Congratulations 

Riley Sterenberg

Teaching is not just a job – it's a privilege. And teaching music, in particular, is the greatest privilege of all. It's a daily joy to help students find the beat, explore rhythms and discover their voices in a world that holds so much meaning for me. Music opens doors, and when students invite you into their world, it’s a thrilling honour. One such invitation came from Riley Sterenberg (12 Riley), a student who achieved something remarkable last year: she earned her pilot’s licence. Not only did she accomplish this incredible feat, but she also extended an invitation to me to go flying with her. 

On a beautiful Saturday morning, we took to the skies. Riley was the teacher, and I was the student. As we approached the small plane, I’ll admit, I felt a rush of fear. The plane was tiny, and I had never flown in anything so compact. But Riley’s calm demeanour, her control over the aircraft, and her confidence in the air quickly put me at ease. With each passing moment, I could feel the tension in my chest melt away as the plane soared through the sky.

Our flight took us from Bendigo Airport, past the Stupa, over Mt Macedon, and finally around the city of Bendigo. It was a breathtaking journey, one that I’ll never forget. Spending the morning with Riley, watching her step into the role of teacher and leader, was truly inspiring. I am so glad I accepted Riley’s invitation to fly. It was a beautiful reminder of how students can grow into leaders, and how incredible it is to witness that transformation firsthand.

Mrs Laura Dusseljee

Head of Junior School Music

Azia Fong-Sutton

Azia Fong-Sutton (9 Aherne) delivered an outstanding performance at the Mattioli Victorian Open Swimming Championships, competing in four heat events and successfully qualifying for four finals.

Demonstrating exceptional skill and determination, Azia achieved personal best times in three events: the 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke and 50m Backstroke.

A standout achievement of the competition was Azia's qualification for the finals as the youngest swimmer in the field, showcasing remarkable talent and resilience against strong competition. Congratulations, Azia!

Owen Barnes

Congratulations to Owen Barnes (7 Frew),who recently won third place in Freestyle in the Tasmanian State Age Sprint and Relay Swimming Championships, as well as a personal best in Butterfly. Owen was also Age Champion at the Girton Grammar Swimming Carnival. Congratulations, Owen! 

Lewis McIntosh

Congratulations to Lewis McIntosh (11 Frew),who ran a personal record in his heat for the 400m event at the State Championships for Athletics Victoria last weekend. This was also the fastest time in his age group. He came second in the 400m final. Congratulations, Lewis!

Kitty Kelly

Congratulations to Kitty Kelly (4 Aherne) for her achievements in ballet. After recently participating in the Victorian State Ballet’s Summer Dance Intensive, Kitty has since received an invitation to join the Victorian State Youth Ballet as a Company Dancer for the 2025 ballet season. Kitty will participate in their Associates Program, where she will receive instruction in the elite Russian Vaganova syllabus of Classical Ballet. Congratulations, Kitty! 

Maurice Bryant

Maurice Bryant (8 Jenkin) recently won his third mountain bike race in four weeks at Mt Buller. He is now Victorian Enduro State Champion. There are still a few more races to go in the season but it's wonderful to see his hard work and training pay off. Congratulations, Maurice!

Leah Pickering

Congratulations to Leah Pickering (8 Millward) who recently competed in State Showjumping and Dressage Championships. Her team was awarded seventh in Dressage Grade 4, competing against 29 people from nine zones and one composite team. Congratulations, Leah!

If you would like to have a student achievement recognised, please email elink@girton.vic.edu.au