The Waterford Journey | Mr Luke Gribble
In 2023, we welcomed our second cohort of Year 9 to Waterford Place, with this group the first to enjoy the privileges of a full year at Waterford Place. We also embarked on a new chapter as we introduced our more formalised ‘Rites of Passage’ program, known as ‘The Waterford Journey’.
The Waterford Journey program has been designed to support our young men in navigating the often awkward period of adolescence as they transition from boys to young men. The Waterford teachers are wonderful role models, and they have done a great job of tailoring the Waterford Journey into the curriculum.
As this report goes live, our Year 9 gentlemen are scattered all over Australia, as well as Timor-Leste, on our Immersion programs. We currently have over a hundred students immersed in remote indigenous communities in Cape York, the Top End and Central Australia. Local groups are immersed in various challenges, from navigating life with a disability to using creative industries to support community groups. We have students trying to understand what it’s like to be homeless, to live with mental illness, or to be a refugee in Australia. Groups in the Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, Southeast Qld and Northern NSW are learning more about our beautiful environment and how we urgently need to take better care of it.
All of our Immersions have a ‘service’ element embedded in programs designed to broaden our students’ perspective and understanding of their world. We have challenged the students to be ‘curious’ and not ‘judgemental’ as they experience the realities faced by some of our most vulnerable people and places.
These programs cannot run without a massive commitment and contribution by the teachers and Waterford support staff, and I hope families appreciate this special opportunity. I would also like to acknowledge the enormous amount of work behind the scenes by Ms Mandy Awabdy in her coordination of the immersion programs. We are very privileged to have a wonderful facility and faculty here at Waterford Place. The willingness of staff to give of their time and expertise, but most importantly, their care and concern gifted to our students, is greatly appreciated.
As I wrap up my 5th year as Dean of Waterford and my 27th year at Terrace, I am about to enjoy a period of Long Service leave throughout Term 4. Mr Anthony O’Shea (current Dean of Magee House) will very ably fill the Waterford role in my absence. I have enjoyed the 2023 journey.