Principal
This evening, we will host the launch of our 130th year publication - Reflections: Celebrating 130 Years of St Joseph’s Nudgee College, One Story at a Time. This book is the feature of my article this week.
In 2021, we have celebrated our 130th landmark in a range of ways. From large celebrations such as the community event in April to mark the completion of the Treacy Heritage Precinct renovation to the distribution of small lapel badges to each of the 1,700 boys at the College this year. Signage around the campus as well as logos on boys’ caps and jerseys have also been daily reminders of our celebration.
While we may be a school with a remarkable history and a significant story to tell, the essence of who we are as a community is to be found in the individuals and families who have called Nudgee College their school since 1891. They have given life to what it means to be Signum Fidei. They have embodied the Nudgee Spirit.
We have attempted to give an insight into this evolving group in a contemporary manner using social media throughout this anniversary year. This weekly series on the College Facebook has featured photographic portraits complemented by short biographical stories of the individuals and families within the Nudgee College community.
These stories and stunning photos have successfully engaged thousands and thousands of people. Their responses to the featured individuals and families of the Nudgee College community have been humbling to read. There has been universal affection, appreciation and connection. A true celebration of what makes Nudgee College such a special community.
This response and engagement with the stories have occurred for a variety of reasons. The very nature of the individuals, themselves, as well as the contributions that they have made to the College, or to wider society, are reasons to celebrate and deserve acknowledgement. This collection of stories also authentically reflects the diverse and inclusive identity of the College community. Some stories are of very well-known people, others are largely anonymous to the wider community. All are part of the larger narrative that both tells and shapes the story of Nudgee College.
Woven through the individual and family narratives lies the fundamental elements of the Nudgee College community - the Christian Brothers; past and present parents; Old Boys as well as current students; country, city and international families; and staff from across the years and across the full spectrum of College life. For every person featured there were a myriad of others that could also have been highlighted. It is obvious that we could not feature everyone, unfortunately.
Furthermore, it is the manner in which these stories have been captured in a single photo, or series of photos, as well as in the associated short biography that has resonated with the wider Nudgee College community. This is a credit to the skill of the photographer and storyteller Mr Brody Grogan. On behalf of the College, I express a deep appreciation the way Brody has brought this project together. He has gifted the present day, as well as the future Nudgee College community, a valuable legacy of this 130th year.
If you missed out on purchasing a copy, we have limited numbers of books available to purchase through Reception, The Locker Room and at the Junior School in the coming weeks.
Soon, we will bring the proverbial curtain down on the 2021 school year – the 130th year of St Joseph’s Nudgee College. While COVID-19 has again dominated our year, it hasn’t defined our 130th year.
We will long remember wearing face masks around the school this past year. Lockdowns will be recalled in years to come. Leo De Clara and two of his mates will always remember living through 14 days in quarantine in what has been the former golf club, the former staff club, the former health centre … perhaps even our own COVID-19 hotel of sorts!
Some boys will long keep their 130 lapel badge. Others their 130 school cap or perhaps their firsts jersey with the 130 logo.
A wider audience of past and present parents, staff, students and community members will recall with fondness and affection the weekly release on the College Facebook of Reflections. In fact, a Nudgee Mum shared with me recently how eagerly she awaits each week’s post. Who will it be? Will she know them? What will they say?
These regular stories have successfully engaged thousands and thousands of people. Their responses to the featured individuals and families of the Nudgee community have been humbling to read. There has been universal affection, appreciation and connection. A true celebration of what makes Nudgee College such a special community.
As we gather tonight to celebrate the launch, for me, it is the defining memento of our 130th year. This book has captured the essence of Nudgee College through the stories of the well known as well those who are far more anonymous in our story. I thank the 68 individuals and families who are featured in Reflections for your openness and willingness to share your passion for this place. I hope that each of you and your families are as proud of this book as those of us who have seen it are.
I thank the team from the Development & Communication office for their integral role in this piece of Nudgee College history. Ms Tara Shipperley (Project Director) and Hannah Kilburn who has filled that role in recent weeks, Kate McGrath Burgess (Project Editor) and Paul Elliot (Graphic Designer).
In particular, I want to thank, acknowledge and congratulate Brody Grogan for his skill, his craft and his passion in creating images that capture the moment; capture the person; capture the College. He has spent time with each of those individuals and families who are featured. He has listened and looked. He has enabled them to authentically tell their story and to express their feelings about Nudgee College.
Their images and words have become our Reflections - a tapestry of colour, light and shade; a narrative of St Joseph’s Nudgee College in 2021; an insight into Nudgee Spirit and Signum Fidei.
Brody, through your skill, dedication and hours of time, you have created a legacy that will outlast all of us. Reflections will find a place upstairs in our museum. More importantly, it will find a place on the coffee tables and bookshelves – not only of those who are gathered here tonight but for many, many others.
The children and grandchildren of those 68 will thumb those pages. Countless others will do so as well. In years to come the College community will be engaged by the personal stories and the stunning images. Perhaps, at a deeper level, should they have the eyes to see and the ears to hear, they will also come to know what we are talking about when we talk about Nudgee Spirit and Signum Fidei.
What a priceless gift that will be. From all of us I say thank you Brody.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal
