Edition No.   91,  92,  93,  94,  95,  96,  97,  98,  99, 100

26 June 2003 

Dear Parents and Friends,

You almost missed out on a newsletter this school term. I have been in hospital for over 3 months now and away from the Wandalgu community and the many happenings there. This is why I almost forgot about the Tardun News. However, today I returned for a few hours to catch up on the developments here and this is a good chance to start the overdue letter. Maria Rohr and other staff members are willing to finish the letter as they did with the last Tardun News.

Kind regards and best wishes,
Yours sincerely

Fr Gerhard

As has been the custom for many years, the children celebrated the great feast of Easter when they returned from first term break.

Remembering Good Friday the children, staff and visitors walked the 14 Stations of the Cross. This painful journey of Jesus was marked out with beautiful paintings done by the Senior Primary School students with the assistance of their teacher Phil Turner. The Paintings were attached to the trees and we walked to the sound of the drum, tapping sticks and didgeridoo, pausing for a few minutes at each one to remember what Jesus did for us.

On Saturday evening Fr Ray celebrated the Mass of Easter Vigil. The New Fire was lit, the holy water blessed and everyone entered the darkened church holding a lighted candle. We entered into the Death and Rising of Jesus with symbols and song.

Following the Easter Vigil the bonfire was lit and we gathered to eat Easter eggs around the fire.

As with all celebrations we remember the decorations, the colour and the objects that added atmosphere to the occasion. So a big thank you to Br John for ‘dragging’ huge stones to make the tomb. To Br Günther and Dave Ryan for the use of the truck and the time and effort it took to drive around in circles and place outdoor flame sticks in very hard ground. Last but not least, thank you to Nicole Farrell for her reading of the reflections at each station.

Students and staff returned to Wandalgu after a relaxing holiday. However, the new term commenced with some changes in staffing. We said farewell to Marinus, Tamisha & Tyrone with Lennie & Ty Ty, Marjorie and Ainslie and Debora.

Farewells are usually followed by welcomes and it was a warm welcome back to Gerry Duck and Tom Linane, with his little dog.

Amanda Simpson and Michael O’Dene joined us to care for the Junior High Boys. Both are ex-students of Wandalgu and also of Morawa District High School. Leonie Boddington, another former student has joined the staff and brings much energy and creativity to her placement. Lesley Comeagain is taking care of the Senior Primary Girls and her son Anthony is in the Senior Primary Boys’ House and attends Wandalgu Catholic Primary School.

More recent arrivals are Tamara Drage and Warren Gilla with their children Susie, Marika and Warren Junior (Boy Boy). Tamara and Warren are caring for the Senior Primary Boys.

Some new members of staff stayed for short periods but we are grateful for their time and generous effort. This includes Kelly Jones our Chef and Terri Holland who cared for the Senior Primary Girls.

People who come from all over Australia and overseas staff Wandalgu Hostel. And so at any time they can be called back home. Sometimes it’s family illness or personal reasons; at other times it’s a career opportunity. Whatever the reason for their going, we are very grateful for the time they gave.

STAFF DAY OF RECOLLECTION

Fr Dean Bradbury a Pallottine from Millgrove in Victoria led about 13 staff members in a day of quiet reflection on June 10. This was an opportunity to re-charge the batteries.

The day commenced with Mass at 9.o’clock and then continued in the Senior Boy’s House with reflective listening to music and input from Dean. Some timely thoughts on Vincent Pallotti, the man and his vision tied in with the Holy Spirit. An insight into the struggles of Vincent Pallotti was confirming as we face our own daily struggles.

There was time for quiet reflection and time for personal sharing.

In closing, Dean generously offered to return to Tardun each Term and we discussed other ways this day might be programmed. All staff members will be asked again for input as to what they might like from such a day. To journey fully with Jesus, we need to journey with more understanding of each other and each person’s story.

On behalf of all who attended the day a very big thank-you Dean. Word about ‘town’ is that it was a very successful day.

On a different note the Staff Social Committee ran its first BINGO morning. A lot of fun was had – not to mention the great prizes!! The social life of the Staff is definitely on the UP!

Some staff members also visited Morawa District High School. This was an opportunity to meet with school staff and to hear from them how best we can support them in the education of the students from Wandalgu. A lovely morning tea was served followed by a tour of the school.

Teachers from Morawa District High have also taken time to visit Wandalgu. Brenda (Music Teacher) and Margaret Letts visited on May 22. They moved around the Houses and saw the students at home and heard the musicians ‘at play’ in the hall.

BISHOP JUSTIN

Bishop Justin Bianchini is no stranger to Wandalgu. After attending to Baptism and First Communion at Christian Brothers on May 15, Bishop Justin visited Wandalgu. He accepted our invitation to stay for the Staff Meeting followed by lunch. Michael O’Dene, as chairperson invited Bishop Justin to address the meeting. It was a great catch-up time for the bishop and all his old friends.

Praise the Lord with me for all he has done for me. HE is so good! The last 3 months have been about the most painful ones in my life. Physical pain went along with the experience of complete helplessness and dependence. The frustration sometimes seemed almost unbearable. But the good Lord has saved me from complete collapse and strengthened me in the hope that all will be well. He has given success to the efforts of the therapists. I can walk again (With the aid of a stick). My left hand is still paralysed and unable to do anything but I’m sure that it will come good, too. Tomorrow I will be discharged from hospital. At the recommendation of friends and confreres I will not return to Tardun straight away but spend a few weeks at the St John of God cottages in Subiaco to complete my rehabilitation so that I can start work at the commencement of Term 3. I’m looking forward to that!

