Student Stories, Achievements & Community News

Student Achievements 

We're pleased to announce that Team Valiant will be competing at the STEM Racing National Finals in March! The Year 9 team comprises Hamish M, Taj J, Sam J,

Hamish M, Dean N and Larry Z. 

Valiant joins Team Vitality to represent the College at the Australian finals, which our College is hosting in March. Best wishes to both teams, we look forward to cheering you on!

Student Stories

Will S, Year 12 Environmental Science

"VCE Environmental Science consists of a mix of in class learning and outdoor activities including excursions to Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Zoo. Recently, our class has replanted native Australian vegetation on the front oval gardens as well as placed bird baths and a fishpond containing endangered Murray River Rainbow fish in the chapel area. 

 

Before planting the vegetation and building the pond the biodiversity in the region was close to 0%, however now biodiversity has increased significantly with insects, birds, composters such as worms and even possums all being present in these areas. High biodiversity is important for Australia and the world as it increases ecological stability and resilience. Insects such as bees help keep the world’s food supply stable and increased vegetation can help absorb more CO2 and help reduce climate change. 

 

Planting native vegetation across St Bedes is extremely important as it can help rebuild food webs, create safe passages for organisms to move to larger habitats, restore natural nutrients in soil and for ecosystems to have natural pest control and resilience. By integrating native vegetation and constructing habitats at St Bede's, the Year 12 Environmental Science class has transformed a low-biodiversity landscape into a large ecosystem that boosts local ecological resilience and will have a positive impact on the campus for years to come."

Finn M, Year 12 Environmental Science

"One of our main goals as a Unit 3 Enviro class this year is to increase and support the biodiversity at our school.

 

One of the ways we are working towards achieving this goal this year is by building a fish pond for a number of Murray River Rainbow Fish. This pond has been set up in a small garden outside of the Benilde building and Ms Frizza's office, where we have partially dug it into the ground, with some staff adding rocks and succulents around it for added stability and biodiversity. 

 

Murray River Rainbow Fish are listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, where they were categorised as Vulnerable in 2013. They are threatened by invasive predatory species of Redfin and Eastern Gambusia, while also being threatened by a loss of aquatic vegetation used for spawning and shelter. 

 

Our pond is important as it aims to provide a safe habitat for our small school of eight M.R.F. where they are protected and can breed into a larger population, free from invasive predators and with plenty of spots for shelter and spawning."

 

Nate J, Year 9 History Elective 

"We visited the Melbourne Museum exhibit Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard for our studies in the Year 9 History Elective. The Galloway Hoard is considered historically significant because of how it was discovered. It is one of the richest hoards known to man, and was discovered by realising common tactics vikings may have used during hoards to maintain their treasure. It posed historical significance for its unique treasures that gave historians insight into what life may have been like in the Viking age. 

We had the opportunity to examine replicas of the Vikings treasure through a hands on workshop run by museum staff and pose questions as to their purpose and value. It was a great experience and introduction to our studies on the Vikings." 

 

Luke P, Year 9 History Elective

"We caught the train into the city to explore the Vikings exhibit at the Melbourne Museum. The vessel found within the Galloway hoard caught my attention because when archaeologists tested the silver it was made out of, it was too old to have come from Norse or Anglo-Saxon origin. The silver was actually from Persia, suggesting the Vikings ventured as far into Asia as modern-day Iran. 

I really enjoyed learning new information about the Vikings and I am excited to explore this in more depth next year in class. This was a great experience." 

Australian Of The Year Nominee, Dr Rolf Gomes

Congratulations to Dr Rolf Gomes (Class of 1991), who was nominated as 2026 Australian of The Year . Dr Gomes is a cardiologist and founder of Heart of Australia, an innovative mobile medical service that brings essential care to Australians in rural, mining, remote and First Nations communities in QLD.

Since 2014, Heart of Australia has helped more than 18,000 patients and saved over 800 lives. Dr Gomes founded Heart of Australia because he knew he could make a difference in people’s lives.

In a 2025 address to our College, Dr Gomes shared this advice for students:

• Take advice only from positive and intelligent people who have a proven record of achieving—for the moment at school, those people are your teachers. 
• There are always people around to help you—your parents, teachers, friends and coaches.
• Always maintain honesty and integrity.
• Do not easily give up on your ideas, nurture them. Take action to make it happen.

"When I was growing up my mother placed a sticker on our back door which we stared at it every time we entered or left the house with the message - If it is to be, it is up to me. You can be encouraged, you can be advised, but the decisions and actions and consequences will always be yours!"

In Memoriam

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends who have lost their loved ones. 

May God's love be a comfort to you at this time. 

Michael Hurst (Class of 2016), son of Cath (Staff) and Peter, brother to Tom (Class of 2010), Maddie and Pat (Class of 2014) and nephew of Geoff Harrison (staff)

John Lee, husband of Lyn Lee (former staff) and grandfather of Hudson C (Year 9) 

John Wilkinson, husband of Linda Wilkinson (Staff) 

Teddy Tirtahardja, father of Sarah Burley (Staff), father in law of Chris Burley (Staff) and grandfather of Joseph B (Year 7)