Anthony Cleary

Although there was no need for further proof, the death of Charlie Kirk by shooting and the extreme reactions to this tragedy have spotlighted a growing social concern: the lost art of civil disagreement. During the early hours of ‘R U OK? Day’ I was awoken by the vibration of a news alert, Charlie Kirk had been shot while at a university campus, and again within minutes no less, the news that he had died. Shocked, I followed the breaking news across a range of networks.

As a lover of sport, I have made every effort to watch the opening ceremony and feature events of each Summer Olympiad. It is a personal ritual of sorts and over the years there have certainly been spectacular and exhilarating moments. Last week, despite the “ungodly hour,” I was keen to see the opening ceremony of the Paris games. Natural tiredness meant that most of it was a blur. One exception was Celine Dion’s tribute to Edith Piaf with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.

Tonight, I will participate in the 2024 CEO Winter Sleepout in order to help meet the needs of homeless people. For me, this is a practical way of putting my faith into action. The sleepout is a good cause because it gives very practical help to those in need by raising money and community awareness. Over the years, a number of directors from Sydney Catholic Schools have been involved in the sleepout. For me, this is a really practical way of giving witness to our mission.