Excellence and insight to the fore at education awards night
Schools
About 400 school principals, teachers, other staff and volunteers from more than 100 schools filled the ballroom at Adelaide’s Hilton hotel late last month for South Australia’s annual Catholic education awards bash.
Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Bishop Karol Kulczycki SDS and Lucy Hood MP, Minister for Education, were among the many dignitaries in attendance.
Celebrated during Catholic Education Week (18-24 May), the awards recognised 11 recipients whose passion and dedication continue to shape positive learning outcomes and strengthen school communities across South Australia.
This year’s recipients were recognised across the following categories: Early Career Teacher (Primary); Early Career Teacher (Secondary); Education Support; Experienced Teacher (Primary); Experienced Teacher (Secondary); Inclusive Education; Innovative Program; Laudato Si; Leadership Excellence; Religious Education Teacher; Volunteer.
Much insight on these occasions can stem from the award winners themselves as they take to the stage to accept their certificates.
In front of a packed and attentive audience, each recipient was announced by the MC Jess Adamson with a category expert then giving a brief overview of the winner’s outlook and drive.
First up this year was Paul Hegarty, the winner of the Experienced Teacher (primary) award.
He’d been, he said, teaching for 40 years across SA before landing at Stella Maris school in Seacombe. It was the first time the leadership team had been younger than him he told the audience in an informal but compelling speech.
The importance of teamwork, IT challenges and the ‘importance’ of beating a rival school at sport in his younger days all came up as did a cracking anecdote about a girlfriend from years ago who turned out to be related to a former archbishop.
The importance a strong Catholic community can bestow upon everyone connected with it was perhaps his key takeaway from a speech that got everyone listening and instantly engaged. The organisers had patently thought the order of acceptance through very well.
Victoria Martin, who took the Early Career Teacher (Primary) award seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself.
Indeed all the winners spoke well. It’s subjective of course but Kayla Bassanese from St Francis of Assisi School, who collected the Religious Education Teacher award, gave a speech that started slowly and grew quickly in depth and reach.
She talked about why religious education matters and what it means to her, it is an invitation to encounter faith she said before talking, repeatedly, about love and how it is at the heart of everything. She made it all very real. (Shamefully perhaps) I inwardly marked all speakers for their contribution on the night and in terms of the message she put across, no one else came close.
Three teachers from the Diocese of Port Pirie were recognised for their outstanding contributions to Catholic education, including St Mark’s College principal Dr Sandra Hewson who collected the Leadership Excellence award.
“Leadership is never a solo act. I have the privilege of working in a system and with people in my community who care deeply about young people and about one another. The recognition I am receiving belongs as much to them,” she said.
CESA Executive Director, Dr Neil McGoran, praised the “passionate and dedicated people” whose commitment shapes positive learning and formation experiences for students and young people every day.
“These awards celebrate educators, support staff, volunteers and programs that reflect the very best of Catholic education through compassion, innovation and service,” he said.
“We congratulate all recipients for their hard work and dedication to ensuring every student and young person thrives throughout their education.”
Periodically Jess Adamson, a director of the Adelaide Crows Foundation, kept everyone up to-date with the Crows score from the AFL match happening against Hawthorne in Tasmania. They lost, in the end, letting everyone know the final score an understandable omission from a first rate MC.
But by then the awards were done everyone was up and milling around and chatting and having their photos taken.
It had been a very good night.
