Easter of the Lord’s Resurrection

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Through the curtainless window, for a while now,

I have seen a little star shining at me.

I do not sleep.

But the night between Holy Saturday and Easter

was not made for sleeping.

O happy night, you alone know

the hour when Jesus was raised!

You women, what are you looking for in the tomb?

Jesus lives, he is no longer here!

And my soul, too, tears itself from the tomb

with a wild laugh!

I, too, have conquered death

and I believe in Jesus, my Savior! (Paul Claudel)

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Lord, by our baptism, you have given us a share

in your death and resurrection.

Teach us to keep on rising from the dead,

leaving behind the old life

of selfishness and sin,

and living the new life of love and service.

In your name, we pray. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Some Barrett highlights for this term.

We welcomed back Ms Alyssa Walke back to BA2 after her maternity leave.

We welcomed 33 new students to Barrett House.

Congratulations to the following Academic Medallists and Academic Improvement recipients.

Academic medallists – Sem 2 2020

Gold: Paddy Williams, James Carroll, Cooper Kele, Daniel Fuller, Oliver Kele, Dillon Watson, Lachlan Russell, Jim Collins, Jack Fuller, Lachy McGarry, Jayden Spiteri, Jack Harkins

Silver: Billy Campbell, Matthew Fuller, Harrison Saurini, Romesh Devadason, Chris Hernik, Sam Houston, Luke Doig, Hamish Needham, Owen Collins, Ryan Hadden

Bronze: Archie Lyons, George Dart, Amitoj Sidhu, James Beutel, Harry Blackmore, Alex Evans, Inigo Lawrence, Ryan Davey, Josh Reid

Academic Improvement – Sem 2 2020

Jim Collins, Hayden O’Sullivan, Harry Blackmore, Nick Xidas, Rhys Williams, Harrison Bennett, Jayden Spiteri, Eamon Gerard- Stace, Lachy Hoban, Ted MacGinley, E-J Harrison, Charlie Cash, Beau Kururangi, Kai West, Dillon Watson, Thomas Tatkovic, Charlie Kavney, Jay Lam, Christian Pedrina, Inigi Lawrence, Matthew Fielding, Will McLean, Tevita Chan, Hayden Kele

Principal’s Award – Hayden O’Sullivan and E-J Harrison

Cricket 1st XI – Tom Balkin, Lachlan Mark, Kallum Russell and Daniel Fielding

Volleyball 1st VI – Josh Reid, Kynan Enever, Harry Blackmore and Archer Springer

Rowing 1st VIII – Connor Martin and Harry Dixon

Senior A Debating – Oliver Kele and Basil Nolan

Well done to Ben Forbes – U/16 Tennis Age Champion.

Thanks to Heather Trethowan and her band of helpers for a successful Barrett Breakfast – excellent numbers once again. Thanks to all the families who donated prizes for the raffles.

Great job from prefects, Jonty Tethowan, Jack Fuller and Jack Harkins. Very well organised in running house assemblies and swimming carnivals as well as helping out at the Barrett House Breakfast. They have also been instrumental in the smooth running of daily affairs in the House. Jonty and Jack F worked tirelessly to get a Showcase performance organised only to be postponed due to rain. Hopefully it will be rescheduled to next term.

Rory Dunn, Will Mclean, Jackson Harte and Callum Stringfellow are also doing a great job as Big Brothers to the Year 5 and 6 boys.

Interhouse Swimming wasn’t our best event – coming ninth. Barrett boys are obviously land creatures as we came first again in interhouse Cross Country. The fifth year in a row they have achieved this. Well done to all boys who gave their best. Especially the boys who ran the Championship 6km event – Jonty Trethowan, Jack Fuller, Callum Stringfellow, Harry Dixon, Leo Swinton, Gus Williams, Inigo Lawrence and Byron Cason.

Well done to all the boys who have worked hard all term in their classes and at home. May you have a restful holiday and pause for a moment to acknowledge and thank your parents for being given the opportunity to be educated at such a fine school as Nudgee.

May this Easter break also be one of renewal and reflection.

Mr David Kelly

Barrett House Dean

So there we have it, Term One is behind us in the blink of an eye. So much has happened in such a short time. The Cotter men have contributed to the GPS Swimming glory, rowed their hearts out at Wyaralong, and had many successful outings on the cricket pitch and volleyball court. They have studied hard (for the most part), debated ferociously, cheered until they have lost their voices and showed reverence during special occasions. 

From a boarding perspective, our Cotter men have smoothly navigated through a period of great change. Term One always brings an influx of new boarders to our community and we all work cohesively to establish what the new version of Cotter House looks like. I have been incredibly pleased with how the newest members of Cotter House have settled in and very proud of our existing Cotter Men for making them feel so welcome. To add to this period of change, we’ve had a new 3IC (Mrs Grima) a new House Mum (Kym) and Brent Mitchell has returned to Cotter as 2IC after his stint in O’Brien. They have all seamlessly taken up their new roles!

