O F F I C I A L N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E S T R I TA ' S C O L L E G E A L U M N A E

Virtute I S SUE E IGHTEENJUNE 2017

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Reconnect with Rita'sVirtute is your biannual alumnae magazine. If you have an idea for an article, past student profile or photo you think should be considered please email your suggestion to alumnae@stritas.qld.edu.au.Ensure you stay up to date with Alumnae news and events by contacting us with your updated details.

Update your details online at www.stritas.qld.edu.au or email alumnae@stritas.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3862 1615.

Inside this Issue of Virtute ...Principal's Report 1,4

A word from our Patron 2

President's Report 3

Where are they now? 5

Reunion Information 5

Walkout 6

Debating 6

Paul Jarvis interview 7

Memorial Mass 8

Farewell & Congratulations 8

Pr inc ipa l ' s r e p o r t

Mrs Dale MorrowPrincipal

I trust that 2017 has

started well for all you alumnae members in all your various endeavours and within all your families. We have had

a busy start to the year as always and for many of you who have daughters at the College I hope you are receiving feedback from them that they enjoyed the first term of 2017.

The College’s theme for the year is “Travelling Lightly” and is based on one of the six pillars of our charism, simplicity. Our foundress, Nano Nagle, exemplified what it meant to live with humility and simplicity throughout her adult life but displayed it quite dramatically in one part of her life when she forewent the trappings of her family’s

considerable wealth when she first chose to live a life of service to the most marginalised in Irish society.

In order to give you some sense of how this theme has already, and will continue to shape the involvement of our students throughout the year, I would like to share with you an excerpt from an assembly address in Term One from the House Leaders of Nagle House. This House has taken on the mission to make St Rita’s a more sustainable environment in this, our year of simplicity.

Liz: Good morning Mrs Morrow, staff and girls. Intuitively, I think that we are all drawn to simplicity, sensing its promise of the re- ‐enchantment of life. But at the same time, we fear it –viewing it only as a sacrifice, and while sacrifice is a key element, it’s something much wider. Simplicity is a lens through which to view all of life. It’s about so much more than ten

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As  I  pen  this  today  on  Anzac  day  we  are 

reminded  “Lest  we  forget”.  We  see  images of red poppies on Flanders Field – a reminder of blood and devastation amidst  such  beauty.  Images  of  those  trenches  where  men  lived  and  killed  for  such long periods of time cross my mind.

How can the world ever have thought that it could have a war

“to end all wars”? And yet we seem to be following the same path today. Our young people today still pay the ultimate sacrifice for world peace.

Our memories are very selective. One of my war memories is set just after World War  II  had  ended.  Allied  tanks  were  rolling  down  the  streets  of  Brisbane  to  celebrate the end of the war. I see myself as a small child running across the city streets gathering as much as my small hands would hold of the useless Japanese currency that the military were throwing from these tanks.

Another  memory  is  of  my  uncle  who  had  just  returned  from  the  war  and  was  riddled with malaria. My Dad had just died and we were then living with these relatives of ours. I remember walking past my uncle’s room one morning where he lay sick in bed. I was terrified as the whole bed noisily shook in unison with the fevers that were racking his body.

We  call  Australia  the  “Lucky  Country”  and  for  many  of  us  it  is,  or  has  been,  precisely that. Our ancestors have come from far lands seeking a brighter future. Some fled from political turmoil; others from economic poverty; others again just seeking adventure. Many were orphan children.

But we must not forget our grim past – we were a penal settlement. If a person survived the horrendous months spent in confinement in the ships that brought the  convicts  to  our  land,  the  prisons  were  not  much  better.  Should  a  prisoner  escape, they had the bush to contend with or our shark infested waters.

Again, how were our indigenous brothers and sisters treated? Because they had a different coloured skin they were treated as not being human by many of those in authority. They fought in our wars but were not

acknowledged with the other diggers afterwards. It  is  easy  to  point  the  finger  at  times  long 

gone  and  to  places  that  are  remote  from our own homes. Let us look at our own state, our own city, our own area. For many of us, St Rita’s became a home away from home.

Some of the Sisters we loved, others we kept our distance from. There was the little dorm and there was the big dorm. As little boarders we looked up in awe at the big girls. We could hardly wait to migrate to the big dorm.

