Last week at the first assembly for Term 4, our 2016 Senior Prefect Jack Jacobs (12/FL 2016) delivered a powerful speech. His inaugural address in this leadership role showcased not only the attributes of courage, resilience, care and integrity that define all that is in a Newington Man of Substance, but also vision for a better tomorrow. 

Congratulations to our Senior Prefects and the Leadership Team on being selected to lead the student body into 2016. May the year ahead be challenging, rewarding and fulfilling.

Address from the Senior Prefect Jack Jacobs (12/FL 2016)

Good morning Dr Hirst, Mr Meakin, Mr Driver, staff, and boys.

Today it is exciting for me to introduce to you our new leaders school motto and vision for 2016. This year, we are going to do something different, whilst developing the themes of service and success established by past leaders.

Our motto isn’t a slogan. It isn’t catchy: slick or funny. It takes on some uncomfortable topics, and will force us to start confronting conversations with one another; conversations that we need to have as young men. It is: “Value you, Support him, Stand with her.”

This motto looks at three very connected concepts. The first is ‘self worth’. We can only make a difference in the world if we first value and respect ourselves and that means behaving in ways that preserve our dignity. The statement ‘Value you’ takes a much more personal spin on diversity. We are all unique, and have the potential to be brilliant in our own way. So let’s embrace that fact and be proud of who we are and what we can achieve. The second concept realises that once we value ourselves, we need to focus on supporting those around us. Essentially, we must be an anchor for those who need our help. Now we have always been good brothers; united at school occasions.

But, many of us find it very hard to show support to our friends in times of hardship and distress, yet these are the times when our mates need us the most. With ‘Support him’ we are maintaining our focus on friendship and service, whilst looking after one another in the bad
times, as well as the good.

The third concept focuses on correcting an injustice. This year we are going to tackle Gender Inequality. Many of you may be wondering why we are doing this at Newington: an all boys school. We are doing this here at Newington, because we can’t ignore that women are a huge part of all our lives. They are our mothers, our sisters, our teachers, our friends. We can’t ignore the violence, the disrespect and discrimination that some women have to endure at the hands of some men.

What hurts them, hurts us. So we are making a bold and brave commitment that as young men, wherever possible we will no longer allow these injustices to persist: not under our watch. We have a responsibility to treat women as equals and with respect in our lives. What is important about our motto is that it doesn’t just imply or bury this responsibility as a general inference or assumption under a catchy rhyme. It names the problem and owns it.

If we want violence against women to stop, then just assuming all men will ‘do the right thing’ by women is not enough; because that is what has been assumed for the past few decades and there seems to have been little improvement. The statement “Stand with her” makes our goal clear and puts all the cards on the table. We will “Stand with her”. On that note, tomorrow is Think Pink Day. This day is an opportunity for us as young men to support women fighting cancer. With our help in building awareness, there is hope of finding a cure; in funding research, prevention methods and support services. Tomorrow, students and male staff are encouraged to wear a pink item of clothing to show their support for this cause. Pink ice-cream will be sold at recess for $2 in front of Centenary Hall and donations will be welcomed at the front desk of Founders Building.

This year we need to make a stand and be good sons, good brothers, good partners – good men in the fight women have against cancer and gender equality. Let’s be brave, and participate on the day. It takes a real man to wear pink. So, not only does this motto embody the values of our College, it identifies those actions we need to take to become better men. This motto gives each one of us a sense of direction, and three clear steps to work towards. A personal commitment to these goals will benefit our community and wider society.

“Value you, Support him, Stand with her.”

2016 Senior Leaders