Much like Scomo during the 2020 bushfires, I took a 2-week ‘vacation’ (paternity leave) during weeks 3 and 4, which is a pivotal settling period for many of our boys. I must express my sincere gratitude to all of the staff who picked up extra duties and responsibilities in my absence. I knew that Cotter was in incredibly safe hands when I left, which enabled me to enjoy important family time. Special thanks must go to Brent Mitchell who worked tirelessly during this period to keep the house running smoothly. 

As always, Nudgee boarding life has been jam-packed with exciting activities this term. We’ve had formal dinners, trips to Wet ‘n’ Wild, the inaugural ‘Top vs. Bottom’ competition and the Staff vs. Student Cricket match (staff have now won 3 in a row!). We’ve worked as a dorm to renovate our outdoor spaces and create what some are referring to as the “Cotter Beer Garden” - although, I assure you no beer will be consumed there.

Finally, to keep us all on our toes and to fit in with the chaotic nature of Term 1, it concluded with a snap lockdown and evacuation of the Boarding Village. Whilst this process was a challenge, I must commend all of the boarding staff for the way in which they carried out what seemed like an impossible task. From Theo Betteridge (rec. coordinator) taking shuttles to the airports, to the HoBHs manically speaking on the phone, everyone contributed greatly. House mums worked ferociously packing the dorm down. 2ICs, 3ICs and other staff volunteered their time to lend a hand. It was truly a community effort and one that I am very proud of. Of course, this could not be done without Sean Toovey steering the ship! 

Finally, as always, I would like to thank the Cotter Families for putting their faith in us. It is a great pleasure to care for your boys and we are eternally grateful to work with such fine young men. I hope that everyone enjoys time with their family over Easter and we look forward to seeing you next term.  

Housekeeping items:

• Next term the boys wear Formal Winter Uniform. 
• On the first weekend, we have a “Friday Night In”. No leave will be permitted for Friday night unless there are extenuating circumstances. After this, the boys are free to go on leave for the long weekend. 
• Please pack winter bedding for the cooler months. Each boy needs 2 sets of sheets. 
• Boys need to return to school suitably groomed e.g. shaved, appropriate hair cut etc. 

Mr Casey Brealy

Head of Cotter Boarding House 

What an amazing start to 2021 we have had in Duggan House.

• We won the Swimming carnival.
• We shared a lovely House Breakfast as a community.
• We raised over $1000 for our House Charity - Edmund Rice Camps.
• We appointed the wonderful Bambi Silvertand as Duggan House Mum.
• We celebrated 36 Academic and Musical Award winners.
• We took the amazing year 7 men away for an incredible camping and bonding experience.
• We celebrated 6 Principal's Award winners.
• We celebrated International Women's day with flowers for Mrs Drury and Miss Waterman.
• We celebrated 14 GPS Swimmers and 1 Australian Junior World Cup squad member.
• We celebrated 13 GPS Rowers.
• We came 7th in the Cross Country but our effort and participation was outstanding!
• We celebrated 60 of Duggans finest in our Quiet Achievers recognition.
• We prepared and were ready to deliver the Duggan House Showcase but this will keep for Term 2.

I continue to be awed at the attitude, behaviour and commitment of the Duggan men in 2021 thus far. When they are called to action they step up and do their very best! This consistent effort follows the Duggan House motto seamlessly, “Superna Sequor” or “Strive for the Best.” Essential to our success this year has been the fantastic leadership group that has inspired from the front with hard work, imagination and a will to leave no stone unturned in seeking success. Matthew Johns, Luke Rohan and Callum Wallace (Duggan House Prefects), Thomas Raymond (Three Year Senior) and Harry Coventry (Boarding Prefect), these men are consistently in the front and leading by example. Keep up the amazing work!

To the amazing team of Big Brothers, Franco Lim Santos Faria, Joey Kingston, Jacob O’Mealley and Conor Holloway, the dedication to doing such an amazing job with our year 5 and 6 men is exceptional. You are making a real and significant difference in their positive development as the Duggan men of the future! Keep up your amazing work too.

To my exceptional team of PC Tutors, you are the daily face of love and understanding that our boys see each day. You are the human barometer that knows when a Duggan man may be struggling and needs that gentle word. Keep up your amazing work there!

Finally, congratulations to DU6 on winning the Term 1 Inter PC Competition. Congratulations also go to DU8 for winning against DU9 in the Junior school competition. See the scoreboard below!

Brownies will be there in Week 1 of Term 2.

Mr Karim Sedour

Duggan House Dean

Fogarty House welcomed 30 new students and 3 new Pastoral Care Tutors. Fogarty has been led by our three Prefects: Aiden Woolf, Nicholas Graham and George Pola.

At risk of missing some efforts and successes of our hard working young men, I’m proud to celebrate the following:

Year 7 Camp:  As always, this was a wonderful adventure to kick start high school life for our Year 7s. Mrs Green joined us for this once in a lifetime experience that included the “Leap of Faith”, mountain biking, raft building and an evening Liturgy that was very capably led by Year 11 volunteers: Darcy Hardwick, Kiran Naidoo, Aidan Read and Adam Pearson.

Fogarty House Breakfast & Muffin Bake: These two events were a wonderful opportunity for our new parents and families to meet other Fogarty families, plus connect with our wider community. Thanks to the wonderful work of our House Parents, led by Marisia Woolf and Katherine Potter. Thank you as well for the many raffle prizes donated for attendees to win. The immense generosity in this regard made it more of a lottery to ‘not win a prize’ rather than the rarity of winning. The boys are truly blessed.

