PRINCIPAL

The term has begun with a flurry of activity, including several important events.

Harvey Show

Firstly, congratulations to the Harvey Agricultural Society for hosting a very successful Harvey Show. Our College was well represented, and it was wonderful to see our strong connection with the local agricultural community on display. I look forward to building on this partnership in the coming years. 

Special thanks go to Sue Fimanno and Teresa Hickman for setting up the College display,  it looked fabulous, and to our Farm staff, who generously assisted the Agricultural Society with show set‑up. Your time and support behind the scenes are very much appreciated. 

Special mention goes to our Horticulture students and staff for the fabulous array of produce on display and for achieving some outstanding results.

ANZAC March

This week, we also marked ANZAC Day, an important opportunity for reflection and remembrance. Our students represented the College with respect and dignity at the Harvey and Waroona services, supported by staff members Paul Dyson, Nicole Strehle, Teresa Hickman and Patrick Swallow, who attended alongside them in Harvey.  We also had a number of students involved with the Coolup Bush Brigade Cadet unit at the Coolup service. 

Our own commemorative service at the College was both respectful and well planned, and I commend the students and staff who contributed to making it a meaningful occasion. 

ANZAC Day at Sandakan

On ANZAC Day, at the Sandakan War Memorial in Malaysia, Year 10 Clancy Westphal delivered a moving speech. 

Clancy was the 2025 recipient of the Ted McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship and travelled to Sandakan, Borneo, to take part in the ANZAC Service, where he represented his former school, Boyup Brook District High School. His speech invited listeners to see history through the eyes of a Prisoner of War. While the character Clancy portrayed was fictional, the story was grounded in real historical events and conveyed the immense suffering endured by Australian servicemen during the Sandakan Death Marches.

The Ted McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship is generously funded by the Boyup Brook Lions Club and supported by the Boyup Brook RSL. 

Autumn Dairy Fair

Looking ahead to this weekend, we wish our students and staff all the best at the Autumn Dairy Fair in Brunswick. A special thank you to Kylie Quilty and Russell Jolly, whose preparation has gone well beyond the cattle themselves. Their work in preparing students for the show ring and their willingness to give their time over the weekend are highly valued and serve as a wonderful example of our staff's commitment.

Although we are only two weeks back after the holidays, the ANZAC long weekend provided a welcome pause. The weeks ahead promise to be busy, with a range of events taking place both in and around the College.

Preparations are also underway for our upcoming Open Day, with more information to be shared in the coming weeks. This event provides a valuable opportunity to showcase our College and I am very much looking forward to being part of it.

Thank you to our staff, students and families for their continued support.