|
2007 Docemus Award Winners
About the Awards
2007 Award Winners Profiles
2006 Docemus Award Winners
Winners since 2002
2007 Docemus Award Winners
Catholic Education’s Docemus Awards are a celebration within a community of colleagues where all are valued, Executive Director, Dr Bill Sultmann said in welcoming guests to the annual Docemus Awards in Cairns on August 30.
“While we highlight some special cases to reinforce the extraordinary, this is delivered within an environment where all are valued and all contribute. Each of us is deeply connected to what is being affirmed and lived out this evening,” he said.
Award categories were Primary Teacher, Secondary Teacher, School Officer, Volunteer Supporter, Leadership and Life-long contribution.
The recipients were:
Primary Teacher Award
COLLEEN SHEPPARD, St Thomas’s Primary School, Mareeba
Secondary Teacher Award
CHRIS LEETE, St Mary’s Catholic College, Woree
Leadership – Position of Added Responsibility Award
SR THERESE MASTERSON, St Monica’s College, Cairns
School Officer Award
MAUREEN WORTHY, St Francis Xavier Primary School, Manunda
Voluntary Supporter Award
MARY DALL’ALBA, St Michael’s Primary School, Gordonvale
Life-Long Contribution Award
REV. FR. JOHN FLYNN, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Earlville
L to R: Mike Graham who accepted the Award on behalf of Chris Leete who was on long service leave, Mary Dall’Allba, Colleen Sheppard, Fr John Flynn (seated), Margaret Doolan, Maureen Worthy, and Sr Therese Masterton.
A professional development grant of $2,000 accompanies each award.
The Docemus Awards, meaning ‘to teach’, were founded in 2002 in recognition of the outstanding contribution to Catholic Education by Tom Doolan, a former Deputy Director of Catholic Education.
Having known Tom and worked with him periodically for 30 years, Dr Sultmann suggested there was no educational administrator who gave more emphasis to the privilege and possibilities within the teaching profession.
About the Awards
Meaning ‘to teach’, the Docemus Awards acknowledge outstanding contributions by staff and supporters of Catholic Education. Their purpose is to acknowledge unwavering commitment to Catholic Education and the extraordinary outcomes that can be achieved through the impact of such commitment.
Established in 2002 in acknowledgement of the outstanding contribution of Tom Doolan to Catholic Education, these awards aim to highlight, recognize and reward members of our school community for their commitment and their self-less attitude towards what they do, day in, day out. The Awards provide a mechanism to recognise those whose efforts are beyond the already high standards of education and care delivered by those involved in Catholic Education. Through such commitment, these people will have made a difference in the lives of students or others with whom they come into contact as they carry out their responsibilities in Catholic Education.
The varied roles through which an exceptional contribution within Catholic schools, parishes and any venue in which Catholic Education takes place provide the basis for the Docemus Awards categories. They are: Primary Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Leadership, School Officer and Volunteer.
2007 Award Winners Profiles
Volunteer Supporter - Mary Dall’Alba
The awarding of this Volunteer Award is a small acknowledgement of the wonderful work that Mary has done not just through education but throughout her whole community. She and her husband Frank raised 12 children. At the time of raising her children she was a tireless worker involved with the school life of tuckshop, fetes and other activities at St Michael’s School, St Augustine College and St Monica’s College. Mary has been an inspiration to many children as she has been a voluntary religious educator at the local schools of not only St Michael’s, but Gordonvale High, Gordonvale Primary, Aloomba and McDonnell Creek School. Even with 12 children of her own she also provided boarding for young people to enable them to attend school or work in the Gordonvale area. When a friend or relative was sick, Mary was there to comfort and provide for them, physically and with a cheerful word. She is a life member of the Catholic Women’s League, and a member of St Vincent De Paul. She does hospital and home visiting to the sick and elderly and visits residents at the Pyramid Retirement Centre, runs afternoon tea for older persons of the Gordonvale community. Mary continues to share her faith with others through religious education in the district. Mary brings to her tasks an enthusiasm and willingness to be involved. A wonderful, faith-filled, caring person who we are privileged to have with us here tonight and who has been a constant witness of her faith in all that she does.
