Last week we buried two people who have been a great part of the Shalom community. One was 94 and the other 14.

Joan Smith was 94 and the mother of nine children. Joan, her husband Roy, their children, and innumerable grandchildren, have been a great part of Catholic Education in Bundaberg over a very long time.

Sienna McGarry lost a long battle with Cancer. She was in Year 9 at Shalom. She was an incredibly brave and courageous young woman. The celebrations of those two lives prompted me to ask myself, ‘what makes a life worthwhile?’ Was Joan’s life more worthwhile than Sienna’s? She certainly had more time. But some people get lots of years and don’t seem to do a lot with their lives. ‘Worthwhileness’ seems to be much more about the impact for good a life can make than the number of years lived. Put simply, it seems to be much more about those who we love and those who love us. Both Joan and Sienna were deeply loved. Both made a positive difference. Around Shalom, you could not help but be impressed, encouraged and lifted up watching Sienna McGarry throw herself into life and school work at Shalom. She seemed determined to suck the life out of every opportunity she had. Last year she featured on Shalom Day by committing to participate in the Hogan House Dance – even on her ‘walker’!! She certainly made a difference for me on those days when I started to feel a bit sorry for myself about how difficult my day had been – and then I saw Sienna motor past on her walking frame determined to get to her next class on time. She was a champion.

In a different way, Joan Smith raised nine kids in a simple household. She worked as a Librarian at Shalom. In retirement, Joan and Roy devoted enormous energy to their children and grandchildren. They also made numerous visits to Papua New Guinea to work with the Christian Brothers and assist those in significant need in that country. Joan lived out the values of this College with a passion. This community is what it is because of people like Joan Smith and Sienna McGarry. Thank God for them. And we hope that the families of those two wonderful people feel the loving support of the community and the arms of a loving God wrapped around them tightly in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Breakfast with Darius Boyd – on Thursday 31 August, Shalom is hosting a breakfast with Rugby League identity Darius Boyd at Across the Waves Club. This event follows an earlier very successful event ‘Empowering Women’. This event is sponsored by both Shalom and ‘Brave Brothers’ which has a focus on ‘Men’s Wellness’. Darius will be interviewed by local ABC Radio (and Shalom parent) Scott Lamond. Everyone is welcome but I really hope that we can encourage lots of dads and sons to attend this event a couple of days before ‘Father’s Day’ this year. Tickets are $40 each for a full breakfast. Tables of ten are available. The link for booking is now open.

https://www.trybooking.com/CJXJY

Sport Highlights there were many from the last holiday period –

• Our Rowers travelled to Rockhampton for a State Regatta and enjoyed plenty of success.
• The Girls’ and Boys’ Netball teams participated in the annual QISSN Carnival in Brisbane. The Girls won Division 4 and the Boys were outstanding.
• The Boys’ and Girls’ Rugby League teams participated in the QISSRL Carnival, also in Brisbane. The boys had our best result ever with a fifth-place finish in Division 1. The Girls were always courageous and had their fair share of wins.
• Our Equestrian team attended the Aldridge Equestrian Challenge. Our Equestrian team is small but determined and competitive.

Shalom Past Student Peter Doherty (Senior 1993) is taking a significant step towards becoming a Priest with his Ordination to the Deaconate Thursday of this week in St Joseph’s Cathedral in Rockhampton.

Dealing with Grief – the two deaths I spoke about earlier will have an impact on young people in different ways.  If issues of grief raise issues for your child/children that would benefit from having a chat with someone, please encourage them to make an online booking to visit a Cousellor at Shalom or to seek support from an outside agency.

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com