2022 | Issue 10 | SJC Newsletter

Welcome back to Semester Two. While I was away during last term, I kept up with all the College news through social media, newsletters and other communications and it was clear that the College was thriving in the face of many challenges. I’d like to thank Mark Kennedy for his leadership during this time, the other members of the College Leadership team who accepted additional duties and the staff for their conspicuous commitment to supporting each other and to maintaining a productive learning environment for all students.

During my renewal leave, I explored the life and work of St Mary MacKillop and deepened my understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and issues. While this is not the forum for an in-depth discussion of either topic I would offer the following reflections.

The life of St Mary MacKillop provides a wonderful example of the importance of discerning those elements of our faith tradition that are authentic and must be maintained and those that are not and should be challenged. Her story also serves as a reminder that we must sometimes be prepared to stand up to those in authority when that authority is based on status rather than wisdom and truth.

The issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities are incredibly complex. We are making very slow progress toward equality for all Australians. The key to continued and more rapid progress lies in the education of our entire population, particularly our young people who have the power to drive the changes needed.

The College navigated Term 2 without the need for any groups to revert to remote learning. As has been widely reported in the press, the current ‘wave’ of COVID-19 infection is expected to reach its peak sometime during this term. We will continue to do all that we can to keep everyone safe and continue to provide face to face teaching and learning. Thank you for all you have done to assist us in this endeavour by following all requests and directions regarding attendance at school and taking every possible precaution to minimize infection and transmission.

Thank you to all who contributed to the consultation phase of our new strategic plan. The document is now in its final stages of drafting and will go before the College Advisory Council in August for final ratification.

We are proud to maintain a school environment in which the safety of all students is paramount. Please find attached to this newsletter a document that provides the latest information on changes to the Victorian Child Safe standards which have been implemented in the College from July 1 this year.

I would like to congratulate one of the more remarkable members of our community on a significant milestone. Fr. Peter Foley graduated from St Joseph’s in 1954 and celebrates the Diamond Jubilee (60 years.) of his priestly ordination this week. A former College Captain and McNeill Cup Winner Fr Peter has been a great supporter of St Joseph’s over decades. Our strong connection to Uganda is in no small part due to Fr Peter's vision and leadership.

Finally speaking of Uganda, Parish Priest of Mannya, Fr. Emma, has been in contact. He asked that I pass on to everyone in our community the enormous gratitude of the community at St Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School Kensekka. Our support has enabled them to finish building a second classroom block which is now complete and ready to be occupied. The funds for this came from both the Parents and Friends Fashion Dinner and student donations on Edmund Rice Day.

God Bless

Term 3 greets us all with Subject Selection and planning for the following year. Many people wonder why the process begins so early, but without the knowledge of what our students would like to study in 2023, it becomes very challenging to put a successful plan and timetable together, given the College plans to complete a two-week Headstart program in the final two weeks of Term 4. The Mt Sion Subject Expo was well supported by our families, with attendance numbers far exceeding our expectations, with many students and parents wanting to find out as much as possible about the programs the College offers and the subjects that will complement their child’s pathway. This week the College began Subject Selection interviews for those students who wish to challenge their learning by accelerating their VCE programs.

The Westcourt students were exposed to the FutureMe program conducted through Deakin University, which informs students of short and long-term employment trends, and prepares them for crucial decisions they are about to make about future subject choices and further or tertiary studies.

Students heading to Westcourt in 2023, are invited with their parents/carers to attend the Westcourt campus on July 27 at 6:00pm to find out about the Year 9 Campus and the programs that occur. Ms Lauren Hall spoke to the Year 8 students this week at an assembly and further information regarding subject selection will be discussed on the night. An Operoo has been sent to all Year 8 families and the College would appreciate your response. 

Students heading into Year 8, were sent subject selection information this week, and parents were sent links to a video and PowerPoint to explain the elective options available. The link to access the Web Preference Portal in which the students enter their final subject choices is sent to the students from the Timetabler team, and any students struggling with entering their choices should talk to their Homeroom teachers for further support.

I would like to extend my thank you to our Heads of Teaching and Learning at Mt Sion, Westcourt and Waterford, as well as our Head of Curriculum and Curriculum Leaders who have spent significant time in putting this information together for our parents and students. I would also like to recognise the work of our Careers Coordinator, VET Coordinator and our Applied Learning Coordinator for their contribution in supporting student decision making.

