St-Doms-Book2

Foreword

Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) continues to value This year we held a Congress to celebrate EREA’s life over
the wonderful opportunities provided through Catholic its initial ve years. This Congress helped us all to re ect on
education of young people in your school along with over the past, engage in the present and envision the future - to
47 other schools throughout every state and territory of consider advancing towards what can be!
Australia. This network of schools continues its proud
tradition of challenging young people to make a di erence Warm congratulations and sincere thanks for your
in their world through the myriad of studies, spiritual contribution to Catholic education; and for your faithfulness
experiences, service learning, outreach, training and cultural in living out our Charter. We o er our blessings to your
and sporting pursuits. community for a hope lled future.

Over the past year, a further 24 Catholic schools who have Wayne Tinsey
at some time experienced a connection with the Edmund Executive Director
Rice story and the Christian Brothers, have joined EREA as Edmund Rice Education Australia
Associate Schools. This expansion of connection within the
Network of schools will provide future opportunities to share
in the vision and mission of Catholic education throughout
Australia.

We celebrate with you and congratulate you on the joys
and successes of the past year in the knowledge that your
contribution continues to give life to the EREA Network.
Your role in Catholic education in your part of our world
is heralded and we thank you for the many who have
signi cantly contributed to the journey of our young people.
We support your e orts to bring the Gospel to life in ways
that are unique in your context.

Brother Jeff’s
Message

It has become tradition at the College that
each year at opening mass I present you with
a theme for the year, a goal to strive towards
in your daily endeavors, however this year
I did not. At the Opening Mass, I presented
the EREA Charter to the College for the first
time; it is this charter that will now form my
message to you for this year.

When our College Captain and I signed the charter, we signed
it on behalf of all of you, with the promise that we would
strive to embody the four touchstones in our lives and in
our hearts. Therefore, my theme or goal to you for this year
is to reflect on how you can personally embody the four
touchstones in all that you do this year.

How you can achieve a
LIBERATING EDUCATION

How you can personify
GOSPEL SPIRITUALITY

How you can be an advocate for
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

and how you can be an outlet for
JUSTICE & SOLIDARITY

I wish you all the best for the year to come and fortitude
in your attempts to demonstrate the four touchstones.

Good luck,
and may God hold you in the palm of his hand

Brother Jeff Regan cfc
Principal

St Dominic’s College : 2012 1

Significant Events MAY
of 2012
• 12th May - The discovery of a missing Mayan Calender
JANUARY piece disproves 2012 Armageddon

• 13th January - Cruise ship Costa Concordia runs aground JUNE
at Isola de Giglio, Italy, with at least 15 deaths
• 3rd June - Tiger Woods’ 73rd PGA tour victory equals Jack
• 23rd January - European Union agrees to embargo Nicklaus’s record
Iranian oil in protest against Iran’s alleged nuclear
weapons program • 12th June – A fourth coronial inquest into the
disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain rules that a dingo
• 26th January – Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Leader of took the infant from an Uluru campsite in 1980
the Opposition Tony Abbott are evacuated by a security
detail from a celebratory function when a protest by JULY
supporters of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy threatened to
turn violent • 2nd July - Monsoon rain in East India kills at least 79
people and leaves 2.2 million homeless
FEBRUARY
• 27th July - Queen Elizabeth II announces the opening of
• 6th February - Queen Elizabeth II marks her 60th the London 2012 Olympics at the opening ceremony
anniversary of becoming British monarch, becoming
only the second to do so AUGUST

• 27th February - Wikileaks begins disclosing five million • 4th August - South African Oscar Pistorius becomes first
emails from private intelligence company Stratfor amputee to compete at the Olympics

MARCH • 27th August – Australia ranks 10th in the Olympic medal
tally with 7 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze medals
• 22nd March - Australia’s most wanted man, Malcolm
Naden, is captured after seven years on the run in SEPTEMBER
Gloucester, New South Wales
• 15th September – 2012 Sydney Islamic Riots erupt in
• 31st March – Genieve Blackwell is appointed as the first response to an American Anti-Islamic film
female Anglican bishop in New South Wales
• 29th September – Australian rules football: The Sydney
APRIL Swans win the 2012 AFL Grand Final, defeating Hawthorn

• 9th April - The Lion King becomes highest grossing • 30th September – Rugby league: Melbourne Storm
Broadway show after overtaking The Phantom of the defeats Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 2012 NRL
Opera Grand Final

• 22nd April – Soccer: A last minute penalty sees Brisbane OCTOBER
Roar FC defeat Perth Glory FC 2–1 in the 2012 A-League
Grand Final • 4th October - Formula One legend, Michael Schumacher,
retires
2
• 30th October - Walt Disney purchases Lucasfilm Ltd and
its rights for Star Wars and Indiana Jones for $4.05 billion

NOVEMBER

• 1st November – Scientists detect evidence of light from
the universe’s first stars, predicted to have formed 500
million years after the big bang

• 4th November - Bishop Tawadros appointed as the 118th
Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

• 14th November – Total solar eclipse in northern Australia

DECEMBER

• 5th December – Dame Elisabeth Murdoch passed away
aged 103

• 21st December - “Gangnam Style” becomes the first
video to reach one billion views on YouTube

College
Administration

Board Report The work of the Board is conducted through its committees,
who each report back to the Board on a regular basis.
2012 was a busy year for St Dominic’s
College as we began our 53rd year in The three committees in 2012 covered the key areas of:
operation. We began the next stage with
the development of our new strategic • Finance and Governance Committee
plan for 2013- 2016. We continue to build • Building, Sustainability and Risk Committee
positive, collaborative relationships and • Marketing and Enrolment Committee
communication networks with the College
community. We take with us the historical I would like to formally recognise the Board members
reminders of our past as we celebrate for 2012:
our accomplishments and our continued
improvement. Fleur Hannen Board Chair

We stepped into the transitional year of our Strategic Plan Peter Kenny Retired Mar ’12
ensuring the governance requirements of the strategic (Chair of Finance & Governance Com)
planning program were met and further developed. We have
taken time to consider views of all areas of the community, Tim Cook Retired Jun ’12 (Chair of Building,
both internal and external to our environment. As part of Sustainability and Risk Com)
the process we have considered new ways of reporting and
evaluating our processes to demonstrate the effectiveness Anthony Sciberras Deputy Board Chair & Chair of Marketing
to our key stakeholders. and Enrolment Com.

The College Board, during 2012, occupied an integral and James Warwick Chair Building, Sustainability & Risk Com.
critical place in the life of the College through its advisory
and consultative governance role. The members of the Dominic Lennon
Board have all provided support with a high degree of
professionalism and generosity over the past 12 months. Michael Todd Deputy Board Chair
There have been many areas that have been reviewed and
strong leadership from the Executive have provided the David Ockenden Chair Finance & Governance Com.
College with a governance structure far beyond what many
schools have seen. Br Michael Walsh

Cheryl Franke

Lee Connolly-Kenny

Paul Hocking

Invited Committee Members:

Tim Cook Building, Sustainability & Risk Com.

Jacob Deigan Marketing Committee

In closing, I would like to thank Brother Jeff Regan, College
Principal, Chris Browne, College Deputy Principal and Kel
Haynes, our Business Manager for the display of outstanding
leadership qualities and business acumen again this year.
It is with the hard work and contribution from this high
level professional team of both the Executive and the Board
Members that the future for staff and students at St Dominic’s
is leading edge.

Fleur Hannen
Board Chair

4

Brother Jeff Regan Many things have affected the lives of the boys, staff, and
Principal families associated with this College. To get a more complete
picture of the College community, this report should be read
Principal’s in conjunction with the published Annual College Report
Report (required by the government and published in mid 2013), the
routine weekly newsletters and of course the numerous other
So another busy year in the life of the reports in this magazine.
St Dominic’s College community is
completed. As usual, here I have highlighted EREA CHARTER
a few things from 2012, from my personal
point of view as the leader of this College Each year at the opening College community mass, a theme
community. While the day to day life of a is announced. However this year our opening mass saw us
busy College is complex it is often fairly celebrate the 4 touchstones of our national College system
routine, so here I have tried to just highlight and in a ceremony the College officially signed the charter
a few things which need emphasis or remind document where we promised to live by these touchstones
us all of the special things which we can so and try to inculcate them into everyone in our College
easily forget or gloss over. community. So while our first guide and teacher is Jesus it
can be seen that his example and values are obvious in our
four areas of LIBERATING EDUCATION, GOSPEL SPIRITUALITY,
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY , JUSTICE & SOLIDARITY. Much of
our College history and our community have lived these
values in the past but now we focus our efforts to live them
more fully and they give us guidance as we make decisions
on our future programs as a College community.

Late in the year some of our board members and senior staff
attended the EREA Congress in Melbourne to further our
understanding of the charter and share how other Colleges
were living out its touchstones

STAGE 4 BUILDING

Much of the physical landscape this year was dominated by
the next stage of the building program. The southern corner
gave us a new clothing store, extensive grounds department
storage and the Treacy Centre multipurpose rooms.
Fortunately this part of the program was completed in time
for the HSC cohort to complete their examinations in comfort
and quiet.

The new TAS facility was almost completed as the year
finished but will certainly be open for 2013 classes. This
important area for our boys and some of their favourite
subjects, was brought up to date with innovative technology,
up to date equipment and flexible open spaces. The staff
and students are to be congratulated for their input into the
development of this stage and mostly for their patience in
dealing with the disruption that such projects can have on
daily College life.

