College Chronicle May 1st, 2008

Dear Parents,

This Anzac Day address was given at Tynong, April 25, 2008 by Vietnam Veteran, Mr Ray Arthur.
(Fr Michael Delsorte)

Time dims the memory of ordinary events, but not great events. In a nation’s history, great events - whether in peace or war - live in our memories regardless of time. They are deemed great not necessarily for what they achieve, nor for whether they are reckoned to be victories or successes.

So it is with Anzac Day.
On 25th April 1915, 16000 New Zealanders and Australians surged ashore at the foot of rugged cliffs on the Dardanelles Peninsula, in Turkey, to open a campaign intended to give allied shipping access to the Black Sea, bring help to Russia, and perhaps force Turkey out of the war.
It was - historians say - an ill-conceived campaign in pursuit of a vague prowess and character of the Turkish soldiers, and of the tactical advantages they held.

But the cream of the New Zealand and Australian Armies - volunteers all - committed themselves with no hesitation about the nobility of their cause, and fought with great courage, skill and audacity.

In the eight months which followed their first landing, some 50,000 Anzacs were committed to the battlefront, alongside 36,000 British, French and Indian comrades. When the last of them was withdrawn as winter set in, more than 11,000 New Zealanders and Australians lay dead, and with them many more allied and Turkish soldiers.

Gallipoli was a tactical defeat, but the New Zealanders and the Australians withdrawal was a sort of tactical victory before the enemy realised what had happened.
But the achievement of the Anzacs were to be measured other than on the battlefield. It was not just that New Zealanders and Australians were serving overseas in the name of the fledging nations for the first time.

By their commitment, their courage and their comradeship, the Anzacs set standards that inspired their countrymen for generations to come. The legends they established gave fresh voice to new feelings of national pride in both young nations, and the news of their suffering, on reaching the homes of anxiously awaiting families, brought people together in ways they had not known before.

For New Zealanders and Australians, Anzac is our own day.

It is a day on which we mark the deeds of men and women who had come to see themselves as New Zealanders and Australians, and who were mourned by people who regarded themselves as New Zealanders and Australians.
The names on the Public Memorials existing on virtually all our towns and cities are important and regular reminders of the losses our nations felt in those darker days.

The first Anzacs indeed command and deserve the respect and remembrance of present and future generations of all New Zealanders and Australians at home and abroad have gathered to commemorate not just those Anzacs who died on that day, but every one of our service men and women who has died in war or as a result of it since then.

We remember on this day those who fell in both World Wars, in conflicts in Korea, Malaya, Borneo, and Vietnam since then, and while on service with international peacekeeping forces wherever they were.

The fundamental purpose of today has been, and should continue to be, to pay homage to our veterans and those who gave their lives. In doing so, we ensure a recognition by our youth that peace and freedom have required a sacrifice in the past. Those we honour have left to Australia a tradition of courage, selflessness and a fine reputation to follow for the future. I have enjoyed the opportunity to be with you today and consider it a real honour to make this Anzac Day address.

What's On

Year 12 Mother’s Day RAFFLE

TICKETS …. $2 each or 3 for $5.00
1ST PRIZE …. $80 DINNER VOUCHER TO RESTAURANT OF WINNERS CHOICE.
2ND PRIZE …. BOTTLE OF WINE

DRAWN …. Mothers Day (11th May) after 10am Mass.

Tickets available from Yr 12 Students

Lunch Orders
A reminder to everyone that students are able to order a Lunch Order on the following days.
Monday: Mannix & McKillop house members
Thursday: Bosco and Kolbe house members.

MOTHERS DAY RECIPE: Zucchini and Tomato Frittata

Serving size: Serves 4

Ingredients
2 roma tomatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
3 medium zucchini, cut into 1cm-thick slices
8 black olives, pitted, halved
7 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley leaves, plus extra to serve

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C or 140°C fan. Arrange tomato on a baking tray and drizzle over 1 tablespoon of oil. Sprinkle with thyme and season to taste. Roast for 15 minutes, until tender. Set aside.

2. Heat remaining oil in a 22cm frying pan on medium. Cook zucchini slices for 5 minutes, until tender. Arrange tomato and olives in frying pan. Pour in egg and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Pull in cooked edges occasionally with a fork, so uncooked egg runs to the sides. When base is golden and top almost set, scatter with parsley. Place under a preheated hot grill for 2-3 minutes, until top is set and golden.

3. Slide frittata onto a serving plate and cut into wedges. Serve sprinkled with extra parsley.

General news

CATHOLIC ACTION
A meeting will be held on THURSDAY 15TH MAY at the Bunyip Hall at 8.00pm. Items on the agenda will be euthanasia, the maternity leave inquiry and broadcasting code of practices. For further information please contact Kevin Hogan on 0429 100933.

