Dear members of the Terrace Family,

The end of Term 3 is upon us, and thankfully we appear to have been able to negotiate a relatively normal final few weeks. I do wish to thank the many people within the Terrace Family who have worked so hard during this term to ensure that the impact of lockdowns on co-curricular activities, the Year 10 Immersions and the Year 12 Formal was minimised for the students and their families. There were some significant challenges at times. However, by working together, we have been able to keep things happening.

The holiday break brings an opportunity to recharge in preparation for the traditional busyness of Term 4. Some students will be involved in Sport or Music activities over the holidays, but for the majority, the first week of the break should provide time for rest and recovery.

In the second week of the holidays, the College will again conduct the Open Classroom program for our Year 12 students. During that week, Year 12 staff will be hosting masterclasses, one-on-one interviews, tutorial sessions and a range of practice exams. Last year the Senior cohort strongly supported the program, and we anticipate that this will be the case again this year. In advance, I offer my thanks to the staff and students involved in staging the program. The Year 12 students have worked very hard this year, and, with only a matter of weeks until the start of their external exams, these Open Classrooms will form a critical component of their preparation.

Last week, the College sent a survey to all families seeking input regarding school fees. Terrace has been chosen as one of the pilot schools to trial the EREA survey in 2021. All EREA school communities will be required to complete the survey in the coming years. The data obtained from the survey will be invaluable for our planning as the College strives to maintain value for money in the holistic education it provides for Terrace students. We have previously committed to capping school fees increases in 2022 and 2023, so the data collected will influence decisions from 2024 and beyond. Your opinion is valuable, and I would encourage all families to take the 10-15 minutes required to complete the survey. We will keep the survey links open until the start of Term 4 - Tuesday 5 October.

The students finish Term 3 today, and Term 4 resumes on Tuesday 5 October. Friday 17 September is a marking and reporting day that will ensure that students in Years 5-11 will receive their results when they return in Term 4, with reports being released on Friday 8 October. For Year 12 students, your son’s progress report will be available on Parent Lounge from 12pm on Tuesday 21 September.

My thanks to all the Terrace Family for their efforts and support during Term 3. I wish everyone a safe and relaxing break and look forward to sharing the sprint to the finish with you in Term 4.

God Bless.

Last weekend saw the world acknowledge 20 years since the World Trade Centre towers were attacked and ultimately collapsed. Undoubtedly like many others, I can distinctly remember where I was when I first saw footage of that most incredible day. Having finished supervising students in my role as Head of Residence in a boarding school, I took a moment to flick the television on before calling it a night and was astounded by what I saw. It will remain one of those ‘where were you when….’ moments that no doubt many of us will never forget. The following morning was the only time I ever saw the students watching the news rather than sport or cartoons before heading to school.

I have been thinking about our Year 12 students and how close they are to finishing their time at Terrace – their Formal is this week, and in Week 4 of next term, they will commence external exams. I imagine their most enduring memories of school will not be the news and current affairs of the day, but rather, their interactions with friends and the daily events of the College that make them love their time here at Terrace. I wish the Seniors the very best as they reflect on their mock exams and participate in the Open Classroom program in Week 2 of the holidays. It is an important time, and they have our support and best wishes.

This week, Mr Geoff Ludlow informed the College of his decision to move into retirement at the conclusion of this term. Geoff commenced working at Terrace in 1987 and has been a loyal servant of the College since that time, a large portion of which was in the role of Head of Science Faculty. It is difficult to imagine the number of young men who Geoff has taught and influenced over the decades, and we thank him for his dedication to the College and its students. As a staff, we will formally farewell Geoff at the end of the year. We are in the process of appointing a replacement for Geoff’s classes.

The experience of being a female teacher in a strongly male environment is not something I can even pretend to understand. I know that the young men of Terrace need to see, be taught and be influenced by strong women. Our female staff, teachers and non-teaching staff are a gift to the College and its students, and I hope this is an attractive place for women to work. This week, we commenced what will become a series of gatherings of female staff to share their experiences, provide support and professional development and explore leadership opportunities. I look forward to this continuing as we aim to enhance the experience of working at Terrace for all staff.

