3 December 2020

Newsletter Articles

Essential Emails

Final Day of 2020

From the Principal

Dear College Community,

It has been an extraordinary year for everyone and we look forward to the new year with the hope that restrictions continue to be lifted and a sense of normality may return to our country. Looking back on the year, I reflect on the online learning phase in Term 2 with great memories of our staff’s total dedication to ensure that it went smoothly for our students. Their efforts and ability to adapt to support our students was exceptional and I know many parents were grateful for this. I was appreciative of the manner in which our staff and students worked to ensure that many of the usual events took place.

It was great to be able to give the Yr 12’s a terrific send-off recently. With restrictions lifting we were able to host most family members to the Graduation Mass on the Thursday evening. The Graduation Dinner the following night was a spectacular event conducted in our Santa Maria Centre for the first time. The organising committee did an exceptional job in decorating the SMC, the catering was excellent and our P&F volunteers and Yr 11 parents and students did an outstanding job serving on the night. Congratulations to everyone involved including the many staff who contributed to the success of the evening.

I take this opportunity, to again wish our “Class of 2020” all the best for the future. They have been an excellent class who preserved through a tough year.

On Tuesday 1 December, we hosted Yr 6 students from throughout the district for out Orientation Day. This was a whole day session ran from 8:30am until 3:00pm. Students met their teachers, completed team-building activities hosted by our Yr 10 Peer Support Leaders and learnt about how our school operates. We currently have sixty-three students enrolled an therefore at the moment we plan to have three classes. If you have any queries regarding enrolments, please contact the office as soon as possible.

We have a few staffing changes for 2021. These changes are as follows:

• As mentioned previously, we farewell Mr Michael Matthews from our teaching staff. Apart from the classroom, Michael has involved himself in all facets of school life including the school musical band, Maraka floats and running our Gilroy Gamers. We thank him for the great contribution he has made to our school. Michael will still be living in Ingham and will be available for supply work so won’t be lost to our school community.
• We also farewell Mrs Nancy Douglas. Nancy has led our careers program in recent years and has done an outstanding job. The guidance she has given as well as the opportunities she has sought for our students has been exemplary. Nancy has enhanced relationships with our community and the employers in the district which has opened doors for our students. Mrs Louise Costabeber will take over this role in 2021.
• We also farewell our Guidance Counsellor Mrs Simone Cook and thank her for her work here. Simone was here during the online learning phase and I appreciate the work she did in supporting students and pastoral staff during this time. Simone was working here while Mrs Kate Stringini was on maternity leave, and it will be great to welcome Mrs Stringini back next year. Also joining our Guidance Counselling staff in 2021 will be Mrs Megan McQuade. Megan previously worked at Gilroy and it is great to welcome her back.
• We welcome new teachers to our school, Mr Jaiden Spina, Ms Phoebe Slater and Mrs Belinda Strong all join our teaching staff in 2021.
• We also welcome Ms Belinda Musemeci and Ms Leisa Bradshaw to our support staff.

Over the holidays, we begin our latest capital works project. This project includes a new library, science block and two classrooms where M Block is currently located. This was the old Santa Maria College building and while we initially planned to refurbish it, the asbestos in the building meant we had to demolish and rebuild the facilities. While these new facilities are being built, temporary demountables will be erected near the chapel.

Last week, I was informed that I had been successful in gaining a position in the Townsville Catholic Education Office for 2021. I’ll be taking up the position of Director, School Development Services. This is the position I worked in when seconded to the office this year. It is a great opportunity but tinged with the sadness of leaving Gilroy after six enjoyable years. It has all happened very quickly and therefore the Townsville Catholic Education Office have asked Mrs Melissa Carr to be Acting Principal in Term 1 of next year. The position will then be advertised nationwide with the intention of a new principal beginning in Term 2. Melissa was acting principal when I worked in the office this year and led the school very well. Mrs Joan Devietti will step into the Acting Deputy Principal’s role during this time.

