Such is the case in a project promoted by the St Vincent de Paul group in south Dunedin, in support of Catholic Social Services. The aim is to provide firewood to those who need it during the winter months, so that their homes are heated, and the cost is not a hurdle.

A few years ago, the New Zealand Government began to offer a special energy supplement during the winter months to those receiving National Superannuation. Catholic Social Services suggested that, if some Mercy Parish members did not need the supplement, then that money could be donated to be put to use in a practical way. So donated money was then used to buy trailer-loads of firewood, which could be delivered to those needing that assistance.

From that original concept, the project has evolved over the last couple of years. A parishioner who has connections to local forestry blocks has been able to source some logs that had no commercial use. This so-called billet wood is either damaged or imperfect, and would be cast aside and left to rot. Some of these logs have been delivered to the yard near St Patrick’s Basilica in south Dunedin.

Besides the forestry block source, there have been other trees supplied this last year. Some trees had to be cut down at Mosgiel where the new retirement houses for priests were to be built in the grounds of the Holy Cross Centre. There was also some wood from trees cut down at St Peter Chanel in Green Island, and from a Mercy parishioner’s house in Waverley.

A team of parish volunteers, co-ordinated by Gerry O’Farrell, gather at the yard with chainsaws and log-splitters to turn the logs into suitable-sized firewood.

Another small team of pupils from Kavanagh College then help stack the cut wood along a fence line in the yard to dry for nearly a year, ready for distribution to those in need during the following winter months.

So a very practical project has evolved over recent years, making use of volunteers with suitable connections, skills and machinery to provide a much-needed solution to help keep people warm who need it most.

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The Catholic Diocese of Dunedin is celebrating this year the 150th anniversary of its establishment. One of the highlights of the diocesan year is the Dunedin Diocese Catholic Secondary Colleges’ Public Speaking Competition.

This has always been keenly contested and 2019 was no exception.

With the competition this year being held at Verdon College, Invercargill, the four Catholic Colleges of the diocese — Verdon; St Peter’s College, Gore; Kavanagh College, Dunedin; St Kevin’s College, Oamaru, all took part in every section.

On August 11, Dunedin Bishop Michael Dooley announced Kavanagh College had won the Bishop’s Shield by one point from St Peter’s College.

This win was recognised as a major achievement for the college, which has had a difficult year with the tragic losses of its principal and a much-loved teacher as well as the death of a student of the college.

In his address to the students, Bishop Dooley urged them to continue and paid tribute to Tony Hanning, who is stepping down from organising the competition as he retires from his position as the director of Catholic education for the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin.

In his farewell speech, Mr Hanning also paid tribute to the competitors. He commended them for the happy and courteous spirit in which the Bishop’s Shield has been conducted over the years.

Results were as follows: JUNIOR DRAMA (Alpha Cup) – St Peter’s College;
SENIOR DRAMA (J B Lynch CFC Cup) – Kavanagh College; JUNIOR SCRIPTURE(Gerard Curran Cup) – Molly Colbert, Kavanagh College; SENIOR SCRIPTURE (Bishop Kavanagh Cup) – Lisa Satoro, Verdon College; SENIOR SCRIPTURE (Psalm/Sight Reading) (Nora Brophy Cup) – Lisa Satoro, Verdon College; IMPROMPTU SPEECH (Dowling Cup) – Ralph Stewart, Kavanagh College; PREPARED SPEECH (Hibernian Cup) – Emily Chamberlain, St Peter’s College; JUNIOR DEBATING (Coral Paris Trophy) – Kavanagh College; SENIOR DEBATING (Father Christopher Gaffey Cup) – St Kevin’s College; BEST SPEAKER IN JUNIOR DEBATES (Dominican Cup) Orla Kelly, Kavanagh College; BEST LEADER SENIOR DEBATES (Karen Austin Cup) – Cara Anderson, St Kevin’s College; BEST SPEAKER IN SENIOR DEBATES (Hibernian Cup) – Joel Kunnethedam, St Kevin’s College; MOST PROMISING SENIOR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE (Boyce Family Cup) – Emily Kerr-Bell, Kavanagh College; MOST PROMISING JUNIOR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE (Terry Angus Cup)Noah Calvert-Shandley, Verdon College; RUNNER-UP FOR THE BISHOP’S SHIELD: (Marist Centennial Plate) – St Peter’s College; WINNER OF THE BISHOP’S SHIELD 2019: Kavanagh College.

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The current principal of St Peter’s College in Gore, Kate Nicholson, has been appointed as the new principal of Kavanagh College in Dunedin.

The previous Kavanagh College principal, Tracy O’Brien, died earlier his year.

Mrs Nicholson, who has been the principal of St Peter’s since
2014, after joining the college staff in 2011, will be the first female principal at Kavanagh, where she starts in September.

Before taking up a senior position at St Peter’s College in 2011, she had taught in secondary schools in Wellington, Otago and Southland.

Before taking up teaching, she was educated at Villa Maria College in Christchurch and, after study at Lincoln University, graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Horticultural Science.

She followed this with study at the Christchurch College of Education where she gained the diploma of teaching (special needs) at that institution. Her teaching career began at Gore High School in 2003.

Since her appointment to the role of principal at St Peter’s College, Gore, Mrs Nicholson had been elected as chairwoman of the Southland Rural Principals’ Association
and the Eastern Southland Kāhui Ako support principal.

