volume 13 | april 2013 st josephls nudgee college magazine

<strong>volume</strong> <strong>13</strong> | <strong>april</strong>
n
20<strong>13</strong>
St Joseph’s Nudgee College magazine
th
degree

CONTENTS
Edmund Rice Education Australia trading
as St Joseph’s Nudgee College
2199 Sandgate Road Boondall 4034
PO Box <strong>13</strong>0 Virginia 4014
p: +617 3865 0555
f: +617 3865 0500
w: www.nudgee.com
e: contact@nudgee.com
Editor
Tara Shipperley
Contributors
Simon Carter, Chris Crawley, Paul Daly,
Daryl Hanly, David Johnston, Graham Leddie,
Brian O’Reilly, Tara Shipperley, Erin Wedge
Many thanks to
Mark Beeney, Anthony Connellan,
Paul Daly, Rebecca Knezevic, Gary Lynagh,
Nathan Maher, Christian Oneto, Brian O’Reilly,
Mik Scott, Trina Sullivan, Rory Young
Design
Rene Graphics
www.renegraphics.com
Content editor
Carol Campbell
Photography
Cover image courtesy of Greg Thorne
Image on page 32 courtesy of Robin
Williams, The Catholic Leader
Other images courtesy of Gary Lynagh
Photography, AV Crew, Tara Shipperley,
Trina Sullivan, Brian O’Reilly, Erin Wedge,
Greg Thorne, John Sayer, Nudgee
College Archives and others
Printing
Screen Offset Printing
Editorial queries, feedback and change
of address
phone: 07 3865 0319
email: nthdegree@nudgee.com
Nth Degree is published by St Joseph’s Nudgee
College’s Development and Communication Team
in cooperation with other parties. Material in this
publication is gathered from a range of sources and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies
of St Joseph’s Nudgee College.
COPYRIGHT: All rights reserved.
Copyright of articles and photographs of Nth Degree
remain with the individual contributors and may not
be reproduced without permission. Other material
may be reproduced, but only with the permission of
St Joseph’s Nudgee College.
6 14 16 34
2 St Joseph’s Nudgee College
The Pursuit of Excellence
4 A Feminine Influence
Rebecca Knezevic
6 St Joseph’s Nudgee College
The Changing Landscape of Nudgee College
12 Nudgee College Education
Building a Mindful School
14 Spanning the Globe
Nathan Maher
16 Nudgee College Boys Excel
King of Eights
20 Years 5 – 7 Life
Individuality
22 Nudgee College History
Laying the Foundation Stone
24 St Joseph’s Nudgee College
Standing in Solidarity
26 Nudgee College Links
20<strong>13</strong> Cattle Club Tour
28 Nudgee College Narrative
College Update
30 Nudgee College Activities
Sporting and Cultural
32 Nudgee College Events
Faith with Boots, Japan Rugby Tour
34 Nudgee College Events
Senior Investiture
36 Foundation News
Ed’s Shed campaign, ERA for Change
39 NCOBA
President’s Message
Nth Degree APRIL 20<strong>13</strong>
1

to the nth degree | daryl hanly
Towards a definition of
‘excellence’
The word ‘excellence’ takes on a
variety of meanings, depending on
the benchmark used to judge it, and
the context in which the measure is
being applied. In essence, it means
different things to different people,
and in different contexts.
As a young student, I was urged to
strive for excellence in handwriting,
rewarded by the coloured stamp
the Mercy nuns place on my copy
book. So that benchmark for the
measurement of excellence was the
perfect copperplate writing in the
copy book, and the stamp registered
my capacity to emulate this standard
by copying the style as best I could.
There were three grades – excellent,
merit and good. The assignation of the
grade was an easy task because of the
absolute nature of the standard of the
model to be copied.
Defining ‘excellent’ schools
How incredibly complex it is to
define excellence in a school context
these days. There are certainly some
general parameters within which we
might begin to frame a definition,
thus enabling us to identify excellent
educational institutions.
A preview of the plethora of studies
carried out in identifying the elements
that make a school an excellent one,
include the following:
the pursuit of
A clear sense of purpose
Excellent schools are focused on
quality learning for all students. There
is an understanding that a school is
not effective unless all students have
the opportunity to master the essential
curriculum, regardless of demographic
status or other non-school variables.
To enhance our capacity in this
element, we are using a Habits of
Mind approach to our learning and
teaching. The focus is on ensuring that
our students learn how best they as
individuals learn, and achieve to the
best of their abilities.
Strong professional staff
In an excellent school, the administration
makes instruction the top priority.
The administration of an excellent
school knows the curriculum at each
grade level, helps teachers to develop
engaging instructional strategies
to deliver this curriculum, allocates
available resources efficiently, attracts
and retains a diverse staff, continually
analyses student-performance data to
guide decision-making and maintains a
highly collaborative relationship with the
community. Likewise, an excellent school
has a teaching faculty that maintains
high expectations for all students,
provides instruction that addresses
differing learning styles and needs, uses
technology effectively, uses studentperformance
data to inform instruction,
and communicates effectively with
families. Excellent schools also provide
appropriate access to medical and
counselling services.
Our use of data to track the achievement
of our students, and our capacity to
adjust our approach to learning on
the basis of an analysis of these data, is
impacting significantly on the learning
outcomes of our students. Effective
budgeting to ensure resources are
appropriately directed, appropriately
high expectations of our students and
access to up-to-date technology all
contribute to better learning outcomes.
Curriculum
Excellent schools offer a varied curriculum
that focuses not only on core subjects,
but also on the arts, career and technical
areas and other subjects such as foreign
languages. Excellent schools also
provide a wide variety of co-curricular
opportunities beyond just athletics.
Our approach to learning is a holistic
one. We focus on the formation of
the whole person, by exposing him
to a variety of faiths, cultures and
commensurate cultural experiences.
Singing, dancing, painting, sculpting,
swimming, running, participating in
a wide range of team sports are but
a few of the ‘forming’ experiences for
our students.
Climate conducive to learning
In an excellent school, there is a climate
where students have a strong sense
of belonging and being valued as
individuals. Excellent schools clearly
excellence
define behavioural expectations
for students and utilise appropriate
supervision and structure to prevent
problems versus reacting to them.
These schools also have wellestablished
safety procedures that
are reviewed and practised on a
regular basis. Excellent schools are
clean, well-maintained and inviting.
The Four Touchstones provide
us with guidance as we maintain
our identity as a Catholic school
in the Edmund Rice Tradition. We
continue to strive to ensure that
we have a ‘safe’ school – one in
which behavioural expectations
are clearly stated and upheld,
sanctions are placed on those who
breach reasonable standards, and
our buildings and environment are
continually maintained.
Community involvement
An excellent school knows that
the school and the community
are intertwined and must support
each other. In an excellent school,
community members regularly
participate in a variety of activities,
not just on special occasions and not
just related to fundraising. Excellent
schools also make every effort to
schedule events in such a way as to
foster wide participation by families
and the school community.
House functions, support groups,
parent welcome and information
evenings, attendance at major
College events and liturgies,
augur well for the ‘health’ of our
community. Our Social Justice
projects, in which many of our
students and families are involved,
broaden the definition of what we
often refer to as our ‘College Family’.
To be or to become?
Irrespective of the parameters
set to assist us in ascertaining the
achievement of excellence, we
cannot rest on our laurels. Once
achieved, a benchmark deemed
to be an indicator of excellence
requires resetting. Success is in not
only achieving, but in continuing to
strive to achieve more. In essence,
we challenge ourselves to be
strong in will to:
■■
■■
■■
■■
Strive to achieve a higher
benchmark
Seek creative ways of doing
so
Find within ourselves new
strengths and talents to
overcome obstacles
Be persistent, with a
determination not to yield.
For all, it is a journey of discovery
as we scale new heights. Please
accept my invitation to join us on
this journey as we strive to Be the
Difference for all students who are
in our care.n
Ulysses
Come, my friends,
’Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Alfred Lord Tennyson
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3