STRATEGIC PLAN

The planning for this new plan was commenced in 2011. But
this year a committee of parents, staff and students furthered
the process with as a broader consultative meeting and

St Dominic’s College : 2012 5

survey. With the facilitation of an EREA executive member, attention to the growing group of students struggling with
Mr Bob White, the information was distilled into a plan Literacy and Numeracy that come to our doors (about 30% of
and the executive put a time frame around the result. Our each Year 7 cohort) but who exit competent and far from the
deputy Mr Chris Browne is to be congratulated on keeping all bottom of the ranks.
involved to the timeline and getting the process completed.
The printed document is to be launched early in 2013 but the PASTORAL
first year of the three year project has already been planned. I
am confident that this plan is a reflection of how a majority of While the day to day academic teaching and learning is a vital
the College community sees where we have been and where part of College life it cannot be seen in isolation from social
we must go into the future. structures of a College and its efforts to look after the whole
student living in a complex society with numerous influences
TEACHING & LEARNING and pressures. We pride ourselves on our efforts to care for
the boys all their myriad differences and help them to grow
While we work with improving the day to day learning, and mature well. Some of the matters below are part of that
keeping up with ICTL, refining our Diligence and Sustained complex process
Effort reports, developments and engagement of the staff
in professional development, several newer things occurred ANNEXES
in 2012.
Savio (Penrith Years 5 -8) and Obley (St Mary’s Years 9 & 10)
EMU MATHEMATICS continue run to capacity and creating many good stories in
the lives of students and families with difficulties. While it
We became part of the special program for Stage 4 is a continuing struggle to meet the costs of this important
students which involved us in networking with some of our work it was great to continue to receive financial support
neighbouring Catholic Colleges. The early improvements from the Catholic Education Office of Parramatta for these
for our students and the staff enthusiasm generated will two programs ensuring they can continue at least in the
certainly see us keeping with this into the future. short term. The dedicated staff at our other two campuses
are to be congratulated on getting many students back
RoSA into mainstream education or a meaningful employment
opportunity.
This year saw the first formal year of the Record of
College Achievement being issued to College leavers and BULLYING
superseding the College Certificate. We are enthusiastic that
this RoSA is now also a formal recognition of all the extra things This is naturally on the agenda of all Colleges and we have
a student has been involved with across their College lives. continued to update and refine our policy and procedures
as we learn more from our own experiences and those of
GONSKI other Colleges who willingly share best practice. Of growing
concern is the rise of the bullying that arises from the
This wide reaching report was commissioned. The first immature use of social media and technology. The events
indications suggest that our College would benefit from the at home or in the wider community keep getting pushed to
revamped funding system where the stress is on addressing Colleges to be involved with or even solve.
the needs of students who have slipped behind for any
number of reasons. It remains to be seen if the Federal LEADERS
Government accepts the final report and more importantly
finds the increased funds that will be surely needed. Student leadership in all it’s forms continued to be
encouraged and developed. It seems that each year our
ACADEMIC RESULTS prefect group gets better and better as they confidently
make contributions to the College daily life and help us to
With external examinations (HSC, Naplan, Various Subject be a student-centred place. Work has finally been put into
Competitions etc) our results continue to show that we giving our SRC representatives and Year House Captains some
have the whole range of abilities at the College. While the formal leadership training. As representation opportunities
talented continue to do very well and reach their potential seem to have increased in the wider community we have
the strength of the College still seems to be in getting the been sending more students to these events rather than just
average student to do just a little better. However this is the formal leaders.
difficult to show to the wider community but is experienced
by many of our students and families. Nor is it easy to draw

6

CAMPS EREA TOURNAMENT

These have continued with a more settled program being Once again this year St Dominic’s hosted the 2nd Annual
finalised for each year at the venues we have now finalised EREA Football and Basketball tournament in the July holidays.
after some recent trials. We firmly believe that many of our While the inaugural event was only for senior teams this
boys are ‘nature deprived’ or have difficulty facing challenges year we added a junior event for both sports. The basketball
and many are spending too much time in front of the section thus attracted eight teams and the couple of junior
computer screen or with their mobile phones. Hence this football teams that did enter decided to play in the senior
remains a compulsory part of our College life here. competition rather than not attend at all. Next year the event
is moving to Brisbane and hopefully we might be able to be
SOCIAL JUSTICE represented. The EREA community were very high in their
praise of St Dominic’s for hosting this event and so helping
This important part of our College life and education of our National member Colleges to realise that they are part of
the students continued. There seem to be more causes and a larger community than just our city or state.
marginalised people that need assistance. Our challenge
continues to be to engage all students with this aspect of OTHERS
social responsibility. While many do get involved whole
heartedly we still have a way to go to get the whole student Good participation in debating, mock trial, chess and
body united to become a significant force for good and numerous Creative Arts events (music and art) has continued
change. The ‘here and now’ nature of adolescents makes it this year and shows that the boys have ample opportunities
hard to engage their reflective mode which is needed for true to take up if they have a little courage. Their success and
change of heart. participation is regularly noted at assemblies and celebrated
by the College community.
ADRIAN CARE
BOARD
Late this year Adrian was very seriously injured days before
his HSC examinations began. The great support of his This fantastic group of people, who work mostly behind the
classmates and the prayers of the staff seemed to result in a scenes, have continued to contribute at their monthly and
miracle and be a good reflection of the pastoral care provided committee meetings. Under their dynamic leader Mrs Fleur
to our boys and their families. As the year closed Adrian had Hannan, the Board has stood behind the management of
survived brain surgery and begun recovery against the odds. the College especially in the development of the building
program, strategic plan and in helping us comply with
SPORT the many requirements of government and other outside
agencies. I thank all the members as I simply could not do
This magazine shows extensive details of the many sporting without them and St Dominic’s continues to be a strong
activities that are available to our students. Sport, and the example to the whole EREA community of how Boards can
values it teaches, remained an important part of the lives of really contribute to the life of any College.
the staff and boys throughout this year. We continue to be
very strong in cricket, basketball ,football, union and AFL. EXECUTIVE
Renewed bonds with the Panthers Organisation are starting
to show a resurgence of our previously strong rugby league This group (and their supportive and understanding
reputation. It is good to see that many boys get the chance families) continue to be my constant advisors, initiators and
to represent the College in these sports and the many others implementers and I thank them sincerely for their consistent
offered by the MCS organisation. wholehearted efforts especially beyond the normal College
hours. This year I would like to thank those who stepped up
While the College is never short of present or past students into acting in more senior roles during my medical absence,
who reach high levels, it is worth mentioning here that we especially Mr Chris Browne our deputy.
extend congratulations to Cameron Weir on not only his
selection in the Under 16’s Collegeboys Cricket team but on PARENTS
also being named Captain. Certainly a fine young man whose
future career bears watching. Mr Paul Hocking continued to lead the P & F and their
promotion of events such as the welcome to Year 7 families
and the Father & Son Bowls night. The regular meetings were

St Dominic’s College : 2012 7

more formally replaced with the forum approach but once BUILDING PROGRAM
again the attendance at these was moderate. It seems that
the great majority of parents are happy with St Dominic’s and Our final stage will be finalised in 2013 and hopefully work
they continue to enrol their sons and their siblings, and show will begin in the second half of the year. This will involve
their support by attend the various information nights and to completion of a large chapel on the northwest corner
exhibitions of students work. (to replace our old small one), refurbishment of the former
brothers’ house and of the staff lunchroom and amenities,
STAFF along with some more classrooms in the Senior Block and
finally offices and meeting rooms for our middle managers
As we celebrate another year I pay tribute to the teaching that will enable better access for the students
staff for their dedication to their vocation and their constant
willingness to establish that relationship with students that ENROLMENT
makes so much possible for the boys. In recent years as
with this one, I constantly remind students at assembly that Our recent enrolment trend will continue with a full cohort
without our staff especially giving extra hours in a range of of eight Year 7 streams (192-200) on the books for 2013
extra-curricula activities, their lives would not be enriched giving us the stable population of around 1080 again. Our
and they would have many fewer opportunities. Many indigenous numbers remain stable (approximately 40
Colleges do not offer all these life enriching opportunities students) and the Catholic population at around 65%.
and they should not be taken for granted especially by taking
for granted the people who provide the chances. CONCLUSION

Teachers could not do their job effectively without good As I personally look to 2013 and the final year of my
support. From our important reception area to those who second term as Principal, I am filled with hope that our
clean the campus daily, we have excellent people helping community will continue to grow and that the efforts of
us all. This is always reflected in the praise I often get from many are heading in the right direction. Much in the physical
visitors and parents for the help that they have been given by environment has changed over recent years, but the efforts
our support staff. Let us never take these people for granted of the staff, the board and the parents remains constant and
and rather remember that we are all called to be servants of focused. In response I am daily encouraged by the spirit of
each other. the boys as they respond to what is provided for them. Let us
pray that in the future this blossoms into fullness of life and
STUDENTS that they also become agents of social change.

After all Colleges are for the students. Our boys are to be Brother Jeff Regan cfc
thanked for their continual day to day cooperation, their PRINCIPAL
sense of community, their good humour and generally
mature attitudes that they and their families can be proud
of. I am always encouraged daily by the good the boys do.
It makes it fairly easy to forgive their mistakes and their
stumbles as they grow and mature before our eyes. ‘Dommies
Boys’ seem to develop a bond of loyalty and solidarity that is
quietly lived both at College and into their futures. I sincerely
hope that all members of our community can experience that
bond and gain strength from it.

8

Chris Browne In other ways it has been a typically busy and rich year in the
Deputy Principal life of our college. I’m sure the Principal has given a thorough
coverage of the year so I’ll focus on a few particular aspects
Deputy Principal’s culminating in a period as Acting Principal when Br Jeff had
Report his second ankle operation.

In many ways 2012 has been a year of Stage 5 of the College’s building master plan involved the
planning for the next phase in the life of renovation and expansion of the Technology and Applied
St Dominic’s College with the new capital Studies facilities supported by a Commonwealth government
development of stage 5 of the College’s grant as well as the replacement of the maintenance facilities,
Master Plan and the development and the moving of the uniform shop to a new facility facing
completion of the College’s 2013-15 Strategic Copeland Avenue and the development of a large multi
Directions document. purpose space. The boys and staff again had to deal with
the dislocation caused by a major building project with
its consequent impact on the availability of facilities and
equipment, noise and remediation around building works
and the extra administrative and strategic management of all
of that by College Executive. A real team effort as the impacts
involved all of us in some way.

