The heart of CBC Fremantle
One of my favourite feel good movies is the little Aussie gem The Castle, directed by Rob Sitch. The film's title is based on the English saying, repeatedly referred to in the film, "a man's home is his castle". Its humour plays on the national self-image, most notably the concept of working-class Australians and their place in modern Australia.
One of my favourite feel good movies is the little Aussie gem The Castle, directed by Rob Sitch. The film's title is based on the English saying, repeatedly referred to in the film, "The Kerrigans remind me of our community; grounded, humble, but ambitious. Although full of great characters, my favourite member of the cast is suburban lawyer Dennis Denuto. Darryl Kerrigan's faith in Dennis is unwavering, despite Dennis' failure to get his son Wayne off an armed robbery charge, and his confidence in the lawyer before the Court is rock solid. A key scene for me, and what has become part of our vernacular is when Dennis' argument for resisting the developer's resumption of Darryl's 'castle' is based on 'the vibe'.
'The Vibe' is something that I feel every day at CBC Fremantle. It is intangible but palpable and ever-present. It's what gives my working life so much joy and noticed by anyone and everyone who visits our College. I'm sure every school has one, but I'm so glad we have ours. Over the past few weeks, the vibe has been the reason the term started so well. There is so much work going on, quite a bit of disruption and noise and certainly enough inconvenience to create some whinging, but the vibe has been nothing but positive and exciting, and the boys have been proudly commenting on the improving facilities.
Graduation is always such a highlight. A beautiful Mass at the Basilica, and a moving ceremony in our Gym where it all stated and where it comes to a fitting conclusion. The vibe of gratitude, completion of a journey, acknowledgement of the partnership we have shared and the joy of a young boy becoming a beautiful young man filled the Gym. The speeches of being grounded, of being challenged and of redemption, which will all be in the annual, epitomises our culture. Awards Evening played out in much the same way, with boys proudly displaying and being acknowledged for doing their best.
I hope that's how you and your sons feel about our school – not just a bunch of classrooms and lessons but a place where he finds his place in the world and the skills and attributes to thrive in the future.
Last week CBC hosted our annual Visual Arts exhibition and Grandparents' Day. There was so much pride, so much joy and so much celebration. Everyone chipping in to provide a slice of the CBC pie to our parents, grandparents and visitors and to ensure they all became part of the vibe. Members of our Parent Auxiliary served refreshments to our visitors on both occasions, and their good humour and shining service to their community is a case in point.
On Wednesday we hosted another Morning Tea Tour for prospective families. My message to the gathering was, in your search for the appropriate high school for your boy, don't look for the tangibles; they exist in every school and can sometimes be massaged to suit the message. Look for 'The Vibe'. The way our student guides present, speak and showcase their school; the confident and respectful way guests are treated; the way our boys stand when anyone enters the room; the way our boys make their way from class to class and interact with each other at break time; the smile every member of staff gives as they greet you or as they pass you by; the love and passion that goes into every College function and event, and the unwavering support and rock-solid partnership our families give us. It's all part of who we are at CBC Fremantle, and it permeates everything we do.
Thank you to you all for placing your trust in us and thank you for your contribution to creating what I hope your sons feel is their second home. Just like Lawrence Hammill QC, Darryl Kerrigan's new-found lawyer friend says in his summing up before the High Court: "His (Darryl's) house is more than just a structure of bricks and mortar, but a home built with love and shared memories". I hope that's how you and your sons feel about our school -- not just a bunch of classrooms and lessons but a place where he finds his place in the world and the skills and attributes to thrive in the future.
Mr Domenic Burgio
Principal
