Dear Members of the Trinity Family,

In 2015 Pope Francis delivered a homily in which he discussed religious icons and their role in our spiritual lives. He said, “icons are not mere representations, but they are a way of seeing with the heart, helping us to encounter Christ… They draw us into communion with the divine."

I am very fortunate to have a stunning copy of the Nano Nagle Icon immediately behind my desk. Desmond Kyne, an Irish artist, created the original icon in commemoration of the bicentenary of Nano’s death in 1984. His original work is housed in Ballygriffin, County Cork, to this day.

The Icon reveals the inspired story of Nano, her love of God and the poor, and her unwavering and heroic service to those on the periphery. The Sacred Heart, which was central to Nano’s spirituality, features prominently. Nano’s appreciation of the Incarnation inspired her to emulate Jesus’ love, despite the challenges, throughout her life.

When I reflect on the immense complexity and danger Nano encountered, her courage in the face of adversity never ceases to amaze me. The Penal Laws, which were designed to repress Ireland’s Catholic population and their access to education, failed to stop Nano from carrying her dimly lit lantern through the dark and dangerous streets to serve the least ones of Cork society.

No doubt the source of Nano’s courage was her experience of Jesus’ loving heart. In return, she brought the Sacred Heart of Jesus and His gospel to the world. The significance of her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is reflected in the original name given to her congregation: The Society of the Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart (later the Presentation Sisters).

The  human and divine love of the heart of Jesus is the focus of Pope Francis’ most recent encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos. Pope Francis concludes his 28,000 word letter with the following:

“The wounded side of Christ continues to pour forth that stream which is never exhausted, never passes away, but offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity. I ask our Lord Jesus Christ to grant that his Sacred Heart may continue to pour forth the streams of living water that can heal the hurt we have caused, strengthen our ability to love and serve others, and inspire us to journey together towards a just, solidary and fraternal world.”

As I read this, Nano Nagle’s story immediately came to mind. Nano’s love for God and neighbour never exhausted; she worked courageously to heal the hurt of her broken world; she served others, particularly uneducated and destitute children, with love and compassion; and she was audacious enough to build a new humanity in her own time and place.

When we go beyond the wondrous colours and representations of her icon, we truly see Nano through the lens of our heart. But knowing Nano, she would not want us to see her; she would want us to see the One who inspired and loved her. Undoubtedly, she would want us to be in communion with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and to play our part in building a new humanity; a new humanity founded on compassion, justice, hope and welcome.

May Venerable Nano Nagle - ‘Woman of Welcoming Heart’ - guide us and pray for us as we move towards the end of Term 4. I also take this opportunity to thank the Presentation Sisters who joined us in Week 6 for our Nagle Day celebrations, and congratulate the recipients of this year’s Nagle Awards and Medals.

Year 12 Graduation Ball

Graduation is one of the pivotal milestones in life’s journey. The word graduate comes from a Latin word (gradus) meaning “a step.” On Friday 8 November our students literally stepped on stage to celebrate the completion of 13 years of formal education, but they also did much more than that. They stepped into the world beyond Trinity - a moment so many of them have yearned for; they stepped into adulthood and the freedom that comes with that; they stepped into a totally new and exciting world; and they stepped into the future - a future where the controls are in their hands.

In farewelling the Class of 2024, we affirm the education they received, acknowledge the difference they made to our College community, and trust that they make the next step into the world confidentially as responsible and informed citizens.

I congratulate each member of the Graduating Class for their contribution to the College. I also acknowledge those families who conclude their time with us now that their last child has graduated from Trinity. Thank you for your loyalty and support over the years. I look forward to hearing about the growth and success of all our students in the future.

Graduation photos supplied by Camera House Lismore

Remembrance Day

On 11 November our Year 11 Modern History students led the College community in a commemorative service in the Whitebrook Theatre. Prayers of remembrance were offered, and poignant reflections shared including a soundtrack of the final minutes of WW1. This soundtrack added great meaning to the minute of silence we all participated in. Thank you to Mrs O’Reilly and her Year 11 History students for preparing this assembly. Thanks also to the 2025 College and Ministry Captains for representing the College at the Lismore Commemorative Service.

