Senior School News
Middle School Production - Tickets on sale Monday
The cast of Spamalot Young@Part had their photo shoot this week in anticipation of ticket sales opening to the Girton community on Monday 4 August.
Stay tuned for Monday as tickets for this year's Middle School production, Spamalot Young@Part come on sale. This year's performances will be held 28-29 August and 1-2 September in Girton's Black Box Theatre.
We can't wait to share the joy of Spamalot with you!
Media Industry Insight with Journalist Richard McLeish
On Tuesday 22nd July, our Year 10 and 11 Media students were fortunate to take part in an engaging workshop with media professional Richard McLeish. With over 20 years of experience across print, digital, video, photographic, and audio broadcast media, Richard has worked both nationally and internationally, including for The Bangkok Post, The Age, The Guardian, and within the pioneering virtual world of Second Life.
Richard shared his career journey into journalism and offered students valuable insights into both the national and international media landscapes. He also explored the distinctions between commercial and community media, encouraging students to think critically about the media they consume and create.
Students took part in practical exercises focused on interview techniques and learned strategies for creating compelling content. A key component of the workshop was learning to record audio effectively, with students experimenting with different techniques and applying Richard’s expert tips to improve their results.
These new skills will be put to good use as both Year 10 and 11 students begin work on developing and recording their own podcasts this semester.
Ms Alex Ashley
Head of Visual Arts
Year 9 Achieve Careers Expo Inspires Future Pathways
On Tuesday 29 July, Girton Grammar School’s Year 9 students took a significant step toward planning their futures at the annual Careers Expo. The event brought together a diverse group of industry professionals to offer students a glimpse into a wide range of career pathways and post-school options.
This year’s expo featured an exciting lineup of exhibitors, including:
RMIT Flying School, which sparked the interest of many aspiring pilots and aeronautical enthusiasts. Students learned about flight training programs, career progression in aviation, and the academic pathways required to take to the skies.
The team from Agnico Eagle Fosterville, one of Australia’s leading gold mining operations, spoke to students about opportunities in engineering, environmental science, and geology—demonstrating how the mining industry encompasses a wide variety of roles beyond the mine site itself.
From the early years education sector, Shine Bright Early Learning offered an insight into careers in childcare and education. Their team emphasised the importance of nurturing the next generation and the skills needed to work in this highly rewarding field.
Ambulance Victoria provided an engaging and informative presence, with paramedics explaining their day-to-day roles, training requirements, and the personal qualities essential to working in emergency services. Students even had the chance to test out their CPR skills!
It was also a proud moment for Girton to welcome members of its own staff, Anita Briggs and Brittany White from the Girton Grammar Business Office, who gave a behind-the-scenes look at how school operations are managed. Their presence showcased the professional opportunities available in business administration within an educational setting.
From the health sector, Bendigo Health brought together professionals from Physiotherapy, Radiology, and Occupational Therapy. Their team explained the differences and overlaps between these allied health professions, offering students a deeper understanding of the range of careers available in healthcare beyond medicine and nursing.
Legal minds were also catered for, with representatives from Beck Legal sharing their experiences in the legal profession. From family law to commercial law, students learned about the academic pathways and personal dedication required for a successful legal career.
In the afternoon, students participated in an engaging session focused on pharmacy, hosted by Mrs Susan Randall, General Manager of Allied Health Services & Engagement at Bendigo UFS, and Kate Beattie, the 2024 Victorian Pharmacy Intern of the Year. The session began with a short talk about careers in pharmacy—outlining the qualifications required, the daily responsibilities of a pharmacist, and the growing importance of pharmacists in community health.
Students were then split into two groups for hands-on activities that gave them a taste of real pharmacy work by making up a Skittles Webster pack and compounding (mixing up) a cream. This fun and interactive session not only deepened students’ understanding of pharmacy but also helped develop practical skills and sparked curiosity about careers in health care.
The Careers Expo is a cornerstone of Girton’s career education program, encouraging students to begin thinking critically about their futures and the many pathways available to them. Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing excitement about discovering new interests and beginning to chart their own paths. Our sincere thanks to the businesses and industry professionals who freely donated their time and skill to make this event a success.
Sunshine Festival Shines Bright in Support of Sunshine Bendigo
The PA courtyard was buzzing with excitement and generosity on Tuesday 29 July as the school community came together for the Sunshine Festival, a fun-filled fundraising event in support of Sunshine Bendigo, a local organisation committed to helping families in need. Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of students and staff, the festival raised almost $1,000—a fantastic achievement for a worthy cause.
The Sunshine Festival featured a range of activities planned by Year 8 Achieve classes that had students laughing, cheering, and digging deep into their pockets for a good cause. From sweet treats to icy surprises, there was something for everyone.
One of the most popular attractions was the Bake Sale put together by 8M, with tables overflowing with delicious cakes, cookies, and cupcakes generously donated by students and families.
For the competitive, the Oreo Challenge offered by 8V was a hilarious opportunity to show their hidden talents with crowds gathering to cheer on the competitors! In addition to this, 8V had also organised lolly bags, popcorn and spiders!
Other favourites included the Guess the Lolly Jar competition—which had students carefully calculating (and wildly guessing) how many sweets were packed inside a tempting glass jar. Congratulations to Theo Watson-Bonnice (9 Jenkin) who correctly guessed the number of lollies.
The much-anticipated Raffle organised by 8W was drawn at the event. Congratulations to Gabe Nicoletti of 8 Millward on winning the prize!