Interhouse Carnivals: What has in recent years been a real strength of Fogarty House, the boys placed second in Swimming. The boys also did really well to finish third in Cross Country. These podium finishes were due to the high volume of student participation as well as some outstanding individual performances. Fogarty carried themselves exceptionally well by supporting their peers from other age groups and challenging themselves to give of their best, especially given the diverse range of abilities across the House, in both the pool and on the course. Well done boys!

World’s Greatest Shave: On Thursday 4 March, Fogarty hosted the College-wide “Shave Event” for the House charity, The Leukaemia Foundation. This initiative has grown bigger and better each year, with just over $22,170 raised in 2021. This year's efforts were led by the Senior Leaders of Fogarty House, who raised awareness and energy throughout the school in the preceding weeks, spoke on assembly, covered the school in promotional material and personally participated in fundraising and the head shaving event. We had a total of 27 students register to raise funds online, and commit to shaving their heads to stand in solidarity with persons suffering from blood cancer. These students ranged from Year 5 to Year 12,  and encapsulated all areas of our diverse student body. In addition, we also had over 100 students donate a gold coin on the day and volunteer to colour their hair at our "Shave Event". Thank you to Toombul Barbers and our wonderful “Shave Team” of volunteer parents and staff, for shaving and colouring student heads (and a few teachers).

Academic Award Winners:  We have had several individual students excel and achieve across all subject areas.  Congratulations to these students who were awarded for their success in their academic life for Semester 2, 2020.

Gold: Rocco Croucamp, Roman Jones, Angus Twist, Avneesh Sidhu, Daniel Neal, Wade Lucas, Darcy Hardwick, Elliot Browne, Josh Ford & Lachlan Bancroft.

Silver: Mitchell Vivers, Hugo Wendt, Hunter Ireland, Patrick Cook, Hayden Malone, Reinhardt Wentzel, Joshua Hagenbach, Nate Scott & George Pola.

Bronze: Eddie Power, Harrison Beirne, Jeremy Deakin, Henry Potter, Mark Hili, Jack Mitchell, Ben McGinty, Douglas Gemmell, Sethum Goonewardena & Zac McGinty.

Principal’s Award: Cooper Pentti, Craig Lightbody, Jack Weise, Spencer Williams & Adam du Mont.

Finally, I look forward to seeing you all again during Term 2. May God bless you and your families and may you all have a happy, safe and Holy Easter.

Mr Ken Adams

Fogarty House Dean

While Term 1 has been very busy, and many will be glad to see the holiday break, it does provide an opportunity to reflect on the resilience of the Hodda men.  I always find Term 1 the most difficult in any year, as it is the beginning of the Nudgee journey for many boarders.  This says so much about the attitudes of the 2021 Hodda men to finish the term so well.  There are so many positives to look forward to in Term 2. 

As the saying goes “an active boarder is a happy boarder“ and, with so much sport available this term, we have enjoyed an excellent Term 1 and the boys can be pleased with their progress.  It is always pleasing to see our new boarders make the most of the opportunities at Nudgee and get involved in sport, particularly when they may not have played volleyball or cricket.  What has been most pleasing is the enthusiasm with which the boys train and play.  Every afternoon it’s a mad rush out of the House to get to training and be with mates whether it’s in the A’s or the D’s.

One of the great things about vertical boarding is the interaction between different year levels and the positive influences of older boys.  It has been great to witness the different friendships that have flourished with boys from different year levels.  Also, the support the boys have given each other over the term has been incredible.  As much as we only want happiness in our lives, there have been boys that have struggled with loss within their families and communities.  The support the Hodda men have given each other has made me proud to be part of such a wonderful boarding house.

While all the boys can be congratulated on their efforts this term, I would like to take this opportunity to particularly thank our House Captains, Rodin Martin and James Knight. Their calming influence and leadership cannot be underestimated.  They have been excellent representatives of Hodda and have learnt a lot about being a leader and the expectations placed on a leader.  I am sure this experience will assist them in future leadership roles not just at the College, but in any life situation.  It would be remiss of me not to also thank Jack Harkins who has been an outstanding support to Rodin and James as well as staff.

Next term sees a return to the winter uniform so the boys will need to maintain their blazer, tie and white shirt.  I would also request that parents ensure their son/s have had haircuts and return with appropriate uniforms and clothing.  It’s amazing how many boys don’t have black school shoes on the first day!

I would like to sincerely thank the parents of the Hodda boys for the support that I have received since taking over from Ken Mitchell this term.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as acting Head of Hodda boarding house and look forward to helping Ken as the assistant Head of House for the rest of the year.

A special thanks must go to the Hodda and Health Centre staff who have worked tirelessly this term to care for the boys from homesickness to grazed knees.  I know that I can also speak for Ken and honestly say that without them our job would be so much harder.

Finally, thanks to all the young men of Hodda for your efforts this term and I wish you a safe and happy holiday with your friends and families and look forward to seeing you all again.

