College News

Message from the College Principal

As always, Term 2 has begun in busy fashion across Kurnai College with plenty happening across all campuses.

Last weekend, we were saddened to learn of the passing of longtime staff member Catherine Parmenter. Catherine was a highly valued classroom assistant and one of the very best in her role. Over many years, she built lasting relationships with students, families and colleagues alike. Catherine leaves behind her husband Dave, daughters Kayla and Alison, and her brother Darren Hodgson, who is also a longstanding member of staff at the college. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Catherine’s family and friends.

Like many schools, we continue to experience staffing shortages and are working hard to fill positions for the second half of the year. We have recently recruited four new staff members through international agencies from Uruguay, Canada, England and Germany. We are excited to welcome these new teachers to Kurnai.

Term 2 began with a highly successful Staff Learning Day focused on student wellbeing. Staff participated enthusiastically in workshops led by visiting presenters and members of our leadership team. The day was extremely well received, and special thanks must go to our Assistant Principals and Middle leaders for their organisation and hard work.

We have also recently benefited from two generous donations from anonymous community members, which have enabled the college to purchase devices for students unable to afford their own. These devices will provide valuable 24-hour access to learning opportunities and will no doubt make a significant difference for many students. Special thanks to Reece Cuff for his work coordinating the procurement and distribution of the devices.

There continues to be a wide range of student activities taking place across the college. Winter sports are wrapping up, with many staff generously coaching and leading teams and activities. Our VM students recently assisted with Morwell Park Primary School’s athletics day and received outstanding feedback for their efforts. Meanwhile, our Air Force Cadet 424 Squadron proudly represented the college at numerous ANZAC Day events across Gippsland. Wayne Bass continues to do an outstanding job leading this program.

Excitement is also building for the upcoming Senior Formal, which is always a highlight of the year and a wonderful opportunity for our senior students to celebrate together in style.

Anthony Rodaughan

College Principal 

ANZAC Day

On Saturday 25th of April, Student Leaders had the honour of representing Kurnai College at multiple ANZAC services that were held across the Latrobe Valley to pay our respects. 

424SQN Australian Air Force Cadets

Students of the 424SQN Australian Air Force Cadets started the day off at the dawn service at Port Albert before traveling onto the Latrobe Valley to attend services in Yinnar, Churchill, and then Morwell. 

University Campus

College Captains, George Stevens and Arabella Altavas, along with Vice Captains Pearl Doherty & Jack Thomas, attended the Yinnar service, where they laid a wreath on behalf of Kurnai College.

"It was lovely to see our community come together to commemorate the fallen ANZAC's and having the opportunity to be apart of the march and laying a wreath down was truly an honour, allowing us to showcase our gratitude to those who greatly sacrificied themselves for our country.," said Arabella.

Jack said, "To me, ANZAC Day is about honour. Wearing my great grandfather’s medals at the Yinnar march was a privilege, and it showed me that their story and sacrifice does not end with them as they live on through us remembering."

Churchill Campus

Churchill Campus  School Captain, Rahzel Morley and Sage Jobling, attended the service held in Churchill, where they laid a floral wreath and then addressed the crowd reflecting on the importance of ANZAC Day.

"ANZAC Day is very important as it allows us all to gather and pay our respects for the fallen soldiers from Gallipoli and every war Australia and New Zealand participated in," said Rahzel.

"We acknowledge and honour those serving and those who have served in the past, and pay our deepest respects to all those who gave their lives", said Sage.

Morwell Campus

Morwell Campus School captains, Emily Matthews and Rahni Mzyglosji, and Vice Captains Kara Phillips and Harmony Dobson, accompanied student leaders Jaxon McIntosh and Ashden Madex, attended the service held in Morwell, where they laid a wreath on behalf of Kurnai College.

Sports News

Junior Girls AFL

On Wednesday 29th of April, the Junior Girls AFL team travelled to Sale to compete in the Wellington Region Football Tournament, taking on Lavalla, Catholic College Sale, and Maffra Secondary College across a full day of matches. The girls represented the College with determination, teamwork, and resilience throughout the tournament. 

Year 7 & Year 8 Boys AFL

On Thursday 7th of May, the Year 7 Boys and Year 8 Boys teams head to Sale for a big day of footy in challenging wet conditions. 

The Year 8 boys fought hard in every match and, despite not coming away with a win, showed fantastic effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the day.

