This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday and begin our Holy Week journey. As Jesus enters Jerusalem he is warmly welcomed by the crowds. In Matthew’s Gospel we are told the following,

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna to the highest! (Matt 21:9)

As the arrival of Jesus is celebrated, people ask, “Who is this?” and the crowds respond with the acclamation that it is the “prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee”. (Matt 21:10-11). However, within days he is betrayed by one of his closest followers, Judas Iscariot, and Jesus will be crucified, mocked and derided by the Governor’s soldiers who kneel before him saying, “Hail, king of the Jews”.

The notion of kingship is not one that sits easily with us as Australians. The upcoming coronation of King Charles III adds to this as he is first and foremost the King of the United Kingdom. The fact that he is also the King of Australia is a reflection of our more recent history with the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788. For many of us, the notion of kingship is not part of our everyday experience or thought and consequently the image of Jesus as our King is not always accessible to us.

11 years ago, the body of King Richard III was found under a car park in Leicester. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, laid King Richard III to rest in Leicester’s Anglican Cathedral several years later in 2015. At the time there was significant media coverage of this event including how King Richard III was the last King of England to lose his life in battle. He was slain in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, seven years before Christopher Columbus set sail for the “new world”. In the days leading up to his reburial in 2015, thousands of people lined up for hours to file past the bier to acknowledge the last of the Plantagenet Kings of England who ruled for two years from 1483 to 1485. We saw similar scenes last year in the days that followed the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with people queuing for up to 24 hours to pay their respects to her, while she lay in state in Westminster Hall.

William Shakespeare immortalised the reign of this king in his play Richard III, describing him as a “poisonous, bunch-back’d toad”. Richard III is remembered for being a usurper of the Crown and for being involved in the imprisonment in the Tower of London and the possible murder of the two young princes Edward V and Richard, the Duke of York – his two nephews and the legitimate heirs to the throne. Yet 530 years after his death, this violent king was remembered and afforded a kingly burial. In 2015, Cardinal Nicholls, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster in welcoming Richard III’s coffin and body to the cathedral cautioned that power in Richard’s time was “invariably won or maintained on the battlefield and only by ruthless determination, strong alliances and a willingness to employ the use of force, at times with astonishing brutality”.

In stark contrast to the events of King Richard III being reburied in Leicester in 2015, many of us, along with millions of Christians around the world, will gather on Sunday to remember and honour Jesus who is not only our King but the king of all creation and all of the world for all time. We will recall his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the donkey and how many people spread their cloaks on the road and how others spread the palms. We will remember how the crowds greeted Jesus with the words, “Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus’ model of kingship is the polar opposite of Richard III – it is not about violence, power, alliances or brutality but rather love, compassion, gentleness, service and humility. St Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians, “Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8).

Later next week we will gather to pray together, commemorating Holy Week, entering into the experience of the Last Supper, savouring the gift of the Eucharist and the model of life-giving service through the washing of the feet, and just as the crowds welcomed Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, we too will join them in saying those painful words of “Crucify him” on Good Friday. Like Richard III and every other human being that has ever lived we know that at times we struggle to love our God and our neighbour and that we are all in need of God’s mercy. This is why God came and lived among us, this is why we confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, he is our Messiah, as it is through his passion, death and resurrection that sin and death have been conquered and each of us have been offered the gift of eternal life.

As we begin our journey into Holy Week, let us pray that our hearts and lives may continue to be transformed by our God, that our faith may be deepened and our desire to be people of faith who are people of service may be strengthened so that we can truly be God’s Easter people and presence in our world.

From our Principal

A Metaphor

DR PAUL HINE, PRINCIPAL

Last Saturday saw one of the finest sporting performances in Riverview’s illustrious 143 year history. Out at Penrith the schools and their communities gathered for the 130th regatta that culminated in the Head of the River: the holy grail of Rowing pursuits in New South Wales.

So competitive is the 1st VIII event that Saint Ignatius’ had only taken 1st Place on the podium twice in the last 50 years, but in a truly memorable race, the College took line honours with an emphatic win – three seconds ahead of the rest of the field. In addition to the success of the Premier Team, of the six Senior Teams, Riverview secured 1st Place in five events, and only missed the clean sweep by virtue of 0.7 of a second. For those who know how competitive the sport of Rowing is, to perform at this level is an exceptional achievement, particularly in context of the quality of the crews and the training regimens to which they all subscribe. Congratulations are extended to all – the rowers, the coaches, the managers, and the parents who give so generously and willingly to a sport that demands so much.

