How do we connect the ANZAC Spirit to who we are at Padua College?

We gathered for ANZAC Day liturgies at all of our campuses, and we attended Mornington Peninsula ANZAC services on 25 April with our students having a strong presence in the marches, leading the music, laying wreaths, and being readers in the services.

At the end of our Padua College ANZAC liturgies, students and staff were asked to reflect on a challenge set by the Year 12 Catholic Action Program class, who asked: "How did your House patron display courage and bring peace to people and their societies in their time and place?"

We were also reminded in our liturgies of God’s presence as we reflect on the hardships faced, the sacrifices made, and the courage of those who fought to protect our country. Many Paduans have served and died in these battles. ANZAC Day was not a day to glorify war, but rather a day to reflect on the awfulness, the death, the destruction, the futility, and the horror that it brings. It was also a time for us to be thankful that we live in a peaceful country and to pray that places in our world where there is conflict, may also find peace.

In our ANZAC Day liturgies, we heard student leaders list the qualities they believed the soldiers showed on the battlefield, including endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, larrikinism, mateship, and perseverance.

Padua Community Mentors

A new initiative tapping into the wisdom of our local community is to share with our senior students and parents/guardians, ‘those things you don’t learn in school’!

Our Padua Community Mentor launch panel on 1 May consists of the following:

Kate Save
Kate is the CEO of Be Fit Food and an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, and Diabetes Educator.

Lauren Wild
Lauren is a dynamic entrepreneur with a stellar track record in real estate. Founder of ‘Wild Women in Business,’ a thriving community networking group focused on fostering high-level collaborations.

Pippa Hanson
Pippa is the co-founder and CEO of the highly successful The Sports Injury Clinic, approaching its 20th year in business, Pippa leads a 60-strong team.

Shannon Smit
Shannon is the founder of Transfer Pricing Solutions. She spent 11 years working with a Big 4 in Melbourne, Amsterdam, Prague, and New York, before returning to Melbourne. Shannon is a Chartered Accountant and registered Tax Agent, and holds her Masters in International Tax Law, and is on the Australian Government's Board of Taxation.

From this launch, mentor sessions will be held online every month on areas such as 'How to do a tax return', 'How to communicate and present well', 'Nutrition tips', 'How to purchase your first property', 'How to set up a business', amongst many exciting areas to be explored.

Knowing Our Padua Story

In late April, Bernard House (Mornington Senior) celebrated Mother Bernard Whyte with a House Liturgy celebrated by Deacon Graeme. Bernard House students had it put to them - what do you know about this person that your House is named after?

Bernard Whyte is the biological sister of Mother Sebastian Whyte, and between them they are key figures in the foundation of the Mercy community in Mornington and the development of a school that was to eventually become Padua College. The Whyte Senior Learning Centre which opened in 2019 is named in honour of Bernard and Sebastian.

In the 1890s the Mercy Sisters were involved in various schools in Melbourne and throughout Victoria and were looking for a property that would allow some respite for the sisters – a holiday house of sorts. Mother Sebastian sourced and purchased the property in Tanti Ave Mornington (then called Shelbourne Park). Soon afterward, as was their way, the sisters identified a need for a school in the area and so in May 1898 opened the ‘College of Our Lady of the Sea’. It began as a boarding and day secondary school for girls.

On 23 May, the school was officially opened with Mother Bernard Whyte as its first principal. Mother Bernard remained as principal until c.1908, died in Mornington and was therefore central to the development of the college that we have today.

Mary – A Strong Female Role Model

The month of May is dedicated to Mary. Mary portrayed the values of holiness, piety and humbleness. And as a teacher, Mary instructed women on the importance of trust and perseverance. I think this last point is her most valuable strength, her ability to persevere. Mary went through many trials in her life, but she never lost sight of her moral purpose and used her strong will to overcome obstacles and setbacks. A great role model for young people.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Student Photo Permissions

At times, photographs or videos of our students will be published in newsletters, on the school intranet or website, or in our social media. Copies of our Standard Collection Notice and Privacy Policy are available on the College website in the Enrolments section of our Policies page. Please note that consent to use these images in this way, if provided at enrolment, may be withdrawn at any time by contacting our marketing team via email: marketing@padua.vic.edu.au .