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As Term 1 draws to a close, I reflect upon what has been a busy and sometimes challenging year so far. In the first ten weeks of our school year, we have had days of uncertainty with rain and flooding. Some in the diocese have experienced great hardship caused by weather and I give thanks that in The Whitsundays we have escaped the full force of nature.
We have worked through a term with very real evidence of the national (and international) teacher shortage. Our staff have gone above and beyond in ensuring that our students truly do have the ‘quality education’ we claim. This has been evident in the collaboration, mutual staff support and support of students, lived daily by our teachers, and our school officers.
I am always a little sad when Easter falls at the end of the holiday. We miss a chance at school to travel through Holy Week together - the part of the preparation season of Lent that leads in a careful way towards the joy of Easter.
Nevertheless, our Primary students have been reminded of the significant events of Holy Week through liturgies that focused upon:
Palm Sunday;
Holy Thursday;
Good Friday; and
Easter Sunday.
The last - Easter Sunday - is particularly significant in this Jubilee Year of Hope, which Pope Francis called for 2025. For Christians, Christ’s resurrection commences a season of Hope, when we are offered an example of how to live, and, perhaps, how to die.
We are reminded of a sacrifice made for us.
We are reminded of the salvation offered us.
Easter is more than a chocolate festival. The resurrection commences travel through a season of awakening and awareness of what we have been given.
I wish everyone in our community a peaceful and holy Easter and look forward to beginning Term 2 with the renewed hope that Easter brings.
Katherine Nelson
Principal
Tickets on sale now!
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Proserpine Entertainment Centre.
Spread the word and invite your family and friends, this is a show you won’t want to miss. Tickets are selling fast.
Bringing ‘The Music Man’ to Life - Thank You to Our Incredible Sponsors
Our upcoming musical production of The Music Man, is a vibrant celebration of talent, teamwork, and community spirit. This much-loved classic will be brought to life by a passionate ensemble of 45 students from our school, supported by a dedicated team of past students, Bowen community, staff members (both past and present), and a host of generous parents and volunteers.
To give our students the experience of performing in a professional-grade venue, we’ve once again partnered with our local Entertainment Centre. While this offers our young performers a truly unforgettable opportunity, it also comes with considerable costs.
That’s where our amazing local sponsors step in.
This production simply wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our local businesses and community members. Your sponsorships and raffle prize donations directly fund essential elements of our show, including set design, costumes, lighting, and sound helping transform a vision into a magical reality on stage.
More than just financial support, your contributions affirm the value of the arts in education and demonstrate a shared commitment to nurturing creativity, confidence, and collaboration among our students. We are especially proud to partner with businesses that understand the importance of giving back and uplifting the next generation of performers and creators.
As a token of our gratitude, your business will be recognised across our school newsletter and social media platforms, reaching a wide and engaged local audience. Your support not only fuels this production but also deepens the connection between our school and the wider community.
From all of us involved in The Music Man thank you for helping us bring the magic of live theatre to life. We can’t wait to welcome you to the show!
Platinum Sponsor - Higgins Coatings
Since 1949, Higgins Coatings has been a trusted, family-owned Australian company providing tailored, high-quality commercial painting and maintenance solutions across diverse industries. With a 75-year history, they have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting local communities through various charitable initiatives. Their involvement includes partnerships with organisations such as Camp Quality, R U OK?, Blue Tree Project, and OzHarvest, reflecting their dedication to social justice,a key value we have here at our college.
At St Catherine's, Higgins Coatings has been a longstanding supporter of our diverse projects and programs. This year, they have generously provided Platinum sponsorship to the college Musical Production of 'The Music Man', significantly enhancing the resources available for it and fostering the arts within our school community.
Their website can be found at: https://www.higgins.com.au/
We are incredibly grateful for their continued support.