A feminine
INFLUENCE
Rebecca
Knezevic
by Tara Shipperley
It’s 8.<strong>13</strong>am on a Monday morning,
and St Joseph’s Nudgee College
is alive and awake. Students
are arriving excited to start
a new week, sharing stories about
their weekend antics. Teachers have
downed their first coffee (or two)
and spring off to the classroom in
preparation for the day ahead. The
Nudgee College buses roll in. The
tuckshop is stocked and ready to go,
and Mr Begg is doing the last rounds
of the quadrangle, ushering students
off to morning PC.
The bell chimes at 8.25am, and school
is in session.
Perhaps what isn’t noticed so much
in the morning rush is the well-oiled
machine that operates behind a
college of this size: the logistics,
operations and timings that see
Nudgee College’s 305 boarders
dressed in freshly laundered uniforms
and cooked a hot breakfast; the
pristine maintenance of College
grounds; the finite coordination of
the Nudgee College bus fleet; a fully
stocked and staffed Locker Room;
and management of public services
– catering, golf and bingo.
Last year, it was recognised that a role
to oversee these operational aspects
of Nudgee College was needed.
And in February, Rebecca Knezevic
was brought on board as Dean of
Operations and a member of the
College Leadership Team.
Not only was Rebecca embarking on a
new career path in education services,
but she was also starting in a newly
created position within the College.
‘It certainly had its challenges in the
beginning,’ Rebecca said. ‘I had come
from an industry which was very
process-focused, due to the nature
of the business.’
Rebecca spent the most part of
her career in the Australian mining
sector, and several of those years
on site in central Queensland.
She held a variety of roles prior to
arriving at Nudgee College, including
Accountant, Compliance Manager,
Business Process Manager and General
Manager, Operations.
It was during these years, as Rebecca
made her way up the ranks in a maledominated
industry, she developed
her pin-point business acumen
and gained experience at a senior
management level.
It is with these skills Rebecca hopes
to further the strategic business
operations of the College.
‘Education hasn’t always been seen as
a business,’ Rebecca said. ‘So when I
started, I saw the opportunity to build
the profile of support services and
establish solid business processes to
allow Nudgee College to continue
to grow and to flourish as one of the
state’s premier schools.’
Rebecca describes her role as
managing all the behind-the-scenes
processes of the College.
‘I am responsible for all the operational
aspects of the College, including
finance, property and services, laundry,
enrolments, catering, golf, bingo and
the Locker Room,’ she said.
‘While these areas aren’t usually
considered in a school environment
like Nudgee College, it would be very
difficult to operate a campus of this
size without them.’
In just over 12 months as Dean of
Operations, Rebecca has already seen
the positive beginnings of a culture
shift.
‘It’s probably not the most pleasant
thought of a school operating as a
business, but that’s the mindset we
have to take now,’ she said. ‘We are
achieving a greater transparency in
our practices and, in turn, are creating
a culture of stewardship.
‘The journey towards this culture
shift has definitely been aided by two
inherent attributes of Nudgee College,
its community – the staff, students and
families – and the common goal of
furthering this great College.
‘It really is the people who make this
place. ‘We all work hard but there is
always time for a laugh and a joke.’
At home, Rebecca enjoys time spent
with her husband and two-year-old
daughter. As a full-time working mum,
she values the stories at bedtime with
Trinity. Rebecca describes maintaining
her ‘work/life balance’ as difficult at
times, and, like any parent, manages
the juggling act to put work aside
when she’s at home with the family.
When asked what was in store for the
rest of the year, Rebecca, ever taskfocused,
replied she was looking
forward to future challenges.
‘I’m keen to contribute to the future
viability of the College,’ she said,
‘through good management and
the introduction of solid business
processes to ensure the College
remains a strong and steady business
into the future.’n
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5

st joseph’s nudgee college | graham leddie
Over the past five years St Joseph’s Nudgee College
has seen significant improvements to its educational
facilities, with the result that students and staff now
enjoy a state-of-the-art learning environment in many
areas of the campus.
The
changing
landscape
There has been a clear
focus, in the design of
these facilities, to improve
learning outcomes and to
engage the senses through design,
space, intellect and art.
Neurological research has revealed
that to promote and encourage
maximum learning capacity within
students’ brains, it is vital to stimulate
the synapses and neurons that are
responsible for carrying valuable
knowledge. By creating physically
appealing, mentally stimulating and
engaging classroom spaces, the
College is having a positive impact
on student learning.
A mentally stimulating and challenging
classroom can motivate a student’s
learning, encourage achievement
and effort, and provide an inviting
environment that can foster a love
of learning.
The concept of aesthetic design is not
only about looking a specific way; it is
also about how the building appeals
to our senses and emotions. ‘Aesthetic’
comes from the Greek word ‘aisthetikos’,
which means recognition via senses.
All of the senses – seeing, hearing,
feeling, smelling – bar the sense of
taste, which is not represented, should
be engaged through the buildingdesign
process and the construction
materials chosen. An aesthetically
appealing design, which provides
architectural experiences for the
senses in its proportions, scale, rhythm,
light, materials, odours and colours, is
a desired outcome when catering to
the 21st century learner.
Aesthetics also include the buildings’
sustainability and climate. The College
has ensured that the classrooms are
designed to be pleasant and effective
places to work. The level of visual and
thermal comfort is high, acoustics are
good, and the indoor air is fresh and
clean. Our recent refurbishments and
new buildings have been consciously
designed to have low environmental
impact and reduced operating costs.
The aesthetic, social and physical
environment is a powerful means by
of Nudgee College
which a school community creates,
values and reflects a sense of the
sacred.
Attending to the aesthetic aspects
of the school setting can also make
a significant contribution to the
religious and spiritual formation of
young people. As the College seeks
to foster what is good, beautiful and
true, it communicates its beliefs and
its faith through its total environment.
Above all, Nudgee College is a place
that affirms life in all its beauty and
diversity, ensuring that the creative
energies and output of students and
staff are valued. Through its aesthetic
character the College pronounces its
understanding of the link between the
faith it proclaims and the community
it serves.
Art and architecture are more than
merely functional tools within this
tradition. Buildings and their surrounds
have the capacity to inspire and to
symbolise the beliefs and the hopes
of a community. In this way they
contribute to the nurturing of faith.
6
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7

The
changing
landscape
of Nudgee College
New and refurbished buildings completed
over the last five years include:
Purton Science Centre
12 state-of-the-art science
laboratories and core
classrooms. The architects of
this project also designed the
University of Queensland’s
science laboratories
Tierney Auditorium
400-seat auditorium and two
drama studios (won a national
architectural award)
Br Vince Connors Trade
Training Centre and
Construction Workshop
Six engineering and construction
workspaces fully equipped with the
latest technological equipment and
machinery, setting a new standard
for construction facilities within the
education sector.
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9

The
changing
landscape
of Nudgee College
The Duhig Building
15 multi-purpose classrooms fitted
with state-of-the-art learning tools
including interactive whiteboards,
projectors and computer access.
The Treacy Building
(Queensland heritage-listed)
Completed restoration of the
College's original school building,
more than 100 years old.
The College’s changing landscape is ongoing
and the following building developments
will continue to create and inspire the next
generation:
■■
New and refurbished Boarding School
Precinct (building starts in October)
O’Neill Building
Years 5–7 purpose-designed
Junior School (won a Queensland
architectural award)
■■
■■
■■
Library and Classroom Building (currently in
design phase)
Art and Music rooms refurbishment (currently
in design phase)
Ed’s Shed (to house all the College’s social
justice activities – Street Swags, Big Breakfast
and Big BBQ. Imminent launch of a building
appeal)
■■
Mary’s Tower (staircase leading up to the top
of the school)
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11

