College Alumni

Our new College Principal, Br Bill Firman, attended all the reunions and functions on the Alumni Calendar in his first year back at De La Salle College. The events included the five years, ten years, twenty years, thirty years, forty years, forty five years and fifty years reunions; the ‘Year 12 Revisited’ get-together for the newest Old Collegians from 2004; the annual MOFS (Mothers of Former Students) gathering at the ‘Gables’ in Malvern East; the Morning Tea for the Pre-1960 Old Colls and the annual “Combined De La Salle Colleges’ Mass and Dinner” in Canberra. At one of these reunions, an Old Collegian asked him, “Do the current boys still feel as strongly about their school as we did?” He replied that it was impossible to generalise but that he thought so. He gave the example of when three of the present Year 12 students were in his office and the topic came up about their friends in other privileged schools. One of them said: “Our mates think they attend good schools but how come they are not passionate about their schools the way we are about De La Salle?” Br Bill went on to say that he believed the present boys share that same loyalty and commitment to De La Salle shown by former students who had attended the series of reunions, in such good numbers. In his words: “As an Old Collegian myself, and former teacher at De La Salle, it has been a privilege to meet so many men who are proud of the education they received here. The Lasallian fundamentals of that education continue today - mutual respect based on a faith conviction that all people are precious to God, that all other people are our ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’. Some may be younger, or in less advantaged circumstances, but they are just as important as we are before God.” During the year we were fortunate to have three former College Principals attend our reunions along with present and past teaching Brothers and College staff. Br Stanislaus Carmody was present at the forty-five and fifty years reunions and Br Garry Coyte attended the ten years reunion. Br Tim Peter was welcomed back on several occasions, being present at the five years reunion, the ‘Year 12 Revisited’ reunion and as a special guest at the Graduation Mass where he presented each of the graduating students with a book of daily reflections and prayers. 2006 marks the centenary of the presence of the De La Salle Brothers in Australia and to commemorate this great milestone with them, there will be several celebrations in both Sydney and Melbourne. Every Old Collegian, present students and their families as well as past and present staff members of our College will receive invitations to these functions at the beginning of the new year. Please mark these dates in your calendar for 2006: 11 May 2006 Centenary Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral 1 July 2006 Centenary Gala Dinner at Crown Towers

Mrs Genie Scott