Gold Sponsor - Murton Consulting
Murton Consulting is a local, family-run business dedicated to helping organisations achieve their operational and performance goals. They specialise in mine planning, health and safety, and leadership and mentoring programs, working closely with businesses to deliver practical and effective solutions.
With a combined 38 years of experience, Terry and Bec bring deep industry expertise to their work, helping clients navigate challenges and optimise their operations.
Beyond their professional work, they are passionate about giving back to the community. They proudly support the Under 14 Girls Brahmans football team and the local youth centre, Proserpine Youth Space. Bec also plays an active role in the community, serving on the board of Proserpine Youth Space and recently joining the St Catherine’s Board as a parent representative.They are committed to supporting local businesses and community initiatives, helping build a stronger future both in and out of the workplace.
Terry and Bec have been incredible supporters of our Musical, generously stepping in as our catering angels. On Sunday, they generously provided a delicious lunch to keep our cast and crew fuelled during rehearsals. These sessions can be intense, so ensuring everyone is well-fed truly makes a difference and means the world to us.
To see all the services with Murton Consulting, please visit: https://murtonconsulting.com.au/
Thank you for your continued support.
Gold Sponsor - BaxPhysio
BaxPhysio Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, located in Cannonvale, The Owner Dirk Baxendell is a provider with dual qualifications in Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. The clinic specialises in addressing physical issues and injuries sustained by athletes through their Sports & Injury Physiotherapy services. Additionally, they offer Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy to treat conditions affecting muscles, joints, and soft tissues, and Orthopaedic/Post-operative Physiotherapy, leveraging experience with leading Australian Orthopaedic Surgeons and Neurosurgeons.
Dirk brings over 20 years of experience in sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, having worked with elite athletes, everyday workers, and even the Saudi Royal family. He has a special interest in treating headaches, migraines, and neck issues using advanced techniques like the Dean Watson Method. Dirk also focuses on strength and conditioning for endurance athletes, particularly triathletes, and treats both injuries and performance enhancement needs across a range of musculoskeletal conditions.
Committed to delivering personalised care, BaxPhysio operates by appointment, ensuring tailored treatment plans for each client. Their focus on high-quality physiotherapy services aims to enhance the well-being and performance of individuals in the Whitsundays community.
To make an appointment with Dirk, you can visit his website at: https://www.baxphysio.com.au/
Thank you, your support has helped bring our musical vision to life.
Gold Sponsor - TASSAL
Tassal is an Australian aquaculture leader and leading seafood brand with almost 40 years’ experience in aquaculture. Whether Tassal is farming prawns on land or salmon or barramundi at sea, their commitment is to be a responsible business respecting their people and the environment and communities they operate within as they deliver their vision of sustainably feeding tomorrow.
Tassal is celebrating its 5th National Prawn Day this year and is Australia’s largest black tiger prawn produce and has embraced innovation to drive change for the Australian prawn industry and North Queensland.
Since 2018, Tassal have invested almost $194 million into their Proserpine aquaculture facilities. This investment has meant adopting the latest in smart farm technology to integrate targeted, sustainable practices into water and animal management, which has boosted productivity. Now, the fully integrated, land-based aquaculture and processing precinct is a thriving, sustainable industry for regional Queensland. Tassal has created more than 300 local jobs. Leveraging advanced technology, staff produced around 6,000 tonnes of prawns in the past year alone.
Tassal has been a fantastic supporter of our Agriculture program here at St Catherine's, regularly welcoming our students for excursions through their facilities, our senior class had the opportunity to visit just last week!
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Gold Sponsor - LiveLife Pharmacy
LiveLife Pharmacy operates multiple locations in the Whitsundays region, including Airlie Beach and Cannonvale, offering a comprehensive range of healthcare services. These services encompass prescription dispensing, health consultations, medication reviews, blood pressure monitoring, diabetes checks, allergy relief, vaccinations, and sleep apnoea assistance. The Cannonvale location also provides a Sleep Apnoea service, enhancing its commitment to addressing diverse health needs within the community.
