Deputy Principal

gifting our community with a generosity of spirit and a deep commitment to those they serve. They willingly move beyond their comfort zones to embrace ways of knowing and understanding, to meet the needs of our students, remaining solutions-focused they wade their way through one barrier to another, working collaboratively to resolve problems, ensuring at all times learning and pastoral care of our boys was never compromised. It is said that ‘out of adversity wisdom is born and opportunities presented’ but only if we have the capacity to remain open and hope filled. In embracing this new paradigm in education, a new way of being, of facilitating learning, of ensuring our boys would continue to receive an education reflective of our touchstones, the staff at Iggy Park have been inspirational and I am truly indebted to lead such a dedicated group. This year our College Board was also affected by the pandemic, with most of our meetings occurring by Zoom. In reflecting on the year that has been and what we have collectively achieved, I would like to thank our College Board under the leadership of Peter Duffy. Your diligence and wisdom in the governance of the College is deeply appreciated by us all. Your support and advice have been invaluable and importantly the level of personal support you have afforded me is held with a deep sense of gratitude. In acknowledging the Board, I wish to especially acknowledge the leadership and contribution of Peter Duffy, our Board Chair for the past six years. Peter will step down from the Board at the end of the year and I would like to publicly acknowledge his outstanding contribution to our College community. Hope is being open to new possibilities, new relationships and new challenges. It has been a year of full of challenges, but equally of joy and celebration, all of which have been embraced, managed and led by our highly professional College Leadership Team and I wish to thank Brendan Stewart, John Doolan, Allison Elcoate, Marg Hodgson, Johanna Smith and Matthew Holland for their commitment and energy to a shared vision of Ignatius Park that is centered on those we serve.

To Brendan Stewart, who has been appointed as Principal at St. Mary’s College, Toowoomba after 27 years at the College; Allison Elcoate, who has been appointed as Deputy Principal in Brisbane after 5 years’ service to the College and Matthew Holland who moves to Iona College, I thank you for your commitment to the Leadership Team and in bringing to life our shared vision of an inclusive educational community with a learning and pastoral culture that always allows every student to be the best learner they can be. I would also like to acknowledge the following staff who finished this year at Ignatius Park College: Paul Fanning after 14 years as Business Manager, Brendan Logan who was a member of staff for 20 years, Craig Brown who is moving to Nudgee College, and Roger Torrington, Sandra Hughes and Simon Di Giacomo who departed throughout the year. Your gift of service to the College has not gone unnoticed and we miss, and will continue to miss, your presence and service within our community as through your service to our young men and their families you lived the charism and spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice.

This year we lost Marilyn Parsons, our Guidance Counsellor, who over her twenty-five years at the College touched so many hearts and transformed the lives of so many people. As a College we have been gifted by this beautiful woman, a woman whose presence touched all people she met. Her love was endless, and she lived the heart of Christ. She was Edmund Rice in our College community and will always be remembered. At the heart of our community here at Ignatius Park College are our boys. I am grateful for the affirmation, joy and the youthful exuberance they bring to the College each day. These are young