Mike Hitchins
Diocesan nominee
Queensland Catholic Education Week 2011 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards
Mike Hitchins Mike Hitchins, Ryan Catholic College Nominated by Allister Crocker Mike Hitchins has been a valuable member of Ryan Catholic College staff for over seventeen years. In the seven years that I have known Mike, I have been impressed by the way he gives life to so many people. He is attentive to the needs of students in both his Mathematics and Religious Education classes. His spirit of compassion and caring enables him to hone in on students who could fall through the cracks. He gives them time and attention and walks their journey with them-offering support, encouragement and empowering them to move forward. Mike's patience and sound advice-has enabled so many students and staff to pick up the pieces. I am amazed at the number of students who write to him, to thank him for helping them in life and setting them on a valuable path in life. I have personally read some of these letters and feel that God is at work in an extraordinary way through an extraordinary man. Mike is a man who "sees a need and does something about it". He looks out for stressed staff members and would regularly offer to take classes for them. Mike regularly steps in and undertakes playground duties for other staff members. Always done with great humility and without ever drawing attention to himself or the person he has helped out. You can be certain that in times of crisis Mike is available to staff, parents and students. I know of a past student who Mike keeps in regular contact with. The family absolutely appreciate his support of their very ill son. Mike places others before himself. I recently witnessed Mike's gentle approach in helping a colleague in crisis. His caring, practical and professional approach helped ease the burden for the staff member and his family. The support for Mike's initiative, from other staff spoke volumes about how much staff value his work. I have witnessed Mike take on some very challenging Religion classes. In a very short period of time the classes have become more caring and compassionate. Mike lives his faith and has the ability to meet young people's needs in a very simple and honest manner. His sense of humour and willingness to witness to students gives students the space to discover Truth in their lives. More than being a good listener, Mike gives people a secure and safe environment to operate in. He values people, is never judgemental and believes passionately in making the world, one lives in, a better place because of one's presence. Mike is a strong advocate for social justice and challenges students to meet the needs of people in our community who could do with a helping hand. Mike is a humble and gracious man who readily acknowledges the good work that others do. Many past students keep in touch and go out of their way to talk to him because they realise that he places such a high value on people. Mike is a fine leader, he leads by example and involves people in the decision making process. He has a wonderful ability to see the bigger picture. Over many years Mike has worked closely with parents and staff on the Spring Fair Committee and has been very active in encouraging students and staff to support ANZAC day celebrations. As a college community we are blessed and enriched by people like Mike who does what he does for the good of the community. By his very actions, he enables the Emmaus Story to come to life for so many people. It is through people like Mike that so many of us come to recognise Christ in our daily life.
Catholic Education Week 2011 – Excelling in Education… Heart, Mind and Spirit
Queensland Catholic Education Week 2011 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards
Mike Hitchins Mike Hitchins, Ryan Catholic College Nominated by Allister Crocker Mike Hitchins has been a valuable member of Ryan Catholic College staff for over seventeen years. In the seven years that I have known Mike, I have been impressed by the way he gives life to so many people. He is attentive to the needs of students in both his Mathematics and Religious Education classes. His spirit of compassion and caring enables him to hone in on students who could fall through the cracks. He gives them time and attention and walks their journey with them-offering support, encouragement and empowering them to move forward. Mike's patience and sound advice-has enabled so many students and staff to pick up the pieces. I am amazed at the number of students who write to him, to thank him for helping them in life and setting them on a valuable path in life. I have personally read some of these letters and feel that God is at work in an extraordinary way through an extraordinary man. Mike is a man who "sees a need and does something about it". He looks out for stressed staff members and would regularly offer to take classes for them. Mike regularly steps in and undertakes playground duties for other staff members. Always done with great humility and without ever drawing attention to himself or the person he has helped out. You can be certain that in times of crisis Mike is available to staff, parents and students. I know of a past student who Mike keeps in regular contact with. The family absolutely appreciate his support of their very ill son. Mike places others before himself. I recently witnessed Mike's gentle approach in helping a colleague in crisis. His caring, practical and professional approach helped ease the burden for the staff member and his family. The support for Mike's initiative, from other staff spoke volumes about how much staff value his work. I have witnessed Mike take on some very challenging Religion classes. In a very short period of time the classes have become more caring and compassionate. Mike lives his faith and has the ability to meet young people's needs in a very simple and honest manner. His sense of humour and willingness to witness to students gives students the space to discover Truth in their lives. More than being a good listener, Mike gives people a secure and safe environment to operate in. He values people, is never judgemental and believes passionately in making the world, one lives in, a better place because of one's presence. Mike is a strong advocate for social justice and challenges students to meet the needs of people in our community who could do with a helping hand. Mike is a humble and gracious man who readily acknowledges the good work that others do. Many past students keep in touch and go out of their way to talk to him because they realise that he places such a high value on people. Mike is a fine leader, he leads by example and involves people in the decision making process. He has a wonderful ability to see the bigger picture. Over many years Mike has worked closely with parents and staff on the Spring Fair Committee and has been very active in encouraging students and staff to support ANZAC day celebrations. As a college community we are blessed and enriched by people like Mike who does what he does for the good of the community. By his very actions, he enables the Emmaus Story to come to life for so many people. It is through people like Mike that so many of us come to recognise Christ in our daily life.
Catholic Education Week 2011 – Excelling in Education… Heart, Mind and Spirit
