On Saturday 13 September, 12 Year 11 students and four staff from Chisholm Catholic College travelled to Karratha for the 2025 Pilbara Immersion. Together with Br Olly Pickett and Mr John Bormolini, we were warmly welcomed by Mr Adrian Correra, Principal of St Luke’s College and his community.

As a gesture of friendship, Chisholm presented St Luke’s with a Yarning Circle Firepit, engraved with the names of both Colleges alongside Br Olly (Christian Brother and founding staff member of both schools) and Mr Bormolini (former Principal of St Luke’s as well as current Principal of Chisholm).

St Luke’s College staff and students joined us for the ‘on-country’ component of the programme which involved us travelling together to Karijini National Park. The eight day Immersion offered students a rich encounter with the history, culture and landscapes of the Pilbara. Highlights included visiting the Karijini Visitors Centre, exploring ancient First Nations Rock Art on the Burrup Peninsula, touring the colonial sites of Cossack and Roebourne, as well as climbing down into, and often swimming in, Karijini’s stunning gorges. Experiencing this rugged land gave our group a deep appreciation of both the immense scale of the Resource Sector and the importance of stewardship and respect for our vast country.

Our students and staff demonstrated great resilience, openness, maturity and generosity of spirit in engaging with the realities of outback life. Huge thanks to our wonderful Immersion parents and staff including Miss Re, Miss Dichiera, Mr Panizza and Mr Bormolini whose work and support was outstanding and thoroughly appreciated.

The Pilbara Immersion remains a transformative experience, deepening our mission and connection with the Christian Brothers legacy in the Pilbara as well as our ongoing connection with St Luke’s College and the lessons of the Pilbara into the future.

Mr John Swindells
Deputy Principal – Mission