In Focus Semester 1, 2024

IN FOCUS

SEMESTER ONE / 2024

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to 2024’s first edition of In Focus. With changes around the College’s leadership structure in 2025, we’ve chosen a theme of ‘Firm Foundations for a Flourishing Future’. Built on firm foundations, the College has come a long way over 45 years and we are excited about our future. As educators, we want our students to flourish in their learning and growth as people – at school and beyond. The foundations built during their K-12 years are critical for their lifelong journey.

In this edition of In Focus, recently elected College Board Chair, Associate Professor David Fuller, outlines some of the work the Board has been doing in recent months to pave the way for the changes next year. We also introduce our nine current Board members.

The Christian College Geelong Foundation held its Gathering Hope event in May where 80 people enjoyed lunch and an address from guest speaker, Jossy Chacko – who tells us a little of his remarkable story.

We celebrate the success of the Class of 2023 and catch up with Dux, Oscar Saffin, to find out where the past six months have taken him.

We also visit Back Creek Farm where Director Kim Ali takes us through the half term experience for the Year 9s. We meet ex-student now staffer Joel Inei and hear reflections from students about ‘farm’ this year.

Our College’s Reconciliation Action Plan is now ratified and published by Reconciliation Australia. We learn more about the activity of the RAP Working Party.

We celebrate Cinderella, check in with the clubs and activities programs across four campuses and revisit the Indonesian exchange visit to Lombok in Term 1. There’s plenty more good reading on top of all that – we hope you enjoy Semester 1’s In Focus.

Simon Garner

Editor - In Focus

Burrows is Back!

Following the fire at Senior School at the start of the year, which resulted in the demolition of the Burrows building, students are once again attending classes in a new-look Burrows headquarters.

The temporary complex contains four classrooms and four office spaces, with a verandah and bag racks running along the front. There are also staff and student amenities located there. The surrounds have been landscaped with paths, garden beds and lawn areas.

Classrooms are used for various subjects – predominantly for Maths classes – and as a headquarters for Burrows House.

Head of Burrows House, Mr Luke Feldman, said it has made a real difference having the facility up and running.

“Past students have always spoken about how ‘community’ was the defining characteristic of Burrows House. This has been challenged at times during 2024, so it is very exciting to have a place and facilities to call home again,” he said.

COVER PHOTO:

Since 1997, the Back Creek Farm residential experience for Year 9 students has been part of Christian College’s educational offering. A whole generation of students have now participated in the program and for many, it remains one of the highlights of their schooling journey. CCG graduate (2016) and now farm staffer, Joel Inei, has overseen an expansion of the market garden at Back Creek Farm over the past 18 months. He is pictured with Faith Bourke from Butterfield House Kindergarten, as they harvested some radishes for the children to taste-test. CCG

and Prep students pay a visit to the farm each year, which is

Discover more about the farm and the Year 9 program in our feature starting on page 6.

in their

Firm Foundations for a Flourishing Future

Think for a moment how a child learns to safely cross a road. It’s quite possible that during the early months of their lives, they don’t even realise they’ve done it, snug in the pram pushed by mum, dad or carer. Then, at around walking age, it’s likely that a parent or carer picks them up and carries them from one side to the other, ensuring the child is under their full control.

This then progresses to the child walking hand-in-hand alongside the parent, but only after said parent has given a safety briefing: “Look right, look left, look right again, all clear, walk, don’t run.” Later still, the parent will allow the child to walk without being handheld, still with the safety briefing, until, eventually, there is enough confidence that the young person, by this time well into their primary school years, understands the dangers – and the safety message – and is able to navigate their way across the road, whether a parent is present or not.

“It’s a basic example, but it illustrates just how crucial it is that we, as adults, set the foundation on which young people can grow and flourish.

At Christian College, we believe in laying down these essential foundations for our students’ futures. The United Nations states on its UNICEF website that “foundational learning provides the essential building blocks for all other learning, knowledge and higher-order skills”. This idea is at the heart of our educational approach.

Since its establishment in 1980, Christian College has been grounded in the Christian faith as expressed in the Biblical truths of the Scriptures. Our College motto, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God” – Matthew 6:33, provides the basis upon which Christian College has developed over the years. This guiding principle is more than just words; it informs our every action and decision, creating an atmosphere of care and concern for each student’s character growth and wellbeing.

We emphasise the importance of honesty, integrity, compassion and respect, ensuring these foundational values underpin all interactions within the College program. Our focus is not solely on academic excellence but also on nurturing the whole person. We strive to model and encourage empathy and a servant heart in our students. This is achieved through Project Care initiatives, homerooms, House events, student leadership opportunities and subjects taught as part of the curriculum, such as Community Service in Year 8 and Our World Local Community and Our World First Nations, both at Year 10.

Year 4 students Sam Zampatti and Ivy Thompson helped deliver donated socks to Geelong Mums

Setting such a strong foundation in the formative years of a young person’s life aims to foster a genuine desire in our students to make a positive impact on the wider community and to live a life of purpose beyond school. Proverbs 22:6 says: “Start children off on the right path; and even when they are old, they will not turn away from it.”

Our emphasis on individual wellbeing and character development provides students with solid foundations in a world that is ever-changing and uncertain. These foundations are crucial for their future success and ability to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.

Rick Geall Acting Principal

In essence, the journey of learning at Christian College mirrors the process of teaching a child to cross the road safely. It starts with guidance and support and gradually builds towards independence and confidence. By instilling strong values and a robust educational framework, we ensure that our students are well-prepared to face the future, ready to flourish and make a meaningful difference in the world.

Junior School-Belmont’s Silly Sock Day Project Care drive, which saw more than 850 pairs of children’s socks donated to Geelong Mums

Year 8 Bellarine Community Service elective students Livvy Gallagher and Genevieve Trudgeon helping at the Drysdale Fight Cancer Foundation Recycle Shop

FROM THE DEAN OF CHRISTIAN CULTURE

Faithful Foundations

Welcome to a conversation that changed my life. It happened a few years ago and is still relevant to me every day. I had a friend who was working on a large building project in Melbourne’s CBD. Every time we spoke, I asked how the building was coming along. It was going to be a fancy, ergonomic and ‘environmentally smart’ skyscraper on Collins St. After 10 or so months of updates and conversations I decided I would go and visit her on the jobsite. I was looking forward to delivering her team a few boxes of donuts and seeing how the ‘big building’ as we called it, was progressing. I was shocked therefore, when I arrived that fateful Tuesday morning, to see not the beginnings of a big building at all but instead a great big dirty hole.

For almost a year my friend and her construction team had been working on this job and all they had to show for it was a horrendous hole in the ground with what looked to me like a whole lot of rubbish in it.

“What are you doing!?” I said once I had handed out the donuts.

“What do you mean?” she asked between bites of strawberry icing.

“All these months you said you’ve been building a building…. and there’s nothing here – if it’s taken this long to dig a hole how long is it going to take to actually build something!?”.

She laughed, whether at me and my ignorance or my questions themselves she was too polite to let on. “Oh stop your worrying Mia, once we get the foundation sorted everything will go up very very quickly. Getting the foundation right has taken a long time but once it’s right the rest of the building will practically build itself. Just you watch, you’ll see,” she said ever so cooly and confidently.

required. God has created every life in God’s own image, with inherent worth and value. Each person’s God-given gifts, talents and potential are utterly immeasurable – what we’re seeking to do is to serve that potential, that God ordained and planned a flourishing future by creating and developing an unwavering foundation for each student to build upon.

And you know what, she was absolutely right. They cleared out all that rubbish, bits of broken pipe and twisted up steel, blocks of old cement and some strange tree roots that were growing from who knows where. They poured a very deep foundation, they sunk supportive beams so deep into the earth they seemed to disappear entirely. Until then I had never considered just how deep and thick a foundation had to be to support a building so high and mighty. God spoke to me that day through that conversation.

“If you want to be a building of integrity, if you want to be able to stand up under lots of pressure and be a fortress of strength and support for people, if you want to become all I have planned for you to be, you’ll need a very deep and unshakably strong foundation”. Before you can go up, before you can build anything, you have to go down, clear away the rubbish, take out the broken and twisted bits and establish a firm, deep and strong foundation.

This timeless truth is so evident in the life and work of our Christian College community. We spend 13 years with young people and families from Kinder to Year 12 – we know that laying good foundations is important and we are intentional about this every step of the way. When we view a child’s education as foundation laying and we are prepared to invest in that process God only knows the lives, characters, potential and successes that can be built upon such a solid foundation.

I know there are times in my life, maybe in yours or your student’s lives too, where it seems like everyone is building and going about getting their lives together and you’re still clearing out rubbish and the hole seems to be getting deeper. Can I encourage you in those moments – sure you might look over and see your friend with lots of wins on the board early and things might be falling into place quickly but perhaps like an Ikea flat pack or a cubby house – perhaps in that season that’s all that needs to be built and a deep foundation is not

We pour into the ‘foundation laying’ of each student the attention and devotion of caring and concerned adults, the kindness, courage and encouragement for each one to face the unknown with a secure sense of self and the love and commitment of our Lord Jesus so that no matter what a student grows into or chooses to become they will always have His love to build upon.

At Christian College we believe in the process of foundationlaying, of character-building identity formation and yes, the acquiring of skills. We know this takes time. As my friend so rightly advised, even among all the mid-year madness, we don’t need to worry, we are here for the long haul. Once we get the foundation sorted everything will go up very quickly. Getting the foundation right takes a long time but once it’s established the rest of the building will practically build itself. Just you watch, you’ll see.

“Don’t be worried by the size of the task, for the Lord God is with you; he will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly.

1 Chronicles 28:20

Mia Kafieris Dean of Christian Culture

BACK CREEK FARM –

Plenty to learn, plenty to do...

The first residential group of Year 9 students to go to Back Creek Farm was back in 1997. Since then, the farm and Rural Studies program have been part of our educational foundation and have enriched the lives of students, staff, families, volunteers and others who have spent time at Back Creek Farm as part of the Year 9 program.

When past students who visited the farm as part of their Christian College journey reflect on their years at school, most talk about Back Creek as a standout experience and words like ‘amazing’, ‘awesome’ and ‘unforgettable’ are often used. Over the years the Farm program has evolved through a generation of students, but some things haven’t changed. Today, students reside at the farm for half a term, staying in residence on some weekends. All-boy and all-girl groups alternate throughout the year. As has always been the case, the work team structure sees the students rotate through various roles as they undertake different tasks and duties required to keep the property operational and viable. It’s about exposing them to a range of responsibilities that are very different from what they are used to at home and attuning them to a bigger picture of appreciating sustainable land management and the produce it generates. Practical skills are learned through performing different tasks, but there are many more layers to the learning and development that occurs.