Mr Graham Moore

Acting Head of Hodda Boarding House

2021 began with a palpably different feel, given the nature of 2020. The Nudgee community returned from holidays with a real vigour, energy and excitement to be back and that was evident from our first event.

Our House Breakfast is always a great way to kick off the year. A vibrant atmosphere was boosted by the record number of parents and students in attendance. Our Prefects, Rohan Astbury, Dylan Eastland and Ethan Petcos began the year well, with Dylan honing his entrepreneurial skills by auctioning an exclusive Nudgee pen and ink sketch by Katherine Ellis (Magee 4 PC Tutor). Every year, Katherine donates her talent and time to produce an original artwork for the Breakfast and it is most appreciated. From all accounts, Big Brothers Sam Klein, Nikhil Lalwani, Byron Smith and Oska Boyd are doing an excellent job keeping the Years 5 and 6 students in check and entertained. The affection for the Big Brothers is obvious from the way the younger boys interact with their older mentors.

Many thanks go to Danielle Mills and Wendy Astbury who stepped in early this year to support Jo Smith, our Head House mum, who is recovering from knee surgery. Their energy and commitment are contagious which is reflected in the number of parents who willingly donate their time and resources to Magee endeavours.

The Inter-House swimming carnival saw Magee finish in a very creditable third place. This was due to not only individual efforts but also participation from the collective. The Prefects decided on several spirit awards which were presented to Sam Klein, Will McGrath, Aidan Easton, Byron Smith, Noah Shun Wah, Flynn Hovey, Liam Ganley, Noah Whatley, Cillian McNight, Jozef Harwood, Luke Hardingham, Ethan Easton and Michael Beirne. These were for efforts ‘above and beyond’.

Year 7 camp again was a great experience for all the boys. Thanks to Kelly Vowles and Sione Mohenoa who were front and centre for the three days. Also thanks to the Year 11 boys who attended the liturgy on the first night: Ben Evans, Charlie Dezius, Isaac Lofaro, Ryan Wedmaier, Lachy Barrett and Harrison Thoroughgood.

Our preparations for Showcase were going very well...until it was rained out! The boys’ singing was excellent as was the leadership from the Prefects. Sione’s musical accompaniment and Lachy Barrett’s lead singing were invaluable. Many thanks to Danielle Mills and Katherine Ellis who painted the Qantas logo on over 180 white t-shirts. Their work was not in vain as Showcase was postponed, not cancelled, so watch this space.

Despite the very best efforts of a number of Magee men, we did not have a podium finish in the Cross Country. Special mention goes to Will and Ned Curran who took out the top two places in their age group; definitely ones to watch as GPS Cross Country approaches. Oska Boyd was also a standout in the Championship race. Oska was called in on the day and ran a mighty race to finish 5th.

Well done to Nikhil Lalwani who was named in the Senior A Debating team 2021. It has been a strong season and Nikhil has been an integral part of their success.

First XI: Nick Glass and Zac Smullen have represented Nudgee in this ground-breaking season. Congratulations boys.

First VI - Ethan Petcos has been a member of our very successful Volleyball campaign. Ethan is also one of our talented athletes.

Congratulations to Ben Mason and Alex George on their Principal’s Awards.

Congratulations to our Gold, Silver and Bronze Academic Award winners:

Gold: Flynn Twomey, Tejas Ashok, Nate Barnett, Dermot Clancy, Jack Williams, Liam Astbury, Khy Dhawan, Jackson Copeland, Aidan Easton, Anthony Mineo, Louis Toaldo, Joseph Wesche, Lachlan Barrett, Yashodhan Rayani, Tom Robertson, Gabe Allen, Rohan Astbury, Nikhil lalwani.

Silver: Liam Ganley, Edward McDonnell, Noah Shun Wah, Jackson Gosney, Akira Chen, Gabe Gerry, Elliott Mills, Jackson Andrews, Thomas Woodhead, Gabe Fuentes, Dylan Eastlad, Sam Klein.

Bronze: Jack Smith, Alec Fuentes, Alex Romano, Jake McGrorey, Ethan Petcos, Zac Smullen, Oscar Toaldo.

I wish you all the blessings of Easter and look forward to seeing the boys next term.

Ms Julianne Daunt

Magge House Dean

A very warm welcome to the end of a very busy but rewarding Term 1 at Nudgee College. The McKenna men have actively embraced everything that the Nudgee community has to offer. Thank you to all in McKenna House who have welcomed in the new members of our community. I really enjoy watching the new students grow and settle in as they get involved in Nudgee life and become part of the 10,000 brothers.

Thank you to all for getting involved in our Annual McKenna Breakfast. This was one of our most attended breakfasts I have been involved with. I think people have missed gathering as a community following on from COVID-19 last year. A special thank you to those who donated raffle prizes. Unfortunately, the Annual Showcase had to be postponed due to the wet weather conditions. The boys worked so hard in the short rehearsal time and it was looking great.  I hope that we can find a new date in Term 2 or 3.  If your Son paid for a sausage sizzle, I am happy to hold onto the money for the rescheduled event or they can come and collect a refund.

