College News
Message from the College Principal
Anthony Rodaughan
Anthony Rodaughan
G’day everyone,
Term Three is now underway, and we've had an exciting start, dedicating much of our first two weeks to celebrating NAIDOC. Each campus proudly hosted its own NAIDOC celebration, culminating in a fantastic College-wide event at the Morwell Campus. The day was filled with incredible moments, from heartfelt songs and stunning artwork to powerful poetry and storytelling. Attendees also enjoyed delicious Indigenous-inspired food and great company, all set to the lively tunes performed by our talented College band.
We're also thrilled to highlight the new Indigenous Welcoming Garden, an exceptional addition that enhances the entrance to the Morwell Campus and provides a lasting reminder of our commitment to culture, connection and community.
A big thank you to our dedicated maintenance team, whose hard work ensured everything was perfectly prepared on time. Special appreciation also goes to our Koorie Support Staff and the Morwell Campus staff for their outstanding organisation and commitment in making the celebration such a memorable success.
As many of you may know, this term I have stepped back into a part-time role after many wonderful years as College Principal. I am delighted to be working alongside Jayde as Co-College Principal as she steps into the role from School Improvement. Jayde brings a wealth of experience, a passion for education, and a strong commitment to ensuring every student can succeed. As part of the Principal Team, we will continue to work closely together to lead the College. On the days I am not on site, Jayde will act as College Principal. I look forward to continuing to work alongside her as we lead the College together.
Anthony Rodaughan
College Principal
NAIDOC Week
Kurnai College proudly acknowledged National NAIDOC Week, celebrated across Australia during the first week of July. 2025 NAIDOC Week marked a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture and resilience. It is a time to honour and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — and an opportunity for all Australians to learn about and celebrate the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.
As NAIDOC Week falls during the school holidays, Kurnai College holds official celebrations at each campus during the first two weeks of Term 3.
During the second week of term, the Churchill Campus commenced the celebrations on Monday 20th of July with a BBQ lunch. There was also cultural activities in the library and music from the Kurnai College band.
On Tuesday 21st of July, the University Campus marked the occasion with a special NAIDOC announcement and BBQ lunch featuring Indigenous-inspired baked goods. There was also music from the Kurnai College band, accompanied by Year 7 student Mishton on the didgeridoo.
On their respective days, Indigenous students and their peers from each campus participated in an Indigenous games session during periods 3 & 4, run by Leslie Briggs from WKYevents. One of the highlights included playing Marngrook, a traditional game involving a possum fur football — widely believed to have inspired modern-day AFL.
College NAIDOC Celebrations at the Morwell Campus
The college’s NAIDOC celebrations culminated on Friday 25th of July with a meaningful and memorable celebration at the Morwell Campus. The event brought together students, staff, Aboriginal Elders, families and community members to honour the rich cultures, histories and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a powerful day of culture, creativity and community connection.
Guests were welcomed through the College's newly established Indigenous Welcoming Garden, a space designed to acknowledge and celebrate First Nations culture. The garden features the five shields representing each clan of the Gunaikurnai Nation, an Aboriginal Flag stone feature, native plants and totem poles. Guests were invited to leave their handprint on the totem poles, creating a lasting symbol of connection.
The celebration began with a Smoking Ceremony, led by Aunty Christine Johnson, as guests made their way to the Auditorium.
“The Smoking Ceremony is a traditional aboriginal custom to welcome visitors to our land, cleanse the area, and ward off any bad spirits from the people and the land,” explained Aunty Christine.
In the Auditorium, Aunty Christine officially welcomed guests with a heartfelt Welcome to Country on behalf of the Brayakaulung Clan of the Gunaikurnai Nation. Students Kane Dalton, Emily Liddy and Destiny Marshall then delivered a respectful Acknowledgement of Country, recognising the Traditional Custodians and their enduring connection to Country.
College Principal Anthony Rodaughan officially welcomed guests, acknowledging the importance of NAIDOC Week as an opportunity to celebrate culture, strengthen relationships and continue learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Throughout the celebration, audiences were captivated by four outstanding performances from the Dedlee Kultya Dancers. Their energy, pride and commitment to sharing culture through dance were evident in every performance, with senior students Ebony Lee and Jack Caia-Mills recognised for their leadership and mentorship of the group.
Adding to the celebration, Kelvin "Jackamarra" McQueen delivered a moving poetry performance, accompanied by the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo, beautifully played by Year 7 student Mishton.
Guests also heard from Andrew Thorpe, South East Treaty Representative and proud Gunai and Gunditjmara man, who shared his insights into Treaty, community and reconciliation. Andrew also reflected on his incredible achievement of completing The Great World Race, an extraordinary challenge involving seven marathons across seven continents in just seven days.
Former Kurnai College student Monica Jasmine Karo (MpathSoul) captivated the audience with a moving performance that showcased her remarkable talents as a singer-songwriter, storyteller and spoken word artist. Monica's powerful storytelling reflected themes of healing, resilience, truth and connection, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.
Attendees also viewed an inspiring video presentation featuring acclaimed Indigenous artist Ray Young and was acknowledged for the mural he painted surrounding the fire pit.
A particularly special moment of the celebration was the recognition of former Hands-on Learning Coordinator Michael Stubbs, whose vision and dedication were instrumental in creating the College's Indigenous Garden. Michael was presented with a commemorative plaque in recognition of his dedication, creating a meaningful legacy that will continue to educate and inspire future generations.