Kim Ali

Director of Back Creek Farm

Kim Ali attended Christian College as a student, became an Outdoor and Environmental Studies teacher, travelled, lived in both Canada and New Zealand with her husband before taking on a role with Caulfield Grammar’s Yarra Junction campus. Eleven years ago, she joined the Back Creek Farm staff, taking on the role of Farm Director seven years ago.

“I graduated from Christian College in 1999, I just missed out by a year on being in the first residential group at Back Creek,” Kim said.

“I love it here, the students are seen, heard and valued – we focus on developing character and a sense of community and service.”

When students arrive at the farm, they are divided into work groups of four to seven individuals dependent upon community size. Those groups are the Milkers, the Chefs, the Eggers, the Homestead-Gardeners and the Regenerators.

The Milkers

“We have a milking herd of around 130 cows. They are milked twice daily, and the milk goes to Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory” Kim said.

“The company who owns it is Saputo – they put out a range of consumer brands of cheese and milk. You’d most likely find our milk in bottles with Sungold and Great Ocean Road labels. The milkers work alongside teaching staff throughout the day, and alongside Amy our Dairy Manager, to undertake any work needed at the time.

“The Milkers are up at 5:30am for the morning milk. Over the course of a year, groups are exposed to different aspects of seasonal herd management, the whole life cycle, artificial insemination, hand-feeding calves...milking, pasteurisation.

“What happens to the milk and how it ends up in supermarkets and shops is an interesting part of it. Students have to get their heads around marketing and branding and how milk coming from the same source and out of the same factory is sold as differently labelled products.”

Rural 2 girls moving sheep from one paddock to another

The Chefs

Mark Fearnsides runs the kitchen at Back Creek Farm. A trained chef, he oversees the Chef work teams as they prepare three meals a day for students and staff. Kim said what goes on in the kitchen enables students to see a connection between what’s produced at the farm, and some of its end use.

“Mark gives the different Chefs groups options, and they plan the menu. The groups can suggest their ideas, and everyone gets a turn at putting their preferences forward,” she said.

“Seasonal produce varies – we use our own milk, and a lot of what we grow in the market and cottage gardens goes into the kitchen. The students learn to follow and manipulate recipes, there’s mathematical skills in measuring quantities, setting temperatures and timers.

“They can be creative too – like when the kindergarten children visited, The Chefs came up with snack ideas that appealed to the littlies.

“A commercial kitchen is going the whole time. There’s always preparation, cooking, serving up and cleaning up to do. They learn a lot about maintaining hygiene and how important that is as well.”

The Eggers

Among the livestock at Back Creek Farm are egg-laying chickens, together with pullets and chicks (seasonally). Eggs of course need collecting and checks must be made on chickens, including pullets and chicks, their sustenance and housing.

“Most eggs are used on the property. When there’s an excess, we sell them through the school,” Kim said.

“The Eggers do an eclectic mix of tasks. The primary focus is on chicken care, which again involves learning about the whole life cycle, with plenty of hands-on experiences.”

One of the other tasks for The Eggers is to split timber to keep the farm’s hot water service going.

“The timber’s collected from a nearby leased property. It’s another exploration of space for our students, they get to see some other agricultural practices going on, such as sheep shearing, and we take a look at environmental impacts, land management and what it takes to regenerate and sustain the property. The Eggers also undertake lots of work with the tools to either carry out routine maintenance in the homestead or building animal housing or similar. Using a range of tools and equipment gives directly transferable skills to implement in the future.”

Jaidon Kucharski helps Kinder children get acquainted with the pullets

Sophia Duggan prepares sausage rolls for lunch

Lilly Bayley moving hay

Samuel Creek and Ryan Prosser - Rural 3

The Homestead Gardeners

As the name implies, this team works outside and inside. They have a lot to do with the market garden area at Back Creek Farm, as well as using farm-fresh produce to make a whole range of goods in the homestead.

The market garden has grown significantly with the addition of Joel Inei to the full-time team. (See the article that follows). Depending on the season, you’ll find tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, kale, silverbeet, fennel, leeks, spring onions, strawberries, carrots, potatoes...and a whole lot more, fresh out of the ground at Back Creek Farm.

The Homestead Gardeners learn about optimal growing conditions and the impact of factors like temperature, nutrient levels, soil preparation and composting.

While a good deal of what is grown is used on the property, enough is grown to sell through several outlets, which includes the Farmgate store in Elaine just down the road, the Grovedale Food Co-op, and when available, to Christian College staff at the main campus, and parents and other visitors to the farm. They’ve done vege boxes on occasions when there is enough produce available and these have proved very popular with Christian College families.

“We take the farm produce indoors and use it in various ways - making jams, marmalade, jellies, chutney, pickles, preserves... we use them here, and the students all get to take some home,” Kim said.

“We use our milk, pasteurise it and make different dairy products, ice cream, cheese, butter, yoghurt, lemon curd...depending on the students’ preferences. It’s a great way for students to make firsthand connections between what’s produced on the farm and ways in which it can be used.

“Another more recent initiative is taking our Homestead Gardeners to help at Soul Plus Food in Wendouree, which supplies food and personal care products to people in need. A former Back Creek Farm Director, Russell Barter, volunteers there and he’s been able to connect us with that organisation.”

The Regenerators

An important part of the learning for students while residing at Back Creek Farm is understanding the bigger picture –how one part of a system is connected to other parts, the cycles of nature and living organisms and their ecosystems, human impact on the land, the need for management and what makes for sustainable practices.

For the Regenerators, there are lots of connections to make as they explore the history, natural landforms and land use of the local environment.

“Students look at human relationships with the land and its stewardship over time – what the land was used for in the past, and what it’s used for now. One relevant aspect in this region is the impact of the gold rushes in the 19th century and how that has shaped the landscape. We even do gold panning as part of that experience, and there’s an excursion to the Eureka Centre in Ballarat to view the original Eureka flag,” Kim said.

“There’s also a focus on water catchments and maintaining water quality. Another excursion for this group is to Lal Lal where we look at the geomorphology, as well as visiting the waterways and reservoir and testing the water quality.

“Lal Lal is a special place. Thought to mean “dashing waters”, the falls exhibit the volcanic landscape from a geological point of view, sitting alongside the strong creation stories of the local First Nations people. Lal Lal Falls is said to be the earthly home for Bunjil, the creation spirit. In our more recent history, the land in that region has been used extensively by pastoralists, and now tourism, which opens up interesting conversations about the way people think about, and use, the land.”

Keira Minett preparing salad in the kitchen

Charlie Hair selects a home-grown radish for a young visitor to taste-test

Lucia Garrard and Sophia Duggan - Rural 2

Not surrounded by technology

Life at Back Creek Farm involves routines that are quite different from those that most students are used to at home, and it’s not just down to the tasks they carry out in work teams.

“We collect the students’ phones on arrival – there is minimal use of technology here, including the time we spend with devices in classes,” Kim said.

“Students are permitted to use their phones once a week to call home – otherwise if parents or guardians need to communicate with their students, they ring our landline.

“Parents also have opportunities to visit and see the farm firsthand. On the weekends that students stay here, parents can visit and take their students out.

“Part of every program is what we call an open house, a time set aside specifically for parents and families to visit. On weekends students don’t stay here, parents can come and collect their young ones from here on the Friday afternoon.

“Everything we do is aimed at maximising the benefits of this experience. We want our students to be independent and interdependent, to build confidence and self-worth, explore and develop relationships – to look after themselves and feel connected to others in their community. We create a space for reflection and gratitude each day either with prayers or Grace. Human connection through living and working together is essential for our wellbeing and for developing our confidence. Sharing meals, conversation together, exploring new ideas and having a safe space to figure it all out, without judgement and fear of failure is so deeply important.”

“What we’ve been doing up here has been in place for more than 25 years – and today, it’s more important than ever that our Year 9 students undertake this program.”

Tamas Robertson being chased by our visiting Kinder children

Patrick O’Shea introduces one of the goats to the visiting kinder children

Louis Liu and Adriel Ayson

Rural 3 boys pictured with David from Soul Plus Food (left) and Russell Barter (3rd from right)

Sophie Valdez Cabalquinto parks the Gator

Joel’s idea is growing

Joel Inei is another Christian College graduate who rates Back Creek Farm a standout experience from schooldays.

Today, he has a passion for market gardening, which, he says, was initially inspired by his Italian grandfather, and a passion for community motivated by his Christian faith. Now on staff at the farm, he has taken its market garden operations to another level.

“I was here as a Year 9 student in 2013 – I loved it, I wanted to be a farmer,” Joel said.

“After graduating from CCG in 2016, I studied Industrial Design at RMIT with a focus on agricultural innovation and systems design. As an undergrad, I worked casually as a supervisor at Back Creek Farm.

“In 2018-19 I started a community garden in Norlane, working on a project with Norlane Community Initiatives, who run out of the old Norlane Baptist Church. I lived in a house on a big block and turned the garden into rows of vege beds.

“On Saturdays, locals could come and pay 50 per cent of the sale price for their produce – it provided a good source of fresh food for them. On Tuesdays we’d have working bees, it was a social project aimed at combatting isolation.”

Two years ago, Joel proposed investing to expand the market gardening area of farm operations to the College Executive. He provided a detailed outline and business plan, which was well received and at the end of 2022, work had begun on establishing the new gardens.

“We’ve got around a third of an acre under cultivation at the moment. Our 8m x 25m greenhouse is our main asset. It’s May and we’re still getting tomatoes,” Joel said.

“Across a year we grow about 50 different crops, all from seed, organically grown and spray-free. We use a no-till method, we want to protect the soil structure as much as possible.

“The Year 9 work teams do different jobs – planting, harvesting and maintaining the gardens. Overall, I think the kids like what they do here, some are really passionate about it –they see a result for the work put in. They can pick things and eat them or use them in the kitchen.”

While a good deal of what is grown is used on the property, enough is grown to sell through several outlets, which includes the Farmgate store in Elaine just down the road from Back Creek Farm, the Grovedale Food Co-op who buy produce from small-scale farmers, and when available, to Christian College staff at the main campus, as well as parents and other visitors to the farm.

“We’re still getting up and running. We’re really only in our second year. Lots of what’s grown here is used on the farm; we are selling our produce at a few places and we’re looking for other outlets,” Joel said.

