John Goldie (1979) has been a financial planner for over 35 years and is a director of Paramount Financial Solutions in West Leederville. He grewup with his parents Nellie and George, inBournemouth Crescent, Wembley Downs, where George – who turns 104 in October – still lives!
John came to Marist Junior College, Subiaco, from Year 4 in 1971; and to Marist College, Churchlands, for Years 8-12 from 1975. He excelled at basketball, introduced as a sport in the late 1960s by (former) Br Leo Keegan, and was in Year 10 when Marist College transitioned to Newman College in 1977.
John recalls that when he started at Churchlands, the Deputy Principal was Mr Peter McGowan (Chemistry Teacher 1966-1977), who established the Newman Churchlands Swimming Club and coached there for many years. John is still friends with his son Mark McGowan (1979), but is careful to make the distinction Mark is not our past Premier!
Following in John’s footsteps was his sister Dr Cassandra Goldie AO (1981), who was Head Girl and Dux of her year. Cassandra now lives in Sydney, and is CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and an Adjunct Professor with the University of New South Wales.
In 1985 while in London, John met his future wife, Jo, a Santa Maria girl from the Class of 1979. On their return to Perth they settled in Churchlands, around 250m from us. Naturally, in time, they sent their three children Benjamin, Elijah,and Madeline Goldie (2013, 2014 and 2016) to Newman, and loved the short walk to school each day.
Today Ben (after three years as a Phys Ed teacher at St Mary’s College, Broome, with some fellow Newmanites) is a Phys Ed Teacher back at Newman; Elijah is a paramedic in London; and Maddy, after a few ski seasons in Canada, is back nursing in post-op care at Perth Children’s Hospital.
When their children were young, John became heavily involved in junior sport at the Marist Football Club, at a time when Bern Willett (1976) was Secretary of the Committee. During his 14 years with the Club, of which he is a Life Member, he served as Auskick Coordinator, Vice President and President, and was involved in the installation of lights on the Br Terrence Gleeson Oval, and the digital scoreboard on the side of the Gymnasium. He was also on the committee for the Newman Churchlands Swimming Club and, for eight years, coached two teams of the Newman Holy Rosary Raiders Basketball Club, and spent five years as Chairman of the Newman Sports’ Association.
During this time John saw so many children of the people he and Cassandra went to school with, he reached the conclusion many Newmanites don’t move very far away!
These days John still loves living close by. As he has for many years now, he still walks his dog, Elsie, around Lavalla Oval most mornings, and sometimes makes use of the tennis courts, too!
Sister Declan’s Year 12 Contact Group, 1979
Dr Cassandra Goldie AO (1981), George Goldie (103 years old), and John Goldie (1979) with George’s 1943 Willys Jeep, which John drove in the 2025 Anzac Day Parade
May 2025, at home in Churchlands L-R: Jo, Maddy (2016), John (1979), and Ben Goldie (2013)
Elsie Goldie, walking with John at sunrise on Newman’s ovals
The Goldies on the beach in Broome when Ben was teaching there L-R: Maddy, Elijah, Jo, Ben, John
Top Left: Sister Declan’s Year 12 Contact Group, 1979 Back, L-R: Phillipa Casey, Anthony Dorosz, Christopher Bell, Christine Fellowes, John Goldie, James Campbell, Suzanne Rowe Middle: Christine Neylon, Vicki Johnston, Philip O’Connor, Peter McArtney, Peter Worthy, Paul Laidman, Catherine Halligan-Jolly, Vanessa Nathan Front: Peta Cohen, Jocelyn Craig, Karen Phatouras, Jillian Smithson, Cassandra Brewster, Suzanne Gardiner, Vikki Raynor, Louise MacDonald
Top centre, L-R: John and Jo Goldie with their son Elijah (2014) and his partner Alicia Britton. Elijah and Alicia went to the Newman Year 12 Ball together in 2014 and are both currently working in London.
The City of Stirling have advised the College that they now have vehicle licence recognition technology in use. The use of this technology enables the rangers to drive by public parking areas and automatically register and issue fines to any illegally parked vehicles, removing the need for paper infringements.
Previously, the City rangers have spoken with any individuals, where possible, to provide verbal warnings or education around parking parameters. With this updated technology, infringements will now be issued without any warning from the commencement of Term 3.
To avoid any infringements, please ensure that you are complying with all signposted directions in relation to parking. Some areas of note include:
No stopping or parking in the bus lane
No stopping or parking in ACROD bays without a displayed permit
The Arts, as they constantly do, brought great joy to the College this week. On Monday evening, the Winter Music Night was held in the Marist Auditorium. A total of 160 students performed to a packed auditorium throughout the night, showcasing their Semester One work. The evening featured nine scholarship performers, as well as five Lavalla and 10 Marcellin ensembles—including vocal, orchestral, and instrumental groups—that delighted the audience with their talent and dedication. Students from Year 3 to Year 12 showed such dedication, talent and passion in the pieces presented. Our Arts Captain, Ella Nguyen was well supported by Katja Ekkert, who stepped in for Arts Captain, Campbell Smith, who was unwell, in hosting the evening, and they both did a wonderful job. The Music program continues to grow across the College through the work of our Music Co-ordinator Ms Selena Barnett, Lavalla Music Specialist, Ms Laura van Rijn, the Music tutors and the support of Mrs Kathy Laa Brooy, Leader of the Learning Arts and Mrs Aleisha Dows, Arts Administrator. Later in Term 3, we will welcome the musicians from Sacred Heart College, a Marist School in Adelaide to our Marist performance week at the College.