st joseph’s nudgee college | david johnston
St Joseph’s Nudgee
College is extremely
proud of the OP (Overall
Position) results achieved
by its students over the
last few years.
Ultimately, academic success
occurs when individual
students utilise all resources
on offer and strive to achieve to their
full potential. Although statistics alone
cannot provide a complete picture of
an educational institution, general
patterns are still observable. Two major
conclusions can be drawn from recent
data: excellent results were attained
across each year group, and these
results are part of an identifiable yearby-year
improvement in pedagogy and
innovation in our approach to learning.
We know that most of our students
could be described as diverse, since they
have different learning styles, learn at
different rates, have different interests,
and have different levels of readiness as
they approach new learning. Education
can be complicated, demanding, and
often stressful, and at St Joseph’s
Nudgee College we know that learning
requires tenacity, patience and strength
of will among the staff and students as
we embrace the concept of becoming
a mindful school. Becoming a mindful
school is a conscious and deliberate
move aimed at improving academic
outcomes.
As we develop into a mindful
school, all members of the school
community adhere to and act on the
same set of beliefs; we are moving
towards a common language. The
Habits of Mind provide the framework
and common language for students,
Building a mindful
school in the pursuit of …
teachers, school leadership, parents and
the wider school community to share
when discussing and planning for the
development of student thinking.
The Habits of Mind have a
powerful unifying capacity. All staff,
regardless of year level or subject area
can immediately see the relevance of
the Habits of Mind to their classrooms,
which helps us develop a powerful
shared vision for learning. Our teachers
enter their classrooms daily with the
mindset that the boys can achieve and
get through with effective effort. They
are unwavering in their belief and it is
represented in the high expectations
and positive attitude they convey to
their students. In such manner our
teachers bring a sense of excitement and
energy to the learning environment.
As the College community
embraces the cultural change required
to become a mindful school, we are
also acutely aware of the importance
positive relationships play in the
learning process. When teachers get
to know their students and make
it a practice to intentionally build
relationships with each individual,
students come to trust their teachers,
open their minds to new learning, buy
into the curriculum, willingly ask for
teacher assistance, and embrace the
idea that teacher and student are on
the same team. We believe that all
teachers at St Joseph’s Nudgee College
know their students well. The focus on
relationships ensures teachers identify
individual learning deficits quickly and
intervene purposefully. This underpins
our efforts to avoid the ‘one size fits
all’ approach to teaching our students.
Another key component for
academic success at St Joseph’s Nudgee
College has been academic staff
involvement in the boarding school.
Staff build upon those vital ingredients
of relationship development and
modelling behaviours that are key to
developing the habits we are seeking to
instil in the boys. The revised Academic
Assistance Program is a new approach
to the supervising process in the dorms
that looks to ensure expertise is on hand
as boarders do their general study.
It does not replace the scheduled
supervisors – they are still present –
but it does provide a layer of additional
academic support. The rewards are
evident with interim data analysis
revealing improved academic results
for boarding students over the last three
years.
Technology plays a major role in
21st century education and there is
a necessity to integrate developing
technology into the curriculum. This
means computers are on demand
throughout the school day. At St
Joseph’s Nudgee College we faced the
task of developing a technology plan to
effectively and efficiently use the best
computer hardware available to us. We
recognised that the current political
ACADEMIC
EXCELLENCE
climate means there is uncertainty
surrounding the continuation of
computer funding, making a one-to-one
laptop program unsustainable.
After careful consideration, and
with the intent to provide the best
possible digital services to the boys,
we decided against a traditional 1:1
laptop deployment across the College
and instead implemented an alternative
model of digital integration. We are
currently operating a mobile device
program where the College has carts
of 10 to 25 laptops or iPads, which
teachers utilise in their classrooms. Our
aim was to move from the possibility
of 100 machines being used 60% of the
time to 60 machines being used 100%
of the time.
As we look to further enhance the
learning of the students at the College
we are now moving to a system of
Continuous Online Reporting in 20<strong>13</strong>.
We have been posting student results via
the Parent Lounge on the web portal
within two working weeks of task
submission and now are committed
to also providing written feedback for
each boy on each task. At any time of
the year, parents will be able to see the
assessment due date, the assessment
criteria, the result and now a comment
relating directly to the task providing
feedback on their son’s performance.
By providing this information, parents
and students will be able to see where
their son needs to develop and what
action can be taken immediately so that
the following assessment can show an
improvement.
The aim of this revised system is to
provide parents with quality, specific
and timely feedback, and it is hoped it
will enhance the important partnership
that teachers and parents have as we
strive to help every St Joseph’s Nudgee
College boy reach his potential.
Through the hard work,
determination, open mindedness,
energy, and motivation of our teachers,
our boys have a model, built around
Habits of Mind, of how to be successful
and lifelong learners. Our staff all
know that not all ideas work in all
environments. Nevertheless, there are
certain beliefs and practices that have
been shown to consistently impact
student achievement in a positive way.
Over the past three years, the
College has made a conscious effort to
implement significant change in our
approach to pedagogy and the results
have been improved academic outcomes.
As Dean of Learning and Teaching it
is easy to sit back and be proud of this
improvement but, for me, it is more
important to appreciate that it takes all
parts of the College working together
as one to deliver the complete package
in the pursuit of excellence. n
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<strong>13</strong>

spanning the globe | Tara shipperley
Nathan Maher
In a city of 23 million people,
Old Boy Nathan Maher is
carving his way through the
crowd and forging a career
with one of the world’s largest
property firms.
When approached to be interviewed
for this story, Nathan replied, ‘Yes, of
course. I’d love to, but I don’t want to
put across the wrong message – I wasn’t
that well-behaved at school!’
Nevertheless, since graduating from
Nudgee College in 2004, Nathan has
discovered his passion and his path, and
now calls one of the largest cities in the
world home.
Nathan is based in Shanghai, China,
as the North Asia Manager for Solutions
with Jones Lang LaSalle – a financial and
professional services firm specialising in
real estate and investment management,
which operates from 750 locations in
60 countries.
Prior to taking up this role, Nathan
was Head of Business Development for
Kaibo, an engineering firm in China’s
capital, Beijing.
‘Working in North Asia is exciting.
Every day brings something new,’ Nathan
said. ‘I might be working with a client
in Japan, helping to solve their issues, or
simply reaping the benefits of working
in a global firm and having experiences
with people from all walks of life and
cultures.’
Proud of what he has achieved in a
short period of time, Nathan credits his
success to hard work and dedication.
‘The companies I have worked for and
the cities and countries I have lived in
are things I could have only once dreamt
about,’ he said.
However, Nathan said he wasn’t
always this focused, and nor was he a
high-achieving student.
‘I never got the grades I hoped to
achieve nor was I the best-behaved
student during my time at Nudgee
College,’ he said. ‘However, my House
Dean, Mr Paul Schaumberg, showed
patience and understanding and guided
me to make better choices.
‘I was probably known as a “difficult”
student, but I’ve never forgotten the
dedication and belief shown to me by
Mr Hanly and the teaching staff.’
‘It’s something I’ve carried with me
every day since graduating and it has
played such an important role in getting
me to where I am today.
In his time at Nudgee College,
Nathan was involved in sport each
semester, joining the rugby, cricket,
basketball and swimming teams at one
time or another, yet he found his true
passion as a member of the track and
field team.
‘Joining the track and field team
was one of the best decisions I made at
Nudgee College,’ he said. ‘You have to
strive to better your PBs each week and
learn to be precise in training to better
your running technique.
‘The track taught me the value of
perseverance and how to set strong goals
for myself – skills I’ve carried with me
to this day.’
Reflecting on his journey from
Nudgee College to the hustle and bustle
of Shanghai, Nathan believes his greatest
strength is his ability to learn from his
mistakes or from times of hardship and
create a positive from the situation.
‘The year after I graduated, I suffered
a major knee injury and spent four
months not being able to walk,’ Nathan
said. ‘I guess this was really a blessing
in disguise, as it gave me the time to
re-assess what I wanted to do in life.
‘Richard Branson once said, “Do not
be embarrassed by your failures. Learn
from them and start again”.
I’ve always felt a connection to this
and truly believe it’s helped me see past
the immediate situation of any crisis.’
Nathan’s memories of Nudgee
College are many and fond.
‘I remember when I was young,
driving along Sandgate Road past the
College and seeing the sheer size of the
school, and thinking, “that’s where I
want to go”,’ he said.
Sure enough, ten years on, Nathan
found himself walking through the gates
of Nudgee College to start Year 8.
‘The size of the College and what it
offers is incredible – not many schools
in Australia offer the diverse range of
classes, sports and programs that Nudgee
College does,’ he said.
‘The school is truly one of a kind and
the mateship fostered there will last a
lifetime.’
It is this intrinsic link that led to
a coincidental meeting with a fellow
Nudgee College Old Boy overseas.
‘While working in Beijing, I joined
one of the local rugby clubs,’ Nathan
said. ‘Obviously, it was not to the calibre
of Nudgee College’s First XV but it was
the familiar feeling that I liked in an
unfamiliar city.
‘One night at training, an Old Boy
from the year below me (2005) also
attended as a member of the club. We
both agreed, in a city of 16 million
people, this was one of the strangest
places to bump into each other.’
Working and living in such a big and
busy city, Nathan finds solace in routine.
‘It’s easy to get absorbed in the chaos
that is Shanghai and all that comes with
living in a city of its size,’ he said. ‘So
every morning I go for a jog around the
apartment complex to prepare my mind
for the day.
‘It’s really about finding a healthy
balance.’
In his downtime, Nathan enjoys
exploring Shanghai and travelling to
other Asian cities with his wife, Nancy.
‘I love seeing how old meets new and
witnessing the constant, rapid growth
and change of China,’ he said.
In May, Nathan and Nancy will travel
back to Australia, and, while here, will
celebrate their Australian wedding at the
Our Lady Help of Christians Chapel at
Nudgee College.n
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15