This year the college has journeyed through another building
project and done it well to be blessed with state of the art
facilities that will serve the college well into this century. As
the year ends the project nears completion and plans for the
opening and blessing in March next year have begun. The
new multi purpose space has been named the Br P A Treacy
room in honour of the pioneering Christian Brother Patrick
Ambrose Treacy who came to Australia in 1868 and opened
30 schools across the country in as many years. 2012 is the
centenary of his death in Queensland.

Over the past year much work has been done by a dedicated
committee of staff, students and Board members under
the guidance of Mr Bob White, Executive Administrator for
Edmund Rice Education Australia, to produce the 2013-15
Strategic Directions document which the Executive have
taken in hand to identify priorities and strategies for 2013 and
to get under way with them.

The process had begun in late Term 4 last year with the
consultation process involving staff, parents, ex students,
Board members and students focusing on three questions:

1. What is the best of what is?
What is presently giving life to this College?

2. What might be for this college?
What might this college look like in 10 years?

3. What are some critical issues which are likely to have
an impact on the college into the future?

St Dominic’s College : 2012 9

The representative committee noted above then worked Consequently going into 2013 the College has a guiding
with the collected answers and distilled them down to an document which will focus our work over the next three
agreed upon list. This was then processed in the context of years. As the one who shepherded the process from
the gospels, church teaching and the Edmund Rice charter to beginning to end I would like to thank Mr Bob White for his
determine four key values with strategic goal statements: wisdom , guidance and encouragement. Further to Br Jeff
for the faith he showed to give me responsibility for such a
1. BELONGING. significant project, my Executive colleagues Mr Barry Walsh,
our Director of Administration and for a time Acting Deputy
Within the diverse and inclusive community that is Principal, Mr Kel Haynes our Business Manger and our
St Dominic’s, we strive to promote belonging through College Directors of Pastoral Care, Religious Education and Teaching
pride, spirituality and a connection with the community of and Learning, Messers Rawding, Hicks and Sheil and the
the students, staff, parents and the wider community. representative committee of staff - Mr Wilson, Mr Williams,
Mr Scibberas, Mr Hocking and Br Walsh from the College
2. COMPASSION. Board and student leaders Alex Hocking and Kurt Watts for
all their work to bring this to reality.
Within the St Dominic’s community, we strive to promote
compassion through the experience of social justice, respect Chris Browne
and genuine care for the individual and the community. Deputy Principal

3. DISCOVERY.

Within the St Dominic’s community members are guided to
discover their God-given uniqueness and inherent worth.
Within a safe and healthy environment they explore and
grow in their spirituality, faith, relationships with others and
knowledge of their ever-changing world thus appreciating
the richness of their own and others’ potential.

4. OPPORTUNITY.

Within the St Dominic’s community we strive to promote
opportunity through creating possibility and diversity
in a range of options for students and staff through a
specialisation in what best meets the needs of students,
staff and the community.

Then the committee processed the material further to
develop a rough list of strategies which were thoroughly
processed and distilled by the College Executive and
modified to include emerging agendas such as National
Curriculum, teacher and leader accreditation along with
Board priorities. This was these were then included in the
document with Board approval. Once the EREA board
approved the document the College Executive were then
able to go to work on identifying which strategies would
be undertaken in 2013. These were then put to the College
Board for approval.

10

Parents & Friends Other annual events such as the Fathers and Sons Bowls
Report night and the Shopping Trip were held in the last half of the
year. At both events the parents enjoyed some time with
The St Dominic’s College P&F had an their children (their sons for the bowls and their daughters for
enjoyable and successful 2012. The P&F the shopping) in a safe, inclusive environment that the P&F
continued its focus and reaching out to endeavours to promote. A fun time was had by all and it is
families and trying to meet the needs hoped that more of these events can occur in the future.
of the boys in a changing education
environment. In order to do this a number These events wouldn’t have occurred without the help of
of Parent Forums were organised on topics Christine Payne especially for the bowls night and Cheryl
to help families stay informed about their Felton for the Shopping bus trip. Keeping us up to date in
son’s challenges, development and most the weekly newsletter as well as many behind the scenes
importantly their education. organisational tasks is the wonderful Mrs Fiona Campbell.
The college staff led by Br Jeff Regan and Mr Chris Browne
The forums were organised using the expertise of College continued to give their time generously to support the
Staff and the wider community experts and professionals. forums and other events. The College Community benefits
The presentation on “Understanding the HSC” by Margot when so many people give their time and skills to help the
Braithwaite from the Board of Studies was attended by P&F continue to help the families of our boys.
dozens of families that helped explain the HSC for parents
in a simple yet informed way. Another popular forum later We look forward to a successful 2013 as we continue to
in the year was on Cyber bullying and Cyber safety. Parents develop our St Dominic’s P&F for the future families of
learnt not only the technical, emotional and physical issues the college.
of the topic, they learnt about what the College does and
how the community and parents can help their sons. Paul Hocking
2012 P&F President

On behalf of the St Dominic’s College
Parents and Friends

St Dominic’s College : 2012 11

Obley Report In an endeavour to help the boys achieve these outcomes a
range of activities were organised both at Obley and at other
Whilst 2012 produced many good outcomes, venues. These included anger management and drug and
it also brought with it much sadness for alcohol workshops; visits from Police Liaison Officers speaking
our Obley community with the loss of to the boys about practical matters of Law; excursions to
Br Cliff Fogarty and James Rowe who did his Warragamba Dam, Cockatoo Island and the Sydney Eye.
practical training with us. James was with
us only a short time however he still made Sport is always an integral part of the program at Obley.
an impression. Cliff on the other hand had a The boys actively participated in soccer, basketball, ten pin
very long association with Obley travelling bowling and aqua golf. In recent months there has been
long distances on a weekly basis to share some fierce competition between them when playing pool
his many computer related skills with the and table tennis, both singles and doubles.
students and even staff. To say that he will
be sorely missed would be an enormous The other big hit with the boys are the Friday cooking classes
understatement. partly, I am sure because they get to eat the end product.
Our lunch time meals throughout the week also provide an
opportunity for the boys to brush up on their table manners
and etiquette in general.

We also aspire to help them improve some of the life skills
they need in order to be able to look after themselves in a
healthy way.

As usual, our new students commenced the year with some During the year every attempt was
apprehension however most became quite comfortable as made to encourage, nurture and to
they began to feel a part of the Obley Family. This year we challenge all of the students to rise
had ten Year 10 and five Year 9 students. above their perceived limitations.

During the year every attempt was made to encourage, It is very gratifying to note that five of the Year 10 students
nurture and to challenge all of the students to rise above will move onto Years 11 and 12. Three will attend Loyola
their perceived limitations. However it was an enormous College and I am most appreciate of the staff at Loyola for
challenge getting some of the boys to really believe in their their support and willingness to enrol our students over the
own abilities. past few years. The other two will be attending Wyndham
High School and McCarthy College. We also have two boys
In the face of these obstacles, the staff showed great patience enrolled for pre-apprenticeship courses in mechanics and
and commitment. Together, with the help of some prayers carpentry at TAFE. One of our students was also offered full
and a great sense of humour we continue to explore ways to time employment. We are hopeful that all the boys will be
achieve the outcomes we desired for the students. either in a school, at TAFE, or in fulltime employment by the
end of the year.
Our journey at Obley is never an easy one however our spirits
are raised whenever we see any of the boys, who previously I want to express my sincerest gratitude to Peter, John and
missed a great deal of schooling and saw themselves as non- Syd and a special thanks to Jessica for the great job she did as
achievers, do well in many aspects of the program. The boys
who were able to start believing in their ability soon began
to see that the opportunity to share in many of the positive
aspects of life can actually happen for them.

12

acting coordinator in my absence in Term 3. During the year
we journeyed through some very challenging times and we
only managed because of the dedication and genuine care of
each member of staff. Without doubt, Blessed Edmund Rice
would be very pleased to see these people doing everything
within their power so that his ethos is being lived for the
welfare of the students.

My sincere thanks go to Joan and Tom who have volunteered
at Obley for 12 years. Joan has now retired and Tom will be
doing the same at the end of term 1 in 2013. We will sorely
miss both their skill and good humour which was always
welcomed especially during the tough times. We wish them
and their families the very best of luck in the future and hope
they will continue their friendship with Obley.

Thank you to the parents and guardians as I am mindful that
is has also been a much longer and bumpier road for most
of you. Your desire for the best possible future for your sons,
in the face of many difficulties, is admirable. We thank you
for the trust you place in us as educators and we hope the
road ahead will bring you and your sons a better and brighter
future.

Year 10 students, Caleb, Cooper, Alex, Conor, Lucas, Riley,
Jake, Brandon and Daniel are now facing the next stage in
their lives. I hope you will look back fondly on your time
here and be aware of the opportunities Obley offered. My
advice for you all is to take responsibility for your own actions
and strive to improvement within yourselves. You all have
the capacity to accomplish your goals and to achieve a
healthy and positive future. I hope you will all keep in touch
and remember that the staff here at Obley will always be
there for you.

I would like to take this chance to sincerely thank Br Jeff
and all the staff at St Dominic’s College for their continued
support of Obley. Thanks also to Edmund Rice Education
Australia and to Parramatta Catholic Education Office for
your assistance and we look forward to a continued positive
relationship in the future.

Linda Attard
Obley Coordinator

St Dominic’s College : 2012 13

Monica Day Savio Education Centre is a co-educational, non-
Savio Education Centre Coordinator denominational annexe of St Dominic’s College. It is located
in Evan St, Penrith. It is a place of alternative education
Savio Report for students in Stages 3 and 4 of education. The centre is
specifically designed to cater for the needs of students
“For I know the plans I have for you, who face challenges with truancy, academic achievement,
plans to give you hope and a future”. behavioural difficulties and mental health problems. All of the
students who attend Savio Education Centre have not been
- Jeremiah 29:11 able to cope with a mainstream education setting.
Savio is dedicated to the pursuit of personal
achievement and self discipline. Students are referred to Savio from public, Catholic,
We aim to work together to foster an independent and Christian schools from all over the greater
environment of respect, dignity and Penrith region. The main aim of Savio is to develop within
support for all. students the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to
At Savio we believe in enable them to re-integrate into mainstream schooling and
‘Making a Difference’. assist with their transition to high school. In some cases, Savio
assists students to find another alternative place of education
if mainstream schooling is not the right option for them.