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Marist Mural
Mrs Emily Rose, Secondary Art Teacher, combined the idea of a visiting Artist in Residence with a project that would help enhance our Marist identity. Emily created a wonderful brief that brought the symbolism of the Marist violets into a Western Australian context of flora and fauna. The idea of the violets comes from St Marcellin himself. They represent the three basic spiritual attitudes of ‘humility’, simplicity’ and ‘modesty’. In our Marist mural, the violets chosen are native to Western Australia (Pigea Calycina). To finish the image, Western Australian blue-banded bees (Amegilla Chlorocyanea) represent not just the important Marist colour blue, but that sense of community. Painted by local artist, Brenton See, the project has drawn great interest from the Art students and anyone passing by as Brenton undertook his work. The mural is painted on the blank wall of the stairs leading to the John Henry Newman Hub.
Secondary Celebration Assembly
The final day of term saw us host the Celebration Assembly. Our Student Leaders gave reports and updates on their work in Academics, Mission, Sports, The Arts and Languages. We also acknowledged National NAIDOC week with the theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Visionand Legacy, marking 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. As NAIDOC week falls in the school holidays, we will further recognise NAIDOC week in the first week of Term 3 with various activities across the College.
The Day Arrives
On Thursday, the Marian campus closed its doors for the final time. Over the past months, we have spent time honouring the role of the Peebles Road site in the Newman College story. All Marian staff and students gathered for a final photo on the oval and the group image took the shape of the letter M. The Year 2 students led us in one final assembly in the Marian Hall and, fittingly, the theme was friendship. In the history and story of this learning setting, Marian has been a place of great friendship making and welcome. On the first day of Term 3, all Early Learning students and staff will be on the Churchlands campus in our fantastic new Marian learning setting.
Farewell Peebles Road and thank you!
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Holiday Break
I wish all families a restful break with their children. It is time for our students and staff to rest and recharge for the second semester. Academic Reports are now available on SEQTA and the opportunity to meet teachers for the Learning Conversations (Parent-Student-Teacher interviews) will take place on Tuesday 22 July.
Congratulations to all Newman College students for their great commitment to Shine through Discovery in Semester One. Thank you to the staff for their work and to our parents for their support.
Upcoming Changes to Social Media Access for Under 16s
As part of new legislation under the Online Safety Act 2021, age-restricted social media platforms will be legally required to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts by December 2025. This national move aims to create safer digital spaces and protect young people from online harms such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content and social pressure. Further information can be found at eSafety -Social Media Age Restrictions.
This legislation acknowledges the growing body of research linking early social media use with impacts on sleep, mental health, focus and self-esteem. It is not about taking something away – it is about giving young people space to grow up without unnecessary digital pressure.
We encourage parents to start open conversations with their children now. Some steps to consider:
Review the apps your child uses and their age restrictions
Gradually reduce use of age-inappropriate platforms
Explore safe, age-appropriate alternatives
Model balanced digital habits at home
Primary Carpark Etiquette
Next term, we are excited to welcome our Pre-Kindy to Year 2 students to the Churchlands campus. Our staff have been working hard to ensure a smooth and positive transition for all families.
A key part of our preparation has been reviewing traffic and carpark procedures to ensure the safety and efficiency of drop-off and pick-up times. We kindly ask for your support by following the guidelines below:
General Expectations
Please follow the directions of staff on duty.
Be patient and courteous at all times and follow all carpark signage.
Pre-Kindy and Kindy Pick-Up
If you are collecting children in Pre-Kindy or Kindy only, please:
Be parked by 2.45pm
Collect your child directly from the classroom
Exit the carpark by 3pm, if possible, to make space for other families
Kiss N Ride Procedures
Please ensure your family name is clearly displayed on your dashboard.
Kiss N Ride will open at 3pm, after the dismissal bell.
Families collecting children from Pre-Primary to Year 6 via Kiss N Ride should not enter the carpark before 3pm.
Important Reminders
There is strictly no parking in the left-hand Kiss N Ride lane.
Once this lane is full, remain in the right lane and either:
Drive ahead and park, or
Loop around and re-enter the Kiss N Ride queue once space becomes available.
Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing support as we work together to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all students and families.
Pupil Free Days and Student Learning Conversations (Parent-Teacher Interviews)
A reminder to our families that Monday 21 July is a pupil-free day for all PK to Year 12 students. On Tuesday 22 July, there will be no classes to enable our Student Learning Conversations to take place.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for a fantastic term and wish you all a safe and restful holiday break with family and friends.
Uniform Shop – School Holiday Trading Hours
The College Uniform shop will be open on the following days prior to the commencement of Term 3:
Tuesday 15 July – 9:00am to 12.00pm and 1.00pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday 16 July – 9:00am to 12.00pm and 1.00pm to 3.00pm
Tuesday 22 July – 8.30am to 4.30pm
As usual orders can also be placed online for collection. The link to the online store is here.
Last week, we were delighted to welcome a small number of families to our first ever parent formation evening, where we were able to share a little bit about our Marist story, and develop our understanding of our Marist characteristics – the very real way Marcellin Champagnat and his brothers brought to life his philosophy of loving all children and loving them equally.
One of the things that I am still thinking about from that night, is the beginning of our evening. What was planned as a quick welcome turned in a rich 20-minute sharing of names, family, school journeys, and our hopes for our children. It was a little bit unexpected, but it was also so wonderful. It reminded me that perhaps what we sometimes long for most, especially in the busyness of life, is time to pause, be present, and enjoy connection with one another. What started as an event in formation of spirituality, was really formation in community too.
I would like to express my thanks to those families who attended our first formation evening – there was a great sense of warmth in the room – of listening and sharing experiences, and it was wonderful to be a part of. I certainly look forward to being able to offer a similar opportunity for families again in the future.
