VOLUME 37-2 XAVIER NEWSJULY 2019 PP38 1667/0037 xavier.vic.edu.au CONTENTS LEADERSHIP 1 A radically Leadership changing reality 6 Fr Chris Middleton SJ Rector The Life of the School The front cover of this edition features two The recent Federal election provided From the of Kostka Hall’s Techsperts Ned Wrigley an occasion for some reflection on the and Rafe Wilson with teacher Laura Roso democratic process, something that we 30 Editor at their Genius Bar, a new initiative that need to emphasise in an educational encourages students to utilise problem environment in preparing our students to Xavier solving and communication skills to assist be citizens of Australia, and indeed of the Foundation staff and fellow students with tech-related globe. We tend to forget that our Australian issues. Through programs like this, our story holds an important place in the history teachers are developing inspiring learning of democracy. Chartist ideas of democratic experiences for our students, fostering political representation influenced the an aspirational and rigorous culture of Eureka Stockade rising in 1854. The secret 34 learning and understanding of educational ballot was first known as ‘the Australian excellence. Ballot’ because it had been first popularised Old Xaverians’ here. South Australia, along with New Association Developing a global perspective and a Zealand, pioneered women getting the vote. sense of awareness in our students is essential to the formation of the whole One of the drawbacks of democracy is person, a core element of a Jesuit that the very freedoms at the heart of the Fr Chris Middleton SJ with Prefect Will Condon (Year 12) before the Laurels Society Mass education. The various ways in which process can make politics a dirty game, we engage with the world allow us to and political discourse can be so easily While the loss of respect for the office respecting the role of the teacher, while not 48 promote a culture of global-mindedness, coarsened in the heat of political battle, may in part reflect a worrying decline in simply relying on an appeal to an authority Archives collaboration and connectivity. increasingly amplified by a media driven standards, there is another element at play, based on that role. It is a lesson that even more by sensationalism and other agendas. which to my mind, paradoxically, is largely parents of teenagers have to find some Throughout the pages of this edition of The increasing coarseness, intolerance and positive. Since the 1960s there has been a ways of meeting – the simple appeal to Xavier News, it is evident that our students polarisation in our political discourse is of crisis in trust in authority of any kind in our authority as a parent loses its force at some and wider community are becoming real concern. increasingly more engaged with the world culture. One of the significant developments stage in most teenagers’ journeys, and through the various programs, Immersion An important corrective in our discourse to emerge is that arguments based on ‘because I say so’ is seldom the strongest 50 experiences and technological advances, in communities of any kind is our ability authority, or simply based on an office held line of persuasion, even if there is power Hic et Ubique from the transformative World Challenge to distinguish between the office and by an individual, do not ultimately carry behind it. expeditions to the ‘Walk a Mile’ refugee the person holding the office. We might weight today. In an increasingly educated It is a radically challenging reality – the camp simulation project at Kostka Hall vigorously oppose the policies of particular world, the status of any office is not enough exercise of authority based primarily on Campus. politicians, but we should hold respect in itself; people need to be persuaded, respect must be earned and authority must privileges of seniority or birth or race or Xavier News Published by the Community for the office. It is a useful distinction that We hope you feel inspired by the many gender, or on the simple power to do Relations Office of Xavier College, can be applied to church leaders, legal be wielded in ways that are consistent with so, does not accord with the values of a 135 Barkers Road Kew Victoria 3101 wonderful stories of our community in professionals, police etc. We might disagree the values of a democratic society. democratic society in which education and T +61 3 9854 5465 F +61 3 9854 5328 this edition of Xavier News as we begin to with decisions made, we might even E [email protected] It is a lesson the Church is still to fully equality are so valued. In Christian terms, implement the inner workings of XC150, passionately oppose some holders of office, learn: the exercise of its authority must the language of service, of being ‘Men and our Strategic Plan. but there are times when respect for the Director of Development and Community Relations: be accountable, respectful and be driven Women for Others’, needs to move more to Tony Bretherton office is important if due process in a civil by service, as modelled by Jesus when He centre stage in our understanding and use Editor: Jessica Brinsdon society is to be maintained. Our tolerance washed His disciples’ feet. And schools and of authority. After all, our ultimate Model as Contributing Editor: John Fox for ‘egging’ and other physical acts towards Jessica Brinsdon teachers still find the exercise of authority Christians provided a pretty clear example. Graphic Designer: Colleen Daly politicians may leave us open to the political Editor challenging at times, as simply laying down G K Chesterton, the English Catholic author Publications and Communications Coordinator: violence that afflicts so many societies the law is not enough. While teachers are and contemporary of George Bernard Shaw, Hannah Clifton and the necessity of security screens that certainly deserving of respect, and our H G Wells and Bertrand Russell, would Old Xaverians’ Association Liasion: Davina Calhaem surround politicians in many countries. culture, to its real detriment, has allowed a probably not be much in tune with our Photographers: Dave Arnold, Nick Chester and We should be wary of taking our political diminished respect for the important role of modern age, but he was able to comment James Grant system for granted. Important discussions teachers; teachers themselves cannot simply that “If a rhinoceros were to enter this Archival Content: Catherine Hall need to be had about freedom of speech, command attention because of their title. To restaurant now, there is no denying he Printer: Eastern Press even on university campuses, freedom of demean the role of the teacher is to weaken would have great power here. But I should Distributor: Mail Pro religion (raised tangentially by the Israel our investment in the future and to short- be the first to rise and assure him that he Folau case), alongside those debates about We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people and all of the peoples of the Kulin nation who continue to care for change the critical priority of the education. had no authority whatever”. this land as they have done for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and renew our pledge to diversity and tolerance, that, for example, There is a middle ground, however, of work together toward reconciliation and the wellbeing of all. swirled around the same-sex marriage vote. 1 LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP Forecast: The future of education… at Xavier Understanding the role of William Doherty Principal the College Board Tony Nunan Meet members of the Xavier College Board Chair, Xavier College Board In Ernst and Young’s 2015 Megatrends with today’s Industry 4.0 underpinned by cities.” Digital oil fields will lead to increased Xavier College is an incorporated entity with a Board that Shane Healy Beth McConnell analysis, Making Sense of a World in Motion, immersive connectivity through automated savings and output in the energy space, while is responsible for the local governance and management of I attended a Christian Brothers’ I commenced on the College Council the global consulting giant sought to identify systems, cyber networks, connectivity and “smart grids” will revolutionize the production, the school. Xavier College Limited (LTD) is the legal entity School, but I had an aunt, Clare, in 2013, becoming a director of the and describe those large transformative global the Internet of Things. Yet a cursory glance delivery and use of electricity worldwide. that conducts the College and is the employer of all the staff and an Uncle, Jack Healy, who College Board upon its incorporation forces that were likely to define our future at our educational model and societal The ability to create digitally based business at the school. both taught for many years at in 2018. My role includes general and substantially impact on business, society, expectations confirms a fixation with academic models has lowered the barrier to creating These words are the opening paragraph of the description about St Ignatius’ College Riverview in oversight of the governance of culture, economies and individuals. benchmarking according to knowledge- new and innovative ventures for entrepreneurs the Xavier College Board on the school website. Sydney. They revered the Jesuits the College, utilising my legal and based testing, league tables based on the around the world.” They impartially observed that we live in a and were always reminding me governance experience. I am also performance of Year 12s in prescribed content The Xavier College Board was formed on 5 March 2018 and replaced world of constant motion; that technological What an exciting new world! But to be at that if I had children I was to Chair of the Risk and Compliance and regimented examinations, and notions of the previous Xavier College Council.