Shield and Heart, some Chevalier alumni stories
Good news stories about past students from our colleges are an encouragement for our MSC education ministry.
Eliza, Paralympian athlete
Wednesday night at our senior academic awards of excellence we were privileged to have Eliza Stankovic AM, Paralympian athlete, and advocate of Mengicocal Australia, as our guest of honour. Eliza received the Esprit du Chevalier Medal, which is the highest level of recognition Chevalier College can bestow on those that display the ‘spirit of the knight’ by making a positive impact on the lives of others. Eliza responded with humility and graciousness and shared an inspirational message to the audience of students, parents, and college staff.
Eliza, wearing the awarded medal, commented that she has finally received that elusive GOLD!
Freyja, movie star
This week we were thrilled to hear from past student Freyja who has just completed her first feature film - and its playing at the Empire Bowral, opening today.
"Recently I completed my first feature film, titled “Everything in Between”, where I am playing a leading role and wanted to let the school know because so much of my love for acting had its genesis at Chev. The movie deals with complex social issues including mental health, family dysfunction and substance abuse.
It feels pretty special to me that this film is showing in the place I grew up.
Chevalier College has many deep and important memories for me. I attended the college as a quiet and creative student for the years 2001-2006. I studied drama all the way to the HSC and played Bilbo Baggins in the theatrical production of The Hobbit many years ago, which was a life shifting event for me because I never saw myself (someone who identified as quiet and shy) as having the ability to score the lead part in the school play." Freyja Benjamin
The Kerrins Wing
We had a lovely surprise visit yesterday from the niece and nephew of Fr J M Kerrins.
Julie (now Connelly) and twin brother Mark (Kerrins) took time out of their visit to Bowral to pop into the college. Fr J M Kerrins, or as Julie and Mark refer to him, Uncle Mort, was the MSC Provincial Superior who had a significant role in securing the purchase of the Riversdale property which is Chevalier College.
Pictured are Julie and Mark in front of the Fr J M Kerrins Wing opened in 1967 or as we now know it as “C Block”.
John Fahey, the Fahey Building
The Education and Sport Centre was constructed as a large multi purpose hall in 2019 and features an indoor basketball stadium with a mezzanine spectator viewing area and other ancillary teaching and meeting rooms.
Chevalier College has also created the John Fahey Scholarship and awarded the first recipient, who commenced at the school this year. As the local member at both State and Federal levels for many years, any constituents or community supporters of Mr Fahey are able to request an invitation and are encouraged to do so.
Principal Chris McDermott said that John Fahey was described widely in the media as being popular with members from all parties in parliament. John was a genuine man of the people and we are proud as a college to call him one of our own.”
Mr Fahey was enrolled as a bursary student at Chevalier College in 1958 and graduated in the Class of 1962. He was a prefect and captain of the First XI cricket as well as being a member of the acclaimed First XV rugby team coached by Fr Tyson Doneley OAM.
