From the Director of Identity and Formation

Answering the Call: Rite Journey 2026
As the sun rose over the water, a quiet stillness settled across the beach, there our Year 9 families stood side by side, forming a House circle around the young men of the 2026 cohort and their 2026 Rite Journey Mentors – Mr Ryan Malpass, Mrs Claire Devine, Mr Cheyne Moodley, Mr Zane Kent, Mr Dom Crowley, Mrs Tara Dunn, Mr Matthew Pike, Miss Emma Chapman, Mr Alec Gold and myself. Together, we faced the ocean—vast, unknown, and full of possibility. In that moment, it felt clear; this was more than the beginning of a program, it was the beginning of another wonderful SPC journey.

 A Call to Become
Throughout the morning, the message was simple but powerful in that becoming a man of character does not just happen. It requires choice.
The boys were challenged to step beyond “little boy behaviours” and begin taking ownership of their actions, their decisions, and their future. They were invited to consider what it truly means to be a Man of Action—to live with courage, integrity, and purpose. And as we stood there together, it felt less like something being told to them, and more like something being called out from within them.

Those Who Walked Before
Standing alongside the Year 9 cohort were the Year 10 Men who were our 2025 Men of Action Owen Cruice, Michael Magro, Macarthur Petersen, Adam Singer, Thomas Caldwell, Oliver Howe, Goldit Mabor and Marius Graham, young men who had only completed their Rite Journey four months before, but their presence mattered and was important. As they handed back the House banners, there was a quiet but powerful sense of transition. They had walked this path. They understood its challenges. And now, they were passing it on. It was a reminder that this journey is not done alone—it is shared, witnessed, and carried forward.

A Symbol to Carry
One of the most meaningful moments came as parents placed a St Christopher medal keyring into their sons’ hands. There was something deeply significant in that exchange. A simple object—but rich in meaning. A symbol of protection. A reminder of faith. A quiet message that as these young men stepped into the unknown, they would never walk alone.

Gratitude and Letting Go
Then came the letters. Scattered along the shoreline, parents and sons took time to read words that had likely been difficult to write, but important to say. In those words there was gratitude. pride and love. There was also something else, something harder to name. A beginning of letting go. With hands placed on shoulders in each House, parents were invited to loosen their hold, trusting that their sons were ready to begin stepping forward on their own.

A Moment of Deep Significance
The Smoking Ceremony, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Officer Mr Derek Oram, brought a powerful depth to the morning.
As the smoke moved around them, there was a sense of stillness and reflection. Rooted in Indigenous tradition, the ceremony marked a cleansing of the past and a preparation for what lies ahead. In a particularly moving moment, the boys turned and offered a blessing to their parents. It was subtle but significant. A quiet sign that something had shifted.

The Step That Said Everything
Perhaps the most powerful moment came without words. The boys were then asked to take a single step forward—away from their parents. While it was only one step, it carried meaning and spoke of trust, growth and readiness. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they formed a Band of Brothers—reminded that while each journey is personal, none of them would walk it alone.
 

The Journey Ahead
As the ritual ended, there was a strong sense that something had begun, not loud or dramatic., but something steady and real, that the 2026 Rite Journey had commenced. And while the year ahead will bring challenges, growth, and moments of reflection, one thing was clear, these young men had heard the Call; and they had taken their first step forward. Following the formalities, the morning gently shifted from reflection to connection, where we all came together to share a light breakfast. Conversations resumed, laughter returned, and there was a quiet sense of pride in what had just taken place. 
 

While the Rite Journey had begun with challenge and symbolism, it moved to community, being surrounded by family, mentors, and mates, helping these boys to step forward not just as individuals, but as part of something bigger. I look forward to sharing further updates on their progress, later this term.