Jai Ortolan wins top honours at Premier’s VCE Awards

Congratulations to Jai Ortolan (2025 Dux of St Peter’s) who has received top honours with a Premier’s VCE Award for his outstanding VCE results in 2025.

Jai received a Study Award for excellence in Engineering Studies (VCE VET) & Physics. This is a remarkable achievement, with only 7 of the Study Award recipients receiving awards for more than one VCE subject.

322 of Victoria’s top performing students were recognised at this year’s Premier’s VCE Awards, including three international students, eight students who completed the VCE Vocational Major program with distinction, and 23 Top All-Round VCE High Achievers who achieved study scores of 46 or higher out of 50 in at least five VCE subjects.

The entire St Peter’s College community is proud of Jai and would like to congratulate him on being the recipient of such a prestigious award. His outstanding VCE results are a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and commitment to making the most of every learning opportunity. Jai’s success embodies the partnership between student, family, and school, and reflects our belief that every young person can flourish when supported by a community that genuinely cares about their hopes and aspirations. At St Peter’s College, we are committed to helping each student realise their potential, and Jai’s achievement is a wonderful example of that mission in action.

I would like to acknowledge the work of teachers Mr Mervyn Wakefield in VCE VET Engineering Studies and Mr Owen Stephens in VCE Physics, for which Jai scored a top result of 50.

Jai is currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at Monash University and aims to specialise in Mechanical Engineering. We wish Jai every success.

To view the full Honour Roll and to read more about the Premier’s VCE Awards, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-vce-awards

Hadestown: A Story for Our Times

In the first week of Term 3, our College production of Hadestown: Teen Edition was performed for local feeder primary schools, our Year 7 Clyde North students in two full dress rehearsals, and then across four performances in the Geode Theatre.

Hadestown is a modern retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice. I must admit that Greek tragedies are not something I have studied since my own school days. Like many people, I have often preferred stories where the hero triumphs against impossible odds and everyone lives happily ever after. So why would anyone choose to watch a tragedy? It was a question I found myself pondering as I sat down to experience our students' production of Hadestown.

What immediately captured my attention was the extraordinary set that transformed the Geode Theatre into two contrasting worlds. Above ground was the realm of ordinary mortals, a place where people may be poor and the future uncertain, but where they remain free to love, dream, create and choose their own path. Through remarkable music, choreography, lighting and performance, this world could be transformed in an instant into the industrial underworld of Hadestown.

The talent on display was breathtaking. The singing and acting of our students, the creativity of the choreography, the energy of the dancers, and the outstanding musicianship of our teacher and alumni band combined to create a truly immersive experience. As Principal, I felt enormous pride, not because I contributed to the production itself, but because I have the privilege of belonging to a community filled with such gifted young people and dedicated staff. The success of this production was not simply a celebration of talent. It was also a testament to countless hours of commitment, rehearsal and hard work on weekends and throughout the holiday period.

What our students conveyed so powerfully were themes that remain deeply relevant today. In Hadestown, the underworld is portrayed as a vast industrial machine where human beings become little more than cogs in a system. It is a vision that echoes concerns raised during the Industrial Revolution, when economic progress often came at the cost of human dignity. In response to those challenges, Pope Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum ("Of New Things"), laying the foundations for modern Catholic Social Teaching and affirming that people must never be reduced to mere instruments of profit.

That message remains just as important today. As we navigate a rapidly evolving world shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, Pope Leo XIV has similarly emphasised that technological advancement must always serve the human person, not the other way around. Human dignity, meaningful work, freedom and relationships must remain at the centre of every social and technological development.

Through Hadestown, our students reminded us that freedom is both a gift and a responsibility. It is one of the defining characteristics of our humanity, yet it can be fragile. Fear, doubt and despair can easily cause us to surrender it. The measure of this production's success was evident in the audible gasp that swept through the audience when tragedy ultimately struck. Our students delivered that moment with remarkable emotional power.

Perhaps that is the enduring value of Greek tragedy. Unlike the certainty of a Hollywood ending, tragedy warns us of what can happen when we lose sight of what matters most. Hadestown challenges us to hold fast to love, hope and freedom, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

I would like to sincerely acknowledge the talented teachers who instructed, mentored and guided our actors, singers and dancers, along with the many staff and students working behind the scenes whose dedication made this outstanding production possible.