In many ways, what took place on the water last weekend and across many aspects of the summer co-curricular program is a metaphor for life. At the outset is aspiration – a willingness to aim high and to challenge oneself against the very best. It is complemented by a work ethic that must be maintained over intense and sustained periods. If it is not, then the performance and the culture of the team suffer. And it is the individual and collective energies of all where that indefinable sense of spirit and culture is generated, one which forms its own self-sustaining momentum as the challenges of competition are faced in the crucible of expectation and commitment.

Sport, like life, brings with it adversity. In the demanding realm of Rowing there is a complex web of tripwires that can impede performance on the day. Despite every effort to prevent it in advance, the sophistication of equipment and the fine tuning associated with it can lead to failure, often quite unexpectedly. In all sports, there are the vagaries and interventions of sickness and injury, which can take their toll and lead to disappointment for the individual and the crew. Training and skill development are integral to success so the endless hours of practice to maintain proficiency in the heat of competition is a challenge of its own. And perhaps above and beyond any of the technical elements, there is the psychology of success, which can be compromised by self-doubt and the pressure of competition on the big stage. The fact is, out on the river at Penrith last weekend, in front of over 10,000 spectators, there was nowhere to hide. It is a very visible and public demonstration of prowess, teamship, strength of mind and body; a coalescence of so much under the compress of a program that comes together on the day.

When success is achieved there is elation in victory, particularly when goal setting, self-sacrifice and discipline have combined to produce a much yearned for result. But victory celebrated proportionately and well entails humility. It recognises the commitment and the endeavour of all others who compete but, on the day, have not experienced the same success. It acknowledges that while there is much to celebrate, there is much to be grateful for: fine equipment, good coaches, and the support of so many others who feature in the outcome including teammates, parents, supporters and the list goes on. Herein lies our own distinctive spirituality – gratitude. Without the assistance of so many in any code and sport, outcomes would be severely compromised. And one of the central elements of winning with grace, is realising that while there is cause for deep satisfaction when it all comes together, with the passage of time it will become ephemeral. Life invariably moves forwards – in Rowing to a higher stage of competition – nationally or even internationally, where goals need to be reset and renewed commitment is required for higher order competition and the demands that will accompany them. And that too is like life, as one stage brings with it its own consuming challenges a little further down the road much more lies in store to be pursued.

While success brings with it moments to savour, let us be mindful of the all-encompassing nature of sport and opportunities for personal growth. Let us be grateful for them. To the Rowing confraternity – Dan Noonan as Sports Program Coordinator, James O’Meara as Captain of Boats, the boys who have committed so strongly across the summer along with all of the support coaches, managers and crew – we offer a statement of heartfelt congratulations.

May the lessons of the river, the sporting field and the court be aligned with those of life, where adversity will appear and need to be navigated, ambition will sometimes fail to accord with outcome, and where gratitude for opportunity is recognised through the multiplicity of variables that can lead to triumph or disappointment.

From the P&F

P&F Update - Term 1 Week 9

MR DAVID MCKAY, P&F PRESIDENT 2023

Hi everyone, I hope you've all had a good week. This week’s update includes silent auction items for the Charity Morning Tea, SignUp details for Winter Canteen, ticketing details for upcoming P&F events, and reports from the Year 7 Parents’ Morning Tea.

Firstly, congratulations to the Riverview rowing community for their incredible performances at the Head of the River Regatta last weekend. The way the boys performed on the water, and their dignified performances on the podium after their races was exceptional. Well done boys!

And thank you to everyone who signed up to help on Winter Canteen at Fr Mac Pavilion tomorrow. We have had a fantastic response. There are still a couple of spare spaces for 10-11am if anyone is free for that timeslot. If so, please SignUp HERE .

Upcoming Events

Ticket sales and ‘save the dates’ for upcoming events are shown below, including the City Country Fathers’ Dinner (1 April, tomorrow), Charity Morning Tea (5 April, last day of term) and City Country Mothers’ Luncheon (12 May – waitlist now open).

