Principal’s Message

by Principal, Mr Steven O’Connor

1^st IV National Champions!

Congratulations to the St Patrick’s College 1^st IV crew and coach for their tremendous results at the National Rowing Championships held in Tasmania last week! The crew were rewarded with a bronze medal in the U19 Men’s Coxed IV final on Friday and backed this up by winning gold in the Schools’ Coxed IV event on Sunday morning and being recognised as the National Champions in this event for 2021! This is an outstanding achievement and I know that they have put an enormous amount of effort into their season. To achieve what they did last week at the National Championships is a fitting reward for their efforts and commitment – well done!

I congratulate all members of the crew: Tom Foley, Jake Polkinghorne, Austin Reinehr, Angus Murnane and Edward Peucker and the Director of Rowing and coach, Mr Brendan Scott on their great success and being crowned National Champions for 2021! I am really pleased for the boys and very proud of their efforts across the season!

College Captain’s Speech on Respect

Last week, the College Captain, Darcy Williams delivered a very clear and positive message to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 about the importance of relationships, respect for women and consent. I commend Darcy on this initiative and on the content and delivery of his speech. The transcript of Darcy’s speech is available on the College website or by clicking on this link and I encourage parents and carers to read it if they have not already done so.

The College remains committed to engaging and working with our boys around the important issue of respectful relationships and in particular, respect for women. As an all boys’ school, there is an added level of responsibility in this context and we are conscious of this as we continue to develop programs and strategies which address the key issues and educate and guide our young men. The Student Council at St Patrick’s has plans to work in cooperation with their counterparts at Loreto College to develop resources, including short videos which highlight a number of aspects around consent and emphasise the importance of respectful relationships for all.

I congratulate Darcy for his efforts and leadership in this and also thank the members of the Student Council for their initiatives.

The End of Term and the Hope of Easter

I am grateful for the efforts of students, staff and parents throughout Term 1 and I know that many will be looking forward to a well-earned break at some stage over the next couple of weeks. In particular, I thank the boys for the warm welcome that they have extended to me as I settle into my role of Principal at St Patrick’s. They have achieved many wonderful things throughout the term inside the classroom and beyond; I look forward to their efforts in Term 2.

Easter is the most significant feast in the Christian calendar. It is important for us to recall and reflect on its significance rather than get caught up in the commercialisation and materialism of Easter bunnies and eggs. These aspects reflect the joy, hope and new life which comes with the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But they certainly are dominant features of the Easter season and holiday in the modern world.

For Christians, Easter involves the betrayal, death and resurrection of Christ and the knowledge that while this world might be difficult and uncertain at times and shrouded in a vale of tears, if one embraces the word of God and the promise which comes from the resurrection, there will be eternal deliverance and salvation.

Easter is a time of contemplation, spiritual renewal and reaffirming the belief that all is not lost no matter how difficult and painful life is. In suffering and pain there is the possibility of redemption and in death there is rebirth.

I hope and pray that all members of the St Patrick’s College do enjoy a happy and holy Easter.

Risen Jesus,

continue to tell your story through our lives.

May we be lifegiving, healing agents, and instruments of your peace.

Your story is a love story;

creative, redemptive and transforming.

Help us not to forget our lines or our supportive roles.

Give us grace and hope.

Amen.

 

Mr Steven O’Connor

Principal