I would like to thank Mr Michael O’Loughlin, Aboriginal artist Mr Billy Reynolds and Mrs Fran Grant for their presence here today and for assisting us all to celebrate National Reconciliation Week, but also remembering that reconciliation is a process and a journey, not a day or week event.
By dictionary definition, ‘reconciliation’ means:
Let’s start with the first definition – the restoration of friendly relations. I certainly believe that if someone arrived from overseas and took over the land where I lived, killed many of my people via murder and disease, changed all the natural systems around me, and treated me as not human, then friendly relations would be very hard to extend. Yet, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are extending the olive branch to us all. They are wanting to share their 60,000 + year culture with us, the world’s oldest living human culture, and they are wanting respectful relationships.
The second definition, the action of making one view or belief compatible with another, certainly brings up passionate debate among people. And I certainly acknowledge my bias when I put forward my thoughts on the subject. My parents came to Australia in 1959 from Scotland. We lived in Middle Cove Sydney and I attended an independent school. This skews how I look at the world and it skews how I am treated in this world. All of us bring our own learned bias into respective situations.
Sometimes, there is debate about our current National Anthem Advance Australia Fair. Is it inclusive for all Australians? There has been a change recently to try and address some of that debate, but it still does not mention Australia’s First Nations Peoples. For many people, this needs to occur to assist in reconciliation.
Advance Australia Fair was chosen as the national anthem in 1984. That was only 37 years ago, replacing God Save the Queen which was decided as our National Anthem at Federation in 1901. 37 years is not very old, to my way of thinking; flexibility shouldn’t be too hard in this space. New Zealand’s national anthem has both English and Maori languages, and South Africa’s national anthem employs five different languages in the same version of the official lyrics.
Australia’s Constitution is another area that brings debate. Australia’s First Nations Peoples are not mentioned in it – 60,000+ years of connection to land not recognised. When I look at America’s Constitution, particularly the second amendment ‘the right to carry arms’, it reminds me that sometimes constitutions need updating, and need to represent new learnings and wisdom.
And finally, the date of Australia Day, 26 January, creates more and more debate each year. For some Australians, the date makes sense as it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip. For others, it represents the day they were invaded, the day they lost their Country, and life changing forever.
If we go back to the second meaning of the word ‘reconciliation’, the action of making one view or belief compatible with another, it is hard to see how keeping 26 January as our national day is going to be compatible. Particularly if we are trying to build respectful relationships and trust between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Sometimes, to move forward, you need to acknowledge the past, one’s failings and learnings, and these can take time. But you who represent Australia’s youth, can increase the speed of reconciliation, of truth telling and of change needed for our reconciliation journey.
This year’s theme urges us all to take action for reconciliation and on the National Reconciliation website they suggest 20 actions. I chose three that jumped out for me:
Yesterday we launched our new Indigenous round jersey, designed by local Aboriginal artist and Yuin man, Billy Reynolds. Billy’s artwork Coastal Connections is about the grounds on which we play today, Queens Park, which was once connected to Centennial Park.
The area was once a meeting place for the Bidjigal, Kameygal and Gweagal people of Botany Bay and the Gadigal and Birrabirragal people, who lived nearer to Watsons Bay. The parks had fresh waterways which provided Aboriginal people with plentiful food and spaces for them to camp, trade and hold meetings during their journeys.
The circle in the middle of Billy’s artwork represents this meeting place and the features on either side represent Aboriginal people coming together. As Waverley is on the coast, Billy used gradients of blue and yellow to represent the land meeting the ocean.
We would like to thank artist Billy Reynolds, parent Fran Grant, and designer Jonathan Ward for this special collaboration. Below you can watch Billy’s reaction as he sees his artwork on the Indigenous Round jersey for the very first time.
I’d also like to make a special mention to all students who put themselves and their artworks forward for entry into the recent Waverley Youth Art Prize and Clancy Religious Art Prize. It takes courage to enter art competitions because you are putting yourself and your unique work out there. It shows a belief in your own strengths, your ambition to develop your talents, and does a great deal to nurture your self-confidence.
Congratulations to our three Waverley Youth Art Prize winners:
I begin by paying respect to the Elders – past, present and emerging – of Australia’s First Nations people, and in particular the Gadigal people of the Eora nation on whose land Waverley College occupies.
On Monday we were blessed with a Welcome to Country during wellbeing time from Uncle John in the Centenary Quad, with a smoking ceremony and prayer. During the week we were also lucky to host Torres Strait Islander artist in residence Zachery Bennet-Brooke who has exhibited worldwide. Over two days, students had a rare opportunity to chat to him as he painted a First Nations mural outside room K01. On Thursday the entire College came together for our Reconciliation Week Assembly.