Year 12 Mums Canberra Weekend on 31 March - 2 April
Winter Canteen at Fr Mac Pavilion – Saturday 1 April
City Country Fathers' Dinner on Saturday 1 April
Dinner at the Diddy for Year 11 Mothers and children – Saturday 1 April
P&F 2023 Charity Morning Tea on Wednesday 5 April
First Friday Socials at the Kirribilli Club on Friday 7 April (6:30pm)
A Shared View” New Parents Dinner on Tuesday 25th April 2023 (ANZAC Day, 6.30pm)
First Friday Mass and Morning Tea on Friday 6 May (8:10am).
City Country Mothers Luncheon on Friday 12 May
Year 9 Mums Weekend in Wagga Wagga on 19 to 21 May
Year 10 Dads golf and Pub Night - Friday 26 May
Year 10 Mother & Son Harbour Extreme - Sunday 28 May
P&F Dinner Dance on Saturday 22 July
Riverview Community Sports Lunch on Friday 25 August

The calendar of College events can be found on InsideView HERE .

Some additional information about the City Country Fathers’ Dinner (1 April), Charity Morning Tea (5 April), City Country Mothers’ Luncheon and First Friday Socials can be seen below.

P&F Charity Morning Tea

Tickets are still available for the “Art to Aid” P&F Charity Morning Tea on Wednesday 5 April in the Boathouse from 7.30am to midday. Please click here to purchase entry tickets and/or buy raffle tickets.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Centenary Institute, specifically to the study of genetic heart disorders in memory of Riverview boys who recently died from sudden, unexpected cardiac or aortic disorders:

Xavier O’Grady (OR 2019);

George Dummer (Graduating class of 2023); and

Darcy Henry (Graduating class of 2024).

Last week we advertised the raffle prizes, and this week we are excited to share the Silent Auction items (noting that there is no online bidding, just written bids at the event). Thank you to our donors for their generous contributions!

Three nights at Callala beach (NSW South Coast) - value of approx. $5,000
Available from 2024 (currently being renovated).
Kindly donated by the Greenslade family (Jimmy Greenslade OR2019)

Men's suit, shirt and tie from M.J. Bale - value of approx. $1,400
Kingston Tasmanian merino wool suit, collection shirt and tie.
Kindly donated by the Rogers family (Max OR2019, Felix OR2021 & Billy Year 12) and Jensen family (Harry OR2021 and Alfie in Year 10) of M.J. Bale .

Painting “Morning Meeting” - value of $900
Oil on linen / 30cm x 30cm / unframed
Kindly donated by artist Lucy Hennessy (mum of Ambrose Year 11 and Theo Year 7)

Interior Styling consultation & follow up - value of $525
Kindly donated by Sophie Duffy (mum of Jack OR2017, Harry OR2019 and Tom OR2021) of Flow Interiors

City Country Fathers Dinner

The inaugural City Country Fathers' Dinner is being held tomorrow, Saturday 1 April 2023 in Ramsay Hall. For any last minute ticket sals, please visit Humanitix .

The City Country Fathers’ Dinner has been added to the P&F calendar in 2023 following the ongoing success and popularity of the annual City Country Mothers’ Luncheon , and in response to many requests for a similar event to be offered for the Riverview fathers, guardians, carers and father figures.

The City Country Fathers’ Dinner provides an opportunity to catch up with Riverview fathers, guardians, carers and father figures you already know, and to meet other fathers, guardians, carers and father figures within the Riverview community. All Riverview fathers, guardians, carers and father figures are welcome and encouraged to attend.

In addition to the inaugural Dinner, we will also be having a Wine Auction, with all proceeds going to the Riverview Bursary Program. Wine auctions have been held at Riverview in the past (last one being in 2017), and from all reports, they are a great way to meet other fathers and carers of our sons.

Just repeating, and emphasising, all Riverview fathers, guardians, carers and father figures should feel welcome to attend the City Country Fathers’ Dinner . We hope to see you there.

City Country Mothers’ Luncheon

We are thrilled to share that the City Country Mothers’ Luncheon has expanded to a second function room to allow more Riverview mothers to attend.

This was in response to a fantastic overwhelming response this year, so we have worked very hard with the venue to find a way to include as many people as we can at this great community event. The second function room at Doltone House Hyde Park is the Manhattan Room, which is on the same floor as the Ballroom. These two areas are joined by a common bar area, and has allowed us to offer tickets to people on the original waitlist.

As is the usual custom, tables will be allocated to year groups so you will still be sitting with your peers. Although there may be some distance between year groups in the two rooms, people will still be able to move between groups within and between the rooms and will be able to listen to the speeches by our fabulous Year 12 mums.

The allocation of year groups to each of the rooms will be determined by the total numbers of attendees within each year. This will be discussed with the year coordinators as well. Please understand that this solution is the best we can do this year due to the unforeseen large numbers and we certainly hope it doesn’t influence anybody’s decision whether to attend or not.