Nudgee College excels | Tara shipperley
king of
eights
It was a stellar season for Nudgee College Rowing’s
First VIII. For a sport steeped in GPS tradition and
pride, what this crew and coaching staff achieved
can only been described as ‘history-making’.
course. The boys went on to record
a remarkable four-length (11sec) win
over Anglican Church Grammar School
(Churchie) to claim the O’Connor Cup
in a course-record time of 5min57sec
at Lake Kawana.
That was self-belief, the stubbornness of mind that acknowledges
that physical pain, but discounts it for a higher purpose. God knows,
rowing hurts. Not like a left hook, but at least that’s over quickly. The
pain of rowing is the scream of the lungs, legs, back and muscles.
That’s just one stroke. Multiply that by 240 strokes in a 2000m race.
Sir Steve Redgrave
(former British rower and five-time Olympic gold medallist, 2009)
Pre-season competition started in
December last year, at the Head of the
Clarence in Grafton, New South Wales.
This event is a premier regatta that
draws more than 350 athletes from
some of the most prestigious high
schools on the east coast, including
a College team from New Zealand.
The day of racing culminated in the
main Champion Schoolboys Eight
event, with Nudgee College beating
defending champions Newington
College by a length.
This strong pre-season win helped
motivate the crew as they set their
sights on the 20<strong>13</strong> GPS Rowing
competition.
Nudgee College First VIII crew were
clear favourites leading into the
Head of the River, having remained
undefeated in all previous six regattas.
Seven schools took to the water on
Saturday, March 16, cheered on by
thousands of spectators who lined the
banks of Lake Kawana on the Sunshine
Coast.
After dominating the start, the First
VIII kept the lead and continued its
dominance for the entire 2000m
Nudgee College Director of Rowing
Christian Oneto said it was a fantastic
achievement for a College that has
only been rowing for a short number
of years.
‘The boys took an early lead and ended
up winning by 11sec,’ he said. ‘That’s
quite a quick finish and one of the
biggest recorded margins in recent
years.
‘All season, they’d been winning by
four to five seconds and, instead of
resting on their laurels, they trained
harder and produced such a strong
win.
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‘That’s a real testament to the First VIII
boys – they are an exceptional crew.’
Extraordinarily, of the nine teammates,
seven were boarders from all over
Queensland, including Mackay,
Rockhampton and Dirranbandi. The
cox, taking up his seat for the second
year in a row, was Longreach lad
Thomas McLellan.
‘They are one of the best crews we’ve
ever seen at the College – their training
scores, size of the crew, and ability
levels, has all led to this result,’ Mr
Oneto said.
‘To win four times in 12 years is a
fantastic achievement. It’s certainly
made the Nudgee College community
very proud, and it’s a great achievement
for a college that has been rowing for
such a short period of time.’
Despite Nudgee College dominating
the First VIII race, The Southport School
claimed the Old Boys Cup in overall
points.
This year’s First VIII coaches were John
Bowes, who has been with the crew
for three years, and Deputy Principal
Graham Leddie, who was the founder
of rowing at Nudgee College and
has coached 11 First VIII crews at the
College.
Following the Head of the River,
Nudgee College’s First VIII travelled
to Penrith in NSW to compete in the
Sydney International Rowing Regatta.
The First VIII crew competed in the
Australian Open School Rowing
Championship, making it through to
the Schoolboys final. The race came
down to a photo finish for second to
fourth place, with Nudgee College just
missing out on a podium position by
seven hundredths of a second.
First VIII crew member, Adam Bakker,
at just 15 years, won the national U17
single sculls, and is the College’s first
national rowing champion.
Other standout rowers in the First VIII
crew were Harley Moore and Alex King,
who were in contention for a place on
the U19 national team, as well as Jack
Armitage, who won the single sculls
in December last year at the Head of
the Clarence.
The success this crew achieved on
the water, both individually and as a
team, is nothing short of remarkable.
Yet it is the defining sportsmanship the
team members showed at the Sydney
International Rowing Regatta that they
will be remembered for.
Following is an email the College
received a day after that regatta:
Daryl (College Principal) and
Christian (Director of Rowing),
I had a call this morning from a
friend in Sydney whose son rowed
in the Shore First VIII in the national
competition on the weekend. He
called to tell me how impressed he
was as the Nudgee crew formed a
tunnel and clapped the winning
crews off the water after the final.
He said their generosity and
sportsmanship was the main topic
of discussion among parents and
spectators after the event, and he
heard the comment repeated over
and over that it will be remembered
long after the winners of the event
are forgotten.
Another parent commented to him
that the lessons learnt by those boys
will be carried with them all their
lives, and they agreed that those
were the lessons they sought for their
sons more than any other.
If ever you wonder whether all the
effort is worthwhile, reports like
these would suggest that it is. From a
parent's point of view it certainly is.
It is reports like this that get to the
heart of the philosophy of St Joseph’s
College Nudgee College, which places
a strong emphasis on sportsmanship
and fair play in all walks of life. The
College realises the value of sport,
which allows boys to work together
as a team, to experience not only the
joy of winning but how to be gracious
in defeat.
The First VIII’s performance, both on and
off the course, in the Sydney Regatta
was truly reflective of the incredible
phenomenon that is Nudgee College
Spirit. n
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19

years 5–7 | chris cawley
In many schools, striving for excellence
is often associated with academic results.
While the Junior School at Nudgee
College is about maximising student
outcomes, academically, it is also about the
development of the individual.
If a school in the Edmund Rice Pastorally, we strive for excellence in the
Tradition produces students with Junior School by developing resilience
only outstanding academic results, and the idea of independence in our
then we have failed. Our aim is to young men. Nudgee College is a very
foster students who have a passion for different environment for them. First,
learning and a compassion for others. we sit on just over <strong>13</strong>6 hectares, and,
Involvement in our Social Justice
second, our campus is widespread.
programs is not practical for students
While most of their days are spent in
of this age. However, their contribution the O’Neill precinct, there are reasons
to the Lenten Appeal and the Echoes why our students need to navigate,
Easter Egg and Christmas appeals are successfully, our entire campus.
a tangible way they can show their During Week 3 our new Year 5s were
support for those less fortunate. In starting their first adventure with the
doing so students understand the gift Cattle Club. Unfortunately, they had
of giving but, more importantly, the gift no idea where to go. I firmly believe
they can be to others. Yes, we strive in educating our Junior School boys
for excellence, but also for students to based on the famous saying ‘When you
understand their global responsibility. hand a boy a fish, you feed him for a
Academically, we are striving for success day, when you teach him to fish, you
in 20<strong>13</strong>. As a mindful school, the Habits feed him for life’.
of Minds will be front and centre. Each The boys all knew where the Flats
term the Junior School will focus on were because many cricket sessions
two habits and explore in detail not had been held there. I explained to
only what they mean but how we can
the boys that Cattle Club was just next
display that habit. In Term 1 we have
door. Six young boys headed off, no
focused on ‘Persisting’ and ‘Restraining
doubt with some trepidation about
our Impulsivity’.
how they were going to find their way.
Students not only have been exposed In no time they had arrived in the right
to the words but how they translate location, with simple directions, but,
in the classroom. These habits, and most importantly, by finding their own
the other 14 we will explore over the way – this simple but tangible example
two years a boy spends in the Junior is how we instil in our students the
School, will underpin our philosophy power to succeed by utilising their own
that excellence comes from within. talents. I’m sure these young men felt a
sense of relief when they reached their
destination, but, more importantly, they
worked it out for themselves.
Parents play a large part in building
resilience within our youngest students.
To allow your son to fail is to allow
him to grow, for without making a
mistake we can never truly learn to
succeed. In striving for excellence we
need to let our boys learn to deal with
disappointment. On the sporting field
each week boys can be challenged by
a lack of success, and yet they bounce
back next week with an increased focus
at training. When they fail to succeed in
the classroom, they need to apply the
same skill and practice with repetition,
just as they do with their sports training.
The greatest gift we can give our sons
as parents is the trust they can achieve
with their own talents. In our drive to
see them achieve, we must allow them
to make mistakes, for it is from these
mistakes they will grow as individuals.
Finally, if we combine all of the attributes
mentioned in this article, we are well
and truly on our way to striving for
excellence. In the end, the partnership
between home and school will form
our strongest bond in ensuring our
youngest students at Nudgee College
are indeed ‘Signs of Faith’ in the years
to come. n
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21

