Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,
2024 Scriptural Theme: “I have come so may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10)
Retirement Announcement
Last week, I shared with our community my intention to retire at the end of this year. This decision was influenced not only by the personal challenges of the past year, including the loss of two immediate family members, but also by the milestone of reaching my 40th year in education, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the College. It really does feel like the right time.
After 40 years of service to Catholic school communities, I feel a great need to explore new avenues of giving back. I have long had a desire to volunteer with community organisations, lending a helping hand to those in need. Regrettably, the demands of a full-time position in education left little room for this pursuit. Now, as I approach retirement, I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our community in a different capacity. Additionally, it’s undeniable that after 40 years in the education, I am ready for a change of pace, seeking renewed purpose and direction (in other words, I am just very tired!).
Over the past seven years, I have collaborated with our staff in nurturing and strengthening our College community. I am proud to say that our efforts have borne fruit, evident in the strong spirit that now permeates St Edmund’s College. Our consistent growth in enrolments reflects the positive direction we’ve embarked upon. As we commence on the preliminary phases of our master plan this year, I am confident in the solid foundation we have laid.
However, as I reflect on the future of St Edmund’s College, I recognise the need for fresh perspectives and renewed energy in leadership. I genuinely believe the time has come for a new Principal to steer our College towards its next chapter of growth and excellence. While I will always remain an ardent advocate for St Edmund’s College, I believe it is paramount to pass its leadership to someone who can leverage our past achievements and propel us towards even greater success with a new set of eyes and a new energy.
I am deeply moved by the outpouring of support and kind words from the members of our community since my retirement announcement. Your messages have touched me profoundly and reinforced my conviction that the Eddies community is truly special and unique. I am grateful for your support throughout my time here, and I am honoured to have been a part of such a remarkable community. Thank you for your continued encouragement and for making this journey so memorable and rewarding. (This is now beginning to sound like a farewell speech! We still have about nine months together and there will be time for appropriate farewells much further down the track. We need to make the most of the time we have left to achieve our goals and strengthen our community further).
EREA Colleges Ltd will soon commence the process of recruitment for the new Principal.
Principal’s Award
It gave me great pleasure at the College assembly on Tuesday 12 March to present a special Principal’s Award to Eddie Brady (Year 10, Mulrooney). The Principal’s Award is presented to a student, personally chosen by me, who has demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity and leadership, either on one single occasion or on an on-going basis. Eddie has demonstrated exceptional leadership on two separate occasions this year.
The first occasion took place near the beginning of the year and was witnessed by me. Eddie saw two boys in the quad who were in a heated argument with each other, and it looked like the situation was escalating. Before the situation had a chance to escalate to something more serious, Eddie stepped in to separate the two boys and diffuse the tense encounter. The second occasion took place at the high school swimming carnival a few weeks ago. Witnessing a fellow student struggling to exit the pool safely, Eddie wasted absolutely no time in jumping in to assist, ensuring the safety of the other student.
In both instances, Eddie exhibited commendable courage and a proactive approach to helping others, reflecting the values we aim to instil in our students, particularly the ethos of being an “Eddies boy”– young men who step in to right wrongs, to help and serve those in need and to be there for others. Eddie has demonstrated the strong qualities of being an Eddies boy.
It was with immense pride and honour that I presented the Principal’s Award to Eddie Brady, a Year 10 student who exemplifies leadership, courage, alertness, and compassion.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the Stage 2 Sunday Gold Cricket team on their impressive 4 wicket victory over a spirited Marist team! Completing an undefeated season is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about the team’s dedication and skill.
This win was the result of a collective effort from every member of the team, showcasing their unity and teamwork on the field. Special recognition goes to the individuals who delivered outstanding performances, contributing to the team’s success. A big thank you is also owed to Coach Eamon O’Donoghue for his guidance, support, and energy throughout the season.
Well done to the boys for their exceptional achievement, and may this victory serve as a memorable highlight in their cricketing journey.
Edmums
Our Edmums event this year is being held on Friday 5 April at Highball Bar (London Circuit, Civic), which is an ideal location to enjoy an aperitif or two. A grazing table will be available for all guests, consisting of cheeses, cured meats, pickles, dips, fresh fruits, and sweets. Additionally, guests will be greeted with a Martini Prosecco upon their arrival. Our annual Edmums event is always very attended so I wold suggest you get in early to book your ticket. Tickets can be purchased here by clicking on this link.
