Lions Youth of the Year

Congratulations Rachel Gooley! Over the past two weeks, Rachel Gooley has proudly represented Armidale Secondary College in the prestigious Lions Youth of the Year program. The journey involved a rigorous nomination process followed by an interview, culminating in a public speaking event at a Lions Club dinner.

Rachel delivered two impromptu speeches and a heartfelt 5-minute speech on the importance of veterans and the valuable lessons we can learn from them. Her impeccable delivery was well-received by the audience, demonstrating confidence and eloquence.

While Rachel did not progress to the next round, we want to extend our warmest congratulations for her dedication and outstanding efforts throughout the program. We are incredibly proud of her achievements!

Congratulations to Brooke Moran!

Brooke has been selected in the NSW U15 Girls side to compete at the Nationals in Bunbury, WA, this February. This follows an outstanding week at the NSW CHS Championships in Maitland where her team went through undefeated. We are so proud of your amazing achievement and wish you all the best at Nationals!

NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company Students

Armidale Secondary College, the company members—Nya Quinlan, Jessica Ferris, Alexis Lockwood, and Edward Lockwood—and their families would like to sincerely acknowledge and thank the Waratah Education Foundation for their generous support.

This support enabled our students to travel to Sydney to participate in the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company program, including rehearsals and performances at the State Dance Festival and Schools Spectacular.

Thank you, Waratah Education Foundation, for helping our students shine on this wonderful stage!

Supporting NSW Public Schools Dance Company Members – Nya Quinlan, Jessica Ferris, Alexis Lockwood, and Edward Lockwood

Armidale Secondary College, alongside the Company members and their families, would like to sincerely acknowledge and thank the Rotary Club of Armidale Central for their generous support.

Thanks to your support, these four talented dancers were able to participate in rehearsals and performances throughout the year, including the State Dance Festival and Schools Spectacular.

We are incredibly grateful for the Rotary Club of Armidale Central’s commitment to nurturing young talent and supporting the arts in our community. Thank you!

We gratefully acknowledge one of the supporting organisations of the Lyāmbay Dance Group – the Oorala Aboriginal Centre, UNE Armidale. As recipients of the Oorala Community Grant, we were afforded the invaluable opportunity to participate in the Schools Spectacular.

Your contribution has not only supported our performers but has also helped promote cultural pride and representation on a state-wide stage. Thank you for your exceptional support!

Nyla Chemane – School Spectacular Featured Artist!

We are so proud of Nyla Chemane, who performed as a featured artist in three incredible songs at this year’s School Spectacular: Blackbird, Waloyo Yamoni, and Scars.

Nyla proudly represented Armidale Secondary College throughout six months of rehearsals leading up to the shows, showing amazing commitment and talent. Plus, she’s now an expert at navigating inner-city trains all by herself!

Well done, Nyla – you continue to inspire us all!

Congratulations to our Schools Spectacular Featured Dancers!

A huge shoutout to Tilly Wise (Ballet and opening number), Helene Groger (Circus ensemble), and Ariana Wood (NSW State Public Schools Dance Ensemble). Each of these talented students dedicated countless hours attending multiple rehearsals in Sydney over the past months and weeks. Their hard work and commitment truly paid off on the big stage!

It was fantastic to see such strong representation of ASC dancers across various styles and performances at this year’s Schools Spectacular. Well done to all involved – you made us proud!

School Spec will be broadcasted on Friday 19 December. Sydney: 7 pm AEST.

Regional Champions – Open Boys Cricket!

Open Boys Cricket Team faced Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in the Final of North West Open Boys Cricket Competition. Farrer won the toss and elected to bat and our opening bowlers got off to a good start and had FMAHS at 2/22. Farrer built their way to 3/75 at drink drinks. Quickly after the break, the opposition quickly started to pile on the runs before 2 quick wickets, ASC got them to 5/150 after 30 overs. Some late run in the last 10 overs got FMAHS to 7/215

ASC started quite shaky with 3 very early wickets leaving the boys 3 for 17 after 10 overs. That’s where things started to change. Oliver Stubbs and Jacob Williams settled the ship and were able to scrap to 3/52 at the 20 over mark. Continuing to rotate the strike Oliver was able to bring up his 50 and that’s where things started to change. With confidence, Oli started to hit 4 and 6’s more regularly and bring the required run rate down from 12 an over to 10. Needing 100 runs of the last 10 overs Jacob continued to face some quick bowling and allowed Oliver to score his century. The rest of the team along with Mr Watkins was started to get nervous needing 30 off the last 5 overs. Without losing anymore wickets, Jacob and Oliver held on to finish the job with Jacob hitting the winning runs at the end of the 39th over. After an incredible comeback ASC open boys cricket team will head to the north coast early next year for the next round of the CHS Alan Davidson Shied.

Thank you to Mr Andrew Curry and Mr Andrew Watkins for helping the boys get to the next stage of the competition

FMAHS - 7/215

Oliver Stubbs - 4/25

Hamish Pilcher - 1/27

ASC - 3/216

Oliver Stubbs 147 not out

Jacob Williams 36 not out

ASC Agriculture - Livestock Team Champions

Recently our Livestock Team represented our school at The Northern Schools Prime Steer Competition with huge success. With our Limousin cattle we won first, second and third prize in the under 400kg section and first and second in the middleweight classes and first in a heavy weight class. Our steer 'Brutus' went on to be the Champion middleweight steer and 'Rumble' our heavyweight steer went on to be the Champion heavyweight steer and overall Grand Champion steer of the show. Congratulations to those students who presented our cattle so well in the showring.

As always, our students did our school proud with immaculate behaviour, good manners and strong teamwork. For a number of students this was their first competition which they thoroughly enjoyed. Many of our students had great success and won prizes in the cattle handling/ parading event. Well done!

The competition was held in Walcha this year with a big storm and blackout to keep everyone on their toes. A big thank you to Jodie Provost (Walcha Central School Agriculture Teacher) for all her work in organising this event. We all had a wonderful time.

A big thank you also to Richard and Heather Cole 'Lachlandale Limousins', Forbes and the Macrae Family, Kingstown for their continued support of ASC Agriculture. Thank you also to new Agriculture Teacher Ms Grace Collins for all her work on this excursion.

2025 North West School Sport Association Presentation Day

On Wednesday, 3 December, the North West SSA celebrated an outstanding year of Representative School Sport. A huge congratulations to our incredible students who received prestigious awards:

Luke Whitty: Bar to Blues - Hockey

Brooke Moran: Bar to Blues - Cricket

Jack Grace: Kirk Stewart Memorial Trophy

Sophie Parsons: Service to Sport

We are so proud of your dedication and achievements!

Celebration of Learning Assembly 2025