Nudgee College History | erin wedge
There will be cause for celebration
at St Joseph’s Nudgee College
later this year when the Our
Lady Help of Christians Chapel
celebrates the 100th anniversary of
the laying of its foundation stone on
October 5.
Since its completion, and for
the past 97 years, Our Lady Help of
Christians Chapel has been the centre
of spiritual life of the Nudgee College
community. As you stand at the great
doors of the Chapel today, you are
close to Ross Oval – the sporting heart
of the College – and Ryan Hall – the
social heart of the College. From weekly
Sunday night masses for the boarding
community, to weekly masses for the
day students, to weddings and funerals,
this Chapel has stood the test of time.
Those who have sat in its pews have been
men that have gone to world wars, have
been married under the magnificent
arch, have baptised their children and
prayed novenas at Mary’s Altar.
From the inception of St Joseph’s
Nudgee College in 1891 until 1916,
the College community was served
by a temporary chapel in the Treacy
Building. So it was a momentous day
on Sunday, October 5, 19<strong>13</strong>, when the
Coadjutor Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr
James Duhig, laid the foundation stone
for the new Chapel.
The afternoon ceremony began
with Principal Br Magee (1910–15)
welcoming the Archbishop who said
he accepted, with very deep pleasure, the
invitation of the Christian Brothers to
come and take part in the ‘epoch-making
ceremony’. The Archbishop commented
that, ‘religion was at the very core of the
Christian Brothers’ educational system’,
and he felt sure that ‘the Brothers would
meet with generous assistance from all
parts of the state in their endeavour to
complete and pay for the fine edifice to
be reared over the foundation stone.’
Br Moore, fresh from organising
two very successful appeals for
school buildings in New Zealand,
was transferred to organise a monster
bazaar and an art union to raise funds
for the new Chapel. With much energy
and enthusiasm, Br Moore raised over
£11,000 to add to the building funds.
Prominent Catholic architect
Thomas Ramsay Hall (one of the
designers of Brisbane City Hall in
1919) was commissioned to design the
new Chapel. Hall was a Queenslandtrained
architect and became one of
Brisbane's most successful of the early
20th century. His collaborations with
GG Prentice as Hall and Prentice
(1919–29) and with LB Phillips as Hall
and Phillips (from 1929–48) produced
some of Queensland's most important
commercial buildings of the first half
of the 20th century. His early works
include Sandgate Town Hall (1911) and
numerous public works designs.
Hall designed the Chapel at
St Joseph’s Nudgee College in the
Renaissance revival style, to harmonise
with the Main Building. Internally, he
created a light and airy space, with white
walls and light stained woodwork. The
sanctuary was to be flanked by Ionic
columns of dark red marble and the altar
was of grey marble. Construction began
in late 1914.
The Chapel was furnished through
donations from various families and
organisations in the Nudgee community.
These included the High Altar and the
Blessed Virgin and St Joseph altars.
A particular feature of the Chapel is
the Stations of the Cross, donated by
individuals for the sum of £14 each. They
were painted in the Renaissance style by
19th century Italian artist Luigi Morgari
and are framed in Siberian Oak.
The building was completed in the
early months of 1916 and dedicated by
Archbishop Duhig on March 25, 1916.
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St Joseph’s Nudgee College | erin wedge
Standing
in Solidarity
“Every creature, thing and
process in the universe
has value because it is an
aspect of God, it is part of
God’s body.”
Sally McFague
Edmund Rice Education Australia,
in 2011, launched its new
Charter for Catholic Schools
in the Edmund Rice Tradition. This
Charter gives those of us involved in
Edmund Rice schools clear guidelines
on how we teach, make decisions,
interact, and be followers of Jesus who
walk in the footsteps of our founder,
Edmund Rice.
The Charter provides Four
Touchstones for us to follow:
■■
■■
■■
■■
Gospel Spirituality
Justice and Solidarity
Liberating Education
Inclusive Community.
This year, Nudgee College students
will be exploring the call of the charter
through assemblies, curriculum areas
– including their Religious Education
lessons – studies, retreats and social
justice initiatives.
In 2012, we focused on breaking
open each of the touchstones each term.
In 20<strong>13</strong>, we will focus on deepening
our knowledge, our calling and our
spirituality through two touchstones
– Liberating Education and Justice and
Solidarity.
Liberating Education calls all those
in the Edmund Rice community to open
their hearts and minds through quality
teaching and learning experiences, so
that – through critical reflection and
engagement – each person is hopefilled
and free to build a better world
for all. Justice and Solidarity asks us to
commit ourselves to justice and peace
for all, grounded in a spirituality of
action and reflection that calls us to
stand in solidarity with those who are
marginalised and the earth itself.
As members of a Catholic school in
the Edmund Rice Tradition, we aspire to
be faithful to the touchstones. We hope
that we can commit ourselves to justice
and peace, stand in solidarity with the
earth and be hope-filled people who can
build a better world for all.
We aspire to answer the call of the
Australian Catholic bishops who wrote
in 2002, “The church hears the cries of
the poor and the groans of the earth.
It seeks to stand in solidarity with the
poor and the marginalised, and to
exercise good stewardship of the fragile
ecosystems that support life on earth.”
We will ground our work in our
Indigenous spiritualities – in particular,
the Celtic spirituality in which our
founder, Edmund Rice, was raised –
where we will learn of a deep reverence
and love of creation, an understanding
of all that is good in God’s creation, and
that God is within all things. We will
come to know, through our roots in
Celtic spirituality, that God is the breath
of our breath, the love with which we love,
the power that sustains our work.
This type of spiritual focus calls us
to an ecological conversion, where we
change our heart and mind to a deeper
love and respect for all creatures, to then to
involve ourselves in a sustainable lifestyle,
in sustainable patterns of consumption
and in sustainable economic choices.
All of humanity is called to humbly
stand with others to care for the earth.
God’s creation of all things is deeply
interconnected with God’s presence with
us. We show our respect for the creator by
our stewardship of creation. Care for the
earth is not just an earth-day slogan but a
requirement of faith.
Modern science now confirms what
Indigenous cultures have always intuitively
known – that we are not separate from the
earth – we are the earth. In this way, when
we care for creation, we are not just caring
for the earth – we are caring for ourselves
and for every other being on it. We are
called to protect people and the planet,
living our faith in relationship with all
God’s creations. This is our challenge, our
calling and our focus for this year.
We will focus on Aboriginal
spirituality, the spirituality of the land
on which we stand, which calls us not to
possess but to live as guests on this sacred
land. It calls us to be content with what we
have, to find pleasure in the simple things
of life, and to recognise the empowering
sacredness of everything in God’s creation.
We will also turn our focus to the
universe in which all living beings form
one body and where care of the earth is
inextricably bound up with work for peace
and justice. We cannot claim to love God if
we ignore our neighbour or enemy in need.
Our love of nature rings hollow if we seek
spiritual renewal in the wilderness or fight
to protect trees, but ignore the injustices
of dumping toxic waste in impoverished
countries. We share one life, and all draw
from one divine source.
We will also call on our Celtic spiritual
roots, which enrich our search for God in
nature. Celtic spirituality reminds us that
God is found in the stones, the fire, the
sea, the wind, the water, the sun. Celtic
spirituality invokes the rhythms of human
life from birth to death and includes the
divine voice speaking in all of creation
from dawn to dusk and season to season.
It calls all the senses, making it bodily in
a full and intense way. Celtic spirituality
finds the divine image embedded deep
within all of life, all of creation.
Blessings for the year ahead, as we
stand in solidarity with the earth itself
and together build a better world for all.n
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Nudgee College links | brian o’reilly
At the start of Term 2, the Nudgee College Cattle Club will visit
regional Queensland as they tour the western show circuit.
The first show on our agenda
is Goondiwindi, where we
will arrive with the students
and cattle on Friday, 3 May,
and show the cattle the following
day. Sadly, we can’t fit in the St
George Show because we no longer
have a long weekend that used to
enable us to get back home in time
for school.
The weekend following the
Goondiwindi Show, a new team
of students will be heading west,
firstly to the Roma show on Friday
and Saturday, 10 and 11 May. It is a
number of years since we have shown
at Roma, and we are looking forward
to meeting many new parents there.
We then travel to the Mitchell Show
on Sunday, showing the cattle on
Monday, May <strong>13</strong>, and participating
in judging competitions on Tuesday,
May 14.
We will then split the show team
after adding cattle from the Taroela
Braford Stud belonging to the Wilson
Cattle Club tour
family at Mitchell, with some of the
team travelling to Charleville to be
part of the 100-year celebration of
the Charleville Show Society, and
the rest of the team travelling to the
Longreach Show.n
We believe it is important to keep supporting our country show circuit. Over
the past few years, however, we were unable to support Charleville because
of a date clash with Longreach. Splitting the show team this year allows us to
support both shows.
Our dates at Longreach this year are 16–18 May and Charleville 17–18 May.
We will all meet up back in Charleville on Sunday, May 19, for the return trip
to Brisbane.
We would appreciate any support you can give us and will return that with
great hospitality at all these shows. Please contact us if we can put together a
parent/Nudgee College family get-together.
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27