For those not on the waitlist yet we encourage you to still add your name as we hope we may be able to offer you a ticket as they become available as per the usual waitlist process HERE .

We understand this is slightly different to what has happened in the past and are looking at ways to ensure it is easier in the coming years, but we hope you understand that within the new framework we are working in we have reached this decision after a lot of discussion and consideration of everybody’s concerns, and we hope to still see everyone at what is going to be a fabulous event for our special community of Riverview mothers.

First Friday Socials and Single Parent Support

First Friday Socials and Single Parent Support relates to a P&F initiative which started over 10 years ago, and has been organised ever since by Rosie Traill, a former Riverview parent.

For over 10 years, parents, past parents, old boys, teachers and friends, including parents from other schools, both unmarried and married, have been coming along. Just by showing up or reaching out to someone who may be experiencing hardship, Friday Socials has been providing a night out for those who really need some social connections amongst friends both new and old.

First Friday Socials are held each month from 6:30pm at the Kirribilli Club, 11 Harbourview Cres, Lavender Bay overlooking Sydney Harbour. The location is stunning and it is easy to find us in the U Bar on level 1 next to the Restaurant.

Upcoming dates in 2023: 7 April (yes, Good Friday!), 5 May, 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October, 3 November and 1 December.

All parents and friends wishing to attend are welcome. FIND OUT MORE HERE .

Further information about the P&F

Further information about the P&F, including the names of P&F Committee for 2023 and the Year Group Coordinators and Boarder Parent Association representatives for 2023 can be found on the P&F page within InsideView HERE .

As always, if you have any suggestions or ideas that you would like to share with the P&F, or if you need to contact me during the year, my email address is PandFPresident@riverview.nsw.edu.au

Have a great weekend.

Year 7 Parents' and Carers' Morning Tea

MRS HELEN REES

What a great turnout we had for our first event for Year 7 in 2023!

Held at the wonderful Garcon in Lane Cove, we welcomed new and familiar faces on a warm early autumn morning. Many ‘first weeks of high school’ stories were shared and plenty of introductions made as fresh pastries and fruit were enjoyed. The start of a 6 year journey for the newest members of our Riverview family.

Student Leadership

Message from Callum Mitchell, Owen House Captain

CALLUM MITCHELL, OWEN HOUSE CAPTAIN

With the end of term right around the corner, and talk of the holidays to come, it was Week 9 - what a week! Possibly one of our greatest!

Saturday 25th March 2023. Remember the date! Saturday 25th March at Riverview marked a historic date in the school's co-curricular achievements, as boys from all year groups ranging from Years 5 - 12 made the pilgrimage out to the Penrith International Regatta Centre, to attend the 130th AAGPS Schoolboy Head of the River, supporting their peers in their races. And what a success it was for the College, recording its greatest-ever showing at the event with an unrivalled 12 podium finishes in 11 races.

Special mentions to the Year 10 3rd VIII, Year 10 2nd VIII, Opens 4th IV, Opens 3rd IV, Opens 1st IV, and Opens 2nd VIII for all finishing in 1st place for their respective races capping off a stellar season in the sheds. But for the 1st VIII, it was a magical morning taking home the Major Rennie Trophy to its rightful place of residence for the second time in 48 years at Saint Ignatius' College Riverview, concluding a schoolboy season of undefeated success. A spectacle to behold that saw wild celebrations from the boys on the foreshore, chanting the school's traditional warcries paying respect to the hard yards put in by the rowers.

As our boys down at the sheds may befittingly celebrate their gruelling achievements, the Opens 1st VIII, have made their journey across the country to Perth, led by captain of boats Jim O’Meara, where they again look for the ultimate success at the 2023 Australian National Rowing Championships. Upon release of this week's issue of Viewpoint, their success looks likely, smashing their heat by 9 seconds. Following the incredible success of the Opens Crew 1st VIII, Four Seat, Jack POWER continued his extraordinary form into the Single Scull Nationals Final taking out first place in the U19 division. Overall it was a great final week to conclude all of the boys' efforts across the vast Summer sporting opportunities we are blessed with at the College, providing us with a strong foundation to enter the Winter sporting seasons.

With Week 8 in the books, this week saw the commencement of the second week of Year 12 Half Yearly exams as well as the conclusion of the exam block as a whole. For all Year 12 boys this was a time of great stress but also great satisfaction as all the hard work put in will ultimately come to fruition in the form of results. A great effort from all of the lads as they rest up and get prepared for Year 12 retreats that commence Monday Week 10. Something nice to look forward to as we get the chance to come together as a collective to strengthen existing friendships or even make new ones.

