On reflection, there was a degree of nervous anticipation as the year approached. In 2007, for the first time in the one hundred and twenty nine year history of the College, the fact that a lay person would hold the highly coveted position of Principal was now a reality. Brother Kevin Ryan, the Province Leader of the Christian Brothers, announced during June 2006, the appointment of Mr Noel Mifsud as the incoming Principal of CBC effective 1 January 2007. The appointment of Mr Mifsud was enthusiastically received by the entire CBC family as a result of the reputation that he had earned as a skilled educator, leader and communicator in the tradition of our founder, the Blessed Edmund Rice. His qualities and experience ensured that he assumed the role with poise and confidence and as a result, the transition from Brother Cronin as the Principal of the College, to a lay person, has been smooth and positive. Mr Mifsud enjoys the loyalty and respect of Mr John Lambert his deputy, the other members of the executive and staff on both campuses, the board and the wider community.

In close consultation with the staff and when appropriate, the board, Mr Mifsud has introduced changes and initiatives which will be outlined in other sections of this report.

During the year, a number of celebrations were held which recognized the outstanding contribution of the Christian Brothers to the education of boys throughout Australia. The official launching of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) throughout Oceania, also featured prominently during the celebrations.

Words cannot effectively express the influential role, which the Christian Brothers have played in the lives of many hundreds of thousands of young men throughout Australia since the first Brothers arrived from Ireland in 1876. Their rich God given talents have spread throughout Australia in 62 schools and colleges. On 1 October 2007, EREA was launched and the new Oceania Province was introduced. Both of these significant events in the history of the Christian Brothers, are a tribute to the vision and courage of the Congregation throughout Oceania. Our thoughts and prayers of gratitude are appropriate at this time as we remember with affection all of those Brothers who have held leadership roles under the previous Province regime and those Brothers and laypersons who have been charged with the responsibility of furthering the work of the Blessed Edmund Rice under the new structures.

The launching of EREA will present challenges to the members of the board and the management group of the College in the future. The introduction of the new entity formalizes the virtual withdrawal of the management by the Christian Brothers in their schools throughout Oceania. This role, due to a decline in numbers and aging of the Brothers, has now been vested with a board of management whose members are all highly skilled professionals who have earned an enviable reputation in a diverse range of disciplines. The great challenge for all concerned will be to ensure that the charisma of the Blessed Edmund Rice continues to be the foundation and lynch pin of a Christian education in every school.

Over the years, CBC has been blessed with the services of many long serving staff who have given freely of their professional talents in the interests of the College community. Three members of staff who between them have served CBC professionally and faithfully for eighty five years, are leaving the employ of the College at the end of the year.

Mr John Lambert joined the staff in 1985. During the past twenty two years, he has won the respect of the CBC family as a result of the professional, balanced way in which he has discharged his responsibilities particularly since 2000 when he was appointed Deputy Principal. He has been called on to fill the role of Principal in the absence of the incumbent on a number of occasions. The role of Deputy Principal is both demanding and challenging. Without exception, Mr Lambert displayed exceptional people skills during difficult negotiations involving students, staff, parents, and the union. We thank him for his outstanding contribution to CBC and wish him well in his new role at Blackfriars College.

Mr Robert (Bob) Bowes has been a popular member of staff in the senior school since 1975. He has taken an active role in the affairs of the College at all times and he has worked tirelessly to ensure that on graduation, the students leave CBC well equipped to face the challenges of the future. Mr Bowes has announced his retirement effective December 2007. We thank him for his loyalty and dedication. Our best wishes go with him for a long and healthy retirement.

Mrs Ann Coughlin first joined the staff as secretary to Brother McAppion in 1979. Over the years, she has worked closely with five principals. In her senior role, she has often been the voice and face of CBC to parents, students and members of staff who have made a range of requests for information, advice and support. Mrs. Coughlin who is highly respected as being a true professional, has at all times, been loyal, diligent and hard working.
We wish her well in her retirement.

The outstanding contribution of Mr Lambert, Mr Bowes and Mrs Coughlin will be acknowledged at a suitable time before the close of the term.

The board warmly recognises the contribution that has been made by the staff in all departments on both the senior and junior campus this year. During the past twelve months we have seen a climate of change which was referred to earlier in this report. The greater majority of staff members have positively embraced change in recognition that CBC is operating in a highly competitive market in which loyalty and tradition are no longer the major considerations when a family is making a decision on its son’s education.
The Christian ethos of the College, the conduct of our students in public, the scope of the curriculum, the success of our students in the academic, and sporting arena and other curricular activities, the tangible cost to the family and the standing of CBC amongst its peers, are some of the considerations which the majority of families address during the process which arguably will mould their son’s future. In order to maintain a position at the leading edge of boys’ education in this state, the board and staff have a responsibility to continue to embrace change and best practice models which will be the outcome of open discussion during a highly transparent process.

