Don Bosco's 'Autumn Walks'

At the beginning of this week I was looking over the various events that will involve many students during the few weeks left in this school term.

I noticed that during the last week of term, three groups of students will be travelling to various destinations: Japan, Northern Territory and Canberra. Altogether more than one hundred students and staff will be sharing these unique experiences.

This reminded me that Don Bosco was probably the first school Leader and Teacher to organize school excursions! In the late 1850s and through the 1860s, Don Bosco would take about 100 of his students for a three week excursion through the towns and villages all around Turin – sometimes the group would go as far as Genoa. They travelled by foot, by train, by cart... They took the brass band with them, pictured below, and carried with them some props for plays and concerts, which the group would put on in the town’s square in the evening.

Obviously Don Bosco had the itinerary well organized in advance. As the group reached the outskirts of a town, the group would line up behind the band and marched into the town centre.

Food and makeshift accommodation was provided by the local people. After the evening entertainment, Don Bosco would take the opportunity of doing some fund-raising and of recruiting new helpers, before giving the people a short talk in the form of a “Good Night”. The name of some of the great Salesians is associated with these excursions, which became known as the “Autumn Walks” because they took place in late September-early October every year.

Anyone involved in organising an excursion would know the complex task of arranging every detail – from transport to accommodation, from supervision to meals and clothing, etc. In Don Bosco’s days the organisation of such an excursion would have been overwhelming! But Don Bosco was convinced of the educational value of such an undertaking.

Let’s hope and pray for a safe and valuable experience for all the students and staff, as worthy ambassadors for Dominic College.

Fr Frank Bertagnolli, SDB - Rector