2025 Fee Schedule

The College Finance Committee has recommended, and the College Council has approved, the 2025 Tuition Fee Schedule which can be found below.  Like all families and organisations, the College is not immune to the financial forces of our time but takes seriously its commitment to keeping tuition fees as low as possible. Parents/carers wishing to discuss their financial arrangements are encouraged to contact the College’s Finance Department proactively.

Student Enrolments

Some enrolment vacancies exist in some year levels.  All enrolment enquiries are best directed to our Enrolments Officer via email - enrolments@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au - or phone: 02) 6627 6647. Applications can be made through our College website. I am respectfully requesting that we are informed if any family knows their child(ren) will not be returning to the College in 2025. This is vital information for our planning.

Child Safeguarding

The College, like all child-safe organisations, is investing significant time and resources into the implementation of the Child Safe Standards. Our website contains our Statement of Commitment and further policies and procedures that inform our approach to this important work.

Key Dates for Term 4

• New Student 2025 Information Evening - 2 December
• Year 7 2025 Orientation Day - 6 December
• Dance Fusions Showcase - 11 December
• Christmas Liturgy and last day of Term 4 - 18 December 

Thank you for your ongoing support of the College. May Venerable Nano Nagle, St Marcellin Champagnat and Mary our Good Mother continue to watch over our Trinity community.

Jesse Smith

Farewell to Mr Sean Baldwin - Assistant Principal Students & Staff

After much prayer and reflection, Mr Sean Baldwin has made the difficult decision to conclude his time at Trinity Catholic College Lismore.

As many of you are aware, Mr Baldwin relocated to Inverell to be with his family in July to care for his ageing parents. Sadly his mother, Helen, passed away in August and he has continued to care for his father in Inverell since this time.

Mr Baldwin joined the College in 2021 as the Assistant Principal Students & Staff and has made a substantial contribution to the leadership of the College. As a member of the Leadership Team during the most tumultuous time in the College’s history, Mr Baldwin’s positivity, capacity to build relationships and strong work ethic helped many to navigate the challenging circumstances.  

As a committed member of the HSIE Department, he taught Commerce, Business Studies and even some Mathematics during his time at Trinity. He is a gifted educator and loved his time working directly with students.

Mr Baldwin used creative ways to engage those who found school life challenging. The introduction of the “Rock and Water” program is one example of many where Mr Baldwin tried to build relationships with students as the gateway to unlocking their human potential.

As a regular feature on “This Week @ Trinity,” Mr Baldwin was the public face of the College on our social media platforms. His ability to relate to others, good humour and willingness to make light of himself kept many families entertained and informed of the latest Trinity news. Enrolling parents from interstate even remarked about the wonders of these weekly clips!

 In the new year Mr Baldwin will take up a new role at Holy Trinity Inverell. In 2026, Holy Trinity will expand from a K-10 school into a K-12 school. Mr Baldwin has been appointed Leader of Stage 6 at Holy Trinity and will be charged with the responsibility of seeing the school take on this exciting venture.

This has been a challenging decision for Mr Baldwin, who reflected on his time at the College with these words:

In the 3.5 years I had the privilege of working with 2 excellent Principals, an amazing Leadership Team as well as accomplished and friendly staff both in and out of the classroom. I also had the blessing to experience first-hand the best student leaders and student body that I have experienced in my 30 plus years in education. I will miss so many of the staff and students of Trinity Lismore as they hold a very special place in my heart and I only hope to build and develop a very strong bond between Trinity Lismore and Holy Trinity Inverell.

Mr Baldwin’s departure is Trinity Lismore’s loss but Holy Trinity Inverell’s gain. On behalf of the College community, I sincerely thank Sean for his contribution and service and wish him all the very best for his new role. I also extend the College’s prayers to the entire Baldwin family, particularly Sean’s father Brian and his late mother, Helen.

May the spirit of Venerable Nano Nagle and Saint Marcellin Champagnat guide Sean “In Word and Deed”.

Appointment of Mr Tony Flood | Assistant Principal Students & Staff

In light of Mr Baldwin’s departure, I can advise that the College Council has appointed Mr Tony Flood to the role of Acting Assistant Principal Students & Staff for the 2025 academic year.

Mr Flood has diligently and capably fulfilled this role since July 2024 and will continue to offer effective and positive leadership to the College in the year ahead. He has worked well with all staff, students and families over the past semester, and we look forward to this continuing.

