GOSPEL SPRIRITUALITY 009 ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE STRATHFIELD LUMEN 2024 LUCEAT LAUREATE AWARD Dr V Lavorato Principal The College presented our 2024 Luceat Laureate Award Winner at the annual Speech Night and Prize Giving held at the Quay Centre, Homebush on Tuesday 3 December 2024. Below is an excerpt from the address given by College Principal, Dr Vittoria Lavorato: Each year we have a theme for Speech Night and tonight, that theme is FAITH. It is only fitting that on such a night, I announce, and we honour our 2024 Luceat Award winner – Dr Daniel White, known by all who know, love and respect him, as Dr Dan White, one of our finest Old Boys. Dan White was born and raised in Fairfield during the 1950s and 60s. He received his early primary education from the Sisters of St Joseph and the Patrician Brothers. In 1964, Dan enrolled in Year 5 at St Patrick’s College, where his brothers David, Paul and John, also attended. During his time at St Patrick’s, Dan was active in sports, playing Rugby League, Cricket and Golf, and was a member of the College Debating team. He completed his Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1971, achieving first place in Science (which sparked his particular interest in Geology), as well as top marks in Economics and Geography. His academic success earned him a Commonwealth Scholarship, which helped him pursue his university education and set him on the path toward a career in education. Nearly 50 years ago, Dan married his wife Sue, in the College Chapel. After a distinguished career in Catholic Education, spanning over 50 years, ‘Dr Dan’ retired as the Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Sydney in 2019, after ten years of leadership and service to one of the ‘highest performing’ comprehensive educational systems in Australia. Prior to his appointment, Dan was the Director of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Hobart for six years and was a senior educational leader in the Parramatta and Bathurst dioceses. His teaching experience embraced several Catholic primary schools in Western Sydney, where he was a primary principal for nine years. Following his undergraduate studies in Education, Dan attained two Master’s degrees in Leadership and Religious Education and completed his Doctorate in Brain-Based Learning and Pedagogical practice in 2005. More recently, he participated in the Oxford University Advanced Management and Leadership program. Dan is the author or co-author of eight educational resource books, focusing particularly on the Sacred Scriptures and higher- order learning and thinking strategies. His most recent publications include Into the Desert and Ancient Words. His current research project involves exploring the cultural context of first-century Palestine and its implications for understanding the Scriptures. Over the past 25 years, Dan has served on several prominent educational authorities, including the NSW Board of Studies (now NESA), the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority, the National Catholic Education Commission, and the Senate of the Australian Catholic University. Dan is a Fellow of both the Australian College of Educators and the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. In 2019, he was awarded ‘The Phyllis Evans Medal’ by the Teachers’ Guild of NSW for being a ‘Distinguished Educator’ and an Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2022. His photo also hangs in the College’s Hall of Fame near our Diverse Learning Centre. The only award missing after the Order of Australia was a Luceat Award and we will be bestowing this on him tonight. Dan currently provides consultancy and professional learning support for school communities and educational systems across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. He is also the Deputy Chair of the Sandhurst Catholic Education Board, a member of the Sandhurst Diocese Early Childhood Board and actively supports Catholic Mission Australia as an ‘Ambassador’ and is a member of Catholic Mission’s College of Consultors. Dr Dan White receives the Luceat Award for his outstanding contribution to Catholic education. This award recognises his exceptional dedication to the improvement and expansion of Catholic education, his leadership in shaping educational systems and his scholarly contributions to educational theory and practice. He has made an impact on both national and international education systems, particularly within the Catholic community. In short, this is a fitting tribute to a career defined by excellence, commitment and service to the development of future generations through education. 2024 Luceat Laureate Award Winner - Dr Daniel White
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