Year 12 Graduation Speech

Welcome parents, staff, family, friends, and most importantly, the graduating Class of 2026…

Did you know you are the cohort that missed out on lots! Of course you did, for those wondering, here is a list:

Covid took away the classroom and cancelled Canberra trips,
Floods stopped you getting to Sydney to represent for sport,
even this year, still you miss out, relentless rain caused a first in my 25 year career – we had to cancel the athletics carnivals altogether!
And that’s not even getting personal, I could sit here and share stories with the audience about the difficulties you have faced, the trials you have navigated, and the success you have had (I won’t, but I could), right?

Poor babies! How difficult life can be right? Wow…

If you will permit me, let me talk about someone else just for a second. I wonder if anyone remembers Steven Bradbury?

If you ask most Australians about Steven Bradbury and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, they’ll tell you the same story: a guy was trailing way behind in the 1000m short track final, when suddenly his world changed; everything in front of him changed and he went from last position to first position in the space of seconds to win gold; every single skater ahead of him crashed into the wall on the final turn.

Not only did he get a gold medal, not only did we get to sing the Aussie anthem at a winter Olympics for the first time because of him, but he got a verb named after him, Aussies everywhere bestowed the highest honour on him and he is now a saying: To "do a Bradbury" became national slang for lucking your way to the top while everyone else falls over.

But if you actually look at the backstory, the idea that Bradbury fell and lucked his way to the top while everyone else fell over couldn't be further from the truth.

In the 1994 Lillehammer Games, Bradbury was a genuine gold medal contender before an opponent illegally pushed him out of the race and he didn’t get to finish. In 1998, he was impaled in a horrific crash that required 111 stitches, this was followed later by a skating accident where Bradbury broke his neck and doctors explicitly told him to stop skating.

He wasn't an un-athletic guy who got lucky; he was a journeyman athlete who endured a decade of devastating setbacks, injuries, and terrible luck.

By 2002, he knew he was past his physical prime; beaten up, broken down but still fast. So, after making calculated risks to make the final he worked out a calculated, brilliant strategy based on the culmination of his experiences: stay back, keep his composure, and position himself perfectly to capitalise if the high-risk pack crashed. His victory wasn't a fluke—it was years of relentless, quiet work, resilience, and small, faithful steps coming together so he was ready when for the moment should it arise.

I do wonder though, did he think the dream was over the first time he got pushed out – imagine the injustice he must have felt – not even his fault! Maybe the second time he thought it was over, 111 stiches in and the fear of risking another accident must have been overwhelming? Surely… with a broken neck and the realisation that he wasn’t as young as he used to be, that was when he must have given up…

Class of 2026, when I look at your high school journey, I’m reminded of how we can let single moments write our stories and define us. The reality is though, whilst often we don’t get to control the plot line, we do get a say in the ultimate narrative. When I was talking to Mrs Bos about what I was going to share with today, she said she had heard it put like this: what happens to us can be a platform or a prison.

Let’s be honest, Bradbury had moments in his career he would not have written into his story by choice – I am sure if we asked him, he would have rather received Gold the first time and not have had to navigate the anger of injustice or the disappointment of pain. However, he didn’t have a say over this, what he did have a say over though was his narrative.

He was able to make decisions to not give up because he had missed out, not quit because he experienced injustice and significant pain. Instead, Bradbury chose to adjust to these moments as opportunities and by doing so allow for other plot points to arise that would become a platform of hope, potential and strength, rather than remain as a prison of fear and missed opportunity.

Let me change tack just for a minute and look at this in a different story…

Many of us are familiar with Jesus’ story. But what about this part…

If we look at Jesus, before He ever performed a single miracle, before He preached to thousands or accomplished His mission to provide a way to reunite us with God, God spoke over Him at His baptism and said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Notice the sequence: before Jesus did anything, His identity was already established by who God said He was.

Later on Jesus would go through some moments… I am sure there was much joy as his mates left everything to support him and join him on his journey, seeing miracles of healing, including a mate being raised from the dead, he was able to sit in the very presence of God on mountain tops and catch fish any time he wanted! However, there was also much sorrow, trial and heart ache; Jesus wept, he was tempted to relinquish everything he was working toward for immediate glory, he would have his closest mates betray him and he would sweat blood to achieve what God had put him on earth to achieve.

The reality, however, is this. None of it changed who God said he was. In fact, Jesus used these experiences as a platform to achieve what God had put him on earth to achieve, not an excuse to be imprisoned and give up. I know we say he is God so it was easy for him, but the truth is he was also human and felt what we do, was tempted by what we are and wanted to find a way out like we often do.

I think the same is true for Bradbury; and the same is true for me and you.

When Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life (John 14:6) or I have inexhaustible living water to share (John 4:14) or I am the bread of life no one who walks with me will be hungry or thirsty (John 6:35) – He is laying platforms for a narrative built on truth not just feelings or experience; He continues to achieve because he believes what was spoken over him.

It’s no different for us, or for Bradbury, well the plot line is really different, but the narrative is the same, Bradbury achieves because he believes in his dream and uses the circumstances and plot line as a platform.

Can the same be true for you guys?

You are the cohort that missed out on lots, achieved lots and experienced lots, some of you well before we might argue you should have. How do you want to use this? Will you use this as an excuse to whinge and justify giving up, or will you listen to what has been spoken over you for years…

Tyler, may you courageously lead and listen to others, seizing opportunities with humility to bring hope.

Alex, thank you for your strength and protection; may God be your rock as you remain a rock of support for others.

Kyan, you bring life and joy; always remember your great worth, I pray you shine brightly for those around you.

Emilia, thank you for your enduring honesty and resilience; may hope flourish as God guides you.

Abby, thank you for being a light; trust God to illuminate both expected and unexpectedly difficult paths.

Oscar, courageously unleash your God-given talents to make a significant difference in the communities you join.

Karan, I pray your inspiring determination will bring success and joy in all areas of life.

Matt, never give up, seek God first and let His love define your amazing potential and talent for positive impact.

Alyssa, your enduring resilience empowers others; confidently embrace your purpose and know that God will give you the strength.

Shaylee, let God’s faithful joy remain your ultimate strength and inspiration through the obstacles and opportunities that will come your way.

Alisha, we deeply value your quiet perseverance; I pray you step out faithfully into the exciting possibilities awaiting you.

Jaxon, like the reliable chess rook, keep serving others with clarity, confidence, and faithfully courageous actions.

Ayla, may your honest search for truth bring abundant freedom, life, and impact your world positively.

The gap between the hope or the dream, between what is spoken and what is true can be a long wait and a lot can happen but in this time, what you choose to believe, what you choose to put your faith and hope in will either become a platform for you to eventually achieve gold by no fluke, or it will become a prison that stops you enjoying the wonders God has planned. There is always going to be doubt and questioning is okay – but only you can make sure these moments become pillars on which you can launch not hinges by which you are imprisoned.

As Oswald Chambers said… The gap between the declaration and the reality when opportunities are missed, lost or foiled is not evidence that God was wrong; it is the space where your character and faith are formed and forged. Where the foundations for your dreams are laid or lost…

Graduating class of 2026 – if you look around this room you will see people who believe in you, who know God has created you to do great things and who will never quit on helping you realise your enormous potential... Go get it.

Simmo

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