Over the final weekend of the holiday, it was my great pleasure to accompany Marie and Bob Chomiak to Adelaide where Marie was recognised for her outstanding contribution to Marist Education. Marie has worked at St Joseph’s School for the last 36.5 years in a variety of roles. A dinner was held at Adelaide Oval and, in front of about 100 people, Marie was one of eight people celebrated that night. As you would imagine, Marie was very humble in her acceptance of this award. A particular highlight of the evening was the presence of two (now very old) Marist Brothers who had been in Northam and had taught Marie and Bob - Brother Doug and Brother Greg. They all had a great time reminiscing and rattling off names and stories from their time in Northam. 

A copy of the citation I read for Marie is below: 

Marie Chomiak has served the St Joseph’s School community for 36.5 years in a variety of roles. Her humility, simplicity and modesty in service have seen her shine as a beacon of love at St Joseph’s School to families, staff, students and the wider community. 

Marie remains forever humble and never seeks personal reward. Her work is characterised by the way in which she builds a sense of dignity and joy in others. People leave her presence in a frame of mind filled with calm and purpose. She makes a person feel totally surrounded by the reality of Christ’s love. 

Marie genuinely loves her work and sees it as an instrument to share the Gospel in actions. She is a figure head and a mother to all she encounters. In the Way of Mary, she holds the hand of all who need reassurance. Marie has been the welcoming face of the school for a long time and always has a demeanour that brings out confidence and surety in everyone. She knows every student and their families by name and has the incredible gift of remembering the smallest of details about families and their connections. 

Her strongest Marist virtue, is her Family Spirit. Marie lives and breathes the values and traditions associated with St Joseph’s School Northam. Over her years of service, Marie has been committed to ensuing that this growing school is a place of togetherness and connection. She is the glue that has held the community together for a long time. Quite simply, Marie is our guide and our rock, and, like St Marcellin Champagnat, she keeps us pointed to our Holy Mother and grounded in the spirit of Jesus.