Term 3 Week 10 – 21st September 2022
Staff Member Profile: Mr Lucas Hurley
In a return to what was a regular section in newsletters of the past, through staff member profiles you can get to know a bit more about the people at MacKillop. This week we interviewed our Principal, Mr Lucas Hurley.
What made you decide to become a teacher?
My decision to become a teacher came from a calling, rather than just an attraction to the vocation of teaching, although the appeal of being a teacher was certainly part of the decision. Before deciding to undertake a Diploma in Education, I was in the process of studying for the Catholic Priesthood. I was studying philosophy and theology in a Seminary program in the United States, and I had decided to return to Perth to complete my Seminary training. During that time, a cousin of mine was studying classical singing at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and he invited me to attend one of the academy’s opera productions. It was during the performance that a very beautiful young lady appeared to be staring at me from the stage during her performance, which really struck me. As it turns out and cutting a long story short, the beautiful young lady was in fact not staring at me, she didn’t know me from a bar of soap, she was looking at her sister, who was seated in the row behind me. But in any case, and as it turned out, the beautiful young lady said ‘yes’ and she later became my wife; hence the priesthood was no longer an option. It was at this point that the vocation of teaching became not just an option but a very clear calling.
What was your teaching journey before you came to MacKillop?
Before arriving at MacKillop I taught primarily in boys’ education, having spent almost a decade in Edmund Rice Education as Religious Education Specialist. I spent 6 years teaching Religious Education and coaching under 18’s AFL at Aquinas College, where in both 2012/13 I taught this year’s Brownlow Medallist, Patrick Cripps. From 2016-2020, I was appointed as the Principal of a school in Western Australia, called Immaculate Heart College. That was an incredible experience for me, as I had the privilege to be the foundational principal of the Secondary School.
What do you love about being a Principal?
What I love most about being a principal is contributing towards and observing growth in the lives of young people. I wish nothing but the best for the young people put in my care.
What is your vision for MacKillop Catholic College?
My vision for MacKillop is that it develops the reputation as the number one education provider in the NT.
How do you like to spend your time when you’re not at school?
Primarily, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children who are more or less all teenagers. However, since moving to the NT, I spend a lot of time mowing the lawn. On occasion my wife orders me to go fishing and to date I have never complained about this. As a side project, I am currently in the process of turning my fishpond it into a swimming pool; I know it sounds silly but it’s a big fishpond.
Catholic Identity News
Arts News
Primary Schools Music Tour
Young Musician of the Year
Indigenous Community News
IAHA Deadly Careers
Sport News
Sports Vouchers
Letter from Chief Minister Sport Voucher
Fit for Life
Year 9 Fit For Life did an excursion to CrossFit Abode in Yarrawonga.
Students will be going on excursions each Wednesday and participating in a range fitness activities in the Palmerston area.
Staff vs Students Netball
Saints News
MacKillop Takes Out 2 out of 3 Cups at Inter-school Rugby Union 7s Competition
Well done to all our MacKillop teams who played on 23rd September – especially our girls and U14 boys who won the grand prizes in their categories, bringing two new cups back to further fill our already packed trophy cabinet.
Outdoor Education
Year 11 and Year 10 Outdoor Ed students, with our Italian visitors. We went to Litchfield National Park, Mataranka and Kakadu.
Sailing
Uniforms
Awards Events
Bus News
Code-of-Conduct-for-School-Bus-Travel-Sept-2022
Languages and International
Darwin Languages Competition Success
Farewell to our Italian Exchange Students!
International Cooking
Year 12 News
Science News
Year 11 students can apply for the 2023 NYSF Year 12 Program!
Submit your applications to the 2023 NYSF Year 12 Program!
We encourage students to apply by 5 October to get the full benefit of the pre-program experience – which includes selection events, NYSF Access & Equity Scholarships, sneak peeks of the program, orientation sessions, access to webinars, Governor Receptions in some States and Territories, and access to the NYSF chat app.
Rotary districts around Australia have already commenced selection events for the NYSF program, with the majority scheduled throughout October. These are a great opportunity to meet like-minded students and a development opportunity. For students who apply after their local selection event or can’t attend the selection, rest assured there will be a late-round online selection event.
Checklist for students
1. Start the application on the NYSF website
2. Decide if you will self-fund or need to contact a Rotary Club (noting that some Rotary Districts have finalised their selection process)
3. Submit application
4. Apply for NYSF Access and Equity Scholarship for additional financial help
5. Attend local Rotary selection events or late-round online selection interviews
Any questions, please contact Mr. Joseph, HOD Science
Sam Clear and his Walk Around the World for Unity
On Friday 2nd September the staff of MacKillop Catholic College had the privilege of enjoying a professional development day listening to the inspiring story of Mr Samuel Clear, an Australian adventurer with no shortage of valuable insight and advice to offer, garnered through his many and varied life experiences, particularly his walk around the world with a mission of championing unity amongst all people.
Sam was born and raised in rural Tasmania, growing up on a farm. He was successful at school both academically and in his sporting pursuits, and after graduating, had clear pathways ahead for an impressive choice of enviable mainstream careers, ranging from professional AFL to mechanical engineering. Despite achieving significant success on several of these pathways in their own right, Sam felt called to do something more with his life, and step further out of his comfort zone to take on a mission to risk everything to evangelise his Catholic Faith to the wider world through a walk around the world – 15,600km on foot through South America, Central America & North America, across Siberia by train, and on foot again from Moscow to the western most point of Spain, in the name of inspiring Unity.
This undertaking thrust Sam onto the front page of numerous overseas news services as he persevered despite exceptional adversity.
Having to find food & water every day was the least of his worries. He was threatened at gun point three times, robbed at knife point, beaten up on the side of the road, came face to face with dangerous animals, was hospitalised many times and endured extreme temperatures. Despite this, Sam described multiple very positive experiences on the adventure, mainly relating to the people he met and the lives he was able to have an impact on, which kept him going through all the hardship.
Sam has now presented the lessons from this epic adventure in over 700 businesses and high schools around Australia, New Zealand the United States. His tale is one of extraordinary courage, challenges and love in action under incredible circumstances.
We are extremely grateful to Sam for his time in coming to speak to us as he continues his mission.
Community News
Howard Springs Scouts are looking for new members who enjoy the outdoors, setting challenges and having adventures.
Scouts provides opportunities that are adventurous, fun, challenging and inclusive, whilst encouraging young people to set personal goals and recognise their achievements.
