Pelican Alumni Magazine, Semester 1 2022
St Edmund’s College BUILDING FUND The St Edmund’s College Building Fund enables the community to make a direct contribution to the refurbishment, maintenance and development of infrastructure at the College. Like many independent schools, St Edmund’s depends on the support of the entire community - school fees and government grants alone do not support new capital projects, major maintenance and restoration of existing buildings, or the on-going support and enhancement of the College’s scholarship programmes. We would like to provide our students across the College with learning spaces which:
• • • •
Can be adapted to accommodate learning modes and technology Create opportunities for students to learn independently and in groups Support collaborative learning and teaching for students and teachers Provide optimum learning conditions that are aesthetically appropriate
How to Contribute 1. 2. 3. 4.
Visit our College website at https://sec.act.edu.au Find ‘Links’ at the top or bottom of the page. Click on ‘Online Payment’ which should take you to our College Payment Portal. In the ‘Event’ selection menu, click ‘Voluntary Building Fund’
“All gifts support our future, and whether large or small, gifts are greatly appreciated and assist the College’s vision to develop boys into young men of strong character.” 2
Pelican: Semester 1, 2022
Featured in this Edition Joe Zavone 4 Principal’s Report
Andrew McFarlane 6 College Captain’s Address
Nicholas Odgers 7 2021 Dux Address
Troy Gray 9 Class of 1990
Remsy Lemisio and Baden Godfrey 14 Junior Wallabies Squad
Joshua Pako 15 Class of 2011
Jamie Haynes 18 Class of 1992
Steven “Konti” Kontowicz and Marianos Nikolis 20 Lisa Gersbach 22 Current Parent
Michael Moloney 24 Former long-term staff member
Josh Vaughan 27 Class of 1993
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Joe Zavone Principal’s Report
At the time of writing this report we have just commenced Term 2. This term commenced in a very different manner to Term 1. The freeing up of covid restrictions and health orders means that face masks are now optional. Whilst different school sectors responded to the lifting of the health orders in different ways, we made the decision to make face masks optional in light of the frustrations and limitations encountered with teaching and learning by the wearing of face masks in the classroom, and with the confidence we have in continuing our strategies to reduce the risk of transmission at the College. Of course, staff and students were encouraged to continue wearing masks if they chose to do so, particularly if it helped them to feel more protected and if their personal circumstances required the wearing of face masks. We have also now returned
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to being able to organise whole school events, after a term of postponing and cancelling events. The first of these events was our annual ANZAC Day Commemoration Assembly. We were fortunate to hear from guest speakers (and College parents) Lieutenant Colonel Brian Barba and Colonel Laura Sinclair, who shared with us their insights and stories. It was also a privilege to have the Catafalque Party ritual as part of our special ceremony. Our guest speakers, the Catafalque ritual, our student presenters and visiting guests made for a very appropriate and touching ceremony. It was so encouraging to see our boys so well behaved and demonstrating the appropriate demeanour for such an important event. We also took advantage of the lifting of health orders to celebrate Founder’s Day in a big way. Unfortunately our annual Founder’s Day celebrations have been quite limited over the past two years due to covid restrictions. This
Vibrant Spirit. Strong Character. Tailored Learning
year we were back at St Christopher’s Cathedral with the whole school community and invited guests. Founder’s Day not only allows us to gather together and celebrate the life and times of the founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Rice; it also allows us to recognise and acknowledge various members of our community for their work and service. We recognised individuals in two ways. We recognised individuals through the Br Matt McKeown Faith and Service Awards. Many of you will have fond memories of Br Matt. He is a Christian Brother who was an integral part of the St Edmund’s College community for twenty years. He was the spiritual heart and living touchstone of our Edmund Rice tradition. The Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service Awards are named in his honour and are awarded to those staff, students and old boys who have made a significant contribution to St Edmund’s College and the wider community in service to others. The recipients of these awards are detailed elsewhere in The Pelican. Founder’s Day also allows us the opportunity to recognise the significant service of various staff members. We acknowledged those staff members who have served the College for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years and 40 years. The recipients of these awards are detailed elsewhere in The Pelican, but I must make mention of Mr. Carlo Sorrentino’s achievement of serving the St Edmund’s community for the past 40 years. This is an incredible achievement. Carlo lives and breathes the history, spirit and character of Eddies and is a beloved member of staff by current students and old boys. We congratulate Carlo on the past 40 years and thank him for his outstanding service to our community. I would like to congratulate the former Chair of the College Advisory Council, Nichole Overall, for her successful campaign in the Monaro byelection (NSW) a few months ago. Nichole has now joined the NSW Parliament. Nichole served
the College community as a parent, Advisory Council member and Advisory Council Chair and we thank her for the great concern and care she demonstrated for the Eddies community. The end of last year also saw the completion of tenure for two of our long serving Advisory Council members, Christa Gordon and Steve Buckman. I sincerely thank Christa and Steve for their time as Council members and their dedication in always wanting the best for St Edmund’s and its community. The new members of the Advisory Council and the new Council Chair will be covered in the next edition of The Pelican. In mid-Term 1 I underwent my summative review with Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) as my first five-year contract as Principal of St Edmund’s College expires at the end of this year. The review was conducted by the EREA Director of Schools (Eastern Region), a colleague principal from an interstate EREA school and a colleague principal from another local Catholic school. The panel conducted interviews with a selection of students, parents, staff, old boys and key members of the College community. A survey was also conducted leading up to the interviews with all College staff members. I am pleased to say that the review went well and that my contract has been renewed for another five years. This was a significant time of reflection and perception, focusing on what has been achieved for the good of the College and its members, and what needs to be reinforced and strengthened. I look forward to serving the St Edmund’s community for another five years and working with all members of our community in the continued positive growth and development of the College. As always, I am excited to continue working with our students who are at the very core of what we do and here at Eddies. Christus Lux Mea Joe Zavone Principal
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Andrew McFarlane College Captain’s Address Student Leaders Induction Assembly Good morning Mr. Zavone, staff, students and most importantly all our Year 12 leaders of this school. Today is a celebration that recognises the capacity that we possess to lead our College as well as the responsibility that accompanies such stature. Responsibility is encapsulated in leadership and I have the utmost confidence that our Year 12 cohort will uphold and thrive in this leadership. I would like to congratulate all those boys who received an academic award today and for those who received them at the end of last year. This is a grand achievement and is, no doubt, attributed to the aggregate of hard work every student has put into improving their learning experience. We, as a College, pride ourselves on our ability to learn and improve ourselves. Today, we celebrate the example of this commitment that has been upheld in the classroom. The challenge in leadership is finding your own way to lead. There is no correct or incorrect way to lead. You must find your own version of leadership which best represents your own personal qualities so that each of us may lead our house or school with great pride. Leadership is accompanied by various supporting attributes that build a firm foundation for us to thrive in the community. Our greatest successes are often a product of great leadership. However, success is not something that happens overnight. Success is the consequence of persistent resilience, in learning from our failures and progressing to betterment. Failure can be a good thing. Failure is a part of learning. Failure brings resilience to the forefront and allows us to adapt and learn. Good leaders stay resilient. When they fail, they become empowered in the learning experience
