In the Spotlight
Joshua Parker set to bring Maui to life in Moana Jr
Joshua Parker (10 Jones) is taking his passion for musical theatre to the stage, having been cast as Maui in Echuca Moama Theatre Company’s upcoming production of Moana Jr.
After auditioning for the role, Joshua was thrilled to be selected to play the demigod of wind and sea and the show’s male lead.
He is now busy preparing for the production alongside the rest of the cast through music, choreography and character work. Joshua is excited to bring Maui’s energetic and larger-than-life personality to the stage and go on this voyage in his hometown!
Moana Jr will be performed on 23, 24 and 25 October and tickets are available here.
Another outstanding achievement for Azia Fong
Azia Fong (10 Aherne) delivered a series of sensational swims at the Victorian State Short Course Championships.
Highlighting the meet was Azia’s gold winning performance in the 50m Freestyle. Azia continued her fine form in the 100m Freestyle, claiming a well-deserved silver medal in a heart-stopping finish decided by the barest of margins, the width of a fingernail.
Azia also produced a massive breakthrough in the 100m Backstroke, smashing her personal best by an extraordinary 3.5 seconds. She then took on both the 100m Butterfly and 100m Individual Medley, delivering strong, composed swims in these demanding sprint events.
As she shifts her focus to the Victorian Open Championships, Azia has been selected to contest the prestigious 25m Dash, an elite showdown featuring the 10 fastest swimmers across the competition. Azia will be the youngest competitor, racing head-to-head with senior open-age athletes.
Balancing high-performance training with academic commitments requires discipline, and Azia’s work ethic and sportsmanship continue to inspire her peers. We congratulate Azia on a phenomenal state campaign and wish her the best at the Victorian Open Championships next weekend.
Eve Ferris (11 Riley) represents Farrer in Canberra
Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to represent the federal electorate of Farrer as its Youth Member at the inaugural 2026 National Youth Parliament in Canberra.
Alongside 150 young Australians from across the country, I spent five unforgettable days inside the heart of Australian democracy, debating national issues, participating in parliamentary proceedings and experiencing federal politics from a perspective very few young people get to see.
One of the biggest moments of the week was standing in the House of Representatives and delivering my own adjournment debate. I used the opportunity to advocate for the expansion of the national “No Wrong Door” approach to crisis support, where people asking for help are supported and connected with the services they need, rather than being referred elsewhere and left to navigate complex systems alone. My proposal focused on increasing coordination between services to ensure vulnerable people never fall through the cracks.
I also had the chance to watch Federal Parliament’s Question Time live, which was one of my favourite parts of the entire experience. Seeing the strategy, quick thinking and political theatre unfold right in front of me was completely different from watching it on television.
Throughout the week, I met political figures I had previously only ever seen on the news, including Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, Treasurer, Jim Chalmers and Speaker of the House, Milton Dick. I also met Angus Taylor, Leader of the Opposition, and spotted Pauline Hanson in Parliament. Another unforgettable experience was attending lunch with the Governor-General at Government House.
All in all, it was an extraordinary week, and I came home with a much deeper understanding of Australian politics, some incredible new friendships and an even greater interest in how policy shapes our everyday life.
To highlight a student or staff achievement in this section, please send through details and a photo to elink@girton.vic.edu.au