Year 7 Camp

Hannah McRae, Acting Head of Year 7

Our Year 7 camp took place at the end of Term 1 at Camp Coolamatong on the Banksia Peninsula. It was an amazing experience filled with fun, and new friendships. Over three action-packed days, students took part in a wide range of outdoor activities, including canoeing, bike riding, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, and combat archery. Whether they were navigating the water or teaming up on the field, everyone had a chance to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

One of the highlights was the hike and overnight camp out - an experience that was a first for many of our students. Setting up tents, cooking together, and camping under the stars helped build resilience and independence in our newest secondary schoolers.

Alongside the physical challenges, our Year 7 camp also gave us the opportunity to reflect on the importance of kindness and community. Inspired by our DCC 50 Acts of Kindness cards, our Year 7 students contributed to our ‘Acts of Kindness wall’, where they shared thoughtful ways to show kindness to peers, teachers, and camp staff.

They also helped create a mural that documented moments during camp when they experienced or witnessed acts of care, encouragement, and teamwork. These reflections helped build a stronger sense of connection and highlighted the values that make our school community so special.

Here’s what some of our Year 7 students had to say about their camp experience:

“I really enjoyed being in a cabin and activity group with my friends. I also particularly enjoyed the sailing lesson. I'm definitely going to try and sail again!”

“We had a brilliant time and made many happy memories. We enjoyed all the fun activities and mealtimes - it was a great opportunity to get to know people better.”

“My favourite thing from camp was the overnight hike when we all got to walk on the beach to our amazing campsite.”

“Camp was really fun! Like on the overnight expedition, we got to listen to the waves swish and swoosh and got to look at the stars when it got dark. I really liked the stand up paddleboarding as well, even if I did fall in a few times. The games we played were really fun!!”

We’re incredibly proud of how our Year 7’s embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and supported one another. It was a fantastic way to kick off their high school journey, and we look forward to seeing the students continue to flourish as the year continues.

Year 9 Wilderness Camp

Ash Price, Year 9 Teacher

Each year, the Year 9 staff take their students into the High Country of Victoria’s Alpine National Park, where they hike, cook, and live together in a small community. This experience is designed to encourage resilience, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of what it means to contribute meaningfully to a community. It is a time for them to put into practice the values they are seeking to grow in this year.

Beyond the physical challenges - sore feet, sleeping on the ground, cooking in the wild, and dealing with bugs - students are encouraged to seek Shalom, a deep connection with God, their peers, and creation.

Our hope is that, through this experience, they learn to rely on God in new ways and discover the strength He provides in difficult moments. Psalm 121:1-2 reminds us, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." This verse has been a guiding encouragement for students as they face both physical and emotional challenges.

This year the weather was perfect. The conditions were the best for many years. However, stories were written, challenges overcome, relationships deepened. They have a story that is added to journey to maturity.

DCC offers these unique experiences that helps make its students the type of people that going make a difference in the world beyond our beautiful learning community. It is a lot of work for all involved, but the reward for the students is well worth it.

Wilderness is testing and life changing. But worth it!

This new crop of students now have a chapter in their books that connects them to many DCC students before them. Let’s pray for rest of their Year 9 adventure as God prepares them to further and deepen their roots in Him as their guide and path for the Road Ahead!

EISM Division 1 Athletics 2025

Emily Townend, Head of Health and PE

Our DCC EISM Athletics Team travelled to Lakeside Stadium on Friday 2nd May to compete in the EISM Division 1 Athletics Carnival. It was a beautiful and sunny day for track and field competition, and our students competed with grace and humility throughout the carnival.

Our day began with Annabel Messer (U13 Girls) smashing the U13 Girls 1500m record by 14 seconds! This was followed by Sawyer Onley winning the U13 Boys 1500m, and Lewis McLennan winning the U15 Boys 1500m. Zoe Curtis (U13 Girls) also set the record for the inaugural U13 Girls Discus, a fantastic achievement! (A complete list of students who received a place in their events is at the end of the article).