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they gain through the tough times. A leader benefits from the networks that they have around them. Leaders cannot work alone. A good leader understands and invests in the value of teamwork. A leader operates by using all the resources available to them. This means using their team. This also means knowing how to get the best out of their team. They need to be able to communicate well with their team. The key to success is holding the progression of the team equally to your own. At this College, the key is to work cohesively and selflessly in devoting yourself to the growth that each of us experience along our individual journeys. We as a leadership team and a Year 12 cohort will practice upholding resilience, excellent teamwork and selflessness to make sure we work in the greatest interest of the College’s legacy. To all the boys who are being celebrated for their leadership today, wear your badge proudly. Being a leader at this fine College is a rare and prestigious accolade that not many get to experience. Similarly, the pride of being a Year 12 student shows great loyalty and dedication to this College and should not be discounted. I encourage you, today, to not take the badge for granted. Yes, leadership is more than a badge, but the badge represents a great opportunity and voice in the College community. We all must accept this opportunity to ensure we leave a positive legacy for the College upon our graduation; that we leave a lasting foundation for the future years of this College. We as leaders and men are the voice of the school and must fuse the qualities of resilience, a positive mindset and teamwork to attain greatness. The roles we have been given are not ours to keep, we are custodian leaders of the school and it is our job to leave St Edmunds College at the end of the year in the best possible place. I would like to extend a final congratulations to all the boys who won academic awards today and to all the leaders who were inducted today. This is a great honour that requires substantial dedication, which I am certain we will uphold as a cohort in 2022.
Nicholas Odgers 2021 Dux Address Leaders Induction & Academic Assembly
Good afternoon staff and senior Eddies Boys. It is a real privilege to be standing here today to be able to share some advice I wish I had known when I sat in your position. I’d like to begin my address today with a question. Does a mark of 60 constitute adequacy, and a mark of 100, perfection? Throughout most of my schooling career, my answer to this question has been ‘yes’. Nothing can beat a mark of 100, but a lot can beat a mark of 60. Our education system had slowly ingrained this notion into my mind, to the point that I became so fixated on the result; on reaching the destination and not the journey. Before long, my achievement was dictated by a letter or a number on a test or assignment, and I did everything I could to maximise it. I reduced my learning to the constraints of the textbook; focusing solely on the topics that were to be examined. I would memorise formulas, quotes, and even full essays – anything I thought would help me do better. Anything to get closer to that 100 - the perfect number; the definition of success. But in chasing perfection, I learnt so much about the power that trying your best has on our learning.
Now, I want all of you to think forward to when you graduate, and the many emotions that come with it. Graduation is about the mountains each of you climbed along the way. It is about the feeling when you thought you had nothing more to give, but found another gear. It is about the times you fell, and the tenacity and perseverance you showed to pick yourself up and keep going. Whether you thrived or merely survived, you kept moving forward and you did it. You finished school. But once you graduate, you no longer have the luxury of coasting through. The day you leave the walls of St Edmund’s College, you are no longer bound by a school curriculum or a daily routine, and no one is telling you what to do or when to do it. You are governed purely by your own choices and judgement. You have entered the real world, where there are no report cards and assessments to keep track of your achievement. Without frequent tests and assignments, how then can we measure if we are successful? Today, I offer a solution, one which saved me from the demands of perfectionism. I
shifted
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mentality.
I
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became determined to get the best out of myself, not for the validation that came with a high score, but for the intrinsic value of doing things well. I deemed ‘trying my best’ a success, to ensure I did not let myself settle for ‘good enough’. But what I learnt is that you cannot do your best if you are worried about doing better. You must invest all your time into the present, and so I turned to the ‘how’. How can I make sure I do the best I possibly can? The answer I found to this troubling question was to use the resources available to me, and I want you all to do the same. Go to your teachers and show them your progress, ask questions (lots of questions), submit a draft. Your teachers are your helping hand, use them. Spend less time setting expectations for yourself and more time doing the things that will maximise your potential. Become process oriented, not outcome oriented and in time, you will find your way. By redefining success as a process of improvement and focusing on the journey and not the destination, I could pursue excellence without the demands of perfectionism or the
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compromises that come with settling for good enough. With this in mind, I challenge all of you to define your own process for success and live up to your own measures with commitment and passion. If you do so, you have succeeded. Success cannot exist without a thought behind it labelling it as one. Success is a choice. Are you holding yourself back? Although my senior years at the College were extremely gratifying, they were hampered by a great deal of stress. I spent far too much time worrying about the future result, that I nearly missed the present. My advice for you all today is to try your absolute best and take comfort in knowing that. If you continue to try in all that you do, you will continue to learn beyond the classroom. If doing so, you are succeeding. Then, make sure you take some time to relax, unwind, and restore your energy before you try again. So, each day I ask that you: get up, dress up, show up, but never give up. You only fail when you don’t try. Edmund’s to the fore.
Vibrant Spirit. Strong Character. Tailored Learning
Troy Gray Class of 1990
I have fond memories of my time at St Edmunds College. In fact, many of my mates from school are still my best friends today, some 32 years since I completed Year 12 in 1990. I’ll always remember my days of jumping on a green Levers Bus each weekday morning and crossing the border from Queanbeyan into Canberra. There was always a fun rivalry between the boys from NSW and the local lads from the ACT. A lot of fun banter was thrown about and the conversations made for plenty of laughs. Recollections of my secondary school years at Eddies focuses predominately on sport. Our school was, and has always been, a leader on this front. During my time as a Year 7 class member, right through to my graduation as a Year 12 student, I loved being part of a sports team and proudly representing our great College. Over the course of six years I played Aussie Rules, cricket and rugby. My first love has always been playing Australia’s indigenous code (my father hailed from Victoria) and from an early age I had dreams of playing in the AFL. However, it didn’t take me long to realise that rugby was the game of choice for the majority of students so I decided to give this new sport a try. I thoroughly enjoyed playing a new code and am proud to reflect on my days representing St Edmund’s in rugby at Year 8, 9 and 10 level before landing a spot in the prestigious First XV. I was lucky enough to play in the same side
as my great mate George Gregan who went on to become a legendary figure in the world Rugby scene. I spoke with George recently and reminded him that it was due to my influence that he mastered the game and developed such terrific skills. Ok, maybe this is not true but it will never stop me from claiming to be the catalyst for George’s remarkable success! Following Year 12 I returned to playing Aussie Rules. In my first year out of school I was fortunate enough to play in a premiership with the Queanbeyan Tigers and be drafted into the AFL by the Sydney Swans. It was quite an exciting (and at times daunting) realisation to be living in Sydney and playing professional football at the tender age of 18. Training and running out on to the SCG alongside many of my sporting heroes was a massive buzz, and
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personally) to philanthropic endeavors both in Australia and abroad. In closing, I’d like to share with you a campaign I recently started called Strike Out Suicide.
