Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
Today was the 104th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended the First World War in 1918. Today the College Community all gathered in the Centenary Quadrangle at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, to pause and commemorate Remembrance Day.
A livestream was available for the Ceremony of Commemoration of the Fallen. Thank you to Waverley College and St Catherine’s School students who provided the Catafalque Party, Flag Party, Guard of Honour, Drum Corps and the Cliff Goodchild Band. They were very impressive!
Our Matthew Coorey School Band also represented us with distinction at the Waverley Council Remembrance Day, held at Waverley Park this morning.
The College Cenotaph, is inscribed with the names of all of our ‘Old Boys’ who paid the supreme sacrifice in the two World Wars. Congratulations to our musicians and Cadets.
>>> Click here see further details in the article by MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow.
Lest We Forget
All Souls Day
The month of November is traditionally a time in which the Catholic community remembers those who have died. It is related to the fact that the end of November is the end of the Liturgical Year, with a new year starting the First Sunday of Advent – the four-week period of preparation before Christmas.
The Church identifies November as a time to think of the end of life, and the great hope that our earthly end is a transition into a new life in God’s heaven. This month, we remember those who have gone before us, and we look with prayer and hope to their new life in heaven and our desire to join them there one day.
2022 Kristallnacht Ceremony Held at Moriah College
Thank you to Mr Nicholas Sposari and Mr Nicholas Brophy who represented our College Community at Kristallnacht – The ‘Night of Broken Glass.’ On November 9-10, 1938, Nazi forces set fire to or destroyed over 200 synagogues, damaged 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses, arrested 30,000 Jews, and murdered 91 Jews in Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland.
Three 1938 survivors of Kristallnacht each lit a candle. Their personal struggle for freedom during Kristallnacht were harrowing, yet each lives today to be a light within the Jewish and wider community.
Nick McKenzie (Australian award-winning journalist and Jewish adherent) shared his shocking stories of infiltrating a Neo-Nazi cluster in Australia. His work was featured on ’60 Minutes’ and on ‘Stan.’ The key takeaway from his keynote speech, was that young boys and girls, as young as 16, are easily being recruited into new Neo-Nazi groups, which is a very disturbing fact for all of us in the community.
Deputy Principal – Students
With the Deputy Principal – Students, Mr Patrick Brennan, taking renewal leave for the last five weeks of Term 4, 2022, and long service leave for Semester 1 2023, EREA have conducted a process to replace Patrick and appoint an Acting Deputy Principal. I would like to congratulate Ms Gabby Smith on her appointment to this position.
Gabby has been the Director of Junior School at Waverley since 2018, and has recently Acted as Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning for 18 months. Prior to Waverley, Gabby was employed by Loreto Kirribilli in the roles of Acting Head of Junior School, Assistant Head of Junior School and Religious Education Coordinator.
Gabby has a Master of Education from the University of New England, and a Bachelor of Education from the Australian Catholic University. She has a high level of professionalism and dedication to the education and formation of students in her care. We wish her much success in this role. The College will now begin a process to appoint an Acting Director of Junior School and any subsequent staffing permutations.
Back to Waverley Day
Yesterday we celebrated ‘Back to Waverley Day,’ and welcomed our alumni who graduated 50 years or more ago. We haven’t been able to host this day since 2019, so it was especially nice to honour our graduates from the years 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Memories were shared, through a short mass, morning tea, assembly and lunch. We especially thank Dr David Curran, (Class of 1970) College Captain for his moving address to the College during Assembly.
We also had the pleasure of seeing our Pacifika Group perform on stage. The performance was enjoyed by past and present students, as well as our invited Pacifika families and extended families.
>>> Click here to read more information in the article by Ms Vanessa Witton.
Parents’ Association AGM
On behalf of the College, I would like to thank all parents who have been involved in the work carried out by the Parents’ Association throughout 2022. Particular thanks to the tireless work of the Year level representatives, past parents representatives, clothing pool representatives, tuckshop volunteers and the executive, for all of their organisation, support and efforts in organising events and communicating across our community.
Thank you to the 2022 Executive: Jade Stapleton (President), Daniella Strbac (Vice President), Lamya Sadi (Vice President), Stephanie Van Dam (Secretary) and Deb Johnston (Treasurer).
Special thanks to Jade, Deb and Stephanie who are all stepping down off the executive after significant stints in their respective roles. We appreciate their service and dedication to assisting the Waverley College Community.
From the recent AGM, I would like to congratulate the following parents on their elections to the Parents’ Association Executive for 2022, and I look forward to working with them in the new year.
Parent Executive
- President – Vacant
- Vice President – Daniella Strbac
- Vice President – Lamya Sadi
- Secretary – Carl Lee
- Treasurer – Peter Sertori
Parent Representatives
- Year 5 – Daniella Strbac, Nicole Perrin Draper, Ivana Roberts
- Year 6 – Natalea Iskra, Kim Gould, Rocio Dyer
- Year 7 – Daniella Strbac, Anne Clerc-Johnson
- Year 8 – Claire McGaffney, Eileen Trinca
- Year 9 – Camille Owen
- Year 10 – Jade Stapleton, Tina Lee
- Year 11 – Tina Lee
- Year 12 – Lamya Sadi
Past Parents
- Donna Drew Morris
- Linda McGuiggan
Clothing Pool
- Kirsten Hott
- Camille Owen
Board Chair Announcement For EREA NSW Colleges Ltd
In 2023, Edmund Rice Education Australia is moving to a new governance structure across each state and territory. A NSW Director and CEO of EREA Colleges will be appointed along with a Subsidiary Board. Congratulations to Waverley College Old Boy, Sam Hardjono on his appointment as Chair of the NSW College’s Board.
Sam is currently a senior strategic advisor, working with leaders in the corporate, not-for-profit and start-up sectors. For more than a decade, he was Chief Executive Officer of a large charity with projects in South-East Asia, South America, and Australia. He has served on inter-governmental, not-for-profit, corporate, private and start-up boards, either as a Trustee, Non-Executive Director, or advisory roles for over 20 years.
Currently, he is a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk, and Chair of Tech & Cyber for the Australian Red Cross, and previously Chair for New South Wales.
Sam was a member of our College Board for 12 years, four as Chair. Sam has a passion and commitment to Catholic education in the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice.
Another Opportunity to Hear From Paul Dillion – Vaping – ‘Short and Sweet’
The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT in collaboration with the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle – Federation of Parents & Friends Associations invites: parents, carers and staff to attend a free webinar about this growing issue.
The session will provide up-to-date and accurate information on the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, including the potential harms associated with the use of these devices, particularly young people.
Practical advice will also be provided on how to talk to young people about vaping, as well as some possible responses that parents can use, should their child attempt to challenge them in this complex area.
Date: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Venue: Online Microsoft Teams Live Event (Viewable through Web Browser, or the Microsoft Teams app on Android, IOS, Windows, and Mac)
Time: 7pm – 8.30pm
COVID-19 Update
NSW Health recently advised that they are starting to see a rise in COVID-19 transmissions within the community, with a peak of cases expected in early December. Currently we have 17 students diagnosed with COVID-19 this week, and two staff members that we know of.
NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, has been warning the wider community to be vigilant around social distancing, and taking precautionary hygiene measures to reduce transmission of the new strains of virus that are circulating.
Please keep your son at home if he is unwell. Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are available from the Senior School Health Centre. We encourage all students, staff and families to keep up-to-date with their vaccinations, including COVID-19 booster shots if eligible.
NSW Health are also encouraging everyone in the community to continue to register positive RATs with Service NSW, to ensure they receive timely support and advice, including access to antivirals for those eligible.