“I love being here, it’s a good team, and it’s great working with the kids. I feel I’m blessed to be tending the land, growing produce and feeding people. I live out my faith every day,” he said.

Inei

Back Creek Supervisor

Joel

Joel Inei with Rural 2 student, Elizabeth McClure

Harvesting with some Rural 2 Homestead Gardeners

Helping visiting kindergarten children choose a radish

Reflections on farm life in 2024

As this edition of In Focus is published, the fourth Rural group for 2024 is coming to the end of their half-term residential experience. Here, four students from the first three groups who have been through the program reflect on their time at Back Creek.

Parker Manning (Rural 1, 2024)

I loved being at farm. Living with my friends for five weeks was very fun and I have so many great memories. Some of my favourite activities were things like driving the gators, milking cows and fishing by the lake. All these activities, including hanging out with friends, are what made it great.

I picked up many new practical skills, including driving a gator, which gives me more confidence about learning to drive later in life. I also have a better understanding of how to look after animals. One thing that I already had a little bit of knowledge about is how to tend to a fire. But at farm when you are on the Homestead rotation, you need to make sure that the boiler is running all day, every day.

Going in to farm I had a lot of friends, and I left with even more! The people I got to know the best were the people in my work group. We would go on all the excursions together and do the toughest jobs together – and that is what we bonded over most. I feel like living with my peers for five weeks brought us all closer together, rather than us getting sick of each other.

I really liked the staff at farm. Each of them had different skills and traits. It was different from ‘teacher-student’ relationships at school because you are living with them. Every morning one of the teachers would talk to us, almost like 45 mins of class time. But it was about very different things from what we do in classes at school. It was stuff that was new; things I wouldn’t be taught again, and that’s why I loved it.

All up, farm was a very rewarding experience. I learned so many new things and have so many good memories and I really want to go back!

Caitlin Totton (Rural 2, 2024)

I really enjoyed my time at Back Creek Farm. I was with a good group of girls who made it fun.

I really liked learning about life on the farm and I just really loved being able to experience everyday life there. Milking was a standout as I had never experienced anything like that before.

I learned new farm-related skills, like how to milk a cow, ride a tractor and use different types of equipment. I also developed a lot of other skills and I think the farm helped me build my confidence and become more independent. Living as we did with the other girls took a bit of getting used to but after two weeks of living closely, we became good friends and built a good bond between us.

Our teachers at Back Creek Farm were good – they tried to connect with us and understand us on a level that’s different from teachers at school. It was also good having undergrads at farm – because they mostly had recently finished school, they related to us really well.

Parker Manning Caitlin Totton

Ella Pullen (Rural 2, 2024)

Back Creek Farm was extremely enjoyable for me. The things that made me enjoy it were the different ways of learning and the independence I felt whilst being there. I really enjoyed being out in the garden, I found a new hobby that was relaxing for me.

I realised at the farm I did many things I never would have otherwise done and learned plenty of new skills like driving a tractor, starting a fire and fixing a door handle! Something I think developed at farm was my confidence as I got closer to the girls, I started feeling bolder and braver.

I got to know heaps of people way better than I did before, but it got a little tough being with the same people in your cabin the whole time – patience is a good attribute to work on though. Because of being with so many people, I worked on my social skills, like having a good chat and a laugh, and I definitely got to know my friends a lot better with a deep conversation or two.

The relationship with farm staff didn’t feel that much different from being with friends. Damo and Kim were good and easy to talk to, and the undergrads were like having an older friend or sibling. I definitely think farm is a significant experience during Year 9, and I certainly enjoyed it.

I would also like to add that not having phones while being on the experience was refreshing, I personally loved it and I felt more relaxed and felt way more capable and responsible. Without my phone things felt more ‘real’.

Jaidon Kucharski (Rural 3, 2024)

Back Creek Farm was definitely the highlight of my schooling so far. I found it to be a safe environment in which to learn, grow, and develop new skills that I am confident I will utilise often throughout my life. Whilst I enjoyed the work sessions and the games run by the Back Creek team, looking back, the time that I cherished the most were quiet moments with my friends. Whether that be relaxing before lights-out or during breaks in between work sessions, taking that time to slow down and appreciate my surroundings with my friends were the times that I enjoyed the most.

In terms of practical skills that I learnt at Back Creek Farm, the one that stands out the most would be working in the kitchen, more specifically, learning time management while preparing meals. This method of always preparing for the next meal, even days in advance, is something that particularly stuck with me, especially as I have struggled with managing my time in the past.

Living and working in close quarters with my friends provided me with a valuable opportunity to view things from others’ perspective and to get to know them better than I ever had, despite having known some of them for the entire duration of my time at Christian College. Five weeks together definitely strengthened our friendship, but sometimes conflict between us posed an issue. At these times, the most important lesson that we learned was to have patience and empathy, traits that I hope I will continue to work and build upon.

The relationships with the staff team at Back Creek Farm were without doubt different from our teachers at school. They appeared to me more as mentors than teachers; for one, we knew them by their first name, which created a much more personal connection between us. This was cemented by how we could have real conversations with them about our difficulties and struggles and feel like they were listening and really cared. As for the farm being a standout experience, I will always remember it as one of the best times of my life, and I am very grateful for the hard work that the staff put in to make it that way.

Ella Pullen Jaidon Kucharski

Kinder children feeding calves

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023!

Empowered to flourish

On behalf of the entire Christian College community, I wish to commend the Class of 2023 on successful completion of their schooling journey. Whether their time with us was long or short, we are grateful for all that they have contributed, collectively and individually, to our College. As they embark on the next chapter of their lives, be it higher education, employment or a well-deserved gap year, my prayer is that the strong foundations laid during their time at our Christian College will empower them to flourish in every aspect of their lives, both professionally and personally. I would also like to thank their teachers and wider support network for guiding them so caringly along the way.

Rick Geall Acting Principal

100% of our Year 12 students successfully completed their VCE or VCE VM

11% achieved an ATAR of 90 or above

30% of our students were in the top 20% of the state

55% of our students were in the top 30% of the state

Tertiary course areas offered

Median ATAR: 73.2

Median study score: 30

Perfect study score (of 50): 2 students

Dux of 2023: Oscar Saffin, 99.70

Proxime accessit (second): Ali Cronk, 96.90

Other notable results

96.35 Frederick Blackall

96.20 Olivia Hill

96.05 James McKeegan

95.85 Jonathan Grills

95.30 Jeremy Lewis

Study scores of 50

Oscar Saffin - Extended Investigation Olivia Hill - Art Making and Exhibiting

Life after Year 12 – six months on

Life beyond VCE has been an absolute joy thus far. After finishing my exams and celebrating with mates, I went overseas in December to visit my older brother, Noah, who was on a university exchange in Barcelona. I knew when I booked the trip that the ATAR results would come out whilst I was over there, but honestly, I was so relieved to have completed such a demanding year that I had soon put it out of mind. Until, that is, the couple of days prior to the release, when I finally sat down and did the time zone conversions and came to the realisation that the results were scheduled for release at the same time a Spanish Soccer match between FC Barcelona and Girona FC that we planned to attend was kicking off. In Australia, you wake up in the morning and find the results sitting in your inbox, but the time difference meant I had been awake the whole day. Added to this, the concurrence with the soccer kick-off left me in a dilemma, which ultimately led me to decide to shut off my phone completely and check after the match – one and a half hours later.

Prior to the release, I had imagined the figure I was hoping to achieve; I wanted to study Law at the Australian National University, which required an ATAR of 97. If I could meet that, I would be ecstatic – to expect anything higher would be trivial. So, after walking out of the match (which Barcelona lost 4-2 in a thriller!), I remember turning to my dad and brother and finally addressing the elephant in the room: “Well, I guess I should look now.” We all started laughing; it was such a surreal situation. It is also one I will never forget for the rest of my life. After finding out my results, I could not be happier – beyond its implications for my intended course of study, as I’m sure the 2024 cohort will soon realise, the results provided such closure and reward for 12 months’ worth of strenuous effort. It is and continues to be a testament to the undertakings and continued perseverance of all Year 12 students, irrespective of outcomes.

After returning from Europe, I have since commenced a double degree of Laws and Arts at the Australian National University –living on residence at Burgmann College. Whilst I am loving my time living in a university residence, the experience of moving interstate, away from home to a place where I admittedly knew no-one besides some distant mutuals, has been very different from my academic endeavours last year, but equally as challenging. The idea of ‘getting comfortable being uncomfortable’ is something I acquired from CCG, from day one in Year 7 at Middle School. I tried to continue to embody this throughout my time at CCG, all the way up until my final walk down the Senior School driveway when we –the 2023 cohort – left the familiar sense of community we grew up with at CCG. Personally, I have found stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself to be the driving force behind truly discovering who we are and what we are capable of. Look at me now – I’m privileged to still be connected to my lifelong friends and peers from the CCG 2023 cohort, in addition to a new group of residential friends who, as hard as they try to sway me to their northern-rugbyways, will still never hear me referring to ‘footy’ as anything other than AFL.

Looking back on my time at CCG, it is these enduring connections that stand out to me most. Beyond just my closest friends I encountered at school, the continued access to this unique community is one that I’m sure will serve me for years to come; even just recently I had the opportunity to meet up with the 2024 Legal Studies/Australian History trip to Canberra to help them take a look around my university campus! This subsequent sense of unconditional belonging is an intangible that I am only now truly beginning to realise the benefit of, beyond the invaluable classroom support I received throughout my schooling years, and particularly last year, which allowed me to achieve the result I did.

Oscar Saffin - Christian College Dux, 2023

For the current Year 10s commencing at Senior School this year, my best advice to you is to soak it all in! Continue to grow and foster your friendships and begin to map out your VCE years. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but the stone foundations certainly could have been! Grasp the opportunities that will undoubtedly present themselves in the near future.

To the Year 11s and 12s who are all on your own idiosyncratic stages of your VCE journey, here are the three things I really did do my best to bear in mind:

1. It isn’t all going to be smooth –you will need to show resilience at one time or another I know it sounds clichéd, but it really is something you are going to have to recognise. Undoubtedly, there will be a time (or more likely, times!) where it hasn’t all gone smoothly. For me, I clearly remember a Maths SAC last year that I did not come close to ‘acing’. Crestfallen, I remember a family friend telling me about the Serenity Prayer -

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

In this case, that Maths SAC was done; I could not change it, but had to recognise this and move forward – what could I do from here?

If you can just have the self-awareness to take a step back and recognise that there will be hiccups, you will be all the better for it.