Nudgee College Narrative
OP1 Students
St Joseph’s Nudgee College welcomed back 2012 OP1 Seniors
in Term 1. They were College Dux Brandon Richardson, and
Nimath Malawaraarachchi, Josh Van Kalken, Will Shipperley,
Daniel Mastronianni, Paddy James and Thomas Kropp.
Five of the boys addressed the student assembly, reflecting on
their time at Nudgee College and imparting words of wisdom
for the year ahead. Common themes of time-management,
organisation and good study habits echoed through the Old
Boys speeches, as well as the message to find balance in their
lives and to enjoy their time at Nudgee College.
Since receiving their end-of-year results, Brandon and Will
were each offered university scholarships. Brandon has been
awarded the QUT Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship (academic) and
Will has been awarded a University of Queensland Excellence
Scholarship.
Reds Training Clinic
In December last year,
Queensland Reds coaching
staff – Ewen McKenzie,
Richard Graham and Jim
McKay – visited Nudgee
College to conduct a onehour
training session with
students.
This rare opportunity was won at a
dinner by the Doyle family (James,
Year 9, and Harrison, Year 8), who
invited along their friends to take
part in the training session.
Not only did the group learn some great skills for when they next take
to the rugby field, but they also experienced how the coaching staff of
Queensland Reds make training fun.
‘It was a great experience and I loved every second,’ Harrison said. ‘It was
inspirational knowing these coaches train players like Quade Cooper
and the Faingaa Twins.’
Ash Wednesday
This Lenten season, St Joseph’s
Nudgee College again showed
its support of Caritas Australia’s
largest humanitarian aid
fundraising event – Project
Compassion, which helps to
fight poverty and injustice
around the world.
Students and staff marked the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday services
and a fundraising breakfast on Shrove Tuesday to kick start the 20<strong>13</strong> Project
Compassion appeal.
Alongside this fundraising event, the College collected donations of secondhand
clothing to be distributed to needy residents at Alpha Caravan Park, Aspley.
Clowning around
Year 9 Drama students embraced
their inner clown this term when
Robert Kronk from Backbone Youth
Arts and Debase Theatre Company
visited Nudgee College to conduct a
clowning workshop.
The workshop focused on the role the contemporary
clown plays in today’s society and stretched the
boys’ imaginations. The skills the boys learnt directly
related to a performance assessment task.
Who knows, we may just have another Wallaby in our midst.
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Activities
Nudgee college Activities | Sporting and Cultural
VOLLEYball
In December, three St Joseph’s Nudgee
College Volleyball development teams
went to Melbourne to compete in the
Australian Volleyball Schools Cup.
Coach of the U14 team Mr Paul Begg,
said: ‘It was an amazing competition
where more than 450 teams and 3750
athletes strived to become the nation’s
top volleyball school.’
At the 2012 National Championships,
the College’s U14 team won gold, the
U16 team won bronze, and the 1st VI
won bronze – representing the most
success St Joseph’s Nudgee College has
had at the national titles.
Nudgee College had teams competing
in the U14 Division II, U16 Division III
and U17 Division III. The 1st VI were
outstanding and dominated the
competition, learning some important
match lessons in the semi-final.
The U16 boys played exceptionally well,
their bronze medal reflective of great
coaching and strong team spirit.
The College’s best result came from
the U14 boys, who took out Division II.
After placing well in the round robin,
and claiming a strong semi-final victory
against Luther College (Melbourne),
the boys played an outstanding game
against Tin Can Bay, which boasts two
state players in their ranks.
‘It was a daunting task but our boys’
efforts were quite outstanding,’ Paul
said. ‘They played wonderfully well
throughout the tournament. Tylah
Carre was awarded Most Valuable
Player of the final.’
SWIMMING
After strong preparations throughout
the season, Nudgee College achieved
second place at the GPS Swimming
Championship recently. Aiming for its
fifth consecutive GPS Swimming title,
the College was runner-up on the day
to The Southport School.
Heading into the relays, Nudgee
College was sitting in sixth position,
a sight not seen for over 20 years. Yet
the squad’s dominance of the relays
provided the saving grace, with Nudgee
College winning the most points of
any school and lifting the College into
second position.
According to Head of Swimming Mr
Jeff Campbell, the key to winning GPS
Swimming is not to try to win key
events. ‘As a team, you need to place
consistently in every race, a feat that
is difficult without great depth within
each age group,’ he said.
‘For many years this has been Nudgee
College’s key to victory, with multiple
reserves in each age group which have
pushed every swimmer to the limit in
order to make the team as strong as
possible.
‘This year, however, the results didn’t
go our way, especially in the individual
events.’
Standout swims of the night included
the U<strong>13</strong> freestyle relay team, who won
their relay by an impressive margin, and
the U14 freestyle relay team, who broke
a 12-year Nudgee College record with
their win.
Congratulations to the CIC Swim
team who returned from Chandler
in sixth position out of the 14 CIC
schools. Particular mention to the
U10 swimmers who finished second
overall with particularly impressive
performances from Jazz Born and
Will Cartwright. The U<strong>13</strong> side finished
third overall with the U11 and U12
teams finishing seventh. Well done to
Co-Captains Darcy Schostakowski and
Hunter Brown and the rest of the team.
Congratulations to Jazz Born who was
selected for Met North Swimming.
Track and Field
Congratulations to Nudgee College’s
Track and Field Team, who travelled to
Launceston, Tasmania, in December to
compete in the Australian knockout
championships. The team came fourth
with many personal bests achieved.
Shem James (Year 11) has been
selected to represent Australia at the
Youth Olympics in track and field after
winning the long jump, high jump and
triple jump events at the national titles.
CRICKET
In Term 1, more than 35 teams took
to the field to represent Nudgee
College Cricket in what proved to
be a challenging season. Yet, with
persistence, hard work and discipline a
strong culture will continue to develop
and will once again see the return of
Nudgee College Cricket to its best. In
terms of the success of our Old Boys,
it is always great to look at the big
stage. Chris Lynn and Joe Burns were
instrumental in helping the Brisbane
Heat win the Big Bash League this
summer. Dom Michael is the most
recent Old Boy to join the first-class
ranks with selection in the Queensland
Bulls One Day and Shield sides.
Joe was awarded the Sir Donald
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year
at the 20<strong>13</strong> Allan Border Medal awards
evening. He joins an illustrious group,
who have all gone on to represent
Australia. Joe was also selected in the
Australia A side to play the English
Lions touring side. We wish Joe every
success for his future career.
FOOTBALL
The football program at St Joseph’s
Nudgee College is growing fast.
Head of Football Mr Jamie Pybus was
delighted when two Nudgee College
boys – Year 9 students Rhys Raymond
and Jamie Dimitroff – were chosen to
represent Queensland at the national
championships.
‘Rhys captained the Queensland U<strong>13</strong>s
in 2011 while Jamie represented
Queensland U14s at the national
championships in 2012, and was
selected in the All Stars team,’ he said.
Both boys were also selected for the
Queensland Academy of Sport and
subsequently the 30-player Qantas
Joeys squad for a three-day Australian
Institute of Sport training camp.
‘We congratulate these boys on their
achievements and look forward to
supporting them in continuing their
football journey,’ Mr Pybus said.
He added that the Nudgee College
program also boasts an excellent
coaching set-up, including good links
with a number of local clubs and the
Brisbane Roar.
‘The program currently has a number
of boys involved with the Football
Australia pathway (Skills Acquisition
Program and Queensland Academy of
Sport),’ he said.
Congratulations to Hayden McHenery
who represented the Queensland
Academy of Sport over the December
holidays at the Australian Institute
of Sport 'Institute Challenge'. He
performed very well and we wish him
all the best in the QAS season.
CHESS
Over the course of Term 1, Nudgee
College's Chess teams competed in the
Somerville House and North Brisbane
Interschool Chess competitions. At
Somerville House the primary team
of Caleb Giorgas, Jazz Born, Henry
Kennedy and Mitchell Flannery came
<strong>13</strong>th out of 45 teams. Congratulations
especially to Caleb who won 7 out
of 7 games and tied first out of 178
students.
In the high school division, the team
of Tom Kennedy, Makenzie Hope,
Ian Trinh, Tane Smith and Mitchell
Sweet came sixth in their division.
Congratulations to Tom in particular for
winning 5 out of 7 games.
At the North Brisbane competition
Drew McBeath, Zane Kirk, Jazz Born and
Elvio Wang came <strong>13</strong>th playing against
North Brisbane's top teams in the A
division while in the B division Nathan
Frederiksen, Mitchell Flannery, Mattias
Dhalstedt and Isaac Rogers came tied
<strong>13</strong>th out of 22 schools.
Due to a number of school conflicts
Makenzie Hope was the only high
school player able to compete in the
interschool competition this term.
Makenzie won 4.5 out of 7 games and
finished 10th out of 58 players.
Nudgee College hosted the very
successful annual Old Boys' Chess
tournament. After some close matches
the students took the day with a 34.5 to
33.5 point win over the Old Boys.
Both sides had great wins. Danny Lien
(NCOB07) and Jazz Born (Year 5) came
first and second in the unrated division.
Adam White (Year 11) and Ian Trinh
(Year 9) came first and second in the
under 900 rating division. Matthew
Gilpin (NCOB03) retained his place as
overall champion and Clint Therakam
(NCOB11) and Andrew Browne
(NCOB06) came in second and third
place, respectively.
ROWING
It was a great season for Nudgee
College Rowing after six months of hard
work and disrupted training due to the
Brisbane floods.
The Year 11 Thirds crew took out their
Head of the River race, coached by Old
Boys Peter Steyn and Nic Redcliffe. The
undefeated Open First VIII dominated
all season but saved their best for last.
The First VIII crew won by 11secs in a
time of 5min57sec; one of the biggest
margins seen in recent times. As well as
performing with such distinction on the
water, this crew led by captain of boats
Alex King, were terrific leaders off the
water and set new standards for Opens
in years to come.
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31