During 2012 Savio Education Centre had 16 students
who came from schools in Windsor, Penrith, Blacktown,
Kingswood, St Clair, Emmerton, Mt Druitt and Emu Plains,
Cranebrook and Glenmore Park. The majority of students
came from Catholic Schools in the Parramatta Diocese.

Significant work was done to develop the students’ social
skills. Once a week students participated in a specific social
skills program. The program was developed from a range of
sources, including the ‘Bounce Back’ resilience program, to
cater for the explicit needs of the students at Savio. Social
skills at Savio is considered as important as literacy and
numeracy as many of the students lack basic social skills
needed to interact with others in a positive manner as well
as cope with stressful situations.

The ‘Step Up’ program was also an initiative that formed
part of the social skills program. ‘Step Up’ included four
main elements: Community Service, New Skill, Fitness and
Discovery. Students participated in various activities that
focused on developing skills in these four areas. Activities
included:

• A visit to Kurrumbee School (a school for students
with severe disabilities). The boys led dance and game
activities with an infants class.

• A bingo and music afternoon with the elderly ladies that
live next door.

• Running at the Regatta Centre for fitness training. Boys
tried to improve their times each week.

• Learning to play chess and other board games.

• Individual interest projects that involved developing
research skills.

14

It was a very successful year for many Colo River. It was the first time that Savio staff and students
of the students which was celebrated have participated in camp that actually involved camping
at the end of year presentation and outdoors. There were concerns initially about how the
graduation ceremony. students would handle the cold and rougher conditions,
but it was a great experience for all. Students faced many
The students gained many different skills doing this program, challenges in the form of hiking, abseiling, kayaking, obstacle
however the main focus was on community service and course and the infamous wombat hole (an underground
looking out for others. tunnel system). It was a great opportunity for team building,
collaboration, perseverance and resilience.
Fitness development was also a large focus area during
2012. Many of the students lacked the necessary fitness for At the end of Term 4 an overnight stay at Gerringong proved
endurance activities and so once a week Toni Thompson to be a lot of fun with visits to the beach and Jamberoo
(the main PE teacher) and Paul Waddell would run a fitness Recreation Park. This camp is a great way to finish the year
session with the boys. Activities included running, cycling, with the boys and farewell those students who will be
core strength activities, skipping and coordination skills. graduating.
The fitness program really got the boys engaged and they
particularly liked the competitive side, especially improving It was a very successful year for many of the students
their own times and success rates each week. which was celebrated at the end of year presentation and
graduation ceremony. The students once again performed
The Savio reward system also encourages students to strive a musical number with Connor Green singing. An addition
for their personal best. Students are set targets in order to to the ceremony this year was a short play titled ‘Twelve
participate in the reward excursion days at half term and Angry Pigs’ of which all the boys had a role. A lot of time
end of term. In 2012 reward excursion days included the and effort is put into these performances but they provide
Royal Easter Show, Luna Park, wakeboarding, laser skirmish, a great opportunity for all the boys to be involved, show
Homebush Aquatic Centre and Don Bosco Centre. The reward their creative skills as well as learn to work together. These
excursions provide a real incentive for the boys to achieve a performances also provide moments of pride for the parents
personal goal. on the day.

The Savio TAS program is always popular. During 2012 At the end of 2012, four students successfully completed the
students got to participate in Multimedia, Construction and Savio program. The four boys were moving onto mainstream
Food Technology. In Term 1, as part of the Multimedia unit, high schools including Jamison High School, Richmond High
students got to participate in a Digi Education workshop School, Glenmore Park High School and St Ignatius, Riverview.
where they created their own short film using plasticine For the first time, one of our students, William Noonan,
characters. The students worked in pairs to develop a story, received an Indigenous bursary to attend St Ignatius College
create each scene of the story and then use a series of as a full time boarder. This is a huge privilege and William
photographs to make a short film. The boys were thoroughly worked very hard to earn this placement.
engaged and produced some great short films.
Savio also farewelled Paul Waddell from the staff. Paul
In Term 4, one of the TAS staff from St Dominic’s College came accepted a position as Mathematics Coordinator at
to Savio to do a unit of TAS that the Savio staff don’t have Magdalene Catholic High School at Narellan. Paul was a great
the skills in. In 2012 Nikk Woods came to Savio and did a unit asset to Savio and worked very hard at instilling a sense of
on Electronics. The boys created an electronic game, similar manhood and responsibility in the boys.
to ‘operation’. It was a new experience for the boys as most
of them had never worked with an electrical circuit before. As always there are things that Savio can continue to improve
Having the St Dominic’s TAS staff assist is always appreciated. on and change, but it remains a place of belonging and
stability for the boys that some through the front door.
The annual camps were also a great success and are always Several students who have graduated in previous years
a highlight of the year. In Term 2 students participated in continue to come back and visit and it is hoped that this will
a Sport and Recreation Camp at Camp Somerset on the always be the case.

St Dominic’s College : 2012 15

Faith Development

& Spiritual Formation

Chris Hicks The year commenced with our College Opening Mass and
Religious Education Coordinator Prefect Induction. In the Classroom and the Chapel the
College was abuzz with new ideas and initiatives to make
Religious Education the mission of the College more present in every aspect of
Report College life. A central aspect of College life is prayer and once
again the teachers took the opportunity to make sure this
Religious Education at St Dominic’s College was well regarded in the daily routine of the College. The
was once again the heart and soul of the key events in Term 1 were the Staff Opening Mass, College
College in 2012. The College strives everyday Opening Mass and Prefect Induction, College Ash Wednesday
to live out the message of Jesus Christ as Liturgy, Weekly Chapel Mass, Sacrament of Penance during
exemplified by Blessed Edmund Rice. Lent, College Easter Liturgy, and Year 12 Retreat at Mulgoa

2012 saw many successes for Religious After term 1 the relative quiet of term 2 allowed for the
Education and faith formation at St Dominic’s normal matters of College life to come to the fore. Our
College but it would be naïve to say that they Founders Day Mass was celebrated with enthusiasm and
are the domain of the Religious Education energy. The key events in Term 2 were the College Blessed
Department as every Priest, Brother, teacher Edmund Rice and St Dominic Savio Founders Day Mass and
and support staff member within the College Year 10 Reflection Days.
community is actively involved in the faith
and spiritual formation of the young men After six years and numerous College activities in term 3
in our care. The aim of Religious Education it was time to say farewell to Year 12 2012. They were a
at St Dominic’s College is to remind the particularly active year in terms of the religious life of the
students of our community that they are the College who are to be commended for their fine support of
head, hearts and hand of Jesus Christ in our weekly Mass, parish catechesis, and outstanding attitude to
modern world. retreat and reflection. The key events in Term 3 were the
Year 9 Reflection Days, Year 11 Retreat at Kurrajong, and the
Year 12 Graduation Mass and Assembly

Term 4 rounded off 2012 with a variety of activities and
liturgical events. Towards the end of the term we said farewell
to our year 10 leavers and celebrated another year as a
College community with our final Thanksgiving Mass. The
key events in Term 4 were the Year 8 Reflection Days, Year
7 Reflection Day, Staff Spirituality Day, Weekly Chapel Mass
celebrated every Friday Lunch, Year 10 Thanksgiving Mass,
and the College Mass of Thanksgiving

Special thanks needs to go to the Parish priests of the
Penrith district without which many of our College Religious
Education initiatives simply would not be possible. The
College is truly fortunate to have the services of these
dedicated men of faith who so readily give up their time for
our young men.

This year as part of the College’s ongoing commitment to
creating wider and more meaningful links with the local
Catholic community of the Penrith region the College was
actively involved in the provision of Senior Students as
catechists in three local state Public schools. The student
volunteers went to the schools in pairs during sport time
on a Thursday afternoon and facilitate the teaching and
implementation of the Parish scripture and catechesis program.

Our schools for 2012 were Orchard Hills Public School, York
Street Public School and Castlereagh Public School. One
could not help but to be impressed with the manner in
which the boys spoke of handing on the Gospel message
and the impact that this experience has had on their own
understanding of faith and the Church.

“Live Jesus in our hearts, Forever!”

St Dominic’s College : 2012 17

William Pollock This year saw us have our highest number of boys complete
Social Justice Coordinator the program by the end of Year 12. The activities the young
men undertook included regular blood donations, regular
Social Justice service on the St Vincent De Paul night patrol van, Clean
Report Up Australia day, Red Shield Appeal, St Vincent De Paul
doorknock appeal, a winter sleepout in the school yard
Educating for Justice and Peace (during a very cold winter night) and a number of other
at St Dominic’s College valuable community service activities.

The Edmund Rice tradition of service to Junior students continued their involvement in the
others continued to be a major aspect of compulsory program of community service, which is an
life at St Dominic’s College this year. Senior hours based program. 2012 saw a change to the nature
students were engaged in a number of school and structure of the junior program, with year 7 students
and community service activities as part of maintaining their eight hour requirement, while year 8 and
their ‘Call to Action’ program, with many of 9 students moved to 12 hours across the year and year 10
our year 12 boys going above and beyond students adopted an activity-based program similar to the
their minimum requirements. ‘Call to Action’ program undertaken by the senior students.
A range of awards were introduced for students to work
towards, aimed at celebrating their service to the community.

Special fundraising continued with funds being raised for
Caritas and the works of the Edmund Rice Foundation in
Africa during the Lenten appeal, and other fundraising
initiatives for local St Vincent De Paul programs throughout
the year. Students at the College participated in the Red
Shield Appeal for the Salvation Army, St Vincent De Paul’s
winter and Christmas appeals and the World Vision 40 Hour
Famine. During term three our year 7 students and their
teachers collected items to put together ‘Home Start’ packs to
be distributed to the needy in the Penrith region by
St Vincent De Paul. The year 7 students also got a chance to
meet people working for and helped by Vinnies and their
home start packs at a special talk at the end of term three.

