During the past term, the girls had worked on preparing for the ANZAC assembly which was held on Monday 27th April. Year 7 and 8 made poppies. Year 9 completed slouch hats which had the name of an Australian killed in the Vietnam war on it. Year 10 created paper rose wreaths with the names of Australians killed in WW1. Year 11 and 12 made crosses, each colour representing a different conflict from the Boxer rebellion right to Afghanistan naming service persons who were killed in the conflict. RE students looked at the symbols of ANZACS , indigenous perspectives and the role of the army chaplain. English students studied the role of the nurses, Math students studied the statistics of Gallipoli and Science students studied the Lone Pine. Food tech students made ANZAC biscuits and Geography students studied the geography of Gallipoli. PDHPE did an army boot camp and Visual Arts created a multimedia artwork. Evidence of this cross disciplinary approach was displayed in the Mary Sheil Centre on the day.

The ceremony brought together many different cultures, perspectives and experiences. We respected those who had fallen, with a particular reference to relatives of students and staff from our College community and those from the local community. It was sensitively presented and well received. I would like to thank Mrs Fran Musico Rullo for her passion and drive, the HSIE faculty and all other staff for their support and work leading up to the day. I would also like to congratulate the girls who were outstanding in their participation and contributions at all levels.

Later in the week we hosted the College AGM. As a company, we have Members of the Company and a Board of Directors. The Chair of Member, Sr. Elizabeth Delaney has been involved in the College for 25 years. We are very grateful for the support and wisdom she has provided St Patrick's College over that time. During the Easter break our Board Chair was awarded his doctorate. I would like to congratulate Dr Michael McDonald for this outstanding achievement and also thank him for the time and leadership he continues to give St Patrick’s College through the Board. We are very fortunate at the College to have such capable and experienced professionals leading and advocating for our community. Both the members and directors present on the day were delighted to witness some of the talent in the College during the assembly and then again through the submitted reports at the meeting.

Again, in the past week, we have been confronted with news of the further pain and suffering of people in our world through natural disaster or political legislation. How can God be present in these events and in times like this? The answer may well be found in the writings of St Teresa's:

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion is to look out to the earth; yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now."

Blessings,
Sue Lennox, Principal