Mr Flood’s appointment provides the College with stability and certainty for the year ahead given his experience in various leadership positions at the College over the past 20 years, in addition to his extensive qualifications:

• Bachelor of Human Movement Science
• Graduate Diploma of Education
• Master of Educational Studies (Boy’s Education)
• Master of Leadership and Management (School Leadership)
• Master of Theology

Please congratulate Mr Flood on his appointment and wish him well as he moves forward in this very important role at Trinity.

Graduation Ball
On Friday, 8 November we saw the  return of Trinity to the Lismore Workers Club to celebrate the Graduation of our Year 12 cohort. I am sure that the night will be remembered fondly by all in attendance. It was fantastic to witness an event that brought our students together with their families combining a great atmosphere, good food and a packed dance floor.

Graduation photos provided by Camera House Lismore

Special mention must go to the recipients of the College’s major awards for 2025. The citations for these awards can be seen below;

Charlotte Goodwin – Bishop of Lismore Christian Awareness and Service Award
Charlotte has been an exceptional, faith-filled member of the Graduating Class. She has been involved in all aspects of College life and, through her deeds and words, brings the gospel to life. Charlotte has served on the Student Representative Council for several years, actively shares her faith with others, always involved herself in youth ministry activities and has been a positive Christian role model for her peers. Congratulations and thank you, Charlotte.

Laura Parsons – College Spirit Award
From day one of Year 7, Laura has been a positive influence in our College community. She is highly relational and always puts others at ease. Laura embodies what it is to be a Trinity student: she is humble, community minded, passionate and always willing to involve herself in the life of the College. Laura has added to our sense of Family Spirit at Trinity through her active participation in various sporting, extra-curricular, youth ministry and leadership opportunities. As one of her nominates stated, “Laura is an incredible leader. She makes an effort to get to know people and appreciates and respects everyone. Her positivity is infectious.”

Alex Hills – College Cup

Alex truly is an All Rounder –

• Academically – Alex placed 1^st in two of his HSC courses and was ranked in the top 5 students in every other course he studied.
• As Ministry Captain – Alex has greatly contributed to the faith-life of the College and has encouraged and promoted a number of mission-based initiatives, including our Vinnies Winter & Christmas Appeals.
• As a sportsperson – Alex has represented in cross country and various other sports, as well as competed in the Kokoda Challenge on several occasions.
• Culturally – Alex is a very talented musician and ranked 1^st in Course in HSC Music. He has also shared his musical talent with the College on several occasions. Alex is also a very talent multimedia student who, in the past, helped create some of the first “This Week at Trinity” videos that are now a weekly feature on our social media pages.

One of his peers wrote, “Alex displays the attributes of both a role model and leader of the College. He has been a noticeably active student for years and a great friend to so many in this cohort.”

Emerge:

Wednesday evening saw the Whitebook theatre come alive, with a Creative and Performing Arts showcase that could only be described as ‘amazing’. Students were able to showcase their talent in front of a sellout crowd. A huge congratulations to the students and staff, performers, stage crew and behind the scene volunteers. An event like this has many moving parts and when they come together in a way that provides nothing but enjoyment for the audience, all involved truly deserved a round of applause.

Champagnat House - Wet N Wild - Delaney Cup winners 2024

Well done again to Champagnat House who were able to get out of the heat on Thursday, heading to Wet n Wild on the Gold Coast to celebrate their victory in the Delaney Cup for 2024. Thank you to staff who accompanied the students on the day. All reports indicate that they had a great day out.

Sporting Success

Well done to our representative netball teams who took part in the recent Diocesean Netball carnival. Congratulations to the Year 7/8 team for coming runners up and to the Year 11/12 team who were the grand final winners on the day. The future for Netball at Trinity looks bright.

Marist Cricket

Best of luck to our Marist cricket boys who travel  to Victoria Sunday for the Marist carnival. The team will have a week full of cricket. Thanks so much to Pat Martin, Peter Everingham and Matthew Parrish who have done a fantastic job preparing the team through training sessions, pie drives, organising matches, organising uniforms and travel arrangements. Have a fantastic time Trinity and play your best.