Other initiatives included student involvement in education
forums on various social justice issues, participation in
community events such as Penrith City Council’s senior’s
week concert and working with various community outreach
organisations in the Western Sydney region. Our staff
also displayed the spirit of service through participation
in the night patrol van, Christmas hamper donations and
participating in an EREA immersion experience to Africa.

18

Indigenous Panthers home game. As this year was the first year the
Report program was up and running we look forward to program
growing and more students getting involved in future years.
2012 has a big year for our Indigenous
students, with plenty on throughout. Reconciliation Assembly
We are very proud of the boys and their
achievements both in and out of the Reconciliation week is an important week for the Aboriginal
classroom. The results across the board were and Torres Strait Islander communities. Reconciliation is all
very pleasing and the NAPLAN showed that about improving relationships between Aboriginal and Torres
the support the boys receive both in and out Strait Islander people and the broader Australian community.
of the classroom is really working to benefit For St Dominic’s hosting a whole assembly during National
them. This year we expanded as a group with Reconciliation Week is one way we celebrate Indigenous
more boys actively identifying with their cultures and raise awareness about Reconciliation, in addition
culture, which is amazing to see. to recognising the importance of our nation’s history and
how we can move forward together as a school community.
Muru Mittigar Excursion Reconciliation Week is held each year between 27 May and
3 June. This year we were lucky enough to have a special
The Indigenous students in years 7 and 8 from St Dominic’s guest, Durrag Elder Aunty Edna Watson. She performed a
College and Savio Education Centre attended the annual beautiful welcome to country in language. Uncle Wes also
excursion to Muru Mittigar. This enabled the boys to get to spoke about the importance of Reconciliation and how we
know each other as well as gain some insightful knowledge need to acknowledge the past but work for the future. The
about this culture and ancestors. The day was filled with Indigenous Dance group then performed for the school with
a number of events including boomerang throwing, the welcome and hunting dances.
Indigenous painting, storytelling and the history of tools and
weapons used by different nations. The boys really enjoyed ANZAC Memorial Ceremony
the day and were very active involved in all the sessions.
On Friday 25 May 2012, boys from St Dominic’s travelled
School to Work Program into the city to attend the 6th Commemoration Service
honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Servicemen
In 2012 St Dominic’s was lucky enough to be part of the and Servicewomen at the ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park South.
School to Work Program, orchestrated by Penrith Panthers. It was a day of remembrance for the service and sacrifice of
The program was aimed at senior students and had the goal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and service
of assisting students through the Preliminary and HSC Course. women. But it was also a day to look forward with hope for
There were a number of workshops and information sessions what the future brings. Under the shadow of the Australian
held throughout the year, which students from St Dominic’s War Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney, in the lands of traditional
were able to attend. The workshops included resume writing owners the Eura and Cadigal people; politicians, current and
and how to complete a successful interview, Board of Studies ex-servicemen and women and their families, community
sessions, goal setting and career planning. The students also elders and schoolchildren gathered to pay their respects.
were able to meet some of the players and were the guard
of honour at the NRL Indigenous round during the Penrith Following a traditional smoking ceremony, welcome dance
and a military Mount Catafalque party, David Williams,
veteran and master of ceremonies, warmly welcomed
Captain Chloe Dray who spoke of her story and journey as
an indigenous Australian as a member of the Army and the
Australian Defence Force. In her own words, “At my unit, it

St Dominic’s College : 2012 19

doesn’t matter if you’re black or if you’re white, because when Reconciliation is all about improving
you put on this uniform, we’re all wearing the green skin and relationships between Aboriginal and
we’re all treated the same.” As her address came to an end, Torres Strait Islander people and the
she left the children with five core elements to success in life; broader Australian community.
“education, health, community, role-models and the belief in
yourself to dream big.” traditional dance and our dance group were lucky enough to
workshop with him on a number of occasions.
On behalf of St Dominic’s College the boys attending laid
a wreath as a sign of respect and remembrance for those Indigenous Dancing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who
bravely gave their lives to protect our country. As part of our focus on incorporating indigenous history and
culture the indigenous student established their own dance
Uncle Dallas Indigenous Mentoring group. The students were able to perform on a number of
occasions both in and out of school. The students performed
As part of the EREA Charter for Terms 3 and 4 we were at Reconciliation week and a number for assemblies
fortunate enough to have Uncle Dallas mentor a number of throughout the year. They were also invited to showcase
our boys. Uncle Dallas met with individuals and small groups their talents to the local community with performances at
on a weekly basis. The concept behind the small program the Wangary Home Care Service ‘Yarn Up’ Day and JumpStart
was simple. Uncle Dallas emphasised with the boys the for Kids Preschool in Blacktown. The students that attended
importance of forming good habits, setting a good example and performed are very proud of their culture and dance
for others, acknowledging achievements and setting smart is just one way in which they can share this with their local
goals. There was also a acknowledgement of reconnecting community. We hope to continue the dance group for next
with culture, “where you come from is important to where year and build on the knowledge and stories behind the
you are going”. The boys really enjoyed spending time with dances.
Uncle and for some, they really benefitted from the time they
had with him. Uncle Dallas was also knowledgeable with

20

Learn Earn Legend Careers Expo Indigenous Group

The Learn Earn Legend model is an Australian Government Front Row: Zackery Nixon, Eric Reber, Zack Kenney, Jase Edwards,
initiative, which supports young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Julian Campbell, Isaac Lacey, Jy Clapham
Islander peoples to stay at school and get a job and be a
legend for themselves, their family and community. Learn Second Row: Luke Bourke, Daniel Hopkins, Tremayne Cashman, Brodie Boyd,
Earn Legend activities assist with promoting the importance Samuel Bourke, Lachlan Robinson
of education, training and employment. During Term 3 boys
from year 10, 11 and 12 attended the Learn Earn Legend University visits
Careers Expo at Kevin Betts Stadium in Mount Druitt. The
day allowed students to have one on one conversations Students in years 10, 11 and 12 had the opportunity on
with potential employers, tertiary education providers and a number of occasions throughout the year to attend
government agencies. The students that attend were able presentations from a variety of Universities including
to gain crucial information about how application processes University of NSW, University of Sydney, University of Western
work, the differing criteria and individual requirements for Sydney and Macquarie University. The students were
their particular career pathways. The boys really enjoyed the able to gain valuable information about available courses,
day and were able to take plenty from it. scholarships, pathways into university and the support
networks that can assist students on a day to day basis while
at university.

James Bourke
Indigenous Liasion

St Dominic’s College : 2012 21

Pastoral Life

Friendly competition was evident within varying subjects, this
spurring many of the boys on.

Alexander Hocking Year 11s and 12 showed the most interaction between the
2012 School Captain grade, often the majority of year twelve standing in the yard
after the morning bell still talking or catching up. As HSC
College Captain’s came closer support was shown again with study groups
Report being formed, I believe Year 12 was the year that the cohort
all became mates, not just boys in a year group.
2012 presented the best Year 12 students
St Dominic’s could ever dream of. I had the St Dominic’s College didn’t just give us an education, it taught
privilege of going through high school with us to deal with life and how to become mature beyond our
these gentlemen, over the years getting to years, this creating the unique cohort that walked out into
know all 240 of the boys. Even though we the work force or further education at the end of 2012. We
had a very diverse group of students, we all have many thanks to our teachers and older peers and
managed to eventually get along and make guardians who guided us on the way. A special thank you to
the most of our senior years. Mr Levy, a man of true inspiration to many of us.

Starting from our camps of junior years we all found out Without our very ‘last minute’ and somewhat mature prefects
the true colours of every individual, the rain and the weight with their first class ‘Australian Anthem’ every week, Year 12
of our rucksacks/life support making that stand out. Our wouldn’t have been as great of a laugh or ease for myself or
support for each other became stronger not just at camps the rest of the grade, thank you once again. A special mention
but coming back to school and was shown on the sporting to Jarrod Hall who always seemed to see eye to eye with
fields with many encouraging and gentle remarks often more every boy in our cohort. To our individual group; the teachers
abusive towards our own mates playing on the sporting field. pets that either sat outside the science rooms or with the cool
This tradition carrying onto the pro handball Olympics carried kids/gym junkies on the chess court or with the harry’s and
out by only the finest of athletes in our later senior years. their handball courts or the rev heads and nerds out in the
senior yard or the loners out on the basketball courts, without
our mates next to us every lunch break or in class, high
school, especially Year 12 would not have been the same. Our
mates became more important to us as time became shorter
at St Dom’s, my appreciation for my mates was of the highest
and I know it was the same for others.

Our strong sense of humour and even stronger connection
of brotherhood took us through Year 12, I’d like to wish all
the boys the very best of luck with their future endeavours.
Year 12 could easily be one of the best years of my life and
it will never be forgotten, St Dominic’s has showed me a lot
and it has assisted me to where I am today. It was an honour
representing the Year 12 group of young men of 2012.

Cheers champ’s

St Dominic’s College : 2012 23

Pastoral Care The year started with both Year 7 and 8 going on their
Report camps in week four to Aussie Bush Camp and Wiseman Ferry
Camp sites. The camps enable the Year 7 and 8 students to
Firstly, we welcomed the new Year 7 cohort experience challenging activities within their year groups.
to our College at the beginning of the year. It also provided the opportunity for the Year 7 students to
The Year 7’s began the year off well with mix with the staff and students outside of the classroom
the assistance of Mr Turner and the core and begin new friendships. The Year 9 and 10 camps were
teachers. at Somerset, Colo River and allowed the students to be out
of their comfort zone and push themselves beyond their
Year 7-12 students began the academic everyday experiences.
year extremely well, placing an emphasis
on achieving their best and working with The extra-curricular activities offered at St Dominic’s enable
our staff in all aspects of College life. all students to engage in the life of the College. The Year
12 prefects continued the tradition of Dommies Day and
re-introduced Multicultural Day. The Student Representative
Council organised the social activities with Caroline Chisholm
for all year groups. Each year group hosted dinner dances and
discos giving the students the opportunity to interact with
the girls from Caroline Chisholm.

24

The extra-curricular activities offered
at St Dominic’s enable all students to
engage in the life of the College.