Primary Teacher - Colleen Sheppard
Colleen has been teaching at St. Thomas’s School in Mareeba for seventeen years. During her teaching career, Colleen had an insight into curriculum directions and this enabled her to implement many curriculum initiatives prior to these becoming widely accepted directions.
As a leading teacher she has continued to expand her own development as a professional and to contribute toward the provision of quality learning experiences for students and staff.
Currently the Curriculum Co-ordinator at St. Thomas’s, her vast experience and dedication to curriculum have made her much sought after in the Diocese. Colleen also teaches music at St. Thomas’s and St. Stephen’s; and she has almost been forgiven for the wonderful sounds of students playing the recorder! She is currently working on a talent quest aimed at raising the self-esteem of students by encouraging them to display their talents. The brilliant musical production of “Disney’s Aladdin Junior” and the annual family Carol’s night allowed all in the school to celebrate a sense of pride in their community and in each person in the community. Celebrations of Sacrament and Graduation have become memorable occasions as a result of Colleen’s musical co-ordination.
Colleen constantly re-invents herself by seeking challenges that for her are a part of the ordinary. Her involvement makes a difference to all who work with her. Described as “the heart of her community” Colleen is a truly outstanding person and a very worthy recipient of the 2007 Primary Teacher Award.
Secondary Teacher - Chris Leete
Chris Leete joined the staff at St Mary’s in 1997 and was appointed to the role of Pastoral Co-ordinator in 1999. In this role he has been a class co-ordinator for students from Year 8 to Year 12 and has earned a reputation of an extremely competent, well-organised and caring student co-ordinator. Chris is firm but fair and quickly earns the respect and trust of those in his care. He takes a genuine interest in students and is frequently seen attending functions involving students after school, at nights and on weekends. He is a teacher who consistently goes “the extra mile” in order to give his all for his students.
Chris brings a deep Christian faith to his work and provides an outstanding Christian role model to his students. He is a great communicator and delivers the Gospel message in a manner that speaks to and is heard by the youth of today.
Despite his demanding role, Chris always finds time to contribute to the spirit of St Mary’s. He leads the co-ordination of events for the annual St Mary’s Day celebrations and is the driving force behind St Mary’s Male Choir. This choir frequently sings at significant occasions within the College and is sometimes invited to sing at Diocesan events.
Chris Leete is an outstanding teacher in the Catholic tradition and a wonderful role model to young teachers joining the profession. He is a true disciple of Christ in every sense of the word.
Lifelong Achievement - Fr John Flynn
Fr John Flynn has become a central figure in the life of a number of local schools. He establishes warm and caring relationships with staffs, parents and students. He offers a Christ centred approach which opens all to a relationship with a loving God. He exemplifies the poetic lines of “to act justly, loves tenderly and walks humbly with God”.
Over the years John established his own library of valuable, up to date books on Sacred Scripture, theology and spirituality. He shared these generously with anyone who was interested and particularly with teachers doing further study. He was always available to discuss issues with them and to offer suggestions on how a difficult assignment topic might be handled. John also made regular donations of reference books to the Diocesan Resource Centre.
Fr John has always been a keen supporter of the State School apostolate and had an upfront presence in these schools when needed. Of paramount significance was his concern about the welfare of students in schools. He is a person who is very welcoming, inclusive and is always there for people.
Fr John is very concerned with the welfare of the community and presents a non-judgmental perspective on issues which give all involved confidence in his attitudes. Fr John is an exemplary pastoral educator who became involved in student and staff retreats and in visiting classes. He reached out to people and touched the hearts and minds of many in education. He particularly takes the pastoral care of staff seriously. He is a man of compassion and dedication to the welfare of education in our Diocese.
Fr John supports and counsels all those in need and is always ready to deeply listen. We thank and congratulate Fr John for his admirable contributions to education and honour him with the lifelong achievement award.