I take this opportunity, to thank everyone for their support during my time at Gilroy. I have often mentioned how lucky I am to be principal of such a fine school and I leave with many fond memories of the students, staff and parents that make up our school community. I’m proud of the things we all accomplished and I hope to stay connected to the school in my new role as I visit schools in the Diocese.

Please have a safe, happy and Holy Christmas. To all families and staff leaving our College community we wish you all the best.

Our office closes on Friday 11 December and reopens on Monday 11 January 2021 with school resuming on Wednesday 27 January for all year levels.

God Bless and thank you again for your support.

God Bless

John Nuttall
Principal

Assistant Principal Curriculum & Administration

As I write my final newsletter for 2020, I think of what an eventful year we have had. We have lived many new life experiences. As Father Damian said at our Year 12 Graduation Mass, we should look at this year gone as a glass half full; full of rich learning, improved resilience and the launch of many new programs and ways of learning.

Recently we farewelled the Graduating Class of 2020. Congratulations to our Graduates for a wonderful year and for achieving great results. This class is a historic group as they will be our first cohort to complete Year 12 in the New QCE system and receive an ATAR if they are eligible. Many of our students have made the most of their senior secondary education; having completed a plethora of both vocational educational qualifications and QCAA recognised studies. The successful education of students does not happen by accident and all members of the Gilroy Staff are to be congratulated for their ongoing work that they have contributed towards the education of all of the Yr 12’s in 2020; it has definitely been a team effort. A special thank you to Mrs Joan Devietti and Mrs Nancy Douglas who have conscientiously and tirelessly assisted with tracking the students and ensuring that they were on target for their QCE and QTAC applications. Also, thank you to Mrs Karen Lahtinen, who not only coordinated the group but also, with the big help of Yr 12 parents, gave these students a graduation evening they will never forget! We look forward to both receiving their QCAA and QTAC results on the 19 December and, of course, hearing of their next step in life’s journey in the coming months.

Yr 7 to 11 students have also finished the year off well, having completed their Term 4 assessment last week and enjoying their final day for 2020 with well-deserved fun activities at the Ingham Swimming Pool and Ingham Cinema.

Tuesday, 1 December, was also our Gilroy Orientation Day for 2021 Yr 7students. From all reports, students enjoyed the day getting to know their pastoral leader, teachers, peer support leaders and their fellow classmates. It also gave them the opportunity to further familiarise themselves with their new school, classrooms and play areas. On Orientation day, students received a package that contained essential information e.g. the book list, in preparation for the new school year.

As the school year comes to an end, we are saying a bittersweet farewell to our College Principal, Mr John Nuttall. John has been a true asset to our College for many reasons. His wisdom, shared leadership and generous heart are a few of the qualities that make John such a great leader and colleague who staff, students and the College community will miss. John’s wealth of knowledge and inspirational leadership has meant that he was always destined for a position at Townsville Catholic Education where he will be able to espouse these qualities throughout the whole diocese. Townsville Catholic Education is lucky to have him as I know he will continue to do great things in this role. John’s wife, Tracy, has also secured a senior leadership position in Townsville which means that they can be together in Townsville. I want to wish them every happiness and all the best for the future. Moving forward, I will be retaking the reins as Acting Principal for Term 1 in 2021 to ensure that we are able to recruit the best person to lead our College. We are very fortunate to have a great community of teachers and students here at Gilroy Santa Maria, so I am confident that we will attract another wonderful Principal.

It has been a year where we have celebrated, achieved many successes and learnt much together. I look forward to the Christmas holidays and I would like to wish everyone a safe and Holy Christmas

God Bless

Melissa Carr
Assistant Principal Curriculum & Administration

Orientation Day for YR 6’s

Counsellor’s Corner

Thank you to the staff, parents and students of Gilroy Santa Maria College for my time here as your Guidance Counsellor. It was truly a blessing! I wish you all a healthy and happy Christmas full of joy!

During this season of giving let us promote ‘gratitude’ in our families.

God bless

Simone Cook

CATHOLIC EDUCATION UPDATE

HELP KIDS COPE WITH SUMMER STORMS, FLOODS, FIRES…AND MORE!