However, as much as one might think that co-curricular events are beginning to come to a close for the term, for some it is just the beginning as the College hosted the Athletics Carnival down on the hallowed turf of 1st Field today. Good luck to all of our athletes as they showcase their talent as a result of hours of training on the track! Week 9 also saw the staging of the Year 8 play, the Year 10 History excursion out to the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst and the Wingaru turning of the Sod Ceremony as the College looks to expand its horizons on learning possibilities.

That’s it from my end! Wishing everyone a restful weekend as the term begins to draw to a close!

Ignatian Centre

International Day of Forests and World Water Day | Caring for Our Common Home

MRS SHARON MCLEAN, SUSTAINABILITY CO-ORDINATOR

This month marked two significant international environment days that provide an opportunity to reflect two life sustaining and life support elements of our world:

International Day of Forests | 21st March

Last Tuesday we marked International Day of Forests. The theme for this year is ‘Forests for human health and well-being’. Forests are integral life-support systems and are play a significant role in our well-being . The United Nations reports that:

“A study from 43,000 households across 27 countries in Africa found that the dietary diversity of children exposed to forests was at least 25% higher than that of children who were not.
The total number of plant species used for medicinal purposes could be as high as 50,000.
Several studies proved that a visit to a forest environment lowers blood pressure and pulse rate and reduces cortisol levels.

Riverview is fortunate to be home to a large variety of tree species that are managed and cared for by our Property Services team. An inventory of trees on our grounds identifies trees by their species, height, canopy, and age. There are 67 Eucalyptus grandis commonly known as flooded gums and, significantly, four bunya trees. Bunya trees are scared for Indigenous people and are a source of food, fibre and timber. Riverview’s trees are an important part of our natural environment and enhance our well-being and built environment.

World Water Day | 22nd March

While we have seen abundant rainfall in some parts of our state over the last two years, some areas of Australia and the world have not been so fortunate. For example, the wet season has not arrived in Somalia for five years leaving thousands of people without adequate food.

We are encouraged to be mindful about how we use water out of respect for those suffering water shortages and we can do this by:

taking shorter showers,
not leaving taps running while cleaning teeth, and
avoiding rubbish and chemicals going into drains and water ways.

Riverview is fortunate to be on the banks of the Lane Cove River that for thousands of years has been a significant source of life, food and culture for the Cammeraigal and continues to be so today.

Further information can be found at https://www.worldwaterday.org/

Regis Campus

Speak Up! Santa Sabina vs Riverview | Term 1

MS MARILYN FITZGERALD, PUBLIC SPEAKING COORDINATOR

Last Friday, our Regis boys invited the girls from Santa Sabina College to our Graduation “Speak Up” Competition, held in the Drama Room on Regis Campus.

All students, many who had never had any experience speaking in public before, bravely stood up before an audience of parents, peers and teachers, to talk on a variety of topics such as:

Trash or Treasure
The Best Day of My Life
Why not?
Changing Colours
Bad Habits
The Masks We Wear

We congratulate all the students, in particular Thomas Walter and Jake Spiden who achieved “Runner-Up” awards against some very formidable Santa Sabina competition.

We also thank all who supported on the day, especially Mr Asmonti who helped host the event, Tania Godfrey, Assistant Head of Regis, Joshua Tamana, our Chairperson, and our chief adjudicator, Michael Opoyan (OR2022) who gave wonderful feedback to all the students.

It was a great experience to battle the Santa Sabina girls, we thank them for coming and look forward to their return invitation next term.

Regis Public Speakers:

Ben Thornhill
Jake Spiden (Runner- Up)
Thomas Walter (Runner-up)
Max Tevanian
Matteo Scardilli
Henry Russell
Noah Girgis
Thomas Drake
Jayden Zhang
William Rees
Lachlan Nink

Teaching and Learning

Year 8 | Ag in the City

MR MICHAEL ROFFEY AND MS JOAN GEOGHEGAN

For the first time, the College has established an agriculture elective course for Year 8 students called ‘Ag in the City.’

Designed to bring the importance of agricultural practice, agribusiness and agritech to students before they make important subject selections in Years 9 to 12, ‘Ag in the City’ has found a groundswell of support among students who live in urban areas of Sydney. In fact, this is the first Agriculture course at Riverview with an enrolment of more day students than boarders!

The course focuses on the production of food and other essential products in an urban setting. The enterprises studied integrate science and technology in the development of urban farms while encompassing the Apostolic Preference of the International Jesuits of ‘caring for our common home.’