The Links to the Mt Sion Presentations from the Expo can be found below

https://www.sjccareers.com/vce-info/sjc-subject-and-pathways-expo

Upcoming Key Dates for Subject Selections

Semester One Reports

Semester 1 reports were released over the school holidays, and they can be downloaded through SIMON or PAM. Due to some staff absences at the end of term with illness, there were some tasks appearing on the reports as “Pending Results”. We have currently regenerated our Year 9 reports, and we hope these reports are now accurate, but please contact the class teacher if you notice an issue with your child’s report and we can arrange for them to be updated and repopulated.

Library hours

This term our Library team have reviewed their Opening Hours and encourage our Senior students to stay behind to complete study in a warm and supportive environment. Students will have access to tea and coffee facilities as well as some light snacks. The library will now be open until 5.00pm Monday to Thursday, and will close early on Friday at 4.00pm.

21 July 2022

Dear Parents and Carers, 

In July 2021, the Victorian Government announced new Child Safe Standards to further strengthen child safe environments and protect children from abuse. The new standards came into effect on Friday 1 July 2022.

From 1 July 2022, 11 new Victorian Child Safe Standards will replace Victoria’s seven former Child Safe Standards and principles in place since 2016.

The new Victorian Child Safe Standards support greater national consistency, reflecting the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The new Child Safe Standards include new requirements, including:

• the involvement of families and students in child safety efforts

• focus on the safety of Aboriginal children and young people

• management of the risk of child abuse in online environments

• governance, systems and processes to keep students safe.

The new Child Safe Standards are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359 which was gazetted by the Victorian Government on 10 February 2022. Ministerial Order No. 1359 defines the actions schools and school boarding premises must take to meet the requirements associated with the new Child Safe Standards.

Under Ministerial Order No. 1359, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) as a school governing authority, must ensure that its schools contextualise, develop and implement policies, procedures and practices to create a child safe culture and environment. EREA’s Statement of Commitment to Child Safety can be found here. (https://www.erea.edu.au/commitment-statement-to-child-safety/)

Victoria’s new Child Safe Standards can be summarised as follows:

1. Culturally safe environments – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
2. Leadership, governance and culture – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
3. Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
4. Family engagement – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
5. Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
6. Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
7. Complaints processes – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
8. Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
9. Child safety in physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
10. Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
11. Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

EREA has been working closely with our school to develop, contextualise and implement a suite of policies, compliant with the minimum standards requirements of the new Ministerial Order 1359, which also reflect the practices and procedures used in our school to keep our students and young people safe.

All staff will continue to be trained in the implementation of the new standards. EREA has also established a network of school Child Safety Officers to better enable the sharing of resources and knowledge supporting the ongoing improvement in, and commitment to, keeping our students and young people safe.

Further information can be obtained from Mr Tony Paatsch, SJC Principal; Mark Kennedy, SJC Deputy Principal; or from EREA’s Manager of Safeguarding and Standards.

There are many exciting events taking place in the coming weeks for the Identity Team to share with our St Joseph’s College community. We are preparing to celebrate our Touchstone of Inclusive Community during Diversity Week via our online Assembly to launch Diversity Week with a focus on language and inclusivity. We have an understanding that we value difference and as a community, we are respectful of each other. Each of us is asked to not just tolerate, but to try to understand each other, today and every day. This touchstone aims to promote acceptance, and foster right relationships, with an overall commitment to the common good.

Students are encouraged to engage in the Service Learning opportunity to earn three service learning hours and three House points by supporting this year’s Winter Sleep Out by sleeping rough at home, to raise money for local people experiencing homelessness due to the effects of family violence. Please add a few extra items to your shopping list to support homerooms to act by bringing in donations of toiletries. Go through your wardrobes this weekend and cupboards to share some warm blankets and clothing which will also be gratefully received at the reception crates at Edmund Rice and Westcourt Campuses as part of the Winter Appeal. Registration link: 2022 Winter Sleepout. All donations can be done via the SJC Shop.

