From the Principal
The St George’s Cathedral Concert is part of the ‘Concerts at One’ series and this year our Chamber Choir, Senior Voices, Barbershop, Year 12 Cello Trio, Year 11 String Quintet, Year 11 Wind Quintet, Senior Clarinet Ensemble and talented ATAR soloists, Sam Hughes, Nicholas Skerratt and Alayna Vun all performed beautifully. The College has performed at the ‘Concerts at One’ series for the past 20 years, and it was a real pleasure to join parents, grandparents and the broader community last Wednesday in celebrating the depth of musical talent we are blessed to have at our College.
This week we have continued our celebration of music and drama with our Jazz Night at the Ellington on Monday, Year 12 students’ 5-minute musicals on the Chapel Lawn, band performances in the Pavilion, and Homeroom music quizzes. In the Primary School, final preparations are well advanced for the upcoming Year 4 Musical, with grandparents invited to enjoy the dress rehearsal today. Having been one of those lucky enough to be in the audience today, I am pleased to report that our Year 4 Musical showcases the depth of talent in Year 4 and was also a lot fun! I extend my particular thanks to Catherine Haydon, Primary School Music teacher, who wrote the musical, and, who along with Primary School Performing Arts teacher, Sasha Cattapan, brought our musical to life. Thanks are also extended to Year 4 teachers, Emily Krikstolaitis and Emma Eisenmann, support staff and our generous parent volunteers.
Continuing with the music and drama theme, I take this opportunity to particularly highlight the Music Eisteddfod which took place last Sunday and this Monday. In total 300 students performed across the two-day Eisteddfod, which is testament to the breadth and depth of the College’s excellent music program. I extend my thanks to our College Performing Arts staff for their expertise and generous support of our students’ engagement with music and drama across the College. I also extend my particular thanks to George Tsakisiris and James Kros for their leadership of our College’s Music and Drama program and to the students across the College who so enthusiastically participate in our various music and drama offerings throughout the year.
Finally, I read the following letter to all staff on Monday morning and, with permission from the Wagner family, also share this beautiful letter of thanks with you.
John XXIII College Community,
On behalf of the Wagner, Lemmon and Myburgh families, we want to express our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to the entire John XXIII College community — the staff, students, and families — for the incredible love, care, and support you have shown Kate, and all of us, from her very first day in Kindy at age three, right through to Year 11, and in the weeks since her passing.
We have always known that John XXIII College was a place of kindness and connection, but over the past two years — and especially in the last month — we have felt your compassion and generosity wrap around us like a huge, warm hug. You have carried us through the hardest days of our lives. It is easy to be thankful when life is running smoothly, but it is during times of hardship and grief that the true depth of a community is revealed. Your generosity, kindness, and unwavering warmth will stay with us forever.
From the moment Kate started at John XXIII College, she loved coming to school. She was the child who rarely wanted to miss a day, even when she was feeling unwell, because there might be something fun, exciting, or interesting she didn’t want to miss out on. She had a bad case of FOMO for everything in life — and her motto quickly became “just one more…” One more laugh, one more chat, one more swim, one more sunset, one more training, one more song — she always wanted to squeeze in every last moment of joy. She grew up at school — from a three-year-old in Kindy to a confident, kind, and thoughtful young woman in Year 11 — shaped not only by the lessons in the classroom, but by the friendships, experiences, and values that became part of her daily life.
Kate had a quick wit and a cheeky grin that could light up a room. Even on the most difficult days, she could find a way to make us laugh — often with a little one-liner whispered at exactly the wrong (or right) time. She had a knack for brightening other people’s moods, whether that meant making her friends giggle in class, teasing her dad about his “dad jokes,” or telling the rowing crew they needed to row harder while she sat back and enjoyed the sunrise.
In her final weeks, Kate told us she considered herself “the luckiest, most fortunate person” — not despite her illness, but because of the people, opportunities, and love she had in her life. She knew that John XXIII College was a huge part of that. She never took a friendship or opportunity for granted. She understood that life wasn’t always fair, but she made the very best of everything she was given — and she had a way of making sure everyone else around her did the same.
John XXIII College’s motto, Seek Justice, reflects the values of faith, justice, competence, conscience, and compassion — a commitment to God and to serving others. Kate lived these values every single day. She was kind, inclusive, compassionate, honest, and conscientious — always with her beautiful smile and often with a little sparkle of mischief in her eye. The John XXIII community doesn’t just teach these values, you live them.
