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Whitefriars College is committed to a future built on respect, truth-telling and genuine relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Guided by our Carmelite values, we honour the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, and extend our respect to all First Peoples and Torres Strait Islander members of our community.

In the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy says to her dog, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” It’s a phrase that has come to mean that we have stepped outside of what is considered normal; we have entered a place or circumstance that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable; basically we have found ourselves outside our comfort zone. When was the last time you felt like that? How did you feel? How did you cope? How did you adapt to this significant change in environment? I present these ideas and ask these questions having just returned from two weeks in Timor-Leste with a group of dedicated staff and 13 incredible young men.

When I meet with families considering our College for their son’s education, I always begin by explaining what it means to be Carmelite. I often start by recounting the story of the first Carmelites— a group of men who chose to live as hermits in the tradition of Elijah on Mount Carmel, in the deserts of Israel. I then highlight the unique journey that led the Carmelites, an order not originally focused on education, to establish a Catholic boys’ school here in Donvale in 1961. Historically, the Carmelites were known more for their contemplative, monastic life than their involvement in education. However, my recent travels to Ireland and the UK, following in the footsteps of the Carmelites, revealed a richer and more expansive narrative.

In April 2024, the Carmelites entrusted Mercy Partners with Canonical governance of Whitefriars College, while the College Board continues to oversee day-to-day operations. The handover celebrated the rich Carmelite heritage and ongoing growth of the College.

Dear members of the Whitefriars College Family, Recently, we recognised the wonderful gifts talents and hard work of our students …