Justice Mass at Tiverton

Mission

A committed group of boys and staff known as the St Vinnies Group has been part of De La Salle’s social justice work for the last 15 years. The group made up of senior students and committed staff work together for a 12 month period on a range of community based programs.

During their 12-month tenure, students in the group are involved in fundraising, consciousness raising and collection of food items for St Vinnies as well as other charities such as the Lasallian Foundation, Malvern Emergency Food Collection, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Cystic Fibrosis, Starlight, Caritas, Challenge, (Kids with cancer), Salvation Army, Cystic Fibrosis and Tsunami Relief Funds.

One of the more hands-on roles for the Group has been its assistance with Collingwood Soup Van helping to feed Melbourne’s homeless. For the last 8 years a group of students, friends and family have been volunteering on Sunday nights at the Soup Van from 5.30pm to 9.30pm. Mr Graeme Lawler, a staff member involved in the Group, said the De La presence has been appreciated with approximately 30 members and other students attending one or more times through last year. He said the Soup Van has made a real impact on student’s lives. “For most volunteers, the Collingwood Soup Van has been a real eye-opener into the lives of those living in the Collingwood area and the High Rise accommodation. It gave each one a chance to make a difference.”

Every year, students raise money for the community programs from casual clothes days, staff-student basketball matches, sale of soft drink cans, raffles and the sale of confectionery. The De La students involved in the Group attend the annual St Vincent de Paul student conference. “Lectures and workshops at the annual conference give us a keen insight into the work done by a full-time volunteer as well as many ideas in helping to fight poverty in our community and around the world,” Mr Lawler said.

As well as promoting greater involvement in Mission Action Day, the St Vincent de Paul group prepare posters for the Malvern Emergency Food appeal and speak at assemblies in support of this local appeal to which Kinnoull campus has been a contributing school over the past decade. Approximately 1500 items as well as several hundred dollars in cash are donated each year. Members help collect and organise the transport and distribution to needy couples and young people with disabilities in Malvern and adjacent suburbs.

Mr Graeme Lawler

Promoting Social Justice

This year the College is increasing its focus on social justice within the school and the broader community. This has been bolstered with my appointment as Social Services Coordinator. Mr Komiazyk explained the College approach: “The social justice program aims to give boys an opportunity to interact with the disadvantaged and develop their understanding of service as the movement from charity to justice. We intend to provide opportunities for participation in service in both local and global communities.

We have adopted an image of a footprint as a symbol to remind us that we should let our feet do the talking with a message of “Walk in someone else’s shoes” to remind us that we need to understand the other person’s perspective.

The year ahead will focus on the common values we hold as Christians and reflect on what difference we can make to the world we live in. We aim to promote an understanding and commitment to the issues of justice, equality and human dignity and to assist in active involvement in the service of others. Year 12 student of 2004, Daniel Rana, spent a month last Christmas vacation assisting another old Collegian, Brother Bede French (class of 1962), at Rebiamul

Youth Centre in Mt Hagen, PNG. De La Salle is planning to send its first working party of Year 11 students to Bereina, PNG in September of this year. During the first term holidays Br Denis and I were in Papua New Guinea investigating ways in which De La Salle can set up a Year 11 student exchange.

Mr Richard Komiazyk Social Justice Coordinator

Year 9 Lasallian Service Program

In Year 9 each boy has a unique opportunity to share the gift of giving with people in need in the broader community. The Year 9 Lasallian Service Program places boys with a variety of volunteer organizations including aged care, opportunity shops and welfare agencies all over Melbourne. Boys spend a week working in a range of roles including taking elderly people for walks, sorting donations at St Vinnies, serving lunches at the Sacred Heart Mission, unpacking groceries or just being a friend to someone who is lonely. In the adolescent years, it is shown that students can be predominantly self-focussed so the aim of this program is to take students beyond their own needs and concerns to experience an appreciation of their life as it relates to others around them. The Lasallian Service program has proven to be very effective with boys of this age group as it enhances their learning and promotes their overall personal development.

The Program is really about putting Christian values into action. Walking the walk. We thank Mrs Ruth Hunter for her energetic program coordination.

Mr Simon Hewitson Year 9 Coordinator

Please contact Br Bill on bfirman@delasalle.melb.catholic.edu.au or call 95082100

Are you grateful for what De La Salle has given you?

Will you give something back to help future generations of boys in Blue & Gold blazers?

Write to, ring, or email, College Principal, Br Bill, if you are willing to help launch the Centenary Appeal.

Camp La Salle

Earlier this year, a group of students from De La Salle travelled to Kincumber in NSW for the annual Camp La Salle. Students have been involved with the popular Camp La Salle program over the last five years and this year’s camp was as popular as ever. Campers from Victoria and Queensland met at the camp at Kincumber in New South Wales for a fun-filled 6-day program of adventure and Lasallian community.

Camp La Salle is an activity based holiday camp and recreational experience in a uniquely Lasallian environment for students aged between 12-15 years, some of whom may not have

Every trip, students have exciting adventures and make new friends while developing skills in a activities such as beach games, water activities, scavenger hunts and indoor creative challenges. Once again in 2007 Camp La Salle was blessed with beautiful New South Wales weather — with sunshine every day. Campers enjoyed canoeing on the Brisbane waters and testing out the new Kincumber obstacle course. Despite the long drive, all participants were disappointed the Camp La Salle adventure was over for another summer. Thoughts of Camp La Salle turn quickly to our Victorian programs during the year, and to the Leaders coming together at the Lasallian Youth Gathering in Melbourne in July.