It’s been a big year for dramatic news, and some children may feel anxious as summer storm and cyclone season approaches. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program can help parents support children’s coping skills and resilience, and free Triple P is available state-wide thanks to the Queensland Government. Visit the link below.

HELP KIDS COPE WITH SUMMER STORMS, FLOODS, FIRES…AND MORE!

It’s been a big year for dramatic news, and children (and even parents) may feel anxious or distressed as summer storm and cyclone season approaches.

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program can help you support your child’s coping skills and resilience in the face of natural disasters. Here are some simple tips:

• Encourage a sense of being calm and prepared
• Keep the emphasis on a positive, capable outlook
• Help children understand, accept and deal with their feelings
• Model ways to deal with strong emotions
• Encourage realistic thinking rather than “imagining the worst”.

Read more in this Triple P blog:

Triple P is free state-wide thanks to the Queensland Government – visit the link below.

With thanks,

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program team

Assistant Principal (Religious Education)

Dear College Community,

It has been a very busy time over the past two weeks. It began with Year 12 Retreat at Genazzano. Taking the group away at the end of the year gave them the opportunity to be present with each other after a topsy-turvy year. It was my absolute pleasure to be there with the students as they entered their final week of secondary schooling and I am very proud of the way they immersed themselves in the retreat.

I would like to thank everyone who helped in any way and attended the Graduation Mass on Thursday night. These events are only made special by those who are a part of it and contribute in some way. Live streaming the mass made it even more accessible to those who could not attend, whether for social distancing or living away. It is one of the many highlights in my job and always feel a sense of sadness as we farewell students and bless them on their way. I extend my congratulations to the graduating class of 2020.

As we approach the end of the schooling year, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the college community for the support given to me over the past year. I would especially like to thank Mr John Nuttall for the significant impact he has had on the college over the past six years and his continued support of me in my role as APRE. He will be truly missed, and I wish his all the best in his new position at TCEO.

Advent is the time we start preparing for the coming of Jesus. In the lead up to Christmas may we all look to being the best possible version of ourselves and strive to bring out the best in all those around us. The final prayer for this 2020 is an Advent Prayer.

God Bless

Christine Timms
Assistant Principal – Religious Education

Assistant Principal (Pastoral Care)

Dear College Community,

What a great year to start a new role, 2020 has definitely been a unique year with many changes, new exam layouts, online learning and all the other changes Covid has brought us. Luckily for all our students, teachers at Gilroy Santa Maria College have taken on these changes and turned them into positives using their new skills taught during the home schooling period to improve their teaching and students learning. Although students may have missed out on some school camps or retreats it has given us time to make some improvements to these activities and I am excited for next year.

Our pastoral care has taken on a few changes this year and I know they weren’t favourable to the students at first, but they have provided us with some positive changes and some great feedback from students, staff and community. Pastoral care at Gilroy is taking on some new changes again next year and I am excited to see the implementation of this and the results it has, hopefully making for a more enjoyable learning environment, and we get to see more students taking the leap, challenging themselves and getting involved in new activities. We have many opportunities next year for everyone and I hope you as parents encourage your sons / daughters to take advantage of these activities to extended and challenge them. Another exciting change is the new learning spaces in the school, a lot of time, effort and money have gone into these areas and it is great to see students learning in an environment with the latest resources at the tips of their fingers. With more changes occurring over the holidays its an exciting time at Gilroy Santa Maria.

Looking back over the year there have still been some great events, our cross country through the cane fields, walk-a-thon down Forrest beach, our swimming carnival and various other events such as “Has Gilroy Got Talent?”. Congratulations to all our students for completing another year of education and I hope at some stage this week you take a few minutes to sit back and reflect over the year. Lastly, I would like to say that I have really enjoyed the learning curve associated with this role during a challenging year. I thank all the great staff at Gilroy for the amazing job they do and the support they have given not only myself but the students at the College. I look forward to seeing and working with you all next year. Wishing all staff, students, and families a safe and enjoyable Christmas break.

