As I put this editorial together, the news is breaking about the behaviour of Don Burke towards women whilst he was anchoring the ‘Burke’s Backyard’ series of lifestyle television shows in the 80s and 90s. This  comes after the revelation of Harvey Weinstein and his predatory behaviour towards women over decades in the entertainment industry. As parents of girls who will one day graduate into the world to make their mark based on their talents and abilities, you must be feeling very troubled and concerned. As a College that shares your hopes and dreams,  and invests many resources, at all levels, into the development of your girls into empowered young women, this news is highly disturbing. How can we equip a young vulnerable woman to stand up to a male in a position of greater power without her job, reputation, credibility and future prospects being under threat? Those of us who have not been in this position cannot begin to imagine the bearing such an imbalance of power can have on an individual’s response.

Like all bullying situations, it needs the action of the bystanders and those who are aware of the situation to raise their voice, as well as the person who is being victimised. The target is the one with least power, which necessitates those who are observers to step up and restore the balance of power. In both the Don Burke and Harvey Weinstein situations, there would have been people who had turned a blind eye to what was happening. They allowed the inappropriate behaviour to continue through their indifference to the impact it was having on the targets.

Last Sunday we celebrated the feast of Christ the King.  Through the readings we hear that Christ implores  us to recognise him in each other, to see him in the stranger, to show compassion, sensitivity and see our world with new eyes. If we are indifferent to each other, we can’t follow that command. It is in this way then that we can prepare and equip our young girls and boys to stay safe. To keep an eye out for one another, to be protective of each other and to be sensitive and compassionate to others. Over time our girls may come across others who behave in ways like Don Burke and Harvey Weinstein. My hope is that they are confident to share their experiences and, with the support of those around them, are able to challenge that behaviour and feel less isolated and vulnerable to succumb to the bullying.

At the recent P&F meeting the executive agreed to purchase a laser cutter for the College. Such a device will provide greater scope and choice for the girls in creating and producing their projects in TAS and the Creative Arts. Girls from all year groups will be able to use it with the guidance of their teachers. I extend my thanks to the P&F and, through them, our parents who all contribute via the P&F levy for  this wonderful machinery. We will be able to have it operating in the new year.

Year 10 students received a note this week outlining the Community Service program they will participate in over 2018. This builds on their community service experience in Year 10 and aligns with the charism of the College which asks us to be neighbour to those in need. It will be a valuable opportunity for girls to appreciate the blessings they have and look at ways they can support others.

As we finish this year in a few days, I would like to share with you that Mrs Winarczyk will be retiring at the end of the year.  Mrs Winarczyk has been at the College for 24 years. In that time she has taught Italian and at times English and Religion. I would like to acknowledge the wonderful work she has done and the loyalty and dedication she has brought to her work. We wish her a wonderful retirement. Finishing also after a short time at the College, will be Ms Martin, Mrs Lewis and Mrs Bowman. We thank them also for their hard work whilst at the College.

Wishing you a lovely Christmas. May you have some peaceful time with family and friends. Enjoy the birth of Christ and the joy of the season. We have the awards ceremony and the closing mass on Tuesday 5 December, which I hope you can share with us.

I will leave you with a short reflection on Christmas.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal 

Christmas brings us all back to the crib of life to start over:
aware of what has gone before,
conscious that nothing can last,
but full of hope that this time,
finally, we can learn what it takes to live well,
grow to full stature of soul and spirit, get it right.

There is a child in each of us waiting to be born again.
It is to those looking for life that the figure of the Christ, a child, beckons.
Christmas is not for children.
It is for those who refuse to give up and grow old,
for those to whom life comes newly and with purpose each and every day, 
for those who can let yesterday go so that life can be full of new possibility always,
for those who are agitated with newness whatever their age.
Life is for the living, for those in whom Christmas is a feast without finish,
a celebration of change, a call to begin once more the journey to human joy and holy meaning.

– from In Search of Belief by Joan Chittister (Liguori/Triumph)

SAVE THE DATE - EMERALD DINNER DANCE - 17 MARCH 2018