Celebrating Community; Creating Culture
Three years ago, we stood amidst the ruins of a flood that redefined our understanding of resilience. Last week, as Tropical Cyclone Alfred trundled in and bruised our region, we were once again reminded of nature’s formidable and unpredictable power. It’s as if a rogue star, a celestial anomaly, periodically disrupts our carefully constructed orbits – this is the origin of disaster (dis-astro: an ill-fated star). These events, much like the cosmos itself, are indifferent to our desires and plans. They simply are.
In the aftermath of Alfred, as with the 2022 floods, there was a flurry of opinions, of “should haves” and “could haves.” Yet, the truth is, no one truly knows what the next wave will bring. These natural disasters are inherently absurd. The word “absurd” itself, stemming from the Latin “absurdus,” meaning “out of tune,” perfectly captures this dissonance. There’s no melody, no predictable pattern, just a series of quantum happenings that defy our attempts to impose order.
We must, then, shift our perspective. Instead of seeking control, let us embrace reverence. Let us instil in our children a deep respect for the unpredictability of nature. Perhaps the greatest gift we can offer them is not a sense of mastery, but the ability to adapt, to trust in the effort to heed warnings, and to understand that these events, both seemingly benevolent and devastating, will continue to shape our world. But that they will pass – and leave us with how we acted and served as the lasting legacy.
These events are, in their own way, both good and bad. They are absurd, yes, but they also forge an unbreakable bond within our community. It is in these moments of shared vulnerability that we discover the true strength of our constellation. It is in our service to others that we find our purpose.
It is these horrific moments that bring common-unity.
At Living School, we witnessed this strength firsthand. We saw our community rally, offering support, compassion, and practical assistance. I witnessed my staff go above and beyond – for our school.
We saw the emotional strain, the weariness, but we also saw the unwavering determination to rebuild and to support one another. There was good humour – and there was confidence in our planning and management.
We reopened our doors quickly, adapting to the circumstances, because our commitment to service is the bedrock of our ethos.
This commitment to service – to giving – is not about self-aggrandisement; it’s about building a legacy of leadership. It’s about ensuring that each generation leaves behind a stronger, more compassionate community. We bounce, we adapt, we support. We do this because it is the right thing to do. We do this because it is what community means. It is our culture.
Our focus, as parents and educators, must be on nurturing this spirit of service. We must teach our children to look beyond themselves, to see the needs of others, and to respond with empathy and action. In doing so, we not only prepare them for the challenges of the future, but we also create a world where the unpredictable star, while still a force to be reckoned with, illuminates the strength of our collective humanity.
The character of our school IS defined by respect, responsibility and positive/productive relationships.
My daughter said something very profound during this event while watching our global leaders on the world stage: she identified how humans have a negative urge to pull down, belittle, undermine, act selfishly. As Katie said, imagine how much better the world would be if we just supported others to be the best they could be – not reiterate their flaws.