In Term 1, students have studied urban apiculture and honey production. Learning at present is focused on the lifecycle of the European honeybee and how to care for her, and the classes have been learning the economic and social importance of value adding of by-products through the production of bees wax candles and lip balm from the college bees. These products are available for purchase from Licona along with the College honey.

Next term the students will focus on urban farming and the challenges of food production in high rise dwellings.

‘Ag in the City’ joins a suite of new courses for 2023 which are designed to prepare students for a future which demands knowledge, understandings and skills in the application of various technologies.

As we prepare for the development of our new STEMP facility Wingaru, we are well placed to embrace the inter-disciplinary approaches which its innovative spaces will encourage.

Year 7 Poetry Recital for World Poetry Week

MRS ROSIE MCKAY ASSISTANT HEAD OF FACULTY - ENGLISH

During Term 1, Year 7 students have been studying a unit of work ‘Poetry in Motion’ where they engage with a range of poetry and gain understanding of how poets create meaning through imagery, themes, and performance.

Last Friday, we celebrated World Poetry Week with a Poetry recital in the Theatrette with a finalist group from each class performing poems ‘off by heart’ for a prize.

There were some creative, playful, and comic performances from all the classes. Judges Mr Taylor and Mr Koen chose the winning group—Angus Lund, Harrison Marshall and Max Spice— who performed ‘McDonalds’ with great flair and expression. Congratulations to these students and all those who took part in the final.

Excellence in Teaching | Train the Trainers Conference

MR ANDREW TAYLOR, HEAD OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A contingent of teachers from Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview, along with other Ignatian schools, recently attended an enriching four-day course focussed on Ignatian pedagogy.

Led by the inspiring Johnny Go SJ and Rita Atienza, ‘Learning by Refraction’ was the paradigm under investigation. At its heart, Learning by Refraction is designed to help students become learners who are transformed by meaningful, engaging, experience that has been reflected upon, and, as a consequence, accompanied by human growth.

The courses were held in two locations: St Ignatius’ College Adelaide and Xavier College Melbourne. Staff from Saint Ignatius' College Riverview were warmly welcomed by both schools. We were grateful to experience the community and companionship that comes from joining in deep and meaningful conversation with other Ignatian schools.

Part of the process involved in being selected for this Professional Development opportunity included completing an intensive online course: The IPP Masterclass. Consequently, whilst on the course, participants were at a level of understanding where they could reflect and strategise about the implementation of the teaching methodology in their own schools. Looking ahead, it is our intention at Riverview to continue to share best practice with the other Jesuit schools and promote Learning by Refraction as a path to achieving Human Excellence.

Banner image above: Andrew Taylor, Dominique Marturia, Peter Watters, and Sue Thomas in Adelaide
Image below: John Gilles, Russell Newman, Caitlin Remeeus, and Antoinette Yarak in Melbourne

Co-Curriculum

Head of the River Regatta

MR JIM BUSTEED

The Head of the River Regatta last Saturday marked the end of a highly successful season for Rowing at all levels, which resulted in winning the GPS Junior and Senior Point Score competitions, heading the medal table at the NSW Schoolboy Head of the River regatta and the 1st VII winning the NSW Schoolboy VIII Championships.

Fittingly, at the GPS Head of the River the crews continued their good form and produced the best performance the College has experienced. 13 crews contested 1 events, resulting in seven crews winning, four finishing second and one third.

Of the six GPS events, the 1st VIII, 2nd VIII, 1st IV, 3rd IV and 4th IV all won their events with the 2nd IV finishing second by 0.79 seconds. The last time the College won the 1st and 2nd VIII on the one day was in 1974 and we have not won the top three events (1st and 2nd VIII and 1st IV) before.

The Major Rennie Trophy for the 1st VIII was last won in 2018, the LC Robson Trophy for the 2nd VII in 2021 and the Yaralla Cup for the 1st IV in 2019. The 3rd IV retained the Father Gartlan Trophy for the fourth successive year and the 4th IV retained the Penrith Council Cup.

The 3rd, 4th and 5th VIIIs all contested the 3rd VIII event, with the 3rd VIII producing an outstanding performance to finish second and the 4th VIII were third. The day started with very strong performances from the Year 10 VIIIs with the 10.2 and 10.3 crews winning their events, and the 10.1 and 10.2 crews finishing second.

Congratulations to all the rowers and their hard working and dedicated coaches and thank you to all those who travelled to the Sydney International Rowing Centre to support the crews on the day.