something that I will cherish forever. Following five years at the Swans I was traded to the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne. Relocating cities wasn’t initially what I wanted, but professional sport can be cruel at times and I had no other option than to head south. Footy than took me across to Adelaide and I have remained in South Australia since. I look back fondly on my time in the AFL system. I forged many amazing friendships, got to play alongside some of the biggest names in the code (including Tony Lockett) and went to battle against legends of the game like Wayne Carey. It was moments like these – and playing in front of crowds surpassing 80,000 – for which I am truly grateful. Post football I established a career in the media. I started off in radio as a producer and also made an impact on-air as a presenter. I soon set my sights on a vocation in the TV industry and by early 2002 I hosted my first TV show (a lifestyle series on Channel 9 called ‘Building Ideas’). Not long after this I landed a job as a News Reader, delivering the 6 o’clock sports bulletin in South Australia on the Nine Network. As my love of TV grew I was able to expand into hosting national roles with the Today Show, and also created my own TV series ‘Adventure All Stars’ which currently screens in 25 countries. My greatest passion – and the thing I am most proud of – is the success of the company I founded, Charity TV Global. Our projects combine entertainment with philanthropy, so not only do we produce TV content that is viewed internationally but we also raise upwards of $2 million annually for Australia charities. This part of my life has proved very rewarding. I get to travel around the world, film in wonderful locations, meet amazing people and contribute (both financially and
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I, along with thousands of people across the country, am striving to end the high incidence of suicide in Australia. Strike Out Suicide aims to destigmatise the taboo associated with suicide. With the generous support of celebrities and prominent sporting stars (including luminaries from boxing, AFL, NRL, Super Rugby and Olympians) Strike Out Suicide is bringing awareness to the growing incidence of suicide, in addition to removing the stigma, dispelling the myths, and educating the public. You’ll find a full-page promoting Strike Out Suicide in this publication and I’d love to hear from you should you wish to support my crusade (or should you need to speak with someone about your own feelings).
FORMER PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER TROY GRAY’S MISSION TO STRIKE OUT SUICIDE After 20 long years Troy has now found the courage to talk about his father’s death from suicide and is raising awareness to end the high incidence of suicide in Australia On the day he learned of the news, immediately following football training Troy travelled from Sydney to his hometown of Queanbeyan where he was met by police who were investigating his father’s death. A ‘suicide note’ was left by Alan but in his grieving and shocked state Troy chose to tear up the note and discard of it without reading - something Troy now regrets as he is still trying to work out the reasons behind his father taking his own life.
Former professional footballer and TV presenter, Troy Gray was at the peak of his AFL career playing with the Sydney Swans when, at the age of 21, he learned of his father’s suicide during a pre-game training session. It has taken him more than 20 years to find the courage to talk about his father’s death from suicide - something he is only just coming to grips with now at the age of 48. Now there is nothing more that Troy wants than to destigmatise the taboo associated with suicide and wants others that might be in his shoes - or those who might be contemplating suicide - to know there is help. The trauma of his father’s suicide has never left Troy but today (finally) he is ready to speak about it to Strike Out Suicide, a campaign Troy founded to end the high incidence of suicide in Australia.
This tragedy had – and still has – a profound impact on Troy and his family. Troy’s professional football career suffered, and he was traded to the Melbourne based AFL team, St. Kilda before he cut short his career to cope with the emotional anguish of his father’s passing. For the next 27 years Troy would not talk about the death of his father, not even to his closest family and friends. For Troy, the subject of suicide was taboo. Each time gloves impact a boxing bag, that’s potentially another life that’s being impacted too… in a positive way. With the generous support of celebrities and prominent sporting stars including Jeff Fenech, Steven Bradbury, George Gregan and Paul Roos, Troy is bringing awareness to the growing incidence of suicide, in addition to removing the stigma, dispeling the myths, and educating the public.
Would you like a world without suicide? Troy would.
With suicide the leading cause of death of Australians aged 15-49 years of age, affecting all genders and ethnicities, Troy wants to Strike Out Suicide via his crusade to get thousands of people across the nation completing daily boxing bag strikes to raise money for Gotcha4Life, an Australian mental fitness charity taking action to engage, educate and empower suicide.
Together we can save lives… Together, let’s #StrikeOutSuicide
To say his dad Alan’s passing was a shock to Troy would be a massive understatement and something that has had a long-lasting impact.
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/strikeoutsuicidenow/
Only one-week prior to his suicide, Troy’s dad, Alan spoke at Troy’s 21st birthday celebration in-front of a large gathering of family and friends.
