From the Principal

Mr Nedd Brockmann

2023 Speech Day Guest Speaker

It is with great pleasure that I announce Nedd Brockmann as Guest Speaker at our 2023 Annual Speech Day.

Nedd is a former student, graduating in 2016, who has made a profound impact on the lives of others through his passionate desire to help those less fortunate. Many will well remember his immensely courageous feat of running across Australia.

Nedd’s goal in October 2022 was to be the fastest person to run 3,953 kilometres from Cottesloe Beach on the West Coast of Australia to Bondi Beach to raise awareness for the homeless, and inspire the nation to do more for themselves. Nedd raised over $2.5 million that helped ‘Mobilise’ to support people experiencing homelessness and ‘PosiSchools’ to improve children’s mental health.

In 2020 Nedd also ran 50 marathons in 50 days, raising over $100,000 for the Australian Red Cross.

Nedd’s desire to help those less fortunate and to use his gifts to contribute to the betterment of our community and broader society aligns so strongly with the mission of Kinross Wolaroi School. His courage, commitment and compassion see him living the values of our School. Nedd will challenge us all to go beyond our comfort zone to discover more about ourselves, to be compassionate to others and to promote change in the world.

Following our Speech Day Ceremony, we have invited Nedd to display his top selling book “Showing Up” for students and families to purchase.

I very much look forward to welcoming Nedd back to his old school and hearing his inspiring message at our Speech Day on Thursday 7 December 2023.

Serving our Community

Central to our mission at Kinross Wolaroi School is the provision of a challenging and holistic education that equips our students to live meaningful lives and make a positive contribution to society.

A first-class education affords for more than preparation for academic exams. One of the fundamental aspects of holistic development lies in fostering a spirit of altruism, empathy, and community service. At Kinross Wolaroi, we firmly believe in the transformative power of engaging with charitable causes and social justice initiatives, not only to the benefit of those less fortunate but for the profound impact it has on our students and the community at large.

The great majority of our students enjoy considerable social advantage and access to opportunities unavailable to many. The French phrase “noblesse oblige” encapsulates the essence of our commitment to service. It underscores the notion that privilege and opportunity come with the responsibility to give back to society. We believe our students should not only be the recipients of knowledge and experience but bearers of a responsibility to contribute positively to the world around them.

Engaging in charitable causes and community service is a pathway to developing well-rounded individuals with a strong moral compass. Through such experiences, students cultivate empathy, a quality that is indispensable in today’s interconnected world. Walking in the shoes of the less fortunate, understanding their challenges, and actively working towards alleviating their struggles fosters a sense of understanding that goes beyond the theoretical grasp of societal issues.

Moreover, involvement in community service initiatives nurtures a profound sense of community spirit, a quality integral to our setting. It instills in our students the understanding that we are all interconnected, that the wellbeing of one is intricately tied to the wellbeing of all. The sense of unity and shared purpose that arises from collaborative efforts in community service initiatives is invaluable in building a resilient and compassionate society.

Our School’s commitment to social justice, witnessed in the myriad of initiatives that our students undertake, extends well beyond the confines of our immediate School community. Kinross Wolaroi’s engagement in the Round Square movement greatly supports us in creating service opportunities for our students as Service is one of the key foundational pillars of the global organisation.

We actively encourage students to participate in initiatives that address broader societal issues, challenging them to think critically about the world and their role in shaping the future. In doing so, we not only prepare them academically but also equip them with the tools needed to be responsible global citizens.

The importance of students engaging in real ‘hands on’ experiences that support charitable causes, community service and social justice initiatives cannot be overstated. It goes beyond building a strong academic foundation; it is about nurturing individuals who will graduate from Kinross Wolaroi not only as knowledgeable learners but as compassionate leaders and contributors.

Some of the initiatives that our students are engaged in include; serving meals for the less fortunate every Saturday evening at the Orange Uniting Church; preparation of lunches for primary school students in the Orange community; undertaking the intergenerational project of Wontama providing a variety of activities for their Aged Care community, riding for the disabled, Shave for a Cure and a great variety of other charities. Each Mentor House at Kinross Wolaroi elects to support a particular charity each year providing valuable aid to many worthy causes.

It was wonderful to witness the outstanding school support for the Round Square Service event that was staged around the main oval last Friday and Saturday in aid of the McGrath Foundation. The Foundation is a breast cancer support and education charity that raises funds to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia and increase health awareness. Students walked and ran 9,375 laps around the oval from 12 noon Friday through the night and reached their goal by 8.30am on Saturday. It was wonderful to see so many of our students and staff contributing and participating. Over $9,000 was raised to support this excellent and valuable cause. A special thank you to Mr Will Waterson and his team of staff and students who drove this Round Square Service project. Well done

Congratulations

Additional HSC Distinctions recently announced.

I am pleased to announce the following Industrial Technology students have been shortlisted for consideration in Shape, for exhibition in 2024. 

• Lachlan Coleman
• William Deshon
• Thomas Storer

Congratulations to the below Textiles and Design students who have been shortlisted for consideration in Shape, for exhibition in 2024. 

• Michelle Hayes
• Sophie Heath

And congratulations to Annie Dedman who has been nominated for consideration in ARTEXPRESS, as part of the HSC Showcase season in 2024.

Congratulations to George Proudford-Nalder

George Proudford-Nalder (Year 8 McLachlan) recently won the 2023 NSW Southern Stars Go Kart Series, a series of runs over five rounds across NSW and the ACT. George was defending his 2022 title and won the overall series at Wagga and Districts Kart Club. He currently drives with Elite Driver Academy and will be racing with them in the Australian Karting Championships in 2024. Good luck George, we are all cheering for you.