Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Friends of Chisholm Catholic College,

I share this Carolean report from the wet season in the Kimberley where key College staff and I have been visiting with our “City-Country Partnership” schools in the Kimberley with the Yadha Muru Foundation. The aim of each visit is to continue to strengthen our growing partnership with St Mary’s College, Broome, and Sacred Heart School, Beagle Bay.

This particular visit provided an opportunity to build the relationships that underpin meaningful collaboration between our schools, to deepen relationships with staff and students, whilst also continuing important planning for upcoming student immersion experiences at these special school and community places.

During the visit, Mr Cory Tickner and Mr Joel Downes representing our Creative Design and Technology learning area worked closely with staff at Sacred Heart School to review the Design and Technology facilities, assessing equipment, storage and possible upgrades to support practical learning opportunities for students. Their expertise will help guide improvements that can benefit the school and the broader Beagle Bay community.

Mrs Belinda Pietropaolo and I worked with St Mary’s College staff reviewing our partnership projects, planning considerations, including the upcoming Kimberley Innovation Festival and discussion around future opportunities for collaboration between our schools.

We extend our sincere thanks to the staff and students of St Mary’s College, Broome and Sacred Heart School in Beagle Bay for their generous hospitality and for the spirit of collaboration that continues to strengthen this partnership. We look forward to welcoming students from these communities and continuing to grow these connections in the months and years ahead.

It was also a special privilege to meet and engage with the Bishop of the Broome Diocese in Bishop Tim Norton SVD. An unexpected, but sad, privilege was to represent our College at a memorial liturgy celebrated by Bishop Tim to honour a long-term staff member of St Mary’s College who sadly, and very unexpectedly, passed away on the weekend. The condolences of our College were extended to the St Mary’s community and family through Bishop Tim and the College Principal, Miss Coby Rhatigan.

While a small group of staff were able to make the journey to the Kimberley, this partnership is very much a whole-College endeavour. I extend my sincere thanks to the many staff who contribute their expertise, support the planning and preparation, and continue to encourage our students to engage with these opportunities. Partnerships such as this thrive because of the generosity of all our staff and their shared commitment to learning, compassion and community – something we can all feel extremely proud of. As the new Principal at Chisholm Catholic College, I feel blessed to play but a small part.

God bless.

Mr Simon Harvey
Principal