Kavanagh College board of trustees chairman Trevor Thomson said Mrs Nicholson had led significant change in curriculum, in the development of contemporary teaching
practices and in the effective, balanced use of digital technologies.

“Her skill set is underpinned by her strong, inclusive Catholic
faith and by her commitment to social justice and action. She will be able to build on the work of the late Tracy O’Brien in enhancing the supportive and positive environment at the college.”

Mrs Nicholson said she was looking forward to the move to
Dunedin.

“I have truly enjoyed the privilege of leading St Peter’s College, and after many years of raising a family in Eastern Southland, my family and I are looking forward to making Dunedin our home.”

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In the midst of national mourning for the Christchurch mosque shooting victims, the Dunedin Catholic community was stunned by the sudden death of the much respected Kavanagh College principal, Tracy O’Brien, 54, in Dunedin on March 19.

Mr O’Brien had been principal at Kavanagh since 2010 and at Cullinane College in Whanganui (where he was foundation principal) for eight years prior to that as well as acting principal at Hato Petera College in Auckland for a year before that. Fourteen years of teaching history and economics preceded his move into those leadership roles.

With nearly 20 years in high pressure positions as principal, he had made the decision in October last year to resign at the end of the second term in 2019 to give Kavanagh College time to consider and appoint a replacement. His intention was to spend more time with family and have time to research his own family heritage.

Despite a few minor health matters in recent times, his sudden death was totally unexpected and produced grief in the college community already experiencing the shock and horror of the Christchurch events. Even though he was on sick leave after a recent ear operation, Mr O’Brien had led the school’s hour-long special service for the Christchurch victims on March 18.

On the afternoon of March 21, the college gymnasium accommodated an estimated 1200 mourners (750 of them students) who gathered to pay their respects at a memorial Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Dooley.

In an opening tribute, deputy principal Steve Read said that “a Totara has fallen in the forest of Tane”. He noted that Mr O’Brien would have been humbled by the presence of so many at the Mass that day.

Representatives were in attendance from other Dunedin schools, the New Zealand Catholic Education office, the Ministry of Education, politicians, as well as parents and former pupils.

Mr O’Brien’s quick wit and caring and empathetic nature were qualities which endeared him to many.

“Tracy had a passion for a Gospel-, value-based Catholic education. This was closely followed by a focus on his
family,” Mr Read said.

Rebecca Meikle, a member of the board of trustees, spoke of Mr O’Brien’s “wairua” and his passion for giving all students a fair deal. He aimed to protect all members of the Kavanagh family.

Former pupil Timothy O’Farrell also spoke about how Mr O’Brien took an interest in how former students were faring in life after school. He listened to pupils and former
pupils in all situations.

In his homily, Bishop Dooley said that, on the Monday,
Mr O’Brien had shown spiritual leadership in taking the
special assembly, little realising that people would be praying for him within 24 hours.

He noted that Mr O’Brien’s role as principal was pivotal in the school and “Tracy was very aware of that. He exercised that responsibility with compassion and fairness”.

Bishop Dooley mentioned that he had been involved with the principal for several years when he was chaplain at Kavanagh College.

He noted that Mr O’Brien’s motivation for taking respect and fairness seriously came from the Gospels. Those values had been instilled in him through his upbringing, his
whanau, and all those with whom he worked over the
years.

“His role model was very much Jesus Christ”.

Bishop Dooley acknowledged that, by his contact with Mr O’Brien, he had been inspired to think more deeply about his own role and what values were important to him.

He observed that Mr O’Brien had been very keen on the concept of gathering together around a table and sharing the breaking of bread together. The Eucharist was important in that process of creating that bond.

For Mr O’Brien, it was important to follow the command “Love one another”.

Following Communion, members of the college First XV performed an emotion-charged haka.

At that stage that day Mr O’Brien’s body was being flown to the Wairaka Marae in Whakatane, where his tangi was to be held on the Saturday.

His involvement in the education sector included membership or leadership roles with the Otago Secondary Principals Association, the Dunedin Secondary Partnership Board and the Secondary Principals’
Association of New Zealand (Spanz).

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Children bringing hosts forward for consecration bow during the Mass at Forsyth Barr Stadium on October 26. (Marelda O’Rourke-Gallaher photo)

Mass was celebrated with a temporary altar area set up on the grass in front of the end stand normally occupied by Otago University students during an Otago Highlanders home game.
This time, the end stand was occupied by a thousand or more Catholic faithful attending a celebration of 25 years of Kavanagh College and more than 150 years of Catholic education in the city.
All Sunday morning Masses in Dunedin parishes were cancelled in favour of the combined celebration at the stadium.
Kavanagh College principal Tracy O’Brien indicated that since the parishes and parish schools were a vital ingredient in the life of Kavanagh College,
the combined Mass was seen as a way of involving them in celebration of the college’s 25th anniversary.
The day was overcast and threatening rain, so the advantage of the covered stadium again came to the fore.
The Mass began with a group from the Catholic Samoan community adorning the altar and the celebrants with flowers.
Fr Gerard Aynsley celebrated the Mass, supported by a number of local clergy who had had links with the college over the quarter century.
Kavanagh College was established in 1989 and represented a combination of three former high schools that had served Dunedin from early times — Christian
Brother’s High School (boys), St Dominic’s College (girls) and St Philomena’s College (girls).
Towards the end of proceedings a plaque commemorating the contribution of the three orders involved was blessed. It will be placed on a site in the Kavanagh
College grounds.

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