As always, Term 3 has been fast, furious and packed with events. I know our staff are very much looking forward to a break, and I am sure families feel the same way. I hope all in the Terrace Family have an opportunity to rest, refresh and spend time together over the next two weeks. I know I always enjoy the extra time to savour a morning coffee during the holidays. My very best wishes and warmest regards to all, and I look forward to returning for the final term.

Privilege and perspective

Over the last two weeks, I was fortunate to participate in the Year 10 Immersion program for the first time. I accompanied 150 students and 13 staff members to Cape York. The six groups of students lived at different homelands within the Cape York region. Each group:

• immersed themselves in authentic and challenging experiences,
• connected to the community and real-life experiences,
• was taken outside their comfort zone,
• had to cook and clean for each other,
• slept in tents,
• learnt a lot about themselves,
• gained a new, possibly different perspective on life and,
• contributed to the formation of the Gentlemen of Terrace.

Quite often, at Terrace, we talk about privilege. Pre-Immersion, as a College, we explored what was happening in Afghanistan and how we as a school can walk in solidarity with the people there. This is hard, hard because we are so lucky to live in a country like Australia, where we are quite sheltered from some of the realities other people face. But it is important to continually remind ourselves how fortunate we are. We can do this by keeping these people in our thoughts and prayers, finding ways to support our neighbours, and always appreciating everything we have.

Cape York was an opportunity to explore this privilege. The groups that I travelled with visited two homelands, the first being Maaramaka and the second, Binthi-Warra. Each place provided great perspective for students and staff to appreciate what we have. At times, the traditional owners shared stories of both happiness and hardships. One such story was of the stolen generations and how these people were taken away from their parents when they were five years old, never to see them again. The thought of losing their parents at such a young age and never seeing them again hit home for many of our students and staff, and we gained insight into the basis of significant trauma and suffering for many of our First Nations people.

To conclude each night, we reflected as a group about what we saw and heard and our overall thoughts of that day. Both the students and staff commented on how happy the people in these communities are. After everything they have been through, their unconditional welcome and inclusivity made us all feel a part of their community. Privilege and perspective are everything.

The Exaltation of the Cross

On Tuesday, the Catholic Church celebrated the Exaltation of the Cross feast day. It is a day of great hope and a time to remember the cross of Jesus and the story of Jesus. Christians believe that when Jesus died on the cross, it seemed as if the worst thing had happened, but God changed this and made it the best thing that would ever happen.

At Mass in our Chapel on Tuesday, Fr Anthony Mellor gave a great insight into the cross, which I want to share with you. He started with -

• In the name of the Father (hand on forehead) – our hand goes to our mind, where we think about our lives and who we are, what we wish to become and how we act and interact with one another and the world around us.
• And of the Son (hand on heart) – our hand goes to our heart where decisions are made – again how we wish to act and interact with friends, people and ourselves.
• And of the Holy Spirit (hands across our shoulders) – our hands go across our shoulders, where we embrace and use our hands for good. Our hands are extended in friendship and work.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts…Forever.

St Joseph…Pray for us.

I would like to wish all members of our Terrace Family a happy and safe break. I hope you get the opportunity to break from the regular school routines, even if it just allows you to be a little slower out of bed in the morning. Term 3 is always a busy term at a demanding time of the year. Many thanks to the various parent Support Groups who do so much to assist the smooth running of programs this term. The College is certainly very appreciative of this support from the parent community.

This evening the College hosts the Year 12 Formal at the Brisbane Convention Centre. It is always a pleasure to share the evening with this group of young men and their partners. One of the many rewarding moments in the teaching profession is watching the boys grow into young men over the years. The formal is undoubtedly one of those milestone moments. Thank you to Mrs Jo Tarlington for her tireless efforts in organising the event.