Each day, the young men of Nudgee College gather in Pastoral Care. This is a group facilitated by our experienced and caring Tutors. It is an opportunity for students to engage with younger/older students. It is a great chance for the older students to lead and the younger ones to learn.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Tutors for all of their hard work in facilitating a safe, supportive and productive learning experience for all the McKenna men:

• McKenna 1 - Mrs Nicolette Beecham
• McKenna 2 - Mr Ellen Cunningham
• McKenna 3 - Mr Peter Gledhill
• McKenna 4 – Mr Kevin Ayres
• McKenna 5 – Mr John Hodder
• McKenna 6 - Mr Pep Cappello
• McKenna 7 - Ms Alison Kilgour
• McKenna 8 – Ms Jaimee Trembearth
• McKenna 9 – Mr Matt Waters

A number of McKenna students have participated across multiple activities already in Term 1. Our main goal for Nudgee activities is participation and this is one of my key pieces of advice for success at Nudgee – Get involved! It is during these activities that the young men of Nudgee College meet like minded people and forge strong friendships which will last forever. If your son hasn’t already been involved in an NC activity, please strongly encourage them to do so. Balance is another important aspect of success at Nudgee and I encourage students to not only play the sports they excel in but also experiment with activities they may not have been involved in.

2021 is already on track to be a really successful one for McKenna House. As the term draws to a close, I would encourage you to sit down with your son to reflect on his individual performance for the term. If you were able to set goals with him, it might be a great time to look at these goals. Continuous improvement is a really good measurement to start with. If they can improve every term they are at Nudgee, then they are onto a winning formula.

Have a safe, happy Easter and we will see you back in Term 2.

Mr Paul Kehoe

McKenna House Dean

Term 1 was a very busy and exciting term in Murphy Boarding House. We welcomed 24 new members to our Murphy community. It has been great to see these young men settle so well into the Murphy way of life and they have been a great addition to our boarding house. We also welcomed back the 48 returning Murphy Men who all returned with so much positive energy in anticipation for the year ahead.

As it was the first Term of the new year, Term 1 saw the return of many things that make Murphy such a great place to be a part of. On the first weekend of the Term, the Mini-Teams Season Launch took place. To mark this occasion, all Murphy Men were presented with their team jersey. The boys have worn these with pride at every Mini-Teams event, which has added to the excitement and atmosphere of the Mini-Teams Competition. Well done to all the men of Murphy for embracing this again this year, it has been so great to see them engage with each other regardless of year level. A special mention goes to the Brown Moles for finishing on top of the leaderboard at the end of Term 1. There was lots of talk about them not being as strong as last year and not being able to retain their premiership, but clearly, they have proven us all wrong.

This Term also saw the return of the Murphy REBEL award. The Murphy REBEL is an award given to a Murphy Man each week who has consistently demonstrated the values of Murphy Boarding House; Respect, Ethos, Brave, Excellence and Leadership. Well done to the following boys for being awarded this in Term 1.

• Carter Welfare
• Rowand Kelly
• Luke Doig
• Max Delaney
• Isaac Armstrong
• Will McGrath
• Ben Wyatt

It was also great to see so many Murphy Men involve themselves in the co-curricular program this term. With Rowing, Volleyball, Cricket, Debating, Swimming, Cattle Club and Cross Country on, there was plenty to choose from and our boys certainly made the most of this. Next term should be another great term in this regard, with more great options to chose from. I encourage boys to get involved in as much as possible because this is the best way to get the most out of all that the College has to offer.

I want to take this opportunity to wish all Murphy families a very happy and safe Easter holiday. I trust that the boys will enjoy a well-earned break and have an opportunity to recharge before another busy term. A reminder that the return date for Term 2 is Monday 19 April and we ask that all boys return before 7:00 pm. Also, please be mindful of our haircut policy upon returning to school in Term 2.

Mr Alex O’Regan

Head of Murphy Boarding House

The young men of O’Brien Boarding House have made an excellent start to the year by involving themselves in many activities in both boarding and day school.  This year, O’Brien welcomed close to 40 new members to our community, creating a boarding house of 67 fine, young men. We also welcomed new staff members: Ms Tracey Hoffman (House Mum), Theo Betteridge, Chris Norton and Lachlan Gilbert (Junior Supervisors) to the team.

O’Brien Boarding Values

Throughout the term, we have reinforced our dorm motto “The Little Things Matter.” This motto sums up exactly what it meant to be an O’Brien man, including:

• Are you honest, can your word be trusted? Are you where you are supposed to be?
• Are you respectful of others, their belongings, privacy space, background and culture? Do you treat the residence in a manner that creates a pleasant home for all?
• Do you understand what it means to behave at all times, on and off campus, in a manner befitting a member of the Nudgee College boarding community?
• Are you taking pride in the work you do, and do you seek to excel at every opportunity?
• Are you ‘on time’? (This is one of the most vital habits to take forward in life. Here it permeates all aspects of College life from daily routines, through to the meeting of academic deadlines).

