Principal's Message
Year 7 2024
As part of Catholic Schools Week, on Monday evening, we extended an invitation to Year 7 2024 students and families to join us for an Information and Open Evening. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our amazing College. I would like to thank and acknowledge the staff of St Joseph's Regional College, who enthusiastically and professionally contributed to the positivity of the evening; from handing information packs, the beautifully set up hall and grounds, the welcoming committee in the car parks and on the walkways, for showcasing learning spaces and presentations by our Leadership Team.
Thank you to our 50 student tour leaders for the excellent way in which they conducted themselves while being tour guides to our visitors. Thank you to Year 7 students Noah Joyce and Haylee Vos for their well-prepared address about their experiences at the College so far. To Mrs Sharon Green for preparing students in the College Jazz Band to play welcoming music, to Mckinley Halls and Dominic Matheson on saxophone, for providing a calm ambience in the hall as our visitors concluded their tour. These students are true ambassadors for our College, and I must say how very proud I was to witness their commitment and their College spirit.
This week, the College Leadership team commence enrolment interviews. It's not too late to apply! If you are aware of friends or siblings wishing to enrol for Year 7 2024, please ask them to either contact our Enrolment Officer, Mrs Michelle Reynolds or visit our website for information about how to enrol at St Joseph's Regional College.
Enrolment Enquiries
https://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-enquiries
How to enrol at SJRC
https://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/how-to-enrol
Online Applications are now open
ANZAC Day
As mentioned in last week's News in Brief, St Joseph's Regional College had over 150 students and staff involved in the ANZAC services and marches. The College was well-represented at the Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Laurieton services. We are very proud of all our students who were involved and supported ANZAC Day, as we recognise the sacrifice so many have made, and are continuing to make, on behalf of our country and ourselves. We are truly giving witness and respect to our Mission of Service.
Below are a small selection of images from the march, however, more images are available to view via our College Facebook page - www.facebook.com/SJRCPort/
ANZAC College Commemorative Service
As a College community, students and staff attended a special ANZAC commemorative Service last Wednesday, organised by the Leader of HSIE, Mr Jason Warneken. During the service, our College band, ably led by Mrs Sharon Green provided the music for our singers Alannah Steele, who sang the solo opening song, Abide With Me, who was then joined by Georgia McMahon and Lauren Johnson for the National Anthem, and I still call Australia Home. A special mention to Jonah Garven for playing the Last Post and to Lauren Johnston who laid the wreath at the makeshift memorial (Catafalque) on stage and also raised the Australian flag during the playing of the Rouse. Thank you to Esther Cummins for offering the Acknowledgment of Country, which is included below:
As we travel through our lives, we acknowledge and connect with the original custodians of this land, the Birpai people.
We acknowledge the ongoing belief systems of all First Nations people of this continent, past and present, who live, love and learn on Country, guided by Elders and shaped by spirit.
As students and staff of St. Joseph’s Regional College, we thank the Birpai people and surrounding communities for sharing with us the privilege to walk alongside them on Country as we are the original custodians and protectors of this land.
I would also like to acknowledge the tens of thousands of First Nations people who died fighting against the invasion and settlement of their Country’s during the Frontier Wars, the first wars fought by people of this continent.
In addition to this, I would like to recognise the sacrifice made by so many First Nations servicemen and women who fought so bravely in wars for Australia. In both World Wars, First Nations people had the highest rate of military participation as a proportion of their population. For many years their service was not equally recognised, and they were not supported as veterans. They were not given access to government schemes, they were not given military funerals, and they were denied the participation in ANZAC marches.
Each year, there is growing recognition of the bravery and courage of our First Nations servicemen and women and their contributions to our military. It is my hope that in the near future, every ANZAC ceremony across Australia will commemorate the service and contributions of both First Nations and non-First Nations people alike.
We welcomed special guest, Major Robyn Davis, from the Port Macquarie Sub Branch of the Returned and Services League; I thank Major Davis for the generosity of her time and her address to our College. Major Davis spoke about the tradition of the ANZAC and how the qualities are evident throughout subsequent wars, in today's Australian Defence Force (ADF) and in everyday life for all Australians. Major Davis' address focused on the Vietnam War and the ANZAC Spirit and I would like to include some extracts from her address.
Regional Beastman
This week, at the College, a giant wall mural is unfolding; sparking students' curiosity. The mural has been designed and painted by Sydney-based multidisciplinary artist, Bradley Eastman aka 'Beastman',
The mural has come to fruition through the insights of Visual Arts teacher, Mrs Tracy Pares, when an opportunity arose to apply for an Arts Partnership Grant, provided through the Catholic Schools Office Lismore. Tracy put together an extensive application and meticulously planned every detail. The grant required the successful applicants to organise an artist in residency program, complete a large-scale work and provide educational workshops for students. Tracy then contacted Bradley Eastman who was really keen to support our project.
We are absolutely thrilled to have Bradley's artwork adorn, what was a blank end wall on C Block. The wall will be unveiled on Friday. Photos of the final work will be available through our Facebook page and in the week 4 newsletter.
About Bradley - Influenced by the biodiversity, symbolism and design aesthetics behind nature’s growth patterns and organic landscapes, Bradley’s paintings, digital illustration, commercial projects and public murals explore a unique visual language, depicting future environments of abstracted geometric landscapes, potential new life forms and human intervention with nature.
Bradley is one of the most distinctive and prolific contemporary Australian artists. Bradley has exhibited his artworks extensively around the world, has curated and organised numerous international art exhibitions and projects, and has created artwork for clients such as Facebook, Vivid Sydney, Mini, Hyundai, Apple, Westfield, Adidas, Tennis Australia, Red Bull, Stockland, GPT, Vicinity, The Star Sydney, Merivale and more. His artwork has been acquired by the National Gallery of Australia, and his large solo and collaborative mural and installation works can be found all over Australia and around the world.
For more information about Bradley and to view his work, please visit his webpage - https://beastman.com.au
Mrs Tanya Daley
Principal
