New chapter looms as boarders reflect on Saints’ brotherhood
By Adam Takai and Serg Allam, Year 12, St Augustine’s College
BROTHER François, after whom our residence is named, was born Gabriel Rivat in 1808 and grew up in a hamlet near Lavalla in France with his six older brothers and sisters.
Brother François played a major role in the founding period of the Marists, both during the lifetime of St Marcellin and for another 40 years after the founder’s death.
In particular, he was instrumental in ensuring there was a comprehensive written articulation of the Marist way: the character and style of the education offered by Marists, the distinctive spirituality and family-oriented community that underpinned this. He was also a wonderful exemplar of all of this in his personal life.
He was part of the Marist story right from its earliest days with a handful of young men in the small house in Lavalla, and saw it grow to spread across France and all over the world.
He was a man who loved learning, led with a mix of firmness and gentleness and was practical, kind and selfless in his care for others.
These are qualities that one would also wish for all the young men who have resided here in the François residence for their senior year at Saints.
Our time as boarders at Saints has progressed faster than we could have ever imagined.
Over our five school years together (since Year 8), the setbacks, dilemmas and challenges we’ve experienced together have moulded us all into leaders in our own respects.
Contemplating our initial years at Saints, our journey from immature boyhood to manhood has seen us learn more about each other and surprisingly, ourselves as individuals as well.
Getting the balance right between the needs of the group and those of the individuals is what contributes to a strong sense of brotherhood.
With graduation in close sight, petty differences are being set aside to make way for our final walk out of the college. The Year 12 boarders of 2018 feel they have impressed a positive spirit upon not only the boarding community, but the school in general, and our pride in stating this knows no bounds.
François Residence, in its fourth year of commission, has welcomed our cohort with open doors.
The past four years of sharing a “quad” (a group of four beds) has been replaced in favour of our own private box, which replicates universitystyle accommodation.
These rooms offer perfect study conditions — a blessing upon any student committed to their final year studies.
Study is at the forefront of our minds, and our priority in making our parents proud is what we will continue to uphold.
The homeliness of the residence immediately creates an atmosphere that we have all come to appreciate.
As seniors, our obligations to the college are exemplified by our involvement in the many events offered: college assemblies and liturgies, performing arts, sporting carnivals and fund raising activities which always meet us at regular intervals.
Nevertheless, no matter the activity, the highlight of each outing or school event together has always been one thing — each other.
The irreplaceable banter we’ve shared has always been cherishingly documented by each of us.
Boarding has truly become a lifestyle that’s easy to say goodbye to, but hard to walk away from.
No doubt, the boys who left before us and those who come after will also have their own memories exclusively cherished by their close-knit group.
Regardless of this, we still have eight weeks left, and it is our duty to continue modelling the high standards we’ve all seen over the past five years.