2. The importance of distractions –studying 24/7 is not going to get you a perfect ATAR!

Whilst I not only understand but respect the drive of some students who believe that “If I stop doing a particular activity and only focus on my study, I’ll do better” - it simply isn’t true.

I can’t emphasise enough how important it was for me last year to continue to have down time last year, even during exam times. By maintaining fun activities like watching TV, surfing or playing sport, or hanging out with mates, I was able to maximise my time spent studying. Break it down like this: is it more effective to spend 100% of your time at 60% effort, or 60% of your time at 100% effort?

For Year 12s, whilst I can appreciate the fatigue some of you may be feeling after your commendable efforts thus far, I hope you are also noticing that Year 12 is a fun year! Being leaders on campus, 18th birthdays, and the conclusion of a 13-year journey are achievements that you should make the most of!

3. Giving it your best –why leave anything to the imagination?

Finally, whilst this may seem to contrast with my last point, I want to stress the importance of giving your all in your studies; both in your academics and beyond, I found a key motivating factor for myself last year was a fear of leaving something to the imagination. Regardless of the outcome, how can you be disappointed if you know you gave it your best?

Oscar Saffin - Paris

Oscar Saffin with Rick Geall at Graduation

CINDERELLA THE MUSICAL

Three sellout performances!

This year’s major College production, Cinderella, was staged at the Geelong Arts Centre’s Playhouse Theatre on May 3 and 4, with one matinee and two evening performances engaging and entertaining packed houses from start to finish.

The production showcased the rich vein of performing arts talent within our College, with students from Years 6 to 12 involved – and demonstrated just how much is possible when an incredible group of people work together. It truly was a team effort from the principal cast; the village and royal ensembles; the staff and student musicians in the orchestra; a production team made up of staff, students and parents responsible for costumes, choreography, props, the stage sets, lighting, audio, hair and makeup; backstage crew, front of house team and a multitude of staff in supervising roles through rehearsals and performances.

This spectacularly successful production was the culmination of many months of incredible hard work and attention to detail on the part of so many people within our community.

Principal Actors

Orchestra

STRINGS

Martin De Marte | Violin

Will Liu, Year 10 | Violin

Beth Dean | Violin

Joy Whiteside | Violin

Caspar McWilliam, Year 12 | Viola

Mia Pearce, Year 10 | Cello

Max Gear, Year 10 | Cello

Manny Madden, Year 11 | Double Bass

BRASS

Sean Rankin | Piccolo Trumpet, Flugelhorn & Trumpet

Madison Meara, Year 10 | Trumpet

Alexis Meara, Year 11 | French Horn

Emma Daley, Year 11 | French Horn

Rob Moffatt | Bass Trombone

WOODWIND

Brighid Mantelli | Piccolo, Flute & Alto Flute

Winnie Gill, Year 10 | Flute

David Gardner | Clarinet & Alto Saxophone

Emily Treloar, Year 12 | Clarinet, E-Flat Clarinet & Bass Clarinet

Lucas Gelicrisio, Year 12 | Bassoon

KEYBOARDS AND PERCUSSION

Will Harrison, Year 11 | Keyboard/Harp

Brad Treloar | Keyboard

Isabella Keay, Year 10 | Percussion

Jack Anderson, Year 12 | Percussion

Felix Rankin, Year 10 | Drum Kit & Percussion

Evie Tomkins Ella

Isaac Jamal Topher

Ruby Esler Madame Ellie Morgan Charlotte

Chloe Baillie Gabrielle

Sebastian De Marte Sebastian

Delanee Collins Marie

Cuan Bester Lord Pinkleton

Quinn Johnson Jean-Michel

Amelia Hopper Fox

Freya Arnott Racoon

ACTION PLAN

Over recent years, a group of committed people have worked to put in place an initiative which strengthens and enhances the firm foundations on which Christian College Geelong is built – a Reconciliation Action Plan, or RAP.

It’s the culmination of a range of processes and practices that recognise and respect the centrality and importance of our country’s First Nations peoples, cultures, languages and histories.

You’ll find the CCG RAP itself on page 26. The reference to Senior School in the heading is there because the submission came from that campus. The RAP itself applies across all our campuses. It is formally ratified and published by Reconciliation Australia. An overview of its development thus far, and reflections from some of those involved in the RAP Working Party are presented here.

A lot’s happened in three years…

When In Focus last spoke to Kerrie Sirotich, she had only joined the staff five months earlier. Kerrie, a Wurundjeri woman, was one of 11 passionate staff members from across our five campuses who sat on the newly formed Committee for Indigenous Understanding. Its objective was to drive awareness, understanding and sharing of Australia’s Indigenous cultures and languages, and their connection to Country spanning tens of thousands of years, through positive action on a range of fronts.

As their work progressed, a key part of fulfilling that objective was developing a Reconciliation Action Plan.

Kerrie is now part of the RAP Working Party. She senses that over the course of three years, the College community has widely accepted and embraced a range of initiatives and practices that are promoting awareness, understanding and sharing of First Nations culture.

“We’ve come leaps and bounds from where we were then,” she said.

“We’ve held traditional Welcome Ceremonies at each campus, there’s an Acknowledgment of Country given at campus and College events, our ANZAC services are more inclusive of our history…there’s been quite a few changes. And it backs up what the students are learning in the curriculum.

“We have a RAP, which has been ratified and published by Reconciliation Australia and we’re proud of that. It’s a living, breathing document. With a lot of resources available to staff, there’s a big focus on supporting teachers and students to feel comfortable about sharing our cultures.

“And there is still plenty more that we want to achieve.”

Loud and proud, living and evolving

In November 2023, after a 12-month commitment by our RAP Working Party, Christian College Geelong’s Reconciliation Action Plan was approved and ratified by Reconciliation Australia.

Our RAP has been published on the Narragunnawali website and on our Christian College Geelong website. We have proudly become one of the 6,750 schools around Australia to commit to a Reconciliation Action Plan.

But what is a RAP and why do we have one? What does it mean for us as a College community?

At its heart, a Reconciliation Action Plan is a loud and proud pledge to fully support the reconciliation of our First Nations Peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

The Christian College RAP Working Party comprises Acting Principal Rick Geall, Kerrie Sirotich who heads up Community and Events, Christian College Board member Sally Stewart, other College staff, including Rachelle Garrard who heads up Curriculum and Resources for the Working Party, Jackie Corless, Sharon Huber, Heidi Hearps and Arrernte man, Isaac Boseley; Dhudhuroa and Wamba Wamba parent

representative, Thaedra Frangos, Rafael Salvado (Year 12) and Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta and Ngurai Illum Wurrung student, Eve Hicks (Year 9 Bellarine).

Through our curriculum, in every subject and at every year level, we will create opportunities to immerse the knowledges of our First Nations Peoples into our learning, we will acknowledge the wrongs of the past and actively work toward a community which embraces First Nations knowledges with respect and inclusion.

In 2023 we purchased a three-pronged flagpole base capable of displaying our nation’s three flags. They are used at every campus to proudly fly the three flags at all campus assemblies and events, and to show respect, we begin all College gatherings with an Acknowledgement of Country.

With the development of a tile on our College portal, staff now have access to a vast array of First Nations resources for teaching and learning, professional development oppor-

The RAP Working Party from left - Isaac Boseley, Kerrie Sirotich, Rafael Salvado, Jackie Corless, Thaedra Frangos, Heidi Hearps, Rachelle Garrard and Rick Geall. (Absent - Sharon Huber, Eve Hicks, Sally Stewart)

Celebrating National Reconciliation Week

Last year we celebrated National Reconciliation Week with many campus-based events. We facilitated a Welcome to Country ceremony at each campus, incorporating the bilingual telling of Creation stories, shared by a Wadawurrung Elder. Our choirs led us in our learning of the Wave Hill Walkoff in 1966, sharing Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s iconic hit ‘From Little Things, Big Things Grow’. Every Home Group from Prep-Year 12 acknowledged National Sorry Day in various ways and we all wore ribbons the colour of our Indigenous flag to show our support for econciliation. Special guest and Gamilaar man, Mitch Tambo, performed with our staff choir at the Senior School House Music Competition, instilling a message of hope and harmony in all of us.

This year, to mark Reconciliation Week, all staff were shown a video launching our RAP and telling the story of our journey to establish it. On Monday May 27, all homerooms across all campuses were shown the video ‘What does Reconciliation mean to you?’ where responses and reflections about reconciliation and its importance were shared by staff and students of various ages from different campuses. On the Tuesday, all homerooms joined in viewing, reading and discussing a First Nations themed picture storybook – for Prep to Year 6 it was ‘For 60,000 Years’ by Marlee Silver and for Years 7 to 12, ‘We are Australians’ by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin.

The Junior School-Belmont Choir had rehearsed, performed and filmed a song called ‘Ngaya Naba’ (My Family), which was screened to all homerooms at all campuses throughout the College on Wednesday. On Thursday, all students participated in a First Nations mindfulness activity – Wayapa Wuurrk – and on Friday it was ‘Wear it Yellow’ a fundraiser in support of Children’s Ground, a not-for-profit organisation that addresses the key economic, social and cultural determinants needed for lasting change to prevent disadvantage and trauma among First Nations communities. Their five areas of operation are learning and wellbeing, health and wellbeing, economic development and wellbeing, creative and cultural development and wellbeing, and community development and wellbeing.

As part of the ‘Wear it Yellow’ initiative, Bellarine Campus Prefect Eve Hicks, a member of the RAP Working Party, initiated the making and selling of black, red and yellow woven bracelets, which were sold for $2 each in support of Children’s Ground. The idea was taken up by all campuses, with First Nations students and their friends at Middle School and Senior School also making bracelets after Eve made a video showing how they are woven together.

But it doesn’t end there. Our Reconciliation Action Plan is a living document, an ever evolving and continuous commitment to unity, and a pledge to continue to move forward in our learning.

Gamilaar man, Mitch Tambo, performed at Senior School’s House Music event during Reconciliation Week last year

Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at Middle School-Highton during Reconciliation Week in 2022

Year 2s from Bellarine Campus show off some of their work during Reconciliation Week

Corangamite MP Libby Coker, delivered newAustralian and Aboriginal flags to Senior School earlierthis year

Eve Hicks initiated bracelet sales to raise funds for Children’s Ground

What the students say

Rafael Salvado (Year 12) and Eve Hicks (Year 9, Bellarine) are both members of the RAP Working Party.

Eve

“One of my teachers mentioned that we had a RAP at our school – I didn’t know of it before. I reached out to Kerrie about it, and she’s really led the way for me there.