God Bless

Matt Schrodter
Assistant Principal – Pastoral Care

From the Business Manager

2021 School Fees

Due to the new finance system we have implemented, we have had to streamline the way we charge school fees for 2021.

As all year levels attend either a retreat or a camp we have decided to include all school camps in the general levy.

Previously only year 10’s were charged a laptop levy of $250 per student, however all students now have a device so an IT levy of $100 per student has also been included.

The General Purpose levy consists of:

• Subscriptions
• Technology – including licences, accidental insurance and laptop bags
• Subject levies
• Textbooks and other resources
• Camps/Retreats
• Student devices

We have also separated the Building Fund Levy of $400 per family. This was previously included in general levies but this fee is now per family not per student.

MULTI-SCHOOL FAMILY FEE DISCOUNTS

As of 2015, a new fee structure gives families discounted fees for the second, third and subsequent children across both secondary and primary systemic Catholic schools in the Townsville Diocese.

To take advantage of this extended fee discount, parents/carers should contact the principal of the primary school, informing them of older siblings attending a systemic Catholic secondary school. Diocesan Tuition fee discounts will be applied accordingly.

PENSIONER AND HEALTH CARE CARD HOLDERS FEE DISCOUNTS

In addition to these family fee discounts, parents/carers with a means tested Australian government health care or pensioner concession card may be eligible to receive a 70% discount to tuition fees. Card must be in the name of the parent/carer not he child/student.

Families without these cards who are experiencing financial difficulty should speak with their school principal to apply for special consideration.

No child will be denied enrolment due to financial difficulty. Parent/carers should discuss this matter with the school principal who will treat the situation with understanding, sensitivity and confidentiality.

The school office will close on Friday 8 December and we will reopen on Monday 11 January 2021. Keep an eye out on Facebook and emails for times and dates for when the library is open to collect your textbooks.

Just a reminder that our preferred way of payment is now BPAY and those details are on the statement. As always, you can pay by credit card, cheque or cash or we can set up a direct debit through Pay way.

If the statement does not look, quite right and you do not agree with balance or if you have any issues or questions regarding the statements please do not hesitate to see me.

As always, if for any reason you are finding it difficult to pay school fees. Please contact the Principal or myself to discuss the matter.

God Bless

Ros Giuliano
Business Manager

Job opportunities

Important Dates

Audrey’s Angels Visit

In Term 3 this year, the Yr 9 Business students participated in the $20 Boss Challenge. The aim of this challenge was to establish and run a small business. Each group was given $20 per person, and each group had to work together to design a product or service that could be sold at school. Each group worked together and a variety of goods were sold. At the end of the challenge, all money was collected and counted. A net profit of $506 was raised. This profit was then donated to Audrey’s Angels of Hope, a local cancer charity. Last assembly, Natalie, from Audrey’s Angels received the donation.

MUSICAL 2021

Congratulations to the following students who have successfully auditioned for a lead role in our musical production for 2021, The Addams Family. Mrs McLaren and I would like to extend our appreciation to all the students who auditioned over the last few weeks. It is no mean feat to perform in front of others and we have seen some truly fabulous acting and singing by students from a range of year levels. We look forward to working with this talented cast next year!

Miss Phoebe Slater
(Director)

English Short Stories

We love sharing students work!

Here are three fascinating short stories written by: Jack Butcher, Prayer Muchirahondo & Kacey Lynch.

Arun’s trip

By Jack Butcher YR 7

Arun opened his eyes with a slight groan, hopped out of his bed, and felt the cold, wet floor of his dormitory room. Arun slowly moved towards the frosted window and peeked through the small gap between the curtains and saw the sight of Pennsylvania's snowy mountains. He walked down the steps of Dartmouth College and when he reached the bottom his friends Luke and John were already down there making breakfast.

“Good morning Arun,” said Luke.

“Good morning” replied Arun. The smell of cooked bacon and toast lingered in the room. He walked over to the breakfast table and made himself a slice of toast.

“Are you excited to go hiking?” John asked.