This week the Australian Rowing Championships are taking place in Perth and the 1st VIII will be competing in the Championship Schoolboy VIII and Jack Power in the Under 19 Championship Schoolboy Sculls.

News From Perth - Congratulations Jack Power!

RIVERVIEW COMMUNITY

Congratulations to Jack Power (Year 12, Southwell House) on becoming the National U19 Single Scull Champion at Perth this week!

It's been a big week for Rowing at Riverview, right on the back of our incredible success at the Head of the River last weekend.

Along with Jack's incredible performance, our 1st VIII have progressed to the semi-finals of the Championship Schoolboy VIII. While the draw for Saturday has not yet been determined, their race will take place at either 4.45pm (Sydney time, Semi-final 1) or 4.50pm (Sydney time, Semi-final 2). The draws can be seen here .

The Finals will then take place on Sunday at 3.00pm.

JOIN THE LIVESTREAM HERE

Athletics Carnival

All eyes were on First Field today as the Athletics Carnival took place under incredibly sunny skies. The excitement was palpable as House went against House in a series of events where our student athletes left everything on the field.

At the time of publishing this Viewpoint, the event is ongoing, so expect a full report next week. In the meantime, enjoy some images from the day:

Coaching Masterclass Videos Available

CO-CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT

Thank you to everyone who attended the Coaching Masterclass Series hosted by the Co-curriculum department for all our coaches and any interested parents and community members.

Six of Riverview's most experienced coaches and Sports Program Coordinators addressed a room of coaches in person and via livestream on a variety of important topics related to developing our student athletes. For anyone who missed any of these sessions, please click the link below to catch up:

VIEW THE SESSIONS HERE

Around the College

Careers News | Term 1 Week 9

MS PETA BIRD, CAREERS ADVISOR

See what's available in the world of Careers:

Bond | Virtual Open Day - anytime online
Chemical Engineering Work Experience - The University of Sydney, placements held from Monday 29th to Wednesday 31st of May 2023
Professional Cadetships Australia | Applications for Business Cadetships are open and close on 24 May. Applications for Technology Cadetships will open on 24 April and close on 2 June.
JMC Academy School Holiday Workshops | JMC are launching two new school holiday workshops - "Screenwriting" and "Building Your Brand".
Discover ACU | Participate in free Discover ACU events to get a taste of university life before enrolling in uni. Registrations open now.
Charles Sturt University | Find out about the Charles Sturt Advantage Early Offer Program.
2023 NSW Mining Careers Dinners | Free events taking place across NSW during May and June for students, parents/carers and careers advisers. Register now.
Free HSC Support Webinars | University of Newcastle has partnered with InspirationED to deliver a series of free webinars for Year 12 students to help them prepare for the HSC and beyond. The first webinar - Strategies for Success in the HSC - will be held on Wednesday 29 March at 7:00pm.
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Diverse Career Paths | Find out about diverse careers in accounting.
HSC4Me Premium resources for Year 12 students

See THIS WEEK'S CAREERS' NEWSLETTER to find out more.

Licona Update | Last Day of Trade for Term 1

LICONA UNIFORM SHOP

Please note that the last day of trade for this term will be 5th April at 4.00pm.

The Licona will reopen for Term 2 on the ANZAC Day public holiday, 25th April, from 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

Normal trading hours will resume throughout Term 2: Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm.

Boarding

Boarders' Taronga Zoo Outing

MR TIM SEDGWICK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BOARDING

The final Recreational Activity for the term saw the boys head to Taronga Zoo. The boys were extremely excited to visit the Zoo as many had not had the opportunity to visit one of the world’s best zoos before.

The Year 7s especially enjoyed the various shows on offer and spent long periods of time in the Aquarium section watching the penguins dance and play, before heading to the tiger area.

The Year 8 boys used their time well, getting around the zoo with minimal fuss and utilising the gondolas to good effect. The boys also spent long periods of time in the meerkat enclosures laughing at their playful nature.

The Year 9 boys enjoyed the social aspects of the day; chatting with staff and students and providing excellent leadership to the younger boys. It is fantastic to see the boys of Year 9 continue to develop these skills.

A massive thanks to Mrs Kelly for all the time and effort she has put into the Recreational program this term! The boys are looking forward to what is in store for Term 2.

Performing Arts

Co-curricular Drama - Year 8 Play Wrap Up

MR CONRAD PAGE, HEAD OF DRAMA

Year 8 Plays performed this week and the student cast and crew have had a great time creating and performing two comedic one act plays for full houses in the O’Kelly Theatre.

