3824(I)_Young leadership training - Australia Salesian School Captains

By Fr. Will Matthews, SDB

Lysterfield, Australia, December 1, 2015 - The College Captains of eight Salesian schools in Australia gathered for a leadership conference at Don Bosco Retreat Centre in Lysterfield, Victoria from 29th November to 1st December. The host school for 2015 is St Joseph’s College Ferntree Gully under the direction of its competent and passionate Religious Education Coordinator, Ann Maree Pagon.

The conference formally began with a Sunday Eucharist led by Fr Martin Tanti SDB on 29th December. Group activities and fun games provided by the ASYM in the retreat grounds following the Eucharist. During the evening meal, each school gave a short presentation of their stories.

On Monday, 30th December, Ann Maree Pagon led a session unpacking the 2016 Strenna of the Rector Major, ‘With Jesus, let us adventure in the Spirit together.’ The captains visited St Joseph’s College in the afternoon for a tour and lunch with staff and Salesians. They continued their journey into Melbourne CBD for a sight-seeing in the afternoon before finishing the day with a dinner at a Greek restaurant in Carlton.

On Tuesday 1st December, Mr Guido Piotti, the vice principal from St Joseph’s, facilitated the last session on communications particularly focusing on writing and delivering speeches.

At the conclusion, Mr Damian Carlton of St John Bosco College in Engadine thanked all participants, the Salesian community at Lysterfield and especially to Ann Maree Pagon for her outstanding organization.

The captains will keep in touch with each other over social networks. They are also hoping to catch up again at OzBosco 2016 in Engadine on May 13-15.