Principal's Message Term 3 Week 8 | Mr Damien Fall
Dear members of the Terrace Family,
This Sunday is Father’s Day, and I would like to send my best wishes to all the Dads in our community for an enjoyable day. As a father of three young men, I have no wish for any material gifts; rather, the priceless gift of time with family is what makes the day special. I look forward to seeing my own 89-year-old Dad and the day is extra special for our family, as it will be the first time our oldest son and his wife celebrate Father’s Day with their beautiful daughter Daphne, who arrived in May.
As we acknowledge the fathers in our lives, a reminder that the College’s name, St Joseph’s, is in recognition of the father of Jesus. We know that the Bible does not record a single word ever uttered by Joseph, and we know little of him apart from his occupation as a carpenter. We can assume that Joseph was quiet and humble but a man of great morals and strength – a true ‘gentle man’. I often admire the large sculpture of Joseph, who sits high on College Hall looking down on Treacy Court, traditionally the play space of our youngest students (formerly known as ‘Primary Quad’). I am unsure if this was done intentionally, but it strikes me as appropriate that the College’s father figure spent many years watching over the most vulnerable in our community. If you have never noticed him watching over us, have a look next time you are in Treacy Court.
The past week has, as usual, seen plenty of activity both within and outside the College gates. Last Friday we held the annual Rugby Lunch, this time a stand-alone event as opposed to recent years, when we combined with Nudgee to celebrate Rugby at both Colleges. The afternoon was a resounding success, and the new format received strong approval from all in attendance. The brains trust behind the event invited all living Terracians who have been capped as Wallabies, and we were gifted the presence of 14 of these men. It was an extraordinary gathering, and what was most impressive was the fondness and even strong emotion with which so many spoke of their time at Terrace. It was clear that despite their enormous success beyond the school gates, Terrace remains very important to them. Through the passage of time, their years at Terrace and the bonds they made have not been overshadowed. Thank you to all responsible for the day and all who attended.
On Saturday, we welcomed hundreds of guests to Tennyson for an Open Day and the Old Boys’ ‘Back to Tennyson’ day, with the Seniors of 1994 gathering to enjoy their reunion. On an unseasonably warm winter day, we enjoyed a fabulous community event, and I trust all who were in attendance would agree that the facilities looked great and the company was even better. After the recent rain the fields look a treat, and we have one more home round before they get a well-earned rest in Term 4.
We gathered our Year 7 students of 2025 and their parents on Wednesday for the annual Orientation evening. The focal points of the evening included the changes that come with secondary school, the pastoral connection between students, their House group and their Buddies, and how the College can support students and their families. The student-free day on Friday sees the same students undertake preliminary academic and aptitude testing as well as music placement in preparation for the new year. We look forward to seeing our Year 7 cohort on day one of 2025.
Today our Year 9 students finish their assessment for the term, with the first Immersion groups departing on Saturday. Readers might be interested to know what Immersions are taking place this year. We have groups heading to Cambodia, Fiji, Timor Leste, Cape York, Central Australia, East Kimberley and Arnhem Land, and local Immersions titled Creative Industries, Meraki Outdoor Education and On the Edge. An enormous amount of effort goes into the organisation and execution of these memorable student experiences, and I thank the staff who so generously make them happen. In particular, I acknowledge the efforts of the staff at Waterford Place and the Identity Team, without which we simply could not offer the program. We rely on a large number of staff who are prepared to spend extended time away from home and family for the benefit of our students. We thank you for your commitment and wish everyone a safe and memorable experience.
Today, our First Nations Senior students attend the annual Graduation Liturgy, hosted by Brisbane Catholic Education at St Stephen’s Cathedral. Our congratulations to these men and all who will be in attendance.
In staffing news, I am delighted to announce that Mr Brendan Ganley has been appointed Dean of our new Primary Precinct. I know Brendan is excited by the opportunity to lead staff in shaping the young men of Terrace, as they undertake their first two years at the College on their very own campus. We are on track to commence use of the new facility in Semester 2 2025 and will soon be in a position to formally announce its name, with protocols almost complete. I also extend the thoughts and prayers of the community to Ms Catherine Kumar, one of our wonderful College nurses. Catherine’s brother was involved in a tragic accident and sadly lost his life last weekend. May perpetual light shine on Andrew and may he rest in peace.
With Father’s Day in mind, a closing piece from an unknown author:
Strength of a Mountain
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
Best wishes to all in the Terrace Family and Happy Father’s Day for Sunday.
Mr Damien Fall
Acting College Principal