2025 Enrolments
I cannot believe we have already commenced interviews for 2025 enrolments. If you are considering enrolling your son in the College or are aware of a family who may be considering this, I would encourage you to get in early and complete the enrolment procedure. Our enrolments are increasing every year, and last year we had a waiting list for some year groups (which is a great problem to have, but certainly inconvenient for families involved). Please contact our Enrolments Officer as soon as possible.
Experience Eddies Day is on Monday 25 March and Open Evening is Tuesday 26 March (4.30pm – 7.00pm). These are great events for those considering to enrol in 2025 to come along and experience the school up close.
- Information for Experience Eddies Day can be found by clicking on this link.
- Information for Open Evening can be found by clicking on this link.
Student Drop Off and Pick Up
Parents are not to use the staff carpark (off Canberra Avenue) to drop or collect students before and after school. This is a dangerous place for our students to be moving through and we would like to keep this area for staff only. There is plenty of room around the perimeters of the school for drop off and pick up, especially Barallier Street, Frome Street, Blaxland Cresent, and Wills Street (not McMillan Crescent).
Afternoon pickups from the front driveway are also problematic with cars blocking McMillan Crescent from Canberra Avenue. Again, I would ask these parents to consider organising your son to wait for you at a suitable place around the perimeter of the school. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
Reflection on the Fifth Sunday of Lent
I would like to share with you a lovely reflection on the fifth Sunday of Lent by Sr Mary M. McGlone, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
“When I was 4, I told my mother that I was running away and would never come back. She replied that any child of hers who ran away and never came back would receive a punishment she/he would never forget. Well, that was enough for me! (Logic was not my strong suit at that age.) At the same time, her dealings with us made it obvious that no child of hers could quash her motherly love — no matter what we did.
(In the first reading of last Sunday), Jeremiah gives us an image of a motherly God who wants nothing to do with punishment. When the people break their covenant with the God who freed them, what does God do? God turns to them to offer a better deal than they had known before. God had brought them out of Egypt; when they were unfaithful, God said, “I will make a new covenant with you. This covenant will join us heart to heart. It will affect you so deeply that our mutual love will teach the world all they need to know about me.”
Ours is a God who gambles on love — over and over again.
In the Gospel, Jesus explains the same dynamic in relation to his life and mission. Jesus revealed that, as God’s representative, he would prove the boundless power of love through vulnerability, becoming like a seed that falls to the ground and dies to produce fruit.
The most Godly thing about Jesus’ vulnerability was that, unlike our own weakness and limitations, it was freely chosen (John 10:18). The most amazing thing about it was that it revealed the true character of God as a divine lover who constantly tries to woo us beyond our broken covenants and our attempts to fashion the divine in our own image.
From Jesus, we learn that divine power is the most subversive force in all of creation. Rather than crush opponents, God’s power undermines evil and the violence it perpetrates. As Mahatma Gandhi explained, “Love is the strongest force the world possesses, yet it is the humblest imaginable.”
Ultimately, the greatest leap of faith Christians are invited to take is to believe in this entirely counterintuitive and countercultural idea that the forces of humility, generous love, and tender, nonviolent creativity are the instruments of world change. This is Jesus’ message. He taught that falling into the ground and dying lead to ousting the ruler of this world.
Christ’s ongoing offer is to draw everything to himself. To believe that is to have faith that when the forces of evil unleash their worst, they ultimately expose themselves impotent against love.
As we draw near Holy Week, our liturgy invites us to reassess the creed we really live by.
Do we look to Christ to be delivered from punishment or harm? If so, what does the cross tell us about that? Are we willing to gamble everything on the power of love? To the extent that we choose the latter, we are on our way to being drawn into the very heart of a motherly God”.
Prayer for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
Loving God,
it is so hard to love the world sometimes
and to love it the way Jesus did seems impossible.
Help us to be inspired by His love and
guided by His example.
Most of all, we need to accept that we cannot do it alone,
and that trying is an arrogance of self-centeredness.
We need you, dear God, to give us support in this journey.
Show us how to unlock our hearts
so that we are less selfish.
Let us be less fearful of the pain and darkness
that will be transformed by You into Easter joy.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea