After days of rain, sunny skies pulled through for a glorious and warm Open Day at St Thomas More College in 2018.

Blue and yellow rugby shirts were everywhere as residents and staff opened the College for students and their families to visit and experience a taste of what the College had to offer.

While our friendly Admissions team manned the Begley Academic Learning Centre to answer queries and help future residents enroll in the College, our magnificent team of Resident Advisor’s took families around the College to show them our rooms and amenities.

Guests to the College were welcomed by honorary student (and resident dog) Jonah.

The sausage sizzle was a hit, manned by members of our administrative team, including our Head of College, Tom Mitchell and an all-day morning tea meant that in true hospitable Catholic style, nobody who visited Tommy left hungry.

Following their tours, visitors to the College had the chance to experience true College life. The Cambodia Fundraiser Op Shop was open, activities lined the spacious grass areas, the Student Club Committee set up in our Singleton Recreation Room, and our musicians provided a relaxing atmosphere in the Piazza, where our Outreach and Social Justice Committee had worked hard to create 2025 pinwheels by hand.

Each year, selected students travel to Cambodia to work in partnership with the Arrupe Centre, which aims to empower all rural children with one of the most powerful tools available – an education. The Cambodian Government has committed to making Cambodia landmine-free by 2025, a goal supported by our residents, who participate in a half-marathon each year, which attracts runners from across the globe, all in the name of holding the Cambodian Government at their word.

All in all, St Thomas More College had the pleasure of welcoming more than 300 people to its campus for the 2018 Open Day, and we hope to see many faces again as residents next year.

Robyn Birkin