Beau Anstee presented with 2025 Father Bob Maguire 5C Award

EXCLUSIVE

MANSFIELD, VIC. — At school assembly on Friday, November 21, Mr Rohan Dent presented the third annual Father Bob Maguire 5C Award at Mansfield Primary School.

The Mansfield Primary School Assistant Principal, Mrs Robyn Robinson and award sponsor Mr Rohan Dent presented the award to grade five student, Beau Anstee.

During Mansfield’s annual grade five School to Summit Camp, Beau Anstee “stood out for his exceptional effort, leadership, and embodiment of our Mansfield Primary School values,” Assistant Principal Robinson said.

“Throughout the camp, he consistently demonstrated respect, kindness, inclusion and bravery, supporting his peers and setting a positive example for others.”

Beau Anstee was awarded a trophy, a plaque and a $100 gift voucher from Mansfield Hunting & Fishing. A perpetual shield of each year’s winner is also displayed in the school office.

“Whether it was tackling the challenge of surfing, stand up paddle boarding or kayaking, encouraging classmates when the journey became tough, or showing initiative during group activities, he went above and beyond in every aspect.

“His positive attitude, determination, leadership and above all kindness towards others inspired those around him, helping make the camp experience enjoyable and successful for everyone,” Assistant Principal Robinson said.

“We are incredibly proud of his achievements and the way he represented Mansfield Primary School. His actions reflected the very best of our school community, and we thank him for being such a strong role model during the School to Summit Grade 5 camp adventure.”

“Congratulations Beau.”

The award is voted on by staff who select a student they believe has demonstrated the late Father Robert “Bob” Maguire’s “5Cs” of Care, Concern, Communication, Common Sense and Compassion equalled community.

Mansfield Primary School’s core values of “Inspire, Challenge, Support, and Make a Difference” are also considered as part of the award.

The award has nothing to do with academic achievement or sporting ability, meaning every grade five student has an equal opportunity to earn the Father Bob 5C Award.

Following the State Funeral service for Father Robert ‘Bob’ Maguire AM RFD on May 5, 2023, at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne, long-term friend of Father Bob’s, Mr Rohan Dent, caught a V/Line service from Melbourne to Seymour as students from Mansfield Primary School were returning home from their Melbourne to the Sea school camp.

Mr Dent was so impressed with the grade five students’ behaviour that he contacted Mansfield Primary School to comment. The Father Bob 5C Award was born, supported by this masthead.

“People love to complain, but they rarely give praise where it is due and on that occasion it was certainly something that was well-deserved,” Mr Dent said.

Mr Dent contacted Mansfield Primary School to convey his praise for the students exemplary behaviour and the Father Bob 5C Award was born from Mr Dent’s experience and discussions with Mansfield Primary School staff.

From 1973 until 2012, Father Bob, ‘The Larrikin Priest’ as as he was affectionately known, was Parish priest at St Peter & Pauls Church in South Melbourne.

Father Bob strongly advocated for the underprivileged, especially the homeless of inner Melbourne and he believed strongly in giving people a ‘hand up’ not a ‘hand out.’

Mr Dent was friends with Father Bob for over 27 years.

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VicNews is the media partner of the late Father Rober ‘Bob’ Maguire’s 5C Award.