As usual, we ask that the boys return to the College with an appropriate haircut on the first day back for Term 4. The two areas that students need to pay particular attention to is that haircuts are blended on the sides, and that hair can’t be pulled down over the eyebrows. Boys that just get the bare minimum cut off when they return to school often need another cut by halfway through the term. Other issues that assist in establishing a productive tone at the College are the use of the Terrace school bags, appropriate socks and wearing the correct sports uniform during HPE classes (House shirt and black shorts). In addition, the hat remains a compulsory part of the uniform as students travel to and from the College every day.

Finally, I would again like to take this opportunity to wish all our families a happy and safe time during the Term 3 break, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in Term 4.

As we come to the end of the examination period, it is important that students take time over the holiday break to reflect on the term.

For Year 12 students, your son’s progress report will be available on Parent Lounge from 12pm on Tuesday 21 September. The results contained within this report will include the mock external exam results and a cumulative result.

Our Year 12 students will have the opportunity to attend Open Classrooms in the second week of the holidays. Open Classrooms are an opportunity for students to supplement and extend their preparation for external exams. There is the option for students to attend subject-specific workshops, one on one feedback sessions, participate in practice exams, and listen to guest speakers on exam preparation, wellbeing and managing stress. A reminder for Year 12 students to sign up for the sessions that you wish to attend - https://volunteersignup.org/P8BMR

For Years 5-10 students, your son’s progress report will be available on Parent Lounge from 3pm on Friday 8 October. The results contained within this report will include the Term 3 result and a cumulative result. Year 11 students will also receive their report on 8 October. However, the Year 11 report will provide more detailed results on student achievement at the end of Unit 2. This will include detailed internal assessment results, a cumulative result, and a subject-specific teacher comment.

While the individual subject result is an important indicator, reflecting on how the result was achieved is a much more powerful message. A strong result will reinforce a student’s work ethic or positive change to study habits. A disappointing result will highlight the need to modify existing work habits and ethics. It is vitally important that these messages are explained and reinforced.

To support the discussion, your son will again meet with their academic mentor through the first part of Term 4. This is an important aspect of our Academic Mentoring program. The conversation reinforces the importance of academic reflection on past performance and the implementation of strategies moving forward.

I trust that students and parents have a restful and enjoyable holiday period.

I write this report with a great sense of relief that the Year 10 Immersions programs could proceed. I trust that your son made the most of the opportunity and the Immersion presentation night was an opportunity to reflect on the journey with your son.

The Immersion program aims to provide meaningful experiences outside the classroom that extend our young men with various challenges. The Immersion experience will be different for each boy, and they are certainly not meant to be a holiday. Throughout the programs, the students are exposed to situations, people and communities far removed from their own experiences, and I hope this opportunity has opened their eyes to the realities of the world around them. Our young men have had the privilege of being invited into the lives and hear the stories of people who face various challenges from race issues, health issues and living life with a disability. In this space, our students can reflect on their own lives and appreciate the wonderful gifts that they are provided. We hope that we plant a seed where our boys become more outward focused and continue to grow into the future.

With multiple hurdles to overcome and in the face of many restrictions, we were pleased to offer our young men a range of Immersion experiences. Logistically these Immersions are a massive exercise, and the staff involved are a generous group of people who are consistently present to your sons. Without their passion and commitment, we would not be able to offer these opportunities. I would like to thank the staff that made sacrifices in their own busy lives, with time away from their own families, to allow your sons to go on their Immersion. In particular, Ms Mandy Awabdy worked tirelessly to organise the GP doctor’s clinic and subsequent COVID testing clinic for over 180 people to allow the Red Earth and ACU immersions to proceed. Due to COVID restrictions and other concerns, some Immersions were cancelled at late notice, and groups had to be reorganised in a logistical nightmare for Mandy, Ms Paige Fitzpatrick and myself. I hope our parent body and the young men of Waterford appreciate the generosity and commitment of the staff that made these experiences possible.

I would also like to thank the Year 10 parents for their contribution to allow your son to experience his Immersion. Thank you for your patience as we worked through the many challenges and subsequent changes to programs in our endeavour to keep the programs alive in 2021.