Again, for many of the girls from the country, the boarding school was not really much like home. Even for many of us from the city, life was very different – the food, the living quarters, the discipline.

Some  memories  are  fun- ‐filled.  Once  we  planned  a  midnight  feast;  we  had  the  food (cakes and lollies) stored secretly upstairs in the little dorm. However, when midnight came and it was time for the feast no one woke up to have the feast. The cakes went very stale!

Other  memories  are  not  so  good,  especially  when  we  were  caught  out  of  bed  after lights were out. Our punishment was immediate – a good thump on the back by a very large Sister. But we took all that in our stride.

Today,  the  media  streams  images  of  life  in  the  Middle  East.  At  present,  we  see  images of people living in Syria, especially after the “Arab Spring.” We see the torture and cruelty inflicted by people such as Bashar al- Assad where thousands of his own people have simply disappeared. The conditions are similar to those Hitler inflicted in his concentration camps.

These images make me wonder why our world is so unjust. I wonder why my life has  been  so  calm  and  pleasant  by  comparison  with  the  lives  of  those  living  in  these harsh conditions. It is easy to give way to despair and to say “what can I do?” But let us be their voice, “lest we forget.”

Sr Elvera SestaPatron

Sr Elvera SestaPatron

JOIN US FOR OPEN DAYSUNDAY 30 JULY 2017

10:00AM- 12:30PMwww.stritas.qld.edu.au/openday

ST RITA’S COLLEGE

41 Enderley Rd, Clayfield QLD 4011Ph: 07 3862 1615

St Rita’s College is a Catholic girls’ school for Years 7 to 12. We are conveniently located only 15 minutes from the Brisbane CBD with excellent access to public transport.

HAMILTON

WINDSOR

BULIMBA

NEW FARM

BRISBANE CITY

TENERIFFE

FORTITUDE VALLEY

KELVINGROVE

EAST BRISBANE

MILTON

GRANGE

ASCOT

CLAYFIELD

SPRING HILL

RED HILL

stay on and join us for carnival! 10am-4pm

A WORD FROM OUR PATRON

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PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Patrice SimpsonAlumnae President

The College’s theme for 2017 is ‘Simplicity’ and for the

Alumnae this is serving as a source of inspiration and reflection for the Committee as well. We have experienced fantastic growth and expansion over recent years within the Alumnae community as well as with the wider College and local communities. The Alumnae association is now integrated with

the College in ways we have never seen before and we are mutually reaping the benefits. Some of these highlights include:

• many successful Alumnae events• reunions and college tours• various bursaries• sponsorship of the College Prix d'honneur award• involvement in Careers Day and work experience• 90 years celebration initiatives• presenting graduating students with their

Alumnae key ring• many editions of Virtute featuring College articlesIt’s certainly been a productive and busy time! 

With this in mind, we are now taking the opportunity in 2017 to take stock, reflect and plan for the future so we are in the best possible position to ensure the continued success of our various initiatives and the multitude of ways we contribute and support Alumnae members and the College. With the guidance of Dale Morrow and Sr Elvera Sesta, we are developing our Terms of Reference and devising a new plan for the Alumnae association. It’s a very exciting time to be part of the Alumnae, so if you would like to join the Committee, please send your expression of interest toalumnae@stritas.qld.edu.au. We are still active in many ways during 2017 though, including two editions of Virtute, graduation involvement, reunion assistance and we’re having a small stall stand at the College Carnival on Sunday 30 July - please come past and say hello! I wish to thank all Committee members past and present who have helped to make the Alumnae association what it is today. If you have any ideas for the Alumnae, please email alumnae@stritas.qld.edu.au.

Patrice SimpsonAlumnae President

JOIN US FOR OPEN DAYSUNDAY 30 JULY 2017

10:00AM- 12:30PMwww.stritas.qld.edu.au/openday

ST RITA’S COLLEGE

41 Enderley Rd, Clayfield QLD 4011Ph: 07 3862 1615

St Rita’s College is a Catholic girls’ school for Years 7 to 12. We are conveniently located only 15 minutes from the Brisbane CBD with excellent access to public transport.