Our community is richer because of the enrolment of a growing number of First Nations students. Reconciliation Week invites us to take time to listen so that we acknowledge our past in order to understand the present lives of Aboriginal Australians. Together we can commit to shaping a future for this nation where dignity and justice are afforded to all First Nations people and all Australians are active contributors to achieving Reconciliation.
It is important that all students who catch public transport to the College do so using their Opal Cards. With significant timetable changes proposed by Transport NSW to many popular bus routes, data obtained by Opal Card use informs decisions when routes and services are reviewed. You and your son may be greatly impacted by these changes.
I ask all students to remember that is also an offence to travel on public transport without an Opal Card which has been activated.
| Current routes | Proposed routes |
| 314, 316, 317, 348, 353, 360, 379, 400 | 313, 350, 360, 379, 390X |
Click here to apply for all categories of Opal Cards
Hundreds of people rallied in Randwick on Sunday 30 May to protest against the proposed changes to our local bus network and the huge impacts these will have if implemented.
Click here to learn about the rally.
Unfortunately, a small number of students are still making poor decisions in terms of vaping. Vaping is illegal for individuals under the age of 18 years and has poor health consequences for the students who engage in this activity. The College has a clear policy for any student in possession of a vape or e-cigarette whilst on campus. Students face a minimum two-day suspension and are subject to a meeting at the College with their Head of House and Deputy Principal. This applies to any student in the company of a student consuming a vape or e-cigarette.
Any students found selling vapes to other students will put their enrolment at the College in jeopardy, as vapes and e-cigarettes fall under our drug and alcohol policy. Students in this category will have their enrolment suspended and face an enrolment review meeting with the Principal and Deputy Principal.
Next Thursday our student leaders along with St Clare’s College have organised a Push Up Challenge which aims to raise awareness and money for mental health. The aim is for each school to complete 3138 push ups, which is the total number of people who committed suicide in 2020.
We believe this is a great way for our students to unite and work coherently together to not only build their leadership capacity, but to raise awareness for such an important cause which too often affects our community.
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
During Open Day on 1-2 June, it came to our attention that some parents missed the notice that applications for Year 7 2023 have closed.
If you are already enrolled in the Junior School, you do NOT need to re-enrol for the Senior School.
Ms Kylie Anderson
Registrar
E: registrar@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I am pleased to confirm that the Lacey House Mass will be going ahead on Wednesday, 9 June 2021, as indicated in the Waverley College calendar. This will commence at 6pm at the College Chapel.
Please take note of the following:
Please feel free to contact me should you have further questions about the House Mass.
Damien Thompson
Head of Lacey House
E: dthompson@waverley.nsw.edu.au
All students complete reading and writing placement testing to establish strengths and weaknesses in reading and writing. This is conducted via Academic Assessment Services. As part of this process all students receive a recommended list of books to read, aligned to their reading level. Here is a sample of what Academic Assessment Services make available to staff and parents:
This is just to notify you that we have reviewed our library collection to ensure we have every one of these books in the College library for all students. Books will be a mix of print, e and audio.
For any further recommendations or questions please be in contact.
Mr William Roberts
Head of Library Services
E: wroberts@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Victorian Government announced yesterday that Victoria will move to ‘circuit breaker’ restrictions from 11:59pm Thursday 27 May 2021. These settings will remain in place until 11:59pm on 3 June. All Victorian residents must comply with these restrictions.
Anyone travelling to NSW who has been in Victoria after 4pm yesterday (Thursday) must follow the 7-day stay-at-home measures that will apply in Victoria.
Anyone arriving in NSW by air, rail or road from Victoria (except those travelling within the defined border region) must complete a travel declaration that confirms they have not attended any of the growing number of venues of concern. Anyone who has attended a venue of concern must not travel to NSW; instead, they should follow the health advice on the Victorian Health website.
People subject to the stay-at-home measures in Victoria should not be travelling to NSW unless they are permitted to do so.
NSW Health strongly advises against all non-essential travel to Victoria at this time. People who do travel to Victoria for essential personal reasons will be required to follow the Victorian stay-at-home requirements on their return to NSW.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week this year is, ‘More than a word, Reconciliation takes action.’ The College will mark National Reconciliation Week with the following activities for students and staff to participate in: Smoking Ceremony, visit from contemporary Indigenous artist Zachary Bennett-Brook who will assist in the design of a mural, workshops, College Assembly with special guest and parent Michael O’Loughlin, unveiling of a newly-designed College all football code Indigenous Jersey by local artist Billy Reynolds, and resources unpacked throughout Wellbeing time.