The Year 7 boys had a mixed start, dropping their opening two games before bouncing back strongly with an impressive win against Maffra in their final match of the day. A special shoutout goes to Coach Ed Forbes, whose leadership and motivation helped inspire the team to finish the day on a real high! 

Well done to all students involved for the way they represented Kurnai College both on and off the field!

Senior Boys Football

On Tuesday the 5th of May, the Senior Boys Football team travelled to Sale to compete in the SSV Senior Boys Round Robin. The day saw a mix of strong performances and valuable learning experiences against quality opposition.

We opened with a competitive contest against Lavalla, showing great effort and determination. The boys then came up against a very strong Catholic College Sale side, where, despite the result, they continued to push hard. The day finished on a high, with a convincing win over Maffra Secondary College.

As the day progressed, the team really began to gel, with players finding their roles and working cohesively on the field. It was great to see their growth in teamwork, communication, and confidence across the matches.

A big thank you to Hudson for leading the team, with knowledge and calmness throughout the day. Thanks also to Alex for stepping in as runner, and to Aiden and Decklin for their efforts in boundary and goal umpiring across all three games.

All players put in an outstanding effort and displayed impressive skill and sportsmanship. Awards for overall performance were awarded to Jye R, Lucas G, Ryan B, and Jack T.

Well done, boys!

Music News

On Thursday the 23rd of April, the VCE Music students had the opportunity to attend the Top Class Regional Concert at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre. The concert showcased an outstanding selection of performances from last year’s best VCE students from a variety of creative arts disciplines. 

Throughout the event, students were treated to an inspiring display of talent and creativity, while also gaining valuable insight into what is required to achieve success in VCE performance examinations. A curriculum expert compared the concert, offering helpful advice and explanations about each study design, performance expectations, and examination preparation.

Audiences experienced a diverse range of performances, including VCE VET Dance styles, VCE Drama original monologues, VCE Theatre Studies scripted monologue interpretations, and both group and individual VCE and VET Music performances. The concert provided students with a fantastic opportunity to see exemplary performances and further develop their understanding of VCE Performing Arts pathways.

Following the concert, students and teachers attended a 45-minute Q&A session with a selection of performers and curriculum experts. This session gave attendees the chance to ask questions about the performers’ creative processes, rehearsal techniques, and experiences preparing for their 2025 VCE examinations.

Chris Gretton

College Music Coordinator

Alumni

Former School Captain Blake Bourne Takes on “The Uncomfortable Challenge”

We're proud to share the inspiring story of our former student, Blake Bourne, as he prepares to undertake a personal challenge: running solo and unassisted from Geelong to Sydney, as part of what he calls The Uncomfortable Challenge.

On June 1st, Blake will embark on his most ambitious project to date: 1200km. Solo. Unassisted.

Starting in Geelong and ending in Sydney, Blake hopes to engage more than 1,000 people through The Uncomfortable Challenge, an initiative that encourages individuals to step outside their comfort zone to develop resilience, strength, and empowerment.

This challenge is about far more than physical endurance. It carries a powerful purpose. In 2025, nearly 100 participants took part, collectively raising over $40,000 to support the important Speak & Share initiative. This time around, Blake is determined to go even bigger—creating nationwide impact and working towards a future where nobody has to experience the devastating loss of suicide.

Blake’s journey will see him carry his own gear and rely entirely on his preparation, determination, and mindset. It is a remarkable test of grit and perseverance, and a true reflection of his character.

You can also be part of The Uncomfortable Challenge. Register at https://www.uncomfortablechallenge.com/

The idea is simple: choose to do something that pushes you beyond your comfort zone each day. 

Some examples include:

• Try a new class – e.g. hot yoga, Pilates or boxing
• Embrace the cold – cold exposure for at least 5 minutes each day
• Run 10km each day
• Just say “G’day” – introduce yourself to someone new
• Dance in public
• Be an early riser – get up before 4am
• Read at least 10 pages of a book each day
• Fashion challenge – wear something you wouldn’t typically wear
• Face past challenges and build resilience
• Learn a new skill – e.g. an instrument, juggling or martial arts
• Keep a gratitude journal – write down 3 things each day
• Find a quiet place and scream out loud (harder than it sounds!)

We wish Blake all the very best as he embarks on this incredible journey. We will be following his progress with great interest and cheering him on every step of the way. We also look forward to welcoming Blake back to share reflections on his experience at our End of Year College Awards Ceremony.

Chase Your Uncomfortable

#projectsydney #uncomfortablechallenge