The Christmas Carol Competition

To finish 2024 we are running a Christmas Carol singing/performing competition for House points in the Delaney Cup. 2025 House Captains have been busy practicing with their groups already.

The outcomes we hope to achieve with this fun activity is to:

1. Build the profile of our new House Captains and our senior students with the other members of their House.
2. Build House spirit
3. Have a platform to launch the Delaney Cup as soon as we return in 2025.

Students from each House will have the opportunity to change into Christmas attire or House colours to add some energy to the performance.

Upcoming events for New 2025 Students and Families

A reminder to any new families that may be joining the Trinity family in 2025 that we have our 2025 Information Evening on Monday 2 December from 6pm to 7pm in Whitebrook Theatre.

We will also have our Year 7 2025 Orientation Day on Friday 6 December from 9am.

We look forward to meeting you all on either Monday or Friday and welcoming you to Trinity.

Tony Flood

Dear Trinity families,

Welcome to Term 4 and what will be a busy time for Mission.

Youth Ministry Students - EXURO & St Carthage’s Student Leadership Day

On 22 October and 7 November many of our CSYMA students helped to facilitate EXURO ( a Diocesan Discipleship event for primary school students) and the St Carthage’s Primary School Student Leadership Day. Our students have spent much of Year 10 working on their own leadership and youth ministry skills to equip them with the necessary gifts to make positive contributions and connections with our primary schools - on contemporary and exciting faith formation days. Students in the Year 10 Youth Ministry class have been excellent ambassadors of the College at every occasion they have supported this year.

Thank you to Mr Tory Puglisi who in his role as Youth Ministry Co- ordinator has been a tremendous mentor to our CSYMA students.

 Nagle Day Liturgy & Awards

A significant day in the College’s annual calendar is Nagle Day held on 21 November.  This year, five members of the Presentation Sisters community were able to join with the whole College to acknowledge Nano Nagle and her ongoing legacy at Trinity. Nano continues to inspire us to live justly, with compassion and love for others. Father Jim was present to lead our celebration which was brought to life by our wonderful choir and musicians. The feeling in the theatre when the whole school danced and sang Lighthouse together was uplifting. This feeling of connection, inclusion and family is truly something special about our community.

Our 2024 Nagle Awards were also awarded at this liturgy. Five students from each year group were nominated by their peers and staff for their kindness, generosity, compassion and/or hospitality. It is wonderful to see our community able to see the goodness in each other and want to affirm each other. Nano’s light continues to shine brightly at Trinity. 

 St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal

The Nagle liturgy also marks the launch of our Christmas Appeal. Each year our students, staff and families come together to enable our local Vinnies to provide support for Lismore families at Christmas. Sometimes in the fun and joy of our own Christmas we forget that not everyone experiences Christmas like that. Giving to the Christmas Appeal is a way to live our faith and show others we care.

Vinnies provides essential assistance such as food hampers, emergency housing and financial aid. The Christmas Appeal is asking our Trinity community to donate to help bring joy to those facing hardship, ensuring everyone can celebrate the season with dignity.

The number of people turning to Vinnies for help continues to grow each year, and this Christmas, we have a chance to make a real difference for those who are most vulnerable. Any help can significantly impact a family. We are accepting cash and gift cards (to supermarkets - grocery only cards preferred)  along with non perishable items, such as canned goods and treats. Students can bring donations to the Trinity Reception for the next three weeks. We will present Vinnies with our Christmas fundraising at our Christmas Liturgy in December. We do hope that your family can help support The Trinity Christmas Appeal.

Term 4 Mission Events

• Christmas Liturgy - 18 December

Annette White - Director of Mission

Record of School Achievement (RoSA)

The Record of School Achievement (RoSA) is a certification issued by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), recognising the learning and achievements of students who complete Year 10, 11 and 12. It provides a record of academic progress and is a valuable document for students planning their future educational and career pathways.

All Year 11 students will be able to access their (RoSA) from 19 November, and Year 10 students can access theirs from 5 December.

We encourage students to check their RoSA and reach out to the Office of Student Learning if they have any questions or need assistance.

Accessing your RoSA credential

• Download your credential from Students Online before 30 June 2025
• Log into your account with your NESA student number and PIN
• Go to Certificates/eRecord to generate your RoSA credential (free of charge)
• Go to Certificates/eRecord and download your Vocational Education and Training (VET) credentials, if applicable (free of charge)
• Go to Results Services if you would like to order a printed copy of your certificate/s for a fee.