Our Year 10 students will be given a deeper perspective into the issue of homelessness and how they can respond when they participate in their Year 10 Renewal – Wellbeing Days on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 August. Our annual Time and Space Mother/Carer/Mentor and Year 7 Son Event will take place on Tuesday 2 August. See flyer for registration details.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week aims to celebrate and recognise the rich cultural history of First Nations Peoples that makes Australia unique. The theme for this year is "Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!" This has been described as being a call for action to bring about "systemic change and keep rallying around our mob, our Elders, our communities." As part of our St Joseph’s Reconciliation Action Plan we are always looking for solid student support in this area. We invite students who would like to be someone who gets up, stands up and shows up in helping with future activities aimed to promote and create change for First Nations Peoples, to email our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coordinator Ben McDowell. Lowell Hunter, known as Salty One and Lowey to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait students was awarded the 2022 creative talent award. He delivers cultural strengthening programs in schools and facilitates interactive sand art and culture workshops with students on the beach. He has been connecting to country and culture with our students over the past two years and we congratulate him.

Lake Mungo Immersion

Some of you may be aware that during the concluding week of the last term a group of 21 St Joseph’s students accompanied by two teachers Mr Crook and Ms Willard took part in our first College Immersion since 2019. Ranging from Years 10 to 11 and with the help of the Red Earth organisation we were given the pristine privilege of not only visiting one of Australia’s few National parks, Lake Mungo, but having the opportunity of traversing the lake itself. Apart from rolling down the sand dunes we participated in other significant activities such as how to read the history of the lake just by judging the age of the different sand layers. It was here we linked up with Red Earth employees Shaz and Chip. They helped our St Joseph’s team to fully immerse themselves within the Indigenous Australian culture whether it be through partaking in ancient rituals on country or simply listening to the many stories and teachings of the elders and traditional owners. Apart from the kindly gifted clap sticks the boys also took home a deeper understanding of the truths of our nation’s past. As Aunt Vicky constantly remarked, the best way to truly understand a story isn’t by listening to other stories such as this one, but by seeing the story with your own eyes.

Elijah, Year 11 Touchstone Leader

Refugee Week 2022

In the last week of Term 2, the College celebrated World Refugee week.

The theme for Refugee week this year was healing. As a result of the global pandemic, Australia and the rest of the world have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hit the reset button on how we behave towards one another. The importance of human connections has been underscored by the pandemic and such lessons can help us in so many ways.  Mainstream and refugee communities alike can draw upon shared hardship to heal wounds, learn from each other, and to move forward. Healing can occur through storytelling, through community, and also through realisation of our intrinsic interconnectedness as individuals.  The common theme is a reminder of our role as individuals and as a wider St Joseph’s community to engage with acts of healing and storytelling in an attempt to work towards rejuvenation. 2022 cannot just ‘be another year’. Let it be a year that allows us to heal together and emerge as a more fulfilled and connected society.

It reminds us that during these last few years of the pandemic, we all might have felt lonely and isolated at times, and we know how difficult it can be. As a community during Refugee week, we sought to learn and understand how these feelings of isolation have been amplified from a refugee’s perspective. In order to heal, we know the power of inclusion vs. exclusion, integration rather than segregation and more importantly, feel empowered to help someone feel less alone. It means recognising and valuing how much refugees can contribute to our community.

This ties into this year’s Catholic Identity theme where, ‘Anything is possible with God’ (Luke 18:27) Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ Our faith tradition calls us to people of hope and faith. Just as Edmund Rice drew of his faith during the many trials and challenges of his life, it wasn’t until he turned 40 did he open his first school. Many refugees and asylum seekers of various faith traditions share the common belief of the Golden Rule that we should ‘treat one another as we’d like to be treated.’ They wait in faith and hope for the possibility that they will be welcomed and find a new safe haven for their families to heal and begin a new life. As a College, students and staff participated in events and learning activities inside and outside of classrooms to recognise the enormous positive contribution people with refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum contribute to our society.

After delaying it for a year, we were finally able to host a film night in partnership with CRAG Combined Refugee Action Group of Geelong. It was a great turn out from our community with many staff, students, families and friends of our St Joseph’s Community attending a screening of ‘Scattered People’. All ticket sales, raffle tickets and merchandise sold on the evening went directly to CRAG and the total amount raised on the night was $1,752.05. CRAG advocates for refugee policies in Australia that are informed by the UN Refugee Convention and Protocol, and that are developed in partnership with our regional neighbours, to ensure the safety of vulnerable people seeking asylum. For more information please visit - http://craggeelong.com/ Another event that took place was the Circle of Solidarity in the Quad. Here we stood together to publicly recognise and show our support for people seeking asylum and express hope for a united future. Many thanks to the many staff and students who joined in during the lunchtime event recognising that indeed, Refugees are welcome here.