The College Pastoral Program enabled all year groups to
tackle specific pastoral issues concerning each individual
group. Each year group engaged in pastoral lessons and our
junior year groups experienced the Brainstorm Performance
on bullying and Cyber issues in our schools and communities.

I would like to thank the pastoral team for their commitment
and outstanding work throughout the year. Our team
consisted of Mr Turner, Mr Naicker, Mr Darcy, Mrs Shaw,
Mr Hobbs, Mrs Thompson, Mr Borg, Mr Mulford, Mr Levy,
Mr Samoluk, Mrs Shankar, Ms Burgess, Mrs Haydon, Mrs Miller
and Mr Bourke.

Finally, I would like to thank all the parents of the St Dominic’s
community for the support you have provided your sons and
the College over the past year.

Brent Rawding
Director of Pastoral Care

St Dominic’s College : 2012 25

College Leaders

Prefects 2011 - 2012

Front Row: Matthew Barton, Conrad Decena, Hugh Arnold, Jarrod Hall, Alexander Hocking, Jordan D’Ermilio, George Paneras, Nickolas Pinch
Back Row: Mitchell Armstrong, Joseph Masters, David Snowdon, Samuel Devlin, James Devlin, Br. J. Regan

Prefects 2012 - 2013

Front Row: Jarod Leis, Nathan Duguid, Sam Azar, Francis Tamer, Br J. Regan, Shannon Khalifeh, Harsha Ediriweera, James Urio, Brandon King
Back Row: Ryan Shahoud, Dean Bishop, Joseph Vukelic, Sean Weekes, Kurt Watts, Thomas Freeburn, John Cremona
26

2011 - 2012 Prefects

Matthew Barton Hugh Arnold Conrad Decena Jarrod Hall Alexander Hocking

Jordan D’Ermilio George Paneras Nickolas Pinch Mitchell Armstrong Joseph Masters

David Snowdon Samuel Devlin James Devlin

St Dominic’s College : 2012 27

SRC Report SRC

The momentum established in 2011 was Front Row: Cameron Arnold, Zachary Wright, Hartley Dhyon, Ryan Fletcher,
continued this year. Joining the teachers Abhichal Jagota, Joshua Brombal, George Tartak, Zachary Torrevillas
in the pastoral role and assisting with the
running of the SRC was Ms Neelima Shankar. Second Row: Don Royeca, Trent McLean, Weivan Huang, Harsha Ediriweera,
Throughout the year students were engaged Shannon Khalifeh, Zachary Marincic, Michael Abdo
in a number of activities within the wider
St Dominic’s community. Third Row: Nicholas Brunt, Kurt Watts, Daniel Sarkis, Stephen Brice,
Joseph Vukelic, Luke Bernacki, Nicholas Hocking
Invigorated by new SRC members Jacob Munday, Pearce
Jackson and Ryan Fletcher, the College established a stall at Throughout the course of the year the SRC met regularly to
the Relay for Life community event to raise awareness and engage in discussion on issues relevant to the students they
funds for cancer research. It was a fun day that was attended were representing. Members of the SRC were encouraged to
and supported by many students and teachers of the college. lobby Br Regan with their ideas and foster the student leader/
A special thank you to Mr Samoluk for his tireless work in school leader relationship. A number of planning sessions
helping to set up and pack up the stall. were held during lunchtimes for the proposed Multicultural
Day. The SRC was very proactive in developing the plan and
The relationship with Caroline Chisholm College was further demonstrated excellent organisational skills for the event.
enhanced with dances held each term. The SRC, once again, Unfortunately for the 2012 SRC team they were unable to see
played an important role in these events and was responsible the fruits of their labour as the day was rescheduled to take
for advertising the dances and running the refreshment place early next year.
stand. All dances were well attended and the students’
behaviour was lively and enthusiastic. The 2012 SRC team are to be congratulated on their fine
efforts and the tireless work they undertook for their peers.
28 The pastoral assistants were fortunate to work with such a
fine group of young men. A big thank you also to the pastoral
assistants Mr Samoluk, Ms Shankar and Mr Naicker for their
continued support of the student representatives this year.

Tracey Shaw
Assistant Year 8 Coordinator

Mark Levy been foremost in my approach to the students and I have
Year 12 Pastoral Coordinator placed this as my number one consideration for each of them.
That they have taken this to heart and acted upon it is most
Year 12 Report satisfying. The relationships they shared among themselves
and with members of staff are to be applauded and I hope
Congratulations to all those students who this other-centredness continues throughout their careers.
graduated from the College and went on to
complete their HSC examinations a short Leadership is another area in which many boys excelled.
time later. It was with great pride that I say Showing good example is a must for senior students and
to those young men that they were a group I was delighted to see many take on the task of being role
of great substance and energy. models to younger pupils. The Prefect group did a fine job
and were an excellent example of the men we wish to move
into society today.

My prayers and best wishes go with this cohort for a
successful and satisfying life after school and I would hope to
see you in the years to come. To all students and parents alike
thank you for your support over the years and I wish you a
happy and prosperous Christmas and New Year period.

May I also thank the school executive who have entrusted me
with the care and development of these young men.

The year passed so quickly with half yearly examinations The relationships they shared among
completed in March along with their final retreat at Mulgoa. themselves and with members of
The Trial exams seemed to be upon us in no time at all and staff are to be applauded and I hope
the academic year was all but fulfilled. The boys accepted this other-centredness continues
and got on with their individual challenges and simply had to throughout their careers.
await the outcome of their labours.

For the vast majority a wide range of extra-curricular activities
were pursued. Discos, barbecues, debating and public
speaking, St Vincent De Paul night patrols, blood donations
and varied sporting and cultural activities played a role in the
holistic education of the student.

I have personally witnessed the growth and development
of these boys since Year 10. The aspect of respect has always

St Dominic’s College : 2012 29

Year 12

ALE Jonathan ALI Behram ANDERSON Brodie ARMSTRONG Mitchell ARNOLD Hugh AVERY Andrew BAKOUS Joseph-Alexandra BARNAVILLE Mark

BARTON Matthew BAYLISS Adam BAZIKA Joshua BIDDLE James BILLS Adam BLADWELL Mitchell BOLIC Anthony BORAZIO Michael

BRACKENHOFER Jarrod BRADLEY Daniel BRATUSA Jordan BRUNT Nicholas BRUSH Liam BURGESS Jordan BUTLER Harley CAMPBELL Jordan

CARE Adrian CETTOLIN Tommaso COLE Dale COOPER Jake COWLEY Simon CREBBIN Luke DALTON Kieran DECENA Conrad

DELFIN Vince DENG Yohanna D’ERMILIO Jordan DEVLIN Samuel DEVLIN James DI IORIO Damon DINE Skaife DOWD Joshua

DU PLESSIS Gregory ELY Ryan FARMER Hayden FARRUGIA Christopher FAZLDAD Nathan FOAT Timothy FRANICH Jackson FUGAWAI Raymond

GARLAND Scott GATT Michael GEYER Logan GLASS Jarrod GLAVAS Damon GODDARD Alexander GRANT Jordan GREEN Tyler

230

Year 12

HABERMAN Blaise HALL Jarrod HALLIDAY Fergus HANIGAN Daniel HANNA Samuel HARDY Jeremy HARRIS Tom HARVEY Joel

HOCKING Alexander HOPKINS-LE BRETON Jeremy JACKSON Pierce JURKOVIC Keiren KEARINS Benjamin KELLY Daniel KENNEDY Mathew KETTLE Michael

KRALJEVIC Luke LANE Scott LANE-TAYLOR Jye LEAHY Jack LEWER Jarrod LOOYSCHELDER David LOPEZ Luis LOVETT Jeremy

MALECKI Michael MARCHAND Gyles MARTIN Grant MASTERS Joseph MAYER Benjamin MAZRAANI Rami MCDONALD Christian MCGRATH Ryan

MCLEAN Trent MCLEOD Troy MEEKINGS Joel MIZZI Erik MOELASI Simeona MORAWSKY Paul MOULDS Bradley MUNDAY Jacob

MURRAY Joshua NEILL Michael NIGHTINGALE Luke PANERAS George PAULING Jake PENTON Samuel PETRICEVIC Michael PHILP Alexander

PINCH Nickolas PLATTS Alex RAHME Jad REDMOND Jarrod RIDLEY-ELLIOTT Reece RINGK Nicholas ROCHE Jordan ROJAS Carlos

St DominiSct’s. DColmleigneic’:s C20o1ll2e ge : 2012313

Year 12

ROWE Matthew RUSKIN Lachlan RUSSELL Mitchell RYAN Patrick RYDER Alex SAMMUT Hayden SARKIS Jordan SEFTON Mitchell

SELAK Luka SHIRVINGTON Daniel SILVA Rene SMITH Cameron SNOWDON David SPANOS Alexi STA.ANA Michael SUNBER Nemer

TAMER Charbel TAMER Jimmy TAVAE Jayden THOMPSON James TIMOTEO Dominic TOLEAFOA Zuriel TOPLISS Kane TUCKER Mitchel

ULANAS Bradley VLANGOS Andrew WADE Alexander WALKER-DALITZ Jordan WALKOM Brett WHEATLEY Cameron WHEELAHAN Nicholas WILLIS Blake

WRAIGHT Cameron

Absent

AJAMIAN Joshua, BAVERSTOCK Hayden, ELKANDER Fairouz, HARRIS Jayden, PILAROWSKI Jesse

432

St Dominic’s College : 2012 33

Year 11 Report

Year 11 of 2012 faced a number of
important challenges in our first year
as senior students at the college. The
step from junior grey shirt to senior
white was an obvious recognition that
the responsibility placed upon us as the
second oldest members of the school
had increased drastically.

Throughout the year, our cohort faced a number of
important moments, demonstrating the brotherhood that
built us up as a year group. Initially, our Year 11 retreat
provided a number of highlights for the boys, from
Mr Darcy’s famous ‘lower than a snakes belly’ to our group
uniting as one to realise our potential.

In the classroom, the College’s first accelerated
mathematics class containing 8 boys from the year
completed their HSC mathematics a year early, a first in
the College’s history.