My sincere thanks go to all you wonderful people who have supported me in my struggle. Your visits, phone calls, flowers, cards and beautiful letters have helped me to preserve a positive outlook and make steady progress. In these months I have experienced more than ever before the power of a caring community.

Fr Gerhard

The Student Council, Rebecca Drage, Colin Clifton, Melissa Egan, Allanah Egan, John Ryan, Shane Cameron, Brayden Simpson and Leonie Boddington, ran a very successful Quiz Night. The questions were real brainteasers. Congratulations to Leonie’s table who won the grand prize of a voucher for the canteen. None went home empty handed as each table was given a bag of lollies. A really enjoyable night. Thank you Student Council.

NEW BEDS & DISH WASHING MACHINE

New beds and mattresses for the Senior Houses and a new dishwasher for the student dining room. The new beds are not only great for sleeping in but also look much nicer in the bedrooms.

MUSICIANS FOR HIRE

Four of the Senior Girls, Madonna, Terri, Zoe and Bernadette helped with the music at Christian Brother’s celebration of Baptism and First Communion on Friday evening May 16. A lovely thank you came in the way of flowers and chocolates from Sr Declan and Staff of Christian Brothers Agricultural School. The girls are hoping for more invitations!

SENIOR BOY’S BAND

Wandalgu Boy’s Band performed for the Governor of WA on his recent visit to Morawa District High School.

The Band and their music teacher David Stinson also played for an 80^th Birthday in Geraldton and will travel to Perth at the end of July to take part in STAR SEARCH.

WORK EXPERIENCE

As we come to the end of Second Term our Year 10 students have taken their place in the workforce and gaining important work experience as part of their ongoing education. We wish them well and thank the employers who have generously given the students this opportunity.

CAMPING

Leilani
On camp when we went to Coalseam we found some ochre and painted our faces and it was different colours. When we were playing we were making out we were sisters and when we got back to Wandalgu we had to unpack and put all our stuff away.

Sandra
On camp when we went to Coalseam we found some yellow ochre and we found paint and painted our faces and we went for a walk. I like staying at Wandalgu.

Cassandra
On Friday we went camping at Coalseam. When we got there, the bus dropped us off at Coalseam Park and some of the houseparents went to look for a camping spot. After they set up camp they came and got us. We had to walk all the way. There were two fires, a kitchen fire and a fire to sit around. We had some cake. After that we went to sleep.

Halijah
I like to go to the picnics because I’m good at looking for rocks.

Bianca
We went on a camp to the Humpy and when we got there we had to put up the tent and then we had to get the fire going. After that we had to get our camping things to put in the tent. I had fun at the Humpy. The next day we went to Hidden Valley for lunch. And then we had to walk all the way back. When we walked back to the Mission we saw Pop Alan.

Chloe
I like going to the Wildlife Park because it is fun. It is fun feeding animals and we like all the different animals.

Allanah
On Friday night I went to Morawa for the weekend. On Saturday we went to Koolanooka Springs and Ethany, Jordan and Angus saw a snake and we were scared of it and hid in the car. And then on Sunday we sneaked into the football. Two hours after that Aunty Melanie and I went and found lots of bimba. We ate it all because it was lovely. Then on Monday I went shopping with Aunty Melanie.

Erin
On Saturday I went to Pindar with Bianca, Emmajean and Kiara. We went to Jokers Tunnel and for bush walks with Miss Judy. Bianca slept with Kiara. I slept with Emmajean. It was fun. We went to the wild life park and I saw a dingo and a camel. I got to feed the kangaroo. It is so much fun staying here at Wandalgu. (From Erin or Kapula).

CAMPING AT COALSEAM

Olivia
Last weekend we went camping at Coalseam. In the morning we ran down the hill. Auntie Leonie taught us a game with sticks. I played with Rikkie, Leonie and other girls in the river, which was very funny! I climbed up a hill and went back to have sausages and bread for lunch.

Bobbi
We climbed up a big hill at Coalseam. Then I had some bananas. We dug out onions. In the night I slept in a tent with Olivia, Rikki, Courtney, Leonie and Irmi.

Courtney
At camping I liked most the rocks. I made a castle in the sand. Then I was waiting for the bus to come. On the way back we saw a kangaroo on the road.

Leonie
I was playing in the river with Giles and Kayden. I made a sandcastle and put some white rocks on the castle to make it nice and pretty. Then we went back to the camp, had tea (what I like most!) and went to sleep in our tent. When I got up in the morning I made a big fire.

Emmajean
I went to Miss Judy in Pindar. We had a look at the hens. We saw spiders and a cat, and a dog called ‘Niddie’. We played basketball, netball and tennis. I had lovely chocolate pudding, ice cream and eggs. I loved to collect the eggs and I liked the hens most!

Courtney
Alan and bigger boys found the lamb in the bushes when we went camping near Hidden Valley. Emmajean saw it and cried for it. Irmi went and got it, put it next to the fireside to get it warm and fed it. Then we brought it to the hostel and it’s living in the cubby. Her name is Sunni. She is growing fat and we like her very much.

Stop Press! Late news - she is now Sunni Girl!!

Five things I like about Wandalgu –

School
Dormy parent
Videos
Painting
Trampoline

We like the footy because – we always like footy … we watch footy!
The best thing about the footy is the goals we kicked.
What do you think about next Friday’s Interschool sports (Netball)?
We’ll win because of me!
We found a yellow rock and a red rock at Coalseam (Orche).