Principal
For all our individual and collective frustrations, anxieties and uncertainties with the pandemic that we are now living through, there are also moments that remind us that perhaps, in the past, we have been guilty of taking some things for granted. One of those moments for me, and for many others in the school community, was last Saturday. How blessed we were to be able to come together under a golden sky to watch and support our boys (your sons) play sport with their mates. While the score did matter for those locked in the contest, what mattered to me was seeing the boys being physically active and playing together as a team or passionately supporting each other from the sideline or the grandstand. It was enriching to simply engage in conversation with parents on the sidelines or around the school. Undoubtedly, the sense of community connection is something that we have all missed during recent weeks. I expect that the same thing was happening for many others, around South East Queensland, as they came together again in community gatherings, large and small.
So let’s count our blessings, do our best to comply with the unwanted but necessary restrictions, get vaccinated and, importantly, keep a sense of hope about future possibilities. In doing so take a moment to consider and pray for our fellow Australians who continue to live through extended lockdown.
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One of the College’s ongoing strategic priorities is the development of leaders. This development pertains to both staff and students and it is captured in our Strategic Plan under the heading ‘Developing Future Leaders’. Leadership has certainly featured prominently across the College this week in a variety of contexts.
On Wednesday afternoon, I had the privilege of being a member of the interview panel for College Captain and Vice Captains for 2022. These young men were the embodiment of all the very best qualities of what we want a Nudgee College leader to be - a confident voice, an individual of character and humility, and one who is prepared to be a servant leader. Many Year 11 parents will also be aware of the series of interviews that have been conducted over the past week for House Prefects and Portfolio Prefects as well as the leadership retreat held earlier this week. The retreat was an influential couple of days with the guest speakers such as Old Boy Michael Pini and Br Damien Price creating a significant impact. Leadership announcements will be made in Week 10.
In terms of staff, there have been several significant leadership changes for 2022 that have been announced this week. On Sunday evening, I shared the following news with our boarding families:
Following Mass this evening, I addressed our boarding students and staff to formally announce the newly appointed Dean of Boarding for 2022 onwards.
After a rigorous and competitive recruitment process, I would like to congratulate and introduce Mr Casey Brealy as the College’s new Dean of Boarding.
Casey and his wife, Megan, have been part of Boarding at the College since January 2019. For the past two and a half years, Casey has been Head of Cotter House, and more recently Deputy Dean of Boarding, working alongside Mr Sean Toovey. Megan worked as the O’Brien House Mum up until December last year, and this year has enjoyed some leave as a new mum with their daughter, Mia.
In making this announcement, I would like to acknowledge Sean Toovey and sincerely thank him for his exemplary leadership and dedication as Acting Dean of Boarding this year. Sean’s flexibility and willingness to prioritise others’ needs reflect the Edmund Rice charism, and I know the College and our boarding community are all the better for his servant leadership. We will acknowledge Sean’s contribution in the usual manner at the end of the school year.
I am confident there will be a seamless leadership transition as Sean and Casey work collaboratively in the best interests of our boarders as well as the boarding community in general. Following this appointment, the College will now look to appoint the Head of Cotter House position in the coming weeks.
The Director of Pathways, Ms Dee Lyons, has announced her resignation from the College effective as of the end of Term 3. We thank her for the contribution that she made during time at the College and wish her well for the future. In her place, we have appointed Mr Michael Byrne as Director of Pathways (acting) for the remainder of 2021. Given this change, Mr Brendan McGuiness will again fill the role of House Dean for Ross (acting) until the end of the year.
Also, the Director of Development and Communication, Ms Tara Shipperley, is taking maternity leave at the end of the term and we wish her well ahead of the birth of her second child. The College has appointed Ms Hannah Kilburn as Director of Development and Communications (acting) until the end of 2022. Hannah is currently in the role of Alumni and Community Manager (acting).
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Finally, we wish our Senior class of 2021 well for the coming days. Today, they have undertaken our signature retreat, Kairos. Unfortunately, our two previous attempts were thwarted by lockdowns so we have been pleased to be able to host this retreat for them. I am grateful to Mr Stephen Meara (Dean of Identity) and his team of staff for their efforts in ensuring that the Year 12s can share in this defining experience. Further to that, we also wish the Year 12s well for next week when the majority of the cohort undertake the Mock exams that are a critical part of the preparation for the External Assessment period which begins in the latter weeks of October.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal
