Gathering, Celebrating and Fundraising all in the Name of Community

It is great to be back at ATC after a wonderful week in Ireland attending the EREBB Congress in Dublin and travelling to Waterford where the story of schools such as ours began in the early 1790s.

I first heard the Edmund Rice story as a 9-year-old, and that relationship has grown as I have worked with, lived with, travelled with and developed with the Christian Brothers and my lay Edmund Rice colleagues and friends for the past 32 years. Thus, it was an emotional privilege to visit New Street where Edmund taught his first classes in a stable, celebrate Mass at his first formal school at Mt Sion and be present at his tomb.

EREBB stands for Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders and is a movement that promotes relationships and solidarity between Edmund Rice teaching and learning communities across twenty countries throughout the world. It is a privilege to be a part of this movement and to represent this Ambrose Treacy College story when sharing with peers from Africa, India, South and North America, the UK, Ireland and others. There are 97 Catholic schools in the Edmund Rice tradition in Ireland alone and it was powerful to meet with their students and staff and share a little about our school.

The goal is to grow in our internationality and global perspective, and I look forward to working with students, staff and parents in renewing our global connections post COVID and to ATC growing in our participation within EREBB towards the next global congress which is taking place in Argentina in 2026.

I took hundreds of photos but thought I might just share this one today with our community. The Marino Institute is now part of the famous Trinity College in Dublin but is where Christian Brothers were trained as teachers and were sent throughout the globe. This Signum Fidei crest sits within the halls of the famous training and formation institute and Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy founded the first Australian teaching institute at Lewisham, Sydney in 1897. Hundreds and hundreds passed under this crest with which we share our College motto: A Sign of Faith.

College Tour

The College Tour was held on Thursday 18 May 2023. Over 400 people registered to come and experience the ATC difference. It is pleasing to see so many people exploring the possibility of their son joining our community and I thank all of our families who continue to be the epicentre of our marketing through your sharing of your experience at our school. Please reach out to our Head of Enrolments, Robyn Donaldson if you have any enrolment queries.

Mothers in May

The recent Mothers in May evening was a delight, thanks to 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, Lisa Mortlock and Maelisa McNeil and teams for their co-ordination and support. Thank you to our generous sponsors for the Lucky Door prizes. We look forward to sharing other special occasions with our community.

Dash for Crash

Thank you to all members of our community who supported the Dash for Crash on Sunday. This event was a marvellous success and I extend my warm thanks and congratulations to the McMeniman family, all volunteers, the participants and Mrs Helen Hicks who supported the event in administration, organisation and support on behalf of the Ambrose Treacy College Foundation. The McMeniman family generously donate funds raised to the Ambrose Treacy College Foundation to support a student in need to share in the experience their husband and Dad, Damien had as a student of Nudgee Junior College. It is a pleasure to celebrate Damien or “Crash” in this special way.

Thank you to our Sponsors and Supporters: 

Kanaka Triathlon Team; TimeZone Indooroopilly; Bunnings Indooroopilly; J. Ting Candles Jewelry Coffee; Miettes Bakery Corinda; KPR Automotive Seventeen Mile Rocks; Studio Pilates Kenmore; St. Lucia Golf Links Mini Golf; Corinda Hardware; Kenmore Village Florist; Perissinotto Family - Westaway House Currimundi; Dominoes Pizza Chapel Hill; McIntyre Family - Snooze Jindalee; KMart Indooroopilly and Toowong; Gordon and Luxton Gourmet Butcher Graceville; Gold Family - Sunny Queen Eggs; Grill'd Indooroopilly; Studio Pilates Oxley; Chaffey's Bakery Chapel Hill; Bakers Delight Graceville; Coles Corinda, Indooroopilly, & Kenmore; Woolworths Oxley, Sherwood, Toowong, Indooroopilly & Seventeen Mile Rocks.

National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day, held on 26 May each year, is an important day during which we remember the past policies 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.

On Monday 29 May, we formally open the community space by the river where last year we celebrated Jazz by the River, where we have held Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day ceremonies and where students gather and play each day. We are naming this space Warril Place. Warril is an aboriginal word which means river and we are naming it as a place for community, story telling and formation which is a great name for the purpose of our space where so much happens in our community. Our entire Middle School student body, Clontarf students and staff will gather with local elders , EREA representatives and College representatives next Monday morning for a traditional smoking ceremony and blessing to be led by College Chaplain, Fr John Gillen.

EREA National Executive Director

We offer our congratulations to Dr Liam Smith who has been appointed National Executive Director of Edmund Rice Education Australia. Dr Smith has a passion for education which has grown through his work as a teacher, principal and as a system leader and he brings to the role a strong academic background with a Doctor of Education, Master of Education, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Education from Queensland University of Technology, and a Diploma of Teaching from Brisbane College of Education. He was born and raised in a Catholic family and following in his father’s and uncles’ footsteps, was educated at an EREA school and carries a commitment to Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition deep within his approach to education.

GBC Cross Country

Congratulations to the ATC Cross Country team on their success as the champion team in the recent Greater Brisbane Conference Cross Country championships. It is wonderful to see all their hard work and training has lead to this success. Well done to all runners, coaches and their support crew!

Rugby Night Out

Friday night saw another successful ATC P&F event with the Rugby Family Night Out at Suncorp. I heard that the scoreline didn't go our way, but families enjoyed the atmosphere and the entertainment by the ATC Taiko Troupe. Thank you to Mr Andrew Taylor who coordinated the night and to everyone who went along to this friendraising event.

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