austraLasia #3440
Damaged Statue Rededicated and Blessed
HOBART: 22 May 2014 -- After years in storage following vandalism the Dominic College (Hobart, Tasmania) St John Bosco statue has been reinstated, rededicated and blessed. This statue (of the founder of the Salesians) came to the College with the first Salesians who arrived at Glenorchy in 1946. It was placed on the balcony of the first floor of Grantleigh (aka 'the white house'), looking down towards the entrance of the property.
Old Scholars of Boys’ Town (which then became Savio College and finally Dominic College) remember the statue well. The statue was later placed in front of the old school chapel but unfortunately the statue was badly damaged about 15 years ago, before the old chapel was destroyed by fire.
The headless statue was kept in the maintenance workshop, covered in dust and dirt.
The restoration of the St John Bosco statue has taken the College several years to find someone willing to restore the statue. Sculptor, Mr Ian Munday, local UTAS (University of Tasmania)-based artist responsible for the repair of the statue addressed the College community last week at the rededication and blessing of the statue.
Mr Munday admitted he initially thought the task was impossible. “This project for me has reaffirmed that nothing is beyond redemption and that all things are repairable in the end.”
Mr Munday’s address provided a thought provoking and metaphorical message for all who were gathered.
College Rector, Fr Frank Bertagnolli was the driver behind the statue’s restoration.
“There are two important reasons that I was determined to have it restored, firstly to maintain the historical link the statue has with the Salesian pioneers to the College and secondly to restore what the statue symbolises, the origins of the Salesian mission to young people to evangelise by educating and educate by evangelising – a mission which continues today. St John Bosco played an instrumental role in securing improved employment conditions at the height of the industrial revolution in the city of Turin, Italy for working boys aged between 10 and 20.
These boys were illiterate –and they were exploited by ruthless bosses (recall the stories of Charles Dickens, such as “David Copperfield”).
They would sleep under bridges, or in make shift accommodation, they had very little to eat, and many died young in work accidents.
Realizing these boys needed an education St John Bosco set up classes and workshops and began educating them, eventually establishing an orphanage that housed hundreds of homeless youths."
The statue of St John Bosco shows him looking kindly towards a young boy who has a hammer in his hand, no doubt a young apprentice or worker, rescued by St John Bosco.
College Principal, Ms Beth Gilligan is extremely pleased with the restoration of this significant role model for the Dominic College community.
“In Catholic communities, we commission, create and use statues of saints so that we can draw attention, honour and remember their lives, their work and their meaning in our lives today. The restoration of our St John Bosco statue reminds us of St John Bosco’s dedication to improving the lives of young people to be able to be young Christians and honest citizens.”
The Salesians had six of these statues made and placed in various schools in Australia.
Today the exact replica of this statue can be found at: Dominic College (Glenorchy); Dunlea Centre Engadine (Sydney); Don Bosco Centre Brunswick (Melbourne); Salesian College Sunbury (VIC); Salesian College Chadstone (Melbourne); and at St John Bosco Primary School (Adelaide).
All in the community are invited to see the statue, now located in the foyer of the Dezani Design and Trade Centre at Dominic College.
Damaged Statue Rededicated and Blessed
Old Scholars of Boys’ Town (which then became Savio College and finally Dominic College) remember the statue well. The statue was later placed in front of the old school chapel but unfortunately the statue was badly damaged about 15 years ago, before the old chapel was destroyed by fire.
The headless statue was kept in the maintenance workshop, covered in dust and dirt.
The restoration of the St John Bosco statue has taken the College several years to find someone willing to restore the statue. Sculptor, Mr Ian Munday, local UTAS (University of Tasmania)-based artist responsible for the repair of the statue addressed the College community last week at the rededication and blessing of the statue.
Mr Munday admitted he initially thought the task was impossible. “This project for me has reaffirmed that nothing is beyond redemption and that all things are repairable in the end.”
Mr Munday’s address provided a thought provoking and metaphorical message for all who were gathered.
College Rector, Fr Frank Bertagnolli was the driver behind the statue’s restoration.
“There are two important reasons that I was determined to have it restored, firstly to maintain the historical link the statue has with the Salesian pioneers to the College and secondly to restore what the statue symbolises, the origins of the Salesian mission to young people to evangelise by educating and educate by evangelising – a mission which continues today. St John Bosco played an instrumental role in securing improved employment conditions at the height of the industrial revolution in the city of Turin, Italy for working boys aged between 10 and 20.
These boys were illiterate –and they were exploited by ruthless bosses (recall the stories of Charles Dickens, such as “David Copperfield”).
They would sleep under bridges, or in make shift accommodation, they had very little to eat, and many died young in work accidents.
Realizing these boys needed an education St John Bosco set up classes and workshops and began educating them, eventually establishing an orphanage that housed hundreds of homeless youths."
The statue of St John Bosco shows him looking kindly towards a young boy who has a hammer in his hand, no doubt a young apprentice or worker, rescued by St John Bosco.
College Principal, Ms Beth Gilligan is extremely pleased with the restoration of this significant role model for the Dominic College community.
“In Catholic communities, we commission, create and use statues of saints so that we can draw attention, honour and remember their lives, their work and their meaning in our lives today. The restoration of our St John Bosco statue reminds us of St John Bosco’s dedication to improving the lives of young people to be able to be young Christians and honest citizens.”
The Salesians had six of these statues made and placed in various schools in Australia.
Today the exact replica of this statue can be found at: Dominic College (Glenorchy); Dunlea Centre Engadine (Sydney); Don Bosco Centre Brunswick (Melbourne); Salesian College Sunbury (VIC); Salesian College Chadstone (Melbourne); and at St John Bosco Primary School (Adelaide).
All in the community are invited to see the statue, now located in the foyer of the Dezani Design and Trade Centre at Dominic College.