Reminder - Changes to Our BYOD Preferences and Recommendations

We would like to inform you of a change to our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) preferences and recommendations. Chromebooks have been removed from the approved type of device list. This decision is in response to the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) no longer supporting Chromebooks with the required lockdown browsers for Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN, as well as Year 10 HSC Minimum Standards testing.

Please note that there is no immediate need to replace a fully functioning Chromebook. However, when your child’s Chromebook needs replacing, please refer to the updated type of device information available on the College website and the Lighthouse Parent Portal. 

2025 Essential Book List Items

In preparation for the 2025 school year, the Essential Book List Items can be found on the Lighthouse Parent Portal under the Resources for Parents tile.

We wish all students and families well for the remainder of Term 4.

Alison Unwin - Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Tracy Benfield - Director of Learning

Amy Pascoe - Director of Teaching Excellence

In 2024, the Science department has been focused on building stronger connections with the local community, particularly with Southern Cross University (SCU). This connection took a positive step forward in Week 2 when our Stage 6 Science students attended the SCU RISE Conference, an inspiring showcase of current, local postgraduate research.  Students were amazed at the complexity of the data being collected and the fascinating topics that ranged from environmental science to chemistry, climate change measurements and agriculture applications. Thanks to Associate Professor, Dr. Joanne Oakes, the Deputy Director of Higher Degree Research and Training for hosting our staff and students at the conference.

For our Junior students, Science lessons continue to combine engaging theory with practical experiences, promoting curiosity and critical thinking. This Term, each year group has been exploring a range of new learning:

• Year 7: Students have embraced their role as budding naturalists, collecting and classifying insects and flowers as part of their unit on Classification.
• Year 8: The classroom has transformed into a geological lab as students uncover the secrets of the rock cycle through hands-on experiments.
• Year 9: Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the mysteries of plate tectonics have taken center stage, as students explore the science of Earth’s dynamic processes.
• Year 10: Creativity and Science collide as students produce Evolution explainer videos—complete with imaginative David Attenborough impersonations and entertaining raps that showcase their understanding of natural selection and adaptation.

By blending theory with practice, we’re hoping to foster a love of Science learning and a deeper understanding of how the world works.

Year 8 Students observing the effect of temperature on rate of crystallisation: Freya Rogusz, Claire Catford, Heidi Hume, Amarli Goulding, Luella Harris-Kerr, Makani Cassidy, Oscar Kervalla.

Ms Katie McCloskey - Leader of Learning - Science

A regatta is a rowing competition, and usually consists of multiple events throughout a whole day. There are events for single sculls, double sculls, quads and eights. We have had two recent regattas, one in Coraki on 27th October, and another in Murwillumbah on 17th November. Davis May, Hamish Bailey, Fred Fowler, Eliza Moloney and Zac King represented us well at the Coraki regatta. Hamish Bailey, Davis May, Eliza Moloney and Fred Fowler competed at Murwillumbah.

In the weeks leading up to the regatta, we all went through tough training out on the water, rowing for extensive time in hot weather. We had to push our limits to ensure our endurance was up to standard for both regattas. Peter followed us along the river in the speedboat, ensuring our form was up to standard and helping us perfect our ‘starts’.

The regattas were both great experiences! Seeing everybody come together, helping each other out and lifting their spirits was amazing. No matter where anyone placed, everyone was supportive and motivational. Our teams really enjoyed the sportsmanship between other clubs and schools, with everyone helping each other out whenever needed.

Congratulations are due to all our excellent participants who represented Trinity with pride. Our team showed wonderful sportsmanship at both events and should be very proud of their achievements.

Opportunities like this would not be possible without the Lismore Rowing Club, who provide equipment, transport, expertise and encouragement. The members generously give up their Wednesday afternoons to run the rowing program and run training sessions on Saturday mornings as well.

Huge thanks go to Laurie Lynch, Peter Wallace, Rob Lynch, Mark McMahon and Aina Martin - we couldn’t do it without you!

 Hamish Bailey and Fred Fowler in the Men’s 15/16 Double Scull event at the Coraki Regatta