Ex-Students and Staff Association Newsletter

October 2009

We are rapidly drawing closer to our Reunion Dinner in November, so please start calling your classmates and put a table together. Current and former staff members, please do likewise. We are confident that this will be an occasion to remember and that we will raise some much needed funds for the College. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have kindly donated prizes for our annual raffle. I would also like to thank our hard-working Committee members and other behind-the-scenes personnel for their ongoing support. Tickets for the 2009 Dinner are already being snapped up by old boys who are very keen to renew old friendships with their classmates. To obtain tickets phone Ann O’Connell on 97973200 or complete and post the slip below.

This year we will be celebrating a Mass prior to our annual reunion dinner. Father Gerry Scott, an ex-student of the College, will conduct the Mass at St Vincent’s Church at 6pm on November 20. All ex-students and staff are invited to attend the Mass and then walk across the road to the College for tours at 6.30pm and dinner at 7pm. November 20 should be a gala occasion in De La Salle Ashfield’s history and it would be wonderful to see as many ‘Old Boys’ of all years represented. Remember that your attendance will go a long way to assisting needy families at the College.

Graham LucasAssociation President

The President’s Report

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Please post to Ann O’Connell - DLSA, 24 Bland St Ashfield NSW 2131

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Educating young men of faith, action

and compassion

since 1916

Phone: (02) 97973200www.dlsashfield.catholic.edu.au

24 Bland St

Ashfield, NSW 2131

CollegeAshfield

De La Salle

These results were all above the State and Diocesan mean and are outstanding indicators of the of the growth in learning and a tribute to the efforts of both staff and students.

We were delighted with the award of the the prestigious “Archbishop’s Award for Student Excellence” to College Captain, Shaun Chung. His Eminence, Cardinal Pell made the presentation at St Mary’s Cathedral.

As this Newsletter goes to press, our Year 12 students are concluding their final days of 13 years of education and preparing for their important HSC Examinations. We all wish them well.

Our strong commitment to community service continues to flourish through Social Justice groups, Night Patrol, donations to charity appeals…and the list goes on. The generosity of our students and staff is extraordinary – they really ‘step up’ when there is a need.

Founder’s Day was celebrated once again at the College with special guests from the De La Salle Brothers, who visited the classrooms. They were very warmly welcomed by the students who enjoyed their stories and gave them a real sense of the traditions of the College going back over so many years. In sport, we congratulated our M.C.C. Basketball Team on reaching the Grand Final. They were runners-up in a wonderful effort from coach and players and we look with confidence to 2010. Our Soccer and Rugby League teams also continue to perform well.

The continued strong interest and support of the Ex-Students & Staff Association for the College is deeply appreciated by our Community and I would like to thank them most sincerely. Their financial support of our needier families is deeply appreciated.

I look forward with pleasure to joining you at the Annual Dinner to be held in the College Hall on Friday 20th November. This is always a very warm and affirming occasion where we can celebrate together - past and present members who belong to that very special group that we know as the De La Salle Ashfield community.

May God continue to bless you all.

Michael BarringtonPrincipal

The Principal’s ReportThere have been so many special events at the College during 2009 and in many ways it has been an exciting year for staff and students.

Due to special funding from the Federal Government, much necessary work has been carried out at the College, including landscaping & greening, carpeting of classrooms, and upgrading of electrical distribution and security systems.

Thanks also to the government,Year 9 and College staff have now received laptops and the exciting transition to the digital revolution will continue to expand our students’ horizons in learning.

We were proud to acknowledge the ‘Year for Priests’ by hosting a special assembly to recognise the contributions of a number of our ex-students who had entered the Priesthood and continue to serve as active priests. Three of them were celebrating their Golden Jubilee: Fr Anthony Mannix, Fr Brian Jackson and Fr Bernard Scott (who sadly passed away a week before and was represented by his brother, Fr Gerry Scott). A special guest was Executive Director of Schools, Dr Dan White.

Throughout the year, the new College hall was used to much advantage, hosting a number of special events, including

• Matt Maher in a post-World Youth Day concert; Tim Staples and Convivio;• The “No truth – no Freedom” event hosted by Bishop Anthony Fisher, who joined over 800 young people from all Sydney Diocesan schools in prayer, musical entertainment and a BBQ.• The Archdiocesan eLearning Conference• The Inner-West Principals’ meeting

College staff and students attended a special mass at St Mary’s Cathedral honouring the 100-year anniversary of the death of Blessed Mary McKillop. We are waiting with real anticipation that she will become our first Australian Saint.

We were pleased and excited by the great results achieved by our students in the NAPLAN tests for 2009. In the Archdiocese of Sydney, out of 34 Secondary Schools, our Year 9 Learning gains were:

Overall literacy 1st: De La Salle College AshfieldNumeracy 1st: De La Salle College Ashfield

Newly appointed eLearning Coordinator Mr Nick

Manganas working with students on wireless

laptops and interactive whiteboards. College Captain Shaun Chung is presented with the

Archbishop’s Award for Student Excellence.

Old-boy Priests come

back to school.

Early in Term 2 eight Priests returned to their former high school, De La Salle Ashfield, to mark the beginning of ‘Year for Priests.’

Following Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration of the ‘Year for Priests’ on June 19th, De La Salle College staff began searching the archives to determine how many of their ex- students had been ordained as priests after leaving school. In its 93 year history, the College had graduated over 30 young men who had been called to the vocation and 21 of them were still actively working as priests.

Of those 21 priests still working within parishes and communities, three were celebrating their ‘golden jubilee’ or fifty years in the vocation.

“It became very clear,” said Principal Michael Barrington, “that we needed to recognise the contributions of all of these dedicated men.” So the school joined with St Vincent’s Parish to invite all of their ‘old-boy priests’ to return for a joyous and reverent celebration of their lives.