I hope the holiday period is a chance to hear more of the stories from your son’s Immersion and maybe get a glimpse of how he has grown.

Our Wheelers ePlatform offers a whole world of ebooks and audiobooks for you to choose from. If you’re looking for something to read or listen to over the holidays, head to eScholar, click on ebooks & audiobooks, and start browsing. The inventory of books available to borrow grows every day and they can be accessed anywhere any time.

Debating Grand Final

Last night, the Terrace Senior A finished second against Churchie in the Queensland Debating Union State Final. Congratulations to these young men for an excellent season and gaining second place in the GPS Premiership and second in the State Final. The last time we took the trophy was in 2015.

We look forward to the Years 5, 6 and 7 season next term.

Chess

Well done to our GPS Chess players. While we finished eighth for the season, the team shows promise for the future.

This year was affected by the COVID restrictions, and the Chess team were naturally disappointed not to have the opportunity to play every other school in the GPS competition. However, they thoroughly enjoyed the matches we were able to have and acquitted themselves very well indeed, especially against old rival Nudgee, where we swept the board.

There was a silver lining to the many interruptions to the season, as boys were sometimes moved up several divisions to play higher-ranked players. Terracians rise to a challenge, and our boys did exceptionally well, including holding out against some of the very best players in the country. Perhaps the highlight of the year was the chance to have a masterclass with Australian grandmaster David Smerdon, who taught the boys a great deal and then played against 16 of our boys simultaneously. We have gifted new players arriving next year, and Chess looks like going from strength to strength. The leadership of Captain Alex Ong, Vice Captain Darcy O’Rourke and the honorary Vice Captain Charlie Macuga was an inspiration, and we will miss their boundless enthusiasm as they go off to University.

Music at Sporting events

This year saw another addition to our Athletics Bands with the introduction of the Sousa Army at the Basketball. Now you will see the Pep Band at Football, Drumline at Rugby and Sousa Army at Basketball. Well done to the Sousa Army on their first season and to the Drumline, who have completed their season for Rugby and are now entering into the Australian Drumline Eisteddfod.

Support Group meetings

Support Group meetings will be held on 14 September in the Board Rooms at Mt Sion. Should you wish to contact the

• Debating Support Group: DSGChair@terrace.qld.edu.au
• Terrace Performing Arts: TPAChair@terrace.qld.edu.au

Staying in touch

To keep in touch with all things Cultural, we suggest you download the Terrace App and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to ensure you don’t miss anything. If you have any photographs or videos that you would like to share, please tag us.

• TWITTER @GTCulture
• INSTAGRAM terrace_gtculture
• YOUTUBE Terrace Culture YouTube Channel

The simple things in life - The Ruben Centre Orchestra

How often do we get caught up with the complexities of our fast paced ever changing world? Do we place importance on having the most likes, keeping on top of the latest tweets, blogging, savouring an exploding Inbox, posting to Tik Tok, to name just a few.

As an EREA school, we are part of a global network that supports communities from all facets of life regardless of their circumstances.

One such initiative is the Ruben Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, which provides hope for the people who live in the Ruben slum known as the Mukuru community. Started by Sister Mary Killeen in 1986, the Christian Brothers (now under EREA) have supported and run the centre since 2001. With a vision to empower the local community, their mission is to provide quality education and healthcare to children and families. This aligns to their three core values are Presence, Compassion and Liberation. The program relies on the general support of donors and partners to survive.

The Ruben Centre Orchestra, started by Elizabeth Njoroge, was born out of her passion that all people should have access to learning a musical instrument regardless of their circumstances. Launched as the Ghetto Classics program, the program began with 14 children who attended classes twice a week and played on instruments donated by Kenya’s Conservatoire. In Elizabeth’s words

Our vision for this orchestra is for it to be a true instrument (all puns aside) for uniting the whole slum community, including the children, youth and adults alike.

