From the Principal

I wonder how many people reading this remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books that rose to popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a nifty idea, giving the reader agency, and meant that the book lived a few lives and had a spray of possibilities. I distinctly remember trying to outplay the author, finding the quickest way to a conclusion at times, or the longest at others. I was not always successful…

Life’s more challenging moments for adults include some of the major decisions with which we are faced. For many, marriages, mortgages and having children all rank as significant, as well as choosing the right car, it seems. Some spend a lot of time choosing a car. Somewhere amongst these is the education of our (society’s) children and the situation which has increasingly become common – that of a child’s role in the choice of their school being amplified. Melbourne claims education as a key part of the fabric of our community. It is well understood that Victoria boasts a significant number of independent schools to complement the Catholic and state school settings. For families, there is a lot to consider, and it is notable that our families tell us repeatedly that it is our values that matter the most. Trinity offers a particular choice amidst a very dense market for independent schools, let alone schools in general. This edition of The Trinity Grammarian reflects a busy, involved and broad community. There is lots to do, and there are many pathways available for Trinity people to find or flex their passions. All of this is done within a framework of a values education. Character is important. The way that we act and interact is important. The things that we emphasise and that we support are important.

During Term 2, amongst the maelstrom of our first ‘approximately normal’ term in my time at Trinity, a number of our senior students embraced our conversation regarding a contemporary interpretation of our motto, Viriliter Agite. For a long time in our history Act Manfully was the accepted translation, and it undoubtedly has been held up over time as an ideal for our young people to strive to meet. An equally valid translation, according to history as well as the Latin Department here at TGS, is Act Courageously. Long a stated value of our school, courage is an asset to all young people as they negotiate their way through contemporary society, and particularly one somewhat addled by the reach of the pandemic of late. Courage takes many forms and, applied well, enables individuals and organisations genuine agency and choice.

Adrian Farrer with Year 12 students after losing his locks for the 'World's Greatest Shave' fundraiser event

The conversation regarding Act Courageously has had many iterations and outcomes already. Significant among them was the initiative of our Year 12 School Leaders to create a Pride Round, highlighted by the distinct messaging regarding inclusion that attended a First XVIII Football game against Mentone Grammar. They undertook an important and courageous project in holding the game, but the courage of some individual students in telling their stories and challenging our community to be better was profound indeed.

Those of us who went to school some years ago can reflect on the memories of our time and can probably assess with some accuracy those things that we understand to matter. We probably have peak memories that are not necessarily the content of our Mathematics and Geography classes as much as, for instance, the human stories and personalities that we encountered. We probably remember those that took a stand and created a legacy. Our students this year are likely to have such memories in their future. At Trinity, our students have always had the chance to choose from an impressive array of subjects, and to benefit from a host of activities, sport and cultural pursuits on offer. As we step more and more intentionally towards creating opportunity for our maturing young people to exercise guided agency in all aspects of their schooling, they will curate their own pathways through and out of the school. They will not always be successful in their choices. They will need to revise, review and recast their thinking. They will benefit from that, of course, as they shift through the many and varied vehicles for engagement we offer. They will enjoy a Trinity education, a values education that asks them to Act Courageously, and an adventure of their choosing.

Viriliter Agite

Adrian Farrer

Principal