Nudgee College Events
Faith with
boots
Speak out for those who cannot
speak. Speak out, judge fairly,
defend the rights of the poor and
needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
It was described as faith with boots,
when students of 11 schools in
Queensland and New South Wales
came together to form a new
student advocacy network aimed at
engaging young people.
ERA (Edmund Rice Advocacy) for Change
is the brainchild of two EREA staff: the
Assistant Principal for Identity at St
Patrick’s College Shorncliffe, Mr Matthew
Hawkins, and the Director of Justice and
Peace at St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Mr
Mark Ellison.
Students, staff and parents from 11
Edmund Rice schools joined forces to
work on justice and advocacy projects.
Students from St Mary’s College
Toowoomba and St Columban’s College
Caboolture, attended the official launch
and representatives from Ignatius Park
College Townsville and Edmund Rice
College West Wollongong participated
via Skype.
Mr Ellison said contributing schools
would each have a Chapter for ERA for
Change, and would identify local issues
upon which to focus.
‘The central focus is advocacy,’ Mr
Ellison said, ‘providing a voice for those
without a voice. A principal focus will
be providing a voice for marginalised
young people locally and globally.
‘As a wider group, schools will be in
regular communication and identify
issues that can be addressed together.’
The launch day was led by Br Damien
Price and included a keynote address
from the Director of the Edmund Rice
Centre and President of the Refugee
Council of Australia, Mr Phil Glendenning.
Barrister and documentary maker Jessie
Taylor, musicians Jesse Hooper (Killing
Heidi) and Travis Demsey (The Living
End) also led workshops on inspiring
change.
Mr Hawkins said it was hoped to harness
the numbers and the potential of
students across Edmund Rice schools
in Queensland in a common cause.
He said while the Christian Brothers had
a long tradition of service and social
justice, ERA for Change went a step
further.
‘A move towards advocacy makes us
think more deeply about the issue and
act on that bigger issue,’ he said.
‘We want to make sure our message,
which is “about and for other people”,
is heard by multiple people.’
Students attending the launch were
energised and enthusiastic about
putting the information and tools they
had learnt into practice.
About ERA for Change
Within each school community, the ERA
for Change Chapter will meet regularly,
discuss relevant issues and decide
upon ways to respond accordingly.
Although members of staff might play
a leading role in the development and
facilitation of the group, it is intended,
predominantly, to be a student-led
process once implemented.
Issues addressed will be relevant to
the identity of a Catholic school in the
Edmund Rice tradition and, as such,
ERA for Change will take guidance from
organisations such as Edmund Rice
International, the Edmund Rice Centre
Sydney and Caritas. The United Nations’
Convention on the Rights of the Child
will also be a key document in helping
to frame the aims of ERA for Change.
It is hoped that the various Chapters of
ERA for Change will come together for
a larger forum on occasions (perhaps
twice annually). The purpose of this
gathering would be to ensure an
ongoing alignment of priorities and
focuses, to make connections with
other like-minded young people, and
to harness the potential energy of
various communities working towards
a common goal.
Technology will be a useful means to
maintain connections on a regular basis.
Indeed, in the 21st century, the advent
of Facebook and Twitter, along with
the arrival of advocacy organisations
and sites such as AVAAZ, GetUp and
communityrun.org, means that, in order
to inspire, engage and direct young
people toward justice and advocacy,
technology is a vital tool.
Japan Rugby Tour
St Joseph’s Nudgee College
this year has the honour of
being invited to represent
schools across Australia in
the SANIX World Rugby Youth
Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan.
This is Nudgee College’s first invitation
to this exclusive annual event, which
is supported by the Australian Rugby
Union. Each year, schools across Australia
– both public and private – submit an
application to the ARU to compete in
this prestigious tournament. The ARU
then selects one team to represent the
whole of Australia.
The Southport School and St Edmund’s
(Ipswich) have been participants in
previous years.
Head of Rugby Mr Anthony Connellan
said it was a great honour for Nudgee
College to be invited to compete in the
20<strong>13</strong> contest.
‘Not only will it provide a great sporting
and cultural experience for the squad,
but it will also be a significant part of our
preparations for the GPS Rugby season,’
he said.
‘The boys will be facing some of the
world’s best international schoolboy
teams, which will make for a great and
exciting competition.’
The tournament is made up of 16
participating teams – eight Japanese
teams from high schools in Osaka, Nara,
Ibaraki and Tokyo, and eight international
teams. The seven other international
teams include the 2012 National Schools
Champion Saint Kentigern College (New
Zealand), Earl Marriott Secondary School
(Canada), Hartpury College (England),
Lycee A.R. Lesage (France), Baekshin High
School (Korea), Enisei-STM (Russia) and
Daniel Pienaar Technical High School
(South Africa).
Nudgee College will tour with a squad of
34, including 27 players, and will depart
Brisbane on April 25. The tournament
runs from April 28 to May 5, and includes
two rest days the team will use to
explore the sites of Japan. Day trips to
Hiroshima and Kumamoto Castle have
been planned.
Nudgee College has been drawn in Pool
A (there are four pools in total), and will
compete against two Japanese teams
and the squad from Korea in the first
three days of competition. The finals
will then be decided by ranking within
each pool.
Ganbatte! Good luck!.
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33

Nudgee College Events
As St Joseph’s Nudgee College embarked on a new school year,
members of the College community gathered in the Christian
Brothers Conference Hall to celebrate the opening Mass and
investiture of the 20<strong>13</strong> Senior students.
Father John Gillen presided
over Mass, which began with
an acknowledgement of the
traditional custodians of the land by
Year 12 student Bailey Hayes. The
commissioning and investiture of this
year’s Senior students then followed.
The 20<strong>13</strong> Seniors’ motto is ‘be
the difference’ and, with this in mind,
Fr Gillen encouraged the Seniors to
empower one another to make the
difference felt.
‘Be the light of the world and let your
light shine before others,’ he said.
‘Take the ideas and thoughts of
change outside the confines of your
heart and make a reality. To quote Isaac
Asimov, “it is change, continuing change,
inevitable change, that is the dominant
factor in society today”.’
College Captain Rory Young
addressed the congregation and spoke
of the inherent ‘spirit’ that lives within
the gentlemen of Nudgee College: ‘The
book of Corinthians said, “For we were
all baptised by one spirit so as to form
one body” and, “even so the body is not
made up of one part but of many”.
Senior Investiture
‘When I was first introduced to
Nudgee, I was captivated by this term
‘spirit’. Despite the College’s fantastic
facilities, the size of the current school
population and the excellence in
sporting, cultural and academic pursuits,
it was only this ‘spirit’ that I truly felt I
wanted to boast about to my friends at
neighbouring schools.
‘The spirit instilled within this
college doesn’t just run throughout
Brisbane, but throughout the whole
country. It comes from us all – from
our brothers in PNG, New Zealand,
Samoa and Fiji, to our brothers from
the northern hemisphere, northern
Australia, west, east and south.
‘We each have our own story and
our own culture that we bring together
to form a community of not one, but
many. That is our spirit, our community.’
It was this sense of community and
spirit that inspired the 20<strong>13</strong> Senior
symbol – an ordinary Nudgee College
man made of many parts.
‘This is the man we challenge each
of you to become,’ Rory said. ‘We hope
by the end of this year we will be able to
present a man that represents how we as
seniors have “been the difference”.’
Vice-captain Alex Nicolaidis placed
the first part over the heart.
‘We have chosen to begin with the
College Crest,’ Rory said. ‘For this is
what we stand for: the cross, the star and
Signum Fidei – Sign of Faith.
‘As we commence our year I would
challenge you all to “be the difference”.
‘Contribute positively and have pride
in being part of 10,000 brothers – for
we are not a community of one body,
but of many.’
College Principal Mr Daryl Hanly
concluded the ceremony, encouraging
students to ‘embrace the call to be the
difference’.
‘The Nudgee College spirit is a true
reflection of the light that comes from
our God,’ he said.
‘We have been called to not only be
the difference in ourselves, but to be the
difference in our school.’n
Nth D egree APRIL 20<strong>13</strong> Nth Degree APRIL 20<strong>13</strong>
34 35