“Yeah, I'm so excited to go,” replied Arun. He sat down at the table and started to nibble on the edge of his toast. After he finished his toast he walked into his room and grabbed his boots from under his bed and quickly slipped them on. He also put his coat on, packed his bag, and raced down the steps.

He hopped on the bus and sat down, right next to Luke. When they arrived, Arun slowly stepped out of the bus and heard the crunch of the snow under his boots as they hit the ground and the smell of fresh air.

“What are you wearing?” asked John.

“Just some old clothes,” said Arun. They started to walk towards the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. They could feel the cold air on their face as they walked. When they got to the Lodge they could see that the Gorge Brook Trail was covered in ice.

“I don’t like this,” stated Arun.

“Just be careful and watch where you step,” replied John. They got to a nearby river that was frozen solid. They carefully stepped on each moss-covered rock trying not to fall.

They trudged down the track and Arun had to stop and take a drink. As he finished his drink and told his friends he was going back to get changed because he was as cold as an ice cube.

“I’m going to head back,” said Arun. The others kept walking down the track as Arun headed back. He picked his bag up and started to walk back to the Lodge. As he was walking back he lost his footing and fell down the 20-metre cliff edge! He fell like a rock! Crack! Luckily, he had landed in deep snow to break his fall a bit.

“JOHN, LUKE!” he yelled, but no response.

He pulled himself over to a nearby pine tree to escape the cold but he was still freezing.

He had cuts and bruises all over his body, he started to feel light-headed.

It was 9:30 am on a beautiful Monday morning in the snowy mountains of Pennsylvania. Fish and Game Crew were searching for Arun.

“I found him, I found him!” yelled Lt. Mark Ober. It was all over the news.

“21-year-old college student Arun Anand was found at 9:30 am in the snowy mountains of Pennsylvania,” said one of the news reporters. He awoke to the sound of a heart monitor.

“Where am I,” said Arun.

“You are in the hospital, we found you in the snow, you were suffering from dehydration and hyperthermia,” said one of the doctors.

“You are lucky to be alive.”

Creation

By Prayer Muchirahondo YR 8

Moral: Good always triumphs over evil

How The Table Mountain Became Flat

This follows the story of how the Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa came to have a flat top.

Quite a long while back, when the world was a void space, Tudo , the god of everything lived in the atmosphere. In spite of the fact that he was superior, making him unrivaled, he had an opponent who lived underneath the ground.

Tudo descended and invested all his energy into making all that we are aware of today, from the winged creatures in the sky to the waters in the deep blue sea. Tudo had a desire to create a sacred site for his people, whereby they would be able to gaze at it and feel overwhelmed by his marvel. He utilized all his faithful and strong force and instructed the land to rise up and form a big mountain.

Tudo, the divine force of everything, looked over the land in which he had commanded a mountain to sprout out of in complete shock. Nothing happened. Nothing moved. He knew he was powerful, but if so why didn’t nature respond to his call?

Rapidly, a fierce, evil and detestable looking beast rose from the profundity of the sea. He was a sea dragon named Nyaka. Nyaka interfered and tried to stop the god of everything, Tudo, because he was jealous that Tudo loved the people and wanted to preserve beautiful natural wonders for them.

This made Tudo angry. He never allowed himself to be defeated and he knew Nyaka the beast didn’t have power over him. In all his anger, Tudo shouted,“I command a mountain to rise from the soils that I, the omnipotent one, has created!” in a wild and thunderous voice.

The Earth shook viciously as a mountain formed, and lightning struck the mountain, making it a flat battleground as the sky was filled with darkness. Nyaka summoned all of the beasts of the sea in order to be in battle with lord Tudo on his sacred mountain.

Tudo stood alone, as he knew he was powerful. The beasts tried and tried countless times to fight and tempt Tudo into surrendering authority over to them, but he had a great love for his people before they were even conceived.

The Dragon of the sea, Nyaka, and all his followers were defeated. He had tried to hinder Tudo, the god of everything, but didn’t succeed.