A personal video message from Troy, along with the official Strike Out Suicide fundraising page, can be found via https://strike-out-suicide.raisely.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/StrikeOutSuicideNow
CONTACT: Troy Gray troy@charitytvglobal.com +61 411 171 703
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2022 Staff Service Awards
Carlo Sorrentino
John Doyle
Leanne Gair
Linda James
Pam Knight
40 Years
20 Years
20 Years
20 Years
15 Years
Margaret Thomas
Broderick Bellew
Tim MacArthur
Elizabeth Mitchell
Alex Hausen
15 Years
10 Years
10 Years
10 Years
10 Years
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Vibrant Spirit. Strong Character. Tailored Learning
2022 Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service Awards Colin Rogers Colin Rogers is our TAS Assistant and is a worthy recipient through his visible faith and commitment to serving the Eddies community and his parish of St Benedict’s in Narrabundah. Colin is the “go to man” in the TAS department for students and staff. They value his skills and know he will help them. Colin freely shares his knowledge and expertise to solve problems and many Daniel De Bruin Colin Rodgers Jim Rice a project has been rescued and saved Student, Year 12 Staff Old Boy, Class of 1971 as a result. Colin has the rare ability in this very busy world to be present Br Matt McKeon is a Christian Brother who was an integral part of our St Edmund’s College to all those who need his help. The parish of St community for 20 years. He was the spiritual Benedict’s in Narrabundah has also benefited heart of our Edmund Rice tradition. The Br from Colin giving generously of his time and Matt McKean Faith and Service Awards are his talents through his many years of working named in his honour and are awarded to those on the grounds and gardens. We congratulate staff, students and old boys who have made a Colin for his fine work in these communities. significant contribution to St Edmund’s College Jim Rice and the wider community in service to others. This year we acknowledged the work of the Jim Rice is an old boy of St Edmund’s College following individuals who have demonstrated who has lived by the belief that faith informs a commitment to the various communities to who you are and it is more important to be a which they belong and we celebrated their person who freely gives to others rather than receives. This belief has guided Jim in his strong sense of service. many years of service to Menslink, mentoring Daniel De Bruin and counselling young men across the in the Daniel De Bruin of Year 12 lives out his faith ACT and being a mentor at the Bimberi Youth through his service to his school and local Justice Centre. Jim’s selfless service to young people was recognised with him being awarded community. a medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) which As a volunteer with the Bungendore Rural Fire he received in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Service, Daniel has accumulated a significant Honours. number of hours servicing and maintaining equipment, fighting fires and assisting in Jim is an active member of Corpus Christi Parish emergency situations. He selflessly gives of in South Tuggeranong. In 2019, Jim received a his time to keep his local community safe. As Papal Blessing for 30 years of service to the a member of the Airforce Cadets, Daniel is parish’s music ministry. building his teamwork and leadership skills When commending Jim on his good works he which he can transfer to other parts of his life. has simply stated “it was what I was taught Being a member of the College band Daniel has to do.” Our College Prayer says “Let us stand shown these skills of leadership and teamwork for others always giving generously without through his commitment to rehearsals and counting the cost.” We recognise and honour working with others as a team to ensure the Jim Rice for being that person who gives to success of College musicals and other band others and doesn’t count the cost. performances. Daniel is truly a strong role model of faith and service for other students to follow.
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Congratulations to old boys Remsy Lemisio (Class of 2019) and Baden Godfrey (Class of 2021) for being selected to the Junior Wallabies Squad! Junior Wallabies confirm squad for second camp of 2022 with acknowledgements to author Nathan Williamson and Rugby AU. Tuesday, 12 April 2022 The Junior Wallabies have announced their squad for their second camp of the year ahead of the U20 Oceania Championship. The squad have come together at the AIS in Canberra following their initial camp in late February. Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey is putting particular focus on building understanding of themselves and the game-style they want to play in June “We want to guys to have a better understanding of our game model and how we want to play, which was initiated in camp one,” Grey told Rugby.com.au “We also want the guys to get to know each other better and also understanding themselves as young guys coming through, wanting to be better footy players and educating them in that space”. “For us as a team, perfect fundamentals are really important. They are the building blocks of success in Rugby, doing the simple things really well consistently is actually really difficult to achieve so showing guys what success looks like from a skill and execution perspective.” Grey stressed the importance of keeping it simple as they look to embrace the opportunity, having missed the past two seasons due to COVID, looking to make up for lost time. “We’re very aware we only have a short time with
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them so just being in contact with them about how we want to play whilst not making things too complicated is key. The game doesn’t need to be super complicated so giving them simple structures on how we want to play and matching that with their skill set is what we’re doing. You’ve got to feel for them because a lot of them have missed out for the last couple of years. There are a few guys I had in the program last year who never got the chance to play at the Junior Wallaby level and for a lot of those kids, that’s the highest level of footy they are going to play around representing their country”. “It’s a huge thing to miss out on but a huge opportunity for them so the guys here at the moment are very cognitive of that and want to show the guys who missed out that they are holding the flag now and are keen to be the best they can possibly be.” “These young boys are pretty keen to progress quickly but what they have to do is learn their craft, learn how to be a professional player and get the best out of themselves. It’s great to see a number of those guys kick on and be lucky enough to play for the Wallabies so it’s a real shining light for the guys here if you progress your Rugby and you play well, this is a platform for further opportunity but you have to work hard for it.”
Joshua Pako Class of 2011
Last year, 2021, would have been my ten year reunion since graduating from St Edmund’s College. Although COVID lockdowns prevented our class from reuniting, the fond memories of our schoolyard days remain. It’s not every day one is allowed to write about their life after their school days. Being able to write this article has given me the time to reflect on what I have achieved in the last ten years. In all honesty, my life is entirely different from what I had initially thought it would be. But I am grateful for where I have arrived. So, here is my journey. Among all the fond memories I have at Eddies, the first one that comes to mind is the basketball courts. I would spend every lunchtime running to the gym so that I could play. Basketball was my life. Every day of the week, I would either have some training or a game to play. I made it to the national competition twice for the ACT. I even went to America with the Eddies school team, played with and against players in the NBA, the Olympics, travelled the world for 3x3 or made other international squads. But once Year 12 came around, I had to make a choice. Do I continue basketball or pursue something else?
Fortunately, I also had other interests. One of which was communication. Not your standard communication like marketing or telecommunications but instead with crosscultural communication, i.e., languages. An interest that grew during my time at Eddies. I was that kid growing up who would be fascinated, intrigued, and curious about what other people would be talking about at a shopping centre in another language. It felt like a secret conversation. Something only those two – at that time and place – could understand. This passion allowed me to move on from the game of basketball and head to ANU to further my studies. University was not what I had expected and I struggled a lot. But if there was one thing that Eddies taught me, especially being in Clancy house, nothing is too difficult for the strong – words that I strive for still to this day. So, after a few failed classes and changing my degree three times, I eventually completed a Bachelor of Languages majoring in the Japanese language. Many of you are probably asking what can one do with a Bachelor of Languages degree, and it is a fair question. I had left
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university with the ability to speak another language. Although this was a fantastic skill in my eyes, it wouldn’t pay the bills. So once again, I went off to the University of Canberra to do my Masters in Teaching to hopefully inspire other kids just like myself to pursue language learning. It was after I finished my Masters that I decided to make a significant change and fly off to Japan, where I would then spend the next five years of my life. I moved to Japan to pursue three major life goals; 1) to improve my Japanese to the point of fluency, 2) to become
schools and helping Japanese English teachers teach. It was a memorable experience. Seeing the students’ faces whenever I would walk into the classroom still makes me laugh. I would walk into a Japanese classroom, angling my head so as not to hit it on the door frame and be met with strained necks, beady eyes, and slight fear. However, as soon as the class began, the students’ eyes would change from fear to curiosity, much like my eyes I had when I watched strangers talk in another language. I was definitely out of place but nonetheless, what started as a small teaching job assisting Japanese English teachers in Japan, soon became the avenue where I found my calling; education. I spent those first three years working predominately in a small high school of only 60 students, who all became like a family. Being in such a small rural town, you become part of a community and experience a whole new side of culture than what we see on episodes of Getaway. For a technologically advanced society, I would still have to write on a blackboard with chalk, try to book the only computer room running on Windows 2000 and also receive faxes from other schools requesting my assistance. So many fascinating stories that would require a whole other article to write. In my fourth year in Japan, I moved and became the Prefectural Advisor for all English teachers in the prefecture. My job extended beyond the classroom to developing conferences, translation, and interpretation for major events and being a key contributor to English language education within that prefecture. To summarise my four years, I completed the three goals I initially made to myself all those years prior.
