Yesterday, the entire College community gathered in the MPC for the Commencement Celebration and presentation of 2018 Academic Awards. Unfortunately Father Jim was unable to attend, so the proceedings were led by Mrs Brennan and Mr Hodge along with an address from Mr Cuskelly. We also welcomed past Principal Mr Hegarty and his wife Jane who attended to present a gift of books from the late Andrew McGahan, a past student of the College and acclaimed author.

The 2019 Senior students were ushered into the MPC by the Prep students and presented with their Senior badges, a symbol which marks the start of their journey into their last year at the College and their expectation of leadership. Mr Hodge led the assembly in prayer and Mr Gillespie gave a reading from the Gospel.

Mr Hegarty then stepped forward to speak of Andrew McGahan who passed away recently but not before he signed a collection of his novels which he requested be presented to the College and added to the library collection. Andrew attended St Columba's School from 1972 until 1975 and then attended St Mary's College completing his Senior year as College Captain in 1981. Many College staff members were fellow students of Andrew and he is also the younger brother of longtime staff member, Mrs Marg Callaghan who retired in 2017. Andrew has had many novels published, some of which are centred around the areas on the Jimbour Plain where he grew up and his work has been recognised and celebrated with a number of prestigious literary awards. Andrew's great niece, Penny Kaiteie who is a student of the College in Year 6, joined Mr Hegarty on the stage to present the collection of novels to College Captains Lytana King-Togia and Laura May. These novels will be available for loan and we hope that all who read them enjoy them and remember the contribution Andrew made to our school and the literary world in general.

Mr Cuskelly gave his address and then welcomed the 2018 graduates and some of their peers who were in attendance for the Academic Awards presentations. Mr Cuskelly took the opportunity to highlight the successes of the 2018 graduates and the overall improvements in the OP scores and acceptances into university.

The Jenny Thornton Bursary is presented to a student who is pursuing a degree in Education and Science or Mathematics and this year, Mr Ross Thornton presented this bursary to Shivai Vakade who is studying a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at James Cook University. Six students received an OP of between 1 and 5 including Patrick Sankey, Mya Vadasz, Shivai Vakadi, Laura Cook, Eliza Bradford and Daniel Gillespie and each one of these graduates stepped forward to receive their award and address the students with their words of wisdom, particularly the Seniors of 2019.

Daniel Gillespie was also named as the College Dux for 2018 and was the recipient of the Western Downs Regional Council Bursary and also the Dalby and District Friendly Society Dispensary Bursary which was presented by Board Member Helen Stagg and CEO James Bannerman. The Dalby and District Friendly Society Dispensary has been supporting our College with this bursary for some years and we are very grateful that our College Dux is supported as they journey into university and a tertiary education.

The celebration concluded with the assembly singing the College song and despite the very hot conditions in the MPC, all the guests, staff and students sang with enthusiasm, a great sign of the bright start to the 2019 school year.