I think acknowledging the wrongdoings of the past is so important. We all need to play a part in healing Australia, and as a First Nations student here, I hope that I can make a change.

Australians, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, should come together and embrace our multicultural Australia. I try to answer any question my peers or teachers may have about my culture, and I ask about their beliefs and how they live. We just need a mutual understanding to reach unity in Australia.

I’m quite new to our RAP, but I’m aware of multiple fundraisers we’ve had in the past, like the recent one for Children’s Ground charity. I remember when Kerrie came to our Bellarine campus a while ago, and she told her story of growing up as an Indigenous woman. It was incredibly moving. We need to continue to highlight Indigenous voices, and learn from our elders, and help aboriginal youth.

In general, I think people are trying to be supportive of reconciliation and understanding First Nations cultures. My peers have been supportive, and open to learning. If you keep an open mind, so much is possible. There have been a few bad experiences, but the positives heavily outweigh the bad. I also try to share my story, about my history and culture, and I find that sometimes that can help our younger people connect with the cause.”

Eve Hicks

Year 9 - Bellarine Campus

Rafael

“My older brother Liam has spent many years learning the digeridoo and interacting with the local Indigenous community at Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Reconciliation has become one of my strongest passions. My friend Isaac Boseley who graduated last year was involved in the RAP Working Party as a student, and still is now. He asked me to join the group this year.

As a school, as a nation, we have to progress and understand there must be reconciliation. Having a team of people at our school who put in behind the scenes and work to raise awareness of that is vital.

Moving towards reconciliation is a slow process, granted, it’s better than it was years ago, but there is certainly a long way to go both within our College and the broader community outside the College. From a personal point of view, I reckon a lot of students at the College don’t think the idea of reconciliation matters that much, and we are aware of that. But we are making a difference - I can see positive change and I am very proud of that. Even recently when I was selling bracelets at lunchtime for money to support Children’s Ground I had multiple students offer to help, which was amazing to see, and so much support from many students buying the bracelets to support such a good cause.”

Rafael Salvado

Year 12 - Senior School

A great journey starts here

Early Learning - Williams House & Butterfield House

• Passionate teams of educators

• Programs exceeding the National Quality Standard

• Physical environments that inspire creative play

Williams House

Tel. 03 5241 3556 kinder@ccg.vic.edu.au

• A commitment to bush kinder and nature play

• Collaborative partnerships linking early learning and primary settings

Butterfield House

Tel. 03 5264 6803

butterfieldhouse@ccg.vic.edu.au

A FOUNDATION THAT DELIVERS HOPE Gathering Hope supports vital Foundation work

The Christian College Geelong Foundation held its second Gathering Hope event in May this year; the inaugural one was held in 2022. More than 80 people gathered at Provenance Wines in Fyansford for a magnificent lunch and address from guest speaker, Jossy Chacko.

Earlier in the day, Jossy conducted a forum with Year 10 Global Ethics students at our Senior School campus. He was also interviewed by local Christian radio station 96three while in Geelong.

Jossy is Founder and President of Empart, a global ministry that exists to empower and partner to bring holistic transformation to poor and needy communities in Asia. It equips local leaders, empowers women, educates children, restores health, improves livelihoods, and responds to emergencies. Teams in the field provide vocational skills training, relief and development, hygiene education and medical care.

It started in the spare bedroom of Jossy’s family home in 1998. Now, he leads a team of 14,000 people working in 10 countries predominantly in Asia, but also in Europe. He is also the author of two books, Madness! and Dare to Partner.

Two life-changing encounters

At Gathering Hope, Jossy told some of his own remarkable story, coming to Australia from India at the age of 17, with $20 in his pocket and the total disaster that ensued. It left him depressed and on the verge of suicide when he had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Soon after, he became part of a small logistics company which later grew to be listed on the ASX.

As he was busily climbing the business ladder, there was another personal encounter - this time with an eight-year-old homeless boy in Northern India which led to Jossy and his Australian wife Jenni sharing their three-week honeymoon with this boy. It led to some deep, personal convictions and once again, his life’s trajectory changed, and Empart was born.

Around 47,000 communities have been positively impacted by Empart’s work, but it often isn’t an easy road, and change takes time.

“We identify, recruit, train and develop local indigenous leaders to work with their communities,” Jossy said. “In the past, under colonisation, the approach was ‘we are bringing you the answers to your problems’, but Empart’s work is driven from inside.

“There are two main components to achieving holistic change. We put a big effort into realigning value systems from a spiritual and cultural perspectives. There are deeply rooted value systems in many communities that keep generations of people being victims of the cycles of poverty, slavery, abuse of women and children. For the economic development to be sustainable the root issues need to be addressed.

“The second big component is socio-economic change that comes through education, skill development and empowering people to start micro-businesses, and better farming along with other opportunities.”

Over more than 25 years of operation, Jossy said there are literally thousands of stories of positive and generationally sustainable transformation in these communities.

“Seeing these changes is so rewarding and fulfilling, however growth is wonderful but resourcing rapid growth is a major challenge,” Jossy said.

Christian

education is vital

The work of Empart, and the work of the Christian College Foundation, takes place within very different communities. Jossy gave his time to encourage people to support Christian College Foundation because he is passionate about Christian education.

“Over centuries western society has thrived mainly because of the Judeo- Christian value system that upholds the civilisation. Most may not understand the blessing that overflows from these values into every sphere of society.

“These are eternal principles God gave when fully lived out the blessings are clear for everyone to see. These values are eroding and if not proactively addressed the wider society will deteriorate over time.” he said.

“I believe what the Christian College Foundation is doing is so significant and it’s so important for people to embrace the vision of Christian College and do all that they can to see it thrive for generations to come. We are here because of the sacrifice, hard work and faithfulness of so many.

“You have a great opportunity to build on the great foundation, Geelong has an amazing future – its population is growing. Investing in young people now will bear good fruit for a long time to come. Young people have a long runway and investing good Christian education is the most powerful and strategic investment you can make.”

For more information about the Foundation visit: ccgfoundation.org.au

About Empart and Jossy visit: empart.org.au jossychacko.org

Gathering Hope raised $19,000 in donations and pledges for the Christian College Foundation, which translates to $38,000 thanks to the current dollar-match campaign. The Gathering Hope Appeal runs until June 30 this year, and all donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. If you would like to give to the Foundation, thanks to one of our generous donors, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar. That’s twice the impact!

Every child deserves a CCG education

The Christian College Geelong Foundation exists to provide a funding source independent of school fees to support students and families in need. Our mission also embraces the funding of new initiatives which enhance the educational experiences of our students, and ensures the long-term viability of the College in changing funding climates.

LUNCHTIME CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

Lunchtime clubs and activities add another dimension to student life at Christian College. Students across ages and year levels are drawn together through common interests. When they choose to participate in these activities, they develop a range of skills and confidence, and build relationships in ways that aren’t possible in the classroom, not only with friends, but with students and teachers they might not otherwise spend much time with.

Programs operate at four campuses – Junior School-Belmont, Bellarine Campus, Middle School-Highton and Surf Coast Campus. At Senior School, there are many house-based activities during a year, and other initiatives, where students from Years 10 to 12 participate together.

Lunchtime clubs and activities are many and varied across the four campuses. They range from knitting or board games, to dance or row and reps; from gardening or tooled up, to Music and Performing Arts or Creative Writing…there are many options that encourage students to have fun, pursue their interests and enjoy what they love doing, with like-minded people.

Here is an overview of the programs at four campuses.

Middle School Minecraft Education

Tinkering Club

Middle School Lego Club

Junior School Computer Club

Bellarine Campus Board Games

Surf Coast Netball Club

Surf Coast Campus

At Surf Coast Campus, our lunchtime clubs offer students a unique opportunity to explore new interests, develop skills, and build social connections. Current clubs include gardening, dance, basketball, netball, Lego, chess, and library, with plans to introduce art and craft and board games next term.

These clubs play a crucial role in fostering a well-rounded educational experience. Participating in the gardening club allows students to learn about sustainability and the environment while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of working with nature. Dance and sports clubs like basketball and netball provide an outlet for physical activity, promoting fitness, teamwork and the opportunity to learn new skills.

For those who prefer quieter pursuits, the Lego, chess, and library clubs offer creative and intellectual stimulation. Engaging in these activities helps students enhance their problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and creativity. The planned art and craft and board games clubs will further broaden the spectrum, encouraging artistic expression and strategic interaction.

Lunchtime clubs are not just about learning new skills; they are also a vital part of the social fabric of our campus. They provide a relaxed environment for students to meet peers with similar interests, fostering friendships and enhancing their sense of community. Through these clubs, students can explore new passions and enjoy a balanced, enriching school life.

Dance Club

Netball Club

Debbie Riddle Campus Leader

Lego Club

Gardening Club

Chess Club

Junior School - Belmont

Lunchtime clubs offer a multitude of benefits for young children, fostering not only their social and emotional development but also enhancing their academic journey.

At Junior School-Belmont we have staff-run lunchtime clubs that include:

Monday: Knitting and Dance

Tuesday: Lego

Wednesday: Tinkering and Performing Arts

Thursday: Computers

Friday: Gardening, Bookmark Making, Environmental Club

The library is also open at lunchtimes every day except Wednesday and Run Club is a great way to start the day before school on Thursdays.

The clubs provide a structured yet flexible environment where children can explore personal interests, leading to a sense of empowerment and the development of a strong student voice.

The collaborative nature of these clubs improves peer-to-peer and teacher-student relationships, contributing to a positive school climate and a heightened sense of safety among students. Furthermore, participation in such clubs has been linked to a reduction in playground behaviour incidents, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Junior School clubs offer unique and authentic ways for students to develop new skills, enhance engagement and build friendships across year levels – all within a structured environment where they can explore shared interests and develop a sense of belonging.

Julie Shutie Prep-4 Learning Leader

Tinkering Club

MPA Club (Theatre Sports)

Computer Club

Garden Club

Middle School - Highton

In the bustling corridors and vibrant classrooms of our College, we recognise the profound impact of fostering a sense of belonging.

As we navigate the intricacies of education, we understand that a nurturing environment goes beyond just academic achievements. It encompasses the holistic wellbeing of every individual here at Christian College.

Belonging is more than just being present; it is about feeling valued, accepted, and connected within our school community. Research consistently highlights the positive correlation between a sense of belonging and overall wellbeing. When students feel like they belong, they are more likely to engage actively in their learning journey, develop resilience, and experience greater emotional stability.