CADETS
First Saturday meeting will be at Corpus Christi Church after the 8am Mass. We shall be having a camp breakfast in the church grounds. Bring bacon, eggs, flour for damper, etc, etc. Also fry pan and other cooking gear. Any queries to Kees on 59681316.

LOST
School jumper belonging to Jonathon Bray. Name inside. Please return to Jonathon in Yr 5, or to the office if found. Missing for 4 weeks.

WANTED
Any historical information about our College for our new column “STAC SNIPPETS”. Please forward facts to Mr. Paar or the College office.

WANTED
Your used stamps for the Missions - helps Holy Cross Seminary to raise the much needed funds.
Please bring the stamps to the Church or to the College. Collection boxes are provided. Thank you in anticipation.

SCHOOL SHOE MIX-UP
On Friday (Anzac Day) shoes were taken off at the hall by several children whilst inside and unfortunately one child has worn home the wrong pair. I am looking for Size 13 boys school shoes and am happy to return the Size 1 to their rightful owner. Contact Liz Sprowell Through the school office. Thanks.

STAC SNIPPETS
St Thomas Aquinas College
is situated in the township of Tynong, which is an aboriginal word meaning “many fish”.

Sermon: given by Fr Pepping at the Anzac Day Requiem Mass

Lest we forget is the whole point of Anzac Day. When a person has gone out of his or her way to provide a service for us, it is becoming to remember it and show our appreciation for it. To let the memory of that service pass away is a sign that the feeling of gratitude has dulled, perhaps no longer there. Some services are given satisfactory recognition once, twice or a few times showing our appreciation and then moving on. Other acts of service should never be forgotten.

Fortunately, in Australia on Anzac Day, we make the time to recognise and show our appreciation for what Australians of the past so courageously and generously have done to forge and protect this wonderful nation of ours. The acts involved in providing this service demanded so great sacrifices, and for many men, still now daily sacrifices of living with the costs of those sacrifices, and the benefits that they attained for our society are so great, that it is only just that we never forget these men, and the deeds they performed for us.

In defending this country, or the causes of this country, these unselfish men exposed their lives to death and extreme hardships. They were willing to sacrifice their lives for the interests of Australians, not just at the time when they lived, but for all future generations of Australians. We, today, still profit by their willingness to make these heroic sacrifices.

War is a great evil, and as a consequence, many men, often in the prime of their youth, were called upon to make this sacrifice of their lives. Others returned from war, many scarred for life in body, all scarred for life in soul, bearing daily the cost of exposing themselves to so great dangers and evils.

Today, with this Mass, we especially pray for the souls of those dear men who died in war, or who have since passed away after having served this country in war. This Mass is the best expression of gratitude we can give them. We seek the eternal happiness of their souls, in return for defending our temporal happiness, by offering the Sacrifice of Calvary to benefit those men who sacrificed their lives for us.

And, while at this Mass, we especially think of all those men who lost their lives in battle or have since lost their lives, let us also not forget to pray for the men who have served us and remain with us, and for the families of all men, deceased and living, who have given so much for this country.

A Note from the Bursar….

EMA
Please note I still have a number of EMA cheques which need to be either collected or signed over to the College in order that they can be offset against school fees. Please call into the office in order that this can be done.

SCHOOL FEES
Next Friday is the due date for payment of Term 2 Fees.
Thank you to those families who have already paid their account. If you are having difficulties with either paying your account in full or keeping to your payment plan please let me know. Regards Kelly

Excursion
Change of Date

The Year 12 Students will now be attending their excursion to the Arts Centre on Tuesday 6th May 2008.

Students are to be at the Tynong Train Station for a 8.16am departure to the city. They will return at 1.30pm to the Tynong Station.

St Thomas Aquinas College
8th Annual Dinner Auction
Saturday, 30th August

Tickets NOW on Sale!
$60 per head
See Jo-Anne Morris to purchase yours today!

It’s that time again! We need your donations!
Lets make this year ANOTHER success!

Any Silent Auction Items can be given to Suzie Phillips.
Cash donations are also very welcome.

Any Major Items are to be given to Kees Van Strijp.
Our MAJOR PRIZE DRAW this year is ......
4 TICKETS to
Andre Rieu

A Romantic Viennese Night
Friday, 14th November
Melbourne Telstra Dome
More details…...soon.

DINNER AUCTION MEETING
FOR ALL MEMBERS
FRIDAY 9th MAY
8.15PM
(AFTER HOLY HOUR)

This meeting will be held at the home of Jacinta Hurst. (Longwarry).
Please bring any items that you have acquired for the auction.
Thanks, Pauline

Saint of the Day

MAY 1st: Feast of The Ascension

The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter Sunday, commemorating the Ascension of Christ into Heaven and His completion of the work of our redemption. The liturgy on this day celebrates the entry of Christ into heaven with our human nature glorified, and the pledge of our glorification with Him. In the past, processions outside the church were held on this day to imitate Christ's leading the Apostles out of the city to the Mount of Olives, and to commemorate the entry of Christ into heaven.

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