18 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2019 IDENTITY & COMMUNITY The was double cause for celebration at St Anne’s College in Kialla as Sandhurst’s newest school celebrated their official opening on the feast day of the College’s namesake, St Anne. Exactly two years after the first sod was turned; students, staff, parents and distinguished guests gathered on-site to mark the formal blessing of the College. Bishop Leslie Tomlinson performed the official duties of blessing the buildings along with Parish Priest, Fr Peter Taylor. Mr Paul Desmond, Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst unveiled the plaque together with School Board Chairperson, Annette Jakob to declare the College officially open. Principal Dom Poppa thanked everyone for sharing this special occasion with the St Anne’s community. “It is a wonder to be in this place, a place where we hope to shape the future lives of our beautiful young children.” “Whilst I will thank a number of people for their support in getting to this point, to our students, this is for you, a place where you can discover, wonder and dream the possibilities of what can be,” he said. To commemorate the occasion the College commissioned local artist and Yorta Yorta man, Troy Firebrace, to create an artwork inspired by St Anne. The colourful painting, which spans more the two metres across, is a wonderful addition to the walls of the college, taking pride of place in the entrance foyer. Troy said the artwork was a labour of love, which depicts the outline of his own grandmother hidden within the shapes and lines of the magnificent art piece. “When considering St Anne as the grandmother of Jesus, I reflected on the unconditional love I received from both my Nan and my Grandmother,” he said. new college opens in kialla College Principal, Dom Poppa, assisted Bishop Leslie Tomlinson in his blessing of the new school.
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