​

It was wonderful to see so many happy, excited students bounce through the school gates over the last two weeks. It was equally as pleasing to see mums, dads, grandparents and guardians accompanying their children, sharing the same sense of hope and optimism, for where the year may take them and their families. I have so many fond memories as a child heading off to school with my brothers on the first day of the school year. It still excites me even as an adult.

More recently, the media has worked tirelessly to remind us daily, of an increase in interest rates and living expenses. My mother and father were both secondary teachers raising three kids, but I understand this to be the toughest of times for my parents and this may resonate with many young families in the present financial climate. Mum worked two jobs when interest rates hit 18%. I never would have known times were tough. They did what they needed to do to get by. Interestingly, it was never a question as to where I would attend school. It was always going to be St. Joseph’s at Bracken Ridge. My mother and father both attended Catholic schools in Sydney. It may have been because we were of the Catholic tradition or because my grandmother wouldn’t have had it any other way. Either way, I am enormously grateful that my parents always made my education a priority, even at a time in their lives where it would have resulted in personal sacrifice. An added pressure to the weekly budget which for me, resulted in lifelong friendships, a strong sense of identity and an extraordinary role model in the shape of Jesus, which provided essential life skills for the journey ahead. I am always aware of the extra commitment our families continue to make, as you prioritise your children’s education. It is one of the greatest investments you will make as parents, with the dividends sometimes taking years to be realised.

​