Last week I finished reading the book “No Friend but the Mountain” by Behrouz Boochani. It is the true story of life incarcerated in Manus Island detention centre for refugees and asylum seekers who arrived by boat. It was awarded the Victorian Premiers Literary Award this year. I didn’t find it an easy read. In fact, I have found that it continues to confront and challenge me. The life of the detainees in the detention centre was horrendous.  Behrouz described the social system in the centre as Kyriarchal. This term was first coined in 1992 and describes a theory of interconnected social systems established for the purposes of domination, oppression and submission. Every routine, every procedure and every process in the centre was cruel and degrading to human dignity and lacked any semblance of compassion or kindness for people who had experienced trauma and dislocation as refugees. Manus Island detention centre is now closed but I believe it challenges our deluded beliefs that we are a nation of people who give people a fair go.

Towards the end of the book, Behrouz wrote about leadership. Here he says real leadership involves guiding groups of people with fortitude. Courageous leaders require courageous men and women in order to create change. He wrote that in the prison, prisoners kept their distance from the bold and the brave because that meant they didn’t have to exert courage themselves. This is true in our own communities also. To speak up against racism, abuse, disadvantage and discrimination requires courage. To stand with someone who calls out these transgressions also takes courage and when we have a number of courageous people calling out the indefensible there is potential for change. Regrettably, the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australian offshore detention centres will remain unchanged for now for there is a dearth of courage in our leaders and followers to make it different.

Last weekend Campbelltown celebrated the Fisher's Ghost Parade. Many from the College participated in the march representing the Australian nurses who served in the wars. Under the theme “heroes”, it was fitting to acknowledge the tremendous service the women provided, often at the cost of their own futures and health, for their country. This edition will have some excellent images of the parade. My thanks to Mrs Fran Musico Rullo, who organised the event with a number of passionate staff and students. On the same evening, the College hosted a reunion for students who graduated in 1989, 1999 and 2009. It was lovely to welcome the women back and take them for a tour of the site. My thanks to Mrs Grant for her organisation and Ms Renshaw for her assistance.

In the next few weeks, we will be farewelling Mr David and Mrs Matti. Both staff have been wonderful contributors to the College and created meaningful learning experiences for their classes. We thank them for all they have done and wish them well as they take up new positions significantly closer to their homes. This week we farewelled Ms Dallo who has worked in the library. We thank her and wish her well for the future.

I will leave you with a short prayer for refugees.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal 

Eyes will see a moment for grace instead of threat.
Tongues will not be silenced but will instead advocate.
Working for peace in their homelands,
working for justice in the lands where they seek safe haven.
Lord protect all refugees in their travels.   
www.crs.org