Dominic College and Sacred Heart students on an overseas school trip to New Zealand are safe and enjoying their holiday, despite the recent earthquake that shook the nation today.

The Year 10 students and staff were sound asleep in a youth hostel in Christchurch when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit.

Dominic College Principal, Ms Beth Gilligan, said that the trip coordinator and experienced Outdoor Education teacher, Ms Michelle Watson, was quick to react when the quake struck at 4.30am New Zealand time.

“Michelle woke the students and staff straight away and gathered them together in a safe room under tables and doorways etc. said Ms Gilligan.

“It’s wonderful news to hear that all the students and staff are travelling well, and all the parents of the students involved were contacted early this morning to pass on the reassuring news”.

Ms Watson said that spirits are high and the group plans to stick to the original timetable.

“We were lucky that there was only minor damage in the immediate area, with some plaster dust found in patches around the hostel and damage to a brick wall outside of the building”, said Ms Watson.

“We plan to stick to the schedule and leave Christchurch tomorrow morning for Greymouth, but we first have to confirm with the relevant authorities that it is safe to do so. We’ve been told that the roads are currently clear, but there are reports of the potential for another quake within the next 24 hours, so we’ll check the situation again in the morning”.

The students are looking forward to their next activity - a trip to see Hanmer Hot Springs. Other activities lined up for the remainder of the trip include rafting, glacier walks, helirafting, paintballing, skiing, snowboarding, bungy jumping, jetboating, go karting, scenic flights and various walks. The group plan to return to Hobart on Thursday 16 September with plenty of stories from their adventures.

UPDATE:

Mark set off from Dover on Tuesday at 2:30am (UK time) and completed his swim in under 9½ hours – quite a fast time. Apparently it was quite a site to see him swimming amongst the large container ships that travel along the Channel. The conditions were reasonable and he was able to tread water every half hour to have something to eat/drink.

Please check out his website www.stroke4stroke.com.au for photos and footage from his swim and to donate to the National Stroke Foundation. Everyone at Dominic is very proud of Mark and how his perseverance and determination has helped him achieve his goal.

Mark Scanlon (1997) left Perth on Friday 13 August in preparation for his attempt to swim the English Channel, from Dover to Calais and raise much needed funds for the National Stroke Foundation.

Mark is a Western Australian based ocean swimmer and was inspired to swim the 32km after a friend successfully swam the Channel in 2007 and raised funds for children’s cancer. Even though the distance is officially 32km, most swims are in between 36-40km due to the large tidal currents. The water temperature is between 13-16 degrees and to make the crossing official, no wetsuits are allowed – only traditional swim briefs and grease applied to the body. It is interesting to note that more people have successfully climbed Mt Everest than completed the English Channel crossing, with only 10% of attempts resulting in a successful crossing.

Mark chose the National Stroke Foundation as the benefactor of his fundraiser because a good friend of his was struck down with a stroke at the start of 2009. His friend fully recovered, but at 35 it goes to show that it can happen to anyone. In fact, behind heart disease, strokes were the second biggest cause of death in Australia in 2008.

In addition, in late 2009 while on a training run with a friend, a woman ran out of her front door screaming for help. Inside Mark and his friend found her husband had collapsed on the floor unconscious in a pool of vomit after suffering a severe stroke. They performed first aid until the ambulance arrived. The man is alive today but will live with a permanent disability for the rest of his life. This experience brought home to Mark how little is known about strokes and their effects, and solidified his goal to raise money for the Foundation.

In training for this event, Mark has spent his days doing:
• 5-6km pool session on weekday mornings
• Boot camp style dry land circuit training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings
• 6-7km pool or ocean swim on Tuesday and Thursday evenings
• 8-12km pool session / ocean swim on Saturdays

This has resulted in Mark swimming up to 70km a week in readiness for his attempt.

Mark is planning to regularly keep his web page updated, so follow the link to see how he is going. Everyone at Dominic is very proud of Mark and we wish him well. http://stroke4stroke.com.au/

At Dominic College, we believe that taking part in NAIDOC Week is a great way to celebrate Indigenous culture in our community and take action in supporting reconciliation.

Amongst teaching and learning activities, celebrations at Dominic included:
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Sunday at St. John the Baptist Parish with Fr. Lawrie Moate
• Karadi Family Fun Day and Flag Raising at Goodwood
• TAC Flag Raising at Risdon Cove
• Dewayne Everett Smith performance at St. Mary’s College
• Karadi NAIDOC Art Exhibition at Moonah
• Tasmanian Aboriginal tasting plates and Dominic College Flag Raising Ceremony.

There was excellent participation throughout the week. With over 60 students at Dominic College who identify as Indigenous there is a real sense of pride and respect for our first peoples.

Our Principal Ms Beth Gilligan, is a passionate advocate for our Indigenous students and their families. This is her address to the community at the 2010 Flag Raising Ceremony.