The program has now significantly grown thanks to the support from EREA communities across the globe, in particular Australia. It now runs an array of music programs, including weekend programs for high school students, music camps where educators abroad can donate their time to teach, inspire and support the instrumental instructors. Many of the instructors have grown out of their involvement in the program as children. In August last year, before the world plunged into the COVID pandemic, I was to travel to the Ruben Centre and work with these students and teachers. While COVID has temporarily hindered this element of the program, I hope that these opportunities will resume in time.

If we truly believe and live out the four EREA Touchstones of Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Justice and Solidarity as a Terrace community, what else can we do? Gentlemen of Terrace, are you grateful for the array of musical experiences and opportunities afforded to you daily? I challenge all of us to reflect on our opportunities. What is important to us, and what we are grateful for? How can we use this for the greater good of not only our Terrace Music program but broadly across the College and the wider Terrace Family?

1st XV and 1st V

Last Saturday, the Red Thunder Drumline and the Sousa Army performed at our respective First’s games in the final GPS round of the season. Both ensembles are to be commended on how they not only performed but also for their ability to adapt with members of each team absent due to injury and Immersion. Well done.

Term 3

• Friday 17 September - Terrace Choir and Youth Choir Workshop
• Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 September - Guitar Orchestra Workshop
• Monday 27 & Tuesday 28 September - Rhythm Workshop
• Thursday 30 September - SWE Holiday workshop

Another season of Terrace Sport has concluded, and while it wasn’t smooth sailing, we thank our students, parents, and coaches for getting the job done. In the end, we were fortunate to be able to compete for most of Term 3.

Basketball

The Terrace Basketball program again enjoyed a successful season, with most age groups across the program recording strong results. Each Saturday, 52 teams participated and showed a great connection to Basketball at the College. This is due to the fine work of Mr Tom O’Malley and his team, who deliver an excellent pre and in-season program here at Terrace. Congratulations to our 1^st V squad on a very positive season. They played high quality Basketball, reflective of their ability each week. While they had some close losses, they didn’t let it deter them from maintaining their high standards of sportsmanship. They will compete in the State Basketball Championships this week and are looking forward to finishing, ranked one of the top teams in the state. Head Coach Mr Matthew Hamilton-Smith and his assistants Mr Rodger Smith, Mr Andrew Latimer and Manager Mr Josh Kersevani have done an excellent job.

Rugby

Thank you to the Director of Rugby, Mr Tyron Mandrusiak, for again delivering a high-quality team experience to the young men at Terrace. The Rugby program received excellent support from the student body, with 642 players this season. To all the coaches and parents, thank you for your time and support at training, camps, and games throughout the season. The 1^st XV, under the guidance of Head Coach Mr Michael Broad, assistants Mr Mick Tunney, Mr Nick Stiles and Captain Joe Liddy gave everything they could to the season and can be proud of the way the team has conducted themselves each Saturday. Congratulations to the other Open and age group teams who also delivered solid results and performances across the season.

Track and Field

Mr Anthony Hayward, Coordinator of Track and Field and Head Coach Mr Werner Botha, have been driving the Terrace Athletics program hard this term, both on and off the track. The four Friday night meets completed this term have given both the coaches and the athletes feedback on what is required over the holiday period to ensure they come back and attack the GPS Track and Field Carnival in Week 2 Term 4. Some outstanding individual performances by Captain Griffin Kelly in the middle-distance running events and Lachlan Kennedy in the sprints have the squad eager to continue to train hard over the holiday period.

Attendance at training

I ask that all boys commit to their attendance at training during the week and present ready for their games/lead up meets, home or away. Representing the College is something to be valued. Being a team member who can be depended on entails sacrifice and commitment, no matter the level of activity. Communication for being absent at training or games is important for coaches and directors to finalise teams each week. This has a flow-on effect for all teams, especially when you are working with 40 plus teams.

Uniform

Please be aware that all directors, coordinators, and coaches have been asked to monitor the training and playing uniform. We want to ensure we represent the College and ourselves well, both on and off the field.