Activities Involvement

The O’Brien boarders have been involved in several Academic, Cultural, Spiritual and Sporting activities over the course of the term. Most of the boys taking on the concept of “a busy boarder is a happy boarder” and involving themselves as often as possible. Some of the activities include:

• Social Justice program such as Veridian Snooker and Chat
• Term 1 GPS Swimming, Rowing, Volleyball, Debating and Cricket. Pre-season Football, Tennis and Cross Country has also had the boys kept active.
• Inter-dorm level competition including touch football, ping pong and chess
• Cattle Club

Boarder of the term

Congratulations to Fred Prosser on winning Boarder of the Term. Fred is an outstanding young man who has consistently demonstrated all aspects of what it means to be an O’Brien man. Although a brand new boarder in Year 7, Fred has been a great role model for his peers in the dorm. His application during study, positive interactions with staff and his all-round involvement in college life (including GPS Swimming and Cross Country) has been impressive.

I’d like to remind parents and caregivers to ensure that your son returns with an appropriate haircut.  Boys should not have any colour or “tracks” in their hair.  Hair should not cover the ears, collar or eyebrows and the use of clippers on the side must not be less than blade 3 and blended. Further, could parents and caregivers please ensure that boys have sufficient toiletries, including roll on deodorant, to last the whole term.

We move to our formal uniform next term so please ensure your son returns with the appropriate white shirts, tie and blazer.  Long dress pants will also be needed for Mass on Sunday nights in Term 2 and 3.

I hope all our boys and their parents have a safe and happy Easter and I look forward to seeing the boys all back here in term two.

Mr Jeff Campbell

Head of O’Brien House

With great enthusiasm and positivity, we begin 2021 a 189 strong community. We have been joined by 29 new students - 12 in Years 7 to 11, and 17 in Years 5 to 6. As always, they bring a wonderful diversity of talents, a collective enthusiasm, and a sense of excitement for what this new chapter in their lives may hold. We hope that they make the most of the many opportunities available to them.

We continue with an unchanged Tutor team this year (if it’s not broke, don’t fix it). Thank you to the wonderful Tutors who look after the boys on a daily basis. We are very lucky to have such an amazing team in Riley House.

Our House motto for 2021 is ‘One Day or Day One’. With this year’s motto, the Prefects wanted to highlight an important message regarding the need to focus on ‘Day One’ rather than the dream of ‘One Day’; to focus on the small things that help the bigger picture come to life; to begin those small tasks while always focused on the end goal of one day. A perfect motto in a world where ‘starting day one’ is sometimes distracted by the busyness of technology, sporting and extracurricular activities; and family life. This motto encompasses the simple act of just starting. If we start, the rest will follow.

Term One has already seen Riley boys focus on ‘starting day one’ in all aspects of their Nudgee life - academically, socially, personally and culturally and we will continue to challenge the boys to push themselves in order to take advantage of every opportunity available to them.

Already this year, we celebrated our 35 Academic Medallists from Semester 2, 2020 - 11 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze. These are great numbers, among the strongest in the College. Congratulations to the award winners for the continued and consistent efforts. An additional congratulations to Isaac Caputo, Harrison Coorey, Lachlan Kent and Daniel Carroll who all received the Principal's award for their efforts last Semester.

Our 2021 Prefects, Rowan Burton, Will Mann and and Keiran McCarthy, along with College Vice Captain Xavier Roati and College Captain Leo De Clara, have already discovered how busy a Senior year can be. However, their enthusiasm and genuineness cannot be questioned! Their high profile roles within the House are drawing on the willingness of the boys of all year levels to ‘put their hand up’, take on extra responsibilities, and contribute to our ongoing successes. I also acknowledge the year ahead for our Year 5 and 6 Big Brothers, David Fitzgerald, Cooper Percy, Max Davies and Mac Swain. They too are already receiving great accolades amongst our younger boys.

Term 1 continued to be a busy time for Riley House:

• For the first time in over a year, we were able to gather as a group (students and parents) for our Riley House Breakfast in Week 3. This was a wonderful opportunity for parents to meet our tutors and other Riley families. A huge thank you to Ms Lisa Board and our many House parents for their efforts to make this function such a success.
• In addition, many House parents backed this effort up in Week 8 with our Bake Day. The amount of food was truly unbelievable - thank you so much!
• Our Year 7s spent three days at Kenilworth with Tamryn Grindley and myself. This was a great experience for the boys, who rose to the challenges (including the wet weather, mozzies and a camping-novice House Dean) as they developed new connections and friendships.
• For the first time in three years, we did not come last in the Inter-House Swimming Competition in Week 3. For the boys and myself, this was almost as exciting as coming first. We are on the climb; by 2028 we will be first!
• Next came Cross Country and a very respectable fourth place. I was extremely proud of our boys for the efforts they put in to complete the 2km and 3km course. A special mention to Leo De Clara, Daniel Carroll and Oliver Byrans who put their hands up for the Championship race, which was 6km. Such amazing Riley Spirit. 
• Finally, there was Showcase (well nearly). Showcase is the one Inter-House event that causes me the most stress (the majority will remember the tech issues of 2018) but this year the preparation for Showcase was very positive. The whole House rose to the challenge and every rehearsal was an improvement on the previous. We were all feeling so excited for the night; and then the rain came! I hope that we can keep that positivity into next Term and deliver an amazing performance. More information on this next Term.  

