From the Principal
Last week, the unimaginable happened. We lost a much-loved and well-respected member of our Girton community, Year 9 student Thom Hosking, in tragic circumstances. I would like to share my condolences with everyone – family and friends, classmates and peers, teachers, staff, parents and carers. The entire Girton community mourns with you.
We continue to provide support to Thom’s family and to prioritise the wellbeing of our students and staff at Girton. And, while my heart is heavy, it has been warmed by seeing everyone’s commitment to doing the same. I am so proud of this Girton community for the way we have come together in this difficult time, and for the care and respect on display.
At our onsite memorial area, tributes continue to flow for Thom – we see flowers, paper cranes, photos, messages for Thom, and messages of support for his family. The beauty and love you see in these photographs is reflected in the support I have witnessed staff and students display for each other every single day. Thank you to you all, and please continue to be gentle with yourselves and with each other.
Photo shared with permission of the Hosking family. Not to be reproduced.
Photo shared with permission of the Hosking family. Not to be reproduced.
Photo shared with permission of the Hosking family. Not to be reproduced.
Photo shared with permission of the Hosking family. Not to be reproduced.
The outpouring of support has extended beyond our Girton community. We have received support in all forms from individuals, families and organisations in Bendigo and across the state of Victoria. I would like to thank everyone who has reached out with condolences and with offers big and small. In particular, I would like to thank the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC for her support and visit to our school, the Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan for her message of support and assistance, the local schools in Bendigo, the independent schools throughout Victoria and Ecumenical Schools Australia.
We are yet to share a written tribute to Thom as a school, besides this short statement on our website and at the beginning of this edition of eLink. This is an intentional decision, to allow the community and public to focus on the beautiful words shared by Thom’s family. We will now wait until after Thom’s funeral, and the further sharing of words by those who knew and loved him best, before sharing our own reflections.
Earlier today, we shared the details of Thom’s funeral and a notification of the closure of Girton Grammar School on Friday 24 October. You can read those details in this post on Astra.
As we prepare to say farewell to Thom, and as I reflect on the community support, I am reminded of the power of connection, and I am moved by the displays of care. It is by reaching out and connecting with one another that we are able to find our way through times of hardship and sorrow. And it is through that same spirit of togetherness that we are able to savour moments of joy and triumph, as we did today.
Today, the graduating class of 2025 attended their last day of school. And it is this very power of connection that I applauded in them as I addressed the class, their families, and members of the school and Board this afternoon.
Together, in a day that started with a reflective church service and ended with a moving and captivating assembly, we celebrated this group’s achievements and thanked them for their contributions to Girton and the legacy that they will leave.
It was a true honour to recognise and celebrate this group today. I wish our graduates the very best for their upcoming examinations, and I look forward to celebrating them once more at the upcoming Valedictory Dinner.
Dr Emma O’Rielly
Principal