Leadership - Sr Therese Masterton
Sr Therese Masterson retired from the position of Deputy Principal – Pastoral Care at St Monica’s College at the end of the 2006 school year. She is currently working part time as Year 9 Coordinator and teaching Religious Education. Not many people would see being Year 9 Coordinator as a step towards retirement but it is an indication of Therese’s generosity as a leader that she is willing to serve wherever needed.
Therese’s contribution to St Monica’s College and Catholic Education has been her life’s work. She has been a staff member at St Monica’s for forty years and has made very significant contributions to the leadership of the College over a very long period of time.
Therese has been an inspirational teacher and leader. Past students from each of the five decades of her career in Catholic Education attest to this – and did a special “Sr Therese, this is Your Life” function at St Monica’s at the end of 2006.
Therese is first and foremost a woman of faith and mercy. Her down to earth, common sense, but no nonsense, approach has endeared her to generations of St Monica’s girls. Although initially taken about by her sometimes gruff manner, it does not take the girls very long to discover her compassion and innate fairness. There are many recent stories told by girls who recognize that Therese has been the factor which has been transforming and redemptive in their lives. She is always willing to see the good in the girls, to give them another chance, but to also offer very practical advice and support at the same time. This is what has made the difference for so many at times in their lives when they have been very vulnerable.
Therese is essentially a Sister of Mercy in all aspects of her leadership role. She has a deep compassion for the poor and a strong sense of the dignity of every human person. Therese is the person who finds the second hand clothes for the girl who cannot afford the uniform, who always knows who needs help and who goes about quietly offering very practical support that no one hears about. She has been of enormous support to the indigenous students at St Monica’s who regard her with deep respect and affection.
She is also a great contributor to the community. She has led the P & F who are in awe of stamina and support she has given. She participates fully in Camps and Retreats, always willing to be involved in all activities, no matter how physically demanding.
Therese’s leadership is by example – a lifetime commitment characterised by faith, love, generosity, service and hard work. St Monica’s has been greatly blessed to have such leadership as provided by Sr Therese Masterson.
School Officer - Maureen Worthy
Maureen is a faith-filled person and this drives and shapes all that she does. She treats all people with gentleness, respect and dignity because in her own words “we are here to serve in the spirit of Christ”. She has demonstrated the capacity to fit into a variety of challenging work environments in Catholic Education throughout this Diocese. In all positions she has held, whether it has been the School Officer in the classroom, the School Secretary or Office Manager, Maureen is extremely personable, professional and innovative. Maureen has been a member of the School Officers’ Networking Group (SONG) since 2003 and has worked as part of this team together with the Director and staff at CES to bring to fruition professional development days for School Officers throughout the Diocese. She has taught RE in the State system and has been a P & F executive member and convenor of the craft stall at Holy Cross School. When she asks – as we all do – “Hello, how are you?” she actually wants to know. Maureen has brought the light of Christ wherever she has worked. In the words of one of her co-workers, she “personifies the essence of Christian living and service”.
2006 Docemus Award Winners
Alison Fitzsimmons
Preschool Teacher, St Gerard Majella School, Woree Primary Teacher Award
Matt Ransom
Campus Minister, St Mary’s Catholic College, Woree Secondary Teacher Award
Paul McArthur
Financial Controller, Catholic Education Services Leadership – Position of Added Responsibility Award
Christine Morlin
School secretary, St Anthony’s School, Dimbulah School Officer Award
Kent Beavon
Good Counsel Primary School and Good Counsel College, Innisfail Voluntary Supporter Award
Sr Rita O’Malley
Adult Faith Education, Cairns Diocese Life-Long Contribution Award
Director of Catholic Education Carmel Ross (centre) with the 2006 Docemus Award winners, from left to right: Christine Morlin, Sr Rita O’Malley, Paul McArthur, Kent Beavon, Alison Fitzsimmons and Matt Ransom.
|
