Katrina Talanoa delivered a heartfelt and humorous speech at the Year 13 Leaver's Breakfast.

Good morning staff, families, friends and most importantly the amazing young men whom we are gathering for this morning, the 2024 St Bede’s school leavers. My name is Katrina Talanoa, and I have been given the most honorable task of addressing you all this morning. I do this on behalf of all the wonderful mums that we see gathered here, and I would also like to acknowledge those mums that cannot join us today.

When I was asked to give this speech, I took my time to think about this year group and the wonderful talents and gifts that these young men have, and truly they are phenomenal. I thought about how this cohort were the Year 9 Covid kids, just starting college and then in March 2020 our country along with the rest of the world went into a mandatory stay-at-home lockdown. It was only 27 minutes after our Prime Minister made her nationwide TV announcement about the Covid-19 lockdown that we received our first of many direct communications from the college via multiple platforms explaining what this would look like for our boys.

In my household, it was initial celebration—the thoughts of sleeping in until midday, the marathon fortnight accompanied with yelling and screaming at the TV until all hours of the night, and general chilling out. Then reality set in: it was going to be Mum who would be the teacher for the next six weeks. Day 1 was lovely; I was so patient and spoke so softly, careful not to make them feel stressed out or hurt their little feelings. I was cooking up a storm that would have made Martha Stewart green with envy; everything was beautiful. Fast forward to day 4: Tan was crying that I had messed up his math and that he got everything wrong, Jared would not let me anywhere near his schoolwork, and I was definitely no longer lovely. I was saying bad words to the children—words that my boys said their teachers had never called them. So collectively, the children informed me I was fired from my homeschool position of self-appointed Head Teacher/Rectoress. Maybe the power had gone to my head; it had changed me, and by week 2, it was a complete dog’s breakfast. I was drunk by midday and asleep by 3 pm.

So, thank you St Bede’s for giving my boys moments of sanity with Zoom lessons, and always, always looking out for our boys’ wellbeing. My family’s journey at St Bede’s has had us involved in choir, kapa haka, Polyfest, rugby, rugby league, basketball, swimming, athletics, water polo, soccer, korfball, debating, and hosting international students. Each one of these activities for the boys was only made possible by the many teachers supporting them, taking on extra workload, going over and above what is asked of them, making sure our boys learned the real value of being a part of a team whilst upholding the very foundation of the Bedean life in Faith. To all those teachers, thank you.

To all the mums…the mums that have been the taxi drivers, the cooks, the collectors of dirty laundry, and the special magical mums that turn things clean overnight; the lunchbox-left-at-home deliverer; the sports gear that magically appeared in their school bag mum; the crazy sports sideline mums—you know who you are; the mums that try really hard to never say bad words to their children; the mums who sell raffle tickets, do the BBQs, or are crazy enough to host parties; and to all of you, the mums who have helped your sons to this point in their lives, graduating Year 13—boys, your mums will always be your biggest cheerleaders. Let us raise our glasses to us, the mums.

This group of young men, the 2020 Year 9 cohort and the 2024 school leavers—you are delightful, well-mannered, spirited, and a very social bunch. I have spent the last couple of weeks thinking about my sons’ milestones. Whilst at St Bede’s, he has grown a mullet, had his first girlfriend, grown his first bum fluff Mo, and he has definitely learned the art of socialising. At one time or another, I am sure I have met many of you young men at my home, perhaps in my garage as one of the members of this very social group. This group was usually accompanied by some very social young ladies from a Catholic girls' school—not to name names, let’s just say that this school rhymes with "Pillar." Let me tell you, these young ladies are amazing. Apparently, they are completely immune to sub-zero temperatures because whether it be -2 or 22, they seem to require the same amount of minimal clothing—it’s a miracle. Meanwhile, the boys, quite oblivious to this clothing standard, seem to be more interested in dressing for warmth and comfort. Jean cargo shorts and the quarter zip have been a real crowd favourite with this social group. Boys, great job. Let us raise a glass for the St Bede’s social group who’ve excelled in the art of "rizz," aka charisma.

My family started our journey at St Bede’s College in 2018 when my son Jared was a Year 9 student. I remember talking to Justin Boyle at the enrolment interview, and he asked why we wanted to attend St Bede’s College. Our answer was, without hesitation, it was our faith and relationship with God that we knew a Catholic education was non-negotiable. At the very heart of St Bede’s College is Jesus. It is love, it is hope, and it is faith—love for each other, hope for the future, and faith unwavering.

I would like to take this moment to remember my husband, Kepu Talanoa. He passed away in 2014; Tan was 7 and Jared was 9. Those boys were his world, and I know he would be bursting with pride to see the amazing young men they are today. However, these boys have not reached this point with me alone. To all the dads that have given my boys advice on the sports field and shared their words of wisdom and encouragement, thank you. To the male staff at St Bede’s College who have modelled every day what it is to be a good man, thank you.

Our families have seen the changing of the guard. In 2022, we said farewell to our Rector Justin Boyle, and in 2023, we welcomed Jon McDowall as our new Rector. My family has been the recipients of the hardship fee relief grant at St Bede’s College. This has made it possible for my boys to attend this great education facility, to excel, to learn, and to participate—all the while without barriers. It is the Rector of the school who makes a final decision on this fee relief, so from my family to both of you amazing men, thank you.

It would not be right if today I did not pay homage to this very special lady, Rachel Pitcaithly. She cares for our boys; she sees all of them and leaves no one behind. She nurtures their faith journey and gently guides some that may stray from the path. She exemplifies our school motto, By Faith and By Works. Thank you, Rachel. Let us now raise a glass in thanking the staff of St Bede’s College.

Our sons’ journey has come to the end as students, but our families' time at St Bede’s is without end. To all of you boys here today, you are—and will always be—Bedeans. You will always honour the crest, you will always do your best, and you will forever be the Men of Bede.

God Bless,

thank you.