SALESIAN COLLEGE ADVISORY COUNCIL
To the Salesian College Family,
In my capacity as Chairperson of the Salesian College Advisory Council, I take this opportunity of giving you a brief update on the activities of the Council during the course of the 2019 school year.
To begin with, it is important to note that Salesian College Chadstone is owned and operated by the Salesians of Don Bosco (that is, ‘The Salesian Society (Vic) Inc’), and that the legal authority for the operation of Salesian College rests with the Salesian Provincial and his Council. Thus, the fundamental role of our advisory council is to provide advice to the Salesian Provincial of the day, and to offer ongoing counsel and support to the College Principal and Leadership Team to ensure that the essential vision of St John Bosco and the Salesians is ‘continued’ (Advisory Council Handbook – Preamble).
During the course of 2019, the College Advisory Council has met on four occasions (that is, in February, May, August and November) and is due to come together in early December for its final meeting, acceptance of the 2020 College Budget, and annual dinner.
A typical meeting agenda would cover such items as opening prayer, Salesian formation, Student Leaders’ report, correspondence, Principal’s report, compliance (Child Protection and Occupational Health and Safety), Finance report and other business.
Regarding the membership of the Council, we commenced the 2019 year with the following members:
Fr Greg Chambers (Rector and Chairperson)
Mr Robert Brennan (Principal)
Mr Neil Carter (Deputy Principal)
Mr Jack Palumbo (Business Manager)
APPOINTED COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES
Ms Lorena Bravo (Parent)
Dr Joe Ciccotosto (Parent)
Associate Professor Peter Foley (Former Student)
Mr Calvin Gordon (Parent)
Mr Stephen Moloney (Barrister)
Mr Peter Waldron (Parent)
NON-MEMBERS
Student Leaders:
Bo De Silva (College Captain)
Dimitri Adamopoulos (College Vice-Captain)
Nicholas Thomas (College Vice-Captain)
Minutes Secretary:
Mrs Mary Menz
However, during the course of the school year, it was generally acknowledged that the Advisory Council would greatly benefit by having more parent representatives to present a richer variety of opinion and input on behalf of their fellow parents. As a result, nominations were called for, interviews were conducted, and the following parent representatives were appointed to the Council by the Salesian Provincial, Fr William Matthews:
Mrs Rita Davis
Mrs Rosemary Fazio
Mrs Merryn Gould
Mr Philip Heaphy
On your behalf, I congratulate these four new Council members.
Finally, on behalf of all members of the College Advisory Council, I wish to thank Mr Neil Carter (Deputy Principal) and Mr Jack Palumbo (Business Manager) who are leaving the Council after 23 years of service and 9 years of service respectively. Sincere congratulations to both of these fine Salesian College stalwarts!
In Don Bosco,
Fr Greg Chambers
Rector and Chairperson