What will they build?
The graduating Class of 2023 departed the College on Wednesday evening with a Mass and Graduation Dinner. Eucharist is central to the Catholic faith, so it was fitting that this dignified and beautiful Mass was central to farewell celebrations. The Dinner at The Park exceeded expectations for the attractive presentation of the venue, quality of food, light and sound, and the presence of their staff added to the occasion.
The whole point of a Catholic school is that every student feels known, loved and challenged – challenged to contribute to a culture and the Common Good, and challenged to learn what excellence looks like. The entire evening reflected a confident and grateful parent group and relationships of trust, respect and affirmation between the students and their teachers. This was made clear and evident by Nick Johnston Father of College Captain Raj Johnston when he addressed the room from a parent perspective.
“When we returned to Melbourne in late 2017, we struggled to find a school for Raj. We were greatly relieved when we got a call from then CBC’s Principal, Gerald Bain-King, saying a place had become available. At interview, he promised that CBC excelled at an all-round education and that it supported families with sound values for their children.
We felt we had come to the right place.
St Mary’s has delivered on Gerald's Promise, and then some. We are so grateful for those other school’s knocking Raj back because this has worked out far better than we would have thought.
Families and students should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved with the school for their children. We parents will always be grateful to the teachers and staff at St Mary’s, not just for the time and energy they have given our boy, but for their devotion and care.” - Nick Johnston
My speech to the Graduating students took on the theme of challenging them be someone who contributes positively to their community.
Melbourne’s real impetus was gained from the gold rush. Making it the richest City in the British Empire for 20 years. It was the centre of industrial, cultural, political, financial, and Catholic life in this country for a century.
Melbournians invested their money in roads, bridges, civic buildings, art museums, hospitals, schools, and public parks and gardens, all of which, spoke of the importance Melbournians placed on Civic Progress and the Common Good. All of this was built with migrant labour, gold money and taxes, engineers, construction experts, town planners, landscapers, sculptures, etc. Our citizens have been cared for by doctors, nurses, teachers, and carers, most of whom, learnt their skills in institutions of learning here in Melbourne.
My question to each member the graduating class is,
What will you build?
What skills will you acquire?
Who will you care for, or teach, or defend as you make your own way in promoting the Civic Progress of your community, your city, and your Commonwealth?
Each of us here is proud that you possess, in some measure, the courage, empathy, understanding and virtue that will enable each of you and contribute in some measure to the progress of us all.””
For a school as old as this one, people would expect that we would be good at farewelling our graduates. Just the same, there was a special atmosphere of pride and expectation in the great contribution our students will make to their city, country and the global community.
Congratulations to everybody involved in the success of six years of dedication, commitment and achievement.
Michael Lee OAM
Principal (Acting)