Father Anthony Mannix CM, who was dux of the College in 1951 and ordained in 1959, continued

a long association with his school when he spoke to the community yesterday. “I have very fond memories of my time at school and although many things have changed, the core values have not. ‘To be the best man you can be’ continues to be the challenge for the young men of today, as it was for us in the 1950s.”

Executive Director of Schools for the Sydney Archdiocese, Dr Dan White, also spoke about the challenges facing young people of today. “We have heard from several men today about the way God called them to their vocations, your challenge is to be open to your call. What is God calling you to do with your life and how will you make a difference as these men have done?”

The students of the College certainly appreciated the opportunity to celebrate with the returning priests. They performed musical tributes and created a slideshow featuring archive images from the 1950s and 60s. Mr Barrington was very pleased with the students’ participation. “This celebration will be remembered fondly by the students,” he said. “and they have been given much to think about. Our Catholic schools are the ‘garden beds’ of the Church. For many young people, here is where the seeds are sown.”

Former student Fr. Gerald Scott receives a commemorative tie from CEO Executive Director of Schools Dr Dan White.

Catholic Education Office Executive staff with eight of our ‘ex-student priests’ celebrating ‘Year for Priests’.

1955 Frank Bawden: frankbawden@optusnet.com.au1961 Graham Lucas: glucas@bigpond.net.au1967 Paul Couch: pmcouch@tpg.com.au1968 Steve Lynch: slynch@skydom.com.au1969 Michael Hay: michaelhay@hotmail.edu.au Tony Melville: tony_melville@sta.nsw.gov.au1970 Gary Yum: Yums53@optusnet.com.au 1972 Peter Collins: dimebag10@primus.com.au Chris Gray: cmgray@gemspl.com.au 1973 Michael Megna: michael.megna@jfwells.com.au1974 John Bova: jbova@swr.com.au1975 Gerard Evans: Gerard_e@au.hanjin.com Rick Gray: richard.gray@gsjbw.com.au1976 Kevin Peters: kevinjpeters@bigpond.com.au 1977 Henry Capra: Henry.Capra@ampcapital.com Rob Collins: rlcollins@optusnet.com.au1978 Robert Gullotta: Robert.gullotta@minterellison.com. Mike Mckeon: Mike.Mckeon@au.ey.com1979 Jim Bottalico: jbottalico@commander.com.au1980 Martin Peters: Martin.Peters@macquarie.com1981 Tony Ciancio: ciancio@gmail.com1982 Marc Mastro-Battista: Marc.Mastro-Battista@macquarie.com1983 Darrin Redgate: darrin@isp.net.au Sam Daidone: sam.daidone@opc.nsw.gov.au Paul Price: paulprice@peopleconnect.com.au1984 VACANT1985 Sam Boutros: Sam.Boutros@alinta.net.au

1986 Leo Ferro: Lferro@hatch.com.au David Abood: david.abood@axa.com.au Damian McGovern: dmcgovern@cbhslewisham.nsw.edu.au1987 Gino Craparotta: Gino.Craparotta@mulford.com.au1988 John Sidoti: johnsidoti@optusnet.com.au William Hughes: Winchester_270@optusnet.com.au 1989 Gerard Abood: gabood@ledlin.com.au1990 Anthony Nobilia: Anthony@centrecirclemedia.com 1991 Stephen Leung: Stephen.Leung@auspost.com.au1992 Basil Karam: basil@pureprofile.com.au David Civardi: david@civardi.com.au1993 VACANT1994 Alan Nowfal: Alan@stareast.com.au Mario Bardella: Mario@bmfinancial.com.au1995 Daniel Da Silva: dan@sydneygoldsales.com1996 Mathew Tse: mtse@mail.synflux.com.au1997 Cristean Yazbeck: Cristean.Yazbeck@cba.com.au1998 VACANT1999 Joe Codamo: g.codamo@uq.edu.au 2000 Mario Nowfal: mario@mawebsolutions.com.au

Key Contact PersonsGeneral Correspondences: dls-old-boys@hotmail.com

Many students who attended the college during the early to mid 70’s will fondly remember English and French teacher Mr John Cantwell. John has long since joined the De La Salle Brothers and is now Br John Cantwell FSC, based at Casa Generalizia FSC, in Rome, commonly know as the De La Salle (DLS) World Mother House.

My family and I had the pleasure of catching up with Br John while in Rome during late 2008. The Mother House is like an oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Rome, only a short distance from the Vatican City and the Via Aurelia shopping prescent. The Mother House complex is like a villa, surrounded by high walls, making one feel distant and relaxed amongst the gardens, far removed from what’s happening outside the walls.

The Brothers run a basic tourist hotel attached to the Generalate which is open to the public. For relatively cheap accommodation while in Rome, check the website http://www.casalasalleen.com.

If accommodation is available, DLS Old Boys are able to stay in the Brothers’ main building which also includes a cafeteria serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to those based there, as well as visiting Brothers and others. It’s there that my family and I spent some time while passing through Rome, sharing stories with DLS Brothers from all over the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, the USA as well as Br John from Australia. Br John’s direct number is 06 665 23524, reception will take a message if he’s unavailable. His email address is jcantwell@lasalle.org.

Br John spared some time to accompany us to the Vatican City, as well as a tour of the Mother House, including a tour of the De La Salle museum and other facilities, as well as time in the “den” where we had a couple of relaxing “pre dinner drinks.”

Br John will be visiting Australia soon for a family commitment. Michael Megna, from the 1973 graduation year, and I will be catching up with him then. Please advise if you’d like to join us.

BR John Cantwell FSCBy John Bova. Class of 1974

Committee Key Contact Person.