Building A Community - Ambrose Treacy College

The Waterford project has been unveiled recently as all of the scaffolding has come down and the work is now entirely internal and due to be completed by the end of June. The glass paneling is in the pattern of Waterford crystal design. Waterford is the Irish port city where Blessed Edmund Rice started his first school in a horse stable in New Street and later established his first formal school called Mt Sion which still operates today. Within the pattern when you come closer to the glass are silhouettes of maps of Ireland and when one comes even closer, there is the symbol of our four Houses of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster found in our Reconciliation Action Plan documentation.

Once completed, works will then turn to the Tipperary Building in the Middle School precinct where the current staff area is being extended and refurbished to allow for a greater number of secondary school staff to be located in that zone together. This work will take approximately three months, essentially all of July, August, September and perhaps some of October.

Relocated staff for this time will be located in the Waterford precinct as will classes impacted by the works in Tipperary and those currently located in the demountables opposite the Edmund Rice Building.

The new building, which includes a new Senior School Reception, offices and staff spaces, 14 classrooms, a new Drama room, a 200-seat lecture theatre and a large undercroft area for student use as well as some College functions will be fully integrated into the timetable for the commencement of the 2025 school year. The current Senior School Reception area is being refurbished to be included as a part of the extended second Hospitality teaching space. For those who haven't see the architect's designs, you can view them below.

Dash for Crash

Thank you to everyone in the extended ATC community who participated in the annual Dash for Crash as a volunteer or runner. It is a wonderful community event, and it is our pleasure to partner with the McMeniman family for the third time in this special initiative which celebrates the life of Mr Damien McMeniman and his affection and gratitude for his time at Nudgee Junior and his faith and belief in the mission of Ambrose Treacy College. Thank you to everyone involved for their support of Damien’s memory, his family and for the ATC College Foundation. Congratulations to Mrs Marie McMeniman, ATC2023 past students, Hamish and Oliver, family, friends, Mrs Helen Hicks for her co-ordination and facilitation and everyone involved, parents both past and present, students both past and present and staff for another great event. The Ambrose Treacy College Foundation is most grateful for the generosity of the McMeniman family in partnering with us to raise funds to support a student to attend ATC who may otherwise not be able to afford the opportunity.

Thank you to our Sponsors and Supporters: 

Vital Chemicals 
Sophie Reardon Makeup Artist 
Twisted Desire Hair Corinda 
Barnes Cleary Family 
Bunnings 
My Green Stuff Graceville 
Inna Bliss Yoga Studio 
Kmart 
Corinda Hardware

KPR Automotive 
Sleepoverzzz 
Snooze Jindalee 
Cynthia Copley Artist 
Gold Family 
Woolworths 
Coles

Mothers in May

The recent Mother’s Day evening was a delight. Thank you for all of the positive feedback received. I thank all of the Mums, Grandmothers and significant caregivers who came along to share in this community time. Thank you to the Fathers, students and staff who came together as a team to organise, host and facilitate these events which were greatly enjoyable. Thank you in particular to Rhonnie Sparksman, Louise Johnston, Maelisa McNeil, Karen Bate, Simon Martin and teams for their co-ordination and support. Thank you to our generous sponsors for the raffle prizes and to everyone who purchased tickets in support of the work of our Parents and Friends. We look forward to other special occasions.

St Stephen’s Cathedral 150 Years

On Friday, College Captains, Declan, Michael, Jock and Mr Matt Warr and I had the pleasure of representing Ambrose Treacy College at the 150th anniversary celebrations for the building of St Stephen’s Cathedral in the city. Brother Treacy was certainly a regular presence at St Stephen’s as he arranged for the first classes taught by the Christian Brothers in Queensland at Pugin’s Chapel on the site for the first students of our brother school, St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace. Over the 150 years, the forebears, extended families and students, staff both past and present and families of St Joseph’s Nudgee Junior College and Ambrose Treacy have participated in eucharistic celebrations for baptisms, weddings, funerals, valedictories, and a range of important occasions. Due to our strong connection to the story of St Stephen’s Cathedral and Brother Treacy, we continue the tradition of our Year 12 Valedictory Mass being held at the Cathedral.

Year 8 Social Event with Brigidine College

One of our strategic intentions amongst many is connection for our students with local schools for young women, Brigidine College, Stuartholme School and St Aidan’s College. Our music community recently enjoyed another wonderful collaboration with St Aidan’s and as a part of our numerous points of partnership and friendship with Brigidine, we hosted a Year 8 social afternoon on Friday which was most popular and enjoyed. Thank you to our Formation Team for their leadership and facilitation. Our intention is to continue our warmly welcomed dialogues with Brigidine, Stuartholme and Brigidine as we develop further opportunities in the coming months and years.

Greater Brisbane Conference Cross Country

Congratulations to our Cross Country Team who enjoyed a very successful day at the recent GBC championships, winning several age groups, the overall boys championship and the overall school championship in partnership with Brigidine College. I was particularly proud of the leadership and example of our Year 12 students who modelled the way and the culture of the team that is evolving where we took notable steps forward in building depth, working as a group and committing to the team cause. Well done and congratulations to all staff (richly represented and supported by a squad of recent past students).

National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day, held on 26 May each year, is an important day during which we remember the past Australian policies and practices of forced child removal, and reflect on the sad and painful history of the Stolen Generations. This day marks the commencement of National Reconciliation Week. As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are proud of our relationships with students and families whose lives and stories have been and continue to be impacted by the actions of the past and we are committed to our humble efforts to partner in recognition and reconciliation as expressed in our College Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Community Prayers

Lord, we pray for those in our community who are suffering. Be with them in this time of hardship and uncertainty. Give comfort and peace to those who have lost loved ones. May their sorrow be turned into strength, and their distress turned into peace. May our hearts remain loving and pure as we seek to always be compassionate to those around us.

God Bless,
Chris Ryan