As the carnival progressed, the overall scores between the top few schools remained close, with DCC students continuing to shine their God-given talents on the track and in the field. As a school we finished 4th overall, and 2nd overall in the Boys Aggregate. We are immensely proud of our students for giving their best effort and consistently encouraging one another throughout the day. It was wonderful to see the stands often empty; our students found trackside cheering each other on.

A huge thank you to our staff (Jake Bentley, Trevor Carter, Justin Botha, Claire Hartley, Chris Turner, Ella Hose and Charlie Halls) for their time, expertise, and encouragement of our students.

Photo Credit Ezra Chan

A snippet from our Sports Captains: Charity Onley and Flynn Wills

EISM Athletics was a fantastic day, as we got to see our school community get behind all the athletes who competed, cheering each other on and showing incredible sportsmanship. It is always an honour to be a part of DCC at sporting events, as all the students show so much enthusiasm and willingness to get involved, always pushing themselves to do their best and competing with integrity. A huge congratulations to all the participants for their amazing efforts on both the track and field.

EISM Division 1 Athletics Highlights

1st Place

Talise Botha U14 Girls 400m, 200m A, Triple Jump & Jump
Annabel Messer U13 Girls 1500m, 800m
Sam Prescott U16 Boys 400m
Skylar Radovic U13 Girls Triple Jump
Lewis McLennan U14 Boys 1500m
Hamish McLennan U16 Boys 800m
Lachlan Osborne Open Boys Long Jump
Ben Manners Open Boys Shot Put
Maddie Moore U16 Girls 200m B
Amelia Liu U15 Girls 100m C
Sawyer Onley U13 Boys 1500m, 800m
Ryan Perry U16 Boys 100m B, 200m B
Austin Ryall U16 Boys High Jump
Zoe Curtis U13 Girls Discus
Liam Koo U13 Boys 100m B
Edward Bruce U14 Boys 100m B
Emma Paravicini Open Girls High Jump
Amy Price Open Girls 100m B
Nathanael Siow U14 Boys Shot Put

2nd Place

Jem Englezos U15 Boys 800m
Nathan Price U15 Boys High Jump
Zoe Willis Open Girls Hurdles
Alfie Onley U16 Boys 800m
Taj Fearn-Wannan U15 Boys 200m
Asher Fearn-Wannan Open Girls 400m, Triple Jump
Annabel Messer U13 Girls 100m A
Skylar Radovic U13 Girls 100m B, Long Jump
Berkeley Clayton U13 Boys Triple Jump, Long Jump, 200m A
Lewis McLennan U14 Boys Triple Jump
Amelia Liu U15 Girls Triple Jump
Maddie Moore U16 Girls Triple Jump
Ezra Chan U16 Boys 100m A, 200m A
Austin Ryall U16 Boys 100m C
Tobi Adeosun U14 Boys 100m C
Rose Price U15 Girls 100m A
Sam Rashed Open Boys 100m C
Grace Cameron U15 Girls Shot Put
Tahlia Briggs Open Girls Discus
Eloise Hamilton U16 Girls Long Jump
Nathan Mack U15 Boys High Jump

3rd Place

Alfie Onley Open Boys 1500m
Annabel Messer U13 Girls High Jump
Berkeley Clayton U13 Boys 100m A
Lewis McLennan U15 Boys 800m
Amelia Liu U15 Girls 200m B
Ben Manners Open Boys Discus
Andy Wang U13 Boys 100m C
Lachlan Osborne Open Boys 100m A
Ezra Horneman Open Boys 100m B
Tom Tabart U15 Boys Discus
Flynn Wills Open Boys 200m B
Nathan Mack U15 Boys Triple Jump
Jem Englezos U15 Boys 1500m
Levi Natsis U14 Boys 200m A
Cristian Morelli U15 Boys 100m C
Aaron Pearce U15 Boys 100m A
Charisse Chan U15 Girls 800m
Tahlia Briggs Open Girls Shot Put
Lianne Young U14 Girls 100m
Sophie Gordon U13 100m C
Sarah Tobler U16 Girls High Jump
U13 Girls 4x100m Relay
U14 Boys 4x100m Relay
Open Boys 4x100m Relay

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