the best teacher I could be, and 3) to enjoy life to the fullest. I lived in a small rural town of only 5000 people for my first three years in Japan. The closest town – the size of Queanbeyan – was a 20 minute drive away, and between the two towns, there was nothing but rice fields. I was the only non-Japanese person in the town. I worked as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET programme. I would spend my days going to different
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Now, I have returned to Australia and made it full circle. I have returned to the institution that raised me, cultivated me, and taught me to reach for my dreams – Edmund’s to the Fore – but this time as a teacher. However, this is only a momentary pitstop. At the time of writing this, I am preparing for my journey back to Japan to take on a full-time teaching position at a private school. Then from 2023, I will be working as a university lecturer at Yamagata University, hoping to one day inspire the students of the future in exploring the world and reaching for their dreams.
Vibrant Spirit. Strong Character. Tailored Learning
St Edmund’s College FOUNDATION Inspired by the charism of Edmund Rice the St Edmund’s College Foundation (the Foundation) was established to give financial assistance to marginalised or disadvantaged families so that the cost of educating their sons would be alleviated. Since its inception in 1988 the Foundation has supported the education of over 100 young men at St Edmund’s College in Canberra. The Foundation’s aims: • To support families who are experiencing financial barriers that may limit their ability to provide an Edmund Rice education for their sons.
• To provide appropriate fee relief to ensure students have the quality education they deserve. • To support families who may be affected by difficult circumstances so students are able to continue their education at St Edmund’s College without disruption.
How to Donate Contact foundation@stedmunds.act.edu.au or 6239 0673 and ask to speak to our Finance Staff for more information on how to make a donation. Donations of $2 or more to the St Edmund’s College Foundation are tax deductible in Australia.
“Your donation to the Foundation will enable families in need of help in educating their sons leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit current students as well as students for generations to come.” Pelican: Semester 1, 2022
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Jamie Haynes Class of 1992
I write this piece having just finished rolling the hallowed pitch on Owens Oval, preparing for the final game of the season as coach of the First XI Cricket Team, my mind wandering back to 1992 where I sat on this very roller, praying that I’d score some runs and we’d beat Grammar to win the ASC Championship. I joined St Edmund’s College in 1991 as a Year 11 student having finished my high school days at Padua Catholic High School. I was a keen sportsman and was fortunate to have the makings of a solid opening batsman and reliable wicketkeeper. The lure of Eddies was strong and the decision for me to enroll was easy after meeting the then Sportsmaster and First XI and First XV coach, John Papahatzis. Papa’s passion and enthusiasm was evident and he soon had me under his wing, teaching me the subtleties of sport, gamesmanship and also downloading Eddies DNA into my blood. The clunking of the roller and the rustling of the wind through the trees on Canberra Avenue have me remembering my first days at Eddies, I was lucky to have a good network of friends already at the school and I was able to quickly establish a tight knit group of friends that I am still in touch with today. I was quickly introduced to a sausage roll in a bun and the game of brandings in the squash courts with the lights turned out. Things that left indelible memories on my brain and indeed on my skin. In 1992, thanks to the school and ‘Papa’, I was given the opportunity to lead a very successful First XI cricket team, which in turn saw me gain the honour of captaining both the ASC and Australian Christian Brother’s team. These opportunities saw me springboard into 1st Grade cricket where Papa’s tutorship gave me the resilience to cope with both the physical
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and mental rigors of playing with and against grown men. Having graduated in 1992 and after two and half years of studying a journalism degree at the University of Canberra, I travelled overseas to England, where in 1995 I was offered a professional contract with Lancashire County Cricket Club. In my time at Lancashire I had the privilege of playing with some of the greats of the game, including Wasim Akram, Muttiah Muralitharan, Stuart Law and Andrew Flintoff ; my first professional coach was even the great Bobby Simpson. As I roll over another popping crease, I can vividly recall my first wicketkeeping dismissal during my First Class debut in 1996 at Old Trafford Manchester. We were playing a very good Middlesex side that had the likes of Mike Gatting and Phil Tuffnell. The dismissal was in the last over before lunch and Mike Atherton, the then England captain, was fielding in close and was suggesting to a rotund Mike Gatting that he might want to get out so he could have two helpings of the bread and butter pudding which was on offer at lunch. In between the giggles of those around the bat, off spinner Mike Watkinson bowled a looping delivery and Gatting seeing the trajectory ran down the wicket and tried to redirect the ball into Atherton’s nose, fortunately for Athers and for me, the ball turned sharply and I was able to stump him down the leg-side. It was a long way from Owens Oval but the banter was akin to an Eddies vs Marist match or a game in the quad where I had learnt to give as good as I got but also to concentrate on the job at hand. I returned to Canberra in 2009 where I was fortunate to be selected for a cadetship within the Department of Defence, this time calling on
my English skills, honed by long suffering Double Major English teachers who tried to get my head into some books as opposed to a cricket net. Somehow they must have got through, as I am still employed within the Department working as a Media and Communications Manager in a high profile Defence taskforce. The school and I had parted ways for some 30 years, but now my I am reconnecting as my son Oliver is an Eddies’ boy currently in Year 6, amazingly; and probably highlighting the magnetic pull of the school, his teacher is one of my best mates and opening partner from my college days, Neil Roberts. Neil, who is one of the finest First XV coaches the school has seen, convinced me to coach the First XI Cricket Team and in the spirit of rekindling our partnership I accepted with great pride. As a proud coach and old boy, I show the new crop of cricketer’s my baggy blue cap; (that is nearly twice as old as any of them) and try to instill in them, as was instilled in me, how extremely lucky and privileged you are to call yourself an Eddies Boy. Explaining that without the years of guidance and pastoral care that I received, I’m sure I would not have been in a position to live out my dream of being a professional cricketer. For all those Old Boys out there who also have fond memories of their time at the school and want to put something back in to the school, please reach out to the Old Boy’s Association and help guide the current Eddies boys on their journey in life. Because as time goes by and as my senior years quickly evaporated I often wish that I had more time at the school, more chances to sing the school song, more chances to sing the war cry, more chances to be part of a brotherhood that gave me the discipline and skills needed to thrive in the outside world. Edmund’s To The Fore!