Today we are part of NAIDOC Week celebrations being held right across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our theme this year of Unsung Heroes provides us with an opportunity to honour the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – both past and present – who have played a critical role in helping Aboriginal people to chart their own course – those who have helped our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children become the best people they can be.

The efforts of these ‘Unsung heroes’, who exist in every community, small or large, rural, urban or remote, have ultimately been focussed on ensuring that Aboriginal peoples have the right to participate in our society.

If I think about who are the unsung Aboriginal heroes of Dominic College community, I don’t have to think very hard.

These parents and grandparents are always there, supporting Aboriginal communities and toiling away to ensure their children, our students continue the story of our First Peoples.

Many of our Aboriginal parents and grandparents have had to overcome huge disadvantage to get a good education themselves, to access health services, adequate housing and simply their right to be recognised as First Nation peoples. They have faced and overcome discrimination, racism and yet still offer the hand of friendship and respect to us - non-indigenous people.

These parents and grandparents are Dominic College’s unsung heroes. They seek no accolades for their efforts but they are, in many cases, the backbone of their families and their local community.

Our Aboriginal parents and grandparents were blessed with a legacy of determination, resilience and survival. I hope the broader community respect this fact and can today recognise their contribution to the ongoing survival and nourishment of Aboriginal cultural identity and pride.

One of Tasmania’s greatest unsung heroes was a mother. Her name was Aunty Ida West who sadly died in 2003. She was a parent and a matriarch of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Aunty Ida only ever wanted to see justice and fairness for all – she worked tirelessly for justice for others. Aunty Ida was an ordinary person who had a vision for the Tasmanian community, especially young people and not just Aboriginal. Aunty Ida cared for all people, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. Today many people continue to build on Aunty Ida West’s vision for a better Tasmania, justice for Aborigines, and a happy future for all children who live in this state and walk this land.

Aunty Ida is an unsung hero who did her very best in whatever she did, she lived a life devoted to the service of others , and encouraged us all not to be silent when we see that something is wrong or unjust but to speak out.

Before she died, Aunty Ida was interviewed in the media about her advice to other Australians. This is what she said: Just be who you are and be proud of whatever side you’re on, whatever blood is in you and hold your head up high. Show some respect for all and hope that everyone respects you. That’s the main thing. That’s all any of us can do. (Ida West, Sunday Tasmanian, 28/9/1997, p.18)

Today we are acknowledging and celebrating these extraordinary but ordinary people like Aunty Ida. By being part of a flag raising ceremony we are saluting her and the many unsung heroes across Australia but especially in our own community – our Aboriginal parents and grandparents who have quietly and often courageously passed on the traditions, culture and stories of their ancient civilisation to our children and young people here today.

Today, we have raised the Australian Aboriginal flag, a modern symbol of identity and reconciliation in our country. As we stand and look at this flag we remember those who died in our land protecting their children from the invasion and from removal from their communities. We remember those parents and grandparents who for generations have kept the stories and culture alive – so that it not only survives but flourishes.

This ceremony symbolises Dominic College’s ongoing commitment to our Aboriginal students and families who hold this ancestry in their blood and in their hearts.

It symbolises our deep respect for and value of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders throughout Australia.

May the song of the unsung Aboriginal hero continue to be sung, known and heard for all generations to come.

What are the scholarships for?

Students looking to enrol for Year 7 in 2011 at Dominic College are invited to apply for one of four Creative Arts Scholarships. There will be four scholarships on offer encompassing the areas of Music, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama.

Who is eligible to apply for a scholarship?

Any student not currently enrolled in a Catholic secondary school (other than Dominic College) for 2011 as a Year 7, who shows a passion for and talent in the Creative Arts, is invited to apply for one of our four scholarships.

What do the scholarships cover?

Four Creative Arts Scholarships will be awarded for Year 7 students in 2011. The total value of each of the four scholarships is approximately $6,000. Each scholarship will represent a 50% reduction in tuition fees. This scholarship will be for each of the four years the recipient attends Dominic College from Year7-10. This is effectively a saving of $1,500 on the total fees each year.

What happens next?

Successful applicants will be invited to an interview where they will be asked about their gifts and their application. They will have the opportunity to meet other Creative Arts students, and share their skills with a small panel. These interviews will take place in late August.

What is expected of students who have been successful in obtaining a scholarship?

Students who are successful in attaining a Creative Arts Scholarship are expected to demonstrate leadership and a high level of participation in the Creative Arts programs at Dominic College.

Selection criteria

Students will be selected for a scholarship based on the criteria below. The successful applicant will display:
• Demonstrated skills in the Creative Arts
• Demonstrated participation in the Creative Arts
• A strong commitment to the Creative Arts
• The potential to show leadership in the Creative Arts
• The commitment to use these gifts in the service of others

Applications close: Sunday1August 2010

St. John the Baptist Parish, Glenorchy celebrated Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Sunday. Fr. Lawrie & the members of the Parish warmly welcomed Indigenous students and their families to Sunday Mass.