We all have a role in Reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
I share with you part of a letter sent to staff from EREA Executive Director, Dr Craig Wattam:
Reconciliation week reminds us of our obligations and opportunities to offer a liberating education – one that is of quality and that is culturally enriching for all young people. We do so with a spirit of inclusion. Our curriculum demands us to provide an education that prioritises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures and offers opportunities to close the gap in learning outcomes between First Nations young people and their non-Indigenous peers whereby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people can “see themselves, their identities and their cultures reflected in the curriculum of each of the learning areas”. These intentions are echoed in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (1.4 and 2.4) highlighting the importance of educators in respecting and understanding the diversity Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages and for the ways in which this impacts the cultural identity of young people and the ways in which they learn.”
Recently, I sent a letter offering our prayers and best wishes to three EREA school communities in India that are doing it tough at present. I have included it below and their responses which they asked me to pass on to you.
14 May 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Students and Families of our EREA community in India,
With much sadness I watch the news each day and see the horrific impact that COVID-19 is having on your country. I cannot imagine the immense devastation you are experiencing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with each EREA school and the country of India. Each day we pray that a vaccine can be distributed to everyone in India, and that this second wave will be brought under control as soon as possible.
We hope the Australian Government’s aid and the aid of other countries arrives speedily to stop the devastating loss of life and the immense suffering.
We feel helpless that there is so little that we can do because of the distance of geography, but know that we are thinking of you always and you are daily in our prayers.
India is important to Australia. No matter how hard things become, keep the faith in yourself. You have beauty and joy in your soul, always.
Know that you are not alone and that we at Waverley College, Sydney are thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.
Warm regards
Graham Leddie and the Waverley College community
Dear Graham,
We deeply appreciate your prayerful support.
This 2nd Wave is definitely more toxic and highly contagious. Statistics have now assumed names and faces of those near and dear to us. A number of our Colleagues on the Teaching Staff here in St Joseph’s, Kolkata, have tested positive but their absence and the burden of additional classes has been cheerfully borne by the wonderful people on our Staff. Thank you for your letters of support and prayers.
Regards, St Josephs, Kolkata
Dear Graham,
Thank you so much for your prayers and concern. It is very comforting indeed.
The second wave of Covid 19 has hit us hard . Many have lost their lives to this dreaded disease. The vaccine drive is on for all, but given our huge population, this is always going to be an uphill task. Our schools have been shut for over a year and our students continue to be taught remotely. Our young students are going through a rough phase in their lives. Thank you so much for keeping all our school communities in your prayers.
Let us continue to pray for each other and keep the faith.
Regards, St Patrick’s H.S. School, Asansol, India
Monday 24 May marked the solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, who is the patron Saint of Australia. This was the day chosen for Catholic schools to attend the 200-year celebration of Catholic education in Australia. Liam Russell, Tom Gleeson, Patrick Healy, Bert Cottel and Archie Godby accompanied me to this very special celebration. Archie had the special honour of reading one of the prayers of the faithful.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher celebrated the mass and over 170 Catholic schools attended. The beautiful Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Umbers and many other priests. The students in attendance represented the College with distinction and commented on what a great honour it was to be present for such an important occasion. The significant role Catholic Education has played throughout Australia was acknowledged by the Prime Minister and a wonderful celebration was had by all.
Ms Sue Walsh with Liam Russell, Tom Gleeson, Patrick Healy, Bert Cottel and Archie Godby at National Mass for the Bicentenary of Catholic Education in Australia on the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians
National Mass for the Bicentenary of Catholic Education in Australia on the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians
Ms Sue Walsh
Director of Identity & Student Formation
E: swalsh@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Three years ago, Waverley College began the process of becoming a recognised school in Mental Health First Aid. This was seen as a crucial initiative to support adolescent development during an important time of change and personal growth. Statistically, around three quarters of common mental health problems emerge before the age of 25 years old, and around one in five young people experience a mental health problem. Suicide is still the leading cause of death for people aged 5-17 years. Given these statistics, we have been eager to ensure our staff have the skill set to identify potential concerns and intervene early.
Based on the latest international research and statistics, the 14-hour Mental Health First Aid course teaches adults who work with young people about adolescent development and mental health. The course addresses anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and psychosis. All participants learn how to identify the early warning signs of developing mental health concerns, and how to have a conversation about these topics in a practical way.