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Steven “Konti” Kontowicz (Class of 2002) and Marianos Nikolis (Year 9) (This text was adapted from Steven Kontowicz’s Facebook post with his permission). Steven “Konti” Kontowicz (Class of 2002) of Konti Fitness has teamed up with Marianos Nikolis (Year 9). Konti will be Marianos’ new strength and conditioning coach. Marianos started riding dirt bikes at the age of four and started racing at the age of seven. His dirt bike achievements:
Cup, in which twenty riders from the ages of 12 to 19 were selected from all of Asia and the Micro Asian region. This is the entry level on the road to the pinnacle - MotoGP. In his first year of international racing Marianos managed to finish tenth in the championship in his rookie year. Later this year he has been invited to contest the Asia Talent Cup again
• 2015 ACT Club Champion Dirt Track • 2016 Dirt Track Kings and Queens ACT - 2nd • 2016 NSW Junior Dirt track Championship 4th
• 2016 Dirt Track Sapphire Coast Cup - 1st • 2016 Victorian Dirt Track Titles - 2nd • 2016 ACT Champion. At nine years of age Marianos transitioned to Road Racing. In this discipline he has also achieved the following:
• 2017 Motostars Road Race Champion • 2018 Motostars Champion • 2019 Australian Road Race Champion Under 11 to Under 16 • 2020 Oceania Champion.
Junior
Cup
In 2021 Marianos was selected to compete in the Asia Talent
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and will be racing in Qatar, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. He will be competing in the Australian Superbikes on a Yamaha R300 The journey is only beginning for Marianos. The future is his to grasp. Konti is very much looking forward to a solid six months of training to prepare Marianos to compete at the highest levels on the way to the MotoGP. Steven is a Registered Personal Trainer and a Strength and conditioning Coach. Steven is a Level 3 AUSactive Registered Professional with over 15 years in the health and fitness industry. Steven “Konti” Kontowicz will be featured in the next edition of The Pelican.
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Lisa Gersbach Current parent
Sled dogs and Australia are not words that people would usually put together. Isn’t that a Northern Hemisphere thing? Surely it would be way too hot here. Luckily, my family happens to live in an area that is more than conducive to raising, training and racing sled dogs and being part of a community that is a little different to the norm. In 1996, my husband Andrew and I embarked on a journey into this amazing sport when our first two dogs entered our lives and we were introduced to a hobby that would ultimately become our passion. Idigadog Kennels was registered that same year. The Canberra Sled Dog Club had newly formed, and we were thrust into the early morning routine of training and competition. It wasn’t very long before we were on the club committee and then Andrew took on the President’s role and I became Secretary. We were also part of forming the Australian Sleddog Sports Association which became a governing body for all clubs throughout the country and most recently the Australian Federation of Sleddog Sports. Twenty-six years later and after travelling all around the country competing, that flame is still burning strong for what has become a lifestyle that very few have the privilege of experiencing. In the past couple of weeks, new puppies have been born in our home which are the seventh generation of dogs that we have loved and raised as part of our family. Dog sledding has taken us to the US, Canada and New Zealand to be race judges, marshals and handlers. We have had the pleasure of
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working with some of the best dog people in the sport and have forged friendships that only “crazy dog people” can truly understand. Our son Caleb was born into the world of sled dogs in May 2006. In fact, I was pregnant with him when Andrew and I were race judges in Joseph Oregon that January. He attended his first ever race at four weeks of age camping in the freezing cold and didn’t bat an eyelid to the noise and commotion of dogs screaming with excitement to race. I guess he was already immune to it all. Training and racing dogs must be one of the most rewarding times we can have as a family. What many people don’t realise is that to get a cohesive and disciplined team that is capable of winning races, you have to start at the grass roots when the dogs are just puppies. Hours of handling, stimulating and working out their personalities all take time along with the basics needed to place that dog into a position where they can’t fail. It really is no different to a rugby, football or
basketball team. Each individual has their strengths and weaknesses and to make that team work together to the best of their potential, we as the “coaches” need to harness each member and encourage them to perform at their best. Some are leaders, some are workhorses and others are team players. Without the other, none of it works. To be a successful team, all members need to be dedicated and with Andrew, Caleb and I it is no different. Early mornings, late nights, freezing temperatures, hours sitting behind dogs in the forest watching and assessing. Caleb has been doing this his whole life and I dare say there aren’t many fifteen year old’s that could pick up that a dog running at 40 kph has a sore toe on its front left paw. It’s all in the detail and observation. It’s all about the relationship based on mutual respect and trust. It’s about knowing your team members better than they know themselves. Every year in August we travel to Dinner Plain in Victoria to race our dogs on snow. Yes, with real sleds! For the other races on the national circuit we use scooters and rigs and
the tracks are forestry trails that are marked for each class. The Canberra club trains in Kowen Forest near Queanbeyan and this is where we hold our annual race. Many people feel that they couldn’t possibly make their dog pull them around a trail but if you have a dog that is bred for it, nothing will stop them. They love it and they live for it. It’s like having a child that constantly wants to practice for their chosen sport. Nothing else matters. They just can’t get enough. I guess I could say that our life is very different to most. We can’t just drop everything and head off on holidays because someone always needs to be here at the kennel. This probably equates to Caleb missing out on many things that a normal child and then teenager would be doing but it has also given him a great understanding and appreciation of dedication and hard work. It has also made for a very compassionate, animal loving, kind human who has done so many things outside of the norm. A resilient Eddie’s boy.
