Alumni Profiles

C Where urtis Reck (College Captain, are Orion 2018) they now?

When opportunities come, you should take them. This principle led Curtis Reck (FCAC Captain 2018) to do an internship with the Wallabies. The internship “came across the desk of my Uni Prac coordinator,” who recommend it to Curtis. Curtis was working with the athletes within a short while, doing data collection to improve on-field performance and learning a lot from being inside the Wallabies camp.

Curtis said that from his time as College Captain to his work with the Wallabies now, it was the ability to communicate that is a crucial skill. “The biggest skill I have learned is to communicate. Working with the Wallabies, [the work] can be very fast”. Curtis also identified the need to be adaptable to take things on and ensure you are doing a good job.

Since graduating from FCAC in 2018, Curtis has been studying at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. He is due to graduate soon with a Bachelor of High Performance, focusing on sports science and strength and conditioning. Curtis recently visited FCAC to celebrate the College’s 25th Anniversary and caught up with Mr David Brown (FCAC Rugby Coordinator). When asked for his advice for current students, he said, “go and put yourself out there to show you have a good work ethic, and opportunities will come”.

You don’t need to have everything figured out. That is the advice Children’s Author and Teacher Elizabeth (Libby) Pulsford (Andromeda, 05) recommends to current students. “I was intent on being an actress”. Following a degree at the University of Southern Queensland and some time auditioning while living in Sydney, Libby worked for an English-speaking Theatre company in Italy. On that trip, Libby discovered a love for teaching, at that point, English as a second language. Upon returning to Australia, Libby completed her teaching degree and currently works as a secondary Drama and English teacher.

Libby is also about to become a published author. Her first book, “but why,” is due to be published in 2022. Her book came about when she entered a competition to write a story inspired by some artwork. Libby took a moment to consider what lesson(s) would she like to teach her daughter. “Always being curious, always asking questions…it is a skill we need to teach younger generations”. It was this foundation that inspired her book.

Reminiscing on her time at FCAC, Libby said she had a remarkable high school experience which included fond memories of musicals like Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in her senior year and Year 11 leadership camp. When asked what advice she would give current students, she said, “Lean into what you enjoy, and you will be quite surprised about the opportunities that come your way”.

To hear the whole interview with Curits, scan the QR code.

Elizabeth (Libby) Pulsford (Andromeda, 2005)

To hear the whole interview with Libby scan the QR code.

Todd Boniface (Capella, 2014)

Todd Boniface offers a unique perspective of FCAC. Todd, who is visually impaired, required support during his School years. "The support I received really showed me that the teachers wanted the best for me". Todd now works at Telstra as a NBS Escalations Manager. In his video Todd talks about what he loved about his school days, what he has studied and the difference FCAC made on his life. Scan the QR Code to hear more about Todd's journey.

By Father Jeff Jarvis, College Chaplain

There was a time, many years ago, when I would arrive at FCAC, park my bicycle, put one hand on the metal railing of the fence, then effortlessly leap over, briefcase in hand! I was then a young half centenarian.

Following my return from 10 years in the Australian Defence Force I discovered that “three quarter centenarians” might have the desire and intent of a healthy quarter back but that things had changed! Change can be both an obstacle and an incentive to growth and learning as we face new challenges.

I have been fortunate in living a life full of challenges some, appearing almost impossible to negotiate, have brought a richness sometimes only acknowledge through hindsight.

The fence I once could leap has gone. Now a sparkling white picket fence stands majestically in its place. The flora and fauna remain a constant whilst the classrooms reflect societal advances. No more banging of clogged blackboard dusters on stone walls or desks uniformly facing the blackboard but the silent yet productive interaction of technology.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau said of the inventor of the fence, “The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said ‘This is mine,’ and found people naïve enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society.”

Today’s children and adults face complex challenges. Whereas chalk was a reasonably safe mode of communication the internet has changed the way in which society communicates. Truth and criminality and trust are forever being questioned. That which was once secure is no longer. We can no longer say, “This is mine!”

To many a fence is the symbol of sanctity and security and just like the “Garden of Eden” a place given by God for us to enjoy under his protection. The Anglican way is seen as taking the “Via Media” (Middle Path). For us fences are there not just as a symbol of protection but as a symbol of the challenges of life and growth that are within and beyond.

Fences Challenge Adventurous Children. Our fence reflects our College. The posts, our college staff, parents, grandparents and other supporters. Each individual picket a student shining bright and strong. The rails are there to give strength and stability holding all together. All firmly grounded in the concrete of faith in God.