As I am about to submit my newsletter, the Premier has just announced a three day lockdown, and we will finish the end of Term 1, 2021 in exactly the same way we ended Term 1, 2020; with online learning. I hope that this is where the similarities end and I see the wonderful Riley boys back in school after a relaxing and fun Easter break. Sending you all the love and positivity in the world. We’ve got this! Prayers and best wishes to you all for a safe and holy Easter season.

Ms Lynsey Hale

Riley House Dean 

The first term of 2021 has been a successful one for the young men of Ross House. Despite being a very busy term, we have managed to demonstrate some outstanding individual and team performances both in and out of the classroom that indicate we are going to have another exciting, positive and productive year.

As a House we welcomed 29 nervous, but excited students into the Ross House family with an opening liturgy in the first week of school. On behalf of all the new students, I would like to thank the existing Ross students, Tutors and the wider Ross House community for such a warm welcome. We also welcomed Mr Adrian Gray into Ross 1 while Mr Peter Kropp is on long-service leave and Mr Sam Dickinson as a new Tutor for Ross 9.

In the first Mass of the year, we celebrated the Year 12 Investiture where we inducted our Seniors of 2021 as leaders of Ross House and Nudgee College. We were also very proud to welcome Chad Oehlman (Ross 2) as College Vice-Captain Identity for 2021. A big congratulations must go to Tony Fuimaono, Hunter Lim and Joseph Picone who were inducted as Ross House prefects, as well as Jamie Knight, Ewen Lalor, Darcy Carmody and Luke Darbyshire Roberts who are our Junior School Big Brothers for this year. This leadership group has a clear vision for Ross House which is based on empowering the Senior students to engage the younger boys to increase participation in PC time in the mornings and during inter-house competitions. I’m confident our Prefects, backed by their fellow Seniors, will lead us this year with a sense of presence, purpose and pride. 

Academic Medal winners: Congratulations to our students who earned an Academic medal from Semester 2, 2020

Gold: Will Neubecker, Tom Duffield, James Neubecker, Elfie Piper, Spencer Green, Ryan Khatmi, Dusty Piper, Sean Watkins, William Duffield, Paddy Townsend, Caine Day, Ben Gunter, Hunter Lim, Declan Townsend.

Silver: Sidney Bates, Ethan Ferris, Archie Youngman, Jack Gunter, Will Gunter, Alessio Bianchi, Jack Hallett, Joe Picone, Chad Oehlman, Zac Manitta, Luke O’Sullivan.

Bronze: Piers Parker, Dom Weber, Davis Jacobs, Lachlan Meagher, Winston Jory

Activities: 1st Team Representatives

Debating: Chad Oehlman

Volleyball: William Roostan, Winston Jory

GPS Swim Team: Trey Nankivell, Duke Mawer, James Neubecker, Harry Malcolm, James Ellis, Elfie Piper, Dusty Piper, Will Neubecker, Joe Wilson, Jake Weingarth

Rowing: Darcy Carmody           

A big thank you and warm welcome goes to our new House Parent, Leanne Wiseman, Mum of Jacob (Yr 8) and Sam (NCOB 2018).  Leanne will be a great point of contact and source of support when it comes to Ross House events.

Term 2 should see the boys turn up to school in their formal uniform, fresh from their break, prepared to get involved in all aspects of life at Nudgee College. Don’t forget about the Parent/Teacher/Student interviews on Monday 19 April. We encourage all parents to bring their son to the interviews and be part of the conversation regarding their progress in class. 

Enjoy a safe Easter break with friends and family and I look forward to working with you in supporting the young men of Ross House be the best they can be in Term 2.

Mr Michael Byrne

Ross House Dean

Term 1 has been yet another exciting, action packed term for Shaw House. This year we welcome 38 new families to our community and stand strong with 191 students in Shaw House. As a community, we have welcomed new day and boarding students and their families, celebrated House Breakfast and Bake Days, placed third in the Inter-house Swimming carnival, fifth in Cross-country, celebrated with our Senior Students at the Investiture Mass, cheered on our Volleyball players, Cricket teams, Debating teams, Rowers, GPS swim team and Futsal teams. Year 7 enjoyed a warm yet memorable camp for three days at Mary Valley. Thank you to several Year 11 Shaw Seniors for graciously taking the time to visit us at Mary Valley - Hamish Garvey, Thomas Dean, Oscar Ezzy, Tom Grant, Cooper Groves, Archie Wallis and Oscar Keith. Shaw students always embrace the start of the year and the challenges along the way; including the positioning of Shawcase, sorry I mean Showcase.

We warmly welcome our Pastoral Care team: Mr David Sen, Mr Mark Reiken, Mr Anthony Gibb, Mrs Marie-Rose Burton, Mr Thomas Eichinski, Ms Kathleen White, Mrs Susan Reid and Mrs Melissa Miller.

Our enthusiastic Prefect Leaders for 2021 are Degenhard Beschel, Frank Bundock and Cameron Reppel. Working closely with the Prefects but in the Junior School are Big Brothers Sam Rogers, Callum Dodds, Hugh Osborne and Elijah Tiso.  All our leaders are wonderful role models for the Shaw community through their compassionate, enthusiastic, motivating and community building leadership.