Rachel Ivey Refugee Coordinator

Identity Artwork Westcourt

Thanks to the grant we received from our Inter Cultural Understanding Partnership with ‘Together for Humanity’ and the JMCA, we are planning a creative response to the Golden Rule, a theme we have been exploring over the past two years. The Golden Rule – treat others as you would like to be treated – is at the heart of all religious traditions. The Golden Rule poster displays this principle of reciprocity in the sacred texts and symbols of thirteen different religions, including Aboriginal spirituality. In alignment with our commitment to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si goals, we aim to commission the artist Jane Perkins to create an upcycled artwork to encapsulate an inspired image representative of this theme, our faith and identity. Westcourt students attended a workshop with Jane on Wednesday 22 June, where she shared her creative process, and inspired the students and staff with a presentation of her works. Westcourt students are encouraged to start collecting plastic pieces with sentiment and hand them into the collection container at reception, to be sent back to Jane to incorporate into the artwork. Students and staff will collaborate on the final design to capture the theme. To find out more about Jane’s creations, Jane has a website here: https://janeperkins.co.uk

TERM 3 - UPCOMING EVENTS

Every day CUT THE WRAP

29 July Schools Tree day

31 July National Tree day

15-21 August Keep Australia Beautiful Week

September National Biodiversity month

7 September National Threatened Species Day

12-18 September National Organic Week

22 September World Car-Free Day

GUEST PRESENTER UK ARTIST JANE PERKINS

In alignment with our Sustainability goals and as recipients of an Inter Cultural Understanding Partnership grant, Year 9 students together with Sustainability Leaders, were treated to a guest presentation by visiting UK Artist Jane Perkins on 22 June.

Jane specialises in a collage form of artwork, utilising plastic pieces collected and accumulated along her life journey. Through the process of creating her inspired masterpieces, Jane encapsulates and models a transition from a linear economy toward a circular economy.

Jane will be commissioned to create an artwork specifically for our community, utilising sentimental plastic items donated by students to create an image encapsulating the essence of our faith and identity. Once the design process is finalised, students will be called on to collect plastic items with specific colours.

Special thanks to; Sustainability Leaders Kade H (Year 9) and Bryce G (Year 8) for their involvement in the presentation, maintenance staff and AV staff for the setting up of the gymnasium and photography credit to staff member Kristen Grant (Westcourt Administration).

For more information regarding Jane Perkins’ artwork, visit; https://janeperkins.co.uk

STUDENT REVIEWS

On the 22 June, we went to the Year 9 Campus to meet Jane Perkins to learn about what she does for a living. Jane is an artist, however the materials she uses are old plastic toys and other plastic items. She doesn’t buy things for her artworks, she recycles.

I find it so special that when people ask Jane to make something, they give her a small sentimental object to incorporate into her art. I personally liked the Rainbow Lion because of all of the different colours and the variety of plastic toys used. I especially loved the amount of detail in this piece.

Bono S (Year 7)

Jane Perkins was an amazing person to listen to. She told us about her story and was quite an interesting and knowledgeable person. She told us how she got all the resources she needed from washed up things on the beach and toys that young children had sent to her. Out of just these common and simple items she managed to make an extremely colourful and beautiful rainbow lion out of them.

Bryce G (Year 8)

COMMUNITY NOTICES

National Tree Day planting with Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek – Service Learning Opportunity.

We invite all students and families to join the “Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek” on Sunday 31 July to celebrate National Tree Planting day, supporting their efforts of creating a “Nature corridor” by planting indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses adjacent to existing plantings in a bid to increase biodiversity along the river and help save the threatened Yarra Pigmy Perch that resides in the creek.

“Friends” will gather from 9:00am on the site between Brearly Reserve Bridge and Winter St. Note: This site may be accessed via the walking track either from Winter St or from Grove Road.

New volunteers are most welcome and are encouraged to wear solid footwear and to bring their own gardening gloves and a bottle of water. Volunteers must also complete a COVID Questionnaire prior to arrival.