2012 provided a big year for the boys as the realisation
dawned of the expectations of senior school, allowing
with the daunted thought of the HSC to come the
following year. Through this, the group begin to work
together in helping each other achieve our goals both
academically and extra-curricular. This would lay the
foundation for the start of year 12 and the coming
together of the year group.

2012 proved to be a huge year for the Class of 2013,
a precursor, shaping up for our final year at the College
and the HSC that lay ahead.

Kurt Watts
Year 11 Student

34

Year 11

ADAMS Dylan AGGAR Matthew ALBERTYN Bryden AZAR Sam BAKER Kallan BARNAVILLE Brendan BERGAMIN Nicholas BEZZINA Joshua

BISHOP Dean BONHAM Thomas BOURKE Samuel BOURKE Luke BOYD Brodie BRANIK Aiden BRUSH Mark BRYBAG Joseph-John

BUCKLEY Craig BUTLER Adrian CARLEY Danyon CASE William CASH Tyson CASSAR David CHALMERS Joshua CHIA Joshua

CIRKOVIC Marko COLANTONIO Nathan COLLINS Dean COOPER Shaun CORDNER Alastair CRANE Kurtis CREMONA John DALGLEISH Joel

DALLY Cameron DE COSTA Vidusha DHYON Kayden DINE Damon DOOHAN Jamie DORAN Gavin D’SOUZA Jarrod DUGUID Nathan

EDIRIWEERA Harsha EGGLETON Lachlan ELVY Nicholas FA’ALOGO Timothy FA’ALOGO Dominic FEDELI Brodie FENTON Hayden FIELD Bryce

FOSTER Patrick FREEBURN Thomas GAUCI Alec GIARRATANO Brent GILL Arshdeep GOVENDER Ashlyn GREENHILL Mitchell HALICEK Luke

6 St Dominic’s College : 2012 35

Year 11

HILL Daniel HODGE Jacin HORAN Joshua HUGHES Rees HULL Benjamin JUNGE Lachlan KARAKA Clayton KARAKA Wade

KARA-KINGSTON Tyler KEMENADE Morgan KENNEDY Jacob KENNEDY Shayne KHALIFEH Shannon KING Brandon KNOWLES James KOUSPARIS Costa

KURIAKOSE Welwin LAMBOURN Emmerson LEIS Jarod LLOYD Zak LUCAS-SMITH Jye MAGRI Dylan MAJDOUB Youssef MARCOZZI Cameron

MARCZYNSKI Michael MATHEW Martin MCCALL Alexander MCCAULEY Mathew MCCLEN Jacob MCDONALD David MINTOFF Beau MORGAN Conor J

MULOCK Dominic MURGOLO Frankie NIXON Reece NORMAN Hayden O’NEILL Beau O’NEILL Joshua PADJEN Joshua PAULING Ryan

PAVLAKIS Tas PAYNE Dylan PEACOCK Benjamin POZOGLOU Nicolas RAHME Joseph REID Nathan RICHARDS Nikolas RICKETTS Mark

RIXON Ethan ROBERTSON-SMITH Jordan ROSE Brendan ROSS Brendan SAMI Sameer SCHOFIELD Liam SCIBERRAS Wade SHAHOUD Ryan

36 St. Dominic’s College : 2012 7

Year 11

SIMMONDS Conor SLOANE Jack SMITH Mitchell STARMANS Dennis STEIN Rhys STRACHAN Jake SWANNELL Jackson TAMER Francis

THAIN Garion TINAO Tala URIO James VELLA Braden VEST Jarrod VLANGOS Kristian VUKELIC Joseph WALLACE Jakob

WARLOW Shane WATTS Kurt WEARNE Matthew WEEKES Sean WESTON Ryan WHARERAU-MINOVSKI Jaydan WILKES Jack WILSON Rhyley

WISEMAN Connor WORTHING Ryan WRIGHT Cameron

Absent

BOOTH Thomas, FIELDS Daniel, HRZENJAK Daniel, HUGHES Beau, ISHERWOOD Adrian, MANYUON Poth, ROBERTS Aaron, SPICER Tyler, TOLEAFOA Johnathan, WARWICK Zach, WOODLAND Gabe

8 St Dominic’s College : 2012 37

Year 10 Report

It seems like only yesterday that I was
welcoming the boys back for their first day
as Year 10 at St Dominics, and yet the year
is now over.

The time has certainly flown, however it has been busy and as Those leaving had the opportunity to work on their resume
I look back I remember some of the times we have shared. or prepare for interviews so as to enable them to go forth
with confidence. Whilst those intending to join the senior
The retreat, Easter liturgy, multi-cultural day, camp, Founders school were focussed upon completing “All my own work” a
Day Mass have all come and gone, but each has contributed pre-requisite for Years 11 and 12, and developing some of the
to the collage which has been 2012. The camp at Somerset organisational and study skills which will assist over the next
offered challenges which many of the boys struggled to two years.
master. Over the next few years many of you will look back
upon this as an activity which showed you that of which you I would like to take this chance to thank the parents for the
are truly capable, whilst for others it highlighted the inability support they have given their sons, but also the staff whom
to accept the step up to a challenge. they have entrusted the ongoing development of their
children – it has been a most enriching experience.
As the year wore on, some of our numbers came to the
realisation that the demands of the HSC and Senior School The staff of the College - from the cleaners, through to the
were not for them, and so began to focus on securing an office and library ladies, the teaching staff and Executive; have
apprenticeship. This was in many cases, a really hard decision all contributed to the development of this group to varying
for the boys and their parents to make – for the boys school degrees. Rarely have I seen a group of people who are as
has been a safety blanket, and suddenly they are being focussed on offering the best possible outcomes for your sons.
confronted by the great unknown. I applaud those who have
made their decision, and taken the leap, success will be yours! Finally, to the young men of Year 10 2012, I have enjoyed
seeing so many of you develop from teenagers, into young
This group have been the first cohort to move through the men who are prepared to accept both challenges and
College without the experience of an external examination responsibility. I am confident that you will be successful
(School Certificate) and receive their RoSA (Record of School whether it be in the workforce or in furthering your academic
Achievement). This document will continue to grow with the careers over the next two years.
boys to include all activities in which they participate over the
next two years. Never lose sight of the fact, you can take the boy out of Doms,
but you can’t take Doms out of the boy!
Over the course of the year I have constantly reminded the
boys of the importance of completing their Social Justice Chris Hobbs
activities. The completion of the program is considered the Year 10 Pastoral Coordinator
most basic requirement for the issue of a school reference;
your involvement offers two outcomes through which we as
a College community can make a difference. Firstly, you as
an individual become more aware of the plight of the wider
community, and secondly the service you offer makes a real
difference for those who benefit from your labours.

This year the boys also participated in a series of workshops
aimed at assisting them to transition into the next year.

38

Year 10

AAMIR Faraaz ALEXANDER Cameron APOKIS Spiros ARNOLD William BALLERUM Tjaylen BARNES Wade BECKHAUS Luke BERGAMIN Christian

BERNACKI Luke BERRY Simon BERYAR Taranvir BLACKHURST Scott BORG Andrew BORG Christopher BORG Joel BRAMHALL-STRAUB Joshua

BRINCKMANN Boyd BROWN Marlyn BYRNES Brendan CALLAGHAN Dominic CAMENZULI Logan CAMPBELL Aaron CANTWELL Joshua CASHMAN Tremayne

CATT Peter CECCATTINI Luca CECCATTINI Alexsandro CHAHINE James CHENG Benson CINI Jayden CLISSOLD Brock COLGATE Benjamin

COOK Scott COOPER Grant CORBETT Matthew COUPER Jye CROTHERS Daniel CULEY Bradley CUTAJAR James DAGGAR Jan

DEBONO Jamie DEGUARA Daniel DIMECH Jeremy DINGEMANS Beau DUNCAN-GRINTER Killian-Riley DYBING Tyla EDWARD-JOY Andrew EGAN Adam

EGGINS Sean EZAD Hassam FALLS Kurt FARRUGIA Daniel FARRUGIA Aaron FRATER Tom FRYER Nicholas GADEKAR Aniket

1 0 St Dominic’s College : 2012 39

Year 10

GALE Thomas GALVIN Joseph GREGORY Harrison HAJJAR Chris HAMLIN Matthew HARDY Peter HARKIN Mitchell HASTIE Matthew

HERMANN Mitchell HINTON Liam HOOKER Luke HOWARD Bradlee HUANG Weivan HUMPHREYS Jack HUNT Lachlan IRAHETA Brandon

IRWIN Ryan IVERS Daniel JACKSON James JACKSON Chad JENKINS Dylan KASSIS John-Mathew KEARINS Samuel KERBAGE Christopher

KHAN Arbaaz KHAN Saad KOVACEK Julian LAVEA Robert LETHERBARROW Luke LEVINGE Brent LOPEZ Zachery LYONS Jack

MAHE Viliami MANICKAM Jake MANNING Jarrod MANSFIELD Jye MASTERS Simon MATHER Kyle MCLEAN Drew MESHWANG Shol

MORALES Philip MORGAN Conor S MORGAN Lachlan MORRIS Alexander MORTIMER Mark MULLINS Henry MURPHY Peter MURPHY Adam

NARAYAN Akaash NELSON Jack NEUMANN Eric NGORIMA Bradley NORTON Joshua PAGANIN Jordan PALU Corey PAPAZOGLOU Steven

40 St. Dominic’s College : 2012 11

Year 10

PATCHELL Thomas PEREIRA Ryan PERRING Lachlan PHILLPOTT Luke PITT Ethan PLUMMER Andrew PORTELLI James PRESTON Brendan

RASMUS Jordan RASTEGORAC David REBERNIK Bronson RICHARDS Joshua RIZK Dori ROBERTS Zachary ROCHE Lucas ROWLANDS Jake

RYAN Thomas SALEI Malo-Julius SAPORITO Nicholas SARKIS Daniel SEGUNA Brandon SEMROV Christopher SIRMAIS Benjamin SMALL Cooper

SMITH James SMITH Lucas SMITH Matthew SPICE Rhys SPINA Joshua STAINTHORPE Jarod STEVENS Hayden-James SUTCLIFFE Andrew