They encourage our school and wider community to support these generous businesses, visit them in-store, explore their services, and give them a follow on social media!
They have just completed a renovation at our Airlie Beach store (located next to Magnums) and look forward to seeing everyone there - so pop in and say hello.
Gold Sponsor - Whitsunday Law
Whitsunday Law has proudly sponsored this year’s high school musical, highlighting their ongoing commitment to supporting young talent and fostering community spirit. They believe in the importance of the arts for building creativity, confidence, and teamwork among students, and see the musical as a valuable opportunity to celebrate dedication and hard work.
As a trusted local law firm, Whitsunday Law provides a wide range of services including conveyancing, family law, wills and estates, business law, and dispute resolution. With a deep understanding of the Whitsundays region, their team delivers practical and personalised legal advice for both residents and visitors.
The team loves living and working in the Whitsundays, especially the friendly community and stunning locations like Cedar Creek Falls, Whitehaven Beach, and the Airlie Beach café scene.
Locals can support the business by choosing Whitsunday Law for their legal needs, following them on social media, and spreading the word. They also regularly offer free community legal sessions and promotions to make legal support more accessible across the region.
Thank you for your support towards our musical.
Silver Sponsor - Kapow Interactive
Kapow Interactive is a digital marketing agency based in the Whitsundays, dedicated to enhancing local businesses' online presence. They offer customised website development services, ensuring each site is innovative, original, and user-friendly to effectively engage potential customers. Beyond website creation, Kapow Interactive specialises in advanced digital marketing strategies aimed at increasing business reach and visibility through social media platforms and search engine optimisation (SEO). Their commitment to client success is further demonstrated by providing free digital health checks to assess and improve online performance.
In addition to their core services, Kapow Interactive actively contributes to the local community by offering training workshops in digital marketing, website management, and social media. These workshops empower businesses and individuals in the Whitsundays region to effectively leverage digital platforms for growth. Their involvement extends to supporting local organisations, such as developing and hosting the website for the Pioneer Catchment & Landcare Group, a non-profit focused on natural resource management. This collaboration highlights Kapow Interactive's dedication to fostering community development through digital empowerment.
If you wish to utilise their services they can be found at https://kapowinteractive.com.au/
Thank you Kapow Interactive for your support of our Musical.
Silver Sponsor - Ark Energy
Ark Energy is developing the Collinsville Green Energy Hub, a large-scale renewable energy project located near Collinsville, approximately 80 kilometres southwest of Bowen in the Whitsunday region of Queensland. This ambitious initiative aims to harness wind and solar resources to generate up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy. The project is strategically situated within the Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, an area identified as optimal for new renewable energy developments.
Through partnerships with local initiatives, Ark Energy is helping drive positive change from supporting educational programs to backing environmental efforts that protect the natural beauty of our region. Their presence goes beyond business; it’s about building a better future for the Whitsundays.
https://arkenergy.com.au/
Musical Raffle – Tickets Available on Flexischools
With our school musical fast approaching, we're excited to launch our Musical Raffle, with tickets available for purchase via Flexischools. On the Flexischools app, its on the homepage just under the order food button.
To give our students the incredible opportunity to perform in a professional venue, we proudly partner with our local Entertainment Centre but this comes with significant costs. Your support helps us cover essential elements like set design, costumes, lighting, and sound.
Raffle Ticket Prices:
1 for $2
3 for $5
Amazing Prizes:
1st Prize: Cruise Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Day Trip for 2 adults & 2 children (valued at $899) + A goodies hamper
2nd Prize: $300 Northerlies Voucher + A goodies hamper
3rd Prize: Coral Sea Marina Basket of Goodies + $50 voucher to The Sweet Spot
Winners will be drawn on Saturday, May 3rd at 7pm, during the Musical performance.
Thank you to Higgins, Cruise Whitsundays and Coral Sea Marina for your generous donations to our raffle.
Many thanks for your support and good luck!