Our sincere thanks to Fr. Lawrie & the Parish for this tremendous celebration of Indigenous people, their culture & achievements.

Dominic College has registered for the McCAIN School Veggie Patches program, and is urging local community, businesses and families to show their support by collecting barcodes.

Every barcode from McCAIN frozen vegetable or McCAIN Purely Potato packs purchased will provide points that Dominic College can redeem for gardening tools, seeds and equipment such as wheelbarrows, water tanks and compost bins for their school veggie patch.

This is a great opportunity for Dominic College students to be involved in an educational program that aims to teach children about the benefits of healthy eating in a fun, outdoor environment. McCain School Veggie Patches will allow Dominic College to play an active role in engaging children in an interactive and entertaining way to learn more about the foods they eat, and the world around them.

To show your support, simply collect any pack of McCAIN frozen vegetables or McCAIN Purely Potato and drop them into the Primary Campus Office. To find out more about School Veggie Patches, contact Mrs Doyle in Room 10 or visit www.mccainveggiepatches.com.

We look forward to celebrating NAIDOC Week between Sunday 3 July - Sat 10 Juy with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Taking part in NAIDOC Week at Dominic College is a great way to celebrate Indigenous culture and take action in supporting reconciliation.

The NAIDOC Week theme for 2010 is ‘Unsung Heroes- Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way’.

Details of our NAIDOC Week celebrations can be found on the school or on the website.

All members of the Dominic College community are warmly invited to share in our Flag Raising Ceremony on Tuesday 6 July. Please arrive at the flag poles by 1.25 pm.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC originally stood for 'National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee'. This committee was once responsible for organizing national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.

Taking part in NAIDOC Week at Dominic College is a great way to celebrate Indigenous culture in our community and take action in supporting reconciliation.

The NAIDOC Week theme for 2010 is ‘Unsung Heroes- Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way’.

Sun 4 July

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Sunday- All members of the Dominic College community are warmly invited to share in celebrations at 10am Mass at St. John’s Parish, Bowden St. Glenorchy.

Karadi Flag Raising Ceremony & Famiy Fun Day.

Mon 5 July

TAC Flag Raising Ceremony & lunch.

Karadi NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition Opening at Moonah Arts Centre.

Tue 6 July

Dominic College Flag Raising Ceremony commencing at 1.45 pm.

Indigenous and non Indigenous families are warmly invited. This whole school assembly will be on the Primary Campus in front of the flag poles. Parents and careers are asked to arrive by 1.20 pm please as the road will need to be closed to ensure that students can move safely to the assembly.

Wed 7 July

Tasmanian Aboriginal Tasting Plates, NAIDOC Week posters, AFL Indigenous hero posters etc. for each Primary Campus class.

Dewayne Everettsmith performance for Secondary Campus students at St. Mary’s College from 12.30-1.30. Indigenous parents and careers are warmly invited to share this performance.

Guided tours of the College available

Come for a guided tour of the College with the Principal on one of the dates listed below. Bookings are essential.

Tuesday 29 June 4.00 – 5.00pm
Tuesday 20 July 4.15 – 5.15pm
Thursday 5 August 4.15 – 5.15pm
Monday 27 September 4.15 – 5.15pm
Tuesday 26 October 4.15 – 5.15pm
Tuesday 9 November 4.15 – 5.15pm

To book your tour, please contact Melissa Ralph, Community Relations and Development Director on: (03) 6274 6010 or mralph@dominic.tas.edu.au

The Dominic College Year 7 Information Evening will help make the transition to Year 7 easier.

Meet the Principal and secondary leadership staff at our Year 7 Information Evening on Tuesday 6 July 2010. Join us at the College for a sausage sizzle at 6.00pm before hearing from some of our current Year 7 students.

The event will be held in the Magone building, accessed via the Dominic Early Learning Centre driveway at 204a Tolosa Street, just next to the centre.

To reserve your place, please contact the College on 6274 6010.

It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the historic Bridge Walks for reconciliation in 2000. The apology too has had a transforming effect; inspiring people to see reconciliation through fresh eyes.

Today reconciliation is much more than a word; it’s real & it’s happening with a growing number of enthusiastic people rolling up their sleeves & getting involved.

It hasn’t always been plain sailing & we still have a long way to go but over the years we’ve learned that the best outcomes are achieved by working together.

So on the 10th anniversary of the Bridge Walks with fresh eyes & shared purpose let’s embrace the future & the many possibilities it will bring.

Like the bridge walkers 10 years ago; it’s up to us to set the pace!

For information on Reconciliation at Dominic; contact Ms Gabrielle Ashlin at gashlin@dominic.tas.edu.au