But the true highlight of the day was the Big Freeze, organised by 8D. Teachers Mr Smeelie and Mrs Buckeridge, along with School Captains Harvey Lakey (12 Frew), Nandini Gangaram (12 Aherne) and Chelsea White (12 Riley), and School Prefect Jack Liu (12 Millward), bravely volunteered to be drenched with buckets of icy water, much to the delight of the cheering crowd. The opportunity to be the one to wield the icy bucket boosted the donations as the time drew near and the thunderous applause of the crowds added to the excitement of the day!
The Sunshine Festival was more than just a fundraiser—it was a celebration of community spirit, compassion, and creativity. By coming together in support of Sunshine Bendigo, our Year 8s not only had a memorable day but also helped make a real difference in the lives of others. Congratulations to everyone involved in making the event such a success!
Culture Meets Cosmos: Girton's NAIDOC and Science Week Celebration
On 13 August, Girton Grammar School will host a special combined celebration of NAIDOC Week and Science Week, featuring a visit from Indigenous engineer and NASA intern Tully Mahr. Tully will share her experiences and insights with senior school students and staff, highlighting the intersection of culture, science, and innovation.
Tully is a proud Gundungurra woman, STEM advocate, and professional speaker, currently studying her Master of Mechanical Engineering specialising in Aerospace at the University of Melbourne. With a Bachelor of Science from the Australian National University, Tully is passionate about the integration of science and engineering concepts to inform a unique and holistic approach to STEM research and development, specifically within the space industry. Similarly, she is interested in using her cultural background to integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge into modern scientific and space research.
Tully's educational and career journey has led her to some exciting opportunities, including most recently completing an internship at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she worked in the Origins and Habitability Laboratory in the Planetary Science division. Tully is an advocate for representation of marginalised communities within STEM, and aims to encourage and mentor the next generation of leaders, scientists and engineers. In this vein, Tully has invited students to send in questions they might have about her journey, Space Exploration, NASA or how indigenous culture can help with modern science.
If you have a question for Tully, please email it to Mrs Naughton by Monday (4 August) 4pm: melindanaughton@girton.vic.edu.au
Aherne Family Night
Approximately 150 people braved a cold evening to join in the Aherne Family Games Night festivities. The event was well captained by MC’s Francis Walls and Henry Carr (10A) who kicked off the evening with a fun contest: Who could pilot the best green paper plane? The friendly rivalry had the crowd busy, setting the tone for an evening of fun!
Families chatted while enjoying pizzas (thank you to all the year 10s who helped carry in the pizzas), drinks, and ice creams—comfort food for the soul, on a brisk winter night, whilst listening to a music playlist prepared by Nicholas Loorham (10A). During the evening, the stage shone with the talents of our Ahernians and while the entrant numbers were down, the quality was not! Orsen Winzar (8A) wowed the room on the keyboard, eventually being awarded first prize, while Cameron Gidley’s (9A) comedic performance had everyone giggling. House Vice-Captain Hamish Knight (11A) also took to the keys, adding to the night’s musical delights. Thank you to Mr Smalley (Acting Head of Senior School), Kai Henderson (12A) and Dr Prebashini Naidoo (parent) for judging the talent and also Elliot Henery (10A) and Hayden Foster (11A) for their management of the AV throughout the night.
Our House Captains, Imogen and Dulee (Captains), Hamish and Dale (Vice Captains) have led the House with distinction this year, and they proudly shared with the Aherne families our progress and successes in events throughout the year, complemented by a fantastic compilation of the Spirit Cup performances produced by Vidya Gangaram (10A).
Next up, Lily Middlemiss (10A) led two challenging rounds of trivia that she prepared with Kai Warner (10A, who was an apology on the evening), which saw fierce competition. After a heated tiebreaker, Pippa Bett (11A) of the Year 11 table claimed victory, successfully answering that Kelly Clarkson was the first winner of America’s Got Talent! Eliza Jackson-Sloane and Teagan Whiteman (both 10A) ran a final riddle challenge, with a furious raising of hands to be awarded the correct answer.
A key feature of Aherne Family Night is a fundraiser to support a local charity. This year the fundraiser was a classic 'guess the lollies in the jar' contest organised by Laura Broom and Lily Georgeos (10A), with proceeds to be donated to Foodshare, supporting families in need within our wider community.
A big thank you and congratulations to all students involved in the event, particularly the Year 10 Aherne cohort for their planning and organisation of The Aherne Family Games Night. Thank you also to Annie Bett (10A) for her design of the invitation and Tom Mitchell, Elliot Henery, Tryphena Matta and Renna Shimizu (all 10A) for their work choosing the table decorations, and to the year 9, 10 and 11 cohorts who assisted with set-up and pack-up on the day. Sincere appreciation to Aherne families for their support, joining us on such a cold evening and also the staff who attended on the night: Mr Weston and Mr Smalley (Leadership), Ms Nelson and Mr Forster (10A House Tutors), Ms Loraine and Mr Randall (7A House Tutors) and Mrs Naughton (9A House Tutor). Thank you also to Ms Margarita Budimir, Mr Luke Jenkins and the Maintenance team, Mr Adrian Hodda and Mr Oliver Willits and the AV team, and Ms Kristi Mitchell and Ms Michaela Hulme for all their contributions to the event.
Mrs Kristen Simpson
Head of Aherne House