During our final coming together as a staff in 2020, service milestones were recognised for their dedication and commitment to Emmanuel College. This year the acknowledgement of no less than 50 years of service by Gerry Noonan. The achievement brought the 130 staff in attendance to their feet to congratulate him in standing ovation.
Thank you and congratulations Gerry!
Congratulations to Garry and for all the success of their fundraising initiative - Coast Aid! In response to the bushfire crisis of 2020, the boys came up with the idea over lunch, and 19 days later Coast Aid was a reality. Held at Lake Pertobe featuring live music, kids activities, food and drinks, it attracted a huge crowd and raisexd $16,512.85 for the Warrnambool Bushfire appeal.
“We had the Find Your Voice Choir. When they performed, it didn’t even feel like Lake Pertobe anymore. The atmosphere was electric.” Tom comments.
“People were rocking up from 11:30 (an hour early) to get a spot. That’s when you really started to see that people were into it.” Garry explained.
The first-time event organisers did an outstanding job attracting support from many, and were impressed by the willingness of people to volunteer and contribute.
On Australia Day this year, Warrnambool City Council recognised the boys and Coast Aid as Community Event of the Year - an outstanding achievement, well done.
In September last year, Mark Owen (Class of 1985), and Peter Day (Class of 1982) put their bodies to the test by completing an 9.6 hour activity challenge to raise money for brain cancer. The dynamic duo walked/ran along the beach from Killarney to Port Fairy, then biked along the rail trail from Port Fairy, via Koroit to Dennington, then kayaked along the Merri River to the breakwater, then ran along the beach to the surf club, and finished with a paddle in Lady Bay.
If the course itself wasn’t gruelling enough, the boys faced strong winds of up to 26 knots in the early legs of the challenge. However, this didn’t deter them from keeping an even pace to get them to the end. “I think when you’re in Warrnambool, you’ve got to get into the wind. I love hills and I love the wind,” Mark comments.
Mark, as a teacher at Emmanuel College, originally initiated the project as a way to inspire some physical activity in his Year 10 students, who had missed out on their school camp due to COVID restrictions. The plan had been for all Year 10 students to challenge themselves with a 18.8km walk and to raise money for brain cancer charities, such as the Crystal Lee Foundation and the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation.
Supporting brain cancer foundations lies at the heart of many of our Year 10 students, of whom many went to school with Pippa Rea at St Joseph’s Primary School before she passed away at age 11. Pippa was the first patient to benefit from the work of Robert Connor Dawes Foundation.
Leading Mark and Peter’s support crew was Pippa’s mother, and campaigner, Virginia Rea (St Ann’s Class of 1988). “Seeing Virginia so pumped for it, it was uplifting,” Mark says.
Mark was also joined by Emmanuel College students, Jase Napean and Isaac Owen, who made the course seem easy, when they rode their bikes home afterwards.
Colin McKenna was named this year a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community this Australia Day. Beyond his achievements as a self-made businessman, Colin has been a consistent and generous contributor to the South West community, supporting many projects including Peter’s Project, Brauerander Park Regional Athletics Complex and Emmanuel College’s Emmanuel Centre.
Congratulations Colin!
Grottos, like ours, containing a statue of Mary or another saint, can be found in the grounds of Catholic schools Australia-wide. They are special and sacred spaces, a small oasis for quiet contemplation. The grotto is mentioned frequently by St Ann’s alumni who reminisce about its significance in their daily school lives and their lunchtime visits to reflect and pray the rosary.
Constructed of sandstone, the Emmanuel grotto dates back to 1932 and features a larger statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and a smaller statue of Bernadette in the foreground. In bygone days the grotto was lit up at night by electricity, which highlighted the beautiful Carrara marble statues donated by Mrs Lee of Wangoom in thanksgiving for a favour obtained through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Over the years the grotto had become overgrown with ivy and although it was pruned and shaped each year, we couldn’t be confident the invasive plant hadn’t damaged the grotto’s structure. With a keen interest in the grotto, a descendant of the original donor Mrs Lee, has come forward and provided financial support enabling the school to repair and restore the grotto. This generous support has enabled the College to install new stonework, seating and gardens.
