Acting Dean of Identity | Mr Terry Thompson

It takes a village to raise a child

In the presence of His Excellency, the Honourable Paul de Jersey, the Terrace family welcomed back the 2019 Buchanan Medal Scholars (students who received an OP1 in 2019) for an assembly last Tuesday. These fine men represent the hard work and dedication that is required for success in school education. James Hurst (College Dux in 2019) addressed the Terrace family with a succinct and eloquent rendition of the recipe to each of the 2019 scholar’s successes. With his permission, I have reproduced it below. Enjoy. 

Without a doubt, I feel incredibly proud to be standing here today among such an outstanding group of men. The 18 scholars to my left have truly worked incredibly hard to be standing on this stage. But to think it was just us that put us on this stage is simply not true, so today, I’d like to share three memories that explore things that have helped me on this journey and have, without a doubt, helped others on this stage.

The first is about every Tuesday and Thursday morning in the room next to GT125. In this room from about 7.45am there is Maths tutoring. There, teachers like Mr Covill, Ms Lather and Ms Meinecke, among others, selflessly give up their mornings to diligently assist anyone that walks through the doors. Someone like Will Long, who attended these sessions almost every morning, credits it with their success. The teachers there don’t ask for thanks, nor let it stop them from staying back and helping after class, their patience seemed to be endless. This attitude is by no means limited to the Maths Department; Tuesday and Thursday morning happens hundreds of time every week at Terrace, without which these 18 scholars wouldn’t be here. So, to our teachers, we say thank you.

The second story is about an initiative in Year 12; Peer Tutoring. The concept is simple; students in the grade give up a morning of their week to go into room 422. They then work in that room and, as the designated peer tutor, selflessly answer questions of others to help them with their academics. Many of these men on stage were involved in this opportunity. In 2019, this happened each and every morning for 30 weeks of the year. Using that metric alone, this group has helped others for over 100 hours. These peer tutors would often be the same men that would cook a burger on Friday morning as a part of the BBQ Squad or that would wake up early for Eddie’s Van. To our peers, we say thank you.

My final story is about a moment I had a few weeks ago while reading the list of these OP1 scholars. To put it simply; I realised all of them, in 2019, went ‘All In’. In your seat, you have a booklet full of Oli Seawrights, who balance incredible running abilities and captaining the school with their academics. Of Alex Sullivans, who, while in Year 12 travelled around Australia as a State Representative for Rowing and Debating. Of Oscar Wilkins, who do Big Brekky almost every fortnight of the year. But it wasn’t just them. When Oli came back from supporting on Saturday, it was Geoff Seawright (Oli’s father) that rode his bike alongside him. When it was Alex almost getting heatstroke every weekend after a regatta, it was Natalie Sullivan (Alex’s mother) who made sure that he was alright. When Oscar woke up before dawn for Big Brekky, it was Tina Wilkins (Oscar’s mother) who woke up with him to drive. Last year, these 18 men went ‘All In’, but without a doubt, so did the community. To our parents, we say thank you.

This group of scholars on stage here are a very public representation of our community, the Terrace community. The adage “it takes a village to raise a child” is all the more evident here. The Terrace village has truly supported us to be on this stage. The 18 men with me are a product of the knowledge given to us by our teachers, the humility of our peers in helping us, and the wisdom our parents bestow when they support us every step of the way. Those pillars of Terrace: Knowledge, Humility and Wisdom aren’t just words that can be thrown into an RE assignment, they are very real qualities that flow through this school and flow through its students. If I have one piece of advice for the class of 2020 and beyond, it is to not hold Terrace at arm’s length. Immerse yourself in this school and all it has to offer. ‘Be the One’ to go ‘All In’.

Live Jesus in our Hearts…Forever. 

Next Week 

• Monday: 7 Treacy Camp and Retreat (all week)
• Tuesday: Magee House Mass (7.30am)
• Wednesday: Ash Wednesday Liturgy

Photos below - 12th Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations at the Southern Cross Catholic College, Scarborough.