Secondary School

The River Red Gum Tree

You may have noticed a big difference on-site this week. It is with mixed emotions that we have had to say farewell to the very large River Red gum tree on the south-west corner of the campus. Despite being recently inspected and pruned by our regular arborist, this year alone, it has dropped four very large limbs onto the road and our Emmaus grassed playing field, where students sit and play. This is why the corner of the grass playing field was roped off and inaccessible for students in Term 1. 

Under the ISO 31000 Risk Management Framework, another independent, senior Arborist subsequently assessed and classified this tree as being in the formal category of “Non-Tolerable”. Simply put, their assessment was this tree was indeed ‘sick’ and presented an unacceptable risk of harm as it will continue to randomly drop very large limbs from a significant height onto those below. As safety is paramount at Emmaus, this left us with no option but to farewell this tree. 

To show homage to this tree long term, we have engaged a mobile timber miller to come on site and slice the sizable trunk into usable redwood lumber, kiln dry it for the next 3 months, and deliver it back to our Emmaus Tech-Studies department. 

Our Emmaus students will use this special ‘seasoned’ redwood for various furniture making projects for years to come. They will take pride of place around the school grounds forever, memorialising the memory of this big, beautiful tree that provided shade for longer than this suburb has been developed. The picture below is linked to a video of this tree being professionally brought down (quite a spectacle indeed).

Executive Principal

Andrew Linke 

Generations in Jazz Practice Performance

Today, the Generations in Jazz bands headed to Mount Gambier for a weekend of Jazz competition. We wish them all the best!

In preparation for the weekend, the students performed their songs to the community, with Year 11 Food and Hospitality students serving canapes they had prepared by hand.  

It was a great night to show the parents the pieces they've worked on before heading to the competition.

We are sending 54 students to Mount Gambier to participate in the competition. These students form our:

• Big Band 1
• Big Band 2
• EVE (Emmaus Vocal Ensemble)
• Secondary Choir
• Vocal Ensemble 2

We wish them all the best!

Saxon Wilson

Music Key Teacher 7-12

Year 8 Pastoral Coordinator

Year 10 French Cheese Experience

Our Year 10 French class recently enjoyed a delightful fromage experience, immersing themselves in a French-style ambience while exploring the rich world of French cheeses. Students had the opportunity to taste a variety of cheeses, research their origins, and learn about the different types and flavour profiles. Many discovered new favourites along the way!

Did you know that there are over 1,200 varieties of cheese in France? Camembert is not just a cheese, but also the name of a village in Normandy where it was first produced in the late 18th century by Marie Harel, who refined a recipe learned from a priest fleeing the French Revolution.

A delicious and educational experience for all!

Gisèle Blanchard

Secondary French Teacher

Student Spotlight: Year 10 Leo – STEM Holiday Opportunity

During the April school holidays, Leo was one of just 30 students selected to attend a STEM Workshop at BAE Systems Melbourne, focused on Engineering careers in the defence sector. Leo travelled to Melbourne to take part in this exclusive one‑day experience.

The workshop featured engineers from across BAE Systems disciplines, including Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Electrical, and Software Engineering, who shared insights into what a typical day in the role looks like. Each session included hands‑on activities that brought the specialised areas to life and helped students understand how engineering theory is applied in real‑world settings.

This experience gave Leo valuable insight into engineering pathways, prompting him to consider a shift from Aerospace to Mechanical Engineering due to stronger job security within Australia. He was particularly inspired by BAE’s university apprenticeship pathway, which enables students to earn a wage and gain hands-on experience while completing their degree, transitioning into guaranteed employment at the completion. Overall, the experience helped Leo clarify and shape his future pathway plans.

A fun fact from Leo's experience - I had to go through 5 security clearances just to go to the bathroom. A small but exciting glimpse into working within a high‑security defence facility. 

Tracey Medhurst

Pathways and SACE Coordinator

Term 2 Events