Following the formal proceedings, guests were invited outside to view Ray Young's mural, before enjoying lunch, music performed by the Kurnai College Band, and the opportunity to connect, reflect and continue conversations inspired by the day's celebrations.
Kurnai College extends its sincere thanks to our Elders, guest speakers, performers, students, staff, volunteers and everyone who contributed to making this year's NAIDOC celebration such a meaningful and memorable occasion.
Yarrebee, and thank you to everyone who joined us as we celebrated NAIDOC Week and reaffirmed our commitment to learning from, honouring and walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Sports News
With the beginning of a new term, our students have already continued to proudly represent Kurnai College in a range of interschool sporting events. They’ve once again stepped up with great commitment and embraced the challenges of competitive sport.
Gippsland Finals - Senior Soccer
Written by Alex F
On Tuesday, the senior Boys/Mixed Senior Soccer Team went to Harold Preston Reserve to compete in the Gippsland Region Senior Soccer against the division winners from the other Gippsland regions: West Gippsland, East Gippsland, and South Gippsland.
Having a full side with 6 on the bench really helped us to rotate and have fresh legs on the pitch, and the weather was on our side with the sun shining, but the wind was blowing a gale in our last game.
For our first game against Lowanna College, we went in thinking it might be tough, but Clay scored an easy first goal, followed by 2 more. We won 3-1; Clay had a hat trick, and we conceded our only goal of the day, with Cody in goal filling the goalkeeper role – as Jack T was coming later.
In the second game against Bairnsdale Secondary College, we also claimed the win with a 3-0 score line, with Clay scoring 2, and our coach Hamzh putting one in the back of the net.
Our final game of the day was against Leongatha Secondary College, once again pocketing the win, resulting in no losses of the day, putting us through to state level. Clay was assertive again with 2 goals up his sleeve, followed by another by Harry, and Zak finishing it off, with the end score being 4-0.
All players putting in 100% and showing encouragement and great teamwork was amazing to see, and now we bring it to the State Finals.
Wellington District Netball
Last term the Year 7 and Year 8 teams headed to Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), in Sale, to compete in the Wellington District Round. While the Intermediate (YR 9/10) & Senior (YR 11/12) Netball teams represented the College this term during week two. It was a fantastic two days of competitive sport, teamwork and school pride, with all teams representing Kurnai College admirably.
🏐 Year 7 Girls + Boys
On Wednesday the 17th of June, Year 7 students represented Kurnai College at the Wellington Netball Competition in Sale. The cohort entered a Year 7 Churchill girls team and a Year 7 boys team, made up of students from both our Morwell and Churchill campuses. The standard of competition on the day was high, and students gave their all in some challenging matches. It was fantastic to see them displaying great sportsmanship and team-first attitudes throughout the day.
🏐 Intermediate Boys
The Intermediate Boys took on strong opposition from Sale College and Maffra Secondary College. While they were unable to secure a win, the team demonstrated determination, perseverance and a positive attitude throughout the day. It was a valuable experience that will help build their confidence and skills for future competitions.
🏐 Intermediate Girls
The Intermediate Girls had an impressive day on the court, recording convincing wins over Sale College, Maffra Secondary College and Lavalla Catholic College. They finished the day with a hard-fought match against Sale Catholic College, where they narrowly missed out on victory. The team should be proud of their excellent effort, teamwork and commitment across all four games.
🏐 Senior Girls
The Senior Girls displayed outstanding teamwork, communication and resilience throughout the competition. Their positive attitude, respect for opponents and excellent sportsmanship were evident both on and off the court, while their leadership shone throughout the day.
Despite their determination and strong performances, the girls were just short of claiming a win. They were defeated 16–10 by Sale College before narrowly going down 8–7 to Maffra Secondary College in a thrilling contest. The team should be commended for the way they represented the College and for the effort they displayed in every match.
Music News
Term 3 is already shaping up to be a busy and exciting one for our Kurnai musos, with a wide range of performances and events scheduled throughout the term.
During the Term 2 holidays, several of our dedicated music students took part in a music workshop to further develop their skills ahead of the new term. The workshop provided valuable opportunities to build confidence, refine musical technique, and collaborate with fellow musicians from across the College.
In Week 2, the College Band had the honour of performing at NAIDOC Week ceremonies across the Churchill, University and Morwell campuses. These performances were a privilege for our students, who were proud to contribute to such meaningful celebrations of culture, community and connection.
In Week 3, our students will take to the stage at the Senior Pathways Information Evening on Wednesday, 29 July, proudly showcasing their talents to families and prospective senior campus students. We are excited for them to share their passion and hard work, and we know they will be wonderful ambassadors for our College.
One of the highlights of the term will see Kurnai College once again join forces with the Monash Medical Orchestra for a special combined concert. This annual collaboration provides our students with the unique opportunity to perform alongside experienced musicians in a truly inspiring musical setting. The concert will be held on Saturday, 5 September at the Federation Auditorium, Churchill Campus, and promises to be an unforgettable evening of music.
As part of our commitment to sharing music across the community, our students will also visit local primary schools throughout the term, inspiring the next generation of young musicians through live performances and musical engagement.
And if that wasn't enough, auditions for the highly anticipated Kurnai's Got Talent will begin later this term. We can't wait to see the incredible talent our students bring to the stage.
If you would like any further information about these events or the College's music program, please contact Mr Chris Gretton, College Music Coordinator.