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CELEBRATING SUCCESS
We congratulate our 2019 Leavers on their impressive results
Ballarat Grammar students received impressive results for their final year of studies in 2019 and we congratulate all our Year 12 Leavers. Luke Williams is the Dux of 2019 for achieving the highest score for subjects completed in his final year. Two students, Thomas Burnett and Sophie John, achieved the School’s top ATAR ranking of 99.75 for Unit 3 and 4 subjects completed over their final two years.
With five students achieving an ATAR ranking of 99 or above, 17 students achieving an ATAR ranking of 95 or above, and an impressive 35 students achieving an ATAR ranking of 90 or above, the 2019 students are studying a range of courses to pursue their passions, from Applied Maths and Research, to Medicine and the Arts.
LUKE WILLIAMS, 2019 DUX
With a zest and enthusiasm for everything he encounters, Luke took every opportunity to be engaged and contribute positively to activities and events at school. His leadership style and kindness saw him emerge as a leader in his cohort and he was a School Vice-Captain in 2019. Luke has a strong sense of justice and compassion which has been displayed in a multitude of service activities. His contribution to the Music School as a member or leader of numerous ensembles, including the Stage Band and Sultans of Swing, was outstanding, and exemplified his commitment to leadership and teamwork. His professional interests lie in the field of Applied Mathematics and Science.
“Aside from the tremendous academic and pastoral support I received from my teachers, the School gave me the chance to be involved in a range of bands, take part in the School production, play a bunch of different sports and get involved in community service amongst other amazing experiences. I’m proud of taking these opportunities on as they came up. There is also a high importance placed on giving back to the community that has given us so much. It is often easy to forget the privileged position we are in to receive a first-class education in such a safe environment, but Grammar has instilled in me a constant awareness of how lucky I am and the importance of giving back.
“The strength of the Grammarian community has been particularly prevalent in the school’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grammar Gurus program is such an amazing initiative which highlights the readiness of Grammarians to help each other out and the strength of the community. This strong support helped me to make it through the tough final years of school and has held me in good stead as I progress into the world, knowing that I am a member of such an amazing community."
SOPHIE JOHN AND THOMAS BURNETT, 2019 HIGHEST ATAR
In accord with her appreciation of beauty, love of learning, kindness, judgement and fairness, as a leader, Sophie showed the ability to balance humility and strength. With a quiet persistence and care of others, Sophie’s ultimate demonstration of leadership was her significant contribution as Captain of Macpherson House. She took an active role in the organisation of all House activities, developing a strong and positive relationship with all the girls and staff. She was involved enthusiastically in Community Service. Sophie won a prestigious Premier’s VCE Award in 2019 recognising her outstanding achievement in VCE English in 2018 when in Year 11.
Sophie was effusive about her final year and her time at Grammar: “We are a community of active learners...It’s pretty incredible to look around in a classroom and see a group of passionate students all eager to discuss and learn, and it’s the subsequent friendships I’ve formed with both my classmates and my teachers that have helped me grow so much as a person, showing me not only how to be a good learner, but how to be a good person as well.”
Thomas’ most significant contribution to the School has been in musical performance. He is an outstanding musician, being able to play multiple instruments. He was a member of school ensembles and bands. His thirst for knowledge and learning resulted in academic success throughout his school years. He has left an impressive legacy: a weekly Wednesday peerto-peer mathematics tutoring group and a fasttracked VCE Mathematical Methods program. As Robin House Captain, Thomas’ strategic thinking and ability to motivate a team were evident. Thomas is resilient and focused in pursuit of his goals and he inspires those around him with his determination. His professional interests lie in the field of Mathematics and Physics.
Our top achievers: Ruby Green, Thomas Burnett, Sophie John, Teresa Heath, Angus McLean, Justice Nicholson, Stephanie Hancock, Headmaster Adam Heath, Luke Williams, Annabella Lewis, Jesse Cruickshank, Amy Zuell, Ella Squire.
Thomas has learned a great deal from being part of the Grammar community. Thomas said,
"Whether it be talking with our tute group mentor about his coffee-roasting business, or talking about politics and the education system with my physics teacher Saeed, these relaxed and informal conversations contribute to what makes the School’s sense of community so strong. In addition to formal curriculum, you also get a better understanding of people’s experiences which differ from yours, and of the wider world. Another great part is that you have the ability to ask questions and disagree respectfully, which encourages meaningful interactions.”
PREMIER'S VCE AWARDS
The Premier’s VCE Awards recognise students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). We are very pleased to congratulate current Year 12 Finley Japp, and OG Ruby Green (2019), who were announced as recipients of 2020 Premier’s VCE Awards for their work in Units 3 and 4 of subjects in 2019: Ruby for Further Mathematics, and Finley for English completed when he was in Year 11.
Finley Japp, current Year 12, received a Premier’s Award for English.
Ruby Green, 2019 Leaver and OG received a Premier’s Award for Further Mathematics.
SEASON OF EXCELLENCE
Five of our students were invited to participate in the annual VCE Season of Excellence which includes concerts (Top Class) and exhibitions (Top Designs and Top Arts) in a wide range of artistic fields.
Student works are selected by the VCAA assessors and represent outstanding VCE and VCE VET students’ work from 2019.
Luke DeBuhr’s articulated prosthetic hand
Zoe Thomas’ Backpack Stool
Systems Engineering and Product Design were two areas where Luke DeBuhr, Ryan Anderson and Zoe Thomas excelled. Luke created an articulated prosthetic hand, with the purpose of giving back the functionality of a working hand to amputees. Ryan created the Lavend Stoel (Dutch for ‘live chair’) with the seating segment consisting of a living hinge where the timber bends to accommodate the shape of the chair. Zoe created a “Backpack Stool” (pictured) with the intention that it is to be mediumvolume-produced for children in East Timor needing modular and flexible seating at school. Their works were displayed in the Top Designs exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. You can see a virtual tour of Top Designs, including their works, online at: museumsvictoria.com. au/melbournemuseum/learning/top-designs2020/#virtualtour
Ryan Anderson’s ‘Lavend Stoel’
Marcus Bedford, one of our 2020 School Captains, was proud to receive an invitation to join the Top Arts exhibition with his art print “Ballarat” (pictured). Marcus was inspired by German-born artist Andreas Gursky.
You can see a virtual tour of Top Arts, including Marcus’ work, online at: ngv.vic.gov.au/ virtual-tours/top-arts-2020/
Marcus Bedford, ‘Ballarat’
Marcus Govan did extremely well in his Music Performance (Percussion) exam and likewise Ellie Litras in her Dance exam, and both performed in Top Class Music and Dance concerts at the Melbourne Recital Centre in February and March this year.
Macus Govan was selected to perform for Top Class Music.
Ellie Litras selected to perform for Top Class Dance
