Being a Champion for Others

This week at the College I have been fortunate enough to hear from two people who are pillars in the community, who live kindness daily, and who are constantly trying to improve this world for others. Firstly, Troy Cook (former AFL star and current CBC parent) shared his personal story and his work with the Waalitj Foundation at our National Reconciliation Week Assembly. Secondly, Maggie Dent or the 'queen of common sense' spoke to a cohort of prospective CBC parents sharing her learnings and practical tips for parenting boys. Both guest speakers highlighted the power of being a champion for others - to advocate for, to be a supporter of and to love.

Love, Dent says, isn't about being soft, protecting boys from failure or preventing experiences that may challenge them – it's about anchoring boys to a network of support that helps guide them through life's inevitable highs and lows. Love is about teaching that failure, defeat and challenges are part of life; these are simply learning experiences which equip us with the resilience to overcome and move forward. Dent, in her book From Boys to Men, writes "Every interaction, every conversation, every experience, every meal, every car chat, every success and every failure is a teachable moment in your son's life." We teach our boys that it is okay to make mistakes, that they must accept the consequences of their choices, but we must also teach them that we love them, there are just times when we don’t love their behaviour.

Some tips, from Maggie Dent, on fostering conversations which champion boys when they don't quite get it right:

1. Help him know and understand what went wrong.
2.  Help him to make it right.
3. Explore what would be a better choice next time.
4. Then forgive and forget – don't keep bringing it up!
5. Acknowledge the valuable learning.

This message of love and learning is especially powerful during Reconciliation Week, as we acknowledge the role of community, culture, and strong role models in shaping the next generation. Troy Cook is one such role model. After his football career, Cook chose to give back—mentoring Indigenous youth, sharing stories of resilience, and championing health and education in remote communities. His story reminds us that to love means to always believe in the good in people, and that strong, values-driven communities contribute to personal growth.

Being a champion for boys means more than cheering them on in sport or studies—it means showing them love in action, modelling kindness, and helping them see the strength in empathy. This week, we're called to be those champions: to create communities where all young people, especially boys, feel a sense of belonging, pride, and purpose—tethered not just to achievement, but to love.

Ms Emer Hickey
Deputy Principal - Pastoral Care