One of the avenues through which we cultivate this sense of belonging is our lunchtime clubs and activities. These opportunities not only provide avenues for exploration and skill development but also serve as spaces for students to forge meaningful connections with peers who share similar interests.

We invite all students to explore all that the clubs and activities have to offer.

Together, let us continue to nurture a culture of belonging that uplifts and empowers our young people to flourish.

Lunchtime Clubs at Middle School:

Monday: Chess Club, Book Club, Row and Reps, Bible Study

Tuesday: Praise and Worship

Wednesday: Creative Writing, Minecraft, Craft Club

Thursday: Tooled Up, Walk Club, Board Games

Friday: Brick Club, Crafty Creatives

Kate Hickey Student Wellbeing Officer

Row and Reps Club

Chess Club

Row and Reps Club

Minecraft Education

Book Club

Bellarine Campus

From the School Captains

When we were instated as the Year 9 Student Leaders for 2024, unanimously, we had one key goal we wanted to achieve. This was to create a stronger College community. We wanted to build multi-year level relationships where everyone would feel comfortable being around older or younger students. This is what these lunchtime clubs have helped to achieve. They bring people from all year levels together through a common interest and help them to find new friends or make connections with people that they can relate to.

Whether you are interested in chess, art, textiles, sport, reading, board games or more – there is something for everyone. And, if you haven’t found a club for your passion, there is always room to create your own and share your love with others who might love the same in our community.

Alex Norgard and Abhi Sanjeev – Year 9, Bellarine Campus School Captains

Lunchtime Clubs and Activities at Bellarine

Board Games

Lunchtimes in the Open Learning space are ‘games central’. Year 9 leaders have been sharing some of their favourite board games with younger students. Some of the games have been all-time favourites like Snakes and Ladders, Chess and Tic-Tac-Toe, whilst others have been newer games which the children have enjoyed learning to play.

The Year 9 leaders have demonstrated great patience and empathy when little people are challenged by ‘not being the winner’. It is so lovely to see these relationships develop and the joy of games being shared by such a wide variety of students from across the school.

Lively Library

The library is abuzz at lunchtime with numerous activities. Lego club runs on Monday for our Prep-Year 2 students and Wednesday for our Year 3-4 students. There is so much creativity happening.

Tuesday, we have craft activities. Currently, it’s a focus on origami. We’ve created dog faces, and birds. Lots of fun happening.

And Thursday, it’s Book Club for Middle School students. We chat about what we’re reading, give any great book recommendations and play book-related games.

House Art

Wednesday lunchtimes in the Art room, Mr Monagle and reps from each house come together to contribute to their house in a non-competitive way. Together they are planning and developing an artistic representation for each house that can be used at events into the future – not simply a drawing on paper that will get ripped, lost or thrown away. We’re talking banners, crests, staves – the options are only limited to their collective imaginations!

House Basketball and Badminton

At the end of this term there will be a House Basketball competition for the Year 5 and 6 students and a House Badminton event for the Years7-9. In preparation for this, the House Captains are running lunchtime training sessions for students who’d like to be involved.

Bellarine Campus School Captains, Abhi Sanjeev and Alex Norgard

Warhammer Club

The Christian College Bellarine Warhammer Club is into its second year. Recently, we have been focused on terrain building activities creating a gaming board of Mordor and the Black Gate. It has been a wonderful skill-building experience exploring DIY techniques such as making homemade Sculpta mould, painting, dry brushing and applying basing materials. Continuing with the Lord of the Rings theme we have started and plan to continue playing small scale games with middle earth armies to learn the Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game’s rules. Moving forward, the club is looking to do more with 3d printing and getting new students involved in painting miniatures.

Dungeons and Dragons

We have recently been lucky enough to start a Dungeons and Dragons campaign at Bellarine involving several students from Year 7 to 9. Many thanks are given to Hugh Whittaker (Year 7) for his efforts in encouraging and DMing (Dungeon Mastering) our campaign. Unfortunately, we can currently only run one campaign and participants are limited due to the nature of running a campaign, however it is proving a wonderful experience of self-expression and gaming fun.

Textiles

On Fridays, the Textiles room is open for Year 6 to 9 students to work on their own sewing projects. Students can learn and improve their sewing skills. We also have students that need school uniform repairs, ripped blazer pockets and the dreaded missing buttons. Currently, we have students making felt toys and dresses.

Lunchtime Concerts at the Bellarine Campus

Meeting in the Auditorium a number of times each term, musicians and invited family members enjoy spending time together to watch and listen to students performing their latest pieces of music. Students from any year level may be invited to perform and are encouraged by their instrumental teacher when they feel the lunchtime concert might be a good fit for them. It is a wonderful chance for peers to also join in and see their friends play their instruments in this friendly and informal concert setting.

In the Library

Textiles

Gameswith Juniors

House Art

House Badminton

VISITING OUR FRIENDS IN INDONESIA

A lifechanging experience

After our short and long-term exchange programs with our sister schools in Indonesia and Japan were suspended over the pandemic years, it has been wonderful to resume our reciprocal visits.

In Term 1, Christian College students of Indonesian travelled to Lombok to visit our sister school SMAN 2 Mataram, staying with host families for a week and getting to know the school. They also spent a week travelling in Java.

Accompanying our students and staff was Nicole Denyer, mother of Keely in Year 10, who travelled with the group as a parent helper/nurse. Nicole shares her reflections of the trip.

“How lucky to be given the opportunity to travel to Indonesia as a parent helper/nurse with a group of 25 wonderful individuals!

Not having travelled to Indonesia before, I didn’t know what to expect on our journey. What I can say looking back on our two weeks away was that l was able to witness and be a part of a truly remarkable relationship between SMAN 2 Mataram and Christian College. The welcome we received on our arrival to Lombok and the Mataram community is something l will never forget.

As a parent I was able to travel alongside your young person and watch them all grow within themselves as they engaged in the local culture whilst living with host families in Mataram Lombok, embracing new and unfamiliar ways of life, different from our lives at home.

Watching as each student left to be with their host families for a week, brought home just how special this experience would be for our children, not to mention harnessing immense growth with every one of them. I would find this quite overwhelming as an adult to move into such a strange environment, but each of those children embraced this opportunity with such enthusiasm and positivity, something all parents should be just so proud of.

Getting to spend time over the two weeks with our group, I saw many new relationships develop across all year levels. The one thing l admired was the care and respect every one showed towards each other as a big group travelling together.

Reflecting on my time in Indonesia can be summed up in one word, ‘lifechanging’. I was able to meet some amazing people, see and participate in many local activities such as breaking the fast, meet host families and become more culturally aware of how wonderful the people of Indonesia are. I feel very grateful to have been given the opportunity to share this special activity with the Christian College community.

Nicole Denyer

Parent Helper/Nurse

MEET THE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE BOARD

Key role in leadership transition

At a significant time in Christian College’s 45-year history with a leadership transition in 2025, the College Board of Directors has been involved in developing an organisational structure and strategy to ensure the school continues to flourish into the future.

The Christian College Geelong Board is tasked with responsibility for the practical governance of the school. This means ensuring it continues to fulfil its Vision and Mission, meets all of its compliance obligations (of which there are an increasing number), and remains financially sound.

There are currently eight Board members; there can be up to 14 in total. There are representatives from the four founding church denominations (Anglican, Salvation Army, Uniting and Baptist Churches) along with parent representatives drawn from the Christian College Geelong Company.

The Board meets monthly to receive and discuss reports from the College Executive Board subcommittees and to discuss and plan important strategic issues affecting the College. We are not directly responsible for the day-to-day running of the College (which is the responsibility of the school executive, currently led by the CEO), although relevant aspects of it are embedded in some of the discussions we hold.

The College Board has had a productive start to the year. Late in 2023, we commissioned a full Board review, and our focus this year will be to implement aspects of this into our operations. We also spent time in 2023 reviewing and updating the constitution, which is now complete and was approved at the CCG Company AGM on May 29, 2024.

We met for a full day in January to map out the Strategic Plan for the next three years. This plan has now been completed and will be released to the College community in the near future. It outlines the broad areas we want to focus on, and grow in, as we strive to continue to deliver on our Vision and Mission.

A large amount of work has focused on plans for a smooth transition to new College leadership in preparation for Mr Daryl Riddle’s retirement at the end of 2024. Together with the Executive we have agreed on a new leadership structure for the school from 2025, with the school to be headed by an Executive Principal from that time. In conjunction with the College’s People and Community department, we are in the process of advertising and interviewing candidates for the new Executive Principal role in 2025.

From time to time, we look for new members for the Company. Some Company members may be eligible to become Board members in the future, based on the skill set we require. If you have a heart for the College and are aligned with the College’s Vision, Mission and Philosophical statements, have an interest in this role and feel you would have the time to dedicate to it, please contact Company Secretary, Bernard Nicholls (b.nicholls@ccg.vic.edu.au) You’ll find more information in the advertisement for Company membership on page 45.

A/Prof. David Fuller

Board Chair

Christian College Geelong Board

The governance structure of Christian College Geelong (source ISV Governance Survey Report 2023)

The current Christian College Board has eight members:

Associate Professor David Fuller (Chair)

Reverend Jonathan Taylor

Major Karen Castley

Sally Stewart

Sue Strong

Dr Bernard Shiu

Introducing the Board Members

I am a paediatrician and Clinical Director of Women, Children and Families Directorate at Barwon Health, and Clinical Lead of the Victorian Paediatric Clinical Network. I have been on the Christian College Board since 2013. I have been a parent at the school since 2015, with my youngest child graduating this year. I joined initially as a lay representative of the Anglican Church after a vacancy arose and I was asked to consider filling it. As a prospective parent of the school, I was keen to invest in the success of the school that my children were attending, and this is what has kept me involved over the last decade. Given my professional leadership roles I thought I could bring some useful experience to the Board, and I have also been impressed with the way the school openly expresses its Christian faith in a way that is welcoming to everyone and I wanted to be able to support this ongoing commitment of the school.

Christian College’s mission is to provide students with a holistic education that integrates Christian faith in every aspect of their learning journey. This has been its purpose from the beginning and it’s impressive that it has maintained that strong focus to this day. That is testament to both the clarity of all those in leadership at the school over the years as well as to God’s goodness to us as a school community.

