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The Catholic Leader, November 12, 2017
www.catholicleader.com.auRegional - Toowoomba
Giving back to Concannon
Alice Galea started at the University of
Southern Queensland and Concannon
College nearly four years ago. Alice has
been a familiar face at various Young
Catholics’ events and Movers and Shak-
ers 2017. Now in the final chapter of her
university study, Alice reflects on her time
at university and college.
THE choice to attend university is huge.
Associated with this decision is the equally large decision of
where to live, and this can be particularly challenging when mov-
ing somewhere foreign to you.
This was me four years ago.
I had completed my gap year and
made the decision to study secondary
education in Toowoomba, a town
where I only knew my sister and a
couple of acquaintances.
Thankfully, my time studying was
made easier by my decision to live on
college throughout my degree.
While college has not been without
its challenges, it has provided a plethora of
unique opportunities which have enriched my university
experience.
Much of my first year was spent studying and overcoming se-
vere homesickness. I missed my parents and long-time friends.
I was tempted to quit uni, get on a bus and train and head home.
That would have been easier, caused less pain.
Persistence enabled friendships to form, making my new experi-
ences seemingly easier, and thus contributed to making my college
experience enjoyable.
By my second year at college, I became a residential college
blogger, assisted with the organisation of college semi-formal
and formal events and as the head of the Concannon academic
committee, and developed programs such as Project Positivity
and the Buddy Program which now exists at all three of the USQ
residential colleges.
I was also given the opportunity to attend the Australian Catho-
lic Youth Festival held in Adelaide.
Through these opportunities, I felt that I remained true to myself.
Living in the college community offers opportunities such as
leadership development, which are not common opportunities
available to young people.
I don’t use the word “community” lightly as this is exactly what
the residential colleges are.
They are a community of like-minded people living together and
supporting one another through the highs and lows of university life.
My third year demonstrated to me that anything is possible if
you put your mind to it and have wonderful people supporting you
throughout your journey.
This realisation began during Orientation Week of 2016
whereby I would partake in a college tradition I had not previously
– the Table Top climb.
As an asthmatic, I had always been hesitant to participate.
I rose at a ridiculous hour of the morning with the rest of the
college group to head to the base of the mountain.
Previous climbers had spoken of how easy a walk it was, so I
was expecting a lovely concrete path and gentle incline all the way
up. Golly, was I wrong!
The Table Top climb reminded me a lot of life – many ups and
downs, different terrains, a few asthma attacks and great friends
along the way, with a little frustration thrown in for good measure,
as well as desire to give up many a time, before continuing on the
journey.
The view all the way up was great, however the view from the
very top of the mountain was absolutely spectacular and some-
thing that I will never forget.
The lessons I learnt on my Table Top climb assisted me through
many hardships throughout the year.
Now in my final year, it is surreal to think, considering how
homesick I was in my first year, I am now at the conclusion of my
degree.
One of the many benefits of staying on college for the full dura-
tion of my degree is I feel I have a connection with the history of
the college. This allows me to give back to the college community
in so many ways, such as through leadership and providing as-
sistance to new residents.
I feel privileged to have lived in a supportive college environ-
ment for the duration of my degree.
I have learnt so much not only about myself, but life – includ-
ing how to use a washing machine. Living on Concannon College
has enabled me to be as ready as I can be for the new adventures,
which lie beyond uni and college life.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this
journey.
Concannon student:
Alice Galea.
United in
faith:
Con-
cannon
College
residents
climb Ta-
ble Top to
celebrate
O-Week.
DESPITE the torrential rain early
in October, the annual Rosary in the
Park drew hundreds to prayers for
peace.
As forecast, there was a break in
the clouds as the faithful gathered
for the afternoon at Queens Park,
Toowoomba.
“A crowd of about one hundred
participated in saying the twenty
decades of the Rosary, ten of them
in different languages and one by a
group of children,” a spokeswoman
said.
“It was inspiring listening to the
Hail Mary being said by a lady
from Papua New Guinea, a man
from Croatia, a man from Germany,
a husband and wife from Egypt, a
lady from Lebanon, among others –
a true testament to the universality
of the Catholic Church.
“This is a yearly event in October
to honour Our Holy Mother Mary.
“It is held in many cities through-
out Australia as well as around the
world and this year it had a special
significance being the one-hun-
dredth anniversary of the appari-
tions of Our Lady to the shepherd
children in Fatima, Portugal.
“This is the fourth year the event
has been held in Toowoomba and
the organisers are looking forward
to holding it again next year.”
Prayerful day:
Enid Camilleri praying at the annual Rosary in the Park.
Honouring Holy Mother
TOOWOOMBA Catholic schools
have celebrated the patronal diocesan
feast day of Mary of the Southern
Cross.
This title is one of the many given
to Mary the Mother of God, and it is
under this title that Mary was desig-
nated patron of Toowoomba diocese
in 1999.
“This patronal feast is a day on
which we especially pray for the
whole Toowoomba diocese and recall
that it is through the diocese that we
are brought into communion with the
universal Church,” a spokeswoman
said.
“As this feast is especially ours,
the celebration of Mass on Friday
was an opportunity to renew our
bonds as a diocese.”
Toowoomba Bishop Robert McGu-
ckin celebrated the Mass, concel-
ebrating with Fr Peter Dorfield.
Honoured:
Toowoomba Bishop Robert McGuckin and Fr Peter Dorfield with students after the Mass for Mary of the
Southern Cross.
Diocese joins in prayer to Our Lady