“I’ve had so much fun and so many laughs that I don’t want this to end. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and made so many new friends. I’m really happy I have been involved in this year’s Year 8 Play and I will definitely do more plays for Co-curricular Drama in the future at the school.”
Luke Jacobs

Congratulations to all involved (see list below) and we hope to see you at our next Co-curricular Drama Performance in the O’Kelly Theatre next term!

10 WAYS TO SURVIVE THE END OF THE WORLD - CAST

Max Finsterer
Hamish Walter
Arthur Lusher
Sachin Sundaraj
Angus Harrison
Caelan Cosgriff
Luis Criola
Shiven Moodley
Harry Saadat
Patrick Cleary
Xavier Quoyle
Max Quirk
John Roberts
Hugh Wentriro

DEUS EX MACHINA - CAST

Nathan Brooks
Marcus Camilleri
Henry Collopy
Claudia Davis
William Gordon
Grace Holland
Luke Jacobs
Ignatius Meagher
Ruby Ossowski
James Pfaffin
Callum Sillett
Henry Stuart
Jasper Timms

VIEW CREW

Hugo Wrightson
Joshua Yap
Nicholli Thompson
Marcus Criola (OR2022)
Harrison Ridgewell
William Rennie
Elliot Solomons
Samuel Liubinskas
Noah King
Mitchell Hornby
Lachlan Au-Yeung
Alex Camilleri
Luca Maher
Alexander Bradley

Next term in The O’Kelly Theatre: Co-curricular Drama Year 12 Play VaudeView: Vaudeville at Riverview.
Created by the student cast & crew and directed by Mr Conrad Page.
Performances: 6:30pm shows on Wednesday 10th, Thursday 11th and Friday 12th of May.

Community News

ANZAC Day Service - did someone in your family serve?

MR DAVID WALES, HISTORY TEACHER

This year’s Anzac Day Service will focus on the wider Riverview community and their record of Service in Australian and New Zealand Forces in Conflict and Peace.

If you have a relative who has served in either Australian or New Zealand forces, in any conflict, please email Mr. Wales on DRWales@riverview.nsw.edu.au with their name and any details that you are aware of.

The Voice | OIU Dialogue Series

OLD IGNATIANS' UNION

With Australians voting in a referendum this year and being asked to alter the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘Voice’ — and at a time when we are being invited into constructive dialogue — last Thursday the OIU held a ‘Voice Dialogue’ in the O'Kelly Theatre.

Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer and advocate for Indigenous rights Fr Frank Brennan SJ shared with us his perspectives together with Indigenous Old Boy Kyle Wallace (OR2021). The discussion was moderated by Daniel Street (OR1998) and explored both the "Yes" and "No" cases being put forward by advocates.

Thank you to Mr Kaleb Taylor, the College's First Nations Coordinator, for leading the Acknowledgment of Country.

Christopher Brennan Library

What's New at Christopher Brennan Library? Term 1 Week 9

CHRISTOPHER BRENNAN LIBRARY

This coming-of-age novel follows two sisters navigating mental health and relationships as they uncover their family’s mysterious past.

Where You Left Us is available on our shelves and in our digital collection .

What’s on?

Who’s reading?

Fr Joe Dooley has been reading Sunshine and Shade , an autobiography written by David Miles Connolly AM, who attended Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview (1949-57).

Enter the Holiday Lego Competition!

CHRISTOPHER BRENNAN LIBRARY

Looking for something to do in the holidays? The Christopher Brennan Library Lego Club invites you to join the Easter holiday competition and win prizes!

The rules are simple:

Must use Lego
Create something that relates to a category below
Take a photo of the creation
Use the link to enter!

Categories:

Create a scene that shows one of the Ignatian values (Justice, Service, Courage, Discernment or Compassion)
Create a scene about Caring for our Common Home or Sustainability
Make your favourite food
Create an Easter scene

To enter, you'll need to take a photo and let us know the title of your Lego creation and which category you're submitting it under.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY HERE by 1st May 2023.

Good luck and happy building!

Viewpoint editorial staff

viewpoint@riverview.nsw.edu.au

Senior School

115 Tambourine Bay Road
Riverview NSW 2066
02 9882 8222
stignatius@riverview.nsw.edu.au

REGIS Campus

Enter via Riverview St
Riverview NSW 2066
02 9882 8306
RegisAdmin@riverview.nsw.edu.au

Senior School Student Office

02 9882 8127
studentoffice@riverview.nsw.edu.au

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