Parent Lounge Participation in Terrace Sport is outstanding due to the quality of the sporting programs offered, allowing for all levels of participation and the high standard of coaching across individual sports. The easy flow of communication is important, ensuring everyone is kept informed. Please sign on for each Term Sport via Parent Lounge for the in-season and pre-season activities offered each term. Typically, this is available for two weeks towards the end of term. Term Sign On dates are noted in the College calendar.

Communication To remain up to date, please download the College App and select to receive notifications for your son’s chosen activities. You will find updates, training and playing schedules, team lists, game/meet locations, and further information under the individual sport. The College is moving away from ongoing email communication, with the College App as the primary source of communication.

Seniors 2021

Finally, I would like to acknowledge all Year 12 boys who took part in Term 3 Sport and thank them for their efforts playing their respective sports at Terrace. These young men have represented the College well, some since 2014. The Terrace community is very proud of you, and in your final year, we want to thank you for pulling on the Red & Black Jersey for the final time.

Have a great Term 4 in Terrace Sport.

Basketball

Round 9 acted as the final round of the GPS Basketball season for 2021. The program encountered a challenging round against The Southport School (TSS) and some difficult games against the higher division BBC, BGS and BSHS teams in the supplementary draw.

In a strong on-court display, the program won 18 of the 29 games (62%) played between Terrace and TSS, a strong showing given the strength and depth of the TSS program. The A and B program completed their impressive season, winning most fixtures, while the Years 7, 9 and 10 age groups all had clean sweep victories over TSS in their respective age groups. Outside of this, there were some impressive results, highlighted by a 44-point win in the 7Ds, a 48-point win by the 10Ds and some tense one-point victories from the 9E, 10F and 11E teams.

These results once again exemplify the development and improvement of players as they progress through the program, following the carefully constructed coaching curriculum.

On Saturday, the Senior students played their last game in the Red and Black. It is important that we recognise and thank all the Year 12 students for their support and resilience, playing the sport into their Senior year. We hope they have enjoyed their time in the program and look forward to their continued involvement and interest in Terrace Basketball as Old Boys.

The 1^st V clash was a great display of GPS Basketball, matching the high quality of Basketball seen all season. The undefeated TSS team played with confidence and poise to claim an early lead and hold onto it despite a late challenge in the fourth quarter from Terrace.

The entire 1^st V squad can walk away from the season proud that they represented the College with distinction, exuding plenty of passion and effort in each round. The way this group has worked and played on the court has gained the respect of the Basketball community, and the Terrace program is incredibly proud of this group of young men.

As the season draws to a close, we thank all players for their commitment, dedication and passion for Terrace Basketball and the broader community for their ongoing support of Basketball at the College.

Rugby

Tennyson was at its very best last Saturday as we hosted The Southport School in the final round of the GPS Competition. The weekend also marked the annual Timor Friendship Day with our 1st XV wearing their special Timor jersey. This year’s Br Dan Courtney Trophy for the best Under 15A player was awarded to James Merrett. The weekend was also an opportunity to welcome back our Old Boys as part of our Back to Tennyson Day celebrations.

Congratulations must go to all players, coaches and referees for their exceptional contribution to the season just passed. The level of teamwork, sportsmanship, courage and commitment shown by all has been outstanding, culminating in one of the best Tennyson days of the season. A special thanks to everyone who made our last home day a success.

I would like to acknowledge all Open Rugby players and thank them for their efforts over the years playing Rugby at Terrace. These young men have played Rugby at Terrace, some since 2014.

A special thanks to our Sports Office staff, Mr Tony McGahan and our age group coordinators Mr Blair Copelin, Mr Brendan McGrath, Mr Mitch Edwards, and Mr Andrew Stormonth who managed to juggle team lists to ensure we had enough boys to fulfil our commitments to the GPS and supplementary draw.

Terrace Rugby is very fortunate to have a committed group of Sports Office staff, teaching staff, parents, and Old Boys.

