Senior School News

From the Head of Character and Culture

As we approach the latter part of the term, there are a number of exciting opportunities ahead that continue to strengthen our school culture and sense of community.

Our Athletics Carnival on Thursday 26 March is a highlight of the term and a powerful cultural signifier for our school. It is a day where House pride, participation and encouragement are on full display, with students supporting one another and embracing the opportunity to be involved. While we look forward to great performances in the track and field events, there is also an opportunity for all students to contribute to the success of their Houses is the Spirit Cup, with our House Captains working hard behind the scenes to build energy, connection and enthusiasm within their Houses. Their leadership plays a significant role in shaping the tone of the day, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of their efforts across all year levels.

We also look ahead to Camps Week in the Senior School, which provides valuable experiences tailored to each year level. For our Year 7–9 students, camps are an important opportunity to build connections with peers and staff, develop independence, and strengthen their sense of belonging within the school community. For our Year 10 students, the week offers a different but equally meaningful experience. Many will take on leadership roles as camp assistants or support the Year 7 camp, while others will be engaged in work experience, gaining insight into future pathways and developing important life skills. Our VCE students will continue with their regular classes, maintaining focus as they progress through a demanding and important stage of their schooling.

These experiences, whether on the athletics track, at camp, or in the classroom, play an important role in shaping not only students’ learning, but also their connection to the broader school community.

Mr Marcus Smalley

Head of Character and Culture

Welcome to our guests from Gojo Senior High School in Japan

We are delighted to welcome two staff members, Mr Hosoda and Ms Hayashi, and 11 students from Gojo Senior High School, our sister school in Japan. Our visitors arrived on Tuesday 17 March and will depart on Wednesday 25 March. 

It is a pleasure to return the hospitality that Gojo extended to our students and staff during their visit to Japan last year, and we're already looking forward to visiting them again in September this year and continuing to strengthen the friendship between our schools. 

Our guest students have received a wonderful warm welcome from students and have been attending classes this week. Thank you to our host families for making this program possible by opening your homes.

Ms Mo Watanabe

Head of House - Millward

Senior School Teacher of Japanese

Year 8 Medieval Day: A Journey Back in Time

Our Year 8 students stepped back into the medieval world on Thursday 19 March, immersing themselves in a day filled with activities, learning, and plenty of laughter. Throughout the day, students participated in a range of engaging sessions, including archery, weaponry and armour demonstrations, crime and punishment, and games and education workshops. Each activity provided valuable insight into life during the medieval period, bringing their studies to life in a memorable way.

A highlight of the day was the opportunity to enjoy a traditional “peasant lunch” of hearty vegetable soup and fresh bread, giving students a real taste of medieval living. The excitement continued into the afternoon with the ultimate finale — a medieval tournament. Students had the chance to put their newly learned skills to the test as they faced off against a knight in battle. These contests often resulted in hilarious moments, much to the delight of all involved.

Beyond the fun, the day reinforced an important lesson: strategy and quick thinking often triumph over sheer brute strength, proving that in the end, brains truly do beat brawn.

Overall, the Medieval Day was a great way to combine education and entertainment in a way that students will not soon forget.

Mrs Melinda Naughton

Co-ordinator of Co-Connect Program & Assistant Head of Humanities

Teacher of History, Geography and Philosophy

Year 9-11 Food Studies

It’s been a productive and delicious fortnight for Senior School Food Studies, with students embracing our value of Curiosity in the kitchen as they explore new skills, ingredients and culinary concepts. 

Our Year 9 students made Spaghetti and Garlic Bread, practising essential kitchen techniques and building confidence with foundational recipes. Year 10 students have been working with Indigenous ingredients, producing Lemon Myrtle Scones as part of their learning about Australian native foods and their cultural significance.

Meanwhile, the Year 11 VCE Food Studies class delved into ancient grains, farming practices and food production, complementing their work with sensory analysis. In the kitchen, they prepared Passionfruit and Chia Wholegrain Muffins and Za’atar spiced flatbread.

Mrs Hayley Curnow

Senior School Teacher of Food Technology

Girton Shines at ICCES Swimming Carnival in Ballarat

Girton swimmers delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 ICCES Swimming Carnival in Ballarat on 10 March, finishing second overall. We produced a series of strong relay performances, individual victories, and record-breaking swims.

One of the highlights of the day came in the first swim. The Girls 13 & Under 200m Medley Relay finished first in 2:26.18, breaking the previous ICCES record set in 2005! This was followed later by another record-breaking swim in the Freestyle Relay. The relay team’s performance set the tone for a strong carnival for the Girton squad.

Girton also dominated the Girls 16 & Under 200m Medley Relay, taking first place with a time of 2:24.00, again demonstrating the depth and strength of the school’s female swimmers. In the Boys 13 & Under Medley Relay, Girton secured second place, while the Girls 14 & Under relay team finished third, adding valuable points for the team.

Several swimmers also produced standout individual performances. Sophie Lee delivered a brilliant swim to win her event in a record-breaking 29.96 seconds, setting a new ICCES benchmark and later becoming the Age Champion. Azia Fung-Sutton also impressed, winning her event in 27.65 seconds, another record-breaking performance and one of the fastest swims of the day. She was also the Age Champion.