HAMILTON

WINDSOR

BULIMBA

NEW FARM

BRISBANE CITY

TENERIFFE

FORTITUDE VALLEY

KELVINGROVE

EAST BRISBANE

MILTON

GRANGE

ASCOT

CLAYFIELD

SPRING HILL

RED HILL

stay on and join us for carnival! 10am-4pm

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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Mrs Dale MorrowPrincipal

tips to save money. Ultimately, simplicity is asking yourself: “How do I really want to live? What truly makes me happy? How does my lifestyle contribute to the greater good? What are my actions doing to the planet?” It’s about having enough, but not too much… It’s about taking control over your life and resisting the forces of the dominant society

that tell us to claw our way to the top. We take advantage of the land on which we live because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we are able to see the environment as a community to which we belong, we’ll be more inclined to respect it.

Sylvia: Sustainable development focuses on balancing that fine line between meeting our own needs without jeopardising the ability of future generations to do the same. It is growth based on forms and processes of development that don’t undermine the integrity of the environment on which they depend. The human population has grown more in the last 50 years than it has in the previous 4 million. Just as we approach an all- ‐time peak in consumption, converging variables like shrinking resource supplies, necessitate changes in the way we live. Here’s the good news: reducing our levels of consumption doesn’t have to be a sacrifice, instead- it can be a bonus if we simply redefine the meaning of the word “success.” A sustainable Australia is possible – but we have to choose it.

These short excerpts of the Assembly presentation from these two senior students I think give a good sense of the intent of our student body in making this year’s theme meaningful and relevant to how the College will operate during the year. I am so very proud of the way they have decided to use this year’s theme to look at the challenges of Climate change and already it has had practical implications.

The college has embarked on a number of initiatives to “do our part” in addressing Climate change. There are now a large number of PV panels on the roof of Eirene Hall which will go towards decreasing our reliance on the grid. In the near future, as the College building plan progresses, these sorts of renewable

energy sources will be at the forefront of providing any extra energy to the campus. Furthermore, from the beginning of Term Two, every classroom will have a recycling bin which the Nagle girls will collect on a fortnightly basis and ensure they are deposited in the large recycling receptacles. These are already just two practical ways our students intend putting our motto of “Action Not Words” into play.

I also wanted to let you all know, in this first Virtute of the year, how very well our 2016 Senior students did in the QCS and OP results. Firstly, the OP results for St Rita’s were once again significantly above state average results. The highlights of these results were:

• Nine students achieved an OP 1• 33% of students achieved an OP 1 - 5.• The most outstanding result was that 85% of

students achieved an OP 1 - 10.• 99% achieved an OP 1 - 15.• OP ineligible students received an OP equivalent

range of OP 9 - 15,• 99% of students received a Queensland

Certificate of Education (QCE).I am pleased to say that, once again, these results are

a reflection of the dedication and commitment of both staff and students to academic excellence and that the College continues to maintain its fine reputation as a high achieving academic school.

In closing, I look forward to continuing to develop the relationship between our Alumnae and St Rita’s. I commend the Alumnae for the work they do connecting with the College. We are always delighted to hear from and about the journeys of our former students after they have left the College, so please keep in touch. Next time you are at the College and you have the time, take a walk down the corridor near reception and you will see a photo wall detailing the lives of some of our alumnae. I hope you always keep a special place in your hearts for the time you spent here at your Alma Mater and continue to remain in touch through the Alumnae. God Bless.

Dale MorrowPrincipal

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St Rita’s College

B.ECON, GAICDCEO AND MANAGING DIRECTORBRISBANE AIRPORT CORPORATION PTY LIMITED

“While at St Rita’s, I found within myself the strength and capacity to succeed. From an ordinary start academically, I worked hard and was encouraged to do well enough in Year 12 to get a scholarship to The University of Queensland. This changed my life and opened the way to many subsequent opportunities.”

Julieanne is currently the CEO and Managing Director of Brisbane Airport Corporation Ltd. She worked for more than 30 years at Sydney Airport, working her way up through the ranks to senior management roles. She also serves on two Boards - Tourism and Events Queensland as Deputy Chair and on the Board of Infrastructure Australia. Julieanne is President of the Queensland Futures Institute and a member of the Chief Executive Women (CEW).St Rita’s College

DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERFUSE AGENCY

“I absolutely loved my time at St Rita’s. I can recall feeling such a sense of belonging and solidarity, and passionately believing that women could be and do anything they desired, with commitment and tenacity. And even better, I still count some of my friends from St Rita’s as amongst my closest, 25 years on.”

