College News

Message from the College Principal

G’day everyone,

Term three is now underway, and we’ve had an exciting start, dedicating much of our first two weeks to celebrating NAIDOC. On our very first day back, our passionate staff, guided by the wisdom of local elders, came together to thoughtfully review our curriculum. This meaningful collaboration led to some wonderful new inclusions that beautifully integrate Indigenous perspectives, enriching our learning environment for everyone.

Each campus proudly hosted its own NAIDOC celebration, culminating in a fantastic college-wide event at LV FLO. The day was filled with incredible moments — from heartfelt songs and stunning artwork to powerful poetry and storytelling. Attendees also enjoyed delicious Indigenous-inspired food and great company, all set to the lively tunes performed by our talented college band.

We’re also thrilled to highlight the new Indigenous garden and the refurbished chapel at LV FLO — both exceptional additions that enhance the campus atmosphere and provide welcoming spaces for all. 

A big thank you to our dedicated maintenance team whose hard work ensured everything was perfectly prepared on time. Special appreciation goes to the staff at LV FLO for their outstanding organization and commitment that made the celebration truly memorable.

That’s all from me — here’s to an amazing Term Three filled with growth, learning, and community spirit!

Warm regards,

Anthony Rodaughan

College Principal 

NAIDOC Week

Kurnai College proudly acknowledged National NAIDOC Week, celebrated across Australia during the first week of July. 2025, NAIDOC Week marked a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. It is a time to honour and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — and an opportunity for all Australians to learn about and celebrate the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.

As NAIDOC Week falls during the school holidays, Kurnai College holds official celebrations at each campus during the first two weeks of Term 3.

During the first week of term, the University Campus opened the week on Tuesday, marking the occasion with a special NAIDOC announcement, BBQ lunch featuring Indigenous-inspired baked goods including Johnny Cakes made by the VPC students with Aunty Christine Johnson. There was also  cultural activities in the library and music from the Kurnai College band.

Morwell Campus held their celebrations on Wednesday and the Churchill Campus on Friday. Both campuses hosted a lunchtime BBQ, a giveaway table with NAIDOC wristbands and pens, and held assembilies in Period 5 which included A Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country and Smoking Ceremony followed by reflections on the meaning of NAIDOC this year by staff and student leaders.

A special thank you to Aunty Michelle Hood for supporting the Morwell Campus celebrations.

On their respective days, Indigenous students and their peers from each campus participated in an Indigenous games session during periods 3 & 4, run by Leslie Briggs from WKYevents. One of the highlights included playing Marngrook, a traditional game involving a possum fur football — widely believed to have inspired modern-day AFL.

LV FLO NAIDOC Celebrations

The college’s NAIDOC celebrations culminated on Thursday 31st July with a formal event at the Latrobe Valley Flexible Learning Options (LV FLO) Campus in Morwell. The gathering brought together students, staff, Aboriginal Elders, and community members for a powerful showcase of culture, creativity, and community connection.

Koorie Education Support Officer, GunaiKurnai and Monaro Ngarigo woman Hollie Johnson commenced the official proceedings, performing a Welcome to Country in her grandparents' native language on behalf of the Brayakaulung clan of the GunaiKurnai Nation.

Guests were treated to cultural performances by Kurnai’s Dedlee Kultya students, led by Koorie Education Support Officer and GunaiKurnai man, Hayden Edwards.

Aunty Michelle Hood conducted a Smoking Ceremony to welcome the guests as they made there way to the Chaplin.

“The Smoking Ceremony is a traditional aboriginal custom to welcome visitors to our land, cleanse the area, and ward off any bad spirits from the people and the land,” explained Hollie.

In the Chaplin, guests were captivated by a powerful program featuring musical storytelling by Scott Darlow, a poetry reading by LV FLO student Rezzie, pottery artwork by Aunty Sam Walker-Wilson, reflections from past student Jade, and an inspiring keynote address by guest speaker Kelvin “Jackamarra” McQueen, who also shared his own poetry and artwork.

The event also celebrated the official opening of the Indigenous Garden — a meaningful project collaboratively designed and created by students, staff, and local community members. LV FLO Indigenous students Angel Parry and Gerry Haddock had the honour of cutting the ribbon.

To conclude the celebrations, students and guests took part in a variety of cultural activities — damper making, creating Indigenous art-inspired key rings, contributing handprints to a flag mural, and enjoying music from Scott Darlow and the Kurnai College band.

Kurnai College extends its gratitude to all who supported and participated in the 2025 NAIDOC celebrations, honouring the strength, vision, and legacy of the next generation.

Sports News

With the beginning of a new term, our students have already continued to proudly represent Kurnai College in a range of interschool sporting events. They’ve once again stepped up with great commitment and embraced the challenges of competitive sport.

Wellington District Basketball

During week 2, on Monday the Intermediate (YR 9/10) and Senior (YR 11/12) basketball teams headed to Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), in Sale to compete in the Wellington District Round – and all squads delivered performances to be proud of.

⛹️Intermediate Boys 

While the scoreboard didn’t always reflect their effort, finishing with a 1-3 record, they were very unlucky not to come away with a second win, narrowly missing out in a tightly contested match. Their determination, teamwork, and fighting spirit were on full display throughout the day. 

⛹️‍♀️ Intermediate Girls 

Hitting the court with determination and heart, showcasing noticeable improvement throughout the day. While the scoreboard didn’t reflect their efforts, finishing with a 0–3 record, their attitude, effort, and resilience never wavered. The girls pushed hard in every game, growing in confidence and teamwork as the day progressed.

⛹️‍♀️ Senior Girls

In a unique match-up against Maffra (played twice in one four-quarter game), the girls showed true determination. After trailing in the first half, they fought back fiercely in the second, falling just 2 points short of progressing. 

⛹️ Senior Boys

With four games on the schedule, the boys were on fire—defeating Maffra, Traralgon, and Sale in strong style. In a high-stakes final match against SEDA, they overcame a 12-point deficit to snatch a 1-point win and secure their place in the Gippsland region finals. 

Congratulations to all students for your grit and sportsmanship! 

We wish the Senior Boys all the best in the Gippsland Finals that will take place later this term.

Music News

Term 3 is already shaping up to be a busy and exciting one for our Kurnai musos, with a wide range of performances and events scheduled through the term.

During the term 2 holidays, a number of our dedicated music students took the opportunity to refine their skills in preparation for the term ahead by attending a music workshop. This experience helped build confidence, strengthen their technique, and connect with musicians from across the College. 

In weeks 1 and 2, the College Band had the honour of performing at various NAIDOC ceremonies at the Churchill, University and Flo campuses. These performances were a privilege for our students, who were proud to contribute to such meaningful celebration of culture and community.

This week, our students performed at the Senior Pathways Information Evening on showcasing their talent to families and future senior campus students.

Coming up, we’re  looking forward to taking part in the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod, an exciting opportunity for our students to perform on stage and receive professional feedback. We will be participating in various sections including, Concert band, V.C.E group and solo performance and jazz improvisation ensembles. 

Kurnai College will once again team up with the Monash Medical Orchestra for a special combined concert—a highlight of the musical calendar and a fantastic chance for students to collaborate with experienced musicians. Our concert is Scheduled for Saturday the 20th of September at the Federation auditorium Churchill Campus; this is one not to be missed!

As part of our commitment to sharing music across our community, our students will be bringing their talents to local primary schools this term, helping to inspire the next generation of performers.

And if that wasn’t enough, auditions for the highly anticipated ‘Kurnai’s Got Talent’ will kick off later this term. 

If you’d like any further information regarding these events, please contact Mr Chris Gretton, College Music Coordinator.