November 2, 2013
The Maryknoll Centre at St Mary’s Catholic College in Kingaroy was filled on Thursday night with parents, students, and teachers for the school’s annual awards night … and to farewell a record Year 12 class.
Awards were presented to about 100 students from Prep through to Year 12.
Rixon Crane, who received awards for Excellence in Mathematics B, Mathematics C and Graphics, and a Distinction in ICAS Mathematics and Science, was named the 2013 Dux of the School.
He was presented with his award and shield by South Burnett Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell.
The School Captains and House Spirit Leaders for 2014 were also announced.
The 2014 School Captains will be Cassie Firman and Gabriel Crane.
House leaders are Shimone Hudson (Quinn), Ellen Nixon (Rush) and Matthew Harch (Polding).
Acting Principal Sean Erwin thanked the current Captains and Leaders for their efforts during the year and wished the 2013 senior class all the best for the future.
He said it was the largest graduation class yet, but the school’s enrolment – which is currently about 430 students – was still continuing to grow.
Mr Erwin said the school planned a number of refurbishments to handle the extra students.
These included a new home economics block, arts room and classroom which should be ready by January 2014.
Also planned was a new music room and general classroom.
“We also have permission for eight new classrooms where the current music room is,” Mr Erwin said.
These classrooms, which are proposed for 2015, would create a “senior precinct” area.
Guest speaker at the awards night was former student Dennis Greensill who spent 12 years at the school and now works as an advocate for the Paraplegic Benefit Fund.
Nine years ago Dennis suffered a spinal injury in a motorcycle accident which has left him paralysed below the chest.
He explained the long recovery process and how his life had changed forever in a split second.
He urged the students to only ever take calculated risks.
“Just stop and think for a few minutes before acting,” he said.
Dennis presented the Academic and Sporting awards to the Year 12 students.
New awards this year were the P&F Academic Competition awards which was presented to students in Prep-Year 6, Years 7-10 and Years 11-12 who did well in external academic competitions.
This was a cash prize donated by the Parent and Friends Association and presented to the winning students by P&F president Damien Martoo.
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Brooke Davis, who was named Open Swimming and Athletics Age Champion, was awarded the Mike Storien Memorial Bursary.
This bursary, which remembers the late radio broadcaster, is rotated yearly between four local high schools.
Brooke has already completed a Certificate III in Performing Arts and aims to study at the Australian Dance Peformance Institute.
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The Awards Night also provided the opportunity to honour some very important people involved in the history of the school and local area.
Representatives from the Carroll family were on hand for the official re-naming of St Mary’s Oval which will now be known as the Dan and Bridget Carroll Oval, named after the pioneering Kingaroy family.
Grandsons Michael and Thomas Carroll and great-grandson Thomas Carroll unveiled a photograph of the new sign and were presented with commemorative copies.
Also remembered was former school principal Sr Dolores Carroll who is turning 100 in Brisbane on Monday.
The Good Samaritan nun came to Kingaroy in 1965 at the behest of Fr Vincent Carroll and began teaching Years 8-9 on the verandah of the old parish hall. She guided the school into its new brick premises.
Sr Dolores was at St Mary’s for 14 years and helped coin the school motto “Realise Your Dignity”.
Former student Dennis Watt – who was appointed chairman of the Broncos earlier this year – accepted a photograph of the centre on behalf of Sr Dolores.
He said she would be marking her birthday on Monday with a special Mass and a renewal of her vows.
Dennis said Dr Dolores was a remarkable woman.
“She joined the convent in 1932 and was one of the very few women at the time to graduate from Sydney University with a science degree,” he said.
“She has a very special affection for St Mary’s and Kingaroy.
“The name on the Training Centre reflects the builder that she was.”
A special presentation was also made to St Mary’s stalwart – and current literacy and numeracy coach – Jenny Cross who has chalked up 40 years with Catholic Education, including a spell as Acting Principal at St Patrick’s, Nanango.
Before this she also worked in the State system at Taabinga, Kumbia and Proston schools.
Brisbane Catholic Education Area Supervisor Peter Stower and Acting Principal Sean Erwin congratulated Mrs Cross on her achievements.
[UPDATED]
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