Last week we held our annual ANZAC Day assembly to honour and show respect to the past, present, and future men and women who have, and will serve, our great country. Sitting in the hall I was able see that at Eddie’s, we have a very strong community of Defence families, including my own. This is a community that I am very proud to be a part of. My dad was a communicator for the Royal Australian Navy for 25 years, and I am so proud of him and all that he did. Commemorating ANZAC Day is about honouring the sacrifice that people have made for us and our country, but we also learn that it’s about being there for others. Nobody goes to war for themselves. They fight for family, for mates, for ideas, for freedom and for people they will never meet.
At the heart of ANZAC Day is the idea of service and sacrifice. It is a day to honour those who have given their lives in service of their country, and to reflect on the values that inspired their actions. These values include courage, loyalty, and a commitment to putting the needs of others before oneself. We are all truly thankful.
This Friday, 5th of May, is ‘Founder’s Day’. This is the day our college community reflects and celebrates our school and its history. St Edmund’s College Canberra is an Australian Catholic school for boys founded in 1954 by the Christian Brothers. We commemorate and recognise the school’s founder and honour the legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice, who was born in Ireland on the 1st of June 1762.
Ireland of Edmund Rice’s time was a hard and unjust place, with great wealth for a few and deep crippling poverty for many. Edmund’s aim in establishing the Christian Brothers was, “to promote an education that recognised the dignity of each individual.” This gave an opportunity for young men to emerge from their lives of poverty and in doing so help, support, and educate those around them.
Founder’s Day is a significant event on the school’s calendar. The day begins with a special Mass, where students and staff come together to give thanks for the legacy of Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers.
Following the Mass, the school holds a range of activities and events to celebrate Founder’s Day. These may include sports competitions, music performances, art displays, guest speakers, and a fair with stalls filled with games, food and loads of fun. The day will finish with our annual relay race and tug-of-war contests between each house group.
St Edmund’s College is committed to the legacy of Edmund Rice and his vision for education that empowers young people to make a positive difference in the world. Founder’s Day is an important opportunity for the school community to reflect on this legacy and to recommit to the values of justice, compassion, and service that Edmund Rice exemplified.
Here at Eddie’s, one of our core values is being “men for others”. This means being committed to serving the needs of others as well as making a positive difference in the world. The idea of being a “man for others” is closely aligned with the spirit of ANZAC Day and the values of Edmund Rice, as it emphasizes the importance of service and sacrifice in creating a better world.
For students at St. Edmund’s College, being a “man for others” is woven into every aspect of our education. From community service projects to volunteer work. From cultural immersion experiences to social justice initiatives, students are encouraged to put their values into action and to make a difference in the world around them.
I think it is really important to emphasize “the world around them.” We don’t need to save or change the whole world, but by influencing and supporting the people close to us, the ones we see every day, we can make a difference.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Blessed Edmund Rice was most certainly a man for others. His grace, kindness and vision has spread from Ireland to Canberra and many places beyond over the past 200 years, and with our commitment to his values, we can ensure it continues to lift up, encourage and support those around us for at least 200 more.
Christus Lux Mea
Heri Hodi Cres
Hamish Chapman
College Vice Captain (Academic)