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Michael Moloney Former long-term staff member
One of the great joys of this part of my life is that I frequently meet ex-students who approach me to introduce themselves and ask how I am going. I often don’t recognise them initially. The little boy I had known has now grown into a mature adult. We sometimes trade stories over a cup of coffee or a meal. Often, I hear inspiring stories of remarkable achievements and sometimes there are sad stories of a life of disappointment. Whatever their circumstances I am always pleased to meet these men. It gives meaning to what I have been doing all my life. My story at St Edmund’s begins in 1960 when I received a letter from Br Landener inviting me to come to teach at St Edmund’s in Canberra. I had been recommended to him by a brother who had taught me at Nudgee College. Somewhat reluctantly I agreed to sever my ties with the Queensland Department of Education and come to Canberra for one year. When I arrived in January 1961 the building was very much smaller than it is today. Fourteen brothers lived in the Brother’s Monastery, on the McMillan Crescent end of the building. Next to the brothers’ kitchen there was a onebedroom flat opening onto McMillan Crescent. This was where I lived for my first few years in Canberra. I got my meals on a tray from the brothers’ kitchen and my board was subtracted from my pay each week. Br Landiner had explained to me when he asked me to come to Canberra that if this
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didn’t happen, he really couldn’t afford to pay me. This arrangement suited me fine, though I must admit I was rather lonely at times. Br Landener was a strict disciplinarian and a hard taskmaster. He was particularly hard on the brothers and had instructed them that they weren’t to socialise with lay people outside school hours. This included me. At the end of that year, desperately lonely, I was ready to return to Queensland when I was persuaded to stay a little longer. I didn’t then realize the impact this decision was to have on my life and the lives of many others. Br Landener’s replacement was Br Jack Darmody. It took me quite a while to adjust to the more relaxed, gentle, and sensitive man. It was during his first year as Headmaster that I met a most wonderful girl and decided to get married. I went to Br Darmody’s office one night to tell him the news and ask if it would be alright if I invite him and a couple of the other Brothers to our wedding the following January. I also wondered if any I invited would be permitted to come. I couldn’t believe it when he replied, “I’m sure there will be a couple of carloads coming down from Gosford.” (The Brothers used to holiday in Gosford in those days). So, I invited them all, and all those who could came. The remarkable Br Owens had, at his own insistence, spent many hours beautifully handwriting and decorating all the place cards for our reception, Br Kerwin had prepared a beautiful boys’ choir to sing at our
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attend every weekend until he left St Edmund’s at the end of 1978. He had made an enormous impact on my life and became a dear friend to me and my family.
Nuptial Mass, and Br Don Gallagher was there with his camera. I was very happy that I could share my special day with these men. They were my best friends and after my family the closest people to me. On the sudden departure of Br Darmody, Br Gordon Kerr came to take charge. I found Br Kerr to be a giant of a man in more ways than one. He was a man of deep faith, of clear farsighted vision, of insightful judgment, and he possessed a warm empathising personality and a disarming openness to new and radical ideas. He asked me to take charge of the primary school and appointed me to the first school board. Br Kerr purchased the property at Tuross, firstly as a holiday house for the brothers, but rather than seeing it lie idle he sought ways that the school could use it during the school term. The late sixties and early seventies were difficult times in boys’ schools. Pop culture, The Little Red Book and other media urged young people to reject traditional values and authority and to demand their rights. They were particularly encouraged to challenge their parents and teachers. On top of this the church was changing following Vatican II and boys were concerned about leaving school to be sent to fight in the Vietnam war. Discussing the difficulties of the time with Br Kerr and my counterparts at Daramalan, we concluded that one of the things our boys needed was a better relationship with their fathers. I drew up a program and with Br Kerr’s blessing and with the help of two priests from Daramalan, took our first group of ten fathers and their sons from Year 6 to Tuross for a weekend in March 1971. Br Owens and my wife Chris came along to look after the kitchen. With feedback from the participants and valuable input from others, the program rapidly developed. The weekends became so popular that we were soon running six a year. In 1972 Br Kerr attended a weekend and then continued to
Br Kerr’s replacement was the talented and dynamic Br Bob Wallace. Br Wallace had already been at St Edmund’s for eight years, so we already knew each other well. I am pleased that now, long after both of us have retired, we remain good friends. Br Wallace refurbished Tuross and built the bunkhouses so that it could accommodate 80 or more students and teachers. We developed programs and soon I was taking every primary class to Tuross for a camp. Br Wallace developed the Music and Performing Arts department and strengthened the sports programme. He built the grandstand on Owens Oval. I was shocked and humbled at the official opening of the grandstand when I learnt that it was to bear my name and then again in 1987 when I was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for my contribution to education. I was somewhat uncomfortable with this kind of recognition. Someone commented at the time that these things usually happened when a person died or at least retired. But I still had work to do. I wanted to make our primary school the best Primary school it could be and help make St Edmund’s the best school in Australia. It became obvious to me that one group of
students at risk, and needing special help, were those in sole-parent families. With the support of Bishop Pat Power and two school counsellors I set up a sole-parent support group. This group met monthly at the school and at each of these meetings we had an invited guest to help them with what they identified as one of their needs. These women (the group was nearly all women) met each other socially outside these meetings and were a great source of support for each other. At their request we took a group of
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eleven mothers and their sons to Tuross, again with the support of Bishop Pat, the counsellors, Chris, and some school staff. This was a rich experience for all concerned and became an annual event. When the Falkner Report was issued by the Diocesan Catholic Education Commission in the early nineties suggesting that the St Edmund’s Primary School be closed and St Edmund’s and St Clare’s amalgamate to form a co-ed secondary school and college, I was approached by many of our parents who were concerned about the suggestion. I called an off-campus meeting of all concerned parents where they formed a committee to draft a response. I wanted it to be their response, not mine. Eventually the proposal was rejected, and the schools remained as they were. One of the highlights of my time at Edmund’s came in 1996 when the Provincial Leader wrote to invite me and my wife Chris to accompany a group of brothers on a pilgrimage to Ireland, Rome, and The Holy Land for the beatification of Blessed Edmund Rice. This was a wonderful time where we renewed old friendships and developed new ones. In Ireland we followed the life of Edmund from Callan where he was born, to Waterford where he began his ministry, to Cork and Dublin. From Dublin we flew to Rome for the beatification on October 6. What a day that was. I had never before been part of such a mass of people all with the same focus. I had a strong feeling of belonging to a universal church. From Rome we flew to Tel Aviv where we began our pilgrimage. Led by a priest who travelled with us we visited all the important places in the life of Jesus. At each place we had a liturgy, often a Mass, with a shared gospel reading. At Cana Chris and I renewed our wedding vows before the group. One day we were on the Sea of Galilee, in a replica first century boat, called a Jesus boat. The water was perfectly calm with a glassy surface when
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we were asked to imagine the storm and the fears of the Apostles and then reflect on the fears in our own lives. My thoughts returned to Canberra where all my fears were. In the Gospel reading that day Chris had been asked to read the words of Jesus and it was significant to me to hear her say, “Do not be afraid, I am with you”. This journey gave me a deeper understanding of a Gospel Jesus. In 2000 I gave up all my responsibilities in the primary school except for the Father and Son weekends and my rugby and cricket teams to write the history of the first 50 years of St Edmund’s. This task at the outset meant getting the school archives in order, and then delving through the Brothers’ archives in Balmain, the diocesan archives in Canberra and a trip to Melbourne to talk to the only surviving brothers from the first staff. While this task proved to be much bigger than I at first anticipated, I had the book completed and printed by early 2003 ready for release as part of our 50th Jubilee celebrations in 2004. In 2002 the Christian Brothers celebrated the Bicentenary of Edmund Rice Education. As part of their celebration they had a medal struck. I felt humbled and honoured when I was invited, with a small number of others, to be presented with this medal at a Mass in Sydney. Today I keep myself busy with my growing and dynamic family, my activities as a member of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, and a portrait painting group that meets each Tuesday in the M16 Art Space. I get satisfaction from the fact that my two sons have benefited from their Eddie’s education and their two sons are now at the school and loving it. I feel very comfortable that I can go to Mass each Sunday celebrated by my Parish Priest who was once a small boy in my fifth class.