Over the past two years, and especially in the weeks since Kate’s passing, we have seen this in action. We have been surrounded by daily messages of love, endless offers of help, delicious meals cooked and delivered with such care, beautiful flowers and cards, and quiet acts of kindness too numerous to list. Families have shown up for us in every way imaginable — sometimes in big, practical ways, other times with small gestures that meant just as much. You have sat with us in our grief, lifted us in prayer, and wrapped us in your care.
Kate thrived under the care and inspiration of her teachers. There are so many people to thank, who made Kate feel so special, you know who you are. We are especially grateful to Luke Bostelman and Angie Bollam for their kindness, encouragement, and unwavering support during Kate’s illness. The music department — particularly Nick Pitt, Kyla Ashworth, James Kros, and Liz Jennings — ignited Kate’s passion for music, which became her refuge, her joy, and her strength. Playing cello and flute gave her something to strive for and a way to escape from the world of hospitals and treatments. She loved rehearsals, performances, and the fun of playing alongside her friends — especially when there was a chance to sneak in a laugh in the middle of orchestra or band.
The sports program, and especially the rowing club, gave her the joy of teamwork, fitness, and the serenity of early mornings on the river. She loved the camaraderie, the banter, and the sense of belonging. She wasn’t afraid to suggest a post-row stop by the canteen. The moving tributes at her funeral — the presence of so many staff and families, the beautiful music from the school choir and instrumentalists, and the deeply moving Rowing Guard of Honour — will remain etched in our hearts forever.
Kate’s time at John XXIII, her friendships, her faith, and her life experiences shaped the person she became. From her, we learned important life lessons:
A deep belief in God and Heaven – Even in the face of unimaginable illness, Kate’s faith gave her courage and peace. She prayed and was comforted by the belief that she would be with God and her loved ones in Heaven. The hundreds of prayers said for her gave our whole family strength. We know she is now always around us giving love and strength.
A life of compassion and service – Kate always thought of others first. She quietly supported friends in distress, or other sick children in hospital, with several families telling us their daughters are alive today because of her strength, kindness, and loyalty — even when she was the sickest person in the room. She dreamed of becoming a doctor with the Royal Flying Doctor Service so she could help people in remote communities.
Stewardship and care for God’s creation – Kate loved the natural world. She spent countless hours planting dunes with Cambridge Coastcare and photographing natural wonders. She was concerned about Carnaby’s black cockatoos, and in her honour, we are hoping to establish Carnaby’s for Kate — a privately funded environmental project to plant banksia trees in WA’s old Gnangara pine plantation to protect these endangered birds.
Inclusion, forgiveness, and love for all people – Kate welcomed everyone, no matter their background. She was deeply empathetic toward those facing hardship. The more than 1,000 people who attended her funeral, or joined online, reflected the love she shared so freely.
A generous spirit to the very end – Kate wished to be an organ donor so she could help others after her death. While this was not possible, her intent reflects her lifelong selflessness and grace.
Most of all, Kate taught us to be grateful. She reminded us that life is unpredictable and precious. She encouraged us to treasure every opportunity, every friendship, every sunset, everything and everyone around us. She showed us that even when life isn’t perfect, it can still be wonderful. She often said she was “the luckiest person” — not because her life was without challenges, but because she chose to see and cherish the good. And she meant it.
Kate changed all of our lives forever. We are all better versions of ourselves, and the world is a more beautiful place — because of her. Let Kate now guide us all to live our lives to the fullest — to be the kind of people who always want “just one more…” — and to feel, as she did, like the luckiest person alive.
We would love to remain connected to the school, to continue to watch and support Kate’s friends as they achieve their own milestones. We feel privileged beyond words to be part of the John XXIII College community — a place of faith, kindness, laughter, and shared joy. When we first enrolled Kate at just six weeks old, we could never have imagined how profoundly this community would shape our lives.
From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.
God Bless You All
Jo and Shane Wagner
Daniel Mahon
Principal
Book Launch - Sir Gerard Brennan's articles and speeches
John XXIII College warmly invites you to an enriching networking event with a law focus, welcoming alumni from all industries, current Year 12 students, current parents, past parents, and the broader John XXIII College community.
Launched by The Hon. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan
Join us as we celebrate the release of the two-volume set of Sir Gerard Brennan's Articles and Speeches, a remarkable collection honouring the legacy of the late Sir Gerard Brennan, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and one of our nation's most distinguished jurists.
This event provides a unique opportunity for our College to welcome alumni from all industries, current Year 12 students, current parents and past parents, and the broader John XXIII College community for an inspiring evening centred on law, faith, and public life. Fr Frank Brennan SJ, a distinguished Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer, and academic, will share personal insights and reflections. Books will be available for purchase on the night, a wonderful opportunity to have your copy signed.