Special thanks to the following:

• Terrace Rugby Support Group (RSG) led by Anthony Kirk and Lee Bodimeade.
• Michael Fallon from the RSG and Hayley McBrien and Nicole Hoffman from the TLG, along with all parents who assisted in the BBQ and the Canteen on game day.
• Paul Curtain and Cathy Stacey for their efforts with the Back the Red & Black sponsorship program.
• Rosanna Ferguson, Lawrence Scott, Loren Serafin-Huey and Zoe Morgan for their efforts with the Match Day program.
• Megan Clifford and Cassandra Bridges for their efforts with the merchandise tent.
• Dr Ben Forster, his team of parent doctors and twelve9teen physiotherapy ensured all boys were in safe hands at home away from home games.
• Our Terrace referees who quietly go about their jobs.
• We have several long-serving Rugby Support Group parents whose sons are graduating this year, who have dedicated countless hours to the program over the years. Thank you all, including Dr Ben Forster, Dr Patrick Weinrauch, Steve Grant, Andrew Dowling, Anthony Kirk and Megan Condon.

Season snapshot

• Thirty-three teams playing rugby at Terrace, with over 630 boys participating in the program.
• Three outstanding days at Tennyson.
• Thanks to the following boys for their commitment to our schoolboy-based referee program HardyBryant, Lachlan Hilleary, Oscar Holt, Isaac McAuliffe, and Luke Murphy.
• Special mention must go to our Under 12D coaches Declan Cassidy and Will Lawson, who are Year 12 students.
• Undefeated teams - 5^th XV, 14A, 13C, 12A, 12C, 12D

Year 12 Rugby cufflinks

Each year the Rugby Support Group kindly gift our Year 12 Rugby players a set of cufflinks as a thank you for their efforts over the years playing Rugby at Terrace. The boys received their 2021 Rugby cufflinks as part of Sunday’s lunch. Please have your son see Mr Tyron Mandrusiak in the Sports Office to collect a set if he didn’t receive them.

My final full term at Terrace has come and gone. That said, did it really? Term 2 may have technically been my last full term at Terrace, given the COVID disruption that happened in the midst of Term 3 – and yet, with everything that has happened this term, I can hardly remember that little hiccup.

In the space of the last nine weeks, our Year 12s have been through the wringer – we finished all internal assessments with the conclusion of IA3s, then took a bit of a break. Then we realised we had no time to take a break. We had our Formal cancelled, then rescheduled. We had our final sporting seasons put in doubt, then resumed with flair. And of course, we had a whole exam block transition from casually distant, to looming, to underway, to concluded, only to return to the revision grindstone this week. Term 3 has been a big one, and perhaps that is why the hiccups and road bumps along the way don’t swim to the surface of my memory so immediately.

However, I would be remiss not to discuss how proud I was of the College’s reaction to the most significant road bump of them all – the COVID lockdown. I remember day one of the lockdown vividly because it was the Saturday of the BBC round. Parking around Miskin Street was a nightmare, so I had parked over the hill, at the other end of Miskin, and walked a good 300 metres up and over the hill to reach the flats. At that point, I was already pretty late, so I quickly stressed and struggled to kit up, find my 3^rd XV Rugby team, and begin warmup. All the fields were being played on, so the team spent 15 minutes wandering BBC for a place to spread out, eventually finding a spot beside a cricket field over the creek. Naturally, right as we began stretching, a notification on the Terrace App informed us the season had been indefinitely cancelled. So, it was immediately back across the creek, through the flats, and up and over the hill again for me. That Saturday, I spent more time looking for a park than I spent anywhere near a rugby ball.

There are 1700 odd stories of similar disappointment that could be recited to you by the other boys of this College. Likewise, we all shared experiences getting tested over the following days, navigating online school, negotiating cancellations, fighting misinformation and confusion as on-campus life returned. The middle of our term gave no reasons for Terracians to be enthusiastic – and yet, I never once saw that trademark spirit dip. Not in the thumbnailed faces that stared at me through a Teams meeting, nor at the lunch tables on the first Monday back, and certainly not from the Old Boys' Grandstand at the first Rugby game back.

