St Ursula’s Day Celebrations

St Ursula’s Day is a wonderful day of celebration at the College and 2025 was no exception. As a community we celebrated the lives of St Ursula and St Angela Merici, who have inspired us to live a life of Serviam. The day began with Mass, followed by the Walkathon and food stalls in the Piazza. The day concluded with a wonderful concert.

We extend our great appreciation and thanks to the following organisations who contributed to the success of the Year 10 commerce student’s food stalls that took place after the Walkathon.

• Oiboba Bubble Tea Australia
• Woolworths Rockdale
• Woolworths Marrickville Metro
• Aldi Wolli Creek
• Coles Brighton Le Sands
• Muffin Break Burwood
• Fruit World Roselands
• Coles Oatley West
• The Burg Five Dock
• Coles Clemton Park
• Coles Earlwood
• Lloyd’s IGA South Hurstville

Walkathon and its connection to Cambodia

I have been asked a few times this week why we walk on St Ursula’s Day in solidarity with our Cambodian community? The see-judge-act method is a three-step process for social analysis and action and this formed the foundation of our immersion. First, one sees the social issue by immersing themselves in the situation and gathering facts. Second, one judges the situation by reflecting on it using moral and ethical principles such as those found in faith traditions. Finally, one acts by developing and implementing a concrete plan to address the root causes of injustice. The following is the presentation shared by three of our remarkable Yr 10 students who travelled to Cambodia. I hope their hearts may be heard as you read their reflections. 

SEE…

When we arrived at Mother of Peace Primary School in Cambodia, we were filled with a mix of emotions that are hard to put into words. There was joy in the way the kids ran up to us with open arms and even bigger smiles. They threw themselves into our laps, held our hands, played games and laughed with us. Even though there was a language barrier, connection came so easily. It was so pure and so real. Being there opened our eyes.

One of the biggest takeaways we gained from the immersion was learning the true meaning of PERSPECTIVE. Perspective means being able to see life through someone else’s eyes and recognising that our way of living isn’t the only way. We saw perspective by witnessing the true realities of life for the people in the community: through our time with the students and sisters at Mother of Peace Primary School, conversations and dinner with university students, and being welcomed into the homes of four families. We saw that while they had little in a material sense, they were rich in spirit, hope and kindness.

I want to share the story of a girl in Year 5, Chan, who deeply impacted me. We had the privilege of visiting her home and witnessing the true reality she faces each day. She brings so much joy and energy to the classroom and it became clear that school is her safe space, a place where she can have fun and learn. But at home, the sadness in her eyes told a very different story. Sister Kresnthia who accompanied us informed us of her situation at home. Her father, who separated from her mother when Chan was very young, lost his vision and became reliant on his two kids, a 12 year old and a 10 year old, to do daily tasks. Sister suggested that, to lift the cost burden off the father’s shoulder, she could put Chan into a scholarship program to allow her to continue her education. The father’s response broke our hearts. He said “But who will be my eyes?” In that moment, we saw his deep love and growing dependence. Letting her go meant losing his connection to the world.

Her story was a powerful reminder that her education is not just hers, it’s her family’s hope. Walking away from that home, I realised that perspective isn’t just about seeing life through someone else’s eyes, but also about carrying their stories with you. Chan’s courage, her father’s love and the resilience of the community will forever shape how I view the world and what truly matters in life. I am deeply and forever grateful to have witnessed firsthand what life is truly like in a third world country. We arrived in Cambodia hoping to change the children’s lives but what we didn’t expect was how much they would change ours. The love and strength we felt touched our hearts deeply and with that, we opened our hearts. A piece of us will forever remain with the courage and hope of the people we met.