Samantha completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Journalism and Government at UQ (with dreams of heading to Canberra and working as a political journalist) and worked as a journalist for community newspapers talkback radio in New Zealand.

She then moved into Public Relations which became her passion. The next 11 years were spent working in an agency that was highly demanding but led to her starting her own PR agency which then merged with a larger marketing agency. This year she purchased that agency in full, rebranded it, and is now the sole Director. It is Fuse Agency, specialising in digital strategy, design and branding, content creation, and public relations.

Where are they now?

SAVE THE DATE40 Year Reunion

Graduating Juniors, Seniors and teachers from '75- '77

5 AUGUST Come to the school's new Ballygriffin Room for a roll call and cuppa; take a tour with Sr. Elvera through the Nano Nagle Centre; Hogan Place; Stanley Hall; Sr. Assumpta O'Flynn Pavillion and more, then continue on to wine and dine with old friends.

Please contact Roslyn Bannerman (Lewis) on 3356 8622 or 0413199257 or

bannerclan@optusnet.com.au to get more information and R.S.V.P.

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SRC Walkout 2017

An early start on a Sunday morning did not deter students participating in the annual St Rita’s Walkout on March 5th. The theme, ‘Battle of the Bands’ gave the students a great opportunity to dress up as their favourite performer/band. From the Black Eyed Peas to Michael Jackson; from the Beatles to the Beach Boys, students dressed up and they enjoyed the opportunity to walk with their peers and listen to music.

The walkout is a mission event of the College and approximately 100 parents make up the team that enables the event to take place. Strategically placed along the route, parents provided water, fruit, lollies and the occasional spray of water. This year’s walkout raised money to acquire computers for physically and intellectually challenged children and young adults in the Mithra Rehabilitation Centre in Chennai, India. The centre is run by the Presentation Sisters and each student was asked to bring a gold coin donation on the day to support the fundraising activity.

It has been an exciting start to the debating season. The school has entered 16 teams across

years 7 to 12 in the QDU [Queensland Debating Union] and BGDA [Brisbane Girls Debating Association]. Currently, the years 8 to 12 teams have been very successful with numerous wins resulting in the BGDA 11.1 progressing to finals. The year 7 competition will continue through to Term 4. In February, three ladies trialed for the Queensland state team. These ladies successfully advanced to the top 50 with one lady considered in the top 24 of the state. Based on this outstanding record over a number of years, QDU extended an invitation for St Rita’s to join the Senior A debating competition. This competition uses the “World Schools” style of debating and is designed for debaters who are performing at a high standard. The field for this specific competition is limited to 16 schools with students across years 10, 11 and 12. The Senior A competition has all 8 debates held at 7pm at St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace. Therefore, debates are not presented, adjudicated and results given but time is taken to give in- ‐depth feedback to each member of the team so there is support for further growth. The model for St Rita’s Senior A debating program is similar to many other schools. Membership is invited from students in years 10, 11 and 12. In this way, students have the opportunity to refine and enhance their debating skills over a number of years. While a long term opportunity will develop analytical and debating skills, the coaching also supports students who consider trialing for the Queensland State Debating Team. The inaugural team includes: Lucy Shephard [12], Amelia Asplin, Genevieve Hurree and Grace Ryan [11] and Ellanah Vicca [10]. The team has completed their first two rounds and won. All students are welcome to watch this rigorous debating and a warm invitation is extended to the school community to support all debates. Further information can be found on the QDU website: http://qdu.org.au/?page_id=2681