Producer: Deana Jacobs

Assistant Producer: Collette Lark

Co-Directors: Nicole Lewis and Keyane Dalton-Laird

Choreographer: Keyane Dalton-Laird

Co-Musical Directors: Tim Collins and Nigel Patawaran

Band: Tim Collins (Keys/Conductor), Nigel Patawaran (Cello), Andrew Church (Double Bass), Dylan Dingli (Guitar; former student, 2024), Bryn Bowen (Drums), Elliot Lamb & Kit Millais (Trombone), Judy Hamilton (Violin)

Vocal Coaches: Genevieve Lyte and Nardine Youssef

Pit Singers: Genevieve Lyte, Nardine Youssef, Tishan Lokuge

Stage Manager: Deana Jacobs

Assistant Stage Manager: Matthew Van Der Velden

Lighting Operator: Nicole Lewis

Microphone Technicians: Keyane Dalton-Laird

Costume Design: Karen Williams and Keyane Dalton-Laird

Costume Team: Karen Williams

Student Costume Team: Belle Reilly, Ella Wilson, Kiara Ranasinghe, Sofia Arenas

Montesalvo

Set Design: Deana Jacobs

Set Construction: Matthew Van Der Velden, Keziah Melvin, Collette Lark

Student Set Construction and Properties team:

Ava Cachia, Ava O’Neill, Babalwa Nekatambe, Bella Santo, John

Michael Joseph, Joseph Simon, Matisse Ortolan, Rosie Weare and

Saskia Wright

Assistance St Peter’s Maintenance Team

Laser Cutting Technician: Chris Tharles

Guitar Technician to Orpheus: Matthew Van Der Velden

3D Printing Consultants: Thomas Runting and Bradley Pulley

Program Design: Stephanie Vega

Promotional Photography: Collette Lark

Social Media & Promotions: Stephanie Vega

Rehearsal supervision: Keziah Melvin, Gus Garces, Andrew Church

Backstage supervision: Collette Lark, Nathan Nabben, Marc Morgan, Ernie Rijs

Front of House Manager: Vivienne Hayes

Front of House Team: Evie Surridge, Helena Mariam Abraham, Hugh Tufnell, Joseph Simon, Kevin Diep, Macy Soliman, Mia Slattery, Prisca Newstead, Rylynn Savio Miranda, Sophia de Chavez, Tameka Slattery, Valentia Fiedler, Fiona Gallagher, Marc Morgan, Fiona McKenna, Karen Williams, Sarah Malcolm

Kiosk Manager: Keziah Melvin

Kiosk Supervision: Sarah Malcolm, Arnie Kaushal, Natatsha Cachart, Fiona McKenna, Marie Holt

I.T. Assistance: Bradley Pulley, Scott Jeffrey, Thomas Runting and James Elliot

And of course, it would not have been a production without the cast of students who amazed us with their talent. We acknowledge and celebrate the following students:

Cast: SONGBIRD UNDERGROUND

Hermes: Joanne Joseph Sam Jacob

Orpheus: Sebastian Corpin Simon Santos

Eurydice Chloe Lacanienta Chloe De Ocampo

Hades: Austin Ralston Cooper Wilson

Persephone: Azaria Mailo Jacqueline Ngigi

FATES

Fate 1 (Clotho) - Isabella Labutte, Marianne Stephan, Gwen Gayagoy, Izzy Rozas Mery

Fate 2 (Lachesis) - Ella Bryant, Katelyn Canda, Louise Tanay, Bethany Koneri

Fate 3 (Atropos) - Andrea San Pedro, Tamia Ancla

SPECIALIST DANCERS

Allizhia Dela Cruz, Ameerah Rizkallah, Emily Rojo, Isabela Figurek, Isla Talosig, Ivy Morrison, Lacey Mitchell, Grace Trinidad, Milla Nisbet, Ruby Lee

WORKERS ENSEMBLE

Angela Stephan, Ashlee Homan, Drew Merka, Kyle Canda, Lachlan Reymers, Lorenzo Lacanienta, Michelle Jayasuriya, Mineli Jayasuriya, Miranda Flores Rios, Omanasri Bagam, Sam Villos, Samairah Saini, Tige Connolly, Tyler Dunca

CHORUS

Awel Reng, Chelsea Smith, Dieudonne Luzolo, Farirai Mavondo, Gracy Sidhu, Isabella Berciano Hernandez, Jack Pratt, Mariana Paulos, Michaela Pallesco, Kieran Valenzuela, Nethuli De Silva, Pahanya Bandara, Saumya Nepal, Shania Caszo

Well done and thank you to all these these talented staff and students and their hard work.

Reviewing How We Share Student Images in an Age of AI

Recent advice from Australia's eSafety Commissioner has highlighted the increasing risks associated with sharing images of students and staff online. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) mean that publicly available images can potentially be copied, altered and used to create misleading or harmful content without the knowledge or consent of those involved.

At St Peter's College, many of the practices recommended by the eSafety Commissioner are already part of our approach. We carefully manage consent processes, consider the purpose of published images and remain committed to protecting the privacy, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff.

Nevertheless, the rapidly changing nature of AI technologies means it is important that schools continually review their practices. As a result, we are currently examining our approach to the use of student and staff imagery across our website, social media platforms, newsletters and other public communications.

This review may lead to a reduction in the number of images we publish publicly or changes to the types of images and identifying information that accompany them. While we recognise that photographs are an important way of celebrating student achievement and sharing school life with our community, we must also ensure that our practices continue to reflect emerging risks and best practice in student safety.

We thank parents and carers for their support as we undertake this review. Protecting young people remains our highest priority, and we will continue to communicate any significant changes to our practices as they are introduced.

Further information about the eSafety Commissioner's advice can be found on the eSafety website.

Mr David Hansen

Principal

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