Mr Tom McIlroy

The Jan Juc Family Experience

Every family needs time together. This year, Jan Juc welcomed the families of Year 7 boys to the Orientation Camps. This casual and convivial environment created the family environment typical of the Lasallian experience. Thanks to all the mums and dads who made it so special.

De La Salle College and

Sacré Coeur “The Wiz”

National Theatre, St Kilda 16–18 August

It’s a long way from a Kansas farmyard to an inner urban Melbourne backyard. But when Dorothy and her friends Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow, hit the boards at the National Theatre in St Kilda later this year, for a spellbinding performance season of The Wiz, you’ll believe anything is possible. This year’s co-production of The Wiz between De La Salle and Sacré Coeur promises to blow this revamped version of the muchloved story off its foundations.

Rehearsals are well underway with more than 100 students participating in this all singing and dancing extravaganza. The Wiz Artistic Director, Bryan Smith, isn’t giving too much away about this year’s production, except to say that it will be big and will be timely, and there will be a Hills Hoist involved.

“This is a much bigger production than last year’s co-production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

The National Theatre is a big theatre which will give the students a wonderful opportunity to perform before some large audiences,” Mr Smith said.

“Our interpretation of this classic tale of adventure, hope, trust and friendship will have a very Melbourne, very funky feel to it.”

The behind the scenes rehearsals for this fantastical journey are all ready under way.

Performances of The Wiz

7.30 pm, 16th August

7.30 pm, 17th August

2.00 pm, 18th August

7.30 pm, 18th August

Tickets on sale end of Term 2 Book Early!

10 Year Reunion

More than 70 Old Collegians from the De La Salle Class of 1996 gathered upstairs at the Malvern Vale Hotel recently for their 10-year reunion.

Principal Br Bill Firman was our generous host and he was joined by some current staff members who have been with the school since we were there.

Br Garry Coyte, who was Principal in 1996, also flew down from Sydney for the night and we were all very grateful that he made such an effort to see us.

The really enjoyable part of the night was the fact that everyone who attended was ‘rapt’ to see everyone else. The room was full and noisy and it was great to watch everyone catch up over a beer, just like we’d done ten years before at the end of Year 12. The night only ended when the pub kicked us out.

Most of the characters in the room hadn’t changed but everyone had something interesting to say about the ten years that have gone by: Some were married and expecting babies, some had worked overseas, some had survived car accidents and one had to watch what he drank because he was due to report in for army reserve training the following morning. A minute’s silence was also observed for Anthony Molan and Bryan Johnston, who had passed away since finishing school and were missed by all of us.

On behalf of everyone who attended, I’d like to thank to Mrs Trish Woodman for sending out invitations and organising the event.

1996 College Captain

DLS Old Collegians’ Meeting

Tuesday 22nd May at 7:30pm in the Performing Arts Centre Tiverton Campus

A special meeting to relaunch the Association Please give your support to help shape the future

Ken Solarino, Shane Monte Silva, Chris Buick, Shane Hyland, and Ramon Silva

Mr Peter Forehan, Mrs Maria Giacomantonio, Julian Lund and Br Gary Coyte

Joel Masterson

Nuri Tocci, John Paul Miotello, Anthony De Fazio, David Odorisio

Incredible Academic Achievement

In December 2006, 12 students only, from all of Australia, were invited to Canberra to train for the International Olympiad of Informatics. De La Salle and a Sydney school were the only schools with two representatives — Angus McInnes from Year 12 and Jack Murray from Year 11, 2007.

Based on those trials, and selection exams in April 2007, the final team of four to represent Australia in Paris, France, and then in Zagreb, Croatia, in August has now been selected. In an extraordinary achievement, both Jack and Angus were selected. The other two team members come from Carey and from Western Australia.

A Sydney boy, who won a Silver medal at last year’s event, has been relegated to reserve for this year. Jack was in last year’s team to Mexico while Angus was a reserve. It is very competitive. Congratulations Jack and Angus.

Old Collegians’ Reunions

College reunions are a great way to connect with old College friends, reminisce, and renew old friendships.

5 Year on Friday 25 May 10 Year on Friday 1 June

20 Year for exit Year 12s of 1986/7 on Friday 22nd June 30 Year for exit Year 12s of 1976/7 on Friday 27th July

First Year for Year 12 of 2006 on Friday 3rd August 40 Year for exit years 12s of 1966/7 on Friday 10th August

Mothers of former students Thursday 16th August 50 Years plus on Wednesday 22nd August

All reunions are at the Malvern Vale Club Hotel, 1321 Malvern Road, Malvern at 7.30pm. Finger food will be provided and drinks are at bar prices.

Rest In Peace

Kevin Green Class of 1945

Neville Quayle Class of 1946 Geoffrey Splatt Class of 1947 Terry Sabine Class of 1948

Judge John Hanlon Class of 1955 Rowan Creedon Class of 2003 Anthony Crowe Class of 2004

Ivan Echave Class of 2004

The Lasallian Footprint