I must extend my congratulations to the following Shaw students for achieving Academic Excellence, the highest of any House:

Gold: Lachlan Doherty, Ian Panteloen, Archie Wallis, Jacob Gillam, Mitchell Gray, Thomas Mallet, Joseph Roland, Xavier Cutuli, George Gillam, Sam Kewley, Ryan Stewart, Tom Kewley, Brodie Martin, Tobias Grant.

Silver: Sam Rogers, Danny Tang, Alex Tran, Luke Cowley, Boston Wheeler, Riley Doherty, Alex Patti, Baxter Voll, Hayden Hamilton, James Gray, Aiden Luke.

Bronze: Tyler O’Keefe, Harveer Birk, Alex Simshauser. Three  Shaw students were awarded the Principal’s award for outstanding improvement -Finn Radford, Chrionie Tiso and Euan Halliday.

As well as academic success, Shaw students have excelled in the sporting arena. Congratulations to all of our Shaw rowers on an outstanding season but in particular the Year 12 Rowers as this was their last Nudgee GPS rowing season. Congratulations to Harry McKeown, Rodin Martin and Griffin Schostakowski to be named in the First Rowing as well as travelling to State and National Competitions. Congratulations to Jackson Mills; Captain of Nudgee First Cricket Team and Finlay Schuster, Vice-Captain of Nudgee GPS Swim Team.

Thank you to Anne Gray for volunteering to be our “House Mum” again in 2021 and establishing the Shaw House Team App. Many thanks to our wonderful support group of parents; our parents are passionate about the Shaw House community and ensuring new families feel welcome and supported as they begin their Nudgee College experience. Of course, we welcome all our mums and dads to be involved in everything "Shaw." Thank you to the many, many parents who joined the community at our House Breakfast where we raised $800 for the Epilepsy Foundation. Thank you to all Shaw parents for sending in the fabulous treats for our Shaw boys at our first Bake Day of the year - the Bake Day was simply amazing! Of course, how wonderful it was to have our delightful and loved House Patron, Mrs Maggie Shaw, joined us for our House Breakfast and the Senior Investiture Mass; it would not be a Shaw event without Maggie.

This Term has been such a rewarding start to the year and I look forward to an equally rewarding Term 2. I wish you all a safe and restful break over the Easter holidays. God bless.

Ms Robyn Mann

Shaw House Dean

Term 1 has been action packed for the men of Tierney House. Here is a selection of highlights from the Term:

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

In Week 2 the Interhouse Swimming Carnival gave us our first opportunity to show our House spirit both in the way we participated and supported swimmers in the pool. There were several outstanding performances in the water, leading us to 4th place. Whilst the result was somewhat pleasing, we reflected that improved participation in some year levels could see better results.

House Breakfast

It was wonderful to meet so many families at this annual event. The opportunity to share a meal, listen to the musical talents of some of our Tierney men and connect with other members of the Tierney family made the morning quite special, given the year we all experienced in 2020. The morning also gave us the opportunity to raise funds for our House Charity, the Royal Flying Doctors Service. The RFDS delivers a broad range of essential health care services to rural and remote communities, as well as a 24 hour emergency retrieval service. The generous support members of the Tierney family show this service is much appreciated.

Year 7 Camp

In Week 4, Mr Daniel Luke and I travelled with our Year 7 group to Kenilworth. The young men engaged in a range of activities including orienteering, mountain biking, high ropes, a hike to Mary River and camp out. The boys threw themselves passionately into all activities and despite the inclement weather conditions, worked strongly as a team. A highlight of the trip was the camp out where every member of the group contributed to preparing and cooking dinner. 

Interhouse Cross Country Carnival

Week 8 saw the running of Interhouse Cross Country. The message of improved participation was taken on board with almost 100% participation and strong performance saw us claim 2nd place.

Showcase

Thank you to our Prefects and Big Brothers for their leadership and organisation in our short preparation for this year's event, which was ultimately postponed. Thanks also to the Tierney PC Tutors who assisted with rehearsals, in particular Ms Tahnee Brahim for her amazing efforts behind the scenes to support students and staff. We hope to show off our talents to the wider Tierney community at some point in the future. 

I would personally like to commend our House Prefects, Ciaran Casey, Shannen Gerard Solker and Simon Vollert, for the way they have led the House. I particularly wish to thank them for the manner in which they have welcomed me into the Tierney family.

I look forward to welcoming the boys back in Term 2 as they continue to engage in all aspects of College life. Wishing you a safe and enjoyable Easter break.

Mr Nic Aldridge

Tierney House Dean

Term 2 is a change of Uniform from Summer to Winter

Students will need the following:

• White Long Sleeve Shirts
• Blazer
• Junior Tie (Years 5 - 10)
• Senior Tie (Years 11 - 12)
• Trousers for years 10,11 and 12 are strongly encouraged
• Formal Shorts can be worn by all Year Levels

The Locker Room is open over the school holidays:

• Wednesday 14 April 9am to 3pm
• Thursday 15 April 9am to 3pm
• Friday 16 April 9am to 3pm

2021 Next Step survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2020. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.

Between April and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2021.

Further information on Next Step, including results from previous years, is available online at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.