Josh Vaughan Class of 1993
My St Edmund’s College journey began in 1985 as a fresh-faced year 4 student. My two older brothers both went to SEC which in some ways paved the path for me. Fortunately, I also had a few good mates from St. Jude’s who had also chosen SEC as their school. The forming of close, and as it turns out, lifetime friends and connections all happened very quickly. I look back and understand that SEC boys were similar in more ways than not and believe this is a characteristic unique to the College. Highlights for me were school camps at Tuross and later retreats in high school and college, Founders Day, Olympic sized trampolines in the quad, representing SEC in Rugby and Dragon Boat, table tennis in the very early years, my mates, some very influential teachers and of course, sausage rolls in a bun. In my final year, 1993, the senior rugby squad toured New Zealand and that truly stands out in my memory. We toured both the north and south islands, played a mix of strong and not so strong teams, and lived large during our free time. It was also during this trip that I made a commitment with a great mate Andrew Howell (Howie) to work together ‘when we grew up!’. After finishing year 12, Howie chose a career in the Army. We kept in regular contact, just not in close proximity, as Howie lived interstate and spent blocks of time away on active service overseas. My first teaching placement whilst at University
studying teaching was at SEC under the immediate supervision of College legend and then Head of Primary, Patricia Doyle. Just after graduating, the stars aligned when I landed a job after visiting SEC just prior to school holidays in 1999. I spent the next five years teaching at SEC with a short break in 2016 when I moved to St. Francis of Assisi primary school in Calwell. I returned to SEC in 2017 into the leadership team under the amazing and influential Headmaster Chris Hayes. As a leader, Chris was the complete package. His genuine care and interest shown in all students and staff was ever present and I learned a lot from simply watching and being around the great man. My last year teaching at SEC was 2010. Fast forward to 2012, Howie and I organised ourselves to be in the same place at the time. Over a drink, we were sharing our experiences and our desire to help support adolescent boys. Howie has spent time leading small teams, most of which included men in their late teens and early 20’s. I had spent the best part of ten years in boys education and had moved into the Early Childhood Education and Care sector, where I was employing young men. We shared an understanding of common problems young men experience; we recognised a lack general respect for others and themselves, risky behaviours and the inadvertent attraction towards inappropriate peer
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groups and destructive settings. Wanting to help where we could, we pioneered a personal development training course for adolescent boys at-risk. Our course focused on the use of communication and social skills to develop confidence, enrich an adolescent’s life and benefit the community. Everything in the program was based on our learned experiences. In mid 2012, we delivered our first course to Bimberi Youth Detention Centre. Our charity, The Right Direction Australia Limited, came to fruition soon after this initial pilot course and is still in operation today. Whilst Howie has moved on to other endeavours, I continue as CEO. Our flagship program now is Mengineering where we focus on strengthening the father and son bond and relationship. COVID has knocked us around a bit over the last two years, however we plan on moving into school communities this year and beyond.
the general lack of identification and supports for young people whose wellbeing is declining, and with my experience in schools and leading both outreach and residential programs for youth with poor mental health, I was driven to do more. I have since developed Kinnections for schools. Kinnections is a web-based platform designed to capture data on students who are at risk of diminishing wellbeing affecting their mental health, allowing teachers to identify which children lack connection with peers, do not feel safe, and lack a positive future focus/ hope. Schools are able to highlight which children are at greatest risk, providing alerts in real time that a child requires intervention and additional or professional support. There is no silver bullet to addressing mental health. What we do know is that the earlier a decline in mental health is identified and supports are in place, the better the outcome in most cases.
I returned to the education sector in 2013 as an Assistant Principal, then chose to reduce my role and workload due to changing personal and family circumstances. In 2017, I joined CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn and have spent the last 5 years leading our adult and youth mental health, homelessness, justice, and family services programs. This year, I have taken on a new and exciting challenge in leading the merger between CatholicCare and Marymead, both longstanding welfare organisations and doing amazing things for some of Canberra and surrounds most vulnerable.
I really enjoyed my time and experiences within SEC; most were good, some were bad but all memorable and have shaped who I am today. I have a lot of great mates too that I cherish to this day. As a student I appreciated that the teachers really were invested in me and wanted me to experience success; and as a teacher I experienced a very fulfilling career by supporting many students along their way and connected with some amazing humans.
A jump into the community sector has been an interesting journey and working with youth living with mental ill health has impacted me significantly. Having experienced firsthand early
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‘Service to others’ is a value that was promoted and lived in SEC. It was the foundation of the Christian Brothers and I believe it to be one of the fundamentals to living a great life. In doing more for others, you receive more in return. Eddies to the fore!
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“A quote from our founder that resonates with me and helps me understand faith and service at St Edmund’s is that we should all ‘have faith and courage, for the good seed will grow up in all the children’s hearts, now, or later on’ … It is our Edmund Rice interpretation, and our animation and understanding of faith, spirituality and service that consequently leads to my sense of belonging and connection and makes me want to remain a part of the Eddies community … Everyone who experiences Eddies feels compelled to turn up for each other, to provide love, kindness, empathy and compassion.”
Ms Leanne Gair 2022 Staff Service Recipient (20 years) addressing the congregation at our Founder’s Day Mass
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St Edmund’s College A Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition. Educating boys Years 4 to 12 since 1954. 110 Canberra Avenue, Griffith ACT 02 6295 3598 reception@stedmunds.act.edu.au sec.act.edu.au
