SYDNEY: 12 December 2011 --
For
the past three years, the newly elected student captains of
each of
our Australian Salesian colleges have gathered together to
share the
core of what peer leadership means within Don Bosco's model
of
education.
Unlike many other province events which are always centred
on
Melbourne, the school leaders come together in a different
State and
different school each year. The first was in Victoria, the
second in
South Australia, this year happened in New South Wales and
next year
Tasmania will play host. This enables the travelling
leaders to
experience a new school, the somewhat different style
between state
systems and have time to see some of the sights of a new
city. It also
helps the local students and staff see that they belong to a
much wider
network of Salesian works around the country.
This December, the gathering of 19 leaders and 11
staff was hosted by
St John Bosco College in Engadine, on the southern end of
the Sydney
metropolitan area. The captains gave presentations of
what key
activities happen in each of their own schools and in a
series of
seminars and discussions shared what it means to be a
Salesian leader.
Somewhat reminiscent of WYD 08, the middle day was given
over to a bus
and foot tour around some of the key sights of Sydney
extending from
the cathedral up to the Sydney Tower Eye, a wandering lunch
near the
Opera House and a ferry ride under the Harbour Bridge and
into Darling
Harbour. Following opportunity for a surf (or photo with a
TV
lifeguard) at Sydney's iconic Bondi beach, we returned home
for a
lingering dinner, reflective Good Night and even more
lingering chat
circle before sleep arrived. The final morning allowed
a guest
appearance at Bosco's morning full school assembly and a
tour and
discussion at next door's Boys' Town Dunlea Centre where the
wider
Salesian outreach to disengaged kids was experienced.
The three days
concluded with mass in the college chapel where,
appropriately enough,
these newly born leaders remembered the birth of Don Bosco's
educational mission at the celebration of the Immaculate
Conception.
It was wonderful and inspiring over these days to see a
collection of
otherwise former strangers meld together as new friends in a
group
enjoying shared ideals. So often in their presentations and
discussions, they discovered they had so much in common;
that there is
a core Salesian dream and way of doing things which unites
us and
encourages us through shared fun and faith. No doubt
Facebook and the
like will continue the link and the future will have
possibilities to
meet and share some more.