NUDGEE COLLEGE FOUNDATION | PAUL DALY
Pave the way to Ed’s Shed
St Joseph’s Nudgee College staff and
students have been involved in service to,
and solidarity programs with, Brisbane’s
homeless since 2005.
Twice a week, 52 weeks of the
year, we cook simple breakfasts
from our Big Brekky van on site
in the CBD and a suburban centre for
patrons in need.
Our students have cooked more than
50,000 meals, and although cooking the
meal is an important part of the program,
it is the boys’ ability to engage with
those who are socially and emotionally
disengaged with society and struggling
in many aspects of life that is most
important.
In 2005 also, Nudgee College partnered
with Street Swags Australia. Since then,
the College has rolled, wrapped, stored
and deployed more than 22,000 street
swags to provide warmth and comfort
for the homeless in major cities around
Australia. In one memorable night during
the Victorian bushfires, students and staff
rolled 500 swags to provide comfort for
those who lost their homes.
As the awareness of these programs
has grown, the number of organisations
seeking support has also increased – and
so has the demand for our Big Brekky
services and street swags, which has
contributed to a storage problem.
Until recently, Nudgee College had a
vacant building awaiting renovation,
where we could store all our stock,
including a number of unrolled swags as
well as the finished product, to be boxed
and stacked on pallets for transportation.
This building is now being used for
other purposes, and all stock has been
relocated to a small shed within the
school grounds. It is then moved to the
school gymnasium, where students and
staff roll and pack the swags. The finished
products are then handled for the third
time to be stored for transportation.
Our goal is to ensure the growth and
sustainability of these programs, and
our plan is to build a new shed, to be
affectionately known as Ed’s Shed – for
blessed Edmund Rice who actively
embraced those on the margins. Ed’s
Shed will provide a dedicated venue
and hub for the community outreach
activities of Big Brekky, Big Barbie, Street
Swags and the College’s social justice
programs.
Support for the ‘Pave the Way to Ed’s Shed’
campaign will help us complete this
project and contribute to our young men
coming to an understanding that the
realities of homelessness and itinerant
living are a contemporary social issue.
Through service to, and solidarity with,
people in need, students will learn to
believe that change is possible and they
can help play a practical, hands-on role
in breaking the cycle of homelessness.
For more information and to pledge
your donation to the campaign, please
visit the College website: www.nudgee.
com/edshed or fill in the order form on
the reverse side of the Nth degree flyer
sheet and return to the Foundation.n
left Street swags
middle Big Brekky
bottom Big BBQ
Jean Madden | Managing Director, Street
Swags Ltd
St Joseph’s Nudgee College has supported the
work of Street Swags since its inception in 2005
and, without the logistic support of the College,
we would not be able to provide this important
service at the level we are. Nudgee College is an
integral part of what we do and the Australian
community is better off because of the College’s
contribution.
Rory Young | College Captain
Our Big Brekky and Street Swags programs
enable students to make an active contribution
to, and build a special connection with, those in
need. When I cook a breakfast or roll a swag, I
feel a sense of pride in that the effort I have made
is helping someone less fortunate than myself.
For me, our service and solidarity programs
give ordinary students the ability to make a
meaningful contribution to making a difference
in our community.
36 Nth D egree APRIL 20<strong>13</strong> Nth Degree APRIL 20<strong>13</strong>
37

FOUNDATION news | PAUL DALY
Valedictory Gift Program
The St Joseph’s Nudgee College Foundation
established the Valedictory Gift Program
to provide the departing Year 12 boys the
opportunity to deliver a valuable resource to the College
for the benefit of those that follow in their footsteps.
Such gifts also serve as a tangible and lasting reminder
of their time at Nudgee College, and the Class of 20<strong>13</strong>
have been quick to leave their legacy through the
purchase of a new Yamaha CLP-470R Clavinova (digital
piano) for College Chapel.
The new piano was delivered in February, in time for
a celebration mass with the Archbishop of Brisbane, the
Most Reverend Mark Coleridge.
Dean of Identity, Ms Erin Wedge, said the new piano
was most welcome.
‘It certainly makes a difference to the boys singing
and participation in celebrating mass,’ she said.
The Foundation assists the students in their
Valedictory Gift Program fundraising activities and
matches their efforts dollar for dollar, up to a nominated
amount. In the process it helps educate the boys about
philanthropy and the notion of ‘giving back’, and the
boys are already looking forward to identifying their
next project and lasting gift to the College.
above Paul Daly,Vice-Captains James Tulle, Alex Nicolaidis and Yana Yalo,
Ms Erin Wedge and College Captain Rory Young
Nudgee College Foundation
The Annual General Meeting of the Nudgee College Foundation
Ltd was held on Monday, March 4, 20<strong>13</strong> and welcomes the
following members of the Nudgee College community to the
Board of Management
Mr Richard Bright (Benjamin - Year 11)
Mr Laurence Crawley (Connor - Year 8 / Mitchell - Year 11)
Mr Mark Dodds (Liam - Year 10)
Mr Mark Ensor (Staff )
Mr Anthony Hart ( James – Year 12 / Matthew – 2011)
Mr Peter Luckmann (Charlie – Year 7)
Mr Graham Nelson (Noah – Year 5)
Mr Troy O’Connor (Matthew – Year 8)
Ms Margie Wills (Staff )
New members
Mr Daryl Hanly (Principal)
Mr David Williams (College Board)
Mr Paul Daly (Foundation Chairman)
Whilst we farewell and thank
Dr Simon Carter (NCOBA)
Mr Peter Hyland
The primary objectives of the Nudgee College Old Boys
Association are to create a bond of friendship among the
Old Boys of Nudgee College and to assist and support the
College and its interests.
I am pleased to announce a new initiative
on behalf of the Association that will
combine these objectives and provide
an indispensible resource for the entire
Nudgee College community.
We have developed the Nudgee
Business Register as a facility for
everyone with Nudgee College
connections as a contact point whenever
they need services and would prefer to
support fellow Nudgee families.
The power of Nudgee College is
shown in the people whose lives have
been changed simply by their contact
with the facility. As Nudgee College
parents, we see it in our boys from their
involvement in the extensive community
service and other programs offered as an
integral part of their journey. As Old
Boys, we see it at every reunion and
function – the enduring friendships
and sense of looking out for each other
that is a distinct Nudgee College trait.
The Nudgee Business Directory
is a natural extension of that concept,
enabling continued involvement at
multiple levels. Registration is available
for all members of the Nudgee College
community via the Old Boys website
at www.ncoba.com.au. We welcome
services of all types – professional,
business, trade, retail – anyone who is
interested in offering their services to
the Nudgee College community. The
register will be publicly accessed via our
website.
There is also the option of offering
additional help to the College
community. You can offer your services to
the College to assist with student career
education, mentoring, work experience
and school-based apprenticeships. In
the spirit of Edmund Rice, there will
also be the option to offer limited
pro-bono or complimentary services
to Nudgee College families in need.
These options will not be advertised
on the publicly available section of
the directory; they can be sourced by
confidential communication through
the Association.
The Association hosted a business
breakfast last year featuring Michael
Pascoe, Paul McLean and Ian Walker.
At that meeting we sought expressions
of interest for the Business Register and
were pleased to find universal support
for the idea and receive registrations
from most of the attendees.
A successful Business Directory will
harness the power of the Nudgee College
community to provide opportunities for
Old Boys, parents and current students.
Register now at www.ncoba.com.au.
Sadly, this is my last article for Nth
Degree as president of the Old Boys
The power of our
community
Association. As I said in my annual
report at the AGM in March, all
organisations must evolve to remain
relevant and, after three years in the
position, it was time for some new views
from the President’s chair.
I am pleased to announce that vice
president Anthony Hart (NCOB–87)
has now assumed the presidency role.
Anthony has done great work reviving
the Jack Ross Bursary over the last
three years and will continue to bring
enthusiasm and clear thinking to the
position.
The Association has come a long way
in the last few years. We have cemented
our relationship with the College
with an inaugural Memorandum of
Understanding and have maintained our
position by facilitating our key reunion
events and the end-of-year memorial
mass.
We have added the very popular midyear
Friday Night Function at Fridays
on the river as well as the Business
Breakfast. The Jack Ross Bursary has
been transformed into a cornerstone
feature of the College, which offers
educational opportunities for those in
need in the Edmund Rice tradition.
None of this would have been
possible without the kindness, goodwill
and hard work of a good many people.
Many thanks to Daryl Hanly, Graham
Leddie, Paul Daly, Mik Scott and my
committee – Anthony Hart, Tony
Gleeson, Doug Carrigan, Lawrie Cusack,
Saxon Mew and David Purcell.n
NCOBA | dr simon carter
38 Nth D egree APRIL 20<strong>13</strong> Nth Degree APRIL 20<strong>13</strong>
39

Share your story
Have you graduated from university recently? Finished
your apprenticeship? Been promoted? Travelled
the world? Volunteered for charity? Represented a
sporting team?
Nudgee College Old Boys have gone onto achieve
many successes in life. Whether it’s on the sporting
field, in the research lab, studying abroad, working
overseas or anything that falls in between.
We are proud of what you have achieved and would
love to share your story.
Please contact the Editor to share your story
email nthdegree@nudgee.com

2199 Sandgate Rd
Boondall
Queensland 4034
07 3865 0555
contact@nudgee.com
www.nudgee.com
A boys’ day and
boarding Catholic
school in the Edumund
Rice tradition