TAMER Peter TANKARD Philip TEKELY Jayden TELFER Luke TEMPEST Joshua THIAGARAJAH Ajay THOMAS Christopher THOMSON Bradley

TONITTO Justin TONNA Joel TORREVILLAS Zachary TRINI Daniel TUCKER Aidan VELCICH Jordan VELLA David VILLANUEVA Aristotle

WALKER Hayden WARBURTON Nathaniel WEIR Cameron WHEELAHAN Benjamin WHITEFIELD Adam WILLIAMS Jack WONSON John WRIGHT Shannon

1 2 St Dominic’s College : 2012 41

Year 10

XIBERRAS Adrian ZACHERL Peter ZALAC Benjamin ZINGHINI Andrew

Absent

ANESTOUDIS Johnathan, BAIN Brandon, BAUTISTA Jorhil, BLAIR Patrick, CASSERLY Joshua, DODDS Christopher, HATTON Mitchell, HILL Mitchell, HURA James, KORDAHI Tyler, LOUGHLAND Harry,
LYONS Rhys, MARSH Connor, MITCHELL Jacob, OAARIKI Rebyll-Dean, SAMMUT Daniel, YARAK Joseph

St. Dominic’s College : 2012 13

Absent

ANESTOUDIS Johnathan, BAIN Brandon, BAUTISTA Jorhil, BLAIR Patrick, CASSERLY Joshua, DODDS Christopher, HATTON Mitchell, HILL Mitchell, HURA James, KORDAHI Tyler, LOUGHLAND Harry,
LYONS Rhys, MARSH Connor, MITCHELL Jacob, OAARIKI Rebyll-Dean, SAMMUT Daniel, YARAK Joseph

42 St. Dominic’s College : 2012 13

I would like to take this chance to thank
the parents for the support they have
given their sons, but also the staff
whom they have entrusted the ongoing
development of their children – it has
been a most enriching experience.

Chris Hobbs
Year 10 Pastoral Coordinator

St Dominic’s College : 2012 43

Scott Mulford I would like to commend the young men of Year 9 for the
Year 9 Pastoral Coordinator diligence to which they endeavoured to complete the new
Social Justice Program this year. It was required that, the
Year 9 Report boys complete 12 hours of community service, although it
was a compulsory activity, many of the boys went above and
This year every Year 9 classroom was beyond the expectations placed on them. It is heartening to
provided with a laptop trolley to further see so many of our students taking up a strong passion for
enhance the quality of teaching and learning social justice and community outreach.
in their classrooms. The aim of this program
was to integrate technology into the learning I would like to make a special mention in regards to the
environment of the boys in a way that would leaders of Year 9 2012, our SRC Stephan Brice, Ryan Fletcher,
allow for higher-level thinking, collaboration Abichal Jagota and Don Royeca, as well as our House Captains
and engagement in class. Lachlan Wright, Cameron Moss, Jack Edwards and Andrew
Cremona. Although I do not like to praise individual students
above any others, I think these boys deserve to be recognised
for the hard work and time they have put in for their class
mates over the year. It takes courage and fortitude to step up
and lead those around you and these boys have shown both
characteristics many times throughout the year, so on behalf
of the year 9 pastoral team and cohort I thank our student
leaders and wish them well if they decide to nominate for
re-election next year.

As a cohort, Year 9 were quite lucky to be offered several
interesting learning experiences this year including a poetry
incursion organized by the English Faculty to facilitate and
broaden the boys understanding of poetic techniques and
language, a history incursion on World War I which provided
an insight into lives of those soldiers who served in Gallipoli
and the Western Front.

One of my fondest memories with this cohort would have
to be our camp and reflection days, it is always great to see
the strong bonds that form between the boys when they
participate in these types of events, whether it be through the
mud of the wombat hole or the quiet serenity of prayer.

Now as the year concludes, I wish all of Year 9 a safe and
happy holiday and I hope that they come back to Dom’s next
year ready for another great year.

44

Year 9

AHERN Liam ALIMANGOHAN Raphael ANDONOPOULOS Jayden APICELLA Dylan ARENDSE Jordan ASTBURY Rhys AZAM Fahmid-Ul AZZOPARDI Jack

BARRETT Reece BEACROFT Chris BEADMAN Sam BEVAN Lachlan BILLS Brendan BLACK Kyle BOND Michael BORSATO Brad

BOWMAN Lachlan BRAR Tarunbir BRICE Stephen BROWN Desmyn BUTLER Kyle CABALHUG Lloyd CATLIN William CHAPPLE Christian

CLAXTON Ethan CLEARY Nathan COCKINGS Ryan CONN Harry CONNOLLY James CONNOR Craig COULTER Jayden CREBBIN Jack

CREMONA Andrew CROSS Joshua DALEY Dennis DAVIES Jackson DICELLO Anthony DIMECH Nicholas DUGGAN Kyle DUNN Kieran

EDWARDS Jack EGGLETON Jedd EISENHUTH Joshua ELLUL Grant EVERSON Brayden FISHER Jaidyn FITZPATRICK Conor FLETCHER Ryan

FLOOD Joshua FRANICH Cody FRANICH Luke GALLAGHAN-BEETSON Jack GILBERT Elijah GORDON Joshua D GORDON Joshua W GREEN Joshua

St DominSitc. ’Ds Comolliengice’s :Co20lle1g2 e : 2012 145

Year 9

GUILFOYLE Jarrod HAJJAR Danny HANCOCK Cameron HANNA Stephen HANNA Saleem HARRIS Sam HAZARD Andrew HEAVEY Gibson

HENNESSY Brendan HOPKINS Daniel HRZENJAK Victor HUBBARD Jacob IARIA Reece ISKANDER Philopateer JAGOTA Abhichal JONES Bradley

KAJEWSKI Michael KARUWA Tatenda KETTLE Nathan KHAN Shahrukh KIRK Kieran LACEY Isaac LATTY Thomas LAWLER Tristan

LIM Francis LOPEZ-PLACHOZKI Jesse LOWENSTEIN Isaac MALONE Dezmond MANNING Reece MARAZIOTIS Demetri-James MARINCIC Oliver MARION Blake

MARTIN Bradley MATHESON Brice MCALISTER Kyle MCCAHON Alexander MCCLEN Luke MCDONNELL Ryan MCGRATH Bradley MERRIMAN Luke

MESSENGER Blake MIFSUD Ryan MITCHELL Tyrone MORGAN Riley MOSS Cameron MOUTZOURAS Nathan MURPHY-DAO Dylon NEUPANE Apurba

NGUYEN Timothy NIELSEN Aaron NIXON Zackery O’LEARY Brock PADJEN Nicholas PAREEZER Joshua PAVLAKIS Peter PHAM Richard

146

Year 9

PINCH Zachary PLEVEY Kurt POWELL Benjamin PRASAD Vishaal PRASAD Aakash RAWLINGS Bradley REYNOLDS Connor ROBERTS Phillip

ROBERTSON-SMITH Bryson ROBINSON Lachlan ROBINSON Bailey ROSE Patrick ROYECA Don RYMER Brennan SALIBA Joshua SCIBERRAS Beau

SHUTTLEWORTH Connor SILVA Andrew SINHA Liam SLAUGHTER Cameron SMITH Tye SMYTH John SPOLETI Gaetano STRACHAN Calum

SUA Lawrence SUTHERLAND Matthew TABONE Mitchell TAUNTON Jayden TAVAE Brandon THOMSON Ryan TORREVILLAS Keenan TRINI Benjamin

VELLA Roy WADE Lachlan WALKER Mark WALSH Joel WATTS Jayden WILDMAN Bradley WILLETT Jeremy WILLIAMS Jacob

WILLIS Kayne WILLIS Liam WIMALASIRI Merrick WOOD Nelson WRIGHT Lachlan YAACOUB Christopher ZEIHER Bayley

Absent

AJAMIAN Brenden, KORDAHI Connor, LECLAIR Trent, LEWIS Jordan, MCBROOM Cameron, MCINERNEY Aidan, O’REILLY Ryan, PARKINSON Brandon, YOUNG Sean

St DominSitc.’sDCoomlliengice’s :C2o0ll1e2ge : 2012 417

Luke Borg With the camp experience completed, it was time for the boys
Year 8 Pastoral Coordinator to experience all of what Year 8 had to offer. From academic
tasks to sport, debating and public speaking, the Year 8 rock
Year 8 Report band and growth in spirituality, the boys were encouraged to
involve themselves in as many opportunities as possible. With
Having “survived”Year 7, the Year 8 cohort of this in mind, one of the greatest challenges they faced was
2012 was challenged to embrace College life learning a new language... Japanese. I still recall vividly being
in its entirety by involving themselves in all asked, “Sir, why do I have to learn Japanese? I can’t even do
opportunities afforded to them. The first of English properly!” However, by the end of the year that very
which was the camp experience at The Great same student approached me asking why there aren’t more
Aussie Bush Camp. Japanese lessons.

The camp experience is always a great way to develop new I’d like to thank my assistant Tracey Shaw, whose wisdom I
and lasting friendships whilst being challenged physically often sought when dealing with some of the challenges I
and emotionally. Who could forget the crowd of nervous faced throughout the year. It would also be remiss of me not
yet eager faces anticipating what the next three days would to thank the Year 8 pastoral team also, who helped guide the
bring? Some packed for one day, others one week, but development of your sons throughout 2012.
everyone brought a positive attitude about being away with
their mates for a few days. Great things don’t just happen. The tireless efforts of a
dedicated staff make it possible for your sons to enjoy a
From the tandem flying-fox, lost island, leap of faith challenging curriculum, a fulfilling spirituality, and a lifetime
and vertical challenge but to name a few, the boys were of positive memories from St Doms.
challenged. Working together as a team they overcame their
fears and developed skills in communication and teamwork.

I often find that the yardstick for a successful camp is whether
the boys enjoyed mealtime. The stories that unfolded whilst
digging into some spag bol or burgers about who dared take
the leap of faith, or who managed the vertical challenge in
the fastest time, are memorable.

48