Every Waverley College staff member is trained annually in Medical First Aid with our College Nurse, giving them the ability to assist students with any physical need. We acknowledge that having the skill set to assist with mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, is equally as important. From 2017, 100 Waverley College staff have been trained in Mental Health First Aid, and by the end of 2021, every Waverley College staff member will have completed the training.
Our dedication and commitment to Mental Health First Aid has recently been recognised by being awarded a Gold Standard Skilled Workplace — of this, we are incredibly proud. Waverley College is the second school in New South Wales to be presented a Gold Standard, and one of six schools Australia-wide. This award celebrates our staff who are all skilled practitioners, and further demonstrates our strong commitment to embedding Mental Health First Aid into our culture at Waverley College.
Click here for more information about the Mental Health First Aid Course.
If you, as a parent are interested in attending a course like this, please email me, as based on the interest, we may offer night courses throughout the term.
Ms Tessa Prior
School Psychologist
E: tprior@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Waverley’s dedication and commitment to Mental Health First Aid has recently been recognised by being awarded a Gold Standard Skilled Workplace
A final reminder that the O’Connor House Mass is on next Wednesday 2 June 2021, as indicated in the Waverley College calendar. This will commence at 6pm at the College Chapel. Please take note of the following:
Please feel free to contact me at the email below if you have further questions about the House Mass.
Mr Matt Barr
Head of O’Connor House
E: mbarr@waverley.nsw.edu.au
17 May marked IDAHOBIT Day, the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia.
Our guest speaker at assembly this week was Australian actor and former professional rugby league footballer, Mr Ian Roberts. In the mid-1990s, Ian was the first rugby league player in the world to publicly come out as gay.
Ian openly shared his story of courage and care. A child of working-class English migrant parents, and growing up in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, he was aware from the age of seven that he was gay but felt unable to tell his parents.
Making his 1st grade debut with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1986, Ian had a distinguished rugby league career in the 1980s-90s. During the 1980s he felt terrified about revealing his sexuality, and explained that he couldn’t come out while playing with the Rabbitohs. He shared with Waverley how different society was at that time and its extreme homophobia.
Ian shared the importance of role models, citing his deep admiration of English footballer Justin Fashanu, who in 1990 was the first man internationally to declare publicly that he was gay, whilst still playing. Ian explained that at the time, this act was very important to LGBTQIA+ people, but unfortunately was not welcomed by the media and fans.
By 1990, Ian had just been signed to play rugby league with Manly. Ian too was ready to tell the world about his sexuality, but after seeing what happened to Justin Fashanu, didn’t feel he could do it. It took another four years until Ian was ready to tell the world. When he came out publicly at 24, he experienced verbal attacks, particularly that he was setting a bad example for kids. Despite these bigoted opinions, the rugby league community and the general public embraced him, and by 1996 he was made captain of the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville. He said that having a gay man captaining a club was very progressive in the 1990s as homophobia in society was still massive.
Ian acknowledged that things have changed a lot, citing marriage equality and reduced discrimination as positives. But he acknowledged that there are still issues in Australian private/religious schools with transgender student enrolment.
He stressed to Waverley the importance of people having the right to be respected for who they are, and he illuminated the roles of ‘bystanders’ who stand by and watch, and ‘upstanders’ who take the harder, braver choice and won’t let other people treat others as less. “What you’re willing to walk by is what you’re willing to accept”, Ian said.
Ian’s views on masculinity and male stereotypes also struck a chord. He unpacked the word ‘masculinity’, saying that masculinity itself is not toxic, but that it becomes toxic when men don’t know how to ask for help. He believes that society teaches toxic masculinity and does much to discourage men from showing affection and gentleness. He reminded Waverley that it is okay for students to care for their mates and show love to their mates – and that this doesn’t mean they’re “in love” with their mates.
Everyone deserves time to discover and maintain control of their own journey in understanding their sexual identity, and Ian suggested that ‘allies’ are part of positive masculinity. Students will know their allies, because these are the people who are curious, interested, and will listen when they are ready to talk. Allies will help students feel accepted, included and respected. An ally will call out homophobia. He reminded students that, “It takes courage to care.”
Ian generously offered students the opportunity of a Q&A after his talk and there were eager questions. Ian reminded us that it was healthy to keep conversations about sexual identity going in a context where others respect privacy and don’t make their own assumptions. Sharing a poignant example from his childhood, he cautioned that derogatory ‘casual language’ can be so devastating to LGBTIQ+ people.
Waverley sincerely thanks Ian Roberts for being a role model of bravery, openness gentleness and humility.
