Mr Scott Thomson (Week 4, Term 4)
Dear Nudgee College Community
As public conversation grows around the Federal Government’s proposed ban on social media use for those under 16, many parents and educators have welcomed the debate it has sparked. For years, schools like Nudgee have witnessed both the extraordinary opportunities technology provides and the quiet, often unseen costs of a world lived largely online.
The research is now undeniable; constant digital connection can impact concentration, mental health, and even empathy. Yet, when young people step away from their screens, something beautiful happens. They look up. They talk. They listen. They rediscover the slow joy of relationships built face to face, not filtered through a screen. At Nudgee College, we see daily the benefits of moments that are tech-free: the laughter and competitiveness on Wilkes, the conversations in the Boarding House, the focus in a classroom. These moments remind us that formation happens best through presence, presence to each other and to the world around us.
In the coming years, this conversation about technology will only deepen, and as a Catholic community, we will continue to ground it in what matters most; human connection, dignity, and purpose. Our goal is not to remove technology, but to ensure it serves our boys, not the other way around.
As the year draws to a close, I also wish to acknowledge two outstanding members of our community whose service has profoundly shaped Nudgee College.
Br Damien Price will be stepping down as Chair of the College Advisory Council after eight years of dedicated service, six of which he led as Chair. His wisdom, compassion, and steadfast commitment to Nudgee’s mission have strengthened the College in countless ways. Br Damien has been a guiding presence, always calling us back to our Edmund Rice values of faith, inclusion, and justice. ‘Pricey’ will not be going too far and we hope that his presence, in a non-advisory council role, will remain at Nudgee for a few years yet.
We also farewell Sr Glenda Elliott, who retires this year after an extraordinary 29 years as our College nurse. Glenda’s sons also attended Nudgge College. Generations of Nudgee men have experienced her care, warmth, and quiet humour in moments of need. All of our families, but particularly our boarding families, have been the beneficiaries of her expertise and loving care during moments of sickness and injury to their sons. Glenda’s service is a living example of what it means to nurture the whole person; body, mind, and spirit.
To both Br Damien and Glenda, we offer our heartfelt gratitude. You have each left a lasting imprint on our community and, more importantly, on the lives of countless young men.
Kind regards
Scott Thomson