College News
Message from the Co-College Principal
Hi everyone,
With Co-College Principal Anthony Rodaughan currently enjoying some well-deserved long service leave, Dan Swallow and I have been sharing the College Principal responsibilities in his absence.
I am delighted to share with you some of the highlights and exciting activities taking place across Kurnai College this term.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge and thank our dedicated staff who continue to create valuable learning experiences and opportunities for our students. I would also like to recognise our students for the positive way they participate in these activities and represent Kurnai College. We regularly receive wonderful feedback about their engagement, conduct and enthusiasm, which is a credit to our entire College community.
Reflecting on last term, there were plenty of highlights across our campuses. Churchill Campus students stepped back in time for the annual History Day, dressing in period costumes, participating in activities inspired by a bygone era and coming together for a lunchtime feast. Our VCE Vocational Major (VM) students also hosted their annual Market Day, raising funds in support of Churchill Neighbourhood House while developing valuable practical and entrepreneurial skills.
Term 4 is already well underway, with students across the College working towards important milestones and enjoying a range of enriching experiences. Year 7 students at both Morwell and Churchill campuses have commenced their Swim and Survive program as part of their Physical Education curriculum, developing important water safety skills and confidence. Our Year 12 VCE VM and VPC students have completed their exit interviews, helping them prepare for their next steps beyond school, while our Year 12 VCE students are putting the finishing touches on their exam preparation ahead of examinations commencing next week. We wish all our Year 12 students the very best as they approach this important stage of their learning journey.
This week, we also celebrated our Year 12 students as they marked the end of their formal classes. Year 12 Celebration Day was a fantastic opportunity for students to come together, enjoy a cooked breakfast, participate in fun activities and finish with a memorable colour run. The creative costumes and positive spirit made for a wonderful day, celebrating the friendships and memories built throughout their time at Kurnai. We look forward to formally recognising and farewelling our graduating students later in the year.
In the coming weeks, there is still plenty to look forward to. Year 9 and 10 Outdoor Education elective students from both Morwell and Churchill campuses will head to Wilsons Promontory for their surf camps, providing opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and learn beyond the classroom. We will also see the Kurnai Got Talent grand finalists take to the stage, while our College Arts and Technology Exhibition will showcase the creativity, talent and achievements of students across Years 7–12.
Term 4 is also an important time to celebrate student achievement and recognise the effort, growth and commitment demonstrated throughout the year. A number of celebrations and award ceremonies are planned across our campuses, alongside our College-wide Celebration Day at Gumbuya World. I encourage families to refer to the key dates section of this newsletter to keep up to date with upcoming events and opportunities to celebrate our students' successes.
Behind the scenes, our campus teams are also busy preparing for the Headstart program, which gives students the opportunity to begin familiarising themselves with their learning and expectations for 2027. This program plays an important role in supporting a smooth transition into the new school year and helping students feel confident and ready for the year ahead.
Looking further ahead, we are excited to welcome our incoming Year 7 students during our Orientation Days in December. These days provide an important opportunity for our newest students to become familiar with their campus, meet staff and classmates, and begin building a sense of connection and belonging within the Kurnai community.
As we move through the final term of the year, I would like to thank our students, staff and families for their continued support and commitment to Kurnai College. The collaboration and shared pride across our campuses reflect the strength of our community and our collective commitment to supporting every student on their pathway to success.
I look forward to celebrating the remainder of the year with you all as we recognise achievements, create lasting memories and prepare for another successful year ahead.
Jayde Werner-Duffield & Dan Swallow
Co-College Principals
100 Word Story Competition
This year, we ran a college-wide competition to write a complete story in just 100 words. Students did incredibly well, with over 60 stories submitted from all year levels and each of our campuses.
We received several outstanding stories this year, and a selection will appear in this year’s Kurnai Yearbook. All students will receive a copy of the Yearbook in late November.
This year’s winners of the competition are:
1st Place - Molly Billing
2nd Place - Olivia Robinson
3rd Place - Jamshed Bi, Ashden Madex & Leah Simpson
Congratulations to the winners. Each student has received a QBD book voucher.
As a taster of what is coming in the Kurnai College Yearbook, here is Molly’s winning story.
|100 WORDS: A love story|
100 words could never be enough to describe how much I love you.
Where would I even start?
Your laugh?
Your voice,
Your touch?
All the parts of you that I love so very much?