For more information regarding the tree planting site map and COVID Questionnaire, visit the Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek website below:  https://www.friendsofwaurnpondscreek.org.au/aa%202022/07%20July%2031.html

CALLING FOR PLASTIC BOTTLE TOPS AND BREAD CLIPS

We are calling on all SJC families to support our Year11 VCAL students in the collection of plastic bottle tops, for the purpose of creating a circular economy, by reforming and transitioning these items into new and purposeful products. In particular, we require clean plastic items with either the number 2 or 4 clearly identified on the items.

In addition, other items that may be recycled at the College include; corks, stamps and plastic bread tags (in support of the "Bread Tags for Wheelchairs" project).

All donations (washed and dried) may be delivered to the Reception of either campus.

Over the holidays staff and students volunteered at Bunnings BBQs across Barwon Health’s Giving Weekend.

An incredible $76,432 was raised across the weekend and SJCs contribution was greatly appreciated.

Thanks to Ms Rowlands and Mr Fawkes (pictured), and Ms Board and Ms O’Brien for making it possible for our students to contribute to their local community.

Students please check the daily bulletin and emails for details of upcoming service opportunities.

• Winter Sleepout
• Toiletry drive
• Blood Bank donations
• Mac & Joe’s
• Bunnings BBQs
• + more

In the last week of Term 2 the College celebrated World Refugee week.

The theme for Refugee week this year was healing.

About this year’s Refugee Week theme: As a result of the global pandemic, Australia and the rest of the world have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hit the reset button on how we behave towards one another. The importance of human connections has been underscored by the pandemic and such lessons can help us in so many ways.  Mainstream and refugee communities alike can draw upon shared hardship to heal wounds, to learn from each other and to move forward. Healing can occur through storytelling, through community and also through realisation of our intrinsic interconnectedness as individuals.  The common theme is a reminder of our role as individuals and as a wider St Joseph’s community to engage with acts of healing and storytelling in an attempt to work towards rejuvenation. 2022 cannot just ‘be another year’. Let it be a year which allows us to heal together and emerge as a more fulfilled and connected society.

It reminds us that during these last few years of the pandemic, we all might have felt lonely and isolated at times, and we know how difficult it can be. As a community during Refugee week, we sought to learn and understand how these feelings of isolation has been amplified from a refugee’s perspective. In order to heal, we know the power of inclusion vs. exclusion, integration rather than segregation and more importantly, feel empowered to help someone feel less alone. It means recognising and valuing how much refugees can contribute to our community.

This ties into this year’s Catholic theme where ‘Anything is possible with God’ (Luke 18:27)

Matthew 19:26
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Our faith tradition calls us to people of hope and faith. Just as Edmund Rice drew of his faith during the many trials and challenges of his life, it wasn’t until he turned 40 did he open his first school. Many refugees and asylum seekers of various faith traditions share the common belief of the Golden Rule that we should ‘treat one another as we’d like to be treated.’ They wait in faith and hope that for the possibility that they will be welcomed and find a new safe haven for their families to heal and begin a new life.

As a College, students and staff participated in events and learning activities inside and outside of classrooms to recognise the enormous positive contribution people with refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum contribute to our society.

After delaying it for a year, we were finally able to host a film night in partnership with CRAG – Combined Refugee Action Group of Geelong. It was a great turn out from our community with many staff, students, families and friends of our SJC community attending a screening of ‘Scattered People’. All ticket sales, raffle tickets and merchandise sold on the evening went directly to CRAG and the total amount raised on the night was $1,752.05. CRAG advocates for refugee policies in Australia that are informed by the UN Refugee Convention and Protocol, and that are developed in partnership with our regional neighbours, to ensure the safety of vulnerable people seeking asylum. For more information please visit - http://craggeelong.com/

Another event which took place was the Circle of Solidarity in the Quad. Here we stood together to publicly recognise and show our support for people seeking asylum and express hope for a united future. Many thanks to the many staff and students who joined in during the lunchtime event recognising that indeed, Refugees are welcome here.

The Library opening hours have changed.

Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 5.00pm

Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm

We are offering free hot drinks and snacks after school to our Year 12 students to encourage them to take the opportunity to complete some study immediately after school.

In Term 2, all Year 7 students in their English classes focus on persuasive writing and speaking. Each student wrote are persuasive speech about their chosen topic and presents it to their class. This year we asked each English teacher to nominate their best speaker to enter the Waterford Public Speaking Competition.

