Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Antonine College

Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (13:15): On 14 September I had the privilege of attending the official opening of Antonine College’s impressive new science, arts and sports building. Situated at the school’s St Joseph campus in Pascoe Vale, the modern facilities will equip students with the skills they will need for the future. From very humble beginnings in 1980, with the arrival of the Antonine Sisters from Lebanon in Coburg, the Antonine Maronite community has gone on to grow, thrive and make an invaluable contribution across our community, particularly in the north, through the initial establishment of an Arabic language school, cultural school, aged care facility and kindergarten. The Antonines opened their first primary school campus in East Coburg in 1998, followed by their secondary campus in Pascoe Vale in 2011. I would like to pay tribute to the entire school community for making these new facilities possible, including His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, superior general of the Antonine Sisters Mother Nazha El Khoury, parish priest Joseph Takchi, Antonine Sisters congregational leader Sister Mariette Kareh, school college principal Joanne Bacash and all the school council members, volunteers, teachers, parents and all of the students. It was a wonderful celebration.