Kristy Cochrane

Tim Page-Walker

In terms of holistic education, in the time I have been involved at the school there has always been a strong focus on supporting every student their ability to shine - to not focus narrowly on just academics, but to give opportunities in a wide range of other areas - music, arts, sport, outdoor education to name a few - so that each student is able to find the thing that sparks their passion

Like all Boards we have a governance role and a legal duty to act at all times in the best interest of the school. Our responsibility as Directors and governors of the school is to make sure that everything that needs to be in place to run the school is in place. And also, to think strategically about future needs and to plan to have everything in place to ensure that we continue to fulfill the College vision and mission into the future. While it is not our job to implement that, it is our job to ask the right questions to make sure that the vision and mission of the school are realised.

Associate Professor David Fuller, Board Chair

Rev. Jon Taylor

Karen Castley (Major)

I am the Vicar of St Albans Anglican Church in Hamlyn Heights and have been on the Christian College Board since 2018. I taught at the Junior School campus in Belmont between 2001 and 2005. I was a Year 4 teacher for three years, then the PE/Sport teacher for two years – they were five very happy and enjoyable years.

Between 2010 and 2016, I worked as an Anglican School Chaplain in East Gippsland, then returned to Geelong. I was hoping to rekindle my connection with the school and while on a ministry retreat, a colleague noticed me wearing my Christian College sport/PE jacket. He spoke to me about joining the Board as there was a vacancy for an Anglican clergy representative – I was delighted to re-engage with the school in that way.

One of the strengths of Christian College (and a huge challenge) is its openness to the world that God loves. Christian College is not just a school for Church families. The challenge is to remain committed to the core of Christian Faith but also be open at the edges. That tension, I believe, is wonderfully modelled by Jesus. Hopefully, students will encounter that type of Christian faith in their time at the school. The other strength I want to mention is the foundational involvement of various Christian traditions … go Penman, Taylor, Burrows, and Flynn!

I have had teaching positions in Government schools (between 1983 and 2000), Heathdale Christian College, Christian College Geelong, St John’s Lutheran in Geelong and a role as Chaplain at Gippsland Grammar School. Those educational experiences, along with pastoral experience in the Anglican Church, and in other settings, have shaped and formed my understanding of education and faith. I count it as a privilege to use that experience in my role as a Board member.

My current role is Corps Officer / Senior Pastor of The Salvation Army South Barwon and I have been a Christian College Board member since June 2020. I relocated to Geelong to take up my present appointment with The Salvation Army and was invited to be their clergy representative on the Christian College Board.

In a previous appointment I was responsible for equipping Salvation Army churches to engage with children and youth across South Australia. I experienced first-hand the complexities of working with young people as they navigate relationships, technology, learning and wellbeing in the 21st Century. This provided valuable experience for a governance role on the CCG Board.

I am passionate about equipping and empowering young people to thrive and fulfil their God-given potential. To this end, I serve on the Governance, Compliance and Risk subcommittee to ensure our policies and procedures remain aligned with Christian faith and values, and enable every student to thrive in a safe, caring and supportive environment.

One of the strengths of Christian College is its people. We are blessed to have a strong team of passionate, highly skilled and resilient leaders and educators who are committed to ensuring the best outcomes for our students. Together, we serve to nurture the spiritual, intellectual, social and emotional capacity of every young person through our holistic curriculum, broad range of experiences and pastoral care.

Sally Stewart

I am officially retired from my role as Owner and Practice Manager of a vet hospital, and these days I work as a mentor for overseas high school exchange kids in the Geelong region. I have been a board member for 10+ years, and serve as a Bellarine parent representative. My eldest daughter was in the first Prep group at the Bellarine Campus. She and her three siblings went right through Christian College. These days I have four grandchildren at the Bellarine Campus. I was very involved in the Bellarine Parents and Friends group in the early years of the campus and was asked the join the company and then the Board, as time went by.

The strength of Christian College is the culture of the school, which embeds the Christian values of Faith, Love, Hope, Truth and Grace in our lives together. Throughout their time with us, young people are encouraged to learn, question and grow academically, personally and spiritually. I believe our graduates go out into the world with a secure sense of self, a good awareness of global responsibilities, and belief that there is a good future ahead for each one of them.

The Board is a diverse mix of people with varying skills. We serve as governors to the College, overseeing the broad processes, rather than the day-to-day management. Our key responsibilities include financial management, and strategic planning. My skill set revolves around the people side of things. I am dedicated to ensuring we continue to nurture the sense of community which has grown over the years, to ensure that the families, staff and students in our midst feel a strong sense of belonging and acceptance.

Sue Strong

I worked at Christian College for 24 years as a teacher of Mathematics. I also held the positions at Senior School of Head of Penman House, Deputy Head of Campus, and Head of Campus, before my retirement at the end of 2015. I have been a Christian College Geelong Board member for seven years. I was invited to become a Board member and I felt that my very deep connection with the community might be of value to the Board and its decision-making.

I am proud that Christian College nurtures the whole child and that we offer a first-class education within the framework of a Christian community.

I know quite a bit about the day-to-day functioning of the teaching and learning within the College and what it is like to be a teacher, so, I understand many things that come to the Board’s attention. I know many of the staff and I feel a great love for this community. I hope that I demonstrate a servant heart in all that I contribute, and it is through discussion and listening to one another that we reach agreement on matters before us.

There has had to be a lot of learning on my part, as I grapple with what it means to have governance in our community. There are many matters that, even if they are not the direct business of the Board, we are just interested in knowing and celebrating. I want to say that there is a great deal of trust among the Board members. We have learnt to lean on one another; to share views and opinions and we have had to understand the differing views that we each bring to the table. But, overall, every one of us wishes for the College to flourish and be the best that it can possibly be.

I feel honoured to serve the College as a Board member and I welcome opportunities to visit campuses and classes.

Dr Bernard Shiu

Kristy Cochrane

I am a General Practitioner and medical educator who has been a member of the Christian College Board for two years. Both of my children, Isabel aged 12 and Arthur aged 9, have been students at Christian College since their Williams House Kindergarten days.

I was invited to join the Board after being involved with the College’s COVID Emergency Management Committee. I found it joyful and fulfilling working with the Board during the crisis and hence I accepted the invitation.

Christian College is known for its academic excellence which is balanced with Christian character development. My wife and I are particularly impressed with the music program as both of us are musicians and are hoping our kids will be given opportunity to explore their talents. They certainly have had their fair share of exposure, in fact, Isabel was awarded the Junior School Musician of the Year in 2022.

As a local doctor and educator, I am quite well aware of the need of health education in schools. I will be keen to contribute more in terms of advancing the health literacy of our students at Christian College. In particular, one of the areas, which is a passion of mine professionally, is mental health and building emotional resilience.

It has been an honour and privilege to be able to serve on the board of Christian College. I look forward to many years of serving the Lord as I contribute more to the College.

I am a classroom music teacher at an F-9 Christian school in Wyndham and have been a member of the Christian College Board for nearly three years. I first became associated with Christian College when my eldest child started Year 7 in 2018. We decided to start our other three children at the College the following year. They were in Years 2, 4 and 6 when they started here. I was motivated to join the Board as I thought that with my background in education, and also being a parent of four students at the school across three campuses (Junior, Middle and Senior), I would be able to contribute to the governance of the school from an educational perspective.

I think the range of learning that takes place at CCG is one of its strengths. The many ways that students can engage in their passions whether that be art, design, music, sport or more traditional academic pursuits is a strength worth noting. The way the staff care and nurture the students and are always trying to work with families to have the best outcomes for students is another strength.

Knowing the culture of how schools can be at this time I can bring a perspective from an educational background to the Board. I still have three students in the school at two different campuses so I have that parental perspective as well. I think I have strong opinions at times, and I am not afraid to speak my mind when I am passionate about something.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Board and strive to do my best to serve the school in my role. I am passionate about this College and education in general, and I want to see the best in this school and that needs to come from the top (the Board) down.

Tim Page-Walker

I am a business owner of DRINK_X, a family-owned and operated beverage manufacturing company located in South Geelong. I have been a Christian College Board member for one and a half years and I am the parent of a past student. I first joined the Christian College Geelong Foundation due to my experience in business and fundraising. I was elected to the Chair of the Foundation 12 months later, and with that position comes a seat on the Christian College Board. I am always happy to assist wherever my skill set is needed.

I believe one of the genuine strengths of Christian College is an unashamed love of God, putting our faith first in all that we do and a real and true focus on a Christ-centred education.

I have a wealth of business skill and experience that I bring to the Board. In addition to leading the CCG Foundation, I fulfil a permanent position on the Finance Committee, and have stepped in to assist on both the Strategic Planning Committee and more recently with the R&R Committee in the search for the new Executive Principal.

SEEKING NEW COMPANY MEMBERS

Christian College Geelong is seeking expressions of interest from any parents / guardians or other eligible people who are interested in becoming a new Company Member.

What do Company Members do?

• They play an important part in the governance structure and protection of the College

• They have the responsibility of voting to pass any amendments to the Christian College constitution

• They may also be eligible to sit on various committees involved in the governance of the College

• A number of positions on the Christian College Geelong Board are filled by company members, depending on the skillset required when vacancies arise

Participating as a company member is not overly onerous and the position is voluntary and not remunerated in any way.

If you have a heart for the College, feel you have an interest in this role and have the time to dedicate to it, please contact the Company Secretary, Bernard Nicholls at b.nicholls@ccg.vic.edu.au

Please note, we require all expressions of interest to be submitted no later than COB Friday July 26. Once you have lodged your expression of interest, you will be contacted with further information about the process.

*Please understand an expression of interest does not guarantee automatic membership of the company.

CLASS OF 2014 10 YEAR REUNION

Alumni from the Class of 2014 gathered at Blackman’s Brewery in Grovedale for their 10-year reunion.

There was lots of energy, laughter and animated conversation in the room as the group enjoyed drinks and pizza, renewed acquaintances, collected time capsules they’d packed on their last day of secondary school, checked out their graduation photos, thumbed through the 2014 editions of Motivator and the Year 12 yearbook, reminisced about schooldays and caught up on what’s been happening in the decade since.

A number had also visited the Middle School - Highton campus beforehand to climb the clocktower once again and find where they’d made their mark on their final day of Year 12.