The flatness of the mountain commemorates the battle that was fought between good and evil. It is a reminder to Tudo’s people that good will always triumph over evil, even if it may not look like it in the beginning - as Tudo had questioned his power when he was being tested by his rival.

Inhabitants of the city of Cape Town have even gone so far as to say that the mountain is a place where God’s angels walk from time to time, making it a site of great importance.

When the Curlew Calls

By Kacey Lynch YR 11

Tonight was the third night. The final night the curlew, guardian of our souls and messenger between worlds would cry out in the stillness of the scorching evening air. The first night was always the worst, sending everyone in the camp into a frenzy. Their eyes dart back and forth manically, their bodies shake ever so slightly. Then comes the second night. The eerie, yet soothing calls of the creature infiltrate the camp once more. Everyone appears to ignore the sounds, as if they are a boisterous child craving attention. But I know them all too well. Their hearts pound beneath their chests, perspiration spills from their brows, their focus fixed on anything but the most piercing sound of the night. I’ve seen it all too many times. The wounded warriors, crippled children, sick mothers. Fragile elders. All whisked away to the Shadow Land, a world of uncertainty and mysteriousness. As the eldest of the group, I knew my time would soon come. And that time was tonight.

“Good morning Gram!” a familiar voice chirped as I spun around. Dazzling, curious eyes gazed into my very soul, accompanied by a grin spread from cheek to rosy cheek. Jedda was the youngest of the tribe and is, (just between you and me), my favourite. Something about his enthusiastic, flamboyant nature melts my heart.

“Morning Jedda. I hope you’re going to help your mother collect berries for tonight.”

“Of course, I always do,” he replied mischievously. “I’m so excited! They’ll be singing, dancing, yummy tucker-”

“JEDDA!” a voice bellowed in the distance.

“COMING MOTHER!” he squealed in reply. “I better get going, see you tonight Gram!” And with that he skipped off, kicking up the red dirt with the heels of his calloused feet as he frolicked.

My stomach dropped. The reality of tonight’s events hadn’t fully sunken in until that moment. On the third and final night, it is an ancient custom to partake in a farewell ceremony, as a symbol of reverence to the fallen, whoever that may be. The number one rule of the camp: never, ever tell the children of the curlews. Their pure innocence should not be spoiled by what they cannot control. But there’s no time to fret, there’s work to be done.

The remainder of the day seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye, the weight on my shoulders becoming heavier as time rolled on. Tension began to build among the tribe, as it always did in the moments leading up to the twilight. I began to notice the fleeting glances from the others, the pain in their eyes kept at bay by their constant scurrying. They know. Besides, who else could it be?

As night fell over the camp, millions of shimmering specks littered the night sky. The sweet smell of crushed berries filled the crisp evening air, combined with the earthly scents of home. Shadows danced across the plain, as if mimicking the blazing fire that raged in the centre of the camp. If this was to be my final taste of the world I had come to cherish, I would travel to the Shadow Land fully content. Inhaling sharply, I wandered towards the fire, itching to feel its warmth one last time.

It was at that moment that I began to feel as though I was being watched. Startled, I briskly scanned the area, but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Quickly losing interest, I returned my attention to the luminescence of the burning timber. Whilst the children danced around the fire, I noticed a flash of movement in the greenery that surrounded the camp. Before my brain could even process what I had just seen, a large group of tall, oddly dressed men abruptly emerged from the nearby shrubs. A deafening silence filled the air.

Their faces twisted in confusion, their skin the colour of the ghostly gums that provide us with shade in the most perilous of summers. Draped across their bodies were jagged, metallic objects that seemed to cause them discomfort, their slouching frames a picture of exhaustion. They were unlike anyone I had ever seen before, and it frightened me. Strange sounds began to fall from their lips in what appeared to be an attempt at communication. The remainder of the group had gathered behind me. I could sense their apprehension. After a few more moments of unintelligible babbling, the men fell silent.