Guest Speaker Ian Roberts
Guest Speaker Ian Roberts
Guest Speaker Ian Roberts
Ian Roberts circa 1986-89 with South Sydney Rabbitohs
Unlike our time at school where conversations were either one-to-one in the playground or by a landline phone at home, our children now have a variety of group chat platforms at their disposal including Whatsapp, Instagram Messenger, Facebook Messenger, Facebook Messenger for Kids, and Discord. Users of these are getting younger and younger. For our adolescent children, group chats can be both helpful and harmful. Notifications ping all hours of the day, stacks of unread messages build up until they are not worth the effort to catch up on, and important information gets lost in the stream.
Parents need to remain vigilant if their sons are using any of these platforms. Group chats can also be where drama, nasty behaviours, exclusion, cancel culture, and bullying can thrive. In a perfect world, when there is a group chat of eight Year 7 students, there are potentially eight sets of parents that may be checking their son’s phone and reading that chat, thus ensuring all of the eight are respecting each other.
Parents Need to Remain Vigilant as Children Now Have a Variety of Group Chat Platforms at Their Disposal
Unfortunately there have been examples when young people have engaged in nasty behaviour about another person in a group chat, then deliberately invited them into the chat to see those comments. The deliberate nature of this abuse is regarded as ‘cyberbullying.’
At Waverley College we regularly remind our students of the four-step rule:
I would urge parents to help us build self-confidence in your sons too! Teach them the life skill of politely exiting a social situation that they feel uncomfortable in, online and off. This should serve as another reminder of everyone’s role to combat negative online experiences—especially parents. Removing access to the devices late at night helps avoid interrupted sleep caused by the group chat notifications and beeps. Researchers suggest that we lose on average, an hour of sleep per night if our phones are kept in our room at night time.
Group chats happen outside of school hours. Despite this, a student at Waverley College will be held accountable for their actions outside of school hours.
At Waverley College we Teach Students to be Confident in their Relationships Both Online and Offline
Leaving a group chat without warning can offend the remaining group members and become an awkward situation for our text-obsessed generation.
Teach them the skills to know how to leave a group chat that is not helpful or is harmful in any way, including the actual words to use should they need to leave. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a significant factor in a teenage boy’s life, so you will need to navigate that as well. Our wellbeing team hear reports of young people trying to “catch up” on the hundreds of messages that they have received overnight, first thing in the morning. Their brains are bombarded first thing in the morning, sometimes after a night of often broken sleep checking messages in the middle of the night. They are often anxious and exhausted from it.
In sessions with our psychologists, boys have come up with statements such as “sorry guys, this is getting pretty nasty, I am out of here” as words they can use when they need to remove themselves.
There have also been some humorous responses that can add some humour while they exit a toxic chat, that may also help to defuse a situation. “I don’t have to go but I am pretending that I do,” “I am going to practice my ninja skills and sneak away now.” “ I have to go, the planet needs me,” and do not forget the old “my battery is low” excuse.
However, not all boys have that confidence, and many would prefer to remove themselves from the chat. Again, not always easy for young boys, but we do want them to always be in charge of their online interactions and how those interactions may affect their reputation and digital footprint. It’s important that we help students to realise that they can be “guilty by association,” even if they are not the ones saying the nasty stuff. This is also a necessary part of growing up and parenting. At Waverley, we want our boys to be upstanders, not bystanders.
We want to give young people the skills to put boundaries around their friendships. We do not have to be accessible all the time just because we can be. We want our boys to know their friends will not go away if they are not involved for 30 minutes while they have dinner. Teach them to be in charge and confident in their relationships. Their friends will understand that their refusal to engage at every moment has nothing to do with the state of their relationship. They will understand this is the way they manage their time, their devices, and their priorities.
Mr Patrick Brennan
Deputy Principal – Student and Staff Wellbeing
E: pbrennan@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Salvation Army does vital work to support people affected by homelessness, family violence, substance addiction, poverty and isolation in our State and city. To support the community, Waverley College has been invited to assist with the Red Shield Appeal in the Waverley Area.
In prior years, Waverley College students have very generously volunteered their time on Sunday morning to assist in door knocking houses in the Waverley area for donations. This year the money they collect will help to assist so many desperate people, including young people their age who are cared for in the Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Programs, located not far from our College.
Last year the Appeal was only conducted on digital platforms, but this year we are hoping to once again be in the Community directly asking people for their support for our work with vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our community.
The support of Waverley College over so many years has been greatly appreciated, and has made a big difference to the success of the Appeal and ultimately the lives of many people.
If any students are available to volunteer to assist with this year’s Appeal please contact Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun:
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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