The following students are to be congratulated for representing their Homeroom:

7B – Luke M

7C – Xander R

7D – Liam S

7E – Jacob Y

7F – Cruz J

7G – Bailey W

7H – Joshua W

7I – Hunter S

7J – Tome L

7K – Harlen L

On Monday 6 of June, we welcomed family, friends and supportive teachers to the PAC to watch the finalists. It was a fierce competition with each representative speaking passionately about their topic and impressing the audience and judge. All of the competitors should be very proud of the research, writing skills and effort they put into preparing for the competition. Luke M from 7B was declared the best Waterford Public speaker for 2023. He has had his name etched in the perpetual trophy and will be presented with a gift voucher at our up and coming Waterford Assembly. Well done Luke and we look forward to another persuasive battle next year.

Our Westcourt students and Coaches brought home not one, not two, but THREE Grand Final wins on 21 June! Congratulations to the ACC Soccer Team defeating Parade College 4-3. Congratulations to the ACC Div 2 Football defeating Parade College 106 -19. Congratulations to the ACC Div 1 defeating Parade College 48-44. Thank you to all of the players, staff, umpires, runners and coaches for your dedication to the teams and ensuring our students have a great time out on the field!

To all of our SJC families who use the College App - the App is currently undergoing an upgrade, the current version may be having problems loading. We are hoping that we can launch the new version as soon as we can, we will let families know when it is available to download in the apple and app store.

Uniting Barwon Month End Book Sale

BOOK SALE
Friday 29th July
10:00am – 2:00pm
272 Torquay Rd Grovedale
(Cnr Reserve and Torquay Rds)
NOTHING OVER $1.00

Jazz Swings In The Mood for Mental Health

Leo William Russell (94 Years) SJOC 1944. The College was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Leo on 6 July. The second oldest of five children, Leo grew up on a dairy farm in Mt Moriac. He attended Mt Moriac Primary School then St Joseph's College where he was named as College Dux in his final year 1944, although he had only three students to beat in his graduating class! Leo then attended the Gordon Institute of Technology Geelong, completing a three year Civil Engineering Diploma. He played cricket for Barrabool in the Geelong Cricket Association, football for the Modewarre Football Club and was a member of the 1947 and 1952 premierships. Leo and Athol married at St Bernard's Church Geelong on 24 April 1954. Leo had been working for the Harbour Trust in Geelong until 1954 when he took up a position as an engineer with the Country Roads Board in Bairnsdale where he worked for 32 years. He was the father of six children - Colleen, Gerard, Michael, Chris, Paul and Louise. In 2007, after 53 years in Bairnsdale, Leo and Athol moved to Hervey Bay where Colleen lived. Athol sadly passed on 7 January 2018 at age 88 after 63 years of marriage. Leo maintained a keen interest in all sports, particularly racing and football, right up until his death and was particularly proud that his grandson Tom ended up at the Cats. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to all of Leo’s family at this sad time from all of us here at St Joseph’s College Geelong.

John Bohan (100 years) SJOC 1940. The College community was deeply saddened to learn that John passed away on 30 June. Earlier this year John celebrated his 100th birthday and featured on the cover of this year’s Ad Alta Magazine. John enrolled as one of the first students at St Joey's in 1935 at 12 years of age. During his schooling years, he was an avid reader and a keen cricket and tennis player. He had very fond memories of his teachers and the strong friendships that were formed. After leaving St Joseph’s in 1940, John commenced employment as a surveyor’s assistant for local Geelong company Arthur Clive Thomas Surveyors. Between 1941-1945, John was conscripted to the Australian Army based in the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, where he underwent artillery and underground mining explosives training. It was during this time John discovered his initial interest and talent for drawing, often sketching his fellow army comrades in pencil. Years later John began painting scenes from photographs he took during his travels to Central Australia and from places further abroad including Japan and Croatia. John often drew on his imagination to add fictitious characters, animals and objects to the landscape. John had a loving and deep affection for his family, his parents and his younger brother Kevin. During his senior years, sadly John’s eyesight deteriorated and he could no longer view his works. He kindly gifted much of his collection to St Joseph’s, so that future generations may gain pleasure and inspiration from these works. A sample of his works are on display in the Peter Chanel Building and is known as the “John Bohan Collection” and one artwork currently hangs in the Principal’s office at the College. To John’s family, the College extends its heartfelt sympathy. He will be missed by his fellow Old Collegians and by all of the members of his St Joseph’s family. Rest in peace John.