The most menacing of the group, who I assumed was their leader, took one cautious stride forwards. He dipped his head gently and our eyes locked. There was a calmness, a subliminal tranquility about his gesture. It was in that moment that my fears were sucked from every crevice of my body. Well of course, they were simply travellers, looking for a bite to eat or a story to share. Pivoting towards the tribe, I too gave a slight nod. And with that, for the first time in our history, outsiders were welcomed into one of our most sacred practices.

The dancers began to tire, the singers stopped their chanting. The ceremony was coming to a close and the dawn would soon arrive. Wearily, I staggered over to the hollow rock formation I had called home for seventy years. The intricate paintings that coated its interior glared back at me, as if I was watching my life flash before my eyes. The curlew’s final call carried me off to sleep. My final words, “Thank you,” rolled smoothly off my tongue…

BANG
SCREAM
SWOOSH

Life began again, and flashes of red, black white and brown clouded my vision. Then came the screams. Alarmed, I jolted upright, Just in time to watch the travellers sprinting from the scene of the camp. Without a word, their grey contraptions swinging back and forth in an antagonising rhythm. They didn’t seem so heavy anymore. Not as heavy as Jedda’s lifeless body.

THE END.

Congratulations Josh!

Yr 10 student Josh Macarone recently returned from the state cook off for KFC.

Each KFC store (153 stores) in the state selects one worker to enter and photo is taken of their cooked entry which is then sent to the regional manager (each manager looks after approx 10 stores) the regional manager then selects a winner. This winner is submitted and the top six for the state are selected. Josh was selected in the top six and was the only person from North Qld!

KFC flew Josh down to compete in a cook off. Names were drawn out of a bucket to select who they were to cook off against.

Here is Josh Macarone pictured with Abdul (the product quality judge), Jamie (Restaurant Excellence Manager) and Richard the Queensland Manager) Josh receiving his runner up medal and prizes.

Well done Josh.

What’s Happening in the Parish

Ingham Region Catholic Parishes Newsletter:

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

AROUND THE DISTRICT

Media Release
For Immediate Release – 30 November 2020

Hinchinbrook Turtle Challenge

Hinchinbrook Shire Council has erected signs on all major beach accesses asking residents and visitors to report any signs of turtle nesting to Council.

Our beaches are privileged to have both Green and Flatback Turtles nest frequently along our shorelines, and Council is doing all it can to gather as much data on these species as possible.

Knowing where and how many turtles are nesting on our beaches is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps Council understand the relative importance of Hinchinbrook in the broader population dynamics of turtles across the region, Great Barrier Reef and worldwide. Secondly, confirmed nesting sites adds significant weight and access to funding and investment opportunities of programs such as the Hinchinbrook Community Feral Pig Management Program, since feral pigs are known predators of turtle eggs. Last but not least, it adds to the wilderness values that many people come to the Hinchinbrook to experience.

Between November and January, nesting Green and Flatback Turtles lay about 50 and 100 eggs per clutch respectively and may nest more than once per season. Hatching occurs approximately 12 weeks later (January to April), where the hatchlings migrate out to sea and hopefully return some 30 years later to breed themselves.

If you see a nesting turtle on the beach, or even evidence of their tracks from the night before, Hinchinbrook Shire Council would greatly appreciate as much information as possible on the location to allow officers to manage and monitor the site until it hatches.

Residents are encouraged to gather information on the GPS location, take a photo of the nesting site and/or tracks, with some obvious landmark in the photo. This allows officers to record and monitor the situation. Alternatively, sightings can be logged through the ‘Eye on the Reef’ app, using the ‘Sightings’ tab. You can add a photo, mark the GPS location and make comments about the turtle or nesting sight. This data adds directly to Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s collaborative citizen science programs about the reef.

Please report nesting Sea Turtle sites to Council on 4776 4740.

Advertising with Schoolzine

Would you like to advertise in our new Schoolzine eNewsletter? Currently, Schoolzine is working diligently to source family friendly advertising sponsors and will then rebate quarterly 20% of revenue back to the school.

If you are interested in advertising either contact the school office or feel free to email Schoolzine any questions, suggestions or advertising enquiries.

Email: advertising@schoolzine.com.au
Phone: 07 5414 2361