Elitta Guy, Shannon Horton (nee Greig), Maddi Pedretti, Alison Collier and Penny Stewart

Alistair Chandler, Liam Johnson and Ryan Brown

April Di Martino, Michael De Paoli and Geordie Daulaca

Ashleigh Cushion, Lois Newman, Shelley White, Kate Biggs, Jayden Course and Jack Oates

Briony Wemyss, Ellie Westomoreland, Maddie Sharp, Ruby Turner, Abbey Sawyer and Bianca Mortimer

Harry Gould, Caleb Ford, Steve Sullivan and Ryan Taylor

Peter Haysham, Jayden Course and Damon Paybe

Alison Collier, Laura Beatty, Ellie Westmoreland and Elyse Desbrowe-Annear

Hayden Donald and Cameron Dempsey

Kate Biggs and Will Guida

Rob Kennedy and Caleb Ford

Nicole Briscoe and Jett Parkinson

Nicole Briscoe and Jett Parkinson graduated from Christian College in 2023. Nicole was a student from Year 7 to 12 at Middle and Senior School campuses. Jett attended Bellarine Campus from Prep to Year 9, before his final three years at Senior School. They are now each undertaking a traineeship with their accompanying work placement based at the Middle School-Highton campus.

Nicole works with our Sport department and is completing a Certificate III in Education Support through VFA Learning, while Jett is now part of our IT Department as he completes a Certificate IV in Information Technology through Integrity Business College.

Five months in, Nicole and Jett are both very positive about the decisions they’ve made as they embark on career paths. Part of it has involved making the transition in a short space of time, from Christian College student to Christian College staff member.

Nicole mostly works as a Sport Assistant but twice a week, goes into English and Maths classes to assist in an education support role.

“It’s so weird, that transition from student to staff, but I’m loving it,” she said. “Calling teachers by their first name, seeing how teachers manage classes – I see something a teacher does in class and think: ‘you did the same thing with me’.

“Connecting with kids is great. The Year 7 camp was a good experience, you get to know kids in a different environment, and there were many new students to the school, so it was good to make connections there.”

Jett works across a range of IT areas, which includes assisting students with technical support on their devices.

“I had to get used to using first names for staff too, it’s a weird adjustment, I used to be on the other side of the IT desk,” he said. “With the kids, you have a different level of relatability. Sometimes they’ll say things to me they wouldn’t say to teachers – it’s an interesting dynamic, and very nice, it’s cool.

“Conversations spring up, you can build up a relationship with them. The younger kids especially like to say hello, and they’re so polite and have very good manners,” he said.

He was well known as a student at Bellarine Campus, having been a Junior School Captain in Year 4, then a house captain, prefect and School Captain in Year 9. “When I’ve worked at Bellarine this year, I’ve seen my old teachers, they come into my office and say hi. And I knew a lot of the students too, and they knew me.”

Nicole wants to be a primary school teacher. She was offered a place this year at Deakin in primary teaching but has deferred it. “The traineeship is giving me opportunities to observe different ways of teaching and different strategies teachers use,” she said. “I spend a lot of time with kids in PE and sport, which I love, but for some students, it’s not their favourite thing. Then you see them in other classes, and they’re really interested, so you get a different perspective. “I love being in the classroom and doing the one-on-one support work with students.”

Jett has been well immersed in developing and using IT skills for some time. He has even earned money from applying those skills before taking on the traineeship. He’s loving the way the training and the workplace are aligning.

“Four hours a week on course work is compulsory in the traineeship. It’s amazing how Callum (CCG’s IT Manager, Callum Finley) aligns things I’m doing here at work with the course,” he said. “I’ve engaged with technology for a long time. IT’s always changing and, in this job, having someone who’s across it all like Callum is just great. I ask lots of questions and get great answers – with our team you can get the input of six minds on the one problem. I’m very interested in digital marketing. There are some very strong communities online, and good opportunities, it’s a big eye-opener. I love video editing and have managed to get paid work editing 25-30second-long Instagram reels for a client in the US.”

Outside of the workplace that once was their school, the pair have other passions in their lives, just as they did as students.

At the time of publishing, Nicole is in Brisbane at the Australian Olympic swimming trials, competing in the 400m Individual Medley (IM) event. Her involvement at the top level of swimming started at age 11 when she won a state backstroke championship in her age group. “In Year 11 I made my first open final at the 2022 National Short Course (25m) Championships in Sydney, in the 400m IM. Then in Year 12, I competed at the World Championships trials in Melbourne, in the 400 IM (long course – 50m), where I finished 17th. In Brisbane, only the top two swimmers in my event make the Olympic team – my goal is to finish top 10. There will be a number of swimmers from my club (Geelong Swimming Club) competing in various events, and I’m looking forward to being there with them.”

Jett’s always loved Drama. He featured in major College productions, the first of which was as the main lost boy ‘Slightly Soiled’, in Peter Pan in 2017. Then in 2019 he was in Annie, in 2022, he played Peter Pan in Shrek – the Musical and last year he played Albert Crundall in the Senior School production of Picnic at Hanging Rock. “I loved the opportunities I had at school. I was also involved with GSODA (Geelong Society of Operatic and Dramatic Arts) for a long time, but I enjoyed the school productions most,” he said. “The expectations on students are very high, but it’s a very supportive environment and you form many connections with people – and some, I think, will be lifelong.

“It was really worthwhile being involved. I haven’t done anything in that space since leaving school but it’s still a passion of mine.”

Nicole and Jett are on different career trajectories but share a common workplace. They’re excited about what might unfold in the months and years ahead.

“I’ve always liked setting myself goals and achieving them. I’ve always done it with swimming in training and competition, and it’s the same with my traineeship now,” Nicole said.

“I’ve always had a passion for IT and it’s pretty exciting to think about all the directions that could take me in the future,” said Jett.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

2001 GRADUATE

I started at Christian College in 1988 and continued through until 1994 before leaving and returning in 1999. I graduated in 2001.

The best memories for me came in my final years at Christian College – doing the Deb Ball and becoming a prefect. The subjects I enjoyed most in those years were Psychology and English.

I started working in childcare not long after graduation and completed a traineeship in Early Childhood Learning. I undertook further study and completed a Diploma in Early Childhood at the Gordon. I started working at Christian College in 2014 as a Kindergarten Assistant at Williams House.

I feel the values I learnt from the school helped to shape me as a person. I have always had a good work ethic and commitment to a cause. No doubt these values came from the people who supported me during my time as a student at CCG. The school always provided a supportive and caring environment. That’s something I have always tried to take into my work with children.

I love being an early childhood teacher and building relationships with the children. I love to give them trust and watching their confidence grow throughout their kinder year.

I have stayed in contact with a small group of friends from school. Working at Williams House, it’s nice to see teachers next door at Junior School who taught me at Christian College, like Deanne Morrison (Elliss), who was my Year 5 teacher.

My husband is also an ex-Christian College student, we met in 2000 and have been happily married for 17 years. I look forward to being happy and healthy and watching my boys grow up.

EMILY WRIGHT (NEE MADDOCK)

2014 GRADUATE

I attended Christian College from 2011 to 2014 after I moved schools at the end of Year 8.

My favourite memories from my time at Christian College, were:

• The Back Creek Farm program – I got to participate in this program in Year 9, and it gave me an opportunity to learn skills that I’d otherwise never get to learn

• Involvement in the 2014 Music tour of Beijing and Hong Kong with the Senior Choir, which saw me go on my first overseas trip and get to experience the beautiful culture that China and Hong Kong have to offer, as well as having the privilege of performing at Disneyland and making some friends from different parts of Australia, and the world.

• The many opportunities to represent the College through various sports.

The subjects I enjoyed the most were PE, Outdoor Education and Marine Studies. I got to experience many different things, from rock climbing at Mount Arapiles in the Grampians, and going to the snow at Lake Mountain for the very first time in Year 9, to swimming with seals.

My time at Christian College gave me many opportunities to be involved in public speaking which has helped me build confidence to take on leadership roles in footy as a coach. While involved in VCAL and VET in Schools, I was able to pursue a Certificate 3 in Fitness and after that I went on to complete my Certificate 4 and became a Personal Trainer.

Since I graduated, my personal journey has drawn me to different parts of the state, and now the country, which has seen me drift apart from my friends that I made during my time at school. But I am definitely looking forward to coming down to Victoria for the All in Reunion later in the year to see friends again!

I am still trying to figure out what my professional journey looks like, but the career pathway is set towards sports, and I have strengths in public speaking and networking. This has set me up well to grow personally and gave me the confidence to move states and become involved with the Maroochydore Roos in the Queensland Australian Football League at both junior and senior levels, and pursue coaching and volunteering opportunities at the club.

As I started playing Australian Rules football in 2016 as a 19-year-old, I never thought I’d move interstate to play. I’m now playing footy for Sandgate in the Queensland Football Association Women’s Division 1 Competition, volunteering with the Maroochydore Roos, and coaching their Under 11s, which so far is going very well. Being a coach and inspiring the next generation of female footballers at the Roos is an absolute honour and the fact that they are having so much fun and enjoying themselves, makes me enjoy it so much more.

To be honest it’s hard to look into the future but I do hope I will still be coaching and playing, as well as running a successful online personal training business.

ELKIE BROOKS

RENN BLACKMAN

2004 GRADUATE

Ten years after graduating, Renn Blackman started Blackman’s Brewery in Torquay with his wife Jess in 2014. Over 10 years, the business has steadily grown to become the largest independent, Australian-owned beer brand in the Geelong and Surf Coast region. In 2019 at the Australian International Beer Awards, Blackman’s Brewery was named Champion Small Australian Brewery. This year’s 10-year reunion for the Class of 2014 was held at Blackman’s Brewery in Grovedale (see page 46).

I attended Christian College from 1997 to 2004, which was my graduation year.

An outstanding memory for me was the school farm at Back Creek. It was a real highlight for me and I loved it so much I went back for work experience the year after.

During my secondary school years, my favourite subjects were Outdoor Ed, Music, Art and Physical Education.

Since graduating, I studied a Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Hospitality at La Trobe University’s Mount Buller campus and then Bundoora. I then took on a Post Graduate Diploma in Brewing at Edith Cowan University in Perth.

Christian College prepared me well for my career pathway. I had great teachers who cared a lot about the students. I benefited also from attending Christian College in terms of my personal development. It definitely influenced me in a positive way. It was a great school with good facilities and I still have many friends from school that I stay in contact with.

The thing I enjoy most about what I’m doing now is working with an amazing team to make beer that we all love to drink. We have three breweries and venues in Torquay, Ocean Grove and Grovedale, and provide a family friendly environment for people to meet and have a meal and a beer. We have strong ties with local clubs, the Cadel Evans Road Race event and we are now the only independent Australian owned beer brand to pour beers at GMHBA stadium which is a huge moment for our brand in Geelong. We love good beer, and we love amazing hospitality! I hope that in five years’ time, Blackman’s will have further affirmed themselves as the locally owned beer of Geelong and the Surf Coast for all locals to drink.

Renn Blackman (left) takes time out to sample some of his company’s product

Williams House

Butterfield House