JUDGE…

Being in Cambodia and seeing the suffering started to make us question everything. It opened our eyes not only to joy, resilience and kindness, but also to the deep injustices. We were truly humbled. We found ourselves asking very difficult questions that we’d never considered before. How can a country so full of spirit and community be healing from so much pain? We saw the lasting scars of Cambodia’s history. The devastating effects of the Khmer Rouge genocide still leaves its mark. More than four million lives were lost and entire systems were destroyed. Education, health and Government were impacted brutally. Old aged citizens living in Cambodia still had to work long hours to eat at least one meal a day and to pay for things. From our bus we drove past pollution and many street-side stores which was heartbreaking. Most of us may have never heard of landmines before but unfortunately for Cambodians, it’s a deadly legacy. 

At least 10 million landmines remain buried beneath the soil and continue to injure hundreds of thousands of people, especially those in rural areas. We met countless people with disabilities as a result of the landmines. We are lucky to live in Australia. Our government provides ramps, mobility aid, and healthcare. In countries like Cambodia, that’s practically non-existent.  The immersion gave us such great insight into not just life in Cambodia, but the systems of poverty and inequality that exist all over the world. In fact, the average income is $6 a day and most families live on less than $150 a MONTH. The more we saw, the more we questioned. Why is basic education still considered a ‘privilege’ and not a reality in many of these communities? Why is there such a lack of government support for those living with mixed abilities? Why is the burden of genocide still being carried by children who were never apart of it? Why are children being forced to grow up too soon to support their families? These are uncomfortable truths but ones we can no longer ignore. 

Even in the face of these hard truths, what stood out the most in these communities was love. Pure and honest bubbling love. At the Mother of Peace Primary School where we were surrounded by children so full of joy and laughter, we were reminded that happiness doesn’t come from what you have but from who you choose to be as a person. Even though we felt sadness at the hardship they faced, we felt inspired.

We returned home as changed women with fresh eyes. Things we once saw as normal, like school, clean water, a safe home, we learnt are actually privileges that many people live without. And yet, the people we met still found a reason to smile, to hope and to love. We all left a piece of our hearts in Cambodia. We’ve all grown not just as individuals but together as Cambodian sisters. So today from my heart to yours, let’s walk with appreciation, compassion and open hearts. Because together we can really go out and make a difference in the world. 

ACT…

For most of us, when we think about the Walkathon we think of a day of mufti, food stalls, walking – just another event on the calendar. But it’s so much more than that. 

It’s a chance to act for change and use our privilege for good. To help you understand more about your potential for change, I’d like to share a part of a poem we heard whilst we were on immersion. It goes like this:

“It’s not just what you’re born with, it’s what you choose to bear. 

It’s not how big your share is, it’s how much of it you can share.

It’s not the fights you dreamed of, it’s those you really fought.

It’s not what you’ve been given, it’s what you do with what you’ve got.

What’s the use of two strong legs, if you only run away?

What’s the use of the finest voice, if you’ve nothing good to say?”

We all have the power. We all have the privilege. We need to become the sources of change our world needs. So I urge each and every one of you to partake in the upcoming Walkathon for the sake of change. 

With each dollar we raise, a child is able to continue their education, a family is supported and a future is made so much brighter and filled with possibilities.  In fact, if you donate just $15, the cost of breakfast and a coffee, you can fund a month’s worth of schooling for a child. School is a gift, a source of opportunities. More often than not, we take school for granted. But for someone else, it’s a dream. A chance for a brighter future. That’s why we must make the most of what we have, embrace every opportunity school provides, and do what we can for others, because in doing so, we hold the power to transform another life. 

For us, the Walkathon is no longer just something we do, it’s something we believe in. This year, as ‘Cambodian Sisters’, we will be walking in solidarity with all the people we met, with the children and the families whose lives touched ours so deeply. We will be walking, not just with our feet, but with our hearts, knowing that love and compassion can travel across oceans and create real change. Let today be a reminder to be grateful. To maximise all the opportunities we are given. And to commit ourselves to using our privilege to uplift others. Because together, we rise. This is what it means to be Serviam in the world. 

Keira Yazbeck, Indiana Udit & Liana Kazzi 
Year 10