St Edmund’s Community, welcome to Term 3. Monday morning here at the top of Mary Street was greeted with an enthusiasm and energy that is reserved only for the beginning of a term. Everywhere concentrated groups of young men caught up with each other. The place was awash with animated exchanges of tall stories, excited gestures and wholehearted laughter. Permeating the air was a brief and receding feeling of silent sadness for the end of the holidays, tempered with a crackling electric anticipation of the term ahead. New classes to attend, new lessons to learn and new activities in which to engage.
Then, as Week 1 ramped up and Tuesday got underway, an army of dayglow clad warriors toiled under the commanding boom of a whining concrete pump. A patient conga line of cement trucks queued on a space that was previously — and hopefully will be again — the front lawn. Each beast waiting in turn to deliver the concrete that would, almost miraculously, allow the first floor of our new library to take solid form.
Wednesday hummed along with school routine fully restabilising itself. As our young Eddies Men (and our staff) returned to “match fitness”, the buzz about the yard pointedly focused on the impending third State of Origin match. While Team Eddies holds blue and white in the highest of esteem, come Origin time, a special shade of New South Wales blue seems to come out of the woodwork but Queensland maroon is at the heart of every true Ipswich local. Good natured rivalry abounded. New South Wales or Queensland, with bragging rights and state pride on the line, it remained to be seen what news tomorrow would bring.
The dawn rose on Thursday, Maroons ascendant, albeit with some trepidation after the spectre of COVID again raised concerns. A local positive case and some casual exposures at venues uncomfortably nearby, our staff prepared plans and contingencies - “alert but not alarmed”. As a community we pray for those in our world who suffer under the pressure of this global pandemic.
Thursday also saw local primary schools flood the Civic Centre with excited children, ready to see our Musical production of The School of Rock.
It’s now Friday morning and tired from Opening Night, our Musical cast resiliently prepares for the night performance - only another three excellent performances to go!
The whirlwind of Week 1 ends and the breeze that will develop into the whirlwind of Week 2 blows gently over ‘The Hill’. Saturday sees trials for Rugby League, Basketball and Tennis, scattered around Ipswich and Brisbane. The evening brings closing night for the Musical, followed by celebration and, counterintuitively, more work. Our cast and staff will “bump out” - the process of dismantling everything to do with the performance - sets, costumes, lighting sound gear etc., etc. Take it down and put it away.
Every term is packed to the brim at Eddies, giving the opportunity for our team to participate in the busy life of our College. Our young men especially, have the chance to choose and engage in so many experiences that will develop them into strong, kind and gentle people. The Week 1 whirlwind subsides, the Week 2 whirlwind awaits and then? Strap in and enjoy the ride.
