The College Commencement Mass was held in the MPC yesterday and it was a wonderful opportunity to start our school year with prayer and a celebration of Christ and the values we adopt at our College. Our 2020 Senior students entered the MPC hand-in-hand with a new Prep student and, as is the tradition, there were high fives all around as each student marked the start of their first year at school and and the start of their last.

In his homily, Father Jim pointed out that each of us is one of 4 billion people on our planet and it is wrong for us to think we are more important than any one else. He explained how we can all learn something from one another and it is a valuable lesson to recognise that we are not any more important that the next person. It was a humbling thought but an important one.

Father Jim also highlighted the lessons we learn in life, sometimes the hard way. If you steal a bone from a dog long enough, he will eventually bite you. Those moments can sometimes lead to funny stories later on but it is the lesson we learn that is important and, for most of us, there are many.

After the Mass, Mr Cuskelly stepped forward to report on the success of our 2019 Senior grdauates. He highlighted the fact that all students who were accepted to university received their first preference which is an outstanding result. 88% of students who were OP eligible received an OP 1 - 15 and 40% of graduates received a VET qualification.

Claire Gibson, College P & F Treasurer then stepped forward to present a cheque for $200,000 to Mr Cuskelly which will be put towards technology and infrastructure projects including the Middle Years Plaza.

Laura May was then announced as the College Dux for 2019 and she was the recipient of the Western Downs Regional Council Academic Excellence Award with a bursary of $250 as well as the Dalby Friendly Society Dispensary Finacial Bursary of $2000. Rory Ross was the recipient of the Jenny Thornton Bursary of $300 as a student who is entering the field of Science or Mathematics at University. We congratulate both Rory and Laura as the venture forward in the next chapter of their lives.