If it was COVID that taught me lesson number one of this term, it was that spirit surrounding Rugby that taught me lesson number two. At the start of the season, everyone who cared to wager on GPS put the GT 1^st XV at short odds to come in ninth place by the season’s end. Then, in Week 1, Joe and his boys began what can only be described as a mission to prove them wrong. In front of a small crowd, they left Ipswich reeling. Then, in front of a bigger crowd, put State High in a similar place. In what was shaping up to be the biggest crowd yet, they looked to give BBC a run for their money. Then, in a brutal series of blows, the boys lost the chance to prove themselves against the green and black and make history on Ross Oval in the space of a single press conference. They didn’t let that stop them, though, so when the Grammar round came to pass, the boys made statement number three in front of one of the biggest crowds Tennyson had seen since March last year. The following week at Churchie, in a halftime deficit hardly anyone could see past, they clawed their way back, only to lose to a dubious two points on the final buzzer. One must only look at the heart of that team, the palpable passion of Captain Joe Liddy and the endless hours of dedication put in by all 23 of the squad to see that the underdog spirit and passion that has underpinned Terrace for so many years is far from lost.

Finally, perhaps my favourite individual highlight from this term was House Choir. Our Year 12s organised and starred in perhaps the best musical performance Brisbane has seen since Adele came here in 2017. And, not to mention the scores of younger boys who dressed up, learned actions and lyrics, and took time out of their Friday night to make the show happen.

If COVID showed the unwavering spirit of Terrace and Rugby underscored it, House Choir showed me just how much fun that spirit can be.

Term 3 2021, then, was one to remember. We had a big term gents, and we have an equally big one in three weeks. So...

Answer the Call and get some rest.

Tennyson Canteen

That’s a wrap for the Tennyson canteen and Rugby for 2021. It was a glorious day at Tennyson on Saturday. A huge shout out to all our volunteers over the Rugby season - thank you for Answering the Call and volunteering to help. We are very grateful to you all for ensuring our season ran smoothly.

Past Mothers' Mass and Morning Tea

On Sunday morning, the TLG hosted The Past Mothers' Mass and Morning Tea. We were thrilled to have mothers for a range of decades attend. College Hall was filled with updates, laughter and reminiscing. Truly a testament to the Terrace Family spirit.

Track and Field Carnival

Friday 8 October is the Inter-House Track and Field Carnival. The Tennyson canteen and BBQ will be in action on the day to cater for the boys. Burgers, hot chips, as well as the usual range of food from the canteen plus a few treats, will be on sale on the day. We will need volunteers for the BBQ and the canteen across the whole day. Please keep an eye out on your year level Facebook pages for the online volunteer sign up links.

Upcoming events

• 5 October – TLG Thanksgiving Mass
• 8 October – Inter-House Track and Field Carnival – volunteers needed
• 11 October – TLG Meeting at 7.30am – Mr Mason Hellyer will be our guest speaker
• 16 October – The Long Lunch – 12pm start

Details: Saturday 9 October | 7.00am - 5.30pm
Venue: Maroon Dam | Bus departs and returns to Tennyson
Cost: Free
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by Friday 17 September
For further event information, please contact
Brendan McGrath | brendanmcgrath@terrace.qld.edu.au

GT on the Green

Details: Saturday 16 October | 12.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue: Tennyson Playing Fields
Cost: $65pp | $520 table of eight
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by Wednesday 13 October
For further event information, please contact
Kirsten Carrol | dpklcarroll@gmail.com

Want to help but poor on time?

You can now donate money directly to the Terrace Family's Care and Concern. Cash donations will be used to purchase ingredients to make meals for Terrace families and staff in need.

All donations are appreciated greatly and will support the important work this committee undertakes for our community.

Year 5 Mothers' Long Lunch

Details: Sunday 14 November | 12.30 - 3.30pm
Venue: Blackbird Bar & Restaurant, Riverside
Cost: $140pp (+bf) | Includes 3 course lunch & 3 hour beverage package
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by 1 November
For further information or event enquiries, please contact
Monica Katsanevas | monica@bloomberry.com.au