2017 Senior A program

Debating

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An institution at the College, Paul Jarvis first arrived at St Rita’s in 1980. Virtute sat down with Paul to

discuss some memorable teaching moments and why he just can’t seem to tear himself away from this little slice of heaven on the hill. You joined the College as one of the first male teachers. What was the initial reception from the girls? I arrived at the College the same year as Marilyn Savage, a wonderful woman who I continued to work with for many years. There was a certain degree of hysteria for the first ten minutes, and then things settled down and I discovered a wonderful school. I was, apparently, the first male employed for a long time and I knew that I had a few challenges ahead of me when one student was away for two or three weeks at the start of the year because of “the shock of having a male teacher”. Your legacy certainly precedes you and it is safe to say that many students you have taught over the past 30 years remember their classes with you as being one of the highlights of their schooling experience. Do you have a significant teaching moment, class or memory that stays with you? I have also always thought that the girls need to feel safe and accepted in the classroom, otherwise learning does not occur. But sometimes it backfires. That happened in my first year at St Rita’s, when I began the class with 25 students and by half way through I only had 3 left. As a male teacher, I was never going to say no if a girl wished to go to the bathroom. However, on this occasion, they left the classroom under the guise of going to the bathroom and instead went down to a house on Oriel Road where one of the girls lived. I soon noticed them sitting on the verandah waving at me. I told Sr Elvera what was happening and that I was following her direction about always allowing a girl to go to the bathroom. She took off with a long ruler in her hand and I watched the show unfold from room 13 at the top of the Kennedy block. When

Sister opened the gate the girls just scattered everywhere trying to hide: under cupboards, behind closed doors, behind shrubs. But I think Elvera found them all, and they were in big trouble.Actually, I think I will be remembered for Fawlty

Fridays more than anything else.The College has gone through enormous change and growth since you first started. What stands out for you as being particularly significant in our development?Having many more male teachers on staff was a welcomed decision. The College has also vastly increased the population of the school, as there were around 650 students when I first started compared to almost double that now. Once upon a time I thought I knew everyone, at least by appearance. It must be a sign of my age now that I frequently see girls that I have never seen before! That never used to happen.As one of our longest standing staff members, what is it about this place that has kept you here these past 37 years?I have great respect for the mission of the Presentation Sisters and from the word go I could see a strong emphasis on the academic. Those two factors have made the classroom an exciting place to be and I never tire from the different senses of humour in the classroom. There is always a lot of laughter! Why would I leave a school like that? Finally, where do you see - or hope to see - the College in 10 years? Well, I hope I’m still around in 10 years to see the College. If I am, I would like to see the College continue the mission of the Sisters and continue the strong emphasis on the value of the academic in a world that can seem very confusing to the girls. Questioning and critical thinking should be essential for the ongoing development of the College. And if I’m still teaching here at the College, I hope I’m still enjoying myself as much as I am right now.

Interviewed by Samantha Toohey (Alumnae Member and SRC Teaching Staff)

Five Minutes with Paul Jarvis

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On Saturday 20 May 2017 I attended a memorial mass celebrating the feast of St Rita  of  Cascia. 

At  this  mass  we  also  remembered  those  students  and  staff  who  had passed away during their time at St Rita's College. Mass was celebrated by Fr Marty, from the Sunshine Coast, who delivered a beautiful homily reminding us  that  those  who  have  left  this  realm  of  living  are  now  living  in  God's  loving  embrace. He also performed the blessing of the Plaques of

Remembrance within the Chapel to honour those staff and students who have passed before us. After mass  there  were  refreshments  in  Stanley  Hall  and  a  time  to  reminisce  with  fellow alumnae of the College, family members of those who have passed, staff of the College and some of the Presentation Sisters who attended. It was a beautiful way to remember those who now have a special part in the history of St Rita's College. May God hold them in the palm of his hand.

Linda QuainAlumnae Committee Member

Farewell and Congratulations The Alumnae committee would like to extend a big

farewell and thank you to three of our departing members. Erin Bledsoe has been invited to join the St Rita’s College Board and therefore will be serving our community in this way. Well done Erin!

A big thank you to Brook Dwyer for her hard work on the committee over the past few years. Brook has been instrumental in updating our database and will be sorely missed.

We also will be saying farewell to the President of the Alumnae Committee, Patrice Simpson. Patrice has been part of the committee for the past five years and President for the last two and a half years. We would like to thank Patrice for her dedication and leadership over the past five years.

A big congratulations to our long serving Alumnae committee member and SRC staff member Angela Cahill on the birth of her beautiful daughter Sophie.