LOCAL EDUCATOR TO STUDY THE HOLOCAUST AT YAD VASHEM, JERUSALEM

John Kennedy from the Diocesan Catholic Education Office Rockhampton has joined Educators from around Australia travelling to Israel in January 2010 to participate in the Yad Vashem International School for Holocaust Studies, in Jerusalem, as part of the inaugural Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educators.

The Program is a long-term professional program aimed at training a cadre of expert teachers who are working throughout Australia.  It begins with an intensive teacher-training seminar at Yad Vashem, in Israel, and is followed with a yearlong program of activities in Australia.

Emeritus Professor Louis Waller AO, headed the Advisory Committee who selected ten educators from all states in Australia to participate in the program.  

The Program is funded by the Gandel Charitable Trust and in announcing the successful scholarship recipients, Mr John Gandel AO noted, “This is an extremely important initiative and we are delighted to be involved.  The participants will come home to actively involve Holocaust studies in their work and raise awareness of the Holocaust within their communities.  We believe their visit to Israel and attendance at the Yad Vashem course will be a highlight of their professional careers and their life in general.”

John Kennedy said “I am honoured to have been selected and look forward to bringing my knowledge back to the local community”.              
The Gandel Charitable Trust is committed to continuing to support the program in the years to come.

CELEBRATING THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Right: L-R: Miss Leesa Jeffcoat, Diocesan Director of Catholic Education,
Br Mick Bible recipient of award for 55 years of service to Catholic Education and Bishop Brian Heenan

On Friday 22 January staff of Catholic schools and colleges gathered for Masses in Regional centres across the Rockhampton Catholic Diocese to celebrate the commencement of the new school year.

Diocesan Director of Catholic Education,, Leesa Jeffcoat, said she places great value on these Regional Mass gatherings as they provide an opportunity for all involved in school life to take time to refocus and reflect on the ministry of teaching in Catholic schools prior to the commencement of the school year.

“The opening year Masses give occasion to pause and reflect on past achievements and to look with hope and excitement to the future” Miss Jeffcoat said.

During these celebrations the commitment and contribution of long-serving staff members was marked with the presentation of commemorative plaques to those who have given more than twenty years of service. A highlight of the presentations this year was fifty-five years service presented to Bother Mick Bible following the Mass in Rockhampton.

“These commemorative plaques are just a small token of how much we value the dedication, loyalty and gifts so freely given over a long period by many of our teachers, catechists and support staff. They are wonderful people who are held in high esteem and who can be justifiably proud of their achievements,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Miss Jeffcoat said that those receiving these long service plaques had positively influenced the lives of many young people and it was very appropriate to acknowledge and in a small way reward such long and dedicated service.

SERVICE PLAQUES PRESENTED IN JANUARY 2010

Neil McDonald