College Headmaster’s Report

This year was marked by the celebration of the century of the Brothers arrival in Australia — one hundred years of delivering Catholic education. The focus of the work of influential, behaviourist psychologist, BF Skinner, has never really appealed to me but these words of his on education do. He said: “Education is what survives when what has been learnt has been forgotten.” Most of us do not explicitly remember much of what we were taught at school, but we do know we grew in knowledge. What survives from my education as a boy at De La Salle, however, more than knowledge acquired, much of which is long forgotten, are the values and attitudes I learned from my parents, my teachers and my peers, values that are the beginning of wisdom as one seeks out the fundamental basis of a good life: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength and your neighbour as yourself.” A quality education teaches one to think and to make good decisions. It is not simply a matter of Skinner’s behavioural conditioning, although parts of schooling may become so. Perhaps this is why Mark Twain would remark, somewhat cynically: “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” The poet, Robert Frost, stated insightfully: “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence.” This is a key part of a good education — and also of maturation — developing confidence in who you are and in what you value, as well as a growing ability to respect the opinions of others without angst. While it is important to ensure that students at De La Salle are given quality access to technology and the modern tools of learning, it is worth reflecting on that simple gospel passage which describes Jesus growing up: “Jesus grew in wisdom and age and grace with God and men”. This picture of the growing child, Jesus, sits well with one of the descriptions of education which most appeals to me. It was that of the Nobel award-winning poet, W.B.Yeats, who said: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” More than filling boys with knowledge, we are trying to light fires of self belief, fires of compassion for others, fires that lift us out of selfishness and possessiveness, and give us the burning hearts described by the disciples as Jesus walked with them to Emmaus: “See how our hearts were burning within us as he walked with us on our way”. In Shakespeare’s play, the tragic figure of Macbeth says: “Out, out, brief candle. Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets across the stage for one brief moment and then is heard no more.” Born some 302 years after Shakespeare in 1856, George Bernard Shaw would write: “Life is no brief candle to me. It is a splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations”. It is the torch, the spirit engendered, the ethos, the tradition, of a school which make the most impact on the students. I believe the Year 12 of 2006 have indeed made the torch burn more brightly before handing it on to the next class. I congratulate Jacob Gotch and the leaders of 2006 for their wonderful year “at the top” and for the extra sparks they have given to our splendid torch. In the tragic death in July of Year 8 student, Daniel Lagastes, the torch burned brightly in powerful support of his grieving family and friends. More importantly, Daniel left behind some stirring evidence of the torch that burned within him in his short life. His personal motto for this year, “No regrets” became a rallying point for others gifted with a longer hold on the splendid torch of life. A new flame is burning with some of our Year 12 students now preparing to go to India with Brother Denis on the “Coolies” initiative to build homes for people who don’t have the opportunities we possess. There is no more important lesson to learn than that of becoming unselfish and willing to use one’s talents to help others. It is noteworthy that next year three young, Indian, De La Salle Brothers are going to Bereina in PNG where they will join Brothers Bede and Robert from our Province in working with the people of PNG.

The unassuming contribution made by Graeme Lawler and students in the St Vincent De Paul group and the regular assistance to the Sacred Heart Mission are other signs of our burning torch. Reports back from the Year 9 Social Justice week were also very positive. Mission Action Day was again outstandingly successful. These are some of the unselfish activities of the boys. We have a great College; but we must always be seeking to make the torch burn more brightly. A flickering flame is never good enough. The growing quality of the work produced by our music, art and drama departments displayed at various times during the year, deserves very high commendation. The students in the Rock Eisteddfod, led very creatively by Mrs Mary Finn, had their most successful year ever, basing the production on the religious theme of “heart and soul”. Our Director of Sport, Jon Edgar, Physical Education Coordinator, Peter Crellin, and Outdoor Education Coordinator, David Atkins, have organised or conducted programmes and activities that enrich the lives of the students at De La Salle. This Blue and Gold depicts many of the aspects of that “splendid torch” which burns at De La Salle. Most importantly I thank the staff who are focussed daily on the delivery of the curriculum at a time when the demands of implementing the new Victorian Education Learning Standards and the Federal Government Reporting standards are quite onerous. I express gratitude to our Director of Studies, Jo Prestia, and the Key Learning Area Coordinators, for their zealous contributions. I especially wish to acknowledge the very generous leadership and sensitivity to each person of the Deputy Principal, Peter Riordan, in all manner of situations. Thank you to Br Adrian and Mr Henry Corcoran for their quality leadership of the Kinnoull campus, and to the Year Level Coordinators for their

The Class of ’05

care of the boys. Thank you to Mrs Liz Kortum and the Parents’ association for very generous support at functions and activities. There are many other people who deserve thanks — our Finance Committee and new Business Manager Stephen O’Shea, administration staff, maintenance staff, staff with all manner of special responsibilities, each adding their flame to the burning torch. I conclude with a wonderful passage about religious education which Back Row: Andrej Vodstrcil, Charles McCart, Michael Robinson, James Weston, Chris Squire, Nigel Pereira applies, in fact, to all edu cation for life written, by Row 3: David McKenna, Stephen Badrock, Charles Noonan, David Bentley, George Farah, Ben Shipperd Row 2: James Duggan Chris Macdonald, Ben Dax, Simon Hunt, Daniel Rowse, Joshua Attard-Dixon, Tim McKenna William Channing: Front: Br Bill, Matthew Corallo, Kyle O’Brien, Joshua Alfred, Nathan Burns, Chris Stubenrauch, Lachlan Bull, The great end in religious Luke O’Connell, Sam Tyrer Absent: William Adianto, Martin Ho, Elvin Tjoe instruction, is not to stamp our minds upon the young, but to stir up their own; Sam Tyrer (Dux of the not to make them see with our eyes, but to look College — inquiringly and steadily with their own; not to give 2005) with the them a definite amount of knowledge, but to inspire Treasurer, Mr. a fervent love of truth; not to form an outward regu- Peter Costello, larity, but to touch inward springs; not to bind them M.H.R., who by ineradicable prejudices to our particular sect or was our guest peculiar notions, but to prepare them for impartial, of honour, conscientious judging of whatever subjects may be offered to their decision; not to burden memory, but and Mr. Peter Riordan (Deputy to quicken and strengthen the power of thought.” Principal). That is what we are trying to achieve. It is a lofty On 27th April goal, a splendid torch which we are trying to make Sam received a Premier’s Award for his perfect score in Political burn more brightly. Studies, placing him in the top five students in this State. Br Bill Congratulations to Sam and his teachers.