Mr Noel Mifsud in close consultation with the executive staff and board is facing the challenge of successfully finding a solution to the integration of year seven into the middle school, in line with accepted best practice throughout Australia. Inevitably the greatest challenge will be to identify a funding source for development work which, with the support of the board of EREA, will ensure that the tuition and other fees can continue to be maintained at a level which is within the means of the majority of the community. The solution will rely heavily on all families fulfilling their financial obligations in a timely manner. The major upgrading of the science laboratories, the junior school campus and the provision of suitable sporting facilities which are available for use as a result of the programming of major sporting events in the eastern parklands, will continue to be high on the agenda of those who are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that CBC continues to be a strong force in boys Christian education in Adelaide.

The College relies on the enthusiastic support and cooperation of parents and former students through the Parents and Friends Association, the Rowing Auxiliary and the Old Collegians Association. The members of the management of these long standing groups give freely of their time in support of the College. They all play a vital role which is warmly acknowledged and greatly appreciated. I encourage all parents and former students to support their associations as their success and financial viability is important to the overall fabric of CBC.

The College has been served by a group of twelve people at board level who have come together from a diverse range of backgrounds. They have given their rich talents freely as a result of their common interest in the welfare of CBC. All of the members at times have been confronting, challenging, and questioning over such issues as curriculum development, the Catholicity of the various programs at all levels of the College, staff issues, funding sources, school fees, debt recovery, building maintenance, challenging student behaviour and student development, to name a few. After spirited debate, the board adopted a united front on every issue in support of the theme for 2007 “Accepting the Challenge”.

During the past six years as Chairman of the board, I have been honoured to work with an enthusiastic group at board level. I have received strong loyalty and support from Brother Cronin who was the Principal for the first five years and Mr Mifsud during his first year in the most responsible position at CBC. I am indebted to both of these gentlemen who greatly earned my respect and admiration as a result of their talented, dedicated approach and outstanding leadership skills.

They have both been complemented and most ably supported by Mr Frank Scali, the business manager, Mr John Lambert the deputy principal, members of the executive and staff at all levels. It has been an enriching experience to work closely with the members of the CBC family who at all times have been both loyal and become more than associates with whom I have shared a vision. I extend to them all my deep appreciation and gratitude.

I have recognized the efforts of board members in the previous five annual reports. The members of the board again this year have fulfilled their fiduciary responsibilities with professionalism and understanding. Mr Christopher Block, the deputy chairman and incoming chairman of the board, has been a tower of strength and loyal, wise confidant on a number of challenging issues during the year. Mr Raymond Pincombe, as chairman of the administration committee, Professor Robin Storer, the chairman of the education committee, Messrs John Cook, Lindsay Denton, Tony Egan, Lou Fantasia, Graham Lucas, Mesdames Ann Murphy and Louise Sortino, together with Messrs Noel Mifsud and Frank Scali as members of the board have all been tireless in their support and warm in their friendship. Messrs Pincombe, Fantasia and Mesdames Murphy and Sortino and I will be retiring from the board at the end of the year as a result of us completing our term of appointment. While we will no longer be involved in the decision making process of the College at the highest level, our counsel and support will always be available as a result of our strong commitment to CBC. I wish to place on record my appreciation to every member of the board for their contribution during 2007.

On a personal note, my formal association with CBC is about to come to an end as I complete my second term as chairman of the board.

When I walked through the school gates for the first time in 1951, it was the start of an association which has had an enormous influence on my family and business life. As a CBC old collegian, the opportunities have become greater for me as the years have rolled by. The future, although often challenging, has always seemed bright. The opportunities, for some reason, have often presented themselves at times when I was, in my opinion, not necessarily equipped to accept them. The one common thread throughout the last fifty seven years has been the influence of the Christian Brothers. That influence is as strong today as it was throughout the ten years when I was a student. My gratitude to the Brothers has therefore no bounds and as a result, I hope that in some small way, I have repaid them some of the great debt of gratitude which will last with me forever. I have been privileged to walk a journey at CBC with many wonderful people over the years. These memories will always be in my heart.

Over one hundred and twenty students will graduate from CBC in 2007. They have all been in the privileged position of being the beneficiary of a balanced education as a result of talented caring staff and the many sacrifices which have been made by their parents. The College community salutes Jordan Young, the school captain and his peers at this time, and wishes them well in their future endeavours.

The College is well placed to continue to build on the strong foundations, rich history and tradition which have been laid during the past one hundred and twenty nine years. The challenge will always be great, but the blessing to those who follow in the steps of the Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, will always be greater.

May I on behalf of the board, wish you and yours Christ’s richest blessings at Christmas and throughout 2008 and beyond.

Mr David Wark
Chairman

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