I could detail what others see,
But I think, I’d rather speak of a world for just you and me.
Where you are the sun, and I am the moon.
Or maybe we are bluebirds chirping an evening tune.
100 words is nothing in comparison to us.
For we are not one story set in stone.
We are limitless,
And together,
The stars shall shine.
Gumbuya World
Kurnai College's Celebration Day this year will see all campuses come together on Wednesday 9th of December to celebrate the year of learning at Gumbuya World.
Students will be transported by bus from their 2026 home campus and will be returned to their home campus by 4pm. As students won't be returning to school until 4pm, school buses will not be running so alternative transport will need to be arranged. Weather permitting, the day's activities include unlimited access to waterpark rides, amusement rides (excluding new rollercoasters), and the wildlife park.
Permission forms are now available on Compass. If you are having trouble accessing Compass or need a printed copy of the form, please contact the office. Students, please ensure you fill in your option for lunch on the form.
College-Wide Arts/Technology Night
Please join us for a celebration of creativity and innovation, featuring our talented Arts & Technology students from across the College. The evening will showcase a diverse array of student work, from across all year levels highlighting their accomplishments in Arts, Music, Drama, Media Studies, and various Technology disciplines, including Wood, Metal, and Food.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday 1st December, 5pm - 7pm at Kurnai College, Morwell Campus. Please come along and support our amazing students and celebrate their success.
Music News
It has been another busy and exciting term for the Kurnai College Music Program, with our students continuing to rehearse, perform and refine their musical skills while participating in a range of events across the College and wider community.
Music for the Valley
On Saturday 5th of September, Kurnai College was once again proud to collaborate with Monash University for the annual Music for the Valley performance, held at Federation University’s Churchill Campus.
Yet again, it was a wonderful evening of live music, bringing together talented musicians from Monash University with current and past Kurnai College staff and students. We truly value our ongoing collaboration with Monash University and the opportunities it provides our musicians to perform alongside such accomplished performers.
The Monash Medical Jazz Ensemble, under the musical direction of Joshua Choong and Kevin Nimalraj, presented an outstanding program featuring music ranging from jazz legend Freddie Hubbard through to the timeless music of Etta James.
The Monash Medical Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Robert Dora, dazzled the audience with a spectacular program featuring the movie classic 007, highlights from the hit musical Wicked, and Borodin’s magnificent Polovtsian Dances.
It was a truly memorable evening and another fantastic celebration of music, collaboration and community.
We would like to sincerely thank Monash University, Monash Rural Health, Kurnai College and Bendigo Bank for their generous support in helping make this wonderful community event possible.
We look forward to continuing this valued collaboration and bringing Music for the Valley back to our community again next year.
To ensure this fantastic event can continue to grow, we would love to hear from any local businesses or organisations interested in supporting or sponsoring Music for the Valley in the future.
We look forward to another wonderful Music for the Valley in 2027!
Kurnai’s Got Talent
We’re thrilled to announce that KGT is back for another year! This highly anticipated event provides an incredible platform for students to showcase their talents, compete for exciting prizes, and battle it out for the prestigious title of Kurnai's Got Talent Champion.
The KGT Grand Final is scheduled for later this term. A revised date will be announced soon.
Everyone is welcome, so bring your friends and family to support our amazing finalists!
We can’t wait to see you there!
Chris Gretton
College Music Coordinator
Sports News
As Term 4 begins, interschool sport is wrapping up for the year, with students preparing for their final competitions. In the coming weeks, students will head out to compete in the Gippsland Table Tennis Finals and State Baseball Finals.
We wish all our competitors the best of luck!
Celebrating Outstanding Achievement
Congratulations to Matilda Read, who has once again achieved outstanding success at the 2026 UNCLOUD Victorian All Schools Track & Field Championships, held at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne during the first week of October.
Competing in the Under 17 5000m Walk, Matilda claimed gold, leading from start to finish in an incredible performance. She also broke the 24-minute barrier for the first time, recording an impressive time of 23:58.74 and setting a new Gippsland Track Club (GTC) record.
At just 16, Matilda’s time fell below this year’s World Junior qualifying standard, marking a significant milestone in her athletics journey and an exciting step towards future international competition.
Matilda will now turn her attention to the 2026 Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships, taking place at WA Athletics Stadium in Perth this December.
Congratulations, Matilda, on this fantastic achievement! We look forward to following your continued success and wish you all the best for the Australian Championships.