As I was driving into school this week, I listened to an interview of the new Women’s Safety Commissioner. This is a new position created in the NSW Government and comes out of the significant harm and risk women face through violence perpetrated by family and intimate partners. Dr Hannah Tonkin is the inaugural Women’s Safety Commissioner in the State. Her focus will be to provide leadership and oversight of policy and programs on domestic, family and sexual violence which affect women.

On average, one women is murdered each week by her current or former partner. It is the greatest health risk for women in the ages between 25 to 44. An estimated one in six women aged 18 and over have experienced violence by a partner since the age of 15. The statistics would suggest that as our girls grow and establish relationships, almost 17% of them will be faced with some form of violence from their partner. This is a shocking picture for women in New South Wales. We have all seen this reflected in our news repeatedly and mourned for the families broken and traumatised as a result of the violence.

We work with the girls at the College to try and build their confidence and self-respect so that they recognise healthy respectful relationships that are constructive and nurturing. I welcome the role of the new Women’s Safety Commissioner and appreciate the urgency the Government has given to this risk for women. Like you, I hope that our girls will disclose to you or a trusted source when their relationships are not positive so that the appropriate guidance and advice can be given.

This is the final week for the HSC. It is wonderful to see the girls finally complete their exams and now they wait for their results. We have a wonderful networking event on Friday evening in the newly refurbished COLA where current HSC girls can mingle with alumni to explore their future options. Thanks to Mrs McGillicuddy for organising such a great opportunity and thank you to all the alumni who will be joining the girls. Hosting the middle school dance at the same time in the MSC will see the College site abuzz with activity and excitement on Friday evening. My thanks to all staff who will be supporting both events for the girls. I ask parents to be patient as they drop off their daughter for the events as traffic may be a little congested at the start.

As today is 2 November, I will leave you with a prayer for All Souls Day.

Blessings,

Sue Lennox - College Principal

Merciful Father,

On this day, we are called to remember those who have died,
Particularly those who have died in the past year,
And pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator.
As your son taught us to call the stranger
neighbour, our fallen are many—

Names we will never know,
Voices we have never heard,
In lands we may never visit,
Yet brothers and sisters all.

Lord, as you command, we reach out to the fallen.
We call on you on behalf of those we could not reach this year.
You raised your son from the dead
that all may share in his joyful resurrection.

In Jesus' name, we pray.

(taken from Catholic Relief Services)