Other Girton swimmers consistently featured among the top finishers. Lauren Davenport claimed either victories or podium finishes in her races. At the same time, other swimmers recorded podium finishes, including Ryan Guo, Liam Hubble, Seb Mansfield, and Darcey Whitsed, all contributing valuable points to Girton’s overall performance.

Across the carnival, Girton swimmers showed determination, sportsmanship and impressive skill in the pool. The combination of relay success, individual wins and record-breaking swims made the event a memorable one for the team, particularly the Junior Girls who won the Junior Girls Aggregate.

With many younger swimmers performing strongly alongside experienced competitors, the future of Girton swimming looks bright as the team continues to build momentum for upcoming competitions.

Thank you to Mr Hoyt, Mr Lane, Ms Picot and parents who assisted on the day.

ICCES Table Tennis in Ballarat

While the move to the Ballarat Table Tennis Centre did not come with the usual atmosphere of elite level sport, the annual ICCES Table Tennis tournament was one of high-level competition, camaraderie, and high spirits. All teams entered the competition determined to give their best with eyes set on the trophy.

The senior boys team, Haoming (12 Riley), Anderson (10 Riley), Luke (12 Millward), and Uvi (10 Millward), faced strong competition throughout the day, battling hard every match. They displayed teamwork as they pushed their opponents in closely contested games to finish in 4th place overall.

Achieving an impressive runner-up, the senior girls team, Isabel (11 Riley), Siara (10 Jenkin), and Lily (11 Aherne), demonstrated their skill and composure with two convincing early victories, their consistent performance carrying them through to the finals.

Our junior boys team punched above their weight and gave it everything. Archer (9 Frew), Ethan (7 Millward), Harry (9 Jones), and Meer (9 Aherne), showed determination and maturity beyond their years. Competing against experienced players, they rose to the challenge and secured an impressive 3rd place.

Despite their limited experience, the junior girls, Skylar (9 Millward), Ava (9 Jenkin), and Fiona (9 Aherne) delivered an outstanding performance. Their enthusiasm and rapid improvement saw them win most of their matches, earning them a well-deserved 3rd place.

The day was successful and enjoyable for the teams involved who all gained experience and displayed sportsmanship. We will continue to train hard at our weekly sessions, to return stronger and bring home the winning title at next year’s ICCES Table Tennis Tournament.

Luke Fisher (12 Millward)

Tennis Tournament Report

2026 began with an outstanding demonstration of skill and sportsmanship at our annual Girton Tennis tournament. Defined by high energy and ideal weather, the event saw a fantastic turnout, with everyone from state-level players to beginners showcasing the true spirit of participation. The atmosphere was bolstered by the constant sound of rackets and the steady encouragement of other players on the sidelines. 

Ultimately, the tournament highlighted why these events matter: they drive participation, strengthen the community, and give players a chance to test their skills under pressure. A sincere thank you to the organisers at the Bendigo Tennis Centre, as well as Mr Whitsed, Mr Steven Storer, and Mr Hoyt for ensuring the day ran so smoothly.

The results of the tournament are as follows:

• Year 7/8 Girls: Gracie Seipolt 
• Year 7/8 Boys: Benjamin Carter 
• Year 9/10 Girls: Willow Kelly
• Year 9/10 Boys: Ben Bowles 
• Year 11/12 Girls: Eva Gross
• Year 11/12 Boys: Max Henderson 

Our selected teams will go on to play various competitions throughout the rest of the year, commencing with the ICCES Senior School Tennis Tournament for our Year 11/12s this week. We wish them all the best! 

Eva Gross & Harshil Belraj

Senior School Tennis Captains 

One Act Play Festival 2026

Once again, Girton's One Act Play Festival took place on Tuesday 17 March, delivering an evening of creativity, passion and original storytelling. The night was filled with engaging and thought provoking performances, each crafted by talented student writers and brought to life by an incredible cast of performers. 

This year, there was no set theme, allowing students the freedom to explore a wide range of ideas and perspectives. Despite the added challenge of creating their works without the support of the tech department, students were given just seven weeks to write, rehearse and perform their original pieces in the Black Box. Their efforts were adjudicated by special guest Mr Vern Wall, a member of Bendigo Theatre Company with many years of experience in teaching and creating within the performing arts.

My group, made up of Liam Moat, Angus Cuthbertson and myself, reunited once more for our fifth One Act Play together. This year, we created "The Bald Man", a satirical parody of Jason Statham blockbuster action films, following a character who is pulled out of retirement from “the agency" for "one last job" after "no longer doing jobs."  

Our performance went extremely well on the night and was made even more exciting by our heavy use of improvisation, which allowed for some incredibly comedic moments while also keeping us on a slight sense of panic on stage, not being entirely sure what might happen next. In the end, the performance came together brilliantly and even earned us the award for BestWriting, Believe it or not (I can't!).

Overall, the evening was filled with amazing performances from everyone involved, and I would strongly encourage students to sign up again next year… because something tells me the One Act Play Festival is only going to return bigger, better, and perhaps just a little different.

Brandon Tuohy (11 Frew) and Liam Moat (11 Jones)

Community Service Volunteering opportunities

The Chinese Procession has played a significant role in the Easter Processions in Bendigo since 1871, and volunteers make it possible to parade dragons and regalia. The Bendigo Chinese Association is seeking parade volunteers from the ages of 7. For more information, please email secretary@bendigochinese.org.au